Colors in the Dark

[21] Closing. Opening.

Saying Recovery Girl was upset that both Ayami and Shinsou had passed out from exhaustion, that Vlad King had caused a minor PTSD episode in the former that caused one of her spirits to take over, and how rough he was with the two students beside all that (even though he ended up losing since they both passed), was a huge understatement.

And to add insult to injury, though Midoriya and Bakugou passed, both were seriously injured as well. Ayami and Shinsou woke up not long after the last group had been admitted into the nurse's office, both only with head and muscle aches and a few cuts and bruises (and Ayami's left wrist was sprained from being knocked over so harshly), while Midoriya's back was nearly shattered as was Bakugou's arm, and said explosion boy had a minor concussion.

All in all, a very upset school nurse. At least she talked some sense into Aizawa, who was convinced to let his two proteges rest instead of try to train. Shinsou called home to tell his family he'd be late coming home to recover his stamina, while Ayami just groaned and rolled onto her side.

She'd get home when she got home.

As she lightly slumbered, Shinsou (who couldn't get back to sleep and had instead taken to staring around the room) found his gaze falling on his sleeping sparring partner.

She had passed the final exam and would be permitted to go to the training camp, while Shinsou received extra credit and also gained more credibility, a higher chance he'd be able to join the hero course eventually.

But he realized he wasn't just thinking about their victory. He was admiring her.

The way her copper-colored hair shone in the dying sunlight, how it easily fell over her shoulders and face and back, rising and falling in time with her breathing... the way she so easily wore her ash gray mask, yet her eyes would still shine through with the color of the spirit she was teamed with with a bright innocence, even though she had been through and seen so much.

Her new costume's tight-fitting suit and short cape that stuck out whenever she ran or flew, the rainbow bands around the top of her stockings and gloves, how she chose the reinforced stocking bottoms instead of real shoes, the wing-shaped pin she received from Hawks she'd subconsciously rub when she was feeling anxious.

Shinsou forced his gaze away.

Why was he looking at her like that? They weren't even technically "friends," so why was he staring at her? He had come to know her more each time they trained together, and she even told him once that out of everyone at school, she was probably closest to him.

Maybe there were friends after all.

He pretended that word sat well in his stomach. He pretended he didn't feel a tiny twinge of sadness when he denied the idea of anything beyond that.

Hitoshi Shinsou buried his red-cheeked face in the pillows of the bed as he tried to forget how beautiful Ayami was.

~

When Ayami awoke, it wasn't like usual. No opening of the eyes, no yawning and stretching. Instead, she slowly became conscious of a wide black expanse and eight colored figures around herself.

"Is this Headspace? I was so busy trying to keep Deimos in check during the final exam I didn't look around," she whispered, noticing her own self was made up of swirls of amber. Her body looks about the same shape, though the somewhat transparent. "Wait, what happened after the exam? I remember Shinsou and I passed... and then..."

"You passed out," Ares told her, voice strong and clear. "And yes, this is Headspace. Whenever you're unconscious, we exist both here and in the physical presences outside your body as the wisps. Since your accidental visit at the Sports Festival, your conscious has seemed to figure out how to sometimes return here when your body is still resting."