[Yanai Yoko]

She collapsed and clutched her hand, curling into herself as the pain stung all throughout her hand. She was going to have to end her training early today. Shamefully walking back to the dorms she ran her hand under cold tap water. It was red and bruised, possibly a little swollen? She didn't want to think about it. Her quirk was already embarrassing enough, monster that she was, and now she had injured herself in front of her classmates too? She hated everything about how her day was going, reaching for the umbrella next to the sink and opening it up to avoid getting rain on her as a cloud formed over her head. Upon further inspecting her hand she made a startling discovery... Had she cut herself on something? She was bleeding, but the cut wasn't big. Still, it would probably be safer if she went to the infirmary. She might get prescribed some meds too, or even avoid seeing her sister if she was lucky.

Having wrapped her hand in a towel to apply pressure on it and stop the bleeding for now, she put on her boots and started heading towards the school infirmary. Why did Hebiru chose to work at a place like this anyway? She was already a freak thanks to her quirk, why put herself in a quirk intensive environment. It pissed her off. She was never going to understand her sister, never ever. She'd rather fall to villainy first. As she walked and her frustrations built she accidentally squeezed her hand too hard, causing her to stop for a moment. ''Ow!'' She looked down at her hand when she realized something tragic. ''How will I be able to smoke cigarettes now..'' The struggles of assigning her left hand to be her smoking hand.

''Knock, knock.'' She said out loud as she walked into the infirmary, the sound of her footsteps followed by the faint sound of rain against her umbrella. ''I'm hurt, I guess.'' She looked around the waiting room. There weren't an awful lot of people here, probably because it was still early and most other students weren't a complete loser like her getting hurt in a quirk training class.

Yanai Hebiru

[Yanai Hebiru]

The Doctor is In

"Yanai-sensei~! Your sister's here!" Shokuhou called out, an act that was absolutely necessary for the school nurse to spot the new arrival from where she was sitting at her desk with a clear line of sight to the door. Truly. Hebiru cast a very deadpan look her way that only those closest to her would be able to recognize as disapproval mixed with a tinge of being unamused. Shokuhou beamed like that cat that got the milk in reply. 

Hebiru imagined the first thing most older sisters would feel when their younger sibling came to them with an injury would be concern. She instead immediately began analyzing the wound the moment she could see it. A bruise and what appeared to be a cut as well. Easily treatable so long as they didn't tarry. It was a good thing Yoko had come here as quickly as she did. With practiced motions she unfolded a plastic bedsheet and gestured for Yoko to take a seat.

"Uh, well, I'll leave you two to it." Shokuhou awkwardly chimed in while seeming to try to tell Hebiru something with her eyes that the school nurse couldn't quite pick up on. She let out an exasperated sigh and offered Yoko an apologetic smile before continuing on her homework.

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Tag: Yanai Yoko

[Yanai Yoko]

If she could see Shokohou from where she was standing, Yoko would immediately hit her with the 'snitch glare'. It's not like her injury was complex, someone else could totally treat it too. Anyone really. Anyone with two functioning, working hands and a first-aid kit. Unfortunately she wasn't that lucky. She didn't bother saying hi to Hebiru. Just gave her the same blank, but slightly grumpy stare that had been her main way of greeting her ever since she turned thirteen. ''Really? Do I have to sit?'' She asked, but conceded and took a seat. Really she was just being difficult to be difficult and spite her sister.

She returned Shokohou's smile with a brief sarcastic smile of her own before letting out a sigh. ''So, when's it getting chopped off? I'd like to know how punk rock my new look is going to be.'' She was against taking a seat at first, but the longer she sat the more comfortable it felt. ''Dad says hi, by the way. He texted me. They're doing okay back home. I told him to stop texting me that and to just send you messages directly but he hasn't so, you know. Or maybe he has.'' She shrugged casually, kicking her legs back and forth casually as they dangled over the bed side. ''Hey, am I allowed to smoke in here? I didn't see a no-smoking sign on my way in.''

Yanai Hebiru

[Yanai Hebiru]

The Doctor is In

Shokuhou responded to Yoko's glare with a wink and a meaningful thumbs up immediately after she'd called out to Hebiru. Truly, no one understood the lengths the nurse's assistant went to for the good of others. Why, she could've gotten out of doing homework for at least ten minutes by treating Yoko herself instead of making sure Hebiru had no way around the interaction. She could only hope her sacrifice would be remembered. Pretending to push her glasses up Shokuhou hid a smile behind her hand and focused entirely on her homework, not at all eavesdropping on the sisters if anyone asked.

"No, you are free to make a stand." Hebiru answered her sister, trying to put as much humor into her voice as she could to lighten the mood. The statement came out rather monotone and deadpan. Placing the first aid kit down on Yoko's lap so its contents wouldn't get rained on she kneeled in front and slightly to the side of Yoko.

"Let me take a look. Hmm."

Ignoring the fact that part of her clothes were getting wet she inspected Yoko's hand while grabbing the needed implements from the kit. Tweezers, an antiseptic, a bottle of sterilized water -which she put back upon noticing that Yoko had already ran it under a tap- and several cotton balls. Getting to work she heard her sister out and replied when appropriate.

"There is no point in delaying. Shokuhou. Fetch my meat cleaver."

"Your wha- I mean, huh? Sorry, can you repeat that? I was doing my homework, I wasn't following."

"My apologies for disturbing you. Please disregard and continue."

Hebiru did not take the following long-suffering sigh personally, assuming it had to do with whichever problem was requiring so much of Shokuhou's focus. 

"I see," she responded at the mention of their father. She had not, in fact, received a text. It was only to be expected. Of the two of them she was both busier, more independent and far less close to him. He tried of course but back when she'd been younger Hebiru had been far less experienced at hiding the changes her quirk wrought on both her psyche and her physique. He'd seen how it affected his oldest daughter first hand. In truth Hebiru suspected he had contacted her through Yoko purely as an excuse to stay in touch with the girl. 

"I am afraid not. There are universal laws against smoking indoors outside of a few select places," Hebiru answered while pausing in her efforts. She continued gently holding onto Yoko's hands and looked her in the eyes. "Regardlessly, smoking is incredibly bad for your health. I would highly advise against it. It is long proven to shorten your lifespan and cause a variety of afflictions."

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Tag:Yanai Yoko

[Yanai Yoko]

This assistant Hebiru kept around was up to no good, but she couldn't prove what it was yet. All she knew was that she was keeping a close eye on Shokuhou. Maybe it was already too late, and she had been driven mad long ago from being in the vicinity of Hebiru for too long. ''No I'll sit.'' She replied just as monotone and deadpan, only defying Hebiru because she offered for her to stand. Joke or not she wasn't about following orders. She winced a little when her sister inspected her hand and got to work. It wasn't a bad injury by any means, but she still very much felt the pain and had always been squeamish. ''At long last, I've heard pirate hooks are in on the alt scene right now.'' Although she hated to admit it, part of her liked joking around with Hebiru like this, but that was the extent of it. She still didn't understand a single thing about her sister. Every time she looked at her it was like staring into a confusing puzzle box that defied all sense of logic and three dimensionality.

''Don't worry, I won't rat you out if you want to stay no contact with him. I don't give a shit about him either.'' If anything that was a lie. She very much cared and had been up late at night plotting her revenge against their father for sending her to hero school. How could she best get back at him and stay within the confines of the law? Pipe bomb in the mailbox was already a no-go. Not to mention she had no clue how to even acquire a bomb, but maybe she could have had a nerd here at school build one for her. Oh well, she would have to think of something else unless bombs became legal overnight.

''Boo.'' Of course she wasn't allowed to smoke indoors and of course Hebiru had the most buzzkill answer loaded. She was all about protocol and rules, she couldn't imagine willingly wanting to be a doctor. It all seemed so stifling. ''Yeah well, something's gonna get me one of these days, why not smoking? A life without risks isn't a life at all.'' She looked away, having a hard time keeping eye contact with her sister. ''Can't you just give me some pill that will numb the pain so I can be on my way?''

Yanai Hebiru

[Yanai Hebiru]

The Doctor is In

"It is not intentional I assure you. I have simply been rather busy as of late" Hebiru clarified in response to Yoko's no contact suggestion. "He cares about you, you know?" She added with certainty. The lengths he went to in order to stay in touch with Yoko and ensure she had a future were a stark difference from how she remembered the man in her own youth. Then again she only saw him on certain holidays. It was perfectly possible that she had the completely wrong image of him. Despite all her studies she never was the best at figuring out the people she interacted with most often. 

"Let us hope not," she responded a bit too quickly. Fast enough that it surprised even her. Putting that thought aside to analyze for later she refocused on the conversation. "While I cannot dispute that life is not without an end there is no point in seeking it. Certainly, chasing solely longevity without finding enjoyment in life is pointless," she explained, very aware that she herself was on the other extreme of the spectrum and had little right to lecture her sister. Hebiru too had broken eye contact by this point in order to refocus on fixing what was wrong with Yoko. Disinfecting the injury so it would not worsen when left to fester she finished by hiding it from sight through applying a bandage over the cut. 

"Do you require something to numb the pain to continue?" Hebiru asked while once more seeking eye contact, her eyes briefly flicking to the medicine cabinet where she stored painkillers. Meters away from them Shokuhou wondered whether she should be hearing any of this.

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Tag: Yanai Yoko

[Yanai Yoko]

''Yeah sure, cares about seeing me succeed because it will make him look good.'' Deep down she didn't know if that was the case, but perhaps it was what she had told herself since neither her nor their dad were exactly experts at talking about emotions and being sincere with each other. Yoko was a victim of circumstance and her dad was the powerful villain looming over bad decision in her life. That was a convenient reality for her to exist in. Not that it made him entirely free of fault and Yoko an unreliable narrator. He was still a terrible father at the end of the day and he had done and said hurtful things to her.

''Ugh, this is why I never call you either. It always turns into a lecture.'' She frowned, taking out her phone to look at instead while Hebiru continued to do her work. ''I dunno, depends on what you have. Anything that can numb the pain that doesn't taste like garbage?'' She looked at her phone for a few more seconds before looking back at Hebiru. She wasn't in enough pain to need anything, but if Hebiru wanted to give her some freebie medication she also wasn't going to say no to that. Who knew, it might help her sleep tonight.

''Or even better, something that will erase my memory of this whole conversation. Do you have something like that?'' No matter how much she tried provoking Hebiru was impossible, but one of these days she was going to succeed.

Yanai Hebiru

[Yanai Hebiru]

The Doctor is In

"I am certain he cares more about your feelings than whether you are successful," the hollow doctor replied. It was a theory she'd pieced together over many years of accomplishment after accomplishment. Throughout her work at hospitals as well as more specialized clinics she'd oft observed parents intuit underlying problems with startling accuracy, oft without rhyme or reason to their methods. Although the actual diagnosis tended to differ greatly from what their observations had led them to conclude it wasn't far fetched to assume that through their time spent together their father had been able to realize just how much his oldest daughter's quirk had affected her psyche.

"I shall endeavour to keep my advice short and succinct in the future," Hebiru acknowledged with a nod. It would be hypocritical of her to attempt to assist Yoko yet spurn the girl's words when she pointed out something Hebiru herself had overlooked. To ensure that her sister knew she did not take the advice as an insult the nurse thought back to the rest of their interaction in an attempt to find an in-joke of sorts in order to inject some light-hearted humor into the conversation. "Is that flavor not 'in on the alt scene'?"

Heading over to the medicine cabinet she'd looked at earlier -one that was conveniently no more than two steps away from the bed Yoko was sitting on- Hebiru picked a specific type of pain reliever that was both mild and lacked any pungent flavors. She paused partway through as she processed Yoko's next sentence. Her mind had been halfway through considering whether she had anything suitable before she fully registered their meaning. 

Putting down the incorrect package she'd grabbed by accident she carefully picked up the one she'd been intending to prescribe. It almost slipped from her grasp before Hebiru succeeded in parting the appropriate amount of doses from the rest of the strip. For a moment she was stumped as to what form of reply would receive the best results. Before the silence could stretch for too long she decided to once more rely on humor. Taking a reflex hammer in hand she turned back towards Yoko with a genial smile.

"It is yet in the experimental stages but I do. This is an advanced piece of technology known as a Memory Erasure Apparatus. As it is still in the testing stages it has yet to hit the market. Please hold still," Hebiru requested while walking over to Yoko. She was uncertain about what to do once she reached her. Two steps provided awfully little time to plan ahead.

"Hmm I'm stuck on this part. I think I need some coffee. Yes, I'll make some coffee. Would you two like some coffee? Do either of you take yours with sugar and milk?" Shokuhou rambled while standing up abruptly and pointedly refraining from looking at either of them, staring instead at the coffee machine as if it held the secrets of the universe.

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Tag: Yanai Yoko

[Yanai Yoko]

She almost couldn't believe what she was hearing. Was Hebiru trying to say that dad was actually looking out for her? ''As if, that old shithead doesn't understand anything about feelings.'' She paused for a moment, weighing whether she should continue or not. ''Not like you're an expert either.'' She wasn't about to hear this from famous empath Hebiru, the person most in tune with their own and other people's feelings. Had she not been in need of medical attention Yoko would have probably already taken off, but for the time being she was stuck here.

''Don't bother. I don't need any advice. I'm doing just fine on my own.'' As evidenced by the fact that she got hurt and had to have her hand tended to. She was just going to find other people to lean on. Other mentor figures or role models. Anyone but a Yanai, anyone but her weird sister who was just a sack of snakes masquerading as a person. ''It's not,'' she pouted angrily. ''Even if it was I'll never taste anything that has a garbage flavor. I'd rather drown, or try to understand why you, of all people, chose to go into the hero industry.'' Oh well, if she got some pain meds maybe this encounter wouldn't be so bad after all.

''Oh? Is that so?'' She leaned back a bit, careful not to lean on her bad hand. ''Guess today is my lucky day.'' She replied sarcastically, looking over at Hebiru. ''If you could go ahead and erase my existence too that would be great.'' She was immediately pulled away from her edgy joke when Shokuhou asked them about coffee. ''I don't drink, but if you have any spare cigarettes I'll take one.'' She only spared Hebiru's assistance a glance before turning back to her sister, holding her hand out, expecting to be handed the medicine. ''Who's she? Why does she work here?''

Yanai Hebiru

[Yanai Hebiru]

The Doctor is In

Hebiru tactfully refrained from responding. It was rare that one's opinion changed when presented with contradictory facts and pushing further would only cause Yoko to double down. Unlike what her sister might have implied Hebiru's PhD in Psychology wasn't worth less than the paper it'd been printed on.

"I'm glad to hear it," Hebiru replied genuinely, something that was difficult to tell given the lack of emotion in her voice. "Nevertheless should you wish for assistance know my door will always be open." She was fully aware Yoko would not accept but even so it had to be said. If one day the girl truly needed help Hebiru wanted to make sure that she did not hesitate to ask her. 

Yoko's next words made Hebiru pause for a moment. She couldn't quite explain that shutting down illegal research facilities was an excellent way to speed up her research, could she? No. She was fully aware how distasteful such a reason was. To have a proper future after her quirk-related problems were solved it was better if no one ever found out about that.

When Yoko replied to her hammer joke Hebiru felt the slightest twinge inside. Had Yoko simply been putting up a brave face earlier? Was she just hiding behind her bristly attitude to prevent anyone from looking closer? Perhaps she should look into the girl's home situation after all. It was highly unlikely but if Yoko's earlier comments were a cry for help Hebiru would never forgive herself for missing it. It was a good thing that Shokuhou had decided to enter the conversation when she did. Hebiru definitely needed a moment to consider her options. Handing over the partial strip of painkillers she was just about to answer Yoko's question and clarify the medicine's usage when Shokuhou spoke up once more.

"Oh, you know. One thing led to another and apparently mind controll is illegal," Shokuhou replied with a self-deprecating smirk.

"Shirei. That is classified information."

"Aww hells, here I go messing up again."

Hebiru's eyes narrowed. Where was that girl going with this?

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Tag: Yanai Yoko

[Yanai Yoko]

Glad to hear it she said. She was glad to hear it. Pft, sure. She sure looked happy too. She could never tell what Hebiru was thinking. Was she secretly making fun of her? Was she sick of the younger sister that constantly bothered her, or got in her way? Did she actually, really truly care for her as family? ''Sure.'' She muttered sarcastically.

Hebiru and clowns were one and the same. Both were creepy as hell. Much like a clown, Hebiru's intentions were hard to read, only she didn't need to cake her face up with makeup to achieve that look, that was just who her sister was. Her mind was occupied with the painkillers and the conversation moving swiftly on as Shokuhou came to the rescue of this trainwreck argument Yoko was trying to have. She only looked at the painkillers in her hand briefly before raising an eyebrow at Shokuhou. ''You don't say.'' She wasn't sure what the mind control bit was about... Something Shokuhou did? Was she just making a joke? Ugh, all this being around her sister was starting to give her a headache. ''IF...'' She raised her voice, not quite to a shouting level, but significantly from her normal speaking tone, although her grump level was about the same.

''If, I were to ask for your help.'' She looked over at Hebiru. ''Which I'm not, but IF I was. I'd be wondering how you get used to your quirk.'' She let her totally hypothetical not at all real question hang in the air for a moment. ''Using it, living with it. You're old by now so you've probably done this thing for years.'' She said as if she hadn't followed her sister's hero career from the sidelines.

Yanai Hebiru

[Yanai Hebiru]

The Doctor is In

Noncommittal though it may have been Hebiru was pleased that Yoko hadn't refused her offer out of hand. It was a small step but each one in the right direction was a good one. Similarly she was glad Yoko didn't insist on following up on Shokuhou's misspoken words, regardless of how it made the latter's brow furrow.

Hebiru didn't have more time to think about her assistant's reaction, her focus taken up wholly by her sister's question. It wasn't phrased as a question of course but even the most dense would be able to see it was meant as one. One with just enough plausible deniability to make a flimsy argument against it, but a question nonetheless. Politely ignoring the way Shokuhou had turned away from them and was trying to hide her shaking shoulders at the age comment Hebiru gestured towards the table said assistant had been doing her homework at.

"Mind listening to this old-" she couldn't keep the hurt out of her voice entirely. It wasn't due to Yoko's words exactly, moreso the unintentional reminder that she was getting up there in years and still hadn't managed to fix herself. "-lady ramble for a bit? I won't take too much of your time."

Taking a seat and thanking Shokuhou for the coffee Hebiru stared at the ceiling for a moment, lost deep in thought. This wasn't about her experiences. Not really. That wasn't what Yoko was asking about. Holding the mug with both hands she let the warmth seep into her hands, trying to retain a small scrap of it to channel into her speech. Had she not been so in control of her expression a sardonic smile might have settled on her features but as it was there wasn't the slightest hint on her face as to what she was thinking. Energy sought the path of least resistance. With how hollow she was one would think warmth would find its way into her chest with ease, and yet...

"I think what was key to me was..." Hebiru began with an uncharacteristic softness, almost fragility, to her tone. "No. To say that a single thing was key would be disingenuous. Matters such as these are far too complex to be encompassed by a buzzword."

Looking away from the ceiling before her gaze bored holes in it Hebiru made eye contact with both Yoko and Shokuhou in turn before she continued. Both in their own way suffered from their quirk. It was a sentiment Hebiru was very familiar with.

"But if I had to name what was crucial to me it was be a balance between acceptance and refusal," Hebiru could tell that her words weren't making much sense. She could understand. It had taken her many years to come to this conclusion and even now she failed to truly believe it. "Acceptance of who I was and refusal to stay that way. It is impossible to recognize improvements without understanding where you came from and without observing improvements it is likewise impossible to know whether your course is the right one."

With every failure to cure herself of her quirk Hebiru had despaired until she'd looked back and seen just how much ground she'd covered in the process. 

"But I digress," she interrupted herself while schooling her expression into an apologetic smile before she continued. "I suppose rambling truly does come with age," Hebiru added with a forced chuckle and an unpracticed wink aimed at Yoko. "The realization that did the most for me was that an outside perspective was needed. Usually I did this by writing my thoughts down and returning to them later with a fresh perspective but," she waited for a moment before continuing. "It doesn't have to be done alone."

Hebiru wondered whether it would be too cliche or inappropriate to reach out and encouragingly take hold of their hands. It was but a stray thought, influenced by reading far too many novels. She would never in actuality try to do such a thing.

"Perception is important. It influences reality more than one could possibly imagine. Above all what I kept in mind is that it is possible to change, both the way one acts, the way one is perceived and the way one perceives themselves," Hebiru added sagely. From her words it was clear that Yoko was having difficulties figuring out who she was and who she wanted to be. "Before you know it, the last one to figure out you've reached your goals already may just be yourself," she could tell that no matter what the girl thought Yoko was making excellent progress.

Unbeknownst to herself Hebiru's lips had curled into a genuine smile. Surely if her sister was managing to accomplish it, there might yet be hope for herself as well.

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Tag: Yanai Yoko