BNHA X OC: THE FALL OF A SOCIETY

Chapter 22: Race

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The next day after their intense training with Slimey, the whole morning was a grind of textbooks and notes. Everyone was crammed into their study spots, poring over course materials, trying to absorb as much as they could. The exams were coming up fast, and the pressure was on. Midoriya was hunched over his notes, scribbling away furiously, while Uraraka tried to make sense of a particularly tricky problem. Sero and Kaminari were huddled together, discussing strategies for their quirks while flipping through their textbooks. It felt like the day would never end.

By lunchtime, the entire class was in desperate need of a break. The cafeteria buzzed with relief as students filed in, leaving their textbooks behind.

"Hey Aoi!" Aikou said as she walked up to her. "You seem a bit off since yesterday. Is something wrong?"

"Not really," Aoi answered. "After fighting Slimey and almost dying, I was pumped full of adrenaline. It was really scary for a second, but not because of me. I could actually feel Bakugo and Midoriya's fear too."

"Are you sure you're okay?" Aikou asked, sounding more concerned.

"I'm fine. Just... confused, that's all," Aoi said, looking down at her feet.

"Aoi," Aikou said gently, reaching out to put a hand on her shoulder.

"I said I'm fine!" Aoi snapped, making Aikou step back in surprise.

"Yeah, I know. I just wanted to check on you. Sorry," Aikou said quickly.

Aoi looked at her, feeling a pang of guilt. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped like that. I just... I'm not sure how to deal with everything right now."

"Aoi," Aikou said with a warm smile. "You don't have to apologize. You're still working through things. I shouldn't push you on this."

Aoi gave a small, strained smile. It was enough for Aikou to feel reassured. They headed to the table where the other girls from class were eating. As they settled in, they noticed Slimey hanging out with the third-years.

"I never really saw him around before the training, but now he's always with everyone," Uraraka said, watching Slimey interact with the older students.

"He seems really friendly and nice. It's hard to believe he managed to take us all out yesterday," Niji added, looking impressed.

Aoi stayed quiet but kept an eye on the third-years, feeling a bit uneasy.

"He usually sticks with the third-years," said a second-year student sitting nearby. "They spend the most time with him and give him the most food. It's like he's part of their group."

"I have a question," Mina chimed in. "If he's some kind of classified thing, where does he go after school every day?"

"He lives here. He's not allowed to leave," the student explained. "During breaks, he has to stay hidden or is locked in a special cage somewhere, according to some teachers."

"What? All alone?" Uraraka asked, surprised.

"Yeah, some professors come by to feed him, but he doesn't know anything outside these walls," the student said. "That's why we all try to be nice to him. It helps him feel less lonely."

"I feel so bad for him," Yaoyorozu said with a sympathetic look. "No one should have to be so isolated."

The group fell silent for a moment, reflecting on Slimey's situation, as they continued their lunch.

"I mean, being alone is something that can break anyone, now I wish I could cuddle him all the time" Mina added

"(Being alone breaks anyone... strong words from people who probably have never been alone)" Aoi thought while she kept eating her food "(I find it strange that UA is also taking care of a government creation... or more described as a weapon. Why have something like that here? I should report this to Shigaraki)"