Authors note:
Speaking: "…"
Thinking: '…'
___
Momo POV
The next day
Outside the UA barrier
The young Creation user was waiting for the limousine her parents were being driven in. They had explicitly asked to pick her up personally, even clearing space in their usually busy schedule just to be there.
Recovery Girl, standing beside her, gently nudged the nervous Momo. "Everything will be alright, dear. Your parents are so eager to meet you. They were probably worried sick, considering how long you were unconscious."
"And that's exactly why I'm scared," the girl sighed, earning a confused expression from the old nurse.
Placing her hand on her sternum, where the rune was hidden under her clothes, she watched the car enter the area, worry creeping into her mind.
Tempted to just activate the rune and wash all of it away.
But before she could make up her mind, the worried figures of her parents emerged from the car. They rushed to her and hugged her tightly. Overwhelmed by emotion, the entire family started sobbing.
"Momo, dear, are you alright? The school just wouldn't let us see you, we were about to file a lawsuit," her mother said while caressing her hair.
Her father embraced them both, a relieved smile on his face. "It seems my presence is no longer required. Do show them what happened, little one. They are your parents, after all," Recovery Girl said before walking back toward the school.
Finally stepping back from their daughter, both Yaoyorozu parents looked at her in confusion. "Momo, what is she talking about? You're recovered, right?" the patriarch asked, worried.
The black-haired girl, still overwhelmed, couldn't form the words. She looked away briefly. Then, out of nowhere, the tears stopped, and her expression became serene and neutral.
With a certainty neither parent had ever heard from her, she said, "There is nothing to worry about, Mother, Father. I have simply received a gift, one that will help me grow." She pulled down her collar just enough to reveal the rune pulsing white in a steady, comforting rhythm.
___
Afternoon
Yaoyorozu Estate
"Momo, dear, are you sure this is the best decision? You just woke up from a coma. Maybe you should take it easy with training. We could skip the Sports Festival, you know!" her mother said reluctantly as they walked toward the family dojo.
Turning her head toward her, Momo answered with a sigh, "Mother, ever since waking up with this strange new rune, I've had a lot of time, and newfound clarity, to think."
Turning toward the balcony on their right, she leaned out slightly, the afternoon breeze catching her hair.
"Think about what?" her mother asked from behind.
"Think about everything. Ever since enrolling in UA, my whole life has been turned upside down, with my responsibilities as a student and as the strategist of my class. I was overwhelmed and mostly confused. There are so many people in my class who are better and more accustomed to combat than I ever was. Yet out of all of them, I was chosen as vice leader in combat and as strategist. And every time I asked what I should do, everyone always gave me the same answer: 'You're the strategist.'" A soft chuckle escaped her.
"Back then, I never understood. Thinking about it now, I realize my own shortcomings. It's honestly pathetic that I needed my whole class, Todoroki, my teachers, and this rune to finally understand how simple and literal they all meant it." She reached toward the rune resting on her sternum, then turned around.
"So no, I will not take it easy. And I will participate in the Sports Festival. Not only that, but I will aim to fight Todoroki for the title of champion. Because I am his second-in-command, and I want to finally live up to that role! I want to be there to support him so he doesn't blame himself alone for failures." Tears streamed down her face as she shouted her declaration.
"From now on, I will not hide behind him or anyone else anymore. I want to stand beside him and lead the others to victory. And to do that, I need to be strong enough for him to see me as an equal. So excuse me, Mother, but I am going to the dojo to train with Mr. Urokodaki!" she said before storming off toward the training grounds.
She unfortunately missed her mother murmuring, "I wish you could see our little girl right now, darling. It seems she's finally found her guiding light."
___
At the dojo
Entering the room, she closed the sliding door behind her and bowed to the man sitting in the middle of the field on his knees, a wooden katana resting beside him. He was an older gentleman with short grey hair and a red tengu mask with a long nose covering his face. He wore his usual blue, cloud-patterned jinbei kimono with navy pants fastened at the shins by white kyahan guards.
"Sensei, it has been too long," she greeted her martial arts master respectfully.
"Indeed it has, Momo. So I wonder if your time away from home has honed your skills." He suddenly grabbed the practice sword beside him and rushed toward her. "Abyssal Blade, First Form: Water Surface Slash," he called out as the blade began to leave a trail of water in its path.
In that instant, when the water-coated wooden blade was mere centimeters from her shoulder, the rune activated, and time seemed to slow for the young Creation user.
'Sensei's quirk, Abyssal Arts. It can enhance any of his movements with water and lets him mimic its characteristics. It's what made him one of the top ten pro heroes before he retired. But for some reason, I can clearly follow it now!' Momo thought before shifting her upper body just enough to let the blade pass harmlessly.
Acting immediately, a wooden staff shot out from her palm, aimed directly at the man's core. He managed to block it with a simple adjustment of his blade. Momo then fully gripped the staff, and the water user fell back toward the training field.
Following her master onto the field, the two began circling each other, watching for an opening. "It seems your time at UA has yielded promising results. Your reaction time is faster, and your indecisiveness has lessened," the man said.
"It has. However, I'm afraid UA is not what you should be giving credit for," Momo said cryptically.
"Is that so? Hm." He chuckled.
"And would you be so kind as to tell me who I should be giving credit to?"
Twirling her staff, Momo looked at her teacher with newfound confidence. "Of course, as soon as you defeat me, that is!" she declared before lunging with a wide sweeping attack.
'Back at the USJ, I was able to briefly observe Odin fight using a spear. Back then, I couldn't analyze his movements accurately. But now, with the rune, I can clearly recall the details. I've been meaning to try some of them out' she thought as she watched Mr. Urokodaki shift into a defensive stance.
Just before the wooden weapons clashed, the teacher remarked, "I'll give it to you, your speed has improved. But this wide of an attack is not ideal for a one-on-one duel."
To the man's surprise, Momo pulled the spear back at the last moment and used the opposite end to strike at his core from the side. He barely managed a sloppy block, staggering back before resetting his stance.
"It seems I've underestimated you. Since that's the case, I won't hold back my quirk anymore. Prepare yourself, here I come." He readied himself. "Abyssal Blade, Fourth Form: Striking Tide!"
In a blink, the water-covered sword was already before the black-haired girl, who barely managed to defend against the barrage of flowing slashes. 'Not good, he's still faster than me. I have to try that move' she thought, blocking one last attack before stepping back to gain space.
"Retreating already? Where's that newfound skill now?" he mocked lightly before leaping toward her, sword raised high. "Abyssal Blade, Eighth Form: Waterfall Basin!"
Already in motion, Momo began twirling the spear around herself, building rotational momentum until she resembled a cyclone of cutting arcs. The multiple waterfalls trailing behind Urokodaki's blade clashed with her defensive technique, only to be repelled by the continuous spinning assault.
"A defensive technique that doubles as offense. Not bad, young lady. But I'm afraid you're still not experienced enough to beat me. Abyssal Blade, Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust!" he called out, thrusting with precision. Numerous ripples appeared in the air, disrupting and canceling her technique.
Immediately after, while Momo was still recovering, he stepped in and placed the tip of his blade against her throat. "It would seem this is my win. Now, what did you say you would tell me if I won?"
Admitting defeat, Momo opened her mouth to answer when a crow's caw echoed from the windows. Both she and the water user turned toward the sound in confusion.
There perched a golden-and-blue crow made of some kind of energy.
"Hoho, and what kind of quirk do you come from, little bird?" the sensei asked playfully.
Momo, however, simply stared into the creature's eyes, feeling a strange familiarity. The crow cawed again, spread its wings, and flew to her outstretched arm. They continued to look at each other.
"You... you're something Odin sent, aren't you?" As if confirming her words, the crow nodded playfully before dispersing into pure energy and flowing into her right eye, vanishing completely.
"What was that about?" Mr. Urokodaki asked, watching as she blinked rapidly.
"It seems to be some sort of messenger from the one who gave me this, and who showed me the techniques you observed earlier." She revealed the rune.
"However, I'm not sure what message it carried, since I didn't receive any information." Momo pondered aloud. Deactivating the rune, she turned back to her sensei. "Well, sensei, it seems there are still things I need to improve. Please instruct me once again, so I can do my very best at the Sports Festival." She bowed respectfully.
Smiling beneath his mask, the water user placed a hand on her head and gently patted her.
"Of course I will, young lady."