Flashback, The Construction Site, Age 7

"Wh-why can't I stay home?" Jian patted his daughter's head, a broad smile on his face.

"Because everyone but us is sick. You don't want to get sick too, do you?" Akira pouted, shaking her head.

"No, I d-don't. Wh-what are we gonna do today?" Jian pointed to the construction site down the block from them.

"We're gonna go there, and you'll get to see what your Papa does every day! Won't that be fun?" Reluctantly, his daughter agreed, and they made their way to the office where the boss gave Akira some schematics to copy over to keep busy for the day.

A few hours later, shouting distracted the little girl. One of the lines had given way on a man, who now held on to the edge of the still shaky framework. Entranced, she watched as her father scaled it, not rope, pulled the man onto his back, and got him down. It was the bravest thing she'd ever seen.

Akira POV

I can't help myself as we walk away.

"Professor Aizawa? Were those really the best three second years? I mean... I beat them sure, but I think most of my classmates could too. Also, what did you mean-"

"They are, and they're decently skilled, your class is unique in that quite a few of you are pretty powerful. The second years are... What we call a lapsed year. Occasionally we'll get a group of students that just aren't as strong as we usually see, the grade is even a little smaller than usual. Not all of them even have provisional licenses yet, and honestly, you didn't use your quirk much outside of that first match, why is that?" I wince a little, letting the ink just... sit in the earth was super easy compared to actually like... Using it to fight or defend myself right now. It was exhausting using it even the little bit I had, the few times I've used ink-poisoning before I didn't get out of bed for days, let alone spar or use my quirk much. Honestly, doing much more today would probably cause me to pass-

Aizawa POV

Akira looked exhausted, and then she'd passed out, and after dropping her off at the infirmary I made my way to the teacher's lounge for lunch. Akira had been pretty late this morning, and those fights had taken a little while. I find the entire room rewatching yesterday's footage.

"Wow! I hadn't noticed that she didn't really use her quirk much for direct engagement during the exam, she uses it for detection and keeping track of the flags in the first portion. In the second portion she uses it for detection, and then those walls right at the end. As well as using it to launch herself in the air, but that was pretty shaky, I could have sworn that she was gonna fall any second. In the last half, she uses it a lot for defense, and then to outsmart several of her opponents. Like binding ink onto the teleporter so that they could teleport. The only time she uses it for anything too wild is when she faced off with her friend at the end, and that was such a close match, if that other girl hadn't been exposed to that smoke earlier she probably would have won." Everyone nods as they scrutinize the screen, and Midnight smiles and continues, "Of course, that girl Holly was pretty impressive too." I groan.

"You're only saying that because you want to meet her."

"Hey, she reminds me of a young me." Twice shakes his head and returns focus to the exams.

"The really impressive thing is that she leads so effectively, optimizing the abilities of someone she just met easily. That's definitely pro-hero material. Although, she definitely needs to get better at direct engagement. She tends to use a lot of defense and then outsmart her opponent and catch them off guard to win. It'd be better if she could learn some more self defense and hand to hand combat skills, and learn to use her ink offensively as well." Everyone nods, breaking off into small tangents on the possibilities. Until All Might speaks up, and ruins the mood of the room.

"Hmm, I doubt she'll be able to learn any offensive skills, and hand to hand combat is off-limits for her. She can barely keep pace walking with her classmates, let alone engaging them in hand to hand combat. Not to mention-" Ectoplasm cuts him off quickly, and glare set deep into his features.

"Well, considering she has a decent foundation in dodging and I've seen her execute several self-defense moves, I doubt you're correct. As she's gotten used to her new brace, her range of motion has increased significantly, but it can take some time to get used to something like that. Learning to move in an entirely new way is not a skill you can learn overnight, speaking from personal experience of course." All Might scowls, beginning to object- but Ectoplasm keeps going.

"Actually, Erasurehead, I was thinking I could help oversee some of the training for your kids coming up. Enough of the second years have work studies that I end up with free time. That what I can give her some pointers and training tips directly." I nod, changing the television to something else.

"That'd be fine, she might be reluctant to let you help her though. She seems very determined to learn to do things on her own." He nods, and the room dissolves into conversations and betting pools for the tournament tomorrow, and then my phone rings.

Recovery Girl POV

I was furious when Aizawa brought Akira to me after she'd passed out, and even more furious when I finally got to check her over fully. Stress fractures, pulled muscles, chronic exhaustion, dangerously close to being underweight, a little malnourished, and her blood tests show there's still ink in her system from yesterday. I pick up the phone.

"Aizawa! You need to take better care of your students! I can't even heal Akira right now because she's so exhausted. She and I will be having a talk when she wakes up, and you better make sure to speak with her as well! It's your job to look after these kids well being."

"Yes ma'am. I'll come speak with her when she wakes up, look after her for me until then. I'll let her family know she'll be here until she recovers."

Akira Grace POV

When I woke up, I could feel the pain and exhaustion far more clearly than before. This means that any lingering ink in my blood has gone away, and now I'll have to go through the full recovery process before I feel well again. Well, as well as I usually feel anyway. I examine the room carefully, according to the clock on the bedside table it's only 8 in the morning- but what day it is is a mystery. Until of course, I hear Bakugo and Kirishima in the hallway.

"We just want to see her before the sports festival, so move out of the way lady!"

"Hey man- Akira wouldn't want you to cause a scene." Bakugo continues semi-quietly arguing with both of them. Standing slowly, thankful that the school's hospital gowns are much more modest than most others. Without my brace it's difficult, but I make my way to the door and slide it open, and I'm met with three looks of surprise. And then a two glares, while Kirishima just smiles.

"Hey! You are awake, that's awesome. I've got your homework and all of your books, there's not much school work, but I figured it'd be something to keep you busy while you recover. My number is on a post-it in the side pocket if you need help with any of the work over the weekend, I realized I never gave it to you before. Anyway, you were awesome in the exams! How're you feeling?" I shrug, wobbling a little and gripping the door frame tighter.

"Tired but I'm alright. Are you ready for today?"

"Am I! It's gonna be great, I'm gonna show everyone how manly I can be! Bakugo man, come on, show some enthusiasm!" Bakugo is still giving me a look, and I sigh, turning to Recovery Girl.

"Can I visit with these two a little bit before the tournament starts, please? I promise I'll sit down and take it easy." Recovery Girl looks reluctant but nods.

"I'll be back in twenty minutes! I expect you in the bed or sitting on the couch! One of you boys help her inside, she shouldn't be walking on her own right now." With that, she stalks off, and Bakugo budges right past Kirishima, to hold out his arm for me. I hold onto him and make my way to the couch. Sitting down, I smile.

"So... what's up?" Bakugo glowers and sits next to me, glaring at Kirishima, who holds his hands up in mock surrender.

"Whoa, I'll be out of here in like two secs man! Anyway, here's everything I brought, Nezu let me into your locker to get your books and stuff, and you left your bag in homeroom yesterday so there's that. I'll talk to you later yeah? Feel better!" Kirishima all but vanishes, sliding the door shut behind him.

"That was... weird. Bakugo?" Suddenly, I'm pulled into a bone crushing hug. It's surprising, but after a second I hug Bakugo back.

"You're a fucking idiot. Do you know that? You and shitty hair are both dumb as fuck." I laugh and push Bakugo away.

"Why's that?" He glares, suddenly very interested in the wall behind me.

"Because. You could have died a bunch of times with all the dumb shit you were doing. You think you can go and get a better score than me and then let yourself get injured by some weak fucking extras? That's bullshit. You're tougher than that." I shrug.

"It happens Bakugo, I know what I signed up for. Do you think I'm frail or something?" His eye twitches again at that, a scowl forming.

"Hell no. You're not fucking frail at all. That's the shitty part." Huh? Oh- OH!

"Bakugo... I'm alright, I promise. I know my limits pretty well, the exhaustion is the worst part of it. I'll be fine in another day or two." Growling he fixes me with a look.

"Fine. But don't go doing any more dumb shit. You and shitty hair are the least annoying people here, which isn't saying much. Bunch of extras." I nod absentmindedly.

"Hey... Bakugo, you have a nickname for everyone in class... What's mine?" He shakes his head.

"What the fuck are you talking about? Anyway, the sports festival is today, and I'm gonna win for sure. Beat Deku, Icy-hot. I have to give a dumb ass speech too, since you can't compete I'm stuck as the class rep. It's total bullshit."

"Well, good luck with that."

"I don't need fucking luck, I'm gonna be the best one on the damned field!" Making a face I shrug.

"Well... Since I won't be competing I guess that's true... I'd definitely beat you if I were participating."

"Bullshit. I know your weakness dipshit. Couple big explosions and you'd be done for." Rolling my eyes I flick his ear.

"Eh, maybe, but it'd be fun. Oh! Get my bag!" Grumbling he hands me my back pack, and I rifle around until I find the small box I've been looking for.

"Here, this is for you! I've been so busy getting ready for the exams that I forgot to give it to you on you birthday. You turned sixteen on the twentieth, right?" Bakugo nods, and takes the box from me carefully, almost reverent. His voice is uncharacteristically soft.

"You... Got me a birthday present?" I nod, bouncing a little in my seat, ignoring the way it makes my muscles ache.

"You and Kirishima are really my only friends here... So yeah. Open it!" Unwrapping it carefully, he then examines the box before opening it as well. Inside is a creation made entirely of ink, it took days to get it to stay together and work just right. It's a watch made from the fire proof ink that Mei designed.

"It should be able to withstand your blasts, I've seen you go through like ten watches since school started. This one doubles as emergency help too! If you were ever in serious trouble, you can just tell it to get me, and it'll disappear to do exactly that. There's an inscription on the other side..."

"Emotions and pain are not a weakness, they are the reason we find strength. What does that mean?" I nod.

"My mama used to tell me that when I was struggling to come to terms with my leg... I was determined sure, but there were days it was awful. I just wanted to stop feeling frustrated and angry and sad all the time, I wanted the pain to go away so I could get strong enough to reach my goals. And it means... Whatever it is you have to over come, is going to make you stronger- as long as you believe it will. Find strength in all your inadequacies, and accept that feelings are a part of life- good or bad. Now... I have a question. Why did Kirishima run off?" Bakugo suddenly flushes bright red.

"How the hell should I know why shitty hair does what he does? I'm not his keeper." Laughing I raise an eyebrow.

"I just figured you'd know since he came here with you, and then left when you death glared him." Sighing Bakugo runs a hand through his hair, then ignoring me as he fastens the watch to his wrist.

"If you tell anyone I said this I'll fucking deny it, and I'll blow you the fuck up, but I told shitty hair to leave after he gave you your shit so we could talk. You scared the hell out of me in the exams and I wanted to spend time with you before the sports festival. And... Yeah. Just, don't fucking talk about it anymore. When's your birthday?" I blink at him, oh no, no. He is not getting me a present, I don't like getting presents.

"Uhm... Well, it's actually the same day as Kirishima's so... there's that." Growling Bakugo glares at me.

"I don't know when shitty hair's birthday is, I'm just gonna give him money or some shit when somebody reminds me about it."

"Hey, I know for a fact he got you something, I didn't see what it was, but I know he did! So, find out when his is and you'll know when both of ours are."

"Whatever, I'll figure it out. And... I'm glad you're okay by the way." Grinning from ear to ear, I nudge Bakugo's shoulder.

"Hey, so, are you sure you don't want me to wish you luck for the day?" Rolling his eyes, Bakugo shrugs.

"Fine, I've got to get going though, get changed for the festival." Nodding, I lean in and kiss his cheek.

"Good luck!"