The class sent looks around at each other apprehensively. I tried to make eye contact with Father, but he couldn't look at any of us.

"Class. Settle down. As you may know, around this time of the school year, we take a trip to the USJ training grounds, where you can train and meet the pro hero Thirteen. You may also know about the recent... 'controversy' surrounding the school's security because of the threats made by the League of Villains."

"Don't tell us the trip's been cancelled!" Mina couldn't help but blurt out.

"Thirteen has assured us that they will put as many security measures in place as humanly possible. Principal Nezu has decided that the trip will continue, but only with the permission of your parents. Asui, could you please hand everyone a permission slip." She obediently got up and started to hand out the letters.

"What happens if someone's parents say no?" Mido asked, staring at the paper in his hands in dismay.

"Then you will stay here and join another class for the day." He gulped nervously before putting the paper in his bag. When a slip was handed to me, I didn't even bother reading it before throwing it in my bag. I don't think I'll need to worry about my parents not giving me permission.

"I don't think she should go." I dropped my schoolbag in shock.

"What?" My dad slipped his shoes off and started walking into the living room.

"Don't be silly, Shou. Of course she should go. You know what a wonderful opportunity this is."

"But what if something bad happens? I don't think that the trip should be on."

"I know, Shou. You made that very clear in the meeting this morning."

"Well, even though you seem to have forgotten that I'm literally standing right here, I want to go."

"See, she wants to go." Dad ruffled my hair affectionately before leaving me and Father standing in the hallway. We looked at each other for a moment before I threw off my trainers and zipped into the kitchen to find Ramen. I heard him sigh behind me.

Even though he clearly didn't want me to go, something made Father agree to let me go to the USJ. Dad signed the slip and put it in my schoolbag - he probably knew that I'd forget to put it in.

The evening was peaceful. We had dinner together for the first time in a while. It was pretty silent until Ramen jumped up unexpectedly and put his paw in Father's drink.

"No! Ramen!" He groaned.

"Good kitty." I giggled. Dad hid his mouth behind his hand. But it alleviated the tension, and we soon found ourselves laughing and joking like we usually did.

"I'll clean up tonight." Father announced when we had finished. "Go and relax." He placed a loving kiss on Dad's forehead.

"Relax time! Nice! Have fun cleaning, Dadzawa!" I got up and prepared my escape, finally using my silly nickname for him again.

"Go and do your homework! Hinami!" Dad called after me, not trying to keep the smile out of his voice. I raced to my room, a tabby weaving under my feet as we went.

Don't worry. I did the homework.

The next day, much to my surprise, everyone handed in a completed slip that confirmed that they could go. Even Kami remembered his.

"Yeah!" Mina squealed, wrapping us in a group hug as soon as lunch time began. "The last trip was so much fun! I bet this one is going to top it!"

"I'm not looking forward to it. You guys were a pain last time." Katsu growled, artfully dodging Mina's arm.

"You love us really." I punched his arm lightly. He looked away and grunted.

"Aw! He didn't even deny it this time!" Kami gasped.

"He's really warming up to us." Sero laughed, digging into his food.

We started to discuss what we thought it would be like at USJ. We had all heard wonderful things about Thirteen and their training centre. Half way through the conversation, Katsu stopped and groaned.

"What do you want, shitty nerd?" I turned around to see Mido behind me, his hand outstretched, like he was about to tap my shoulder.

"I- Uh... Well... I wanted to talk to Hinami-"

"Well we're busy, so piss off, Deku!"

"Take no notice of him." I tutted, shuffling up to make room for him at the table. "What is it?"

"A-actually... I meant in private. It'll just be a few minutes..." A little surprised at the sudden request, I stood up. I could practically hear Katsu bubbling with anger.

"So. What's up?" I asked as we sat down on a bench. It was under a tree in a secluded part of the grounds.

"It's about All Might. How... How close are you two?"

"Oh. Toshi and I are super close!" I beamed. "Always have been."

"She calls him Toshi that's so cool I'd never call him by his first name!" He muttered to himself, looking away before snapping back to reality. He looked at my amused smirk with a blush. "Sorry..."

"It's okay. It's pretty cute. The way you always fanboy over him. I guess it's funny to me because I've known him for so long that I don't feel that way." His blush deepened.

"M-moving on. I wanted to ask how much you know about his quirk."

"I don't think I can-"

"No. It's okay, I know everything. I'm All Might's successor."

"So THAT'S why you spend so much time together!" He nodded, a little smile pulling at the corners of his lips.

"Well. I know that his quirk is running out and keeping muscly is increasingly difficult for him. That's the main part, right?" Mido nodded, but didn't look convinced. "Are you worried about his retirement or something?"

"You could say that..." He looked off into the distance again. Furrowing my eyebrows, I put a hand on his shoulder.

"Midoriya? If you're my uncle's successor, that basically makes us family. So you can talk to me if something is bothering you." Tears gathered in the corners of his eyes.

"I just... I want him to carry on being a hero for as long as possible..." He hiccuped and rubbed his eyes with his sleeve.

"We all do, Midoriya."

"No. You don't understand. When All Might retires, it means it will be time for me to step in. What if I'm not ready? I still have so far to go! I don't think I'll ever be ready! What if I fail everyone? What if I fail him? Wh-" I pulled him into my chest, silencing him, and gently stroked his hair while murmuring sweet nothings in his ear. I don't think he had even realised how much he had been sobbing until I stopped his rant.

"Midoriya. We all have a long way to go. That's natural. Even when we're finished school, even when we're pros, even when we've been in the fields for years and years. We will always have far to go. Because none of us will ever be perfect. And that's okay. Toshi chose you for a reason. He saw something in you. Doubting yourself is just as good as doubting him. Would you ever doubt All Might?" He shook his head slightly. "Then believe in yourself. For him, if not anyone else." He sat up. We locked eyes. His were bright green, even through his lingering tears. A watery smile appeared on his face.

"Thank you, Hinami. Thank you." He wrapped his arms around my middle in a tight hug. I draped my arms over his shoulders.

"What are friends for? Don't mention it."

Once Mido and I had finished hugging it out, he seemed considerably better. We sat and made idle conversation for the rest of lunch (which was only about ten minutes), mainly about my Uncle and some of his most amazing feats. I also gave him a good tip. If he ever feels like he's about to explode like he just did, to put his fingers on his wrist and focus on his pulse. The rhythm is calming.

"Oh no. Hinami! There's a patch on your shoulder from my tears! I'm sorry..." I pulled out my water bottle and tipped some over the patch, letting it drip down my front.

"Oops. I'm so clumsy." I smiled lazily. He smiled back knowingly. His 'secret' would be safe with me. "Let's get to class before Aizawa kicks our asses." He gave a single nod, and we set off.

"What happened to your blazer? You're soaking wet." Father scolded as soon as we entered the room.

"Oh, some stupid kid bumped into me with their water bottle open. It went over both of us. Mido was just out of the splash zone." I laughed nonchalantly and elbowed him in the ribs. He nodded. Father handed me some tissues so that I could dab myself dry and didn't question me any further.

"See." I whispered to Mido as we made our way to our seats.

"That was the dumbest smart thing I've ever seen. You could have just stood under a hand dryer for a while. But noooo! You have to dump water all over yourself." He rolled his eyes at me mockingly, but he didn't even try to keep the massive grin off of his face.

"You know I can't resist a wet t-shirt competition." I sighed playfully. He punched my arm.

"Did you two have fun?" Kastu asked flatly, glaring at the two of us.

"Oh h-hi, Kacchan."

"H-h-h-h-hi, D-D-D-Deku." He mocked cruelly.

"Don't be mean, Bakugo." Todoroki swooped in and put a protective hand on Mido's arm. "Hello you two. Where did you run off to?"

"Woah." I put my hands up in playful defense, but I couldn't help but furrow my brows. What was up with these two? "Everyone is so interested in what me and Midoriya have been doing."

"I'm not interested in that shitty nerd. I just wanna know how you could bare him for so long. You said you'd be there for a few minutes."

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say that you're jealous!"

"Well you don't know!" He yelled, standing up and slamming his exploding fists on the desk. I flinched at his outburst. The whole class went silent and stared at us. His expression went from furious to blank when he realised what he did. Despite the fact that I could feel my face burning and my pulse quickening, I gave an airy chuckle.

"You're such a loaded gun, Katsu-kun."

"Class. Sit in your seats. Come on now!" Father clapped unenthusiastically, saving me from my embarrassment. "It's time for maths."