Sensei arrives back at nearly a quarter after five.
I notice immediately the moment his keys click in the door, my emotions itching terribly under my skin as I finish rinsing the skillet and shut off the water. I don't even give him time to finish, crossing the space as fast as I humanly can and jerking open the door.
He scowls, keys still caught in the lock and arm slightly outstretched. Alone.
I don't hesitate, rushing forward and wrapping him in my arms. He huffs, but accepts it, one hand pressing against my hair and the other to my back. I suck in a steadying breath, comforted by the familiar scent.
"Rin-"
"Where's the guest?" I ask abruptly, pulling away to check behind him again. The empty dorm looks just the same with fancy furniture and too nice walls. "I put out three plates! Sensei, how come they're not here yet? Who are they?"
I'd been expecting Shinsou or one of the teachers.
"Aha! I am here!"
I squeak in surprise as Principal Nezu, of all people, appears on Sensei's shoulder with a shout and—and was he hiding in Sensei's capture weapon?
Seriously?
"Uh…"
Sensei sighs.
"Principal Nezu is our guest. Go wash up and we'll discuss it over dinner."
My eyes twitches.
"Umm… Okay?" I hesitate still and Sensei raises an eyebrow. The principal drops from his shoulder, relaying using his capture weapon to land easily on his feet. How did he even hide in that? The mouse-bear man straightens coming about to my hip.
Sensei clears his throat, and I turn and go, shaking my head.
It only takes a moment to wash up and when I return, Sensei and Principal Nezu are both drying their hands. I furrow my eyebrows as I take my seat, utterly confused.
Principal can't reach the sink…
Did… Did Sensei help him?
I quickly begin filling up my plate and glance curiously over when the Principal takes the spot beside me. He offers a kind, if animalistic, grin.
I twitch.
"Uh… h-hi?"
"Good afternoon Young Rin! I see you've cooked up quite the meal, I'm impressed."
"Oh, uh, th-th-thanks?"
I glance towards Sensei, whose lip twitches, but he ignores us both with a quick itadakimasu.
Principal and I repeat it, breaking apart the chopsticks and jerking slightly as the bear-dog letting out an enthusiastic whine.
"Oh my! Young Rin, this is quite flavorful!"
He must have eaten some of Sensei's vegetables. I flush, my skin flickering with light, and shyly rub at my neck.
"Oh, well… th-thank you, sir."
"Of course. Now, how was your day while we were in our meeting?"
I glance at Sensei again, but he's no help at all. He just keeps eating, clearly content to stay entirely out of this discussion.
How annoying.
"G-Good?"
"Ah!"
The Principal, unlike my guardian, seems to have no interest in eating in silence. He fills the dinner with what feels like endless chatter, switching from subject to subject with little hesitation. He lectures on the more recent quirks finding relevant in the hero system, offers insights into the different academies he'd visited last month, and converses excitedly on the diverse activities soon to be available in the dorms. While interesting at first, it quickly becomes background noise when he doesn't slow down, and I feel my attention wander.
Like to the pink scar stretching across his eye.
Like mine on my arms.
I wonder if it bled when they cut him.
I wonder if he has any brothers?
So I'm completely unprepared when he changes subjects.
"Tell me, Young Rin, are you still interested in being a hero?"
I nearly choke on my water, half-wondering if he'd waited for me to finish my food before he brought it up.
I glance towards Sensei again, but like most of the dinner, he's still not paying attention. I drum my fingers across my knees, uncomfortable.
"Ummm… yeah? Yes, I mean, Yes sir!"
"Oh?" The Principal doesn't look surprised, but it's kind of hard to tell with all of the fur. He folds his paws on the table, and I notice for the first time just how little he served himself. "Aizawa-kun mentioned the same thing, but I wanted to be sure. You've had a very rough year so far and I have quite a few concerns."
"C-C-Concerns," I repeat, suddenly less sure about the bear-dog's presence. Any remnants of my glow flicker and fade at the Principal's solemn nod.
"Unfortunately, yes. It leads me to one of the several reasons for my visit. I wanted to hear from you personally that you wished to continue your studies here at U.A., but also because we need to discuss some of the conditions associated with that continued stay."
That sounds even worse than concerns.
My stomach tightens and I straighten, pulling at my fingers as shadows squirm just beneath the surface.
"Wh-wh-what kind of-of-"
"Therapy," Sensei says flatly, finally speaking up for the first time this dinner. I meet his eye, and he frowns in my direction with an almost too-bored expression. "Breathe Rin. Nothing is being asked of you that I have not thoroughly discussed with the principal. You and several of your classmates will receive mandatory weekly therapy sessions."
For some reason that is comforting.
I suck in a steadying breath and blow it slowly from my nose. Principal Nezu smiles disarmingly, somehow making himself look more doll-like than animal.
"O-Okay."
"The second condition is regarding your safety," the Principal states nodding. "It would be best for you to remain on campus. We can, of course, revisit this in a few months once we've obtained more data on your brother's status and motives. Until then, any off-campus trips will need to be supervised by one of the heroes."
When Principal Nezu's pause lengthens, I realize he wants a response.
"Y-Yes, sir!" I murmur.
"Good, then that leads me to my last concern! It's not particularly crucial, but I am concerned about your placement in 1A."
M-My placement?
Like he wants me to leave?
I flinch and the little mouse-dog figure pauses, one of his paws reaching up to scratch his chin.
"I… I'm sorry…" I whisper wide-eyed, breath catching in my throat. "I didn't- I didn't mean for Mineta-kun to get hurt- I- I-"
"Principal Nezu," Sensei interrupts, his voice taking on a warning tone even as he gives me the silent expression that means 'breathe'. I do, hands shaking in my lap. "I've already told you it will not be an issue."
"Oh no, I don't think so either. Young Rin, this isn't an attempt to expunge you from the program. I only mean to know if you'd be interested in transferring to 1B with Vlad. Not because of any action of your own, or even on your guardian's behalf. But because of the recent chaos and our own drop in numbers, I have found it necessary to rearrange several students. It would be remiss of me not to offer. In fact, your friend Shinsou Hitoshi was just transferred there! I merely want your opinion. Aizawa-kun could remain your guardian, but I am offering you the chance to have a separate entity as your homeroom teacher."
Sensei not being my teacher?
I don't even hesitate.
"N-N-No th-th-thank you!"
I don't relax even when the Principal nods encouragingly. He smiles and removes himself from the table.
"Very well then! Thank you again, Young Rin, the meal was quite delicious, but it would seem that I've concluded my business here. Aizawa-kun, I will inform the children's housing agency that I completed my observation. You should have the finalized papers by the beginning of next week."
Sensei stands and bows, expression still locked in that weird bored face.
"Thank you, sir."
I hurry to do the same.
"Ah… th-th-thank you?"
What observation? Was… was this a test?
The mouse-bear grins, his expression flickering again, and he gives a shallow bow of his own.
"Of course."
.
.
.
I clear away the dishes while Sensei escorts Principal Nezu somewhere, feeling as if electricity were running beneath my skin. I nearly buzz with it, scrubbing a little too hard on dishes for what seems forever. I nearly jump when he finally returns.
"S-S-Sensei! What… What just happened?"
Sensei ignores me, kicking off his boots in the doorway and crossing the living room. He crashes on the couch instead, and I pause to blink at what sounds like a relieved sigh.
Was… was he nervous?
I shut off the water, leaving the dishes stacked in the sink, and dry my hands on my shorts as I make my way more slowly towards him. He doesn't look up, his head buried in one arm and the other hanging half-off the couch. Miska, watching him just as curiously, creeps closer as well, eyes on the end of his capture weapon dangling by his hand.
"S-Sensei?"
When he groans, I can't help but frown.
"Sensei, what's wrong? Are you hurt? Do you need anything? I can… I can get an ice pack or the bandages? Do you need the first aid kit? Or your eyedrops? I can get your eyedrops-"
"'m fine," he grunts, voice muffled by the couch.
I still, still pulling at my fingers, and lean forward, pressing my face into his back. He doesn't move when my arms wrap around his waist.
"Sensei, I didn't—I don't wanna leave!"
He breathes so deeply I can feel the breath rattle in his chest, before he turns, twisting beneath me until he's sideways with his back against the couch. He tugs me in, and I scramble onto the couch to fall in his arms.
The soft fabric of his uniform slides across the hard planes of his chest, tangling my arms against him. He holds me there, one hand against my back and the other in my hair. I nearly sigh in relief, the scent of detergent in every breath, the warmth of his body against mine.
"Sensei?"
"You did well," he says, voice thick in a way that makes me pause.
"Sensei?" I venture, suddenly unsure. "Is… Is everything okay?"
"Yes Rin," he huffs, clearing his throat, and I relax at the sheer normalcy of it.
"Why… Why was Principal Nezu here? And… And what did he mean observation? And what's he talking about with Shinsou? Shinsou's in the hero course?"
The fingers in my hair don't pause, and I lean into the touch.
He sighs tiredly, breath ghosting across my hair.
"The meeting today was a smaller version of the entrance exam. We had three positions open. Shinsou is not aware that he received the spot. So I expect you to keep that to yourself. We will tell him tomorrow in person."
I frown.
Three positions…
"The… Mineta's spot?"
"His was one of them," Sensei says, voice weary.
I don't know how to respond, so I don't, closing my eyes and soaking in Sensei's physical presence. I don't know why, but like this, it's almost like… it's almost like I can push out all the whispers and thoughts that plagued me while he was gone. Near him, I feel safe.
"What… What about the observation?"
Sensei sighs again, patting the back of my head softly.
"When did you get so curious?" he grumbles. "You were much easier to manage when all you did all day was cry and sleep."
"Sensei!"
"It has to do with your adoption paperwork," Sensei huffs, letting go when I pull away and sit up. With the way his hair falls, I still can't see his face, but he doesn't stop me when I reach out and push it back. He looks funny with his forehead exposed, almost like he does with his quirk active, but less threatening. "It was the final step for getting the papers confirmed."
I stare at his face and frown.
He looks exhausted. Dark shadows under his eyes, stress lines on his forehead, and dry, cracked lips.
"I thought you said the paperwork was already signed."
"It is," he says blandly. "The observation was a formality. There was no point in you getting all worked up over it and you did well."
I pout.
"You lied."
"I did not, it is signed in ink. You are not going anywhere. It was a logical deception."
"That's a nice way of putting you lied."
"If you want to talk so much, we can discuss what you've been doing all day? Or what you were doing the first time I called."
I flush hotly and burrow back into his chest.
"I… I didn't do anything."
"That I very much doubt, especially with how guilty you're acting. If you broke something, I suggest you admit to it now."
I scowl.
"I didn't break anything!"
"Hmmm."
I glare at his chest and push myself off the couch.
"I didn't!"
He meets my eye, lips lost beneath the layers of his weapon, expression bored.
"If I found out you've lied, you'll be writing me an essay on honesty. You didn't do anything at all while I was gone?"
I twitch and scowl, turning away and crossing my arms.
"I didn't do anything really bad," I clarify immediately, and he raises and eyebrow, sitting up and leaning on his arms against his legs.
"And what did you do?" he asks dryly.
"I…"
I mumble and toe the floor, looking anywhere but at him.
"Rin."
"I… I maybe went… I kinda… I… I went into your room."
When he doesn't say anything at all, I cringe and look over, my dark hair spilling into my vision. I stare past the dark curtain of it. He… He doesn't look mad, per se. He gazes back flatly, looking like he'd like nothing more than to just go crawl into bed. I flinch and pull at my fingers.
"And what did you do in my room?" Sensei asks dryly, not moving.
"I… um… well, I nothing really. I-I-I'm sorry!"
He sighs and pushes himself up to stand, one hand moving through his hair and coming to rest against his neck. He walks by, his other arm reaching out, and I flinch again, ready for the anger and shouts.
He just pats my head and sighs.
"Ask next time."
I blink as he stuffs the hands in his pockets and slumps forward.
Then he walks away.
.
.
.
That night, snuggled in my sheets, Sensei frowns as he passes my desk, taking in the crinkled pages covered in sprawling writing and trash bin full of wadded up paper.
"Do I want to know?" he asks, raising an eyebrow.
"No," I grumble, even as my mind returns to the words scrawled angrily across it.
Who were the dangerous people you joined?
Why are you after me?
"I'm gonna stop him," I admit sporadically. I can feel his gaze, but I pointedly don't look, almost afraid of what I'll find there. Disappointment? Anger? Sadness? "I'm gonna get stronger and he'll never hurt anyone again. Not- Not like he did Mineta or Yui-san or- or-"
Or you.
I won't let him hurt you.
I don't say it, but the way Sensei sigh tells me he might understand anyway.
He scratches his neck and, when I do finally look up, he casts me an annoyed scowl.
"Your brother isn't worth that much attention," Sensei says, stepping away from my desk and taking a spot on the side of the bed. He leans sideways, eyes drifting towards the photos on the wall. Towards Yamada-sensei grinning behind me and him kneeling down at the baby shower. "You have people that care about you Rin. Don't get lost on the ones that didn't."
I smile. It's watery.
"Like you?"
"On occasion," he huffs, leaning forward and pressing his lips against my head. I can feel the heat of his breath even as he pulls away. "Think about something else, something happy."
I pout.
He grins, that stupid one with all teeth.
"Stop that," I grumble, sinking into the mattress and pulling the sheets to my nose.
He does, though a smaller smile lingers on his face.
"Goodnight Rin."
"Night," I mumble back, smiling beneath the blanket when he stands and turns off the light. Fingering the flashlight, I don't turn it on.
.
.
.
The prospect of training the next day is somehow both nerve-wracking and impossibly exciting. I stretch in the clearing as Sensei sets aside a blanket—our last training session for the summer. The longest summer I can remember, and one that I almost don't want to end.
No more sleepy mornings with Miska or sweaty afternoons training with Shinsou.
I reach for my feet, thoughts swirling.
Back to studying and the never-ending struggle of math.
So I don't notice the pair of gray high-top sneakers until they appear in my view.
I bolt upright in surprise, swinging around and nearly smacking the taller boy with my arms as light flares on my skin. My arms circle his neck, the thick purple hair filling my vision. I squeeze.
"Shinsou!"
"Rin."
I pull back at his rather dull reply and nearly chokes when an extra glowing appendage appears over his shoulder to pat my cheek.
"O-O-Oh! I- I'm sorry!"
"I feel like I'm being hugged by a spider," he says sourly. "Can't you control your quirk?"
I pout and dim, letting go and feeling the hands disappear. When he moves away immediately to put down his bag I frown. Then, not sure what else to do, I hurry to his side.
"Hi!"
"Hey," he responds sullenly, setting down his things and stepping back. I take in his features and furrow my eyebrows. He looks exhausted. Dark eyes with even darker bruises below them, skin tan but sallow, and his body slumped forward in an almost defeated stance.
"Are… Are you okay?" I ask, reaching for his shirt.
He blinks and scowls.
"I'm fine. I can do anything you can, so are we training or what?"
"Anything…" I cut off and narrow my eyes. "Excuse you?"
He doesn't meet my eye as he walks off and I nearly race to him again, fully intent on getting an explanation. What the hell? Except a hand catches my shoulder, holding me back. I glower, but he doesn't turn around.
"Give him some space," Sensei says flatly. "If you know that someone isn't acting like normal, don't keep pushing. Especially when they get snappy."
I glare, shrugging off the hand.
"You never do that with me," I growl. My guardian raises an eyebrow, crossing his arms.
"You're emotional every day. Leave him alone, you can work on the obstacle course."
I don't want to do the stupid obstacle course. I want to help Shinsou, but the look Sensei gives me tells me any disagreement will end with a timeout and essays. Part of me doesn't care.
Part of me wants to push anyways.
"Obstacle Course," Sensei repeats more forcefully, clearly reading my hesitation. "Unless you want to return to the dorms?"
I scowl back at him, turning on my heel and heading towards his satchel. He doesn't even blink when I rifle through his things, grabbing the timer and heading towards the woods. Shinsou does though, face wrinkled in a mood I can't define.
I hate it.
I hate walking away.
I spend twenty minutes on the obstacle course instead, running it twice and wishing more than anything Sensei would let me use my shadows. I wish he would let me use my flames.
I want to watch it all burn.
I'm gonna stop him.
Your brother isn't worth that kind of attention.
"Stupid Shinsou," I snarl as I race across the platforms, not even thinking as I leap on instinct. My voice takes on a mocking whine as I climb a wall. "If someone isn't acting normal, don't keep pushing. Stupid Sensei! I don't need things spelled out for me. I'm not some stupid kid!"
I mount the top and leap, hands reaching out to balance as I slide down the rope. Sensei had gone over the best way to run on it a few times this summer.
He showed Shinsou and me.
I snarl, flip off the end, and roll the way Yamada-sensei taught me, tucking my head and launching back to my feet. My back and hands ache from the move, the dizziness instant but brief. I push the pain away and keep on running.
By the time I do return, I'm half-hoping Sensei put Shinsou in time out.
He doesn't.
Instead, I find them talking. Heads bent close together and a deepening frown on my guardian's faces. I scowl, stomach churning and something bitter coating my tongue. I walk forward, not feeling particularly forgiving.
Is Shinsou better? I want to ask. Or do I need to go back in the woods so he can cry?
I can even imagine Sensei's glower, the sour way he would say my name.
Yeah, well he was rude for no reason, so I don't f-ing care!
"How am I supposed to compete against all these quirks?" Shinsou snaps instead, breaking me from my revelry and making me pause. "Rin can level forests! All I can do is dodge! Why would anyone want that as a hero? Maybe they were all right, maybe I am only fit to be a villain-"
"Are you stupid?" I snap, unable to contain myself.
Shinsou flinches and spins, clearly caught off guard. Sensei, behind him, makes a face.
Great job. You're definitely gonna be friend of the year at this rate.
Maybe you'll even get a special award.
Nominated for most likely to get everyone around you killed goes to -
"Rin," Sensei snaps.
"Sorry for interrupting," I sneer. Disgusted, I toss the timer still in my hand aside and cross my arms. "You're in a mood because of quirks? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard."
Shinsou bristles, eyes narrowing and teeth grinding closed.
"You're in the hero program, what would you-"
"Fuck you," I growl. He flinches, but I ignore it, too angry to care. Sensei steps forward, but I dodge to the side. "You saved me, you bastard. You saved everyone in that house-"
"You called," he snarls. "And all I did was get Sensei-"
"You idiot! You stopped his stupid plan! You hid the candles, you broke the window, and you saved all of them! What is wrong with you? I don't even know why you're complaining! You got the spot anyways- mmphh!"
Sensei's binding cloth slaps across my mouth and chest a moment too late.
Shinsou pales, looking like he a strong wind my knock him over.
It makes me want to kick him.
Sensei drags me backward instead, eyes narrowed and nostrils flaring.
"You need to control yourself," he says sharply, eyes red and dark hair floating above his head in angry waves.
"I… I what?" Shinsou says quietly.
Almost lost.
Sensei loosens his capture weapon and I yank it forcefully from my mouth. He retracts it in a simple move and gestures to the ground.
"Sit. Both of you are far too emotional," he complains, rubbing his neck. I do and he turns towards the purple-haired boy still staring vacantly ahead. "Shinsou, sit down. It's apparently, we need to have a discussion."
I make a strangled noise.
"Since you're so vocal, we can start with you," Sensei says moodily, and I peek out from my knees to see him glowering down at me. "Rin, you are being inconsiderately aggressive. Just because Shinsou's fears are not grounded in reality does not make them inconsequential. You get just as worked up at the thought of being abandoned, which I will remind you is not logical either. Apologize."
I sink down at my fears being expressed so openly.
I love you.
Shinsou, rubbing his arms uncomfortably, glances between us.
"Sorry."
"Hitoshi," Sensei says. And I twitch as the familiar use of his name. Shinsou looks just as caught off guard.
"S-sir?"
"You are being insecure. In the last few months, you have learned a new style of fighting, increased your overall strength, learned to use the capture weapon, and demonstrated your own aptitude as a hero. Rin is correct that it was you, and not I, that saved those children at her old group home. The fact that she called is irrelevant. You took the information and used it to make the best choice you could."
"She… I…" Shinsou says quietly.
"Are you listening to what I'm telling you?" Sensei asks sharply.
"Y-Yes, sir," Shinsou says roughly, dragging a hand across his face.
"Summarize it."
"I'm being insecure, and I've learned a lot. I… I saved those people."
"Ten," I correct with a glare.
He blinks, eyebrows furrowing. Even Sensei looks confused.
Stupid words.
"They weren't just people, you saved ten kids. There were thirteen of us," I try again. Shinsou's shoulders sag.
"I… I'm sorry. I forgot you knew them."
Just because Shinsou's fears are not grounded in reality does not make them inconsequential.
"You're already stronger than my classmates anyway," I continue, not liking the way he slumps or the uncharacteristic gloom. It scratches at my insides. I almost feel… ashamed. "You're definitely stronger than Toru at least. All she can do is turn invisible and she can't even do a pull-up. And when we spar, you're stronger and faster than me. So that means you're better than Kirishima, Sero, and Sparkles-"
"Sparkles?" Shinsou asks, face turning pink.
"Yeah, the one that likes shiny things and shoots lasers from his stomach? He's got no stamina. You should have seen him run, he prances. So you could dodge faster than he can shoot. You're probably better than him if you're not being stupid. I dunno about Mina-chan though, she's really flexible. But she also likes to talk a lot, so you'd probably just catch her with your quirk. Actually… All my classmates like to talk a lot, except Todoroki-kun. He'd probably beat you. But I think you'd win against Bakugou. You'd just have to pretend to be Deku or say something mean and he'd shout himself out."
I stop at Sensei's snort, realizing I'm rambling, and blink in surprise at Shinsou's crimson face.
At least he doesn't look ready to cry.
"Are you blushing? Why are you so red?"
"Rin's analysis is not wrong," Sensei intercedes, leaning forward against his fist. "You have improved. Which is why you'll be joining Vlad's class tomorrow in 1B. Welcome to the hero program."
The dazed look is back, and it's probably a good thing we're sitting.
"I… I did it?"
"Yeah," Sensei says, that little smile he never shows in class peeking through. "You did it, kid. Good job."
.
.
.
We don't end up doing much training.
Apparently, Shinsou needs to get home to pack and I'm still not allowed to use my quirk—except my glow which I think gets on Sensei's nerves. We spar for a while, but without Shinsou it isn't the same.
"Why didn't you just call him?" I ask later that evening after dinner as I curl on my favorite spot on the couch. "Shinsou I mean. All of us got our letters in the mail with that hologram disk. You could have sent one of those."
"He's my apprentice," Sensei says simply, stretching across the rug to tug a toy for Miska. The kitten chases it enthusiastically, tail waving as she scampers and dives forward.
I think that's supposed to mean something.
"And?" I ask, furrowing my eyebrows.
"And he's done everything I've asked over the last few months. He's worked himself to the point of exhaustion, gone above and beyond, and never complained."
I still have no idea why he couldn't call.
Sensei sighs loudly and rolls over to stare at the ceiling, shaking his head.
"When you have something important to say, you say it in person. This was important to him, so I said it in person."
"But you didn't tell any of us we made it in person," I argue. "Not that I really wanted a hero to show up, but I'm sure it was important everyone else that they made it."
"If you will recall, I didn't know any of you then," Sensei says dryly. "I don't care about what's important to a stranger. Shinsou has worked with me individually every week since the internships. I care about him."
"What about your students?" I ask, sprawling across the couch to stare down at him. "Do you care about your students too?"
His answering stare tells me just how dumb he thinks that question is.
"What about me?" I ask, smiling.
"Is this going to be a daily thing?" he huffs, relinquishing the toy to cross his arms. It doesn't look nearly as severe on the floor. "Do you need daily affirmations. Yes Rin, I care about you."
"Will you say it again?" I ask rolling off the couch to kneel beside him. Without hesitating, I lean on his chest and pluck a few random hairs off.
"I care?"
"No," I discard the hairs and meet his eye shyly, pulling at my fingers. "Love."
He snorts.
"I love you."
My skin blisters into light, and I hide my face in his chest when wings unfurl from my back and daisies break out across my arms. He chuckles, his chest rocking, and a hand slips through my hair.
I peek over my arms to see his eyes shut, looking as peaceful as he does asleep.
"Sensei?"
"Hmmm?"
"Thank you."
A/N: Well the goal is updating once a week. :) Enjoy! And next, we'll see the students move in!
