Amaya Kan strolled across the threshold of her dorm and raised her arms above her head while extending her wings out into an accompanying stretch. Their piercings jingled ever so subtly as she did so, and she let out a groan of both annoyance and soreness as her leather corset flexed around her torso. Kyoka Jiro wasn't far behind her, and the shorter girl very nearly received a face full of membranous wing as her roommate flexed her extra limbs to their fullest extents.
"Dunno about you, but I'm fucking spent," Amaya said with an exaggerated sigh as Kyoka ducked and weaved around her retracting wing. "…sorry about that."
"You're good," Kyoka reassured with a muted smile. "And… so am I, to be honest. Everyone… well, mostly everyone we hung out with seems cool so far, but it's still draining."
"Very draining," Amaya agreed as she sat upon her bed, staring out at the field of sealed boxes and containers that awaited them. "You an introvert?"
"Extremely introverted," Kyoka admitted as she sat upon her own mattress across from Amaya's. "I'm down for a good time with the others, but I need some time to recharge afterward. I'll probably spend tomorrow mostly alone, just getting familiar with the campus and getting my books and schedule and whatnot in order for the first day of classes."
"You and me both," Amaya replied. "You probably wouldn't know it, but I feel the same way. I'm pretty much tapped out on social interaction in groups for a bit."
Kyoka watched with curiosity as the winged girl flopped backward to stare up at the ceiling.
"…really? You were the one that mostly kept things flowing," Kyoka pointed out. "If you had backed off, there would have been a lot of awkward silences."
"Which is exactly why I don't," Amaya explained. "There's more to it than that, but letting things just stew in awkwardness would've been shitty, especially this early on. Now, though, seeing most of us together for a few hours… I think I have a feeling how this is all going to shake out in terms of class dynamics."
"Do tell," Kyoka encouraged as she worked to unlace one of her leather boots.
"Once we get out into the field, I can see Bakugo taking the lead," Amaya predicted. "Well. When I'm not fighting him for that position, anyway. Aki will probably back him up and temper him a bit when he gets too hot, and Asui… Tsu will be the one asking questions and poking holes where holes deserve to be poked. Not too sure on Kirishima just yet… or how Mineta will behave when things get serious. You seem like the wingman type who only speaks up when it actually matters, so we've got a good balance right there. When we're in the dorms, though? I'll try to hold things together if there's a lull in a big group."
"I don't want to sound obnoxious, but… why?" Kyoka asked. "Is it really that important that we all get along and hang out frequently? That sounds exhausting for an introvert…"
"It is," Amaya agreed, "but let's face it- we're going to be living in close proximity for four years, and if some up us partner up in an agency after school, even longer. What we're looking at right now is our new family, Jiro. I'd like to be able to feel like I can rely on this one and trust in it. Would be a nice change."
Kyoka paused her efforts to remove her footwear. The silence lasted just long enough for her to realize that she was creating exactly what Amaya had spoken about only moments prior.
"…yeah. I get that," Kyoka said slowly. "I was kinda planning on never bringing up your dad, since it seems like a touchy subject…"
"It is," Amaya said as she sat back up to look Kyoka in the eyes. "But it's not like we can avoid it. He's here. We'll be working with 1-B somewhat frequently. I apologize in advance if I'm… kind of a bitch after those meetups. I guess we'll have to wait and see how things go."
"I won't blame you," Kyoka reassured. "It all sounds… really rough, from what little I know. If you ever want to talk about it, I'm not the best sounding board… but I'll do what I can. I don't have siblings, so being your 'dorm sister' is all new to me."
"Same here," Amaya nodded. "I usually like being able to just be alone and self-reliant when I get home, but… I might take you up on that. You seem cool."
Kyoka couldn't help but blush as she watched the other girl's eyes travel all across her body, almost as if Amaya was taking her in for the first time.
"…you seem cool, too. You know what's not cool? Unpacking all this shit…"
"Ugh, tell me about it," Amaya agreed as she stood up. "I've got an idea, though, if you put your boots back on. We might be able to draft some muscle and get it done faster. I know we're both tired of people right now but burning the social candle a bit more is better than doing all of this alone."
"Maybe, but I really don't want to bother Bakugo again…"
"Bakugo, huh?" Amaya said with a devious grin. "Interesting that you jumped to him."
Kyoka's cheeks only grew darker as she bent over to hide her face from Amaya, fixating instead upon her boots as she slipped them back on.
"…he's made it pretty clear he's not interested. Maybe I've got a bit of a crush right now. Leave it there, please?"
"Consider it left," Amaya said with an air of finality. "I was expecting that to drag out for ages instead of you just admitting it. Sucks that he doesn't seem to want to play ball, though."
"Yes, it does," Kyoka agreed as she stood up and smoothed out her t-shirt with her hands. "But whatever. Plenty of guys here, and plenty of time."
"Plenty of girls, too," Amaya teased as she headed for the door.
Kyoka raised a brow, unsure how she felt about the notion. It wasn't something she had ever given any serious thought.
"…yeah, I guess there are. I've never… felt that way about another girl before, but I'm not saying it's a definite no. It's interesting, I guess?"
"Very interesting, with the right one," Amaya let on as she led the way out into the hall.
"I bet… uh, where are we headed, exactly?" Kyoka asked.
"Hopefully, a place where you can meet someone new," Amaya explained. "If he's back, that is…"
"…Mrs. Midoriya?" Katsuki asked, stiffening up as he eyed Eijiro warily. "What are you doing here?"
"Izuku is all moved in, and I wanted to check in on you, dear," the woman explained as she folded her arms before herself. She leaned forward slightly, catching sight of the equally nervous redhead deeper inside of the room. "If now isn't a good time…"
"Oh! No, I was just leaving!" Eijiro lied as he flashed a grin full of razor-sharp teeth and offered the older woman a shallow bow. "I should really go and make sure Mina's alright on her floor. I'll see you soon, man!"
Inko stepped to the side as Eijiro rushed out of the room, leaving her alone with Katsuki. A moment later, the blond boy ushered her inside and closed the door. He made sure to lock it behind her.
"…you didn't just come to check on me," Katsuki stated confidently.
"…I didn't," Inko confirmed as she glanced over her shoulder to confirm that the door was locked. "But even so…"
Katsuki wasn't quite prepared for the tight hug that the woman scooped him into, but he also didn't feel a need to resist. He didn't return the gesture, though he did close his eyes as he was embraced, and the contact served to calm his nerves ever so slightly.
"You look good, Katsuki," Inko praised as she stepped back. "How are things at home…?"
Katsuki frowned and looked away from Inko, knowing that he was about to disappoint her.
"…tense," was all he said to explain himself. "Things never really got solved. Just… set aside."
"I think you should call home tonight," Inko suggested. "Just to let her know that things are okay here. It seems that you still have some work to do setting up, but your dorm is looking nice. Your roommate seems friendly."
"He's…" Katsuki started, only to realize that he didn't quite have a descriptor for Eijiro other than loud. "…fine, I guess. I don't really know him yet. We'll see what happens."
"Just try to keep an open mind," Inko reminded as she wandered the perimeter of the room, inspecting his efforts at unpacking. "Living with Izuku and I was awkward at first, too."
"…yeah," Katsuki agreed. He could sense something lingering in the air, as though Inko was stalling for time. Where normally he would be annoyed with someone for tiptoeing around the actual conversation to come, he instead found himself feeling a bit sympathetic. "Mrs. Midoriya… what's going on?"
Inko eventually came to a stop in the kitchenette and leaned back into the edge of the counter while resting her palms backward atop the surface. She looked rather conflicted and eyed the door once again before turning her attention to Katsuki.
"…Izuku… told me. He told me everything."
Katsuki knew that he didn't even need to ask, and yet, he did. His voice came out incredibly small and raspy, as though he hadn't had access to water in days.
"…about…?"
"One for All," Inko clarified, her face devoid of its usual motherly smile. "All Might. Sir Nighteye. Everything."
It was as though a cold weight had dropped from the center of Katsuki's chest directly down through his torso and into his feet. The dryness in his throat compounded until he felt that he couldn't even speak if he managed to open his mouth, which he couldn't bring himself to do to begin with. All Katsuki could manage was to stare in disbelief as the woman played with a strand of her hair, looking almost guilty for having a secret leaked to her.
"He's terrified, Katsuki," Inko let on. "He's been putting on a brave face, and he told me how much he appreciates you helping him, but… he isn't okay. I'm sure his new friends in 1-B will distract him and help keep his worries in check to an extent, but it won't be the same as when he had you to lean on constantly. It isn't fair to you to ask you to be his rock, especially after all you've done for him throughout the years, but… he's my baby, and I can't be here for him at U.A. like I can when he's at home. Please check in on him?"
"…I will," Katsuki agreed with a slow nod. "He seemed fine to me, but I guess that isn't the case…"
"Of course he did," Inko replied. "He's been keeping it all in, and now that he's in a totally new environment without either of us constantly there, he's having trouble. Had I known that all of this was happening… I wouldn't have let him just move in without a fight. He knows that. He waited until after the fact to let me in on the secret."
Katsuki couldn't help but think that she didn't need to be in on the secret at all, and some choice words for Izuku were already bubbling at the forefront of his mind.
"Are you angry with him?" Katsuki asked.
"Angry?" Inko questioned, taken aback. "No, I would never be angry with Izuku over something like this. He's always wanted to be a hero, and now… well, he's found a way. I did think his Quirk coming in so late was suspicious, but really, who could have imagined something like this? I'm not angry, but I am worried. I know that the best of the best are here and will be helping him train, but that isn't all he needs. Part of the reason I came to see you is to remind you that training isn't all you need, either…"
"Do we have to do this?" Katsuki grumbled. "I get it, alright? Make friends. Be nice to people until they piss me off. Try to let a few in. I've already got one guy and one girl that I can tolerate. Maybe… a few others, too. I'm taking it slow."
Inko smiled and gave Katsuki a nod.
"Good. Stay on that path. Lean on them, and Izuku, too. If you ever need me for any reason, at any hour, I want you to call. I'll be here for you, too."
"Yeah, I know," Katsuki acknowledged. "As for Izuku, I'll… I'll figure something out."
"All I ask is that you try," Inko reminded. "He adores you, you know."
"Yeah," Katsuki answered dismissively. "Just… I don't know what I'm doing with that kind of thing, alright? I'll try, but I can't make any promises."
"Whatever you do, it will be enough," Inko reassured.
The cold, uncomfortable feeling rose back up into Katsuki's chest without warning. Something about the statement didn't sit right with him, and from the look in Inko's eyes, he could tell that she felt similarly.
"What if it's not?"
Inko sucked in a deep breath through her nose and swallowed.
"…let's hope it never gets to the point where we find out."
Author's Note:
What are we, some kind of Enough is Never Enough?
-RD