Chapter 5: Cool Down
A/N: So today we will be trying out a new format style, I think I finally understood what many of you have said. Onto this next chapter, ENJOY!
So, these last few days, have been a roller coaster. I've been in and out of the hospital for a checkup, in and out of meetings with Tony about USJ. He has been something of an overprotective father at times.
My phone starts to ring early into the day, its thankfully for once not Tony and its Denki. "Yo! BRO! I know school has been out for a few days, but that doesn't mean you stay inside, where do you even live?"
"I know I don't have to, just readjusting to my life here alone you know?" I tell him slowly getting out of bed. "Well, move your butt, we are hanging out today and I'm gonna drag some people over! You can choose who though" He actually is thinking, as I've never really been good in social areas.
"Umm, well Uraraka, Midoriya, Yaoyozaru, and I guess JIrou and Tsu if you can help it?" I give him a list of people to choose from as I've actually grown closer to in the few days I have been to class. "Gotcha Gotcha, now where do..." "I'll pick you all up, lets meet up at the grocery store, you know the one, I need to fill my fridges anyways and you can help me out"
"Ugh, fine! See you soon bud!" I shut my phone, looking around at my kind of baren apartment, I've lived alone for a little over a year at this point. Peter and his aunt offered to take me in, but my parents left me well off enough to survive, with a little money management help from tony kept me afloat. "Maybe I should," as I go over and dial a number calling Tony.
"Stark speaking, oh Sen how's everything going?" I hardly ever call so he sounded worried for a second. "I'm okay, but I'm finally ready to take you up on your offer to decorate my apartment, I have friends.." "You have friends?! Great! Finally, honestly you only ever hung out with Peter, I swear I started to get those vibes.." "Tony..." "You know there is nothing wrong.." "Tony..."
"But friends that" "TONY!" I eventually yell at him; I swear he would be a great dad but overbearing at first. "Huh yea, what's up" I finally got his attention back, "I'll be out for a few hours, so feel free to send some bots to decorate." "Bots, no me and Peter are flying over now, to make it perfect, and oh, to meet your friends."
I know I'm not gonna win this fight, "Okay thanks, don't stay to long or else one of my friends is gonna implode" I chuckle thinking how Midoriya is gonna flip meeting two American hero's in a day. "Alrighty kid seeya!" the hologram fizzes out, and I get out of bed to shower.
A few hours later, I'm waiting at the store for everyone, wearing blue jeans, combat boots, a plain T-shirt, and a maroon red jacket. "EHHH! SEN!" Denki is running up with a small group of people. "Thankfully everyone was free today" as I see all the people, I gave him a list to try from... thankfully my apartment is huge, courtesy of Tony. "Hey Sen, glad to see you're okay" Midoriya is the first to say anything as the girls are all chatting away. "I could say the same to you mister legs, I heard your quirk was bad on your body but damn" I say sweating remembering how bad his legs were broken.
"Ye-yea it was something huh?" "So, wait why are we meeting here instead of your place?" Jirou asks confused. "Well, I don't really have much food other than cup noodles since I just recently moved in, so you all are gonna help, so I can make some food for us all to snack on later" I chuckle a bit as Yaoyozaru smiles. "You can cook!?" "You can afford to really feed all of us?!" Yaoyozaru and Uraraka ask as I chuckle.
"Small things like snacks yea aren't that bad, and yea actually I have money saved from doing work in America, plus having Tony Stark as your 'adoptive' father has some perks." "Wait, adoptive? What happened to Mama and Pappa Denryu?" Denki asks worried as I go a bit down at that." "Uh... later" I say avoiding the question he asks as we go inside.
"So, what does everyone like to snack on?" as I have a family sized cart as the store sweats seeing so many students walk in. "Anything's fine" "Chips really" "Something small" I get so many answers my eyes end up swirling. "Okay how about everyone grab themselves one snack and drink of choice, and maybe you all can help me figure out what I may need to actually live, not just cup noodle" I chuckle as that and fast food have been my diet this past week.
Soon after saying that, I notice Uraraka only grabbing cheap generic items and small things, Yaoyozaru looking for the really big-ticket stuff, and Midoriya really just getting small stuff as well. "Uraraka, Midoriya, go ahead and actually get what you want." "I am" "No no, it's okay I shouldn't impose I mean we don't know each other well enough" Uraraka says after Midoriya confirms he likes simple. "What do you mean? You all have been calling me by my first name this entire time, and if I remember correctly that means we are close in Japan, right?"
It's obvious American culture has rubbed off on me. "So, wait we have been calling you by your first name, but you by our family names?" Jirou asks confused, "Yea I didn't wanna just impose just in case I was thinking wrong." I say truthfully as I figured I may be rusty with my culture. "Well, you already call me Denki" "I told you to call me Tsu" "Call me Izuku then!" "Momo or Yaomomo for me" "Call me what you're comfortable with" "Ochacko for me" I hear the support for my culture shock come through.
"Thanks guys, it feels good to have some friends, also Tsu, you sure you don't want much? I plan to make some good food for dinner if you all stay that long" "It's alright, I ate before and can snack" She smiles at me being considerate for my wallet as the cart... is tipping a bit with all the stuff.
Soon we get back to my apartment, the top floor on an entire building as Ochakos eyes pop out of her head. "THIS IS WHERE YOU LIVE?!" All but Yaomomo yell at me as when we get to the floor, I live on the elevator opens up and we can hear, "Alright Peter get this TV here... and it should be..." "I think he's here Mr. Stark" as Tony and Peter have been putting the finishing touches on my place, and to say it looked great was an understatement.
It was, stylish to say the least, full leather couches, a pool table, a good dining room table full wood, a giant plasma tv, every current gaming console, and some pictures from mine and Peters time working and some pictures of me and Stark. "Oh wow, you guys really outdid yourself." I say as this is a normal Tuesday for me, as everyone else including Yaomomo, are surprised with the décor, but Izuku is the first to... "IRON MAN AND SPIDER MAN?!" as it hits everyone that's who is currently in front of us as Tony smiles.
"Glad to see you have actually made some friends Sen" Tony is happy with me actually being a normal kid. "Hey already replacing me Sen?" Peter chuckles walking over and throwing his arm around me as I laugh. "Like I could ever replace my best friend" I seem as natural at this as everyone is star struck as Denki is quick to recover. "Um, so wait... these are normal people to you?"
"We are all normal people kid, just more well-known normal people" Tony chuckles as Izuku walks up nervously to me and Peter, "Um mister spiderman... Sir" "Peter and hey I'm as old as you" He mocks being offended being called sir. "Can I get an autograph?" "Uh.. Sure" Peter chuckles not used to being on this end of autographs. "So, wait, Mr. Stark are you like his dad?" Tsu walks up asking as blunt as possible. "No not exactly, he is one of the hero's I more closely manage, but I do have a soft spot for those two" He motions to me and Peter as Denki walks over to us as everyone else talks and asks questions to Tony.
"So... you're his American best friend?" "Yea, you his Japanese best friend?" Peter and Denki have a mini glare down as I hope this goes well. "Bro, thank you for taking care of him!" Denki says putting his hand out, as Peter smiles. "Me taking care of him? Ha, we got each other's back" Peter laughs and they seem to hit it off well as Uraraka is looking around shell shocked. "This is an amazing place to live" She seems to be in an incoherent loop.
"Well here kid" Tony goes ahead and has a gauntlet fly in from the window, as he tinkers with it and it disables. "Sen said you may get a kick out of trying to get this to work again." As he tossed it at Izuku and his eyes turn into literal stars, "Th-th-thank you Mr. Ironman sir" "Sens friends can call me Mr. Stark or even Tony" He smiles as everyone smiles at that; he really is a hero if anything just a snarky dad.
"Oh, Sen everything is set, up we will be back around later on" "Yea me and Mr. Stark just stopped in to help you set up" Peter smiles a bit sadly, "Gotta get back to New York, those criminals learning you are here in Japan are trying to come out again and I've been keeping them in check" Peter smiles and chuckles. "Keep it up 'Spiderman' I say nudging him as soon they are heading down the elevator.
"So, what games do you got?" Tsu asks making herself at home after the starstuckness has died down. "I'm not sure honestly let's all find out" I say jumping over the couch and landing next to her as she jumps a bit as I'm a bit heavier than most skinny kids. "Eep" She actually yelps as all of us chuckle. "Aww the was cute Tsu" Uraraka smiles and softly teases her friend, as we all gather around the tv and get to work trying to figure out what's going on.
Half the day goes on, of us either playing games, watching movies, playing pool, and snacking as somehow it ends up with all of us sitting around a virtual firepit with me telling stories of what happened. "And he starts to monologue, thinking he has me right where he wants me" I say chuckling telling them about a villain. "I end up getting him to spill his plan and right as I'm about to bust out of the chair, Tony calls me... and well when he sees Iron Man calling me, he realizes he fucked up... and turns himself in instantly before I could even stop him." I say chuckling, "Woah Iron Man is that much of a pillar there in America?" Jirou asks sipping a soda as Denki is laying upside down with me on the couch.
"Yea, he is like our Allmight, no one wants to cross him and when I first started working with him, all the small-time criminals I dealt with turned themselves in... which in reality only made it harder for me." I say chuckling explaining that, now only the truly evil criminals would really come after me and such. "Hey Sen, can I ask you something?" "Sure, Yaomomo what's up?" I turn to the ponytailed girl who is laying in Urarakas lap. "Why did you come to Japan?" "Yea you sounded happy to be in America, not that I'm complaining' Izuku says as he is tinkering with the gauntlet.
"Um well..." they can all see me tense up as soon thankfully we all hear our collective stomachs grumble. Its near 5pm now, 'woah are we all hungry?" Denki laughs as Tsu nods, "Seems to be" she says holding her stomach. "Alright, how about ill cook us up some food, and while I do, I'll tell you a bit of the reason why I'm here?" I suggest as that gets everyone's attention especially after all the stories, I told stating how happy I was.
"Do you need any help?" Uraraka asks as she has finished braiding Yaomomos hair. "Umm, well I was just gonna make some street tacos, if you want... You can help me get plates and stuff" I say rolling onto the ground than standing up. "Jirou I believe it's your turn for a movie" I toss her the remote as she nods. "Sounds good to me" she smiles as scrolls through everything.
Me and Uraraka go into the kitchen, which can be seen from the living room but a little out of earshot. "So are you okay Sen, I noticed you are a little more apprehensive towards some stuff" She asks me as I sigh but smile. "Yea, I know, I appreciate it, honestly it makes me feel better about telling you part of the reason I'm here." I nod at her as I we get to cooking, well I cook and Uraraka sets all the dishes up.
(Living Room)
"So, for where he came from, he sounds down to earth" Jirou says having it on a food show to get everyone hungry. "Yea, honestly it is very refreshing" Yaomomo agrees as Denki laughs softly. "He has always been like that, no matter the situation, he's a good guy." Denki really talks me up. "He's even making us dinner, he's a nice guy" Izuku says his stomach growling even through all the snacks he had ate.
"If I wasn't sure, I'd say he may be hiding something." Tsu says looking towards the kitchen watching me cook. "That could be very well true, but we can't just ask that would be rude. "Yaomomo says softly respecting me and my issues. "Well, we will learn in time" Jirou shrugs not really getting too worked up about it. "Well, he did say he was gonna tell us some stuff" Izuku says excited to learn more about a former American hero.
"This will be something for sure, gotta know why my buddy is back home!" Denki says excited as after some time Uraraka helps me carry 7 plates back over to everyone. "Alright foods up!" I say proud of my work as the tacos are in an open corn tortilla stacked with thinly chopped beef, with some Spanish rice and a lime on the side. "It's not much but I tried my best" I say passing everything around.
"Thanks for the food!" everyone digs in as we all eat; I take a soft break. "So, everyone ready? It's a little bit of a hard topic" I say honestly as I waited until we were all almost done. "Go ahead Sen" Uraraka encourages me, as everyone nods. "Well, it starts back at my last mission for the young avengers..." I say remembering what happened, "Some villains had captured one of the younger hero's I had under my command for a pretty big mission..."
"They had just started coming up into the hero scene, and I was their idol... they looked up to me as much as I look up to Tony, or Izuku looks up to Allmight..." That causes Izuku to wince telling where this story is going. "They captured him, and I made the mistake of charging in headfirst not heeding their warnings against doing so, as I thought like most villains they would panic.. Not these guys"
I take a breath, my hands starting to shake a bit heavily as Jirou can hear my heart rate really spike up as if I'm in a flash back. "They... they killed him right Infront of my eyes, exploding his head with vibrations..." I don't see it because my head is down, but everyone looks shaken to the core with that, I've seen death and experienced it. "I froze, so fast at that as Peter had to come in and keep me from dying as well... I failed the young man...he looked up to me, like I was a real hero... And I... I just let him die, maybe if I could have done something else... Or maybe..." I start to really shake at this point.
I feel a hand on my back, and a hand on my leg, someone else holding my shoulder, and soon everyone is around me. "Hey, if they are as bad as you say man, it wasn't your fault" Denki says patting my leg from his spot on the floor." "You did all you could, surely he doesn't blame you" Yaomomo says patting my shoulder. "You are a hero, no matter what anyone says" Izuku says sitting on my right, "Yea, hardly anyone else could still be trying to better themselves after that" Tsu smiles up to me from the other spot on the floor.
"You even try to make friends and help us learn from your experiences" Uraraka says softly from across the way as Jirou is the last one to say "You threw yourself into the battle, keeping us calm, and with a plan.. Getting yourself hurt to buy us time to escape against that bird brained monster... sounds like a hero to me." she says rubbing my other shoulder from the left as that gets everyone to agree.
I'm already tearing up at this point tears threating to spill out when the last thing Jirou says really calls it, "If anything else, you're one of my Heros for that" She says with a small smile as hearing that causes me to shake a little bit as the tears that had threaten to fall, finally go down my face. "Th-Thank you guys.. So much" I softly hiccup as the group I was with initially on USJ all take a moment to hug me, Denki my legs, Yaomomo my back, and Jirou my side as I cry softly but it's hard.
Tony had poked his head in to drop off a gift he forgot to before... and he is glad he didn't speak up before hand, as this is one of the first times I've opened up since the incident. "Seems UA was the right choice..." He smiles to himself as he leaves the package on the table in the hall, flipping a coin I gave him when we first met. "Youve made good friends' kid" the elevator dings taking him out of the apartment.
A/N:
There it is, Chapter 5 longer so. I'm trying to add length as more people get interested into this Fanfic. So, there is some backstory shown but not told, and others told. Sen really is a something huh? Reviews are welcomed, have a great day/night!
