"Izuchan! Wait up!" Himari yelled as she chased after her friend down the street.
Ten years had passed since she met the quirkless boy and she still somehow was unable to stop him from going after dangerous activities, like villains attacking in the city. The fourteen-year-old huffed as she sped after the boy, hoping to catch up to him and drag him back towards school before they both ended up late.
The white-haired girl had hoped to walk with both Midoriya and Bakugou since the hothead was normally good at keeping the quirkless boy from running off, but he was not waiting outside his home when she had walked by on her way to meet Midoriya. She knocked on his front door and his mother happily explained Bakugou had left early when he had seen another one of his friends from school sprint by in a rush.
Not a surprise to Himari at all.
Bakugou was the most easily distracted out of the trio of friends. And he was also the only one with other friends in school, so Renji found herself alone with Izuku most of the time when Katsuki was otherwise engaged.
A loud crash rang out from the street ahead of the girl and she rushed after the disappearing form of her friend. She snagged the back of Midoriya's school uniform and was able to pull him back as rubble from the villain's attack landed where he was standing before. The two watched a shark faced man roar as he stood on top of Tatooin Train Station. The girl rolled her eyes as her counterpart beamed.
"That's one huge supervillain!"
Himari nodded, "I can see that. Can we leave now?"
"But we just got here!" Midoriya exclaimed as he dug his hand into his backpack, pulling a small notebook out. "I can get some great notes on the quirks at use."
The white-haired girl grumbled as her friend started to frantically write his observations down, rubbing her hands together nervously as the crowd around them increased. She watched closely as the villain lashed out and knocked down an electrical pole, watching as the pro-hero, Death Arms, ran out of the crowd to catch the falling metal.
"Wow! Nice going Dead Arms!"
A rope made of water suddenly formed at the front of the crowd and the teens watched as Backdraft, a rescue type hero, walked up to the masses, "Everyone please stay back. This area is far too dangerous."
Himari moved her eyes off of the two heroes when she felt Midoriya move and shook her head as he tried to push his way to the front of the crowd. The green-haired boy beamed as Kamui Woods appeared to help apprehend the villain but gasped as he was suddenly jerked back. He glanced behind him to see his friend dragging him away from the scene and back towards their normal track to school.
"Come one, Himari," He whined. "I need this for my research."
"And I need my attendance to stay perfect," She shot back. "So do you if you still want to go to UA."
The boy gave in at her logical reasoning and allowed her to lead him from the crowd. The pair were luckily able to make it onto their junior high's grounds before the late bell rang, slipping into their classroom right before the teacher appeared. Midoriya moved and tucked himself into his desk against the window while Himari quietly sat in her spot in front of Bakugou.
One of the students next to her waved as she took out her pencil pouch, "Midoriya almost make you late again, Renji?"
"He was chasing after another incident," She sighed.
"You know," Bakugou chimed in from behind her. "If you had just walked with me you wouldn't have to deal with Deku."
She glanced back at the red-eyed teen, "You ditched me to go with Takashi. Your mom told me."
"That dirty hag snitched on me?!" He snapped as he sat up in his seat.
Before Himari could speak the door to the classroom opened and their teacher wandered in. The hothead groaned and leaned back once more, tossing his feet onto his desk. The white-haired girl rolled her eyes at his actions and turned to the adult at the front of the class.
"It's your third year, students. It's time to start thinking seriously about your futures and what you want to do with your lives," The teacher announced. "I could pass out some career aptitude tests, but why bother?" He stated as he tossed the pile of papers off of his podium. "I know you all want to go the hero track!"
The class burst out into action as most of the students showed off their quirks in some way, shape, or form. Midoriya tucked himself closer to his desk as he continued to write about the encounter he faced earlier while Renji and Bakugou sat still in their chairs surrounded by the joyful din of their classmates.
"Yes, yes," The teacher called to calm down the class. "You've got some very impressive quirks. But no power usage allowed in school! Get a hold of yourself."
"Hey, teach!" Bakugou spoke up. "Don't lump me in with this buncha losers. I'm the real deal, but these guys'll be lucky to end up as sidekicks to some busted D-Listers."
The twins looked at each other as their spitfire friend riled up the class, "You think you're better than us Katsuki!?" A boy huffed from the other side of the room.
"Let's go! I'll take you all on!"
"Huh, you've got impressive test results," The teacher admitted. "Maybe you will get into UA High." The blonde smirked at the teacher's light praise.
"He's trying for UA?"
"But that's the national school. It only has a .2% acceptance rate."
"That's why it's the only school worthy of me," Katsuki declared. "I aced all of the mock tests. I'm the only one at this school who stands a chance at getting in. I'll end up more popular than All Might himself. And be the richest hero of all time! People all across the world will know who I am. And it all starts with UA High!"
"Midoriya, don't you wanna go to UA, too?"
Himari tensed at the teacher's absent comment, and cringed as Bakugou turned around to send a heated glare at their quirkless friend. The rest of the class burst into laughter at hearing the teacher's words and she clenched her hand in annoyance, trying to keep the rest of her arm's molecules from vibrating too much.
"Midoriya?"
"You're kidding right?"
"There's no way he'll get into the hero course without a quirk!"
Midoriya felt a sudden surge of energy as his fellow students continued to laugh at him and he leapt to his feet, "Well, actually they got rid of that rule. I could be the first one!"
His argument was short-lived as Bakugou lunged from his seat and blasted at the green-haired teen, "Listen up, Deku! You're even worse than the rest of these damn rejects, you quirkless wannabe. You really think they'd let someone like you in when they could have me?"
"You've got it all wrong!" Izuku yelped. "Really! I'm not trying to compete against you. You gotta believe me! It's just that I've wanted to be a hero since I was little. I may not have a quirk, but I can still try my hardest, can't I?"
The white-haired girl beamed at her friend's hopeful words, "Of course-"
"You'd never be able to hang with the best of the best. You'd die in the exams!" Bakugou snapped over the shy girl's voice. "This school already sucks. You really want to embarrass it more by failing so hard?"
"Hey!" Himari called as she got up from her seat. "Back off Katsuki. Come back to your seat before I assist you into it."
The angry teen tensed as he glanced at the petite girl. While he wasn't really worried about her using her quirk in the middle of school he knew well enough after being in years of Judo with her that she could hold her own against him, making a fight against her an obvious loss if it started to get out of hand. So he huffed and stomped back to his seat, shoving his desk into Himari's chair as he slammed back down. The purple-eyed girl sighed as she ignored his silent anger, waiting for Midoriya to return to his seat before she relaxed and turned her attention back to the teacher.
The rest of the class moved smoothly and she was able to ignore the glares from Katsuki throughout the day, along with his annoying habit of tossing pencils through her body. She tried to just let the first few pencils hit against her back, but gave up and allowed them to simply phase through her water body instead, granting the hothead behind her slight entertainment. As the final bell rang Renji scooped up all the pencils Bakugou had tossed at her during the day and jabbed the clump of graphite and wood into the blonde's gut, smirking as he groaned at the sudden hit. She let the writing tools fall to the ground as she tossed her bag over her shoulder and wandered from the room, pausing at the front office to turn in her extra evaluation sheet for UA.
Himari continued her walk out of the school on her own but paused when she caught a familiar blonde head waiting by the entrance to the school's grounds. She crossed her arms at him and attempted to walk passed him, pausing when a hand latched onto her bag and pulled it off her arm. She turned back around to snap at her friend, but his arm wrapped tightly around her waist and pulled her along. The white-haired girl eyed him oddly as they walked in silence, wondering why he was being nicer than usual today.
"I can hear your damn thinking Mari," The teen grumbled as he continued to pull the girl further towards their neighborhood.
"You're a huge ass," She suddenly let out. "You know that right?"
Bakugou groaned and let go of her small wrist, "I know you may have a chance at UA too. But only if you actually work for it!"
"I was talking about what you said to Izuku."
The boy flinched at her deadpan tone, "So what? Deku has to learn his place or they'll eat his ass alive."
She shrugged, "So you are concerned for him."
"Hell No!" He snapped. "I couldn't care less about his quirkless face."
She hummed as they walked in tandem towards their neighborhood, cutting through the city to shorten the time. She knew that somewhere deep down Katsuki cared about Midoriya, even if he was complete shit at showing it. She also knew if she ever mentioned it to him he would deny it until the day he died. Sometimes she wondered how she became friends with him anyway after that day in the park. She figured it helped that they both somewhat admitted they were in the wrong and moved passed it.
But she did know they actually started a real friendship after she had been bullied by others at school. Sometimes she couldn't fully control her quirk and when people would make fun of her water body she would cry, her crying would cause herself to melt into a sad little puddle, and the kids would end up bullying her more due to the pitiful sight. It was a vicious cycle broken only by Bakugou stepping in one day and yelling at the other kids, ordering them to back off. Ever since then he claimed she had to be friends with him since she owed him one, but she knew he only said that to keep face. When he dragged Himari over to his house for the first time and she met his family, she knew he truly wanted to be friends with her in some form.
And she valued his friendship greatly.
Even now in Junior High, kids still avoided her. She had better control of her body shifting now, but she doubted her fellow students cared about them anymore. It just seemed now that Himari's flaws made her dubbed 'the puddle girl' and new kids were always informed how quiet and gloomy she was. So only Midoriya and Bakugou dared to approach the standoffish girl nowadays.
But as she watched the huffy blonde walk next to her she didn't really mind that much.
"That was rough, Bakugou!"
Of course, the small peace they had could never last long. Especially with the two boys in class who flaunted after Bakugou due to his powerful quirk. The duo rarely left him alone and Renji guessed now was no exception. She sighed and snatched her bag back from the blond as she hurried her pace to avoid the other boys' judging gazes, missing the annoyed look that fell over Katsuki.
"Weren't you and Mirdoriya good friends back when you were kids?" The female paused at the comment. "You were a little harsh on him today."
She snorted, well it seemed like she wasn't the only one who noticed.
"It's his own fault for getting in my way," Katauki brushed off as he kicked at a bottle of soda on the ground.
"You shouldn't waste your time on the guy," Himari bristled at one of the boys' rude words. "Hey, I got an idea, we should go to the arcade. Get your mind off it, you know?"
Bakugou glanced between the other boys and Himari's retreating form, "Fine."
"Or we could sneak into the bar at the train station. Pick up some ladies?"
"Idiots! If we get caught, there's no way UA would let me in!" The blonde snapped as he glared at the boy.
Himari rolled her eyes at his persistence to a clean record despite his rough attitude. She knew he was aiming for one since UA High was exceedingly picky with its student selection. She kept her eyes to the ground as she headed to the main road, but paused when the sunlight in front of her was blocked. She looked up and froze at the sight of a green, ooze like monster sneering down at her.
"Perfect, plenty of skinsuits for me to choose from!"
The teenager shakily took a step back as the creature lunged at her, but gasped as a force pushed into her back and slammed her into the alley wall. Her purple eyes shot behind her and widened at seeing Bakugou being pulled away from her by the monster.
"You're far better than her," The ooze hissed as it dragged her friend away from her side. "Far more aggressive and powerful!"
"GO TO HELL YOU GOOEY BITCH!" Bakugou howled as the villain began to encase him in its body. He jerked back as it latched tightly onto his hands and shoved part of itself into his mouth, covering his airways and slowly smothering him. He struggled in the villain's grip as his frantic eyes landed on Himari, who was still frozen in the spot he had shoved her to.
The girl hyperventilated as she watched her friend thrash in the villain's body. The monster moved slightly and Bakugou's hand was freed, instantly making him lash out his quirk in an attempt to free his whole body. The explosions did little against the liquid monster, only making flames spring up around them instead. Renji watched frozen but snapped out of it when terrified ruby eyes locked on her own amethyst tones.
"Katsuki!"
She looked around at the forming crowd and noticed a few pros making their way to the front, Backdraft and Death Arms. She knew Backdraft's water hose quirk would do little to help, and Death Arms could easily hurt her friend if he tried to attack the villain. She looked back at the creature as the pros started to cordon off the area but noticed a fire hydrant nearby flowing with untapped water she could use. She glared at the thing attacking her friend as she took a step towards it, but paused as a hand landed on her clothed shoulder.
"We need to get you to safety," Backdraft stated as he tried to pull her away from the villain and the hostage as Death Arms stepped up to attack.
"I can't leave him!" She yelled as more smoke started to spread around the street.
"How dare you prey on a child!" Death Arms cried as he flung himself at the villain, becoming shocked as his arm was quickly being absorbed into the thing's body, "What the hell is this?! Is it some kind of goo?"
The creature thrashed a limb at the hero and sent him flying towards more incoming heroes. Backdraft loosened his grip on Himari at the sight of his partner flying through the air and the girl pulled out of his grip and ran towards the creature hurting her friend.
"Give him back asshole!" The monster lurched as she landed a solid punch against him, surprising the pros with her strength. The hit knocked the ooze out of Bakugou's mouth and he rapidly inhaled breath after breath of air. The monster flinched and tried to send an oozing limb into her body, but was shocked to see it completely phase through as she stood her ground.
"Get back!" The villain yelled at the pro-heroes and the watery girl. "Or I'll snap his neck!"
"You picked the wrong guy to mess with!" Bakugou yelled as he struggled even harder to pull out of his restraints. "I'm gonna send you back to whatever sewer you crawled out of! LET ME GO!"
He fired off more of his explosions to distract the villain and white-haired girl threw her hands down, sending a surge of water crashing out of the fire hydrant and onto the street. The monster jerked and Himari jumped back as one of Bakugou's random attacks landed close to her form, sending her flying further from her trapped friend.
"You've got so much power," The villain claimed as it tightened its grip on the screaming teenager. "I really hit the jackpot! With a quirk like yours under my control, I can take All Might down with one punch."
Himari tensed at the creature's words and looked around frantically through the alleyway at the lack of heroes, many of them too focused on dealing with all the fires Bakugou had started that couldn't be put out by her own water attack or afraid of the villain's ooze like body trapping them. She glanced back at the creature with dismay and worry etched on her face, her quirk would be a stalemate if she couldn't land enough hits at least and with him already putting Katsuki's life on the line she knew her water could do more damage to her friend. But as she watched him struggle more she got to her feet to race back into the fray. The sound of rushing footsteps behind her caught her attention and she watched in shock as Midoriya burst through the crowd and the rain towards her and the monster attacking Bakugou.
"Izuku? What the hell?!" She hissed as he ran straight at the villain, beginning to tear and claw at the goo around the blonde's mouth and nose. She quickly ducked down as the creature thrashed its water like limbs around and slammed her hands to the ground, pulsing more water into the villain's side. The monster stumbled at the sudden attack and she smiled as Midoriya's hands pulled a large chunk away from their friend's face.
"Kacchan!" Midoriya cried as he ripped at more of the ooze surrounding Bakugou.
"What the hell?! Why are you here?" Katsuki snapped at his quirkless friend.
"I dunno...My legs...They just started...moving! I just couldn't stand there and watch you die!"
Renji sprinted forward and slapped her hand onto the monster's body, the pair starting to rip away at the goo at an impressively strong pace, shocking their trapped friend. The girl jammed one hand into the creature's ooze as she clawed deep at the substance holding back the red-eyed teenager, each of her movements becoming more and more precise as the ooze started to drip away with her waterfied arm. The monster reeled back at its dripping body parts and the two friends latched onto Bakugou's arms, pulling at him as the villain fought to hold onto his hostage.
"GET THE HELL OFF ME!" The blonde boy screamed once more as he pulled his upper body further from the creature's grip.
A sudden gust of wind freed the blonde and sent the three flying back towards the ground, Bakugou quickly wrapping his arms around Himari as he turned them so his back skidded onto the concrete, grunting painfully as she landed onto him.
"I really am pathetic," The kids looked up to see All Might standing before them with his arm towards where the villain was barely standing. "I told you the traits to make a great champion, but I see now I wasn't living up to my own ideal. Pros are always risking their lives, that is the true test of a hero!"
They watched as he landed another hit on the downed monster, sending his body into a million different directions as the wind from his blast put out all of the fires in the area. Rain suddenly appeared from the giant wind attack shifting the clouds and Himari relished at the sudden cool liquid as she glanced down at her injured friend. She ran her hand over Katsuki's face and smiled as the cuts he had visible slowly started to retract with each swipe of the glowing water in her hand. She sighed as his eyes lightly fluttered at her healing before she realized what position they were in and scrambled out of his grip.
"I am so sorry, Kacchan," She cried as she looked away from him in embarrassment.
The blonde ignored her blushing face as he ran his hand up his cheek, "Why the hell did you do this?"
"Oh," She relaxed. "Healing your face? It's part of my quirk. You know that."
"No you idiot!" He argued. "Running into danger like you're fucking stupid! I expected this from worthless Deku, but not you, ya damn puddle."
"I was trying to help you Katsuki," She muttered in a monotone fashion. "And I did, my water put out the fires you stupidly caused, and my water body distracted the villain."
"You're still a giant dumbass," He huffed.
"And you're mean, blondie," She snapped back.
"Don't call me blondie you stupid ass!"
Renji and Midoriya suddenly laughed at their friend's harsh reaction to her nickname for him. The laughing quickly subsided as pro-heroes flooded towards them along with a mass of reporters. Midoriya was shuffled away by the pros as they berated him for his reckless actions while Himari stayed with Bakugou as a healer hero checked him over, surprised by his lack of injuries. The blonde brushed him off and grabbed Himari's hand, dragging her away from the growing crowd struggling to reach All Might and the other heroes.
The two walked in silence until he had successfully gotten them both back to their neighborhood. The male teenager paused in his movements and let go of his friend, "Are you alright Katsuki?"
"I have to go do something," He mumbled as he turned around. "Go home and keep your ass out of trouble."
The white-haired girl watched worriedly as her friend took off back the way they had been. She took a small step towards his retreating form but sighed and instead walked the rest of her way to her house.