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Uraraka was first filled with an almost immeasurable anger as she had to be carried to Recovery Girl. Bakugou, that bastard. He never had to worry about not becoming a hero. She would have done anything to fling him into the crater he had made in their fight. She just anted to be a hero, and thanks to him, she might never get the chance. Bakugou didn't deserve that win. He just didn't. It wasn't fair. The second feeling Uraraka was filled with was sadness. She didn't deserve to win. She gave everything and it wasn't enough. That was her own fault. "Uraraka, everything will be alright. Recovery Girl will help you," Midnight muttered softly. She had to carry Uraraka since the poor girl could barely move. She felt a large amount of sympathy for her. Midnight had been rooting for her. No one was disappointed in Uraraka, but everyone could feel the sadness of her losing. "You did a wonderful job, Uraraka Ochako. You should be proud." Uraraka started crying a bit more. How could a pro hero like Midnight say something like that? She had failed, why should she be proud of that? Midnight was just trying to be nice. She didn't deserve the flattery. "Oh, please don't cry. I am sure the pain will go away soon, just hang in there." Midnight tried her best to comfort the crying teenager. She hated it when people cried, it made her uncomfortable since she didn't know how to comfort people. At least she didn't have to worry about it for much longer, the nurse's office was a few steps away. The student she carried in her arms would be okay. She was sure of it. Midoriya had rushed to the waiting room as soon as soon as he could. He had managed to run into Bakugou, the last person he wanted to see. He was mad at his old childhood friend, but his stuttering gave away his nervousness. Midoriya had a reasonable fear of Bakugou. But the fact that Bakugou didn't think Uraraka was smart enough to come up with the plan on her own made his entire body tense. His voice was steely as he spoke to Bakugou, startling him. But the interaction soon ended as quickly as it started, leaving Bakugou stunned. As soon as Midoriya opened the door, his eyes landed on Uraraka."Oh hey, Deku! Darn, I can't believe I lost. I really underestimated Bakugou, huh?" Uraraka smiled, rubbing her neck as she spoke. Midoriya was a bit surprised at his friend's upbeat attitude, but that feeling subsided as he realized what she was trying to do. It made him feel a bit sad."Oh, hey, Uraraka. You know.. Um. You know you don't have to.." He stared at his shoes before continuing, "You don't have to pretend to be happy. I'm, uh, I'm worried about you, you know? So, uh... So if you want to talk about it, or something.. Uh.. I'm here if you want to?" He finished uncertainly. His hands were tugging slightly at his uniform as he waited for a response. After about a minute of silence passed, Midoriya finally looked at Uraraka. She was crying. Midoriya moved closer to her, resting his hand on her shoulder. He wasn't sure how to comfort people, but he remembered his mom doing something like this to him when he got upset."I'm... I'm sorry, Deku.." Uraraka said. She wiped her eyes before looking up to Midoriya. He was such a good friend to her, he made her feel a lot better. "I'll be fine. I just have to train harder. I'll be fine," She sighed. Midoriya surprised her by stooping down and hugging her. Uraraka was so overwhelmed with emotion, she let more tears fall from her eyes. She didn't even know why she was crying anymore. All she did know was that she was clinging to Deku as he reassured her. She pulled away after a few minutes to glances at her phone. Missed call from her parents. She'd have to call back later."Hey, uh... Uraraka? Can I talk to you about something?" Midoriya spoke up after letting go of Uraraka. She nodded, looking up at him to let him know she was listening. Midoriya took a deep breath in. Midoriya could go on for hours about the things he observed. But he needed to make his explanation quick. Uraraka had to understand why he went to her for his plans. He began to speak, watching Uraraka's expression as he did. Hr went on about how heroes didn't care about people like her. They only cared about villains, but not about the people who actually suffered. All heroes did was catch the villain and leave the civilians to take care of damage. People who suffered from the fights heroes caused were left with no homes. He explained how the rate of homelessness climbed every year as more heroes came about because of their fights. It was unfair and horrible that people should suffer even more because heroes don't care about other people. Once he finished, Uraraka bit her lip."So you came to me to help you... To help you do what, exactly?" Uraraka stared at him in anticipation. Midoriya let a smile come across his lips."I want you to help me, uh.. I want you to help me make sure that.. Uhm, that heroes don't do this to anyone else. You said it yourself, we make a really great team! And I think if we work together, we'll make the world such a better place!" Midoriya smiled, bringing his fist to his chest. Uraraka was convinced he meant no harm with his plans, but she needed time to think about it. "I dunno yet.. Maybe I'll have an answer in a few days. Is that okay?" Uraraka noticed how Deku's smile faltered, but he nodded."Yeah! I'll explain more later. Wish me luck on my match!" Midoriya sat down as Uraraka gathered her things."Good luck, Deku! You're gonna do great out there!"
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Uraraka sighed as she walked to the train platform. Aizawa had given her permission to take a few days off since her match had taken quite a toll on her. She was glad to have the time off to rest, and to think more about what Deku had talked to her about. He had brought up some good points, but she didn't know what he was planning. The uncertainty of his actions was what had made Uraraka want more time to think about her choices.
Once the train pulled up to the platform, a few people stepped out. It was too early for people to come from work or school, so it didn't surprise Uraraka. It was actually nice not being around a lot of people. She sat down in silence, texting her father one last time before dropping her phone into her bag.
Her father was planning something for when she got home, and although she was curious, Uraraka felt a bit guilty. She wanted to help her parents make money, and not have them spend it on things she didn't absolutely need. But her father insisted, and she didn't want to spoil his fun. Besides, maybe she did need something to cheer her up. She could definitely use a bit of joy in her day...
Uraraka jerked as the train came to a stop. She had been so absorbed in her thoughts, she hadn't noticed she was close to being home. Gathering her things, she got up and walked out behind a few others.
It was bright outside. The sun shined in the crystal blue sky, making Uraraka cover her eyes. The beautiful weather made her feel a bit more at ease. She smiled to herself, taking a deep breath in before hefting her bag over her shoulder and running towards her home. She had things to do, and she wanted to make sure that they got done before her parents came home. It was the least she could do, after all.
As soon as her home came into view, Uraraka felt more at ease. She went inside and set her bag on the floor. The home was quiet except for the sound of her own breathing.
Shaking herself out of her slight daze she had unknowingly stepped into, Uraraka flicked a light on and opened a window. The air and heat weren't on. It didn't surprise Uraraka, they kept those utilities off when no one was home. Uraraka didn't want to use any power if she didn't need to, so she just stuck to having opened windows. The fresh air and soft breeze felt nice anyways, so Uraraka didn't mind it.
The girl sighed softly, going back to the door to grab her things before flopping onto the couch. She reached into her bag, pulling out her composition book she had. She was intending to go over her notes for class, but she stared into space as her mind worked over something that was not the homework.
"Maybe Deku... Maybe he has a plan. But why would he need my help?"
Her thoughts branched off from there, and before she knew it, her phone went off.
"Oh!" Uraraka snapped out of her daze and picked up her buzzing device. She was getting a call from her mother.
Answering, Uraraka was met with static background noise and what sounded like screams. "Mom? Mom, what's going on? Are you okay?"
"Och- Villains and- Shopping district with- Stay put! Love you- We- Okay--" Her mother's voice was choppy. The phone lines near her must have fallen. Worry built up in Ochako's chest, but before she could say anything, she was met with a soft click. The call had been disconnected.
Standing up so fast that the couch moved back, Uraraka grabbed her bag and headed for the door. Her mom had told her to stay put, but she needed to make sure they were okay. Shoving her feet into her shoes, Uraraka headed out the door like a bullet. Panic surged through her body like it was her blood. She didn’t stop to apologize to the people she had run into as she went to the shopping district. She could already hear the screams and sounds of things crashing to the ground. The new pro hero, Mount Lady was battling against a villain Uraraka didn’t recognize. Police were still a block away.
Uraraka pushed past a crowd of people trying to get out of the area, calling her parents’ names desperately.
Uraraka noticed part of a building had been destroyed, knocked down from when Mount Lady had been fighting. Hoping her instincts were wrong as she approached the debris, Uraraka scanned for any sign of her parents. She felt her entire body become ice cold when she noticed there was a foot sticking out from under a piece of rubble. It looked like one of her mother's shoes. Placing her hands on the debris after running over, she used her quirk to lift it. She made sure to grab it once it was a few feet up from where it had landed before grabbing it and moving it aside. Reluctantly, she turned back.
Her parents had been crushed to death. Both of them were dead because of Mount Lady being careless. Running over, Uraraka grabbed her mother's shoulders desperately.
Uraraka was trembling, shaking her mother’s body as tears threatened to spill down her face. “Come on, Mom… You gotta get up! Come on, please! You-You can’t just give up now!” Ochako’s voice cracked and broke as she yelled at her mother’s lifeless body. She finally glanced up from her mother’s face, noticing her father a few feet away. Scrambling to her feet, Ochako crouched by her father’s head. His eyes were open, but there was no life. Just a lingering sense of horror left in his eyes when he realized he would die with his wife.
Ochako grabbed his shoulders, shaking him in an almost violent manner as she screamed at him to get up. She let out a wail that echoed off the debris and broken buildings, disregarding the sound of police sirens coming closer. She wasn’t ready to be alone, she still
needed
her parents. Pressing her head to her father’s chest, Uraraka continued to sob. Mount Lady hadn’t been careful of the buildings around her, resulting in her parents getting crushed by concrete. Heroes were supposed to save people, but her parents had gotten crushed because of one. The people who cheered her on the most were dead because a hero was reckless.
“Hey, kiddo.. Can you stand?” Someone had grabbed Ochako’s shoulder gently. Uraraka brought her head up, sniffling as she looked to see who was talking to her. It was a police officer. Paramedics were already taking care of her mother. She nodded, trying to push what happened out of her mind for at least the moment. The officer smiled gently. “Come on, kiddo. Let’s get you down to the station, okay? Are you hungry at all?”
Uraraka nodded slightly, keeping her eyes on her feet as she stood up. The officer held her shoulder as he led her to the other officers. She looked up as someone stuck their hand out to her. An officer with the head of a pig smiled at her. “Hey there, kid. We’re gonna go down to the station, okay? Do you know where your parents are?”
Uraraka’s face scrunched up as she tried not to cry. Both the officers knelt beside her, trying to comfort her. She knew they hadn’t known what had happened to her parents, but she still felt a sting from the words. “My- My par-parents a-a-are-” Uraraka tried her best to speak, but she could barely breathe through her sobs, let alone talk. The pig officer shushed her, rubbing her back. Uraraka wiped her eyes furiously, taking deep breaths to calm down. It took a good few minutes for her to stop crying. “I’m sorry… But-But my parents.. They.. They were-”
“Oh, kiddo.. I am sorry to hear that. Do you have someone you can call? You can use my phone if you need.” The first officer- Uraraka saw the name Oniga on their badge- offered. Uraraka shook her head, pulling her phone from her bag. She was lucky it hadn’t fallen out when she was caught up in everything. She was lucky to even have her bag still. Pushing the thoughts away, she found Deku’s contact. She hoped he wasn’t in a match at the moment. Uraraka felt the slightest amount of relief when he picked up.
“Hey, Izuku… Something- Something happened..”