The morning feels weird without Sensei. Quiet in a way I don't like. It reminds me of the Takamuras, sounds echoing and hollow rooms. It makes me itch in places I can't scratch, altogether too tight and stretched thin. I don't like the way my classmates look at me worriedly, as if I'd know why Yamada-sensei is in our classroom dancing excitedly. He shoots finger guns as we file in, twirling and spazzing with even more energy than usual.
I slump to my desk, taking in the empty desks and frowning. Kirishima, Midoriya, Tsuyu, Ochako.
All of the intern students except Tokoyami.
I wonder if it's about the bullets.
My stomach churns.
So I distract myself with thoughts of Nee-chan's gift.
Around lunch, I finally decide on it.
Thankfully, that's when Sensei and the others finally return. But whatever Sensei talked to Midoriya about yesterday clearly didn't help, because whatever's affecting him is I guess contagious. Because when we show up at Gym Beta for Heroics, its spreads immediately to the others. Ochako accidentally activates her quirk watching the wall-climbing exercise, floating off into the rafters. Kirishima trips over his own hands and feet trying to get down a cement cliff, and I think Bakugou is worried too, cause he starts shouting and popping explosions at him. And Midoriya has to start over twice, earning some more sour looks from Sensei, because he keeps getting distracted, which in turn seems to make Todoroki distracted—though that's kind of hard to tell because sometimes I think Todoroki stays distracted. And Tsuyu…
Well, Tsuyu just seems sad.
Considering how easy-going she normally is, that's kind of something in itself, isn't it?
So when Sensei releases class, I nervously wave away the others, not sure what's wrong with them all, and instead square my shoulders and focus on autographs. I carve out my best smile.
At least this way I can get something done.
And then I don't have to watch them mope…
"Sensei?"
My guardian raises an eyebrow, hand pausing as he gathers up his paperwork.
"Yes?" he says, suspicious.
"Do you know where Aunt Nemuri is?" I ask, shifting from foot to foot.
He squints.
"In the faculty lounge... Why?"
"I, erm, had a question," I flush, immediately looking anywhere but at his face. "I- Uh, thanks!"
He makes a noise as I rush out, and I've no doubt there will be questions later. I try not to think about it. Maybe he'll be busy with the others… I imagine Tsuyu on the couch, Miska pushed in her lap, and told to talk. It's a cute image. Large eyes blinking up, Miska purring and butting her hand. Did she like cats? Did frogs like cats?
I shake away the weird thoughts and turn the corner.
The faculty room is down the hall and on the right, and it takes almost no time to get there.
Cementoss-sensei opens when I knock.
"Hoki-chan," the large man says serenely, large eyes blinking widely down. "How can I help you?"
I smile, people skills, and shuffle my feet.
"Is, ah… um, is Aunt Nemuri in?" I ask, shifting a little to look past his shoulder at the gray walls and cubicles.
The squeal that follows is answer enough.
Cementoss-sensei steps back quickly, expression bewildered, and before I can blink a whirlwind of black is suddenly in front of me. I splutter as her large chest suddenly presses against my face, dark hair flaring around us and somehow getting in my mouth.
"A-Auntie!"
"You came to see me!" she sings, arms like vices as she swings us in a circle. I stammer and kick. Hey! "Oh, you came! Do you see that boys? My girl came looking for me! Oh, baby girl, this is why you're my favorite, you know that right?"
"Let me down!"
I wiggle, get one arm free, and dig my knuckles into her shoulder. She laughs ridiculously.
"Baby!"
"Auntie!"
Laughing, she finally lets go.
I scowl, red-faced, only too aware of Snipe's dry laugh.
"Aunt Ne-"
"Oh, are you being shy? Do you want to talk in private? Hold on, we can use one of the empty classrooms," she interrupts with a giggle, not even waiting for an answer as she locks her elbow with mine and takes off. I stumble, barely keeping up, before she turns a corner and drags us into a separate room. Twenty rows of desk and a blackboard that looks almost exactly like my own.
She giggles and prances to the teacher desk, propping herself up.
Crossing her leg, she leans forward only to grin with a rather strange smile.
"Now we're all alone! What's going on princess?"
I…
I flush at the strange nickname.
Really?
"Oh don't be shy," she snorts. "It's just us, or is it the nickname? Oh… It is the nickname! Aww, do you like it? You can be my little princess if you want-"
"Auntie," I whine, certain my quirk will activate and color my entire body red at this rate. Medicine be damned. Why is she so embarrassing? This is why her and Sensei are friends, I'm almost certain of it. "Stopppp-"
"You're the one that came for me," she laughs, leaning back and pushing out her chest. "But alright, alright. What's up? For real this time."
I have no idea how to ask this.
I scrub my cheeks.
"Um… Can… uh…"
She stops making silly faces and stills, expression going neutral before worry begins to furrow her brows.
Unfolding her legs, she straightens.
"Is something wrong?" she asks, voice more serious. "Did something happen?"
I shake my head wildly.
"N-No, sorry. I… uh, I just… I'm embarrassed."
Aunt Nemuri blinks.
Her lips open and she stares prettily in surprise.
"Whaaaaaaat?" she draws out, amusement returning again as she kicks her legs. "About what? I heard about your little talk with Shouta the other day. Do you have more questions? Oh, is this about crushes? Cause don't think I didn't notice those little doodles all over your notes talking about power and little stick men striking poses."
I bury my face in my hands.
"Auntie," I growl, sure I could cook something. What is wrong with her!? "No!"
"Well you're not exactly saying anything," she huffs, and I just wish the floor would open up and swallow me. "I gotta admit, if you were gonna crush on someone, Mirio Togata is probably the last person I would guess. But hey, whatever! Hizashi crushed on Shouta for years-"
I drag my head up from my hands, mouth dangling.
Yamada-sensei-
"Wh-Wh-What?"
She smirks.
"Oh no! We're not going down that rabbit hole until you tell me what's going on that's got you all hot and bothered! Now, what is it?"
I scowl and look away.
"Oh, um, can… can I… uh… have your autograph?"
When she says nothing, I glance back.
She raises an eyebrow, decisively unimpressed.
"My autograph?" she repeats, lips pursing. "I'm your godmother, Rin. We're family. I'm not giving you an autograph, you have me. Where in the world did you get an idea like that? Now, what is this really about?"
I swallow as she hops off the teacher's desk and gestures towards one of the students' spots.
I sit, shifting uncomfortably as she takes the spot across from me.
"Oh… uh…"
She waits, lips pressed together and eyes narrowed, as I try to find the words.
"My… uh… my friend asked," I manage, forcing a smile.
Aunt Nemuri doesn't respond immediately.
Studying my face, she rubs her chin and glances off past the door.
"Alright, but on the condition that you tell me how you know this… friend. What's their name? How did you meet?" She stands back up as she talks and heads back towards the teacher's desk. Pulling open a drawer, she removes paper and a pen. When she returns, she still looks serious. A strange transformation from her normal silliness.
"Kagura-nee," I answer slowly, realizing she was probably being serious about knowing all of that.
I pull at my fingers as she settles back in the desk beside me, her head propping against her arm and paper strewn messily.
"Hmm… Kagura," she repeats, writing To Kagura at the top of the paper in an elegant script. For some reason, its prettier than I expect. "Okay, and how do you know this girl?"
I look down.
"Awe, hell no. Look you little Hellspawn, I ain't got time for this shit. I've got a date in twenty and I worked hard for this. Now tell me what the hell's wrong. Who do I need to go beat up? Yeah! That's what I'll do, I've got maybe five minutes, I'll beat them up, and then BAM conscious clear."
"We lived together at the Last One," I admit, remembering the many afternoons in the yard. Her frustrated growls at Niko and Akari. Her brightly colored hair and skin-tight pants. "She helped me train my quirk to… to get here."
Aunt Nemuri nods, lifting the end of the pen to tap against her lips.
"Ah. Wasn't she mean to you at the mall at the end of last semester?"
I grimace.
"I… N-No," I hurriedly state, eyes wide. "No! She was… She was upset, about everything I mean. She came to Yui-san's funeral. They- They weren't close, but Yui-san... Kagura's always been there for me!"
Aunt Nemuri nods, still tapping her lip with a far-off look.
"Has she been upset with you since then?" she asks.
I shake my head rapidly.
"N-No!"
Aunt Nemuri smiles, letting out a bright laugh. In a quick movement, she writes another line before running a hand through her long, dark hair.
"Okay, Okay," she says, voice lighter than it had been before. "So why do you think she'd want my autograph? Is this a birthday gift or something?"
I flush, shaking my head again.
"N-No… Her birthday is in February. She… She helped me with something, and I wanted to repay her. But I don't have any money and I… I don't think Sensei would take me shopping for something like this so…"
"So you thought you'd give her my autograph?" Aunt Nemuri laughs. "I'm flattered, though maybe a little surprised. But why not ask Hizashi? You know he's more popular, right? With the radio thing, he tends to have the better merch too, though you didn't hear that from me."
I smile.
It wasn't as though I hadn't considered it.
But I had a feeling Kagura would prefer Aunt Nemuri.
"You both have similar tastes," I tell her, gesturing towards the leather binder around her stomach and the handcuffs she used as bracelets. Kagura had a leather jacket like Yamada-sensei, but her craziness reminded me more of Midnight. "And Nee-chan would call Yamada-, erm, Uncle Zashi loud."
Aunt Nemuri's eyes glitter.
"Aweee!"
When she immediately starts writing again, I slowly start to relax.
"Tell me about her," the dark-haired woman suggests, not looking up. "What are things you guys would do together, well, besides training? How did you meet? You mentioned she lived in that home with you for a while?"
I consider it.
"She… She calls me Hellspawn," I admit, smiling slightly as I stare off at the board at the front of the room. "When we first met, she was on her way to a date, and I was crying on the steps. Niko… Niko was being mean again and Kaito had written me for the first time in months, and…"
And all he had to say was fuck you.
My fingers curl.
"And?" Aunt Nemuri prods, voice soft.
I glance at her, only she's still staring at the note thoughtfully.
"And she was annoyed that I was going to make her late," I say, pushing away the thoughts and bringing my arms up to rest my chin on. "She promised to help me train though. And when Niko was really mean, she'd always stick up for me. I'm pretty sure she's the one that bleached her bed sheets too. I… I missed her when she left. She aged out two years ago."
Aunt Nemuri finishes writing and smiles.
"She sounds sweet," the dark-haired woman says, pretty blue eyes blinking back through burgundy glasses. She slides me the paper. "I'd like to meet her sometime. Maybe we can make an afternoon of it? As for this autograph, normally I sign some sort of picture or merchandise. Since I don't have any on me, you can give her that and we'll take some pictures when we meet!"
I flush, taking the paper gingerly. Glancing over it, it looks more like a personal letter than anything. I carefully put it in my bookbag.
"Ah… Thank you."
"Of course Princess!"
I pink at the nickname, and then further when she drags me in for another hug, squishing me against her chest.
I let out a muffled growl.
"Aunt Nemuri!"
.
.
.
Homework, dinner, quirk training, and talks take up the evening. Sensei does ask about the meeting, though not in as much detail as I expect. Instead, he spends more time in the kitchen, chopping up fresh vegetables and watching me season fish. After washing my hands, I'm surprised to find him studying the seasonings, eyes narrowed like he's trying to memorize it.
Tuesday passes into Wednesday almost too quickly, and the strangeness affecting my classmates a clearly on-going problem. Midoriya looks like he wants to cry or scream. Bakugou glares at the green, and Kirishima stares at them both worriedly in turn. Ochako and Iida both seem more high-strung than usual, though at least with them it doesn't affect their classwork, and Tsuyu just sort of bites her lip and won't answer when anyone asks.
Sensei just sort of sighs at everyone, mumbling something about problem children under his breath.
It makes me anxious.
Like some kind of band, stretching further and further under invisible fingers.
I sigh and stretch out on the couch, phone in hand as I text Kagura again. She hadn't messaged me back since Monday, when she'd sent the emoji. I wasn't really sure what was going on. Maybe she wanted a gift first? I'd mailed Aunt Nemuri's letter Tuesday, but she still hadn't said anything. Clicking off the phone, I cross my arms and scowl, listening as Sensei's wandering back and forth through the kitchen, knocking open cabinets probably to grab some water.
I don't know what to do.
Not about Kagura, she was probably busy on a date or something. It was my classmates that were worrying me.
Midoriya in particular.
I close my eyes and remember his lost expression, eyes distant as he just stood there, looking sadder than I'd ever seen him.
It reminded me of before.
Before Sensei and hugs and love yous.
I take a deep breath and try to decide what to do.
"Sensei?" I ask over the sound of running water.
"Yes?"
I frown, hearing the tap cuts off as I try to decide on words.
"If… If Aunt Nemuri were upset, but then she couldn't tell you why... what... what would you do?"
He sighs, the sound more tired than usual.
I roll onto my stomach, eyes shifting towards the sink. He stands there half-slumped, glass in hand and with a particularly knowing stare.
I flush, taking in his half-lided eyes and messy hair. He'd probably put it up before dinner.
"Is this about your classmates?"
I squirm forward and slump lazily over the arm of the couch, arms dangling against the floor and chin resting on the fabric.
"Maybe," I hedge, before wrinkling my nose. "I… I'm just wondering! Would you, I dunno, leave her alone? What if she was really upset? Like, what if she looked like she might cry?"
"Nemuri isn't the kind of person to bottle things up like that," he says, putting his glass down on the table. He steps forward and squats in front of me, lips quirked. This close, I can see the pores on his nose and the short scruff on his cheeks where he shaved. "If she were truly upset, she'd express it, work through it, or find a way to take her mind off of it. There's nothing you can do but wait and be there when they're ready."
I sigh.
"Midoriya's upset."
"He has a reason to be. If it bothers you this much, go ask if he wants a distraction. But don't press for information. It's classified and he can't share."
"Classified?" I repeat, fingers curling. "Does that mean its about the drug? Kirishima was gone too."
"Classified," Sensei repeats, voice taking on a warning edge.
I huff.
Then, pulling myself upright, I flop backward one arm going limp over my head and the other dragging against the floor.
"Why can't I help? I'm the one that they've used it on, twice now. And if it's my brother involved then-"
"Then nothing," Sensei interrupts, standing. "Stop trying to weasel out information. You're not involved and you're not going to be involved. Now think about something else or go do something. You still have an hour before we start dinner. Have you finished your homework?"
"Really?" I scowl, rolling my eyes. "Yes Sensei, I finished it in class. Jeez."
His eye twitches.
"Did you finish your lesson plans?" I ask sourly, feeling petulant.
"Rin," he warns.
I purse my lips and stop. Pulling out my phone again, I glower at Kagura's lack of response before switching over to Hitoshi. I text him instead, quickly falling into a meme war before being distracted by ridiculous cat pictures. My favorite is the internet cat tucked inside a knitted shark, though the shot of Miska on her back, chewing on a cat toy is fantastic as well. Then he finds a cat filter, and I can't stop my giggles .
Surprisingly, Sensei poses when I show him.
I set the purple, cat-eared Hitoshi as my wallpaper. The shot of my guardian and me with matching black ears immediately becomes my lock screen. He smirks at both before stealing my phone and sending them to himself.
"Sensei!"
He grins ridiculously.
.
.
.
Thursday morning, Sensei wakes me again at some ungodly hour of the morning.
I groan and check the time and groan again.
"Is this a thing?" I mumble tiredly, flopping over and sleepily rubbing at my eyes. "Sensei, it's five."
"I know," he says, softer than I expect. I sink into my sheets as his hand slides across my head. "I didn't think you'd appreciate a text. I won't be here when you wake up. There's… Ah, be sure to eat and lock up, okay?"
"You don't have to keep reminding me," I grumble, catching his hand and cradling it to my cheek. It's so rough and warm… I let out a content sigh before managing to open my eyes. I frown at his expression. "Wha's wrong?"
"Nothing," he says.
"Sad," I sniff, breathing deeply and closing back my eyes. "S' not nothin."
"Worried," he corrects, his other hand brushing against my head. If I were a cat, I'd purr. Instead I cuddle in my comforter. "I don't know when I'll be back. Nemuri and Hizashi may spend the night. Do your homework and stay out of trouble."
I yawn, jaw popping, and sniff.
"M' not trouble," I grumble, letting his hands slide free.
"No, you're not," he says with a quiet sort of laugh. Bristles tickle my head and I smile.
"Love you," I mumble, turning into my pillow, wanting to salvage my last few hours of sleep.
"I love you too," he repeats, his hand sliding through my hair one last time.
I don't hear him leave.
.
.
.
Yamada-sensei teaches homeroom again.
The four intern students are missing again, and my stomach churns at their empty desk, remembering Sensei's weird goodbye.
I don't like it.
Was it the bullets? Kaito?
Yamada-sensei discusses the schedule, upcoming exams, and a few changes with more energy than is natural for this early in the morning. When he finishes, he transitions seamlessly into English. In fact, he's in full lecture mode, pointing wildly and calling on anyone who even remotely looks distracted (he'd called on me twice), when suddenly the room fills with… chirping? My classmates go quiet, eyes meeting and heads swiveling around. I frown when no one stops it. That was strange, usually if something went off, Kaminari or Mina, the two main culprits, were quick to silence them.
"Rin-chan," Momo whispers, eyes wide as she twists around in her seat. "That's… I think that's you!"
I blink, confused. Me?
No it's not-
It is.
I stare, red-faced in horror, as unknown flashes across my screen before furiously stumbling to turn it off. Yamada-sensei, still standing half posed, glowers at the interruption, sunglasses flashing. He doesn't take it though, or even comment. I'm thankful. It's bad enough half the class keeps sending me curious looks. When he turns back to the board, I fumble with the buttons and switch it to vibrate, shoving the the phone into my jacket pocket.
That's probably a mistake…
Vibrate, despite the fact that it's supposedly lower than zero in volume setting, is in fact not quiet at all. I'm mortified as my jacket pocket proceeds to hum and buzz all class. I wilt beneath my classmates' stares, sinking lower and lower in my chair as Sensei's eye twitches and his grin strains more and more.
I swallow the urge to chuck my phone at the floor.
Who is this?
Yamada-sensei, at the end of class, keeps me back
"Who is that?" he grunts, eye twitching as he holds out his hand for my phone.
I stare hot-faced anywhere but at him, shoving the phone immediately into his long fingers. He pauses at the lock screen, a fond sound spilling from his lips before unknown buzzes again.
"I… uh, don't know?"
"Seriously," Yamada-sensei scowls, before sliding the green button across the front. He pulls it to his ear, and in his hero-voice gives a rather vicious, "Hello?"
I twitch, shifting from foot to foot.
He pulls the phone from his ear, expression pinched.
Sensei and I pose on the screen.
Whoever it was, they must have hung up...
"Rude callers," the blonde grumbles as he unlocks the phone. He glowers down at the call log, ten missed calls, no messages, and a single answered one. His finger hovers above the contact, as if he intends to call them, but then he huffs and clears the app, immediately returning to the home screen. He blinks at the picture of Hitoshi, looking bored with his purple cat ears and mane. "Heh, you three… Here."
He hands me back the phone and then crosses his arms, one hand rubbing against his chin.
"You been givin' out your phone number online, Glow worm?"
I shake my head immediately, and his frown deepens.
"Maybe it's telemarketers," the blonde says, shrugging. "If they keep callin back, excuse yourself and bring it here. Otherwise, keep it put up, yeah? Now, you probably need a note…"
I wait while Yamada-sensei writes out a quick message on a scrap piece of paper and then smile in his chest when he drags me in for a hug.
It's more comforting than I want to admit, the scent of leather and expensive cologne filling my chest.
Thankfully, whoever it was, doesn't call back during Math. It's probably a good thing too, because I don't think Ectoplasm-sensei would be as understanding, and by the time Math is over, it's time for lunch. I follow Toru into the hall, stomach twisting, and not just from hunger.
Sensei and the others still aren't back.
Tuesday hadn't taken them nearly this long…
What were they doing?
"Maybe they're working on a case?" Toru suggests, jacket shoulders shrugging nonchalantly as we walk. "I'm sure everyone's fine, they've got Sensei with them! C'mon Rin-chan, he's like, totally amazing! They'll be fine!"
I sigh and shrug, not really having words to explain the quiet worry.
What if he doesn't want to?
Toru giggles.
"So?" she teases, latching onto a new topic. "Wanna talk about who was blowing up your phone today? Somebody missed you in class! Was it a boyfriend? A secret admirer?"
"Really?" I scowl, face hot. "Why is that your first assumption?"
"They called you like a billion times!" the invisible girl gushes, laughing. "I thought Present Mic-sensei was gonna blow a gasket!"
"I don't-"
I don't know why I'm surprised when the phone almost immediately begins to ring.
"Really?" I grumble, stopping outside of the cafeteria. Inside, I catch sight of Hitoshi and Daisuke and a few of my classmates already lining up for some of Lunch Rush's cooking. It smells delicious. "I- I should probably take this… Maybe they'll stop if I answer?"
"Stop?" Toru asks, voice dropping in concern as she pauses to give me a weird look. "Wait, do you not know who it is? How did they get your number?"
I frown and then shrug.
I have no idea.
I slide the answer button and sigh as the buzzing stops.
"Hello?" I say grumpily.
"Rin?" says a familiar voice, and it takes me a moment to place it.
It almost sounds like...
"Haru?" I ask, brows furrowing. I take an automatic step away from the cafeteria, confused. I hadn't heard from him in at least... four- no, five years? Not since he aged out of the Last One… "How do you-"
He cuts me off with a noise.
And that alone is strange. Haru was ridiculously polite, all yes ma'ams and no sirs and quiet patience. Nee-chan had once said it was a miracle he put up with her.
"Have you heard from Kagura?" he asks directly, voice low and holding an edge of urgency I've never heard in it. "Her calls are going straight to voicemail, she isn't answering her texts, and I haven't spoken to her since Saturday. I stopped by her place this morning, and this isn't like her. Her roommates said they haven't seen her since Monday, something about going on an errand for you."
My throat closes.
"Wh-What?"
"Have you heard from her since Monday?" he asks, voice taking on more steel.
"N-No," I manage, a billion question buzzing in my head. I stare dumbly ahead, not processing.
What?
"Rin-chan? Rin-chan?" Toru says. I hadn't realized she was still there. She makes a concerned noise as an invisible hand presses against my shoulder. I flinch. "Are- Is everything-"
"Shit," Haru curses. I don't remember the last time he cursed. I don't think he ever has, not in front of me... "Shit, I don't- Do you know where she went?"
"Th-The Owl," I stutter, hands shaking as the questions turn to fear. Something dark and heavy swims in my chest, aching and squeezing. It feels like claws carving out my insides. Kaito? Did he- Was she safe? What did he mean missing? "She- She isn't home?"
"No. Look, I don't know what's going on, but I'm going to- shit... Rin, hey kid, look, this isn't your fault, okay? Kagura gets into plenty of trouble on her own, but I need to let you go. I'll check the streets. You said the she went to the Owl? Fuck, heroes. Ugh-"
"I'll- I'll get a teacher," I interject suddenly, fingers clutching at my phone. I could go get Yamada-sensei or Aunt Nemuri or-
He makes a noise.
Distantly, I note the sound of Hitoshi's voice.
"Hey, what's going on?"
"I don't know, someone named Haru called and-"
"Whatever kid, just- just save my number, and if you find her call me. Got it?"
"I- Yes."
He hangs up, and I blink through tears, turning to find Hitoshi and Toru both standing there, both radiating concern.
"Rin-chan?" Toru asks.
I choke, the reality of it all crashing down. A cracked mask. The glint of a blade.
They haven't seen her since Monday...
Promise me Hellspawn, promise me you'll get strong. Promise me you won't let him take you too.
"My… My sister's missing."
