Chiyo has been at UA for decades now, watching each new generation pass through it's doors and onwards to their own future. Recovery Girl is almost as synonymous with UA as All Might is with the concept of peace.
But she's getting older. At this point she's the last of her generation to still be in service. Most are dead, and the remaining lucky few quite happily retired and armed with wallets full of photos of their grandchildren whenever they pop in. Every time they visit, they laugh and reminisce and ask her when she plans on joining them.
The honest truth is, she thought she would have been by now. But she can't bring herself to leave just yet. Her friends all married and had children to be their legacies, or found a protege or sidekick to take their mantle when they stepped down. When Recovery Girl had left the front lines to focus on serving at UA, it had been because her own teacher, 'Miss-Aid,' had been leaving for good, and she's spent the last twenty years waiting for her own successor to walk through the doors.
It's been a pointless quest. Of the handful of healing quirks to make it into UA, none of them were in the hero course, or too weak to really be useful for anything more serious than a scuffed knee.
The bitter fact was, she was a relic from another time, when quirks were still something more feared than celebrated. She got her licence when UA was still in it's origin story, long before the entrance exam started thinning quirks down by their strength rather than versatility, when a pretty girl who could heal with a kiss was everything the pro-quirk politicians wished for.
Nowadays, if you have a strong healing quirk, hero is your secondary option. If you can heal, you're heading straight for medical school. While Recovery Girl was awarded her degree due to an intense amount of field work and training, anyone planning on using a healing quirk nowadays is expected to have a medical licence as well. Which frankly is a burden no sane teenager will ever consider, and leaves Recovery Girl, one of the few healing-quirk heroes in the business, to keep patching up the broken students.
She's terrified of the day she wakes up and realises she can't do it any more. Much like Yagi's impending fate, Recovery Girl's days are numbered, and with it comes far more consequences than one would think. How exactly will UA continue their entrance exam, or their sports festival, without a quirk that can support the sheer number of injuries such events leave in their wake?
Perhaps that's why she's so desperate now, she thinks, walking towards the teacher's lounge. While Dokuro Chrome's quirk might not be considered a 'healing' quirk, its versatility could make her invaluable as a hero. Strong enough to compete offensively, but supportive enough to keep civilians and her fellow heroes alive. Something that, while incapable of healing students, supportive enough to give the damage to a minimum long enough to get them to a quirk that can.
Of course, the young Chrome isn't using her quirk – choosing general education at a school designed to encourage quirk use (and oh, Chiyo can't understand that no matter how hard she tries). Someone, at some point, destroyed the girls confidence to the point where she doesn't want to use her gift – a quirk that should have been spotted and encouraged the moment it appeared, (and Chiyo would dearly like five minutes alone with whatever fool had achieved that), and Chiyo can't bear the thought of leaving things as they are.
Unfortunately, she'd made the mistake of leaving it in Present Mic's hands, and judging from the lack of progress, and the number of non-sushi related meals she'd spotted him eating, the confident loudmouth had been reluctant to prod. It's unlike him, but the fact that Eraser Head hasn't prodded him into action by now means it's up to Chiyo herself.
As such, she waits until she knows the man will be eating lunch, and slams the door open. To no surprise, he's been munching down on microwave noodles again, and she makes a mental note to scold him about a healthier diet once this is all said and done. When he spots her entering, he shoots from his seat.
"Recovery Girl!" he squeaks, hastily shoving the noodles to the far corner of his desk – to his side, lying on his arms, Aizawa is already grinning in anticipation - "You know, I was just coming to see you-"
"Uh huh" Chiyo interrupts. "I'm sure you were.
There's a manic chuckle from the slump of a man in the other chair.
"You knew this was coming..."
"Yes, thank you Shouta" Yamada replies through gritted teeth.
"Well?" Chiyo asks. "Did you speak to them?"
The man winces.
"Sort of. But Chiyo, the second I even tried to bring up Chrome's quirk, everyone in that restaurant shut me down flat. Tsuyoshi was about ready to fillet me when I asked why she didn't apply for a hero course."
"You couldn't get anything?" she asks.
"Hey, talking is my gift" Yamada replies. "And I know how to pick my battles – that was not a fight I wanted to take on. If I say they're not talking, trust me, they're not talking."
Chiyo frowns. That's unfortunate, if expected. However-
"Then I shall do the talking" she replies, and Yamada's face falls. "I may receive resistance, but Chrome deserves every chance she may not understand she has."
"I think she understands plenty," Yamada mutters, and winces when Chiyo slams her cane down against the ground.
"Yamada Hizashi," Chiyo begins. "This afternoon, I am going to Takesushi to speak to the girl and her guardian. You can either give them a heads up and accompany me, or sit with your instant noodles like the coward I'm relatively certain you're not. Do you understand?"
The blond drops his head, staring at the limp noodles in the corner, and digging out his phone with a reluctant sigh.
"I swear, if I get banned from Takesushi for this, you better invest in quality grade ear plugs, because I am going to wail like a baby."
Aizawa is snickering again, but Chiyo ignores it and heads out the door. For all of Yamada's dramatics, the man is not an idiot – if he truly believed this was a pointless quest, no amount of threats or guilt would convince him to arrange anything.
"Ah, if there is to be a meeting," a voice pipes up. "Could I ask to be a part of it as well?"
Chiyo pauses, and turns to face Yagi, sitting with his hand up as if in class. In the back of her mind, she realises the entire staff room has joined her, not even pretending to hide their interest.
The hero hesitates when he spots the attention – he's still rather bad at being the main focus when he's not 'All Might' - but continues regardless.
"I'm the primary cause of this situation" Yagi continues. "I would like to apologise to Chrome again for her hospitalisation, and to perhaps learn about her quirk."
That, of all things, has Aizawa pushing himself up to glare at the other teacher.
"Don't tell me you're looking for a more permanent extension?" he accuses, and Yagi's eyes widen.
"No! Nothing like that" he insists. "While I admit the concept is tempting, I've come to terms with my impending retirement. But it's still a fascinating ability – I'd like to know exactly how she did it."
Aizawa is still glaring at the man, but seems to accept the answer, dropping back to his seat and falling back into his forwards slouch.
"Hey, the more the merrier" Yamada offers, phone to his ear. "Less chance of them yelling at me ag-Yamamoto! Afternoon, hows the restaurant doing?"
The Voice Hero immediately darts into a corner for something resembling privacy, and with her goal achieved, Chiyo leaves, heading back to the medical ward to prepare.
She can't deny that she expects the conversation to go poorly. Chrome clearly has something of a support network, and a guardian that cares for her well being if Yamada's reluctance is anything to go by. Not something you often see when it comes to students and unrealised quirk potential, but she has to at least try.
If nothing else, she wants to know exactly who managed to destroy the girl so thoroughly, this conversation has to happen in the first place.
Several hours later, with the school locked up and the students all heading home, Chiyo finds herself walking towards the door of the now infamous restaurant with two overly tall blonds – one far too nervous, and the other miserable.
Honestly – heroes today are far too dramatic. Yagi's acting like a green rookie at his first press conference, and Yamada looks as if he's being dragged to the gallows as they walk up to the restaurant door. His demeanour doesn't improve when the door opens, revealing a very unhappy looking chef, who immediately glares at the three of them. Yamada attempts a wave, only to abort it when Yamamoto starts speaking with a viciously curt tone.
"I'm delaying opening for half an hour" he warns. "Once your time's up and you've said your piece, you leave."
"Totally, totally!" Yamada insists, hands up in a desperate attempt to placate, and Chiyo huffs.
"Really, I'm just looking for a simple discussion with a bright young girl" she insists. "It's not an interrogation."
"Tell that to me after spending several days trying to calm down a panicked young girl" Yamamoto snaps right back. "In addition to corralling several very over-dramatic and protective teenage boys. They were just starting to calm down before your call – now I'm herding wet cats again."
"Is this really such an intrusion?" Yagi asks, looking dismayed. "We really don't mean any harm."
It should be impossible for a seven foot man to look like a kicked puppy, but Yagi does an excellent imitation. Yamamoto's expression softens almost immediately.
"No, I guess not" he admits. "One of the kids was going to attract this kind of attention eventually, we knew that. I guess we were just hoping we could last a little longer."
It's an odd reply, and one Chiyo can't help but mull over as she enters the store. Are all the teens blessed with powerful quirks? They're fosters, so it could make sense – a group banded together because of bad reactions to something they can't control. Showing both the best and worst of society. Would also explain why they're all so reluctant to use them, and Tsuyoshi, though he's no doubt doing an excellent job, likely doesn't have the psychological training to help recover from that experience.
Of course, that's just a theory. She really doesn't know more than bare bones, so it's best not to make conclusions yet.
When they enter, Chrome is sitting at one of the larger tables, flanked by three boys and a girl about her age. The one with silver hair immediately starts glaring, while the girl and the black hair boy tense up – they're smiling, but those are not happy eyes. The final boy, the brunet, looks exhausted, and just a little bit terrified. But he's also the closest to Chrome, and Chiyo's pretty sure he's holding her hand underneath the table.
After Yamamoto locks the door, he turns his attention to the group.
"Okay, everyone but Chrome, upstairs."
This is not a popular decision judging from the outcry, but it immediately cuts off when Chrome lifts her head.
"Please listen to him" she insists, cutting through the arguments. "I appreciate it, but I can do this alone."
Oddly enough, everyone then glances at the brunet at her side, who only has eyes for the girl. He stares at her with concern, before seeing something in her expression, and giving a slow nod.
"...Okay," he says. "We'll be right up stairs if you need us."
Chrome smiles, and the group – however reluctantly – step away and head for the stairs, the silver haired one glowering at the heroes up until he's out of sight. The brunet – Chiyo thinks he's the one called Tsuna? - waits until his siblings have headed up, before glancing one back time at Chrome, looking a little helpless. Chrome immediately smiles, and gives a minute shake of her head.
"It's okay Tsuna" she insists. "I've got this."
"Are you sure?" he asks, only relaxing when the girl nods.
"I'll be fine. This is my choice."
She remains standing as the boy vanishes upstairs, and slowly makes her way towards the group.
"It's good to see you again Ms Shuzenji" she greets, though Chiyo's fairly certain it's only obligatory. "And you too Yagi, Yamada."
Both of them give a short wave.
"I'm glad to see you're doing well, Miss Chrome."
"Thanks for seeing us."
Yamamoto then glances over at Yamada, who still looks like someone has a gun to his head.
"Want to be anywhere else but here?" he asks, and the hero gives a helpless laugh.
"I just don't want to get yelled at by the brats again. Gokudera's screaming is a lot less entertaining when Sasagawa's backing him."
Yamamoto's lip twitches.
"Well how about you handle a little more yelling?" he asks. "Go upstairs and distract the boys for me. Takeshi and Tsuna's English grade was abysmal – show them what they did wrong, and get Gokudera angry enough to forget what's happening down here."
Yamada's face lights up, and he snaps a pair of finger guns at the chef.
"Done, and done!" he promises, immediately bolting for the stairs. Chiyo bites back a smile as she exchanges glances with a sheepish Yagi, and move to sit down as the chef and his ward return to the table.
"I'm not really sure why you wanted to speak to me," Chrome begins, eyes glued to the table. "Ever since I helped All Might, Yamada keeps asking me about my quirk, but I'm not interested in being a hero."
"To be honest, that's primarily the interest" Chiyo explains. "Your quirk is quite exceptional. I find it hard to believe that none of your teachers ever encouraged you to consider it – they must have seen the potential during quirk appraisal classes."
Yamamoto's eyes quickly flick over to the girl, who has panic flash over her face for a brief moment. Had Chiyo not been so experienced in reading teens, she might even have missed it.
"No" Chrome finally says. "No one ever really expected much from me."
Yagi leans back in surprise.
"What? How can that be?"
Chrome glances away, cheeks red.
"My...quirk, is very new" she explains. "Before my, um, accident, I could only make small illusions, and none of them were tangible. I only learned I could create physical illusions after the accident. Before then, my power was almost nothing. Nobody would have realised it's potential."
Yagi looks ridiculously relieved at the information, but Chiyo frowns. While it would certainly make the lack of attention towards Chrome's quirk more understandable...
"Then, how did you learn?"
Chrome's smiles, eyes fading as she remembers something fond.
"Someone...someone very important showed me what to do" she explains. "His name was Mukuro. He had a very similar quirk to me, supported my organs until I was strong enough to do it on my own. I owe them...everything."
"Where are they now?" Yagi asks, and Chrome gives a sad grin.
"Off trying to achieve his own dream. He could have come with us, but honestly, a quiet life like ours would probably have driven him insane."
"-er" Yamamoto whispers, and makes a point to avoid Chrome's eyes when she turns to glare at him.
"Well, no matter how new it is, you certainly seem to have exceptional control over it" Chiyo compliments. "You must have worked hard to come this far so quickly."
Chrome sits a little straighter at that, which is something of a relief. This girl is not afraid or upset of her quirk, simply unused to getting compliments regarding it. "I would like to know why you haven't pursued a career where you can take that training to the next level?"
The girl's eyes flicker away, head moving slightly towards the staircase, then glance at her caretaker before returning to meet Chiyo's.
"I guess...because I didn't want to?" she explains. "I didn't want to leave the others any more than necessary."
Both Yagi and Chiyo lean back, staring at each other in confusion before returning to the conversation.
"Your...siblings?" Chiyo asks. "They wouldn't let you app-"
"NO!" Chrome yelps, face paling. "No, no, no! If I'd wanted to Bos-uh, Tsuna and, and Yamamoto and other Yamamoto and Gokudera, they'd have all supported me. They'd have been happy for me but...I..."
She's starting to twist her hands together, clearly uncomfortable, and Yamamoto leans forward.
"They've been through a lot together" he explains. "Going to separate schools wasn't something they were even considering, and none of them really considered quirk-based careers. Chrome didn't want to leave them behind. That's all."
The girl has relaxed, smiling in relief, and Chiyo feels grateful the man has stepped in. But she feels sorry for the girl. Life has clearly been cruel to her, to the point where she's terrified to step out of her comfort zone, and Chiyo has to at least try to make her see-
"Do you understand how impressive your quirk is?" Chiyo asks again. "The strength and skill involved – I've seen illusion quirks, and construction quirks, and I must say, nothing comes close to what you can do."
Chrome blushes and looks down.
"Its...it's really not that special, really."
Chiyo scowls. "I don't know who told you that, but I assure you, they're wrong" she insists. "I might not understand the full mechanics, but I saw enough at the hospital to know your abilities could be revolutionary to a lot of people."
Chrome is still looking down, and Chiyo pushes forward.
"Your quirk, and the control you have despite minimal training, it could save lives" she says. "Offensive, defensive, supportive, with a few years of work, it could be phenomenal on the hero circuit. With some training, I can even see about transferring you into UA. It's unorthodox, but given the niche for your skill set, it would not be a difficult thing to-"
"No, thank you."
Chiyo cuts off as Chrome finally speaks, head lifting with the same conviction she'd had earlier.
"I understand what you're saying" she says. "And I understand that you feel I'm...wasting, this quirk. But please, I'm not interested in being a hero. At least, not the kind you want me to be."
"Chrome..." Yamamoto starts, trailing off when the girl shakes her head.
"It's okay Yamamoto" she says. "My mind was made up a long time ago. It's best that my power is only used on me."
"What makes you say that?" Yagi asks, breaking his silence of the last few minutes. Chrome seems almost relieved to turn her attention away.
"I can maintain my own organs because they're within me" Chrome explains. "And it was activated shortly after my accident. My body knows what everything is supposed to do and how to do it, so I don't really need to focus much on it. Doing things like I did with you...it's harder, and sometimes more dangerous than if I hadn't done anything."
Yamamoto's eyes are narrowing in a way that Chiyo doesn't quite like, but Chrome requires her full attention, and she files it for later inspection.
"How so?" She asks. "The way Toshinori explained it to me, you were able to replace all his injuries with fully functioning tissue and organs."
"Except I didn't," Chrome says. "I substituted them. And I never got rid of the original organs."
Both heroes frown in confusion, and Chrome continues.
"Basically, my organs are gone, so when I'm using my quirk, I'm replacing something that isn't there, while I just hide the scars behind basic illusions. But in situations like that time with All Might, I'm overwriting what's already there. I didn't replace your organs or scar tissue, but give you an alternative to use."
Chrome shrugs. "Short term, that's not really an issue, but long term...when you ate, you'd use the 'healthy' stomach. When you fight, you'd use the 'healthy' muscles. You'd ignore the injured ones, despite the fact that they're the real organs. Eventually, you'd starve or collapse from muscle atrophy – I can't fix what's already damaged."
A double edged blade if Chiyo has ever heard one. A quirk that can make you healthy without actually curing you, and killing you even quicker for it. Although given how 'new' Chrome's quirk is, she wonders how she came about this information. Did her teacher explain it?
Or worse, does she know from experience?
Suddenly, Yagi's head snaps up, horror on his face.
"Wait, what about your own injuries?" Yagi asks. "If you're not overwriting the scar tissue and only replacing what's lost then-"
Chrome's eyes dim.
"It's tolerable" she tells him. "I'm used to the pain."
Which might be the single most horrifying thing Chiyo's heard in a very long time. Yagi doesn't look much better – Chrome might as well have socked the man straight in his own injury. His eyes flicker mindlessly, before focusing on the girls face.
"Is that why you haven't fixed your eye?" Yagi asks, staring at the eyepatch. "Are there scars we can't see that stop you from doing so?"
The girl unconsciously reaches for it before blushing and dropping her hand.
"No" she admits. "Eyes are...complicated. I'm an illusionist, which means I rely a lot on my sight. I could create a fake eye, but then I'd be using an illusion to see, and that's dangerous. If I don't know that what I'm seeing is reality, I could lose my grip on it, and when that happens..."
Her hand spasms over her stomach, and Chiyo's own sinks at the unspoken conclusion.
"I see" Yagi says, clearly coming to the same conclusion. "Your gift has a heavy price."
"No quirk is a miracle cure all" she offers. "
"And with that said, I hope you can agree to drop the subject" Yamamoto finishes, turning his attention to Chiyo. "Chrome has made her case clear."
She has, and while Chiyo expected the conclusion from the start, it's still disappointing to know the girl's will remain in obscurity. A choice she is well in her rights to make – especially if she's in constant pain even while using it on herself.
"Thank you for being willing to talk to me" Chiyo offers. "I'll drop the subject of hero studies, but I still like to speak to you again, if only to see if there's something I can do to help with the current injuries."
Chrome perks up at that.
"Thank you. I doubt you can help but, it would be...good, to maybe try more treatment. Can I ask though? Why were you so interested in me?"
Chiyo smiles.
"It's not often a quirk with such medical potential crosses my path these days" she explains. "The preference has moved to flashy and offensive abilities. To find someone who can heal and pass the entrance exam is almost impossible. Even less so someone that can make enough of an impact at the sports festival for a transfer. You were the first person I'd met whose quirk could even come close to becoming medical aid for hero work. Otherwise, it would require a quirk that made someone a medical tank. And how often am I likely to run into that?
The door of Takesushi slams open, and a tall teen with white hair strides in, dripping with sweat and grinning like a madman.
"Good evening to the extreme!" he announces, and Tsuyoshi gestures in his direction.
"Evening Ryohei" he says. "Can you head upstairs? We're almost done here."
The teen frowns, glancing at the sombre atmosphere. Whatever he sees however, is enough to make him back away, nodding and heading towards the door. Yamamoto then glances over at Chrome, who nods and stands up from the table.
"Thank you for understanding" she says. "I look forward to seeing you again."
It's a little rushed, and her face looks a tad panicked, but the emotion sounds far more honest than the girl had been at the start of the conversation. She follows the older boy upstairs, and leaves the adults at the table in silence.
"So, did you mean what you said?" Yamamoto asks. "Or am I going to have more teachers trying to guilt my kids?"
"W-we weren't trying to-" Yagi splutters out, only for Yamamoto to talk over him.
"I know" he says. "But I've had enough circular conversations at Seirin to know people around here don't always listen if they don't hear what they want."
Chiyo can certainly believe that – Chrome has probably been chasing off more than her fair share of sports teams regarding her skills. Possibly more if the other teens are as strong and trying to stay under the radar.
"You never considered encouraging her to utilise her quirk?" she asks, genuinely curious – idly wondering what quirk the man in front of her has. "It's rare for this generation to be so against using them, or even considering it."
"I know foster children often have issues regarding quirk use," Yagi adds. "But, surely you knew that. Did their care workers not suggest you had an obligation to encourage-"
"I had an obligation to let that girl live a happy life" Yamamoto interrupts, eyes narrowing at the heroes, and the air tenses. "You have no idea what she's gone through, and you will not make her feel guilty for making her own decisions."
Yagi winces, and Chiyo shakes her own head. They really need to tread more lightly here – while Chrome might have been willing to listen, Yamamoto clearly came to this conversation ready for war.
"My kids are complicated" the man continues. "But more than mature enough to make their own decisions. They don't need their quirks, and I'm definitely not going to push them towards it. That would go against every reason for coming here. So, knowing this, where do we go from here?"
Chiyo sighs, and reaches for the bag she'd brought with her, pulling out a folder with a set of forms inside. She'd had these prepped almost since they day she'd met Chrome Dokuro. Essentially a peace offering no matter how the conversation went.
"Well first off we get her a conditional license that approves self-use so she can keep using her quirk on herself without getting into trouble" Recovery Girl says, gesturing to the title on the forms. "Technically speaking, using her quirk the way she is might be keeping her alive, but it's also breaking the law. If she was considering hero school it could be waived, but as a civilian, it'll keep...well, this, from happening again."
The man's eyes widen, glancing between the papers and the woman in surprise, before he gives a short laugh, shoulders dropping in relief.
"Thank you. We never even thought to consider that."
Chiyo nods. "I'll make some calls and get the process started. I was quite surprised to find she didn't already have one...I don't suppose you know what back alley doctor let her get in that state?"
Yamamoto's eyes dimmed. "From what I've understood, it was less the doctor's fault and more her mother refusing to pay or authorise any treatments. She only survived because she found someone who could teach her to use her quirk in a more...unorthodox way that she'd considered."
There's a low growl coming from Recovery Girl's mouth, but otherwise she hides the anger away.
"I suppose it's too much to hope that woman got what was coming to here?"
"Oh don't get me started" Yamamoto scoffs. "There were conversations. But Chrome shut them down. As far as she's concerned that woman doesn't even merit revenge. She means as much to Chrome as Chrome means to her. And believe me when I say Chrome got the better part of that deal."
Chiyo frowns. "She should still be charged with parental neglect."
Yamamoto just shrugs. "At this point, it would be pointless. You'd never find her, and Chrome doesn't want the publicity. It's her decision at the end of the day."
Chiyo really doesn't like the idea of letting a woman who could abandon her child like that get away with no punishment, but it's clear Yamamoto won't give up a name. And since Chrome's record is spotty at best (runaway, Chiyo's mind surmises), it would be almost impossible to find her without the girl's cooperation. Perhaps, after a few sessions to help the girl with her injuries, she'll be willing to tell Chiyo more. Best not to push these things any more than she has too.
"He's a good man, that Yamamoto" Chiyo offers as they leave the restaurant with a very relieved Yamada, armed with a container of sushi.
"I've been telling you that for weeks" the blond laughs, hoisting the box under his arm. "Those kids will go to war for him as much as they would each other."
Yagi chuckles. "I'm just relieved to learn Chrome's quirk became stronger later in life. I did have worries considering how unknown it was."
Yamada frowns. "Huh. You know, Tsuna's quirk came in late too. I remember him telling me that's why he wasn't in the clubs."
"Really?" Yagi asks.
"Yeah...and Yamamoto's biological kid plays on the non-quirk team. He says he's not used to using it in games. Never actually said, but I think he mentioned not having it at elementary...and Gokudera fights without it completely..."
The three hesitate in the street.
"...At least four of them don't like using their quirks or developed them late?" Chiyo asks. "That's very odd."
"Kyoko's quirkless too" Yagi says, frowning at the knowledge.
"To be fair, they're fosters" Yamada offers. "Maybe that's why they became so close? It does happen, and delayed quirks are hardly the oddest things to bond over."
"Perhaps" Chiyo agrees.
But it does seem odd.
"What is Yamamoto's quirk?" she asks, and Yamada frowns.
"You know, I don't think he's ever mentioned it" he replies. "I know all the kids bar Kyoko have some pretty impressive ones, but I think I've only ever seen Fuuta and Chrome using them."
"Not even accidentally?" Chiyo asks. Powerful quirks, that teenagers of all things, don't use, even accidentally? Even after coming into them late?
Yamada offers up something regarding Tsuna and his eye colour, but Chiyo barely hears it, too deep in thought.
There is something very odd going on with the residents of Takesushi.
I am never writing a Chiyo chapter again, she is HARD! T_T
And I admit I nabbed the term 'medical tank' from PixilatedPocky in the comments. It was too perfect for Ryohei not too!