"Salinsa, keep your limbs loose while working with it," Aizawa scolds as Leinei yelps and gets caught in the length of capture cloth she was working with. She squirms and struggles, huffing as Shinso laughs at her, only to end up in a wound ball nearly hogtied. He grunts as he struggles to get free, squirming the same way she is.

"Hah, karma," she huffs, before relaxing and hanging her head so her cheek lays in the dirt. Aizawa sighs and walks over, pulling on a specific part of each cloth to unravel his students. Shinso groans as his body falls back to a natural position. Leinei gets back to her feet and rubs the parts of her exposed skin where the cloth was a little too tight.

"You have to think of the tool as an extension of yourself, and you have to command it just as you command your arms or your legs," Aizawa reminds them as Shinso pushes himself up to sit on his knees. "You can't be scared of it either."

"Yes sir," they say in unison, Leinei gathering her length up as Shinso gets to his feet. After giving the purple haired boy a moment to gather his cloth, Aizawa demonstrates the relatively simple technique again, sweeping his arm forward and flicking his wrist to send the cloth flying towards a dummy he had set up. The cloth wraps around the dummy twice, around the shoulders and across the waist before he pulls it back to tighten it.

"You have to flick your wrist at the right time. However, it's not just in the wrist," he tells them, their eyes glued on the fluid movement. He flicks his wrist again, the cloth pooling to the bottom of the dummy before he retracts it. "Keep your elbow aligned with your body, but also tilted at a forty six degree angle away from your side. Your elbow should move inward when you flick your wrist. The cloth should glide over your skin without hurting or getting knotted from the friction. Try again."

Leinei goes first this time, following his demonstration and still stopping a few inches short as it falls limply. She groans and tilts her head back before retracting it. Shinso attempts to do the same, this time getting it around one of the dummy's arms. He cheers until he goes to tighten it and it snaps back and smacks him in the nose. He groans, holding his face as the end falls to the ground. Aizawa sighs and shakes his head.

"You're as stiff as board, Salinsa. And Shinso, you're trying too hard. The movements have to be fluid, your whole body has to be into it. This is not something you can learn in a day, but it is certainly something to improve on before we dismiss it for today. Again."

Three hours later, Leinei's shoulders and arms were burning from the constant motions. She had small signs of fiber burn against her skin, across her palm that would hopefully form calluses to prevent it from happening again. Aizawa dismissed them, gathering the capture cloth up to fold and replace in their spots for safe keeping.

"Salinsa, stay behind for a moment," he calls, Shinso glancing over his shoulder before walking off. Her body flushes with heat as anxiety settles into the pit of her stomach as her teacher wraps each length of cloth around his arm slowly. "Your brother is coming tomorrow."

"What?" she says, surprised and blinking fast. "Why is Kei-Hawks coming here?"

"There's going to be a meeting with some of the teachers, Principal Nezu, him, and you," he continues. "He's also going to be accompanied by some other heroes in an attempt to disguise it as an assembly of sorts to explain the provisional licensing exams coming up and the responsibilities of coming with one, as well as what agencies are open for work studies."

"Wh-why is there a meeting?"

"One to discuss your escapade off campus last weekend," he starts, looking up from the cloth as her face flushes and she looks down at her feet. "And two, to discuss new instructions from the Commission regarding you."

"Regarding me?"

"I don't have full details. Classes are suspended tomorrow for the assembly and then for everyone to decide if they get their provisionals and what agencies they want to study under."

"Yes sir. I'm sorry for the hassle…"

"I hope it's just a punishment and not them sending you off to fight something you can't handle alone," he sigh softly. "I don't send my students on suicide missions."

"I know sir. You never let us bite off more than we can chew," she reassures. "Thank you for the heads up."

"And no more leaving school grounds without permission or telling any of us where you're going," he scolds, glaring at her. "If I or Hounddog catch you, it is expulsion."

"Yes sir."

She heads back to the dorms, smiling as Mina and Denki greet her with cheerful smiles. She comes over and sits down on the couch next to Katsuki, leaning over and placing her head on his shoulder. He doesn't move or acknowledge it, staring instead at the card game Ojiro, Eijiro, Shoji and Mineta had started.

"Hey," she mumbles, trying to get his attention by poking his side. "Everything okay?"

It had been a week since she had last seen Dabi, taking her promise to Keigo to heart and not going to see him again that Friday. However, Katsuki has been silent and withdrawn, ignoring her more times than not. At first, she thought it was because school was getting to him, or he was having nightmares and didn't want her to worry.

"M'fine," he mutters back, pulling away from her and putting a few inches between them. Her shoulders slump in response, feeling the irritation he has towards her and the dark look in his eye. Did..does he know..? Did Denks tell him? "Just tired."

"You can't lie to me, Katsu," she reminds him quietly. "What's going on?"

"..." He's quiet for a few more seconds before he pushes himself off the couch. "Let's go spar."

"Oh, okay," she says, surprised as she gets up and follows him out. Her heart is pounding in her chest, seeing the way his shoulders are squared but his head is down, his hands in his pockets. Her body still aches from Aizawa's lessons, but he needs this.

"How far are we going?" she says jokingly, staying a few inches behind him as they walk off the path a little ways. He says nothing in return, stopping in a small clearing a few seconds later. They had only walks a few minutes from the dorms and off the path, just in case someone may have needed help.

"Katsu?"

He doesn't waste time in coming at her with an open palm, missing her face by a hair as she grabs his arm and uses the momentum to turn herself around and away from him. Her chest heaves as he comes at her again, not saying anything as he repeats the same move, letting off an explosion by her ear that sends her stumbling back as it rings. She shakes her head, trying to get rid of it and barely deflects the punch coming to her chest.

This isn't him normally. He never uses his quirk before. It's our rule.

"You broke the rule," she tells him, her voice a little louder than it needed to be. He growls in return and sets off another explosion, this time sending her flying backwards into a tree. She groans in pain as she slumps to the ground, clenching her eyes shut. She still feels wobbly, the ringing in her ears not stopping.

"Why aren't you fighting back!" he yells at her. "That's why you have all those special lessons, isn't it? And this is the best you have? Am I not fucking worth you using all those new moves on?" His voice cracks. "Do you think I'm that weak?"

She only hears every fourth word, but the sadness radiating off of him-that speaks volumes. The sadness, the fear, the self hatred and doubt, and she chokes, trying to get to her feet. His fingers twitch but he helps her, hugging her tightly. Through the ringing, she can hear his mumbled apologies, his voice broken and tears eating at him. She hugs him back, burying her face in his chest.

After a few minutes, the ringing ebbs away, and she rubs her ears, stepping away from him. He's not looking at her, his hands shoved back into his pockets as he looks at one of the many trees around them, chewing the inside of his cheek. She chuckles and cups his face with both hands, forcing him to look at her. He relaxes and leans into her touch, closing his eyes.

Until she slaps him hard enough to leave a faint outline of her palm on his cheek. He blinks as his cheek is physically towards her and she's shaking her tingling hand out. He takes a shaky breath, slowly turning his head back to her.

"That," she says, using her opposite thumb to rub her red palm, "was for breaking our sparring rules."

Her voice had a small growl to it that made his heart flutter. He takes her still stinging hand and presses his lips to her palm, smirking as she blushes and looks away.

"I told you before I liked you mad," he murmurs. "Didn't think that you'd get mad that fast."

"That fast?" she scoffs. "You've barely talked to me all week. I was starting to think you were actually mad at me."

"Oh definitely. You weren't talking to me," he retorts, still not letting go of her hand. "You're hiding something from me. You keep telling me you'll tell me, but it never comes back up. I don't like liars."

"I will tell you," she promises, her voice strained. He perks up. "In time. I will tell you, in time, and when it is the right time."

"Is it ever going to be the right time," he grumbles. "What are you going to say, that you're married or engaged or something?"

"First of all, that's ridiculous," she laughs, shaking her head. "Not in the slightest. Have you met me? Who would want to marry me?"

I would, idiot.

"Right…"

I told him about Shiketsu…

I could tell him about the hospital, who I saw…

I could tell him the truth. Keigo said he would take care of everything.

"What's on your mind?" he sighs, flicking her forehead. She flinches and rubs the spot, rolling her eyes. "Don't give me that. You purse your lips when you're thinking and your eyebrows scrunch together. It's not hard to tell."

"You know me that well, huh?" she laughs.

"Only been your friend since April," he says, exaggerating a sigh and tilting his head. "It's almost July now. And you're an even bigger pain now than you used to be."

"Says you. Everyone else thinks I'm awesome."

"I never said you weren't," he murmurs before pressing his lips to her forehead. She smiles and wraps her arms around his neck. "What's on your mind? And please don't lie to me."

"Mm.." She bites the inside of her cheek, trying hard to come up with something to redirect the conversation to. "Aizawa told me there's going to be an assembly tomorrow. Hawks is going to be there."

"Oh yeah?" he says, surprised. "Ugh, that means damned Deku is going to be fanboying all day long tomorrow."

"Oh hush, it'll be fun," she laughs.

"Yeah sure it will. Until you hear how bad it actually is. I grew up with him and heard him mutter constantly. It'll drive you insane."

"You drive me insane."

"Oh yeah?" he purrs, changing the tone in his voice. Her face burns hotter as he wraps his arms around her waist. "I drive you crazy?"

"Very," she replies, nodding her head. "You're almost as bipolar as I am."

"I can be," he hums softly and pecks her cheek again before letting go. "Let's get back before Kaminari makes up some rumor about us doing stuff in the forest."

"Whatever you want, Katsu."

"It's our turn to cook tonight anyway. Kirishima is helping us."

"Awesome. Maybe some soba?"

"As long as we throw in some peppers or something. You and Icy Hot make the most disgusting foods."

"Cold soba is not disgusting. It's an acquired taste. I'm sorry he and I like it, you heat fiend."

"Heat fiend?" he laughs, interlacing their fingers as they head out of the clearing and through the trees. "That's new. I like it. The Heat Fiend Lord Explosion Murder."

"Why not just go with Dynamight?" she suggests. "Since you look up to him."

"Heat Fiend Lord Explosion Murder Dynamight."

"That is way too long."

"Oh bite me!"

"I've been thinking about changing my hero name too," she says, swinging their hands back and forth. He raises an eyebrow as they get back onto the path.

"What to?" he asks. "I thought you liked Naimles."

"I do, but…I think I outgrew it, if that makes sense," she replies, shrugging. "Before I was okay with just being in the background. I was okay with letting other heroes take the spotlight and I could be back up." She takes a breath and looks up at him. "I've decided I want to be like my brother instead of my sister. I want to break the top ten. Gotta have a cooler name than Naimles to do so, right?"

"True," he agrees. "What were you thinking?"

"The Empathetic Hero: Empathia," she announces proudly. "I can use my quirk to connect to the civilians and I can do a lot more with enough practice."

"Gotta get out of the bad memories and such then," he reminds her. "If you need help, I'm a willing guinea pig. As long as you don't kill me."

"I promise I would never do that to you," she assures. "I..you mean too much to me for that to happen. But I will definitely work on it."

"If anyone can do it, it's you. But just so you know, that number one spot-it's mine. Girlfriend or not, I will fight you tooth and nail for it."

"We'll see," she sings, swaying her head either way as they get to the steps of the dormitory.