"...gi...umugi...Tsumugi-chan?"
Charcoal gray eyes slowly fluttered open. She allowed the urge to yawn as she sluggishly hovered a hand over her open mouth. "...Yeah?" She said softly. Had she fallen asleep while standing?
"I... I'll be going, somewhere far away. Could you tell my mom...that I said I'm sorry?"
Tsumugi could have been imagining, but something in his voice seemed almost...airy.
"I-I don't understand. What are you talking about, anyways? Where are you going? What are you sorry for? Did you talk with your mom before now? I haven't heard of this." Every question she asked only poked holes in her heart as dread replaced them.
She watched the back of the familiar mess of forest green hair she had become so fond of stay still.
Hero?"
The scenery changed from the void of darkness to blue skies.
He slowly looks back with a close-eyed smile.
Barred fences stood between her and the boy.
On top of the school, Tsumugi realized...
Izuku was on the ledge of the roof.
She reached her hand out as her feet began to move on their own in spite of her tumbling thoughts.
"No! Don't!!" She screamed.
Yet no matter how much she tries, the fences only seemed to distance themselves along with her closest friend.
"You idiot!"
Whether he heard her or not, the freckled boy shunned his back to her.
Tears threatened to fall.
"Please!!"
His body leans forward.
"Don't go!! Izuku!"
And then he vanished from sight.
The shrill ear-piercing scream of one lonesome girl went unheard by empty ears.
Somewhere, a menacing smile laughed.
...
..
.
"Tsu-chan? Tsu-chan!"
Tsumugi unknowingly clenched a familiar smooth and small hand that squeezed back. A sharp gasp clenched her throat.
'Only one person I know would call me that...'
Tsumugi now only realized she had been staring into the white ceiling. She stiffly brought her charcoal gray gaze to the side.
"Mom..." Tsumugi mumbled not even above a whisper. She scrunched her brows. Her throat feels dry as the desert. And a stinging pain throbbing from her right temple caused her to wince.
Mahiru, who looked the same as she did during Tsumugi's childhood aside from the back-length to her now chest-length bob haircut, smiled as she drew her hand to graze the girl's cheek. Concern, worry, fear, relief... Many emotions flittered in the woman's chocolate brown eyes accompanied with a subtle wrinkle underneath revealing her aging.
"Yes, I'm here. Have some water..." Mahiru cautiously supports her daughter as the latter sat up almost mechanical-like due to the rigid back. After sniffing herself, Tsumugi assumed her back must be plastered with a few cooling gauzes. Ugh, she reeks of herbs...
After drinking the whole glass of water, Tsumugi cleared her throat lightly and tested. Much better.
The raven-haired looks around to discover she was in her own bedroom. There was not much of personal touches to tell about her tastes, but she found simplicity to be the best.
"You looked like you were having a nightmare," Said Mahiru creasing her brows together as she withdrew her handkerchief from her pocket. "You even mumbled in your sleep..."
Tsumugi felt guilty for making her mother worry while she dabbed traces of glistening sweat from her face. The girl noticed she was avoiding certain areas. She brushed her fingertips along bandages near her right temple and cheek, then frowning.
"...What did I say?" Asked Tsumugi.
"I couldn't hear."
"Oh..."
Tsumugi contemplated at the ceiling as Mahiru finished wiping the damp fluids away. The silence was not exactly awkward yet not comfortable either. She assumed her mother must be keeping a lot of her thoughts to herself in consideration of the mood.
"What...happened?" Tsumugi began. "I remember being attacked by a villain..." It's surprising she made it out in one piece.
Mahiru pocketed her cloth and simply sent a light smile. "We'll talk about that later. You must be hungry, Tsu-chan. It's fortunate you woke up just in time for dinner, which I've already prepared just in case."
"Yeah..." Tsumugi attempts to slide off her bed but the single instance of arching her back elicited a strained wince.
"The doctor said to stay in bed for the rest of the day," Mahiru said as she laid her daughter on the comfortable sheets and pillow. "Thankfully your injuries were only minor, thanks to a healing quirk, so you might come back to school tomorrow after resting tonight."
Tsumugi could only absorb everything she says like a sponge to water. She bobbed her head. "I'm sorry..."
"Don't be. You did nothing wrong. I'm just glad you're safe now." Said the mother as she tucked a hair strand behind the girl's ear.
After Tsumugi reassured Mahiru she is capable of eating her meal with her working hands, the adolescent's mind was occupied by concerns.
'I wonder if Bakagou is okay? Mom made it sound like I was out for a day when it was only a few hours...'
...
The next morning, Tsumugi was deemed fit to walk to school albeit dubious by her mother.
While she was heading straight to school (unlike meeting up with her friend Izuku like the usual due to her not entirely functional body), she came across a newspaper stand.
The headline caught her attention almost immediately and little did she realize, she was already burying her face close to the newspaper.
Tsumugi skimmed past the articles and concluded that Bakugou, whose face was even found printed on a picture with the sludge villain, and the Camino ward incident became a trending topic of the day.
Strangely enough, she was mentioned only once in a wandering paragraph as a mere victim. She had half-expected to be more relevant for a strange uncalled feeling, but she won't complain. At least this won't attract attention to her. Though she can't say the same for a certain ash blonde...
Tsumugi made a note to buy the newspaper after school for her mother as well before moving on her way.
[Homeroom]
All eyes in the room focused heavily on one certain student.
"Kuroyanagi...? Why are you here?" The teacher asked.
"I'm a student? I have to be in school?" Was her sarcastic reply. From the moment she had entered, every occupant seemed to have a mute button installed and activated. She looks at the entire class oddly. Whether she noticed two particular boys staring intently at her, one concerned and the other intense, she didn't show.
"Why are you guys so quiet? Did something happen?" Tsumugi, face plastered in bandage glory, nonchalantly approached closer near the teacher's desk. Eyes continue to follow her.
A classmate stuttered, "B-But yesterday, you were in the Camino-"
"Oh, that? That was some nasty stuff, did you see? Ugh, it was like taking a sewer bath with the rats. I should cleanse my soul after school..." She muttered lowly to herself in the end as she slid her parent's note to the teacher.
Cue sweatdrops.
How could the crossdresser ("I'm not a crossdresser!") say of the incident she was a primary victim in so lightly like she was discussing the weather?
Did the event not affect her at all?
After the teacher returned the paper and gave her the okay, the ponytail girl walked to her desk. When she sat down, a whisper spoke to her.
"Tsumugi-chan,"
Said girl's shoulders stiffened under her male uniform. When she tilted her head away from the curly-haired boy, a frown settled on his lips.
"Are you really okay?" Was what he would like to say, but he was too shy to say that when the class was awkwardly quiet hoping for something to end the unwarranted tension.
As the teacher listed each student's name for attendance, Tsumugi donned a frown and held the side of her forehead with her hand regrettably.
'I can't look at him without thinking of that...nightmare...'
From a couple of rows away, crimson red peered from the corner their eye at the shunned head of bent and conflicted ears before gazing to the front of the classroom.
...
"What? Hero was involved too?" Tsumugi rose her brows in surprise. She didn't see anything regarding the boy in the news.
A female classmate, who was casually retelling the incident yesterday like some fanfiction writer, nodded. The two were in the girl's locker room among the rest of the ladies changing for PE this period. Though Tsumugi recovered for the most part, she still can't do any rigorous activities. With that said, she still has to participate in her clothes for some credit.
From her seat on the bench, Tsumugi inwardly wrung her brows together. She doesn't want any eye witnesses to see the cooling gauzes plastered on most of her back, so she decided to wait for everyone to leave until she's completely alone. The fitness teacher will shut up about her lateness when she hands them the letter.
"Yeah, I saw him and Bakugou on the TV news, though Midoriya I only saw a second of. You can ask him about the details yourself." She then resumed informing Tsumugi of All Might's grand entrance and saving the day (like always) and how the villain was successfully secured by the hands of the police. Having read that already on the newspaper, the raven-haired could only nod blankly along her theatrical mannerisms (raising eyebrows and attention to the classmate in the process; the girl does like to talk and narrate a lot, as expected of the drama club member).
Tsumugi recalled the child she had saved.
'I wonder how that kid's doing. I hope he wasn't traumatized...'
At some point Tsumugi spared her extensive dialogue, "Okay, thanks for the news."
The girl's eyes sparkled. "In return for asking, would you cosplay-"
"No."
"Not even-"
"No."
"Aww..."
After successfully putting on her uniform without a witness and silencing the fitness teacher about lateness (hey that rhymed), Tsumugi joined the girls. Everyone was still doing warm up exercises. The teacher said to not involve herself in any movement regarding her back, so the female did some leg stretches.
Now that she thought about it, she could always rely on her legs to save her ass. Running has been her expertise, as much as she didn't want to admit. Bakugou always picks on her for that, unsurprisingly not-so alluding her to a rabbit. Honestly, with so much of him egging on and on about her and rabbits at any opportunity he had, Tsumugi should have a legitimate excuse to file in a restraint order among several other reasons.
"Oi, Rabbit!"
'Speak of the devil...' Tsumugi inwardly rolled her eyes. 'When would he ever stop calling me that? My character's not so basic to only be known as an animal.' "What-"
A pair of arms linked with hers as a lean back pressed against her own. Before she could do anything, her feet dangled off the ground and her head fell back to the blue skies.
A wave of electricity-like sensation pierced her whole body.
"Ow ow owowow my back my back my frickin' back!"
Tsumugi nearly howls in pain and squirmed helplessly in her arched position above her captor's hold. She couldn't slip out from such a pose, especially in her condition.
After a few seconds of staying in the same position, she was finally settled on the ground with the upper half of her body sore from the strain.
The shock still temporarily paralyzing her body tickled her temples to the point tears threatened to rise. However Tsumugi withstood her nerves and panted while whispering curses.
After recovering, the raven craned her head over her shoulder to glare daggers at the source. "What the hell, Bakahoe! You ass, that was unnecessary!"
Nearby classmates surrounding the two perked curiously at the sound of yelling and swearing.
"Don't fuckin' call me that, damn Rabbit!" Bakugou retorted aggressively to the crude insulting name her creative little head thought of before huffing. He stares down at her.
"Why the hell did you bring your ass to school today? You're not in perfect shape to be moving." He spoke lowly as though wanting to keep the conversation between the two.
A fraction of her eyes widened before she lowered her gaze. Away from the oddly mystified deep red pools that seemed to have pierced her soul in that moment.
A deep frown pulled at her lips.
"It's not like I have a broken limb. I'm capable of walking, in case you haven't realized." A subtle sarcastic edge laced her tone as she slowly rose to her feet. She pats the dust off her gym uniform (internally recoiling from the whiff of herbs along the way).
Meanwhile the commotion lured a certain quirkless to squeeze through his classmates. "Tsumugi-chan!"
Said girl looks to find the boy arriving by the ring of students. "Hero..."
Suddenly a white space filled in the void of her mind. Once again the dream flickered into memory, the image of her close friend fading into nothing. The urge to flee the current scene was all she could think of right now.
Tsumugi gritted her teeth behind pursed lips before turning away from Bakugou.
"Good to see you're still kicking, Bakugou..."
She brushes through the crowd as they shy away from her path. All while the girl didn't once meet anyone's eyes.
Izuku grew concern. Up to now, Tsumugi was acting strange. Though she had talked to him a few times (all which he had to initiate himself), he noted how she never looked at his face since she came to school this morning. Almost as though she was actively avoiding him.
Something must be bothering his fellow quirkless friend.
Believing he should give her some time to herself, the freckled boy solemnly watched the back of her head until he sensed a pair of eyes on him. When he turned to the source, he visibly flinched.
"K-Kacchan...?" Izuku squeaked out.
Bakugou was staring intensely, and with such silence the boy had never faced up close, before the ash blonde grunted. He scowled before swerving his back to him and stomping to the opposite side of the schoolyard.
In the language of Bakugou Katsuki, that likely meant he was still furious about the Camino incident from yesterday.
Izuku darted his eyes back and forth to his friends anxiously before hopelessly looking into the distance.
He prayed to the divine entity known as All Might (in his eyes) that his two childhood friends would soon make up.
Poor broccoli boy was so wrong.
[The next day...]
[Math]
"... That's correct, Bakugou. You may return to your seat. Now, who is willing to answer number 32?" A pause. The mathematics teacher sighs softly. "I'll have to pick someone then... Kuroyanagi."
Said student was staring at the ticking clock as though it was the most intriguing thing in the world until her "ears" perked up the slightest. Tsumugi lowered her blank gaze.
"Please do question number 32 up on the board." Is what he may have asked, but to any student it was more of an order.
Without a word Tsumugi approaches the blackboard while under the teacher's stern gaze. She plucked a white chalk piece and tapped the surface.
SCREEEEE-
The ears of the class visibly cringed from the noise. Some covered their sensitive ears while others began to voice their complaints.
Particularly one boy cursed profanities at the girl (we all know who this is, I mean, come on).
"Kuroyanagi!" Said the teacher.
She stopped. "Yes?"
"Please, be mindful of the noise..." Was all he said.
Her head bobbed. "My bad."
Most of the classroom released a sigh of relief.
SCREEEEEEEEEE-
"Whoops, that's legit my fault. Sorry." Casually remarked Tsumugi before eyeing the chalk in her hand.
'Did you just admit you deliberately made the noise the first time?' Was what the whole class thought.
Tsumugi made a distasteful face at the chalk and switched to a different one.
SCREEE-
"That's fucking it! Do you want your fucking ears ripped off, Rabbit?!" Exclaimed Bakugou who shot up from his chair and opened his palms as though raring to use his quirk any soon.
Tsumugi slowly craned her head back to the spiky blonde. She was staring at him almost wide and devoid of emotion. Until a haughty smirk darkened her eyes.
Without looking away, she tapped the board once again.
SCREeEeeEeEEEE-
This went on for a full five seconds until the room was free of the ear grating noise. Some students looked convincingly out of commission. Slithers of smoke and crackles emerged from underneath Bakugou's trembling hands.
Tsumugi settled the chalk on the groove. "This good, sensei?"
The teacher was surprised. This girl had answered the question correctly without looking at what she wrote within the duration. And her writing wasn't crooked!
He awkwardly nods. "Y-Yes, great work, Kuroyanagi. Please, head back to your seat..."
"Sensei, I'd like to remind you that you made an error in question 13." Tsumugi tells the man and points to the problem on the textbook, "13 is slightly different from 12 with one number changed, yet the problem on the board is 12, not 13. Therefore the work is incorrect."
The mathematician readjusts his glasses as he closely reexamined the text. "Ah, you're right. My apologies..."
"It's okay, it's okay. You are at the age of retirement, no offense."
As Tsumugi walked down the row Bakugou was seated near, the boy watched her lips flicker to a triumphant smirk before reverting to a thin neutral line when she was out of his sight.
He knew what that message conveyed. While it may appear it was only a mistake on the teacher's part, the fact that no one, not even the person who had attempted the problem, had thought to point out said mistake after it was solved was a fault in itself also.
He saw the side glance she casted him with his own two eyeballs.
A vein throbbed near his twitching eye.
He is so going to blow her goddamn ears off.
Meamwhile a confused forest-haired boy wondered if something happened between the two of them.
[English]
"Miss Kuroyanagi, would you please fill in the blank on the board? Speak clearly now!"
Tsumugi stands up as the female teacher had instructed her to with her pointer stick. "After school, I buy food at the supermarket."
"Wonderful Thank you, that was a nice simple choice of words. Now I'll have another volunteer do the same, this time with a different set of words. Mister Bakugou, how about you try it?"
The ash blonde stood. He looks to Tsumugi."After school, I will fucking blow your head off, Rabbit."
"Bakugou-kun! I told you no swearing when you speak!" Scolded the teacher. "And I don't want to hear those kinds of word sets from you ever!"
"Teacher, Bakugou just threatened me! Send him to the guidance counselor, he needs help!" Monotonously said Tsumugi with her hand raised respectfully. She was unfazed by his Engrish (yes I purposely spelled that).
"You wanna die?" Growled Bakugou as he glared at the ponytail girl.
Tsumugi stood and met eye to eye with him. "I don't know, how about idiots go first?"
"Stop being so rowdy, both of you!" The English instructor flings two chalk sticks with such accuracy, one bounced off Tsumugi's forehead while the other jabbed at Bakugou's temple, startling the class; most certainly a hunched Izuku. Especially when his desk is between his arguing childhood friends that he feared he might also get caught into the fray.
The chalks successfully silenced the two after knowing the next shot may aim between their eyes next.
[Fitness]
"All right, kids! Today you will be playing...dodgeball!"
A collective groan from the class was heard. Meanwhile two minds thought alike and were in fact more fired up than any other.
After the fitness teacher made everyone split into two teams, everyone's worst fears became reality.
The pair most known for their unlikable chemistry were on opposing sides. Standing right across each other with competitive sparks flying past their determined eyes, it wouldn't take a genius to predict the outcome. Even if those two were put on the same team, there would just be a fight among teammates. So really, there's no way to avoid the disaster soon to strike.
If looks could kill, Bakugou's expression had every intent to make it as such. Meanwhile Tsumugi was unfazed by the intimidation and simply stood with the ever familiar monotonous look in her eyes.
"Oi, Midoriya," A fellow teammate whispered nervously to him, "Can't you stop them? Bakugou I don't expect, but Kuroyanagi would listen and back down if you asked."
Said boy could only watch with distant, almost resigned eyes. "Even if that happens, Kacchan won't let it end so easily..."
"Seriously?!"
From across the gymnasium, a deviously smirking Bakugou sliced the air with his thumb across his neck.
On the blow of the whistle, hell went loose.
Tsumugi, being very speedy with her legs, was the first to grab a dodgeball. She chucks it at her target in front of her without hesitation.
Bakugou catches the object as it had went straight for him and instead returns the favor. He throws the ball with as much force, "Go to hell!"
'Go to hell?' Was what Izuku had thought to himself almost dumbfounded. This person is aiming to be a hero, right?
Tsumugi would have wondered the same thing if she wasn't preoccupied with dodgeball. She braces for the incoming ball and successfully stopped it with her hands. This is not the first time she played the sport against the blonde, after all. She knows the same applies to him with her.
The ponytail girl grunts a little from the slight recoil before pulling her arm back and towards his direction once again.
This routine repeated itself for some time while everyone else focused on staying out of their way. Ever since Bakugou had threatened the whole class from interfering with his and Tsumugi's "fight" a few games ago, neither ally nor foe would dare to warrant his wrath.
"Kuroyanagi sure is holding her own against Bakugou," A student who had been out of the game remarked. He watched the former evade the latter's delivery in the nick of time. Now there was only less than half of the team of either side.
"Even though she's quirkless, she can really do a lot." Another said in agreement.
The student who initiated the conversation looks to a particular figure. "Unlike someone..."
Snickering elicited from them while green eyes crestfallen.
Izuku was aware they were deliberately speaking indirectly to him, but must they be up in his face about it every time?
Surprisingly, the freckled boy was still on the field. However that was due to one sole person actively playing.
Tsumugi has protected Izuku from all the dodgeballs coming his way up to now. She would either pull him close or press his head down from a ball to the face, all while avoiding other roaming balls along the way. She would occasionally catch stray ones when it came down to it.
After the raven-haired took down the remaining member of the opposing team, the only remnants were the three childhood playmates.
Tsumugi staggers a bit before withstanding her ground, exhaustion catching up faster than she could relieve her breath. Beads of sweat continuously run down her entire face of clinging hair strands and drenched the collar of her shirt. She wipes the fluids from her eyes that made her assumed to be in tears. Her hands have grown weary from taking the brunts of dodgeballs and the soles of her feet were burning from all the shifting around. It didn't help that her stiff back was still under the spell of the explosion from Camino ward, despite having recovered its external injuries.
She clenched her hands into fists as means of reviving their sleepy bones before flexing every finger alive. They were pink and hot as well, contrasting her pale complexion.
"What's...*huff* wrong *huff* Rabbit?" Bakugou panted out, sweating as much as the other was. He wipes the salty liquid off his dripping jaw with the back of his hand. "Come at me already!"
Tsumugi wheezed a little, a chuckle forming afterwards. She smiled almost dryly (literally she's on the brink of dehydration now, and her lips would have been chapped if it weren't for her constant licking). "Ha, did you *cough* run out of steam, Bakugou? *cough* I still... got a lot more to burn..."
"Oi oi, why does this look like they're in a war fighting to their last breath? I could feel the intensity from here..." Someone among the class commented.
"Ugh, so much sweat..."
"Why isn't Midoriya doing anything? Help Kuroyanagi out!"
"End it already!"
Somehow the pressure shifted heavily onto the third party as the class encouraged the boy to spare the other two from playing longer.
Izuku stiffened like a rod, clutching a ball in his hands. His class is right. This is his chance to get the game over with. All this time he got cold feet and helplessly stood in one spot while his teammates did the work in his place.
He can't disappoint them and let their efforts end in vain, especially Tsumugi's, who is the reason he's even standing for longer than a second against everyone with quirks.
The curly-haired boy squeezed his eyelids tight before flashing them open to reveal quivering determination. He internally apologizes to Bakugou before throwing the ball somewhat clumsily despite his best efforts into putting it.
As the ball made its trajectory to the spiky blonde, crimson red eyes suddenly flared in anger.
Abruptly his hand grabbed the ball without straying from his spot. He silently looks at the startled Izuku with intent conveyed as clear as day in his gaze.
Tsumugi immediately realizes this and leaps in front of her teammate just when Bakugou released his hold on the flung ball.
Everyone, including those in the field, watched in surprise as the ball bounced on the floor a few times until it rolled and ceased to move. However all spectating eyes were on the still trio.
Tsumugi didn't shift from her protective stance while she faced Bakugou.
"Stop!" She declared, her throat coarse as she spoke, "We...We give up..." She coughed a few times before her knees buckled and collapsed to the floor.
After recovering from the tension everyone suddenly remembered having, Bakugou's side was declared victorious while Izuku quickly went to grab Tsumugi's water bottle and towel. The winners approached Bakugou and praised him for his win ("We knew you would win after all!" and "As expected of someone picked by UA!") while unaware of his odd quietness. He was staring at the other side of the playing field.
The losers may be let down by their loss, but it was a great game of dodgeball regardless (to them it was like watching a sports anime). As the losing side congratulated the girl for her admirable efforts Tsumugi sheepishly smiled, seemingly appreciative of their words of sportsmanship. Meanwhile Izuku was fretting over the female's condition ("Are you hurt? Do you need to see the nurse? Oh my gosh, I can't believe you pushed yourself this far-").
Bakugou gritted his teeth.
Somehow he wasn't satisfied with the outcome.
[Lunch]
"Oi, Rabbit."
Said "rabbit" looks over her shoulder.
"After school, meet me at the backyard, and come alone. It'll just be you and I so don't bother about witnesses." With that, Bakugou left the classroom.
Tsumugi munched on her homemade bento while pondering what to do. Fortunately Izuku wasn't there to witness since he had left for the restroom just before Bakugou came, which the latter may have known as well.
Since he asked her so nicely (sarcasm noted), it would be lame to leave him hanging.
[After school]
As students poured out from the school, Tsumugi excused herself from walking home with Izuku. Her heart felt torn to pieces when she watched the hopeful expression morph into a dejected smile any boy would make.
Somehow it reminded her of an unsuccessful confession; like she was the one to deny him.
Tsumugi blames Bakugou for making her do this to her gentle soul of a best friend, no, a human being.
When she entered the dark area where Bakugou was supposed to be, she spots the familiar blonde spikes and approached closer. Only the two of them were to meet up, and as he promised, not another person was with them. Her guts told her as such.
Tsumugi watched Bakugou remove his back from the wall and stand before her.
"...Well? I'm waiting for the colorful language. And likely an explosion." Tsumugi said after a moment of silence passed.
Bakugou rolled his eyes. "Who was it that told me not to get a bad record? I fucking know. I only called you here alone to tell you this."
He steps forward.
"Get into UA."
Tsumugi blinked.
"That has nothing to do with today..."
"That's not the point!"
Tsumugi rolled her eyes before inquiring, "Why tell me the obvious?"
UA is one of the top prestigious schools to get into, especially for its hero courses led by the most famous pro heroes. Anyone ambitious enough would most certainly list UA as their top high school picks, if not the first. Tsumugi sees no problems with attending UA unless Izuku doesn't get enrolled in.
Tsumugi continued, "Didn't I hear you say how much of a perfectionist you are that you wanted to be the only UA student chosen from this school?"
"Yeah, but I'm giving you the privilege to be an exception. Be grateful, especially since you're quirkless." Bakugou smiles almost in a belittling undertone.
Her eyes narrowed before she turned on her heel. "I'm leaving."
"What? I never said we're done yet, Rabbit." Bakugou reaches out to grab her shoulder. However his hand was slapped away.
The sharp unrelenting gaze of cold apathy planted his body still.
"I'm done trying to put sense into your thick brain. You think I give a damn about your privilege? I still haven't forgotten about what you said to Hero. And I will never forgive you for that, ever." Tsumugi said now a few octaves lower. The rage swelling her throat was about to burst into a fit of blind, uncontrollable fury.
She jabbed her index finger to Bakugou's chest. From the single touch, he knew she was using every fiber of her being to avoid resorting to physical measures. "Don't look down on the quirkless, especially Hero. He has the potential to be a wonderful hero just like you aspire to be. Maybe even better, who knows."
Beady crimson red flared in a myriad of emotions conflicting with pride Tsumugi knew could never tumble down. He is always like that, even back when they were kids. Except now he's an asshole.
She let her hand fall limp by her side before turning away from Bakugou.
"Oh, and about UA... It's not your call whether I join. If- no, when my friend enrolls into UA, you can bet your ass I will be there. Because I promised I will protect him when I'm around. And I never break my promises..."
...
The next morning, Tsumugi was walking alongside Izuku as they followed the usual route to school.
"Hero..."
Said boy was startled to the extent of blinking rapidly and stuttering out, "E-Eh? Y-Y-Y-Yes?"
'Four stutters and the blink eyes...'
Tsumugi couldn't blame him for acting like that. She has been acting unusual around him since the Camino incident. She most likely left him completely in the dark and not saying anything. Fortunately the raven-haired finally mustered the will to talk to him without having the other force the initiative. She knew that sometimes made him uneasy to cope with the awkward/tense atmosphere.
'But that doesn't seem to be the only reason why...' Tsumugi thought.
"I'm sorry for giving you a bit of a 'cold shoulder,' if that's the appropriate term." The rubs the back of her neck sheepishly. "I had a lot of thoughts to sort out..."
Izuku waved his hands around. "N-No, it's okay! I'm just glad you're feeling better, Tsumugi-chan."
She chuckled in hopes of easing the air. "Haha, thank you for understanding, but while we're at it..."
A squeak elicited. "Ts-Tsumugi-chan?"
Red hues colored his symmetrical freckles and across his cheeks as the pair of neutral colored eyes examined him. What set his blood running warm were the pair of cool and soft hands cupping his cheeks, relieving some of the heat almost instantly.
Regardless, his heart begun throbbing loud in his chest. How was he supposed to remain calm in the face of a public form of affection such as this?
Emerald green eyes shut tight as a thumb smoothly grazed under his eyelashes.
"You look tired. And what happened to your hands? You got bandages on every finger..." Izuku heard her mumble. Thankfully no one was around to witness the rather intimate scene, although he is uncertain whether his friend is aware of the action.
"I-I-It was an accident, they're just scratches..." Izuku attempted to speak with quivering lips. He hopes the girl wouldn't catch his nervous sweat. He did just begin his intense training under All Might this morning. Does he look that worn out already?
He felt her eyes stare unblinking at him behind his closed eyelids while a light hum rose from her throat. It wasn't dubious, at least not the deliberate kind.
Another few seconds of silence later, the warmed up hands slipped away.
"Oh, okay." Tsumugi said. When Izuku timidly opened his eyes, there was only her perpetual blank stare. It only made him more nervous somehow.
She smiled crookedly. "You..." Then her lips pulled back into a small frown as though she reconsidered something and shook her head. "Nothing. Forget it."
"A-Ah..."
Releasing his held breath at last, Izuku's palms pressed against either of his cooled face which still subtly lingered when he touched them. His heartbeat gradually regained its steady rate. That really caught him off guard. No one had ever touched him that way, so of course he would get flustered.
Wait, that way...?
When the sudden idea struck him, Izuku glanced at Tsumugi. However thinking it twice, he shook his head quickly.
No no no, she was only concerned. She's his friend! It's natural to worry about each other. What was he jumping the gun for?
The raven-haired girl tilts her head to her flustered friend. "C'mon, we should get to school or else we might be late."
The curly boy nodded. "Y-Yeah."
As the pair resumed walking, a stray fleeting thought from the back of his mind inquired, 'But do friends touch each other like that when they're worried...?'
He could be thinking too much into it.
...
One time in the middle of class, Izuku acted unusual.
He was scribbling something on his notes while his hand obscured his mutterings and tapped away in concentration. Though only a few tidbits such as strange calculations were heard, his mutters were spiraling around the whole classroom (almost literally, Tsumugi thought as she ignored the mutter word float by her head). Everyone was staring at the boy wordlessly.
'Muttering while class is in session? That's new...' Tsumugi mused to herself.
The teacher ceased the muttering with a floating hand chop to his head. Izuku shot his hands to his mouth with dreadful eyes as though he got caught spilling the beans.
"Did your encounter with the villain make you go crazy? It's presumptuous to think of getting into UA like that." Said the teacher as the students snickered and giggled at the freckled boy's nervous breakdown.
Or so the class would like to call it. Tsumugi didn't believe that was the case. Somehow the thought that the villain encounter would affect Izuku in itself didn't fit in her book.
She let out the sudden urge to sigh under her breath.
Woman's intuition, she guess? Suddenly her brain couldn't think of a reason at the moment (maybe due to general stress the past few days), so intuition it is.
Little did anyone including Tsumugi knew, one boy had began his ten months worth of training in hell.
...
"Hero...has a... quirk...?"
The moment those words left her mouth, a myraid of conflicting feelings and unnamed thoughts stirred her whole being into confusion.
["Yes, apparently he was a late bloomer after all! I believe I remember hearing it was a power enhancement type. I was really shocked to hear my son has finally gotten a quirk after all these years..."]
On the other side of the phone, Midoriya Inko was joyous as she spoke. Tsumugi wondered if the boy of topic was in the same room as her right now listening to his mother share the revelation to his friend. She doubts it.
A shaky breath was heard from the woman, causing the girl to crease her brows in concern. It sounded as though she was refraining from having a breakdown over the phone.
["I... I'm so glad..."] Inko softly said. Tsumugi could see the mother with glistening eyes as she then said, ["Izuku... He can finally make his dream into a reality like he always wanted..."]
In that instance, Tsumugi couldn't find the words to reply to her. Neither uttered a word immediately, perhaps letting the silence speak for itself as the news rendered them nearly speechless.
Tsumugi pursed her lips into a thin line. She gripped her phone before mustering the will to set aside her turmoil.
"Yeah. I'm glad, too."
Yet the smile didn't come.
...
[Summer]
One summer morning at four in the morning, Tsumugi somehow woke up for no reason other than her body deciding to. Being a more nocturnal person, she was naturally annoyed. However after failed attempts to return to sleep, the girl was then inspired to exercise. Her late father had encouraged her to think active, as he once told her of the era before superpowers were "incredibly lazy and not healthy." So really, he's saying don't end up dropping out early.
Dressed in her gray jersey, Tsumugi was jogging down the empty street while listening to music with her earbuds. The dark sky was slowly fading from the night as sunlight began to light up the surface of the quiet city.
The scent of the seashore filled her sense of smell. As she approached, she spotted a surprising familiar face.
"Hero? Hey! Hero!" She called out to her friend, who appeared startled upon hearing her voice. Strange, he looks frantic now.
"Ts-Tsumugi-chan?!" Izuku sweated bullets, darting his eyes between the girl and a hunched man whose lurching back had been faced to her.
When she stopped before Izuku, she also acknowledged the other person who Izuku was interacting with prior to her appearance.
Tsumugi blinked at the unknown man (was he wheezing?). She unplugged one earbud out, and yes he was indeed refraining from making a bad first impression when he quickly tucked a red(?) handkerchief away. "Hero, who's this?"
"H-He's my personal trainer!" Quickly replied the curly-haired boy.
Izuku's personal trainer turns robotically until he was facing her. He has spiky, disheveled hair and angular features with shadows casted over his sunken eyes that only a pair of beady blue eyes were found. What stood out most to her was his lanky figure. It wasn't that she didn't expect a thin man to be a fitness trainer (people can not be in shape but still have the intellect to come up with training regimens), but more of how he bears a striking resemblance to a skeleton.
He lifted a bony hand in a wave and smiled (or what seems to be an attempt) crookedly. "H-Hello, young lady."
If Tsumugi didn't have manners she would have stared at him wondering why he dressed up as a skeleton when Halloween isn't around yet, as crude as it may be. However her mother would be upset and scold her for being rude. She bows respectfully, "Good morning, sir."
Then she says to Izuku, "I see you've been training your body for the UA entrance exam."
There was a strange, almost dismissive-like edge in her tone if one paid close attention.
Izuku didn't seem to notice as he sheepishly smiled. "Y-Yeah..."
If the trainer was aware, he made no mention of it.
"Well, I should get going so I don't bother your training," Tsumugi hugs Izuku without warning, causing him to blush pink (especially when someone is there to witness) before releasing the embrace. "Good luck, Hero." She waves goodbye to both the trainer and trainee and leaves the beach.
"He's definitely improving," Tsumugi muttered to herself when she was out of earshot. "His body structure is becoming more sturdy. I hope the training goes well, for his sake."
The girl pounded the bottom of her fist atop her palm in an "I got it" gesture.
"Since his birthday is just around the corner, that will be a great gift! I need to get some fabric..."
As she murmured her plans for the upcoming special day, the fresh memory of the trainer's face returned. Her brows knitted together.
"Have I seen him somewhere before...?"
...
[July 15]
"Happy birthday, Izuku!"
Streams and specks of colors rain before surprised green eyes. Izuku broke out into a delighted smile. "Mom! Tsumugi-chan! Thank you."
Inko smiles. "Since you're still training, we have a few cupcakes to celebrate."
A grin lifted the corners of Tsumugi's lips. "C'mon, time for the birthday boy to make a wish!"
After doing the traditional candle-blowing and eating the cupcakes, it was time for the presents.
Inko's present was an All Might sweatshirt.
It must be a new kind as a sparkling-eyed Izuku appreciated the new addition to his collection of All Might merchandise.
"Here's my gift," Tsumugi hands Izuku a box no bigger than his palm. When she was given a curious glance, she simply motioned him to open it.
Izuku pulled the white ribbon loose and slowly lifted the lid. His eyes widen in surprise.
Inside was an amulet green as his hair and tied with a red cord. Sewn boldly in darker green threads read omamori.
"Did you make this?" Asked Izuku.
Tsumugi nodded. "Since you're working really hard on getting into UA, I figured an omamori would be a natural thing to have."
A wide grin as bright as the sun stretched from ear to ear. "Thank you, Tsumugi-chan! I swear I'll take good care of it!"
She smiles back. That smile never ceases to be contagious. "I know you will."
...
[Fall]
Tsumugi has seen several things off with her friend recently.
One time when she and Izuku were asked to bring printouts from the printing room, the boy somehow tripped on air and let the sheets fly like confetti. It didn't help that the day was windy and some idiot left a nearby window open for the breeze to sweep them across the hallway. They had to apologize for their lateness (with Izuku vigorously bowing and spewing apologies rapidly than Tsumugi ever witnessed) afterwards.
Following with more occasions of half-sleeping during lessons, bumping into things, and training nonstop with his hand grip underneath the desk (Tsumugi sat behind a row at a perfect angle to witness this), there seemed to be not a single moment of relaxation. She would assume there is no time for that even at home as well.
Worried about the pace he's going, she decided to do something about it.
"Hey Hero, come with me for a bit, would you? There's something I need your help with." Tsumugi requested.
Break time just began right now. These days this period was not seen as a moment of study-free sessions to Izuku, but more of extra time to fit in his training regimen.
Emerald green eyes looked at his friend curiously while his hand was preoccupied with gripping the training gear, though discreetly from the public eye. "What is it?"
"Just come and you'll see," The raven-haired girl ushered him out of his seat and whispered for his ears only, "And leave the hand grip."
"Eh? B-But I-"
"Just put it in your bag, no one will even notice." Without letting the boy respond further, Tsumugi swiftly plucked the item from his grasp and hid it deep in his bag before closing it. She ignored his tentative words and guided him out of the classroom with no eyebrows raised suspiciously.
Izuku fell quiet once they were in the hallway as he followed behind her lead.
Was it really urgent that Tsumugi had to be insistent with him?
Said girl leads him to a flight of staircases. When she climbs up, Izuku knew what her destination is.
He watches her cautiously open the door and peek out before murmuring relief and widely opened the gap for the two to enter.
"Tsumugi-chan, why are we on the rooftop?" Izuku asked. She said she needed help, right? But what would the rooftop have that tempted her for?
Instead of answering, she goes around the corner, gesturing him to follow when she realized he remained awkwardly by the doorframe.
When he arrived, there was yet another empty space behind the staircase. The freckled boy looks to the side to find the girl sitting on the concrete tiled floor and resting her back against the wall.
"Sit." Tsumugi only said, though it sounded more of an unintentional command as she patted the space beside her.
Izuku furrowed his brows slightly before obeying and settled himself on the floor. He looks to her. "Um..."
"Hero, close your eyes. Don't open them until I say so." She then tells him kindly.
He hesitated, wondering what she was intending to do. However one look in her eyes told him to trust her without questioning further.
Bobbing his head once, he closed his sight from the city view.
The next moment he felt a pair of hands lure his head to the side, surprising him in the process though his eyelids remained closed, sending his body leaning awkwardly in a way he had to adjust his position. His head landed on a soft warm surface. It couldn't be the cold solid floor, so it has to be...
When the realization struck him, a warm blush colored his dotted cheeks. "Ts-Tsumugi-chan, this is..."
"Yep, it's what you think. How is it? Comfy?"
Flustered, Izuku stumbled on his words (perhaps finding an appropriate response to her straightforward question) before he finally muttered out, "Y-Yeah..."
He heard a ghost of a giggle and felt a hand pat his mess of curly green hair.
"Good, good..." She murmured before falling quiet.
A breeze whistled by softly in replacement of the tranquil silence. Izuku didn't realize how welcoming the peaceful day had brought ever since he had begun All Might's training.
The sound of a humming lullaby caressed his ears. It's surprisingly mellow, as though it was practiced before. He likes it.
Some time passed until the humming ceased. Tsumugi looks to her lap and smiled.
"Heh, sleeping like a log..." She murmured to herself.
Izuku was sound asleep as though without a care in the world. The girl watched him snoring softly as his chest rise and fall in steady intervals.
'Cute.'
She then frowns. "Even heroes need a break once in a while..." A sigh was released.
Tsumugi lifts her gaze from the sleeping figure to the fences across them, a dark shadow glazing in her eyes when she rested them on it.
Somehow she couldn't completely rid the nightmare no matter how hard she tries to forget. At this point, should she continue believing it's nothing more than a random illusion?
Could that say something about her thoughts deep within? If she were to put them into words, how dreadfully true would they be? How much would the false fit in?
The more she delves into it, the more fearsome her mind becomes.
Slowly, Tsumugi looks up to the partly blue skies.
"I'll wait until you tell me everything, Hero. Your secret must be really important if you can't talk to me about it." A part of her wants the boy to hear this while the other decided to play it safe and keep it unspoken.
But that's okay. Until then, even if it continued for ten years, she will be patient and pretend to assume nothing; for her friend's sake even if that secret severs their friendship.
After all, everyone has secrets even among the closest of friends, including herself.
...
[Winter]
Today is a school day and that meant putting twice the effort to go through the winter cold; all just to sit down on a chair and stare at the board for hours while praying the heater doesn't break down.
While Tsumugi was pissed that she had to change into her PE uniform after slipping on thin ice and falling on a melted puddle, she was relieved to hear that the heater was working perfectly fine. Perhaps this was the counter to the bad luck she had this morning.
Though if she had stayed home none of that would have happened in the first place, so she's not exactly grateful of the "good luck" she recieved.
The day went by normally aside from a jersey-wearing Tsumugi and oddly enough, a fidgeting Izuku.
'He seems anxious about something...'
During break time, Tsumugi was crouched by the heater basking in its welcoming warmth when a voice called out.
"Oi, Rabbit."
Tsumugi automatically stiffen and didn't move for a bit. How long has it been since she was called that nickname, especially by him?
The raven-haired girl slowly stood up and turned around to face the source.
"...It's been a while, Bakugou."
The two didn't interact hardly as much back during the spring season, with one glancing at the other who would then ignore it and move on their business. Even when today she came into class wearing a jersey from a misfortunate slip up, he took one look and didn't even utter a sound before looking elsewhere. In the face of her dilemma, he would pick on her for coming in looking like a loser first thing in the morning but he didn't.
The ash blonde simply grunted in response and shoved a small, orange box adorned with a red ribbon and another of different size and inverted color to her chest. Tsumugi was surprised of the gesture that she just took it.
"What's this for?" She asked.
Bakugou let out a angry huff. "You don't even know? Today's your damn birthday, right?"
Charcoal gray eyes blinked.
'Today is February seventh...'
"You remembered my birthday? And you even got me a present?" Who is this guy? The Bakugou she knew would just yell at her and throw in a few cusses and possible threats into the mix.
He scowled. "The hell you sound so surprised for? Of course I do. Plus, my old man and old hag kept nagging me to give you their present too. You're 16 after today, yeah?"
The nearly devious-like feeling swelling in her chest allowed a sly smirk to somehow slip into her lips. "Yeah..."
Bakugou's scowl deepened. "Just because you're 2 months older than me doesn't make a damn difference, got it Rabbit?"
"Yeah yeah, sure." Tsumugi lets the topic slide and softens her expression. "Thank you. I'll repay you back next week."
He stared at her in still surprise, probably due to her acting less aggressive towards him. Then with a 180 shift the boy raised his chin and looks down on her.
"Why the hell do you have to repay me for a birthday present? I don't want one from a rabbit anyways! Not your damn chocolates either!" With that, Bakugou swerved around to stomp out of the classroom. Tsumugi caught the tint of red in his ears just as he nearly slammed the door on her for exaggeration.
The teen smiles amused. 'What a tsundere...'
Deciding to open the gifts (what present as small as her hand could it be?) at home, she tucks it safely in her school bag.
'If only he was honest with his feelings...'
[After school]
Tsumugi eyes her companion beside her oddly, now in her dry winter coat and out of her jersey.
Izuku was mumbling incoherent things as usual except this sprouted from nervousness. His hand also lingered and shifted in his coat pocket from time to time.
Should she be concerned?
"Her-"
The girl was interrupted when a pair of arms thrusted out to her.
"Happy birthday, Tsumugi-chan! Thank you for everything you've done up to now! I hope you like the present!"
Tsumugi stared at the hung head of curly green hair and then to the small box in his hands. It was wrapped in simple green paper with a velvet red bow on top. The cute size reminded her of Bakugou's gift which also had a similar, if not the exact same size.
When Izuku felt the present slip from his fingers, he looks up to meet her gentle smile. He likes it more when she smiles. She looked cute and sweet with it.
"Thanks, Hero. I'm sure I'll like it." Tsumugi said.
The freckled boy's cheeks blushed a warm shade of pink (whether from the chill weather or embarrassment, she doesn't know) before he cutely nodded. "Yeah..."
Later when the two had parted ways and Tsumugi was already setttled comfortably in her home, Mahiru approached her with a present of her own.
"Happy sixteenth birthday, Tsu-chan! Here," The woman gives her a glossy red box with a white satin ribbon.
Gray eyes deadpan. "What's with all the red presents? In fact, it's always been like that..." Whether it was Christmas or a birthday gift, she would be given something that has red in it.
Mahiru chuckled. "Red is the color for good fortune after all, especially in China. Speaking of which, your grandfather Tsubaki from China also got you something this year."
"Why should I be surprised it's also red..." She can't tell if there's a genuine intent of improving her self-esteem or if there's a subtle unknowing undertone of rubbing the misfortune on her face.
Tsumugi nonetheless accepts it and begins opening many gifts her friends and family, including the parents of her friends' families, in the living room while Mahiru prepares for dinner. She can wait for the cake to come after the meal.
First, Tsumugi unwrapped Bakugou's parents' gift. Apparently they both pitched in for the gift and hoped she likes it, as read in the card. It also mentioned their anticipation for her visit, which she made a note to drop by for tea if she happened to pass by their neighborhood. Inside the box was a pair of earbuds Tsumugi had wanted a few months ago. Her old ones were being a pain to refix the speakers when she once accidentally messed with them too much. She wondered how they knew about it as a humming Mahiru passed by.
Next was Inko's, via delivered by her son after Izuku gave his own. It was a pair of simple white ribbons (not the kind of ribbons Tsumugi usually wears from her late father). In her card she wrote how wearing too much dark colors on a daily basis didn't exactly sit right with her. Tsumugi admittably had to agree and thus didn't mind the pure color. Her closet is equivalent to a punk emo's, which she is not. She just likes wearing black.
Mahiru's was a set of odd, black hairclips that didn't seem to function as only that. When she inquired more about the strange shape ("Mom, why does one side have a razor edge?"), the woman simply giggled as though what the girl said was amusing.
"Those hairclips have multipurpose functions. I strongly recommend that you wear them wherever you go. I guarantee you'll love it." (1)
Tsumugi took another look of them. She smiles. "All right. These look cool, so I will."
The ponytail girl resumed going through her birthday presents. She reached for her grandfather's who is in actuality an ancient figure in the Kuroyanagi family. Literally. Tsubaki is not from two generations ago but rather has lived for quite a good few more decades before that. Rumors passed down from each generation say he has a longevity quirk but the family tree has always consisted of the quirkless. She even remembered hearing her father say he was there when Tsubaki had to go through an x-ray examination and was claimed to have two joints in the pinky toe. That's scientific evidence showing one is a quirkless.
Tsumugi vaguely remembered the rare times when she had interacted with the elder most prominently during childhood. Tsubaki was a kind, friendly, generous, and wise soul whose patience, something that comes with age, seems to never wear down. She actually likes and respects him for that.
The adolescent picks up a long and slim box wrapped in red paper and a bow of a brighter shade. A tag peeking out from the bow read Tsubaki~.
Tsumugi noted the interesting Chinese gold print designs before carefully unwrapping it. When she removed the lid, a breath of awe was taken away.
Sitting on the groove of the velvet red cushion delicately was a ring formed out of jade. Although unlike the common jades sold in stores, this one is not purely green. Most of it is covered in specks of magenta and streaks of dark green to black colors, leaving little room for the actual gem color to shine.
It was as though it was corrupted.
Confused, Tsumugi reads the letter accompanied with the box.
Dear Tsumugi,
Happy 16th birthday! I'm sure you've become a fine young lady since the last decade I've seen you. Now you must be wondering about my present. In China, it has been said by some that jade has the power to cleanse the impurities within you. The dark colors of the jade will absorb those impurities and gradually clear away little by little until the jade is pure. It may possibly ward off bad luck as well. (Tsumugi wasn't sure what the appropriate response to this would be, but now she was not the most amused, especially with the playful smiley face after that) The chain with the ring is made out of germanium. Rumors say it has the power to negate supernatural powers (2), putting it in modern terms: quirks.
I wish you a very happy birthday.
Love, Grandpa Tsubaki
Tsumugi sets the letter down to attach the impure jade ring to the chain necklace. She recalled him being very superstitious regarding gemstones. Isn't he a metal craftsman...?
When Tsumugi reconfirmed it with her mother, Mahiru indeed said yes to her question, making her all the more intrigued. Could that mean he also made this for her?
She anticipates their next meeting. It wouldn't be a stretch to say her grandfather is cool.
Setting aside the ring, the sixteen year-old finally faces the last two gifts set next to each other and in front of her.
'Well, better get done with the troublesome person's gift first.'
Tsumugi opens the orange box. Inside was an orange woven bracelet with a deep green buckle to connect the ends.
She blinked in surprise. She didn't expect the explosive boy with a temper to give her an accessory, much less what looks similar to a friendship bracelet.
Wait a demon second...
Her face was covered with her hand.
'This is really awkward...'
It just doesn't make sense! Don't they hated the other's guts on a daily basis? At least, prior to the Camino incident? Was he forced to buy a "token of friendship?" Or did he just get it for no particular reason and decided to dump it on her? Is it out of spite? Should she take it as what the gift is?
Damn that Bakugou. If he had intended to pull a prank on her birthday, that's awful even for that asshole. Regardless, she is mildly disturbed.
The girl doesn't know what this entails about their relationship, but the more she delves into it the more she doesn't want to arrive at a dreadful conclusion.
Tsumugi clasps the buckle around her wrist and turns her joint at different angles while eyeing it. The orange is actually kind of nice to look at, and it fits not too tight yet not too loose either.
'Not bad. Someone's got style...' She mused.
Tsumugi opens the green box next. However this time she was both surprised and amused altogether. She picks the item from its cushion and released a chuckle.
'I can't believe those two got me the same kind of thing...'
Izuku's was a deep green while having an orange buckle, the reverse of Bakugou's.
'What kind of person would wear a pair of matching friendship bracelets for themselves?'
She admires the two accessories on the same wrist and huffed amusedly.
'Me.'
...
A mere week afterwards, the day when all men of Japan, especially for adolescents, become twice as desperate and hopeful for the gift of the opposite sex, no matter what form it may deliver, has come.
Valentine's day.
Except in Aldera Junior High, this was the opposite for Kuroyanagi Tsumugi.
"Senpai, thank you for tutoring me when I needed it!"
"Kuroyanagi-san, thank you for finding my cat! Please, take it."
"Thank you for saving my grandpa from a fatal heart attack! I insist you accept my chocolate!"
Tsumugi accepted each and every gratitude and courtesy without batting an eyelash, politely thanking them for taking their time and effort to make (or buy) her chocolate before putting them in a boxful of other chocolates.
Meanwhile the boys were naturally envious. During lunch, a long line of female students filed in and presented their sweets and few words before leaving.
"Damn, Kuroyanagi's getting all the chocolates this year again."
"She's even getting some from the teachers. Hell, I even saw some lunch ladies sneak in chocolate for her at the store!"
"Some of the chocolates are given for strange reasons..."
"I'm gonna be all alone on my last year of junior high, what is this..."
Once the line has finally cleared itself, Tsumugi sighs heavily and rubs the back of her neck.
"Thankfully I told everyone to give me bite-sized chocolates, but some are more extravagant than I thought. The first-years are pretty bold with them. Good thing I brought another backpack..." She was murmuring these things to herself all while dreadfully calculating how much she can endure and burn without losing to nosebleeds this year.
"You're so lucky," A male classmate a few desks away said to her, "You get to recieve all those chocolates but you're a girl."
Though Tsumugi knew the way he said them was of no ill intent, she was a little irked by the first part more than the end bit.
"It's not being lucky if you have to eat each and every chocolate given to you. I swear, I might've gotten diabetes at one point within these three years..." Grumbled the female.
"You eat all of them, too? You're so devoted..."
On the palm of her hand, Tsumugi stared at a small box of cutely wrapped chocolates tied with a charming bow; the most recent one given to her. "It's not that. It's just..."
The male, along with some other fellow boys, stare at her, waiting for her response.
Tsumugi looks up to meet their gazes.
"I'm afraid my head would roll if I face a maiden's wrath."
"I can't tell if you're being serious or messing with us with how cool your face was." Was one boy's straight man retort.
"Oh yeah, do you have anyone you want to give chocolates to?" Someone asked.
"I forget Kuroyanagi's a girl sometimes..." One remarked with the rest nodding along in agreement.
"I don't know if I should be offended by that... But to answer your question, I do. They're friendship chocolates, mind you." Tsumugi added. She ignored the sudden knowing looks blossoming on their visages. They irritated her a little and she half-heartedly shot glares at them.
The teen looks around the classroom to find the missing presence of curly green hair. Her eyes rested on her school bag.
"Oi, Bakugou."
Crimson eyes slowly opened before sliding lower to meet the person standing in front of his desk. He was leaned back on his chair and had his legs propped and crossed atop his desk.
"What, Rabbit." He said. He noticed her hands were behind her back and narrowed his gaze suspiciously.
Unfazed gray eyes stared back. "I got you chocolates. Hope you like them."
Her arms slowly shift for suspense before she plopped her Valentine's gift on the free space of his desk.
The onlookers of the scene paled several shades at the sight.
Not only was there a bitter chocolate bar you'd find at a convenience store, what shook everyone to their knees was...
A box of raw red peppers sat next to it.
Red irises vanished and was replaced by red veins.
"THE FUCK IS THIS SHIT?! I'LL FUCKING RIP YOUR SHITTY EARS APART!!"
"But I thought spicy food is your favorite? Now you can have chocolate on the side for this special day."
"DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH! THIS AIN'T APRIL FOOL'S! DO YOU WANNA DIE TODAY SHITTY RABBIT?!"
"I-It's not like I bought it for you, stupid!" Mocked the girl as she pretended to act flustered and look away. This only added oil into the fire (while creeping him and the witnesses out from the uncharacteristic change).
As the boiling spiky boy screeched out profanities, others sweatdropped.
'That's evil, Kuroyanagi...'
'She surprisingly has a sense of humor...'
'Truly chaotic evil...'
Bakugou's strings of curses ceased when a rectangular box in chocolate brown paper with tiny gold heart patterns wrapped with an orange ribbon was held out to him.
"Here, I made them the way you like it: spicy." Said Tsumugi with her perpetual poker face.
He wordlessly looked at the package in her hand to Tsumugi and then back to the box and to her again.
Shocked whispers among students were silenced when the girl shot them a look. They shunned their heads and resumed their own business. Pleased by the results, she returns to the silent boy.
"Well? The chocolates are not gonna eat themselves." Tsumugi waves the box, rattling sounds heard from the movement.
The next moment her hand grasped air. She watches him look anywhere but her as he kept the chocolate low and close to him from plain sight. His chin was tucked close to his chest that she couldn't see his eyes, but the noticeable red hue on his cheeks told her everything.
"Don't fucking test me again, dammit." Bakugou muttered.
Wide charcoal gray eyes bored into the head of spiky ash blonde hair. A strange feeling swelled in her chest. Seeing this rare flustered side of the hot-tempered boy who always puts up a superior demeanor is...
'This... is kinda dangerous...'
Tsumugi scratched the side of her cheek with her index finger sheepishly. "O-Okay, okay, I won't."
Crimson eyes wandered to her wrist. "You're...wearing it?"
The raven-haired blinked. She glanced at the wrist he was eyeing. "Oh, now you realized? Yeah, I thought it wouldn't hurt to have it on me." Tsumugi quirked a small smile as she turned her wrist and flashed the predominant orange accessory.
"I was surprised when you got me this. I didn't expect that coming from-" When she looked to her fellow classmate, her breath nearly ceased to continue.
The furiously red face of Bakugou Katsuki, the foul-mouthed and violent childhood playmate and considered frenemy, sparked a tempting urge within her.
'I want to tease him so bad.'
However she was more self-controlled. That meant being considerate of both the mood and the person dealt with. She'll have to let this slide for only this day.
"A-Anyways, I hope you enjoy the chocolate. Happy Valentine's."
[After school]
Tsumugi and Izuku were on their usual route to home when they arrived at an intersecting road and the former stopped in their tracks.
The green-haired boy blinked curiously at his friend who was digging her hand inside her school bag.
Tsumugi revealed a small rectangular box with a green ribbon. "Happy Valentine's day. I'm sorry I couldn't give it to you earlier, I had to deal with the school..." She was referring to the crowd of females who bombarded her with chocolates ever since she stepped in the school grounds and was practically swept away, leaving poor Izuku behind. Due to the constant attention, the two couldn't hang out without interruption trickling in every second (and also hurting the boy's feelings of being rubbed in the face about his lack of appeal to girls, no offense). As this happens every year, Tsumugi had to set her distance from him for Valentine's day, much to her chagrin.
Izuku smiles knowingly. "I understand. Thank you for the chocolates, like always." He takes the box in to his hands with an appreciative grin lifting his lips. The first time she made him chocolate was back in freshman year of junior high, and also the first memory of recieving one on Valentine's day. That day he remembered shedding a waterfall (quite literally) of gratitude and heartfelt tears.
Tsumugi smiled. "Because you have a strict diet for your training I only made a small batch of low calorie and reduced fat and all that healthy stuff for the chocolate."
"You put that much thought into these? You're amazing..." Said a teary eyed Izuku.
The ponytail girl shrugged, used to that sort of response from her freckled friend. "I'm your best friend. It's only natural I put your health into consideration."
Without warning a pair of arms wrapped around her, catching her off guard and almost tumbled back if it weren't for her balancing feet keeping her steady.
"Hero?" Surprised gray eyes glanced to the mess of green hair tickling the side of her face. Her shoulders had stiffened from the daring action she didn't expect him to do.
"You're really the best, Tsumugi-chan." He said with chin propped on her shoulder. He stands about an inch shorter than her after all. "I don't know how I could make up for all your support even though I'm your friend..."
Tsumugi eventually loosened her shoulders and patted his back. The strong muscular back her closest friend had been working tooth and nail to earn. "Silly. It's because we're friends that you don't have to 'make up' for anything. What kind of fan would I be if I don't support the world's future greatest hero? Much less the very first to witness that day."
She pulls away to look into glazing forest green eyes. She grinned a confident grin and added a thumbs up for emphasis. From underneath her sleeve, a green bracelet on her wrist flashed into view.
"I can't wait to see you become one of the greatest the world has ever seen, Hero."
...
[February 25, the day before the entrance exam/Around 21:00 (or 9) PM]
Tsumugi can't believe how fast time passes. This school year had been bumpy from first semester due to the sludge villain incident and afterwards an awkward time with a certain ash blonde for the remainder. There's also Izuku with his discovered quirk and him extensively training with only ten months to prepare for UA's entrance exam.
Meanwhile Tsumugi, being quirkless, only had to worry about the written exam (that's one quirk to not having a superpower, haha). She's confident in her outstanding grades and intelligence. Since not having a quirk automatically decreases her chances of even making her future easier (as quoted by literally everyone with a quirk, which she begs to differ), she has been focused on studying since she was five. Knowledge is power in itself after all.
That was pretty much it for the teen. She felt kind of disappointed but that's nothing new for good ol' quirkless Tsumugi.
Tsumugi shakes her head. She picked an inappropriate time for reminiscing. The UA exam is tomorrow morning. What she needs to do now is prepare for a nice long sleep.
Charcoal gray looks to the clock hung on the wall of the living room.
'I wonder when Mom is coming back...'
Several hours ago, Mahiru had took the time to call and notify her of working overtime just for the day. Tsumugi was left to eating last night's dinner leftovers alone, however she wasn't bothered by that and assured her mother not to worry.
Usually the woman returns just before her child would, however tonight is oddly quite extensive. Mahiru did estimate her return around bedtime, but for her job as an office worker to prolong her stay is new to hear.
Tsumugi understood she wanted to earn more money for the sake of living under a roof with food, water, and electricity. There was also college to worry about, though Tsumugi's attempt in easing that early worry failed to reach the brunette.
To say they were poor is wrong. Mahiru's salary is fairly stable for an office lady working full-time. Daily spendings on necessities were conservative. The two live in an apartment of several stories tall. Even the landlady, who is a nice elderly woman and also an acquaintance to the Kuroyanagi household over their years of stay, didn't press for charges at the least.
In fact, there was nothing to worry about at all.
However that wasn't the case for Mahiru. This side of her only recently appeared a month ago, on no special occasion or holiday. Just a plain ordinary day crossed off on calendars. There was no indication that implied the cause of this change in behavior, at least during the times Tsumugi and Mahiru stood under the same roof. The former once attempted to ask the other the matter that's been leaving her head in the dark clouds. To her horror, she was given a vague response that either avoided or didn't even answer the question itself. Tsumugi once again confronted her but failed, again. If she tried it the third time, who knows if that will backfire on her for more opportunities?
Behind the scenes, Tsumugi went out and asked familiar acquaintances and neighbors without the woman's knowledge. The Bakugou and Midoriya households, the landlady, the friendly neighbor who often passes by the hall... Hell, she even had to call her grandfather from another country in case Mahiru had contacted him. Everyone replied the same thing: They have no clue.
What the hell could it be?!
Eventually Tsumugi gave up. It was at that moment when she came to the conclusion she may have been taking this matter too seriously. Of course! She was fretting over something that may have been temporary. Yet if that something prevented her own mother from talking to her daughter about it, it must be serious, right?
Tsumugi wondered if her dear mother was aware that overworking is one that shouldn't be taken lightly. Considering her optimistic and loving disposition, it's not a stretch to assume Mahiru would ignore the stress in her body.
Tsumugi could only hope that possibility wouldn't become the worst.
As the raven-haired tucked herself underneath her blankets, she proceeded to blank out for some time until her mind fell asleep.
...
Some time later into the night, the house phone rang throughout the whole household. After the second ring, a drowsy and disgruntled Tsumugi reluctantly stepped out her bedroom. She recalled reading the alarm clock as 11:58 PM.
'Almost frickin' midnight my ass. Who do they think I am, nocturnal?'
So she says, but since she's half-asleep she failed to correct the contradiction regarding her inability to sleep within an hour in, aka insomnia.
Tsumugi drawled a yawn before picking up the phone. Her crusty eyelids were tempting to rub but she will plop right back to bed once she confirms the recording or irrelevant advertisement. Who does that in this ungodly hour?
"Hello?"
["Hello, this is from (...) Hospital. Is this the family of Kuroyanagi Mahiru?"]
The fog in her mind suddenly clears. A frown pulled at her jaws as Tsumugi steeled her eyes in the dark living room.
"Yes... I'm her daughter. What happened?" The bad feeling spreading from her gut rises.
A pause from the other side. ["I apologise for the wake up call, but...]
Her stomach plummeted harder than a ton of bricks after their next words.
["Your mother got involved in a car accident and is now in a coma."]
...
..
.
...because she knew my world is not wonderful.]
(1) - If you search up Leatherdos, it's a hair clip that doubles as a multi-tool that combines 5 different tools in a tiny hair clip: screw-drivers, a wrench, a trolley coin, a ruler, and a cutting edge.
(2) - I again was also inspired, this time from Saiki Kusuo no Psi Nan aka The Disastrous Life of Saiki Kusuo, where Saiki (MC) uses a ring made of germanium that prevents him from using his powers. If you don't know, it's a shonen anime with currently 2 seasons already out not too long ago. I recommend watching it if you haven't. It has great humor that breaks the 4th wall (and also makes references like some other Shonen JUMP manga; hell there's even a segment where it explains all of the anime logic), breaks the trope of an OP MC who actually has legitimate flaws to his psychic powers, a funny cast of goofy characters and overall just enjoyable content. Must I say, this is a gem of an anime.
Phew, 14k plus words, amirite? Lol I got so into developing the events and I wanted to cram all of them in one chapter or else I would be dragging non-canon stuff forever.
Thank you to my wonderful readers and reviewers and those who faved and followed; basically everyone who kept reading this fic as of now. I think next update will take longer simply because summer vacation is about end and school soon coming back to imprison my life and eat my time away. I'll do my best to get the next one up on time, though I can't guarantee the same lengthy chapters I've done in the summer.
Please R and R~ I'll be putting that for every few chapters.
'Til next time!