When we arrive back at Sensei's home, he removes all the gifts from the bags and moves to a side closet. I watch silently as he deposits the gift bags into a rather large pile. He returns and sighs, staring down at the gifts looking pained.

"Sensei?"

"Go put your things in your room. You can store them in the closet until tomorrow."

"Y-Yes, sir." I hadn't gone into the spare bedroom since we'd arrived. Stumbling towards the table, I pick up the camera, the journal, the oh-so-soft bunny, and reach for the glass jar when Sensei makes a noise. "Sir?"

"Leave that," he somehow manages to sound both bored and pained at the same time.

"B-But you said-"

"It's for dinner. Leave it on the table."

I leave the jar of colorful papers on the table and go to the room. Opening it, I'm unsurprised to find it empty. It's nearly the same size as my room at Yamada-sensei's, with white walls, tan carpet, a small closet to the side, and a window. I put the gifts on the closet shelf before going to the window.

Soft fur rubs against my leg. I squat down to pet the little kitten. She meows in response.

"Hi Miska," I say. I sit on the carpet, surprised at how soft it is and the way it parts beneath my legs. Dusk peppers the sky outside my window pinks and purples, painting my room in the same colorful shades. "Today was nice."

The kitten nudges against my hand, forcing me to pet her. I smile.

"I got a lot of presents today," I tell the little cat. I pretend for a moment she talks back. Like what? "A journal, from Cementoss-sensei. It feels like Yamada-sensei's jacket. It's really nice. And Cementoss-sensei even wrote a poem. No one's ever written me a poem... No one's ever given me so much stuff though either. Well, except maybe Yamada-sensei..." I smile and run my fingers through the kitten's fur, giggling a little as she stretches and returns for more. "I… I also got a camera... I've never had a camera before. I don't know what to take pictures of. Maybe Shinsou and Sensei? Both of them, and you. Definitely you. And Toshinori-san gave me a bunny. It's so soft, I kind of wish I didn't have to put it up. I don't know about the jar thing though… I don't think Sensei likes it."

"It's fine," says a voice behind me.

I jump and squeak, turning in mid-air. My face heats and eyes widen. Miska gives a disgruntled meow and bumps my hand, demanding more attention. Sensei raises an eyebrow.

"I- I-"

"You're not in trouble. Dinner's ready. Come wash up."

"Oh."

He leaves me and I take a few more moments to pet the little kitten, trying to control the heat in my face and the stammering of my heart before rising to my feet. I wash in the bathroom, returning to the kitchen to find bowls already filled with last night's leftovers. It's healthy and bland. I put on a smile more out of habit than anything and sit at the table.

"Pull out a paper," Sensei says before eating a piece of broccoli.

I pause, rice halfway to my mouth.

"What?"

He nods towards the jar and doesn't repeat himself. Slowly, I put the utensils down and open the jar, giving him a strange look. I pull out a purple paper before replacing the top. The paper's rolled and I slowly unfurl it.

"Well?" he asks.

"Wh-What is one thing you're r-really good at?"

I look at Sensei.

He chews his food methodically as he thinks. When he swallows, he sets down his utensils and his eyes stare at me the way they always do, hooded and beady.

"Perseverance."

I blink.

"Uh…"

He chuckles and I can't help but stare. I don't think I've ever seen him laugh before. He shakes his head.

"My quirk is not inherently powerful. I struggled when I was younger to overcome that, which is why I have the capture weapon. I had to create and fine-tune an entirely new style of fighting with a weapon I had made specifically for it. It took six years to master. So, logically, I would choose perseverance."

"Y-You struggled?"

His face sours.

"Everyone struggles," he says blandly. He shovels some more food in his mouth and swallows. "It's just a part of life. The difference lies in how you deal with it. Do you give up or do you fight through it? That's why you have to know your motivation, why you have to hold firmly to the ideals that push you. Stop staring and eat. You're not getting cake until that plate's empty."

I hurriedly take another bite, looking down at my still very full bowl and chew the bland vegetables. I consider his words.

"Why did you become a hero?" I ask, quietly.

"To make a difference," he answers. "It's your turn to answer the slip."

I shrink in my chair.

What's one thing you're really good at?

I have no idea.

I have a feeling causing nightmares wouldn't be acceptable. I take another bite when I hear him sigh.

"Hoki, this shouldn't be a hard question."

"B-Being quiet?" I manage. He gives me an odd look.

"Explain," he says shortly.

I pull at my fingers.

"I… I can be quiet for a long time. The caretakers… they always liked that. It… I could make it so- so no one noticed me." I fidget and Sensei's gaze burns as he stares. "Sometimes they'd forget I was there at all. I… O-Once… Once I was able to hide for an entire weekend."

"Hide from what?"

I bite my lip. Sensei picks up his empty bowl and heads to the sink. He glowers at my bowl and I hurriedly stuff the last of my vegetables in my mouth, making my cheeks expand. His eye twitches and I quickly chew and swallow, nearly choking on the mouthful. It almost tastes better that way.

I stand and bring over my dish. He takes it with wet hands.

"Go sit. We're not done. What were you hiding from?"

"Niko," I admit hesitantly.

"Who is Niko?"

"She… The…" I stop and struggle to find the words. Sensei says nothing and waits, turning off the water and drying his hands. He reaches next for the plate of cake Midnight had fixed. I swallow down the strange mix of emotions swirling in my chest. "She had a trunk. He- he cut it off."

Sensei frowns.

"The elephant girl?"

I nod trying not to remember that hideous stump. Trying not to remember the way she'd leaned over those two kids. The way she'd protected them while I did nothing.

"She… she was my roommate," I manage at last. He sets a slice of cake in front of me. "Before I moved."

"She's the one that pulled those pranks?" he asks. He slouches when he sits. I feel my scars burn with the phantom pains of boils on my cheek and neck. I nod. Then, as if he's done with that conversation, he clears his throat and moves on. "Interesting. Tomorrow we're having a race in the heroics class. Will you have enough control to participate?"

"I… yes?"

He shrugs.

"Alright. Finish your cake and wash your dish. You can finish your homework at the table and study. Finals are in three weeks and you have a test tomorrow."

.

.

.

That night, when I unfold my sheets and bundle myself under them, Sensei checks on me as he always does. It's a strange night routine, my homeroom teacher dressed in his dark pajamas with his hair pulled back, squatting next to my make-shift bed on the couch. It reminds me of Yamada-sense, but different.

Tonight, he holds out the bunny from the party.

I take it into my arms gladly, chest warming at the small, soft plush.

"When I told you to put your gifts up, I didn't mean for you not to have access to them," he says. With his hair pulled back his expressions look less bored, softer. "The idea was to keep them from cluttering the table. Your room is your own, you can go in it whenever."

I squeeze the rabbit tighter.

"Yes, sir."

"Are you ready for tomorrow?"

"Yes, sir."

"Very well, good night."

He watches me switch on my flashlight and his lips quirk to the side. That weird half-smile he never uses at school. Standing, he turns off the lights and leaves.

.

.

.

"Hoki-chan! Nice bracelet!" Mineta says in the morning when he sees me. I blush and rub my thumb over it.

"Thank you," I mumble.

"A new bracelet?" Invisible squeals. I think she's looking at me, but it's hard to tell when I can't see her face. I make a sound of agreement just in case. "Oh, is it from your boyfriend?"

My face heats.

"I-I don't have a boyfriend," I tell her and giving Mineta a dirty look.

He pumps his fist in the air and my eye twitches.

"Oh? I thought you and, uh, I don't know his name, the purple-haired guy were together." The school uniform moves closer and I struggle with where to look. At her empty face or her clothes? I look at my hands instead, ducking my head. "He's like the only person you really talk to, you know? You're really like not dating? Oh, Mineta's right, that is new! How cute!"

"He's a friend," I manage. Invisible fingers press against my skin, flipping the bracelet and exposing the inscription. Pink wanders over curiously.

"He chose you. Awww, what a cute little message! What's it for?" Pink asks, leaning against invisible and wrinkling her nose in delight. "Was it your birthday or something?"

"No," I mumble. "I… uh…"

"Oh, Hoki-chan, you're so cute when you blush!" Invisible giggles. "Why are you getting so worked up? You sure it wasn't a boy?"

"N-N-No," I squeak. I'm relieved when Iida circles around and sends everyone to their seats. Mineta gives me a saucy wink before sitting and I feel my face flushing. I turn and look away only to see Dual-hair, my seatmate, staring with squinty eyes. Our eyes meet and I'm confused at his confused look. I open my mouth to ask but realizing I'm staring, I turn back forward.

Then Sensei walks in and starts the class.

"Good morning class."

.

.

.

"ALRIGHT CLASS! FIRST GROUP, GET IN PLACE!"

Our Heroic's Class is exactly as Aizawa-Sensei said it would be, a race. I settle nervously onto my platform and pinch my wrist, releasing my shadows for the first time in what feels like weeks.

It has been weeks, hasn't it? You haven't used them since the Nomu's attack… and before that the tournament.

I push away the thought and focus instead on the tentacles swirling from my arms. They're bigger now, stronger. They twist and wreathe, ready to claw their way out.

What emotion is that?

Fear.

I control my breathing and wait for the buzzer when it goes off, I throw myself forward, much like Aizawa-sensei would, and swing-out my tentacles. They latch onto a pole—there are so many things to grab, and I fly forward.

The world flashes below me, I rise up and catch the familiar flash of yellow in the distance. I will another tentacle forward, adjusting my projection. Beside me, Tape rises as well.

"Hey, isn't this place a little too perfect for me?"

He cuts off as we both notice the green flash zig-zagging next to us. Green—Midoriya grins, flying through the air with his arm's outstretched like Explosive normally does. He pulls ahead and Tape curses.

"No way!"

I land on a roof and sprint, watching as the green figure jumps, as Pink hangs onto a side wall, and tape increases his speed, clearly annoyed at the competition. I stay quiet.

What are you good at?

Being quiet. Sometimes, they even forget I'm there.

I see the edge of the roof and jump. It feels like it did on patrols, my shadows reach out and grab a nearby pole. I search, mid-air, for my next route. There are maybe 100 meters between us and All Might, I could go over or around. My tentacles spasm and twist, transforming into claw-crabs, and I focus back on them. I take another running leap, and with my tentacles attached at the top, I run sideways up a building. I make it to the top and move to leap forward.

And that's when I notice it. My eyes widen, my heart stops. Green lands on a pipe, his foot goes sideways, and-

And I can't breathe.

I can't think.

I don't even realize what I'm doing until I'm air born, diving headfirst in his direction instead of All Might's. My arm reaches out, my shadows curling around his waist, and dragon claws form on my other hand. The claws screech as they rake down the metal, releasing a shrill scream and slowing my descent.

Green stares, eyes wide and mouth open as he dangles below me. He looks like a worm on a hook the way my tentacles wrap about his middle and I have to concentrate to keep them from becoming claws, from squeezing too tightly, from piercing his flesh.

Dead, hollow eyes.

Adjusting my position against the building, I use my legs and give off a powerful kick. We soar through the air to a nearby platform. I set him down beside me, breathing heavily and shaking as I recall the shadows.

"H-H-Hoki-chan?"

"Are you all right?" I demand, mouth dry, heart beating in my chest. I'm disgusted to realize there are tears in my eyes. I turn and swipe at them. Not again. "I saw you fall and- I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorr-"

"H-Hey, it's fine!" Midoriya interrupts. He reaches out and his glove grabs my shoulder. I drop to my heels, trying to stop the beginnings of the panic. Not now, please not now. "Hoki-chan, are you okay?"

"Y-Yeah," I stutter, swallowing. I wipe at my face again, taking three long deep breaths. "I-I'm sorry."

"Why?" he asks, his voice is boyish and friendly. "I'm the one that should be apologizing. You lost your place because of me… that's twice now, huh? I'm sorry. I should have been watching where I landed. Were... are you crying?"

My breath finally evens and struggle with indecision. With nowhere to really go, I stand and turn to face him.

"I… I'm fine," I say. I look up and notice the others are gone and sigh. "Sorry, I… I didn't mean to… that is, I wasn't… I…"

I cut off and try to breathe as I consider what Yamada-sensei would do.

"Do- Do you want to race?"

He looks at me with wide eyes.

"Huh?"

I swallow and pull at my fingers, feeling idiotic and annoyed and childish. My face flushes, and I should just go. But he's not running and he's waiting, and I don't want to run. So I gather my courage and steel my shoulders, stomach tight in anticipation.

"The- The others are already there, but… but do you wanna race for the... uh... last spot?"

Midoriya tilts his head before grinning.

"Sure!"

He leans forward on his legs and I keep the shadows confined to my arms. They stay, somewhat less chaotic than a few moments ago. I copy the stance that Yamada-sensei showed me and adjust my position.

"You ready?" he asks. I smile nervously.

"Yeah…"

"Let's go!"

He rockets forward and I do the same, flying beside him. It's not like running with Shinsou at all. Both of us use our quirks. He moves faster than I do and smirks at me when he pulls ahead. Something warm and competitive grows in my chest. It makes me scowl, it makes me summon more shadows, twisting them out my back. They squirm and break my uniform, piercing the fabric and curling in that wind scratches at my face. They unfurl into a long, black sheet. A dark shadow that blots out the sun, it covers his face and his eyes widen.

I smirk and glide over him with wings.

He laughs, voice bright, and moves faster.

He wins, but only because I have to abandon the wings when I realize I can't steer.

"Excellent job everyone!" All Might says as we arrive. I tilt my head back and swallow down the shadows, feeling them slide down my throat and return to my chest. This time, they don't claw at my throat. Pink makes a disgusted noise and Iida, winded, gives both Midoriya and I smile. "The winner today was Young Sero!"

Tape lets out a whoop of delight, one finger in the air, and puts on a congratulatory ribbon. Secretly, I'm thankful to not have earned that particular prize.

I lean against the railing in the back and try to catch my breath. All Might goes on.

"While Young Sero came in first, compared to the beginning of the year, you've all gotten a lot better at using your quirks. Keep going like this and start preparing for your final exams!"

"Yes sir!" everyone shouts, and I nod my head in agreement.

"Group one, you can leave the field! Next group, get ready!"

I nod and move to follow my classmates when All Might stops me, a hand on my shoulder.

"Young Rin," he says. I flinch and he removes the hand. He smiles down at me with that same smile from the television and I try not to shrink away. "Please, don't be afraid, I only wanted to tell you that I saw your save of young Midoriya. You sacrificed your win to aid a comrade without a second thought or hesitation. You did well. You'll be an amazing hero one day."

My stomach curdles at that word.

Hero.

Daddy. My brothers.

I feel the distinct urge to vomit as I look down.

"Th-thank you," I manage.

If anything, he seems to deflate a bit.

"Ah, well, congratulations as well."

I bow and walk quickly away. I can hear him mutter to Green behind me, something about not believing his eyes, but I don't listen. I return to the others as the second group takes the field.

.

.

.

That afternoon, when all the students empty out the classroom, Sensei takes my bags and hands me a smaller one. I take it, eyebrows furrowed. It's simple and gray and about half the size of my normal one, with three pockets on the outside and a flap on top. One section includes a zipper that someone's attached a winking, pink cat keychain too.

"Wh-what's this for?" I ask, running my finger over the soft fabric. It's nice.

"You're going shopping with Nemuri today," he reminds me, raising an eyebrow. "You'll need to take your phone and a wallet. I assumed you didn't have a wallet."

"I don't," I admit. He gestures for me to open the bag and I do. My eyes widen when I realize there are things inside. "Sensei! This is too much!"

He sighs, hands on his hips.

"You don't even know what's in there."

"B-But-"

"It's necessities," he says blandly. "I've already given Nemuri my card to buy what you need, but I expect you to bring it home, hence the wallet. There's a portable battery for your phone in case it dies, a compact first aid kit, extra batteries for your flashlight, crackers, and pepper spray. You are not to set off that pepper spray unless it's an emergency."

I stare at him with wide eyes.

"Do… Do I need all that?" I ask.

"Yes," he answers looking bored. I swallow nervously and shoulder the backpack. It fits perfectly between my shoulder blades. "And Hoki."

"Sir?"

"All Might showed me your performance today in the race." I shrink. "Your flying leap off the rooftop looked particularly inspired."

I still. He smirks and I flush.

"Oh… I… Uh…"

"You prevented your classmate from falling several feet and possibly breaking his bones. Again."

I blush and fiddle with my skirt. He snorts.

"Nemuri's waiting."

I squeak and rush out the door. I pause before I leave though, turning back.

"Aizawa-sensei?"

"Hmmm?"

"Thank you."