Tsuchikawa Ryuko?!

Yes, that is me!

The doctor is ready to see you now.

Yes, ma'am!

Did you fill out the consent form?

I have.

Ok! Before doing this, are you sure that this is your option?

I really don't feel inclined to answer that, if you don't mind me saying that.

Certainly! You are admissible to make your choice. A bit young but admissible.

Miss?!

Yes, Tsuchikawa?

Do you think I am making the right decision?

I can't speak for you, young lady. Do you feel comfortable with your choice?

I...I...I don't know.

She was channel flipping. Leaning her head against her hand as she pondered television land for a decent show. She found it funny that Inko can have cable and internet apps but nothing to watch. Finding herself defeated and wanting to conserve electricity, she turned off the television. She sighed through her nose while using the blanket to cover up. She was alone. She decided to send Izuku out on some errands. She had told him to go to her apartment and retrieve some clothes. Then, go to the pizzeria and get their food. Earlier while Izuku was in the shower, his mother phoned the blonde, informing her that her weekend excursion has been extended after learning that her husband's job gave him the week off, giving the lovers an opportunity to go on a getaway. A courier service came by and retrieved some of Inko's things for the weekend.

The Pro Hero didn't mind babysitting Izuku until her return. All in all, Ryuko enjoyed the kid.

She felt blessed, being allowed to have the opportunity for having this teenager to dote. To think that her child could have been a few years younger than him. She had pictured how Izuku could have been a great influence on him. A great big brother or big cousin.

She often pictured her child being a boy. She always wanted a boy.

She would have named him Hajime.

It was Japanese for a new beginning.

She placed that thought aside as she crossed her legs, hoping that this will give her enough time to talk to Ochako for a one-on-one. In her mind, she scribbled, erased, produced ideas on what she would say to the distressed teen. It was a poor choice of a word the blonde thought but nevertheless, she wanted Ochako to be as solution-oriented as possible. Time was of the essence and it wouldn't be long before a bump will show in her virgin belly.

The treatment isn't as painful as it used to be. More of a snip than anything else.

Yes, doctor.

You will be required to take medication so you wouldn't have any infection. You will have also have to refrain from having sexual intercourse in the course of a few weeks.

Yes, doctor.

I know you have your right to make this decision but are you sure to do this. Once the procedure follows through, there isn't any turning back.

I am adamant with my choice the moment you made yours on abiding by a creed. Now, follow suit!

Nevertheless, Ochako's decision is her decision. No matter the consequence or the feeling, Ryuko will respect it.

The doorbell ring. She hopped from the couch as she mentally kept her composure. She checked herself in the mirror once more as she pressed her way to the entranceway.

"Who is it?!"

"It's Ochako, Auntie!"

Her voice wasn't as chipper but wasn't depressing either. Ryuko looked at it as a good sign that Ochako was trying to be upbeat or she could be putting up a front to hide her true feelings.

She took deep breaths, praying for peace or at least a stalemate before unlocking the door.

"Ochako! Afternoon, dear!"

Ochako appeared nervous, if not shy. She was wearing loose fitted clothes, an oversized UA High sweatshirt that obviously belonged to her father and jogging pants to match. Ryuko could already tell by the look on the brunette's face, she was preparing for the inevitable.

Ryuko extended her hands to receive Ochako. Ochako blushed as she was comforted by Izuku's surrogate aunt. The girls exchanged pecks on the cheek as she entered the residence.

"Make yourself at home, my dear," said Ryuko as she stepped into the entranceway, closing the door. "You know where the slippers are, do you?"

"Yeah," she said casually. "Auntie tends to keep them in the containers by the wall."

"Spot on, Watson," said Ryuko in a fake British accent.

Ochako clung to her purse, wrapping her delicate fingers tightly around the leather. Ryuko could detect the nervousness, especially when seeing Ochako's knees buckling and her hands were trembling. She couldn't blame her. As if the entire world was weighing on her shoulder, she was now in ground zero.

"Relax, Ochako!" Ryuko's hands touched Ochako's shoulders. She used her hands to massage her shoulders, trying her best to alieve the brunette. "Cast away your worries, you are in good hands."

Ochako cracked her voice. "How can you be so certain?"

"I don't know, dear. Just be certain that you aren't alone in this."

"How can I be so sure?" She felt Ochako snorting from her nose. "How will be certain that you won't leave me? Or he would leave me? What if...what if...what if I have no one left after this?!"

Ryuko shook her head frustratingly. She bit her lip as the feelings of her own past surged into her memory banks. She could remember the exact moment when she learned of her pregnancy. It was her teammate Tomoko who first discovered Ryuko's pregnancy. Tomoko walked into the bathroom of their apartment as she saw Ryuko staring at the pregnancy test. Her eyes were doing a thousand-yard-stare when seeing the two strips that shown confirmation. Worried and fearful about the sudden pregnancy results, she begged Tomoko to not tell anyone about this. It was during the time when she couldn't be in a position of having children and also, the position of the identity of the child's father.

Ryuko decided to cast those thoughts away. She positioned her head on Ochako's shoulder. She wrapped her arms tightly around her, clinging to the brunette as a mother does to her daughter. She instructed Ochako to take deep breaths. At each breath, sniffling was release from Ochako's mouth. She knew her pain, her angst.

And this time, she wasn't going to bare this burden alone.

Ryuko set a tray of crackers and other trinkets on the table for Ochako to consume. She let the tea brew a bit longer as she wanted more of its richness. She once heard in a pregnancy magazine that the richer the tea, the soother the digestive tract for her and the baby. She wasn't as sure as she picked up the magazine one day when she was flying overseas to a show in Antwerp.

Ochako nibbled on her cookies as she was watching television. Her eyes were glued to the screen as anything else to the side didn't matter. Ryuko couldn't blame her, especially where there were pictures of Izuku and the family around the living room.

"I just got a text from Izuku. The pizza will take a bit longer, giving us enough time to chat," said Ryuko gently as she applied more honey and lemon into the tea. "He said that he got your favorite, double pepperoni."

Ochako didn't answer. Still clutching to the purse she had never taken off, she continued watching television.

"Besides me and Izuku, does anyone else know?" Ryuko wanted to be as cautious as possible without stepping on any tremors. She kept her distance as Ochako let loose of the purse. Ochako's head turned slowly to the concerned Ryuko. Her face looked like a deer in headlights.

"Nobody knows but you two," she said softly. "I haven't…" She stopped. Her voice began cracking.

"Since the night before, I haven't interacted with anyone." She put her knees to her chest. "I've been afraid. A little being is being formed in my belly as we speak." She touched her stomach. "A being made by me and Izuku."

"Ochako."

"I am sixteen-years-old, Auntie. The age of innocence. The age of being social, proactive in my career," she said faithfully.

"You can still have that," retorted Ryuko. "Your life isn't destroyed for being pregnant, sweetie." She lowered the fire on the stove as she walked to Ochako's direction. "You can still enjoy life. You can still work on your dreams. Of course, there will be a difficulty with a baby but it won't be forever."

"I've seen stories," said Ochako. "Parents throw you out. Your friends deject you. You being the laughing stock of your school." Her eyes widened, her cheeks flushed. "Do you think UA High is going to keep a pregnant teen in school? An establishment like that?! They would throw me out so they wouldn't be known as the school for teenage mothers." She covered her mouth. Her breath began laboring. Ryuko couldn't tell if she was hyperventilating or was in pure shock.

"Right now, dear," said Ryuko. "Everything is overwhelming. Everything feels as though it is going to hell. I assure you, dear, that it is not."

"What am I going to do? My mother, father? Ryuko, I am Catholic! It already violates my faith."

"Don't worry, we are going to figure it out."

"My friends! What is going to happen?"

"Don't worry, we are going to figure it out."

"A place to live if I get kicked out. School…" Ryuko took her hand to cover Ochako's mouth. Ryuko developed a daunting smile. "Don't worry, we are going to figure it out. All of us."

"Will he be there for me."

"Izuku won't leave you."

"But that night?"

"Darling, believe it or not, Izuku is much as scared is you. He didn't know how to take it."

"He didn't have to be an ass. Excuse my language!"

"None taken. Believe me, Izuku was quite upset about this." She scooted closer to Ochako. "Izuku cried to me about this when we got home. You are on his mind. He cares about you. And he wants to figure out things as well."

"You think so?"

"I know so."

Meanwhile….

Izuku was riding on the bus listening to Better Than Ezra on his phone as he left another pizzeria. What he didn't want to Ryuko was that he was also perusing potential job opportunities. After stopping at three pizzerias and a cafe for a job application, many informed the teen that they weren't currently hiring or they didn't accept teenagers. As he sat on a bus, he was scrolling through websites for help wanted ads. He wanted to be certain if this baby does come, then he would have a job.

Between last night's walk to the corner store and taking a shower, he had made it in his mind to take charge and take responsibility. This wasn't Ochako's baby. This was his baby as well.

He pulled the lever to his next destination - Ryuko's apartment. He knew that there was a pizzeria nearby and he could get Ochako's favorite double pepperoni pizza.

As he stepped off the bus, he saw a few familiar faces at the pizzeria.

Deciding not to choose that route, he tried heading for Ryuko's apartment instead.

"Oi! Deku!"

Headphones or not, Izuku could hear the piercing voice of Katsuki Bakugo through the loud decibels. He immediately tilted his head while Bakugo, Iida, and Kirishima were walking to his direction. Each had a piece of pizza in hand.

"'Sup, buddy," said Katsuki as he was nibbling on a pizza. "Didn't think you knew about this spot."

"What spot," questioned Izuku.

"Exactly!" He cackled with laughter. He slapped Eijiro's chest. "Told ya! Never part of the in-crowd."

Iida rolled his eyes. "Excuse him! We are just surprised that you are over here is all."

He raised his eyebrows. "What reason you think I don't come and socialize?"

Eijiro's turn to speak. "We are saying that where is your ball-and-chain?"

It didn't take long for Izuku to register their loose metaphors. Since Ochako and Izuku's relationship went public, the school couldn't stop talking about their relationship. Initially, he didn't make it as a big deal, believing that a relationship is normalcy in this world. However, he had to remind himself about being in a Japanese high school. A relationship is like big news to the entertainment world, coverage for even the littlest of things. With a lot on his mind, he wasn't going to entertain their lowbrow insults. He was going to be subtle. "I wouldn't know, could you go to Wal-Mart and find it for me?"

Katsuki and Eijiro whistled loudly. "Whoa! Deku is walking on air now." Katsuki reached into his pocket and pulled some cash. "Pizza is on me. Come and hang with us for a bit."

"Honestly, guys! I do have some things…."

Eijiro interjected. "What?! Can't spend a few minutes with us! Or unless you need Ochako's permission!"

Tenya intervened once more. "Excuse Larry and Curly for me, Midoriya." He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "If you have a few minutes to hang with us, it would be cool. Plus, Yaoyorozu, Todoroki, Ashido, Asui, Kendo, the whole group is out here. Come chill with us for a bit."

Izuku knew he was on a limited schedule but a few minutes to hang out with the guys wouldn't hurt. Plus, he could order pizza and then head back to the apartment later. A few minutes shouldn't hurt.

Ryuko! Did you cut ties with the problem?!

Yeah! That ties have been cut. No loose ends!

Good! Excellent! For a second, I was actually thinking you were having buyer's remorse.

If you say so!

Hey, don't be so upset! You were thinking of me and my best interest. Can you imagine if my wife were to find out? Her little heart couldn't take it. Honestly, for all that it is worth, we protected both of our careers.

Typical you, always thinking about careers and your own interest. A few hours ago, I just got a baby taking out of me.

Whoa! Easy on that term! I am not sure if anyone is listening.

If you say so!

Look, since you are reopened for business.

Fuck you! That is the first thing you think about! Not even an 'are you all right?'

Once again, be quiet. I am not sure if anyone is listening.

Like it matters anyway!

It matters to me. I have a reputation to protect. I would be damned to have a bastard baby.

It would have been our bastard baby, you bastard!

What the hell you just called me, bitch?!

Leave me alone!

I will show you what a bastard looks like to you, bitch!

"Auntie, are you okay?"

Ryuko stood with her back away from Ochako. In the kitchen, she held onto the paper that was left on the counter. Her knees buckled, her legs became wobbly. Her throat was becoming dry, reeling in the thoughts of yesteryear.

She gripped the paper, balling it into a fist, crumpling it in the process.

"I am okay, dear," said Ryuko. "Just hot flashes."

"I didn't think you can get hot flashes, auntie," said Ochako. "I heard that it isn't common with Japanese people."

"Dear, you have to not always find your information on Facebook," said Ryuko. "I am going to the bathroom, excuse me."

Ryuko rushed to the bathroom and quickly closed the door.

Ochako sat back on the couch. Earlier, she received a text from her mother on her whereabouts. She lied, saying that she was hanging out with Momo. She held onto the phone tenderly, wanting to believe that Ryuko was telling the truth.

"Don't worry, we are going to figure it out."

"Please be right, Auntie." She placed her knees to her chest. "Please be right!"

To be continued….