Chapter 27: Returning to School

Wolfheart

The first thing Marie smelled was disinfectant. The place she was in reeked of it. That was how she knew she was alive; the…Heaven? Void? Otherworld? Whatever she had seen her parents had smelled much better. She then smelled her Mother, and Joey as well. Judging by the strength of their scents, they hadn't bathed in at least two days, maybe three. "So, this is what a Japanese hospital is like," Marie said aloud. Nemuri and Joey instantly were on her, hugging her tightly, "We were so scared! I thought you were dead!" "Hold on, hold on! We still need to examine her properly!" an older man's voice declared. Nemuri and Joey reluctantly let Marie go and the older man, a doctor, Marie guessed, helped her sit up. She smelled Recovery Girl nearby and was sure that she was fine now; but the doctor had to make sure. He used his stethoscope to check her heart, she was breathing fine. He pressed on her back, sides, and chest, to examine her ribs, they were fine.

Marie felt as her head was touched to examine her skull, and she realized she was feeling the doctor's hands directly on her scalp. "What!? What!? What happened to my hair!?" Marie yelled in English. Her Mother explained, "Your injuries were great, Marie. Your brain was bleeding heavily, and the doctors had to perform surgery to save you. Well, your hair was in the way…" The doctor said, "Indeed, Marie-chan, we had to do it. I am sorry, but it was necessary to save your life. However, it seems that you are completely healed." A woman who sounded about her Mother's age then spoke up in English, "Indeed, you had extensive injuries with your skull, ribs, and spine and required multiple surgeries. If it wasn't for the help of Recovery Girl, I doubt that you would have recovered so quickly, or so well."

"Who are you? How many doctors did I need?" Marie asked in Japanese. The older man answered first in Japanese, "I am Dr. Toriyama Inosuke, I was your primary physician and performed the surgery on your skull and brain." The woman then answered, again in English, "I am Dr. Rachel Schneider, I was called to operate on your spine. It was a difficult operation, but it seems that you have…mostly recovered." Marie asked Dr. Schneider, "What do you mean, 'mostly' recovered?"

It was Recovery Girl who explained things to Marie, "Because of the damage to your spine, we three all agree that you must be careful with your Transformation Quirk. Especially with your second form where you grow larger than usual. For at least a month, preferably six weeks, you cannot use that transformation, such an extreme change in your body structure could put too much stress on your spine, and render you permanently paralyzed beyond our ability to heal."

Marie swallowed nervously at that, "R-really?" Dr. Schneider confirmed, "Really. Transformation Quirks affect the entire body, especially the skeletal system, and put stress on it that humanity, to be honest, was never truly meant for. If you weren't so young, meaning your body can recover from so much more damage, then I'd say that you should just retire from the Hero business." Marie nodded, "I understand, my Ultimate Technique's retired for the next six weeks, or I'll be paralyzed forever." Dr. Schneider nodded, "Good. I know it sounds hard, now, but after your body has recovered, you will truly be good as new." Marie nodded, "Thank you."

For the next hour the doctors gave Marie a full examination of everything, just to be sure that she was truly ready to go home. Aside from her blindness they determined that she was at the peak of health for a young woman of her age, as Dr. Toriyama said, "You are one of the most physically perfect young women I've ever examined. Simply take it easy with your Quirk for the next six weeks, and you will be perfectly alright." After getting dressed in some clothes that her Mother had brought for her, Marie headed out with her family. Just as they left the Hospital, Marie's stomach growled loud enough to make a couple passing by look at her.

"Man, I'm starving. How long was I out?" Marie asked as they got in a taxi. "About four days, give or take a few hours," her Mother answered. "That sounds…long," Marie commented. "It took twelve hours for Schneider-sensei to arrive, that was after the four hour surgery on your brain, and then Recovery Girl said you needed at least twenty-four hours after then ten hour surgery to fix your spine to recover your stamina before she sped up your healing, and another hour because Schneider-sensei had implanted a spinal cast, and agreed to remove it after Recovery Girl worked her magic, and then Recovery Girl needed to work on you again after that surgery. The rest was just us waiting for you to wake up after the anesthesia and sedatives wore off," her Mother explained. Marie nodded, and her thoughts were swirling through her head.

She almost…no, she HAD died! Her heart had stopped beating and her brain had stopped working. She had tried to kill her parents' murderer and almost died. After the taxi dropped them off at U.A., Marie reached out and took Joey's hand in her right, and her Mother's in her left. "Mom, Joey, I know how much I screwed up," she started. "I…I was selfish, all I wanted was to get revenge on Pyromaniac. I almost died for that. I know I haven't been a good sister, or daughter, I'm sorry. I promise, I won't take you for granted again. You're my family…nothing is more important than that, and I forgot it. I'm so sorry…" Marie had tears rolling down her cheeks, and her Mom and Joey wrapped her in a group hug. "As long as you're safe, that's all I care about," her Mom told her, as she wiped her tears away.

"Let's go," Midnight said, "I'll make you both curry for lunch." Marie's mouth started to water at the thought of home cooked food, "I love you Mom." The three of them went into the Class 1-A dorms, and were immediately swarmed by all of Class 1-A!

"MARIE! YOU'RE BACK!"

"ARE YOU OKAY!?"

"We saw the video online, you looked really hurt, kero."

"I owe you so much for saving me back there!"

"We got you some peaches, Joey said that they're your favorite."

It was Kaminari Denki who said that last one, and Marie quickly yelled, "Guys! GUYS! GIVE ME SOME ROOM!" Everyone stopped and Marie took a breath, "Thanks, really, I mean it. I'm glad you all care, but it's been way too long since I last ate something. Is it okay if I have something to eat?" And right on cue, her stomach growled out, and she felt everyone staring at her. "Yeah," Kirishima said, "That sounds like you need to sit down and eat." Marie smelled her way to the peaches that Denki had mentioned and quickly grabbed four, throwing one to Joey, who managed to catch it. The siblings sat at a table and Marie got some paper towels for them.

Marie ate the first peach with the kind of speed that would have made her Grandma scold her, but she ate the second one slower, savoring the flavor of the peach. Denki sat down next to her and was looking at Midnight, who was getting ready to make curry. "Huh…never imagined Midnight-sensei as a home cooker. That's different," he said. Marie smiled as she finished her second peach, "Checking out my Mom, Denki?" Denki sputtered a little, "Wha-Na-No! I'd n-never do that!" Marie chuckled and told him, "Hey, I know my Mom's hot. You're just a healthy teenaged boy and all that stuff. It's natural to look when you're around one, or two, hot ladies."

After a minute of trying to talk, Denki just shut his mouth. After she finished eating, Marie reached out and found his hand and told him, "Denki, I want to talk to you, in private, later, after I have some lunch, alright?" Her boyfriend grabbed her hand and gave her a reassuring squeeze, "Alright." Midnight chuckled at this as she stirred the curry, and quietly whispered, "Ah, young love." While she waited for the curry to finish, Marie asked her classmates about the Sports Festival she had missed due to her injuries. It was crazy as everyone started talking at once, but eventually Marie got the basic gist of it, that being that in the end Denki had come from behind to win Third Place, a spot he shared with Todoroki; Bakugou had made it to Second Place much to his fury, and Midoriya had battled his way to First.

Marie laughed, "Oh God I wish I could see his face when he lost!" Bakugou growled and stomped over to Marie, "Laugh it up, Kuroko. If we had fought, you'd have gone down hard." Marie snorted and said, "Bakugou, if we ever do go toe-to-toe, you better bring your A-game. Because if you hold back even a little, I'm gonna beat you so hard your Grandkids will feel it!" They were stopped from arguing further with the sound of Midnight hitting the pot she was making the curry in. "Alright, alright, now's not the time for all that. As much as I love hearing the sounds of youthful passion, it's time to eat, Marie," the Eighteen Plus Only Hero said as she filled two plates of curry for Joey and Marie. Once they had their food, she made her own plate, and Denki got up so Midnight could sit next to Marie.

The three of them clapped their hands together and said, "Itadakimasu!" and dug in. Marie took her first bite and was amazed. She had had plenty of Indian style curry growing up, it was Mysa's go to dinner dish for the family half the time when she cooked. And yet, this one was even better than hers. Marie smelled and tasted chicken, chickpeas, some ginger, tomatoes, and a healthy dose of cumin powder. Joey groaned too and put his spoon down. "Is something wrong, Joey?" Midnight asked. Joey said, "It's better than Mom's curry. I…I really like this." Marie paused for a minute and paid close attention to her brother, the sounds he made and scents he gave off.

She smelled sadness, but not tears, he seemed mostly happy with the food, mixed with sadness for the memory of Mysa. "I really like it…Mom," Joey told Kayama Nemuri. She responded, "I'm glad you do, Joey. I found this recipe last week, and I was hoping you would." The family continued eating together with more relish after this, and Marie was glad to learn her Mom had made enough for them all to enjoy seconds. Once lunch was over, Midnight left to get a shower and see what paperwork she had missed and get makeup assignments for Marie. Joey and Marie hung out in the lounge area and watched a movie with Ochako, Denki and Midoriya about a Jungle Princess whose Quirk let her transform into any animal she wanted battling against poachers. As she listened to the movie, Marie couldn't help but feel like something that had been missing was finally found again.