Waiting for my classmates feels eerily familiar. Like stretching out on the floor, with Miska wrapping around my knees. Like hot summer meadows full of sweat and pine needles and the endless chirp of birds. Quiet, boring, and with that underlying itch that makes me want to drum my fingers or tap my toes. I occupy myself with my fingers, twisting and pulling them silently as we watch the door.

I sigh miserably, wishing they'd just hurry up.

What is taking them so long?

"I'm sure they're coming," Toru says helplessly, drooping against the table.

Personally, I'm not sure if that's for her or me.

I don't respond, not really sure what I'd say even if I wanted to.

And if they don't?

What if we're all that's left?

I wish for what feels like the millionth time that we'd gone to find them instead of just moving on. What if they were looking for us? What if someone was hurt? What if villains were here? What if Kaito…

I swallow and try very hard not to finish that thought.

"And that's 40," rumbles the announcer overhead. "Only sixty spots left and they're filling up fast!"

I grimace.

What if we have to go on alone?

"I… We should talk about something else while we wait!" Toru says, her bubbly persona spiking as she slaps a gloved hand on the table.

I'd rather not.

I cringe in the seat and frown.

"About what?"

"Oh! I know! What's it like living with Sensei? Is he like super strict like he is in class? Or is he goofier like when he thinks he's being funny? Oh! And do him and Present Mic have a thing?"

Huh?

"Thing?" I ask, furrowing my brows. "What are you talking about?"

The invisible girl giggles, her glove moving, and I think she's laying her head against it. "You know, like dating? Are they like secretly married or something?"

M-Married?

My brain freezes and all I can do is blink and stare.

Wait... What?

"Uh… no," I manage dumbly, wishing I could see her face. Instead, my mind just stalls, blank and fuzzy as I struggle to process... Was this a joke? Surely that was a joke… Right? "They're… they're just friends."

"Huh," Toru says, and I make a face at her surprise. "What?"

"Are you serious?"

"I mean, yeah!" she giggles. "They're always hanging around each other, and you know they did the announcements for the sports festival together, and, I mean, you did do your internship with Present Mic-sensei, and now you're friends with Aizawa-sensei's intern. So, I mean, why not?"

I make another weird face.

She sounds like Todoroki…

Are you two dating?

I scowl and cringe.

Sensei would not appreciate that question. He doesn't date anyone!

"Marry me!"

My nose wrinkles as I remember that obnoxious woman.

Certainly not green-haired clowns.

"Or not…"

I scowl and release a shuddering breath.

"Or not what?" I ask, more sharply than maybe necessary. I can almost hear Sensei's scowl. Tone.

"I thought you liked Present Mic sensei!" Toru says, confused.

"I do like Present Mic!" I scowl.

"Then why are you making that face?"

"Sensei doesn't date," I tell her, disturbed. "He just works and sleeps and plays with Miska or wants to talk about stupid feelings."

"Miska?" Toru asks, sounding almost hopeful.

Seriously?

"The cat," I deadpan.

Something thumps against the table and, a moment later, I realize it's probably her head.

So weird...

"Ah… Toru-chan?"

"How boring," the invisible girl grumbles, voice muffled by the table. A moment later, there's a rustle as her glove waves and I think she pulls herself up. I snort.

"What are your parents like?" I ask, more than happy to turn the conversation away.

The invisible girl's bright laugh carries and a few glance our way curiously.

"And that's forty-five! Only fifty-five spots left. Best hurry it up now!"

"Amazing! I love my parents, they're so great! My Dad works in economics, he's kinda nerdy but in a really cute way! And my mom works in fashion! She does a lot of modeling, which is so cool, like super cool. I always said that if I couldn't get into UA, I'd go into fashion like her. I mean, not to brag or anything, but I was pretty good at it. I modeled all through elementary and middle, so I could definitely do it!"

I blink in surprise.

Oh.

That sounded… fancy.

"Why become a hero then?" I ask quietly, frowning.

"Cause when I was ten, I was saved by a hero!" she sighs, almost giddy as her gloves knit together and stretch out. She giggles before returning to the pose, one glove floating midair and the other tapping against the table. "Like, he was so amazing. There was a gas leak near our area and everyone was told to evacuate, but there were a ton of people. Mom and I got separated and it was super scary, but he showed up and he carried me out and… and…"

I furrow my brows.

"And?"

"And I wanted to be just like that," she says almost wistfully. "I love fashion, I love feeling pretty and making others smile and I was good at it. But he was pretty, like fashion pretty too, and strong and I felt so safe and… and I want to help others feel that same way! I want to be able to show up and look nice but also just give people a sense of peace! That why I'm gonna be a hero! To show that I can be more than just a pretty face!"

But people can't see your face, I want to say.

I don't.

"Ah," I manage instead, considering the rest of it.

A sense of peace…

Why do you want to be a hero?

"Yeah," she sighs again, then looking up she squeaks. "Oh! Look! It's… Is that Todoroki-kun? And… oh it is! It's Yao-momo! YES! Come on Rin-chan! Let's go greet 'em! And we can rub it in their faces that they were so late. Really, 50-something-ith? We were in the teens! Hah!"

I can't help but laugh as well, not resisting when she snags my wrist and rushes forward. I smile from behind, their tired, dusty expressions all the more welcome after such a long wait.

They came.

I don't even hesitate, separating from Toru to wrap my arms tightly around Momo, the closest.

"R-Rin-chan?"

"You guys came," I whisper, burying my face against the side of her chest and shoulder fondly. I don't have to look up to know my skin's already brightening to a steady shine, fingers hooking tightly into her uniform. She smells of dust and perfume. And holding so tightly, I can hear the thunder of her heartbeat and the slight tremors of her muscles. "You made it."

A hand settles against my head, fingers flat against my hair.

I glance sideways and blink, wide-eyed, at Kyoka, her face dirty and blood leaking down from her ear, but a knowing smirk stretched wide.

"Hey Rin-chan, miss us?"

Yes.

Nearby, Toru laughs, and even amongst the others, I can hear the sheer relief.

"Tch, you guys are late!"

.

.

.

After the first group arrives, it feels like a collapsing dam. One moment four of them are in the doorway, tired but grinning, and then my classmates are all streaming in with a steady stream. Momo and Kyoka from the lake. Bakugou, Kirishima, and Kaminari from the bridge. Mina and the new kid, Midoriya, Shoji, and Sero. Uraraka by herself. I wait with bated breath as the countdown races to 100.

Will they make it?

They just barely do.

I hug Iida, the last, as he and Tokoyami sweep through the door.

That was close.

Too close.

I squeeze him tighter, Shinsou's nervous scowl slipping through my mind.

Did he?

I don't have long to ponder it though. Because only five minutes later, they're showcasing the next sections—a rescue—and I force myself to pay more attention this time, reluctant to miss the facts.

Terrorist attack. Civilian Actors. Rescue and assist.

It reminds me immediately of the beach.

And for a moment, instead of seeing screens illustrating the rising smoke, it feels like I'm back there again—the open piece of glass in the empty hall stretching across the wall. Dark pillars rise up across the sky. The sound of explosions echoing in the distance, the taste of ash and dust filling my mouth, the smell of burning rubber and asphalt in the air. The overwhelming fear.

Idiot girl, follow me!

Yamada-sensei kneeling on the ground, blood seeping between his fingers.

The fleshy appendage wrapped around my neck, shutting off circulation, cutting off my air-

The ground trembles beneath us as the arena is destroyed.

The shadows rise.

"Rin-chan," Kirishima says, his shoulder bumping into mine. "Hey, you… you okay?"

I shiver, blinking as the world comes back into focus, trying to push away the fears, the thoughts—the memories.

No.

The ceiling gives way a few seconds later and I'm no longer surprised when the sunlight pours in, nearly blinding, and the walls disappear.

"I…"

There's no time. Chaos erupts around us as the destruction becomes evident. Teams shout, people shove their way forward. Everyone scatters, taking off at a run. Shiketsu doing the same. Taisho joins the large bowing boy from earlier and another covered in hair. The cheese-stealing girl, the one with the weird questions, slides another way. Bakugou stomps off towards a different section, Kirishima moving to follow closely.

Except he hesitates.

"Rin-"

"Kirishima-kun? Hoki-chan?" squawks Midoriya, wide-eyed and staring in our direction.

"Come on," Red says, grinning suddenly as he reaches for my hand. Long fingers wrap against my wrist. "Let's go keep Bakugou out of trouble!"

I squeak as he takes off at a run, pulling me with him and I barely manage a glance behind me before we're hot on the blonde's trail. Kaminari, ahead, turns back and grins.

"Rin-chan!"

I flush, the fear retreating at such a warm greeting.

The screams of terror echoing in the destruction. The children's sobs as they hide under Niko's disfigured form.

There aren't any screams like that here.

"Oi! Shitty hair, why the fuck did you bring her?"

"Dude!" Kirishima retorts, fingers still holding tight as we scramble over debris in the opposite direction of the others. "That's so unmanly!"

"Yeah, Bakugou! Besides, Rin-chan's strong as hell!" Kaminari adds, sending me a dazzling wink.

I don't know what to say.

My mouth opens, but all I manage to do is gape.

I…

They want me too?

"You better not start cryin'," Explosive growls, glancing back my way with narrowed eyes as sharp and bright as that day in the kitchen. I don't know what you're talking about. He turns forward quickly though and even though he could likely fly over the debris, he stomps up a steep slope instead. "I hear someone shouting up ahead."

Kirishima grins back at me and lets go.

"You wanna talk about it?" he asks as we follow behind the other two.

I consider it before shaking my head and taking the opportunity to latch onto my happier thoughts. As we climb across what looks like the remains of a sideways building, the taste of dust thick against my tongue, I struggle to find anything particularly glow-worthy.

"It just… reminds me of the beach," I admit as we scramble over the edge. As soon as we're on top, however, I can see immediately why Bakugou chose it. The building, while not the tallest around, is tall enough on its side to give a wide view of several kilometers of the destruction, the other teams, and the victims.

It looks like one of Shin's video games.

My eyes water.

"The beach?" Kirishima asks, a hand falling on my shoulder, his expression puzzled.

"The smoke," I whisper, focusing instead on Bakugou's face as I blink away the tears. You better not start cryin'. Bakugou ignores me fully, his eyes scanning the space until they settle on a spot not too far away. A small cavity further from the other heroes and wide enough across to house at least three or four people.

He grins, lips pulling back and teeth bared.

"Gotcha!" he laughs, pointing to the distance. "Oi, shitty hair, extras, let's go."

I wrinkle my nose.

"Rin," I huff at his back.

Bakugou throws me an annoyed glance over his shoulder as he slides down the sloped side. Kaminari, beside me, laughs loudly, claps my back, and throws himself forward too. Kirishima smiles but hesitates.

"Hey, you sure you're okay?" he asks. "I… I mean, I know we're in a test and all, but if you need a minute-"

My chest warms at the kindness.

He would give up his advantage for… for me?

My skin brightens to a soft, dusty glow.

"Thank you," I whisper.

"Hey, that's what friends are for!" he laughs, expression relaxing immediately and sharp teeth visible.

Friends.

I beam.

Then, glancing down and noticing the others halfway down, I grin mischievously. Had Shinsou been with us, he would have recognized the expression immediately. Kirishima, however, only smiled excitedly back.

"Ready?" I ask, concentrating for a moment on positive memories.

"Is this going to be a daily thing?" Sensei huffs, relinquishing the toy to cross his arms. He doesn't look nearly as severe on the floor. "Do you need daily affirmations? Yes Rin, I care about you."

"Will you say it again?" I ask rolling off the couch to kneel beside him. Without hesitating, I lean on his chest and pluck a few random hairs off.

"I care?"

"No," I discard the hairs and meet his eye shyly, pulling at my fingers. "Love."

He snorts.

"I love you."

The wings explode across my back, bright and arm length and full. I grin at the suddenly confused redhead before reaching out and tackling him in a hug. He squawks, falls backward, and both of us fly off the side of the building.

I laugh when he immediately screams, legs kicking as we more plummet more than fly.

"RIN!"

"I've got you," I grunt, holding tightly to his nearly naked chest.

"I'm heavy!"

"Yeah," I manage, laughing and straining as we glide past Bakugou and Kaminari. Both shout something I can't hear as we soar towards the rapidly approaching ground.

"We're gonna crash!"

We don't.

Instead, we race across the hilly ground at a flying run, bouncing up and down as Kirishima basically leaps from brick pile to pile with legs spazzing in between. We probably look ridiculous too. Me, grunting to try and hold his weight, with my glowing wings spread and Kirishima in my arms shouting as he tries to keep up with the pace.

By the time we get near our destination, I fan the wings out, slow our pace, and Kirishima drops like a stone the last few inches to the ground.

I collapse beside him, red-faced and sweaty and unable not to laugh.

Especially when I see his wind-swept hair.

"Oh man!" he whines, reaching out to run his fingers through the backswept hair. He looks like Bakugou had after the internships. I choke on a laugh and clutch my stomach as he tries to fix it, catching my breath.

"Help! Help!"

The amusement immediately dies along with my wings.

I stand and quickly scramble to the edge, frowning at the couple below.

"Ah… hi?"

The man immediately scowls, one eye twitching and the woman beside him covers her mouth with a cough.

"Hi," he repeats, eyes narrowed. "Minus points! We're in the middle of an emergency, terrified because our homes have been destroyed, and you're saying hi! That is not how you greet people in the middle of an emergency!"

I stare wide-eyed down at the grumpy man.

"Y-Yes, sir!"

"Now let's try that again!" The very strange, grumpy man looks down, furrows his eyebrows, and then looks up with suddenly wide, tear-filled eyes. "Help! Help!"

"Ah… yes, uh, yes sir!" I tell him quietly, slipping down in the crevice and dropping a few meters onto the ground. I wrack my brain for a moment trying to think of what to do first. What would Sensei do? I remember the Last One and grimace. "Is… Is anybody hurt?"

"Only a few scrapes," the woman beside him says in a quiet voice. "But we've been stuck here since the bombs went off and we can't get out. What… What's your name?"

I realize with a pang, a nightmare would very much not be appropriate.

"Ah, Rin," I tell them with a forced smile. "Don't… Don't worry, we'll, uh, we'll get you out of here."

"Stop mumbling," the grumpy man says making a face. "Be confident in what you're saying. You look like you're the one that wants to be saved here."

The fake smile disappears, and I shrink a little.

"I… I'm sorry, I just… I just don't want to mess up."

"Stop thinking about it like a test then dear," the woman says gently, patting my shoulder. "Think of it like real life. If you found us in this hole, what would you actually do?"

Save them.

"Rin-chan!"

"Kirishima-kun!" I shout back up, only too happy to have a change of subject. It takes a moment, but his messy red hair quickly pops over the side and looks down, thin strands of red resting flat against his head like he couldn't quite get it to stand back up. "I'm going to lift these people up… ah… help?"

He grins.

"Yeah, sure! I'll help 'em once you get 'em up! Also, Bakugou and Kaminari-kun will be here in a few moments!"

I nod.

Then, concentrating, I summon the shadows. Neither flinches when I wrap the tentacle claws around their bodies or when I pull them up out of the cavity.

Neither of them pales.

Neither of them shakes.

I… I don't know how to feel.

Once Kirishima has them, I use the claws to pull me up as well. Only, a rough, calloused hand drags me up over the ledge. Bright eyes, blonde hair, and a furious scowl stare back.

"Oi, idiot-"

"Rin," I remind him again.

"I don't fuckin care," he snarls. "Stop stealing my rescues."

Behind him, the old man lets out an annoyed sound.

"Minus points," he snaps. "What kind of idiot are you? Picking fights in the middle of a rescue?"

Bakugou stills, eye twitching, and turns with a scowl.

"What did you say, grandpa?"

"Bad attitude," the actor grunts. "Minus points again!"

I quickly lunge and catch his shirt when Bakugou snarls and lunges as well.

"Let go of me! I'll show him minus points!"

I squeak as he begins immediately exploding his hands.

"Bakugou, wait! That's so unmanly!"

"Dude, don't kill the civilians!"

The acting couple, if anything, look even less impressed when I catch a glimpse of their faces.

"Bakugou-kun," I try, digging my nails in. "Please stop, there are others-"

He dislodges me immediately, face twisted in disgust as I tumble to the dirt.

"I know that!" he snarls. "Don't act like I'm stupid! Fine! I'm going ahead. You and shitty hair or whoever can rescue these two damn extra!"

"Extras," the old man repeats darkly.

"Not now, dear," the lady beside him soothes. "The barbarian is leaving."

Bakugou looks ready to try again, but Kirishima snags and pushes him on quickly, throwing me back an apologetic look. Kaminari, who had been desperately between the blonde and couple, rushes towards them as well.

I scowl.

"Rin-chan! We'll meet you at the relief station with another group. You don't mind do you?"

I open my mouth, but he's already turned around.

Yes, I do mind, I want to tell him, feeling particularly sour.

I'm tempted to reach down, grab a stone, and chunk it at their stupid heads.

I don't though.

Sensei's probably watching, and I'd hate to be grounded during an exam.

Plus they might take points.

I give the old man a particularly dark look. He smirks back.

"Dear?" the lady actress says.

"I'll escort you to the relief station," I sigh. Then turning towards the large flat area that I'd noticed being cleared, I start walking.

.

.

.

The attack comes only moments after I drop off the old couple.

A loud crash and rumble in the ground beneath me. Shrieks rising in the air from the civilians. Shouts from the student heroes. I pale when I notice the smoke rising in the distance.

Villains?

Asp—Kaito…

My stomach twists and drops even as the announcer crackles over the loudspeakers again.

"Villains have appeared and started their pursuit! Hero candidates at the scene should continue their rescue efforts while also suppressing the villains."

Nearby, one of the students breaks out into mutters and curses.

"Rescue and fight? Seriously!"

"Isn't that Gang Orca? Isn't he like in the top ten?"

"Like nothing! He is number ten!"

"How the hell are we supposed to stop the number ten?"

I stop listening, instead eyeing the growing storm of figures appearing in the distance.

What type of hero do you want to be?

I don't consider it, body working on instinct as I take off at a run. Shadows snake from my arms, reaching forward and clawing at the ground. They sling me forward, pushing me faster and faster until I'm forced to fly overhead as the evacuating students and civilians rush beneath me.

Ice splits the battlefield, cutting off my view of the attackers.

Black, leathery wings erupt from my back mid-jump and I just barely glance Mina's pink skin below before I'm banking hard, wind and hair in my eyes, and that familiar fear in my chest as I soar around the ice, a flurry of flames erupting above.

What are they doing?

I've never seen Todoroki manage anything like that.

I dive forward, tucking the wings in close, and immediately spot why.

Todoroki is on the ground, body covered in something that looks like cement, the Shiketsu boy not far off, covered in the same, and somehow between them a giant fireball tornado spinning around the main villain—hero—Orca?

I sweep down beside Midoriya's familiar green and touch down at a run.

"Hoki-chan!"

"Midoriya," I grunt, releasing my hold on the shadows and glowering as they stretch forward into the wild behemoth from the woods. It stands over us, nearly the same height as the walls of the stadium, with the body of a dog, a giant, misshapen head, and a familiar-looking trunk. I don't bother to stop it as it charges forward, knocking through the villains like it had the trees in the forest and then crashing into the hole they were streaming from.

"Woah," Midoriya manages, eyes wide as a good half of our enemies groan from the ground. "Hoki-chan, you're amazing."

I flush before immediately dodging out of the way.

Gang Orca breaks his cage and all hell breaks loose.

I lose sight of Midoriya as the dark figures surround me, guns cocked and aimed. It's only Sensei's training that has the shields up in time to stop it. I cringe inside, hearing the cement splatter against all sides.

Closing my eyes, I blindly form a tentacle and sweep it out and around.

"Hiding again," rumbles a deep voice.

I release the shield and shrink at the familiar boy, his obsidian skin crackled with lava-like veins and black, piercing eyes.

"I-"

"I don't want to know," he says flatly, turning and lifting a giant hammer and swinging it forward. It catches three in the chest, and I wince at the crunch as they're flung away and don't get up.

Your victims aren't getting up either.

"Why?" I ask, hurrying towards him and immediately swiping my tentacles at the villains at his back. I catch two but break the gun from the third.

"Why what?" he scowls.

"Why do you hate me?" I ask, uncomfortable when his eyes glitter for a moment in my direction.

"I don't hate you," he grunts, slamming his hammer into another that hadn't gotten out of the way fast enough. For such a large hammer, he certainly could reverse it quickly. "Why? I don't care enough. You are trash and as such, deserve to be expelled."

I glare.

"Trash," I repeat angrily.

The tentacles twist into snakes, their tongues fiery ribbons as my anger takes hold. Throwing my arm forward, I release a black flame that drives forward and divides the rapidly dissolving ranks.

A loud buzzer goes off a second later.

"Um, at this moment, all the H.U.C. who were deployed have been rescued from the danger zone. It may seem arbitrary, but with this, all the provisional licensing exam procedures have been completed. The rest of you should change and then stand by."

I immediately curl my hands into fists.

Taisho, still mid-swing, stops only moments from the villain's chest. He drops the powerful weapon against the floor and turns to me with a glare.

"Why?" I snap, not moving.

"Why what?" he asks coldly despite his heavy breaths and the glean of sweat against his rock-like skin. "You left Present Mic on the ground bleeding and left. How do I know? Because I was the one to find him and carry him to safety. I was the one to explain to Midnight how you ran away, again, leaving him behind."

I flinch, the anger draining away at once.

"Trash," he repeats again, shoving his way past, and this time I don't stop him.

"Rin," Present Mic says, his hair still half pulled into a bun, dust and debris on his face. He leans forward, one hand pressing against his stomach. There's a stain there. My hands shake when I see it. The other hand pulls handcuffs from somewhere, tossing them to me. I fumble at their weight as if my arms were asleep. As if my brain won't work. "Handcuff him."

I want to argue.

There's red on the ground. There's red on his hand.

"I was gonna kill him," I say, not sure why I'm even trying to defend myself.

Because he's right, you left him bleeding and alone.

The rock boy pauses, but then walks forward. I stare down, a billion strange emotions swelling inside. Sadness. Guilt. Fear. Disgust.

"Rin-chan!" Mina shrieks as she collides with me, followed immediately by an invisible body and gloved hands. "We did it! We did it! We made it!"

"Come on, let's go change!" Toru laughs, squeezing my neck and spinning us in a circle. "And stop thinking about that stupid rock-bastard! I saw him over here talking, don't listen to his garbage! You gotta shake it off!"

"Oh, I love that song!" squeaks Mina, releasing me to do a lively cartwheel and then spin with her arms out by her head. "Shake it off! Shake it off!"

Despite all of the dark, horrid emotions in my chest, I can't but laugh at her antics.

"Oi, let's go!" Bakugou growls, but I don't miss the way his eyes narrow past us at Taisho as well. When he notices my stare, he glares. "Don't you dare start crying."

I laugh.

He makes a face and stomps off immediately.

.

.

.

I passed.

My body glows with that same weightless brightness as the Final Exams.

My feet dance across the ground, barely touching the floor as I hurry out the main door.

Sensei is waiting for us on the stairs, looking bored with his hands stuffed in his pockets and hair moving slightly in the breeze. I pause for a moment to stare, taking in his-half lidded eyes, the uneven collection of dark facial hair, and the slight tick of his eyebrow when he notices me.

He watched…

"Rin," he says flatly, and I don't miss the slight smile that curls against his lips.

"Sensei!" I squeak, racing forward. Lights flicker across my skin, tiny fireflies and wildflowers, and I don't even hesitate before slamming into his chest.

He doesn't rock back, fully prepared. Instead, one hand rises up to press into my hair, and another slips across my back. My fingers dig into the soft, familiar fabric, the comforting scent of him and home swelling in my chest. I can't help the tears, the weight of his capture weapon sliding heavily across the top of my head, and I laugh as it rests against my crown.

"Sensei, I passed! I passed! I passed!"

"I know," he snorts, but I can hear the pride there, just barely disguised with affection. I hug him closer, pressing my face into the warmth of his chest. "I saw, you touchy kid."

"Thank you," I whisper, closing my eyes and scrubbing at the tears.

He snorts when I bury my face in his chest and pulls tiny pieces of debris from the tangles mass that is my hair.

"It's not something that requires your thanks."