Dinner is more chaotic than normal.

I have absolutely no control over my glowing powers and spend most of dinner flapping and shinning to the point that Aizawa-sensei ends up having to go get sunglasses from his room. They're weirdly cat-shaped. I don't question it, and he eats with them on. I didn't even know he owned sunglasses.

"At least attempt some sort of control," he grumbles.

I concentrate and the glow and wings disappear for about a minute. But the moment I so much as look Aizawa-sensei's way, it's like turning on a switch. My skin lights up, some random appendage appears, and I nearly knock over my chair twice giggling.

Miska jumps at my wings, I accidentally make hands that reach out and pat Yamada-sensei's leg causing the man to yelp in surprise, and the final straw is when my skin breaks out in a carpet of daisies so thick that I drop my fork in surprise.

"This is ridiculous," Aizawa grunts, folding his arms. With the cat glasses on, it's kind of hard to take him seriously.

Yamada-sensei, who hasn't quite stopped laughing since it all started, guffaws.

I blush and the flowers turn pink.

"Ah, I'm sorry Sensei," I manage with a not-so-straight face.

"Go to your room for ten minutes," he says flatly. "When the times up you can return."

I scratch my neck and leave my mostly full bowl on the table. A moment later, the light ripples again and I giggle as a tail returns, and my hair shifts atop my head. I pause and reach atop my head, giggling when I feel something triangular and soft beneath my fingers.

Too amused to worry about the consequences, I scoop up Miska and turn back to grin at Aizawa-sensei.

"Look Sensei, we're twins!"

I concentrate and flicker the ears.

Unlike he has all night, Sensei doesn't scowl at me.

He pauses, his head tilts a little to the side, and he actually smiles.

I blush, drop Miska, and all but run to my room.

.

.

.

I end up taking a nap in my room. I wake to Yamada-sensei sitting on the edge of my bed, a calloused hand running through my hair. I yawn, stretch, and smile up at him, thankfully not glowing.

"Oi? What's going on here? I'm coming at you live, from Rin's bed, where the host of the joint is sleeping like a lazy lump! What kinda party is this? I didn't come for a sleepover!"

I giggle and sit up, crossing my legs beneath me.

"Sorry Sensei, I didn't mean to fall asleep."

"Forgiven, I guess. Though you keep it up and I'm gonna extract punishment."

He wiggles his fingers threateningly and I squeal grabbing his arm.

"No! No! I'll be good, I promise!"

He laughs and breaks out of my grip fluidly, wrapping it instead around my shoulders and pulling me into his side. The leather's warm and smells like him, like the cologne he always wears. He twists, reaches into a pocket, and hands me my flip phone. I blink in confusion.

"Sir?"

He grins, far too amused.

"I didn't look, but someone's blowing up your phone. You've had to have gotten at least thirty messages in the last ten minutes. If this keeps going, Shouta's going to throw the thing against a wall."

"Really?"

"Really," he laughs. Curiously, I flip open the phone.

35 unopened text messages.

Oh.

Oh dear.

"So, wanna share?" he asks brightly. I wrinkle my nose and scowl at him.

"Share what?"

"I'm just curious. Got some fan-mail, baby girl?"

"Uh… I don't know. Do you think they're all from Mineta?" I ask scratching my head. Sensei stiffens beside me. I look over in concern, but his face is the same as usual, though his grin seems a little more forced.

"Why would Mineta be texting you?"

"Oh, he asked for my number."

Sensei scratches the corner of his lip and looks a little lost for words.

"Shouta!" he shouts after a moment.

There's a sound of footsteps and my guardian shuffles lazily into my doorway. He glowers at my phone before looking between us and pushing the sunglasses up on top of his head.

"What?"

"I've got to head out, so I'm gonna let you take this one. Did you know Rin-chan here gave her number to Mineta?"

Sensei scowls.

"Why?"

I frown at them both.

"Because he asked?" I furrow my eyebrows. "Is that not okay?"

"Go sit on the couch," he says flatly. I frown and stand, before pausing and turning to Yamada-sensei. He looks amused again, though I really don't know why.

"Yamada-sensei, are you really leaving?"

"Yes," he says empathetically in English and standing.

"Oh," I frown and lean forward, hugging his middle. "Thank you for coming. I'm sorry I fell asleep."

"It's fine, Rin-chan, I was kidding earlier. Besides, it's always nice to see Shouta. I'll see you soon, yeah?"

I smile brightly, grab my phone, and head to the couch. My bowl of uneaten food is still on the table and I glance at it before shrugging. The two men speak quietly for a moment outside my bedroom, but I ignore them. Instead, I take up my normal place on the couch.

I open the messages and frown at the large number of different numbers.

Hey, Hoki-chan, this is Kirishima! Save my number, yeah?

Hey baby, it's Mineta. What are you doing tomorrow? If you want, I'll take you to dinner and show you a real good time. ;)

Hoki, girl, I cannot believe you told Mineta yes! What were you thinking? It's Mina, by the way.

[Image of Pink blowing a kiss]

Guys, anyone want to head to the mall Sunday? That training camp's coming up and I need some boots!

My man! Absolutely!

Hoki-chan, I got your number from Midoriya-kun. Please forgive my forwardness, but I didn't have a chance to ask for it personally! But as your classmate, I do appreciate the ability to get in contact with you should the need arise! Congratulations on passing the exam and I hope you have a great break! – Iida, Tenya

"Later dudes!" Yamada-sensei says in English as he leaves the apartment. Aizawa-sensei locks the door behind him and scowls as he takes up his usual spot on the other side of the couch. I sit cross-legged and wait, curious what tonight's discussion will be.

"Did… Did I do something wrong?" I ask.

"No. We need to discuss new rules."

I frown at that.

"Oh," I say leaning forward. That doesn't sound good. Did I do something? Is it because of my quirk? Is he upset about the wings? I didn't finish dinner, is that a new rule? What-

Sensei's frown deepens.

"Stop," he says flatly. "I can see you getting worked up. I just told you, you're not in trouble. But I'm not sure you understand what's going on between you and your classmates."

I frown at that, my thoughts grinding to a halt.

"Is this about Mineta-kun?"

"Yes," he says, and I blink at the bluntness of it. "When Mineta asked for your phone number, how did he word it?"

"I don't know… something about a date," I frown when Sensei glowers. "Should I not have given him the number?"

"You can give your number to whoever you want," he says but he's frowning and my stomach twists in knots at the dark look on his face. "Do you know what a date is?"

"Yes, sir." He raises an eyebrow and it takes me a moment to realize he wants an explanation. "Oh, uh, it's where you go places with someone. Kagura-nee-chan used to go on them all the time, as long as she was good that week."

"I see," he says, and I still have no idea why he looks so annoyed. "According to your definition, who goes on these dates?"

"Anyone, I guess." I pause and furrow my eyebrows. "Sensei, I don't understand. Kagura-nee-chan used to go on dates all the time."

Sensei palms his head.

"I should have made Hizashi stay," he says darkly. I frown and move closer, a little surprised to see his eyes bloodshot. "Hoki, he wasn't asking to hang out with you, he was asking to start a relationship. And considering this is Mineta, it was much more likely he was implying having sex."

My mouth dries.

"Wh-what?" I squeak. "No, he wasn't!"

Sensei scowls.

"Has he sent you a text?"

"Yes!"

"What does it say?"

I snap open my phone and pull up the message.

"H-H-Hey baby," I nearly choke on the words, Aizawa-sensei's nostrils flare. "it's Mineta. What are you doing tomorrow? If you want, I'll take you to dinner and show you a real good time." I stare at the message in horror. "I thought he meant we'd have fun!"

"You thought wrong," Sensei says. My face burns. "You can reply that no, you will not be going to dinner with him now or any time in the future unchaperoned. You may also inform him that if he cannot be appropriate in texts, his number will be blocked."

I gape.

"Sensei! That-That's mean!"

"No, that's called setting boundaries," the dark-haired man huffs. He crosses his arms and glowers at me. "Asking your bra color or cup size is disrespectful and will not be tolerated. The only reason nothing's been done about his behavior is that your classmates have not reported any of it. I have no such reservations."

"B-But-"

"Hoki, this is not a conversation, it's a rule," he says. "You can text him now and then go eat your dinner."

I glower at the dark-haired man, but he just stares, eyebrow raised. I flip open the phone and find the message, typing up my response.

Hey Mineta-kun, thank you for your number.

I pause and grimace.

"What do I say next?" I ask him nervously.

"Do you need it written down?" he snaps moodily. I flinch and frown at him. He sighs through his nose. "No, you cannot go on a date with him tomorrow or any time in the near future."

Hey Mineta-kun, thank you for your number. I'm sorry, I can't have dinner with you tomorrow, I'm not allowed to go on dates.

"There," I say, pushing send and showing it to him. I move to get up and he stops me with a hand on my shoulder, pulling me back to the couch. "Hey!"

"You're not done."

I wrinkle my nose, but the hand keeps me firmly in my seat.

"Sir?"

"You will inform him he will be appropriate or be blocked."

"Sensei!"

"Start typing Hoki."

I glare.

"He hasn't done anything wrong though!"

"That is highly debatable and a conversation for later. You will explain to him these boundaries now, and if he breaks them, I will deal with him personally. You have enough to work through without adding sexual violence to the list."

"Sexual- Sensei, what are you talking about?"

"I mean exactly what I said. Or are you going to pretend you don't flinch along with never being abused?"

My chest tightens and I suck in a deep, shaking breath.

Are you going to pretend?

Sensei closes his bloodshot eyes and moves a hand to massage his temples.

"Fuck."

Tears gather in my eyes and I stand, leaving the phone on the couch. I don't look at him as I go. I head to my room and quietly shut the door. Then, laying on the bed, I cry.

.

.

.

Eventually, hunger gets the best of me and I return, hesitantly, to the dining room. Sensei is still in the living room, almost exactly where I'd left him, only instead of sitting he's laid out on the couch, eyes closed and breathing even with Miska curled up on his chest.

I stand silently and peak around the wall at him.

Asleep, he looks somehow younger. The dark bruises under his eyes less pronounced. The pinched and grumpy expressions relaxed into something almost peaceful.

Peaceful.

Have I ever seen him look like this?

No.

As quietly as I can, I grab my bowl of cold takeout and return to my room, carefully eating it so as not to make a mess or drop anything. Afterward, I creep to the sink and set it quietly on the counter. My phone's there.

You have enough to work through without adding sexual violence to the list.

Or are you going to pretend you don't flinch along with never being abused?

I grab it and take it to my room, opening it and clicking on Mineta's message. Only, instead of my last message, there are two more. I sit quietly on the floor and read.

Oh? You aren't playing coy are you Hoki-chan? But it's fine, we don't have to do dinner. You should send me a pic, baby!

I grimace, suddenly uncomfortable, and look at the next message.

Mineta. This is Rin's guardian. You will immediately cease all sexual innuendos, comments, and pet names. Her phone is monitored, and I will not warn you again. Your advances are not appreciated or appropriate. If you wish to continue this friendship that she clearly values, you will control yourself and act accordingly. If not, you will be blocked. And should it continue in person, I will take further actions to ensure it is ended. Do not make me regret allowing you continued communication with my ward.

I swallow and reread the message several times, heart racing.

A weird mix of emotions fills me. I read Mineta's comment below.

Oh, uh, yes, sir. Sorry, Hoki-chan.

I push them away and close the phone, not sure how to feel. Sensei's face, peaceful and relaxed, fills my head again. Grabbing a pillow off my bed, I move to the hall closet and pull out a blanket. I try to move as quietly as I can.

Dropping the pillow on the floor, I open the blanket and spread it across his legs. His breath stills and I look up to see bloodshot eyes staring back through a half-lidded gaze.

"Hoki," he says, voice rough from sleep.

"Lift your head, Sensei," I mumble. His hand rises and catches my wrist as I lift the pillow from the floor to place it under his head.

"I need to ap-"

"Do your eyes hurt?" I interrupt him. He sighs and moves his head, allowing the pillow to slide underneath. He releases my wrist.

"Yes," he grunts out after a moment, almost reluctantly.

"Have they been hurting all afternoon?"

"Yes, Hoki," he says and there's a subtle edge there. Stop prying. I stand. Moving to the bathroom, I grab a washcloth, rinse it in cold water, and ring it out. I do it twice more before returning, Sensei's eyes are still closed, but he's petting Miska's fur.

"What are you doing?"

"I got a cold cloth for your eyes," I whisper. He doesn't look up and I close the distance. As gently as I can, I lay the cloth against his eyes. He doesn't stop me. Some of his hair sticks under the cloth and I push it away, running my fingers across his forehead to push them back. His skin is dry, his hair really soft.

"Thank you," he says, and I move my hands away. I don't leave though, watching his face for a moment before hesitantly running my fingers through Miska's fur. His hand is there too. My fingers brush his own and he doesn't move.

The silence stretches between us.

I don't want to be the first to break it.

Miska purrs and rolls, twisting on her back and stretching cutely. I smile at it, scratching her chest.

"I saw your text," I admit.

Sensei says nothing and I wonder if he's fallen back asleep. I stare at his face again, the loose expression, and the constant rise of his chest. I withdraw my hand, not wanting to wake him again.

"Thank you," I whisper quietly.

"I'm your guardian," he says gruffly with a sigh. His hand closest to me rises out from the blanket. Even without looking, it somehow lands on my head. "I shouldn't have been so blunt earlier. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"I'm… I'm okay."

"Good. Have you eaten?"

"Yes, sir."

"Are you still hungry?"

"No, sir."

"Very well, go text your friends and get ready for bed."

I smile and lean forward, pressing my face into his chest. It smells like detergent. The hand on my head moves through my hair, combing it back.

"Yes, sir."

.

.

.

"Sensei," I say that night, snuggled in my bed after showering and brushing my teeth, unsurprised to find my pillow back on my bed.

"Yes?" he asks, waiting for me to turn on my flashlight. I do and he flips off the light.

"Can… Can I go to the mall Sunday with the rest of the class?"

Sensei sits on the side of my bed and it dips from the pressure.

"Who all is going?"

"Everyone but Bakugou and Todoroki," I answer. It'd been my first question as well.

"Yes," he says. "But you will need to stay within sight of your classmates at all times. You will also respond promptly to any message or phone call, do you understand?"

Excitement fills my chest.

"Y-Yes, sir!"

He shakes his head and I'm glad his eyes look somewhat less red.

"We have training with Shinsou tomorrow afternoon. Good night."

"Good night Sensei."

.

.

.

"Shinsou!" I shout when he finally arrives at the warehouse. Only a few feet away, he blinks and wrinkles his nose tiredly at me. I giggle, close the space between us, and jump on his back. I throw my arms around his neck and I laugh when they start glowing, feeling my tank top stretch.

"What the-"

"Shinsou! You're here! I missed you! Look! Look!"

I let go before he can throw me off and twist. "Look my quirk changed!"

He splutters and I grin.

"I have wings," I tell him brightly and I focus and flap them at him. He looks hilarious, mouth open and slightly askew, eyes wide, and hair wild.

"Hoki, control yourself."

I giggle and blush, the wings turning somewhat pink.

"Do you like 'em?" I ask nervously, smiling.

He closes his mouth and scowls.

"Why are you glowing?"

"I told you, it's my quirk!" I concentrate and make the wings flutter. His eyes shift from my face to the wings and back.

"Right, but why?" he says looking somewhat lost.

"My quirk is emotional manifestation," I try again. He blinks and furrows his eyebrows.

"What? I thought it was shadow manipulation or something?"

"Oh, uh, no…" I scratch my neck and feel my glow fade. His expression darkens and I frown. My wings disappear and I start pulling at my fingers. "I'm sorry, I didn't think to say anything about it-"

"It's fine," Shinsou says and he moves past me to put his things in the corner. "So emotions, huh? So you glow when you're happy? I dunno how I should feel that you light up when I come in the room or that you've never lit up before."

I blush.

"It's a recent development," Sensei says coming over. The weird cat-shaped glasses are in his hair and I giggle and light up the moment I see them, fireflies suddenly flickering across my arms. Sensei gives a long-suffering look and Shinsou snorts. "As you can see, she's managed very little control."

I grin and close my eyes and try not to laugh or imagine those sunglasses or Sensei's very unamused look.

"Hoki," Sensei drawls. "You're brightening."

I peek open an eye to see Shinsou grinning and Sensei shaking his head and walking off.

"It's the sunglasses," I tell the purple-haired boy in a loud whisper.

Sensei ignores me and continues unfolding the mat.

"Jealous? You want some of your own?" he asks, eyebrow rising. He starts stretching and I join him, falling into our familiar rhythm.

"No!" I laugh. "Oh! Wanna see a trick?"

"I guess?" Shinsou says, his bored expression amused.

I screw up my face and concentrate. After a moment, I feel my hair shift and open my eyes. Shinsou stares, stretching forgotten. Across the room, Sensei chokes. I look his way and make the ears flicker. Then, with that weird warm feeling filling my belly, I playfully put both hands up and make a cat pose.

"Nya!"

Shinsou pulls out his phone and snaps a picture. I flush, suddenly embarrassed, and force the light down. It flickers several times and disappears.

"Shinsou!" I grumble. "You weren't supposed to take a picture!"

"No way, that was too cute," he says smirking. "Hey, Sensei, you want a copy?"

"Yes."

I scowl at them both, heat rising to my face.

"Y-You- What! Sensei! Shinsou!"

Shinsou ignores me completely and starts swiping through his phone.

"Heh, maybe I'll set it as your contact-" he cuts off when I lunge, and he's forced to dodge, laughing. "Hey! It's not time for that yet!"

"Stop teasing!"

"Don't make it so easy," he laughs, and I wrinkle my nose at him. He smirks. "So you passed all your exams?"

"Yes!" I say and this time I carefully don't burst into light. "What about you?"

"Obviously," he rolls his eyes. "So what's your plan for the break?"

"I… I don't know," I admit and we both return to stretching. "Definitely not going on dates."

Shinsou chokes and I look at him worriedly.

"You okay?"

"What did you just say?" he says looking at me like I've grown another head. I flush and duck my head.

"Ah, Mineta-kun asked me on a date, but I didn't know he meant… like as in a relationship, did you know dates are sexual? I didn't know that. Why would he want to do that? And to me? That's so weird."

Shinsou's eye ticks.

"Hoki, what the hell… What are you talking about?"

I grimace and shake my head.

"I told you, Mineta-kun asked me on a date!"

"And you told him no," Shinsou says flatly, pulling his arm across his chest.

I feel my face redden and don't meet his eye. He makes a strangled noise.

"Are you kidding? That little purple perverted bastard? You told him yes? Why? What were you thinking?"

I cringe and we both lean forward reaching for our toes.

"Ah, well, I thought he just meant to hang out."

"That's idiotic," Shinsou says his expression returning to bored. He looks at me with half-lidded eyes. "So how'd you figure it out? Obviously, it wasn't on your own."

I scowl.

"Shut up," I grump at him. "Yamada-sensei told on me. Aizawa-sensei made me message him back."

"Ugh, good," Shinsou says nose wrinkling. I frown at him.

"He's my friend," I remind him.

"Yeah, I just don't know why," Shinsou says eyes narrow. "You ready to spar?"

I frown and join him on the mat.

.

.

.

That evening, I grab my rabbit, a blanket, and sit on my end of the couch. Sensei wanders back and forth three times before pausing to look at me.

"Hoki, do you want to talk?" he asks, hair pulled back and voice layered with amusement.

I look at him and frown.

"Is Mineta-kun a bad friend?"

Sensei tilts his head and joins me on the couch. He settles, cross-legged near my blanket, one arm resting on his knee and his chin in hand.

"That depends on your definition of a friend."

I purse my lips and look at the rabbit.

"Do you have friends?" I ask.

Sensei snorts. I flush when I realize how rude that sounded.

"Ah, sorry Sensei, I know you do," I hurriedly correct myself. "But how do you know who to make a friend and who not to?"

"It depends," Sensei says, voice still tinged in amusement. "Nemuri and Hizashi are close friends because we share a lot in common. When you experience things together, you tend to grow closer with them. However, I consider Principal Nezu a friend and we have only known each other a few years. I respect them and I know that should the need arise; I can count on their support. Why are you thinking about this?"

"Shinsou-kun made it sound like Mineta-kun wasn't a good friend."

"Ignoring Shinsou's feelings for a moment, do you enjoy Mineta's company?"

"Yes, sir."

"Do you feel comfortable around him?"

Hoki, he wasn't asking to hang out with you, he was asking to start a relationship. And considering this is Mineta, it was much more likely he was implying having sex.

I frown and pull at my fingers, sighing.

"I did," I admit. "But I don't know now."

Sensei sighs and rubs his neck.

"You don't have to be friends with him Hoki. His actions, whether you understood their intent or not, were disrespectful and demeaning. If you don't want to continue the friendship, you don't have to. I can and will move your seat. However, if you want to give him the opportunity to prove himself, I also believe he has the qualities to be a worthwhile hero. It's entirely up to you."

"What if he does it again?" I ask softly.

"You read the text message. I will follow through with my promises."

I lean forward and Sensei sighs when I wrap my arms around his neck.

"Thank you, Sensei."

"Alright, let go."

A/N: So, if you want to read some other characters' points of view, I've made a separate story for them. I also want to say an enormous thank you to all of you for your amazing reviews. I read them all, and they definitely inspire me. You guys are the best. :) Anyways, this was supposed to be the last chapter for this arc, but I had to break it in half when it got too long, so now the next chapter will be the last for this arc.