Thank you, everyone, for all of the support for Makoto and Katsuki! This chapter was getting a tad long, so I cut it in (roughly) half. Thank you to all of you, lovely readers and reviewers. Whenever I get hit with a block, I read your reviews, and I can knock myself back on track!

Enjoy~

I sighed, scribbling down my formulas from memory again. Each subtle movement caused my arms to ache. The shop had been empty since three o'clock. Mrs Haruka had been beyond kind this week and allowed me to study – and practice using my quirk to perform some duties – while the shop was empty. She had found it utterly entertaining when I made a latte using my hands ten feet away from my body.

The bell above the door jingled as it opened, "welcome!" I turned to greet our new customers, closing my notes.

"Makoto," Katsuki gawked as he kept his hand on the doorknob. Kirishima stood behind him, waiving at me wildly. "What are you doing here?" I froze, staring in terror at the two. Kirishima wore an oversized white t-shirt with a large orange 'R' on the front with shorts. In contrast, Katsuki had on a black jacket and pants with a burnt umber t-shirt underneath.

Kirishima pushed Katsuki into the shop by his shoulders, "are you going blind? It's totally obvious she works here, man." Oh no. This was horrible.

"I can see that," Katsuki snapped at him. Kirishima just smiled and took a seat at one of the booths at the front of the shop. "Since when did you have a job?"

"Since last summer," I grasped my hands behind my back, slinking out from behind the counter. My long white sleeved button up shifted under the black leather vest that was laced with a red ribbon, forming a bow at the top. "But, please don't tell anyone. It's embarrassing."

Kirishima leaned over the table, "damn – you're cute in that uniform." I looked down awkwardly at my shined leather, heeled, ankle boots and simple black pressed pants. Katsuki glared at his friend, forcefully taking his textbooks out of his bag and slamming them on the table. "I get it now! You keep turning down everyone's offer to hang out because you're working – not because you don't like us. Phew, that's a relief. When's your next day off? Let's do something fun!"

"Uh, well, can I get you two anything?" I looked up at the boys as Katsuki begrudgingly sat across from Kirishima.

"Iced green tea," Kirishima smiled, leaning his elbows on the table. Katsuki opened a textbook and slammed the hardcover into his elbows. Kirishima hardened his arms and continued to smile at me. "Wait, if Katsuki can call you Makoto, can I use your name as well?"

"S-sure," I nodded awkwardly, "anything for you?"

Katsuki grumbled, glaring at his friend. "Black iced americano."

"I'll have that right up," I forced a smile – remembering that I was at work and needed to keep up my appearance here. I retreated behind the bar and began to que Katsuki's shots over a cup of ice and carefully measured Kirishima's green tea powder into the traditional mixing vessel we used.

"Makoto," Mrs Haruka called from the back of the shop. The door opened, and she waddled out with a tray of fresh pastries. "Why don't you bring those two some pastries on the house?" She set the tray on the ledge behind the display case and began to arrange them artfully.

"S-sure," I stammered as I finished off their drinks. I plated up two croissants for the boys and set everything on a tray, bringing their study treats over gracefully. "These are on the house."

Kirishima looked at his croissant with awe while Katsuki glared at his, "what is it?"

"That's our prosciutto select croissant; you talk about how meat is so manly, so I took a guess you'd like this one." I set his green tea above his plate. "And that's a spicy chilli chocolatine."

"It's spicy?" Katsuki looked up at me sceptically, no longer glaring at the chocolate oozing pastry. Kirishima took a large bite of his.

I nodded, "your Mom said that you like spicy food. It's a classic chocolate croissant made with chilli infused dark chocolate and candied ghost peppers." Katsuki smirked as he picked up his drink and took a sip. "If you don't like it, I'm sure I can grab something else."

Kirishima slapped the table as he forced himself to swallow his bite. "Wait – did you say his Mom? You've met his parents?"

"What's the big deal," Katsuki snapped before I could open my mouth.

Kirishima looked between the two of us before shrugging. "It's nothing. How's your studying going, Makoto?" He retook a bite of his croissant.

"Uh," I let myself balance on the heels of my boots, "okay so far."

"Aren't you scared about not going to the Bootcamp?" Kirishima gawked, "what are your grades like anyway?"

I held the tray against my midsection, tilting my head to the side. "I was fourth in the class rankings earlier." Kirishima's jaw was unhinged.

"How are you two so smart?" He cried in defeat. "There's no hope for me now. Is there any way you can study with me too?"

"Would you give me a moment?" I hesitated before walking back behind the bar and into the kitchen. "Mrs Haruka?"

"Did those brats not like their free pastries?" Mrs Haruka rolled up her short sleeves and began to takeout her earrings.

"No, Kirishima already ate his. I was wondering since they're my classmates – and when there are no other customers in the store – if I could study with them?" I rubbed my heel against my calf.

She lit up. "Those are your classmates? In the hero course with Eraserhead too? Well, that's brilliant! Happy studying." She pushed me out of the kitchen and into the front. The door slapped my back as it swung shut. I picked up my water bottle from under the till and grabbed my notebook.

I stood awkwardly at the end of their table, "my boss said I could study with you two as long as the shop is slow – if you don't mind." Katsuki instantly made room for me, shifting himself closer to the wall and moved his plate and glass to the other side.

"Yeah, man! I get two genius' studying with me – there's no way I'm going to fail this final now!" Kirishima barked, throwing a fist into the air.

[B&M]

"Good night – see you tomorrow," I called into the shop. Mrs Haruka would stay for another hour or so to finish prepping pastries for tomorrow. I closed the door, adjusting my bag on my shoulder. I turned around to face the darkened alley. Katsuki was leaning against the wall; hands shoved into the pockets of his hoodie. He must have gone home to change when they left at six. He wore a baggy pair of dark-washed blue jeans and a tight grey hoodie.

"W-what are you doing here?"

He shrugged, pushing himself off the wall with his foot. "Waiting for you." He approached me, easily sliding my book bag off my shoulder and onto his.

"Katsuki," I began to ask.

"Are you going home or not," he snapped as he started out of the alley. I hurried after him, falling in stride with him. We walked in silence towards the train station. "Do you do this every night?"

"Almost," I affirmed.

"Why didn't you tell me you had a job?" Katsuki shoved his hands deeper into the pockets of his hoodie.

"Uh, well, it's kind of embarrassing." I fiddled with the hem of my grey tank. "No one else in the class needs a job."

He scoffed, "have you had dinner yet?"

"No, I was just going to eat some pastries Mrs Haruka sent me home with," I answered, motioning to my bag on Katsuki's shoulder.

His brow furrowed, "that is not dinner!" He caught my hand in his and pulled me along the main street. "How the hell do you expect to murder everyone if you're not eating properly?"

"I-I don't want to murder anyone," I squeaked, letting him pull me along behind him. We came to a stop at a curry restaurant. I quickly calculated the impact of a fifteen-hundred-yen bill on my budget for the month. "I-I can't afford this."

"Don't worry about it," Katsuki shrugged as he led me into the restaurant. The restaurant was about half full of couples on dates with one or two families. He put my bag into the seat beside him and motioned with his head for me to sit down. I awkwardly took the chair across from him. He picked up one of the menus and began to scan it. I hesitantly picked the other up, locating the cheapest possible item.

"Why hello there, aren't you two adorable!" A waitress skipped up to our table, "have we decided on anything?"

"Extra spicy chicken curry," Katsuki ordered, "with a side of dumplings."

"And for the lady?" The waitress smiled, turning her body to me and popping her hip slightly.

"Uh," I awkwardly ran my eyes over the menu again to ensure that I was ordering the cheapest thing. "Just a bowl of rice please."

"Is that all-" she started to ask.

Katsuki glared across the table at me. "No. Beef or chicken?" I froze, my throat closing in terror. What situation had I gotten myself into?

"Chicken," I managed to squeak out.

"She'll have the same as me then." Katsuki took the menu from my limp, exasperated hands, and handed it to the waitress. She gave him a thumbs up and skipped away.

"Katsuki, I can't afford that," I dropped my hands under the table, twiddling with my fingers.

"I said, don't worry about that!" He snapped, pouring both of us a glass of water. "You can't just survive off pastries. No wonder you keeled over in class. How are you going to keep up with me if you eat shit?" I shrugged and avoided his gaze. That was not why I passed out in class.

"But, this place is expensive," I started to speak.

"Eh? Curry's expensive? I'll show you an expensive meal next time, and then you'll know the difference," Katsuki's eye twitched. I picked up the glass of water, taking a long drink as I melted into the chair. We sat in uncomfortable silence for a few moments, both taking awkward sips of our water. "How was training with Redemption?"

I paused mid-sip. I swallowed and set the glass down. "Weird. He has such a large building with so many rooms of beds, and it's just the two of us each time. I only met one of his sidekicks when I was there for a week, and that was only for an hour. But, since we had the basement to ourselves, we sparred non-stop for most of the day. Hopefully, I'll pass that practical."

"It'll be easy; it's against robots, after all." He set his glass down.

I shook my head, "if it's against robots that'll be far too easy. There has to be a twist – it's never that easy."

"Here you two are," our waitress cooed, setting our curries in front of us and the dumplings Katsuki had ordered in the middle. "Enjoy! Let me know if you two little love birds need anything." She winked before sashaying away. I placed the back of my fist on the tip of my nose and looked out the window. A man was running after a cab with one shoe.

"Aren't you going to eat?" Katsuki picked up a dumpling with his chopsticks and shoved it into his mouth. I rolled back my shoulders and picked up my chopsticks before picking away at the curry. It was delicious. "Better then left-over pastries, huh?"

I nodded. "Do you feel ready for the exam?"

"I'm always ready," he sneered as he added more spice into his curry. "I'll beat Deku and Todoroki." I gave him a small smile before taking another bite of the curry.

[B&M]

"Thank you for dinner," I turned to face Katsuki, smiling. He huffed, handing me back my bag, "and walking me home again."

"Eat properly from now on. I don't need you to be passing out in the middle of our exam. We both have to go to the boot camp." Katsuki shoved his hands into his pant's pockets. "I'll see you at school." He turned and gave me a wave with his hand as he walked back down the road. I watched him retreat for a moment before entering my home. I shook my head as I adjusted my bag. Katsuki had insisted on paying for my dinner and then walked me home in the middle of the night. He knew how far out I lived, and he had still done that. I ran my hand from the front of my chest to my shoulder and drew in a breath before walking through the halls of the main house.

Akari stood in the doorway that led out to the backyard. "Putting out for the boys now? Guess you had to find something to do without me helping you along. You won't be passing your exam anyway – but just so you can freak out – it's against our teachers. I'll bring you back something cool from the Bootcamp." She had no clothes on. She must have been spying on Katsuki and I. She pushed past me, her arm slamming into my shoulder. I spun slightly and watched her enter the main house.

I sighed, exiting out of the house and onto the large cement walk. Akari was different. She never made those comments to anyone before. It's like her personality has completely changed. I frowned, opening the door to the guest house, and dropped my bag on the sofa. Akari never looked down on me like that before – maybe I needed to up my training to seem more dependable. Perhaps the gap between us was growing even greater being in different classes. Perhaps this was her way of pushing me to be better? I stood in the middle of the living room, arms in front of me at waist height. I let my atoms dissipate and appear in waves. I needed for my atoms to be on constant alert. Alert! I began to vibrate my atoms as I had attempted to do to Todoroki's ice.

A stabbing pain began from my lungs. I stopped and clutched my chest. What was happening? It was hard to catch my breath, and any air I did manage to get burned. The pills I took were to prevent my body from shutting down from my quirk. This was a whole new experience. I was even taking my pills properly since Recovery Girl scolded me. I curled up on the floor; my hands wrapped tightly in my tank top. It was as if my lungs were convulsing. I closed my eyes and attempted to focus on breathing in for five and out for five – trying to force my breathing to a normal rhythm.

It took almost ten minutes, but I was able to get my lungs to cooperate. The pain had dulled, and I took in quick light breaths. I rolled onto my back with my hands beside me. What was happening to me?