"Good." Aizawa's looked at the class one final time.
"He'll be back when Recovery Girl clears him. Until the school lifts the lockdown, stay in the building."
He turned toward the door. Yuta shifted Eri's weight and followed, pausing at the threshold for a half-second.
"See you," he said, to the room in general then walked out. The door clicked shut behind them.
The common room of Heights Alliance fell into a brief silence as they left. Then everyone started talking at once. "He looked fine right?" Mina asked the rest.
"Yeah, pretty much."
"Doesn't his quirk regenerate or something? Shouldn't he be fine?"
Jiro's earphones found Kaminari's ears before proceeding to rattle him with a sound blast.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"Not that type of fine you dummy. Do you have any emotional awareness?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Kaminari ringing skull was still confused.
"I believe she's talking about Akutami's current emotional state." Iida chipped in. "He has been in successive dangerous events that have likely taken a tremendous toll. "Think of it. We only know of the Yamanote Line incident. It is unknown to us what he has gone through within these two weeks. However, he returned only to find himself in the center of a national crisis."
"Yeah. I don't think any of us would be 'fine' after that," Kirishima added, leaning against the back of the sofa. "We were all terrified just watching it on a screen. Imagine actually being there."
"I really feel bad for him." Momo added. "Maybe we should do something."
"Like what?"
"Well ... something to cheer him up I suppose. Maybe like a little gathering with ..."
Uraraka's face brightened. "I know. You mean like a welcome back surprise party?"
Everyone was stunned. "Huh?"
Uraraka's fist slammed into her open palm. "That's it. That's totally right. If he's depressed then it's our job as his classmates to cheer him up. What better way to do it than have all of us spend some time bonding together?"
Iida's face was alarmed to the extreme. "Now hold on Uraraka. Just what are you saying? U.A students are forbidden from leaving the school premises on normal days. Plus it's no longer normal today. We can't have a party while we're still on lockdown."
"Of course it won't be now. And who said anything about leaving the school at all?"
"We can just have it right here in the common room!" Uraraka exclaimed, gesturing to the wide space with a bright smile. "We have the kitchen, the couches, and Sato-kun can bake something awesome for the occasion!"
Sato perked up, his thumb pointing to his chest. "I can have a 'Welcome Home' cake ready by the time he gets back. Triple chocolate—the good stuff. Or we can have Chiffon if you all want."
"Sweet. Momo can create the props and decorations."
"And I can hang them up!" Hagakure's sleeves flailed enthusiastically. "I'll make it so bright in here he won't be able to stay in a bad mood!"
Iida fell silent for a moment. "But—the logistics! The noise level! The Principal's orders regarding sobriety and focus during a national crisis."
"Come on Iida. Stop being so uptight for a second." Sero walked over and placed an arm on his shoulder. "Just like you said, he's been through a lot. If we just sit around looking grim, we're not helping him move past it. We're his friends. We're supposed to be his 'normal' again, right?"
Iida's rigid posture wavered. He looked at the hopeful faces of Uraraka and the others, then toward the door Yuta had just exited. Finally, he let out a long, heavy sigh and adjusted his glasses.
"Very well. If this is indeed an initiative to stabilize the mental health of a comrade and reinforce our class unity, then I shall allow it! However, we must ensure the kitchen is cleaned thoroughly afterward, and the noise must not exceed seventy decibels. Let us make it the most efficient and organized welcome-back gathering in the history of this academy!"
"That's the spirit!" Kirishima cheered, pumping a fist into the air. He turned to the rest of the room, his eyes shining. "Alright, who else is in? Let's make this the best welcome-back ever!"
"Sure, why not," Jiro said with a small smile, spinning an earphone jack around her finger.
"Sounds fun,"
"I have nothing better to do," Ojiro added with a shrug.
One by one, the affirmations rolled in until the focus shifted to the back of the room. Todoroki was staring at the floor, his arms crossed over his chest. A shadow seemed to hang over him that even the bright dormitory lights couldn't pierce.
"Todoroki-kun?" Midoriya asked softly.
"Sorry, but I'm going to have to pass," Todoroki said without looking up. "I still haven't gotten word on my father's condition yet. It's not that big of a deal but as of now, I'm not in the mood to participate."
The room went deathly silent. 'That's right.' Everyone was reminded that the status of Endeavor as well as forth other heroes were currently unknown.
"We understand, Todoroki," Mina said gently, her expression full of sympathy. "Please, don't feel pressured. We're here for you too."
A chorus of quiet "Yeah, man" and "Take your time" followed as Todoroki turned away, his silhouette looking lonelier than usual. Amidst the heavy atmosphere, the heavy thud-thud of combat boots echoed toward the elevator.
Bakugo, who had been watching the entire exchange with a stony, unreadable face, was walking away.
Kirishima blinked, noticing the movement. "Huh? Bakugo, aren't you getting in on this?"
"No, I'm not," Bakugo spat without slowing down. "I have better things to do with my time than play house."
"Come on, man, don't be like that," Kirishima pressed, stepping forward. "It's just one party. You skipped last week's room contest, too. This is for Akutami!"
Bakugo stopped. Then turned around, only enough for them to see his side profile. It carried familiar furrowed brows and an emerging scowl.
"You all don't see it, do you?" The question silenced whatever anyone had to say.
"You're all planning to waste your time throwing a party and baking cakes," Bakugo said. "Meanwhile, the person you're so worried about has gotten a lot stronger than all of you."
"What are you talking about, Bakugo?"
Bakugo's face darkened, and he finally turned. "Did none of you watch the news, or did you all selectively forget? Look at the damn world outside!"
He gestured vaguely toward the windows. "The country is currently chaotic. All Might's no longer the indestructible hero he was, and countless pros just got their powers stolen. The prisons are destroyed and their occupants escaped. The villains aren't hiding anymore."
He brought his hand down. "I don't know what he went through out there, and I'm not saying it isn't tragic. But while we were sitting here in this safe little box, he got stronger." He turned back to the elevator. The doors opened with a soft ding. "In case you've also forgotten, final exams are coming up and I have no plans to fall behind him in anything again. I'll be in my room studying. Don't bother me."
The elevator doors hissed shut, leaving a heavy, silence in the common room. The excitement from moments ago had been dampened by a cold bucket of reality.
"Bakugo... he's always gotta be like that," Kaminari muttered.
"He isn't entirely wrong," Midoriya replied. "The world is changing. The news is saying the Hero Commission is in shambles, and with All Might... well, things are going to be different from now on." He looked at Todoroki, whose gaze was still fixed on the floor, then back to the class. "But that's exactly why we should do this."
"Huh? What do you mean, Midoriya?" Kirishima asked.
"Because Yuta-kun is our friend," Izuku replied with a small, determined smile. "Being a hero isn't just about getting stronger or fighting. It's about being there for each other when things get dark. Bakugo is right in a way, but Uraraka is right too. We can't let the fear of what's happening outside take away our humanity inside."
Iida adjusted his glasses, his expression shifting from alarm to a solemn, respectful nod. "Well said, Midoriya-kun. Quite the heroic mindset. We cannot ignore the importance of mental fortitude and companionship!"
"Yes! Teamwork!" Ashido cheered. "Alright then. Let's get started." The tension of the night began to channel itself into a singular, productive purpose. Momo began visualizing the dimensions for banners, while Sato headed for the pantry to check his supply of high-grade flour.
_
[RECOVERY GIRL'S OFFICE – FACULTY WING]
The sterile scent of the medical wing was a sharp contrast to the lived-in warmth of the dorms. Recovery Girl didn't wait for them to speak; she simply pointed her cane at the nearest bed. "Sit."
Yuta sat on the edge of the bed, his back against the bed. This wasn't the first time he had been in her office. An hour or so later after running several tests. Once the test results were out, the old lady went silent for a good twenty seconds.
"Well, there's something you don't see everyday."
Her nutter was loud enough to reach their ears. "What? Is something wrong?" Aizawa frowned.
"That depends though on how you define the word wrong." She turned around and handed over the test results.