~{Author's Pre-Notes}~
Alright, you know the drill. There's the usual depression and procrastination that leads to me not being able to write shit, and after a few months of brooding, I come back. Woo-hoo.
But at least this time I got something in addition to this chapter. I'm sure you've already seen it or will be notified of it soon, but I also got out another chapter of Galar's Secret Miracle because I felt like it's been a while and I tend to write small bits of that whenever I don't feel like I can write shit for this fic. Hope you guys enjoy that, hope you enjoy this chapter that was way too much trouble writing and made me regret writing earlier things. So good night, good day, I'm out. No post-chapter notes this time.
-{Pikaboo73: February 5, 2022}-
Answered Comments (Oldest to Newest):
Bonkey1996: Yeah, Emerald is gonna be something more in the future, or so I'm thinking so.
PasiveNox: The 'they're both bottoms' thing is more of a reference to a meme more than anything. But I still feel like Izuku and Ochako would be bottoms, (at first.)
Evan Blue Rowe: Good to see your encouragement, and I hope you deal with your own writer woes.
Jak: Thank you. Hope you enjoy that Galar's Secret Miracle chapter with this.
all514yer987: Actually, yeah. Enso can technically form different weapons with his energy, but depending on the size, shape, and density of the weapon he makes will determine how much energy he'll have to push from himself to make it. That's why Enso mainly forms a dagger, because it's small but he can make it dense and sharp, and if it breaks he wouldn't have lost too much energy from it.
Deadsori: Honestly, I could care less about the new chapters and revelations for mha at this point. I'm just gonna do what I wanna do.
"No."
Enso's response seemed to freeze time itself, with Izuku left frozen in his bowing position. At the same time, Emerald remained behind the green boy, staring up at the new human curiously without movement.
It wasn't until after five seconds after his declaration that a leg swung at him, to which Enso had to jump back to avoid.
And when he landed, he looked ahead to see Izuku with a flexible leg up along with a murderous glare on him.
Which only lasted for a few seconds before it changed to a surprised look.
"Ah, sorry." He lowered his leg and coughed into his fist. "Natural reaction."
"Hell of a natural reaction..." Enso sweatdropped, standing up but ready for another attack to come his way.
"Let me try that again."
Izuku closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then put his hands together in front of his face in a praying motion.
"What-"
He then pointed them at Enso.
"-the FUCK do you mean no?"
Enso merely responded with an exasperated sigh as his index and thumb rubbed his closed eyes.
"Izuku, you didn't seriously come to me and somehow expect me to fix Uraraka's financial situation, did you?"
"I did! I thought you'd know exactly what to do! Haven't you been gambling!?" Izuku retaliated as Emerald curiously started to wander off on his own.
Enso pinched the bridge of his nose. "Izuku, I lost any opportunity to go gambling the moment my face was shown at the sports festival, no doubt resulting in everyone getting the implication that I'm a minor."
"But didn't you get rich gambling before that!?"
He rolled his eyes. "Not even close. All the money I've earned went into renovating this dojo. The spending funds I have left are for any outings, whether mine or yours, like your date with Mina. I don't have the money to prevent a whole construction company from going bankrupt. Do you know how much that'd be? Besides, I stopped gambling even before the school year started since Toshinori offered to pay for any other expenses I needed."
Izuku blinked at a certain part of Enso's words, to which a hopeful look of realization stuck to his face as he punched into his palm.
"That's it! All Might!"
"Won't work."
"What!? Why not!?" Izuku looked baffled at the immediate rejection.
"You might be surprised, but when Toshinori lent me money before, he mentioned that he has much less money than you'd assume he'd have. I doubt it's enough to keep a whole company from going bankrupt without inconveniencing himself."
"Eh!? But he's the number one hero! Shouldn't he be rich!?"
Enso shook his head. "Not when he always give it away to charities or communities that need it."
"A-All Might..." Izuku had his hands over his mouth with tears waterfalling in admiration, reminding himself how honored he was to be the number one hero's successor.
But he suddenly shook his head side to side with his panic returning.
"Wait, then what are we supposed to do!?"
Enso shrugged. "We? It was you who said you'd fix her situation."
Izuku grasped his head and looked down in hopelessness. "B-But my financial situation isn't that good either..."
"That sounds like a poor person's problem."
Izuku looked up at him, holding a blank expression now.
...
He brought up an authoritative finger.
"Listen here, you little shit-"
"You say 'little,' but I'm taller than you."
That was all it took before Enso found himself avoiding kick after kick from Izuku's lightning-covered legs, even having to activate Snipe Style to match his speeds.
They bounced around the room for about a full minute before both males landed a few yards away from each other, both lightly panting.
"I see you've been practicing with your legs more." Enso acknowledged.
"Yeah, been thinking of making a style around them to kick your ass."
"In the literal sense?"
"What do you think?"
"...Noted."
"Okaaaaaaaaay-"
Both of them blinked in surprise as Ikari's voice cut in, the entity emerging from onto Izuku's shoulder as the same hawk he had been earlier in the day.
"Well, that was amusing. But this doesn't really help with mochi girl's problem."
"Ikari, how long have you been listening?" Izuku asked curiously.
"I came out about a moment ago and heard you explaining to Enso about mochi girl's problem. Oh yeah, how was your date?" The currently hawk-shaped quirk asked as he flickered his tail feathers.
Izuku looked perplexed. "Wait, so you weren't watching us during it?"
Ikari shook his head.
"Nope, when I said I'd take my leave, I actually meant it. I left from out 'here' and went back into your head. So if you did the deed, then I wouldn't know."
"The deed?" Izuku tilted his head in confusion
"But anywho, about mochi girl." Ikari turned his attention to Enso, who closed the distance between them. "Let's just call rat man!"
Izuku gasped in realization.
While Enso's already stoic expression turned completely dead.
"No."
"Immediate rejection!?"
Izuku stepped forward with hope in his eyes. "But Enso-!"
"No."
"Cmon-!"
"For the love of whatever gods this world has, no."
"He might be Ochako's only chance!" Izuku pleaded.
"And he likes you!" Ikari added.
"He doe not like me. He likes to inconvenience me. And if I were to go to him for any help, I don't think I'd be able to hold back from punching that smug face I know he'll give me." Enso rebutted, even raising a fist in front of him.
"But it's not really to help you. It's to help mochi girl!"
Enso pinched his nose with a groan. "Izuku, why can't you just ask him yourself?"
"Because we'll probably be guaranteed the help if you're the one asking?" Izuku uttered with a shy shrug.
...
"P-Please, Enso! If you do... I-I'll... Oo! I know! I'll ask Momo to get you some international ingredients hard to come by!"
"!?"
Enso's head snapped to him, eyes sharp.
"From anywhere?"
"Y-Yes..." Izuku looked down nervously. "I hope so..."
...
"Fine... I'll try."
Izuku raised his head with his eyes brightening.
"And food wins in the end..." Ikari sweatdropped.
Enso proceeded to walk away as he brought up his watch and tapped the screen a few times.
"I'll call him now. But I'm making no promises. And also..."
He stopped and turned around to point at the ground beside Izuku.
"Your wild animal is gone."
"Eh?"
Izuku glanced down and around him, realization kicking in.
"What wild animal?" Ikari asked with a tilt of his head.
Izuku wasn't listening and instead grew in a panic.
"When did-!? Where did he-!? Emerald! Where are you, boy!?" He called out, frantically looking around the room.
"Deku."
"Eh?" Izuku glanced up at the balcony.
Hero Killer Stain, although currently as the 'civilian' Chizome Akaguro, was looking down at him from over the edge of the wood railing.
It weirded out Izuku to look at him sometimes. Because it just felt so... odd to see Chizome wearing casual clothing and with a tired expression compared to how murderous and insane he looked in his villain costume.
Black tank-top, gray sweatpants, and black sneakers made up his attire, with his hair even tied in a small ponytail. He didn't have a mask on, revealing his noseless face that didn't go well with his sharp eyes.
Izuku was still never gonna be used to the fact that he was just with them somehow, especially with all the heroes he's killed. But apparently, Chizome had been rather accepting of the situation despite the murderous glares he sent Iida sometimes whenever they sparred.
But as for his attitude towards Izuku, it was clear that the on-hold villain viewed him in a bright light.
He remembered Chizome asking him just what was his hero name, to which he had answered, 'Deku.' And from there, Chizome only ever addressed him by such name, as it was meant to be a name 'that would strike fear to the corrupted souls.'
But setting aside all these things about Chizome (for now), Izuku wondered what he wanted while immediately getting cautious.
"Hi, Stainy!" But compared to his partner, Ikari casually waved a wing at the murderer like saying hi to an old friend. "What's up?"
Chizome didn't seem to acknowledge Ikari and kept his gaze on Izuku but lifted up his right hand to reveal that he was holding.
"This yours?" He asked with a gruff voice.
Izuku blinked at the small pup being held up.
And said pup was comedically white and lifeless, his soul starting to leave his body.
"EMERAAAAAAAAALD!/A PUPPY!?"
~{Enso's Bedroom}~
"I really don't wanna do this..."
The stoic teen stared down at his watch, his eye twitching at the thought of initiating a request with him. It was bad enough that he had somehow made eye contact with the rodent earlier when he had been following Izuku and Ochako, but now he actually had to call this monstrosity of an annoyance?
And yet, he merely took a frustrated sigh, sat on his rarely used bed, and confirmed the request on the screen to put the call through.
It was only a few seconds before the rodent picked up.
*My, my, to think that the rebellious Enso-kun would give the supreme overlord a call. Did our recent interaction today prompt you to desire some of my beloved company?*
Enso could practically picture the smug grin on the other side.
"You know damn well I wouldn't want to call you just to 'chat.'" He narrowed his eyes.
*And here I thought we could meet up and enjoy ourselves over a cup of tea!* Nezu cackled.
Enso sighed and rubbed his temples. He was so tempted to hang up.
*So, how was your day? I know that spying on students enjoying their youth must've been gratifying for you, wasn't it, Enso-kun?*
Enso did not want to discuss that.
"Nezu, please set aside your eldritch being madness for one minute so I can ask for your assistance. There's an issue."
*Oho? Distant Enso-kun asking little old me for support? Alright, I'll even set aside that comment of yours to ask what's the matter about!*
Finally, it seems like they can have an actual discussion.
"As you've witnessed earlier today, Uraraka and Izuku went out together on a date." Enso started.
*Indeed! It was satisfying to see that my calculations were correct in that she'd be the first to act upon her feelings. It gets really unhealthy for you humans to bottle things up for so long.* Nezu chuckled.
"Of course you had your own predictions... Wait, if that's the case, then do you even know why Uraraka ended up acting first?" Enso raised an eyebrow.
*Now, what kind of question is that? Shouldn't it have been obvious that out of the other eggs in Midoriya's basket, Uraraka was the one bound to crack first?*
Enso sighed. "Well, you ended up with the right result, but not through the right prediction..."
*Oh? Then I suppose that means there must have been some other influence on Uraraka's actions? Is this related to the issue you mentioned?*
"Yes... Apparently, she'll be dropping out of U.A due to financial issues."
There was a cold moment of silence, and Enso thought he heard Nezu place his cup of tea down.
*And when does she plan on doing so?*
"From what I heard from Izuku, she could be leaving back to her hometown any day now."
*But she just passed her final exams, did she not? Why decide now to depart? When did her financial situation suddenly sink so low that she'd have to drop out this quick?"
"I don't know much about Uraraka's personal life, but the cause of her financial drop is that her family's construction company is going bankrupt. Therefore, she can't afford to remain wherever they live and instead have to move back to their original hometown."
*Construction company, you say? Do you perhaps have the name of it?*
"Sorry, but I don't-"
*Nevermind, it was fairly simple to find. Uraraka Construction Force. They claim that compared to most other construction companies, they take their time to ensure that whatever buildings they construct will always end up in the best condition to last decades longer. But in return, their prices are higher, and their work takes more time to finish than other companies, so it makes sense why simplistic humans wouldn't appreciate this.*
"I see... People would rather pay cheaper for a structure and don't care that it'll become run-down since they'd most likely be gone by then." Enso rubbed his chin.
*Precisely! Some humans are just that short-sighted and don't tend to think of the next inhabitants of the buildings they create. It's a reason why so many homes end up worn down after merely one lifetime.*
"I wonder if this dojo is one of them..." Enso questioned as he looked around his room, still finding signs of worn-down areas even with the work he had put into it.
*But this is rather convenient, as this is precisely the type of company I need!*
"...That you need?"
*Indeed! I've been forming contracts with some American businesses, and I've taken the liberty of offering them assistance to create branches here in Japan!"
"And... in return, they'll owe you... right?"
*You know me so well, Enso-kun!* Nezu laughed over the call. *But of course, I'll make sure they get the highest quality support and order of operations from me! And the Uraraka company sounds like they'll be perfect for reflecting my standards, given that I see some of their previous projects first to make sure of it.*
"You're not gonna exploit them, are you?"
*Now, now, Enso-kun, I'll simply be purchasing their services."
"Upfront before they start any work?"
*But of course not. There are time and information-intensive payment contracts that have to be filled out, and the process for transferring money overall will take time."
"But the Uraraka family needs the finances now if they wish for her to keep attending U.A. They're going to be kicked out of their home any day now."
*Oh Enso-kun, you realize that Uraraka's parents will have to leave regardless to oversee the projects I put them in charge of, correct?*
"Then... can't you pay for Uraraka to have her own apartment?"
*But where would be the fun in that?*
Enso stood up with a frown.
"Don't play games right now, Nezu. Izuku is practically losing his mind over this."
*I only jest, Enso-kun. In reality, It's not as simple as just paying for Uraraka's living expenses. The most financial aid we as an academy can provide are scholarships or grants, and students have to be eligible for those, or there could be legal troubles. But Uraraka has already received many of these at the start of the school year, so providing more would be an issue since higher-ups are tight about these types of matters.*
"What if you... offer your own wealth? I doubt you're even close to poor." Enso suggested.
*Believe it or not, Enso-kun, my wealth is monitored because humans need some sort of closure that I wouldn't just overrun the world."
"Damn, why do you have to be such a dangerous abomination?" Enso groaned as he rubbed his temples.
*I'll take that as a compliment! But don't fret, my human friend, as I already have a perfect idea just where dear Uraraka can go!"
"I am not taking her in."
*Now, Enso-kun, what makes you think I intended you to be the one to share your living space?*
...
"Ah."
"Emerald!? Are you okay!? Speak to me!" Izuku, on his knees, cradled the scared-to-death pup in his arms with Chizome standing beside him, a neutral look on him.
"Oh my god, you really did get a ball of floof!" Ikari squealed as he took the form of a big snake, his head hovering near the pup.
Izuku didn't listen to him and merely looked up at Chizome with panic in his eyes.
"What even happened!?"
He shrugged. "All I was doing was making a protein shake in the kitchen upstairs when this critter came in. One look at my face, and he just collapsed."
"You scared him to death with one look!?"
The man, previously a serial killer, raised an eyebrow.
"Do I look that intimidating?"
"..."
"..."
Izuku was flabbergasted that he, of all people, asked that question while Ikari stared at him with an equally dumbfounded gaze.
"A-Are you serious!? You're missing a nose, Chizome! And your eyes look like they could cut right through a person! You became an internet spotlight because your aura was that intimidating when you gave your message to the world!"
Chizome merely narrowed his eyes.
"Oh."
There was no goddamn way this was the same serial killer that slaughtered over a dozen heroes and practically inspired a cult online.
"I've never thought too much about my appearance. All I had ever thought about was merely my ambitions and what I'd do for them." Chizome scoffed, crossing his arms.
...
...
"You're weird, Stainy..." Ikari mumbled.
Izuku didn't wanna bother thinking back on the atrocities Hero Killer Stain committed and instead focused back on Emerald, gently shaking him to try and wake him up.
Chizome stared with interest towards the pup, tilting his head.
"Deku... Could it be that you're enlisting this beast as an aid for your cause?"
Izuku turned to him. "Wha-!? Beast!? Chizome, he's a dog!"
He paused, rethinking his words.
"Okay, he's a wolf, but he's still just a pup! The only reason I even have him is that Nezu thought he'd be better with me rather than a professional animal care group, for some reason!"
"Nezu... The rodent that Reaper mentioned running U.A, correct?" Chizome mumbled.
"Don't call him that; I swear he's always listening!" Ikari shivered.
*Enso-kun, did one of your acquaintances just call me something rude?*
Enso nonchalantly shrugged. "Probably."
Chizome ignored Ikari's warning and carried on with his current thought.
"Nezu is considered to be the most intelligent being on the planet. Perhaps he had something in mind for having you adopt this small animal?"
"First of all, this 'animal' is called Emerald. And second, I'm pretty sure the only reason he basically pressured the nice lady at the zoo to let me take him must have something to do with messing with Enso..." Izuku sighed at the end.
"Really? That's how you got him? Lucky you!" Ikari said with an enthusiastic thumbs up.
"Then... you're merely going to shelter him?" Chizome seemed unimpressed.
"Hey! Pets are very therapeutic! There's nothing wrong with having something fluffy to hug when you're stressed!" Izuku pouted.
He then heard a small whine, and he looked down to see Emerald shift in his arms.
"Oh, he's waking up!" He gasped in relief.
The pup seemed confused about where he was for a brief moment, repeatedly blinking as he sniffed around him.
"Hi, little guy! I'm Ikari! Wanna be friends?" Ikari excitedly asked, floating close to him.
Emerald suddenly whimpered and scampered out of Izuku's arms, hiding behind his owner so that he was a wall between him and the strange creature.
Izuku looked down at him with an awkward look on his face.
"I guess he's scared of him."
He then turned back to Ikari, only to see him sulking as a melted puddle with a disheartened blue aura around him.
"All around me are familiar faces…"
"I-It's okay, Ikari! He's like this with anyone he doesn't know! It's not you specifically!" Izuku tried to reassure him.
"Oi."
The group shifted their attention to Enso, who had come out from his room on the second floor and jumped over the balcony, landing gracefully.
"Enso!" Izuku shot up to his feet, with Emerald still trying to hide behind him. "D-Did you-!"
"Nezu and I settled on... something." Enso started, getting a bright smile from Izuku. "But before you assume, no, it's not as simple as providing funds for Uraraka to find somewhere to stay. Nezu decided to hire her parent's company for some personal projects, and hopefully, this will help them out of their financial drop. But as for finding her somewhere to stay, Nezu won't do much about that."
Izuku gasped, "B-But then-!?"
"But there is a solution." Enso cut him off, granting hope in Izuku's eyes again.
"R-Really!?"
"But it depends..." Enso narrowed his eyes at Izuku. "What are you willing to do for it?"
That seemed to catch Izuku off guard by how dangerous Enso's implication was. Like he would be forced to go through a terrible hardship if he wanted to save a precious friend.
But he knew he had to do whatever it took.
So his expression hardened into a determined stare.
"Anything."
...
Ikari opened his mouth.
"Anything not villain-like." Izuku added before he could speak.
He closed his mouth.
Enso nodded in approval.
"Then..."
He paused for dramatic effect.
"You're gonna have Uraraka live with you."
"..."
"..."
"Eh?"
Izuku's whole figure turned black and white as a completely blank expression took to his face.
"Wh-Wh-What did y-you just-?"
"Uraraka has no other place she could reside comfortably that's also commuting distance from U.A. It's best if she resided with you."
Izuku started sweating hard as the white color on him turned red.
"B-B-But..."
"Didn't you say you'd do anything?"
"I-I mean..." Izuku looked down and fiddled with his fingers nervously. "Sh-Sh-Shouldn't she go with another g-girl-"
"Nope. It's gotta be you." Enso cut in.
Izuku was shaking in place, the thought of Ochako even stepping in his house nearly frying his brain.
"Wh-Why m-me-?"
"Why not you? You're the one she's closest to? And you're also the only one besides me who knows of her current predicament." Enso said back at him.
"B-But liked you said, y-you know too, don't you!? Wh-Why can't she just stay here with you!?"
"..."
Enso merely raised a palm and pointed it straight at Chizome, who was currently just ignoring the two in favor of crouching down to curiously stare at Emerald, who was still trying to hide behind Izuku's legs.
"Oh." Was all Izuku uttered in embarrassment, reminded of just who else lived here.
"You don't want her to leave, do you? If not, we have to go speak with her family about this as soon as possible. Aka, now." Enso stated.
Izuku's eyes widened, and he looked a second away from having a heart attack.
"N-NOW!? I-I mean, it's not that late, but isn't it too soon!? We're just going to drop in unannounced!? We don't even know where she lives!"
"Don't worry, I got her address."
...
"Can I ask how?"
"Nope."
...
Izuku glared at him.
"Enso."
"..."
Enso looked away, with his mouth becoming a neutral line.
"I... might've followed you and Uraraka on your date and made sure she got to her apartment without trouble."
...
"God damn it, Enso, I'm not even surprised..." Izuku groaned as his hands covered his face in frustration.
"If you want to really help her, then you should do whatever you can as soon as you can. And I know for a fact Uraraka would be glad to live with you."
Izuku twitched as he suddenly recalled Ochako's confession from earlier, to which he looked down at the ground and nervously fiddled with his fingers.
"B-B-But... I-I don't..."
"Don't you want to be her hero?"
Izuku twitched again.
"Ha, got em." Ikari chuckled.
~{Meanwhile-?}~
Lynch decided that he really loved this world.
A world where the social norm involved unique superpowers a person develops at a certain age, a world that actually uses the tags of heroes and villains, a world with so many types of people whose will and goals are shaped mainly on what quirk they get.
Lynch loved it all.
Especially learning how these things called 'quirks' worked.
"How wonderful~."
He stood in a large cave just off the coast of Japan. But rather than some damp or moss-ridden place, the cave seemed to have been shaped into an underground base. And Lynch stood in just one of the few rooms of his new residence, the floors and walls smooth and dry.
And currently, in this room, he stood in front of a bloodied surgical bed with a corpse of what you could only assume was previously a person.
Lynch looked at his boney right hand, and a baseball-sized water orb formed right at his fingertip, filling him with glee.
"A power that allows you to create water using the molecules in the air, simple, but like any other power, quite satisfying to reverse-engineer."
He looked down at the unmoving corpse.
"Thank you for 'helping' me understand it. And now..."
The ball of water suddenly turned murky green before becoming a thick substance of light green color.
"I can make it better~."
He pointed his finger down, and the green ball of liquid splattered on the corpse, which started hissing as acidic components kicked in, dissolving the body and even the surgical table with it.
"It's amazing that by merely adding a few more components to a harmless ball of water can make it turn so dangerous." He turned around and marched out of the room through large doorways, now going through a hall.
He couldn't keep down his giddiness. The possibilities were endless. Just how many 'quirks' could he study and implement into himself? Whether they were mutant, emitter, or transformative, Lynch knew that his body could mutate and evolve to be able to use whatever power he managed to splice into him.
And it wasn't even just the quirks themselves that interested him, but rather, it's also the people they belong to. Power could change a person in so many different ways. Some fear their abilities out of worry that they'll harm someone, others revel in their power and grow arrogant, and others get inspired to use their powers for justice.
Lynch's hands clasped together as the red holes in his mask glow brightly.
"They all have their own values-"
He thought of little Deku's naive but hardened determination to save everyone.
He thought of Endeavor's arrogant but powerful pride, who fights to prove that he's the strongest.
And he hasn't even met the number onehero yet. Is his willpower even stronger than Endeavor's? Is he even more powerful than the man that made him feel so invigorated during their fight?
He can't help but feel excited.
"It's so outstanding..." Each step he took thumped on the ground as the lamps, if you could call them that, on the ceiling, all glowed with some kind of artificial light rather than energy.
"This world, the concept of quirks, it's given birth to powerful warriors that fight for different causes, causes I'd love to shatter!"
The holes of his mask suddenly started emitting black energy.
"Oh Reapy, I'm so glad you led me here."
~{Ochako Residence- 8:45PM}~
"I-I'm having second thoughts about this, Enso..." Izuku nervously uttered.
"Nope. No second thoughts allowed." Enso responded almost immediately.
The two males found themselves in front of an apartment complex that was pretty similar to the one Izuku lived in. The whole building was gray and white, with the moon reflecting off it. It was a few floors tall with a few rooms on each floor, a fairly simple structure.
"Wh-What if Ochako's parents get angry for us suddenly showing up uninvited!? What Ochako thinks I'm a creep for knowing where she lives!?" Izuku stammered in a panic, hugging himself.
"Stop thinking so much about it. We're already here, and I'll be doing most of the talking anyway. You're just here to add emphasis on how important it is for Uraraka to stay in U.A."
"Did we have to leave the lil' pup behind? I think he'll be scared being alone with Stainy!" Ikari whined as he took the shape of a wolf pup on Izuku's head.
"He'll just stay in my room. You can try and fail to get along with the animal later." Enso rolled his eyes.
"..."
Being reminded of his failed attempt to get along with Emerald, Ikari depressingly sulked and sunk back into Izuku.
"Good luck, partner. I'm gonna cry alone now..."
"It'll be alright, Ikari. Emerald will warm up to you sooner or later..." Izuku muttered sympathetically.
While he was distracted, Enso pressed the doorbell. "Let's just get this over with."
Izuku instantly started panicking, fidgeting on the spot. "W-Wait! I'm not ready yet! Wh-What am I even supposed to say!?"
"You say what you think is the right thing to say like you always do." was all his friend responded.
Izuku was going to spout out several more worries but heard the door unlock, making him stiffen straight as it partly creaked open.
"My, my, who could it be at this hour?"
For a second, Izuku thought that Ochako herself had answered the door, but then he noticed the longer hair and the small number of wrinkles in the facial area.
So he immediately knew that he was face to face with Ochako's mother.
And this absolutely terrified him.
While he was shivering nervously on the spot, the older but still beautiful woman tilted her head with a look of surprise, opening the door fully.
"Oh? You are..." She stared directly at Izuku with a look of recognition, who started sweating under her gaze.
"Mrs. Uraraka, correct?" Enso took the initiative, but the woman's gaze didn't move from Izuku. "I know this is an unexpected visit, but-"
In a rare case, Enso actually got surprised as the woman cut him off, choosing to clasp her hands around Izuku's with stars in her eyes.
"You!"
"E-Eh!?" Izuku's face flushed red by the unexpected action. "M-Me?"
"You're the one my daughter loves!"
Izuku felt his brain crash.
"She's said so much about you! Oh! Did you come all this way to see her!? Oh, you're a truly sweet boy!" She brightly smiled.
"I-I-Wha-!?"
"Excuse me..." Enso once again spoke up, this time successfully catching the woman's attention.
"Oh! And you're one of the boys he fought at the festival! Are you here to see my daughter as well? I didn't think she was so popular." The woman beamed with closed eyes, her hands moving from Izuku's to Enso's.
"Mrs. Uraraka-"
"Oh! Please, call me Hitomi." The woman insisted happily.
"Hitomi-" He said with no hesitation. "-I'll get straight to the point. We came to give you a solution to your financial troubles so that your daughter can keep attending U.A."
That made the woman freeze, her eyes widening in shock.
"Principal Nezu himself helped to bring up a solution, and we're here to offer it." He continued, his usually serious expression helping to deliver his words.
Hitomi seemed stunned for a moment, only for her to turn somewhat confused.
"We... We didn't even tell the school that Ochako would be leaving, yet the principal already knows and even has a solution? H-How? And why did he send two students to discuss this with us?"
"..."
"It may be better to wait for the rest of your family to be together before we talk about this," Enso suggested. "May we come in?"
"Oh, of course!" The kind woman stepped aside while still holding the door, allowing the two males inside.
"Th-Th-Thank you for having us!" Izuku made sure to bow as he passed her, making the woman chuckle.
They entered a hall with a few doors but reached the end where it connected into a near-empty living room with an equally bare kitchen connected to it. On the walls were several cardboard boxes, all packed up and ready to move, leaving the rest of the area bare of items besides the brown carpet and black table. It was clear that the family was nearly finished with their packing.
"I'm sorry about how empty it feels, but make yourselves at home." Ochako's mother walked beside the two, clapping her hands together with a welcoming smile.
"Honey? Did you let someone in?" A male voice called out from the hall.
Izuku instinctively tensed. That was most likely Ochako's father. Her mother seemed very nice, but he couldn't be optimistic and expect the man to be the same and welcome him when they clearly came abruptly without even a call.
"Obuko, we have visitors! Ochako, some of your friends came by!"
"E-Eh!?"
Izuku instantly recognized Ochako's cry of surprise even from the living room, which had him feeling even more nervous as he and Enso stood by patiently for them to come.
"Hope you're ready." Enso remarked, knowing fully well the inner turmoil Izuku is going through.
"I-I am..." Izuku mumbled, seeming to be trying to convince himself despite his nervous shaking.
A few seconds later, two more people arrived in the living room. The first was a tall and muscular man with brownish-red eyes and short beige hair together with some light facial hair that went from his cheeks to his chin. He looked relatively friendly, maintaining a big smile on his face as he caught sight of Izuku and Enso.
Obviously, the second was Ochako herself, who had changed out of the clothes she had on during their date in favor of a casual shirt and sweatpants.
And she froze the moment her eyes locked onto Izuku's.
...
...
He shakily raised a hand and waved with a sheepish smile.
"H-Hi-"
"DEKU!?"
Ochako's eyes and mouth were locked wide open in shock.
"Wh-Wha-!? You-!? Wh-Why-!?"
"I'm here too."
"Eh? E-Enso!?"
"Yes, that's my name."
"You... Ochako's father stared at the nervous viridian and the calm black-haired male, familiarity reflecting in his eyes.
Enso stepped forward to him.
"Obuko Uraraka, correct?" He asked, repeating the name he had heard as he extended a hand.
The man didn't move his gaze from Enso but smiled as he accepted the hand and gave a firm handshake.
"Yes, and you're Enso Ureshi." He declared.
"Either heard it from Uraraka or the Sports Festival."
"Please, call me Enso, I insist."
Izuku nervously followed Enso's example and approached him too, managing to keep his eyes on the man's despite his creeping anxiety.
"I-I'm Izuku Midoriya!" Shakily offered his hand as well.
Obuko turned to him with a grin.
Before opening his arms and trapping the boy in a bone-crushing bear-hug
Izuku let out a choking sound, and Ochako let out a gurgled cry of surprise.
Obuko held him for a few seconds before letting him go, then placing a hand on each of his shoulders.
"My boy... I can't ever thank you enough."
Izuku panted as he caught his breath, confused beyond belief but managing to keep looking up at the burly man.
"Wh- *wheeze* What for!?"
The man had a grateful smile.
"Hitomi and I have heard so much about you from our little girl. It's always been reassuring to know that someone like you has been taking good care of her. The two of us run a construction company, you see, so we end up having to move around for projects while Ochako lived alone so she could attend U.A. We've always been worried about how she was doing and tended to call her to see if she was okay."
He pat Izuku's shoulders, then moved his hands off to place them on his own hips.
"And believe me when I say it's been relieving to hear her talk about a selfless boy that's helped her time and time again, even going as far as to break his arm to punch a robot for her."
Izuku's cheeks reddened in embarrassment, and Ochako wasn't much better, getting flustered.
"D-DAD!"
Her father merely continued.
"You saved the life of my precious little girl and have been a close and reliable friend of hers during your entire time in U.A. You're a good kid."
Izuku barely managed to look up at him, unable to stop the blushes invading his face.
"Th-Thank you... I-I try my best to be a good friend..."
"Hm, I kind of expected you to refute the praise as you tend to do. Good job." Enso commented.
"W-Wait..." All eyes turned to a still red Ochako, whose gaze was centered on the equally red boy. "I-I don't mean to be rude, but... what are you doing here, Deku?"
Izuku smiled at her.
"I-I told you I'd do something, didn't I?"
Her eyes widened in immediate realization.
"B-But..." She muttered in disbelief. "I-It's only been two hours..."
"That's all I needed, apparently." He chuckled in return.
"Er..." Obuko looked confusingly between the two. "May I ask what you're both talking about?"
"The reason we're here." Enso started, turning to the middle-aged father. "Izuku and I were sent by Nezu to give a solution to your financial troubles."
Clearly, Obuko hadn't expected to hear that, as his eyes widened in disbelief, reacting similarly to how his wife had when hearing this before him.
"Wh-What?"
"P-Principal Nezu!?" Ochako stammered, not having expected the principal of U.A himself to get involved.
"I believe we should discuss this while seated. It may take a bit, as there's a bit to explain." Enso suggested.
"I... alright." Obuko nodded.
A few seconds later, all five individuals were seated at the black table, with the Uraraka family on one side and the two guests on the other.
"So...
"I... I suppose Ochako told you two of our current problems?" Obuko calmly stated as his initial shock calmed down.
"U-Um... Yes." Izuku started nervously. "Sh-She told me earlier wh-when... u-um..."
"You and my baby went on your little date, correct~?" Hitomi giggled with a hand over her mouth.
Izuku flinched and turned to the woman with his jaw dropped and eyes wide as his face turned as red as Kirishima's hair.
For a moment, he thought that Ochako had to have told her about their date, but...
The girl's reaction had been nearly the same as his own, shock and embarrassment present all over her face, unable to speak any words.
"H-H-How d-do y-you-?"
"Ochako, honey, did you think I didn't notice you dress up and tiptoe away earlier today? You aren't so sneaky, you know? But now it's also clear that you went this nice young man right here~" Her mother giggled.
But as for her father...
...
...
"I'm not sure I heard that right." He started, hands entwined with half his face shadowed. "Did I just hear that my sweet little girl went on a date... with a boy?"
"What, so you'd be fine if it was with a girl?" Enso immediately cut in.
That caught the man completely off guard, causing him to break all composure and start sputtering.
"N-No! I mean yes! Wait, NO! I-! Th-That's not-! I didn't mean it like that!"
"Enso, can you not!?" Izuku turned to him and held his hands above his head as if he was ready to strangle him.
"We've gone over this, Izuku. Can and will."
"Now, now, Obuko, dear." Hitomi turned to her husband with a pressuring smile. "Ochako's sexual orientation shouldn't matter, should it?"
"I-I wasn't saying that it did!" He stuttered with his hands up defensively.
By now, Ochako had covered her face with her hands as she groaned.
"Please kill me now..."
"We're getting off track!" Izuku cried out, feeling sympathetic for the girl. "A-Anyway, Ochako told me about your situation-"
"F-First name basis too!?" Obuko choked.
"-and I wanted to help!" Izuku didn't even pay mind to that comment, continuing with a determined gaze. "But I didn't know how to help, so I went to Enso and talked to him about it!"
Enso continued for him. "But sadly, there wasn't too much that I could personally do about it. I'm still a... student. However, during my time in U.A, Principal Nezu and I have become... acquaintances to the point where he even gave me his personal number in case any issues arose."
"So... you actually called Nezu?" Ochako asked, no longer hiding behind her hands.
He nodded. "Yes, and through a short discussion, we managed to come to a solution for your family's problems."
He crossed his arms.
"To both solve your financial problems and allow Ochako to continue going to U.A."
"S-So... I-I can really keep attending? I-I don't have to leave?" Ochako looked like she was about to cry, her lips quivering.
"You don't." Izuku smiled at her.
"How wonderful!" Hitomi clapped her hands together, clearly overjoyed. "To think you'd go that far for my daughter! You're both truly wonderful!"
"W-We really didn't too much!" Izuku stammered, flattered.
"For once, I agree. It was only a call, as annoying as it was." Enso muttered.
"But wait..." Obuko, although seeming relieved, still had some kind of worry on his face. "You say that Nezu is the one giving this opportunity, but... I can't say that I've heard good things about him."
"W-Wait! Even though Principal Nezu can be... eccentric at times, he's still a highly credible principal and pro hero that cares for his students! A-And everything he's done has always been legal!" Izuku defended.
"As long as you're not his enemy, you'll be fine." Enso added. "Yes, he's a terrifying individual, but so far, he's used that intelligence for good. There's not too much to doubt about him when it comes to helping his students."
"I... see." Obuko leaned forward in his seat, placing his clasped hands on the table, seeming more invested and serious than before. "Then... how can he help us?"
"Simple." Enso leaned back in his chair, gaze unmoving from the man. "Nezu wishes to employ your family business."
His eyes widened.
"He wants to hire us!?"
"Indeed. Nezu respects your company's work quality and wishes to purchase your services for several profiting projects throughout Japan. If you were to accept, then I guarantee that your financial issues will be solved over time."
Obuko looked down with a hand on his chin.
"It could be a bit hard to get back on our feet since we'd have to use most of our remaining finances to move and gather materials, so we'd barely have enough for ourselves, but..."
He looked up, a fire in his eyes.
"We can do it."
"Good." Enso reached into his suit's breast pocket and pulled out a card, offering to him across the table. "This is Nezu's personal number. You can call him to discuss the plans after we go over the second matter at hand."
As Obuko accepted the card, Hitomi tilted her head curiously, "Second matter? And that is?"
"Well, I'm assuming that Uraraka won't be able to return to this apartment, correct?"
The woman frowned. "No... I know that the landlord has already given this place to a couple. We just have to make sure to leave a week before they arrive."
"Have you tried looking for other places?" Izuku piped up curiously.
"We have... We looked up everywhere in the city and even other cities near U.A so that Ochako could keep commuting... But we couldn't afford the suddenly increased rates and manage the company. There's nowhere close enough to U.A for her to go..."
"B-But how!? The prices should usually be relatively ch-cheap!" Izuku stammered in shock.
"Oh my god, he was serious..." Everyone then turned to a facepalming Enso, who released a disappointed sigh.
"Er... who?" Ochako questioned.
Enso moved his hand off and stared at Obuko with an unimpressed gaze.
"Nezu and I talked about it for a moment... But apparently, ever since All Might became a teacher at U.A and was seen patrolling around Musutafu, the prices for the apartments and houses in not just the city, but in surrounding ones have all increased..."
Izuku and Ochako stared at Enso with blank eyes.
"All Might..."
"That was because of All Might? Oh, dear..." Hitomi mumbled.
"I mean, not like I personally blame the guy, but man... unlucky for us." Obuko sighed, scratching the back of his head.
"Indeed, but there is an option that would grant Ochako a place to reside so that she can continue commuting to U.A." Enso declared.
And right after he said that Izuku flinched and looked down at his lap with sweat nervously dripping off him.
"U-U-Um... A-Are y-you really s-sure-?"
"Izuku, we've been over this."
"B-But it's so sudden!" He turned to Enso with pleading eyes. "I-I've never even... I-!"
"It's on you. If you really want her to stay, then you take the initiative." Enso crossed his arms again, done speaking.
"Deku, what does he mean?" Ochako asked, eyes full of hope and desperation as she leaned across the table.
Izuku looked at her with his face growing unconsciously red, growing increasingly nervous.
"I-I-Um..."
"Deep breaths, partner."
Izuku jumped in his seat.
"..."
"You forgot I was here, didn't you?"
"M-More like I had thought you had gone back..."
"Okay, well, doesn't matter! You want mochi girl to stay, don't you? Then man up! Do this! Say it!
"B-But-"
"Be her hero!"
"!"
"Deku?" Ochako called out to him, confused to see him somewhat still.
The boy was still for two more seconds before taking a deep breath, then looking straight at her with a hardened gaze.
"Ochako... Would you like to... live with me?"
...
"Eh?"
Ochako and her parents blinked three times in sync before an awkward silence took over. Second by second, Izuku's composure slowly started to slip, the boy starting to shake by the intense stares aimed right at him.
"L-L-L-L-Live w-w-w-w-with y-y-y-you?" Ochako was shaking rather violently in place, her face erupting into red despite her blank stare.
"How bold..." Hitomi cooed, a small smile forming on her face.
And as for the father...
"Did you really just ask my daughter to come live with you right in front of her parents!?" He asked, baffled at the offer the boy gave. "Listen, I don't care how close you are with my daughter! Living together is out of the question!"
That caused Izuku to break, the boy looking down at his lap in shame.
"Is that really a problem?" Enso scoffed.
"L-L-Living with... Deku..." Ochako had her hands on her red cheeks, staring off into space.
"Wha- Of course it is! A boy and a girl living under the same roof!? Something is bound to happen!" Obuko rose his voice, a fist up in front of him.
Enso wasn't impressed. "Isn't that just applying gender norms in a way? How you just seem to expect this to happen?"
"W-W-With... Deku... T-Together..." Ochako stared down at the ground, lost in her own world.
"But it isn't just that, Enso-kun, but this is the boy my daughter loves. So forgive us if we can't help but think that we'd become grandmothers too soon if they lived together." Hitomi pointed out with an innocent tilt of her head.
"And that, which brings up something I meant to earlier! Ochako, did you and this boy really go on a date!?" Obuko asked his daughter.
"L-Living... Wha-? H-Huh!?" The gravity girl was snapped out of her gaze and turned to her father. "I-I-!"
"We..." Surprisingly, Izuku spoke up, the boy nervous yet carrying on determinedly. "We did."
Obuko turned to him with a stern glare but took a deep breath to keep calm.
"You... Midoriya, right? Look, I'm grateful for everything you've done for my daughter and for what you helped do for us, but if you think I'm gonna let Ochako live with you just so you can get your hands on her-"
"That's not it!" Izuku actually turned angry, getting up from his seat and slamming his hands on the table with an offended look. "I'm not asking her to live with me for something like that! We're far too young, and I don't even know how I..."
He looked down, seeming to lose steam for only a second before he shook his head and carried on.
"I'm offering to let Ochako stay with me because, above all else, she wants to be a hero! And she wants to be one in U.A, where all of her friends are! All I care about is making sure she's where she wants to be! If she can find somewhere else to stay, then that's great! I'm only offering her to stay with me because there doesn't seem to be anywhere else for her to go!"
"There are no apartments cheap enough for her to stay, there's apparently no other family nearby that can take her in, or it would've been said already. And I doubt most of our classmates would suddenly accept a new residence in such short notice or that any of them would be someone that Ochako would trust enough to be comfortable with." Enso chained off Izuku's words.
"Okay, that last one isn't entirely true, but it's probably better this way." He thought as Izuku spoke again.
"All I care about is saving Ochako from suddenly having to leave somewhere she's worked so hard to get in! I only want to help her, because she's my friend and it's the right thing to do! I wouldn't be able to call myself a hero if I didn't at least try to help! That's all it is."
And he finished, his fierce glare unwavering.
Ochako stared at Izuku in awe, feeling each of Izuku's words hit her heart. It did sting that he didn't think of her in 'that' way, but... even then, knowing how much he cared about her, knowing that he'd be willing to inconvenience himself for her, it moved her.
As for her parents, they couldn't help but feel surprised by the sudden change in character from Izuku, feeling all of his earnestness and watching the fire burn in his eyes. It was completely different from the nervous boy that had entered their house earlier.
"You..." Obuko stared at the boy, his face clearly showing some kind of conflict going through his thoughts.
But Hitomi gave Izuku a kind and bright smile.
"You'll make a great hero, Midoriya."
That caught him off guard, his eyes widening in surprise but clearly taking in her words positively.
"I..." He looked down with a small smile on his face. "Thank you..."
Obuko didn't look angry anymore, but he still looked skeptical. He turned his head to his daughter, the bright beacon that always helped him get through the rough times their family had faced.
And he could see the softness in her face, the happiness in her eyes, the... the...
The love in them.
...
He turned back to Izuku, crossing his arms.
"Boy..."
Izuku looked back up at him, his gaze immediately hardening once more.
"Tell me... what exactly are your feelings towards my daughter?"
That was not the question Izuku had expected, as he blinked blankly before recoiling with a red face. Similarly, Ochako turned to her father in shock.
"Wh-What?"
"Oh yes, do tell." Hitomi gently clasped her hands together. "We already know my daughter's feelings towards you, or at least I have for a while, but it doesn't seem like you're both in a relationship. And despite that, you'd go so far to help her... So how special is my little girl to you?"
...
Izuku looked down, sitting in a dark void of thoughts; everything shadowed around him.
"How… do I feel about Ochako?"
He unconsciously gulped down air as shadows overlapped his eyes.
"Do I feel… the same way she does… towards me?"
He recalled the girl's confession from just earlier, how much she had poured her heart out to him, learning that a girl actually loves him for...
'No... Thank you, Deku... For being you.'
For what he is...
So what did that mean for him?
"What… I feel is..."
...
He took a deep breath, lifting his gaze to the man in front of him, complete seriousness all over him.
"If... If I said that I feel the same way that Ochako feels towards me… then I would be lying…"
Ochako couldn't help the disappointment that filled her, even if she had already known that Izuku didn't view her in that way. That didn't mean she was disheartened enough to give up, though, as he had made it clear that it was because he just didn't understand just how he viewed her. But her father started squinting at Izuku while her mother looked somewhat sad but waited for more.
"B-But... It's not that I don't like her. I... I just don't know how I feel about her."
This continuation made Ochako's father raise an eyebrow.
Izuku then lowered his head, thinking of what else to say.
"I said this to your daughter already, but... I've never had a girl genuinely love me before, nor have I ever fallen in love with one. I... I didn't have the best experience with girls growing up. Actually... I didn't have a good experience with anyone at all... I-I was always the target of bullies at the time."
His hands clenched into fists on the table as words just started flowing out now.
"I didn't have any friends, I was always shunned out from everyone, and I was always treated as... less than any other person. Girls... most of the time, they just avoided me, not wanting anything to do with me. And whenever they did talk to me, they really knew how to make it hurt. So... I never really did have any good experiences with girls, or ever really knew how it felt to l-like one since I was usually so... scared of them..."
Ochako felt a knot in her stomach, learning just a bit more about the depressing life her crush had. She had primarily blamed Bakugo for every bad thing Izuku had gone through, but it seems like people, in general, were just too cruel to him.
Not to mention, the girls at his old school must've been complete morons not to notice just how perfect this viridian-haired boy is.
Izuku continued, taking another deep breath and looking back up at Obuko.
"I respect your daughter. She's an amazing person that I've been blessed to meet. She's strong, beautiful, and has helped to get me over some of my past fears. She was even my biggest inspiration when I chose my hero name, changing the meaning of a name that had always made me feel weak to a name that I can now hold with pride. I... I can't ever thank her enough for all she's done for me."
"But how I feel towards her romantically... I don't know. I know that she's precious to me, I know that I'll always treat her well, but... I don't know if what I feel towards her is 'love' or not, because I feel the same thing towards other people I care about... So I can't say that I love your daughter without being sure myself. I... I can understand that this has to do with trusting me to take her in. But right now, more than anything, all I want is for her to be happy... that's it."
Obuko's gaze had eased by a large margin, but he still needed one last thing.
"Can I trust you to take care of my daughter? To keep her safe, no matter what?"
Izuku opened his mouth to speak.
But someone else did.
"H-He will!"
Their eyes turned to Ochako, who stepped towards her father with pleading eyes.
"Deku has, and always will save me!" Her lips trembled as she spoke, one hand tightly holding the other over her chest.
"H-He's always been there whenever I needed him! He saved me at the entrance exam when I was so sure that I would get hurt by the giant zero-point robot! And even when he was already in danger with Shigaraki at the mall, he didn't hesitate to stop him from hurting me even when he was already in danger! A-And-! And...!"
Tears were trailing down Ochako's eyes at this point, her voice cracking as she choked out words.
"A-And even now..." she uttered as she turned to Izuku, managing to offer him a genuine smile of love. "Even now he's here... Trying to save me from leaving everyone and to let me keep following my dreams... Th-That's why... that's why I love him!"
"Ochako..." Izuku uttered, staring at her as he felt his heart squeeze.
The girl turned her head back to her father, begging him. "I-I don't want to leave U.A! I don't want to leave all my friends! I-I-!"
She closed her eyes as she shouted a last plea.
"I don't wanna leave Deku!"
With that, only sniffles filled the otherwise silent room, all coming from the brunette wiping the tears from her eyes.
Her father didn't look surprised at all. If anything, he was actually smiling at her with sympathetic eyes.
"You truly love this boy, don't you?"
Still wiping her eyes, Ochako nodded at him.
"Oh look, Obuko, can you really say no to that face?" Hitomi smiled sweetly, hugging her husband's arm.
"No..." The man admitted, then turned back to Izuku, whose eye's widened. "I can't."
Izuku and Ochako were both filled with overwhelming joy, their faces glimmering as big smiles took form.
"However!" He frowned. "I can't say that I'm happy with the current state of your... 'relationship' with my daughter. I can understand that you may need some time to figure out your own feelings, but you shouldn't make her wait for so long before you give her an actual answer."
"D-Dad!"
"And until then, I expect you to keep your hands to yourselves."
"DAD!"
"He says that, yet Uraraka was the one who put her hands on Izuku..." Enso sweatdropped, recalling the girl to be the one who initiated their kiss.
Izuku turned beet red, looking down at the ground and fiddling his fingers nervously.
"I... I'm sorry... I can't say that I'll figure things out that soon. I've already got so much to think about..."
"I-It's okay, Deku! I'm the one that suddenly pushed this all on you today!" Ochako reassured him.
"E-Even so..." Izuku turned to her with a shy smile. "I-I'll try not to make you wait too long..."
Ochako's cheeks flushed as a sparkling smile formed.
"Well, it appears that things are in order." Enso it to be a good time to speak, standing up from his chair. "So all that's left is for you to call Nezu so you can sort out the last details with him. I suggest doing so immediately." He addressed Obuko.
"Ureshi..." The married couple both smiled and bowed to him. "Thank you."
Enso didn't even bother repeating for them to use his first name, instead just tucking his hair behind his ear.
"And thank you too, Midoriya. I know my wife mentioned you'd make a great hero, but... I think you already are one." The man chuckled, looking up and giving the boy a grin.
"I... Thank you..." Izuku smiled back, full of pride.
"And with that, it seems to be time for us to depart." Enso said, straightening his tie.
"E-Eh? Already?" Ochako uttered, stealing a glance at Izuku.
Hitomi noticed this, and her eyes flashed as she shot up from her seat with the clap of her hands.
"Oh! Why don't the two of you stay for dinner?" She asked a bit too enthusiastically.
"Eh?/Hm?" Izuku and Enso reacted.
"It's the least we can do for what you've done for us! We may not have too much left in the fridge, but I've got enough to make a rather satisfying meal for everyone! What do you say?" The woman beamed.
Izuku felt flustered by the offer.
"N-No, it's alright. We've already intruded enough by suddenly coming unannounced! We wouldn't want to-"
"Sure."
"Eh?"
Izuku turned to Enso in surprise, who had no change in expression.
"Come now, Izuku, how can you refuse a free meal? And I'm interested to see what kind of meals the lower class indulges in to celebrate."
"Enso, you basically just called them poor!"
"Hm? Are they not?"
"I-! You-! You can't just say that! It's rude!"
"And... I care because...?"
"...I'm sorry about him." Izuku shamefully bowed to the Uraraka's, who looked amused more than anything.
"Enso really doesn't hold back." Ochako giggled.
"Quite the amusing guy." Obuko chuckled.
"A-And about that offer..." Izuku uttered, "I'll have to call my mom first and let her know I'll be eating out."
"Shouldn't you also tell her about Ochako going to move in too?" Enso pointed out.
That had the Uraraka's gazes widen in shock while Izuku completely froze.
"You... didn't talk to your own parents about this first?" Hitomi asked.
...
...
"Fuck."
~{Five Minutes Later}~
"I-I know mom... I know, I'm sorry..."
Izuku shamefully stood at the balcony outside of Ochako's department, phone by his ear as he listened to the frantic ramblings of his mother due to everything he had just explained. It was amazing how fast the woman could speak, and it was just now Izuku realized just where he got his mumbling habits from.
He kept silent to everything his mother said, from the bashfulness to knowing that a girl wanted to move in with them to annoyance for him not speaking to her about it beforehand.
But the important part of it all was that she didn't reject the idea, especially when hearing just what was Ochako's situation.
God, Izuku loved his mom.
"Y-Yeah, she's really nice! Eh? I-Is she cute!? I-I mean, well, y-yeah, I'd say she definitely is. A-And she said she'll make sure to help around the house too! So... Oh, okay. I-Um... Thank you, mom. Thank you so much. I love you."
After a few more words of excitement and goodbyes from his mother, the two said their goodbyes before Izuku hung up the call and released a relieved sigh.
Then someone made themselves known.
"Deku…" someone spoke behind him.
Izuku's eyes lit up as he turned around to see Ochako standing in the doorway with an affectionate smile on her face.
Seeing that smile made his face turn red, and he immediately fumbled with his words.
"H-H-Hey Ochako! Sh-Shouldn't y-you be inside?"
The girl just stepped closer.
"Well, dad is on the phone with Nezu, and my mom is cooking with Enso, so I'm doing nothing. Enso is... surprisingly pretty enthusiastic about it. Or at least, as enthusiastic as he can be." She giggled.
"H-Heh, that's Enso for you."
...
...
"Thank you, Deku... You..."
Somehow, she was even brighter than the stars.
"You saved me again."
Izuku rubbed the back of his head nervously, avoiding direct eye contact with her.
"I-I wouldn't call it 'saving.' A-And it was mainly Enso who got the support from Nezu..."
Ochako shook her head in disagreement, "No... Even then, it was you who went to find a way to help. You were the one that came to save me. You're..."
Her eyes reflected the moonlight.
"You're my hero."
Hearing her say made Izuku's head erupt with smoke, her words completely striking at his core.
"I-I..." He covered his face with his arms, completely flustered yet happy. "I-I'm glad I helped..."
"You did help... It's all you do. You keep going out of your way to help everyone. And you... you helped me more than ever. Because of that..." Ochako looked down. "I realized that I can't keep letting things be like this."
"Eh?" Izuku moved his arms slightly, peaking at Ochako with a confused look.
The girl stepped forward once more and was only a foot apart from Izuku, then looked at him with fierce eyes.
"My goal for being a hero was always to help my family with all the money problems we had... But with Nezu hiring them for so many projects, I don't think that's gonna be a problem any longer. Especially with the numbers I overheard."
"Wow, how much is he paying them?" Izuku felt curious, but Ochako continued, so he listened attentively.
"So I don't even think they'll need my support anymore. Heh, they might even be able to retire early and still live comfortably for the rest of their lives."
"That's... That's great!" Izuku smiled, happy to hear this.
"Yes... It is." Ochako closed her eyes. "Because now I have a new reason to be a hero."
"Huh?"
And that was the only warning he got before a familiar soft sensation pressed against his lips.
Izuku locked in place with his eyes wide open, frozen on the balcony as the familiar warmth of Ochako's lips claimed him. But compared to their first kiss just earlier in the day, this one only lasted for a few seconds before the girl pulled back, cheeks red but a giddy smile on her face.
"Now I'm gonna be your hero."
Even after they separated, Izuku still didn't move. His own cheeks turned red, but he surprisingly didn't look away or immediately start freaking out. He just... stared, his mouth locked open with no sound coming out of it.
Ochako looked down but clearly didn't regret what she just did. "Sorry, I just... I couldn't help myself. Dad would've freaked out if he saw that... Heh..."
"I-! You-!" Izuku stumbled on his words, to which Ochako looked back up at him and kept going with her surge of confidence.
"Deku... Out of everyone in the class, I can say that you're the best out of all of us. You're the one bringing so many smiles in the class, the one always pushing himself beyond his limits to protect even one person, and... you just feel like you're the glue holding so many of us together. That without you, things would fall apart."
She put a hand over the scars of his right arm, a sad smile on her face.
"And... that scares me. Because I know that you always hold yourself responsible if something happens, that if someone is in trouble, you'll always rush in, even when you know you'll get hurt... so hurt..."
She watched a boy break his arm to save her from a giant robot.
She watched a boy get his arm nearly dusted to save a girl.
She watched a boy punch a monster to save that same girl, only to get slammed to the ground with his arm crushed.
"I get scared that there'll be a time where it'll be worse than ever, and then everything will fall apart... You've always protected everyone, Deku, but who's going to protect you when that moment comes?"
She then gave him the most heartfelt smile she could form, practically shining.
"So that's who I'll be... A hero to protect you. I may not be as fast or strong as All Might or Enso, but... I'll make sure I'm there whenever you need me, whenever you need someone to be there. I'll get stronger and make sure I can be a hero strong enough to keep up with you, so you won't have to face your hardest moments alone."
She bowed her head, letting it fall against Izuku's chest while her arms slithered around his back, keeping him close.
"I'll... I'll make sure to protect you, the one I l-l-love... A-And I'll wait as long as it takes t-to hear it back..."
Izuku stared at the top of Ochako's head, half of him in awe while the other part completely flustered at her declaration. And he could now feel her turning warm against him, no doubt embarrassed after pouring all of that out.
He ended up returning the embrace with his head steaming, unable to deny just how happy he was.
"I-I'll be in your care..."
And then they just stayed like that, warming each other in the cool breeze, the moonlight illuminating on them in a brilliant spectacle.
The two didn't notice Enso watching them from the door cracked open, the male staring at them with an unreadable expression. He had been going to call them over since dinner was nearly ready but ended up listening in to their short discussion.
He watched the two, unable to shake off a familiar feeling that he's never felt before. It... confused him.
"I wonder... Before I forgot everything, did I ever have someone like that?"
He looked down at his watch as if searching for some kind of answer from the device. It lit up, presenting him with his small lists of contacts. He gently scrolled through them, aimlessly searching for something he didn't even know he was looking for.
But he stopped at the sight of two names.
"These are..."
It was then Enso realized that he had felt a feeling similar to what he felt watching Izuku and Ochko. And it was surprisingly around the two women that he had found himself feeling the most guarded around, for reasons other than keeping his secrets.
"Midnight... and Mount Lady..."
He didn't understand... He didn't even think he could understand why these two were the ones that threw off his calm composure more than he'll ever admit. Ever since Yu got his contact, that woman was relentless in trying to talk to him in some kind of way, most of the time asking- demanding- that the two should go somewhere where they- he- treat each other.
He's mostly avoided texting or speaking to her, with a handful of excuses mostly related to school, but...
Maybe he should...?
...
And then there was Midnight.
In the two days since she had gotten his number, the woman had been completely silent besides the small wink she had sent him to make sure she actually had the right number. And Enso hasn't seen that woman since after the finals. But he had a somewhat vague idea that she might be organizing something...
'I'll let you know exactly when I have our little date planned~.'
That...
...
He knew that he was going to use their outing together to... figure out just what kind of connection she had with him, but...
Why was he suddenly feeling so overly curious about it?
"And when will she actually notify me about it?"
And just like that, a message flashed on his screen.
Speak of the devil... and she shall appear.