Ryuu walked back to his dorm room with Momo's kiss still warm on his lips, feeling lighter than he had in days despite his quirk's continued weakness.
The hallway was quiet...most students were either still sleeping or already at breakfast.
He showered quickly in his own room, changed into fresh clothes, and checked his phone. Multiple messages waited.
**Kirishima**: *"Study session at 2, right? Library?"*
**Mina**: *"You didn't reply earlier...i asked if you had a WONDERFUL morning *wink* *wink*"*
He smiled at Mina's message, typed back a simple
*"ahh my bad, I did. See you at lunch?"* and headed downstairs.
The common room buzzed with energy.
Several students clustered around the kitchen...Sato was making pancakes while Kaminari tried to steal batter and got smacked by Jirou's earphone jack.
"Yo, Ryuu!" Kirishima called from the couch, waving him over. "You look way better, man. Like, actually rested."
"Recovery's going well," Ryuu replied, grabbing some toast from the counter.
"Classes start back today," Kaminari said, somehow having successfully stolen a pancake. "I think Aizawa-sensei will go easy on us after everything?"
"Absolutely not," Jirou said flatly.
And she was right.
---Classroom 3-A, 8:30 AM
Aizawa stood at the front of the class, looking even more exhausted than usual. Dark circles under his eyes suggested he'd gotten maybe two hours of sleep. The capture weapon around his neck seemed heavier somehow.
"Settle down," he said, and the chattering immediately stopped. "I know last week was difficult. The attack at the research facility resulted in significant injuries to several students, and we're all still processing what happened."
His tired eyes swept across the room, lingering briefly on Midoriya's healing arms, Mina's bandaged hands, the various other visible injuries.
"UA's security protocols have been completely overhauled," Aizawa continued. "We now have additional pro heroes stationed on campus at all times, upgraded surveillance systems, and new emergency response procedures. Your safety is our priority."
Ryuu noticed Momo taking detailed notes, her expression serious and focused.
"That said," Aizawa's tone shifted slightly, "the school board and I have decided that the Cultural Festival will proceed as planned. This Friday."
Protests erupted.
"Sensei, is that really safe?" Iida asked, hand raised despite already speaking.
"What if there's another attack?" Ochaco added, worry clear in her voice.
Aizawa raised his hand for silence. "The festival will be heavily monitored. We considered canceling, but after extensive consultation with Principal Nezu, several pro heroes, and trauma counselors, we agreed that students needed something positive to focus on."
He paused, letting his words sink in.
"You've all been through significant trauma. Giving you a chance to work together on something constructive, to remind yourselves why you're training to become heroes, to create something joyful instead of dwelling on fear...that's important for your mental health and development as heroes."
Ryuu also had similar thought. They needed this. Something normal. Something hopeful.
"So," Aizawa concluded, "you have four days to prepare. Festival committee formation starts now. Try not to destroy anything." He pulled out his sleeping bag. "I'll be monitoring from here. Wake me if there's actual bloodshed."
He crawled into the sleeping bag and was snoring within seconds.
The class stared at their teacher's yellow cocoon for a moment, then chaos erupted.
---
"COMBAT DEMONSTRATION!" Bakugo announced, slamming his hands on his desk. "We'll show these extras what real heroes look like!"
"That's so violent, Bakugo!" Mina called out, twirling in her seat. "What about a dance performance? Something fun and uplifting!"
"A musical showcase would be more sophisticated," Momo suggested, already pulling out a notebook with color-coded tabs. "We could demonstrate our artistic talents alongside our heroic abilities."
"What about food?" Ochaco raised her hand enthusiastically. "Something accessible to everyone! Not everyone wants to see explosions."
"HAH?! The hell did you say, Round Face?!"
"She's got a point, Bakugo," Kirishima interjected, trying to mediate. "Civilians come to festivals for fun, not to feel like they're in a war zone."
"WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON, SHITTY HAIR?!"
Then Mineta's voice cut through the chaos: "Wait, wait! I have the PERFECT idea!"
He stood on his desk, eyes gleaming. "Sexy Maid Cafe! The girls can wear cute outfits and serve—""ABSOLUTELY NOT!" came the immediate chorus from half the class.
Momo's creation quirk sparked dangerously. "Mineta-kun, if you finish that sentence—"
"You perverted grape!" Jirou extended her earphone jack threateningly.
"Mineta, that's completely inappropriate!" Iida chopped the air furiously.
"Why is that always your first suggestion for everything?!" Ochaco floated herself up in indignation.
Even Tsuyu looked annoyed. "That's objectifying, ribbit. Also gross.
"Bakugo cracked his knuckles. "I'll blow you to hell, you tiny pervert!"
Mineta deflated under the collective glare of his classmates. "It was just a suggestion..."
'Some things never change,' Ryuu thought, watching the friendly argument unfold. 'And honestly? I'm grateful for that. This is normal. This is what we were fighting to protect.'
""Moving on from Mineta's terrible ideas," Mina said with a grin, "what about combining everything? Food, performances, and activities?"
"That could work," Momo mused, already making notes. "Multiple stations with different appeals..."
"Oi, Resonance."
He turned to find Jirou leaning against his desk, arms crossed in her typical defensive posture. Her expression was neutral.
"Yeah?"
"The music showcase idea...if we go that route, we'll need a proper sound system. You're pretty good with technical stuff, right?" She looked away, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "Could use your help setting it up."
"Sure," Ryuu agreed easily. "I'd be happy to help."
"Cool. Don't make it weird." She walked back to her seat quickly, but he caught the small smile on her face.
"Ryuu!" Ochaco bounced over, bringing the scent of strawberries with her. "If we do a food booth, could you help with the design? I want to make sure we can serve lots of people efficiently, and you're really good at organizing stuff!"
Before he could answer, Tsuyu appeared beside Ochaco. "We should also consider accessibility, ribbit. Wheelchair ramps, clear signage, sensory-friendly quiet spaces. Would you help coordinate that?"
"I—yeah, of course," Ryuu said, slightly overwhelmed by the sudden attention. "I can help with all of that."
"Excellent!" Momo appeared with her color-coded notebook, already making lists. "Then we'll need to form subcommittees. Food service, performance coordination, accessibility and safety, technical setup..."
Across the room, Mina caught Ryuu's eye and gave him a knowing smile, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. Next to her, Momo (still in organizational mode) also allowed herself a small, private smile.
'*Sigh*, I wonder what they're thinking in their heads right now' Ryuu sighed in his head.
"Alright, you damn nerds!" Bakugo's voice cut through the planning chaos. "Since you're all too scared to let me blow shit up, I'll handle the food booth. My cooking's better than any of yours anyway."
"You... you cook?" Kaminari asked, genuinely surprised.
"OF COURSE I COOK! You think I survived this long eating your garbage?! I'll make food so good these civilians will cry!"
"That's actually really sweet, Bakugo," Mina said with a grin.
"SHUT UP, RACCOON EYES!"
Despite the yelling, Ryuu noticed Bakugo was actually smiling slightly. Or maybe it was just his normal angry expression. Hard to tell.
By lunchtime, they'd formed committees and basic plans:
- Food Booth: International cuisine featuring takoyaki (Ochaco's specialty), katsudon (Bakugo's demand), and various other dishes
- Performance Stage: Music showcase featuring Jirou's original composition, plus a dance number Mina was choreographing
- Activity Stations: Games and interactive exhibits, all with accessibility features Tsuyu insisted on
- Combat Demonstration: Heavily supervised, using the training grounds, because Bakugo wouldn't shut up about it
Ryuu found himself volunteered for multiple committees, which meant lots of collaboration time with various classmates.
---
**Cafeteria, Lunch**
Ryuu sat with Mina, Momo, Kirishima, and Kaminari at their usual table.
"So," Mina said, stabbing her rice with unnecessary force, "how's your quirk feeling? Any improvement?"
"It's getting better" Ryuu estimated. "I can already sense emotions of a person, but it's vague. And i can't amplify anything yet without serious concentration, and even then it's weak."
"That's still better than nothing though," Momo pointed out practically. "Linear improvement suggests full recovery within another week, possibly sooner with proper rest."
"You sound like Recovery Girl," Kaminari teased.
"Thank you, I'll take that as a compliment."
"Oh, Ryuu!" Ochaco appeared at their table, balancing a tray loaded with more food than seemed physically possible for someone her size. "Can we meet tomorrow after classes? I want to go over the takoyaki station layout."
"Sure. Library good for you?"
"Perfect!" She smiled brightly. "See you then!"
As she bounced away, Mina leaned over conspiratorially. "She's really sweet, isn't she?"
"Mina," Ryuu warned.
"What? I'm just saying!" She grinned innocently. "Also, Tsuyu asked me to ask you if Wednesday works for accessibility planning."
"You two are not subtle," Ryuu muttered, but he was smiling.
"Subtlety is overrated," Momo said primly, though her eyes sparkled with mischief.
Kirishima looked between them, confused. "Am I missing something?"
"Nope!" Mina and Momo said simultaneously.
---1:00 PM - Aizawa's Office
Ryuu knocked on the door, exactly on time for his meeting.
"Come in."
Aizawa's office was surprisingly organized...papers in neat stacks, books alphabetized, even his sleeping bag folded in the corner.
The teacher sat behind his desk, capture weapon set aside, looking almost human without it.
"Sit," Aizawa said, gesturing to the chair across from him. "How are you feeling? And I want the real answer, not the 'I'm fine' you tell your classmates."
Ryuu sat, considering. "Physically? Much better. Quirk's recovering slowly. Mentally..." He trailed off.
"Nightmares?"
"Some. Not as bad as the first few days."
Aizawa nodded, making a note on a tablet. "That's normal. PTSD symptoms can manifest weeks or even months after traumatic events. If they get worse, I want you to see the school counselor. That's not a suggestion."
"Understood sensei."
"Good." Aizawa set the tablet down, folding his hands on the desk. "Now, let's talk about what happened at the facility. The things that villain said about your father."
Ryuu's stomach tightened. He'd known this was coming, but that didn't make it easier.
"I don't know much more than you do," he admitted. "My father left years ago. Mom said he worked for some government research division, but she never talked about details."
"The Enhanced Research Division," Aizawa supplied. "I've been looking into it. The program was officially discontinued fifteen years ago due to ethical violations, but there are rumors it continued operating in secret."
"You think my dad was involved in something illegal?"
"I think your father was involved in something classified that powerful people wanted kept quiet." Aizawa's expression was serious but not unkind. "And I think that villain targeted you specifically because of that connection."
Ryuu's hands clenched in his lap. "What do I do?"
"For now? Nothing. Focus on your recovery and your training. The pros are handling the investigation." Aizawa leaned forward slightly. "But Ryuu...if you remember anything, any detail about your father's work, or if anyone approaches you asking questions about him, you come to me immediately. Understood?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good." Aizawa's expression softened marginally. "One more thing. I've noticed you've been spending more time with your classmates. That's good. Don't isolate yourself. Bonds with your peers are what will make you a strong hero."
Ryuu thought about Mina and Momo, about the growing friendships with Ochaco and Tsuyu and Jirou, about his study sessions with Kirishima. "I'm trying."
"Try harder." Aizawa stood, signaling the meeting's end. "And Ryuu? Your father left to protect you. Whatever he did, whatever he was involved in...keep that in mind. Not everyone who makes difficult choices is a villain."
Ryuu left the office with more questions than answers, but somehow feeling slightly better. At least someone was taking his situation seriously.
---2:00 PM - Library
The study session with Kirishima and Mina turned into a larger group effort when Kaminari showed up ("I need help with English, don't judge me"),
followed by Sero ("Kaminari can't study alone, he'll explode something"),
followed by Momo ("I happened to be here already"),
Followed by Jirou ("Someone has to make sure you idiots actually study").
They claimed a large table in the back, spreading out textbooks and notes.
"Okay, so, verb conjugations," Mina said, squinting at her English homework. "Why does English have so many weird rules?"
"Because English is what happens when three languages have a fight in an alley," Jirou muttered, not looking up from her literature essay.
Kaminari snorted, then tried to cover it with a cough when Momo glared at him.
Ryuu found himself helping Kirishima with math, showing him shortcuts for complex equations.
His friend was smart but had trouble with abstract concepts...he needed practical applications.
"So if Bakugo's explosions expand at this rate," Ryuu explained, drawing a diagram, "and he's this distance away, you can calculate exactly when you need to activate your hardening to tank the blast without taking damage."
Author's Note: I'm just saying nonsense here...
Kirishima's eyes lit up. "Oh! That actually makes sense!"
"You just needed hero context," Ryuu said with a smile.
Across the table, Momo was helping Kaminari with English while Mina and Jirou quizzed each other on history.
It was comfortable, domestic even...just friends studying together.
It felt good.
---That Evening - Common Room
After dinner, most of Class 3-A gathered in the common room for what had become an unofficial tradition: chaotic group hangout time.
Someone had suggested a movie, but they'd spent twenty minutes arguing about what to watch before giving up and just turning on a hero documentary instead.
Ryuu sat on the couch between Mina and Momo, comfortable and warm.
Across from them, Ochaco, Tsuyu, and Jirou had claimed the other couch.
Kirishima and Kaminari were sprawled on the floor with snacks.
Even Bakugo was there, arms crossed and pretending he wasn't interested in the documentary about All Might's early years.
"He was so young!" Ochaco gushed at a clip of teenage All Might. "And still so heroic!"
"He looks like a blonde Midoriya," Jirou observed.
"Don't tell Midoriya that, he'll cry from happiness," Kaminari said through a mouthful of chips.
"Where is Midoriya anyway?" Kirishima asked.
"Physical therapy," Momo answered. "His arms are healing well, but Recovery Girl wants him building strength gradually."
The conversation drifted naturally, comfortable and easy. Ryuu felt Mina's hand slip into his under the blanket they were sharing, giving a gentle squeeze. On his other side, Momo leaned slightly into his shoulder, her warmth seeping through his shirt.
"Hey, Ryuu?" Tsuyu's voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for agreeing to help with the accessibility planning. Ribbit. It means a lot that you take it seriously."
"Of course," he said. "Everyone should be able to enjoy the festival."
"That's very heroic of you," she said with a small smile.
Across the room, Bakugo snorted. "Tch. It's just basic common sense, not heroic."
"Coming from you, that's practically a love confession," Jirou teased.
"I'LL BLOW YOUR FACE OFF!"
"See? Love language."
Everyone laughed, even Bakugo (though he tried to hide it behind aggressive grumbling).
As the evening wore on, people gradually drifted to bed. Eventually, only Ryuu, Mina, and Momo remained, the documentary playing softly in the background.
"Today was good," Mina said quietly, her head on Ryuu's shoulder.
"It was," Momo agreed from his other side. "It felt... normal."
"Yeah," Ryuu said, wrapping an arm around each of them. "Normal is good."
They sat there in comfortable silence, just being together.