『Hakari Kotaro』
"Woah... a western mansion in the middle of Japan? That's some money alright."
I stood before the rather large and luxurious mansion in the middle of the city I was in, feeling just the slightest bit of apprehension about standing before a rich people mansion. I was used to such a situation, which was why it made me uncomfortable.
It was the morning after the day I painted Toru, after I woke up from my nap both of us had to leave quickly due to the time almost being night. And Toru seemed quite awkward around me due to her newly bloomed feelings. I'd give her some time to sort her feelings out. Maybe have Toga poke around to see what she feels.
Today was in fact the day of my rendezvous with Momo where we would train together and such. Leading me to standing in front of this rather large mansion.
Yes, I was used to dealing with rich people, but they usually had traditional Japanese mansions like my boss or used to live in the penthouses of the hotels they controlled. But the Yaoyorozu's had a proper western mansion smack dab in the middle of the city. I wanted to come with my new badass bike but I decided to wait until Monday where I could discuss the legality of objects pulled from the multiverse with Nezu.
I approached the double doors being protected by two men in suits, one of them like a regular dude with a rather prominent and large chin while the other one had gills on the sides of his neck. Seeing me approach the intercom one of the men stepped forward, blocking the way.
"Stop right there, this is private property of the Yaoyozoru Family. Turn back now."
My brows furrowed but I made no comment, the man was just doing his job.
"Momo invited me, I'm her classmate. Hakari."
The man looked me over, his brows scrunching at my disheveled appearance with clear distaste. Which was rather fair, I wouldn't trust myself around the girl I'm protecting either.
"Seriously? You? Kid, just because you are in the same school as her doesn't mean she wants you to come to her house. I get it, you are young, she is the prettiest girl in school but this is not the way ok? Look, just go home, I'll even call the taxi for you."
This brought up very conflicting feelings within me. I wanted to get mad at the man for dismissing me but the way he did was amicable so I'd look unreasonable if I got mad at him. So I scratched the back of my head in defeat and pulled up my student ID.
"Look, I am her classmate, hero class 1-A. She invited me to train together, before dismissing me and getting her mad about why I skipped out on our appointment. How about you give her a simple call? Or do you think Momo is the kind of person to get mad at her bodyguards for double checking? She'd be sad to hear that."
"Don't call young lady by her first name-"
The other bodyguard with the large chin placed a hand on his shoulder and shook his head while I looked on from behind him.
"Mas, don't get angry like that. I'll just call the Young Lady, or do you want to take the chance of her getting sad?"
The man's lips narrowed to a thin line but he nodded. After around 3 minutes the situation was cleared and they stepped aside. The gilled man called Mas looked at me warily.
"No funny business alright?"
I gave the man a blank stare.
"Do I look like a comedian to you?"
His eye twitched but the large chinned man put a hand on his shoulder again.
"Excuse my friend, he is a bit wound up. What he meant was, please mind your manners and do not upset the young lady."
I nodded and walked past the men and entered the mansion grounds, my eyes didn't wander as I walked straight for a full minute before standing in front of the large set of large dark wood doors, after a quick set of knocks they were opened to a rather pleasant sight.
"Oh! Welcome Hakari-kun! You came right on time! Would you like some breakfast or should I show you around first? I never have anyone over so I'm rather excited!"
It was Momo and this was my first proper time seeing her out of her uniform, instead she wore a white blouse and a long red skirt that somehow accentuated her breasts perfectly despite being rather conservative. S-tier rich girl aura.
"Ah sorry, I already had breakfast." Toga pouts when I don't eat her breakfast, I didn't have any choice. "Still, you sure it's okay for me to look around? Wouldn't your parents...?"
She shook her head without reservation.
"It's fine Hakari-kun, my parents are on a trip to I-Island and won't be back for at least another week or two. There aren't many servants to disturb us either as my parents believe that a small but reliable team is better than large numbers. So, would you like to look around? I'd love to give you a tour."
When she looks at me so earnestly, I find it hard to refuse..
"Alright, I can look around some before training."
⚀—⚁⚂⚃—⚄—•⚅•—⚄—⚃⚂⚁—⚀
『Hakari Kotaro』
From looking around the mansion I got the feeling that Momo was a rather lonely girl, she looked like this was her first time showing a proper friend around. I asked her if she had any friends over before, she said most of the time they were girls of similar "status" and acted quite distant so it was the first time a friend came over willingly.
Quite sad stuff.
The mansion was nice but nothing I hadn't expected. After around an hour of her showing me around we moved to the gym where we both changed out clothes to our outfits. I brought my own change of clothes via bag of holding, changing into a comfortable set of long sleeve black shirt and loose tan pants. While Momo came out in her hero outfit, it made me contemplate.
"Is... is there something wrong with my outfit, Hakari-kun?"
Momo asked nervously as I looked over her outfit, that while hot I noticed some problems with. Of course until she pointed it out, I held no desire to point them out. I was more focused on her assets first after all.
"Hmm, it just looks impractical to me is all."
Momo tilted her head, not offended at all, instead she looked intrigued at my words. It was rare to see a rich person who could take critique. She tugged on her outfit a little while voicing her thoughts.
"Really? You think so, Hakari-kun? I'd have argued before but I'll choose to trust your judgement." What a nice girl. It seems like I've earned quite a lot of brownie points with her.
I cradled my chin and nodded thoughtfully as I approached her and pointed out the flaws in her choice of costume.
"It's both too conservative and not enough at the same time, you only have 5 points of reasonable output for what you conjure, if you are going to conjure something, it's easier to reach your side rather than your front, and if you conjure something awkwardly shaped, it will snag on your belt. But at the same time you might be worried about exposure."
Momo shook her head at my statement. Seeming quite firm on her stance.
"You raise a valid point Hakari-kun, I'll have to change my outfit accordingly. And no, I do not mind, as Midnight Sensei has proven, as long as your outfit does not pass a certain threshold of decency you can adjust it to help with your quirk. If it's to save people I don't mind at all."
I didn't want to pop Momo's bubble, Midnight's outfit looked like that because she was a deviant first and considered functionality second despite her assumptions. I simply chose to shake my head.
"Well, you know your quirk best, so I'll leave the new design to you. For now, want to spar to see how you measure up against me in a controlled 1 v 1?"
She clenched her fists and nodded seriously. The spirit of competition burned brightly in her eyes. One thing you cannot deny about her is her drive to become a hero.
"Yes, I'd like that very much Hakari-kun."
"Good, let's get into position."
⚀—⚁⚂⚃—⚄—•⚅•—⚄—⚃⚂⚁—⚀
That was...
"I'm sorry if I disappointed you Hakari-kun." Momo said with a sulky tone, she hung her head low in shame.
That was genuinely a sad fight.
She did not even last 10 seconds.
"Why... why a shield?"
Momo flushed at my pure confusion and turned her gaze away. She had tried to block my advance with a medieval shield that I easily ripped out of her hands and poked her in the stomach with Spectral Claw to show my victory.
"W-well, it is a reliable defense is it not? Putting a barrier between me and my enemy-"
I put both hands on the shoulders of the sheltered girl giving her a solemn look.
"Momo, tell me this. Do you think you would win a brawl against most opponents you would face?"
"N-no? I am rather fit but the Yaoyorozu family is not known for their physical capabilities. I'm fairly certain I could hold my own against most but not against our fellow classmates like Kirishima or Satou."
I nodded in agreement.
"Then why are you using a shield that forces you to use at least one hand to defend yourself with and covers surfaces of your body, and which will prove useless against anyone that comes within melee distance of you?"
She quickly deflated under the harsh reality I presented her with.
"...You are right Hakari-kun, but what would you have done in my stead?"
I scratched my chin thoughtfully.
"Tear Gas-"
"I cannot use chemical weapons without receiving a certification."
Bummer.
"Then I'd probably use Caltrops."
She tilted her head and I elaborated.
"Caltrops?"
"Yes, I would have scattered them across the floor the moment a confrontation started, limiting their ways to approach me while making sure to wear durable boots. It's one solid element too so it shouldn't be too hard for you."
Momo nodded with a focused expression, thinking deeply about what I was saying.
"And other than that, do you know about Metsubushi?" I had taken an interest in Ninja's after I fought to death with that one Ninja guy so I was knowledgeable about such matters.
"Metsubushi? I'm afraid I don't."
"Metsubushi is a tool Ninja's used to use, it's a hollow eggshell filled with fine powder such as flour, sawdust or iron filings that they would throw against their enemies to temporarily blind them. They would be useful to have on demand right?"
Momo nodded fervently as if inspired.
"Yes! You have very interesting ideas Hakari-kun, I'm ashamed to not have thought about this sooner!"
"That happens, sometimes the perspective of an outsider can point out things you may not have thought of due to your preconceptions. I think you are more suited for a tool based fighting style Momo-chan. The most important thing we should focus on should be making you produce some things as almost an instinct during a fight. You should memorize several options that cover each other's weaknesses. Maybe 5? Reflexes and getting use to close quarters combat will be the most important."
Momo's eyes burned with determination that reminded me kind of myself, eager to prove myself to the "family" no matter what. Only her purpose was far clearer than mine ever was.
"I'm prepared to do whatever it takes, Hakari-kun!"
My head nodded in agreement and my arms morphed into spectral claws.
"Alright Momo-chan, let's start with Caltrops and Metsubushi."
This actually feels pretty fun.
A/N: Momo gets her well deserved screentime. I find her endearing Rich Girl persona really endearing. Also no idea why those Bodyguards stuck to my mind like they did but they did. Her getting along with the rough around the edges Hakari is fun to write.
Man, Momo kinda sucked in basically everything other than being a supply bag in MHA when her ability is so fun. What did you guys think of the changes I am making with Momo's fighting style and approach? I thoughts she'd be real cool as a ninja-esque fighter with a bunch of tools and such while still being able to apply her more advanced tools. I'd love to hear your thoughts about what I did with her.
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