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The birds chirping out on her balcony roused Mina from sleep much earlier than she had expected. Normally the sounds wouldn’t bother her as she slept, but for the first time in weeks it was cool enough for her to leave her door cracked at night. The foreign sound didn’t startle her, but the early morning sun lancing through the crack in her curtains ensured that she wasn’t going back to sleep. With a languid stretch Mina crawled out of bed and pulled back her curtains. The main building shined in the sunlight, the sun’s rays reflecting off the glass making it look magnificent.
The building would be deserted today since it was Sunday. Everyone would be laying around the dorms doing homework and hanging out, or out training on the grounds. Mina wrinkled her nose as she checked her phone, It was 7:05 AM, an hour and a half before her alarm was supposed to go off. Leave it to her to be up early on the only day she could sleep in.
Mina didn’t hate mornings. It wasn’t that she liked them either, she just accepted them for what they were. On school days she’d wander down ready for class, and sit at the kitchen island and watch the chaos that was everyone getting ready. She’d usually be the first one down there eating her breakfast and sipping coffee, followed by Todoroki, Bakugou and Sero. The morning gang was next; Shinsou, Momo and Toru with a drowsy Jiro, Ayoma and Kiri talking animatedly, and Tsu. The final wave was everyone else, usually rushing to eat or run out the door because they overslept. That was Mina’s morning routine for six out of seven days a week.
It was the 7th day, her Sundays, that were different.
Normally she’d shuffle down to the common area in her pajamas around 9 AM to the smell of pancakes and coffee. Bakugou always made pancakes on Sundays without deviation, and there was always enough for the whole squad. It had started a few weeks after they moved into the dorms, and now in third year it was a ritual. Sunday mornings were for their squad, and their squad only. Eventually other people worked around when they were in the kitchen.
Bakugou was surely awake by now, he did his morning run at ungodly hours when the world was just waking up. Maybe she would surprise him and Sero by having the coffee already made.
Mina eased into her morning routine before she slipped into her unicorn slippers and made her way downstairs. Everything was quiet in dorms, as if the very building itself was still asleep. It reminded her of mornings at home. Mina had no siblings to speak of, but her extended family lived with them so there were always people around. Except early in the morning when she’d be getting ready for school.
In a way mornings were her time.
As she emerged into the common area from the stairwell she smiled and a giggle escaped her lips. She knew the boys had a movie night, but she never imagined that they’d fall asleep on the couches. Everything in the room screamed that they had taken over the night before; bags of chips and empty soda cans littered the coffee table and the back cushions of the couches were on the floor. Kirishima was stretched out on the love seat, Kaminari was splayed across one of the the long couch drooling like a puppy, Sero on the other end splayed out haphazardly. The final couch was empty, a testament to Mina’s knowledge of her boy’s habits and schedules.
Mina moved into the kitchen and started making a large pot of coffee. She let out a soft yawn and sat at the island and waited for the coffee to finish brewing and rouse Sero from his slumber. Sero tended to be the most down to earth member of the squad. He was laid back and always had fun messing around with them, but he didn’t hesitate to stop them when they were going over a line. He always listened to her complain about everything and would be ready to help in a heartbeat. In a way Sero kept them grounded, sometimes literally.
Mina’s head turned when she heard a soft groan from the living room as the aforementioned friend stood up. She glanced at the clock, 7:41, not bad timing. The coffee would be done in a few minutes.
“What? Sleeping on the couch that bad?” Mina teased, her lips quirking up as she turned to face him.
“It’s somewhere between sleeping on Kirishima’s floor and those fucking cot’s we had at this past summer camp.” He scowled before coming over and looping his arms around her and hugging her. “Why’re you up this early, Queenie?”
“Birds… and sunshine. I left my door and curtains open.” She leaned into the hug and yawned again. “Coffee is almost done. Did you hear when Baku went out for his run?”
“I left on my run about an hour ago,” a gruff voice from the door interrupted whatever Sero was about to say. They both turned to look at a very sweaty Bakugou. “You shits better not drink all the coffee before I get back from my shower.”
Then, like always, Bakugou stalked off to the men’s showers. Bakugou was like one of those fuzzy cacti, he looked dangerous but was actually soft to the touch. She’d latched on to him from pretty much day one, same as Kirishima. He might have acted like a jerk, but she knew better. In the nearly two and a half years that they’d been friends they became inseparable. Bakugou was there when she hit bottom, when her well of positivity ran dry and the tears came. She was there when Bakugou needed to be with someone, but also needed silence. Mina had learned so much from him and she trusted him completely. They learned to speak each other's language. Bakugou was the brother that she always wished she had.
The beep of the coffee pot brought her mind back into focus. She turned around to see Sero pulling three mugs out of the closet. Mina schooched out of her seat and moved to the fridge, pulling out her creamer and a carton of milk labeled ‘Bakusquad’s: DIE IF YOU TOUCH’. Mina chuckled and shook her head and placed them on the island before grabbing the sugar.
“Sero, it’s your duty to make sure Kami doesn’t drown his coffee in sugar today.” The unspoken ‘he doesn’t need to be more hyper than he already is’ was in her smile. The only one who didn’t have coffee with them was Kirishima. He’d always prefered juice or a protein shake.
“Yeah, yeah, I know. You gonna make Baku’s for him?” Sero placed two steaming cups of coffee in front of her before turning back to the pot.
She let her eyes close slowly as she inhaled deeply. The rich and vibrant smell of the coffee filled her senses. She loved the slightly bitter, earthy scent more than she’d ever admit. The smell energized her and made her tingle slightly, her brain recognizing that it was time to kick fully into gear. When she opened her eyes Sero was chuckling at her, drinking his own cup.
“I don’t know how you drink black.” Mina shook her head and added her almond joy creamer to her coffee. For Bakugou’s she gingerly added a splash of milk, then put them both back in the fridge.
“Easy, my dad used to make turkish coffee at home, this stuff is sweet compared to that.” Sero’s face twisted in a comical face of disgust before they both burst out laughing. A loud yawn sounded from the living room and they paused. Soon enough Kirishima appeared in the doorway which caused them to relapse into laughter.
“OH MY GOD EIJI!” Mina wheezed and doubled over with laughter.
“Shit Kiri your hair...you need…” Sero took out his phone and snapped a picture of Kirishima. In the photo his face was a mask of confusion as he stood there, his shirt was twisted so that the front logo was on the side. But that wasn’t what had them laughing, it was the fact that his usually spiky hair was utterly insane. It stuck out at all angles on one side, trying its best to look like Bakugou's spiky locks. The other side was smooshed against the side of his head pointing down. Kirishima made a distressed noise before he took off to the showers to make it presentable, dropping Sero’s phone on a chair.
It took Mina several minutes to catch her breath, her grin stretching across her face. Kirishima was the sunshine in their group of friends. Mina would do anything to keep a smile on his face. She knew some of the demons that haunted Kirishima and did her best to help keep them at bay, but these days it was harder for her to be there. Everytime they were alone her heart would beat harder and harder, but she wasn’t ready to admit what she was feeling. She decidedly ignored it even if Sero and Bakugou saw through her mask.
When Kirishima returned, hair successfully tamed, it was with their prickly leader. Without a word she held out the mug of coffee for Bakugou, and he took it without a word of thanks.
“So why the fuck are you up so early.” Bakugou side-eyed her as he passed on his way to start the pancakes.
“I was wondering that too, you’re not usually up this early on Sunday, Mina.” Kirishima rummaged through his section of the fridge, looking for his protein shakes.
“Open balcony, chirping birds, and sunshine.” Mina sipped her coffee and slid back into her seat on the other side of the island to stay out of the way. Last time she did she got a handful of pancake batter in her hair.
“Tch...idiot. Close it next time. With you up this early my kitchen is too crowded.” The words were gruffly muttered, but there was no heat to them.
“So it’s your kitchen now then?” Sero chimed in as he slid into the seat next to Mina.
“You can’t call it your kitchen when you have one of us make the sausages and heat up the syrup you know.” Kirishima added as he closed the fridge.
“I can call it my fucking kitchen if I want! So shut up and sit down until I ask for something!”
Mina sat back and watched the bickering commence. Her eyes drifted to the back of the couch where Kaminari was still asleep and she wondered if they would wake him up or not. Mina loved how quirky Kaminari was. In a way the two of them meshed and riled each other up. He always kept her smiling and knew how to cheer her up. Sure, he was hyperactive a lot but she didn’t mind. He was trustworthy and had passion that was infectious once you came in contact with it. If Bakugou was the older brother she’d always wanted, Kaminari was the younger one. She’d hurt anyone who came after him.
The smell of pancakes and sausage cooking flooded the kitchen just as her 8:30 AM alarm went off. It wouldn’t be long now until the kitchen exploded into action as Kaminari woke to the smell of food. Mina closed her eyes and let the smells and sounds drift around her and take over her mind. Sunday’s were a day for her and her friends, friends who had become closer than most family. Were there other things that she could be doing? Sure, but she wouldn’t trade this time for the world. Mina opened her eyes to a sleepy Kami shuffling towards her and placing his head against her shoulder.
“‘Mornin’ Queenie” Mina smiled and leaned her head against his.
“Ohayōgozaimasu, Pika.”