Happy April! Its Autism Acceptance Month, YAY!
I think you all saw something like this coming lol
(WHAT A PERFECT PIC THO!)
(Credit: https://vstarlight.tumblr.com/ )
NOTES and TW:
— Ableism
— Internalized Ableism
— PRE-ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ME AND TENYA IIDA
> PRE UA: WE KNEW EACHOTHER BEFORE THEN
— The R-Slur
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tenya Iida was usually very punctual. Even for something as laid back as lunch, he always made a point to arrive at the exact same time and join the exact same table with his friends. However today he was running a bit late, due to needing to discuss and assignment with his teachers after class. So he made his way into the lunch room when it was already crowded and in full swing. He had never actually entered the lunch room at this time, so many of the seats that were usually empty were filled with what he assumed were their usual patrons.
Among them he spotted his girlfriend Molly wandering the tables. She trying to find someplace to sit. She was wearing her large earphones today, so she must be a bit overwhelmed. She would walk up to a table smiling, but would be shooed away with laughter or glares. It seemed to be upsetting her a lot, until she tossed her lunch in the trash and made her way to the exit.
Tenya Iida stopped her before she could leave though.
“Molly, what’s wrong?” Tenya asked calmly, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“Oh! Tenya!” Molly looked up at him. “It’s nothing…”
“You normally sit alone watching cartoons on your phone,” Tenya Iida said. “Did something happen?”
“Yeah, someone took my normal spot.” Molly sighed. “And no other tables were empty. So I thought ‘Hey! Maybe I should try and finally make some friends!’ But no one wanted me to sit with them.”
“I thought you said everyone’s in your general studies class was friendly?”
“I thought they were!” Molly exclaimed. “They also act really nice and cool around eachother! But every time I asked to sit with anyone they would cringe, and say they didn’t want a…a…” Molly was beginning to get worked up.
“Calm Down Molly,” Tenya Iida said carefully. “Lets go to HoundDog Sensei. And you can tell me more on the way.”
Molly nodded, and let Tenya Iida take her to the UA School Councler
…
Tenya Iida led Molly through the halls at a safe pace, allowing her time to tell Tenya Iida what happened before they got to Mr. Hound Dog.
“I always see them having fun and relaxing with each other,” Molly said. “And I’m not an idiot, I can tell when people are pointing and laughing at me! At least, I thought I could…”
“Have they ever treated you this way before?” Tenya Iida asked.
“I actually haven’t really talked to any of them before!” Molly admitted. “I mean, sometimes I have to ask for a pencil or something. And they don’t really say anything or look annoyed ever! I just see them interacting all nicely with eachother!”
“So is today the first time you attempt to speak with any of your classmates?”
Molly nodded, beginning to cry again.
It made Tenya Iida sad.
As social and friendly as he knew Molly to be, it took her a lot of time top get to that place. And when she had first transferred to UA’s support course, she had been terrified. UA didn’t have any teachers with experience with neurodivergents, and had to rely on her IEP and the requirements the teachers had to follow. She told him that she didn’t think she was smart enough to be at UA. Tenya Iida assured her that UA was very professional, and she wouldnt be here if she didn’t deserve it. He promised her that UA was not the type of school to let people enroll on a ‘charity case’ clause.
Its taken her a lot of time to work through her doubts and finally believe she belonged at UA. Molly had set aside all her socail and friendly nature to focus on building her confidence through studying and learning the ropes of UA. It was really hard for her, but she finally felt like she had earned her place at UA.
Tenya Iida often heard about Molly’s quick observations of her fellow students. After isolating for so long, it must have taken a lot of bravery to finally try and make friends with them! It was something Tenya Iida knew Molly was looking forward to a lot. And after working so hard to be able to, she had been shut down on her first try! It made Tenya feel very sad, but probably hurt Molly even more.
“What did they say to you when you asked to sit with them?” Tenya Iida asked.
Molly tensed up, and Tenya Iida could feel that this was going to be the worst part.
Molly wiped her tears as they began to fall. “Th-They would cringe, Visably too! They wouldn’t even hide it! They’d look me up and down and say that they didn’t want a…they didn’t want a {Redacted} to sit with them!” She burst into tears.
Tenya pulled her into his chest, and rubbed her back as she cried. They referred to her as a slur?! What kind of horrible person does that?! Hero Course or not, UA students should not do such things. No one should.
“They said that it was embarrassing enough that a {Redacted} like me was already in their class. That just being in the same class as me was gross!”
“Thats horrible.” Tenya Iida’s held her tighter. “Don’t worry, once we tell HoundDog he will do something.”
Molly sniffled, as they began to walk again.
“Even if HoundDog does do something,” Molly said. “It can’t fix the big problem. They think less of me.”
Tenya Iida sadly nodded.
“Even if he scolds them, or makes therm apologize, or even punishes them! They still think I’m…I’m a {Redacted}. There’s no way I can make friends now…”
“Thats not true!” Tenya Iida said.
“But—“
“Its true, that those other students do not deserve your friendship. However I have very nice and kind friends in my class.”
“But I don’t wanna be a charity case—“
“You won’t be. I won’t even tell them about your autism, and you don’t have to tell them either.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Thank you Iida!” Molly gave Tenya a hug.
THE END
(I’m too dead inside for this-)
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