"Dum, dum, dum! The end of this school tour is near!" Mina announces and swings the door open, doing a little dance as she bounces to the empty room. "We've been to the infirmary, the cafetaria, the development studio, and finally we're here! The most boring place in U.A.!"
"The library is not boring, Ashido-kun. It is a proper public space where students can lend study materials and—"
"Yeah, yeah, Mr. Class Rep!"
"Huh, I think this is also my first time here." Ochaco looks around the sunbathed room, sauntering around rows and rows of bookshelves. "I'm a bit surprised you know where the library is, Mina-chan. I thought only Iida-kun ever came here."
"Remember the time when I forgot to bring my math homework and Ectoplasm kicked me out of the class? He made me do it all over again from scratch here."
Yaoyorozu sits down on one of the wooden chairs, relieved that finally her feet can get some time to rest after touring the entire school. "Oh, the one where you texted Kaminari-kun to sneak me here so you could ask for answers?"
"Yup, that one!"
From another corner of the room, Midoriya is holding a colorful-looking magazine, his dark green eyes glazing from admiration. "Iida-kun! You didn't tell me there's an issue with All Might's special interview here!"
"Careful, your hero worship is showing," Mina teases the boy, but apparently he is too absorbed in the article to hear her.
"Well, I, for one, didn't know, Midoriya-kun."
Shifting closer to the magazine stand, Todoroki peers over their shoulders curiously. "Which one is it?"
"Boys and their idolization," Mina says and rolls her yellow eyes as the three fuss over the magazine. "Poor Iida-kun, he got roped in. If All Might registered himself as a religion, half of Japan citizens would be his devout followers."
She glances at Arata, who is browsing lines of books beside her without saying anything. "You're not a fan of All Might, Arata-chan?"
"I'm more of an Aizawa-ist," Arata replies with a joke, her green eyes gleaming with humor. "What about you?"
"Midnight, obviously. She rocks!"
"Didn't you say All Might is 'kinda cool' too?"
"Yeah, but I was disillusioned as soon as I found the amount of homework he and Ectoplasm assigned to you!" Mina pouts, lazily running her fingers through the pages of a thick book. "It's not cool to interfere with teenagers' summer plans, you know! I thought we could hang out around U.A. over the vacation."
"Well, my math ability is below U.A.'s standard and I have never really studied heroics before... I guess it makes sense they want me to submit some extra assignments to improve my performance on those."
"Math is the worst, isn't it? I almost didn't make it in the final terms! If it wasn't for Yao-momo, I might have to take the written test again. I'm glad I don't have to meet math again for the remainder of this vacation!"
"If I may remind you, Mina-chan," Yaoyorozu joins in their conversation. "We also have summer vacation homework. Not as much as Arata-chan's of course, but it has the same deadline, which is by the end of this week."
"Oh, damn, I didn't remember!" Grabbing her own short hair, Mina stomps on the carpeted floor. "Why does the beauty of summer vacation have to be ruined by the means of this?"
"Kyoka-chan and I plan to work on it together tomorrow at my estate. I am thinking to invite the rest of our study group. You too, Arata-chan."
"You're a lifesaver! I'm definitely going to join. What about you, Arata-chan? It will be fun, plus we—uh, Yao-momo—can help you with your difficulties!"
Yaoyorozu smiles as Arata nods, her cheeks tickled pink due to enthusiasm. She looks very happy to get invited.
"I would like to, if you don't mind, um... Yaoyorozu-chan?"
"Just call me 'Yao-momo' like Kyoka-chan and the other girls do. I would like it if you can come."
"I'm going to ask for Aizawa-san's permission later. Where is it?"
She shows a map on her phone screen, her finger hovering over the street lanes. "So, this is where U.A. is. From here, my home is at—"
Before Yaoyorozu can continue, her phone vibrates, the display going black except for "Mom is calling..." and a couple of buttons. "Sorry, I have to take this," she says politely and makes a move towards the library door. "Mina-chan, can you explain to Arata-chan about the location?"
"Sure thing, Yao-momo!" Mina gives her a thumbs-up, then whips out her own phone. "You have to see Yao-momo's estate, Arata-chan. It's so big and cool, like a palace out of a movie! Here, Kaminari and I took some selfies last time."
"I didn't know it's possible for a table to be this large..." Arata lets out a light giggle, one finger swiping through Mina's gallery. "Oh, this picture also has Sero-kun and Ojiro-kun in it."
"Yup, they're also part of our study group. That table is the least surprising of it all! Yao-momo's very rich, you see. I think generations could live using her family's wealth, and there wouldn't be a single day they had to worry about money."
"... You're exaggerating, Mina-chan..."
"I'm not! You're friends with Todoroki, aren't you? Do you know how loaded the top heroes—like his father—are?"
"Um, yeah, we're friends, but I've never given it much thought before."
"Well, Yao-momo's family consists of many famous heroes. I heard most of them are posted in the western countries overseas, that's why we rarely hear about them in Japan."
"Don't they also have several factories and brand lines?" Ochaco pops her head between Arata and Mina, joining in their conversation. "I saw a number of things under their brand from time to time."
"That's my first time hearing it," Mina replies, tapping one finger to her own chin. "It boggles my mind why they bother doing it. If it were me, I would be using my free time to do my hobbies instead of business."
"According to some books, it is good to have multiple income sources," Arata quotes, attempting to recall some financial studies she came across in the Shirayuki's basement.
"Yeah, Mina-chan, they might see it as an investment. It's what rich people do."
"What did you say, Ochaco-chan? 'Infestation'?"
"It's 'investment', not 'infestation'."
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Yaoyorozu walks into the library with a listless expression, her eyebrows knitted in the middle of her forehead and her dark eyes trained on her phone. Things have taken an unexpected turn in the opposite of her favor, and she doesn't quite know how to drop the news to her friends.
When she comes back to the table, Mina is explaining her house's directions to Arata, with Ochaco giving some advice about searching for the best routes and public transportation.
"So, after I drop off this station, turn right over here and—" Arata glances over her shoulder and flashes a smile at her. "Yao-momo, you're back! I was wondering what time the study group will begin tomorrow. Oh, um, is something wrong?"
My unease must have shown through my face, Yaoyorozu sighs, one hand is rubbing over the length of the other arm. "So, the thing is..."
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"Hello, Mom?" Yaoyorozu pressed her phone to her ear, waiting for the person on the other side to reply.
"Momo Dear, are you still in school? From Principal Nezu's e-mail about the Good Will program and the new student, I thought today's class wouldn't be long."
"The class indeed has ended since some time ago, but a few friends and I are showing Arata-chan—the new student—around U.A.'s main building. Oh, that reminds me, my study group is coming over tomorrow, we're going to work on our summer holiday homework."
"That sounds nice, Dear. I will prepare the room and snacks for you all. There are six of you, yes?"
"It's seven this time, Mom. I invited Arata-chan too."
"Oh."
"Is everything okay?"
"Actually, Momo Dear, your father and I would appreciate it very much if you refrain from inviting your new friend to our home."
"What's wrong, Mom?"
"Remember the collapse of one of our industrial gas plants seven years ago, Momo? It was Hanakiri's doing. The stress it caused your father... the lives lost, the equipment and research gone... It was chaos."
"But Arata-chan has nothing to do with it..."
"I know, Dear, that's why we don't prohibit you from interacting with her. But, our estate is a safe place for our family, a place of safety and ease for your father and us. Your father is still averse to anything related to Hanakiri... The attack left quite a trauma on him, and we don't want to compromise by having her daughter over."
Yaoyorozu fell silent, the weight of her mother's words settling upon her shoulders.
"Please understand, Momo Dear. We have nothing against your new friend. But, some people need more time to let go of the past, it is a bitter pill to swallow. Please understand, at least for the sake of your father."
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After Yaoyorozu finishes explaining the situation to Arata, she throws her an apologetic look. "I'm really sorry, Arata-chan. I had no idea that my family would mind."
"Oh, I see..." Arata exhales and leans on her chair's backrest. Beside her, Mina squeezes her hand to give some comfort. "It's fine, Yao-momo. I get it."
It subtly reminds Arata of Nezu's advice to her about not expecting things to change quickly. Just because she's turning over a new leaf right now, does not mean everyone else has the same mindset. She has to work hard to earn people's trust in her.
Arata would be lying if she said it didn't bother her at all. But, she has gotten so adept at blocking off rejection that she automatically brushes off the negative feelings.
Yaoyorozu mutters again, her voice filled with concern and remorse, "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings..."
Come on, Arata, this is already an improvement from your previous situation. This should be nothing compared to the Shirayuki's hostility. Don't forget your own roots. This is fine. This is good enough.
"Your invitation is enough to make me happy." A reassuring smile crosses Arata's face. "Thank you for being very kind to me. Besides, I also can do my own homework."
Yaoyorozu's expression softens, her worry giving way to relief. "I'm glad you understand," she murmurs, her voice carrying a mixture of gratitude and remorse.
"Of course, family… comes first, right?"
"Hey Arata-chan, do you want me to study with you?" Mina suggests. "I'm not sure I can actually help you, though. My academic abilities aren't so good, but we can keep each other company."
"Thanks for the offer, but you should go with Yao-momo, Mina-chan. It's a good opportunity to raise your grades. Didn't you say you need all the help you can get?"
"But, what about you?"
"As I've said—"
"She can come with me instead!" Ochaco pumps her fist in the air. "We also can study together, right, Arata-chan?"
"Are you sure?" Arata's face breaks into a grateful grin as Ochaco nods.
"Of course, it's going to be a lot of fun! We need students with better scores to join us though... I'm also struggling in some subjects... Any idea who to invite, Arata-chan?"
"What about Shoto-san?" Arata's gaze falls on the white-crimson haired boy by Midoriya and Iida's side. "He taught me math a few times during his visits, and I think he's pretty great."
"Wait, did I hear that wrong?" Mina blinks her eyes in surprise, her voice full of astonishment. "You bonded over math equations? Sometimes I don't understand what's going inside a top student's brain!"
"Me too, Mina-chan." Ochaco shakes her head, then chuckles lightly at the sight of a green-haired boy. His gaze is glued at the magazine in his clutch, awestruck. "At any rate, I'm going to invite Deku-kun and Iida-kun too. They're going to be a massive help. Let's ask the boys once they're done with those All Might fanboy-ings."
It's a relief that everything turns out well, Mina thinks as Ochaco and Arata saunter to the boys and invite them to join their homework session. She glances at Yaoyorozu, who stays back next to her, and grins.
"Yao-momo, we can't lose to them! I'm counting on you to pound the lessons into my head! I'm pretty sure you're the better tutor than all of those boys combined."
"Pound the lessons" into someone's head actually sounds a lot more like Bakugou's style, but Yaoyorozu accepts her challenge with renewed enthusiasm. "We'll work hard tomorrow, Mina-chan!"