Chapter 18: But Why Stop at Him?
AN: Oops, I realized I forgot to update last week lmao. Here's another chapter for your troubles. *Finger Guns*
If you asked her, Eri would tell you she was having one of the best days of her life! She couldn't quite say it was best because that will always be the day Mido saved her, but it's still up there!
It probably also helped that it came after one of the worst days of her life. Eri had been doing what she usually does in the morning, watching cartoons, playing with toys, practicing her stabbing technique, and drawing.
Mr. Zashi, Mic wouldn't let her call him anything else, had said she couldn't practice with her knives until da- Mr. Aizawa came home. That was fine! She just did what Mido taught her. Smile sweetly, say okay, and then go grab one of the knives they had hidden in her room.
A little while later, when she was playing with some blue marbles Mido had given her, Mr. Zashi came to her door to tell her he had to go somewhere and Mr. Lunch Rush was coming to watch her.
That's when Eri got a feeling she hadn't had in a long time. She wasn't very good with words so she didn't know which one to use. But she could describe it.
It was like when Overhaul would send one of the bird-men to her door. She'd get cold and shaky and Eri just knew something bad was coming. The horned girl got that same feeling when Mr. Zashi came to her door. He was trying to smile but even with her limited experience in smiling, she could tell it wasn't real.
Lunch Rush later told her that some bad men had attacked Mido's class and both he and dad were hurt! It was times like that she wished she was bigger so she could get past the hero and stab all those bad guys! Mido would be so proud and then he would be better!
Mr. Zashi came back later looking tired. He told her dad was in the hospital and she couldn't see him but he'd be okay! She wouldn't feel totally better until she got to hug him but it was a start.
But Mido was going to be okay too and he was at the nurse's office so she could visit him! He was even more tired than Mr. Zashi when she got there but he still hugged her tight telling her he was fine.
He was doing that because she was crying on him but she had done that around him a lot so it didn't bother her as much anymore.
Mido tried pretending he wasn't tired and kept talking to her but Eri wasn't stupid! Mido hides a lot. She wished he wouldn't.
To tell him it was alright, the little girl had curled up in his lap and pretended to sleep until Mido got the message he could sleep too. It didn't take long until he was snoring softly.
Looking up at the older boy, Eri had made a promise. She would protect him. No one would hurt Mido while she was around! She'd keep practicing with her knives and quirk so even if Mido did get hurt, she could just make it go away!
He's done so much for her, it was the least she could do.
Eri spent most of the next day clinging onto Mr. Aizawa's leg after he got home. He told her to get off but she could tell he didn't mean it. Dad always tried to act mean but it didn't work on her anymore.
Speaking of dad…she was so happy to see him she accidentally called him that when he got home! Eri couldn't see his face through his bandages but Mr. Aizawa said it was okay…she's still not sure if she can call him that. She hopes she can.
She couldn't tell what dad was feeling, but Mr. Zashi was so happy when it happened, he screamed! And then dad said words to him that Eri was told she wasn't allowed to repeat.
But that led to today! Mido was back at school and he was looking so much better! And he gave her a new friend! Nomu!
At first, Eri was a little scared when Mido explained that Nomu would have a beak like the bird-men, but like her, they had rescued Nomu from the bad guys who were hurting him!
Eri met Nomu out in the woods with Mido and all of the teachers. She didn't like the way Mr. Vlad was looking at Mido but then he introduced Nomu! Eri could only stare in awe…and a little sadness.
She could see the scars and cuts that Nomu's bad men had left on him, it reminded Eri of her's. Well, she wanted to be like Mido so this is how she'd start! By taking care of Nomu like Mido took care of her! Besides, you can't have too many friends!
Mido said that Nomu would protect her and do some things she said, but not all! He gave her a stern warning that Nomu wouldn't help her get any more candy apples than she was allowed or anything like that!
The young girl feels like she should be mad that Mido thinks she would do that! Besides, Mido said Nomu wouldn't get the apples for her, but would he help her get the apples for herself? Eri would have to test this, like Mido says, always look for loopholes in instructions!
After, her big brother, Mido made it clear a long time ago that she could call him that, tells her to just play with Nomu in front of the teachers. Eri's not sure why but Mido says grown-ups can be weird sometimes so she trusts him.
She decides on a game of Patty Cake! Nomu's hands are rough but his touch is soft with her, and her new friend picks up the game quickly! And once they're done, she cheers for him and Nomu chirps for her with a small smile on his face.
Eri is happy he can smile already. It took a long time for her to remember how but she was glad she could. It was one of the few times she'd seen Mido cry but he explained they were happy tears!
Yes, today was a good day. Mido was okay. Dad was still a little hurt but back with her. She had her new friend, Nomu! And best yet! Everyone was busy today so no one could stay with her.
She tried to argue that Nomu could but nobody would leave her alone with him. Doo doo heads. But because of that, she had to stick with dad today which Mido told her means she's gonna meet his class!
Mido says they're really nice. Eri of course believes him. But just in case…
She's in her room now, changing into a long-sleeved UA gym uniform made just for her. And with it, she puts on a present Mido gave her.
Two brown bracers she attaches to her arms and are easily hidden by the sleeves of her uniform. After getting ready, she flicks her wrists, and hidden blades underneath her bracers spring out.
It's something Mido says he got from where he's from. She doesn't have, she forgot what it's called her brother has, but she doesn't have what he does to keep his knives hidden so they had to figure out something different for her.
Until she's older, she won't exactly be allowed to carry knives around with her. Mido says when he did it at her age, it would freak people out. They both laughed a lot about that.
Mido says his classmates are nice to him. Eri retracts the blades. She'll be the judge of that.
"So, is everyone clear on the plan?" Deku whispers.
Ochako nods eagerly from where they talk around her desk before homeroom. Kaminari and Mina both give a goofy thumbs up.
Deku's grin widens. He always looks so excited when they're planning pranks. "Great, Ashido, you can-"
"Mina!" The pink girl whines.
"S-sorry," Deku stumbles on his words, looking unsure. "Anyway, you should-"
"Thank you for your help, Ojiro." Yaoyorozu's voice interrupts them and they turn to see the vice rep handing the normal-looking boy a stack of mats. "Rubber insulation mats for everyone's desks," she informs the class, giving their group a small smirk. "Just in case."
"How?…" Deku looks around, as does Ochako, until all their eyes land on Jiro, who's twirling one of her earphone jacks in her hand and failing very badly at hiding her own smirk.
"So that's how it's gonna be," Deku says darkly to a very satisfied looking Yaoyorozu.
"That's how it is," she replies simply.
The two continue their stare off for a few more seconds before the classroom door being roughly opened scares everyone back to their seats on instinct.
'The Sports Festival…' Ochako thought while walking with the rest of the girls from the locker room to Gym Gamma in their gym uniforms.
After the class had gotten over the shock of their teacher actually, you know, being there, even if he was wrapped in bandages, sensei had announced that in two weeks they'd all be participating in the Sports Festival.
There was some talk about having the event so soon after villains had attacked them but with the promise of extra security, Ochako felt like she could relax a little and focus on what mattered. Placing high in the festival, getting her hero career jump started, and taking care of her parents. Sounded easy when she put it like that…
"Ochako…earth to Ochako!"
The brunette jumps, thankfully she didn't put her hand on herself or it would've turned into a very high jump.
Toru was waving her arm in front of her face, trying to get her attention. At least she assumes so from the way the invisible girl's sleeve moves back and forth. "Are you in there, Ochako?"
Her and Mina went on what they called a crusade in the locker room arguing that it was okay for them all to call each other by their first names after what happened at the USJ.
Honestly, she didn't mind. It felt like a good bonding moment. The only one unsure was Yaoyorozu who said she hadn't had anyone who wasn't family call her by her first name before. So they settled on Yaomomo until she felt more comfortable.
"I don't know why you guys chose the invisible girl to try and get someone's attention," Toru giggles.
"Oh! Sorry! Just lost in my thoughts!" Ochako apologizes, flailing her arms and blushing in embarrassment.
"Don't sweat it, girl." Mina leans in closer and Ochako does not like the way she wiggles her eyebrows at her. "So, what's got you so distracted?…or better, who's got you so distracted?"
"Ha! I was thinking about the Sports Festival, not Deku!" Ochako triumphantly counters.
Her victorious feeling evaporates when Mina somehow moves closer. "I never said you were thinking about Midoriya."
While Ochako's reason for blushing changes, Tsu throws her a line. She'll be a great aquatic hero someday. "That's enough, Mina. Ribbit."
"No wonder you're a frog with how cold-blooded you are," Mina mutters, crossing her arms while the rest laugh softly.
Yaomomo walks up beside her. "We were just curious about what your thoughts were on what our upcoming exercise could be."
Ochako shakes her head. "No, I don't have a clue."
"Knowing Aizawa, we'll never guess," Jiro says ruefully.
The gravity user can't help but agree when they step into the open cement room of Gym Gamma. The boys are already there waiting for them so Ochako takes a spot next to Deku and Iida, sharing a smile with the green-haired boy before looking forward and seeing…not what she expected.
Sure, Aizawa was there, that was a given, standing next to a couple of stacks of gym mats. Ectoplasm stood next to him, a little unusual but not bad since that's whose class they should've been in right now. But standing in between them, for some reason, was a little girl. She was wearing a child-sized UA gym uniform and had off-white hair, a horn, and red eyes that looked at them in wonder.
Ochako could hear Toru and Mina squealing behind her while even a few of the guys remarked on her. Deku snorts and shakes his head.
Before she could question him, Aizawa steps forward. "Because of circumstances, there's been a change of plans for today. But let's get something out of the way first. Don't freak out. Midoriya."
Why was he- "Come out, slowly!" Deku calls out and yeah, Ochako realizes why Aizawa said not to freak out now when the freaking Nomu from the USJ walks out from behind a stone pillar towards them and stops behind the heroes.
"Due to a series of events that I cannot hope to repeat to you or fully understand," Aizawa starts, sounding particularly exasperated. "The creature known as Nomu listens to any command given to it by Midoriya. It is here to act as an extra security measure for students."
Bakugo makes a noise of disbelief. "We're really supposed to trust Deku of all people with that thing." He turns around and jabs a finger into her friend's chest. "Why wo-"
There's a gust of wind and before Ochako realizes it, Nomu was standing in between them all, holding Bakugo up by the back of his shirt collar like he was a misbehaving dog. "H-hey!" The blonde screeches. "What the hell?! Put me down you shit!"
He directs an explosion at Nomu's face but it just continues to stare at him as if nothing happened.
Aizawa sighs. "Why do you still have Nomu protecting you, problem child?"
"I-I don't!" Deku defends. "I think he's just automatically set to do that!"
Bakugo wrestles with Nomu's fist behind his head but its grip holds. "If you don't have this thing, put me down right now…"
"Do you have faith in me now, Kacchan?" Deku asks, she can tell he's trying really hard to keep his smile down. "I could have Nomu here throw you into space if I wanted."
Ochako leans over. "I could remove his weight and it'd be a lot easier," she stage-whispers so everyone can hear.
"Yeah, but you charge in Mochi," he 'whispers' back.
She glances at Bakugo. "Nah, for him it'd be free."
"Midoriya. Uraraka." Aizawa's stern voice makes them still. "No conspiring to throw anyone into space." He looks at Ectoplasm. "Why do I live in a world where that has to be said?"
Deku hums. "So if not space then sensei, then how high up in the atmosphere can we-"
"Midoriya…" Aizawa warns.
"Okay, okay, I'm done." Deku puts his hands up in defeat. "Nomu, drop him."
"Wha-" Bakugo can do nothing else before Nomu lets him go sending him crashing back down onto the ground. He springs back onto his feet fast, whirling around. "You did that on purpose you-" A warning growl from Nomu cuts him off.
Bakugo grits his teeth. "That thing won't always be around," he threatens in a low voice.
Immediately, Ochako moves closer to Deku's side. At the same time, so does Kaminari and Iida stands behind them with Tsu and Tenko appearing out of nowhere behind Bakugo. She pretends not to notice the surprised look on Deku's face.
Bakugo looks around him, eyes settling on Nomu. "Tsk." He turns back to Deku. "You. Me. Sports Festival." He pushes Tenko out of the way to get back to Kirishima.
"If you're all done, we have a lesson to get to." Aizawa gets the attention back on him.
At Deku's order, the Nomu goes back to the teachers and while she thinks Aizawa is staring at them, she can't help but notice the way the little girl is positively beaming at her.
Once things have settled down, their teacher gestures to their other suprise guest. "This is Eri. A ward of UA. She'll be joining us for today's lesson on quirkless sparring."
Kirishima barely catches a charging Mina. "You are SO adorable!" She squeals.
Eri bashfully looks down, rubbing her hands together and twisting her leg. "Thank you…" she says softly, eliciting more 'Aww's' from the class. Again, Deku stifles a laugh.
"Today, you'll all be using Ectoplasm's clones to practice quirkless fighting techniques which we will demonstrate."
Eri raises her hand before sensei could continue and Ochako can't help her own overwhelming need to go cover the girl in a hug.
"Yes, Eri?"
"Can I go first?" She shyly asks. Ochako isn't sure if her heart can melt anymore.
Ectoplasm doesn't wait for Aizawa's response, apparently, he was also enraptured with the little girl because he makes a clone almost immediately, to which Eri cheers. Kirishima tightens his grip on Mina while Ojiro has his tail securely around Toru.
Eri walks up to the clone and gives it a light punch. "How was that?" She excitedly asks Aizawa.
He tries to cross his arms but his broken one prevents it so Aizawa settles for letting his good hand pinch his nose. "I know you're up to something Eri so whatever it is, get it over with."
What did that mean?!
She gives him a thumbs up. "Mido, can you turn it into the blonde angry yap yap boy please?"
Ochako and several others try and fail to contain their laughter while Bakugo seethes. At least even he was above charging a little girl.
It takes her a few too many seconds to realize that Eri called Deku by a nickname. Do they know each other? The greenette in question waves his hand while laughing, turning the Ectoplasm clone into a copy of Bakugo, complete with a scowl.
Eri steps forward, a full smile on her face. Before anyone can react, several students gasp when the girl produces a blade from under her left sleeve. She slices the clone's leg and kicks it.
Before 'Bakugo' can fall to his knee, Eri stabs the clone's arm and twists it behind its back, turning the clone around so that when it landed on its knees, its back was to Eri and it was facing the class.
The horned girl retracts her blade and places her left hand on the duplicate's head while her right arm goes for its neck, springing its own blade. In one swift motion, her left hand twists the head to the left while the right arm slices the neck in the other direction.
The clone explodes in ectoplasm covering the young girl and two teachers. The class stares in silence at what they have just witnessed.
Eri smiles sweetly at Bakugo. "It's not Nomu you have to worry about."
After what turned out to be a very interesting lesson, Ochako had learned some things. Deku had known Eri for a year, they couldn't tell her how exactly they met, but as someone who had been rescued by Deku herself, she had a pretty good idea.
The next thing she learned was that it was Deku who taught Eri everything she knew, Ochako is not even sure why that surprises her.
And the third thing she learned? She is absolutely terrible at fighting. Her whole strategy basically consisted of running at her opponent and hoping to touch them. True if she actually does touch someone, it would end most fights.
But that was the problem. Pretty much anyone with even the smallest amount of training could avoid and outmaneuver her. While she had always wanted to focus primarily on rescue, seeing what happened to Thirteen at the USJ…she didn't want to end up like that. Luckily, even if it makes her heart beat faster, she's got an idea of what to do about that.
And lastly, she learned she has the best friends ever! On the way to lunch, the topic of why they wanted to become heroes came up and she ended up confessing the situation about her parent's construction company and how she grew up.
She thought about not saying anything but after telling Deku off for hiding stuff after the USJ, it'd be pretty hypocritical of her.
And her friends, her wonderful friends, accepted her! Iida told her there was nothing wrong with going after a better life and after Deku was done having a face that looked like he was connecting dots which still kind of makes her nervous, he told her she could've made a ton of money doing a lot of things but she chose to do it by being a hero so how could it be bad?
The resulting hug she gave him left her red but she didn't care, she was just so happy! She hopes Deku is okay though, she might've made him accidentally activate his quirk with how red he got.
But now the day was over and she could-
"Okay, that one was lame! How about this?" Kaminari's loud voice from where he leans over Jiro's desk is heard by everyone. "You know Thor, God of Thunder right?"
Jiro rolls her eyes. "Duh."
Kaminari gets excited. "Alright, who are his favorite characters in the Super Mario video game?"
The punk girl looks around but when it's clear no one is getting her out of this, she answers. "…who."
The blonde smiles brighter. "The Hammer Bros!"
It's almost as silent as when Eri destroyed that clone earlier. Kaminari looks around. "You know, hammer bros? Like the turtles who throw hammers? And Thor has a hammer too…" his voice trails off.
"Welp!" Deku slams his hands on his desk and gets up. "You've had this one coming."
A knife appears from nowhere in Deku's hand and he stabs Kaminari in the side, causing the other teen to yelp in pain.
"Don't be so dramatic," Jiro says flatly. "We all know it's an illusion."
Right, right. Ochako knew that. Illusion. Yup.
"Huh?" Deku asks. He pulls the knife away and that's when they see it. The knife is red and Kaminari is bleeding.
"Oh my god!" Jiro yells.
Yaomomo is over to them instantly, rolling her sleeve and making medical supplies. "Midoriya, what did you do?!"
Most of the class is now around the pair, yelling similar shouts of disbelief. It's Iida who's heard over them. "Midoriya, how could you possibly think stabbing a student could ever be warranted?!"
Deku looks even more confused, pointing between himself and Kaminari. "Did you guys not hear his joke?…"
"I'm with Midoriya." Tenko shrugs. "It was a pretty bad joke." Deku puts his fist out which Tenko happily bumps with his own.
"I don't think a bad joke is worth being stabbed over…" Sato points out.
Deku groans. "What's the big deal? My dad used to do this to his dad all the time."
Todoroki perks up in the back of the group but it's Shoji who asks the obvious question. "What does that have to do with anything?"
Her continuously frustrated friend looks at them as if the answer is the most obvious thing in the world before a look of realization dawns on his face. "Ohhhhhh. Kaminari?"
"What's up, bro?" Kaminari, who was flattening the bandages Yaomomo had put on him, answers with maybe too much enthusiasm for someone who was just stabbed.
"Did we ever tell them we're related?" Deku questions as if it doesn't make her mind stop for a second.
Kaminari puts a hand to his chin. "I could've sworn we mentioned it…"
The rest of the class finally catches up.
"What?!"
"Oh, yeah." Deku laughs way too casually. "Me and Kaminari are related. Our dads are brothers. We're cousins."
Everyone still stares. While it's crazy to find out they're cousins, it still didn't exactly explain the stabbing…
"Guys, seriously. I'm fine." Kaminari raises his hands in a placating manner. "I'm a fast healer. Trust me. This is normal for our crazy family."
Slowly, everyone starts to relax. "You don't look much alike." Tsu points out.
"Well technically…" Kaminari puts an arm over Deku's shoulder. "This guy's dad is adopted but hey, family is family." Deku looks fondly annoyed.
"Well…" Ochako's not sure she's ever seen Iida look more unsure. "Even if this is how your family believes they can act, may I request you keep your stabbings outside of school?"
Deku takes his time mulling it over before looking at Kaminari. "Tell better jokes."
He laughs, backing off. "Or just tell the same jokes when you're not around?"
"Trust me, I'll know."
"Pardon," Aoyama and his sparkles insert themselves. "But the rest of us do not have to worry about being stabbed, avec un peu de chance?"
Deku gives a playful shrug. "No, not unless any of you are villains or something. It's a family thing." Aoyama does not look reassured.
"Great, the nerd stabbed someone, big deal. I'm out of here." Kirishima catches up with his questionable choice of a friend while Ochako joins Deku and everyone starts to make their way to the door to leave…only to be met by a crowd of students blocking their way.
"W-what is the meaning of this?!" Iida marches forward. "You all cannot crowd a doorway, it is a fire hazard!"
Tenko is a bit more nonchalant. "Guess we're getting raided." He bumps Deku. "Can I get one of those swords you looted from the USJ?"
Yaomomo gives them a look so Deku loudly says, "what?! Tenko, no! How could you even think about doing something like that to other students?" When she looks away, he adds under his breath, "yeah, I got you."
Ochako will just chalk that up to them kidding.
After a few more protests from classmates, Bakugo speaks up. "Isn't it obvious? We're the class that survived a real villain attack, they're checking out the completion for the Sports Festival. Take a picture, extras!"
"Bakugo! You cannot call those you do not know extras!"
"You can't tell me what to do, extra!"
"How do you not know me, I am your classmate!"
"So this is the famous class 1-A?" A tired voice from the back stops Iida and Bakugo's fight. A boy pushes his way up front. He has wild purple hair and eye bags that would make Aizawa proud.
"We heard you all were supposed to be the best of the best," he drawls on. "But it looks like we were misinformed. Just some kids born with powerful quirks that let it get to their heads."
Bakugo's threat to murder him after doesn't help. Neither does her classmate's yelling at him that he's making the whole school hate them. But that's when the purple-haired boy drops a bomb. They were gunning for the hero course, and they could get in by the festival. But since they could, that meant any one of them could lose their spot.
The tired boy smiles darkly. "None of you are safe. Consider this my declaration of war." And just like that, he's gone through the crowd. Kirishima whispers 'manly exit' as he leaves.
"Don't walk away from me, extra!" Bakugo shoves his way through next, Kirishima chasing after him to prevent the death of their school-mate.
"Let's see…" a new annoyingly smug voice says. A blond boy makes his way through next but unlike the others, sees no problem with walking into the classroom itself.
"Ah! Freckles, green hair, and abysmally plain looking, you must be class 1-A's class rep Izuku Midoriya, yes?" The new boy is in front of them now and in Ochako's professional opinion, Izuku stabbed the wrong blonde today.
He puts a hand on his chest. "Neito Monoma, the pleasure is yours I assure you." Screw it, Ochako is about to take one of Deku's knives and do it herself. "Member of Class 1-B, I'm here to let you know that you shouldn't enjoy your unearned time in the spotlight, it'll be over soon."
He leans over and whispers so only they can hear. His smile morphs into a snarl. "We are not allowed to make this public, but our sensei told us the truth. We know you're a traitor and working with villains and believe me, we in 1-B will make sure you leave UA, one way or another."
Deku actually looks off-guard and taken aback by that. "I didn't know it was happening!" He whisper-shouts. "And I didn't talk to any villains about the USJ!" Something nags at the back of Ochako's mind but she ignores it in favor of glaring at Monoma.
The smug boy straightens up, a fake smile back on his face. "In time, people will know who the superior hero class is. Goodbye for now, 1-A."
"You're right." Deku is back to his normal smile. "It is goodbye." Ochako sees a faint glow from his hands before she hears…some sort of animals…honking? She can't tell what that sound is from the hallway.
All she knows is that it makes all the kids in the hall scream and run as if their lives depended on it and when the animals appear at the doorway, Ochako can't say she blames them.
Because a few seconds later, with the rest of the crowd gone and only Monoma in their room, two velociraptors make their way through the door, growling right at the member of their sister class.
"P-please." Monoma tugs his collar a bit. "We k-know you make illusions. These aren't real…" the raptors keep their approach slow, lowering themselves to the ground.
"Would you really like to test that with them?" Ochako can't help but match Deku's smile at his words. After all the nasty things Monoma just said, he had this coming.
One of the raptors snaps its jaws right in Monoma's face and he yells jumping back. "I can even smell them…f-fine! This isn't over!" He slowly steps around the dinosaurs before taking off when he reaches the doorway.
Deku disappears while everyone leaves the classroom. Ochako will admit, she hates how good he is at that. But he mentioned at lunch he was going back to Gym Gamma after school so she had a lead to talk to him.
Opening the door to the gym, she finds him standing on a mat in the middle of the room talking to Eri. Nomu stands about two meters away from them, tilting its head at her as she walks in. Eri smiles at her. It's not the threatening sweet one she gave Bakugo, more genuine, so she'll take that as a win. Snipe lays on a pillar on his phone not too far away.
Deku looks at her with befuddled eyes. "Uraraka? What are you doing here?"
"What are you guys doing?" She answers his question with a question.
"I stay back sometimes and spar with Eri." He points his thumb at said girl.
Ochako reaches them and awkwardly swings her arms back and forth. "That's good. Yeah, right, makes sense…"
"Are you okay?" Oh, Deku, don't look at her like that, she has no resistance to his concerned puppy face.
"I saw during training today…you know how to fight…" The pair say nothing and continue to look at her. You can do this, Ochako! Think of your parents! You owe it to them to be the best hero you can be! "Deku I was wondering if you could teach me!" She finally blurts out.
"Eh?!"
"I-I mean," Ochako stammers. "To fight. Can you teach me to fight?" Her voice grows more sure. "I don't want what happened to Thirteen to happen to me, please?"
"I-well-I"
"He'd love to!" Eri basically teleports in between them. "Mido is a great teacher! You can meet with us after school, I don't mind! That's okay, right Mido?"
Deku shakes his head a bit. "R-right! Fight. Yes. Me. Are you sure you'd want to learn from me? My fighting style isn't exactly traditional and…well…" his voice dies off looking away.
Ochako takes a step closer. "Well, traditional isn't really working for me so why not?" She laughs a little and gives him a small smile and he does the same looking back at her.
The two look at each other for a couple of more seconds, Ochako completely forgetting where she is before Eri taps Deku on the side. "Shouldn't you be getting her a mat?" She snickers.
"What? A-oh, yeah!" He laughs awkwardly, jogging out of the room. "Be right back!" Ochako watches him go, leaving her alone with Eri.
Ochako isn't sure what to say to the girl but thankfully, Eri doesn't have the same problem. "I approve."
"Approve? Of him teaching me?" Ochako questions.
Eri gives her a mischievous smile. "I approve." Before Ochako can question her further, Nomu takes a step toward them. "Oh! It's okay Nomy, she helped protect Mido earlier."
'Nomy?'
Nomu chirps in, approval? Before falling on its butt, seemingly relaxed now.
"Thank you," Eri says to her sincerely. "For what you did for Mido earlier."
Ochako smiles back. "Believe me, it was no problem. I swear, I can't look away before a new blonde jerk is going after him, I can't wait to help Deku prank this new guy."
Eri giggles. It's a sweet sound. "Mido has the best pranks, doesn't he? It's so much fun to help him!" She gains a thoughtful look. "Hey, why don't we prank that guy together, as a surprise for Mido!"
Ochako hums, pretending to think it over. "Okay…but why stop at him?"
Eri gets even more excited. "I knew I liked you!"
The brunette gets excited with her but stops when she remembers one of their teachers is in the room. "Oh crap. Snipe-sensei. He probably won't-"
The little girl in front of her blows a raspberry. "You don't have to worry about anything. He's been letting me do whatever I want the longest out of all the teachers. Right, sensei?"
The hero doesn't move or take his eyes off his phone. "I ain't hear nothing."
"See?" Eri asks, descending into more giggles. Yeah, Ochako knew she liked Eri too.
A couple of days later, It's late when Ochako gets home that evening, she's sore and tired, but she's never felt better about being a hero. But that's not what has her attention right now.
It's the fact that she's home. With her parents. Who had abruptly sent her train tickets home and promised they would explain everything when she got there.
She can hear their voices coming from the dining room, along with a third man's voice she doesn't recognize.
She walks into the room her parents are in. From the doorway, the man has her back to her and her parents face her. "Hello?"
"Ochako!" Her mother gets up and envelops her daughter in a crushing hug. "Baby, we've missed you!"
She returns the hug but can't help herself. "What's going on?"
"Do we need an excuse to want to see you?" Her father laughs, rubbing her head and messing up her hair. He laughs at the matching pouts he gets from his wife and daughter.
"No but it's expensive…" she mumbles.
"Well that's what we wanted to tell you, baby girl! We got a big job!" Her father proudly tells her.
Ochako is thankful her mother is holding onto her because she might've fallen. "What?! When-how?!"
"That would be me," the stranger says, standing up from his seat and facing her. His Japanese has a slight accent she can't identify, obviously foreign, she wanted to say American but that didn't seem right.
He smiles kindly at her. He's wrinkled but Ochako couldn't tell you his age. The older man wears a dark blue, almost black opened jacket with a white undershirt and black pants. He sports a full mostly gray beard that still has traces of black in it with short wild hair on top of his head that matches in color.
"It's nice to meet you, young lady. Your parents spoke very highly of you." Her face heats up at what her parents could've said about her.
"You see," he continues. "I run a hero team in America and for the last few years, we've had a branch operating here in Japan but they've had no place to call home here so I thought it was time to change that."
He lifts his arm to her parents. "My nephew knew what I was up to and highly recommended your parent's construction company and I agreed."
Ochako can feel tears filling her eyes. "T-thank you, sir!" She bows. "I promise my parents won't let you down, Mr-er…"
"Oh!" He laughs at himself. "Where are my manners? My name is James Howlett." He holds his hand out to her. "But you can call me Logan."