trauma bonding ~ dustbunny

one

I will never understand how I was blessed with such an angel as a friend. Fuyumi Todoroki had the most heavenly aura and the fact she chose to associate herself with me has always baffled me. "Are you excited?" she asks, reaching for the double doors. I force a smile because I could never bring myself to lie to her. And I was not excited. If anything, I was annoyed at myself for allowing her to talk me into this. All I could do was desperately try to talk her out of it.

"You know, it's already been two months, I don't think I need this." She turns around and gives me a pitiful look. Without her saying anything, I could tell I was stuck. "It's been two months but you've hardly talked to anyone." I talk to you. Who else do I need? I sigh. She was right, I had been wallowing in self-isolation, aside from a causal hook-up, which I mentally thank her for not bringing up. I follow her down the hospital hallway and to the elevator. "I already told everyone you're coming and they're excited to meet you." I nod. I just wanted to go home. This was an awful idea. Though in the back of my mind, I know she's right about all of it.

I follow her out when the doors open. "It's the last room in the hall." I glance at where she's pointing and feel a chill go down my spine. There's a man standing directly in front of the door. His black hoodie is pulled over his face and he's scratching his neck uncontrollably. Like he was psyching himself up for something.

"Yumi, wait." I grab her arm, pulling her to face me. "What's wrong?" she asks with a frown. "Uh...remind me everyone's names again? I don't want to get anything wrong." Her face lights up. "The girl with purple hair is Kaina, she can be a bit standoffish but she's cool once you get to know her and Hasaki is-" I watch the man behind her as he peeks with the small window of the door.

What a fucking creep.

It's typical for a man to pick a place with the most vulnerable people to prey on. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. Because...it wasn't just men, was it? It was people in general. "Are you okay?" I snap my attention back to her. "Huh? Oh, yeah-yeah I'm okay." I glance behind her again but he's gone. Fucking freak. "Ready to go in?" She nods, taking my hand into hers, and pulling me to the door.

It's exactly how I pictured it. A circle of gray chairs form a circle. There's a white table in the back with rows of pastries along with a juice dispenser and coffee maker. I follow Fuyumi to a random seat and I sit right next to her. "Oh, you must be Rumi," A woman with dark green hair greets. "I'm Doctor Midoriya, but you can call me Inko, and I am very pleased that you could make it to our support group today." I press my lips together and nod. "We'll get started in just five minutes, please make yourself comfortable."