Chapter Text
They rose just before the sun, and for the first time since landing in Hawaii, Ochaco didn't immediately put on sunscreen. Despite the early hour, Ochaco was raring to go. Her parents advised her to bring her jacket and wear long pants, because it might get cold on the boat. She had no idea how it was possible to get cold in Hawaii during this time of year, but she obeyed her parents nonetheless. The only form of cold weather clothes she had brought with her was the light pink sweater and black yoga pants that she had worn on the plane. Though neither of them were particularly meant to get wet, Ochaco didn't imagine that that would be a problem. With her new shoes on her feet and new sunglasses on her head, Ochaco headed out the door with her mother and father, eager to see what the day had in store for her.
In the lobby, waiting by the spinning doors to the entrance of The Sea Cliffs, was Jason. The boy with the tiger stripes seemed particularly chipper in the dark morning. He was just as energetic as the shirt he wore; another Hawaiian shirt, this one lime green, with swordfish leaping from white waves. An oddly fitting choice.
"Good morning and aloha!" Jason sang as they approached him. "Your friends were down here earlier and have already left, but I know exactly where you'll be heading for the day. If you'll please follow me, I've taken the liberty of preparing your breakfast to-go this morning."
Is this what it's like to be rich? Ochaco asked herself. Outside the front of the hotel, a shiny silver Jeep waited for them. Inside, three small paper bags and three hot cups of coffee filled the cab with the inviting scents of breakfast. Jason had even stuffed sugar and creamers into the cup holders. While Jason drove, Ochaco and her family happily had their fill. From the back seat of the Jeep, Ochaco watched the unfamiliar architecture roll by, pressing herself against the window as they entered the center of the coastal city and the what must have been the Hawaiian equivalent of a commerce district. There was much more to see on this trip than there had been coming from the airport; markets alive with vendors selling sorted fruits, sand volleyball pits bustling with young, dark-skinned children, and sidewalks teeming with people of every shape and size. It was all so wonderfully familiar and bizarrely foreign.
Then the Jeep left the city, and they entered the countryside. Aside from the massive volcano that gradually sloped up into the clouds to the north, the Hawaiian landscape was remarkably flat. The only terrain the island had to offer were the small mounds of hardened lava rock that rolled into each other and the trees that clustered together along the beach. Against the dark rock, small white stones had been laid out and arranged into intricate patterns. Ochaco craned her head against the window, trying the glimpse the decorations long enough to decipher what they were. Some of them were unfamiliar, but most of them spelled out what must have been names.
"That's some pretty interesting graffiti," Ochaco's Dad commented idly.
Jason leaned over the steering wheel, looking further out the window. "Yeah, people like to collect the dead coral off of the beach and bring it inland to do this. It's actually kind of messing with the ecosystem - the salt in the coral makes it hard for plants to grow back."
It wasn't much longer before the Jeep took a sharp left and drove toward the sea. The natural slope of the hill came to and end, and they drove along a gravel roadway that lead to a large wharf, where about a hundreds boats waited quietly in the early morning. Ochaco gaped at the multitude of watercrafts, all with unique designs and names; Osprey, Kingfisher, Sea Star, and so many other ships with inspiring, majestic, and sometimes funny titles. The Jeep slowed, and the warf opened up to an unmarked parking lot, vacant except for one other car.
"Look, there's Bakugo!" Ochaco announced, pointing to the familiar shock of blond hair.
The teenage boy was sitting in the front passenger seat with the door open. He wore a black hoodie, green cargo shorts, a U.A. ballcap, and a tired scowl as he sipped his to-go coffee miserably. If Ochaco had to guess, Bakugo was not a morning person. Granted, the morning was still young. Jason pulled the Jeep up next to the car, and the boy looked up and squinted at their arrival. His parents, it seemed were nowhere around. Standing, Bakugo watched as Ochaco and her family piled out of their Jeep.
"Good morning, Bakugo!" Ochaco chirped. Swirling the coffee in his cup, Bakugo gave her a sour look.
"You have way too much energy and it's too damn early," He mumbled. He sounded like he was still half asleep. "Nice shoes, by the way."
Ochaco smiled, flexing her toes in the new sandals she wore - the very same ones he had helped pick out.
"My folks are already down by the boat," Bakugo stated as he looked up at Ochaco's parents. "They're waiting for us."
As the Uraraka family followed Bakugo down to the wharf, Jason called out a fond farewell to them, biding them a good time. The sun was beginning to peak over the top of Mauna Kea, golden shards of light flickering across the surface of the water. Dropping her sunglasses down onto her face, Ochaco watched the light display with quiet fascination as Bakugo lead the way through the docks, weaving through the various water crafts with purpose. Eventually, he came to a stop in front of a boat that floated just at the edge of the marina. Judging by her father's sharp gasp, the ship must have been impressive by regular standards.
The boat was about twenty feet long, with a deck and cabin and prow that she would have expected to find on a boat. What drew Ochaco's attention, however, was the large, cushioned chair that was bolted to the back deck, the two thick poles that stuck out on either side of the boat like antennae, and the second lofted deck that rose above the cabin. A thin roof provided shade for the steering wheel and other controls, accessible by two thin ladders on either side. Ochaco blinked and watched as two people - a bald man about the same age as her dad and a young woman with blonde hair - hung from the ladders securing thin fishing lines to rubber bands.
"About time you guys showed up!"
Mrs. Bakugo emerged from the cabin of the boat, wearing a lovely pink sundress and a large pair of white-rimmed sunglasses atop her head. She looked every part the woman who belonged on a luxury cruise liner, all that was missing was the fancy cocktail in her hand. Mr. Bakugo peeked out of the door behind her, his cheeks still streaked with white lines of sunscreen. The two people on the ladders looked up at the newcomers, bright smiles splitting their faces. Climbing down, the older man lithely crossed the deck of the boat and stepped up on the dock. When he spoke, Ochaco was pleasantly surprised to discover that he spoke flawless Japanese.
"Good morning!" He greeted cheerily, shaking hands with her mother and father and herself. His hands were rough but warm. "Mitsuki and Masaru told me that you'd be joining us. Please call me Kobe."
Her father launched into an excited conversation with the captain - what kind of boat was it, how fast did it go, stuff like that - but Ochaco craned her head around the man to watch Bakugo board the boat. He approached the young lady that had been tying the lines - a young blonde American that was probably only a few years older than Ochaco. Her classmate was turned away from her, and she couldn't quit see his face, but his posture was relaxed and open - a stark difference to the tight and closed-off demeanor he usually carried. The girl smiled warmly and laughed in greeting, opening her arms wide for a hug. Bakugo, much to Ochaco's surprise, did not cringe away from the gesture or try to stop it. But when he took his hands from his pockets and loosely wrapped his arms around her lean frame, Ochaco felt her jaw drop open in shock. The hug was short-lived, as the woman pulled away from Bakugo and playfully ruffled a hand through his hair. Ochaco could only hear bits and pieces of their conversation. They were talking in English, however, so to her it was all gibberish. Bakugo shook her hand off of his head and disappeared inside the cabin.
"If you guys are ready, we'll cast off right away!" Captain Kobe clapped his hands together in excitement. Her father, not wasting another moment, headed down the dock and towards the boat. Elated, but also wary, Ochaco reached a finger up behind her left ear, pressing down on the small patch just below her hairline. From the corner of her eye, she could see her mother do the same thing.
Stepping up to the boat, Ochaco watched the captain gracefully step onto the railing and drop down into the boat with an ease that could only come from years of repetition. Turning back to the dock, Kobe smiled up at Ochaco and held out a welcoming hand. Taking a deep breath, she took the captain's hand and hoisted herself up over the railing and onto the deck of the boat. Beneath her feet, the wooden planks felt secure and still. No nausea, no dizziness. Kobe laughed.
"Welcome aboard the Light Chaser, Miss Uraraka!"
From on board, the boat actually looked larger than it seemed. The deck was spacious and open, even with all the equipment and gear that had been brought. The steering compartment up on the second deck seemed to tower above Ochaco, impossibly high and frighteningly small. Even though the boat wasn't rocking, Ochaco could feel her stomach sinking just looking at it.
"Hi!"
Wheeling around, Ochaco came face to face with the same woman that had greeted Bakugo. Ochaco had to grudgingly admit that she was pretty cute, with her golden hair, ovular face, and big green eyes.
"My name is Alice," she spoke in very clipped, heavily accented Japanese. "But you may call me Ally!"
Alice extended her hand. Plastering her own smile onto her face, Ochaco took it with a light shake.
"Ochaco Uraraka," she stated lightly and slowly, placing a hand on her chest. Then, in her own English, "It is nice to meet you!"
Ally smiled widely, and looked like she was about to say something more. But Captain Kobe called her name as he steadily climbed the ladder up to the steering wheel followed by a quick string of English that Ochaco couldn't catch, and the young woman bounced away to continue prepping the boat. She watched as Ally hopped onto the dock and began expertly untying a rope tethered to a mooring. As she observed the girl work, a strange feeling settled in her chest, like a tightness somewhere behind her heart. It wasn't a good feeling.
"Ochaco, come inside with the rest of us!" Her mother called as she and her father also disappeared inside the cabin. Ochaco stayed for a moment longer, watching Ally finish untying the boat tether. The moment she did, however, the ship beneath her feet began to sway. Ochaco gasped, a familiar but uncomfortable sensation tickling her stomach. Before the other girl could see her discomfort, Ochaco did a quick about-face and retreated into the interior of the Light Chaser.
The inside was surprisingly bigger than it looked from the outside. It was a homey cabin, with warm lighting and wooden paneling that conjured the image of being in the woods rather than on a boat. A small table and cushioned bench took up a whole side of the cabin, where Bakugo sat with his head hung and his hands loosely holding his nth cup of coffee. Looking around, Ochaco took in the other amenities available; there was a small sink, a counter with the coffee maker, and a small refrigerator crammed into the cabin. It wasn't much, but Ochaco was still impressed. Her parents and his were busy milling about the rest of the room, unpacking essentials they had brought and chatting idly among themselves. Ochaco wandered over to the table, safely out of the way of the working adults, and took a seat next to Bakugo at the table. The boy jumped as she plopped onto the bench. He looked so tired, Ochaco mused. He was cute when he was tired.
"Take your energy some place else, Pink Cheeks," Bakugo mumbled, dropping his head once more.
"Nah, I think I'll stay right here," she replied, giggling at the sight of him. Bakugo scowled, pulled his cap further over his eyes, and took a long pull on his coffee.
A deep, loud roar shook the boat, rumbling the bench beneath her. Ochaco startled at the noise, practically jumping from her seat. Bakugo looked up, watching her with what was either amusement or annoyance.
"Calm your tits, it's just the engine."
As soon as he finished speaking, the boat lurched forward, and settled into a slow, idling pace. But Ochaco was nearly thrown off balance, teetering at the unexpected movement. The ship was definitely swaying more, rocking to an uneven rhythm that she couldn't match. Placing her hands flat on the table, Ochaco tried to ground herself to the boat - but it didn't help that the table was swaying, too. That uncomfortable feeling in her stomach was starting to escalate. Saliva started to collect in her mouth. Ochaco panicked. Barely two minutes onto the boat and she was already about to-
A firm hand slapped down on her shoulder.
"Don't try to resist it," Bakugo instructed. "Just rock with it, like your hips are on a gyroscope."
Looking up at him, Ochaco gulped down the fluid in her mouth. Bakugo was staring intently back at her, his torso moving freely to counteract the swaying of the boat. She took a deep breath and concentrated on relaxing her solar plexus, centering herself and focusing on the equilibrium in her ears. Her brain seemed to understand what she was trying to do better than she did, and instinctively her upper body leaned into the swaying of the boat. The roiling in her stomach calmed to an unease that was manageable, if only just. Bakugo took his hand off of her shoulder and watched her for a moment longer. Ochaco sighed. At least she wasn't about to puke anymore.
"Thank you," she mumbled, slightly ashamed of her herself for losing her grip so easily.
Bakugo grunted. "Never been on a boat before, huh Pink Cheeks?"
Ochaco felt her cheeks grow warm. "Boats and I don't usually mix very well."
From her seat at the table, Ochaco saw that her mother was having a similar reaction to the ship's movement. To her credit, though, she was handling it much better, standing still with a hand on the counter next to her and her other hand lightly placed over her stomach. Her father didn't hover or fuss, but he did keep a ready eye on her from across the small cabin.
The boat chugged along at an easy pace for a while. Ochaco turned her gaze towards the small window portal, watching the other ships drift by. It wasn't long before they exited the marina, and the only thing she could see was the edge of the island stretching away and the open ocean expanding to the horizon. Within moments, the island vanished from view, and all she could see were sea and sky - two subtly different shades of blue. If she let her eyes relax, it was hard to tell where one ended and the other began.
The boat kicked into a higher gear without warning. Ochaco slammed her hands down on the table as her gut lurched. Bakugo jumped at the sound, nearly spilling his coffee. Recovering quickly, her classmate leveled a glare at her.
"If you're gonna keep doing that, we're gonna have problems."
Ochaco cringed. "Sorry."
Everyone turned as the door to the cabin opened, briefly filling the small space with the roar of the engine and the howling wind. Captain Kobe huffed a breath, smiling at everyone as he removed his sunglasses from his face.
"We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day!" He spoke in Japanese, which Ochaco greatly appreciated. "We're still trying to gage where a good spot is going to be, so it'll still be a while before we start. With that said, I figured now would be as good of a time as any to give our newest sailors the low down."
Captain Kobe launched into a well practiced speech about the rules and regulations of the boat. It was fairly standard as far as Ochaco knew; be careful around deck and when transitioning from the lower deck the upper deck, and from the front of the ship to the back of the ship. He pointed out where the fire extinguisher and life vests were in case of any emergency. And also told them where they could find the snacks and drinks, provided free of charge. Ochaco knew she would be taking advantage of that service, despite her best intentions. Then the captain explained the whole fishing process, and Ochaco started to become confused.
It seemed that they weren't all going to be fishing at once as she had thought. There were only going to be four lines in the water, and they themselves were fishing one at a time. In rounds, they would all take turns sitting in the fisherman's chair on the deck. The four lines were attached to other lines secured to the boat itself by rubber bands - which explained what Ochaco had seen them doing earlier at the marina. It was designed this way so that if something was on the line, the rubber band would snap, and the person in the chair would take up that line and reel in the catch. It was rather ingenious, Ochaco had to admit.
"You're all free to wander around deck as you like, but it'll probably be a little while before we're ready to get started." Captain Kobe checked his watch. "So decide which of you will go first, and be ready."
The captain took his leave - and Bakugo also stood from his seat at the table. Ochaco watched as he and his parents shuffled out of the cabin. But just before exiting, standing before the door, he turned back and cocked an eyebrow at her.
"You coming or not, Pink Cheeks?"
"O-Oh, right."
Jumping from her seat, Ochaco followed after Bakugo, stepping out of the cozy cabin and onto the deck. The sun was well over the summit of Mauna Kea, now nothing but a diminishing lump on the horizon shrouded in sea haze. Wind whipped past her ears, the smell of the salty sea filled her nose. Dropping her ray bands over her eyes, Ochaco crept to the edge of the deck, peering over into the deep blue waters below. Even at the speed they were going, she could still see the blurred figures of reefs passing by underneath the surface. It felt strange, to be skimming on top of another world that was so foreign but so close.
"Come on, Cheeks!"
Spinning around, Bakugo hung off of the ladder to the upper deck, glaring at her through his aviators. When she didn't move, Bakugo turned back to the ladder and swiftly climbed up to the navigation deck, where Alice and Captain Kobe stood at the helm. Ochaco gulped as she stepped up to the ladder. Though she would never say that she was afraid of heights, the metal step ladder seemed so much taller as she craned her head up to the sky. And so very close to the edge of the speeding boat. One turbulent jump, and she could lose her grip and be lost. Bakugo's head popped over the edge above her, eyebrow cocked in expectation. Puffing a cheek in irritation, Ochaco gripped the rails of the ladder.
"I'm coming! Be patient!"
Bakugo shrugged and disappeared.
Climbing the ladder was not as terrifying as Ochaco thought it would be, but the increasing height away from the safety of the lower deck was still concerning. As she reached the top of the ladder, Bakugo extended a helping hand. Hoisting her up, Ochaco took a deep breath and looked around.
The ocean surrounded her on all sides, an endless world of blue the likes of which she had never seen before. The only indicator of which way was up were the clouds in the sky. It was awe-inspiring and mesmerizing, but she couldn't help but also feel a twinge of horror. How scary it would be get lost out here, she mused.
"Come sit down before I push you overboard." Bakugo's gruff voice cut through her thoughts.
He was sitting at a small cushioned bench in front of the steering wheel that Ochaco couldn't see from below deck. It was the perfect size for two people to sit side-by-side. As she sat down, the heat of Bakugo's thigh against hers reminded her that she had left her sweater in the cabin below. With the wind whipping around her, her own body heat was being snatched away. Within seconds, goosebumps were raised on her skin. As she tried to rub away the ones on her arms, Bakugo sneered.
"You lose your jacket this time?" As he spoke, he had already removed one arm from his jacket sleeve.
"No!" Ochaco shot back. "It's just down stairs. I'll be fi-what are you doing?"
As an answer, Bakugo tossed his windbreaker in her face. Even with the wind and the smell of the sea, Ochaco could still pick up the faint scent of Bakugo's musk on the jacket; spicy like curry, but also strangely sweet like spun sugar.
"I swear this is the last time I'm lending you my clothes." Bakugo murmured, sitting back.
"You said that last time," Ochaco huffed. "What about you?"
"I have the internal temperature of a volcano, Pink Cheeks." Bakugo flashed her a smug grin. "Don't you worry about me."
Ochaco looked down at the jacket. "Well, thank you," she said as she slipped it over her head. She missed the small giggle from Ally and Bakugo shooting her a silent glare over his shoulder.
The Light Chaser sped along the surface of the ocean for a little while, the deep blue waters practically glowing in the light of the rising sun. Ally and Captain Kobe released the baited fishing lines into the water and Ochaco's father took his seat in the fisherman's chair. Ochaco and Bakugo climbed down from the navigation deck, watching the seas for any sign of activity. Ochaco had only been on a boat a few times in her life, all for training missions and rescue simulations. This was the first time she had been on one just for leisure. So when Ally broke out the drinks and snacks - juice, cookies, chips, and soda - and they all sat around the deck on the Light Chaser chatting and laughing, Ochaco completely forgot about the nausea and the rocking and the vastness of the ocean. She lost herself in the people around her, enjoying the day and the wind and the sun. Even Bakugo seemed to be having a good time. She had noticed him smiling more than once, perhaps even chuckling. He and Ally teased each other, and though they spoke in English, Ochaco could tell by their body language that they were comfortable with each other.
Unfortunately, there wasn't as much luck with the fish. They had rotated through all of them a few times by now as the morning got older, and they all kept a wary eye on the lines. But a rubber band had yet to break. Bakugo's father admitted that sometimes they came back with a light catch, or even empty handed. It happened, and as disheartened as her father was by the notion, he kept a good spirit as they began their last rotation of the voyage.
Bakugo sat in the fisherman's chair, staring out at the ocean in boredom. Their parents had retreated into the cabin to escape the sun for a little while, and Ally and Captain Kobe were up on the navigation deck. Biting her lip, Ochaco sidled up to the chair. Bakugo tilted his head at her, his red aviators glistening.
"Your turn?" He grunted.
"Not yet," Ochaco said, sipping on her can of Lilikoi juice. "Just came to make sure you were still awake."
Bakugo huffed a sigh and crossed his arms. "I don't think the fish will care if I take a little power nap."
Ochaco took another sip of her juice. The contrast of the salt in her nose and the sweetness on her tongue toyed with each other. She held out the can to Bakugo. After a few moments, he took it from her and took a large gulp.
"So... this is fun."
Bakugo snorted. "I would have warned you, but I had no idea my parents were going to invite you guys."
Laughing, Ochaco finished the juice and crushed the can in her hand. "No, really, this is fun! It's nice to get away from the hotel for a bit. I could tell after yesterday that we were running out of things to do on that beach."
"Not unless you wanted to start spending a lot of money." Bakugo sat forward in the chair, stretching his arms above his head. Ochako heard a few small pops from his back and neck. "I usually just walk into town. There's a lot more stuff to do there."
Ochaco blinked, her eyes sparking with realization. "Is that where you went? That first day, after our argument, I couldn't find you anywhere. It was because you had already left the resort, wasn't it?"
Bakugo puckered his lips in thought. "Yeah, I was. I almost never spend time at the hotel - it's too crowded with too many idiots. If you're willing to walk the distance into Kona, it's worth it."
Ochaco stared at Bakugo, her eyes uncertain.
"Can I come with you?"
Bakugo turned to look at her. Through his tinted aviators, she could see his eyes narrowing at her, thinking about what it would entail to bring her along to a city where she couldn't even speak the common language. It would be irritating for Bakugo, she realized that, and probably much more trouble than it was worth, but she was still hoping that he would say-
"Sure."
Ochaco's mouth dropped open. "Really?"
"Yeah, I don't see why not." Bakugo shrugged. "You'd like it. Lot's of shopping and local food, and all that other touristy crap that people do when they come here."
Ochaco beamed. "Alright! It's a date then! Thank you, Bakugo."
Bakugo stared at her, his face expressionless. Realizing what she had just said, Ochaco felt her face heat up and she quickly tried to back-peddle.
"I-I mean, not a date, like a date date," she muttered. "Just friends, friends hanging out, that's all I meant."
Bakugo continued to stare at her, his lips pressed into a thin line. He was trying not to laugh at her, she figured out, but she wasn't sure if she should be grateful for his composure or even more embarrassed than she already was. Her and Bakugo, on a date? Simply being friends for a week was already pushing the limits of their tolerance for each other.
"Whatever you say, Pink Cheeks," Bakugo snorted as he slid forward and stepped out of the fisherman's chair. "Your turn to watch the lines."
Puffing her cheek, Ochaco said nothing as she stepped around him and hoisted herself into the lofted seat. Two fishing poles towered over her on either side, bending and flexing with the wind and the pull of the water. Ochaco hadn't said anything when Kobe had explained how everything worked, but she was a little worried that she wouldn't be strong enough to keep her grip on the pole if she had to reel something in. Given the luck they were having today, it didn't seem like that was going to be a problem.
"I'm going to get a drink and a snack," Bakugo said, jerking his thumb over his shoulder at the cabin. "You want anything?"
Ochaco thought for a moment. "Are there still cookies left?"
"Maybe, if you haven't eaten them all already." Bakugo turned away from her. "Be back in a second."
Ochaco watched him disappear into the cabin of the Light Chaser, then turned back to watch the ocean stretch out behind her. The white foam the boat left in it's wake left a fading path in the water, marking where they had come from. Settling herself into the chair, Ochaco pulled Bakugo's jacket a little higher up her neck. With the excitement of fishing and being on a boat, she had simply forgotten to put her own sweater back on. Besides, Bakugo's windbreaker smelled nice.
As Ochaco watched the sea, a dark shaped dashed beneath the surface of the water. It was only for half a second, but it had definitely happened. Immediately snapping to attention, Ochaco leaned forward in the fishing chair, straining her eyes against the brightness of the sun to maybe catch a glimpse of the shadow once again. A few moments passed in silent apprehension, but the shadow was gone. Sitting back, Ochaco hummed in thought. What was that? Maybe a dolphin?
Snap!
The sound was unmistakable. Ochaco's eyes darted up in time to see the one of the rubber bands break. The line wavered in the air for a fraction of a second, then jolted against the pull of whatever was on in the other end. The fishing rod in the chair to Ochaco's left creaked at it bent forward, the reel whirring as line was fed out. Ochaco stared in amazement at the pole, until she realized what was happening. Remembering what Captain Kobe had told her to do when there was a catch, Ochaco reached for the fishing pole and lifted it out of its holder. She wasn't prepared when the pole was almost ripped from her grasp, pulling her forward to the edge of the chair. Gritting her teeth, Ochaco managed to keep her fingers firmly around the handle. Whatever they were pulling, it was heavy.
"We got something!" Ochaco shouted, alerting everyone on the ship. Up on the navigation deck, Ally sprang to action, turning down the engine and slowing the boat to a stop. Kobe, her parents, and the Bakugos all came out of the cabin, their eyes wide in amazement at the sight of Ochaco straining against the force of the catch.
"Don't let go, Ochaco!" Her father cheered, rushing to the edge of the boat. Hoping to catch a glimpse of the fish, his eyes tracked the line as it swirled in the water. "I think you've got a big one!"
Her mother and Bakugo's parents joined him at the rail, while Kobe climbed up to the navigation deck to turn to boat in the direction of the line. But nobody was looking at Ochaco, and her grip was starting to slip.
"I can't...!" Ochaco bit through her teeth. She tried to muster the strength to keep hold of the rod, but the pull of the fish was making it hard for her to maintain her grasp. "It's slipping!"
Warm hands closed around hers, pulling the rod back against her body and setting the pommel of the pole into the crook between her hip and thigh. With the added leverage of a stable surface, Ochaco didn't have to grip so hard. Snapping her head around, she was surprised to see Bakugo standing just behind her left shoulder, his arms wrapped over her as he pulled on the rod, bringing the pole up.
"I'll fight this bastard, you reel him in!" Bakugo hefted the pole once more, its neck bending at a dangerous angle. The pommel of the rod dug into Ochaco's hip painfully, but she was too caught up in the moment to care.
Adjusting her grip, Ochaco's fingers found the handle of the reel. As the pole came down, she spun the crank, catching the slack on the line. Bakugo grunted as he pulled the pole back once more, and they started again, working together to reel in the fish little by little. The line swerved in the water, darting one direction then the other. There were times when Ochaco was afraid that the line might break, but Bakugo was there to tell her to let the line back out, releasing tension. Then the fight would start again.
It seemed to go on for an eternity. Bakugo would pull, and Ochaco would reel. Their parents watched as the dark shape in the water was dragged closer and closer to the boat, growing larger and larger as it came. Ochaco was starting to lose feeling in her fingers from holding on so tight. Even Bakugo was huffing with exertion, but he never took his eyes off of the line. Grunting with effort, Bakugo pulled the rod up. Ochaco groaned at the pain in her thigh, but put it out of her mind as she spun the reel.
"You've almost got it!" Kobe shouted down to them. He had the best view from up on the navigation deck. The tone of his voice said he liked what he saw. "Just a little more!"
"Don't give up on me now, Uraraka," Bakugo said lowly, his lips directly next to her ear. Ochaco felt her heart race, whether from excitement or something else, she didn't know - but the smile that spread across her face spoke volumes about her determination.
"Wouldn't dream of it!" Ochaco adjusted her grip, one hand gripping Bakugo's on the pole. "Let's do this!"
Bakugo and Ochaco gritted their teeth as they pulled together. The line was heavy, and the fish was fighting hard, but despite the burning in their muscles and the numbness in their fingers, they lifted the pole. Something finally gave, and the line went slack - but it didn't break.
Everyone on the boat watched in amazement as a Striped Marlin leapt from the waves, its blue and silver scales glinting in the sunlight. Barely over a meter long, Ochaco and Bakugo gaped at the creature, amazed at the power within its slim body. The Marlin seemed to suspend itself in the air, floating among droplets of water. The long point of its nose slashed through the air as it dropped back to the water, splashing into the sea, out of strength to keep fighting. Ochaco and Bakugo stared at the fish as it floated limply beside the boat, hardly able to believe their eyes.
"You did it!"
Ochaco jumped, looking up where her father leaned precariously over the railing, his face alight with glee.
"That's the biggest fish I've ever seen," he said, sounding like he was in a trance. "And my daughter caught it."
"My kid helped, you know," Mitsuki mumbled, crossing her arms.
"No," Bakugo stated as he released his grip on the pole. Ochaco looked up at him, panting. "It was all you, Uraraka. You landed it, I just held on."
Ochaco smiled up at him, her eyes squinting in the sun. "I couldn't have done it without you."
Kobe quickly descended from the navigation deck and rushed over to the railing, inspecting the fish that wasn't moving, but was still very much alive and dangerous. The captain quirked his lips.
"I can't bring that into the boat. Ally!"
Ally appeared beside the captain. In her had was .5 handgun. Taking the pistol, Kobe leveled the sights at the Marlin's head and fired. Everyone shrieked at the sound of the gunshot. The fish twitched for a few moments, blood leaking from the hole in its head, then finally went still.
"What was that for?" Ochaco's mother asked, slightly frantic. Ochaco knew her mother hated guns.
"I'm sorry Miss, but that fish is too big for this boat," Kobe explained, handing the gun back to Ally. "If I had brought it on alive, it would have broken someone's leg."
Ochaco's mother didn't have a response for that, her lips parted in a little 'o' of surprise. Kobe and Ally set about retrieving the fish from the sea. Using a large hook, Kobe punctured the Marlin's side and hauled it up, he and Ally grunting with effort. As the fish flopped down to the desk, Kobe released a breath of amazement.
"I can already tell," he said, looking up to Ochaco with a big smile on his face. "This thing is well over 200 pounds!"
Ochaco wasn't very good at converting pounds to kilograms. Instinctively, she looked to Bakugo. He seemed to know exactly what she was asking without a single word said.
"90 kilos," he said, grinning triumphantly. "Not a bad haul, Pink Cheeks."
Ochaco gaped in amazement as she looked back to the Marlin on the deck. This fish weighed more than she did!
"And you can let go of the fishing rod now," Bakugo told her.
Ochaco hadn't realized that she was still gripping the pole in a choke hold. Prying her fingers from the handle, Ochaco hissed as small spark of pain shot through her fingers, the tendons in her hands stiff and hard. Looking at her palms, Ochaco frowned at the sight of large welts and blisters already starting to form on the pads of her hand.
"Yeah, that happens," Bakugo said, holding up his own hands to reveal the same blisters. "Spoils of war. You should be proud of them."
Removing the pole from her lap, Ochaco groaned as the blood rushed back into her hip. Yep, she thought, there was definitely going to be a bruise there tomorrow.
"Spoils of war indeed," Ally said, putting a hand on Ochaco's shoulder. "You did very well, Uraraka!"
Even in her rudimentary Japanese, Ochaco could tell that Ally's optimism was genuine. She smiled up at the other girl, warmed by her sentiment.
"I'm not sure we'll have any room for other fish." Kobe said, analyzing the Marlin. "I guess we're done for the day."
Ochaco's mother perked up. "We're heading back to the marina?"
Kobe looked up, a sly smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. "Oh no, we're not taking this back to the Marina. We're going straight to Makalawena."
Bakugo looked up, his eyes sparking with excitement. His parents shared his excitement. "Yes!"
Ochaco looked between the captain and her classmate, confused. "What's that? What's Makalawena?"
Bakugo grinned at her, his eyes glowing with genuine anticipation - just like they did before a fight.
"It's a secret, Pink Cheeks." Kobe climbed back up to the navigation deck. Ochaco felt the boat rumble to life underneath her and begin to move. "You're gonna meet the Ohana."