Lila here! I had to rewrite this ENTIRE CHAPTER BECAUSE WATTPAD DELETED IT😭😭😭

Hope you enjoy this ridiculously long chapter! ps I don't own any artwork if I don't state explicitly that it is- I'm just using it for certain things that happen in the chapter.

*BTW THIS CHAPTER HAS A WARNING THAT THERE IS IMPLICIT ABUSE SO JUST TO LET ALL OF YOU KNOW*

~Lila

"You actually came. I thought no one would care."

"I don't think you coming over is a good idea." I muttered.

"It's just one time, come on," Hitoshi pressed, "my parents won't be home and they don't want me to bring friends over when they aren't there."

My parents will KILL ME if I bring a boy into the house without telling them- especially a boy with a quirk like his. I bit my lip nervously and weighed the pros and cons. Pros: Hitoshi won't have so much pressure of having me over at his house all the time, he'll see my room and hopefully be satisfied-

Cons: your parents can find out he's there and you could be isolated from all of your new pretty "friends".

The horrible feeling in my gut twisted harder into a knot as I realized The Voice had a point. Was I willing to risk everything I created at U.A.?

"We have to get this project done today." He reminded me. "So we can either go to your house or the Library if you really aren't comfortable with me coming over." He shrugged, and I felt a little guilty.

"N-no! It's totally ok!" The words slipped out before I could properly shut my mouth. "After school we can go home to change and get our work, then meet up later at my house!" Hitoshi looked skeptical, like he didn't believe me.

"Okay, but if at any time this is too uncomfortable, you know you can kick me out." I rolled my eyes at his statement.

"You're my best friend by now, Hitoshi! I'm not gonna be uncomfortable with you around!" I smacked him on the back of the head lightly. I hope and pray that neither of my parents are home...

COME ON!

I slapped my cheeks and grinned at the burn. I can't let this bring me down! What to be happy about....OH I KNOW!
"Are we going to train during lunch?" I bounced in my seat excitedly.

Hitoshi's confuses face turned into one of mild amusement as he nodded. Instead of calming down, the action sent a zap of electricity through my muscles! Like ZAP! POW!

The Voice seemed to be drowned out after that. The silence that came later in the next class put me at ease, and boosted my positivity.

Today is going to be great!

~*~

"Alright, Hitoshi, bro, my man," I stretched my arms behind my back, "take your shot!" We ended up in a small wooded area on the school campus. It was close to the cafeteria, but far enough away to where no one would really disturb us.

"You're going to regret those words, Tanabara." He grinned, but I just shrugged. I suspect he already laced his words with his quirk, so I'll have to be extra careful.

We started to circle each other, waiting for someone to make the first move. Some of our classmates from 1-C were on a hill outside of our training area either chatting with each other or watching our battle.

Hitoshi was the first to attack. He barreled towards my stomach like a man on a mission, but I sidestepped him before he got the chance to grab me. He looked at me, an annoyed expression I'm sure I'll become really acquainted with the next few months.

Oh how badly do I wanna make a salty comment right now. And like the ass he was, Hitoshi could see that too.
"Oh? Not going to make a joke about my attack?" He coaxed, but I shook my head quickly. THIS IS NO FAIR! HE KNOWS I LIKE TO RAMBLE!

He came at me with an uppercut, but I quickly made a portal to stop the fist from connecting. Instead, Hitoshi found himself getting a hard punch to the gut from his own fist.

I put some distance between myself and the purple boy as he doubled over in pain. The boys and girls on the hill were all either laughing either at his pain, or the fact that I am so easily able to dodge his attacks. I probably look like I'm playing instead of training.

"Gah..." Hitoshi sent a playful glare to our classmates from the ground where his head laid. "If you think this is so funny, why don't you all try actually getting a hit on her?!"

OH HELL YES I'M TOTALLY UP FOR THAT! I turned my attention to my classmates now, a confident smile growing on my face.

"Come on guys! Step right up and play the impossible game: 'Haru Tag!'" I spread out my arms, trying to make myself seem more vulnerable. "Catch me once and you may win a prize," I saw all of the boys perk up at that, "or so they say. No one can catch moi!" I laughed maniacally.

"You'll be eating those words, Tanabara-san!" Yuma volunteered, standing up from the grass.

"Sure thing, but first..." does Hitoshi really think I can't hear him creeping up on me!? Oh boy he's got a lot to learn about me. I heard the mind controller pounce, letting out a cry of determination before falling on his face as I came out another portal facing him.

"You don't really think I didn't hear you coming from a mile away, did you?" I let out a cocky grin.

"I was hoping you hadn't." He wheezed from his spot on the Earth below. I let out a short laugh at that letting the sound ring through the mid-afternoon air.

A few others came at me haphazardly, but this time I decided to evade them without portals. I weaved through their lunging attacks, being mindful of their quirks when they decided to use them. there were some close calls, but none of them were able to catch me.

"This is it, HARU!" Hitoshi saw an opening as I blocked another classmate's telepathic quirk. Oh I think noT MY SLEEPY FRIEND!

Creating a portal to put myself behind him, I landed a kick to the back of his shins before he even knew what was going on.

"God damn it.." I thought I heard him curse. "How can you move so fast?"

"HA!" I pointed and burst out laughing. "I guess you could say you're falling for me!" I giggled-

...

I...

I can't move...

Hitoshi calmly got off the ground and came closer until he was standing in front of me. He reached out and placed his hand on my head in a petting manner, a small smile of triumph on his face.

"Gotcha, Haru-Chan."

~*~

By the time all of our classes were over, the sun had already begun to set; it created a picturesque scene with reds, oranges, and yellows blurring into the black of night.

"So I'll see you in a little bit, right?" I turned to Hitoshi as we swayed on the train ride home.

"Yeah! I'll make a portal in front of your house when I'm ready!" I bid my purple-haired friend goodbye and pushed my way into the station's platform.

I was too nervous to create an accurate portal, neither was I anxious enough to get home early.

So I ran.

To think, a girl with a quirk that transports her to where she wants to go and she won't use it to get home. Laughable irony, really.

After a few minutes, I got to the small, neat gate that sectioned off my house.

You better hope your parents aren't home. The Voice reminded me. They hate it when you come through the front door.

I held my breath and opened the door, flinching at the loud creek that followed. There was a second where my heart and brain stopped working as fear flashed images of angry stomping and screeching voices.

But none of that was real.

I relaxed a little. My parents are probably out tonight with Ritsu. Who wouldn't love that little chubby baby!
I dragged myself upstairs with legs made of lead, leading to the wall between my room and the hallway. I had to make a portal to get in and out of my room, making it a necessity to be able to create at least one portal even if I was exhausted.

I quickly changed out of my school uniform and into a pair of leggings and a nice big sweatshirt that made me feel all safe and warm. Afterwards I tried relentlessly to clean my room up and make it seem like I had my life together-

You know, the usual thing.

Or at least I hope it is. Gosh, I've never really had a friend come over to my house since...

"HARU!" I karate chopped the air for effect, "F O C U S!"

I rushed through the cleaning process and got done in half an hour. Looking proudly down at my carpeted floor, I felt ever so slightly more confident. Well I'll need all the confidence I can get, I joked before creating a portal right to Hitoshi's house.

Hitoshi is right at the door before I can even knock, slinging his backpack over his shoulder. He was dressed out of his school uniform and into casual clothes.

"Yo."

"Heya!" I waved to him as his mother closed the door behind him, giving me a warm smile. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah. Let's finish this project." He nodded before heading through my portal. Taking a long breath to calm myself, I step through too.

He'll hate it. Everyone always will. The Voice tried fruitlessly to attack me, and it only worked to pause me from leaving the void between portals. You're nothing but a disappointment...when he realizes this he'll just forget about you.

Just like your parents.

Swallowing the new lump of anxiety in my throat, I left my portal. What I found upon entering my room was an amazed, sleepy boy who walked incredulously around my room.

"This is an amazing room!" He exclaimed, staring at the painting I finished of Eraserhead "I didn't know you were an artist."

"Well, is a part of myself I don't just announce," I felt my hand clamping around the back of my neck, "most of this is for fun anyway."

"You've got some amazing talent." Hitoshi reaffirmed, moving on to the set of watercolours and All Might sketch I accidentally kept out.

"It's not that special. Aren't we supposed to be focusing on this project anyway?" I grinned, and that helped us get back on track.

The next few hours were absolute bliss as we worked on the project together- me doing slightly more because Hitoshi's attention kept falling into the snack bowl and onto my art.
Afterwards we just...talked.
The idea of just being together outside of school was so uncommon, I honestly was anxious when Hitoshi asked if we could hang out more.

"Hey, Haru?"

"Yeah?"

"A few days ago, in the hallway, I asked why you came to U.A."

The light-hearted feeling I had began to sink. I know what he's going to ask, but my mouth wouldn't move.

"You said it was to show someone you can be a hero," Hitoshi sat up from laying on my carpeted floor.

"Yeah..."

"Who did you want to show?"

How was I supposed to tell my first and only high school friend everything that was wrong with my family.

Everything that was wrong with me.

"Hitoshi, you have to know there's something wrong with my-"

A loud T H U D from one of the walls interrupted me, and I realized that in our time together, my parents must have come home by now.

"Haru, open up right now."

I shivered at my Father's voice, but fought my instinct to open up a portal to the hallway.
Hitoshi, probably realizing who it was, sat up entirely. He looked to me as if it was an okay thing to just reveal to my parent that I had a friend over.

"You have to hide." I whispered to him, and his confusion seemed to grow on his face.

"What-why?"

"Please, you have to or-"

"HARU OPEN UP RIGHT NOW OR YOU KNOW WHAT I'LL DO." He was really mad now, that much I could gather.

During the few seconds I had to contemplate everything, I realized that trying to explain to Hitoshi why hiding was so important was fruitless. After another forceful pound on the wall, my nerves obeyed and opened up a portal for my father.

He stepped slowly into my room; a frighteningly calm demeanor set upon his face. I hid my face in my hands as his eyes set upon Hitoshi.

"...you never told us you were having a friend over."

"...I'm Hitoshi Shinsou, sir."

No kind of collected face Hitoshi made could hide the quiver in his voice as he introduced himself to my father. Nonetheless he pushed forward, trying to create a conversation.

"Your daughter and I met on the first day of high school at U.A. In fact, we're in the same class. I came over because we had a project to finish, I apologize if it was unknown I was coming over toda-"

"Boy, do you have a quirk?" My father dismissed what Hitoshi said and got right to the problem. Nonononononono! I can't let him find out!

"Hitoshi! Don't you think it's time to get going home before-" I tried to casually get my friend out of the spotlight, but I was just pushed away by my father.

"Silence, Haru." I whimpered as I fell onto the floor. Hitoshi stood, his eyes shifting with worry as to what to do. "Now answer my question."

"Yes, I do." Hitoshi answered.

That was what snapped my father. I could see it in his eyes as he focused on Hitoshi.

You should've known this was going to happen. The Voice chided.

I ran on autopilot after that, snatching up Hitoshi's backpack that lay next to me. Throwing everything inside and handing it off to its owner, I quickly opened a portal back to his house.

"-What?!" He could do little in his confusion to stop me. My father, on the other hand, started grabbing at my free arm, and pulling me back into my room.

"I'm sorry Hitoshi." I pushed with all my might, then closed the portal before my father could chase after him.

There was silence in my room after that. Only the sounds of my rushed breath and baby brother laughing loudly from somewhere downstairs.

Turning to me, I saw the sharp gaze my father gave me.

"You know the consequence for your actions."

Of course I did, and it scared me to no end.