A/N: So... it's been a while, eh?
Sorry guys. So I guess little reveal, I work as a teacher IRL and the last two weeks of school is always insane with all of the paperwork and data we have to turn in. Doing everything virtually makes it even crazier. So I took a break and I've spent the last four days rereading Rin's story and trying to find her voice again. I had planned on making this longer, but I'm a little disgusted with my word processor that deleted nearly 20 pages worth of new information along with several pages worth of revisions on this chapter and future ones. Ugh! Memo to self, save frequently.
"Rin-chan, Rin-chan, wake up!"
Blurry eyed, I open my eyes and yawn, incredibly comfortable and warm. A gold curtain of hair obscures my vision before Yamada-sensei's face replaces it, expression giddy and inches from my own. Long, cold fingers maneuver away the arms holding me in place. They dig into my forearms, before tugging me effortlessly across the cool sheets.
I whine.
"Sensei…"
"Come on!" he whispers excitedly, "get up!"
I do, stumbling out of the bed with another jaw-popping yawn. I glance back to see Midnight curled beneath the covers, her dark hair strewn wildly across the pillows, her face relaxed in sleep. She's… pretty, like really pretty. It takes me back for a moment.
I don't know that I've ever thought to look.
"Oi, come on!" Sensei huffs, tugging me towards the balcony. I follow quietly, bare feet sinking into the plush carpet as he slides open the door, the sound of the ocean wafting past. He waits for me to pass and slides it back.
I wait curiously, scrubbing at my face as the cool morning air catches on my shirt and hair. It chills my open skin and I stare, not really sure what I'm waiting for.
"S-Sir?"
His face breaks into excitement as he leans forward, loose blonde hair cascading around his face. I can't help but notice he's changed into his reading glasses and he's wearing a simple shirt and pants instead of the leathers.
It reminds me of the internship.
"Let's watch the sunrise!"
I blink and scrub at my eyes, not really comprehending.
"O-Okay? But why?"
He laughs, the sound soft and low, before pulling me into his chest and caging me against the railing. He's so warm compared to the morning air that I automatically snuggle closer. I can't help it. I like the way his body presses in, the quiet strength in his corded muscles, the smell of his cologne filling my nose. I like his hugs. They make me feel safe. Wanted.
Like the world could fall apart and everything would still be okay.
Like maybe for a moment, he isn't my teacher.
Like he'd keep me if I could just be good.
Like he wouldn't leave.
It feels like a dream.
I wish it wouldn't end.
"Ahh… Sunrises here are always beautiful," he murmurs, his voice low and soft.
And he's right, it is beautiful. We watch the sun crawl across the horizon, painting the world in sharp oranges and dusty pinks. It makes the ocean sparkle and the beach glitter, coating everything in a golden glow. With the rush of the waves and the salty breeze against my skin, it's like time stands still.
"It's pretty," I whisper, voice cracking.
"See," he chuckles, arms tightening. "I knew you'd like it! Though, if yah cry I'm sendin' yah back to Nemuri!"
"Sensei…" I whine, ducking my head.
"Aw, don't be like that!" he says, fingers wiggling immediately out to tap against the railing. "Did you sleep well?"
"Y-Yes, sir."
There's a long pause as the conversation falls away, and I immediately think of Shinsou. Do you have no people skills? I grimace and search my tired mind for something to say.
"Did… ah… did you? Sleep well I mean?" I ask and I cringe at just how awkward I sound.
"Awe, now that's too cute," he snorts, and I feel my face heat. "Yes, Rin-chan. Hmmm, why don't we go for a jog? We can grab breakfast while we're out."
"But… But what about Midnight?" I ask, leaning back to stare at his chin. He smirks down at me, mustache twitching.
"She can eat downstairs. Besides, she's not a big fan of that kind of exercise."
The way he wiggles his eyebrows makes me think there's probably more to that statement than I know. He doesn't elaborate though, and I don't ask. So I shrug and go back inside to change.
.
.
.
I don't know if I'm out of practice, or if it's just bad luck, but jogging is a disaster.
When I stretch, I accidentally cause a side cramp. When we head down the stairs, I slip on loose sand and somehow manage to jar my wrist. When we run, I lag behind (because seriously, running around a clearing a few times is not the same as a run with Sensei) and a bicyclist nearly plows into me when they lose control.
And to make it worse, despite the sun being barely over the horizon, the roads are packed with vehicles. As we move away from the beaches and closer to the commercial districts, the numbers almost seem to double—as do the number of bicyclists and pedestrians.
Which means crowds.
I hate crowds.
My stomach tightens and rolls as voices rise and the people crowd in together. Sensei, hovering closely, slows to a walk, his hand pressing firmly on my shoulder. Is it to make sure I don't run off or for reassurance? I don't know.
I don't really care.
I squeeze uncomfortably closer, nearly plastering myself to his side as elbow jam into my side and voices rise. People brush past my shoulder, a suitcase nearly rolls over my foot, and loud tourists argue up ahead.
"Why are there so many people?" I ask, eyes wide.
"The festival," he says, lips twitching as we steadily make our way across the street. I frown at his nonchalance.
"What kind of festival?"
"You haven't figured it out yet?" he asks, raising an eyebrow and nodding towards a nearby storefront. I furrow my eyebrows and examine the glass panes. There's a familiar face plastered across the window with 'plus ultra' written in some kind of bubbly paint below. "Seriously, kid, we've got to work on your situational awareness."
"All Might?" I groan, my nose wrinkling in distaste. "Is this for real?"
Sensei laughs obnoxiously and I glare.
"Really, Rin. How have you not noticed?" he asks, smirking. He makes a funny face and pretends to hold his head. When I don't rise to the bait he stops and instead wags a finger in my face. "Though, I guess you were sleeping when we came into town, so you missed the giant banner announcing it. Still Rin-chan, they've got his merchandise everywhere, even in the hotel!"
"I… I saw it," I grouse, remembering the weird mermaid. I glance into the nearest shop window as Sensei leads us to the restaurant. Creepy, chibi versions of All Might make up a garland across the top of the window with yellow, blue, and white decorations hanging behind it. Underneath, different mannequins display an assortment of colorful merchandise including pajama versions of his costume, bathing suits, and hats. At the bottom, a neat little row of All Might dolls waves back at us, each wearing a different costume or taking up a different pose. I scowl.
People really want this junk?
"Thinking about a plushie to take home?" he teases. I glare back at him, crossing my arms.
"No."
He snickers and I huff.
Then a thought occurs. It feels like swallowing ice.
"Does… Does he actually come to this?" I ask nervously looking his way. Sensei blinks, his smile dimming, and guilt scrapes at my chest.
All Might would never hurt you.
"Sometimes," Sensei says, and he awkwardly scratches at the corner of his mouth even as his other hand stays firmly attached to my shoulder. "He was at the venue last night, so it's likely he's still around here somewhere. But the chances of us meeting, though, are pretty slim overall."
"Oh," I mumble, pulling at my fingers. I glance away quickly, shoulders sagging. "Sorry…"
"Hey now, little listener, none of that!" he exclaims, and in a quick motion, he's leaning over and dragging me into his side. "It's not realistic to like everyone! And if the big man makes you uncomfortable, well, I'm not gonna judge yah for it! In fact, in high school, I used to have to work with this guy with a bug quirk."
He shivers bodily and I can't help but smile a little at his dramatics.
"Did… Did you learn to… to get over it?"
"Hell no," he grumbles, and I have to bite my lip to stop the giggle as he literally begins shaking out his clothes. "I passed out screaming every time he brought the little creepies out. Ugh! Nasty! And well, let's just say I didn't have my directional speaker back then. So it was a very short partnership. They changed our groups after a week."
I try to imagine Present Mic as a teenager screaming loudly at a flock of ladybugs flying through the air. It isn't hard.
"Oh."
He snorts and pats my shoulder.
"Yeah, so it's fine, you dig?"
"I… dig?"
He grins cheekily and squeezes me close.
"You're so adorable," he gloats in English. I blush and squirm, but he just holds me tighter, taking longer strides so I have to work harder to not trip and fall.
.
.
.
Breakfast is delicious if a little bizarre. For some reason, my food is shaped into All Might's head, with two pieces of bacon poking out of a pancake head with a berry face. Sensei seems to find it all utterly hilarious, reaching forward to steal one of his berry eyes. Personally, I think it's weird. Why would anyone want to eat someone's face?
After breakfast, we return to the hotel long enough to change, before Sensei is up and skipping out the door and dragging us all down to the beach.
The ocean, I find, is nothing like the pool.
It almost feels alive. The water moves constantly as if it were breathing. Every push of the surface wave is always followed by a steady pull beneath, sucking my legs towards the dark nothingness that stretches out forever and beyond. There's no concrete on the bottom either, though I don't know why I expected it to be. Instead, the ground is sandy and littered with half-broken shells, rocks, and sudden drops. I'd found that suddenly when I took a step and nearly went under, dropping from hip-deep down to my chest. But I think it's the force of the waves that surprise me the most. The way they slap against my skin, bursting and spraying salty water everywhere before trying to drag me back out.
Sensei laughs when I get an unexpected mouthful.
"Rin-chan! Don't drink it!"
"I wasn't trying to!" I splutter, backpedaling even as another wave smacks into my chest. I'd refused to go past chest-deep, and with the waves, I'd quickly learned to jump to keep them under my chin.
Sensei laughs and swims around me, his long body easily treading through the water like he'd done it all his life. Knowing him, he probably has.
"Can… Can Aizawa-sensei swim?" I ask as I paddle and jump over another wave.
Sensei, reclining lazily in the wave, smirks.
"Yeah. We have a pool at U.A., you know?"
I didn't.
"Did you learn at UA?" I ask instead, trying to catch a rhythm.
"Nah," he says, and his expression turns wistful. "My parents took me to the beach every summer."
I jump again, feet kicking beneath me as I crest another wave and frown.
"Is… Is that normal?" I ask softly.
His smile lessens, his blonde hair darkening as it absorbs water. He hadn't bothered to put it up and it spills down his pale chest like the mermaids in the pictures. He'd make a good mermaid.
"Not for everyone. The train tickets can be expensive and then there are people like Shouta that aren't all that fond of crowded places, but it's not abnormal. My mother loves the beach, so we went often."
"What's she like?" I ask, curiosity getting the better of me. At his odd side-eye, I clarify. "Your mom, I mean."
Sensei's look is knowing.
I flush and turn away not meeting his eye. Instead, I stare out over the beach, eyes taking in the gray sand already pocketed with brightly colored tents, umbrellas, and blankets. People crowd together, children digging into the sand, teens eating ice pops in small groups, women and men laying out, and towards the hotel, a small group tosses a volleyball over a net.
"I mean, I was just wondering," I hedge, jumping another wave, arms fluttering around me when he doesn't immediately respond. "Midoriya's mom works at the hospital and he said that she's really sweet and doesn't get upset often and..."
"Do you want to talk about your mother?" Sensei asks, drifting closer still.
Yes.
No.
I don't know, so I close my mouth and turn away, eyes scanning the ocean around me instead.
Several yards away, a group of teens plays the wrestling game atop two people's shoulders as their friends cheer. Behind them, I catch sight of a father wrestling with two smaller children, each climbing up on the man's knees, squatting at an angle, and jumping up into the air to curl up and splash back into the water with loud giggles. Beyond them, several others float inside strange, donut-shaped tubes.
Sensei clears his throat, lips quirking as he glowers.
"Hey! Don't ignore me."
I blush and sag and forget to jump.
"Sorry-"
Nasty, burning saltwater pours into my mouth and nose, down my open throat, and into my eyes. I cough, arms and legs kicking out wildly as the next wave sweeps me under.
Like in the pool, Sensei's there in seconds, long, muscled arms pulling me from the depths, his voice a soft mixture of amusement and concern. I don't hesitate, arms wrapping instantly around his neck even as I choke and cough.
"Hey, hey, it's okay! I gotcha, I gotcha…"
He straightens, so tall the water that covered my chest barely reaches his naval. He readjusts his grip. One arm holding my arm and the other rubbing at my back. I splutter and cough, eyes burning, sinuses aching, and nausea rising up from my stomach.
My breath comes in quick, shallow ticks.
"Breathe, Rin. I gotcha, you're not going under. Breathe."
I do, ten times, not sure if it's tears or ocean spray leaking down my face.
Probably both.
Like I'm some little kid.
Shame swells in equal measure to the relief. I choke on a sob even as I tighten my arms. His hands don't stop, rubbing up and down my back.
"You're safe, Rin. It's okay."
I bury my face in his neck and he chuckles. The darker strands of his hair plastered there stick to my face. Sensei doesn't leave the water. He just stands and waits. And when the panic recedes, he sinks back into the water, his knees bending to give the impression of floating. He doesn't let go, holding me loosely to himself.
"S-Sensei?"
"I told you, I gotcha," he says lips quirking to the side, bright green eyes twinkling. "You better now?"
I sniffle and nod. He makes a noise in the back of his throat, raising an eyebrow.
"Words, Rin-chan."
"Y-Y-Yes, sir."
"Good, cause Nemuri is totally low-key freaking out."
I stiffen.
"She… She is?"
"Oh yeah," he says, mustache twitching. "Look and see."
Hesitantly I do, relaxing my hold on my blonde teacher's neck to slowly glance back. It takes me a moment to find her, the dark-haired woman on the large purple towel by the giant umbrella. She smiles and waves when I do. Shyly, I wave back.
"Sh-She looks like normal," I admit softly.
"Maybe to you," Sensei says shrugging casually. I pull away a little more and his arm pulls me up before the next wave can wash over me. My feet kick automatically, the ground disappearing. "But she's sitting up, and she hasn't stopped looking our way since you went under."
I don't know what to think about that.
"W-Why?"
Sensei blinks and gives me an odd look. Then, as if out of nowhere, he grins. The smile takes up almost his entire face. It's that same shit-eating grin he uses in class when someone's done something particularly stupid.
I cringe and he stops.
"Really Rin-chan? She was worried."
"But… But why?" I ask again, rubbing at my face. The space between my eyes hurts. My throat hurts. And despite the fact that we've only been out here for maybe twenty minutes, a strange exhaustion seems to settle in my bones.
Why would she care?
She barely even knows me.
Why would she care when Mama and Yui-san didn't?
Her words from last night echo in my mind.
I may never be able to make a child, but I have one in my arms right now that seems to need it all the same.
"I'm not her child," I tell Sensei, pulling away completely.
He frowns. When he reaches forward, likely to draw me back into a watery hug, I pull back further, taking several steps towards the land so the water reaches my naval. "I have a Mom and Dad."
He stops reaching and sighs.
"Rin-chan, I'm not either of those and I care," Sensei says.
"You… You were my teacher," I whisper. His frown deepens.
"Keh, I hate when she's right about these things," Sensei says, wrinkling his nose and scratching his neck. The wet hair stuck there barely moves. "Rin, most teachers don't take their students to the beach with them. You're more than our student."
But you didn't keep me.
I nearly say it, nearly speak the words out loud, but I catch myself at the last minute. Instead, I swallow the salty taste of my saliva and rub at my nose.
Sensei leans back in the water and sighs.
"You look like you're about to get a headache. Why don't you go dry out for a while? You should drink some water as well, so you don't get dehydrated."
Despite it being worded like a question, I can hear the clear dismissal. It breaks the odd tension and I nod.
"Yes, sir."
Sensei doesn't leave the water and I wade back to the shallows. In the shadow of our umbrella, I do as I'm told, drinking water, and taking the small pain-reliever. Midnight dusts the sand off my towel, and when I lay down, the warmth of the sun somehow lulls me to sleep.
.
.
.
I wake, slowly, feeling half-baked and crusty to the sound of chatter.
I sniffle, sit up, and rub at my face. Sand, salt, and sweat slides away, my hair crunchy and tangled against my face.
I need a shower.
"Ah, Young Hoki, finally awake?"
Blinking, I turn and examine the familiar voice. The near skeletal frame of Toshinori-san, dressed as usual in his too-large clothes, smiles back. Unlike at school, today he wears too big khaki shorts and a loose, white T-shirt all strung together with a belt.
"Toshinori-san!" I greet excitedly. The last time I'd seen him was at the baby shower so long ago. Without considering the consequences, I scramble over to hug him. He sits on a large blanket beside Yamada-sensei and Midnight, all three of them circled around a small cooler. I take up the spot beside him, arms wrapping around his middle and smiling up at bright, kind eyes. "What are you doing here?"
He blinks, his breath slipping out in a loud whoosh, and I carefully make sure not to squeeze too hard, especially with the feeling of his ribs under my arms. Instead, I bury my face in the side of his chest and smile.
"Rin, you'll need to control your quirk," Midnight says, not unkindly. I blush and instantly pull away, quickly attempting to reign in the glow.
"S-S-Sorry!" I mumble.
Sensei grins and tries to hide it behind a can of what looks like beer.
"It's fine. I got in yesterday for the festival," Toshinori says, setting one hand on my shoulder and offering a friendly squeeze. His expression, however, becomes concerned. "So, glowing? I can't say I've ever seen that, is it new? Your quirk is emotional manifestation, right?"
I flush but eventually manage to turn off the light.
"Oh… uh, yes sir. After the final exams."
"It's a new development," Midnight offers, lips twitching to the side. She reaches into the cooler and pulls out a bottle of water, passing it my way.
"Thanks," I mumble.
"Ah, that explains it," Toshinori says. "How are you enjoying the festival?"
I wrinkle my nose and Sensei snorts, probably remembering my reaction from earlier.
"It's kind of weird," I tell him honestly. "I don't really get it. There are pictures of All Might everywhere, in a pirate costume and dressed like a merman. They even sell his costume as pajamas. And then at breakfast, I had to eat his face. Why would you want to eat someone like that?"
Toshinori splutters, coughing up blood, and Yamada-Sensei chokes on his drink. Midnight, who had raised a rather colorful drink to her lips, puts it down quickly and giggles.
I give them all a weird look, but ultimately decide to shrug it off.
None of them are normal.
"But the hotel is really nice!" I quickly go on, smiling brightly as I remember the luxury of the room. "It's so much nicer than the ones the gray suits would stay in. I haven't seen any bugs, the bed is super comfy, and it even smells nice! Plus, Sensei and Mid—I mean Aunt Nemuri are really nice. It even has a pool! Sensei taught me how to swim! Do you know how to swim? Did you know U.A. has a pool? Have you ever swam in it?"
Midnight scoots over as I pause to take a breath and runs her fingers through the messy tangles of my hair. They're going to be a pain to get out later, detangler or not.
"Breathe sweetie," she says softly. I do, sucking in a huge breath before looking at Toshinori-san expectantly.
He stares back, face slack like he's not really sure what he's looking at.
"Shouta's been good for her," Sensei offers, snorting.
My eyes narrow.
"What's that mean?" I ask, arms crossing.
"That you're much more talkative, don't get offended," Midnight answers for him. She reaches into her bag and pulls out a small package before handing it over. "Here, you should probably eat a snack Rin-chan, I'm sure you're hungry."
She smiles and turns back to the gaunt man.
"So, what were you telling us? Midoriya and All Might fought a villain on the I-island?" she asks, clearly returning them to their previous discussion. I freeze, the sandwich halfway to my lip, and immediately lower it back down.
Midoriya, pale and sweating and wrong. Sitting next to a figure with a hand around his neck, silver hair under a dark hoodie.
I thought I was going to watch you die!
"M-Midoriya?" I ask, my heart seizing in my chest. "Is he okay?"
Toshinori's expression softens immediately and he gazes fondly in my direction.
"Yes, Young Midoriya is only a little worse for wear. Though, he did make some new friends." My shoulders sag with relief and he pats my shoulder once more before turning back to the other two more seriously. "It would appear the villain, he called himself Wolfram, was looking to acquire a quirk amplifying device created by David Shields. He wasn't successful and the machine was broken, but the… ah… nature of the incident was concerning all the same."
Midnight leans back and frowns, Yamada-sensei takes another sip, hiding his own thoughts, and I swallow down the rest of my sandwich in quick bites and chase away the dry bits with water.
"Baby girl," Midnight says, turning to me. "The point of this trip was to get out and meet new people. So why don't you go play volleyball? They seem to be down a person."
I glance back towards the volleyball net and notice she's right, there are three players, all of them girls, playing two against one.
I grimace.
"I don't know what to say," I admit, trying to ignore the nervous energy in my stomach.
"Easy, 'Hey! Can I play?'" Midnight says laughing. "If they say no, you can come back, but at least try. Honestly, I think they might enjoy an extra player."
The idea of randomly walking up to strangers feels uncomfortable, but I shrug it off with a deep breath. It's not like I'm afraid to introduce myself, it's more that I never really know what to do afterward.
I'll just imagine what Yamada-sensei would do!
I imagine myself playing, shouting random bouts of English, and dancing around in the sand, and cringe.
Maybe I'll channel Aizawa-sensei instead…
Except I have no idea what he would do.
"Rin-chan?"
I stand abruptly and square my shoulders, refusing to be a coward.
"Fine."
I join the game without looking back.
.
.
.
It turns out all my hero training makes me really good at volleyball. Unfairly good, so somehow the teams turn from two-on-two to three-on-me. I still win, the effort of moving back and forth not that different from training, and the practice of passing the ball back and forth becomes almost fun. But after three rounds, my legs feel like jelly and the heat of the sun leaves me exhausted. Running in sand is so much more difficult than running on grass.
After that, Sensei tows me away to build a sandcastle with him and Toshinori-sensei leaves to get ready—whatever that means.
As for our sandcastles, I don't know what a sandcastle is supposed to look like, but I'm fairly sure ours isn't it. I figured it should be, if not castle-shaped, then at least box-like or something similar. Ours is a hill of runny sand topped with half-broken shells and surrounded by a large trench.
I'm almost thankful when some kid walks by and mocks it. Sensei, annoyed, knocks it over to clamber back into the waves. I join him reluctantly, not all that fond of the dark water. It reminds me a little too much of my shadows but with less control.
We return to the hotel around four. And despite having taken a nap on the beach already, the salt-water and sun seem to have a permanent sleepy effect on me. I sprawl out over the bed and within seconds, I'm asleep.
So I'm surprised when I wake covered in a light sheet, burrowed into Midnight's side.
"Mid-" I cut off with a yawn. "Excuse me."
"Auntie," she reminds me, not looking away from her book.
"Auntie," I repeat dutifully. "What are you reading?"
"Attachment," she says, turning the page. She glances my way momentarily with a small, half-smile before returning back to the page. "It's a psychological text on how attachment develops and dissolves in the different stages of life. It's quite fascinating overall."
I frown and stretch, muscles all lengthening and shaking before I relax and sigh.
"What's that mean?" I ask, curious. "Like why people like each other?"
"Yes and no," Midnight says, pulling out a bookmark and pressing it close to the spine before snapping the cover shut. She sets it on the night table between our bed and Sensei's. "Attachment is more about the ability to create a relationship with someone, which is and isn't liking them. It's very attuned to emotional intelligence, which it implies is the building blocks of our relationships. Empathy, sympathy, and etc."
I blink.
"Oh."
The dark-haired woman turns on her side, propping her head up with an arm, and faces me. She lets out an amused puff of air.
"Here, let me give you an example. So when a person's born, they naturally seek comfort from the closest available source. Remember, they're going from being inside a woman, warm, safe, and able to feel her heartbeat, when then suddenly they aren't. That's a traumatic change. It's why it's so important to hold and touch your baby. So when an infant doesn't get that on a consistent basis, what do you think happens?"
I consider it. I consider the other children in the homes, the infants present when I was younger. There hadn't been many, they often found homes first.
"I don't know," I admit. "They cry?"
"For a while," she says. "Then they learn not to expect that touch. Humans are nothing if not adaptable. They learn not to need adults and to an extent, not to trust them."
"Just because they aren't held?" I ask, eyebrows furrowing. "That seems dumb."
Midnight smiles, leans forward, and gathers me in her arms. She's so warm and soft. She drags me to her chest, and I blush at the close contact, twisting so my back is to her. Her legs shift behind mine and before I know it, we're both wrapped completely together.
"Um-"
"It's not dumb at all," Midnight whispers, her voice hot on the shell of my ear. "People need touch, Rin-chan. People need affection, whether they're infants or adults. As children we seek it from our parents, as adults we often seek them from our partners, but in the end that attachment is just as important as our physical needs."
I don't know what to say.
Luckily, I don't have to think long, as the bathroom door opens, and Yamada-sensei emerges, hair slicked up and wearing his usual leather. He smirks when he notices us and takes up the warm spot, I had fallen asleep on.
"Oh good you're awake," the blonde man says, then he lifts his eyebrow, taking in our position. "What are you two doing?"
"Talking," Midnight says, drawing out the word with a lyrical edge. "What are you doing?"
I snicker and Sensei shakes his head, pulling out his phone. From Midnight's near inescapable grasp, I can see his color-coded schedule though I can't make out any of the emojis he's no doubt used to label them. I don't really need to though, the giant yellow block that stretches to the end of the day takes up most of the screen.
"I've got to leave in about ten to head to the venue, are you two coming tonight or are you hanging here? Isn't there some sort of party tonight that Rin's fanboy mentioned?"
Midnight releases me and sits up, moving the covers with her. I decide to do the same, scooting over to put some space between us.
Talk about touchy.
"Ah, that's right! The flirty boy, he was cute."
She looks at me expectantly.
I stare back confused.
"Huh?"
Sensei snorts and Midnight shakes her head.
"Rin-chan," the woman chides. "It's your choice."
"Me?" I ask, pointing to myself. "Why would I choose?"
They share a look over my head.
"Rin," Sensei says slowly. "We're not in school. We're not your teachers right now either. We're your godparents. Do you know what that means?"
I remember Midnight explaining it at the baby shower.
"Sort of, that if anything happens to Aizawa-sensei you would step in?" I answer dutifully. Midnight, clearly recognizing the quote, smiles fondly back. I flush and scoot further away, mindful of the speed in which she can grab a person up.
"Do you know what step in means?" Sensei asks, watching the interplay with a raised eyebrow.
"Not really," I admit, looking down. "I mean, I know it means you help, I guess."
"Do you know what Shouta being your guardian means?" Midnight asks instead.
This I do. I look up and nod more confidently.
We'd only gone over it a million times.
"Aizawa-sensei says that it's a promise because he signed my paperwork. That it means he'll feed me, and he'll never hit or pinch me. But I have to tell him when I'm upset or hurt because that's important. Even the little things, like cuts and ant bites."
Midnight's face takes on a pinched quality and Sensei's lips thin.
I wonder if I said something wrong, but Midnight quickly moves on.
"Correct," she answers, nodding. "A godparent is like a second set of guardians that promise to teach and nurture you. If anything were to happen to Shouta, if he were to be hurt drastically like he was at USJ or possibly killed, it means we would take over your guardianship."
The words slip out before I can stop them.
"No, he wouldn't."
Sensei flinches. Not the small, twitch, but a large rolling flinch that rocks him off the bed and leaves him standing, face wounded with hands stuffed in his pockets. Midnight reaches, as if to comfort me, but like in the ocean, I move away.
"Rin," she tries again. "That's not true-"
Anger, sharp and hot, spikes through my chest and I glare even as I curl into myself, pulling my legs to my chest.
"Yes, it is," I interrupt. "He didn't want me." Nobody does for long.
Midnight stares reproachful, before turning to the blonde. He's still standing there, hands stuffed in leather pockets, hair slicked back, and sunglasses on. I can't read his expression and my anger fizzles away into guilt.
What's wrong with you?
You've just got to ruin everything, don't you?
"Hizashi," she hisses. "Say something!"
She looks like she wants to say more, but the phone in his pocket goes off then. Likely the one he sets as a 5-minute warning. He pulls it out, swipes off the sound, and returns it, not looking down.
"It wouldn't do any good," he says, and even his voice sounds wrong, muted—like it did in his apartment after the Last One. That same numbness crawls through my chest. "This isn't a five-minute conversation, Nemuri."
She opens her mouth, but he goes on before she can, face turning towards me, expression still blank.
"You're wrong, Rin. But we'll have that discussion later. I know Shouta's rules include speaking up if something's bothering you. Have you been holding onto that since the internship?"
Slowly, I nod.
His lips curl down into a frown.
His disappointment hurts. I blink away the tears already burning in my eyes.
"You and I are going to have a very long chat when I get back. If I do or say something that hurts you, I expect you to tell me. Do you understand?"
I nod and his frown deepens. He rubs his neck and leans his head back, staring at the ceiling.
"What bad timing," he huffs, breathing deeply. I cringe and he sighs, head rolling against his neck. He gestures me to stand. "Alright, come here, I want my goodbye hug."
I don't move and he makes an impatient motion with his hand.
Hesitantly, I slide from the bed.
"S-Sir?"
As soon as I'm standing, he pulls me into his chest like he always does, one hand behind my head and the other behind my back. I press my face into his undershirt, the soft fabric filling my nose with his familiar scent. My hands clutching onto the leather.
So I'm surprised when he leans forward, lips pressing against my cheek.
"I care very much about you, kid. But I've got to go."
He pulls away and looks over my head.
"Nemuri, text me what you two decide, will yah?"
"Of course."
He pats my shoulder, and in several quick strides, he's out the door and gone.