The Wise Child (BNHA x OC)

30. Strong

My nerves were on fire. I was being a horrible, idiotic, stupid little girl. To think I could just go inside and pretend that I was a human being. No, I ought to turn back and burn my hopes alongside my will to communicate. Miss Megumi said I could get a cat if friends didn't work out, and that was starting to seem like the preferred option.

"Yae?"  I turned to find Jirou staring at me as if I were a lost puppy. "You know we invited you to train with us inside right? Why are you just standing there?"

"Oh, uhm. I was thinking. I apologize for having blocked the way in, I'll be more mindful next time."

She gave a small smile, as if despite herself, "Right well, I guess I forgot how much you say sorry. You don't have to be so tense, we talked with Momo and understand now. It's okay."

I tried to replicate her easy lopsided grin, but I couldn't help but think it was an embarrassment comparatively. Still, I tightened my posture and walked forward next to her, staring at the school doors and attempting to keep my heart rate within the range of the living. This was a test, and I wouldn't let myself fail another one.

The bright lights of the gym flooded my vision and I couldn't help but cower only slightly. UA didn't have the sort of gym one would imagine a school to have. It was two floors and massive, with anything the mind could think of to help gain muscle and power. Many companies clamored to have their gear supported by the school so that future heroes would remember them and publicly endorse them.

I couldn't help but think of how easily most of the things in there could be used for manslaughter, but ignored the thought for comfort.

"Jirou! Yae!" I turned to find Kaminari standing in the corner of the gym, inviting us over. There were several other hero course students but they seemed to know to give him space.  "Thanks for coming! I'm shaking in my boots just thinking about what Edgeshot will make me do. I really needed a good training day before I have to go out on the streets."

"You're lucky, I ended up choosing some guy with 'death' in his name. It's cool but I don't know that I'll impress him much." Jirou replied, giving a light glare towards the ground.

"Lucky? Edgeshot literally looks like the lord of emos! His name is Edgeshot! He'll probably try to make me join his cult!"

"Then why would you intern with him?" Jirou asked with an eye roll.

"He was the highest ranked! How else was I meant to choose?"

"That's idiotic, you're supposed to choose based on what skills you need to improve."

"Whatever I bet Yae did the same."

They both turned to me and I couldn't help but bite at my gums.

"Actually I didn't."

"Why not? I'm sure you got crazy high offers, how high ranked were they?"

I felt my nails curl into the side of my arm, staring at the ground. "My dad offered, but I declined." They both shared a look. I was starting to legitimately consider that they could communicate telepathically. "Instead I'll be interning with Uwabami."

"What was that?" We all turned to see a spiky ponytail as Momo arrived. I couldn't tell exactly what, but something seemed wrong with her face. She often wore makeup, well done and polished, but there were slight disproportions that I was certain wasn't normal for her.

"Yae was just saying who she was interning with," Kaminari answered. "I see her all over my phone, she's pretty famous. The snake girl right?"

"Wait, you mean Uwabami?" Momo asked, her  voice shaking, just slightly.