Hey Guys! Crescent Rider here and I am back with another chapter! And before you all begin, I want to let you all know that this story may have a book cover soon. It's being made by an old friend of mine...

That is all and enjoy the chapter!

Neo's Home

Neo sits in the living room watching the morning news on the weekend and learns of a report about a hero severely injured by the notorious Hero Killer, Stain. It genuinely confirms her encounter with him in that alleyway, but she didn't want to think about it since she didn't want her mother to worry.

Then a doorbell rang and her mother's voice was heard from the kitchen, "Can you get that for me, Neo!"

Neo left the couch and went to the door. As soon as she opened it, she expressed glee to see someone she was fondly familiar with outside her door.

A tan-skinned woman with long white hair and red eyes wears a long white t-shirt, and knee pants with a belt that has a large and round buckle. She also possesses a mutant-type quirk, evident by her white tall rabbit ears from the top of her head.

This woman is Rumi Usagiyama, also known as Rabbit Hero: Mirko.

"Hello, Neo," Rumi said and ruffled her head, "You're looking a little taller than the last time I saw you,"

Neo immediately swatted her hand due to Rumi's obvious teasing, but she would hug her nonetheless. Moments later, Yukino went and saw Rumi standing outside as well, though the latter would be the first to greet, "Yo, Sensei! You're looking fine too!"

Yukino just rolled her eyes as she walked towards them, "Neo, watch over the stove while I speak with my student here,"

Neo released Rumi's leg, nodded once, and ran towards the kitchen while the two adults watched her leave. Once the two are alone, Rumi shuts the door behind her and places her hand on her hips, "She's growing a little taller these days, huh?"

"Indeed, and let's not forget about her grades in score. The teachers say that she's doing phenomenally well and that she's guaranteed a recommendation at the top hero academy in Japan," Yukino said as she went to the living room with Rumi following behind her,

"U.A. Academy? Now that's what I can an achievement," Rumi remarked,

"It is an achievement, especially when you put my training and her studies together," Yukino remarked, "Even without her quirk, she can make a name for herself easily. Something you're rather familiar with,"

"Yep!" Rumi said as she sat on the couch, leaned her back against the cushions, and put her foot on the living room table, "And I'm proud of where I am now!"

Yukino sighed since Rumi hadn't changed after she rose through the ranks as one of the top ten Pro heroes. Whenever Yukino watches the news or reads the paper about the Rabbit Hero, she feels some pride especially when Rumi inexplicably states that she had a great teacher/hero to thank for.

It even made her recall the day they first met...

Flashback

Rumi was panting with a few bruises at some park after fiercely besting a few grown muggers due to their frivolous nonsense about her overall appearance and mutant-type quirk. She would wipe one side of her lips with her hand, then her rabbit ears perked up when she heard clapping sounds.

She quickly turned to the source and spotted Yukino, who was wearing her hero costume, which only consisted of a body suit and eye mask.

"Quite impressive show you've made, although you're technique could use some work," Yukino praised,

"And who might you be?" Rumi questioned,

"Yukino Arakaki," Yukino revealed as she walked towards her, "Or perhaps you call me,"

One of the guys tried to pick his feet up with a knife in hand, but Yukino reacted quicker than the mugger and knocked him out cold with a swift yet fluid kick to the face. Then she turns to Rumi, still maintaining that closed smile of hers, "Sensei from now on,"

"Sensei? I don't need some stranger teaching me how to fight," Rumi said, "Besides, I can take of myself,"

"Oh, can you now? Then by all means," Yukino assumes a fighting stance, which caught Rumi's full-on attention, "Prove it,"

The latter just stared before sighing and turning away. But when she made the first step, she whipped her body around and went for a spinning kick. Yukino goes for a block, stands her, and absorbs the blow hard and her right foot cracks the pavement.

When Yukino made a visible smirk, Rumi reacted on instinct by pulling her leg back and jumping a few feet away. Had she stayed on her foot any longer, Yukino may have threatened her to do something that may cause serious harm.

"Impressive. Trusting your instincts over your brute force," Yukino complimented, "Had you stayed any longer, I would've put you in a hold you couldn't escape,"

"Just who are you exactly," Rumi questioned, though more cautious than before,

"I'm Yukino Arakaki, and you may call me, Sensei," Yukino said, "If you want a hero name... It's Polymorphia"

Rumi straightened her rabbit ears and her head as she now recognized the person before her. A young hero who'd stay in the top twenty heroes, yet remains relevant due to her heroism in the field. Apart from her name, no one else knows what she does outside her Hero Work...

Present

After that encounter, Rumi reluctantly agreed to become Yukino's student, taught her various martial arts skills, and rose through the ranks after she became one of the top ten pro heroes of the board.

Though Yukino's intentions seem noble, the truth is that she wanted the Rabbit Hero to take on the spotlight as a strong and fierce hero while Yukino remains hidden in the shadows. Though Rumi isn't one for popularity, their relationship remains on good terms especially when the Rabbit Hero visits her Sensei whenever she passes by.

As for Neo's fondness with her, Rumi acts as her babysitter whenever Yukino is out doing her job as a zookeeper or as a Pro Hero. Likewise, Rumi had grown attached to fond and often teased her short height whenever she could.

Moments later, Neo comes in and nudges onto her mother's shirt.

"Ah, I'd better finish what I'm cooking. Would you like to stay for lunch, Rumi?" Yukino inquired,

"Sure, after that, it's back to work," Rumi agreed,

"Can you shuffle the plates for us, Neo?" Yukino requested, and Neo nodded,

As the three went to the table, Neo arranged the plates and tableware properly while Yukino checked her special homemade curry. Once she nodded, she'd serve it in a large bowl and haul it onto the table.

After everyone got their shares, Neo took the first bite and she got all giddy with the spice of her mother's recipe Rumi sharply blew some of her breath a few times. For Yukino, she just eats it and feels the spice against her tongue.

However, she just giggles after she swallows her piece and smiles at the company she has on her table. Then she thought about her husband and wondered what might have been had he remained with them...

The Next Day...

Neo smiled as her mother took her to the zoo where she worked before the last months of Neo's stay in her school ended. As soon as they reached the entrance, Yukino paid the entrance fee for Neo and herself and ventured their way around the display of every animal there.

A few employees working there even recognized Yukino and greeted her and her daughter when they crossed paths with each other. Even the zoo animals themselves recognized her and greeted her appropriately.

When the two are given entrance by a few trustworthy employees, Neo is brought to an area where the young Bengal tiger cubs are. As they cutely chuffed and bawled around the room like cats, Yukino permitted her daughter to be near them as long as she didn't harm them and be careful as their claws were sharper compared to cats.

As the minutes passed by, one of Yukino's co-workers came to her side.

"Those three little rascals are growing up so fast," Yukino fondly remarked, "Just like my Neo,"

"Indeed. Couldn't you just tell the cubs?" A zoo employee inquired,

"These cubs are like babies, they don't listen to anyone," Yukino remarked, "Just play until they've grown into their early teens,"

Neo then made a projection of a large rat toy for cats and fiddled it around a Bengal tiger cub that wanted to catch it while another went on Neo's lap to try and catch the toy and the last cub remained by Neo's right side.

"How's the big girl holding?" Yukino questioned,

"Riko's fine these days, even in her old age," The employee responded, "You should visit her since she's so fond of you,"

"I'll do that," Yukino said, turning to Neo, "Come on. It's time I take you to the mother,"

Neo nodded toward her mother, carefully removed the cubs from her lap, and joined her in the Bengal tiger pen.

As soon as they reached that place, Neo marveled upon the Bengal tiger's majestic sight and Yukino called out her name, "Hey! Riko!"

The Bengal tiger turns toward her and lets out a happy roar before Yukino enters her enclosure. What followed was Riko standing on her hind legs and rubbing its large face against Yukino's as the latter hugged it back, "Have been a good girl lately?"

Riko moaned in response and Yukino smiled since her quirk allowed her to understand the language of animals. After the tiger drops from Yukino's shoulders, she soon turned to Neo, who was at the other side of the barred doors.

Yukino walked toward the bars and opened the door, "Come on in Neo. She won't bite,"

Neo was nervous but would enter the Bengal tiger pen with Yukino staying by her side. Riko moaned with curiosity and Yukino placed her hand on her daughter's, "This is my daughter, Neo Valentina. Just so, you know. You weren't the only one who can have kids,"

One of Riko's ears twitched as she stared at Neo, though the latter wasn't nervous as she stared at the Bengal tiger's eyes.

"Go on, stretch her hand to her," Yukino insisted,

Neo did just that, and Riko gave a quick sniff. Before rubbing its face against her, causing the girl to express glee and gently caressing her head. Then she starts rubbing its chin like she would with a cat and finds its chuffing quite amusing.

Moments later, the tiger started rubbing its head against her arm, then towards her small body. Causing Neo to feel a bit ticklish over the tiger's interaction, then it settled down near her feet and Neo bends her knees to rub her hand against its fur.

"She's a beauty, isn't she?" Yukino inquired, and Neo responded with various nods,

The former then followed her daughter's example and gently rubbed Riko's lower body down to its belly. Then she revealed a few details regarding the tiger's history, "Did you know that she was once a prisoner to a villain?"

Neo whips her head towards her mother with shock in her eyes, and the latter nods to reaffirm her statement, "It's true. Before she was transferred here, she was subjected to a series of experiments where Villains tried to create artificial Mutant quirks by extracting blood from wild animals. Riko was one of the few lucky animals to have survived, especially when she was just a cub,"

Her daughter soon donned a pitied look, especially when she turned to Riko, peacefully resting her head against the soft ground and its ears twitched when Neo rubbed its head once.

"Riko was originally set to be released in the wild, but she grew attached to me and documents of the Villain showed that she was born inside the facility she was held captive," Yukino continued, "So in accordance with the circumstances, I convinced them to transfer her here and I'd watch her grow from the young cub to the fine tiger we see today,"

Riko chuffed while her tail wagged from being reminded of those days. But her conversation soon piqued Neo's interest as she tugged on one of Yukino's sleeves and gestured the following question, "Is that why you became a hero?"

"In a sense, yes... There are already other heroes who assign themselves in the safety and protection of the common people while others have their agendas to follow," Yukino explained, "Then there's the few such as myself, who focus on goals that seemed irrelevant to most heroes yet our deeds are well-worth the struggle and effort. Which reminds me, will you try to be a hero yourself?"

Neo just blinked at her a few times and glanced herself away from her mother's view. She had been filled with uncertainty since the thought of being a hero never crossed her mind. But her encounters with heroes, such as Mirko and Endeavor, and villains, such as Himiko Toga and Hero Killer Stain, made her think otherwise.

The same applies to the incidents where she stopped bullies, and saved a child from a potential car accident. She wondered if she had what it takes to be a hero but she lacked the mind and mental drive for such a path.

Thus, she replied with the following gestures, "I don't know...'

"Then that's up to you. But know that I'll always support your decisions and guide you whenever I possibly can," Yukino declared, then gently pressed two fingers onto Neo's forehead, "Because you are young and there's so much stuff you need to learn, little lady,"

Neo gives a closed-eyed smile, then the two spend what little time is left on the tiger before visiting the other exhibits. Though Riko would let out a low moan as Neo waved goodbye, then the two walked their way home after the day was done.

Neo's Bedroom

Though Neo had finished dinner, she now lies on her bed, stares at her ceiling, and thinks about her plans before the last months in school have come to pass. There were other opinions she could pick besides the obvious recommendation list in the U.A Academy.

Still, she remains uncertain of what to do after school and takes a deep breath as she shuts her eyes. But a few moments later, she soon heard her phone, which her mother gifted not too long ago, started buzzing and Neo went to check what it was.

That's where she starts smiling when her friend, Toru Hagakure, messages her and sees the following, "Hi, Neo-chan! How you've been these past few months?"

Neo would sit up from her bed and reply, "I'm fine, Toru-chan. Any trouble in school?"

"Not at all! I've made a lot of friends here. And I have you thank for," Hagakure replied, accompanied with a smile emoji,

Neo smiled at Hagakure's reply, then her mom's question roamed its way to her mind and typed the following, "What are you going to do after graduation?"

There wasn't a reply for the first few seconds, but then Hagakure typed in her message, "Well, I'm planning on enrolling at U.A. Academy after graduation."

This pinged Neo's interest, then the very same question is asked from Hagakure's side, "What about you, Neo-chan? What will you do after graduation?"

Once again, Neo was filled with uncertainty over her choices after graduation. She could go to U.A Academy to see her friend again, but that would be selfish of her. Even more when her best friend learns of this.

For that, she replies with the following message, "I don't know..."

There were brief periods of Hagakure trying to reply after seconds of silence. Neo waited if Hagakure would provide an appropriate answer...

Eventually, Hagakure's answer was given in the most appropriate way possible, "Well... I'm sure you'll find out. Regardless of whether we'll enroll in the same school or not, I'm with you, a hundred percent! Or as All Might always say, Go Beyond, Plus Ultra!"

Neo looked cheery when her friend mentioned All Might, Japan's Number One Hero, in her message. After that, Neo sends a quick good night and puts down her phone on the table.

Once again, she stares at the ceiling briefly. After a while, she shut her eyes, tucked herself in, and slept in for the night. She'll make her decision after the last days of her school are upon her...

That's it for this chapter, you guys. But before you go, there is something I need to tell you all first.

I have no intention of removing anyone in Class 1 - A, rather I intend to add someone to make the number even. Just one OC and that's all there is to it. I won't tell you who it is, however...

That is all I have to say, and I'll see you all in the next chapter!