Mortem ad Wrens

Chapter 12: Of a Change

Summary:

tw: suicidal ideation, intrusive thoughts, troubled home life, being unhoused, anxiety attack, intrusive thoughts, troubled homelife

'text' JSL
Text thoughts

The next day, Akira was back to a 5 and stowed their cane in their duffle bag, instead putting on the leg braces under their pant legs. Wringing out their damp blankets, Akira took the early train to UA. Hatsume seems like the type of person who gets there ridiculously early.

As they walked up to the development studio, Akira saw Hatsume talking animatedly with an exasperated and lightly singed Power Loader. The teacher frowned slightly as he noticed them. "I didn't hear about a transfer from 1-A, can I help you with something?"

Hatsume gasped as she whipped around and grinned. "You're the warper, right?" She zoomed forward, startling Akira into a defensive stance. "Mei Hatsume, future CEO of Hatsume industries. I learned JSL since innovation necessitates explosions! My call sign's Bubblegum."

'My name's Akira Mori, call sign Reaper,' Akira hesitantly signed, taking a steadying breath. 'I was impressed by your inventions at the festival and came to ask Power Loader if you could make some suggestions for my costume, specifically mobility aids like my braces.'

Power Loader nodded, "Your class would normally come here in August, but I don't see a problem with mobility adjustments given your situation. Get a note from Aizawa or Shuzenji for record keeping, and I'll sit in on your consultation. Hatsume tends to overdesign things, so tell her if she's going too far."

Akira nodded, bowing in appreciation before heading to 1-A. Even if Aizawa was elsewhere, Shinso could probably point them in the right direction. Padding down the hallway, they paused at 1-C where they heard Aizawa and Yamada talking.

"Just give the listener some more time, Shou. You're the only one they look up to here, so if they're going to talk to anyone outside however therapy's going, it's you."

"I don't know, Zashi, every time I think we're getting somewhere, they close off. You should've seen them when Chiyo mentioned their parents."

Yamada chuckled quietly, "You're the only one who does get somewhere. They're completely closed off with the rest of us, and the smallest gesture can set them off."

"I don't... lose someone else," Aizawa said, barely above a whisper. "What... too late?"

Akira tensed, carefully padding past the door with practiced, near-silent footsteps. They slipped in the back door of 1-A, waving as Shinso lifted their head in confusion. 'What are you doing here so early? Was it the rain?'

'I wanted to talk with Hatsume about my braces,' Akira signed, lifting their pant leg a bit. 'Power Loader said he'll approve the early commission if I get a note from Eraser or Nurse.'

'Oh, do you need help finding him? He's usually with Loud Cockatoo in 1-C before class."

Akira hesitated before signing, 'I know. They were talking about me, and I didn't want to interrupt.'

Shinso's eyes widened, head snapping up. "You snuck past Dad? Damn, Mori, I didn't know you were that good."

Akira smirked. 'What can I say? I've had lots of practice.'

Shinso gave them an odd look before snorting. "Tell me about it sometime, yeah?"

"Mori, meet me at lunch in my office," Aizawa said as he strode into the room, carrying none of the uncertainty they'd heard earlier.

Akira nodded and kept themself occupied with history homework while waiting for the rest of class to filter in. History and Computer Tech were the only two classes they hadn't been able to work ahead in, as they were struggling to keep pace. They were great with names, but dates and orders of events always got switched around in their head, and they could only work on CT homework at the library.