Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Everything has its set place; whether that be a section of the drawer, or a specific hanger in the closet. Perhaps even a certain side of the pavement, or a locker shelf for your gym bag. Things were meant to be put into their place and stay there, not wander off and end up somewhere new; or go missing entirely. Things didn't just disappear, they were simply hidden amongst the items around them; yet, with no trace to follow, it can be difficult finding them again. 

Bakugou Katsuki never gave up. It was one of his qualities that made him ever so admirable at times. His strong flow of determination to finish a task bled onto those around him, the passion he threw at them and the rewarding validation he received back was all part of the cycle he loved to spin in. Ever since he was a kid, swinging off the monkey-bars at the playground, he had his little entourage there to bubble up his already swollen ego. Both his downfall and uprising, however there was always something to keep him from floating too high up.

"You're too reckless. If you fall you'll hurt yourself," a child-like whine from the sand below. Katsuki would look down, make eye contact with your ant-sized body and huff in defeat. You'd sigh heavily but smile in relief, gaps present where baby teeth weren't, "Thank you, Kat."

Most of the time little six year old Katsuki never had a verbal response to give: he could either yell at you for being ridiculous or have some modesty left within him to understand your concern. He would often end up somewhere in the middle, clambering down the climbing frame whilst muttering about how he was completely fine and literally a pro at this. No matter the outcome, you were always amused. 

You recognised the soft spot Katsuki seemed to hone towards you, which was consistently developing over the years, and the favouritism he displayed when in that group setting. He didn't hate his friends, but when you were around, suddenly they seemed a lot less pleasant to hang out with. It wasn't like Katsuki purposefully chose you over the others, he couldn't help that you simply seemed like the better option to hang around with. 

You gave him the challenge he was seeking out. You'd combat his ideas and call him out on his "brattish" behaviour; a word used frequently by his mother. At the same time, you'd go along with his game ideas; letting him be the hero each time, playing wherever he wanted, and never getting too close into his personal space. You kept him in the mould he cut out for himself: you had every right to be labelled as his best friend, despite the amount of adjusting it took. 

It went as far as three day sleepovers, matching onesies, trading lunches, sharing figurines and creating matching bracelets. Katsuki's fit a little loosely around his wrist - black and orange strips of faux leather intertwining to create a braid like pattern, just before the knot was a small charm; a silver loop connected the 'K.B' securely to the bracelet itself. Yours was just the same, except the orange was replaced for white and the charm had your initials instead. 

All that warmth, all that laughter, all the days you'd spent attached by the bone to one another; it all suddenly cut off when you didn't turn up to the playground that day.

For hours he waited, kicking sand, throwing rocks and scowling at other kids that passed. His chest grew heavy and his eyes welled up. You'd just disappeared. Gone. Nowhere to be seen. Not a trace left for his seeking. He ran home that day with fire in his heart, a buzz in his brain that wouldn't silence. His mom greeted him at the door, voice fierce but concern evident. Her arms were his blanket as he yelled and screamed the nonsense of it all. 

"She's gone! She's gone!" was all he could spit out past his straining chords, tears thick and dragging down his cheeks. His dad was quick to grab the phone, his blurred figure shrinking off into the kitchen as he thumbed in a combination of digits. It rang out several times, the three beeps of defeat bringing more worry each round. 

It was a day Katsuki never forgot, even years later; when the Kage family case went cold. Your face, no matter how disfigured and blurry it had become, haunted windows, your voice buried itself within the wind, and your silhouette sat in the shadows. For whatever reason, he couldn't let it go. 

So, as he stood at the obnoxious doors for his UA entrance exam, he knew exactly what his motivation for passing would be. 

God, it was everywhere. Pools of it gathered in the alley, reflecting the sky's brightness in its crimson colour. Your feet were sticking to the cement as you awkwardly manoeuvred your way deeper into the maze of bodies. A metallic smell filled the surrounding air, effectively coating your mouth in a film; the taste taking over. 

"Oh, c'mon Shady! I'm not done yet!" a hyper squeal from further down the narrow walkway. Her footsteps tapped gently along cement cracks as her tongue crept past her lips to lick a blood-coated finger, her pineapple-yellow eyes flickered back to your approaching figure as an uncanny grin split her mouth, "Are you having fun?"

"Himi, you know I usually do. I'm just being cautious this time," you answered, a soft sigh deflating your chest. She raised an eyebrow to ask why, so you quickly continued with: "It's broad daylight, for a start. And.. we're edging close to UA. If one of the heroes sees us.." You trailed off that sentence, not to add suspense, but because you weren't really sure what was to happen if you got caught. You never had been before, and for someone your age, where would they put you? Would they even recognise you?

Himiko plainly giggled and shook her head, turning so you were out of sight, "Don't worry about that, I've got my quirk to protect me, and you have yours. My pockets are loaded with blood, and you're lucky the sun's out! Lots of shade to hide in."

You nodded slowly, just managing to catch up to her. Her cardigan sleeve brushed up against your arm, soft wool dragging slightly rough against your bare skin. She swivelled slightly on the contact, eyes making brief contact with yours, "You reckon you can take us to that alley across the street?"

Your gaze landed on the aforementioned alley, just across the asphalt, and slightly more west than the one you were both skulking in. Before you could answer Himiko's arms were snaking around your torso, her legs hoisted up to circle your hips. Instinctively, your hands grabbed her thighs to keep her attached. A strangled breath squeezed its way from your lungs, "You know you don't have to be fully.. touching for it to work. A simple hand-hold is enough."

"I know! This is just an excuse to be close to my best friend," she hummed, resting her head in the crook of your neck. The wisps of her hair tickled the sensitive skin, goosebumps forming along your spine. "Now c'mon! Only two more vials and then we can head back." 

That's how it was with Himiko. It was common knowledge to everyone that she could get possessive, and god awfully clingy; you liked it, though. At least you felt remotely wanted again. Even if her intentions were never fully clear. "Alright, alright. Just don't get any blood on my top. I'm sure Compress is sick of making us both new clothes."

Within seconds you both were stumbling into the new alleyway, shadows swallowing you whole. Himiko grinned, letting go immediately and crouching down against a wall. Your body stiffened from the sudden loss of warmth, depleting back to its usual stone-like coldness. Your back pressed up against gritty bricks on the opposing side, arms folded over your chest uncomfortably. 

The clinking of a vial emerged from the floor, its glass body reflecting the sun for just a moment; illuminating its contents. Himiko sipped a moderate amount before popping a makeshift lid on top again. She took a final glance at you before her star-like eyes were someone else's. Her signature yellow blended to a dark green, and her blonde buns fell into loose black curls. You were no longer looking at Himiko Toga, but rather an innocent teen who she'd preyed on merely hours before.

The same routine started up again; the helpless girl would cry out for guidance, luring in any selfless passerby, and act as though she was hurt. They'd kneel, try to make conversation, and within minutes be bleeding out on the floor. Your job in all of this was to haul the dead body as far back in the alley as you could, ideally stacking them in some sort of corpse pyramid. You'd do your best to block out the sounds of blood gargling in throats, the squelching sound they made as they flattened on the hard ground, and most of all, the look on their faces. 

Their final expression, frozen in time until the flesh rotted away from their bones. You often wondered what your "death face" would be; would you be scared? Perhaps angry, caught in the crossfire mid fight. Or maybe even.. relieved. Maybe you'd accept defeat just as your last breath wheezes past your lips. A peaceful ending is always a nice way to go, less memorable too. You were destined to become no more remembered than the film of dust on a shelf you blow away during a spring clean.

"Jeez, Himi. How many more? My arms are burning," you puffed, slumping against your original wall. It had been about an hour now, the sun moving higher up in the sky - the blue more saturated, and the air hotter. 

"Enough for two vials!" she whisper-shouted back, giving a sharp glare. You frowned, glancing back at the pile. There was no way she didn't have enough by now. Two vials wasn't that much, and the stack was already almost as big as the last one; that was enough for six vials.

"Himiko," you grunted, snapping your spine straight, "enough now. C'mon, we gotta head back before sunset. Besides, Edgeshot's patrol starts soon. We can't be here when he finds this."

She groaned softly and rolled "her" eyes, shifting back from the edge of the alleyway and closer to you. A burst of iridescent slush coated the floor around you, shining in different shades of blues, purples and pinks; there she was - back as Himiko Toga. 

You awkwardly glanced away as she repositioned her clothes, and then as she covered herself up completely and patted her body down. She quickly jumped back up, cheeks dusted with a light flush, "Okay, I'm ready. We walking back?" 

Now it was safe to, you looked at her again. You gave a slight nod and crept your way to the exit of the alleyway, "Just stay close, 'kay? The streets are emptying now but it doesn't mean someone won't pass by and put two and two together."

Himiko giggled somewhere behind you, her naturally metallic scent wafting towards you, "Yes, I know."

"Good.. let's go."

A pebble skidded across the chipped sidewalk, rolling its way over the curb and scratching down on asphalt. Your hands were shoved deeply into your pockets, knuckles straining against the fabric as you and Himiko trailed down the almost empty streets. She skipped just a little further ahead, humming a sweet tune under her breath as she became less and less spacially aware. Walking with Himiko was like taking an excitable dog on a walk, or letting a toddler stumble ahead despite only just learning how to use their feet. It was stressful at times, but you knew you were one of the most responsible of your group to watch over her. 

"Why're the roads so clear? It's only noon.." Himiko mumbled aloud, eyes dragging across the white-painted lines on the black concrete. You followed her eye-line, hands finally leaving the comfort of your sweatpants. Himiko noticed and immediately latched on.

"Is there an event on at UA? All the traffic seemed to head the opposite way of the lane it's on.. and we all know how stingy the pros can be," you sighed, neck twisting as you checked both up and down the road. There was a beat of silence between the two of you as Himiko thought about your suggestion. Eventually she gasped in remembrance and slapped your arm excitedly.

"Yes! That's it! It's the entrance exams today for the new first years. Heard Tomura-kun mention it before we left," she grinned, pleased with herself for the recall. You glanced down at her with a slightly peaked eyebrow, lips tightening to a line.

"How come?" 

She shrugged, eyes now focusing on down the road and the enlarging gates to the school mentioned just moments ago. Something shifted behind her eyes as she brought them back to you, "I reckon he's got a new plan in the works. You know how he is."

All you could do was simply nod along, brain slightly clouded with incoming thoughts; what could his new plan be? And why would it involve knowing when the potential first years took their exams? In Himiko's words, you knew how he was. But did you really? All of you had only just banded together as an official group a few weeks ago, and it was clear everyone had their own things wriggling beneath their skin. 

After the train of thought had come to its station, Himiko was keen to ring out new conversation - still pressing as close to you as she could. She began an extremely passionate conversation about birds, for some reason, and kept looking up at the sky like a cat following a laser-pointer, pupils shrinking at the change in lighting. All things considered, she was very feline-like at times. 

You let your body angle elsewhere, head turning towards the large building you were both walking past. Large glass windows reflected the warming February sun, the structure of the building very mechanical. It didn't look particularly homely, and more like an office block than a school. The gates were thick and heavily secure, too high up to potentially jump over, and too sleek to climb up. 

You had to crane your neck just to look up at the golden "UA" sign on the front entrance, everything about the place giving a very stuck-up vibe. Either be great enough for our fancy tech and secret teachings, or blend into the masses of ordinary and become a building block in our hierarchy. Hey, maybe that's how they should advertise themselves.

A distant explosion deep within the school's grounds caused your body to tense, muscles tightening beneath bloodied skin. Himiko looked over too, her confusion quickly subdued as she noticed your foggy expression. "You okay?"

"Hm? Yeah, yeah.. I'm fine," you huffed, words feeling weighted as you forced them out, "just.. can't believe people actually want to go here."

"Literally! It's so.. boring. Why would you want to spend so long under rules and do what people think is normal when you can do whatever you want for the cost of.. well, nothing! I love where I am now," she chimed, picking up the pace again, effectively dragging you along with her, "I'm constantly with my friends, I get to have as much blood as I want, and express myself how I want to. Win-win to me." 

You plainly nodded back, peeled your eyes away from the school's grounds and forced yourself to think of anything else. You didn't want to dive into the what ifs, and if only's. Those chances were long gone, you'd had years to dwell on those as you drifted from place to place, group to group.

Never once did you really feel at home, or remotely wanted. But the day Tomura Shigaraki out-stretched a four fingered hand to you, you felt a little more grounded. Odd, how you ended up back in your hometown of all places. Something must've pulled you back, but what? You doubted people would remember your name, even if you wore it on your chest; along with a photo of an eight year old you.

A lot of maturing happens in seven years. Your voice changes, facial structure too; no longer round and baby-like, but cut sharper with time. Your height, weight, hair colour. Trauma can change a person too. It can make the dips of your eye-bags deeper, the line of your smile saggier, the muscle not cling to your bones as easily as it once could. It moulds your personality, morphing itself into a version of you that has to take over; the original you long gone beneath a cloth of grime and pain. It forms your responses for you, makes movements on your behalf, even lives for you. As soon as it comes into the picture, that's all there is to paint of yourself.

Whatever world you had slipped into within your brain was being frantically disrupted as the muffled sound of Himiko squawking your given nickname made itself recognised. Her voice pierced through the bubble, causing you to blink and wince.

"Shady!"

"Yes.. yes, hello?! What? I'm listening," you puffed, now noticing she'd let go of your hand and swung herself in front of you. You both came to a halt, your hands retreating to the safety of your worn in pockets. She folded her arms tightly over her chest, eyes narrowed. 

Her pupils shifted around the pockets of her irises as she tried to analyse your body language. Himiko liked to think she was good at this; reading people. In reality, she was quite simple minded with these sorts of things. All it took was a small flash of a smile and she'd give you the "all good". Unless it came down to Twice, she always managed to distinguish his two-sided conversations.

You supposed it was because Himiko was so honest with her emotions. There was never a filter. If she was sad you'd see the large frown, if she was happy it was well known by the walls she practically bounced off of. Some people just lacked that complexity, that ability to cover tracks and mask things over. Both a weakness and a strength.

"What're you doing..?" you sighed, one eyebrow climbing up your forehead as her pupils dragged back to their usual centred position. She straightened up, body mirroring your position as she shook her head in a way that repositioned her ruffled bangs. 

There was a second of silence before she took a small inhale of air, "Something's up."

Nothing more, just those two simple words. You stared at her for a moment, the internal debate growing louder. Was this really something you wanted to dig into now? Here of all places?

"Yeah, the sky," ..no was the answer to that then, "honestly, Himi, I'm fine. Just a little tired," an elongated huff followed after, just to prove your exhaustion. She eyed you suspiciously for a moment. You flashed a small smile, weak and all lip; that was all she needed. 

"Good! Now let's head back. I know Tomura-kun has some news for us," she smiled back, tight and all teeth. Once again she skipped off ahead with an off-key whistle, skirt blowing in the wind.

What news could he have this time..

The wooden door slammed shut behind you, its rusted hinges groaning under the pressure. Yours and Himiko's footsteps shuffled along the worn-in floorboards as you both ventured further into the room. 

It was dark, despite the still perfectly visible sun outside; the rotted cloth of the makeshift curtains had been pulled across the grimy and partially shattered windows. There was a mist of dust that clung to your lungs as you slotted back into the corner you called home - the wall holding onto a shadowed version of you that never left, your presence always linked to the building you resided to after a day's work. 

Himiko was quick to leap into that reserved space with you, all concept of personal space shoved out the window with fragments of jagged glass. Her body pressed close as she revelled in your scent. She'd always found it disturbingly comforting; your blood reeked of the secrets she was yet to dig out from your living grave, the excitement intrigued her, lured her in. She'd always begged for a little, just to get a small taste at being you - you always declined. 

"Himi, you're literally breathing my breath. Back up a lil," you mumbled, words numbing to one sound as you tried to remain unnerved. It wasn't that often that Shigaraki had relatively important news for you all. There were casual plans or rambles he'd drop when the room happened to be full, his scratchy voice clinking off the empty glass bottles displayed against the brick walls of the bar; but rarely did he specifically ask demand that everyone be back at the same time so he could deliver this oh-so-important news.

Considering this, he never officially told you to be back for his announcement, the only reason you knew was because of Himiko bringing it up in passing conversation. Why? 

Did it not concern you at all? Perhaps he forgot, or maybe he just knew Himiko would spill it to you anyway. A chance it could have something to do with you, or nothing at all - either way, the thought still lingered in your mind, caressing the soft indents of your brain and swelling your skull. 

An assemblage of pattered footsteps raked down the hall and towards the door to the bar. You and Himiko remained buried in the corner, eyes locked on the wooden frame that separated harsh points of brick from smooth oak. You knew who it was, but it was always best to keep alert. 

"Tomura-kun!" she pouted, the door swinging open as a blue-haired familiar face.. hand.. stood at the threshold. Red eyes pierced through the obscuring of his accessories, and his rasp of a voice pushed through, like his words alone could wither the plastic. 

"Toga. Kage. Glad to see you both here on time, for once," he sighed - a long breath, his shoulders lowering as he crept his way to his designated spot in the room: the bar stools. Dabi, Twice and Compress followed accordingly, each splintering off to the place they felt belonged to them in the shared space. Magne slithered in much later, along with a warped Kurogiri, then shutting the door behind them; all of you sealed within the confinements of the bar's walls once more.

Even though a flimsy door like that probably wouldn't do much to hold off someone like All Might, it was still a corner of reassurance that helped you sleep at night - the outside world was cut off this way, and that was how you liked it. 

As you observed the room you couldn't help but notice how slightly tense everyone seemed, even Himiko. Her usual flopped position was stiff, her body practically unmoving against yours. Just as you went to ask if she was okay, Shigaraki began to speak. 

"As we should know, our favourite Symbol of Peace hasn't been as loud about his presence lately," he began, his tone already scornful, "and we've been digging to find out why."

"Who's we?" Dabi scoffed, hands in pockets as the curve of his spine rubbed against the wall. There was slight murmur of agreement and questioning throughout the room, all seemingly thinking the same thing. You knew you hadn't been doing any research, as well as Himiko, and apparently Dabi too. Surely Twice wouldn't have been trusted to do this kinda task either. 

All that was needed was a sharp hiss of a sigh from Shigaraki for the room to fall silent, beats of nerves and uncertainty passed from person to person as the lack of answer turned into a response of its own. 

"Sensei and I," he gestured, a small stand with an outdated tv on it now suddenly the most interesting thing in the room. Your eyes followed the boxed shape, its dusted screen begging for a wipe down. You'd always wondered where Sensei really was, and why he could never be here with the rest of you. It was taught that Shigaraki was your boss, the one in control, but it was clear whoever roamed beyond the static and wires had the real influence here.  How mysterious.

"As I was saying, Sensei and I have been doing some research. Turns out our Symbol has taken a little detour to UA, we assume to work with the new first years," Shigaraki explained, his elbows gnarling deeper into the wooden top of the bar's counter, "So, our upcoming plan is going to have to be more strategic. We'll be under direct watch."

Himiko only seemed to be growing more uncomfortable as time went on, her usually pointed smile now shrivelled and upside down. You caught her eye, adjusting her position so she was in your arms; it didn't do much to help. She wasn't usually this worried about new plans. Typically she's frolicking about happy as ever, excitement widening her pupils. Not this time. 

"Kage?"

Your neck snapped at the firm use of your name. Wide eyes landed on the raspy voice above, muscles tightening again, "Yeah?"

"We've decided it's best to use you as much as possible for this.. mission," he worded carefully, his tone forcing down on the final word so much it came out slanted, "We're enrolling you into UA."

A pause. 

Everyone in the room digested the piece of information slowly, the news rotting in the guts and leaving a sickening feeling to climb their throats. Was it right, to send their youngest accomplice directly into the scene of the crime? Especially given the complicated backstory. You supposed morals weren't a thing here anyway. And hey, at least you were even considered in the first place.

"How.. how will that work? I missed the entrance exams today," you chewed, words coming out hesitantly as your tongue pushed against the backs of your front teeth. A small breath slipped past Himiko's lips, shaky and small.

"Toga and I helped to forge you a profile," he stated, simply and plainly. Oh, that was why she seemed scared. "You've gotten in by recommendation, with a new name and completely different history. Luckily, no one will recognise you by now, so we won't have to change your appearance at all."

Your body hesitantly shifted to face Himiko, her arms deciding to cling to you so you couldn't twist your torso any further. Before you could even say anything, she burst out with hurried words, "I'm sorry, okay?! I had to! I probably should've told you, but Tomura-kun wanted to do this big reveal!"

"Himi, stop. It's fine.. I just- I'm just confused," you stumbled, brain whirring with more thoughts than you could easily distinguish. Why you? Why not anyone else?

As if having read your mind, handy man spoke again, "We had to pick you, for many reasons, actually. But the main one being your age. You fit the age bracket for this year's first years. You're fifteen going on sixteen, just like them. Toga is sixteen going on seventeen. She'd be classed as a second year, which is not only extremely difficult to further roll into, but not the year group we need. All Might is working with classes 1A and 1B most likely. So, it has to be you."

 It has to be you.

Dangerous words, truly, to a mind like yours. Determination was already sparking within your chest, limbs suddenly restless. From going so long without being looked for, wanted or even needed; this was music to your ears. The pick that strung the guitar strings, the sticks that hit the belly of the drums. Maybe this was what you had been building towards your whole life. This would be your magnum opus. 

"When do I start?"

"Second week of April, so probably sometime between the thirteenth and seventeenth."

"Okay."

April 12th: 3 days until enrolling.

The air was warm, the sunset a vast painting of lilacs and pinks, some spots muted with grey clouds. You stood, hood up and hands in pockets, concealed by a reaching wall of brick. Your feet faced the asphalt road, gazing over across to the gates of UA.

It was strange to think how you'd be a student there in a matter of days. Never once did you think that you'd gain access to walk beyond the gates of heroism. In all honesty, villainy was baited into your blood. Ever since you were just a kid, choosing to cause the chaos and let your friends get the glory of playing the hero. You were only following the carved out footsteps your parents had left behind, the ones they had been imprinting for you to slot your own muddied shoes in. That all stopped years ago, yet you couldn't help but feel as though your feet had shaped into theirs; alive or not, they'd made their impact. 

You pushed out from the alleyway, leaving the lingering comfort of the shadows. You trailed across the empty road, the gates only becoming larger as the gap closed. Your feet had implanted down in the middle of the concrete path, hands still digging deep into the material of your worn-in hoodie. You were still unsure, of course you were, but none of that mattered; not when it was a time for you to finally have some importance.

It had to be you; they said. And you it will be.

The self-proclamation thoughts soon ended as you heard distant footsteps patter down the sidewalk, seemingly slowly too. You turned your head one way; no-one. The next way..

"You just gonna stand there gawking or actually move out the damn way?" a harsh voice called, a strong snarl to match. You didn't react much at first, used to this kind of aggression and disregard. But god, something about it scratched a nerve at the back of your brain you forgot existed. You turned your body, getting a good look at the approaching stranger head-on. 

Spiky platinum blond hair, tufts of it going out in wild directions, like it had been recently ruffled. Piercing crimson eyes, sharp enough to stab right through you. Slightly toned biceps, a well-trained figure. That unneeded aggression, and brattish tone of voice.

Oh my fucking god.

He hadn't seemed to read the panic and confusion plastered on your partially hidden face, halting a few feet away and radiating pure annoyance. A small grunt followed, his eyes shooting away and staring up at the building, "You goin' here too?"

You nodded, hood slipping back ever-so-slightly, just enough to lighten your features. Your hands hesitated reaching up to pull it down, but would it do much? He probably wouldn't recognise you, and even if he did.. wouldn't that be a good thing?

His eyes flickered back briefly at the movement of your hoodie, but he looked away again just as quickly with no reaction. The pit in your gut deepened gently, like a soft let-down. You knew he probably wouldn't, and honestly there was a hint of relief lingering there too. Your mission was to make yourself useful and do the job you were assigned, not get wrapped up in childhood friendships. You didn't feel like getting into the whole holy shit its you talk right now anyway.

There was a numbed beat of silence that passed, the two of you looking towards the building that dictated your future. Different stories for the both of you reflected off the glass, shining back down onto the sidewalk where you stood. Yours a little more predictable than Bakugou's, clearly. Grimier too.  

"Don't stand in the way next time, dumbass," he grumbled, making his way around you, a strong waft of caramel and bananas following and punching your gut with its familiarity, "People gotta walk here."

Your head followed his way, watching as his figure shrunk to nothing down the road and as he disappeared completely around the bend. 

You couldn't be surprised. You shouldn't be surprised. Of course he ended up at UA. The way he was so overly passionate about being a hero and saving people since fucking birth should've told you that. But you still couldn't help but feel stirred up at it all. This suddenly all felt so real, and that's what you hated. Nothing about this should feel like it meant anything - mostly because nothing ever has.

Even just seeing him again brought back memories you'd attempted to push down, memories you were convinced were just dreams. You'd always found it odd how you could easily remember his face, even after so long. Each wave of thought that passed had his gap-filled smile and crisp clear giggles. You supposed with a lack of good memories to take space, it didn't have to compete to stay. It would willingly play itself over and over again like a shitty broken record to take up the storage meant for the present you were living in. You couldn't complain.

Yet, seeing him again, adding age to the face you remembered, was a frightening feeling to experience. It made you realise just how long you had been gone, how time really did push on and how the world did just keep turning, even if it feels like yours personally stopped a while ago. 

You forcefully pulled your hoodie back up to cover your face, the heat stored in the fabric clasping and spreading to your cheeks. With a forced breath you swivelled on your feet, shoes grating against cement, and made your way back to the alleyway. Once again, swallowed by the shadows. 

April 14th: one day until enrolling.

Your hand clasped around cold metal tightly, the new phone Shigaraki had given you sitting silently in your palm. Your eyes were met with a void of black, the device not yet charged. He'd mentioned Sensei had gotten it from somewhere and had strictly asked it be given to you whilst you stayed at UA. Due to this, Himiko and Shigaraki also got their own, for communication purposes.

A gentle breeze from a distant crack of glass kissed at your skin as you perched on an outward branch of wood. Empty crates surrounded the far-back corner you were residing in, not a sound but the gentle rivets of your own breath met your ears. You quite liked your own time, which is why you often trickled away from the rest of the group and hid away in the nearest abandoned building. Lately the building of choice was a semi-burnt down warehouse. 

Despite the eerie element the remains held, you found yourself finding comfort in the lingering charcoal scent that lived in the walls and objects around. It was obvious some things had been placed in here after the accident, such as the crates, for they would have burned too, but even those were placed here months ago. It was like the building was frozen in time, groaning away quietly as dust mixed with ash.

You'd contemplated bringing Himiko along a few times, but always decided against it. It was nothing against her, it was against people as a whole. Bringing someone into your secluded circle meant it wasn't yours anymore - and you didn't have a lot as it was. It wasn't like you were bad at sharing either, there were just some things you didn't want to.

Your eyes traced the skyline as the last slice of the sun met with the blurred base of earth. The wisps of hair tracing your cheek blew back as the breeze picked up, a slightly harsher bite to it now the sun had left with all its warmth. You'd already been here for an hour, watching silently as the sun did its daily lapse. You knew it was probably time to head back soon, but your mind was still too full to let you get up willingly.

Just a few days ago you'd not only bumped into your childhood best friend, but also been indirectly told there was a chance you'd be in the same homeroom group. Bakugou hadn't seemed to recognise you, but if he did; he did a pretty good job at hiding it. The idea alone of being in a forced proximity with him for however long you'd have to attend UA tightened the knot in your gut. It made you squirm and tense just to think about. 

What if he hates you? What if you become friends again? What if you never speak at all?

You weren't sure which scenario you'd prefer; none seemed remotely enjoyable. Obviously you didn't want him to hate you, but wouldn't that be easier? Wouldn't this make everything simpler? Having no emotional ties was the cleanest path to take; you were on a mission after-all.

He hadn't changed much in the last seven years. His hair was still as tousled as it had always been, his eyes were still as intense as eight-year-old you had remembered them being, and there was clearly no shift in that attitude of his. It was oddly comforting to see. At least some things had kept a decent amount of normalcy.

The knot in your gut trembled as the conflicting ideas came to a forefront. Was Bakugou a comfort, or an obstacle? 

You supposed you'd have to wait to find out. 

You took one last deep breath of the smokey scent, filling your lungs with the phantoms of flames that had once lived here. Bones creaked and popped as you stood, a soft groan slipping past your lips as you stretched your arms above your head. Your shadowed figure followed beside you as it drew longer in the pale moonlight, your actual body slinking through a gap in the charred structure. 

You watched as your shadow seemed to make its moves before you, more in a rush to get out than you were. The still dead device was slotted into your sweatpants' pocket as you smirked in amusement. 

The shadow faded through certain parts of the building only to reappear again once you'd made it out onto the empty streets. You were always thankful for the nights where the moon shone bright, as it left you feeling not as lonely on your long walks "home".

"C'mon, lead the way," you mumbled, eyes then following as your shadow seemed to abide and crawl against cement down the sidewalk. 

You let yourself be directed through streets as the moonlight only seemed to cast down brighter, its rounded face smiling from the abyss of the sky. One last lingering glance was given before you shut yourself away for the night, one staircase away from heading to bed. 

You hadn't realised you were subconsciously holding your breath until you almost toppled over against a wall. A long exhale left your lips as you hovered by the classroom's obscenely large door. 

The shirt was scratching at your skin, tie squeezing at your throat, blazer cuffing your arms too tightly - not to mention the six new blisters forming on your feet: was all uniform like this? You hadn't really known; you'd never had the chance to wear one. Once your family "disappeared" you'd been educated privately, so you always got to wear whatever was lying around for you to grab.

Either way, it was uncomfortable as hell. All you wanted to do was rip that shit off and find literally anything else to throw on instead. Alas, you knew whinging about a uniform would do nothing to get this mission out of the way, so you pushed past the major feelings of discomfort and positioned yourself at the threshold. 

The door was sturdy and thickly built, the sounds from inside practically silenced by the weight of the material in-front of you. Your arm lifted up, the fabric of the blazer ruffling mutely against your skin. Fingertips pressed against the cool metal of the pad, your eyes traced the red paint on the smooth wood. 1A..

Wood gliding against vinyl filled the hallway and travelled its way into the classroom. The four walls had a now opened pocket in which you stood, eyes immediately scanning the room along with the people conversing inside. Your ears clashed with clamorous chatter, body stiffening as you adjusted. You lingered in the doorway as a moment passed, pupils dilating at the bolder lighting. 

You examined the room, no sign of All Might - or any teacher really, just groups of teens already bubbling up into their clicks. Chatter fluctuated as each corner took their turn to glance at the almost late-comer. You weren't bothered, at least these glances seemed innocent. As your eyes made their second round of the classroom you noticed a certain pair staring back. 

Piercing crimson, with a deep scowl embedded within his lips. Interesting.

Once he caught your eye he looked away, a sharp click of his tongue jumping across the classroom and towards you. He seemed extra pissed off today, not that you'd know his regular amount. Not anymore, at least. He was busy snapping back at a blue haired boy, slightly more built than he was, and waving a robotic arm frantically. Something about scuffing school property echoed against white walls. 

A slight tingle ran down your spine, more a chill actually, as you felt a pair of eyes at the back of your head. The stare was bold, and intentional, a phantom burn forming where their eyes seemed to glare at the most. You made a sharp turn back, no one?

"Down here," a voice called - tired and gravelly. Your eyes followed, spotting a grown man in a banana-yellow sleeping bag. He looked oddly caterpillar-like, but that didn't stop you from being startled. A small yelp followed as you turned your full body to face him. 

A ragged groan puffed past his lips as he got up and unzipped himself from the sleeping bag. He stood at roughly six-foot, eyes sunken and tussled black hair fell down past his shoulders. Honestly, he was exactly how you'd pictured teachers to look. 

"I suggest you find a seat before the bell goes," he grumbled, walking closer to the door, effectively guiding you in too. 

The curve of your spine pressed against the eye-sore inducing blue backrest of the chairs, legs restless beneath the wooden desk. You'd already spent the last ten minutes listening to your classmates introduce themselves and their quirks. To be quite frank, you weren't all that interested, and you didn't see why they'd be any more interested in you. 

You had to use Shigaraki's mindset for this; find anything deeming to be useful. 

Being able to place quirks with names and faces would definitely be helpful if things progressed as far as Sensei was intending. Besides, if you were going to take this seriously, you supposed you had to at least make a few friends. 

You watched semi tediously as the empty chair slotted further and further down the column - it was during this that you noticed you had sat down in the thirteenth seat from the door, unlucky. To your left was a red-headed boy, fangs just as pointed as his hair, and to your right: Izuku Midoriya.

You vaguely remembered him too; dishevelled green curls and wide crybaby eyes always filled with tears. You'd never really interacted with him, especially because you were always clicked with Bakugou. However, he seemed like someone easy to try and stick with. 

Your attention was swiftly staggered back to the front of the room as the next person went up; the girl in-front of you. She had deep purple hair, cut short. Her arms hung two spiked bracelets, and she seemed a lot more chill than some of the others. Your interest was remotely piqued. 

She introduced herself as Kyouka Jirou, her voice soft but timid. She fiddled with her fingers as she began to describe her quirk; earphone jack. Everything about her was remotely less bland than the others too; something about her just standing out to you. She can be added to the friend list. 

Eventually she was sat again, a small smile flashing on her lips as she made brief eye contact with you. As soon as she made connection with the chair your legs straightened out like a spring, bouncing to get out of that position. You trailed your way to the front, standing behind a wooden stand, hands pressing against the smooth surface.

All sets of eyes were on you once more, all but one - although in his defence, he hadn't been looking at anyone else either. 

Your lips parted as you went to speak, suddenly sealing shut again as a conversation from the night before made itself present in your brain. 

"Tomorrow," Shigaraki had began, "you'll be going by Akui Nanashi. Everything else about yourself you can keep the same, since none of those other developments would've happened before your disappearance." By that, you knew he meant your quirk. 

"So, for however long I'm at UA.. I'll be Akui Nanashi?" 

"Exactly."

A simple concept really, and you weren't opposed to the idea. You actually quite liked being able to distance yourself from your name for a while. You held the power to manipulate Akui Nanashi into whoever you wanted her to be, your new persona - a blank canvas. The whole point of this was to rewrite as much of your past as possible, and you couldn't think of anything better.

You made brief eye-contact with Jirou before taking a breath, slotting into the shoes of your new identity. 

"My name is Akui Nanashi, and I was enrolled by recommendation," you started, the vowels of a foreign name sounding outlandishly fitting on your tongue, "My quirk is called shadow." 

You noticed how the boy in the seat behind yours seemed to lift his head and sit up a little further, by the looks of him his quirk must've been similar - or at least a link somewhere. You'd never really got to talk about your quirk before, and you didn't know all that much about it. You knew what it was called, thanks to the people around you at the time, and during those months you also got to experiment with it. However, you never received proper training, and never gained full knowledge. 

"I can teleport myself from different shaded areas, as long as they're in clear eye-sight. I can also manipulate those shadows and other people's to my will, turning them into whatever I want them to be. Within that, I can also detach my own shadow from me.. effectively creating a double? I can hear, see and even smell from my shadowed figure, as long as it stays within ten to fifteen feet of me. If I didn't want to detach it completely, I can make it mirror my own actions. Oh, and I can also blend into shadows to the point I'm basically invisible," you listed, eyes drifting down to your hands on the stand as you recalled previous events of using your quirk in your mind. 

There was a beat of silence as you looked back up, catching the Aizawa Sensei's eye. He nodded slowly and looked to the rest of the class, "Anyone have any questions?"

You hadn't recalled anyone else having to be questioned after, but maybe you'd just tuned that part out. You nervously looked over the other students again, and watched as a blond boy, who was sat in a seat diagonal to yours, raised his hand. Denki Kaminari, you briefly remembered from his introduction. "Does it have to be sunlight or can it be any light?" 

"You mean the light that causes the shadow?" you shifted slightly, watching as he nodded in clarification, "Uhm, from what I've experienced it can be any light. Sun, moon, artificial, LED.. although, it does have to be direct light. Makes me kinda useless in winter seasons when it's cloudy all the time."

A small smile sat on his lips as he nodded and thanked you - a well of relief embedded itself in your chest as you nodded back. See? Not so hard.

There didn't seem to be any other questions, meaning you were swiftly sat down again. The next person got up, and the cycle began again.

The sound of the bell echoed throughout the classroom, your ears pierced by the rhythm. Immediately everyone began grabbing bags and scuttling their way to the door. The next part of the introduction day was a tour of the dorms, as well as selecting their rooms so that pupils could bring their belongings and begin the moving process the next day. 

You lingered at your desk as you picked up your recently stolen backpack and slung the strap onto your shoulder. You had a lot of information to process now, and you had to think of future steps for this plan. On the tour you had to find out where the teachers would be staying, and if All Might would be there too. You'd considered posing as a fan, excited to have their hero as their teacher - but you also didn't feel like making an idiot of yourself. 

Maybe for now you'd have to let time take its course. First, settle in; set the playing field. Once you establish friendships and get to know the teachers along with the area, then you can start snooping. 

Bakugou had already stormed his way out of the room, his hands shoved deeply into his pockets as he remained on the outer curve of the class' bubble of students. A small huff pushed past your lips as you prepared to head down the hall and socialise with your new friends. Just as you went to take a step, you heard a voice.

"Uh, hey.." 

You turned sharply, recognising the voice. You were met with a slightly nervous looking Jirou as she stood only a foot or so away from you. You let your posture relax, knuckles sinking back into your skin as you released the grip on your bag strap. 

"Hey.. Jirou, right?"

She smiled softly, eyes lighting up a fraction at having her name remembered. She nodded, "Yeah.. and you're Nanashi? I just wanted to say that your quirk seems pretty cool, and I just really like your whole vibe. I was maybe hoping that we could hang out during the tour?"

You paused for a moment, processing her words. Cool? Your vibe? An awkward chuckle ghosted past your lips as you mirrored her earlier nod, "Uhm, thank you. That's sweet. Yeah, sure, we can hang out. I was looking to make friends anyway."

Her smile stretched wider as she stepped closer, intending to make her way out the doorway. "Great! Now c'mon, we should probably be keeping up with the others."

The tour was just as tedious as you had dreamt of it being. Sure, you were still keeping an eye out for certain people, little hideaways and secret conference rooms; it didn't abolish your boredom entirely though. Talking to Jirou was nicer than expected, it turned out that both of you had a lot in common. You found that instead of having to fake a smile to seem polite, there was already one naturally perched. 

She would laugh at your overly-sarcastic comments, and you'd smirk in appreciation. She'd mention a band that you'd never heard of, and you'd be stuck listening to their music for the next ten minutes straight. It was a different kind of interaction to the ones you'd had with Himiko: you didn't let that thought brew further. 

Eventually your class was situated within the common room, two groups of separated boys and girls facing one another. Jirou was still lingering by your side, a knee of hers pressed against yours as you both huddled on the olive-green couch. You hadn't really had much of a chance to speak to any of the other girls yet, your attention off in other places; you figured this was probably the best opportunity. 

"Alright," Aizawa huffed, clearing his throat as he rolled up his black sleeve to sit on the bulb of his elbow, "I'm going to take the boys down their corridor and show them to their options for rooms. Girls, just sit and don't cause trouble. I'll come back for you in ten."

Soft murmurs fluttered in the air as footsteps thundered down the hall. Your attention was shifted as a girl from a cushion across called your name. Her voice was bubbly, her hair in a flowing bob that curled at the curve of her round cheeks. You glanced over, eyebrow raised.

"Hey.. Nanashi? We were wondering if you wanted to be a part of the Class 1A's groupchat? And the separate girls one," she smiled sweetly, cheeks looking even more filled. Her blush was a light pink, rosy as it circled the depth of her face. Her eyes briefly flickered past you, "You too, Jirou!"

You hesitated for a moment, feeling the hard edge of your phone in your pocket. You supposed it was probably better you did, y'know, for investigation purposes. With a small smile and nod you reached into your blazer and retrieved the phone, "Here.. do what you need to."

She took it carefully with pink-padded fingertips and grinned wider. As she was busy you turned your body back to Jirou, only to be called again. 

"Nanashi, you're the one with the shadow quirk, right? I was very impressed whilst listening," a girl spoke up from even further down the couch. Her voice was just as silky as her black hair, her eyes latching onto you, "I wasn't surprised when I heard you too got in by recommendation."

"Aha.. yeah. Momo? You're the one with the creation quirk," you hummed back, hand outstretched as the brunette gently passed your phone back. Momo's eyes lit and she nodded enthusiastically. 

The same brunette girl, who you vaguely remembered as Ochako Uraraka, looked between the two of you and giggled, "I was also impressed by your introduction."

You smiled a little tighter, not liking the amount of attention being drawn to you. Each of the girls took their turn glancing or throwing out another name and compliment. You hadn't really seen yourself as that impressive before, especially given you didn't have a flashy quirk or anything. You did your best with smiling and nodding to keep up with the flow of conversation, but quickly found yourself tiring out. 

Never had you ever had to socialise like this, and fuck what a bore it was. When was it acceptable to just tell them all to be quiet and walk away?

Luckily, Aizawa came trudging back over - now signalling for you all to stand and head down the girl's hallway.

You hadn't wasted time in separating yourself from the rest of the group and wandering off down the corridor. There was a lingering presence behind you, probably Jirou, which you did your best to ignore. You couldn't let anyone get too attached to you, and you to them. Sure, having friends would probably be a benefit for finding out information - but feelings would always get in the way. 

You didn't need to dwell in the sadness that would linger when you broke away from the connections you'd make here. 

The sound of your own padded footsteps slowed to a stop as you approached the final door of the line-up, another pair of footsteps doing the same. Just to your left, as suspected, was Jirou. She gave a faint smile, hand on her door handle, "I figured you could do with a neighbour."

"What makes you say that?" you huffed back, mirroring her position towards your own door. Your jaw subconsciously clenched as you awaited her response, knuckles tearing at your skin as your grip tightened.

She shrugged plainly, her palm pressing against the smooth metal, "I can tell that these sorts of things aren't really your thing. More specifically, people. They aren't mine either," a deeper smile began to peck at the corners of her thin lips, "Maybe we can be each other's exception."

Your chest tightened uncomfortably, the muscles around your heart clenching at her words. Dangerous promises asked to be made here. There wasn't much more of a response other than internal questioning; why?

Still, you couldn't bring yourself to deflect. 

"Yeah.. maybe."

She gave an acute nod before heading into her room, her footsteps hesitant. You watched her for a second before opening your own door, the stench of fresh paint and fabrics swarming your senses. Your feet planted flat on the floorboards, fingers flexing at your sides. Your eyes began to scope the walls around you, the lack of decor awaiting whatever you would offer towards them in the coming of months. You knew you'd have to get used to the eye-ache white, mostly because you didn't have anything to cover it up. You'd get used to it, you thought. You hoped.

When you really thought about it, you never had the chance to decorate your own room. Each place you took residence at was only temporary, so there was never a point in making it feel like a home. Even your first bedroom, back at your family home, was never painted to your taste. In fairness, you were only an infant - you didn't know what you liked. 

You still didn't. 

Your body circled the perimeter of the room, similar to how a shark taunts the smaller fish by swimming around them. Your eyes occasionally passed by the still open door, making sure no one was outside. You weren't too sure what the game plan was for now. There wasn't much more you could do. You picked a room and got a slight concept at the people you'd be training with - still no signs of All Might, or where the teachers would be staying. You didn't stress over it. Give it a few more days. 

The rays of a golden sunset caught your eye as they stretched out on the stained floorboards - evening was already fast approaching. With a final look around you exited the room, shutting the door with a soft click. The hallway was already emptying, doors closed and students long gone. 

The name tag beside your door remained blank - not by choice, but because you didn't have a pen. You supposed it was probably for the best; less trace of you that would be left behind.

On that final thought, you walked away, without a glance back.

The sky melted from a butter yellow to a flaming orange, clear of any shielding clouds. You gazed up, strands of hair blowing in the subtle breeze. Not enough to make you shiver, but with enough of a bite to make you fold your arms over your chest and huddle in on yourself. You remained stiff on the top of the stairs, shoulder pressed into the stone wall as you waited for the last few groups of pupils to leave. 

Silence had eventually fallen over the courtyard as you edged down the steps and looked around, your footsteps echoing against dry cement. It was by sheer luck that you noticed the second pair not so far behind. Your spine straightened as you sensed attention being diverted your way - the type of stare that you always feel before spotting the eyes behind it. 

With a subtle turn of your head you quickly found the perpetrator. Unyielding crimson irises sought you out, his hands deep in his pockets with a scowl just as meaningful. Your steps slowed, the gap closing as he maintained his heavy-footed pace. It was a surprise alone to see him lingering around after the day had ended, but even more of one when he seemingly approached you. 

You both stood shoulder to shoulder, your spine still wall-straight as neither one of you looked at each other directly. You got a strong whiff of sweetened bananas again, mixing with hints of burnt sugar - which you'd recently discovered was because of his quirk, the nitroglycerin on his skin was what carried that scent, not his naturally sweet aura. 

His jaw was tight, muscles tense as he seemingly wracked his brain for the right wording. You stared at the ground awkwardly, sensing his hesitation. There were many things either of you could spurt out right now, some more worrying than others - but you could tell there was one thing in particular he wanted to spit; yet something was stopping him. 

"You're the weirdo at the gate," he huffed, finally bringing himself to a starting point for this conversation. You glanced over at him, allowing your eyes to loosely rest on his face. He'd matured a lot, his face cut sharper by the hands of time. 

You weren't too sure where this conversation would go. Bakugou wasn't an outwardly talkative person as it was, so why randomly start this conversation with you? There had to be more to it, and for the sake of your mission you had to play it safe. Cut all emotional links. You simply nodded, noticing how his body now angled towards yours. You mirrored his position.

He didn't know how to branch off of your non-verbal response. God, could you be a little more helpful? His eyes looked everywhere but at you, his knuckles kissed the top layer of skin within his baggy trouser pockets as he clenched his hands into balled fists. A block of silence sat between the two of you. For your own sake, you decided to give him leverage. "How'd you recognise me? You didn't really see much of my face."

That seemed to do it; the wedge that blocked his thoughts finally came unstuck. With a fraction more confidence he looked you in the eye, his eyelids narrowing in on the watercolour within. "Just did.. Something seemed familiar."

Familiar? As in saw you three days ago familiar or you used to be my best friend familiar?

"Familiar? What, like the tip of my nose just told you it was me," you scoffed, forcing a somewhat natural chuckle out. Bakugou wasn't so amused. In all honesty, it looked like he couldn't reason it with himself either. He didn't know why the corner of your face screamed familiarity, and why your voice sounded like one he'd heard a million times before. 

"I dunno? I guess," he mumbled, twisting his neck to look away and down towards the exit, "Doesn't matter anyway. I don't plan on making this a regular thing."

"A regular thing?"

"Talkin' to you, dumbass," he groaned, suddenly desperate to leave the school grounds, "..I just had to make sure I wasn't going crazy."

You only nodded in response once again, taking hint of his restless posture. You took a subtle step aside, creating a gap between the two of you again. "You should probably head off.. before it gets dark." 

"Yeah. You too," he grumbled, his feet causing no hesitation before darting off towards the gates. His hands still resided in the comfort of his pockets as his back remained slightly hunched.  You could only watch as he got his head-start out of the courtyard before taking a sharp right and heading up the practically empty streets. 

The air still carried hints of faint banana and burnt sugar, his essence causing the knot in your gut to tighten. That wasn't how you expected that conversation to go, but you were more surprised that the two of you had one at all. He was as cold yet hot-headed as ever, his eyes sharper than the blades Himiko kept within her cardigan pockets. You supposed it was good you'd numb all the emotional ties, for you'd probably be sat with a heavy chest and bleeding heart by now. 

"Oh, c'mon Shady!" Himiko wailed, clinging onto your arm as you both planted down in your selected corner. Ever since you'd gotten back to the bar Himiko had been non-stop pestering you about your introduction day at UA. You could understand why, but God you were just too tired for this. 

"Himi, I already told you. Today was boring, nothing happened that I need to report back on," you sighed, body free from the itches and tangles of that stupid uniform you'd had to wear all day. You felt the frown form on Himiko's face, her body slumping down against yours. 

"That's not the point. I wanna know all the details. Not just mission stuff. Stuff like friendship drama and new crushes!"

You held back the awaiting eye-roll, taking a second to think. This would technically be your last night here with Himiko, for however long you'd be attending UA. Communication from tomorrow on would only be messages, and even then you'd have restricted time. You couldn't believe you were only just having this revelation. Himiko had probably been dwelling on this all day. This would be your last chance to stay up late and gossip with her until one of you fell asleep.

You took a small breath, glancing down at Himiko, "I made a friend."

"You did?" she hummed, immediately sitting up so you were both in each other's eye-line. There was a twinkle in her eye that swelled under the dim light of the fading bulb, her cheeks a faint rosy pink as she shifted closer, "What're they like?"

"She's nice," you shrugged, looking away as you pictured your interactions from earlier, "Really into music. I didn't know someone could make so many playlists." There was a beat of silence that was filled with Himiko's soft laughter, her eyes narrowing as she watched your every move. "Uh, the dorms are okay. Kinda plain, but there's nothing I can do about that. Spacious."

She nodded along, her ears clinging onto every word that left your lips. She seemed so fascinated by what you were telling her, yet nothing seemed to be enough. It was like she was waiting for you to mention something specifically. You wondered. What could she possibly know that you wouldn't expect her to?

"So.. anything else?" she questioned, pursing her lips in faux innocence. You raised an eyebrow, giving it a moment before answering with a simple 'no'. That didn't seem to fufill her hunger for answers. "Really? Not even.. a little crush? A teacher? Childhood best-friend?"

Oh, that was it. 

You felt the blood flush to your cheeks before you could help it, your face quickly being buried in your arm as you pushed down the rising embarrassment, "How..-" Your question was cut short by Himiko's excitable squeal, her hands clapping together rapidly as she leaned impossibly closer. You knew there was really no getting out of it now. Still, the question posed. 

"I could practically smell it in your blood, silly! Not quite love.. but there's deep interest there," she grinned, pupils dilating despite no change in light, "Who is it?!"

You pulled your head from the crook of your elbow and huffed heavily, the knot in your gut tightening again. You seriously did not want to have this conversation, not only because it meant talking about feelings, but also because it meant talking about yourself. Nothing was more vomit-inducing than that. "Himi, it's really not that big of a deal. Just drop it." 

"Oh, please! I'll go to sleep after and won't ask more questions!" 

It was just relentless, the begging and nagging. Her fingers dug into your skin and left little crescent kisses as she only leached on harder. It was edging later on into the night, and the promise of her going quiet and heading to sleep sounded like the easy escape. With another forced huff, you sat her straight, "Fine. But you have to go to bed after."

She mimicked zipping her lips shut and throwing away the rusted zipper, her eyes twinkling with infatuation. You didn't have to tell the full truth, just enough of it to satisfy her and send her off to bed. You figured sharing a name and a bit of backstory couldn't hurt - afterall, it was the parts of your life you were least ashamed of.

"Katsuki Bakugou," the words came out tender, memories from the past swaying your current annoyance, "he used to be my friend. When we were kids. Pretty inseparable, actually."

She nodded along, growing more invested, "And you met him today?"

"I first ran into him a few days ago, but he didn't really see my face. We stood at the front entrance for a few minutes before he walked off. I didn't think I'd run into him again, but then we got placed in the same class."

"Oh how exciting!" she chirped, nestling in closer as she wrapped her arms around herself, "Did you talk at all?"

"Ehh.. kinda? We had a brief conversation at the end of the day.. said I was familiar," you felt Himiko slump deeper and deeper into your embrace, clearly getting ready for the holds of sleep, "But then he promised to never speak to me again, so."

"Hm.. he sounds rude," she mumbled, fatigue softening her words as they began to drag out of her mouth, "..you reckon he recognised you?"

You shook your head confidently, shifting your position, "No, not as myself anyway. He called me Weirdo at the gate."

She chuckled into your side, eyes drooping closed. "Harsh.. well.. I want all the updates.. m'kay?"

You watched as she drifted off, the lines in your face smoothing over as relaxation soon hit you too. A faint smile stretched at your lips as you pulled her closer, a soft whisper travelling to her ear, "Yeah, you'll get them."

With that, you briskly joined her in sleeping, your body warming over as your senses shut down. The lump of metal in your pocket pressed into your hip as it buzzed gently with a notification.

You have been added to the Class 1A groupchat! All contacts within have access to saving your number.