-14-

My first day at UA is mostly unremarkable.

Yui-san asks me about it quietly when I return home. I shrug. She smiles and pats my head. Niko glares across the dinner table and chews violently on her food. The rest mingle and murmur. I smile and excuse myself when I can stand it no longer.

In the confines of my room I stare quietly at my back, at the long, ragged scratches and the peppered crater scars.

That's not fine! If you're hurt, you should see the nurse. There's no reason to walk around all day in pain. We should at least let Aizawa-sensei know

Why?

I frown at the memory, at the concern.

That's not fine!

I suffocate the feeling, willing it away like I do my shadows. Then, with a steadying breath, I start on my homework before preparing for bed.

I'm gonna be a hero.

A hero.

My stomach churns.

.

.

.

"For our battles today, you will need your hero costumes, so go ahead and change."

I frown at the elaborate costumes around me. Tight spandex and revealing clothes, bright colors, and elaborate gear. I pull uncomfortably at my own outfit, the material skintight and black. Bandages wrap my calves, a gray vest against my chest, and long sleeves. I meant for it to be looser, less form-fitting and tight.

"Oh! Hoki-san, you look like a ninja!"

I pull the mask over my nose, hiding half my face behind black fabric, and try not to wrinkle my nose at the comparison. I tie my hair back in a simple braid before wrapping it up in a bun at the base of my neck. It's getting long, nearly past my shoulders.

"A-a-ah, thank you," I say. I don't remember her name, but she grins in her pink and black suit. I've never bothered remembering classmates' names. Usually I'm not there long enough for it to matter.

"I think I messed up on mine," she says, pinching at her own fabric. "It's really tight! I thought it'd be thicker…"

"You can always make changes later," the frog girl says. I have no idea what her name is, so I slip out while they're talking, making my way to the area for the battle practices. The boys are already waiting. A few of them notice my approach.

"Hoki," the multi-armed boy acknowledges as I walk by. I bite my lip and nod, moving to stand near the dual-haired one. He's dressed in a plain outfit. He raises an eyebrow at my proximity.

I shrug. He's quiet.

The commotion begins when the others arrive, the floating pink one sending me a hurtful glance.

"Wow! You guys look amazing!" green says, his voice higher pitched than normal.

I look over, glancing towards where the explosive blonde is now yelling at the green boy and red interferes. There's just too many of them, I'll never remember all of their names at this rate.

"Alright now," shouts a voice. I stop as I recognize it. All Might.

I flinch. His smile stretched across the screen, flickering in the projector. He rises over the car, like a god rising from the waves. Up and up and up.

All those feelings come crashing back at his large torso, at his huge muscles, at that smile. I don't join enthusiastically with the crowd. He notices. He doesn't call me out though and. I'm thankful. I don't know how to explain it.

"We'll go in two teams at a time. Our first round will have Hoki and Mineta as the villains against Bakugo and Iida, the heroes."

My stomach twists in a knot.

As the Villains.

I suppose I should have expected that.