Here it is, the seventy-ninth full chapter of Miraculous Quirks released on the set day that I promised each week. This is the last of the chapters in the post raid recovery arc before we hit an important transition chapter and move onto the next major arc in the MHA story (I will be skipping over the shortest arc in the story as it doesn't have Marinette and Adrien in it so no need to write about it). That is all the administrative stuff I have for now though and as there are no review questions to answer or guest reviews to respond to I will end this note here. Do keep the reviews coming as I enjoy hearing from y'all. Now, though, it is time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the 79th full chapter of Miraculous Quirks.
Disclaimer: I do not own either of these great works of fiction.
Chapter 79: Returning to the Dorm
In the end it was determined that all of the heroes and students who participated in the raid were to remain in hospital overnight for observation just to be safe. It was a precautionary measure but as they were all still students it was deemed to be for the best.
Some like Momo and Izuku weren't injured at all, though the latter was more due to Eri than anything else, while others like Tsu and Ochaco just needed rest to regain vitality. Marinette and Kirishima both had several lacerations that had been treated by Sanguina and then just before bed by Recovery Girl to ensure that they were all healed up, but they needed to spend the night after being healed. The one who took the longest to recover was Adrien.
It wasn't because he was the worst injured, that was probably Mirio and he'd be in the hospital for a few more days with Amajiki and Hado staying to keep an eye on him after all he'd been through and lost during the raid, but Adrien did need the most time to recover his strength. He'd pushed Cataclysm well beyond its limits and his body needed time to regain the stamina and energy he'd lost using it. Quirks had drawbacks and for Adrien his was that drawback. As strong as Cataclysm was, it still required his own energy to use and if he ran out and went overboard the recovery could take a while.
The benefits was that when he was recovered he'd be able to keep Cataclysm active longer as his body was now used to that level of usage, but it would take time. He could still use it, but it wouldn't be as potent and he'd not be able to manipulate it as he could before, just imbue it into items to break them apart.
As such he was under orders to not use it for 48 hours and then lightly ease back into use while upping his stamina regime at a steady pace to fully match his new limits. In addition, he was to be on a high protein and calorie diet for at least a week to replenish his energy reserves, the amount he burned during his use ensuring he wouldn't put on weight from it.
Naturally, that was fine as the work studies were suspended indefinitely and the students who'd participated in them would now need to take special lessons to catch up on the regular school stuff that they'd missed so there was plenty of time. There was also the added benefit of Marinette feeding Adrien when the food arrived after Sanguina's first assessment of them as Adrien didn't have the strength to do so just yet which Adrien wasn't complaining about. As cute as it was, it was also very intimate, so Momo took her leave to sort out the reports and paperwork for all of them.
With Adrien not being discharged until the next afternoon, the police just came to the room the morning after the raid to take Adrien and Marinette's statements and have them sort out the paperwork that they had to deal with personally. Thankfully, Momo had prepared it all in advance, so it was all quick and sorted. It also gave them time to process the news that they'd known was coming but didn't learn of until the morning.
As expected, Sir Nighteye passed away from his wounds before night fell on the day of the raid. He was able to make peace with All Might, understand Midoriya's importance, and with the last of his strength see Mirio's future and knew it would be a bright one. With that Nighteye died with a smile on his face. His funeral was scheduled for a few days' time, and Chisaki was going to get a murder charge added to his indictment, and all of the raid members who could attend would be there.
That was for later though, for now they needed to return to the dorms at last and begin the mental recovery process to go along with the physical one that they'd already started. Mage couldn't see them out, he was still in an induced coma following his surgery though the trio who'd worked for him knew that this was just a cover. Sanguina did see them out when she formally discharged Adrien, the last to be discharged of Class 1-A, and sent them on their way back to school. The others had already left having been discharged in the morning, so they expected to see them when they got back to the dorm.
Well at least that had been what they'd expected but as the trio reached Heights Alliance having returned via public transport, they saw a police car pull up and Midoriya and Kirishima got out of it also back in their school uniforms like the trio approaching them were. That had been a surprise as it was now nighttime, and the pair had been discharged in the morning, but it was good to see them, and Momo was the first to call out to the pair.
"Midoriya, Kirishima, you just got back?" Momo asked them as they stepped out of the car. "I thought you had been discharged hours ago."
Izuku and Kirishima turned in surprise to see Yaoyorozu, Dupain-Cheng, and Agreste walking towards them having just gotten back from the hospital themselves, the hour-long trip had been made longer as Adrien was still slow in his movements, but Marinette was holding his hand as always not caring about his slower speed. The two boys knew that the three who were working for the Guardian Agency had been held up due to Agreste still needing a final assessment, though they still didn't fully understand what he'd done to deplete his energy so much, which explained why they were so late getting back.
"Hey guys." Kirishima said waving at his classmates as they approached. "Yeah we had to go to the station to sort out some reports and paperwork after the raid."
"Ah that makes sense." Momo said with a nod. "I was on point for all of that given the other injuries, so we got all that sorted at the hospital while I waited for the others to be discharged."
"Though Adrien and I had to do some paperwork and interviews." Marinette added. "Basically, the stuff Momo couldn't do."
"Yeah, just procedural stuff though we may be called in soon for some more reports regarding the international elements of the raid given what we faced." Adrien said. "Good to see you two are doing well, I heard that you were pretty banged up Kirishima."
"Yeah the old lady and that Guardian woman patched me up just fine." Kirishima said with a smile. "They did a great job, I'm ready to go again whenever."
"Same here." Marinette said.
"And I was ok thanks to Eri." Izuku said. "But I can't see her yet unfortunately."
"Makes sense." Adrien said. "She does have a fever and with that power of hers they need to monitor her for a bit first."
"I know, I just hope she'll be ok." Izuku said. "She's been through a lot but she's not fully free yet."
"She will be and when the time comes you'll be there for her." Marinette said with a smile. "She'll need that big brother figure and you and Togata are that to her after rescuing her the way you did, I'm sure of it."
"Thanks, I just want her to be happy and be able to have a normal life." Izuku said a slight dejected tone to his voice. "Well, as close to normal as she can so I'll do whatever I can to ensure that."
"And thanks to you she will." Adrien said looking at the other guys. "But why don't you two swing by my room tonight, it's been a draining time and we all know what happened. I've been there before; I can help make sure you guys process it properly."
"Really?" Kirishima asked surprised looking at the other two present.
"Don't worry, they know about my past, Marinette is part of it after all, and we told Momo more as we recovered to help her out." Adrien said which was both not the full truth and truer than Kirishima and Midoriya were aware of. "I did the same with Shoto after Hosu when we were alone in the hospital together and it helped him a lot. We went through a tough experience; we need to be there for each other."
"I remember Hosu and what you did while we were there, I know your experience Agreste." Izuku said smiling and recalling both that and how the French boy had been there for him when he'd almost broken down at lunch a few days ago. "Ok, if you think it will help."
"Nothing unmanly about asking for help." Kirishima said with a nod. "Alright I'll be there as well."
"And I will do the same for the girls." Marinette said. "Though we'll do it in Momo's room as that is the best place for it. Right now, we need to be there for each other after the raid, it will help."
"What will?" A new voice asked, and they turned to see Tsu and Ochaco approaching them, the former being the one who'd spoken.
"Hey guys, did you just get back?" Ochaco asked as they reached the others.
"Yeah mix of paperwork and final checks to make sure we were good to go." Marinette said with a smile at her friends. "And Adrien just asked the other guys to come to his room tonight to chat after the raid, so I want the girls to do so as well. It's needed after what we went through as we have to make sure we're all ok."
"Oh ok, you're room?" Tsu asked understanding at once what Marinette was proposing and realizing how good an idea it was.
"Mine." Momo said. "My bed is best for it and as you're on my floor as well Tsu we can ensure no one will disturb us."
"I think that is for the best." Ochaco said nervously, she had been badly affected by Nighteye's death for many reasons and if Marinette was suggesting this as a way to deal with it and what happened after the raid, well the girls already defaulted to Marinette as their leader and trusted her, so it had to be a good idea. "At least we all got back at the same time. That should help alleviate the others."
"Yeah we were held up by paperwork at the agency." Tsu said.
"Well shall we return then." Marinette said looking towards their dorm. "I'm sure our classmates are waiting for us, and I think we need this right now. Remember, even though we were in the raid we are all in the same class and going to be heroes, so we are all here for each other whether or not we were the ones in the field."
The others nodded and they turned to head towards the front doors of the dorm. It had been a long day and a half at least but it was finally drawing to a close. It did feel like they'd been away from it for a lot longer though. Hopefully, the others were understanding when they returned.
As soon as they opened the doors to the common area they were greeted by the entire class. All of them were still up and in the common area waiting for them, all but Bakugo who was still on a sofa and Tokoyami who was still at his work study with Hawks that is, turned to look as they arrived. It didn't take long for the moment to be broken and it was Mineta of all people who broke it.
"There you guys are." Mineta said hurrying up to them. "It's about time you showed up."
"All of us were worried about you when you didn't show up yesterday." Jiro added as all, but Bakugo took Mineta's lead in approaching them, Sato holding his latest cake that he'd baked and Koda his bunny Yuwai as they moved towards their friends. "We weren't told your status or anything."
"Yeah we saw the news but that's it." Kaminari said.
"It looked terrifying." Hagakure added.
"Is anyone hurt?" Sero asked.
"What troublemakers." Mineta said continuing the bombardment that the 7 were receiving.
"Tell us everything." Aoyama said still sounding fancy despite the worry in his voice.
"Here, I made this for you." Sato said holding up his latest creation. "It's a double chocolate cake, Dupain-Cheng, I'd really like your assessment of it."
"First Kamino and then the yakuza." Kaminari said butting in. "You guys are always getting into such crazy situations; do you know how much that scares us? Midoriya, Kirishima, Yao-Momo, Dupain-Cheng, you lot especially keep finding trouble."
"Yeah we're so sorry, just how it is." Izuku said glad that Hosu wasn't being brought up as well, so far he was the only one to have been present at all the major engagements the class had had for some reason and trying to defuse the sudden onslaught from his classmates, touched by how much they cared for him. "I didn't mean to worry you guys."
"I'm just glad that they're ok." Shoji said with a dupli-arm mouth to Jiro as the others crowded the 7 work study students who did their best to answer and reassure the others now that they had a moment to do so. "After all that news about what went down it was worrying, and we all know the kind of damage Midoriya and Dupain-Cheng have a habit of taken when engaging in combat."
"I dunno, are they though?" Jiro asked. "How can we be sure. I mean, I know Marinette would be fine, that girl is something else with all this and I wouldn't put it past Agreste to be on her level but the others…"
"I've been with Midoriya in a similar situation before, he knows what needs to be done and how to cope with it." Shoji said recalling his time with Midoriya in the woods at the Summer Training Camp and his determination to save everyone, a determination that Shoji admired and had drawn inspiration from during the licensing exam when he was in a bind. "I think they all have what it takes to be able to recover from this. We should learn from them; we'll be in their shoes soon as well."
"True." Jiro said as she walked forward to greet her friends while Toru hugged Ochaco and Tsu closely. "Marinette, Yao-Momo, you ok?"
"Yeah we're good Kyoka." Marinette said with a smile at her friend who was twirling one of her earphone jacks nervously. "A few scrapes here and there during the battle and some minor blood loss but I'm all healed up."
"I was unharmed, but my role was mainly support and restraint." Momo said not wanting to go into too much detail while Jiro just blinked at how casual Marinette was about it all, she really was a force of nature. "So, I wasn't on the front lines like the others this time. Still taught me a lot of what our life will be like when we graduate."
"Enough of this." Ida roared as the chatter began to increase though no one noticed Todoroki stepping to the side and taking his phone out before he quietly slipped out of the building. "I know that everyone was worried but calm down. We all saw the news coverage; our classmates have been through an ordeal. If you want to help you should console them quietly and let them rest their bodies and their minds because I am sure that it wasn't just taxing physically but mentally and spiritually as well."
"Hey um Ida." Izuku said understanding what Ida was saying and knowing where it was coming from but all that would come later when he, Kirishima, and Agreste chatted alone so for now Izuku felt they needed their class to be one after the raid and all that happened in and after it. "Thanks for that, but really, this is ok."
With that Izuku took the advice of Nighteye, Togata, and the inspiration of All Might to smile at Ida to show that he was good with this despite all he'd just been through. Ida understood what his friend wanted and adjusted his glasses as he looked at Midoriya.
"If I may then." Ida began before he was suddenly on Izuku, gabbing his shoulders and shaking him. "Do you have any idea how worried I was for all of you? It was awful. What if you never returned?"
"Take your own advice and chill out." Sero said startled by Ida's sudden 180. "We all know the dangerous of this profession we're joining."
"I'll go make some lavender tea." Momo said moving forward and through the crowd to get to the communal tea her family sent and was kept in the communal kitchen for whenever it was needed. "On moment, it's sure to help us all."
"At least have a little bit of the cake." Sato said.
"Here, let me assess it." Marinette said as she activated Lucky Charm to get a fork and took a bit of the cake to try it, giving it her usually assessment as she ate it slowly before swallowing and looking to Sato. "As always, good, you really understand how to make cakes. That is more an anglophone taste, Britain and the US are good at them while the French are more on the pastry and bread side of baked goods, so my assessment is more in quality and ability than anything else. Nice and fluffy while keeping texture and structure, a good glazing to properly spread out the chocolate but not too heavy on it at the same time. Overall, another good cake that is again a little sweet but that is understandable."
"Thank you." Sato said with a bow of his head to his baking teacher whenever they had a moment to bake for the whole class, Dupain-Cheng always asked for his assistance when she was using the kitchen and he asked for her guidance when he wasn't baking along. "Japan has always had more American than European influences over the years so cakes are more our tastes hence why I prefer to bake them, at least in terms of western baked goods that is."
"Stick with your strengths for groups but do feel free to practice other avenues of baking on your own as well." Marinette said. "You never know what new techniques or styles you'll pick up from other baked goods that can be incorporated into your best to improve it. Yes some styles have to remain the same, the technique is just too critical to the final product, but others can always be improved on. It is what my family has always taught us and why the baking gets better with each generation as we improve upon the last."
"Of course, wise words from a top baker in deed." Sato said taking the advice to heart.
All this time the others were talking and Ochaco was thinking about the chat she and Tsu had with Mr. Aizawa in the wake of the raid. Tsu tried to ask her what was up, but she shook her head, she'd discuss that chat and all she'd come to realize about herself and her hero path later when they were with Marinette and Momo. If anyone could help it would be Marinette.
"Why the heck didn't you tell us what was going on." Sero said throwing an arm around Kirishima's shoulder. "We were totally blindsided by this."
"Sorry, we were sworn to secrecy." Kirishima said sheepishly. "We had to avoid it to be precautious given what the mission was about."
"Hey, so I'm glad you were ok Kirishima." Mina said walking up to him holding Koda's bunny in her arms that she'd somehow acquired in the last few minutes, Shoji and Aoyama behind and to her sides and a small frown on her face. "It can't have been easy given what we saw on the news."
"Yeah, getting there at least." Kirishima said knowing that there wasn't much more that needed to be said between them. "I'm a lot better now and the raid helped."
"Right, got it." Mina said with a small nod.
It was an odd dynamic to their relationship that they didn't really acknowledge to the others, but Kirishima and Ashido had gone to middle school together just as Midoriya and Bakugo had. They hadn't been particularly close back then, and certainly didn't have the strange relationship that Midoriya and Bakugo had going on, so they hadn't felt like sharing it but they both understood what was being said under the surface of their conversation.
Kirishima had once failed to help out, he'd been rooted with fear and Ashido, who'd always been the extraverted girl that helped everyone out, had acted to save some terrified classmates. He'd apologized to them for his failure afterwards, but it hadn't been until both showed up as U.A. students that Mina understood how badly Kirishima had been affected that day.
Now, he was the one excelling more as a hero, becoming the man he wanted to be, and Mina smiled at that glad to see that he was starting to really move on from middle school and properly come out of his shell. She'd still keep his hair secret though, only she knew that it wasn't red but black, he really had the dye job down pat, but for the moment that was a fun little secret between them.
"Oh, what a cutie." Ochaco said coming over and not picking up on the subtext thus allowing Mina to switch focus and smile at her friend. "Been a while since we've seen him."
"Yeah it's Koda's bunny." Mina said holding him up a bit, Koda had been very specific on how people should hold his bunny and they all followed his instructions to the letter. "Do you guys want to hold him for a little while."
"Ribbit." Tsu said coming over and as Mina passed the bunny over.
"Me next, me next." Toru said having also come over for the bunny.
"Adorable." Ochaco said lightly stroking the rabbit's belly with a finger.
Meanwhile Kaminari tried to get Bakugo involved, even calling him Kacchan the same as Midoriya called him which oddly didn't bother Bakugo, and trying to shake him from the couch that he hadn't left since the others had returned. Kaminari, in his usually not so bright way, was trying to get Bakugo involved, especially because he was friends with Kirishima, but that was the final straw for Bakugo who just brushed the princess off, causing Kaminari to fall onto the sofa and get up declaring it was time for bed.
Unlike the rest of the class, Bakugo still had stuff to do the next day, his stupid remedial classes that he had to take to get his provisional license, so he was off to get some sleep for that. At the same time Todoroki came in from outside where he'd slipped off to and declared that he too was going to bed. Naturally, Kaminari saw this as being surrounded by geezers and a few others were confused before Jiro reminded them that the pair had their provisional licensing lessons the next day, so it made sense that they'd turn in early.
That seemed to be the last thing needed and after a little more chat and some cake, Ida suggested that they all go to bed to try and get some rest. At a glance to the French couple and a nod from them the others from the raid knew what was coming and so they all went to their rooms to change and then in a bit go to the designated rooms once the rest of the class was asleep. This was the real reflection and in the long run they'd all need it.
Ochaco and Tsu met up at the latter's room before heading down the corridor to Momo's room on the top floor of the girls' side of the dorm. It wasn't hard for the girls to move around at night, other than the third floor there were only two girls per floor and the top floor had Tsu and Momo so there was no worries about disturbing anyone unless Kyoka was practicing with her Quirk which was unlikely at this time of day though Momo would have white noise machine on just in case. They both knew that they needed this after the raid so quickly made their way to Momo's room and knocked on her door.
"Come in." Momo called out from inside and Ochaco opened the door followed by Tsu who closed and locked it behind her as they instantly saw that Marinette was already there on Momo's massive bed with her that the other two quickly climbed on as it took up almost all the space in the room so the perfect place for this chat.
All of them were in their pajamas for this be it Momo's classic silk pajamas with her long hair down to Ochaco in a t-shirt and shorts, Tsu in a long night dress more to keep her warm given her cold blood, to Marinette's cute pink bottoms and white top in a more European style. It was just like the Summer Camp only this time it was just the four of them and the chat would probably be heavier than the slumber party.
Marinette had arrived a few minutes earlier, going via the outside of the building easily leaping up the balconies with her enhanced strength and years of urban training to get to Momo's to be let in that way. She didn't disturb anyone in the process because she had the only room without a girl above or below her and then just moved to Momo's balcony. It was a very Marinette thing to do though Ochaco and Tsu didn't know that the real reason for it was to tell Kaalki that she needed to vacate the room and go back to Marinette's for the night as this was a private chat for humans only.
Kaalki had been her usually obstinate self but in the end relented and flew into the next room, an empty one, and then down to join the other female kwamis for the night. They'd soon be joined by the males as well as Adrien kicked them out, claiming he was putting away the plushies they pretended to be because his room was more general chill so he wanted to keep them safe, so the kwamis would have Marinette's room to themselves for the night.
Of course, Tsu and Ochaco knew none of this as they climbed onto Momo's bed with Ochaco next to Marinette and Tsu next to Momo and knelt down. They stayed like that for a moment before finally Tsu spoke.
"So, um what now?" Tsu asked.
"We just chat." Marinette said with a smile as she reached behind her and pulled out a box she'd brought with her that contained a mix of baked goods she'd made before the raid, so they were a little stale but none of the girls cared while Momo made a plastic sheet to protect her bed from crumbs before reaching back for small flasks of tea to wash the food down. "About whatever you guys want to chat about. It doesn't have to be about the mission, though that might be best, but we should chat and make sure we're all ok mentally after what we just went through."
"It's hard to be ok after that." Ochaco said taking a macaroon from the box and nibbling on it as she let her emotions that she'd been holding in check for the rest of the class come back now that it was just the four of them. "I, I just feel like I could have done more you know. I carried Nighteye out of the hideout, he was in my arms, I, I just feel like if I'd been faster I could have saved him. His death is a stark reminder of the price we may one day pay when we are fully fledged heroes."
Tsu understood this, this was the regret Ochaco had told Aizawa after the raid, but it was good for her to get it out again now with the others as they could help just as much as Aizawa had. They'd all been there so they would know what Ochaco was going through as well.
"I can sympathize." Momo said recalling her own experience the day before. "I saw Mage's wound and helped him as best I could. I, I would have the same questions in my head if he'd died but thank the gods that his Quirk allowed him to stabilize it long enough for help to arrive. Still, seeing him like that, I know that I need to do more to save people, to understand that it is all so we can do this together Ochaco."
"Thank you." Ochaco said with a weak smile at her friend, she'd seen the blood on Momo after the raid and knew what had caused it, but it was still a lot to hear about it from her. "We've got a lot to learn to be better."
"We do but remember that did what you were asked to do, Ochaco." Marinette said softly. "And I am sure Nighteye knew how bad it was, but he was a hero, he knew the price we can pay when we rescue innocents. You just followed orders to get him out. It's not your fault."
"I know, Mr. Aizawa said so as well and said the heroes, the pros are to blame if there is anyone to blame." Ochaco said sadly. "But, well, knowing that I couldn't save him has made me realize something. I, I want to be a hero that saves people, a hero who brings a smile to their faces. I know I came to U.A. to make money for my family so that I could give them a better life but after meeting everyone here and seeing what the hero world is like, I want to do more than that. I want to save people; I don't want to feel like I do now after knowing that we all failed to save Nighteye."
"That is very noble of you Ochaco." Marinette said with a smile. "It's why many of us came here. Duty, honor, the good of all, those are what make a hero a hero. You've always had that sense to you even if you didn't realize it at first."
"I have?" Ochaco asked confused looking up at Marinette. "I, I feel like I was here for selfish reasons though."
"And we said back when you told us that they weren't selfish, your reasons have always been more grounded than the rest of us." Marinette said. "You came here with a clearer head than probably any of us because you already had a goal in mind. Some are here because of their family, some are more big picture, some are thinking with the wrong head, but you came here for a simple reason and from that built on it with what you learned here. You've always wanted to help; you just needed to meet more people and understand the world more to realize that you want to help all as well as your family, but it is all because of that goal that you reached this. You've built on your foundation, and it will make you a great hero."
"Thanks." Ochaco said surprised by Marinette's words, but she did know that Marinette was very good at this kind of thing and seemed to understand the role of a hero better than most in their class.
That said only Ochaco had really seen this side to Marinette, neither Tsu nor Momo had really understood the depth of Marinette's leadership until that moment and Momo knew the French girl better than anyone other than Adrien. They both knew that Marinette was experienced, powerful, skilled, and strong but this was a whole new strength to her, and Tsu had to ask the question that had been left hanging in the air.
"So why are you trying to be a hero Marinette?" Tsu asked looking at the French girl. "I don't think you've told us before."
"It's simple, I want to be like the heroes of the past in France, the hero that all know is there to help them from evil and defeat the villains when they emerge." Marinette said with a smile. "I want Paris to one day know that Ladybug is there for them, that she'll always protect them and be there to save the city. While our history of the pre-Quirk era is lost, I grew up on the legends of the heroes of that age. It was said that their mere presence reassured people and that evil would always be defeated by them. That's what I want to be and to do so with Adrien by my side. Part of why we chose to come here is because that is what All Might was, it's want I want to be as well one day."
Both Tsu and Ochaco were taken aback by Marinette's words. There was a conviction, a certainty behind them and a reassurance to her smile that she would do just that and that wasn't just because they knew how good she was. Marinette truly believed she was going to be this kind of hero and neither girl doubted that one day she'd be that. One day, when people saw Ladybug on the scene they'd feel safe and secure, and the girls were getting a first hand look at the woman Marinette would be when that day came.
Only Momo knew the full truth. What Marinette was describing, in a very carefully couched statement, was, well, herself. The heroes of the past were Marinette and Adrien, they had been like All Might to Paris before Quirks were a thing if their stories were true and now that they were in the future where they could do that again only slightly differently, well it was going to be interesting to see the heights the French pair reached. Of course, Momo also had to protect their secret, so she quickly moved the conversation along.
"That is a noble goal and one we all know you'll achieve Marinette; you've already shown that this year so I for one can't wait to see you as a full pro, I'm sure you'll do those old tales justice." Momo said with a smile. "It's a lot like how Midoriya sees things, then again Ochaco sounded like him for a moment there as well."
"I…" Ochaco began going bright red as Momo turned her gaze to her friend deliberately shifting the conversation onto that topic. "I, well, he's a big inspiration to me and…"
"Ochaco." Tsu said kindly. "I was there in the hideout, I heard so you don't have to be shy about it. I know Marinette heard as well."
"Ochaco, it is your secret to tell but I do trust Momo so if you want to mention it then do but only if you are comfortable sharing it." Marinette said and her trust in Momo wasn't misplaced given all that the girl knew about her. "I know your walls broke down when Nighteye said he'd die."
"I, um, well…" Ochaco began looking around but sighing and knowing that the jig was up as Marinette already knew, she'd basically confessed to Tsu during the raid, and Momo wasn't an idiot, so she'd clearly deduced that something more than friendship was up when Ochaco spoke of Deku. "Fine, I am more than just inspired by Deku, I, I'm in love with him and, well, when Nighteye said he'd die I couldn't accept it. Not Deku, he's too important, too strong to die, to let the future be dictated to him. That's why I know that the only future is the one you make for yourself."
"That is very true." Marinette said. "The future is always unknown, when I started my hero path I never expected to be in Japan this year but here I am, and I am carving out my own path forward despite not expecting to end up here. That is the best we can do; we may not choose how we end up somewhere, but we do choose our own future, and we learn from the mistakes and losses of the past to get better and stronger."
"Marinette's right and you're faith in Midoriya was well placed as he did defy what Nighteye saw." Momo said. "He won and Eri is safe. Now, about you being in love with him, well that was obvious, but it is nice to hear that you have accepted it yourself. Denial like that can't be good though as I've never been in love I can't say for certain."
"Wait what?" Ochaco asked going bright red. "You knew?"
"Yeah Ochaco, we all know that you love him even if you wouldn't confirm it." Tsu said kindly. "When you reacted the way you did to Mina it was clear one of the guys had captured your heart and there were only two potential candidates."
"And between those two let's be honest; it wasn't going to be Ida." Momo said. "Tsu and I were just being respectful, but we all know that you love Midoriya, only he's too blind to see it."
"I, I thought I was keeping it well hidden." Ochaco said weakly causing the other girls to chuckle at that, it wasn't hard to see that Ochaco had feelings for Midoriya though she did keep the depth decently well hidden. "I know Marinette could tell, she was the one that got me to admit it to myself when I went to see her to thank her for getting Mina off my back when I was floating, but she's French and in a relationship, so she'd understand."
"Somehow the fact that you were the only one to know for certain doesn't surprise me, ribbit." Tsu said looking at Marinette.
"Well, she is the one we all turn to for leadership." Momo said with a smile at her friend. "And advice when we need it, so it makes sense. Kept that one to yourself though."
"Not my secret to tell." Marinette said with a smile back at Momo. "We all have our secrets, I have mine and I'm sure all 3 of you have yours, so when trusted with one I keep it."
"And we'll keep Ochaco's now that she's confirmed it to us." Momo said understanding exactly what Marinette wasn't saying and looking to Ochaco. "I know the burden of secrets so yours is safe with me Ochaco."
"Same." Tsu said with a nod.
"Thanks." Ochaco said smiling at her friends, she needed all of this. "But know that I've locked those feelings away, not well but I have, and won't act on them for the moment. Deku is charging ahead, doing all he can to be a hero, I can't let my feelings for him get in the way of that so I'm focusing on becoming a hero as well. It would be wrong otherwise."
"And that is your choice to make but on that note." Marinette said with a grin. "Why not channel our inner Minas and chat about this some more so that you can let it out in a healthy way before refortifying your walls until the next time Midoriya smashes them down. I think this will help a lot."
The others just nodded though for Ochaco this meant more talking about her love for Deku but for once she didn't mind as she understood what Marinette was saying, she did need this, and it would help in the long run. So, for the first time since she'd confirmed them to Marinette, Ochaco let out her feelings and for that night, with the other girls of the raid, they had a normal girls night chatting about things that weren't related to hero work.
They'd talked about hero stuff at first and it had helped a lot, this was a needed distraction. They'd have to do it again, probably after the funeral when their grief would return, but for now it was a good way to cope, and they'd end up sleeping in Momo's bed that night as it could easily fit all of them. Hopefully, the guys were doing just as well with their little chat.
Kirishima and Izuku had waited a little longer to go up to Adrien's room as there were more guys that they needed to make sure were asleep, so they arrived in their pajamas about half an hour after the girls had begun their talk. Adrien was already there in just a pair of pajama bottoms lounging on his bed, he'd texted them that the door was open, so they just entered when they arrived and then locked the door. Kirishima went over to Adrien's sofa to crash on it and Izuku took Adrien's chair as Adrien slowly shifted to sit up on his bed.
"Sorry." Adrien said. "I'm still a little sluggish after going all out yesterday so I'll be a little lethargic for a while."
"Yeah we heard about you shattering your limits." Kirishima said softly unsure of how loud he could be though the walls were pretty thick and couldn't be heard through without a surveillance device or Quirk though Adrien did have a hidden white noise machine on just in case. "I know your strong, I fought you in the Sports Festival but what I heard you did at the end of the raid was unreal."
"I missed it even though I was in the room." Izuku said which was understandable as he was focused on rescuing Eri and not what Adrien was doing. "Did you really control your Quirk after it was infused into the concrete? I didn't think that was possible with Cataclysm."
"Oh that, well that was thanks to all the training I've done and U.A.'s unique teaching style." Adrien said going with a slight cover to avoid giving away how much Mage knew about Cataclysm and Lucky Charm or the advice he'd given the French pair regarding their Quirks. "Part of why I wanted to come to U.A. was to round myself out some more because as good as Francois Dupont is, it's still got its own style and I wanted a different style to teach me more and U.A.'s style fit what I needed the best."
"It is the best in Japan." Izuku said. "But it is very different here to what I've heard about Shiketsu. That school is much more regimented and conservative than U.A."
"Exactly and I needed the freer approach U.A. offers its students." Adrien said with a nod. "With the destructive nature of my Quirk, U.A. was also the best place to let loose with it as it had the facilities I needed to properly train it. From there it was just personal training until I understood that Cataclysm is more than just a force of destruction I can produce but part of me. Quirks are after all physical attributes; they are as much a part of us as everything else is. Once I realized that and how I'd been mainly focused on the raw power of Cataclysm I realized that it is an extension of my own energy. That was what I needed to develop my new technique that I'm calling controlled destruction."
"I get that, it was actually the same with me in a lot of ways." Izuku said looking at his right hand where the scars from his battle with Todoroki were. "I didn't fully grasp that concept at first as well. It was thanks to Gran Torino that I was able to understand the full nature of my Quirk and avoid destroying myself with it but if I hadn't come to U.A. I'd have never reached that level."
"Yeah when my Quirk first manifested I had issues with it, even caused this scar." Kirishima said pointing to the scar above his right eye that they'd all noticed but never asked about. "But over time I got to understand how Hardening works though as Agreste showed in our battle I still had a lot to learn about it."
"A transformation class Quirk like yours does have that kind of endurance limitation." Adrien said with a nod. "For me it was more understanding that Cataclysm's is more than just produced by me but is my own energy in a sense and when I understood that I realized that I could manipulate it when it was active. Of course, it requires more energy than to just produce it hence why I went overboard so fast and passed out at the end. The toll Cataclysm takes on me comes in the form of my energy and stamina hence why I have to build it up if I want to last longer and longer with it active, so I'll need to replenish it which means an easy few days on the Quirk side."
"I get it." Izuku said starting to mumble as he finally had some more data from Agreste on how Cataclysm worked, and it was easy to understand it as it had a similar toll that One for All had on him, one that he could improve with physical training. "For me it's physical strength that I need to work on if I am to use more of my power without breaking myself in the process. My Quirk is powerful, but my body just isn't there yet to use it at above 8% of power, 20% for a short time if I really push it, hence the need to build up strength. For Agreste it's his stamina that is the core of it."
"Exactly." Adrien said with a smile glad that Midoriya was understanding it, so he didn't have to explain it in any more detail. "At first I had the stamina to last 5 minutes with it active and even then I think I could only manage it thanks to my enhanced constitution. However, between pushing past my limits, expanding the areas of my body I can call Cataclysm to as when I came to U.A. I only used my right hand, and engaging in a stamina heavy workout regime I've increased it to about 45 minutes or so now I'd say. That is from first activation to being unable to sustain it at all and not including continued activation like in the licensing exam or manipulation once I've imparted it into an object."
"I see, I'm a little similar in terms of general improvement." Kirishima said. "The more I get hit when my Quirk is active the tougher my body gets. I learned that even when I go Unbreakable I can still be damaged as that happened in the raid, but I will get stronger."
"Yeah what actually happened to you?" Adrien asked. "If you don't mind me asking that is. All I was told was that you were covered in bruises and lacerations but nothing more."
"No, I don't, we should talk about what we went through as it may help." Kirishima said. "After you were separated from us we ended up facing 3 high level thugs, but Amajiki remained to face them alone to avoid more of our forces being separated and won though he was hurt in the process. The rest continued but that Irinaka guy went after Eraser Head, but Fat and I got in the way so that Eraser could continue with the main mission as he was more important than us. We ended up in some lower-level room with two people not on the list, a guy who could make near unbreakable shields and a guy who could punch super hard and fast."
"Sounds like a good pairing." Izuku said noting the abilities. "And if we didn't know of them then they would have been tough to face as the intricacies of their Quirks would be unknown."
"They were." Kirishima said with a nod. "The puncher, a villain and former underground fighter called Rappa who turned out to be the only B-class villain other than Overhaul present, is some death battle freak and he punched me so hard with one blow that he cracked my Unbreakable ultimate move and sent me into a wall when I tried to protect Fat Gum. He then attacked Fat, but Fat could just about absorb the blows though even his Quirk couldn't fully negate the force Rappa's punches."
"Damn, I read up on Fat Gum's Quirk after the first meeting." Adrien said his eyes a little wide. "He's supposed to be able to absorb almost anything with his fat so if something can hurt him through it then it has to require a lot of force."
"Yeah and he converts all the hits he absorbs into power, but Rappa was so fast with his punches, the police told me that his Quirk is in his shoulders as it allows him to rotate and move them at inhuman speeds, that Fat couldn't get a moment to burn his fat to counter." Kirishima said. "It only lasted a few seconds per flurry, but it was still too strong for Fat Gum. Meanwhile I was in the wall and that was when I had to face my own doubts."
"Doubts?" Izuku asked worried.
"We all have them." Kirishima said with a small smile deciding to give the other boys a little overview of his past so they understood, it would help, and he needed to talk about it for once after the raid as he'd finally begun to move past it thanks to Rappa of all people. "And I had plenty. I once froze up in middle school when a large, mutant Quirk, man was terrifying some girls. Another girl intervened but it was so unmanly of me to not do so that it made me question everything and my own desires to be a hero."
"Damn." Adrien said. "It is a reasonable reaction though."
"I know but I wanted to be a hero and I failed to help when I had a chance, so it made me really doubt myself." Kirishima said. "Then I accidentally found an interview with my favorite hero, Crimson Riot, where he spoke of fear being normal for a hero, and it motivated me to be stronger and get into U.A. Then seeing the class, people like both of you, Todoroki, Bakugo, Dupain-Cheng, well I'm constantly striving to be better."
"That is understandable." Izuku said looking at Kirishima in a new light as he could sympathize even if he was going to have to be evasive in how he phrased it but after Kirishima had shared such a personal story he had to respond in kind in some way. "I've had my own doubts as well, once almost giving up on my dream, but fate and my own actions helped convince someone to believe in me and he gave me the motivation I needed to restore my drive. It was still an uphill battle, but I made it and here I am. I still have a long way to go but I will get there, I know it."
"Really, you had doubts?" Kirishima asked looking surprised at Midoriya, he'd always expected that someone as driven as Izuku Midoriya wouldn't have any.
"Yeah, once, they were always there and then something happened that made me almost quit." Izuku said. "But then I got the motivation I needed from someone I looked up to just as you did from Crimson Riot, so I pushed on."
"I too once thought about giving it all up." Adrien said surprising both of them and like the other two giving an evasive version of the truth. "It was last year back in France. The whole secret identity stuff my old school did is good and all but, well, there are drawbacks to it and Ladybug was being extra secretive at the time so I almost quit after she wouldn't tell me something regarding her training that I hadn't had yet."
"How does that work?" Izuku asked, he'd looked into the French school after getting to know Agreste and Dupain-Cheng, so he understood its system, but this was new to him. "I thought partners work together when you two were in costume."
"True, we were partners there, that's how I fell for her, but I didn't like being kept in the dark thanks to how my dad treated me growing up which I won't get into, so when she wouldn't share her new training with me it hurt a lot." Adrien said. "Sometimes a teacher would have one on one lessons with a student if they needed it, but this was different, and I knew it. As such I almost quit but thankfully Marinette realized her mistake and told the one training her that I had to have the same training me as well. It was just in time though it took a while for the trust to be rebuilt after it. Now we share everything, so it won't happen again."
"Woah." Kirishima said his eyes wide. "I never realized the toll that kind of training could take."
"The other pairs weren't really in that kind of predicament, at least not that I was aware of." Adrien said. "But we were the top pair, so we got some special training, especially after I decided I wanted to accept the exchange program test offer that was made by U.A. to me and Marinette. She went along with it because we were partners, and in her mind to get over her crush on me because she didn't know I was Cat Noir so this might help even if she knew that Cat Noir had a crush on Ladybug."
"I'm confused." Izuku said. "I get why a school might use the system your old one did but, well, it's still hard to comprehend the level of secrecy required for it."
"Trust me, it's even more confusing trying to live with it." Adrien said. "It really messes with romantic feelings but thanks to being allowed to reveal to each other now that we aren't at Francois Dupont anymore we're even stronger as it cleared up so much and enabled us to finally get together. It all worked out in the end just as it will with you Kirishima. I take it you had your own revelation in that fight."
"I did." Kirishima said with a smile. "I realized all the hard work I'd done to overcome my past failure and to be stronger, to be the man I want to be, and all the help the class has given me while Fat was getting punched because I couldn't protect him. it was from that that I found the strength to get back, harden again, and intercept Rappa's blows one more time."
"The same ones that knocked you back with a single punch?" Adrien asked.
"Yup but this time they didn't do that." Kirishima said. "I know that if I break I'll just get harder, so I did that to take all of Rappa's blows for Fat Gum and buy Fat the precious seconds he needed to counter. He had the power to break past the barrier the other guy could make and injure them enough that they couldn't fight. Then Rappa showed us where medical supplies were in an adjacent room and we got patched up. That's how our fight ended."
"The villain helped?" Izuku asked.
"Rappa is a little one note on his thinking, he just loves to fight to the death according to Fat Gum though he'll never be released from prison, so he'll not get that again." Kirishima said. "But fighting him made me want to get stronger so that I can fight opponents like him again in the future and not break from a single blow. I will be a hero like Crimson Riot, I know it."
"I am sure of it; you have the drive and motivation to do so, and that fight helped a lot in furthering it because you now know that it can do it in the real world." Adrien said. "It doesn't matter where inspiration comes from, so long as you use it to get better that is key."
"Yeah I know that really well." Izuku said. "So many have helped me get this far that I have to be strong for them, to make them proud of the trust they showed in me. Even if some aren't here anymore like Nighteye, I'll live up to his memory and be a great hero."
"That's the spirit." Adrien said with a smile. "And this is but the first hurdle we will face. Yesterday we saw what it was truly like to be heroes first hand when we rescued Eri. Yes, we faced villains in the USJ, Midoriya and I tangled with Stain in Hosu, some of us were active in the woods, you two were in Kamino, but yesterday we were true heroes, and we learned the harsh costs it can have."
"Not just Nighteye." Izuku said sadly. "I know that Snatch was killed when the prison transport van was attacked by the League of Villains. It's a sobering reminder of what we face."
"It's going to be hard to come to terms with it." Kirishima said. "I barely knew Nighteye, but his loss is still big. He was a great hero and he died in the line of duty."
"As we might one day but such is the line of work we are signing up for." Adrien said seriously. "And remember, Nighteye died so that Eri could be saved and in the end she was. She's the one we have to focus on, she's the one who was rescued. Her and the countless others Nighteye has saved in his life of service, they're the legacy he leaves, and we will honor it. Death is hard to face, I know as I lost my mother a few years back, but her disappearance and presumed death was part of my motivation to becoming a hero, to breaking from my dad and start helping others. Never forget the good heroes do and the sacrifices we are willing to make to keep innocents safe."
The other two just looked at Agreste for a moment and let his words sink in. They both knew he was experienced and skilled either from fighting him in Kirishima's case or seeing it first hand in both Hosu against Stain and the licensing exam against Gang Orca in Izuku's case but until now they hadn't fully understood the depth of Adrien Agreste and what he understood about the world they were entering.
Only Todoroki really did after their own heart to heart and now Kirishima and Izuku did too. He was just like his girlfriend in the sense that there was a lot more to him than one saw on the surface only his depth was different to hers as Dupain-Cheng's came out in her sheer skill and power while Agreste's came in his emotional depth. He came from money but didn't show it, he had experienced tragedy, but it didn't define him, he'd overcome hardships few could comprehend and used it to make him stronger.
He may not be the leader or constant force of nature that Dupain-Cheng was, but it was clear to see why he'd been paired with her beyond his Quirk complementing hers. They were a pair who would make a great hero team in the years to come.
"I didn't know about your mother Agreste." Izuku said softly. "I, my dad works abroad, and it's been years since I last saw him but at least he's still there, I'm sorry."
"Yeah man, if you need to talk we're here." Kirishima said.
"Don't worry, I made peace with it when I came to Japan as being here I can be independent for the first time ever and thus be myself with my love and my new friends." Adrien said smiling though they wouldn't know that he'd only been able to make peace with it because he knew that all his friends and family were long dead so he had to move on and live for them but that had been its own hard journey to overcome. "But it is why I know how to handle it and wanted to make sure you two were ok because Nighteye's death is the first time you're dealing with something like it while I've done so in the past. We will use this to get stronger. Remember there is no shame in asking for help."
"Agreste is right." Kirishima said with resolve in his voice. "I'm sure this is what Nighteye would want, and I intend to use this raid to get even stronger, you will all see."
"Yeah I know that Nighteye would want this." Izuku said remembering Nighteye's dying words. "So, let's keep smiling for him and all those who will need a hero's smile going forward."
"True and from now on please call me Adrien now." Adrien said with a smile at them. "I know that its not common here to use first names outside of family or longtime friends but, well, we just went through a lot together and it is more common in my culture to use first names."
"I think I can manage that." Kirishima said. "After all, Todoroki uses your first name now."
"So does Yaoyorozu." Izuku said recalling hearing her use it once which was a little odd to him. "Ok but it may take time for us to reciprocate."
"I understand." Adrien said. "It's a cultural thing so I won't infringe upon yours just as I know you'd never infringe upon mine. Now let's fire up one of my gaming systems that doesn't need sound so I can beat you two at a fighting game."
"Oh, you are on Adrien, I'll show you I'm a manly fighter in a video game as well as real life." Kirishima said briefly hardening as Adrien got up to turn on the machine. "This win is mine."
Adrien just smiled glad to see that the other two were doing better as he handed out the controllers for one of those multi person fighting battle royal style games that had never gone out of style despite the characters in it now being from the post advent culture and not pre. They'd have to face more at Nighteye's impending funeral but in time they'd both use what they'd learned from the raid to get stronger as they should.
For now, though it was time for some video games and classic male bonding before they crashed for the night, Adrien on his bed, Kirishima on the sofa and Izuku the floor. The talk was just what they all needed and helped them come to terms with what happened and like the girls get some good sleep that they might not have been able to manage without the experience Adrien and Marinette brought to the class.
At long last the raid to rescue Eri was finally over with just the funeral left to close the whole ordeal out. The sun would dawn soon on their next adventure and while there were a few post raid and other things to sort out with Mage there was something new on the horizon that would be very different. After all, they were still at high school and an annual tradition was almost upon, so it was time to once again become normal high schoolers, even if it was just for a little bit.
I think that is a good place to leave off this chapter after some good bonding and mental recovery for both boys and girls of the raid, something that Marinette and Adrien's experiences bring to the table that they wouldn't have had without them in their class. Next up is another filler and transition chapter between the arcs that also furthers a side aspect of the story so plenty to look forward to as we gear up for the next major arc and all that it will contain. That is all I have for y'all however so I will leave this chapter off here. As always, if you like it or have any questions please let me know in reviews or PMs, I will try to answer them as best I could and post any questions asked between uploads at the start of the next chapter and do follow and favorite this, so you are alerted to future uploads. Do keep the reviews coming as I like hearing from y'all as you enjoy my work, it motivates me to keep producing the best work I can for y'all to enjoy. Until next time.
Stringdog
