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I wanted to be a hero.
Since I was a kid, I knew of All Might’s work. I wanted to be him in every way, perhaps even greater. I wanted to save people. I wanted to have a blushing, charming smile on my face even as I watch people die, so they’d know that even in their last moments they were safe even if I didn’t know for certain if they were.
And here I was, bleeding out, Toshinori Yagi staring down at me curiously like a bug on its back.
He wasn’t All Might, no quirk. Toshinori. Just the man who saved me when no one else could, the man who took me in when no one else had hope in me.
But he couldn't save me now. Not like this.
His face was ugly, torn and scrunched with tears. I had never seen him cry. All Might has never cried when saving someone, never failed to save anyone, who am I to have the honour of being first?
The wind picked up, the dust never settled here anymore. Never. It was dirty, buildings gone, ever since the war started, the villains ate away at everything we could have. Everything we enjoyed. Everything we loved. And I guess that doesn't stop at me and the Symbol of Peace.
I tried to guard my face from the wind, using up last legged muscle energy to flutter my right wing and hold it to my face to keep scrap from my eyes. I fail. A rush of pain sprints through my back like lightning. I jolt forward, crying out in agony. I can feel the blood running down my spine. Cold.
Toshinori hugs me close, my face up against his beating heart. His lungs inflating as he sobs. I wish I could hug him back. Who am I to witness the Symbol Of Peace cry?
“My wing,” I coughed up blood. This is real. “It’s gone, isn’t it?”
He looked away from me. He just held me tighter. I knew that was an answer in itself.
“I’m scared.” I whispered around a whine.
He met my gaze again, his eyes weary. He was looking for something, antsy.
“He’s not coming.”
“Stop it.”
He quickly retorted.
Toshinori’s body steamed and crackled, his quirk reached its short limit for the day. My face was wet with blood and tears, bruised. My eyebrows furrowed with fear.
“I’m going to die without saying goodbye to him.” He shook his head.
“Izuku is coming.”
Izuku Midoriya.
My best friend, my fate, my brother.
And I don’t get to say goodbye.
Goodbye is so weird. Who knows if it’s ever truly goodbye. What about heaven? Or a next life? It’s never a promised forever. Just a deep sinking doubt that it might be.
And yet that was enough.
I couldn’t move. I want my brother.
“I’m sorry.” I whispered. “I failed you.”
“Never.”
I knew better than to end up like this.
When I was invited to UA, even all the way in England, I felt like destiny had met my prayers and society had let me in. I knew that no matter how many bricks were thrown at me that I could build a castle.
And now my reign is over.
Everyone's reign ends eventually. Right?
Why did I think it would last forever? That I was worthy?
Katsuki knew it.
My mom knew it.
My dad knew it.
And I still got on that plane to Japan.
Just to end up here. Sitting in the arms of the man who had enough faith in me to give me the crown.
And I know what’s waiting.
I look up at the sky. The orange sky. Fire swarmed, empty, lifeless. Like the world was stopped.
“I am so proud of you, Hana.” Toshinori punches me in the gut. And suddenly I’m coughing up dried up blood as the words make me violently whale.
Hana.
It means blossom.
Our own little thing. Since my name is Bloom, he said I was like a brand new sprouted flower. I had the potential of being a hero with all of the pollen I pass on to others.
I grew dizzy, my eyes gaining weight. I was drifting from land and I had no anchor. No voice. I needed to scream, but who would hear that hadn’t already known my outcome?
I looked up to the blurry daze of dancing stars that was Toshinori, tears and nausea consuming me like the truth. And suddenly, I knew. I knew that this was it. And to die here, now, with him. I smiled.
“I love you, dad.”