I figured a shorter chapter was in order after the 7k word one, which I hope everyone enjoyed! And to anyone binge reading the story, please please for the love of the gods, take breaks. I have to do it constantly.

TW: anxiety attack and very intrusive thoughts

"Who all is supposed to come today?" Leinei asks as she fidgets with the collar of the black dress she was told to wear. Keigo looks up from the flowers he was re-adjusting next to the blown up pictures of Reina, then fixes the cuffs of his suit jacket. He hated dressing up like this; it always made him feel more stifled than usual.

"The sidekicks from Starlite since the agency is closed until further notice," he starts, watching as her shoulders slump. "A few of the heroes from the Raid and others that worked with her on a regular basis. And whoever they decide to bring really. Besides that, I'm not really sure. Did you ask your friends to come?"

"Kiri is still recovering from the raid," she replies, shaking her head. "And Katsuki has his remedial lessons. I didn't want to distract him any more than I might've already. I called Fuyumi and let her know, but she has work so I'm not sure if she'll make it."

"Are you holding up okay?"

She shrugs again and messes with one of the red lycoris bouquets next to the picture of Reina posing as Elementia. She feels so numb, as if working on autopilot yet still conscious. Keigo says nothing, insteading moving to make sure the seats were set up properly and talk things over with the funeral home director. Not that there's a body to bury.

Why didn't you just run away..? Why did you go with him?

She swallows the lump in her throat and takes a breath, shaking her head. She grips the edge of the table, feeling the wood dig into her palms despite the red cloth separating them. Biting the inside of her cheek to keep herself out of her head, she inhales through her nose and exhales through pursed lips.

I'm not going to break down today. I'm going to just shut everything off. Shut it all off. Just shut it all off and pretend you aren't here. You're anywhere else but here.

"Lei Bay?" Keigo says softly, placing his hand on her shoulder. She flinches and looks up, seeing the strained smile he gives her. "I need to go discuss something with the director in his office. Are you going to be okay if I leave you here for a minute?"

"Yeah. Is there anything else we need to do here?"

"No, we don't have to do anything else we need to do. Just sit down and breathe, okay?" he tells her, squeezing her shoulder and taking his hand away. "It'll be over before you know it. I know this isn't easy for either of us."

She doesn't say anything, just nods her head. Keigo waits for a second, trying to figure out what else to say. Nothing comes to mind and he walks away, leaving her to let go of the table and stumble back to sit down in one of the chairs. She buries her face in her hands, leaning over with her elbows digging into her knees.

Don't cry. Don't cry. Just push it all down. You've cried enough.

"Is..this seat taken?"

She looks up, half hoping to see Katsuki. Her shoulders sag as she sees Fuyumi, who smiles sheepishly at her. Shaking her head and gesturing to it, she leans back in her chair and pushes a few stray strands of hair from her face. Fuyumi sits down as Leinei clears her throat, sitting up a bit and smoothing the skirt of her dress down.

"Are you doing okay?"

"Okay is subjective at this point." She glances around, chewing the corner of her lip. "Just you?"

"Yeah, I managed to get a substitute for my class," she replies. "Natsuo is at the school trying to get Shoto. I don't know if Dad is going to make it or not. He's busy with the new Hero Rankings coming up."

"Yeah, I'd imagine taking Number One would be an exciting and overwhelming ordeal," she says, a sarcastic edge to it as Fuyumi shrugs. "You guys didn't have to come."

"Hey, we're still family in a way. Besides, Reina would rather we look after you," Fuyumi chuckles. "Is your brother here?"

"He's talking to the funeral director about something. Why are you guys pulling Shochan out of school?"

"Well, he knew her too. And I figured since you guys were friends, it would be nice to have the extra support. I'm surprised your boyfriend isn't here."

"I told him not to come," she mumbles. "He has to focus on his remedial lessons and stuff. I don't want to be a distraction."

"Oh honey, I don't think he'd call you a distraction for needing support."

No. No, don't tell me that. He needs to focus on something that isn't me. I don't want to be the reason he fails. He deserves to succeed.

"It's fine. He's been more than enough support," she says instead. "I'll probably call him after he finishes with class. I just really want to go back to school and throw myself back into training."

I should talk to Shinso more. We don't really interact outside of our lessons with Aizawa.

"Well, if you want, you and your brother can come to our house for lunch. I know Reina was never really good at cooking so there can't be too much to eat at her place."

"...I'd have to ask Keigo. But it sounds like fun to me.."

"Yeah. And it would give us all a chance to catch up. If you're okay with it."

Leinei looks up at her, seeing the earnest smile and the kind twinkle in her eyes. Most of her memories from spending all that time at their house were fuzzy, but she never knew Fuyumi to lie, or push the envelope for much more than a simple request. Even using her quirk to pick up Fuyumi's emotions, all that comes off the older woman is kind sincerity and love.

"Yeah. Yea, I'll talk to Keigo. He'll probably say yes because he never turns food down."

"Alright," she laughs, reaching over and hugging the girl. Leinei stiffens, her eyes widening. "And your sister loved you more than anything. I really hope you never have to question that."

I…

"Yeah..yeah I guess so."

Fuyumi leaves after to go outside and wait for Natsuo and Shoto outside. Leinei recomposes herself, placing her hand on her chest to take a few deep breaths and count to ten. She didn't realize how tight her chest felt and how sick to her stomach she felt. She wants to cry and throw up at the same time.

Just keep pushing it down. No one needs to see you cry today.

You already drag enough attention to yourself by breathing.

'It's not like Reina is worth your tears', a familiar raspy voice purrs in the back of her head, the familiar pressure of someone squeezing her shoulders following. 'Remember, she's abandoned you so many times. This one is permanent. She always reneged on her word. What makes this any different?'

'Why cry over her? Why waste those beautiful tears over her when she's already caused you so much misery?'

She feels like she's being pulled into the back of her chair, the smell of smoke and burnt skin encircling her. She can't catch her breath, one hand going to her throat to cover the almost completely faded scar of Dabi's hand and the other hugging her stomach as she doubles over. Everything feels so numb yet so alert at the same time. The dress feels so tight around her shoulders, choking her with the collar sitting at her throat, the skirt rubbing her knees in the wrong way. Her gums feel swollen, throbbing in her mouth as she grits her teeth together.

'See? All she's done is cause you pain. This is the same as every other time. If she was here, she'd find a way to blame you.'

'You meant nothing to her. She made sure you knew that. You meant nothing to her, and you mean nothing to everyone else. No one actually cares about you. You know that, don't you? The only one that did is a villain now and even he tried to kill you. You're just that broken, y'know that? A pathetic broken mess that keeps fucking up her own suicide attempts.'

"Lei?"

Keigo kneels in front of her, seeing the tears streaking her face and feeling concerned at the way she's breathing. She won't look at him, staring at the floor as her tears drip off her chin. He doesn't say another word, just wraps her in his arms and holds her close.

"It's okay to cry," he murmurs. "You're okay. M'right here. I'm not going anywhere."

That's not why I'm crying.

"I don't think I can do it today," she whispers, leaning into him. "I-I can't-"

"If you don't think you can, there's a room to the side you can wait in and view the funeral from," he offers gently. "Or if you don't want to do that, I can delay for a few minutes until you either sneak out or collect yourself."

"I don't think I can get away with sneaking out," she says, getting a small laugh out as he chuckles.

"I don't think you can either. Do you want to go to the bathrooms and clean up? I have to go outside and start greeting people."

"No, I said I'd do it with you," she murmurs, shaking her head. "Just…just give me a second to get myself together."

"Whatever you need, Bay. Just let me know."

"I just need five minutes to go to the bathroom and splash some water on my face and clean myself up. That's all," she promises as he pulls away. "I promise. I'll be right out after that to help you start greeting people."

"Alright. I'll wait. If you decide otherwise, just yell 'dorayaki'."

"Why that?"

"I don't know. It honestly was the first thing to pop in my head."

"I mean, that sounds really good right about now."

"Right? We should get some afterwards."

"Oh, Fuyumi Todoroki invited us back to the Todoroki estate for lunch."

"And you said yes right?"

"I said I'd talk to you."

"Same thing. Alright, go clean your face. I'll see you out there, okay?"

"Okay."

Keigo watches her stand up and walk out, using the heels of her palms to rub her eyes. He runs his fingers through his hair, then curses when he feels the dried gel crack and the strands shift. Fuck. I was trying to be presentable. Fuck. He stands and tries to smooth the otherwise curly hair back down, turning to face the pictures of Reina set up on the table. A lump forms in his throat, anger burning in his stomach.

"Don't worry, Rei," he murmurs. "I'm not gonna let her get hurt."

And I'm going to eviscerate the League.