"Yukimura."

Aizawa Shota watches the girl jerk out of her half awake state on the common room couch.

It's 5 am. She shouldn't be awake.

Shota stifles a sigh.

"Sensei?" Yukimura grumbles, blinking blearily at him. "How's it hanging?"

"Did you sleep last night?" Shota asks instead of deigning her with a proper response.

Yukimura looks at him for a long moment.

"Yes."

Headache. He feels a headache coming on.

"For longer than an hour?" Shota amends.

"...I would like to use my right to remain silent."

"Do you need to speak to the student counselor on staff?" Shota drops the bag of his end of shift takeout on one of the nearby tables, frowning.

Yukimura rolls off the couch with a sort of languid half-assed grace only teenagers can manage, a small smile on her face and body language perfectly at ease, if tired.

"If the next thing that comes out of your mouth is a lie I'm giving you a sooner curfew than your classmates," Shota says dryly, watching the girl falter a step.

Her shoulders droop.

"I've always had insomnia, Sensei," Yukimura says frankly. "Newer traumas completely unrelated."

"Speaking openly about vulnerable topics is not the same as being vulnerable, Yukimura."

Yukimura freezes at that.

"If you need help, it is available to you. Do not harm your body and mind further, you're better than that."

Harsh as they may be, she needed to hear it.

Shota cannot watch his student sprint headfirst into inevitable burnout and mental breakdown. He will hold that behavior accountable.

"Am I supposed to start talking about my daddy issues, Sensei?" Yukimura says, looking out the dark windows of the common room that show off the dorm courtyard. "Maybe address my self-destructive habits head on? In this economy? " She finishes in English, a strange look in her eyes and a huffing laugh in her throat.

Shota jinxed himself when he called her easiest. Currently, she and Midoriya are tied for the biggest pains in his ass this year and probably for much longer.

"You should build healthy coping mechanisms early, in this career," Shota says. He means it. The amount of his colleagues he's seen turn to drugs, alcoholism and worse to deal with the shit you see as a hero, the shit you experience, isn't a joke.

"It's my fault for your most current predicaments, and the only way I can help you to make up for that is heavily suggesting you take care of yourself."

Yukimura's face goes blank. A normal reaction from abuse victims to sudden extreme emotion, no weaknesses to exploit.

Shota is an unfeeling motherfucker, a hardass, but something in his stomach aches at the sight of it in one of his students.

"Ah."

Yukimura flexes her hands a bit, before making them go limp.

"You're right," Yukimura murmurs, subdued. "But Bakugo needs to attend therapy too, he's been traumatized by the All Might thing."

Switching topics, deflecting, but Shota will bite. It was enough of a breakthrough to get the damn kid to recognize her behavior and agree to counselling.

"I'll see to it. Now go to sleep, and don't think we aren't discussing your use of your quirk in that fight."

Yukimura grimaces but doesn't look surprised in the slightest that he caught onto her involvement in All Might's final showdown.

"Yes, Aizawa-sensei. Will do, Aizawa-sensei."

—

"Special moves."

Ectoplasm, sometimes known as Katō Takuma, tilts his head at Yukimura Kenzo.

He was wondering what this student would come up with. Already having real life combat experience, for better or worse, tends to make a quirk user creative.

Yukimura glances down from the high pillar Cementos built, eyes on a standing Aizawa Shota, before looking back at Takuma.

Hm. That is interesting.

"I've got one. I used it at USJ and refined it in more recent days," Yukimura says, squaring her stance.

Takuma nods, straightening up.

"I will begin attacking."

Takuma shoots forward, only to find himself stilled in place.

Yukimura has raised her arms.

"Mighty Magneto! Iron bonds," She says, and suddenly Takuma is flat on the ground, unable to move a limb.

Yukimura lowers her arms, and steps over above Takuma, who couldn't move against the magnetic field holding him to the ground if he wanted.

Ah. That is a good final move. If a bit anticlimactic.

"Is that good, Sensei?" Yukimura asks, and Takuma is freed from the magnetic pull.

"Good, if anticlimactic," Takuma says simply, standing. "How quickly can you do it? Are there any expenditures on your stamina or health?"

"As fast as I can imagine the magnetic field, and no to both," Yukimura says simply. "Should I continue to use hand movements to symbolize I'm using my quirk for dramatics, or just slam the villains?"

Takuma hums.

"Should the situation become dire, being able to surprise your opponent would be useful. Do either under your discretion. How would you handle an emitter quirk using this final move?"

Yukimura taps her gas mask covered chin, eyes on the ground.

"Depends on the Emitter. Someone like Ashido wouldn't be able to move enough to hit me with acid. I'd just knock Shoto out when he hit the ground to keep him from icing or flaming me," Yukimura says, dark eyes flickering back up to Takuma.

"If I were for real hitting someone like you and couldn't knock you out, Sensei, I'd seal metal to your face. Not good for the long term, since you wouldn't be able to breathe, but it'd keep you from making clones."

All well reasoned arguments.

She does need something more flashy though.

"Now I'd like you to try something more dramatic, Yukimura-kun."

Yukimura grins, a rare sight on her face.

"I think I've got something."

—

Yagi Toshinori watches wide eyed.

Yukimura is floating in the air, dark hair pulled up in a hairstyle so familiar from behind, hands raised and cape billowing—

He should not continue thinking on that image.

He's become sentimental, with the reveal of Shigaraki's parentage. Not everyone must be connected to his mother, to Nana 's legacy.

Besides, he is fairly certain Nana never thought to have metal plates float in the shape of wings behind her.

" Magneto's Might; Wings of Justice! " Yukimura calls, and the metal at her back flies forward, tearing through her Ectoplasm clone in seconds.

Toshinori lets out a breath. He supposes this exercise would be easier for some.

Yukimura drops to the ground again gently, flicking a hand to call the ectoplasm splattered plates back to her person and to click back into place on her costume.

With a turn, she spots Toshinori, eyebrows lifting.

"Afternoon, Sensei," She says. "You're still injured, are you sure it's good for you to be walking around?"

Toshinori grins, giving the girl a thumbs up with his uninjured arm.

"I'm fine, Young Yukimura. That was a very good special move!" Toshinori praises.

Yukimura shrugs.

"Ectoplasm-sensei wanted a more showy one after I just glued him to the ground. Did you have any advice you wanted to give me?"

"You seem to utilize your quirk to the fullest," Toshinori starts, thinking back to the notes he'd taken on all his students and shoved in his back pocket. "But your stamina in comparison is lacking. I would suggest more focus on that than your quirk right now, since you've already figured out at least two final moves."

Yukimura nods attentively, and Toshinori might be hallucinating but she looks less tired than usual, bruises under her eyes lessening.

Well, he's glad dorm life has helped her in that at least. And he's certain not working two jobs and school at the same time helps.

"I'll get right on that, Sensei," Yukimura says. "You're much less loud in this form, I like it."

Ow.

"Ah, thank you, Young Yukimura?" Toshinori says with a wince.

Yukimura gives two thumbs up.

"No problem. Please don't almost kill yourself on live television again, it was very nerveracking."

Well, Toshinori is glad to see Young Yukimura hasn't changed at all after her experience.

Toshinori is immediately hit with the image of her and Young Bakugo choking on metallic slime and slipping through his fingers.

Ah.

He feels a thousand years old, in this moment, looking down at a young hero in training with a too familiar hairstyle.

"I will endeavor to not worry you again, Young Yukimura."

Yukimura nods at this, satisfied, before walking down towards the other teachers, presumably to work on her stamina.

Toshinori shakes his head, before walking on to see what Young Hagakure Toru is working on.

—

Shota feints right, before aiming a left kick at Yukimura's side, watching her barely shift out of the way in time.

She frowns uncertainly, letting Shota dart forward and send her sprawling on the ground.

"You need to act, stop overthinking."

Classic gifted kid problems, uncertainty why they aren't immediately proficient in something.

Usually it wouldn't be such a big problem. Unfortunately for Yukimura hand to hand combat is important for her continued survival in her career path.

Her quirk is amazing. But it is ultimately a crutch when unavailable to her.

At least she knows it.

"Yes, Sensei," Yukimura says, blank faced, and Shota frowns.

"Do you need a break?"

Yukimura grimaces.

"I can keep working."

"That's not what I asked."

Yukimura flexes one of her hands, taking a deep breath.

"My brain is reacting badly to fighting right now," Yukimura says frankly, an annoyed twinge to her words. "Compounded stress thanks to recent events, no doubt."

Shota feels another headache building, eyes dry. He rummages through one of his pockets for his eye drops without looking.

"You have to tell me when that happens, Yukimura," Shota says, exhausted even to his own ears. "You aren't learning anything if you just endure besides how bad of an idea it was."

Yukimura rolls to her feet.

"I don't want to be left behind."

If it wouldn't completely derail the conversation, Shota would facepalm.

"You're the first in your year, Yukimura, attending to your mental needs in a safe environment isn't going to get you left behind," Shota states critically, knowing it's the only tone she'll take seriously.

Yukimura's grimace returns.

"Yes, Sensei."

"Do you need to speak to your counselor?"

Something in Yukimura's face shifts to imply, no, she would very much not like to do that.

Right. New plan. How many other trusted adults does she have?

...shit.

Shota doesn't sigh. He doesn't.

Shota glances over at Midnight, who's overseeing the rest of their students, and gestures towards himself and Yukimura then the door.

Midnight gives a thumbs up.

"Follow me," Shota says, pulling out his eyedrops and applying them to his eyes as he walks.

He can practically feel the dread coming from Yukimura just after the door clicks shut behind them.

"We're not going to your counselor, Yukimura," Shota reassures in what probably isn't a reassuring tone, walking over to a private area beside the gym and sitting down against the wall.

Yukimura blinks down at him, once, then twice, before plopping down beside him.

"What's worrying you right now?" Shota asks, looking up at the too bright blue sky.

Yukimura hesitates beside him, unsure.

"Well, my family," Yukimura murmurs, half hesitant.

Shota nods.

Yukimura pauses, before continuing. "Kaito is out there, and my family is in hiding, and I'm here. At UA."

"And the being away bothers you?"

Yukimura lets out a tired huff.

"I know why I have to be here. But yeah, it bothers me. Half my world was just, keeping them safe, and now," Yukimura cuts herself off suddenly. Probably uncomfortable with how much she's sharing.

"Those are valid feelings," Shota states, glancing back down at the girl. "And it's understandable that you feel this way."

Yukimura stares at him for a moment, waiting for something.

"There's no but?" She asks.

Shota gives her an unimpressed look, and she raises her hands in surrender.

"Got it. My feelings are valid and understandable, Aizawa-sensei."

Now if only she could internalize that instead of the need to be an unbreakable pillar for everyone else.

Shota needs caffeine. God he needs so much caffeine.

Yukimura looks away, at the other gym across from them.

"And you've been sleeping regularly, right?" Shota asks.

"As regularly as I can," Yukimura grumbles. "The melatonin helps. Thank you for that."

She can thank the school for that, Nezu said on no uncertain terms they couldn't lose either of the kidnapped students to another school, by any means necessary. That included paying for her to be able to sleep normally.

Not that Shota didn't put in that request and wouldn't have bought it himself.

...he's going soft. Disgusting.

Yukimura opens her mouth, words almost forming, before quickly shutting it, face blank.

...Shota doesn't know if he gets paid enough to analyze all of that.

"What?" Shota asks.

Yukimura looks like she does not appreciate her mouth for opening.

"I keep thinking about waking up beside Bakugo in that bar," Yukimura says, haltingly. "And how I could've just. If Bakugo hadn't been there I would've—."

Yukimura runs a hand down her face.

Shit.

"It's okay to be scared," Shota says, but clearly that was the wrong answer because Yukimura shakes her head harshly.

"I would have killed them , Sensei."

Shit.

"That's not really Heroic, is it? The first thought being murder?" Yukimura says falsely wry, looking down at the concrete ground with a definitely heart wrenching look on her face. "Maybe I would've froze up then too. But my brain was already running it through as the easiest solution. Your permission to protect myself was still in place, none of the league realized I could use my quirk even if I couldn't move, legally it would've been sound and the court of public opinion would paint me an unfortunate victim."

Yukimura sniffles and shit shit shit Shota isn't qualified for this but that's not showing on his face because fuck it he's faced worse than traumatized teenagers.

"That was running through my head when I was drugged, Sensei, drugged . If I'd been fully aware," Yukimura's voice cracks, and she gets a look of pure frustration that splits across her face. "I hate crying. This is why I don't talk about shit."

"Language," Shota says, but he's clearly not in it.

"Sorry for the inconvenience," Yukimura hisses, rubbing one eye.

"It's not an inconvenience, and that was a perfectly normal and rational reaction to a dangerous situation," Shota reassures, arms crossed.

"You say that, and then you're going to report me to someone and I'll go to jail or something," Yukimura says. "Then again, it couldn't even keep Kaito in so who cares."

"We have reason to believe he was not the only one involved in his escape, Yukimura," Shota says.

Yukimura barks a watery laugh.

"I know, he's not smart enough to break out on his own," She says, looking over at him. "It was probably the League, right? Just another reason for me to be at UA?"

Shota nods. If the kid has already figured it out there's no point in denying it.

"I feel weak and stupid," Yukimura says frankly. "I have been trying my genuine hardest to hold everything together and I'm not strong enough. Even with this stupid quirk. Especially, probably."

"Why do you think it's your job to hold everything together?" Shota asks.

Yukimura makes a frustrated sound in her throat. "Because no one else is! And they never have! If I don't then I'll fall apart with everything else."

Well. This is fairly textbook, isn't it? An abuse victim from a young age decides if they don't stand steady everything will fall apart again.

It's grossly clinical but correct.

"That's not your job," Shota says. "Right now, you are at UA, and you don't need to be the caretaking adult, do you understand? You're fifteen. You're allowed to be fifteen."

Yukimura has tears falling down her face, mouth firmly shut while she wipes them away.

"I'm not crying because—," her voice shakes, which she visibly despises. "—what you said was particularly profound. I'm crying because my hormones have no other solution."

Shota nods in agreement easily. Better just let her have that at least.

"The League is going to come back," Yukimura says frankly, and something in her face strikes Shota in the gut. The certainty. "My father probably too. And probably even more powerful. If I stop trying to be strong how the hell can I stop them?"

Shota doesn't say, " The adults will handle it. " Because it both won't help and historically is incorrect for Yukimura. She's had to solve her own problems on her own since a very young age.

"Letting yourself feel weak sometimes will only make you stronger, Yukimura."

Yukimura runs a hand down her face.

"Tell that to Bakugo. He's sprinting headfirst into a mental breakdown."

His other problem child. Well, besides Midoriya. And Iida. And the rest of 1-A besides maybe Koda.

What a good kid. Never has emotional breakdowns or seeks trouble.

"Do you need a moment before we begin training again?"

Yukimura gives him a look through her watery red eyes that implies he's not very bright for asking that.

"Don't give me that disrespectful look, Yukimura."

"Yes, Aizawa-sensei.