A hushed voice accompanied a gentle knock at the doorway.

"Knock, knock…!"

"Koko!"

Suzumi turned around from the window and was surprised to see the familiar face of her therapist in the doorway. She tried to calm her heart, realizing once again that someone wasn't out to get her. Every person and every sound seemed to put her on edge. She couldn't stop herself from reacting so extremely, worried that somehow Echo or Seeker or Keiji would be around every corner and in every shadow, reaching out to grab her.

She felt a wave of relief wash over her as the woman entered, the bright smile remaining on her dark face. She had a comforting gleam in her pink eyes. A flower in the same hue bloomed on the side of her head, popping up from her green box braids like a garden. She was more beautiful in person.

"How are we doing today, Suzu?" Koko joined her by the window, looking down over the buildings. Her skin glowed the same golden brown hue like brown eyes did in the sunlight, a beautiful amber color.

Suzumi took a moment to think, looking around the empty room reflexively for Shota. He had run home about an hour ago. He assured her that he'd be back, but a part of her worried that he was lying. She worried that just like before, he would stop coming back.

"Suzu?" Koko looked around in her direction, hoping that she was looking in the right place. By the sound of her voice she assumed she was by the window.

"Sorry!" Suzumi stifled an embarrassed laugh. She had taken too long to respond. "I'm still a bit shaken up I guess. A lot happened… But I'm starting to feel better."

Koko nodded. "I was filled in about what happened. You did a good job. It was really scary, wasn't it?"

"It was…"

Usually her heart would start racing and the fear would return to grip her chest, but Koko's presence was calming. Was it her quirk? She watched as another smaller flower bloomed from her hair. The smell was light and sweet.

Koko waived her hand in front of her passively as she shook her head. "Try not to focus on that right now though. What's important is that you survived and we can get you back on track to living your new life!" She paused, reaching out her hand in her approximate direction. "I wanted to come and meet you in person before you were discharged. I wasn't sure if we'd get this opportunity again."

Suzumi smiled, thinking of Oba as she took Koko's hand. She gave it a slight squeeze and smiled back. "So you're not here to talk about what happened?"

"Oh we'll tackle that another time. Your memory is still blurry, right?"

"Right. I feel like I can remember less of what happened now than I did a few days ago…" Suzumi's brow furrowed into a look of worry.

"That's okay. Just continue to rest and recover. We'll work on that stuff when you feel safe to do so." The look on her face was so kind and patient and her tone made her feel so safe. "I actually came to talk about quirk counseling."

"Oh? Like how we had in school?"

Suzumi thought back on it, remembering that her quirk had manifested later than the others in her age group. It was late elementary when she discovered she could make herself vanish. It happened when she and Kaede played tag. Just as he ran to her and threatened to tag her, she would scream out excitedly before vanishing into thin air. The effects only lasted a few seconds to a minute. It wasn't long before Kaede stopped wanting to play that game with her. Middle school was when she completely lost control… but in reality she never really felt in control of her power to begin with. It happened randomly without intention and usually she'd reappear after a few minutes… Until that day. When her mother smacked her across the face.

"Right. I tried to dig into your school records to find out how far the school counselors got into their research, but I found that you didn't return to public schooling after you graduated junior high and couldn't find out if your parents looked into additional counseling for you afterwards."

Suzumi took back her hand, hugging herself gently. "I was homeschooled… and I wasn't given any counseling after that."

She could only recall the feeling of being trapped in that home… Learning to tiptoe around the house to avoid being yelled at for anything and everything. How her parents would yell at her to drop the act and get control of herself. To reappear as if it were that easy. Whenever she tried to explain herself she was told she was only making excuses and reminded that she was making her family look foolish.

"I see." Koko continued, looking out the window again. "I've been researching others with invisibility quirks. If we can find out what is causing the activation of your quirk then we can focus on that and maybe you can learn to control it."

Suzumi felt stunned. Again the answer was so simple, but she had been too caught up in everything else to even consider thinking of how her quirk was activated. She forgot that it wasn't something that just happened. It was a power that needed a cause to produce an effect. She just had no idea of where to look or where to start…

Koko still didn't receive a response, so she kept talking. "I'd ask what it is you think is causing your power to activate, but I'm sure your answer hasn't changed. You've been living this way for so long you can't notice. It's become as subconscious as breathing to you."

"Right…" Suzumi sighed. Just as her gaze fell to the floor, she noticed someone else enter the room. "Shota!"

He had returned, gripping the duffel strap on his shoulder as he looked at Koko curiously. "Who is this?" He looked to the stranger before using his quirk to find Suzumi in the room.

"This is Koko Shokubutsu, my therapist." Her blue eyes looked back at him warmly as a smile grew on her face.

He was happy to finally see a genuine smile from her again.

"Oh my gosh!" Koko grabbed Suzumi's shoulders and looked her over excitedly, finally seeing her for the first time. "Look at you!" She was nearly speechless, looking her over quickly as if she would disappear again at any moment. "Is this you?"

"It's his quirk." She pointed over to Shota who looked away to set his duffle down on the bed.

"I see…" She watched in amazement as Suzumi faded from view as soon as he looked away. "Can I borrow you for a moment, Shota?" She grinned, connections forming in her head. "Are you the hero I've been hearing all about?"

Suzumi felt her face glow red in embarrassment. She wanted to vanish, but his quirk was stronger than her own, keeping her visible. She covered her face.

"Nice to meet you." He looked a bit embarrassed as well, keeping his eyes on Suzumi as he came closer. "Quirk counseling?"

"Right!" Koko nodded, pulling her attention back to Suzumi. "We're trying to figure out what causes her power to activate. 'You have any ideas? My guess is stress, but having her meditate hasn't given any results yet."

Shota brought a knuckle to his lips, thinking it over. Suzumi gazed down at the floor awkwardly, shifting idly on her feet and playing with her fingers. She felt uncomfortable as they both stared at her, running their eyes over every detail on her body.

"I think you're onto something…" Shota finally commented.

He couldn't help but think of how differently she acted when she was under the influence of Trigger. How her quirk faded into something else entirely. Her invisibility quirk stopped… but she began using one that was so similar to her brother's… How were the two quirks related? He put a pin in that thought for now, refocusing himself on her invisibility. How did she act every time he looked at her? Usually he could determine how a person's quirk worked within a few seconds of activating his own.

Within those few seconds… How did she react?

It was the same every time. She would look in his direction and smile. Their eyes would meet and there would be some sort of feeling between them… Her shoulders would drop and she would exhale. He couldn't help but recall how similar it was to when he would hold her in his embrace. He could feel her shoulders and back relax and her arms drop like she was melting into him while she sighed.

But was this the truth? Or was he blinded by his own feelings?

"You may be right…" He said again after Koko finished sharing her theories. "Suzu… When I use my quirk on you, what do you feel?"

She opened her mouth to answer, but nothing came out. Her heart was fluttering and she put her hand over her chest to keep the butterflies inside. He had never said her name like that before and it excited her to be reminded that he was fond of her… That there was a small chance that he felt the same. She remembered the feel of his lips on hers, and before she could start burning red she purged the thought from her mind.

Shota watched her as she thought and tried to hide his own discomfort. He rubbed the back of his neck. He had never really asked anyone before how it felt and now that he asked he wished that he could take it back.

Growing up his quirk had always been used as a tool. The Aizawa male lineage had all inherited some variation of the erasure quirk and had used it during Kendo training and competitions to keep everyone at the same level and to avoid injuries. It was so normal for him to use it at home and it was accepted there, but use of quirks in public were frowned upon. The other kids in school distanced themselves from him after learning about his quirk. It made people uncomfortable that with just one look he could rip away their powers… and for the first time he felt ashamed of it.

Now that he thought about it, the villains always reacted in the same way. They would always react in anger or intense fear… As the fear welled up inside his chest, he noticed the relaxed smile on Suzumi's face as she reflected on his question.

"It feels…" She began, looking to the side as she searched for the answer within her. She gripped the hand on her chest with her other and swayed softly. "It's like…. A burden being pulled off of my shoulders. I thought maybe that the feeling would change as we spent more time together… but it feels just the same way that it did all those years ago. I guess… I carry around my quirk like a weight… Like the veil of invisibility that is thrown over me is so heavy… Something I can't lift even with all my strength. I've tried so hard to lift it on my own, but it doesn't budge."

Shota breathed a silent breath of relief, finding comfort in the look of peace on her face. She looked so fondly at the floor as she reflected on her feelings, as if talking about someone near and dear to her.

"I see…" Koko stepped behind her and put her hands on her shoulders. "Even now I can see where you are carrying it. Thanks to our hero here." She flashed a smile over at Shota.

Suzumi turned her head to the side, listening curiously.

"Right here. You don't even notice you're doing it, are you?"

She poked at the muscles on her shoulders and back, making Suzumi realize she was still tensed up even though the burden was gone. After each poke, she relaxed that muscle and found that she had been clenching her jaw as well. Now that she relaxed, she could feel the aching in her body.

"No… I never think about it." She moved her hand back to rub at her shoulder. "You think this could be it?"

Koko moved back around her, chewing on her cheek in thought. She shrugged. "I can't say for sure, but if you focus on it for long enough then maybe you'll start to be able to control your quirk. Just try to remember to release the tension from your body and relax. It may be what is pulling your body out of this plane of existence. If you learn to relax then maybe your quirk will relax itself as well."

Suzumi nodded, wanting to believe that was the answer. She found herself looking over at Shota.

'She may be right,' He thought. 'Once the drug was in her system and she was high out of her mind she became visible. The way she moved and slouched over was loose and like she was drunk… Her mind was probably forced into a state of euphoria which relaxed her body enough to forget about invisibility… and why it focused on heightening the abilities of an entirely different side of her quirk. There was no way that she could become even more invisible so it focused itself somewhere else.'

He nodded back at her before closing his eyes and rubbing at them. "It's logical that would be the case… and keeping her safe now shouldn't be an issue. Do you know how your parents control their quirks?"

Suzumi shook her head. She realized she was invisible again so she spoke up. "No."

"It's her mother that has the quirk. She can't make herself invisible, but can make other things she touches disappear for a limited amount of time. I was going to reach out to the detective to see if he can ask her to explain her quirk to him."

Shota nodded. "That may be a good place to start, however, as quirks are passed along it usually manifests into something different."

"Yeah…" Koko sighed before putting the cheerful smile back on her face and turning back in Suzumi's direction. "But we'll get this figured out! Just remember that the worst is behind you and to remember to relax. Willing yourself to appear hasn't ever worked, so put that effort into finding peace. Don't worry about a thing! I'll be looking into this for you!"

Suzumi smiled from the void. "Thank you."

"Anything you need before I leave you two be? I heard you're cleared for release soon!"

"Oh that's right!" She had nearly forgotten the doctor had talked about discharging her today. "I think I'm fine."

"Okay." Koko retreated towards the exit slowly. "I'll be in touch once you get settled in and get your things back. You'll be okay?"

Suzumi nodded, but before she could answer, Shota spoke up.

"I'll make sure she's safe."

She waved at Koko as she left the room and held down the lid on her chest with her other hand. She was scared… and excited. Just like before. Just like the last time she was released. This time she had stood her ground and made the selfish request to stay with Shota… but they didn't really talk about it after that. She was too scared to bring it back up. She didn't want to push herself onto him and make him angry. She didn't want to be a burden. More importantly… She didn't want to be pushed away and rejected.

"Here." Once they were alone he handed over the duffel. "Go ahead and get changed while I deal with the release information. Sorry… This was the best I could do since your belongings haven't been delivered yet…"

"Okay.."

She took the bag and retreated into the bathroom, locking the door before leaning up against it. She dropped the duffel on the floor and exhaled, finally feeling safe enough to release her hold on her chest. She really wanted to know what her fate would be, but the fear she had kept her silent. It swallowed her voice.

"I can do this…" She whispered to herself.

Once she found enough strength, she peeled herself off of the door and opened the duffel. She pulled out a pair of slides and dropped them on the ground before pulling out a black long sleeved shirt. She smiled and set it down, untying the pajamas the hospital provided and taking them off. She folded them and left them on the counter of the sink before pulling the shirt over her head. She smiled, finding the sleeves were longer than her fingers and it ended on her thighs. The sweatpants were even longer, making her giggle as she pulled the band up over her belly button and tied them in place. She still had to roll up the ends to her ankles.

As she stared at nothing in the mirror she wished that she could turn off her quirk. She wanted to see how silly she looked wearing his clothes. Instead she pulled the collar up to her face, closing her eyes as she took in the smell. Underneath the detergent his scent lingered and as her body warmed the fabric, she felt as if she were wrapped in his arms once again.

There was a knock at the door which made her nearly jump out of her skin. Shota could hear her yelp from the other side.

"Suzumi?"

"A-almost done!" She ran her fingers through her hair quickly, willing her heart to stop beating so hard.

She slipped on the oversized slides and zipped up the duffel before unlocking the door and going out.

"We're allowed to leave when you're ready."

He extended his hand to take the duffel. He didn't use his quirk to look at her, but could hear her feet scuffling around. He watched as the bag appeared in his hand as she let go.

"I'm ready." She answered softly. There was a tinge of worry and excitement in her voice.

Part of her wanted to ask where they were going… but she knew that he would take her somewhere safe.

note.

I recently discovered Ichiko Aoba's music and I love how safe and calming it is. If you just want to melt away into sound and feel safe I recommend putting on her playlist. It's so nice and her voice is angelic and like a nostalgic summer. Sometimes like laying in the grass as twilight comes and the moisture rises into the air in a thick fog… and also like laying in the grass on a summer's day and absorbing the rays of the sun. Not a harsh and suffocating heat, but the one that is inviting and is encouraging you to grow like a plant.

iam POD (0%) by Ichiko Aoba is the song for this chapter and there is an english translation in the comments someone posted. These two are so in love and I am so here for it! UGH