˗ˏˋ 001 : A LITTLE UNSTEADY ˎˊ˗

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( if you love me,
don't let go )

   THE TENSION THAT had brewed in the meeting room was so ominous that it had brought Shota to a defense stance. His weary eyes scanned the room with apprehension. Admittedly, he still was on the edge since the occurrences from that tragic day. Everyone was, and still, Aizawa crossed his arms, watching, waiting.

   Guards could be let down so easily, and a hero's common mistake was thinking that after hard times the sun would shine again. It was literally a gloomy afternoon, and everyone in the room had a lot to argue about.

   Nezu had lost the reigns of control, much like everyone else had in the previous days. His throat was so itchy, but in seeing all the commotion, Shota wanted to scream his lungs out. Maybe that would be more therapeutic than the sessions he was forced upon every single day for the next three months?

   At times Shota had wondered if it would have been better that his hero license be revoked? In living inside his own mind, a survivor's habit he refused to abandon despite what his lousy therapist suggested, everyone gasped and shuddered as All Might slammed his hand so harshly over the table he bled.

   While everyone else stared at the now spilled coffee cups from the unbroken, but rattling table, Aizawa couldn't help but to roll his eyes. So typical of All Might, bleeding and commanding of attention. ❝When will your recklessness stop?❞ Shota thought right before Nezu settled for sitting on the corner of the table with a defeated sigh.

   ❝Toshinori, I know ... but we've gone over this.❞

   This time, All Might simply pressed both the palms of his hands over the table. The man was visibly exhausted, like everyone, but differently. He was running out of time and fighting so desperately against the clock.

   ❝It would be a great liability and we don't know how long it will be until she has another ... imbalance.❞

   Everyone in the room stole quick glances from one another, trying to decipher Nezu's words along with All Might's request.

    No one had to wait long for the answers as the response seemed to have majorly ticked the superhero off. ❝A liability? I've been a liability on borrowed time for years! Do you think how many times I've thought about ending this ... this pain, this ...

   Toshinori's troubling coughs cut his statement short, but the damage was done.

   Beside Shota, Hizashi cleared his throat. It was clear that his heart was stuck lump-like on his throat and everyone else followed in pursuit. A shadow of somberness was cast over the room, dampening their already gray spirits.

   ❝It's no surprise, I am dying.❞ Toshinori lowly spoke. Most would speak about their death as a confession, but not him. Shota took in a deep breath, helping conceal the sniffles of Present Mic and Midnight who even wipped a tear streaming down her cheek.

   ❝Toshi-

    ❝It's my only request. Consider it the last wish of a dying man.❞ All Might spat.

   Aizawa uncrossed his arms, impressed that the greatest hero of all time succumbed to using the death card. How could one not appeal to a dying hero's last wish?

   ❝I have to give it to you All Might❞ Shota began before being interrupted by Midnight. Perhaps he shouldn't have covered for her sniffle ... ❝Kaiya has been on the right track for three years now. All her psychological evaluations have been that of a healthy individual.❞

   That was the moment Shota knew he had spoken much too soon. In almost singing a praise to the greatest, Midnight's statement had him wanting to fall. Fall to the ground and sleep all the flashbacks off.

   The vibrant red locks, wild in the air. Her eyes darker than the ashes she could burn anything into. She was the sin of his youth, and hearing her name again brought back vicious demons.

   ❝The last time I saw her, she was the most reckless hero I have ever seen.❞ Aizawa spoke up, ignoring All Might's disapproving look of death. ❝I have never❞ Shota said, not realizing how his voice had raised while glaring at Nezu. ❝Seen more wasted potential, more misused power than that of her.❞

   ❝Enough!❞ All Might shouted as Present Mic pulled back his hot-headed friend. ❝There's a reason they called her the burnout hero!❞ Shota shouted back, his normally level headed composure completely non-existent.

  It was strange to see the erasure hero so undone, and even more unusual to see two heroes bickering back and forth. All Might and Shota stood face to face, each with their opinions and heavy hearts.

   ❝It was a cruel name you once protected her from.❞ Toshinori seethed, remembering those dark days before she truly burned out. ❝If I had known any better ──

   Aizawa sighed, on the verge on blinking and exposing himself with a pesky tear. He was not going to allow her to be brought back into his life just so she could once again fall apart the way she had.

   The years have passed and still, the memories are alive. Their are some wounds people never heal from, and she was like the scar under his eye that refused to shut and heal.

   Long ago he lost a friend. She lost that friend too, and then herself.

Ever since then, Shota lived on the

❝FOOL ME ONCE, SHAME ON 
YOU. FOOL ME TWICE,
 

SHAME ON ME❞

philosophy.

  ❝No one knew any better.❞ Hizachi then whispered, dragging in the entity that had caused such a volatile meeting.

   ❝So stop sulking on it. Leave the past where it belongs, and tell me──

Everyone's eyes widened as she stormed in, still having a magnet for sucking the air out of people's lungs with just her presence. Her hair may have been more fiery than ever, but so was Shota's will to shut her entrance down.

A fire reignited in the pit of his stomach, and the two stood face to face just inches apart.

   ❝Kaiya, I told you to wait ❞ Toshinori began before she wildly interrupted. ❝Why?❞ Does my presence bother people?❞ She snapped, rebellious as always.

   Somethings never change, and before he could say anything ... much like old school days, she beat him to it with a sinister smirk. 

❝Shota, you look unwell──

 are you feeling ...

 a little unsteady?❞

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*high key not religious but still praying
 ya'll are at the least, mildly hooked!
 many answers to come, thank you if 
you read & vote *
featured song: unsteady
by x ambassadors

p.s. I know it's a short chapter, was meant more as a prologue but I promise I will work on this.
This story , this chapter takes place after
Mirio's quirk is loss. The aftermath of the fight against Overhaul. Some parts will be based off the manga, others the show, and most completely my own twist of events.