She fights and she sweats those sleepless nights
But she don't mind, she loves the grind
She grinds from Monday to Friday
Works from Friday to Sunday - 6 Inch by Beyoncé

Mara pulled her costume out of the bottom of the go-bag. When she'd been called about doing this mission, she'd had a grand total of forty-seven minutes to pack and get to the airport for a flight to Honolulu. She'd totally forgotten the jacket she liked to wear with it. Her work boots too, though the Docs would do just as well.

She shook it out with a critical eye. There was absolutely no helping it now. Modesty had never been the concern or she'd never picked the reinforced lycra bmx-style body armor in pink camouflage. Besides, with the silicone petals and no-line panties she wasn't giving away the farm.

Mara slipped into her costume; pulling and adjusting the kevlar mesh plates into their correct places. She didn't really need the armor since if she couldn't stop someone with violent intent, her partner would get the duty of keeping her safe. If that failed, all the armor in the world wouldn't save her.

Her parents had always insisted that was the reason for softball. To learn how to run, when to hit for the stands, when to hold a little back to lull your opponents. Mara hadn't cared after starting taekwondo. After she'd been told she'd never be a hero and put on the drugs, Mara had buried all the sports in a deep hole.

Things changed for her on that windy Halloween night. After her father died she quit university and moved to LA. There she was trained by some of the best mental-quirked people she could find. They'd resurrected her love of training her body. Then they had taught her how to turn a quirk never meant for helping into a hero's ability.

With a heavy snort she pulled on her boots and ditched the old memories. They didn't help her now. Mara had real work to do this morning and more later for training to help Shinso in the afternoon. That mental checklist finished, she left her room.

Last night, after dinner with Shota and his small family, she came back to Alliance Heights to find her two partners. She spoke to the kids, opening her empathic senses and asked them questions about their classmates. She'd found out two things: firstly, the one called Bakugo is easily the most widely admired yet the most reviled student. Secondly, one of Shota's recommendations, Kaminari, was a perverted powerhouse who seemed to get along with Bakugo. Ladies men in the making are easy partners. Eager to please and happy to show off. Jerks have something to prove, but when reigned in can be the most steadfast and loyal of partners.

Mara met them downstairs for breakfast, where she'd requested that they come kitted up. Bakugo was positively scary with his huge grenade gauntlets and faux-explosions in his hair. At least she hoped that's what they were. It was Kamanari's outfit that made her gasp and smile in happiness, though. It wasn't the rig on his wrist, which reminded her of a nerf-shooter, or the spiffy glasses that were resting on his blonde spikes.

"I love your coat! I left mine behind by accident, but yours is so cute!" Mara gushed over Kaminari's leather jacket.

"M-my jacket?" Kaminari fingered the leather over his forearm.

Bakugo scowled, "Are we leaving or what?"

"Not before I eat. And yes, uh, so sorry." Mara smiled prettily at him, "Forgot your name again. Your coat is great. I wish I had mine, I feel naked without it."

"Kaminari or Chargebolt." Kaminari beamed at her, "If you like it, I have another you can keep while you're here." He gave Mara a coy glance and shot the other kid a venomous glare.

"Really? You don't mind? We're about the same size."

"There's cereal in the cupboards. Bakugo can probably be counted on to get your breakfast sorted. I'll be right back." Kaminari jogged back toward the elevators.

"It's Katsuki Bakugo in case you forgot my name, too." She totally had. "If you want to eat, let's get it over with."

"If you growl every time you speak, no one will ever take you seriously."

Bakugo nearly vibrated with an internalized growl, "You recognize the goods, Lady, or you would not have chosen me."

Mara pulled down a bowl. "I know that people love to hate you." She flipped open cabinets, "Someone told me you needed guidance. One, a kid with hard, red hair? He told me you were strong." She shrugged, glancing over her shoulder, "If you have goods, show them to me when I need it. Other than that, we're doing a job. That's it."

She pulled out a box of cereal and helped herself before going back to put the box away and grab milk. She settled near the scowling teen.

"Look, in the grand scheme, what I think doesn't matter except to you. If you do a good job out there: keep your cool, follow the law, help people who need it without being asked..." She poured the milk, but locked eyes with Bakugo. "That is being a hero. A person others want on their team."

"I can." He looked away, then back suddenly more fierce somehow. As if taking off the spiked persona had made him double the boy - no, man - he'd been a moment ago, "There are people I want to save, too. There's someone I have to reach."

Mara started on her cereal, knowing exactly what he was saying. He'd been using this mask so long he was finding it hard to escape. She knew how he felt after years of being told she wasn't good enough, had the wrong kind of quirk, to be quiet and take her meds. She ate her cereal and contemplated the now silent boy.

Kaminari came back with his extra jacket in hand. Mara motioned for him to toss it, and she caught it short of falling in her breakfast. "Wow! Thanks, Chargebolt!" She motioned to the cereal she was nearly finished with, "If you need to eat, you'd better do it before your friend rips us in half." She winked at Bakugo who returned it with a jitter of surprise and a huff. She laughed, slipping into the coat. Oh yeah. SO much better.

After breakfast the three of them left on foot to patrol the neighborhood. Kaminari kept a near constant stream of chatter. He seemed to know where everything was around here and had a couple of amusing stories tossed in for leavening. Bakugo mainly scowled harder as the other boy's sweet nature took off with his mouth. We walked toward where he had said his home was.

Unfortunately , the area around the school had been devoid of life. We ended up rescuing a couple of lost pets, all but one with owners searching for them. The animal rescue people were friendly, though, and treated the three of us to a couple cans of hot coffee. Another Japanese thing that I'd never experienced in America.

After hours of goose-egg, as Mom used to say, the team decided to head back to UA for lunch. That would work well for Mara, since she had to find both Kahui and Shinso. First she needed to know what he was doing for the rest of the week. Knowing him, it was making plans to take the copter out to high action areas, which he'd need Mara for, or making plans to leave with a well-deserved paycheck. Which meant that Mara would be leaving too. Now that she is here, she didn't want to go just yet.

The boys were finding rocks and debris in the streets, tossing them in the air to use as target practice. Kaminari could blast them out of the sky with his shooter's assistance. Bakugo was showing off his AP shot, which burst from his fists like actual bullets. The two of them were already easily the equal of many of the heroes back home. With the additional training they were going to get in school, they'd be simply astonishing.

"Chargebolt, that last shot was great! You won't always have time to use your shooter. Make sure to practice stunning just the people you want with just your power and will." The lightning kid flashed a smile at Mara, tucking his hands in his pockets to walk in a fashionable slouch.

"What?" Bakugo exploded, "No advice? Fine! I don't need any!"

"You could be nicer," Mara said with a laugh. "But no, in general, you both are pretty amazing guys. I can tell you've gotten different training than your friend here. And that's alright. That's how your work study and internships work. I want Kaminari to reach your level, too." She smiled at the boy who was now slightly red in the ears, "I know it's thoughtless of me to say 'don't be embarrassed', but you shouldn't be. I'd be happy to work with either of you as fully licenced heroes back home. Honest."

They exchanged looks and smiles bloomed on both faces. "Hey, thanks," Kaminari blurted out, "You're cool too, even though we didn't get to see your quirk do it's thing."

Bakugo actually laughed, "You should be happy you didn't have to show her your quirk!" He hooted then slumped with a dopey look, "Heehhh!" He flashed a thumbs up and Kaminari growled.

"That's it!" He noted UA's gate was just a half-block away, "The first one back wins!"

"Bragging rights?"

Kaminari nearly vibrated, "I don't have anything else!" He took off with a wildly yelling Bakugo darting after him. Mara laughed, shaking her head. She was just as glad she didn't have to use her quirk. She shrugged, then broke into a run, too. She'd never win since they left her in the literal dust, but she'd be damned if she wouldn't have fun too.

Returning to the dorm with a visibly preening Kaminari, Mara broke off and walked toward the elevator bank in the back of the common area. A large crowd of the students she'd started to get to know were all clamoring over a slightly crouched Shota just off to the side. She gave him a wave and continued on.

"Hey! Wait." He stopped her and fended off the rest of his students who started to disperse to other diversions. He jogged to her, "I was looking for you. Do you have lunch plans?"

"Nope! Except that I needed to find which dorm holds our friend. I am positive I offered to talk to him today."

Shota slowly nodded his head, a smirk on his lips. "He lives over in August Park." He stopped, "You're changing first?"

"That is why I was here. And lunch." She rubbed her rounded stomach. "Why are you here?" Mara smiled at him. It didn't matter why, she was glad to see him again. Her heart began to beat just that little bit faster, and she came to a realization: she liked him. For all the stuff that had happened, she was truly attracted to the lackadaisical teacher. Kahui's words popped into her mind, 'You like sensei,' and she blushed.

He gifted her a small smile, "I thought I'd come and chaperone my student. He is a young boy, you know." He lifted one dark brow in a smooth arch, "I can rummage for something to eat on the way."

She giggled, "Okay. Well, let me get redressed. For a hero school, I am sure getting a lot of stares."

"It is full of civvies right now." Then he lowered his voice, "And you're well worth a second look." His lips curled, and Mara's heart melted. He was flirting with her, she was sure of it.

"I did have another reason for being here." He lifted a hand displaying a shopping bag bulging with clothes, "One of the kids mentioned that you only had a go-bag with you, so I thought you might want some more changes."

"Oh." Mara abruptly felt like he had handed her a diamond necklace, not a bag of old clothes, "I do! I can have these, or do you want them back?" She took the bag, and pawed through it. A couple pairs of drawstring shorts and a few shirts. She felt light-headed.

"They're yours if you want them. I'm afraid there's nothing particularly cute in there."

Her heart did a double thump. He couldn't know that this bag had taken on an aura of cuteness, just by virtue of having belonged to him. "Give me a couple minutes to change." She pressed the elevator button, and it opened obediently behind her.

She pressed her key card against the lock and nearly fell into her room. For once she was glad she wasn't sharing, because she desperately needed a minute to cool down. He was just being nice. Shota, for all that she was positive he had flirted with her a moment ago, was still the same guy that promised to sue her into the ground. But, he'd apologized, she reminded herself.

She sat up, and peeled out of the awesome leather jacket and then out of her costume. She flung the jacket over the only chair in the room, which also was the overflowing repository for donated clothing. She pulled off her silicon and replaced her bra and opened Shota's bag. A familiar orange-haired character smiled at her, and she pulled it out with a smile. So, Shota was a closet anime fan. He was definitely worth flirting with now.

Mara giggled and put the shirt on. It was maybe a shade larger than she usually liked to wear, but Ichigo looked happy to be there, so she hurriedly put on jeans and balled up her socks to add the bubbly girl's adorable strawberry sandals. She ran her fingers through the braids, making them lay straight down her back before deciding that they would be cuter over her shoulder. Or maybe… Mara left them right there, she was definitely overthinking things.

An envelope that she must have stepped on a second ago surprised her out of her goofy, crush-brain thoughts. She picked it up, recognizing the handwriting of Kahui instantly. She read it:

Mara - I'm out of a job, as are you. Sorry lovey. All the info is inside, but we're due back in Kahului in three days. - Kapu

The very thought that her adventure was almost over made her sadder than she thought she'd be. Her mind went straight to the man downstairs, her taciturn teacher. She fingered the envelope, but no grand plans sprang to mind. All she could do was help out the best she could while she was here. For now, that meant that she should go back down like nothing was happening, and try to make sure that nothing did.

She hurried her steps back to Shota and her appointment with a brainwasher. Shinso certainly made it sound sinister, but he would be a great partner to someone, just like she is. He had an interesting quirk, and she was looking forward to working with him for a little bit.

Down on the main floor, Shota was waiting patiently, a stick of sticky-looking balls in one hand and a cloth-wrapped bundle of rectangles in the other. He held out the stick, "This is for you." His face was set in it's dull mode, so she took them with a suspicious sniff.

"What's in the bundle? Because even if this is good, it's not enough for this woman."

His eyes crinkled a bit at the corners, "The stick is dango. One of the students happened to have an extra. It's a…" His lip tilted in a half-smile, "It's a sweet soy dessert. It's good."

Mara knew dango, but these didn't look like they did in anime. With a bracing breath she popped the stick into her mouth and bit off a ball. "Mmm," she could barely make words. It was very sticky, and very sweet-salty and good. "Oh, okay, that stick was a hit." She motioned at the doors and Shota led the way to Shinso's dorm.

She ate the rest of the sticky treats, and by the time they reached August Park, she was nursing a slight sugar high. Which did not account for…

"Yakushite Kudasai?"

Mara stopped dead in her tracks, the answer to his question on her tongue, though she could not say it. Or even marvel at being able to know that she knew what he'd asked. She stood still as a statue, her feet resting squarely under her so that she could stand there forever if he wanted. The experience was too stunning.

"I caught her," Shinso came out from around a couple of decorative bushes. "I didn't think that would work, honestly."

Shota looked her up and down, "Mara? Can you try and break free?"

Mara's mind sped through some thoughts. She could think, that was sure. She could see Shinso, his wisteria eyes looking at her in speculation. Shota was also directing a curious gaze on her. She was starting to feel like one of those giant squids that no one can find until it washes up on some god-forsaken beach. That made her angry, and she desperately wanted to punch one or the other of them, but couldn't move. She tried to form the words, but could not.

"Let her go before she decides to break your mind."

Mara could suddenly breathe. She was breathing before, but now she felt like herself. Her mouth turned, "I was just threatening you, I can't wreck your brain." She turned to Shinso, "That was weird! I knew how to answer your question even though I only know anime Japanese." She laughed, "Like I said, weird."

"I have to capture your attention first. I don't know enough about you to make you want to answer a challenge or question. So Mr Aizawa suggested we ask a question in Japanese to stop you."

Shota nodded, "Yeah, come on. We'll eat over at the sigma training ground. I reserved it for today." He hefted his cloth, "I had some thoughts about the two of you last night. I'm glad to see I'm right."

Mara slid her eyes to Shota, hoping that if he caught her, he'd not think anything about it. He'd spent the night thinking about her? Maybe it was just in the context of her and Shinso working together, but he still thought about her. Crush brain. It was all crush brain. She had to just forget it. The note in her pocket burned her skin. She didn't have time to fall in love.

She shook herself and looked at where they were heading, a marker with the Greek symbol of Sigma announcing the place they were supposed to practice. She followed the boys in and marveled at the open space. There were mountains of concrete interspaced with structures that she took to be building for training rescue scenarios. Her school/hero experience learning how to mountain climb and swim during Summer vacation paled in comparison.

"This is cool." She smiled, "I mean, I wish we had this stuff in America. UA should open a couple satellite schools. I'm serious."

Shota looked around, his face still impassive, "There's better places." He stopped on a grassy area before the broken streets of the training area took over. "Lunch. Then we'll see what you two can do."

They ate, chatting about their morning like a little family. Shota had spent it with Kahui, walking around making sure everything was working right. Shinso, since school had been cancelled for the crisis, had been doing make-up hero work for when he was admitted to the Hero course at the new year. Mara told them about finding lost pets in the neighborhood with Kaminari and Bakugo.

She found another stick in the bento box, and held it up for inspection. "What is the name of God is this?"

"Like the dango, but pressed flat and grilled. Different sauce, too." Shota smiled again, and Shinso nodded amicably. "It's fine. No more real delicacies. Maybe next time you can have corn on a stick."

"We have that in the States, you know?" Mara snorted, but took a bite of the food. "Ugh. It's not enough like the dango. Sorry. Pass."

Mara put the stick back in the box, closing the lid fully. "We're fed enough." She stood, dusting her butt and making sure her shirt was straight; to the boy's evident enjoyment since they had paused to watch her.

Shinso blushed, his luminescent white skin not made for hiding the sudden blood rush. Shota just watched and Mara could feel sparks of attraction between them. She liked feeling this way, though she knew in her heart it would end in pain.

Shota broke first, clearing his throat roughly. "Last night I watched a documentary on people who, under certain circumstances, could fully understand a language that they'd been exposed to." He gestured at Mara, "I assumed you watch a lot of anime. I also assumed it was mostly subtitled. It looks like I was right. I was hoping that the shock of hearing Japanese plus Shinso's quirk would allow you to understand, possibly even speak Japanese."

"What if it hadn't worked?" Mara's dark brows drew down. She wasn't mad, but fascinated. He really was a teacher.

Shinso ran fingers through his long purple spikes, "Then I would have attempted to capture you a different way."

"The question is: Can she be caught while her quirk is engaged?"

Mara nodded, it felt like the next logical step. "Shinso basically has to engage a brain with words." She tapped her full lower lip with a fingertip, "But if my brain is already engaged with my own quirk…?" She nodded, "Awesome."

Shinso warned, "It's helpful if you don't know it's happening. Would you mind turning around? I'll give you a slow count of something between twenty to thirty. Is that enough time?"

Mara dropped her walls, "Go ahead." She felt tentatively at Shota's emotional state, then abruptly shied away. No more teasing Shota. A split-second later, she found Shinso's admiration for his teacher and gave it a gentle twist. He should now have a small crush on Shota too. She smiled, trying to get ready for…

"Could you look at this?" Shinso's voice rang out, and she turned to look, but was snared.

Inside her mind, she could feel her quirk turn to lead. Her connection with Shinso snapped, and just as quickly she was breathing again. Her empathic nature flared, and she could feel both boys facing her. She left it as is, a small seed of fear in her stomach. She'd often wished she didn't have a quirk, or had a different one, but now, after feeling it die… She wanted to hold it for a little while longer.

Shinso was rubbing his head, Mara could feel a headache behind his eyes. She re-built her walls and listened to Shota's soft speech while Shinso nodded.

"I'm sorry. That looks painful."

Shinso looked up, "No, it's alright. I wouldn't want to try it again, but all data is good data. I know how it feels to face a psychic quirk now." He smiled, "Thanks, Mara." He turned to his teacher, "This headache is getting worse. I'm going to head over to the clinic for some aspirin, okay?"

"Sure, kid. We're done for today."

Shota watched the teen leave the grounds, and head toward the main school and the medical wing. "Did you expect that?"

"No, I had no idea what to expect." She replied. Mara shook her head, and crossed her arms, "If he continues to have headaches, he should find a good psychic. Someone who can root out the problem."

"Do you think he'll dream of you?"

Mara laughed, letting her feet move away from Shota, full of the intention to go back to the dorm and catch a movie. "God, I hope not." She made her voice light and playful, "He'll never recover."

"No argument here," Shota followed her example. Mara blushed at his statement when he spoke again. "Hey. I did have a couple more thoughts about your quirk. Want to see how the other half lives?"


AN/ I used august not as the month but to mean 'respected, impressive'. I went through at least six different names for Shinso's dorm. LOL Aizawa… Mosevic and I decided on around 80kg so around 180lbs for our adorable homeroom teacher. So the shirt is Extra-Large, Mara prefers Large. Kahului is the airport in Maui. Yakushite Kudasai is 'please translate this'. I re-watched both Midoriya's battles with Shinso, and I personally love our little brainwasher. So, please, be kind. To Mosevic, also! He's writing, and if you want a take on Shota's early life, read 'The Eraser's Journey'.