I don't want to rest in peace.

May's fingers twitched. The light of the kitchen slowly edged in her field of vision. What happened? She pressed her palm against the wooden floor. Her head was pounding like a constant bass drum, blood roaring in her ear creating an alarming chorus to accompany it. When she pushed to lift herself, her arms shook and she collapsed back to the ground.

She turned her head toward her phone. It was vibrating on the floor, moving on its own accord. Stretching her fingers, she tried to will her phone toward her. It didn't work. May threw her whole body into a roll, and dizziness set in. She squeezed her eyes shut to stop the endless spinning.

It's right there, I can get to it. I just need to level myself out. Yeah, yeah. I'll be able to get up here soon.

Now facing the ceiling, May opened her eyes to watch it twirl and dance in her vision. Her hand managed to grab her phone, and she shakily held it above her. It buzzed in her hand, lighting up with an unclear contact picture.

I can't see the answer button. It's usually green, isn't it? Gah, why isn't anything straight?

She took a gamble and pressed on the brightest button. Her hand flopped back, resting against her ear with her phone.

"Hello?"

"May, what in the goddamn fuck is going on?"

May took a deep breath.

"Ah, um. Hey, Eiko."

"You have no right to be so casual right now," her friend's voice shook with anger. Nails drummed against a solid surface in the background. "I'm staring at the news talking about the press and how they broke through your school. Then! Then—when I call you, you don't answer! After what? Twenty-five calls?"

"I don't know… I—I haven't checked. What day is it?"

"What day is it? You've gotta be kidding me, May. Are you serious?" Eiko exhaled into the phone as she spoke. May could hear her hand slam onto the hard surface.

"I'm— I'm afraid not. Before I say anything else, can I say… I'm sorry for bringing up the operation," May sighed, lifting her other hand. The ceiling was no longer a torrent of white. It was more of a gentle breeze, moving back and forth like a porch swing.

"Fine, it's whatever I don't care anymore," Eiko said, her harsh words spitting over the speaker. "You have explaining to do."

"Eiko, wait—"

"Don't Eiko, wait me. I've been waiting for three hours!" she said, and her nails started drumming again. "Alright, explain yourself."

"Do you know what time it is?" May asked, moving to sit up. Her body leaned back as she tried to balance herself. She used her other hand to prop up her head.

"What is it with you and these cryptic questions? It's nine."

Nine?! I got home at five!

"I'm… I'm sorry. It was a long day at work. I took a nap as soon as I got home," May winced through her lie.

"Sleeping through your phone calls? That doesn't sound like you," Eiko's voice softened, and there was a pause before she continued. "It must've been tough then."

"Yeah, you could say that," the kitchen started to straighten itself out. Nothing was churning quite so intensely anymore. May gnawed on the inside of her cheek.

She didn't want to worry her friend about what happened at work. She had done that enough two days ago. Was it already two days ago?

"If I know you, I know what you're doing," Eiko sighed into the receiver. "And I have no right saying anything. Because that's how I was when my company first started. You can talk to me; I promise I won't go off on a tangent or whatever."

For some reason, the understanding tone Eiko's voice exuded resonated with May. She didn't even have a chance to control her response, formulate it in her imperfect way. The first thing that popped into her head exited her lips.

"I feel so behind," May said without thinking.

The dizziness picked up again, and her throat tightened. Why did she feel that lump in her throat? The swelling of her throat, her eyes burning. No, no, no, this wasn't happening. She was fighting her quivering lip. She felt like a small piece of fabric, trying to be a blanket.

Her mind flashed back to before she even entered ground zero, how they were sprinting and so far ahead of her. In her disorientated state, she thought about the dust that she waded through behind them. Her thoughts spilled out in word form, white noise echoing in her ear.

"They can run so… so fast. And I'm… I'm losing. I'm losing, Eiko. And I— I hate losing."

There was silence on the other side. Eiko inhaled.

"It's okay to lose, you know," she said, and May clenched her free fist. "You're working with heroes, and you're not… one."

"I know, but it doesn't matter. You don't understand, I can't lose… I can't," May gritted her teeth, a fire lighting underneath her words.

It always happened this way. Honesty distorting into anger. The spinning of the room increased, her breathing now audible. More words tumbled out of her mouth.

"I have to be… I have to be more. I have to—"

"Do your job?"

Another silence.

May felt her stone face crumble into a million pieces. Her job. She did it. And had only been four patients. How could she deal with more? How could she compete with heroes? With villains? She was just an average citizen.

The way Vlad King looked at her. It was like she was going to get in the way and create a whole new problem for them. Because what could she do? Nothing. She couldn't lift cars or stretch out to be a safety net or take down criminals. She could just—

Bleed.

Everyone could do that.

She felt the small spark of anger die in her throat. It was a fool's hope to think she could ever do what she set out wanting. Her life was always full of twists and turns. No path was ever clear-cut, it would swerve and dive into a ditch.

Why couldn't she have received a normal quirk? Lived a normal life? Didn't push so hard through medical school? Maybe… Oh, how rich, she could've been married. Like Sara, Eiko, and Niko. Had kids. Maybe… if her ego didn't inflate and float so high above her, she wouldn't be staring at a swirling stovetop.

Yet, her ego spoke before she could. "Yes."

May could see Eiko's bright red hair falling in front of her face. The rare times that Eiko would relax her facial features, her green eyes would show gentleness hidden behind layers of a hardened businesswoman. When she brushed away all the harshness, it always started with a click of her tongue.

Eiko's tongue clicked. "Listen, Sara and the kids are coming to visit us next week. How about we meet up for like… um… lunch or dinner? Take your mind off everything for a little while?"

May tried to force a smile, even if she felt like vomiting. "Sounds perfect. Just give me the details, and I'll be there."

It was quiet again. May thought about what she could say to fill the silence, but she couldn't think of anything. Eiko spoke before anything cleared through her consciousness.

"Are you going to be okay?" Eiko asked, another deeper voice cropping up in the background.

May knew what this question gave her the chance to do. It was her signal to tell Eiko everything would be fine so she could hang up. Eiko wanted honesty, but May wasn't prepared to face it herself. So, for the time being, she would tide over her concerned friend.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just… a long day," May nodded, sniffing once. "I'll talk to you later, alright?"

"Of course, you know you can always come to us. Keep your head up! Play the game! You can do it," Eiko's sharp tone returned. "Bye-bye, Mayday! I'll let you know!"

The phone hung up before May could let her goodbye slip out of her mouth. It was soft, barely audible. She set the phone down on the floor. Getting up was going to be hard. May reached up for the wooden table, forcing her palms into the surface.

When she stood, the room blurred. May didn't even have time to turn on most of the lights. Instead, the city illuminated the room. Reflections danced across her living room floor, the inky blue transforming into a light purple cast against her couch. She looked to her window corner.

Her plant had wilted. She felt her shoulders fall, staring down at her fingers curled against the wooden table. She broke away from the table, falling against a wall. Her steps were slow and cumbersome, like moving underwater. Flipping on the light to the bathroom, she looked to the mirror.

There was a woman that stood there, reflecting back in the mirror. She was thin, her face sunken in, and her skin ghostly white. The same beauty mark was pressed right above her lips, but her eyes had dark purple bags. Color was gone. May blinked and gripped the side of the bathroom counter.

I'm in over my head, aren't I?

May stared at herself longer. She had triaged wrong. If only she had gotten to Aizawa first, he may not be stuck with his scars. Maybe if she had the right words for Thirteen, they wouldn't have panicked. If she had read her contract, she wouldn't have left her patients behind. She wouldn't be stuck caring and chasing after pro-heroes—

Before her emotions could spill out, she swallowed them down. Her contorted expression smoothed into a blank slate. The same process she did in the hospital. Actively taking control, fighting her expressive face. She gave a dead stare to the mirror, not breaking until everything she felt settled like a rock in her stomach.

Just leave it. You have things to do.

It was the same speech she gave every time, thinking she would come back to revisit the building boulder deep down. May never did. Her hands let go of the bathroom counter, and she didn't look at the mirror for the remainder of the night.

Instead, May performed a blood transfusion on herself to replenish her lost supply. The giant bruise forming on her forehead wouldn't heal, but that was just how it worked. She didn't get to reap the benefits of her own quirk. While blood circulated, she took to reading about scar therapies.

At every page flip, her body was getting stronger. After something to eat and a shower, it was even better. May flopped down on her bed, staring at the ceiling fan as it went around and around. She zoned out, distancing herself from the events that had transpired.

May was going to wake up and pretend her body didn't quit on her. But she was going to do something that should've been done a long time ago.

That morning, May scrolled through her contacts. She landed on a familiar name and pressed on the number, lifting her phone up to her ear.

"Kataoka? No way!"

She hadn't heard his voice since medical school. A small smile ghosted across her tired face.

"Hey, Nakamura. How's Hosu treating you?"

"Don't you think it's a little soon to go through with an event of this caliber?" Midnight's voice pulled May back into the staff meeting.

Her thoughts were all over the place, bouncing around the walls. She was unable to pin anything down. Everyone turned their attention back to The Principal. The rest of the room was enthralled with the discussion at hand.

"The Sports Festival will be a necessary boost in morale. Once the media gets a hold of what happens, which will only be a matter of time, we'll need something to symbolize our unity and strength," Nezu said, holding up a paw.

Isn't having a significant event like this kind of… unwise… after two major breaches in security? Both the media and villains? Not your problem, May. It's a hero problem. But… I… can't help but…

May lifted a hand to her chin, her eyebrows coming together. Nezu paced at the front of the room and then stopped, finishing his statement.

"It will be our way of telling Villains we aren't afraid."

"Security will need to be heavier. We'll have to contract out other pro-heroes. More than we originally planned," Aizawa said, speaking through a multitude of bandages.

"Indeed! That's my plan," Nezu looked down at his watch after stopping himself mid-sentence. "Oh! The students will be arriving soon. I'll be sending out further plans. If you are in close contact with any agencies, start reaching out. We have much to do before the festival. You all are dismissed."

Well, there's nothing I can do.

May got up from her chair, adding the file containing the meeting outline. Before she could leave, she felt a tug on her lab coat. Turning around, Nezu was staring back at her.

"Dr. Kataoka, would you stay behind for a moment?" He asked, and May nodded, settling back into a chair.

What's he going to say to me? May, you're fired? Ha, no way. But why do I have to stay behind? Why is everyone looking at me like that? Like I'm a war veteran? I'm not, I'm just here like anyone else I—

"You look like you've seen a ghost, Doctor!" Nezu said.

May realized the room was empty. Her eyes returned from the door back to the Mouse in front of her. Her face burned a bright red, and she waved a single hand.

"No, no. No ghosts here, ha!" May said, her voice moving an octave up due to her nerves. She cleared her throat, trying to piece together the right question. "What is it you would like to speak to me about?"

"You're a smart person, Doctor. You probably already know the answer to that question."

I do?! Well, maybe. Let's take a guess.

"Does it have to do with my performance during the USJ crisis?" May asked, resting her hands on the table. It was the only logical thing that could lead to their meeting.

May briefly remembered their passing interaction. Had he been there the whole time? Watching her? She was so worried about her patients and thinking about their injuries, she forgot her spurt of anger toward him. It passed as quickly as it came.

She flashbacked to that moment. The panic she felt when she couldn't see the stretchers, her heart hammering against her chest. Her jaw flexed as she tried to push the miscommunication out of her head.

"I knew you'd figure it out," Nezu said and pulled out a large stack of papers. He slid them across the table. "I think you'd be a valuable asset."

"What's this?" May asked, her voice dropping. She was tired of the paperwork. Tired of contracts. Her mind had already been made. Whatever it was, she wasn't signing it, no matter what.

The cover of the paper was solid and laminate, with bold letters that read: Project: NMS (New Medical Support). May lifted the laminate sheet to see her entire quirk profile, complete with her identification and various lists of credentials.

"I'm sorry, I don't understand," May peered up at Nezu through her glasses.

"It's a pathway to support work. We call it Nims and it's something I've been working on. It's not highlighted in your contract but, it's something I'm extending to you. I wasn't sure if you were the right person, but you've changed my mind."

Nezu looked down at the table and exhaled before continuing. "Recovery Girl's retirement was a loss for many heroes. She worked alongside a lot of agencies to provide immediate care during missions."

May blinked, her eyes skimming through the papers. "I—I… My performance at the USJ crisis was anything but stellar. Nezu, forgive me, but I think you're making a mistake."

"Is that an insult to my intelligence and observational skills, Dr. Kataoka?" Nezu asked softly. Shivers skittered down May's spine, and she cringed.

"No… No… Um, I… I'm just unsure about this entire proposal and my involvement. I came here to be a medical professional. Not a pro-hero."

"I'm not asking you to be a pro-hero, so to speak," Nezu said. "Your instincts and quick-thinking on the frontlines allowed for effective extraction. Do you have extensive first response training?"

Her fingers flipped through each sheet of paper, paragraphs upon paragraphs outlining resources and laws. It had contacts, addresses, everything. Even practice exams, which was strange.

Why is he doing this? I've only worked for what— a couple of days? And he's already presenting this? It seems a little soon… Was this his plan all along? I— I… How did I get this involved? What… What is my job? Is this it? I need a drink.

"No, not really just the basic education in… school… I'm sorry, I'm just having a hard time understanding this," May said, her words stilted and filled with confusion. She lifted her eyes from the gigantic packet, tilting her head. "Why do I need a hero license? I need to take… take a test?"

"Anyone would jump at this opportunity. You'll just have to complete some self-study, and with some extra guidance, you can work as a free agent during the summer months and breaks," Nezu unclasped his hands, laying them flat on the table.

"I know this seems a little soon, but after the incident, we're going to need all of the help we can get," He gave a brighter smile. "The sooner you start, the better it'll be. Even if it appears, we've barely had the chance to get to know each other."

She couldn't even form a response, her eyes widening as she stared down at the cover of the packet. Nothing made sense. Why she was there, why she was sitting in the office, how she even got to that point. It was all happening so fast.

Nezu's voice sounded again. "But I wouldn't hire just anyone. Your quirk, partnered with your intellect, could save a lot of lives outside of these walls. You've proven that to me through your actions. Real emergencies tend to bring out both the best and worst in people. Your worst can be fixed. Your best is advantageous for us."

Us?

May felt her fingers curl around the paper. She bit her lower lip. How could he think this? After the mistakes she made? She could've mitigated so much tissue damage. Quick memories barged into her head. Gloves dripping with scarlet, never being able to find the right words, and a white hallway. Mistakes.

It felt wrong, and May… didn't want it.

She was moving on after her time at this school. So much left to learn. So much left to fix about herself and the world around her. Research needed publishing. Specialization needed completing. Diseases needed curing. May had things to do, accomplishments she wanted to achieve. She wasn't going to get caught up in the hero business.

It wasn't for people like her. It was for people like All Might. For the media stars, those with powerful quirks. With heroic presences and strong hearts. She had no place in it.

May pushed out her chair, standing up. Her fingers slid the packet of papers back across the table. She had only stood up to a boss once, and that was through patient advocacy. It felt weird to defend herself, but she couldn't stand aside.

"I hope you can understand that I can't accept this," May said. "I worked hard for this white coat, Nezu. I'm not hanging it up anytime soon. I have a lot of my own plans for the future and becoming a field medic isn't one of them."

May waited, her fingers resting on the packet. They weren't shaky. Steady, like her conviction. May's lips were pulled tightly together. Nezu didn't move for what felt like minutes. He sat there, his smile still resting on his features.

What's he doing? Why is he just sitting there like that? Wait, is he a robot? Did I break him?

Finally, his paw reached forward, and he took back the papers.

"I'll give you a chance to think it over, Dr. Kataoka. I appreciate your honesty," Nezu said in the same cheerful tone.

"I will, but I doubt my answer will change," May said, rubbing her arm with her other hand. She glanced at the clock and needed to find a way to bow out of the room. "Thank you for the offer, though."

"Have a good day. I hope to hear your final answer soon," Nezu said, leaping off of the chair.

They walked to the door together, and before parting ways, he looked to May. "Life will not be easy in the coming months. I fear this is much greater than you and I."

When she turned to face him, he was halfway down the hall. May shouldered her bag, rolling her shoulders. She had a full day ahead and didn't have time to be thinking about Nezu's strange precognitions.

May unlocked her door, and before she could turn the knob, her phone buzzed. Her expression fell and her confidence transformed into immediate nausea.

[OPEN]

(1) NEW MESSAGE

The Principal

➞ Oh, silly me. I forgot to mention this! You will be giving a first aid presentation to the first-year classes tomorrow. Recovery Girl traditionally does it later this year. Circumstances have changed. I'm asking you to present it a little sooner. Good luck!

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