Bare With Me - [MHA Boys/OC x Female Reader]

Chapter 41 - Common Ground

The rest of that week consisted of constant training as the pressure of the upcoming Provisional Hero License Exam weighed on everyone's shoulders. Your days were filled with exhausting drills, long study sessions, and mental preparation for what was ahead. You had little time to process your emotions after your conversation with Jude. Everything felt like it was happening too fast, and yet, you were somehow grateful for the distraction.

The early mornings, sparring matches, and late-night cramming became your new routine. Hawks, as promised, had been pushing you harder than ever in your private sessions, refining your control over chronokinesis. He wasn't the type to let you slack off, especially with what was at stake, but even he could sense your internal struggle.

One afternoon after a particularly tough session with Hawks, you collapsed onto the grass, chest heaving from the strain of pushing your quirk to its limit. Sweat clung to your skin, and for a moment, all you could hear was the wind rustling through the trees. Hawks, unusually quiet for once, stood nearby, his sharp eyes observing you with an intensity that made you feel seen in a way you weren't entirely comfortable with.

"You've got a lot more on your mind than just this exam, huh?" His voice was calm, but there was no mistaking the undercurrent of knowing in his tone.

You flinched slightly at the question. It wasn't that you hadn't expected Hawks to be perceptive—he always seemed to notice everything, no matter how subtle—but hearing his voice made the knot in your chest tighten. You hesitated, wiping your brow with the back of your hand as you sat up. "I'm just... stressed, I guess," you muttered, not meeting his gaze. "Between training, exams, and... other stuff, it's a lot." you added.

Getting personal like this wasn't your thing, especially not recently, but you felt like Hawks was trusted. Especially after having trained with him several times. He'd grown to be a prominent and important person in your life, not just for your own growth, but he'd helped you out a lot.

Hawks tilted his head, crouching down to be at eye level with you, his usual playful smirk softened into something more thoughtful. "Stress is one thing. But you're not just stressing. You're overthinking. It's like you've got a clock ticking in your head—and it's not about the exam," he emphasized the clock part, mainly referencing your quirk. You swallowed, your mouth suddenly dry. "It's nothing," you tried to brush it off, but even you could hear the hollowness in your own voice.

Hawks wasn't having it. He tapped his temple lightly with one gloved finger. "Look, kid, I get it. Life's messy, and we all have crap goin' on. But if you're not focused and aligned with everything in here," he tapped your head again, "It's gonna mess you up out there when you're taking those final exams and are in that area during the Provisional License Exam." he stated.

He motioned towards the training field with a flick of his wing, and you understood the unspoken message. The battlefield was no place for distractions, and your powers required an intense level of focus. If your mind was cluttered, it was only a matter of time before something slipped. And in the line of work you were training for, a slip could cost you everything.

"I know..." you trailed off, staring at the ground. The weight of your internal conflict with Jude, your growing doubts, and the pressure of proving yourself had been suffocating. You wanted to vent, to let it all out, but even the thought of doing so made your chest feel tight like you'd unravel if you started again. Especially after the overwhelming conversations you'd had within the past week, having another one of those would do you no good.

Hawks studied you for a moment, then sighed, straightening up. "Look, I'm not your therapist or anything, but I've seen enough heroes crack under pressure to know the signs. You've got potential, but you can't bottle this stuff up forever. You've gotta figure it out, or it'll come back to bite you when you least expect it." he shrugged lightly, offering some personal advice.