He pedaled as quickly as he could the entire time, the adrenaline that had been running through his body throughout his battle with the priest keeping him going the entire time as the two made their way to the club room.
Asia had been quiet the entire time, having been saved by Devils she had never met before having thrown the girl for quite the loop.
Eventually, the two made it, Izuku having started to become short of breath as they approached the school building. It didn't take long for the two to enter the building, the rest of the peerage waiting for them.
Izuku found himself cleaning his feet as his socks were destroyed, the blood he had stepped in having seeped through. Even his shoes had to go, much to his dismay. He had extra pairs at home, but those particular ones were his favorites.
Asia was cleaning herself up in the club's shower room, Rias offering it to her to wash the sweat and blood from her body. After everything she had been forced to go through, Izuku hoped it would help.
"I understand your desire to save people Izuku, but it was foolish to bring her here," Rias told him as she repaired his torn shirt with magic. He winced as he heard her speak. He knew he shouldn't have, but..
"Why? Because she's with the church?" He didn't regret his decision at all. "I know you said that they're our enemies, but I couldn't just leave her there. Not with him. Not if others like him could find her again."
"I understand, but bringing her here is a danger to all of us, her included," she said as she sat down, looking tired. "There are two types of Priests, those who fight in His name, blessed by Heaven itself, then there are those who delight in what they do. They hunt our kind without thought, making it their sole mission in life. The Church does not tolerate their type, so they have to make a choice. Excommunication, or elimination."
Izuku paused as he thought on her words. There were more people like Freed out there?
"Those who manage to survive have little choice but to go to the Fallen Angels. It's the only way they can live."
The Fallen Angels again. People like Yuu-Raynare and that Dohnaseek guy. Freed was working with them. Maybe for them. The thought of it made his blood run cold.
But he couldn't help but wonder. What did any of that have to do with Asia?
"Given that you saw her with him, the two are clearly allied, strained as it may be from what I saw," she said as she stared at him, the seriousness on her face leaving little room for argument. "It's clear now that the church you brought her to is not affiliated with God, but with the Fallen Angels. They've recruited that stray priest into their ranks, giving him free reign to slaughter anyone he wants, from Devils to the humans that summon them. He's far more dangerous than any true priest for that reason. He's clearly a heretic, and if she's allied with him, then she's one as well. Saving her from him was noble, make no mistake, but the more you get involved with this, the more likely you'll attract their attention, and we'll be forced to fight back. We of the Gremory clan destroy our enemies should they threaten one of our own. This would lead to war, something none of us can afford."
She watched as Izuku's eyes widened in realization, then became downcast. It was clear that the thought of leaving Asia to them was too much for him to bear.
"So, that's it then?" He asked, sounding defeated. "There's really nothing we can do for her?"
"I…" she paused, her eyes meeting with his. It was clear how much he truly wished to help her, but she could only do so much. "I may be able to give her a place to stay tonight, but nothing more. I'm sorry."
"It's okay."
Everyone turned to see Asia stepping out of the shower room, hair still slightly damp as she was dressed in spare clothes Rias had given her. Her own torn clothing was being repaired by Akeno.
"I…thank you all. I'm sorry that I've been such a burden."
It was hard not to look at her with sympathy, especially when her face was still bruised from where Freed had struck her.
"Um, Argento?" Izuku began, a question had been bubbling in his mind since they reached the club room. "Why?"
"Why?"
"Why were you with that guy? You're too nice to be near anyone like that. What happened?"
He watched as her expression darkened, biting at her lower lip as she began to tremble. He saw a single tear flowing down her cheek before she could stop it as she tried to calm herself. "Wait! You don't have to answer! I'm sorry!"
She looked back at him. There it was again. That kindness he had shown her before.
Kind was something a Devil could never be. That was one of the lessons she had been taught since a young age. Yet here she was, as vulnerable as she could ever be, surrounded by Devils, anyone of which could kill her without trouble. Yet they chose not to.
They chose to help.
Especially him.
Before she could stop herself, Asia began her tale.
I never knew my parents. They told me that I had been found one morning on the steps of the church. I had either been abandoned or they had been killed by villains. It never mattered to me. I had been taken in and raised by the Church, and I was happy.
I wasn't the only child there. Many more had been taken in, either having lost their parents to disaster, or had been left there.
My entire life was surrounded by the teachings of God and his disciples. It didn't take long for me to take an interest in the work the nuns were doing and want to become just like them.
I was five years old when I manifested my quirk, but it meant little to me or to anyone else. I was just like them. Another lost lamb who needed help.
Then, when I was eight, something new happened.
Asia walked around the church grounds, having decided to explore the area around them. She had promised that she would not wander far, always under the watchful eyes of God.
Then she saw something that made her heart sink.
A small puppy lay on the ground. They were hurt, their limbs bent in ways unnatural while bleeding heavily. Whether they had been struck by a vehicle or tortured by some heartless fiend, he would never know.
All she did know was that she wanted to help them. To make them better.
Before her very eyes, a green glow bloomed from her hands, the soothing light bringing an odd feeling of peace to the young girl. As she stood over the puppy, he watched in awe as their injuries began to mend. In seconds, they had been back up on their feet, happily barking and running around the girl in pure joy, as if they had never been hurt at all.
She had no idea what this power was, but she smiled as she watched the pup chase themself around her legs. This had to have been a blessing. Nothing less than a pure miracle from above.
She had no idea that her actions had been seen by one of the nuns.
After that, I was taken to the Vatican, and they treated me as a living saint, calling me the Holy Maiden. They taught me all about my blessing, calling it a Sacred Gear, and before long, I had seen to the healing of countless people, each one begging me to cure their ailments however I could.
How could I refuse? They needed help, and I had been blessed by God to do so.
Before long, I had achieved my goal of becoming a nun, and some began worshiping me as though I were some sort of idol. I tried telling them otherwise, that I was nothing more than an instrument of God's will, but none listened. In the end, I suppose it didn't matter. I was fulfilling my duty, and I was happy to help them all.
The more time passed though, I felt another sensation in my heart. I spoke to many in the Vatican. I knew all of their names. Their hopes and dreams. But none did the same for me. I wasn't Asia Argento anymore to them. I was simply the Holy Maiden. An entity whose only purpose was to heal others.
I had never felt so alone before, but I hid it as best I could.
Then, one day, everything fell apart.
She had found herself wandering the building again. She had already healed many today, and the higher-ups wanted her to rest. But she couldn't. There was little for her to do outside of her calling, so she took whatever joy she could in just wandering the halls.
She had seen every inch of the building time and time again, counting the cracks on the wall before they were repaired, every individual part of the stained glass. She had memorized every version of the Bible they had given her. But there was nothing beyond that. She wasn't allowed to leave the grounds without an escort.
She wasn't even allowed to visit the confessionals to air out her sins.
All there was for her was what lay before her, and she had seen it all more times than she would ever admit. If only she could speak with someone new. Maybe someone who didn't know her as the Holy Maiden. Maybe, just for a small while, she could be Asia again.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard someone moan in pain.
It came from outside the doors, so she rushed out. It didn't matter that no one was there to escort her, someone needed help. As she made her way to the source of the noise, her eyes widened in shock.
A man lay before her. He looked young, with dark shaggy looking hair, but he was clearly in pain, cuts and bruises littering his body as a large hole in his torso bled out.
And extending from his backs were the wings of a Devil.
She had never seen one before. She had definitely heard of them. The church had taught her from a young age that Devil's were creatures of sin. Darkness made manifest.
And yet one was here, suffering from injury.
She didn't hesitate. She had been helping people for years now. This was her calling.
The Devil looked at her in wonder and awe as she healed him, her Sacred Gear working as well as it always did as his wounds sealed shut.
"You…you would heal me nun?"
She smiled at him in response. "You needed help."
"You are truly kind," he said as he began to take to the sky. "Take care."
She watched him soar away with a smile. It didn't matter that they were supposed to be her sworn enemies. She couldn't bear seeing anyone be hurt.
As she turned around to head back into the church, she saw something else. Something that would change her life for the worst.
A member of the clergy was there. And he was looking at her in utter horror.
After that, I was sent away into the deepest parts of the church. I waited for them to decide my fate.
"The girl is a witch!"
Asia flinched as she heard the cries of the deacon. This was the man who had welcomed her with open arms so long ago, and now he was howling for her blood.
"She has turned her back on us by helping their kind! If I had known her power could help those who strayed from God's path, I would never have taken her in!"
The more she heard, the more her heart sank. The tears wouldn't stop as his words pierced straight into her heart.
"If she wishes to consort with these monsters, then let her live amongst them! She will never be welcome in the house of God ever again!"
And that was that. She had been thrown out without a second thought. Forever branded as a heretic.
I wandered the streets after that. I had no doors or windows open for me any longer. Before long, I saw one of them. One of the Fallen Angels. They were the only one's willing to help me, promising shelter as long as I agreed to work for them.
There was no real choice. I agreed.
Before long, I found myself being taken here to Japan.
I would always pray to Him though. To offer my thanks to those who would help me, and to beg for his forgiveness. I can only hope that my prayers are heard.
As Asia finished her tale, everyone was dead silent. The entire room looked on her with heavy hearts, fully aware of what she had been forced through.
Yumi's face flashed with pure rage as she heard more and more, only the gentle hand of Koneko keeping her calm.
"And even here, I find myself being tested," she said as her eyes began to water once more. "I helped someone commit such a terrible crime. But I must continue to endure. The Lord is testing me, and I must atone for my sins. Each and every one. I have to. It's the only way."
By the end, she sounded more like she was trying to convince herself than anyone else.
"Argento, I'm…I'm sorry," Izuku said, his heart breaking for her as his own eyes moistened.
"It's okay Izuku. Really," she said, a smile on her face that was unable to reach her eyes.
And he knew the eyes she had now. He saw them a lot before he had met All Might.
"Asia," Rias began, her voice more gentle now than it was before. "If you ever find yourself leaving their protection, our door will be open for you."
Her statement caught everyone's attention, especially Asia's, who looked at her in complete shock.
"I know that we're technically enemies, but you don't have to stay with the Fallen Angels if you're afraid to. You would be under my protection, and would be allowed to roam the city freely," she said with a small smile. "You don't have to answer now, but if it's what you want, we will welcome you with open arms."
Asia continued to stare at her as her eyes watered more and more.
"For now though, we should probably all go home and rest," Akeno said, a kind smile on her face as she walked over to hand the now fully repaired clothes back to her. "You've had quite the trying day yourself, so I'm sure you need it more than the rest of us."
"You can stay with us for the night," Yumi said, her expression leaving little room for argument. "Koneko and I have a spare room in our apartment, we can set up a bed for you there."
Izuku was just as surprised by that as Asia was. He had no idea that Yumi and Koneko lived together. In fact, he didn't really know that much about any of his fellow peerage members. He knew them as people he supposed, but he knew very little about them.
It probably didn't help that he still felt intimidated by them. Both Akeno and Rias were drop dead gorgeous, and they were the one's happiest to tease him whenever the opportunity presented itself. Plus there was the whole Akeno being an absolute sadist thing. Definitely scary.
Yumi and Koneko were intimidating in different ways to him. Yumi was as beautiful as both Akeno and Rias, but the more he talked to her, the more he felt like that smile was hiding something, but he wasn't sure what. And Koneko, while nice on occasion, had been consistently stoic, while rarely even speaking to him.
Also she could probably snap him in half like a toothpick. That didn't help.
He didn't even have anything to say to Asia. He didn't know if he could invite her to his place to stay. He had no idea how his mom would react to any of that, plus it could possibly reveal his secret. He wished he could do more.
As he saw Asia leave with both Koneko and Yumi, he watched her turn back to look at him before she gave him a smile. He couldn't help but smile back.
He wanted to do more, and maybe he could, but for now, he was sure that she was in good hands.
Once morning came, the news made clear that another murder had taken place. No details were given as to the state of the crime scene, but it was clear that it was not a pretty sight. Several more heroes had been called in to patrol the streets, especially at night to try and catch whatever maniac was loose.
What went unsaid to the public was that evidence had finally been discovered. Several teeth had been found at the crime scene that didn't match the victim's DNA profile, so tests were being run to try and find a match. Given how the body had been placed and the words written on the wall, it gave more credence to their theory that a religious fanatic was responsible for these crimes.
The only other evidence they found were three sets of bloody footprints, each leading away from the house. They were unsure if the killer had accomplices who had turned on the killer, or if two souls had been fortunate enough to escape.
Izuku knew none of these things as he walked through the shopping district, his thoughts still set on Asia's well-being.
He had naturally talked to All Might about everything that had happened, with even Rias agreeing with him. The pro was appalled at what his protégé had been forced to go through, and beyond thankful that he was alright. With the information he now had, he had decided to assist in the search and capture of Freed Sellzen, speaking to people he knew and trusted while keeping his sources anonymous.
Because of that, Izuku had the day off from training, and little to take his mind off things, because it was also a Sunday, meaning no school.
Rias had told him to think of it as an extra rest day, a chance to recover after what he'd gone through. But that didn't stop him from thinking of what he could have done differently. And of course, about Asia.
His eyes shut in frustration as he thought about her predicament. Her story had affected him more than he thought. She had been cast aside by those she once put her faith in, leaving the only people even willing to help her be a bunch of Devils. He could feel the irony burning around him.
The sound of his stomach growling broke him out of his thoughts. He wondered if getting something to eat would settle his anxiety, even if slightly. As he opened his eyes back up, he let out a small squeal of surprise.
The familiar face of Asia Argento stood just before him, looking every bit as confused and surprised as him.
"...Hi?"
"...Hi?"
It was a bit of an odd sight for those passing by, someone completely frozen in bewilderment in front of a fast food restaurant. It was clear that she had never been to a place like this before, and since she was still struggling with the language, she was having trouble finding something to eat.
Thankfully, Izuku was there to help her, translating what was on the menu, and even paying when she found out she couldn't afford her meal. She thanked him profusely, but he insisted that it wasn't a problem.
And why would it be? She needed help after all.
The two sat down together after that, enjoying a small meal together. It didn't take long for them to talk more, with Asia praising him for his heroic actions, leaving the boy with a red face again.
"I mean, I want to be a hero, so why wouldn't I help?" He asked shyly.
"A hero?" Asia looked at him for a few seconds before smiling widely, a light flush on her no longer bruised face. "I think you're already a hero."
Any passersby who took notice of the two teens blushing at each other while sitting down together thought the two were adorable. Like a young couple experiencing their first date.
The two thankfully didn't hear any of that as they began to enjoy each other's company, learning just a little bit more about each other as they talked.
During that, Asia admitted that she may have found a place where she could stay while in Mustufau, but she still knew very little about how to get around. He offered to show her, which she happily accepted, wanting to see more of this city she could one day call her home.
Asia looked around in wonder as he took through the city. Living most of her life in isolation, she had a childlike sense of awe at every new thing she could see. The bustling life around her was enough to put her worries aside for the time, helped by Izuku sticking by her the entire time.
He couldn't help but smile as she looked around in glee, asking various questions he was more than happy to answer.
"So what's that over there?"
He looked to where she was pointing, a large, colorful building with people constantly going in and out. The sounds of beeps and boops echoed through the open door. "That's an arcade. There's lots of stuff to do there, games to play, and even prizes you can win." He hadn't been in one in a long while, not since he was 7 when Kacchan still lived in the city. No one else ever seemed to want to be seen with him, so he eventually stopped going.
"Can…can we go inside?"
He nodded as they walked through the open doorway, showing Asia a wonder she never expected. The arcade was packed with multiple people, from kids of various ages, to adults looking to wind down. Each of them were playing something different. She saw games where two characters hit each other, games with guns, games where you could dance, there seemed to be no end in sight! Grabbing onto Izuku's arm in joy, she dragged him over to one that piqued her interest, wondering just how it was played.
Izuku had never been that big into these kinds of games, he couldn't deny her when she seemed so gleefully curious about it. So he sat into the seat, inserted the money, and grabbed hold of the wheel, ready to begin the race.
Much to his surprise, he ended up doing far better than he expected, passing by the other cars with ease.
"So fast," she said in awe as she watched his onscreen car zip by. Izuku ultimately ended up winning, making the two of them jump for joy, much to the confusion of some onlookers.
The two took turns playing different games. Neither seemed very adept at the shooting games, with Asia flinching at the onscreen violence while Izuku was hesitant to even pull the trigger. With the fighting games, he ended up doing better, almost winning against someone else before he was beaten, leaving Asia in awe. He was more into Ultimate Hero Fighter on the consoles anyway.
Surprisingly, Asia turned out to be quite adept at the dancing game, leaving Izuku completely in the dust. He'd already known he wasn't exactly a dancer. She even ended up getting on the high score board, being in fourth place behind "IVS GRL" "RED RIT" and "ALN QUN".
She was happier than he ever expected, running around to different machines with energy many would be envious of, eventually reaching a claw machine. She saw an overabundance of stuffed toys inside, everything from the classic teddy bear, mascot characters, and small chibi versions of heroes, like All Might and Best Jeanist.
"There's…there's so many," she whispered to herself.
"Do you…do you want one?" He asked, his face slightly flushed again. He had been having fun today as well, even if he didn't feel like matched Asia's energy. He barely even noticed his blushing when she was close to him.
"Huh? N-n-no, i…well…" he watched as her cheeks turned red before she nodded, likely feeling embarrassed that a girl her age would want a stuffed toy.
"Then I'll get you one."
"Huh? Are… are you sure?"
"Yeah. Just leave it to me." He felt a lot more confident than normal, maybe because he was having fun. Maybe it was because he was hanging out with a friend again. Maybe he just wanted to impress her. Or maybe it was a mixture of all three. "Which one do you want?"
Her eyes scanned the plusses before they widened ever so slightly, a light blush on her face as she pointed one out. It looked like a green sheep. Weirdly, it had what looked like freckles on its face, and even little green booties.
If he didn't know better, he'd swear it looked just like him.
His first few attempts didn't go too well, the toy not even grabbing the sheep on his first try, watching it slip through the claws grasp on his second, and somehow missing completely on his third and fourth try. As he kept going, he was able to move it further over to the hole it would drop through, and on the ninth attempt, he succeeded, and Asia was now the proud owner of a little stuffed green sheep.
"Thank you, Izuku," she said as she cuddled the sheep close to her chest.
"Do you want another one?" He asked, the feeling of success still running through him.
She shook her head. "I want this one. I want to keep it as a memory of today. Something I can treasure forever," she said as she smiled at him again. "I really am happy that I ran into you Izuku. I feel like you're nothing less than a pure blessing."
She spoke with such joy and happiness, Izuku couldn't help but smile back, even with his face as red as a tomato. After a while longer, the two left the arcade behind, ready to see more on this little tour of theirs.
After a few hours, the two found themselves just outside of the Kiyashi shopping center, right near Wookie's.
He hadn't been here since his 'date'. He still remembered it vividly, the fun he had, how he watched her smile when he got her a gift, when she demonstrated her power in front of him and…
'Would you die for me?'
…and that. Ever since then, he had avoided this place like the plague, even though he knew that the mall had nothing to do with it.
"Izuku?"
Asia had apparently noticed. "Are you okay? You're sweating a lot."
He wasn't sure if he wanted to say anything, but she had already poured her heart out to them. So it was only right if he did the same. As he told her everything that had happened, her eyes widened in horror as she clutched her sheep closer to herself.
"You…you actually died?" She gasped out, thankfully quietly. "But how are you even here then? Was it some kind of miracle?"
"I guess," he responded, rubbing the back of his head bashfully. "If that miracle's name is Rias Gremory."
Asia flinched as she heard that. "So then, were you not born a Devil?"
"No, I'm…well, I was human. Guess that's not really the case anymore is it?" He didn't resent Rias for saving him, he truly didn't. And ever since the two had finally met and spoke with one another proper, she had been completely forthcoming with everything. Even then, there were still times when he felt…unsure.
"I don't think that's true."
"Huh?" He asked her, watching as her cheeks reddened a little.
"You…you helped me once before, and then you saved my life. So, I think you're still as human as you once were," she admitted, her words certain, with the full belief of her heart behind them. "I don't think someone with any humanity would put themselves in harm's way to save someone."
Izuku stared at her, her words sinking in as he let out his own smile. "Himejima said something similar when I first met her. You two must be on the same page."
"How long? Have you been a Devil I mean." She asked, her head tilted quizzically.
"A couple of months now," he admitted, feeling like it was almost a lifetime ago. "I'm still figuring things out, especially since I'm working so hard on my real goal."
"Your real goal? What's that?" She asked, acting to know more about her savior.
"To be a hero. I'm training hard to get into U.A., the most prolific hero school around. It's been my dream ever since I was a kid," he told her, his embarrassed flush having been overtaken by a small smile. "It's been rough, and I know I've still got a way to go, but I can't give up, not now, not ever."
Asia stared at him again, her grip on her stuffed sheep having slackened, before smiling again. "Then I'll be cheering for you, every step of the way."
Izuku blind before her words sunk in, the blood rushing back to his face as he thanked her.
The two had been wandering the mall for some time now, taking the occasional glance into different stores whenever one grabbed Asia's attention. All the while, the two continued speaking, Asia still putting together the events that led to her meeting Izuku.
"So she really didn't tell you for an entire week?"
"Basically."
"That's rude."
"I know. We had a whole discussion about that."
By the time the two had reached the mall's entrance again, they felt hungry, having not eaten since running into each other that morning, and it was now well into the afternoon. The two made their way to one of the nearby food stands…
"Hey there!"
…before a familiar voice reached Izuku's ears.
He turned to see the familiar form of Uraraka Ochako waving at him as she walked towards the two. "I thought I recognized that curly hair!"
"Is she a friend of yours?" Asia asked.
"Y-yeah, I suppose. I met her at one of my summons," Izuku answered.
As she reached the duo, Ochako took notice of the blonde girl standing next to him. "Oh? Who's this?"
"Hello, my name is Asia Argento. It's nice to meet you," she said kindly before her eyes widened. "I mean! Uh, Argento Asia? I'm still getting used to Japanese," she said as she bowed in Ochako's direction.
"Don't worry, you're doing fine," she said cheerfully before giving a small bow to Asia in return. "I'm Uraraka Ochako. It's nice to meet you too, Argento," she said with a grin before a question popped into her mind.
"So, what are you two doing here then? Are you on a date or something?" There was an odd waver to her voice when she asked, completely unnoticed by everyone.
"Huh? N-no no! Izuku's just showing me around! That's all!" Asia spoke in embarrassment as she held up her plushy in front of her face, like it would protect her. "I haven't been here long, so he's just showing me the city!"
"Are you really sure?" She asked as she began to eye the plushy Asia held in front of her. "Then what's with the little sheep that kinda looks like him?"
"This-this has nothing to do with anything!" Asia began to shout as she pulled the sheep into her chest, her face nearly pure scarlet.
Izuku had simply gone pale. Date? No he wasn't…
'Would you die for me?'
… this wasn't a date!
"She- she's telling the truth!" He shouted, grabbing people's attention as his voice squeaked out. "She asked me to show her around because she's new here, that's it!" His face had begun to match Asia's in hue, especially since he noticed some people staring at them.
"Wait, really?" Ochako asked before her eyes widened, blinking I'm shock as her own face began to pale. "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to embarrass you guys like that!" She shouted as her arms waved about, like she was trying to stop people from noticing them.
It didn't really work.
The trio quickly fled as they went to a food stand, one farther away from Wookie's than they originally wanted to go, but they'd rather not deal with everyone staring at them for making a scene. Each one had food in front of them, courtesy of Ochako.
"You didn't have to do this, really! It was an honest mistake!" Asia said, taken aback by her actions.
"It's okay, don't worry about it," she replied, forcing a smile to her face. "It's the least I can do after…well all that."
'May have to skip dinner tomorrow though, maybe the next day too,' she thought as she inwardly weeped over her now lighter wallet.
"So!" Ochako began, hoping to change the subject. "How'd you two meet? There's gotta be a story there right?"
"I..um…" he stuttered as he tried to begin. Asia then whispered something to him.
"Does she…does she know about Devils?"
"She does," he whispered back, much to her surprise.
"Whatcha whispering about?" Ochako asked.
"We, well…we kinda met at one of my 'jobs'."
"Oh? Oh!" She said with realization, before looking at Asia. "So are you like us then?"
"Huh?"
"Ya know, a Devil?" She whispered.
Asia's eyes widened before answering. "What? No, I'm not a Devil."
"Oh! I'm sorry, I thought you were, Midoriya bringing up one of his summons and all," she said, a bit surprised by that. "I mean, with the club he's in, I thought you might've been part of it?"
"Club?"
"Well, the peerage I'm part of has a club room we tend to meet at. We're called the Occult Research Club."
"That sounds…oddly specific considering you're all Devils."
"I know. It's a bit weird."
"I think it's cool!" Ochako said. "I wish the peerage I'm in had a club like that. Our leader's just in the Student Council."
"Student council?"
"Yeah, at U.A. She's aiming to be president next year."
"For real?" Izuku asked.
"Yup! She kinda wants all of us to be on the council with her, but I still wanna go to the hero course! Same with another member! We both wanna be heroes!"
"Really, what are they like?" Izuku asked, curious about the people Ochako was with.
"She's pretty cool, kinda like the big sister I never had…"
Asia watched as the two began talking about their respective peerages. She was still in shock that this kind girl she had just met was a Devil as well. Ever since last night, part of her world had felt like it had been flipped upside-down. Devils were the enemies of the Church, the place she had spent nearly her entire life at. She had been taught from a young age that they weren't to be trusted, that they would trick you into giving your soul to them, taking your humanity away.
And while she may have healed a Devil, it was merely because he was hurt. It didn't matter whether they were foes or not, she hated seeing other people in pain.
But since last night, all that had changed. She'd met Izuku before, never once thinking he was a Devil. He didn't match up at all with anything she had been taught. He'd been kind to her, helped her when no one else even acknowledged that she existed when she got here, all before saving her life.
And then there were the Devils he ran with. She didn't know why she felt like she could pour her heart and soul out to them like that, laying her vulnerabilities bare, but everything came flooding out, and she could do nothing to stop it. All of them, not just Izuku, had treated her with anything less than kindness, even offering her a place to stay for the night.
The red-haired girl, Rias, had just this morning offered to find her an apartment she could live at, away from them if needed.
She still had trouble comprehending it all. Why would they show such compassion to someone like her? Someone not of their kind? Someone like her who not even the Fallen Angels seemed to care for?
And then she ran into Izuku again. And he had helped her, again. Showing her around when he didn't have to, confiding in her as to how he joined with the Devils.
And now, another one. One who treated her like a person.
She hadn't felt like the Holy Maiden since her banishment. She hadn't even felt human after arriving in Japan. But today?
She simply felt like Asia, for the first time in a very long while.
"How about you Argento?"
"Huh?" She turned to see Ochako looking at her quizzically, apparently having asked her a question. Izuku mirrored her. "Um, I'm sorry, what?"
"I asked you who your favorite hero is," she asked, her smile wide and infectious.
"I, um…," Asia's face began to flush red again. "I don't really know any heroes."
"Really?" She asked, astonished at Asia's words. In a day and age like there's where heroes were literally everywhere, it almost sounded far fetched. "Why's that?"
She was caught off guard when she saw Asia flinch at the question, while Izuku waved his hands at her to try and get her to stop. She became more confused when she saw Asia clasp her hands together in prayer. Then she heard her speak.
Leaving Ochako in tears.
"Oh my gosh," she said as the tears fell from her eyes. "I'm so sorry. I never should've asked!"
"It's okay," Asia said, having calmed down a little. Her face then began to light up once more, even as it turned a bit pink. "Though, um…I suppose Izuku could count. After everything he's done for me."
Izuku stared at her wide-eyed with his face going red. He was honestly surprised his face hadn't exploded with all the blood rushing to it.
"Really?" Ochako asked, looking back and forth at the two before smiling again. "That's pretty cool. I kinda wish you'd have said 13 though."
"I already told you, 13's cool, she's just no All Might," Izuku said back. Asia wondered if that was what they were talking about before Ochako asked her question.
"Basic."
"Basic?!"
She couldn't help it. She started giggling at the two of them. Despite disagreeing with each other, there was no animosity. They didn't take long before breaking out into laughter as well.
"Is that Deku?"
"With two other cute girls?"
Izuku's laughter ceased as his attention was grabbed by two passersby, people from his school.
'Please no. Not here. Not now!'
"Geeze. It ain't enough that he's got the Princess and that redhead with him, now another cute blonde and a brunette?"
"Man, I can't believe I'm feeling jealous of Deku of all people."
Luckily for him, the two just went on their way, not stopping at all to bother any of them. Izuku let out a sigh of relief. That definitely went better than he'd feared.
"Who were they?" Asia asked, her head tilted in curiosity.
"They're...just some acquaintances from school," Izuku said while sweating. He hoped they bought it. He was never very good at lying.
"Oh? Well that sounds nice. They could have stopped and said hello then," Asia said with a smile.
'SHE BOUGHT THAT?'
"Yeah, they probably could've," Ochako said as she watched them leave. Did she actually buy that too? "They sounded jealous of you though Deku, why's that?"
"Maybe beca…huh?" He froze before he could finish. Did he hear that right?
"What Deku? Isn't that a nickname?" She asked innocently.
"I…uh…" he hesitated. How couldn't he? His newest friends just heard that nickname that had hounded his life for a long while now. "It's…more like another way my name can be read. They're saying that to make fun of me. Calling me worthless."
"That's terrible," Asia said, looking upset.
Ochako stared at his dejected form, watching as he started to sink into his chair. "Really? It sounded more like 'Dekiru' to me. It's got that whole 'I can do it' vibe to it! And I think it sounds kinda cute!"
"YOUCANCALLMEDEKU!"
'Mouth, I hate you.'
His face erupted into a blush as his mind caught up to what he said, though he couldn't help but look at her quizzically. "Wait, really?" This was…different. Even when she said it the first time, it carried none of the negativity he usually heard when that name was directed toward him. In fact, it sounded better. Like she truly believed it.
"Yup!" She said, grinning widely. "It'd probably be a great hero name too! 'The Can Do Hero:Deku'! I think it sounds pretty awesome!"
He just stared at her, blinking owlishly. He never expected anything like this. Did she just turn something that had chased him his entire life and find a way to make it sound positive? Something he could find strength in instead of resentment?
It almost sounded too good to be true. He hadn't heard that name said like that since…
"Are you okay?" Ochako asked, looking concerned. He hadn't really answered her and was kind of staring off into space. "If you don't like it, I'll stop."
"No! No, it's…it's okay," he said as he began to smile at her. He felt odd, like part of his world had been tilted again, but for the better. It felt like his life had just a bit more meaning now oddly enough. "I don't mind. Not at all."
Asia watched as the two talked. She had no idea how 'Deku' could mean useless. Especially when using it to describe Izuku of all people. Maybe it was one of those Japanese things she still didn't really understand. At least the way Ochako said it sounded nice.
"Dekiru," she said to herself, catching their attention. "I think it sounds nice, but I think I still want to call you Izuku. Is, is that okay?"
"I, well," he began before his face turned pink again. "I suppose so." He really was not ready for today.
"Are you really sure you two aren't dating?" Ochako asked.
"WE'RE NOT DATING!" The two (not)lovebirds denied with their faces again burning red.
The three finished their meals as they continued to talk, with Ochako learning more about what Asia meant when she called Izuku her hero.
"That's amazing Deku!" She exclaimed excitedly as the trio left the shopping district. "Saving someone from a crazed villain? You're a shoo-in for U.A.! That's like heroing 101!"
"I, I just did what anyone else would," he said as he tried hiding his blushing face from her. He was not used to being complimented so much. It felt strange.
"So? You're still cool for doing that!" She said as she started pumping her fists into the air.
Asia smiled at the two again. She liked Ochako's company. She had an odd energy and cheerfulness to her that felt contagious. "He really is," she whispered, unable to disagree.
"Hey Argento? How bout you?" Ochako asked, her grin still on her face. "You gonna try for U.A. too?"
"I, um, I'm not sure," she said, taken aback by the question. This was definitely not something she was expecting. "I've never really thought about being a hero before. And ever since I was…let go by the Church, I just don't know what to do," she admitted.
She'd had dreams she hoped to achieve when she was still there. Wanting to go out with friends, plant some flowers, read some books. They were simple goals in life that felt unachievable when she was only known as the Holy Maiden, but with nowhere to really go, she didn't even know what to do. Be a hero? She wasn't sure if she could do anything like that.
"Besides," she continued. "I don't really like fighting, so I don't think I can do anything against criminals."
"There's more to being a hero than that," Izuku told her.
"Yeah! Heroes do a lot more than that! They help people whenever they need it, like rescuing people from big disasters, or just being there to brighten their day!" Ochako said, her fist pumping back up into the air.
"There's also other courses at U.A.," Izuku said, happily telling her more about the school. "General Studies, Business, Support, U.A.'s got something for everyone."
Asia stopped to think. She knew little about heroes, everything she only knew now came from what she heard from Izuku and Ochako. She didn't think she'd really have whatever it took to be a hero like them.
But they wanted to go. And she wanted to go with them.
She was tired of being alone.
"Okay. I'll try," she said, sounding unsure, but still resolute. "I don't know if I can be a hero, but I want to go to U.A. I want to be with you two. You're the best friends I've ever had, and I don't want to be separated from you!" Her words came straight from her heart, all while her eyes began to water.
Both Izuku and Ochako just smiled at her before telling her what she needed to hear.
"You won't be."
She had to hold herself back from actually crying. This had been quite the day.
"It's not gonna be easy though," Ochako admitted, stretching her arms up into the air. "I've been working my butt off every chance I can just to get there!"
"Me too," Izuku said. "I've been working myself to the bone by cleaning the trash on Takoba Beach."
"By yourself?" She was astonished when he nodded back. "That place has been a nightmare for years now! That's amazing Deku!"
"An entire beach? All on your own? You really are incredible Izuku," Asia said, clear awe in her voice.
"You're darn right! I betcha you'll get in no sweat!"
Izuku blushed at the praise. While still getting used to it, it did feel nice to hear.
"I bet you've got an awesome quirk too!"
All those pleasant feelings vanished at that. He flinched almost as soon as she said it, something that didn't go unnoticed.
"Deku? You alright?" Ochako asked, now worried about her new friend. "Was it something I said?"
He couldn't help but flash back to his younger days as his head bowed down. How nearly everyone he once knew had basically left him behind when they heard the news. He only really had two friends after that, and he hadn't seen them in years.
All his worries came flooding back in an instant. The thought of his friends leaving again because of something he couldn't control. And it hurt.
"Izuku?" He heard Asia say, sounding every bit as worried as Ochako.
Even then, saying nothing, or just flat out lying to them again would be worse.
"I…," he swallowed his throat as he began talking, his bad feelings stirring high into his heart. "I don't have one. I'm quirkless."
He waited for it. He didn't even want to look at them. Pity. Shock. Disgust. He'd seen them before. And seeing it on them? He didn't know if he could take it.
"You-you are?" He heard Ochako ask, unable to truly decipher her tone of voice.
"Izuku," he heard Asia next. It was about to happen and he knew it. Any second now.
"You went through with saving Argento without even having a quirk?! Deku, you're amazing!"
Did he just hear that right?
His head rocketed up as he stared at Ochako in shock. Her face was lit up in pure amazement.
"To think you would go so far as you did. I had no idea there were still people without quirks, but if they're anything like you Izuku, they must be as wonderful as you," he heard Asia say next. He saw her smiling at him, not an ounce of anything he had feared he would see.
"You-you two," he started, his eyes beginning to well up. "You don't hate me?"
"Hate you?"
"Why would we? Deku, you're giving it your all. Why should anyone hate you for that?"
He couldn't stop them. He felt tears rolling down like a waterfall. He hadn't felt this way since All Might told him that he could be a hero.
He never thought that anyone else would accept him like this, would still like him like this. He fell to his knees as his anxiety and fears melted away, both Asia and Ochako quick to rush to his side. Both girls kept close to him, assuring him that they were still there.
He kept going for several minutes before his tears began to subside. As he calmed down, he apologized, telling them they didn't have to see that.
They both told him that he had nothing to apologize for.
"You've been treated poorly for this, haven't you Izuku?" Asia asked as she stared eye to eye at him. He nodded, letting himself melt into the comfort they offered. "You should never have to apologize for something like this. I'm your friend. And I won't leave you behind."
"Me neither," Ochako said, her hand gripping his shoulder gently.
He saw her face now, her smile every but as gentle as Asia's, reaching up to the blush marks on her face. "We're going to U.A. And we'll be heroes together."
He smiled back, wider than he ever thought he could.
The two helped him up as they began walking again. Thankfully, no one had been near them for a while now, so none saw Izuku nearly break down.
"Hey Asia?" Ochako asked as she walked by Izuku's side. "How about you? You mentioned you had a quirk, so what is it?"
"Oh! I, well…" she hesitated, caught off guard by the question. She wasn't exactly sure if it was appropriate to say after what just happened with Izuku.
But when she glanced at him, he looked just as interested to know.
"I mean, it's nothing all that special."
"I'm sure it's amazing," Izuku said, Ochako nodding right beside him. He felt invigorated right now. He could probably clean the entire beach here and now with how great he felt.
But hearing about a quirk? That was every bit as important.
"Well, okay. Here it is," she said as she closed her eyes. As she began to concentrate, both Izuku and Ochako felt like something was tapping inside their heads. The sound was similar to whenever they answered their phones.
"It's nothing special, like I said. My quirk lets me talk to people in their minds."
Asia Argento
Quirk:Telepath
She can link her mind to whomever she chooses, letting them communicate through thought alone, like contacting someone over a phone.
"That's so cool!" Izuku exclaimed as he pulled out his notebook, furiously scribbling down notes at a speed that made smoke emit from the paper. "Is there a limit for distance? Is it like projecting your own thoughts into someone else's head? Can you read someone's mind? Can you read my mind? What am I thinking about right now? Is it…?"
"Deku!"
He was broken out of his mutter storm by Ochako, now noticing that Asia was looking a bit overwhelmed. Not just by his questions, but by how quickly he was asking them. "Sorry," he said bashfully. "I…well, I really like hearing about quirks."
"You were going like a million kilometers per hour there Deku," Ochako said, a bit weirded out by what she saw. Where did he even pull that notebook from? It just appeared in his hands.
"Sorry."
"It's okay," Asia said, having calmed down. "I just needed a minute. Do you really want to know that much about my quirk?"
"Mmhm," he nodded. "I've always liked hearing about quirks. I just think they're all really cool. And your quirk is a lot like Mandalay's from the Wild Wild Pussycats!"
"Oh," she said with a blush. Did he think she was cool? "I...I don't know who those people, but, what do you want to know?"
Ochako watched as Izuku began asking questions. She had hoped to get his mind off his sadness when she thought to ask Asia about her quirk. She remembered how he acted when she first told him about hers, and she was happy it seemed to work.
She meant everything she said. She genuinely thought he was amazing for trying to be a hero, even without a quirk. She felt worried for him of course, she'd never heard of a quirkless hero before, but maybe he could do it. But even then, she could see something. Even though his eyes were downcast, and covered by his hair, she saw it, even if he didn't want her too.
Sadness.
She had always liked seeing people happy, ever since she saw her first hero. How the people cheered for him after he brought down a terrible villain. Injured as he was, the sounds of the crowd cheering for him clearly made him feel better. She saw stuff like that a lot, like whenever her parents tried to assure each other that they were alright whenever times were tough. Their business wasn't doing as well as they'd hoped, and they were losing money quicker than they gained it.
They tried to tell her otherwise, but she knew. She was far from stupid. She could tell how sad they were about it. Just like with Izuku. He had been bullied over being quirkless. For how long, and just how bad it had gotten she didn't know, and she doubted if Izuku would ever talk about it. It likely had something to do with why those other kids called him Deku.
They were wrong. He wasn't useless. He was everything she knew he was. Someone who could do it. A real hero.
"...I'm not really sure. I think the farthest away I ever was when using it was about five meters. And I've only ever talked to about three people at a time," she heard Asia say. She turned herself back into the conversation.
"So, kinda like a group call right?" She asked, not as curious about her quirk as Izuku, but still wanting to know.
"I suppose?" She shrugged, not fully sure. She hadn't used her quirk that often. She never really needed to. She only knew so much about it, and what she did know she already told Izuku. She had no idea how many people she could link to, she couldn't actually read someone's mind, and she couldn't force images into their heads.
Though there were other things she could do.
"So is that how you broke free from that priest guy?" Izuku asked, feeling his knuckles tighten at the thought of Freed.
"Yeah. I, well…I screamed into his mind really loud so he'd let me go," she admitted with a flushed face.
"Served him right," Ochako said. She wished she had been there so she could have helped them.
She then noticed that the sky had turned a rather intense orange. The sun had begun to set. They'd been talking for longer than they thought.
"Is it that late already?" She said to herself as she flipped open her phone to check the time. It had indeed gotten quite late. "I should probably get going. I've got a summon tonight."
"It is a bit late," Izuku said. He hoped his mom wasn't worried. He'd forgotten to call her. "We should probably…"
He turned to face Asia, remembering her current plight. She had nowhere to go.
"Don't worry izuku. I'll be okay," she told him, but he could see right through her.
"You can stay with us tonight," he said, taking both girls by surprise. "I know my mom would be fine with it, we've got a spare room you could use." He didn't care if this got him noticed by any Fallen Angel. That didn't matter to him right now. She needed help.
"Izuku."
"You could stay with me if you want," Ochako said, her friendly smile never leaving her face.
"Ochako?"
"It's no problem. My folks got me an apartment not too far from here from when I get to U.A. There's not a lot of room, but you're more than welcome."
"I-I…" Asia felt her eyes begin to mist up again, this time more from happiness than anything. "I can't believe you would open your home to someone you barely know. Are you sure you're not some kind of saint?"
"Don't think they'd let a Devil be one," she said with a grin. "Besides, it's not that big a deal. It's close enough to the city limits that it technically falls outside their territory. Even then, we're friends now, right?" The two girls smiled at each other, even while one's eyes continued to moisten.
"I…I," Asia said as she took in everything Ochako said. The church was wrong. She knew it now. "It's been so long since I've had friends."
"You've got two of them right here," Izuku said, Ochakk nodding as she walked over to Asia with her phone out.
"And you're gonna get more. I know it," she said with confidence. "Here. I'll give you my number. Just give me a call whenever you're ready."
"I've never seen a phone like this before," Asia said as she stared at the flip phone in front of her.
"Well, uh, it's a classic model. Yeah…," Ochako answered, mildly embarrassed. She didn't exactly want to admit that she still couldn't afford a newer model.
Izuku watched as Asia examined Ochako's phone with curiosity, all with a grin. Today had definitely been a real rollercoaster, but he wouldn't change any of it. Part of him wished that the day could go on longer, for it to never really end. Not when it had gone like this.
"What the hell is this?"
But all days have their twilight, as he was about to be reminded.
He jumped at the voice. He knew it well. He'd heard it too many times whenever he tried to sleep.
She was here. He saw her.
Yuum-no. Raynare.
The one who'd killed him.
He felt ice racing up his spine as he saw her floating down on her black wings. She looked disgusted by what she was seeing.
"What are you doing here?" Ochako asked, placing herself in front of Asia.
Raynare's eyes were fixed on Izuku though, a gamut of emotions flowing through them before settling back on disgust.
"I can't believe this. I gave you the easiest way out. Now you're one of them," she spat out the word them with disgust. "Just another filthy Devil that needs to be purged from this Earth."
"Miss Raynare…" Asia whispered out in fear.
"So it's you! You tried to kill Deku!" Ochako shouted, anger for her friends keeping her fear down.
"Be silent! I don't want to hear from a lesser creature like yourself!" Raybare yelled.
Izuku gulped as he stared at her. That same face. He kept seeing it. The warm, almost loving smile she had when he got her that gift, before it twisted itself into a grin of pure malice as she impaled him. That dream had woken him more often than he would ever admit.
And now she was back.
"Wh-what, what are you doing here?" He asked, trying his hardest to keep a strong front.
"Don't talk to me you low-tier trash," she sneered. "Asia," she said as she pointed to the girl in question. "It's time to come back, my little wayward bird."
Her voice had a strange sound to it, like she wanted to sound kind and friendly, but it did little to mask the anger. She would clearly take her by force.
It was enough to make Izuku stand in front of Asia as well, hoping to keep her from being taken.
"What's this? Fraternizing with the enemy Asia? How naughty of you," she said with a hint of malice as she finally touched down to ground, only several meters away from them. "It's time to come back Asia. There's nowhere left to run, and nowhere for you to hide."
He couldn't see it, but he could feel Asia shivering in fear behind him. She even grabbed onto his arm, hoping to find some sort of comfort.
"Stop hiding behind those feral beasts. You should know better than that Asia!"
"No."
"What was that?" Raynare asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I said no!" Asia cried out, her grip on Izuku's arm lessening as she began to stand tall and defiant toward the Fallen Angel. "I'm not going with you! I'm staying with them! I remember everything that the church taught me! I've memorized the scriptures from front to back! But they were wrong about this! About them!" She said as she stood beside the two, now having let go of Izuku's arm. "I've learned for myself that there are good and kind Devil's out there! And that there are those who claim to align with God that spit all over his teachings! I watched for myself as Father Freed tried to break one of His commandments. Thou Shalt Not Kill! The Lord would never abide by any of your actions and neither will I! That's why I refuse to stay with you any longer!"
Even as they kept their eyes fixated on Raynare, both Izuku and Ochako felt a measure of pride for the nun. She truly had an iron will.
"You're still so naive," Raynare said, all attempts to be kind now abandoned. "You have no idea just how far your precious church will go to spread their views. But that doesn't matter anymore. You have something that's very important to us Asia. And we want it back. Your Sacred Gear is far more important than you know."
"She said she doesn't want to go with you!" Izuku cried out.
"What's this? Did someone decide to grow a backbone?" She said mockingly as she began walking toward them. "I watched you. At that pitiful school. I had to so I could do my job right. I watched as you kept letting others push you around. Doing nothing as they loaded their power over you. Can you believe I almost felt sorry for your pitiful existence? Killing you was more a kindness than letting you keep the life you were leading," she said as she stopped less than a meter away. "But now you're one of them. A disgusting little abomination."
Ahead held out her hands to her side as energy formed around them, two long spears of light forming in each hand.
"This time, I'll make sure you stay dead."
"I won't let you!" Ochako shouted, one arm pointed at Ryanare like a gun while her other arm held it aloft. "I won't let you hurt Deku!"
"You'll be joining him soon enough!"
"STAY AWAY FROM THEM!" Izuku cried out as he placed himself in front of Ochako, his Sacred Gear forming onto his arm.
"You too?" He heard Ochako whisper.
Raynare stared at his Sacred Gear before she began to laugh. "That's it? I'd been told that your Sacred Gear was a threat. One that even gave my Master pause, but this? This is a joke!" She exclaimed, her face twisting into an enraged snarl. "It's nothing more than a simple Twice Critical. All that little thing can do is double your power for a small amount of time. But you could have a thousand of them and still be nothing! In the end, I suppose it's fitting!" She spat out.
"So what!?" Izuku yelled back. "I'm not letting you hurt either of them no matter how weak you think I am!"
"And I won't let you hurt him!" Ochako said as she stood beside him, a small light building on her right arm.
"Fine then," Raynare said, a malicious grin now on her face. "Then you can die together."
Izuku began to rush at her, Ochako right behind him as the light built up more and more.
But they would never make it.
As they had both been impaled from behind.
The two cried out in pain as the spears of light burned them, nothing having been struck through the chest. Both Asia's and Raynare's eyes widened.
"Haven't you wasted enough time?"
"She's right, you know? We're burning daylight here."
Raynare's shock turned to anger as two more Fallen Angels made themselves known. One was a tall woman with navy blue hair covering one of her eyes. Her choice of clothing, a maroon top and miniskirt, exposed a rather generous amount of both skin and cleavage, her face calm and collected as she descended to the ground.
The other one was a much shorter woman, just barely taller than Ochako, with blonde hair styled into pigtails. As opposed to the woman beside her, she was dressed far more ostentatiously, wearing a Gothic Lolita style black dress with matching footwear. Unlike her fellow Fallen Angel, she held a cruel smile on her face.
"Kalawarner! Mittlet! I told you already that I had this handled!" Raynare shouted at the two, clearly upset with them.
"Oh please," Mittlet said as she touched down near Asia. "It took you all day to track our little nun down. Why should we let you screw it up even more?" She joyfully mocked Raynare as the Fallen Angel grinded her teeth in irritation.
"Time grows short," Kalawarner said, her own voice sounding monotone but doing little to hide her annoyance. "If our plan is to succeed, we can waste no more time with these creatures."
"What-what plan?" Izuku coughed out as he struggled to get to his feet, the pain from the spear spreading through him like a poison.
He didn't make it far before Mittlet's foot pushed his face into the dirt. "Like we'd tell you anything Devil boy!"
"Izuku!" He heard Asia cry out. The poor girl had been frozen in shock once she saw her friends attacked.
Raynare turned her gaze back to the now prone Devils before spitting on the ground. "Do you get it yet? Have you finally realized how pointless it is to try and be something you're not? This is what happens when the weak try to pretend that they're strong. They get brushed off and cast aside as the trash that they are."
Izuku coughed up blood as he felt the light from the spear poisoning his entire body. It was a familiar feeling. Too familiar.
The pain wasn't even the worst part. He could hear Ochako right beside him. She was writhing in absolute agony, letting out the occasional grunt of pain and discomfort, and there was absolutely nothing he could do to help her. He couldn't move if he wanted to, even if that other Fallen Angel had taken her foot away from his head.
He hated it. This feeling of being useless. He could only wait for the end, his eyes shutting as the pain became too much to bear.
Then the pain stopped.
And instead, he felt an odd warmth.
Opening his eyes, he saw Asia leaning over him, one hand on him, and the other on Ochako as she healed them. He watched as the spear slowly vanished from his chest, with the wound closing itself up as if it were never there at all.
Asia Argento
Sacred Gear:Twilight Healing
This Sacred Gear has the power to near instantly heal almost any wound, even ones that would otherwise be fatal.
"Asia," he heard Raynare say. "I won't ask again. We will finish these two off if you don't come with us now. Your power, your Twilight Healing, is infinitely more valuable than either of them. Now, come with us."
"Well this has 'Bad Idea' written all over it," Mittlet said, out of earshot of all but Kalawarner. "We have all the leverage here, why don't we just kill them now and get it over with?"
Kalawarner scoffed in response. "We're not responsible for cleaning up all of her messes. If this comes back to bite her, that's her problem to deal with, not ours."
Asia took one last look at both Izuku and Ochako, her expression near unreadable as the two watched her stand back up in terror.
"I understand."
She began walking over to the waiting Fallen Angel.
"Asia! Wait!" Izuku cried out.
"Argento! No!" Ochako screamed.
Asia froze as she walked over, turning back around one last time. "Izuku, Ochako. Thank you. I'll never forget today." She gave them both the widest smile she could, even as her eyes began to flood with tears.
"Good girl," Raynare said as Asia made her way over, her own smile doing nothing to hide her malicious intent. "After the ritual, you won't have to suffer ever again."
"Ritual?" Ochako asked as she struggled to her feet.
"Asia! Please! Get away from her!" Izuku screamed as she staggered upward.
"Stay down, trash," Raynare said as she grabbed onto Asia's arm. "She's the only reason you're alive right now. If you try to stop me, I will kill you. And this time, I'll make sure it sticks."
Her warning went ignored as Izuku raced to his feet, rushing at the two with all his might.
But he wasn't fast enough.
Before he could reach them, Asia, whose gaze never left his for an instant, had been wrapped up in Raynare's wings before they both took to the sky. Izuku could do nothing but watch as the two ascended ever higher before vanishing from sight, the other two Fallen Angels joining them shortly afterward. The only thing left behind were the black feathers scattered over the ground.
And the stuffed sheep that Asia had once held close.
He could do nothing but drop to his knees in anguish as he stared at the plushy. She was gone. He couldn't do anything to stop her. To help her. All he could do was lay there as she saved him again. His eyes began to mist as his frustration with himself reached a peak, slamming his fist to the dirt. "Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Asia!" He screamed into the empty sky, but he knew he would get no answer. She was gone now. And it was all his fault.
He kept pounding the ground until he felt a gentle hand touch his shoulder. He didn't turn around. He knew it was Ochako. He didn't want her to see him like this. To see that those two were right. That he really was useless.
"Deku," she began, making him wince. She used that name again, and she said it the same way as before. Like he was more than he thought. But how could he be now?
"We have to save her."
He turned to face her in shock, his eyes widening as he saw tears falling down her own cheeks, yet he could see determination set in. "We can't let them do whatever they're planning to do with her! She's our friend! We can't just leave her behind!"
She was right, and he knew it. He had to wipe his tears away and stand tall. He felt his own convictions growing as he stood to face her, a fire in his eyes that matched hers.
They both knew that the two of them wouldn't be enough. They were going to need some help.
"We're getting her back," Izuku said, his voice shaken, but firm. "No matter what!"
Here's the preview!
Izuku:I might not have been able to help Argento before, but I will now. Please, I need your help.
Ochako:There's no time to lose! She could die!
Izuku:They can send as many of their forces at us as they want. I'm saving my friend!
Ochako:We're all here. It's time.
Next time! Rescue Mission!
Ochako:It ain't gonna be easy, but we'll see it through!
Izuku:Go beyond!
Both:PLUS ULTRA!
(Update:6/21/2023. Someone brought up the fact that Asia's quirk was a lot like Mandalay's. And I completely forgot all about that. So I went back and added a little bit where Izuku brings it up, but I want you all to know that I'm a bit of a dumbass. Which reminds me, has anyone seen my dunce cap? I'm sure I left it around here somewhere and not just on my head.)
Well, this was definitely a bit of a rollercoaster, wasn't it?
Next chapter should be the end of this particular arc, with the next one being a bit of a breather before we hit the Rating Game arc.
After that will be the Entrance Exams. I promise.
We're a ways away from U.A., so get comfortable.
It's always been weird to me that some people really seem to hate that Ochako gives Izuku the nickname that inspires him further than ever before. It's a very simple idea, take something that was once a symbol user to demean turned into one that could be a symbol of strength, of overcoming one's faults. It's a pretty good start for their friendship, and eventual relationship(we all know it's gonna happen). Plus, I just think it's a great character bit for them, with Ochako being the kind and understanding if a bit blunt person, and Izuku as the shy good guy that needs all of that good old fashioned emotional support. I speak from experience when I say that can mean the world to some people.
We also got Asia's quirk here. Kinda just came up with it off the top of my head, but halfway through the chapter I realized it actually fit pretty well for someone who wants to connect with people having a power that lets them do so.
I've also all but named the peerage Ochako's part of, and it should be pretty obvious who it is. Had some people afraid that she'd be part of someone else's, someone far worse, but I promise, I'm not that mean.
Yet.
Ochako also seems to have a Sacred Gear of her own. Interesting, or maybe it would be if people haven't already put it together.
This chapter should have actually been finished a few days ago but…well…Tears Of The Kingdom came out, and I am awful when it comes to doling out time for other things when I get a new game.
Also saw Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 while writing. Great conclusion to the trilogy, even if some scenes were a bit too intense for some people(understandable since they dealt with animal abuse and experimentation). Gives me hope that we'll see some good DC movies from Gunn in the near future. Though given some of what we got before, damn near anything would be an improvement.
Also also, I finally took the time to actually watch season 6 of the anime(yeah, I know, late to the party on that one), and I thought it was the best adaptation of the Manga yet.
And yes, I do really like the final arc going on right now. It's got its issues, but they don't really drag it down for me.
You're all absolutely amazing for taking the time out of your lives to give this story a go. Be sure to leave reviews if you want, let me know what you like or dislike, tell me if I screwed up in spelling anything at all, and always remember to be good, and be kind.