Hey there! Hi there! Ho there! It's ya girl, back at it again with another chapter. Things have gotten a little crazy on my end, as I've picked up some more hours at my job (a physically demanding job) recently and boy am I tired as hell! I had planned on having the next chapter done by today, but I'm only a small part of the way through it. I wanted to write out a one shot at some point too, but that plan was kinda thrown to hell for now. Either way, I'm getting this out to y'all now and I hope y'all enjoy!


It was a terrible day for rain.

The day was bright and sunny, contrasting the black garb of the funeral procession.

Inko's funeral was a short event, being over in the blink of an eye for the young dragon girl.

She was numb, staring at her mother's closed casket.

She never even got to say goodbye.

Her lifeless corpse is more akin to paste, so they couldn't even give her the dignity of an open casket.

It was all her fault, for being so useless.

The generic words of support from people Izumi barely knows simply wash off her, leaving her unfazed and numb.

And she was alone now more than ever.

The only thing that barely kept her rooted, was the soothing grip of her only friend, Momo.

Izumi never even got to say goodbye.

Momo said so much without having to say anything, the warmth of her hand giving her shelter and strength well past her limits. Even if Momo didn't get it, what it was like to see someone die and for it your own fault, she was there to support her friend to the best of her ability.

Strangely enough, it was Taiki who had the best look in his eye.

His piercing gray eyes held no pity and Izumi already had enough pity to last a lifetime.

His eyes showed the weathering of losing loved ones, but his past suffering ran far deeper than Izumi's…or at least that's what Izumi pieced together. How much death or suffering had the butler seen in his lifetime? What kind of person is he at his core? Questions for later.

The worst part of the funeral wasn't when they finally lowered her coffin into the ground.

The worst part of the funeral wasn't when she had to let go of Momo's gentle hand.

The worst part of the funeral wasn't when Auntie Mitsuki completely broke down while giving a speech about 'her Inky'.

The worst part of the funeral wasn't even seeing an oddly well-behaved Katsuki…even he deserved to mourn his auntie's death.

The worst part of the funeral happened long after Inko was put into the ground.

The worst part of it all was that the world kept turning and Izumi felt so still, so stuck, rooted in place and drowning in the emptiness of her head. In her bed, in the middle of the night, and staring up at the ceiling with nothing swirling around her head. She preferred to be empty, but the thoughts wouldn't leave her alone. It was nothing and everything all at once, becoming so suffocating. Every happy moment with her mother that popped into her head spoiled sour, taking on a bitterness that she never wants to swallow.

Despite her need to avoid thinking about it, she couldn't stop thinking about her mother.

When the tears finally came, they couldn't stop.

When her laughter came, it couldn't stop.

When the anguish in her soul came, it couldn't stop.

The violent influx of her emotions tore through her and she was just broken. She couldn't understand why she was laughing so hard, laughing like a maniac with tears rolling down her face and marring her luxuriously expensive pillowcase. She wanted to stop.

To stop laughing.

To stop thinking of her mother.

To stop hearing Katsuki's voice screaming in her head, telling her what she already knows.

To stop feeling!

She just wanted everything to stop.

Why couldn't everything just stop!?

She didn't know when she started hyperventilating, but her laughter and tears never stopped. Panic was setting it from all angles as her world closed in on itself. Pain erupted from her chest as she gripped harshly into her pajama shirt, her claws shredding the fabric with ease. She could feel the rapid heartbeat pounding in her ears, drowning out the world around her to the constant deafening rhythm. Oh gods, she felt like she was dying, she could barely breathe.

She couldn't breathe.

Oh gods, she couldn't breathe.

She didn't know when Momo came into her room, but she's here, saying something that Izumi couldn't hear.

She didn't know when she started talking, but the noise in her own head was deafening, blocking her off from the world outside, Momo's words not reaching her mind.

It was all her fault.

It was all her fault.

It was all her fault.

She should've just died, not her mother!

Why did she have to be so damn useless?

Why did her mother have to leave her?

Why couldn't she just…

"Izumi!"

Izumi doesn't know when her vision blurred, but she starts seeing Momo again.

Her black eyes filled with worry.

Those wonderful onyx gems marred with dread and anxiety, her face twisting to match those worries.

All because of her, so undeserving of this strangling kindness. How long would it even last until they realized she's useless?

How long until they too realize that she killed her own mother?

How long until her own incompetence brings harm onto some of the only people that've been kind to her?

The words Momo says fall on dead ears as her mind continues to spiral, her anxiety placing a stranglehold both on her mind and her throat. She can see the edges of her vision growing darker as panic sets in further, as the burning in her lungs becomes unbearable.

Gods, it feels like she's going to die.

Maybe she deserves it.

At least then she might have a chance at seeing her mother again.


Earlier, Before Izumi's Panic Attack

Despite the rather late hour, Momo had been up for quite a bit, researching as much as she could about helping people through depression and other mental health conditions adjacent to it. Like others might lose track of time during a Civilization game or an anime binge, she lost track of time looking into how to help a friend dealing with grief and mental illnesses, compiling all of her findings into a google document. She still has a lot of questions, especially when it comes to some of the more scholarly articles she had delved into, but she can just ask either her parents or Taiki about it in the morning…speaking of morning, she looks over to the time on her PC and her eyes nearly bulge out of her out. It's currently three in the morning and quite dark outside! She started researching when the sun was still up! When did it get so late?!

She sighs in exasperation and pinches the bridge of her nose, lamenting her carelessness in destroying her sleep schedule. It's been quite a bit of time since she's done something like this, but at least this time it'd hopefully be worth it…it's for her friend after all, her only friend, her best friend.

She smiles while thinking of her new friend, her only friend, returning to her research and promising herself that thirty more minutes wouldn't be too harmful, despite the call of her plush bed and the repeated sag of her eyelids.

Izumi stood brave in the face of her mother's funeral, Momo knows she can resist the siren's call of sleep that tries to pacify her so sweetly.

Only a few minutes pass before she hears something that chills her to the bone.

Hysterical laughter.

Rushing to her bordering wall with Izumi's room, she puts her ear up to the wall and feels her blood run cold with dread.

Izumi's terrifying mixture of hysterical laughing, sobbing, and ragged breathing is going to be a sound that sticks with Momo for the rest of her life. Her mind starts working in overdrive as she breaks out into a run, desperately scrambling to her door because she knows there's something wrong with Izumi.

This time, she's going to be Izumi's hero!

Forgetting any sort of manners, decorum, and grace, she bursts into Izumi's room and rushes over to her bed.

That horrible laughter, so much more clear now that she's in the same room, sends a shock of dread down her spine.

The pained look on the young dragon's face breaks her heart further, making her wonder just how long she had been suffering all alone like this.

The sight before her is heartbreaking.

Izumi's clutching at her chest that's shredded part of her pajama shirt, the look of panic in her eyes is frighteningly muted…as if she isn't all here, her slit eyes are contracted, her breathing both looks and sounds like her throat is closing in on itself, her tears have completely stained her cheeks, and her draconic transformation has triggered…which explains why her shirt is so shredded.

This…this is familiar to Momo.

Momo desperately thinks back to her research, feeling so helpless while watching her only friend in the world suffer…suffer because she isn't a good enough friend to help her. She's suffering because Momo's too panicked to properly help! Anything that should've come to mind turns to a panicked static, giving way to her fear and indecision about how to help her only friend in the whole wide world. Not only that, but she feels incredibly guilty.

She left Izumi to deal with this all on her own, even if Taiki insisted that Izumi needed time to process…Momo could've said no! She could've been a better friend! She could've done something, anything more and she might be like this!

She tries to shake her own self-deprecating thoughts from her mind, wiping away the tears that start blurring her vision. She…she has to do something to help! She has to!

"Izumi! Izumi! It's okay! Just calm down and it'll be okay!" Momo shouts, reaching for her draconic best friend, only to feel her tense up and curl further into a ball as soon as she makes contact, like she's trying to shut out the rest of the world.

Beyond the panicked reaction, Izumi doesn't respond, but she catches a glimpse at the sheer terror in her eyes and she'd never seen anything so ugly in her life.

It's like Izumi's not even there.

Izumi's eyes are dull and lifeless like a dead fish…Momo now starts to understand the term 'dead eyes' and she hates it; it's not something that fits on Izumi, not when she has such a wonderful smile, one with a radiance that makes her believe everything's going to be okay.

"Izumi," Momo's voice comes out as an unsure whisper, Izumi's panicked breaths getting worse by the second.

They're both spiraling and Momo's helpless to stop it…every step she can take, every bit of research she studied all crumble at her feet and fall away from her own panic. Any path forward is consumed by the fog of panic as she watches her friend fall apart right in front of her.

She fails.

Failure isn't allowed!

Yet she fails to help her only friend in her time of need.

After tasting success after success in her life, after the excellence, the perfection, that she's achieved at such a young age…she's simply still a little girl.

A little girl who lives her life in an ivory tower, born with a silver spoon in her mouth.

Looking into her dead eyes was a mistake.

Just make it stop.

"Izumi."

Please, make it stop.

"Izumi!"

Gods, please, just make it stop!"

"Izumi!"

With every call of her friend's name, her voice gets louder and louder, more frantic with every small shake of her friend's head. Izumi is crumbling and she can't do a damn thing about it, when she needs help the most! She just needs it to stop, for something, anything to make it stop, but it was just the two of them stuck in this danse macabre that threatens to pull Izumi further and further down into the depths of her traitorous mind, into her own personal Hades.

"Izumi!"

Forgetting any semblance of decorum, any sense of calm, any sense of grace, any sense of reservation, any sense of self. Momo shouts from the top of her lungs as tears continue to spill from her face.

She…she can't do anything, nothing she does is working! No matter how much she shouts, pleads, or…or…she can't do a damn thing to help! She can feel the hot tears continue to mar her face, flowing freely with this bitter taste of powerlessness. She feels frozen in place, fear strangling her from trying anything more, afraid of making her friend's panic worse.

She needs to do something!

Anything!

Her breathing's only getting worse and she's just standing there like a useless idiot!

No matter what she's been taught in school, no matter the etiquette bestowed onto her by Taiki, no matter…Wait! Taiki! That's it! That's something she can do. He…he has to know what to do in situations like these! She needs to call an adult!

She turns out and runs to the bedroom door, dashing to the intercom that's nestled by its side. She presses on the button that connects to Taiki's room, fumbling and missing an embarrassing amount of times from the way her hands are shaking. She can barely think straight, feeling her heartbeat in her own ears…what comes out of her mouth could probably be considered babble and childish and pleading, but she doesn't care! She just needs to make sure Izumi gets the help she needs!

She can hear Taiki's voice coming from the intercom, coming out quick and panicked, "On my way," is all he says, sparing no time for formalities.

With the line crackling back to silence, Izumi's panicked breathing and hysterical sobs become the center of her mind once more. Turning back around, she can feel her mind go blank once more, like she's watching two cars about to wreck and can't do a single damn thing to stop it. She…she hates this, hates feeling this way…she can't hug her and make all these bad feelings go away! She can't say anything that would help, even if she could think of something, anything.

If it feels like eternity to her, how does Izumi feel?

What kind of excruciating pain is she going through?

Did…did Momo make it worse?

Oh Gods, did she make it worse?

Taiki throws open Izumi's bedroom door, turns on the light, and rushes immediately to Momo, but she frantically pushes him off while barely managing to direct him to Izumi, "Please, please, she's hurting! Not me, please please please help her! Something's wrong! Please Taiki! Please!"

The trail of tears and snot running down Momo's face is a sight Taiki hasn't seen in a while. He doesn't think he's ever seen the Young Mistress so upset before…not since she threw a tantrum about not being able to see her 'papa' when she was around four years old. He'd be a bit happier about it if she wasn't so upset.

His gaze turns to Izumi and a sense of dread runs up his spine. The look on her face is simply haunting, reminding him of so many friends that he's lost over the years. He's similar looks on his fellow veteran buddies, the ones that couldn't make the transition back to civilian life.

He'd know that haunting look anywhere.

Pushing down the panic, he injects ice into his veins, knowing that panicking would get him absolutely nowhere. He's learned his lessons from dealing with this sort of thing before, he just hopes that he can help the young girl who saved his life.

He couldn't fail again.

He's by her side in an instant, letting his calm voice resonate clearly, "Young Miss, it's okay now, I'm here for you. The young Mistress is here too, but I need you to just breathe for me. I need you to nod for me, can you nod for me?"

Izumi doesn't seem to respond, her ragged breathing only continuing with the sheer terror in her eyes. This certainly isn't a good sign, but he knows a trick that might help here. He's about to get up from his spot on Izumi's bed when the sniffling and crying of his young mistress sparks an idea in his head. She can help both of them at the same time and perhaps provide an anchor for the young dragon.

He immediately gets up, heading over to the dresser while relaying instructions to the young heiress, "Young Mistress, please sit next to the young Miss. Everything's going to be okay, but I'm going to need your help for this next part."

Momo had started to panic more when Taiki got up, but his explanation puts a little bit of hope back into her heart…she…she can still help her friend! She just needs to follow what he says, needs to put her all into this.

She can't fail again!

She quickly wipes the snot and tears from her face as best she can, trying to calm down while rushing over to her only friend. She climbs up onto the bed, only to have another up close look of the sheer terror in Izumi's eyes. She…she feels herself freeze again, but a gentle hand pushes her out of it.

It's Taiki.

He gently nudges Momo to sit a bit closer to Izumi before putting both hands on the item he retrieved. He lets the weighted blanket in his hands open up as he gives calm instructions to Izumi, "Young Miss, I'm going to wrap you up in a weighted blanket, it's going to be okay."

While he's not sure if she heard him, he still needs to try. Grabbing both ends of the blanket, he flourishes it out and behind the young pair, before letting the ends meet together.

Izumi's head shoots up as she feels weight on her wings and shoulders, feeling something is trying to chain her down. She feels herself fall further into the panic that grips her heart, her body ready to thrash out from what's around her…but she feels…she feels a small injection of calm as something else touches her shoulder.

Onyx

Her gaze meets a pair of beautiful Onyx gems that shine so brightly in her hoard and a warmth begins to spread through her, comforting her now that each part of her hoard is in its proper place around her. The haze from her eyes clears slightly as she's slowly able to take in the world around her, but fixates on Momo's tearstained face.

"That's it, Young Miss, we're here. You're doing so great. Just focus on my voice, okay? Breathe with me, okay?"

Oh, right, the burning in her lungs.

The momentary reprieve from her panic begins to ebb away, but the pause is more than enough for her to start breathing along with Taiki. Taiki exaggerates his breath to make it easier for Izumi to follow along and Momo can't help but look in awe at the pair, at Taiki. He…he's doing it! He's managing to calm her down and that eases quite a bit of the uncertainty in Momo's heart, feeling more tears begin to streak across her face…at least they're from relief this time.

Izumi just simply focuses on breathing, letting Taiki's words of affirmation and praise calm the stormy thoughts putting a stranglehold on her heart. Slowly, steadily, she starts to feel like her throat opens up, letting her get her breath back as her body slowly relaxes, simply exhausted from the fatigue of a rather nasty panic attack. Deep hiccups and sobs jerk her body every now and again, still feeling quite emotional and vulnerable from the thoughts that tore into her heart, but she's able to follow simple Taiki's instructions.

Taiki, for his part, can feel a deep relief resonate from his core. He was worried that he might've needed to call emergency services, but his gambit had managed to work. Despite his current relief, he feels that nagging in the back of his head, knowing that this one time won't be the end of it…he very much knows how these kinds of problems linger and appear, seemingly from nowhere.

Izumi's body gravitates towards the warmth inside the weighted blanket, finding it a bit odd how comforting it is…like her quirk is basically purring from being so close to it.

As Izumi is able to ground herself more and more in reality through Taiki's aid, she looks over to the source of comfort…Momo?! As Izumi looks over, she sees her only friend in the whole wide world looking like a complete mess. Her eyes are rather bloodshot and she can see smears and streaks of tears and snot that she's barely been able to clean up. Worst of all, she looks rather upset and worried and that simply makes both her and her quirk bristle.

Comfort. Console. Soothe.

Her Momo is hurting from something and she needs to do something about it, despite the exhaustion that makes her body feel like jelly. She needs to help her Momo.

"Are you okay, Momo?"

The fragility in Izumi's voice snaps Momo's attention right back onto her, away from the self-deprecating thoughts of failure that weigh her down like chains. A clear look of concern adorns Izumi's tear soaked face, exhaustion making itself known from how droopy her eyes seem. Despite her tiredness, she reaches up with one of her clawed hands, gently wiping away at some of her tears.

The show of tenderness from the dragon girl is rather adorable, but Taiki can't help but feel rather concerned at her reaction…it's like she doesn't care about what just happened to her and is fixated completely on Momo.

Of all the…Momo should be the one asking her that! Momo wasn't the one who just had the flippin panic attack! Izumi's way too selfless for her own good! Momo can barely believe it!

Despite the indignation, Momo can't help but lean into the contact with a small whimper, feeling her own tears start to flow freely once more. All she needed was that small push and she becomes a complete mess. Momo can't help the loneliness in her heart that blooms, the dread she was just put through, and the desire for the kind of friendship that would last beyond this lifetime. Everything just bursts forth and there isn't a damn thing Momo can do to stop it.

Momo immediately throws herself into her only true friend's arms, burying her face into the crook of Izumi's neck and tightly wrapping her arms around Izumi's neck. Her sobs begin to tear themselves from her throat, further betraying the image of a well put together heiress of an influential family. Izumi barely even budges, her enhanced strength letting her easily take Momo into her arms without falling over…Izumi's never had a hug like this, at least from someone that wasn't her mom.

Taiki can only put a hand on his young mistress' shoulder as she let's her emotions run wild. Izumi's eyes shoot to him with concern and questioning, still kind of unsure about why she's panicking so much.

Taiki can't help but sigh softly, a bit concerned about her lack of self-preservation, "The young Mistress and I were quite worried about you, young Miss. I'm glad to see you're back with us now, we both are," Taiki takes the time to wrap the weighted blanket around the pair a little tighter, wanting to make them feel as safe as possible together.

Despite the personal hell Izumi was just subjected to, Momo can't help but completely fall apart in front of her, can't help but be the one who needs comfort too. Shocks of guilt rip through her mind as she incoherently mumbles out apologies in a rather unsightly manner, knowing that Momo herself should be the one comforting her friend…she tries to say as much, but it all comes out as complete mess of mumbles and sobs against the wettening skin of Izumi's neck.

Izumi can feel her quirk bristle with the same feelings from before.

Comfort. Console. Soothe.

Her body simply moves on its own.

Still sniffling softly, not quite feeling like everything was quite alright yet, Izumi still finds the strength to delicately pull Momo in closer. They're both not okay and that's okay. They can take solace in one another's warmth and make it through together.

Stray tears still run down Izumi's face, but her need to focus on her Momo banishes away quite a few of the remnants of whatever it was she just experienced…Izumi's pretty sure it was a panic attack, but she's never had one that bad before. Thoughts for later, comfort her Momo, now.

Izumi is about to run her fingers through Momo's hair, but she notices that her draconic transformation is active when she sees her own fingers; her fingers are a deep black color and have a razor sharp point…yeah, she was not letting her scissor hands anywhere near Momo's head or neck. So she simply just rubs circles along Momo's back, doing her best to soothe the young heiress.

Despite the fragility in her voice and the loud sniffles, Izumi comforts her the best she can, "It's okay, Momo. I am here…I'm sorry if I upset you, but I'm better. It's okay. Thank you for helping me," she looks up to Taiki with a fragile smile on her face, "And thank you, Mr. Taiki."

Momo tightens her hug around her draconic friend, feeling even more upset that her friend was comforting her! After a damn panic attack! Ugh, Momo just feels so weak; she has to pull it together…but she could stay like this for a little longer, right?

Momo can't remember the last time she cried, the last time she was truly able to display something so 'unladylike'. She had the Yaoyorozu name to worry about, she couldn't be like other kids, she always had to present her best, she always had to be in control. Sure, her parents and Taiki always made it clear that they were there for her in private, but the expectations of being an heiress would sometimes get to be too much for Momo. Her family, yes that includes Taiki, is wonderful, but it's not the same as having a friend that she could talk to. It's not the same as having someone she could truly confide in, to allow her guard to completely drop.

Izumi is the only nonfamilial person to see this side of her.

It's rather liberating.

She can't help but start to giggle, hiccups being mixed into the bunch to form a rather strange cacophony of sound and emotion.

Momo feels free, like she could just be herself if Izumi stays by her side.

Gods it feels good to laugh.

Momo's tries to talk, but her voice mumbles against Izumi's neck, giggles and hiccups still escaping her throat in between sobs.

Taiki balks from the sight and sound of his young mistress, knowing just how cathartic a good cry can feel and how emotions and words can just come spilling out because of it. To witness something like this in the young heiress is something both bitter and pleasant…he wishes that she doesn't have to cry like this, but he's glad that she can release all those pent up emotions.

Izumi…well, she had no damn clue what to think. She knows that she was hysterically laughing not but a few minutes ago, but Momo was having some sort of similar…thing happen to her, but she seems genuinely jovial.

Is that a good sign? That's probably a good sign right? She's heard Momo giggle before, but this feels so unrestrained. Is she okay? Should she try and ask Taiki what to do? He seems smart, he helped her after all! Why was she crying in the first place? She's this worried about her? Is that why she's crying? She seemed rather apologetic about it…

The sounds of unrestrained laughter fill the room and Izumi can't help but love the way her laugh sounds. She could feel Momo's hug begin to relax away from its deathgrip, but she still leans so eagerly into Izumi's neck. Momo shifts her head slightly, letting her nose press into the crook of Izumi's neck to free her mouth from being muffled.

"You were mumbling, Zumi," despite the smile that's evident in her tone, Momo sounds rather exhausted.

"O-Oh…sorry…are you okay?"

That was apparently the wrong question to ask.

Continuing her display of 'unladylike' qualities, Momo groans quite audibly from the question, "I should be asking you that. I was supposed to comfort you…"

Izumi can't help the smile that creeps onto her face, already starting to feel a bit lighter despite the complete mental and physical exhaustion that aches in her bones, "Oh…well, sorry."

That was also apparently the wrong thing to say.

Momo groans louder this time and pushes up and away from the hug, sitting back onto the bed with the smallest of pouts on her face. Izumi's able to see Momo's face again and despite the small smile that's on her face, it's clear she's feeling guilty and a bit frustrated. Momo sniffs a few times before wiping the tears away from her eyes, trying to pull herself together to have an actual conversation with her best friend.

Thinking about what she has to say, her smile turns into a slight grimace as she forces the words out, "Don't…Don't apologize, Zumi…I'm…I'm sorry I did that. I should've comforted you and I went and just made it all about me. I…I'm so sorry…I just…when I saw you panic, I panicked and I couldn't do anything and I failed…I failed and I'm so sorry, Izumi."

She looks back up to Izumi, her onyx eyes shining with determination that completely enthralls the young dragon. However, under that, she can see a deep burning sadness…she can see something weighing her down as she struggles to keep more tears away from her bloodshot eyes. Momo still needs comfort and, frankly, Izumi needs to be comforted too.

Izumi gives a shy wobbly smile before responding, "W-Well, we both n-needed the comfort, Momo. I'm j-just glad I was able to help…a-and you did help m-me…I feel a lot better now that you're here…so, thank you, both of you."

Izumi can feel a vibrant blush light up her face. No one has ever done something like this before, aside from her mother. No one's ever cared about Izumi like this, no one's ever cried over her being so distraught, no one's ever connected with her like this. She's never enjoyed this kind of closeness with someone before and she hasn't even known Momo for very long…yet, somehow, they managed to form such a strong bond in an instant. Is this what friendship, true friendship, is supposed to feel like?

Taiki coughs, interrupting the pair to interject, "I have to agree with the young Miss, you helped plenty. Helping someone through an ordeal like this isn't a walk in the park and you haven't been trained to do it either. You didn't fail, young Mistress."

Momo's smile returns, a small brightness in the dark from Izumi's and Taiki's kind words, "I…okay…I'm glad I was able to help, even if just a little bit…I think you had a panic attack, Zumi…I was researching a lot of mental health topics because of all that's happened to you recently, and I think I recognize some of your symptoms. Have you had panic attacks before? Do you want to talk about it?"

Izumi can't help but tear up again at that…Momo had spent her free time trying to find ways to help her.

Izumi doesn't deserve someone like Momo.

Momo is the best thing that's ever happened to her and she's going to repay that kindness back twentyfold!

"I'm…W-Well, I'm not o-okay, but I-I'm okay…err…if t-that makes sense. I-I'm still r-really sad about m-my mom and I-I kinda…well, yeah, I've h-had panic attacks b-before and my head c-can kinda spiral, b-but I'm okay now…I'm m-more worried about y-you. A-Are you s-sure, you're, okay?"

True to Izumi, she's more concerned about someone else than herself, not that Momo knows that particular trait in full quite yet.

Momo feels slightly uncomfortable with the focus being turned back onto her, but she can't dream of lying to her Izumi about…well anything, "It's just…I hated seeing you like that, when I could've done something to prevent that…I felt like such a failure…and it seems we're quite similar with our spiraling thoughts…We're quite the mess aren't we?"

The last question comes out with a bit of bitter humor in her voice, causing the three of them to chuckle together. Taiki's seen that kind of trait more time than he can count…Gods know he was such a mess in his youth. In their own ways, the young pair are certainly quite the little messes too.

A bit of silence hangs in the air before Taiki wants to make sure that this sort of thing never happens again, "Young Miss, I believe that you should talk to a therapist. You've been through quite a lot as of late and, with your history of panic attacks, I believe it'd be wise for you to have a professional be able to teach you how to manage these sorts of feelings. I'd like to set something up if you let me."

Izumi cringes at the thought; her mother tried putting her in therapy before, but all the adults were just the same. She was just the quirkless crybaby who needed to toughen up a bit and she was the one doing something wrong, not the other kids who hurt her. After a few therapists, she just stopped going and never gave her mother a concrete answer why…she really should've been more honest with her.

Beyond that, the Yaoyorozus and the Bakugous were the only adults she trusts. She can't imagine spilling her private thoughts and feelings to an adult that would've considered her to be less than nothing because of her quirk status, even if she's no longer quirkless. She has trauma regarding adults in positions of power over her and she's not keen on making herself vulnerable again.

Izumi opens her mouth to politely refuse the offer, but she notices the worry that stains the beauty of Momo's Onyx gems is enough to give her pause. She…she can't say no, not when her Momo is making a face like that…and Taiki did bring up quite a few good points, he'd hate to scare Momo like this again. Hopefully, this time will be different? She'd need to be careful, but maybe she could find someone that was less abysmal than the rest? Izumi didn't feel confident about it, but she'd at least try.

For Momo.

"...Okay, Mr. T-Taiki…" her attention turns back to Momo, "…but, Momo…you're…you're not a-a failure. I should've s-said this earlier t-too…but you're n-not a failure. Y-You're really awesome a-and kind and like n-no one I've e-ever met before…s-so thank you f-for being my friend," despite her hesitance, her voice warms as she tries her best to reassure Momo.

Her friend's reassurances catch her off-guard, causing her to blush slightly from the sudden praise and losing her ability to respond for a few moments, "O-Oh, thank you, Zumi…You are too…but we're better than friends right? Izumi…you're my only friend. Even if it's technically by default, you're my best friend…I've never been this close to someone before, so can we be best friends?"

This wholesome exchange of heartfelt compliments causes Izumi to blush along with her friend…is this how people normally become best friends? Hell if Izumi knows, but this…this feels amazing. Maybe it's because it came after such an emotionally charged breakdown, but the high this kind of connection bestows is like nothing she's ever had before.

"O-Oh…s-sure, M-Momo. I'd l-love to be b-best friends," Izumi's voice comes out hesitantly, but the warmth and excitement are quite evident and it spreads to the young heiress.

Each of the pair catches the other's eye and they can't help but smile so radiantly at one another, as if all their problems had been carried off by the tide.

"Wonderful…Oh, and Zumi…you kinda tore your shirt up. I'll bring you another one, but you should detransform, as I don't think your shirt will fit over your wings."

There's a bit of mirth in Momo's tone, but Izumi looks down and sees the large holes that she tore into her shirt. An 'Oh' is all she can offer, making Momo chuckle softly in a way that sounds like music to Izumi.

"That sounds like a good idea, young Mistress," Taiki interjects, standing up to his full height, "I'll make us some tea in the meantime, it should help with keeping you calm, young Miss. I will return shortly. If anything else happens, use the intercom to ring up kitchen number three and I'll be here swiftly," Taiki gives a formal bow before excusing himself, leaving the emotionally exhausted pair to their own devices for the moment.

With Taiki gone, she starts going through the process of destransforming, remembering the mental picture that worked well for her.

'I'm a sponge. I'm a sponge that needs to soak up water; bring everything back into myself with my breath.'

After a bit of practice in the hospital, it's easier to transform herself back into her base state, opening her eyes to see her newly crowned 'best friend' staring so eagerly at the sight, spare shirt already in hand and standing at the edge of her bed.

"That's always so cool to watch, Zumi!" Momo can't help but beam, finding Izumi's quirk to be rather fascinating both in concept and in practice.

Now that Izumi's head is clear, this is the time she notices Momo calling her 'Zumi' and blushes quite profusely at the nickname.

The last time she was given a nickname didn't go so well.

Deku has a certain ring to it and not the good kind.

'Zumi' though…it felt warm, everything from Momo feels so warm.

"Z-Zumi?" Izumi hesitantly questions.

It takes a few moments for Momo's brain to process that she did in fact address Izumi by a nickname…multiple times in fact, but her blush returns in force, "O-Oh, sorry if you don't like it…I didn't realize I was calling you that. I can stop if you…"

"No!...I mean, oh, wow…I-I think I r-really like that n-nickname," she physically felt her quirk crawl up to respond to that, but she can't help but agree with it…she really likes the nickname and doesn't want to see Momo any sort of upset.

The 'no' from her instincts wasn't forceful, but it was firm. Izumi's instincts desired to have that name, wanting to wear it like a badge of honor, a mark from her best friend. Who was she to deny it…it is a really cute nickname. Momo's smile brightens from her friend's declaration and she sets the shirt down next to her official best friend.

Momo gives a soft giggle before responding, a bit of hesitance in her voice, "Sure…but only if you nickname me too, Zumi."

It's awesome having a friend like Momo.

Mostly to distract herself from her own embarrassment and ever increasing blush, Izumi takes the spare shirt and begins taking off her current tattered shirt, "O-Oh well…um, I could just call you Mochan? I-Is that okay?"

Momo has stars in her eyes from the nickname…no one had ever given her a nickname before! Just like some of her favorite stories, bonding through nicknames is certain to make them grow closer!

"That's a perfect nickname, Zumi! I'm so glad that you're my best friend."

Truth be told, Momo might've been happy with nearly anything as a nickname, just so long as it came from her Zumi. Izumi truly feels like a million dollars…what did she do to ever deserve someone as amazing as Mochan? Momo's mood is surprisingly much lighter, but parts of that come crumbling down when she sees the scars on Izumi's torso.

The scars.

The one on her stomach is the freshest, the one from when she saved her entire family and part of the concrete chunk stabbed into her gut. The jagged scar looks like it's been through months of healing, not looking as jarring as it should, but it's the other unknown scars that makes Momo's anxiety and anger flourish back to life.

Now that she sees that Izumi has other scars, she has less burn scars than Momo thought she would've had…Was Bakugou not her main tormentor? Izumi only has a couple small ones and they are rather easy to miss. The other scars look like they came from sharp objects, granting only a mild discoloration when compared to the rest of the surrounding skin. Momo can just barely pick them out in the dim lighting and the sight of them makes anger begin to bubble up from her gut.

Izumi's damn classmates…former classmates.

After hearing about what they did to her, even if it wasn't a whole lot of detail, these scars were telling…but angry thoughts are for later.

Momo shakes her head and looks away when she realizes that she's been staring, but it doesn't take Izumi long to get on her shirt and turn her attention back to her best friend. She gives a soft smile that lights up Momo's world, making her return that brilliant soft smile with butterflies in her stomach.

Neither child knew what to say to the other, so they stood and sat there awkwardly, desperately trying to come up with something new to say. It's a struggle until Taiki comes back into the room with a cart full of tea supplies. He pours the pair and himself a cup of lavender tea to help calm their frayed nerves from such a harrowing night. Things could have turned out quite differently and all of them were rather thankful it wasn't worse than it was.

After enjoying their tea and small spots of small conversation, Momo fails to stifle a yawn, but covers her mouth so as to not be rude.

Izumi can't stop her own yawn either, her body giving a rather frank reminder of how exhausted she is, "Mochan…I-I don't want to keep you any longer. We're both t-tired and should g-go to sleep."

Izumi sounds so conflicted at the thought of not being able to talk to Momo and Momo completely agrees with the sentiment. Frankly, that's hogwash! There's no way in the Nine Hells she's leaving Izumi alone after such a severe panic attack! That…and Momo doesn't want to go back to her empty room, the threat of loneliness being too much for her to bear at the moment.

The nickname takes Taiki by surprise, but he doesn't show it. He's rather happy about the pair getting closer, so at least one good thing came out of Izumi's panic attack tonight. The young Mistress really needs a true friend her age.

Momo nervously rubs her arm, a small blush adorning her face, "Well…maybe we could have a sleepover like the young girls in my book. We could just sleep in the same bed, if that's okay with you Zumi. Can we, Taiki, please?"

Gods, she could never say no to those puppy dog eyes, not that Izumi even wants to at the moment, "O-Oh, w-well, sure…if that's okay with, Mr. Taiki…but maybe w-we can do a proper s-sleepover later, but I don't mind going t-to sleep together, Mochan."

The pair looks to Taiki and he offers a soft smile, "Of course, as long as you two go straight to sleep."

Soft smiles are had all around as the pair seek to comfort one another before heading off to bed. Taiki makes his exit, wishing the pair a restful sleep before Momo slides into Izumi's bed and gets herself situated and comfy…It's surprisingly easy to do next to her best friend…she's still quite giddy about becoming best friends!

After Momo gets situated, Izumi reaches out and gently grasps Momo's hand, giving her a soft smile as she feels sleep begin to edge along her mind.

That simple comfort was enough to mean the world to the pair.

They could take on the world if they were holding hands, at least that's what it feels like for them.

Even after everything, such a simple comfort was enough to quell the spiraling thoughts, the anxieties, the everything that threatened each of them. Izumi in particular feels so whole. Those dazzling onyx gems are in the best place, in her hoard, bringing her a level of comfort that she can't begin to put into words.

Her Mochan.

Her Onyx.

Her best friend.

She's going to make sure her Mochan will shine the brightest.

Momo can feel sleep beginning to take her as well, gently squeezing her best friend's hand to provide what little comfort she can in this small moment so late at night.

This is her hero.

Her best friend.

Her Zumi.

She's going to do everything in her power to make sure her Zumi knows just how much she's valued, how much she cares for the dragon girl.


Well...I did say it was going to get worse before it gets better and we're about to see more of the upswing with some bumps along the way. I'm pretty stoked about being able to start writing about how Izumi comes into her maid/bodyguard role, so look forward to that! The next couple of chapters should be seeing some elements of maid duties beginning to form...and that element is coming to fruition after 40k words into the story...hope y'all are in this for the long haul! It'll be a little bit before we make it to UA! Anyway, I'm not sure about my new schedule, but I'll shoot for the next update being three weeks from now, so August 26th. Depending on how my schedule shapes up, there might be a delay, but I'll keep y'all posted.

Stay hydrated, my readers!

EDIT (10/15): So, I decided to rewrite parts of this chapter that I wasn't happy with. Changed it so that Taiki is the main person to get Izumi out of her panic attack and Momo tries her best. I decided to change the scene after getting some criticism I agreed with; I didn't want to leave the scene the way it is as it has a few character moments that are going to be important the more the story moves forward. Momo struggles with indecisiveness and panic in canon as a teen, so as a nine year old and under the pressure of something being wrong with her only friend, she'd fumble the ball a little bit. When Momo and Izumi start training to be heroes, this'll come up a bit more depth and she'll have chances to grow a little earlier than she does in canon. This is the plan I'm going forward with, sorry to everyone who preferred the old version of the scene! I tried keep as much of the older scene as I can, but hopefully it's not a bit jumbled...I checked it over to make sure, but I've missed bigger things before. Either way, hope ya enjoy!


Reviews

To Guest: So at Izumi's current age (9), RyuuKyuu should be around 19 and still in a hero university. If the Yaoyorozus go with a tutor now or sometime in the near future, it'd be someone else. I have some plans for Izumi learning how to manage her quirk, but it's going to be incomplete/not quite fit her instincts. This'll open up a chance for growth and mentorship during her time in UA from people like Hound Dog. For her internship, I actually plan on having her go with Mirko to teach her how to work with her quirk, as Mirko can provide a more unique perspective because her quirk is based on a prey animal; I think most pros we see with animal based quirks are on the predator side of the spectrum, so it'd be an interesting shift in thinking for Izumi. I'd like Ryuukyuu to play a roll in her mentorship too, but these are only general plans so far. It's gonna be a bit until I get to write about that! I'm glad you like the story so far and thank you for the support!

To Dragon Master Naruto 003: Oh, they're gonna have a lot of cute moments together as they grow into their roles. It's gonna be all sapphic and wholesome and I can't wait! I'm always glad to see someone wanting more of this story, so thank you for support! I'm glad you're enjoying this so far!