False Reality

Change of Plans

It was like nothing happened.
Keigo slowly eased back into working his regular hours without you, and you continued doing alternate days between UA and joining Keigo during visits to the Paranormal Liberation Front's base.
You'd only caught sight of Zero a couple of times, and he never spoke to you again. Him following you for your protection wasn't even hinted at by Dabi when you saw him, but you did keep catching him giving you wary glances from time to time if Star wasn't around to keep you busy while he and Keigo discussed work matters.

School was more and more easy to be in when you don't even get a hint of Akio being around. You go from anxious to walk in the hallways to the anxiety only being in the back of your mind, and relatively easy to ignore.
You had been putting genuine effort into training, which had impressed Aizawa, who made sure to praise you and encourage your improvement. Your strength and stamina was up, your wings could carry you further without tiring you out as much and you were gradually beginning to be taken a little more seriously during sparring sessions with the others in your class.
You had been texting Shinsou a lot, and he'd been walking you to the gates after classes to meet Keigo, always making small talk with him if Keigo was there before you. Keigo seemed to gradually be coming around to him, asking about him, how he was getting on in the hero course, and when you both got home he'd ask how you were feeling about Shinsou himself on a near daily basis.

You still hadn't heard from Ama or Genji after they got annoyed with you. Even after you'd taken a chance that actually you had done something wrong by not telling them about Akio straight away and apologised in the group chat. They'd both read the message and never responded.
You were upset about it at first but moved on pretty quickly when nothing in your life changed with them gone.

You had your first ever singing lesson with Mrs. Kobayashi today, and you were nervous. As appreciative as you were for the gift, you hadn't sung in front of anyone before and you would just die if you were bad at it.
Before you set foot in the large building that was apparently her home, you send Shinsou a nervous text.
You peer over your shoulder, expecting to see Zero hanging back somewhere, but if he is there he's doing a good job of hiding this time.

Toshi: you got this. lmk how it goes.
Toshi: just dont try anything heavy 😂

You: obviously

You take a deep breath before walking up to the door and ringing the doorbell.
The door practically swings open, and you have to physically look down to see the little woman looking up at you with a big, friendly smile on her face.

"Hello! You must be Hakuchō! Come in, come in." She encourages, ushering you inside her very clean and very white home.

You take your shoes off politely as she watches your wings, her hands clasped together and her grey eyes shining with awe.
When you straighten back up, trying to tuck your wings in as much as possible to hide them from her gaze behind yourself, she holds her hands in the air.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! You're just so pretty! And those wings- wow! They fit right in here don't they?" She asks, the most upbeat you've ever seen anyone interact with you before. "Now, have you ever had a singing lesson before?"

You shake your head, apparently going non-verbal again, at the worst possible time. She was just so enthusiastic to see you, and so warm to be around already. You weren't used to it.
She beckons you through her home, taking you to a room with a large piano and encourages you to sit next to it, sitting directly in front of it herself and setting up an iPad. Once she's done she turns to face you.

"Alright! So, my name is Mrs. Kobayashi. It's a pleasure to work with you, Hakuchō!" She grins. "Now, could you start by telling me what it is you like about your voice?"