Today. Today Yori plans to talk to Aizawa about going back to her work study. Heartbreaker said yes as long as Aizawa does. And it's the Friday before a weekend training trip, so that should help, for some reason.
Kyomi helped her prepare what to say. She even has notecards, which is what Yori is examining as she walks hand in hand with the other girl to Aizawa's office.
Kyomi gives Yori's hand one final squeeze before leaving her at the door with the placard saying Aizawa's name.
"Hiramitsu, come in," he says a moment after she knocks.
When she enters, he sets down a pen and pushes aside a pile of papers.
"I have a question," she starts.
He stops her.
"I know where you're going with this. Yes, you can go back in the field with Heartbreaker as long as you take it easy and be careful. And you can go back after the training trip this weekend, not today."
She nods. But she's waiting for more—it's seems too easy.
"That was your question, correct?"
She nods again.
"Yes. Thank you," she finally manages to get out.
-
The training trip is at some camp, two hours away from UA.
The first thing Yori notices when she walks in is a large obstacle course, spanning the majority of the lawn.
"I could totally kick your ass on that," Kyomi leans over and whispers to her.
Yori scoffs.
"You wish"
"Hey. At least I have two fully functioning, healthy arms."
"And yet I'm still ranked above you. crazy."
Kyomi opens her mouth to fire back, but they're stopped and ushered to their rooms before she can say another word.
The rest of that night is a blur. She and Kyomi are put in different training groups, and by the time they can talk at night, Yori passes out almost as soon as she lays down.
————————
"So we have grouped you into pairs,
and you and your partner will race to the center of the obstacle course—that raised platform—and fight. Then afterwards you will race to the end," Aizawa says, holding a list of names.
"Yori Hiramitsu and Kei Sato"
Yori glances over at Kei. He's nice, quiet. If she cared a bit more, she probably would've tried to become friends with him their first year. He's ranked fifth in class right now. His quirk is something with sound. Though his quirk is seemingly weaker than hers, his physical advantage compensates for it.
They go fourth. She watched the others before her, studied the quickest way to do the course. That still doesn't stop her heart from pounding as she steps up.
This is her first public test after her injury. The biggest way she can prove that she hasn't lost her capabilities yet.
The signal for the start goes off, and she flies down the course. Looking to her right, she catches Kei only a few steps behind her.
She climbs up the ladder and reaches the platform before him. She pauses to look over the edge. It's about a 20 feet drop, with gravel at the bottom.
Kei climbs up, and the spar commences. It's more physical, like a regular quirkless fight. He can easily overpower her this way.
Yori squints up at the sun, then brings light down so it shines directly in Kei's eyes.
He jolts back, and she pins him down. She stops to catch her breath as a whistle is blown that signals they can race back.
What she failed to realize was that the course changes. Right next to the platform's ladder, part of the course retracts so there is a 2.5/3 foot gap between the ladder and the rest of the course.
She sees Kei walk to the back of the platform to get a running start before jumping. She follows suit.
She runs to the edge, and as she jumps, some part of her body hesitates, allowing her to just brush the edge of the course with the tips of her right fingers.
Up until that moment, it felt like she was falling in slow motion. The fact she was going to fall was evident from the start, but the wait to actually fall felt like it took years. As soon as her fingers scraped the side, she barely had time to breathe before she was on the gravel.
Kei is frozen in his spot on the obstacle course, hand over his mouth. Kyomi, who was standing by the end, is in the exact same position.
It took her a moment to realize the state her arm was in because she conveniently fell on the same arm. It wasn't until Aizawa was holding it up did she realize it was practically coated in blood.
No.
No no.
This can't be happening.
It has to be a joke.
An injury like this means no hero work, and no hero work means everything Yori has worked for her whole life is put to waste. No hero work means no UA, no work study.
She sees Aizawa speaking to her, but she's too deep in her head to hear him.
He doesn't seem to be mad, or disappointed, just...sad.
—————————
She's back in Aizawa's office, Yori's mom and Heartbreaker there this time.
"...End your work study, since that is primarily field work," Heartbreaker finishes her sentence with.
She knew it was happening, but hearing it out loud (and coming from Heartbreaker, too) creates a pit in Yori's stomach.
"Now schooling..." Aizawa starts, and Yori glances at her mom.
"What about schooling?" Her mom asks.
"Well, since Yori can no longer work in the hero field, I suggest she pulls out of the hero course. Majority of the physical work she cannot perform, and that would affect things such as her class ranking. However, the decision is entirely up to you."
"Pull me out? So you're sending me to the support courses?"
"Or a different school," her mom adds.
"You can't just do that!"
Aizawa nods.
"It would be a better fit if we do. Yori, you are one of the brightest and most determined students I've had, but I believe this course would be too challenging for you after your second fall."
Her mom puts a hand over Yori's.
"It's up to you. I'll give you a couple days to decide.
Yori simply nods, as if her entire world didn't just collapse in one meeting.
