Chapter 3
Waking in pain and misery was nothing new for Izumi; she had been doing it for years. The familiar warmth of her mother wrapped around her was just as usual. The unfamiliar concerned her; fatigue was not an adequate description. A less proper term would be dead tired. Her bones felt tired; the soreness and tenderness of her arm drew her attention more than anything else.
As that sensation was assimilated, the sound of all the monitors in the room and the smell of sterilization began to fade in. Her mind is ever sharp, relayed that she was in the hospital. Captain Obvious would have been proud. The events from the night before, the attempted murder, her QUIRK. SHE HAD A QUIRK AND HAD NOT ONLY FOUGHT HER FATHER, BUT SHE HAD BEAT HIM BACK. She didn't know if she would beat him, but she had held him off long enough to be taken to the hospital.
The memory of giving her statement to Midnight and Recovery Girl danced in her mind, her mother telling her this was their chance. She desperately wanted to cling to that hope, but it had been ripped from her so many times, but Midnight had been there, and Recovery Girl, there was no way that her father could get to them… Was there?
Opening her eyes, she saw her mom, the hospital room, and everything she had expected and remembered from the night before. What she didn't expect to see sleeping in a chair near her bed was the number one hero of Japan, or quite possibly the galaxy. ALL-MIGHT
-Katsuki Bakugo-
It was odd not seeing the damn Deku not show up to class; as he had taken his seat, he heard some whispers about Fire Breath being attacked in his home. That was that dumb bitch's, old man. He wasn't the most extraordinary hero but tough and didn't take shit from anyone. Katsuki always thought it was a cruel joke that he would have such a useless daughter. At least she stopped trying to slip him love letters—stupid Deku.
In the third period, his name was called out over the intercom system summoning him to the principal's office. Clicking his tongue in annoyance, he rose from his desk and stomped out of the room. A few snickers about him being called could be heard, but the damn extras knew better than to say something he could listen to.
His interest was piqued when he entered the room, and he saw his parents in the room along with what, at first glance, was some hobo, but if he was here, he had to be some pro, probably underground.
"Here he is, Mr. Eraser Head; as you can see, this young man will someday be a good pro. "Is there anything else you need before we begin," the sniveling principal said.
The pro looked at the sycophant, "I am sorry, sir, but would you mind allowing us to use the office privately, as this is part of an active investigation? His parents must be present by law."
The principal had a brief look of annoyance before the mask fell back into place, and he excused himself, telling them to take their time. When the door closed, the pro turned his attention to Katsuki, who still looked annoyed to be there. "Sit down."
"I can stand," the boy responded with an irritated tone.
"That wasn't a request," Eraser Head responded with a tone that left no question that he would not tolerate any foolishness.
Katsuki took his seat more to find out what the hell was going on, he was sure it had to do with fucking Deku, but why it involved him, he had no idea. Profoundly confident in his actions and superiority, he took a seat.
"Are we going to begin?" his father, Matsuo, asked.
"As soon as…" he didn't even get to finish his statement when the door opened, and a police detective entered, carrying a manilla folder that he handed to Eraser Head.
"Allow me to introduce myself: Detective Naomasa Tsukauchi with the Musutafu Police Department. Before this goes any further, I must, by law, inform you that my quirk is a lie detector and is self-explanatory. Now Mr. and Mrs. Bakugo, are you hear of your own volition?"
"Yes," they responded. TRUTH
"Now, would someone please explain what is going on," Mizuki said in an exasperated tone.
The lead detective settled against the desk, taking the lead in the questioning.
"Yes, Mrs. Bakugo, do you know Inko Midoriya formally Inko Shishio?" TRUTH
"Were you aware that she has a daughter?"
"Yes, but we fell out of touch when our kids were very young." TRUTH
"So, you were unaware that her daughter attended this school and was in the same class as your son?"
"I didn't know that," Truth. She looked at her son, wondering why he never said anything or even mentioned that.
"Katsuki Bakugo, at any time, had Izumi Midoriya given you letters or notes and asked you to pass them to your mother?"
"No," LIE
"Would you care to rethink your answer?"
"That stupid Deku gave me some stupid ass love letters saying I should give to the hag." TRUTH
"Did you ever read the letters?"
"No, why would I read a stupid love letter from that disgusting quirkless trash." TRUTH
"KATSUKI!" his mother yelled, half rising out of her seat.
"WHAT SHE IF NOTHING BUT A FUCKING DEKU, WHOM THE HELL CARES?" TRUTH
"Katsuki Bakugo, those were, in fact, not "love letters," but they were cries for help; Izumi Midoriya was trying to get a message to your mother. In the past years, Inko and Izumi have been victims of extreme domestic abuse."
Suddenly a loud commotion could be heard as the shouts of police could be heard and someone being tackled to the floor.
"Do not be alarmed. That is simply the police raiding the school," Eraser Head said as he continued reading the file's contents. "Do you mind if I take over detective?"
"No, sir, go right ahead."
"Katsuki Bakugo, have you ever used your quirk on Izumi Midoriya?"
The supreme confidence began to fade. "NO" LIE. The detective just raised an eyebrow.
"YES, BUT I HAD TO PUT THAT DUMB WHORE IN HER PLACE." TRUTH
"Were your parents aware of your actions?"
"NO." TRUTH
"Were any of the school faculty aware of your actions?"
"They understood she needed to be put down; it wasn't just me. Many people did it; it would have been better if she had just jumped off a bridge." TRUTH
His parents gasped, and even the detective was surprised. Eraser Head leaned forward, "In my hand, I have a medical report showing Izumi Midoriya had detectable and noticeable traces of Nitroglycerin in her bloodstream and burn marks constant with being exposed to close-range explosions. Not only that are signs of multiple concussions and Pulmonary Barotrauma or Blast Lung. Not to mention a nice handprint on her back containing foreign DNA. Katsuki Bakugo you are under arrest."
"No," his parents said, rising to their feet.
"YOU CAN'T ARREST ME; I AM GOING TO BE THE NEXT NUMBER 1 HERO. THAT WORTHLESS BITCH WILL NEVER BE ANYTHING BUT A USELESS DEKU. SHE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A QUIRK, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE."
"When I am done with you, you will be lucky to be able to use your quirk to light a campfire." Eraser Head said.
The detective stepped forward and restrained the boy, securing the quirk suppressant cuffs. "Katsuki Bakugo, you are under arrest for assault and unlawful use of a quirk. Mr. and Mrs. Bakugo, you are welcome to follow as he will not be transported to Musutafu Child Detention Center."
Katsuki was dragged out of the principal's office screaming and raving like a madman, demanding that he be released as the next great hero, that Izumi had gotten whatever she had deserved, that he was superior, and that this was a great mistake. His parents watched in horror the monster they had raised and let run rampant. Mitsuki was breaking down, her son had taken after her so much, and she had paid no heed to his demeanor and behavior, stepping in to defend him and his attitude from her husband. She had failed Katsuki; she would have to do everything in her power to try and save him, even if she had to keep him from himself.
-An extraordinary hospital room-
"ALL MIGHT!"
The sudden outburst startled Inko and the number one hero woke up. Inko then saw All-Might next to the bed, and she shouted, "All-MIGHT!". Soon both girls were struggling to get up and make themselves presentable; the hero was flustered momentarily before he could get them calmed down. Inko was now standing beside the bed while Izumi was sitting up.
"I apologize for startling you ladies, Recovery Girl and Midnight have returned home to get some sleep after the long night. I volunteered to watch over you till they returned, and I am ashamed to say I fell asleep myself."
"There is no reason to apologize, sir; I can only thank you for taking the time to watch over Izumi and me; I know you have much more important things to do," Inko said, bowing several times.
"I am sorry that you had to waste your time on someone like me, sir," Izumi said weakly.
"Nonsense. Both of you raise your heads, It is not my place to speak, but I want to tell you that I will do everything in my power to keep that man away from the both of you."
The girls were in stunned silence; hope had been dancing in their minds, afraid to come to light as if doing so would cause it to fade away. Yet, now here was the number one hero telling them he was on their side and would do everything to protect them. It was too much, and soon the tears exploded from the two. All-Might tried his best to placate and calm them, but the raw emotion for the mother and daughter was too much. Just knowing that it was now a real possibility that the nightmare might be coming to an end was too much.
When mother and daughter finally composed themselves, Inko finally asked the question. "All Might not say that we aren't grateful you are here, but I have to ask why you are going this far for us."
All-Might paused, "Do you know your birth mother?"
"I have some memories of her but not a lot, she gave me and my brother up for adoption when I was very young, and my brother was but an infant. What does she have to do with this?"
"Your mother was Nana Shimura, the hero Sky Gal; she is the one that trained me before her death. I was young and unable to save her. I never knew what had happened to her children, knowing that you and Izumi have suffered in such a fashion." He took a deep breath."I feel like I have failed her all over again. I know that not knowing gives me an excuse, but I consider it an excuse. I ask that you allow this fool to do all he can to help to alleviate his conscience.
Inko was lost for words. Her mother had trained thee All-Might, and now the number one hero was asked to protect her and her daughter. Inko was an unselfish woman; she never wanted a lot, she never asked for much, and the thought of being this selfish tore at her core. But, Izumi. She was Inko's world; her daughter had suffered, and she wanted to see her bloom and grow. See her dare to dream for something more than a day without violence, see her have an absolute dream and be able to achieve it, whatever it may be.
"We are in your hands All-Might," Inko said, lowering her head to the number one hero.
"Yagi Toshinori," he responded as the two girls looked at him, slightly confused. "That is my name; please call Yagi or Toshi if that is too much."
The trio sat in silence for a moment. "Mr. Toshi?" Izumi asked softly.
"Yes, young Izumi?"
"What happens now?"
"When Ms. Midnight and Recovery Girl return, we can discuss your options. The first thing will be to find a safe place to live and replace your possessions."
"I did tear up the house, didn't I," Izumi said with a hint of sadness.
"You did so to save yourself and your mother, recovery crews are already hard at work, and I promise I will make sure any sentimental items are recovered and returned to you."
"I don't know how we will find a place to live; we have very little money. HE made sure of that," Inko said.
"Then I will provide you with all the money you need,"he could see Inko immediately going to protest. "Please, Inko, years of being a hero have made me quite wealthy, and I have nothing or anyone to spend it on, allow me to use some of it for you and Izumi."
With that, they waited, making small talk which didn't last long when Midnight and Recovery Girl returned; the two heroes stepped off to the side as Recovery Girl went into Doctor mode, examining her patients.
"The both of you are extremely malnourished, but I congratulate you, Inko. You managed to keep Izumi from any lasting harm. I think we can get her on track with a proper diet. We need to ensure that she is eating right and getting some exercise to help rebuild her. Eating properly and resting safely will do both of you wonders."
"Speaking of which," Midnight said. "After speaking with All-Might, I was wondering if you two would like to come to live with me?"
Inko and Izumi just blinked.
"Fire Breath has already been released, but rest assured he will not be allowed anywhere near you; the restraining orders have been granted, and I delivered them to him personally," Toshi said.
"My place is safe and unlisted; this way, I can help keep you two safe like I promised." Midnight added.
"I can always give you your place if you would like, but I won't be there as much to watch over you. Midnight can solve that issue, and I have offered to help with any financial needs. Also, I am sure it will give you peace of mind that she is there looking out for you both."
"And It would also help me; I could use someone to help me at home. Being a pro and a teacher, I hate to admit that having someone to make sure I eat right alone would be worth its weight in gold. I figure I could pay you to be my housekeeper, and that will give you time to adjust and maybe go back to school to finish your degree or whatever you choose to do. We could help each other out."
Inko looked at Izumi, who nodded; Midnight had been the first to take a chance on them and had set all this into motion; she made Izumi feel safe. "We will be in your care Nemuri," Inko said.
-A New Beginning-
Midnight, All Might and President Mic escorted Inko and Izumi out of the hospital through a private exit. They were then taken to their new home in a private SUV through a parking garage. Inko and Izumi were nervous throughout the ride, anticipating a possible trap or unexpected event. Upon arriving at the spacious penthouse apartment, Izumi frantically searched for HIM, but he wasn't there. She returned to the living room and nearly broke down in tears while telling her mother he was nowhere to be found.
The two held each other; having dared to dream, they feared it would be taken away. They knew mentally that there was no way for All-Might or Midnight to betray them, but the fear was deep. All the years of punishment and abuse they had left deep scars on them.
During the night, All-Might slept on the couch while the mother and daughter shared a bed. Nemuri stayed up late discussing plans and actions for the future with the number one hero. All-Might had to depart the next day, but he wished to accompany the group for shopping to purchase clothes and essentials before leaving. A vital operation was on the horizon, and he wanted to ensure they were in a good position beforehand.
The family woke in the morning expecting the nightmare to start again when it didn't; slight trepidation walked alongside their hope. Going out in public was difficult. They were nervous and fidgety, Izumi more so than Inko. Their heads constantly looked for danger, especially as they were outside their regular approved routes and going to places, they had been forbidden. They only managed to handle an hour or two before it overwhelmed them, forcing them to return to their new home. All-Might quietly seethed with anger; he understood how long of a journey they would have, but bearing witness angered and hurt the number one hero. He couldn't punch this into oblivion; the psychological trauma would take time.
While his date with destiny was on the horizon, he would do everything he could to ensure their future would be bright and a place where they could dream in peace.
-Katsuki Bakugo-
Having spent the night in a juvenile detention center or the JDC was spent not in reflection or with life-changing epiphanies but in anger and rage. He had done nothing wrong; it was all that damn pebble's fault. Now his perfect story and perfect ascension were marred by this incident. Here he was, the next great hero dealing with pathetic lowlifes and future villains; being forced to breathe the same air as these rejects was almost enough to make him sick. He had just finished telling some leave what he thought of him when a group of older boys cornered him.
Katsuki readied to blow these damn extras back to whatever hole they had crawled out of, but the quirk-suppressing bracelets quickly reminded him that he was quirkless. The bracelets did wonders on emitter types but could do very little on mutant types, as Katsuki found out. He had always fancied himself a fighter, but he had never been in a fight. It was always one-sided beatdowns, ones facilitated by his extraordinary quirk. Now he was without his quirk, and the ten-year-old would learn a painful lesson. It lasted for 10 minutes before they came and broke it up. He tried to fight but was quickly overwhelmed; in the end, he was on the floor in a ball, covering his head, wondering where someone was to end the attack.
This wasn't a one-off occurrence. On the third night, when it happened again and again, no one came till the guards noticed, lacking any real effort, making their way over to stop the attack with a light verbal reprimand. He sat there wondering why no one interfered, why the others just walked away.
"You are wondering why no one jumped in?" a small voice with a noticeable lisp rang out.
Katsuki turned and saw a tiny boy with purple orbs for hair; he was holding out a damp cloth so Katsuki could clean himself up. Not waiting for a reply, the boy continued.
"I bet you were the top dog in your school and ran everything; you could beat on whomever you wanted and do anything your heart desired. It might make right. No one dared to stand up to you, and those that did wouldn't do it a second time after you taught them a lesson, am I right?"
Katsuki nodded.
"Here you are, dog shit, no one knows you or cares. You have no quirk here, no power, nothing that makes you special. You might as well be quirkless; it sucks when the world decides you are on the bottom, and you can do nothing about it."
"I can get stronger and show everyone who they are messing with." Katsuki snarled.
"And then you will go too far and end up back here, or worse. You do you; maybe if you get out of here, remember how you felt and that someone weaker than you in every way possible offered you some kindness."
"What's your name?"
"Minoru Mineta." The boy said as he walked off.
-Flame Breath-
As ordered, he sat in the safe house; the guards watching him didn't interact or offer conversation. On the second day, the news story broke an exclusive video of the hero attacking and fighting his daughter. His stock plummeted; he was thankful they had confiscated his phone, as he was sure it was blowing up.
Umpire spoke up in his defense, talking of how Flame Breath was a great hero and father, constantly working to give his family everything. Nothing from Speed Freak; he had just disappeared. The following day he was presented with a statement that made him just puke. There are no defensive claims of mind control, how his daughter attacked him, or even the infidelity/attempted murder. He was defending himself. When he brought it up to the commission agent, the agent turned on the television and turned up the audio with his voice ringing loud and clear.
Luckily for him, the agent had multiple copies of the prepared statement, as many were burned that day.
-Inko and Izumi-
Nemuri notified them before the news story broke, and Flame Breath was about to release a statement. They prepared as best they could but needed to prepare for what happened. They watched as he stepped on the stage, dressed in his hero costume, a very recognizable stern look on his face. He stepped to the podium as the lightbulbs flashed.
"I would like to thank you for coming today as I address the allegations that had been made against me. They are all true; I have been an abusive father and husband to two people who did nothing to deserve it. I will step away and seek the help I need to ensure that I can become a better person. For those who had put their faith and trust in me, I can only offer my most sincere apologies and beg for your forgiveness and understanding. To my wife and daughter, I offer no platitudes for what you endured due to my actions. I will ask no forgiveness from you and expect none. I ask that you in the media please allow them the time and space needed to heal; I will surrender to authorities to accept and bear any punishment our great legal system lay before me. Thank You." He stepped back and bowed deeply as Endeavor stepped onto the stage and placed his former sidekick in cuffs, placing him under arrest and leading him off the stage."
Inko and Izumi hugged and cried; they could do nothing; the nightmare was over. They were free.
"What now?" Izumi asked Nemuri.
"It is time for you two to heal," the pro-heroine said. "The scars will never be gone, and they will never be forgotten, but things will get better in time, I promise. It is safe to dream again."
-Katsuki Bakugo-
He stood outside the JDC with his parents; they had posted bail for their son. On the trip home he looked at the news reports, how Flame Breath had admitted to everything. The entire car ride was silent; he remembered all the pain and suffering he had already inflicted on Deku and how he had a chance to be a hero and failed. Now his future was up to the courts; his dream of being a hero was dangling by a thread.
-Izumi Shimura-
It had been six months since that terrible but wonderful night. The divorce papers had been fast-tracked, but a stellar legal team and her mother's demands had been met without contention. She no longer had to bear that monster's name; she was now Izumi Shimura, the granddaughter of a great hero.
A healthy diet and a safe place to sleep had done wonders for the little family. Nemuri was a gentle and reassuring presence in their life, giving space and gentle nudges. They had clothes, things they had chosen on their own; Nemuri had taken them to get their hair cut, bought them skin care products, and did all she could to bring them back to life.
Therapy had started at first with sessions in the condo before the girls were comfortable enough to leave the house and attend sessions at the doctor's office. Recovery Girl continued managing their medical recovery; all-might would check in to reassure him.
As Izumi sat with All-Might one evening, she looked at the pro. "All-Might?" she asked, fidgeting with her hands.
"Yes, young Izumi?"
"Can I be a hero?"
"Do you want to be?"
"I think I do; I had always wanted to be before my quirk came in; I wanted to be a real hero, not like the monster that HE was. But then I was trying to survive. But now…"
"I think you can be a great hero with or without your quirk, young Izumi. You have the heart of a hero, and if that is what you desire, I swear I will do all I can to help you become a magnificent hero."
"Then please train me All-Might; I want to be a hero."
Chapter 4
-Safety + Peace + Love + Time = A Whole New Life-
Healing is a journey with bumps and pitfalls and is often never a straight line as much as we desire it to be, not quite as much as we want it to be quick. It is a constant process of moving forward through slow, occasional steps back but nevertheless a continual journey ahead. It has to be like time, un-relentless, undetermined, and unstoppable.
Izumi was like time, undaunted by the pitfalls, bumps, or backsteps; she would not let it stop her. She had glimpsed the promise of tomorrow, its taunting rays of light and hope, and pierced her dark world, which was glorious. She would not live in the dark anymore. She was constantly moving for that sweet promise of tomorrow. You live for Today; you remember yesterday, but you never forget that precious promise of tomorrow.
Inko and Midnight were concerned when one morning they found the young girl in the exercise room with All-Might, sweat dripping off her as the mountain of the man shouted encouragement and motivation to keep pushing forward. They wanted to jump in and chastise the man, but Izumi was responding; it was when he shouted at her.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE?"
"A HERO!"
"CAN A HERO STOP MOVING JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE TIRED?"
"A HERO NEVER STOPS; THEY ALWAYS MOVE FORWARD."
"NOW KEEP GOING, YOUNG IZUMI. PUSH FORWARD, GO BEYOND"
"PLUS, ULTRA!"
At dinner, they addressed it; Inko and Nemuri sat and asked the girl eating a healthy portion of baked chicken, "Izumi honey do you want to be a hero?" Inko asked.
"I do, momma," the girl responded.
"Why, baby?"
"There need to be more heroes like Midnight and her friends, people who were willing and able to help people like us. We can't be the only ones who suffer like us, if not worse. I want them to know that a hero will help them and listen even if they think no one will."
Inko wanted to tell her daughter no, to keep her close and safe, away from that terrible world. But this was the first thing Izumi had been passionate about in such a long time, her shields were strong, and they would only get more vital with luck. "Then be the best hero you can be Izumi; I will support you one million percent."
"Me too, Izumi; when you are comfortable, I will even ask Eraser Head and President Mic to help out when they can."
"Thank you," Izumi managed to wipe away a few tears as she focused on her meal, her mind drifting back to the two notebooks on her desk. "The American Dream Training Program Vol:1" and "Heroic Analysis for the Future Vol: 10".
-Fear + Self Loathing + Time = A kick to the head-
Katsuki Bakugo sat in the courtroom as the charges had been read, the prosecution had presented its case, and the defense had done its best. It was evident from the initial interview, eyewitness testimony, video footage, and even the defendant's testimony that Katsuki Bakugo was fucked.
He knew what he was doing was wrong in some fashion even as he did it, but he was a child, ten years old, and for six years, he had been allowed to run rampant without a leash or any measures in place to ensure some system was in place to prevent him from becoming what he had become.
The judge looked at the boy standing before her with his parents by his side.
"Katsuki Bakugo, you have been failed by the system and very institutions that were there to help correct and report your abusive behavior. Your parents failed to notice your antics or crimes and failed you. After reviewing all the facts in this case, I was ready to enact the maximum punishment. Not only for you but for your parents, as your actions and their inactions have led to you being here before me on this day. Do you know what the maximum sentence is?"
"No, ma'am, my lawyer did tell me that I could be up to 20 years in prison." The boy responded.
"That is close to correct; I was ready to do just that, Mr. Bakugo, along with the requirement of quirk-suppressing cuffs for the rest of your life. Till a young girl came to see me," Katsuki's eyes widened as his head tilted down and shot up, looking directly at the judge. "This girl, obviously scared and shaking, came to me and asked that I give you a chance. Do you know who that girl was?"
"Izumi…" he answered in a whisper.
"Correct," the judge said, leaning forward. "The victim of your crimes came to me and asked that you not be sent to prison but be allowed a chance to prove yourself worthy of the title Hero. At first, I was flabbergasted that this must be a result of her traumatic abuse, a case of stockholm syndrome and that she would come and ask such a thing. I made her explain herself, and she said the system had failed you just as much as it had failed her, that while you may have been part of the failing, you could still make a difference. If she had insisted you walk free, I would have dismissed her entirely, but she wants you to be punished, not obliterate your life.
Katsuki Bakugo, you have been found guilty on all charges and are sentenced to 15 years' probation as a result. An order of protection has been established for yearly review by this court between you and Izumi Midoriya with an annual review for renewal. A distance of 1000 yards is to be maintained at all times, and all forms of communication are strictly forbidden. You are to attend mandatory psychiatric counseling; in a lockdown facility for the period of no less than one year, at which point you will, upon release, participate in court-ordered counseling per the recommendation of your case manager; you are to wear quirk-suppressing cuffs at all times when you are not inside your home, you will serve 10k hours of community service. YOU will follow the law at all times. Should you have ANY infraction, you will immediately be taken into custody and serve your sentence of 15 years + any additional time for the inciting offense; this shall be done consecutively without the possibility of parole or early release, with no time considered for time spent on probation before the incident. Should you desire to enroll in a hero course for university, this policy will stay in effect with a faculty member appointed by the court to be in charge of your quirk-suppressing cuffs. You are not to leave the country without the express WRITTEN approval of this court.
Masaru and Mitsuki Bakugo, you are fined and ordered to pay a fine of 36 million yen which will be held in trust for the victim. Five hundred hours of community service, you must attend and pass mandatory parenting classes and court-ordered counseling as a couple and a family. The terms of your payments may be structured if you cannot pay them now. Your negligence is as much to blame as those sorry excuses of former educators down the hall; your saving grace is that there is no evidence you witnessed any of your sons' crimes, but as his parents, you are responsible.
Before you leave my courtroom Katsuki Bakugo let me make something clear to you, you walk out of here today and not jail because Izumi Midoriya came to my chambers and pleaded that you were someone worth saving, that you were someone worth a second chance. You would go to jail if it weren't for her impassioned plea. All it takes is a simple act of kindness to change someone's world or an act of forgiveness to give someone a second chance. There will not be another chance, young man. The court is adjourned. Please see the clerk outside for all your paperwork before you leave the building."
With a clang of the gavel, it was over; he wasn't going to prison; Izumi had come and begged him to have a second chance. He wasn't worthy of a second chance; he was the real Deku; he could have been a real hero if only, for one second, he had listened and passed a note on to his parents. His parents led him out to be fitted for his QSCs and to file all the paperwork needed to allow them to go home for a little bit. The worst part was that he couldn't even tell her he was sorry for being a piece of trash; truthfully, he knew he wasn't worthy of doing so.
He was only home for a short time before he was assigned his mandatory treatment facility; his parents drove him up to the place it was high in the mountains. Unfortunately, they could only take him to the gate, where he would be escorted in. They promised to visit often, but he turned and said, "Please don't; I need to figure out what is wrong with me. I will let you know when I am ready to see you."
"Can we call you at least?" his mother asked.
"Yea, I would like that. Mom, Dad, I am sorry for failing you. I promise I won't mess this up. I will prove to you and Izumi that I deserve this second chance." He bowed to his parents, fighting back his first tears in a long time.
"I know you will, brat, I know," Mitsuki said, hugging her son tightly.
Katsuki stiffened before returning the hug, "Don't call me a brat, you hag," he replied softly. When they broke apart, Masaru stepped forward and hugged his son.
"Become the man I always knew you could be," was all he said.
"I will, Dad, I swear." He said. He watched as his parents stood there with their arms around each other as he turned to the waiting guards handing over his duffel bag with items approved for him to bring. "Katsuki Bakugo reporting."
-Solitude + Anger + Stupidity + Time = Self Destruction-
Hector Berlioz once quipped, "Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately, it kills all its pupils." A French romantic composer, his words would far outlast most of his work, but his words, like time, were everlasting. Except, of course, for Symphonie Fantastique, some things are timeless. A piece of music that tells the story of an artist's self-destructive passion for a beautiful woman or a disgraced hero's obsession with two women that stood up and said NO.
For nine long months, Fire Breath had sat in his safe house; only a few representatives from the commission were present, and his movement, habits, and online access were all monitored and restricted. The only accurate contact was when Ms. Hiro walked in, dropped his divorce papers in front of him, and forced him to sign. The press conference had done its job of making him look like a terrible person; some corners were offering sympathy while others were calling for his head. A simple 2-hour stay in a holding cell was all he had to do to be released on bail till his trial.
He was at first angry about the trial, but when he began to meet with lawyers, it at least provided him with some interaction that he had been starved of. He was about to get some other interaction from a young nubile paralegal who just needed some convincing when Ms. Hiro interrupted, and the girl was whisked away, a longing in her eyes that Hisashi recognized, a longing that only he saw.
Anger turned to Rage as not only was there to be testimony from those vile bitches, his ex-wife, and daughter; others had started coming forward, ridiculous claims of coercion, blackmail, sexual assault, and rape. Women he had taken to the gates of heaven were now coming out and spreading these misnomers and outright lies. They had come to him, begging to be pleasured, begging to know the feel of a real man. Now they were part of the greater conspiracy to try and destroy him.
It didn't matter; he would set it all straight and come out the following number one by the end of everything. It all started when he could slip a note to Umpire; the plan would be simple. Some villains attacked the courthouse when his Ex and Izumi were in court; they happened to die in the attack. He uses his fantastic quirk to fight them off. They die as he is so overcome with grief that he can't regulate his quirk correctly—bam, instant reputation salvation.
Day one of the trials was, of course, a media circus. He did manage to slip a soundbite out though they told him to say nothing; as reporters were screaming for a comment, he gave them one. "I love my wife and daughter; I only hope to find redemption in their eyes, not for me or anyone else."
They chastised him, but he saw the smiles on some of the ladies of the legal team, yea it was working. He wasn't surprised at all the attention he was getting. After all, he was the man, FIRE BREATH, fast-rising hot hero, in every way, oh yea.
He looked around the galley and noticed that neither Inko nor Izumi were present. He was ready, NO PLEA DEAL; HE WAS GOING TO DECLARE HIS INNOCENCE AND SHOW EVERYONE HOW IT WAS DONE. Now he just needed to ensure that Inko and Izumi made it inside to die from the villain attack Umpire had arranged.
-Gross Stupidity + Over Confidence + Did I Mention Stupidity = Umpire-
He understood what Fire Breath had told him. Make sure Inko and Izumi don't make it to trial.
Umpire needed to do this for his friend; he had to make sure he walked free so things could return to how they used to be, drugs, girls, and booze. He knew Inko was in love with him, but they had to maintain appearances; the way Inko would shed joy during coitus was all the proof he needed. He hadn't been able to get off without it, but bro's before hoes. He had to do it.
He hadn't been able to find them before the trial, but he knew they would be at the trial. When he saw the car pull up and the familiar heads of green hair emerge, he was momentarily stunned; they looked so different. Inko seemed particularly impressive; He moved closer with his perfect disguise of the dark blue hoodie, sunglasses, mask, and bat painted black cleverly hidden; two good swings and it would be all over. Before he could move, he felt an arm around his waist and was yanked into the air and deposited harshly on a rooftop.
Before him was a lurking monster of a man known for his smile, but he was not smiling; behind him was a murderous hobo that never smiled. These two men did not get along. They both viewed and approached heroics on completely different fundamental levels. One enjoyed Coke, the other tea Action Movies to Period Drama; the true divide was that one felt that Dogs were the ideal pet while the other championed the devil's favorite Cats.
They could agree on a few things; Inko and Izumi were to be protected at all costs, and Fire Breath wouldn't be drawing breath much longer.
-Inko and Izumi-
They entered the courtroom, taking a position in the back row with Nemuri there as support, along with President Mic for protection; they were there to witness the guilty plea and the punishment faze. A plea deal had been made and accepted; he would get to make a statement then Inko and Izumi would also have a chance to create one. It had been a worry that upon seeing him, fear would overcome them, and for a split second, it did, but then the fear was replaced by anger and pain. Their therapist had told them that the odds were that there would never be proper closure between them, as it was doubtful that Hisashi could ever be shown that his actions were wrong. He was sure that he had acted in the right way and was right.
When he looked over his shoulder and saw them, he did his best to intimidate them with a mere glance, Inko almost threw up at the revulsion that she had performed intimate acts with him, and Izumi saw nothing of the man she had wanted so desperately to make happy and earn praise from but instead a sad and pathetic person.
He was shocked at how they looked at him, quickly returning to the proceedings. Any second now, he thought, any second now. He had a perfect view of the outside; then his blood ran cold; there was Umpire beaten and in custody standing between All-Might and Eraser Head. He saw the number one slash across his throat as they moved out of view with Umpire. He was stunned into silence. He didn't even notice that his plea deal had been accepted, and it was his turn to make a statement. Words couldn't form in his mind as he stood before the mic; he stumbled back to his seat.
Izumi leaned over to her mother; both were holding their statements. "Mom, let's just go." She whispered.
"Are you sure, honey?"
"Us telling him anything won't matter; he won't listen to it anyway. It is just a waste of time. I said I wanted to come and do this, but now I would rather get some ice cream with you and Nemuri. He isn't worth our time or our thoughts anymore."
Inko looked at Izumi and glanced at Hitoshi; he looked like he had just seen a Shinigami. He looked pathetic; that was just how Inko wanted to remember him. "Ok baby, let us go." She turned to Nemuri, "We would like to leave and get some ice cream if that is, ok?"
Nemuri looked at them with surprise; she turned to see the judge looking at her. She waived the judge off and led the girls out of the room to a parking garage so they could leave. President Mic said nothing but instead told them of this great little ice cream stand that overlooked the ocean, run by this little old couple and their daughter.
"Can we go there?" Izumi asked.
"Of course, Izumi," Nemuri responded; she didn't say anything else as she knew that Hizashi was already taking them there anyways.
-A Great Hero ALWAYS Keeps their Promises-
Hisashi was regaining his senses as he was escorted into an empty courtyard with high walls, concrete flooring, with various drainage holes. He looked around with no cameras, no surveillance, only the metal door he had just been brought through; his mind was trying to put facts together; the prison transport troops had no markings on their uniforms, full face plates concealing their identities. Not a word had been said after he was walked out of the courthouse and secured in the transport truck.
Wait a minute…I am not supposed to go to jail. That isn't part of the plea deal. I was supposed to return to the safe house. Panic began to grip the man; he remembered seeing Umpire being taken into custody outside the courtroom window and standing next to Umpire was All-Might.
"If I even hear you looking in their general direction, maybe the last thing you will hear is the wind as I remove your head from your body."
The wind rustled.
-The Cleaning Crew-
Akemi and Kazuo sat in the waiting area in their clean-up suites when the light above the door turned from red to green. They entered the stone courtyard and saw the body lying near the center. A quick look saw what they assumed to be the missing head or the splatter impact on the wall. Akemi hauled the massive blue barrel towards the body as Kazuo sighed and pulled out the pressure washer heading towards the wall.
"At least it was rather clean this time; we should be done in less than an hour," Akemi called to his partner.
"Yea, so I am thinking of pizza tonight for dinner?" Kazuo replied.
"I could go for a pie?"
Chapter 5
A year after that, Hitoshi went missing before Izumi felt ready to re-enter school properly; it had been almost 2 years since that fateful July night that her whole life had changed. The celebration of her 12th birthday was the second-best birthday she had ever had, the best being her 11th, the first actual birthday she ever had. It was nice; Aizawa and Hizashi came over along with Toshi. She couldn't help and cry tears of joy as they sang happy birthday and when they gave her natural gifts, not something her father would throw at her in the night.
Inko was overcome watching the changes; they both had changed and gotten healthy, at least physically. Mentally was still a daily exercise and their therapist was happy with the progress they made. The first steps to fundamental outside excursions that were not wrapped in fear and anxiety were milestones. One would have assumed that a great prize was won when Izumi went down to the lobby on her own to retrieve the mail and talked to the receptionist and someone in the elevator on the way back up. Today though, when the candles were blown out, Izumi said, "I want to go back to real school."
There were questions and concerns, but seeing how determined she was to take back another part of her life, her support network could only do that support. It was determined that she would attend an all-girls academy as men still understandably made her uncomfortable; the only exceptions were Toshi, Aizawa, and Hizashi who had been slowly integrated into her life and felt safe around them. But due to her experience in Aldera, others made her nervous. Nemuri was looking into something they could comfortably afford but Toshi was having none of that and instead had lined up for an interview with the prestigious all-girls academy, Megami-Tachi Educational Academy.
He didn't bother to mention that the interview was a formality and that Izumi's spot was already secured. Being the number one had its benefits. Plus, when you factor in that Izumi was rather intelligent and when allowed to study without harassment had scored in the top 1% of all her testing. It wasn't a hard pitch for the number one, the school offered discretion and privacy as it catered to some of the top families in the country, not to mention its stellar curriculum, which would guarantee Izumi a spot in any field she chose to pursue including heroics. They had a few former pro heroines on staff to teach heroic and quirk theories.
When Izumi exploded with joy at being accepted, the pro just kept quiet, not wanting to take away from the young girl's sense of accomplishment. To his surprise, In private, Inko hugged him and thanked him for pulling whatever strings he did. When he began to protest, she told him that she could tell from the nature of the interview that Izumi would be admitted.
With Izumi returning to school, Inko decided to do the same, wanting to finish her nursing degree and see about being a surgical assistant. Her quirk would be helpful in the field and perfect with some training. It was Aizawa that she turned; he was surprised but did not refuse her request to train her quirk; when they were alone, he was surprised when she told him to teach her how to fight. She would not let herself or her daughter be a victim again. When he was soft, she chastised him; when he went hard, she thanked him. Her spirit was being reforged, and she would not tolerate anything other than complete rebirth.
Izumi was ready or about as prepared as she could be she was nervous, integrating into a new school, one where she wouldn't know anyone was going to be, for lack of a better word, scary. But it was a type of difficulty that she wanted to tackle; all the time in therapy and training had helped to rebuild a small fraction of her self-confidence. Her quirk was a prominent backbone of it; she had focused on learning to strengthen her shielding not only to keep herself safe but to keep anyone she was trying to protect safe. All-Might had figured that piece out when the object was to hold a shield to keep him from laying a finger on Nemuri during training. In Izumi's mind, she knew that Nemuri could protect herself, but the knowledge that someone was behind her, depending on her, allowed her to push to higher levels. It was almost like that night; her shields kept that asshole from hurting her mother. Taping into that feeling and holding it had become the breakthrough she needed. She was slightly worried about her mentor, though he was on a secret mission and wouldn't tell them anything about it.
The years had been good for Izumi, once again a healthy weight, and thanks to the guidance of Recovery Girl, her suppressed development had started to catch up, though that came with the caveat of training bras, which Izumi was not a fan of. Thankfully there wasn't much there to train, but if her mother were any indication, that wouldn't be the case for long. She didn't want anything like that to draw attention to herself, her fear and apprehension around men being the main factor. The morning she woke to bloodied sheets was not one that would soon be forgotten in the household from the shattering scream that woke everyone. Part of her wanted it never to happen, a naïve hope, but one she had held onto for a bit. But that crimson awakening was just another sign to herself that she was getting better, average, not a freak, or somehow deficient in some way. In the end, it was a complicated relationship with womanhood. At least her new school uniform looked cute. Black with pink accents, Izumi had opted for the knee-length skit option though there was a shorter one hiding in her closet that she couldn't bring herself to wear yet.
She stood in front of the grounds staring at the beauty of the tree-lined walkway, the way the other girls walked with what she perceived to be exquisite taste. She looked as the guards at the gate gave her polite smiles as she stepped across the threshold; it was her imagination, but it felt like the air had changed as she nervously made her way to the entrance. As she switched out her shoes, she could feel her locker mates looking at her in curiosity as being new. She stood out, trying not to squeak or make any weird sounds. She went to the office to report in and receive her room assignment.
As she entered the office, she was greeted with the hustle and bustle of activity; not sure how to approach, she was spared when a kind-looking woman with white hair up in a proper bun waived her over.
"Hello, Dear," the woman said, her voice radiating a calming sense. "You must be a new student; I am Ms. Gochi. What is your name?"
"Izumi Shimura, ma'am." She got out with a slight squeak to her voice.
"Don't worry, deary I don't bite, now Izumi, welcome to our academy. I will hand you over to a member of our welcoming committee; they will take you to get your I.D. and gym clothes and give you a tour, after which they will escort you to your homeroom. They will be your buddy for the next few days, helping you navigate the school and get used to things."
"I don't want to be a bother; it sounds like much work for them."
"Nonsense, that is what the welcoming committee does; now let's see who they assigned you?" the woman looked down at her sheet and smiled. "Well, you are in great hands; I am sure your escort will be here soon. Why don't you take a seat over there."
The wait sparked more of a nervous excitement inside Izumi, wanting to start this new step in life but fearing that it would not go well. She sat looking at the floor, fretting slightly. Her nervous habit of nibbling on the edge of her hair had reared its ugly head. Her nervousness dissolved into mumbles.
What if no one likes me? Or if I do something that makes everyone mad? Could they all hate me already? They may know me from the news. What if they were fans of the HIM? Where has he disappeared to? Mr. Toshi says everything is fine; Mom seems to feel that way, not to mention Aunty Nemuri; even Mr. Aizawa seems confident about it. Though he did tell me how to strike the throat for maximum damage, if necessary, what if no one likes my quirk?
"Well, if I don't see how, you can make everyone mad? People shouldn't judge someone just because of what they have seen on the news; in my opinion, to have come through something so terrible and still push forward is very admirable."
Thank you for saying so. But what do I say when I meet them? What if they are mean?
"I don't think I am mean, though I am a bit awkward sometimes despite my upbringing; being around others my age is a new experience, but how about you just say hello."
It took a moment for Izumi's brain to register, and with a surprised eep, she jolted back, bringing her legs to her chest, and looked up at the person who had been listening to what she thought had been an internal dialogue and had even responded. Izumi expected to find a look of scorn or disgust; instead, she saw big dark onyx eyes and a gentle smile, her hair still in the corner of her mouth; Izumi had to reboot.
Momo smiled at the girl who sat mumbling; she had tried to get the girl's attention. As she got closer, she could hear the girl muttering to herself; as Momo listened to the girl rambling, the girl's words drew her in. It took Momo a moment to recognize that what the girl referenced was the case with Fire Breath. Momo was aware of the issue more so than most because her parents were heavily involved with the Hero community, their support department, and hero health care. Momo looked at the girl fondly as she let out an eep and jumped back; the piece of hair hanging in her mouth made Momo smile at how cute the girl looked.
"It is a pleasure to meet you; I am Momo Yaoyorozu, a member of the Welcoming committee," she said, still smiling as she offered her hand.
"Izumi Shimura, it is a pleasure to meet you," her voice coming out soft and slightly unsteady.
"I didn't mean to startle you, but you seemed lost in your world."
"I'm sorry…"
"Don't be it is understandable with all you have been through."
"You know who I am?"
"Yes, but trust me, I have no positive thoughts about Fire Breath; I am only more aware of the case due to my parent's company and their ties to the hero community."
"Are your parents the head of the Yaoyorozu Corporation?" Izumi asked.
Momo winced as this was where things would generally shift to someone sucking up to her or looking to exploit something. "Yes," she responded as she stood to her full height, ready to distance herself.
"That's cool," Izumi said, "I was in one of their hospital wards after the incident; they took excellent care of me." Izumi got to her feet, grabbing her bag. "Thank you, Yaoyorozu, for welcoming me to Megami-Tachi Academy; I will be in your care." Izumi pulled the piece of hair from the corner of her mouth and politely bowed.
"If you do not mind, why are you worried about an adverse reaction to your quirk? Is it perhaps bizarre in nature or unconventional?"
"I create energy shields; I can change their shape or strength depending on the situation. I just haven't had it for very long, so I am still learning everything I can do. My trainer has been beneficial."
"You have a quirk trainer?" Momo asked inquisitively.
"Yes, he was a friend of my grandmother's. They had lost touch, and he found us after the incident. What's your quirk?"
"I can create nonorganic things from the lipids in my body as long as I know the chemical composition. It manifests from my skin, so I have to have it exposed a lot to use it properly, which is rather embarrassing." Momo replied with a blush.
"That would be troublesome, sempai?"
"Sempai?" Momo looked at Izumi with a questioning look.
"I'm sorry, I just assumed you were older than me due to you being… so mature," Izumi fumbled.
Momo knew it was because of her development; even at her age, she was assumed to be a few years older due to her development.
"No, I am the same age; it just seems that puberty decided to bless me overly. The doctors think it has something to do with my quirk due to the amount of calories I consume and the rich nature of my diet I have been given this." She motioned to her body. "Trust me, I wish it hadn't. It makes me uncomfortable around members of the opposite sex; I attended a different school but decided to transfer here last year due to their actions."
Izumi felt terrible for her comment, "I am sorry, Yaoyorozu, I didn't mean anything by it."
Momo could feel genuine remorse from the girl as she lowered her head, making Momo think she had kicked a puppy. "I may have come off a little harsh, Izumi; I apologize. It's hard to make friends. Even when they discover my family name, it becomes them sucking up or attempt to use me for something. Then there are the snide comments about my body, that plastic surgery has been involved, and how desperate I must be to do something at such a young age."
"I think you are very nice, Momo, not just because of your body or family line; you have made me feel like it's ok for me to me in this little time we have been talking even though I have messed up. I don't have any friends either, so if it's not too presumptuous, I would like to be your friend. I don't come from a rich or high-ranking family; I have no desire to get into the medical or support field. I want to be a hero to protect those that can't protect themselves."
"I want to be a hero myself, actually," Momo thought. She only had a handful of people that she would consider a friend, and most of those were on the welcoming committee with her, and only one of them was even in her year. Part of her wanted to say no immediately but could also sense how lonely Izumi seemed and recognized that loneliness. Momo decided to take a risk; if it didn't work out, she could distance herself. "I think we can be friends, Izumi," Momo said hesitantly, saying the girl's first name.
This action was not lost on Izumi as she heard Momo call her by her first name. It made Izumi almost painfully aware of the pit that had been buried inside her for so long, for being ostracized for so many years. She had lost her only friend when she was four and had never found another one in 8 years. She wouldn't cry; she didn't want to seem like a total weirdo, "Thank you, Momo." She said shyly.
The campus was impressive and leagues beyond anything Izumi had any previous experience with; everything was very high-end as it catered to those of station; she was relieved when Momo informed her that 25% of the student body was on scholarship and that everyone had to test to get in. High standards were to be maintained, and bullying had a zero-tolerance policy. That only some students were part of some prestigious family helped to put Izumi at ease.
She stopped, picked up her gym uniform, located her locker, and retrieved her books from the student store. Their final stop was the cafeteria, where Momo went over the options for lunch and that breakfast was offered if she arrived early enough. All the meals were included in the tuition; the only thing that took any money was the vending machines and the drink bar in the quad. Izumi had begun to relax during the tour, finding it easy to talk with Momo whenever a question arose. They stopped before 2-A; Momo turned to her and smiled; we are in the same class, so you will at least know someone. Momo entered first and spoke with the teacher as Izumi straightened herself out, ensuring she looked presentable. She heard the teacher call her in with a deep breath; she stepped in.
She looked over her class and saw more looks of curiosity at the new arrival than the looks of disgust she was accustomed to at her last school.
"Introduce yourself and then sit behind Yaoyorozu," the teacher said.
"Greeting my name is Izumi Shimura; I hope to make friends with all of you and look forward to getting to know you all." She finished with a bow and made her way to sit down.
"Good job Ms. Shimura please pull out your Modern Japanese history book and turn to chapter 4."
No spitballs, no taunts, there were no snide comments. Izumi smiled, doing as instructed; this was a chance to start over, a new beginning, a rebirth.
A few girls introduced themselves at lunch, asking Izumi what she thought of the campus and course, one of the most critical questions. "What is your quirk?"
It was the first time that, in a school setting, she could answer the question in class and not immediately have the room turn against her when she would say it hadn't manifested yet. Momo gave her an encouraging smile.
"I call it Shield; it allows me to create forcefields in different sizes and strengths." Instead of dismissal, she got a few favorable comments and asked if she wanted to be a support hero; one girl seemed interested and asked if she could lift things with her shield and how strong they could get. Izumi smiled and continued the conversation until the bell rang, calling everyone back to their seats.
Of course, it was not all rainbows and butterflies; there were clicks and groups like any social structure. Nothing too disturbing, but it was present; some tried to quietly dissuade her from hanging out with Momo, and others just left her alone because she didn't wear specific make-up or follow certain celebrities. But nothing like she had experienced before, so it was all pleasant to Izumi. Those who attempted to dissuade her were quickly rebuffed, but of course, that meant Izumi would be part of whatever gossip would be spread.
The biggest problem arrived when she was asked about boys, and Izumi replied that she didn't like boys as they made her uncomfortable. Immediately she was questioned about her sexuality when Izumi answered truthfully that it was something she had never thought about, only adding fuel to the fire.
Momo introduced her to Kinoko Komori at lunch, another member of the welcoming committee, and a student in the same year as them. The girl was quiet, making Izumi wonder how she was a welcoming committee member. But when the conversation about Kinoko's quirk Mushroom suddenly the girl came alive, Momo smiled as Izumi came alive herself, and they were talking excitedly about Kinoko's quirk.
It was an excellent beginning overall, having a regular gym class. Though some of the girls questioning her sexuality acted exaggeratedly while they were training, it wasn't physical assault, so Izumi brushed it off.
It was a beginning, and that was all Izumi wanted.
-Everything Starts Somewhere-
Soon school was like a familiar sweater; Izumi had her routine and had made some friends. Momo and Kinoko were her circle; the three would text and study together. She got along with others in class well enough, a heaven-sent gift in Izumi's mind. But the two members of the welcoming committee were her confidants; she even joined the committee to help herself come out of her shell more. The side benefit of hanging out with her friends more was not lost on her.
Inko almost cried the first time Izumi asked for permission to go to Momo's house to go swimming or when she asked to go to the movies with her friends. It took some time, but Izumi eventually could fully confide in her friends about her living with Midnight and over a very emotional sleepover about her past traumas. Izumi was afraid of rejection, but she wept at the tight embraces and soothing words instead.
Not to say their outings were not without trouble, with boys hitting on the trio or harassing them. But it never escalated to the point of danger. Thankfully, it also helped that Momo had a private driver so they could avoid using public transportation.
The three girls had a common goal of becoming heroes and decided to start working out together. All-Might supported their efforts by creating exercise plans for them. Momo and Kinoko also got to know Izumi's "Uncles" and Inko quite well. They spent much time together, often staying at each other's houses or going out. Their parents were used to seeing them together and didn't question it when one or both girls showed up at the other's house.
As she embraced her heritage, Izumi blossomed into womanhood with her unique charm. Though different from Momo, she became undeniably cute with a fuller bust, curvier figure, and even slightly taller. Thanks to the help of Momo and Midnight, Izumi also learned to manage her curls beautifully.
Momo stepped out of the house in her new bathing suit and saw Izumi emerging from the water. Momo couldn't help but stare at her best friend, perplexing her. However, Izumi didn't seem to notice and quickly hugged Momo before using her shields to launch them both into the pool. It was a typical day for them, minus Kinoko, who was dating a boy she had met at her parent's shop.
"Do you think her date is going ok?" Izumi asked as she floated by Momo on a floaty.
"She said she would call us after, but I hope she seemed excited," Momo responded. "What about you, Izumi? Do you think you will ever go on a date?"
"I don't know?" she said. "I haven't met a boy I would even consider going on a date with, but then again, don't meet any unless we go out. I think they are hitting on you two, and they talk to me so as not to exclude me. What about you? Don't you have another ball coming up?"
"I do, but I do it more because my parents ask me to; I am supposed to meet the youngest member of the Ida clan, but I don't think it will work."
"Why is that?"
"We have talked a few times, but I don't feel any spark or connection with him."
"It's ok, Momo; we can get married when we are older and cause a scandal; we will use artificial insemination so I can bear you children while you run the world."
Momo laughed. "What about being a hero?"
"And pass the opportunity to be a kept woman, hell no!" Izumi said, laughing. "I think Mr. Aizawa has a thing for my mom." She added nonchalantly.
"Wait?"
"Yea, he has been training her for a few years now, and how he looks at her when he thinks no one is watching gives it away."
"Is she interested in him?"
"I don't know; she seems open to it now that she started working and stuff but after my sperm donor…."
"He hasn't popped up, has he?"
"No, not a word, but did you hear about Mr. Quick? He got arrested for attempted rape yesterday; he was shot in the leg when he attacked a fan in an alley."
"No, I hadn't heard that, but I don't follow hero news like you do,"
"I know you are too busy stalking Caliben from The Sound of Fury," Izuku said, teasing her friend's celebrity crush.
"It's not stalking. I like to stay updated on my future husband's whereabouts," Momo said confidently.
"We are not even married yet, and you already have lovers lined up."
"Look, if I am ruling the world, I should be surrounded by as many lovers as I want, baby. You know you will always be number one," Momo said, doing her best to sound sultry.
"I guess I can live with that."
Two girls erupted in laughter. Kinoko phoned later and shared that her date went well, leading to plans for another one. The trio conversed for some time, exchanging giggles, and inquiring about Kinoko's experience. However, that night, as Izumi snuggled next to Momo before sleeping, Momo found herself more conscious of her friend's presence.
It was in the 15th year of Izumi's life that everything changed again. Inko woke her daughter up in the middle of the night, immediately putting her on edge. Inko calmed her some when she told her daughter that this had nothing to do with HIM, but instead, All-Might had been critically injured and was in the hospital. The two got dressed quickly and raced off into the night. Izumi worried about what or who could have critically injured the Number One Hero.