Chapter 4: Your my new Lab partner, Hime!

Hime woke up gasping for air once more. Her nightmares have been getting worse and worse each day. She couldn't tell if they're memories or just all in her head. She sat up from her coffin bed to take deep breaths. Adam lay in front of her out of worry. Hime pat him as a comfort. She got up ready for the day for school. She was in her room till she heard her phone yelling as her ringtone.

"Hello?"

"Ah so you do know how to used a phone!" The fimilar voice place a smile on her face.

"Hehe, hi Andrea."

"Hello Love. How are you?"

"Great, Great. School is wonderful. My teachers are um... unique."

"So Seiai Academy is everything you hope for?"

"Yep!" Hime lie.

"That's good. How are things for you and Fenrir? Are the girls lovin' on him?"

"Yeah. They find him adorable."

"See! People can be nice."

Hime: no! Not really at all.

"I just call to see if your okay. Since you never call me."

"Sorry Andrea. I got busy with school and homework. Then trying to fit in more and less."

"Okay. I miss you. It's not the same without you."

"I miss you too."

"Are you taking your vitamins? Eating properly? Sleeping right on curfew?"

"Yes, Yes, and sort of."

"Okay. I just wanted to know that your taking care of your self."

"Are you eating your vegetables?"

"What?"

"Are you eating your vegetables? Your not drinking on the job, are you? I hope your not smoking in front of your patients!"

"Oooh look at the time I got to go. Love you!"

"Andrea!"

"Bye!" Andrea hangs up on the phone on her.

Hime: I swear with her. Oh, she haven't ask me about Adam. Maybe she haven't noticed him gone yet.

Hime have already gotten ready for the day. She even send the paperwork to Aizawa's email. There was nothing for her to worry about the day, that is until she trip over something. Hime groan to look over what she trip over.

Hime:😱 A body!

She have Adam scan the body to see if that person is still alive. She have pink dreadlocks and the school uniform. She also seem to have some gadgets on.

"Hey! Are you okay? Are you alive?" Hime ask her. She grew scared out of worry for this person. "I said get up!" She slap the body numerous times.

Adam: Mei Hatsume.

2nd year in Support course class.

Her quirk Zoom.

Her body have low nutritions and lack of sleep. She's currently Dehydrated. She needs to go to the nurse off right now.

Adam look at Hime who right away place the girl on her back.

"Okay! To the nurses office!" Hime yelled. Adam try to stop her to warn her about the Extra studies class.

"Adam, sometimes there are other things more important then class. Like this girl! I can't just leave her." Hime told him. Hime drop her off in the nurse office with Ms. Recovery Girl.

"Ah! Please give her this." Hime hand her lunch box that she made. She waved at her goodbye and rush towards the gym.

A couple of hours later, Mei woke up. She yawn loudly to fight her sleep. She look around to find herself in the nurse office. She have no idea how she got here. She did feel her cheeks sting for some unknown reason. Recovery Girl check on Mei to see how she is doing.

"Ah so your awake now." Recovery Girl smile at her.

"Uuuugh, my head hurts." Mei complain.

"I thought so. You've been skipping out on your meals and sleep. Your body gave up on you." Recovery Girl told her with a scold. "You can't keep doing this to yourself Hatsume. I have already inform your teachers."

"Right. I guess I miss lunch." Mei can feel her stomach growl.

"Actually, a young girl from the hero course told me to give you this." Recovery Girl hand her a bento box. Mei look at the lunch box in her surprise. There was even a note on it.

I hope this is to your liking.

Please get better soon.

Sincerely, Hime Seifuku.

Mei open up the lunch box to see how neatly and delicious the meal looks. Octo dogs. With the side of veggies, cook tuna, and rice with dried seaweed on the side. Recovery Girl hand her a big black book that have a painting of the northern lights as a cover.

"When you feel like going back to class. Can you give this back to the girl who left you that lunch box. It seem she took this out when she was writing that note for you."

"Sure, Okay!" Mei spoke with food in her mouth. She look at the black sketchbook for a moment. She was curious what might have in it. She open up the sketchbook to her surprise. She couldn't believe what she was seeing.

"chew!" Hime cover her nose with her handkerchief.

Mina: was that a sneeze? "Cold?" Mina ask her as she dig in to her food.

"No... Someone must be talking about me." Hime look around.

"Eh, you believe in that super spacious things?" Mina tease her.

"Yes! There are things that even science can not explain." Hime look serious.

Mina try to hold in her laughter. She look at Hime to relized she didn't get her lunch.

"Huh? Why didn't you get lunch?"

"Um,.. I'm so used to pack my lunch and I um... well... I don't have any money on me right now." Hime sigh.

"Hehe, want to tase my food?" Mina ask her.

"Oh no! Don't worry about me. I'll just drink my tea." Hime hold her thermal container.

Bakugo over heard the conversation by accident. He look at Hime who seem to be fitting in with the girls. He bought a sandwich along with his curry food. He walk past them to only shove the wrap up sandwich at Hime.

"What was that for!" She grumble.

"We're even!"

"Huh?"

"I said we're even now! For the dam breakfast you seem to be making for us!"

"Language! And I don't need payment! Take it back!"

"I already bought it!"

"No one ask you to!"

"Just take the dam food!"

"Language!"

"Just take it!"

"No!"

"Take it!"

"No!"

Their classmates watch the both of them argue almost like a married couple. Then soon after everyone around them look at them along with their argument.

"Honestly, can't 2-A just shut up already. You two seem to enjoy the attention." A blonde boy pass them.

"Shut up, Asshole!"

"LANGUAGE!"

"Asshole! Asshole! Asshole!"

"LANGUAGE, LANGUAGE, LANGUAGE! Do you enjoy saying those fowl words! Tell me, do you honestly kiss your mother with those awful lips!"

"FOR THE LOVE OF... JUST EAT THE DAM SANDWICH OR I'LL SHOVE IT DOWN YOUR THROAT!"

"Hah! I like to see you try!"

They continue to argue with each other. Anyone who pass by them just look at them on how they argue. Hime just left the lunch rush, feeling her throat horsed a bit. Ugh, that jerk! Hime can feel her stomach growl. She blush hastily with embarrassment. By the time she reach to the gym, she was there early. She sat to wait. She can feel her stomach growl again. She look at the wrap sandwich that she place in her bag. I'm only eating it because it would be a waste. She took a bite of it. To her surprise, it was delicious. It was either because she was hungry or because it lunch time.

Hime came back to class from her extra studies. She look worn out and tired. Mina, who sat right in front of her turn her seat towards her.

"Geeze, What happened to you?"

"Mr. Aizawa is what happened. I don't think I can keep up with him. His teaching skills are kinda scary."

"Heheheh, you'll get used to it." Mina smile at her.

"I hope so. But I'm more worried about the guy who have that extra studies with me. I think he loath me."

"Awww, don't worry. I'm sure it's a big misunderstanding. Like with us, remember."

"Hmmm. Maybe." Hime yawns. She dig through her bag to find her sketchbook but it wasn't there. She open up her back to dig through. Nothing. Hime try not to panic, she was remembering where was it that she had it last time.

Perhaps it's in my room?

The door slam open with the pink hair girl looking around the room, "Okay, which one of you is Seifuku?" She sound enthusiasm and chirpy.

Hime's ears went up in her surprise, "Um, I'm Seifuku!" Hime shyly raise her hand. Mei run towards her. Hime back away from her in surprise. Mei place her face right in front of hers.

"Your not at all what I expected."

"Um, I don't know if I should find that offensive or w-what are you doing to my back!" Hime stutter from surprise to feel Mei's hand on her wings. Mei spread her white wings for measurements.

"Impressive! Your wings are quite wide, and these talons on your wings are really sharp!" Mei picks her fingers at them. Hime blush at her bright red. She move her wings away from her. She fold them up around her shoulder, almost mistaken it for a poncho.

"It's r-rude y-you know." Hime blush. She even got more surprise with Mei. Mei have her hands stroke on Hime's face. Mei smile happily as if she found something adorable, "Aaaaah, so soft!"

"Don't you know personal space!" Hime move away from her.

"Huh! Oh sorry!" Mei smile at her.

"R-riiiight, um what did you need me for?" Hime ask her with her voice startle by her.

"Oh! So I have your sketchbook and.."

Hime snatch the book away from her, she tuck it in under her wings. "D-did you look inside?"

"Yes I did!"

"Don't you know that it's rude!" Hime blush.

"I took a peak in out curiosity!" Mei step in front of Hime. She jolt a bit.

"I saw how well you place your ideas in great detail!" She got closer to her. Hime was stuck in the corner.

"I hack into your school personal file and found some interesting information!" Mei was now in her face. Hime felt uncomfortable by this.

"You! Hime Seifuku!" Mei points at her. "Are going to be my lab partner!"

"Eh!" Hime tilt her head at her.

"Be! My! Lab! Partner!"

"Why? I'm not in the same class as you. Plus you don't know me enough that we can be partners. And.."

"I know enough that you sign up five different scholarships of one of the best elite schools around in Japan! All of them, except one were Hero support course or Bioengineering! You pass all of them but turn them all down except the hero course! Why is that? You clearly got the brains to join in any school with the best science programs! So why, become a hero?"

"I..." Hime wen to her memories that she still remember. The entire building where her mentor lived with his wife collapsed right in front of her. She try to get through but both police and hero's stop her from going through. She reach out her hand to call out to them. Begging them to let her look for them. Hime snap back to reality to look at Mei who was stroking her fur again. "Can you stop that please!" Hime lightly swap Mei's hands away from her as if shooing her.

"So, What do you think?" Mei look at her with excitement.

"First off, why do you want me to be your lab partner? I'm sure there are suitable students who wants to join along side with you." Hime told her. "Don't you think you should ask them?"

"No, I want you!"

"That's too straight forward." Hime blush a little.

"Okay fine!" Mei pull out a poster to show Hime.

"I want to start a club to enter this contest!"

"I don't care about things like that."

"First place winners get a prize money."

"I'm not financially broke."

"You get to meet other investors from agencies all across the world!"

"I already decided what agency I want to be in."

"You get to go to a party to meet other schools club members!"

"I don't like being in crowded places."

"There's going to be music!"

"I have a radio I can listen to!"

"You get to dress formal wear!"

"I don't look good in dresses!"

"And! You get to eat fancy food!"

"I don't know, I can always eat at home. Eating food from unknown places kinda makes me feel sick!"

"Uuuugh! Please!" Mei wrap her arms around the her waist. Hime's wings spread open in surprise!

"Wh-wh-What are you doing! This is is too sudden!" Hime try to pull her away.

"I have been dreaming for this day to come! Please! Your notes! Your details! Your blueprints are perfect!"

Hime look at her in surprise. Dream. Hime avoid eye contact from her. Her face blush a little. "I-I.."

Adam hovers in front of Mei to make her back away. He change is happy emoji to a 😡, "I have a mitten and I'm not afraid to used it!"

Mei look at Adam in a amazement. She grab hold of him, examine him. "Now this is new! Did you voice recording to get it to talk?"

Hime grab Adam back, "He's not an it. His name is Adam!"

Adam:😎😏 "I'm a real boy!"

"Ah so you program him to behave this way!"

"What! No! Adam is his own person! He's a living thing!"

Adam: 😦😭 " 🎶 your my best friend!🎶"

"Enough with the music!"

"Heheh," Mei gets closer in front of them. "then at least tell me this! How did you get him to fly?"

"He's not fly, we used a anti gravity ground sensor that can help him hover around the area."

Mei smile at her widely. Hime look at her in a bit uncomfortable way. "Your not leaving till I say yes. Are you?"

"Yep!"

Hime sigh at her, "I'll think about it!"

"That's good enough for me!" Mei leaves the poster on her desk. "My dorm is 2-H! See you later lab partner!"

Adam: 😐 "I don't like her at all!"

"Adam!"

Adam: 😕 " nobody likes a smartass."

"Language!"

"Your that smart?" Mina look at Hime with a goofy smile.

"I...um.."

"Wait! Which schools did you enter!"Denkie ask.

"I...um...well.."

"Eh! You've been holding out on us, Hime!" Ochaco puff her cheeks.

"You only choose one hero course?" Tsu ask.

Hime start to feel uncomfortable by these numerous of questions. She didn't how to tell them to back off. She didn't want to be rude but she also didn't want to tell them her reasoning. Bakugo notice it right away. He can tell that Hime was trouble by the center of attention.

"CAN YOU ALL OF JUST SHUT UP! IF SHE DOSEN'T WANT TO SAY DON'T FORCE HER!"

"What the Bakugo! Aren't you curious too." Denkie ask him in a debate tone.

Hime blush from embarrassment. "If it's all right, I rather not say."

"Aw! I want to know!" Mina complain.

After class was done and the extra study training Hime went to 2-H dorm house. Hime stop herself from the doorway. Adam hover right next to her in a bit of a worry state that he's in. Hime look at him with a small smile.

"We don't have to join with her. We can probably let down gently to her and.."

Both Hime and Adam were startled by the sudden noise of explosion coming from the back. They both check it out to see if anyone needed help. Once they ran towards their aid. It was Mei and two more other students who were coughing. The two got up, throw their helmets and goggles at the ground.

"That's it! I have a enough!" A boy who look to be older then Mei, start to complain. "I can't keep working like this with you Hatsume!"

"Oh come on!" Mei sound chirpy then usual. "Every failure is a success to our own inventions. If we make things perfect, then how else well we learn!"

"No! he's right, Hatsume!" A girl who look to be the same age as the boy, "Your always doing things your way! You never bother to listen to us. You keep doing things without asking us! This is it!"

"What are you saying? Come on, we're close to make this baby work!"

"No, we're not. Hatsume." The boy yelled. "Look, your a good inventor. You got a bright future ahead of you but the way this keeps going. We can't work with you."

"But.."

"I'm sorry Hatsume. But your on your own."

"Wait! It'll work. Really!" Hatsume try to stop them.

"Carter is right Hatsume. The way things keep going with you, nobody is going to be your partner." The girl told him.

"But.." Mei try to stop them with reason but it seem the two were tired of her reasons. Hime look at the scene in a bit of shock. Hearing those words made her understand what Mei is going through. She took deep breaths to walk towards them.

"Um Excuse me." Hime spoke out loud.

"You came!" Mei sound happy.

"Who are you?" Carter ask her.

"She's that girl I told you about those blueprints she's made. She's going to joining our club! Now we just need three more and we're all set!" Mei wrap her arm with Hime's.

"And your just telling us this now!" Carter sound upset.

"I thought it would be cool to have a surprise! Um SURPRISED!" Mei smiles.

"Sorry to break it to you, but I quit." Carter told her.

"Yeah. Me too."

"What! But senpai! We at need at least one third year student to join us! Who's going to be leading this operation with us!" Mei debate.

"Your just gonna have to find someone else. If I were you kid. I quit right now. Working with her is impossible."

Hime look at Mei who look to be hurt by them. Hime look at them in a disappointment state. "Never say impossible without the possible!"

"Have it your way." Carter left with the girl that was with him. Mei drops down on the ground in frustration. She look upset with them but mostly with herself. Hime look at the machine that exploded. The surroundings of the machine is completely demolished.

"You don't need to stay." Mei told her. Hime's ear twitch. Mei look at her with her empty gold target like eyes at her. "I get it. You don't want to be here either. Right?"

Hime look at her to see how upset Mei is. She look at Adam who also sympathize her as well. She can hear the other two students who walk away from Mei.

"Think she's joining?" The girl ask Carter.

"Heh, I give her three days to quit. Hatsume is not the type to work with others."

"That's a bit harsh." The girl laughs.

"Oh! Looks like Hatsume lost another team." Another student laughs.

"Man, this girl is just unbearable to work with." A student laughs with them.

"Let's see how long this one Well last."

Hime look at Mei who was walking away. She tighten her claw like fist to a ball. Hime turn to face her.

"Hatsume!" Hime call out to her. Mei stop walking once her name is call out. "Let's be lab partners!"

Mei turn to face her with a smile. "Okay! Let's start making some babies right now!"

Hime and Adam: 😳 well that was quick of personality change.

Mei invited Hime inside her dorm. Everyone look at Mei with wide eyes to see a new person. Hime lower her head down as she hold on to Adam like a doll.

"We can hangout in my room!" Mei smile.

"Um, okay." Hime shyly nod.

Once they enter to Mei's room. Hime widen her eyes in shock to see how messy the room is. Mei close the door right away, "Ahahahaha, shoot. Let's hangout in the study room. It's less messy in there."

Hime let's go of Adam. She open the door to see the messy room again. She roll up her sleeves and tied her hair up to a bun.

"Hatsume, go get the trash bags! Adam, open up the windows!"

Adam: "Aye yea! Captain 👩‍✈️!"

Mei watch Hime pick up the trash and unwashed clothes. Adam open up the window to let the air come in. Hime pile up the trash in one spot. While the other is or what looks to be tools. But Hime found something that she hate the most. Worse then dirty rooms. Junk food. Empty bags of chips, cup of noodles, plastic wrap of sweet bread. Hime hated junk food more then anything. It was something that she have always hated. If it was not something that's made at home, she would not eat it. After taking six bags worth of trash. Hime place some clothes to wash. Mei try to stop her but Hime continue to clean her room. She dust it out and mop the room out from its filth. Mei came back to room to see it clean. Hime just finish folding Mei's clothes. Mei close the door several times to see if it was even her room.

"It's your room!" Hime scold her.

"I can see that but I just don't believe it!" Mei complain. Her room look to be organized and neatly labeled with her tools in each shelf. Even her clothes were nicely folded in color order.

"Now that your room is clean up. We can discuss about your plans." Hime sits on the floor by the coffee table that Mei used.

"Yeah! We can.." Mei stomach growl. She blush a little. "Hehe, um I guess it's dinner time. Want to eat."

Hime follows her to the kitchen. Everyone look at the both of them in surprise. It's been three hours and they haven't heard anything explode. Hime watch Mei take out two cups of noodles.

"Wait! Wait! Wait!" Hime look at the noodles in disgust. "What are you doing?"

"Making dinner."

"Not with that!" Hime hiss at the cup of noodles.

"Huh? Why not? It's food." Mei warm up some hot water.

"That's not food! It's an abomination!"

"It's just noodles!"

Hime slap the noodles as if she was a cat. She push Mei out of the kitchen. She look through the refrigerator and the cabinets to make something to eat. Mei watched her to see what she's making. Hime could do her best of making Omurice. She made homemade curry sauce that isn't too spicy. Mei look at the food in surprise. It look delicious.

"Thank you for the meal!" Hime pray for the food. Mei did the say. Hime cut the omelette in the middle for it to flip. She pour half of it with curry. Mei took a scoop to try to the food. She widen her eyes in shock.

"So good!" Mei stuff another scoop of food in her mouth. Hime slowly eat with her. Adam look at the both of them in a bit puzzled. The other students watch the two girls in surprise.

"Did Hatsume found a lab partner or a maid?"

"Hatsume is actually eating real food!"

"Who is that girl?"

Hime look at them but they were spook by Hime's "smile". To Hime, she thought her smiles look calm and nice but in reality, they all look scary and threatening.

"Good evening!" Hime try to be polite to them but instead she scared off Mei's classmates.

"We're Sorry! We won't bother you!" They told her in a scared tone. Hime look at them in shock and sad expression now. Mei start to laugh at her.

"Hahaha!"

"It's not funny!" Hime puff her cheeks.

"It really is!" Mei smile at her. She have a bit of food in her cheeks. Hime blush and pouts angrily at her.

Hime walk back to her dorms to find Fenrir hop right on top of her. His tail wag happily to see his owner back home.

"Oh Hime welcome baaa...what happened?" Izuku look at her tired worn out face. However, she look scary as if she's in pain.

"Eh? Oh, just tired." Hime stroke her dog for comfort.

"Hatsume didn't give you a hard time, did she?" Izuku sound worry.

"No. We talk over some ideas about the "Babies" she wanted to make." Hime walks in the dorm to sit down at one of the tables.

"Um Hime." Izuku twirl his thump uneasy.

"Yeah?" Hime pets Fenrir for comfort.

"I wanted to ask you something but Mei have already ask you, why do you want to become a hero?" Izuku's voice sound shaky. Hime lower her head down. Izuku try to change the subject, "Um it's okay you don't need to tell me! Sorry!"

"No, it's fine." Hime look at him but looks back at Fenrir. "I don't know why. But I feel like I can trust you about this."

"Okay." Izuku look at her in shock. He sat down across from her. Hime sigh, to let out her frustration. She keeps stroking Fenrir.

"I... I was there." Hime voice sound dry. She try to hold on her tears. "In,..the Kamino ward incident." Izuku got up really quickly as if he's in distress. He look pale with wide eyes. Hime can see the fear in his eyes.

"W-Why?"

Hime look at Fenrir who was still waiting to be cuddled. "My .. friend... and his family... they lived there. I was visiting them for dinner. But when I got there." Hime wipe her tears. "The apartment complex collapsed on them. I was there. And I couldn't do anything." Hime's body began to shake. She grab her left arm, squeezing it tight to stop. "I try to help. But they told me I wasn't allowed to used my quirk. Even though it came out handy." Hime's voice shake. Izuku watched on how Hime fights her tears. She still squeeze her left arm. "They wouldn't let me used my quirk. Because of the law. But they wouldn't let me help. I just wanted to help. To save them." Hime kept squeezing her left arm. "What's the point of having a quirk if you can't used it to protect the people you care about."

"I heard about it." Izuku told her with his eyes down. "A lot of hero's were there to dig out the survivors out of the ruble."

"Not all of them." Hime squeeze hard enough on her left arm. She can feel it burn her. Hime hold in her tears. "There was so many. They didn't hear them like I did." Hime try to hold on her tears. Her voice was in a low whisper. Doing her best to hide her feelings. "They didn't hear them screaming. They didn't hear them begging. Crying. Praying. I have to hear every whisper under those rubbles. Every scream, echo in my head. Before they could reach them." Hime let's go of her left arm to hold her head down her head. "They didn't hear their last breath."

"Hime...." Izuku look at her. He can see the pain in Hime. He can tell that she suffer from being there. Not able to do nothing. All because of the law. Because she wasn't registered as a hero. "I'm sorry you have to go through that."

"My friend... and his wife," Hime's voice were burst into tears. "They were crush in. There was nothing left of them to bury."

"I'm sorry, I... I didn't mean to bring all of this back. I..."

"You ask me. And I answer. Now you know." Hime wipe her tears. Fenrir licks Hime's cheeks, tasting the salty tears coming down.

"Is that why you wanted to be a hero?"

"No..." Hime look at him. "I want to be a hero because I don't want to feel weak. I don't want to be worthless. Someone I cared about, die already before I could do anything. But what I hate the most, is the pro hero's stopping me to help." Hime shook her head. "I don't want to feel that. Ever agin."

Izuku look at her in surprise. Hime look strong in his eyes but inside she was still a girl who had to witness all that. To feel worthless, to feel powerless, to do nothing. It was all to fimilar to him. When Bakugo needed rescue. He couldn't do anything at all. He knows that same frustration that Hime have to suffer.

"Hime...I.." Izuku try to find the right words but Bakugo burst into the room angry. He glare at Fenrir in anger.

"YOU!" He point at him. "I'LL KILL YOU!"

Hime hugs her dog for protection, "No your not!"

"THAT STUPID MUTT SHIT ALL OVER MY ROOM!" Bakugo growl.

"My Fenrir would never do such a thing!" Hime rub his face like a teddy bear, "Isn't that right, Baby! Whose mommy's little angel!" Hime talk to him in baby tone. Fenrir licks her face happily.

"LIKE HELL HE IS! I'M GOING TO MAKE HOT DOGS OUT OF HIM!"

Hime wrap her wings around Fenrir. She glare at Bakugo and hiss at him.

"Your not going anywhere near him."

"I WANT THAT MUTT OUT!"

"Why are you talking about yourself!" Hime pouts.

"WHY YOU!" Bakugo got close the Hime. Fenrir growl at him.

"YOU WANT TO FIGHT ME YOU SHITTY MUTT! BRING IT ON!" Bakugo yelled at him. Fenrir "yelled" at him as if he can him what he's saying. Hime watch the two argue with each other. She try not to laugh at the both of them. Izuku try to calm him down but it made things worse. Adam hover next Hime.

"You're taping this, aren't you?" Hime grin at him.

Adam:😎 "This video is going to make me famous!"

Hime cover her mouth, fighting back her laughter.