Himiko Toga skipped down one of the hallways of her middle school, a box cutter in hand and a manic grin on her face. "Izuku-kun!" she called out.
"Himiko?"
She turned and saw him. Izuku stood there, looking as handsome as ever. So strong and brave, always standing up for himself. Always able to do what he wanted to do, and nobody would tell him no.
She wanted to be like him.
He turned towards her. "What is it…"
"Himi!"
She stabbed him with a box cutter, the school melting away to reveal a dimly-lit street in the city. Distant cries ominously echoed in the night while the sound of irregular, labored breathing filled Toga's ears.
"I love you so much, Izuku-kun," she sweetly said, but it couldn't conceal the malice in her voice. "I just need a little of your blood."
"Himiko!"
Looking up, she spotted the two heroes that called her name, interrupting her intimate moment. She glared at them, casting a glance at the unconscious body on the dirty pavement before standing up and making her escape.
She was free now, and nobody was going to stop her. Activating her quirk, she felt the gray slime wrap itself around her like a warm blanket. Now, she was Izuku. With his strength, she easily evaded them. She darted through the alleys, turning left and right at corners, leaping over trash cans, and hiding in the buildings' shadows. She ended up behind a dumpster, quietly waiting and staring at the two figures as they chatted. When she noticed their silhouettes fade, that was when she knew it was over. At last, she was free. Nobody was going to stop her. She wouldn't let them.
"Please, Himiko…"
Thunder and pouring water were her only warning. She gazed up at the black sky in annoyance, raindrops splattering onto her face and drenching her body. Stupid weather ruined her perfect evening when she decided to finally free herself from her parents. With a tired sigh, she left her hiding spot in search of a better place.
In the chilly morning, she drearily opened her eyes as she awoke from a restless slumber lying in a pool of gray sludge under a wet pile of cardboard. She gazed into a nearby puddle, noticing small bags under her eyes. Physically, she felt miserable but inside she felt the opposite. With her radiant, fanged smile, this was the happiest she felt in a long time.
"Himi, I'm right here." Inko's voice could be heard loud and clear. "Come back to us."
A broken sob left her shuddering for air. Touching her cheek, she felt tears as the alleyway dissolved into nothingness.
No. This wasn't right. Where was she? Where was Izuku? Where was Inko?
"Please Himi, snap out of it!" Izuku pleaded.
Himiko's eyes opened wide, and suddenly, she was back in the Midoriya's apartment.
No, that wasn't right.
She was back in her home.
Warmth enveloped her as Inko gently held her close. Her eyes regained focus as she saw the concerned looks from Izuku and Ochako as they hovered nearby, silently watching.
"It's ok, Himi. We're right here for you." Inko gently stroked her hair, trying to calm her down.
Himiko closed her eyes and began the breathing exercises her therapist had taught her to calm herself down. It was hard through her sobs and hiccups, but they began to do their job and she felt herself steadying as she sat there. She didn't know how long it took, but she knew that everyone in the room would give her all of the time she needed. After what felt like an eternity, she felt herself brought back into reality. She faced Izuku and Ochako.
"Why?" she asked, unable to produce any other words. Her mind was still reeling. It was all baffling to her. Despite everything, she…why?
"Why?" Izuku repeated.
"If I did that to you, why did you help me?" She pulled away from Inko to look at her, afraid to ask the next question but needing to know the truth. "Was this - was all of this a lie?"
Inko looked crushed by the accusation, and Himiko immediately hated herself for causing her to look that way. She sat in silence while she watched the emotions racing across the woman's face before Inko finally settled onto the same steely determination that she remembered from the hospital. "Himiko, what did I tell you?"
"To never accuse you of lying to me," she replied meekly.
"Exactly." She turned toward Izuku and Ochako. "I can't speak for them, but when I decided to take you in, I made that decision. As a mother who saw a child in need."
"Himi," Izuku began, "she's not lying. Ocha and I… we didn't know until she told me we were going to foster you."
"You-"
"I'm just as surprised about all of this as you are," Inko admitted, looking at Izuku. "And there is a lot that we still need to discuss. But right now, taking care of you is more important." Inko turned back to Himiko. "Do you remember our first conversation?"
Himiko simply nodded, too afraid to speak.
"I told you that you deserve this. You deserve to know what it is like to be happy, to be cared for. To be loved." Inko's mouth contorted into a small frown. "I was wrong."
Himiko felt the knot in her stomach tightening. "W-wrong?" she stuttered out.
"If you-" Inko searched for the right words. "If you could become the person Ochako described, you didn't just deserve this," Inko said definitively. "You needed this."
Himiko found the knot in her stomach begin to ease as she looked at Inko. "I needed this?" Himiko bit her lip, feeling the blood beginning to well where her fangs pierced it.
"Yes. The Togas ended up creating a monster." Himiko gasped, but Inko wasn't done. "But they didn't succeed. Because hiding inside the monster was a scared little girl, who was waiting to be found. Waiting for someone to rescue her. To love her. And, thanks to Izuku, I think we found her in time. Didn't we?"
Himiko blushed, the words she wanted to say on the tip of her tongue. Unable to get the words out, she lamely replied, "Y-you did."
"Good. I'd hate to think I was wrong." Inko offered her arms again. Himiko wasted no time leaning into the woman she thought of as her mother, closing her eyes and holding her hand as it tenderly stroked her hair. Taking a deep breath, Himiko finally opened them again, this time at Izuku and Ochako.
"What about you two?" Himiko asked, looking at them. "How could you just - after what I did to you? How could you accept me?"
"Who says I did?" Ochako guiltily confessed. Himiko gasped as she remembered the way Ochako treated her all those months ago. Ochako winced at Himiko's reaction. "You remember how I acted, huh?"
"You weren't exactly hiding it," Himiko bluntly pointed out. "At first, I thought it was because you were worried I was going to steal Izu away from you."
Ochako laughed bitterly. "That's one way to put it." She took a deep breath, wringing her hands together as if trying to squeeze out the anxiety bottled up within her. "It was hard. Seeing the face of my ki-" Ochako stopped herself. "Seeing your face and not being afraid. Wondering if I'd be woken up in the middle of the night to a phone call that you hurt Inko or Izu. Or worse-"
"I would never-!" Himiko protested. "They are- they mean so much to me."
"I know," Ochako affirmed. "Izu- everyone really. They told me I was wrong, and that I needed to give you a chance. But I didn't want to." She gave a resigned smile. "I just didn't want to let go of the past."
"Ocha-" Himiko felt herself tearing up again.
"I was alone in my opinion. Izu and All Might. Even Kayama called me out on it." She sheepishly laughed. "Everyone reminded me that this wasn't just a second chance for the two of us. If we were given this chance, why shouldn't we offer you one too?"
"What are you saying?"
"I was wrong," Ochako admitted. "It took time, but everyone - they were right about you. You - every day you served as a reminder of what I lost. But over time that began to change." Ochako's smile grew, a genuine offering for Himiko. "And now? Now, every day, you remind me of what we've accomplished."
Izuku put his hand on Ochako's shoulder as she rested her hand on top of his. He turned toward Himiko. "When I went out with Kayama and Kan to look for you, I didn't know what to expect. Unlike Ocha, I've only encountered Himiko Toga a couple of times. But they weren't good memories," he confessed. "So I didn't have high hopes."
"Izu-"
"Even when you attacked me, you looked different." He pointed at her eyes. "You weren't the Himiko Toga that I knew. You were simply Himiko, a trapped girl looking for a way to escape a terrible situation. You just didn't know how. You were someone who needed help, not someone who needed to be locked up." He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly as he looked at his mom. "Even knowing that, I was just as nervous as Ocha was when mom told me that we were going to foster you. I barely slept the first few nights: laying in bed, listening to the silence in the apartment, and making sure that you didn't do anything."
Izuku took a deep breath before going on. "But then, the Himi that we know started coming out. And the person we found surprised both of us." He beamed at Himiko. "It took time, but you, perhaps out of all of us, have made the most of this second chance we were all given."
Himiko watered for the umpteenth time. "Do you really mean it?"
"Mhm." Izuku nodded.
"Himi," Ochako started as she stepped closer to Izuku. "You did something amazing. I was originally terrified looking at you. But now when I see your face, I don't see the face of the person who haunted my final moments. I see a friend." She looked at Izuku and a light blush dusted her cheeks. "More than that: you said I'm like a sister to you. I'm not there yet." A light chuckle escaped her. "But I'm getting there. And when I do, I'll be proud to say you're like a sister to me as well."
"I… did that?" Himiko asked in disbelief.
"It's funny, in a way," Ochako continued. "In both of our timelines, you were obsessed with the two of us. You wanted to be close to us. To love us and to be loved by us. But where Himiko Toga failed, you succeeded."
Izuku took her free hand. "Himi." Izuku squeezed her hand gently, and she could see the sincerity on his face. "Ocha is right. You- You've achieved something that the Toga we knew could only dream of. She wanted us to love her and accept her for who she was. Well. I love you. You're my sister, and I will do everything I can to keep you safe."
"Me too," Ochako agreed from behind Izuku. "You deserve to be happy, and I'll help in any way I can to make sure people accept you for who you are. To let you make the most of this second chance that we've all been given."
"You guys..." Himiko burst into tears as she jumped out of Inko's grip and grabbed them, letting them steady her as she wrapped her arms tightly around them.
Carefully, Inko pushed herself up from the couch, gently placing a hand on Himiko's back. "I promise I'll be right back."
"Ok," Himiko whispered, letting Izuku and Ochako support her.
Inko disappeared into her office, only to quickly reappear holding a manilla envelope. She placed the envelope on the corner table before maneuvering it in front of the couch and sitting down. Gesturing to Himiko, the girl let go of Izuku and Ochako and sat down, looking at the envelope curiously.
"What's that?"
"This was supposed to be part of your birthday present next week," Inko softly said. "But after all of this, I think it's better if I give it to you now."
Inko opened the envelope and pulled out the papers and handed them over. Himiko stared at the first page in confusion, her brain trying to make sense of what she was looking at. Then, like lightning, realization struck her. Her eyes went wide as looked at Inko.
"These are-!"
"Adoption papers."
"You- even after everything-" Himiko didn't know how much of this her heart could take.
"That girl was Himiko Toga, the poor girl who had the misfortune of never being rescued. You aren't her. You are Himiko Midoriya. My wonderful daughter," Inko stated firmly.
Hearing Inko call her that was all she had wanted for months. It felt like a dam had opened up, and Himiko was again sobbing. "M-mom!" She wrapped herself tightly around Inko, not caring that she sent the adoption papers flying as she felt her mom's arms wrapping around her. "Ever since you came to me in the hospital you-"
"I know Himi. For months, I've known that you saw me as your mother. And you know what? I've also come to see you as my own daughter, just as much a part of this family as Izuku is. It was time to make it official."
"I guess you're really my sister now?" Izuku said as he wrapped his arms around the pair.
"Look, she's already a Midoriya," Ochako teased as she watched them embrace.
Despite her crying, Himiko beamed, fang-toothed and all. "Yeah. I guess I am."
When Himiko finished crying, she reluctantly extracted herself from her family's grasp and stood up. Taking a deep breath, she walked over to the small collection of photos hanging on the wall. So many of them were of Izuku and Inko, but there was a small and growing section featuring her as well. She had insisted the three of them take photos together, proof of her new life, and they always obliged. Reaching her destination, she touched the frame of a photo of the three of them, taken right before they left I-Island.
She looked so happy with her arms wrapped around her mom and brother. Thinking back on the memory, she was happy. Probably the happiest she felt in a long time. Even though the purpose of the trip was related to One For All, she still managed to turn it into a proper family vacation.
Wait…
One For All…
The secret meeting she wasn't allowed to attend!
Himiko spun around and looked at Izuku and Ochako again. "Our trip to I-Island! That was related to.. this, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, it was."
A long silence filled the room. "How many people are you giving second chances to?"
"As many as we can," Ochako promised with an easygoing grin.
Himiko looked back at the photo and pondered Izuku's words. She had nobody to save her. Izuku and Ochako were trying so hard to give people a second chance. But what about the people who they didn't know about? What if there was someone else like her, who was waiting for a hero just like she was?
At that moment, she understood Izuku and Ochako, perhaps more than she ever had before.
Turning back to her family, she eagerly bounced up and down in place. "I know what I want to do. I want to be a Hero. Just like Izu and Ocha."
"Really?" Izuku asked, surprised.
"You- all of you." She gestured to the five people in front of her. "You've all been fighting in your own ways. I - Himiko Toga happened because she didn't have anyone to save her. I don't think she's alone. I - I want to find the other little boys and girls out there, the ones who are hurting. I want to help them, just like you all helped me."
"Himi…" Izuku said reverently.
"That's my daughter!" Inko cheered.
With Himiko recovering, Inko left for the kitchen to get more tea while Izuku talked to his sister, leaving Ochako alone with her parents.
"S-sorry about that." Ochako bowed her head. "I know we have a lot to talk about-"
"Honey, we understand." Miu stood up and nodded to her husband, who followed suit. "I think the three of us need to talk in private though."
"Yeah," Ochako agreed.
Silently, the three went to Inko's office and closed the door.
"I'm sorry," Ochako apologized again as she hung her head. "I know this is a lot-"
"I can't say I'm not disappointed," Katashi remarked.
"Why didn't you tell us earlier?" Miu fretted. "Why did you hide it until- until Inko called and told me you were part of a raid against Yakuza? A group that was dangerous enough that both All Might and Ryukyu were there?"
"We- I wanted to keep you safe," Ochako defended. "If the wrong person found out- if someone knew we had all this extra stuff - all of these extra memories - in our heads, can you imagine the lengths they would go to get it? You would be the first people they would target."
"Is that why we got the UA deal?" Katashi asked.
"Yeah," Ochako answered. "When Izu talked to Nezu, he explained our situation to them. They wanted to move all of us to Mustafu, where it would be easier to protect us."
"I knew that deal was too good to be true." The disappointment was thick in her father's voice.
"Dad… If it makes you feel any better, if UA didn't give you that contract, then All Might would have given you one."
"Wait, really?" Miu asked in disbelief.
"Mmm." Ochako nodded. "That's what happened before I came back. All Might invested a lot into restoring Nabari after the Blastwave incident."
"I remember that from the news," Katashi recalled. "It was resolved quickly, wasn't it?"
Ochako simply gave both of her parents a pointed look.
"Oh."
"How bad was it?"
"Several apartment buildings suffered structural damage and needed to be replaced as well as quite a few houses and businesses before he was finally defeated. All Might felt responsible because of his injury, so he hired Uraraka Construction to lead the rebuilding efforts."
"Where you-" Miu looked awkwardly as she tried to form the words. "-came from. Was All Might hurt in the same way?"
"For both of us? Yeah." Ochako frowned.
"That's how you met All Might, wasn't it?" her father asked. "Because of that incident."
"How'd you guess?"
"Because that's what our 'Chako would do," Miu explained with a sentimental gaze.
Ochako's frown changed into a wobbly smile. "Yeah, it was. I used my quirk to keep a building floating because a little boy was trapped. It gave All Might enough time to save both of us."
"That's our little girl!" Katashi boasted, rubbing the top of Ochako's hair with a proud grin on his face. "Always ready to help those in need."
"Then what happened?"
"All Might began to train me, same as he is now. And then I attended UA and - a lot happened." Ochako's voice grew quiet. "Before war broke out."
"You're gonna stop it, right?"
"That's the plan!" Ochako tried to be as cheery as possible. "Ever since that first visit to UA, Izu and I have been working with heroes to try and fix things."
"What if the war happens again?" Miu asked. "Are you worried that you could - you know."
"Well, I'm not gonna get stabbed by Himiko again!" Ochako declared a bit too loudly. "I'm actually more worried that Izu is gonna do something dumb."
"I'm sure you'll stop him. You've always had your mom's fierceness when she gets worked up."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Miu glared at her husband.
Ochako's grin widened, knowing exactly what her dad was referring to. "It means I take after you mom!"
"E-exactly!" Katashi rushed to agree with his daughter.
Miu finally relented and gazed back at her daughter again. "I just - It's weird! To hear you say that you almost died, and yet you're standing in front of me. I'm probably gonna have nightmares for a week thinking about what you've told me. I don't want to even think about that actually happening to you."
"I'm sorry."
"It's ok Chako." Her dad placed a hand on her shoulder. "We aren't gonna stop you from becoming a hero or anything. It's just - we always knew the risks. It's just different now. It's one thing to think about you getting hurt. It's another thing to know you've been hurt in the past. And that badly-"
"I know. But I'm still here!" Ochako slammed her fist into her palm. "And Izu and I are gonna do everything we can to make it right this time!"
"That's my girl."
"I know we can't do much. Hell at this point, it feels like you've done more for the two of us than the other way around." Katashi awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck, disappointment prevalent in his voice. "But if that's what you want, we'll be supporting you the entire way. And if you ever need to talk- I know that you can't tell us all the hero stuff, but if there's anything, please- talk to us. We promise we'll keep it quiet."
"Yep! The only person we'd even tell is Inko, and she's now in on this as well."
"Thanks." Ochako pulled both of her parents into a hug. "I love you so much. You're the best parents I could have asked for."
"We love you too."
AN: Full chapter title: Himiko Midoriya
As always, thanks for all the reviews and attention! Sorry to leave you all on a cliffhanger last week, but hopefully the payoff was worth it!
Sendril - Don't worry, there will be some IzuOcha time coming, they just have a pretty heavy conversation to get through first.
LEGOBRICK13 - Amusingly, I've been unofficially calling her Himidoriya for about 6-8 months after an early comment on my other fic. It makes a good way to differentiate her from OG Toga.
SwordOfTheGods - I am actually 1-2 weeks ahead in my writing, but I wanted to start this chapter on the breakdown that Himiko had. While it had the effect I wanted, the transition was probably harder than I would have liked, so I'll end up sliding some stuff in 29 and 30 forward/backward to smooth it out, but I'm not going to do that until next week so as not to cause problems for the people who are up-to-date!