Hey there! Hi there! Ho there! So...yeah, life's been coming at me sideways in ways I really haven't been appreciating. Aside from the usual bs, my car's in the shop and it looks like the bill's gonna be around $2000...possibly more. I was putting off writing this for so long, but I was able to put more hours into it on Friday and today...so it looks like I'll keep my second deadline after I got my second wind. I was only able to give a light proofread, so I there might be more mistakes than usual hiding out in here. Sorry if it's particularly bad! After a bit of writer's block, I was able to finagle this chapter into something I can at least be okay with, but this is a chapter I might end up sprucing up a bit in the future. There are scenes in this that I could've actually shown and not explained, but I didn't think they were as important as the main scenes I was trying to drive home and focus on. Either way, I've rambled enough. I hope ya enjoy!


In the following weeks after Izumi's panic attack, her mental state didn't improve much. Nightmares, panic attacks, and feelings of worthlessness were a constant present for Izumi, so much so that she tried isolating herself. She just couldn't deal with the outside world while feeling so turbulent…it didn't help that she was still trying to get used to her new instincts and body, something that felt so infuriatingly foreign and familiar at the same time. She just couldn't get her head wrapped around them, especially the newfound strength in her body. She'd broken quite a few furnishings in her room, her door especially…that had to be replaced quite a few times, something she felt particularly guilty about. Fine control was still quite hard for her, but it's not like she had the energy to try and practice it. To add onto the list of troubles with her quirk, she found that her nose was much more sensitive than before she got her quirk, to the point of it being quite overwhelming enough to cause a headache.

Despite her mood, Momo was the person who didn't let her sink further into the void of depression.

Momo was truly her guardian angel.

Momo was there for her every day, spending as much time as she could with her best friend. While schooling and private tutoring took up quite a bit of her time, she was there to smother the darkness that threatened to enveloped her Zumi.

She comforted her after her panic attacks and got Taiki for when she couldn't.

She soothed her after her nightmares.

She was just there when Izumi couldn't deal with the rest of the world.

Truth be told, it might've been annoying to anyone else, but Izumi found her presence to be quite calming. Her scent alone was enough to bring the smallest of smiles to Izumi's face, a floral medley of lavender and rose, with the smallest hints of cinnamon. It was the one scent she couldn't get enough of and one that didn't overwhelm her newly enhanced nose. Among her newly moved hoard, having her Mochan there amongst everything she values is quite comforting.

Speaking of her hoard, Taiki and Momo had helped Izumi move her precious belongings into her new room, from the apartment she used to live in. It was a rather bitter moment for the young dragon, acting as another nail in her mother's coffin that she couldn't ignore.

Her mother's dead.

She's never coming back.

It's all her fault.

It's all her own damn fault!

Izumi's thoughts spiraled violently as self-loathing set in, trapping her in a death spiral that might've consumed her, if it wasn't for her Mochan. She didn't know how Momo knew her thoughts were turning ugly, but a gentle gesture was enough for her to break down. Momo simply gripped Izumi's hand to comfort the girl, but ended up being a shoulder to cry on as Izumi clung to her like a lifeline, babbling nonsense that couldn't be understood over her violent sobbing…the hug was a little bit too tight, but Momo didn't dare complain about it. Both Momo and Taiki were there to put the pieces back together.

On the brighter side of events, Momo and Taiki helped Izumi decorate her new room, setting up her new hoard because Izumi couldn't trust herself not to break her most valuable possessions. Truth be told, it was a rather mundane event until Momo found the Matryoshka dolls that she had made for Izumi while she was in the hospital. When placement for them came up, Izumi had a primal feeling bubble up into the forefront of her mind, becoming the singular thing she fixated on, demanding that the dolls made in her likeness be set above everything else. Momo was a little confused about the why, so she asked and received an answer that made butterflies flutter so pleasantly in her stomach.

"Because of all the items I have, those are the most important; you gave them to me, Mochan…so I think my quirk is literally trying to put them above everything else…sorry if that's weird."

It almost felt wrong to put the dolls above All Might himself, but Momo didn't complain about it because of the radiant joy that overflowed from her belly…it was clear Izumi valued her quite highly and it made her feel funny…not a bad kind of funny, but something that felt embarrassing or made her feel vulnerable…even with her advanced vocabulary and upper class demeanor, she didn't have the maturity to express how it made her feel. Despite that, it's not a feeling she'd hate experiencing again.

Even though Momo was doing a lot for her best friend, Taiki wasn't having much luck getting Izumi to go out for therapy, not even with Momo's help…and when they brought a therapist to do a home visit, it was one of the few times Izumi had lashed out in anger. The therapist had been brought to Izumi's door and she had tried entering without Izumi's express permission, having ignored Taiki's warnings. She tried pushing her way into Izumi's domain, her hoard. She was an intruder, another adult that failed her like so many, a defiler who wanted to know all her secrets. Lucky for her, she was only forced out…harshly…enough to break an arm and twist an ankle when she impacted against the wall of the other side of the hallway.

She was lucky she didn't hit the glass window a few feet to either side or she would've learned what defenestration means.

Izumi wasn't a violent person, but she couldn't find it in her to feel too badly about the harm she caused, feeling her quirk physically huff with her. The 'therapist' was just another adult that didn't care about her, just like everyone else…aside from the Yaoyorozus, Bakugous, and her late mother. When she had to explain to Taiki why she acted the way she did, it was a struggle to put it into words, why she felt so uncomfortable, why she felt the need to physically defend her domain, but Taiki understood and asked Izumi to keep an open mind about talking to other therapists…ones that would actually respect her boundaries. Truth be told, Taiki felt a little guilty that he'd put that joke of a therapist in a position to create further discomfort and harm for the young girl. He apologized profusely for doing such and failing her a second time, something he desperately hopes to make up for.

Izumi was rather surprised by that and she could feel the apology soothe her quirk, smothering the sparks of rage that bubbled just below the surface. The feeling of anger that fueled her physical actions was more jarring to her…she hated feeling angry like that. Anger was never an emotion she experienced or processed, as her old life was akin to that of a doormat. Experiencing it so freely for the first time in years was quite uncomfortable for the young dragon, making her actively push down on her quirk and the anger the prideful beast made her feel.

Taiki though…Izumi felt comfortable around Taiki. He has this calm presence and she doesn't mind it when he's among her hoard. Truth be told, he's one of the few adults that she doesn't mind and actually holds affection for. The man takes care of Momo quite well and has extended his care to her too…Bigger than any of that, Taiki willingly and directly apologized to her…no adults ever do that for her, heck, not even the kids her age really did that. Despite their short time knowing each other, Taiki has earned a place in her heart and she expressed as much with a tight hug. Izumi already forgave Taiki and he couldn't be any happier about that, that he hadn't completely lost her trust.

Even with that setback, Izumi was showing steady healing to the point where she wasn't isolating herself all the time anymore…just most of the time. She'd actually voluntarily leave her room to go eat dinner with Momo, something Momo was overwhelmingly joyous about. When Izumi was still trying to be by herself, she'd always had a servant bring the meals to her bedroom and the pair would eat there. Seeing her Zumi take a step forward was something that filled her with elation.

Despite Momo's stubbornness, she couldn't be with her Zumi for every minute of the day. She had school, self-defense training, private tutoring, etiquette training, etc. Currently, she's not glued to Izumi's side and in self-defense training, much to Momo's irritation. This leaves Izumi alone with her thoughts, hiding from the world in her room and missing her greatest comfort.

She thinks about her Mochan quite a bit nowadays and today is no different. Her Mochan has done quite a bit for Izumi, provided so much comfort and was a big part of her home opening up to the young dragon. She's so thankful for every moment she's shared with her Mochan, every scrap of comfort that's been offered. The current problem plaguing Izumi's overactive brain is how in the hell could she begin to repay Momo and her family? What do you get the girl who has everything, the family who can procure anything they desire? More importantly, what is something Izumi can do that the Yaoyorozus would find valuable? What would Momo find valuable?

Despite Izumi's frustration and self-depreciating thoughts of being a burden, a leech, she can't help but smile brightly when she thinks of her Mochan.

Her Mochan.

Her.

That 'her', that possessive compulsion she feels bubble up inside her is both quite jarring and quite comforting. The claim over a best friend title is something that makes the deepest depths of her soul sing out with a 'Hallelujah!', but it feels…weird? Momo is Izumi's friend and no one else's and Izumi is Momo's friend is no one else's…it's like they belong to one another, and it just feels so weird that she feels a potent sense of comfort in knowing that. Are these feelings wrong to have? Will Momo feel weirded out that she feels this way? Izumi feels weirded out that she feels this way. She's never felt this way about someone before.

Despite the weirdness around her quirk and the trouble it's caused, it's also been one of the things that's gotten her out of bed in multiple ways. Her drive to be with her Mochan was instrumental in getting her out of bed, but her own curiosity and analysis of her own quirk was something that kept her occupied. Her newest entry in her hero notebooks were all about her quirk and she couldn't help but try to analyze a lot of the weird new compulsions she felt.

Speaking of.

Her thoughts break when she both feels and hears her stomach rumble rather loudly.

'Already?' Is the only word that escapes her lips, finding this part of her quirk both interesting and concerning. The amount of calories she's been eating have increased quite dramatically from when she thought she was quirkless. Even in the past few weeks, the amount of food that her body craves has increased well beyond what most people would consider reasonable. She eats more than anyone else in Yaoyorozu Manor, including her Mochan!

Getting up from her bed, she changes out of her pajamas and into casual wear, struggling a little bit with navigating the cloth around her horns. She makes her way down towards the dining hall for dinner, letting her thoughts wander in the meantime. What exactly is her body doing with all that food? Is her increased caloric intake directly related to her strength or is there a hidden facet of her quirk that she's yet to discover? Maybe for her body to keep up the constant passive strength, the amount of calories she needs has gone up?

Before getting too deep into the classic Midoriya mutterstorm, the smell of cooking beef tantalizes her nose, making her mouth salivate and her stomach violently grumble like a caged beast. The servants that are passing by her cover their mouths as they chuckle from the sound, making Izumi blush from the embarrassment and hurry along towards the source of the smell. Reaching one of the double doors to the kitchen, she pokes her head in curiously and finds an unfamiliar face. There's a tall, lithe man currently chopping vegetables quite skillfully, dressed in typical chef's clothing. The man has red skin, regal horns with a gentle curve, a thin tail with a triangular end, multiple piercings on his ear, nose, tail, and horns, and tattoos peeking from the ends of his sleeves and collar. In short, the man looks like a devil and someone that conservative mothers would shoo their children away from. So naturally, Izumi wants to ask him a million questions about his quirk!

Finding herself quite curious, both about him and the rich smells that are coming from his cooking, she knocks on the door softly, "Um, excuse me."

The man looks up and his eyes are put on full display; his eyes are completely black, aside from a ring of vibrant purple. His eyes are rather striking and show a bit of his irritation for the slightest of moments, dropping the moment he recognizes that the person interrupting him is just some little kid.

His face relaxes as he stops chopping vegetables, "Oh, you're that stray the Young Miss brought home."

Izumi might've been offended by that if it wasn't so accurate, "Y-yes sir, I'm-"

The man cuts off the little girl right then and there, keeping a neutral look on his face, "I ain't a sir, kid. Just call me Ichigo.

Izumi is a bit taken aback by the man, as he's probably the least formal person she's met in the manor. She can't help but look away nervously, failing to keep eye contact from the sudden bout of anxiety that slowly begins to creep into her mind, "O-Oh, o-okay, Mr. Ichigo."

Ichigo just sighs with the smallest of smiles on his face and Izumi can't help but feel that it's quite beautiful…it's a small, but genuine smile without a hint of malice, "Somethin tells me that's the best Imma get outta ya, kiddo. Anyways, whatcha need?"

The man sets down his knife and leans on the table, giving his full attention to the little girl. He'd heard about the dragon girl that made fast friends with the Young Miss…he's also noticed the uptick in the amount of food he needs to prepare daily. She at least pairs well with the Young Miss in that regard, they're a pair that can take on an eating contest together, despite the complete lack of refinement associated with events like those.

"Um, w-well…I-I was looking for Taiki because I-I'm h-hungry, b-but I smelled w-what you w-were cooking and I'm really hungry…I-Is that okay?"

Izumi's still quite unsure of her position in the Yaoyorozu estate, not sure how exactly she should be interacting with the staff, but Ichigo just waves his hands with dismissal, "Nah, you ain't no trouble now. I was jus makin burgers for the staff n' got plenty o' ingredients on hand. Ya want somethin? I know you put away food like a trash compactor, but we got 'nough for ya."

Ichigo knows the girl's going through a rough time, something he can sympathize with…hell, it's part of the reason he ended up becoming a chef. Anything he can do to lighten the poor girl's burden, he'd do it in a heartbeat. It certainly didn't help that the girl is too polite for her own good, adorable, and skittish like a bunny.

"O-Oh…okay, t-thank you, sir…I-I-I mean, Mr. Ichigo."

"Ah, don mention it, kiddo. Anything ya in the mood for? There's been an uptick in the amount o' meat I been usin, which I'm guessin that's been ya? Don't be shy, now."

Ichigo is someone who really stands out to Izumi, between his informal way of talking, his rural accent, and his appearance could all be quite off putting to a lot of people, but that just makes Izumi all the more curious, especially about his quirk…but grumbling stomach leads her to put food above questions once more.

The first dish she can think of is katsudon…her favorite dish in the whole wide world, forever tainted by the images of her mother being crushed under rubble. Forcing down those putrid memories, some of the brightness that she retained dims and she feels her throat tighten. She looks away from the chef with anxiety building in her stomach, a potent sense of dread coming along with it. All she has to do is tell the man a dish name…any dish name, but the swirling anxious thoughts make the room feel so much tighter, make Ichigo's gaze feel so much sharper.

Recognizing the look on the young dragon's face, Ichigo's eyes widen as he scrambles to cut off any overwhelming feelings that she might be harboring…not entirely sure what set her off, "Hey there, kiddo, ain't no worry if you can't choose, how bout I make ya something I enjoyed from when I was a kid?"

Feeling shame burn in her cheeks as she's grounded back in the present, she simply nods while trying to stop the anxious thought from eating her alive. Izumi's someone who wears their hearts on their sleeve, so Ichigo can't help but notice that this young girl's poker face is nonexistent. He sighs softly as he feels his own protectiveness kick in, making conversation to distract the poor girl.

"Ya ever had tacos, kiddo? Can you handle a little bit of spiciness?"

Being broken from her spiraling thoughts, she feels her shoulders tense as she struggles to keep eye contact with the chef, "U-Um…n-no, n-not really…I, um…I-I don't m-mind spicy…W-What are t-tacos, Mr. I-Ichigo?"

Izumi's mind wanders to the Bakugous when she thinks of spicy foods…a bittersweet sentiment that bubbles up from memories with her mother. The Bakugous would come over for dinner somewhat regularly, or vice versa, so Inko and Izumi would often be subjected to Mitsuki's insane level of spiciness that she seemed to push onto everybody…Inko had been long used to it and it was a bit of a struggle to get Mitsuki to tone down the level of spice for a child's palette…safe to say Izumi had quite a few sink or swim moments when it came to Mitsuki's cooking.

A wide smile slowly creeps onto Izumi's face as the memories wash over her…a still scene playing out of Mitsuki thumping her chest with pride, her mother and Masaru fretting over a younger Izumi, and Katsuki pretending not to care…good memories what feels like another world.

"Oh, a bigshot, huh? Well don't go complainin' to me bout my food bein too spicy, cuz you're gonna finish the plate, kiddo," Ichigo's vibrant smile reminds Izumi of Mitsuki's, becoming a surprising comfort in the moment for the young dragon.

With an adorable smile and some anxiety lifting away, Izumi responds, "Okay, Mr. Ichigo!"

"Good! Now get over here, kiddo. I could use a bit a help with this, think ya can handle it?"

Ichigo didn't really need any help, but he wants to present Izumi with an outlet to all of her nervous energy…anxiety is a bitch after all.

"O-Oh, well, sure…i-if I w-won't be in your way…"

Before the bad thoughts could begin to take hold, Ichigo cuts them off with prejudice, "Ya ain't gonna be in no way. Cookin's fun, little one. Just lemme grab soma the ingredients for ya. We're gonna make the ingredients from scratch, so it's gonna be a bit before ya can eat it all…and seeing as how you dropped the aye a-ok to bring the heat, we're gonna make some good salsa."

Similar to Izumi's usual brand of mutterstorms, Ichigo lists off all the things they'll be needing while assembling the ingredients for the young girl. He gives quite a bit more technical knowledge that Izumi can barely keep up with, but all of her brain power's being used in a way that siphons it from her anxiety. With the influx of informations comes a desire to catalog it down physically, like she does for her hero notes…but she doesn't have anything to write with…maybe Mr. Ichigo could reexplain some of this stuff later, if he has free time.

A sharp snap brings her back to reality, as she had started cutting a jalapeño like the way Ichigo demonstrated. Her idle thoughts had left her concentration slip and she cut clean through the knife and the wooden cutting board…and a few inches into the countertop. To add insult to injury, the stinging smell of the peppers comes back into focus for her newly powered up sense of smell.

Dread fills Izumi once more; she breaks things all the time, but they are almost always in her room or things that could be easily replaced, like the many utensils she's bent out of shape. She immediately lets go of the handle of the knife and it's in splinters, a firm indent of her hand pressed into the wood. How's she going to explain this? Mr. Ichigo's being kind to her and she had to go and do something like this! Once more, the death spiral of anxious thoughts begins to plague Izumi's mind as starts firing off panicked apologies, so close to tears from this mess up.

"Oh, damn, kiddo. You really got some strength behind your scrawny butt," Ichigo couldn't help but poke fun and laugh a little bit, "Ain't no sorry necessary, kiddo. I've been tellin Mr. Yaoyorozu ta replace these countertops for a while, so ya just gave me another good reason why! Thanks, kiddo!"

Much like before, Ichigo heads off the anxious thoughts the best he can, throwing the young dragon off her train of thought and making her anxious fumble around with her words, "B-b-but…I…w-well…"

The jovial smile on Ichigo's face dims a bit before he puts a gentle hand on Izumi's shoulder, "Look, kiddo, mistakes happen. Ain't noone gonna bite your head off for it or nuttin, aight? You didn't knick ya fingers, so ya're already doin better than when I started out. You're gonna make mistakes kiddo, just have fun with it, aight?"

Ichigo gives the biggest jovial smile he can display, letting young Izumi be soothed slightly and silence her own protests and anxieties.

While she messes up a few more times and breaks a few more knives and a pan handle, she finds that there's quite a bit of joy in making something and in learning a new skill. While she's never had tacos before, let alone hear of them, the smell wafting through the kitchen is quite heavenly…her stomach may or may not have growled quite a few times during the cooking process. She's just glad that Ichigo let her eat a couple of American style cheeseburgers to help tide her over and silence the black hole monster that is her stomach.

With the finishing touches, Izumi's tens of tacos are assembled and both the sight and smell of it make her mouth water like a dog. The perfectly seasoned beef is nestled in the freshly made corn tortillas, topped with cilantro, red onion, lime juice, and a salsa that might bring a lesser person to their knees. Izumi's never had Latin food before, but she can't help but think that this is already so delicious, just by the way it smells.

Izumi practically vibrates in place, stars in her eyes as her tail smacks on the tiled floor.

The sight of it is almost too adorable for Ichigo to stand, so he simply ruffles Izumi's hair and gives his own bright smile, "Go ahead, kiddo, taste the fruit of your labor!"

Seeing someone taste his cooking was something that always resonated with him. The amount of satisfaction someone gets because of something he made was the entire reason why he fell in love with cooking. As Izumi takes her first bites of the dish they made together, Ichigo can't help but smile until it hurts, the look on Izumi's face being completely worth the effort.

From the first bite, the stars in Izumi's eyes burst forth from the taste of the tacos and she struggles not to just wolf it down. She gives a small groan of approval as she tries to not bounce in place, focusing on eating the rest of the taco…and moving on to the next one…and the next one…

With a stuffed mouth, Izumi gives her compliments to the chef, "This is really good, Mr. Ichigo!"

While Ichigo could barely understand Izumi, he got the jist of the message she was trying to convey. With a deep sense of fulfillment, Ichigo turns his attention back to the rest of his meal prep, simply happy that she got to share a moment like this with a little girl who really needed something in the win column.

That's when he starts hearing soft sniffs and he can't help but turn around in panic, hoping it was just the salsa that was getting to the young dragon.

To say Izumi is a rather emotional person would be an understatement. Food has always been a way to someone's heart, soul, and memories, and this wonderful dish is no different. While the flavor profiles are changed, this heat feels so nostalgic to Izumi, physically reminding her of a simpler time, a happier time, back when she still had her mother to hold her tight. She remembers how her mom comforted her so tenderly when the spiciness proved entirely too much for the young girl…Even with bread and milk, the most comforting thing was her mother's embrace and the soft reverberations of her mom's voice coming through her chest. Even if the memory is quite fuzzy, the feelings behind them are anything but.

Tears rain down her face as she continues to eat with gusto, wiping the tears from her face as often as she can. Despite the sadness that dances on her mind, this meal feels like a way she's still connected to her mother. It reminds her of all the meals she's been cooked that've been full of love and how lucky she was to have had that for so long…she deeply misses her mommy.

Ichigo simply lets her have her moment in peace, letting the girl process a lot of complex emotions that she shouldn't be dealing with at a young age, but the storm passes and she calms down enough to not actively look like a geyser.

After the emotional storm was weathered, Ichigo is the first one who speaks up, "I take it you liked the tacos?"

…Izumi forgot Ichigo's in the room.

A blush spreads across her face as she looks away from the young chef, "O-Oh…y-yes…s-sorry…I-I loved it."

Ichigo chuckles softly with that same devilish smile on his face, "Ain't no worries, kiddo. You got some shi…stuff ta work through. You have fun cookin wit me?"

Izumi can't nod her head any faster, "Y-yes s-sir!"

That's when Ichigo gets an idea, one that's going to change the destiny of so many people, an entire nation, maybe even the world. Like with every decision, there are always ripples, chains, or connecting threads. This one question and answer will put Izumi on a path that further entwines her destiny with the young heiress of the Yaoyorozu household.

"Well, seein as how ya liked cookin with me so much, ya feel like helpin me make the Young Miss' meal? I'm sure she'd appreciate it!"

While Izumi still wouldn't be able to answer the question 'what do you get the girl who has everything?', she feels like this may be a good first step in showing her gratitude to the Yaoyorozus and her Mochan in particular. Giving her a home-cooked meal with love sounds like something Inko would do, so maybe her Mochan would like it like Izumi did.

Izumi couldn't agree any faster, hoping that Momo would love whatever they could make together. Seeing as there was still quite a bit of tortillas and uncooked ground beef leftover, Ichigo helped Izumi make more tacos with the addition of some guacamole and a milder salsa that wouldn't actively make Momo's mouth feel like a warzone. The anticipation built up with Izumi with every step that she completed, anxious thoughts starting to worm their way into her head…what if Mochan didn't like tacos?

Shaking the thoughts from her head to focus on not actively cutting through more countertops…well, she still cuts through them a few times, but she's getting better! The meal prep soon finishes and Ichigo is notified of the young heiress waiting in the dining hall. He grabs all the tacos and sets them on a cart, ushering off young Izumi to her fate.

The young dragon gingerly wheels the cart into the dining hall, shyly looking over to her best friend and giving a small greeting, "H-Hey, Mochan."

Momo's head turns quickly towards Izumi, her gaze full of surprise before lighting up with joy, "Zumi! You weren't in your room, so I thought I might be eating dinner on my own tonight."

A bit of guilt passes through Izumi for having eaten her fill earlier…but she hopes that what she helped make with Ichigo would more than make up for it…at least she hopes that it will.

Deep breaths, calm mind.

The smell of lavender hits her nose and it's like her brain is wrapped up comfortably in the softest blankets.

"I-I…s-sorry, Mochan…I-I did already eat, b-but I helped Mr. Ichigo m-make these for you! I..um…t-they're called t-tacos and they're r-really good, so I h-hope you like them," Izumi can barely contain her nervous energy as she explains and apologizes, but Momo doesn't seem to take any offense.

It's in fact quite the opposite, she's quite touched that her best friend would do something so nice for her. Hey onyx eyes fill with wonder as she looks over the unreasonable amount of tacos (no such thing!), recognizing the guacamole that rests on top. While she's never had a taco either, Ichigo's made avocado toast before, so she's happy to try something new and something her dear Zumi helped make!

"Zumi…wow, thank you. I've never had tacos before, but they smell quite delightful and I know I'll like them if you made them!"

Izumi's cheeks tinge red as she feels her stomach flutter quite pleasantly…it's a different kind of anxiousness that take over her body, but she doesn't mind it's presence in the slightest…it's hard to explain, but she can feel her quirk practically purr from her Mochan's words.

Izumi starts setting plates in front of Momo, concentrating a little too hard to not break the plates and making her best friend silently chuckle from the intense look of concentration on the young dragon's face. With all the plates set, Momo gives an 'Itadakimasu' before taking her first bite.

Momo died and went to food heaven.

She gives a groan of approval before continuing to eat as politely as she can…which is a bid difficult to do with tacos, especially delicious ones! The flavors dance so spectacularly in her mouth and she can't help but give praise to her best friend.

"Zumi, these are delicious! Thank you so much for making them!"

Izumi's blush increases as she stammers and tries to express herself in a way that'd be understandable to humans, "W-well, I-I, w-well…u-ummm…I-I, uh, I-Ichigo w-was the m-main p-person m-making them, M-Mochan."

Seeing that Izumi was panicking a bit and trying to pass credit onto someone else, Momo squashes that where she can, "But you helped, Zumi, and it's so good! I'm really happy that you helped make this for me and want to properly thank you for your efforts."

"B-but, I, uh, b-broke a-a lot of stuff, Mochan…"

Izumi seemed hellbent on trying to detract from her efforts and Momo's having none of it. Gaining a bit of a pout, she sets her taco down and starts acting a bit her age, "Well, you still helped, Zumi…and because that's bothering you so much, you can do more the next time you make me something."

Next time.

Next time.

Izumi is stunned silent, simply nodding her head and sporting quite the contemplative look. As Momo continues devouring her tacos, the dots in Izumi's mind start connecting. The pure joy on Momo's face when she took her first bite of something Izumi helped make plays over and over in her head. The look is rather devine and a sense of fulfillment deeply radiates in her bones, in her quirk. Momo expresses an interest in 'next time', meaning that she wants more and Izumi has a chance to make her Mochan happy again.

Make her Mochan happy.

She can help her Mochan, after all the good she's brought to Izumi's life.

Maybe this is a way she can start paying her back…after she comes home from a rough day at school, Izumi can be there with a calming pot of tea and a ear to listen. When she's done with a hard workout that pushes her body to the limit, she can be there to make a meal to help her recover…she can be there for her and support her the best she can! Like the last puzzle piece being slotted into its proper place, she knows.

She knows what to get the girl who has everything!

She'll be a pillar her Mochan needs to succeed.

She'll support her with everything she has…but her vision, her epiphany still feels only partially complete…she needs…she needs more. This is a good first step, but she needs to figure out more.

As she focuses back into the world around her, she can't help but smile at the cute pout on her best friend's face. A genuine smile freed from the chains of her anxious thoughts adorns her face and Momo can't help but blush at how beautiful the sight is.

"Of course, M-Mochan! I-I'll make s-something really good for you, n-next time! I promise!"

The moment feels like a picture perfect storybook scene, one that sets the main characters down a road that will forever change them and the world around them. While Momo's read a few books with such plotlines, she can't help but believe that she's having one of those moments with her best friend in the whole wide world…She can't put a finger on exactly why, but the resolve and affection her Zumi shows in this moment together make her believe that something wonderful is happening.


Welp, there ya go, the first step in Izumi's journey as Momo's personal maid and bodyguard. I plan on putting Izumi back into school in the coming chapters, so I think it'll be interesting to see how her quirk and mental health adjust to it. It'll be quite a new environment going from Aldera to some fancy private school for rich kids...she'll also have a quirk this go around, so that'll be even more layers of fuckery to contend with.

I'm fucking exhausted and dealing with a lot right now, so I have no damn idea when y'all can expect another update. I should be able to put something out in a month, but I ain't trusting myself to stick to that schedule. I'll give myself a bit more wiggle room, but I'll tentatively set the date for 11/4 (November 4th)

Stay hydrated, my readers!