The next day I woke up to a few text messages from Kaminari, Jiro, Midoriya, Kirishima and a few unknown numbers who were all claiming to be various classmates of mine.

They were all asking if I was okay.

Of course, I wasn't.

But they didn't need to know that.

I glanced at the time, and it was barely ten o'clock. As crazy as it sounded, I wanted to go to school.

While I was told to take as much time off as I wanted, there was nothing else to do than wallow in my own misery, waiting for Akki to wake up. I would've spent all day analysing my entire life, trying to figure out the lies from the truth, and that would've killed me.

I liked going to school. While it was all new, and I still wasn't used to sitting quietly for ages listening to the teacher ramble on about who knows what, I still really enjoyed myself. Also, I didn't know how long all these good times would last so I just thought I should enjoy it until the end.

Honestly, it was a good distraction. I'm sure everyone can somewhat cheer me up a little without even knowing what happened. I can already see Kaminari pulling a dumb stunt to make me laugh.

Tomomi was heavily against it, insisting that I at least take one day off. "School? School?!"

I scoffed, "Stop being dramatic because Izaya onii-chan isn't giving you any attention."

She ignored the snarky comment.

"How about you spend another day relaxing? You know? Your favourite thing to do? I could try and paint your nails with my eyes closed."

I groaned, "I can't stand the idea of being at home right now! Where's Kousuke?"

She had nothing to say to that but had a huge smirk plastered on her face. "He's left for work now with a huge handover."

I shook my head, "I guess it was a rough night, I can't blame him. I also need to let Aizawa know how mad I am at him by glaring at him then refusing to talk to him."

"That's awfully petty and childish."

"I'm still a child after all." I stubbornly responded, getting mad thinking back on all the times they would pat my head and tell me 'this is adult stuff', or something like that.

She groaned, "Okay. I understand. If I don't pick you up today, then just walk home."

I was used to this. Lately, they had less and less time for me, but more and more lies.

"If you feel like coming home, just do it."

I nodded my head.

~~~

Kousuke's sister died when she was young.

He would love to sing and sing and sing praises about her, with a weird sort of complicated expression on his face. I tried really hard to imagine a younger, female version of Kousuke with a smile on her face and a look of innocence. No matter how hard I tried, she didn't seem real to me. I couldn't empathise and she was a foreign concept I had no interest in learning about.

I guess I shouldn't be too down. At least Akki was alive and kicking, unlike Akira.

Yeah, that's right. There is nothing to be truly sad about. If I believed that he was going to be okay, then I would be completely fine right now.

I got to school quicker than I thought, just in time for Period 4 to start at 11:40.

Still, I was a little early and I didn't think there was a point in going into a lesson that was about to end, so I just sat against the wall, trying to calm down and get in the mood to socialise.

What kind of face should I make when I walk in?

Should I smile? Should I pretend like it wasn't that big of a deal? Should I just be casual about it?

I'm not sure how to do anything of those things.

I'm sure they didn't even expect me to come in today, so they'll be shocked, right? After that, I don't know what to do or say. Now, I'm starting to doubt myself. I don't even think I know everyone that well, so I can't decide how they would react.

I lost a lot, but I still had a lot left.

I've started having this ridiculous, reoccurring thought: if I were to get a tattoo of that black star, where would it go?

The moment the thought popped into my head, I wanted to laugh at how ironic it was. I keep on telling myself that I have to take the initiative and do something to remember, but like the hypocrite we all are, here I am moping about something I didn't even lose.

I was hugging my knees to my chest with my arms crossed, sitting on top of them. Closing my eyes, I rested my cheek on my arms, ignoring the strange looks I got from people. Oh God, lesson was about to end.

What do I do?

I was supposed to be thinking about what to do, but I got distracted.

Just as I was about to open the door, someone else did on the other side.

A stunned Iida began to blink, "Sakata-san?"

My lips parted as if I was going to say something but I didn't know what to say. Now that I could see his wide eyes staring back at me, a part of me did regret rejecting Tomomi's offer.

"Sakata!"

I almost fell onto the floor as Kirishima enveloped me into a huge bear hug, lifting me off my feet, "K-Kirishima?!"

He was laughing like nothing was wrong.

I gripped onto his shoulders, "P-Please let me down!"

As soon as I was back on my feet, I was instantly bombarded with expressions of worry, joy, happiness and relief.

"Are you okay?"

Oh God, there it is.

I tried to smile and patted Denki's head, as he was attached to my arm like a baby sugar glider. "Everything is okay, sorry if I worried you all."

Midoriya looked like he so desperately wanted to ask me more, but didn't want to step over boundaries. That's the best thing to do, right? Be casual about it. Okay.

"My dad collapsed at work and had to be taken to the hospital, but he's okay."

I wanted to laugh. I mean, technically I didn't lie.

Uraraka looked like she wanted to cry on my behalf, "Are you really okay? You could always take the day off, you know."

"Your dad," Jiro started. "He's not that bad so he'll be out soon enough?"

He had broken ribs, broken left arm, his left hand was messed up pretty bad and even had nerve damage, bruises, a lot of internal bleeding, a lot of open wounds, a cut that had an infection, wheezy breaths, first and second-degree burns, fractured both legs, but thankfully and miraculously, no brain damage.

I shrugged, "Well, I don't understand the doctor talk, but they said he'll be okay after his recovery."

They also said that his left hand may never regain the motion it used to have before and he will have to go through a lot of physical therapy so in that sense, yes he will be okay after his long and lengthy recovery. He may never be the same, but he'll be okay. He has to be, he's all I have left.

I won't let him not be himself.

I started talking before anyone else could, "Where are you all going? Period 4 is about to start."

Mina laughed, "Ahhhh, yesterday we did a science experiment and wanted to go check up on it!"

"A science experiment?"

"This was after you...." Her face fell as she realised what she was about to say.

"B-But it's okay!" Midoriya gushed, "We can always check another time!"

Basically, the rest of the day went like that. I would get looks of pity and sympathy, and everyone would watch what they were saying so they wouldn't upset me.

Aizawa tried multiple times to try and talk to me, but I dismissed them like he dismissed me when he was alive and well and again when he knew about Akki beforehand.

There were a few more notable things that happened today.

Bakugou ruffled my hair.

Tsukiyama was apparently back at school and began to discreetly avoid me like how Aizawa avoided calling me to tell me he was okay.

At lunch, I got given extra food because my father was half dead at the hospital.

The guidance counsellor, Inui Ryou, came to see me during Period 4 modern literature and told me to come and see him if I ever needed someone to talk to.

Midoriya- Ah, Izuku I meant. That's right, we were calling each other by our names now.

Sakata.

Sakata Akito and his adoptive daughter, Sakata Ryuuko.

Izuku kept on trying to talk to me and engage in conversation, yet he looked scared that he was going to say something wrong the entire time. While I appreciated his intentions, it was more exhausting than talking normally. It was like everyone was constantly walking on eggshells, myself included.

I guess there was no avoiding any of thing happening.

If I had taken the day off and come on tomorrow instead, nothing would change. Maybe they would be more worried because I was away longer, so it was a good idea to come in today.

I almost forgot.

Todoroki caught me on my way and told me to take care of myself. He looked like he wanted to say more, but he never did.

That made me think about the park bench.

"The sports festival?"

"Yup!" Denki grinned, "Basically, it's this huge tournament kind of thing where you try and show off so Pro Heroes want you for an internship!"

"Dumbass, that was such an awful explanation." Kyoya hissed, "But he's not exactly wrong."

"Make up your mind!" Sero grinned.

"The UA sports festival is a huge event," Kyoya began to explain, looking a little more serious than normal. "It's one of the biggest events, where the whole nation will be watching us, including the Pro Heroes."

"SHITTY HIAR, GET OFF MY FUCKING BACK."

"You're just too slow!"

"A-Anyway, so it's really important for you to show off as much as possible, and try and do as best as you can. If you have time, you can always watch past festivals to get an idea of what it's like."

We'll be the centre of attention, huh.

All Might wasn't in for our hero lesson today, so Midnight was our supply. We changed into our PE uniform and she told us to 'run until we drop' and then proceeded to take a nap in the shade.

I liked it. Running, I mean, but no one else seemed to agree with me.

"S-Sakata! H-How are you still going?" Sero groaned.

"I haven't even run that much though?"

Bakugou took a slightly different approach.

"I WON'T LOSE TO SOMEONE LIKE YOU!"

He began to sprint, trying to gain as much distance as possible. Naive boy didn't even know who he was going up against.

He used up all his energy at the beginning, sprinting as fast as he could as I jogged a little further behind. Then, he began to get tired and spew more insults and threats as his stamina was running out.

"I'll kill you!"

"I'll be number one!"

"You think someone like you can fucking beat me?"

"Of course, I'm the best!"

"Don't get cocky, you animal!"

He collapsed, staring at the sky. I jogged back and looked down at him, a huge smirk spreading wide across my face, "It seems that someone bit off more than they could chew."

"That's what you get!" Denki screamed.

He was walking along the track with Kirishima and a few others, minding his own business when Bakugou and I came speeding behind him, Bakugou screaming at the top of his lungs as if his future counted on it.

"MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!"

Before shoving him out of the way.

However, as soon as Bakugou sat up to glare at him, he immediately took it all back, "E-Eeek! I-I'm sorry!"

That's right, I can't be like Denki.

Maybe I should start to take a little out of Bakugou.

~~~

F's in the chat for Denki.

LOL HIS SISTER DEAD. DEAD AS HELL FR FR I shouldn't be laughing I'm so sorry this isn't funny

This chapter was kinda cute in comparison to the last one right hehe

Please forgive me :D