Sam was sitting in the classroom with everyone else. One thing he noticed was that they were treading lightly with him.
'Likely because of the test.'
Sam already knew they saw the entire test, but he doesn't hold any anger against them. His rage was reserved solely for Nezu.
To say that Sam was healed from that test, would be an outright lie. Sam was still having nightmares at night and still tasted nothing when eating.
He still always kept his guard up and always watched people carefully. He couldn't just lose the alertness that was engraved into his body.
But he did feel… lighter.
He felt like he actually took a step forward. He now believed that he might be able to let his past stay in the past.
'Easier said than done.'
Sam knew he couldn't just leave Africa behind. He spent most of his life there. He still didn't remember much about his life prior to his parent's deaths. Even that was shrouded in mystery.
He was knocked out of his thinking when he heard the whining of Kaminari and Mina.
"Have fun on the trip, bring me back souvenirs…"
Mina said with tears in her eyes.
Kaminari said something similar.
'Well, they should have done better. They should have found the rat and body slammed him.'
Sam didn't feel bad for them, they could have used their power to beat the rat.
The others tried to cheer them up, but it was no use. The others tried failures: Kirishima, Sato and Sero were also depressed, feeling like they were missing out.
Suddenly, Aizawa enters.
He goes on to explain the summer camp, then he addresses the students who failed.
"Some of you failed the practical, which means…"
Everyone who failed looked depressed, having a good idea about what Aizawa would say.
"Everyone is going."
The class erupts in cheers as they realize they are all going to camp.
"There was a way for each of you to win, which will help us know where to help with your training. This summer camp will be spent making you stronger. However, those who failed will be getting extra lessons. These will be tougher than what you'd face at the summer schools."
Some students were upset at being deceived again, since it is something Aizawa seemingly loves.
"I can't believe we were deceived again! Aizawa-Sensei! Aren't you worried we will lose trust in you?"
Iida asks, upset over the deception.
"That's a good point. I'll consider it."
Aizawa acknowledges.
He then hands out the pamphlets for each of them.
———
At the end of the day, the students are all talking and are clearly excited about the summer camp.
"Sam!"
Sam is snapped out of his daydreaming he usually does during class.
He saw it was Midoriya calling him out.
"Yo. What's up?"
"I-I was just wondering if you were going to the summer camp. I know you are not required to participate in hero course work so it would be understandable to stay home, but then again your home is at the school, so maybe you can just observe the training and maybe do your own-"
"Shut the hell up, Deku!!!"
Bakugo yelled.
"Eep!"
Sam scoffed.
'I really can't understand the relationship these two have.'
"I will probably go. I couldn't care less about the hero crap, but I'll go check it out. I may be able to get a good work out in."
Izuku gave Sam a smile of relief.
"I'm so glad!"
Sam rolled his eyes.
'Damn cinnamon bun.'
However he couldn't stop himself from smirking.
"We should all go to the mall and get things for the summer camp!"
Toru enthusiastically recommends.
The others start cheering at this idea and they immediately start planning.
"Sam, would you go with us?"
Izuku asks.
"Nah. I got plans."
"Oh okay."
The others asked and only Bakugo, Sam and Todoroki denied going.
———
Sam was granted permission to go out.
Right now he was waiting outside a coffee shop.
"Sam!"
Sam looked and saw Rumi in her civilian attire.
He smiled seeing her.
"Rumi, what's up?"
Sam suddenly got a call that morning about wanting to meet up at a nearby coffee shop that she apparently frequented.
Sam had to ask permission from Aizawa to go out and it was granted quicker than he expected.
He guessed Aizawa allowed him to go out of guilt for the test.
Rumi gave Sam a sad smile.
"I just wanted to see how you were doing? Yesterday was pretty fucked up."
Sam nodded.
He followed her into the coffee shop.
"Well, I'm not cured. I'm sure you know that. I'm super pissed off, but like I said yesterday, I hold no anger towards you."
She just looked at Sam with a grateful smile.
"Thanks, for not hating me. It doesn't make me feel any worse about it though. I'll admit, that was the cruelest thing I have ever done. I never want to do it again."
Sam saw it was eating her up.
They finally found a table and the two of them ordered a cup and sat down.
"Rumi, I would be lying if I said I wasn't pissed. My past may be my weakness, and overcoming it might be something that I'm supposed to do, but I hated how they just sprung it on me. At least you warned me and pleaded me not to take it. So I hold no resentment Rumi. In fact, I must thank you. I feel stronger now than I was before."
Sam says with a genuine smile.
Rumi looks down, quickly hiding her blushing face.
"Baka…"
She whispered to herself.
Sam saw her hiding her face.
"What's wrong?"
He asked. She just calmed down a bit and looked at Sam with a normal expression.
"Nothing's wrong."
She said coolly.
Sam shrugged. He knew she was hiding something since he could hear her heart racing.
"If you say so…"
Sam sipped his coffee. Not even bothering with cream or anything, he just drank it black, since the taste was nothing to him.
Rumi, seeing this, felt sad.
"Sorry… I guess inviting you to this place was a waste."
Sam shook his head.
"Not necessarily. Sure, I can't taste this, but I can smell it, and it has a pleasant aroma. So it's not bad. Thanks for bringing me here."
Rumi's eyes widened.
Then she smiled.
"I'm glad!"
Sam was happy to see her usual cocky smile.
She then looked seriously at Sam.
"So… Blank. Are you going to be a hero?"
Sam paused before taking a sip of coffee.
He never thought about it since he entered the class.
'Do I want to be a hero?'
Sam shook his head.
"No. I just would rather have Blank as my code name rather than Canvas. I'm still not participating in hero training and they won't force me."
"Then why did you accept my internship request?"
Sam sighed.
"Because… I needed to see for myself who you were."
"You mean… to see if I was Zola?"
Sam nodded.
"Luckily, I was able to realize you two were entirely different. That made the internship worth it. And besides, I consider you a friend. I kind of like the kids in my class, but I feel like you could understand me better."
Sam admits.
Rumi once again blushes.
"But even if I am not a hero, it's not like the law can do anything to prosecute me. The only reason I caught charges the day of my incident was because of the damage I caused to others. The initial charge was completely unlawful. I made sure Aizawa paid a pretty penny in compensation fees."
Sam said, remembering the drained face of Aizawa as he surrendered a large sum to Sam.
"Pfft!"
Rumi nearly spits out her coffee laughing.
"I bet that was hilarious."
Sam smiled.
"It was. If you think that's funny, get a load of this…"
For the remainder of the afternoon, both Sam and Rumi just talked. They laughed and ignored everything else.
Until, in the corner of Sam's eye, he saw a figure on the roof.
He quickly turned his head and saw nothing.
He was sure someone dressed in black was watching him from that rooftop. He also felt like someone was peering into him from a great distance.
He knew that feeling well, but he could have been mistaken due to being in a city.
'Was I mistaken?'
Rumi noticed this and gave him a worried look.
"Hey, you okay?"
Sam shook his head,
"Yeah, sorry. I thought I saw something. It was probably just a bird that flew off."
Sam gave her a reassuring smile.
She nodded and continued talking. Sam listened, but he couldn't get that figure out of his mind. He had a bad feeling.