. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

Kirishima, Emi, and Uraraka made their way down the stairs, where they found most of the class already bustling around the kitchen, preparing dinner. Emi glanced around at the crowded scene, noting Momo, Midoriya, Sato, Tokoyami, and Shoji working diligently. "Uh, it looks like you've got a full house here," Emi said, her eyes settling on the bustling kitchen and the chef himself. "Do you guys really need another hand?"

"STAY THE HELL OUT OF THE KITCHEN!" Bakugo roared, already shouldering Midoriya aside and cursing up a storm. Emi and Kirishima instinctively began to retreat, heading towards the couch where Shoto, Tsuyu, Ida, and Kaminari were lounging. Uraraka, however, was determined to brave the kitchen chaos.

"Where's everyone else?" Kirishima asked, settling onto the couch next to Kaminari.

"I think Sero is napping, Hagakure had to run an errand on campus, and I haven't seen Mina, Ojiro, Jiro, or Koda. They're probably in their rooms," Kaminari replied, not looking up from his phone. He gestured to Kirishima to check out whatever he was looking at. Emi took her place between Tsuyu, who was absorbed in a book, and Shoto.

"Shoto, I was thinking of asking if you'd be up for a sparring session sometime soon," Emi said, turning to him and catching his attention. "Bakugo and I have been experimenting with my quirk, and I think your abilities could really help me take things further. What do you think?"

Shoto leaned back against the couch, draping an arm casually over the top. "What exactly do you have in mind?"

"Well," Emi began, "we've been testing the resistance of different materials. Since Bakugo's explosions are technically fire, I was hoping your quirk could give me a better sense of how fire-proof I am. And it'd be great to test how resistant I am to cold, too. I'm curious to see how different materials react to lower temperatures, which could be useful for future reference."

"Yeah, that sounds like a good plan. I've been curious about your fighting style too," Shoto said, tilting his head slightly. "So, did your American school not offer much help in figuring this out?"

Emi shrugged before replying, "I didn't really have anyone to spar with who could help me explore this aspect of my quirk. The last person I sparred with at my old school had an elemental quirk, but he mainly focused on causing earthquakes."

"Emi, you never really explained why you transferred," Tsuyu said, looking up from her book with curiosity. "Was there something specific that happened?"

"It's not necessarily bad, just kind of awkward and a long story," Emi replied, rubbing the back of her neck and glancing around the room, clearly uncomfortable. Kirishima and Kaminari both turned their attention to her, eager to hear more. "It's just something I'd rather not dwell on. I'd prefer to leave it in the past."

Kaminari's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Oooo, I bet you got in trouble!"

Emi quickly shook her head, her cheeks reddening despite her denial. Kirishima noticed and raised an eyebrow. "Ems, did you get expelled or something?" he asked, his tone both curious and surprised. The idea seemed unlikely, but he remembered that it was the first day of school when she had already punched someone—although, to be fair, the guy had deserved it.

"No, no, it's nothing like that!" Emi protested, her voice trembling as she tried to hide her discomfort. Even without turning around, she could feel the weight of everyone's curiosity from the kitchen. "You're all getting the wrong idea."

"You did punch someone on your first day; maybe you did get expelled," Shoto said calmly, leaning on his knees. Emi shot him a look, silently wishing he would return to his usual quiet demeanor.

"Come on, just tell us. We won't judge," Kaminari encouraged, his excitement almost causing Kirishima to flinch.

Kirishima observed Emi closely, trying to gauge whether she was simply embarrassed or genuinely distressed. He was curious but didn't want anyone to push her too hard. Before he could step in, Hagakure popped up behind Emi, exclaiming, "We all want to know!"

At that moment, Emi's restraint broke. "Yes, I was expelled, okay? Are you happy now?" she shouted, her chest heaving with the outburst. She quickly buried her face in her hands. "I was expelled, but thanks to my mentorship with Stars and Stripes, they were kind enough to let me transfer here for a fresh start."

Her confession was met with stunned silence, and for a moment, Emi wished she could just disappear. But then, one by one, her friends started laughing—not at her, but at her visible embarrassment. Kirishima, unfazed, knew that no one really cared. Expulsions happened, even at U.A., but students were often given second chances. As he laughed, Kirishima reached out and took her hand, gently guiding her to look at him.

"Ems, no one cares that you were expelled," he said reassuringly. "Unless you were a complete psycho, which we all know you aren't, I'm sure it was just a misunderstanding." He tried to ease her embarrassment with a comforting smile. Meanwhile, Shoto and Tsuyu, who were closest to her, each placed a hand on one of her shoulders in support.

With the added support, Emi felt a surge of confidence, her hand still resting in Kirishima's. "Alright, I'll explain," she began, taking a deep breath. "I'm not proud of it, and it's something that'll stick with me forever." She steadied herself before continuing as more of her classmates gathered around her. "It was supposed to be a normal sparring session with that classmate I mentioned to Shoto earlier. I had been preparing all morning, but honestly, I already had a grudge against him."

"This guy, Ryo, was the absolute worst. You think the guy from this morning was bad? He doesn't even come close." Emi's voice grew more intense. "Ryo treated everyone like dirt, especially the younger students he considered too weak to be there. I witnessed him badly hurting a first-year student, and the school didn't do anything about it. So, when it came time for our sparring match, all I saw was a bully. Ryo taunted me, pushed me to my breaking point, and I finally lost it. In my rage, I might have broken his arm and caused some serious damage to the gym. I got expelled for excessive anger, but even my classmates thought it was unfair. I'm still paying money back on the property damage I caused."

As Emi finished her story, Kirishima felt a deep mix of anger and pride. It was infuriating that the school had ignored something so obvious to all the students and so quickly resorted to expulsion, even in the face of the damage caused. Kirishima was furious that Emi had been so unfairly treated but hearing her stand up against a bully made him want to both high-five her and give her a big hug.

Midoriya was the first to speak up, his voice steady and supportive. "Even with the consequences, I think you did the right thing, Emi."

Tokoyami nodded in agreement. "Yes, I agree. No one here tolerates a bully."

Ida, though his standards were different, offered his praise. "Your methods may not align with my own, but I commend you for standing up for what's right."

The support from the entire class was overwhelming. Even Bakugo chimed in, gruffly saying she should have broken more than just Ryo's arm. Kirishima kept his gaze on Emi's face, noticing the tears beginning to well up in her eyes. He squeezed her hand gently and said, "Like I've told you before, you're the strongest person I know."

Emi's heart swelled with gratitude for her friends. Their support was growing more profound every day, making her feel like she truly belonged. Surrounded by her first genuine female friends and a group of guys who treated her like she had always been part of the class, she felt an overwhelming sense of acceptance. And with Kirishima holding her hand, she felt on top of the world; like she actually was strong like he said.

Not wanting to break down in front of her friends, Emi quickly excused herself to dry the tears of joy that were threatening to overflow. She turned the corner toward the bathrooms, making a determined effort to keep her eyes upwards and prevent the tears from falling. Before she could get too far, she felt a gentle yet firm hand grasp hers, halting her.

"Hey, look at me, Ems," Kirishima said softly, his voice filled with concern as he held her hand. As soon as he saw her leave the room, he knew he couldn't let her face this alone. He hadn't chased after her the first time, but he wasn't going to make that mistake again. When Emi turned to face him, tears were streaming down her cheeks, and Kirishima's heart ached to see her so vulnerable. He felt an overwhelming urge to kiss each tear away.

"I'm okay, Kiri. I promise," Emi said, her voice shaky but sincere. She took a step closer, placing her other hand gently on his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breathing. She could see the concern etched in his eyes, and it comforted her.

"Then why are you crying?" Kirishima asked, his free hand reaching up to brush away a teardrop from her cheek. The warmth of her skin beneath his touch made him linger, his hand staying there to offer comfort.

Emi chuckled softly through her sniffles, her eyes still glistening as she managed a smile. "I'm just really happy, that's all. Hearing everyone's support, feeling like I truly belong here—it means more to me than I can express."

Kirishima's gaze softened as he listened to her words. He could see the genuine relief and joy in her eyes, and it warmed his heart. He gently cupped her cheek with his hand, his thumb brushing away the last of her tears.

"I'm glad to hear that," Kirishima said, his voice filled with warmth. "You deserve to feel this way. You've worked hard to get here and to stand up for what's right. It's okay to be emotional about it."

Emi nodded, taking in his reassuring presence. She could feel the support from her friends and the genuine care from Kirishima, and it made the weight of her earlier emotions feel lighter.

"I never thought I'd find a place where I felt like I truly belonged," Emi admitted, her voice soft. "But with all of you, I really do feel like I've found my place."

Kirishima smiled, his eyes shining with admiration. "We're lucky to have you with us, Ems. Don't ever doubt that."

They stood there for a moment, the connection between them comforting and real. The corridor around them seemed to fade away as they shared this intimate, heartfelt exchange. Kirishima's presence was like a steady anchor, keeping her grounded and reassured.

Emi took a deep breath, feeling a renewed sense of peace. "Thank you, Kiri. I needed this."

"You don't have to thank me," Kirishima said, shaking his head with a grin. Emi's tension eased and the earlier weight of her story seemed to lift. The sounds of her friends' laughter and support echoed faintly from the room they had left, a reminder of the warm, welcoming community she was part of. Emi felt a deep sense of gratitude for the friends who had quickly become her family, and Kirishima's unwavering support only reinforced her feeling of belonging.

Finally, Kirishima gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Are you ready to head back? I think everyone's waiting to hear more about the epic showdown between you and Ryo."

Emi laughed softly, nodding. "Yeah, I think I'm ready. Let's go."

With Kirishima by her side, Emi felt a renewed sense of confidence as they walked back to rejoin their friends. The warmth of their friendship wrapped around her like a comforting embrace, making her feel more at home than ever.

Once dinner was ready, Emi felt relaxed enough to share more about her story with the class. She filled in Sero, Mina, Ojiro, Jiro, and Koda as they joined the group. With each detail she revealed, her friends asked questions, sparking deeper discussions. Each of them offered their own perspectives on the events and shared what they might have done in her situation. In the end, it became clear that none of them would have acted differently.

Emi realized that this was her true home, and she had simply arrived a bit late. Her journey had always been destined to bring her here.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.