Chapter Text
After being rescued, things sort of fell into place for Tsuyu. She explained the story (mainly lies, but whatever) with Toga to the police and was taken to the hospital. She got a visit from her family, and just sat in bed for some days as she healed up. Things were finally getting back to normal.
At least, that's what it would seem like to anyone on the outside.
Tsuyu knew better. She was the one who got herself captured, and she deserved no sympathy. It would be one thing if she were the only one involved, but no, her friends had to come save her, and another poor girl had been abducted.
(Hana, as she later learned the girl's name was, had been with Toga for months. By the time they had found her she was bruised and bloody, her tongue being split down the center. Tsuyu could hardly survive days with Toga, this girl was forced to survive months and it was all her fault.)
Whatever, it wasn't as if she'd had any time to really reflect on it. The past few days had all tearful reunions, sleeping pills and examinations. She would complain but she was so, so tired that the sleep wasn't totally unwelcome. It was a lot to handle, but she may have been able to start getting back into the swing of things.
Tsuyu startled as she heard a soft knock at the hospital door. Damn, she hadn't always used to be this jumpy. Toga always would rant about having good reflexes though.
Toga. That was something she had very pointedly been ignoring thinking about. She'd have to come to terms with it sooner or later, though.
She was so deep in thought, that she didn't even notice as someone entered the room. Tsuyu shrieked as a hand touched her shoulder.
"It's just me, Asui," Midnight pulled back her hand hastily, "I'm so sorry. You hadn't been responding and I was worried."
"No, no, it's okay. I was just a bit lost in thought, " she explained. It wasn't quite a lie.
Midnight smiled, pulling up a chair beside Tsuyu's bed, "They wanted one on the teachers to come check on you, I volunteered."
Honestly, while Tsuyu wanted to be alone, she could appreciate that sentiment. Even more so, she could appreciate that it was Midnight who came to her. Aizawa could act aloof, like he didn't care (although he obviously did), All Might did his very best, but he was too new to the whole mentoring thing, and Present Mic...Present Mic was kind and fun, but so very loud. Midnight, though, she was the perfect person for this.
Midnight may have seemed untouchable, but really, she was the most approachable of them all. She was open, and confident and she was just all around amazing. Maybe it was because she was the only female pro hero near Tsuyu's age around the school, but Tsuyu saw her as a bit of an inspiration. More than that, she had a silver tongue, and was great at navigating through situations. Sort of manipulative, but also clever. One day she should schedule a meeting between Bakugou, Midoriya and Midnight. Maybe they could figure out another way to sort through their differences.
Other than fighting, she means.
"I'm sure the nurses have explained your condition to you?" Midnight flipped through some papers in her hand.
Tsuyu nodded solemnly. Recovery girl had done some work on her, but she had still lost some feeling in the center of her hand from where Toga had stabbed her, and was having difficulty controlling it. She also thought that she would need to do some physical therapy for her leg.
"It's not as bad as it could've been, ribbit," Tsuyu mumbled, because it was true. She could have been dead. Would Toga haved killed her? It seemed that she wouldn't, but in that moment her death had felt so certain.
"Maybe not," her teacher agreed thoughtfully, "but, that wouldn't stop you from feeling upset over it."
"Right."
They sat in silence for some time, Midnight seeming to be waiting for something.
It was alright at first, but then the silence kept dragging on...and on. Tsuyu should speak up. After all, she did have something she wanted to speak with her teacher about.
"Um, Miss Midnight? Can I ask you a kind of personal question? About...relationships?"
Midnight grinned wolfishly, looking all too proud of herself, "Oh, I never thought you the type for gossiping, Asui."
Tsuyu instantly backtracked, "No, that's not what I "
She was interrupted by Midnight's laughter, "Oh dear, I'm sorry. I'm a tease, what can I say? Go on ahead."
"Oh, well, is it true that you're...romantically involved with Mt. Lady? I've seen some articles and whatnot, but i wasn't sure."
"Hm, well, since you were so nice about it, yes, I am."
Tsuyu straightened in her seat, "Really?"
"So much vigour!" Midnight laughed into her hand, "Yes, we are seeing each other."
"Seeing each other?"
"We're just going on dates, nothing too official yet.."
"Oh," that made sense. Still her curiosity wasn't quite sated, "How did you two meet? Well, I knew how you two met, it was all over TV. Not that I was..."
The woman started laughing yet again, giving a sultry wink, "Calm down, sweetie. I don't bite."
She was right, of course. It just felt strange to be talking about such thing with her teacher, which wasn't to say she hadn't speculated about her teacher's personal lives, but that was neither here nor there, "Yes, ribbit. I'm sorry."
"Please don't be. Now then, we met again at a press conference. She approached me and apologized for how she had acted at our interview. Her publicist had encouraged her to stir up some drama, but she felt she had gone to far which she completely did, for the record. I am still utterly youthful! Anyhow, I invited her to coffee to show it was all forgiven, and ah...! She was so flustered!"
"Really?"
"Yes! You wouldn't think it, but she is actually not as confident as she portrays."
Tsuyu was about to ask another question, but Midnight continued on speaking.
"Yu is such a mess, I swear. She constantly complains about feeling sick, but then she goes on food binges! It's not a cheat day if you do it every day! Oh, and she's completely immature! Always fighting and pouting! Honestly! Then Yu still boasts how young she is! Isn't that awful?"
"Yes...?"
"But," Midnight's voice evened and her eyes turned fond, "She's my utter and total disaster. Can't change that I suppose."
Tsuyu bit her lip, "That's amazing."
"If I may," Midnight pulled in her chair closer, "Why were you so interested?"
Why was she so curious? What made her force herself to be uncomfortable and ask such a question?
"B-Because," Tsuyu hated how her voice cracked, "I want that. I thought I had that."
"Asui..."
"She said she loved me! Toga, Himoto, whoever she was. Do you think...do you think she ever cared at all?"
Midnight put a hand atop Tsuyu's head, "I wish I could say yes, but I don't know enough about the situation. What I do know is that you're an amazing young lady who anyone would be lucky to have."
The girl broken down crying, her teacher running a hand through her hair. She felt so awful. She landed herself in this situation and yet she was the one being pitied. Worse yet, she was feeding into it, feeling sorry for herself.
Midnight pulled back, small smile on her face, "How would you feel about a visitor, huh? I can probably talk Aizawa into letting her visit now. She's been begging for quite a while."
Uraraka.
"That'd be nice..."
"Great," Midnight gathered her things, turning to leave, "And Asui?"
"Ribbit?"
"Keep your chin up, girl."
Tsuyu awoke the next morning to a bright eyed girl hovering over her bed.
"Tsu!" Uraraka exclaimed, instantly moving back, "Y-You're awake. I'm so glad."
The You're alive went unsaid.
Tsuyu smiled as best as she could manage, "Hey, Ochako."
"Sorry, sorry," Uraraka wiped at her eyes, "I'm just...you get the idea."
"Yeah, doesn't hurt to hear, though, ribbit."
Tsuyu's friend pushed her shoulder good naturedly, "Quit fishing for compliments! Seriously though, Aizawa said he's willing to let the whole class visit tomorrow. I-If that's okay with you, of course."
"That would be great," Tsuyu mumbled, "It would be nice to see everyone again."
"Great," Uraraka looked away, clearly flustered, "Do...do you mind if I hug you?"
"What? Of course."
In no time at all, Uraraka flung herself onto her friend, with weak sobs.Tsuyu did what she could, rubbing Uraraka's back. She shouldn't have to feel this worried, she shouldn't need to sympathize. Tsuyu was the one who had disregarded her own safety. Tsuyu was the one who allowed herself to be manipulated(?) by Toga. Uraraka shouldn't have to worry about such a selfish human being.
As she felt her friend in her arms, one thought became clear. she may have been too weak to tell Uraraka herself, but she hoped one day that her ruse would be undone. She hoped that one day, Uraraka would be able to move on from her.
She wasn't sure who that would benefit.