Fractured Wings

The room was bathed in the light of the late afternoon's sun that was struggling to pierce through the curtains. Hideaki Mitsuhara sat slumped in a leather armchair, his massive bear-like frame almost dwarfing the furniture. His fur, once a robust dark brown, now carried streaks of silver, a testament to age and a conscience laden with regret. 

Save for the silent rhythmic ticking of a clock, the room's silence was deafening. His mind wandered, as it often did, to Akari and the ghosts of the past that haunt him. 

Akari Mitsuhara. The name brought a faint, fleeting smile to his lips, quickly overshadowed by the familiar pang of guilt. He remembered the first time he saw her: a fragile seven year old girl with wide, curious eyes that shone like polished pink jewels. Her cloudy pink hair, tangled and unkempt, framed a face that was afraid. 

She had been introduced to the Eden Project under circumstances he never cared to know in his past. But even now when he tried his hardest to find out the circumstances, it only led to dead parents who's corpses were buried in their own chimney. 

Akari had adapted quick enough to the program which had amazed Hideaki, but now looking back at it he was only ashamed. "She shouldn't have been there." he whispered under his breath. "None of them should have, it shouldn't have even been an idea." 

The Eden Project had been no place for any child. It was a place that ripped apart a child's individuality to paint an impossible piece on them. But Akari was one of the children who was resilient enough even though broken, the spark fading from her eye is what made him choose to adopt her when the project was dismantled. 

Even though he was advised against it. 

He leaned forward, his clawed hands gripping the edge of the armchair. The memories came rushing back: Akari's awkward attempts to adjust to a normal life, she had gotten kicked out of two schools already and decided it wasn't for her. She was smart enough anyway. 

She was independent to a fault, headstrong and stubborn, but beneath that exterior was a girl who had endured more than what most adults ever would. There were things that fascinated him about her, like the way she twirled her pink hair around her finger as she was deep in thought. Or how she would always find herself in the smallest patches of sunlight. Like she was drawn to warmth and light. 

Yet, no matter how much he provided, he knew it wasn't enough. He couldn't replace the family she had lost, that were erased. He could wipe away the scars on her body. Every birthday, every milestone, was a reminder of his wicked ambition. 

A celebration of her resilience and a condemnation of his past. He pitied her, yes, but his decision to take her in was more than an act of pity. It was an attempt at atonement, a desperate bid to make amends for the countless lives he had ruined. 

And then there was Soryu, Kobe Arakawa. His massive hands trembled as he reached for a glass of water on the side table. He remembered the boy vividly, a tempest of raw emotion and unrefined talent when he first arrived at the facility. Kobe had been loud, feisty and unyielding, a stark contrast to the quiet figure he became later on in the project. The transformation had been swift, as it was supposed to be. 

The project's relentless training and psychological conditioning had modeled him into one of it's finest students. Hideaki had seen the news reports. And he even had continuous live access to the Game that Daigo Kiyoshi, another student, had initiated. 

Kobe Arakawa was strong, incredibly so. And he certainly still holds onto teachings from the project, those were hard to let go. Now he is a villain, one of the highest rank. One of the most wanted men in the country. 

A weapon turning against a society that had failed him. Although Hideaki would say that he is still lucky since Kobe Arakawa could have done worse than kill a few villains that he was molded to take down anyway. What people in the commission and even outside of it were afraid of, was the potential. 

And there were many more. Some that he knows have decided to join the league too. Two of them. But those two were probably still stronger than Kobe Arakawa. The thought made Hideaki's stomach churn.

His hands clenched, claws digging into his palms. He had told Hawks everything, every schedule, every document, every name he could recall. It was the least he could do, a final effort to bring some semblance of justice to thee children he had failed. Hawks had promised to act, to root out the remnants of the project and dismantle them piece by piece. It was a small comfort, but it didn't absolve him. Nothing ever would. 

The sound of footsteps broke his reverie. Akari's voice, bright and cheerful, echoed through the hall as she entered the room. "I'm heading out for a bit!" She announced, her bright sparkling eyes had excitement. She wore a simple white dress, her hair tied in a loose ponytail that swayed as she moved. Her energy was infectious, a stark contrast to the heavy atmosphere that clung to Hideaki like a shroud. 

He looked up at her, his expression softening despite the weight in his chest. "Don't be out too late," he said in a gruffy tone, his voice tinged with concern and affection. 

Akari paused at the door, turning back to flash him a radiant smile. "I won't! Oh, and thanks for the breakfast this morning. It was perfect." 

He managed a small smile in return, the corners of his mouth barely lifting. "Happy birthday Akari." 

Her eyes widened briefly before her smile deepened, and she gave him a playful salute. "Thanks, old man!" she teased before disappearing out the door in a blur of motion. 

The room fell silent once more, but this time it felt heavier. Hideaki leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the door through which she had just left. "Fifteen," he murmured. "She's fifteen today. June 18th. Another year... another reminder." 

He closed his eyes, exhaling a deep shaky breath. "Judgement will come soon enough," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "And I'll accept it, whatever it may be. For her sake... for all their sakes." The clock continued it's steady ticking as the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows in the room. And for the first time in what felt like years, Hideaki allowed a single tear to escape, rolling down his fur-covered cheek before disappearing into silence. 

____

Akari Mitsuhara's vibrant pink hair glimmered under the mid afternoon sun, catching the light as she skipped along the bustling streets of Musutafu. Her simple white dress swayed with her every movement, the fabric light and airy, a stark contrast to the dense, chaotic energy within her. 

She carried no phone, no bag, just herself and the world's infinite possibilities laid out before her like a never-ending series of snapshots waiting to be captured. 

"So bright out... So much colour, perfect day for my birthday." She declared, her voice carrying a cheerful lilt that turned heads as she passed. 

She raised her hands to shield her golden-flecked eyes, pupils shimmering as her quirk Snapshot, activated. In an instant her vision sharpened, each detail snapping into perfect focus. A street performer juggling flaming batons caught her attention. She smiled, capturing the image with a blink, the performer's movements frozen mid-flame in her mind's eye. 

"Not bad! Seven out of Ten for the flair though." She muttered, skipping onward. 

As she wandered the streets of Musutafu, Akari's thought's flickered to the past, to the Eden Project. She'd been reflecting more than usual, maybe it was cause it was her birthday, another year she was free to do what she wants on the day she came into this world. Her fourth year out. 

Her fifteenth birthday. "What better way to spend it than a visit to the number one hero school in the country?" She asked aloud, grinning to herself. 

She had missed out on the sports festival, but her interest in the school didn't start then, or even when they were attacked by a group of villains. 

It happened on a random day, when she seen the news on the day of the raid on the Shie Hassaiki. When she had seen him again. 

'Paper boy.' Or 'Ko-Chan.' she remembered calling him, she remembered his name. 'Kobe Arakawa.' 

She remembered all the names of the children within the project, it was a benefit of her quirk. 

She remembers thinking of the people there, and then she seen his quirk at play, even though he was wearing a mask and going by the name Soryu. Her grin softened. 

Akari held her hand up to her chest, she can recall that hand being held so tightly one time by him as they both tried escaping one time. They were caught, and he took a beating in front of everyone for them both. 

Akari doesn't know why, she never cared to then. She didn't thank him back then. It is something she would do now. But would he remember. He had changed a lot before they had all been separated. He was cold, he walked around silently like he was constantly sneaking around, he spoke minimally even when they found spots to do so in private. 

He turned his back more often, he got strong and what made him angry before never made him bite again. She remember's it all, his eyes seemed so... hollow. Akari thought she admired him, but if he was still like that... like a drone only built for taking orders... "Then Ko-chan wouldn't be someone to admire." 

She looked up to a tall bridge and her pupils did a slight shutter as if taking a picture. This was the main attraction to her Snapshot quirk, within the next moment after the picture was taken she teleported on top of the railing of that bridge. 

Teleportation. 

Akari snaps a photo with her eyes and as long as it is within 3 continuous seconds, she can teleport to any area of the photo she has captured. 

The sudden shift left her momentarily breathless but the thrill was exhilarating. 

"Well Ko-chan, I'm off to UA for my birthday. I'm off to see your sister." 

Children in elementary school uniforms nearby noticed the sudden appearance. "How did you do that?" a little girl asked, wide-eyed. 

Akari got off the railing and landed on one foot before crouching down, giving the girl a conspiratorial grin. "Magic," she whispered with a wink, before spinning on her heel and skipping away. 

Her next stop was a bustling market square, where the scents of sizzling yakitori and sweet taiyaki filled the air. She hummed to herself as she zigzagged through the crowd, snapping mental pictures of the vendor's brightly coloured stalls, a street artist's mural in progress, and a partially fluffy Shiba Inu. 

"This place is like a buffet for my eyes." she said spinning in delight. 

She paused in front of the artist, admiring the bold strokes and vibrant hues. "Wow! That's incredible. Mind if I take a photo?" 

The artist smiled, nodding. "Go ahead." 

Akari blinked and let her eyes scan the image. Then she clapped her hands together. "Thanks! You just made my day 20% cooler." 

By the time she reached the outskirts of UA's campus, the sky had gotten darker. She stood before the tall gates, tilting her head back to take it all in. The sight stirred excitement and curiosity within her, and a touch of nervousness that she wouldn't admit to. 

"UA high school," she said, hands on her hips. "Home to the best of the best. And me, standing right here, totally not intimidated. Nope. Not at all." 

She let out a deep breath and placed her hands behind her head, a carefree smile spreading across her face. Her fingers toyed with the ends of her hair as she thought about Hideaki. Despite everything, she had never hated him. "The big guy tries," she murmured. 

***

Akari Mitsuhara quickly and easily made her way into the school, she didn't even try to not be spotted by cameras. It was up to the officials to call it in. Her bare feet had softly been padding against the pristine floors. She had long since abandoned her sandals, dangling them playfully from one hand as her white dress fluttered lightly with her movements.

"This place is huuuuge," she said to herself, her eyes darting around with wide excitement. She paused near a large window, leaning over to peer out at the expansive training fields below. "Do they really get all of this for hero practice? They'v gotta be good." 

Her pupils shimmered faintly as she blinked, capturing the sprawling view. She straightened up, spinning once on her heel before skipping further down the hallway. Every now and then, she stopped to press her ear against a door, giggling softly at the faint murmurs of students, it was late so they were probably doing extra-curricular activities. 

A grin tugged at her lips. 

The fun of sneaking around wasn't in the destination, it was in the in-between moments. Akari blinked and disappeared, teleporting to the background of an image she had just snapped. She appeared crouched atop a trophy case, her knees drawn up and fingers gripping the edge as she peered down like a mischievous cat. 

"Good thing I'm light on my feet," she said, her voice tinged with playful pride. She leapt down with a soft thud, twirling once more before snapping another mental image of a hallway corner adorned with some art from students. With a shimmer, she blinked again and reappeared at the next bend, only to briskly twirl past a robot that was cleaning the halls. 

"Oops! Didn't mean to scare you, mister." she chirped, offering an exaggerated wave. Before she could hear it call, she was gone again, blinking into stairwell leading outside in the general direction of the newly added UA dorm system. 

She hummed to herself softly, her melody carrying through the empty stairwell, he sandals swung idly. 

Akari knew at this time she would most likely have to head to the third year dorms soon, that was where she'd most likely find Kobe's sister. The thought of meeting with this Yuki Arakawa, it excited her. She wanted to know the type of person that grew up with him. 

Akari knew she was a hero student, she had even slightly anticipated to see her in action. 

But just as she reached the top of the stairwell, a loud boom echoed through the halls, vibrating faintly beneath her feet. 

Akari froze, her head tilting like a curious bird. "What was that?" she wondered aloud. Unable to resist, she changed course, skipping lightly toward the sound. 

It was another training gym. It loomed before her, it's high ceilings and reinforced walls practically humming with energy. She pressed herself against the edge of the entrance, peeking around the corner. Inside were two figures standing amongst a simulated battlefield. 

The first was a tall, tall to Akari, beautiful girl with long baby blue hair that bounced as she moved, her laughter light and cheerful. Akari's gaze lingered for a moment before shifting to the second figure. A dark skinned girl with bright purple eyes and a cascade of curly black hair. Her movements were precise and calculated, her demeanour was the opposite of her companion, but Akari was only judging from appearances. 

"That's her..." Akari whispered. "That's Ko-chan's older sister." 

She crouched lower, her pupils shimmering as she snapped mental images of the scene. Her quirk allowed her to enhance details, taking in every nuance of their conversation from her hidden vantage point. 

"It hurt a lot." Nejire Hado was saying, her tone unnaturally serious. "There were many that died, and it's been almost a month and people are coming out everyday to tell their stories, some of them are lying though. Thankfully... or not, not all of the first years have been scared away since the game." 

Yuki crossed her arms, her purple eyes narrowing. "And my brother..." her voice was low, steady, but there was an unmistakeable edge to it. "He's still out there and hasn't chosen to reveal himself. And now the hero site shows him as an S rank, one of the most wanted in the country along with Proxy." 

Akari's grin faltered, just slightly. She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands as she continued to watch. Yuki's cold tone was sharp, it was like she was trying to sound like she didn't care. 

But Akari could see through her, she could see that Yuki did care for her brother. She just doesn't know how to show it. She was quite different from Kobe. As the years went on, Kobe became resilient, always calm, and had a deep and faraway gaze. 

It was fascinating, and a little sad, to see how different they were. 

Nejire had placed a hand on Yuki's shoulder, her usual cheer returning. "Hey, he's still your brother. And who knows? Maybe one day he'll..." 

"Let's not focus on him." Yuki interrupted. "This is our final year, and we'll be allowed back to interning soon. So let's focus on what's ahead." 

Akari couldn't help herself. She giggled softly, the sound breaking through the weight of the conversation. Before either girl could react, Akari blinked, teleporting into the gym and crouching just a few feet from Yuki. 

"Well aren't you a bundle of sunshine?" Akari said, her gold-flecked eyes glinting mischievously as she rested her chin on her hand. "I'd say you're nothing alike." 

Yuki stepped back instinctively, her purple eyes narrowing. "Who are you?" 

Akari's grin grew. "I'm Akari," she said, tilting her head. "And let's just say... I wanted to see the type of person related to Ko-chan."