CONTENT WARNING: mentions of self-harm and scarring

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All of class 3-A were gathered around or in the pool, enjoying the day. Emi lounged on a chair next to Uraraka who had her nose in a book while trying to tune out the noise. The boys were competing for the best flip into the pool with Momo, Hagakure, and Jiro acting as judges. Mina and Tsuyu were sitting on the edge dipping their toes in and chatting.

"Y'know, compared to America this is the nicest pool day I've ever had." Emi told Uraraka, stretching out further in her bikini top and towel. She had yet to take the material wrapped around her wait off in front of everyone yet.

"Just wait till the summertime, it can be so beautiful outside!" Uraraka replied excitedly, putting her book down for a moment to chat. "Wait, are you staying here after the semester ends or going home?"
            
"I haven't decided yet. I guess we'll see when the time comes." Truthfully, she had thought all of this through well ahead of time. Emi had missed living here and wanted to see how much it had changed in the time she'd been gone. She desperately wanted her parents to come visit.

She heard a loud splash from the pool and watched as Midorya surfaced from the water. The girls scored him a seven out of ten for whatever trick he had done and while Emi was prepared to cheer, she was suddenly very distracted by the next contestant.

Kirishima's hair was dripping wet, leaving droplets to run over his shoulders. He had asked her to tie it up again when they got to the pool, stating he liked it out of his face. The look suited him, adding more to his boyish charm. Emi couldn't help but watch as he stretched, preparing himself to leap off the diving board. Everyone watched in anticipation as he used his quirk to propel himself further into his jump, before hardening his whole body on the way down, causing a wave of water to splash well out outside of the pool.

Ten out of ten from the judges.

Kirishima resurfaced, pumping his fist in the air. He heard everyone's cheers but turned to look at Emi who was hollering his name. So, she had seen it. Just what he wanted. Her red hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and her smile was blinding for him. She still hadn't gotten in the pool yet, hadn't even taken her towel off yet. Kirishima wondered if she was self-conscious.

"Emi, I think you're the only one that might be able to top that." Kirishima challenged, making her turn her smile towards him. Yep, blinding. Without hesitation Emi stood up from her chair to accept the contest before whispering something to Uraraka. He watched her, maybe a little too closely, as she walked over to the diving board.

Emi was never one to back down from a challenge and after their sparring match she wasn't hesitant to show Kirishima up. After all, he had extended the challenge to her so did he expect her to say no? She walked over to the diving board, waiting for Uraraka's signal. The gravity hero was using her quirk to float a rock high enough for Emi to touch before coming down.

"Don't blame me if I beat your record, Eijiro." Emi joked and reached for her towel. She was suddenly very aware that all eyes were on her but only hoped they'd be distracted by her dive. In fluid movements, she threw the towel to the side before getting enough momentum to jump up towards the rock in the air, quickly making her body mimic the substance before landing in the water with a large splash.

Kirishima wanted to cheer, he really wanted to. However, between Emi taking the towel off and making her jump, he was busy taking a moment to check her out when he noticed something that made his stomach feel like rocks. When she reappeared, he managed to slap on a smile and clap for her, watching as the girls gave her an eleven out of ten.

Emi swam over to him while smirking. "Well, I guess I'm the winner of today's contest. How does it feel to be a loser, Kiri?"

"Well, you did win fair and square." He shrugged before looking over at the judges with a sharp look. "Even if the scoring was a little harsh and completely too much."

Momo started to defend them, but he stopped listening. Kirishima was very conscious of how close Emi was to him. In a bikini, her hair dripping wet. He couldn't stop the blush reaching his cheeks and hoped she wouldn't notice. 

Before he could say anything else Sero and Kaminari swam over to them, butting in. "Hey, sweet jump Emi!" Sero congratulated and high fived her. "We never thought we'd see the day where someone beat Kirishima in a splash contest."

"It was so cool! The execution, the transformation mid air, everything! We had no idea you had Uraraka put that rock up there." Kaminari joined in, wading closer to Emi. Kirishima felt a flare inside his chest watching. "Now, the real question I'm wondering is how bad was the fight you got those scars from?"

All thoughts left Emi's head.

"The ones on my back?" She stammered out, trying to keep her chest from caving in.

"Well, I'm curious about that too, but no, the one's on your thighs! That must've been something dangerous for them to look that gnarly, I bet you were badass. Did you..."

Kaminari's voice faded out, and she could no longer hear a word he was saying. She felt Kirishima and Sero's eyes on her as well as everyone else beginning to tune into the conversation. She desperately wished for that rock she touched to help her sink to the bottom of the water.

It's not like he could've known, but having it brought up in this public of a setting was setting her heart into a fit. As Kaminari continued to ramble on Emi started making her way to the ladder to get out. She heard someone shout her name but didn't stop. As she climbed out of the water, she let the stainless steel of the ladder cover her entire body before grabbing her towel and walking for the locker rooms.

"What the fuck man?" Kirishima shoved Kaminari under the water. Yes, he had seen them too, but he wasn't stupid enough to ask her about them. He knew Kaminari was dense, but this was low. "Are you serious right now?"

He looked around to see his classmate's faces had fallen into something more somber, everyone hearing what was said. Emi's exit helped them put the pieces together that he had already recognized. As Sero began explaining to Kaminari what was wrong Kirishima was pulling himself out by the side of the pool, not bothering to grab a towel.

Uraraka stepped in front of him. "Wait, maybe she needs some space." She suggested, but he didn't give a damn about her suggestion. As he tried to pass her, even Bakugo grabbed his arm.

"What the hell man, even you? We all saw how upset she was so why is no one else chasing after her?" Kirishima yelled at the blonde before pulling his arm free.

"We all know what it's like to be facing our own shit, dumbass." Bakugo started, glancing around at the rest of the class. "Some of us like to talk about our problems, but if she's anything like me it'll make her shut down even more. Maybe one of the girls can talk to her when we get back to the dorm."

Kirishima desperately wanted to tell him he was wrong, that she deserved someone to comfort her, but he had a point. Was Emi someone who wanted a shoulder to cry on? No one knew. "Fine-" Kirishima stared at Bakugo, "-but you're talking to her when we get back since you stopped me."

_____________________________________

The panic had finally started to subside, and Emi was glad that no one had followed her out. When she had made it back to her room, she curled into a ball to sit on the floor and utilize the deep breathing technique her therapist had taught her ages ago. She hadn't needed it in so long, but it didn't feel foreign to her.

She had known what would happen once she took that damn towel off. "Stupid, stupid, stupid." Emi muttered to herself, balling up her fists and placing them against her forehead.

Did everyone think she was crazy? Weak? Did it make them uncomfortable?

It had been forever since she'd relapsed, and she'd gotten so proud of it. She'd thrown away any razor blades she had on top of getting herself into therapy. Things had been great. But the scars were always a reminder of the worst time in her life.

And of course, she was so new into meeting her classmates and this is one of their first impressions of her. "You've got be fucking kidding me, Emi." She whispered.

Emi sat in her room for what felt like ages until she heard commotion coming from downstairs. She was still too distraught to work up the courage to go down there, staying in her place on the floor. Maybe with time they'd all forget her quick exit from the pool after Kaminari's words. She should have brushed it off or lied and said they were from a fight. But she couldn't think that quickly in the moment.

Someone knocked at her door. She figured it was time to face the music, so she stood up from the floor, still with a blanket wrapped around her body, and opened the door. "Bakugo, what are you doing here?" She was surprised it would be him to say the least.

"Can I come in?" The blond asked. His tone was softer than usual, and Emi knew an onslaught of questioning would follow if she let him in. She stepped to the side and shut the door once he'd walked past her.

"Listen, if this is about what Kaminari said, I got flustered that he was looking. It really is nothing and if you want to tell anyone that's worrying about me that'd be great."

"Shut up for a minute." Bakugo said as he turned to face her. His words weren't matching up with his expression. "I know exactly what those scars are from so you don't have to try lying about it."

"I don't know what you're-"

"It's been two years since I relapsed."

Emi was at a loss for words at his confession. From the short while she'd known him, he'd been outspoken, and seemed like one of the strongest out of her classmates. "You used to?"

Bakugo shoved his hands in his pockets and looked at the ground. "Yea. We don't have to talk about it, but yea. Went through a shitty time. Never caused scarring but I know what it's like."

"Bakugo." Emi started, wanting to tell him the exact words she'd been told time and time again. However, she knew from experience that they wouldn't help. "You're right, we don't have to talk about it. Just... knowing someone understands makes this a little easier."

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry that sparky bastard brought it up. That's all I wanted to come here and say, so whenever you feel up to it everyone's downstairs getting ready to cook dinner." Bakugo brushed past her but paused before opening the door. "You should really talk to hair for brains though, he was the first one out of the pool trying to go after you."

"Hair for brains?" Emi asked. Bakugo only turned to her, putting his hands up to mimic Kirishima's usually spiky hair. "Ah, sure. I'll talk to him later. Just, please tell everyone I don't want to talk about it okay?"

With that, Bakugo left her room, leaving her alone with her thoughts again.

Kirishima was the one to want to come after her?

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