Lots of swearing in the first part of the chapter. You know who to blame.
There were two reasons Katsuki liked to catch the early train to school.
One: because it wasn't as stuffed as the later one. Two: because there were fewer chances of having to do the trip with Deku and his constant muttering.
That said, he didn't anticipate the possibility of having another kind of annoyance on the morning commute that morning.
It started with a weird feeling, like an itch under his skin. He had had a few dreams lately, bizarre stuff of fighting monsters, scythes, sacred swords and purple castles, so his mood was already cranky - more than usual - which increased tenfolds at the idea of being watched, even more at being disturbed by screaming kids, like the ones ready to board behind him.
But idiots were everywhere, including early morning trains, he supposed when he boarded the wagon, not before launching the brats a dark, angry look above his shoulder before finding a seat. At least they were smart enough to take a step back and not bother him.
He caught a glimpse of bubblegum pink hair in a weird hairdo, a bunny-shaped backpack and a black ball with ears in a corner and decided to seat on the furthest side of it, very far from the tiny girl. He wasn't in the mood to deal with children. Hell, even when he was a child himself he could barely stand others, let alone now.
He didn't really care that the group of lousy brats went to that side, screaming and talking loudly. They said something he didn't hear to the pink-haired girl, to which she scoffed and stuck her tongue at them.
If Bakugou knew something about the dynamics between bullies and bullied - and he sure as hell did - was that the weak ones who pulled an attitude got the worst beatings. It was a rule of nature, just the way the world spun, nothing new under the sun, as his mother enforced into his head the first and only time he came back home bruised in a scuffle with bigger kids.
"Stupid, weak boy" he could still hear it ringing in his ears, his head throbbing for the slap on the back of his head "You don't let others push you, you hit them first. Come back crying to me over some shitty bruises like those ever again and you'll see"
One of the reasons he learned to kick back so young.
With only mild interest, he looked towards the kids - first years middle schoolers, or late elementary students - starting to bother the pink-haired girl, who could have been six or seven years-old at most. One of them tried to take her ball-plush - or whatever that was -, but she was faster and held it tight to her chest then, with a puff of annoyance, she hopped down the seat.
Katsuki knew most patterns, he knew what the group wanted. The spot the girl was seated in was the only one with enough free places close they could use and they probably wanted her to give up her place. If she had moved quietly at the beginning, she would have gotten some mild teasing at worse, but with her gesture of defiance, she doomed herself to a lesson.
They circled her, smug faces and confidence up. They were going to push her around a bit, until she cried, then toss around her things, maybe steal her lunch or destroy some personal items, and they'd let her go.
It was almost boring in its predictability. The little shit had no chance, unless she had one hell of a quirk to defend herself with, and even that wasn't advisable in such a public and cramped space.
One of the kids slouched to taunt her and gauge the starting reaction, which, much to Bakugou's surprise, wasn't what was to be expected.
In a flash, she launched her ball on the floor, which bounced back right in the face of one of the kids, distracting the rest, then the girl jumped over the one in front of her and beyond the circle, escaping even the second row by stepping on another kid's head, a remarkable feat as they were all taller than she was, then she landed and crouched down to slip between the standing passengers, only to let herself fall heavily on the seat next to him before the band of pitiful idiots could react.
«You're from Yuuei, right? The school for Heroes. I recognized the uniform. You forgot your tie» she addressed him. Most weird of all, the ball, which now Bakugou could see had a cat face other then the ears, bounced back to her as if animated by its own will.
«The fuck...?» a dumbfounded Katsuki scoffed despite himself.
«I'd rather sit with you than with those mean kids» she added, launching a glance at the group of bullies.
Said kids were looking at his direction, but one, quick, lopsided gaze from Bakugou made them back off.
He relaxed back in the seat, rolling his eyes in annoyance, and gave a look at the girl, who was still clutching her cat-ball.
«You should defend yourself, kick them in the balls or something, not use bigger people as fucking human shields» he reprimanded.
She pouted «I can't do that, they're not villains, they're just annoying. And they're afraid of you since you're older, so they won't bother you»
«Umpf. A little beating can't kill them. Just fucking hold your ground, cotton-candy brat. Can't use tricks and hide forever»
«My name's Chibiusa» she introduced herself «Tsukino Usagi, but they call me Chibiusa to not mistake me with Usagi-chan. Now you can use my name»
Ah, that was why she looked familiar. The brat, the other brat, Moonface, he saw her with Deku all the time lately. The smaller brat looked like a pink, shorter version of her.
«Whatever» he dismissed «Just don't be a pain in the ass»
Chibiusa nodded, then climbed up the seat to look outside, not uttering a single word for a long while. Bakugou ignored her for the whole time, but kept an eye for the group of noisy brats, who sometimes snuck glances his way, annoying him to no end.
He knew they were probably planning a retaliation towards the tiny girl and it was none of his business, but the continuous stares kept grating on his nerves until the train got to his stop.
Grumbling, he got up and swung his backpack over his shoulder, catching in his peripheral vision the girl looking at him.
«Ah! Is that the stop to go at Yuuei?» she asked, climbing down the seat.
He grunted a "yes" and walked towards the door, the kid following him suit.
«I have to get down here too» she explained, «I'm going...»
«I don't give a shit» he cut her off. With the tail of his eye, he was checking if the rascals were about to get down as well.
They were. Tsk.
The doors opened and the mass climbed up or down. Katsuki half-hoped to lose the annoying younger kids in the crowd, but didn't sprint away despite it. He had to keep the upper hand and running would make him look like some weak coward.
The only problem was that cotton-candy hair girl kept walking by his side, stealing glances up when she thought he wasn't looking.
«The flying heck you want now? If you think I'm going to cover your sorry back you're dead wrong» he warned.
«I have to get near Yuuei, so we're going the same way» she replied, clutching her backpack's straps «And... aren't you studying to be a Hero? Shouldn't you be, like, nice and helpful?»
«I do the fuck I want. And stop following me!» he shouted.
«I told you, we're going the same way...»
«I don't give a damn. Walk back, or on the other side of the road, I don't care. Just stay the fuck away, you annoying little shit»
This time she jumped and stopped walking. Huge red eyes glanced back, then forward.
It was pretty clear the brat was out her depth, it didn't take a genius to understand it. Bakugou expected her to start crying at any moment.
Which she didn't. Instead, she stuck her nose up, a decisive expression painted on her face when she reprimanded: «Then goodbye, Mr-not-that-good-of-a-future-Hero!» and walked towards the crossroad.
He pretended to ignore her and walk away like nothing. He did. He had a reputation for being an asshole for all the reasons that qualified him as such. He did it on purpose more often than not.
But.
The band of jerks was still following and it was plain as the day the girl was as good as lost. Getting to Yuuei wasn't hard and she could ask anyone for indications, sure, but the bullies were still going to retaliate. He knew the type, he used to be one of them. Hell, he more or less still was, for all intents and purposes, even though it was proving hard to keep the upper hand in a Hero school, he was badass enough to manage.
And still.
The most serious beating of his life, he had been in the same situation. Five on one, all older, his stupid fake friends had run at first sign of scuffle. Once home, his ruined backpack - a limited edition All Might Silver era that made the envy of the whole school - earned him a sound smacking from his mother and he had to wait for his father to come back home to get the disinfectant and band-aids from the bathroom's upper cabinet because his legs were too hurt to climb on the sink on his own and showing the old hag the bruises would have earned him worse. Yes, he had defended himself pretty well, he was sure the older shits still had the burnt marks from his explosions, but it had been far from a real victory. Turned out he had a fractured leg, among the other things.
But this wasn't his fucking business.
He went his way and she didn't follow further. He took the long route, so he could stop by a bakery he liked to buy a little extra to his breakfast, and walked without rush, still perfectly on time.
Until he heard a commotion from a small side-road. Actually, not really a fight, but the snarky remarks of people making fun of the smaller person they had at their mercy.
He wasn't going to turn, it was none of his business...
He only peeked with the tail of his eye. It was enough to catch a glimpse of pink hair and rowdy rascals that tossed a bunny backpack to each other.
His feet moved on their own and he was in the middle of the alley before he could realize, with explosions popping on his hands, scaring shitless the kids.
«What's that, you extras?» he said, as casually as his ever-angry voice could.
«Mind your own business, loser» one of the kids, the taller one - who probably felt he was the boss - remarked.
Bakugou didn't miss a beat and grabbed him by the collar before the other could realize, making explosions pop near the boy's ear and watching him and his friends flinch.
Chibiusa didn't stand and wait. She launched her ball at one of the kids, quickly kicked the shins of the kid who had her backpack, earning a yelp of pain, and snatched it from the greasy hands - literally, there was some viscous, smelly fluid coming from them - of the bully. Before they could catch her again, she ran behind Katsuki, the cat-ball following her again.
Smart girl.
He let the little bully fall to the ground and walked away.
Then the idiot had to guts to attack him. From behind, like a regular coward.
It didn't properly hurt him, but he found it annoying as hell. And an annoyed Bakugou was a vengeful Bakugou.
It took him roughly fifteen seconds to subdue the idiots, with the bare minimum use of his quirk.
«You'll get in trouble f-for illegal quirk use, you-you dipshit» one of the kids taunted «You will see...»
Bakugou grinned like a maniac «Who do you think they're going to believe to? A Yuuei top student from the Hero course or a bunch of shitty extras who were bullying a little girl?» he punctuated his words with a low string of explosions. He got away with worse in his life. There was no way they were going to damage him, he knew for a fact, and it showed on his face.
The group probably knew it too. They exchanged worried looks, then they scrambled away one by one, the last crying for the others to wait for him.
Katsuki turned at the girl. She had not cried, or screamed, or nothing as stupid of the sort. She actually did what he said and kicked back at the first chance.
An uncharacteristic pride swelled in him and he quickly fought back the smile that threatened to show on his face.
«Not a fucking word with anyone!» he barked.
Chibiusa nodded and thanked him with a smile.
He looked away, hands in his pockets «Tsk. They were pissing me off as well. Staring on the train and all that fuckery» he then raised his voice «Just move your sorry ass now, will you? I don't want to be late» he added, hands in pockets, the image of carelessness, then reprised to walk, slowly, out the alley.
A happy patter followed suit and the cotton-candy hair brat was back by his side with a beaming smile «Thank y...»
«Shut up» he grumbled.
Much to his surprise, she obeyed, but an idiotic smile was plastered on her face while they went on.
They got to the Yuuei gate soon enough and Chibiusa jumped up to be in front of him before he could cross entrance.
«The hell you want now?»
«To know your name too. You know mine, so it's only fair»
He blinked. Twice.
She didn't miss a beat, waiting for him to speak.
«Bakugou Katsuki. You'd better not forget it, because I'm going to be the Number One Hero soon. Now, out of my way, cotton-candy hair»
She moved aside, smile unfaltering «Thank you, Katsu-kun! Hope to see you soon!» she waved her hand and ran away to wherever she had to go.
He scoffed, fixed his bag on his shoulder and went in, the lightest tug up at the corner of his lip.
He had had worse nicknames and no one who thanked him before. He could get used to that.
Chibiusa only had indications to get from Yuuei to Usagi's new house. Knowing her future mother, she guessed she'd find her still home, or at best running towards the school because she was horribly late as her usual.
It was a happy surprise to find her halfway, instead. And not alone.
«Mamo-chan! Usagi-chan!» she called happily.
«Chibiusa?!» the two stared at the small girl in utter disbelief. Then looked at each other, their faces full of relief for a second before they crossed the road to reach her.
«What are you doing here? When did you arrive?»
«Yesterday! I went to your home first, but Ikuko-mama told me you moved so I came here»
«Alone?»
«I'm not a baby. I crossed time-space, why couldn't I take a train?» she pouted, then opened her backpack and pulled out a letter for them to read «Here! It's a letter from papa and mama» she cheerfully announced.
Usagi took the letter and opened it, Mamoru reading it over her shoulder.
"Dear all, I'm glad to hear that you will train Small Lady. Take good care of our daughter, Sincerely yours, Neo-Queen Serenity and King Endymion"
«That does look like a letter future Usako would write» Mamoru admitted.
«I'll be under your care again!» Chibiusa cheered, then added: «Actually, I was supposed to come just after you left, but my time-key stopped working for a while. It was only after a lot that it changed and I could try to open the Time-Space Doors to come here» the little girl recalled, twirling the item in her hands. The little key had indeed changed colour from silver to gold.
«How long?» Mamoru inquired.
«Almost six weeks» she replied «Mama was very confused about it all. Papa said that it had to be linked with Puu's death, or with me time-travelling, but no one can be sure. They almost didn't let me come here even after the key started to work again»
Mamoru made some quick mental math «It's roughly how long we've been here. Did anything change in the future?»
«Mama restored the city and everything the Black Moon Clan destroyed» was the smiling reply «It was all beautiful again. Turned out no one was really dead, mostly trapped in the Black Crystals, so mama freed everyone and all was well»
«I see. Did something feel out of place? New things like quirks, Heroes...» they kept asking as they walked on.
«You mean unicities? But there were a lot already!» Chibiusa exclaimed «People with unicities were the ones who, once upon a time, lived on the Planets that made Silver Millennium. Their powers, we call them unicities, not quirks, started to awaken after I was born and a lot of people also remembered their past lives, back in Silver Millennium. That's why mama and papa were crowned King and Queen, because people knew who they were and wanted them to rule»
That was something they didn't expect. At all.
«You mean... there were going to be quirks, unicities, in the future already? What about Heroes?» Usagi inquired.
The tiny girl shook her head «There are only the Sailor Senshi. Oh, and the King's guard. They don't live in Crystal Palace like the Senshi, but papa told me they used to be the Senshi's aid in Silver Millennium and they are strong and brave. But papa started to talk about them only now and mama said they were friends and, when I'll be a full Sailor Senshi, she'll introduce them to me properly»
The two future parents exchanged a look full of confusion. So there had been changes in the future too, but nothing as drastic as they feared. Still, there were no Heroes and unicities were far more recent than quirks.
«Usagi-chan, Mamo-chan, why those questions?»
The two looked at each other, unsure what to tell her.
«When we arrived in this time, we found a lot of differences. Things that weren't there before. Quirks, Heroes, Villains. A new enemy too» Usagi explained.
«I know that!» Chibiusa replied «Minako-chan, Rei-chan and Ami-chan took me to the Control Center and we looked for all those things I didn't understand after I asked Ikuko-mama where you were and she told me she sent you here to your other dad. I didn't even know I had another grandpa!»
A shiver ran down her back and Usagi's heart sank to the ground.
It could mean only two things: in her future, Chibiusa never had another grandfather, like it was before the time travelling mishaps... or he was dead before she could meet him.
She knew it was irrational, jumping to the worst conclusion, but the news felt like a cold shower. But maybe, maybe it wasn't like that. Maybe there was another explanation.
«Well, in this case, I suppose you'll get to meet him soon...» Mamoru replied, then stopped when he saw Usagi wasn't walking beside them anymore.
«Usako?»
«She broke down» the tiny girl scoffed «Baka Usagi couldn't take in the info and her small brain collapsed»
Usagi's head perked up «Chibiusa!» she shouted, starting to chase the small girl, who stuck her tongue at her and jumped out her reach, but only for a few seconds, because Usagi managed to catch and squeeze her tiny form in her arms.
The small chase had brought her back to Earth, to the situation, to the fact Chibiusa was back and okay, and future was different than she thought, yes, but maybe it was better this way. Maybe she could make it better.
Scratch that. She was definitively going to make it better. She had all her family by her side now.
«Please, don't scare me this way again» she whispered to the girl's ear.
Chibiusa stopped struggling, red eyes went wide open, then she hugged back with a smile «I missed you too, Usagi-chan» was the quiet reply before they untangled «But you're still stupid. How is it that your uniform is so ugly?»
«It's not ugly!» Usagi replied, letting the girl down and fixing her skirt as she got up «It's the Mugen Academy uniform. I go there now»
Chibiusa tilted her head «I thought you left to go to Hero school»
Mamoru intervened «From next year. After she passes the entrance test. Hero schools are still high schools» he explained.
The trio picked pace before Chibiusa asked: «Do I have to go to Mugen too, Mamo-chan?»
«You want to go to school?» he asked back.
«Sure, why not? I never went to normal school until I came here and Ikuko-mama sent me. Before, I was taught inside the Palace. It's not the same thing. Being taught alone is boring» the tiny girl pouted.
The pair of teens looked at her. She didn't appear like a five years-old anymore, she now had the height and features of a six or seven years-old, old enough for elementary school, despite they knew she was, in truth, over 900 years-old.
How many mistakes did their future counterparts make with their daughter? Did they withhold her from normal life experiences out of fear, or did they have other reasons? Was it necessary to raise her so lonely? How did her stunted age factor in all of that? Were King Endymion and Neo-Queen Serenity trying to fix it by sending her back to help her or also to warn their past selves not to make the same mistakes?
«I guess it could be done. Maybe not Mugen, though» Mamoru agreed at the end of a silent exchange of looks with Usagi.
«Why not? I could help Usagi-chan. If she's good enough for undercover operations, so am I» the child opposed.
«Eeeh? What do you mean? I am a full Senshi, you brat!»
Mamoru smiled and took Chibiusa's hand «Chibiusa, we won't put you in harm's way if we can avoid it. One thing is letting you fight alongside us on occasion, another is leaving you alone for hours in a potential enemy's base. Moreover, if you want to try a normal school, it'll be better to attend a regular one, no?»
«Ah!» Usagi exclaimed, hit by a sudden realization after a quick look at her watch «School! I'm going to be late!»
«Go. I can take care of Chibiusa until the end of the lessons» Mamoru assured «We'll come to pick you up»
Usagi hesitated for a second, then she realized he didn't want to take the little girl near Mugen any more than she did and gave him a quick nod «See you later then!» and she sprinted away, leaving the future father-daughter duo behind.
It was hard for Usagi to concentrate on classes that day, more so than usual. Chibiusa's return answered one question, but poised many more and she didn't know what to think of it.
She was happy, that much was sure. She loved Chibiusa and knowing she was okay meant the world to her. Still, it was yet another thing that needed adjustments for, first of all telling her father.
She met with Hotaru at lunch, but even then she was in such pensive mood that the pale girl worried.
«Usagi-chan? Are you okay? I can leave if you...»
«No! No, Hotaru-chan, I'm sorry! It's just that something happened this morning before school and I was thinking about that» the blonde admitted, painting a smile back on her face
«Oh» was the reply.
«Don't worry» Usagi smiled wider «It's nothing bad. It's a happy thing, actually»
Hotaru seemed to relax a bit «I'm glad. I usually bring misfortune to the people around me, or so they say...»
«Hotaru-chan» Usagi interrupted «People don't bring misfortune to one another, especially lovely girls like you»
The other looked down «I wish I could believe it. But you saw it, people here treat you differently since we started spending time together...»
It was true, but Usagi barely even noticed. Schoolwork kept her plenty busy, even with the small malicious jokes from classmates and the less than nice attitude from the teachers, while at lunch she was always fast enough to pick her food and join Hotaru in the quiet spot near the greenhouse they always occupied when weather was nice and the younger girl felt well enough. Other than that, Usagi didn't spend much time at Mugen and she was plenty content not pay her schoolmates any mind. Even Haruka and Michiru had backed off, even if Usagi could, at times, feel their eyes on her.
Hotaru, though, was affected by the situation way more than Usagi was. Although she didn't bring out the topic often, it was clear she felt the ostracism from their schoolmates was her responsibility.
«I had bad grades at my old school too» Usagi dismissed it «People always made fun of me for that, it's no big deal, I promise»
The pale girl nodded, the faintest smile gracing her face, which counted as a victory in Usagi's book. They got up to head back to the respective classes before the bell rang and agreed to meet after class, since it was one of the rare days when Usagi didn't have recovery lessons.
Usagi blessed the bell and packed her bag quickly. She had decided days before to invite Hotaru to join her and the girls to watch Yuuei's Sports Festival, but it always slipped out her mind somehow.
She happily skipped down the corridor, only to stop midway at the sight of a group a bit further, near Hotaru's classroom.
Her friend was on the ground, crouched down the way she did whenever she fell prey of her attacks, books and pencil case spilt from her hands onto the ground. Usagi couldn't see her face, only her crouched form, in the middle of the corridor.
Some other girls approached with fake saccharine offers of help, only to step on her scattered items on purpose.
Usagi walked faster to catch up, ready to help and chase them away, when Hotaru tilted her head upwards. She got up slowly as they shut up and backed down. On their faces there was uneasiness in place of the dismissive behaviour of seconds before.
The metal pencil case was in Hotaru's hand, crunched beyond repair, and Usagi could feel a cold rage coming from her friend, which made her stop a few steps behind. There was something wrong with her, something beyond the illness.
«Hotaru-chan? Are you okay?» she asked gently.
The girl turned, slowly, and Usagi could catch a glimpse of her purple eyes, cold and almost empty, as scary as bottomless pits of darkness.
It was a split second, so fast the blonde could almost believe she just imagined that, if not for the girls who were more or less running away.
Then Hotaru's eyes focused back on Usagi, and in a blink they were back as usual.
«Usagi-chan...» the younger gave a confused glance at her, then at the broken pencil case in her own hand, a feeling of shame washing over her tiny frame.
Without missing a beat, Usagi got closer «Are you okay? It was one of your attacks, right?»
Hotaru touched her head with her free hand «I think so. I'm confused...»
«Let me help you» the blonde said, grabbing quickly her friend's things from the ground, then linked their arms «I'll accompany you home, okay? You said you live close, no?»
The pale girl nodded and allowed Usagi to guide her to the elevators, soaking in the warm feeling she gave off. It would be the first time they got out of school together since Hotaru often left early because of her poor health while Usagi had make-up classes that kept her in longer. Despite the situation, it felt nice. Ordinary. It was a first for the pale girl.
«I'm sorry, Usagi-chan» Hotaru whispered, almost wishing not to be heard.
«What for?»
«You wanted me to meet your important person, but I... I always had bad health, I can't be a normal friend to you... or anyone...»
Usagi shook her head «Hotaru-chan, you're right, you aren't a normal friend. And that's okay. All my friends are special to me. It's not your fault your health isn't good. You can meet them just a moment now, they'll be waiting for me outside, or another day if you feel too bad, so don't worry» she assured. She wished she could do something. That she could use the Silver Crystal to help her, but aside from her current troubles, revealing it in the middle of Mugen Academy was possibly the worst idea.
They got off the elevator and walked slowly outside the building, where Mamoru and Chibiusa were waiting. Both looked a bit surprised by her company, although Mamoru was quick to school his features in neutrality.
«Did you get detention again? We've been waiting for ages!» Chibiusa whined.
«I didn't! I was helping Hotaru-chan collect her things» which was technically true.
«I'm sorry I caused trouble» the pale girl bowed her head in apology, arm still firmly held by Usagi's «I'm Tomoe Hotaru, nice to meet you»
«I'm Chibiusa» the girl replied. Mamoru introduced himself as well, although he had turned wary at her name.
«Hotaru-chan doesn't feel well, I was going to accompany her home» Usagi announced, but the other shook her head.
«Don't worry about me. I live close by and they've been waiting for you, I can go on my own»
«But...»
«Please, Usagi-chan» Hotaru insisted «I'm fine, I only need some rest»
Usagi wasn't convinced, but let it go and nodded «If you say so... See you tomorrow, then?»
The other nodded and bowed again «It was nice to meet you»
«I hope we'll see each other again» Chibiusa chimed. Hotaru's eyes widened for a second, then nodded before leaving.
«We'd better go too» Mamoru observed.
They walked away in comfortable silence, Chibiusa in slight pensive mood.
«She's so pretty,» she said after a while «Hotaru-chan. Her skin seems almost translucid»
A gentle, fond smile found its way on Usagi's face, who nodded «She's very sweet too. I'm sure you'll become friends soon»
«Usako...»
«I don't think she has anything to do with the daimons» she anticipated «She's kind and ill. If her father is involved, I'm sure she doesn't know anything. Anyway, I want to check her home at the first chance»
«That's why you were insisting today? Usako, it's dangerous to go alone, I thought we agreed on that»
Usagi shook her head «She needed help, Mamo-chan. I want to go another day, when she feels okay, I really wanted to help her today. Ah!»
«What?» Chibiusa asked.
«I forgot again to ask her to come with us to the Sports Festival»
«You can try tomorrow. Or call her» Chibiusa suggested.
The blonde nodded, hoping the crisis from today wouldn't mean another couple days off school for her fragile friend.
In the meantime, they had arrived in front of the door of the gray house Usagi was now used to call her home.
«Ready to meet your other grandfather?» Mamoru asked to the youngest.
Chibiusa nodded enthusiastically while Usagi searched in her bag. And searched a bit more. Then started pulling out the books and school items to get to the bottom of the bag, while Chibiusa facepalmed when asked to hold the things.
«Did you forget your keys again, my girl?»
«Ah, papa!» Usagi greeted, with only a side glance at the lanky figure of her father, who had just showed up, then grumbled: «I thought I took them this morning...»
Toshinori shook his head «You'll forget your head somewhere one of those days» he chuckled at his own joke, then took out his pocket his own keys and exchanged greetings with Mamoru too as he went to unlock the door.
From beyond the pile of books, Chibiusa stared at the man with curiosity written all over her face. She for sure couldn't believe this scarecrow-looking man was related to her, if not for the way his bangs parted, the same way hers and Usagi did, and the colour of his eyes and hair. But... he had a gentle voice, and all things considered, he wasn't as scary as his overall appearance could suggest.
She liked that his way to reprimand Usagi wasn't forceful or angry in any way. Ikuko-mama would have shouted half an hour for a thing like that, while he just seemed amused.
It would do.
While they weren't looking, she left the books on the ground, called Luna P out and turned it into an umbrella.
It took a split second for Usagi and Mamoru to realize what she was about to do and they barely had the time to yank the umbrella away from Chibiusa's hands, half-screaming a "no" that had the man turn at them, perplexed.
«There is really no need, Chibiusa» Usagi said, voice two octaves higher than usual.
«It's not raining and we're going inside as usual» Mamoru added, with a tone that was meant to warn the child of other meanings.
Luckily, Chibiusa was smart and, albeit perplexed, got the hint.
Usagi gave back the umbrella and put her hands on the girl's shoulders with a tense smile «Toshi-papa, this is Chibiusa-chan»
The little girl waved and Toshinori gave his best smile in response. Well, the best of his skinny form, that. He knew his looks scared kids and he had given the little girl a few moments to take in his appearance before addressing to her, but...
To be honest with himself, he wasn't expecting the impact meeting the little girl in person would have on him. If he had been surprised when he had seen her in photograph, it was twice as weird having her in front of him. The resemblance with Usagi was uncanny: the spitting image of his daughter, back when she was a little child, only some details, like the hair and the eye colours, were different.
It brought back memories he thought he pushed down. Usagi was the same age this girl looked when he broke most contacts with her. It was a blow to his heart to be reminded of that, a wound he ignored and pushed through.
«Nice to meet you, Chibiusa-shojo. Ikuko told me a bit about you. She mentioned you were coming to visit. Please, come inside»
«Mama did?» Usagi stopped, her eyes wide.
Toshinori nodded as he kept the door open for them «She sent me a message this morning»
«How is it everyone knew you were coming except us?» Usagi complained.
«I wanted it to be a surprise» was the smiling reply from the younger, who was dutifully lining her shoes next to the step.
«You have no idea how worried I've been! This...» the blonde girl caught herself before she could say something too much. She trusted her father with some huge secrets, sure, but she worried making him apart of the matter of time travel could be a little too much even for him. «Oh, my keys. I knew I had them!» she added instead when she saw them fall on the ground from a side pocket of the still open school bag.
«I knew you are scatterbrained, but I didn't think you'd be such a worrywart too» was the light reprimand from the little girl.
«I'm not. Just...» Usagi left the phrase hanging and busied herself hanging her bag.
«The most important thing is that you're with us now» Mamoru intervened, a hand on Usagi's shoulder, who nodded.
They moved to the kitchen, where Usagi started a quest for tea and cookies, while Chibiusa kept looking around with childish curiosity, not sparing a few glances to her future grandfather when she thought he wouldn't notice - which he did but pretended not to.
«Isn't Luna home?» she wondered at some point.
«She must be somewhere in the neighboorhood, I guess. I see her little as of late» Usagi shrugged. Ever since the USJ incident, Luna came back home only for short bouts of time, sometimes reporting interesting things, sometimes only to sleep.
They kept talking about Musutafu and what Chibiusa saw while waiting for Usagi. Or rather, the younger ones did most the talking. Toshinori, instead, stood silent and studied them for a while, then observed, as casually as he could: «You three seem close»
«Her parents had... an incident with Villains, a few months ago» Mamoru explained with a fond smile «They sent Chibiusa to Ikuko-san and Kenji-san until they could take care of her again, but she spent most the time with us. She's very dear to Usako and me both»
Chibiusa nodded in eager happiness «I love them lots too»
«Her parents said she could come and stay with us again to... well, to...» Usagi stalled on her words. They were going to get nowhere with half-truths and she didn't have a lie ready. She hoped Mamoru and Chibiusa came up with something in her absence, but they didn't and Mamoru was almost as much at a loss as she was.
It was Chibiusa who decided it was better to spill the beans: «I am a Sailor Senshi too. Mama and papa sent me here to complete my training so I can start to be a proper Guardian as well. I also know you're All Might. The girls told me everything»
«Chibiusa!» Usagi scolded, half-shocked by the notion the little girl was aware of this secret.
Toshinori sputtered on his tea, then decided to file it away and focus on on the other matter: «Is there such a thing as a Sailor Senshi training?» he wondered, surprised he only heard about it now.
«Not really, no» Usagi scrunched her nose «That's why she's here. She transformed the first time only two months ago and we have more experience, so her parents think it'll be good if she trains with us»
He shook his head «Usagi-shojo, this... You already are preparing for both the Provisional Hero License and the admission test for Yuuei, on top of keeping up with school and the daimons' problem. Do you think you're going to manage?»
«We'll have to. She can't do this alone»
Mamoru nodded «It'll be better if she stays with us than her trying to figure out her powers on her own»
«About that... How long do you think you will stay?»
«Until I finish my training» was the prompt answer «I'm going to stay at Mamo-chan's place» the child added, «Right, Mamo-chan?»
«No way!» Usagi almost flipped the table.
Toshinori frowned. It didn't make much sense that the girl was going to stay with Chiba-shonen if she was Usagi-shojo's relative. At the same time, he knew it would double his troubles having to care for another kid, one as young and feisty as Chibiusa-shojo looked. On the other hand, he couldn't just send her away...
«You are just jealous I can stay at Mamo-chan's and you can't» Chibiusa teased, juggling her legs in glee and Usagi attacked her, at the same time calling for her boyfriend to not agree, much to the older man's dismay.
It was a side of his daughter he had not seen before, but the little girl seemed to have too much fun jumping around not to be caught to be worried of the suddenly aggressive nature the blonde pulled out. "Definitively Ikuko's side" he mused.
Still, since Mamoru looked as if he was unable - or unwilling - to break the fight, Toshinori was forced to buff up and physically separate them, holding them from the collar of the respective uniforms like rebellious bunnies.
The two looked at him with comically equal stares, Chibiusa with slightly wider eyes and mouth open for it was the first time she saw him in that form.
«There is no reason to fight» Toshinori interrupted «We'll make room for you here, Chibiusa-shojo, so you won't have to bother Chiba-shonen»
Mamoru tried to intervene: «Yagi-san, it's no trouble to me...»
«It seems it is for them» he replied, «Are you going to stop fighting now?»
The two girls looked at each other and nodded with disgruntled faces, so he let them down and deflated again. He could feel it was only the beginning of troubles.
«Good. Now let's see what to do»
"What to do" turned out to be relatively simple.
It was a matter of cleaning up the small attic in the house to make a room out of it. It wouldn't make for a large bedroom and it'd take some time to settle it properly, but the alternative was for Usagi and Chibiusa to share the teen's room and neither seemed too keen of this other solution.
It was good that Chibiusa never used a futon before and was eager to try, a little less than the room still looked pretty bare and gloomy even after some intensive cleaning that took away most the afternoon, even with Makoto's zealous intervention later on - Chibiusa had literally jumped in her arms as soon as she saw her - and a hand from pretty much everyone.
«At least this way we don't have to sleep in the same bed» Usagi explained to Izuku when he arrived for their bi-weekly lesson, only to find a new kind of chaos in the gray house.
He had been later than usual because he, Iida, Asui and Uraraka had requested use of one of the gyms for sparring and they had wanted to exploit all the allotted time. It had been Usagi's idea, honestly, although Iida and Asui had gladly joined as soon as they heard him talking about it with Uraraka - which has been a relief because he didn't feel like having another training session with just the two of them, it felt way too...
«And she kicks» Usagi interrupted his line of thought, homeworks forgotten in the rant «I know because she snuck in my bed when she arrived the first time!»
Izuku had not met Chibiusa yet, the little girl was out with Toshinori and Makoto to buy some items to liven up the new room when he arrived, but hearing Usagi so disgruntled about her made him think of some kind of pint-sized, female Kacchan.
When, a little later, she, Makoto and Toshinori arrived, Izuku's expectations were thrown upside-down.
«We're back!» the pink-haired girl exclaimed, the same contagious smile as Usagi's painted on a smaller face and she even had almost the same hairdo. She looked absolutely lovely and happy with her hands full of small bags, while Makoto, right behind, was carrying the bigger ones.
«We bought a lot of nice things for my room» she announced, «Thanks again, Toshi-papa!»
«It's nothing, my girl» the man replied from the corridor.
«Did you behave?» Usagi asked.
Chibiusa scoffed «Of course I did! I am a lady» then she contradicted the statement by sticking her tongue out.
«She did well, princess, don't worry» Toshinori assured «Hello, my boy»
Izuku waved at his mentor, which caught Chibiusa's attention: «Hello. Who are you?»
He got up and bowed «I'm Midoriya Izuku. Nice to meet you!»
Chibiusa stared at him for a long moment, then she smiled again «So you're Izukun! The girls told me about you! I'm Tsukino Usagi. Baka Usagi started to call me Chibiusa, so now everyone calls me that»
«Chibiusa! I'm no baka, you brat!» Usagi replied.
It wasn't the first time Izuku heard Usagi use a harsher tone, the first having been when she scolded Kirishima for his comment about Makoto, then in her bantering with Rei, although it felt a little weird hearing it addressed towards a small girl.
But Chibiusa didn't miss a beat and stuck her tongue at the older girl again, running away again before the pillow Usagi threw her way could hit.
«Oh, I missed this» Makoto noted with a badly hidden smile.
«Princess...» Toshinori scowled.
«She started it!» the girl defended herself, arms crossed. Her father just shook his head.
«Finish your homeworks, Usagi-chan. I'll help Chibiusa settle the room, go on studying, so we can spar a bit later» Makoto advised before she walked upstairs.
With some low-volume grumbling, Usagi went back to the exercise page she was supposed to complete. She and Izuku worked in silence for a while, with the occasional question or explanation, before Usagi went back on the topic of the new development.
«You know,» she said after a burst of crystalline laughter came from upstairs «I'm actually happy she's here. I missed her»
She had a soft look on her face and, although it wasn't properly happy, it was content, light in a way, as if the kid's presence had relieved her of a weight.
From the kitchen's table, where he was starting to work on grading essays, Toshinori saw it too. He found it out of place, as if he was watching a too mature expression on a person too young to have it, something mirrored in Chiba-shonen earlier... like the look of a parent talking about their child.
He shook away the weird thought. The two kids already told him they took care of Chibiusa-shojo when she was in a delicate moment, it was natural they formed a bond of sort. Heavens knew he had started to be overly fond of his pupil mere hours after meeting him.
It still felt weird, and it was bound to feel even more so in the next weeks, at the same time the way they would start to look like a full family felt so natural it filled his old, battered heart with a sort of quiet happiness he couldn't remember he's ever felt.
All seemed too good to last and, obviously, it wouldn't.
Notes:
I know bullies, how they act, their patterns. This didn't help me being safe from them. I had to learn to kick back at some point. Unlike Bakugou, I didn't become a bully myself, but I wasn't far from it at the end of middle school. Then I started high school in another city and bullying became of a subtler, different, more classist type I wasn't equipped for, pushing me back to the start, in a corner, like Hotaru and Izuku and this time I had no means to defend myself. I ended up with anxiety and depression, I still struggle with both at times. But I'm still here.
What I mean is: I know how hard it is. If any of you is in this situation, know things can and will get better. Whether you decide to wait for it to pass or to fight back, you'll be out of it, I promise. Nothing lasts forever. Hold on, it'll be worth it in the long run.
That said, Chibiusa is back and with her the uncanny ability to make friends with self-appointed loners she inherited from her mom. Before anyone asks: NO, I'm not going to ship Bakugou with Chibiusa, rest assured of it. But I'm going to fix him a lot faster (and better) than in the original, the boy has potential but also a couple of things to learn for real... I mean, some bits of chapter 257 of the manga were so upsetting! I still think Bakugou shouldn't be apart of OfA secret and I haven't hated the way he is portrayed as so much in a long while, although ( - mild spoiler - ) I'm glad that Izuku is over his trauma enough to talk normally to him and, of course, the news on OfA's previous users were very interesting (END spoiler - ). So I write Bakugou as he could be, rather than an unsalvageable little shit, and fix him on the way since Horikoshi apparently decided there is nothing to fix.
On another note, I re-wrote the bit with Toshi and Chibiusa twice and the one with Izuku three times. I hope it turned out decent in the end.
guest who asked about Saturn: the answer is likely yes, unless until I get there the plot leads me otherwise, but for now to plan is to stick to Crystal as much as possible.
I'm going to have a busy time irl, so see you all next month!