Chapter 71

Everything happened quickly, from sterilising the suit to dumping it in local bins. Kokoro thought something so nerve wracking would have a long duration, but it didn't, one walk, and it was over.

Although the evidence was decimated, she couldn't help but cling onto everything that'd happened to her. The thoughts of those around her weren't entirely helpful either. Chieko said she'd noticed a change in her, and beckoned her to reveal the secret she was hiding, Kokoro didn't crack, she couldn't. One wrong move and everything she'd done could be revealed. It was terrifying.

Sneakily, the telepath strolled through the corridors of the dormitory, she'd rarely been outside her room, instead of socialising, she'd tried to bury her head in books, but now her inventory was thinning, she needed to go on a trip. So when everyone saw her for the first time in a while, thoughts went wild, centralising the mind reader.

'Hajime?'

'I thought she was on a date with Shinsou?'

'That looks like a breakup face, this could be my chance.'

"I'm going out." She informed the bunch, who were painfully aware each of the groups thoughts were being overheard.

"Huh?" Mina jumped to her feet, observing the state of the telepath. For someone who'd locked herself in her own room for a few days, she didn't look any different. Hair tossed into a messy bun, earring scattered all the way to the tips of her pointy ears, and a tote tossed over her shoulder. She looked like herself, if not better. "You going on a date?" The girl asked, presuming that the rumours were true and Kokoro had gone through a rough breakup.

"No." The telepath answered. "Hitoshi and I are still dating, who started that rumour?" She asked but then quickly discovered the culprit. "Kaminari."

Frantically, the boy waved his arms around, trying to defend himself. "Why'd you assume it was me?" He retorted, almost offended. In a simple manner, Kokoro pointed at her temples, hinting her quirk. "Oh, right. But still..."

"Then where're you going?" Mina asked again, her loudness spiked the attention of a few others, including Momo, Jiro and Sero, who were previously watches television.

"The library, I ran out of things to read." She shrugged.

"Seriously?" Mina seemed disappointed. "I sometimes forget that under all that badassery, you're a nerd." She laughed in a playful way.

"Reading helps you get smarter, maybe you should pick up a book or two, you could learn something." The green haired girl replied, trying to keep up her act of amusement, when in reality, she just wanted to blast her music and go read another book. Instead of arguing, Mina displayed her immaturity by sticking out her tongue.

"Haji, can I tag along? I need to pick up some manga for me and Roki." Sero got to his feet.

"Sure, but don't keep me waiting." She reluctantly agreed, luckily Sero wasn't as talkative as the others, he knew how to hold a conversation and knew when it was best to keep quiet. A nice combination that she enjoyed in people.

"Thanks." He ran to his dorm room. Leaving Hajime awkwardly awaiting him.

"Anyone heard from Midoriya yet?" Jiro wondered. "I figured if anyone were to know anything, it'd be you, right?" She looked towards Kokoro. She wasn't wrong, Kokoro knew exactly what his condition was and how he was feeling, but he was getting better.

"He should be back by tonight." Kokoro answered. "Just don't overwhelm him." She advised. At least if everyone was wrapped up in Midoriya's well-being, they may be able to ignore hers.

"I'm back!" Sero stumbled towards the door, wearing a jacket and quickly placing his trainers on at the doormat.

'Sero's getting alone time with her? That's uncool, he's trying to make a move!' Kaminari jumped to his own conclusion, then getting up and putting on his own shoes.

"I'll help carry the books." He decided.

"How many books do you think we'll be buying?" Hajime quirked a brow. "You know I'm stronger than you."

"Well, then I'll escort you to the library."

"You've never been before."

"Then, maybe I want a book!" His excuse was plausible; plausible enough to not have a way of counteracting. "That's right." He confirmed as he too began to place his shoes on, not bothering to get a jacket or money like Sero had. Eventually, they set off to the library.

'He's just jealous.' Sero winked towards the telepath, who simply rolled her eyes in response. 'Also, I've been meaning to ask you if you're okay, that's why I actually offered to go on this trip in the first place.' He continued, the gesture alone was kind enough for Hajime to give him a warm smile. However, the fact he knew about her change wasn't ideal.

"That's kind of you, but there's no need to worry, I suppose reading minds gives me a gateway to everyone else's problems. Sometimes they just eat at me. Nothing I can't handle though." She briefly explained to him.

"Seems tough." Sero said aloud, resulting in Kaminari spinning his head in their direction.

"You two are having a conversation without me? Lame." Kaminari complained, in a way it was refreshing for Hajime to witness something so normal, she felt like she was getting over Aya and the events that had occurred.

"Not my fault you decided to third wheel." Sero joked.

"I'm not third wheeling, you guys aren't on a date." He defended. "You guys aren't on a date, right?" Kaminari's eyes widened.

"Of course not!" Kokoro sharply answered.

"Thank god." Kaminari sighed. "I don't mind sharing with Shinsou, he's a bonus. But I am not sharing with Sero."

"I think you're misreading the situation, I'm dating Hitoshi, not you."

"We'll see about that."

"Keep dreaming buddy." The telepath argued. "By the way, I've seen your dreams. What the fuck goes on in your head?" She joked.

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After a while, the three returned from the library, Kokoro had three paperbacks in her tote, along with a few of Sero's mangas that she offered the carry. Not so surprisingly, Kaminari came back empty handed, other than the embarrassment of his dreams being revealed in front of Sero, but it wasn't his fault, Kokoro made that clear.

Upon their arrival, they were met with a sweet smell of freshly baked cake - curtesy of Sato - and a boisterous array of laughter. The telepath had told the class not to overwhelm Midoriya on his arrival, but they must've let that advise fly over them as it seemed they were all surrounding him and those doing the extra lessons for their licences.

Knowing it was inevitable, Kokoro sighed and gave Sero his manga before beginning to make her way back up to her room. But before she could do so, someone called out her name.

"Hajime." Aizawa announced, his quirk cancelled out hers, making her panic in the silence induced upon her.

"Mr Aizawa?" She acknowledged, awaiting his response for an indication of what he wanted. Given how involved she was in the Samurai investigation, she was expecting the worst.

"A word." He lead the way down another corridor and away from all the other teens. Cautiously, Hajime followed him.

"Am I in trouble." She wondered. Making Aizawa question her reasoning for jumping to such a strange conclusion.

"No. Why would you be?"

"I wouldn't." The girl shut down. "So, is there a problem?"

"You left your work study." He stated, looking at the telepath for any reaction. In all honesty, Kokoro had forgotten about that, she'd never really met the bamboo hero, all her time was spent with Aya, since she was gone, there was no need to continue her work study.

"Yeah, I figured I didn't like that style of heroing. I'd much prefer to be underground, out of the spotlight and stuff." She lied, luckily, Aizawa showed signs of believing it.

"Shinsou mentioned you were down in the dumps, Chieko said you were acting off too." He informed her. "Is this what happens when you lose a job? If that's the case then you should work on your resolve." Hajime didn't meet his gaze, what he said wasn't exactly wrong, but it wasn't exactly true either. Regardless, she accepted his words and took them to heart. "It's only rational to build that resolve back up. You could make a promising hero if you get your act together."

"Get my act together?" Kokoro quirked a brow.

"You're a logical thinker, but you don't always act very heroic." The teacher replied. "So, you'll do your work study with me, and help me train Shinsou too. I'm an underground hero and our quirks are more similar than yours and Hawks for example."

"You're offering me a work study?" The girl was dumbfounded. She never expected this.

"You'll notice I'm not always in school, it's because I still do hero work, which is when you'll be participating in your work study." He added on.

"But, why?" Hajime continued to ask, nothing currently made sense to her.

"You've got potential, but the decisions you've been making are setting that to waste. Hopefully this will set you back on track."

He handed her a form, which she had to sign to confirm her work study.

After reading it thoroughly. She signed it.

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Authors note

Been a while, but here's an update.

My teachers think it's fun to give out homework when I'm supposed to be revising so my updates on all stories will be slow for a good few months.

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