Planning And Visits

Estelle held in amusement as Ashido tried to show Midoriya how to dance. She let out her humour as he attempted to follow her steps but ended up looking robotic with Aoyama behind him. When the class returned to their seats. Mr Aizawa walked into the room with his trusted sleeping bag.

"It's coming, the school festival", He voiced out in monotone. Estelle couldn't help her smirk at his lack of enthusiasm. She somewhat missed being in class. Things had gotten so hectic lately that Estelle hadn't really spent much time in the classroom. She tended to be called out before making it to the next period.

"Normal school stuff!" The class shouted around her, ecstatic about the event.

Estelle pretty much ignored everyone after that. Only until Mr Aizawa fell asleep on the floor did the class's rambunctious words wake her up from her dream.

"All right, as class reps! We will help facilitate this meeting! Who's first!?" Iida yelled out.

Estelle groaned at the class's screaming to be picked. 'He'll get to you eventually, gods.'

"Kaminari! You first!"

"A maid cafe! Seriously, imagine it! Imagine me in the centre of it! It's a winner!"

"Maids, it's good to serve others," Iida thought out loud.

"That's way too tame! A topless! -" Mineta yelled out only to be trapped by Tsu. The class pointedly ignored Estelle's dark aura. The flames of her hatred floated around the back of the classroom. If they turned and looked, they would shiver and freeze.

It was another norm for Estelle at this point. Ever since the incident, she understandably hated Mineta to the very core. They doubted she would ever get over it since he would never stop being a pervert.

"A mochi shop!" Ochako offered up.

"An arm wrestling match." Kirishima cheered, his arm raised to show off his muscles.

"A funhouse!" Hagakure yelled out in glee.

"A fight to the death!" Bakugo grinned.

"Oh yeah, I'm down for murder," Estelle muttered to herself. She stilled as the class silently turned to her with a sweatdrop. Of course, she would be the one to agree with Bakugo's downright awful choice.

"A mad banquet of darkness", Tokoyami interrupted with his hand raised. Estelle turned to face him with a playful smirk. "Murder in the dark sounds good."

"Estelle!" The class yelled out, finding her dark humour somewhat amusing. Their lips titled up at the smirk on her face, and they unconsciously mirrored her relaxed body. It was always a pleasant sight to see her calm like that. There was always such tension in everything Estelle did, which put people on edge around her. They knew it wasn't on purpose; it was how she was due to her past. So, they had begun to get used to it because of that knowledge, but it was always evident when she was relaxed. It made them feel good, knowing that they had at least achieved that.

"Looks like we have Estelle's suggestion!" Iida voiced disappointedly before moving on to the next person quickly.

Estelle strolled into Height alliance with a worn-out face. A group of classmates were convened in the living room. It seemed that they hadn't figured out what their plans were for the festival. Strolling over to them after being called out. Estelle listened to their words.

"Now that things have quietened down, I have some thoughts on our list. We have caused some strain on the other students. It would make sense to choose something that would lighten their spirits," Iida started, the group around the room listening avidly.

"I agree. We're aiming to be heroes, right? So, we should be aware of any trouble we've caused for the others."

Estelle stayed quiet in her thoughts. It always made her feel some way when she was reminded of heroism. It was like a melancholy that washes over her. The past two months had been quite hectic with spirits, the media, pretending to be a hero herself and trying to figure out a way to return home. Estelle had tried her best to create whatever distance she could between the class and herself. It was only becoming more complicated as time passed. When you're forced to spend time with one another, you eventually come to some form of complacency. Estelle had to scold herself every time she felt like that.

It was annoying.

Yet, the class pushed on, never doubting their attempts at becoming Estelle's friend. Not many people have tried that hard with her. The ones who did never made it out, and it just made Estelle feel all the more time-sensitive because of it. It hit her in ways she could not describe, like a slow simmering heat within her soul that she wasn't used to. Estelle refused to get used to it. She would return home, and everything would become meaningless.

"Dancing, that's a good idea", Shoto stated as he stood in front of Estelle to reach for the computer. Estelle watched the screen with a tilt to her head. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw the sight of people playing music on a stage.

When Kirishima and Bakugo showed her all types of music, Estelle found herself in awe with all of them. She spent her free time looking for more lyrical melodies like that. She guessed that this was what a concert looked like now that she had seen one.

As Shoto continued to speak to the rest of the group, he became aware of Estelle's interest in the video he had paused. Silently leaning over again to press play for her, Estelle became engrossed with the concert now playing on the screen.

"Yes! Class 1A will do a live performance and throw a dance party as this school has never seen before!" Kaminari yelled out. Estelle shrugged it off since she missed most of the conversation and kept her eyes on the screen.

Eventually, the students who had come to some sort of plan went their separate ways. Unaware that she had been left alone with one other person, Estelle was startled when she felt shoulders brush up against her own. Turning to face the two-toned male, she was gifted with a shy smile.

"Your video has ended. Here, let me show you this one."

Remaining mute, Estelle turned to face the screen once again. Shoto stayed by her side as he played show after show for the two to enjoy. Scoffing with a chuckle, Estelle was gifted with a sight of a man in a marshmallow mask.

Turning her head up to make a remark on the fiasco on the screen. Estelle's words died in her throat as she faced Shoto's gaze. Feeling a sudden heat from the look, Estelle turned back to the screen to avoid his differently coloured eyes staring deep into her soul.

She did not mention it as they watched the computer deep into the day.

Estelle followed behind Izuku and Mirio as they made their way to Eri's room. She didn't really understand why Eri would call her of all people. She could only guess it was the time they shared together with Overhaul.

Following them, they made their way inside the room. The two males sat on chairs close to the child. Estelle stayed further back by the door, ready to leave if needed. She pointedly ignored Mr Aizawa's questioning look as she stayed by him.

"This whole time, even though I had a fever. All I could think about was how much you did for me. How you saved me. But, I don't even know what to call you? I know Lemillion and Estelle's name, but what's yours?" Eri asked towards Izuku.

Estelle ignored Izuku's response in favour of scanning the frail child. Her horn had dimmed, which was good, but her eyes. They still held a lot of pain that Estelle had seen that day. It would be a long time before she would feel normal once again.

"So, lemillion, Estelle and Deku. And then, there was a man wearing glasses. All of you ended up getting hurt real bad because of me. It's all my fault. All of the terrible stuff that happened; I'm so sorry," Eri lamented with tears in her eyes.

Estelle's heart clenched from her words. A simmering heat flowed through her veins as the words repeated themselves in her head. Estelle blamed herself when others got hurt under her guardian's reign. Estelle still blames herself to this day. Even though, logically, Estelle knew it was the bastard's fault. Estelle could never drop the guilt she harboured. She hoped Eri would be able to do what she couldn't.

"...Besides, everyone fought because they wanted to see you smile," Mirio finished. Estelle had only caught onto the end due to her thoughts swirling. She was glad Mirio was there for her; he always seemed to find the right words. He would be a great hero one day; she just knew it.

Estelle watched, taken aback as Eri pulled her cheeks to form a smile. The tears still sitting in her eyes, she did her best to accomplish their words.

"Hm?" The two boys wondered questioningly. They had no idea what she was trying to do.

"This is so silly. I think I've forgotten what smiling feels like."

Estelle turned still at the words. Her eyes glazed over as she was forced to look back at a time she tried to bury deep within herself. Feeling an ache in her brain, Estelle lost sight of the little girl on the hospital bed.

"Hey! Estelle. You always look so angry. Come on! Give me a smile!"

"Smile?"

"Yeah! Like this!"

Estelle tried to copy the boy's movements but only managed to come out with a grimace. Kiko sweatdropped at the action before shaking his head. "Come on! You can do better than that! Haven't you ever smiled before?!"

"No. I haven't."

"Oh. Don't worry! We'll get there!"

"I'll stab you."

"No, you won't!"

Estelle quickly shook herself out of her daze, only to find Mr Aizawa staring down at her in concern. Giving a quick nod to assure that she was okay, Estelle slowly slipped out of the room. Mr Aizawa's hand raised behind her in an attempt to stop her. Unfortunately, it failed; his eyes followed behind her as she walked through the corridors with a slump.

"You know, a minute ago. I didn't know your name; I was sad and didn't know what to do. Because I knew more than anything that I just wanted to be friends with the people who helped me. Why did Estelle leave? Does she not want to be my friend?"

Izuku and Mirio turned with surprise as they gazed by the entrance where Estelle should have been. Giving a concerned look to Mr Aizawa, they listened as the teacher shook his head and answered. "She would love to be your friend. Estelle has had a tough time, like yourself. She needed to go, but she didn't want to interrupt you."

"Oh, okay."

Estelle walked through the greenery, a sigh on her lips. Her gaze dropped down to her phone, the ringing music playing loud to the birds as she took in the words of her heart. She was heading back to the dorms since she took a walk after seeing Eri. The child was too much like herself; it was almost painful.

Stepping through the doors, Estelle trudged her way to her room. Ignoring the greetings from her classmates. It was Izuku that stopped her from reaching her destination. Estelle found that she was doing much better in her habit of attacking those who startle her. But, It was still a work in progress.

Estelle dreaded the words about to leave Izuku's lips. The rising blush on his cheeks showed nervousness about his following sentence. "How come you left the hospital?"

Estelle grunted in response and moved to keep walking. "Wait! Eri was asking for you. She was sad that you left without saying anything."

The words made Estelle's heart heavier than it already was. Guilt riddled at her. When was the last time she ever did the right thing? Estelle wasn't sure. There were too many things on her list that Estelle could have done differently. Estelle wished she could change back time. Rewind it all to when she was a child and fix everything. Every death, every mistake, every battle, every moment.

Estelle didn't deserve care.

Looking at her classmate, Estelle let out another despondent smile. "I hate mirrors." That was all she said as she walked away.

The green-haired male widened his eyes at the girl's response, chasing after her in hopes of gauging an answer. He abruptly stopped himself midway; she had said enough. He shouldn't dig the knife in further.

Mirrors. Could it be that was why Estelle was low after Eri was saved? Were the pair so alike that she struggled with the similarities? He paused again when he remembered the remarks she had given about her previous guardian, the words clicking into place in his mind.

His heart was saddened with understanding.