"Did you hear? Ryoshi's back."

Izuku Midoriya wasn't one to pay attention to gossip. It was crude, childish, and frequently inaccurate. Junior high school, unfortunately, was a breeding ground for it. Luckily, his own social standing in Aldera Junior High made it easy for him to avoid being the target of the majority of it. Besides the occasional bullying for being quirkless, his existence was barely noticed.

Today, however, he found himself becoming curious as he passed multiple whispering clusters of his peers on the way to homeroom. A few female classmates, huddled together next to a water fountain, were being particularly loud, making it difficult for Midoriya to not eavesdrop on their conversation.

And that one simple statement caused his feet to stop moving before his mind could process their words. Shock freezing his muscles.

One of the other girls gasped. "Seriously? She's been gone so long that I figured she'd transferred schools or something. How long has it been? Five months?"

The third girl shook her head. "Six months. She up and left back in September, remember?"

"For real? What's the point of even coming back? The school year is basically over now. We're about to go into our final year. There's no way she can catch up. Where do you think she's been?"

"Someone said she went to prison."

"Not a chance. You think mommy and daddy would let that happen? It was probably rehab. Didn't you see her before she left? She..."

Midoriya tuned out the girls as they started giggling and throwing out more ridiculous theories. Instead, he quickened his pace. His heart pounding so hard it could have burst out of his chest.

When he finally reached his homeroom, he all but slammed the door open. His eyes frantically looked everywhere for the girl before finally zeroing in on Remiko Ryoshi. He blinked once. Twice. Then rubbed the heels of his palms into his eyes before taking in the sight of the smiling girl in front of him. Midoriya could barely believe his eyes.

But there she sat. Healthy and chatting with a few classmates as if she hadn't been basically spirited away for months. Her skin held a healthy glow; a far cry from the ashen-grey it had developed the last time Midoriya had seen Remiko. Her hair had even grown long. Well, longer than she had ever allowed it. The ink-black, almost blue, locks now reached just above her shoulders. At that moment, one of the girls surrounding her desk said something that caused her to giggle. She quickly moved to cover it behind one of her hands. A habit of hers. When was the last time he had heard her laugh?

Every circuit in Midoriya's brain at that moment was in overdrive, trying to piece together everything he was currently witnessing. He wasn't sure what he was expecting, seeing her again, but it wasn't...this.

"R-Remi?"

Though he didn't say it loudly, the girl heard him and instantly her attention was pulled from the others. Her eyes connecting with his and a giant smile formed across her full lips.

"Izuku! I've missed you," exclaimed the taller girl before jumping up to throw her arms around his neck in a tight embrace. Midoriya flustered at both the contact and the happiness overwhelming him at the sight of one of his closest friends. But most of all, he felt relief wash over him. She was back, and she was okay.

It was no surprise that Remiko had been absent again. Over the many years Midoriya had known her, it wasn't uncommon for her to disappear for days, or even weeks, at a time, only to come back as if she were never gone. Her truancies had become something of a running joke within the school. Some of the students even started placing lots, betting on how long she'd be gone for and why. And everyone knew the only reason she didn't get kicked out for her poor attendance was because of her family's influence and money.

But this absence has been long. Significantly longer than any time before. The most Remiko had ever been gone for was a few weeks, and she would often communicate to Midoriya or another of her friends that she was alive and well. This time she didn't. No one had heard even a whisper from her.

So many questions swirled in his mind as he pulled away from the girl in the black junior high uniform. Where did she go? Why did she leave without saying anything? Why didn't she try to contact him while she was gone?

"Remi, it's great to see you," Izuku finally said with a smile before it faltered. "But…but where have—"

"Well this is a new record for you, Slacker!"

The rough voice caused Midoriya to jolt with a whimper and Remiko to turn her smile to another familiar face. "Hey there, Katsuki." Remiko gave a small wave by flicking her wrist. "It's wonderful to see you agai—"

"Don't give me that! Where the hell have you been?" Katsuki Bakugo grabbed the red tie of Remiko's uniform and yanked her forward, as if his loud and angry tone wasn't enough to convey his irritation.

Remiko's smile morphed into an annoyed look before knocking away his hand. "Nice to see you haven't changed much," she grumbled as she fixed the sailor's tie with well-manicured hands.

Bakugo continued to glower at her. "Don't make me repeat myself! Answer the question."

"Ryoshi's parents had to conduct business overseas, so she had to go with them! She got to study abroad," one of her female friends exclaimed dreamily, diverting attention away from Remiko who averted her gaze away from the blonde.

"Can you imagine getting to lay on the beach every day after school? It sounds like a dream," the other girl sighed, dreamily.

"Wow! That does sound amazing," Midoriya exclaimed.

"Yes," Ryoshi smiled, shyly.

But Midoriya's excitement faltered quickly as he processed the information. "But Remi, if that was the case, why didn't you tell anyone? I tried texting and calling you. After you didn't answer for a week, I went by your uncle's shop. He didn't know where you were either. We were really worried."

"Speak for yourself, Deku!"

"Surely you had your phone," Midoriya continued, choosing to ignore Bakugo.

Again, one of her friends jumped in to answer in Remiko's stead. "Believe me, we already asked. According to Ryoshi, cellular signals were basically non-existent there, so communication was a no-go."

Midoriya grimaced before slowly nodding his head. It kind of made sense after all.

"I'm sorry, Izuku. I would have told you if I could."

Bakugo scoffed before shoving his hands in his pockets.

Remiko turned her attention to him, a curious look on her face. "Something to say, Katsuki?"

Bakugo met her look with a glare of his own. He scrutinized Remiko while Midoriya and the girls silently waited. Bakugo's temper was not something they wanted to experience, especially this early in the morning. And Remiko was one to either calm it or set it off; it was a fifty-fifty toss up.

Finally, Bakugo sneered one last time before turning to his seat behind Remiko's. He plopped himself in it before saying, "There's no point. Not like we'd get the truth anyways."

For the first time today, he slid his glare to Midoriya. The green-haired boy shrank away out of habit, but knew the look wasn't malicious for once. Despite his disagreement earlier, Midoriya knew Bakugo had been just as worried about Remiko. He'd never say it out loud though. He was looking at Midoriya because he wanted to validate he wasn't the only one who found the story to be off. Her other friends were too dense to notice, or maybe they just didn't care. Most likely both.

But Midoriya knew. So did Bakugo. These extended absences weren't normal, this last one in particular. The most concerning to Midoriya was that before she left, Remiko was an absolute mess. Yet she had returned shiny and new. As if nothing was out of the ordinary.

Months Later

"Izuku, you're muttering out loud again."

A surprised squeak released from the boy as Remiko sat herself on his desktop. Class had ended and she had made a beeline for Midoriya's desk with the intent of heading him off before he disappeared for the day. Remiko didn't think she would have scared her friend, but as she tilted her head in confusion a grin quickly spread across her lips. He was often deep in thought when he muttered, and she had most likely pulled him from his own mind. Typical Midoriya. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."

After recovering from his apparent pseudo-cardiac arrest, he gave Remiko a nervous grin while scratching the back of his head. "H-hey, Remi."

Remiko casually leaned back on one hand as he began to gather his things and lazily inspected the nails on her other before asking, "So, got any plans for tomorrow?"

"Well, I was planning on getting some more training in," Midoriya stated. He stood from his chair and waited for Remiko to jump off his desk before they departed from their ninth-year homeroom together.

Remiko was about to reply before she noticed his eyes already beginning to lose focus again. His mind most likely already wandering back to wherever it was before. She rolled her eyes with a smile before clasping her hands behind her back. Remiko took a moment to inspect her friend. It was hard to not notice that the once scrawny kid had definitely bulked up over the past several months. The last time she had visited his home, Remiko noticed he had increased his food consumption significantly, and his mother had confirmed this was basically his new normal. She had also noticed her friend doing odd things such as using a hand strengthening apparatus under his desk when he thought no one was looking. "You've been doing nothing but training for the past several months," she giggled. "You've really been taking getting into U.A. seriously, huh?"

Midoriya instantly returned from his mind and nodded his head vigorously. "I have to do everything I can to be at my best by the time the entrance exam comes around!"

Remiko smiled at her friend, but a pang of pity and guilt pooled in her stomach. She wanted to believe in him, she really did. But he was quirkless. The chances of him getting into a hero school, let alone U.A., was slim to none. She didn't have the heart to tell him though. Not that he didn't already know. Bakugo, for instance, was there to constantly remind the poor boy of his unfortunate lot in life. Regardless, she supported her friend in his endeavor.

"Well, surely you won't be training the entire day! Let me know when you want to take a break! There's a new action film that just came out, and I really wanna go see it, Izuku," Remiko pouted to emphasize her desire.

Midoriya chuckled at his friend. "Sure. But isn't the premier tonight? I'd figure you'd rather go to that."

"Yeah, but I have my own training tonight and I can't really bail. Grandmother would kill me," Remiko replied.

"Oh, right. I guess even if you were recommended, you still have to prepare, huh?"

At that moment a hard shoulder knocked into the back of Remiko's own, causing her book bag to fall from it and onto the floor.

"Watch it, Slacker."

Midoriya squeaked beside Remiko and jumped back as Bakugo and his two friends passed by them. Remiko sent a heated glare at the blonde as he and his snickering friends continued down the hallway. He returned a cocky smirk towards her and raised a hand up, releasing a few small explosions, as if daring her to do something about it.

Remiko rolled her eyes at the taunt, knowing all too well that Bakugo was only trying to get a rise out of her. She proceeded to turn her nose up at him before kneeling down to collect her fallen bookbag. She wasn't going to oblige his childish behavior.

"Yeah, that's what I thought. Keep your head down, Slacker," Bakugo remarked before walking away with his snickering friends.

"I guess Kacchan is still upset, huh?" Midoriya asked, skittishly.

"Well, Kacchan, needs to learn to get over it," Remiko spat out the old nickname for the angry boy like venom. Pulling her bag back onto her shoulder, she and Midoriya continued on their way.

Despite her words, Remiko often found herself lamenting about the state of her friendship with Bakugo. When they were children, they were close. The three of them. Often playing hero together or just getting into the kind of trouble young children did. However, all things change with time.

Remiko's quirk was the first to develop. Not surprising given she was the oldest of the three. It first appeared when they were at the neighborhood playground, accidentally manifesting on its own like most quirks do. At the time Bakugo and Midoriya were excited for her; already developing strategies for how she could use her quirk as a hero. She was so happy then, so easily caught up in the excitement her friends exuded.

"We'll all be heroes together, right?"

Remiko laughs to herself from time to time at the words she so naively asked when she was younger. Because now they seemed so impossible. For not long after she developed hers, Bakugo developed his own quirk...his ego soon followed. What was worse, Midoriya was confirmed to be quirkless a few years after.

As they grew older, Remiko and Bakugo began to butt heads. His increasing torment of Midoriya and narcissistic tendencies caused her to chastise him frequently. Then when she wouldn't side with him, or would defend their quirkless friend, it would cause him to ignore or lash out at her. Bakugo's anger with Remiko only seemed to exponentially increase over the years, especially as her truancy record grew. She never really understood why as Midoriya just smiled and accepted her absences; happy that she returned. It was at some point during that time the angry blonde coined his nickname for her. Slacker. He hardly ever called her by her real name anymore.

Up until Remiko told him about her recommendation to U.A. High School's hero course, Bakugo had never truly threatened her, or attacked her with his quirk. She had told him about the recommendation in full confidence he'd be happy. Both for her and at the possibility that they could go to high school together. She even foolishly believed that this could possibly be an avenue to repairing their crumbling friendship. But she had underestimated his anger and ego. She had not fully understood how consumed he was with the idea of being the first student from Aldera to get into U.A.

He had said many things to her that day; most of them hurtful. But what constantly played on loop in her head was him saying, "Who the hell would recommend a slacker like you? Your family probably bought you a ticket in the same way they pay off this God-forsaken school."

She still remembers the anger in his eyes and the scowl on his face. The abhorrence in his voice. It had legitimately stunned her. She had been standing near him at the time and felt the heat building in his palms, but didn't recognize the danger it meant. Remiko wasn't sure if the explosions that flew from his hands had set off on their own accord or at his will. However, if it wasn't for her own quirk, she most likely would have had burns on the parts of her body that were too close to his hands.

Remiko hasn't spoken to Bakugo since.

Remiko felt a hand on her shoulder, drawing her out of her own thoughts. It was Midoriya and he gave her a knowing look, recognizing her stewing silence. After all, he had been present for that particular conversation between the two and knew all too well what it was like to be on the receiving end of Bakugo's wrath. If it wasn't for Midoriya, Remiko might have broken down afterwards. "Hey, don't worry about him, Remi. You know how Kacchan is."

Remiko grimaced. "Yeah, I know. I just wish he'd stop being such a jerk."

Before Midoriya could say anything more a shrill voice caused the pair to stop again. "Ryoshi!"

Remiko recognized the voice belonged to a girl within the female friend group she often sat with at lunch. Before she could really react, the girl all but lobbed onto her. Remiko released a heavy breath as the wind was knocked from her lungs. "Why didn't you tell me you broke-up with Akira?! I had to find out through Sachi of all people! Sachi! That loser in class three! What gives?!"

Recovering from the brutal attack on her lungs, Remiko smiled apologetically at Midoriya. He had covered his ears due to the high-pitched noise released by her friend. If she recalled correctly, it was probably due in part to the girl's quirk. Remiko didn't really bother to remember as she wasn't particularly close to the girl. In fact...she wasn't even sure of her name at the moment.

Remiko sighed. Honestly not in the mood, nor willing to spend the energy on her lunchmate. Remiko knew the only reason she had sought her out was to be the first on some hot new gossip. As was the way with most of Remiko's friends. That's how that particular click worked. Remiko tried to keep her personal information to a minimum with the group but...they could be persistent and sometimes she had to indulge them. So, Remiko smiled before the girl could see the annoyance cross her face. "Sorry, but long story short, it just didn't work out. I'll give you the details later, 'kay? I've got to run. Super tight schedule. You understand?"

The girl seemed disappointed about not receiving the details on her new gossip, but shrugged all the same. A ping sounded from her pocket, and the girl immediately diverted her attention to the text on her phone, a bored expression already overtaking her face. "Fine, Ryoshi. But I better be the first to get the details. I can't believe you let that gorgeous boy go!"

Remiko sent a polite smile towards her. "Of course."

With that, Remiko and Midoriya were finally free to escape the school before anyone else interrupted them. After visiting their lockers and reaching the school gates, they both turned right. Midoriya's home was in the same direction, and not far from the shop Remiko's uncle owns.

"I thought you were going to see your grandmother?"

Remiko nodded. "Yeah, but I have to drop off my stuff and change first." Remiko bashfully kicked a rock along the sidewalk. "Sorry about my friend back there...she can be a bit loud."

Midoriya grimaced in return but shook his head. Essentially telling Remiko there was no need to apologize. Remiko knew he would never say it, but she knew he didn't really care much for her friends. And she couldn't really blame him. They were shallow and gossipy, and they weren't the nicest to him. Mostly tolerant because of his relationship with Remiko. There were a number of times she had to tell them off when they started to belittle Midoriya for being quirkless. He did, at one time, ask her why she hung around what was essentially the snobbiest group in their year, but Remiko couldn't really give him a solid answer.

"So, you broke-up with Akira?" Midoriya asked, evidently deciding to change the subject. Midoriya and Akira didn't know each other, being in different years, but Remiko had mentioned the new relationship briefly to her friend a few months back, so he was familiar with the situation.

Remiko half-heartedly laughed, "Ah, yeah. Actually, he broke-up with me."

The surprise on Midoriya's face was evident. He sent her a quizzical look but she waved it off. "It's no big deal, I'm fine. He said I wasn't invested in the relationship or something like that. I don't know."

Midoriya shot her a skeptical look which made Remiko sigh and roll her eyes but give in all the same.

"After he graduated and went to Shiketsu, it became a hassle, honestly. Going to different schools, being long distance, and all of that just wasn't worth it. So he wasn't wrong. I probably should have ended it, but I guess I was too chicken. It was a relief when he ended it. So I'm fine, Izuku. I promise," Remiko assured her friend with a smile.

The rest of the walk was mostly silent besides a few brief conversations about nothing in particular. Upon reaching her uncle's home and flower shop, Flourish, Remiko invited Midoriya in for some quick tea before he continued home. He declined, stating he had to get some training done today as well. Remiko nodded and watched her friend disappear down the road before she entered the building.

The shop greeted her with a plethora of wonderful fragrances and a warm atmosphere. The vibrant hues from the different flowers created a cheerful tone while the deep color from the greenery kept it from being overbearing. Overall, it was a pleasant place to be as was evident by its consistent clientele.

The shop was busy, especially during this time of the year. People moved amongst the aisles, happily observing the flowers or chatting amongst themselves. Remiko spotted one of her uncle's staff members behind the checkout counter finishing up a customer before making eye contact with her. She smiled at Remiko and pointed to a door behind the counter, indicating that her uncle was next door, in the house attached to the shop.

Remiko waved her thanks to the girl and moved to unlock the door as opposed to going back outside to enter through the front door of the house. Upon entering, Remiko removed her shoes and locked the door behind her.

"Uncle Eiko, I'm home," Remiko announced as she pocketed the key back into her bag. She often felt odd saying that, as Remiko did not technically live here, but the words slipped out of her mouth with ease. Her actual home was significantly further away from her friends and school than Eiko's house, and as such, Remiko preferred it.

Even before she transferred to the Aldera school system, Remiko frequented her uncle's home and the surrounding neighborhood when she was younger, which was how she eventually met Midoriya and Bakugo. As such, she eventually found herself sleeping in the spare bedroom in the house many a nights, eventually making it her own. Her uncle never seemed to mind, nor had his wife when she was alive, as they had no children of their own. And when her aunt had died, Remiko found herself gravitating to the house almost permanently. Her parents, who were constantly away on business trips, never said anything, and again, Eiko didn't seem to mind. He actually seemed to enjoy the company.

"In here, Remi," her uncle's deep voice responded from the kitchen.

Remiko took a running start down the hall only to suddenly stop half way and allow the bottom of her stockings to carry her momentum the rest of the way to the kitchen, gliding across the smooth hardwood floor. She let loose a giggle as she did.

It was the little things.

Upon reaching the kitchen, she grabbed the framing of the doorway to change her direction and bring herself to a halt. As she entered she spotted a fresh bushel of apples sitting in the fruit bowl on the counter and reached for one. She dusted it off before turning to her uncle, who was seated at the western-styled dining table. "Hey, Eiko. I'm just changing before heading out. I'll be back as soon as I'm don– what is that overgrown pigeon doing in our kitchen?"

The giddy mood Remiko was in instantly soured at the sight of the man sitting across the table from her beloved uncle. Eiko Ryoshi made a noise that could only be described as an exasperated groan. The aforementioned man, however, merely smirked at Remiko, his golden eyes flashing with amusement and his large red wings rustled behind him as he twisted to face her.

"Good to see you too, kid," Hawks greeted with a half wave and a cheeky grin. He took a sip of his tea before continuing. "Heard you got recommended to the hero course at U.A."

"Did a little birdy tell you that?" Remiko responded, her voice taking on a childish tone.

"Remi." Her uncle's tense voice and amethyst-colored eyes carried a warning tone. Do not start this again.

"Uncle." Remiko's eyes darted accusingly to her relative.

Hawks seemed to only find it more amusing though and chuckled. "Don't worry about it, Eiko. It's good she's showing a bit of spunk. Why, I remember when we first met. Little Ryoshi was so timid and polite that I thought she was mute. This is refreshing."

Hawks' comment just caused Remiko's metaphorical hackles to rise all the more, but he wasn't entirely wrong. Remiko became aware of the hero's visits not long after Eiko's wife, Asami, died. The first time Remiko had seen him, she was a bit star-struck to say the least. One of the top Pro Heroes was in her home, sharing tea and having a casual conversation with her uncle. Midoriya and Bakugo would of had a field day, but Remiko's brain had short-circuited. Anytime Hawks had addressed her or asked her anything, Remiko was only able to let out a squeak or turn away with a red face in her hands. It was embarrassing to say the least.

After Hawks left that day, Eiko explained the Winged Hero was close to Asami, as she was a mentor of his while he was still a hero-in-training. And even though Asami had long since passed away, he would still come by to pay his respects and visit with Eiko every now and then. After the initial novelty of a Pro Hero in her home wore off, Remiko eventually become accustom to Hawks and his visits and...well...started to find the young hero to be for lack of better words...vexing.

"Remi, can you make more tea and bring the sugar, please," Eiko asked.

"Sure," responded Remiko as she placed her apple down and turned to fetch the items from the cabinets. "Should I get the birdseed out as well?"

"Enough, Remiko." Eiko's voice made it clear. This was her final warning.

Deciding not to push her luck, she quickly brewed the tea and gathered the sugar in silence as the two men continued to chat.

As she brought the items to the table, Remiko noticed something new about her uncle. "Oh! I see the new chair finally came in!"

Eiko nodded his head, and placed his hands atop the wheels of his new wheelchair, giving them an experimental push and pull. "Yeah, comfortable as a cloud and has a bit more utility than the last one! Hell, it's better than any of the ones I had as a kid."

Remiko smiled at him, happy that he was pleased with the new item. His last chair was falling apart, quite literally. Eiko didn't often get things for himself, and had only had a handful of new wheelchairs since he left the family estate years ago. He preferred to put the money back into his shop but at Remiko's badgering, he finally broke down and bought a new one.

"So, I'm curious, Remiko," mused Hawks, drawing Remiko's attention back to him. "If you're accepted, will you go to U.A. or will you go somewhere else like Shiketsu if your friends don't get in?" Hawks asked the question casually, but his eyes keenly watched her. "Don't you have a boyfriend that goes there? I guess that's more motivation to go to Shiketsu compared to joining some childhood friends at U.A. But then again, I guess U.A. is the top desired school to get into."

The question caught Remiko off guard, and she was unable to mask her bewilderment from Hawks' sudden serious gaze. A beat of silence fell before the initial shock wore off, and irritation bubbled in Remiko's chest once again.

"We'll all be heroes together, right?"

Instead of answering his question, she tore her eyes away from his intense gaze. Remiko was not going to play this game with him today. Taking a calm breath, she gave a small bow to them both before saying, "We broke up. And I believe that's none of your business, you nosey bird. Now if you'll excuse me. Grandmother is waiting for me at the main estate and will be cross with me if I'm late."

Remiko left the room, her apple forgotten, and a door in the distant slammed harder than it should before Eiko could protest. Eiko shot a look at the hero across from him.

Hawks glanced at Eiko with a bashful grin on his face and shrugged his shoulders before he rested his chin in his palm. "Oops. Guess I pushed too hard."

Eiko was not as amused. He closed his eyes as he took another sip of tea as well. "If you keep up these blatant antics, she'll catch onto what you're doing."

Hawks merely chuckled. "That's how I keep her from suspecting me. By using blatant antics."

"Enough."

Upon hearing the singular word, Remiko released her arms from around the young man's throat and unwrapped her legs from his torso. He wasted no time to scamper away. His muscular chest heaving up and down trying to regain his breath that she had attempted to steal from him. Remiko remained on the floor, also attempting to regulate her breathing, but not to the same extent as her opponent. After all, she wasn't the one who had been caught in the choke hold.

"Stand up, Remiko."

Remiko's body moved before she even fully processed the words. Her muscles aching in protest.

Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and likened her posture to that of a soldier before looking at her grandmother, Sanoko Ryoshi.

The elder woman regarded her just as coolly, her eyes scanning over Remiko before addressing the young man on the other side of the mat; not even bothering to glance his way. "Take your leave."

"Yes, ma'am." He bowed before quickly leaving the gymnasium to just the two Ryoshi women. Remiko knew he was more than happy to leave. Knowing all too well the atmosphere her grandmother creates with her presence alone. It can be suffocating.

"That last round was sloppy," Sanoko began to circle her granddaughter, her black dress flowing elegantly around her. Remiko continued to face forward, not daring to move a muscle. "You lost your footing and had to resort to working from the ground. I am disappointed."

"It will not happen again, ma'am," Remiko responded, robotically. She knew arguments and excuses were not acceptable to her grandmother.

"No it will not. Also," Sanoko stood again in front of Remiko. Her eyes slid to the side of Remiko's head before her hand darted out to gently take hold of a strand of Remiko's hair. A piece had escaped from her bun during the match. "I do wish you'd cut your hair, darling."

Remiko's mouth twitched.

Her own eyes moved to the matriarch's hair, ink-black like her own, only elegantly peppered with grey strands and cut in a fashionable asymmetric bob. Remiko had no desire to cut her hair, having successfully grown her thick locks below her shoulders. The last time she had cut it was before she left for the six month trip with her parents, and it was at her mother's behest.

Sanoko seemed to ignore the silence and release the hair strand by tucking it behind Remiko's ear. Her cold hands sent a shiver down Remiko's spine. "Well no matter."

She stepped back a few steps to get a full view of her granddaughter before starting to pace around her again.

"While your performance tonight has been subpar, I trust you will pass your tests come time for your entrance exams. I will not have you make a fool of this family."

"Yes."

"Yes, ma'am," her grandmother corrected sharply. Her eyes flashing.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good," Sanoko smiled coolly. "As you know, I find this...endeavor of yours to be foolish. Heroism is not the way of this family."

Remiko found that familiar feeling of dread welling within her and she couldn't stop her eyes from wandering to the padded floor. Small speckles of blood remained on the mat from when Remiko had split the young man's temple open by accident. Remiko bit the inside of her cheek.

"However, I will humor it for now. The training hero courses provide could be beneficial in the long run. But understand." A hand suddenly grasped Remiko's jaw, nails digging into her cheeks, forcing her eyes to meet her grandmother's. Remiko met the gaze of irises the same amethyst hue as her own. "You have obligations to this family and to this business. Never forget that this is your priority. I will not have you playing hero get in the way of that. Am I understood?"

"We'll all be heroes together, right?"

Remiko hesitated and that was all it took to provoke her grandmother. Remiko suddenly was thrown to her back before she could react and the effects of her grandmother's quirk immediately took hold of her muscles like snakes wrapping around its prey. Her muscles seized involuntarily, causing Remiko to release a gasp of pain before she could stop it. The sensation lasted only a few moments, only to prove a point, but Remiko was left gasping for air all the same when she was released.

Flesh Wield, Remiko thought to herself. What an appropriate name for such a quirk.

"Get up," Sanoko commanded.

Not daring to disobey orders, Remiko once again stood at the command of her grandmother, despite the protest of her aching muscles.

Remiko's grandmother coldly observed her in silence for a few more seconds before saying, "Am I understood?"

"Yes, ma'am."

A pleasant expression settled across Sanoko's face. "Good girl."

"May I leave now, Grandmother?"

"Just one more thing, dear. Show me your arms."

Not wishing to suffer the wrath of her grandmother again, Remiko obeyed the command without hesitation. She moved to roll up the long sleeve on her black crop-top until the material gathered at her shoulders.

Her grandmother's gaze locked in on her biceps, or more specifically, the small apparatuses on them. Wrapped around each arm sat what appeared to be a thin layer of metal. Each simple in design and a brushed silver in color. They were small. Barely four centimeters wide and two centimeters thick, encircling the muscle. Remiko often forgot that they were there as they weighed almost nothing.

Sanoko reached out and traced the one on her right arm with a slim finger, lightly grazing Remiko's skin in the process. It took everything in Remiko to not flinch away. She knew better.

Finally, her grandmother retracted her arm and smiled almost lovingly at Remiko. "Good girl," she repeated. "Give my son my regards."

A/N: Hello everyone, and welcome to my story. The idea of this came to me a while back and has been sitting up in my mind for months now so I finally decided to get it out. A few notes for the beginning/disclaimers. I realize this first chapter jumps around a lot and might not make a whole lot of sense, but I had to set up a lot of ground work from the get-go. Things will be explained in future chapters. Also, Remiko is going to be rather bland for the beginning, but we shall see *growth*. Same for her quirk, as I love character's who's quirks become stronger as oppose to being strong right off the bat. Hopefully it will be original, but considering how many stories are out there, I'm sure there will be some similarities. While I'm a sucker for slow-burns, I'm also a sucker for build-up and flipping people's perspective on characters (Bakugo is one of my favorite character's in this series for that reason). Now hopefully I can live up to my own expectations. So, with that being said, please enjoy. Also, this story is cross-posted on AO3 and Wattpad. However, this is my favorite platform, so things will be updated here first. :)