She could feel the heat from the natural hot springs before either she or Kyouka stepped beyond the wooden door. The girls grinned at each other, sprinting the final few steps to the small-scale building only a few hundred feet ahead of them.
"Why are you running?!" A masculine voice called, and Emiko skidded to a stop. She turned, making a slightly goofy face as she came into eye contact range of her class rep. "This isn't very becoming of either of you!" He chastised, flinging his arms wildly through the air.
"Sir, yes sir." Emiko teased, lifting her hands in a mock salute.
Iida only sighed, rubbing a hand roughly over his face, reaching his thumb and fingers up to momentarily massage his temples. "Just… walk the rest of the way there, please."
Laughing, Emiko nodded. She grabbed onto Jirou's arm, tugging her along behind her as they moved quickly into the building.
As soon as the girls were into the shower room, they both burst out into loud laughter, collapsing against the door in a giggling pile.
"What's so funny?" Mina questioned, standing bare in the center of the room.
Emiko filled the gathered girls in, thankful for the distraction Iida had provided her from her earlier frustrations and fear.
They all laughed together, allowing some warmth to permeate the coldness Emiko felt gathering around her heart.
Smiling softly to herself, she wrapped her towel around her body. She was careful to hide her scar as much as possible, because she knew she wouldn't be able to explain it away to everyone. Kyouka knew, and that was already dangerous enough. Her scar, the knotted, mangled spot on her ribs was a sure fire way to bring attention to memories she'd rather keep hidden, at least for tonight.
Perhaps one day she'd be comfortable enough to tell everyone the story - to divulge her deepest secrets. But, for now at least, she held that pain close to her chest. She clung to it like a comfort blanket, let those raw aching edges be soothed as she stepped into the warm water.
She settled into the warmth, allowing the steam rising up from the glass-like surface to cleanse the grime from her skin. She folded her towel up behind her, leaning her head back against the soft fabric. Her hair hung loosely around her shoulders, the lower half sinking into the water.
She sighed, sinking lower into the water. Just sitting there, letting the warmth loosen the tightness in her muscles and the anxiety that had been festering since Jirou had seen the scar.
How could you be such an idiot, Miko?
She wanted to argue the voice in her head, because of course she hadn't meant for anyone to see her injury - of course she hadn't meant to let anyone know what happened or just how fucked up she was about it.
"Hey, Miko!"
She opened her eyes, brushing a hand over her face as she did. "What's up, Mina?"
Grinning brightly at her, her pink haired friend burst out of the water. "How was your internship with Endeavour? You haven't spilled any details!"
Emiko chuckled, "I mean, honestly?"
All her friends nodded excitedly, no doubt excited at the gossip Emiko may have to share with them.
"It was a little underwhelming, if I'm honest?"
The mood shifted, swirling into confusion and disbelief.
"Listen, I'm super thankful. Like, I got to intern with the number 2 hero and that's great! I got to work with Burnin' and she's one of the funniest people I know -"
Mina sent her a glare, squinting her black eyes.
"- with the exception of you, Mina. Of course."
Her pink haired friend sent her a flirtatious wink, following it up with a kiss blown across the steaming water. Emiko couldn't help the warm blush that danced across the surface of her skin at the flirtatious gesture.
"Anyways, Endeavour is… fine? He's…" she trailed off, struggling to find the right words. "He's intense, is maybe the word I'd use. He's even more no nonsense than Sh- Todoroki is, if you can believe it."
She didn't miss the subtle quirk of her friends' eyebrows as she nearly slipped into the habit of calling him by his first name.
"I don't know if I'd intern there again, I'll put it that way. As much as I love Burnin' and the environment and the food, oh my god the food-"
She was cut off by shouts coming from beyond the tall wooden wall, and she sent a worried look around at her friends.
"Mineta is gonna do something stupid, I can feel it from here."
That disgusting lustful feeling danced over her skin, left her feeling as though she'd been dunked in a coffin full of creepy crawly insects.
Almost in slow motion, the same boy who had punched Midoriya earlier peeked his head over the wall. His face was facing the opposite way, towards the boys who were now screaming. The young kid swung his arm out, catching who she assumed was Mineta across the face.
She winced as she heard a crash, a startled scream of panic. Her eyes widened though as Kota turned to face the girls, no doubt forgetting that they were all naked.
"Thanks, Kota-babe!" Mina cooed, standing fully out of the water again. "Mineta is the worst! You really saved our butts, there!"
The boy's eyes widened, pupils going as big as saucers as he took in the sight in front of him.
He began to tip backwards, almost in slow motion. His eyes drifted shut as he fell, and Emiko couldn't help but let out a panicked scream. She stood quickly, wrapping her towel around her chest and darting over to the wooden wall separating the two groups.
Mina had followed behind her, and was now panic punching the wall.
"Guys, please fucking tell me Kota is okay!" She shouted, and Emiko rested a hand calmingly on her shoulder, allowing Sentiment to seep into her warm skin.
"He's fine, Mina!" Iida called back, and Mina relaxed a little. "Midoriya was able to catch him before he hit the ground!"
"Oh thank god," Mina whispered under her breath, "Thanks Mido!"
Soft laughter floated from the girls behind her, slipping through the anxiety crowding around the wall. Her heart was hammering painfully in her chest - partially because Mineta was, in her opinion, quite possibly the most disgusting person she'd ever known. Admittedly, though, she hadn't spent much time around teenage boys, so maybe the others in her class were just an anomaly, in their seemingly genuine respect for the women they learned alongside.
No, that's not right. He's disgusting.
Her anxiety was also increasing the more she pictured Kota falling from the wall. She was grateful that he was okay, of course, especially considering how young he was. She was especially grateful that Midoriya was there to comfort him after the terrifying experience.
Relief floated around her, and she could hear soft voices speaking gently to the dark haired boy who had just saved them all from their local nightmare.
"God, Mineta is the fucking worst."
Emiko rolled her eyes and let out a small laugh at Mina's expletives.
"Truly is the worst, Mina. I'm glad we can agree on that!"
"I'm just glad you reallized he was going to do something stupid, Miko. You could've saved us a ton of embarrassment!" Ochaco smiled, cheeks flushed from the thought of their most perverted classmate seeing her in a compromising position.
"Honestly! You're like a grape repellent, I think." Mina grinned, stepping back into the steaming water.
"If I was grape repellent, he'd just leave us all alone. Instead, my disdain only furthers the idea that he should talk to one of you instead." Sighing, she also stepped back into the water, dropping her towel before it got wet.
"He's pretty scared of you, Emiko. Ribbit!" Tsu called, the blissful grin on her face quelling some of Emiko's own anxiety.
"Not scared enough, I'd say." she rolled her eyes, settling her head back and against the rocks. "I don't know what his problem is, honestly. It's infuriating being around him, especially with my quirk."
A few soft sighs, and Emiko felt all of her friends begin to relax again.
"Honestly though, I'd say we're pretty lucky overall. Mineta is the only person who I can't stand to be around."
A few nods and soft grins, before Jirou interrupted.
"You sure scared Kaminari straight during the sports festival. Since that whole thing, he's really toned it all down." Her friend waved her hand around nonchalantly. "He used to be so in your face, but he's calmed down a bit."
"I agree, Emiko. Everyone in our class is very respectful, ribbit." Tsu responded, her softly closed eyes cracking open just a tad. "Shouji and Ojiro especially."
"Ojiro is so nice, Tsu. I agree with that!" Hagakure cooed, and Emiko swore she felt a hint of something more than friendship from the invisible girl.
"Iida is also great!" Mina cooed, "and Sero and Kirishima!"
Laughing, Emiko looked out at her friends. Gathered into small groups, they chattered amongst themselves. They discussed who they thought was the nicest in the class, laughing as they did.
Sighing softly to herself, she allowed the happiness and warm water to ease some of her stress.
