Just to clarify, this Ochako's profile and Canon Ochako's profiles are different. They are in a sense, two different people after all.

Now, let's get to it!

Zero to Hero

Chapter 3: Three chances of meetings

I woke up to a white ceiling and the smell of a hospital.

Have you ever smelled hospital air? You wouldn't think much of it unless you were the one being treated on, so those without that experience might not understand what I am talking about.

It smelled of disinfect, but with a tinge of human depression.

As I was lying here with my arm in a cast and stitches over my stomach, I continued to think about the smell of the particular white building that brought both despair and hope, until the door to my hospital room was dragged open.

"Ochako, Here- Ochako!" There was a sound of something dropping as someone rushed over to me and embraced me in their arms.

I winced. "Ow, ow, ow, shoulder, possibly fractured shoulder is hurting!"

"It is fractured, you dummy!" Mother scolded me with a quivering voice and equally shaking arms. I weakly smiled and wrapped my other arm around her.

"Hey, mama."

"Don't you 'Hey, mama' me young lady." She sniffled, loosening her grip but still embracing me. "How could you do that? They almost killed you, we almost lost you!"

The memories hit me like a ton of bricks. The fact that I singlehandedly stood up to three villains, broke the arm of one and nose of another, and left my stomach with a gash and got a fractured shoulder, and somehow, I was alive.

What the hell happened? Why wasn't I dead?

"Mama," I whispered, fist clenched tightly as my lips trembled. "How come I'm not dead?"

"Don't say that, please…" Mother sobbed as the door to my room opened again. I raised my gaze to the entrance, and saw father standing there with a shocked look that quickly melted into one of relief on his face. He approached me, his eyes melancholic as he raised a hand and ran it through my hair.

"Ochako… Thank god you're okay…" His voice was quivering, and his eyes were misty. I sniffled, feeling tears in my eyes as well as I croaked, "Yeah, I'm alive daddy."

Father called the doctor in soon later. Apparently, I was out for two days. Due to the reckless fight I engaged in, like I said, I ended up with a stitched stomach and fractured shoulder that caused my arm to be in a cast and nearly died of blood loss. He said it would take around two months or so to fix my shoulder, but I would be discharged earlier if I could go about my life without needing assistance for every single thing like dressing or bathing. That meant that I had to spend at least a month or so in the building of clashing ideals, which I wasn't very keen on.

No, I did not throw a tantrum. Pssh, tantrum was for babies. I nearly threw the doctor out of the building, but I settled for throwing the trashy hospital food instead.

My parents had work, so they couldn't stay by my side the entire time. After the doctor checked me up, they both left with teary eyes and left me bawling like a baby. No, not really. I did shed a tear or so though, I'll admit. It would be lonely, doing nothing in a room full of nothingness.

Then Shouto came.

"Ochako, you are an idiot." He said flatly as he sat next to my bed. I gave him a look as I continued to slurp my noodles.

"What was I supposed to do, let my parents get hurt by muscleman 0.5? I don't think so." I countered, shoving the delicious bowl of veggie ramen into my mouth. Man, did Shouto know how to cook or what?

"I didn't make that by the way, my sister did. That's her original recipe."

"Stop reading my mind, you're supposed to be denser than a rock. By the way, how did you know I got hurt?"

"Hana-san and Yuuji-san told me." I nodded in understanding. All of a sudden, his eyes sharpened compared to the calm look on his face and the atmosphere surrounding him changed drastically. I had to fight the urge to flinch.

"Ochako." He started.

I sent him a slightly forced smile. "Yeah?"

"You could've just run the moment the explosion happened. Why didn't you? Why did you decide to fight when you could have died?" He cornered me, eyebrows furrowing and lips pulled into a deeper frown than I had ever seen before.

I sighed and put my chopsticks down with the noodle bowl onto the table next to my to the point as usual, I mused lightly. "They really did tell you everything, huh? They must love you a lot." I snorted. "Look Shouto, the situation was a little different than what you think it was. But anyway, it's all done for. Maybe I made a stupid decision, I wasn't thinking straight that time. It doesn't matter. I'm alive; my parents are alive, we're all happy and healthy. Isn't that enough?"

"No, it's not!" His outburst surprised me as I turned to look at him with wide eyes. He was standing up now, glaring at me with a strange look in his eyes.

"You could have gotten killed! What if you hadn't survived? What if All Might didn't arrive in the nick of time? What if something even worse happened? You could've been in a worse condition!"

I started to open my mouth before something registered to me. "Wait, All Might saved me?"

He slammed his hands down on the table next to me, making me jump. The noodle bowl clattered. "THAT'S NOT THE POINT!"

Hearing his outburst, something else snapped in me as I glared up at him. "WHAT DID YOU WANT ME TO DO?! MAMA AND DADDY WERE IN DANGER, THEY COULD'VE GOTTEN KILLED! DID YOU REALLY THINK I WOULD STAND THERE AND DO NOTHING?!"

"YOU'RE JUST A KID! YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THE ONE WHO SUFFERS!"

"AGE DOESN'T MATTER WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING, YOU OF ALL PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THAT!"

We glared at each other for a long time. Actually, I wasn't sure; it could have just been a few seconds. But neither of us was willing to back down. We had to make the other person understand our point of view, we weren't going to stop.

Or so I thought. That thought crumbled away the moment a line of water dripped from Shouto's eyes.

My eyes widened as his body shook, his eyes filling with more and more tears as he bit his lip, glaring at me weakly. He slowly got down to his knees, his fists gripping the white sheets as tight as he could while he buried his face in them. I could only stare dumbly at the crying boy in front of me.

"Shouto…?" I hesitatingly reached out to cover his trembling hand with my quivering one.

"I thought…I almost lost you…" He choked out, his voice tight with remorse and regret. "You're my first and only friend… I couldn't, bear it if you died…I wished… I was there… At least, maybe I could have protected you, but I wasn't…I was training with that fucking monster…"

"Hey, using curse words as a kid is my thing, not yours." I tried to lift the atmosphere, but my voice was starting to tremble as well.

"You're more important than he could ever be, and I couldn't protect you." He sobbed out. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry for leaving you alone, Ochako…"

I couldn't help it anymore. I bit my lip as tears started falling from my eyes and down my cheeks. Letting go of the ridiculous pride I had, I finally pushed out the words I wanted to say the moment I laid my eyes on that villain.

"Shouto… I was, so fucking scared." I cried, covering my eyes with my other hand. I dug my fingers into the side of my face as I failed to stop the waterworks. "I was so scared… I thought I was going to die, I thought mama and daddy was going to die, I thought I would never see you again…! He looked, so scary, so strong; I had no idea if I could win… And I couldn't and if wasn't for All Might, I would have gotten killed…!"

I cried. I let all my feelings out. I couldn't hold it in anymore. My outer shell was broken forever in front of him; I don't think I could ever hide myself if he was around anymore.

I felt a pair of arms tightly wrap around my head. I buried my face into his small, but warm and comforting arms, and let the tears fall. I could feel something wet on the top of head as well, so I knew that he was probably crying as much as I was.

Heh, I wonder since when did I become such a crybaby, huh?

"I'm so sorry Ochako…"

"So scared, so fucking scary…"

Hours passed as we stayed in that position. Eventually after we both calmed down, we decided to continue talking about random subjects. ("Damn Shouto, your sister can cook!" "I'll tell her the next time I see her." "Wait, does she know about me?" "…I might have told her some things." "You didn't tell her that her brother's friends with a nutcase, right?" "…" "Shouto, you know you can't whistle, so stop trying to.")

Just joking and laughing, just like always.

But I brought up a subject that had been bothering me for a long while.

"Shouto, have you started using your fire side?" I asked him. He looked away a little guiltily.

"Maybe not…"

"Have you visited your mother yet?" I asked again in a deadpan tone. He bit his lip.

Yes, this was still a problem he had yet to solve. It has been at least a year since his mother was hospitalized, and he still refused to use his fire quirk after that incident. I had thought things would be a little more different since I was here, but it seemed like it didn't have much of the desired effect. When we were sparring, he never used his fire side (granted, he barely used his ice side even around me, I'd like to think it wasn't because I was too puny that he didn't even need to use his quirk), and always dodged the topic whenever I brought it up. It's been like that for a year, and he still didn't seem to do anything about it.

"Shouto, you know that-"

"I know, it's just, can we don't talk about this right now?"

I snorted. "Permission to talk about it next time?"

He glanced at me and furrowed his eyebrows, and turned away again. "Maybe."

The sun was up when he visited me, and now it was only slightly peaking above the buildings. The sky was a beautiful orange when he finally decided to leave.

"It's getting dark, I'd better get home." He confessed, keeping the empty bowl into his backpack. I saluted with my undamaged hand, sending him off with a grin.

"Alrighty-o, captain Shouto. I assume you'll be visiting soon?" I joked slightly. "If you don't your partner's gonna die of boredom, and I will come back and haunt you for the rest of your days."

He laughed lightly, and sent me a smile. "Don't worry. I'll visit when I can." He waved his hand as he exited through the doors.

I let out a sigh and leaned deeper into my pillow, staring blankly at the wall.

Today was September 17, a few days before my eight year old birthday.

…

I had assumed that September 20th was going to be the most uneventful birthday of my life.

I was wrong yet again.

"Mama?! Daddy?! Shouto?!" I gaped, seeing my hospital room decorated in streamers with a banner saying 'Happy Birthday Ochako!' and a huge cake smack dab in the middle of the room. Mother and father were smiling widely, while Shouto was just staring at me with a hesitant smile on his face, probably waiting for a happy reaction.

Wha-How-Huh?

"Surprised aren't you?" Father chuckled. "We asked the nurse to stall you for a bit when you went to the bathroom in the morning."

"We kind of did this in a hurry, so some parts might-" Mother started before the tape holding up the right end of the banner weakened, and the other side was pulled by the force of the fall. So the banner ended up flopping down onto my bed.

"-Fall apart." She finished, sighing and rubbing her temples.

Oh, so that was why the nurse accompanying me kept talking about brushing my teeth properly and did a check over before making me brush a few more ten times. She should have just locked me in the toilet. My arm was still tired from holding up a toothbrush.

"Do you like it?" Shouto questioned, his eyes tinted with a bit of hope.

I flapped my mouth for a bit, before closing it and trying my best to smile. "I love it. Thank you."

I was then seated on my bed as the three of them gave me presents. Mother got me a new shirt because one of them got ruined during the fight. It was a white with black sleeves with the words 'Straight out of time out' printed in black and white on the front. I was impressed, she knew my tastes well. Just like my real mother.

Father was the one who bought the cake, he had it customized and everything. It cost quite a lot so he couldn't afford to buy me a present, but I was satisfied and reassured him that I would be happy even he just gave me a hug as a present. Sappy, but true, considering that we weren't exactly rich. He gladly gave me that hug.

Last one was Shouto's. When I took it out of the box, I nearly dropped it in shock.

It was a pair of white Taekwondo shoes. Like the name, they were shoes specifically made for the martial art. They didn't have laces, were light and easy to work out in, and they looked so fucking amazingly cool and just perfect.

"Shouto, I love you." I said in a serious tone. His face lit up and he petted my head in return.

"Me too, Ochako."

After that they sung me the happy birthday song and I blew out the candles. All eight of them at once, like a boss.

I wish for everyone to be happy, and stay happy.

I swear to hell and back, I was not crying and eating the cake at the same time. That was so not the reason why the cake had a hint of saltiness.

…

The door to my room was knocked on. I cocked my head, mother and father had already visited me, and Shouto told me that he couldn't come today. I didn't have any friends beside the half burnt icicle, so it couldn't be anyone from school.

Who could it possibly be?

"Come in, I guess, whoever you are. As long as you're not trying to maul me because I ain't having none of that!" I quickly added and prepared to throw the food tray at the door. Damn thing was the only thing I could use as a weapon. At least I can prove that hospital food can kill people.

"Hahaha! Do not worry little girl!" My jaw dropped. "For it is not a villain, but I am here!"

The door slid open quickly to reveal a ridiculously muscular man clad in a T-shirt and cargo pants with a belt buckle that resembled a form of a bird. He had blonde hair with two bangs spiking up to resemble bunny ears, and his signature huge pearly white smile was present.

I let the food tray drop to the ground as my mouth hung open in the air.

"Wha-How-Dah-Bla-Urgh?"

"Please calm down little girl." All Might, All YAGI MIGHT TOSHINORI, reassured me as he walked closer to my bed. "I do not intend to hurt you. I merely came here to apologize for the incident a few days ago."

I pushed my jaw back to its original position. "A-apologize? What are you talking about? You saved me, if it wasn't for you, I would have died!"

"But I was too late to come to your aid, and you were gravely hurt in the process." His voice held regret and guilt, even his smile was drooping slightly. "For that, I sincerely apologize to you and your parents." He bowed his head and I started panicking even more.

"Wait, wait, wait, and don't bow! It's fine, really! You're the best hero in the world; you must have been needed at something far more important than saving a shopping district!"

"There is nothing more important than innocent lives, no matter how big or small the incident may be." He told me, lifting his head and straightening his back. His blue eyes seemed to penetrate through my soul, and I gulped.

"The villains that you held back were a little famous for their robberies. They had attacked precisely 15 other shops before your encounter with them. They were also notorious for capturing young women to sell off at an underground auction, and we couldn't have apprehended them without you. Right now, the police are interrogating the boss of the trio to find out where their hideout is. For assisting us in the capture of villains, the government would like to repay you."

"It's okay All Might." I whispered quietly. His eyebrows raised in questioning. "I don't need fame or money, or any repayment of the sorts. It would be different if I was trying to save the lives of people I didn't know, but that isn't the case."

What I said was true. I was fully prepared to run away with mother and father, not fight the three of them to save the people.

"I was just trying to protect my parents. I wasn't trying to be a hero. I don't have the power to protect the lives of so many civilians. I don't deserve a reward or anything, so you don't have to." I forced a laugh, remembering how badly I was beaten up.

"…What is your name?" He asked me out of the blue. I blinked.

"Don't you already know, since you managed to find my room?"

"Pardon me; I didn't enter through the front as it would draw a lot of attention. I sneaked in through a window and I saw you entering your room. So I'm afraid that I do not know your name." He smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. I blinked twice and let out a bark of laughter.

"Hahaha! The number one hero, sneaking in like a thief! Wow, that's so ironic, haha!" I stretched my normal arm to him, and sent him a grin to mimic his.

"Uraraka Ochako." I said confidently. "The most fantastically awesome girl in the universe." I wiggled my eyebrows in a joking fashion. "And also the most reckless and hurt."

He also laughed and gripped my hand in return. "I am glad to have met you, young Uraraka." He smiled warmly, and I felt my heart get lighter. He really was amazing. Just by being right in front of me, he managed to make me feel like I was in a storm and a sunflower field at the same time.

"Well, it looks like it is time for me to go." He let go of my hand and saluted me. I did the same with the stupid smile on my face the whole time. He opened the window and put a feet on the frame. He turned to look back at me, and I tried to carve the image of his pearly whites into my mind again, to never forget the moment I first met him.

"Goodbye, young Uraraka!"

He disappeared in an instant, and I was left with a strange feeling that never seemed to fade.

I was dreaming.

The sky was a faint blue without any clouds in sight. There was nothing around me, no buildings, no people, nothing.

Suddenly, I was in the middle of a road. A road to where, I wasn't actually sure. It just seemed to stretch on and on, and faded into the faint blue horizon. I didn't see anywhere else to go, so I decided to move forward.

I felt like I was walking for miles before abruptly, light engulfed my vision. I closed my eyes, waiting for what was coming next.

I heard chatter, and laughter. I opened my eyes to see myself surrounded by many kids wearing uniforms. I glanced down at my body. It was a milky translucent color. I raised my head once more and observed the people I assumed were students. They were waking to a certain destination, and I looked up to see a structure that seemed like a school. I glanced at the signboard, but the words were blurred out. I couldn't tell where this place was; besides well, obviously it was a school.

I let out a sigh as I looked around once more. Everyone seemed to ignore me, or they just didn't notice me, I didn't know. I found out that I was something resembling a ghost of a sort; I nearly lost my shit when someone walked right into me and went past the other side, my body fading into mist for a second before becoming clearer again.

Damn, this was sort of cool and creepy at the same time.

I looked behind me, wanting to know what the view I had my back to was like, before someone passed me. I didn't know why, but my eyes traced after their movements.

I stopped.

It was a boy with curly green locks.

I could recognize that messy mop of hair any day.

Midoriya Izuku, I whispered out, my breath leaving me. It was him. There was no doubt about it.

But something was wrong. He didn't have his signature gigantic yellow backpack, or his funky looking red shoes. Instead, all he had was a beaten up brown backpack with plain black and white sneakers. His head was so cast down I couldn't even see a glimpse of his face, and his hair looked almost like it was long enough to cover his eyes. His hands were gripping the straps of his bag so tightly they were white, and his whole body posture was rigid, as if he was expecting someone to jump out and attack him any moment.

It took me a second to process this thought.

Oh, my eyes narrowed. Oh.

As if on cue, a familiar blonde entered my field of vision. It wasn't only me though; Midoriya seemed to register the menacing presence even with his eyes covered.

"Oi, Deku! Still looking as wimpy and shriveled as ever, huh?"

My fists tightened as I saw Midoriya wince and began shaking ever so slightly.

I opened my mouth, ready to give that stuck up, blown up pufferfishheaded shittybombed brathole a whole new string of curses-

I was hit with the immense urge to pee.

I opened my eyes, everything around me blurry before I groaned, my expression taking on an ugly frown. Body functions, they wouldn't just let you sleep would they?

Maybe if I went back to sleep I wouldn't feel like peeing…

I closed my eyes.

…

..

…

…Sigh.

I reluctantly kicked the covers off me. Carefully getting up as to not strain my wounds, I put my bare feet on the ground. The floor was cool to the touch. Being the lazy fuck I was, I didn't bother searching for slippers to walk around in, and just left the room without anything to cover my feet.

The lights on the hallway were bright compared to my dark room. I winced at the blinding rays, stumbling around before my hand touched a handle. Since that the toilet was close to my room, I figured that I hit the jackpot.

I opened the door harshly.

A woman snapped her head to where I was standing, her eyes widened with shock.

I blinked, rubbing my eyes.

…I then registered that she had white hair, a shade that seemed eerily familiar.

…Well, if this isn't awkward.

Huehuehue, Ochako should check her doors properly. You never know when you make another awkward encounter with a complete stranger. Or, is she?

Well, Ochako starts dreaming about a certain greenette, eh? Does she remember though? I wonder… It certainly won't be the last. After all she is technically the side character to the Main Story. But everyone is the main character of their story, yeah?

Okay, enough with the mysteries. Hope you enjoyed this chapter! I was thinking of updating one to two times a week. I had to think a lot about the pacing of the entire story. Originally, Ochako was supposed to be out of the hospital already, but it seemed too rushed so I slowed down. I have to say, I like this one a lot more.

Also, if anyone's wondering why Shouto is so emotional, I wanted to show that he was more expressive with his feelings as a child. He would laugh and cry, and I think he really used to until the thing with his dad made him tuck his feelings into a small, cold icy ball. He isn't so much aloof because of Ochako, and he since that he allows himself to feel emotions around her, it automatically makes him more expressive compared to canon.

Well, hopefully we'll meet again later this week! If not, next week then!

~LunaricFairy12~