No, no, no!" the girl repeated, pacing around the park bench that Deku was sitting on. "I…can't remember…"
She trailed off, sitting beside him and cradling her head in her hands.
"…Do you need some help?" Deku asked her gently.
"I…don't know," was her only response.
"Do you have a home? What's your name?"
"Rose…I'm Rose," she said softly. "No one wanted me…and then, the fire…the babies downstairs…" A tear slipped down her cheek, making a streak in her dirty face. "I couldn't leave them…not alone, like me."
"So…you have no one?" Deku wanted to comfort her, but he couldn't see how. "Come with me, and live at our house."
She looked at him blankly. "But…who are you?"
"I'm Izuku Midoriya," he replied, taking her hand and helping her off the park bench.
"Are you…sure? You don't even know me." Her blue eyes stood out against her mud-stained face and black hair. If he looked closely, Deku could see some ash remaining on her cheeks that hadn't been washed away by her tears. She also had many semi-healed burn marks. She wore an old school uniform with no label that was apparently burnt, ripped, and patched in several places.
"It's fine," he replied, smiling at her disheveled appearance. "But I must warn you-my classmates are crazy."
Rose laughed, following as Deku led her into the woods. "You say it so calmly."
Deku nodded. "It's true."
They were quiet for a moment, then Deku spoke up. "This may seem to be a weird question, but what's your quirk?"
Her face was puzzled. "I…don't wanna talk about it."
"Alright," Deku replied, with no further discussion.
"Are you from UA?"
Deku was surprised. "Yes."
Her brow furrowed. "I seem to remember something…oh, I can't remember. It's like trying to catch a bubble. Just when you think you think you've got it, it pops."
Deku laughed, and Rose got the impression that he didn't laugh often.
Rose paused suddenly. "Deku. Do you hear that?"
Deku stopped, listening. There was a rustle in the bushes. Before he could react, however, Bakugo jumped from the bushes. He landed a punch to Deku's chin, nearly knocking him out.
Rose's eyes narrowed, and an odd change came over her. She kicked Bakugo in the stomach, causing him to fall backward into a tree before he could make another move toward Deku.
"What the heck is your problem?" she yelled. "Surprise attacks are for wimps! Be a man!"
Bakugo ignored her, getting up and rushing at Deku, who easily sent him flying.
"So," Bakugo said angrily, wiping blood from his lip. "You have girls fighting your battles now?"
"Sh-Shut up, Kacchan," replied Deku coldly, grabbing Rose's arm and leading her away toward the school.