~1 week later~
She'd just gotten back from her part-time job when she noticed mail in her mailbox "Could t..this be it" Rinne murmured, heart beating in her chest as she saw the logo on the letter, before she could even begin to panic, her phone went off.
"Hey have you got it yet, your letter from UA" the familiar deep tone of Rinne's one and only friend came through the speaker and just like that she calmed down "Rinne" Hitoshi prodded when all he heard was silence, followed by the sound of keys jiggling and a door opening.
Before the girl spoke "Y..Yeah I got it Hitoshi, what about you" Rinne whispered and he hummed in confirmation, letting her know that he had indeed gotten a letter from the prestigious high school "Open yours first" she suggested, not sure she wanted to go to a school her friend wasn't attending.
On the other end of the line Hitoshi rolled his eyes but complied to the request anyway "That's about what I was expecting" Hitoshi remarked after the video was over, congratulating him on making it into the general education department of UA High "And now it's your turn Rinne" he reminded.
Causing her breathing to pick up indicating a panic attack as she slowly opened the letter "I...I made it Hitoshi, into the hero course" Rinne murmured quietly, tears probably brimming in her eyes "They said I got an even amount of villain and rescue points, wa..wait hold on there's something else" she explained.
Making him frown as he heard shuffling before he heard a gasp "What is it Rinne" Hitoshi prodded, hoping her acceptance hadn't come with some kind of condition, well he was kind of right, but it wasn't bad in the slightest in fact he was quite happy for Rinne when she told him.
"It..It's just that Recovery Girl wants to apprentice me through my years as a hero course student to provide support in emergencies where it takes to long for the ambulance to arrive on scene...I'll also be paid for the work I do" she added softly towards the end of her explanation.
And Hitoshi was happy for her "Does that mean you'll be able to get rid of that awful part-time job you have, surely being a paid apprentice for RG, would be better than that place" he grumbled, sighing when Rinne stuttered about how nice everyone had been there.
"T..The letter doesn't say anyway Hitoshi, bu..but I'll probably have to explain that I have a part-time job to the principle or someone" Rinne said, and he grumbled a bit more but let the subject go for the time being, as the conversation changed in a different direction.
Like her hero costume "Wait you seriously haven't finished that yet" Hitoshi said and she could hear the frown in his voice when she explained that she didn't have the money for it at that particular time and he groaned "Guess that's understandable" he admitted.
"Don't w..worry Hitoshi, I'm saving up for it, I'll have it in a couple of weeks, though I'll probably be behind m..my classmates, guess th...that's something else I'll have to explain to Recovery Girl or the principle" Rinne sighed, tone full of sadness that she was already falling behind everyone else in 1-A.
"Un...Unless and bare with me I don't offer this to just anyone Rinne, but I can cover the difference for your hero costume with what you already have saved for it" Hitoshi offered, wondering why he was willing to go to such lengths for someone who was still practically a stranger, despite it being a week since they'd started talking.
Another gasp came from her and she began trying to tell him that wasn't necessary but he wouldn't listen and after several minutes Rinne caved, only after promising to pay him back when she could "Anyway I should get supper started...later Hitoshi" Rinne murmured.
Feeling her stomach beginning to rumble in hunger, Hitoshi reluctantly hung up after that and soon she was lounging in bed with the UA handbook that had been sent, to memorize all the rules and the like, before Rinne realized it, she'd drifted off to sleep, book face down but open on her chest as she slept soundly for the first time.
Morning dawned swiftly and her alarm scared her out of the most peaceful sleep she'd ever had since arriving in Japan ten or so months ago, Rinne sighed, pushing the button to turn off her alarm then went about getting ready for the day before heading out to work.
Halfway to her part-time job her phone chimed indicating a text ~Send me your address so I can meet you after your done for the day~ it was Hitoshi and he was asking to come over to her little apartment, oddly enough the thought didn't bother Rinne one little bit as she texted him back.
Feeling happy for once, though work did kind of put a damper on her mood when it dragged on for longer than usual before she was dismissed for the day, the minute she was out of the building her wings perked up from their drooped state and she damn near fluttered back to her apartment.
Whereas he promised, Hitoshi was stood in front of her door, frowning down at his phone for some reason, before glancing up just as Rinne reached him "Come on, let's go" Hitoshi reached out without thinking and grabbed Rinne's arm, eyes widening when she flinched away from him.
Cursing himself inwardly for making a sudden movement that could be interpreted in a bad way, Hitoshi grit his teeth wanting to rip in to whoever had hurt Rinne so much that she didn't really like to be touched "I..I'm okay" Rinne murmured in that meek voice.
Something he disliked as well, "No you're not" he rolled his eyes, holding out his hand and waiting patiently this time until she took the proffered appendage, before tugging Rinne gently after him as they headed out to make preparations to get her hero costume ordered properly.
Not to mention purchase a UA uniform and other things that were needed for their first year at the prestigious high school, unaware of the stir they were causing or rather Rinne's appearance was causing as she made her first appearance outside of apartment and work, choosing to order things online with quick delivery than go out.
That's why the pair of fledgling friends were blindsided when many people approached them "Hey excuse me, but those wings are well, they're like Hawks, are you related to him somehow, if you are, oh my gosh, where on earth has that hero been hiding you all this time" the woman squealed.
Reaching out to touch the soft pink plumage and green eyes widened in panic "Don't touch her, she doesn't like it" Hitoshi snapped, maneuvering himself before his friend to protect her from the growing crowd as they brought out phones to record Rinne or take pictures.
"U..Um I..I'm sorry b..but I have n..no idea wh..who Hawks is, s...so n..no I'm not related t...to him" Rinne stuttered horribly in that meek voice of hers, hiding her face in Hitoshi's back, wings drooping as her time with her friend took a different turn than expected.
Just then the crowd parted before altogether dispersing "I thought I recognized you two, you're from the entrance exam right" a blonde in casual wear greeted, and after taking a rather close look at the man Hitoshi instantly recognized him for who he was.
It was Present Mic, Hizashi Yamada who would be his homeroom teacher at UA "Yeah, they just kind of came out of nowhere" Hitoshi nodded going to rub the back of his neck before he realized Rinne was still pressed tightly into his back and trembling as she gripped his shirt.
"Are you okay little listener" Present Mic asked, growing more worried as the young girl hid from him, she was the one Recovery Girl wanted to apprentice to eventually take over as the UA nurse, thankfully Hitoshi managed to coax Rinne out from behind his back.
Though she eyed the blonde fearfully and Hizashi knew he'd be speaking to his friend Eraser about one of his students already when the young hero to be nodded without uttering a word "No you're not" Hitoshi scoffed softly, reuttering the same words as earlier and from the first time they'd met all those months ago.
But what he didn't do however was upset Rinne even more than she already was upset "My wi..wings are sensitive, it hurts when the feathers grow back after being p...pulled out" Rinne finally spoke in a meek voice, gesturing to the feathers in her hands that had been ripped out of her wings by the crowd from earlier.
Hitoshi was furious at the admission, because it meant he'd failed to protect her properly earlier "I'm sorry Rinne, I only focused on those in front of us not behind" he apologized, not something he did often considering the awkward way he offered the apology.
She shook her head though like he thought she would and took his hand in her own again "Do I need to take you home little listener" Present Mic reminded them that he was still there when he spoke, causing the pair to jolt, and more Rinne than Hitoshi to stare at him with wide eyes.
Followed by shaking her head "We still have things to do" Hitoshi was also in agreement, but imagine their surprise when the man followed them, obviously not planning to leave the two of them alone in case another crowd of Hawks fans caught sight of Rinne and tried to do more harm to the girl.
Rinne was still spooked unfortunately as she gripped his hand tightly in her own, frightened green eyes darting this way and that, by the time their errands were finished Hizashi had more concerns than he knew what to do with regarding the young hero student in his friend's homeroom class.
Especially when Rinne refused his offer of a ride a second time as he watched the two obvious friends walk away before he dug into his pocket and retrieved his phone "Eraserhead I just met one of your students in class 1-A and what I just witnessed is not good, keep an eye on her alright, it's Rinne Kuroyami" Hizashi sighed into the phone.
Listening to the grumpy man on the other end of the line as he griped about having extra work to do when he was already swamped "I know but it's important Eraser, she acts like she was abused and doesn't trust adults" Present Mic frowned, something of a rarity.
Proving how worried he was about the girl "Fine I'll keep an eye on her, so will Chiyo" Eraserhead or rather Shota Aizawa relented to the pleading request, before hanging up to finish writing out his lesson plans, his students were in for a bumpy ride when school officially started.
Meanwhile during that phone call between the two Pro-hero's, UA high teachers and best friends, Rinne and Hitoshi had made it back to her apartment "Well I'll see ya Rinne, just make sure that you set your alarm early enough next week to get ready on time and make breakfast and lunch for yourself" Hitoshi grumbled.
Not really wanting to leave his only friend so far but his foster parents expected him back at a certain time "Okay" Rinne nodded quietly, letting go of his hand and turning with key in hand to unlock the door to her apartment "A..Also thank you for today Hitoshi and...and for trying to protect me" she murmured softly.