They really were waiting outside the hospital, the leeches.
A sheepish encounter and four thermoses of water later I found myself in a relaxed room clearly meant for interrogations. The house plants were a nice touch, though.

The man set before me had a rather plain-looking face; no notable features, eyes dull in color but friendly, like a kindergarten teacher first meeting his students, unsure whether to be on guard or free to show kindness.

"Good morning. Again, I'm Naomasa Tsukauchi."

"I'm Chiyo Tsutomi. All Might has told me a lot about you," Show him you're not a threat in any way. I eased the fidgetiness out of my limbs, put on a friendly smile. Don't be weird. Remember, they're here to help you.
Juuuust like they helped Mom after Kotaro. And me, when I was abducted.

I covered the choke with a well-placed throat-clearing.

"Please relay the events from the time the League of Villains appeared at the rental store to the end of the extraction operation. If you can, be sure to include all details- even if they don't seem outwardly important."

So I did.
I poured out every single observation, profile, and interaction in near verbatim, calmly and slowly, to allow no distortion or error.

"Do you believe the League of Villains pursued you as a weakness to All Might?"

My nose went to wrinkle at the debasing of my purpose- Chiyo Tsutomi, Damsel Extraordinaire, taken like some mockery kryptonite to be used as bait.
But after months of watching a certain Eraserface, I was getting pretty good at veiling my internal emotions- even if my facades held no power against my oh-so charming mentor. Tsukauichi scrutinized at my half-interested expression.

"I think All Might was the first and foremost objective, and given my...family heritage, they saw an opportunity to bring down his morale, but-"

"But?" Tsukauchi pressed. I blinked, felt for the presences peeping in on us from the other side of the mirror. An elephant's heartbeat caught in a hummingbird's cage pulsed against my senses.
Of course he was here.

"Tomura Shigaraki had been forbidden from harming me, originally. Once things went sour-" I put the last word in Shota's favorite air quotes, "-he surely could have, as there would be no reason to keep me around. But he didn't."
"One of his creatures nearly took your life."
I shook my head in disagreement. "Its aim was never for me. I was only able to attack the Nomu All Might was fighting because it hesitated in attacking me."
"Again, why do you think that is?"

It was just a hunch.
A hunch, built on a possibility no larger than a grain of sand, blown away with the lightest of breath.

And these were the people who allowed my mother to suffer for twenty-seven years without so much as a check-in.

"I think he fled as soon as the heroes arrived with the warper, Kurogiri. He wouldn't have had time to reprogram the Nomu, however it is done."
The lie slipped out gentle as silk.

Tsukauchi's chair scraped across the linoleum as he stretched. "I think that about covers it. Do you have any questions for us?"

How could you protect an attempted murderer? How did you let my mom slip between the cracks? Didn't you ever wonder what happened to her and the child Kotaro Shimura tried to drown?

"No."
"Great! If you think of anything else, please let us know. Or, if it's easier, All Might can relay any tidbits to me."

The blonde beacon's hair nearly grazed the ceiling, stark still and grinning when I exited the interrogation room and entered the hallway.

"Stop smiling at me like that. I know your secrets, and I'm not wiping the blood out of your teeth when that beefiness finally tapers out."

All Might gave a hearty, muscular laugh. I gave an exhausted sigh in answer.
Maybe I really am spending too much time with Aizawa.
Hadn't Toshinori said Tsukauchi knew about his other form too, though? I gave a furtive glance around for witnesses before pulling the mass of masculinity into an abandoned office.

The falling sensation whooshing around my fingers as his hand went from meaty to skin and bone felt bizarre. A familiar, gaunt face peered down at me and I breathed easy for the first time in an hour.

"Don't tell me you find this form more comforting, now."
Toshinori seemed awestruck. I grinned, reaching up to pinch his barely-there cheeks.

"What do you mean? This has and will always be my favorite version of you." A blush turned his whole face carmine. "The meatcake is nice to view, but Toshinori Yagi is the man I've grown to care for, personally."
"Meatcake-"
"Are you going on the summer field trip?"

Toshi shook his head. "For the safety of the students, the location of the camp is both being changed and kept under strict need-to-know-only basis. As a significant target of the League of Villains, my presence would only put them in danger."

Did they consider me a target, too? Surely not; the computer- All for One, presumably- had said quite simply I could leave whenever I chose.
Still.

"I have a favor, then. If you're available."
His eyes all but glowed. Again I was struck at my idiocy for not recognizing that familiar, blue-eyed twinkle.

"Tell me what you need."


"Everything looks normal. No pain?"
"None."
"You've taken the rest of the antibiotic?"
"He hides them in my dessert. Which, you'll be happy to know, is sugar free." Who had ever heard of vegan fucking mochi, I wanted to know. "I haven't consciously used my quirk, and there's been no- we've behaved ourselves."
For the most part.

"Mm-hm." Recovery Girl snorted, as if hearing my thoughts. I know I hadn't spoken them out loud this time.
A friendly pat on the knee displayed her teasing nature.

"It's a little early, but I'm giving you a clean bill of health. Your MRI and CT scans came back clear- no complications or spread infections, and your brachial artery seems fully healed. Try not to combust it again- I can't guarantee the luck you had last time concerning the controlled blood loss."

"Yes ma'am." I hopped off the examining table, keeping a wary eye on that cane of hers.

Day four of my recovery week and I was cleared early. Because I'm a fierce, ninja bad ass-

"I still recommend keeping strenuous activities to a minimum until next Monday, but seeing as Aizawa will be leaving for a week, I figured it'd be best to run some tests now, rather than waiting for you to show up crying and asking for forgiveness later. Again, try to keep away from the rough actions displayed in those dreadful movies-"

Target in sight and limbs stronger than they had been in weeks, I didn't even let Shota fully stand before I was ripping him out of the waiting room and making a break for the door.

"What-"
"Later. Far away from this fresh Hell," I panted.

The throaty cackling of a witch followed me all the way to the car. Even after slamming the door the laughter seemed to ring in my ears like a well-cast jinx. Dark eyes watched me, key paused in the ignition.

"That bad, huh?"
"Just drive before she comes out here waving a bag of condoms, or something even worse."

He chuckled, but I did notice the newfound quickness of his actions, leading us out of the parking lot for an eternity, at earliest.

"There's some work I need to do at school. Do you want to come with me, or drop you off?"
"Work for the upcoming trip, you mean?"

We'd already been to school twice this week; Principal Nezu did allow me to submit the graded essays and every last paper would be sent, graded and stickered, via mail. I'd directed the clean-up of my room and took a few notable items home with us, leaving the rest for after break.

"Yes."
I could go through the filing cabinets I'd barely used, I supposed. "Sure, I can keep busy while you're working."
"Actually, if you don't have anything else to do, I was hoping you could supervise the pool," He took a left, guiding us towards UA. "The girls of 1-A put in a request for pool access. Not long after, Mineta and Kaminari did as well."

"Little perverts."
Shota nodded in tired agreement. I glanced down at my clothes- another summer outfit, probably not ideal for student eyes. "Should I- is what I'm wearing okay, you think?"

"Kayama runs around practically naked," He muttered back. "Your jumpsuit is fine."

"First of all, this is called a romper," I looped one thumb under the thin strap on my shoulder. "What you're wearing is a jumpsuit. Not the same."
"How are they not the same?" He argued. "They literally abide by the same concept-"
"Secondly, my romper is more than just fine. I've waited weeks for it to be warm enough to whip this bad boy out-"

"You asked if it was appropriate for school; I wasn't commenting on how it looked on you, just that, with your chest being the size it is, you don't have to worry about anyone thinking you look scandalous-"

My eyes were nearly bugging out of my face when he finally looked over, realized the bottomless hole he was digging himself into. Panic struck his face like a lightning rod.

"No, wait- I just mean- it's a good thing- no one ever compares you to Midnight, so you know you're-"

My phone erupted in a familiar jingle. Shota visibly relaxed as I answered, thinking his offenses forgotten by my weak multitasking abilities, looking as if he'd just sprinted a marathon across gravel without shoes.

I lifted my thermos and phone simultaneously. One rose to my face- the other clicked open and sent a jet stream directly into Shota Aizawa's closest ear.

"I was given a clean bill of health, so don't even start," The car nearly veered off the road as I smirked. "Hello?"
"Chiyo? Is this a bad time?"
"Well, Eraserbrain is trying to murder me by crashing the car with us inside, but otherwise this is a great time," Toshinori tried and failed three different sentences, unable to process my response. "What's up? We're headed to school so he can do some last minute prep work for the trip."

"Actually, that works out rather well," I swatted away the hand snaking between my legs trying to vengefully pinch the inner flub. "I got into contact with the agency, and he's willing to take you on as an apprentice for a week."

I sat up, surprised. "What? Really?"

"He would like to meet you beforehand, and will actually be swinging by UA anyway to discuss an upcoming event with Principal Nezu. Will you still be around at five o'clock?"

"Yeah! Er, I mean, yes. I'll be there."
"Excellent. See you then."

Oh. Oh. Holy shit. By Best Jeanest's zipper, this was actually happening. And so quickly, too.
Shota batted away the floating water particles from his vision as he pulled into the faculty parking lot. His pinched face clearly displayed his lingering annoyance, sulkily refusing to ask about my phone call. I slapped his arm a few hundred times anyway.

"Shota."
"Chiyo."
"Shota."
"What?" He escaped the car and my blows, somehow still too quick and reaching my car door before I could. I patted his cheek and bounced out.

"So, I've done something- I didn't think it would actually pan out, so I forgot to tell you sooner," Which was only partly true; his potential reaction also filled me with a certain level of nervousness usually reserved exclusively for public speaking and close encounters of the third kind. "You and the students are going to be gone for an entire week, training and getting stronger. And, since I'm not willing to just sit around like a bump on a log, I asked Toshi- All Might, if he could pull a few strings and get me a training instructor suited for my quirk."

"Oh?"
Was he still pouting about the water attack? I casually took his hand, still safely out of sight from any onlookers, and basked in his quickened pulse. "All Might said they'd be here around five, so take your time with whatever work you'll be up to,"
"Who'd you get?"
"Miss Tsutomi! Mr. Aizawa!"

I dropped Shota's hand too late- the entirety of 1-A's female students seemed to let out a collective, dreamy sigh. Aizawa returned the notion with far more exhaustion.

"Hello! Ready for the first pool party of the summer?" I saluted to give my hand a new occupation. "This is Tsutomi, checking in as your lifeguard for the day."

"I guess with your quirk, that would be a pretty well-suited job, huh?" Tsu asked. Uraraka nodded in agreement, laughing at the idea of me in a red-and-white striped one piece, whistle around my neck and sunscreen smoothed across my cheeks like an athlete.

It probably would've been the perfect summer job, if I'd ever been allowed to go near a pool. Mom had removed our bathtub, for shit's sake.
I pushed away the thoughts; this wasn't the time to fall into that vortex.

"Cute romper!"
"Thank you!" I shot the only male a glare. "I'm glad to see someone recognizes its attractiveness."

Eraserbrain let out another exaggerated sigh before turning on his heels. "See you at five."

"Do you get the feeling that...something's going on between them?" Jiro's whisper didn't escape my hearing. I turned, stopped a grinning Uraraka just before she spilled the beans by whacking her a little too heartily between the shoulder blades.

"Shall we head up?"


To think I'd gone years without knowing the tranquility of poolside sunbathing.

Some idiot had put an umbrella over the lifeguard chair. With Uraraka's zero gravity we eliminated the barrier in seconds, allowing the full lizard-in-the-sun effect I so greatly desired.
The girls played volleyball and I soaked in enough vitamin D for both Aizawa and myself. Life was finally looking sunnyside up again, all puns intended.

And then they showed up.

"Ah, Miss Tsutomi! Excellent! Decided to partake in our endurance training?"
At least Iida wasn't wearing a speedo, like I so fearfully expected. I waved both hands at his enthusiasm.

"Just here to make sure nobody drowns." And to keep Mineta above water and in sight at all times.
The little pervert sat in a corner, lamenting the full-body swimsuits the girls had all worn.
It was easier than expected, snaking water out of the pool and submersing his whole peevish little head until the air bubbles grew too small.
Whatever plans he and Kaminari had concocted went decidedly south with vigilant Iida and the others around, so while the girls played the boys slaved away, stretching and racing and training until even I grew tired just watching them.

"P-please, mercy," Purple balls clung to my chair as a little figure ventured up to escape the training. "I can't- just wanted- boobies-"

I leaned down, offered a saccharine smile. Hope- fickle and foolish- filled his eyes at the offered kindness of both my expression and the way my top ruffled open with the bent-over movement, giving him a peek at Nirvana. His eyes ventured back up when my lips parted to call out; "Iida! Mineta said he just wanted buoys. I think he wants to work on his grape rush's floating abilities! Personally, I think it's a great idea!"

"Mineta! What initiative!" As predicted, Iida adhered to the idea with his usual enthusiastic gusto. "There are many methods we could implement in order to better enhance your quirk's ability; by placing yourself in the midst of the pool, we can pile on top of you, to see how many grape balls are necessary to withhold such weight-"

"You- you're the devil," Mineta whispered up at me. I grinned.
"Devil's advocate, actually. Have fun."
Just as I sat back to enjoy the half-naked dogpile of boys on the world's most girl-hungry shrimp, a familiar head of pissed-off spikes burst through the door, freezing everyone's actions.

"Damn it Bakugo! They were going to drown him!" I shouted, emphasizing the statement with a series of furious slaps on the arm of my chair. He prickled- both at my words and the sight of me.

"Shouldn't you be napping in a sleeping bag somewhere?"

Oh. Was that a slam, or an insinuation involving the wielder of a certain yellow sleeping bag? Unacceptable either way, young padawan.
"Oh Bakugo, what are we going to do about that mouth of yours?" I stomped on my chair's top rung and the pool responded, blasting the little twerp with a tsunami. A smirk licked across my face. "There, that should cool you down a bit."

"Hey, whoa! She uses her quirk now?" A floating bathing suit exclaimed.
"We need to have a briefing, or something," Tsu suggested. Yaoyorozu clapped her hands together at the idea.
"Actually, we have this after school team- Hagakure, if you and Jiro would like to join…"

Come next week, Operation Submersion would be welcoming several new members, it seemed. For now, however, the girls seemed complacent with watching their male counterparts compete in the most bizarre swimming races ever held on school grounds.

"You're supposed to get in the water! It's not swimming if you're flying around like a bat!"
Out of three legs of races, only one winner ever actually touched the water. I let out a haggard sigh- both at their piss-poor understanding of swimming and the final race's contenders.

Great, a showdown of the class's top three overpowered teenagers.

"Deku, you better give it your all! Scarface, you too!"
Bakugo nearly cracked his head on the cement with my next tidal wave.
"What did you just call him?"
"Let me go, you crazy old lady!"
"Apologize, now!"
He continued to dangle upside down, hanging from one submerged ankle like a human pinata.
"Whatever! Sorry, alright? I'll stick with Icyhot- just put me down, damn it!" Bakugo really did look like a bat now, cranky and swinging around madly.

"What the hell is wrong with that kid?" I muttered, letting him fall back to earth with an unceremonious thump. If anything he seemed even more determined to kill everyone.

"I'm glad to see you're doing so much better," Yaoyorozu wandered over while the boys stretched, preparing for the final race. Considering two of their less-than-docile quirks, this proximity was probably a danger zone. Momo offered a steadying hand as I clambered down.

"All thanks to you and the others," I couldn't tell if a blush tinted her cheeks or overexposure to the sun had turned her rosy. I smiled and gave her arm a squeeze. "Mr. Aizawa told me about your tenacity. Without you, I'm not sure if my story would've played out this way. I owe you my life, Momo. Truly."

Definitely a blush; even her toes seemed to redden.
"No, I didn't do-"
"Leave the timidness to Midoriya- you're far too bad ass for it."

She grinned at last and that gooey, maternal affection burned a dozen stars into my chest. Her skin, by the pool's water, felt near blissful when I wrapped her into a one-armed hug.

"On your mark- get set- go!"

Three identical splashes dropped the race flat, quirks eliminated.
A lazed gaze watched the trio sputter without much interest.

"It's five o'clock. Pool's closed."
A few arguments were quickly put to bed when a red-eyed glare turned their way. "Are you questioning me?"
Only when the complaints died to harmless mutterings did Aizawa's hair fall flat, dark eyes turning to me with a mysterious, not-all-together-benign glint. I looked behind me, just to make sure I was the target.

"All Might is looking for you, along with your new...Trainer."

Shit, I'd nearly forgotten. I swiped at my shorts, readjusted my straps. Why didn't I keep an outfit at school for these kinds of situations?

"A new trainer? What about us? What about Operation Submersion?" Mineta asked, clearly affronted.

"You'll be gone a whole week! I can't just sit around while you guys gain all that muscle!" My hair was beyond repair; would he judge the tangled knot on my head? I smoothed the baby flyaways as best I could. "It wouldn't be fair to let you have all the fun."

"Fun? Is that what you believe the next week will be like for you?"

He was taller- much taller- than I expected, only about half a foot shorter than the blonde beside him, and his voice quaked fear even into the pool's usually-calm waters.
A clover-headed boy took in an awestruck breath, ever the fanboy.

"I've agreed as a favor to All Might to take you on, but know this- there will be no fun occurring over the upcoming seven days, Chiyo Tsutomi."

That unrecognizable glint in Aizawa's eye sharpened, revealing itself as clear, inflating concern as the white-suited being drew closer, shadowing my bowing frame.

I grinned until my face nearly ripped in half, rising to peer up at him with a returned calm.

"I'm looking forward to it, sir."


Author's Note: Lil' Chi-chan's gone out and found herself a sensei! Who could it be? A nice little fluffy bit, I know; maybe I'll update a little sooner to compensate for the lack of meat in this chapter.
On a far more serious note, the United States lost a real hero on September 18, 2020. I have never been quite so saddened as I am over the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, champion of women and trailblazer, an individual who showed women belong beside men, as equals, rather than behind them. Ruth fought until the end, for us. She dedicated her life to justice and bringing attention to issues other had overlooked for decades, such as discrimination on the basis of sex. She inspired generations of women to recognize themselves as having the potential to do and become anything they set their minds to. Regardless of where you land on a political spectrum, her passing is a tremendous loss.
She is, even in death, a hero, and will forever be my notorious RBG, my idol.