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.
Saturday Morning started easy enough for Izuku. After a fun and tranquil night watching a movie with Ochaco, not much had happened. The girls had thankfully reined in their questions and left the pair alone to watch their movie in peace. Although eager to interrogate the resident rabbit girl, they clearly sympathized with Izumi. Well, there was Yaoyorozu who had to give Izumi a good hug of reassurance (or at least that's what she called it).
Izumi walked out of the elevator and headed to the main lobby. There were a handful of the girls already up and around, who merely glanced at her. Izumi was thankful of that. She did worry how other students outside the dorms would react, though.
As Izumi crossed the area with the television and couches, she remembered the night prior with Ochaco. The brunette had picked the movie, and boy had it been quite a pick. Differently from the last movie Izumi had seen with others, Ochaco chose one with zombies and robots. It was dumb yet entertaining. In any case, the two enjoyed it and they were joined halfway through by Asui.
Izumi sighed, embarrassed, as she recalled the awkward departure after the movie. Ochaco and Izumi had stood outside the elevators, unsure how to bid goodnight. They had spent five minutes awkwardly saying they were leaving, only to stay and stare at each other. If Izumi had to guess, Ochaco had wanted to spend more time together (after all, they did kind of go to bed early for a Friday Night) but didn't want to be pushy. If that had been the case, then Izumi had been in the same boat.
In any case, Izumi had another matter to attend. Well, if she could make it out of the dorms, that is. She was walking towards the door, when her instincts kicked in. She could feel it: Danger. Izumi stood up straight, her pink nose twitched, and her ears perked up, before angling around. A sound, behind her. Izumi glanced around, only to find a shadow descending on her.
"There you are!" The predator squealed, her arms spread wide to attack.
Izumi reacted immediately and the attacker lunged. The arms almost touched her as they coiled around Izumi. The rabbit girl, however, ducked and avoided the embrace in the nick of time. It was a very disappointed Yaoyorozu who stood there, hugging the air.
"Sorry, Yaoyorozu, not today," said Izumi with a smile.
"Oh, just one hug," pouted the rich girl.
Izumi shook her head but gave an apologetic smile. Yaoyorozu whined while Izumi hopped away. Although the rabbit girl couldn't help but grin for escaping the rich girl's affections, Izumi worried her attempts might escalate. At least, she couldn't deny that the fact Yaoyorozu was treating her the same as always lifted her spirits a bit.
It was once she left the dorms that Izumi tried to maintain her demeanor, and for more than one reason. For starters, there were other students. This time around, they glanced at her, wide-eyed, and whispers would follow. It was fortunate no one bothered her, but Izumi didn't like the new treatment either. Hopefully, none would pester her for questions.
However, there was something else to worry about: her pending talk with her mother. Izumi's heart ached at the thought of what her mother would reveal. After one week, she probably had located Izumi's grandparents and gotten answers. Could there be some veracity to the article that had come out the day before?
She would soon found out.
Izumi hopped into the school proper, and was greeted with Midnight. She grinned at the rabbit girl and proceeded to escorted her towards the chat room. Izumi was reminded of the first time she had been led around by the Pro-Hero. It had been so weird and embarrassing back then…
"Looking good, Izumi," Midnight commented. "How are you taking the news?"
"You mean the whole thing about being All Might's daughter?" Izumi asked. "Not bad, actually. The girls at the dorm haven't been too insistent."
"Good," nodded Midnight, only to grin. "You've really taken to your rabbit form. I remember the first time I laid my eyes on all of your fluffiness. Geez, you were such a bundle of nerves! Now look at you! You hop around with confidence. You actually are one of the girls now, huh?"
"Well, I am a girl, after all, even if… you know," chuckled Izumi. "I guess being all fluffy and adorable helped with the integration."
"No kidding. I sincerely didn't think it was a good idea to have you with the girls," Midnight said. "But it looks like the Principal might have known what he was doing. I am just glad you are holding strong."
She playfully scratched Izumi between the airs, something that was rather pleasant.
"Alright, this is our stop," Midnight said.
She unlocked the room and opened the door. Before Izumi could enter, however, the Pro-Hero blocked her path. Izumi did not like that teasing smile on her face.
"By the way, I've heard a few whispers that you and Uraraka have been hanging a lot together…" teased Midnight. "Do I need to remind you the school's policy again?
"I better talk to mom," Izumi mumbled, hiding her face.
Izumi ignored the giggling from the teacher and went straight into the room. No sooner had the door been closed, Izumi released an annoyed sigh and transformed. Her form stretched and grew, her fur receded into smooth skin and her eyes transitioned from a deep amethyst to emerald. Izuku went to sit down and wait for his mother.
He nervously twiddled his thumbs, awkwardly looking around as he waited for the large screen in front of him to change. Izuku couldn't help but worry about the ensuing conversation.
Then, the screen came to life and a woman's face popped in. The time of truth had arrived.
"H-hey, mom," Izuku started.
"H-hey, Izuku," said Inko.
Silence. Mother and son looked anywhere but at each other.
"So… how did it go?" Izuku decided to ask. "With your trip, I mean."
"Oh, fine," Inko said. "How are you doing? Did you read the-?"
"The article about me being the son of All Might and Miruko's niece? Yeah," Izuku interrupted, offering a short smile. "Is there any – eh – truth to it, mom? The Miruko's part, at least."
Inko sighed, her shoulders slumped. It was clear they had to get it over with.
"Yes but you are not her niece – or nephew," Inko mumbled, eyes downcast. Slowly, she looked straight at Izuku and the boy braced himself. "You are her cousin. She's my niece, actually."
Izuku blinked at his mother. Something about all of that was plain ridiculous, and yet he didn't feel that bothered. Or maybe the truth had yet to sink in.
"I know, a huge revelation," Inko said with a heavy heart.
No kidding, Izuku thought.
A part of him couldn't help but wonder what it would have been like had they known beforehand. How would his life be any different if he had been aware that he had a rabbit hero for a cousin? Would his life have been any different? His thoughts were broken by his mother, who was mustering her courage to continue.
"I don't know where to start," Inko said. She offered a shy smile. "I had been all week mauling on what I was going to say that… that I don't know how."
Izuku took a deep calming breath.
"A-are grandpa and grandma alright?" Izuku asked.
Inko winced.
"Y-yes, they are, in their own way," Inko tentatively replied. "You know them, thinking they are a burden and all that."
The two fell quiet. Mother and son knew that the topic at hand would be difficult, yet neither was eager to give the first step. In the end, Izuku surprised even himself by steeling his nerves and pushing forward.
"H-how… how did it happen?" Izuku finally asked.
"Mom and dad," Inko had to pause in order to take a deep calming breath, "you know enough about them, don't you? They have always been the… adventurous sort. Back when they were younger, they travelled the countryside in that bike of theirs."
Izuku slowly nodded. He didn't comment on how practiced his mother's words were. She hadn't lied when she said she had been put a lot of thought to the tale she would recount.
"Back when they were travelling they were… exploring… themselves as much as the country," Inko mumbled.
"They were sleeping around," Izuku summarized.
Inko gave a pained smile at that.
"If only it was so simple," said the chubby woman. "As they travelled around the country they discovered different people, you see, with their own – you know – quirks. In their quest for fun and – ehm – self-discovery, they… well… purposely sought different quirks to… ehm… satisfy their curiosity."
"Wait, you mean…" Izuku frowned, only for his eyes to widen "…they were searching people with different quirks to have sex with?"
"More or less," sighed a defeated Inko. "They were curious about different mutant types, emitters and transformation types and how such quirks could affect the – ehm – whole self-discovery part. For example, mutant quirks have different physiologies even- even… you know… all of their bodies and even their behavior in regards to- to couples and all of that. Like I said, adventurous."
Izuku couldn't help himself, his face lit up like a Christmas tree. His mother wasn't much better.
"They never worried about pregnancy," Inko said. "I learned that Mom is infertile. Apparently, her quirk, Plasticity, makes it impossible for the implantation onto the uterus so..."
Izuku knew what that meant, yet it was hard to actually think about it. He had guessed that that had been the case given how his mother had inherited from his father's bloodline.
"Grandpa is your… mother?" Izuku didn't mean to ask, but he just couldn't help it.
"Yes," Inko nodded. "Thing was, dad also didn't have to worry about pregnancy. When he switches form, he produces spontaneous abortion."
"Right…" Izuku said. "So what happened?"
"At one point, during their… exploring… they came across this individual," Inko recounted. "He was a very peculiar person whose quirk, as you might have guessed, was a mutation type. A rabbit mutation type to be exact."
"And they had sex," concluded a flustered Izuku.
"It wasn't… so straightforward," Inko said, cringing.
Izuku's heart dropped.
"He was married."
"Oh," was all Izuku could said.
"In fact, he had children at the time," Inko pressed on.
"Oh…"
"Y-yeah," nodded Inko, forcing a pained smile on her face.
"So…?" Izuku wasn't sure he wanted to know.
"Mom and dad wanted to – ehm – you know, explore," Inko said. She sighed again, frustrated, before she despondently added with resignation. "Sex… they wanted to have sex with him."
Why was it so difficult to say or hear the word without acting like children?
"But he refused," Inko said, surprising Izuku. "Because he didn't want to cheat on his wife. He actually had a happy marriage."
Izuku gulped. He did not like where this was going. Sadly, Inko was going to tell the full truth, whether Izuku liked it or not.
"Mom and dad, in all of their youthful stupidity and recklessness, really wanted to have sex with him," Inko covered her face, as if embarrassed by what she was confessing. "They claim that they fell in love with his eyes and- and his cuteness to the point that…"
She sighed, resigned and pained.
"They got the flimsy wish of having their own rabbit child," said Inko.
Izuku frowned, his heart starting to race. Wasn't that what his own parents were happy about regarding Izumi? To have a cute little daughter in the hero track?
"I know, it sounds stupid. They did admit there were other reasons… and they weren't really thinking straight, being a bit too arrogant in all of their exploration. But yes, that was what they envisioned: a rabbit child… a girl to be exact," Inko mumbled.
The woman took a deep breath and carried on.
"So they got him drunk and- and spirited him away for a night. Apparently, he, my biological grandfather, had the costume of going to a bar with his friends," Inko retold. "Dad – I mean, my biological mother - approached him in his male form so my biological dad had no way of knowing who he was getting drunk around. One too many cups later and… well… things happened."
Izuku shuddered. How could his grandparents have done such a thing? It was… despicable! And for what? As if reading his mind, Inko gave him a sad smile, her eyes filled with shame and guilt.
"They must have really wanted to have a rabbit child," Inko stated somberly.
She stared at Izuku and the boy could only squirm under her sights. What was with her pained and agonizing expression?
"I guess it is how your father and I treated you when you manifested Izumi," Inko admitted.
That hurt a lot to hear. A very vindictive part of Izuku, though, was pleased. The rest of him was distraught by the way his mother appeared to suffer from remorse.
"You are so… well… cute and adorable as Izumi," Inko mumbled. Tears started falling down her cheeks. Izuku's own cheeks grew wet with tears. "I'm so sorry Izuku. We've been so unfair to you. We were so happy you had a quirk and that you could start over that we- we didn't care what you were going through. I thought I knew better, with my father and all but…"
Izuku wasn't embarrassed to admit he was close to full out wailing himself. It actually felt liberating to hear that from his mother, even if it made his chest ache with the admission.
"It's- it's fine, mom," Izuku sniffed.
"No, it isn't," sobbed Inko. "We shouldn't have forced you to be just Izumi. W-we should have chosen a compromise with the Principal or- or maybe have tried another school. You as Izuku had as much a right to be a hero as Izumi."
Alright, now Izuku was ready to release the waterworks. Forget the Niagara, those waterfalls were bound to be the next tourist attraction. He miraculously managed to hold strong, even if a few tears escaped his bloodshot eyes and snot rolled down his nose.
"I have always worried you'd get hurt without a quirk that-that a part of me didn't want you to be a hero. It is such a dangerous career…" Inko was barely comprehensible with the way she cried, face wet with tears. "But now… now I know you are capable of achieving that- that impossible dream. I-I need to tell you that…"
Forget about releasing the waterworks. Izuku couldn't stop it when he broke down and cried.
"…I believe you can be a hero, as Izumi and Izuku," Inko sniffed. "And- and both your father and I will root for you no matter what form you take."
Neither of the two dared bring back the previous topic. So engrossed were they with their heart to heart talk, they forgot about it, at least at the moment. After so long, Izuku's aching heart released off a pain that had long clung onto his chest.
-.-
There were many ways one could spend a Saturday morning. For Ochaco, training wasn't exactly an oddity or undesirable. She had spent many weekends training for U.A. However, she had never actually prepared to train with the rabbit hero Miruko. Her body was burning, every single fiber of her muscles stretched to their limit. Still, she persisted under the shade of the trees of Ground Omega.
A part of Ochaco was still unsure the reason behind being taken on as some sort of apprentice by the rabbit hero. The brunette must have said all the right things in her interview with Z, or else Ochaco had no means to explain her current predicament. Another part of Ochaco was starting to regret ever asking Miruko to be trained.
"Lets take a break," Miruko grunted.
Ochaco fell on her knees, panting. The rabbit hero, who had been at it for far longer than her, seemed barely close to break a sweat. She went over to a tree and, from a small backpack, pulled out two bottles of water, one which she unceremoniously shoved at Ochaco, before moving over to a fallen tree to sit on.
Miruko was, much to Ochaco's surprise, quite a decent teacher. She made Ochaco run laps around the grounds, do all sorts of exercises like push-ups and sit-ups, before going over basic hand-to-hand combat, be it practicing through repetition or trying her luck against Miruko herself. Whenever Ochaco was going over some exercise, she would go on to do her own thing, which generally involved dashing around the trees before delivering all manner of kicks at a designated weird ragdoll she brought with her.
Ochaco managed to raise to her feet and trudge over to sit next to her teacher. Never before had opening a bottle of water been such a chore.
"Y'know, Infinity Girl, you need to improve either your reach or your speed," Miruko huffed. "You'll have better luck with your reach."
"What – do you - mean?" Wheezed Ochaco.
"Your quirk," Miruko bluntly stated. "It works only with touch, which could be a problem, especially against fast villains, or those with ranged attacks."
"What do you suggest?" Wondered Ochaco. "I am not exactly the fastest girl around but I have no idea how to improve my – eh – reach was it?"
"Yeah, speed is more Lil' bunny's forte," mused Miruko, smirking. "Do you know if your quirk can travel through stuff?"
"Eh…" Ochaco was too tired to actually think about it.
"Because if that was the case you could go for something like Eraserhead, or maybe chains or a lasso… although now that I think about it they will put you at a disadvantage," Miruko hummed.
"How come? If I can remove their gravity, there isn't much they can do," Ochaco pointed out.
"Not really. A chain or a lasso can easily be caught and in tight spaces it could be hard to use…" Miruko grumbled. "That's why most heroes go for short to medium range fighting."
"Most engagements occur indoors, don't they?" Ochaco said, happy to remember what she had been taught. Miruko nodded, before giving her a questioning raised eyebrow. "All Might taught us that on our first Heroics class. He had us do an exercise; Battle Trial he called it."
"Huh, I would have lot to see that," mused Miruko. "What exactly did you do?"
Ochaco recounted the Battle Trial, going into the specifics of the teams and tasks. She then moved on with the experience itself, narrating what had happened. Ochaco was rather happy to retell how she and Izumi actually managed to beat Iida and Bakugo. Miruko listened on, grinning with a smug face Ochaco had never seen before. It was easy to tell that Miruko liked Izumi. Then again, who didn't? She was way too loveable.
"Cosmic what now?" Laughed Miruko. "Geez, and you came with that on the spot?"
"Yep," Ochaco said, chest puffed up in pride.
"It ain't bad," said an amused Miruko. "Damn, I must ask the Old Man for video then."
"Oh, it wasn't that great," said Ochaco, embarrassed at the thought of another Pro-Hero scrutinizing her first class.
Although she was proud of her success, Ochaco realized that, being their first class in heroics, there had been a few awkward slip-ups and errors, such as Izumi and Bakugo's argument in the middle of an exercise. That and Ochaco wasn't sure she wanted Z to somehow get her hands on such video.
"You really stick close to the Lil' Bunny, huh?" Miruko said.
This time, Ochaco got the distinct impression the rabbit hero's smirk was almost predatory. It reminded her of Ashido whenever she heard a spicy rumor.
"Well, we are good friends," Ochaco said.
"Good friends, huh?" Insisted Miruko, leaning close to the brunette.
Ochaco wasn't sure what she was heading at, until the Pro-Hero started wiggling her eyebrows. The brunette's face immediately lit up like a dying sun.
"Y-yeah, friends," spluttered Ochaco.
"Ah-ha, friends," Miruko repeated, still wiggling her eyebrows.
Ochaco felt rather faint, either because the workout and the embarrassment, if not both. Luckily, Miruko decided that she had enough teasing and broke into laughter.
"Please, Infinity Girl, I know that look on your face when you stare at Izumi. Trust me, I see it every day on Z," Miruko snickered, rolling her eyes.
"It- it is not like that! And I don't stare!" Stammered Ochaco.
"Ah-ha, you just find Lil' bunny's tail really interesting," deadpanned Miruko, making Ochaco's face glow an even deeper shade of red.
Did she really stare at Izumi's cotton tail? Well, it was quite the thing to look at, and at times Ochaco had wondered what it would be like to touch it, maybe even wrap a ribbon… but she had never stared! Ochaco wouldn't do that to her best friend! Right…?
"Just admit it, Infinity Girl," Miruko said, nudging the brunette. "You are head over heels over the Lil' Bunny."
"I – I don't know! Maybe? This is all so new to me," sighed Ochaco.
"Huh?" Was the ever intelligent response of the Pro-Hero.
Ochaco paused, cursing her slip up. She sighed. Since she was already opening up to Miruko, she might as well go all the way. Besides, maybe Miruko could be of some help, all things considered.
"I… I had no idea that- that I might like women," Ochaco confessed. "Especially not an animal girl. I thought I liked boys, you know? Now… now I am not so sure. Maybe I am just overthinking things and it isn't really a crush."
"Yeah… no, it is definitely a crush. Infinity Girl, I have crashed villains into dust far less than how you crush on Lil' Bunny," mused Miruko. She was enjoying the conversation, differently from Ochaco.
"But how could I just discover it? I can't just develop feeling for another gender overnight!" Ochaco said.
"That's life. You think you like one thing only for the reality of it to smack you on the face," Miruko replied with a shrug. "I guess that's just puberty knocking on the door, Infinity Girl. When you're a teenager you discover all sorts of weird stuff. Just ask Z…"
Miruko paused, only to cringe and shiver.
"On second thought, don't ask her anything relating to puberty. No, actually, don't ask her anything. Don't even mention this conversation."
Miruko looked way too serious and apprehensive for Ochaco not to smile with amusement. Just how bad could Z get with such a topic? She blinked, and shuddered. Nope, Miruko was right.
"So, you're still in the closet?" Miruko asked.
Ochaco opened her mouth to respond, only to close it, unsure.
"I… don't know," said Ochaco. "I didn't come to U.A. to date." She chuckled, offering a sheepish smile. "Of course, I thought I would have a hard time with boys, not a girl." She sighed, grimacing. "I told myself I would focus on my career but…"
"You really like Lil' Bunny," summarized Miruko.
"Yes, I like her," Ochaco admitted, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders. "I like Izumi a lot."
It suddenly felt as if a pressure in her chest left her. It was quite liberating.
"I just don't want to be distracted, or worse, distract Izumi," said Ochaco. "Being a hero is tough and we don't have the luxury to fool around."
"Atta girl," Miruko said approvingly, patting Ochaco's head. "You should keep your eyes on the prize."
Ochaco's shoulders slumped. She was aware she shouldn't try to see if she could actually date Izumi, not if she wanted to be a hero. Sadly, she wished Miruko had suggested something different.
"However…"
Ochaco snapped her head at Miruko, hope swelling in her chest.
"You could try both," Miruko said noncommittally. "It won't be easy, but nothing is stopping both of you from being a Hero Duo. There are a lot of hero couples that work as duos, especially those who are complementary or share the same quirk. You and Lil' Bunny are kind of complementary, y'know? You can do the heavy lifting, she does the speed."
Ochaco felt her heart skip a beat. Become a Hero Duo? But wasn't that too early to decide? And was it truly the best course of action? For all they knew they had different desires in their careers, given how not all heroes were the same. Some heroes were more fighters while others were rescuers. There were those that preferred stealth while others opted for more flashy action. However, if they could make it work, did that mean that…?
"Careful there. Don't go daydreaming on me," teased Miruko.
Ochaco spluttered incoherently at that, much to Miruko's amusement.
"And you wouldn't mind that? Izumi and me becoming a duo?" Ochaco wondered.
"Why would I give a crap about that?" Miruko inquired, baffled.
"Well, you know, she is – could be – your niece," chuckled Ochaco.
"Don't joke about that," scoffed a disgruntled Miruko.
"Huh?"
"About Lil' Bunny being related to me," muttered Miruko, glaring at her lap.
Ochaco frowned, confused.
"Is it that bad? To be related to Izumi, I mean. She is… well… pretty awesome. I thought you liked her."
"Yeah," scoffed Rumi. A smile graced her face. "I kind of like the lil' bunny."
She scowled only to look with sadness at the ground.
"I kind of suspected already that we were related. She looks way too much like my aunt… and a bit like grandps," Rumi confessed. She looked as if she was lost on some memory. "Those eyes… they were a dead giveaway."
"But?" Ochaco asked, intrigued.
Rumi just sighed, frustrated.
"I don't know, alright? How am I supposed to react to all of this? All I ever wanted was to kick ass and make it to the top, not… this!" Rumi angrily huffed. "It's been drama after drama and… it's really starting to grate on my nerves."
Ochaco could only sympathize with the rabbit hero. Miruko had been going a few rough weeks so it was bound to start testing her patience.
"Eh… M-Miruko, could I ask you something?" Ochaco politely (and rather timidly) asked.
Miruko raised a warning eyebrow at her, clearly stating that the brunette had to pick her next words carefully. Ochaco wasn't sure if it was right to broach the subject, but since they talked about her own… well… newly discovered leanings, maybe she could try to get more information on the matter.
"You don't… mind if I ask about you and… ehm… Z?" Ochaco wondered.
For a moment, Ochaco regretted being so nosy. She winced, readying for the rabbit hero's angry retort. Luckily for her, it never came. Miruko frowned instead. Ochaco held her sigh of relief, however.
"Z and me?" Miruko wondered, blinking.
"Yes, your – ehm – relationship," Ochaco was already blushing, imagining the sorts of things the two got to do in their spare time.
If Ochaco's first encounter with Z was anything to go by, Miruko and Z probably spent their evenings rather busy in their apartment.
"She's my secretary," Miruko stated with a shrug.
Ochaco blinked.
"I just thought that… ehm… you kind of… ehm… y'know… I heard you liked women and you and Z-" Ochaco squawked, increasingly horrified by her inability to shut her mouth.
Luckily, Miruko took in stride and interrupted the brunette before she could embarrass herself any further.
"Look, Infinity Girl, let me set the record straight: I am not a lesbian," said the rabbit hero.
Ochaco wished the ground could swallow her whole in that instant. Never before had she been so embarrassed.
"Oh Rumi!" Someone called with a singsong voice.
Miruko and Ochaco snapped their heads to a side when, as if summoned by her name, trotted none other than Z herself. She was a little boy, though, a preteen with his usual red hair and green eyes. Z pranced towards them, looking joyful, only to jump towards Miruko. Mid-jump, Z's form changed into that of a rather androgynous woman.
Ochaco's confusion was replace to shock, and a good lot of embarrassment, as Z proceeded to intimately hug Miruko from behind and kiss her on the cheeks. Ochaco did not miss the way Z's hand latched onto Miruko's waist. The rabbit hero, on her part, remained seated and firm, as if unmoved. However, by the pink on the Hero's cheeks, Ochaco could tell the rabbit hero was a bit flustered herself by the new arrival.
"I – you – didn't you say that – but -?" spluttered a confused (and embarrassed) Ochaco.
"In my defense, I am not straight either," Miruko said with a smirk. She turned to Z, who was grinning and tails waggling like a happy dog. She had yet to release Miruko. "Alright, what got you in a mood?"
"Why, can't I treat my favorite hero with all my happiness?" Z pouted.
Miruko just stared at her secretary. Z shrunk to a little girl, no older than eight years old, who proceeded to childishly pout at the rabbit hero.
"You're so mean," whined the child.
"Just spill it, slick," Miruko said with a smirk, pinching the child's cheek.
She grabbed the fox child by the scruff of her neck and pulled her onto her lap.
"What happened?" Insisted Miruko.
Z reverted to her previous woman form. Ochaco felt like maybe she should leave, seeing Z still seated on Miruko's lap and wrapping her arms around the rabbit woman.
"Everything in the world is going excellent, fluff!" Proclaimed Z. "Your poll numbers are up, the media are begging to interview you and every damn bastard who dared pile on against you is wishing they hadn't been so quick to join the fray!"
Z cupped Miruko's cheeks. Ochaco could only stare (and blush) with how intimate Z was with the rabbit hero.
"Guess what, fluff? The last poll? If it is accurate, and I think it is, you might be competing for the number four position, and the number three is just an inch away!" Z laughed.
Ochaco saw Miruko's face split into a grin and, in an instant, she was on her feet, spinning Z around.
"Oh hell yeah! Finally!" Miruko cackled.
So that was how Ochaco could only stand there, averting her eyes, as the two women laughed, enjoying the moment. After a while, Miruko stop spinning and put Z down, only to kiss the androgenous woman. Ochaco couldn't help but feel like she was at the wrong place.
"You get Uraraka here and Izumi as interns and I am sure you'll hit Number Three without doubt," said Z.
"Man, pity I can't get Number two," grumbled Miruko.
"Well, you'll need to solve a hundred police cases a month," snickered Z. "Say what you want about Endeavor. That guy is relentless."
Miruko huffed but didn't comment.
"Sorry you had to see that, Infinity Girl," Miruko told Ochaco, awkwardly scratching her head.
"It's- it's no problem," chuckled the brunette.
"So what exactly did you want to know about us?" Miruko bluntly asked.
"Us?" Z quirked an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Oh, it's nothing! Just me being silly!" Sheepishly (and panicky) said Ochaco.
"She was asking me about our relationship," Miruko told her secretary.
"S-seriously, you don't have to tell me!" Urged a desperate Ochaco.
"Ah, she must think we are more than employer and employee," said a smirking Z.
Ochaco's embarrassment was replaced by confusion.
"Wait, you aren't an item?" Ochaco asked. "But I thought you two-"
"Oh, but we are," smugly replied Z, only to add. "In a way…"
"We are together but we aren't boyfriend and girlfriend," Miruko added.
Ochaco looked at the pair, unsure what she was supposed to think. The fact they remained serious only made it worse.
"So what did you want to know?" Miruko asked.
"Nothing!" Ochaco squeaked.
"Is it because of my quirk?" Z asked with a knowing smile.
"Yes – I mean, no! I- I don't want to intrude. I'm sorry for bothering you with that," hurriedly apologized Ochaco.
"Hey, it's fine," snickered Z. "Just ask what you wish to know. I won't be offended."
Ochaco was seriously tempted on insisting against such subject matter. However, the thought struck her. This could be a good opportunity to get some insight on how a relationship with Izumi could work. True, Ochaco didn't want to be distracted in her career, but she was still too confused about her own crush towards Izumi to think straight. Ochaco needed some input from someone with experience.
"How does it – ehm – work? I mean, between you two… as women," Ochaco said. "I mean, you are a woman, right Z?"
"Yep," nodded Z, only to stroke her chin, amused. "That was how I was born and how I was until I was four. As for our relationship…"
Z and Miruko looked at each other, silent words flying between the two through their mere gaze, before they addressed the brunette.
"We just don't think about it," chorused the couple.
"You don't… think about your relationship?" Ochaco asked, baffled.
"What's there to think about?" Shrugged Miruko. "We like each other and work together."
"And rather nicely at that," added Z.
"We are in the same business, deal with the same people… Heck, we even live together," continued Miruko.
"And for good reason," harrumphed an indignant Z. "Without me, fluff here would live in absolute squalor."
"Hey, that's not true!" Miruko scoffed. "Don't believe her, Infinity Girl. I just have a more carefree lifestyle."
"Do you… date?" Ochaco asked.
"You kidding?" Z said, wide-eyed. "We don't have any time for that. Between training, paperwork and all-around hero work, not to mention interviews and contracts, we barely have spare time for ourselves, much less go out and do anything."
"Yeah, you don't get high in the rankings if you goof around," Miruko grunted.
"Well, we could use some extra help at the agency," offhandedly said Z. "I mean, I know you rather it was just the two of us, but it will become unsustainable, especially if we really want to kick Endevor's butt in the polls."
Miruko scowled.
"Don't give me that look. We've been over this, fluff. You need to work with more people," tutted Z.
Miruko suddenly squinted at Z, only to glance at Ochaco before glaring at Z.
"…Oh, I see why you want me to take on interns. This isn't a publicity stunt! You want me to get sidekicks!" Miruko accused. "Hell no!"
"Oh, for God's sake, Rumi. You know that if you want us to reach the top we'll need far more influence. There's just so much you can do on your own…" Z said.
"No, absolutely no. I don't do sidekicks or teams," Miruko grumbled, sounding like a petulant child.
"Not even Izumi? Come on, she would be a perfect sidekick! The Rabbit Hero and her sidekick, the rabbit girl," Z said with a happy squeal. "And with Uraraka here it would be just what we need! Think about it, we could ask for more streets to patrol, more police cases…"
"No," bluntly said Miruko.
"Just consider it, please?" pleaded Z.
Miruko, though, looked absolutely against whatever Z had been planning.
"Just… give them a try as interns," begged Z. "You might find them as ideal sidekicks!"
Miruko looked at Ochaco, who proceeded to avert her eyes and twiddle her thumbs.
"Only as interns," insisted Miruko. "And just so that people will stop thinking I abuse children or whatever crap they say nowadays."
Ochaco, on her part, thought about Z's words. Images flashed across her mind, fed by her imagination. What would it be like with her being a sidekick alongside Izumi? She imagined the two of them, patrolling side-by-side, hanging out most days, facing a villain or two from time to time, filling paperwork during the evenings, training together, going to their share apartment and…
Unbeknownst to Ochaco, the two adults had stopped talking and were staring straight at her, thoroughly amused.
"I think we've lost her," giggled Z.
"She does that," mused Miruko.
The two women glanced at each other, before snickering. Yep, Ochaco sure had it bad.
-.-
Izuku wasn't sure how he found strength to be productive that evening. Even after all the crying and feeling emotionally drained, Izuku had still gone to All Might to train, just like the previous weekend. Of course, All Might could tell a lot had happened that morning.
"You sure you are alright, kid?" a skeletal All Might asked with a worried frown.
"Yes," said Izuku with a shy smile.
All Might didn't need to say it. Izuku knew his eyes were red with crying and he looked awful. Still, Izuku needed to train, if only to distract himself. He needed to regain some semblance of normalcy, even if it was actually learning with the Number One Hero in the same fighting room as the previous weekend.
"I am fine, All Might," insisted Izuku.
All Might, though, wasn't convinced. Izuku heard a loud POOF and, all of a sudden, the muscular All Might was there, giving his trademarked laugh.
"So!" All Might said with his wide grin and enthusiasm. "Are you ready to continue, young Midoriya?"
Izuku grinned and nodded.
"Then allow me to show you a special move!" All Might said.
Izuku's eyes lit up. He looked visibly excited by that.
"As it will happen, both in this form and your rabbit form, there will be villains with far bigger frame and mass! That's why you need to learn how to perform…" All Might paused for a dramatic effect "…a throw!"
Izuku stood there, blinking at his mentor.
"Huh?" Izuku asked.
"A throw. Come on, young Midoriya, you must have heard about it!" All Might stated.
"Yes, but… a throw? That's… the move you wanted to teach me?" Izuku asked.
For someone who defeated most villains with one punch, it was hard to imagine All Might ever needing to use such a move. Heck, All Might didn't even need to kick.
"Why yes!" All Might said, undeterred. "It might sound easy, but without a proper training partner, you might not learn the basics! You can scoff or laugh at how simple such a move is, but you never know when it will save your life!"
"Alright," Izuku said, slowly nodding.
"The trick, my boy, is to use your opponent's momentum and own size against them. Of course, it requires perfect timing as well!" All Might said. "Those who have great strength might deliver quite a punch, but on the other hand produce one hell of an inertia. But enough of that! Now, punch me."
Izuku stared as All Might deflated to his skeletal form and stood with his arms spread wide, as if begging to be hurt.
"Come on, kid, punch me!" Demanded All Might.
"Eh… I don't know if you should risk it in that form," Izuku said.
"What's the problem? I just have a few missing organs; I am not that frail," said All Might.
"You cough blood all the time," Izuku remarked.
"Details. Are you going to punch me or not?" All Might huffed.
Izuku remained apprehensive. However, he was growing curious as well. Hesitantly, he reared a fist and delivered a punch. He was not surprised when All Might merely dodged it, looking disappointed at Izuku.
"Come on, kid, just punch me! Think that I am a villain," All Might insisted.
"I can't!" Izuku said. "You look so…"
All Might sighed, only to buff up.
"Better, young Midoriya?" Said All Might in his hero form.
Izuku nodded and, this time, he didn't hold back. He reared an arm and delivered a much stronger punch. What followed happened so quickly, Izuku had to lie there, stamped against the floor, trying to recall the exact series of events that led to such a compromising position.
First, All Might had reverted to his skeletal and frail form at the last second. He sidestepped Izuku in an instant and, turning around, managed to catch Izuku's punching arm over his shoulder, leaving Izuku facing his back. Then All Might proceeded to send the young boy flying, straight to a padded wall.
"H-how did you do that?" Izuku asked.
"What do you think I am? All bones?" Huffed All Might, only to pause. "Don't answer that."
Izuku got up and replayed what had happened in his mind. All Might had never struck him as that capable.
"You should look at your face, young Midoriya. That was a well-executed throw. I hope it was made clear that this old man still has some fire in him," All Might laughed. "Alright, let us do this slowly this time around. Trust me, you will thank me when you face a taller and larger enemy, especially with a clumsy technic."
"Wait, why do you know how to do that? I mean, you are huge!" Izuku pointed out.
All Might could only laugh more.
"I was not always this big, young Midoriya!" All Might explained, grin still in place. "I was once not far from your height!" Here, All Might's smile got even wider as his eyes shone with mischief. "I am hurt, young Midoriya. I thought you were my Number One fan and you knew this sort of thing!"
"I am!" Insisted a panicking Izuku. "It's just that… it is so easy to forget you were normal."
All Might broke into a cough fit and reverted to his Toshinori form at that.
"Normal?!" Exclaimed an indignant All Might.
"Sorry, I mean that – well – you weren't this super buffed hero during your U.A. days," Izuku chuckled. "You kind of returned from USA like you look now and… well… it is easy to forget what you used to look like."
That's when Izuku paused, a question he used to have back before he met All Might popped into his mind.
"Say, All Might, how did you end up like that? And how did it take you a couple of years abroad to achieve it?" Izuku inquired.
"Simple, kid: it's because I finished mastering One for All thanks to my good friend David Shield," confessed All Might. "It is only thanks to his scanning devices and special gear I even managed to get this massive muscular form, which is a direct result of using One for All at its maximum across my body. Trust me when I tell you, that was not a comfortable thing to achieve."
Wait, across his entire body? Izuku blinked.
He glanced at his scarred arm only to frown and start thinking about what All Might had just said.
Is that even possible? All this time I was only drawing One for All to specific body parts, like my arm, or my legs as Izumi…
The Number One Hero, though, didn't notice his apprentice lost in thought, softly mumbling to himself. As if to make a point, he exploded back to his All Might form and started flexing his arms.
"It wasn't easy, but having a good friend to cheer you on can make you do wonders," All Might said.
Izuku, broken out of his reverie, grimaced at that and looked down, ashamed. All Might shrunk back to being Toshinori Yagi and placed a comforting hand on the young man. He didn't need to read minds or even ask to know what the boy was thinking. He had, after all, been in a similar position back during his U.A. days.
"You are pondering whether to tell your friend about your shape-shifting ability, aren't you kid?" All Might asked.
Izuku gave a sad, pained smile and nodded.
"She deserves to know. I don't want to hide it from her anymore," Izuku said. "What do you think I should do?"
All Might hummed, stroking his chin.
"I don't know what to say, kid," All Might said. "Once you share the truth, there is no going back. In any case, no matter your choice, I have your back."
"Thanks, All Might," said Izuku.
"Now, let's get back to training!" All Might exclaimed, exploded in his muscular form. "This time, I'll do the punching!"
Izuku's eyes widened and he shrunk.
"You are going to what now?"
All Might's already shining eyes caught a mischievous glint to them.
"Why, I am teaching you how to deal with foes my size and weight! Now prepare yourself, young Midoriya!"
Needless to say, for the rest of his training, Izuku didn't get the chance to ponder on what All Might had said regarding using One for All across his entire body. He had to survive that training session, after all.
-.-
When Ochaco received a message from Izumi to meet at the dorm's roof that night, she was a tad shocked. Why did Izumi want to talk to her? And why all of the secrecy? Of course, Ochaco's mind played all sorts of scenarios, each one more embarrassing than the next. From Izumi wanting to just hang out, to the rabbit girl confessing her love to Ochaco, each scenario made Ochaco's face burn brighter.
It sure didn't help that day's teasing by Miruko. Ochaco still couldn't believe she managed to talk matters such as her crush on Izumi with the rabbit hero.
When the brunette left her room, she did so with some trepidation. Ochaco wouldn't deny she was anxious, and rather tired after that day's workout. She was a tad surprised Izumi had somehow managed to get access to the roof, and that the door had been left unlocked. Ochaco tentatively climbed a flight of stairs. Each step caused pain to shoot across her sore muscles, reminding her that had spent one hell of a day with Miruko.
The roof itself wasn't that amazing, being mostly a flat area with metal railing. It did have a nice view of the school grounds and the nearby dorms, but there was little to actually see. Well, aside from the stars. It was a beautiful starry night…
A very romantic night, Ochaco casually thought.
She squeaked and blushed, realizing what she had just thought. Her imagination played some of the scenarios she had come up with before.
Could Izumi want to confess to me? Ochaco wondered for the umpteenth time.
She panicked at the mere thought of such possibility.
What am I supposed to do? Confess back? Tell her we should focus on our hero careers? Or – or…
Speaking of which, Ochaco was broken out of her thoughts by the sounds of grunting. Her eyes snapped to a side, where none other than Izumi, clad in baggy and perhaps oversized clothing, was doing… something. The rabbit girl was gritting her teeth and fists clenched, all while concentrating. All of a sudden, Izumi grunted and Ochaco's widened as small bolts of lightning danced around the girl's fur. Bright veins momentarily glowed on Izumi's body, only to disappear alongside the bolts.
Ochaco couldn't help but smile at the sight. Leave it to Izumi to kill time with training. To think she too had spent most of her day training.
Izumi was about to continue whatever she was up to, only for one of her ears to perk up and angle toward Ochaco. Izumi turned towards the roof entrance and smiled.
"Ochaco," Izumi called, grinning.
"Hey," replied the brunette, casually approaching her friend.
While she smiled and looked somewhat calm, deep down she was having a hard time keeping her composure.
Come on, Ochaco, this isn't what you think, Ochaco told herself.
"Sorry I called you to talk like this," Izumi said with a sheepish smile. "I just… I just wanted to tell that… ehm…"
Oh God, could it be? Could she have feelings for me? Ochaco stiffened, worried, yet her heart raced with anticipation.
"Look, Ochaco? There's something you should know," said Izumi. She shuffled on her feet, nervous, only to add "About me."
Ochaco blinked, and her shoulders deflated. Why did she feel so disappointed?
"Oh, your secret identity," Ochaco said. "That's…" she froze. "This isn't because of the whole article thingy, is it? You don't have to worry, Izumi! I've told you before, I trust you and believe-"
"I know," Izumi cut in with a sad smile. "That's why I think you should know. You deserve to hear the whole truth."
Ochaco just stared, unsure. Did she want to know who Izumi truly was? Perhaps her real name? It shouldn't really change anything, right? Yet the way Izumi was acting, it didn't' bode well. It was as if her secret identity meant a lot more than a mere surname. Perhaps her backstory was tragic or awful, perhaps embarrassing?
"I… I wasn't always like this," Izumi gestured to herself. "My real name is… is Izuku. Or, well, it is one of my names now, I guess."
"Izuku," whispered Ochaco, frowning. The name gave her an odd taste in her tongue, a sense of familiarity that baffled her. "Wait, wasn't that the name of that boy that Bakugo bullied?"
"Yes," nodded Izumi. "That's why I knew him all along. I am that boy."
Ochaco opened her mouth, only to shut it and frown at the rabbit girl. She was confused. No, scratch that. She was lost.
"Oh, so you are a… oh, Oh," Ochaco stared, wide-eyed. "You are one of those – you are a transsexual."
"What? No!" Izumi squawked. "I- you – no! My…" She slapped her face. "Urgh, I think I went about this the wrong way. I – I AM Izuku but I am also Izumi because… because…"
"Because…?" Ochaco asked, stepping closer to Izumi.
"I…" slowly said Izumi, only to slump her shoulder.
Ochaco waited for a response, but Izumi stared at the floor, despondent.
"I can't do this," said Izumi. "I don't…" she glanced at the brunette, and Ochaco felt her heart painfully squeeze in her chest.
Izumi's amethysts eyes were filled with hurt and sadness.
"Hey," Ochaco softly said, stepping close to Izumi. She took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "You know, if you don't want to tell me, you don't have to, alright?"
"No, I have to. I don't want to lie to you, or at least, I want you to be – ehm – aware of all of it," said Izumi.
"Are you afraid I'll… reject you?" asked Ochaco. "Izumi, I'd never do that! I like y–I mean – I am your friend, right? I won't just, abandon you."
"I know that but…" Izumi pried her hand from Ochaco and turned towards the railing.
Ochaco stood there, feeling rather bewildered. She could only watch as Izumi's ears remained dropped, clearly distraught by the entire situation.
"All my life, I have been treated like I wasn't worth anything," Izumi said. "I thought I had a friend once but I was a bit of a fool."
"Bakugo, right?" Ochaco guessed with a sad smile.
"Yes. I kind of admired him back then but afterwards – I don't know – got too desperate for things to go back, back before I was diagnosed as quirkless," Izumi said.
Ochaco's jaw dropped. But how? She wondered. How could anyone look at Izumi and claim she was quirkless? Wait, she said she used to go by the name Izuku. Did that mean that back then she – he – looked normal? Alright, this was getting beyond confusing.
"I wanted to be a hero so badly… it hurt when I was told that I wouldn't even have a power to call my own," Izumi recounted. "I don't know why but I clung to that dream, even if deep down I knew it was impossible. Maybe it was stubbornness, maybe it was denial but… I couldn't let it go… and just like I would watch Bakugo and admire him, daydreaming about becoming as good as him in so many things. I watched heroes, wishing I could be like them. That's all I could do: watch."
Silence. Ochaco listened, feeling awful by just hearing that pained tone on Izumi's voice.
"I was called a creep… useless… pathetic… I guess being called a nerd isn't so bad in comparison but… it stung," said Izumi. She offered a small dejected smile. "Some people out there have it worse, you know? And here I am, whining about name-calling."
Ochaco rested a hand on Izumi's shoulders.
"You had it bad regardless," she said trying to give a comforting smile to her friend "Yes, some people have it worse… doesn't mean you didn't go through a rough time, right?"
"I guess," mumbled an unconvinced Izumi.
There was a moment of silence which Ochaco used to give Izumi's shoulder another squeeze of reassurance. Izumi looked into her eyes and, for a few seconds, they just stared at each other. When she pried her eyes from Ochaco's, Izumi appeared to have found the strength to continue.
"I never had a friend. Heck, for the most part I barely had decent classmates. I was the butt of jokes, the outcast… and it only got worse from there. The less I felt I fit, the more obsessed I got with heroes, and the worse they got.
"But then… then something happened," Izumi recounted. "The day of the Entrance Exam came and I suddenly manifested a quirk. It was a unique quirk that turned my world upside down. Thanks to that quirk, I got a fresh start. I could take an entire new personality. I got on the right foot with my classmates… my childhood bully didn't recognize me… and I made a friend. That quirk…"
She took a deep breath.
"…that quirk was the power to change from a boy to a rabbit girl," said Izuku.
Ochaco had guessed as much after Izumi's initial confession, yet now that she said it, it finally sunk. Ochaco stared, unable to react. So many thoughts and feelings churned in her, she felt suddenly numb to it all.
Izumi gave her one last sad smile before she changed. Ochaco could only watch in silent horror as the rabbit girl she had a crush on slowly stretched and grew. Her once small, adorable body started filling outwards with muscle and the once oversized clothes suddenly fitted. Those beautiful amethyst eyes blurred into gleaming emerald ones and, before Ochaco knew it, Izumi was no more.
There, standing in front of Ochaco, was a rather plain looking boy, with freckles, messy dark green hair and lopsided smile.
"So… yeah," Izuku kept his eyes down, ashamed. "I'm sorry."
Oh God, this can't be happening, thought Ochaco. Izumi is also a boy? What in the world am I supposed to do now?!
"So Izumi is a lie?" Ochaco said, trying not to sound distraught by the revelation.
"No," Izuku firmly said, still unwilling to look at Ochaco's eyes. "We are both one and at the same time two. It's… it's complicated…" he glanced at Ochaco, only to grimace and look away. "We have one body but we are a bit different in personality. Still, it is one person."
Ochaco slowly nodded. She still felt utterly thunderstruck by the revelation.
"So… ehm…" Ochaco looked down.
Izuku sighed and grimaced once again. Ochaco winced as the boy's shoulders slumped. Even without saying a word, she could tell he already felt rejected. Guilt swelled in Ochaco's gut, as well as shame.
Izuku has gone through enough, Ochaco reminded herself, Besides, he might look and be different, but he is also Izumi.
She nodded, a smile forming on her face. Ochaco knew what she had to do.
"Right," Ochaco said.
Suddenly, she took a deep breath and offered a hand. Izuku blinked, confused. He eyed the hand only to frown at the brunette.
"I guess we have to properly introduce ourselves, right?" Ochaco said, rubbing her neck with embarrassment. "I am Ochaco Uraraka, nice to meet you!"
Izuku looked at the hand for a while before tentatively reaching towards it. A shy smile appeared on his face. Ochaco, seeing his hesitation, took his hand and squeezed it reassuringly. Perhaps it was the sudden twist of events, or maybe the ridiculousness of it all, but Ochaco found herself laughing.
"I don't bite, silly," she said.
"R-right," stammered Izuku, blushing. "I- I am Izuku Midoriya! N-nice to meet you too!"
And with that, the two friends laughed, oblivious to the world outside.
