Ikumi didn't like driving. She felt too cramped in the back of the car, having to sit in an awkward position so that her ears weren't uncomfortably pressed against the roof. In the front, her mum gave her a reassuring smile. "We're almost there, Ikumi."

She shifted as much as she could. "I-I'm sorry I'm making us move," she said for what felt like the hundredth time. Even though it was irrational to feel bad about it, the sure knowledge that she was to blame for her parents having to move sat in her stomach like writhing snakes.

Her father shook his head. "I've been meaning to move anyway - my job's sending me to a new office, and this place is closer to it. Less time on the train for me!"

Ikumi managed to crack a slight smile. The only blessing this whole situation had was that they weren't moving out of Musutafu - just slightly further away from Kacchan and the rest of her friends. She didn't want to have to make new friends and deal with new girls talking about her behind her back.

She tried to reassure herself. Heroes took a while to settle down in one place - All Might ran all around the country, fighting Villains wherever he went. Even Gang Orca had worked in other places depending on what was needed! So she'd have to be brave and not cause her parents any more problems.

—

Ikumi's favourite Hero of all time, of course, was All Might. Ever since she'd seen All Might on screen rescuing over a thousand people in his Japanese debut, a fire had been lit in her that burned as hot as her breath. She loved all Heroes, how they could save people with a smile and inspire them to be better.

But her truest inspiration was rather different.

It had been when they were walking back from school to hang out at Kacchan's house. Ikumi had intervened with an older kid bullying one of their classmates, only for the older boy to run to a teacher and say she was picking on him. Only Kacchan saying that she had stopped him bullying another student had prevented her from getting detention.

The teacher had frowned, letting her off with a warning to 'play nice with the other kids,' since Kacchan was obviously right. Ikumi had found that so frustrating. The other boy had been older and bigger than Kacchan yet was picking on a four year old boy and making him cry. But the other kids treated her like she was the bad guy - why? Because she didn't look like them?

She knew she looked different. It didn't mean that she didn't want to be normal and do normal girl things.

So she and Kacchan had gone off after school to the arcade. Kacchan had been angry about it as well, since the teacher was obviously stupid if he believed that. A news bulletin had flashed on a TV screen on the way back home. She'd stopped, Kacchan looking over. "What is it? A new Villain attack or something?"

A cruise ship had been attacked by Villains, a gaping hole torn into its side. The passengers were terrified, running from Villains dressed in diving suits. Ikumi's heart wrenched when she saw the hulking Villain on the ship's bow, a massive shark laughing as he held a terrified woman in his hands. Even if her classmates didn't watch it, their parents would watch it and then they'd look at her like she would do something like that, and it wasn't fair-

Kacchan had watched her with a concerned look on his face, then gasped as something happened on screen. "Midori, look!"

Ikumi shook herself when she saw what looked like a jet of white water head to the sinking ship. It had to be a Hero! It didn't look like All Might, but who-?

The Hero jumped out of the water, and Ikumi gasped when they landed, because it was a Hero like her.

On deck, the Villians and civilians backed up a step as he unfolded to his full height. He stood head and shoulders above the Villains, wearing a crisp white suit and a pink tie that looked like a tongue. Red eyes glared at the Villains disapprovingly, a black cape fluttering limply in the wind.

The resulting fight was pretty one-sided. Ikumi cheered when the orca-themed Hero knocked the shark man down effortlessly, saving the hostage. Even when they tried to overwhelm him with their superior numbers, a burst of sound and they were helpless, unable to move as he locked them in handcuffs.

"Incredible! A new Hero has made his debut here at Okuto Island! He - well, he looks a bit scary to be honest, but there's no denying his heroism!"

Ikumi teared up as she watched the Hero coordinate with the police to get everybody on board to safety. Kacchan cheered as well, giving Ikumi a huge grin. "Go Orca guy!"

On the scene, a reporter came up while he was hauling somebody away. Next to the Hero he looked like a child playing with a toy microphone. "Sir, that was amazing! Can you give a name for the press?"

He paused. "The name's Gang Orca." He turned to the camera briefly, a serious expression on his face. "I would love to talk more, but there's still injured passengers to rescue. Please excuse me."

Ikumi stared rapturously at the scene. "He's like me…" she breathed. It was one thing to know, more than anything else that you wanted to be a Hero. It was another thing to see somebody like you who managed to achieve it.

Kacchan gave her a shove. "I told you that the other kids are poop heads. We're gonna be Heroes together, Midori!"

She grinned at him, flashing a full set of fangs. And when the other kids had laughed at her wanting to be a Hero because she was too scary looking, a tiny part of herself said, they're wrong.

—

Despite a long argument with their previous landlord, they hadn't been able to get their initial deposit back - he had sniffed, saying that Ikumi's fur was still in nooks and crannies despite the professional cleaning they had done. Not wanting to drag the process out any longer than she had to, Inko had dropped the matter.

Now that she was there in person, Inko gave their new apartment building an admiring look. The Jukai apartment complex had been built by a sizeshifting mutant who had despaired of never having a place that was the right size for him. He had wanted a place where people of practically any size could feel comfortable.

The Jukai apartments enclosed a large courtyard, towering trees and greenery shrouding the gravel paths. Ikumi unfolded from the car, stretching. Looking at the apartment building, her eyes widened.

"T-the door's taller than me…"

Inko patted her daughter on the arm, looking at the door in question with a smile. The door into the apartment was truly massive - nearly twice as tall as Ikumi herself. "It is rather big, isn't it?"

And that sense of scale applied to the rest of the apartments. The wing they were in, despite being the same height as a typical apartment block, only had half as many balconies, the windows and balconies themselves adjusted to a larger scale. After so many rental agents had told her to just buy a warehouse or be grateful for prices about three times higher than her current rental, Inko was happy to find an apartment like this.

Ikumi broke out into a huge grin, teeth flashing. Then she seemed to remember herself and hurriedly closed her lips. Inko frowned when she saw her daughter clamp down on her body language like that. She wanted to talk to Ikumi about that, but decided to talk about it later.

—

For the first time she could really remember, Ikumi had to look up at somebody. It was a new experience.

The landlord must have had an oni mutation, Ikumi thought, as he seemed to fill the space. His deep red skin and huge muscles looked kind of funny in his white shirt and black pants. He smiled at the family, baring an impressive set of fangs. Her parents didn't even blink at the sight, and his smile seemed to get a smidgen more genuine. "You must be the Midoriyas."

He politely bowed. "Lovely to meet you. My name is Kojiro Mochizuki."

Inko bowed politely as well, going through the formalities. Ikumi couldn't help but look around the building in wonder, before her gaze returned to Mochizuki. When they came to the door of their apartment Ikumi half ducked before she realised that the doorframe was well above her head.

Blushing, Ikumi straightened back up. Outside, Mochizuki laughed, not unkindly. "The first time anybody comes here they're like that."

The apartment itself seemed almost oversized. It felt like there was so much space. Ikumi hesitantly reached up, to see if she could touch the ceiling, reaching up further and further. Her mother looked at her when she strained. "Ikumi?"

"I can't touch it," Ikumi almost whispered. Then, louder: "I can't touch the ceiling."

Tears built in the corners of her eyes. Mochizuki gave her an encouraging smile. "Everybody likes to try that. When we say we can house anybody, we mean it."

—

Hisashi chuckled as he saw his daughter run around, happily helping with the unpacking. The delivery men had offered to help, but Ikumi was on a roll. She practically bounced in place as he stepped up, ready to act the part of a strong dad.

He gave Ikumi a smile. "Okay, Ikumi! Now, I'm pretty sure I could take the couch in by myself, but would you mind giving me a hand?"

Ikumi gave him a wide grin, carefully not showing any teeth. "Not a problem Dad!"

Hisashi braced himself under the couch, Ikumi taking a similar position. With a grunt of effort, he managed to lift his end. Ikumi pulled her end up with one hand, the delivery men boggling at the sight. Hisashi carefully staggered back. "Careful…

Ikumi carefully ducked under, careful not to hit her head. It was a short stagger to the elevator and they were able to lean it against the wall. Hisashi smiled up at his daughter. "Whew. It's pretty heavy, isn't it?"

She shrugged, looking down at the couch. "Not really, dad."

Hisashi flexed, a confident look on his face. "What can I say? I'm taking the lion's share of the weight." As Ikumi giggled, he braced himself to lift it again. The rest of the journey was a tough one, but it was much easier to get the couch through this door than it had been getting it out of their original apartment.

"Whew! Barely broke a sweat!"

Ikumi gave him a disbelieving look. Hisashi pretended not to notice. Inko looked over the countertop with a fond smile. "Hisashi, could you give me a hand with the bowls?"

"Sure thing, dear!"

Ikumi bounded off to the hallway, a wide smile on her face. Hisashi watched her go, sighing. Behind him, Inko leaned against his shoulder, taking a moment from the unpacking to appreciate the change it had brought in Ikumi. He grinned. "Inko, apart from saying yes to my proposal, this is the best idea you've ever had."

Inko playfully shoved his arm. "Surely I've had better."

They chuckled, watching as Ikumi ran up to the truck. Hisashi blinked. "I should probably go help her if she means to move the fridge."

His help, it turned out, was unneeded. But it was the thought that counted.

AN: New apartment! Just a relaxing chapter really. Action is coming in future chapters, but right now it's just Slice of Life stuff. The outline is getting filled in.

Hopefully I'm not stretching the 'Ikumi is BEEG' thing too much. It is her greatest worry, and I sincerely hope that I'm doing it something resembling justice.

Next time we're going to talk with some of the local residents and properly explore the apartment once it's all set up. And maybe puberty stuff.

Please criticise and comment. I hope I did a good job and you enjoyed it, I want to hear what you didn't enjoy so that I can work on it!