The city lights stretched across the horizon, vibrant yet distant, as she sat motionless on the edge of the rooftop. Her black hair, tangled and dusted with debris, framed her pale face. A streak of blood ran from a fresh gunshot wound on her forehead, cutting a stark crimson line down to her cheek. It didn’t matter to her. The throbbing pain barely registered.
In the far corner, a villain lay bound in tight ropes, gagged to stifle their curses and cries. Their once-defiant eyes now darted nervously toward her, fear etched deep in their expression. She hadn’t said a word to them since the fight ended—she didn’t need to. The calm efficiency with which she had subdued them was enough to render them silent.
The rooftop door slammed open behind her, the sound of hurried footsteps filling the air.
“There she is!” Midoriya’s panicked voice echoed as he rushed forward. His eyes widened when he saw the blood dripping down her face. “You’re hurt! That’s… that’s a gunshot wound!”
She didn’t react, her gaze still fixed on the cityscape.
“Answer him!” Bakugo barked, storming past the others. “What the hell were you thinking, taking this on alone?!”
“I handled it,” she said softly, her voice calm, as though discussing something mundane.
“Handled it?” Todoroki stepped forward, his gaze flickering between her and the restrained villain. “You were shot in the head. That’s not something you just ignore.”
“But I did.” She turned to face them, her pale eyes sharp yet devoid of emotion. “It missed anything important. It’s over now.”
Uraraka stepped closer, her hands trembling slightly. “But what if it hadn’t?"
“It did,” she replied, fixing her cracked goggles. “The fight’s done. That’s all that matters.”
Kirishima crouched next to her, frowning at the wound. “You’re tougher than all of us, but this isn’t something you just walk away from. Let Recovery Girl—”
“No.” Her voice cut through the concern like a blade.
"{{user}}-" Midoriya started, cut off by her calm look.