Chapter 1 - Waking Up Late

The soft melody of Yuuki's alarm drifted through her dorm room like a whisper, gentle and sweet, just the way she liked it. Harsh sounds always made her heart race and her nerves tremble, so she chose something quiet—something that would wake her softly, like the first rays of morning sunlight. Her honey-brown hair, streaked with faint pastel pink, was a tangled mess around her face as she stirred beneath her mountain of blankets. She blinked a few times, her hazel eyes still heavy with sleep, and gave a small yawn that sounded more like a sigh. The air in her room was cozy and warm, filled with the faint scent of vanilla from the candle she'd forgotten to blow out the night before.

Stuffed animals sat lined up neatly on her shelf, watching her with button eyes—her favorite, a chubby bear with a tiny pink ribbon, sitting proudly in the middle. Yuuki stretched, her sweater sleeve falling past her hand as she rubbed her eyes. It was another beautiful day at U.A. High, sunlight streaming through the soft pastel curtains that framed her window. The sky was clear, and faint sounds of laughter and footsteps could already be heard from outside as students began their morning routines. Everything felt calm and peaceful... until she glanced at her phone.

Her big hazel eyes went wide. "O-Oh no... oh no, oh no, I'm gonna be late!" she stammered, the soft morning quiet shattering in an instant. Panic rushed through her chest like a spark igniting her quirk, her heart pounding fast enough that she could almost feel her quirk humming beneath her skin.

She scrambled out of bed, nearly tripping over her pastel-pink blanket as she tried to pull herself together. Her wardrobe door creaked open to reveal rows of soft, oversized sweaters and gentle pastel tones. Her fingers flew over hangers, finally grabbing a fluffy cream-colored sweater that looked as comforting as a hug. She paired it with her favorite light-blue jeans—ones that were soft and worn in just right—and slipped on her white Converse sneakers decorated with tiny red strawberries she'd painted herself one weekend when Mina had dragged her into a "let's customize our shoes" project.

"C-calm down, Yuuki," she whispered to herself, voice trembling slightly as she smoothed her hair in the mirror. "You're okay... you're fine..." She slung her school bag over her shoulder, glanced once more at the little photo of her and her friends taped to her dresser—Ochaco hugging her from behind while Mina threw up peace signs—and smiled despite her nerves.

With one last deep breath, she opened her door and stepped out. The day had only just begun, but for Yuuki, it already felt like her heart was running a marathon.

•••

Yuuki hurried through the halls of U.A., clutching her bag to her chest and trying not to bump into anyone as she moved as fast as her short legs could carry her. Her heart was still racing, her mind full of anxious thoughts about being late and making a scene in front of everyone. She could already imagine the embarrassment of walking into class after Aizawa-sensei had started talking, everyone turning to look at her—it made her stomach twist just thinking about it. But when she finally reached the classroom door and glanced inside, her wide hazel eyes blinked in surprise. Everyone was still chatting, scattered in little groups, and Aizawa hadn't even arrived yet. She froze for a moment, letting out a long, shaky sigh of relief as the tension drained from her body.

"I... I made it on time," she murmured under her breath, her voice barely audible but full of disbelief. A soft smile tugged at her lips as she stepped inside, brushing a stray strand of pink-highlighted hair behind her ear. The familiar hum of morning chatter filled the air—Denki and Kirishima arguing playfully about breakfast, Jiro pretending not to listen while clearly eavesdropping, and Mina's laughter cutting through it all like sunshine. Yuuki made her way toward her seat, shoulders slightly hunched, clutching her bag strap in that small, nervous way she always did. She was just about to sit down when a blur of pink and brown suddenly came flying toward her.

"Yuuki!" Mina's energetic voice rang out, followed by a warm tackle that nearly made Yuuki stumble back. Ochaco was right behind her, her brown hair bouncing as she wrapped her arms around both of them in an excited hug. "You're here! We thought you overslept!" Mina grinned, her amber eyes full of teasing mischief.

Yuuki giggled softly, her laugh light and breathy. "G-good morning," she stuttered shyly, her cheeks flushing a pale pink as she nervously fidgeted with the sleeve of her soft sweater. She always did that when she was flustered—twisting the fabric between her fingers as if it could absorb her nervous energy. "I thought I was late... but I guess I worried for nothing."

"You made it just in time!" Ochaco said cheerfully, stepping back with a bright smile that instantly made Yuuki relax. "How'd you sleep last night? You looked really tired yesterday after training."

Yuuki's expression softened as she brushed a loose curl out of her face. "I slept okay," she said gently, her tone warm but quiet. "No bad dreams this time." The way she said it made both girls smile; they knew Yuuki had nights where her anxiety made it hard for her to rest. It wasn't uncommon for her to wake up in the middle of the night, trembling and breathless, her Quirk reacting to the storm of emotions she couldn't control. So a calm night's sleep was always something to celebrate.

"That's great to hear!" Ochaco said sincerely, giving her a quick pat on the arm before walking with her toward their seats. "You deserve some peace after how intense last week was."

"Speaking of intense..." Mina groaned dramatically, leaning back against her chair with an exaggerated sigh. "Did you guys see the announcement about the U.A. finals? They're starting the fight training next month."

Yuuki's shoulders tensed slightly, and she blinked, glancing between them with hesitant curiosity. "F-fight training? Already?" she asked, voice small and uncertain.

"Yeah," Mina said, throwing her hands in the air. "We just barely got through our last round of combat drills, and now they're making us do it again—but bigger, longer, and probably way scarier. Seriously, I love being a hero student, but can't we get like... one month off where we don't have to nearly die?"

Ochaco laughed nervously, rubbing the back of her neck. "You know Aizawa-sensei... he says we have to be ready for anything. I guess that means no breaks."

Yuuki bit her lip softly, looking down at her hands folded in her lap. "I-I hope I can keep up this time," she murmured, almost to herself. Her Quirk was strong, but unpredictable—its connection to her emotions meant that one wrong surge of fear or stress could make things spiral fast. She still remembered the last time it had flared during a training match, how the energy had pulsed out of her like a heartbeat made of light. It had scared her more than anyone else.

Mina reached over and squeezed her shoulder gently, her grin softening into something more caring. "You're gonna do great, Yuuki. You always think you can't, and then you end up surprising everyone—including yourself."

Yuuki looked up, her hazel eyes shining with quiet gratitude. "Thank you," she whispered.

The thought of standing in front of everyone, fighting, using her Quirk while they all watched—it made her heart beat faster in that shaky, uneven rhythm that made the air around her feel just a little warmer, a little charged. She tried to steady her breathing, reminding herself that she wasn't alone, that her friends were there and believed in her. She was about to say something when she heard a familiar, gentle voice from across the room.

"Don't worry too much, Yuuki," Midoriya said, looking up from the notebook he was always scribbling in. His expression was warm and reassuring, his eyes filled with that same steady kindness he gave everyone when they were nervous. "You've been improving a lot lately. I've been keeping track of your progress during training sessions, and your control's getting better each time."

Yuuki blinked, a little startled that he'd noticed, and her cheeks turned a faint pink as she twisted her fingers together. "Y-you really think so?" she asked softly, tilting her head a bit.

Midoriya nodded immediately, smiling in that slightly bashful way he always did when he talked about hero work. "Definitely! The way you used your Tender Pulse in the last exercise—you kept the energy contained even though you were under pressure. That's not easy to do. You're learning to stay calm even when your emotions are strong. That's really impressive, Yuuki."

His words warmed her chest in that soft, glowing way only genuine encouragement could. She smiled, shy but grateful, lowering her gaze for a moment to hide the flustered look on her face. "T-thank you, Midoriya... that means a lot," she murmured. "I-I really do try my best, even if... even if I still get scared sometimes."

Across the room, Todoroki, who had been listening quietly, glanced over from his seat. His calm, even tone broke through the chatter like cool air after heat. "Everyone gets scared, Yuuki," he said simply, his mismatched eyes steady and sincere. "Fear isn't weakness. It just means you care about what happens. You're strong enough to handle it. We've all seen that."

Yuuki looked at him, her lips parting in surprise before curving into a soft, touched smile. Todoroki wasn't one for many words, but when he did speak, it always seemed to matter. His quiet confidence felt like something solid she could lean on. "You guys are too nice to me," she said with a small, shy laugh, her voice trembling just slightly at the edges.

That was all the invitation Mina needed. With a dramatic squeal, she launched herself across the aisle, wrapping her arms around Yuuki in an overly enthusiastic hug that nearly knocked the smaller girl right out of her chair. "Of course we're nice to you! You're the most adorable person in the entire world, Yuuki!" Mina exclaimed, squeezing her so tightly that Yuuki could barely breathe, though she couldn't help laughing softly through her surprise. "You're like a little ball of sunshine and comfort! You're too cute—it's unfair!"

"M-Mina!" Yuuki squeaked, her voice muffled as she tried to wriggle free without hurting her friend's feelings. Her face had gone the color of a strawberry, and her hands flailed a little as she tried to tug at Mina's arms. "You're—ah—crushing me!"

Before Mina could respond, a stern but familiar voice cut through the air, sharp and precise. "Ashido!" Tenya Iida's glasses flashed as he stood abruptly, one hand chopping through the air in his usual serious fashion. "Please refrain from physically overwhelming your classmates before the lesson has even begun! You must show restraint, especially in the classroom environment!"

Mina turned her head toward him, still hugging Yuuki tightly. "Aww, come on, Iida, she doesn't mind! Right, Yuuki?"

Yuuki giggled breathlessly, her voice muffled against Mina's shoulder. "I-I don't m-mind, but... I can't breathe!" she said with a soft, helpless laugh that made everyone nearby chuckle.

Iida sighed heavily, crossing his arms but unable to completely hide the amused twitch at the corner of his mouth. "Even so, Ashido, you must show moderation! Our morning should begin with discipline, not chaos!"

"Okay, okay, class rep, I'll tone it down," Mina said teasingly, finally releasing Yuuki and letting her catch her breath. Yuuki sat back in her chair, smoothing her sweater and tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she looked up with a tiny, grateful smile.

"I'm okay," she said softly, still giggling under her breath. "Thank you for worrying about me, Iida."

"Of course!" Iida replied with his usual dramatic conviction. "As class representative, it is my duty to ensure that all of my classmates—especially those with delicate dispositions—are treated with the utmost care and respect!"

That made Mina laugh and Ochaco cover her mouth, trying not to giggle too loudly. Even Yuuki, who was usually reserved, couldn't help but laugh along, the sound quiet and sweet. The tension from earlier was gone now, replaced by warmth and laughter that filled the room. And for Yuuki, sitting there surrounded by her friends—their voices overlapping, their energy buzzing like sunlight—everything felt safe. For a moment, she forgot about the finals, the pressure, and even her fears. All that remained was the warmth of belonging, and the comforting thought that maybe she was stronger than she thought.

~•~•~•~•~

Hey guys! What do you think of my new story? I hope you guys like it. I'm in my MHA phase with the final season coming up!

Let me know how you like this first chapter! ♡