Chapter 4 // Wasting Time

Should I really do this?

Kage had the phone, ready to dial with one press of the florescent green button. There was no telling what outcome would come out of this phone call. Knowing Toga was on the other side only added to the mix.

You're wasting time, she chided to herself. Decide if you're going to call or not, and decide now.

Before she could decide, a TV blared from the room next to her. "BREAKING NEWS: ALL MIGHT SAVES DOZENS IN DOWNTOWN ATTACK-"

Her stomach twisted. "Turn it off!" she barked. The patient grumbled, lowering the volume to a whisper. She grabbed the phone, chest heaving. She can't be a hero, she knew that now. She couldn't be the hero to make a difference. But maybe...she could be something else.

She dialed, and waited. Toga answered before the second ring.

"Kage-Boo!" she cooed. "I was waitin' for you to call back."

"We need to talk. Don't waste my time." Kage said grimly.

"You're in the hospital, right? I'll come at ten, tonight. Be ready!" she made a kissy noise, and hung up before Kage could protest. Kage laid back in bed, chest twisting.

Did I make a mistake?

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Kage couldn't sleep. She assumed it was late, judging by how silent the halls were.

"It's nine thirty, Miss Kage. Go to sleep." The nurse murmured, before closing the door. Only nine thirty? She sighed, and began picking at her fingernails. Or what was left of them, anyway. What could she really do? She couldn't watch TV or read anything. She didn't feel like listening to music. she couldn't figure out where her headphones were, anyway. So she'd fold her hands on top of her stomach, and think.

What did she think about? Lots of things.

She thought about the Midoryas a lot. She missed Inko. She was really nice, and she always made sure Kage ate something and checked up on her schoolwork before she left. She made really good unagi, too. And Deku was fun to be around. He always had theories about heroes, and the way is mind would run made Kage laugh to watch. His hero analysis notebooks were always interesting to read through, too. She supposed they were friends.

Hadn't he said that?

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"I'm just glad I'll know a friend when I get there."

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He had meant it, surely. Kage hated how she doubted. Well, she hated a lot of things, but that was an issue to deal with at another time.

It was sad how much Inko's unagi sounded delicious. Her mouth watered at the thought of a homemade meal from the Midorya household, almost tasting it. Her mother used to make meals, but slowly the fresh meals Kage barely remembered turned into instant ramen and instant oatmeal. Maybe some takeout, if she was lucky.

She tensed as a slow, melodious knocking rapped against her door. She recognized the tune. It was Toga. Only Toga, Miku, and Kage knew that song. Her stomach twisted with the memory.

"Come in." she said, slowly pulling the solar energy saved up to her fingers. She had a lot charged up, so she formed a sharp piece into a dagger-like formation. She wasn't sure what she would do, without being able to see Toga fully, if not at all.

"Kage-Boo." Toga whispered. "Is that you?"

"Mh-hm." Kage murmured.

"Kage-Boo!" Toga squealed, launching herself on the bed. Kage flinched, pressing herself as far away from Toga as possible. "Don't do that, damnit!"

Toga giggled, bouncing on the bed. "What's the matter? Remember when we would jump on Miku's bed until we fell off?"

"Don't bring up Miku!" Kage snarled. "And I didn't call you to remnince on memories I choose to forget. I let you come back because of your offer."

Toga's eyes glinted a harsh gold. "The League of Villains needs a new recruit. A blank slate. Someone to infiltrate."

Kage swallowed. "A blank slate? Well, I'm blind now, Toga. I can't do anything to help your cause."

Toga grinned. Or at least, Kage thought she did. "So what? We've had blind people before. And who would suspect a blind person of being a part of the League? Kind of cute, if you ask me."

"You find everything cute." Kage murmured. "Okay, so I'm a blank slate. What's in it for me? what do I get out of this?"

Toga laughed with glee. "Revenge, my sweet Kage. A villain is a victim who's story hasn't been told. But, it doesn't have to be that way. You can be vengeful without consequences...as long as you don't get caught."

I've underestimated you, Himiko, Kage thought. But was Toga wrong? The ideals were legitimate. And who's to say she had to be a hero to make a difference? She wanted to be a beacon of help...but she didn't have to do it for heroes. An image of All Might flashed in her head.

"If I agree to this, I have two conditions." Kage said, holding up two fingers.

Toga grinned. "Okay."

"One, we will never speak of my old life again. No Miku, nothing of my other quirk, ever again." Kage said coldly. Toga nodded, grinning.

"And two?" Toga asked, bouncing again.

Kage glimpsed her phone by its glow. Deku probably messaged her. Her heart hardened. Sorry Deku, she thought. You'll have to be a hero without me. She was forming her own path, and she didn't need anyone anymore. She grabbed her phone, and tossed it to Toga.

"You like blood, don't you?" Kage said with a grim smile. "Let's see how good you are at faking a death."