By the time Niwa had arrived at the police station, escorted by several officers, the sun had already lightened the early morning sky.
They kept had her waiting in a bright room that had a sofa, some plants, and a table.
They had given her a bowl of ramen, but the usually gluttonous Niwa had barely touched the food. The buzzing feeling of her Quirk had faded but not yet disappeared. It kept her alert and awake despite being overly exhausted and somewhat sleep-deprived.
No matter how hard she tried, Niwa couldn't figure out how to turn it off. She just wanted some damn sleep…
But no matter how she tried, relaxation completely evaded her.
The only comfort she really found was given to her when the investigator in charge of her said that Bakugou had just arrived as well. She wondered where the rest of her classmates were for a moment, but simply knowing Bakugou was safe, in the same building, was enough.
She was checked over and healed of her minor injuries, questioned by the police and finally allowed to see her brothers as she was released from the police's custody.
Her brothers collected her from the room quietly. She could feel their eyes on her. Scanning her still trembling body from head to toe as they opened the door of their red jeep and smiled with eyes full of worry.
Niwa felt guilty.
She had been kidnapped before, and while this time it was only for a few days, her brothers seemed just as hesitant with her as the last time. Minimal words as if they didn't know what to say, quick glances over their shoulders to check that she was still there.
Niwa stared out the window, watching the unfamiliar city change into nature and back again. The drive took over an hour to get back to Musutafu, but when they finally pulled into their driveway, Niwa found some comfort in seeing her home.
Hanami rushed from the house as Niwa opened the door of the jeep. Warmth was the first thing she felt when Hanami grabbed her into a crushing embrace. Desperately squeezing the life out of the magenta-haired girl. Hanami sobbed into Niwa's hair and blubbered words that could barely be understood.
She was soon ushered into the home by Hanami with her brothers quickly following behind. They made her some Miso soup at her request and spent the entire night together without ever asking any questions.
Niwa was thankful for that. Though, she guessed her brothers had some experience with this kind of situation. They put on several animated movies and just spent time beside her until Niwa silently slipped down the halls and into her room.
As she flopped on her bed, Niwa sighed and looked at her hand.
There was something wrong with her body. She was aware of this much. The shaking and loss of appetite were probably two of the biggest alarms that rung in her mind. She was always hungry, she loved food enough to shove it in her mouth even if she wasn't somehow hungry. Not only that, but she felt weak. Lethargic.
Niwa sighed deeply and shoved her head under her pillow.
As she blocked out the world, Niwa focused on herself. Physically she was okay enough, other than the weird shit going on. That weird shit was probably caused by the overwhelming emotions she desperately kept bottled up.
Anger, loneliness, depression, on edge.
She felt like, if she let these emotions flow as they wanted right now, she'd break or change or something stupid like that.
So she remained resolute and carried out her days confined to her home. She didn't have the energy to do anything more than take a shower and scroll through the unending articles of All Might's fight. With his true form revealed to the world, Niwa took another hit to her pride. Because of her – Niwa refused to blame Bakugou as well, though the thought remained – All Might's biggest secret was out. Hadn't she promised to protect it? Now she was part of the reason it had been made widely public.
Niwa didn't regret going after Bakugou. She didn't regret it one bit, but she still felt somewhat responsible.
Sinking and sinking further down with no will to pull herself up, Niwa remained drowning in her negative thoughts and feelings. And the fact that she had just continued to let herself drown only pissed her off more.
But she was missing something. Some sort of trigger, some sort of release.
In and out of unrested sleep, Niwa waited.
After three days in this stupor, Niwa had tried to force herself to cry about it. She had read over all the shitty articles about herself and Bakugou to try and help push the tears out but only found more anger.
Knock, knock.
The light tapping at her door drew Niwa's attention on the third afternoon back home.
She climbed out of her bed and walked over to the door. When she opened it, Fukushia stood on the other side with a small encouraging smile.
"Your teacher's here to talk. Says it's important. Do you want to get changed and join us?" Fukushia asked quietly.
Niwa nodded and closed her door. Throwing off her brother's massive shirt she used as pajamas and slipping into a pair of denim shorts and a loose top. No matter how shitty she was feeling, the summer heat was too hot to wear anything more than the bare minimum. Her house didn't have air conditioning, much to Hanami's dissatisfaction. But the three siblings had lived in much hotter climates and were used to the sticky warmth.
That didn't mean she wanted to suffocate in clothes though.
Niwa quietly made her way down the wooden halls of her home and opened the sliding door of the living room.
Aizawa-Sensei and the skeletal-bandaged form of All Might sat on the cushions around the table.
Her home was always more traditionally Japanese despite being a family of foreigners. The siblings simply enjoyed how the Japanese traditions had light doors that slid along the floor and sitting on the ground around the low table. Somehow, it felt more natural and comfortable. In fact, Niwa was the only one in the house with a modern bed. Her brothers, and now Hanami, all preferred using futons instead.
Niwa knelt on the pillow across the table from her teachers, slipping in the open spot between her brothers. Hanami, that woman absolutely loved playing host, was busy in the kitchen preparing drinks for them.
Niwa noticed how her teachers both scanned over her appearance. She turned her head to the side and watched Hanami reach into the tall cupboards with her short frame. An awkward silence settled on the adults watching her reactions.
Aizawa-Sensei cleared his throat, "I don't want to take up much of your time, so I'll get right to the point. After the recent events over the last few months, U.A will be increasing security and implementing new procedures so that we can better protect and develop our students to the best of their potential."
Aizawa slid a thin bundled bunch of papers over the table. Masuru picked up the paper and scanned over the black writing while Aizawa-Sensei began to explain.
"We have already sent out the email regarding the situation but," Her brothers sucked at checking emails, "U.A will be moving to an all-dorm system." His words caught Niwa's full attention.
Fukushia slumped back on his hands with a hum, "So that's how this is gonna play, huh?"
"We understand you have your concerns regarding our negligence but U.A still retains its pride. For the harm that has caused your sister," Aizawa-Sensei bowed his head, "I deeply apologize."
Masuru placed the bundle of paper back on the table, "Do not apologize." Her short-haired brother stated as Hanami re-joined the group at the table. Niwa saw the nervous twitches in the woman's body before Masuru gripped the woman by the wrist and dragged her down to his lap.
Fukushia huffed, "It's an insult for you to apologize."
Niwa sipped at the juice Hanami had already set on the table and watched her Sensei's face warp in confusion. A large hand rested on Niwa's shoulder.
"After everything you've said and done for Niwa over these last few months, you have our gratitude. None of her previous teachers have ever given this much support and guidance before. We've only ever heard criticism and crude comments about our origin." Fukushia sighed a little.
"Then, will you allow Niwa to continue with U.A in the dorm system?" All Might asked.
"No." Masuru said, taking her teachers but surprise.
"Truth is," Fukushia explained for the teachers, "We don't 'allow' Niwa to do anything. We're her brothers. Sure, we raised her and taught her, but we aren't really her parents and we've never acted like we were."
All Might frowned, "I'm not sure I understand."
"Niwa makes her own decisions. She has always been left to independently make her own judgments and act how she believes." Fukushia shrugged, "We simply teach and support her the best we can. The decision's up to Niwa."
Her teacher's eyes landed on her, "Are you comfortable with moving into U.A dorms to continue classes?" All Might asked hesitantly.
Her teachers frowned when Niwa only nodded her head 'yes' and drank the last of her juice.
"Then that's that." Fukushia stretched before his face turned serious, "Now, we have another issue to discuss."
Her teacher's spines straightened with attention.
"If U.A can help in anyway, please let us know the problem." Aizawa-Sensei said firmly.
"Niwa's been affected by the incident, we think. She's been shaking for days, doesn't talk much if at all anymore and has barely been eating or sleeping. She can't settle her Quirk either." Fukushia's words installed a silence over the table.
"U.A can provide a psychiatrist and all the support available-"
"Brain-quacks probably won't help. We've already asked her, but she doesn't want to." Her oldest brother shrugged again.
"Then how can we help?" All Might asked eagerly with a frown.
"We've been thinking about it. We haven't come up with anything really, other than continuing as normal and hoping it fades… But I have an idea."
The entire table looked over to Fukushia who frowned deeply.
"I've been thinking about what that Quirk doctor told us. About how he thinks personalities can relate to our Quirks and such. And this is really stupid of me… Sorry, Niwa." Fukushia chuckled bitterly and Niwa frowned, "She's been acting like a dog."
Suddenly, she had the strength and urge to punch her long-haired brother.
"Huh?" The adults vocalized in pure confusion.
"When a dog is constantly shaking, lacks energy and loses its appetite… It's usually a sign of depression and loneliness." Fukushia scratched at the back of his head, "I… went out and asked a vet…"
Niwa didn't know if she should be thankful or pissed off that her brother went to a fucking vet to try and figure out what was going on with her… But she couldn't deny she felt like that. How strange…
"So, at first, I thought it was depression or something… And, I dunno, maybe it is. But when I feel lonely, usually it isn't because I'm alone." Fukushia struggled to explain.
"Because there's someone you wish to be with." Masuru finished and Fukushia nodded.
"Do you mind taking Niwa to visit Bakugou?" Fukushia asked.
With those words from her brother, her throat tightened and her breath shook.
"Do you think that will help?" Aizawa-Sensei asked in suspicion.
"I think it will." Fukushia nodded, "Being with someone you love when times are rough always helps to ease the burden."
Niwa's eyes snapped wide and her face flamed bright red.
Boom!
Her arm shook more violently, though this time it was from the strain of her attack. Fukushima smiled apologetically while her fist shook with pressure in his palm.
Saying something like that, just take the punch! Asshole!
Niwa deflated her anger a little and dropped her arm back to her lap. She diligently avoided looking in her teacher's direction while they watched the little show in silence.
"There's no harm in trying…" All Might chuckled nervously.
How… humiliating.
If she could cry right now, it'd be tears of embarrassment.