Mars Mission 1 landed to the vitality of the world. There were news crews, bands, and everything one could imagine; the mission had been successful, and 40 Years had passed since the launch. For the crew, it had been five years; when they landed, they got to waive from a particular pod as they were taken to a special readjustment chamber; some wept to see the blue sky of Earth, the clouds, and the birds.
For Ochaco Uraraka, her five years in space had been magical, unique, and lonely. She thought she knew what was happening when she signed up. The time away would be different for them than those they left behind. For the ONE she left behind. All the time she was in space, seeing what she had always dreamed of, she would look to her side and wish he was there to share it. Of course, he wasn't; he was on Earth; he and Eri were millions of miles away. It was beautiful amongst the stars; it was everything she could dream of, all she had dreamed of, but it wasn't right without him, without Izuku to share it with. Without him, it was empty.
For five years, she would look back towards home when all the time she was home, she spent it looking up. She would close her eyes in her room and think of the final night they were together, how she knew what she would do but had failed to bring it up that night. She wanted to savor this magical night; they made love, and he made love to her all night. She had asked him, too, to take a day for them, to take a night just for them, and he had. Then, the next day, over breakfast, she told him what she wanted and saw it in his eyes and heartbreak. But his voice never wavered. Instead, he listened to her rant and explained about her love of the stars, something he knew all too well. Her grand dream was to go amongst the stars, to open a whole new frontier for the human race. How her quirk had unlocked the Gravity Drive, and how she was needed to help make sure things worked in case something happened with the drive.
All he did was smile for her, a fake smile. She knew what it was, but he did it anyway; the worst betrayal was that she accepted it. Since he had run off back to school, she had ensured she could recognize that fake smile. She would try and call him out when she saw it. But when he flashed it this time, she accepted it as real so she could lie to herself. "If that is what you need, Ochaco," he paused. "Please excuse me for a bit." And he walked out. Ultimately, he kissed her cheek and wished her luck as she walked out the door.
She called him, but he rarely answered; her conviction wavered, but she couldn't back out of the mission now. Part of her wanted him to chase after her, beg her to stay. But why would he? She told him this was what she wanted, what she needed. Izuku had loved her so much that he gave her what he wanted.
She called Eri on her birthday, but the voice was cold and distant; all the girl said was thank you for calling Uraraka. Sorry, I have to go. A week later, the birthday card she had sent was returned unopened.
When they disembarked, she gazed out the glass. Was he there? Was he there waiting? She was pressed against the glass; he was nowhere to be seen; she saw her parents waving and holding a sign for her. Tsu and Toru were there along with Mina and Eijiro; she saw what must have been their children there with them, and GRANDCHILDREN!
She could see her parents through the glass and hear their voices. She wanted so badly to hold them, but they were being held in isolation for one month before they could interact with others. She was shocked to hear how her father had suffered a significant stroke, but he had made a full recovery, almost like it never happened. She faked a smile. Tsu was a mother with even a few grandchildren; Ochaco was shocked to hear she never married. Toru had found love and married some kids of her own. Mina and Ejiro were expecting their first grandchild, and they had just retired.
"How is Izuku?' she asked; honestly, it had been on her lips.
"Oh, he is good," they all said, "doing great."
They couldn't talk long, as she had limited time. Other team members also wanted to speak with their families, so she did what everyone would do now that she had access. She turned to the internet.
Married to Momo and Kyoka! 8 Children, One Grandson…Still the Number One. Still handsome, still smiling, happy. He was moved on. She was up all night looking at the wedding photos and Momo's wedding ring. It was Inko's, the archives, the fights, the peace that had been brought. Uncovering hidden labs and Nomu's fight in the stockyard symbolized victory as the camera's cut. She knew he was hurt. She could tell by how he moved, how he was standing, and the look on Fumi's face.
Eri Midoriya-Yaoyorozu married two women named Clara and Lilly; Eri had given birth to a child. Momo adopted her…Ochaco read an interview with Eri talking about her Mom and gushing about how wonderful Momo was and the job she did raising her. Ochaco kept reading and saw the question.
"Did Uravity influence your life? You don't seem to talk about her much?" the reporter asked.
"She did; Uravity was around for much of my early life after my father adopted me. She was a nice figure in my life as I grew up. But Creati has been my mother and the most important female figure in my life after my grandmother. I strive to emulate her the most." Eri responded.
Ochaco looked up about Inko having gotten sick; before she left, Ochaco hoped that she would have gotten better, only to find that she had passed, and Toshi had passed not long after. Ochaco sat back and shed a tear, forgotten, replaced. She scolded herself; she was crying for herself, crying for her own decision. The only interview she could find about Izuku talking about her was when their breakup was announced and when she left the planet. "I wish her the best."
Himiko married, happy, children, son named Izuku. All of them had moved on with life, some words about her here and there but nothing significant. Tsu had children, but the father was unknown, and some had freckles; Ochaco bit her lip.
Izuku Midoriya. She stared at the photos, the interviews, him talking and laughing; she had seen the fake smile for a few years. It slowly disappeared, only appearing now and then. She could tell after it was announced that Momo and he were dating; there were no more fake smiles. After Kyoka, not even a hint. Was the phony smile because of her? For so many years, he had that fake smile.
When she was finally released, it was time to go home…she didn't have a home to go to. Her parents told her to come to Hawaii, and she did. They thanked her again for the house, and she bit her lip and smiled. She never paid for it; he did. He didn't kick them out. Her bank accounts were dry, yet they still had money coming in. All their bills were paid, and all their needs were met. Medical care after her father had a stroke had been exemplary. She was the housekeeper/nurse to look after them; everything she could have wanted for them had been meeting. They had even been able to travel. She saw photos of them in Europe, Mainland America, and South America. It didn't look like budget trips, either. All arranged by her for significant anniversaries, they gushed, how she had thought about them, what a wonderful daughter.
She excused herself and cried into the pillow. It was him; he had done all this. He had kept them comfortable even after her money had run out, even after she had not only left him but had left them to chase the stars. It was an incredible experience, but now she was alone, forgotten. He had kept up the illusion for her parents that their daughter hadn't just thrown away everything to chase stars. She had tossed him aside, tossed Eri aside, her friends, her family, and people who depended on her. Now, all she wanted was him.
Ochaco Midoriya, she should be Ochaco Midoriya. Children, she wanted to have children…his children. A top family hero takes care of her family, but she has none of that. He had a family; he was still the top hero, and he had a family. A huge family, happy, all the dreams she spoke about in school could have been realized. They had been realized, all without her, her parents safe and taken care of, the world a better place, a legacy. Spoken of in the same breath as All-Might, many of her friends were at the top of the game, teaming with their children a whole new generation of heroes.
She fell asleep; tears would come even then as she dreamed of a life now gone.
"Mochi, you have a visitor!" the knock on her door roused her. She quickly dressed and brushed her hair as she entered the living room. She broke out in a smile.
Tall, dignified, Hawaiian shirt, glasses a little bit thicker, a touch of grey on his blue hair, Tenya Ida.
"OMG, TENYA!" she gushed as she ran and hugged him.
"Ochaco," he replied warmly, hugging her back. "You look amazing!"
"No, you do, holy cow, I like the grey," she teased, touching his temple.
"They say it makes me look dignified, but I tell them it is just a symbol that I am old," he replied, smiling. "I wanted to come see you in person; forgive me for not calling ahead of time; I wanted to surprise you."
"Well, you did," she stepped back and playfully punched his arm. "Does your wife know where you are?"
"Of course," he laughed, "she is down at the beach with our two youngest grandkids. Want to meet her?"
"I would love to; let me take a quick shower, and we can head out," Ochaco said, running off.
They stepped outside a short time later and started walking.
"So, are you retired?" she asked.
"Oh yes, my son has been running the agency along with Tensi's daughter, just like he and I did after Eri was able to repair the damage to his spine," he responded. "It has been 40 years, after all," he laughed. "It is so weird seeing you; you're so young."
"I know it has been hard, seeing my parents now and the others. It was only five years for me," she said as she kicked a pebble down the road.
"Are they going to be able to adjust that for future missions?" he asked.
"I think so," she said. "They are talking about another with a new drive, an updated gravity drive that Melissa's sons created; it was something their father had been working on before he passed. Space Fold, I think they called it."
"It is so amazing how far things have come," he said. "It is good to see you again, Ochaco. Have you talked to any of the others?"
"Yes, some phone calls and texts; Tsu, Toru, Mina, and Ejiro were there when I landed," she said quietly. "It just seems a bit awkward."
"I can imagine, as you said, five years for you, 40 years for us," Tanya responded. "I was even a bit wary about approaching you."
"Why?"
"To you, I am still young and vibrant; now I am older, nearing 63. It's hard to accept that I needed to step aside, that my time had passed. But to see a friend still in their prime…" he offered her a smile.
"I didn't know what to expect when I came back; I foolishly hoped that it would be like when I left," Ochaco said, sending the pebble further down the path.
"You can ask," Tenya said.
"Is he happy?"
"Very much so," Tenya said, sending a rock along. "I was apprehensive about him after you left. I was quite angry with you."
"You where? But you never said anything," she said.
"It was your choice, Ochaco, but I felt it was wrong. You abandoned him, Eri, all of us. It was unpleasant and unkind. I understand it was your dream to see the stars, but what about what we were fighting for? The fight wasn't over, and you left us as Kyoka and Denki did. She eventually came back and was able to help, but you…" he sighed. "Understand my words. I am glad to see you. I have missed you, my friend, but 40 years is a long time."
"I just walked away," she said. "Yet you came to see me."
"I had enough time to overcome my anger, the job, children, grandchildren." Tenya looked up to the clear blue sky. "I wondered if you would ever come home. I would look up and wonder if you were up there."
Ochaco smiled; she shifted the conversation to him and his family. His wife was lovely, and his grandchildren were as well; they spent hours with her chasing them around and having a blast. She noticed the looks she was receiving as she ran around the beach in her swimsuit. Older Men were looking at her as she bounced around the beach, and she did bounce; some younger men came up to try and chat with her. They parted that night, promising to meet again the next night for dinner; a thought danced to her mind as she made her way home.
She stood in front of her mirror; slowly, she stripped off her clothes, and she stood there naked. Her body was still in great shape; she was young and vibrant, in her mid-20s. What man wouldn't want to take her bed, mainly if she devoted herself to them, to be everything they wanted or craved? She bit her lip; maybe she could still have it all, go to him, bare it all, and offer herself. Let him use her however he wanted. Momo and Kyoka were pretty for women in the early 60s, but she was in her mid-20s. They couldn't compare now.
It would be a scandal, but she could tell the world how much she loved him, how even the stars didn't compare. Make him fall in love with her again, have him by her side. She took photos of herself, his number there, she knew he would never change it. She made sure with Tenya before they parted that night. Maybe a flirtatious text or just a simple wanting to meet for coffee. Or the bold approach, send him the photos, tell him how much she wanted him, how she wanted him. She set the phone in position and began to play with herself as she moaned his name into the camera. She was showing every inch of her naked body as she brought herself to pleasure. Yes, she could send him this; she knew he could be in Hawaii quickly; he could fly, after all. Come and Fuck me, Izuku, use me however you want, just come to me. The text and the Videos are all ready to be sent. She went and showered, thinking it over; memories and fantasies flooded her.
She emerged, digging through her box with her belongings, slipping on a pair of boy shorts and a Deku shirt. How was she going to do this? How would she play this? She nibbled on her lip as she began to figure it out. She had a plan; she would throw herself at him; she knew what buttons she could press…she stopped. What was she doing? She deleted everything and threw her phone down on the bed. Trying to come in and seduce him, make him hers, what right did she have? An alert from her phone.
Deku speaks of Uravity's return. The phone nearly fell from her hands as she clicked the link.
"Deku, how do you feel about the return of Uravity?"
"I am glad she is home, and her mission was a success."
"Any plans to reunite?"
"For coffee?" he laughed. "Of course."
"Did you miss her?"
"Of course, she was my friend; she still is," he smiled. "Ochaco and I have a complicated past, but add in 40 years, which helps put things in perspective. I will not stand here and tell you I wasn't hurt when she left. But my life turned out pretty good," he said as the room laughed. "I am sure we will meet again," he turned and looked straight at the camera. "Welcome home, Ochaco."
Then, the clip ended.
Ochaco sat back and cried; she cried for herself and for all she had forsaken. She couldn't see him; she had made her bed and now needed to lie in it. She grabbed her phone and sent a simple e-mail. "I am interested in the next mission."
She couldn't stay here, not while he was here. She would do what she knew how, run away, back to the stars. Maybe they would figure out time travel by the time she returned; then, she could make a different choice. She was happy for him, he had gotten everything he ever wanted, everything she had thrown away. Ochaco turned and gazed out the window; maybe she could find love In the Stars.