Usagi woke up the morning after to the combined sounds of the alarm clock, Luna's worrying, plus her father's knocks on her door.
She looked around in a sleepy daze: despite the fact she was surrounded by her belongings, the room wasn't quite her old one, neither the pristine, brand new uniform hanging in front of her wardrobe was any more familiar. Her gaze fell on the vanity and she remembered all the recent changes in her life.
Another knock, followed by her father's voice on the other side of the door «Usagi-shojo. You should get up, or you'll be late for school»
She turned at the clock, then at Luna, who expressed her agreement.
«I'm getting up!» the girl shouted back, moving the covers away and dangled her feet out the bed. Another gaze at the Mugen Academy uniform made her thoughts go astray.
Was she ready for that? The school seemed so prestigious, which kind of friends could she make there? Arriving after the beginning of the year meant the customary stand-up introduction to the class, right? What was she going to say?
"Hello, I'm Tsukino Usagi and I'm All Might's daughter. I'm also the vigilante Sailor Moon" was a terrible idea, obviously; "Nice to meet you all" felt too little, while talking about her hobbies could make some her new classmates scrunch their noses at her since drawing, eating and play games were considered lazy activities.
«Usagi-chan. You can't stare at that uniform the whole morning» Luna called her out.
Blushing, the girl hurried to get ready, then ran to the kitchen, still in the middle of pinning her brooch to the azure striped bow.
Downstairs, Toshinori was sipping tea while watching the morning news on tv, but he turned as soon as he heard the girl hopping down the steps.
He buffed up for a second, so All Might's shadowed face greeted her arrival with boisterous voice and blinding smile «Good morning, princess! Ready for the first day of school?»
Usagi chuckled in amusement before greeting back «Good morning, papa!» she replied, then nodded «Almost ready»
As he deflated, she took a look at his mustard coloured suit, which hung all wrong on his now thin frame. She realized it was necessary for him to wear bigger clothes that wouldn't rip when he turned into his hero persona and a few questions sprung up in her mind while she ate the toast he left on the table for her.
«Papa? Does it hurt when you turn big?»
It was a bizarre question that made him shyly scratch his head «Not really, no. It's a little like those people who hold their stomach in at the pool. Sometimes it stings a little» he added, pointing at his side, where the scar was hidden under his clothes.
It was a half-truth, to be honest: as of late, one of the reasons he couldn't keep the muscle form for long was because of the strain it put on his body, his atrophied and underfed muscles, sore joints, the more than "tickling" feeling his wounds - old and new - gave him. It was ugly to explain and Toshinori decided his little girl didn't need to know, or she'd needlessly worry.
Usagi nodded and bit her breakfast in relief at the white lie, next question ready soon: «If you can stay big only for so little, how do you hide your secret identity?»
«My colleagues at Yuuei know of my health state» he explained «This doesn't mean the news can go around, so I stay in muscle form only when I'm with the students»
«But Izukun knows you're like this, no?»
It was clear enough her father and the boy had a mutual trust, if not a sort of familiarity that sparked her curiosity.
«Midoriya-shonen has been training with me for a while now. He found out about my situation by chance, but he's keeping the secret as well. As my successor, not as my student only, he's apart of a few personal matters»
She finished her breakfast quickly, still thinking about it all. She used to have next to no troubles keeping her secret identity, well, secret, in the previous reality, while here both her parents figured her out in short time. It was natural to worry someone else could as well.
«You'd better hurry now, princess, or you'll be late»
Usagi looked around for a bento box, finding none. She was used to her mother making boxes for her every morning and even if sometimes she forgot them at home, it was a rare occurrence not finding them in her bag.
«Uh, papa? What about lunch?»
«What about...?» realization hit him and he sputtered a bit of blood «Ah, lunch, right...»
Not wanting to admit he forgot the not indifferent detail, he went for his wallet and handed her a card «I've been told there is a good cafeteria at Mugen» he said «You can buy what you want»
Usagi took the piece of plastic and had a good look at it. It was black, elegant and held the logo of a prestigious international bank and a long number.
«That's a credit card!» she exclaimed wide-eyed, holding it up to look at it in better light «I've never seen a real one before! Aren't they usually more colourful?»
Not getting the potential mess he just put himself in, he nodded, trying to recall what Ikuko suggested on this matter, but memory evaded him «I'll give you pocket money the next days, if you prefer...»
«It's fine, don't worry! I just never had one. I'll get used to it, thanks, papa!»
She put the card in a pocket of her bag and jumped to give him a quick kiss on the cheek before hurrying to the door with a loud «Bye, papa!»
A stupid smile fixed itself on his face and he was overwhelmed by the sudden show of affection. She acted as if it was a regular occurrence, just another day, even if it wasn't, for either of them. He rushed to the corridor and called her back, struck by a sudden thought.
She stopped mid-door, a hand on the handle and another holding her bag, and turned with a questioning look in her blue eyes. The morning light hit her brand-new uniform and one of her golden tresses.
"I'm happy I'm here at least for one of your first days of school" he thought, but he couldn't manage to say it. He lost her first day of kindergarten because of a villain attack; her first day of elementary school because of a flood on the other side of the country and he didn't even know which date her first day of middle school had been.
Instead, he just uttered «Have a good day, my girl»
She smiled, bright as the sun, not a single grim thought in her mind «You too, papa. See you this afternoon!»
Toshinori watched her close the door behind her back and followed her sprinting down the road from the window, her black cat running beside her legs.
The scene felt so bizarre in its normalcy, a picture out someone else's life. A scene that a normal man with a normal family could live any day.
He shook his head to get rid of this bizarre thought.
He was getting old, that was it. Old and full of sorrows, with missing chances and still so much to do in life with no time and almost no strength to do everything.
No, that was a bad mindset, he scolded himself.
He was going to make it, or at the very least he could push Usagi and Izuku down the right road the best he could in the time he had.
Whoever said the first day of school is traumatic, didn't compare it with the stress of arriving in a new school when the year already started.
Usagi looked up at Mugen's entrance doors, bag in hands and said goodbye to Luna with a pat on her head. The cat meowed, trying to pretend she was a perfectly normal feline, but her eyes were darting around, unsettled by something she couldn't pinpoint.
On her side, Usagi was too on the edge on her own to notice.
She looked inside and tried to follow the student's flow towards the floors reserved for middle-school, with less than successful approach. She only managed to note that the ribbons of the uniforms were different, she guessed depending on the class, but couldn't follow any group wearing the same light blue as hers.
«Tsukino-san, am I right?» a girl with deep red hair and flashy star-shaped ears approached her. The bow of her uniform was green.
«I'm Arimura Yuko, head of philosophy class and etiquette. I'm here to give you Mugen's welcome» the older girl introduced herself.
«Ah, yes, I'm Tsukino Usagi» she bowed, relieved by the news «Nice to meet you and thank you»
Arimura bowed as well «You're welcome. It's not unusual to have students transfer to our school, we are the peak of excellence in the scientific and artistic field»
«Some say also in witchcraft» a soft voice added.
Usagi recognized the girl who spoke at first glance: she was outside the arcade the previous day, the one who went away with Haruka. From up close, she looked even more elegant and distinguished than Usagi realized at first, even if they were wearing the same uniform, but it wasn't only that. Once again, she had the feeling she knew her already.
Lost in her contemplation of the last arrived, Usagi didn't notice Arimura's dark glance, nor her forced smile as she introduced the other girl: «Tsukino-san, this is Kaioh Michiru-san. Kaioh-san is an honour student, despite being with us only since the beginning of the current year. She volunteered to show you around, so I leave you in her hands»
«Ah, thanks again» Usagi repeated, as the redhead left.
As soon as Arimura disappeared beyond the doors, Michiru spoke up. They were still in the courtyard, and the wind moved her blue hair in front of her face, casting shadows on it.
«You shouldn't have come here» Michiru's eyes were now as cold as a stormy sky and gave off a similar dangerous vibe.
«W-what?»
«This place is no good for you. It's dangerous for you to be here. You'd better leave as soon as possible»
«Mugen is... dangerous?» Usagi repeated, but the other didn't reply.
The wind ceased for a moment and, fast as it came, the ominous expression on Michiru's face disappeared.
«I'm going to show you around very quick, lessons are about to start and we shouldn't be late. Mugen is quite strict in terms of punctuality, and precision in general» she explained and walked towards the door.
The blonde stood in confusion for a second more, then she ran behind her senpai, who started to delineate for her the layout of the school. After addressing the matter of the laboratories, which were strictly for the upperclassmen, and a light praise of the cafeteria, they took the elevator for the upper floors where the middle school was located.
«So, Tsukino-kun, what branch are you going for next year?» Michiru asked, «This is your last year of middle school, where do you intend to apply?»
«Oh, I want to enter Yuuei» Usagi answered.
«So the Hero career? How unexpected» was the senpai's comment, with a tad of relief that the other couldn't but find strange «It's rare to meet a Mugen student with this idea. Most of us are more focused on vastly different paths. Politics, arts, science and so on. Why this choice?»
«I want to help people. In the right way» Usagi added as they stepped out the elevator.
Michiru pursed her lips «Don't artists help people too? Many spirits are lifted by a song or a beautiful piece of art. Dostoevsky wrote: "Beauty will save the world". Heroes are not the only ones who give motivation or inspiration for the world to improve»
Usagi thought about it for a second, then replied «I don't know this person, but... A lot of things can help people. Love, friendship, support. I think it's important to help others with what we have. I'm not smart, or good at music and stuff, but I can learn how to help others by being a good Hero. I want people to be happy because they're safe and cared for. Music and art can only help for a while, but without someone to help by your side, you can only do so much»
To the younger's surprise, the senpai's expression turned sour, like she just swallowed a whole lemon.
«This is the worst place for you to be» the older girl repeated, but didn't add more as they were in front of the classrooms. She limited herself to gesture at the door she was to go into and bid her farewells. Before Usagi could answer, she was already gone.
Usagi was so upset by Michiru's words she barely acknowledged she was invited inside by the teacher, who asked her to introduce herself to the class.
She fumbled for words and she bowed down and stated her name and a generic greeting before being pointed at a free seat.
It didn't matter: her new class was uninterested at the new student who wasn't even a half-celebrity and they left her mostly alone.
It was... unusual. Usagi had seen her share of transfer students and this complete lack of interest was out of her depth. Perhaps they were so used to people coming and going they didn't mind.
The girl couldn't but wonder if it was what Michiru meant when she said Mugen wasn't her place, but couldn't answer the question.
Toshinori didn't pay much thought to the mishap of the morning until his own lunch break. He really couldn't recall what Ikuko had said in this regard among her multiple advice, he only retained something about Usagi having a good appetite - he noticed that the previous days, he let her order food and in some otherworldly way she managed to eat the enormous amount. He used to eat this much only in his prime days! - and eating too many sweets after dinner. He didn't see what was the harm in after-meal sweets if she wasn't dieting, but whatever.
A hasty call to his ex-wife during his break cleared some of his doubts.
«So you gave Usagi a credit card? Seriously?»
«Yes... Can't she use it?» he wondered.
Ikuko sighed on the other side of the line «Usagi is terrible with money management. You'd better get back that card, or she'll empty it»
«I don't think it's possible to empty that card...» it was a Black Card. He got it after he was well into the Hero career, when money from his heroic acts and merchandising piled up to the point he could easily forget to check his bank account whenever he needed something.
So far off from the days when a kotatsu was a luxury and he had to count every coin in his pocket before getting a snack.
«And this only speaks about how little you know her» Ikuko reprimanded, but she sounded more amused than judgmental, as if she had in mind some joke he wasn't privy of «Listen, either you get up early and make sure she has something to eat for lunch, like a decent bento, or have her prepare it herself the night before. Just check what she puts in it, she isn't a good cook. Otherwise, just give her the exact money for lunch every week. If you give her too much, she'll spend everything recklessly. I have to go now, I'll call her this evening»
Once the call was closed, he wondered under his breath «How bad can she do?»
«Well, it depends...» Midnight startled him. She was sitting two chairs to his right, and she must have been there the whole call long, eavesdropping, if her face was any indication. She resembled to a cat who just caught a particularly good bird «On who is she and what kind of card we're talking about. Who was that?»
«Uhm, my ex-wife» he muttered, not wanting to say more. Not that his colleague was going to let it go. He cursed himself for having the call in the teachers' room instead of a more private place.
«You were married?! How come that I didn't know?»
Toshinori tried to keep in the flush of blood coming up his throat and gathered his papers «I was, long ago. It's been years since the divorce»
«But you still keep in contact» Nemuri opposed «Do I assume the flame is back?»
«What? Of course not...» he replied red in the face, dismissing the idea with frantic waves of his hands.
«Ah, but love is love, no matter how much time went on...»
«Really, it's nothing like that!» the man fussed, discarding his papers when he gestured her to stop «I just... had to ask advice about... someone» he cut off abruptly.
«You ask your ex-wife about another woman? Tsk tsk. No wonder you're single»
Toshinori groaned, not knowing how to drop out the conversation. Outside leaving, of course. But hasty retreats were a technique All Might mastered while Toshinori didn't, and the door was currently occupied by Aizawa anyway, who had just finished his lessons and was back in the teachers' lounge.
«Hey, Aizawa!» the woman called up as she saw the dark-haired man «Did you know he...» she pointed at the blonde «... used to be married?»
«No» was the man's laconic answer, although a bit of interest showed through his half-lidded eye «This explains a thing or two»
Puzzled, and a little upset at the betrayal - Aizawa was known to keep for himself, now he was humouring Kayama -, Toshinori stared at the other man.
«Which things?»
«Midoriya» was the answer. Aizawa closed the door and approached the desks before going on: «The boy's quirk, although badly managed, has similarities to yours. I saw his hero costume design, not sure if he's mocking or doing a bad imitation of All Might. Quite irrational. His father is not listed in the emergency contacts. Terrible tendencies to overdo, too. Just do us all a favour and stop playing favourites, at least. Kid's already problematic as he is»
It was a rather harsh, but truthful, esteem of his protegèe, Toshinori had to admit.
«What does it have to do with my ex-w...?» Toshinori stopped mid-question. Aizawa was implying he was... Midoriya's father?
Midnight must have come to the same conclusions, because her smile was even more mischievous than earlier.
«You have it all wrong!» he exclaimed in blood sputters «I don't have any son. I was talking with my ex-wife about our daughter!»
All Might's clumsy attempt to clarify prevented the teachers from realizing fully the door has been opened again.
«Aah. So Usagi-chan arrived already?» a thin voice wondered.
«Nedzu-sensei!» the three teachers greeted the presid, who chuckled and shook his paw.
«Ah, yes, headmaster, yesterday morning» Toshinori replied.
«Good, good. Will you join me for tea?» the talking animal offered, to which All Might was more than happy to get up and follow in a more classy retreat than any he planned before.
As soon as the two left the room, Midnight rushed to look at the now vacant desk, in search for additional clues in Toshinori's clutter.
«Kayama...» Eraserhead reprimanded «None of your business»
The woman looked outraged «Okay, listen. You may not care, but I want to know the details. I already have a theory. Maybe two»
Aizawa rolled his eyes «Suit yourself. I don't want to hear that» and went to grab his sleeping bag, but the woman intercepted him.
«Yes, you do. So...» she raised a manicured finger to start counting «We know he's divorced. We also know he has a daughter with his wife and...»
«Kayama, I really don't care»
«He either cheated on his wife and had Midoriya-kun, hence the divorce, or he had the boy first and then he married and he probably didn't even know the kid is his...»
«You have too much imagination»
«Obviously, we won't know until we figure out how old is that girl. The headmaster said her name is Usagi? What a cute name! I want to know what she looks like...»
Aizawa stopped trying and turned on his pc, letting her ramble her hypothesis. He knew Midnight far too well to not know it was useless to try and stop her in this kind of situations.
He only had to hope whatever was going on wasn't going to disrupt his class. Midoriya was already enough of a problem child as he was.
Notes:
For those who were wondering when she was going to interact with Usagi, here we have Michiru too, as her usual, cryptic self.
To be honest, I wrote this chapter after the next two were ready, but I'm quite satisfied with how it turned out, especially the last part. Aizawa is my spirit animal and Midnight is too amazing for words, I had to have them around soon.
to the guest who is confused about the timeline: this fic starts right after the Inners, Usagi and Mamoru defeated Diamond and Des Phantom in the future, and came back to their own time. In canon, at the end of that arc Chibiusa went back in her time (aka the future) to be sent back immediately to train her newfound senshi abilities. In my fic she stayed in the 30th century instead of being sent back to the past like in the original.
At this point in the canon timeline (90s, manga and Crystal alike) the only other Senshi they know of is Sailor Pluto, who they know died in the fight against the Black Moon. They had no memory of Neptune and Uranus (not to mention Saturn, who is a mystery in her own way even in-universe). Since I am following the manga-Crystal route, I am positive I made no mistake in this regard: Inners and Outers met only after the Black Moon arc was well over, with the only exception of Pluto. I hope it's clear now, if not, feel free to ask.