I do not own My Hero Academia.
This story was written with the help of another writer who wishes to remain anonymous, but has done most of the work and wishes for it to be posted here on fanfiction.
U.A. was one of the most famous institutions of Japan, thanks mainly to the myriad of heroes it had produced. All Might alone might have launched the school to fame, but the fact it had also been the school of other high-ranking heroes, such as the Number Two Hero Endeavor or the Number Three Best Jeanist, made the institution more than just renowned. It was a place of excellence, and thus somewhere many news networks kept a good eye on. It was thus to be expected they hired John Kent to snoop around.
It was the first time he walked the hallways of U.A. and the fourth time John traversed the land of the rising sun. Next to him, Principal Nezu droned on and on about this or that, all while John took notes.
They had been at it for almost the entire day, moving across every inch of the school and receiving what felt like the entire history of each speckle of dust. Nezu might have allowed a journalist inside his school, but he sure was not about to make it a pleasurable experience. What could have taken three hours had extended over ten. That god-damn sadist Principal…
But John Kent wasn't going to quit. He was promised one hell of a pay if he delivered and by God above he was going to fulfill his mission.
"-and that is why I had to insist on doing the wall over again," concluded Nezu after one of his long tedious stories. "I suppose that would be it, wouldn't it?"
John blinked, staring at Nezu with his pearl blue eyes. He ignored the annoying feeling of his contact lens. He needed them to keep his cover, after all.
"Eh, sorry?" John asked, baffled.
"The tour around the school proper," Nezu stated matter-of-factly. "My, you sure are a persistent one. I didn't expect you to last this long."
I bloody knew it! Mentally swore John.
"Well, I am a professional," boasted John. And I was warned beforehand, he finished in his head.
"That you are, Mr. Wayne" Nezu said. He tilted his head, keeping that creepy smile of his in place "…if that actually is your name."
"Sorry, but secrecy comes with the profession," John rebutted with a shrug. It felt good to have something over the Principal. "If you wish, we could go over my credentials… for the seventh time?"
The two stared at each other. John could see the intelligence shining in those black beady eyes of the Principal, God-Knows what raced across his mind.
"I suppose this is the part we actually meet the students now?" John said with a smirk. "That was the arrangement with my employers, wasn't it?"
Nezu showed no signs of being annoyed, but John suspected that he would need to change his identity and make a run for the airport as soon as he was done there. John was by no means paranoid, but he did not like to stay within the area of influence of a creature so smart that he could easily plan a hit on anyone and make it look like an accident, or worse actually cause a believable accident on someone. Better not to antagonize him further.
"Look, sir, I am just doing my job," John said.
"Yes, your job, just as the other journalists that trespassed a few days ago," hummed Nezu.
John eagerly searched back in his notes. The Wednesday event were of interest to John's employers, as well as a few other things. Nezu had already gone over that event, and in detail, at the start of their tour. The Principal had made it a point to make John suffer the explanation right before going into the school proper.
"Speaking of which, sir, I forgot to ask…" more like Nezu left little chance for John to even make questions "…have you found any suspects on whoever disintegrated your entrance wall?"
"Not yet, but the investigation is still ongoing," replied Nezu. "I am surprised you know about the disintegration of the gate. Neither the police or anyone in my staff mentioned it."
"My employers have their means," said John.
"I suspected as much," Nezu chuckled. "And it is safe to assume your employers want to know if perhaps it wasn't a villain with a vendetta against All Might?"
Leave it to the smartest creature around to figure that one out, thought John.
"You know it," John couldn't help but smile.
"Why, to be truthful I do believe that it was a message against both the school and All Might. However, I do not know whether it was done at a whim or with prior thought. I am led to believe it was more out of impulse," explained Nezu.
Finally, something that he had been paid to learn! John happily wrote down on his little notebook.
"It does sound stupid to just destroy stuff of the people you hate, doesn't it? Especially with such a quirk. A smart man would use the element of surprise," John commented off-handedly.
"Unless the destruction of said stuff was necessary," remarked Nezu.
John frowned, confused. Nezu didn't elaborate, instead giving a damn knowing smile at him. Great, John's employers would not like for him to just leave it at that.
The two made it out of the school grounds. It was well in the afternoon, with the sun nearing the horizon. John mentally swore. He was running out of time, and Nezu knew it.
"Say, All Might isn't anywhere here for an interview, is he?" John asked, a tad desperate.
"I am sorry, but he has been busy today. Being a teacher and mentor is no easy task, after all," Nezu said with a smile. "And no, I will not tell you why All Might decided to teach at this fine institution."
Not that John expected a straight answer from Nezu.
"Not even a hint?" John said. "You know, a few people are worried All Might is thinking about retirement. I just need something to put people at ease…"
"Sorry Mr. Wayne, but I respect the privacy of my fellow teachers. If All Might doesn't wish to comment on his reasoning on accepting my offers to teach here, then I sure won't," said Nezu. "Then again, I might have something to say if you ever visit again…"
John's eyebrow twitched in annoyance. God-damn Principal… of course he wanted John of all people to return. After all, the man had no idea how his employers manage to convince Nezu of all people to give him an actual tour of U.A., but if he had to hazard a guess, he would say assume it probably involved a good chunk of money and the promise to spread the word that U.A. was definitely better than Shiketsu. A second visit would no doubt require pretty much the same.
"I will have to discuss it with my employers," John said noncommittally.
"Well, I think it is time a tour of the dorms," Nezu chuckled, looking at his old-fashioned pocket watch. "My, look at the time! Seems we have run out of time for today!"
You god-damn rodent, bear… thing, mentally swore John, glaring at the Principal.
He nearly rubbed his eyes in frustration, feeling too tired for the Principal's crap. Thankfully, he remembered at the last second that he had his contact lens. John had to be careful, lest one of them dropped and Nezu finally figured out why John's employers had picked him of all people to go to U.A.
"I suppose I will have to come tomorrow…" said an irate John.
"Sorry, but we do not allow outsiders within the school grounds on Sunday," Nezu remarked. "I made that clear to your employers."
"You also agreed to give me a full tour," John pointed out. "And you left a bit out."
"Oh, I did say I would try, but apparently doing a full tour might take more than one day. After all, this school is a fine institution with many specialized facilities that-" and on he went, going over and over how great the school was. Nezu was no doubt trying to get under John's skin.
As he was forced to listen yet more about the school, unable to stop the Principal's new monologue, John thought about his mission.
After All Might announced (or rather it was discovered) that he would be teaching at U.A. the world was left in a strange state of confusion. It had been so sudden and unexpected, everyone rushed for answers. Was All Might retiring soon? Had something happened to the Number One Hero? Had All Might decided to settle down?
It wasn't that Pro-Heroes couldn't be teachers and heroes at the same time. In fact, it was far more common than people thought. The issue here was that, firstly, All Might had never shown any predilection to doing anything other than hero work. In fact, people thought All Might made it a mission to be a constant inspiration and stalwart defender of peace and justice. Secondly, the shift was a tad too sudden, and people's imagination immediately went wild with theories and speculations. It was no surprise that a small army of journalists had rushed to U.A.
Hence, John Kent, owner of the unique quirk Power Vision, had been hired to find answers. As a person who could literally "see" quirks, he had the ability to dig up a good lot of secrets at first glance. For starters, he could tell when someone was weakened. Secondly, and more importantly, by just looking at his targets, John could easily determine if there was any blood ties between people.
His quirk wasn't perfect, though. He could get many things wrong, and sometimes a quirk was just too strange or confusing for Kent to draw any conclusions. It was hard to explain how one saw a quirk. If John had to describe it, he would say it was as hard as describing a new color to people: it was just impossible. Additionally, he couldn't tell what a quirk did, thus aside from whatever controversies he could dig up, it was pretty useless.
The first time John had gone to Japan, it had been to dig information on All Might. He could still remember the first time he saw that hero's quirk. It was like nothing he had ever witnessed. All Might's quirk was like a thousand - no a million - lighting bolts compressed inside a man, shining and spinning on each other and emitting a unique aurora borealis. The one thing John did not understand about All Might's quirk were the eight swirling colors. He had never seen that many in a quirk.
So there he was, hired to use his quirk on students and teachers alike and try to assess if, perhaps, some of the conspiracies of All Might having a kid weren't unfounded. If he also got intel on any prospective hero, then he would also get an extra.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a loud groan and a student stumbling onto them. John blinked at the newcomer, surprised. She was a petite rabbit girl, with grey fur and pretty eyes. She looked like she had been roughened up. Just what manner of training were the students doing?
"Izumi," Nezu called, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"Principal, sir, just finished at the fighting room B," groaned the girl. "You wouldn't happen to know where Recovery Girl is, would you?"
"If she isn't at her office, then she probably is at the teachers' longue. Now move along," Nezu said.
Breaking out of his stupor, John decided to use his quirk on the girl. This was the tenth student he had come across by accident, most of whom had been using one of U.A. training facilities inside the main building. John froze at what he saw.
It was impossible. Her quirk… it was just like All Might's! It wasn't exactly like his, though. The more he stared, the more he made out differences, differences he tried to burn into his memory.
"Are you alright, Mr. Wayne?" Asked Nezu with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh, it's just… she look's…" mumbled the man. "Man, I have never seen such a cute mutant quirk before."
It was a lie, but it was the first thing to come to mind.
"Shall we continue?" Nezu inquired.
John Kent slowly nodded. He was still reeling at what he had discovered. It was the mother load, the news of the century! John Kent would get filthy rich with that piece of information. This couldn't get any better.
Now that he had uncovered the truth, John couldn't wait to leave. However, if he hurried away or acted hasty, Nezu would no doubt figure him out. No, John had to play it safe and allow for the Principal to continue his tour.
"I don't think we have enough time to visit the students' dorms, but maybe you'd like to check out the area?" Proposed Nezu.
John wasn't that enthusiastic about it. All Might was not going to be there, if he was still working or whatever, so what was the point? Still, he nodded and walked next to the tiny Principal and onto a paved walkway.
Under the fresh evening air, instead of feeling refreshed, John only grew impatient. He couldn't wait to return back to his employers and inform them of his discovery.
Admittedly, the large area dedicated to the dormitories was vast, almost like a small neighborhood of its own. Large square structures housed entire classes of students each, and not only from the Hero Course. Truly, U.A. counted with quite the funding for such things. Speaking of funding, John had to start thinking what he would do with all the money he would get from his little discovery.
It was as Nezu regaled John once again with one of his long-winded monologues, that John spotted a peculiar pair of people across the narrow street between two dormitories. At first, he didn't pay them much mind, until they got closer.
John blinked unable to believe what he was seeing. Could lighting truly strike twice? Not far, in front of one of the dorms, was Eraserhead. John was familiar enough with him. However, it was the person next to him that really caught his attention.
"Wait, is that…?" John trailed off, until it suddenly clicked.
"Oh that? Yes, we are going to have a new teacher," Nezu remarked conspiratorially.
Perhaps the Principal had planned to use John's tour as a way to spread the word of the new unexpected teacher. Maybe John should have taken note of that. However, at the moment, John wasn't paying attention to that. He activated his quirk, eager to confirm something. John Kent's mouth fell agape. Forget mother load, he had discovered the scandal of the millennia!
-‐-‐-
There were few sacred things in life. For Izuku, his All Might collectors' stuff fell into that category. As he learned that day, Sunday mornings were equally sacred and meant for sleep. How he had managed to trudge out of bed that early? He had no idea, but he managed all together, even if he was barely able to keep his eyes open or stand.
Izumi left the girls' dormitory. It was still night and the air was rather chilly. She hurried to her destination, wearing the same clothes she had for the Entrance Exam. A part of her was nervous about meeting this new mentor of hers, another just wanted to return to her bed and sleep.
The rabbit girl found Ground Omega easy enough. A large forest area cut off from civilization and surrounded by walls, Izumi was surprised she would be training there. Then again, it was a perfectly secluded battleground.
Standing at the gate and waiting for her was All Might. He was in his muscular form, what was curious enough. Other than that, he appeared to be unaffected by just how early it was. Did all heroes start their days so early?
"Young Izumi, glad you could make it!" Laughed All Might. "You look like the bed had to spit you out."
"It might as well," grumbled Izumi. She stifled a yawn and rubbed her eyes. "Alright, I'm here. Now what?"
"Ah, are you ready, Young Izumi? Today shall be a test of your mettle, courage and determination!" All Might chuckled.
"Urgh?" A sleepy Izumi groaned. She just wanted to get it over with.
"Come on, young Izumi! You better wake up or your new mentor will be most displeased!" Laughed the man.
"Just who starts their day at this god-forsaken hour, All Might?" Grumbled Izumi.
"Oh, you're about to find out!" said the Number One Hero
All Might led Izumi into Ground Omega, straight into the forest. Made of tall lush trees, Izumi was filled by the smell of vegetation, from ferns and moist bark to wet grass. Her ears, on the other hand, picked little to no sound. Apparently, nature had more sense than certain Pro-Heroes.
The duo didn't have to walk far. Up ahead, Izumi made the silhouette of a person who was, by the looks of it, stretching. Izumi squinted at the person as they got closer.
It was definitely a woman, clad in a tight sweatshirt and black shorts. Then, as he got less than ten feet away, Izumi managed to make out her white hair… and rabbit ears? Izumi's eyes widened and it all clicked in her mind. Even if her back was turn to them, Izumi could recognize that hero anywhere. That and the rabbit tail was also a dead giveaway.
"Usagiyama, here we are!" Proclaimed All Might with his usual liveliness.
"It was about time you finally made-" the woman said, turning around, only to freeze.
Izumi and the woman stared at one another, before pointing a finger at each other.
"Holy cheese and carrots!" Rumi and Izumi exclaimed in unison.
All Might glanced between the two, frowning.
"Miruko? You are my new teacher? What are you doing here? Wait, did you take the job because of all that controversy back in Hiroshima?" Spluttered Izumi, unable to believe it.
The Number Six Hero, the Rabbit Hero Miruko, was Izumi's new teacher? Although Izumi could understand the reasoning behind having such a hero tutor a fellow rabbit person, Izumi did not believe Miruko of all people could be convinced to teach, much less drop her position at Hiroshima.
"Alright, hold up lil' bunny. Let's rewind a bit," Miruko said, sounding just as shocked. "What the hell?"
Both Izumi and All Might tilted their heads to the right, confused.
"You look like my Aunt!" Miruko said in disbelief.
Before Izumi could react, Miruko dashed towards Izumi, only to stand looming over the teenager. The heroine proceeded to study the poor rabbit girl, going as far as holding her face so she could see Izumi better. Miruko's ruby eyes were filled with confusion and frustration.
"You even have her same eyes!" Miruko exclaimed, shocked.
She released Izumi, gob smacked. All Might and Izumi traded perplexed faces, before replying at the same time.
"She does?" "I do?"
Seriously, wasn't Izumi supposed to be the one flabbergasted by the situation here?
"Yeah!" Miruko said. "What the hell?!"
"Eh…" All Might and Izumi weren't sure how to respond.
"Perhaps you should explain the full truth, young Midoriya," All Might awkwardly said with an awkward cough.
"Midoriya?" Miruko asked, sounding more annoyed than confused. Apparently, the rabbit woman wasn't pleased about being out of the loop.
"Remember that little bit that Izumi is part of the Secret Identity Program?" All Might started saying. "Well, the reason is…" he trailed off, urging Izumi to continue with a look.
However, Izumi was still reeling by meeting Miruko of all people and the fact that she seemed to resemble a relative of hers. Miruko, on the other hand, seemed to furiously connect things and, all of a sudden, she appeared to have drawn her own conclusions.
"Holy shit! She's your daughter! I knew it! That's why you asked for special training and that autograph for her. Holy crap that also means…" Miruko gasped, only to glare murderously at All Might. "You slept my aunt!"
Miruko paused, only to frown and stroke her chin, once again utterly bewildered.
"Now, I don't know whether I should be pissed off or congratulate auntie," wondered Rumi. She shrugged. "Pissed off it is, I guess."
"What? No!" Exclaimed All Might, panicking. "You are mistaken!"
But no matter how much he desperately tried to reason with the rabbit hero, Miruko wasn't having any of it.
"Number One Hero or not I am going to neuter you, you hear me?" Growled Miruko.
All Might squawked in fright as the rabbit woman cracked her knuckles.
"Wait!" Said Izumi, stepping between the two Pro-Heroes. "I am not your neph- niece."
Miruko raised an eyebrow. She still looked poised to reap All Might a new one.
"My real name… my full name is Izuku Midoriya," sighed Izumi. "Yes, I know, that's a boy's name."
Miruko frowned at Izumi.
"That's because I… well… I was born a boy," said Izumi. "Look, I know, it's weird, but I have the ability to – ehm – switch between this form and this other human form."
Miruko folded her arms. She didn't look impressed.
"Alright, show me that other form," she demanded.
Izumi sighed and did as told. Her clothing thankfully was baggy enough for Izuku to fit in perfectly. Once the Pro-Hero had taken a good look at Izuku, he reverted back to his rabbit form.
"Huh, so… we aren't related?" Miruko asked.
Huh, she isn't weirded out that I change sexes? Izumi wondered.
"I don't know," Izumi shrugged. "Neither my dad nor mom have quirks that are rabbit related. The same for my grandparents as far as I know. Mom was trying to see if she could find anything about my great-grandparents but it is kind of a work in progress."
Miruko wasn't convinced though. She seemed, however, too frustrated to care anymore.
"You know what? I don't care. You are here to train, am I right?" Miruko asked.
"Ehm… yes?" Izumi timidly answered. She hadn't expected such a quick shift in the conversation.
"What's that? Just a yes? Kid, your daddy there personally requested for me to train you – Me! The Number Six Hero - and you just give me a yes?" Miruko taunted with a smirk.
Izumi scowled and clenched her fists. Meanwhile, All Might spluttered incoherently next to Izumi, trying to clarify that he was not Izumi's father.
"Yes, I am here to train," Izumi said more vehemently. "So let's do this."
"Better, but still pathetic," Miruko said. "Seriously, this is so weird. It's like training a younger version of my aunt. I'll need to give auntie a call." She squinted at All Might, who innocently looked away. "I'd like to hear the truth from her."
"Ehm… Miruko, you wouldn't mind me asking but why-?" Izumi started.
"-Did I accept your dad's offer? Why the hell not," Scoffed Miruko. "Half that city of ingrates are still riled up over that tiny incident the other day and I just need all of that to blow over. There's also the thing that your dad was the one to make the request and, hey, who doesn't want the Number One Hero owing you a good lot of favors?"
"He's not my dad," clarified Izumi.
"I don't know about that. There's clearly something between the two. There's no way someone like All Might would go out of their way to convince me to train you otherwise," Miruko countered. "And I bet you are the reason is teaching at U.A."
Izumi and All Might stared at her.
"Geez, do I look like an idiot? It can't be a coincidence that Numero Uno over there joined the school's staff just when you, lil' bunny, got in," scoffed Miruko. "And do you know what? I don't give a damn. Power to you. I am just trying to have a break from all those assholes at Hiroshima."
Izumi turned towards All Might and raised an eyebrow. Now that the rabbit woman mentioned it, what had All Might promised or done to get Miruko of all people to train her?
"You have to thank my secretary, though. She's the one who convinced me to come here," admitted Miruko. "Something about improving my image around kids or something like that. Don't know, don't care. So, are we going to have some fun or what?"
"You have a secretary?" Both All Might and Izumi chorused with the same look of confusion.
"Are you sure you aren't related?" Wondered an annoyed Miruko. She drummed her feet against the ground, impatient.
"Absolutely," replied the other two at the same time.
"Yes, I have a secretary," Miruko huffed, only to grin. "And hey, now that you mention her, you'll probably like her. I bet you'll both get along just fine, especially when you intern with me."
"I am going to do what now?" Izumi asked, confused.
All Might started whistling next to her and slowly stepped away.
"Wait a minute…" Izumi looked at the Number One Hero.
"Oh my, look at the time!" All Might laughed, looking at his bare wrist. "Good luck with your training, Izumi!"
"Hold on, All Might-" Izumi called, but it was too late.
All Might vanished in thin air, gone with the wind.
"Shall we get started then?"
Izumi slowly turned back Miruko. For some reason, the rabbit woman was smirking, all while stretching her muscular legs and flexing her arms. There was something in those ruby eyes of hers, and that smile… yeah, this was going to hurt.
I am definitely going to have a word or two with All Might, mentally muttered Izumi.
-‐-‐-
Sundays were an odd day for most students. It was relaxing, for there were no school, but they were rather stressful for they were the day before the start of a new week. It was a day of last-minute studying and homework completion. For Ochaco, it was absolutely frustrating just how quickly the entire weekend flew past her eyes.
The petite brunette walked up the concrete path towards the girls' dorm, leaving the school's massive gym. She kept rubbing her sweaty forehead, her entire body had reddened with exercise and she felt hot and uncomfortable. Ochaco desperately craved for a much needed bath.
Truth to be told, Ochaco had yet to finish her homework as she had been unable to complete any. Instead, she had decided to go and do some exercise to try and clear her mind of her most recent problems. It had worked while she had focused on her workout, but once she stepped out of the gym, Ochaco found all of her previous thoughts flood into her mind, unbidden.
Perhaps it was the fact Ochaco had seen little of Izumi that weekend, or maybe she still felt guilty for not talking, or even texting, to her friend. Whatever the case, Ochaco felt remorseful. Then again, thoughts on the rabbit girl brought a wave of emotions Ochaco was starting to get annoyed at.
Come on, Ochaco, focus on your career, she told herself.
It was easier said than done, unfortunately.
Other students could be seen hanging around the dorms. Some were exercising, while other students were fooling around in groups. All in all, it was a lively Sunday and everyone was making the best out of it. There were even those having an impromptu picnic. With such a fine day, Ochaco wasn't surprised. The one student she wondered about, however, was nowhere in sight.
Thankfully, as if answering her mental inquiries, she came across Izumi.
When Ochaco was halfway to the dorms, she spotted a familiar rabbit girl trudging down a path that led to the battle grounds. Ochaco paused, staring at her friend. Had Izumi gone training at a particular school ground? She felt a pang of something at not being asked along, something she quashed deep in her gut.
Izumi has a right to do her own thing, Ochaco told herself. Just because we are friends doesn't mean I should snoop around her business…
Yet she really would have liked to have trained with Izumi that lovely day, or just hanged out.
Ochaco shook her head and hurried towards Izumi.
"Hey, Izumi!" Ochaco called, grinning.
The rabbit girl slowly turned back, looking dead beat, only for her eyes to widen and a smile to form on the rabbit girl's face. It was almost as if seeing Ochaco had revitalized her. Ochaco, on her part, was rather surprised she hadn't become a spluttering mess near Izumi, all things considered.
"Hey, Ochaco!" Called the rabbit girl.
"You look terrible," Ochaco commented once she caught up with Izumi. "What have you been doing?"
"Oh, you know… training," Izumi said, only to groan and stop walking. She massaged her legs. "Yesterday was my arms and now my legs… tomorrow I am going to know the meaning of pain."
Ochaco giggled at her friend's antics.
"It can't be that bad. What have you been doing exactly? Trying to push your quirk's limit?" She wondered.
"Survive," a haunted Izumi whispered. "I just tried to make it alive…"
Ochaco blinked at Izumi, who stared off dead ahead with a look of reliving past trauma.
"Right," Ochaco slowly said.
"Hey, Ochaco?" Mumbled Izumi, looking at her feet and twiddling her thumbs
"Yes?" Ochaco replied.
"I'm sorry," sighed Izumi.
"For what?" Wondered the brunette.
"For… y'know… embarrassing you," awkwardly said Izumi. "You know, yesterday after the sleepover."
Ochaco blushed and bit her lip. She didn't feel any regrets about what happened. She wasn't about to admit it aloud, however.
"There's nothing to forgive, Izumi," chuckled Ochaco. "It just happened, right?"
"Still, Ashido and others won't live it down, will it? You don't deserve that," Izumi remarked.
"Who cares? We had fun and we just woke up in a compromising position. There's no big deal," Ochaco said, even though she actually felt rather differently about what had happened.
"Still I-I'm sorry," apologized Izumi.
Ochaco felt her heart flutter as Izumi's ears dropped and her amethyst eyes glistened with sorrow. Why was Izumi taking something so mundane in such a manner?
"Hey, it's fine!" Ochaco insisted. "That sort of thing happens! It was an innocent hug, that's all."
"Really?" Izumi wondered, unsure.
"Yes!" Ochaco laughed. "Or do you think the school also prohibits hugging, especially when asleep?"
Izumi wasn't so convinced that the school actually didn't ban such things. She still looked rather anxious.
"I don't know, maybe Midnight suddenly shows up and tell us that there is a proper distance we need to respect," Izumi joked half-heartedly.
Ochaco laughed at such a notion. She wouldn't have been that surprised, though. U.A. really had quite the strict policies when it came to inter-student relationships.
"Really Izumi, it wasn't a big deal," insisted the brunette. "The girls just like teasing us. They don't really mean anything by it. If being so physically close between girls was such a big thing they would be implying Momo has a thing for you. Actually, I am sure most girls wouldn't mind having you for a body pillow."
Izumi scowled and Ochaco laughed. Deep down, the brunette had to admit she was between those that wanted an Izumi body pillow, or rather the real thing.
"It can't be helped!" Ochaco giggled. "You are fluffy and adorable."
Her heart constricted painfully at that and she felt her blood run hot at the admission. Why did such a thing occur when Ochaco had already called Izumi adorable? She had no idea, but it happened nonetheless.
"So… things are alright between us?" Worriedly asked Izumi.
"Of course!" Ochaco nodded. "You won't get rid of me that easily, rabbit girl."
Izumi grinned and her amethyst eyes brightened, sending a shiver down Ochaco's spine.
"Thanks, Infinity Girl. I just… needed to hear that," admitted Izumi with a flustered look on her face. "Never had many friends… or any to being with… so I am a bit afraid I am going to mess up or something."
"You don't have anything to worry about. Just be yourself, Izumi," Ochaco said, placing a hand on the rabbit girl's shoulder. "That's more than enough."
Instead of reassuring the rabbit girl, Ochaco's words appeared to give Izumi pause. Izumi stopped walking, looking constipated, or was she looking ashamed of something? Izumi nervously wrung her hands and opened her mouth to say something. However, her words died on her lips and she remained silent. It was as if she had wanted to tell Ochaco something… but what?
"Are you alright?" Ochaco asked.
"Y-yes, just… tired," Izumi mumbled, looking at her feet.
As if to make a point, Izumi suddenly yawned. Ochaco had to restrain herself from cooing. The way Izumi opened her mouth and then slowly blinked, trying to shake off the sleep, was way too adorable. Seriously, it should be a crime to be so cute.
"I feel like I could drop dead at any moment," mused Izumi, yawning once again.
Ochaco looked around them. She noticed the large fields of grass between the dorms. Many students appeared to busy themselves there, goofing around or just hanging with each other. There was an ideal spot, however, with a few trees that was perfect to lay on.
The weekend was almost over and Ochaco regretted ignoring Izumi, maybe she could make up for lost time?
"We could hang out here if you want," Ochaco proposed.
Izumi looked around and appeared to consider it. She yawned a third time and Ochaco decided to take matters on her own hands.
"Let's just relax a bit," Ochaco decided. "You know, before we face the music at the dorms."
That convinced Izumi, who tiredly nodded. The pair walked towards the grass, stretching a bit, before plopping down
"Man, this feels amazing!" Said Izumi, laying on her back.
"It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" Ochaco commented.
Here we are, two friends just hanging out, Ochaco told herself. There's nothing more to it… yes, nothing more to it.
As the brunette tried to convince herself of that, she realized that the two friends were now just laying around, an awkward silence hanging around them. She stared at the cotton clouds above and an idea popped into her mind.
"Have you ever played Cloud Shapes before?"
"Cloud shapes?" Wondered Izumi.
"Yeah! You know, when you were little," Ochaco excitedly said. Apparently, by the rabbit girl's confused stare, Izumi hadn't enjoyed a relaxing day watching clouds. "Oh, it goes like this: we look at the clouds and try to find the one that looks the yummiest."
"That sounds like something you'd enjoy," Izumi giggled. "You sure you want to play that? We are close to lunch."
"All the more reason!" Ochaco chuckled. "We'll return to the dorms with an appetite."
"Sounds fine by me," Izuku mused. "Alright, how do we do this? Do we take turns?"
"Yeah, I go first," Ochaco said.
She hummed and studied the many passing clouds. Her eyes landed on a rather long one and she grinned.
"That one," Ochaco said, pointing at her chosen cloud. "It looks like a chicken wing."
"A chicken wing?" Izumi squinted at the heavens. "It looks like a carrot to me."
A carrot? Seriously? Ochaco laughed at that. Go figure a rabbit girl would start seeing carrots in the sky.
"Alright, you go next," urged the brunette.
"Hmmmm…" Izumi looked at the sky for a while, before grinning and pointing to another cloud. "That one, it looks like lettuce."
"Lettuce? Izumi, that one looks like Mochi!" Laughed Ochaco. "And we are looking for yummy food!"
"Lettuce is more than tasty enough," argued Izumi.
Ochaco snickered and shook her head. She didn't comment further, though. Perhaps it was a rabbit thing.
"Alright, now I see… uh, a bowl of rice!" Said Ochaco.
"Nah, that's definitely broccoli. Look, you can see the stalk and everything."
"Broccoli? Yuck. Hey, what about that one? That's definitely a steak."
"I see hard squash," yawned Izumi.
"Seriously Izumi? You see all sorts of vegetables!" Ochaco laughed. "I think you might have a vegetarian stuck in you, perhaps for obvious reasons. Hey, does that mean you don't like things with meat?"
Silence. Ochaco blinked, confused, and turned to her friend.
"Izumi?" Ochaco called, only to pause and stare at the rabbit girl.
Izumi had fallen asleep. She must have been really tired to fall deep into slumber like that. However, at the moment, Ochaco could only stare at the cute lagomorph girl. Izumi hadn't just dozed off, she had curled up in a fluffy ball next to Ochaco. At that moment, she resembled a rabbit more so than a person.
Ochaco stared at her friend, pondering what she should do. A part of her wanted to wake her up and go to the dorm, if only so that Izumi could take a much needed nap. At the same time, she didn't want to disturb her. She looked so peaceful… and then there was that part of her that wanted to pet Izumi.
For a brief moment of temptation, Ochaco raised a hand and hovered it over Izumi's head. The rabbit girl must have felt something, for her ears twitched and Izumi huddled into a tighter ball of fluff and cuteness. Ochaco bit her lip, wrestling with herself.
I shouldn't treat her like a pet, Ochaco thought. And yet, it was so easy to just caress her, to feel Izumi's soft fur.
To scratch or not to scratch? That was the question. Izumi's cuteness wasn't making it easy. It was no wonder girls like Momo treated Izumi like a plushy at times.
Come on, Ochaco, think about Izumi. Does she want to be treated like a domesticate bunny? the brunette said.
Finally, Ochaco sighed and gained the strength to control herself. Instead of petting the rabbit girl, her hand went to Izumi's shoulder and gently shook her up.
"Huh?" Mumbled a sleepy Izumi.
"You fell asleep," stated Ochaco.
"Oh… sorry about that," slurred the rabbit girl.
With some effort, Izumi and Ochaco rose to their feet and returned to the dorms. They didn't say anything on their way there, with Izumi being way too exhausted to utter anything comprehensible and Ochaco still thinking about a sleeping Izumi. Once at the dorms, they each split to their own rooms, earning little to no attention from the other girls, probably already bored of teasing the brunette and rabbit girl more than enough the day prior.
When Ochaco made it to her room, she didn't go to her wardrobe to pick clothing for a quick bath. Instead, she stood there, leaning against the door.
"Well, it is obvious I don't just like Izumi…" she said.
Immediately, Ochaco jumped on her bed and screamed in frustration against a pillow.
"…I have a crush the size of a sun!" Whined the girl.
What in the world was she going to do with that confirmation?
