Chapter Text
Uraraka was someone who (she liked to think) was rather productive. She wouldn't have a problem enjoying herself, or goofing off a little, but in the end, she always refocused on her task. You needed that quality if you are to be a hero. Even so, everyone had a little slip up from time to time. That didn't make it any less embarrassing that she was up at four in the morning figuring out what to wear, though.
Look, it was totally normal for her to be so worried. She was going to be visiting Tsuyu in the hospital with the rest of her class in mere hours. She just wanted to look nice! That was all. Honestly, it was kind of nice to worry about something so mundane after all of the crazy things that had been happening to her recently. After the rescue, Aizawa had chewed them out for hours. If not for Present Mic interrupting, Uraraka thinks she may have died.
(Then again, none of that would have happened if Uraraka had protected Tsuyu in the first place.)
Of course, that didn't lessen her worry in the least. She was scared, alright? She didn't know why she was so worried, but she was, and none of her outfits looked good enough!
Uraraka face planted onto her bed, groaning. God, why was her life so hard?
She grabbed her phone, instinctively typing in a number. Yes, she memorized phone numbers. Leave her alone, okay? It was a habit really. Her old phone had been cheap and couldn't save contacts. She had of course gotten a new one from her classmates for her birthday, but old habits die hard. Even still, she loved her new phone. Tsuyu had bought her a cute little heart charm for it. It was a cheap little thing, but Uraraka valued it more than anyone could ever understand.
Ah! That was embarrassing! Her thoughts had been a garbled mess ever since the rescue. She had to refocus herself. That's why she was calling Midnight, right?
A couple of months prior, Midnight had decided that if Aizawa was to be the "Dorm Daddy" she would act as a mother figure to the girls. After begging Midnight for fifteen straight minutes to never refer to Aizawa like that again (well, Hagakure and Ashido were encouraging it) they had given Midnight their numbers. It was all around childish, but Uraraka appreciated it. Living away from her parent was...difficult. She wasn't like the other girls. She wasn't as strong or as cool or as anything really! She'd give anything to be just a tad more confident. Just to be a bit...better.
Like Tsuyu.
Gagh! She had to get a new brain. Her's was clearly broken. Whatever, she was calling Midnight, and she was going to get this done.
After three long rings, a strangely alert voice considering the name answered, "Well, hello Uraraka! You're quite the early riser, hm?"
She didn't really sleep, but sure, "Oh, uh, I guess. I'm sorry, I know it's early, but I was hoping you could help me out. Ah, I'm so sorry to bother!"
"Please, there's absolutely no reason to apologize. I'm always willing to help out Oh my God shut up! Not you, sweetie."
"Um, right," Uraraka was suddenly regretting her decision...a lot, "You seem a bit busy. I'll just call later..."
"No, no, no," Midnight's voice came through hastily, "Just give me ten minutes, and I'll be over. Then we can talk about what ails you."
"That...would be great. Thank you."
Uraraka faintly heard loud laughing in the background.
"Of course, dear. Just let me...I am not old! 'Dear' is a term of endearment! Alright, I'll be over soon."
She then hung up. Uraraka looked down at her phone. Did she just have a fever dream? That had to be what that was, right? Midnight was usually so composed.
She would have accepted it all as having been some strange hallucination, if not for that soft knock a her door mere minutes later.
"Sorry for taking so long," Midnight came in, seeming more excited than apologetic. Not that it was strange to see her so...elated, "Now then, what do you need?"
Uraraka pushed her hand to her cheeks, ugh. This was so embarrassing! Come on! She could do this.
"I, er, um, needed help...for, the thing is...heh, erm," she wildly gestured to her bed, "Clothes."
Midnight glanced over them, clearly amused, "The outfits you put together are cute. Is there any reason you wanted my help?"
"Oh! I was just...it's just that the whole class is going to be with Tsu! I want to look nice is all! No biggie!" Uraraka can just feel Midnight's doubt. Sure, she may be lying, but it's not like she understands the truth herself.
"Uh-huh," Midnight sits on her bed, holding up a dress, "Well this is absolutely adorable, but I feel that I could be helping in a far more...pertinent way."
"W...Whatever do you mean?"
"Uraraka. I want to help you, but for that to be possible I need to know what's wrong. I need to know what you're actually worried about."
The student breathed a deep sigh. she wanted to explain herself, bu she hardly understood her own emotions. Finally, she settled on what she did know, "I'm worried about the cass visit."
"Perfectly understandable," Midnight didn't take her eyes off Uraraka as she cleaned her glasses, "but you saw her the other day. Why are you so scared now?"
"I don't know, okay? I wish I did! Yesterday...it was just us. I was so excited to see her that nothing else registered in my mind. I don't want things to change...I should have been there."
MIdnight nodded in understanding, "So that's it, huh? At least partially."
"Ah! That probably sounds really selfish! Tsu is the victim! I shouldn't be so ridiculous," Uraraka trailed off, "Wait...partially?"
"Anyway! I can understand you're worried, but understand I'm here to help. Besides, you are part of the reason she is back with us," Midnight looped an arm around Uraraka's shoulder, "I may be your teacher, but I worry for your safety as much as everyone else. You're still a child, and this...this is a lot to deal with. I wish when I was younger I had someone to guide me. I hope can be that for you."
The short haired girl felt just a bit of weight lifting off her shoulders. It was immature, sure, but she was reminded of home in that embrace, "Thank you."
"Well of course!" Midnight pet Uraraka's head lightly, "Just call me Mommy Midnight!"
Uraraka spent the next half hour trying to convince her teacher to never refer to herself like that again.
Despite her...rough night, Uraraka actually slept pretty well throughout the few hours after Midnight left. In the morning she felt refreshed. She got dressed, combed her hair, and walked out into the lounge.
"Oh, hey," Jirou looked to her, unplugging an ear jack from her phone, "Suppose we can get going, huh?"
Uraraka felt herself blush, how embarrassing, "Was I really that late? I'm sorry you had to wait on me..."
Ojiro laughed sheepishly, "More like we're all early. I can't speak for everyone, but I was pretty nervous."
"Nervous?" Hagakure slings her arms around his neck, giggling, "You were full on trembling! You probably slept like a baby, though, Ochako. I wish I was as laid back as you."
Right. Laid back, "Ah, thanks."
"All the more reason to stay together!" Iida huffed, "Now, everyone get in line! After we count everyone, we can get a move on! Let's see, we should have everyone but Mineta..."
Ah yes. Tsuyu had made an explicit request for their classmate not to be there.
("I mean, usually I would just use him as a punching bag, but my tongue is pretty worn out, ribbit. Just lock him in his room.")
It was funny enough, but it also served as a grim reminder. Tsuyu wasn't in good shape. To think a single person, no, a villain, could cause such damage.
Iida bristled arm moving up and down, "We're one person short! Where's Bakugou? He was here earlier!"
"Oh yeah, Bakubro snuck out about an hour ago," Kirishima turned to him, "Something about being bored waiting."
"And you didn't stop him?"
Kaminari snorted, "Like you would have! Dude's scary."
"Kacchan just likes to do his own thing," Midoriya weakly defended.
Todoroki patted Iida on the back, "There, there. We can just go now."
Iida grumbled and mumbled, but started directing everyone to the hospital.
After a short walk, they arrived at the hospital. They were directed over to room 377 to which Uraraka saw perhaps the strangest thing in the world.
Bakugou laughing.
Not nastily snickering, but genuinely busting a gut, at something Tsuyu was saying no less. It was a moment that she was strangely entranced by.
Up until Ashido jumped onto Tsuyu's hospital bed, "Yay! Tsu! I'm so happy to see you!"
"Don't jump on the bed," Momo chided, although she was smiling far too fondly at them for it to make much of an impact.
"I'm not jumping!"
Bakugou's face instantly fell, "Great. It's Raccoon Eyes and her gang of extras."
"Ooh, I get it," Ashido grinned, leaning in close, "The wittle Bakubaby is mad because we interrupted his time with his crush.
Uraraka recited a very short prayer for Ashido Mina. She would be missed.
"Bakubaby...crush?" Bakugou slowly cracks his neck, "You've really got no self preservation skills, huh?"
"What? Why would you say that to me? Tsu, do something about him!" Ashido all but wails.
Tokoyami looked to Tsuyu, "I'm sorry you have to contend with such dark energy."
Tsuyu places a hand on Tokoyami's arm, "It's okay, Mina, Tokoyami. Bakugou is really pretty, but I would never date him since he has such a bad personality, ribbit."
Why did all of Uraraka's friends have a death wish?
"Hah? I have a great personality, and I'm not pretty! I'm hot!"
"Personality? Meh, I don't know," Kaminari squinted at Bakugou, "Although, he is objectively good looking. Long eyelashes, defined muscles...I'd hit that."
"I'll plan your funeral," Sero offered.
Kirishima sighed, "Was it worth the joke, Denki?"
"Totally, and who said I was joking?"
"I will kill you all," Bakugou was not smiling, "I will kill all you dead."
Tsuyu was laughing, but Uraraka couldn't quite get in on the joke. It would be an odd pair, but she could see why Tsuyu would like Bakugou. He was good looking, talented, and...driven. There, that was a word for it. Despite his disposition, Uraraka didn't really dislike Bakugou. She actually quite respected him. Still, the idea of them dating, it didn't feel right. It was upsetting to a point.
Shouji used his arms (all of them) to hold Bakugou back, "Come on. We're here to visit a friend, not to act like children."
"I don't mind," Tsuyu assured, "Watching Bakugou is funny. He's like a angry, cuddly puppy."
Hagakure chortled as Bakugou began to scream, "Aw, man. We've missed you in class, Tsu!"
"Well, I may be back in class within the next week, ribbit," Tsuyu mused.
"That's amazing!" Koda covered his mouth, seemingly embarrassed by his own volume, "Sorry..."
"Don't be, I've missed you too."
Bakugou grinned, "Just so you know, I won't hesitate to totally beat your ass in sparring. You got to get back in the game."
"Ah! Don't be so crass!" Aoyama put his wrist to his forehead.
"I don't mind," tsuyu assured, "I need to make sure I catch up quickly."
Jirou pressed her ear jacks together, "Well, I'm sure you'll be able to. You're smart."
"Aw! So sweet!" Kaminari elbowed her, snickering.
"You jerk!"
Aw, that was so nice. Uraraka turned to Midoriya (he always did like heartfelt things like this), only to see he was tearing up, "Deku...are you alright?"
"Sorry, sorry," Midoriya wiped his eyes, smiling weakly, "I'm just so glad you're okay, Tsuyu."
Tsuyu laughed lightly, "It's fine. You wouldn't be you if you weren't constantly bursting into tears. I'm surprised you were all so worried, ribbit."
"Of course we were," Uraraka sat down next to her friend, slightly disturbed, "You mean the world to all of us...to me. I...We love you."
Tsuyu leaned her head onto Uraraka's shoulder, eyes only slightly glossy, "Thank you."
They're still avoiding a large elephant in the room. They're not talking about what landed her in this situation, instead gracefully dancing around the issue, dancing around that horrible girl. That villain. Uraraka was never violent person, but she would kill Toga if she ever saw her again.
Surely though, Tsuyu will soon enough turn on Uraraka. She'd point out just how weak Uraraka was for being unable to protect her. Even if she isn't saying it now, Tsuyu must feel it. She hoped, prayed Tsuyu would be able to move on from her.
She wasn't sure who that would benefit.