Just a little interlude to finish things out that Sunday. Longest chapter yet on Christmas Eve.

"Oh my gosh!" Itsuka screamed, punching Jiro's arm, "I can't believe you ditched me to go and fight the freaking Hero Killer! Both of you!"

She was a little hurt, yes, but mostly she was just relieved they were alive. Itsuka was really starting to like these two. They were a bit much sometimes, yeah, but… Jiro was her buddy now, and Uwabami wasn't all vain.

Jiro held up her hands in surrender, smiling meekly.

"Sorry?"

"You better be," she mock-huffed, "Especially with that to remind you."

Itsuka nodded at the new bandages around Jiro's right Jack. To her amazement, the punk-rock-girl actually smiled.

"Oh don't worry, I'll be remembering last night for a long time."

"Is it… will you be alright?" Itsuka asked, dropping her teasing as they followed Uwabami through the crowd.

"It will be," Jiro confirmed, "Docs say I can't use it for the next week if I want the wiring to heal right, but after that it should be fine."

"Ah, so you're just keepin' it wrapped to make sure you get a wicked scar out of it?"

"I already got the wicked scar," she said mysteriously, "This is to help the tattoo set."

"Ni- wait, what?!"

Even Uwabami turned around at that.

"Jiro? You had your Quirk nearly slashed off, barely had it reattached in triage, were told it needed a week's healing, and then… got it repeatedly stabbed with a needle to ink it?" Uwabami clarified, her voice sweet but holding a hidden edge.

"No way, man!" she objected, laughing, "I got some tats around it. Something to help me remember what it's like in the real world. Plus they were Quick-applied, so I just said the colors I wanted and that jazz, and the applier said to wrap the skin for twelve hours so they'd set right. I should be able to show ya at the end of our day trip."

"I expect you to keep that promise," Uwabami prompted, smiling normally again and leading them towards a shop that seemed way too fancy for them to even look at, "Speaking of: we're here! Our first stop!"

"Wait, you're actually taking us dress-shopping?" Itsuka asked, paling, "I thought that was a joke!"

"Oh, dear, you should never lie or joke like that in our business," she chided off-handedly, "The truth is far more potent. Besides, I like the more lady-like side of life too, you know. I could have been anything on the side of my actual Hero Work, but I wanted to stick with the things I loved. So if you're out for a day with me, dress-shops and manicures are mandatory!"

With that, she grabbed their arms and pushed them inside. They shot one another a glance, both of which read as: Help!

"Now let's see…" Uwabami mused, stepping to one of the displays and considering it, "Kendo, you like the blue to offset your hair… and Jiro, you like to use blacks and reds… hm… Yes, these will do nicely."

She snatched a pair of ballroom gowns from their hangings. One was shoved into Itsuka's hands and she was similarly tossed into a changing room. Women were scary sometimes…

Glancing at the dress, Itsuka made a face. It was an aqua colored thing, with lots of frills and what looked like a corset. She held it up to herself and couldn't even bring herself to try.

"Yeah, that's a hard No," she said, handing it back out, "I'm not from Victorian London, thanks."

Uwabami had already exchanged it for a new one. She glanced over the second design. Better. A pale blue, with a simpler cut, and a cute bow along the chest with a pair of lace ribbons descending from it. Itsuka actually dained to try it on.

Stepping out, she felt a bit awkward. It was… too low cut, and a bit tight. She was more of a loose-fit, lots of space to get in a kick, kinda gal. Uwabami seemed to think so too, oddly enough.

"Too restrictive. I didn't account for hidden curves… let's try you on with… aha!"

And on and on. She went through layers of silk, cotton, and any other fabric Uwabami could conceive of. The colors usually ranged from baby blue to freeway-sign green, but that wasn't too bad… mostly.

Jiro seemed to be trying on just as many, though they never came out at the same time. Had she been interning with Uwabami as she presented herself when they'd first met, she'd have assumed it was chance. Now though… why would Uwabami not want them to see one another?

Then: she found the perfect one. It was a deep, forest green, with navy details along the bottom. Her shoulders were left completely bare, while the collar came up almost to her chin. The right side had an oddly-cut, open-air slit, which meant she could move her legs just fine, but when standing straight up: it would seem like a pencil fit. It felt really good for deceptive combat, but also… well, she felt sexy at least.

"Yep! You're done!" Uwabami cheered, throwing Itsuka back her Hero Costume which she'd taken hostage at some point around the fourth dress, "I'll get your shoes and have them boxed for you. Take your time, dear!"

Ever confused by her mentor's antics while she was in her public persona, Itsuka just got changed without questioning it. When she emerged, Jiro was waiting for her. Either she hadn't bothered removing it, or she'd reapplied her red cheek paint.

"You go for the green one then?" Jiro asked, looking away.

"Yeah… how did you know?"

She seemed a bit bashful, not meeting Itsuka's eyes.

"Uwabami, kinda… had me pick your dresses…" she mumbled.

"Oh."

That was… an odd development. She really wasn't sure what to make of that.

"Um… thanks? The last few were pretty good?"

"I figured… you wouldn't want something useless, so…"

"Yeah. You get one?"

"Suit. I like my pants."

"Cool, cool."

Oh man, this was just getting sad now. Itsuka looked around for any, any, excuse or subject other than dresses. She found… precisely none.

"Okay girls, breakfast time!" Uwabami cheered, handing over their boxes, "I'm feeling some Nori and Gohan, with a side of something french. Perhaps crepes? What do you think?"

Itsuka narrowed her eyes at the woman, before opening her box. As she suspected: a deep maroon, almost black suit, with a much brighter, violet dress shirt. She swapped back with Jiro, who frowned at Uwabami suspiciously.

"Oops! My bad," she said sweetly, far too easily for her not to have known.

"Uwabami?" Itsuka asked, narrowing her eyes, "Are you- are you shipping us?!"

"Me?" the Heroine asked, mock-appalled by the insinuation, "Why Itsuka, I wouldn't dream of it!"

"More like you wouldn't just dream of it," Jiro sighed, "Seriously, you're worse than Midnight sometimes."

Uwabami smiled mischievously.

"And who do you think puts a major bid on her love life every year so she'll finally settle down?" she asked.

"I'm sure it's one of your anonymous bank accounts," Itsuka sighed, heading out of the store, "Let's get those crepes already."

Jiro followed beside her, still straight-faced. She spared a glance at the other. Jiro wasn't half-bad. By no means was she anything but beautiful, both in personality and in appearance. Heck, Itsuka'd even admitted she was pretty much her type. One of them, anyways. So why was she so opposed to being shipped with her?

"It's 'cause they're taking the choice out of it," Jiro spoke into her thoughts, still not looking at her.

Itsuka started, surprised she'd been that easily read.

"I guess… yeah."

"It's also 'cause we're too similar to work," Jiro sighed, "I'm already metal, and you've got the whole fighter-thing goin' on, and those are just two kinds of "cool." We get along nice, but in a relationship? ...We'd probably get on each other's nerves a bit, and flop when we needed a… different kind of partner."

"So, what, you think we're too cool for each other?"

"I just think I'd be happiest with someone gentler. Ya know? Offset my rough edges. Complementary and all that," Jiro shrugged.

Itsuka smiled. Blackmail and teasing material? Oh yes…

"Oh? And just who would fit this "gentler" persona you're looking for?"

"Would it surprise you if I said I wanted to find me a princess or two?" Jiro asked bluntly.

Well dang. Take all the fun out of it. Still… it made a bit of sense.

"Or a few Princes," Jiro continued, yawning as if it didn't matter.

"You big ol' softie," Itsuka giggled, "Well, you let me know how it goes, yeah?"

Jiro shrugged. She supposed that was as good as she was going to get today.

"Thank you for everything!" Midoriya bowed, holding his case tightly to his chest.

"I don't know that anything happened this week that deserves thanking, what with how little time you got to spend actually learning," Sorahiko grumbled, yawning a little.

"Th-that's not true at all, Gran Torino!" the student protested, "If it wasn't for your training and your taking me to Edgeshot, I wouldn't have survived against the Hero Killer!"

Sorahiko whipped his cane around to crack along the boy's leg.

"A Hero Killer already weakened and who wasn't fighting serious until you had backup!" he lectured, pointing his cane at Midoriya's arm, "Not to mention, you risked more fractures with that last attack, didn't you? Mixing Float and One-for-All is a gamble even Nana didn't try until using 100% of her capacity was second nature! What if you'd lost your arm?! You're impatient and overly-cautious as the same time, and sooner or later you're gonna trip over your own boots and come crashing down to earth!"

He sighed, not wanting to nag so much this early in the morning. He needed his Taiyaki.

"You need to keep your head cool in desperate situations from now on," he managed, careful to keep his tone calm, "And if you really do want to become the next Greatest Hero like All Might, you have much to learn."

"Right!"

"Good. Now be off with you."

Midoriya seemed to hesitate for a moment, before turning and starting one of his muttering storms again, wandering towards the station. Poor kid probably wanted to fly. It sucked to be grounded like that.

Still… even though you look nothing alike, and he only rarely acts like you… I can see you in him, Toshinori. Even that free spirit when he flies. Nana, you're with him, aren't you?

Turning back to his home, Gran Torino made himself a silent promise.

Yes. I'll watch this boy, and keep an eye out for the day the world can celebrate Midoriya- no, Deku, as the New Symbol of Peace.

Neito smirked over at Bakugo, who seemed more pissed than usual today. He knew exactly why.

"How was your stay in jail last night?" he asked, smirking.

"I didn't get arrested, you mook!"

"Oh? Then: going against Best Jeanist's orders and illegally fighting a villain was just overlooked? How fortunate for the Class 1-A superstar, untouched by consequences."

"As a point of fact," Best Jeanist interjected, "Bakugo did not use his Quirk, and was indeed required to pay for his dismissal of the rules."

Neito's grin widened.

"You see? This is why you should have stayed here and been on patrol, like a good Hero. That's why you didn't impress Jeanist and I-"

"Also failed."

Neito came up short. He what?

"But sir, I-"

"Followed the rules to a T," Best Jeanist agreed, "But we already knew you could do so. You also did exactly what you did in the Sports Festival: settled for mediocre results and hoped you'd be able to steal a win at the last minute. In fact, both of you ought to have swapped tasks last night."

"S-swap?!" Neito asked, appalled at the very thought.

"Indeed," Best Jeanist continued, turning away, "Bakugo: you've yet to show you can control your impulsiveness. Had you stayed behind last night, gone on patrol, even though you knew it was your last night to act, it would have shown me you were willing to sacrifice your own desires for the good of others and impressed me. You failed, and instead went to bend the rules so you could try and grab some glory fighting an A-Rank Villain. Had you been arrogant enough to presume your timely attack was his defeat, or if you'd fought him for his sake rather than to protect Endeavor, I would have recommended to Nezu that you be considered for expulsion from the Hero Course. As it is: you've come out neutral."

Turning back, he leveled a finger at Neito.

"Meanwhile, you Monoma, played it safe each time. You never pushed yourself or tried to achieve more than what I set for you. Your caution was not only detrimental, but arrogantly self-praised. You presumed that being what I wanted was all it took to be a good Hero. Without the spark of individuality and self-determination required to be a Hero, you will always fall short of your potential. Had you risked anything, even something so rash as going to fight the Hero Killer with an evident and obvious loophole, I would have seen that spark in you and been impressed. As it is: you've failed to mature here."

Sighing, Best Jeanists sat down.

"If I've taught you nothing thus far, which I highly suspect I have, then know this: this week was a test you both failed. See that you learn from it, before a test appears that you cannot survive without success."

With that he dismissed them a final time.

"Be sure to turn in your jeans on the way out."

Tokoyami was grumbling again. Something about "not even coming to see us off" or some such. Dark Shadow and Pony weren't really listening to him. They were busy with their morning practice of English and Japanese, figuring it would be easier to communicate if at least one of the people no one talked to was able to translate here and there.

"Don't tell Tokoyami this," she whispered to the Quirk, "But he's more cute when he isn't mopey, ya know? His actual smiles, and when he flies and calms down? Super awesome!"

Dark Shadow nodded, taking a moment presumably to make sure she understood the sentence.

"I wouldn't know. But I'll keep it a secret if you say so."

Pony winked her thanks, before turning to Tokoyami.

"Maybe we should fly to the station?" she asked, hoping to get him to pay attention to her instead of his annoyance, "Piss him off one last time?"

"Ah!" a voice called from above them, "But that would be illegal!"

"Speak of the Devil…" Pony muttered.

"And Here I Am!" Hawks agreed, landing and holding out his arms, "You didn't think I wouldn't say goodbye, did you?"

Tokoyami took a step forward, and Hawks leveled one of his feathers at him.

"Whoa now, big guy," he warned him off, "None of that revelry business. I won't hug ya if you're gonna hit me again."

"I'll get a hug!" Pony offered, slipping in and snagging one real quick from Tokoyami, and then over to Hawks, "Yay! Meditation!"

"Mediation."

"Mediation!"

The two boys sighed, seeming to lower their animosity a little. Pony grinned. They were gonna be best buddies one day, she just knew it.

"Well, I'm off to the train!" she said, grabbing up her costume case, "Seeing you later! Tokoyami, I have a puzzle if you or Dark Shadow wanna find my car after you finish up."

"Such dark entertainment-"

"Sure thing!" she said, deciding to agree with whatever he was gonna say before he went on a tangent about darkness or shadows or black or whatever else got in his mood.

Plus, it bothered him, which was fun.

"Bye Hawks!"

"Bye, Tsunotori," he sighed, waving, "Don't fly there, you don't have permission anymore."

"No promises!"

She jogged off, leaving the boys to chat on their own for a bit. They probably needed a talk, and she wasn't gonna just stand around while they had a heart-to-heart. No way. She'd seen enough anime to know that would be just a terrible idea. They'd miscommunicate and then there'd be an entire spiral of unfortunate events, probably including an event where Tokoyami fell down the stairs and landed on top of her, and she would finally get to use her perfected "Pervert!" scream.

She wouldn't slap him though. He'd have enough on his plate in such a situation that she'd just be adding insult to injury. But the scream, that she had to do at least once in her life.

To be fair, Pony admitted to herself, I'm not exactly against finding someone to… well, mess around with. Even someone to get together with! I just… probably should be able to talk to them without going back to English first…

Buzzing her student pass over the scanner, Pony stepped through the gate and over to a nearby bench to wait for the train home. She blinked in surprise as she sat down, considering.

Now… when did this place become home? she mused, Home used to mean back in the States.

It meant the hiking trails and grocery stores in the town where she grew up, the house where she'd first broken a horn, and the little restaurant her Grandma owned and had her bus tables at when she was 12. But just now, when she'd thought of her little apartment near U.A., her first thought was to call it "home."

While Pony was considering her new vernacular, Tokoyami made it through and sat down beside her, his arms folded. She came back to herself and looked at him, smiling.

"Hey roomie! How it go?"

"Fumi tried to punch him again. I missed," Dark Shadow offered helpfully.

"Oh… then they are not friends?" she clarified.

"Even in the utter darkness of death, my eyes would not be so blind as that fool's," Tokoyami growled.

Pony narrowed her eyes at him. He didn't seem mad. He seemed… conflicted? Maybe a little disappointed? It made her most un-happy to see someone feel so down about something so simple. Not really an emotion that wasn't happy, but just kind of that general vibe of not being happy. Luckily, she had the ultimate counter.

Sliding across the bench to him, Pony bumped her leg against his so he would notice her and look up. He did so quite readily, Tokoyami's face turning to one of startled bewilderment. In the moment his head was tilted away from his knees, Pony lunged in, wrapping him in a hug. She was careful to keep her horns out of his face, so he could enjoy the sensation and feel better.

"Ts-tsunotori?" he managed, his arms held well clear of her in a display of confusion.

"I am going to continue hugging you, until you feel better," she informed him, not looking up.

"I feel better!" he lied, clearly panicking, "You can let me go now."

"Hm… Dark Shadow? could you be a dear and let me know if Tokoyami actually wants me to let go? He's gonna say he doesn't, and I'm gonna keep hugging him anyway unless you give me the say so, kay?"

"Sure thing," she whispered, popping out of Tokoyami's shadow, "In fact, I'll hug you back since he won't."

"Much thanks!"

They continued to hug it out, until eventually Tokoyami sighed and patted her head. Dark Shadow retracted, and Pony slid out and back a little. He wasn't smiling, but it was his usual scowl instead of one directed at anything.

He turned away, folding his arms.

"I… I will not say thank you."

Dark Shadow gave her the thumbs up to show he didn't mean it. Pony giggled at his antics. He needed to be teased more. And probably hugged more, if truth be told.

She could most certainly take care of those.

Yu looked down at her intern. He was frowning up at her, his annoyed expression mirroring her own. She was fairly certain that Mineta hadn't learned a single thing with her that week. She'd failed Shinji, herself, and perhaps most importantly: she'd failed her intern.

"Well, Grape Juice," she said, folding her arms and noticing his odd conflict of wanting to watch the motion but too afraid of her to do so, "This is it."

"That's what the calendar says," he agreed, evidently doing his best not to speak more than he had to.

Yu sighed.

"In that case, you have only one last thing to do, before you can go."

He shivered, as if the concept of any task was too much.

"Tell me: did you learn anything this week?" she asked, "Anything at all?"

Mineta nodded, but the frantic way he did it implied he was just doing it to appease her.

"And what did you learn?"

"W-women a-are d-demons…" he stammered, his eyes going distant and probably thinking to the last time he'd said as much: when Shiozaki had broken Yu's nose.

Closing her eyes and trying not to uselessly lecture him, Mt. Lady waved him off. He nearly sprinted away.

Pulling her phone out, Yu hit Shinji's contact info.

"You free to go out?" she asked, not even letting him say hello, "I need a drink and a shoulder to cry on."

["Deatharms is free around now,"] Shinji said, a bit of a question in his voice.

Yu inhaled, trying not to snap at him.

"I need you, Shin'. I just… need to see you."

Nemuri stretched, knowing she'd be strapped into her car for the next few hours. She was also going for one last attempt to tease Tensei with her body, and maybe get him to give in. It wouldn't work, but a girl had to try.

She kept her back to him, intentionally not looking back at Tensei and the little knot of students he was chatting with. It was to her amazement when a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around her waist. She felt a strong body press up against hers in a hug, and barely restrained a noise of surprise.

Tensei rested his chin on her shoulder, preventing her from looking around at him.

"'Sei?" Nemuri asked, cursing her voice for failing her and coming out much higher than she'd meant it to.

"Well, you wanted to tease me, and you've almost killed Ojiro, so I suppose it's my turn to make you flustered."

Frowning a little, she brought her hands down to brush his, caressing them in a mournful way.

"And it's my turn to leave you in the dust…" she sighed.

He squeezed her a little, but it only took the edge off the dull ache of finally getting him to accept her advances. And properly, no less. She just hoped he wouldn't get cold feet before their date.

"Now don't you forget about me!" Nemuri insisted, spinning around to lace her hands behind Tensei's head, "I expect a nice date in a few weeks, and not get there to find you tangled up in some other girl. You belong to me now, Mr. Ida."

He smirked, looking far too cute for his own good.

"And what's that smile about?" she asked, fighting the heat in her face and trying to look indignant.

"I just think you're adorable in this position," he teased, "Especially when you're trying to be authoritative."

"Well then, I suppose I'll just have to make you forget about a few things."

She cut off whatever he was going to say by leaning up and capturing his lips with her own. For the first time, she'd finally snagged a kiss on Tensei Ida. It was all the dream she'd hoped it would be. He was soft, and warm, and close, and most importantly: he was hers.

Nemuri pulled back soon enough, not wanting to overwhelm him. His stunned and a little starstruck expression told her he wasn't opposed to it in the slightest.

"A little goodbye present," she winked, "So you miss me more than last ti- oop!"

His arms clasped under her legs and lifted her up, spinning her around as he stole another kiss, this time with reciprocated passion. Nemuri didn't restrain her giddy laugh as he set her down again, not caring where they were or who was watching.

"I miss you already," Tensei whispered.

"Then come visit. I'm always happy to see you. Plus, I can kick your butt in front of General Studies if you drop by, and that'll make their day."

Shaking his head, Tensei placed a swift peck to her forehead and slipped out of her embrace. She gave him a final, sweet smile, alongside a blown kiss which he promptly caught and held to his heart. Big softie.

As he turned to walk off, patting his little brother's stunned figure as he passed, Nemuri wondered how long he would survive without her. She gave it a week. He'd be coming to see her during final exams, no doubt. Maybe if she overdid it a little, he'd help her relax with a massage or a hot bath? Questions for later, but ones she oh-so wanted to have answered.

Coming back to herself, Nemuri whistled up her three students.

"Alright, enough gawking!" she called, grinning sadistically, "All aboard the Nightingale, those going to U.A., call shotgun now!"

Todoroki was already inside the kidnapper van, sliding closed one of the doors to hide from even being spotted by chance. From inside came a quiet: "shotgun."

"I don't think that's what it means, buddy…" Ojiro muttered, sliding it open again and stepping in after him.

Nemuri winked at Tenya.

"Looks like you've got the front seat again, Tenya," she teased, reaching into the back of her shirt to grab the handle of her whip.

Her intuition was spot on. He paled and turned to run almost immediately. With a crack, his legs were secured in her support item, and she was dragging him toward the passenger side.

"Rule Number One!" she sang, feeling him claw at the ground in desperation.

She loved her job.

The music swelled, and she could feel the beat even through the glass tank walls. Her cue was coming up soon, but she could spare a few more seconds showing off for the kids. They loved to see her spin and roll so effortlessly in the water, and she loved how their eyes lit up.

Kicking off from the side, she fell into the pattern of whirling sidekicks and animals, all preparing for the final crescendo. Her legs were getting sore, and her lungs burned, but she held out.

Just a few more seconds… she reassured herself, using her core as much as she could to make up for her soreness.

As people and fish started pulling away to their various positions, she gave a final effort, building up speed to blast out and land in her place.

Kero Kero!

Tsuyu's head exploded through the water's surface, and she took a quick gulp of much needed air. Her feet managed to clear the water, which was just enough for one of the sidekicks to make it springy enough to slide on rather than sink back. Tsu held up her arms in the pose she'd been taught, gliding along the water until she came to a stop in the edge of the shallows, her feet returning to the ground.

The audience was cheering their usual raucous mixture of clapping and other praise, but Tsu could barely hear it. She was so tired, and breathing so hard after the third of the hour-long performances. But this was the last of them. Now she could get cleaned up, curl up on the train, and just go to sleep for a bit while they drove her home.

Still, seeing all those kids, so excited and with so much youthful wonder in their eyes… it made her remember something she hadn't thought about in a while. Why she wanted to be a Hero. What made all the training and all the pain worth it. Maybe that was Gang Orca's final lesson to her?

Bowing a final time, Momo prepared to head home, glad she'd been able to learn so much from the outwardly moderate Hero.

"I hope to work with you again in the future, sir!" she said, nearly shouting it.

Air Jet gave her a gentle bop on the head.

"I'll be shocked if we don't," he joked, "Plus, you still owe me for that merchandise. I'll have to get you to make me one of the second generation figures after you get a provisional licence."

"Of course sir!"

As Momo stood up, she noticed Air Jet was holding her Hero case, rather than it being on the floor where she'd left it. He offered it to her, an odd smile on his face.

"Meanwhile, keep practicing," he said, evidently wishing to pass on one last bit of wisdom before the end of the day, "I can't afford to have someone wearing these and only be a mediocre Hero. It'd start rumors about me."

She accepted the case and opened it to see what he was on about. Slotted into her shoe hooks, rather than her traditional footwear, were the pair of jump-jet boots she'd been using during the internship. But they were slightly different. They'd been repainted with the same red as her jumpsuit, and carried not only the Air Jet logo on the heels, but an outline of what looked like her ponytail and hair quaff out front.

"A-air Jet-sensei…" she managed, "I can- you mean these are-?"

"Had them done up just today," he confirmed, "You more than earned them. And high-fliers should be able to take to the skies here and there, don't you think?"

Swallowing, Momo closed the case and squeezed it to her chest, smiling with utter gratitude. He merely patted his shoulder and nodded toward the door.

"Get on Home, Creati. And, ah… don't forget me when you make it big."

The trains were getting in now. The people were milling out and around, signing off and checking out to go either to work or home. Shota watched the crowd, knowing it was the time. Sure enough, the steel-colored uniforms and red ties were starting to pop out of the black and grey of normal business suits. He could already spot some of the taller ones, rushing together and around one another.

It surprised him that a handful of 1-B were hanging around his students. Before now the two classes had barely interacted. Yet, little groups were forming and staying together as his students lined up before him.

Jiro was chatting with the red-headed one, the two sending surreptitious glances to the other students, almost as if placing bets or… calling dibs. Meanwhile the American was babbling to Tokoyami and Dark Shadow like there was no tomorrow, which was odd in and of itself, Dark Shadow almost never showing itself in public and somehow still being more sociable than her master.

Of course, not all of them were good interactions. Mineta was fairly sprinting away from the plant girl from 1-B, though she didn't seem to have noticed him at all. Bakugo was fighting with Monoma, imagine that, but to his surprise they seemed almost… half-hearted, which was something he'd never ascribed to either boy before.

Somehow, even Midoriya was there, and not even limping.

"Deku!"

Shota glanced over at the brown-haired ball of excitement which was soaring towards Midoriya with enough speed he almost instinctively told Ida to slow down in the halls.

"S-senchan!" the viridette squeaked, shocked as she crashed into him for a hug.

Tactfully looking away from the pair, Shota began to count his students. Who was missing? Who'd gotten in over their heads and failed to make it back? Had Mina slid into a villain? Ida might have plowed into a parked car and crumpled against it. Could Kaminari have overclocked his brain once too many times and been rendered comatose? Maybe Sato had tensed his muscles wrong and fallen off a building? Yaoyorozu had been with Air Jet, right? Had she tried to fly and broken her back? Ojiro was so normal, what if he'd just been stabbed by some passing mugger? What about Tsuyu? Frogs could drown if placed underwater too long, couldn't they?

The thousands of terrible possibilities began to weedle down as they all took their spots, leaving only three empty places in the square of students. Ida, Ojiro, and Todoroki. In theory, Ida was coming with Kayama, but… the other two had been in Hosu. Had the Hero Killer taken one of his students away from him?

"Eraserhead!" came a voice from behind him, "I've got some students for you!"

"Help us, Aizawa-sensei!" Ida called, walking towards him with the utmost slowness.

Clearly, he'd learned about rule #1.

"Just line up, she won't hurt you," he sighed, hiding his relief.

All of his students were here. They were all okay. They'd come back to him.

"Good, you're all here," he sniffed dismissively, "You can go home now."

Turning away, he slid his hands into his pockets and wondered aloud where the nearest safe spot to nap was.

And now: the Internship Arc is officially over. Sorry for the shorter chapter, but this was just a wrap-up after a long run of chapters.

As always: shipping votes are open until I-Expo, anybody you want: just try and sell me on 'em. I of course, as always, want to hear what you think of this chapter. Next chapter will be a little more focused on our main pair, as we enter the ever-missing June Arc!

Oh, and as an FYI. I've been receiving some rather scathing criticisms from a user named XxCaseyxX. Please do read their thoughts, as I find them quite passionate, but also: please do not be mean to them. Their opinions have given me some excellent ideas and material to work with for later chapters, even if I don't agree with their assessments. That being said, I'd love to hear what you all think of their criticisms! Are they right? Do I need to revamp chapters as we continue on?

Stay Safe out there!

Love you all!