Colors in the Dark

[23] Summer Camp

Kyouka's family turned out to be quite welcoming, empathetic to the girl's situation. She didn't tell them too many details about Mother Kaibutsu; just that the woman that used to oversee her orphanage who was particularly nasty had written her a note.

She pleaded for them not to tell anyone from law enforcement until Mother Kaibutsu was behind bars, though; she knew nothing good could come from the police having her story to twist.

Ayami still wasn't ready to tell the full story. They drove her and Kyouka to her apartment building, asking the punk-rock Jirou to take it easy. She jumped out of the car, Ayami having told her where her already-ready-to-go camp bag was, as well as a few extra pairs of clothes.

A few minutes of awkward silence later, the victorious girl emerged and explained she hadn't had mush trouble. Beside a few lone cops that were keeping an eye on the detectives who were taking pictures, Kyouka just ran in, grabbed her backpack, and left. They had already searched the whole place for anything of value, and already knew the bag was nothing but camping supplies.

So the Jirou family drove Kyouka and Ayami off to UA, wishing their daughter and her friend goodbye. By the time they got to homeroom, the class had gathered around the entrance, having heard what happened to the redhead's home from the news or from Kyouka and Momo.

"Is it true that somebody broke into your apartment!?" Mina asked, voice laced in concern as she gave the ginger a quick side-hug. She continued when Ayami nodded. "I'm just glad you were with us and not there when it happened."

"Ribbit! And that Jirou was able to take you home for the night and keep you safe!" Tsu added.

Iida protectively pushed the crowd away from their overwhelmed classmate, though she appreciated their compassion. Aizawa came in a few minutes later, after they had settled and found their seats.

"Now that you've finished up your first semester at U.A. High, it's time for summer vacation to officially begin," he began. "However, don't think these will be months of rest for you heroes-in-the-making. At this camp, we'll push you to go beyond your limits. You're aiming to become Plus Ultra."

Ayami joined her classmates in their collective, "Yes sir!"

After that, they were allowed to talk quietly as they waited for buses to arrive, walking to the courtyard. joined soon after by 1-B. However, Ayami soon noticed a certain boy with gravity-defying hair gazing at her from the doorway.

She walked over to him. "Hey Shinsou, what're you doing here?"

"Heard about you on the news. You alright?" He replied simply, holding the door open as they stepped inside for a little more privacy.

Ayami's face fell. "Yeah, I was at the pool with my class when all the action went down. I was just... not expecting her of all people."

"News just said a woman," Shinsou commented, remembering flicking through TV channels the night prior before seeing Ayami's apartment flash on-screen and seeing her being lead by a weary but determined Kyouka Jirou to the girl's car with her backpack on. "By 'her,' I don't suppose you mean..."

They had never really talked about Ayami's past, not the full details. Just bits and pieces, little stories of the orphans she grew up alongside. But he had heard enough about the woman that was legally tasked with caring for the foster kids that he knew she was ruthless and definitely worthy of the villain title.

Ayami nodded slowly. "It was her. And... she has one of the orphans I grew up with, like a hostage. She stole her the night we ran- Kana's still in the asylum like Todoroki's mom- Kana's her big sister, she's been so worried- and now after a few years of being missing she's still out there, still trying to make us miserable. We escaped her a night after she pretended to escape us, but now..."