Slight trigger warning

Case file #7: Togeike Chikuchi

"Dear Diary, today I learned my nurse doesn't hurt people physically. Verbally and emotionally, on the other hand...

I'm proud but don't tell him that. Got to keep up appearances, after all."

"So, the Sport Festival is coming."

At Nemuri's announcement, the population of 1-C stood up from their seats and cheered, much to Nemuri's approval. Nothing beats the excitement and fire of youth, after all.

"Now, now, I know you're excited. I am, too. But calm down and let me explain it first." Nemuri raised her voice over the noise, making them sit down in anticipation. "As you've already guessed, the Sport Festival is more of an event for Hero Course's students to shine-"

Chants of 'Boos' were heard, but Nemuri quickly quieted them down with an air whip.

"But that doesn't mean you can't!" She continued, catching their fullest attention. "If you managed to outshine them at their own games, it will be your chance to transfer to the Hero Course. Just as I did back then."

The students had looks of surprise written on their faces.

"[Somnambulist] doesn't work well on things that don't breathe, after all." She chuckled. "But I managed to show off a lot myself. Figuratively and literally."

The students, especially males, blushed at the statement. One of the boys was busy nodding off, though.

"Speaking of... Midoriya-kun!" Izuku lifted his sleepy face up at the mention of his name, making his classmates giggle. "Are you certain you won't be joining the Sport Festival this year?"

"100%." Izuku yawned, noticing the confusion and concern his classmates gave him. "I really don't want to fight against others. Not like I can heal people to win, anyway. Besides, helping Shuzenji-sensei would be a better fit for My Quirk."

"If you think it's right for you, then no arguments here." Nemuri smiled. "As for the rest of you; Do your best! I believe in all of you! Plus-"

"-Ultra!" They all excitedly cheered, with Izuku smiled fondly at the enthusiasm as he cheered with them.

"Midoriya-kun, Monoma-kun, Shinsou-kun. It's good to see you three again!"

Nezu laughed as he saw the three students sitting in the chairs in front of him. Behind them, their respective homeroom teachers either smiled, sighed or deadpanned.

"So, anything any of you want to clarify?" Nezu asked as he read through the reports.

"They didn't do anything..." Hitoshi mumbled. "It was all me..."

"Shh, man!" Monoma growled at him. "Innocent until proven guilty. Just keep quiet."

"... Weren't there cameras?"

Neito turned towards Izuku. "You said there weren't any!"

"I didn't expect them to be dumb enough to start shit with cameras there..." Izuku's mumble was muffled behind his hand.

"Well, there you have it, Nezu-sensei!" Neito cheered. "They were the ones who started it!"

"Yes, I know. I watched the footage." Nezu cackled. "Rest assured as those third year will be punished accordingly. But I want to hear the story from you." He pointed at Neito and Izuku.

"Well, I believe we were discussing ways to bring down the HPSC-" Neito began as he pointed at Izuku.

"... I can already see so many things wrong with that." Aizawa grumbled.

Ignoring him, Neito continued. "-just when we were walking, we noticed Shinsou-san here getting harassed by other students. Usually, seeing someone from 1-A in peril sparks joy in me, but I hate bullies more than I hate his-" He pointed at Aizawa. "-class, so I helped."

"It says here you broke their noses." Nezu looked at the report.

"Yeah." Neito shrugged. "Helped."

Nezu nodded, his amused smile was still apparent. He then turned to Izuku. "And you, Midoriya-kun?"

"After Monoma-san is done with his work, I healed their noses to erase evi- I mean, as a doctor, it's an obligation." Izuku explained. "Then, I gently informed them what they should be doing instead of harassing my friend."

"It says here you said, 'if you overgrown, human-shaped dung beetle harasses anyone ever again, no one would be able to find your body'."

"Yeah." Izuku shrugged. "Gently informed."

While Nemuri and Kan had to cover their faces and bend down to stop themselves from laughing out loud, Aizawa just shrugged, hiding his approval behind his tired expression and scarf. Hitoshi tried to look for a hold so he could jump into it and hide how red his face was. Nezu laughed out loud for several minutes before dismissing the teenagers.

"You're really not participating?" On their way to the canteen, Agoyamato turned towards Izuku and asked. "It's a great opportunity to move to the Hero Course!"

"I don't think I can do anything 'flashy' enough to get noticed." Izuku chuckled. "Besides, if you guys are really giving it all out there, then I'll look forward to heal you when you win."

"So basically, just sitting on your ass and use your Quirk." Chikuchi vehemently insulted.

"That's uncalled for, Togeike!" Oogawa called out.

"Whatever." Togeike rolled her eyes as she hastened her steps, not looking behind. "This whole thing is dumb. Flaunting your Quirks, begging for attention like idiots. I don't want any part in this."

Watching as Chikuchi left, the 1-C's students present glared at her back. "Stuck up bitch. Don't worry about her, Midoriya-kun."

"It's fine. Don't worry about it." Izuku chuckled as he scratched his cheek, his eyes still lingered on Chikuchi.

"Good job, Chikuchi! You've just ruined your chance at making any friends..." Chikuchi quietly chastised herself. Finding an empty spot behind the school, Chikuchi flopped down to the ground.

She squinted her eyes, remembering what she said to Midoriya and her classmates. It was rude, mean and as they said, uncalled for. They kept talking about Quirk and she couldn't stand it anymore. Sooner or later, the conversation was going to turn to her, and she would have to reveal her secret.

Not like it matters now. They already hated her. When her not-so-hidden secret got out, they would just have more reason to stay away from her.

"Nothing I haven't dealt with, anyway..." Muttering to herself, Chikuchi stood up.

All of a sudden, she felt herself being violently thrown against the wall she was leaning on.

"Let's see..." All Might looked around the giant hallway's intersection. "I believe I saw young Midoriya headed towards the backyard."

Figuring he should at least have a talk with the young boy before making his decision, Toshinori opted to ask the boy to eat lunch with him in his own office, one Nezu had given him to relax in his true form.

Any doubt Toshinori could think of, Midoriya Izuku had squashed it after the event of USJ. Despite his reservation at confrontation, he'd seen Midoriya's heroic nature. The way the young man stood over Aizawa to protect him, his effort to heal Kurose despite his limits. All of that, and the nagging feeling he felt from [One for All] told him that he'd found his successor. A true hero who could succeed him. One who would maintain and keep [One for All]'s purpose stays true.

But he wouldn't be able to do that if he can't find the young man!

Trying to remember the layout of his alma mater, Toshinori carefully maneuvered the hallways.

"Such a waste of space." She heard the blond bitch. "You stole that spot from someone who worth sitting in. Guess you must feel pretty good, huh?"

"I passed the Entrance Exam fair and square." Chikuchi groaned from the pain. "So yeah, pretty hap-"

She didn't get to finish, though, as she felt a slap on her cheek. "Quite a mouth you've got there, ponytail."

One of bullies pulled on her ponytail as the other two laughed. Refusing to shed a tear, Chikuchi glared at them with the harshest glare she could muster up.

"Things like you don't even deserve to breath." They spat. "I actually feel bad for your parents. They had to raise a thing like you."

Chikuchi thought U.A would be different. No more bullies. But clearly, she was wrong. The insults hurt as badly as they did during her middle school. Or even since she was diagnosed, she supposed.

Once again, being thrown against the wall, Chikuchi closed her eyes, enduring the pain as the bullies kicked her. No one ever helped her. Not even the teachers. Enduring the pain was all she could do.

Sometimes, she wondered why she even bothered waking up.

Suddenly, the assault stopped, and she heard them yelled.

"What the fuck?!"

Opening her eyes, Chikuchi found a set of green hair standing in front of her, blocking her away from the bullies. Speaking of them, the three were covered in some brown liquid that stank in an inhumane way.

"Crap, I thought that bucket was just water." The person she now realized was Midoriya, mumbled with a slight guilt in his voice, before he shrugged. "Eh, well."

"What the fuck, asshole?!" One of the bullies yelled.

"You talked a lot of shit." Izuku answered. "Thought you would like to be one."

"Do you know who- what you're even protecting?" One of the bullies smirked. "That Quirkless ?"

Chikuchi's eyebrows creased. But before she could squint her eyes and prepare for another assault, Izuku's reply shocked her.

"And?"

It seemed the bullies were taken aback at that statement as well. "W- What do you mean, 'And?'? She's Quirkl-"

"Yeah, I heard, shit-faces." He kept his glare on them. " And? Did my classmate do anything to offend you? Something so offensive and revolting that you thought it was a good idea to assault her in U.A's backyard, a school that has zero tolerance towards violence and discrimination? Or you dipshits thought that you would get away with it because Togeike-san is Quirkless, a normal person without a source of unnecessary power? Are your brains filled with as much shit as your personality and mindset? Is it genetics? Or is it taught and encouraged? I'm curious because I do not see a single good reason for you to attack her apart from you being a bunch of Quirkists bimbo who got away with so much in their life that they thought everything they do is justifiable in the eyes of others."

The silence that followed Izuku's insult was loud. So loud that it took one of the bullies a few minutes to gather himself as he barked.

"It's your words against us." He smirked. "Who do you think everyone will trust? Three second year students who got toilet water thrown at them? Or a first year who threw the water and a 'slightly' bruised Quirkless?"

" That is an interesting question, young man. "

Everyone's neck snapped towards the voice. They landed eyes on All Might, who slowly approached them. His blue piercing eyes glared at them, sending a shiver down their spines. The assuring smile he always wore was nowhere to be seen, instead replaced by a deep frown filled with anger.

"All- All Might!" The blond leader pointed at Izuku. "That hooligan-"

" Do not even bother ." All Might growled, shutting them up. All Might turned towards Izuku, and his eyes immediately softened at the sight of him covering his classmate.

" Please take her to the infirmary, young Midoriya. I will take care of this. "

Izuku nodded before he helped Chikuchi up to her feet and made their way towards the infirmary.

"Oh, is he slee-"

"SHH!"

Chikuchi loudly shushed her classmates. That caused the opposite result to what she was trying to achieve. Izuku slowly opened his eyes from the sofa as he sat himself up.

"How long was I sleeping?" Izuku asked with a yawn.

"Mi- Midoriya!" Chikuchi turned towards him. "About... ten, fifteen minutes..."

"Jeez, Togeike." One of the guys joked as he walked towards the stairs. "Maybe you shouldn't have shushed so loudly."

Chikuchi shot him a look that said she was going to poison his dinner later. She then moved and sat next to Izuku and apologized.

"Sorry, Midoriya. I didn't mean to wake you up..."

"It's fine, Togeike-san." Izuku waved her off. "It's the living room, after all. I shouldn't even be falling asleep here."

"Why are you so tired to begin with?" Chikuchi squinted her eyes suspiciously at Izuku. "Did you pull another all-nighter?"

"... Nyo..." Izuku mumbled, not daring to meet his classmate's eyes.

"Midoriya..." Chikuchi rolled her eyes. "We have a rule board for a reason! No all-nighter allowed! Especially you!"

"I'm sorry." Izuku scratched his head. "I got too into the reports and when I realized, it's already morning. Might as well stay awake, you know."

Chikuchi let out a defeated sigh. She then patted her thighs, an action which confused Izuku.

"... Good legs day?" Izuku tilted his head as he inspected her thighs.

"Not that, perv!" She flicked his forehead with a red face. "Sleep! Here! I'll wake you up before dinner."

"Don't we have pillows for that?" Izuku pointed out. "Studies pointed out that sleeping on a pillow-"

"Midoriya Izuku, if you don't lie down now, I'll knock you out."

"Right away, ma'am."

Taking the threat seriously, Izuku begrudgingly put his head onto Chikuchi's thighs as he laid down on the sofa.

"I don't get what's the... big idea..." Izuku's grumble slowly getting softer as his breathing became slower. "I'm fine... without... sleep..."

Chikuchi was surprised how fast it was for Izuku to fall asleep and wake up. The boy fell asleep in less than a second while waking up in less than one.

She watched as Izuku peacefully and slowly breath. A smile slowly crept onto her lips as her hand went through his soft, fluffy hair. The sound of the clock ticking echoed the empty common hall, creating a world of its own with two occupants.

"I spent years of my life despising myself over something I wasn't born with. Something I resent myself and everyone else for. I woke up every day, feeling the needs to fall back asleep to escape from everything."

Chikuchi whispered.

"And you came into my life, Midoriya Izuku. In less than half a year, you're the reason I looked forward to waking up every day. You make me love the world that I once hated."

She giggled.

"Even if you're too dense to realize it, I love the you that look at me for who I am, not what I wasn't born with. The you that smile at me every time no matter how tired you are. The you that make me feel loved and appreciated, something I didn't know I could experience again."

She studied his peaceful face, the eyebags that were always apparent, the freckles that made her blush every time she thought about them.

"I love you, Midoriya Izuku. Even if you might not feel the same way, I'll always love you."

As Chikuchi was entrapped in her own world, the stairs of 1-C's dorm were packed with 18 other students and a Pro Hero, each one trying to squeeze through another for the front view.

"Get off, old lady!" Agoyamato sneered at his homeroom teacher. "You're blocking the view!"

"Watch your mouth, young man!" Nemuri hissed back. "And I am not missing out on this! It's too pure and romantic!"

"Both of you, shut up!" Another female student shushed. "She's going to notice us!"

Chikuchi stayed quiet as she watched Izuku search through the cabinet. After he helped her to the nurse's office and informed Recovery Girl what happened, the school's doctor kissed her on the cheek before she left for Nezu's office. She told them that they could stay here for the next period but have to return before the one after that started. Izuku the gently held Chikuchi's hand as he used his Quirk on her, making her feel reenergized.

The two then sat in silence as Izuku took the time to sort out the cabinet. After somewhat half an hour had passed, Chikuchi finally spoke up.

"... Why?"

At the sudden question, Izuku turned around. Noticing his confused expression, Chikuchi elaborated.

"Why did you help me?"

"Because you looked like you needed help." He shrugged. "I wanted to talk to you, so I followed you after you break away from our classmates. I saw you got thrown against the wall and I grabbed the closest thing I could find."

"I'm Quirkless, Midoriya!" She yelled, but she was glaring at her damn red shoes instead of Izuku. "Why. Did. You. Help. Me?"

Izuku tilted his head. "What's that have got to do with anything?"

He continued, not noticing Chikuchi looking at him. "You needed help, Togeike-san, so I did. I don't know what else to tell you."

"No one ever cared." She mumbled. "Not at home. Not at school. Everyone I turned to has either ignored me or took part in making my life miserable. No one cares! I don't matte-"

Before she could finish her sentence, she could feel Izuku gently holding her hands. "You do. You matter, Togeike-san. Please don't listen to anyone who tells you otherwise, okay? Not even yourself."

"I can't even imagine what you've gone through, so I can't understand." Chikuchi tried to reel in her sobs. "But please, don't tell yourself that. You're my classmate, Togeike-san. You're important to me."

She sobbed louder.

"I do care. Please, let me be someone you can cry and rely on."

She gripped his hand tightly, letting her tears go free.

A/N: Now that I've written this, I promise I'll cry myself to death if she doesn't get a happy ending.

Also, I just gave the first ever confession (quietly, that is) to a background character who nothing is know of except for her name. Yay.

She's cute, though. I'm not apologizing.