Chapter 9: Nostalgic Stargazer
"Hehe, we're going to show off our rooms to the kiddies?" Ayumi asked, grinning. "That's fun~ I don't mind~"
"Nor do I." Minako shook her head.
"So long as you don't touch anything, it should be safe…" Emiko nodded, crossing her arms. The girls each showed the students their rooms, starting with Minako. She opened her door to reveal a simple room with mid-tone wood floors, soft painted walls of a greenish tone. It's interior decoration very clean and simple, not too many things out in the open. But what was there were tools of her trade.
"Oooh, is that a medical kit?"
"And a cabinet of medicine and supplies too…"
"Whoa, its like almost like a clinic or something in here…"
"It's not bad though…" The room was a good one for a woman like Minako, dedicated to her craft. They graded it a good room overall. Next, they headed over to Emiko's room, the girl letting them enter. But instead of a cute, fluffy room like they expected for a girl who looked and dressed the way she did, they found the whole room looking almost mechanical and full of unfinished building projects. The walls were dark metal plates with various lights and all sorts of tools hanging, shelves full of bits and pieces of material unused.
"Whoa, what is all this?!"
"This is insane!"
"These are all really cool!"
"Whoa, wait don't touch those-!" Kirishima exclaimed as Sero leaned out of someone's way and nearly touching something on the desk, the item opening up into what looked like a small tank, aiming at Sero and shooting out a puff of smoke, causing the boy to jump back. "Told you."
"What the heck was that?!"
"It's a part of my collection… that one's good for defending my room from intruders… There are more with things like spike treads and circular saws too." Emiko replied, all the students vowing never to go into Emiko's room again. The next room was Ayumi's, the girl smiling as they approached. They opened the door, eyes going wide at the room.
"Waah, its adorable!"
"Look at all the rabbits!" the girls cooed at all the adorable rabbit themed items, Ayumi smiling cheerfully as they went over her room. The floors were a light greyish wood-grain plank with soft heather purple walls. The decoration was head to toe rabbit themed items, the biggest of which was a rabbit theme oversized beanbag. "Its so squishy and soft!"
"Isn't it? I love that beanbag. Rizu-nee bought it for me." She said cheerfully, everyone turning to look at Rizusa as she stood at the door. "Rizu-nee always buys me cute things for my birthday~"
"Because you say you like them…" Rizusa sighed at her friend, Ayumi chuckling at her. They rated it the cutest room in the building. After everyone was done with Ayumi's room, they walked over to Rizusa's, everyone whispering to one another about all the possibilities of what to expect.
"I think dark and elegant."
"No way, its got to be a simple room like Minako's."
"No, it might be something really scary!"
"I doubt that…"
"Here we are." She stated, opening the door for them. "Please, go ahead." She added, motioning for them to enter. The students took a peek, soon heading inside to look at the room. It was simple, but it had an elegance to it. The darker colors added to the atmosphere and it made it seem like a pretty normal but well laid out room. The floor was an espresso brown, the walls a light grey-white. The interior was simple, but a long desk and bookshelves made it seem homey. The only thing to stand out was…
"Is that… a bear?"
"Uwaa, a stuffed bear?"
"Its so cute…"
"Yes, that's Kuma…" Rizusa stated. "Kuma was my grandfather's present to me when I turned 12…" she stated. The others seemed a little surprised that she had such a thing, but she just smiled. "I've always loved stuffed animals, though I guess having one that doesn't actually talk back is nice sometimes." She added, referencing her quirk. A timer dinged, alerting the class to something being done. "Ah, there it is… now would anyone like some snacks?" she asked, taking a plate out and handing it to the students. "Warm chocolate cake is always a nice snack, ne?"
"Uwaaaa, you made cake?"
"Yes, I figured this would be a good way to introduce ourselves more properly to you all." Rizusa nodded, handing the cakes out to the students.
"I-it smells good!"
"Thanks, Rizusa-san!"
After everyone went to sleep, Rizusa was staring out at the sky, watching the clouds roll by. Being back here was a stiff reminder of so many memories. As time passed, she sighed, feeling that sadness creeping in. So much happened while Rizusa was still in school. So much had changed. "Hah, nostalgia…? Geez, I'm not that old yet, am I?" she muttered to herself, letting the memories all flow back.
Flashback- Rizusa: Age 9
Rizusa sat in the principal's office, awaiting her Grandfather's arrival. She'd gotten in trouble for getting into an argument, a fight breaking out on the playground. A boy in her class made fun of her quirk, saying dragons weren't at all like how her quirk depicted them and that she was weak. She'd gotten so sick of hearing it day after day that she lashed out, not with her quirk or her words, but with her fists. She punched the boy and broken his nose, finally shutting him up. But she was scolded and now waiting for her caretaker to retrieve her. When he walked into the room, Rizusa's eyes hit the ground. She could almost feel his disappointment rolling off him in waves, but he said nothing. He just tapped her shoulder, causing her to get up and follow him home. They stopped at a small stand, Rizusa recognizing the woman in front of it as Shion, someone who helped look after her as a child and her grandfather's friend. "Oh, what's wrong, Rizusa-chan?"
"… Nothing, Shion-baba…"
"Ah ah, no lying to old Shion, please." Shion pat her head, Rizusa looking up, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. "Was someone mean at school? Its okay. Bullies are always around, but you're a good girl, ne? So even if you got in trouble, you're not a bad person."
"… Shion, stop encouraging it." Rizusa's grandfather mumbled as Rizusa wiped her tears with her sleeve.
"Now now, don't be like that Senpai… Rizusa-chan takes after you, so defending the family's pride is ingrained in her." Shion added, waving a finger at her "senpai", the old man just standing there and pretending like he wasn't being scolded. "Your grandbaby is very much a proud Ryugazaki, you should be taking more care to make sure she's confident in herself."
"I…" Both turned to look at Rizusa as she finished wiping her tears. "I'm sorry… Ojii-sama…" she bowed stiffly to her grandfather, obviously still not feeling good but pushing through.
"Oi, don't cry again…" he mumbled, going over and putting his hand on her head, rubbing her head gently to calm her down. "You're just doing what your instincts tell you… family means a lot to us, I understand your anger, Rizusa. But you mustn't take it out on innocents unless they throw the first punch. You must have a sharp tongue to rebuke them without hurting them physically. You're better than that. Aren't you?"
"… Yes, Ojii-sama." She sniffled, the old man sighing at his granddaughter's tears. "I'll never let someone better me this way again!"
"That's all well and good, then." Shion smiled, handing Akemi some candy from behind the counter of her little stall. "Here. Go share some with Ayumi-chan too, ne? Your grandfather and I have to discuss something."
"Y-yes." She bowed, taking the candy and heading off to her house where Ayumi would have been waiting for a training session with their martial arts teacher. Once she was far enough away, Shion looked up at the old man.
"You know, Senpai… Rizusa-chan's still a kid… don't be so harsh on her." Shion let out a big sigh. "You work her so hard, it's a wonder she doesn't have stark white hair from all the stress." But the old man just stood there, silent. "… Senpai?"
"Rizusa's… so much like her mother." He stated simply. "But she has the temper of her father when pride is on the line… a volatile combination, Shion."
"She's still learning… give her a couple years and she will be able to control it." Shion handed the old man a piece of hard candy, grinning. "She's progressing way faster than a certain boy who used to pick fights with everyone just to rebel against the oppression at home."
"… The family training was more lax back then." He grumbled, taking the candy.
Rizusa: Age 13
"Now, that incident…" The whole room seemed to quiet down at the mention of the "incident", Rizusa sitting at the table with a solemn look on her face. "Ryugazaki, Rizusa… you, not yet licensed or even provisionally so attacked a villain after he attacked you and your school. Due to working with another villain, the heroes were delayed and thus you were left alone to fight for almost an hour while awaiting a hero's arrival." The old man sitting next to Rizusa had his arms crossed and he sat staring at the man across with a stern face. "Though your efforts were indeed appreciated, and no students were harmed, you were reckless and you put yourself in extreme danger."
"… I understand." She replied, gripping her hand into a fist.
"Due to circumstance we won't punish you or anything like that." The woman with a much more cheerful disposition said. "But please, you're only in your second year of middle school. Be careful. We're just glad that you aren't hurt. The press will also suppress the story and your grandfather will be credited with saving the school, since any cameras were only at a distance."
"Very good." The old man replied, standing up. "We're done here. Rizusa, we're leaving."
"Yes, Ojii-sama." She stood up and followed him out, eyes plastered to the floor. Once they made it almost all the way back to their home, the old man stopped at a small shop. "I'm sorry." She said in a soft voice as he turned to her, assuming his stopping meant she would be reprimanded for what had been done.
"Don't apologize… if that had been my school, you would be receiving a merit or an award…" he replied. "You did as you were trained to. Defend the innocent and keep harm from coming to them." The woman behind the counter brought them a soft cream in a cone, smiling.
"Here you are dearie." She handed it to Rizusa.
"Th-thank you, Shion-baba."
"You're welcome." She stated with a smile.
"Rizusa, go home." Her grandfather stated, the girl heading for home as he stood at the storefront. "… Shion."
"I know, you know." She sighed. "Senpai, you won't tell her?"
"I can't… she already is missing her parents, if I told her something like that now… I couldn't be sure she would handle it." He replied. "She took her first step to inheriting the family business, though, so I suppose at least she's doing well."
"You're too hard on her sometimes, senpai." Shion laughed. "She's doing much better than you at that age." She added, the old man flinching a little.
"She has to… I don't have enough time left and without her parents here to help her, I can't afford to let her fall behind. She must be prepared by the time she's graduated UA."
"Oh, you've decided for her again?"
"No." he replied. "I asked her where she would go for high school. She herself said, without hesitation, gave me her answer of UA Academy…" he looked at his hand. "I assume that's because she wants to follow their paths…"
"Of course." Shion nodded. "Now you'd best support her, senpai. Otherwise nothing will come of the efforts you and she have been putting in."
"… I know, Shion."
Rizusa: Age 18
Rizusa sat in class, the bad feeling having kept looming over her all day. She just didn't understand, why was she feeling like this? She'd finished her last written exam for the semester, about to head out when suddenly Present Mic opened the door. "Sensei…? Is something…?" She caught a look in his eye as he looked her way, immediately feeling the bad feeling wash over her again, only much stronger. Without a word she rushed out of the room, Ayumi calling after her. Mic let her run by him, hearing the door to the exit slam open as she reached it.
"Sensei, what's going on?" Ayumi asked, Mic turning to her. "… Is… something wrong?" she wanted to chase Rizusa, but she wanted details first. Very few things could make Rizusa run out of the room like that. Mic shook his head, putting a hand on Ayumi's shoulder. In that moment the plum haired teen knew, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. "It… can't be…"
Rizusa burst into the compound, seeing her grandfather laying there, being worked on by paramedics. He was so pale, almost blue. She felt her heart stop, eyes wide and tears brimming. She couldn't manage words, biting them back and standing there watching helplessly as Noire appeared on her shoulder. The little dragon bowed his head and closed his eyes as Rizusa watched the paramedics stop working on her grandfather. They turned to her and apologized softly, Rizusa shaking her head and thanking them for trying in a surprisingly stable voice. They offered to call someone to pick up the body, which she accepted. But as soon as they left, Rizusa fell to her knees and the tears all fell, streaming down her cheeks. She gasped for breath, sobbing uncontrollably and trying to manage words. Noire didn't speak, just standing on her shoulder and hoping she'd be okay. The men arrived to take the body to the mortuary, Rizusa having calmed down enough by that point to thank them before they left. But she was far from being okay. Once they left and the door closed, she cried all night. She didn't let anyone come see her, she locked her house up and stayed in the entryway where he'd fallen.
"Ojii-sama…" she choked out through her tears. "I'm sorry… I wasn't here…" she gripped her hands into fists, trying to make sense of the loss.
"Apologies are not needed, young one." Rizusa paused, the sudden rush of energy surprising her. But it was not hostile. She turned, seeing a small silvery-white dragon doll floating next to her, its piercing blue orbs staring into her soul. "You have witnessed a death of someone close to your heart… I understand you are in pain… however, you are a Ryugazaki… this is, as a Dragon Doll user, a trial you must overcome." He added. "You must not let this hold you down… you have, as I have been told, a practical exam tomorrow… eat something, sleep, and wake tomorrow for your trial." Rizusa stared at the dragon doll as it vanished, her tears having slowed and stopped.
"… You're still here, huh…?" she muttered, getting up. "You're gonna be here, whether you're alive or dead, is that the lesson?" she rubbed her eyes, going to the kitchen to reheat her dinner that the old man had left out for her. "… I know it can't hold me down… I'm not gonna let it… but I have to grieve, don't I?" she asked as she felt the tears sneaking back in. "… Damn it, Ojii-sama…" she slammed her fist on the counter. "Why… why now?" she asked herself, feeling her hands shaking.
Flashback End:
"Its already been this long…" she mumbled, her hair now hanging in her face. "Ojii-sama… am I a strong leader yet?"
"You seem plenty strong to me." Rizusa jumped a little, turning to see Shoto standing behind her.
"Shoto…" she smiled. "When did you get there?"
"Just a second ago…" he moved to sit next to her. "I had a question."
"Oh, a question? Of course, ask away." She smiled, seeming glad for his changing the subject rather than asking what was wrong.
"Everyone kept asking… and I'm a little curious too… how did you get licensed as a hero when you didn't take the hero course?" He asked, turning to look at her.
"Ahh, that?" she rubbed the back of her neck. "It's a back door that the Conglomerate has always had, really…" she sighed. "Its because we're an organization that has a contract with the government." She stated. "For me, its because I inherited Dragon Doll… long ago it was established that any user of Dragon Doll will be immediately registered as a hero upon their 18th birthday, once it is established that the ability is seeded in them and they have control over at least 7 pillars." She stated. "… As a child… I was attacked a lot by meager villains looking for a way to take the Conglomerate down… but I was always saved…" she stated. "… I was always kept safe… but one day no one could come." She looked up at the moon. "I was 13… stuck in my middle school building, no teachers able to protect us… There was at least half of my class in the building with me… all the other kids were outside or already headed home when it happened." She turned back to Shoto. "Two villains teamed up… one to distract pro heroes with a quirk that made him a professional escape artist, the other creating a barrier that anyone over a certain age could not cross." She sighed. "Had they been better trained, they would have killed myself and all those other kids that day." She added, Shoto staring and listening intently to her story.
"So how did it end up…?"
"… I held the barrier-maker off for about an hour, because Dragon Dolls don't technically have an age they could get through and his barriers did nothing against their powers or attacks. But while that was happening, my Grandfather had somehow gotten past the barrier and into the school… I assume it was a Dragon Doll he had, one of the ten pillars he acquired must have allowed him to somehow bypass the barrier." She nodded.
"Your grandfather must be very strong."
"… He was." She smiled. "He taught me everything I needed to lead the conglomerate… schooled me in martial arts once I got good enough, in how to manifest my quirk to the extent I can now, how to call upon the pillars when I must… and the best part, how to make great food~" she smiled, Shoto smiling a little too. "He was a harsh teacher, but all the same… he was my Grandfather…"
"… You must miss him."
"I do… but he's never far…" she turned to Shoto with a smile. "Now, enough chat about me." She pat the boy's head with a grin. "Let's talk about you, Shoto."
"Huh…?"
"I wanna hear about you. I'm still curious about you, after all."
((Okay, so no drama today. Next time next time.
I'M SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG TO GET THIS CHAPTER UP WORK HAS BEEN CRAZY-! TT x TT
Anyway, please look forward to the next one~ I'll do my best to get a new chapter up sometime before June is over.
-Winter Cheshire))
