Chapter 46: Truth, Trials, Time and Tests
Izuku was about halfway down the hall when he suddenly remembered that he had left his head crest with Ochako. Turning on his heel, Izuku jogged back towards the entrance. The slight annoyance of going back not doing anything to the elation he still felt over the events of the evening.
As he got closer to the entrance, which was just around the corner, he started picking up Ochako and Himiko's voices. The two were still talking apparently, and it seemed Himiko was prodding for an answer, but still hadn't gotten anything.
"—to god I'm biting one of you in the neck the next time I want some blood. I swear to god I can't deal with this shit."
"Wah, wah, wah," Izuku heard Ochako mock, making him snicker. "I'm so sorry we're such a distraction."
Izuku chuckles to himself. Poor Toga, but she's just gonna have to wait and be surprised like everyone else. Izuku was about to turn the corner when Himiko kept going.
"—if anyone here is distracted it's you. You get to deal with all of Izuku's bullshit on top of trying to become a hero."
Ochako laughed. It was an amused laugh, though that didn't stop the next words from making Izuku pause in place. "You know what, you're not wrong. I actually liked the idea of turning in early tonight too. But nope, got to make sure Deku doesn't do something silly."
Hearing that kinda sucked. Ochako wasn't being hurtful and Izuku could tell she was just joking around, but looking back, Izuku had to admit he had been a little selfish to make her stay late. He tunnel-visioned on One for All so hard he didn't even think about anything else.
Well great. Now you're a jerk. Great going, Izuku thought with a sigh.
"Oh, the agony."
Ochako let out a huge exaggerated and over the top sigh, fighting to hold back rolls of laughter. "It's sooooo annoying. But someone's got to look after Deku. The cost of being his friend, I guess."
Maybe I should get Uraraka some mochi? That should solve this…. Maybe a few packs now that I'm thinking about—
"—cost of being in love with that dork, you mean. No matter what, you're gonna be doing everything in your power to keep him safe."
Izuku froze. What?
"I'm cursed," Ochako agreed. "I love him, but he keeps doing things that make me want to throw him."
Izuku felt the world fade away from him while his heart raced, jumping for joy while a cold dread reached up. Distraction. She said we're a distraction. Cold, heartless claws dug into the joy Izuku felt in his heart and dragged it back down into the cold depths. Reminding him that if this was true, that things between him and Ochako were about to change.
And when has that ever worked out for us, the dread reminded Izuku.
"It's absolute agony, Toga. Why'd I fall in love with him? Why Deku. I must be cursed."
Cold dread, terrified dread. The harsh words it whispered into Izuku's ear. These were easier things for Izuku to understand. The other stuff, the things that could lead to change, they were too big to try and think about. So instead, Izuku focuses on the other. What he was taking away from Ochako.
Distraction, you're a distraction.
"H-hey Izuku," Himiko's voice, soft and calm, reached out through the dark thoughts and pulled Izuku back into the world, but he was still shivering from it all; still scared and accepting the worst possible meaning for everything. "Whatcha doing here?"
"She… she said I was a distraction." Izuku's words were full of anguish, and loss. More tears were shed as he looked at Himiko.
Himiko's expression changed to almost wild panic. "Whoa hold on a second!" she hissed. "That was all, fucking hell, that was all just jokes!" Himiko reached out and grabbed his shoulders. "Stop thinking about that shit and focus on the good news. You know that she feels the same way you—"
Izuku shook his head. "No. No no no no!" Izuku yanked himself away from Himiko. "That doesn't matter."
"The fuck do you mean it doesn't matter? This is what you want! You're in love with her, and she's in love with you. You win, you fucking dunce!" Himiko hurried after Izuku as he walked away.
"Not if it means getting in the way of Uraraka's goals and dreams." Izuku was panting. It was getting hard to breathe.
Himiko wanted to scream, hands on the verge of pulling chunks of her own hair out. "She. Was. JOKING!"
"That doesn't mean it isn't true." Izuku reasoned.
This time Himiko did scream as she made to turn around.
"Fuck! You know what, I'll just go get Ochako and we can—" Suddenly Himiko felt herself surrounded in a green glow as Izuku's Psychokinesis took hold of her. Not tightly, or harshly, but like someone had grabbed her arm to stop her from running. Her clothes pressed down on her body, stopping her from heading off.
"Izuku?" She got a good look at his face, and winced at how hurt and how damned afraid he looked. She never thought she'd see a more miserable sight than the one she had seen at Hosu City hospital, when he had begged her not to get Ochako before. But here she was, looking at it.
"You're supposed to be my friend."
"…Fucking hell Izuku. I. Am. I'm trying to help you here."
"By stabbing me in the back? By breaking your promise?"
Himiko hissed through her teeth, and looked away. "Yeah… I guess I did promise you, didn't I."
"And friends don't break promises. Do they?"
Himiko frowned, but shook her head. When it didn't look like Himiko was going to run off, Izuku let her go, then turned and walked into the boys locker room.
Himiko was left standing in the middle of the hallway, mind racing. Izuku was clearly not thinking straight, because there was no way he'd just leave it like that. Or forget one very simple thing about Himiko. She's a fucking liar.
Ochako hummed happily as she played with her tie and straightened out her uniform. There were still times, just like right now, where she'd give herself a good look in the mirror or her reflection in a window while she was wearing her U.A. school uniform.
I mean, I earned the right to wear this, why shouldn't I admire it, she thought to herself with a grin.
With her backpack on, Ochako checked her phone while she waited at U.A.'s main exit. It was getting late, and she knew she and Izuku were going to want to get plenty of sleep for tomorrow. But after several minutes, he still hadn't replied to her text telling him to meet her here. Which was a little odd.
"THERE YOU ARE!"
Ochako jumped as Himiko came rushing down the hall, her shoes squeaking as she slid to a stop. "Why the fuck are you all the way over here?!"
"Toga? Wha—" Ochako was cut off as Himiko grabbed her arm and started dragging her away. "Hold on! What's going on?!"
"Fucking spent way to long looking for you! We have problems." Himiko kept pulling even as Ochako tried to get her arm free.
"Slow down! Toga, what the hell? What's going on? I told Deku I was going to wait at the—"
Himiko didn't slow but did look back at her, and Ochako could see there was obviously something wrong. "Izuku heard."
Ochako blinked. "Deku heard? Toga, just slow down and calm down— And stop pulling me, for crying out loud."
Himiko spat out a curse and let Ochako go before whirling around. "He heard us. Heard you, and now he's freaking the fuck out."
"Huh?"
Himiko ground her palm into her forehead, trying to work out the massive headache she had. "Ochako, I'm going to need you to fucking listen." Ochako nodded. "Izuku came back for that stupid crest thing you had."
Ochako blinked.
She opened her mouth then closed it.
She blinked again.
"He… came back…" The gears were starting to turn.
"Yeah. He came back, and was around the corner when we were talking. When you were talking."
Okay… but what were we even talking about that has Toga so freaked out. We only talked about…Oh…Oh…OHHHHH!
Ochako's eye bulged and her jaw fell to the floor. "Oh my fucking god."
I said I was in love with Deku. I said I was in love with him. Out loud. And he heard it?!
Himiko saw that Ochako finally got it. "Thats the fucking emergeny. Because remember what I said way back? He can't wrap his mind around the fact that he can be loved and shit. Well, he's dealing with that, and the fact he heard you call the whole thing a distraction. So he's in the middle of flipping the fuck out."
Ochako's red cheeks started to lose their color. "Distraction…"
Did I say that?... Oh fuck I did say that. But Deku wouldn't… he couldn't think I meant it!
"A… joke…" Ochako felt dizzy. "I was… joking…"
Himiko threw up her hands. "Well he's so fucked up with the fact you love him, he zeroed in on the worst part of the whole convo and has latched onto it. He talked about himself like he is a fucking plague to you. So you need to—"
Ochako rushed forward and grabbed Himiko by the shoulders. "WHERE IS HE?!"
Himiko wasn't put off by the sudden move, and without missing a beat answered, "Boys locker room."
And Ochako was off, sprinting down the halls, Himiko following her. This wasn't what she wanted. This wasn't how Izuku was supposed to learn about her feelings. And worst yet, her jokes had gotten mixed into the confession and taken at face value. This was beyond fucked up. This wasn't right at all.
I can worry about that shit later. I need to get to Deku now and make sure he… make sure he knows he's not a distraction. How could he ever think that?!
It made no sense to her. After everything they had been through, there was no logical reason that he'd think she seriously meant that.
'Remember when I told you I didn't think Izuku was ready for a confession? Well I was right. He wasn't then, and he wasn't ready now. He didn't answer me because he couldn't answer me.'
Himiko's words from before rang in Ochako's head. If learning she was in love with him had shocked him to such an extent, then maybe he wasn't even in the right state to realize what he was thinking.
Coming to a stop in front of the boys locker room, Ochako glanced over at Himiko. "And he's in there, right?"
"Yeah, he walked in and then I went to go find you."
Ochako was ready to camp out in front of the door, not wanting to burst in and add her seeing Izuku in a state of undress to the horrible mishmash of shit going on, but then a thought filled her with dread. "...Toga… how long did it take you to find me?"
Himiko started to answer, but stopped. Then she slammed the door open as she charged in. A beat later, the door had only just closed when Ochako heard Himiko scream, "FUCK!"
The door slammed back open. "He's fucking gone. His shit is gone too."
"I told him I was waiting at the main exit…" Ochako hissed out.
"Well, then he knew which one not to leave through," Himiko growled out.
Ochako turned and ran. Because if Izuku wasn't here, then there had to only be one place he'd go.
Himiko screamed after her, "WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!"
"WHERE DEKU IS GOING TO BE!"
Himiko watched Ochako run off as she figured out what Ochako meant, and hoped she found him at home.
Hearing the door open, Inko looked up from her seat on the couch where she and Eri were watching some cartoons. "It's about time. You said you were going to be late tonight, but any later and… Izuku?"
Izuku didn't really walk into the room, but more stumbled in. He was sweating, and he looked pale. Dropping his backpack on the ground he headed for his room, but Inko was up out of her seat and rushed over to him.
"Izuku, you look horrible, are you sick?" When she reached to feel his forehead, he darted away. Trying to push his way past her.
"Not sick. Just…" Izuku stumbled for an excuse and just decided to try and get away from his mother. Which she was not having.
"Izuku, what happened?" She stepped to block his path. "You need to talk to me."
"Mom, please."
"Should I call Ochako? I'm sure she'd—"
"NO!"
Inko took a startled step back, not used to ever hearing Izuku raise his voice like that. Izuku blinked and seemed to realize what he had just done. "Please… don't do that… Just… leave it alone."
Inko wasn't mad that Izuku had yelled at her, she was worried. Something had happened. But Izuku had taken advantage of her shocked state to make it past her and slip into the bathroom. By the time Inko had her hand raised to knock on the door, the sound of running water filtered into the hall.
Frowning, Inko crossed her arms and walked back into the living room. Sitting back down, she tried to think about what could have happened, especially since Izuku didn't want Ochako involved in this.
Eri reached over and tugged at her sleeve. "What's wrong with Izuku?"
Inko reached over and ran her hand over the girl's hair. "I don't know, sweetie."
Izuku had been in the shower a long time now; that whole time, Inko had her mind racing. Then, with a grunt, she got off the couch, her mind made up. Something had gone very wrong tonight, and despite her son's pleading that she leave this alone, she would not.
Picking up her phone, she was about to start dialing when there was a knocking at the door. Harsh, hurried raps that you don't hear this late at night unless someone thought there was an emergency.
Putting her phone down, Inko hurried to answer. Opening the door she found Ochako, disheveled and gasping for breath. "Is… Deku… here…?" It looked like she had run all the way here from school.
Pulling her inside, Inko led her to the couch. "Sit. I'll get you something to drink…" Inko saw Ochako eyes darting around. Her head on a swivel, she was looking everywhere. "He's taking a shower," Inko clarified for her.
Ochako nodded and let out a shuddering breath. "He… he's here. Good…" Ochako collapsed into the couch while Inko went to get her a glass of water.
"Did you two have a fight?" Eri asked, looking up at Ochako with worried wonder. The little girl thought it was impossible for the two to fight.
Inko came back in, a cup of water in hand. "That's what I'm wondering too. Izuku was… very insistent that I not call you tonight." When Ochako winced, Inko frowned. "So something did happen between you…"
Ochako sipped at the water with a frown. "It's…"
"Fighting is bad," Eri admonished, "friends shouldn't fight."
Inko quietly hushed Eri, while Ochako shook her head. "We didn't… it wasn't a fight."
"Oh," Inko sat down next to her. "Then what happened? I don't think I've seen Izuku that upset in a long time."
Ochako gripped the cup in her hands tightly. "He… overheard me and Toga talking about things… and it sounds like he got the wrong idea. At least that's what Toga thinks. I think… it might be something else."
Inko scratched at her hair. "And what could he have overheard that would get him into such a state?"
When Inko looked back at Ochako, she noticed the way she was fidgeting around. How her face had a little more pink to it, how she was having some trouble looking her in the eye.
"…oh… oh!" Inko gasped, a hand covering her mouth. "He heard you talking about that?"
Ochako nodded. "And while he heard that… he might have heard me joking with Toga about how… distracting he is, and took it the wrong way."
Inko sighed. "Oh dear… that boy tends to assume the worst… though with how he's been treated by so many people…"
Ochako agreed. Silently, she just hoped that Izuku would give her a chance to explain things, I hope he'll listen to me…
The sound of a door opening stopped Ochako's thoughts in their tracks. She turned to see Izuku, a damp towel draped over his head, emerge from the bathroom in a plain white shirt and some shorts. He was too busy harshly drying his hair to notice that there was someone watching him.
After a few more overly violent rubs, Izuku pulled the towel from his head. The bags under his eyes were still there, and the normal light of life in his eyes was missing, shimmering emeralds now dull and dark. His skin looked taut and pale, a stark contrast to the steam escaping the bathroom and waffing off his now cooling hair.
Clearly, whatever relief he had hoped to get from the hot shower hadn't happened; he still looked despondent, lost, and just plain miserable. Then he turned, ready to walk into his room and just hope some sleep would smother all the horrible feelings he was dealing with.
He only got one step before he realized that Ochako was right in front of him. Sitting right there, on the living room couch next to his mother and Eri. She had most certainly not been there earlier. She wasn't supposed to be here at all. But she was. Ochako was right there. Which meant he needed to be anywhere else but where he was.
He pivoted, but Ochako read him. She saw the terror and fear cross his face. Saw his eyes go for the door. She leapt over the couch, and rushed him. Her hand was around his wrist before he could take another step. All five of her fingers pressed down, and Izuku was weightless.
Ochako moved on instinct. She pushed Izuku down the hall, her tired legs propelling her until she pushed him right through his open bedroom door. Kicking her leg back, she hooked the door with her foot and closed it behind her.
"Ur-Ura-Uraraka? Wh-what are you doing here?" Izuku stammered out. Ochako just gave him a leveled look while she let him float in the middle of the room.
"Deku," she was about to touch her fingers together, "I'm going to drop you now. You're not going to try and run."
Izuku looked away, but a growl from Ochako made him turn back and nod. When Ochako tapped her fingers together, Izuku's feet were back on solid ground. Almost immediately he decided that he needed to get her out of his room and home. "So, it's, um, pretty late. I'm sure you're tired after—"
"Deku."
Izuku flinched but tried to power through. "Oh, sorry I ended up leaving so abruptly. I guess I was—"
"Toga told me everything. She told me you overheard all of it."
Izuku's jaw snapped shut and his legs started to give out. He stumbled back before he sat down on the bed. Ochako took a step to follow after him, and was startled when he flinched away. It was like looking back in time for her. Like looking at Izuku from over a year ago; timid, skidding, scared.
"I'm sorry."
Ochako shook her head. "Deku I'm not mad at you. It's not your—"
"I'm sorry for everything."
Izuku had pulled his knees up, so he could wrap his arms around and press his forehead against them. Hiding his face and making sure he couldn't look at Ochako. Or let her look at him.
Ochako frowned. "Everything? Deku…" Ochako sat down next to Izuku, the shift in the bed making him flinch. "You don't think I meant anything I was saying right? I was joking around with Toga." She paused, before clarifying. "All that distraction stuff, none of it was serious."
For a second, she had thought to just encompass everything that was said. But to deny everything, to deny she had said she loved him, that stuck in her throat, tasting of bile and bitterness.
"It doesn't make it untrue."
"Deku, you can't really think that?"
Izuku was upset, Ochako knew this. He was scared and not thinking like he normally would. Otherwise, she knew—she knew—he wouldn't be so focused on this. Which just left her with one singular possibility.
Putting together everything Himiko had told her, even from their talk at Hosu City Hospital, Ochako had a pretty good idea of what was really going on. It was just navigating this first issue that was tricky. Izuku heard something he wasn't ready to hear, so instead of focusing on that, the part that scared him, he latched onto something else, something he could understand, from all the experience he had growing up.
If Ochako was going to get to the root of this, this whole 'distraction' thing needs to be nipped in the bud. But she doubted words would be that effective now. If he was taking a joke at face value, words meant nothing.
He'd need to be shown through action, not words.
"I'm sorry," Izuku repeated, face still buried. "You could have been home resting or studying. But instead you were…"
The bed shifted as Ochako got up. Maybe she was leaving. Izuku hoped that was the case. Better she get home to rest then waste anymore time here with him. But Izuku never heard his door open. Never heard her leave. Had he missed it?
Then a soft and quiet sound caught his ear. A soft rustling, like fabric rubbing against fabric. Something was tossed on the bed.
"Deku," Ochako's voice was soft, but there was a firmness to it. She was set on something. "Look at me."
Izuku kept his face buried.
"Deku," her voice was the same, but now Izuku felt her hands gently cupping his face, "look at me."
At first he didn't move, but Ochako didn't move her hands. Finally, Izuku lifted his head up, before he jerked to a stop and his eyes went wide. Immediately he tried to turn away, but Ochako held him in place.
"Deku, don't turn away."
Ochako kept Izuku's face, facing her. She had removed her school blazer, rolled up her sleeves almost to her shoulders and had untucked her shirt while also unbuttoning the bottom half of it, so her stomach was visible.
"Look at me, Deku. Do you honestly think I'd be where I am now if you were a distraction?" Ochako moved her hands so they were cupping Izuku along his jaw and chin, holding him gently. "We started this together. We worked hard, together. You're so focused on this night because I stayed late to help you, because of course I'd stay to help you.
"Deku, I can't count how many times you've helped me. While we were training, when I was in danger at the USJ. The same way I've helped you when you're training, the same way I came when you were in danger. Because that's what we do Deku. We help each other. If you fall, I'm there to pick you up. If I fall, you're there for me.
"I'm here, right now, because of you. Just like you're here now because of me. We've come so far because we're in this together. That is not a distraction. And you know this, Deku. Because you know I'd never let something distract me. Just like you'd never let something distract you. We aren't… we are not distractions."
Ochako watched Izuku's eyes. They darted over her. Not in some lecherous manner, there was no Ill intent or lust. Izuku's eyes were looking at her, seeing her. Seeing her commitment to herself, to her family, and to their friendship. She watched as some of the light came back to them, before they drifted up and looked into her own eyes. "Deku, everything I just said, you know. I know you do. So please, no more saying you're sorry. Just tell me what's really going on."
While Ochako rebuttoned her shirt and took a seat next to Izuku again, said boy was trying to decide what to do. Since lying was out. Because any excuse he could come up with by lying would be dashed since Ochako would know it was a lie, or because it would be incredibly disrespectful to her. Or some combination of the two. So, lying was definitely out.
So that just left the truth, and god did that scare him.
Then Ochako put her hand on his, and he was scared at just how nice it felt. Her hand on his. He loved her. And now he knew she loved him. On top of that, one of his fears at what that could mean was now dashed on the rocks. Whatever was between them, past, present and future, would never become a distraction.
So, what was left that had him so afraid?
"I'm afraid of what your…" Izuku frowned. Saying out loud that Ochako loved him, to her, felt wrong. Because he had overheard it, she hadn't told him. "Of what I overheard you say could mean… about us."
"Why are you afraid of that? Are you not… happy that I…you know…"
Izuku blushed. "When I heard you… say that… I thought my heart was going to leap out of my chest but… then it hit me… this, what we have now, could be gone."
"Gone?"
"One way or another, if I… acknowledged it, or you found out I knew… it would mean things would change between us. And when I thought about that… I… needed a reason to pretend like I hadn't heard you. To not think about it. It was easier to focus on the other things you said, and make that the issue. Easier to hide behind that problem than face the one I really didn't want to think about. That what we have… could end up changing."
Ochako frowned. "But Deku, change doesn't have to be bad."
Izuku sighed, a tinge of bitterness in his voice. "I have bad luck with change when it comes to friends."
"I'm not Bakugou."
"I know that. Believe me, I know that…" Izuku sighed. "Doesn't mean it's not something I think about when I think about change."
"Deku…"
"Uraraka, I can't put into words how much I cherish what we have. I don't want to lose it."
Ochako leaned forward as she thought about her reply. "I get… that change can be scary. But…don't you think it can also be wonderful? To have what we share grow into… something more?"
"I do, it's—" Izuku snapped his mouth shut. He had answered far too quickly, making himself blush. "I… I've thought about it… a lot actually." Izuku started wringing his hands together. "It just seemed so far-fetched and… crazy."
"Does it still seem crazy?"
The way Ochako asked the question made Izuku look at her. She was smiling at him. A soft, gentle smile. Calming. Kind. Loving. Her eyes seemed to twinkle like the stars she was so in love with, and her cheeks, those round pink cheeks, looked extra rosey.
Was the idea that there was something more he could share with her crazy? After everything, after learning that he could be loved, and then hearing the words from Ochako herself.
No, it wasn't crazy at all.
Could he tell her?
Yes.
Should he tell her?
Yes!
Did he want to tell her?
You wouldn't be asking.
It was still so scary, though.
Sometimes life's scary, even the good parts.
This was so different from anything he'd ever thought he'd do.
When has that stopped you before? Different got you into U.A.
He didn't know what to do.
Yes, you do.
Can you date and train to be a hero?
Those web searches had some examples. Heck, Iida's family is the best one.
He wanted to.
Then do it!
Izuku took a breath, steadying himself. He took another and turned to face Ochako, "Uraraka, I—"
Ochako reached up and put her hand in front of his mouth, shushing him and shaking her head. "Deku, stop."
Izuku almost tripped out of the bed, utterly confused.
Ochako smiled and shook her head. "Deku, you just had some big internal conflict to psych yourself up, didn't you?"
"I…"
"You were making all kinds of faces." When Izuku winced, Ochako took his hands into hers. "Deku, I want to ask you. Whatever you were about to say, are you one hundred percent sure you can say it?" Izuku started to open his mouth, but Ochako kept going, "No regrets, no second guessing. You have to be completely and absolutely certain."
"…"
"Because Deku… I think I deserve to hear what you want to say, only when you're sure you want to say it."
Izuku sat silently contemplating that. It was a fair thing for Ochako to ask. She more than deserved that kind of respect. "I… I'm not sure. I want to say…" He trailed off when Ochako shook her head.
"Don't force an answer Deku. If you need time, it's okay."
Izuku frowned. While waiting was respectful to Ochako, he wasn't sure it was fair. "I want… I want to give you an answer, since… since I heard…"
Ochako hummed to herself. "Don't feel like you have to, just because you heard something. I don't mind waiting, Deku. Honestly… I'd rather tell you how I feel myself directly. Not by you overhearing around a corner…"
Ochako sighed, scratching at her hair. "This feels weird. But maybe…" There was no pretending it hadn't happened, but… "Let's say what you heard didn't count. So, no pressure on either side."
Izuku caught onto what she meant. She wasn't pretending nothing happened, but she was asking for a do-over. A chance to tell him directly she loved him. Oh… That got a blush to spread over Izuku's whole face.
Ochako watched some smoke puff out of Izuku's nose and knew he got the answer. She chuckled and blushed. It was a wonderful sound to Izuku. And those bright pink cheeks, so beautiful.
Maybe it was the promise of hearing those words again, and getting to see the beautiful girl in front of him saying it, but Izuku found his courage, and with mind made up, with some ghostly encouragement from the rest, his heart cheering him on, Izuku finally decided, "Our.. term finals."
"Huh?" Ochako's head tilted as she looked at Izuku, a little confused. "What about our finals?"
"I think… I want to make sure I have… myself figured out before you tell me… I think… it's only fair you hear what I have to say before you have to say it again. And… I'll… I'll be ready after our finals."
"…after finals?"
"I'll… have a proper answer for you after we… after we take care of our business. There'll be a break before our summer training. I'll, I'll make sure I have an answer for you then. I'll have it figured out. So… give me a chance to… say what I want to say before you… before you have your… your do-over."
Ochako thought about that. 'After finals' was not that far off. She had been honest that she was willing to wait, but at the same time, she'd be lying if she said she didn't want to hear it from Izuku.
And if he wanted to take the initiative, well, she wasn't going to say no. She liked the idea of being confessed to.
"Okay Deku, after finals." Ochako didn't add 'before summer training,' not wanting to trap Izuku into anything. "Let's ace these exams, and then… and then I'll be waiting for you."
Izuku nodded.
"You know Deku, I think…us being able to acknowledge that… there's something personal here, while also making sure we're able to prioritize the things we have to do, making sure our responsibilities are taken care of… is the most mature thing we can do."
Izuku agreed, giving her a shaky smile.
"So, we're all good then?"
Izuku pondered for a second before he nodded. "I think… I think I'm good. It's still scary, but… sometimes the scary stuff is worth it… in the end."
That answer made Ochako beam happily.
Then Izuku tapped his chin. "Do you mind if I ask you something Uraraka?"
"Hmm, sure. Go ahead."
"Um… why were you talking so openly with Toga… about all that?"
Ochako blinked, then started to laugh nervously. "Oh, that… wellll you see… she's known how I've felt for a while now."
Izuku's jaw dropped. "She's known?!…. Since Hosu?"
"Yeah?"
"…Oh my god." Izuku clutched his now burning face. "Oooooh is that why she's been… oh god."
"What? What?" Ochako was confused. It looked like something had just clicked for Izuku and Ochako was trying to catch up.
"So, um… remember how we were all recovering at Hosu City Hospital for a while?"
"Yeah?"
Izuku was blushing like mad. "Well… Toga… might've learned a little more than what I told you and All Might about," Ochako raised an eyebrow, "and I'm… since then she's been, um… really trying to get me to… you know…"
Ochako's eyes went wide. "You too?!"
Izuku whirled around to face and point at Ochako, while she was pointing at him. "Has she been…"
Ochako's shocked face turned into cackling glee as she fell backwards. "She's been playing both sides to try and get us to hook up. Oh," Ochako put a hand over her mouth to try and stifle the laugh, "I think I have to throw her into orbit now."
While Ochako laughed, Izuku replayed the past couple of months. He knew that all the teasing Himiko did to him was her way of flirting, since she had openly admitted she was in love with him. But after Hosu she had started teasing and hanging onto Ochako too, so could that mean that…?
"Um… Uraraka."
Ochako was able to squeak out a, "Yeah?"
Izuku wanted to handle this delicately. "So, um… Toga's teasing. That she does to me… she, um… told me the reason why she does it," Ochako's laughter calmed, "and um… she's been doing the same to you. Has she… told you why?"
Well, if it's all coming out…
"Yeah, she's, um, she's told me." Izuku looked a little startled, but not all that surprised. Himiko did seem like the kind of person that had enough love in her heart for more than one. "She also told me that she confessed to you." That did surprise Izuku. "And that she kissed you."
Slightly panicked, Izuku started to try and explain, but Ochako held up a hand. "Don't worry Deku. It's okay. She explained things before and I'm not mad… maybe a little jealous." Izuku chirped at that. "She also…" Ochako licked her lips, "she also kissed me… you know. After she confessed… Deku?"
Izuku had zoned out the moment he had heard that Himiko had kissed Ochako. It was suddenly all he could think about. Himiko, gently cupping Ochako's cheeks as she leaned in and pressed her lips against Ochako.
Ochako coughed into her hand, "Ahem," breaking Izuku out of his daydream. Izuku blinked then bashfully pulled at his collar. Ochako chuckled, amused at the sight. "Just so you know Deku, whatever you're thinking about is waaaay off."
"H-huh?"
"I can see on your face, how you think it played out. Is she cupping my face and giving me a nice little peck here?" Ochako tapped her lips playfully. When Izuku nodded, Ochako just smiled. "She was gentle with you, Deku. Me? She kissed me like how you really imagine Toga would kiss someone."
Ochako watched as Izuku blinked. Took a second to think about that, then promptly fell over and overheated. Face red and clouds of smoke puffing out of his mouth. It was actually hilarious, and more than a little cute.
"Did," Izuku managed to squeak out, "did she put her tongue in?" Izuku's overheated brain made him ask that. Normally, he'd never dream of asking such a personal question. But if anything, this night was far from normal.
It was Ochako's turn to go a little red, but licking her lips, she nodded. "Yeah she did." Ochako tried to sound smug about it.
It wasn't the only thing she did, but no reason to tell Deku all that.
"Did… you kiss her back?"
"I did." Ochako was rewarded with another Izuku short circuit. She had to admit, seeing him all flustered and maybe even turned on, was almost unbearably cute.
Izuku's breath was coming out hot as he tried to keep all the scenes playing out in his head from giving him a heat stroke, and a massive nosebleed. Tongues, Toga used her tongue while she was kissing Uraraka… and Uraraka kissed back… did that mean she had her tongue in Toga's mouth too? She said she kissed back so that must mean…
Izuku gripped the bed sheets and with smoke still puffing out asked. "Do you… like those kinds of kisses, Uraraka?"
Izuku wasn't sure he meant to ask that, but he did. Maybe he was too overheated to think straight, but this seemed like an important question to ask… for later.
Now it was Ochako's turn to be the one totally red-faced. Her hands slapped against her cheeks as she accidentally floated herself in embarrassment. But even as her butt hit the ceiling she found herself nodding. "I did… and," she looked down at Izuku as she said the last part, "it might be fun to kiss like that again."
Neither of them were coherent after that for several minutes.
When Izuku and Ochako both left his room, they found Inko and Eri both sitting on the couch waiting for them. Inko was clearly waiting for some news or sign. Izuku quickly explained that everything was fine and that for the time being, they were going to take care of the finals. And then, Izuku scratched his neck as he said the next bit, they'd get the rest squared away after he got himself figured out.
Inko's eyes drifted to Ochako, and the other girl flashed her a smile. So things were good.
"Well, I think I should be getting home. It's late and—"
"Of course it's late. Far too late for you to get home at any decent time. Now, unless there's anything you need from home?" Inko asked, which Ochako shook her head, since she had everything she needed for the tests either at school or her bag. "Then Izuku, go pull out the spare futon we bought for Ochako. I knew making sure you had some spare clothes here was going to pay off. At least this way you'll both get a good night's sleep before all your tests."
Himiko paced back and forth at U.A.'s front gate while more and more students filed in. She hadn't heard anything after she had sent Ochako after Izuku. She was nervous, not a normal feeling for her.
Where the hell are they? If something had happened I'm sure at least Ochako would have texted me…
Himiko covered her face with her hands as she started to spiral into another crisis. I should have fucking just left with her. Why now, at all times, did I decide to play by the fucking rules and stay on campus. What the fuck is wrong with—
"Err, Toga, are you okay?" Izuku glanced over at Ochako who was also giving the girl a worried look.
"You're looking a little stressed there."
At this point Himiko was banging her head against a wall. "No I'm not fucking okay! I'm standing here waiting for you two to show up so I can finally learn what the fuck happened after…" Himiko paused mid-bash, lowered her hands and turned to look at Izuku and Ochako. "You're… both here…"
Izuku smiled. "Hello."
Ochako waved. "Yo."
There was a brief pause before Himiko screamed and lunged for their throats.
After giving the two of them a good throttling, Himiko pulled back and gave them a thorough lookover. Neither was distressed. In fact, both had huge smiles as they laughed off her attack. They were acting normal. Completely and utterly normal. Which after everything that had happened last night, was not fucking normal.
"So," Himiko started digging. "What's the deal?" Her hands held up, fingers twitching as she begged for the details. If she didn't get the juicy gossip, she was gonna start drooling. "Are you two like," she wiggled her eyebrows, "you know…"
Both flushed before Izuku waved his hands around in a small panic. "T-Toga!"
…Noooooo. Himiko's hands were grabbing her hair, threatening to pull out her buns, but Ochako cut her off. "Just calm down and listen before you jump the gun, alright?"
Izuku nodded. "She's right, Toga. We… I mean Uraraka and I… we wanted to talk to you and… explain the situation. Since…" Izuku scratched at his neck, "you've been, um… pretty involved with us… on both sides."
Himiko raised an eyebrow, glancing over at Ochako who was looking at Izuku with no small amount of pride. "Okay… So you know that I've been…" Himiko wasn't sure what a nice diplomatic way to phrase what she had been doing.
Ochako, though, filled in, "Trying to hook us up."
Izuku, blushing but also nodding, pointed at Ochako. "Yeah… that… and other things."
Other things? What other… oh. Himiko pointed at Ochako, who nodded, then looked over at Izuku. Izuku blushed and fidgeted. "The… um flirting makes sense now…"
Well, alrighty then. Seems like they did talk then. It was a relief to Himiko to at least see that neither Izuku or Ochako seemed phased by this info, though having a night to sleep on it might have helped. And seeing Izuku still get flustered over the topic was super cute.
All good things, since secrets between friends weren't very healthy, but none of this answered any of her questions. "Soooo, what's the deal then?"
Izuku straightened himself out. "Right. So firstly, I wanted to apologize to you, Toga."
"Eh?"
"Last night I… I put you in a really unfair position." Izuku looked down, ashamed. "Saying that… making you feel like… that trying to help me meant betraying our friendship. I had no right to say that. Ever since we met, you've been trying to help me. To be there for me. And last night I all but spat in your face. Toga I'm—"
Himiko held up a hand. "Ochako, just curious here, but I'm guessing that last night there were a lot of 'I'm sorry' from this dense nut."
Ochako smiled, but rubbed at her brow like she was massaging a headache. "There were."
"Did you tell him to stop?"
"I did."
"Good. Izuku," Himiko's sudden pivot back to him made him straighten up, "I wouldn't have been waiting here, for you guys to show up, if I wasn't still your good serial killing buddy—"
"Ex-serial killing buddy," Ochako corrected her.
"That is entirely up to Baku Bitch, but that's besides the point." The grin on Himiko's face made Izuku gulp nervously while Ochako flashed her a discrete thumbs up. "I'm still your ride or die chick. You said some shit. I don't really care since I know who you really are. I've been stabbed in the back by people I thought I could trust. I can actually show you the scars if you want. But that's not you.
"So lets do us both a favor here; I know you're sorry, so let's just skip over all the words words words, that by the sound of things Ochako over there is also tired of hearing," Ochako snickered, "and let's get to the part where you two tell me what in the hell happened last night? Because I'm dying right now and if we're at some kind of 'let's pretend nothing happened phase,' I'm legitimately going to freak the fuck out."
"No one's pretending that last night didn't happen." The fact it was Izuku who said that made Himiko look at him, a little startled.
"But," Ochako continued, "for right now, we think it's best to focus on our finals first. So right now, things are on hold."
"Why?" Himiko almost wailed, but Ochako kept going.
"Because just because you know something, it's different than getting a chance to tell someone. And getting a chance to hear someone tell you something," Ochako explained. "I… deserve a chance to actually," she blushed as she kept going, "to actually tell Deku how I feel. Face to face. Not from around a corner. And I deserve to hear how Deku feels, when he doesn't feel obligated to give me an immediate answer."
"And I, I deserve the time to make sure I can give Uaraka an answer, but it needs to be one I'm focused on entirely. So no late night freak-outs pushing me to say something or impending super important tests to distract me. So we both agreed that, after our final exams, that… that I would be the one to… bring the subject back up."
Himiko crossed her arms as she went over all that. It wasn't exactly what she had been hoping would happen but, in the long term this might be the best thing for them.
"You're saying that you'll be the one to bring the subject up again," Himiko asked, making sure she had Izuku's full attention. The poor greenette, flushed red and fidgeting around, was still able to hold her eye long enough and nod. "And after the final exams. Does that mean—"
"Toga," Ochako huffed with a smile, "Deku told me he'd have an answer for me after we take our finals. That's good enough for me. Okay?"
Himiko held up her hands, conceding and moving on, "So you two, are both willing to just… wait. You're just going to sit on this, when you both—"
"It's a matter of respect, Toga," Izuku explained gently. "To each other and ourselves. I think… us being able to acknowledge that… there's something personal there, while also making sure we're able to prioritize the things we have to do, making sure our responsibilities are taken care of… is the most mature thing we can do."
"Exactly," Ochako said with a nod.
Himiko raised an eyebrow, smirking. "So you're totally copying something Ochako said, aren't you?"
Izuku laughed nervously. "Little bit."
"You two… he he he, you're both way stronger than I gave you both credit for. No chance in hell I'd be willing to sit on something like this."
Ochako rolled her eyes. "It's called being responsible, Toga."
"Blech. No thanks. I'm a more, 'in the moment' kind of girl."
"No kidding," Izuku and Ochako stereoed.
"Oi!"
With things explained, the three friends headed to class. As they walked, Himiko tugged on Ochako's sleeve, slowing her down enough so they were now a few steps behind Izuku so she could talk quietly as they walked.
"So… You really okay with this?"
Ochako nodded. "Deku might… know. But since I haven't told him it doesn't count. It's just like we said, Toga. Deku has some things he needs to figure out. I'm willing to wait. To give him the time he needs to figure out what he's going to say to me."
Himiko shook her head. "Are you sure you got trained by Miruko? She doesn't seem like the kind of person to install patience."
Ochako glanced over to make sure Izuku wasn't looking before she flipped Himiko the finger. "I was trained by Gunhead too, bitch."
"…What about All Might?"
"I know what I said."
Himiko chuckled. "And Izuku… he didn't say anything to you, and now you have to wait to hear how he feels. Must be nerve-wracking, huh?"
Ochako shrugged. "I guess I'm more nervous about what he'll say than how he really feels."
Himiko cocked her head to the side, an eyebrow raised as she picked up on some of the very specific wording of what Ochako had just said. "Hold the phone."
"Hmm?"
"Don't, 'hmm' me!" Himiko poked her. "What the hell do you mean you're more nervous about what he'll say than how he feels? It sounds like you already know something."
Ochako smiled. That big toothy smile that just beamed confidence like the sun was bright. It was Ochako's special, 'I'm the boss / I'm fucking adorable and you know it' smile. And considering the cluster fuck the last few hours had been, it was not the smile she should have. The gravity girl's cheeks were also getting a nice rosey shade to them.
"What the hell is going on here?"
Ochako, still smiling and blushing, very nonchalantly took a step back and fixed up her tie. "I might already have everything figured out."
Himiko wanted to tear out her hair. "Are you going to actually say something that makes sense? Or am I going to have to stab you before you take your first test?"
Ochako finished fixing her tie, and then started examining her nails. After months of dealing with Himiko, it was fun to be on the attack. "I mean, isn't it obvious?"
"Bitch, if you don't—"
"I'm talking about Deku."
"Izuku?"
"Yup."
"…" The gears in Himiko's head were whirling away, until they ground to a halt. "Wait… Wait one god damned fucking second. You are not going to stand there and tell me—"
"I never told you he almost kissed me after that fancy dinner we went to, did I?"
"…"
Ochako turned around and continued on to class. Her smug smile got wider as Himiko screeched behind her, "WHAT?!"
On the third day, with the last paper turned in, class 1-A had finished their written exams. Several students cheered or sighed in relief.
"It's over!"
"Thank god!"
"Thanks a lot Yaoyorozu, all that studying at your place helped a bunch."
Momo fidgeted as Kyouka came over to thank her. "Not at all. You're already brilliant of course."
Himiko lay down on her desk. "No more tests ever again."
Denki laughed. "Except at the end of next term, and then there's years two and threeeiii!"
Thunk!
A knife whirled by his head and got stuck in the wall. "No more tests ever again," Himiko repeated blissfully.
"…Where does she hide those?"
"It's like Midoriya's notebook. Best not to question it."
"Everyone!" Tenya moved to the front of the class. "With the completion of our written exams, we now only have our practicals tomorrow. I suggest that after our lunch period we spend the later part of the day preparing ourselves for the challenges to come."
"I vote we all take a nap," Himiko countered. Which got several laughs.
Tenya adjusted his glasses. "To ensure that we are prepared both mentally and physically, a good rested body and mind is an excellent suggestion. I'm proud to see you are taking this seriously."
Himiko blinked rapidly. "Wait… what just happened?"
"I think he just made you the class suck-up," Mina snickered.
"…fucking kill me, Tenya's learning."
Himiko's death was postponed as the lunch bell rang. While the class got up to go have their lunch, Izuku paused at the door before turning to look at his friends. "I have something I need to take care of first. Meet you all in the cafeteria."
All Might smiled when Izuku walked into his office. "Ah, Young Midoriya. What can I do for you? I thought after all those tests you'd be heading home right away. I still have memories of my old test I took here, ha ha ha ha."
Izuku nervously nodded while he closed the door behind him. "They weren't… that bad."
"That's good to hear. It means you came prepared. So, what can I do for you?"
Izuku was rubbing his neck. "I came to… ask for your advice."
All Might held up a finger. "Now now, Young Midoriya. I can't go giving you any hints on what the practical test will be like tomorrow."
Izuku waved his hands around. "What? No! No, not that. That's not what I wanted to ask you about."
All Might laughed. "I was only joking. No need to worry. So? What do you want to ask me?"
Izuku gulped, but he was here. So there was no going back. "Do you… have any advice… about… um… love?"
All Might's head shot up, while a spew of blood rocketed out of his mouth as he coughed in shock. "L-love?!"
Of all the things All Might was prepared to talk about with Izuku, this wasn't one of them.
"Young Midoriya, that topic… that is to say… um," he coughed into his hand, trying to get himself under control. "Don't you think that kind of topic would be better discussed…" All Might was about to say father, but considering that the relationship between the two were not the greatest, then pivoted to bring up Inko, "with your mother?"
Izuku was fidgeting around, clearly uncomfortable, but it spoke volumes that he had even come here and brought up the topic at all. All Might knew this was serious for the boy. "I mean… we did… um, talk… some… about… stuff."
"…Young Midoriya, this isn't you needing to learn about the birds and the bees, right?"
Izuku's initial nervousness vanished almost instantly, replaced with an exasperated annoyance. Izuku threw up his hands. "No! Why does everyone just assume I don't know about sex?! Just because it's not the first thing on my mind! I know what sex is! And protection and all that stuff!"
Izuku rubbed his brow and kept going, still clearly annoyed, "And I'm not asking about having sex with Uraraka. I'm asking for advice about if I should tell her I love her. If it's okay to date her."
Izuku then blinked and realized he said a lot of that out loud and maybe not in the best way. He had also just told All Might who he was in love with and he hadn't been a hundred percent sure he was going to do that from the start. "Eep."
"Ah," All Might nodded sagely. "Now I understand. Finally figured it out, huh?" Izuku looked at All Might funnily and the hero just explained, "Young Midoriya. You're not exactly subtle."
Izuku groaned but decided not to dwell on that. Because thinking of who else might know about his feelings was not something he wanted to focus on. Clearing his throat, Izuku ultimately decided he was here, so he should just ask what he needed to ask. The fact that All Might knew who he was talking about might just make things easier.
"All Might, I wanted to…" Even when he had decided he was going to do this, it was still hard. "I wanted to ask for your advice about love. About being a hero and being in love. About…" Izuku held up a clenched fist, looking at it. "About having One for All and being in love."
Izuku was so focused now on getting his questions out, that he didn't notice All Might's mood darken. "You are a hero, and you held One for All for decades. Did you ever want to be with someone? Did you ever fall in love or want to?"
Izuku sighed. "Because I… I want to. For so long I didn't think… things like love or dating were possible for me. Taking a girl to a carnival. Going on the Ferris wheel while sharing a crêpe. Those kinds of things seemed more… unrealistic than me getting into U.A. But things… happened. I… l think those dreams… might be something I could actually have. I learned that… how I view myself, isn't how others view me…"
The words Ochako said those nights ago, the words he should have focused on, rang in his ears. And even Himiko's talk with him in the hospital. Those events were fresh in Izuku's mind as he kept talking. "It's all made me… want to tell Uraraka how I feel. I… I want to tell her that I love her, that I think I've loved her for a while now but didn't know it."
"But with," Izuku spread out his hands, "everything that's going on, is it alright? Our studies, then when we go pro, on top of me having One for All and knowing that I'll eventually have to deal with All for One."
Izuku sighed. "I guess… to be the me I'm expected to be, does that mean I have to give up on the me I want to be, the me that's with her?"
If Izuku had been paying attention, he would have seen the conflict that passed over All Might's face. As Toshinori, he had made bets and joked with the boy's mother about how long it would be until Izuku and Ochako ended up together. As his and Ochako's teacher and mentor, the idea that the two had found a connection with each other, had formed a bond that was now blossoming into something new, warmed his heart. But as a hero and previous wielder of One for All, a very different feeling filled him. A cold fear that threatened to stop him from breathing.
He wanted to encourage Izuku.
He wanted to encourage Ochako as well.
He wanted to warn them too.
Because as horrible as it was to say, he had seen where the path Izuku wanted to tread ended. Or could end.
All Might frowned and pressed his hands together before motioning towards the empty sofa. "Young Midoriya… have a seat."
Oh, this might not be good. Izuku gulped nervously as he sat down, watching as All Might worked to choose his words carefully.
"Young Midoriya. You came here to ask for my advice. Because you believe I have experience in this. That because I also held One for All, our unique similarities could help you make a decision. Well, you're not wrong but, what I have to give you… is neither the answer I think you wanted to hear… nor one I think I ever wanted you to discover. But I think you need to hear it."
All Might could see Izuku was confused, which made sense. All Might was beating around the bush. "I haven't spoken to you much about my predecessor, have I?"
"You… mentioned something about her cape? How mine reminded you of hers."
All Might chucked. "I did…. Shimura Nana. That was her name. She was the seventh wielder of One for All and my master. She was a teacher, a hero, a constant thorn in All for One's side…" All Might took a breath. "She was also a wife and a mother."
Izuku watched All Might, and the pain on the hero's face made it clear that whatever was coming was going to be painful.
"All for One found Nana's husband and killed him."
"Oh." It was such a weak response, but it was the only thing Izuku's body let him say. Izuku also wasn't sure what he really could say to that.
At least at first. With the horrible idea that one of the previous wielders of One for All lost someone so dear to them, something else then sprung up in Izuku's head. "What happened to her child?"
Izuku felt his stomach twist at what the answer could be. It was making him sick.
"Her son lived, but…" All Might wrung his hands together. "She ultimately gave him up."
"Gave him… up?" What did that mean?
"Nana realized that to continue the fight against All for One she couldn't… she couldn't be a hero and a mother at the same time. So she made the decision to give her son up. She also… she wanted him to have a chance at a normal life. Something he wouldn't have with her. She was so adamant about this, she forbade myself or Gran Torino from ever having any contact with him."
All Might sighed. "In the end, Nana made the choice to sacrifice her personal life and love so she could dedicate her all to the fight against All for One. By standing up to him, and passing on everything she knew to the next in line."
"You."
"I saw what she lost, and the effect it had on her… She was the one that started the smile you know. 'No matter how scary it gets, you must always wear a smile that says, I'm fine.'" All Might puffed up momentarily, showing off that giant smile he was so well known for, before he shrunk back down. "She always smiled. Even during the worst times… There were times… I'd see her smiling but it felt like she was smiling to hide her own pain. Losing her husband and her son…"
Izuku recalled something All Might had said to him, when they had first met. "Like you told me that your smile hides a lot of fear?"
All Might huffed out a mirthless chuckle. "I suppose you're right." He ran his hand through his hair. "After that… I suppose I learned from Nana's… mistakes. I never pursued any… meaningful romantic relationships. Not saying there weren't flings, but those were purely… physical. I worked very hard to keep emotional connections to a bare minimum. Seeing what happened to Nana, I was terrified of people doing it because they were close to me… and I suppose I was afraid of feeling the same pain she went through."
There was something so sad about that. All Might, the symbol of peace. Adored by the people around the world. "You chose to live alone?"
All Might leaned back, glancing out the window. "I dedicated my life to becoming the pillar I am now. So much time out and about, it wasn't like I was sitting at home, alone… I also do have friends," when he looked back, he saw the doubt on Izuku's face, "but very few. And of course, only the bare minimum know… the real me, you could say."
Izuku sat and thought about that. Before him were two stories, centered around two people who had dedicated their lives to being heroes. One had lost everything and the other had chosen to have nothing. It was just so sad, and felt so wrong.
All Might could see the distress on Izuku's face. "I know this isn't what you hoped to hear. But I can only give you what I know. Unfortunately, in my experience…" he shrugged, "sometimes the sacrifices hurt less than the loss."
Izuku considered his next words carefully, because he had only come at the issue from one direction. There was another side to what he wanted. And while she wasn't here to ask it, Izuku still thought it was important to get an answer from All Might. "If… Uraraka had come instead of me. Asking you if she could… date and fall in love. What would you tell her? I know I have One for All, but you trained us both."
"Ah," it was a fair question, "honestly… I'd probably tell her the exact same thing. She's chosen to stand against All for One, same as you. So the same risks apply."
"So should she… leave her family? It's what made her want to be a hero to begin with. She wants to make sure they live comfy, happy lives. And what about my mom and Eri?"
All Might held up his hands. "I'm not telling you, either of you, to cut off your family from your lives. In truth, family isn't something I have any experience with, so I can't offer any advice on that matter. I simply don't know what to do. Neither am I telling you you can't or shouldn't pursue a relationship with Young Uraraka. Or her with you. In the end, I can only share my experiences. It's the same with who you tell about One for All. Ultimately, the decision is up to you. You're the future now, all I can do is try and help you the best I can."
"I've made… choices that I don't think you'd have made," Izuku said, recalling how he almost immediately decided that Himiko was going to be brought into the loop.
"Very true, when you took the mantle of One for All you started to forge your own path. You're your own person, Young Midoriya."
Soon after this, Izuku felt he had heard what he needed to hear, and All Might seemed like he was content with what he had said. Some awkward but friendly goodbyes were exchanged, and Izuku was at the door to leave.
"Young Midoriya," Izuku turned back to look at All Might, "no matter what, I will support you two. You are my protégés. And despite the responsibilities you both have now, I want you to be happy."
"Thank you, All Might," Izuku bowed and had his hand on the door, but paused one last time. "All Might?"
"Yes?"
"Her, um… Shimura's husband. Was he a professional hero too?"
No.
"No. He wasn't."
Walking down the hall, Izuku was deep in thought. Perhaps not since his first meeting with All Might, had he been given such a look at the man behind the symbol. And it was more tragic than he could have ever imagined. This new knowledge put everything in a new light, such as his insistence on keeping One for All a secret even from friends.
Izuku supposed from All Might's point of view, it made sense. But for Izuku, it was a struggle to wrap his mind around it. All Might didn't just choose isolation, he actively fought to maintain it. Izuku, on the other hand, had been forced into isolation for years. And now, at this point in his life, with his whole outlook on life and himself thoroughly shaken to its foundation, Izuku was certain that he would do anything to keep from being alone again.
Which brought up an issue that Izuku knew he needed to address: Whether to let the rest of his friends know about One for All, and whether to let his mother. His friends seemed like an almost cut and dry answer; the actual question was when would it be the appropriate time? Definitely not now, with the practical exam tomorrow. And definitely not until he gave Ochako the answer she rightly deserved. Once finals were done, Ochako was going to be his priority. But after that, it would be time to let his friends know.
His mother, on the other hand… That was a messy and complicated issue that even thinking about it gave him headaches that put his worst psychokinesis accidents to shame. So that mess would get tabled for later. Maybe much later.
His friends were training to be heroes. They could be prepared for the issues that came with learning about One for All. His mother?
And there's the headache… ow…
Yeah, that was a problem for another time. But as Izuku walked down the halls, he refocused on his talk with All Might, and what it meant for him going forward.
As scary as the prospect was, even with his own insecurities gnawing at him, Izuku knew that simply going back to how things were wasn't an option. He had to address these feelings of his, and Ochako's feelings for him. He had to come to terms with the idea that it was alright to want this. And to accept, no, to embrace the idea that he was also wanted.
Ochako was willing to wait for Izuku to get his own feelings in order, and Izuku planned on doing it. Because Ochako deserved to hear his feelings, deserved a proper response after he had overheard her talking with Himiko.
But just because Ochako was willing to wait, didn't mean Izuku was going to make her wait long. He wasn't going to string this out. He had a responsibility to her. Because he shared those feelings, true, but it was more than that. Izuku respected Ochako too much as a person, a fellow U.A. student, a future hero and as a friend to make her wait too long.
Going to see All Might, Izuku had hoped for some advice, something to help make him sure he was doing the right thing. And he got it, just not in the way he had expected. Nana wasn't wrong in her choices. Neither was All Might. They did what they thought was best. But, there were costs. And one of those were their smiles.
Those smiles that brought joy to people, that brought relief and hope. That let those that suffer know that everything was going to be okay. They were so much more, and carried so much more weight. Hiding pain. Hiding fear. Izuku didn't want his smile to hide anything. He wanted to smile because he was showing something. He wanted to smile, because he was loved.
It was only a few hours after Izuku's head hit his pillow that a sound pulled him out of his relaxing sleep. A soft whimper that Izuku over the few months has trained himself to hear, even when he was asleep.
Izuku's eyes fluttered open even as his body was rolling out of his bed. By the time his feet hit the floor, he was fully awake and ready to act. Eri's distressed noises usually meant she was having another nightmare, and Izuku was ready to wake her up, as well as jot down anything she remembered. Every clue was one step closer to figuring out who had been hurting her.
But tonight was different.
Flicking on the lights, he saw that Eri was awake, and sitting up in her bed. She was also clutching her head.
"Eri?" Izuku knelt by the bed and leaned in, looking to see what was wrong. "Are you alright? What's wrong?"
Did she accidentally bang her head on the bottom of the frame?
"My horn hurts."
Her horn?
Izuku moved to sit on the edge of the bed and pulled Eri next to him. Gently, he moved her hands aside so he could get a better look. He didn't see any red marks or bruising, so it didn't look like she had bumped it against anything. Running his fingers around the horn, he also didn't feel any swelling or heat from the skin.
Hmm, Izuku pondered, nothing looks wrong… although…
Looking at Eri for a moment, Izuku carefully put his hand next to her horn. Humming to himself, Izuku reached out, pulled his phone over, and started flipping through pictures, looking for ones that had Eri in them. Just to confirm something. Looking over the pictures, Izuku quickly confirmed, "Your horn is bigger."
Now that he was paying attention to it, in some of the first pictures he had of Eri, her horn was a little nub. But scrolling through the more recent ones, it was clear it had been growing gradually ever since. Now, it almost reached from the bottom of his palm to his pinky. Definitely bigger than a few days ago, by an inch or two.
"Sit right here, Eri. I'm going to go get you something."
Getting up, Izuku went to the bathroom and began rummaging through some cabinets. As he did, out of the corner of his eye, he saw the lights come on in his mother's room. By the time he heard footsteps, he had found what he was looking for.
"Izuku? What's going on?" Inko frowned. She could hear the whimpers coming from Izuku's room.
"Eri's horn is hurting her."
"Her horn?"
"Yeah. Did you notice that it's been getting bigger?"
Inko shook her head.
"Well, I looked at some pictures to check, and it's definitely bigger now. I wonder if this is like teething pain." Izuku held up a small container. "I'm going to put this ointment around it. I used this all the time to help with my sore muscles when I was training for U.A. Hopefully it'll help."
Inko nodded. "Okay. I'll give that detective a call and see if he can't get us scheduled to see the pediatrician they have for her case in the morning."
That sounded like a good idea to Izuku. Hopefully the doctor would figure out what was going on and get Eri something to help.
Both of them were soon back in his bedroom, with Inko holding Eri, trying to soothe the little girl, while Izuku, as carefully as he could, rubbed the ointment into the skin around the horn.
When that seemed to help take the edge off, Inko left to get some tylenol to make sure the pain didn't come back until she got Eri to a doctor for a checkup.
Walking into class that morning, there was a haze of nervous excitement. Normally people would be chatting with their friends before the bell rang, but today everyone just went to their seats, too focused on the last test of the term.
When Aizawa walked in, he seemed to approve of the class's temperament and got straight to the point.
"Everyone," he pressed a button on a small remote so that the wall containing their costume cases opened up, "change into your costumes and report to the Central Plaza. That is where you all will be taking your tests. Toga," he turned to address Himiko, "you need to go to the Development Studio. Your costume has been finished."
Himiko clapped happily.
"I will meet you all at the Central Plaza. Don't keep me waiting."
"So? What do you think?" Himiko asked as she twirled around for the class. She had caught up with the rest of her classmates after changing into her new costume.
To say that it was different than her last one would be an understatement. Gone were the sharp blades, tattered mask, huge syringes and major serial killer vibes, replaced with a clean and perhaps Victorian dapper look.
She had tall black boots that were topped with a thick cuff around her thigh just past the knee. Past that, she had tight red leggings that were covered by a pleated short white skirt, hiding black twin thigh pouches.
She had a black Victorian jacket with twin columns of gold buttons running up her chest, stopping at a white collared shirt, trimmed in red. A white ruffled ascot dangled around her neck and twin gold epaulets topped each of her shoulders, with thick tassels hanging down from them. A gold chain ran from one shoulder and connected to one of the top buttons.
The jacket sleeves ended with a heavy cuff that was also trimmed in red. The white lace frills from her shirt peaked just past the cuffs. Over the backs of each of her hands were layered polished metal that lay over the shirt and continued up into her jacket sleeves.
Hanging over Himiko's neck and shoulders was her old muffler, hiding a tubelined mask, though now the teeth had been stylized into thick jagged fangs.
The class clapped at the new look.
"Very nice."
"You're all fancy."
"You look like a soldier from a shoujo!"
"Now you only sorta look like a crazed serial killer!"
"Oi!" Denki winced as Rikidou thumped him on the head. "You're not supposed to say that."
Himiko chuckled. "I mean, he's not wrong. My old costume was totally designed to copy Mr. Stain. So not the most… family friendly look."
Hanta shook his head. "No kidding. I guess if you lived with the guy it makes sense but… man, I thought I was gonna get sliced up any time I walked near you when you were wearing it."
"There's a reason I told those weirdos in the Department of Support to give me something less scary."
Hitoshi, Izuku and Ochako all recalled the day they were with Himiko when she was trying on different trial costumes the support students had brought her. Himiko could read their minds and pointed at them. "Not a word out of any of you."
Tsuyu tapped her chin as she looked Himiko over. "Aren't you under-armed now? Before, you had all sorts of knives and daggers, kero."
Izuku nodded. "And what about your Quirk? You had those syringes with you so you could collect blood, right?"
"An excellent point." If Tenya wasn't wearing his helmet he'd be adjusting his glasses as he talked. "To give off a more friendly and welcoming appearance is all well and good, but you shouldn't sacrifice utili—" Himiko raised her hand and with a flick, snikt, two long claw blades popped out from the metal bracer she was wearing under her coat. "—ty… ah."
"I got the same on my other hand. I liked my original claws, but making them retractable is more convenient. Plus," Himiko pulled up her black coat sleeve, to show off the full bracer wrapped around her forearm over the white shirt. Everyone looked and saw that there were smaller claws folded along the sides, "I can make it even nastier if I want with these. Only issue is that it'll tear through my coat sleeve."
Popping the claws back and pulling the sleeve down, Himiko reached down and slipped her fingers under her white skirt. She pulled out a throwing dagger from the pouch at her leg. "Still got these."
Then reaching behind herself, she pulled out two of her syringes from under the back of her coat. "And I got my little bloodsuckers. The coat covers the whole set up." Finally Himiko opened her coat, showing off a black vest and the coat's red satin lining. The coat was also lined with several large combat knives, switchblades, butterfly knives, and some gravity knives, just to round everything out.
Any worries that Himiko was less armed than before were now quickly ended.
"So you're still Princess Stabbity, then?" Kyouka asked.
Himiko paused while buttoning up her coat. "...I'm going to kill that balding DJ for giving me that name."
"Balding?"
"Have you seen his hairline?"