Avoidance is my Specialty 2

Star Skyline slipped in her earphones as she waited at the crosswalk. Apparently she hadn't learned her lesson last time she was out like this, because she hadn't grabbed a jacket this time either. Sighing, she glanced up to the now night sky as the music blared in her ears. She was aware that she'd have to face Hitoshi and Mashirao eventually. It's just that she didn't know what to say to them yet.

...Hey, yeah, I knew there was a killer after my family but I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want to give you guys more of a reason to look at me with pity?

...Er, sorry for not telling you… I just didn't want more bodyguards even though I appreciate that you two care about me?

...I was worried that you guys would make me stay home for the internship? Or worse, that one of you would give up your internships to stay with me?

With a start, Star realized that the light had already turned, and the timer only had 7 seconds left. She felt her hair fly behind her as she sprinted across the street, putting a hand to her chest after she made it across. It seemed there were also downsides to this quirk suppressing music tactic… She'd just buy some liquor in the shop and down some on the way back then, instead of using the earphones.

The shop door opened with a jingle as she stepped in, and she hummed in contentment. She wasn't able to go out often before UA, hating the strain on her quirk and her mind. It really turned things like grocery shopping and walking the streets into something she cherished now.

As customers lingered in the aisles around her, she realized how far she had come thanks to UA. Before UA, she was stuck in her apartment, drinking her days away and feeling every bit like the victim the villains made her out to be. Now, she not only lived with a bunch of people, but she enjoyed it! She had improved with her friends by her side, and even made some surprising allies as well.

As the cashier rang her up, she fought to keep her cheeks from flushing at the thought of Bakugo, and took a long swing of the already rang up wine bottle instead. He was by far the biggest surprise of coming here, and shockingly, the best ally as well. When he looked at her, she never felt pity from him. The Star he sees in his mind is the person she strives to become. The person she WILL become. She can be strong too.

Opening the door, Star stepped into the dark street. She'll show everyone just how much she's improved after Stain and the USJ. She'll prove she's not the victim anymore, and that Hitoshi and Mashirao don't need to keep worrying over-

Star jumped in surprise as a hand rested on her shoulder, forcefully throwing her into a heavier smoke filled mind despite her level of drunkenness. Quickly brushing the hand off, she spun around and pulled out her earphones.

His round glasses reflected the streetlamp light above them, and the golden chains around his neck seemed to catch the light as well. She couldn't hear a lot from his mind right now after drinking, but she couldn't stop the feeling of unease reacting to what did leak from his mind to hers.

"Ey.. don't I know ya from somewhere?" The older man asked. Star immediately connected that this was the owner of the curious mind she was thrust into, since the same smell of smoke clung to his unbuttoned purple blazer.

She shook her head, wary of mental quirks like Hitoshi's. It was the first thing he taught her after their capture. He was always hyper aware of that stuff after he was taken, and she suddenly understood why.

"Huh… Guess I don't…" The older man relented, shaking his head as if manually dispelling the thought. "Do ya have siblings or somethin'?" As he leaned forward, Star leaned back, stumbling on the curb. She could take him out if she needed to… She just had to wait for him to make the first move and use his momentum against him…

"Hey, Star!"

Star cursed as she heard a familiar voice yell out her real name. The man in front of her smiled, but backed off slightly as the person approached. Dressed in casual clothes and a long coat, Monoma appeared at her side, staring down the man in front of her. Something pulled at the edges of her brain as they stared each other down, but before she could focus on it, the man in purple was walking away.

"Heh, you Class 1-A people seem to get into a lot of sticky situations..." Monoma laughed, flicking his hair out of his face as they walked back to campus. "Just like at the Sports Festival, you're the center of attention, huh? But that attention is because you keep attracting trouble, right? Even having Hawks and Endeavor didn't stop that."

"Unfortunately…" Star frowned, before picking up on something weird in his sentence. "Wait, how did you know about Hawks? He wasn't in the article."

Monoma put his hands in his pocket, smirking like he was privy to a secret she wasn't. A secret she could be privy to if she wasn't drinking. It left her feeling quirkless and vulnerable, and uncomfortable enough to stick the cork back into the wine bottle she was holding.

"My mom is a reporter. She was in the helicopter above the scene." He finally replied, looking straight ahead with his lips set in a thin line.

Something clicked in her buzzed mind, and she blurted it out before thinking. "Oh, is that why you knew about me already when we first met?"

Monoma gave her a curt nod, and Star didn't miss the glance he sent to the wine in her hand. "Say, Star… Don't you ever get tired of being the victim?"

The words caught her off guard, and she felt his thoughts buzz more erratically against her ears.

"Don't you ever wonder if someday, everyone else around you might get caught up in your mess and become unwitting victims as well…? Do you ever wonder what kind of horrible villains your past will bring to us? What--"

Before he could finish, a strong figure came into their line of view. Eyes like simmering lava, Katsuki glanced at her for a second in what felt like relief, before narrowing in on the man next to her. She felt Monoma relax, and glancing up to him confirmed that his face was already set into a lazy smirk. "Come to pick up your little sidekick? You should keep better track of her, who knows what would've happened if I wasn't there…"

Star bristled at that, but Katsuki beat her to it, letting out a growl as he pulled her away from Monoma and into his side instead. "Fuck off, wannabe." He warned, repeating his earlier insult. Katsuki then took one glance down at her before abruptly shoving the extra coat on his arm into her hands.

Star smiled up at him and he looked away, uncomfortable, before glaring back at Monoma again. "She would take you down in an instant."

And with that, he turned away, pulling her behind him yet again. Star couldn't resist the temptation to look over her shoulder and stick her tongue out at Monoma. But he just rolled his eyes in response, smirk still on his face as he watched them go.

At least someone believed in her, Star smiled to herself as she glanced at Katsuki walking in front of her.

And that was all the inspiration she needed.