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Monday morning did finally roll around and I found myself looking forward to going back to class after what had happened at the USJ not that long ago. At least instead of being bored at home all by myself, I could be bored at school with plenty of other people who were probably just as bored as I am. I know that Kaminari is just as lost as me in math class.

"Hey sis," Kuse said, poking his head into our room. "I just thought I'd let you know that I'm leaving early for school."

"Just wait a minute," I replied, shoving some school supplies into my backpack. "I'm almost ready to go, I'll walk you."

"I'll go on my own today," He insisted. "I'm meeting a friend on the way there."

"Oh," I said, tilting my head in confusion. "Alright, I'll see you after school then."

Kuse smiled, and I heard him running towards the door. "Thanks, Tora! See you later!"

I heard the door shut behind him and I found myself smiling slightly. "At least he has a few friends."

I felt happy for my baby brother, knowing that it could be difficult for kids like us to make friends. Elementary school wasn't bad, but once I entered junior high I was pretty much on my own. No one wanted to hang out with the kid whose dad wasn't in the picture, the kid with the mom that almost never shows up on class field trips, the weird kid. Plus the rumours they started were horrible. Since I know nothing about my biological dad people would make up rumours, saying he was some really old guy, or that he was a serial killer, or that he beat me and my mom and that's why I always looked so mean. The last one didn't make any sense though considering I've never met the guy.

I pulled on my torn leggings and wrinkled blazer before slipping on my black sneakers and walking to the front door. Making sure it was locked from the inside I then made my way to the window, climbing through it with practised ease and starting down the fire escape. Once I was on street level, my feet carried me towards UA, a route I was becoming increasingly familiar with. Around halfway through my trip, I took my blazer off, tying it around my waist, because I was getting warm. Not all that long ago spring had just started and it was still a little chilly, but now it was getting warm.

I tended to dislike warm weather because unless I wanted to die of heatstroke I had to wear fewer layers. This usually meant wearing clothes that exposed more of my arms and legs, which as you've probably guessed by now have plenty of scars. Don't misunderstand though, I think my scars make me look badass, but when people notice them they stare, and if they have balls, they ask questions. I don't mind answering them, but it gets annoying after a while.

Finally, I entered the school's campus, passing all of the school's security system tests with flying colours. Because of the new security system, I can't carry weapons anymore, but fortunately, with a quirk like mine, something as simple as a ballpoint pen can become a dagger, so I rarely feel unarmed.

I opened the door to my classroom, almost instinctively reacting to the usual greetings. "Sup."

"Good morning Tora," Tenya formally said. "I hope you are well."

I also got a couple of 'good mornings' from Kaminari, Kirishima, Momo, and Hagakure. For some reason Hagakure was talking to me a lot more ever since the USJ. Surprisingly I also got a nod from Todoroki, which I silently returned. Sometimes Tokoyami would nod too, but today he seemed to be busy reading a book.

I made my way over to Tenya's desk, resting up against it.

"Hey Tenya, I'm good," I greeted him. "How about you?"

"All things considered I am doing quite well." He replied.

I snorted. "Yeah, you can say that again. I'm still a little shaken up, but overall I feel pretty good."

"Morning!" Midoriya greeted, making his way over to our little group. "Sorry, I'm a little late today!"

"You're still early if Mr. Aizawa isn't here yet," I chuckled. "That's how I see it."

"Good morning you guys!" Uraraka chirped, poking her head through the door.

I waved my hand. "Hey Uraraka, morning."

"How were your weekends?" Uraraka asked, making her way over to us.

"Pretty good," I shrugged. "Although Tenya's family pretty much forced me to come over for dinner."

Uraraka tilted her head. "What?"

Tenya sighed, bringing the palm of his hand to his forehead. "My mother can be quite persistant."

"I'll tell you guys at lunch," I chuckled. "How was your weekend Midoriya?"

"Really good!" He chirped, smiling brightly. "I saw a hero on my way home from training, he stopped a corner store robbery! I got to ask him a few questions about his quirk after the press interviewed him!"

Before Midoriya could delve into his own little world of fanboying, the classroom door opened, and a completely bandage-wrapped Mr. Aizawa entered the room. 

"Before we get started for today," Aizawa sighed. "There's a little problem that needs to be dealt with first."

"What is it, ribbit?" Tsu asked, always unafraid to ask the questions everyone wants to ask.

Aizawa ducked out of the classroom for a moment, urging someone into the room. My jaw went slack and my eyes widened.

"Does anyone know this kid?" Aizawa asked, pushing a small boy into the room.

My hand made a loud slap as it connected with my face and everyone turned to look at me.

"Goddammit Kuse what are you doing here?!" I groaned.

Kuse brightened, letting go of Aizawa's pant leg to run over to me. "Big sis!"

"Big sis?!" Many people in the class exclaimed.

I was quick to scoop Kuse into my arms, giving him an annoyed look before I faced my teacher. "I'm really sorry Mr. Aizawa, I'm honestly not sure how he got here or why he's here. But I can't really leave class in order to take him to school."

"Isn't there someone who could pick him up?" Mr. Aizawa scoffed.

Kuse and I flinched. "No... Not really..."

Aizawa groaned. "Whatever, take your seat then, I'll bring this up to principal Nezu during lunch, he can stay with you for today. Just be warned that if he so much as breaths too loud I will kick him out."

"Yes sir," I nodded, setting Kuse down on the floor and looking at him. "Make sure you thank Mr. Aizawa."

"Thank you, sir!" Kuse said, bowing his head slightly.

Aizawa remained steely. "Take your seats."

I steered Kuse over to my desk sat down and then placed Kuse sideways in my lap so he wouldn't have to cram his legs under my desk. I tried hard to ignore the stares of my classmates as class began, but I had a feeling I'd have to get used to it.

"Now then," Aizawa began. "The first thing on today's agenda is to prepare you all for this year's Sport's Festival."

"Is that really a good idea Mr. Aizawa?" Jirou asked hesitantly. "I mean the USJ incident wasn't all that long ago."

"But the Sport's Festival happens every year," Sero argued. "It would be strange to not do it this year."

"The Sport's Festival will act as a way to show that UA is capable of getting back on its feet after a villain attack," Mr. Aizawa continued. "It will also be a good chance for you to get scouted by hero agencies. After the USJ incident class 1-A has become the talk of the country, it's time to show them that you're not victims, you're future heroes."

"It wouldn't be likely for the villains to try something again so soon," Momo added. "They are probably still licking their wounds."

"Besides, the event is attended by tons of pro-heroes and sidekicks," Midoriya added. "Who would attack an event with that much media coverage and with so many heroes present?"

"Exactly," Mr. Aizawa agreed. "There will also be additional safety measures in place this year, there will be heroes on patrol during the event and rigorous security checks for all of the spectators attending."

I felt Kuse's grip on me tighten and I finally noticed it.

He was shaking.

I think I finally understood why he was here. Even if I wasn't scared, Kuse saw what happened at the USJ on the news. He saw Aizawa being carted off by the ambulance, he saw the Nomu being restrained by police, and he saw the other teachers at UA leap into battle. Kuse was scared for me.

I grabbed one of his hands with mine and squeezed it, hoping that the small gesture gave him a little comfort. That was all I could really do for him.

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Kuse sat on my lap throughout all of my morning classes silently. Despite the fact that some of my lessons probably didn't make any sense to him, he was well-behaved the entire time and only spoke when his curiosity got the better of him. When he got curious, he'd raise his hand and ask questions. Mr. Ectoplasm got really flustered during math class when Kuse suddenly asked if the way he talked was really how his voice sounded. He didn't exactly answer though so I guess we'll never know.

Lunchtime finally rolled around and as I'd expected many of my classmates swarmed to my desk, staring at Kuse like he was some rare creature.

"I didn't know you had a little brother," Mina squealed. "He's so cute."

"You never asked," I shrugged. "And it never came up in conversation."

"Hello!" Kuse chirped. "Are you all friends with Tora?"

"Some of them," I answered for the group. "But I've talked to everyone in the class at least once, I think."

"You two don't really look alike," Tsu croaked, blunt as usual. "Sorry if that sounds rude, I just couldn't help but notice."

"That's okay!" Kuse chirped before I had a chance to reply. "Tora and I have the same mom, but our dads are different."

"Yeah," I nodded. "I look more like our mother, but Kuse has a similar eye colour to her."

"How old are you?" Hagakure asked, spooking Kuse a little since she's invisible.

"I'm six and a half," He replied. "But I'll be seven pretty soon."

"Oh, you're about my little sister's age," Tsu smiled. "Maybe you two could play sometime."

I smiled. "That's not a bad idea, Kuse needs a few more friends, he's hesitant to talk to people since kids at school started making fun of his quirk."

"That's so mean!" Uraraka huffed, punching air. "I'd beat them up."

"You and me both." I chuckled.

"What's your quirk? If you don't mind me asking." Momo asked politely.

Kuse paused for a moment, contemplating what he should do. I chuckled when he scrunched up his nose. I stuck my hand into my pencil case, digging around for a moment before pulling out a paperclip. 

"Here Kuse," I said, handing him the paperclip. "If it's too hard to explain it, why don't you just show them instead?"

Kuse nodded, taking the paperclip from me. My classmates watched intensely as he brought the paperclip to his mouth and swallowed it in one gulp.

Aoyama screamed, obviously appalled by the fact that a child just ate a paperclip.

"Was he supposed to do that?" Sero asked nervously.

"Just shut up and watch." I huffed.

Kuse held out the palm of his hand, his eyes shutting in concentration. A light enveloped his hand, and the next thing we knew, there was an earring with a metal cross sitting in the palm of his hand. He held it up for everyone to see before handing it to me.

"Here sis," He smiled. "You can wear it."

I took it from him gently, removing one of my earrings and putting on the cross in its place.

 "Thank you Kuse, I really like it." I said, smiling as I ruffled his hair affectionately

"That's amazing," Momo smiled, dropping down to Kuse's level. "My quirk is very similar!"

Bright light also enveloped Momo's hand, and a cross earring identical to the one Kuse just made sat in her palm. Kuse's eyes widened as he took the earring from her.

"How'd you do that?" He asked, awestruck.

"My quirk allows me to make things using the fats from my body," Momo replied, explaining her quirk the best she could to a child. "I can make pretty much anything as long as I eat enough food."

"I wish I could do that," Kuse sighed. "I can only use metal."

I chuckled, ruffling Kuse's hair again. "Anyway, I'm going to go eat lunch with Tenya, Midoriya, and Uraraka, see you guys after lunch."

I scooped Kuse up into my arms walking to the door, and I could very quietly hear Kirishima say something just before I left.

"I met her brother once before afterschool," He started. "But after seeing her with her brother again, I'm certain."

"About what?" Kaminari asked.

"She's a lot softer when her brother's around." Kirishima shrugged.

"Now that you mention it..." Jirou hummed. "She didn't swear once."

Tokoyami loudly put his book down. "Revelry in the dark..."

I kept walking, very confused and maybe slightly scared. Tokoyami was a strange dude.

A/N

I know I said it wouldn't be filler, but I mean it kind of is. Whoops. Anyway, I can't remember if I ever said how old Kuse is before, so he's six. I'm going to go back and edit previous chapters though and hopefully fix his age. Other than that, the next chapter will be the Sport's Festival, so that should be fun. 

P.S I'm probably just going to start making these chapters 2000 words or more because short chapters aren't cutting it. They feel too choppy and rushed, so expect slightly slower updates.

(Edited 2022.08.04)