The triumphant return of the heroes!...with a child and a dhampir in tow!...after blowing up ancient ruins!...Yeah, Aizawa has a headache, and its named after Izuku's party.
"Let me get this straight," Aizawa said, rubbing his temples as he sat at the table across from the assembled party. With a deep, exhausted sigh, he points at the gathered adventurers and two hangerons. "You found a friendly Lich who consumes undead and not souls, you fought a group of vampires including an ancient, you cleared the Aegis Ruins of corruption but also brought the whole damned thing down, found nearly a hundred pre-Storms books some of which the priests of Kao are currently salivating over, and freed an ancient Dhampir and some sort of half-Fae child with magic the ancient vampire lord thought could be used for some sort of evil ritual to blight the entire fucking world?"
"...yeah that about sums it up," Izuku murmured, wincing at the glare the Vice Guildmaster was sending him. "Except how'd you know Eri is half Fae?"
"Nezu has added sensory runes to the doorways to examine if anyone has unusual blood thanks to you. Unfortunately it still can't identify you, but it figured out she's got Fae blood in her. Didn't you notice the horn?"
Izuku blinked, Ochako blinked, Shoto blinked, Tenya blinked…and Tsu stared at the other four who were surprised with her own deadpan glare as all four of them turned to look at Eri. The small child flushed and looked away, but at the looks Himiko gently pushed her hair back, revealing a small horn sticking out of the right side of her head.
"...oh. Um…no, we didn't notice," Izuku said sheepishly.
"Yeah well, it isn't that important. Except what we do going forward, that is," Aizawa waved it off dismissively.
Himiko narrowed her eyes at the scruffy man, pulling Eri closer. "What do you mean by that?" she growled, her fangs visibly glinting in the low light.
"Just how you and her will get on in the city. We'll need to get you papers and find a place for you to stay. It's a whole ton of paperwork. And we'll need to get you set up with someone who sells blood, since you need it as a dhampir I believe."
Himiko's defensive posture softened, her eyes going wide in surprise as she felt Ochako shake her shoulder, a clear 'I told you so!' expression on Ochako's smug looking face. Himiko couldn't help it, unable to meet anyone's eyes as she hugged Eri closer. The fae-blooded child squirmed in her arms for a moment, not sure why Himiko was so clingy, but was quite willing to hug her back. If Aizawa's stern expression softened for a brief second, he would deny it till his dying days no matter how many knowing looks he got from the druidess.
"...that'd be fine," she murmured. "Um…Tenya said he knew a place I could stay…"
"Absolutely! Our family's manor would be quite safe for the two of you, I am certain! I merely need to speak to my parents, but I have no doubts that once they hear your tale they would be happy to give you shelter, at least until you find your feet. Which we have already pledged to offer you our assistance in. I may not know Izuku and Ochako as well as I know Miss Tsuyu and Shoto, but they have shown the purest of intentions and true knightly heroism during our quest together, and I have no doubts they shall continue to do so!" Tenya proudly exclaimed, nearly leaping to his feet in his exuberance.
Eri giggled at him, the bell-like sound ringing out. That was when it hit Izuku, the fact she was part Fae…how the room literally brightened when she smiled, how her giggles sounded like music, how she was so oddly graceful when she ran around yet still clearly looked like a child. He couldn't help the curve of his lips as he smiled at her clear joy in Tenya's exaggerated speech. Then again, he also felt rather cheerful…Tenya's words were a rousing endorsement of his character, and he couldn't help but feel touched that he thought so highly of him.
"Well, if you're sure. I'll get the paperwork sorted to get them a proper registration in the city," Aizawa sighed. He gestured to Eri. "How is she going to be listed? Your daughter, then?"
Himiko's jaw dropped, eyes wide. "U-um, I-I didn't think of that," she sputtered. She may have been a few hundred years old technically…but she sure felt like a confused teen and didn't think calling herself a mom felt…right?
The expression on her face must have made it clear how she felt, because Tsuyu jumped in, one finger on her chin as she spoke contemplatively. "Perhaps…older sister, then?"
"Could do that. Unless you want to register her as an orphan, but then if she gets lost no one will know where to take her," Aizawa remarked, his omnipresent notebook flipped open as he glanced up at Himiko and Eri.
Himiko looked down at Eri, trying to gauge what she wanted. In all the time she'd known her, the little girl had not once spoken, and it seemed like she was keeping that trend going with how she'd still not said any words yet. It was a bit odd…she clearly understood language, she just didn't speak it, but as far as Himiko had noticed, she had no injury that would prevent speaking. She could be mute, but something about that just seemed…not right, to Himiko.
She shook her head. That wasn't important. What was important was what Eri wanted. After a moment, Eri glanced up at Himiko and smiled broadly, nodding rapidly, her entire body shaking with her excitement at the idea. Himiko couldn't help but giggle back, before looking up at Aizawa and nodding. "Y-yeah. Sisters. She's my little sister."
"Easy enough. I'll get the paperwork started for the two of you. Nezu can expedite it, so we'll have your permits to live in the city done in the next day or two. I'd suggest taking some time to relax and heal from your ordeal. I'll also suggest getting yourself and the little one checked for any lingering effects from being sealed, curses, etcetera. Normally I'd say check with Kao priests, but for your circumstances Neshemah might be the better choice. Maybe both. Azrael wouldn't hurt either."
"At this rate you'll just say visit all seven clergies," Ochako snorted, her smirk vanishing into a nervous grin when Aizawa glared at her.
"Yes well, you can never be too careful, it's only rational to check them all. A seal as powerful as that holding a fae-blood and a dhampir, which is two half-bloods in a single sarcophagus? That's a powerful seal. One which somehow you broke," Aizawa narrowed his eyes, pointing at Izuku angrily, "with your Destruction magic of black tendrils which, I can't find records of anywhere so apparently its unique just like your Alteration and Creation specs. You are the biggest headache I have ever dealt with!"
"Um…sorry?" Izuku sheepishly shrugged.
Aizawa rolled his eyes and let out a deep sign. "Well…whatever. Now that we've settled on the young ladies, let's deal with your reward. I hate all of you for the paperwork I have to file now. Aegis was not only an A Class mission but you did more than necessary, and brought back so much information as well as pre-Storm relics. Izuku, Ochako, you just jumped another two ranks to A. Tsuyu, Tenya, you also have ranked to A. Shoto, you would move to S but you must complete at least one S-ranked mission before moving to that tier. That said, you are one of the highest A ranks in the city now. This means you may be asked to take missions directly from myself or the Guildmaster if it becomes necessary."
The assembled group nodded, although for Izuku it was more of a dumbfounded following along. He…he was A rank? In less than two months? Him? The weird country boy who had no clue how any of this really worked and didn't really understand his own magic? That didn't seem right, other adventurers had worked much harder, Tsuyu said something about being B rank for a while, this didn't feel-
"Izuku?" his thoughts were brought to a sudden stop by Ochako's gentle touch on his shoulder and his name being called, making him blink as he glanced up to see everyone staring at him in consternation. Well, Shoto was blank-faced, but the crease in his brow denoted he was less than pleased as well. He paused, before it hit him. "...I said that out loud, didn't I?"
"Yep," Ochako replied, popping the 'p' as she spoke.
"Kid…shut up already," Aizawa sighed. "We know what we're doing. You aren't the fastest to rank to A, just one of them, and it happens sometimes. As for what others deserve, both Tenya and Tsu have other jobs so they don't take on many in a row, that is why they have been where they were."
"I don't like going without a party, so I only take missions with friends," Tsuyu said.
"My family requires much of me, as I am our tournament entrant when my brother is not available, so I rarely get to perform my adventuring duties as often as you two have recently," Tenya added.
"I climbed to A rank in a month, Izuku. It is not out of the realm of possibility," Shoto added softly. "Making it out of A rank requires completing an S ranked mission. Few show up, and other S rank adventurers have first priority on them. Most A ranks complete them by joining an S rank party, but…I do not know any of the S ranked adventurers so I have yet to do so."
"O-oh, okay," Izuku replied, somewhat mollified. Still didn't think he deserved it but so long as others had done it, he guessed it was okay.
"Anyways, now that you're done with your weird crisis of talent, make sure to pick up your reward at the counter. I'm going to go file their paperwork," Aizawa gestured to Himiko and Eri, "and you guys…do whatever. Oh, and one more thing?" Aizawa paused as he stood up, placing his notebook into his pocket and brushing his hair out of his eyes for a moment. "Good job on the ruins. That's a major problem for the city taken care of. Well done kids." With those final words, he spun about and strode out of the room, heading into the Guildmaster's office.
"I shall be on my way as well. It was…pleasant, to adventure with you, but I must do some things at home before my next mission. If…if you need assistance in the future, you may contact me," Shoto said softly as he stood. With a quick nod to the table, he headed to the counter.
"Lady Himiko, Lady Eri, shall we head to my estate so you may get settled until your paperwork is done?" Tenya asked, glancing down at the assembled party. He glanced over at Tsu, Izuku, and Ochako and offered a stiff bow. "And for you, please do think of me if you need another party member. I shall endeavor to get these two settled, but I would certainly like to continue our party in the future."
"Well of course! We're friends now, right?" Ochako said with a bright smile.
Tenya blinked, a small smile crossing his face as he nodded. "Of course, my friends. Please come by the estate if you have need of me!"
"...yeah. Um…I guess we'll…go now?" Himiko said hesitantly, getting to her feet.
"Here!" Ochako said, shoving a piece of paper into Himiko's hand. Confused, the blonde opened the folded paper up to see a map, with a few spots labeled. "See, that's my shop, and there is Tsuyu's, and Izuku is staying here at the Guild! So you can find any of us whenever you need us!"
"I'm around here if I'm not on a mission most of the time, so I'll be real easy to find," Izuku added, his own nerves soothed over by how much people were showing they cared.
"Okay. I'll um…come find you all if I need anything?" Himiko said, a question in her tone at the end.
"Come by my shop any time," Tsuyu reassured her.
"Or my place!" Ochako, her grin growing even wider and brighter.
"Thanks!" Himiko said, her own smile growing at the kindness everyone was showing her. Eri leapt out of her arms and bolted around the table, slamming into each person one by one to offer a hug which the others were more than happy to give, before returning to Himiko's side and leaping up into her arms.
"Very well then, off we go! Good luck, my friends!" Tenya replied, gently directing Himiko towards the counter to pick up his reward before leaving.
"I'm going to head to my shop. See you two later, Izuku, Ochako," Tsuyu said, climbing to her feet and giving them both a happy (for her) expression, before turning to the counter as well.
"...Well, guess it's just us. You need to go back to your forge, right?" Izuku asked softly, turning to Ochako only to see her twiddling her thumbs, a bit of pink flushing her cheeks.
"I uh…I was um. I was thinking," she began, before cutting herself off and looking down at the table, even more red spilling onto her face as she started to mutter softly. She took a deep breath, glancing up at Izuku with a nervous smile. "...Wanna get dinner with me? You know, to celebrate and stuff!" her voice picked up in speed and pitch as she spoke, hands flailing slightly as pink sparks appeared unwillingly at her fingertips.
"You-wai-wha-huh?" Izuku sputtered, his brain flatlining. Was…was she asking him on a date?
"Um…yes? No? Um…whatever you want it to be?" Ochako stuttered out, once again reminding Izuku he really needed to stop speaking his thoughts aloud. "I just, we had a lot of fun and you scared me in the ruins and we held hands and you're like really nice to me and cute and we're trying to figure out this sword thing and I know it worries you but you're willing to work on it with me even though it worries you because you know how much I wanna do it and-"
"Ochako!" Izuku managed to get out, reaching out to grab her hands and try to pull her out of her ever increasingly faster run-on sentence. She froze, feeling his warm, scarred hands in her callused ones, barely managing to lift her head up to meet his eyes. Izuku gulped, a nervous grin on his very red face as he nodded. "I um…I'd like that. Um…i-if you're really sure."
"I-I am! I really am!" she tried to assure him, her own nervous stutter making her wince at how unsure she sounded. She took a deep breath, looking up to meet Izuku's eyes more firmly. "We did really well, and I know we only met like a month ago, but you're really fun to spend time with and…I trust you. So um…let's go somewhere nice and have dinner, maybe?"
"Y-yeah. I'd really like that," Izuku replied, his voice growing soft. The two stayed there for a moment, eyes locked, before the pressure became too much and Izuku pulled away, letting go of the hands he'd forgotten he was holding and flushing. "Um…so let's get the reward and uh…find somewhere, I guess?"
"Yeah! Let's go!" Ochako said, finding a sudden surge of energy as she squeed internally. Izuku said yes! She hadn't really been planning on asking him out on a date date, just to dinner, but when he wondered aloud if she was she felt just brave enough to say yes…and she was so glad she did. He looked as nervous as she was, but she could also see the excitement in his posture as he stood up, a spark of his green magic skittering across his skin just as she felt her own thrumming in her chest.
Izuku paused for a moment as they stood next to each other, squaring his shoulders and taking a deep breath before holding his hand out to her…not a demand nor a command, but an offer…an offer she willingly accepted. With a smothered, happy giggle, she slid her fingers between his, giving his hand a squeeze which he mirrored, and then walking towards the counter. They had a reward to pick up, and a dinner date to go to.