Mind Boggled

Chapter 8

Third person pov

The arrests were quiet. While the teachers were a bit shocked over Harper, they were also pro heroes, and they got over it fast. They were quick as well as efficient in detaining the threat. Harper talked to Tsukauchi and relayed the thoughts she could recall from the janitor's closet. She was also able to identify some of the men who'd been in there just based off their minds alone, along with the sound of their thoughts. Sort of like she was recognizing someone's voice, but different in a way. It was hard to explain. Either way, it was quick, easy, and the few bombs they did find on school grounds were quickly taken out and put in the armored vehicles they'd brought along.

Harper promptly slumped off to the cafeteria, eye twitching and head pounding. Just as promised, Iida had saved her a spot right next to him. His self-deprecating thoughts made her want to go find Tsukauchi again, if only to ask him to shoot her in the head with his firearm. If not that, maybe he'd agree to run over her with his car. It sounded promising enough. If he wouldn't do it, she was sure she could find someone willing. Would it be suicide or murder? Both?

"Why do I always do this? I'm just an embarrassment to myself. Harper never sits next to me. Why would she ever want to? I should let her know it's okay if she wants to sit somewhere else. However, that could be taken as me wanting her to leave, and that's not the case at all. She's too good to be my friend. Why does she keep-"

"Thanks for saving me a seat." Harper plopped down next to him. Izuku was fidgeting with a piece of folded up notebook paper across from her, and Ochako was peering at it curiously. Harper sighed and pushed Kirishima's thoughts aside to get to her friend's. When thoughts were directed at her or about her, they tended to be stronger and easier to hear. Almost as though they were drawn towards her. Maybe it's because they were being directed at her.

Kirishima's mental pining was a bit weird, but Harper was adjusted. She'd gone from being completely freaked out and maybe mildly flattered on some level to being indifferent. He could have a sex dream about her at this point and she probably wouldn't bat an eye. That being said, he hadn't had any impure thoughts. That was probably the strangest thing about his whole crush. She'd listened to Bakugo go through what could very well be considered the Kink alphabet, A-Z, just thinking of all the shit he wanted to do to and with Izuku. It was disturbing, but not even the worst she'd heard at this point. She was just glad none of it was about her.

"Why would Kacchan give me this?" Izuku mumbled mentally as he fiddled with the paper. "Is it a threat? I-I'm afraid to open it. Should I throw it away? No, that would be rude. I'm just afraid of what it'll say. Wh-What if he wants to meet up and try to fight?! I-I can't fight outside hero training! Oh man, oh man, this is bad!"

Harper could see Bakugo had taken her advice. She eyed the blonde from where she sat. He was sitting next to Kirishima, staring intently at the nervous freckled boy. She forced down yet another sigh. UA really was something else. For one thing, she'd actually managed to make friends, even if it was only because she was trying to prevent one of them from committing suicide. The resident dick bag of the class was love struck, the pervert secretly hated women, their stoic teacher was the happiest man on the fucking planet apparently, and just... Harper wasn't excluded either, actually. UA had an actual mind reader. And it was her, of all people.

"What's that?" Harper asked, resting her chin on her palm boredly as she glanced at the note. Iida was mentally debating whether or not to offer her food, since the lines had long since closed and she hadn't gotten the chance to get anything. Harper decided to let him work that out all by his lonesome. It was easier that way. Besides, Midoriya was having some sort of crisis over a piece of paper. Apparently Bakugo was so bad at conveying his feelings that Izuku was under the impression that the explosive blonde actually hated him. You had to be pretty shitty at communication to translate adoration over as repulsion.