**A Newfound Sense of Confidence**

As we approached the school, I quickly nodded at Bakugo and Osby. "Thank you guys, let's go to U.A. before it gets worse," I said, trying to steer the conversation towards a swift exit. Bakugo raised an eyebrow, but he caught on quickly. "Yeah, let's get out of here," he said, falling into step beside me. Osby nodded in agreement, and the three of us picked up our pace, weaving through the crowds of students. I could feel their eyes on me, but I refused to let it get to me. I was Vesper, and I was proud of who I was. As we entered the school, I breathed a sigh of relief. The familiar surroundings of U.A. High were a welcome respite from the scrutiny of the outside world. I made my way to the locker room, Bakugo and Osby trailing behind me. "Hey, Vesper?" Bakugo called out as we changed into our school uniforms. "Yeah?" "Don't let those stares get to you," he said, his voice low and serious. "You're one of us, and that's all that matters." I smiled, feeling a surge of gratitude towards my friend. "Thanks, Bakugo," I said. Osby chimed in, "Yeah, and we're not just saying that because you're our friend. You're a great hero, Vesper." I blushed, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. "Thanks, guys," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. The rest of the day passed in a blur of classes and training sessions. I was grateful for the structure of the school day, which provided a much-needed distraction from my earlier encounter. As the day drew to a close, I found myself sitting in the common room with Bakugo and Osby, working on our homework. It was a quiet, peaceful scene, one that I had grown to appreciate over the past few months. But as I glanced around the room, I caught sight of a familiar figure standing by the window. It was Aizawa-sensei, his eyes fixed intently on me. I felt a shiver run down my spine as he approached us. "Vesper," he said, his voice low and serious. "I need to have a word with you." I exchanged a nervous glance with Bakugo and Osby, wondering what this could be about. But I stood up, trying to appear confident, and followed Aizawa-sensei out of the common room.