Mirio wasn't sure what time it was. He knew that at least a few hours had passed since he had initially gotten to the hospital, and it was late enough for him to be hungry. The plan was to head back to Mirko's room, offer to go and get food for Mirko, Hawks, and All Might, and then begin talking out what to do next regarding the Yakuza and Dabi. Naturally, the plan fell to pieces almost immediately. Tamaki and Nejire were both waiting outside of Mirko's door, one of the two looking visibly annoyed. Mirio couldn't really blame her, and he knew exactly what was coming.

"You really expected us to just leave you here?" Nejire questioned, her arms folded across her chest. "Mirio. Honestly. After you've befriended these people and refuse to hang them out to dry, you think we'll leave you to face all this alone?"

"No, I don't," Mirio answered with a sigh of resignation as he scratched the back of his head. "But I was hoping you two would go home, get some rest, and let me worry about the problem I caused."

"You're not the one who took a swing at Endeavor," Tamaki pointed out. "Though if you mean the other problem of wires and allegiances being crossed, at least you now have protection within the professional circuit. All Might isn't going to abandon you, knowing what he knows."

"Probably not," Mirio agreed. "Somehow, though, things worked out with Dabi, and… its rocky, but we've got an understanding. I'm going to help him with his dad, and he's going to help us with Sunbeam."

"His dad?" Nejire asked.

"…not here, just in case," Mirio answered. "And honestly… probably not in front of the pros, either. Dabi's got some baggage that I don't think he wants shared around, and I'm on thin enough ice with him already. If I'm going to remain on his good side, then only you two need to know."

"…why do you want to remain on his good side?" Tamaki asked as he cast his eyes down to the floor. "Are you that invested in Mirko and Hawks' investigation, even though the danger has increased exponentially? Or is it something else?"

For once, the answer came easily. Not because Mirio had had a sudden revelation, but because he knew that Tamaki would just understand.

"I look at Dabi and I see someone that pretty much no one, including me, understands. There's a lot going on beneath the surface, but there's only one person bothering to look beyond that right now. From what I've seen and the little inconsistencies in the way he behaves… finding out who he really is and helping him find purpose will be worth it."

Tamaki looked up to meet Mirio's eyes without a word. All he offered was a solemn nod.

"Then we at least need to try," Nejire insisted. "Is he alone right now?"

"He's with a nurse," Mirio answered. "Though… I also don't feel great leaving him alone once they leave."

"…I'll keep him company," Nejire suggested. "You two deal with All Might, Hawks, and Mirko. I'm the furthest from this Yakuza business anyway… for now, at least."

"Very well," Tamaki agreed. "Mr. Toyomitsu arrived while you were with Dabi, Mirio. I believe Mirko and Hawks are filling him in completely, as well. Including… the situation with Midoriya. All Might stepped out to handle Endeavor and escort him off the premises after what happened."

"He's back now," Mirio replied. "Not sure where he got off to, but… we can always wait. Let's get going, team."

"You've got this," Nejire encouraged. "When this is all temporarily settled, though… you're coming back to U.A. with us. We need to talk, check in on you, and just… figure out how to navigate this year. Classes are about to hit, work studies resume, and… even I'm starting to feel the pressure. There's also the situation with Hagakure that we need to figure out."

"I'll ask All Might about her," Mirio reassured. "He has access to the U.A. databases. I'm sure he can give us some information to go on as to why she might be tailing us."

"She's definitely tailing us," Tamaki warned. "I… saw her, too, when I was walking campus to find my new classrooms and pick up our books. I was intermittently checking halls with the goggles, and she was watching All Might's office, just… standing in the hallway. It was odd and off-putting. The moment she saw me, she began to follow me. I pretended I didn't notice, and I don't think she saw my goggles."

"I don't like this," Nejire said warily. "She's also causing problems for the other first-year students. Maybe we should talk to Aizawa."

"We can't baby them," Mirio reminded with a shrug. "I agree we should look into it, but like you said- we're all being spread pretty thin right now. Let's just… take it step by step. Slowly. Together."

"As always," Nejire agreed as she pulled Mirio into a tight hug. "Alright, people. We've got our assignments. So… here goes everything. There's nothing the Big Three can't handle together, right?"

Tamaki knew that the hug was coming, but he still tensed up the second he saw Nejire break from Mirio's embrace. He closed his eyes as he was enclosed within her arms, feeling terrified. The feeling had nothing to do with the contact, and everything to do with the rest of the situation.

"…right…"

"What the hell was all of that!?"

The entire group came to an abrupt stop at Katsuki's outburst as he set down his box. Though he had been quiet for a few minutes after leaving the parking lot, he couldn't hold it in any longer as the group reached the halfway point back to the dormitory tower. The conversation that Amaya and Tsuyu had been having about food options in the cafeteria hall fell silent, and both of the girls stared in Katsuki's direction, looking equally confused.

"Uh… Bakugo, what's wrong?" Tsuyu asked, putting a finger up to her lips in a contemplative gesture.

"What's wrong?" Katsuki asked, unsure of what exactly he was feeling. "You were all just… why would you go out of your way and act like that? Talking me up when we barely know each other and acting like we're all close. Now, she's going to think we're a-"

"Actual friends?" Amaya tried as she set down her box and folded her arms across her chest. "A functioning class? Is that really so terrible?"

"It's…" Katsuki began, bubbling beneath the surface with frustration. He was angry. He was uncomfortable. He had no idea why. "It's just a lie!"

"…maybe from your perspective."

All eyes were on Eijiro in an instant, and he flinched slightly under the sudden pressure.

"I just… I mean… maybe we do like you, Bakugo. Maybe we have faith in you and your capabilities, and we actually meant everything we said. Did you really think we were just going to embarrass you or make things awkward? I don't think any of us are like that."

"I don't know what I expected," Katsuki admitted. "But I didn't expect that. I didn't want any of you there with me, and I don't want you getting involved with her. Kirishima… every interaction you and I have had since we got to U.A. has been hostile. What the hell are you playing at being so… so…"

"He's being nice," Kyoka said firmly. "And honestly? I'm not sure if you should question it."

"It's cool," Eijiro denied with a wave of his hand. "I can understand why you're suspicious, man, but… I really do like you. Everything you've gotten mad at me for so far is legit, and I get it. I respect you for calling me out and being honorable about chores and stuff. All of that has made me like you already."

Tsuyu nodded along with the explanation, waiting her turn to speak.

"And I really do appreciate all you've done for me already. Maybe… it's best not to assume that things are automatically going to go wrong. Even if high school was different… we're all adults now, Bakugo. Legally, and for most of us, otherwise. This is a fresh start. Even old relationships are going to change, and the only one who can decide how you view everybody else is you. So… please don't assume we have ulterior motives, or we're out to get you. It just isn't true."

"High school sucked for me," Juzo jumped in. "I'm hoping for all of this to be a new era for all of us. We're all coming in with baggage of different sorts. Whether or not we help each other carry it is a conscious choice."

"…I'm quite literally hauling one of your boxes," Amaya pointed out. "Just sayin'. Nobody here- myself included- is going to be able to handle U.A. on their own, Bakugo. No matter how strong you think you are, it's going to grind us down and grate on our nerves. I've seen it year after year watching from the sidelines, and it's the ones that remain isolated who crumble. You game for pitching in with our support network?"

Katsuki took a long, slow breath, letting his shoulders rise and chest puff out before blowing it all out and shaking his head. Once again, there was a feeling that he had no choice. All that was left was honesty, whether or not his new 'friends' wanted to hear it.

"That's not… how I operate, alright?" Katsuki grumbled, glaring daggers at Amaya. "I can't just assume the best in people. I can't throw in my lot and commit to some big group hug. I don't trust like that, and I don't get attached that easily. Been burned too many times, dealt with too many fuckheads, and been taken advantage of too much both by friends and family to just go all-in right out the gate. You all might want to get all warm and close right away, and you might feel all the shit you just said about me… but I don't feel that way about you. Any of you. I need time."

"All that, and I didn't hear a no," Amaya quipped.

"If you need time… then take it," Juzo advised. "I'm sure the rest of us are more than willing to give you space if you feel… smothered. I'm not quick to trust, either."

"And I'm not quick to really get close to people," Kyoka agreed. "Surface level friendships and a willingness to try to go deeper? Sure. But I'm not just… 'letting everyone in' immediately. If people are comfortable with that, then more power to them. I'm not."

"So, we're in agreement, then?" Tsuyu asked. "None of us are immediately in on sharing everything, but slowly getting to know each other is on the table?"

Katsuki let out another sigh and took up his box once again.

"Yeah. Fine. Bring Aki into this conversation, and… I guess… we've got a solid group going, to start. Maybe Iida can eventually be drawn in. Mineta and Hagakure can fuck off."

"Well said," Amaya agreed as she, too picked up her box. "But for the record- I'm an open book with very few exceptions. If you want to know something, just ask."

"Same here," Eijiro contributed. "And right now, the number one thing to know about me is that I'm starving."

"That makes two of us," Amaya said. "I haven't eaten since this morning."

Juzo cleared his throat, the sound coming out a bit odd through his mask.

"Well… why don't all of you head to the food hall, I'll take the other box, and we'll meet you guys there?"

Amaya gave the boy a suspicious glance before handing the box over. Juzo shrank slightly under the scrutiny, but said nothing as he accepted the load.

"Thanks. Grab Daisuke if he's around while you're upstairs?"

"Will do," Juzo agreed.

"We'll see you soon, then," Katsuki reassured before beginning to walk alongside Juzo. "Let's make this quick."

Juzo waited until the rest of the group had split off and was well out of earshot before speaking in a low tone, just loud enough for Katsuki to hear.

"…it's not always a bad thing to assume the worst about people. I find that I'm usually right."

"What?" Katsuki asked, still mulling over the words of the others. "What do you mean?"

Juzo was quiet for a while as the pair entered the dormitory tower. He didn't speak again until they were inside the elevator.

"…forget I said anything," Juzo suggested. "Maybe I'm wrong, if this really is a new start. I don't know."

"I don't know either," Katsuki commiserated. "I feel like I don't know a goddamned thing anymore…"

Author's Note:

Two friend groups evolving… for better or worse.

-RD