Ichijiku (Tigress)
Nothing beats the salty brine in the air or the warm crunch of sand underfoot from an evening on the beach. The moon paints a story as it reflects off the waves and the seagulls carry on oral tradition to pass the story along their route. Closing my eyes and listening to the hiss of water trickling into the dry sand helps me relax all my muscles and sigh out today's frustrations.
But there's a sound that disrupts the auditory symphony around me.
"Ew, gross! What the hell are you?" A young voice taunts.
"I'm sorry. I can leave." A tired voice responds.
"You better. You're ruining the scenic view of the beach!"
Normally, I'm not one to get into other peoples' conversations, but after listening to Grandma all day and wondering what this stranger might be going through that he can't even get a break at the beach makes me get up and head towards the only other group of people here.
"Your attitude is ruining the blissful silence." I sass back as I get within hearing range.
There are two blondes, a brunette, and a ginger in my view. All male. You're trying to get killed, aren't you, Ichijiku? No one deserves to be treated less than human. No matter what they look like!
One of the blondes seems to be the victim, because the other three are all wearing smirks and surrounding him. Said victim is tall with a decrepit face and he looks horrified that I've shown up. I can only feel a little tug in my squishy heart for him. He looks a little thin and worse for wear, but that's no reason to call someone ugly or disgusting!
"What are you gonna do about it, sweetheart?" The ginger stands a foot taller than me and seems to think that means I'll cower under him as he towers above me. Not a chance.
"I'm simply here to remind you that this beach is a public space to everyone, not just your massive ego." I purr sweetly, eyes glinting fiercely in the moonlight.
He doesn't appear visibly scared of me - and who would? - but he does shift his weight so he isn't looming over me as much. "Yeah? Well this guy could hardly be considered a person. Have you gotten a good look at him?"
"He's as much human as you and I." I say simply. "Just because you don't like the looks of him doesn't mean anything's wrong with him."
He scoffs, nods, and his two buddies take both of his sides, closing me in.
"Hey, leave her alone." The thin man reaches out, his voice sounding vaguely familiar in his determination and warning tones.
But he really needn't worry.
"Lay off, Pops. We'll be gentle with her." The brunette licks his lips suggestively.
And that's about all he does, because in the next moment I yawn nice and loud. I take a few steps back as all three of them simultaneously flop forward, unconscious and asleep. I step around them and over to the taller man. Taller even than the three goons picking on him. They clearly didn't have any sense of self-preservation.
"Are you okay?" I ask him, tilting my head a bit to look up at him.
"Well, I was going to ask you the same thing, but it appears you had yourself handled." He chuckles, finally meeting my eyes. "I apologize for causing a disturbance."
"I'm not sure why you're apologizing. You didn't do anything." I snort, before looking at the sleeping group of misfits on the ground. I nod towards my stuff further down the beach. "C'mon. Walk with me. You seem like you could use a buddy. I'm Ichijiku."
"Toshinori."
I start the trek towards my beach towel and adventure bag.
"You didn't have to put yourself in danger for my sake, you know." Toshinori says softly.
"Yeah? Tell that to every pro hero who's ever rescued someone." I tease, pausing for a moment a few feet away from my towel to sit in the sand and sift through a little collection of shells. I just need one more. A purple one.
"I guess you've got me there." There's a smirk in his tone and then I feel him shift until he's sitting beside me. "But you could have gotten seriously hurt, and I can take care of myself."
"Of that, I have no doubt." I say for his credit as I toss a blue shell towards the rippling waves. "But no one should be allowed to say such awful things. As someone who grew up in a household like that...sometimes the best advocate is someone who's outside the situation. Stranger or not."
The air is quiet for a time as we both just appreciate the others' presence. I keep tossing out shells until there's none left. Dang. No luck today. I pull my knees up to my chest and just watch the water for some time.
"So, what brought you out to the beach on this fine evening?" I finally ask.
"Mm?" He turns to look at me and I can see reality sinking back into his gaze. "Oh. I just wanted some time to clear my head. I..." He opens his mouth, then closes it. "Nevermind. It's nothing. Suffice it to say that I've been having to come to terms with some distressing news."
"Understandable." I hum softly. "I'm no stranger to distressing news. Is it something you want to talk about or that you need a distraction from?"
"Definitely a distraction." He sighs.
An idea starts forming in my mind. ̶A̶r̶e̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶i̶d̶i̶o̶t̶?̶ ̶H̶e̶'̶s̶ ̶a̶ ̶s̶t̶r̶a̶n̶g̶e̶r̶!̶ ̶Y̶o̶u̶'̶r̶e̶ ̶t̶a̶k̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶e̶v̶e̶r̶y̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶a̶y̶s̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶f̶a̶c̶e̶ ̶v̶a̶l̶u̶e̶.̶ There's no harm in helping him feel better after those people were being so cruel to him. He deserves a break. Indeed. But keep your guard up, just in case. He is still a stranger. I know.
"Well, in that case..." I tap his arm and then jump up to bolt down the beach side. "Tag! You're it!"
I make it maybe thirty feet before I feel a hand tap my shoulder.
"You're it!"
I swat at him again and miss with a little squeal as I slip in the sand. I manage to catch myself before I fall completely and dart right back after him.
"You tall people and your long legs!" I call at his back as I try to pace myself without inducing an asthma attack.
It at least gets a laugh from him. Our impromptu game doesn't last long, but soon we're both panting and giggling in the sand. I'm wheezing, but I pull my inhaler from my bag and give it a few good sprays to manage my mucus-filled airways.
"Oh, hey, sorry. If I'd known you had asthma–"
"You better not say you'd have taken it easy on me, because I'd have punched you straight in the jaw." I laugh, leaning back on my elbows in the sand. "Just because I've got a health condition doesn't make me helpless. It just means I have to find a different way to do the things I enjoy."
He gives me an odd look, his eyes sparkling a bit. I find I enjoy it, as it doesn't look as sad as the expression he wore before our little game.
"So, I've told you about why I was out here...why are you out on the beach alone this evening? You know, aside from being here so you can play tag with strangers." He smiles and I move a little closer to him.
The smile he gets in response doesn't fully reach my eyes. I look into the sand and heave a little sigh.
"I sort of hinted earlier that I grew up in a critical household. Specifically, my grandma was the culprit of that dynamic." I lay all the way back in the sand to look at the stars so I don't feel as lame or pathetic admitting all of this. "You could say that she has to have something to be upset about because nothing ever pleases her. And ever since I was born, I've been the scapegoat for most of that. She called me today to remind me of all my shortcomings, so I needed someplace to relax and clear my head."
Silence stretches between us and the stars. I'm grateful for the comfort I receive from the twinkling lights above me. It's like they're winking at me, telling me that everything is going to be okay. Or like their eyes are glassy with emotions, showing how much they empathize with you. I wonder what tales the stars have of their own. I often wonder too...
"I'm sorry to hear that. I've only known you for the better part of this evening, but based on my experience, it doesn't take long with someone like you to recognize a compassionate heart." Toshinori turns his head to look at me, and I turn to meet his gaze.
"I appreciate that. I've been working on trying to convince myself of that." I chuckle, reaching across the sand to squeeze his hand. I hope that wasn't taken as too intimate of a gesture. I feel like I'm on a date, and all I've done is run around with him and talked. Maybe I shouldn't have gotten so close so quickly. You needed a listening ear, and there's nothing wrong with that. But you are wise to be wary of your emotions.
"Well...take it from an outside party," He winks. "You're more than what you give yourself credit for."
My rumbling tummy promptly ruins the mood.
"Sorry." I flush and sit up. I start rummaging through my adventure bag for a granola bar, but find that I failed to pack anything. "Ugh. Squirrel brain..." I mutter.
"You must be hungry. What have you eaten today? Would you like to grab a bite for dinner? Or do you just need a snack?" Toshinori offers. "It's the least I can do for helping me out back there."
"Just a snack should be fine." I say quickly, not wanting to admit that it will probably be the only thing I've eaten all day. "But you don't have to do that. It really was nothing."
"I insist. Besides, it's not safe for you to be out alone so late. I'm sure you're more than capable, but allow me an act of chivalry." He grins.
I can't help but laugh at that. He's not so bad. I could get used to him. I wonder if I can get his number so we can stay friends. "You're probably right about that. If All Might has to save me one more time, he might start charging me a fee."
There's a knowing smile on his face coupled with his shock that makes me giggle. I figured he might find that amusing!
"All Might? Now, this I've got to hear. What did you do to warrant him saving you? More trouble like tonight?"
"Noooo! The other two times weren't my fault!" I pout up at him. "I actually instigated neither of those situations!"
"Why do I find that hard to believe?"
"Listen, I'm not above pretending to need saving so All Might will come here again so he can prove it to you!" I say in a stern tone, but I'm laughing too much to be taken seriously. "I was a victim of circumstance!"
"What sort of circumstances then?" He asks with a shake of his head as he helps me grab my towel and my bag.
"The first time was in a skating rink. A villain with an ice quirk was messing with the rink as everyone was trying to get off of it. I, being the graceful person I am, kept slipping and ended up trapped in said ice." I snort, leaving out parts of the story.
"Is that so?" He laughs, and I can't look at him because the look on his face makes me feel like he might be able to catch me lying if I stare for too long.
He doesn't need to know that I kept trying to help the other people in the rink. He might think I was stupid for not saving myself...or maybe after tonight it wouldn't be that surprising. Gah! I don't know how to interact with people! Relax. Just keep telling the story.
"Yeah, and All Might showed up shortly after. He managed to help save me from the villain and get him tied up. You can imagine...I was freezing! I didn't even get to thank him properly." I shake my head. "I know that he doesn't save people for all the popularity and stuff, but I still wanted to show him my gratitude. Thankfully, a second villain a few weeks after that decided to snatch me up as a hostage. Since All Might rescued me then, I was able to share my gratitude." I kick a rock out of my path.
"I'm sure he knows you're grateful. He's a busy guy, ya know? He understands."
"Oh, I know. I get that he's a big hero and symbol that everyone takes for granted, but I wanted him to know that I wasn't grateful just because he's a hero. I was thankful because he's heroic, and yes, there's a difference." I stick my tongue out at him.
"The world could use more people with that ideology." Toshinori sighs, looking ahead of us. "Hey, there's an ice cream stand ahead. Want to get some ice cream in remembrance of your skating rink incident?"
"Oooo, yes!" I agree, already picking up my pace. "I'm so ready. I've been craving popsicles lately."
"You don't come to an ice cream stand to get popsicles." He crinkles his nose.
"Oh yeah? And who's gonna stop me?" I giggle, already looking over the menu and deciding on an orange popsicle.
"Listen, with as many times as you've had to be saved, ice cream might be what All Might asks for as payment." Toshinori laughs, placing his order and then stepping aside.
"If ice cream is the only payment the Symbol of Peace wants for saving thousands upon thousands of people...I can't really say much. Because I'd probably do the same. Ice cream is the best." I grin, putting in my order and then turning my bag around so I can start pulling out my wallet.
"It's together." I hear Toshinori say, and then a receipt starts printing out that he takes.
I stand with my mouth agape.
"You sneaky little weasel! I was gonna pay for it! You weren't supposed to do that!"
"Oh yeah? And who's gonna stop me?" He smirks.
I make my most unamused face at him before I can't help cracking a smile. I shake my head.
"All I'm saying is if All Might takes your ice cream, it'll be poetic justice."
"Consider the decision justified, then." He says, taking a bite of his ice cream.
I just roll my eyes and take the popsicle. For the next few moments, we're quiet as we indulge in our sweet treats. I follow him as he leads me down the street, pointing out a few places he frequents.
"You've been to that karaoke bar? I've been there a couple of times with my friends. It's pretty nice! And the snacks are amazing." I comment whenever he points out Shigouraiki Karaoke Bar.
"I was about to say, the snacks are the best part. I'm usually by myself, though." He admits, taking another bite from his Mighty Mix ice cream.
"Well, we'll have to change that. Give me your number and I'll invite you some time. Karaoke's no fun by yourself!" I pull out my phone. When he pulls his out too, I tap the top of my phone against his. "There. Don't mind the weird picture."
Toshinori laughs. It's beginning to feel familiar and warm to make up for the cold popsicle.
"What's with the sassy look? You have a blue gift bow on the top of your head, did someone give you a bad gift?" He teases.
"You had to be there to understand." I giggle, about halfway done with my popsicle now. I find myself slowing down because I don't want to stop talking with him. "My friend Hanayuki was taking pictures of me with the bow on my head, and I thought she was done taking them. So I sent her a sassy look and she betrayed me."
"I'm glad she did. The sass suits you." A dribble of ice cream runs down his fingers and he looks at me. "Mind grabbing my napkin?"
"I gotcha." I take the napkin and dab one hand so he can get the other. "My house is only a few more blocks past this shopping district. And then you'll be free of me."
"The world will soon seem duller, then." The sorrow in his tone sounds genuine. "Do you think we could meet up again, sometime soon?"
"Of course! I might even manage to garner a presence from All Might." I wink.
"I look forward to it."
As we make the final trek to my house, I toss my popsicle stick into the nearest trash receptacle. This shouldn't feel like a date when I've only just met him. But he's so easy to talk to. I grab my keys from my bag before turning to him.
"Thank you for walking me home, Toshinori, I appreciate it."
"It's not a problem. Thank you for the company, Ichijiku." He grins as he looks down at me. "I look forward to seeing you again. This was...certainly the best time I've had hanging out with someone in a while."
"Likewise." I say as I crinkle my nose playfully. "Stay safe tonight."
"I'll be sure to call you if I need saving."
"You'd better!"
. . . . .
Toshinori ends up needing to be saved rather frequently. He calls to invite me to his house, where he needs saving from loneliness. He calls to invite me to the karaoke bar, where he needs saving from discordant music notes. He calls to invite me to dinner, where he needs saving from an empty stomach.
At long last, he calls to invite me to be his girlfriend, where he needs saving from a life without me.
"Aww, Toshi-kun, you could have just asked over dinner." I laugh into the receiver while watering plants.
"I know, but...there were people around and I wasn't sure. I was a little scared, to be honest." I can hear the shyness in his voice.
"Well, I'm glad you asked me at all." I admit, moving on into the warmer fuzzier feelings of being his girlfriend. He makes me so happy. "Now you get to help me go through all of the pet names I've been going over in my head. How does schnookums sound?"
"Like a disease."
"Agreed. I hate it. Next one. How are we feeling about darling?"
"It's not bad. I don't know that it fits me."
"Perhaps I'll reserve it for when I'm feeling fanciful. What are your thoughts on honey bunches of oats?"
"Like the cereal? I already feel fragile. I don't want to feel old too." He chuckles.
"That's fair." I reach down to pet my cat as I think up another. "Do you have any objections to lover boy?"
"Mm, it has potential."
"My thoughts exactly, lover boy." I blow a kiss over the receiver. "The others will have to wait, though, because it's just occurred to me that I'm all out of green yarn. And that, my dear, simply will not do."
"My dear has a nice ring to it." He says. "But I'll let you go then. Be safe. Don't talk to strangers."
"Now, Toshinori, when have I ever spoken to strangers?" I ask, grabbing my bag and keys and heading out the door.
"I happen to recall this one night on the beach..."
"Oh dear..."
"And you ran into this tall, decrepit man getting bullied by three strangers..."
"Will you never let me live it down, beloved?"
"Oh! I like that one."
"Yeah, me too." I smile. "But bye-bye, foreels this time. I have to drive."
"Okay, stay safe."
"I will."
For the next thirty minutes, I follow up on my promise. I drive safe, make it to the hobby store safely, and start perusing the yarn section with caution. I manage to grab maybe three skeins of yarn before the shelves rattle dangerously. I notice the other shelves starting to collapse and rush to the end of the aisle to get out of the way, but I don't completely make it.
Pain ripples through my lower back and legs as the shelf catches my back end. Thankfully, my top half is unmarred and able to look around. Lo and behold, a villain starts walking from the back of the store with a gleaming grin on his face. Are you kidding me? A third time?! You'd think they had a radar for when to ruin my day.
"All of you were unsuspecting, right? No one thought the clerk up front could be a villain. That's the problem with society. Everyone thinks evil has the same face!" He roars, kicking another shelf over. It dominoes into the others across from me as I cover my head.
Screams cut across the store as I grit my teeth and try to move once the rumbling fades. Come on, gotta get out! Other people could get hurt! I manage to wiggle a bit, but another wave of searing heat grips my calf, and I know I shouldn't move anymore.
A hand grips my chin tightly as the villain makes me look up at him. I glare at him with all the tiger in my body.
"How does it feel knowing no one will save you?" He whispers to me.
"How does it feel knowing no one will listen to you?" I growl back.
"How does it feel knowing I am here!" A thunderous clap resounds through the store as All Might stomps his foot on the ground.
I don't even blink before a punch sends the villain hurdling back away from me. Relief floods my bones so quickly I feel tears prickling in my eyes. A cacophony of thoughts swirl in my head while the fight ensues. Everything from cheering him on to win the fight to jokingly wondering if I can get him to meet Toshinori and wondering if he'll want ice cream as payment for his services. My brain isn't fully there.
But All Might is fully there, and that's quite literally the only thing keeping me alive.
Once the sound of police sirens accompanies the lack of fighting, I watch All Might hand off the villain to the police. A rescue team makes eye contact with me and one of the men voices my predicament.
"Someone's trapped under that shelf!" He gapes.
"You guys help the others and point out anyone else who needs my help. I'll start with helping this young woman." All Might responds, and in another moment, I'm once again face-to-face with the Symbol of Peace. "I've been seeing you around a lot, young lady." He grunts as he starts lifting both yarn shelves to keep one from collapsing into the other on top of me.
His eyes glisten with mischief as he looks down on me. I can see the blue in his eyes. That blue looks so familiar... I think, before I catch his expression and I understand. Toshinori...
"You're..." I whimper as I begin dragging myself free. "...going to have to start charging me an ice cream fee...with how often you have to save me."
Once I'm free of the shelves, All Might sets them down and turns back to me. His eyes give him away. That soft expression and even his iconic smile tilts up in a way now so familiar to me. He cradles me delicately, perhaps a bit intimately given the secret we both know I've uncovered, before he sets me down in an ambulance outside.
"You..." He opens his mouth and pauses, shaking his head. "I know you must think..." Another pause. "I want to explain..." His face looks so worried and awkward and scared, before he turns as a police officer calls for help from inside the store. His signature smile returns. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. But I have to go help them." And then he disappears.
I'm crying by the time the EMT reaches me.
Once it's all said and done, my minor wounds are dressed and I'm advised to take it easy on my leg.
"If you have a friend who can take you home now, I'd advise giving them a call. Otherwise, we'll have to find someone to take you home, and it may be a while." The man informs me, but I don't fully hear him.
The world around me swims by in a murky grey as I try to make sense of everything that's just transpired. It's not that any of it is bad, it's just that a lot has happened. A few more tears trickle down my cheeks as I just nod and pull out my phone. It sustained minimal damage thanks to my screen protector and padded buttcheeks.
I scroll to Toshinori and feel my heart ache. He's the only one I want to take me home but...
"I can take it from here." All Might's voice interrupts.
The EMT looks up at him like he's just won the lottery. I look up at him like I'm seeing a ghost.
"O-Of course! Sh-She needs..."
"To get home, so I heard. I don't mind giving the wounded woman a lift!" He says with a smile, before offering his hand. "Ma'am, if you can give me your address, I can get you there safely."
I utter the proper address before he tucks me in his chest again and we're flying. The heights make my tummy swim with butterflies. I don't say anything as the world passes by us.
"I'm sorry again, Ichichan, that I didn't tell you." He says, his voice just a bit louder to make himself heard over the wind. "I can understand if you're upset."
"I-It's not that." I admit, closing my eyes as I try to decipher how I'm feeling. "It's just a lot to process. But it also worries me."
"What do you mean?"
"When you're..." I want to say Toshinori, but it doesn't feel right, because I know he's the same no matter his form. So I use a different nickname. "When you're Smol Might...I already worry that I don't deserve you. You're so kind and sweet, and more than I deserve, really. But...knowing that you're also All Might...it makes me feel even less deserving. You've helped a lot of people and done so much good. I don't really see how you could consider me worth a second glance in either scenario."
All is quiet until we reach my house. Toshinori has to give the door an extra shove since my bag was lost under the shelves in the hobby store, and then we make it inside where he sets me down. Steam starts hissing around him until he exhales and coughs, a splash of blood decorating his hand. He wipes it off on his costume, now three times too big.
He kneels by the couch and cups my face, eyes shining their perfect blue.
"You deserve so much more than me." He breathes, thumb rubbing over my skin. I hold his hand there, enjoying the intimacy. "Even with all I've done as a Symbol, you deserve more. And I mean that."
My little frame rattles as I hug his arm.
"You...You won't leave me?"
"No, Ichichan," He promises, leaning in and making my lips tingle with our first, perfect kiss. "I am here."