Miraculous Quirks

by stringdog

A fusion never before done creates a major problem. Ladybug and Cat Noir have been blasted out of the timeline of the world to an unknown point in the distant future. All those who watch over the pair can do is wait for time to catch up to them. What will the world be like when they return? Where will they be? And what the hell is a Quirk?

163. Chapter 162: More Matters of the Heart

Here it is, the 162nd full chapter of Miraculous Quirks released on schedule. The final plan is set, the time to move out to the last staging area is nigh, but there is still one more night in the dorm and with all that is about to happen, along with a pending conversation that has to happen, one of Class 1-A has more on her mind than most. She's doesn't know what to do about it but she does know who to talk and so once again Marinette must help Ochaco with matters of the heart before they move out so that Ochaco can figure out what to do when the time comes. Can Marinette do that and help Ochaco make sense of the conflict inside her? Well let's see as that is all the administrative stuff that I have for you and as there are no guest reviews to respond to or questions to answer I will end this note here. Do keep the reviews coming as I enjoy hearing from y'all. That is all I have for this pre chapter note so that means that it is time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the 162nd full chapter of Miraculous Quirks.

Disclaimer: I do not own either of these great works of fiction.

Chapter 162: More Matters of the Heart

Ochaco took a deep breath as she stood outside Marinette's door, her hand raised in front of it but she'd yet to knock. She knew what she wanted to talk to her friend about, it was a conversation that was a long time coming, well technically a follow up conversation from an earlier one but that was just semantics. At the same time she was nervous because of what it was about.

On top of that, Ochaco had a lot going on in her mind at the moment what with everything before, during, and after Deku's return, the kwamis deciding to join the heroes in the impending war and being paired with almost the entire class, and of course her own upcoming role in the final battle. That last one was the big one and she wasn't sure if how she was going to deal with it, what she was going to say and what she was going to do when she faced Himiko Toga in a few days' time.

Sure Ochaco knew what she wanted to do when she faced Toga, and there was certainly someone who's advice she needed on that front, but with everything else she wasn't sure how to approach the whole situation in general. Of course said person was who's advice she needed was Deku's and they had so much to talk about in addition to her coming battle that she didn't even know where to start when that moment came. One of the things that Ochaco knew she had to talk to Deku about was the very reason why she was outside Marinette's room about to knock.

Ever since their first conversation on the subject several months back, Ochaco had known that this moment would come one day. She'd hoped that that day wouldn't be for a while as she'd locked away her feelings that day and focused on her goal just as Deku was focusing on his, but events in Japan had shifted so much that now she had to address it and get advice on what to do.

There was only one person to go to for that advice and not just because she was the sole girl in their class, or the other class for that matter, who had a boyfriend and had made it work despite their rigorous schedule but because, well, other than Deku, Marinette was the person who Ochaco looked up to the most in the class. Naturally, this was not something she could go to Deku about, her situation with Toga she could, minus the similarity she and Toga shared of course, but that was Deku's forte and something he'd understand while this wasn't. This required her friend's advice on how to handle.

"Ochaco, are you going to knock?" Longg asked from next to her. "Or are you going to continue to stare at Marinette's door?"

"Huh?" Ochaco asked turning, her fist still raised, to look at her kwami who'd not left her side or vicinity since she'd received the Dragon Miraculous and so was with her right now. "What's up Longg?"

"Nothing, it's just that you've been standing there with your fist raised for a few minutes now just staring at the door." Longg said. "I wasn't going to say anything but, well, it is a bit odd and if Kyoka or Toru come out of their rooms for any reason then things might get awkward."

"Oh right yeah I should just knock." Ochaco said realizing that she'd been so lost in her thoughts that she'd not taking the next step forward and steeled herself. "Thanks Longg."

Longg just nodded and Ochaco let out a sigh before she knocked on the door. She'd put this off long enough already and with the news that they'd be leaving U.A. and moving to a secure location 30 kilometers away in the morning as part of the final preparations, Ochaco was officially out of time for this conversation. Any last chance to get out of this ended right after she knocked when she heard the French accented Japanese reply from within.

"Come in."

With a deep breath, Ochaco opened the door and entered Marinette's room. She quickly turned and closed it, locking it as well for good measure which would show Marinette just how serious a talk she wanted, before she turned back to survey her friends room.

For the most part it was the same as it always was, neat and orderly with the bed lofted in one corner and a long desk under it while there was another side desk with a sowing machine and other things Marinette needed for school and her fashion work. Marinette's pink chaise lounge was against a wall and the two fashion dummies were where they'd always been with pins in them and measuring tapes around their necks but nothing more as Marinette clearly hadn't had time to work on them.

To complete the room there were pictures on the walls that Ochaco had always seen along with a corkboard full of notes and Marinette's bronze Sports Festival medal. However, as Ochaco looked, she saw that there were more photos now and many had the girls from Class 1-A having fun together while Marinette had also put up more of her old ones as well. A quick glance at the latter showed Ochaco that they'd not been up because they had telltale signs of the actual year they were taken which wouldn't line up with Marinette's records.

Other than the pictures, the only other new addition was a futon pad in the center of the room that was a classic Japanese one and could be rolled up and stored away. In fact, Ochaco was certain that Marinette had only just unrolled it and made it up for her for the night showing that Marinette was getting ready for bed, something they all should do or were currently doing. Ochaco would do that as well but this came first.

"Ochaco, about time." Marinette said getting Ochaco's attention and making her realize that she'd been distracting herself with Marinette's room to continue to put off what she was here for. "I've been expecting you for a while now."

"Huh?" Ochaco asked turning to Marinette's voice to see her friend standing by her desk in her pajamas with her top bunched up under her small breasts showing off her toned abdomen and the piercing there while she carefully detached the stomach pump from the tube that she'd had fitted for it while her kwami, Tikki, watched as she ate a macaroon. "You have?"

"Yup, ever since Midoriya returned in fact." Marinette said fully getting Ochaco's attention though she wasn't looking over at Ochaco as she set the pump down and picked something else up that was clearly to do with maintaining the tube that was sticking out of her abdomen. "Take a seat, I'll be with you in a moment. I have to make sure that this thing is sorted before bed. Can't sleep with the pump on but have to make sure the tube is maintained while I sleep. It's a bit annoying but given the usefulness of the pump it's worth it."

"Oh ok." Ochaco said as she made her way around the futon and took a seat on the chaise lounge while Longg flew over to Tikki and the two kwamis exchanged greetings before flying through the wall into the vacant room next to Marinette's to give the girls some privacy as both could tell that Ochaco wanted that. "Um, can I ask, why the futon?"

"Oh that, that's just practical at this point." Marinette said glancing over at it before going back to working on the tube. "After what I did in Jaku it took me a week to fully restore my stamina, part of why I got fitted for a pump as well even though it was only originally an idea for Adrien seeing as he burns through his energy faster than I do, so I couldn't get into bed. I arranged with Mage to set up a mattress pad but after a while I just realized that this was easier what with all the training we were doing so just got a proper futon instead to sleep on the floor until the war is over. Usually I'd stick with my bed but, well, I usually crash as soon as I get back here."

"Yeah I know the feeling." Ochaco said as Marinette finished and turned to her smiling as she pulled her shirt down. "I'm out like a light as soon as I'm in bed these days even with all that's going on in my head."

"Aren't we all." Marinette said heading over to her. "Which is a good thing as we need our rest. However, it's what's going on in your head that you wish to discuss now, right?"

"It is." Ochaco said as Marinette took a seat next to her on the chaise. "And, um, this is something that has to be very private so if you could…"

"Of course, I should have done that on my way over, sorry." Marinette apologized as she got up and went to her vanity and pulled open the drawers until she found her white noise generator to prevent Jiro from listening in on them, not that she would as Marinette trusted her friend but this was a private chat so required it, and turned it on. "There, not even Kyoka can overhear us now. The kwamis could come in but Tikki should be letting them know that I want privacy. Besides, they're all thrilled to have new holders and to be fully active again so they're all getting to know them or whatever Kaalki and Mullo are up to as they already know their holders."

"I'll admit, I'm still getting used to all that." Ochaco said her hands in her lap and looking at them while resisting the urge to touch the choker around her neck. "And I know I've already thanked you but again, thanks, I'm honored to have one and a special one at that. Your Japanese friend used it in the past so it means a lot that I'm trusted with it now."

"Kagami was a dear friend, and rival for Adrien's love, but a friend nonetheless." Marinette said thinking back on her time with Kagami be it when they became friends, whenever they hung out, or the day that she trusted Kagami with the Dragon Miraculous. "Never thought that that picture of us together would be what led Momo to the truth but oh well it was an unforeseeable thread that only Momo could pull."

"The whole story is hard to believe but we can't deny any of it after all the proof that we've received." Ochaco said. "And now almost all of us have the chance to use one. It's, well…"

"I know, it took me a while to adapt as well but I got used to it and you guys were already heroes beforehand I wasn't back in the day." Marinette said with a chuckle as she recalled her first meeting with Tikki. "I didn't believe that I could be one but back then my self-esteem was in the toilet."

"Come again?" Ochaco asked blinking as she looked up at Marinette her eyes wide. "You had bad self-esteem? I'm sorry Marinette but that's really hard for me to comprehend. Ever since I've known you you've been a strong, confident leader who took charge early and showed the class what it meant to be a hero just as Deku did. I can't imagine you any other way."

"Well you never knew me before I got my Miraculous and met my best friend Alya." Marinette said smiling but Ochaco saw a flash of deep sadness flicker in Marinette's blue eyes at the mention of her long dead best friend. "Back then I'd been beaten down by this rich bitch's constant bullying that I was in a really bad place. Then, on the first day of school in what would have been my second year of junior high if I was in Japan, my life changed when I met Alya and got my Miraculous on the same day. It was thanks to Tikki's belief in me that I realizing that I could be a hero and Alya's support, encouragement, and belief in me when I was out of costume that I gained more confidence."

"Damn." Ochaco said unsure what to say to that, she'd knew about Marinette's past but she'd not really mentioned just what she was like before she became Ladybug. "That's almost as tough to accept as magic, almost."

"Learning that magic is real can be a bit much." Marinette admitted. "And having it sprung on you when it was didn't help at all."

"Yeah finding out that magic is real was a lot to take in and the Guardians and you and Agreste being from the pre-Quirk era only added to it." Ochaco said. "And all this right after Deku's letter."

"It was a lot to take in, I know." Marinette said remembering how Ochaco had been the first in the class to accept the truth, other than Momo and Toru of course, and comforted her which had meant a lot. "But you did well and supported us, I'm grateful for that so thank you."

"We were dealing with a lot and, well…" Ochaco trailed off unsure what else to say.

"There's no need for any words, I know what you meant that day and how Midoriya's actions no doubt added to it all." Marinette said smiling at Ochaco. "Now, on a happier note, have you had the chance to try out the Dragon Miraculous? Kagami was quite good with it though Longg told me that she was a bit impatient."

"No I haven't though I know how and have had a long chat with Longg about it." Ochaco said shaking her head. "I've, um, had too much going on to distract myself with it. I need to face Toga on my own without anything else so it's more an emergency thing for me if that makes sense. If I get a moment, I'll try it out before the battle so I know what it's like but right now I need to focus solely on what I have to do."

"I figured as much." Marinette said nodding. "You know, when I was using my Quirk to decide who got which Miraculous, the Dragon was the one I was most concerned about. All the kwamis volunteered so I was going to see who the best partner was but I was still worried."

"It was?" Ochaco asked confused.

"Yup, because of it's power." Marinette said. "The ability to turn into wind, water, or lightning, there's no way we can play that one off if someone sees the user using more than one of those powers. Thanks to myself and people like Star, we can play off some of the creation based ones with esoteric aspects like the Pig, Goat, and Monkey Miraculouses and most of the other powers exist in some variation of what the Miraculouses can do albeit some like the Moth and Rooster can be a bit harder to explain, especially the latter given what All for One can do. There are also issues with the Snake Miraculous but only the user remembers using it so it's not an issue. The Dragon, though, that's the hardest of them to explain."

"Because it comes off as three Quirks." Ochaco said, she'd spoken with Longg about her power and come to the same conclusion that Marinette had regarding the difficulty explaining it. "So hard to explain away. I'd basically have to stick to one of the three and hide the other two if I did use it, well and was seen using it that is."

"Precisely but knowing that you're unlikely to use it because you have to fight a one on one battle that is so specific that you actually can't use it in that battle, well that explains why my Quirk chose you for it." Marinette said. "And it's a good choice, I know that you'd be a great holder if you did use it."

"Thanks." Ochaco said smiling at the praise. "I'd like to use it but, well, that's probably not going to happen unless I face a serious issue when dealing with Himiko Toga."

"True, it's a good emergency to have." Marinette said agreeing with Ochaco. "I've faced Toga once, knocked her out even though she did cut me twice, but she's a skilled and tricky villain so any advantages against her are useful."

"She's a handful." Ochaco said. "But I understand her somewhat so I can deal with her."

"I know you can." Marinette said smiling and even though Ochaco hadn't mentioned her plan to Marinette she felt her confidence in it grow knowing that her friend had faith in her while Marinette refocused on the Miraculouses. "Have you at least chosen a name in case you use it? I've not asked Mage what you all suggested but I am curious. I only know Momo and Toru's and that's because of them using Miraculouses before Jaku. That and I suggested Toru's name for her."

"Yeah I have." Ochaco said. "Dragon Princess."

"Haha, fitting." Marinette said with a laugh. "I like it. I hope to see Dragon Princess in action one day."

"I do too." Ochaco said a small smile at the idea. "According to Mage, Tsu and I are officially based in Paris and were called in due to the situation and our familial histories in the region so that's where we're officially based."

"Interesting, well the covers shouldn't be needed, at least not for you, but it's good to know that everything is in place just in case." Marinette said before her tone shifted. "But enough small talk, we're both tired and this is going to be a deep, important, chat so let's get to it Ochaco."

"Oh, right, yeah, that is for the best." Ochaco said taken aback a bit, she'd almost slipped into a nice chat with her friend like she would have if there'd been no looming war but it was just another distraction from what she had to talk about. "You're right that I've needed to come here ever since Deku returned, ever since I, well…"

"All but proclaimed your love for him for everyone at U.A. to hear." Marinette said smiling as Ochaco went bright red. "Well, you'd have to read between the lines a bit but anyone with enough sense could tell that a girl doesn't do what you did for a guy, especially not as passionately as you did, unless she's deeply in love with him and cares for him with her whole heart."

"I meant what I said." Ochaco said and Marinette knew that. "But yeah, my feelings for him certainly played a major role in both inspiring me to get on the roof and plead on Deku's behalf."

"Of course they did, it's only natural and I'd have done the same for Adrien." Marinette said. "I'd do anything for him, even drive a moped onto an active runway to confess to him and kiss him before he's whisked away by his asshole of a father because he didn't approve of my relationship with him."

"Come again?" Ochaco asked. "That happened?"

"No just a hypothetical that thankfully never came to pass, one of many crazy scenarios that my active mind has thought about when it comes to Adrien." Marinette said dismissively. "Back to why you came to see me. Does your reason have to do with your statement, the coming war, or both?"

"Both." Ochaco admitted after a few seconds pause as she looked down at her hands unable to look Marinette in the eye anymore. "I know that Deku's going to talk to me about it, after what I did for him how can he not, and I want to talk to him as well but there's certainly more to it that I'd like to clear my head about before I talk with him. I'm pretty certain that Deku didn't understood the deeper meaning to it or my feelings for him beyond that of being a close friend."

"Oh he didn't, that boy is as dense as they come on this front." Marinette said. "Kinda like Adrien in that regard, I'm pretty sure he was the only one in the class who didn't know I was crushing on him back in the day though I also thought that I was hiding it well, which I wasn't."

"Haha yeah it does kinda feel like that at times." Ochaco admitted because no matter how well she locked away her feelings, it was pretty obvious to most of the class that she had feelings for Deku after the other day though with all their training she'd not been asked about them thankfully. "And I've not been avoiding him about it, honest, I've just been super busy."

"Haven't we all." Marinette said. "Between his return, all the training that we're doing, hunting down villains, the Aoyama shit, and me springing kwamis on just about everyone in the class there's barely been a moment of rest. I'm sure that he wants to talk to you about it and thank you, that's just what he does."

"I know and I want him to come talk to me because there is advice I need to ask him but I don't know how to approach him about it either." Ochaco said causing Marinette to quirk an eyebrow. "It's about my coming battle with Toga and what I want to do. I, er, I could use his advice on my plan of action with Toga. I'd ask you as well but, well, what I want to do is something that he's an expert on."

"Don't worry, I'm not offended." Marinette said her tone truthful. "We got to different people for different kinds of advice after all. That and I know that Midoriya is your closest friend and the person you admire and look up to the most. He's your hero and the hero you want to be just as he does the same with All Might so how can you not think alike and thus need his advice on this."

"Thanks for understanding." Ochaco said surprised at how accurate Marinette's assessment was. "When it comes to hero work, there's no one better in my opinion than Deku."

"I can tell, which is good, but there are things that you can't talk to him about so you do come to me for advice regarding those thing, specifically matters of the heart and your love for Midoriya." Marinette said causing Ochaco to flush again. "Course I can't say that I'm an expert there, I was tongue tied klutz who stalked Adrien in a way that would have been inappropriate if the genders were reversed, so still inappropriate. We ended up realizing how we felt about each other by pure accident, well that and Hawk Moth blasting us into the future so our secret identities were revealed to each other which ended the stupid love square that we were in."

"Your history with Agreste is wild, I won't deny that." Ochaco said shaking her head at just how complicated Marinette's love story had been and that wasn't factoring in the additional complications she caused herself. "I'm sure Mina loves it."

"Oh she does." Marinette agreed. "Still not telling her how I lost my virginity though. She'll never get that tale out of me."

"I don't need to know that either." Ochaco pointed out.

"Good because I'm not telling it." Marinette said. "Though if the time comes after the war with Midoriya, well I can give you some pointers there too. Adrien and I learned a lot on the fly but I'd like to say that I know a thing or two in this department now."

"Marinette!" Ochaco exclaimed going bright red though more because Ochaco wouldn't lie to herself about wanting to do certain things with Deku that she was sure that Marinette had done with Agreste.

"Sorry, couldn't resist." Marinette said with a chuckle. "Anyway, back to the topic at hand."

"Y, yes please." Ochaco said recovering a bit though her face still felt flushed. "I, I know that your situation was different to mine and that in terms of starting something with Deku, well now's certainly not the right time, but I want to get your advice regarding, um, confessing."

"Huh, confessing, what do you…oh…" Marinette began before it hit her. "So that's what's next for you. I'm surprised, I didn't think that you were ready for that step just yet."

"It's more, well, with the war coming and I know that I need to talk to Deku about a few things like my plea on his behalf and get his advice on what I'm planning to do with Toga, and with all that I just thought, er…" Ochaco said before trailing off but as Marinette didn't respond right away she began to babble a bit more. "That, you know, maybe I could…"

"You could use that moment to also confess to him that you're in love with him." Marinette said cutting off Ochaco before she could work herself up anymore. "Right?"

"Yeah and that's why I need your help." Ochaco said. "I, I don't know if it is the right time to do so or the even the right thing to do at all what with all that is going on to prepare and all that will happen in the war. This would just add more to it and I don't want Deku dwelling on it but at the same time, I'm scared about what will happen. This is war and both of us are against dangerous villains who have committed multiple murders and will continue to kill until they're caught or killed themselves. In fact, Toga's committed several with my own Quirk in fact."

"Hold up, she can use your Quirk?" Marinette asked confused.

"She told me when we faced off in Jaku." Ochaco said with a nod remembering how she'd felt about her power being used for such a heinous act as she'd never use Zero Gravity to kill. "Apparently she can now copy the Quirks of who she transforms into. It was rather disturbing and I don't get it given how her Quirk could only transform her and copy clothes before."

"Sounds kinda like what happened to me in a way." Marinette said thinking on it. "Her Quirk's changed how it works so I'd say that it's awakened, which given that she's a villain isn't good. If I had to guess the transformation is genetic level now though there's gotta be some limit to it be it when she can make transform that deeply or even a trigger to do so which limits who's Quirks she can use if that makes sense. Course this is just me hypothesizing based on my own awakened power but Lucky Charm has a major limitation when I use the cure."

"After hearing what happened to you and the phenomenon in general, I think that's the case with Toga as well." Ochaco agreed thinking on what Marinette had said but she wasn't sure if there were any conditions to Toga's awakened Quirk. "But yeah between our respective battles, both Deku and I face death. Not that heroes don't normally face death, we do, but this is worse than usual."

"Well yeah we're all facing tough opponents." Marinette said her voice heavy as she'd been given her assignment as well. "I'm going to be with the team that's facing All for One while Adrien's being sent to back up Midoriya against Shigaraki. I'm just as scared as you are and this extents to the whole class. I've lost my friends except Adrien once; I don't want to do so again so how can I not be scared."

"Yeah I'm worried." Ochaco said agreeing with Marinette and knowing that of all of them she and Agreste would have more to fear given what they'd been through. "So what are you going to do about it?"

"Nothing I can do, just be prepared and come back alive while trusting in my friends that they will do the same, which I do." Marinette said her voice serious and showing her conviction which gave Ochaco more confidence as well. "That and have a private night with Adrien before everything goes down. One more night of just us and our love."

"Er…" Ochaco began.

"Yeah, it's what you're thinking." Marinette said not bothering to deny or obfuscate what her plans were and causing Ochaco to flush. "What? We love each other and have reached that stage of our relationship so we're going to have a night of passion before all this goes down."

"No, just, well…" Ochaco spluttered.

"You asked." Marinette said chuckling. "But that's just how me and Adrien are going to prepare. As for everyone else, you've done all you can do to be ready but I can tell that this worry and everything else is why you're considering confessing."

"It is but I don't want to add to anything that Deku is currently going through." Ochaco said. "Plus I don't expect, or even really want, a response because I'm dropping this bombshell on him out of nowhere but, well, I don't want to go into what may be our final battles without telling Deku how I feel about him, about how much he means to me. Does that make sense?"

"I get that." Marinette said. "Is that it though?"

Ochaco didn't respond right away to Marinette's question. It was a serious one and she needed a moment to think on it and figure out what she was going to say to it. After a little thought Ochaco realized that she'd come this far already so she may as well tell Marinette at least part of what she was expecting to do when she faced Toga because she knew deep down it was a factor in why she was considering confessing to Deku before the final war began.

"There is more to it because while I'm not certain yet, I will likely have to tell Toga that I love Deku when I face her." Ochaco said surprising Marinette but then again Marinette didn't really know much about Himiko Toga so Ochaco explained why. "It's because I know that Toga likes Deku as well and if I'm honest I'm certain that it's genuine to her but she doesn't really know how to properly express it because she's got a warped sense of love due to her Quirk and how it's messed with her psyche."

"She does have to drink someone's blood to transform into them." Marinette said recalling what she knew about Himiko Toga's Quirk. "That's a seriously intimate and disturbing power, something that would really mess with a child's brain when it manifested."

"Correct, it's one of those Quirks that is really hard to work through in counseling when it manifests and when you factor in the social stigma that it would cause, well it's not hard to see how Toga ended up where she did." Ochaco said and Marinette began to get a good sense as to why Midoriya was who Ochaco needed to talk to about her plans for Toga and understood just how similar she was to the boy she'd fallen for. "She's not some evil sociopath like All for One, it's a lot deeper with her and while she can't be forgiven for her crimes, I can at least see how she ended up this way."

"The failures of the system at play." Marinette said. "I know enough from when Adrien and I had to adjust to this new era to see how this could have happened. Quirks can be powerful things and for a 4 year old to process it, well it's not easy, especially with a power like Toga's."

"Precisely which is why it's warped her sense of love but she does understand what love is at the same time." Ochaco said. "She knows that I love Deku, not that I've confirmed it to her, but part of why she targeted me in Jaku was because she wanted to talk about it. I can't tell Deku this but I know that one of the reasons why I have to face her now is the fact that I can understand her on this front. That said, I, I'd like to tell Deku that I love him before I go as well."

"And that's what you want my advice on." Marinette said deciding to leave Ochaco's struggles over her battle with Toga to her and her conversation with Midoriya as she had a feeling that he'd be able to help her make sense of things in ways Marinette couldn't and so she focused on what she could help Ochaco with. "You want to know if this is the right thing to do, correct?"

"Well, is it?" Ochaco said looking up and meeting Marinette's eyes again with tears in her brown eyes that surprised Marinette. "I, I honestly don't know if it is or not."

"Ochaco." Marinette said softly as she took Ochaco's hands in hers and squeezed while making sure that all 5 of Ochaco's finger pads weren't touching her just in case. "I can tell that this is something that is weighing heavily on you but unfortunately all I can say is that this is a decision that is yours and yours alone to make. Talking it out with someone helps though and you've articulated why you want to confess and acknowledged that Midoriya might get distracted by it but do you really think he will?"

"He'll be surprised and shocked by it, that much I know." Ochaco said and Marinette agreed with that as Midoriya wouldn't see it coming even he did receive anonymous Valentine's Day chocolates from Ochaco so he at least knows that someone has feelings for him. "But if I know Deku, and I'd like to say that I do, he'd still prioritize the mission over his feelings. It may motivate him to come back alive, at least I hope so as he can be stupidly self-sacrificing at times."

"Don't get me started on falling for boys like that." Marinette said fully sympathizing with Ochaco on this front. "I've got an awakened Quirk now because of that trait and that wasn't the first time he did something like that."

"Yeah we heard." Ochaco said. "But he did save my man, er hopefully my man that is as I don't know if my feelings will be reciprocated."

"Adrien did do that." Marinette said, not adding that she was certain that Midoriya felt the same way but the whole war and defeating All for One and Shigaraki was his priority so he'd likely not even thought about his feelings for Ochaco at all. "And I'm glad I have the cure back but that doesn't mean that I can't be pissed at Adrien for actually dying. It was the right thing to do, even I'd have done that because of how important Midoriya is, but it's still not something I'm happy with."

"Oh you have every right to be." Ochaco said and Marinette nodded at that. "And that is one of the reasons why I want Deku to know how I feel about him before the battle, so that if the worst happens I know that I told him and that way I'd never regret not telling him. I'm also fine waiting for his response, in fact that's what I want as I know he can't respond until after the war."

"That is true and if you feel in your heart that this is the right path forward then go for it, you have my full support." Marinette said smiling. "I'm here for you and I do wish that I could have managed something similar and confessed to Adrien properly. Our, um, confession was a bit different what with the whole revelation of our secret identities."

"Right because wasn't he in love with Ladybug?" Ochaco asked recalling Marinette's love story. "And that's what led you to realizing that it was mutual."

"Yup, Cat Noir was in love with Ladybug and as Ladybug I knew that he was in love with my hero identity." Marinette said. "But I used to have a very different personality behind the mask compared to when I didn't have it on though being Ladybug help the latter build confidence and I became more like I was as Ladybug without the mask."

"Huh?" Ochaco asked. "So like what you mentioned earlier?"

"It's part of my whole gaining confidence thing but that's beside the point right now." Marinette said. "The point is that when Adrien was revealed to be Cat Noir I knew that he loved at least a part of who I was and as I loved him, well, so long as he loved who the girl under the mask was as well when she wore it, it was guaranteed. I always wanted to confess to him properly though."

"Without the masks or forced secret reveals?" Ochaco asked.

"Yup, just the two of us, even had a crazy, convoluted plan to at least get close with him that all my girls back home were helping with at one point." Marinette said recalling that chaotic incident that was messed up because of the codenames being flowers and assigning the 'Rose' codename to Juleka and not Rose because it was Rose's actual name which led to confusion during the plan's execution. "That plan, like everything else, failed. Not that it would have succeeded because I used to always get really shy and nervous around Adrien that I would became tongue tied before finding a way to trip over the air and face plant that I couldn't even speak to him let alone tell him."

"Weren't you worried that he'd reject you though?" Ochaco asked trying and failing to imagine her strong, confident, friend like that but apparently Marinette was full on awkwardly crushing on Agreste back in the day. "I know it worked out but that had to be there, right?"

"Oh I was terrified, especially if it was because he loved Chloe instead but that's a whole different can of worms that I won't get into." Marinette said before taking a deep breath. "But even though I was scared, I also wanted to be honest with him as well. Your situation is a bit different of course but, well, you do have the chance to confess normally and then wait for his response."

"That I do." Ochaco said. "But should I?"

"I'm sorry but I can't tell you what you should or should not do when it comes to matters of the heart." Marinette said as she removed her right hand from Ochaco's and placed it over her friend's heart feeling how fast it was beating. "This is the only thing that you should listen to Ochaco, do what you feel in your heart is the right thing to do. There is a lot to consider and I hope talking to me has helped you come to some kind of understanding so that when the time comes, and it is coming soon, you know what to do."

Ochaco paused for a moment to let Marinette's words sink in while the French girl never removed her hand from Ochaco's chest. After a moment she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and let all her thoughts and feelings out within herself. It was not an easy decision but with everything going on, what she was facing when it came to Himiko Toga, her need for advice from Deku on that front, and the example of and advice from her friend, Ochaco knew what she had to do.

"Thank you Marinette." Ochaco said taking Marinette's right hand in her left and lifting it off her chest and squeezing it. "This, this has been really helpful in getting everything under control. I've still got some thinking to do but I can do so clearly now."

"Good then I suggest you go and sleep on it." Marinette said as she got up and helped Ochaco to her feet. "Tomorrow's a big day, in more ways than one I feel, so be ready for everything."

"It will be." Ochaco said before she pulled Marinette in for a hug which Marinette returned and held Ochaco tightly. "Really, thank you Marinette, I needed this."

"I know." Marinette said rubbing Ochaco's back for a moment before she released Ochaco and took a step back. "Do what you have to do and let's win this war."

Ochaco smiled and nodded at that before she turned and headed to the door, unlocking it, and opening it. She glanced back one more time at Marinette who smiled at her reassuring Ochaco once more before she left Marinette's room and went back to hers to sleep while Longg rejoined her on the way back to her room.

Thanks to talking with Marinette and getting her advice, Ochaco knew what she had to do and when the moment came she'd do it. For now, though, she just needed sleep as she was exhausted after everything and she had a big day tomorrow, bigger than she expected.

"Will Ochaco be alright?" Tikki asked as Marinette went back to her door to lock it and turn the lights off before heading back to her futon, her kwami flying out of the wall as she was heading back having come back to Marinette's room once Longg sensed that Ochaco had left it and gone to rejoin her holder. "You expected this, didn't you."

"I did, with all that's about to happen I knew that Ochaco would have a conflict like this that she needed to work through." Marinette said as she turned off her white noise generator before putting it away and turning off her desk lamp as well. "Ochaco will make the right choice on this front, I know it."

"You are a good judge, Marinette." Tikki said as she flew down and snuggled up on the sheet next to Marinette as Marinette got into bed. "And a good friend. Always have been."

"Thanks Tikki." Marinette said as she yawned. "Tomorrow's an important day though so it's time to sleep. Goodnight Tikki."

"Goodnight Marinette." Tikki said.

Marinette had already fallen asleep by then and was softly snoring. Tikki smiled, she was sure that the things would turn out fine, she trusted Marinette and Marinette trusted her friends so they would win this war and the kwami would do their own part in ensuring that outcome. With that Tikki too fell asleep as the coming battle to end a generations spanning conflict inched ever closer.

I think that this is a good spot to end this chapter on, a nice and supportive chapter dealing with one of the few things left to come before the final war kicks off. Of course, y'all know what is coming there and I'll address everything about that when the time comes and it will come soon. First up, though, it's time to move out and to the final spot before the final battle as we get ever closer to the climactic war that will conclude this story. That is all that 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