Asui can't help but be concerned for Ochako.
For a few weeks now, Ochako has been showing up to class absolutely exhausted, barely able to properly function. The teachers seem to have noticed as well and, perhaps because they know about her circumstances, go a bit easier on her.
During lunch, Ochako disappears immediately, and no one has caught a glimpse of where she's gone. When she returns, she always appears to be deep in thought.
And when classes finish, Ochako is nowhere to be found, though Tenya has said that he's come across her working out a few times while running.
Asui doesn't know where to start. Ideally, she'd be able to talk one-on-one with Ochako, but that seems rather difficult. She's noticed how her classmates have come to treat her differently ever since the incident at the mall. Some of them are kinder, while others are more reserved, as if one wrong move would shatter Ochako like glass.
But the strangest one is Bakugo. Before, he wouldn't even deign to speak to her, and it was only after their battle during the sports festival did he even begin to acknowledge her. But now, it feels like he's always watching her—as if he wants to protect her.
So Asui decides to start with him.
"Why the hell should I know?" Bakugo asks in annoyance. "Isn't she your best friend or something?"
His words sting. But he's right. As one of Ochako's closest friends, she should have taken the initiative far sooner.
"You're not wrong," she concedes. "But it's almost like Ochako is avoiding, well, everyone."
"Maybe she needs time to herself."
"I'd understand that. But she keeps showing up to school ragged and disappears the moment we have a break. I know that she and Midoriya were close, but if she keeps this up I'm afraid she'll only hurt herself."
Bakugo shifts, looking vaguely uncomfortable. "You have a point, I guess. But why come to me about it?"
"I've seen the way you look at her," Asui flatly states, uncaring of any misinterpretations Bakugo may make.
"W-what?!"
"Oh, not like that." Asui dismisses Bakugo's sudden embarrassment with a casual wave. "It's like you're watching her back."
"I guess I feel like I owe it to Izuku," Bakugo explains. "Ever since my quirk manifested, I treated him like trash. I can't take back what I said or did, especially now, but the least I can do is this."
"'Izuku?' You always called him Deku before."
"Even I can respect the dead," Bakugo laughs mirthlessly.
Asui can sense there's more to it than that but chooses to not push the issue. "Well, I'd appreciate it if you could help me try to talk to her."
". . .I'll see what I can do," Bakugo reluctantly agrees.
To Asui's surprise, Bakugo actually comes through. As soon as classes are over, she receives a text message from him.
The field next to the track. She'll be there.
Asui wastes no time getting down there.
"Oh? Hello, Tsu," Ochako greets her.
"Hello, Ochako," Asui reciprocates.
"What brings you here?" Ochako asks, worriedly looking side to side.
"Are you looking for Bakugo? He won't be coming. I asked him to get a hold of you for me."
Ochako's face is a mixture of confusion and relief. "I see. Why?"
"I'm worried about you."
"What?"
"You've been showing up to class tired, and pretty much do nothing the whole time. And as soon you get the chance, you run off somewhere to do who-knows-what. I know you're hurting, but you don't need to go through this alone."
"Oh, Tsu. . ." Ochako had been so caught up in her own struggle that she had forgotten about her own friends. Despite the somber thought, she can't help but smirk ever so slightly as she thinks she's starting to sound like Bakugo. Or the old Bakugo, at least.
Asui grabs Ochako's hands and looks at her with a pleading expression. "Please."
"Thank you, Tsu." Ochako extricates her hands from Asui's desperate grasp and hugs her instead. "Knowing I have friends like you by my side, I'll be fine."
"Whenever, wherever, I'll be there for you."
Long after the last students have gone home, All Might and Ochako stand out in that familiar field.
"It's only been a few weeks since you started training, but I'd like to get a measure of your progress. Since you're used to having a quirk and have had some education, I expect that you'll be able to begin using One for All sooner than Midoriya did."
"Right." Ochako clenches a fist, which quickly relaxes as a question springs to mind. "Uh, how exactly do I use One for All?"
"Well, I told Midoriya to 'clench his buttcheeks and yell "smash!"'" All Might sheepishly admits.
"That's not how I imagined the world's symbol of peace would train his successor," Ochako giggles.
"Well, what works, works! You certainly have firsthand knowledge of that."
"That's true. Shall I give it a shot?"
All Might quickly surveys the surrounding area before giving her a thumbs up. "Now, don't go punching anything—that'll be a bit hard to explain, and I'd end up taking all the blame."
"Right."
Ochako clenches her fist and flexes all of the muscles in her right arm, willing the power to flow. Her eyes are screwed shut and her teeth grind against each other uncomfortably, but she can't feel that crackling energy.
Defeated, she lets out the breath she had been holding, all the built up tension in her body quickly dispersing. "Seems like I'm not ready yet."
"I guess not," All Might agrees. "But there's plenty of time. I'd say that at your current level, you can only really call upon One for All unconsciously. But that's still quite the achievement!"
Ochako just hums in monotone agreement. She knows it's irrational to expect such progress in so little time, but she can't help but feel a bit frustrated.
"All Might, do you think we can increase the intensity of the training regimen?"
"That would be unwise. I've tailored this regimen and diet specifically for you to progress as quickly as possible, any harder and you'll break down."
". . .I understand."
Despite their talk, Asui notices that Ochako is still showing up to class ragged and worn down—in fact, it seems to be getting even worse. And yet Ochako still won't come to her, or anyone else, about it.
One day, Ochako limps through the doorway one morning before class looking worse than she ever has. "Morning, everyone."
As she trudges over to her desk she trips over her own feet, hitting the floor with a sickening crack. Chaos immediately breaks out.
"H-hey! Are you okay?!"
"Whoa!"
"Somebody get a teacher!"
"I'll go to the infirmary!" The engines on Tenya's legs roar to life, and he tears out of the classroom at breakneck speed.
"Ochako! Ochako, can you hear me?" Asui asks, but Ochako is unnervingly still. Asui moves to turn Ochako over, but is stopped when Yaoyorzu grabs her shoulder.
"I know you don't just want to leave her like that, but we are unsure of her injuries. We should refrain from moving her. It's best to wait for a professional," she explains kindly.
Asui can't bear it, but she knows Yaoyorozu is right. She silently backs away from Ochako and waits for help to come.
"What's the emergency?!" All Might bursts into the classroom, Recovery Girl on his shoulder.
"It's Ochako, sir. She collapsed and hit her head pretty hard." Todoroki steps forward to take charge of the situation.
"No one moved her, right?" Recovery Girl asks as All Might gently sets her down.
"No, Yaoyorozu made sure of that."
"Oh, good. Let me take a look at her." Recovery Girl begins examining Ochako. "I don't think there's any spinal damage, seems to be a concussion. But I can't be entirely sure from an examination here. All Might, could you please bring her to the infirmary for me? Be careful!"
"Ochako. . ." Asui watches All Might's back, so massive it completely blocks Ochako from view, quickly disappear.