We are officially at 10 chapters! All of my previous fanfictions were abandoned at 4 chapters, this is an achievement.

Anyway. I usually use a mix of anime and manga to guide myself through writing this fanfic, since it's been a while since I've watched it MHA (Years). Also, in the anime, there's sometimes extra context for some scenes that help me put it into words. The manga, while still my preferred form of guidance, isn't the best, for me at least, at guiding me through the plot. Especially because there are times when it's not clear who is talking in the manga, and I like to have that context.

There are also times when dialogue differs from manga and anime, those times I usually choose whichever I think fits best in the context of the scene. I could change it, but most times the original is good enough and I don't see a reason why it would change from canon to this fanfic.

Anyway.

Enjoy.

"Hahh… Hahhh" Vlad had come back and announced that classes for today were to be cancelled. The first thing she asked right after was if Kei was okay; he answered that she didn't have any injuries but passed out because of quirk exhaustion and, apparently, blood loss. She was in the nurse's office.

Monoma looked away from Yui. He just had to jinx it.

'Why would blood loss be one of the reasons she passed out? He said she didn't have any injuries!' Anyway, the moment she knew she was okay, Yui bolted out of the classroom and to the nurse's office. Kendo tried to stop her, but an enlarged desk thwarted her attempt.

She had to reassure herself; words were not enough. Classes were canceled anyway.

She ran into a group of teenagers dressed in what she guessed were their hero costumes. They looked at her, but she ignored them.

Finally arriving at the door, she hastily threw it open, startling the person inside. "Young lady! Careful with the door!" Yelled an elderly woman. She was Chiyo Shuzenji, better known as the Youthful Heroine: Recovery Girl.

"Where-"

"There," Chiyo said, pointing at a closed curtain. Yui instantly opened it and entered.

Chiyo had seen this play out multiple times during her career. A student would get injured, and a concerned close friend would bolt out of their classroom to check on them. She made sure to always check the files on the new students to search for any close relationships between students, specifically for these cases. It was so cliche but also sweet, especially because most of these cases came from concerned crushes. Seeing these relationships play out was a secret pleasure of hers and one of the things that kept her from retiring. What could she say? She loved romance.

Standing up from her seat, she walked to the now-opened curtain and closed it to give them some privacy, but also to hide the massive secret that lay on the other closed curtain.

The moment Yui saw the peacefully sleeping Kei, was the moment she could finally relax. She sat on the chair that was beside the bed. It seemed as if it was especially put there for her.

"..." She was okay with observing her in silence, she didn't want to wake her up.

"... I'm glad you're okay…" She said in a low voice.

"..." Look to the left… the curtain was closed… No one was watching her… and Kei was asleep.

'I could… It's not like she will know…' Looking around one more time, she quietly stood up and approached Kei's sleeping face. 'No one has to know…' Kei didn't need to know. Yui has been waiting for too long… '... What am I doing…' She sat back down.

She wanted this, she truly did… But did Kei also want it?... Of course, she did, but it would be 100 times better if she was awake. What's the point of having her first kiss now if she wasn't awake to enjoy it?

Instead… 'Classes are canceled anyway, I'll just sleep here until she wakes up,'

… How cliche.

"An unfamiliar ceiling…" Kei commits blatant plagiarism once again, this time without knowing it.

The last thing she remembered was being held by All Might under his arm, then darkness. 'What was that? I don't remember ever bleeding while using my Quirk…' Something was changing…

"Hmm…"

'Hm? What was that?' She tried to stand up… "OooOoOh shiiit" A wave of nausea. 'I'm this tired? I'll have to be careful in the future… However, I don't think there will be anything that will push me that much happening soon… Did I just jinx myself?'

Yes.

"Language," A voice said from the outside.

'Why is Yui here?... She's sleeping.' She tried to reach her hand to touch her hair, but she didn't have enough strength to reach her. '... Fuck that Nomu! How DARE he rob me of this opportunity! RAAAAAAH'

True True

'...hahh… I wanna go home…'

"Mornin'," Kei said as she entered the classroom. She was disheveled, which was unusual for her, the one who wakes up 2 hours earlier than most just to take care of her tail. This time, though, she didn't have time for that… Because she woke up late. 'I need sleep,' Not even coffee could help her. 'If only I hadn't blacked out during that fight… Now my sleep schedule is all over the place,' She has always had trouble fixing her sleeping schedule when disturbed, a problem that she carried over from her last life.

"Kei!- Oh my god, what happened to you?!" Toru asked. It was weird to see her like that.

"Slept too long and didn't have time to prepare… Can you hug me?" Now that would be a weird request for most people… but Toru was more than happy to oblige.

"C'mere!" She said, widening her arms for the hug.

"Hmmm…" They hugged for a moment…

"... Kei…? Oh my god, she's sleeping…" Toru said in disbelief. "Hey… Come on!" She shook her, with no response. "Wake up!"

"Huh? Uhh… Sorry…" Kei said, still groggy. 'I really need sleep… I'll just power through the day…' She finally sat down in her seat. She opened her backpack and searched for something. 'Where is it… There!' A block of glass made with her quirk. She took it out, then turned it into a comb. 'Not as good as the one I always use, but better than nothing.' Laying her tail in her lap, she started to carefully comb.

Her thoughts slowly drifted to what happened a couple of days ago at U.S.J. 'I really almost died there… again…' Experiencing death the first time had not made her less scared of it, in fact, she could confidently say that it scared her even more. Her death wasn't a pretty one. Getting run over by a car did not feel good at all. She could feel every bone in her body break, the agonizing seconds of pure pain… She- or he at the time, could not even scream for some reason, the only thing she could do was wait and pray that death took her fast.

More agonizing were the seconds of remembering her family, whom she was sure she would never see again. Honestly, it was a miracle how she could cope with it after reincarnating. Maybe the pure absurdity of getting reincarnated into a manga she once read killed any and all feelings of sadness she was supposed to feel.

Mind you, she felt sad after, but she always considered herself someone who easily adapts to new things. The only thing she has to know is that, at the time of her death, her family was okay.

That's enough for her.

"Everyone! Morning homeroom's about to begin. To your seats!" Ida ordered with his usual way too-stiff mannerisms.

"We're sitting. You're the only one up." Ida looked horrified for a moment before he hastily sat down.

"Shoot!"

'I wonder who'll be doing homeroom, Aizawa looked pretty bad the last time I saw him, I don-'

"Morning." A really bandaged-up Aizawa said in a muffled voice.

'Oh wow… Mummyzawa?'

"Glad to see you doing well, sensei!" Ida said, raising his hand.

"My welfare isn't important. Because your fight is far from over." The tension in the classroom suddenly shot up. What fight did he mean? Where there… more villains?!

'It's the sports festival, isn't it? I don't think they are going to cancel it even with that fiasco.'

"U.A.'s sports festival is fast approaching."

""That's so totally ordinary!""

'Knew it.'

"Is it okay to have a sports festival so soon after the villains snuck inside?" Jiro asked, concerned.

"What if they attack us again or something…?" Ojiro chimed in.

'That is… maybe a stretch. U.S.J. had the advantage that we were isolated from the rest of the heroes; for the festival, there'll be too many people. I don't think those villains are stupid enough to just waltz into the place.'

"It's necessary. To demonstrate that U.A.'s crisis management protocols are sound… That's the thinking, apparently." Aizawa responded.

'It makes sense, it would not be good for their reputation.' Kei agreed,

"Compared to past years, there'll be five times the police presence. Anyhow, our sports festival is… The greatest opportunity you will get." He emphasized that last part.

And it's true. During the festival, all of Japan, and even outside, will be watching… including heroes and hero agencies. You really want to have a good showing during the festival, since it'll give you more opportunities to get good internship offers. Those who show their might by getting a high placement will get better internship opportunities with big heroes. 'And I'm not going to miss that opportunity'

Flashy quirks are also an important factor in getting a high number of offers, but showing your strength will get you the good ones. The ones from agencies with high reputations and high-placing heroes.

And Kei is aiming for a specific hero. 'Ryukyu… The dragoon hero… She's so cool!' She's easy to please.

Dragon = cool.

Also Qipao.

Of course, It's also the Qipao. 'Hehe…'

Truly simple. Yui would hit you.

Of course, getting an offer from one of the top heroes is a great opportunity that she will not waste… But if she got a higher-placed hero, and also Ryukyu… She would definitely choose Ryukyu. Of course, she would!

"Naturally, you'll gain valuable experience and popularity if you're picked by a big-name hero. But your time is limited. Show the pros what you're made of here, and you'll make futures for yourselves." 1-A showed faces of determination, they all knew they needed this opportunity, and this festival would most likely decide their future. Of course, there are the next two years, but the first-year matches are likely the most watched out of the three years, and it's better to show their strength from the start.

There's also the excitement and nervousness of fighting in front of millions of people…

'Ahh… The art of superpowered children hitting each other… beautiful…'

"Anyway, homeroom is over. Inari." Aizawa called.

"Yes?"

"Go to the principal's office during lunchtime. The principal wants to talk with you about something. It won't take long." Aizawa said, before leaving the room.

"... What did you do, Kei?" Toru asked.

"No idea. Anyway, save me a seat in the cafeteria."

She heard the determined Ochako scream something about "Doing her best!" while leaving… 'I mean… I'm happy she's determined, I guess… She sounded more intense than usual, though…'

~Principal's Office~

The first thing that she saw upon entering the office was, the honestly really cute, principal Nezu. "Mr. Principal," Kei said.

"Hey! It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Inari! Am I a mouse? A dog? A bear? My real identity is… the principal!" He always seemed to introduce himself to new people like that. "I'm sorry for taking time out of your lunch for this, I promise I'll keep it brief."

"It's no problem, Principal Nezu." Kei responded. She wasn't bothered by it.

"I'm glad. Anyway, this is about the festival."

'The festival? Wonder why that is…'

"Since you got first place on the entrance exam, you'll be representing the first-year students, and will have to do a speech to start the festival!" He said.

"... Huh?!" Suddenly, her social anxiety that she thought she lost years ago came back to hit her straight in the face. It seems it never went away, to begin with. 'A… speech? In front of everyone? ...' "Will it be… televised?" She asked.

"Yes!"

'T-Televised… In front of… all of Japan… Oh god…' Nezu seemed to be enjoying the pink fox's suffering, guessing by the slightly wider smile he got. How sadistic. 'Ok… Deep breaths… It's ok! I can do it… I can't!' Weak.

"Can I… not do it?" She asked.

"No!" Nezu responded, his smile widening into a sadistic smile.

"Oh man… I mean… There's Bakugo, right? I'm sure he would love to do that speech." Deep inside her, she knew that letting Bakugo do the speech was a bad idea, but still…

"Think about it this way: If you do the speech, even more eyes will be on you. Now, this may sound nerve-wracking… because it is." Blunt. Now Kei wanted to do it less. "But that would also mean that even more heroes would be watching you. Top heroes. You would be even more likely to get offers from top hero agencies. Would that not be a great opportunity?"

'... He… is right… but… ughhh….! Even more likely to get an offer from Ryukyu… Social anxiety… Bragging rights… Cool dragon… Qipao…"

What a simple human… fox-girl?

"I-I'll do it!" In the end, the higher possibility of getting a good offer won. 'Isn't this kind of like a rate-up in a gacha game?' Oh, right… she's also a delusional gambler.

"I'm glad! Anyway, you should start preparing your speech soon. This will be a great opportunity for you to start preparing for your future. A good public image is an important part of being a hero after all." In another timeline, a certain exploding boy disregarded those words completely.

"Yes, Principal Nezu. If you'll excuse me." Turning around, she left the principal's office, determined to get that offer.

It's too early for a kiss scene.

Haha

I noticed I forgot to mention that the mask she uses on her costume does have a prescription, so it doesn't bother her.

I'm still deciding how the matchups will be for the fighting portion of the festival. There are some plot-relevant parts there after all… Maybe I'll keep those matchups and change the less relevant ones, I want more 1-B presence after all.

I finished this chapter on Saturday, so I should be already writing chapter 11 by the time this is released. I'm trying to go for a vague schedule, mostly based on what I read are the days there are more people on both Ao3 and FF. Don't expect me to stick to the schedule though, I write whenever I feel like it.

Not much else to say anyway.

Thanks for reading.

~Rick…~ ~Omake~

Clack-clack-clack-clack…. Click-click… 'A dead link… shame…'

Kei was sitting in her room in the middle of the night, all lights out. Recently, she had taken up a hobby apart from gaming, writing, and reading. Looking for pre-quirk era media, especially songs.

Sadly, a lot of the media from before quirks, because of the fallout that came with a society not used to quirks, has been lost to time. A lot of the archive sites used in those times are no longer online, and the media hosted on them is no longer available.

Rare is the case where a site still hosts an old piece of media, most of these relics are usually stored in physical media. That doesn't mean there weren't cases where someone, maybe unknowingly, hosted on their site a rare piece of media.

Clack-clack-clack… Click… "Oh… there's something here."

Click.

A song started playing… Even after all these years, she still recognized it. "...No way…"

We're no strangers to love~

You know the rules and so do I~

A full commitment's what I'm thinking of~

You wouldn't get this from any other guy~

"... Did I… Did I just get Rick Rolled? In another dimension?"

Never gonna give you up~