Gorgeous inktober sketch by Cantrona on deviantARt / instagram. 

Happy New Year!

Trigger Warning: Nihilist thoughts, old trauma.

Here are some fluffy scenes, and wholesome friendships.

◟(◕◡◕❀)

When the bell rung to signify the end of the school day the next day, I stood up from my desk, grabbed my bubblegum pink backpack, and hurried over to Ochaco. I adjusted my backpack to sit more squarely on my back while I greeted the adorable girl with a bright smile. "Ready to see Shishō about the scholarship?"

Ochaco gave a short nod, a fiery light in her eyes, but a nervous smile on her face. She was clearly determined, but equally nervous. My smile softened and I patted her on the shoulder encouragingly. "It's okay, Ocha-chan, Shishō is actually very nice."

Ochaco's smile stretched a bit more and she stood up from her desk. "Okay, let's do this!"

I offered her my arm and she took it after a moment. I then guided her to Nezu's office, and the receptionist let us in with a knowing smile.

Upon entering the large office decked in U.A. colors, Nezu glanced up from his work on his desk and waved at me cheerfully. "Good afternoon, Kiyo-chan! Is this the friend you messaged me about?"

"Yes, Shishō," I answered, releasing Ochaco's arm and hurrying over to Nezu's desk. "She would like a scholarship."

Nezu nodded in response. "Ah. Uraraka-san, may I ask why you would like a scholarship?"

I headed over to the electric stove top in the corner, grabbing Nezu's favorite large tea kettle and filling it up with water from the nearby sink. Then I placed it over the stove top, cranking it to high.

"M-My parents," Ochaco stammered out. "They work hard, but our business isn't doing very well. The whole reason I-I want to be a hero is so I can take care of them, and while Papa said that they can afford the tuition—"

I couldn't resist turning around and looking at Ochaco in surprise. Her reasoning for wanting a scholarship was practically the same as my own, and the fact that she would take that extra step to ease the burden on her family instantly made me more affectionate towards her.

'I wonder if she would be interested in a job?' I thought. 'The café is still growing and I know Sayako-chan has been meaning to hire a couple more part timers.'

"I see, I see," Nezu responded. "Well, I certainly won't turn away anyone who wants to try for a scholarship. The scholarship will only be applied for next term, after summer break, if you pass all the tests. In addition, your grades will have to remain in the top percentage. Failure to keep that throughout the semester will result in you having to retake another, harder, exam for the next semester."

Ochaco gave a nod of understanding. "How soon can I take the test?"

"Next Friday come to my office. We will take the written exam first, followed by the practical exam afterwards. Kiyo-chan, while I'm sure you would love to help out your classmate I must insist that Uraraka-san studies for this on her own. The scholarship is individual base, after all."

My lips tugged down in a frown and I shot Nezu a look of distaste at that. Nezu only chuckled in response.

"That being said," Nezu continued, "I won't leave you entirely on your own. Tomorrow Aizawa-san will have a study guide for you. I sincerely wish you happy studying."

Ochaco bowed. "Thank you very much!"

I took the hot kettle off the stove top and placed some lemon tea cake loose leaves in the holder before I placed it on Nezu's desk. "Ocha-chan?"

She straightened back up and turned towards me. "Yes?"

"Would you be interested in a part time job?" I asked her. "I took a scholarship for similar reasons as your own, and I took a job so I could buy my own clothes, supplies, and whatnot. Baba and Papa are retired, you see, so my family isn't, ah, financially blessed, I guess? Anyway, the café I work at is expanding again and the manager wants us to bring in more part timers. It's near the academy, so you can head there after school no problem."

Ochaco's eyes were wide. "Do you think that would be okay? I mean yes! Yes, please."

I beamed at her. "Great, want to head there now?"

"I-I'm not dressed for an interview, I think? I mean, um—"

"You're fine," Nezu and I said at the same time. I continued, "It's a very easy going work environment, and you won't be the only high schooler there. C'mon, I'll take you there now."

"Thank you," Ochaco breathed out, her eyes wide. "Wait, let me call my parents to let them know!"

Nezu poured himself some tea. "Have a safe trip over there, girls. Kiyo-chan, don't forget to submit your homework to me tomorrow."

"I won't," I promised him.

◟(◕◡◕❀)

Sayako, unsurprisingly, was instantly taken with Ochaco and hired her to work Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings, and Sunday mornings. Ochaco was so happy about the outcome she hugged me tightly and repeatedly thanked me. I insisted it wasn't necessary, but she wouldn't hear of it.

Afterwards I teleported over to Katsuki's home to check in on him. While I left him last night in a much better mood than he was in during class, he still didn't talk much today. Katsuki was in the kitchen making dinner when I appeared in front of him.

He snorted upon seeing me. "What the fuck do you want?"

"Wondering if you need another spar," I answered honestly.

"Isn't your shoulder stiff from yesterday?" Katsuki retorted. "Rest tonight, dumbass."

"I'll be fine if you need an ass kicking," I told him firmly.

He threw his spatula at me. "Go home and die, bubblegum."

I caught the spatula and handed it back to him, pleased to see him in a relatively good mood. Bubblegum was the nicest nickname he had for me. Maybe he didn't talk much in class because he was tired from last night, too?

He was, after all, correct. My entire body was stiff and sore from our brutal spar last night, and I knew I hit him hard enough to leave bruises.

Satisfied my friend wasn't in a horrible mood, I took my bow. "I'll head home, then. Lunch today was great, by the way."

"It was fucking fantastic, not great," he spat out right before I teleported away.

◟(◕◡◕❀)

I sat at my desk before school, looking over Shōto's self-appointed logic homework. He had circled some problems throughout the notebook that he wanted my second opinion on. My friend watched me work with half-lidded eyes, his head propped up by his right hand. Shōto had taken over the window seat on my left in the furthest back row. Since I always wanted to sit beside my dearest friend I sat to his immediate right.

To my surprise, though, Ochaco pointedly took the seat to my own right with a bright smile on her face. I looked up from reviewing his work at her. "I'm going to sit here from now on, okay?"

"Sounds like a plan," I responded, beaming at her. "Aizawa-sensei is going to give you the study guide today, right?"

Ochaco beamed. "Yep!"

"I have some textbooks you can borrow this weekend to study," I offered her. "I may not be able to help you study, but Bocchan and I have made good notes on them."

"That would be really great, thanks," Ochaco answered, then let out a small giggle. "Hard to imagine Bakugou-kun taking good notes, though."

"He's actually very studious," I told her. "And a great cook."

"Not better than you," Shōto immediately responded loyally.

I waved my hand dismissively, not agreeing or disagreeing.

Speaking of the devil, Katsuki meandered into the classroom and headed straight towards my desk. He plopped down a bento with a bright pink wrapping and a little red bow on top. I stared incredulously at the overly feminine bento box and looked up at Katsuki questioningly.

"Kaa-chan," he bit out, "wanted to decorate it for you."

"Oh," I let out a small giggle at Katsuki's disgusted look. "Tell her I said it's very cute. Thanks for the lunch, Bocchan!"

Sheer annoyance radiated off my friend and he snorted and stomped over to his desk a few rows in front of us.

"How come he makes you lunch every day?" Ochaco asked. "Are you—you know?"

Shōto let out a rather big snort and abruptly looked towards the window.

I also couldn't resist letting out a snort at that, too. "No. He lost a wager a year ago and has to bring me lunch every day for the first month of school."

"Oh, wow."

"He hates it, which makes victory all the sweeter," I hummed, glancing back over at Shōto and giving him a wink.

He reached over and flicked my nose. "All the more reason to never wager against you. If she ever proposes a wager, no matter how unlikely it seems she'll win, don't take it, Uraraka-san."

"Five so far have fallen victim to my cunning plans," I confessed with a cackle. "I'll get you to accept my wager one day, Sho-chan. I'll get you into that cat costume if it's the last thing I do!"

"You will never get me to wear that thing," Shōto disagreed.

Ochaco smiled evilly. "I bet you would look cute as a kitty cat, Todoroki-kun!"

"Cute or not, I'm not wearing it," he said stubbornly.

Izuku entered the classroom, a small smile on his face and a hum on his lips. He headed towards us, surprised that Ochaco took his usual seat. He blushed as he greeted her, taking a seat in front of me instead. "Good morning."

"Good morning," Ochaco and I greeted him enthusiastically. My fellow optimist added, "What do you think we'll be doing today?"

"Wh-Who can say?" Izuku shrugged off his backpack, placing it on the hook beside the desk. "Ah, did anyone else get mobbed by reporters on the way to school?"

"You, too?!" Ochaco exclaimed. "It's crazy out there."

I cocked my head at that. "Reporters?"

"You're lucky you can teleport straight to school, Kiyo-chan," Ochaco told me. "Last night there was a big news report about how All Might is a teacher here."

"The media is in a frenzy about it," Shōto explained.

I scratched my cheek. "Huh. I don't really have time to watch T.V., shame I missed it."

"Well you should be careful," Izuku commented. "If they found out you're the principal's, ah, apprentice, they might mob you."

Shōto frowned at that. "They wouldn't really harass her, would they?"

"I'd just teleport out of there if need be," I dismissed. "I feel bad for Shishō now, though. He's never been a fan of addressing the press. I'll have to stop by today to check on him."

"You don't work tonight?" Shōto inquired. "I thought you worked every Friday."

"Sayako-chan wanted me to switch my shifts around, so I work Sundays through Wednesdays now," I explained to my friend. Ochaco's eyes lit up at that, as it mirrored her own schedule. "That way I can work with my classmate, and enjoy Friday nights as 'normal highschool girls do.'"

Aizawa came into the classroom, and we immediately turned our attention to the front. Shōto took back his self-appointed logic homework and neatly put it away in his backpack.

Aizawa plopped down a stack of papers on top of the podium at the front of the classroom. "Good work on Wednesday's combat training. I saw the video and results. Bakugō, you're talented, so don't act like a kid."

Katsuki grimaced. "I know."

"And Midoriya, you settled it by breaking your arm again, huh?" Izuku winced and bowed his head. "You can't keep saying you can't help it because you can't control your Quirk. I don't like repeating myself. As long as you fix the control issue, there's a lot you'll be able to do. Feel a sense of urgency, Midoriya."

"Yes, sir!"

Continuing in his lazy drawl Aizawa said, "Now let's get down to homeroom business. Sorry about the late notice, but today I'll have you decide on a classroom representative."

For some reason I felt like the entire class let out a sigh of relief at that, and I cocked my head.

There was a sudden shout as the red haired—ah, wait, his name was Eijirō—leapt up onto his desk. "I want to be class rep, pick me! Pick me!"

"Me, too!" Denki added.

The entire class erupted into excited shouts and exclamations of everyone shouting they wanted to be it. I watched the whole thing in bewilderment.

"Wow, is it really such a great thing?" I asked in surprise. "What does a rep even do?"

"Oh, yeah, you've never been to school." Izuku gave me a sheepish smile. "Normally only one or two would want to be a representative, but I think everyone wants to stand out here."

"You would probably have fun as the rep," Shōto told me. "You're charismatic, and I'm sure Nezu-san would be proud if you stepped up."

I gasped, my choice made.

"Silence, please! We should conduct a vote," Tenya suggested loudly, his back straight and his hand raised up high. "It is a job with the serious responsibility of leading others. It is not a job for just anyone who wants to do it. It is a calling that requires the trust of those around you. If we want to use democracy to decide on a true leader, then we should hold an election to choose one."

"It's a good idea," Tsuyu said. "We haven't known each other for so long, so the person who is able to convince others to vote for them is the ideal leader."

There were murmurs of agreement throughout the classroom, and my eyes widened with realization.

With great bravado I leapt straight onto of my desk and declared with all my might, "VOTE FOR ME AND GET FREE HUGS."

The purple-haired boy, Mineta, if I remembered correctly, leapt up at me with all his might, tears in his eyes. "YOU HAVE MY VOTE, PLEASE LET ME HUG YOU."

I embraced the small boy in my arms, hugging him tightly and smirking at Katsuki. "Bocchan, if I'm chosen, I'll reduce your punishment to only Monday next week."

Katsuki stood up from his seat, slamming his palms on his desk, eyes dark. "Vote for fucking Bubblegum, you pieces of shit."

I let out a whoop, punching the air with my right fist, and then beginning the process of pulling Mineta off me.

"Ah, so she can control Bakugō...?"

"Might be useful as a class rep..."

"Shut up," Katsuki snarled at some of our classmates.

Shōto stood up from his chair and helped me pry Mineta off my chest, tossing the boy across the room in a less than friendly manner.

"I'll pick you," Ochaco told me with a kind smile. "Waitresses have to stick together!"

I laughed at that. "Oh, you're going to look so cute as a maid."

She turned a little pink at that, rubbing the back of her head. Izuku's eyes bulged. "Wait, maid? Uraraka-san, d-do you work at the maid café with Kiyo-chan now?"

Ochaco beamed. "Yeah! Kiyo-chan got me a job for it yesterday."

Izuku's face was redder than a tomatoes and he promptly buried his head in his arms. Shōto, surprisingly, was giving him a look of sympathy. He even went so far as to gently pat Izuku on the back.

"Let's conduct the vote!"

By the end of the vote I had six votes, but everyone else had either one or zero, so there was no clear winner for deputy representative. The class decided to vote again, but this time without me as an option for them to decide on who would be the deputy.

I thought Tenya would make the best choice, and Izuku and Ochaco agreed with me. He was the one to propose the voting, after all, and he was clearly a passionate individual when it came to school.

Unsurprisingly everyone else voted for themselves again, so Tenya won the deputy selection without much fuss.

The two of us headed up to the front of the class room and stood side by side. I grinned brightly at Tenya. "Let's work well together, okay, Tenya-kun?"

"Right," Tenya agreed, his posture straight as a board, but a pleased smile on his face.

"Okay," Aizawa murmured, handing us each a piece of paper. "Fill out the forms and submit them back to me before the end of the day. Kiyo-chan, don't draw on them this time."

"I won't draw you as a cactus again," I lied.

"Mm-hmm."

◟(◕◡◕❀)

Come lunch time I sat beside Shōto and began to eat Katsuki's delicious homemade food. Shōto blatantly stole some of my deviled eggs, plopping them in his mouth like a chipmunk. I giggled at how cute he looked and stole bits of pork off his school ramen.

Izuku, Tenya, and Ochaco joined us shortly after. Tenya gave me a curt nod. "I think it would be prudent for us to start sitting together."

"More the merrier," I told him, reaching over and grabbing some of Izuku's spinach. "Bocchan never puts veggies in this."

In return, Izuku took an octodog. "He's almost as good as his dad when it comes to cooking."

Ochaco frowned. "Is it really so great?" I offered her a roll, and she nibbled on it before wolfing it down. "Sweet strawberries, that's delicious."

I inwardly winced at the word strawberries, instantly reminded of my biological mother and her Quirk. I reached for my milk tea and chugged the rest of it down to wash the sour taste from my mouth that I always got when I thought of her.

It wasn't like I hated my mother for what she did to me. Abandonment didn't bother me as much as it should have.

I had Baba and Papa, and a whole community that I viewed as family. Not having a biological mother around didn't phase me in the slightest. She wouldn't even be on my mind at all if it weren't for the chance I inherited her Quirk. It was a real possibility, and a dangerous one at that, so I couldn't ignore it. I religiously stayed away from strawberries, citing allergy, because I had to play it on the safe side.

Anytime they were mentioned, though, I always thought of her and her Quirk.

Ochaco reached over and picked off another roll, and I took some of her potatoes. Shōto tried to sneak off with the last deviled egg, but I swatted his hand away. The look of betrayal on his face was almost convincing enough for me to let him have it, but I wouldn't be fooled again so easily.

I ate the last deviled egg, savoring it. Shōto flicked my nose, which made me laugh.

Suddenly an alarm rang through the building, and I leapt up from my seat beside Shōto. "An intruder?"

"What's going on?" Ochaco asked, concerned.

"Shishō said that only intruders would trip this alarm," I trailed off, before I pulled out my wand. Bubbles formed around three of the exits, stopping students from rushing through them; although most were still in their seats and looking around in bewilderment. I stood on top of our table and shouted out, "FIRST YEARS: THIS ALARM MEANS AN INTRUDER HAS INVADED. KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS SCHOOL IS FILLED WITH PROFESSIONAL HEROES, INCLUDING ALL MIGHT. DO NOT BE SCARED."

I had to take a deep breath after all that yelling, but at my mention of All Might, many of the students immediately started to calm down. Then I took another deep breath and finished, "CLASS REPS OF EACH CLASS, PLEASE GUIDE YOUR CLASSES TO THE DESIGNATED EVACUATION ZONE."

I then summoned another big pink bubble above my head. "CLASS 1A, THIS WAY." With a smile, I lowered my voice and turned to Tenya, "Do you think you could round up any missing members? There could be some in the bathroom. Don't take unnecessary, risks, though."

Tenya surged up from his seat with a salute. "On it. Where is the evacuation zone?"

"The central gymnasium by the main library," I told him.

Tenya gave a nod before he hurried off.

I noticed a few other students standing on top of their own tables and shouting for their respective classes. Our own class, 1A, slowly headed towards me. I did a headcount, noting that three of them were still missing—including Tenya. I waited a couple more minutes before I decided to lead the class to the evacuation zone. When everyone was safe, I would hunt down the missing members.

The entire ordeal was still a bit chaotic, but it wasn't too bad, all things considered. The class reps were able to keep their respective classes under control and guided everyone to the gymnasium.

I was pleasantly surprised to find Tenya already there with the missing members. I gave him a thumbs-up.

The classes remained in the gymnasium for about forty minutes before the teachers came and told us to resume class.

Nothing else happened for the remainder of that Friday.

◟(◕◡◕❀)

Saturday morning I sent a text to Ochaco to see if it would be okay to drop off those texts to help her study for the scholarship. Ten minutes later she responded with an enthusiastic yes and offer of breakfast.

I kissed my Baba and Papa on the cheek, and changed out of my farming clothes. My hair was a bit gritty from working on the farm since six, but I didn't want to keep Ochaco waiting so I decided to take a shower when I got back instead and hope she wouldn't mind.

My feet landed softly on the hardwood floor of a small apartment. Ochaco glanced around and gave me a cheerful wave. She was currently at the stove, dressed in shorts, a shirt, and apron, making an omelette. "Hope your hungry. Not as good as Bakugou-kun, but I make a mean breakfast."

"I'm always hungry after farm work," I told her, placing the stack of books on one of her three kitchen counters. "Your parents home?"

Ochaco shook her head. "I'm actually renting this apartment by myself. My hometown is a far from here, and it was cheaper to rent out an apartment by the school than pay for transportation back and forth."

"Oh, wow," I responded, honestly impressed. The idea of not living with my Baba and Papa unnerved me to a rather extreme degree. I felt compelled to check on them every day and make sure they were okay, and it was easiest to do that while living with them. Besides, while Baba and Papa had a truck, I was their main source of transportation. If Baba ever had another stroke I could get her to the hospital in seconds, whereas an ambulance out to the farm would take a solid half hour (simply due to most roads being too small for an ambulance to fit through, most of our neighbors biked everywhere, or used their tractors).

Not to mention I would hate to live alone. Being by myself always unsettled me because if my mind wandered for too long I would start to see those ambiguous faces from my nightmares, and hear their hissed out whispers.

They did not typically say happy things.

But, that was a disturbing thought for another day.

Ochaco pulled the omelette off the skillet and plopped onto a red plate. "Want anything to drink?"

"Milk is fine," I told her. "Thanks for the food."

"Thanks for your help," she returned, placing the plates on the floor table by a small T.V.. "Take a seat and I'll be right there. Want to watch something while we eat?"

"Sure."

Ochaco brought over a couple glasses of milk and we sat down at the table. She turned on a quiet movie and took a swig of her milk. "Anything I should be prepared for before work tomorrow?"

"Make sure you wear comfortable shoes," I told her, perfectly serious. "Sayako-chan won't make you wear heels for your first month so you can get used to everything, but after that we'll have to hunt you down some good shoes."

Ochaco's nose crinkled. "How high do the heels have to be?"

"An inch is ideal," I answered. "You can do half inches, though, if you're too uncomfortable."

"I can wear heels," Ochaco said. "Been a while, though, haha. Hope I don't break my ankle, or something."

I smiled. "I twisted my ankle every day the first week I had to wear heels. I'm sure you'll do much better. Besides, you get used to it after the first couple months, and since we're only part time we don't work for long periods of time. Most hours we'll work in one shift is five hours, unless someone's sick."

Ochaco took a big bite of her omelette. "That's a relief. The pay seemed good, too."

"It is," I confirmed. "We're paid above minimum, and we keep all of our tips."

"Any tips on customers?"

"Be nice, and smile a lot," I immediately said. "Other than that, though? Not really. If anyone gets handsy, or creeps you out, tell me or one of the other girls and we'll take care of them. We don't get a lot of creepers, but we do get some."

Ochaco understandably winced at that. "Have any of them—?"

"No," I reassured her. "One of girl's has an aura-reading Quirk. Anyone with a malicious, or ill-intent aura is immediately ejected from the café. We do have officers who frequent the café and have given rides home to some of our girls, so you can always talk to them. If you get scared, I'll walk home with you, too."

Ochaco smiled. "Thanks."

I waved my hand. "No problem."

Our conversation stayed close to the café for another half an hour before it transitioned into favorite foods/drinks, then movies, and so on. Surprisingly I ended up staying for lunch and dinner with Ochaco, as neither of us ran out of things to talk about.

She was a sweet girl with an infectiously bubbly personality that I found refreshing to be around. We found out we had a lot in common, too, and she was easy to talk to.

I was honestly reluctant to head home, but the thought of not checking in on Baba and Papa kept me from staying.

I promised I'd walk her to work tomorrow morning—as we both worked the Sunday morning shift—and I gave a quick hug before I left.

◟(◕◡◕❀)

I met Ochaco at five-thirty the next morning, dressed in a skirt and sweater. Ochaco greeted me with an energized smile and the two of us walked to work together. By six we were changed into our matching maid uniforms and opened up the café.

I was surprised to find Shōto entering the café around eight, with Izuku following shortly behind him. I brought them both their favored drinks. "I thought you had training on weekends, Sho-chan."

"Father is out of the country," Shōto answered. "Can I get breakfast, too? I haven't eaten."

"Of course. Want anything, too, Izu-chan?"

"U-U-Um," Izuku stammered out, his eyes glued to Ochaco helping a sweet family of five. "Wh-Whatever you recommend, Kiyo-chan."

A sly smirk crawled onto my face. "Mmkay. I'll have Ocha-chan bring breakfast to you, then. It's her first day, so treat her well."

"Okay," Izuku squeaked out.

Shōto glanced up at me. "Are you doing anything after work?"

"Gonna walk Ocha-chan home, then probably do some light work out," I answered. "Wanna join? It'll only be cardio today."

"Sure," Shōto agreed. "I'll have to change first, though."

"No problem," I reassured him, then headed over to the kitchen and put in their orders. I grabbed Ochaco on her way to the kitchen and gave her a wink. "Be sure to give Izu-chan and Sho-chan their breakfast, okay? I'm sure they wanna see you in your cute maid outfit."

Ochaco blushed. "Okay."

I patted her on the cheek before I headed off to take care of my other customers.

All in all it was a pretty relaxing weekend.

◟(◕◡◕❀)

I was cold. Unbearably cold. There was a heavy invisible blanket weighing down on me. It clung onto me, making my shoulders hunch over and my head bowed.

I could hear their thoughts.

I could hear their fears.

Faces stared at me. Their features blurred and unrecognizable, yet painfully familiar. Hundreds of them stared at me, watching me.

I stood in the center of the fog, faces above and below me. Nothing but faces.

The chill in the air was severe enough that it hurt to breathe. My lungs burned and the blanket continued to weigh me down. More weight seemed to pile on top of it before my knees buckled and I collapsed before all of them.

The Oldest was in front of me.

He was the first.

Yet he was not the first.

The Oldest and the Blessed were separate, yet the same.

It started with the Blessed.

But the Oldest was the first life.

Blessed was the one that started remembering. She was the start of the cycle.

She was behind me, always behind me.

Everyone else, even I, were merely afterthoughts to them. Faces to be added.

I was only a face to be added.

I was essentially worthless; the absolute uselessness I contributed to the cycle was paramount. Unquestionable.

I would never be the smartest.

Never the strongest.

Never the quickest.

Never the wisest.

Never the kindest.

Never the evilest.

Never, ever, amounting to anything in comparison to them.

My life was meaningless.

I was meaningless.

If I died, I would only be another face added.

"Then what," I asked aloud to the faces, "is the point of my existence?"

"To live," the Blessed said, her green eyes gentle.

"Why?"

"That is something you will have to find out on your own," the Oldest said softly. "Every life is different. Every choice you make, every experience you feel defines you. You are Kiyomi."

My gaze drifted over to some of the ambiguous faces. "What if I don't find out?"

"You already know your reason to live, Kiyomi," the Blessed murmured to me, gently cupping my cheeks. "Your life is a precious thing, never to be wasted. Know that you are loved by us, and by those around you."

"We will always watch over you," the Oldest one told me, and I felt their fears and thoughts start to deafen. "No matter how cruel life can be, no matter how horrible it can get, know that you will never be alone."

"Because I have you?"

"Because you have you."

◟(◕◡◕❀)

I awoke from my dream with a shiver, goosebumps crawling up and down my arms. I banished away those depressing thoughts, knowing they were not my own.

Useless.

Stupid.

Weak.

Alone.

The words scratched inside my head like buzzing bees. It was harder than I thought to send them away. I had to take deep calming breaths, and focus on the positive aspects of my life before they began to dull down to a quiet noise I could partially ignore.

(Traumas last lifetimes. You never get over them. You learn how to deal with them.)

I shook off their words, and got out of bed, running a hand over my face.

While every night I dreamed about the thousand faces staring at me, I didn't always wake up in such a poor mood. Sometimes the faces soothed me, and sometimes they scared me.

Sometimes, like tonight, they drained me of energy and pressed upon me like a wet blanket on a snowy night.

They were not my thoughts, though. They belonged to one of the faces' (a thought that should seem odd, but I never questioned it).

My life was my own life. I did not understand what caused the fear, the pain, or the anger, exactly, but that was okay. I didn't need to know. Whoever they were, they needed time, and love, to heal.

My purpose in life was to provide that.

I would cherish everything I could, and look for the brighter spots. I would bring as much positive thoughts, and consoling words I could to the faces, and to my friends.

I would be useful.

I would be smart.

I would be strong.

I would not be alone.

Despite thinking those words, and repeating them inside of my head, I still felt the cold tendrils of those unsettling thoughts in the back of my mind. Simply thinking and deciding wouldn't be enough to heal such old wounds.

(But that's what friends are for.)

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It's hard to time all the events to fit into a normal weekday schedule, so I'm making it a little AU so it fits. It'd be odd if I had eight class days in a row, after all.

Answer: My archenemy would be a detective hero. :) I'm the devious thief!

Question: Who is your sidekick / minion?

Reviews are love!