A/N: Wow! This chapter took forever to get out! It didn't help that I've been in meetings all week, so I haven't had as much time to write as usual. Then I ended up having to redo some plot points and that meant deleting almost everything I had written out for the next six chapters, and then I got to see my god-daughter this weekend (She's so adorable! She'll be 6 months in a few days! Gah!). And even though I've written something on this story every day, it still feels like I suddenly hit a wall.

Oh! Before I forget, I had a guest ask where the forest training is! I explained it in the EXTRA's chapter, but just in case you haven't read those, I'll explain it here too. So there's about 3 weeks of a time-skip between the end of school and the beginning of the training camp. Right now, we're on Monday of Week Two of that time. While I probably could have skipped it, I chose not to because this time will be important developmentally for Rin. The things she learns here will play a huge factor in her time at the forest camp. This arc is all about learning and growing socially.

Anyways, enough of all that. LOL. I hope you like this chapter. Also, don't forget to check out the EXTRAs chapters if you want some insight into what the other characters are thinking. :)

The morning of the trip is chaotic.

Sensei wakes me up at 5, in the darkness of pre-dawn, to eat breakfast and double-check my suitcase. He moves with his normal efficiency, checking off each item on the list and then sending me off to collect any missing items: shoes, my toothbrush, deodorant, a hairbrush, and more. By the time Yamada-sensei and Midnight arrive, it's nearly 6:45 and I'm ready to go if just to get away from the grumpy man. He's made me repeat the rules at least three times and quizzed me on different scenarios much like he would for a test.

"If a villain appears, what do you do?"

"Find Midnight or Yamada-sensei."

"If you get separated from them, what do you do?"

"Call."

It's a relief when the silver sedan finally pulls up and he turns his ire on the other two.

"You were supposed to clean it out," Aizawa-sensei says flatly, glaring Midnight. The woman leers back, coffee in hand.

The back of the car, her car based off the looks both men are giving her, is full of random items: fashion magazines, empty water bottles, unopened mail, and what looks like plastic wrappers. And now, my suitcase.

"As long as she doesn't go looking under the seats, she shouldn't find any toys," Yamada-sensei says with a smirk.

Aizawa-sensei scowls, unamused; his eye twitching.

"Hizashi!" the woman exclaims, grinning. "I keep those upfront in the dash, thank you! She'll be in the back, and I ran out of time. I got all the dirty stuff out and I washed the seat covers. It's all hygienic, for the most part…"

"Mid- Aunt Nemuri, you keep toys in your car?" I ask, curious.

Sensei's scowl deepens into true annoyance.

"Tons," she says without any sort of hesitation. Yamada-sensei laughs boisterously and disappears to the front of the car.

"What kind-"

"No," Sensei interrupts, stopping my next question.

"Unfortunately," Midnight says, "I've promised your guardian to behave on this trip, so I can't answer those kinds of questions until we get back."

I glance curiously at Sensei. He glares. I shrug and let it go, I have no idea what they're talking about or why it'd be an issue if Midnight had toys in her car anyways.

"Hey! Hey!" Yamada-sensei huffs from the driver's seat where he's buckled himself in. "Are you ready? Let's get this show on the road! Nemuri, get your ass in the car or we'll be here all day. Shouta, I already checked to make sure she didn't miss anything, it's about as clean as she'll ever be."

"Rude!" Midnight scowls, taking the seat upfront. "You keep this up and I'm driving long legs."

"Oh hell no," says the man, already adjusting the radio. "And seriously, where's the bass in this thing? I swear-"

"Rin."

I stop listening to my two godparents arguing and instead turn to Sensei. He still looks annoyed and I can't help but smile up at him. Will you miss me while I'm gone? Will you remember to call? What if you like it better without me?

"Yes, Sensei?"

He seems to mull over several words, and I can see him hesitate, if only slightly. Then his hand reaches out to my shoulder and he pats it.

"Be good," he says simply.

"Hug?" I ask.

Some of the tension seems to melt from his shoulders as he nods. I reach forward and wrap my arms around his middle, burying my face in the familiar scent of his shirt. His fingers move, trailing through my hair and I squeeze a little tighter. My chest strangely hollow.

"I… I can come back?" I whisper. This isn't forever?

Helplessness rises in my throat.

"You will come back," he says simply. He pulls away and squats, waiting to catch my eye. His face smooths into the bored expression, and he considers me seriously. "If not, I will come find you and bring you home."

Home.

I swallow and nod.

"Thank you, Sensei."

I lean forward and press a kiss against the stubble of his cheek. He grumbles as he rises.

"Remember the rules," he grunts. I smile as he turns me, hand back on my shoulder, and he pushes me towards the car. "Go buckle in. I'll talk to you this evening."

.

.

.

"Yo, baby girl! So, giving out kisses, now are you?" Yamada-sensei laughs, one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the car radio as he drives away. Aizawa-sensei hadn't waited to watch us leave. He'd made sure I was buckled in, given Midnight one more warning glance, and left.

I flush at the accusation and Midnight giggles, half-turned in her seat to watch us both.

"Oh don't tease her about that," Midnight says. "You're just jealous she doesn't give them to you!"

"I am not!" he says, but I can see even from the backseat how his neck turns a bright scarlet.

"Do you want a kiss?" I ask curiously. He chokes and the hand that seems permanently attached to the radio picks a new song. He's done it about twenty times so far and he rarely lets anything play for more than 15 seconds before he's hitting next. What he's looking for, I have no idea.

"Don't ask questions like that!" he squawks.

Midnight giggles again and offers me a saucy wink.

"Oh don't get all shy, 'Zashi. And seriously, pick a station or I'm taking control of the music."

"I'm willing to bet your music isn't appropriate," Yamada says almost predatorily. "So I think that's an empty threat."

"I'll have you know, Shouta said nothing about music in that very long list of overkill he sent me."

"That's because he assumed, I'd be providing the tunes. Which makes sense as your music sucks."

"No, sweetheart, my music inspires. You're the one that sucks."

She hollows out her cheeks and he splutters, face going red. I have no idea what they're talking about, but Midnight's giggles are contagious. I can't help but laugh with her and Sensei gives me an offended glance in the rear-view mirror, his sunglasses glinting in the morning sun.

"I'm reporting you," he huffs.

"Don't be such a whiner," Midnight says, rolling her eyes. "I think the both of you are being ridiculous anyways. You ought to expose her to this stuff before someone at school does." She glances back at me. "I heard Mineta-kun propositioned you and you had no idea."

I flush.

"I… Yeah… I didn't realize dates were sexual."

Midnight blinks at me, Yamada-sensei turns the song.

"They're not," she says resting her chin against her arm on the armrest. "Not always, that is. Did someone tell you they were?"

"Aizawa-sensei," I tell her, tilting my head curiously. "He said Mineta was-"

"Oh Mineta was most definitely being inappropriate," Yamada-sensei interrupts before whistling obnoxiously. I wrinkle my nose at him. "Nemuri, change the subject. You know Shouta doesn't want us talking to her about this."

"No," she grunts at him. He looks away from the road to glower at her. "No, Hizashi, you're being ridiculous. I'm not leaving a girl with false information about dating, that's how people get taken advantage of. Dates aren't all sexual, and you two are going to have her terrified with your overprotective tendencies. I'll keep to my list, but if you don't want to listen then don't."

"Woman," he warns.

She flicks her ponytail and rolls her eyes.

"Beast," she huffs, and then she offers me a wicked grin. "Now, let's talk about dates!"

Yamada-sensei makes a face I've never seen before and I glance nervously at the dark-haired woman.

"Is… Is that a good idea? I don't want to make Sensei uncomfortable."

"He'll be fine, and seriously kid, can't you call him Hizashi? It's going to look and sound a little suspect if old blonde over here is running around the beach with a pretty little teen calling him Sensei, sends out a bad message."

Yamada's expression turns sour.

"That's disgusting," he grunts.

"What kind of-"

"Either talk about dating or change the subject," the blonde interrupts and this time his voice has lost most of its humor. He sounds like he did during the internship, when he told me I had to go with Aizawa-sensei. Midnight seems to realize this too as she pats the man's arm.

"Alright. So having sex on dates is generally frowned on unless you have an established relationship or you're shameless," Midnight grins and I don't need her to explain which category she falls under. "Honestly, though, you really don't have any business doing the dirty, kid. It creates emotional ties that make things more complicated, especially if you don't know who you are."

"Who I am?" I ask her, frowning. "Why wouldn't you know who you are?"

Yamada-sensei snorts. Midnight smiles at me fondly.

"You're so adorable. Dear, I'm not talking about your name. I'm talking about what you want out of life, out of relationships, out of yourself. Those are some pretty heavy decisions, you already know you want to be a hero, but what kind? Thirteen specializes in natural disasters, I specialize in capture, Shouta works alone as an underground hero, and Hizashi does just about everything. And that's just deciding what line of work you want. How do you want to live your life? Do you want a family? Do you want kids? Are you looking to start a hero job and be single forever? Where do you want to be in fifteen years when you're thirty?"

I swallow, throat suddenly dry.

"At thirty?"

She reaches out and pats my leg.

"Never considered it?" she asks.

"No," I admit quietly. Was I supposed to?

At the Last One, I'd rarely thought of anything beyond where Niko was and how best to stay out of her way. Especially before I moved rooms, but even after I rarely thought past the work due. The longest goal I'd ever had was getting into UA.

"I'm gonna be a hero," I tell Yui-san. The words taste like acid on my tongue. They ache in my chest and squirm in my belly. I swallow down the feeling, face set. She raises an eyebrow, smirking.

"And how do you plan on doing that?"

"So like I was saying, no sex for you. But dates are another matter entirely! There's lots of dates, you can go on friendly dates, romantic ones, group dates, there's lots of choices! Usually someone starts them by asking for your number or asking if you want to go out. And if you like them a lot, you talk about going steady."

"Oh," I say quietly. Mineta had asked for that. "When Mineta asked for my number, Kirishima, Mina, and Midoriya copied it down too. Does that mean it was a group date?"

"No," Yamada-sensei says, and I'm surprised he joins in because he'd seemed so reluctant to discuss this earlier. He changes the song again, fingers tapping on the steering wheel. "Groups can hang out without it being a date. She's talking about when two couples go out together."

"They're so much fun," Midnight says, smiling giddily. She purses her lips and taps her chin. "You can go to the movies, out to eat, shopping, the amusement park. Where you go really depends on you and your partner. But then, figuring it out is also half the fun. I'm down for just about anything."

I make a little sound, trying to imagine that. I'd never been to the movies or the amusement park, but shopping had been fun for a while at least before Asp… I'd enjoyed hanging out with Mina, Sero, Kirishima, and Kaminari.

"Yamada-sensei, do you go on dates?" I ask curiously.

"Oh he most certainly does," Midnight says wickedly. The way she makes Yamada-sensei turn red is strangely delightful and I watch in awe as he grumbles. "But please, tell the little listener your favorite kind."

"There will be payback for this," he sneers, face bright red. He makes a silly face and I can't help but giggle. "Yes, I've been on dates. But what this woman is forgetting to mention is dating has a purpose."

He glances up in the rear-view mirror at me to make sure he has my attention.

"Nemuri would have you think it's just about hanging out with people and having a good time, and it is, but that's not all. Yo, dating is about deciding if you want to start a relationship with someone. You gotta know what you want and who you are. It's not fair to leading someone on if you don't both want the same thing."

"You're such a romantic," Midnight laughs.

I have no idea why she thinks that, but she changes the topic, which makes Yamada-sensei relax a little, so I don't ask.

.

.

.

Two hours is a long time to ride in the car. Even with Midnight keeping a near-constant stream of discussion, I end up nodding off. It's so easy with the smell of Sensei's cologne filling the air, especially when Midnight reaches back and pulls a blanket from her bag. She tosses it over my legs and it's so soft—like smooth cotton. The last thing I remember is the way the radio flips again and Yamada-sensei's low voice.

"Is she out?"

"Nearly."

I wake to someone shaking my leg.

"Wake up, Rin-chan."

Stretching my arms tiredly above my head, I let out a wide yawn. There's a sudden flash of light, and when I crack open my eyes, both adults look far too amused.

"That's so adorable," Midnight giggles, holding her phone.

"I want it," Yamada-sensei agrees, peering at her screen. "Share that, please!"

I pout and cross my arms.

"Really?" I grunt. She raises the phone again and I squirm to cover my face before she can take another. Sensei laughs and unbuckles, pulling himself out of the still car with an unnecessarily loud groan. That's when I notice the open parking lot and the large building ahead. "Are… are we here?"

"Yes!" the voice hero says, immediately starting on a set of lunges and squats. He moves his arms in a ridiculous dance as he does so, clearly full of energy.

Midnight gets out too, and like Sensei, she stretches immediately as well. I unbuckle, not wanting to be left behind, and as I do, glance around the area.

The beach parking lot, besides having a few palm trees, looks like any other parking lot. A huge asphalt rectangle with over a hundred cars parked under the blue sky. Mountains crest the horizon behind me, rising up in rounded purples and green peaks. Ahead, the building (I'm assuming is our hotel) stands alone on a strangely open space. It's beautiful. A huge, white structure that looks more like a porous rock than any home I've ever seen takes up nearly all my vision. Small, crevice-like balconies decorate the front of the building, speckled with brightly colored towels. I crane my neck to see either end, staring open-mouthed as I try to take it all in.

"I'm going to go check-in," Midnight says, drawing back my attention. I turn to her reluctantly, eyes continuously drawn to the building, the sky, the mountains, and everything. "Since the festival's in town, it'll probably take a while. Can you and Rin manage the bags?"

"Of course!" Sensei huffs in English. He wags his finger at her, and she does a pose of her own.

As Midnight leaves, Sensei unloads the trunk. He stacks the massive number of bags on the asphalt, and there's really nothing to do but watch. I offer to help, but he waves me off, arms moving more wildly than normal. It's like he can't stay still. When he gets to the bottom, he uncovers a flat, metal box about three inches thick and taking up most of the bottom of the trunk. He grunts as he pulls it out, mindful of the odd wheels, and sets it on the ground.

"Sensei, what's that?"

"A cart," he says as he starts unfolding the strange contraption. It flips out in thin panels that he locks with different switches. "Power Loader designed it a few years ago as a prototype. It didn't do well on the market because of the weight, but I love it. Especially when Nemuri brings half her house."

I giggle and purposefully don't point out they have the same number of bags.

Still, he's right that when he finishes setting up the rolling cart, it's much easier to manage than carrying all the suitcases. He begins loading the strange contraption and I glance again back at the hotel, before noticing a small piece of beach I can see.

It's gorgeous. Gray sand, a blue water so dark I can't tell where the sky ends, and the quiet rush of waves. It sounds just like the videos, but somehow more. Everything here seems so much more.

Will it look like the pictures?

"You want to go look for a moment?" he asks.

"Sir?"

I flush when he grins knowingly.

"You can't leave my sight, but you can go look," he says, leaning forward and poking my nose. I duck my head and he laughs, the sound familiar and loud. I realize with a pang I've missed it. Maybe it shows in my expression, or maybe he's still as touchy as ever, but he pulls me forward into an impromptu hug. I squeak, my nose smacking almost painfully into his chest. But at the familiar scent of his cologne, I can't help but wrap my arms around him. "I'm glad you're here, Rin-chan. I've missed our time together."

My chest aches at those words, my skin taking on a warm glow.

But you didn't keep me.

"Thank you," I whisper, pushing down the thoughts that make my throat tighten.

He releases me and pulls away, making ridiculous faces.

"Alright!" he says in English. "Go! Go! Look and come right back, I'll get the rest of the bags."

I leave Sensei excitedly, crossing the parking lot to the wooden stairs that lead down to the beach, and stand on the precipice, fingers wrapping against the rail as the smell of fish and salt and food rises on the breeze.

The ocean is magnificent.

The waves, even at this distance, crest and crash onto the sand. They're darker than I expected, and noisier. People float and squeal in the water, a group plays volleyball on the sand, others lay out on towels, and someone buries another in the sand.

I stare in complete fascination when I notice an oddly dressed man rushing across the sand. Unlike everyone else, he stands out completely. He scuttles across the gray sand, not dressed in a bathing suit or even shorts and a shirt, but instead completely covered in white fabric. He wears long sleeves and pants, his hair lost beneath a baseball cap, sunglasses perched on his nose, and even from a distance I can see gloves carrying a rather large briefcase behind him.

I watch on in concern though, as a sudden gust of wind catches the briefcase and he trips, falling face-first into the sand.

No one stops to help him, not even looking his way.

You can't leave my sight, but you can look.

I frown, the urge to do something rising up in my chest, tightening in my stomach. But I don't move, Aizawa-sensei's voice echoing in my head.

You are not allowed to wander off from them.

I hadn't thought such a rule would be so hard.

I grip the rail a little tighter and the man picks himself, clearly grumbling to himself, and continues further down the beach. He makes it a few feet before he slips again.

Those with power have two choices, Rin-chan. You either use it, and be a hero, or abuse it, and be a villain. If you see someone about to get hurt, and you have the power to stop it, but you do nothing. What do you think it makes you?

Do you actually want the logical answer to that or are you being rhetorical?

The man struggles in the sand several more times and I clench my jaw, watching as he falls over and over. He looks like a cartoon character, like Tom from Yamada-sensei's favorite animated show. Except, it's suddenly not funny at all. And all I can notice is the way he stops rushing away, the way he seems to take longer and longer to correct himself.

When a couple pass by, glancing his way, I feel hope rise in my chest. They'll help him. They'll stop.

But they don't.

My fist tightens against the railing as they continue on, giggling.

I take a hesitant step forward.

Children are expected to follow directions and not throw themselves into dangerous buildings or situations.

I glance towards Sensei, the pile of bags on the ground dwindling quickly.

Maybe Sensei won't notice if I'm quick?

And that's when I notice the paper in his hand. Because this time, it's not the suitcase the wind grabs, but that crumpled sheet. He shouts, his voice muffled by the ocean waves, and even with the distance between us, I can hear the frustration and anger there.

And the paper flies towards me.

I can't stop myself.

Without any further hesitation, I race down the stairs, take a flying leap, and catch the paper before tucking and rolling onto the dull, gray sand. It isn't anything like grass though. It burns and scratches when I roll against it, knocking the breath from my lungs and scattering tiny, rough particles everywhere. There's a chorus of noise as the volleyball players turn my way with wide eyes.

"Dude, did you see that save?"

"Shit, are you okay?"

"Fuuuck, that was amazing!"

I ignore their words and pull myself upright, stumbling over the ground that shifts too quickly beneath my feet. It's the strangest feeling, unsteadily moving across the gray beach, but I make it to the odd figure now rising to his feet. He stares, wide-eyed at me, close enough I can see his features.

Brown hair, a heavily lined face, and a petrified expression.

"Here," I say quietly, handing him the paper. He takes it, pinching the end of the paper gingerly and nodding. It's a weird way to take something, even with gloves on, but I don't mention it. He's weird. This close I can smell the sweat, the way his clothes cling to his body and the way he's wearing multiple layers as if it were winter and not the middle of June. On top of that, he's far too still, his chest not rising and his face a strange blotchy-red color. It takes a moment to realize he's holding his breath.

I turn immediately to return, Sensei's waiting.

But the man trips again.

And this time, I refuse to just watch.

My hands shoot out and I grab him by the elbow, keeping him steady. It's wet, the fabric completely drenched in sweat and sand. My hand slides from the slickness, and I release him when I accidentally touch skin. He sucks in a shocked breath. I blink when he flinches back, suddenly shaking. And then a loud voice booms across the beach.

"Rin!"

Oh.

Oh no.

My heart leaps in my throat, Sensei's voice echoing. I scramble away from the strange man, now stuttering and staring, and rush back towards the stairs.

"W-W-Wait! Young lady!"

I can't.

Sensei's gonna be furious!

I grimace and climb the stairs two at a time, hurrying towards the car. Sensei glowers, hands on hips with nostrils flared.

"You were supposed to stay in my sights!" he says sharply. I flinch immediately at the tone, stopping just outside of arm's distance. He's never raised his voice like that to me. My eyes water and I look down, biting my lip. I don't turn back to see if the strange man follows.

"I-I-I-I'm sorry," I whisper.

"We haven't even been here 10 minutes," he snaps, and I curl inward. He notices and immediately moves forward. I cringe, waiting for the strike. It doesn't come, he envelopes me against him instead; long, spindly fingers clutching at my head, another against my back holding me in place. I can hear his heart thundering in his chest, the heavy rise and fall of his chest.

"S-S-Sensei?"

He doesn't release me.

"Rin-chan, that was absolutely terrifying," he says, voice strained.

"I-I-I'm sorry," I whisper again, fingers curling in his shirt.

"We'll discuss it in the room, are you okay?"

"Y-Y-Yes, sir."

"Good," he reluctantly let's go. Eyes tracking over my body, he scowls noticing all the sand. He brushes it from his chest and motions me to do the same, helping me get the excess from my back. I try my best and he takes another deep breath, running a hand through his hair. "I'm not letting you out of arm's reach. Let's go."

"Y-Y-Yes, sir."

"Good," he says in English. He puts one hand on my shoulder and pushes both me and the mechanical cart across the parking lot and into the lobby. I shuffle dejectedly beside him, feeling his silence more profoundly than any words.

.

.

.

The lobby of the hotel is as nice on the inside as it is on the outside, and just as full. People mingle and crowd the spacious room to queue for the front desk. Tourists, families and couples' chatter echo in the mermaid-themed room. Children's laughs ringing out as groups take pictures with the different cutouts and signs. I'd be more amused by the mermaid-shaped All Might if I weren't sure I was about to be chewed out.

I've never directly disobeyed Yamada-sensei. And even when I'd been rude that one time, he'd never raised his voice like that.

The feeling it leaves me with makes my skin crawl and my stomach twist in knots. I pull at my fingers, worry at my shirt, and bite my lip. Sensei says nothing, hand still pressed against my shoulder and the silence is almost worse.

The waiting is worse.

We'll discuss it in the room.

What's he going to do?

Mama would have pinched me. Yui-san would have slapped me for such clear disobedience. One of my caretakers would send us to bed without dinner, and I remember another would make us stand in the corner for long periods. I hadn't brought any paper. Would he find some and make me write lines? An essay? I somehow doubted it, only Aizawa-sensei had ever done that.

"We're on the fourth floor," Midnight says, interrupting my thoughts. Her eyebrows furrow as she takes in Yamada-sensei's posture and my expression. "Is everything okay? And why are you both sandy?"

"Rin wandered off," Sensei says shortly.

"Oh," she says quietly. Her attention turns entirely to me. "Why?"

"Later," Yamada-sensei says, and his tone brooks no arguments. I cringe and she makes a face. "Did you get the room keys?"

"Yep," she says. "Elevator or stairs?"

"Stairs," he says making a face.

"Figured," she says laughing. She gives me a calm smile that I can't return, my insides squirming. "Alright, follow me."

We do. I trail just behind Midnight as Sensei takes up the rear. When we get to the stairs, the blonde pauses, adjusts something at the bottom of his cart, and climbs the stairs. He doesn't struggle in the least and the strange metal contraption rises easily, noiselessly upwards. It almost looks like magic, the way the he barely even has to pull. Especially when compared to the family two floors above, I keep catching fleeting glimpses of their teetering bags and the echo of a man's grunts.

Sensei smirks when he catches me looking his way a third time.

"The request line's open if you want to ask."

I flush and turn back ahead.

"N-N-No, thank you."

"I saw the flinch," he says almost conversationally. I cringe. "I'm not going to hit you Rin-chan. Ever. I'm upset you ran off, but we'll talk about it in a while. In the meantime, I'm still your handsome and amazing Sensei, so if you have a question, I'll answer it."

I blush even harder, schooling my eyes forward.

"O-Okay."

I don't ask and he sighs dramatically behind me.

.

.

.

The hotel room is unlike any other hotel I've ever been in, and I'd been in several. Anytime I lost control I'd move and every time, the gray suits would show up without fail. Sometimes it would take a day, the times I'd accidentally hurt someone, they would come within the hour, their faces indifferent or disappointed. I'd wait for them, bag in hand, outside in those cases. It was easier, nobody flinched or screamed. And if it was evening or the next home too far, which it usually was, they'd take me to the hotel.

Those hadn't been anywhere as nice. Springy beds, musty smells, and the low chatter of the frustrated suit. Sometimes they would fuss, sometimes they would glare, I had one, once, that asked me why I kept hurting people.

I rarely answered. They're nicer if you just sleep.

"They're really plugging this mermaid thing, huh?" Yamada-sensei asks, pulling the luggage rack into the room. It's bright and fragrant, with mermaid shaped nightlights, a fishnet hanging from one wall, and a mirror decorated in shells. "You want the left or right?"

"Left," she answers laughing. "Rin-chan, you okay sharing a bed?"

"I guess?"

Considering there are only two beds, I kind of have to be, don't I? Unless they plan on sleeping together. I frown, eyebrows knitting together.

"At the homes, they told us we weren't allowed to share a bed," I admit.

"I imagine not," Midnight says with a shrug. "Does it make you uncomfortable? If so, we can figure something else out."

"No," I say, pulling at my fingers. "I don't mind."

She gives me a wicked smile.

"Great! Though I'll warn you now, I'm a terrible cuddler. You may wake up getting spooned."

"What's that?" I ask curiously.

Yamada-sensei looks amused as he begins unloading bags.

"A sleeping hug," he says making a silly face. He spins around the room in a ridiculous dance before effortlessly swinging my two bags on Midnight's bed. "Yo, Rin-chan, go shower and change, that sand's going to irritate your skin if you don't. When you're done, we should have this mess sorted so we can talk about lunch and stuff, yeah?"

Talk.

I cringe, all humor disappearing.

"Yes, sir."

I open my suitcase, grab a towel and change of clothes, and do as I'm told. When I start the water, I can hear them through the closed door. I have the overwhelming urge to listen.

Aren't you in enough trouble as it is?

I sigh, feeling dejected.

I don't listen at the door. Instead, I take a quick shower, surprised at the amount of sand I find hidden beneath my clothes. The tiny particles are everywhere, in the creases of my legs, my armpits, and even my underwear. I wrinkle my nose when I have to finger comb it in sections from my hair.

When I finally finish and change, Yamada-sensei is waiting for me, Midnight nowhere in sight. He lounges on his bed, hair loose around his face as he texts. He looks up when I open the bathroom door, green eyes bright, lips quirked. He puts the phone away.

"Alright, Rin-chan, time for that talk."

I swallow.

"Wh-Wh-Where'd Mid- Aunt Nemuri go?"

He smirks and gestures towards the bed. I sit on the edge of his, biting my lip.

"I can't believe she has you calling that," he says shaking his head. I flush and pull at my fingers, trying to ignore the way my insides churn. "She's downstairs, hopefully reserving us a table and not just flirting with all the waiters. We'll meet her in a while, but first, you and I need to discuss what happened this afternoon. Why don't we start with what you were thinking?"

"I… I'm sorry," I mumble, pulling my knees to my chest.

He watches me, lips curling into a frown.

"You mentioned that already," he says scratching his lip. "You want a hug?"

Yes.

I hesitate, though I'm not quite sure why.

He tilts his head, raising an eyebrow.

"You want to call Shouta?" he asks. There's no hesitation this time. I cringe, shaking my head, and he makes a noise in his throat. "Rin-chan, come here."

I swallow again, arms shaking as I climb into the bed. He reaches out, arms looping around my chest and stomach as he pulls me to him. He's so warm, the familiar scent of cologne filling my nose as he drags my back flush against his front. I roll in the embrace, turning so my face rests against his bicep. My fingers digging into the soft fabric of his shirt.

"I'm sorry," I whisper again, tears burning in my eyes. "I'm sorry Sensei, I didn't mean- I didn't think- I won't-"

His hand rubs quiet circles on my back as the tears fall.

"I know. Hey, I know. I'm not mad? Yeah? Don't cry Rin-chan!"

I sniffle and look up. He smiles back down, one hand moving to push back my wet hair.

"Awe, that's better! See, there's my sweet, little intern! I knew I'd find her somewhere behind all that wet hair!"

I blush and bury my face back in his chest. He laughs, the sound reverberating. I clutch his shirt a little tighter, face warming.

"Sensei," I whisper.

"Rin," he mocks, fingers tickling over my sides. I gasp and laugh and throw him a dirty look. He accepts it shamelessly, face twisting into something ridiculous as he rolls onto his back. It makes his hair cascade off the side of the bed and I rise onto my elbows, still nestled into his side to watch. It looks like liquid gold. When he makes no move to stop me, I touch it.

It's incredibly soft, like sunlight and silk against my fingers.

"Tell me why you left," he says again, his gaze watching me purposefully.

He has really green eyes.

I don't know anyone with eyes that color.

"I... I saw a man fall," I admit softly. "He… He was in the sand and the wind knocked him over and nobody helped him. I wasn't going to go, I promise! I just stood there and watched! But then he lost his paper and the wind blew it towards me and I couldn't not catch it and I was only going to be a second and I grabbed it and I gave it back and he slipped again and so I caught him, but then you yelled and I'm sorry-"

Sensei blinks at me as the words all tumble out.

"Breathe, kid," he says.

I suck in a deep breath and he chuckles, shaking his head. I take another one, just to be safe. In through my nose out through my mouth.

"So you ran off to be a hero," he says flatly.

I blush and duck my face back into his side.

"Aizawa-sensei's gonna ground me," I whisper.

"Uh, yeah! You're totally busted," he says patting my back. I groan into his chest and he just makes a tutting noise. "I think we can skip any punishments this time, not really sure what I'd have you do anyways. But if something like this happens again, Rin, there will be consequences. The rules are there for your safety. The last time you were in my care and you decided to run off to be a hero, you were kidnapped and seriously hurt. And don't think I didn't hear about that Mall incident. You need to think before you run off. Or rather, you need to communicate with adults what you're going to do."

"Yes, sir."

"All you had to do was call me," he says. He waits for me to look up and I cringe at the unnaturally serious expression on his face. "If you'd just come back to the car, told me what was going on, we could have come up with a plan, and there'd have been no issues. You still would have gotten to help this person and you'd have stayed out of trouble. Now, I'm less likely to trust you outside of my reach."

I swallow, looking down.

"Yes, sir."

"Do you understand how what you did was dangerous?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good, then enough of that," he says, and he gives me a large, winning smile. "You hungry?"

I wait, suspicious for the rest of the lecture. But it doesn't come. He just smiles calmly, waiting for my response.

Slowly, I nod. His smile grows and he sits up. In a practiced motion, he digs a hairbow from a pocket and pulls up his hair in a simple bun on the back of his head.

"Good, 'cause I'm starving. Let's go eat!"

I wipe my face and braid back my hair before tying off the ends.

"Yes, Sensei."

He laughs and does a little dance and we go down to meet Midnight.