The Monster of Yuuei

by Glow in the Rain

The monsters were called Nomu: mindless, terrible creatures that instilled fear in the Kingdom of Yuuei. But one monster always showed up in a whirlwind of smoke and black tendrils, tearing the Nomu apart. The Monster of Yuuei, they called it. It doesn't take long before a witch, the Captain of the Guard, and the Crowned Prince realize there's more to this monster than it seems.

10. Seeking Sunflowers

10: Seeking Sunflowers

She could feel the lapping of the lake against the forest-lined shore and the heavy sigh of the winds from the west. The farmers tilling the fields dragged across her skin like burlap, and the scent of salt from the port invaded her nose. She felt everywhere at once like she was the world itself, but muted like hearing it all from underwater.

Part of us.

Visions of rolling landscapes rose and fell like the sun against her eyelids, and she found herself awed at how the world was at the tips of her fingers.

Her reverie was shattered by a terrible scent invading her senses, like a reflection disrupted by a stone dropping in a still pool of water. Dread erupted from deep within her, and her intricate connection to the world faded as Ochako woke up.

XX

The winding stone wall that separated Yuuei from the ruins in the east was weathered from time, but most of it still held strong thanks to the enchanted magic imbued within. The torches of Todoroki fire burned persistently, signaling to anyone who approached that they had reached a dead end. The gates between the two kingdoms had long since been sealed off, and the only way to pass was either climb over the three meters of stone or to find a place where the wall had crumbled. No one dared to try either.

Yuuei's side of the stone wall was overgrown with forest and trees, for no one risked living close or cultivating land. Some structures from long ago remained in ruin, appearing as rubble encased in bramble.

However, something was different today. Dotting strategic points along the border were small clay cups, innocuous and hard to see against the bark and stone they were nestled in. The pottery blended in as they should, appearing to be artifacts to a time before the east fell and became a sad part of history.

A good distance across the kingdom, in an estate in Heights Alliance Port, a larger version of the cup sat on a decorated table of imported marble and polished amethyst, cradled in a folded piece of fine silk. Kyouka of House Jiro sat in front of the table in an ornate chair cushioned by equally ornate pillows. Her legs were drawn up and crossed, hands resting palm up on her knees. With her eyes closed, she was entirely focused on her work, filtering out anything going on outside of the room.

The cup before her echoed out the sounds captured from the scattered pottery along the border, mostly winds that spoke over each other as they passed through the cups all at once.

She had been at this all day, and soon she would need to sleep. However, the suspicious words in hushed whispers that she had caught while investigating promised someone, somehow had entered into the ruined east and was still alive. That, along with everything else that seemed to be moving in the background, was enough for her to go at this spell until her body collapsed.

Fortunately, she did not need to push that hard. Voices came through the cups, distant but growing audible as they got closer.

"We've found the strongest Hollow yet."

"Stronger than the others?"

"Yeah."

"Then I guess the opening act is over and we can finally take the stage."

"Sure, whatever. Not like we're doing this because we want to…"

"No, but it's better than sitting around in agony. Hell, I'll personally go keep Yuuei's Dragon busy if it means a distraction from this insatiable hunger…"

"That won't be needed, but I understand…"

The voices faded, moving away from the range of her cups, and Jiro opened her eyes. "What the hell is a Hollow?"

XX

Ochako opened her eyes, finding herself staring up at the ceiling of her cottage. The faint orange light filtering in through the windows promised the sun was ending its lazy afternoon crawl. Dazed, she blinked a few times, letting her senses come back to her as she tried to separate dreams from reality.

She sometimes had dreams of talking with magic, but this time it had felt far more real, like she was actually one with the ecosystem itself. That seemed unlikely, but before she could dismiss it completely, a memory broke through her hazy thoughts, a hushed sentence amongst a collection of many.

You are an extension of us. A part of us.

She wondered if there was more truth to that than she realized. Taking a deep breath to center herself, she startled at realizing the burning smell had not gone away and was not part of her dream. It took her several seconds to realize the scent for what it was: burning fish. Turning her head, she looked towards the kitchen of her cottage and stared at the scene before her, wondering just how she had slept through it all until now.

Izuku stood in front of the counter, three tendrils of his magic fanned out around him. One was holding the skillet over the hearth lit in green flames, and another shakily stirred the contents with a spatula. The third tendril was pressed over the cutting board, holding it and its contents in place while he worked. With his back turned, she couldn't see what he was doing, but the slow and cautious movements suggested he was likely using a knife.

Beside him stood Tsuyu, a finger to her chin as she spoke to him quietly. Her long hair that normally draped over her had been pulled back and tied off, likely to keep it out of the way as she worked. The green light of the fire danced off her nude form, giving a vermillion shine to her pallid complexion. Izuku spoke with her quietly, periodically looking over at her and unbothered by the spirit's appearance. The candid interaction between them caught Ochako's attention not because it was unusual, but because it made her realize that he was probably far more used to interacting with spirits than he was with people. They were wild cores taking physical form, after all, and as a Hollow and as the Requiem's holder, she didn't doubt they were naturally drawn to him.

After all, Tsuyu was in her kitchen helping Izuku make dinner, and Ochako doubted a magical contract or deal was the reason.

It worried her, though, because Tsuyu was in her kitchen helping Izuku make dinner. One was a swamp spirit who most certainly did not understand how cooking utensils or fire worked, and the other was a formerly feral man who had probably never cooked in his life. The smell of charred fish was very telling that this was something she needed to put a stop to, or at least oversee. With equal parts reluctance and dread, she pulled the blankets off of herself and sat up. Her limbs felt heavy, but the exhaustion like before had dulled. She slid out of her bed, feeling her legs quiver as she put weight on them. One hand came to steady herself against one of her bed posts and she closed her eyes, taking a centering breath.

When she opened them, she jumped to find Izuku in front of her, green eyes staring at her intently. Two of the three ropes of magic still floated behind him tending the food at the hearth, the third having retreated with his approach. Frowning, he held open his arm in invitation, unspoken worry on his face. Ochako looked between his face and his arm before she sighed in defeat. Stepping forward, she placed a hand on his shoulder for balance, begrudgingly admitting to herself that she needed the extra help.

The frustration she felt at her own weakness was swiftly slain by Izuku sweeping her up with his magic to carry her to the table. The sudden action surprised her so much she let out a squeak, which was bad enough, but the sound was so shocking to Izuku that he momentarily lost control of his magic. It stuttered and flickered violently, and he barely managed to catch it before everything fell to the floor, her included.

Ochako was certain her face was the color of beets as Izuku stared at her with wide eyes, trying to figure out if the noise actually came from her. She couldn't remember the last time she felt so embarrassed. After a moment, his magic gently deposited her on the bench and retreated from her as he moved forward to sit beside her. With all the concern in the world, he whispered, "I'm sorry. I was worried you might fall. Are you… okay?"

His voice brushed against her like a summer zephyr, and she had no idea if it was his magic or her's that told her without words how concerned he was. She smiled, reaching up to poke his nose fondly and distract herself from her own mortification. "I'm okay. I feel very tired, but I'm not in pain or sick." She paused before cautiously glancing around her. "I am, however, very concerned about what you two have done to my precious kitchen."

In response, Izuku flushed, and Tsuyu took that opportunity to hop on the table and explain in detail the series of events that led to the burnt crimes against fish.

As the story unfolded, Ochako found herself silently grateful her house had not burnt down while she slept.

XX

With some guidance, some open windows, and a second attempt at cooking fish, dinner was salvageable, if not mostly palatable. Izuku seemed pleased with himself, and Ochako watched the tiny smile on his face as he served her roasted vegetables and not-burnt fish. Tsuyu chose not to eat, instead crouching on the table itself with a cup of tea cradled in her long fingers.

It was after Izuku no longer had dinner preoccupying him that Ochako noticed the extra fidgeting. It was when the dinner conversation fell silent that his eyes would flicker nervously, as if a million thoughts were running through his mind. It was clear something was bothering him, but he was doing his best to push it aside, probably for her. She didn't like that, but didn't plan to broach the topic until after Tsuyu had left.

When dinner ended, Izuku called his magic again to clean up, extending two cords of green-black to sweep dishes off the table and into the sink. Ochako watched him, noting the occasional stutter in his control, the twitch in his fingers when he willed the magic to change tasks, and the way his expression shifted as he focused. Despite something clearly distracting him and upsetting him, he had grown startlingly proficient in just a few hours while she slept. Enough to make her second-guess if it was still the same day.

Tsuyu hopping off the table grabbed her attention, but the sudden movement caused Izuku to lose his concentration. His magic fumbled, and he managed to regain control just before the tea kettle went crashing to the floor. He whispered an apology, but before she could tell him he didn't need to apologize, Tsuyu spoke.

"I'm returning to the swamp now, ribbit."

Ochako parked her thoughts on Izuku and turned to the spirit, nodding. "Okay. Thank you for joining us, and thank you for helping Izuku. I appreciate you, Tsuyu."

The spirit hummed, putting a finger to her chin. "He is the honored guest of my friend. It made sense for me to assist him."

The witch shook her head. "He is no longer my guest, Tsuyu." She could feel Izuku's eyes on her as she elaborated. "Izuku is my friend. He can be your friend, too, if you both want. No contract needed."

Tsuyu tilted her head before her gaze shifted to the man sitting at the table. "Protector. Do you want to be friends?"

Ochako could hear the soft hitch in Izuku's throat, and she bit back a smile as he stuttered a reply. "O-oh, yes… I-I'd like that."

The spirit gave a single nod. "We are friends, then. Goodnight." And without waiting, she turned and left the cottage.

XX

Although she was saturated in exhaustion, Ochako found sleep evading her once night fell. The information Izuku shared with her about his core had definitely explained why he was so rattled, and she found herself ill at ease as well.

In the low light of the dying hearth, she could see him curled up on his bed, hiding under the blankets. He had been somewhat insistent that she go lie back down after he had finished his story, and it was maddening how he kept putting her before everything else.

Endearing, but maddening.

He had every right to be terrified. Even with Requiem's explanation, there was no guarantee of success, and even if he had the best odds of all of the core's holders, the odds were still abysmal. It made her grit her teeth in frustration, and she angrily fisted her hands in her blankets, fingernails biting into the fabric.

A flash of green lightning outside snapped her out of her thoughts, and belatedly she realized it was raining, heavy drops pattering against the windows and roof. She would have ignored it, had it not been for the color that flickered in the sky and the low rumble that followed. The storm was much like the one that had formed after Izuku had to relive the story of how his father died.

Without hesitation, she pulled herself out of her bed, the air brushing against her naked skin as she reached for her robe hanging from one of the posters. With her only nightgown too dirty to wear, she had chosen to sleep without clothes as she had habitually done before Izuku came into her life. Pulling the fabric over her body, she quickly cinched the tie closed and crossed the room on bare feet. With a wave of her hand, she rekindled the hearth just enough to better see Izuku's corner. He lay unmoving, the soft rise and fall of the quilts indicating he was asleep. Dropping down onto the floor beside him, she gently shook his shoulder as another burst of lightning lit up the forest outside. "Izuku."

His eyes snapped open and he jumped slightly, startled out of his sleep. The deep rumbling of thunder a moment later drew a shudder from him, and she watched his head turn towards the windows. A moment later, he looked back around, soft glowing orbs finding her in the dark. Confusion was replaced with concern and he sat up. "Are you okay?"

Ochako huffed, not surprised that's where he started. She reached out to brush his hair, noting the slight nervous flinch that she hadn't seen in some time. She stopped and let her hand fall. "You were having a nightmare."

Izuku frowned in the low light, giving her a strange look. "...Yes?"

The way he said it was less an affirmation and more of a question. Ochako gestured towards the window and the fading sound of rain. "I noticed yesterday that when you're very upset, storms form. And there was a storm now…"

This seemed to only confuse him further as he held onto the ends of his blankets. "I… is there a storm every night?"

Ochako frowned, slightly taken aback. "No… this is the first time I've seen one."

"Oh."

She pursed her lips, watching the way he stared down at the blankets. "Do you have bad dreams every night, Izuku?"

He shrugged a little, thumbnail dragging across the hem of the blanket. "I… I have for years. I just… push them out of my mind when I wake up. But… I don't know why this time it caused a storm…" He trailed off, lifting his head like he was listening. His brow dipped, lips parting before he looked over to her. "Requiem says… because I'm connecting to my magic now… it can appear subconsciously."

Ochako sighed, nodding. "That explains it."

Despite that, the news that every night was a bad night displeased her, and she regarded him carefully, thinking about what to do. After a moment, she spoke. "Let me help."

He stared at her, eyes falling to her hand as she held it out for him to take. She waited patiently, knowing he was fretting over her using magic again so soon. It was probably unfair to phrase her question as a command, but before she had a chance to elaborate, he quietly put his palm in hers, his skin warm to the touch. She smiled, curling her fingers over his. "Lie down and close your eyes. I want to tell you a story."

That seemed to reassure him, and he settled back down into his bed, snuggling back under the blankets while keeping a hold of her hand. After a moment, she saw the green glow disappear, indicating he had followed through with her request.

With a gentle nudge, she sent a touch of her magic through her fingers and into his palm, the energy running across their skin like heavy droplets of rain down a pane of glass.

In an instant, the dimly lit cottage became a sunny field with clusters of wild sunflowers. Izuku stood there before her, dressed in his robe he'd been sleeping in. His hand was still in hers and his eyes were wide as he looked around. Ochako smiled softly, patiently letting him orient himself.

"Where… where are we?" His voice was an awed whisper tinged with a hint of anxiety.

"A field where I grew up," Ochako replied fondly, looking around. "This was my favorite place to be as a child. I came here to pick sunflowers and harvest the seeds. I would stay here for hours, lying under the sun with a crown of flowers on my head. I funneled my magic into this field, so even in the winter, my favorite flowers still bloomed."

As if to demonstrate, the seasons shifted, the warm greens of summer fading to the cool frost of winter. The bright yellow flowers stood proudly with hats of snow, unbothered by the cold.

"It's… beautiful," Izuku breathed, looking around as a coil of fog escaped his lips.

Ochako hummed in agreement. "When… I was forced to go to Ultra, I would retreat to this memory in my mind. I used my magic to weave it into a place I could enter at any point. When sleep escaped me, I came here to calm down. When I wanted to not think about the bad things, I would send my mind here to escape. And when the nightmares surfaced, I would run here where they couldn't get to me."

The snow melted, replaced by green grasses and a backdrop of flowering trees. Bees buzzed and birds chirped as they bounced between the blossoms.

Izuku nodded at Ochako's story, torn between looking at her and looking at everything around him. Hesitantly, his fingers reached out and touched one of the blooms, feeling it bump softly against his hand. "It feels so real…"

"Because to me it is," Ochako explained, taking a step closer to him so that their shoulders touched. She squeezed his hand lightly, feeling a twitch of his fingers in return. "So… I want to share it with you."

Izuku looked over at her, tilting his head curiously. Ochako met his gaze, smiling up at him. "Let me give you part of this space so that you can always find it when things get bad. When your nightmares come for you, think of the sunflowers. You'll find your way here."

His lips parted, and the reverent look he gave her was so intense that Ochako glanced away, tucking an errant strand of hair behind her ear, flustered. "I… need your consent to do it, Izuku. It makes the magic stronger. Will you let me help you?"

She heard him inhale, felt another twitch of his fingers in her hand. He didn't say anything, so she turned her head up to look at him and startled at finding he had leaned in, putting their faces in close proximity as he regarded her. Bright green eyes that outshone every flower in the field looked over her face before he finally whispered:

"Thank you."

XX

The low groaning of the ship broke through the sounds of the sea, coupled by the shuffling of loose items as the vessel rocked. Water rolled across the floor, creating a slippery surface for anyone with unsure footing. The light from the single lantern bounced off the wet wrought iron cages, making them glisten slightly in the hull.

The occupants of the cages were worse for wear. Cold and hungry, wet and miserable. Soft crying could be heard from one, angry muttering from another. Most were silent, shivering in their soiled clothes and hoping for calmer. The smell of human excrement was strong, mixed with mold and the smell of salt water.

Boots slowly coming down the stairs caused some to stir, hopeful for another piece of soggy bread or any other kind of reprieve.

The man who entered was short and stout, well in his years. Round spectacles sat on his nose, and his eyes shimmered softly, like the moon reflecting on water. Despite the magical allure, his face was twisted into a cruel sort of expression, uncaring of the wellbeing of the prisoners in their cages. He only needed them alive. Being well was trivial.

Moving past the rows of iron cages, he walked along until he came to the most important one. The occupant slowly looked up from where he sat in the middle, holding his ruined cloak tightly around him for a sliver of warmth. Most interestingly, his eyes looked much the same as the older man's, a soft silver reflection in the night.

"Why are you doing this?" The caged man asked, his voice croaking, likely due to the atmosphere. "I see your magic; you're just like me. What do you want?"

The older man stretched his mouth into an ugly smile. "Why, I need your help. You have what I need to make my young master's plan work."

"What…what do I have that you don't?" The other man asked, knowing very clearly their magic was the same.

"Expendability."

XX

Things had gotten a touch weird recently, but this morning was a new one for the books.

It was no secret to the Royal Guard that their young captain was best friends with Prince Shouto, and of course, that meant everyone knew he was practically the crown prince's personal escort when he needed to leave the city proper. Katsuki of House Bakugou took pride in his loyalty to the throne, and he took his additional responsibilities seriously, shouldering them without letting his primary duties suffer, while simultaneously boasting no one could do it better than him.

So for him to delegate the task of escorting Prince Shouto outside of Ultra for the day to Lieutenant Captain Eijiro… Well, that certainly had the guard talking this morning.

It bothered Eijiro, because he didn't know what at the port was so important that Katsuki would command him to take his place. Especially since Eijiro knew that the relationship between the two men went far deeper than what people saw. He had known them for ten years, and in those ten years, he had seen a lot.

He would never, ever say anything, or even hint at anything, but there were too many exchanges that did not quite fit the label they were supposed to represent.

So in knowing that–knowing something he shouldn't know, Eijiro was very concerned that Katsuki had willingly tasked him with guarding the one person who had stolen the prodigy's heart.

Neither man had given clarity on the situation. When pressed, Katsuki indicated he needed to follow up on a sensitive issue that surfaced with the Nomu attacks, and when questioned, Shouto stated he needed to verify if a citizen possessed a particular magic, and he was fine to have Eijiro escort him and would fill him in as necessity dictated.

Neither story appeared to be lies, but they were hardly helpful truths.

Eijiro sighed softly, the sound drowned out by the steady gait of his horse as they made their way down the weathered roads leading out to the farmlands. The guard was left in the care of Hanta of House Sero, next in the chain of command and beyond capable.

Also more amicable than the captain, but the bar was so low it was practically touching the ground.

So caught up in his thoughts, he didn't realize they had reached their destination until Shouto came to a halt, his horse nickering softly. Eijiro stopped beside him, taking in the quaint farmhouse in front of them. It was nothing fancy, but in fair condition, with moss creeping onto the stones and age showing on the wood. Sheep could be seen on the hill behind the house, and a steady stream of smoke came from the chimney.

He followed Shouto to the door, watching as the prince rapped his knuckles against the wood. There was some small commotion inside, indistinguishable voices and the sound of wood knocking against wood.

The front door opened abruptly, and a man who looked like he needed seven years of sleep stared at them like they were dead to him for daring to knock. His beard was in need of trimming, and his dark hair was pulled back at the base of his neck. He wore shepherd's clothes, and the bags under his eyes made Eijiro concerned that the man had been inflicted by an insomnia curse.

Before the prince could even begin to introduce himself, the disgruntled man looked him over and said flatly, "My magic can't break curses, your Highness."

Shouto blinked rapidly before smoothing over his surprise into professionalism. "I appreciate the explanation, Sir Aizawa, but I'm already aware of the limitations of your dispel magic. That's not why I'm here. I… I'm actually in need of your daughter's magic, I think. For something else." He hesitated, before adding, "And… this is an unofficial request for help. The royal family does not know I'm here. I'd prefer to keep it that way, if you please."

That made Eijiro freeze, and the older man looked over at him, catching the change in body language. Dark eyes narrowed, giving the prince a scrutinizing look. After a moment, he sighed and stepped back. "Well, you might as well come in then. If people see you standing out here, they're gonna talk, and I have enough drama in my life."

In response, a man shouted from inside, "I am not drama!"

The man named Aizawa closed his eyes, muttering either a curse or a prayer under his breath. Eijiro had no idea which.

XX

It took Ochako several minutes to realize what was different this morning. Sleep did not let go of her easily, so she spent some time fading in and out of consciousness before her body finally allowed her to wake up. With a soft sigh, she opened her eyes and noted two things:

One, the brightness in the cottage indicated she had slept in far later than usual, which was no surprise given the previous day's events…

And two, Izuku was nowhere to be seen.

His tunic was draped over the stack of firewood by his bed, but his boots were missing. His bed was in its usual state, although both cats claimed the top of the blankets for themselves.

Frowning, she mentally prodded at the magic in the air, encouraging it to tell her where he was. The response she received was a brush of imagery against her senses - a human-shaped blur bounding from tree to tree, practicing with his magic deep in the forest. There was no sense of urgency or danger that came with it, only simple reassurance that he was safe and nearby.

Her lips turned upward in a smile and she forced herself up and out of bed. Grabbing her robe and a towel, she made her way out onto the veranda to bathe, not bothering with dressing since her ward wasn't around. It occurred to her that this was the first time in days she'd really had any alone time, and she had almost forgotten what that was like. With a wave of her hand, the bubbling pool hissed into a steaming temperature, and she sighed heavily as she sunk down into the water.

Although she felt worlds better than she did yesterday, she could tell she was still recovering in some ways. Her muscles were stiff like she had overused them, and everything felt… sensitive. Sounds were sharper, lights brighter, and everything touching her skin felt more intense. It was not enough to be alarming, but it was noticeable. Even the normal heat of her bath was too much after a couple of minutes, forcing her to reduce the temperature to something milder.

A short time later found her dressed, fed, and stepping out past the swamp with her preferred apron dress and foraging basket. Izuku was still somewhere nearby because the trees had been diligent in whispering updates to her as she got ready for the day. Tsuyu greeted her by the swamp's exit, sitting on a rock protruding from the water, her hair fanned around her.

"Are you well?" The spirit asked, and Ochako knew it was a sincere question. Spirits didn't do pleasantries.

She thought for a moment, before replying, "I think so. Sleeping helped a lot."

Tsuyu hummed, unblinking eyes looking away in thought. "The magic left its mark on your body. Like a scar."

"I know," Ochako replied softly. "It is not something I want to repeat, if I can avoid it."

"I do not want it either," the spirit admitted, still staring off into the trees. Ochako watched her quietly, and after several seconds, Tsuyu looked back to her and tilted her head. "Is that selfish?"

Ochako smiled sweetly at her magical friend. "No, Tsuyu. It's kind."

"Kind," The spirit echoed, tasting the word on her lips. "Then I will continue to be kind."

XX

The sulfurous orange standing out against the forest backdrop was always a welcomed sight. Ochako smiled as she approached the shelves of edible mushrooms, estimating that she would need to make more than one trip. That was fine; it gave her time before she had to go into the city to get supplementary food supplies. Putting down her basket, she pulled out a small knife and began to slice away the layers, starting with the youngest parts first.

She wasn't at it for very long before the wind picked up around her, circling in a way that was not natural. She paused, eyes narrowing slightly as the magic around her stirred, but then a familiar presence within it made her relax, and she smiled warmly.

"Ochako, Ochako, Chako, Chako, O-cha-ko!"

The wind materialized into a tiny human shape in front of her, slightly blurry, a little transparent, and radiating energy. The elemental sprite spun around in place, her hair of pale green and pink flecks looking like a hazy spring image. Unlike Tsuyu, whose material form was roughly the size of a petite woman, this sprite was only about 30 centimeters in height.

Ochako's smile widened considerably. "Hello Toru! It's been a while! I see you're back from your exploration of the western mountains. How did you find it?"

The spirit huffed and somersaulted in the air. "Awful! Everything looks the same! Snow, and more snow, and rocks covered by snow! And the other wind spirits are always so grumpy there! So… I came back!"

The witch chuckled, putting down her knife and holding out a hand. The spirit shivered in delight at the invitation, landing on her fingertips. "Besides, I missed you! You're the only human I like talking to!"

"What a fine compliment," Ochako replied sweetly. "But, I bet it's also because you like making deals with me."

The spirit shamelessly nodded her head. "Of course! You make good offerings! I have so many shinies now!"

The unabashed declaration made Ochako laugh. "Well… since you're back, I might have another offer if you're willing. I need a message delivered."

"Oh! Oh! Oh! Yes! Give! I'll get there faster than any other wind spirit around!"

The eagerness pulled another laugh out of her, and she held up her free hand apologetically. "It's at the cottage. I wasn't prepared to see you. But, you can keep me company while I finish this basket and I'll get it on my return trip. Does that sound good?"

The spirit tilted her head, thinking. "It sounds… like that is the best way to get my shiny. And that is logical. And logical is good. So yes! It is good!"

"Lovely! May I take my hand back to finish my work?"

The spirit floated from Ochako's palm to her shoulder, allowing her to continue. However, the moment she did so, she caught sight of the white hair, and without hesitation, grabbed it in both of her tiny hands. "No! No-chako! You're changing!" Her voice was dismayed, and possibly a touch melodramatic.

Ochako sighed softly, a faint smile touching her lips as she continued to slice at the remaining parts of the mushroom shelf. "A lot has happened while you were gone."

"I heard! The wind carries it all! You met the protector! You got stronger! And you now understand us better!"

"I'm surprised I managed to listen to magic for all these years and never learned about your origins," Ochako said thoughtfully as she worked.

"You didn't ask, silly! You gotta ask for knowledge. We don't freely give it!"

The witch pursed her lips, her expression wry. "I suppose there is that… but it does make it hard to ask about something when I don't know it exists–"

There was a sudden burst of wind, roaring like a tempest and a blur of green shot down from the air, landing in front of her with a thunderous clap. Toru shrieked and Ochako jumped, dropping the slice of mushroom and the knife from her hands. Even though she recognized the magic as it landed, Izuku's less than subtle entrance still made her heart hammer. Belatedly, she realized Toru had taken to hiding in her hair, clinging to the locks with her tiny fingers. Pressing a hand to her chest, Ochako gave her ward a sharp look. "Izuku!"

The young man took a step forward, magic swirling around his feet in the beginnings of a black and green cyclone. His dark hair was damp from perspiration, and the exposed skin on his arms shone softly in the filtered sunlight. He had traded his tunic for a lighter, short-sleeved shirt which was now damp with sweat, showing evidence of his self-driven training this morning.

His brow was furrowed, eyes sharp, but then he paused when he saw the tiny sprite clinging to her hair, and the magic around him dispelled instantly. His eyes went wide. "I… I'm sorry! I thought… I-I saw a strange core around you, and…"

Ochako's brows lifted as she began to understand his abrasive and flashy entrance. Sighing softly, she allowed herself to relax, shoulders dropping. "Oh…of course it would look weird to you… no, it's okay, Izuku. This is my friend, Toru. She's like Tsu–"

"Oh, wow!" Toru squeaked, barreling out of Ochako's hair and up into Izuku's face. "I've never seen you clean before!"

Izuku leaned back, eyes wide as the spirit inspected him at an uncomfortably close proximity, grabbing a lock of green hair and tugging. "You look so different not covered in mud! Ochako! He's pretty now!"

Ochako was trying and failing to contain her amusement, biting on her bottom lip to keep the grin from fully manifesting. It was no surprise Toru knew who Izuku was, given how he had lived out in the wilds for years. Although judging by his reaction, they weren't well acquainted. Likely, Toru had only observed him from afar and with curiosity.

Izuku swallowed nervously, eyes following the buzzing sprite who was moving around him at all angles, taking in his appearance. Ochako watched the interaction for a few seconds before finally replying to Toru's comment, her voice laced with mirth. "Yes, Toru. He is pretty."

Green eyes darted away from the sprite to Ochako, his nervousness now being colored with a soft blush on his face. Unable to take it anymore, the witch broke out in rich laughter, her eyes twinkling. "Toru calling something pretty is the highest compliment you can get from her, Izuku. You've just made a new friend."

"You're golden like the sun!" Toru cried happily, spinning around him, making the wind around them pick up in a warm zephyr.

The statement confused Izuku, doing his best to watch the sprite flit around without getting dizzy. "I… I am?"

"Mm!" Toru did a tumble through the air, coming to a stop in front of him. The action brought her magic forward in a gust of wind that blasted him right in his face, sending his hair flying back. He squeezed his eyes shut, though Ochako saw a tiny hint of a smile on his lips. "When I saw you last, your magic was muted! Now it shines like the sun! Is it because you're clean now?"

Ochako muffled a snort behind her hands, and Izuku shot her a desperate look for help, his cheeks pink. Through her fingers, she replied, "He learned his core's name, Toru."

"Oh! Congratulations!" The sprite threw her tiny hands in the air, cheering. And then without any concern about the abrupt change of topic, she spun back towards Ochako. "Can we go get my shiny now?"

XX

Heights Alliance Port was busy as usual for mid-morning, and Katsuki found it annoying as hell. He weaved through the market crowd, scowling at meandering citizens, glaring daggers at pushy merchants, and barely refraining from kicking any children.

The entrance to his destination was a welcome sight, and some of the tension left him as he stepped onto the pavilion leading into the restaurant. It was one of the few venues in the city that Katsuki didn't think was terrible, and he wasted no time putting in an order as he made his way to a secluded corner on the veranda. He was early, as always, and that gave him a chance to eat in peace before he had to deal with bullshit again.

A short time later, he found himself with a full stomach and staring out at the view of the port, watching ships on the water's horizon. His expression was hard as he mentally went over the reports of the Nomu attack, as well as the testimony Tenya gave regarding the magical combat just outside the city afterward. So caught up in going over the details, he started slightly when he heard someone politely cleared their throat beside him.

Crimson eyes landed on the magus who stood in front of the table, a leather satchel hanging from his shoulder. Tenya nodded in polite greeting. "Hello, Captain Bakugou. May I sit?"

Katsuki grunted, nodding towards the empty chair across from him. "Yeah. Shouldn't take long. Just doing my follow-up on the attack. Got questions about what you saw."

Tenya nodded, moving to take a seat across from Katsuki. "What would you like to know?"

The Dragon of Yuuei sighed, turning away from the view he had been focused on before the other man arrived. "I read the reports my men provided. What I understand is that seven Nomu attacked Heights Alliance right before dawn, but they were all destroyed by the Monster of Yuuei. But I have another report that indicates you engaged in magical combat just outside of the city's walls after, but you claimed the altercation was a misunderstanding." He paused, staring hard at Tenya. "Want to elaborate?"

The Creator mage nodded slowly, folding his hands politely in his lap. "I understand the confusion. I… saw someone sneaking around outside the city in a suspicious manner. I believe he also thought I was sneaking around and we exchanged spells, both concerned the other was a risk. It turns out that we both were doing our best to protect the city against the monsters."

"Was it someone you knew?" Katsuki asked, lifting a brow. He watched as Tenya paused just long enough to indicate he was considering his words carefully.

"...No. I had never seen this man before in my life."

Katsuki paused momentarily, debating his options. He wanted to believe that Tenya intended to keep Ochako's appearance a secret since he didn't mention her to the guard. However, it wasn't enough to completely quell the paranoia in him. Deciding to twist the report a little, he drummed his fingers on the table. "So… there's one strange thing that doesn't match up. Someone else reported seeing a woman leaving the city as the magic ceded. Are you sure you didn't see anyone else?"

He watched as Tenya stiffened, barely noticeable under his robes, but Katsuki saw it anyway. He waited for the other man to formulate an answer. "I… no. I don't think I saw a woman leaving the city… just the man. He was… slight, though. Perhaps someone mistook him for a woman?"

Katsuki snorted at the idea of someone mistaking Deku for a woman, and he waved a hand when Tenya gave him a confused look. "Yeah, maybe that was it. All right. I don't think I have any other questions. You're free to go." He leaned over to grab his helmet from its perch on the table.

"Ah, you can't leave just yet."

The voice came from his left, and Katsuki recognized it immediately, grimacing as a knot forming in his stomach. Of all the people…

Pursing his lips into a thin line, he turned his head, watching as Kyouka of House Jiro approached. Without further greeting, she pulled out a small wooden top and placed it on the table. With a flick of her wrist, the device spun, and he felt a strange pressure in the air as her magic took effect, creating a bubble where they could talk without being overheard.

Pulling up a chair, she took a seat, crossing her legs and placing her hands on her knee. "After all, I have questions, Dragon of Yuuei."