Chapter 70 - 1-6

Chapter 1: The Last Step

Midoriya Izuku felt the tears run down his face as he slowly trudged up the stairs in front of him, the very act of lifting his feet wore on him. Before him stood not a simple staircase but a mountain to his own inadequacies and failures, each step simply another rock on that mountain of events that proved what he was. 

Deku 

Step.

Quirkless. 

Step.

Worthless. 

Step.

Weak. 

Step.

A cry baby. 

Step

A Deku 

A tattered and waterlogged journal split from loosened fingers as he turned the corner on a landing and proceeded further onward. Both the front and back covers had been burnt away along with the majority of the first and last pages, detailed notes lost to Kacchan's fitting punishment. The remainder were slowly curling inwards as the water damage it had taken took effect and slowly dried. 

A familiar voice filled his mind.

For the future? Seriously? Pfft Midoriya 

Izuku spared the fallen document of his own arrogance a passing glance. All that remained legible on the front cover was the word 

Future

Izuku couldn't help but chuckle darkly to himself as he bent over to pick up the journal from where it lay and proceeded onward further up the stairs.

Spineless. 

Step.

Coward. 

Step.

Unevolved. 

Step. 

A Deku. 

Numbly Izuku looked up at the plain gray door that blocked his path. He paused, not because he was hesitating but because today's events swam to the forefront of his mind staggering him as they did so.

The voice spoke once more. 

You don't even have a weak Quirk. You? You got nothing. 

Acting of their own volition Izuku hands reached out and turned the waiting doorknob. The door groaned in protest at first before a rush of wind caught it and with a sudden jerking motion flew open.

Izuku yelped in surprise as the door dragged him along with it before coming to a crashing halt and unceremoniously tossing him face first onto the hard concrete roof as his grip slipped. 

You are so worthless. You are nothing but a Deku. 

The words rang in Izuku's head as he lay there, his small cuts already starting to bleed lightly mixing with the tears that still ran down his face. He ignored both as he mechanically pushed himself upright, swaying slightly in the breeze as he did so. For a moment he just stood there in the late afternoon sun bathing the rooftop in a riot of yellow and orange.

Face turned skyward Izuku felt his mind go blank as his emotions consumed him and without intending to he started to walk forward. 

Step.

Step.

Step.

Thud.

Izuku looked down to find himself at the edge of the roof, the tips of his red hightops kicking the slightly raised edge that the roof had. He stared blankly at the scuff mark that now blemished the white of his once immaculate shoes. 

He blankly stared down at the fresh marks, his head cocking slightly to the left as he did so. 

What would All Might say if he were here? 

The voice from before returned and whispered the answer.

Worthless Deku! 

What would All Might do if he saw me here? 

Scoff and turn away, you are just some worthless Deku. 

What would All Might do? 

Tell you to jump. YOU WORTHLESS DEKU!!! 

Kacchan was right he was a worthless Deku and if All Might were here all that would be doing is taking up his time preventing him from saving someone who actually deserved to be saved. Izuku raised his leg and stepped up onto the roof's edge.

The howling wind of the city whipped all around him, drying the tears on his face before they had a chance to flow. His mop of green hair suddenly became streamlined for the first time in his life as the strong winds took hold. 

Katsuki Bakugo's voice sneered at him once more.

You can never be a hero, you can never be more than a waste of space. 

You want All Might to save you? And what tell you you're special? That you can do anything? 

Step.

Both feet were now firmly on the lip of the building, his toes hanging off the edge. He didn't even spare his journal a glance as the winds tore it from his grasp sending it spiraling to the ground below.

Take that leap of faith from the roof, pray that in the next life you have a quirk. 

"I'm sorry mom." Izuku Midoriya whispered to himself.

Step.

++++++++++++++++++++

"You know, I thought you two were close. That was kinda a messed up thing to say to him."

Katsuki scoffed. "Tsk. It's not like that shitty little nerd will actually do it. He's too much of a coward to even take the coward's way out." He absentmindedly kicked a glass bottle into a nearby wall, shattering it on impact. "Besides, maybe this time that shitty little Deku will realize that his dream of being a hero will never come true."

"I don't know Katsuki it's just that-"

Katsuki rounded on the two extras that insisted on following him around a series of explosions crackling in the palm of his hand.

"It's his fault for getting in my way. He's always looked down on me even when we were little so it's about time that mother fucker gets out of my way once and for all." Katsuki glared at the two extras daring them to argue against his logic only to see their eyes filled with terror as they pointed at him. 

Good, maybe now they will stop questioning me. 

"B-b-bakugo" One of them mumbled as the look of terror worsened on the left extra's face. 

"What?!?! What could possibly have you stuttering as much as that piece of shit Deku?"

A rumbling voice replied before the two extras could. 

"Invisibility Cloak. Mhmm with a good Quirk too."

"Wa-" Katsuki was cut off as a black sludge descended around him and suddenly his world was nothing but pain. 

Chapter 2: Right Place, Out of Time

"GWOAAAAAAAAAARRR!" 

Chaos filled the streets as the sludge covered Katsuki rampaged through the streets. 

"It's too narrow. I can't fit unless it's a two way street." Turning sideways, Mountain Lady tried once more to get close to the action only to be stopped by the compact buildings.

"Explosions and fire aren't my cup of tea. Someone else will need to get to him." Kamui Woods added as his arms branched out to scoop up civilians in the path of the rampaging villain. He let out a strangled hiss of pain as the fire burnt away at his extended limbs. 

"We still need your help. Putting out these fires require all of my attention as it is." Backdraft snapped before turning his arms back towards the burning buildings, struggling to keep it from becoming an all consuming inferno.

"Slugger and I are useless against him. He keeps slipping through our fingers every time we attempt to get a grip." Death Arms shouted in frustration as the two brawlers tried once more to reach the young man trapped inside the villain. 

"DON'T WORRY FRIENDS BECAUSE!"

A blur of red, white, blue and gold flashed over the conflict, the rush of wind staggering everyone but Mountain Lady as it shot past.

"I AM HERE."

"DETROIT SMASH"

In an instant a wave of air pressure consumed the sludge villain, tearing him away from Katsuki. As the majority of the villain's body shot skyward the remaining blobs of his true body collapsed onto the ground next to the stunned Katsuki. 

All Might paused for a moment, a breath hissing from his lips all while smoke pooled off his body. In an instant the panic that consumed the pro heroes and the crowd dissipated and was replaced by exuberance. 

Raising a hand in greeting to his fellow pros he flashed the assembled crowd his signature smile. 

"UNFORTUNATELY I SHALL HAVE TO LEAVE CLEAN UP TO ALL OF YOU. I AM NEEDED ELSEWHERE!"

And as suddenly as the number one hero had arrived he was gone leaving behind a small swirl of dust, an astounded crowd and one pissed off teenager. 

"I DIDN'T NEED YOUR FUCKING HELP!" Katsuki shouted after the vanishing blur that was All Might. 

++++++++++++++++++++

With seconds to spare Yagi Toshinori pushed his body to find a suitable hiding place before his time ran out. Smoke curling from his body he all but crashed onto the roof of a nearby building, his body giving off more and more smoke until…

Poof 

The wizened man looked down at his own skeletal arms and sighed. 

"Damn it Toshinori, you need to keep a better track of the time. At least I was able to save that kid in time. Now…" He chuckled to himself. "How am I going to get down from here?"

Looking around the roof Toshinori didn't spot any obvious paths out of his predicament, though he knew there had to be a hatch somewhere. 

Maybe behind those A.C. units? 

Toshinori slowly meandered his way across the roof putting his hands in the small of his back and cracking it as he walked. "I'm not that old am I?" He mumbled to himself as he felt more of his joints pop.

His question remained unanswered as no sooner had he rounded the square blocks of metal did he see in the distance another person standing on a roof. The distance between the pair made it seem as if they were a child which only added fuel to the concerns that sprang to Toshinori's mind. 

Maybe if I shout over to them? No, the distance is too great. What if I- 

Whatever he was contemplating didn't matter as he watched this mysterious person's shoulders sag before they did the unthinkable. 

Step.

"NO!!!" 

Unbidden the power of One for All sang through his veins as All Might pushed himself beyond his limit in an attempt to get to the mystery jumper in time. But even as his feet left a crater on the rooftop, even as he took to the skies, his heart sank. 

All Might, the Symbol of Peace, and Japan's number one hero could only despair as the truth came to him. 

He wasn't going to make it in time.

Chapter 3: Right Place Right Time

"Was there anything else you think we need to get today?" Uraraka Shuuhei couldn't keep a smile from forming on his face as he saw the effect his words had on his daughter.

Uraraka Ochako waved both her hands in a panic. "N-no I think we have more than enough. Really daddy it's no issue, it's a bit early to be getting supplies for university."

"Of course it ain't! I can't have my little girl heading off to be a big time hero and be under-prepared." Ochako's father threw back his head with a laugh, his smile only growing as he leaned in conspiratorially and whispered. "Besides with you using your quirk to get the supplies loaded earlier the company pays for your train ticket both ways."

Straightening back up he gave her a wink before nodding towards a nearby hardware store. "Why don't we head there next? I think you could use a new pair of gloves and your ma made me promise to get you a first aid kit."

Sighing, Ochako placed her hands on her hips and gave her father a serious look. "My old gloves work fine, I know you need new tools so why don't we just get those?"

Pausing he stared down at his daughter for a moment before nodding once. "Alright we will only get tools that I think we need."

Ochako might have believed him if it wasn't for the shit eating grin on his face as he turned to walk towards the hardware store.

"Dad!" She called after him, earning only a wave in return.

"Come on stardust or else I might just buy you everything in the store."

Rolling her eyes she quickened her pace to catch up to him, determined to try and sneak whatever he was planning on getting her back onto the shelves before he noticed.

++++++++++++++++++++

Their shopping concluded, the father daughter duo found themselves wandering the streets of Musutafu a small collection of bags and packages floated behind them, tied together by a spool of string and hooked to the back of Ochako's belt.

Ochako took another bite of her mochi and let out a satisfied groan. "Mhmmm"

Her father couldn't stop a smile from surfacing as he watched her enjoy the treat he got for her. "So I was spoiling you by getting gear to help ya train but not by getting you mochi?"

"Mmhmm." Ochako nodded as she finished devouring another of the sweet treats earning a chuckle from her father.

"Maybe before we head to the train station we swing by U.A. and take a look at your future school?"

"I need to pass the entrance exam first." Ochako mumbled to herself as she shook her head dejectedly. "Not that I have the best chance."

Unfortunately for the younger Uraraka her father heard her self depreciation and quickly wrapped her into a hug. "Stardust, you have so much potential and I know for a fact that you are going to make a wonderful hero someday. And if for some reason they don't realize that and U.A we'll simply have ya go to another school."

Leaning into the hug Ochako couldn't help but let out a shuddering sigh as she attempted to hold back the wave of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her.

"I… Thanks daddy."

"Of course stardust." Shuuhei took a step back, holding his daughter at arms length as he grinned down at her. "Now what do ya say we swing by your future alma mater?"

Nodded once before Ochako gave her father a half hearted smile. "Alright, though they won't let us in."

"Nonsense I'm sure that between the two of us we -"

Thud

Whatever scheme Shuuhei had been concocting was cut off by a journal crashing to the ground less than half a meter from the pair. A beat passed as the two of them processed what had just happened.

Shuhei cocked his head to the side, taking in the burnt and beaten journal that had somehow survived the fall in one piece. Neatly written on the cover were the words 'For the future'

"What the?"

Ochako on the other hand had quickly followed the path the journal must have taken only to go wide eyed with fear. Plummeting through the air after it was a young man.

Less than a heartbeat passed between Ochako observing the situation and the activation of her quirk. Her stomach screamed in protest but Ochako ignored it as she quickly gathered her legs beneath her and pushed off the sidewalk as hard as she could.

Taking off like a rocket, she launched herself towards the figure that was moments from crashing to the hard and unforgiving concrete.

Extending her arm out as far as she could, Ochako prayed that she would make it to them in time.

Chapter 4: In Time

As gravity took hold, Izuku immediately regretted his decision. Suddenly the taunts, the arguments, and the pain washed away all replaced by a single thought. 

What the hell am I doing?!? 

A panicked scream tore from his lips as the realization hit him that he'd just made a decision that he couldn't reverse.

His mother's and father's smiling faces flashed before his eyes, the three of them sitting around their dining room table enjoying a bowl of katsudon. Both men of the Midoriya household piling on compliments to Inko for her amazing cooking while the woman in question sobs uncontrollably at their praise. 

Suddenly it's just Izuku and Inko in their apartment, the young boy running from room to room in his All Might costume proclaiming at the top of his little lungs. "I AM HERE!" while his mother begs him to save her from the villainous blanket that has her hostage.

As the pair devolve into a fit of giggles everything changes once more and Izuku is huddled close to Inko while the same blanket is wrapped around them. Fat lazy snowflakes drift down outside the window as the pair cuddle together taking sips from their steaming cups of hot chocolate while they listen to Hisashi regale them with tales of his time in America and what winters are like in California. 

Snow changed to rain as Izuku found himself looking in on a funeral, his funeral. His mother was a hysterical mess as she clung desperately to her husband who himself appeared to be on the verge of breaking down. The gathering was small, just his parents and the Bakugos all standing around a hole in the ground. Eventually Masaru and Mitsuki stepped away from the grave, Mitsuki gently guiding her friend away as they did so leaving Katsuki alone. 

Red eyes full of rage glared into the dark hole. "Couldn't even leave Aunt Inko a note could you, you worthless Deku. I knew you weren't worth anything, a pebble on the side of the road, but I didn't think you were so spineless to leave her without warning."

A look of all consuming fury took over Katsuki's face as he shot the grave one last glare and with a soft tsk of annoyance he turned away and slowly sauntered away towards the waiting cars. "You always were pathetic." 

Kacchan's, no Katsuki's, no he was Bakugo. Bakugo's voice faded out only to be replaced by the sound of air whistling past Izuku's ears and his own innermost thoughts.

Who cares that Bakugo thinks that I'm a worthless Deku. Screw his opinion, why did I ever care about his opinion? How after everything he's done do I still see him as a friend? I can do whatever… 

Can… 

No, could…. 

Izuku's jaw hung open at the revelations his panicking mind had bestowed upon him. Everything he thought was an issue, every possible flaw he saw within himself could have been resolved, every action he took could have paved a new way forward. 

Everything had a solution and everything was fixable.

Everything save for the fact that he had jumped.

Kach- Bakugo wins again. I'll never get to prove him wrong. 

Izuku closed his eyes and spread his arms wide as the ground rushed to meet him.

Not that any of that matters now. 

++++++++++++++++++++

If you asked Yagi Toshinori to calculate the amount of time it would take the average male to fall seventy-six meters he would shrug and tell you that he was no good at math. He might even add that you should and maybe ask Cementoss as he seemed to have a good head for numbers. 

If you asked All Might how long it would take for the average male to fall twenty stories he would instantly have the answer. 

Three and a half seconds. 

Three and a half seconds was all that All Might had to close the distance between him and the person who had just stepped over the literal edge. Even in his prime accomplishing such a feat would have pushed him near to his limits, but he could have done it. He could have made it.

Not now, I'm too weak now. 

He stared at the building blocking his way as he flew through the air contemplating if it was worth the risk. The risk that nobody would be in the way between him and the young man who had just jumped to his death. The risk that tearing through multiple floors of a building wouldn't leave it on the verge of collapse. The risk that by attempting to save one life he could possibly endanger dozens if not hundreds of others. 

Heavy are the shoulders that must carry the weight of the world but heavier still is the heart that must make the hard decisions. 

I'm sorry my boy…. I'm so very very sorry. 

Forcing himself upwards, All Might shot across the roof of the building as he dug even deeper into One for All. Both his mind and body were ready to dive down for the young man the millisecond he cleared the roof. Desperately he prayed to whatever being would listen that he had somehow gotten the math wrong.

He never got the math wrong when it came to saving people.

++++++++++++++++++++

Tears flooded Ochako's eyes as she rocketed skyward toward the falling boy, some gut instinct had compelled her not to aim for where he was but to aim for where he would be. 

Her stomach protested at this use of her Quirk. It twisted, begged and pleaded for her to release herself from its grasp so that it may empty the contents of her stomach and relieve the pressure that was building in her abdomen. 

Ochako brutally crushed its protests under the iron desire to save the life before her, her discomfort was secondary to plucking this boy from the Shinigami's grasp. To deny them this poor soul that fate had decided would fall from the heavens this day. 

As she closed the distance she could now make out the boy's face. Dusted with freckles it most likely would have looked soft and unassuming were it not twisted up in anguished panic. Despite his current circumstances, he made no sound, both his eyes and mouth screwed shut seemingly having accepted that it was his fate to die. 

"I'm here!" She screamed in an attempt to get through to him. "Reach for me!" 

Startlingly emerald green eyes shot open in an instant and with wonder they stared at her. Moving as if in slow motion the boy reached out with one hand, attempting to grasp at her own. Arms outstretched, the pair felt their fingers brush against one another but before Ochako could lower her thumb to complete the necessary requirements for her Quirk the broke apart. Their brief contact broken, the boy continued on his downward plunge all while she floated ever higher.

Pain that had nothing to do with excessive use of her Quirk filled Ochako's gut.

"NO!"

++++++++++++++++++++

Tears squeezed their way out of his closed eyes as Izuku awaited the inevitable end. He was alone now and there was nothing that he could do about it. Resolve filled him as he refused to give into his base instinct and panic. 

"I'm here! Reach for me!"

Izuku's eyes shot open only to be met by the sight of an angel looking down at him. Short brown hair framed her blushing cheeks and warm brown eyes, eyes so filled with determination it was as if she was staring into his soul. Her hand was extended out, fingers splayed so he could grasp it if he so chose. An offer from the divine to save him.

Without so much as another thought he reached for it but just as their fingers came into brief contact, fate seemingly chose to laugh at him one last time because no sooner had their fingertips touched when he felt his hand slip past hers. 

Izuku's already alert gaze shifted as his eyes blew even wider upon realizing what had just happened.

Of course.  

Rolled onto his back and with his arm still extended, he allowed his eyes to close once more, having once again embraced his fate.

"NO!" 

The power behind the word forced Izuku out of his acceptance as he felt a hand grab him by the wrist. Opening his eyes, he spotted that the angel's face was now twisted by her determination, eyes now narrowed and teeth bared as she kept his wrist locked in a desperate hold. 

"I'm not letting you go."

He could only stare up at her in awe, his brain still not fully comprehending what had just happened. So engrossed in this miracle, it took him a moment to realize that there is something missing. 

The wind was gone!

Turning his head, Izuku saw that his rapid descent has been halted in its tracks. As he turned back to his savior he saw a small smile breaking out across her features, one which he hesitantly returned. The pair stare at each other for a moment before Izuku felt the pull of gravity once more though not in the direction he expected.

Wait? What?  

Looking around he found himself floating upwards.

Chapter 5: All Points Converge

I got him! 

I GOT HIM! 

"Don't worry I got you!"

Ochako stared down at the boy she had just saved, giving him what she hoped was a warm smile. It may have convinced Izuku had it not been forced out through a face contorted in pain and almost as green as the hair on his head. 

He felt himself flush slightly as he realized that they were still holding hands as they ascended skyward. "Uh… nice gravity quirk?"

Not trusting herself to speak more Ochako simply nodded her head and gave him another grimacing smile. 

"So um." Izuku turned to look down before realizing that might not be the best idea and stopping himself. "How do we get-"

WOOSH

The pair felt the air forced out of their lungs as a flying mass of red, white, blue and gold collided with them. Slung under an arm each they found themselves quickly deposited onto the roof across the street from where Izuku had jumped seconds ago. 

"Release" Ochako managed to squeak out as the pair were dropped unceremoniously onto the rooftop. It was all she managed before falling onto her hands and knees and expelling the entire contents of her stomach.

Izuku's head spun as he sat there trying to process what had just happened. One moment they were floating high above the city the next. Well. 

Towering over him stood the imposing and awe inspiring form of All Might, wisps of smoke curling off of his form. 

"Is everyone alright?" 

All Might gave Izuku a quick once over, earning a stunned nod from the boy as he did so, before taking a step towards Ochako and placing a hand gently on her back. 

"Are you hurt?"

"No, just." She dry heaved once more. "My stomach can't handle using my quirk for too long or on myself." She turned fully to address whomever had asked her the question with a faint smile on her lips. "Thank you for…"

Ochako's eyes grew to the size of dinner plates and her words died in her throat as she realized who had plucked them from the air. "A-all Might?!?"

"That would be me!" He gave her his best winning smile. "Now if you excuse me…"

Poof 

Both Izuku and Ochako scrambled back as the proud and mighty form of All Might vanished in an instant and was replaced by a gaunt and skeletal man. 

"Shit." Toshinori sighed as he held up one of his arms before sighing and turning his gaze to the two startled rescuees. 

Recovering first Izuku managed to stammer out the question that was on both his and Ochako's mind. "Wha-What did you do to All Might?"

"I am All Might." Toshinori replied before coughing and sending blood running all down his front. 

"Ahhh." Izuku screamed while Ochako's stomach churned at the sight causing her to dry heave once more.

"What happened to you?" Was all Ochako managed to croak out through her sore throat. 

Toshinori let out a bone weary sigh as he sat down across from the pair before gently lifting his shirt to expose a crater-like impact on his chest, one which scarred the entire left side of his body. 

"Five years ago I received this from an attack by a villain. It severely damaged my respiratory system and forced the doctors to remove my entire stomach. My appearance is a side effect of the numerous surgeries I had to undergo."

Izuku felt himself pale as he took in the wound. "Wa-wait Toxic Chainsaw did this to you?"

Toxic Chainsaw? Ochako thought to herself as she gave a questioning look at the boy her age before turning back to the wounded hero. 

Toshinori let his shirt drop as he turned to look him in the eye. "Heh, you know your stuff kid. No who I fought and what happened to me was never disclosed to the public. As it stands I can only work as a hero roughly three hours a day." His gaze hardened as he took in the two young adults standing before him. "I need your word that you won't tell anyone about this."

He turned his face skyward, a look of determination overtaking it. "The Symbol of Peace can not bow to the forces of evil."

"Y-yo-you have my word I won't tell anyone." Izuku stammered out.

"I-I won't tell anyone either." Ochako added as she nodded in agreement. 

"I'm glad to hear it." Toshinori sighed in response before turning a tired look to Ochako. "Tell me what is your name?"

Ochako found herself straightening upright at his question. "Um, Uraraka Ochako Mr. All Might sir." She gave him a little bow. 

His gaze shifted. "And yours?"

"Midoriya Izuku." Izuku responded before bowing deeply.

"And how did you two come to be floating away in the sky this afternoon?"

Izuku felt his heart drop to his stomach. "Well, well you see I was. I was um…"

"He tripped and fell chasing after his notebook." Ochako answered for him, giving Izuku a warm smile as she did so. "It fell next to my dad and I while we were walking along. I looked up and saw him falling after it." She tapped her fingertips together as she thought back. "I don't know what came over me but it was like…"

"Like your body moved on its own." Toshinori finished for her, earning a nod from the now flushed girl who could only nod.

Izuku watched the exchange between them in silence, his heart beating at a kilometer a second as he processed their words.

Chasing after my notebook? No, that's not what happened. I jumped. I… I tried to kill myself…. 

The realization sent Izuku crashing to his knees. 

I could have died. I should have died. If it wasn't, if it wasn't… 

A hand gently placed itself onto his back, moving in small calming circles it tore Izuku away from the thought spiral that had started. 

Looking up he saw Ochako giving him a pitying look as she continued to rub his back.

"Hey I'm sorry about my Quirk. If you're feeling queasy just take slow and steady breaths."

Closing his eyes once more, Izuku focused on his breathing, taking a few long and shuddering breaths under her direction. With each breath he found his rampaging emotions and mind slowly come to a stand still. Looking up he found himself staring into a pair of warm but concerned brown eyes. 

"That's it." Ochako smiled down at him. "Just breathe."

"Th-thank you..."

"Uraraka."

He found himself giving her a small but weary smile back. "Midoriya."

Toshinori watched the pair for a moment watching as Ochako managed to pull Izuku out of the downward spiral he had seemed to be entering once more.

That decides it then .

He gave a small cough that caught both of their attention. "While there is still much I feel like I need to share with both of you, I believe young Uraraka's father may be wondering where she vanished to."

"Oh no!" Ochako ran over to the edge of the roof and looking over saw her father scanning the sky clearly looking for her. "DAD!" She yelled down waving to him as she did so in an effort to draw his attention to their particular roof. 

Instead of looking towards them Shuuhei turned the other way, continuing his scanning of the horizons. 

"I don't think he can hear me." She sighed before turning back to the others. "Do we have a way off of this roof?"

Toshinori jerked a thumb over towards a door on the opposite side of the roof. "That should lead to a stairwell down. Why don't you run ahead young Uraraka and let your father know you are safe. Young Midoriya and I will follow shortly."

Ochako cocked her head to the side at All Might's words. "Ok but why follow me?" 

"As I said there is still more I wish to discuss but why don't we assuage your father's worry first." Toshinori nodded towards the door once more.

"Oh, um, ok." Ochako nodded to herself once before turning and walking towards the door. She threw Izuku and Toshinori one last glance over her shoulder before opening the door and quickly disappearing into the building. 

"Maybe we should." Izuku started towards the door before Toshinori's arm blocked his path. 

"Young Uraraka wasn't correct, was she?"

Tears started to fall down Izuku's face as he turned back to Toshinori, All Might, his idol and slowly shook his head doing his best to hold them back. "No, she wasn't correct."

"You meant to step off of that roof didn't you."

"I-I… I did, yes." Tears flowed freely now.

Toshinori placed a protective hand on Izuku's shoulder as he crouched down to be at eye level with the young man. "May I ask why?"

Izuku forced himself to meet Toshinori's eyes ready to face the disappointment or maybe even disgust that he was sure to find. Instead he found a pair of light blue eyes that were filled with concern and worry. 

Giving in to his emotions Izuku collapsed against Toshinori's chest, tears flooding out while sobs wracked his body. Unsure what else to do Toshinori placed a gentle hand onto his back as he sobbed. 

"Whenever you're ready."

Izuku took a stuttering breath attempting to stabilize himself. "I… I'm Quirkless and I thought. I thought that I wasn't worth anything."

"And why would you think that?"

"Be-because everyone told me that without a Quirk I was useless." Izuku's head dropped further. "I always wanted to be a hero like you. Someone who could save everyone and make them smile. Instead I." He paused as another sob squeaked out. "Instead I started to believe them. That they were right and that I really was useless."

Shifting Toshinori placed both of his hands on the younger man's shoulders and gently leaned him back, just enough so that they could look each other in the face once more. 

"My boy, just because you are born Quirkless doesn't mean that you are useless but I know simply saying that to you won't change anything." He gave Izuku the warmest smile that he could muster. "So why don't we do something about it then?"

Even more tears formed in the corner of Izuku's eyes as he stared back at Toshinori. "Like what?"

"First, I want you to meet with a friend of mine. He's better than I am at talking through what people are feeling."

"So therapy?"

"Yes therapy." Toshinori smiled once more before nodding. 

Izuku thought about it for a moment before nodding himself. 

Therapy does seem like a good idea. Especially after today. 

Though as he replayed Toshinori's words something stood out to him. "You said first, that implies there's something else."

Toshinori's eyes twinkled slightly at him, proud that he had caught that. "There is. I'd like you to join me for some training exercises. Regardless of what type of hero you want to be, being in shape will only help."

Izuku blinked at him owlishly, his mouth moving for a moment before stammering out. "Wa-wait. Wait. You… You want to train me?!?"

"My boy, I don't know what happened that drove you to do what you did today but I want to make sure that you know that you have potential." Toshinori beamed down at the younger man as he stood up to his full height. "And I intend on making sure you reach that potential."

"I…I… Thank you Mr. All Might sir." Izuku bowed before the hero once more. 

Toshinori laughed at his antics. "Don't thank me yet young Midoriya, you haven't seen how I plan on training you." 

Despite the possible threat that those words could have had, Izuku felt something swell in his chest that he hadn't known for some time. 

Hope.

"Now why don't we catch up with young Uraraka. I'm sure she has a few questions of her own."

++++++++++++++++++++

Using his hand to shield his eyes from the setting sun, Shuuhei kept scanning the horizon the feeling of panic just beginning to set in.

Where are you stardust? I didn't think you could hold your Quirk this long. 

Shuuhei still wasn't sure what exactly had happened a few minutes ago but he knew enough to be proud of his little girl. While he had been distracted by the tattered journal that he now held in his hand she had sprung into action to save the journal's owner. 

One moment she had been by his side and the next she was plucking a young man out of the air to save his life. Pride had filled him as he watched her. He had known that she would make a good hero but after seeing what he saw today he was thoroughly convinced she could be one of the best. 

Now if only I can figure out where she disappeared to. Maybe that boy's Quirk had something to do with it. 

"DAD!"

The sound of Ochako's voice had him turning on his heel just in time to catch her in a hug as she threw herself at him. 

"There you are stardust. I was so worried." He planted a quick peck on the crown of her head. "What happened up there?"

Shuuhei felt her pull away form their hug, stars swimming in her eyes as she said. "All Might swooped in and grabbed us before we could float away."

"All Might?"

Ochako started to nod furiously. "Yeah he managed to get Midoriya and I out of the air and safely to that roof." She pointed towards a building across the street.

"Midoriya?"

"Oh, um that's the name of the boy I saved." Ochako beamed up at him though he didn't fail to notice that her blush was a deeper red than normal. "They said they're going to be down in a minute. It seemed as if All Might wanted to talk with Midoriya about something."

"Hmm." Looking over her shoulder, Shuuhei starts to look for the very distinct form that All Might would cut amongst the crowd. "Can't say I see em. Did they tell ya how long their conversation would be?"

"No they didn't but I can't imagine it would be too long." Ochako turned around as well before almost instantly spotting a mess of green hair alongside a skeletal looking man moving towards them. "Oh I think I see them."

"Midoriya! Over here!" She yelled, waving her arms to catch either his or All Might's attention.

Shuuhei cocked an eyebrow at the pair that turned and started towards them. "Sweetie that doesn't look like All Might to me."

"Oh um…" Ochako paused debating on what she should say. 

I promised not to say anything but I don't wanna lie to daddy. 

"Maybe he ran out of time?" She offered weakly 

"Hmm. Well I'm sure they'll tell us if we ask." Shuuhei started towards the approaching pair, forcing Ochako to scramble to catch up with him. "How are ya feeling, young man?"

Izuku's cheeks instantly flushed red. "Oh, um. I've, uh, been better but I'm feeling much, um, better than I.. I would thanks to Uraraka." He flashed them a sheepish smile. 

"You must be Mr. Uraraka." Toshinori spoke up before either of the Urarakas could question Izuku's tone. He bowed his head to the other man. "I must thank you for raising young Uraraka here into such a fine hero."

Shuuhei wrapped an arm around his daughter, smiling fondly down at her as he did so. "Well she ain't a hero yet. But I know she's going to be a good one." He looked back up and met Toshinori's eye. "She mentioned that All Might plucked them out of the air and I don't mean no offense sir but you ain't him."

Both Izuku and Ochako blanched at the comment, trading looks with one another while Toshinori merely chuckled. 

"Well observed Mr. Uraraka. No I am not All Might, he was required elsewhere in the city, but I do work for him at Might Tower. My name is Yagi Toshinori and he calls me in when needed due to my speed Quirk and my inability to do proper field work." The lie flowed so easily that both Ochako and Izuku found themselves pausing for a moment believing its probability.

"And my little stardust said you had something you wished to discuss with us?"

"That's true." Toshinori nodded once. "First I must confirm an assumption that All Might made." He turned to look at Ochako. "You intend on applying to U.A., correct?"

Ochako nodded once. "Of course. It's the best hero university there is."

"I thought as much." A ghost of a smile flitted across Toshinori's lips. "Then that only leaves All Might's request." He took in the pair of them. "He wishes to extend the offer to train young Uraraka here in Musutafu in order to ensure she has the best advantage possible to enter U.A.''

Toshinori's comment sent the pair reeling in shock while Izuku stood there slack jawed.

Wait, does he want to train us both?! 

The Urarakas were a bit more vocal in their response. 

Ochako's eyes went wide as she processed the words. "Wait, what? Me?? He wants to train me???"

Shuuhei for his part kept his surprise under control but just barely. "That's a mighty fine offer but why? What bout her schoolin? Where will she live?"

Toshinori couldn't help but chuckle at the chaos he had just caused with a few simple words. 

Maybe I've been spending too much time with Nezu. 

"Yes, he wants to train you. He thinks that she has amazing potential and wants to ensure that is fostered properly." Toshinori turned to the Uraraka patriarch. "If she accepts, her final semester of high school will be a combination of online classes and accelerated courses taken at U.A. with other advanced high school students."

He paused tapping his chin for a moment. "Ideally she would be able to stay on the U.A.'s campus but they don't have accommodations for high schoolers. Since that will be the case I think the agency would be more than happy to rent her an apartment." He smiled at the pair of them before looking directly at Ochako. "Providing you accept of course."

"That'sa…" Ochako paused leaning against her father while her hands cradled her head, pinkies out. "That'sa lot to take in."

"Ya don't say." Shuuhei wrapped an arm around his daughter as he also started to process the world changing news that had been shared. "I hope it's alright if we take some time to think about this?"

"No please, take all the time you need." Toshinori held up his hands in a placating gesture before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a business card. "Just call the number on the card once you have made your decision."

Ochako gave a small bow as she took the card from his hand. "Thank you, we will!"

"Can't say I expected our afternoon to take a turn like this." Shuuhei let out a chuckle before sticking a hand out to Toshinori. "Mr. Yagi, please pass on our thanks to All Might in advance."

Toshinori took the hand without hesitating. "I assure you I will. Needless to say that we will look forward to hearing your answer."

While the two men shook hands another much more awkward conversation took place less than a meter from them. 

"So um, thank you again for saving my life?" Izuku scratched at the back of his head awkwardly, his cheeks flushing as he spoke. 

"Oh, uh it's no problem." Ochako managed to flash him a smile despite her own face turning red. 

The pair stood in awkward silence for a moment, neither sure what else to say to the other; both simply listening in on Toshinori and Shuuhei's conversation.

"Maybe if I'm in town we could um.." She paused before squeaking out. "Hang out?" 

Izuku could feel his eyes threaten to bulge out of their sockets. A girl had just asked to hang out with him?!? Nobody ever wanted to hang out with him let alone girls. 

He quickly averted his eyes to the side all while his blush darkened further almost hiding his freckles. "Uh, y-yeah th-that would be great."

"Great! I'll um, see you then. Wearegoingtomissourtrainifwedontleavenowsobye." Ochako gave him another shy smile before turning and power walking away, her legs carrying her as fast as possible. 

Leaving Izuku blinking owlishly after her. 

"Of course I figure we'll say yes. But you know I need to check with her mother and -" Shuuhei paused as he heard someone sprinting away only to see that it was Ochako practically running away. 

"Ochako? Stardust? Sorry she likes to make sure we are always on time." He gave both Toshinori and Izuku an apologetic smile before turning and starting after his daughter. "Ochako, sweetie, wait up."

Toshinori and Izuku shared a look before watching the pair disappear around the corner of a nearby building. 

"Well that was certainly interesting." Toshinori turned to the young man next to him. "And if my suspicions are correct you will have a training partner."

"I. I, um, yeah I guess so." Izuku stared in the direction that the Urarakas had vanished for a moment longer before turning back to his new mentor. "I don't want to ask you for m-more than you've already done but, um." He paused, eyes shifting to the side as he formulated how he wanted to ask his next question. "Would it be possible for me to do the online courses and accelerated courses at U.A. as well?"

Toshinori simply raised an eyebrow and motioned for him to continue.

"Well you see. Well, uh, you see I'm just not sure I can g-go back to Aldera High." Izuku's gaze turned towards his shoes now, clearly avoiding Toshinori's inquisitive look.

"Is there a particular reason why you don't want to go back?"

"I-I'm not sure that if I go back I won't start to believe that I'm worthless again." Izuku turned to look at Toshinori, his eyes filled with a mixture of passion and fear. "And I don't want to keep thinking that about myself."

"Requesting one student to take the accelerated courses is already irregular. But.." Toshinori stroked his chin for a moment, appearing to consider Izuku's words. "But I don't see why I shouldn't suggest you as well. It might even make Nezu's day."

Toshinori placed a fatherly hand onto Izuku's shoulder. "But I think there's been enough excitement for you today. Why don't we get you home."

Chapter 6: Conversations

Izuku bid his new mentor farewell about a block from the Midoriya apartment, waving off Toshinori's concerns about walking him all the way home. He already had quite a bit to tell his mother about and lying about Toshinori's identity wasn't something he was sure he could pull off convincingly. 

He took his time finishing the walk home, practically dragging his feet so as to increase how much time he had to process his day and what he could, would, and should tell his mother. Mumbling to himself he earned more than a few sideways looks as he closed the distance between himself and home. 

"I could start with asking how her day went. Maybe over dinner I bring up wanting to switch schools? No, she'll ask me for reasons why which could be awkward. Then again it could be a good segway into what happened today. Though maybe it would be better to let her know that I'm going to see a therapist instead. Yeah that might be the best start to the conversation then I can tell her about what Ka-Bakugo told me to do today. Then I can explain how a hero stopped me and offered me a chance. Yeah, I think that's the best plan."

Izuku's ramblings stopped as he found himself standing in front of their apartment. With a deep breath he slowly put on a cheerful look that was drastically at odds with his raging emotions and opened the door.

"Hey mom, sorry I'm late. I, um… I got a bit sidetracked on my way home. It's been an interesting day to say the least."

He paused, waiting for his mother's inevitable inquiry about how his day was. Instead silence greeted him as no response came. 

"Mom?"

Maybe she's in the bathroom. 

Taking a few tentative steps into the apartment Izuku kept his senses on edge to see if anything was wrong. Everything was in its proper place, the lights were on but there was something missing as he passed by the kitchen he realized what it was, there wasn't anything being prepared for dinner.

In another household it may have just been a sign of a busy day ending with a take-out meal but Izuku knew better. To his mother cooking was how she showed him love and in the last seventeen years of his life he could probably count on one hand the amount of times they had ordered food without him asking for it. 

"MOM!" Izuku shouted as he started to run through the house, throwing doors open as he went in a desperate attempt to find her. Given the size of their apartment it didn't take long for him to exhaust all possible locations that she could be hiding. 

Tears started to stream down his face as he made his way back to their front room staring at his phone that showed zero missed calls or text messages. As worry further clouded his mind he completely missed the small airplane icon in the upper right corner that he had set earlier in the day.

She probably panicked when I didn't come home immediately. Did she go to the school? What if she's out looking for me? What if she got hurt? Did a car hit her? Maybe a villain crossed paths and now she's in a coma. Or worse what if.. what if she's de- 

Izuku's spiraling thoughts were cut off by the jingle of keys in the lock and the sound of his mother's voice as she entered the apartment. 

"Now I'm going to try and call him one more time before calling the police. Of course Mitsuki you'll be the first to know if I find him, go take care of Katsuki." Inko closed the door behind her, grocery bags over one arm and her back to her son. 

"Yes, I'll tell him what happened. Now don't worry about me I-" Inko stopped talking as she turned around to find a teary eyed Izuku staring at her. "OH! I'm letting you go now Mitsuki, Izuku is home." 

Both her phone and the bags of groceries were quickly dropped to the floor as Inko charged her son, pulling him into a tearful hug. "I was so worried! Between Katsuki being attacked by a villain and you not being home I didn't know what to think." 

"I'm sorry mom." Izuku replied as a reflex while he hugged her back. "But there's something I want to-" He paused, fully processing the words his mother had said. "Wait. Did you say that Kac- Bakugo was attacked?"

Inko took a step back to hold her son out at arms length. "Apparently some sludge-like villain attacked him on his way home from school. According to Mitsuki none of the pro heroes were able to help him until All Might stepped in."

So Bakugo made All Might use up the last of his time today and maybe if he hadn't Uraraka wouldn't have needed to catch me. I guess someone was looking out for me afterall...That's a first. 

"Ah." Was all Izuku said.

"Apparently all he needs is a day in the hospital but then he'll be back to normal." Inko's face winced at her choice of words. She wasn't oblivious to the verbal taunts that her friend's son threw at her own but so long as Izuku was comfortable calling him a friend there wasn't much she could do.

"Because normal Bakugo is so wonderful." Izuku mumbled under his breath not intending for Inko to catch it but she still did. 

"What was that?"

"Oh um just." Izuku paused before taking a deep breath. "Mom, we need to talk." He gently led her towards their living room and placed her next to himself on the couch. Once seated he looked his mother in the eye but despite his best efforts words seemed to fail him.

Inko was content to sit in silence for a moment as Izuku gathered his thoughts. It was clear to her that whatever her son wanted to discuss was going to require both time and a lot of tears. 

"Mom you see… Well today… I was just so…" Izuku took in a rattling breath as he failed to fight back his own tears, his head hanging low as he pressed on. "Mom, I'm not going to lie to you. I tried to kill myself today."

He looked up and met his mother's gaze, finding a flood of sorrow, worry and concern staring back at him. It was clear that she desperately wanted to cry but was fighting to hold herself together so he could finish. 

"During… During class today Kac- Bakugo, he's Bakugo," Izuku whispered the last part to himself before pressing on, causing Inko's eyebrows to shoot skywards. "Bakugo found out I was going to apply to U.A. and was pissed that I thought I was better than him, applying without a Quirk. So he burned my notebook and told me to jump off a building and hope for a Quirk in the next life."

Fury filled Inko's veins at her son's words. 

Of course she was hesitant about Izuku's dream to become a hero but to destroy his hard work on analyzing Quirks. And then. AND THEN to dare say such a thing to him. It might be fortunate that Katsuki was already in the hospital because by the time she was done with him they were going to need to resuscitate him once more. Hell she might not even let them, after all the things he had said in the past this was too far. TOO FAR.

"Please don't." 

Inko stopped her muttering to look Izuku in the eyes once more, seeing worry and pain looking back at her over a humorless smile. 

"I got my muttering from you, remember? I'm quite fluent." He gave her the first genuine smile she'd seen since she had gotten home. "So please don't."

"But Izuku, we can't just let him keep getting away with these things. It's not healthy for you to have to hear it!"

Izuku looked down and took his mother's hands in his own and gently started to rub her knuckles. "I know but honestly." He paused as he looked back up into her eyes, his face a mask of calm fury. "Fuck him."

Inko couldn't hold back her gasp or her instinctive shout of "IZUKU!" upon hearing her son swear. 

Izuku's face quickly shifted from panic to worry before settling on tired determination. "I-I meant what I said. F-fuck Bakugo and his opinions, his attitude and his everything. I just don't want to think about or deal with him ever again." Izuku's shoulders slumped as he turned away from his mom and stared off into the distance. 

"Today is a new day and stopping worrying about him is the first step." Izuku paused for a second before taking in a deep breath and pressing on. "The second is going to be therapy. One of the heroes who saved me today offered me the number to a friend of his who is one."

Inko draped an arm over his shoulders as she leaned over and gave him a quick peck on the temple. "And is that what you want sweetie?"

She felt more than saw the small nod that Izuku gave her. "It's both what I want and what I need. Kac-Bak-" Izuku let out a slow breath through his nose. "Those words didn't just get to me out of nowhere and while I'm feeling better today, who knows about tomorrow."

"And you just want to let him get away with it?"

Izuku shook his head from side to side slowly. "No I don't but I also don't want to deal with him coming after me over it or the fallout from accusing him of something like that. "Besides, who are the teachers going to believe: me or him?"

"You of cour-" Inko stopped herself mid sentence as she knew that she was lying not just to Izuku but to herself if she had finished the thought. Despite all of her previous requests to separate the boys or to do something about Katsuki's verbal abuses nothing had been done. In fact it appeared the opposite had been occurring where Izuku was the one being labeled as a delinquent while Katsuki was hailed as a model student.

Izuku pressed on, taking advantage of his mother's pause. "Right now all I want to do is focus on getting better and that starts by attending therapy."

Inko pulled her son tighter into her embrace, placing a caring kiss on the top of his head as she did so. "Then I'll do everything I can to make sure you get to your appointments."

Izuku couldn't help but chuckle at his mother's statement. "Mom I'm seventeen, I'm sure I can get myself to my appointments on time."

"Still you'll be leaving me for university soon enough. Let me baby you just a bit longer." As if to emphasize her point Inko made a show of giving Izuku a series of pecks on his head causing him to chuckle. 

"Mom!" He pretended to fend off her pestering but let her continue all the same knowing that it was this or a flood of tears and once she started he would start and there was still more to talk about. "Ok fine you can make sure I make it to my appointments."

"Like I was going to give you a choice." Inko gave him a sly smile as she pulled back just a bit so they could see each other's faces once more. 

He grinned back at her. "Oh and the same hero who, um, sa-stopped me today also asked if he could train me. He wanted to help me get into shape so that I can try and pass the U.A. entrance exam."

Inko gave her son a concerned look. "You still want to try and get into the heroics course?"

Izuku nodded once. "I still want to try but I realized today that even if I don't get in there's still other things I can do. Maybe I could learn to make support gear or help on the more business side of things." He shrugged. "I have a good grasp on mathematics and know English so there are options."

"You know I will support you regardless of what you choose to do." Inko pulled Izuku into another crushing hug. As they pulled back they shared another set of smiles before the weight of their previous conversation settled in once more. As it did the tears returned and Inko let out a watery sniffle, the cracks in the dam of her resolve finally starting to widen. 

Izuku quickly threw up his hands, waving them quickly as his own tears started in response to his mother. "Wait! Wait! One last thing I'm going to be moving to online classes and taking some courses if needed at U.A."

"Tha-That's wonderful sweetie." Inko let out another sniffle. "We can talk about that more later."

"O-of course." Izuku let out a sniffle of his own before pulling his mother into a hug.

The dam finally broke and the tears that had been held back now flowed freely. Everything wasn't fixed but the first steps had been taken so all that was left was to cry it out and sort out the details later.

And cry they did, so much that it led the couple living beneath them to call management about what they thought was a burst pipe in the apartment above them.

Again.

++++++++++++++++++++

Ochako always enjoyed traveling by train. It didn't matter if it was a magnetic bullet train that barely made a sound as it hurled you across the country at six-hundred kilometers per hour or an older electric engine that still relied on wheels and solid tracks. Each to her had their own appeal and the best part about traveling home was that she got to ride on both.

When it came to the bullet trains she always appreciated the smoothness of the ride and the more modern amenities that were often offered alongside the ticket. The main drawback though was that she never was able to fall asleep on them. She figured it had something to do with the lack of feeling of motion or how they were always busier than the older electric ones. 

The old electric trains though, she would ride them all day if given the opportunity. Something about the slight sway of the train car as it rattled down well used and well maintained train tracks mixing with the faint rattling of the wheels either put her in a trance or just put her to sleep. 

Today though she was thoroughly entranced, mindlessly staring out the window as the green hills and stepped rice paddies of Mie rolled past with the occasional small town dotting the landscape adding a splash of color. Over the years she had figured out how to use the golden light that reflected off the rice paddies or glimmered among the dancing grasses to help center herself. The picturesque landscape allowed her mind to wander and attempt to solve whatever problem she was having that day.

And boy did she ever need help solving her current problem.

Thankfully her father had left her alone for the majority of the trip, clearly sensing that she needed to get a grip on her own thoughts before she was comfortable talking them out with someone else. They had shared small talk on and off over the course of the past few hours but both of them kept dancing around the topic that was on the forefront of their minds. 

What to do with the offer.

The answer had seemed so simple when she had been standing in the streets of Musutafu. Of course she would say yes it was an offer from All Might. ALL MIGHT! She would have to be crazy to refuse. Yet here she was doubting if it was the right choice for her and/or if he was simply making a mistake by inviting her to train alongside him. She was a simple country bumpkin reaching for the stars; there wasn't anything special about her. 

I don't want All Might to feel like he's made a mistake but I also don't want to pass this up and feel like I've made one. 

She couldn't help but let out a sigh as she pressed her forehead against the window. 

"What is it stardust?"

Ochako closed her eyes and shook her head slightly, still facing the window. "It's nothing daddy."

"It's clearly something." 

Slowly her eyes open and lock onto the horizon and the setting sun choosing to try and ignore his comment, hoping that he does the same. Normally she would be drawn into staring at the sunset to admire the multitude of colors that it brought forth or to try and see the first stars coming out for the night. 

Today though the hazy pastel pink of the clouds, the vibrant reds that dominated the sky and the softly glowing orange where sun met earth were lost on her. Instead with glazed over eyes she simply stared out into the abyss, self doubt leeching even the most vibrant of scenes to a dull imitation of their glory. 

Wrapped up in her own thoughts she missed the sun fully setting and the stars quickly taking its place, shimmering like jewels in the night sky. Even more importantly she missed Shuuhei getting up from his seat and leaving their train car. It's only when the bench she is on moves as he takes a seat next to her that she realizes that he had left in the first place.

Finally turning away from the window she sees her father sitting next her, a pensive look on his face and a small package in his hands.

"I was gonna wait until we got home to give this to ya but I'm thinking ya might need it now." Shuuhei held it out towards her. "Go on stardust."

Ochako only hesitated a moment before reaching over and taking the package from her father causing the contents to jingle slightly as she did. Tentatively she removed the lid to find a silver bracelet resting on a pink velvet pillow shining back up at her, a small green comet charm hanging off of it. 

"Wha?" Ochako's eyes go wide as she turns to look at him. "Daddy?"

"Your mamma and I wanted to get ya something to record your heroics on. We've had our eye on somethin like this since you told us you wanted to go to U.A." Shuuhei motioned to the gift. "I called your mamma and had her go ahead and order it while we were travelin. Picked it up at our last stop."

Tears started to form in the corner of Ochako's eyes as she switched between staring at her father and the bracelet. 

"We figure ya could get a new charm for every major event or success you have as a hero. Of course I can't say we expected to be giving it to ya with a charm already on it but well." Shuuhei shrugged. "Seeing you take off and save that Midoriya boy today, your first life saved, well that there needed something to remember it by."

Your first life saved.  

The words struck a chord with something deep within Ochako. There was a finality to them. Today she saved her first person, she was already a hero which meant that there were more lives to save. More lives that she would save in the future.

She already was a hero.

Reverently she removed the bracelet from its box and placed it on her wrist. The malachite comet dangling off it shining a rich green as it caught the fluorescent light the train car gave off. A few tears rolled down her cheeks as she turned towards her father, determination burning in her eyes. 

"I'm going to say yes."

++++++++++++++++++++

Inui Ryo, also known as the hero Hound Dog, let out a soft sigh as he looked across the room to his current patient. "I can't help you if you don't talk to me." 

Yellow cat-like eyes glared back at him through long blonde bangs. 

Ryo gently set his pen down on his clipboard and gave his patient his best approximation of a smile. "I understand it's difficult to try and remember but it's the only way we can move forward."

"You understand?" Himiko pushed herself upright and glared further daggers into him all while images of him beaten and bloody quickly filled her mind's eye. Almost as soon as the glaring started it stopped as she flinched at what her mind had conjured up recoiling in horror. "No, no you can't understand. Normal people don't think about the things I do. Don't… Don't imagine the things I do."

"You were picturing me beaten and bloody again weren't you." Ryo gently replied.

"NO!" There was a pause as she looked away and stared towards the wall opposite them before in a voice no louder than a whisper she answered again. "Yes."

"And were you wanting to act on what you saw?"

"Of course not! No, not anymore…" Her blank eyes slowly filled with a creeping sadness. "I want to be a hero. I'm going to be a hero and heroes don't want to see people beaten and bloody." 

"But?"

"But I can't stop myself from thinking about people like that, especially people who are kind to me or that I care about."

Ryo allowed himself a small smile at the fact that she had just insinuated that he fell into one of those categories; it clearly showed progress was being made. Quickly he scrawled something onto his clipboard before looking back at his patient. "Can I tell you something?"

"Only if you want to."

"I wouldn't have brought it up if I didn't." Ryo let out a single bark-like chuckle before continuing. "While I can't understand exactly what you are going through, I can relate better than you think. My Quirk mutation doesn't allow me to even pretend to be 'normal'. Since the day I was born I was seen as something or someone else by everyone around me. Some people have a hard time seeing past." He waved a hand motioning to his entire body. "Well all of me actually." 

"I can't say my experience was the worst it could be, discrimination against mutation Quirks growing up was nowhere near as bad as the early days of Quirks but it was worse than it is today." Ryo shook his head, his mane of spiky blonde hair bouncing slightly as he did so. "Still some of my earliest memories are people making jokes about my appearance or my attitude or the fact that I couldn't even speak Japanese. It took me years to realize that I could speak 'normally' instead of barks and yips."

Ryo noticed out of the corner of his eye that Himiko was looking at him once more, those yellow cat-like eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and longing.

"Wha-what did your parents think?"

"Well needless to say they were quite surprised when I came out with a muzzle and a mane." Ryo let out a small series of yips like a light laugh. "But they seemed to take it in stride. I'm sure they had their bad days, everyone does, but growing up I knew they cared for me. They went out of their way to learn and teach me sign language so that I could communicate more easily."

"So they… They didn't try to make you be normal?"

"No, they went out of their way to figure out what our new normal was going to be. Normal is subjective, to me it's normal to be able to smell Present Mic's cologne from across campus or to have the desire to howl at the moon when it's full." Ryo shrugged. "No two people are the same and their normal will always be different."

"But my normal makes me want to see people hurt, to see them covered in blood and to have their blood. It's NOT normal." Himiko shrunk in on herself once more, her arms wrapping around her legs as she sat up. "It's not ok."

"Do you ever want to act on those thoughts?"

"No, but…" Himiko's eyes lowered even further. 

"But?"

"I did once."

"And you didn't want to act on it but did?"

"I-I think so?" Tears started to fall from the corners of her eyes.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Himiko paused once more, her eyes darting around the room now looking for an exit, desperately looking for some sort of way to avoid the situation that she had just placed herself in. There was the window to her right, it was open allowing the cool spring air to flow into the room or the door behind Ryo-sensei she knew she could get past him and out it before he could react. It all passed in a second before with a deep breath she answered.

"Yes."

It took but a moment before Himiko had re-positioned herself, laying down on the offered couch with her eyes locked onto a single point on the ceiling. 

"Well… one of my first memories is finding a small bird that had hit a window. It-it was dead by the time I found it but it was so pretty to me. There was just something about how its feathers looked soaked in blood that just seemed so cute. So I scooped it up and ran to my parents to share it with them."

"So what did they do?"

"They saw me carrying around a dead baby bird singing about how cute it was and the first thing my father did was slap it out of my hands and accuse me of killing it. Calling me a demon spawn and begging me to just act normal."

"And your mother?"

"She hissed at me and started screaming about how I should never have been born. How there was no way that she could have given birth to such a deviant."

"And how old were you when this happened?"

"Five."

Ryo couldn't help but let out a sharp inhale, his mask of professionalism breaking for only a moment but it was enough for Himiko to turn to look at him with questioning eyes.

"I'm sorry that you had to hear those things. No child should have to hear their parents say something like that about them, let alone have them think that."

"You're just saying that." Himiko scoffed as she looked away once more. "Everyone is just saying that."

"And what if we actually mean it?"

"Of… Of course you don't mean it. Nobody could care about someone like me."

"Not even Sekijiro-san?"

"N-" Himiko stopped herself midword as her automatic denial died on her lips. "He. He's different."

"Oh?" 

"He understands what it's like to have what people consider a cursed Quirk, to be drawn to blood, to… to need blood." She quickly turned towards the wall, fully hiding her face from Ryo. "He told me that nobody wanted to deal with him growing up. That almost everyone avoided him as much as possible, worried he would somehow turn their own blood against them."

"He did play a few pranks using that belief against people." Ryo mumbled to himself, though making sure it was loud enough for Himiko to hear.

"Wait." Her head whipped around as she turned to look at Ryo, her eyes going wide before narrowing. "How'd you know that? He told me it was his greatest secret. That only his best friend who helped him knew about it as he was the one who pretended to be under his control."

Ryo raised a single eyebrow in response before looking down and writing something onto his clipboard. 

Himiko felt the pieces click into place. "That was you?!"

"What better way to scare off bullies than to convince everyone that even the big scary dog man could be brought under his control." Ryo tapped his chin with the back of his pen. "Though thinking back on it I may have oversold it by pretending to be rabid that one time."

"You didn't!" Himiko felt a laugh escape her lips and a smile return to her face for the first time since their session had begun. 

"I did." Ryo nodded sagely, a ghost of a smile on his own face. "So please believe me when I say that I mean what I said, I know how people can act around those they think are 'cursed'."

"I… Thank you Inui-sensei." Himiko's head dropped slightly as she said it, her remorse was clear not just by her action but her tone as well.

"If you would like we can end it there." Ryo offered as he kept a careful eye on his patient to try and gauge her reaction. 

"No, I want to continue."

Ryo nodded once before picking his clipboard back up and readying himself to write. "Do you want to pick back up with the baby bird?"

"There wasn't much after that. They grounded me for being abnormal and the next week they sent me to a Quirk counselor."

"And this is when they found out you needed blood, correct?"

"Yeah that counselor… He was very nice to me. He made sure I knew what tests they were doing, talked me through everything really. After telling me I would be ok he offered me a blood lollipop instead of a fruit one, said how he made sure to have a few on hand in case very special quirks came through. I remember it tasting so good when I had it." 

"Do you know what he told your parents about your Quirk? What you needed? How to help you?"

Himiko was shaking her head before Ryo had even finished the first of his questions. "No, I only know that I never saw him again. They took me to a different counselor, one who agreed with them."

"Agreed with them how?"

"That I wasn't normal. That I needed to be normal. They taught me how to try and pretend to be normal." Himiko shook her head more vigorously this time as she tried to dispel the words that she had been told all those years ago. 

"Listen little Toga if you ever want to be normal you need to stop obsessing over blood. It's not normal to drink blood. Normal people don't think about blood at all and all you need to do is suppress this urge. If you're able to get a hold of these urges you will be able to live a normal life like your parents want. And you want to be a normal girl for them right?" 

Normal girls smile, but not like that. Normal girls collect stuffed animals, but not like that. Normal girls find things cute, but not like that. Normal girls have crushes on boys, you can't have a crush on a girl. 

Normal girls, normal girls, normal girls, normal girls… 

A heavy weight settled onto Himiko's shoulders quickly cutting off her downward spiral of thoughts. As she pulled herself out of the abyss that was her past she realized that she was curled into the fetal position and rocking slightly back and forth on the sofa.

"I think it's best if we call it there for the day." Ryo quietly said as he positioned the weighted blanket further up onto her shoulders. "We've made great progress and there is no sense in forcing you to relive everything in one day."

"But-but I didn't even get to what you asked me about…" Himiko looked at him with pleading eyes. "Please, I can continue. I need to continue."

Ryo's eyes softened as he looked at the young woman before him. He knew that she had gone through hell and back before she was rescued and brought into their care. But here and now no matter how desperate she looked at him he could see she was at a breaking point. 

"Really Himiko we've done-"

Himiko cut him off as she quickly turned to look at him. The desperation on her face was slowly fading and being replaced by a grim determination. "Please Ryo-sensei, I need to do this. I've… I've never gotten this far telling anyone else, I need to see this through to the end." 

Ryo let out a weary sigh as he steeled his gaze and looked back at her. "Alright but I reserve the right to end our session at any point going forward. Agreed?"

Himiko looked as if she was about to protest but upon noticing Ryo's bared teeth and hard expression thought better of it. "Agreed."

"So where would you like to pick back up?"

"With the counselor they convinced me and my parents that I didn't need blood. That it was all a phase, a minor drawback to my mutation instead of being tied to my Quirk. Something that could be ignored."

Ryo nodded as she spoke. He knew all of this of course having gathered small parts of it over the last year. That and knowing exactly how Nezu had buried the Togas legally while getting Himiko off from her assault charges and into U.A.'s custody. 

"I thought that I would be able to pull it off. Imagine that? Me thinking I could fucking pull off denying something I need." Himiko let out a harsh laugh as her face fell.

"I can imagine that actually." Ryo replied as he gave Himiko a serious look. "I've helped many students over my years here at U.A. and few have ever had the willpower you have."

Himiko scoffed. "Willpower. Ha, that's one way to put it."

"Himiko you do realize that you not only survived but suppressed your urge for blood for over a decade before finally reaching your breaking point, right?"

"So what? I should be fucking grateful or something?" Himiko shot Ryo a murderous glare. "I still snapped and acted like the monster that my parents thought I was."

"You fought back against a fundamental part of yourself successfully until under extreme distress you finally had a psychotic episode." Ryo answered bluntly. "While I will not call it ideal or even a success I will say that it is impressive by any measure you look at it."

"I stabbed a classmate and drank his blood fresh from the wound with a straw." Himiko deadpanned while glaring at Ryo, disgust dripping with each word. "Are you saying that was impressive?"

"I'm saying that it's impressive that it took until your last year of junior high for your Quirk to finally rebel and for you to experience a Quirk backlash." Ryo answered bluntly. "Tell me pup. Between when you ran away and when Sekijiro-san found you, did you attack anyone?"

"No I didn't, but I don't see how-"

"And during that year, all three-hundred and sixty-five days of it, did you ever feel the desire to do so?"

"Yes but-"

"But you still didn't." Ryo pointed towards Himiko. "You didn't want to attack someone despite your body screaming at you to do so. That is what I am talking about."

Himiko simply glared at him in response, unable to think of a counter argument. "I think I'm done now." She started to stand up from the couch before Ryo's next words stopped her in her tracks.

"Let me ask you one last question before we end."

"Not like I have a choice." Himiko huffed before sitting back down and glaring at him once more. "Well?"

"Are you still having nightmares about attacking Saito?"

Himiko stared at him, mouth slightly agape, before scowling, standing up and walking out the door.

++++++++++++++++++++

RING… 

RING… 

RING… 

"Inko? Isn't it two in the morning there?"

Inko had a plan when she called her husband. She had planned out what she had wanted to say down to the letter. It all flew out the window the moment she heard his voice; it was calm and warm, a distinct contrast to her own roiling emotions.

"Hi-Hisashi…" She let out a strangled sob.

The calm in his voice vanished in an instant. "Inko, love. What's going on?"

"I.. We. We need you to come home."

"Love, we talked about this. I'll be in town for Izuku's birthday. I know it's a few months away but I was thinking about asking if I could stay in town for a few weeks." Hisashi chuckled lightly to himself. "Though they might turn me down. Probably worried I won't come back to the states once I get your cooking again."

Hisashi stopped as he realized the other side of the line was silent save for the occasional sob that filtered through the speakers. "Inko?"

"We need you to come home Hisashi. Izu-Izuku he…" There was another sob. 

"Izuku? What happened? Is everything ok?" As he spoke Inko could perfectly imagine his face; eyebrows shooting up his forehead, eyes wide, with his mouth in a concerned line. 

"No... Yes? He's fine now but we got so close to... I should have paid more attention to him. How did I miss this?" Inko wailed into the phone. "How did I not see the signs they were right there!"

"Inko, honey, what happened with Izuku?"

"He…. He…" Inko took a deep breath in an attempt to steady herself. "He tried to kill himself today."

This time there was silence on Hisashi's side of the line though the faint sound of his breathing let Inko know he was still there.

"Dear?"

"I-I'm still here love. I can't say I expected…" Hisashi tried to take a breath to steady himself but only a choked sob came out. "Did he… Did he say why?"

"Mitsuki's boy, Katsuki, told him to kill himself and hope for a Quirk in the next life." Inko replied bluntly with more than a little venom in her voice. Her son might be eager to try and move on but she wasn't about to forget and forgive.

"... I know you don't like swearing love so please forgive me. What the actual fuck?!? Who the fuck says that to someone?" Inko could have sworn she saw the smoke from his Quirk coming out of her cellphone. "I take it that boy has been harassing Izuku for longer than just today."

"According to Izuku he's been bullying him physically and mentally since they were four or five." Inko replied with icy calmness. 

"How'd…." there was a thud on the other line as Hisashi slapped himself on the forehead. "How did we miss this?"

"You've been abroad most of this time dear. If anyone has failed him it's me. I knew that Katsuki was mean to him but I didn't know the extent." Inko felt tears forming in the corner of her eyes again. "I knew he wasn't treating him the best but I never realized it was to this extent."

"He never mentioned anything about it though, right?" Hisashi asked before mumbling something to himself about timelines and flights. 

"No he always brushed it off as 'Kacchan being Kacchan' and left it at that. I always figured that he would actually tell me, we both know he wears his emotions on his sleeve. I'm not so sure anymore though."

"I just…" This time Inko knew for sure she smelled smoke. There was a deep breath on the line. "Calm Hisashi. Calm. One breath in, one breath out."

"Ok Inko my love I will want all the details but there isn't anything that we're going to solve while it's two in the morning for you and I have the overwhelming urge to burn something to the ground." Hisashi took another deep breath. "So how about you call me again tomorrow evening and give me all the details and we can come up with a plan for when I see you in a week."

"A-alright that sounds like a good plan. I'd be lying if I said I had it all processed myself."

"Then we figure all of this out tomorrow. Get some sleep, love I'll see you in a week. I love you."

"Love you too."

CLICK 

Hisashi must have been really upset, last time he wanted to burn something down was when that nurse had mocked Izuku for being quirkless. 

As quietly as possible Inko slowly made her way back to her bedroom sighing to herself all the while.

We have a general plan, I just need to talk to Izuku again and make sure I have all the details correct before I…  

Inko felt her train of thought come to a crashing halt as she fully processed what her husband had said. 

'I'll see you in a week.'

Hisashi is coming home!?!