As Kurmara slowly opened her eyes, the unfamiliar surroundings of the hospital room came into focus. The quiet ambiance was occasionally punctuated by the muffled sounds of distant conversations. Gradually sitting up, a slight pain in her side accompanied by a wave of exhaustion reminded her that she was once again confined to a hospital bed. Her frustration grew as she scanned the room, recognizing the all-too-familiar setting. Rubbing her head in an attempt to summon the memories that led to her hospitalization, a specific recollection pierced through the haze. The last thing I remember was that I was trying to help Eun and... The realization of what had transpired sent a wave of concern for her brother coursing through her. An irritated sigh escaped her lips as Kurmara mustered the strength to get out of bed, only to be interrupted by the sudden entrance of a nurse. The medical professional halted abruptly, dropping whatever she held in her hands upon seeing the teen sitting up. With wide eyes, the nurse quickly backed away before darting out of the room, leaving Kurmara raising a skeptical brow and shaking her head.
Finally on her feet, she leaned against the bed to steady herself, her legs feeling a bit unsteady after what seemed like a prolonged period of unconsciousness. Determined to gather her bearings, Kurmara navigated towards the other side of the room where her clothes awaited. However, she couldn't ignore the approaching footsteps behind her, prompting her to turn around. To her surprise, the doctor, her brother Eun, her aunt, and the formidable duo of All Might and Aizawa stood in the doorway. The mix of concern and curiosity reflected in their expressions, signaling that answers to the mystery surrounding her recent ordeal were about to unfold. "You're-" the doctor started, but Kurmara swiftly cut her off as she settled into the chair, her clothes cradled on her lap. "Okay, why the hell is everyone looking at me like that?" The room fell into a hushed silence; glances were exchanged, but no one spoke. Eun maneuvered through the crowd to reach his sister, enveloping her in a tight hug. "Before you say anything, please explain," Kurmara requested, patting her brother's back.
"You were bleeding so much... you lost a lot of blood and had a deep wound on your left side. It's honestly a miracle how you're still alive," the doctor disclosed. Peeking under her gown, Kurmara spotted bandages covering the wound. "A miracle, hm?" she muttered with a sigh. "That's great, but I would like an explanation as to what the hell happened." "I would also like an explanation. We were told you had died back at the training camp when young Bakugou was kidnapped," All Might interjected. "And not to mention your Aunt here dropped on us that you died again two days ago, a day after getting released from the hospital," Aizawa added, the doctor exiting the room, leaving them in an atmosphere thick with unanswered questions. "Wait... does anyone else know that I died again?" Kurmara inquired, prompting her teachers to exchange glances once more. "Well, once we were told..." All Might began, initiating an explanation that Kurmara desperately needed. She interrupted him, standing up with a sense of urgency. "Does anyone else know?" she questioned, seeking further clarification.
Aizawa responded, "Yes. Your classmates do. We told the principal, and he thought it would only be fair to tell the class, considering you all were friends." The realization of her classmates believing she was dead hit her with a wave of disbelief and disorientation. A deep breath steadied Kurmara, but the revelation left her feeling dizzy. "They all think I'm dead," she muttered in disbelief. Aizawa reassured her, "For now they do, until they see you again." Overwhelmed, Kurmara's Quirk activated involuntarily. "I already died once! And now that they were told I was dead again-!" "Enough. Calm down," Aizawa's authoritative voice cut through her distress, erasing the effects of her Quirk. Nodding, Kurmara took a shaky breath. "Sorry," she apologized before sinking back into her seat. "It will be allowed considering you're alive, again. That's because you're still enrolled at UA. Nezu told us to come visit the hospital you were at, saying that your aunt here explained everything to him already," All Might reassured her. Kurmara sighed, her attention turning to her brother. "Da-Eun, what did you tell him?"
"The truth. What your brother should've added when we sent the information about your Quirks," Da-Eun declared, glaring at her nephew, who chose to avoid her gaze. The complexity of the situation began to unfold, and Kurmara braced herself. "My bad..." Eun mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. Kurmara, still grappling with the gravity of her situation, responded with sarcasm, "But what do I tell everyone when they see me again? 'Hey, sorry I died again, but I'm alive now because of another Quirk I have! Surprise!'" Aizawa stepped in to alleviate her concerns, "You can leave that to me since it will be another good thing for them all to be told." Kurmara lowered her head, a mixture of relief and exhaustion evident in her demeanor. All Might, however, interjected with a reminder, "Aren't you forgetting something, Aizawa?" The tired teacher glanced at All Might and then back at the Hayashi siblings before nodding. "We've already told this to the other parents, but considering the two of you are her guardians since her parents aren't present," he began, garnering the attention of Kurmara and her brother.
"UA has a dormitory system in place for its students after what happened with the League of Villains kidnapping Bakugou." Eun, visibly concerned, stood up. "What are you saying?" All Might clarified, "What he's trying to say is, we're asking permission for young Hayashi to come stay at the dormitories." "So you're asking us permission to allow Kurmara to stay in the dorms?" Da-Eun inquired, and both All Might and Aizawa nodded. "Yes, that's exactly what we're asking. More like suggesting." "Sorry, but no way," Eun voiced, taking a firm stand, leaving the room filled with a tense uncertainty about Kurmara's future at UA. "Eun-" Kurmara began, attempting to interject, but her brother cut her off decisively. "No. I'm sorry, but there's no way in hell I'm allowing my sister to stay there at that damn school." "Eun, I-" Kurmara tried again, but he wouldn't hear it. "No! I'm her guardian while our parents are overseas, and I'm being as respectful as I can since you're both heroes and teachers, but this is the nicest way I can tell you to go to hell," the twenty-year-old declared, his frustration palpable. His aunt raised her voice, attempting to quell the tension.
"Eun! That is enough!" she admonished, and he shot her an incredulous look. "Are you kidding me?" "No, I am not. If anything, I am her guardian since I am your father's sister and both of your guys' aunt. And as her guardian, I say that she can," Da-Eun asserted, causing Kurmara to look between the two of them, witnessing her brother's taken aback expression. "Are you kidding me?" he scoffed, unable to believe what he was hearing. "No, I'm not. I'm giving permission for Kurmara to live at the dorms," the Pro Hero declared to the teachers. Eun, unable to contain his frustration, walked past them, slamming the door shut behind him. Da-Eun sighed and turned to the teachers, apologizing, "I'm sorry about him..." "It's alright, it's understandable considering his only sister won't be living with him anymore," All Might empathetically voiced. Aizawa then addressed Kurmara, "Hayashi, there are a few things you should know before the dormitories are set." The teen met his gaze, bracing herself for the forthcoming information.
"They should be ready around when the new term begins, which is in the middle of August," Aizawa informed her, and she nodded in acknowledgment. "And before then, you cannot tell anyone you're alive, got it?" "Wait, why not? Shouldn't they be allowed to know?" Kurmara questioned, puzzled by the secrecy. Aizawa explained, "Yes, but for now, no one can know, meaning you cannot message anyone until after they see you once I announce it, got it?" "Yes, Sensei," Kurmara agreed, nodding. Aizawa gave a short nod before him and All Might exited the room, leaving Kurmara with Da-Eun. Her aunt looked at her before walking over and pulling her into a comforting hug. "You know I'm going to miss you, right?" Da-Eun voiced, and Kurmara nodded, feeling a lump forming in her throat. "Your brother, especially." Tears welled in her eyes as Kurmara nodded again. "It's going to be okay. You'll be in the care of your teachers and still get to learn." "I-I know, but it's going to be hard," Kurmara admitted, her voice choked with emotion.
"I know, baby, but you can get through it. But for a while, you cannot leave the house until school starts again," Da-Eun advised, trying to reassure her. Kurmara let out a small sigh. "That's going to suck, especially if I need to keep myself busy..." "You'll be fine. But for now, let's get you checked out, and then we can see if you can go home," Da-Eun smiled at her before walking out of the room, leaving Kurmara alone once again, contemplating the challenges and changes that lay ahead. "Guess I'll be leaving everyone to mourn until August..." Kurmara sighed, her voice tinged with a mixture of resignation and sorrow. She sank back into the chair, staring up at the sterile ceiling, lost in contemplation about the impact her supposed demise would have on her friends. The weight of the impending separation lingered in the room as she allowed herself a moment of reflection before succumbing to exhaustion. With a heavy heart, she closed her eyes, letting the weariness overtake her, and soon, sleep enveloped her.
As Kurmara drifted into the realm of dreams, the echoes of uncertainty and the anticipation of a new chapter at UA lingered in the silent hospital room.