Most of our classmates were getting along well in their work studies. As class representatives, Yaoyorozu and I had to keep track of their absences between us. Of course, she was slightly more adept than I at remembering who was out at what time. This came to me next week in class, as I ways chaperoning everyone into class and Jirou, Kaminari and Ashido were discussing Todoroki and Bakugou. They had arrived in class covered in bandages from their remedial training course. I had been too busy with attendance to comment, but I couldn't help but worry for Todoroki in particular, as my friend, as I observed his badly taped up nose.

"Whats up with Bakugou? Another fight?" asked Ashido.

"Try to keep up girls," said Kaminari. "Have a look at Todoroki."

"Wah! What a waste of those good looks!" cried Mina, staring at Todoroki's similarly bandaged up face. "What happened?"

"Guess the provisional license course is running them ragged," Jirou muttered.

"I didn't know it'd be so physically grueling!" said Kaminari.

"Enough gossipping ya jerks!" yelled Bakugou.

I had taken attendance and most of my classmates had arrived, but to my disappointment Uraraka and ASui were not among them. "Class is about to begin! Where are Uraraka and Tsuyu?"

"Excused absences, president," said Yaoyorozu. Oh, right... I must have read that before.

"Looks like the boys are missing Kirishima," Jirou added.

Mineta had come over to bother Midoriya. "How's the work study, Midork-study? You really working with some chick in a pervy costume?"

"Uh huh."

"How long're you doing it for? Can I join?" Ashido asked him.

"Uh huh."

"STOP TALKING BOUT HOW YOU'RE GETTING AHEAD OF ME!" yelled Bakugou.

Midoriya said nothing. As I was headed to my seat, I watched him with some concern. He had been rather quiet ever since his work study had begun. Later that day in hero training he did very poorly and had to be reprimanded by Mr. Aizawa.

I should check in with him some time. There's something really weighing on him, I can tell. And he was there for me, when I was...acting wrongly. I'll speak to him if this goes on further.

Uraraka and Asui were spending a lot of time at their work study with Ryukyu, so I didn't see much of her. My circle of friends was diminishing a bit. Todoroki had remedial courses on the weekends, so he could never spend time with me then, and was usually too tired throughout the week to spend any real time. Midoriya and Uraraka had their work studies, as did Yaoyorozu. Most of my friends seemed too preoccupied for much leisure.

Normally - or rather, if it had been a few months ago - I would have been the first to insist on keeping a rigorous schedule and leaving little time for lying around. But lately, ever since we had learned the details of All Might's retirement, I was beginning to think differently. It seemed our sensei should have retired years ago, that he had been badly injured and near death in a prior fight with the villain known as All for One. However, he had simply pushed himself so far, perhaps to inspire others, that his career had ended in a complete retirement - and an inability to ever even use his quirk again.

Looking around at our hardworking and exhausted senseis, learning more about how pushing themselves too far had done as much harm as good...I wondered if perhaps that was not the path my classmates should take on.

We should at least try to make time for some leisure.

At last, I was called back into my work study with Manual. His agency had decided to share some information with the pro hero known as Tigress, concerning our recent run-in with the villainess Sloth. He asked me to come in to give my report on her and potentially make some plans for a future operation.

I suited up and arrived again at Mr. Manual's agency. I resisted profusely apologizing to Manual and Arrow about my past failure. SAying that would only invite them to reassure me. If I wished to do better, I could not make such self-flagulating statements.

I simply greeted them and sat down to our meeting with the pro-heroine, a tall and powerful presence renowned for her dangerous quirk and efficiency in taking care of threats.

"Tenya," she cocked her head. "Not the flashiest hero name. Better spruce that up by graduation."

"I have a few in mind," I told her. "Thank you for the advice, sensei."

"I'm not your sensei, kid" she growled. I got an impression of constant annoyance. She reminded me a bit of Bakugou.

Manual cleared his throat. "We're here to talk a bit about the encounter we had a few weeks ago, with a villainess calling herself 'Sloth'."

"Yeah, people've been talking about this group," said Tigress, and she grinned. "Crooks in Noh-theater masks. Call themselves after the seven deadly sins. SEems they're causing a lot of trouble. Real dangerous group, not hte kind to mess with lightly."

"Sloth's abilities are particularly concerning," said Manual. 'She seems to be able to paralyze with a thought."

"There's got to be more to it than that," said Arrow. "Nobody's quirk works that easily."

"Mr. Aizawa can r-" I started. Manual said, "Tenya - hero names."

"Oh - right, sir. Eraserhead's quirk can remove quirk use with a glance. And the League of Villains' Shigaraki only needs to place his fingers on a surface." It occurred to me unpleasantly that the same applied to Uraraka's quirk, and I shook the comparison off.

We discussed the attack from Sloth and I learned that the others in the masks also sported particularly dangerous powers; that they'd had encounters with my classmates, and other pro heroes; and that they were good at avoiding being caught. The biggest challenge was that their activities seemed so random. There was no way to place them or predict their behavior.

Tigress sighed. "Seems like a lost cause. Like we've all got a fat chance of actually beating them." She smirked again. "Sounds like a fun challenge."

"Well,' said Manual, "We'll find out what the other agencies are saying. And work together with you on this, Tigress."

"Guess I'll be babysitting?" she rolled her eyes at me, which made me want rather badly to prove her wrong.

"I'll be there for duty, Miss Tigress," I told her, saluting. She chuckled. "Relax, kid. No need to get so darn uptight all the time."

We all patrolled that day, and fought a few thieves. No sign of the Noh theater villains.

I returned to Heights Alliance late, with everyone else in bed. As I sat down to catch my breath on the sofa, Uraraka and Asui appeared in the door, looking as tired as I felt.

"Hi, Tenya," said Uraraka, sitting next to me and yawning.

"You seem exhausted, Uraraka-san," I told her, feeling deep worry. "Can I get you anything?"

"No thanks." She smiled, as Asui prepared tea in the kitchen. "Long day?"

I nodded. "It is best to take some time to recover. There is much...weighing on my mind."