A strange chance occurrence. A peculiar behavioral habit. Or, for lack of a better term than those words.. A quirk. Humans and animals alike began developing odd characteristics unique to them long ago. Superpowers. Abilities. It started in Qing Qing City of China where a baby manifested the astonishing meta capability to radiate light from its body. Now, a boy can sprout a tail. A girl could develop a pink skin pigmentation. As such, the orange dog the size of a bread loaf may as well have a chainsaw protruding from its cute little face.
The dog's tail is much thinner than any other dog's, and yet, it wags just the same. It's without fur, a wire wrapped in leather that creates a swishing sound every time it takes a swipe at the air. Left, and then right. Back and forth. At the end of its tail is a handle too small for a hand to grab. It is, however, the right size for a child's pinky finger to slide through. It fits just like a ring on Izuku Midoriya's stubby appendage.
It's not unnatural for animals to have quirks. Afterall, the principal of U.A is an animal with above average human intelligence, and that's the most prestigious hero school in all of Japan. So, Izuku isn't afraid when he comes across the pastel orange dog with a chainsaw sticking out of its head. He's more so amazed by the prospect of a creature having a quirk. Especially when it's as interactive as using its tail like a pulley system to activate the chainsaw's movement.
What is far more peculiar in this world, is that the young boy is without a quirk. Even the boy's appearance is rather plain, completed with a face full of freckles. The duality of the creature and Izuku Midoriya is evident so long as they're beside one another. That's what makes Izuku love the stray he's stumbled upon even more. The dog to him is a discovery unlike any other. Luckily for the freckled child, the equally little critter has taken a liking to him as well. Curiosity twinkles in each of their eyes as they study each other.
The bond between boy and dog begins just like every other. Izuku takes the stray home, hoping to convince his mother to allow him to keep it. He carries the orange mutt in his arms, presenting it like a piece of treasure.
When Inko Midoriya sees the animal that her son has brought to her, she can't help but be wary of it. As a concerned mother, and an overprotective one at that, she already has ramifications about how dangerous it is having a literal chainsaw mounted to its head. Not to mention it's a wild animal, undomesticated for all she knows, with or without the chainsaw. "Oh, Izuku, sweetie..", she softens her tone to be as delicate as she can. She knows it'll be disappointing for him to hear that he can't keep it, so she plans to let him down easily, at the very least.
Seeing how bright the green shimmers in his pleading puppy eyes though, Inko hesitates. Izuku hardly asks for anything. He's such a sweet boy, always kind to her and everyone he meets. Doesn't every boy deserve a pet? She wonders. Her reconsideration will have to be a carefully thought out one though. The last thing she wants is for her little Izuku to get hurt.
Inko's eyes settle on the dog that her son is clutching tightly to his chest. Izuku clings to the animal like a lifeline, hugging it closely to his heart. The strange colored critter gazes up at her, meeting her stare with as equally innocent eyes as her son. Its thin wire for a tail flicks back and forth, wagging happily in the Midoriyas' company.
Izuku did manage to carry the animal all the way home without harming himself. If the creature were truly dangerous as she fears, it would've likely already bitten or scratched him when being picked up. The chainsaw is pointed away from her son, the way he handles the dog extremely cautious. It's so difficult saying no to the combination of such a cute duo tag teaming her with puppy eyes, one literally from a puppy.
Inko sighs, unable to refuse her son's happiness by denying the welcoming of a new family member. That being said, she still has to keep her boy safe as his mother. If she's going to allow the animal to stay with them, there comes a small caveat. "You can keep it", she pauses to let Izuku finish cheering before adding, "But.."
Izuku cocks his head, ear catching the word before his brain registers that there's more. "Only if it stays in the backyard. At least until we're able to bring it to a vet", Inko settles on the condition she's presented. She's still uncertain of how safe the stray is and would like to proceed with caution. Izuku nods along, well mannered and understanding, he accepts the compromise.
"Deal!", he celebrates with a little hop before twirling the dog around in a giddy display of affection for it already. The small canine yaps along to his laughter, creating a happy symphony that has Inko giggling with them before long. "Thanks, mom!", Izuku flashes a smile so bright that it'd be blinding to anyone unaccustomed to seeing it so often.
Inko feels her cheeks lifting into an equally large smile. "Alright, alright", she places a gentle hand on his head to hold him in place. It's tough raising a boy alone at such a rambunctious age. "Go wash up now. Dinner will be ready soon", she steers him towards the bathroom and he sets the new family member down before running off.
She suddenly realizes that their new pet will also need food. Kibble goes on the shopping list for tomorrow, but in the meantime, she heard that rice and eggs is perfectly edible for dogs. She prepares some to feed the canine her son brought home. Ah. Inko sighs to herself before adding to the list that she'll also need to pick up dog dishes.
She supposes they'll also need to give it a dog collar. And a name so she can call it something other than 'it'. Inko will wait for her son to get back for that one. He's the one that brought the dog home in the first place. He should be the one to name it.
Inko glances at the dog from her peripheral vision. It curled itself up in a small ball right where Izuku left it, waiting patiently for his return. At least it's well mannered. She wonders if it happened to have a previous owner who had perhaps trained it to be.
Inko tuts to herself as she clicks the pen to write another thing to add to her shopping list. The poor thing will need a doggy bed to lay in instead of on the floor. She glances out the window. The weather is warm enough that it should be fine sleeping outside just for tonight. Though she does feel bad making it do so. Inko adds a note to get a few chew toys and bones to make up for it.
The rice cooker beeps to let her know that it's finished. Eggs don't take very long to scramble either. So the dog is served its meal long before the Midoriyas have theirs. When Inko squats down to set the bowl of food down, she takes the chance to get a closer look at the animal. Even with a chainsaw jutting out of its skull, it really is quite cute. The tiny creature timidly starts to eat its mixture of rice and eggs, drawing closer to the woman.
Inko tilts her head to the side, green hair leaning with gravity. Studying the strange colored critter, she reaches out a hand to pet its fur. The dog doesn't flinch, growl, or snap. It allows her to run her fingers through its coat. So soft and sweet. It reminds her of her little Izuku and his fluffy hair. Oh. Oh crap. She's starting to love the animal just as much as her son. Inko chuckles, realizing that the decision to keep the dog as their pet was inevitable.
When Izuku trots back to the kitchen, Inko stands up straight, trying to hide the fact that she was getting close to the dog. She clears her throat with a feigned cough while facing away from him, returning to the oven. "So! Izuku!", she hears him slide out a chair to sit down, "What should we name our new little friend?"
Izuku hums as he tries to think of an answer, so loud that one might consider the noise obnoxious, but Inko knows better. "How about Dog Might?!", he shouts his suggestion with childish pride. Inko tries to hold back a laugh, not sure how to help him cope with his hero worship or how she'll explain that such a ridiculous name is unsuitable.
But she fortunately doesn't have to. Izuku looks down at the dog to see it looking up at him, meeting his gaze. He gauges the animal's reaction. Neither he or Inko are expecting the mutt to make a deadpan expression, complete with a sweatdrop and all. "Oh.. You don't like that, boy?", Izuku second guesses the name he's going to pick out. Inko pauses, realizing that her son has figured out the animal's gender somehow. She shakes her head. He's probably just guessing.
Before Izuku can come up with another All Might themed name, Inko blurts out her own suggestion, "How about Pochi?" It's a pretty common dog name, like Spot. Perhaps, even a bit plain. People have often called Izuku rather plain, so maybe Pochi is fitting for his pet. It'd be better than 'Dog Might' at the very least…
"Pochi?", Izuku tests the name on his tongue. His face scrunches a little like the taste in his mouth is sour. He does a little reinventing of the kanji, "Pochu? Pochia? Pochio?", before finally settling on, "How about.. Pochita?"
The dog perks up a bit, yapping in acknowledgement. Izuku's mouth goes agape in awe, eyes sparkling at the sight of his pet agreeing with his name suggestion. "You like Pochita?", Izuku asks. The dog barks as though in confirmation. "Pochita? Pochita?! POCHITA!", Izuku cheers the name like a chant and the dog now deemed Pochita continues to bark in equal elation.
And that's how the dog's name was decided. Pochita became a member of the Midoriya family that day. And the thing about Midoriyas, is that they all have big affectionate hearts.
So when Pochita is left outside to sleep in the backyard, Izuku for the first time goes against his mother's wishes. After he's sure that she has fallen asleep, he sneaks out of his room to let the dog in. "Ssshh!", his hushed whisper warns the dog not to bark as he tries not to get caught. Izuku's heart hammers in his chest. He's never been a rebellious child. Not like Kacchan. He'd never broken the rules. Whatever his mom says, he respectfully does. But poor Pochita.. Izuku couldn't just leave him outside to sleep all alone.
Izuku lets the dog up onto his bed. From the higher vantage point, Pochita gets a good view of all the superhero merchandise that adorns the walls. The number one hero, All Might, smiles from all possible angles. "D- Don't judge me..", Izuku squirms in embarrassment once he gets beneath his All Might themed blankets.
After Pochita does that dog thing where he spins in a few circles first, he settles into the bed with Izuku. The boy smiles as he closes his eyes, happy to be sharing the bed with his new friend. He's excited to introduce Kacchan to the dog the next day, hoping his childhood friend will be as impressed as he is by the animal's quirk. Eventually, the two drift to sleep. Their slumber silent with very little snores, they would have not gotten caught if not for Inko being such a concerned mother.
The protective mom pokes her head into the room to check on her son. She finds him nuzzled up against Pochita, the two of them sleeping with smiles. She sighs, not wanting to ruin the tender moment by waking them up. She figures she'll reprimand Izuku in the morning for going against the rules, but for now, she'll let the two bond.
Afterall, this is only the start of the bond between a boy and his dog.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
I dunno about all of you, but I would have personally died from Chainsaw Man withdrawal had there been ZERO content today. So, even though it's not an official manga chapter, I hope you enjoyed this addition to my own story.
In case you're wondering and didn't figure it out, this chapter was a bit of a flashback. I think I'm going to adopt this style for the story where every other chapter takes place in the past and the others in the present. To distinguish the time setting, all 'flashback' chapters will be in Italics. That hopefully won't be too confusing with my Author's Notes being in Italics as well. Though, the flashbacks will explain how Izuku got his Chainsaw quirk (eventually) and give us some beloved Pochita time, and that makes the trouble worth it.
Lastly, it's time to reply to your comments from last chapter!
To Guest:
Glad you liked Chapter One and decided to keep reading! (That goes for anybody else who favorited & followed the story as well!)
To Slippyboii:
I'm actually glad you picked up on the usage of those words! That was deliberately done since I wanted the sound of the chainsaws cutting into the Zero Pointer to be as descriptive as possible. I thought big words you might not be all that familiar with would make you pause and consider their meaning, maybe even search up their definition. With Kyoka's heightened hearing, large words was the only thing I could think of to properly convey how awful and loud the destructive noises would sound.
To agustingaleano322:
I'm happy to have been the one to give you what you were searching for! I just hope I can live up to expectations moving forward, haha! And no worries about the language barrier, your English is good!
And that about does it for this chapter! I hope to see you all again next time!
