𝐃𝐄𝐈𝐓𝐘 || ᵇ.ᵏᵃᵗˢᵘᵏⁱ

II

🗡️🗡️🗡️

Being back in the UA hallways was weird. The school year had been forcefully ended early last year so their spring break lasted from January to April rather than the single month they'd usually got, granted they'd spent two months of that time on the frontlines but Aeri honestly didn't expect Nezu to halt all schooling for everyone, rather than just for the hero classes.

"It's crowded." Aeri grimaced as a couple of general studies students pushed past her, eager to get to their classroom. She clutched Bakugou's hand tighter so he'd stay close.

"These fucking idiots need to watch where they're goin' 'fore I blast them into next week," Bakugou grumbled, shoving his shoulder into a class B student that almost walked straight into him, his eyes too busy scanning his new schedule. "Teleport us, will you?"

Aeri nodded and the next thing he knew, he was in their new classroom, a few of their friends dotted around the rooms, greeting them with genuine smiles. Aeri didn't smile back, too busy trying not to pass out or throw up—or both. Using her quirk was hard when she had zero energy.

"You okay?" Mina asked as she approached her best friend, her smile faltering at the sight of Aeri looking so frail and meek as opposed to her usual charismatic self.

"Of course I am, just zoned out for a moment." Aeri painted on a smile. She grabbed Mina into a hug which was happily reciprocated.

"Thinking about what?"

"If my dad will be up for teaching again, he hasn't properly gotten used to his prosthetic leg yet." It was a genuine concern of hers, but she couldn't help but feel bad for lying yet again.

"Yeah... his eye too, he was in the kitchen with us last night and poured water next to the glass instead of in it. I don't think he's gotten used to the difference in depth perception yet." Mina sighed.

"You aren't making her feel any better, idiot." Bakugou snarled.

"I'm glad you're alive Bakugou, but I did not miss your attitude."

"Sit down, all of you," Aizawa commanded as he limped into the room, an eye patch covering the eye Shigaraki disintegrated. The scarring on that side of his face was still visible, and a few students looked away.

Bakugou and Aeri chose seats next to one another this year since Aizawa hadn't bothered with a seating plan, deciding that with everything they'd been through, they could at least pick their own seats. She left the space on her other side available for Jungwon when he came back.

"Hero training will be postponed until everyone has recovered and been cleared by a doctor and a psychiatrist. Until then, we will continue with our usual schooling."

There were a few groans that echoed through the room but ultimately, everyone agreed that it wasn't a good idea to get back into the field until everyone was healthy, physically and mentally.

"Quit the whining. You can train in your own time by yourselves, you're not allowed to train with a partner for obvious reasons." Aizawa cleared his throat. "Now we have a practice quiz to test what you remember from last year. It's easy, don't worry, we've taken into account that you missed the final three months of last semester."

Aeri looked down at the paper Mina, who was sitting in front of her, handed back to her and she handed the final one to Todoroki behind her.

"You have until the end of the period."

Aeri raised her pen to jot her name at the top of the page and then began reading the first question, attempting to blink away her sleepiness.