Hello everyone! Two weeks, and as promised, an update! Full length too! Getting back into canon events now, warming things up for the next arc! Enjoy ^-^


Monday morning comes round quick. I've been in Dad's apartment suite all weekend, barely venturing onto the balcony for fear of someone seeing me. Does anyone else know about the panic attack? Well… I guess Dad called it PTSD but I can't say I'm keen on the label, it gives Shigaraki way too much power. Maybe it is that. But fuck it, I'm calling it a panic attack in my head.

Over the weekend we had chilled out, eaten take out and generally just acted like we were still in the old apartment. Like none of this crazy shit had ever happened. There was more physio too, but done here with Dad. More painkillers. But less quirk. I've not used it except to practise my smaller targets, raising coffee cups and cutlery separately, improving my tactile handling. Dad even let me braid his hair again. But I haven't used it at all on my back. I have to be more careful. Dad asked the support guys about a back brace and it seems that Hatsume girl had already been tinkering with one, half expecting me to need one if my issues carried on. I'll give her credit, she has good instincts. So now I have a back brace to help me start building the muscles in my back without straining the injury, and whilst it helps, it does kinda feel like I'm wearing a corset. So that's… weird.

Dad isn't hovering. He's good for that. I can talk to him whenever I need to, or want to, but there's no pressure. Even so, I can tell he's worried. And I get it. I know why he's worried, but the words won't come out of my mouth. This back injury relapse has gone ahead and shown me a whole new area of relapse, my fear of vulnerability goes a lot deeper than we realised. I guess it makes sense. Back in that tiny damp room I was helpless, and right now I don't feel much more than that. But knowing all this doesn't stop me hating it. I have to work past this. I have to conquer these fears.

Beyond that, Sho had blamed himself. I could hear him, begging me to respond in the physio room, pleading to understand. All I did was stare ahead. I wanted to tell him everything was fine, that I just needed a minute, that he wasn't to blame. But nothing came out. Not a word. The guilt must have been intense. I think it's safe to say I'm the worst girlfriend on the planet now, right?

I can't say my text did much good on Saturday morning, either.

Me: {Hey, sorry you had to see that. None of that was your fault.}

He replied instantly. Like he'd been waiting for a message. And of course, he was far too sweet.

Sho: [You don't need to apologise. I want to help, I just don't know how.]

Me: {You shouldn't need to know how. That'd be too much.}

Sho: [What does that mean? Don't hide things from me Alex, please. We're meant to be helping each other. I WANT to help you.]

Me: {I know, but I don't want to put that pressure on you.}

I knew what he'd ask next, but it didn't mean I had an answer for him.

Sho: [Again, what does that mean? Are you planning on hiding things? Or… Are you suggesting we break up? Because I don't want that. I really don't. I'm reading into that wrong, right?]

I stared at the message.

My heart raced.

On one hand, hell no, I don't want to break up with him. I really like Sho, I'm probably on my way to the bigger word for that, so the last thing I wanna do is lose him. But I also don't want to use him. These past few months have been insane for everyone. He's already failed one exam and even if he refuses to admit it, part of that might be because of me. Because of me being a distraction.

I was about to respond, perhaps twenty minutes later, when he sent another message.

Sho: [Let's not make any decisions right now, please. You're in pain and dealing with a lot. Spend time with your Father, chill out, watch those old movies you love and text me if you want. I'll stay away for now, but I'm not just going away either. You want to push me away for my own good. I get it. But you have to know the good you do for me far outweighs any bad you've imagined. Because sorry, but you're not bad for me, that's your doubt talking. As stubborn as you can be Alex, I can be more so. Speak soon x]

Me: {Speak soon x}

And I left it there. There wasn't much to say against that. Anything along the lines of 'you're too good for me' would come across as a pity party, and any further arguing would only upset him. If I hadn't already ruined his weekend, I didn't want to definitely do so. So I left it alone. I barely touched my phone for the whole weekend, and now it's Monday and I know I'll be seeing him in class. How awkward will it be? We're still together, but will he have realised over the weekend, with some damn peace and quiet from my nonsense, how much easier his life could be withou–Fuck! Stop it, brain! That's not necessarily the conclusion. Just because we were apart, doesn't mean Sho suddenly wants to break up with me. I just need to talk to him.

So, Monday morning, and my head is indeed, still up my arse over the Sho thing. But, at least my back is calmed and my recovery back on track. Small victories?

Dad sets coffee cups onto the counter as the machine whirs to life. There's a third cup.

"How's the brace feel under your uniform? I definitely can't see it." He gets the milk and sugar next. "You awake over there, kid?"

"Y-Yeah. Sorry. It's fine, just kinda feels like I should be throwing out a curtsy every time I enter a room."

"Manners never did any harm." He winks.

I roll my eyes and try to fix my tie. "Who's the third mug for?"

"Toshinori. He asked to come over this morning, said he wanted to have a chat."

I sit even straighter than before, not that I think that's possible with this thing making my internal organs get real cosy with each other. "Why?"

Dad smiles softly. "It's not to tell you off or anything, though I did mention what had happened with your injury."

I start to glare but stop myself. Telling Toshi made sense. On the running track around campus we regularly saw each other, if I ever had an issue out there, him knowing about the ongoing issues prior would save a lot of embarrassment later. I put a sugar into my mug and one into Toshi's, knowing he likes that as a treat now and then. Small indulgences for a man who gave so much, but considering how messed up his body is these days, it's a big treat for him. I try not to linger on how sad that is.

A knock sounds at the door and Dad calls out in welcome. Toshi lets himself in. He gives a wave, big splash of yellow hair off in all directions as usual, and dark eyes crinkling at the side with that grin. He is definitely a morning person.

I stir my coffee. "Morning, Toshi."

"Hey guys, thanks for letting me come over so early." He takes a seat next to me and accepts his mug. "Thanks. By the way, you've no idea how many questions young Midoryia had about your nickname for me. My god that kid can go on tangents."

I snort. "Sorry, guess I got a bit too comfortable."

"It's fine, not like you're outside the circle anymore." He takes a long sip and sighs. "Mm, sugar, thanks very much."

"Why not start the week with a bit of luxury?" I wink and then set my mug down. "So, what's brought you to our humble abode so early?"

Toshi cradles his mug and takes a long breath. "Before I go into it, just to check things are doing all right, how are you feeling after your setback? I was sorry to hear things went sideways."

"I'm doing good. Back brace on, painkillers taken, new habits being formed." I smile softly as he checks Dad for confirmation. "I'm trying, Tosh, promise."

"You're always trying, kid. I'm just making sure you're also recovering."

I nod. "Fair enough."

I guess I have to rebuild a lot of people's trust in me.

I smile. "So knowing that I'm not going to crumble before your eyes, what's wrong?"

He wears an almost weary smirk. He wants to laugh with me, he wants to nudge me and call me daft, but something holds him back. What's going on in those dark eyes? Dad leans on the counter, his own coffee softly steaming as his eyes settle on our sombre sunflower.

Toshi takes a long breath. "Between one thing and another it's become clear that Shigaraki is intended to be All for One's successor."

Straight to the point. I wince at the mention of both those bastards, and Dad's eyes dart to me for a moment. But we rally.

Toshi continues. "Seems like that has been the plan for a long time. So whilst Shigaraki and his League have been quiet recently, we can only assume that is because they are busy gathering strength."

I look to Dad but he's just watching the older hero, dark eyes intent and worried. About Toshi, or us? Probably both. I watch my coffee ripple. Shigaraki was intended to be the successor to All for One; the most dangerous Villain ever, the voice beyond the fuzzy screen, the nightmare infecting my sleep. It kept being suggested that All for One had been present in my days with Shigaraki, but I could never recall it clearly. Had I known him before? Could I have killed him all those years ago and saved the world this trouble? I take a sip of coffee. Stop that. You can't kill someone, Alex. That's not how heroes work. Also, I would have been like eight years old or something. I survived, that was my only job at the time. Nothing is my fault. It's fine. Beyond that, it seems likely my memories have been altered, so as soon as I even knew All for One was there, I may have been forced to forget. Somehow.

"When I've visited All for One in Tartarus prison, we spoke about the world as it is now. He said things that made a lot of sense…" Toshi's voice wavers.

I peer at him. "What do you mean?"

"I've left a vacuum in my wake."

The words from news outlets are familiar, but when he says them in that tone, it's like he's blaming himself. Like I can see All for One's web of doubt wrapping around Toshi as he sits next to me.

He shakes his head. "All because of my arrogance, if I–"

Dad stands. "Don't be foolish."

Toshi waves a hand. "I should have eased the world into my retirement. I've given the villains a perfect storm to–"

"Don't let him win." I breathe, barely above a whisper. I stare into those shadowed eyes, my own are misting over.

He swallows hard. "Alex?"

"He's in a cell, locked away. You did that. You saved me and everyone else on that day. But now you're gonna let him win regardless? Please… don't."

He glares, but I ignore that fire. It's misplaced.

I grit my teeth. "Toshi, if I'm not allowed to slip into my stupid thoughts, you're damn right I'm not letting you."

"But he's right."

"He's fucking with you." I hiss, glad to see at least a flinch. "Of course he wants you to crumple in on yourself through guilt, he wants that from all of us, every single one of us he wants d-dancing on the end of his string."

I'd been doing it enough. All it took was a suggestion that I'm not a hero and my mind has been bending over backwards to believe his snide comment. Buying into his doubt. I'd been curling back into that broken little girl, just like he wanted.

I keep going. "No. Fuck it. You gave this world so much, so fucking much, and it's done little more than chew you and spit you back out. So don't you dare suggest you didn't do enough. You did a thousand times more than anyone else. And what's he done? Nothing. He creates nothing, he only destroys."

"Alex–"

"No." Tears escape, but I'm not trembling. Not this time. I am steady for once. "I won't let you let him get to you. Fuck that. You c-can't give into it, you have to know how much we all admire you, how much you mean to us. And not just in the hero form, or memories, in this form. You're still you! The only way that stops is if you let him win. And you do that by buying into his shite."

Toshi's hand lands on my shoulders, Dad steps round to our side of the counter.

Dad ruffles my hair. "Not sure there's much you can argue against that old man."

I sniff and laugh breathlessly, not having meant to go on such a rant. I look up at Toshi. He's smiling again.

I hold onto his hand on my shoulder. "You gonna make me repeat myself, Toshi?"

"No ma'am. You've been quite clear." He sips his coffee before failing to subtly deal with his own tears. "I came here to apologise for how I've caused your past to catch up with you… But I guess I'll file that under 'not needed'."

"Too fucking right. If I'm not to blame for my past, then you certainly aren't."

He nods. "You're quite right. And even if it's not the same form… I am still here."

I nod and haul him into a hug. We're all shaken, we're all reeling in our own ways, but that doesn't mean we're broken. As a society we've been knocked sideways, but that doesn't mean we can't get up. It just takes a little time to get our bearings. Maybe that was all I needed. A little time. In my rush to recover I'd gone and made things harder for myself, and everyone else. I should talk to Sho. The last thing I want is for our relationship to end, I suppose in a way, that's letting All for One win too. Because let's face it, he wants us alone. He wants us disconnected. Because together we're all going to be stronger.

We can beat this.

Together.

I take my coffee to my room to finish getting ready for class. I take the stairs for the exercise, but go slowly, minding how my back moves and where the problems lie. Plus, I can't spill my coffee, morning juice of the gods. Standards, people. I don't need much from my room, Dad had remembered plenty of things when he got stuff for me over the weekend, but a couple textbooks had been forgotten by us both. Sorry Geography, I just don't care.

"Alex?"

I pause outside my door, looking back to see Sho on the stairs, likely heading to his room after breakfast. He raises his hand in a slight wave before retracting it and looking to the side as though unsure. Or, more likely, just embarrassed. I smile and incline my head, encouraging him to follow me inside. His eyes light up and he does so, closing the door gently behind him as I look for my things.

I gather books into my bag. "How was your weekend, Sho?"

"Quiet."

I smirk. "In a good way or…?" I put the bag down on my chair as I see his unsure expression.

He's stood by the door, barely coming more than a couple steps inside. He's waiting for the blade to drop, isn't he? He thinks I'm about to dump him. Or, he's figuring out how to dump me. I sigh. Talk to him you idiot.

I approach him. "You feel the same way you did when we texted?"

He nods. "I do."

Then I guess there's not much point in me putting my foot in it with words, when I can at least partially clear the air with an action.

I stride forward, push him against the door and kiss him like there's nothing to lose. Which makes no sense, as I might have gone and lost him, if I let my stupidity win. Our lips meet and as my hands thread into his hair, his hands pull me closer, one on the nape of my neck, the other on the small of my back. Our breath combines, we sigh and sink into it. Fuck, I needed this. I taste tea on his tongue and no doubt he tastes coffee on mine. He turns us, shifting me up slightly, pinning me with his body. I think he missed me. His hands run all over me, like he has to convince himself I'm real. I smirk and tug on his hair so we can at least breathe, but even then his eyes focus on my lips for a second, before finally peeling back to mine. I don't want those mist-matched eyes to ever not look at me like that.

I smoothe his hair, carefully putting a few red hair back onto their side after I went and mussed them up. "You were right."

"About?" He lets me back onto the ground and puts his forehead to mine, and as my hand slips to his chest, I feel how hard his heart is beating.

I smile. "About a lot. Thank you for being so stubborn."

He laughs breathlessly and dips in for a fresh kiss, cupping my face as he leans back. "So you're not breaking up with me?"

"No, this idiot has seen the error of her ways. You were right, like I said, I was just getting in my own way." I stroke along his cheekbone. "You see right through my shit."

"Of course."

"I'm sorry I scared you, Sho."

He shakes his head. "I just wish I could have helped. You looked so–"

"It's not your responsibility to fix me."

He frowns. "Of course not, you don't need fixing."

What the hell did I ever do to earn this guy? I tug him close by his tie, kissing him again, messing up his hair repeatedly, melting into laughter as my heart swells. With everything else going on, this feels so utterly normal. And it's perfect.

I kiss the end of his nose. "Together?"

"Right."

"We'll do this together."

"Thank you." He sighs, kissing my cheek. "Now… Not to change the subject but… Could you please tell me why you're wearing a corset?"


Okay, so I'm a little bitter. Only a little. A teeny-weeny-smidegy bit. As soon as they start talking about Work Studies, my eyes drift to the windows and I let myself zone out. It also takes everything in me not to pout. I can't take part in a Work study due to recovery. As bitter a pill as that is to swallow, I just have to deal with it. My classmates will still be able to really benefit from this, and it's a huge opportunity as this is usually reserved for those further up the school. I can… watch. My classmates start muttering about plans, about possible avenues of enquiry, of what they might learn. I just take out my english textbook and doodle in a margin, not flinching when Hizashi struts in and starts the lesson. I'm happy to focus on school work. I can do that. I grip the pen and count to ten, breathing in and out. This is fine. I can still learn, and will still be able to be scouted at a later date. Plus, who am I kidding? I would want to go with Dad anyway. I don't need anyone else scouting me.

Yeah… like I said, only a little bitter.

After lunch, with Midoryia all caught up in the areas he'll have to work on for catch-up after his House Arrest, we're being given the luxury of more Work Study details. Yay. I need this corset tightened so I can pass out. I sink into my seat and nod to Dad when he raises a brow at me–my back is fine, I'm just pissy.

The door slides open and in come the big three; UA's top students.

I can't lie… They just look like kids. Buff, well trained kids and the girl has phenomenal hair, but kids all the same. But they are the school's big hitters. They're on the cusp of becoming heroes. Maybe I can ask them about approaching that transition, even if I can't get into work studies, I can still do work in other areas. I can still learn.

Though the guy with the pointy ears… Amajiki? Was that his name? He's a bundle of nerves. I can't take my eyes away as he tries to convince himself we're potatoes, so that he can talk to us. But it fails and he's staring at the wall. A bundle of nerves. My back twinges and I note his name down, I should talk with him. No doubt he would be a fountain of information. Yes, his issue might be more in the confidence and performance anxiety column, rather than my own which is more tarnished by past trauma. But it could still be useful. Unless of course, he can't talk to me one on one either. Entirely understandable, I wouldn't want to spook the guy.

The girl laughs and shakes her head. "C'mon Amajiki, you need to have the heart of a lion, not a kitten! Y'know, even though you're human. Get what I mean?"

At first I think she is mocking him, but no, her tone is warm, jovial. She's trying to ease the tension for her classmate. She turns, smiling out at the class, purple hair swaying in the afternoon light. Bloody hell she's gorgeous.

She gestures to her nervous classmate. "This is our kitten Tamaki Amajiki."

He continues to tremble.

She then gestures to herself. "And hi, my name is Nejire Hado, I'm supposed to talk about Work Studies, you first years have a really exciting time ahead of you." Then she blinks and tilts her head, leaning towards Shoji. "Hey wait, hold on… Why're you wearing a mask? Is it because you're feeling sick, or just to look cool?"

Shoji leans back, all his arms doing the same. "Uh… Well…"

She is so wide-eyed and interested.

Uh oh. Dad isn't gonna like this tangent.

"Oh whoa!" She gasps, jumping up, beaming at Sho. "And you must be Todoroki, am I right? Yeah! How'd you get that big burn on your face?"

Ok, nevermind. I don't like this tangent. Curiosity is one thing lady but c'mon!

I look at Sho and he's just blinking at her. "That's none of your–"

"And Ashido!" Hado continues, unbothered and apparently totally unaware of how weirded out everyone is by her wide-eyed insights. She points. "If your horns break off, d'you think you'd grow new ones? Can you wiggle them?"

Ashido touches her horns, blushing and shrinking into her seat.

Dad sighs and closes his eyes.

Hado laughs again. "Mineta, are those balls your hair, or what? I don't get it. And Asui you're a tree frog, not a gross toad, right?" She rocks on her heels. "Oh my goodness there's so much I wanna know about every one of you! Let's have a Q and A!"

The class murmur to themselves and frankly, I think Ashido hit the nail on the head with what she said. Hado isn't prying, per say, she has an idle wonder. It makes her seem so young by comparison to the others. I feel like she has a whimsical nature, and in all honesty, despite how her blase questions might have rubbed me the wrong way, I think she means well. If not, I can always shove her out the door if need be.

Hado bounces again. "Hey Ojiro, can you support your entire body weight with that tail of yours?"

He blushes. "Uh… Well you see…"

"C'mon tell me…"

I don't have to look to know that Dad is sending out his death glare right now. Then I feel the pulse of his power and note how his hair is shifting. Yup. He's annoyed. This was meant to be 'hand over and let someone else talk' and now he's having to deal with a survey on his students.

He grumbles at the blonde boy who hasn't spoken yet. "This is entirely irrational."

The blonde flinches and smiles. "Oh, there's no need for you to worry Eraserhead! I'm up next, and I'll get the audience refocused."

It's safe to say, I brace for that to not be the case.

He takes a big breath. "The future's gonna be…!"

Silence rings back at his prompt. I raise a brow as he holds a hand to his ear.

"Gonna be what?" Kaminari asks, looking around as if he missed something. He didn't, none of us know what is happening anymore. Have I fallen into a daydream?

The last of the big three snorts. "Awful! That's your part guys." He winces. "Aw crap my call and response was a total fail!"

I think they're all insane.

He then takes a stance behind the podium, all business. "Okay, you guys look like you have no idea what's going on."

I drum my fingers against my desk. "Understatement."

He chuckles. "I guess we are just third years who just showed up in your classroom to explain a programme that's completely voluntary. I can see how you'd be confused by that."

Oh yeah, nevermind the bundle of nerves talking about us being potatoes. The walking questionnaire cooing at us like zoo exhibits, and you asking for audience participation with a saying no one has heard of. But yeah, it's the programme that we're lost on…

He strokes his chin. "Hmm… You guys got your provisional licences as first years, right? Huh! This batch of new students has proven to be pretty darn energetic. So the problem is… you guys must not have a sense of humour. That's why my joke didn't land."

Or it was a terrible joke.

Amajiki turns to his friend. "Don't do it…"

Mirio punches the air. "Heads up! The rad new plan is that all you first years fight me at once!"

Oh bloody hell…


We change into our gym gear and gather in the beta arena. I won't participate much, but this will be a good opportunity to try out my back brace for actual combat. In a safe way. Sho waits at the side with Dad, not feeling comfortable taking part due to failing his exam. For now I think he wants to step back and watch, get a read on things from a distance. Bakugo is still under house arrest, which is probably a good thing or else he'd have likely blown this blonde guy to the moon.

Whilst Mirio stretches–I had to ask Dad what the kids name was, I was totally blanking–the class consider what we're actually going to learn. Maybe Mirio just wants to psyche us out. Kirishima has a good point though, we've fought villains before, we should be fine. But to be honest, it's the fact Hado just mentioned a student getting so frustrated that they quit that has me frowning.

She sees this, and finally stops playing with Ashido's horns. "You okay over there, Alex?"

"I'm good. I just don't think you need to worry about this class throwing a tantrum."

She blinks. "I only meant–"

"All I mean is, we've fought and we've lost plenty of times. We understand better than most that being a Hero doesn't mean always winning. It's probably one of the biggest lessons out there, but we have that down. Sure this might end in the whole class being beaten by Mirio, it may not, but if it does, we'll rally."

My classmates grin.

I smile. "We get back up, that's the important part."

Everyone is so eager to get into the fight. We're all excited to learn.

I watch Mirio closely, trying to get a read on him whilst Midoryia steps up first.

"Heads up!" Dad calls from the side. "He's fast, this'll be a good lesson!"

Fast huh? Okay. Vague, but okay.

Midoryia launches, the rest of us ready for an attack. It's all about to kick off when… Mirio's clothes are slipping off and he is left utterly, entirely and completely naked. What the hell? Jiro yelps and looks away, Sero yells out and in mid-air Midoryia falters. Mirio tries to put his pants back on. Yeah it was weird, I didn't expect a strip show, but I can't say I'm all that phased by a naked body. Plenty hobos wandered around in the nude when drunk, and at least Mirio had access to a shower.

Midoryia rallies and goes for his kick. And the weirdness continues.

His foot goes right through Mirio's head, and Midoryia carries on over the top. He skids behind and the rest of the class throw everything they have at Mirio. But he's gone. He appears behind us and Jiro shrieks again, because again, he is absolutely naked. I step back from the fight, trying to think. He's passing through things? Or is he teleporting? It's hard to see. He's so fast. And what's with the losing clothes? Whatever his quirk is, he's got it honed to a fine art despite the costume troubles. He's popping up all over the place, nowhere we expect either. Damn that's good control.

Time to get involved. No more sidelines.

I try to get a grip on his body, to slam him against the wall and stall him. Or maybe even to daze him so someone else, like Kirishima or Midoryia, can land a hit. But I grip nothing. My power jolts at the lack of substance and backlash flickers along my cheek. Dammit. I try again but this time the backlash is worse, bruising my neck. Then he's behind me. Oh shi-I'm smacked to the side by my power's rebound and his movement. I skid, and end up slamming into the wall next to the nervous guy, blood running down my chin. Well that wasn't a great demonstration of my power. And bloody elegant to boot.

Amajiki mumbles, still staring at the wall. "You okay?"

"Y-Yeah… He's good with that power, damn talented." I try to get up but he holds a hand to my shoulder, quite rightly keeping me in place. I'm dazed. The whole room is swimming. He holds a tissue out and I take it to dab my nose.

He smirks at the wall. "Usually people just blame it on him being super powerful. Good to know you saw the skill involved… He works hard."

I nod and lean against the wall, knowing Dad won't object to me waiting till my head stops swimming. Backlash hadn't happened for a while, so it's kind of thrown me. Still, the back brace seems to be helping, no pain at all. And no numbness in my legs.

I sigh. "I can respect anyone that takes a quirk and uses it to its absolute… potential." I groan, pinching my nose as the room swims. "Not that I don't kinda wish he had fallen on his face. I'm not a saint."

A bottle of water nudges my shoulder, I accept it and give a thumbs up.

Amajiki mumbles again. "Glad to hear his high opinion of you wasn't unfounded."

I sip my water and frown. "Huh? Why's he got a good opinion of me? I've never met him."

"He's seen your training and the footage of your work. He's always fascinated by people who push themselves. Seems you've impressed him."

I look back out, noting how my classmates fall one by one. Mirio took them all down and then shuffled back into his uniform. If they weren't groaning in pain, my classmates were blushing and looking elsewhere to avoid the nakedness. Mirio hops on one foot as he wrestles with his shoe. I snort and end up laughing loudly. This guy is ridiculous, and yet we'll learn so much from him. Feels good to have some fun brought back into class.

Things seem to be wrapping up. Amajiki helps me up so I can gather with the rest of my class, them all holding their stomachs after Mirio's attacks. He stands before the class, fully dressed. I sit down as everyone else stands, but Sho kneels beside me, applying ice to my cheek and neck.

Mirio scratches the back of his neck. "I tried to ensure you didn't see my willy, sorry if you got a peek."

I just start laughing again. "I've seen worse."

He grins at me. "I'll bet! You've got quite the interesting past Miss Aizawa!"

"That's one way to put it…"

Then he starts explaining his quirk after my classmates start complaining at his immense power. And I'll admit, it's a weird one. I've never heard of Permeation before. I have to wonder if I literally can't beat someone like him–if I can't grasp matter, I can't use my power. I'm pretty sure every Hero has that one person they cannot beat, and maybe I just met mine. Good thing he's a Hero, I guess. Then comes the Work Studies stuff, and it sounds like it'll be even more useful than the internships, which I also didn't attend. Though that was my own doing. I lean against Sho, his hand going up and down my back. It's fine. I can talk to Dad about patrolling with him, maybe I can do it as an extra thing once I'm back to full strength. Surely that would be okay? Maybe.

We're dismissed back to class, but after I've brushed myself off I jog after the big three. "Hey, guys?"

They stop and smile, except Amajiki who stares at the ground.

I nod to them. "Thanks for the insights. I won't be able to do a Work Study due to my injuries, but would it be okay for me to talk to you guys at some point? At least get some theoretical stuff down?"

Amajiki blushes. "I dunno what I'd be able to help with, but sure I guess."

Hado bounces. "Anything you need sweetie!"

Mirio beams. "Of course! Happy to help!"

I tilt my head. "I hear you've been studying me a bit?"

"Gosh that sounds creepy, but I guess so!" He laughs loudly. "I had to look into you after the Principal mentioned you at the Sports Festival. The footage was pretty intense from the USJ."

I cringe and look down, shrinking as I consider that awful video the Principal used. Not only was I turned into a mascot, but an incompetent one.

Mirio continues. "You did an amazing job at the USJ, truly inspiring!"

I blink. "Eh?"

He grins. "Saw it myself, you're doing really well. Not to mention Kamino as well, you've shown you have a good head on your shoulders as well as some good grasp on your quirk. Seriously impressive, especially for a first year."

"Uh… Thanks."

"Oh boy, do we have another Amajiki on our hands?" Hado coos, and I look up, noting how my posture matched the nervous guy's almost exactly. Whoops. I stand straight and she beams. "You said it yourself! The important thing is that you keep getting back up."

"Yeah." I smile. "Good point."

Dad steps over to us. "Thank you for the demonstration, perhaps next time give me some proper warning before you flash all my young students though."

"Ah… Yes sir!" The boy continues to grin, shining like something out of a cartoon.

I think learning from Mirio is going to be very interesting indeed.


A few days later.

"Well this is some plus ultra bullshit." I sigh, perched on one of the kitchen tables as we're told about a damn reporter coming to snoop around the dorms. Everyone else seems excited; the girls wanna look cute, Mineta is excited to talk about his balls and the others seem just excited to be noticed. I wish I could be that optimistic.

Mina puts her hands on her hips. "C'mon Alex, you can't still be camera shy!"

They all look at me.

I lean back on my elbows, lounging and yawning. "Some creep is gonna come along and poke his nose in, take shit out of context and for what reason? A pay check. This has fuck all to do with us, trust me. There's an agenda."

"I agree." Dad sighs, keeping Mineta trapped in his weapon for now to keep the cretin quiet. "But the Principal felt it would be a good idea, to put some minds at rest about how things are going here."

"Oh right, so biggest smiles on and hey girls, be sure to wear your low-cut tops." I slump back on the table and my class chuckle. "Better yet, how about we all have super in depth conversations about our personal lives and they can cherry pick whatever fits their narrative!"

"On the contrary," a new voice drawls into earshot, meandering in from the lobby. I sense the reporter. "I don't expect anyone to act any differently to how they normally would, Alex."

I remain lying back. "Miss Aizawa."

"Apologies, I assumed as you seem to generally go by–"

"To most people yeah, can't say I put reporters in that category."

"People?"

"Bingo." I give a thumbs up.

The sleazebag chuckles. "Seems she is a chip off the old block, eh Eraserhead?"

Dad grumbles. "I didn't say you could come in yet."

"I was told I had from 8am to 6pm, so unless my watch is wrong…"

I peek. Dad's capture weapon goes slack and his shoulders slump. He's already done with this crap, but he gets to run away. This is bullshit. Take me with you! Let me hide in your scarf!

The reporter says his name, I don't retain it. And he gives a cheesy grin after explaining he'll mainly be taking pictures. Pictures of kids in their home, great, that's not creepy at all.

We carry on with breakfast and get ready for the day. Any time I see a lense pointed at me I pull a face or flip the bird. He seems a little disgruntled at that but beyond my small glimmer of pleasure, I literally don't care. I might also be moving the odd cushion or plate into his way for my fellow students as well. I just shrug when questioned, I have no idea what he means by being troublesome. Maybe my quirk is acting up. Or I'm using this as practise.

Sho shares his umbrella with me. "You really don't trust reporters. Huh?"

"What gave it away?"

"The snarling, mainly." He chuckles, putting an arm round me. "It's a part of being a pro though, so how're you going to deal with it when you're graduated?"

"Then I'll be a public figure. Fine. Right now? I'm a kid at school and he's being a creep."

And yes, the reporter is indeed within earshot when I say this.

As the rest of the class prepare for physical training, I do some strength work, stretching my back and improving my general stamina. The swelling has gone down in my injury and I have no pain right now, even without drugs. It's a good sign, but I won't push it, especially after having fought Mirio the other day. The guy is intense. But I had managed to have a good chat with Amajiki when I spotted him on a run. It was brief, but he soon understood why I wanted to talk to him. He had been confused at first, assuming I was just interested in his quirk. But that's not it. It's his struggle with nerves. He seemed unsure at first, but nodded and agreed to talk more soon, admitting that he hadn't realised that was an ongoing problem for me as well as my back. I'm kind of glad, as that means not everyone knows I'm a basket-case. Yet.

As I complete my fourth set of sit ups, a shadow blocks my light in the gym. I lay back and raise a brow at the reporter, his keen eyes unabashedly staring down at me. I shove his glasses back up his pointy nose before they can slip off. He jolts and laughs, standing upright to avoid them doing it again,

I sit up and wipe my brow with my towel, sipping water and doing my best to make it clear I'm not keen on a chat–

"Whilst the others trained, I wondered if I might get my five minutes with you Miss Aizawa?"

At least the shithead remembered not to use my first name. I shrug.

He sits. "The rest of your class are very talented. They seem like a good group of kids."

I stay silent. My opinion on my classmates doesn't matter. He's stirring for something.

He sighs. "Between your father's disdain for the media, and your own treatment from them, I can fully understand your reservations. Following Kamino you got some rather ridiculous lines of enquiry thrown at you."

I click my tongue. "Well done, you're one of the good ones. I. Am. So. Convinced. What now? We braiding each other's hair?"

He blinks and laughs. "My, you really do have a sharp tongue."

I raise my brows. "Interested in a sixteen year old girl's tongue, that's a bit–"

"Miss, I really am just trying to get a read on the more human side of your class. Lately they've been talked about like a bunch of products." He took off his glasses and polished them. "You especially have been treated like a mascot."

"And you would care about any of that, why? Because you happen to be the one reporter in existence with a conscience?"

"No, far from it."

All right, points for honesty, Shithead.

He continues. "But I do think Heroes need to be aware of how public opinion can matter."

I roll my eyes and take a long swig of water. "Right, so I better shape up?"

"No, rather that I think your approach is seen as refreshing."

I lower the bottle. "As opposed to what?"

"Well, All Might happily dealt with the media. Then there's Endeavour who's toe-curlingly awkward at the best of times. Or outright intimidating the rest. And then there's the ones like your Father."

I tense. Watch it buddy. I will throw you through the roof.

He smirks. "He refuses to comment, is usually a single word response at most. He's a total wall. So you being cold and abrupt, but at least willing to explain yourself, seems like a new angle. You want to be treated like a person, and that's rather in keeping, don't you think?"

"With?"

"Stain."

I lean back. "All right, what fuckery is this? I'm like Stain the Hero Killer? Get the hell out of here if you're gonna throw around baseless shite like that. I have work to do you pious–"

"You misunderstand me."

"Go ahead and explain why or fuck off."

He sets his glasses back on, and of course they flash in the lights. "I mean, in a world where people are growing tired of Heroes being held on a pedestal, someone like you can take their time to shine. I am merely paying you a compliment, you are in keeping with the times."

"Uhuh. Thanks. I'll be sure to surround your name in love hearts in my diary tonight." I scoff and get up. "If that's all the pointless waffling you have for today, we done? Dunno if that was five minutes, but it felt like an hour."

"One more thing, Miss Aizawa." He stands and tries to loom, but frankly he has nothing on Dad or even Hizashi when I mis-quote some author he loves. "Do you suppose you get the white hair from your mother's side? Or your fathers?"

The reporter smiles in a way that makes me want to vomit all over his over-shined shoes.

I lean back and look him up and down. "Excuse me?"

My birth parents hadn't been mentioned in the media beyond passing questions, vague interest soon quashed by the next big story. Why was this creep bringing them up so casually? And at the same time, so pointedly.

I tuck my hair behind my ear, the black and white strands slick with my sweat. "My white hair is due to the exertion from Kamino. That was reported at the time, Fuckwit."

"Mm, perhaps." He shrugs and starts to meander off, glancing back once a few metres away, same smile slithered into place. "I just wondered if you had other family elsewhere."

Iida jogs over, his own training presumably finished with. "How're you doing, Alex? Everything all right?"

I keep my eyes fixed on the reporter as he smirks at me. "Fine, thanks Iida. This shithead was just leaving. Weren't you?"

"Already gone, Miss. Nice form Iida, as I would expect from a UA class rep."

Iida nods to the reporter, and as soon as the man has gone Iida places a hand on my shoulder. "You looked uncomfortable."

"He breathes and I'm uncomfortable," I smirk. "But thanks, Iida. You likely saved him from being flung out the building by my quirk."

"If he said anything untoward, you can report him for it."

"Not at all, he was just stirring the pot." I pat Iida's hand and head for the showers. "All good here, Class Rep. But good to know you're keeping an eye on him as well."

Other family? What the hell was that about? I'd like to say I ignore the idiot, but at the moment, that felt like more than a reporter just snooping. That felt like bait.


OVERHAUL POV

That had been far messier than he intended.

All he wanted was to see where the land lay, see what this Shigaraki was like in person. But things escalated. Shigaraki didn't like to have it underlined how lost he was, how aimless. All Overhaul wanted to do was give a direction. He had done his work with the Aizawa girl's blood, shown his usefulness, now it was time to see if bridges could be built. Seemed not. The warehouse was high tension, low reward. Losses were had on both sides, but the lines were clearly drawn. Shigaraki was not one to play fair, or one to listen to reason. A child. A child with a lot of power, intending on getting more. That kind of mindset needed controlling, just as expected.

Whenever they did make contact again, which they would, Overhaul had no doubts about that, he would need a good reason to involve the Aizawa girl again. As much as Shigaraki was a child, he didn't seem stupid. Bringing her into things would peak his suspicion, have him assuming she would be used as a means of control. As bait. That was troublesome, but not impossible to deal with either. They had given the girl's blood to Overhaul in order to utilise his scientific talents. And to check on Yakuza ability, no doubt. But that work had concluded; her Endurance quirk could be strengthened if trained like any other, and yes, they could use it for their Nomu experiments. Which essentially meant breaking her limits repeatedly. But why would Overhaul need her back? There had to be a viable reason, or Shigaraki would see through it.

In the car Chrono wiped his gun clean before putting it away. "At least we learned the bullets work, right?"

"Indeed, despite the complications, we learned plenty. Our bullets work, and we will definitely need that contingency plan."

"I figured."

Overhaul looked out the car window. "You sound like you have suggestions?"

They headed back to base.

Chrono nodded. "Their leader came to you originally to study her Endurance quirk, right?"

"Indeed."

Chrono took off his mask and smirked. "Say you have some ideas on how to take it further, on how to develop it for them so that they might use her for their continuing Nomu work sooner rather than later. If they make contact again, you can offer this as a means of showing good faith. Doing extra work for them. Maybe even include one of their lackeys in her capture, to avoid suspicion."

Overhaul nodded slowly. "Makes sense. And no doubt he would intend to steal the girl at some point, but we could make arrangements for that. In all honesty, studying her for a few days would come in handy for our work as well. So it wouldn't be wasted effort either way. I'm sure Eri wouldn't mind the company either."

"That might help keep the Aizawa girl compliant. Use Eri as blackmail. Heroes love to save the day after all, give her a little sweet thing like Eri to protect and Miss Aizawa will do anything." Chrono chuckled and picked his nails.

Overhaul patted Chrono's shoulder. "Inspired, my friend."

"Anything to help the cause, boss."


Thanks for reading, see you in another two weeks! Thanks to everyone reading, faving, following and of course reviewing. I LOVE knowing how you guys are finding the story ^-^ thanks again!

SHOUTOUTS:

Zikashigaku: I am really looking forward to getting further with the manga, so far it's been fascinating. I'm glad you liked the Sho and Bakugo scene, I like writing them together now as well tbh! And yeah, I wanted to show how far Bakugo has come. Tbh I love going into characters mentality anyway, so manga or not I would be exploring both of their mindsets! And haha, yes Alex is VERY stubborn, but she is slowly slowly learning. Very slowly. You're the kind of reader that is kind of gold dust to be honest, and its very very much appreciated every single time. Don't worry too much about this ever being abandoned though, I find myself rather unable to do that. Even on my other stories where reviews became few and far in between, I still had to finish them lol. I can't NOT finish things. Anyway thank you once again for reviewing, I hope you like these developments and things being set up. Safe to say I am EXCITED to get this arc going! See you in two weeks!

Malicioustoph: Haha indeed they do need the love haha, I hope this helped with that a bit! Thanks for chiming in ^-^

Leafnova: congrats on catching up! This story is becoming quite a beast haha, I didn't intend it to be so long, but I have plenty more to come so... who knows! I hope you enjoyed the update! It's more of a set up chapter, but still, I had fun with it.