It started as a throw-away comment.

Ochako had managed to sneak out of the dorms to hang out with Himiko. They were sitting in an empty playground, looking at the stars. Not many of them were visible in the city, but Himiko thought they were stunning anyways and Ochako always indulged her. Her family went camping a lot when she was a kid, so it wasn't that impressive to her, but she didn't mind the chance to stare at Himiko. They'd been dating since middle school— initially online, and then in-person once Ochako had moved to Musutafu. She didn't agree with the choices Himiko made, but she loved her too much to leave her.

So they met up in playgrounds at 2am and watched the stars.

Himiko had been the one to break the silence, eyes still locked on the sky as she said," Y'know, I never really thought about vigilantes before I ran away."

Ochako's brow furrowed at that. She didn't really think much about vigilantes at all. She knew they existed, of course, but she'd never even met one.

"They used to come through the bar a lot, before Kamino," Himiko continued softly," They didn't have to stay under the commission's thumb. They used their quirks however they wanted. They would've helped me, I think, if I'd found them before Giran did. A lot of them have bad quirks," then she paused for a moment," And some of them make good money. Information brokers, mainly. Like Giran, but they almost get to be heroes, too."

Ochako had hummed and changed the topic. It wasn't the first time Himiko had tried to convince her to do something illegal. It probably wouldn't be the last, either.

—

That comment kept popping into her head. Himiko's ideas had never lasted beyond the fleeting conversations, but this one stuck.

She'd be learning about the laws surrounding their new provisional licences and she'd catch herself thinking, wouldn't it be so much easier if I could just help people without all the restrictions?

She'd be watching a movie with her classmates and her mind would drift to think about how good Himiko's quirk would be for information gathering. About how she won't be making much money until at least a couple years after she graduates, if she stays a hero.

And there was one thought that popped into her head all the time, when she was eating dinner, or sitting alone in her room, or going for a run, or training, or sitting in class, or texting Himiko. Himi would be a vigilante with me, if I asked. We could be together.

—

She was sure that Himiko knew something was up the second she showed up at their meeting point. She was hopeful, but on edge. If Himiko agreed, a lot of things would change.

"Heya, 'Chako. What's up?" Himiko's voice was casual, but her eyes were sharp.

She didn't give herself a chance to back down," How would you feel about becoming a vigilante duo?"

Himiko smiled widely," I'd love that! We'd be super cute. Ooooh, we could make matching outfits!"

Ochako laughed, her entire body relaxing. She knew Himiko would agree, but she wasn't expecting it to go that well. "Aren't you at least a little bit surprised?"

"I brought it up for a reason. I was just waiting for you to want it," Himiko said, with a soft smile. Ochako liked it when she smiled like that.

They spent a lot of time making plans and figuring out details, but it was a calm back and forth. One of them would point out a problem, and they'd talk it over until they found a solution.

They wandered the city as they talked, Himiko insisting that they try every street food that caught Ochako's eye as they walked. Only after she'd eaten her fill of mochi, dango, and takoyaki, did their planning peter out. The horizon was turning purple and Ochako would have to leave soon if she wanted to sneak back into the dorms, even if it was the weekend.

"We'll be okay, Ko," Himiko reassured her, placing a hand on her cheek," We'll be together. It'll be worth it."

"I know," Ochako said softly before leaning up to kiss Himiko. She could still taste the strawberry sweetness of the mochi they'd shared.

—

They began slowly, pooling their limited funds to rent an apartment under the table. Himiko provided most of the money, and Ochako had the sense not to ask where it came from. She could make up for it soon enough.

They slowly filled their small single-room apartment, Ochako bringing clothes and her meagre possessions over until all she had at the dorms was two uniforms and a hoodie. Himiko did the same, bringing over outfits and knives and posters and more knives. And a sword.

Ochako managed to get copies of all of her support gear, even though she planned to bring her hero costume with her. She collected phone numbers and emails of everyone she cared about, knowing she wouldn't see them in person for a while once she left.

And then it was time to leave. It was Friday night, and she'd requested to visit her parents over the weekend. She went to the train station, even. But instead of getting on a train, she went into the busiest crowd and let herself be overshadowed by a group of taller men while she pulled on the hoodie and slipped into a local train that'd keep her in the city.

She took two more trains and a bus before she made her way towards the decaying apartment building where Himiko would be waiting for her. It was easier for Himiko to run away. She frequently disappeared from the League for days at a time, and they were unlikely to care to track her down anyways.

She opened the door to the smell of miso and the sight of Himiko trying to grill onigiri on their small hot plate. She looked up and smiled," You're earlier than I expected! Gimme a minute and I'll have the first ones done for you to try."

Ochako smiled. She was home.