"Uh… T-Thank you, Principal Nezu… I… I don't know what to say."

"There's nothing that needs to be said, Mr. Midoriya," replied Nezu.

Izuku looked up at himself in the mirror. His eyes roamed over his upper body – the bandages that covered the surface of his skin. His jaw tightened as the more he looked; the more the ever-present ache pulsed underneath.

"That's… quite…" started Inko. "That's very generous!" She shook her head. "I-I'm a bit shocked."

His breath caught in the back of his throat as he cautiously pulled his dress shirt onto his torso. Each uneven pull tightened the wrappings in some places while they dug into others. He let out an involuntary hiss as he pulled the shirt tight, buttoning it closed.

"That's perfectly understandable," chuckled Nezu.

He took a few steadying breaths before pulling on the double-breasted top of his school uniform. With the same cautious pace, he pulled it tight, buttoned it, and straightened. Then, he blinked when his phone buzzed on the counter.

Inko had noticed the frozen-stiff look upon his face. "Izuku?"

It was Kaminari, asking if he was ready. He replied that he'd be out shortly. After that, he tucked his phone away and spotted what he had left underneath it.

"Can… Can I have some time to think about it?" asked Izuku.

Izuku picked up Nezu's card, looking it over as its surface shifted like it had before. While a part of him still marveled at the technology, the other felt its weight and it wasn't from the condensed mechanics within it. His jaw tightened in a frown before a sigh escaped his lips. He left the card in a drawer before sliding it closed.

"Of course," said Nezu. "An open invitation is open." He made his way back to Recovery-Girl, climbing back into her syringe-cane. "Now, I should leave you to recover. If either of you have any questions, you can either contact me directly, or my associate Dr. Shuzenji may be able to assist as well."

He departed his restroom in a limping, slow fashion. Though, as he neared his door, he consciously fixed his posture. With his breathing steadied, he picked up his brand new Shiketsu cap, and pulled it over his growing hair. After pulling his red shoes on, he reached for the doorknob before he hesitated – his vision focusing on his bandaged hand. Another breath followed as he flexed his fingers once more before stepping out into the morning light.

Kaminari stood on the connected terrace, leaning against the railing and rubbing at one of his eyes. Though, when Izuku's door creaked open, he looked up and grinned. "MIDORIYA!" he laughed, throwing his arms into the air.

"I wasn't holding you up, was I?" he asked.

"Of course not, man!" he laughed before enveloping the broccoli in a quick side hug. "Finally out of the hospital! It's good to see…"

Izuku bit his tongue as the ache intensified.

"You're still bandaged up?" observed Kaminari once they parted.

"Yeah…" He shrugged, "Uh… It's just a… precaution, you know?"

Kaminari blinked, "Oh, so… we should avoid hugs, sorry."

"Hugs are fine," Izuku clarified. "Just not too tight."

"Right," he chuckled. "Come on." From there, they started across the walkway before descending the stairwell.

In doing so, they ran into a familiar face. "Midoriya," said Shinso as he fell in with the duo. "How're you holding up?"

Izuku shook his head. "I'm fine." "How about you?"

"Oh, I'm all good," he responded.

"A bit too good," joked Kaminari. "Guy's been sparring the bots daily."

Shinso's brow furrowed, "Nothing wrong with being studious. Practical stuff like this is part of our grade, after all." He waved his hand. "Which is a bit of a concern for someone as of late."

"Oh, please," countered Kaminari with a roll of his eyes. "It's a concern all the time."

"That isn't much better," chuckled Izuku awkwardly.

"Well, it's good to have you back, Midoriya." Shinso joked, "Kaminari and Ashido just have way too much energy. We really need you to offset the scales."

"Oi!" jabbed Kaminari.

Once they landed on the ground, they started out of the dorm's lot and down the sidewalk. At least, before they heard, "HEY, HEY~!" A pink ball of energy crashed against their backs, doing her best to pull on all of their shoulders together. "It's my boys~!" Her chin landed on Izuku's shoulder, looking between them. "Watchu doin' without Mama?"

"Mama?" echoed Kaminari.

"Gross," muttered Shinso.

Izuku's steady breath was knocked off kilter for a moment before he swiftly recovered. "Hey, Ashido."

"Hey yourself, mister." Her grin relaxed slightly before asking him, offering a fist from over his shoulder. "You good?"

His fist bumped hers. "Yeah."

"Good." Ashido pushed off of his shoulders before rushing ahead of the trio. "Come on, slowpokes!" She started to speed off. "Whoop, whoop!"

Then, Kaminari laughed as he broke into a run after her. "Oh, no, ya don't!"

"See what I mean?" muttered Shinso as he picked up his pace.

Izuku chuckled as he did the same. "I'm getting the picture."

As they neared the gate of the school, they saw another mild-mannered face. "Whoa, whoa!" After quickly rushing away from her spot in the school's gateway, Jirou shouted, "Don't bulldoze me!"

"Hey, were you waiting for us?" Ashido extended her arms, walking towards Jirou. "That's so nice of you!"

After submitting to her hug, Jirou rolled her eyes with a smile, patting her friend's back."Yeah, yeah." Her gaze shifted to Izuku. A look of questioning concern crossed her face which he responded with two thumbs-up. She then smiled and nodded before saying, "Whoa, Midoriya's still a mummy?"

Kaminari gasped, "Oh!" He pointed at Ashido. "I should've called that out when you called yourself, 'Mama'!"

She waved him off. "But that'd be too clever for you."

Jirou held back her burst of laughter.

"Children," said the PE coach, manning the entrance. "Don't cause such a ruckus so early, and in our front gate, no less."

"Sorry!" replied Ashido.

Kaminari used his arms to usher the group forward. "Let's go, go, go, go!" The group rushed into the main building exchanging chuckles and giggles before splintering off to swap out their footwear.

-X-

After separating from his friends as they left for their homeroom, Izuku found himself at the door of his own. His smile had slowly faded as he neared it, and now, his hand only hovered at its handle. "Either they didn't even notice I was gone or…" His mind recalled the last few side comments he had received before the internship. That, combined with distant memories of Aldera – of his old classmates' jeers and sneers, caused him to brace before finally pulling it open.

A once murmuring, buzzing classroom went silent as all heads seemed to swivel to the door. His shoulders tensed as his breathing turned steady. "Here it comes…" he thought.

"Oi! Midoriya's back!" cried a classmate of his.

One by one, those within started to rush towards the entrance. "Holy crap!"

"He's alive!?" They were shouting questions at him about what happened and Mount-Lady and Woods…

"Nooooo!" cried another.

Another stood tall, spinning around to point at specific people. "Suzuki! Inoue! Aoki! You all owe me five-thousand yen! Each!"

"EACH!?" echoed Inoue. "That's not what we agreed to!"

"Hey, hey!" Okuma pushed himself in between the crowd and Izuku. "Ya crowdin' him!" He started pulling Izuku through their classmates. "Hang on, bud. Let's get ya to your seat."

"What're you doing, Okuma?"

A girl grabbed his arm, "Don't hog him!", but Okuma pulled him free.

His face contorted as the force of two caused pain to spike across his arms and torso. "I don't know what's happening…!" His gaze wandered, catching a few heads still in their seats; watching the chaos unfold. Some of them seemed none too pleased by it.

Okuma pulled out Izuku's chair. "Hey, you go." When he sat, Okuma dusted off his shoulders. "Here, there you are." He then planted himself in front of Izuku's desk. "Now… I saw an article when we were at camp…" His hands slammed against the wood. "You DATED MOUNT-LADY!?"

Izuku flinched before his head snapped in horror at two of his classmates prostrating themselves to his right, bowing and crying, "We are not worthy! We are not worthy! We are not worthy!"

He then vehemently shook his head. "N-No!" He jabbed his finger at Okuma. "Those articles were retracted!"

Okuma waved his hand, purposefully knocking the finger away. "Oh, come on, that was just for PR, right?" He leaned forward – far too close, speaking almost desperately. "Right?"

"What was it like using Support-Arms in a real fight?" asked one, thankfully.

Izuku shrugged, "Uh, s-scary, I guess? I—I don't know… I wasn't really thinking about it."

"Did you meet Woods?"

"Yes."

"Did you see his face!?" screamed another.

Izuku blanked, "Uh—"

"What was Death-Arms like?"

"I—I don't know? Tall?" Izuku shook his head. "I didn't talk to him that much."

One of those bowing to him climbed up to him. "Did you get any pictures of Mount-Lady?"

Izuku instinctively pushed said classmate off of him by his face. "N-No!" As the boy fell over, he tensed, "S-Sorry!"

"Are these bandages for your battle scars?"

He squirmed free when a finger tried to slip under the wrappings. "H-Hey! Don't pull at them!"

"Are you okay?" asked Fujimori.

"I'm… I'm fine." Izuku smiled, "Thank you for asking."

Then, before another wave of questions crashed against Izuku, Mr. Abraham cried, "STUDENTS!", from the podium in the front of the room. "Take your seats!" He chuckled, shaking his head. "Leave poor Midoriya alone."

An array of, "Aw~!" escaped from his classmates' mouths.

His neighbor, Uemura, whispered, "The Training Camp was pretty boring." She explained, "So, when your costume popped up on the morning news, it was the most exciting thing that happened in a week for most of us."

"Was it really that boring?" he questioned.

She sighed, "We spent more time listening to lectures on safety or up-and-coming materials 'of the future'. And don't even get me started on these Support Companies trying to pitch why we should intern for them next semester."

"How did he find out about that article?" asked Izuku.

"It wasn't big news, but it was around before it got slapped down the next morning." Uemura shrugged, "And, Okuma kinda… refuses to accept the retraction. In his mind, I'm pretty sure he thinks if you had a chance that he does too."

Izuku frowned, "R-Really…?" He scratched his cheek. "Kinda thought no one would notice it or talk about it…"

"From what I've seen, you're right." She smirked, "Unfortunately, all data sets have outliers and three of them attend the same class as you."

Mr. Abraham's voice made his heart leap into his throat. "Mr. Midoriya, Ms. Uemura, do you have something to share with the class?"

"Ooh~," cooed a number of voices.

Izuku stammered out. "N-No, sir."

"Sorry…" murmured Uemura.

Mr. Abraham tapped his podium. "Please be silent for roll-call." He cleared his throat. "Now, where was I… ah…" He chuckled to himself. "Midoriya Izuku."

"H-Here."

Mr. Abraham nodded, "Welcome back."

Izuku smiled, bowing his head slightly. "Thank you."

-XXX-

Kyoka watched as Midoriya found his seat at their lunch table, plopping himself down with a notably large tray of food, as he chugged his glass of water. Once he finished it with a satisfied breath, he unbuttoned the top half of his jacket before folding down the lapel and tossing his cap onto the pile, center of the table.

Shinso looked up from his food, chuckling, "Someone's thirsty." His eyes drifted to the tray. "And starving apparently."

"I'm pretty sure that's the most I've talked to my classmates since the year started," sighed Midoriya.

Ashido giggled, "Yeah, plenty of people asked us about Woods and Mount-Lady."

"How're you two holding up?" asked Midoriya.

"Popularity-wise? The excitement has died down," said Shinso. "If you're asking about my head, no complaints."

Ashido nodded, "My burn's pretty much squashed." She propped her arm on her elbow, resting her chin in her palm. "I can't windmill or back-spin without feeling icky just yet, though."

"Windmill…" murmured Kaminari, who's face made it very clear what image was in his head.

Midoriya muttered, "Windmill…", ditto.

"Actually, what about you Kaminari?" asked Shinso. "Feel like no one's checked in on you about your Ingenium internship."

"Huh?" Kaminari shook his head. "Oh, I mean, I saw some stuff, but it's not like I got hurt like you guys."

"You saw a police lieutenant get stabbed."

"Uh… y-yeah…" Kaminari rubbed the back of his neck. "It was all… pretty crazy. But, Lt. Yuuki's fine now – well, mostly fine…"

"Mostly?" echoed Ashido.

"There was some stuff going around before I came back…" Kaminari sighed, "They might have to amputate his arm…"

"Oh, no!" gasped Ashido.

Shinso lowered his head. "Shit…"

Kaminari raised his hand. "But—But! I—I also heard that Team Idaten will foot the bill for a prosthetic with the Police Union."

"That's good, at least," said Midoriya, patting Kaminari's shoulder.

As her friends continued to speak about their seemingly hellish internships like they were talking around a water cooler, Kyoka found herself sitting further and further back in her seat. "How…?" She found herself smiling. "In spite of everything that happened, they're fine…" She fidgeted with her jacks. "At least… They seem fine… Could they all just be hiding it…? Putting on brave faces…?"

Kyoka blinked when Midoriya's glass clinked against the table. "I'm going to get a refill."

When her eyes drifted to his tray of food, they widened. "He already finished everything on his plate…?"

"Aye, aye," replied Ashido.

"Don't get lost," joked Kaminari.

"MIDORI!" cried a lady before a blur leapt onto Midoriya.

"OH MY GOD!" exclaimed Utsushimi as she enveloped the younger boy in a hug. "YOU'RE OKAY!" Though, her arms were wrapped around his head, forcing it into… well… "I was totes losing my mind after the whole Hero Killer thing, but I was balling my eyes out when I saw you on TV!" Her hands took up the sides of his head, looking him in the eyes. "I am so angry you ghosted me!" Then, she pulled him back into a hug – more of a standard hug than the last one much Midoriya's apparent relief. "I'm so sorry I ghosted you!" Finally, they parted as she let out a breath. "Ugh, ok, let me get my food and I'll be right back!"

As she rushed back to the lunch line, she cried, "You're giving me all the detes when I get back!" Once Midoriya was released, he stumbled back towards the table, almost falling back into his seat. His face was beet red and while it may have been a trick of the light, she could've sworn that she saw steam radiating from the top of his head.

"You—You alright there, bud?" offered Shinso, stifling his laughter.

Kyoka was in a similar place until she noticed something on his face amongst the clear embarrassment. A quick glance to her friends across the table made it seem like she might've been the only one. She reached out. "Hey, Midoriya, are you feel—"

"WE ARE NOT WORTHY!" cried two uniformed students behind Midoriya, prostrating themselves and bowing dramatically. "WE ARE NOT WORTHY! WE ARE NOT WORTHY!"

Midoriya fell back in his seat as he pinched his brow. "Please tell me that I'm hearing things… Please?"

Kaminari blinked, "Uh…" He then picked up a roll of bread before lightly tossing it at one of the bowing students.

It nailed him in the face. "Ow."

"No, they're pretty real," he said.

"What're you two doing!?" shouted an adult.

Both of the students rushed to their feet, "Ah, it's Mrs. Miyashi!" The soles of their shoes scraped across the tiled ground, but they didn't move forward a centimeter.

A woman in a standard business suit stepped forward. Her violet eyes had shimmered while her green hair pulsed with light. "That's…" she looked at Midoriya before rubbing at her tired eyes, "-enough excitement for one day." As the teacher continued forward, the Support Course students floated through the air before her.

"That's such a cool Quirk…" Midoriya muttered, "No evident effects to visually indicate you're under its influence. Complete inertia and momentum cut off in an instant." He then asked, "What's it called?", as she walked by.

"Don't be nosey, Mr. Midoriya," she simply replied.

"Aw…" he sighed as he sat forward.

"You alright man?" offered Kaminari.

He said, "I'm fine." His gaze shifted to the empty glass in his hand before standing up. "I still need water…"

Kyoka's gaze followed him as he walked off. "He's rubbing his forehead a lot…" She pushed herself onto her feet. "I'm going for a refill too." The table acknowledged her departure as she walked after Midoriya. He stopped at one of the drink fountains before she slipped towards the one beside his.

"Okay… How should I do this…?" she pondered as she looked at the selection screen.

"I just have a headache," he offered as he turned away from the fountain, stepping away, so the person behind him could use it.

Kyoka turned to him, holding her glass. "Huh?"

"Sorry… There's just been a lot of loud noises and too many different voices today…" He rubbed the back of his neck. "And sudden movements."

She nodded, "Uh… cool, good to know, but I was just getting a refill."

Midoriya blinked, "O-Oh, uh… s-sorry, um…" He shrugged slightly. "I just thought…" His face contorted, "I mean, you do realize that, uh…" He cleared his throat. "Your glass, it's, um, still… full?"

Kyoka looked down at the glass in her hand – it was. "Uh…" She then smoothly changed the subject. "So, you ghosted your Senpai?" She lightly scolded, "That's pretty disrespectful."

"Ah…" He chuckled before sighing, "I…" He shook his head. "I honestly didn't understand the messages…"

"You didn't understand them?" she echoed.

He fished out his phone. "Here." He opened the messaging app on his phone and showed her the list of messages from 'CAMIE'. "Look."

Kyoka had to blink a few times to be sure. "Those are… just emojis and emoticons."

"I know I should've responded with something, but I just really wasn't sure what."

He froze stiff as Utsushimi called out, "Midori?"

"Hey, Utus—Camie-Senpai," he said, stepping forward.

With one hand occupied, she placed the other on her hip. "I have the receipts, Midori." Her eyes narrowed, "You left on me read, son. That's brave."

"Y-You have to understand… I don't know what these mean," he said desperately, showing her his screen.

She understood it immediately. "That's asking if you're okay!"

"What does the pizza mean in that context!?" he questioned.

Kyoka looked between two, letting a chuckle spill from her lips, before swiftly departing for their table.

-XXX-

Mina kicked her feet under her desk. Classes were at their end, but of course, like any other day, there was time for students to linger before heading home or to whatever activity they had planned. For the most part, almost everyone in the Hero Course class was still riding the high of their first internships, chatting and reminiscing. Whoever wasn't was on their way elsewhere. For example, Kaminari was off to his afternoon shift at the convenience store.

"Shinso!" Tokage had turned her head from her huddle of friends. "You seriously heading back down to the Danger-Zone? You're practically living down there!"

"Gotta keep sharp," he offered as he disappeared beyond the doorway.

She fished out her phone, finding her way to her chatroom with her little brother. "Left on read, huh…?" She held it close. "I'll make it up to you… I promise…"

Then, she left that one and looked at the messages from her Dad. [Everything is going to be okay.] She remembered packing her things early in the morning – the crack of dawn as her Dad got the car ready. [I'll keep talking to your mom.] She rubbed her bicep as she recalled the tight hug her Dad wrapped her in when he dropped her off at Shiketsu's dorms. [She'll get over it. Just stay safe.]

Jirou pulled out the seat of the desk in front of her, plopping herself down. "Yo."

Mina quickly tucked her phone away as she pushed up a smile, "Hey!"

"You wanna do anything tonight?" she asked.

Her hands tapped on her desk's surface. "Ooh~, uh… uh—" A tank of air was sucked into a lung before a yawn escaped her maw.

"Big yawn," said Jirou.

"Y-Yeah…" Mina arched her back, extending her arms in a big stretch. "Gosh, I'm just so sleepy nowadays…"

"You getting enough sleep?" was asked.

Mina hesitated before saying, "Yeah, like a baby!"

"Hm…"

She tilted her head. "So, what'd you have planned?"

Jirou thought about it. "Um…" She offered, "How about we go down that shopping plaza? The one that's basically just a whole street?"

"The Kiyashi Ward Shopping Mall?" Mina pondered, "That's a bit of a trip, isn't it?"

"A thirty minute train ride," she shrugged. "If we go now… we'll get there around 6:47 and we'll be back by 8."

"Money?"

Another shrug, "Window shopping is free."

"Hm…" Mina smiled, "You drive a hard bargain, Ms. Jirou." She offered her hand. "But, you have yourself a deal."

Jirou rolled her eyes, shaking her hand. "Right." She then stood, pulling Mina up alongside her. "Come on, let's go."

Mina pumped her fist, "Let's go!" as they left the classroom. Though, they swiftly found themselves with more company than they planned as two of their classmates requested to come along.

-XXX-

Hitoshi adjusted the belt of his Hero costume before dusting off his shoulders. He paused in the way of his locker door, looking above the Costume Case at the bottom and to his 'gas mask' above. He scowled at it before slamming the locker shut. He made his way out and to the Danger-Zone. He reached the descender and crossed onto the combat arena's tiled floor.

"Okay, Shinso, you have the Zone for an hour," informed Mr. Haimawari from the Zone's Observation Deck. "Then, it has to be shut down for maintenance, okay?"

Hitoshi reached over his shoulders and pulled out his escrima sticks, twirling them for a moment. "Yes, sir!"

"Setting Combat Difficulty to Level 3," said Mr. Haimawari. "Be advised: opponent numbers will be random. They will either be more than you've seen or less."

"Understood," he started to bounce on the balls of his feet.

"Beginning in… 3… 2… 1…!"

Hitoshi watched as sparring bots launched out of openings in the tiled floor. "Come on, you fuckers…!" He sprinted forward as they rushed him. "COME ON, LET'S FUCKING GO…!"

-XXX-

Denki walked a crate of bottles into the refrigerated area, setting it in a tower of similarly marked ones. He shivered before he rubbed his arms, starting back out the door. Then, suddenly, a crash of glass cried out behind him as a box of alcohol fell from a shelf against the metal floor.

Denki nearly jumped out of his skin as he screamed. As the image of a villain disguised as a police officer flashed in the back of his mind, he instinctively sent out golden arcs of electricity from his skin, lurching from his body. Electricity crawled across the floor, fizzling out against the plastic and wooden crates. Then, a bolt surged upwards, colliding against the singular hanging light above his head.

The glass of the bulb shattered instantaneously, plunging him into darkness. His shoe slipped against the icy floor beneath his feet, sending him crashing against the ground with a harsh thud. Pain shot up his spine as his tailbone met metal.

"Kaminari!?" cried his manager, rushing to the big metal door and yanking it open. He rushed to the boy's side cautiously. "Hey, you alright!?"

He groaned, "I… I'm f-fine… Ow…"

"Come on, let's get you in the break room." He helped the boy onto his feet. "I'll have Akamine get a look at ya."

"S-Sorry," murmured Denki.

"Don't. I'm too familiar with the sound of those bottles breaking like that. Damn Ban. I've told him a million times to stack those boxes carefully!"

Denki knew his hands weren't shaking because he was cold. "I accidently used my Quirk…" He took a seat in the breakroom as his manager left to get Akamine. "Fuck…" he muttered.

-XXX-

"The pain is something we should be able to treat with a prescription," said Dr. Shuzenji. "Though, we will have to adjust for your increased metabolism." She offered, "We'll have Dr. Yaritezawa monitor the doses and make the necessary adjustments."

Izuku could feel a vein pulse in his forehead as a sharp pain stabbed into his brain. His stinging ache had never left since that first night in the hospital. It lessened, certainly – even enough to be ignored, but never forgotten. Then, there were the flares. They only happened when there was just too much pressure upon his skin. Something like stubbing his toe, smacking the edge of something with his shoulder, or too tight of a hug could cause spikes of pain to push up from his very bones.

"Though, we may have to acknowledge…" she trailed off.

With no one around, he let himself almost stumble into his dorm room. After shutting and locking the door behind him, he made his way into his kitchen. He found the right drawer, pulled it open, and picked up the prescription bottle within. "No more than two…" he recalled before checking the time. "Every eight hours…" He downed his medicine before stiffly making his way to his sofa.

"What, Dr. Shuzenji?" asked Inko.

His breath was slow and steady. He counted off things in his head as he tried to relax into his sofa. After some time, he did feel his muscles and joints loosen as he sank in the cushions. Of course, it was around that time that his stomach growled. "Fuck," he murmured as he sank, laying his forearm over his eyes.

"This is… assumptive… but… we…" She sighed, "We may have to accept the idea that the pain may be chronic."

He felt a buzz in his pocket and his rickety arm foraged through, pulling out his phone. "Mom…" He sent her a text back, telling her that he made it to his dorm before he just let his heavy eyelids shut in slumber.

-\ XXX /-

AN: I should really come up with these notes earlier rather than wait until the day of posting...

Ah, well...

Thank you for reading, and please criticize away!

Update Window: April 6th - 12th

Intended Due Date: April 8th