➽───────────────❥

"(Y/N), focus on putting all your strength in your punches!" Father exclaimed while pushing away all of my punches that I've thrown towards his way with ease.

"Yes, sir!" I pant, sparing no time to wipe off the beads of sweat that are trickling down from my forehead as I landed another punch on my father's hand.

This time, I made sure that I placed all of my strength in my fists when I threw the punch.

A small gust of wind bursts out from the impact of my punch on my father's right palm.

The wind somewhat flew off some bits and parts of my hair away from my face, making me stand up straight to take a rest while tucking my hair on the shell of my ear.

Father was silent for a moment until he sneered and basically gave me a cold look.

"Is that all of your strength, (Y/N)?"

His piercing cold words made me flinch and widen my eyes ever so slightly.

After recollecting myself from my father's words, I couldn't help but frown as he still thinks that I'm not good or powerful enough, even if I've been training with him for almost a year now.

"What a disappointment; I thought you have something more in you, especially with that quirk of yours." Father clicked his tongue and walked away from me to take a break from training as well.

Oh, how much he despised my quirk with a burning passion.

It was the same quirk that my real father possessed and he hated the fact that I inherited, not only the eye color, but also the quirk.

I am the sole reminder that my mother wasn't as faithful as my father thought she was.

The sole reminder that I would forever carry the burden that my mother brought upon the Hanamichi family.

"I'm sorry." I bow down as he continued to walk away.

It was normal for me to apologize to him if I ever did something wrong, even if it was unjust or just a simple mistake that shouldn't even matter.

To me, father was nothing more than a commander who's only training one of his soldiers,

And I'm sure he sees the same way too.

I was never a daughter to him, biologically or not.

The only person who can brighten up his day, or gain a fraction of his compliments, praise or a smile is...

"Papa!" A cheerful voice entered the training room, making me and father turn our heads towards the doorway.

Satou, my little sister.

I've always been jealous of her; she's got the perfect grades, a good quirk, a stable social life and most importantly,

Father's praise and constant showers of compliments.

No matter how well I did in my studies, in my training or how hard I tried to make him notice me and my efforts to be the perfect daughter and build up the relationship that we both used to have when I was a child,

He would never look at me the same way he looks and cares for Satou.

"Satou!" His voice and demeanour changed almost immediately as he landed his eyes on the youngest child of the Hanamichi family.

"Did you have fun at school today?" He smiles and crouched down to her height, patting my sister's (H/C) hair gently.

"I did! I even got the highest score in my math test today!" She grinned, making father laugh and carry Satou while tickling her.

"That's my girl! Such a smart little flower!" Father continued to laugh while Satou tried to pry his hands away from her stomach to prevent him from tickling her any further while laughing uncontrollably.

"Papa, stop!" She said between laughs.

I couldn't help but tear my eyes away from the scene, frowning and grasping the hem of my training clothes tightly.

I don't want to cry.

I don't want to make myself look weak.

Even if it's unfair or unjust on my part as the oldest child of this family, I shouldn't show any weakness.

Don't feel anything.

Don't speak out against anything that upsets you.

Just keep your mouth shut and distance yourself.

I turn my head around to see Satou staring right back at me with an indescribable look in her purple eyes.

After a while, she just silently turned away and kept grinning widely at my father.

I, however, turned away as well and walked over towards the opposite side of the room to grab the bottle of water that I brought along with me just a while ago.

There is no way for me to catch up with her, I thought spitefully while ignoring the gleeful laughs and talks that father and Satou exchanged with each other.

●———●

Plates and bowls clatter noisily on the table as I helped mother prepare the table as dinner was ready to be served.

"Satou, please take your eyes away from the television and come and help your sister set the table." Mother frowned at the sight of my sister sitting in front of the tv, watching the new episode of Haikyuu intently.

Satou looked up from the tv and grumbled at my mother's request but obliged anyway.

Judging from the expression on her face, she's most likely bitter that she's missing out on the current episode but it's not like she can't just rewatch it on Crunchyroll or something.

When I was about to go to the table and start to place the small plates neatly, Satou took them out of my hands with a harsh tug and a scowl.

I could only roll my eyes silently while walking over to the cabinets to grab some chopsticks.

However, I felt my heart almost stop when I heard the front door open, indicating that he's back from wherever place he went to.

I'm aware that I've skipped out on our daily training this afternoon and the real reason why might not please him and make him think that I've been slacking off.

"I'm home." His deep voice made me gulp but I continued to act as if everything was normal.

"Uh oh, time to prepare your funeral, (Y/N)." Satou giggled from behind me as I heard her skip happily towards the front door and greeting my father with a distant laugh escaping her lips.

"Welcome back, dear. Dinner is ready." My mother spoke up from beside me and it seems like she's taken notice of my discomfort as she brought her hand up to my shoulder and giving me an encouraging look.

I didn't respond to my mother's look of encouragement and instead walked towards the dining table and placed our chopsticks next to our bowls.

"Is (Y/N) home yet?" Father asked just as he went inside the kitchen. Satou skipped happily behind him and tilted her head towards my way with a sadistic smirk plastered on her lips.

"(Y/N)." He acknowledged my presence, making me feel uncomfortable due to how intensely intimidating his gaze is.

I can tell that he's not happy whatsoever.

"You'd better have a good reason as to why you skipped out on training, young lady." He said sternly and walked over to his seat on the table.

"I was with a friend." I said truthfully, keeping my gaze downwards to avoid his intense look.

"Look at me when you're talking, (Y/N); I won't allow anyone in this house to disrespect me, especially you." His voice was raised slightly, making me flinch and bring my eyes over towards his cold piercing ones.

"Now, you said that you were with a friend?" He takes a seat, bringing himself closer towards the table.

"Yes. His name is Midoriya Izuku." I answered while taking a seat myself. I made sure that I didn't sit beside him, but having him sit across me isn't a good idea for my discomfort either.

"So you have time to fool around with a boy in your school." He narrowed his eyes, making his scowl deeper and making me want to shrivel up and die right on the spot.

"Tell me, (Y/N); do you honestly prefer being a slutty 14 year old girl rather than polishing your skills and attend training like you've always done before?" He was harsh with his words as usual.

The way he worded his sentence with injustice almost made me want to speak up against him and tell him that I've been attending his training sessions every other day and this is the only time where I didn't attend.

"P-Peter, that's-" Mother attempted to speak up against father's harsh words but he could only send her a harsh glare.

"I did not tell you to bring your opinion in a conversation that is only between us two, Hanabi." He shuts mother up before turning to look at me.

"Well, (Y/N)?" He asked and waited for my answer.

"I..." I stumbled on my words while catching a glimpse of Satou watching me suffer with a sadistic smirk on her lips.

"I apologize if I displeased you. However, this is the only time where I have skipped on our daily training. I don't-"

"And you used that time to fool around with a boy!" He raised his voice, making me flinch again and stop talking. My head was already hung low, so I felt really embarrassed for being scolded by my father in the middle of dinner.

"You could have used this 'time' to look for multiple ways how to pass the U.A entrance exams or even improve more on that quirk that you've barely used since you were 7!" He continued as his angry voice echoed around the kitchen and rendering the three of us females silent.

"Your sister is making more progress than you!" His voice was raised even higher, almost as if he was making me feel bad and small about the fact that Satou is million times better than me in his eyes.

"I advise you to keep your contacts short with that boy or else you are never stepping one foot in this house again." He seemed to have calmed down but my inner raging self didn't.

It's unfair.

Everything is unfair.

You're unfair.

I start to remember Midoriya's nervous smile and the way he tries to communicate with me, even though I'm often quiet and almost blow him off due to how short my replies are.

He's the only first friend that I've ever gotten since I started junior high.

Sure, we're not that close right now but Midoriya was the only one to approach and talk to me than most of my classmates, who already gives up whenever they try to approach me.

My first friend,
and you're already trying to take him away from me.

"Well, I never would have expected (Y/N) to have friends anyway." Satou chuckled and clasped her hands together.

"Time to eat!" She enthusiastically said, as if the moment that just happened entertained her so much that she's having the appetite to eat.

"If you understand your mistakes and swear to never do it again, eat your dinner." He dismissed me and started to eat his meal.

I could feel mother looking at me with a concerned look on her face from beside me.

Since I can't really do anything, I just nodded silently and took a seat while mumbling a soft "let's eat" before grabbing my chopsticks and snapping them into two.

Is there anything I can do,

To make you feel proud of me, at least once?

●———●

It was currently 10 PM and it's at this time where all of us are in our rooms, resting and sleeping to get our energies for tomorrow.

However, while the rest of my family were asleep, I was awake and scrolling through Facebook and watching some random posts from my classmates.

They all seem to be so happy; posing happily in front of the camera or just taking funny stolen shots of their friends.

I wish I had a group of friends too.

It was at this moment when my eyes caught a post of a certain green haired boy.

Izuku Midoriya posted a picture

On my way home with Hanamichi-san! ★

I stare at the picture for a moment. I figured that Midoriya added a filter on it since it looks more pink than what an actual sky would look like.

I found it odd why he couldn't just tag me in the post but brushed the thought away and scrolled down to read the comments.

I'm even a bit surprised that it has comments.

Explosive Bakugo commented:
YOU TWO SHITTY NERDS WERE WALKING HOME TOGETHER?

Izuku Midoriya replied:
Kacchan, don't use bad words while you're on the internet and don't capitalize everything! 😱😥

Explosive Bakugo replied:
OH SHUT UP ITS THE INTERNET I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT

I roll my eyes at Bakugo's replies but didn't say anything about it and instead, I shifted myself on the bed as if I'm sitting up so I can type a comment on Midoriya's post.

(Y/N) Hanamichi commented:
that's really good, midoriya. did you add a filter on it? it looks a little bit pink but it looks good nonetheless

Once I felt satisfied with my comment, I continue to scroll through Facebook and hoping to find something that catches my eye.

However, it hadn't been five minutes as I scrolled through Facebook and my Messenger suddenly made a 'ping' noise, indicating that someone messaged me.

The noise startled me, to say the least.

I didn't really expect anyone to message me since people don't message me.

The only people who message me is Satou and mother and our conversations are so brief that I just end up looking at their message and leaving them in 'seen'.

I open Messenger and checked to see who messaged me at 10 PM. To my surprise, Midoriya's message popped up in my almost empty Messenger.

I press the conversation, making me read his message clearly.

Izuku Midoriya
23 mutual friends
Lives in Musutafu, Japan

Izuku
Good evening, Hanamichi-san!
I didn't expect you to be up so late!
Can't sleep? 😊

You
oh hi midoriya
same here i thought you're already asleep
what are you doing up so late?

Izuku
Oh nothing really!
Just studying and thinking some stuff.
I saw your comment btw and yeah it does have a filter in it haha
I dunno it just looks cool :3

You
oh
well can you go outside right now?
its late at night but yeah

Izuku
Oh I don't think my mom would like me going out this late at night 😔
Why tho?

You
nothing i just wanted to talk someone personally
im sorry if i weirded you out or anything

Izuku
Oh don't worry about it (Y/N)!
I'm not weirded out at all or anything.
But if you do need a friend to talk to, I'll always be here!

I stare at Midoriya's message for a moment, specifically on the part where he said that he'll always be here if I needed a friend to talk to.

This made me smile softly and began to think of how Midoriya considered me as a friend, despite my seemingly cold nature towards others.

He's such a kind boy, I thought while replying to his message.

You
thanks midoriya i really appreciate it
i'll also be here if you need someone to talk to

"That is what friends do, right?" I mumble while pressing 'send'

I can't help but feel like my replies seem so cold and lack emotion. Maybe I should add those little face things?

I think it was called emojis?

While I was debating whether or not should I use emojis, Midoriya sent me another message.

Izuku
Well what's wrong? 😊

I contemplate for a moment since I don't think bringing up the conversation that father and I had this dinner would be a good idea, especially to Midoriya.

What if he starts to distance himself away from me?

I don't want to lose a friend.

At least, not because of father.

But if I'm not being honest with him, what kind of friend would I be? Didn't I just say that I need to try and be a better friend to Midoriya?

With a sigh, my fingers shakily type the words that I've wanted to vent to Midoriya. As I finished, I gulped for a moment before sending it.

You
well, my father and i always do this daily training thing after classes so i wouldn't feel hopeless when i'm in close combat.

i forgot to attend it today.
w

hen i told father why i didn't come, he didn't take it lightly. he thought i was fooling around with you and even told me to minimize my contact with you.

i'm just upset that he would do this to me. i've never skipped a day of our training and when i do, he acts like its the end of the world. 

Izuku
Oh Hanamichi...
I'm sorry. It's my fault for inviting you to walk home with me. I didn't even know what I was thinking when I invited you!
I'm so sorry 😭

You
no midoriya! i dont want you to feel responsible for this. if there's anyone to blame, its me. i forgot about the daily training that i have with my father.

you were just being a friend and that's okay. you don't have to feel bad.

Izuku
Still, because of me, your father scolded you.
It's fine if you don't want to hang around with me anymore.
I respect your decision since it's still partially my fault anyway.

Seeing Midoriya's message made me frown. Does he think that I won't hang out with him just because father told me not to?

I shake my head, finding that question to be a bit ridiculous.

There's a small part in me that wants to follow father's orders and avoid Midoriya completely. I still want to make him proud and not make him any more angry at me.

But, the feeling of wanting a friend and overcoming the loneliness that I've felt since I was a child was somehow stronger.

Midoriya is the first 'friend' that I've had in a long time. He's a good and a kind person with a great ambition of wanting to become a hero.

His ambition and how he wants to be just like All Might, brought me closer to him. I saw something in Midoriya,

That I didn't have in me.

I close my eyes for a moment and breathed softly before typing a reply to Midoriya's message.

You
no.
i'll still hang around with you.

I purse my lips since I don't really have anything else to say. I meant it when I said that I'll still hang out with Midoriya, though I shouldn't be public about it around father and Satou.

I began to tap on the case of my phone as I kept waiting for Midoriya's answer.

When over 10 minutes have passed, I assumed that he must've fallen asleep. I close the Messenger app and turned my phone off, but not before checking my alarm to see if it's turned on.

When I made sure that my alarms have been turned on, I placed my phone on my nightstand and brought my blanket closer to me, ready to fall into a deep sleep.

●———●

Izuku often found himself smiling unconsciously as he kept chatting with (Y/N) at 10 PM.

He's well aware that it's very much past his bedtime and his mother wouldn't like it if she saw him still awake during this time but Izuku couldn't help himself.

His smile grew wider yet was a little bit surprised when he saw (Y/N)'s reply of her still wanting to hang out with him, despite of what her father said.

He half-expected her to apologize and say that she needs to fulfill her father's wishes but he was glad that it's not the case at all.

Izuku often knew (Y/N) as this shy girl who doesn't talk very often in class due to how socially inexperienced she is.

She was always alone, never finding the enthusiasm to hang out with her other classmates despite being seemingly interesting herself.

Her hair seemed to be the cause of why students were particularly interested in her when they first saw her;

Fiery red locks that flow smoothly behind her back and a warm orange gradient that fade at the tips of her hair.

One could even say that she's like a fire. A calm, unwinding fire.

Izuku knew that (Y/N) could not be quirkless like him, or how the other students think.

Mostly because of the hair and how she didn't mention and said anything about her being quirkless.

It wasn't brought up and no one even bothered to ask her.

He assumes that her quirk shouldn't be used all the time or shouldn't even be used at all unless necessary, leading the other students and Bakugo (until recently) to think that she's quirkless.

Izuku felt a little bit angry though, since (Y/N) has a quirk;

Why doesn't she let it show that she has one? Why does she let other people trample all over her like that?

Izuku didn't understand but that's what's driving him;

He wants to understand her better.

When (Y/N) called Bakugo out for harassing him again, he was surprised; no one stood up for him like that before.

The girl that he always perceived as shy and almost emotionless and cold, changed at that moment.

Izuku was about to reply to (Y/N) until he heard a knock on his door, which is slowly followed by the door opening softly with a creak.

"Izuku dear, are you still up?" The voice of his mother caused the greenette to flinch and yelp while trying to hide his phone under his pillow.

This was enough for Inko to know that his son was still up, making her sigh and cross her arms.

"Izuku, I thought I told you to go to bed an hour ago!" She said, disappointingly.

"M-Mom!" He exclaimed in embarrassment while burying his phone deeper in his pillow. Izuku feels like he's being treated like a child.

"You'd better turn that phone off and go to bed, young man. It's a school night!" Inko shook her head, making Izuku gulp nervously.

"I can wake up early! I-It wouldn't hurt to stay up until-"

"Izuku." Inko's warning tone made Izuku stop and sigh, bringing his phone out of his pillow and placing it on his nightstand.

Inko hums in satisfaction before briefly greeting her son 'good night' and leaving his room to let him sleep.

Izuku focused on his ears and tried to hear if his mother already went back to her room. Once he heard the door click on the other side of their apartment, Izuku quickly grabbed his phone and opened his Messenger app to reply to (Y/N).

To his disappointment, (Y/N) was already offline around 2 minutes ago. He sulks for a moment before checking (Y/N)'s profile to see if she has anything to offer in her social media account.

There wasn't much in (Y/N)'s timeline; just a few shared posts of things she finds on Facebook and her profile pictures that doesn't even use her face as one.

But to Izuku's surprise, as he kept scrolling down to her timeline, he was able to find a tagged post from a girl named Satou Hanamichi.

"It must be her sister..." He mumbled while questioning when (Y/N) ever had a sister.

Satou tagged (Y/N) in a picture where it shows that the two are in a merch clothing shop, due to the All Might tees and other clothes that are a tribute to the other heroes.

Satou was holding her phone up and caught (Y/N) holding on to an All Might shirt in the background with a seemingly uninterested face. She wasn't even facing the camera.

The caption read, "photobomber"

Izuku stared at the photo for a while, but most specifically on (Y/N). He couldn't help but think how cute she looked while holding that All Might t-shirt, even with that uninterested look that she has on her face.

The greenette pursed his lips and saved the photo on his device, cropping Satou out of the picture and leaving only (Y/N) in it.

Izuku found himself smiling in satisfaction before turning his phone off and drifting off to sleep,

All while thinking of her.