#empathy.arc

[ua-miruko]

OOC, how would Miruko be as a mom? (You can do Ic too)

[[ this is a question she would avoid answering so ooc is fine!!

she’s fiercely protective, a little bit crude, and very engaged in her kids’ life. she was raised rather chaotically herself so that would reflect in her parenting, she would seem a little... dismissive, in a way? not in that she’s neglectful but in that she allows her children as much freedom as they want, she wants them to decide for themselves the type of people they want to be and she’s ready to smack them into place if they step too out of line. sooooo.... no curfew, not many rules, honestly her kids could probably paint on the walls and run amok and she would encourage them for their spirit and energy and creativity!!

she’s not an emotional person and she isn’t the most empathic in the world, but she’d do her best to be kind and teach her kids to be too!! Emotions Are A Weakness is a mentality she grew up with but would refuse to teach her kids, but it’s still something she’s struggling with herself. it’s hard for her to really discuss emotions head-on but she’d try her best. most importantly, she’d stress the importance of emotional outlets, whether that venting about it or sparring or something else!!!

in the end, it’d be a pretty energetic household. she wouldn’t slow down with her hero work for even a second, so her kids would probably be raised by some sort of nanny or something in charge. she’s very engaged when she’s not working even though she could be really flippant and focused on her job. she’s also SUPER affectionate because of her rabbit instincts and her kids would constantly get cuddled and held and showered with little tokens of affection 😭💜

also if you’re curious to see what this is like in action, just check out her interactions with shouto, who she has more or less adopted in our rp’s timeline! ]]

[not-marksmannn]

(ua-harmony) Harmony walked up to Kazuto’s dorm room door and left a wrapped present, in it a nice orange sparkling sweater, with a note attached on the side, “I’m glad I came to know you even if it was just a little, Happy New Year and Merry Belated Christmas! - Harmony Houston!" She quickly knocked on the door and ran off to her next delivery.

…Well, it was a surprise. But why did she knock on the door, anyway? He wasn’t there up until now. 

At least he got there before anyone managed to snatch the gift from his cold, dead hands. 

Kazuto grabbed the box and opened the door, the note on top of his gift. As the bright colors made a stark contrast with his almost empty room. After putting it on top of the bed, he made a point to read the note.

“I’m glad I came to know even if it was just a little…”

Huh… Was she really glad about it?

He stared at the note, expression unreadable. His face seemed to be trapped in a state between surprised and confused. As the note said, Harmony liked to have him as a friend. That… 

Putting the note away, he left those thoughts to wander astray. He had to see what his friend if he could put it that way, gave him.

The sweater. It was something utilitarian, right away. He could use it whenever he was cold. That, he could thank for. But, as he started to put it on…

His arms broke a part of the sweater.

Fuck. And now he had to apologize for this.

/ @ua-harmony /

[not-marksmannn]

"Hey, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but I want you to know that it's okay to make this mistake... And that I can hear you if you feel bad."

So empty. That reply was so empty coming from him. Yet, at the same time, it was the only thing he could have said about the whole situation. Kazuto could only hope that Souma told him about whatever happened. But even then, he didn't mind if he didn't want to.

Keeping himself away from others... Perhaps it was more common than he thought it was?

Maybe... The solution he could make was getting him away from this place? It seemed like a good option, using his own experience. Taking care of looking in case someone else was arriving to the bathroom (he didn't find anything except the faint voices of boys in the distance), he talked.

"We should go somewhere else... How about the campus, for a change?"

    Well, he was somewhat right. Souma wasn’t there to throw up. He already had, and managed to clean up before falling into tears and being found. He was more embarrassed than afraid now. He even shied away from the gentle touch keeping him upright.

    He wasn’t what he wanted others to see right now. He had a reputation to keep. Smiling, laughing, bright, confident. That was the Souma people see. That’s the Souma he lets them see. 

    “Nothing happened.” Liar. “I’m fine, just, I just had a moment there.” Liar. “I don’t need any help, I’m okay.”

[ua-miruko]

[9/21]

@ua-flameheroendeavor

Miruko bangs hard on the door of the Todoroki estate. Honestly, she has half a nerve to just kick the thing in and hunt the man down herself, but - this is meant to be a calm sort of confrontation. It's supposed to be - well, there isn't really a plan. She just wants to look at the man who is supposed to be a savior and a symbol of hope and peace to the world around them and ask him how the hell-...

...

Her fist bangs harder against the door, frustration and anger rising.

The door swings open rather violently. On the other side, Enji stood, already glaring down. The half of his trimmed moustache not destroyed by the scar already alight with a flame, his annoyance written on his face.

However the expression of rage was quick to dissolve into one of perplexed confusion.

"Miruko? What are you doing here?"

Having heard him coming, Miruko, steps back as the door swings, eyes narrowed in matching annoyance. Hers doesn't fade when his does, though, her hands on her hips as she continues to glower at him.

"Wanna talk to you. You gonna let me in or are we havin' this conversation out here?"

Enji frowns deeply. That tone was a dangerous one. She was normally an aggressive woman, but never directed at him. As he stepped aside, he wondered if he rather she kept making advances towards him over this.

After she crossed the door he shut it. "Leave your shoes outside after we cross the garden..." He mutters quietly, keeping an eye on her frame.

She ignores him, following him inside. Miruko had gone straight from the Police Headquarters to his house, anyway, and she had no intention on taking off any part of her costume. He could deal with it.

"..." For a rare moment, she's silent, jaw clenched as she tries to find words for her boiling thoughts. All she can think about is everything that's been confessed to her in the last twenty four hours. Because of that, she doesn't do more than just following his lead, waiting for him to inquire for more about what this all was about.

Enji walks up to the door to the house, and stops. He considers it, then turns. As Miruko makes no move to reach for her shoes he sighs, crossing his arms.

"So. What is this all about?" He asks warily, squinting at her, jaw set. The garden was safe enough.

Miruko glares around the garden for a moment, hating it for its beauty. How deceiving it is. It's such a huge, quiet home he has. It's so hard to imagine it being filled with so much... violence.

"Shouto and I have been talking," she says slowly, gritting her teeth. It's not actually as easy to voice as she wants it to be. "Wanna guess what about?"

His face is an impassive mask of grumpiness. She could have been talking about the weather for all he demonstrated. Enji had a growing suspicion, and a growing worry about the topic of their conversation. But he, naturslly, wouldn't let it show.

He had a reputation.

"No. What was it?'

She huffs at that, irritation only growing. She doesn't want to be the one to say it. She doesn't know what she was expecting, because it's not like the man would burst to tears and admit everything in some passionate confession. Endeavor must have been dodging this kind of bullshit for years. After all, it's not like there was never rumors. Or assumptions. His image was bad, people loved to fucking speculate. She always believed in him, despite that.

Fuck.

"Shouto..." Her jaw clenches more. "Have you ever hit him?"

Ah. He figured as much. Though it wasn't like Shouto to broadcast that to people. As it stood, no one knew but their family.

"Is that what he told you?" Enji questions, reaching over to smooth a hand over his jaw, scratching the growing hairs gently.

Her eyes seem to spark with fire, they fill with fury so fast.

"Are you about to tell me something different?" she demands, anger so barely restrained in her that she shakes.

He exhales. It sort of smells like smoke. His eyes are tired, and have some sort of emotion in them she can't quite put her finger on. Its distant, and incredibly sad.

"Would it matter if I did?" He extends a hand to the side vaguely. "To me, it seems it wouldn't. You've made up your mind on the truth."

"So you think he's LYING?"

Miruko advances a step, fists clenching at her sides. Losing control of herself, but she doesn't even care. Why even spare him for a second?

God, she really thought she was starting to know him-

"I've seen that kid be so fucked up inside about all this, and you're really gonna act like- what, that he's making it all up for attention? God. You're so full of shit---" In a lightning fast reflex, she suddenly rears back and aims an explosive kick right into Endeavor's gut.

He's not on his guard - he's just tired.

The kick connects and he barely has any time to double over for protection- the massive impact sends him flying. Enji collides against the hardwood door and it shatters under the strength.

He flies inside his own home and has half a mind to throw his arm out. He catches a hand on a corner to not destroy everything with his trajectory and skirts to a halt.

He coughs, doubling over for real this time. He heaves for breath, and glares up at Miruko, shadowed blue eyes blazing. His hair combusts in a quick crescendo.

"..."

It doesn't make her feel better. In fact, it only makes the anger worse.

Miruko stomps after him, the floor splintering under the first step she takes into his house. Her vision is tunneled, focused only on him, but she can't help but feel her senses still attuned to her surroundings. The house around her, the home that has soaked up so much blood and lies. She wants to tear down every scrap of wood and paper in the place until there's nothing left of what she now sees as a cage.

"..."

She watches his familiar fire blaze upwards, already moving into a fighting stance. "What? Got nothing else to say, bastard? Fuckin' out with it! Try and tell me I'm wrong again!"

He stands straight, little by little, and his whole face is alight. The typical Y of fire over his chest and stomach is also alight, scorching the fabric of his sweater and burning it away.

"Or what? You're gonna fight me, Miruko?" He snarls, eyebrows furrowed and eyes piercing. "What do you want? There's nothing left to say when you already know the truth!" 

His right fist is covered in flames.

"What are you going to do? Going to expose me? Gonna make Shouto do it?!" He bares his teeth at her, gritting them. "That won't help ANYONE!" 

In his anger he flings the fireball at her chest. Its fast like a baseball, but if she dodged, it would go outside and probably hit the pond.

A chill passes through her, watching that fire spread. It's fear, instinctive and fast, but also the addicting and fiery adrenaline of a battle. Every muscle in her body tenses, ready, a grimace of a grin on her face as it spreads to his fist. She wonders, only has the time to wonder- just how often Shouto, and even Touya, has witnessed the same fucking thing.

The fireball flies.

She's out of the way in a second, bounding away towards the wall and ending in a crouch against the floor. One of her ears, the closest to the attack, is singed, though she doesn't seem to notice or react to the damage as she rises to her feet again.

"No," she agrees, considering his words. "It won't."

Miruko starts to march closer to him, feeling how much hotter the air gets the smaller the distance between them is. "Exposing you won't help anyone. It'd just drag all this pain out. And Shouto doesn't need more pain from you."

She stops short, right in front of him. His flames just barely graze her, the distance is so short. She notes his heat again, the way it threatens at her skin, trying to tempt burns into it even as her own temperature, aided by her quirk, tries to ride to match it. Her eyes raise up and up, trying to meet his.

He's so... unrecognizable, like this.

"... I'm just going to make it so you can't hurt him anymore," she finally says, quiet and calm, waiting. For an attack, a response, something.

Its bright, and its scorching. His shirt is in shambles, cinders falling to the floor, standing there now shirtless.

His furious eyes glare holes into Miruko's skull, but her words allows her a moment of respite.

"..."

The fire of his chest slowly diminishes and extinguishes itself, leaving only the red hairs. He exhales, pure smoke against her face.

"I haven't laid a finger on him in years." He says finally, rough and tired. "Its probably been over 5 years or so."

Miruko twitches at the smoke, ignoring the way it suddenly tries to choke at her lungs. Her ears twitch, a jerk of pain hitting her at the light burn.

"I don't care," she hisses between gritted teeth. "I don't care if you only did it once or five times or a million. He's still scared of you. He told me he-"

She stops, looking away from him. "... I'm not gonna allow it."

He sighs. He raises a hand, pressing its heel against one of his eyes. The fire of his eyebrow extinguishes.

"So, what have you come here to say." He demands, fire subduing on his jaw and cheeks. "Are you here to inform me you're taking my son away? Are we really going to do this?"

antimonoma@fuckyou.comLast Monday at 3:04 PM Miruko's ears flatten against her hair, shaking slightly. There's a low, low sound in the back of her throat as her eyes turn back towards him - a soft, animalistic growl.

"You gonna stop me?" she challenges, the only confirmation she decides she'll give him. "'Cause now's your chance to."

"What you're suggesting is ridiculous." He grumbles,  and crosses his arms over his naked nipples. He suddenly feels very bare in front of a feral rabbit woman. "Its my son. He barely ever comes home anyway."

"Then you won't miss him." Unbothered, she only continues to stare at him with her angry red eyes. "He's my intern. I can instate whatever I want as part of our internship. If you're so bothered, we can bring it to court."

It's a threat she hadn't even planned to make, falling from her before she can stop it. But she doesn't flinch away, watching him to see if he'll back down - or start the fight up again.

"Careful what you wish for." Enji snarls, uncoiling his arms. He looks massive in contrast to her. A single flame erupts on his hair, and he slaps his own head to extinguish it.

"You think you'd be doing a great service to Shouto, taking to court. But what about my other two kids, huh? Their mother?" He huffs, smoke coming out of his nostrils. "Will they share the same good luck or fall to ruin?"

He keeps his stance. "I know what I've done. And I regret the course of my actions, but the past can't be changed! The least I can do is atone."

Miruko's eyes watch that little flicker of flame pop up and out before rolling her eyes, only clenching her fists again. She may be - protective, perhaps even a little attached to Shouto, but that same empathy doesn't extend to the rest of the family yet. She doesn't want them to go through that level of hell... but to get her way? She wouldn't hesitate. And she doesn't take back what she says, her glare refusing to weaken.

"You don't need Shouto here while you sort your shit out," she spits. "He doesn't want to be near you. The kid doesn't deserve to be living in constant fear, okay?"

"If you damn Shouto's siblings and mother, I know you're not really doing it for him - he has always cared for them." Enji states, glaring her down. He can feel her hubris, dripping venomously with every word she spits at him. This is a snake in rabbit skin.

"He already hardly hangs around me. What more do you want?"

Another roll of her eyes. Whether or not she has folded in that regard is impossible to tell from the outside. Though, internally, she knows he's right.

... Didn't matter.

"I want him to have a safe place to go to. While he's avoiding you." She shrugs. "So."

"If that's what you want, you didn't have to fucking kick me." He scowls, and turns his back to her. However, he sets his shoulders on fire as he retreats inside - a warning. "You can have him on weekends or whatever. He can't run from me forever."

"You threw a fucking fireball at me, you don't get to say shit."

Her retort is automatic, almost playful, vaguely reminiscent of the banter they used to have. But his last words leave a bad taste in her mouth, a chill running through her again that seems to taint every inch of her.

God, how things change.

Glancing back towards the damage they had created, she shrugs. "Better get your ass to HQ soon," she calls after her before heading off to show herself out. She didn't want to be in that place another moment longer.

"Yeah, after I get my door fixed." He scowled, retreating inside to take a painkiller and get new clothes, not to mention call a repairman. As soon as Miruko was out of his house he exhaled, shoulders slumping. 

His eyes closed, he thumps his forehead against the nearest wall. He knew this was coming, eventually. He didn't expect it to be this way. At least, it went better than expected.

[ua-miruko]

[8/19]

ua-miruko

ey... we all need to talk... hmu when yall are available

@ua-todoroki​

?

ua-kaibara

I'm open now

ua-miruko

...

aiight

[Miruko literally just sends a .zip file of the case files she was handed by the Commission]

all the fuckery was caused by a villain. case is being worked on but figured it's something we should discuss

ua-kaibara

I'm.. Somehow unsurprised

ua-miruko

yeah lmao

that's what we said

ua-mar

....... I understand

It’s almost unsurprising if anything at this point is infiltrated by a villain 😔 

What are the odds something like that would happen........and we took the bait

ua-miruko

yeah

it's fucking frustrating

ua-mar

It’s not just frustrating. It’s......overwhelmingly irritating

Oh! Sensei! Is Inasa doing alright?😔 Haven’t heard much from him....

ua-miruko

idk

lot goin on...

gonna see if i can check on him today

fucker rly messed him up, i heard...

ua-mar

I see. Send my wishes of speedy recovery😔.

ua-miruko

i will. soon as its safe to, i'll let yall know so you can visit if you want

ua-mar

.......Sensei, I just wanted to say that I apologize for the shameful display that happened during all of it.  I didn’t put up a fight to save the others, nor did I help accomplish anything for the sake of surviving as a group. To be your intern, was.....a mistake. I can’t accept your training if I proved to fail you in the end 😔

ua-miruko

oi oi oi.... what the fuck is all this all of a sudden? did i ever say you failed me?

you puttin words in my mouth? 😡

ua-mar

....? I didn’t fail you?

ua-miruko

of course you didn't!! wtf

ua-mar

I......ok 😶. I also apologize if I made the intention to put words in your mouth, I promise to never give you that connection ever again.

But.....I promise on never letting you down Sensei! Even if I break all bones, I’ll always be loyal in your service

ua-miruko

try to avoid breakin your bones tho lol

you can't do shit if you're broken... got it? fuck... i ain't askin you to sacrifice it all for fuckin anyone

if you can handle it, do it!!! if you can't, fuckin back off and let someone else do it, alright?

we'll work on getting you stronger

cuz i get what you're feelin

sucks... not gettin to just bash away whatever gets you down sucks it sucks being weak

so i'mma get you to the point where you can be half as strong as me!!! 💪 😤 NO DITCHIN MY TRAINING 😡 tryna make me chase after you lol s2g

ua-mar

Half as you!!?😱 Are you really sure??

ua-miruko

... maybe 1/4!!!

ua-mar

.....DEAL!

Oh! Sensei, I hope this isn’t too far back, but were you okay back then? You seemed a little jumpy and red?🤔 If you needed water, I could’ve fetched it for you 😼! Dehydration is no joke!

ua-miruko

..... ?!?!????!!?!!

fuck you mean lmfao.... i don't GET jumpy

ua-mar

but you’re a bunny Ahaaa 😅 my apologies, I just never seen you like that before

Was it too hot in there? 🤔

ua-miruko

😡 😡 ...

ua-mar

......... 😅 😅 ahhhh nevermind then . I was worried about you.

ua-miruko

lmao

nahhh nothin to be worried about

i was like one of the only people NOT flippin my goddamn shit all over the place

ua-mar

Hmm! Absolutely true! You’re strong in all sorts of ways!!

I’m going to be 1/4th strong just like you 😤 💪 💪 💪 !

ua-miruko

you BETTER!!!

ua-mar

I WILL SENSEI 😤 . IM NOT GOING TO GIVE UP JUST YET 

😼 😼

ua-miruko

DAMN RIGHT

ua-todoroki

Hm.

ua-miruko

???

ua-todoroki

Idk.

I'd rather just forget about all this.

ua-mar

Ahh. Todoroki! Are you planning on visiting Inasa in the hospital? I can accompany you if want?

ua-todoroki

I can do it by myself.

ua-mar

Oh. Ahaaaa yeah! I understand! Some people need their space. Got it 👍

I wonder if Kaibara is okay as well 😔......

ua-miruko

yeah he's a quiet one

ua-mar

Ah! Sensei! 😻 Well you know what they always say, watch out for the quiet ones 😉!

ua-todoroki

:/...

ua-miruko

....can you speak up, kid....

ua-todoroki

Everyone keeps telling me that I did well.

I didn't.

I was just being a coward.

ua-miruko

oi.....what's making you think a thing like that, tho????

shit was impossible, it was supposed to be

ua-mar

So you’re saying it was inevitable? That our fates were to be doomed? ......the villains sabotaging it too is.....

...........ahhh😅 nevermind! I’m just a little tired 😓

ua-miruko

listen, if you're gonna say something, i want you to stick to it...dont be taking shit back the next second

yeah. villains try and make shit impossible. that's the point of 'em, that's all they ever wanna accomplish

our job...is not to let them...

...

sometimes they win tho

and when they win, you cant be sitting around bashing yourself. .

you gotta just get up and move on!! keep fuckin fighting them back til you kick through whatever BULLSHIT they managed

ua-mar

.........okay I understand 😔

Villains are inevitable but getting treated as a punching bag isn’t 😤

Miruko Sensei........I know things aren’t exactly in high spirits right now, but thank you, for everything.....

ua-miruko

havent done much that rly deserves gratitude lol....

but no prob

i gotta start doin better too so... 😤😤😤

ua-mar

You do deserve gratitude ☺️! You’re our Sensei! A respected hero in the Top 10!

You’re a strong person in a multitude of ways! Anyone that says otherwise will catch these hands (ง'̀-'́)ง

ua-todoroki

Even if it was impossible I wish I had done more. Confirmed it, at least.

ua-mar

Todoroki.....😔

I think Miruko Sensei wouldn’t like it if we kept on bashing ourselves 😔

ua-mar

We can build ourselves back up again as a team ☺️!

ua-miruko

.....yeah. haha

ua-mar

Sensei, I know Inasa is still in the hospital at the moment, so we’re not complete as a full team, but are we still going to be sticking to our training routines or will we be doing patrol duties?

ua-miruko

nah...i can handle patrols fine on my own

stick to training... we should resume em in a few days, yeah

ua-mar

Understood! We’ll commence with training!

[ua-miruko]

So you’re showing your empathetic side~ How rare 🤔 I GUESS you do cherish them huh ☺️ You’re not weak for admitting it, you just not used to it Don’t worry, I’m sure they know that you’re proud of them for being strong just like you 😇 You should also be proud for molding the future’s finest heroes under your guidance 💪 You’re not just a high ranking hero, but a teacher who’s good at her job. If you’re there for them, they’ll be there for you 😌

...t-tch...

[ua-miruko]

[DELETED FOOTAGE/TODOROKI SHOUTO]

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT 9/21 @ 3:59 pm @ua-todoroki:

[Barely even a minute after Shouto leaves, Miruko appears in the hall again, looking for him. Her scowl turns into a grimace when she sees him, collapsed into the wall, rushing to his side but being careful not to touch him just yet.]

MIRUKO: ... Ey... you okay?

[Shouto is shaking. He doesn't expect the door to open after him, and he only curls up into himself more as it does. He can't handle Miruko seeing him like this.]

SHOUTO: ...

SHOUTO: I'm ... fine.. 

[He tries to hide it, but there's an obvious tremor in his voice, breaking through.]

[Miruko frowns, watching him curl up the more. Guilt surges up in her, an unfamiliar feeling that makes her cross her arms and look away for a moment.]

MIRUKO: ... I didn't mean for th-...

[She stops. If Shouto was anything like her, and she knows he is, he'd hate anything that could be read as pity.]

MIRUKO: ... Can I trust you to not run off while I finish up? Or should I wait for you so we can get started again?

[Maybe, if she phrases it all like it's just work, like she doesn't mind that he's affected so, he'll react better...]

[She's right in her assumption.

When she starts talking at first he doesn't move. As she starts again he seems to relax, slowly letting his shoulders down so he can look up and speak.]

SHOUTO: .. Yeah. Keep going... I'm fine.

[Miruko nods.]

MIRUKO: Cool. When you want back in, knock on the door, yeah? [she continues, relaxing now that she knows how to handle him.]

MIRUKO: Or, if you want... 

[She frowns towards the hall.]

MIRUKO:  Could make yourself useful and go back to the police, explain this shit for me. I'm dropping his charges, he'll be done after this. I'm just gonna have my agency handle all this after, they all get in the fucking way...

[The footage cuts abruptly off from that point on-]

[ua-miruko]

[Miruko frowns to herself. She's sitting just outside of Touya's cell, grimacing as she pokes through his files. She has his confiscated phone in hand, poking through the messages. With her other hand, she types a quick message to @ua-todoroki to see where she is, quickly passing instructions on how to get to his cell.]

MIRUKO: ...

[Shouto is close enough that he doesn't feel the need to reply when he gets directions, only making his way to the cell. He's stopped by a couple of guards, wondering what a teenager is doing there, but he's quick to explain and move on. Within a few minutes he's turning a corner and seeing Miruko, stopping there.]

SHOUTO: ...

[Her ears perk and twitch at the sound of him approaching. Miruko looks up as he turns the corner, gesturing him over.]

MIRUKO: Ey... Good timing. How ya been?

[He hesitates before walking over, awkwardly shifting as he tries to figure out whether to sit or stand.

He ends up crouching, just so that they're on the same level.]

SHOUTO: Fine...

MIRUKO: Good.

[She ruffles his hair briefly before jerking a finger towards the cell.]

MIRUKO: You know anythin' about this case yet or what?

SHOUTO: Uh...

[He thinks for a moment, almost distracted by the ruffle.]

SHOUTO: No.

MIRUKO: Right...

[She holds the folder out for him.]

MIRUKO: Two perps arrested for trespassin' on UA soil, one of 'em's gettin' a charge for arson on account of literally blowin' the fuck up all over the place.

[She shifts the pages until she can show him a picture of the security footage the guards had captured of the event. She points towards the blue flames.]

MIRUKO: Looks familiar, yeah? 'Course, it also looks different than, well, anythin' we've ever seen... Anyway.

[Another shift of the files. Miruko holds up a picture of Touya's hero license for him.]

MIRUKO: The guy's allegedly an alternate of your brother. You know at least something about this, right?

[Shouto stares, unresponsive, at the photo's and accompanying information.]

SHOUTO: Yeah.

[He answers without looking up.

Quickly, he grabs for the picture of Touya with his quirk activated. A sick feeling rises in him before he's shoving it away again, replacing it with the ID, looking over it carefully.]

SHOUTO: I talked to him a little.

[Miruko nods slowly. She shifts a little, offering him the phone she's still holding in her hand.]

MIRUKO: Yeah. I noticed.

[Their messages are still pulled up, fully on display.]

SHOUTO: Oh.

[As he realizes what it is his face pales, and he takes the phone and scrolls through quickly, like he needed to confirm what it is.

It's everything.

...

He holds it tight in his hand.]

SHOUTO: Um...

[She simply shrugs a little.]

MIRUKO: : I'm the only one that's read this. If that helps at all.

SHOUTO: ...

[He's silent, thinking, maybe avoiding... really, he just doesn't know what to say.]

MIRUKO: ...

[Gently, she reaches for the phone again, easing it out of her grip. Absentmindedly, she starts deleting messages, one by one.]

MIRUKO: ... Really incriminating stuff. I mean, you didn't say much at all, but I got the gist...

[She deletes another message, quiet.]

MIRUKO: ...

You really believe it's your brother in there? In some way or form?

SHOUTO: ...

[Shouto nods, slowly.]

SHOUTO: Yes.

[His voice is quiet.]

SHOUTO: ...

SHOUTO: No one else would know my father like that.

SHOUTO: ...

[It's a confession, and it hurts. He wants to take the words back the instant he's said them, but all he can do is bite his tongue and look down.]

SHOUTO: ...

MIRUKO: ...

[Miruko lets out a sigh before wrapping an arm around Shouto's shoulders. It's the only thing she can even comprehend doing...]

[Shouto is stunned still for a few beats, until he gets himself together enough to relax slightly.]

SHOUTO: ...

SHOUTO: I'm sorry..

[She just squeezes a little tighter.]

MIRUKO: You don't have to apologize, kid...

SHOUTO: ...

[He shrugs.]

SHOUTO: I don't know...

SHOUTO: ...

SHOUTO: It's... bad. [He breathes the words out.] Really bad.

[She keeps holding him, rubbing his back a little, trying her best to ground him.]

MIRUKO: ... How bad?...

SHOUTO: I...

[He falters.]

SHOUTO: ... Worse than you think... I think... I think it was worse for me and Touya, here...

[She nods slowly, just waiting for him to continue.]

MIRUKO: ... Worse... how?

SHOUTO: It...

SHOUTO: ....

SHOUTO: I think... I.

SHOUTO: I think he might have killed Touya.. 

[His voice is eerily even for such a disgusting sentence to come out. It shocks him, makes him try to bury his own grave in Miruko, so he can lie in it, face the same fate as his brother. He can't help but think that it feels appropriate.]

[Miruko tenses, just slightly, at his words. Her grip on him slowly starts to tighten all the more.]

MIRUKO: ...

MIRUKO: What makes you say that?

SHOUTO: ...

SHOUTO: He wasn't seen again after a big fight with him... that's what I've heard... and...

[He starts sounding confused. His head is muddled.]

SHOUTO: Natsuo's said it a few times... that maybe dad just... and... I.. I think he'd do it...

SHOUTO: ...

SHOUTO: I think he'd do it to me, too, if I failed him... I think he'd kill me...

[Miruko... nods... It's all so hard to listen to. So hard to believe. Slowly, she lets go of him, staring at him, searching his expression.]

MIRUKO: ... Am I the first person you've ever told this to?

[Shouto doesn't have to think for long before he replies.]

SHOUTO: Yes.

[Another nod.]

MIRUKO: Okay.

[Another nod... and then she knocks their heads together in an affectionate little gesture, bumping her forehead against Shouto's.]

MIRUKO: I'm gonna kill him. [She lets out a huff, sitting back, her demeanor suddenly casual.] Hope you're good with that.

[Shouto's eyes go wide at the small gesture, and he looks up at her. Surprised. Not objecting, rather, curious.]

SHOUTO: Yeah...

[His demeanor changes with hers, but his relaxes, like he's relieved. Miruko reacting so... calmly takes a weight off of his shoulders.]

SHOUTO: That's alright..

MIRUKO: [She grins at him.] Good.

[Pocketing the phone, she returns to the file.]

MIRUKO: And I'm hope you're good to face your 'brother', because I want you in there. I want you to get used to the protocol, see how it works... identify him properly, for everyone's sake. Etc, etc...

SHOUTO: [He nods quickly.] Yeah... I can do that.

SHOUTO: Not sure how much I can help with identifying him though, I barely even saw him when he was around...

MIRUKO: Yeah. But he seems to know you, plenty. I wanna know how much he recognizes you. And I want him to know that we're on his side, if he is who he says he is.

... So I want you to appeal to him. Make him cooperate, since he likes to be such a little shit...

SHOUTO: Oh...

[Shouto nods, files away everything she's saying for later use.]

SHOUTO: Okay. I can do that.

MIRUKO: Good.

[She reaches out to give his shoulder one last squeeze before standing up.]

MIRUKO: Sooner we deal with this, the sooner we can kick the crap outta your dad. I'm headin' back in but stay here and wait for my signal... Got it?

[He stands with her and nods again.]

SHOUTO: Got it.

MIRUKO: Good.

[With that, she flashes one more grin before she returns into the room, closing the door gently behind her.]

[ua-miruko]

[8/20]

ua-miruko

yo...

wanted to check up on ya

@ua-todoroki

Oh. Hi.

ua-miruko

lol

sup

ua-todoroki

Not much.

ua-miruko

cool cool

still feelin like shit?

ua-todoroki

Yeah.

ua-miruko

sucks

how can i help?

ua-todoroki

Idk.

What did you think about how i did at orientation.

ua-miruko

not much tbh

just saw it as it was

why'd ya do it?

i ask cuz every time someone reacts to it, you freak...

ua-todoroki

I did it because I didn't want to deal with what was going on.

Everyone keeps telling me that I was smart for figuring out that it was fake. In all honesty I didn't even know for sure.

I just wanted to get out.

ua-miruko

right...

ua-todoroki

I don't think it was smart at all.

ua-miruko

fine, don't consider it smart then

will say tho

you got a detail no one else got...and in a situation like that, an inch kinda equals a mile, yknow?

that's why everyone thinks its smart

you do that in the biz, doesnt matter if yer tryna run away or nothing, they're gonna take that inch and try and help people with it

so

.... it ain't your fault you got overwhelmed

shit happens

people wanna focus on the positive instead of the negative, s'the only reason why it's like that for you rn

ua-todoroki

Oh.

ua-miruko

yeah

if everyone was like, whoa the kid fuckin killed himself what's up with that, well

....you can see why no one wants to talk about that

sucks

ua-todoroki

Yeah.

ua-miruko

if they talk about it... they'd have to worry bout you

be responsible for you and shit

ua-todoroki

Idk.

...

ua-miruko

???

ua-todoroki

Maybe they should.

ua-miruko

yeah...

ua-todoroki

:/...

ua-miruko

i worry bout you

ua-todoroki

Oh...

ua-miruko

lol...

ua-todoroki

...

ua-miruko

gotta speak up, kid...

i wanna help

ua-todoroki

It wouldn't matter.

ua-miruko

:/

try me

ua-todoroki

Idk..

ua-miruko

aiight...

you dont gotta

not tryna force nothin...

just wanted you to know you can talk to me

or ask me for shit

ua-todoroki

Okay

Thank you

ua-miruko

yeah...

no prob

ua-miruko

wanna come to the agency? got games here we can play

or we could spar

beating shit up makes me feel better lol

ua-todoroki

Yeah... Sure.

That'd be nice.

ua-miruko

cool

need me to pick you up?

ua-todoroki

I'll be there soon.

Thank you.

ua-miruko

anytime

💜

[not-marksmannn]

He rushed to help him stabilize. Now, even with all of that, there were many red flags about what's happening. Perhaps an eating disorder? Since it would make sense being in the bathroom, but it wouldn't explain the lack of smells. So that meant he wasn't there to puke.

He held his arm to use as a make-shift crutch for Souma, as his legs got used to the blood rushing through them.

"I'm fine. Don't need to use the bathroom," he said, keeping his voice calm. He looked to both sides, in case anyone wanted to enter that place.

"Souma, I came here because of your sobbing... I was worried, and I came here."

Looking at him, Kazuto saw in Souma the same eyes when he had those thoughts of dying, the images of him falling off the bridge flashing briefly before disappearing. Someone fragile that failed by instinct, yet they kept going forward. Loneliness, the contradiction of wanting to be alone yet, for some reason, craving company.

He didn't know how fast he reacted, but his body acted by itself, a subconscious wish making its way into reality.

"It's fine, Souma. If you want to tell me what happened, feel free to do so. If not, then I could help, it's necessary that you reach out, you know?"

    His legs were not the only odd thing about Souma. He bared a tail longer than his legs are, a sharp white horn grew from his forehead, his nails were naturally black too. Not to mention his vibrant hair. But crying was the most unusual thing about him now. He was quite startled upon realizing he was no longer alone in the bathroom, and scrubbed at his cheeks to rid himself of tears. I didn’t work.

    “I’m fine, I just- I was-” Souma couldn’t think of a reasonable excuse. He had no time to. “I’m sorry- did you want to use the bathroom? I’ll, uh, I’ll just.” Souma pushed himself up, finding himself leaning against the wall to keep from falling over. His legs were shaky.

[not-marksmannn]

Kazuto found the source of the sound, inside, a guy was sitting with his back against the wall. In a world of distinct people, he would immediately notice his legs, which were closer to an animal's than a human's.

But, in this case... He didn't care. He wondered the reason Souma (was that his name? Remembering all of his classmates' names was becoming a more difficult task now) was crying. Taking care of other people was a hero's job, and if the situation didn't call for a catchphrase or an epic battle against a villain, smaller acts like this made the difference.

Kazuto, as if driven to help, he sat down next to him, hands hesitating on where they should be.

"It might not be my place to ask this, but... Are you ok, Souma?"

    Souma had thought he was alone in the dorms, with nothing and no one to worry about finding him. He preferred to be left alone sometimes. But more often than not, Souma found himself wishing someone, anyone, was there at his side. Someone to keep his mind busy. Keep him from doing what he had done. 

    Sometimes he wanted only to eat like a normal person. Not constantly remember to take his capsules before he goes out. Not have to drink antifreeze, or eat nightshade berries instead of juice and cranberries. Of course, in doing so, Souma finds himself here. Tears streaming down his face, sobs hiccuping from his chest, and his throat aching the only way it can during this. He sat with his back against the wall, trying to reign himself in. He needed to clean up. He needed to not be seen, to keep his face of togetherness and confidence. What a liar he is.

    He failed to notice someone coming into the bathroom.

[not-marksmannn]

The prism hypothesis.

Kazuto walked towards the bathroom, looking to wash away the sweat from the exercise from before. This day was harsher than usual, as he forced himself to train more time than he could stand un other situations.

He had noticed a certain lack of students in U.A this day. Perhaps they were going home? But, in that case, he could have been aware of that, since students with an absence permit were posted on the wall with the day they left.

For him, it didn't matter that much, people could come and go.

But, the sounds he heard while entering were a clear sign that something was off. Making a beeline, Kazuto walked to the toilet, where he heard the sobs, supposedly.

He hoped it wasn't something bad.

(starter for @colorspecthero about Kazuto and Souma being classmates and some angst ensues)