Colors in the Dark

[51] Brothers

The next day, her usual group of Work Study kids called her for a study session, but as Ochaco excitedly informed her, "It's our last one before we're fully caught up!"

That had her faintly smiling, allowing herself to be dragged along to their catch-up session and to finally put the last of their fall-behinds, well, behind them.

She and Asclepius worked through the problems as quickly as they could while still retaining the information, probably more focused on schoolwork than they had been since the entrance test she had to fill out before joining UA. (And that was still a debatable instance, she she had been worried sick about getting in.)

"You seem more motivated than ever," Tokoyami commented at some point, Dark Shadow nodding from behind him.

Ayami shrugged, a few bunches of her copper locks falling from behind her ear and getting in her face. "I'm just ready for things to go back to normal," she admit. "All the action lately has been a lot to deal with, you know?"

The others all agreed with her. "But it paid off in the end. We completed our mission to save Eri, and Tokoyami, I'm sure you learned a lot with Hawks!"

"That's right," Ayami remembered. "Last time at our internships, he took me under his wing- literally!- and kind of left you in the dust, but he specifically said he wanted some time with you. How'd that go?"

He bowed modestly. "Well. Although we did not tackle the great evils of yakuza groups like you did, I learned much. Dark Shadow and I even learned how to 'fly', if you can believe it."

"Really!? That's amazing! I knew Dark Shadow was capable of a lot, but now you can fly just like me!" She replied excitedly, a vivid image of Dark Shadow carrying Tokoyami through the sky as it flapped its clawed hands like wings dancing across her mind.

"Really, it isn't much, nor is it as graceful as either his or your methods," he protested, but the rest of the group was just as happy for him. Kirishima slung an arm around his shoulder and gave Dark Shadow a fist-bump.

Midoriya, surprisingly, was the one to wrangle them back to their studies, though he personally congratulated Tokoyami for his success with Hawk's agency as well. It was another hour or so until they finally finished up, but it was immensely satisfying to slam her books shut, all her papers put away, and exclaim, "FREEDOM!"

"Let's go tell the rest of the class!" Ochaco exclaimed, reaching for Tsu's and Midoriya's hands to drag them toward the elevators, Kirishima chasing after them. Ayami laughed and walked out with Tokoyami.

When they made it down to the others, they were quickly bombarded with information about the school festival and their preparations: their event would be staged in the gym, and as Ayami had figured before, they were divided into the three distinct divisions of band, dance, and the stage effects.

Kyouka was leading the band and trying to work out who would be playing instruments while Mina was coaching the dance crew. The former had already equipped her base guitar, assigned a reluctant Bakugou to the drums- a lot of the class was surprised at that decision, but Ayami could immediately see the ash blond angrily beating down on the instruments; it was a perfect match, if she said so herself- and Momo had been deemed the most qualified for playing the keyboard and synth.

However, beyond that, a lot of the class was rather lost on what their roles would be, some even trying out for roles they'd probably already attempted. Eventually, the chaos was slightly relieved when they decided that they'd host a sort of talent-show-esque performance where anyone who wanted to sing could audition their vocals and unique style.