Yui stared at Izuku like he’d grown a second head, “Surp- Izu, do our parents know they’re here? You know how they value their… privacy.” Well, at least she knew how much Aizawa didn’t want people to know. She didn’t want to deal with an angry insomniac.

“Yeah! I made sure to get permission first, nee-chan. Dad said it was okay, I promise.” He was quick to reassure her, “I just thought… we could have a sleepover. It’ll be fun. I already have pizza ordered. I know you’ve been stressed lately so…” He trailed off as he fiddled with his hands.

“So we’re here to help you relax! No homework, or training, just movies, junk food and fun!” Hado bounced forward, hooking her arm with Yui’s and tugging her over to the blanket pile and pulling her down with her. Yui hissed softly at the pain that shot down her arm from the action. Naganuma hadn’t been holding back in their little spar, and he was able to throw her like she weighed nothing.

“Hey, you okay, Yui?” Togata asked, the question only making her stiffened as she looked away. “Was it from the match today? You can tell me if I was too rough, you know?”

She rolled her eyes at him, “I’m fine, Togata. I mean, yeah, my pride is a bit hurt since you wiped the floor with both me and Haya. But all you gave me were some bruises. You know how to control yourself.” She mumbled the last part, not noticing the looks they all exchanged before she met his gaze. “I’m just sore, it’s nothing to worry over.”

He hummed softly before he plopped down next to her, Izuku and Amajiki joining them. “If you say so… it’s okay to admit when you’re hurt, you know?”

Yui frowned softly as she raised an eyebrow at him, “If I was seriously hurt, yeah. I wouldn’t walk around if I had something broken…” Her voice trailed off.

“Well, I’d hope not, Yui.” Hado let out a soft giggle, “That’d be really painful and dangerous. We do a lot of sparring and trying to do that would be really bad, it could make the breaks worse, right?”

“Yeah… it’d be really stupid.” Yui scratched at her neck. “So, um, did you guys want to watch a movie or something?”

“Oh yeah! You said you haven’t seen that new movie with the dragon, right? We can watch that?” Hado suggested, reaching for two of the lavender shortbread cookies before holding one out to her. Yui couldn’t stop her lips from curling into a small smile as she took it from her with a quiet thanks.

“Or we could watch Rapunzel, and you can hit me with your best jokes?” Togata wriggled his eyebrow at her, his grin widening when she snorted.

“You hate that nickname. I have to think of something new for you… but the dragon movie has my vote.” Yui hummed as she nibbled on the treat.

“I don’t hate it. It’s…cute.” His nose crinkled as he laughed, leaning back against the couch and stretching his arms out as he got comfortable. Izuku smiled as he turned on the movie, the five of them settling down to watch the opening.

Yui’s eyelids started to droop as she bit back a yawn, her back eventually resting against the couch. She froze when she felt something warm at the back of her neck, glancing at the blonde beside her. Togata’s eyes found hers, a gentle grin on his lips as the arm behind her gave a little flex. She gave a small huff of a relieved sigh as she relaxed against him.

Hado definitely has the same vibes as the dragon… Yui breathed in deep, deciding to just rest her eyes for a moment when it all just faded to black.

Warmth, the smell of honey and sandalwood surrounding her, something firm but still somewhat soft under her cheek that she couldn’t stop herself from snuggling in closer. It was nice, letting herself drift along, just bobbing along with the rumbles and murmurs until she recognized one of the sounds.

“…Yui…” Her eyelids twitched before she tried to screw them shut, burying her face in closer to the warmth. “We can’t just push it off anymore.” She just wanted a little bit longer. Just a bit longer to enjoy the warm fuzziness clouding her mind.

“I-I know it’s hard, but we have to talk to her…”

“We just have to be... gentle.” That was Izuku’s voice.

“But we can’t be pushovers or she’ll never tell us!” Hado whispered fiercely, Yui blinked groggily as she slowly sat up, looking around at the group that seemed to freeze like deer in the headlights.

“What are you guys talking about?

She stiffened when they exchanged looks, her skin prickling as they had some sort of silent conversation right in front of her and she had no idea what it was about. That warm feeling that she’d tried to keep wrapped around her evaporated. Togata cleared his throat as he gave her a nervous smile. “Actually… we need to talk, Yui.”

Yui tried not to freeze up at the statement, the pressure that was feeling too familiar settling in her chest. “About what?” She winced at how brisk her voice sounded. She hadn’t realized that she’d pulled her arms in closer.

“Ah…um… sorry, I’m not really sure how to say this-“ The blonde stuttered out when Hado blurted out.

“We’re worried about you, Yui!”

Yui turned to her, nails biting into her palms as she tried to smile, “I told you, I’m fine. It’s just bruises-“

“It’s not just about the bruises, and the other injuries. We share a locker room, I’ve seen the bandages and stuff. You’ve been avoiding us, Yui…” Hado’s fingers hooked in her sleeve as she looked into her eyes, leaning forward with so much concern shining in her eyes that Yui couldn’t help but lean back. I thought I was hiding it better…

“I…I’ve just been busy. And I had detention for a whole week, remember?”

“You don’t eat lunch with us. Or join us after school to train. Is it… did we do something that upset you? You can tell us, we won’t be offended!” Togata pressed.

“What? No, you didn’t do anything…” Yui swallowed thickly as she looked back at him. “I’m sorry that I’ve been pulling back, it’s nothing you guys did or didn’t do. It’s … it’s something personal that I don’t want to drag you guys into.” She grit her teeth at the slip up.

“Yui-nee… what do you mean?” Izuku shuffled closer, one hand reaching out that paused at the way she stiffened. His eyes shone, “Whatever it is, you don’t have to do it alone.” Icy claws dug into her throat, cutting off any words she was going to say.

“We knew something was wrong, please, let us help you. It’s not a bother!” Hado insisted, inching closer as needles ran under her skin. They were too close.

“Yeah, Yui. It’s okay to ask for help! We’re your friends, you can rely on us!” She jumped when a large hand curled around her shoulder, an action that was supposed to be comforting was just too much. Her eyes burned as she squeezed them shut. Don’t cry… I…I can’t… Ringing in her ears that just got louder as their words started to run together, overlapping, and distorting as the she just tried to breathe.

“G-guys stop… give her some room. You’re scaring her-“ Amajiki stuttered out.

“I’m not scared, you’re all just too loud!” Yui snapped, rushing to her feet fast enough that Hado and Togata stumbled back. “I don’t need help, I’m fine.”

Togata got to his feet, hands raised but he didn’t move closer, “Yui, you just admitted that you’re dealing with something. It’s obvious you can’t handle it alone.”

“Mirio, back off a little-“ Amajiki tried to warn him.

“I can handle plenty.” Yui grit out, “You have no idea what I can deal with-“

“Because you won’t tell us! I know you’re strong, Yui! But Kami, you don’t trust us enough to tell us when you’re hurt!” He snapped back. “What will it take? I can’t stand seeing you tear yourself up over whatever this is! You’re my friend, our friend! It hurts to see you shut yourself off!”

“Miri-“ Hado whispered, her voice shaking with wide eyes.

“Let’s just back up right now…” Izuku tried to reason.

“Then why are you here?! I didn’t ask to be friends!” Yui snapped, words rushing out of her mouth before she could even second-guess them. “You’d be better off if we weren’t! Why would you want to be friends with the ‘rabid dog’ of 1-A? You say you want the truth but you wouldn’t want anything to do with me if you knew the truth of who I-“ She grit her teeth hard enough her jaw creaked when her words finally registered.

Togata blinked owlishly at her, confusion taking over his frustration as he reached out, fingers curling over her shoulders even as she stiffened at the contact. Kami, he looked so hurt, why had that spewed out? She couldn’t even keep control of her own damned mouth- “Yui? What do you mean-“

“I…Fuck, I didn’t mean that, I’m sorry but… I-I need space.” She brushed off his hands, stepping around him to see tears in Hado’s eyes and Amajiki wasn’t even looking at her and Izu- colors blurred together as she bolted up the stairs and back into her room.

Izuku winced at the door slamming shut, wanting to run after her but he knew she wouldn’t even answer the door until she’d calmed down and put her walls back in place. He gnawed at his lip as he turned to the three teens.

“I…I messed up, I’m sorry. I… I didn’t mean to snap like that. I just…I got too frustrated. I wanted her to know how much it hurt to see her in pain…” His voice cracked as his shoulders slumped, “I thought…if I pressed harder… I could get through.”

“It’s my fault too. I…I didn’t give her space either.” Hado bit down on her lip before she looked up at them, “I didn’t mean for this to turn out like this…I rushed in.”

“We’ll try again after we calm down. Yui-nee didn’t mean what she said, I think she felt cornered and lashed out…” Izuku sighed softly as he rubbed his neck. It didn’t stop his mind running a mile a minute as he mulled over what they’d all said.

“She… she called herself a ‘rabid dog’…” Amajiki mumbled, Izuku blinked as he looked up at him. The navy haired teen rubbed his arm when the others turned their attention to him. “That’s what…Tomono calls her.”

“Why does he call her that?” Izuku’s brow furrowed.

“Did she not tell you? When she had detention for a week?”

“She blacked out and hurt a student, right? She hadn’t been sleeping and…lost control.” He bit his lip before he let it slip that she’d probably thought the student was an enemy or something from her past.

“Yeah, it was Tomono. He’s been super mean and saying that Yui is going to snap and go too far one of these days.” Hado huffed. Izuku gnawed on his bottom lip as questions swirled in his head.

“Can you guys…tell me about any more interactions that you’ve seen between them?”

Izuku sighed softly as he looked down at the scribbled notes before he looked back at his sister’s door. He took in a deep breath before he knocked loudly, “Yui-nee? I’m sorry for ambushing you like that.”

He winced when there wasn’t an answer, he should have known she wouldn’t just open the door. “I sent them home. So it’s just me… I… it was my idea, nee-chan. I’m worried about you…we all are. So I thought we could sit down and just…show you we care…”

He bit down on his lip as silence answered him. Was she asleep? It was still early for her but she could have taken the pills granny had given her to knock herself out… His fingers tightened around the doorknob before he twisted, his eyes widening when it swung open. “Yui-nee?” He called out before he stepped inside. His breath caught in his throat before he quickly flicked on the lights to confirm his suspicion.

The room was empty.