Akira POV

My brother and sister are devastated, I can see it in their eyes and feel it in my own heart. Yet somehow, they're still moving, still feeling. I feel shattered so thoroughly that it's as though nothing exists at all in the world. Right now we're waiting to see him before he's transported to the funeral home, still without a leg brace I'd relied on my siblings for help trekking through the city. Mama went first, and then Kaito and Kaharo had gone in together, and Grandpa Toro had spent the morning on the phone with Papa's parents. They live back in the states now, but with the help of Ingenium, they're getting to fly out for Papa's funeral. Funeral. Everything is blurred as my siblings exit, and my mother urges me to go in.

He looks smaller than the behemoth of a man I've grown up seeing him as, lying there on sterile white sheets. His tattoos peek out from underneath the edges of the hospital gown, and I reach out with my quirk, tugging them from his skin on instinct- the way he'd often let me do as a small child for practice. Except for this time, I know it's going to be a permanent transfer. The ink in tattoos is different somehow, the longer a person has it, the more like them it seems to become. These tattoos are all older than I am, and calling to them with my quirk brings over me the same feeling that hugging my father often did. I feel safe, warm, and so very loved. In the brief moments it takes to transfer them onto my own skin, I feel as though everything is going to be just fine. However, once they're in place, my quirk no longer actively holding them, the feeling vanishes. When I'm finally ushered out of the room, I realize, the emptiness I'm feeling is far more crushing than I thought.

In the days that follow, my mind is a blur, the funeral comes and goes, done in traditional American style per his wishes- a storm preventing my father's parents from making it in time. My friends rode the train over, and many of my father's work friends came- though many were confused by the customs. Iida had gone back to school as soon as he was able, but I missed a week to deal with everything. Iida came back to escort me home so I can use the weekend to catch up on school work, and my mother will be staying a few more weeks in town with my siblings to square away everything with Ingenium's agency. In two days, we'll both go back to school, and life will... Return to normal. Whatever that's meant to be.

Aizawa POV

It was all over the news, how Ingenium had nearly been killed by the Hero Killer, and a civilian was 'caught in the crossfire'. Crippled for life now, he'd likely never go back to being a pro-hero with how severe his injuries are. However, what was being kept off the press was the real reason he'd survived. I'd been able to see the footage from Ingenium's suit, the part of it that they were pretending doesn't exist. I'd never gotten the chance to meet the man in person, but the small amount of time I could see him on the camera, I knew precisely where Akira got her perseverance from. This week has been nothing but curbing questions from my students about Akira's whereabouts, but it's not my business to share these things. I can only hope she feels close enough to some of her classmates to let them lend her an ear.

Akira POV

It's five o'clock on Saturday before I realize I've accomplished nothing before the weight of reality comes crashing down around me. So many things I should be doing, from school work to reassessing the finances, laundry needs to be done, I need to dig my old leg brace out of the closet so I can get to school, I need... Digging through my bag I find it, the crumpled card with Kirishima's number on it. Stumbling over to the house phone, I dial his number through the tears that are brimming for the first time since all of this has happened. It takes a few rings, but he answers.

"Yo! Kirishima here, who's it?" Hearing his voice brings the barest hint of a smile to my face, but my words likely still sound a little hiccupy- broken up.

"Hey... It's uh- uh Akira."

"Akira! Oh my god, how are you? We really missed you this week!"

"Uh... actually, not great Kirishima. I um... I- you know how you said you'd help me with school work?"

"Yeah! Anytime, I'm having a hard time passing stuff without your help anyway, I could come over or we could meet up?" Sniffling a little, I run the debate over in my head rapidly- is it okay for him to come here? Am I okay with that? Is it a good idea right now?

"Uhm.. Yeah, and... you know, anybody that wants can come, I know there's a class group chat from Jirou. I'm sure that a lot of them have been worried, just... my house is kinda small so make sure they know that it might be crowded."

"That's a great idea, we've all been crazy worried actually! Especially after everything with Iida, let me grab a pen and I'll get your address!" I rattle off my address once he gives me the go-ahead, making sure he knows it's a landline if he needs to get ahold of me again.

"Sounds great, and hey- since there might be a couple of people I'll see if people can bring some snacks and stuff- we can make a whole thing of it if that's okay with you, of course, it's not often the class thinks to get together for anything outside of school."

"That's fine, I'll see you in a while then I guess."

"Yeah! It'll be great."

It's a lot sooner than I thought it'd be when I hear a knock, using just my crutch I make my way to the door and swing it open- to reveal Bakugo with his backpack and what looks like a twelve-pack of spicy cherry soda. He's got his usual angry look on, but I see right through it to the concern that's hiding underneath, and before I can stop myself- I throw my arms around him. His shock is palpable, but he just gently sets down the soda and awkwardly pats my back.

"The fuck is this Akira? I don't really do hugs and shit." I nearly fall as I jump backward, a firm grip on my arm all that keeps me from tumbling down. I wipe my eyes, hoping he doesn't notice the tears.

"S-sorry. It's uh- it's been a r-rough week." I ignore the twitch in his eyebrow at my stutter and gasp when I'm pulled into a more solid hug. And I feel secure-for a few precious moments in time at least.

"Just fucking say that then dweeb, fuck's sake. You and shitty hair both act like I read minds." A tiny laugh escapes me, despite the sadness I feel inside.

"I'm very glad you can't. Honestly." Bakugo snorts and separates himself from me, giving me a good once over.

"You look like shit, are you gonna tell me why the fuck you've been MIA for so long?" I look down at the ground, fighting the sobs that want to come up.

"Uh... Do you want to come in? We've been in the doorway for awhile." Rolling his eyes Bakugo shoves past me- much more gently than usual, and walks down the hall.

"Bought damn time, thought I was gonna have to invite myself in. Now, what's up with you?" He finds the kitchen easily, for obvious reasons, and sets the sodas on the small table before making his way to the couch. It takes me a few moments, but I sit next to him.

"We should wait till everyone that's coming is here... I really only want to talk about it once today, I'm not sure I can handle any more than that." Bakugo nods slowly.

"Fine, I'll fucking wait. Where the hell is your brace by the way? Don't you like need that fucking thing?" I shrug.

"The new one needed repairs and adjustments, the old one is in the closet, but I just haven't dug it out yet. I don't really need it around the house so much." He nods, and without another word throws an arm around my shoulder, crosses his legs the way he does when he antagonizes Iida, and gives me a side-eye.

"So, did you watch the sports festival?" I shake my head.

"No, I haven't had the chance to yet, why?" Bakugo blushes and looks away.

"It's not that great, you wouldn't want to watch it anyway."

"If you didn't win-"

"Of course I fucking won! Why the hell wouldn't I?" Bakugo and I dissolve into light conversation (or banter if you prefer) until we hear the next knock. Before I can try to get up, Bakugo is going to answer the door, and of course he greets everyone in a typical Bakugo fashion.

"Sup extras, shitty hair, get your asses inside already. And close the door behind you." Bakugo returns, with a line behind him consisting of Kirishima, Midoriya, Mina, Shouji, and Tsuyu. Kirishima gives me a big smile and a sheepish look.

"Sorry I took so long! Getting everybody organized and making sure they knew where to go was tricky, mostly because I'm not very good at it." I smile back.

"It's fine, you guys can just set everything in the kitchen, you can steal those chairs for in here if you want too, as you can see there's not much space here. I think there's one or two folding chairs in the closet as well if anyone wants them." Midoriya nods, and goes to grab the chairs from the open doored closet. Shouji simply takes a seat on the floor, the same way he did when he used to follow Maiko over. Tsuyu follows suit after setting her things next to Bakugo's on the table.

"It's good to see you're okay Akira, we were all worried after we didn't see you for so long."

"I know, I'll explain things in a bit hopefully. Kirishima, is anyone else coming?" He nods.

"Yeah, surprising actually. Jirou, Kaminari, Shouto, Momo, Tokoyami, and Uraraka. No one else was able to make it on such short notice, but I'm honestly surprised so many people are coming on a weekend at that! Of course, you've been so great to everyone that we all want to make sure you're okay I'm sure. Iida said he already knew what the situation was and he's visiting his family, Ojiro is out of town, Hagakure is sick, Mineta was... not invited, and then everyone else probably is busy because they didn't respond at all. Those six said they were gonna meet at train station that comes here so they should be here at the same time."

I nod, hopefully, I can get this all out- these guys are my classmates- my friends a lot of them, and they need to know that... I might not be me for a while. Even now, as I try to smile and put them at ease- it feels like the sorrow is eating a hole through my chest- ready to rend me limb from limb if I continue to ignore it. It's as though breathing is too much for me as if the world knows that the most important person to me if gone- and so it's pressing down harder. Trying to see when I'll finally break.