Sensei wakes me, as promised, before 6 AM.

I don't actually recognize him when he wakes me. His hair, normally spiked in a gravity-defying style, is limp and damp, curled in a bun on the top of his head. He peers over reading glasses, green eyes bright, as I stumble out of bed only to fall asleep on his couch.

He wakes me with a plate and head pat. Like dinner last night, we eat on the couch. Unlike last night, he turns on the news.

The amusement and joy on sensei's face darkens and disappears at the news. They show shots of a mysterious shadow and talk about the hero killer.

"Sensei?" I ask, worried at his sudden turn in mood.

"Ah," he says, his lips quirking, "Sorry Rin-chan. I'm just a little worried. One of your peers, Iida-kun, is in Hoku now with his internship. Shouta thinks he might be chasing… well, I won't bother you with details."

"Iida?" I ask, furrowing my eyebrows, trying to figure out which one that is.

Sensei blinks and looks back at me.

"Iida, Tenya," he repeats, as if I should know that name. I probably should. I blush and scratch my head. His mouth opens, one eye squinting and the other going wide. He stares at me over his glasses. "You're kidding? You've been classmates for months! Engine quirk? Blue hair? You fought him in the tournament?"

"Glasses?" I guess.

"Glasses…" he deadpans. "Is that what you've been calling him?"

"In my head..." I mumble, looking away. "I'm not good with names."

"Tell me you know some of your classmate's names?"

"Mineta," I say proudly, putting down my empty plate, I cross my arms. I huff when he turns on the couch, one elbow propped on the back, the other in his lap. He raises an eyebrow and laughs.

"And…" he asks in English, gesturing me onward with his hand.

"Ah… Kaminari? And… Toto-Todo-To-"

"Yikes. Kid, that's sad," he says holding his head in his hands. He squints up between his fingers. "And why do you only know those two perverts' names?"

I shrug.

What's the point when you always leave?

He runs a hand through his hair and shakes his head, making me want to sink back into the couch. Instead, I grab the dishes and take them to the sink, washing them of any leftovers and cleaning them with soap. Sensei doesn't say anything, watching me for a moment with large, green eyes before pulling out his phone. I can hear him swiping through apps. I wash the dishes with a little smile. When I finish, he has me change into workout clothes.

.

.

.

Sensei meets me with his hair tied back in black joggers, a white undershirt, and a matching jacket. He grins until he sees my outfit and his eye twitches. Old, dingy tennis shoes, gray shorts, and a comfortable, holey t-shirt I think I've had since before the Last One. He scowls.

"What are you wearing?" he asks in English. I take a moment to translate before shrugging.

"Workout clothes?"

"Shopping," he says, shaking his head. "It's on the list. None of that matches. You look ridiculous…"

I pout, but he ignores it, pulling out his phone and checking the time and schedule.

"Alright, we're running to the park. When we're there, we'll work on your hand to hand. Afterward, you'll need a break to recover, so we'll catch lunch with Shouta and Shinsou. Do you have a favorite restaurant? Or food you don't particularly like? None of them are picky and knowing Shouta, as long as they have coffee it won't matter."

I blink at the fast-paced words spilling out of Sensei's mouth.

"Ah… no?"

My blonde Sensei raises an eyebrow, making a silly face. He points, fingers flying through the air as he talks, bouncing wildly from spot to spot.

"No as in actually no? Or no, as in, you really don't care?"

I swallow and shrug uncomfortably.

"I… I don't know. I don't eat out."

Sensei quiets and his shoulders sag like he's deflating. I don't know what to think of it, but I don't like the feeling of guilt that bubbles in my chest at it. I grab his arm and tug on his sleeve.

"Hmmm?"

"Sensei, do you have a favorite?" I ask him. I'm fairly sure it's the first time I've ever gone out of the way to ask him something.

The brilliance of the smiles he gives me wipes away any concerns. A hand reaching out and patting my head. I try not to lean too much into it.

"Yeah, I gotcha Sweet Pea. You ready to train?"

I smile.

He grins back.

"LET'S GO!"