𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 || 𝐌𝐡𝐚

20

When Reia finished grading papers, the first thing she noticed was that the majority of the students were gone. While Asui, Uraraka, and Tokoyami stayed inside, the rest of the students were nowhere to be seen. It was...weird, but not surprising. Putting away her work, the woman stood up from her seat at the dining table, then made her way around the house

Usually when the students had weekends and Reia wasn't taking them out, they would go try to find something that would keep their attention. Since it was 35 degrees outside, she assumed that they would be in their rooms, most likely the movie theater if most of them were gone. However, the longer she was in the house, the more she couldn't find them, so with no other place left, she stepped out into the cold with a sweater on before making her way toward the backyard.

Just as she predicted, in the distance she could see some of the students running around. A small smile made its way onto Reia's lips when she saw Sato belt out laughing with Ojiro not following far behind. As she began to walk closer, her eyes caught onto something behind them, and when her eyes shifted in its direction, she immediately stopped, her eyebrows furrowing.

Standing tall behind them was some sort of tent. Colored in a dark, navy blue, the tent was shaped similarly to an octagon, and it stretched across several feet on the grass. With small fishnet holes serving as windows near the top of the tent's walls, smoke seemed to be rising out of the top of the makeshift house. From what Reia could see, faded light flickered inside, flashes of individual shadows appearing every so often.

"Hey Winters-sensei!"

The sound of a voice caused the woman to turn, and she saw Sato walking up to her with Ojiro following behind, both with smiles on their faces.

"Sato, Ojiro, what are you kids doing? It's cold out."

"Just having a mini celebration for finishing with good grades on our test," Ojiro replied.

"Yep. Everyone's cooking marshmallows inside. You want to join?" Sato added.

Reia smiled gently at the two boys. "I appreciate you asking, but I don't want to intrude on anything. I'm sure you guys are having plenty of fun without having me be there. I just wanted to check in to see if you guys are doing alright."

"Well then, if you wanted to check, why don't you go in to see for yourself? And you wouldn't be intruding. Everyone would be happy for you to join," Ojiro said.

Reia's smile couldn't help but grow a little at the statement. "Thank you, sweetheart. I guess if you guys don't mind then."

Both Sato's and Ojiro's smiles grew wider. With both of them at her sides, they led her to the tent and unzipped the entrance. When the woman stepped inside, the first thing she noticed was the flickering of fire in the center of the tent. Its flames licked violently at the sides, but it was contained within the pit it was placed in. It was low enough to not burn anything, and it was high enough to burn the marshmallows that crowded over the top of it.

At the sight of the newcomer, the students in the circle burst into happy greetings and excited gasps.

"Winters-sensei!" Some of them called out.

Iida seemed to have gotten up from his spot next to Midoriya and Todoroki, and he approached Reia, a grilling stick in hand with a white marshmallow on it, and a pleasant smile resting on his face.

"Winters-sensei! I am pleased to see that you're joining us!"

Reia chuckled, grabbing the stick from his hand with a nod. "Thank you for allowing me to."

"Here Winters-sensei! Sit here!" a voice called out.

The woman turned. She saw Mina ecstatically patting the space next to her, Sero, and Kaminari. Smiling slightly, she walked over and sat down. Suddenly, Mina latched onto Reia's arm, causing her to look at the teen with wide eyes.