Chapter 34 broccoli boy missing.

The sterile scent of antiseptic hit her first, clean, sharp, and cold. Mei's eyes fluttered open, squinting against the pale hospital lighting overhead. Her mind was foggy, like waking up from a long dream dipped in static. As her vision cleared, the memory hit her like a lightning bolt: the USJ, the chaos, the Nomu, the screaming, the explosions, and Izuku, bleeding.

She gasped, panic instantly gripping her chest, and summoned her revolver, the familiar weight of it in her hand grounding her. She sat up, heart pounding, ready to fight again… until she noticed the IV in her arm, the beeping machines, the too-white sheets. "Hospital…?" she whispered aloud, blinking rapidly. "I… we made it out?"

Letting out a long, shaky breath, Mei slowly turned her head, her nerves fraying with every inch her eyes traveled, and then she saw her. Eri, curled up peacefully in the bed beside her, her tiny form rising and falling with each breath, snuggled under a soft blanket. On the couch at the far end of the room were Rumi and Himiko, slumped awkwardly on each other, fast asleep. The sight should've calmed her. It didn't. She got out of bed and looked around, noticing she was safe.

Her revolver hit the ground with a clatter as her legs gave out beneath her. She dropped to her knees, arms wrapping tightly around herself, her body trembling uncontrollably. "I'm alive," she whispered, like a mantra. "I'm alive. I'm alive. I'm alive." But the next thought shattered her. Her eyes widened. "Where's… Izuku?" she whispered. Her stomach twisted violently. "Is he—? No. No, no, no—"

A wave of nausea surged up her throat. She scrambled toward the trash can, barely making it in time. Her body convulsed as she vomited, sobs ripping through her chest. Her hands clutched the rim of the can like it was the only thing keeping her grounded. "No… he can't be gone… please, please, please—Izuku!" she cried, voice breaking.

The room was silent save for her soft sobs, until a faint patter of feet padded across the floor.

Tiny arms wrapped around her waist.

Mei froze, her breath hitching. Slowly, she turned her head to see Eri, standing beside her, eyes still foggy from sleep but filled with concern. "Everything's okay… Science Mama," Eri said sweetly, her arms tightening around her.

Mei couldn't hold it in. She turned and crushed Eri in a hug, sobbing into her hair. "I—I'm sorry… I'm so sorry… I couldn't save him… I should've protected him… I should've—" Her voice shook with guilt. "I failed your papa…"

Eri tilted her head, confused. "What are you talking about? Papa's alive," she said innocently. "I think he's just in the bathroom or something…"

For a moment, Mei's brain short-circuited. She pulled back, staring into Eri's big, trusting eyes. "He's… alive?" Her breathing slowed. Her heart began to calm. She didn't feel like vomiting anymore. Her hands stopped shaking. The tight coil of dread in her chest loosened, replaced by warmth, relief so powerful it nearly knocked her over. She hugged Eri again, this time gently. "Thank you… thank you, sweetheart…"

She wiped her mouth with the sleeve of her hospital gown, grimacing at the taste. Behind her, two sets of ears twitched.

Himiko's fox ears perked up first, her golden eyes blinking open. "Ngh… what's that smell?" she muttered, stretching. Rumi's rabbit ears twitched soon after, and she yawned, sitting upright.

"Mei?" Rumi called, her voice low but alert. She blinked, saw Mei on the floor with Eri in her lap — and then noticed the vomit on her gown. "Oh—uh… you good?"

Mei looked up at them, cheeks flushed from crying but her eyes clearer than they'd been in days. "I'm okay," she sniffed, voice cracking slightly. "Just… had a moment." She smiled weakly, brushing Eri's hair gently. "He's alive."

Both girls rushed over, kneeling beside her. Himiko wrapped her arms around her from the side, and Rumi placed a hand on her back. "Don't scare us like that, Gearhead," Rumi muttered, smirking despite herself. Then both girls inched back at the same time, eyes landing on the vomit-soaked gown. "Okay but also… eww," Himiko said.

Mei let out a dry laugh, wiping the lingering tears from her cheeks with the back of her wrist. "Yeah, yeah… someone get me a new one before I hug anyone else."

Himiko grinned, golden eyes sparkling with amusement as she stared at the vomit-splattered hospital gown. "Gross, gross, gross! You seriously ruined the mood, Gearhead," she said with mock drama. "I'll go fetch you a fresh one before the rest of us get infected." She turned on her heel and skipped out of the room, heading toward the nurse's station. A minute later, she returned with a neatly folded clean gown and a wink. "Delivery for the disgusting genius."

"Thanks, foxy ," Mei muttered, rolling her eyes fondly as she grabbed the new gown and changed quickly behind the privacy curtain. When she emerged, fresh and less acidic-smelling, Rumi was standing nearby with her arms crossed and a thoughtful frown on her face. Her long ears twitched.

"Alright, now that you're not leaking bile," Rumi said, tapping her foot. "Where the hell is the broccoli boy? Shouldn't he be with us?"

Eri, still sitting cross-legged on Mei's bed, tilted her head and offered innocently, "Papa's probably peeing."

Rumi blinked, then smirked. "...Fair enough." She turned back to Mei with a shrug. "Anyway, time for a physical check-up, Pinky. Let's see what's still attached." Without warning, she started poking Mei in random places, her shoulder, her ribs, her side. "Does this hurt? Does this hurt? What about this?"

Mei swatted her hand away, laughing and twisting in her seat. "Stop it! You're not a nurse, you're a menace!" But the moment Rumi stepped back, Himiko pounced, poking her side with both hands like a child. "Does that hurt?" she teased in a sing-song voice. Eri giggled and joined in, her tiny fingers pressing gently into Mei's leg.

"Okay! Okay—seriously, guys—this isn't how check-ups work!" Mei cried out between giggles. She squirmed, trying to back away, but they didn't let up. "I swear, I'm gonna blow a fuse, this is harassment!" Her laughter bubbled out freely, genuine. The weight she'd carried earlier, the overwhelming fear and guilt, lifted slightly under the warmth of her friends surrounding her.

The laughter continued for a few minutes until they all finally calmed down, sitting in a pile of tangled limbs and smiles. Mei sat up straighter, wiping a tear of laughter from her eye. "You guys are the worst," she said affectionately, nudging Rumi's shoulder.

"You love us," Himiko replied smugly, biting into an apple she seemed to have snuck from somewhere.

"I do," Mei admitted, softly. She looked at each of them, her voice quieter. "I really do. I was scared… I thought I was going to die."

Eri beamed, puffing out her chest with pride. "That's because I saved you!" she declared, lifting her chin. "I'm the one who protected Mama!"

Mei blinked, her head tilting. "Wait… you were at the USJ?"

Eri nodded, her tone suddenly matter-of-fact. "Uh-huh. I wasn't supposed to be there, but the system let me go to help. I think it, like… connected me to you or something. I dunno, it was weird." She pointed to her chest. "But it felt warm, and then I was there."

Mei's eyes softened. "The system saved us both, huh?"

"Looks that way," Rumi added, her arms folded. "Your girl here had some divine timing, I'll give her that. As for the villains—" she leaned back against the wall, her face hardening slightly "—Izuku took out the one who attacked you. And when I say took out… I mean murdered. I saw the aftermath."

Mei's breath caught. "He… killed him?"

"Dude deserved it," Rumi said bluntly. "No one gets to touch our squad and walk away."

"Big meanie," Eri added, folding her arms and pouting hard. "That Master Hand jerk was the worst! And I think we should make matching T-shirts that say, like… 'League of Losers.' League of Gamers? More like League of Villains." She stuck out her tongue.

Mei chuckled, but then her brow furrowed. "What about the other villains?" she asked, voice quieter now, uncertain. "Did they get away? Are we still in danger?"

Rumi's playful smirk faded slightly as her arms crossed over her chest. "No, most of 'em were rounded up. But they caught the ringleader. Tomura Shigaraki. Izuku was about to kill him too," she said bluntly. "From what I heard, he had that bastard dead to rights until All Might stepped in and stopped him."

Mei's eyes widened. "Wait… Izuku almost…?"

"Yeah," Rumi said with a short nod. "Guy was about to snap his neck. And honestly? I don't think anyone would've blamed him. That psycho nearly got you killed." Her red eyes narrowed. "Hell, I might've done it myself."

"Is… is Izuku going to face any repercussions for that?" Mei asked, worry flashing through her voice. "That's… that's not like him."

Rumi shook her head slowly. "Nope. Nezu and the others aren't dumb. They're not gonna punish someone for almost killing a regenerating monster who was trying to erase us. From what the other students said, that creature — the Nomu — could regenerate. It was literally a fight to the death. Izuku just chose not to die."

Mei closed her eyes, shivering as she remembered the monstrous thing — towering muscle, an exposed brain, a scream like breaking bones. "That thing was… massive…" Her arms wrapped around herself instinctively, fingers clutching at the gown fabric.

Eri noticed immediately. Without saying a word, she crawled over to her and wrapped her tiny arms around Mei's middle, pressing her cheek against her side. "It's okay, Mama. You're safe now," she whispered sweetly. "No bad guys are getting in here."

Mei opened her eyes and smiled softly, wrapping her arms around Eri in return. "Thanks, sweetheart… Mama just has a few bad memories she needs to fix."

Himiko, ever the chaotic comforter, popped her head up with a sharp-toothed grin. "Alright! That's enough gloom! Time to bring the energy back!" She cracked her knuckles, golden eyes twinkling. "Fox Mama says we need good food, and I agree! I'm going to go find something sweet and greasy!"

Rumi snorted. "You better not bring back takoyaki ice cream again."

Himiko winked. "No promises~" She walked over to the window, threw it open, and with a shimmer of energy, her fox ears and tail vanished, replaced by long, leathery dragon wings and scaled arms. With a playful salute, she leapt from the windowsill and soared into the air, disappearing into the moonlit sky.

Rumi watched her go, shaking her head. "That girl's a whole circus act," she muttered before turning to Mei. "Alright, Pinky. You're going back to bed."

Before Mei could protest, Rumi scooped her up with ease, cradling her like a stubborn toddler and plopping her back onto the mattress. "Hey! I can walk, you know!"

"Sure you can," Rumi said, fluffing Mei's pillow like a smug nurse. "Tell that to your legs that were shaking like gelatin noodles ten minutes ago."

Eri, determined to stay on guard, crawled into Mei's bed, nestling beside her like a little guard dog. She pulled the blanket up over both of them and hugged Mei tightly from the side. "Don't worry, Mama. I'll stay right here and protect you from any baddies that come in! No one gets past me!"

Mei smiled warmly, gently brushing her fingers through Eri's hair. "I feel safer already."

Rumi gave them a nod. "Good. I'll go check if the broccoli boy is around. If he's smart, he better be getting his ass looked at too."

Rumi narrowed her eyes, knocking again with more force. "Izuku? Are you in there? You better not be passed out in a tub or doing something stupid—" Still no answer. The silence behind the door gnawed at her. With a click of her tongue, she turned and moved on, her concern deepening.

She strode down the hall to the room directly across from Mei's. Pushing the door open quietly, she peeked inside — and immediately softened at the sight. There, sharing a small hospital bed, were Inko Midoriya and Aizawa, both curled up together. Inko's head rested on his chest, one hand gripping his coat like it was a lifeline. Aizawa's arm was draped protectively around her, his other hand resting limply over his scarf that had been laid across their legs like a blanket. They were both fast asleep, clearly emotionally and physically drained.

But Izuku wasn't with them.

Rumi's brow furrowed. "Where the hell are you, broccoli boy?" she muttered under her breath. Pulling out her phone, she quickly typed out a message and hit send.

[Yo. Where are you? Girls are worried. Text back or I'll kick your ass.]

A moment passed. No typing bubbles. No read receipt. No response. Her foot tapped the tile floor impatiently. She gave it five more seconds, then rolled her eyes and pocketed the phone. "He's probably in some dungeon training arc again," she muttered with a groan, brushing her silver hair back. "Idiot's gonna be the death of us."

She made her way back to the hospital room where Mei, Eri, and the others were resting. It had been just over an hour, and the energy had softened into a calm, warm quiet, until the window burst open again with a dramatic gust of wind and Himiko landed on the floor in her fox form, tail swaying proudly.

"I'm back! With snacks!" she sang, holding two large paper bags in her arms. "I bring sugary peace offerings and fizzy drinks! Bow before your queen of sweets!"

Eri gasped with delight. "Yay! Thank you, Fox Mama!"

Mei reached over and snatched a warm pastry from the bag before Himiko could even put them down. "You're a goddess," she mumbled, biting into it. The filling oozed across her lips and chin, but she didn't care. Her eyes sparkled for the first time since waking up.

Himiko grinned wide, spinning once and shifting back into her fox form with a shimmer of light. Her tail fluffed behind her as she dropped to her knees beside the bed. "You may now use my tail as a royal pillow, pinky. Be gentle, it's sensitive."

Mei didn't hesitate. She lay back, resting her head against the soft fur, one hand still cradling Eri close to her chest. The little girl sighed, curling into her mother's arms like a kitten. For the first time in what felt like forever, Mei felt peace, not just physical comfort, but the deep emotional stillness of safety and love.

"God… this is perfect," Mei murmured. "Warm fluff… adorable daughter… apple tart… I'm never moving again."

Rumi grabbed one of the sodas and popped it open, taking a long drink before flopping into a chair near the bed. "So, what are we naming our group? 'Deku's Disaster Wives?' 'Team Exploding Hormones?'"

Himiko giggled. "Ooooh, what about 'The Broccoli Bunch?'"

Eri raised her hand, serious-faced. "What about… 'The Anti-Baddies League?'"

They all laughed.

"Sounds like a Saturday morning cartoon," Mei chuckled, brushing her fingers through Eri's hair. "But I like it. We're the Anti-Baddies League now."

The atmosphere lightened, filled with jokes and warmth. For now, even with Izuku missing, the girls found strength in each other, comfort in the chaos. Somewhere, they knew he was fighting, training, pushing himself. But here, they were holding the line, keeping the heart of the family beating until he came back home.

The next morning

The morning light filtered in through the hospital room's windows, golden beams cutting through the white curtains and warming the chilled air. The sterile scent of disinfectant was stronger now as nurses shuffled in the hallway, carts rolling, quiet chatter filling the floor. Machines beeped in steady rhythm. Patients stirred. The hospital was awake.

Inside Mei's room, it was peaceful. Eri sat at the foot of the bed with a juice box, watching cartoons on a small tablet. Mei reclined against Himiko's fluffy tail, using it as a luxurious pillow, while Rumi leaned back in a corner chair, arms crossed, half-asleep but listening to everything. The girls had stayed up far too late, joking, talking, and laughing until the early hours. They were just beginning to drift back into a quiet lull when the door creaked open.

In stepped Aizawa, dressed in a clean black shirt and slacks, his scarf draped over his shoulders. Next to him, holding his hand tightly, was Inko Midoriya. The two were walking side by side, fingers interlocked, the kind of handhold that spoke volumes—shared grief, healing, and a slowly growing bond.

Both scanned the room immediately. Their eyes moved from Eri to Himiko, from Rumi to Mei… but no green-haired boy in sight.

"Where's Izuku?" Inko asked gently, though her tone carried a mother's urgency.

The girls exchanged a look. Himiko sat up first, her ears twitching. "Uh… we don't really know."

"He left last night," Rumi added, rubbing the back of her neck. "Said nothing. Just… gone when we woke up."

Aizawa's expression darkened, a deep frown etching itself into his face. "And none of you know where he went?"

"Nope," Mei said, already pulling out her phone. "But we've been texting him since last night."

"Calling too," Himiko added. "Zero response. Nada."

"He's probably training somewhere," Rumi muttered, though her voice lacked conviction now. "You know how he is… always pushing himself."

Inko's lips pressed into a thin line as she reached into her purse and pulled out her phone. Her fingers typed quickly. A moment later, she lowered the phone. "No read receipts. Still nothing."

Aizawa sighed, stepping deeper into the room. "If he contacts any of you, I want to be notified immediately. Understood?"

The girls all nodded at once.

Then came a voice — light, playful. "Sooo…" Himiko grinned wide. "Are we gonna talk about the fact that you two walked in holding hands like it's Parent-Teacher Date Night?"

Mei snorted. "Right? I mean, I'm all for it. But… stepdad Eraserhead? That's gonna mess with Deku's head so bad."

Eri tilted her head. "Does that mean Mr. Sleepy is my grandpa now?"

Aizawa raised a brow, unamused, while Inko covered her mouth to stifle a giggle.

"Girls…" he said in warning, but it only made them snicker more.

"Look," Rumi said, trying to keep a straight face, "we're not saying it's weird, but maybe give the guy a heads-up before he comes home and sees his mom holding hands with his homeroom teacher."

"Or maybe bring a cake," Himiko added. "Soften the blow. But I guess it's too late either way he already knows."

"Stepdad Eraserhead," Mei repeated with a grin, still reclining against Himiko's tail. "Seriously, if you two ever get married, I'm putting that on the wedding cake."

"I'll embroider it on a pillow," Himiko added cheerfully, holding up her fingers like she was framing a design. "'Midoriya Household: Sleep schedules and scarf discipline.'"

"I'll make the shirts," Rumi chimed in, arms crossed but smiling anyway. "One for the kid that says, 'My teacher married my mom and all I got was emotional whiplash.'"

Inko's cheeks turned bright red as she looked down at their still-interlocked hands. "You girls really don't pull punches, do you?"

"We're emotionally damaged," Himiko said proudly, sticking out her tongue. "It's our love language."

Before Aizawa could throw them another tired glare, the door opened with a soft click, and Recovery Girl stepped inside, her usual kind smile lighting up her wrinkled features. Her cane tapped lightly against the floor as she walked in, the soft jingle of her medical pouch trailing behind her.

"Well, well," she said warmly, her eyes scanning the room. "Looks like the girls' are full of chaos this morning." Then her eyes landed on the small figure curled up on the bed. "And this must be the little healer I've heard about."

Eri blinked up at her from her spot against Mei's side. "Um… hello?"

Recovery Girl chuckled and made her way over, crouching down with surprising grace. "I just wanted to introduce myself, dear. I'm Recovery Girl. And I wanted to say thank you." She smiled gently, reaching out to pat Eri's hand. "You saved my grandson."

Aizawa, standing by the window, cleared his throat loudly. "We're not related."

Recovery Girl waved him off with a chuckle. "Still has that amnesia, I see," she said playfully, nudging Eri with a wink. "He just doesn't remember our shared bloodline."

All the girls tried, and failed, to hold in their snorts.

"I wanted to meet the little miracle worker myself," Recovery Girl said, standing up and straightening her coat. "Say, sweetheart, what school are you going to right now?"

Eri looked up, blinking. "I… I'm not going to school."

Recovery Girl raised a brow. "Oh? Homeschooled, then?"

A long silence fell over the room. Mei suddenly found the crumbs on her bedsheet extremely fascinating. Himiko coughed. Rumi scratched the back of her neck.

"Actually…" Mei said slowly, "she's, uh… not in any school right now. We're… working on it."

"She's been through a lot," Rumi added quickly. "The whole education thing hasn't exactly been easy to sort out."

Recovery Girl gave a slow, understanding nod. "Well, if that's the case…" She smiled, hands on her hips. "How about this,she can become my apprentice. I've got years of healing experience I'm ready to pass on. The principal would be thrilled to help with her general education. And if it helps… I'll even run a little class just for her. One-on-one, full of field training and proper study. Maybe we can mold her into the next great healer!"

Eri gasped, her eyes widening. "Really?! I can be an apprentice? Like a real one?"

"Absolutely, dear," Recovery Girl said with a proud nod. "You already have the gift. We just need to hone it. And besides…" She leaned in with a playful grin. "You'll get to be even closer to your father figure. Heal all his boo-boos properly."

Eri turned and looked at the others, bouncing slightly in place. "Can I? Can I really do it?"

The girls huddled together for a moment, whispering quickly among themselves, before Mei gave her a thumbs-up. "You bet your buttons, kiddo."

"You're already smarter than most of us anyway," Rumi said with a grin.

"You've got my full support!" Himiko added, throwing up two peace signs.

Eri squealed with joy, throwing her arms around Recovery Girl in a tight hug. "Thank you! Thank you! I'm gonna be the best healer ever!"

Recovery Girl chuckled as she hugged the child back, eyes crinkling fondly. "I'm sure you will, sweetheart. I'm sure you will."

The door burst open with a loud creak, slamming against the wall.

Everyone in the room turned at once as a woman rushed inside — her red-rimmed eyes scanning the beds, her chest rising and falling with ragged breaths. Her hair, a few shades darker than Mei's, was pinned in a messy bun, with strands falling across her tear-streaked face. She clutched her purse like it was a lifeline, and her entire frame shook as her eyes finally landed on her daughter.

"Mei!" she cried, her voice cracking.

Before anyone could say a word, the woman stumbled forward, dropping her purse on the floor with a clatter and throwing her arms around her daughter, nearly knocking over the tray of snacks at her bedside. She hugged Mei so tightly it was as if she were afraid she might vanish at any moment. "They told me you were in the hospital, and I thought — I thought you blew yourself up again!" she sobbed into her daughter's shoulder. "You always blow things up, you always end up in here with singed eyebrows and a missing fingernails or two, but this—this wasn't your lab! This wasn't your fault!"

Mei blinked, wide-eyed at first, then slowly smiled, her cheeks going a little pink. "Hi, Mom…" she muttered. "Yeah, um… I kind of didn't blow up this time."

"You think?" her mother pulled back, cupping Mei's cheeks, searching her face like she was confirming she was real. "Do you have any idea how terrified I was when they told me it wasn't an accident, that it was a villain attack? I almost collapsed right there in the hallway! Why didn't you call me? Or text me?!"

Mei shrugged sheepishly. "Well, I was kind of unconscious."

Her mom looked ready to explode, eyes wide, mouth agape. "That's not the excuse I was hoping for!"

The other girls tried to hold back their giggles, especially Himiko, who leaned over and whispered, "She's like a little older version of her but with mom-level rage."

Rumi nodded, arms crossed. "I like her."

Still sniffling and wiping her face, Mei's mom turned toward the others, eyes landing on Aizawa. Her demeanor changed almost instantly, the maternal worry shifting into a fierce protective glare. She marched up to him, her heels clicking sharply against the tile floor. "You," she said, jabbing a finger toward his chest. "You're one of her teachers, aren't you? What are you doing to make sure this never happens again?"

Aizawa blinked. He'd faced down assassins, war criminals, and angry school board officials, but nothing had quite prepared him for the full emotional force of an angry mother with tears still glistening in her eyes. "Ma'am—"

"No. No 'ma'am' — I want answers. This is my daughter, and she nearly died. Villains came in and tore through the facility like it was made of tissue paper. What happens next time? What if she doesn't wake up? What are you doing to make sure she comes home every day?"

"Mom—Mom, it's okay," Mei said quickly, reaching out to grab her arm. "He's doing his job. It was chaos, yeah, but everyone's doing their best. And… I'm okay."

"You're not okay!" her mother snapped, turning back toward her, eyes full of desperation. "You were lying in a hospital bed unconscious! That's not okay! You're my little girl, Mei, and I—" her voice cracked again. "I can't lose you. Not to something I can't fix."

Mei bit her lip, and for a second, her usual smirk faltered. She reached out and wrapped her arms around her mother again, pulling her in gently. "I know, Mom. I'm sorry I scared you. But I'm okay. And I've got people here watching out for me." She looked over at the girls, then at Aizawa. "We're not alone."

Her mother looked around the room, at the gentle smile on Eri's face, at the warmth shared between the girls, and at the firm but steady presence of Aizawa and Recovery Girl in the background. Slowly, her shoulders loosened, and she nodded, albeit reluctantly.

"Just… promise me you'll keep her safe," she muttered, looking back at Aizawa, this time with less fire and more pleading in her tone.

"I'll do everything I can," he said sincerely, offering a respectful bow of his head. "You have my word."

Mei took a deep breath, her fingers tightening slightly around her mother's sleeve. Her face had gone distant, eyes staring at the floor as if seeing through it. "It was… it was worse than anything I'd ever seen before," she whispered. "It wasn't like a lab explosion, or a failed project. This wasn't a miscalculation." She looked up, her voice trembling. "There was this… thing—the Nomu. It wasn't human. Not really. It was like a walking tank with a face stretched over bone and muscle."

Her mother reached up, brushing her daughter's hair gently behind her ear, her touch trembling.

"I had my mech—my support bot," Mei continued, her voice thick with memory. "I brought it for testing, thought maybe it could help in a rescue… but it barely scratched that monster. I fought alongside him," she said, her eyes flicking to Aizawa, then lowering. "He—Izuku—was the only one really keeping that thing from tearing through everyone. I couldn't leave him… I wouldn't. He was going to stand and fight, so I stood with him."

Everyone was quiet as Mei's voice cracked. "I did what I could, but… in the end, I wasn't strong enough. My bot blew out its core, and I—" she paused, her hands curling into fists on the blanket. "The last thing I remember was him standing over me, bleeding, protecting me... before I passed out."

Everyone was silent, the weight of her words sinking in. Eri's lip quivered.

Rumi broke the silence, arms crossed tightly over her chest, her red eyes hard but reflective. "By the time I got there, that thing — whatever it was — the Nomu — it was already dead. Looked like it had been torn apart from the inside out. And Izuku… he didn't stop. He'd already taken down another guy too."

"Shigaraki," Himiko whispered, her voice unusually quiet.

"Yeah," Rumi nodded. "Pale freak. Looked like his skin hadn't seen the sun in a decade. Crumbling hands all over him."

Eri and Himiko exchanged a glance. For a moment, there was real hurt in both of their eyes.

"We…" Eri started softly. "We used to talk to him. He… he told jokes. He always gave us candy and said we were 'cooler than heroes.'"

Himiko looked away, guilt tugging at her features. "I thought he was just weird, not… evil. I didn't think he'd actually hurt people."

"Well, now you know," Rumi said gently, not unkindly. "Sometimes people wear friendly faces to hide the monster underneath."

Before the silence could settle too deeply, the door opened again — more gently this time — and Kyoka Jiro poked her head in. Her usual punkish scowl was softer than usual, eyes flicking around the room until she found Mei, then Eri, then the others. "Hey… we heard what happened. Didn't wanna barge in, but—"

Right behind her, Ibara Shiozaki, the vine-haired girl, stepped in as well, hands clasped in front of her. "We only just heard the details," she said softly. "Some of the other students are still recovering, but we wanted to check in. Are you all… alright?"

"We're okay now," Mei answered, her voice tired but steady.

Kyoka walked further in and sat at the edge of the bed. "You guys look like hell, no offense."

"None taken," Rumi muttered. "It's been a long few days."

"Where's green hair?" Kyoka asked, looking around. "I figured he'd be here, sleeping off his hero complex."

"He left," Himiko said simply, hugging Eri a little tighter. "Middle of the night. Training, probably. Again."

Ibara frowned, her vines gently coiling around her shoulders. "Should we be worried?"

There was a pause.

"Yes," everyone said at once.

"Hey," Mei said with a soft smile as she leaned back against her hospital pillow. "Can we just… go home now? I'm done being here. I wanna go back to the warehouse. I just don't like this place. It smells like bleach and despair."

Her mother let out a quiet laugh, brushing Mei's hair behind her ear as she stood. "Of course, sweetheart. But I'm coming with you. No arguments."

"You're not gonna trust me to stay alive alone for even one night?" Mei teased, only half joking.

"Nope," her mom said without missing a beat. "Not after everything that happened. I'm sticking to you like glue."

Within the hour, the group was up and moving, Mei, her mother, Rumi, Himiko, Kyoka, and Ibara all packed up and left the hospital, leaving Inko and Aizawa behind to follow up with the teachers and staff. The girls made their way across the city to Mei's spacious, cluttered warehouse, a chaotic blend of workshop, home, and makeshift dorm, where the smell of metal shavings and oil was somehow comforting. The door slammed behind them, and the moment it did, the atmosphere changed.

Rumi kicked off her shoes and flopped onto the couch. "I'm claiming the left cushion. Anyone moves me, I fight."

"Can we just relax for once?" Mei said, already grabbing a console controller from the desk. "Let's play something stupid and loud and multiplayer."

"I'm in," Himiko said, already tugging off her coat. "No dragons. No bosses. Just dumb explosions and yelling."

Ibara blinked, standing awkwardly in the center of the room. "What is a video game?"

All of them froze. Then slowly turned to look at her.

"You're joking," Kyoka muttered.

"I assure you, I am not," Ibara replied, vines curling around her waist nervously. "You manipulate those rectangular totems and… fight? In a glowing window?"

"It's called a controller, and yes," Mei's mom said from the kitchen as she unpacked groceries. "That's exactly what it is. A glowing window of emotional therapy."

Eri, sitting cross-legged by the computer setup, perked up. "I have an idea! You guys play a party game, but I wanna boot up my RPG. My guild needs new members anyway." She clicked the mouse, logging into her desktop with cheerful excitement.

They all nodded, launching into a chaotic couch-based game filled with yelling, laughter, and competitive screaming. But Eri, more quietly, put on her headset, clicked through her character menu, and waited in the peaceful inn of her RPG. She'd just opened her inventory screen when a little message popped up in the corner.

[Dabi: hey. i'm sorry kid. it wasn't personal. we can still play together if you want. but i don't think we should be friends irl ever again.]

Eri froze.

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard. Her throat felt tight. Slowly, she moved the cursor toward the "Unfriend" button. Her eyes stung.

But she didn't click it.

Instead, she typed back with trembling hands.

[You're a real jerk for what you did to my Papa and Mama. Even if it was 'just business'. But… I played with you. You were nice. You made me laugh. Got snacks. Told me jokes. You made me feel… happy. I know you could be good. That's why… I won't unfriend you. Not yet.]

She hit send.

No one saw.

She logged off, pulled off her headset, and stood silently. "I'm tired," she said quietly. "I think I'm gonna go lie down."

She padded down the hallway and opened the door to Izuku's room, where his scent lingered in the air, a mix of detergent, iron, and soft comfort. Eri climbed onto the bed, curled into a tight ball, and buried her face in his blanket, the tears falling freely now.

Back in the living space, Mei's mom was cooking — the sizzling of the pan filling the warehouse with warmth. Fried rice popped in one pan, golden and rich with soy and egg, while a filet of fish sizzled in miso glaze beside it. In the oven, a chocolate cake slowly rose, the scent beginning to fill the room like a comforting hug.

Mei, meanwhile, had pulled away from the game. She sat alone at her workbench in the corner, her knees pulled up to her chest, a sketchpad open in her lap. She began to sketch out a new robot — lines neat and precise, movements fluid and practical, but as the pen scratched across the page, her hand began to shake.

And then, the memories surged back.

The blood. The screaming. The way her bot's arm crumpled under the Nomu's strike. The feeling of helplessness. The moment she felt Izuku's arms wrap around her, shielding her from the blow she knew would've ended her.

Her pen dropped.

She collapsed to her knees, trembling, chest rising and falling in panicked gasps.

Himiko noticed immediately. She tossed her controller and rushed over, just as Mei lurched forward and vomited onto the floor, her entire body convulsing. Her arms clutched her stomach, but it wasn't pain, it was trauma. The workbench, the gadgets, the wires, they all reminded her of the fight. Of how it all went wrong. She wanted to crawl out of her own skin.

"Mei! Hey—hey, it's okay," Himiko whispered, crouching down, pulling the girl into her arms.

Mei didn't respond at first. She just sobbed, her fingers gripping the carpet.

"I got you," Himiko whispered, holding her tighter. "You're safe now. No monsters. No villains. Just us. You're okay, Mei."

Mei's shaking hands found Himiko's tail, and she clutched it gently, letting the softness ground her.

"I'm right here," Himiko said again. "It's okay to fall apart. You're not alone."

Mei screamed, not out of fear, but rage.

"I'm not gonna let that thing win!" she roared, her voice raw and trembling. She stumbled to her feet, vomit still trailing from her lips, her legs barely steady. Her eyes were bloodshot, her fists clenched so tight her knuckles went white. "I'm not gonna be weak. I won't let myself be that helpless ever again!"

The room froze. Every head turned toward her. Her voice echoed against the warehouse walls, loud and jarring. Her mother was the first to react, dashing across the room, the scent of miso and fried rice still clinging to her apron as she reached Mei's side.

"Mei, baby—" she started, but Mei pushed forward, eyes burning with manic focus.

She slammed her palm onto the desk and snatched the pen she'd dropped earlier, gripping it with shaking fingers. "I'm going to finish this build," she growled through clenched teeth. "Then I'm going to train. Rumi, after I build this baby, you're helping me run drills."

Rumi stepped forward slowly, arms crossed, a soft smile playing at the edge of her lips. "You're strong, Pinky. No one's saying otherwise," she said calmly. "But right now… you're acting stupid."

Mei's eye twitched. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me." Rumi's voice was even, but firm. "You failed. And yeah, that sucks. You're pissed. I get it. But you're spiraling. You're trying to drown your fear by replacing it with action — and it's gonna blow up in your face if you don't cool it."

"I can't calm down!" Mei shouted, her voice cracking. "Not after what he did—after everything he gave up to protect me. I can't just sit here and rest! I have to do something!"

Without hesitation, Rumi reached out and flicked Mei sharply on the forehead. "Ow—what the hell?!"

"You can, and you will," Rumi said, her tone unwavering. "You're strong,but even strong people need to stop. A wound that isn't treated will fester. And I'm not talking about bruises or broken ribs. I'm talking about in here." She tapped her own chest. "Your brain, your heart, they're just as important as any gadget you slap together. If you don't give them time to recover, they'll take you down harder than any villain ever could."

Mei stared at her, breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling with frantic energy. Her fingers tightened around the pen until it cracked. "I… I don't want to look weak," she whispered. "I don't want to fall apart. Not now. Not after everything."

"You're not weak," her mother said gently, stepping in and wrapping her arms around her daughter from behind. "You're human. You're allowed to be scared. You're allowed to hurt. He'd never think less of you for that."

"I just want to be strong for him…" Mei murmured, her voice barely audible now. "I want him to be proud. I don't want him to worry."

Rumi smiled softly, walking to the couch and patting the cushions. "You want him to be proud? Then get your ass over here and kick our butts at party games. That'll show him you're still you. And if you pass out mid-match, we'll consider that a victory for self-care."

Mei's shoulders slumped. Her hand still trembled over the sketchpad. She looked at the half-finished blueprint, the mechanical lines swimming in her vision like shadows of her memories. Her body wanted to move, to keep drawing, to ignore the weight in her chest. But her mind, her heart, knew she wasn't ready. Not yet.

"…Fine," she said, defeated. "You're right. I need to pace myself." Her voice was small but honest.

Her mother didn't say a word. She gently pulled Mei away from the desk, walked her to the couch, and sat down first,then guided Mei's head into her lap, cradling it like she used to when Mei was just a little girl who stayed up too late working on school science projects. Her fingers combed through Mei's pink hair, slow and rhythmic.

Mei didn't say anything.

She didn't have to.

Her trembling slowed.

And for the first time since waking up in the hospital, she let herself rest.

Author's Notes:

Thank you all so much for your continued support! Please don't forget to leave a review and let me know what you think, I really enjoy hearing your feedback, and I do take many of your suggestions into consideration as the story develops.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It was a bit more reflective,focusing on the aftermath of the USJ attack from the girls' perspective, and how they're each coping with the trauma and feelings of betrayal. It's a slower, emotional chapter meant to give the characters (and the readers) a moment to breathe before things pick up again.

I might do one more chapter like this, a final moment of reflection,before jumping into the UA Sports Festival arc. Most likely, there will be a time skip in that chapter, probably after Izuku's training finishes.

Thanks again for reading and sticking with me on this journey!