"Hello" The voice of a boy called out to her, from further away
She looked towards him, with her face trying to hold itself together from breaking down
"Y-yes?" she said, noticing the white haired man floating by the boy's side Oh god, not another one! I mean, he doesn't look like the others...but what if it's just a trap? she also then noticed the bluish white haired girl with a horn holding the boy's hand, who had nervous look on her face
"I wanted ask, you looked a bit scared, so came here to see, whether everything's ok..." he looked liked he wanted to say more, she thought
"I-I fine!" No, I am not
The white haired man at that time, turned towards the spirit that's been watching her, with it also noticing him looking at it I guess, I was right...he is a ghost, too... Miko thought, feeling like she wants to just ran away
"Oh hey! You sure look pretty scary, ghost-san!" the boy suddenly spoke up
Just a moment ago...
Izuku wasn't sure as to, how to confront the girl about the current situation
The ghost, a man with face composed of many eyes and mouths, wore a torn red long sleeved t-shirt and black pants. He also seemed to have huge gaping hole in the middle of his chest, with it exposing his torn innards. All on all, a pretty gruesome imagery. If she can in fact see the ghostly man, I feel bad for her
Izuku kept on thinking for a moment before Fuck it! I'll just go on with it!
"Oh hey! You sure look pretty scary, ghost-san!" Izuku called out to the monster
"Eh?" was the only thing the poor girl uttered before the spirit right beside her started sprinting and making a noise that could only be described as many people screaming at once, towards Izuku, which caused her to exclaim, "Why would do that?! Why did speak to that thing?!"
But right as the spirit closed into half the distance from Izuku, it just started rapidly burning, which was followed by it vanishing into thin air
"Ahh..." She looked at it with a surprised face, "It just got destroyed...how..."
"You can see them too, right? Isn't that why you were scared just now?" he asked her
Miko looked at him dumbfounded before asking, "C-Can you see them too? And were you one who did that to it?"
"For the first, it is a yes, while for the second...well, it is still a yes, but it's more so because my aura that surrounds, really...I mean I can control it's intensity through my quirk to some extent, but that's how much I can control it...although I can fight them through other ways either!" he spoke out while coming closer to her
Miko looked at him, with the same dumbfounded expression, while feeling as if she wanted to cry Finally...I got some kind of luck...
"Must be pretty rough, seeing them and having to ignore, huh?" he asked her in comforting voice as he now stood in front of her
"Um!" she nodded before bowing to him with her hands over each other and said, "Thank you..."
"You are welcome" he responded cheerfully
Both of them stared at each other before Miko started with
"I am Yotsuya Miko, nice to meet you" she said while raised a hand to do a handshake
Izuku responded to her by shaking her hand, albeit nervously due to shaking with a beautiful girl, "A-ahh! And I am Midoriya Izuku, n-nice to meet you too!"
"Hmm" she nodded before putting her hands behind back as she still gazed at him with appreciation, "But still, thank you though...it's just that, I never saw anyone who too could see them, let alone actually fight back against them, which is why I was feeling happy about seeing, that it's possible to fight back...so thanks again, Midoriya-kun..."
Izuku stared at her as her yellow orbs stared back at him with a half-lidded gaze, the cool air swaying her black hair, along with her preistess clothing, that he found to fit her well Goddamnit, she's really pretty... he thought as he started to blush
Shit, this is like something out of a cheesy romance novel or something... the voice of a certain boisterous bald headed man was heard in his mind
Oh shush! Stop ruining this moment, 5th...let me watch this adorable scene, okay? another voice was heard, this time belonging to Nana
There interaction caused him deadpan as he groaned Please stop...
"Hello? Hello?" Izuku was jolted from his state as he realized she was calling him, "Ah! Umm...sorry, I was just hearing my quirk talk among themselves...yeah..."
"Oh! So, your quirk is sentient?" That piqued her curiosity
"Yes, essentially...even this right here" as pointed towards to the one behind currently, "is actually the soul of the core itself, his name is Yoichi...there are also other ones either" When he finished that, all of other users appeared, said their names rapidly and disappeared just as fast
"I see..." Miko said in a quiet tone, after hearing and witness the witnessing, what just happened, "Do you have a collective name or something for it or them?"
"Ahh! It's name is On- Shinigami! Y-yes that..." he stuttered, nearly spewing out it's true name
"Hmm?" She wondered what that stutter was about, but threw it aside due to the bigger question she had, "Wait, why shinigami? I mean I see that, it has something to do with these souls, as you called them...but is there more to it than that?"
"Hmm? Yes" he said as he proceeded to explain his quirk, while leaving aside the more important details
"I see...that makes sense...even if hearing about a quirk that somehow was able brink back a dead person's soul and their quirk is pretty unbelievable, but...considering the proof and the fact that I myself have seen stuff like that before...yeah, it's reasonable" she finished with a sigh and her hands to her hips
"Uh-huh" he responded
(Silence)
"Hey...can I ask where you are from? I mean, I don't think I've ever seen you around here, before..." she asked nervously, due to wanting him to be not too far away, in case she might need his help again
"Oh yeah! I just came to Sanjin town, today actually" he said before continuing, "I moved in here with my mother and sister here" as pointed his head towards Eri, "Her name's Eri, by the way"
Miko looked at the girl and smiled, "Hello Midoriya-chan! Sorry for not talking to you properly earlier, but nice to meet you" she said cheerfully
Eri looked at her, then back at Izuku for a second, who only nodded while smiling with his eyes close. She looked back at the shrine maiden and spoke up, "Nice to meet you too...um...Miko-san..."
"You are a cute girl, you know!" Miko said brightly, which caused to the little girl to be embarrassed at the compliment, while her brother proceeded to stroke her hair
"Yes, my little sister is indeed cute!" He joined in teasing the girl while saying it like a proud older brother, making Eri even embarrassed
They smiled at her adorable reactions, before Miko continued on her previous question, "So you just came here, huh?"
"Yep! My home is pretty closeby from this shrine, really...it's like a few streets away, actually"
"Huh?" Miko seemed to have realized something, "Wait, that's around same place as my one too" she said, while remembering about the house next door to her's being vacant for sometime before someone apparently had bought it
"Oh really? Then that's great, isn't it? I can help you out, if you need so" he said calmly, with his eyes close
Miko felt relieved of knowing that he was willing to help her out...but, she still had her pessimism, "I know this might be a bit rude to ask...but, why do you want to help me out? I am just asking, okay? Because I don't want to be involved in anyhting shady, you know..."
"Well...there is the fact that I am starting my highschool first year as a hero student at UA, so yeah...it's just that, I just want to help out and I think it's cool, you know...to be hero...I mean, I am huge hero fanboy for god's sake!" he exclaimed lastly, "Also, it's not like I had that much of a problem helping you...I mean, did you see what happened to the ghost?"
"Ahh" was all she could say, she still had a bit of pessimism left, but that too dissolved when she remembered something, "Wait, now that I think remember...aren't you that guy who ran into that sludge villain attack, the one where Allmight stopped at the end...I remember reading and watching a few videos about it at my junior high..."
"Eh? Ahh-Uh-oh-hmmm...y-yeah...that's me..." he stuttered feeling embarrassed about being reminded of the incident
"I see" she said while chuckling softly
After that conversation, Miko guided the siblings through the shrine and explaining stuff when asked, especially to Eri. They even got omamori amulets
It was evening when Izuku and Eri finished their little trip along the shrine and through the streets nearby for sightseeing
Miko's job has ended either by this point as she prepared to leave, still in her outfit
"Do you want me to walk you home? I mean, it is pretty close by, so...if you are fine with it, at least..." Izuku offered her as Eri held onto one of his hands
"Well..." she words stretched as she spotted another ghost a bit far away within the forest area, "Sure!" she answered, not wanting to meet another for the day
"Okay then!" he finished as all three of them proceeded to head back home
The walk back was pretty quiet, with light of the sun leaving the skies and it becoming harder to properly see around
Miko and Izuku talked back and forth, with Eri occasionally giving an input herself
"Ahh! We are finally back..." he said looking at his new home, as it was lit by its lights on the inside
"I guess I was right...we are next door neighbors" Miko said in a satisfied tone
"Wait, so your family lives over there?" As he pointed towards the house right by his own
"Yep!"
"Well, I guess...good to have you as a neighbor, then" he said bringing his hand up as sign for q handshake
"Good to have you too!" she answered more cheerfully as she shakes his hand
A moment later they see two older women and young boy near there house, talking to each other
"Oh Izuku! Eri! You are finally back! How was it, going around here?" Inko askex her children cheerfully
"It was great mom, the shrine was beautiful, along with scenery around it!"
"I enjoyed it too...it felt safe either, especially with nii-san with me"
"Hmm, is that so..." Inko responded, before the other woman joined in to ask something
"You two must be her son and daughter, right?" she asked in a calm tone
"Hmm...yes, we are" Izuku answered before asking her question himself, "Are you Yotsuya-san's mother, cause I mean..."
"Yes, I am"
"Ahh, I see...since we are neighbors...please take care of us, I am pretty sure you know name though" he said bowing
"Yes, Same here, I am Yotsuya Touko and this Kyousuke, my son" she said politely while both of her and the young boy as her son, before asking, "I am guessing you met her at the shrine?"
"Yeah, I saw her near the shrine and went to her because she looked like she needed help..." he said before realizing his mistake, considering he didn't know what to say
"Help?"
"Yeah...wel-" before he respond Miko beat him to the punch
"There was a grown man being creepy towards me, so Midoriya-kun over here, came and chased him away" she said without a problem I mean...I am not exactly lying, to be honest...
"Wait really?" Her mom asked in concern, to which she got a nod
Inko looked towards Izuku as he quickly whispered into her ear that the man was ghost, which he grabbed the attention of and exorcised, "Izuku, as much as it's good that you are helping people out, just be careful, okay?" "Yes mom!" "Eri, you are okay too right?" "Ahh, yes mom!" "Good!"
"Excuse me?" the voice of Miko's mom had grabbed their attention
"Thank you for helping my daughter out, Midoriya-kun" she politely bowed as she spoke
"Ahh, it fine! I just did what I thought was good"
"Don't put it lightly, Midoriya-san! You did something great you know" Kyousuke spoke up for the first time
"Yes Midoriya-kun...thanks for saving me there, you were a great help!" Miko herself lastly joined them
Izuku felt embarrassed from the compliments thrown his way, scratching his cheek in the process, "Well I guess you are welcome then" he replied sheepishly
With that, the two families said their goodnight to each other and went back into their houses
"Miko, you were lucky that Midoriya-kun helped you out this time, but just be more careful next time, okay?"
"Yes mom"
Touko sighed, still a bit worried about the situation but put it off to a side knowing there is no point thinking too much about it
"Well, go o. clean yourself, dinner will be ready by then"
"Kay!"
In the end, Miko had went on with her usual life, including seeing those things. But, hey! This time she has someone who help her
The next day...
The morning light of the sun illuminated Izuku's room, right inbetween. He was woke up from sleep with a yawn and proceeded to check the time
"yawn It's 7:32 right now, huh?" he spoke to himself
"Yep" But someone else answered him, "Gonna exercise I assume?" the person asked
"Yeah, Yoichi" he responded to Yoichi, who was reading a book about the issues of life and how it can be solved with an intuitive solution known as dying...an interesting book indeed
"Okay then" he said as went back to reading the book again
Izuku was jogging around the streets nearby, while enjoying the scenery of the morning time forest. The sky clear blue, the winds softly blowing across the lands, the birds chirping around, bugs flying here and there...this is what spring is...this beautiful time of the year, where it feels blissful to look upon what nature has to offer
As he was jogging across the streets, Yoichi appeared by his side to chat with him
"Not reading the book?" Izuku asked
"Nope! After some read through, I realized how stupid that book was, so...no"
"Heh...that's what I thought"
Izuku kept on with his jogging for another 30 min, before reaching his home again
"Hah...hah...I think I should start my quirk training now"
After he said that, Izuku went a bit deeper into the forest
"Huh...this place seems about right" he stopped and said after walking for a few minutes
The freckled boy started by using blackwhip, spawning multiple tendrils that he shoots towards the trees around him, then morphing them into various shapes like a hand, a shield, a baseball bat, a life sized Allmight figurine and finally the chainsaw form he used back at the exam. Then after some practice with it, he moved onto the next quirk, float. He started by, well...floating. He flew around in different angles, speeds and directions, sometimes changing them suddenly to see how good he is at controlling float and also to see his reflexes. The next quirk after that was smokescreen, for it he saw how much he can create and how much force he put into them. Next came fa-jin, for which he did multiple consecutive and rapid movements to build up the needed kinetic energy to use it, which he did after sometime of charging up, although he used it in short bursts only, just so that he doesn't destroy too much stuff here. Danger sense is out of the question already, so the only one left is gearshift. He first started by touching a few sticks, stones and leaves that were on the ground and then moved them telepathically upwards, after shifting to 2nd gear. He then proceeded to move them around in various angles and speeds, especially with in regards to the gears.
The next thing he did was combine the quirks, which did by using blackwhip while gearshift was still in effect, causing the dark tendrils to appear from the pieces of plants and stones. He then proceeded to do other combinations either like fa-jin and blackwhip to create a stronger blackwhip and then morphing it into a chain, or float and smokescreen to control the smoke, or danger sense and smokescreen for a larger detection, even if he doesn't need it that
He can't do training for the reality warping in a place like this, so he throws in the towel and heads back home
Having reached home, Izuku washes his face and hands, and at the end changes out of his tracksuit and into a white long sleeved t shirt that spells out in japanese as 't shirt', along with a pair of black pants and a blue hoodie
"Well Izuku, you got pretty good using our quirks by this point, the reality warping stuff is out of the question, though" Yoichi complimented him
"Yeah, it's been what? Around six to seven months now, since I got OFA and its quirks, right?"
"Uh-huh, yeah...and look at you now! You've grown a lot!" The more than a century old man said, complimenting his efforts
"I guess you are right" he responded to his quirk, as he gets into the hallway
Izuku walks around the streets to relax a bit and as he goes by the shrine, he spots Miko in her Miko clothing, while holding a broom and another girl, who seems to be around their age; talking to her, while both of them were about to passby him.
"Hmm? Midoriya, how are you? Are you going for walk?" Miko asked after noticing him in front, "Umm yeah, I just thought it would be great to walk around and know place more, you know?" he said while shrugging, "Is that so?" she replied back while chuckling a bit, but it was then that she noticed her friend looking at her, with a questioning gaze, "Oh sorry, Hana! I forgot to introduce him" she answered sheepishly before presenting him with her hand, "This is Midoriya Izuku; He was the one, who helped me when that man was being creepy to me, yesterday"
The orange-haired girl named Hana looked at the boy in question, with a happy expression, while saying, "Oh you are the one, who helped her?! Then thanks for helping Miko out!", "It's fine! I'm happy to help anytime, really" he answered back with his eyes close and a warm smile, "well, your help is appreciated then" Miko replied with a chuckle.
While the two were chatting among themselves, Hana was deep in thought Huh...for the past month Miko looked pretty paranoid and to some extent even depressed...but now she is happy suddenly...she also met Midoriya-kun yesterday either...this situation...her getting saved by him...it's like the start of a romance story! I guess, with enough help, Miko could end u- her thoughts ran wild, before calming down just as fast Wait, no! I shouldn't come to that kind of conclusion that easily! Maybe, giving it more time might prove whether it's the case or not...I mean...even if it was the case; I might end up ruining it, if I do something stupid... Her mind raced with unsure thoughts as the other two watched her in confusion
"Hana!" Miko called out to her friend, which caused the girl in question to jolt to reality, "Ah-huh?" was the only thing she uttered, "Are you okay? You seem to be thinking about something..." Miko asked with concern, "Ah! No! I-it's just t-t-that...uhhh...um..." Fuck...what should I say?! uh...um...uh... she looked towards Izuku Wait! Isn't he that guy who ran towards the sludge villain? Ah! I should ask that! "Y-you see...I was just wandering; why I felt like I've seen him somewhere before...it took me a bit to realize that he was the guy who ran towards the sludge villain...am I correct?" she asked the end, while wishing them to buy it
"Oh yeah! It is him; he was the one who confirmee it yesterday, when I had the same thought" "Yep, that's me!" Both of them answered, one after the other, with Izuku adding at the end with, "Although, it is pretty embarrassing to be reminded of twice now..."
"Oh! Hahaha...I guess that's cool to know..." Damn, nice escape there Hana! she cheered before Hmm...you know...I think it wouldn't too bad, if I give it a bit of a push... she made up her mind, "Hey, I thought of going to the haunted house that was opened a few days ago, along with Miko, so...would you like to join us? It would better having more people, you know cause it would make it less scary...hehe..." she nervously asked
"W-wait, really? I mean, I don't mind coming along if you do, in fact not have a problem..." he nervously answered, "Is that so?! Then, let's go!" she said as she grabbed Miko while starting to walk faster, "W-wait a minute! I have to come back to duties later, you know?!" Miko nervously said with her eyes wide
"Midoriya-kun come on! Let's go!" she didn't seem to have listened to the poor girl, all while Izuku started moving so as to not loss them, "Are you really sure I can come along?" he asked, "Yes, yes! Like I said, it's better to have more people" she spoke cheerfully, "I guess I'll come..." he finally answered albiet nervously
"I can't believe you kidnapped me like that..." Miko groaned, "Oh come on, it's only for sometime, you know? After that, we can go back, okay?" Hana assured her, which caused Miko to look at her with deadpan before sighing, "Sure...whatever...let's just make it fast, then"
Izuku watched their interaction while smiling nervously with closed eyes They sure seem like close friends... he thought while sweatdropping, before his face contorted into a saddend expression, with his smile not leaving Friends, huh...I've never had true friends, did I?
"Midoriya-kun?" Miko voice jolted him out of his saddened state, "Ah! Huh? W-what?" he looked at them, surprised, "Are you okay?" she asked in concern, "Oh sorry! I was just thinking of something else! Don't worry about it!" he tried assuring them, "Are you sur-" "Yes, yes! I'm fine, okay? Let's get going; Yurikawa-san's already bought the tickets!" he said, picking up his speed while going in front of Miko, to where Hana was standing with the tickets, "Ah! Wait for me!" she said as she ran towards them
Inside the attraction, the darkness of the dingy pathway was only lit by the barely luminous lamp, hanging on the side; by the chiseled stone walls. The floor made of wood, created squeaky sounds whenever someone took a step
And it was in this unnerving place do we see the trio wander around...
"T-this place sure is p-pretty creepy, alright...they sure went a b-bit on the extreme, d-didn't they..." Hana spoke with a scared voice and expression, "Yeah, they sure did I guess..." Miko wasn't exactly scared per se...she sure was disturbed slightly of the place, especially considering that those things probably also roam here either
"I mean, it would be pretty creepy for the average person, really" Izuku wasn't too different from Miko in this regard
This is not working...I thought this would make Miko scared and hug Midoriya-kun or something like that...but in reality, I am clinging onto Miko instead... Hana was in denial
As they continued to walk, a few figures emerged from the darkness in front of them, just by a turning point, "Hmm...there are people ahead" Izuku pointed out as Miko and Hana stopped in theirs tracks along with Izuku
(The sound of a chainsaw was heard)
From the darkness, a person impersonating leatherface emerged, followed by a mummy and a werewolf, "AAAAAAHHHH!!!" Hana's scream was heard throughout the entire hallway and even outside of the attraction as she pushed Miko to the side while sprinting in the opposite direction.
Miko on the other hand ended getting caught in Izuku's arms, which caused him to get flustered, "Y-Y-Y-Y-Yotsuya-san! A-are you okay?!" he wanted to not speak loudly, but having a girl in his arms didn't exactly make his situation better
"Ugh...um...huh?" she was dazed at the sudden and fast movement from Hana' push, before getting it back together, "Ahh..." it took a moment for her to realize that she was being held by him, which caused her to blush as well, "Oh-ah-eh! S-sor-!" just as she was about to pull away from him and apologize; she heard from a bit further away, a groaning noise and a familiar line, "Can you see me? Can you see me? Can you see me?" as she could see in her peripheral, a dark figure surrounded by an equally dark mist, with a bloated head and tiny facial features. It looked malnourished and had a expressionless look that made her feel really uneasy
Izuku got out of his flustered state, when he noticed the girl's sudden shift in mood, her face showing a fearful expression Is there one of them here... "Yotsuya-san, is there one of them here?" he asked with a serious, yet comforting tone and expression, "Huh?" The yellow eyed girl responded, while looking at him for a second, then to her side(the opposite one to the ghost), where the actors were standing, trying there best to seem menacing and scary. Her face contorted into something that indicated of having a realization
"Yotsuya-san...are yo-" "Midoriya-kun" she interrupted him warmly with a smile, which caused Izuku to be nervous, "Yes?" she averted her gaze a bit, "Do you have a girlfriend or some girl you love?", "Huh?", "I'll repeat, I asked whether you have a girlfriend or some girl you love? Or a boyfriend, if you are into them that is...", "Ah-eh...no, I don't have a girlfriend nor do I love anyone in that way...nor am I into guys, so no boyfriend either", "I see" as she finished that, she proceeded to hug him tightly while screaming, "Nooo! Get away from me! Midoriya-kun, please don't let go of me!"...she seemed happy...
Izuku became even more flustered at her hug, as he started to babble incoherently at the idea of a cute girl hugging him. It was at this moment did Hana come back, while still being scared, "Ahh! I ran back to the entrance, instead...now I have to go through agai-" before she could finish her sentence, her sight was greeted with the flustered mess that is Izuku, and in his arms; Miko, who is screaming for help...happily...
"Ahh...I see...I'll just go by myself, then..." she spoke with newfound courage as she proceeded to walk past them OH MY GOD! IT ACTUALLY WORKED! IT ACTUALLY FUCKING WORKED!! her mind swirled with satisfied thoughts as she proceeded to run ahead of the two
Izuku was able somewhat out of his daze, as he saw the orange haired girl run away beyond the actors, "W-well she sure is doing better..." he said before looking at the girl in his arms She isn't letting go of me...although...she looks pretty relaxed now...maybe she just wanted to vent out as much as she can he thought, with a smile on his blushing face
"Midoriya-kun! Let's run away, before they get to us!" she spoke with happy tears in her eyes, still holding onto him tightly, "O-oh sure, let's go!" he responded more cheerfully, even if the nervousness hasn't left him
Ahh...this feels better...I don't have to worry about anything here! It's not like they can easily find out that I can see them! Hell! Even if they do find out, Midoriya-kun would be able get rid of them, anyway...thank you Hana and Midoriya-kun... Both of them ran through the pathway with smiles on their faces
"Haaah...that was great..." the black haired girl said with a satisfied release of breath, "I don't mind doing it , sometime again"
"Eh? Really...I guess I could see why you would..." Izuku answered in an understanding tone, before shifting his eyes towards his left hand, which is being held by Miko This is really embarrassing... he thought with the blush that hasn't left his face, even until now. "Miko, we sure can be back here even later! Especially with Midoriya-kun..." she had add that last bit, of course
She's been acting pretty weird all this time, not gonna lie... Izuku thought while sweatdropping Gee, kid...I wonder why... he heard the voice of the 5th in his head Huh, I didn't hear any of you all, before...were you all doing something or were you just bored? he asked him Nope! We were just watching you be embarrassed by being hugged by a girl...it was pretty funny, to be honest... this time the 3rd answered Oh, no holding back at all, huh? Izuku was irritated Yep I am not going to ask anymore
Miko was in a peaceful mind as she looked around while chuckling a bit, only to spot another one of the actors come close to her "Ah! No, don't come here!" she once happily pleaded, "Wait, where?" Hana looked around, to find nothing in her vision, "There is nothing here, though" that response made Miko to stiffen "You can see, right? YOU CAN SEE ME, RIGHT?!" the thing she saw from before, demanded as Miko started to feel scared again, with even her usually unbreaking expression, crumbling away, "Ah! I see him too, that person over there, behind the door!" Izuku shouted all of sudden, grabbing the attention of all three of them(the ghost included)
Miko turned to look, but it took a moment to realize that he was helping her out here, which is why, "Oh, you see the person too, huh?" she laughed nervously as she slowly hugged him again, "Please let me be like this..." she pleaded to him in a low voice
Izuku looked at her scared eyes, "G-go ahead..." he whispered back, still really embarrassed
Hana looked at both of them with a happy and satisfied smile Aww! Look at them! They look so cute! I knew something like this would happen! This truly is like a romance story, after all... she thought, feeling like she wanted to squeal
The trio started heading back, with Miko joyfully clinging onto Izuku, while he was blushing in a euphoric state. And at the back, a smug looking Hana