Case file #21: Komori Kinoko
"Dear Diary, all those years of preparation turns out haven't been for naught….
A zombie apocalypse might come, and I'll be damned if I'm not one of the last of us that survives!"
"So, I guess you talked with Inko?" Chiyo asked, looking at Izuku who looked more exhausted than she's ever seen, and that's something.
"Yeah…." Izuku nodded tiredly before gulping down another can of energy drink. "Can't believe I'm saying this, but this is too much drama…."
"I'm so sorry you had to go through that, Mom!" Izuku cried, tears turning into streams as he hugged Inko tightly.
"I'm so sorry I kept this a secret from you for so long, Izuku!" Inko cried, flooding the entire apartment. "I'm sorry I lied to you!"
Sitting on top of the table, Himiko casually sipped from the pack of tomato juice she bought from the store. Next to her, Rei kept glancing back and forth at the mother and son and Himiko, seemingly worried about the situation.
"Shouldn't we…. stop them?" Rei created an ice barrier to block the water away from her and Himiko. "It might affect the neighbors downstairs."
"If you want to get flooded out, be my guest." Himiko casually replied as she continued to tap on her phone.
"But the flood damage-"
"Will be covered under insurance." Himiko cut her off. "This isn't my first rodeo, Rei-san. And it won't be your last."
"As much as I want to sympathize with you," Chiyo put another can of energy drink on Izuku's table. "I sincerely hope this wouldn't affect your work performance, especially since we have a lot to do this week."
"Oh, right. The Hero Course's practical exam." Izuku remembered. "Just out of curiosity, it's not robots, is it?"
"Very astute observation." Chiyo nodded proudly. "Keep quiet about it, though. It's supposed to be a surprise for them."
"Messed up surprise you guys got going on." Izuku chuckled. "What am I expected to do?"
"Assist me with the injuries they definitelywill have after their fights." Chiyo explained. "Observe, analyze and then go through with them what they could improve on or what they could have done better. Moral support, too, while you're at it. Some are definitely going to need it."
"Aye, aye, captain~." Izuku enthusiastically saluted. "I'm going back to class now. Also, I might come a little later this afternoon, Chiyo-sensei."
"It's fine. We have a staff meeting as well." Chiyo waved his concern off. "But how come?"
"I figure if I help clean up that corner of the forest that nobody ever goes to, the robots will be…. appeased for a while before they plot my assassination." Izuku explained. "Turns out befriending Hatsume-san is not what they ask of me, so."
"... Again, how come?"
"I think the leader of the pack said something along the lines of by being my friend, harming Hatsume-san means making me sad, which it does, which means Nezu-sensei will step in."
"But isn't plotting your demise also placed in the same category?"
"At least they're able to enact vengeance on me before going down is what I heard." Izuku shrugged.
"I mean that robot is why All for One hasn't stormed this building yet." Chiyo sighed. "You be safe out there."
"... What the hell happened here?"
Was all that could come out of Kan's mouth as he looked around 1-B's almost-destroyed, mushroom-covered living room. Pieces of glass, tables and chairs were scattered all over the floor along with some of his unconscious could also see some more of them being put into the wall with their heads, their bodies sticking out.
"Kan-sensei." One of his most level-headed students, Shiozaki Ibara, approached him calmly. "Were we being too noisy?"
"... I was passing through so I decided to check in on you guys." Kan answered, still in awe of the chaos that was transpiring. "Do you know what happened here, Shiozaki?"
"Izuku came over to visit us."
"... That explains so much yet nothing at the same time." Kan nodded.
"If you need to know, I shall explain the situa-" Ibara stopped in the middle of her sentence as she felt her shirt sleeves were being pulled. Kan watched Ibara unhesitantly send her vines into the kitchen and did…. something. Seconds later, the vines retracted and she continued as if nothing happened. "Izuku came over to visit us for a promised movie night. After a full dinner, all 20 of us and him settled ourselves around the television before putting on a movie. But apparently, Kendou and Izuku were exhausted beforehand, so they fell asleep halfway through."
Kan followed Ibara's glance towards the bean bag chair in front of the muted TV, where Itsuka and Izuku were cuddling into each other while snoring softly. Their foreheads touched as they leaned in closer, grumbling from the not-so-much commotion.
"And?" Kan nodded in realization, but he gave in to his curiosity and asked,
"While the sight was endearing, it was also…. compromising and opportunistic for the other heathens around." Ibara tried to come up with the proper words. "Yanagi and Tokage tried to join the snuggle, but Togaru and Kodai swiftly put a stop to their scheme. However, that caused a chain reaction as more attempted to do it while the others did all they could to stop them."
"And it led to this?"
"Only half of it, I'm afraid." Ibara tiredly sighed. "After the commotion settled down somewhat, Monoma thought it would be entertaining to open Pandora Box."
"Which is?"
"He asked since we couldn't wake them up nor leave them in the living room, whose room shall bear the responsibility of harboring them for the night."
"Oh." Kan said.
"I'm sure you can imagine what happened after." Ibara nodded. "If that's all, would you kindly help me separate and carry them to my room?"
Before Kan could respond, screaming of objections were heard from the kitchen. Ibara immediately made her way towards the kitchen and closed the door.
He swore he heard Ibara clicking her tongue very aggressively as she moved towards the kitchen with her vines rose up, readying for battle.
Kan had to wonder if the exact same thing happened at 1-A's dorm two weeks ago.
Kinoko timidly looked around the empty, tree-filled forest one more time before she took in one final deep breath. She raised her hand in front of her and imagined filling a cup of water with spores, falling from the inside of her palm. Within a blink of an eye, mushrooms took over the place; the sole bench's back that was facing her, the trees, stems, leaves, the ground, even on other mushrooms. Kinoko gripped her skirt with her other arm to prevent herself from shaking and instead focused on the sensation of controlling her mushrooms in a specific area.
"I can do this…! I can do this…! I can control it…!" Kinoko muttered encouragement to herself. The mushroom's spreading speed slowed down slightly.
Her cross shaped pupils glinted in excitement at the progress. Kinoko held her breath to focus more on controlling her 'Mushroom Outbreak'. She hated that name, by the way. Why couldn't it be something like 'Puffballs Attack'?
As Kinoko got distracted slightly, the spreading speed increased. Kinoko shook her head in a panic before regaining the control back, slowing it down. Before Kinoko could let out a sigh of relief, her whole body stopped at one single sound.
"Hachoo!"
From the bench, someone sneezed. A set of green, messy green hair slowly rose up from the couch, scratching his mushroom-covered head while yawning tiredly. Kinoko's heart almost dropped as she saw the guy's eyes widened at the sight of mushrooms on his body.
She just used her Quirk on an innocent person. Another student. Without permission. The realization hit her hard as she stood there, shaking like a leaf.
Every time he moved his hands around to check for mushrooms that grew on his body, Kinoko's breathing turned more raspy and panicked. When he turned around and saw her, her eyes that were hidden behind her bang were filled with tears threatening to flow at any moment. Probably when he screamed and yelled at her for-
"Good afternoon." A soft, kind, gentle voice spoke up, completely different from what she was expecting. "Did I interrupt your training with my Godzilla-level sneeze?"
Catching a frog in her throat at the unexpected (and never happened before) response, Kinoko stayed quiet.
"It's the season change. Not a disease so you have nothing to worry about." He chuckled. "Then again, it's my fault for falling asleep outside. Thanks for watching over my sleeping human flesh, by the way."
Kinoko nodded blankly as she took in the nonchalant attitude of the guy whose entire body was covered by her mushrooms.
"Though, I must say, being covered in mushrooms is definitely not on my bucket list." He giggled as he played with the mushroom that grew on his nose. "An Elm Oyster growing near summer? What a marvel to behold."
"They're called Hypsizygus ulmarius." Kinoko immediately corrected him before she realized it and attempted to cover up her mouth.
"They are?" He smiled. "I need to find more books on mushrooms, then. They sound cool."
"They are cool!" Kinoko yelled out before making a dash towards Izuku. "And cute, too! Japan herself has around 5000 varieties of mushrooms, yet only 100 of them are somewhat edible! Did you know that there are around 400 known species of mushrooms that live underwater?! 400! Also, did you know-"
As Kinoko went on a rant about mushrooms, Izuku sat there while listening with a smile and a quiet sigh of relief. When he turned and saw Kinoko shaking like a leaf, he himself almost shut down until he remembered Hound Dog's training. Always approach with the calmest, softest tone while remaining safe distance, giving the other party some personal space to feel safe.
Thank God for the training he took after he met Kouda and Setsuna.
Izuku took another look at Kinoko. She wasn't shaking anymore. Her breathing was normal, maybe a little fast due to the lecture she was giving. From his position on the bench, Izuku could see Kinoko's eyes under her bang.
"Your eyes…." Izuku mumbled, not noticing Kinoko flinching. "Is that…. cross-shaped?"
"Y- Yeah, I- I know." Kinoko chuckled sheepishly, her voice shaking as she tried to play off her insecurity. "I- I think t- they're not c- cute, too. H- Hiding them under the bang m- makes me f- feel better..."
"Really?" Izuku tilted his head while raising an eyebrow. "That's a shame. I think you should show them. They look cute."
"W-W-W-W-W-W-W-Whaaaaaaaaaa-" Kinoko stuttered, her face turning redder and redder at the implication.
"I think they look cute. They're like…. cross-sliced of a cap of a shiitake mushroom" Izuku pointed out. "They're really unique. But I guess it couldn't be helped if you don't like them."
Izuku stood up, took a quick stretch. He then leaned by Kinoko's ear.
"I still like you whether you show them or not." He whispered. "You're cute."
Kinoko managed to blink three times to register the compliment before she collapsed on the mushroom-filled ground.
"Midoriya?"
Izuku's eyes fluttered open at his name being called. Turning to his right, he saw Kinoko's face was inches away from his. Lifting his head up from the table, Izuku let out a yawn before looking back at Kinoko.
"Komori-san, good morning." He smiled. "Do you need something at the nurse's office?"
"... It's already lunch, Midoriya." Kinoko blinked. "Did you sleep through morning classes?"
"Is it?" Izuku glanced at the time. "My bad, then. Thank you for waking me up. Are you here for lunch?"
"No sporeblem ! What are friends spore ?" Kinoko giggled as she set two lunch boxes on the table. "It's my turn- I mean, I think the canteen is a little too crowded today, so I might as well come here and eat with you! Here's a box of Katsudon with some shiitakes for some extra flavors!"
" Shiitake happens, I guess." Izuku chuckled. "Thank you for the lunch box. Let me go to the wa shroom first. Be back in a minute."
As Kinoko looked dreamily at the door where Izuku left, from her table, Chiyo quietly sipped on her tea before finally spoke up from the first time.
"You kids really need to stop using my office as a dating spot." Chiyo commented. "It's annoying."
"You let Setsuna come here all the time!" Kinoko pouted.
"I'm on her side of this war." Chiyo rolled her eyes. "Of course I'm going to let her come here whenever she wants."
"Favortis hroo m!"
"Yes, well," Chiyo shrugged. "Every staff member has a side they're playing for. I need to even the odds for my grandniece."
(*)
Yagi entered the nurse's office and looked around before turning to Chiyo.
"Young Midoriya isn't here?" He asked.
"You just missed him." Chiyo told him as she changed the towel on Kinoko's forehead. "He's on his way to the staff room."
"What for?"
"You'll see." Chiyo hummed. "What do you need from him?"
"I…. I figure after what we learned, I should at least have a talk with him." Yagi scratched his head. "About everything. You, me, Torino-sensei, Nezu-sensei…. and Nana-sensei."
"I suppose." Chiyo sighed. "But hold that off until after the exam. He's already got enough going on as is."
.
("I understand that, but no!" Seventh yelled out, trying to escape the black tendrils that were tying her down. "Find him! Now! I need to talk to my grandson!"
"I need some help here!" Fifth called for help.
"Why are you even holding her back?" Second asked. "It's not like she can escape this realm and find the kid…."
He took a glance at First, who didn't comment as he put another licorice into his mouth.
"... can't she?")
.
"That should be for the best." Yagi nodded in agreement before turning back out. "Have a good day, Shuzenji-sensei."
"You, too." Chiyo waved him off. "Make sure not to send any more students my way."
A/N: Chiyo's office = Dating spot with Izuku
(*): Happened after a section that was mentioned in case #15.