Broken Pieces - Bnha OC x Shoto Todoroki (Multiple Personality Disorder/DID)

14 Steps Towards Belonging

The days flew by like the wind coming from the south.
Aki's day begins with her walking into U.A. High School, clutching her notebook tightly to her chest. The halls are still relatively empty, but the sight of students chatting and moving to their classrooms unsettles her. She keeps her head down, her steps light and careful as she makes her way to Class 1A's room. When she arrives, she takes her usual seat in the back corner, trying to make herself invisible.

The first lesson is a lecture on hero ethics. Aki finds herself quickly overwhelmed by the complexity of the material but diligently writes down notes anyway. Her handwriting is small and shaky, but she feels a flicker of accomplishment at seeing the page fill with words.

Momo notices her struggling and leans over with a kind smile. "Aki, do you need help with anything?"

Youre so dumb.

Dont ask for help!

Never!

But Aki resists. She hesitates before nodding. Momo explains the main points of the lecture in a clear and patient manner. As she listens, Aki feels an unfamiliar sense of gratitude. By the end of the class, she actually understands some of the concepts.

"Thank you," Aki whispers, her voice almost inaudible. Momo nods warmly, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

When the break bell rings, Aki quietly stays at her desk, staring at her notes. She's startled when Kirishima suddenly plops down in the seat across from her, his ever-present grin lighting up his face.

"Hey, Aki! How's it going?" he asks, his voice full of energy.

Aki blinks at him, unsure how to respond. "Um... fine," she says softly.

"Cool, cool. So, I was wondering: what do you think of U.A. so far? Pretty crazy, right?"
She fidgets with her pen, avoiding his gaze. "It's... big."

Kirishima chuckles. "Yeah, it can be a lot at first. But don't worry! You'll get used to it. And if you ever need help, you can count on me."

Aki glances up at him briefly, surprised by his sincerity. "Thank you," she murmurs.

The conversation lulls for a moment before Kirishima tries again. "Hey, do you have any hobbies? Like, stuff you like to do in your free time?"

Aki shakes her head. "Not really."

"Well, that's okay! Maybe you'll find something you like here. We've got all kinds of clubs and activities if you would like to join and have enough freetime. In my case I like to work out and train my quirk if I got spare time to spend." His enthusiasm is infectious, and Aki finds herself feeling a tiny bit more at ease.

Before she can respond, the bell rings, signaling the end of the break. Kirishima gives her a thumbs-up as he stands. "See you around, Aki!" he says cheerfully before heading back to his seat.

The next subject is English, and to Aki's surprise, she finds herself understanding the material with ease. The words and phrases come naturally to her, as though they've always been there. When the teacher asks a question, the voices in her mind whisper the answer to her, almost like a helpful guide. She convinces herself it's just her brain recalling something she'd learned long ago.

The teacher, Yamada in fact, calls on her unexpectedly. "Aki, could you read the next sentence?"

She freezes for a moment before nodding and reading aloud, her voice steady and clear. The teacher nods approvingly. "Excellent pronunciation. Well done."

Aki lowers her head, feeling both relieved and confused. She wonders why English feels so natural to her despite her fragmented memories.

After class, Aizawa approaches Aki. "Come with me," he says in his usual blunt manner. She follows him to the teacher's offices, her anxiety growing with each step.