A/N: Woah! I wrote this one so fast. I think that's because I had so many different inspirations to stay up and wire this. For some reason this is the story that is just pouring out. I am not sure what will happen this weekend, so I am glad I will be able to post this soon. Please enjoy, thank you for the support, and let me know what you think of this chapter. I have had to put in a lot of work to research Japanese laws for minors. It is different than the United States for sure. Anyway, leave a comment and let me know. Thank you!

Chapter 8

Tokoyami focused heavily on his breathing while he was in the nurse's office. He hurt too much to focus on his pain like he normally did, and if he focused too much on what happened, he was positive he would lose control of Dark Shadow.

Mineta was an idiot. When he and Shoji were paired up with the purple creep for the three on three exercise. They were up against Midoriya, Todoroki, and Yaoyorozu. Yaoyorozu had created flash grenades to blind the group. Tokoyami and Shoji knew if they got enough distance they would be fine, but that was stopped when Mineta panicked and decided to "grape rush" anything in motion. Tokoyami and Shoji were stuck in place. They each took a direct hit from Todoroki's fire blast. It was so hot it melted Mineta's balls to their skin. Then, Midoriya came from the side to kick Shoji. Shoji, defenseless, took the kick and flew directly into Tokoyami. The collision broke several of Tokoyami's bones including his hip, and two ribs. Now he sat in the nurse's office awaiting Recovery Girl's treatment.

"I'm normally not one for grudges," Shoji said in the bed next to Tokoyami, "but I know this is all Mineta's fault for panicking."

"Indeed," Tokoyami managed to say. He began to take slow deep breaths. Recovery Girl was going to return soon. It had taken the assisting robots a good twenty minutes to unstick the teens from the gym floor. When they arrived at the Nurses office, Recovery Girl instructed that

"Tokoyami, is your pain worsening? Should I call for Recovery Girl?" Shoji asked.

"No!" Tokoyami responded a little too quickly. He cleared his throat to slow himself down. "You don't need to call her."

Shoji could tell something was off. "Tokoyami are you sure?"

"It's not the pain, Shoji," Tokoyami stated.

"But something is troubling you," said Shoji.

Tokoyami was silent. He wasn't sure what to say to Shoji. How would anyone start such a conversation. "I just… I just don't like being in the nurse's office."

"That's understandable," agreed Shoji. "Is there a particular reason why?"

"Shoji, between my pain, discomfort, and anger for Mineta for putting us in this situation, I would appreciate it if you would just let me sit here and focus on keeping Dark Shadow from acting up," Tokoyami states with a snappy tone.

'"Forgive my frankness, but I believe the last time you held in your fear, things turned out poorly for the pair of us as well."

"The villain attack at the camp as different."

"Your voice sounds the same. You are taking deep breaths trying to stay calm. I know you, Tokoyami. I may not know everything about you, but I know you."

A few tears leaked from Tokoyami's eyes. "Shoji, I'm too scared to talk about it right now. We can talk about it later, I promise. Please, if you want to help, give me something else to think of besides being in the awful room in this condition."

Shoji was shocked. Tokoyami rarely cried. There was something truly troubling his friend. "Okay. Let's talk about something else."

As Shoji began to talk about the latest gossip that Hagakure and Ojirou were secretly dating, Recovery Girl entered the room. "Okie dokie boys. I think I have sorted out how I want to go about treating the pair of you."

The elderly woman's voice echoed in Tokoyami's head. Dark Shadow could feel that something wasn't right. "Fumikage?" When his host didn't respond, Dark Shadow poked out of Tokoyami's chest and nudged his face. Tokoyami remained with a vacant stare, trapped in a memory.

"Fumikage, you have to breath softer," a raspy voice spoke inside Tokoyami's head said.

"I don't want her to find me," a small, five-year-old, Tokoyami thought back to the voice. "She wouldn't check dad's closet right, Dark Shadow?"

"I'm not sure," Dark Shadow said. "She'll find you if you don't control your breathing."

Footsteps creaked against the floor outside the door. Tokoyami flinched. "She's coming!"

A woman's voice began to hum. "Fumikage? Where could you be?"

"Please leave me alone, Grandma," Tokoyami pleaded.

"My little Fumikage," she sang, "My little Toki Toki, you make my heart go doki doki."

The closet door opened, and light shined on Tokoyami's face. He hugged his knees and began to shake, tears dripping from his eyes. "Please no."

"Fumikage!" Dark Shadow headbutted the teen.

Tokoyami blinked as his body recoiled from the contact. Dark Shadow stared at him with concerned eyes. An extended eye and mouth from Shoji also came into view of Tokoyami.

"Are you back with us?" Shoji asked.

Tokoyami nodded. He then froze in place as Recovery Girl placed a hand on the back of his neck. He looked to his right to see Recovery Girl standing beside him. "Hmm, you feel a little warm, but that could be because of your choker could be retaining heat from your burns."

Recovery Girl began to remove Tokoyami's choker. She untied the cloth. Tokoyami shut his eyes, trying to hold back the tears. He clenched his fists. The limb that was an eye transformed into a hand and landed on top of Tokoyami's hand.

"Tokoyami, what's wrong?" Shoji asked.

"Are you in that much pain dear?" Recovery Girl asked. "Let me give you a small treatment. I don't want to heal you completely because I need to give you surgery. You have some bone fragments from your broken hip that need to be removed."

Tokoyami braced himself as he saw the elderly woman's lips move towards his arm. He knew Recovery Girl would not do anything inappropriate. She was a kind person who only wanted to help. It still didn't keep the fear away.

"No!" A loud, high pitch scream shouted from across the room.

Recovery Girl removed her lips and Tokoyami dared to open his eyes to see Sora rushing at Recovery Girl, fists flailing in the air. "Sora?"

"Get away from him!" Sora began to hit Recovery Girl.

"Sora! Stop that!" Aizawa rushed over and grabbed the girl. Sora continued to swing wildly. Recovery Girl back away. Aizawa held on to her tightly until he saw Dark Shadow wrap around the girl.

Dark Shadow lifted Sora to Tokoyami. "Sora, you have to calm down," Tokoyami stated. Though he was firm in tone, he did feel somewhat relieved.

"She was kissing you! She was kissing you like Grandma!" Sora said.

"I-it's how she heals people," Tokoyami stuttered.

Sora shook her head. "She was scaring you! Just like Grandma!"

"Of course, she scares me!" Tokoyami raised his voice. "Look at her! Just seeing her makes me think of Grandma. Her cool fingers sliding all over me while her lips hit my neck. It's… it's terrifying being here." Tears began to stream down Tokoyami's face. "This is the scariest place in the world, but my fear is irrational to Recovery Girl. She's a nice old lady who helps people and fixes them."

Tokoyami's beak began to clack as he trembled at the memory. Sora saw her brother tremble. She knew saying anything else wouldn't help. Instead she let her eyes water and the tears drip onto her brother's skin. The room fell silent as Tokoyami's blisters and burns faded without a trace.

"Thank you, Sora." Tokoyami gently patted her head. "Would you help Shoji as well?" Sora nodded and walked over to Shoji. She over the large teens webbed arms and spilled her tears onto his skin.

"That little red bird sure does have one heck of a quirk," Hawks spoke from the doorway. The number two hero slowly entered the room, keeping eye contact with Tokoyami the entire time.

Tokoyami's eyes were now puffy and full of disappointment. "Hello Hawks. I'm sorry you had to see me like this. I didn't know you would be here." He hung his head as his mentor approached the bed. It was a disgrace for Hawks to see him like this.

Hawks ignored the teen's self-loathing statements. "Why didn't you say anything about her during your internship?"

"It never came up in conversation," Tokoyami explained.

"You could have brought it," said Hawks.

"Why are you here?" Tokoyami wiped away his tears and filled his voice with annoyance.

"To be honest, I'm not quite sure. Aizawa called me here to discuss some business. I arrived a little early which provided me an opportunity to meet your lovely sister. We talked, we ate caramel apples, then Aizawa came home and said you got hurt. Man," Hawks placed his hands on his hips, "Can that sister of yours throw a fit. She would not stop screaming until we brought her here to see you."

"Then fate has chosen to make a mockery of me today," Tokoyami mumbled.

"On the contrary," argued Hawks. "I am not one who asks about people. It seems I need to learn more about my pupil before I continue mentoring them."

"I don't see how knowing my personal life can help you," Tokoyami states.

"Well, for one thing it can show me why you are always holding yourself back. If you're afraid to visit Recovery Girl, then you will never try to push yourself to greater limits while you're at school." Hawks raised an eyebrow waiting for Tokoyami's response.

"That explains why you gave up so easily at the Sports festival." Bakugou entered the room looking exhausted. He was changed to his street clothes as he walked into the room.

Hawks pointed a thumb at Bakugou. "This kid gets it."

"Bakugou? Why are you here?" Tokoyami asked, barely looking up.

"Why do you think? I'm here for the kid, let's go Pipsqueak!" He motioned his head towards the door.

Sora didn't budge from her spot. "I can't leave Fumi."

"He'll be fine." Bakugou pulled out two sets of keys. "I'll leave you my keys to get back in the dorm. I got yours from your locker. If she falls asleep I don't want to deal with moving her."

"Take your keys, Bakugou," Shoji intruded on the conversation. "I will stay with Tokoyami until he is fixed up to return to the dorms."

Bakugou glared hesitantly, before placing his keys back in his pocket. "Okay. Come on Pipsqueak."

"But, Fumi?" Sora stares at her brother. He was working hard to avoid eye contact with anyone.

"Sora, it is best if you go with Bakugou," Tokoyami mumbled.

Sora opened her beak to argue, but hesitated. This provided enough of an opening for Bakugou to grab her and pick her up. "Let's go. I need dinner." He carried the girl out of the room before she could say another word.

Recovery Girl stood a good distance from the bed. "Tokoyami, would you like me to give you a minute?"

"No, I'd rather get out of here as soon as possible."

Recovery Girl nodded. "Very well. I will have a nurse assistant help prep you for surgery." She gave Aizawa and Hawks a concerned look before walking out of the room.

Aizawa walked over to Tokoyami. "Tokoyami, would you mind if I took a look at your phone?"

"Sure?" Tokoyami said hesitantly. "It's over on table. Why do you want it?"

Aizawa walked over to the table and picked up the phone. He scrolled through the call history. "I wanted to see if anyone had tried to reach out to you. You know, since Sora has technically been missing for over twenty-four hours. It doesn't appear so." He put the phone down and walked towards the door, grabbing hawks by the arm on his way out. "We'll leave you to get prepped for surgery."

The two adults left he nurses office. Hawks looked at Aizawa with raised eyebrows. "Are you going to provide context to that?"

"Once we are in my office," Aizawa said. "There is a lot to fill you in on."

"I can agree to that. After all, I am now invested." The two nodded and walked towards the teacher's office.

Once behind closed doors, Hawks expressed his concern. "That's not a side I expected to see from Tokoyami."

"He doesn't like to show weakness," Aizawa states. "He never has."

"So why bring me here, Eraserhead? The kid was clearly embarrassed by my presence. Don't tell me you expected some form of pep talk?"

Aizawa shook his head. "No. I was more hoping you could extend your mentoring skills outside the realm of hero work."

Hawks raised an eyebrow. "And that would be?"

"Helping walk Tokoyami through how to conduct a legal case for his emancipation."

"You want me to help him get his name off his family registration," Hawks restated.

Aizawa nodded. "It's what you did."

Hawks thought for a few minutes on that statement. The winged hero paced the office. "You know this won't help his sister at all."

"You don't think his emancipation would provide evidence that she needs to be removed as well?" Aizawa asked.

"Not if you want to keep them together. Tokoyami getting emancipated will push his sister further away."

Aizawa sighed. "That's fair. I don't even know if Tokoyami would be willing to do it."

"You just need to provide the kid options," Hawks stated. "Perhaps emancipation is the wrong route. I'm thinking we need to try something different." Hawks took a sea in the guest office chair.

"It's strange when you make so much sense." Aizawa sighed and moved to his chair. He leaned back and folded his arms. This day just kept getting longer and longer. "Alright, I'm listening."

Bakugou hadn't thought about how hard it would have been to walk around with two trays while a child would be clinging to his back over a backpack, yet here he was. He opted for staying in the dining hall. Instead the two went straight to Tokoyami's room. Bakugou didn't want to deal with questions from other people.

Inside Tokoyami's room the two sat on the floor and ate. It was quiet. Bakugou didn't mind. He didn't know what to say to Sora if she needed comfort. He was just grateful she didn't want to speak. Her eyes we glassed over, yet pensive. She needed to process what was happening, and as long as Bakugou didn't have to speak, he could handle this.

Aizawa had managed to leave Sora's backpack in the hallway when they arrived at the nurse's office. Bakugou had scooped it up on his way out of the infirmary. Now Sora sat on her brother's bed, blasting loud music while attempting to color. Bakugou was sitting on the floor with his legs stretched out in front of him.

Bakugou's phone chimed. He pulled it out to see a message from his mom.

Mom: I called and got permission. You are having dinner here, Friday night! Don't try to fight me on this!

Bakugou: okay

Bakugou felt his phone ring. It was his mother. He picked up the call. "What do you want old hag?" He said rather softly.

"Katski! What did you do?" His mother's voice screamed through the receiver.

"I didn't do anything." Bakugou was trying to speak softly, but his tone came across rather sluggish.

"Katski are you sick?" His mother asked. He normally sharp voice was curved with concern.

"I'm not sick."

"You are not acting like yourself."

"Tsc. Look I was just thinking that's all."

"Thinking about what? What thought could make you not rage out like your normal self?"

"Just," Bakugou glared over at Sora. She was still coloring. "It's just that you're not as shitty as I thought."

There was silence on the phone. "Get your ass to this nurse this instant! And I swear to God, if you say I love you I will drive my ass down there!"

Bakugou could hold it in any more. "Just learn to take a compliment you fucking old hag!"

"Bakugou?"

Sora was now looking at him with watering eyes. Bakugou huffed. "Now look what you did! You upset the kid! I gotta go!"

"Wait what ki- "Bakugou hung up before his mother could answer.

"What do you want Pipsqueak?"

Her yellow irises rippled through her growing tears. "How do you know if someone is a good person or a bad person?"

"Shit." This is not something Bakugou was prepared to handle. "Why does she want to know this?" He continued to look at the child. She was now trying to wipe any leaking water from her eyes.

Bakugou sighed. "I suppose it would be by a person's actions."

Sora thought on that answer for a minute. Bakugou began to relax a bit until he heard Sora sniffle. His body stiffened like stone. He couldn't handle a crying child.

"I'm a bad person," she sniffled.

Bakugou rolled his eyes. "How?"

"I hit that lady," Sora began to list. "I yelled at Aizawa and Hawks."

"You were worried about your brother. Bad guys don't do things for other people. They especially don't worry about others." Bakugou wasn't going to let her continue listing anything negative. His words seemed to do the trick. Sora wipes her eyes again, then placed the headphones back on her head and laid down on the bed.

"Good," thought Bakugou. "Hopefully there will be no more of that."

Tokoyami opened his eyes to a dimly lit room. He could tell just by the ceiling he was in the nurse's office still. His body felt significantly better.

"Good, you're awake."

Tokoyami turned to see Shoji smiling and sitting beside his bed. "You feeling better?" A tentacle mouth asked."

"I am," Tokoyami stated.

"Good. Let's get going then."

The two teens walker silently out of the nurse's office and towards the vacant courtyard. Tokoyami stopped and stared at the Height Alliance entrance. His eyes were fixated towards the second floor.

Shoji could figure out what his friend was thinking. "Do you want to take minute to sit here and enjoy the fresh air?"

Tokoyami nodded and the two moved to a large tree where they could both lean against the trunk. They sat in silence for a long while. Shoji grew a tentacle eyes to observe his friend. Tokoyami was so stoic. His calm demeanor was so impressive.

"I'm sorry you had to see me in such a demoralizing light," Tokoyami said.

"I'm not," said Shoji. The multi-armed teen jumped at his own statement.

Tokoyami turned to look at his friend. "Why?"

"Knowing what you have been through," Shoji began, "and knowing what you still live with, I am proud. Many people would use such a story to allow themselves to be weak and selfish. You refuse to let this hold you back. You are working to be something that you never had in your life. It is truly admirable. I'm proud to be friends with someone so selfless."

Shoji turned his head to stare at Tokoyami. He was met with a pair of red eyes staring at him with a mix of shock and perplexity. His eyes filled with warm liquid. "Shoji…"

Shoji took advantage of the moment. He extended an arm around Tokoyami and pulled him closer. Shoji wrapped all six arms around his friend. He had never really hugged Tokoyami, not like this. What was more surprising was when he felt his small friends arm wrap around his own waist. Tokoyami was hugging him back.

The two teens remained in their embrace for quite some time. They only broke, when Tokoyami's stomach growled. Shoji laughed. "I suppose we have missed diner." Though he loosened his grip, he didn't remove the embrace.

"I apologize. I didn't intend to hold you for so long."

"You didn't hold me, I chose to stay."

Tokoyami nodded. "Yes. I suppose…" His voice trailed off.

Dark Shadow crept out from Tokoyami' back. He squeezed his way between Shoji's arms and looked Shoji in the eyes. "He is happy you stayed."

Shoji smiled with his true mouth behind his mask. "I'm happy I stayed as well." Shoji's stomach growled. "Perhaps we should grab a quick dinner?"

"I should really release Sora from Bakugou's care," Tokoyami said. He pointed a thumb to the door. "Would you mind letting me in?"

Shoji nodded and used an extended arm to swipe his keys over the fob. The door unlatched, and Tokoyami grabbed the handle. As he walked in, the bird headed teen turned to Shoji with a melancholic smile.

"Thank you again, Shoji." The door closed and Shoji watched as Tokoyami moved out of sight.

Shoji stared for a short while, retracing the path Tokoyami took. "You may worry about Sora, but I'm going to worry about Tokoyami." Shoji turned away and stared to head for the dining hall.