—Ground Beta—
"Well done, everyone!" All Might said once the final battle came to an end and everyone was back at the entrance of the facility.
"You've learned a lot here, today." He flashed an inspiring grin and gave the crowd a thumbs up. "It takes a lot of work to be a hero, from fighting to being able to analyze and break down your opponent's plans."
"Take today's exercise in stride, I hope to see you all soon." All Might then guided the students back to the main building before promptly leaving to attend his other duties.
The class walked as a group back to the locker rooms, chattering as the day came to an end.
The boys were busy talking about all the cool things everyone's Quirk could do, especially because of Todoroki's display of power as he froze the entire building.
Meanwhile, the girls left to their respective locker room, seemingly more concerned about the way that Mina kept sneaking glances at Renji as the doors shut close.
—
—Outside U.A.—
Finally done with school, Renji made it out of the main building and onto the campus. The sun shone brightly over the area, shining its rays onto the passing students.
All Renji could think about was what had happened downtown. Not school, not hero training, even his inventions were put aside for the moment.
He clenched his fists tightly by his side before lifting one of his hands to pat the spot where his coilgun rested, at least that was unchanging.
Sighing deeply, Renji raised his head towards the sky before swiveling around to face Hagakure standing shyly behind him, ready to get his attention.
"What do you want, Hagakure?" He asked, clearly not amused with the amount of people trying to sneak up on him today.
"I…" Hagakure tilted her head down, squirming under Renji's direct gaze. "I wanted to make sure you were okay."
Renji's eye twitched in response, raising a brow, he gave her an awkward smile.
"Why wouldn't I be alright?" He asked, adjusting the strap on his bag.
"Well, you were kind of acting up earlier." Hagakure found the courage to look up at Renji, a determined look in her eyes. "You can tell me if something happened, you know that, right?"
Renji stared at where he believed Hagakure's eyes were. Thoughts raced through his mind, even as she waited for his response. Other Class 1-A students began filing out of the building and walked towards the pair.
Finally, after a moment of silence, his features hardened, his expression settling into a cold, unreadable mask.
"Get your head out of my business." Renji said coldly, coming to a decision. "We're not even that close."
Hagakure froze in place, the sting of his words hitting harder than she expected. For a moment, she couldn't even move, her hands clenching and unclenching at her sides as if trying to hold onto something that wasn't there.
Renji didn't wait for a response. Slinging his bag higher on his shoulder, he walked off without another word, his footsteps heavy against the pavement.
"—Hagakure? What was that about?" Mina's voice cut through the silence, carrying a mix of worry and confusion.
"Yeah, did something happen?" another classmate chimed in as a few of the girls approached her, their faces turned in the direction of her invisible outline.
Hagakure didn't answer right away. She stood there, still stiff, her silence saying more than words ever could.
—
—Apartment, Musutafu—
Renji walked up to the door, a small bag clutched at his side. He had stopped by a small family owned store before coming here. They had a wide selection of sweets, specializing in pastries.
He stared down at the welcome mat he remembered Yamamoto had bought for Emi all those years ago. In fact, Yamamoto actually called Renji to see if she would even appreciate this kind of gift.
Luckily for him, aunt Emi was a very easy going person and would appreciate any sort of present, even if it was a floormat.
Steeling himself, Renji knocked on the door and stepped back, preparing for what was to come.
There was no answer for a moment, only the noise of the slight breeze filling the air behind him and the elevator's ding from the distance.
Renji prepared to find another way in before he heard a subtle shuffling from inside the apartment.
The door creaked open and revealed a disheveled Emi, eyes red from crying. Her gaze was slow as she looked up, almost disoriented.
"…Renji?" She asked, eyes squinting at him. "…What are you doing here?"
He sighed once more, before pushing the door wider and letting himself in.
"I know what happened." He finally said, closing the door behind him.
"You—" Emi started, she seemed to have aged decades in a matter of a few hours. Admittedly, Renji couldn't blame her.
Emi's lips trembled as she tried to speak again, but no words came out. She lifted her hands to her face, burying her expression in her palms as a shuddering sob escaped.
Renji stood there in silence for a moment, watching her break. His grip on the pastry bag tightened until the paper crinkled. He wasn't good at this, saying the right words. But leaving her like this wasn't an option.
He placed the bag down on the kitchen counter with a quiet thud. Then, without asking, he moved toward her.
When she finally looked up, ready to apologize through her tears, Renji just shook his head.
"Don't," he muttered softly.
Before she could argue, he pulled her into his chest. As Emi trembled against him, crying into his shirt, his grip steadied and grew firmer.
"It's fine," Renji said, his voice low but steady. "You don't need to say anything."
Her sobs muffled into him, uneven and raw, but he didn't let go. For once, he didn't care about the awkwardness, about the silence stretching between words. All that mattered was making sure she didn't feel alone.
Minutes passed before Emi's breathing began to slow. She pulled back slightly, just enough to look up at him, her face red and streaked with tears.
"You… you shouldn't have come all this way," she whispered, her voice hoarse.
Renji scoffed quietly, shaking his head. "Don't be stupid. Where else would I go?"
The corner of her lips tugged faintly, almost a smile, though it wavered. She nodded, more to herself than to him, as if grounding in the fact that someone was still here.
Renji leaned back, glancing at the pastries he'd brought. "Sit down and eat something. You'll feel better."
It wasn't poetic, but the sincerity behind it was unmistakable. And for Emi, it was enough.
—
Emi gulped down another bite of the pastry, the sweetness of the dessert bringing a calming sensation to her soul.
Renji sat beside her, rubbing her shoulder in consolation.
He didn't speak, just kept his steady presence at her side until she was ready.
Finally, Emi lowered the half-eaten pastry onto its wrapper, her fingers trembling slightly as she folded them in her lap. Her eyes shimmered with fresh tears she tried to hold back.
"It was so quick," she whispered.
He didn't move, didn't even blink. Just kept his hand firm on her shoulder, letting her take her time.
Her lips trembled as she tried again. "I keep replaying it. The way the door burst open. The sound of glass hitting the floor, everyone went quiet." Her fingers dug into her lap, twisting the fabric of her pants.
She swallowed hard, shaking her head. "Ryuga told me to stay behind him. He always does. I should've listened—"
Her voice broke. "But all I can see is the way he shoved me toward the back, telling me to run. I didn't want to. I didn't want to leave him."
Renji's grip on her shoulder tightened slightly. Not to silence her, but to remind her she wasn't alone.
Her tears spilled over as she buried her face in her hands. "I heard him. His voice. Just once. And then… nothing. I keep thinking if I'd stayed—if I hadn't run—"
"That's enough," Renji said quietly, steady but firm.
Emi's head lifted, her eyes red and swollen, but he didn't let her spiral further.
"You don't need to explain the rest," he continued.
His tone softened, almost a murmur. "What matters is that you're here. Yamamoto made sure of that. Don't tear yourself apart for doing what he wanted you to do."
Her breath hitched, and for the first time since she opened the door, her sobs slowed. She leaned into him, trembling but lighter somehow, as if finally saying it aloud loosened the weight on her chest.
Renji stayed quiet, his arm steady around her.
The apartment fell into silence. Only the hum of the refrigerator and the faint wind outside the window filled the air.
Then—something shifted.
Silently, a small snake-like structure slipped through the crack under the apartment door, slithering across the floor towards Renji's jacket. Glinting in the dim light, Emi didn't notice, her face still buried against Renji.
He stared intently at it as it flowed into one of the canisters he always keeps on him. The worm settled into its container with a soft click, connecting to the rest of its kin.
About time you came back, he thought, exhaling slowly. His hand remained steady on Emi's shoulder, as though nothing had changed.
Renji's arm stayed firm around Emi, but his gaze had already drifted elsewhere. His eyes narrowed, a faint weight settling in the air around him.
"I'm sorry, Emi." He said, his voice low.
She stirred, puzzled at the sudden apology.
His expression hardened, shadows tugging at the edges of his features. "I should've seen it coming." A pause. "Next time, I'll make sure I do."