A hero is always supposed to do the right thing, and the right thing to do here is obvious.
"Of course I'll be your friend," you respond, giving a bright smile.
Horie flinches slightly, surprised by your answer, as does anyone in close enough vicinity to hear you, but Himiko's eyes twinkle.
"Really?! You'll be my friends?!" Himiko gets right in your face. "That means Mama and Papa will be happy because I'll be normal."
"That's… not what friendship means."
"It's not?" Himiko questions.
"Yeah, friendship is way more than making our parents happy. It's about making ourselves happy by sharing our lives with one another."
Himiko nods. "Got it. So normal kids make one another happy by hanging out with one another? So to make my parents happy, I have to be happy?"
"Are you sure about this?" Horie leans into your ear and whispers.
You lean into hers. "We want to be heroes, right? She doesn't have anyone else. Just like we used not to have anyone else. We have to return the favor."
"Why do you have to be so mature for our age?" Horie sighs.
"Like you're not, considering our past together."
"No, I'm a crybaby," Horie smirks, putting on some fake tears.
Himiko pats Horie on the head. "Good girls would make sure they don't make babies cry," Himiko whispers, joining the mini huddle. "So I won't make the baby cry."
"Hey!" Horie pouts, her tears turning real. "I'm not a baby!"
"But you just said you were," Himiko said naively.
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
Guess I'm gonna have to get used to this, but… I don't regret it.
"So, I don't mean to interrupt your back and forth, but… who exactly are you, Himiko?"
Himiko blinked. "I'm Himiko Toga?"
"How is that a question?!" Horie screeches.
"But I already told Kazuha my name."
"That's not what I meant," you correct. "Like, who are you as a person. What do you like?"
"Mommy and Daddy like cheerful and well-behaved girls, so I like being a cheerful and well-behaved girl… whatever that means."
"What… do you like to do when you're not at school?"
"Whatever is ideal for a girl my age."
"But why?" you press.
"Because my parents told me too."
Didn't we just go over this? What's with this obsession with her parents.
"What did you do before your parents told you to be like that?"
"I'm not supposed to say," Himiko flinches.
"Why not?" Horie asks, genuinely curious.
Himiko instead dodges the question. "You're sisters, right?"
"Yep," you confirm. "But not by blood."
"Not by… blood?"
"Uh, Horie and I were adopted into our family. Our mama and papa couldn't have kids of their own."
"Adopted?"
"My mom was a single mother killed in a villain attack," you clarify. "And Horie…."
"I was left on the porch of the orphanage as a baby," Horie continues, not very much phased. "My papa was a villain, and my biological mother died of complications from my birth. After he was arrested, I had nowhere else to go."
"Wow!" Himiko gasps. "That's so cool!"
"C-cool?"
"Yeah! 'Cause that means your new parents really wanted you!"
"I-I guess?"
…
"Did your parents want you?" Horie asks, flinching as the words leave her mouth.
…
Himiko giggles. "Of course not. That's why I have to do as they say. So that they'll want me!"
That's… really sad.
You don't have to say anything; from Horie's expression, you can tell she's thinking the same thing.
"We want you," you say. "That's why we're friends, right?"
Himiko puffs out her cheeks, frowning. But she doesn't seem angry or even frustrated. It's more that she doesn't know how to handle her emotions.
"You… really want me? You're not just being friends to be nice to me?"
"Yes!" Horie insists. "We'd be sad if you didn't accept us."
Funny how the tables have turned in a matter of minutes. Now we're begging Himiko to stay friends with us, not vice versa.
"Okay!" Himiko chirps. "I'd be a big meanie if I didn't accept your friendship."
Also a hypocrite.
As the bell to end recess rings, the three of you head back to your classroom. You spend most of it thinking about your new friend and wondering how the relationship will progress.
You spend many more lunches with your sister and new friend, getting to know Himiko very well. As expected, you went from some of the most popular kids in Kindergarten to the least. And yet… you don't really care about that anymore.
Sure, she's a complete weirdo, but she's our complete weirdo.
During the summer break, you hang out with Horie and Himiko at your apartment at Yuuei Academy's dorms, where Nezu and Chiyo have made their residence. But throughout all of it, you were never invited to Himiko's home.
That all changes come Himiko's 6th birthday. And you have to say, you're surprised.
Wow… this house is… bigger than the orphanage.
"You're sure your parents are okay with this?" you question Himiko as you walk up to the mansion.
"Of course," Himiko chirps. "They're excited to meet you!"
As you walk into the hall, Nezu and Chiyo trailing behind you, Horie and Himiko from a distance, you're met with a rather impressive foyer.
You come to face with a butler.
"Welcome back, Mistress Himiko," the man bows. "So these are the friends I've learned so much about."
"Hi, Akihiko!" Himiko runs up to man. "Yep! This is Horie and Kazuha."
"Nice to meet you, sir," you bow.
"No, the pleasure is all mine," Akihiko counters before turning to your mom and dad. "Mr. and Mrs. Shuzenji, if you would, please follow me. Mistress Himiko's parents would like to speak with you in private."
Nezu nodded. "It would be our honor."
As Nezu and Chiyo follow Akihiko, Himiko grabs your and Horie's hands and guides you to her room.
It's exactly as Himiko described: the ideal and stereotypical room a 6-year-old girl would have. Pink walls, pink sheets, and pink everything. There's a doll house or five and enough stuffed animals to fill an entire toy store. It is very… expensive.
Mom and Dad do well for themselves too, but they don't flaunt their wealth around like this. Most of these look untouched. What gives?
Horie starts to sniffle. "If we'd known you already had so many, we'd of totally gotten you something different."
You elbow your sister. "Don't spoil it."
"It's okay," Himiko insists. "Besides, what I really want for my birthday, I doubt I'm gonna get."
"What's that?" you question.
…
Himiko shakes her head. "I'll go get us some drinks."
You're not getting away that easily.
"I'll go with you," you volunteer.
"Sure."
As the two of you leave Horie in the room, you can't help but cheekily get in Himiko's face. "So… what do you want for your birthday?"
"You don't want to know," Himiko insists.
"But what if I do?"
Himiko shrugs. "My parents wouldn't let me tell you." Her eyes brighten. "Oh, we can pass through the sitting room on the way to the kitchen. That way, you can meet my mommy and daddy."
"Ok-okay? If you think that's a good idea."
Deciding to follow Himiko's whims, the two of you end up outside the sitting room, your friend with a pep in her step.
That is until you're about ten feet away from your destination.
"Excuse me?!" you hear a woman nearly scream. "What do you mean your daughter has a blood quirk?!"
Himiko freezes, as do you, unable to not listen into the conversation.
"Kazuha's ability to copy other quirks requires her to take the blood of another 'willing' person," Nezu calmly explains. "The two quirks she's copied thus far were only done through the blood of another; we don't know if other types of DNA will suffice."
You can hear the woman snarl. "Get out! Get you and your freakish daughters out of here. And if I find out they're still hanging out with Himiko, you'll hear from our lawyers."
"I frankly don't see what the problem is," your mother, Chiyo, says. "Nor what you could sue us for."
"Trespassing if you keep talking."
Peaking into the doorway, you see Nezu slightly shaking his head but maintaining a poker face.
"Good sir, maybe you'd be a bit more understanding on your daughter's birthday to not kick her only friends out of her life."
The blonde, firm, and intimidating older gentleman in the room stands proud. "I'm not going to take the advice of a rat. My wife's right; my girl doesn't need friends if those friends are no good. She'll find other ones."
"You jest."
"I'm not. Himiko needs to be the perfect little girl, and your daughters are an obstacle we will not stand for. So I suggest you leave."
Nezu and Himiko's father entered a staring contest that Nezu won.
"Akihiko!"
"Yes, Master," the butler obediently responded.
"Please escort the Shuzenji's off the premises immediately."
What… what did I do wrong? Is this to do with my quirk?
Turning around, you find Himiko running off in tears.
I don't care about Himiko's crummy parents or what they want! I have to help Himiko and find out what is happening here.
Using Adrenaline Rush, it takes minimal effort to follow and catch up with Himiko… who you find running toward a small shed in the backyard behind the mansion.
"Himiko, wait," you call out, seeing the girl catch her breath as she runs inside.
Entering in right after her….
…
…
…
All you see is blood.
Blood on the floors.
Blood on all walls.
"Wh-what?"
Himiko casually walks over to a birdcage with a smile. Inside it is a dead bird, which the blonde takes out of its cage before showing you.
"Isn't she pretty?"
You can't say any words.
"You didn't tell me about your quirk," Himiko says, leaning in.
"You never asked," you force yourself to say, frankly terrified, unconsciously raising one of your shields.
Himiko backs up before jumping up on the table, kicking her legs. "You know how I said I was quirkless? I lied."
"I… kinda figured… you have fangs, after all."
"I do! I do!" Himiko cackles. "Thank you for noticing."
"So what? Are you a vampire?"
"No," Himiko casually remarks. "Mind giving me a drop of your blood?"
…
You feel like you don't really have a choice in the matter. Your fight or flight response tells you to comply, so you do.
Handing Himiko your hand, she delicately takes it into her mouth before biting down, taking a small amount of blood. You barely feel a thing besides a small pinch, Himiko treating you like a treasure.
"Watch this!"
Very quickly, Himiko's body is covered in a gray slime that eats her alive. Slowly it dissipates, revealing a clone of yourself.
"Ta-da!" Himiko says in your voice. "Pretty cool, right?"
"Uh…"
"Your blood tasted delicious, by the way. 10/10 would have again." Himiko snickers. "But you know that; you have a blood quirk too."
"I… I don't like to drink blood. In fact, I hate the taste of it."
"You do?! But blood is the best thing ever! You have to try some!"
Himiko shoves your… or, rather, her hand in your face. "Try some!"
You gulp, trying to avoid looking at your reflection. "Is this what you wanted for your birthday?"
"Yep!" Himiko confirms. "I wanted my parents to accept me for who I am. It's not like I'm hurting anybody. Only the dummy birds and rats too stupid to come into our backyard."
Your fear becomes too overwhelming. "Please don't hurt me!"
Himiko's eyes widen in surprise. "Silly, I would never hurt you. You're my friend. I'd only take the blood you offered me. I'm not crazy; I just like blood, and my parents don't like that, so they wanted me to be normal. But real friends share their lives together, right? That's why I'm sharing this with you!"
Himiko is covered in another slime layer before returning to her standard form.
"You understand, right? We both have blood type quirks. Even if you don't like the taste, you must like the power!"
You back up, making Himiko look sullen.
"Are you really scared of me?"
…
"We're still friends, right?" Himiko begs. "I don't care what Mama and Papa think. I don't want to lose you or Horie. Please don't leave me. Please accept me."
What… should I say?
Decision Point: What Should Kazuya Do?
A - "You Should Listen To Your Parents."
B - "You Need Help."
C - "I'll Give You Some Blood If You Give Me Yours."
D - "I Accept You."
E - Get Nezu
