Kimika sat by her father's hospital bed, her tear-filled eyes aching with despair. Her gaze was fixed on her father's weary face, which reflected both pain and a silent struggle for life.
She kept activating her quirk, trying to accelerate his regeneration with her right eye. She had learned this through training with him, but now, each time she repeatedly used her quirk, her energy quickly drained away without any effect. Even after exhausting all the energy from her horn, her father's condition didn't improve one bit.
Kimika tried to hold back her tears, but it was impossible. The thought that she couldn't help him, despite all the training over the years, was tearing her apart from the inside. She began to wonder if it was all in vain: what was the point of all this training to become stronger if she couldn't help one of her loved ones in a situation like this?
She felt an overwhelming gratitude towards All Might — her idol, the number one hero — who had found her father and saved him from death when he lay on the ground, helpless and with multiple stab wounds, slowly dying.
She felt anger towards All Might — for not saving her father sooner or for not stopping the attack altogether. But the anger quickly faded, leaving only a deep sense of gratitude. She understood that
if it had been any other hero, her father would not have received help in time. No one else could have rushed him to the hospital so quickly — only All Might, with his incredible quirk, was able to do it in mere seconds, while anyone else would have simply been too late to save him.
"Dad, please don't leave us… I love you so much… I promise everything will be okay… You've taught me so much… how to accelerate regeneration… how to believe in myself... I will definitely help you… just get better… you can do it," Kimika said quietly, wiping away the tears that streamed down her cheeks.
Yukiko, holding her man's hand, could not hold back her tears. Her beloved, who had only recently learned to openly express his emotions and had even taken the initiative that morning to choose a movie for the evening, now lay beside her, weak and powerless, as if he were a step away from death. Yukiko squeezed his hand, hoping that her warmth and hope could somehow improve his condition.
Despite the abyss of pain and fear, Yukiko felt a deep gratitude that the doctors had managed to stabilize his condition before their arrival. When she had first received the call and was given a brief description of his state, the worst scenarios flooded her mind, and she feared that her husband would not survive until they arrived.
She was thankful to live in an era where even the most dangerous injuries, which would have been fatal just a few years ago, could now be healed. In a world where quirks and cutting-edge medical techniques saved people from the inevitable, her husband had been given another chance at life.
The doctor, entering the room, nervously paused at the threshold, his expression turning serious. He tried to collect his thoughts, struggling to overcome his fear, knowing that if he showed fear, the patient's family would feel even more anxious, thinking he was about to tell them that the doctors were powerless in this situation. Taking a deep breath, he began to speak.
"I know this is a difficult moment," he said, but his voice trembled despite his efforts. "We are doing everything we can to support him. Your husband's condition has stabilized, and we continue to provide him with the necessary care. However… unfortunately, we need to discuss financial matters."
Kimika felt a sharp pain constricting in her chest, and tears streamed down her cheeks once more. She couldn't hold back as the doctor's words hit her like thunder, delivering the harsh reality that her father would die if they couldn't find the money.
"Why are you talking to us about money at such a difficult moment?" Yukiko asked, her voice sounding confused and outraged. "This is… this is simply unacceptable!"
"I understand your reaction," the doctor said, bowing his head, "and it's very difficult for me to discuss this. But I must be honest, as it is my duty. So… your husband's insurance will cover only part of the treatment, but unfortunately, not the full amount. You will need to find funds for the surgeries, as we cannot begin treatment without them. And sadly, this issue is extremely urgent."
"We will do everything we can to support him, but unfortunately, the financial aspect will pose a serious challenge. I recommend that you explore all possible options to find the funds for his treatment."
Yukiko nodded, though she couldn't hold back her tears at those words. "Thank you for telling us the truth," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. "We will fight for him, no matter how much effort it takes, and we will definitely find the money."
When the doctor left, Kimika turned to her mother with anxiety in her eyes. "Mom, what are we going to do? This is a huge amount of money. I don't know how we'll be able to pay for all of this…" she said, realizing that their financial situation was far from ideal. Kimika knew that if her father's insurance, which was meant for situations like this, couldn't cover the full amount, they would have an even harder time finding the necessary funds.
"We will find a way," her mother reassured her, squeezing her hand tightly. "Don't forget, we're in this together. I understand it's hard right now, but we've already been through many challenges. The most important thing is your father. He's strong, and we have to believe he will recover."
"What if we can't find the money?" Kimika asked, her voice trembling with fear.
"I will find ways," her mother replied, wiping her tears away. "We can reach out to the community; he was a hero to many… When people learn what has happened, I'm sure there will be those who will respond. The key is not to give up."
"I'll work around the clock if I have to," she added, her voice resolute. "We will find the money to provide him with treatment. I'm ready to do everything I can to save him."
Kimika felt a warmth in her heart as she watched her mother find strength even in the darkest times.
However, as silence filled the room, Kimika realized that her mother's words were merely a way to comfort both her and herself. Deep down, she knew that her mother, despite all her determination, would likely struggle to find the necessary funds.
Kimika began to think about how she could help her mother find the funds. Various options swirled in her mind, and the more she pondered, the clearer it became that standard methods of earning money wouldn't suffice. A regular job wouldn't bring her even a small fraction of the needed amount, even if she worked around the clock, as she was still a minor, and they simply wouldn't offer her any well-paying work.
Her dreams of quick financial solutions dissipated like smoke, and Kimika felt her heart constrict once more with despair. Thoughts of what to do next flooded her mind, stirring feelings of anxiety and helplessness. She felt that time was running out, and she urgently needed to find a way out.
Ultimately, the only thing that came to her mind was illicit ways to earn money. Kimika had dreamed of becoming a hero and fighting criminals her entire life, but now, under the pressure of circumstances, just the thought of having to step onto the opposite path brought her pain. It was incredibly difficult, as she had always strived to do good, help others, and be a role model like her idol. Deep down, she realized that if they couldn't raise the necessary funds, her father might not make it.
Kimika tried to hold onto the hope that it wouldn't come to that, that her mother would be able to find the right amount, and everything would return to normal. But the chances of that seemed incredibly slim, just like the possibility of returning to heroism after stepping onto the opposite path.
And even worse, if she made even one mistake — if her photo ended up on the internet or she was caught in the act — her chances of being accepted into the hero school would melt away like snow under the scorching sun. No one would want to see someone with a dark past as a hero. And even worse: if she got caught, her chances of saving her father would also hopelessly disappear.
These thoughts wouldn't let her rest. Was this really the only way out? Kimika constantly pondered alternatives, but each time she returned to this dreadful idea.
As they drove home, and sleep began to pull her into its embrace, those thoughts continued to swirl in her mind. With each passing hour, she became more convinced that she had no other choice. Even under the cover of darkness, her heart beat in the rhythm of despair, and the future felt hazy and heavy. Kimika felt the burden of responsibility growing, realizing that her decisions would not only determine her fate but also her father's.
In the deep of night, Kimika woke up with the feeling that this truly was the only solution. But she needed any kind of support — absolutely any. She longed to share her despair and thoughts with someone, but definitely not with her mother, who would try to dissuade her by every possible means. She didn't want to burden her mother with her own worries when she was already struggling, believing that her husband's life depended solely on her. Turning to Izuku or his mother was also not an option — their relationship was no longer the same as before, and he would definitely try to talk her out of it, or, worse still, tell someone else about it.
The only person she could share her thoughts with was Toga. Kimika knew that even if Toga didn't support her decision, she wouldn't tell anyone about their conversation. They had always supported each other and knew many secrets about one another. So, gathering all her thoughts, she decided to write to Toga, asking about the possibility of meeting in the morning to discuss an extremely important matter. After that, Kimika fell back into sleep, anxiously awaiting this crucial conversation that could change everything.
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I sincerely apologize for the fact that this chapter is only 1800 words long, instead of the usual 2400-3000. But you have to understand that the next chapter will be quite important, and I wouldn't be able to fit it into 800-1300 words. I hope no one is upset: after all, chapters come out daily (and this will continue until the final chapter), so you will quickly get the continuation, rather than waiting two or three days. Sometimes, there are even two chapters released in one day (on Patreon). So, please, have some compassion for the poor author.
As for the insurance of detectives in our world and in the world of my hero academy, maybe it could cover the entire amount. Or perhaps the people who see him as a hero could help gather the remaining funds, considering he once dedicated all his time to work, wanting to catch criminals, even putting this above his family, which made him very well-known (not because he spent time away from his family for criminals, but because he caught so many without wanting fame or money).
But let's be honest: if that happened, the heroine probably wouldn't become a criminal. And in my mind, I haven't come up with other good ideas on how to turn her into a criminal. Plus, we still don't know whether she will actually become one or if it's just a trick from the author that could get him killed. And what if Toga convinces her not to go down this path? Or will she find another way?
I also want to inform you that two chapters come out every day on my Patreon! Here, only one is released, but on my Patreon — there are two a day, hee-hee-hee. Come by so you don't miss new chapters and can read them faster than anyone else! patreon.com/Zoi4erom
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