05/10/2021

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The Emperor's Dragon
Fledgling 08

Sorry, Izu! Why was the red blood cell banned from church?

The text from Himiko made him smile. She might not have had her phone yesterday but she had answered now.

Because he said God's name in vein! Izuku sent back with a grin.

Hehe! Himiko messaged him. I might not be able to answer quickly for the next bit, she added in a new message.

Is everything okay? Izuku had typed the reply before he even thought about it.

There was a bit of a break before she replied. You know I like blood, Izu?

Of course you do, it's for your quirk.

My parents are worrying, Himiko sent to him.

Because you like blood?

Yes.

That didn't make any sense! Transform didn't work without blood so that's why Himiko had to have it. And her quirk made her like it! Which was good, because it was kind of gross otherwise. There wasn't anything wrong with her. There's nothing wrong with you, Izuku replied, repeating his thoughts for her to see.

（＾ω＾）

Izuku sighed. We'll talk when you can then? He sent the question.

Of course, Izu!

He really hoped Himiko would be okay but he knew there wasn't anything he could do except support her in text. Izuku resolved to look up some more blood jokes. It was the least he could do.

-ted-

Eating his lunch today was different. Ochaco and Hitoshi were both back at school. They'd met today in Ochaco's classroom, since it was pouring outside. The nice weather of yesterday had given way to rain today.

He'd gotten a few odd looks this morning from a variety of people. There hadn't been too many people present yesterday but word had spread.

He huffed. He could tell from the way Ochaco and Hitoshi were looking at him that they'd heard as well. "Why don't you just ask?" Izuku prompted them.

Ochaco and Hitoshi shared a look.

"What happened?" Ochaco finally asked. Her brown eyes were wide with worry.

The classroom wasn't full but Izuku could feel the way the other kids were listening in.

"Gatarui was being a dick," he said bluntly.

Ochaco's eyes widened.

"I only swear when I mean it," Izuku said mildly before she could ask.

Hitoshi chuckled. "So he was being a dick, and you beat him up?" the purple haired boy asked.

"I did not!" Izuku defended himself. "He challenged me," he added, giving Ochaco a pointed look.

She looked at him quizzically, trying to interpret it.

"Alright," Hitoshi allowed. "You beat each other up, except you look pretty good."

Izuku had thought about what he wanted to say about not having bruises. Gatarui didn't have any but that's because chitin didn't show them. He didn't like lying to his friends but protecting his dad was more important. He shrugged. "Tomura hits harder," he announced.

"Tomura is fourteen," Hitoshi pointed out.

"Yeah?" Izuku asked, confused. The teen was older but what did that have to do with anything?

Hitoshi blew a breath out. "You're impossible!" He growled but Izuku could tell it was half in jest.

"Ochaco," Izuku said, looking back to his other friend. She still looked worried for him and he thought he could see tears forming in the corner of her eyes. "I promise you, he didn't hurt me," Izuku reassured her.

"But he wanted to," she said, reaching up to wipe the tear before it fell.

Izuku looked at her. He had white hair today and knew he looked a little bit like his dad. It kind of made him happy to be that way. "Well, I wanted to hurt him," he admitted.

"What? Why?" Ochaco was shocked by his admission. Even Hitoshi looked surprised.

"Because he hurt you," he answered her question.

"He hasn't!" she objected.

Izuku just kept looking at her.

"He hasn't!" Ochaco repeated.

He recognised the irony of his words even as he said them. His friends didn't know he was lying to them. "Don't lie to me." He made sure the statement was soft, not challenging.

Ochaco sighed heavily. She looked to the side. It told Izuku he was right. "It wasn't much," she admitted. "When you moved to Niigata, it was mostly Ijimi," she told them.

"Who's Ijimi?" Hitoshi asked.

"A dick," Izuku said. "He was in the year above us but Gatarui and Arata followed him around."

Hitoshi nodded. He didn't know exactly who this Ijimi was but he knew his type.

"They shouldn't have done anything! The teachers should have stopped them."

"It wasn't that bad," Ochaco defended.

Izuku gave her a look. It told her he didn't care if it wasn't that bad. It shouldn't have happened.

She huffed. "Little Dragon, they shouldn't call you a sympathiser, but they do. People do lots of stupid things," she added.

Izuku sighed. "If they do anything again, I'll-" Izuku paused, not quite sure what he'd do. If he beat up Gatarui then he'd get punished and that wasn't good.

Hitoshi chuckled. "You'll do what?" He sounded interested.

"I don't know," Izuku had to admit.

Hitoshi winked at Ochaco when she giggled at Izuku's dilemma. "How about if they do anything, I make them turn themselves into a teacher?" Hitoshi offered the alternative.

"But then you'll get in trouble!" Ochaco objected, though she sounded pleased that they would stand up for her.

"Not that much," Hitoshi shrugged. "After all, I might have used my quirk but I didn't force them to lie," he explained.

Izuku shook his head. "I doubt it would work that way," he said realistically. In fact, he was sure it wouldn't work that way. He was positive that the teachers would overlook whatever Gatarui or Arata admitted to because they wouldn't see past the fact that Hitoshi had used his quirk to make them confess.

Ochaco gave them both a wan smile. "How about we ignore them? Besides, we know they are too cowardly to do anything if we are together," she added.

That was true. "I don't like it." Izuku nodded his agreement even as he said the words.

"Actually ignoring them would probably be best," Hitoshi agreed with Ochaco. "Acknowledging them only validates their opinions and we all know their opinions suck," he said.

Izuku laughed at that. Hitoshi had obviously been reading some online forums to have an opinion like that. He wondered who he was quoting. It was true though. "All right, we'll ignore them," he agreed. "Just so long as they ignore us," he added the condition.

Ochaco and Hitoshi shared another glance before they nodded.

Izuku gave them a smile. He might say that, but he fully expected Gatarui to challenge him again another day.

He'd be ready.

-ted-

"Are you sure this game can be won this way?" Izuku asked Tomura.

He'd just managed to live a grand total of four seconds after Tomura's character had been killed.

"It is, if you don't die," the teen snarled. At least the snarl was directed towards the screen.

Izuku said nothing at that. He hadn't died. Or rather, he had, but that was because Tomura's character had died. He was playing support for Tomura and you couldn't really expect the support character to survive past the main character.

"Hmm, if you are sure, how about we both play attack characters then?" Izuku suggested.

Tomura actually paused from loading the last game save. Thankfully they hadn't gotten too far into this game so restarting with him as another attack character wouldn't take too long.

Izuku thought about the character line up. "How about I change to Waka?" he remembered Tomura had rejected that choice earlier because the character was too nice and traditionally Waka was played on the good side. This game didn't have heroes but there was a definition good and bad side.

The teen thought about it for a few moments. He was reluctant to change but they simply hadn't progressed as far as he needed to and perhaps having a double attack would be okay. They could always just max out potion buying instead of having a support character. "All right," he agreed.

"At least we'll get through the start more easily," Izuku said, waiting for Tomura to take them back to the menu. As player one Tomura had most of the control that way.

"Pft! I think we are close enough still that you can change character," he said, trying to remember what he'd seen online.

"Really?" Izuku didn't have to feign excitement at that news. The beginning of this game had too many cutscenes that slowed it down.

"Yeah," Tomura confirmed his words as he took them back to the menu and clicked through to settings. "See, you can do it here," he told Izuku, already scrolling through Izuku's character settings.

"Hang on! That's going to reset me back to starting levels!" Izuku objected.

"Deal with it," Tomura rolled his eyes even as he clicked through the warning.

Izuku groaned but knew better than to say anything else. Instead, he flicked through his inventory. Ah! There were some power ups there he could use, and he quickly applied them to his new character. If they went back to the beginning yet again, they'd just have to go back and farm them again. He checked the weapons next and selected a new one. It was better suited for attacking. While he was doing that, Tomura was loading up on potions and mana restores.

"Do we have to talk to anyone again now that I've changed characters?" Izuku asked.

"Nah," Tomura shook his head as he directed his character towards the outskirts of the town they were in. "Let's go," he commanded.

Izuku gave one last check over his in game gear before he nodded and followed.

Hopefully they'd do better this round.

-ted-

First! Medical tech is really sweet!

I should have looked at it earlier!

Izuku looked at his phone as it buzzed. The messages were from Mei.

But I can make it better!

The follow up message made him smile. She was that type of person.

How is it good? Izuku asked, referring to her opening statement.

All the pumps are so efficient. And the redundancy!

He didn't really understand what she was talking about but knew enough to know that he should be impressed. How can you make it better?

I can make it smaller! And I can definitely give them better battery life!

The smallest ones go on your back.

A picture accompanied the text. look up 'portable respirator' if you want an image

Then you've got all the cables! They get in the way!

Izuku looked at the image. The filtration tube ran from the unit to the back of the head into a helmet-like device with a clear face plate. He could see how it would get in the way.

I can do better.

Could you build it into a helmet, so that there is no tubing? Izuku sent the question.

Yep! You're thinking the same as me!

He smiled.

But, it's going to take time. As I said, med-tech is good!

Izuku nodded. He hadn't really expected anything immediately. How long? He sent back.

There was a pause in the message stream. He thought Mei was thinking about it. As the time went on Izuku hoped she wasn't rethinking her words.

A while, came the reply. It would be faster if I had one to work with but they're expensive!

How expensive? He had to ask.

At least 100,000 yen. I've been looking online at plans and designs but without actually having one, I can't really see how they work.

That was expensive, but then Izuku reminded himself it was for a very technical piece of equipment. His school computer had cost that much, and he knew the consoles Tomura had cost a lot.

Could you get an old one?

I hadn't thought of that! Let me check! The response was almost immediate.

The silence this time was much more reassuring. Izuku thought about what he wanted. A smaller, more powerful respirator for his dad, was a start. Even if it wasn't technically making money, he knew his dad would agree it was a good investment.

Can you make it more powerful? Izuku added the question in the silence.

Yes. While the response was positive, it was definitely distracted.

He put down his phone and went back to his homework. The sooner he could get it done the sooner he could go watch TV and write in his notebook.

I can get one for about 30,000 yen. It's ex-stock, so not in spec.

Izuku wasn't sure what that meant. You are positive you can improve it?

I'm sure, First.

He bit his lip. It was a lot but it was not all the money dad had given him. If you had one, how long would it take?

I think about six months.

That seemed to be a long time, especially if she would then have a prototype.

Med-tech is good and if I'm making it better, I have to keep it to that standard.

I could have something done in a week

But to ensure it's good, it will take longer to test.

The explanation came without his request in several follow up messages.

Izuku nodded to himself but his decision was made. He took a deep breath. I'll give you enough to get one, but I want the new design to go into a helmet.

What?

He wasn't sure what she was asking.

You'll give me enough to get one?

Yes.

What?

Izuku looked at the repeated message. This is an investment.

If you give me that much, I have to give you something in return.

I can't take that.

What do you suggest? Izuku sent back.

I'll send you my very best babies!

You can have them all!

He wasn't sure what to think about that. He didn't think he'd be able to fit the number she implied in his room and he didn't want Tomura to dust them. How about one for the moment? Your best one? I'll give it back when you finish.

Like a hostage?

More like a bond, Izuku replied.

You have a deal. There wasn't any hesitation in the reply.

I'll make you the smallest, most powerful respirator on the planet.

With a long battery life and self cleaning scrubbers!

He didn't know what the last was, but figured it was something needed. He taped through and transferred her the money. Sent the funds.

Where do I send my baby?

Izuku gave her the address of Kurogiri's bar.

Are you sure you don't want something else?

I've got some good ones!

A baby to booby trap your door?

A baby to massage your back?

A baby to hold your homework?

Izuku smiled at the suggestions before he thought about something. Do you have anything that mimics sunlight?

No, but I can make something.

Can you make it small? And wearable, so that the light is released onto skin? If he could get something like that to wear, then he could give himself a boost of energy even in the dark.

You like your wearable tech!

Yes! I can do that.

Then how about you make that, as well, and we'll call it even.

First…

Izuku sort of knew what she wanted to say. I really want that respirator for my dad, and you are the only one I can trust to make it.

It will be the best you've ever seen.

Thank you.

No, First. Thank you. No one else has believed I can build things.

But, you made the finder!

You are the first person who's ever bought anything.

And the only person.

Izuku looked at the message. He wasn't sure what to feel about that. I won't be the last, he sent her. I know I won't be the last, he reinforced the message.

But you'll always be First.

-ted-

A bit of an around the grounds chapter this time with Izuku catching up with all his friends. Obviously Ochaco and Hitoshi in relation to the events gone by and then Tomura 'cos game playing is super important! And then Mei 'cos well... She's isn't going to come up with a fully working prototype any time soon, but she's working on it and Izuku is becoming deeply invested.

-ted-

Loved it? Hated it? Found a spelling mistake? Let me know please!