The new system helped. It was terribly awkward, talking to a doctor, but I was told my symptoms were perfectly normal, and was given some medicine to help. It was a little baffling to me; and though skeptical, I kept my promise and took the pills. I even practiced the meditation the therapist recommended. Then, I woke up one morning, and I could hear the birds singing outside my window. I felt a sort of contentment I'd forgotten existed. That's when I knew things would actually get better.

Man, I'd have to get Mr. Aizawa one hell of a Christmas present.

I continued my training and stuck to the diet, but often snuck in some extra sweets. Admittedly, I avoided sparring in any way. Instead, I did my best to get my body stronger. The next time we had quirk counseling, I felt more alert and clear-eyed than ever.

"Any discoveries as of late?" Mr. Aizawa asked.

"Well, when I had my break-down, I ran for the first time. I'd jogged before, tried lots of different things, but I'd never tried to flat-out sprint. At the time, it felt amazing. I was sore like hell the next day though."

"You mentioned the momentum." I frowned.

"Yeah. The more I've thought back, the more confused I get. I've been working with momentum a lot in my training and I thought I'd gotten a feel for it. I know I wasn't exactly focused but…"

"Don't you think the increase in speed had something to do with it?" I blinked. "You accumulated a great amount of momentum, so the moment you stopped moving, it hit you at once. I'd wager if you hadn't slowed to climb the fire escape, it would have been harsh enough to actually hurt you."

"Oh. I guess I hadn't noticed that. It definitely did feel stronger than ever."

"Even accounting for the adrenaline, I'd say you broke past your limits. If the run itself weren't proof enough, how long did you stay vertical before you fainted?"

"Yeah, must have been nearly twenty minutes." I said, nodding. "Maybe because I ate something?" Or the crushing embarrassment of falling like a damsel in distress in front of my little brother's favorite hero.

"That could be it."

We examined my training so far for a while, noticing my increase in stamina since I'd first arrived, and how an increase in my calorie intake had helped skyrocket my progress. Everything was going so well, that I worked up the courage to be ballsy the next homeroom.

The class went dead silent at my question. I met Mr. Aizawa's eyes evenly. On the board were the rules and preparations for the Sports Festival. If we wanted a support item, we had to file a request, which would be reviewed. Winning meant a great deal of extra credit, as if agency attention wasn't enough. That was the big purpose of the festival: to show off for pro heroes and land internship offers.

But Mr. Aizawa had just said that even if we got none, there'd be a list of agencies that would take any of us.

So I asked if participation in the tournament was mandatory.

It was no secret I'd avoided fighting, or maybe just a very poorly kept one; there'd even been a news article about me getting injured, and I had to talk to the press to get them off the teachers' backs. Going to engage in dozens of fights in front of a huge crowd seemed like a recipe for disaster. No matter my determination, I was not ready for that. Not in a week.

"Yes, participation is mandatory." Mr. Aizawa said. I gave a wry grin.

"Worth a shot."

.

"Hey, are you okay?" Tsu asked, approaching me after class. I gave a heavy sigh, but nodded.

"Oh yes, I pretty much expected that answer. I thought maybe I'd tip scales in my favor by asking publicly, but there's no changing his mind."

"I guess you must not be looking forward to the fighting portion of the tournament." She said, frowning. I finally glanced at her, at her big, oblong eyes, and strangely pouty mouth and slimy hair and earnest expression.

"You…" I trailed off, unsure how to word the feeling, "You're a really good friend, you know that?" I blinked rapidly to discourage watering eyes, instead clearing my throat and pulling my school supplies into my backpack. "You keep checking on me even when I reject your help. At this rate, you'll spoil me."

Asui seemed somewhat astonished at my remark.

"Maybe you're not as good a liar as you think you are." I barked a laugh. "Let's go get some dessert."

"Yes please."

As we walked, I gathered up the determination to say,

"… maybe I do want to talk about it. The festival, I mean." Anxiety gnawed at me as I fidgeted and studied my shoes, "But I also want to talk to you about, well, you. If that's alright."

"I'd like that, ribbit!"

"Have the nightmares stopped?" Tsu shrugged.

"Kind of. I don't get them every night anymore, so that's good."

"I'm glad."

"Have you gotten any nightmares since the attack?" She asked tentatively. I shook my head.

"Honestly, no. At least none I can remember. I think my brain is aggressively suppressing it. Honestly, the biggest thing left is my fear of fighting." My shin just about tingled in protest. "Oh, and the robot leg."

"I still can't believe you fought the same guys as our teachers."

"I never stood a chance." I said, strangely okay saying so out-loud, "At least, not at beating them up. I keep thinking that if I was given another shot, I might have been able to get Mr. Aizawa and Thirteen out of there without getting, well, messed up."

"You did the best that you could with the knowledge you had." Asui told me, "But I bet it was still frustrating."

"So frustrating." I agreed, "So when I fight it's like…" I looked at my hands, thought back to gripping the villain's wrists, battling for air, for any opportunity. I realized that was a pretty good metaphor for my day to day and shook away the thought, "I feel like I'm back there. No playing, no holding back. It wasn't fun anymore. I really had to try and hurt them, because they were doing worse to me. But these people opposite me now don't want to hurt me for real, so I don't want to hurt them for real. At the same time, though, I don't want to have to be rescued because I can't defend myself, I…" I stopped, exhaled, and extended my leg, "I'd really like to not have any more metal in my body."

"That's good." Croaked Asui, making me look at her strangely.

"Huh?"

"Those seem like pretty concrete goals to focus on. You want to have fun, you don't want to hurt anyone who doesn't really mean you harm, you want to take care of yourself." She looked at me, "So do it. Why not?"

It seemed so simple when she said it.

"I guess so." I agreed, thinking, "I don't know if I can though."

"That's what training is for." She said, elbowing me in the ribs, "I wish I had something concrete like that, even if it felt impossible. I just feel like everything is shaken and I don't know how to set it straight."

"You keep moving, I guess." I told her, "Until it straightens out or you think of something. Focusing on the sports festival isn't a bad way to do that. Any goals there?"

"I'd like to reach the battle portion." She admitted, "Because I know only the top eight people get selected. But even if you lose a fight, you get to show how you battle."

"Great. What else?"

"I'm not sure."

"A lot of people here know about the agencies, any heroes you like that you think will be there?"

"Gang Orca." Her eyes shone, "I'd give anything to work with him."

"He's…" I squinted, thinking, "Tenth?" Asui nodded, "Ha! I remember I looked him up when you first mentioned him. I'm also just trying to learn the top rankings as general knowledge."

"I keep forgetting you didn't grow up around here." We ordered ice cream, then sat down on a bench, watching the crows hop and ruffle their feathers.

"Thanks for letting me get this off my chest." I said, "And for your advice. I think I will start trying to achieve those goals."

"I'm just really happy you felt comfortable enough to talk about it. It was nice to share too." The sun was warm and the ice-cream was sweet. I felt almost as relaxed here with her, an actual friend, as I did on my own. I decided not to tell her that she was possibly my first real friend. Another time.

We ate in silence for a few minutes.

"Do you have plan to start getting over your fear of fights?" She grimaced sympathetically when I groaned.

"Yes, actually. I know exactly where I'll start. A teacher of ours. That said, it's really not something I can get over in a week."

"Of course not. Want me to talk to Mr. Aizawa, ribbit?"

"I appreciate it, but I'm inclined to trust his instinct. Not to mention," I gave a little shameless grin, "If it gets too stressful, I'll just throw one of the earlier competitions and avoid the fighting entirely."

.

Goals and back-up plans were all well and good, but I still had to make the most of the week I had left. There was only one place I could think to start, but the prospect made me incredibly uneasy.

"It's fine." I murmured to myself as I walked down the hall in my gym clothes, "Just have to ask the number one hero if he'll fight me. Yeah, what could go wrong? He's my teacher. It's fine, it's fine…" I stopped abruptly when I reached the teachers' lounge, peeking my head in. Mr. Aizawa raised his gaze an I gave him a grimace.

Then, glumly, I said,

"Um, does anyone know where I can find All Might?"