winters is the best time of the year

/7922\~Chapter 1: mistletoe~/7922\

It was the first winter after All Might's retirement. Though Christmas was close at hand it was difficult for anyone on campus to show their festive spirit..! Villain activity was on the rise, dragging heros' credibility through the mud... In a school full of heroes-in-training, tension and worries were running high... As a first year on the student council, it was a difficult atmosphere for me to bare... U.A.'s usually bubbly students had turned anxious, wary of the growing need for them in society even though it came with far less respect..! As winter continued and the days grew shorter, I worried myself silly, brainstorming ways to lift their spirits from the confines of my bedroom... When the time for Student Council came, I had all but run myself ragged..! My effort was not in vain, though! Speaking with my fellow student council members, along with Principal Nezu, I offered the idea of starting Christmas early..! This year would be the first Christmas in Heights Alliance, the new boarding facilities on campus... Though many of the students would return home for the holiday I was certain some would remain on the grounds..! Either way, if I brought Christmas forward, putting up decorations, offering Christmas foods in the cafeteria or even creating a snow day through other's quirks, everyone could experience some much needed festive fun! To my delight, the council approved my idea and Principal Nezu offered equipment and facilities to help me, least of all the school's extensive horde of Christmas decorations..! After making preparations, it was time to fill campus with festive cheer! Based on quirk and location, each council member was assigned two dormitories to decorate... Though I was from class 1-C, the General Education department, the council tasked me with decorating dorms 1-A and 1-B, the Heroes department, so that 1-C could be turned into a winter wonderland in my absence..! I didn't complain though I loved the idea of returning from a hard evening of work to a surprise Christmas paradise! The day of decorating arrived..! My lessons dragged slowly, almost painfully so... I couldn't help but sigh in relief when the bell rang I dashed from class back to my dormitory, changing out of my uniform and into my winter clothes with record-breaking time, then headed out towards the large storage sheds by the P.E. Grounds... They had been filled to bursting with decorations, mostly old, but some only recently whipped up by the Support department! I had to hand it to them, they had put the upmost care into their creations... Thirty-three identical Christmas trees lay along one wall, with an assortment of tinsel, lights, bells and other goodies nestled below their lower branches in cardboard boxes! When the other council members arrived, we worked as a team, loading the decorations onto seventeen separate carts, all made for purpose by, once again, the Support department..! The council members tasked with decorating the Support dormitories were planning to go all out, leaving Christmas chocolates and extra special gifts as a way of thanks for all their help! When the carts were loaded, I wished the other student council members good luck then set out towards the dormitories...

-timeskip-

Putting the finishing touches on class 1-B's front doors, I grinned to myself, bubbling over with festive excitement! I mean I couldn't really help it..! The sight of thirty-two balconies coated in tinsel, baubles and garlands was enough to thaw even the grumpiest of Grinches hearts! Completing my work, I pulled the cart along by the handle towards class 1-A's dormitory, using Air Pressure, my quirk, to ease the strain on my arms... I could manipulate the air currents around myself, creating gusts of wind to pull and push objects towards me in concentrated bursts..! Keeping a stream of wind behind the cart, I kept the wheels moving with little to no effort on my body, only altering the cart's direction when needed... Approaching 1-A's dormitory, my lack-lustre quirk made me sigh I did apply for U.A. in hopes of being accepted into the heros course but the aptitude test had landed me in the General Education department..! What was worse, I found out I missed the threshold by only a few people... I couldn't use my quirk to save others, or to take down villains if the need arose, so I was stuck learning everyday applications for my power..! Stopping in front of 1-A's dorm, staring as high as the top floor, I smirked okay, my quirk felt lame in comparison to the likes of the Sports Festival top 3 winners, but it still had its uses! I took one of the large boxes of decorations from the cart, holding it steadily just above the ground concentrating, I focused the air down below the box, then up... I let go, but the box hovered in front of me, caught in my quirk's updraft setting my sight on one of the dormitory's lowest balconies, I created a careful set of updrafts towards it, pushing the box through the air with one final gust of wind against its back..! It landed neatly on the balcony with a gentle clatter I was being careful so I'm quiet... I had started my evening of decorating late to begin with... Now, with one fully decorated dormitory in my wake, the night was nearly at its peak, stars twinkling brightly above me..! With classes to go to tomorrow, most of the students were asleep so I had to cushion the landings of anything moved! Taking care, I floated a box onto each of the thirty-two balconies, holding my breath as I tried to reach the highest floor... The balconies there teetered on the limits of my control radius..  In the end, I stood on the cart to give me that extra bit of reach and I tied up my hair, clipping it back from my face, then positioned myself below the first balcony... Lifting one foot, I wobbled, adjusting the air pressure below myself to take my weight, then when I was stabilized, I lifted the other leg, pushing a second updraft beneath myself... Holding my arms wide, I steadied myself! Learning to use my quirk on myself had been one of the hardest assignments in class 1-C so far, and at first it had terrified me... It was akin to flying, and something I had never imagined possible until my teacher assured me it was..! It had taken months of constant scrapes, aches and concussions, but eventually I had gotten the hang of it! Now, it was nearly second nature to me..! Pushing myself up through the air, I landed lightly on the balcony railing, using a gust against my back to stop from slipping backwards and using the gaps in the box of decorations as air pockets, I blew tinsel and string-lights towards myself, catching them with outstretched fingers... I set to work, stretching to reach the wall above the balcony, holding myself steady with gusts behind, in front and below me 'I wonder whose room I'm decorating...' I pondered, glancing at the closed curtains behind the sliding doors... I smiled to myself, aware it could be someone I'd one day see fighting in the streets, saving lives..! Though it made me jealous that I was on a different path, it only solidified my resolve to work harder so that maybe, just maybe, one day I could transfer into the Heroes department! Working quickly and efficiently, I floated from balcony to balcony, decorating the building in festive wonder... After completing the first two floors, I descended a stairway of wind to the ground, stopping for a quick drink of water my quirk did not tax my body much like when I used it on smaller, lighter objects, but holding myself steady while I worked was another matter... With time, my stamina and durability would grow, but for now I wiped the sweat from my brow, gulping great mouthfuls to reinvigorate myself I heaved a sigh, stretching out my arms and back, then returned to work..! The first room on the next floor was deserted... The curtains were drawn back, revealing a bland, empty shell with nothing more than a stripped bed and the wooden slatted floors... I decorated it, never the less! The lights and trimmings were as much for passers-by as they were for the rooms' occupants..! I hovered across to the next room the curtains were closed... I did my best to be quiet, aware someone might be asleep inside..! Pushing the three gusts of air against myself, I leant out over the balcony, attaching a strip of Christmas lights to the wall above... Being careful to secure each individual light, not wanting them to fall down in my absence, I concentrated my quirk, creating thin, fast bursts of wind that worked like a hammer, battering the fastenings also being careful not to break anything but I put it into place successfully! Once I had finished, I dissolved the gusts of air and dropped down quietly, picking out a second set of decorations... As I floated back onto the balcony railing, I saw, or thought I saw, a sudden flash of light through a gap in the curtains..! I stayed still, balanced by my quirk, but I did not see the light again... Shaking my head, assuming the flash had been a figment of my tired mind's imagination, I carried on, carefully securing the leaf and holly-covered garland along the wall above the room... It was a pretty thing, once I had finished with it that is..! I dropped back onto the balcony floor then picked a pair of red Christmas bells from my box of furnishings I reignited my quirk, floating onto the corner of the railing before securing myself in place... With the upmost concentration, aware of the risk I was taking for the sake of nice decorations, I stood on the tips of my toes, reaching forwards to press the first of the bells securely into the wall so that even the strongest of winds could not blow it away..! As I retracted my hand, falling back onto the flats of my feet, suddenly the balcony door snapped open, shocking me enough to break my concentration... The sound of someone shouting angrily at me all but disintegrated my quirk, dissolving the protective winds around me and I was unable to keep my balance, I caught a glimpse of the person's ash-blonde hair before I lost my balance and slipped backwards, over the ledge..! I shrieked, pushing my hand down as I attempted to force a gust up from the ground to counterbalance myself, but before my quirk had time to react, a hand snapped around my wrist in a vice-like hold, pulling me up through the air