[Is this the place? It's actually not that far, but still.] Mimi asked, looking down the hallway. [Some old-ass apartment in Naruhata, huh. You've got some strange friends, Kiri-chan.]
[Nn. I wanted to ask them for advice last time but I could sense they were busy so I went to the Pussycats instead. I think she had exams.] Kiri replied, looking far off into the distance. She had felt a few hints of fear from her brother, but it soon faded away. It seemed that he was controlling, or rather suppressing his emotions for some reason.
The girls strode down the corridor in their child forms, knowing they were in a safe part of town thanks to the people they were going to meet next. Kiri had told her sister about them, about how they helped take care of her after she ran out of power during a flash flood four years ago. It seemed that Kiri still visited them from time to time before she met Izuku, and that they had worked together on several occasions to stop villains and save innocents.
They stopped at an apartment door that was at the top floor of the building, the nameplate next to it bearing the name 'Haimawari'. Kiri raised her small fist and knocked on the door several times, waiting for an answer.
"Just a moment, I'll be right with you!" a young female voice called out.
There was the sound of footsteps and the door opened a crack, revealing a girl who looked only a little older than their brother, her fluffy pink hair being the most distinctive trait they first noticed. She soon flung the door open upon seeing Kiri, eyes widening behind her glasses. An ordinary-looking brown cat rubbed against her legs, inspecting the newcomers with curious eyes.
"Hello," Kiri said. "Kazu."
"Kiri-chan! It's been quite a while, hasn't it!" the teenager gasped, reaching down to give the smaller girl a quick hug and fussing over her. Her tone was warm and kind, giving her the air of a caring big sister. "You're alright! Ahhh, I was so worried when I saw what happened on the news—"
She then gazed at Mimi, glancing between the two girls.
"And who's this? Wait… you two look kinda similar."
"Um, I'm Izumi, Kirimi's—Kiri's sister. You can call me Mimi." she bowed cautiously. "Nice to meet you."
"S-sister? Oh! Um, hello, Mimi-chan. Nice to meet you too, I'm Haneyama Kazuho." The pink-haired girl smiled nervously, beckoning them in. "Come in, come in!"
The inside of the apartment was warm and cosy, feeling rather lived in. Mimi took a quick look around and evaluated the surroundings, noting the multiple pairs of shoes near the doorway in both men's and women's sizes. A pair of brass knuckles and a katana were mounted on the living room wall, making for a strange art piece. Next to it were several childish drawings that had clearly been made by Kiri, probably depicting Kazuho and her friends. Scribbled in what appeared to be crayon were sketches of four people; a thin man with two rabbit-like ears above his head, a bigger masked man with broad shoulders, Kazuho with her pink hair and a pair of batlike wings, and a sword-wielding… ninja? Mimi shrugged, deciding it was none of her business. The place was surprisingly clean even with a pet around. Speaking of which, she observed the cat with a careful eye. It eyed her right back, its tails swishing through the air nonchalantly. Tails, because, well…
This cat had two of them.
"This is Zwei." Kiri said, picking the feline up without any trouble. "He is very long."
"Nyaa." Zwei meowed. He did indeed look rather long since Kiri picked him up by the front, allowing his body to stretch downwards.
Surprisingly, the cat didn't seem to mind her much. She put the animal down carefully, gently petting him. Mimi sooned joined wordlessly and both girls were petting Zwei, the feline purring and enjoying himself immensely as their fingers ran through his fur.
"I'm making lunch, you two wanna have some soup?" Kazuho called from the kitchen. "Ah, remember to wash your hands if you're playing with Zwei!"
The girls obliged, making their way past her to the sink. On their way there, Mimi caught a glimpse of a black leotard among a pile of laundry, along with what looked like an old All Might hoodie. She then eyed the bin, taking note of the few bandages that lay within. A minute later Kazuho brought two bowls of soup for them, warning that it was hot. A few sips in and they realized it was delicious, a testament to her cooking skills. She also gave Zwei some fish, the animal munching down on its meal hungrily.
"Now, what's the reason for the sudden visit, Kiri-chan?" Kazuho asked. "I would assume you were just hungry but this is the first time you're bringing your sis over. Did something happen?"
"We just wanted to say hi." Kiri nodded. "And thank you."
Kazuho blinked in stunned confusion before giggling, bringing a hand to her mouth. "Don't mention it. But if you're here, it means that you must have told Mimi-chan about us?"
"A little." Mimi said slowly, sipping at her soup. "You're one of the Naruhata Vigilantes."
Kazuho said nothing, her expression even as ever.
"You're the vigilante idol, Pop-Step."
"Correct." the older girl nodded and looked somewhat nervous. "There isn't going to be any problem, is there?"
Mimi blinked. "No. Why would there be?"
"Well, I don't exactly know how old Kiri-chan is since she's a shapeshifter. I'm pretty sure you are one, too. For all I know you're an older woman who's about to give me a stern scolding."
"Wouldn't dream of it. In fact, I wanted to thank you for helping out Kiri-chan."
"Ah, no need to thank me. One vigilante to another."
The albino girl raised her eyebrow at that, a questioning gaze appearing on her features.
"Well, you're going to be a vigilante alongside your sister aren't you, Mimi-chan?" Kazuho smiled lightly.
Urgh… this girl was much sharper than she originally thought.
"Just be careful, okay?" the teenager continued. "You two seem a little young to me."
"That's rich, coming from you."
"Heh. I can't argue with that."
"That aside…" Mimi turned towards Zwei, who was already lazing on his side. "That cat. He's special, isn't he?"
"We called him Zwei since he has two tails. Keep this a secret, but he's one of those rare animals with a Quirk." Kazuho whispered. "The poor thing was forced to cause a villain attack around three or four years ago, resulting in a big hubbub that we helped contain. We're keeping him here to protect him, and he sort of became our pet. I guess you could say we're a bunch of misfits that stick together. Isn't that right, Zwei?"
"Nyaaaa." Zwei answered, rolling over to lay on his belly.
"Would you mind keeping your tail? It's a bit too late for that, but you know it's supposed to be a secret for when people visit. You need the practice!"
The feline seemed to consider her words before obeying, its twin tails merging into one.
Mimi narrowed her eyes. She got the feeling that Zwei was much more intelligent than a normal cat. Was that because he had a Quirk? Koko's intelligence was also off the charts when compared to a normal dog. Having a Quirk improved both physical and mental capabilities in humans, so it was also possible for animals to experience the same effects. Some animals with Quirks were also known to have drastically improved lifespans. It was almost like...
"By the way, Zwei technically belongs to the owner of this apartment." Kazuho said. "He should be back any—"
Zwei's ears perked up at the jingle of keys coming from the front door, the animal getting up and darting towards the entrance to greet his returning master.
"Speak of the devil." the teenager grinned. "Welcome home!"
A tall, lanky young man dressed in smart casual wear came into view, reaching down to pet his cat.
"Nyaaaaa!" Zwei meowed, rubbing against him happily. "Nyaa~"
"I'm home." he looked up with more than a little confusion at his guests, then slowly settled into a small smile. "Kiri-chan? Long time no see! I'm glad that you're alright."
"Kochi." Kiri nodded, pointing him out to Mimi.
"Oi, Koichi. I made beef stew today, you okay with that?" Kazuho called.
"Yeah, thanks." Koichi said with a smile full of gratitude. "Everything you make tastes great, of course."
As he got closer to them Mimi could get a better look at him. This person was a plain young man in his early twenties, but he wasn't anything special. In fact, his plainess seemed to be his defining trait. She kept her guard up, remembering that this guy was probably one of the Naruhata Vigilantes as well. As for his relationship with Kazuho… well, that was none of her business. He looked confused when he spotted Mimi, glancing between the two children with a slow realization.
"Whoa. There are… two of you now." Koichi blinked slowly then rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things. "Doesn't that mean I have to feed you twice as much, Kiri-chan?"
"Manners, Koichi!"
"O-of course. Hello, I'm Haimawari Koichi." he introduced himself nervously yet politely.
"Izumi, but everyone calls me Mimi." the little girl replied curtly.
"He's 'Hauler'." Kiri whispered to her sister.
"Yes, I guessed as much."
"It's 'The Crawler', Kiri-chan." Koichi sighed. "You gotta put the 'The' in front, too. I don't blame you though, everyone just keeps calling me 'Hauler' or 'Cruller'. But enough about me, how are you doing?"
"I'm okay." Kiri said simply. "Mimi's my sister, by the way."
"Sister?" Koichi asked, raising an eyebrow. "You never told us you had a sister."
"I didn't."
"Huh. Well, what are you two doing here? If it's food you want I don't mind, but it's making me awfully concerned about your living conditions at home…" he muttered, looking worried.
"No, Koichi. They're here for…" Kazuho began to explain the situation.
After a few minutes of back and forth discussion, Koichi began to understand what was going on. He was worried about whether Mimi was able to handle the whole vigilante thing since it was dangerous, but ultimately decided to trust in her abilities. Furthermore he had a few friends in high places and underground that could help spread info about how the new vigilante who fought alongside Valkyrie was harmless except to villains. Of course, he would obviously keep the sisters' shapeshifting abilities and identities a secret.
Mimi also confirmed her sister's friendship with them; four years ago Kiri had indeed run out of power while working non-stop for three whole days due to the chaos caused by an enormous flash flood. Her child form had been revealed when she shielded Kazuho from an explosion with the last of her power, and the vigilantes decided to take care of her until she recovered. They soon became friends after that with Kazuho and Koichi bringing her out to play with other kids, treating her to good food, and various activities that they thought she'd enjoy.
"Hmmm. If That's what you two want, I don't have the right to stop you. Just be careful out there." Koichi finally said after learning of their situation. "One more thing..."
His face took on a serious expression. "Take good care of Kiri-chan, yeah?"
Mimi met his gaze, almost as if to challenge the other vigilante. "Of course."
There was no doubt. Just as she was suspicious of him, the opposite was true as well. She already knew that Valkyrie suddenly having a partner out of nowhere that looked like her was going to draw a ton of suspicion, and that not everyone was going to trust her. This was Koichi testing her to see if she knew what she was getting into, while also being worried for Kiri. The older man's eyes glinted with caution and Mimi met his stern look with one of her own, filled with steely determination.
The moment was over as soon as it began, Koichi letting out a small grin of acknowledgement. "You two mentioned that you're leaving soon? That was fast. Are you sure you don't want to stay for dinner later?"
"No thank you." Kiri said, thinking back to the Midoriya household. "Our family is waiting for us back home."
Kazuho and Koichi exchanged glances, then smiled.
"I see. Off you go then." the pink-haired girl said. "You're always welcome here, you two!"
"What she said. If you're having any trouble," Koichi gave them a thumbs up. "Just give us a call."
The sisters nodded and said their goodbyes, linking hands to teleport. Then they were gone in the blink of an eye, the space that they had been occupying replaced with empty air. Koichi glanced at the spot for a moment before letting out a huge exhale.
"Uwaaah, that was really scary." he sighed. "Man, for a moment I thought she was going to punch me. I just hope the two of them will be alright…"
"I'm sure they will. After all," Kazuho smirked, nudging him in the side. "We turned out okay, didn't we?"
"Nyaa." Zwei curled around their legs.
"Yeah." Koichi smiled, thinking of all the adventures they had been through together. "We did."
[x]
At Musutafu General Hospital an old lady was trying to cross the street, the roads busy and packed due to the afternoon rush hour. She hobbled along slowly, a walking stick in one hand and the other on her hip. Unfortunately the traffic wasn't letting up, making it rather dangerous to cross. She sighed, knowing that it couldn't be helped sometimes. The old had to make way for the new, that's just how it was. Don't stand in the doorway, don't block up the hall. Good thing that the one she was waiting for was nearby, just past the street. Just as she was about to take a step forward two elegant figures landed softly beside her, one white and one grey. Kiri and Mimi glanced at her wordlessly, then the latter went on to stand in front of the road crossing to temporarily halt traffic while the former extended a helping hand.
The old lady looked at her benefactor with more than a little confusion before letting out a chuckle, accepting the offered hand with a small smile. She understood that they were just trying to help her cross the road. Slowly but surely they made their way across, hand in hand. Once they safely reached the other side the old lady turned to them, reaching into her bag for something.
"Thank you, dearies." she said, presenting them with a reward. "Here, have some haribo gummies."
Kiri, Valkyrie now, stared at the outstretched hand for a second before opening her palm, her face cold and expressionless as always. Six gummy candies were dropped into her hand and she divided them evenly, giving half to her sister. Together they munched down on the gummies without a single word, enjoying the treat. The old lady watched them carefully, observing the way that they behaved and looked out for each other, almost like they were... A quiet realization was made after a while.
'So that's how it is, huh.' the old lady thought.
Then they were gone as quickly as they appeared, the two vigilantes leaping into the air and disappearing from view barely before nearby civilians could record them. The old lady hummed to herself, watching as a disheveled man strode up to her while hiding his concern.
"Oi, oi. Are you alright? I didn't expect them to appear again so soon…"
"I'm fine, Aizawa-kun." she smiled, a twinkle in her eye. "In fact, I may have learned something."
That old lady was none other than Shuzenji Chiyo, otherwise known as Recovery Girl.
"What did you think of them, Aizawa-kun?" Recovery Girl asked curiously.
"It didn't work." the disheveled teacher grunted. "I had them, both of them in my line of sight and nothing happened when I used my Quirk. It seemed to… flow off them, for lack of a better term."
"Oho? It seems that Valkyrie's new playmate is the same as her, then. Another little tidbit to add to the meeting tomorrow. Anyways, what's the situation?"
"Word on the grapevine is that the Hero Association is censoring all information regarding the…" Aizawa's eyes narrowed. "...second Valkyrie. They're doing a surprisingly good job since most people aren't even aware of her yet. I don't think they can keep her a secret for long."
"Incompetent as ever, always handling the situation in the worst way possible." Recovery Girl sighed. "Bring the car, would you?"
"I'm not your personal chauffeur, you old bag. Just this once."
"Consider it a favor you owe me for all the times I healed you. One of many."
"Tch."
[x]
The bells of U.A chimed, signalling the end of classes and that it was time to go home. Groups of students rushed out, chattering amongst themselves like all teenagers their age did. However, one girl in particular was walking by herself slowly, her expression stoic and cold. Her straight raven hair shifted when a gust of wind swept past her, revealing a pair of deep blue sapphires for eyes.
Her name was Kodai Yui, and she wasn't a very interesting girl.
In fact, some might say she was the exact opposite of interesting. Being a girl of few words, she didn't think she had any defining traits that made her stand out in a crowd with the exception of her silent, expressionless demeanor. Her childhood friend Kendo had once joked that the term 'kuudere' would best describe her personality, and she was inclined to agree. Unfortunately, this meant that she was terrible at communicating with others. That was something that she carried with her since childhood, something that she couldn't help.
In other words, Yui was just a normal, plain, expressionless girl. And that was how she liked it.
Normal was good. Normal meant that nothing important was happening, that everything was alright at the moment. Yui lived in that normalcy day in and day out, so it was a surprise to everyone, even her parents, when she had decided to apply to U.A to become a hero. Perhaps it was an act of teenage rebellion or some hidden desire for change that the girl had kept within herself for years, no one could tell. She was after all, unable to express her emotions properly to others. Yui's normal life soon became not-so-normal with her acceptance into U.A, making new friends and learning so many new things. And today, her normal life was changing once more...
Thanks to the appearance of a certain green-haired boy.
"Ah, hey! So you're here again today."
He had greeted her on the steps outside of U.A after school with a warm smile and freckled cheeks, his sparkling eyes reminding her of a lush green forest. At first she wasn't sure if he was talking to her and had looked to her sides and even behind her until he laughed, a musical sound that seemed to resonate through the air.
"Yes, I'm talking to you." he grinned, looking strangely relieved. "Who else would I be talking to? I'm so glad to see that you're here."
Yui tilted her head slightly, a little confused. She didn't even know this guy, and he was just coming up to talk to her out of the blue? How strange. The girl opted to respond in the only way she knew how; by staring blankly at him. Strangely enough he didn't seem weirded out, intimidated or afraid of her at all, not one bit. Very unlike how most people reacted upon first meeting her.
Meanwhile from the perspective of Midoriya Izuku the boy had made a fatal, horrible mistake that he wasn't even aware of. Since Ochaco had to go home early and Iida had to attend another meeting, he had thought he'd be walking home alone until he saw Yui. He completely forgot about it, but his sister's teenage form was Yui's spitting image, something that Kendo had mentioned previously. Of course, the poor boy hadn't even considered that he would ever meet this person and pretty much forgot about that little detail, which led to the strange situation which was occuring now.
Basically, Izuku had mistaken a completely different girl for his sister.
"Come on, wanna have some ice-cream with me?" Izuku asked, still thinking that he was talking to Kiri.
Yui blinked. Several times, in fact. Was this guy… hitting on her? Huh. That was the first time that something like this has happened. Right now she wasn't exactly sure how to respond, especially when her responses typically composed of one-word replies, another aspect of her personality. She tilted her head, eyeing him warily.
Perhaps he just wanted to be friends? The girl didn't actually know how friends were even made in the first place. Kendo and her lived near each other as kids and boom, they were friends, just like that. It was similar with the girls in class 1-B as well, they simply up and decided they liked her and accepted her warmly into their social circle. Was this how people normally made friends?
Confusion, suspicion, doubt, curiosity and even amusement were waging a battle for dominance within her mind, a torrent of contrasting emotions that lay underneath her expressionless appearance. She took another look at the boy, examining him carefully. There was nothing special about him, really. He was cute, at best. Plain, at worst. Yui considered the situation carefully. He had made the effort to approach her, haphazard as it was. Plus, she had her Quirk and years of martial arts training with Kendo as backup, so… it would be fine, right? This guy seemed pretty harmless as well, and since he was from U.A, too… Well, if he tried anything she'd crush him. Besides, some ice-cream sounded awfully appealing, especially on a hot day like today. Why not?
Yui nodded slowly, deciding to trust her instincts. She agreed mostly because she was free, and didn't actually know what to do in a situation like this. It was a decision fueled largely by hunger and curiosity, but deep down she wasn't exactly sure why she was doing this either.
"Alright." Izuku said softly, smiling. "I know this popular place nearby."
Was this… a date? No, Yui quickly decided. She didn't even know this guy. If anything, this was just testing the waters. For friendship, of course. Still, she made sure to have Kendo's number on speed dial just in case. Her cerulean eyes tracked him carefully, with her following a few steps behind. To her surprise he made the effort to slow down and walk alongside her, matching her pace effortlessly.
"So how was your day, did everything turn out alright?" Izuku asked, referring to Kiri's mission with Mimi.
Yui blinked, a part of her still reeling in confusion. The other part was mildly amused. Was this how a date was supposed to be like? Wait, no, this isn't a date, she quickly reminded herself. She didn't even know anything about this guy, not even his name. Did he even know hers? The girl sent him a sideways glance, trying her best to answer and ask at the same time.
"Nn." was all that came out, along with a shy nod. She silently cursed her own inability to communicate.
"Ahh, I'm glad it did. Are you hungry? Don't worry, we'll be there soon." Izuku said. "I'll even buy the biggest one for you!"
He somehow understood her! But that last part... Oh dear. Perhaps that was a bit too extravagant? She felt like they should at least get to know each other before he bought her anything. It wouldn't be fair to him, after all. Somehow, the boy didn't seem too bothered by her continued silence. Even her classmates found it strange that she was so quiet, but this guy… he didn't mind it at all despite the near one-sided conversation they were having.
"As for me, I'll just have a scoop. Some important stuff happened today, and I don't mean in hero training... We can talk about that later. Oh, and this morning Aizawa-sensei mentioned that the U.A sports festival is in two weeks, so I'll have to train more to prepare."
She felt her curiosity grow. Hero training? That meant this guy was probably in the other class, 1-A. So they had something in common, at least. But do guys really just go up to girls and just ask them out for ice-cream? Maybe he was just that confident. She still didn't know his name, and perhaps he didn't even know hers. Think, she told herself. What would Kendo say in a situation like this?
'Remember, licking doorknobs is illegal on other planets.' her friend's cheerful voice echoed in her head.
She sighed internally, knowing she should have paid more attention to Kendo's advice instead of watching Saturday morning cartoons. Frankly, she never would have thought it would come in handy. Too bad the other girl had class president duties and was unable to walk home with her today.
Yui blinked again when he suddenly extended his hand, his fingertips brushing against hers and sending a feeling akin to a light electric shock up her arm. He wanted to… hold hands with her? The girl shook her head and pulled back nervously, experiencing a new feeling akin to a swarm of butterflies fluttering around in her stomach.
I'm sorry, but my heart isn't ready. I don't even know you yet...
Izuku tilted his head in confusion, then shrugged with a gentle smile.
"Not today, eh? It's alright. Whatever makes you comfortable." he said, his tone understanding. "I've never said it before, but it's a nice change of pace to see you in that form. You look really pretty like that. Unlike me, it seems you look good no matter what form you take."
Of course, Izuku's intentions and words were completely and utterly innocent. Yui wasn't exactly sure what he was talking about but her cheeks felt warm as she glanced downwards, glad that she was slightly behind him so he couldn't see how red her face had become. She couldn't help but think that comment was slightly creepy as well.
"We're here!" Izuku smiled, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Which one would you like? My treat, of course."
A minute later they were seated at a table, and Yui found herself wondering how she'd gotten into this bizarre situation. He had indeed bought the biggest one for her, the girl carefully eyeing her expensive parfait topped with colorful fruits. At first she felt rather awkward and nervous, but after seeing how calm he was she began to relax just a tiny bit. Unfortunately the poor girl didn't know anything about making friends, let alone hanging out with a guy; so she had no idea if this was how things were supposed to go. In fact, she was fidgeting a little under the table out of nervousness despite her lack of expression.
Unbeknownst to the both of them, another girl with a mushroom-shaped hairstyle just happened to see them by pure coincidence.
'Kodai-chan is on a date? How nice, shroom. Wait… isn't that one of the boys from class A?'
This other girl then sipped at her bubble tea, observing the pair for a moment before shrugging and making her way home in a happy-go-lucky manner. Meanwhile, Jiro Kyoka did a double-take and came to a complete stop upon seeing what looked like her plain-looking classmate on a date with a girl from the other class.
'Whoa.'
Jiro took a quick photo of them on her phone and hummed to herself as she headed home, still in slight disbelief at what she had just seen. At least she had some actual evidence to prove that she wasn't hallucinating.
"You seem a little quiet today, more than usual." Izuku asked, looking concerned as he bit into a spoonful of ice-cream. "Are you alright?"
The brunette nodded but she felt an undercurrent of worry at his words. More than usual? She began increasing her guard. She then took a large spoonful of her own dessert and found it to be delicious, worth every dollar the boy had paid. The tantalizing taste of caramel, mint and honey flooded her taste buds, alongside the soft, smooth texture of expensive ice-cream that was an absolute delight to her senses. Honestly, she felt a little guilty that he'd bought such a thing for her, but since he offered it'd be rude not to finish it. Plus, it tasted really, really good.
"Hmm, alright." he angled his spoon towards her so that she could have some of his ice-cream, just as he did for Mimi. "Here, want some?"
Yui's face turned a warm pink the moment he said that, though her expression remained flat as ever. She backed away slightly, head shaking as she declined his offer. Frankly, this guy was a little too direct for her, especially since this was their first meeting.
"Suit yourself. Oh, you got a little ice-cream on your lip."
She quickly dabbed at her mouth with a napkin, prompting him to chuckle. When she sent a confused look his way he simply smiled, his emerald eyes meeting her sapphire ones. She realized with a little amazement that he could tell what she was feeling just by looking at her eyes, just like Kendo could. Of course, Izuku had learned how to do it after spending time with his little sister and equally expressionless demeanor.
"It's nothing. I'm just thinking of how cute you can be sometimes." Izuku said, thinking of Kiri stuffing her mouth full of biscuits the first time she met his mom. "I'm really glad to have met you."
Yui stopped.
C-cute?
The schoolgirl felt a cosy warmth course through her from the top of her head down to the tip of her toes, like her entire body was blushing. Was this how embarrassment felt like? Her heart began beating faster, feet fidgeting underneath the table. It wasn't that she was uncomfortable, she was just… unsure of what to do and feel in this situation.
They continued eating their dessert in peaceful silence. Izuku was felt that his little sister was quieter than usual, and there seemed to be something different about her… he just couldn't put his finger on it. Her face was redder than usual, but then again this was only the second time he saw her in this teenage form so he wasn't sure. Her appetite was still there though, and it was apparent that she was enjoying her ice-cream parfait. She was eating rather neatly today instead of wolfing down her food? Mmm, that was good too. Smiling, the boy decided to strike up another conversation topic.
"It's good? Nice to see you enjoying yourself. It makes me happy that you're happy."
"N-nn."
"Hmm. Aren't you going to call me onii-chan today?" he teased.
Yui stiffened mid-bite, that statement shocking her to the core.
W-w-what? The girl felt her face heating up, backing away slightly.
She appreciated the treat, but maybe he was getting a bit too cocky. The sheer audacity of this guy, who the heck did he think he was? He must be some sort of playboy or smooth talker if he thought he could get away with a line like that. This was still their first meeting, and he wanted her to call him that?
This guy might be dangerous, she thought, cheeks burning with embarrassment. A guy who plays around with girls' hearts...
"Are you really okay, Kiri-chan?" Izuku asked, leaning in worriedly. "You're looking awfully red now."
Kiri? Yui paused, completely lost. She had heard that name before somewhere, but where? Then it all came back to her in a flash. Her doppelganger! The one that Kendo noticed standing outside of school the other day. The girl that had looked exactly like her, save for the lighter shade of blue that her eyes held. That means… this guy was?
"Maybe you have a fever…" Izuku frowned then gently placed a hand on Yui's forehead, causing the girl to stiffen even further with her back straightening instantly. "Can you even get a fever? I'll have to ask mom for some remedies, or maybe I'll make some chicken soup for you when we get home. Consider this a big brother's duty."
It all clicked together at that last statement. Kiri was his sister… he had confused her since they looked almost identical. All this time he wasn't hitting on her, he was just trying to treat his younger sibling to some ice-cream like any good brother would. All the strange things he was saying now sort-of made sense, especially that 'onii-chan' comment. However, it did make her a bit worried that she couldn't differentiate his sibling from a completely different person, even if they looked almost identical.
Yui quickly shook her head, raising her hands and signalling 'no'.
We both made a mistake, you've got the wrong person. she tried to say. I'm not your sister.
"You're feeling better already?" Izuku asked, still worried as he scooped up another spoonful of ice-cream. "I'm still wondering why you're so quiet today."
"I want some too, onii-chan." a small voice said from behind him.
Izuku whirled around to see his sister looking over his shoulder, eyeing his ice-cream hungrily. She was in her teenage form and dressed in her hoodie and shorts, which clearly marked her as the real Kiri. The green-haired teenager froze like a deer in headlights, looking between the two girls in confusion.
"H-huh? Two of you?" Izuku said. Then a lightbulb seemed to turn on above his head as the boy made a wild guess. "Ah! One of you is Mimi, right? That is some great shapeshifting, I couldn't even tell the difference!"
"Mimi went home early 'cause she was tired, onii-chan." Kiri bit down on his still-held out spoon happily, enjoying the scoop of ice-cream. "And we can only shapeshift into ourselves."
"W-w-what?" Izuku froze, his head swivelling towards Yui with a rising dread. "T-then… w-who are you?"
Yui slowly raised her eyes to meet his, then pulled out her U.A student identification card and handed it over to him shyly. She felt terrible now, embarrassed and guilty that she'd unintentionally tricked him into buying such a nice treat for her. Izuku accepted the card with trembling hands and an expression of mounting horror.
"K-kodai Yui." he read, his voice shaking like a leaf in a hurricane. "C-c-c-class 1-B?"
Their eyes met, and Izuku's face alternated between bright red and chalk white. He immediately backstepped a few meters, bowing down several times as he began to apologize profusely. Yui blinked in confusion, watching the boy with her default blank expression.
"U-uwahhhh, I'm so sorry!" the boy exclaimed frantically, his eyes wide and cheeks burning red. "I, um, er, didn't m-mean to, y-you see—Kiri looks like you, a-and you look just like her, I didn't mean anything by it!"
Yui and Kiri exchanged glances as he kept bowing, the latter giving her mirror image a friendly wave. She waved back.
"I'm so sorry, please forgive me!" Izuku continued, still bowing. He finally realized that Yui was the person Kendo had confused Kiri for during their first meeting. "Kodai-san, it's my fault, I wasn't trying anything I swear, I really thought you were my sis—"
His panicking was stopped by a movement by Yui, a hand coming to her mouth. Izuku looked up to see her and she was… smiling. A tiny, wobbly smile was plastered on her doll-like features, the girl even giggling a bit and covering her mouth. It was strange… she thought she would have felt humiliated at being mistaken for another girl or even angry, but the truth was that the entire situation was so absurd that she couldn't help but find it hilarious. That in itself was an accomplishment—she couldn't remember the last time something made her laugh. She began pulling out some money until the boy raised his hands in protest.
"N-no, no, it's alright! Um, consider that my treat—no wait, I didn't mean it in that way! Um, you know, for all the trouble I've put you through, I mean, err—"
Yui slowly stood up and turned towards them, giving them a polite bow. Izuku watched in confusion as she nodded lightly, signalling to him that she understood the situation and that everything was alright.
"What's..." Yui said slowly, her delicate voice barely even a whisper. "...your name?"
Izuku looked confused, before steeling himself and deciding to answer her.
"I'm M-midoriya Izuku."
"I liked..." Her cheeks were bright pink, and her eyes met his for a moment before looking away. "...the ice-cream."
She stood a little to the side, the sun at her back. The golden rays bounced off her ebony hair and pale skin, the slightest hint of a smile on her features.
"Thank you, Midoriya-kun." she whispered. "B-bye."
The moment was over in a flash, Yui hurrying away while feeling her own awkwardness wash over her. That was the best she could do for now. It wasn't everyday that she spoke so much, especially to a boy. She had experienced so many different emotions today, something that hadn't happened ever since her acceptance into U.A.
It was the most fun she had in ages.
Izuku stared blankly at where she had stood before making his way to the counter, buying a new parfait for Kiri much to her delight. His face was still blank when he brought it back to the table for her, and remained that way for the first few seconds while she began eating happily.
Then everything he'd said and done to Yui sunk in, all at once.
"I couldn't tell my sister apart from a completely different girl!" Izuku cried out, horrified. "Oh, I'm the worst big brother in the world…"
"It's so yummy!" Kiri said between bites, enjoying her dessert immensely. "You're the best big brother in the world!"
"I tried to hold hands with her, called her c-c-c-cute, asked her why she wasn't calling me onii-chan, and I even touched her head without permission!" the teenager groaned, burying his head in his hands. "Oh my God. Oh no…"
The worse case scenario was playing out in his head despite Yui's assurances that she knew it was all one big misunderstanding and didn't mind one bit.
Kodai-san would tell Kendo-san what happened, then Kendo-san would tell Iida-kun, then the whole class would know! Not just 1-A either… 1-B would know too… and after what happened with Shiozaki-san, there's definitely some people who are suspicious of me. I'm so dead…
At this point Izuku was having visions of his social life going belly-up. For a second he imagined his friend Ochaco staring down at him in contempt, arms folded and her lips curled into a frown full of revulsion.
'Hahhhh, so you like dating girls that look like your sister? Ugh, ew. And playing around with the girls from the other class, too? I can't believe I actually thought of you as a friend. Now I know what you really are; you're just a gross, pathetic, creepy, siscon, pervert.'
The imaginary Ochaco wore a disgusted expression, her cold eyes gazing down at him icily and boring a hole into his soul. It was like she was looking at walking garbage...
"No, you've got it all wrong, it's all a big misunderstanding…" Izuku moaned painfully. "Oooohhh. I wanna die…"
"Uwahhh, don't die, onii-chan!" Kiri squeaked, patting him on the back reassuringly. To her credit, he actually did feel a little better after that.
"And I said all my heartfelt words that were meant for you to her." the boy sighed glumly, his face flat against the table and muffling his words. "I'm sorry, Kiri-chan. Can you ever forgive your foolish idiot of a brother?"
"I forgive you, nii-chan." she said happily, still patting him on the back. Naturally she had no idea what he was talking about, but was content to absorb his worry and embarrassment even as it surged out of him endlessly. "There, there."
Izuku nodded shamefully, still wallowing in his embarrassment.
"By the way, why are you a teenager today?" he asked curiously.
"Sometimes people will get worried if I'm walking around alone as a kid." Kiri explained, still munching.
"Oh." Izuku said, still slumped on the table. He remained there until Kiri finished her parfait, then looked to his remaining ice-cream curiously.
"Aren't you gonna finish that, onii-chan?"
"I've lost my appetite. You can have it."
"Yay!"
[x]
Izuku was exhausted when he finally reached his house, giving a tired greeting to his mother and Mimi upon arriving. He wanted to ask her about the memory leak thing but she was so excited to share what happened earlier with Kiri that he didn't want to ruin her day. Either way, Izuku was simply too tired to think any longer and decided he would ask her about it tomorrow. The boy practically collapsed into his futon on the floor after sending both sisters to bed, falling into a deep slumber.
That night, Izuku dreamed. A psychedelic dream full of sound and color, emotions and words. Waves consisting of eerie shapes and fractals lapped against him, splashing around and twisting in patterns that were reminiscent of oil on water. Whispers surrounded him, speaking of things long past.
He quickly realized that this wasn't a dream, but something else entirely. A thousand voices chroused as one, words mixing together into a cacophonous orchestra that surrounded him and echoed in a chaotic mess. Looking down at himself, the boy found that everything below his nose was missing, turned into smoke. He was basically a floating head in an ocean of memories.
Nine stars of multicolored light floated before him, miniature supernovas that glowed with their own unique color. Amidst the nine there were two that stood out; the first was a blurry golden orb that shimmered and danced like a flickering firelight. It seemed to grow brighter, almost like it was trying to mimic the brilliant radiance of its compatriots. The second was a tiny green ember that floated towards him, like a fragile little match that could fizzle out at any moment. He watched as ghostly, ethereal threads manifested between the nine, connecting them like a circuit. The surrounding noise suddenly increased without warning, a torrent of words and emotions surging around Izuku. People speaking, and the feelings associated with those words.
"Even so, I still love you, my pathetic younger brother…"
Regret.
"Dance with me, John."
Love.
"Please kill me."
Uncertainty.
"Run."
Self-loathing.
"We have to leave. It's not safe here anymore."
Fear.
"I call it the Guardian Angel Protocol. My promise to protect them."
Trust.
"It's just like you said, sensei! The ones who smile are the strongest of all."
Pride.
Izuku curled into himself, trying to shut it out. It was too much, all of it too much. A never ending stream of emotions crashing and surging like a current, tossing and turning him around, making him lose all sense of direction like he was caught in an undertow. Amongst the chaos he heard a familiar voice.
"You looked like you needed saving."
The boy squeezed his eyes shut, trying his best to wake up. Old memories churned around him in tangible streams, a rainbow cocoon of other lifetimes. He felt as though he was drowning, gasping for air in that swirling sea of colors.
Stop it… Izuku managed.
The whirlpool of memories shuddered, the chrysalis binding him throbbing like a beating heart.
Stop it… One For All!
It stopped, and Izuku found himself in a different time, a different place. Not the garden within his head where Kiri lived. Not the enormous mansion where the others slept and rested. This place was a sandy beach underneath the bright blue sky. A place he knew all too well.
Dagobah Municipal Beach Park. Where All Might had trained him for ten months to prepare him for the U.A entrance exam.
He glanced down at himself, still in that smoky form. Despite that he could hear the crashing waves, feel the sea spray on his skin. The smell of the ocean reached him, along with the taste of salt in the air. He took a look around him once more at the pristine sands, the beautiful shoreline. Perhaps this was after he cleaned up the place during his training?
A short huffing and puffing reached his ears and a small figure ran by him, as if she hadn't seen him at all. Snow-white hair bobbed up and down, gleaming in the sunlight. It was Mimi! He reached out to call her but quickly realized he couldn't even make a sound. The boy's phantom form was forced to follow her, gliding over the shore.
The girl was jogging along the beach, her feet leaving small imprints in the sand. Izuku wondered what this place was, what she was doing, when she suddenly called out to another small figure crouching on the sand.
"Hey~!" Mimi called out. "Taiga-chan~!"
Izuku looked up and found himself looking at a little girl who looked no older than ten, her long brown hair billowing in the wind. His great-grandmother Taiga as a child. It was then he realized this wasn't the real Mimi either; this was a memory… her memory. This was Dagobah before people started dumping trash, a look back at the little piece of paradise it had once been.
Dagobah Beach, approximately ninety years ago.
"Oh, Mimi-chan!" Taiga smiled, picking up her bucket. "How'd you know I was here?"
"Your family lives so close to the beach, duh. You come here every day! Besides, your mom told me."
Izuku took this opportunity to see his great-grandmother. She had passed away when he was just a toddler, and his mother had said the old woman had held him in her arms a few times. Everything he knew about Taiga was what Inko had told him, so this was a chance to see her in person. Well, sort-of. His mother had always claimed great-grandmother Taiga was an inspiration to many, having lived a long, happy life.
This child version of her was dressed in a simple sundress and flip flops, a plastic shovel in one hand and a colorful bucket in the other. A large straw hat was perched atop her head, shielding her from the sun. He noted that she resembled Mimi with that long, wavy hair of hers, and her eyes sparkled with a childish happiness that he could sometimes see in his sisters.
"So what are you doing here anyways? It's getting late, you know."
"I'm collecting crabs! Look!" Taiga said enthusiastically. Sure enough, her bucket was full of small, harmless crabs that could be found on the beach. Izuku realized that the same species was making a comeback thanks to his efforts at cleaning the beach.
"Mm. You know you can't eat these, right?" Mimi said flatly.
"They're not for eating, silly! Crabs in a bucket, in a bucket~" Taiga sang, waving her catch around.
"I don't think you know what that quote means."
"I do too! Daddy taught me! He said, um, people are like crabs. Even if one crab can escape, the rest will pull him down so they're all trapped together. 'If I can't have it, neither can you.' It's sad, isn't it?"
Izuku and Mimi both peered into the bucket and sure enough, the crabs were doing exactly that.
"Humans never change—" Mimi began, shaking her head with visible disdain.
"But I believe that's wrong! People aren't crabs, so they shouldn't be like that. Everyone should be helping one another to be better, not the other way around!" Taiga interrupted, eyes sparkling with positivity. "Don't you think so, Mimi-chan?"
"I… I guess." the white-haired girl said slowly. "Wait, what are you even doing with these things?"
"I'm collecting them so I can put them back into the sea!"
"What." Mimi paused, puzzled. "Why?"
"Well, if I leave them here in the sun all day, they'll die!"Taiga replied simply. "They'll dry out and turn into… dried crab. And not the tasty kind. I think most of them are too dumb to go back into the sea by themselves."
"Taiga-chan, look around you. There are hundreds of these things!"
"I know, that's why I've been here so long! Dora and Tora have been helping me collect them too."
A translucent miniature dragon and tiger appeared on Taiga's shoulders, a crab in each of their mouths. Her projections dropped their captures into the bucket, then picked it up and glided further towards the ocean to drop their crabby payload into deeper waters.
"A dragon, huh." Mimi remarked.
"Dragons are cool! They breathe fire, like you!" the brunette said happily.
"Yeah… wait, I'm getting sidetracked. How long have you been here, anyway—"
"Three hours!"
"Exactly. See, it'll take you the entire day to collect these things and throw them back into the sea." Mimi argued, looking exasperated. "Besides, they'll just wash up again no matter how many you collect. What difference will it make?"
Taiga watched her friend with a puzzled expression, then simply picked a small crab off the ground and threw it lightly, back into the deep blue sea where it belonged. She turned to Mimi, grinning widely.
"It made a difference to that one."
Mimi opened her mouth and tried for an explanation before ultimately sighing, shoulders slumping in defeat before steeling herself once more. Wordlessly she began to pick up the crabs and tossed them back into the sea as well, much to her friend's delight.
"The things I do for love…" Mimi grumbled.
"I knew you'd help me, Mimi-chan!" Taiga squealed, hugging her. "You're the best!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Let's just get this over with so we can get you home early."
Izuku continued watching as they began picking up more crabs, chatting to each other all the while. It warmed his heart to see them like this, a reminder of his own youth and innocence when he was little. Now he just had to find his way out of here.
Before he could do anything the world shifted sideways, tilting like an hourglass. Izuku took a moment to compose himself, finding that he was still in the same place but the two children had been replaced with different people now. Two boys, one chasing the other.
"Big brother!" the younger one cried, huffing and puffing. He went on his knees out of exhaustion, near the concrete platform his brother was climbing. "Wait for me!"
Izuku recognized that platform, but it looked brand new unlike the weathered old thing he'd helped clean up. Dagobah Beach, just after it was built? That meant that this was even further back than Mimi's old memory. But then… who were these two kids?
"Geez, you're so slow." the older one grumbled. "Here."
The older brother stretched out his hand towards his sibling.
"Take my hand."
Together, the two brothers managed to get themselves up on the platform, watching the setting sun. The ocean glimmered under the sun's golden light, the two boys staring across the water. The rhythmic sound of waves washing against the shore and the shrill cries of seagulls reached their ears, the setting sun playing long shadows across the white sands.
"T-thank you, brother." the younger one said timidly, coughing a little. "For… for bringing me here."
"Don't mention it." the older boy grunted. "Just this once, alright? You should stay at home because of your weaker body."
They stood there for a while, Izuku feeling guilty that he was watching someone's memories like this. It felt like an invasion of privacy, even if he didn't mean to. He'd probably apologize to Mimi as well.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?"
"It is. A-and that's why…" the white-haired boy gathered up some courage to speak. "That's why I'm happy I was born into this world, no matter what. And…"
He turned to his sibling.
"I'm happy that you're my brother."
The older boy blinked for a few moments, before finally showing just the barest hint of a smile.
"Oh my… You shouldn't be here." someone behind Izuku said.
Izuku whirled around, or at least did his best to in that incorporeal form. A lone, disheveled man with messy white hair was looking around with a confused yet nostalgic expression.
"And neither should I. We value everyone's privacy, after all." he finished with a small smile. "Hello, Midoriya-kun."
You're… Izuku tried to say.
"Don't worry, young man. I'll get us out of here." the man waved his hand and they were back in the abyss, surrounded by darkness then entering a tunnel of rainbow light. That blinding radiance soon faded and they were back at the mansion, a jewel in the garden of memories. A paradise in his mind.
"It's still a little too early, ninth. Don't spend so much time dwelling on the past, Midoriya-kun. After all..."
The first wielder turned to Izuku and gave him a pat on the shoulder, his hand glowing a brilliant white.
"This is your story now."
[x]
Izuku's eyes snapped open like loaded springs, the boy blinking rapidly. He still remembered what he'd seen, Taiga's face crystal-clear in his mind. However, the boy began panicking a little when he realized he couldn't feel his arms. Looking around, he soon realized why.
Both sisters were sleeping beside him and using his arms as pillows, their heads resting on his biceps. He took a deep breath and relaxed slowly, realizing that everything was alright. Well, except for the numbness in his arms, but that could be forgiven. The two children seemed to be in a deep sleep so he opted not to disturb them, instead lying back and waiting for them to wake up eventually. Their soft breathing tickled his ears and resulted in a persistent itch, but Izuku kept completely still to ensure that they wouldn't get startled. Staring at the ceiling, he thought back to what had just happened.
There is a way I can speak to the others inside One For All,he realized. It's difficult, but not impossible. I may be able to replicate the situation so I can meet them at the mansion.
He tried to go back to sleep, but soon realized it was already morning from the way the sun's rays peeked through the living room curtains. Both children still weren't waking up, and his arms were just getting number. The boy wondered to himself why they even slept in his room if they'd just end up on top of him the next morning. Glancing down he realized that their shapeshifting abilities had improved, with them making different colored pajamas for themselves. Kiri was wearing white while Mimi was wearing grey, a callback to their adult combat forms. For a moment he wondered what they were dreaming about, and if that was even possible.
"Nn… it's cold and sweet…" Kiri slurred, talking in her sleep.
"Where's… the chilli sauce…" Mimi murmured, drooling a little.
Well, he got his answer. At least they were having good dreams. In the end Izuku decided he didn't want to wake them despite the increasing discomfort in his arms, prioritizing their comfort over his. His predicament was soon over when Inko entered the living room with a yawn, looking down at the three siblings with an amused smile. She quietly picked up the two girls without waking them and placed them back onto Izuku's bed, earning a quiet thanks from her son.
Everyone woke up soon after and Izuku made breakfast again, going for a jog around an hour later. Instead of staying at home to watch tv the sisters followed him today, though not in the way he didn't jog alongside him but floated instead, trailing after the teenager like little balloons and earning him a few amused smiles from the other morning joggers. He reasoned that they just wanted to spend more time with him. This would be a good time to ask questions as well, so he decided to take the path that sent him to Dagobah beach park.
Izuku took a short break at the beach from Mimi's memory, gazing at the gleaming ocean waves. He took a look at his white-haired little sister and found her expression to be… melancholic, if not nostalgic. Looking around in the sand, he quickly found what he was looking for.
"Mimi," he said gently. "Could you come here for a moment?"
She nodded and made her way to him, and he dropped a small live crab into her open palms. Her reaction was not what he expected, with her blinking at him in confusion. Kiri peeked over her shoulder and began poking the crab cautiously.
"What's with the crab, aniki?" she asked, before leaning over to give some advice to her sister. "Kiri, you can't eat these."
"I saw Taiga yesterday." Izuku admitted, and Mimi suddenly stiffened. "In a dream… no, a memory. Yours."
"Y-you did?" she asked, and he was surprised to see her looking a little frightened. "W-w-what else did you see?"
"Calm down, that was the only thing I saw." he reassured her. "It was a complete accident. Sorry about that."
"No, it's alright." Mimi looked guilty, like a child with her hand caught in the cookie jar, "I'm sorry too papa, but there are certain things that I'd rather not be reminded of. I'm just… I'm just scared they'll happen again."
Kiri pat her sister on the back, and she responded with a small 'thanks'.
"Don't worry." Izuku said. "Kiri and I will be here for you. We can do this together."
"Nn." Kiri nodded.
Mimi's nervous expression was accompanied by a gulp before the girl seemed to find new determination and nodded, deciding to put her faith and trust in her new family. She then turned towards the glimmering waves, quietly watching the rising sun. The devil and the deep blue sea.
"Taiga loved this place, you know." Mimi began, looking wistfully across the water. "Like she was drawn to it. She came here—"
"—every day." Izuku finished.
"Every day." the girl nodded. "She was so naive, so childish…"
Seagull cries echoed through the air, alongside the sound of waves washing along the sand.
"And she was my best friend." Mimi turned back, her expression melancholic once again.
The white-haired girl looked at the crab in her hands, then slowly walked towards the ocean. Kiri followed after her, watching to see what she was doing. After a few seconds of contemplating Mimi bent down and gently dipped her hands into the water, letting the waves reclaim the small crustacean. She watched it for nearly a minute until it was gone, returned to its rightful place. He watched as she took a deep breath with her back towards him.
"Goodbye, Taiga."
Izuku patiently waited for her to gather her thoughts, not knowing what expression she had. A while later she turned around, a tiny smile on her face.
"Thank you. For bringing me here. For making this place beautiful again. For everything."
He was silent for a moment before gently placing a hand atop her and ruffling her hair, causing the girl to blink in surprise.
"You're welcome." Izuku smiled. "After all, a big brother has to keep his sisters happy."
"...Mm." Mimi nodded and relaxed.
"Alright. Now I've been thinking of doing some training with you two, but there's also this memory leak thing yesterday—"
Izuku didn't manage to finish his sentence when a throbbing sensation appeared in his head, both sisters immediately reacting in alarm without him even telling them. They shrank into their tiny, chibi forms as a storm of violet petals rushed out from his forehead, coalescing into the form of a tall, athletic woman before anyone could say a word. He quickly picked up both disoriented sisters and placed one on each shoulder, making sure that they were safe and secure before turning to face the newcomer.
"H-huh? You're—" Izuku began, bewildered.
He recognized that face. Dark hair tied in a partial bun, two long strands framing her face. Pearly-white teeth gleaming in a radiant grin, and a mole under her right cheek. His initial impression of her was that she was fearsome, amazonian, and incredibly beautiful all at once; the wise, mythical hero who trained All Might and who was nearly perfect in every way…
Until she opened her mouth.
"AHHHHHHHHH, after ten thousand years I'm free! It's time to conquer Earth!" the woman cackled, spreading her arms out triumphantly.
"Nana." Kiri began, still a little dizzy but looking slightly interested. "Hello."
"Hello, lassies. Quick, young Midoriya!" she got right up in Izuku's face, staring down at him. "To defeat me, you must gather a team of teenagers with attitude!"
"W-w-w-wha?!"
"What are you doing here, Nana?" Mimi said flatly, eyeing the phantom. "You're really ruining our moment. At least you've gotten your adult form back."
"I know! Isn't it great?" Nana made a pose and flexed, showing off her impressive physique. "Anyways, I heard the word 'training', so here I am!"
"You're… you're Shimura Nana!" Izuku breathed in disbelief. "W-wait, training?"
"That's right! Nice to finally meet my protege's protege." the older woman exclaimed happily, then tried to pat him on the shoulder only for her hand to phase straight through him. "Eh? What the hell, it's like I'm a ghost!"
"You are a ghost." Kiri said helpfully, giving the phantom a gentle poke. "Spooky."
"How are you even doing this? I think you're drawing energy from us." Mimi guessed, glancing down at her tiny self. "If you're a ghost then what are we supposed to be, fairies?"
"Ghost or not, I'm still gonna try to train ya!" Nana said confidently. "Look, we're gonna just put the multiverse stuff behind us because that's way too heavy right now. Also, Hiro told me what happened yesterday with the memory thingy but we'll talk about that later! And uh, the mansion sort of, um, appeared near your tree but that comes later! Time for training!"
"Uhhh… Wuh—huh?" Izuku managed, completely stunned and overwhelmed by his predecessor's devil-may-care attitude.
"Well said, Midoriya-kun! But before we begin our super-awesome training montage to get you into shape for the sports festival..." The older woman looked around, her hands placed proudly on her hips. "Where's my boy Toshinori?"
[x]
In a dark room somewhere in Musutafu City, a secret meeting was taking place. There was the shuffling of papers along with a few murmurs and whispers, resulting in a serious atmosphere. The distinct scent of freshly brewed tea wafted through the air.
"My fellow comrades, this meeting is top secret and for your eyes only." Someone began with a solemn and straightforward tone. "What happens next is strictly classified, and nothing we say leaves this room."
"Don't you mean eyes and ears?" one voice asked.
"Why is it so dark? I can't see anything!" another complained.
"Well, it has to be dark!" Mina clicked on her flashlight, illuminating the rest of the room. "It's a secret meeting, after all!"
Five other girls from Class 1-A stared back at her, dressed in their casual outfits. They had originally gathered here at Momo's enormous house to discuss their homework and the upcoming U.A sports festival, but apparently Mina had other plans in mind.
"Um, what's going on?" Ochaco asked, her voice laced with confusion.
"I'm just as in the dark as you are, kero." Tsuyu said from beside her.
"In the dark." Momo said slowly, before bopping a fist into her palm. "Oh, I get it. Because we are literally in a dark room. That's a good joke, Asui-san!"
"Call me Tsuyu."
"Why are we here again?" Hagakure asked, her arms wrapped around a large plushie.
"Wellllllll~" Mina slid her eyes over to Jiro. "Why are we here, Kyoka-chan?"
"I should have kept my big mouth shut." Jiro said flatly. "You're the one who came up with this, so you tell them."
"Alright, fair enough." Mina cleared her throat. "Ahem! This meeting is for the official formation of the 1-A Investigation Squad!"
"The what."
"The 1-A Investigation Squad!" Mina repeated with gusto, her index finger pointed skywards.
"And what exactly would this squad of ours be investigating?" Momo asked curiously.
"Well, Kyoka-chan just happened to see a little something that she perhaps shouldn't have seen. It matches up with some suspicions I've been having recently."
Momo offered the rest of the girls some tea as Mina continued to speak, while Hagakure asked if this was about her 'pinky sense', whatever that meant. The tea was absolutely fantastic, Momo had called it Imperial Golden Tips or some other fancy name. Either way, it sounded and tasted really expensive. Ochaco made sure to savor the beverage, experiencing its flavor to the fullest extent.
"It's a boy, alright!" Mina finally revealed. "A boy in our class, and something fishy's going on with him!"
"H-huh? Is this one of those girl talks, desuwa?" Momo said, her eyes practically gleaming with excitement. "Oh my, this is the first time I'm having one!"
"Yes!" the pink-haired girl grinned enthusiastically.
"No." Jiro countered.
"Maybe." Tsuyu shrugged.
"I don't know?" Ochaco answered honestly, and they could almost see the question mark floating atop her head.
"Can you repeat the question?" Hagakure asked while sipping her tea.
"But I digress!" Mina stood, becoming the center of attention. "A certain boy in our class, that's what this meeting is about!"
Ochaco sipped her tea again, raising an eyebrow. A boy in Class 1-A?
"I still don't understand what you're trying to say, kero." Tsuyu said politely though she looked visibly confused. "Someone in our class who needs investigating?"
"I'm saying that…" Mina lowered her voice to a near whisper, taking on a conspiratory tone. "I have reason to believe that Midoriya-kun is dating, or at least flirting with some of the girls from Class 1-B."
Ochaco proceeded to spit out a mouthful of one of the most expensive teas in Japan.