"Are you alright?"

Shoto had gotten up to go to the restroom as well, walking past the noise makers that were Kirishima, Kaminari, and Bakugo. Bakugo was yelling something about him winning the Sports Festival, and that everyone should just withdraw now. The very idea had Shoto irritated, but of course he couldn't let that show on his face. He had points to prove, no matter what it cost him.

He walked out of the classroom, and saw Leinei a few steps away from the door, leaning against the wall with her head back and her eyes closed. It was odd to him that she had long sleeves under her uniform shirt, which was wrinkled and looked as if it may have been thrown on at the last minute, and leggings under her skirt. Her waist length violet hair is held back by a white headband so her face was on display(not that she'd wear it willingly that way without Reina forcing her of course).

"Are you alright?" he asked her, having walked over to her. She had jumped a bit, her eyes opening as she looked up at him. Familiarity hit him, confusion tilting his head as he studied her for a moment.

"I-I'm fine, thank you," she says softly, seemingly forcing a smile. Her cheeks twitched with it, seemingly pained as she did so. "I-I'm just...taking a breath."

"It can be a lot," he assures, nodding. "Between Midoriya and Iida, even Uraraka sometimes. My name is Shoto Todoroki."

He holds his hand out to her, and she stares at it a moment before taking it and gently shaking. A flash of a memory sparked in his head, a similar looking girl giggling as he made a small porcupine ice sculpture. It made him feel warm and fuzzy, a feeling he didn't quite want to feel right now. He took his hand away and tucked both of them into his pockets. She dropped hers to her side, looking away from him.

"Salinsa, right?" he says, trying to be courteous.

"Ye-yes, Leinei Salinsa," she repeated, nodding. "It's very nice to meet you, Todoroki."

It was another blast to the gut for him. She was so familiar to him, and yet he couldn't place her to save his life. All he could think of was a spitfire of an ember haired girl with green eyes, but she looks nothing like her. What was that girl's name? It has his mom's name in it, he should be able to remember it!

"Is..is your sister Rei...um...Rei something?"

"Reina," she corrects him, that same pained smile coming back. "Reina Salinsa."

That's right. Dad used to make me train with a girl by that name. She must be her sister, or something.

"How are you two related?"

"Oh, I'm he-her younger sister," she replies, nodding. "Why do you ask?"

"No reason," he tells her with a shrug, starting to walk past her. "You should head back inside before the others start worrying."

"Oh, okay...it was nice to meet you, Todoroki."

"You too, Salinsa."

With that, Shoto walked off from her. Leinei had recognized him; who wouldn't with the hair? The sweet boy that used to make ice figures for her at night when everyone else was asleep, whom her sister complained about to their now deceased parents, and he was here. Attending school with her. Panic had gripped her stomach again, threatening once more to paint her breakfast across this school's beautifully shiny floors.

She sighed softly, running her hands over her face as she resisted the urge to scream. Her legs had finally stopped shaking, but her hands trembled a bit still as she walked back to the door, sliding it open slowly and slipping inside. She had her back turned to the class as she slid it closed once more, turning halfway to see an enthused Kaminari standing there with a hand outstretched.

"Well hello there, gorgeous," he says, putting on his most charming voice and smile. "Name's Denki Kaminari, but you can just call me your knight in electric armor."

"I-I think I'd rather just call you Denki," she replies weakly, prompting him to drop his hand and sigh as Sero laughs and comes up behind him, patting his back.

"Nice try, Kaminari," he consoles as the blond hangs his head. "I'm Hanta Sero. It's very nice to meet you, Salinsa."

"It-s very nice to meet you as well, Sero," she replies, nodding. "I'm sorry if I upset you, Denki."

"Ah, this is normal for him, don't worry," Sero chuckles. "He should be focusing on schoolwork and his quirk, but nooo, he's over here playing flirty mcflirtingtons."

"I thought he was playing knight in electric armor?"

Sero snorts and shakes his head, smiling at her. She had cracked a bit of a smile, even if she felt sick to her stomach doing so. Kaminari was standing up straight by now, rubbing the back of his head.

"C'mon, I think you'll fit in with us," Sero says, gesturing with his shoulder to Kirishima and Bakugo talking. "If you want to. I won't force you."

"Yeah, his personality is crap, but the rest of us aren't so bad," Kaminari adds, nodding with a grin. "We're kinda electric."

"Really, dude? A pun? That's how you wanted to start this?"

"It was a good one!"

"If you're deaf."

Leinei giggled at their bantering, which made them stop and grin. Kaminari grabbed her wrist, pulling her over to the others and gently easing her forward. Kirishima and Bakugo looked up, the latter rolling his eyes and shaking his head.

"Hey, the new girl!" Kirishima says, holding his hand out. "I'm Eijiro Kirishima, but my friends usually call me Ei or Kirishima. It's very nice to meet you. This lump is Katsuki Bakugo."

"Shut up, I can introduce myself, you dumbass."

"Well you don't have to since I did," Kirishima jokes, Leinei shaking his hand twice. "Nice grip! Super manly!"

"Um..thank you?"

"Manly is his way of complimenting you," Sero says, nodding. "Anyway, don't let Bakugo scare you, he's a big teddy bear once you get to know him a bit."

"I am not!" he yells, causing her to flinch. His eyes narrowed a bit seeing that. "What's your issue? You think I'm gonna hurt you?"

"Ah, um n-"

"Maybe," Kaminari chuckles. "Your attitude does suck and you always give off this killer vibe, and not in a good way."

"Screw off, sparky."

"Why do you have to always be so mean!" he whines. "We need more girls in this class and you're just totally pushing her away!"

"Tch. Whatever."

"That means he likes you," Kirishima laughs. "But seriously, don't mind him. He has a stick up his ass for some reason, but he's kinda chill when he wants to be."

"O-okay, right...It's very nice to meet you, Katsuki."

Bakugo went quiet, looking away with a huff to hide the slight blush on his cheeks. Kirishima noticed and chuckled to himself, nudging his friend with his elbow.

"So, what's your best subject?" he asked her, trying to keep the conversation going.

And go on it did. Leinei did more listening than talking, giggling and laughing at the banter between them. Even when they discussed the Sports Festival and what may happen, she didn't feel nervous. She actually was happy to have friends, even if they didn't know the whole story. She liked to be included in something that didn't involve her being tortured or belittled.

"So what's your quirk?"

The dreaded question. Of course it would come up; she was in a hero course and surrounded by other amazing quirks. She had to showcase her quirk at some point, but then everyone would abandon her. She'd lose her new friends. The commission would lock her away.

"Um...well...it's not really..heroic.." She looked at her feet, shifting her weight as she pulled her sleeves back over her hands again. "I can um…" How do I word this without being shoved away immediately?

"I can make…" she thinks carefully, her heart slamming in her chest. They were all watching her expectantly. Even Bakugo's crimson eyes were glued onto her, his head tilted back and to the side as he waited for the answer. "I can make people relive their memories or emotions."

It's not wrong. It's just not the whole truth.

"Tch that's a stupid quirk," Bakugo snorts. "How do you expect to be a hero with that?"

"C'mon, man," Kirishima says, shaking his head. "I think it's pretty cool. Can you use it on one person at a time or a whole group?"

"A few people at a time…"

"That's killer," Kaminari adds, having pulled a chair over and sitting in it with his legs straddling the back of it. His arms were folded on the back of it, his chin sitting on his wrist. "Bakugo is just mean. Don't pay him any mind."

"What'd you say?!"

The group laughed, Leinei even cracking a small smile and giggling with them.

Maybe I can fit in here too. It would be nice…

Lunch came a lot quicker than she realized it would, the bell dismissing them. She hesitated behind, debating if she wanted to risk the cafeteria or eat the concoction Reina had made her the prior night to eat for lunch today. She didn't even know what it was, just that it included rice and what she thought were pineapples. Well, she hoped they were pineapples anyway.

"Oh, Salinsa, did you wanna eat with us for lunch?" Kirishima asked, pointing his thumb at the door as Kaminari walked through with his arms folded behind his head. He stopped right out the door, turning partially to face the redhead that was his friend and the purple haired girl. "Lunch Rush makes really good food!"

"And you can meet more people from our class," Kaminari adds as Bakugo walks past him. "Ah, Bakugo! Help us convince-"

"If she wants to eat alone, let the damn extra eat alone," he growls, glaring at them over his shoulder before walking off. Kaminari sighs, dropping his arms.

"I think cafeteria food sounds better than what my sister packed me," she agrees, standing up with a smile. Kirishima grinned. "Lead the way, Kirishima."

"Win for the guys!" Kaminari cheers as they walk together, Bakugo a few steps ahead of them. "Oh, Aizawa did say you had extra lessons with him. Why's that?"

"Ah, it just...has something to do with me catching up with classes and stuff," she admits. "I had to take a year off school, for personal reasons."

"How old are you then?" Kirishima asks, Bakugo having slowed his pace down a bit to listen. "Oh crap, that's not manly to ask a woman her age huh? My bad, ignore that."

"No, you're fine," she assures, shaking her head. "I'm sixteen, born March twelfth."

"Holy crap, you're older than Bakugo!" Denki laughs.

"By like a month, dumbass!" Bakugo growled, shooting him a glare. Leinei chuckled and scratched her cheek with her finger. "Besides, taking that year off means she's further behind than anyone here."

Her smile slipped a bit as she looked down. Kaminari groaned as Kirishima slapped Bakugo on the back, causing the ashen blond to lurch forward.

"Why'd ya gotta be mean to her?" Kirishima asks. "She's been nice to you."

"Tch, I don't have to answer that."

"It's fine," she says quickly as Bakugo picks his pace up. "He's not wrong. And that's why Mr. Aizawa is giving me extra lessons."

"See that makes sense. And just ignore Bakugo. He's been weird since the USJ incident."

"I wouldn't blame him. Seeing something like that and experiencing it, it probably left a mark on all of you." Her words were thoughtful, soft. She had a faraway look in her eyes as they left her lips. "It was probably scary…"

"You sound like you have experience."

She stopped, seeing Bakugo facing them now. Kirishima and Kaminari stopped about halfway between the two, trading looks between the two. There was a slight tension, Bakugo's eyes narrowing as he focused on the small girl standing across from him. Her sleeves had rolled up some, showing the scars on her wrists. She pulled them down absentmindedly, looking anywhere but the boys.

"Don't fight her, Bakugo," Kaminari pleaded, waving his hands. He rolled his eyes, looking the girl up and down. "Baku-"

"Shut up, sparkplug."

He stood there, saying nothing else before turning and finishing the trek to the lunchroom. Leinei let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding as her shoulders relaxed. Kirishima rubbed the back of his head, sighing with an embarrassed smile.

"He's been so intense too. Sorry about that."

"It's fine. Nothing I'm not used to."