Chapter 10: Back to School
From a soft, cozy dream Ayumu popped awake to the beeping of her alarm. She lashed out from under the covers to tap the 'off' button, but accidentally pushed the phone over the edge of the nightstand. She grumbled a bit as she scooted towards the edge, reaching for the phone now beeping and vibrating on the hard floor with furious energy. Eventually she got it and smacked the button to silence it.
Rubbing her eye a bit, she focused on the screen, first the time and then the date. Instantly a huge smile broke out on her face.
"Oni!" she chirped as her cat walked over to give her a 'good morning' bump. "School is back on today!"
He gave her a look like, "I know that, duh," and turned to go back to the living room. Ayumu paid no mind to the attitude and rolled out of bed to get ready.
The first day of a new term was always a blast! Though it'd only been a week since the end of the last term, she couldn't wait to see the returning students whom she'd come to know and love. But even better than the familiar faces were the new ones. Getting to know the freshmen was always entertaining - some acted cool while others were adorably awestruck and wide-eyed. There were of course other personalities mixed in, but the starry-eyed newbies were her favorite - they were usually friendly and giving them support early on let her watch them blossom as the year progressed.
Onimaru's demand for breakfast interrupted her excited selection of the perfect first-day outfit and she hurried out to feed him so that he wouldn't wake the neighbors. Then it was back to the standing closet going through her shirts and dresses. Or would a skirt be better? Most of her shoes went better with skirts. And she had to be sure she picked comfortable shoes - she would be on her feet most of the day. No one would judge her for her choice anyway since she'd be behind the counter the majority of the time. A dress would be a nice change, but the ones appropriate for school were too light to be warm this early in the spring.
Speaking of, what was the weather forecast? A cold day might call for long pants instead. She checked her phone app and found it was predicting an overcast but reasonably warm day. Not warm enough for a dress though, so she ruled that out. Now she had to narrow down the shirt and skirt combinations: should she go for dark in a conservative style, or splash in some color to give off a more approachable vibe? This was something she considered to a various extent every morning, but a term's first day was of paramount importance. She had to renew her image for everyone returning and also make a good first impression for the newcomers.
She laid out one outfit of each style on her bed and compared them, frowning and humming as she bounced between them. She didn't notice as Onimaru padded back into the room and began washing his face.
Finally she chose the more colorful outfit. Nominally she was an authority figure at the institution but forming friendships with the students was a more effective way for her to care for their mental health. Better to look friendly and welcoming than professional (at least in this situation). And besides, with the teachers all wearing their hero outfits she would hardly stand out.
She showered and dried her hair, carefully weaving it into a thick braid while leaving her bangs free to frame her face. She had to redo it once due to a strand coming loose but soon had it perfect. Then she dressed: a black and white patterned shirt with a rust-colored skirt. A yellow jacket overtop and neutral-colored shoes completed it. She was ready to meet new students!
"All ready to go, Oni?"
"Mrrow!"
They stepped out and she locked the door behind them, then strode with bouncy steps along the walkway towards the stairs, whistling with obvious happiness. Oh, she couldn't wait to get back to U.A.!
She hopped down the last few steps with Onimaru scouting ahead and took a deep breath of the fresh dawn air. It was early, even for her, but she couldn't just sit still and wait for her usual time. She was too excited!
"Eeeeeyowww!"
The meow was familiar. Onimaru seemed to make that sound whenever he saw -
"Yagi-san!" she cheered as Onimaru galloped up to the tall figure in the courtyard. "Good morning!"
He looked like he might've been on his way out of the property, presumably to go to work. He'd reached out to pat Onimaru out of habit when Ayumu called out to him. Surprise was clear on his face - her tone was more energetic than usual so she probably had to get ready to see that same expression for the rest of the day. But it still wasn't anything to wreck her mood.
"Good morning, Nozomi-san," he said and offered a warm smile. "You sound very happy today."
"Very happy!" she affirmed, beaming. "The new term starts today!"
"Ah, it's that time of year already? Time goes by so fast."
"It does, but today is the best of all! I can't wait to see all the returning students and the cute newcomers. It's so satisfying seeing them when they first arrive and watching them grow as the year goes on. Like a seed turning into a flower."
Yagi-san's shadowed eyes went wide and then thoughtful. "A fine point. It must be very rewarding for you working at a high school."
"Hmm, it is. Not that hospital work isn't rewarding, but there's something about supporting kids who you know will be heroes one day, out there saving lives and making the world better. It's so energizing!"
Ayumu had gotten caught up in the passion of the moment and she realized that Yagi-san was staring at her. "Oh, uh… I mean, you know…" Her tongue was getting tangled as her cheeks heated up.
Yagi-san chuckled. "No need to get embarrassed. I think your love for your job is admirable. Heroes aren't the only ones who change the world for the better after all. You teachers shape the minds and hearts of all youth, affecting how both civilians and heroes treat others in the future!"
He also spoke with great passion and that embarrassed her more. "I'm not a teacher though," she mumbled, trying to hide her red face. "I'm hardly more than a junior nurse."
"Teachers don't just lead classes," he continued fervently. "The best teachers are role models, inspiring children by example! Honesty and a willingness to work hard are lessons that can't come from a book!"
Ayumu agreed with that but hearing someone else talk with the same sort of energy that she usually used about her students made her self-conscious. She kept her face pointed away, silently wishing that the cool morning air would take away the blush. She wasn't the sort of role model that he was talking about - all she did was stand behind a counter and sell stuff. Maybe she occasionally talked to somebody who had issues and maybe it helped them, but she wasn't making a big difference like Yagi-san was suggesting.
"Sorry." His contrite tone caught her off-guard and she looked back. He was still watching her, seeming to realize that he'd made her uncomfortable, and scratched the back of his head. "I sometimes get too enthusiastic about things. I didn't mean to put you on the spot like that."
"Oh, it's not your fault!" she insisted. "I appreciate the encouragement, but I think you give me too much credit. I couldn't possibly have the sort of effect on students that you're saying I do."
"You're welcome but I think you're giving yourself too little credit," he countered. "Everyone has an effect on others. I have no doubt you've changed some lives for the better."
Ayumu hummed, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. It wasn't outside the realm of possibility but she still had her doubts.
"Ah, but you must be on your way out," he said with sudden realization. "Sorry to keep you."
"Oh, it's no problem. I'm actually super early. I was just too excited to stay put and leave at my usual time!" Her energy rapidly returned as she remembered the fun waiting for her at the school.
A chortle from Yagi-san got her attention after her statement and she became aware that she was grinning widely again. She just couldn't help it. The first day of school was practically her Christmas!
"Well… If you have a moment, I wanted to ask if, uh… If you'd like to get coffee or something again? On my next day off, that is." He brushed at his hair with an air of nervousness.
"Absolutely!" The instantaneous response earned her an incredulous stare, much to her amusement. "Kayaba Coffee again? Or should I ask Ao-chan for another recommendation?"
Belief and happiness dawned on his face but suddenly vanished and were replaced with something strange, an expression she didn't recognize. Then he pressed a hand against his brow and closed his eyes, like he'd been hit by a dizzy spell.
Immediately Ayumu's mindset switched into medical mode. She got hold of his other arm in case he became unsteady and got ready to help him sit if his legs gave out.
"Are you alright? What happened?" she demanded. A hand went to his back to feel his breathing. It seemed within normal limits and there was no cough. It could still be a pulmonary issue but quiet; it could also be circulatory, which was more serious and would require actual medical facilities to diagnose and treat. She might have the knowledge of potential conditions but without equipment to assist, that was like having half of a zipper on a coat. Then again, it could also be something simple and harmless, like low blood pressure. For someone as thin as Yagi-san it wouldn't be unexpected.
As she was gearing up to shift into full-on "get this man to the nearest emergency room, stat" mode, she heard him mumble something.
"What was that?" she asked, leaning closer.
"I… don't know," he said. "I thought we'd only been there once but… I remember two times."
"You do?"
"Yes. Was it raining? Why do I remember a rainy night?"
"Huh." Interesting. Most people didn't recall the dreams she gave them once they woke, another reason why her Quirk use was so closely monitored. A few had expressed déjà vu-type feelings but she almost never had someone with clear flashes like that. "Was that what happened just now? It wasn't some kind of pain?"
"No pain. It was just a very strange feeling. It was like seeing the mountains from one eye and the ocean from the other at the same time." He looked down and noticed that she was practically holding him up like an invalid. "Ah! I'm sorry. I must've worried you."
He eased away from her and back onto his own two feet. "I can't explain what that was, but I'm not injured, I assure you."
"No problem. With what you just said, I know what happened and it's not a danger."
"Really? What was it?"
"Ah, well…" She fidgeted; what she'd said was both reassuring and incriminating. She hadn't intended to elaborate on her meddling in his dream before, but the words had just kind of slipped out. Now he was waiting expectantly to hear why the strange sensation was nothing to worry about.
There was no helping it - she'd gotten herself into this mess so she had to bite the bullet and deal with the consequences.
Choosing the words carefully, she described the nightmare he'd been having and how she'd stepped in after sensing it in her own dream. She had interrupted it, demolishing the nightmare and building a better dream in its place. For various reasons (this she didn't go into detail about - the concept of someone reading an unconscious person's mind was innately abhorrent to most) she had chosen to make his dream take place in Kayaba Coffee on a rainy evening.
"That's why you have two memories of it," she concluded. "I don't usually intrude without permission first, but I was concerned about your cough. However, if they bother you, all you need to do is ignore them. Eventually they'll fade as long as you don't consciously try to recall them. And if I don't join your dreams anymore the forgetting will go faster and easier."
At least now she felt better with that weight off of her shoulders. Let him judge how he would but she'd done what she thought was right and could live with. And she had done no harm.
"So that's what your Quirk can do." The impressed tone wasn't what she'd been expecting and she met his eyes in surprise. The blue irises shone like stars. "I understand what you were describing now. That sort of Quirk is perfect for helping others! You mustn't sell yourself short!"
That literally boggled her mind and for a moment she could only gape. "It's - I mean, yes, but - There are dangers too…"
"Regardless, even if it was only preventing me from having another morning full of coughing, your Quirk saved someone. Thank you."
This wasn't how she expected this conversation to go. Shouldn't he be angry that she'd barged into his mind without permission? Or worried about the danger she'd hinted at? Instead he was thanking her like she'd really done something to help him. And what did he mean "saved"? She wasn't a hero. She wasn't even the sort of medical professional who could save lives.
"It really wasn't as impressive as you make it sound," she mumbled. "It was hardly more than telling a soothing story."
"Perhaps you judge your actions differently than I do. I think that your intention to keep someone from suffering is what makes the choice admirable." Despite the warmth in his tone, Ayumu couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes. "Please join me in my dreams whenever you want."
Those words: they tugged at her heart. So few people ever invited her into their dreams without needing her to heal their disordered mind. Hell, few people even remembered the dreams where she healed them, let alone imagined spending time together in one for fun. She hadn't spent leisure time with anyone in their dreams on purpose since she was a kid. Though there was a good reason for that.
"Thank you," she said, "but it's not safe to do that. I'd rather spend time with you awake."
Yagi-san looked confused by her firm counter but seemed accepting. "I'd like that too. Let's plan for a Kayaba Coffee da - uh, lunch. Sunday again?"
Ayumu agreed and they parted ways, with her leaving out the front gate and Yagi-san heading back to his apartment.
There was only one major downside to the first day back from break: business was utterly hectic. Even with the store set up and ready to go in advance, Ayumu was scrambling to open the security shutter to a waiting crowd. This early her customers were all teachers, but some of them could be as impatient as the students they taught. Luckily this amounted to little more than some jostling for a place in line.
First up was Eraser Head. "Good morning!" Ayumu said cheerfully as the hero strode up to her counter.
"Morning," he grunted back. "I need an energy drink."
"Sure. Anything else?"
"That's it for now."
"Two hundred yen. Are you looking forward to meeting your new class today?"
"Only if they're worth the effort. I hate wasting my time."
"Oh, cheer up! You can't argue that meeting the freshmen isn't the best part of the first day. We were once in their place, remember?"
"She has a good point, Eraser Head! Have a heart!"
Both Eraser Head and Ayumu winced a bit at the loud voice as its owner, Present Mic, approached them. He was a decent guy and a former classmate of the Erasure Hero, but due to his Quirk (and possibly other reasons as well) any conversation he was involved in took place at a volume level much higher than usual. It was exhausting and bound to leave a person earsore after any length of time.
"Good morning, Mic," Ayumu said with the least strained smile she could muster.
"Good morning, Ayumu-chan!" he replied with a wink. "I missed seeing you this past week!"
"Welcome back," she answered neutrally. She made an effort to keep her tone low in the hope that he would also keep his volume down. "Can I get you anything while you're here?"
"Nope! I just stopped by to see you!"
"Then get to your classroom," Eraser Head interrupted and he elbowed Present Mic aside. "You're holding up the rest of the line."
"Ouch, Eraser! Watch the ribs!"
Silently thanking her scruffy knight, Ayumu returned to helping the other teachers in line. Thirteen was next, requesting an uncharacteristic cup of coffee. Along with slightly odd but energy-boosting snacks and breakfasts, the school store was known for brewing decent coffee. It wasn't free, like the break room brew, but it was cheap and always fresh. The teachers sometimes treated themselves to a superior cup, especially when they thought they might need the extra caffeine boost for the day. Cementoss likewise got a cup of coffee and a breakfast bread bun.
Other teachers came to the store to pick up supplies they had ordered for the new term. Small orders were handed over through the counter window but a few were so large that she would need to help carry them to the classroom. Those teachers were asked to wait until she finished the smaller orders and then she could help them get their items to the rooms.
After about an hour, Midnight showed up in Ayumu's line. Her dark-haired friend was looking a bit tired - she wasn't an early-bird like the younger woman, though she also wasn't the sort to be habitually late.
"Good morning, Nemuri-chan! What do you need today?"
"Good morning, Ayumu-chan." She even sounded tired. "Do you have any protein shakes in stock?"
"Always. Strawberry?"
"Yes, please."
"Six hundred yen. Are you okay? You sound exhausted."
"I got caught up having a fun night out last night," she replied. "Then I slept through my alarm so I missed breakfast. But at least the first day is easy."
"Don't let Eraser Head hear you say that," Ayumu chuckled. She handed over Nemuri-chan's change and a chilled bottle of strawberry shake. "Well, just take it easy. And if you need an energy drink or a good cup of coffee, stop by later, okay?"
The hero smiled and gently gripped Ayumu's chin in the way a grandmother might pinch a favorite grandchild's cheek. "You're so good to me, Ayumu-chan~. I'll need to think of a way to repay you."
"Okay, that's enough of that." She pushed Nemuri-chan's hand away but smiled to show that she didn't mean it. "Go get your day started. Youth are depending on you!"
"You're right! And they need my firm guiding hand," she gasped happily. "See you later, Ayumu-chan!"
Nemuri-chan skipped away looking decidedly more chipper and Ayumu chuckled. As much as she enjoyed coming back to the school to see students, she equally enjoyed seeing her friends and coworkers. Most of them.
Once she sorted out the small orders, she started the deliveries. It was nothing too arduous, though it involved some running since there was going to be a second rush and she didn't want to miss it. Back and forth a few times and she was all done helping the teachers.
The hallway was empty as she returned to the shop, where Onimaru was lounging; he was pretending to be half asleep but was actually acting as a "guard-cat". He noticed her approach and genuinely relaxed, giving her the usual chirp of hello.
"Better get ready, fuzzbutt," she admonished teasingly. "Here comes the second wave."
In response, he started washing his face. He always tried to put his best paw forward.
Students began to trickle in. It was still pretty early in the morning so these were typically overachievers or those excited to start at U.A. Some were also nervous - they came in early, perhaps expecting to be unable to find their way around or that something else would go wrong on their first day.
That was why Ayumu wanted to be at the store counter. She was the front line of help for the lost little lambs as they meandered about. The nervous ones would spot her and rush over, their faces looking like a man lost in the desert finding an oasis. The excited ones often came over as well to ask about the school and talk about how eager they were to start their academic careers. Others were drawn in by the handsome feline who made sure to position himself to appear irresistible.
Shortly the store was surrounded by a crowd of kids making purchases or petting Onimaru and chatting with Ayumu and each other. They were all so cute! She joked with some and offered advice and reassurance to others in the hopes that they could tackle their first day with confidence. She also served as a traffic cop of sorts, handing out directions to the various classrooms and the bathrooms.
Before long the crowds thinned out and Ayumu had a chance to breathe again. But she was happy with the tiredness. It felt like she'd helped set the kids on their best path possible and it was satisfying.
"Ayumu-san!"
Like magic the weariness faded and she looked expectantly down the hall. Her two favorite students were headed her way and she waved (unnecessary since they had already seen her) energetically and grinning widely.
"Togata-kun! Amajiki-kun! Come over here and say hello to me!"
"We are!" Togata-kun replied with obvious joy. He rushed over and she leaned half out of the window to give him a sideways hug. "We're second years now!"
"I know! I'm so proud!" She faked some tearful sniffles as she patted his back. "C'mere, Amajiki-kun, you get a hug too!"
The quieter boy was more awkward about it but he came over and joined the embrace. But it was only for a moment and then Onimaru was pawing and yowling for the two boys' attention.
"Onimaru-kun!" Togata-kun released Ayumu and scooped up the cat to squeeze him too. "I didn't forget you!"
As he doted on the cat, Ayumu addressed Amajiki-kun. "So, are you ready? The second year will be harder but I'll still be there to help."
Instantly his face fell and he moved to one side and pressed his forehead against the wall with a groan. "I can't handle this…"
"Oh, Amajiki-kun," she sighed. "Would you like to schedule some time during lunch?"
He nodded silently but stayed put.
"Okay." She patted the counter, indicating he should come over. "Come pet Onimaru. He'll cheer you up."
"… Okay." He came back to the counter and Togata-kun released Onimaru, who charged over with loud purrs and bumps for the downtrodden teen.
Ayumu left the cat to what he did best and turned to Togata-kun. "Looking forward to the year?"
"Yeah!" he shouted enthusiastically, startling some passing students. "It's gonna be great!"
She laughed, already feeling uplifted by the tall blonde. "It'll be tough, though. Twice as tough as the first year. Remember to work hard!"
"Definitely! I was practicing all break and I'll keep practicing every day!"
"That's the spirit!"
Another student came up just then to make a purchase so Togata-kun moved over to join Amajiki-kun giving Onimaru the attention he craved. As Ayumu made the sale, she watched Togata-kun from the corner of her eye.
A successor for All Might, huh? He did resemble the hero physically and he had the uplifting effect on people that she'd heard All Might had. And he was a hard-worker. He'd do great - she was sure of it! But it would be a more difficult road than even she had alluded to. He would be working harder than anyone else in the hero course in order to take over for Number One, even if it would be years down the line. There would be pressure and risk that he would have to bear, and there were undoubtedly tough times ahead. However, she resolved that she would be there for him as support in whatever way she could.
"Ayumu-san? Something wrong?"
Suddenly she realized that Togata-kun had noticed how closely she was watching him. The Principal's words were fresh in her mind so she quickly grasped for an excuse.
"Oh," she said. "I was just thinking about how the year will be. The second year is very exciting, you know."
That worked and he grinned eagerly. "Aw, really? I can't wait!"
He gestured wildly and she smiled indulgently. He might be mostly on his way to adulthood but he was still very kid-like in some ways.
"Oh, yeah!" he said. "Can I work with you at the store this year again to practice my Quirk?"
The consideration pleased her. "Sure! But remember, you're going to be busy later this year. There will be the licensing exam to allow you to do actual hero work out in the field, and work studies, which will be tougher than your internships last year. Those are much more important for your growth than helping at my store, so be sure you focus on them. I want to give first years the chance to train too."
"Okay! I'll do great, just you watch!"