Summary:

The school year ends at last and the choices made during the villain attack on the mall are addressed.

So I'm sorry it took so long to update, I've had a lot of personal things happen at once. I've also edited the first few chapters, mainly 1-10 to make them flow better. Nothing major just minor fixes. As always read and enjoy. Leave a kudos or comment if you enjoyed it! With this chapter year 2 is done, the first arc of this story is finished.

Chapter Text

Katsuki could feel the tension in the dorms, it felt like a bomb was about to go off. He had been sitting in the common space when Gen Ed came storming down the stairs, muttering things about Four Eyes before grabbing Ponytail and informed those downstairs they were heading to gym Gamma. Since Yaoyorozu was one of the main ones helping the others study the group she was working with quickly broke up. Several joined Midoriya's group and several joined his, including Pink Cheeks.

Which surprised him, Uraraka had been avoiding him since she got out of the hospital a week ago. Why she chose his group was beyond him. He continued with his studies, answering questions when asked, but her silence bugged him. He kept an eye on the clock, today was their training day. After a half hour of her ignoring him he'd had enough. He slammed his notebook closed, causing those at his table to jump at the sudden noise.

"C'mon Pink Cheeks, time to train." He growled as he stood, looking down at her. She let out a sigh as she stacked her things in a neat pile, as she stood and passed him she avoided his eyes. Eyes that could tell something was wrong, and he was going to figure it out.

Katsuki stretched as he waited for Uraraka to exit the locker room. He watched as Shinso and Yaoyorozu sparred with bo staffs, heard the clash of wood on wood as they pushed each other. He heard someone clear their throat behind him and turned to see Uraraka waiting. She was wearing her jacket with her usual gym clothes, which he knew meant she was feeling self conscious about the scars on her arms.

Which meant he was going to have to push her hard to get her to open up.

They started with their usual warm up of stretches, which was unusually silent, then moved on to hand to hand, which was Uraraka on the offensive and Katsuki on the defensive.

It was a quiet few minutes as he blocked each of her attacks. She lacked her normal enthusiasm, her spark. It pissed him off.

"What happened to you?" He demanded to know, and her attack stopped briefly at his question.

"What do you mean?" She asked between breaths as she wiped sweat from her face, his eyes narrowing on her reddened knuckles.

"I know you're better than this." He gestured at her; she hadn't managed to land an actual hit on him yet, when he normally would have several bruises after training with her. "You're not yourself and I want to know why."

"I don't know what you mean." Uraraka glared at Katsuki. "I'm fine."

"You're lying." He returned her glare. "You haven't been the same since you got out of the hospital, and I want to know why." He growled then grinned when she launched herself at him with a frustrated scream.

"Why does everyone keep asking that!?" She screamed between punches, he caught each one, letting her take out her frustration on him. "Are you okay? Do you need to talk? Do you need anything? I'm so sick of it! I just need to prove that I'm strong and they'll leave me alone."

So that's what was bothering her. "Prove yourself to who, Pink Cheeks?" He asked as he grabbed her fist aiming for his face, letting go so she could go at him again. He was going to get her to talk. "Because you sure as hell don't need to prove yourself to anyone here at UA," He grabbed her fist going for his stomach. Neither of them mentioned the fact her knuckles were starting to bleed. "You don't need to prove anything to the country, they all saw how badass you were at the mall," he grabbed another fist aiming for his chest and pulled her in close. "So tell me who you were trying to prove yourself to."

"To myself!" Uraraka screamed as he tried to hit his face, he grabbed her punch, but instead of letting go he turned and flipped her onto her back on the ground. He pinned her to the ground with a knee on her stomach, his hand hovering just above her face.

"This is what happens when you do stupid things." Katsuki growled as sparks flickered from his hand. "You get hurt. Get this through that head of yours, you don't need to prove yourself to anyone. Not to anyone here, not to the country, and not to yourself. The fact that you're alive and still fighting is proof enough that you're strong. These scars," his free hand tugged on the fabric of her jacket covering her arms. "They tell the world that you're strong, that you're alive. That the damn vampire didn't break you." He stood up and offer her a hand and together they both walked to get water.

He watched as she stripped off her jacked and sweat soaked workout shirt, leaving her in her sports bra. His gaze lingered on her abdomen, felt his heart stop just a bit at the sight of the skin there stitched together and slightly pink. Barely healed enough to resume training. He looked up and caught her gaze and grinned, the spark was back.

Soon Shinso and Yaoyorozu joined them, and as the two girls chatted Katsuki turned to the other teen. "Hey, Gen Ed, you and Ponytail want to do a two on two match?"

"Sure, but I get Uraraka." Shinso grinned behind his bottle of water.

"Oh?"

"I know better than to fight the two of you, and I'm not stupid enough to fight against any of the girls in any form of group from this class. They're viscous if they're grouped up." Shinso just shook his head while Katsuki roared with laughter. He left the gym that night with some deep bruises courtesy of Uraraka.

Later the next week, after the exams were over, everyone in the hero course received some unpleasant news. Due to the increase in villain attacks, and with the escape of Stain, it was strongly advised that the hero students stay in the dorms until the new school year starts. The other classes were given the choice to go home or stay. In the end only a quarter of the students left. There had been no known attack on students outside the hero course.

Several of parents were strongly against this decision. Shota sighed as he closed another email from an enraged parent. This one from the Yaoyorozu family. They were insisting Yaoyorozu be allowed to leave the country on vacation with them. He pinched the bridge of his nose as he sat back in his chair, trying to figure the situation out. At that moment there was a knock on the door of the teachers lounge.

"Enter," he grumble, wishing he had his sleeping bag, but straightened up when he saw it was Yaoyorozu. She looked troubled as she fidgeted with the charms on her bracelet. "What can I do for you?"

"Aizawa-sensei, we both know my mother has been in contact with you, so can we skip the pleasantries? I'm just as annoyed with her as you are." Yaoyorozu sighed as she sat in an empty chair. He raised a brow at her attitude, he had never seen her like this.

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Is there any way you can convince my mother that staying here is best for me? Because she isn't listening to me."

"Did your mother forget about the forms she signed when the dorms started last year? Along with the updated version after the incident at the beginning of this year?" There was no way a parent could be that forgetful.

"My mother doesn't forget anything. That's her quirk. Archive: the ability to memorize anything she has seen or heard in the last forty-eight hours. Once a memory has been archived she will never forget the memory." Yaoyorozu said as if she had the little speech memorized.

"Then she should remember that in situations such as this the school has the authority to keep its students here. It is clearly stated, several times in fact, that once the dorms were built if there was need for it the students could be kept over breaks." Shota crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, glancing at the clock in the process. He should have left for his meeting long before Yaoyorozu came in.

"I see," Yaoyorozu sighed as she pulled out her phone and began typing away on it. After a few silent minutes she put it back into her pocket and stood. "Thank you, Sensei, for informing me of the authority the school has. Seeing as my mother somehow forgot to mention it. I won't take up anymore of your time."

"Wait," he called out as she turned to the door. "I could actually use your insight on something." Yaoyorozu sat back down as Shota continued. "The barista, Safaia Nami, what do you know about her?"

"You don't think she's connected do you," she gave him a glare that had him raise an eyebrow at her.

"I take it you two talked during the whole attack?"

"We chatted while trying to keep Midoriya alive." Yaoyorozu crossed her arms and raised and eyebrow back. "She mentioned she was working two jobs since her parents died, she had to drop out of medical school just to keep her apartment. They were victims of the Kamino Ward attack last year."

"So that's what they're planning," Shota grinned.

"Who's planning what?"

"All Might and Recovery Girl are offering her a scholarship to finish school. We are, as a society, in desperate need of more healing quirks in the medical field. I'm actually supposed to be meeting with them."

"May I come with you? I would really like to see her again." He could see something going on behind her eyes, something that would change this young woman's life.

"We're already running late." He got up quickly and together they left the lounge.

Momo knew this would take her mother's mind off of her, if she had a new project she wouldn't bother her about leaving school. She sat back in the passenger seat with a sigh as she sent the last email. For the last half hour she had been in constant contact with her family arranging everything. If she was going to be professional about this meeting she had to look the part. When they arrived at the mall she stepped out of the car wearing a new suit jacket the same color as her school skirt and a pair of black heels. She left her school jacket, tie, and shoes in the car.

She felt a chill go down her spine. The last time she was here she was running alongside Midoriya as they rushed him out. Today will hopefully end better.

The walk to the coffee shop on the fifth floor was uneventful, she could feel Aizawa glancing at her now again along the way. When they arrived All Might and Recovery Girl were waiting for them outside, together they walked into the empty shop.

"I'm sorry, we're closed for a business meeting!" An apologetic voice called from behind the counter. All Momo could see was a messy bun of sky blue hair.

"We're actually here for the meeting." Recovery Girl informed in a friendly voice, and the person stood quickly. Deep blue eyes looked back at everyone. Nami.

"Oh, right. Well feel free to pick a table. I'll be there shortly to take your orders." She sounded nervous as she disappeared into the back room.

As the group took a few minutes to settle in at their table, and Momo could feel the other two staring at her. She took a calming breath and looked up, meeting their gazes.

"I take it you're wondering what I'm doing here?" Momo asked in her most professional voice. All Might nodded while Recovery Girl gave her a knowing smile. "I'm actually here to represent my family company, but I will be polite and let you present your offer first."

All Might looked surprised at her statement, if Recovery Girl was surprised she hid it well. Her phone went off, another email from her family. As she answered it Nami approached their table. She quickly took their orders and as she walked back behind the counter Recovery Girl told her told her to make herself a drink.

Minutes later, drinks in hand, she returns to their table. As she goes to walk off All Might clears his throat. "If you would join us, Miss Nami." Her eyes widened as she took one of the empty seats.

Over the next thirty minutes Momo listened patiently as All Might and Recovery Girl presented their offer. A full scholarship to complete her final years of medical school.

"What about housing?" Momo could sense the tears threatening to spill as Nami's gaze was fixed on the table. They had talked during the attack, and she knew what finishing school would mean to the young woman. She watched as the elders at the table exchanged a look. She didn't like that look one bit.

"Unfortunately the dorms for the school are full but I'm sure we can figure something out within the next few weeks before classes start." Recovery Girl gave her a hopeful smile, but Nami shook her head.

"Thank you all for your offer, but unless housing is included I have to decline. I can't keep up with school and work two jobs trying to keep my apartment again." She stood up, and Momo could tell the decision to decline was killing her. So she spoke up at last.

"Please, Nami. Don't make your decision until you hear both offers."

"What?" At that moment two women stepped into the shop.

"Safaia Nami, may I introduce Hisui Yaoyorozu." The eldest one smiled and nodded in greeting, her jade eyes focused on the young blue-haired woman. She wore a business suit and her silver streaked black hair was up in an elegant chignon. "And Kimiko Yaoyorozu." The younger of the two smiled in greeting, the same jade eyes shining, her raspberry colored hair falling gracefully down the back of her suit. "The President and Vice President of the Izanami Corporation. As I'm sure you're aware the Izanami Corporation owns all the specialized pro hero hospitals and all the specialized medical hero support companies."

Nami immediately bent into a low bow. "It is an honor to meet you both!"

The elder woman smiled. "It is an honor to meet you as well, Miss Nami. Let's sit and discuss your future." Momo looked over at the other woman, her older sister, and they shared a smile as their mother offered Nami the world.

Almost an hour later Momo could tell Nami was still in a daze. Before she left with her mother, Nami wrapped her arms tightly around Momo.

"How can I ever repay you?" Her whisper was full of countless emotions, and Momo pulled back to stare into her tear filled blue eyes.

"You will never have to repay me for this. Just promise me that you'll do whatever you can to help others." She nodded enthusiastically before leaving with her mother. Her sister waited a few moments before letting out a relived sigh.

"I take it that is your way of distracting our mother?" She gave Momo a sly wink.

"Someone had to do it…" She muttered knowing her sister heard her.

"I also take it that is your way of telling us that you're staying at school over break?"

"It's the safest place for me."

"It's about time you became more confident." She held her sister's gaze as she smiled. "I know it wasn't easy growing up in the shadow of two older siblings, and with such a large age gap I know we weren't around much. Kosuke and I are proud of you, no matter the path you choose." She turned and said her farewells to the others seated at the table, and as Kimiko stood she turned back to Momo. "Why her?"

"Because she needed it the most. Not only did I offer her a chance at school, I offered her something more." She smiled at her sister, her smile so wide it almost hurt. "I offered her a family again. Tell me our mother isn't already buying her an entirely new wardrobe along with anything she looks at for more than ten seconds." There was a round of laughter at that statement, and Kimiko turned to Aizawa.

"Keep an eye on her Eraser Head, she's going to become a great hero soon."

"She already is." Momo flushed at his words, she knew he didn't give out praise that often.

Ochaco was outside the dorms, Hagakure's phone in hand ready to record the invisible girl, who was floating with the help of her quirk, when she heard the sound of running feet behind her. Hagakure was about to start a dance challenge for social media when someone screamed her name. She hit record as she stepped to the side as a petite blond ran past, and reached out and activated her quirk on her as well.

She watched with a smirk as the girl flailed in the air for a moment before her momentum had her crashing into the invisible one. Hagakure steadied the girl as the screams turned into sobs for some reason.

"Hakari, what's wrong?" For a moment Ochaco debated turning off the camera as the blonde wrapped her arms around the other.

"Y-you… I… I got…" Her sputtering words were drowned out by her tears again, and Hagakure led her through breathing exercises to calm her down.

"You good now?" She asked after a moment, and the blond nodded and gave her a grin that went from ear to ear.

"I got in."

"You got in where?" Ochaco could hear the invisible girl's confusion.

"I got in! Because of you!" She flung her arms around the older girl, and Ochaco was glad she was still recording.

"Got in? Wait… into the Hero course?" Hagakure's voice was full of disbelief.

"Yes!" Hakari's voice was muffled as she buried her face into her shirt. Ochaco smiled as she caught the moment both of the floating girls broke into a mix of tears, screams of joy, and laughter.

The end of that school year brought dozens of pictures to the wall, but three stood out among them.

The first was of Uraraka and Bakugo. She was sitting proudly on his shoulders, they had identical feral grins as they both flexed their arms. He has a bruise forming on his jaw and she had some along her torso. Looking at it you could see the difference from a year ago. She had put on some muscle and had gained much needed confidence along with the muscle. The biggest difference were the scars, scars that told the nation she was a fighter.

Bakugo's differences were less noticeable, but still there if you looked. The fact he let someone sit on his shoulders, and didn't look as if he wanted to murder them was a big change. It showed he was willing to interact with others outside his circle of friends, more willing to accept help from others.

In big bold letters underneath the picture were the wordsBE PROUD OF YOUR SCARS!

The next one was of Yaoyorozu with the arms of a young blue-haired woman around her, and of you looked closely you could see tears in her eyes. That was the day Yaoyorozu promised to herself that she would never doubt herself again. She would continue to strive to be the best hero she could be, whether on the front lines fighting villains or behind the scenes leading, or even in the spotlight helping others.

The last was of a young blonde girl hugging a set of floating clothes as she floated a few meters off the ground. Uraraka had taken a screenshot from the video and printed the moment Hakari had told Hagakure she had made it into the Hero course. From that moment on Hagakure promised to visit the younger classes, not just the Hero students, and encourage them to try their best. Because sometimes the reward is worth the risk.