It's weird how everything that happened, up till the culmination of that unconscious search I did for Eri, all took place in four-ish months. Come to think of it, I was off the radar for an entire season. Saying a lot has happened since my internships is an understatement.

The day I apologized to Iida, I went right back to the dorms. It was a Sunday afternoon, and everyone was home. Well, as much of a home as the dorms were to them; I never had the chance to get used to living with 1B, and that's going on the long list my regrets. I even had a room to myself, except it was empty. I stayed over Kendo's room the previous night because I couldn't take the hollowness of mine, but when she dropped off to sleep, I stayed up in the kitchen.

They were all gathered in the living room when I got back, but no one pressed me to talk this time. They knew I went out to apologize to Iida. I broke the news of me retaking first year, and it was just as surprising to find that no one was happy I was leaving. They were a little angrier with the fact that I ran off without telling anyone, though.

"We were afraid we did something, you know," said Tokage. I was sitting on the floor, knees to my chest, and she and Kendo were on either of my sides. Awase was seated in front of me, arms crossed over his chest. Everyone else littered around me on the sofas or floor in some organized chaos.

"I know, I'm sorry. It was all just me, and none of you did anything wrong."

"How fun would it have been if we all went to summer camp together," pipped Shiozaki. "You would have learned so much."

"She was there, remember? When we all started dropping like flies because of some air trick and they kidnapped Bakugo," said Kamakiri almost nonchalantly. Kendo fixed him with a glare, and he shrugged. "I said what I said."

"Right, that time…"

"Oi, cut her some slack," said Tetsutetsu in a loud voice. "She got an earful already from the teachers and even Iida. And you heard the story last night."

I shot Tetsutetsu a smile, then Awase raised his hand. "So, you'll go home for the rest of the year, and then we'll see you next year as a freshman again?"

"Pretty much."

Kaibara blew a raspberry. "Man, that sucks, you have to retake all those classes and exams again. And it's not like you can just cheat your way through the exams, since they always change things up," he said with a shudder. "Remember last finals? I thought Power Loader sensei was going to bury me alive."

"And she should refrain from cheating at all!" added Shishida in a commanding tone. "She should have learned her lesson and must achieve her dreams of becoming a hero with honest means!"

I managed a chuckle as I saluted Shishida. He can be so much like Iida sometimes, despite being our youngest. "Yessir, Gevaudan, sir. And besides, if I know what's coming in the classes, for sure I can ace the exams. You guys may be step ahead of me right now because I was stupid for a few months, but I'll catch up soon."

"Yes, and we will crush 1A even beyond graduation!" yelled Monoma, supported by a cheer from Tsunotori, who probably didn't get half of what he said.

Kodai face-palmed herself and the boys snickered. Kendo reached over to swipe him with a big hand, but he managed to duck with a coy smile.

Komori's lower lip suddenly jutted out as she turned to me. "You can't even stay for the school festival? If this school is like the others, we'll be having one soon."

Honenuki looked thoughtful. "You think they'll push through with one? After all that's happened?"

"Remember the sports festival?" replied Rin. "1A got attacked by the villains not too long before that, but they pushed through with it. They might do it again, to show that UA won't back down."

"Damn right they should!" Monoma waltzed into our midst, looking like he just hatched another of those ridiculous plans of his. "If we're going to have a school festival, I already know what we're going to do. If it takes asking Nezu for his permission to have you come and see it, at least, I'll do it."

Kendo gave him a deadpan look. "We haven't even talked about anything."

"You'll love it, I swear."

"Doubt that."

"Whatever that is," said Awase suddenly, "I'm with Monoma. You have to at least visit for the festival, even if they don't allow you to work with us."

"Actually, Principal Nezu did give me permission to come as a guest. Whatever you guys have planned, make sure it's damn good. Better than 1A."

"You got that right, Hatsume!"

Tokage reached up and tugged at Monoma's ear, which elicited a sharp howl. "Why don't you start by actually telling us what you got in mind, see if we agree."

"Whatever it is, it's gotta be manly!"

"And within school rules."

"And not cheesy, for crying out loud."

"You are all demanding for people who haven't contributed anything to this genius."

"Shut up, Monoma."

Despite my situation, I found myself grinning. I'm going to miss these idiots.

-.-

Mom and Dad picked me up from UA that evening, and Mei had gotten special permission to go home. For the first time in months, I got to enjoy a meal with my family. It took some getting used to, and they still skirted around the elephant in the room, but Mei was wonderful in breaking the ice. It only took me a few hours to joke around Mom and Dad again.

Because the issue was covered up well, no one from the media came looking for me. I stayed home the entire month before the school festival, slowly getting used to my own clothes and room again. I helped Mom in her lab, I waited up for Dad from his hero patrol, and I cooked for them all day. I rearranged my room, put away whatever weapons I still had in a box under my bed, and took to my gadget-tinkering again. Sometimes the 1B girls would call and update me on what they're doing, and it was like I was right there with them.

Mei had to go back to the dorms, but she came home every weekend bursting with excitement with what she has planned for the festival. Her room was a perpetual mess; I can't begin to imagine how much of her work was piled in Power Loader sensei's office.

"Exactly how many babies will you be showing off?"

"Everything I finish on time!"

"When was the last time you showered? Or slept? You look terrible."

"No time for that!"

"Mei, I swear, if you don't take a shower or nap in the next few hours, I'll force you to do it."

-.-

The school festival couldn't have arrived quicker. That Friday morning, I took care to prepare and dress up. I took a long time in the shower, I brushed my hair, I put on my shoes. It was the first time I was going out in my own clothes, to see my friends, in so long. This was my chance to start setting things back to normal beyond our house.

"I'll see you later, Mom!"

"See you, honey! Make sure your sister gets home okay. I don't think she slept enough."

It was a quick commute on the train to UA. I relished the walk up the hill, until I came in sight of the grand gates. There were all sorts of streamers and balloons and lanterns already hanging from the arches, and there were rows and rows of stalls from the other courses, in all the years. The air smelled of good food and was filled with happy chatter.

I found 1B huddled in the back of the auditorium dressed in all manners of costumes. The girls were mostly dressed in gowns, most of the boys were in cloaks. There were swords and props and masks as well. I scoffed.

"I'm almost afraid to ask."

Awase saw me first and ran over to pull me toward the rest of them. "It was mostly Monoma's idea, but it could work if everyone gives Plus Ultra."

"And we'll beat 1A's show!" Monoma, as expected, looked like he was the lead of whatever play they chose.

"Do you even know what they're doing?"

"No, but we're better!" Trust Monoma to be over-confident. "Oh, and Hatsume: make sure you go to the beauty pageant."

I frowned. "Why? Is one of us going? Shiozaki? Kodai?"

Monoma laughed loudly, and drawing Kendo's attention and fist to the back of his head. She looked irked, and I realized why. I tried to stifle my laughter.

"Oh no, did he enter you?"

She sighed. "Whatever, it might be fun, who knows?" But she only sounded half-convinced.

1A began the show in the auditorium with an explosive song-and-dance number. I had faith in my class, but that was a pretty good show. Then, after everything has been cleared, 1B went up to the stage and played a rendition of a bunch of classics that I couldn't even follow. "Romeo and Juliet and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Return of the King", it said on the brochure, but I could have sworn I heard Star Wars references too. Go figure.

In the afternoon, we all watched as Kendo showed off her quirk in the beauty pageant, and even if she was unwillingly entered, she looked like she had fun. I also saw a senpai from The Incident: Hado senpai, who won by a landslide with a showier performance of her wave quirk.

Throughout the day, I managed to avoid Midoriya, Togata senpai, and Eri like the plague. I saw them, of course, but I couldn't just bring myself to show myself. And I wasn't ready to face Eri, not yet. But the last chance came when I bumped into Midoriya running to the entrance with a carton of what looked like candy apples.

"Hatsume! Hi."

"Those look good. Let me guess: for Eri?"

He nodded. "Would you like to come see her before she goes back with Togata senpai?"

I blinked. "He's going to take care of her?"

"He's on temporary leave for now, so he took it upon himself to watch over her. Hey, why don't you visit them some time? You're free, right?"

I shrugged away the lump of guilt from my throat. "I could, yeah." I did promise to properly greet Togata senpai anyway.

We walked to the main entrance together, where Aizawa sensei, Togata senpai, and Eri all waited. When she saw me, she paused, eyes wide.

"Onee-chan? Mai nee-chan?"

I smiled as I kneeled on the ground. "I'm glad to see you're okay, Eri." She walked up to me and put her small hands in mine. Then, wonder of wonders, she smiled, and her eyes shone.

"Did you get to see Deku's show? And that play? And the floating hero in the fashion show?"

I didn't feel my tears until the rolled down my cheeks. "Yes, yes I did. They were great."

"Are you hurt, onee-chan?"

I sniffed and padded away my tears. "No, not at all. I'm just really, really happy that you're here. That you're okay."

"Eri," said Midoriya all of a sudden, obviously unable to keep his excitement. He glanced at me, so I moved aside. He drew his hand to reveal his gift. "Surprise!"

The look on Eri's face when she saw the candy apple was one of awe, but when she bit into it, her face melted into another lovely smile.

I got up from my knees and approached Togata senpai. "I said I'd greet you properly, Lemillion. My name is Hatsume Mai, first year in the hero course, class 1B. Or, well, I used to be."

"I heard," he said, but he didn't look angry or disappointed. "That's going to be good on your moral education."

"And I heard you'll be taking care of Eri," I added, looking back to Midoriya and the precious little girl. "That's going to be fun."

"It will be, for sure. I'm off until further notice, so in a way, we're the same. Waiting for our fresh starts. And don't get all sappy on me."

I was about to apologize again, and he must have seen it on my face, so I thought the better of it. "If I could be of any assistance to you or Eri on your break, it would be my pleasure to help out."

"Count on it, freshman," said Togata senpai as he clamped me on my shoulder. "I have a lot of free time to lord it over you these next few months."

I grinned right back. "Bring it on, senpai."