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First impressions are important. It was something that had been ingrained in her upon growing up. While they said that it was her actions that ultimately cemented the first impression, Maiko believed that it was appearances first and foremost. Appearances first, actions second. No matter how much people say that it was the inside that matters, it was simply human nature to base off their own actions upon another person's looks. It was simply a matter of adjusting said actions once they've known each other well enough.

First impressions are important. But the second impression lasts longer. Her mother used to say that once you've gone past the original line of defence of a person, you have done something incredible. She never really put too much stock into it, Maiko did grow up surrounded by people who tried to maintain the image they have shown her upon meeting her. But at the same time, she understood her mother. Behind the genial masks with small smiles and careful hands were greed and pride. Maiko never talked about it. But she saw.

It was this that allowed her to get past the initial masks that her classmates put up. Well, some of them, at least, Maiko thought wryly. Then again, she could also be entirely wrong. The way she was brought up would also affect the way she interpreted things, she knew that. But it was the way she was taught, and while she didn't exactly like it, she couldn't do anything to remove it from her since it was all she ever knew. Acting otherwise would just leave her confused.

Pay attention. She had relied quite heavily on Momo for the apprehension tests, having no experience at all in such type of things. Aizawa-sensei only stated the exercise and expected all of them to know about it. Well, she knew some of them from name alone, but she wasn't entirely sure of the execution. And if there was one thing she didn't like, it was putting herself in the center of attention. Although she was pretty sure no one really paid attention to her.

Pale red eyes looked up at the final ranking for the tests. For the throwing exercise, she placed in the middle, 10th, having good enough control over the winds to take the ball as far as they could in one shot. The same happened for the dash, letting herself be carried by a concentrated gust of wind. The air was hers to manipulate. Never control, for air wasn't something to be trifled with. So she learned to shape it, make it work for her instead. She didn't want to perform too well, but at the same time, she didn't want to lag behind considering the threat of expulsion hanging over their heads.

I don't want to be expelled. Not this early in the game. And not when she hasn't experienced even a mere taste of freedom.

She looked around yet again, her gaze landing on the skittish green-haired boy. Midoriya Izuku. He had placed last in the final ranking, and was singled out by their teacher pretty during the ball throw test. His Quirk was powerful, but it broke his body too easily. Maiko tilted her head. Not used to it? If he's had his Quirk since he was young, he should've found a better way to use it by now. Unless…

He just got it. Which would also explain why Bakugou had been surprised that he was here. From what snippets she had heard from Midoriya and Uraraka's talk, the two boys grew up together. There was a deeper backstory there, but she wasn't going to pry, really. It wasn't her business.

"Also, I lied about the expulsion," Aizawa-sensei dropped the bomb just as Midoriya looked like he was going to cry. Momo quickly picked up what he was trying to say. Looking at it now, with a threat looming over them, it was a way to make sure that everyone gave their all to secure their spot and call themselves deserving of their position in the Heroics department.

Unlike me. Lying about her own capabilities just became another sin of hers and it was just the first day of school. She knew that the teachers have a copy of her profile, it was mandatory after all. Did they know though, the true extent of her Quirk?

All of a sudden, she felt like she was misplaced. She didn't belong with a group of people who already knew that they wanted to be heroes, whose goals are already clearly set in place. In the end, her only motivation to stay here was so she could experience the outside world and be far, far away from her family. Maiko sighed, shrugging off the gym clothes she was wearing and folding them neatly. Will I ever belong?

Her eyes settled upon the backs of her classmates. Despite the rather rough start, they stood tall, head high and chin up. Heroes. Once again, she found herself asking the same question. Why do I want to become a hero? Long ago, when she was a child, when she was naïve, she'd probably have answered somewhere along the lines of: I want to save people. But growing up, she realized she couldn't save everyone. Perhaps for now, her answer was that she wanted to use her abilities to benefit others. It was… what she had been taught.

'You can't even save yourself.'

Maiko shut her eyes tightly, breathing quite heavily as she tried to catch up to her classmates' march back to the classroom. There was no use thinking about it now. She had freedom nearly in her grasp, and she'd do anything to keep it with her. But for now, she'd do what she can.

'Do your best, Maiko-chan. I'll always be rooting for you!'

Pulling out her phone, she tapped Momo's shoulder as they neared the classroom. "Congratulations on being first place. Momo-san's really strong."

She was given another bright smile, and Maiko had to restrain herself from shielding her eyes.

"Maiko-san's control over the wind is really great too!" The taller girl praised her. "You looked like you were surfing earlier with how you used it."

"Yukinokouji-chan's wind control is awesome! At least you can control your flight, unlike mine," Uraraka chimed from beside them, Ashido nodding along. How Maiko found herself being surrounded by them, she didn't know. Probably Momo. It was a new thing, being surrounded by people her age. Were they friends? Acquaintances perhaps, but one day, they'll get there.

"It was average. I should train to improve." Maiko shrugged, showing them her phone screen again. From her right side, Momo's brows furrowed. A small sparkling light and Maiko was presented a whiteboard and a marker. "Momo-san?"

Momo only smiled at her. "I noticed that you're not too used with using a mobile, so I thought you'd appreciate writing instead?" she asked. "And it's also more convenient!"

With shaking fingers, Maiko reached out to take the objects from her friend. A gift. Someone had given her a gift. "Thank you, Momo-san…" she immediately used the board. "I'll find a way to repay you back."

She ignored the curious eyes on her back.

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Education is a social construct. A way for people to rank themselves according to the knowledge they have and will receive. Created to ensure that people will have a future, and a stable life. A way for people to understand the world and allows people to adapt to society.

As foundation for when you are finally released to the reality of life that is human society. Education and learning was one thing, school was another. While it has been a generally accepted way of learning, some people still believe that you can't learn everything in schools. Doing the taxes, cooking for yourself and surviving on your own, sometimes even sewing on a small button wasn't being taught. Yes, people are being equipped with the knowledge they need to survive the world, but they weren't exactly being taught how to take care of themselves.

It certainly didn't stop Maiko from cursing her own education system though. Having been home-schooled, her family had a hand in what subjects she was going to take, what lessons she was supposed to learn, and which teachers were going to help her. Aside from the more formal side of education, Maiko also had the lessons and training of a regular Yukinokouji lady, one that involved the more feminine lessons, to self-defense, and of course, one of her more dreaded lessons, social etiquette. While it would normally result to a more well-rounded education, she didn't know what to do when it came to the more practical side.

Case in point, Maiko fidgeted as she waited for Momo to come back from Lunch Rush with their food. It wouldn't be a problem for her to wait, but the fact that she was suddenly approached wasn't in any of her plans for the day. And she certainly didn't know how to respond properly.

"Can we sit here?" a deep voice had disturbed her from her thinking just a few seconds ago. Maiko looked up, only to be catch grey and turquoise eyes. Todoroki, and her seatmate, Tokoyami, were waiting for her to respond, their trays in their hands. Maiko gulped, clenching her eyes for a moment before nodding her head.

"Momo-san's joining us though," she wrote on her board, courtesy of said girl. Maiko heaved a sigh of relief when the two boys just nodded as well. Silence embraced their table once again, Maiko not talking, and the two boys not interested in small talk as well. Which suited her just fine. She was rather curious about Tokoyami's Quirk though, but she didn't exactly know how to approach him.

"Oh, Todoroki-san, Tokoyami-san," Maiko was just about ready to hail Momo as her savior. "Here you go, Maiko-san. I'm not entirely sure I approve of you eating only cold soba, though. You're already so… petite."

Maiko ignored her, placing the bowl of soba in front of her. The sensation of being stared at made her look up directly to Todoroki's eyes, who was also eating cold soba, but with other side dishes together with it. "I like cold soba, and I can't eat too much."

It made her sick, she wanted to add. Being small as she was, it was hard for her to consume large amounts of food at a time. That's why she usually ate in proportions. Momo only hummed in worry, before she addressed their two new companions. "May I ask why you chose to sit here?"

"The only other vacant seat is with Bakugo," Tokoyami answered as he swallowed the takoyaki he had ordered. Maiko glanced up, her eyes quickly roaming around the cafeteria. Sure enough, the only other group with vacant seats were with the blond's group. Despite it being the first day, there were already groups being formed. Pale red eyes glanced at the tall girl beside her, wondering why she didn't sit with the other girls. Momo had, after all, gotten to know some of them, while Maiko had lagged behind.

Why can't you talk? Her hand reached up beneath her scarf, touching the warmed skin of her throat. Her mouth opened, as if she was going to speak, flinching when no sound came out.

"Maiko-san?" Her head snapped up at her name. The three of them were looking at her now, Momo's eyes brimming with worry and confusion. "Are you alright?"

No, I'm not, she wanted to say, but instead she nodded. No need to burden other people about her problems. They were here to become heroes, her personal issues need to take a backseat and her focus on finishing her heroes' education was more important.

I'm also important. Maiko sighed, finishing the last of her cold soba, and drinking the apple juice that she brought with her. No, you aren't.

"Shall we go back to the classroom?" she asked. Once again, she ignored the curious eyes on her back.

Run, run, run. Run away.

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Once, Maiko didn't appreciate having to study so many things all while she was growing up. After all, her family had planned to send her to a hero school once she was of age, so what was the use of formal education when all she needed was to train her body and her Quirk? Now she figured out why. Despite Yuuei being a hero school, it was still a high school no matter which angle you wanted to look at it. Being the first day, and what was supposed to be the day for the General Orientation, school was cut off to half, and they'll be starting the next day, Monday. Now though, they were given their class schedules.

English, Japanese Literature, Social Studies, Mathematics. All typical school subjects. Maiko wouldn't have any problems with these, despite being home-schooled, she could acknowledge that her education was, in actuality, well-rounded. Home Economics. Now that would be a disaster. Having grown up in a rather rich family, she had the family servants at her disposal, and they never deemed it important to teach her at all. Oh well, for as long as there were instructions, she could manage. Probably.

Their mornings all consisted of regular high school subjects, and their afternoons were filled with the hero classes. Foundational Hero Studies, Non-Quirk Combat, and Hero History were just a few that they'd be having. Just looking at the slip of paper that had their schedule printed on, Maiko could feel the excitement coming in. It would be a hard path upwards, but she was looking forward to actually having to work on her own now.

"Are you taking the train home, Maiko-san?" Momo's sweet voice came from behind her. She looked at her, noticing that she was already fixing her things and placing them in her bag. Maiko slipped the class schedule to her own bag, pulling the zipper close as she stood as well.

"No, I'm walking home," she wrote down.

"Are you sure you should be walking on your own?" Tokoyami huffed from her other side. She tilted her head in confusion.

"I'm sure I'll be fine," she assured him. "There's nothing to worry about, Tokoyami-san."

She could see him make a dubious face which she promptly ignored. "The apartment is just a short walk, I will be fine," she wrote down again. The directions to her apartment were fairly easy to memorize, and so while she didn't have the best sense of direction, Maiko was fairly sure she'd get there in one piece.

(If she just knew that they were worried, she'd probably say something else. If she knew that in their eyes, she looked like a fragile flower they needed to watch over, perhaps she'd be a little more considerate. But Maiko didn't really understand, she simply thought they were stifling her, taking away her freedom. She could take care of herself. But perhaps in a distant future, she'll learn to understand. There was much to learn, after all.)

"Take care on your way home," Waving goodbye to the two, she headed to the opposite direction and started walking. She fiddled with her phone, opening the camera app as she started to take photos of her surroundings. Flowers were starting to bloom, it was after all, spring. The trees were all swaying with the cool April air. She felt at home.

A prickling sensation and another set of footsteps alerted her to a new person. She didn't notice it earlier, she must've been too engrossed in her picture taking. Maiko stopped walking, gulping before she looked back to see who was following her. Red and white met her vision. Todoroki-san, her mind supplied.

Maiko blinked when the tall boy passed her without saying anything. Okay? She huffed, before stopping again as she stared at him staring at her. She tilted her head in confusion, before Todoroki gestured with his head. Was he-? Yes, yes he was. Her eyes brightening, a small smile threatened to show on her lips.

With a few quick steps, she was walking beside him. From their short interactions yesterday and earlier today, she wouldn't have expected him to actually approach her. They were both quiet, and didn't speak often, Maiko quite literally couldn't speak, more likely to stand at the sides to observe.

Observe. With this current scenario and with no one to bother them, Maiko took her time to observe her unexpected walking companion. Todoroki Shouto was interesting. His hair was symmetrical, red and white perfectly equal on top of his head. His grey and turquoise eyes held a hidden depth to them, but only showing cold aloofness to the world. He had a curious scar on the left side of his face, but Maiko knew not to pry. And to top that all off…

Todoroki Shouto was tall.

He was probably a whole foot taller than she was, the top of Maiko's head only reaching his collarbone. Again, she wanted to ask why and how she was so small when her mother was taller than her and her father was practically a towering mountain of a person.

He was also a gentleman, from what she could gather. Maiko had short legs, thus she had small steps. And with how long Todoroki's legs were, Maiko was able to keep up with him even with her normal walking speed. He was matching his steps with hers. How… considerate. Her lips curled up in a small smile, unseen behind her scarf.

I've never heard him talk, aside from yesterday when he introduced himself. If one could even consider that as an introduction, that was. Well, Maiko thought her classmate did look like he wasn't one for words. And it wasn't as if he's heard her talk with her current condition as well. So that was fair?

She directed her gaze back front, occasionally looking to the sides when she caught something unusual. Soon enough, she could recognize the neighborhood. This was near the train station, and just a few blocks from here was her apartment building. Maiko glanced at Todoroki again. He wasn't even twitching, his face the usual calm and collected state. She did wonder why he suddenly decided to walk alongside her though. Did he live nearby as well?

Maiko stopped walking when they were at her apartment building, Todoroki paused as well, making a small grunt as if asking her why she stopped. She fiddled with the hem of her skirt, before raising a hand to point at the main door of the apartment complex. Quickly, she took out her phone, the whiteboard Momo gave her safely tucked inside her bag. "This is my stop."

His brows furrowed before smoothing out again. He nodded at her, but he didn't move.

"Thank you for walking me home, Todoroki-san," she wrote again. "Although you really shouldn't have."

"My house is nearby, and you were heading the same direction," he replied, shrugging. Maiko tilted her head, before bowing again.

"Thank you, again," she typed, before hastily adding in, "Take care on your way home as well."

She waited for him to move, to turn around to head home. Instead, all she got was more silence. Maiko fidgeted. Did she say something?

"…tomorrow, too," she looked up again, making a confused noise at the back of her throat. "We can head to school together tomorrow. What time do you head out?"

"7:30, but I go to school at 8:00," the extra 30 minutes was so she could eat at the café near the train station, they served great pancakes and the tea that they made was to her tastes.

"Then I'll be here then," was all Maiko heard before Todoroki was heading down the street without so much as a goodbye. Confused as to what had happened, Maiko turned around to head inside the building as well, her mind filled with questions about the other boy already.

She remembered seeing the blue sky once. That was also the first time she ever felt the wind caress her face. It was a nice feeling, one she wasn't likely to forget, unlike the countless of memories now stored in little spheres that tormented her in her sleep.

'I can't do anything.'

'Bring them back.'

'I want them back.'

But they remained there, untouched by time, replaced by the fictitious scripts that they made her read and memorise until she couldn't remember that she lost something anymore.

'It's better this way.'

A/N: Welcome back to sporadic updates. I know it's been a week, but please don't get used to this. My writing muse is at its strongest at the beginning. There might come a time that it will take me a month or so to update, so apologies for that.

P.S. Maiko's profile is done. She might be OP, but I'll try to tone her down. She's my darling BNHA child though, so- whoops.

((Shameless plug time! Check out on Instagram or SeaCiel 2.0 on Facebook if you wanna see how Maika looks like. Her hero costume's also there as well.))