Chapter 7 - Safe Haven


That evening for patrol, Ayumi insisted on being the one to go with the boys, Emiko and Minako both looking concerned. "Are you sure?" Minako kept asking.

"Minako, I'm fine… it's just patrol…" Ayumi said cheerfully, the blackette seeming unconvinced. "Besides, so long as the boys are there we'll be fine, ne?" she added. "I promise I'll be careful. You gotta keep Rizu-nee medicated so she can sleep. There's only 2 more days for the lessons, right?"

"… Alright." Minako sighed, Emiko seeming surprised.

"I'll be back soon." She added, smiling. "Emiko, you're gonna help Minako, right?"

"Y-yes, Ayu-chi…" she muttered, seeming a little down. "Be safe."

"We will be." Ayumi pat Emiko's head, smiling more. "Come along, boys." She stated, heading out the door with the 4 students following closely. Tamaki walked next to Ayumi as Tokoyami and Kirishima walked out front, with Todoroki watching their backs. As they patrolled, there was nothing noticeable to note. It was quiet.

"It's not normally this peaceful at night, huh?"

"No, I think when Rizu-nee attacked those villains, she did a real number on them so anyone else might be scared to come out incase she leaves the house." Ayumi replied. "All the villains in the area are terrified of Rizu-nee, especially when she gets irritable. Anyone who tries anything either isn't from around here or hasn't come up against her in a fight." She added. "Like those guys from the other night…"

"So they weren't familiar, then?"

"Not that I could tell… but Rizu-nee said they might've just been new and cocky…" she nodded in thought. "If she hadn't been sick, she wouldn't have needed Solus." She added. "So she would've just given em a real beating."

"… Sounds like Rizusa-senpai alright…" Tamaki nodded.

"She's good at martial arts?" Todoroki asked.

"Hehe, she may not look it, but in our second year at UA, we took first and second in the martial arts quirkless brawl." Ayumi grinned. "Rizu-nee took first. She's said before, physical ability is important. She keeps a good balance, leaning on one or the other when she has to, though."

"Oh, I see…"

"She just doesn't seem the type." Kirishima said. "I mean sure, she's good at dodging but…"

"Hehe, well when she's recovered tomorrow maybe she'll give you a taste of her real skill." Ayumi grinned. "If not, I'll do it." She added. "I may come in second to Rizu-nee, but I think I'm capable enough to take you on, Kirishima-kun~"

"Oh, sounds like a challenge!" they seemed fairly cheerful the rest of the patrol, talking about both training for the next two days and Ayumi recanting tales of her school days with Rizusa. Despite always seeming to fall in second to Rizusa, Ayumi didn't mind at all. Her "big sister" was always admirable and Ayumi looked up to her like an idol. Her cooking, her martial arts, the amount of requests she'd gotten from Hero Agencies. Even her sense of devotion to the family, Ayumi saw as incredible.


Flashback - Rizusa and Ayumi age 4

"Mama? Where are we going?" Ayumi asked, the princess haircut and cute clothes made her seem like a little doll. Her mother looked down at her as they walked.

"We're going to meet your new friend."

"A new friend…? Papa, who's my new friend?" she turned to her father, the man seeming almost nervous about it. "… Papa?"

"Ah, sorry…" he turned to his daughter, his wife looking a little concerned as well. "Do you remember that really big house down the street?" he asked. "The one with the big gate?"

"Yeah." She nodded. "We're going there? There's someone who's gonna be my friend there?" she asked, looking excited. "Who, Papa, who?"

"Ahaha, just be patient. We're almost there." Ayumi didn't really get the feeling of apprehension her parents had. She was too excited. They arrived at the gates and were let in, the gate closing behind them quickly. They were lead up a path into the compound, stopping at a courtyard. Ayumi stared, wide eyed but she didn't move. The girl that stood before her was her age, but she seemed so… different. She didn't smile, she didn't even move aside from a slight bow of her head. "Ryugazaki-sama… This is our daughter, Ayumi…" her father introduced her. Ryugazaki? This was the "main family" her parents always talked about…

"Thank you for bringing her." The little girl replied, an old man standing a ways away under an awning. She fidgeted with her sleeves, seeming to not know what to do now, and Ayumi noticed. Her parents seemed scared of this girl, but Ayumi didn't care. She broke away from her father's side, causing both her parents to reach out to grab her back, but Ayumi ran across the courtyard and hugged onto the little girl.

"You're really cute!" Ayumi exclaimed, the little bluenette's eyes wide and face coloring pink from the sudden contact. "We're gonna be great friends!"

"A-ayumi, that's-!"

"Its alright." The old man stated, walking over and patting both Ayumi's and Rizusa's heads. "You're the first one to run up to her like that." He told Ayumi. "You'll be an excellent representative for your family."

"Mister, are you the cute girl's pappy?" Ayumi asked, her parents both at a loss for words.

"Yes, I am." He replied, nodding his head. "Rizusa. Are you going to say hello properly?"

"Y-yes, Ojii-sama." She replied immediately, bowing to Ayumi. "I-it's a pleasure to meet you… my name is Rizusa Ryugazaki."

"Ne ne, can I call you Rizu-nee?"

"H-huh…?"

"You're gonna be like my big sis, right?" she smiled. "So I wanna call you Rizu-nee!"

"U-uh… O-okay...?"


Ayumi and Rizusa, Age 12

"Rizu-nee~!" Rizusa turned to see Ayumi rushing her way, almost tripping on her own shoes but catching herself just in time. They were in middle school now, both girls having become very close and attending all their grades in the same class. But the day before the new term, Rizusa had been given an ultimatum by her grandfather. You have less than 2 weeks to pick the representatives from the other two pillar families. "They're both gonna come to your house right? The other 2 pillar families and their kids."

"Yes… this afternoon, once we get home from school…" she replied. "… I hear that the Tsubakawa has 5 children in the running… and then the Kujou has two …" she added. "The 5 girls from the Tsubakawa are all sisters, all are supposedly going to medical school or a precursor school to get in."

"Oooh, sounds intense… I hope they're not all sticks in the mud… and the Kujou?"

"I hear it's a brother and sister… the brother's a year older than us, and the daughter a year younger…" Rizusa sighed. "Ojii-sama's putting so much pressure… To make a decision so fast… I don't know them well enough, how can I work with them if I don't know them?"

"You'll be okay, Rizu-nee." Ayumi pat her friend's back. "I know you will be."

"… You have so much confidence in me, Ayumi…"

"Of course! My big sister is amazing!"


After the meeting, with too much arguing amongst the Tsubakawa family, Rizusa had send both families home. "If you can't even sit quietly for 5 minutes amongst yourselves, how can you expect to work with me?" Rizusa had said. It had been a week and instead of them coming to the Ryugazaki household, Rizusa would go visit them in their homes. See for herself which one she'd want to work with over a period of a few days. She would return home every night to think.

First was the Tsubakawa, amongst 5 sisters she had to choose. In order of age it was Yuna (21), Aki (19), Hina (19), Rui (17), and Minako (11). Yuna was automatically out of the running in Rizusa's opinion, the girl was too much in a seat of power because she was older. That went for Aki and Hina as well. Rizusa didn't like the way they talked to her or fawned over her. Rui was alright, but she seemed busy learning things for medical school, it wasn't a good time for her. So before Rizusa even entered that house, she'd made her choice. Not just because of circumstance, though. Looking at all of their middle school entrance exams, Minako's stood out as the highest. Not because of the number, either. Because of the time. She put in every possible second of the exam, turning it in after looking over her answers many times, so Rizusa had been told. And despite her quirk being a supposedly less useful one, Rizusa found that it would probably suit her job the best. So even though she spent the time and gave the older girls the benefit of the doubt, sticking it out for 3 days, she had long since made her choice. The quietly competing youngest sister, Minako was her choice. "I think you'd be the best choice." She had said to Minako, offering her hand. "So… will you become my pillar of healing, Minako?"

"Y-yes!" the quick, earnest response solidified Rizusa's resolve to have this girl be the Tsubakawa representative.


When it came to the Kujou, Rizusa didn't know who to choose. Thankfully though, the siblings were much more civil and had made the decision for her. They made the announcement after dinner. "Please accept my little sister as your pillar of support, Ryugazaki-sama." The older brother, Kiyoto, had stepped aside to allow his little sister with a better suited quirk to take the post. His parents were shocked but they accepted it easily. They were happy, since they only had 2 children who were old enough to be selected.

"… Gladly." Rizusa nodded, Emiko looking up in shock. "I think you'll make a wonderful pillar of support, Emiko…"

"Th-th-thank you, Ryugazaki-sama!"

"… You know… you can call me Rizusa… I really don't like being called Ryugazaki-sama…" she sighed, having been under much pressure recently from her grandfather, and starting middle school at the time too, it was getting to her. "That's my grandfather's title… please… for my sanity, stop calling me Ryugazaki-sama… just Rizusa is fine…"

"Y-y-y-yes, Rizusa-sama!"

"… Close enough for now…" she smiled a little. "My first task for you is to stop calling me -sama by the end of the semester…"

"Y-yes!"

"Ahaha, aren't you lucky, Emiko? To get to call your leader by her first name." Her mother smiled, patting her daughter's head to ease her nerves.

Flashback End


When the patrol arrived back at the house, Rizusa was sitting up on the couch, staring blankly at the TV. "Welcome home."

"Ah, you're awake?" Ayumi walked over. "Couldn't go back to sleep?"

"No… I got a response from the Principal." She replied. "He said its fine that I submitted my answer early."

"Hehe, that's wonderful~" Ayumi cheered. "Well then I'm gonna go to sleep. Don't forget to turn off the TV~" she skipped off to her room, the boys all heading off to rest as well. But Tamaki stopped at the couch, Rizusa looking up at him.

"Yes?" she asked.

"… You're always under pressure, huh Senpai?" he asked, Rizusa smiling a little.

"Ah, Ayumi was talking about the past again, huh?" she asked, leaning back in her chair as Tamaki sat down next to her. "Yes, even now… despite Ojii-sama's passing, I still have much to deal with." She replied, Tamaki nodding his head. "Don't tell the others, okay? But I'm going to go back to UA with you guys."

"You are…? But aren't you recovering?" he asked her.

"Not enough." She replied. "I may be healthy, but there's too much work to do as far as the organization goes… I can't focus on that while I'm here… so for now I'm leaving it to the rest of the Conglomerate… and I'm going to pull my act together."

"… Senpai is really amazing. I see why Ayumi-senpai looks up to you so much." Tamaki added, making Rizusa laugh a little.

"She looks up to me because she doesn't see her own strengths…" she added. "But that's why you love her, right, Tama?"

"L-l-l-l-lo-looo…" Tamaki pulled his hood over his face, trying not to panic. Rizusa pat his head, getting up from the couch.

"Alright, time for bed." She stated. "Goodnight, Tama."

"… Goodnight, Rizusa-senpai."


Emiko woke up the following morning, sighing to herself. Even Ayumi went out on patrol… That had been on her mind since the night before, no since Minako went on patrol… Was she really that scared to go out just because of the villain that had attacked her? She had to pull herself together, she was a member of this organization too. Even if not much, this was the last night they were spending here for a while. The boys went home to UA the next night… and with Rizusa's decision to follow, Emiko resolved to get out tonight. She was still terrified but if she could at least patrol once before they left, maybe it would be a step in the right direction. She got up and went to get ready for the day, but she felt almost dragged down by the thought. All that what if's and uncertainties came into her head and despite having all day to think about it, she still wasn't sure by the time they all sat down for dinner. "Emiko?" Rizusa's voice snapped her out of it, causing her to look up from her rice. "You should eat…" she stated. "It's getting cold."

"Y-yes, Rizu-nee…" she responded meekly, making Rizusa sigh at her.

"Emiko… if you wanna go on patrol, say it." She stated. "You're gonna get wrinkles, worrying so much about telling me." Emiko's eyes went wide, Rizusa had known?

"Whoa, Emiko-san you're coming with us on patrol?" Kirishima asked, grinning.

"That's really kind of you, Emiko-san." Tokoyami nodded.

"It's been super quiet, so it'll be more like a stroll than a patrol, though…" Amajiki muttered. Todoroki nodded in agreement. Emiko stared at the people at the table, Minako giving her a silent thumbs-up and Ayumi grinning at her.

"… Thanks." She said softly before digging into her food, Rizusa smiling a little before sipping from her tea. At least her friend was gaining back the confidence she'd lost. It was just a matter of would she be able to keep it together. Emiko geared up as soon as dinner was done, and the patrol left for the night without a problem. Rizusa walked into the main room, staring at nothing in particular. This which had been their home for so long… they would leave it behind, at least for now. All their important things had been packed up and tomorrow the moving van would be here to pick up their things to move them to the UA. The boys were leaving after lunch, and the girls would be going with them.

"I wonder… where Principal Nezu put us…?" she asked herself. He hadn't told her which dorm they were staying in, but she knew it was a student dorm. Now whether this was because of his own reasons or because it was the only place to put them, Rizusa wasn't sure. But that was for the best, so she thought. She'd gotten reports about Gin being on the move and his approach to the region again were imminent. If they left now, there'd be no one here by the time he arrived. He would lose a chance to hurt the Conglomerate again. That was Rizusa's goal for now. Keep him away from Emiko while she made her recovery. "I'm not a hero…" she whispered to herself. "So the only thing I can do for Emiko is move her before she gets hurt…"

"That's not all, I think." Minako said, having walked up next to Rizusa. "You're nurturing her, too… making her stronger." She added. "Stop getting so down on yourself, Rizu-nee… You're our leader." She smiled. "Smile, ne?"

"… Smile, huh?" she asked, taking a deep breath. She chuckled, turning to Minako. "You're always encouraging people, you know."

"Well if I didn't, I'm afraid I'd be living in a house full of sad faces." She stated, shrugging her shoulders. "And you'd all be wrapped up like caterpillars and crawling your way around the house. That would be terrifying."

"Pff, what kind of imagery is that?" Rizusa laughed, Minako grinning.

"It's just what I imagine, I guess." She said simply. "Anyway~ Go to sleep, Rizu-nee. I'm sure Emiko is fine, and no way anyone's gonna hurt her if the boys are with her."

"That's not what I'm staying up for though." Rizusa sighed. "I'm waiting on a message from a contact in the city over."

"Oh, working on that still?" Minako asked, Rizusa nodding her head. "Diligent as always, leader~"

"Stop calling me that." Rizusa sighed, Minako apologizing silently. "Anyway. I'll be up for a while longer. You and Ayumi are welcome to go to sleep." She added.

"Alright, sounds good." Minako headed off to her room. "Night, Rizusa-san."

"Night." She called back, staring at the room again. Her phone pinged, snapping her out of reminiscing as she opened it to check for the message. But what she saw almost made her drop her phone, eyes wide.

"Rizu, he's coming. He'll arrive in less than 24 hours." The image attacked was that of the monster that had come after Emiko, left a mark on Rizusa, and almost knocked out both Minako and Ayumi. 1000 blades, Gin… he was less than a day out from the city. He was coming back. She immediately called the moving company, thankfully they were still working, and rescheduled their pickup for earlier in the day, after breakfast. She then went to Minako and Ayumi, letting them know that their bags had to be ready by the time the movers arrived but not explaining why the time was moved up. She went to pack her own things and as soon as the girl came home with their students, she told them return time had been pushed up.

"We're leaving before lunch tomorrow. Sorry for the sudden change of plans but I have to go talk to Principal Nezu and he's not gonna be available in the evening." She said, not letting any of them know the real reason.

"Oh, something important came up?" Emiko asked.

"You can call it that, yeah." She pet Emiko's head. "So get to sleep. It's late. No sleeping in tomorrow."

"Okay." They all said, heading off to get ready for bed. Rizusa immediately went to the training area and rescheduled all the lockdown procedures, taking a deep breath once away from the others. 'That damn monster… why is he hurrying back here?' she thought, wondering if someone tipped Gin off about them leaving with the boys. But no one knew aside from them… so what could it possibly be? She shook the thought, trying to not let it get to her. She had to keep calm, and once she headed back to her room she let herself relax a little. They would be fine… even if she had to wait for the movers alone, she could defend herself. She'd send the others ahead and tell Ayumi to go see Nezu in her place. She'd let the principal know of her situation and ask him not to alert the others. She knew that telling the boys would do no good either. This would end up being her fight, if nothing else.


((I'm on a roll or something haha, I haven't pumped out this many chapters this fast in a long time.

A threat looms close, the enemy approaches! Who's excited to see what happens next?

-Winter Cheshire))