Heroes to Hunters
Chapter 15
I'm gonna try to focus on a few other things before moving on to Kamura village. Including a few others who might be hooking up in the UA group or outside. So on with the show.
(No POV)
With the defeat of Zorah Magdaros, all of the hunters and researchers were looking to celebrate for the next few days. A few still did, but others got down to business on the next leg of work. Except for a few from UA. As the three were leaving Izuku's apartment, a group of their fellow students were standing there waiting. "Uhhh. Hi guys. Um is something wrong?" Izuku said nervously. Ochaco and Setsuna were also a bit uneasy and ready to run at the first twitch.
But Itsuka was quick to step in. "I think we not only need to talk, but we'd like to know when this started." She says with a look that says she isn't taking no for an answer. The three lovers look between each other and acknowledge there is no way they are getting out of this. So, with an in-sync sigh, they agree to come along. They meet at a larger section of the canteen for the discussion. Bakugo, who looked like he was about to blow something up then entire time there and, on the walk, over, is the first to ask. "When and HOW the Hell did this happen?!" "Do you actually need a birds and the bees talk?" Setsuna says with a teasing grin on her face.
This gets a few people laughing, but Ida is quick to get them back on track. Demanding, "I am genuinely concerned when this happened as well though! Midoriya you surely haven't been in a relationship with Tokage for long, have you?" "Um not exactly. It well happened when we were staying in Seliana. At least officially. After we all slept together during a big blizzard…." "YOU WHAT?!" The other students shout, and Izuku comes back to embarrassingly realize he just told them all they had sex.
"Son of a bitch! Ha. Kaminari. I owe you some money and I'll help you with a few hunts. No complaining. You were right. Something did happen there." Bakugo says with his face in his hand. Kaminari remarks, "I can't even be happy that I was right." Mina and Itsuka come up to both girls next and ask for details. Though the later seems to be more concerned and wondering if this has to do with her issues. Mina though….. well. "Soooo. Midori popped your cherry eh? Was it good?" She says with a shit eating grin to beat all others.
For the ones being interrogated, they all can't stop blushing. With Izuku stammering out an apology to both girls for revealing that detail. "Its not your fault Izuku. Well not entirely. I think we're all a bit nervous with this whole matter." Toru is quick to step up and say, "let's ease up a bit guys. I don't think they need the third degree. And besides. Who's to say others of us haven't started their own relationships." She says that last part quietly and with a blush. Ojiro was also blushing, so a few people put two and two together.
While there were a few who were wanting to question the other pair, there are more who are interested in the polygamous relationship before them. "Okay. So, if I'm following what Setsuna and Ochaco have said, some of this started not long after Midoriya was found. Correct?" Ida asks with a chop of his hands. At their affirmative, Setsuna explains that some of her issues. Dodging around the illegal actions she had done to get into Izuku's room. "A little before we went to Seliana, I confessed to Izuku about how long I had liked him. Setsuna did the same, and we were both willing to wait for an answer. Though we did both kiss him before we left." Ochaco continued the story, with a few giving an 'ooooohh' when they heard that.
"Anyway, they hadn't done anything after that. And when Sig mentioned that the springs could heal me, I took the offer. But I knew I wasn't going to be able to get around, so the girls came with me. At first we kept it…. Well PG. Even when I and the rest of us bathed in the springs, we all wore special easy dry pants and tube tops. Though Set was ready to rip me a new one after I almost drowned in the bath." Izuku said. With a few commenting in the background about the differences in the bath culture. And Bakugo making a 'weak' comment at hearing Izuku had almost drowned. To which both Setsuna and Ochaco punched him in the face.
Ochaco continued the story by mentioning that a big blizzard had forced them all to sleep together. "Quite literally. Eh Ocha?" Mina said with the same look on her face and a teasing lilt to her voice. With seeing how uncomfortable Mina was making her, Izuku surreptitiously hit the pink haired girl with some sleep ammo. And she was out like a light. "Moving on. After the blizzard, I had felt we jumped the gun a bit. (No kidding!) So, I suggested we go on a little date out in the snow. We explored the Reach a bit and around that time we found Akatsuki. Once we got back we had just wanted to keep our relationship a bit quiet but I guess that can't happen now." Izuku says with a slightly downtrodden face. A few of the others feel bad about putting them on the spot so they apologize for the ruckus.
Mineta then notices that both girls are wearing Dragonseal earrings and comments with a grin, "guess you mean it when you want to do right by both of them Midoriya. You got both Dragonseal earrings to match their old costumes." When he said that, the girls go over and get a good look at the accessories. Commenting the shimmering pink of the gems in Ochaco's and the green and purple stones set in Setsuna's. "You go Mido-bro. Taking care of your girls. So manly!" Kirishima says with a big smile as well and congratulating the three on their relationship.
With the interrogation over, Izuku gets prepped for his next big hunt. Hunting the Banbaro wyvern in the Hoarfrost Reach. With Setsuna tagging along as a handler. She was less afraid of the wilds, but she was still more for walking slow and not jumping into insane danger right away.
Bakugo is still planning to follow through on his hunts of all of the top monsters in each major zone. He had taken out the Rathalos and Rathian in the Ancient Forest, as well as beating another Rathian in the Wildspire wastes. And solo hunting a Diablos. Though he did get knocked out two times before beating it. His next targets were the Legiana in the Coral Highlands, and a Devilhijo.
Or they would be, but he still felt he needed to pay up to Kaminari. The former electric boy asked for his explosive friend's help in taking out not just a Girros and Tabi-Kadachi but hunting a Fulgur Anjath. "It's like a lightning version of the Anjath. I was looking into upgrading, and…. Well matching what I used to be able to do. So I need the super electric and lightning gear right? You might do the same." He explains that there were a few monsters around in the Highlands and Elder's Recess that had explosive powers and attacks. He even showed Bakugo what some of the armors and weapons looked like. The temperamental blonde nods before saying, "I think I will do that. Thanks for the suggestions Kaminari. I mean I hadn't even looked into some other cool new potential for my look."
When they head off, Kaminari finally realizes that Bakugo had called him by his real name. No more of just calling him his often-rude nicknames. With a smile the darker shade of blonde follows the ash blonde for their hunt into the Recess and Ancient Forest. When they have left, Ojiro and Toru head out for their own hunts in the Rotten Vale. "Are you sure you're okay with just being blunt about our relationship Toru? I thought you wanted to keep it quiet for a while?"
"I did, but I guess I…. I just wanted to tell people after all. Is that wrong?" She says with a slightly defensive but somewhat shy tone. Ojiro just shakes his head before saying, "No. It's fine you just surprised me. Didn't think you'd drop that right away. But back to the mission. Do you want to come out with me or are you good staying at the camp?" Toru thinks a bit before saying she'll stay at the camp for a while. Stating she wants to make a few extra potions and other elixirs in case it's needed.
Kinoko and Koda in the meantime had been working more with the researchers to search for a possible cause of the monsters returning and why some corpses were covered in exciteshrooms. "Its not uncommon for a variety of mushrooms to be found in the Vale. But the number of just one type of mushroom is strange." A researcher explains while looking over some tomes. Kinoko brings up that, "they didn't even appear to have eaten anything strange. It's like the spores are spreading unnaturally." "Maybe a carrier monster of some sort? While mosswine are common and small, maybe some new species has shown up? Like a bigger or faster moving version." Koda says in a quiet tone.
Even with a few new details coming in each day, the researchers have little luck finding a cause. After work one day, Koda offers to buy Kinoko's meal. "Thanks, Koda-kun! Any reason you wanted to?" Koda coughs a bit before saying there wasn't a reason. "I just wanted to do it." He says this with a shaky smile on his face. She laughs a bit and offers to pay him back another time. "Kinoko you've actually been out in the field, right?" At her affirmative, Koda asks what it is like and she tells him about not just the monsters and terrifying parts. "But the views! And the other cool creatures and animals wandering around it is incredible to see. Why do you ask?"
Koda bows his head a bit before admitting he's only been to the Research Base and around Astrea. "I'm still scared to go out there. After what we saw when we first got her, I've been terrified. I'm better than I was but I still….." "Then maybe we need to take you out to see it." Kinoko says with a gentle smile on her face. She brings up that she wanted to gather a few mushrooms and plants around the Forest and Wastes. "You could come with me? Maybe give you a chance to get to know more of the animals of our new home?"
Koda looks up at her with a bit of nervousness, but see's she does have a point. "Okay….. maybe tomorrow. I'll get some gear from the forge." Kinoko's smile grows wider and she decides to do the same. The next day, the two get some leather gear for Kinoko to wear and a bone bow. Koda though goes for the metal sword and shield with some chainmail armor. When they leave for the expedition, Koda is still feeling extra nervous. But Kinoko reaches out her hand to take his and gently pulls him out into the wilds.
He gulps and winces when he steps out. But when he does, he is somewhat in awe of the gentle beauty around him. Nothing like the first day they arrived. Even seeing the Kestodon on the beach eating is its own kind of relaxing. Kinoko smiles before pulling him again to search a few areas for special plants. As the day goes on, Koda relaxes a bit more and starts to enjoy exploring the regions. He even faced some of his fear of monsters by feeding some young Aptonth.
But his biggest challenge of the day came when they were exploring the Wastes. While collecting plants in the swampy area of the region, Kinoko was knocked over and back by a Barroth. Koda had froze at the point, so Kinoko was on her own and trying to take some solid shots with her bow. But I wasn't enough to stop when the beast reeled back and rushed her with it's head plate. After that, Kinoko was barely able to stand and the Barroth was getting ready to attack again. But Koda remembered what Izuku had said.
That he had faced great terrors more than once, and still chose to stand as a hero. "No more hiding." Koda said to himself while gritting his teeth. He fired a flash ammo shot before getting in close and attacking with his sword. And when the Barroth swung at him, he quickly blocked. But he continued to keep the monster's attention on him. Not Kinoko.
Who had just started to wake up and saw the timid hero of class 1-A willingly facing a monster. She smiles before shouting, "I've got your back Koda-kun!" and starts peppering the Barroth with arrows. Even using a few coatings to boost her damage. After about 15 minutes of fighting, the Barroth falls. Koda is exhausted, wet and his head is ringing. But he feels better than he has in months. "Not quite what I had in mind for helping you get used to this world. But It'll work. Thanks for saving me Koda-kun." Kinoko says with a small smile. She then proceeds to kiss the shy boy's cheek before saying they need to explore for more plants.
All the while more and more hunters face off with the newly moving in monsters. Itsuka is scared of the beast at first but eventually kills a Nargacuga. Momo, Kyoko, and Shoto each work with each other to take out monsters they felt would fit their styles. With Shoto taking the lead on hunts for Legiana and the Rath duo and using the switch axe and charge blade up close. Jiro, when she switched to offense with her gunlance, bow or longsword would face off with Palomus and Pukei-Pukei. Momo though had taken the lead in on hunts for Tigrex and Rajang. All the while there was some tension between all of them. But none chose to act or say anything on it.
For the main threeway couple, they each worked together to grow their skills. And in Setsuna's case her courage. She still stuck to ranged combat and was getting the hang of the heavier bowgun power. Ochaco though stuck to up close combat and the like. And Izuku had made a special kind of stride, by mastering all of the weapon types. He still had trouble with the musical element to the Hunting horn but was still able to adapt to any role.
It was in this he had the idea for a special hunt the three of them could do. "This may not sound the most heroic. And definitely not romantic, but what about the three of us going on a long hunt for a few Kirin?" Setsuna's eyes bugged out at the suggestion before asking if he was crazy. He shook his head before explaining it was to boost the girls' skills more and get them a chance to earn better gear. "You haven't even used your Nergigante armor in the last 10 days. This would be a good excuse to wear it."
Setsuna narrowed her eyes at Izuku before saying, "You just want to see me in it don't you." Ochaco is also giving him a look. He relents by saying, "Okay yeah. I mean you've worn the armor a few times. And it looks good, but I think this could help you in a lot of ways." He then mentions that Ochaco also hasn't made use of her new weapons and armor either. Setsuna is still a bit scared and ask to sleep on it.
"I think he's trying too hard to help you Set." Ochaco says on their way to their apartments. Setsuna nods but says, "I think it's his nature in a lot of ways. Remember what he finally opened up to us about with his past." Ochaco looks down while nodding. Remembering the story, he told them about his quirklessness and the nightmare he had to suffer through. Even with how badly he's been treated by Bakugo, he would still try to save him. "Btw, we're both still going to put a few things in his gear, right?" "Oh, Hell yes. I'm not letting that asshole get off with what he put our boyfriend through." Setsuna says with a fierce look in her eyes.
Once she is home, Setsuna goes over the idea a few times in her mind. She still really scared of this world. 'But Izu is right. I've faced off with the Elder drag that kills Elder drags. Maybe…. Maybe I can try to face this as well.' As she is thinking that Akatsuki comes out of nowhere and flops into her pond. She laughs a bit before helping the rapidly growing canyne out. The dog then grabs a package from his back. Setsuna opens it and sees it is a letter from Izuku and a wulg scarf from her fighting the beasts to save Akatsuki. The letter is from Izuku saying that he was sorry about pushing as much as he had. And admitting that he often pulled her into hugs while sleeping together because he could tell how tense and scared, she still was. And that he wanted to be there for her if she ever needed it.
Setsuna just looks down and sighs before reaching up for the earrings he had given her. With a smile and deep breath to calm her final nerves, she resolves to join Izuku and Ochaco on the hunt for a couple of Kirin.
So yeah, that'll be what next chapter will be focused on. Also, I'd be willing to say, Itsuka would be wearing the Nargacuga B+ armor. Ya'll can't tell me she wouldn't look good in it. As for the other's leave some comments on what you may think of the pairings I did.