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I.
She had that dream again.
When she fell asleep she dreamed of an abandoned city – and Deku. The girl reminded Izumi of a hero, clad in black and green. Her long green ponytail swayed in a nonexistent breeze as she continued her endless journey across the dreamscape as if she were searching for something.
What, she didn’t know.
What she did know was that Deku would always protect her. She wasn’t sure how or why, but every time she dreamed of her, she felt like everything would be alright. Because Deku was right there for her.
-Beep! Beep! Beep!
Izumi Midoriya groaned, grabbed her phone, and silenced her alarm.
“Right, it’s the first day of school,” she mumbled, the last vestiges of her dream slipping away like grains of sand through her fingers.
Laying her phone next to her, she stretched, hopped out of bed, and grabbed her uniform. She then looked up at the poster of All Might on the wall. The main character of a Western-themed manga, he had captivated her ever since she was a little girl. Kasumi used to make fun of her, calling her a hero Otaku, but that didn’t stop her!
She wasn’t sure if her love of heroes and comics came from her dreams of Deku, or if Deku was born thanks to her love of heroes. Either way, she had a dream – a dream to share Deku with the world. Then others could see how cool she was! And maybe she’d inspire others, the way Yagi inspired her with his All Might character.
But first, she had to survive school.
Tightening her grip on her uniform, she raced to the bathroom. When she was ready for the day she went to the living room where her mom was waiting with breakfast.
“Good morning, Izumi,” Inko smiled at her.
“Morning, Mom,” she replied as she sat down at the table. “Isn’t this a lot?”
“You need your energy for your first day of school, don’t you?” Inko asked with a warm smile.
“Yeah, I guess so…” Izumi said nervously.
Of course her mom caught it and her face fell. “Are you still worried about us moving?”
“A little bit,” Izumi admitted as she grabbed her chopsticks. “Everyone will know each other already! What if I don’t fit in?”
“Oh honey…” her mom’s gaze softened. “I know what Kasumi did to you was horrible, but it’ll be different here.”
“Promise?” Izumi asked.
“I promise,” Inko assured her. “I bet the students here are much nicer, and you’ll fit right in. And if not… Deku will beat them up!”
Izumi laughed at the imagery before she gave her mom a warm smile. She thought it might be bad that she dreamed of Deku beating up a villainous-looking Kasumi a few weeks ago, but her mom assured her it was okay. It was just a dream, after all!
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Anytime, my little hero. But you’d better eat fast, you don’t want to be late for your first day of class!”
“Eep!” Izumi squeaked out as she saw the time. “Right!”
Without another word, she began to shovel food into her mouth.
As Izumi approached the train station, she saw a chubby brunette girl on the other side of the platform. More importantly, she was wearing the same school uniform as her.
“She goes to my school?” She mumbled to herself. “Isn’t this a little far out?”
She didn’t have time to worry about it as the train arrived. Izumi watched the doors open before the girl walked into one of the forward cars. Izumi briefly considered following her but decided against it. Entering the closest car instead, she sat down and stared out the window.
“Maybe I can ask her tomorrow?”
She almost regretted her decision when she got off the train and stepped into the much more crowded station. By the time she managed to reach the surface, the other girl was long gone and she had to rely on her GPS to find the school.
“At least I got here on time!” Izumu exclaimed as she entered the gate and heard the warning bell.
Shoving her phone into her bag, Izumi dashed toward the doors of the building to find her homeroom. Luckily, as a first-year her classes would be on the first floor, and she made it with time to spare. She fished the seating chart out of her bag and quietly found her seat at the back of the room where she began to unpack her bag. And then she noticed her .
“That girl–” Izumi said. “She’s in my class!”
Curious, she pulled out her seating chart and looked at her name.
“Bea..Beautiful Day?!” Izumi squeaked out.
She noticed the girl next to her had turned to look and lowered her head as she quickly finished unpacking her bag. By the time she was done the homeroom teacher had entered and she was saved from further embarrassment as the teacher began to explain the basics of class before the morning assembly.
After the assembly, Izumi saw her chance. While many of the girls in her class were in groups of twos and threes, the brunette girl was walking by herself. Steeling herself, she walked up to the girl.
“Beautiful day?”
“E-eh!?” The girl squeaked as she turned toward Izumi, her face bright red.
“I-isn’t that your name?” Izumi felt her own cheeks heating up in response. She quickly reached into her bag and pulled out the seating chart before pointing to it.
“Oh,” The other girl looked at the chart, her face cooling as the blush retracted (however two marks remained behind, Izumi noted). “T-that’s just the kanji used! When you put it together it’s pronounced Uraraka!”
“Uraraka,” Izumi blinked as she looked at the paper before quickly bowing her head. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to–”
“I don’t mind!” the girl replied quickly. “You just startled me, is all! Umm… who are you?”
“Oh. I’m Izumi Midoriya, but feel free to call me Izumi,” She rubbed the back of her head awkwardly, her hair dancing across her shoulders. “I just moved to Shimomida a few weeks ago.”
“Shinomida,” Uraraka’s eyes went wide. “That means we’re practically neighbors! Do you come in through the Mida station?”
“That's why I wanted to talk to you, actually,” Izumi lowered her hand and pointed at the other girl’s skirt. “I saw you on the platform this morning and recognized your uniform. I didn’t think anyone else lived that far out.”
“Oh. It’s actually because of my parents' business.”
“Their business?”
“Yep!” Uraraka said far too loudly. “They own a construction company. It’s not very big but their headquarters is out there, so we live nearby.”
“That’s cool!” Izumi exclaimed. “Um, so if we’re neighbors would you mind if I rode with you tomorrow? It’s a long trip and since we’re in the same class–”
“That sounds great, Izumi,” the other girl smiled at her. “The trip can get kind of boring, so having someone to talk to would be nice.”
Izumi smiled at the other girl. “I’m looking forward to it!”
As they reached the door to their homeroom, Uraraka paused and turned toward Izumi, her cheeks bright red again. “And if you are okay with me calling you Izumi, you can call me Ochako.”
“Sorry I’m late!” Ochako called out as she raced up the steps onto the platform.
Izumi whipped around to see Ochako standing here, her hands on her knees as she sucked in a deep breath. “There you are! I was starting to get worried.”
“I overslept,” Ochako admitted, her cheeks bright red. “And then on my way out I realized I didn’t have your phone number to warn you, so I ran the entire way here.”
“You didn’t have to do that!” Izumi insisted.
Ochako took a deep breath and straightened. “It’s okay! I didn’t want to miss the train either. Then I’d have to have my parents drive me to school.”
As if to prove her point, the train appeared on the horizon. The girls watched as it pulled into the station before they both boarded and found a seat. Ochako let Izumi take the window seat and sat down next to her.
“Since we’ve got time, why don’t we swap numbers?”
“Good idea!” Izumi agreed as she began to fish out her phone. When she retrieved it she looked over and saw Ochako pull her phone out of her bag, a green charm in the shape of a comet dangling off the end. “Wow, that looks cool!”
“Thanks!” Ochako said proudly as she held it up for the other girl to see.
“But… why green?” Izumi tilted her head curiously.
“It used to be blue,” Ochako admitted sadly. “But the color faded.”
“So why haven’t you gotten a new one?”
“Because this one is special,” Ochako said fondly as she fiddled with the charm. “When I was six I actually saw shooting stars! And the next day my dad bought the charm for me.”
“So you’ve had it for eight years?” Izumi asked.
“Yep!” Ochako chirped as she glanced at Izumi. “So while it’s seen better days, I don’t have it in me to replace it. Besides…” She returned her gaze to the charm. “As long as I have it, I feel like I’m a bit closer to the stars.”
“So you like astronomy?”
“You could say that,” Ochako giggled as she looked at Izumi again. “Just going to the park and looking at the night sky without the light pollution– it’s gorgeous! And there’s so much untapped potential out there!”
“It sounds great,” Izumi agreed.
The two paused in their conversation to exchange numbers. Of course, Izumi entered Ochako’s name using the kanji for ‘Beautiful Day’ to forever memorialize their meeting while Ochako simply listed her as ‘Izumi.’
When they were done, Ochako put her phone back in her bag before she turned to Izumi again. “So what do you like?”
“It’s… kind of embarrassing,” Izumi admitted as she felt her cheeks heating up.
“Oh?” Ochako’s smile turned playful as she tilted her head. “Now I’m curious. Is it naughty?”
“No!” Izumi squeaked out as she held her hands up defensively and looked at the other girl in horror. “It’s just– I like heroes?”
Ochako blinked, caught off guard by the answer. “Heroes? Like Manga?”
“Mhm,” Izumi said. “Or Western comics. They’re just so cool! Heroes helping people, inspiring them to be better… I want to inspire people like that someday.”
Ochako laughed.
“Are you saying you have superpowers?”
Izumi felt her face heating up. At first, she wondered if she went too far (again), but one look at Ochako told her that the other girl was amused, and wasn’t actually judging her. Not the way Kasumi used to. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she continued much more quietly.
“Not like that. I mean with stories.”
“Oh,” Ochako said. “So you want to be a writer?”
“Or a mangaka,” Izumi rubbed the back of her head awkwardly. “I know it’s a silly dream but–”
“It doesn’t sound silly!” Ochako insisted. “I want to help people too.”
“Really?” Izumi froze. “How?”
“My method’s more boring,” Ochako admitted. “Once I graduate I’m going to college to be a counselor or therapist. Whichever exam I can pass, I guess.”
“That sounds more practical than what I’m doing,” Izumi laughed awkwardly. “At least you get to see the people you’re helping directly. If I’m lucky I’ll get fan mail.”
“Maybe, but your way sounds more fun,” Ochako pointed out. “So if you want to be a mangaka does that mean you draw?”
“Yeah!” Izumi lit up and dug into her bag, finding her sketchbook. Pulling it out, she showed her her drawing of Deku. “Meet the Blazing Green Heroine, Deku!”
“She’s so cool!” Ochako said as she pointed to the green fire around her left eye. “I see where her name comes from. Is that her power?”
“Nope,” Izumi shook her head emphatically. “It’s sort of a… status indicator? When it glows brightly everyone knows she’s really serious!” She then pointed to Deku’s left hand. “Her actual power is the ability to summon shadow tentacles! They come out of her hand and can immobilize people or grab objects, and she can use them to swing around. I’m pretty sure she can use them to make helpful tools, too!”
“Shadow tentacles, huh,” Ochako mused. “Do people think she’s scary because of them?”
“Nope!” Izumi said. “Well… maybe bad guys are scared of her!” She looked fondly down at her art. “But the civilians of her world love her because she never gives up! She won’t stop until everyone is safe and sound.”
“That would be a good trait for a hero,” Ochako agreed. “As long as she takes care of herself too!”
“Huh?” Izumi blinked.
Ochako pointed at the page. “You said everyone, right? Well she is included in everyone, isn’t she?”
Izumi hesitated as she looked down at the image of Deku. “I never thought of that.”
“Well it’s a good thing I did,” Ochako giggled lightly next to her. “You’ll need to come up with a friend or partner for her, someone to make sure she's not lonely and takes care of herself.”
“You’re right,” Izumi scribbled down some notes. “I’ll have to come up with a friend for her.”
Maybe that's what she’s searching for in my dreams? Every time she found someone they ended up fighting, like the character I made up for Kasumi! Now that I’m thinking about it, maybe the next person she meets will be nicer?
She continued to show off her sketchbook and the time flew by as she talked to Ochako. And before they knew it, they were pulling into the station. Even though they barely scratched the surface of getting to know each other, Izumi couldn’t help but smile as she tucked her sketchbook into her bag and watched Ochako stand up.
Mom was right! I think I’ll like it here.
As the two girls exited the station, Izumi spotted a thin girl with ash-blonde hair done up in two messy buns who also wore their school uniform. She quickly spotted them and waved.
“Good morning Ochako-chan!”
“Hey Himiko,” Ochako smiled and waved back. “This is the girl I told you about last night, my classmate.”
“Hi,” Izumi gave the girl a polite smile. “I’m Izumi Midoriya, nice to meet you.”
“Izumi-chan, what a cute name,” Himiko smiled politely at her. But for some reason it felt more guarded than the smile she gave Ochako. “I’m Himiko Toga, but you can just call me Himiko.”
“We’ve known each other since elementary school,” Ochako explained. “But we’ve never been lucky enough to be in the same class.”
“That’s okay though, we still find time to hang out. When my parents aren’t dragging me around that is,” Himiko said.
“They… drag you around?”
Himiko rolled her eyes. “My dad is an executive for a big company, so he’s always doing some social function or another, and of course they make me come.”
“That sounds boring,” Izumi said sympathetically.
“It is ,” Himiko huffed and crossed her arms. “But that changes this year! Now that I’m in high school I can join clubs and start doing things for myself!”
“Oh yeah, we’ve got to decide on clubs soon,” Ochako said.
“Why don’t we talk about it on the way?” Izumi urged, remembering how she was almost late yesterday.
“Good idea!” Ochako agreed.
Izumi fell in place next to Ochako and silently listened to the two as they talked about potential clubs as she let them lead her to school.
Izumi jogged toward the platform, waving at Ochako.
“Sorry I didn’t get to ride the train home with you last night,” Izumi apologized as she skidded to a stop in front of the other girl.
“Zumi, that’s the third time you’ve apologized to me,” Ochako deadpanned.
“Yeah well, I feel bad!”
Ochako snorted and shook her head. “So how was Art Club last night?”
“It was great!” Izumi exclaimed as she reached into her bag and pulled out her sketchbook. She opened it up to the sketch she was working on – a mountain against the night sky – and showed the other girl. “It’s still in the concept stage before I paint it but that’s where I am.”
“Wow, this is really good!”
“Thanks,” Izumi smiled at the other girl. “I just hope I have the skills to pull it off. I haven’t really worked with paints before.”
“I’m sure you can do it! And then when the club has its gallery day I’ll come and see it in person!”
“Thanks, Ochako,” Izumi pumped her fist. “Now I’ll be even more motivated!”
Ochako laughed at her antics before the two girls entered the train and found an empty seat. Once they were situated next to each other Izumi turned back to the other girl.
“So did you figure out what club you want to join yet?”
“Not yet,” Ochako closed her eyes and sighed. “I wish our school had an Astronomy Club since it’s hard for me to make it out to the one at the Observatory regularly.” Opening her eyes, she looked at Izumi. “But I might join the track team when they start up in a few weeks.”
“Track?” Izumi blinked in surprise.
“Yeah,” Ochako ducked her head as her blush spread. “I kind of want to volunteer at the fire station when I get old enough. But I need to be in better shape if I want to be a firefighter!” She turned toward Izumi and the other girl could see the fire in her eyes. “So it seemed like a good way to train before then?”
“Ocha…” Izumi breathed before she threw her hands in the air. “That’s so cool! I’ll be sure to cheer you on from the stands.”
Ochako’s eyes went wide. “Hu–what!?”
“Well, you’re coming to see my art right?” Izumi smiled. “It’s only right that I come to your meets to cheer you on too!”
“Thanks, Izumi,” Ochako balled her fist and smiled warmly at her. “Then I’ll be motivated to do my best, too!”
The nice thing about finals week is their clubs weren’t meeting. Which meant Izumi and Ochako actually got to ride the train home together all week.
But today they weren’t boarding the train back to Mida, they were boarding one headed in the opposite direction. Because today was special.
“‘C'mon, Izumi!” Ochako smiled as she grabbed the other girl’s hand and took off.
Izumi easily kept pace with her friend and the two practically ran all the way from the station to the entrance of the national park located at the edge of town. They only slowed down once they passed through the gates, taking in the peaceful atmosphere.
“So where are we going?” Izumi asked.
“If you can’t remember, then it’s a surprise!” Ochako said with a playful smile on her face.
Izumi felt her cheeks heating up as she was caught. While she remembered Ochako talking fondly about the park, the other girl had so many stories to tell about her years exploring every inch of it that Izumi couldn’t figure out which place the other girl was going to choose.
After about a half hour of walking, she gets her answer. As the tree line broke, Izumi felt Ochako once again grab her hand and pull her forward, and soon the two stood on a wooden observation deck overlooking the town. Izumi freed herself and walked to the railing, gasping at the sight.
“You can see the ocean from here!” Izumi exclaimed. “And the whole city!”
“It’s even prettier at night,” Ochako said as she folded her arms and leaned on the railing next to her. “But I don’t think either of us can afford to stay out that late.”
“Mmm,” Izumi’s face fell as she turned toward the other girl. “Stupid finals.”
“Someday you’ll be done with school, though!” Ochako said. “And then you won’t have to worry about your birthday being trampled by dumb tests.”
“Yeah!” Izumi lit up.
“But in the meantime…” Ochako grabbed her bag and rummaged through it. “Hold out your hand.”
Izumi gave the other girl a curious look before she complied. She watched Ochako searching for something before her face lit up, signaling success. The other girl withdrew her arm, a closed fist hiding its contents before she placed her hand over Izumi’s. She opened it, and a pink charm dropped into Izumi’s hand.
She pulled her hand back and looked at the charm curiously.
“It’s the same design as mine,” Ochako explains. “Just a different color.” Her blush spread to fill her face as she continued to talk. “I wish I could afford to get you something nicer but–”
“No, it’s perfect!” Izumi said as she practically leaped on Ochako, wrapping her arms around the other girl and crushing her to her chest. “Now we can have matching phones!”
She felt Ochako relax in her arms as she hugged back. “That’s the idea!”
Letting go of the other girl, Izumi quickly pulled out her phone and attached the charm before she held it up. Ochako followed suit, and the two girls stared at their phones, the two matching charms dangling in the still air between them.
“Happy birthday, Izumi.”
Izumi gave the other girl a bright smile. “Thank you, Ochako.”
Ochako turned back toward the city, her cheeks still bright red. “A-and if you want to come out during the summer, we can stay out late and watch the stars together!”
“I’d love that!” Izumi agreed as she leaned against the railing.
“But for now–” Ochako gave her a sideways glance. “We can at least ignore finals for a few hours!”
Izumi giggled. “At least until Mom’s off of work.” With a warm smile on her face, she turned toward the town and it didn’t take long for her to spot the office her mom worked at. “Speaking of, I can see her from here!”
“Wait, really?” Ochako asked.
“Yep!” Izumi exclaimed as she pointed. “She works in that building!”
“Oh,” Ochako looked offended as she nudged Izumi with her shoulder. “You meant her office, not literally!”
“Of course!” Izumi grinned. “What about your parents?”
Ochako’s expression quickly changed as she scanned the horizon before her hand shot out. “There! That’s Uraraka Construction’s latest project!”
The two continue back and forth, pointing out familiar sights around the city. They continued this way for over an hour until Izumi’s phone rang and broke them out of their own little world. Izumi practically fell over from surprise before she dug into her bag, ducking her face to hide her embarrassment. She yanked her phone out and talked to her mom, the two arranging a time to meet at the restaurant.
Izumi carefully returned her phone to her bag and turned to Ochako.
“I guess we’ve gotta get going if we want to be on time.” She took one last look over the railing. “It really is pretty though.”
“Don’t worry,” Ochako said as she gently touched Izumi’s arm. “This spot’s my favorite, I won’t mind bringing you back here… once finals are over.”
“I can’t wait!”
“Faster, Izumi!” Ochako urged from beside her.
Izumi tightened her grip on the bag as she felt the first drop of water hit her cheek, urging her legs to move faster as she closed the last dozen yards to the bus stop.
As she crossed the threshold, she spun around, letting her momentum carry her the last meter to the seat itself, the glass ceiling above promising protection from the oncoming storm. She saw Ochako match her movement, the other girl collapsing onto the bench next to her. The girls locked eyes, and Izumi felt relief bubbling up her throat.
She let it out in the form of a soft giggle, and Ochako replied with one of her own. The seal broken, both girls descended into full-fledged laughter as the sky opened up, the rain crashing down all around them as they sat under the shelter.
“We did it!” Izumi picked up the bag and held it aloft as if it was some precious relic. “Our cargo wasn’t damaged by the storm!”
“That’s great!” Ochako cheered. “But…” She looked outside at the weather. “What should we do in the meantime?”
“Well, now’s as good a time as any – better actually!” Izumi said as she pulled the decorative box out of the bag and opened it. Inside she saw a dozen pieces of mochi along with a trio of doughnuts. “We should eat these while they’re still fresh!”
Ochako grinned at Izumi. “That sounds great!” Her smile faltered for a moment. “But only one – I’ve got to space these out for the next week.”
“Right, you’ve got your diet now that you’re on the track team,” Izumi said as she looked down at her own half of the box and picked up a piece of Mochi before offering it to Ochako. “I’ve got a few extra pieces though. One or two extra won’t mess things up too badly, will it?”
Ochako hesitated as she stared at the treat, looking like she was at war with herself before she gave Izumi a faint smile and took it.
“I think outrunning the storm balances it out,” She said with a grateful smile.
“Exactly!” Izumi said before she grabbed a doughnut for herself and shoved half of it in her mouth. Her eyes went wide as she chewed on it. “Dis–” She rapidly finished chewing and swallowed it before looking at Ochako. “These are really good!”
“They are,” Ochako agreed as she carefully took a bite of the mochi, trying to stretch out the treat as long as she could.
And so the two of them sat under the bus stop, Izumi listening to Ochako talk about fall activities around the city while the rain beat against the concrete and pavement outside.
Soon enough the rain stopped and the clouds continued their journey south, once again revealing the afternoon sky. Izumi looked at Ochako and nodded before she packed up the rest of their desserts and stood up. She walked to the edge of the bus stop and reached out carefully, her hand testing the air to ensure that things were truly safe.
“Look, Izumi, a rainbow!” Ochako said.
Izumi followed the direction of Ochako’s finger and sure enough, as she looked toward the direction of their homes she saw a brilliant rainbow shining in the sky.
“Do you think we’ll find the end of it on the way?” Izumi asked.
“Only one way to find out!”
Unlike Izumi, Ochako was lucky enough that her birthday fell over winter break. And of course, as they rode home on the train on the last day of school Ochako asked her if she wanted to come over to celebrate.
She arrived early enough to say hi to Himiko. Unfortunately, the other girl was only there long enough to wish Ochako a happy birthday and drop off her present - a large stuffed teddy bear. She wished she could stay, but her parents had a party that night and she was invited, so that took priority.
Izumi and Ochako understood and said goodbye to their friend before retreating into the house proper. There, Izumi saw Ochako’s room for the first time. It was rather sparse in decoration, with a few plush animals on the bed, a map of the night sky on one wall, and a small bookshelf filled with astronomy books. Ochako wasted no time in depositing the bear with the others before she asked Izumi what she wanted to do.
“Why don’t you tell me more about these?” Izumi pointed to the map on the wall. “I was kind of lost when we went stargazing a few months ago.”
“Sure!” Ochako lit up as she crossed her room.
Izumi gladly listened to Ochako talking about the stars, taking in the sheer joy and passion on her face as she explained all the constellations. Of course, Izumi had seen her talking about stars before, but right now the girl was in her element, and it showed!
This continued until her parents finally called for them. Izumi followed them to her car and sat in the back with Ochako while they drove to a small out of the way restaurant. Along the way, the birthday girl explained that they specialized in all sorts of tempura dishes and were really tasty! But they could only go once a year, so they saved it for her birthday celebration.
As they ate, Izumi had to agree that it was really good! She made a mental note to tell her mom about it later, maybe they could go sometime?
But that was for later!
For now, she simply enjoyed Ochako’s company, and the meal flew by as her parents were content to let the two of them talk.
When they got home her mom brought out a small mochi cake that she made, and the four split it before her parents retreated, once again leaving Izumi alone with Ochako.
“I guess it’s time to give you my birthday present, huh?” Izumi asked.
“I was wondering…” Ochako teased lightly. “It’s pretty obvious you got me a painting but I’ve been dying to find out what it is!”
“Sorry,” Izumi rubbed the back of her head, her curls dancing along her shoulders. “I know you didn’t want anything big or extravagant so I thought I’d make you something instead.”
The pair returned to Ochako’s room, the birthday girl sitting down on the bed while Izumi retrieved the long thin rectangle from its resting spot. She handed it to the other girl before she sat down beside her, her teeth worrying at her lip as she waited for the present to be unwrapped.
Ochako carefully broke the tape on the back before she reverently undid the paper. She then held the portrait in her hands and gasped. She was staring at herself! But not just herself. She was on the observation deck in the park, with the background a mixture of brilliant pinks, greens, and blues as they danced across the night sky.
“You always said you wanted to see an aurora so I tried to paint you one…” Izumi winced and closed one of her eyes. “I tried to find reference pictures but I’m not sure–”
“Zumi…” Ochako whispered, freezing the words in the other girl’s mouth. She reverently placed the panting down on the empty space beside her before she practically dove on top of Izumi, wrapping her in a tight hug. “I love it!”
“Eep!” Izumi squeaked out as she lost her balance and fell over, lying on the bed with Ochako on top of her. “I-I’m glad! But could you…?” She asked as she felt her face heating up.
“Oh! Sorry!” Ochako quickly apologized as her own blush quickly spread. She climbed off the girl and gave her space to sit back up before she adjusted herself on the bed. “But it’s beautiful! Even if it’s not an accurate aurora,” She giggled warmly. “It’ll still treasure it forever.”
Izumi matched her warmth with a warm smile of her own.
“Happy birthday, Ochako.”
II.
Izumi felt her stomach twisting in knots as she approached the train station. She was not looking forward to this conversation. She must have been wearing her heart on her sleeve because Ochako’s normally bright wave faltered almost immediately before she hurried off the platform to intercept her.
“What’s wrong, Izumi?”
Izumi closed her eyes and hung her head.
Well, mine as well get this out of the way now, I guess.
“I got a call from the school about a week ago–” She heard the other girl gasp and her eyes snapped open only to discover that Ochako had paled slightly. “It’s not what you think! At least, it’s not that bad!” She said quickly. “It’s just that well– I’m not going to be in your homeroom this year.”
“What?!” Ochako squeaked out.
“I’m sorry!” Izumi cried. “But apparently some students transferred out and they decided to rebalance the roster and well I… drew the short straw.”
“Oh,” Ochako’s face fell to match Izumi’s. “I see…”
“But it’s okay!” Izumi said quickly. “We’ll still get to ride the train together and can hang out after school! It’ll be just like hanging out with Himiko!”
“Yeah,” Ochako raised her head and smiled, but Izumi could tell it didn’t reach her eyes. “Just like Himiko.”
The two girls returned to the platform and talked about the upcoming year, but their conversation didn’t have the same energy behind it. Izumi felt the pit in her stomach growing again, but she hoped it would just be temporary. They’d be able to get past this, right? It was just a homeroom change, after all!
Things seemed to almost return to normal by the time they reached their destination, and Izumi felt relief as they walked out of the station to meet with Himiko. Her reaction to the news was like night and day compared to Ochako’s.
“You’ll be in homeroom with me?” The girl couldn’t keep her excitement out of her voice. “That’s great! I’ve never shared a homeroom with my friends before. Not even Tsu…”
She seemed to realize her mistake after the name slipped out, and she clamped her mouth shut as her eyes went wide. Izumi saw the other girl’s eyes dart over to look at a shocked Ochako before returning their focus to Izumi.
“Who’s Tsu?” Izumi asked curiously, wondering what kind of person could elicit such a reaction.
“She was our friend in elementary school,” Ochako said. “But she–”
“She moved away about five years ago,” Himiko added quickly. “Her parents got a business opportunity on the other side of the country and we haven’t heard from her since.”
“Oh,” Izumi said. “Sorry to bring it up.”
“It’s my fault,” Himiko said, her words laced thick with guilt. “But never mind her! We’ve got to get to school!”
“R-right!” Izumi said.
Himiko’s energy seemed to blow away the darkened moods of Izumi and Ochako, and when they reached the school they ascended to the second floor for classes. Izumi let her feet carry her out of habit to her classroom until Himiko stopped her.
“Earth to Izumi,” Himiko teased. “Our class is the next one down.”
“Oh,” Izumi said as she looked up at the sign above the door. “Right.”
“Come on, I’ll introduce you to our classmates!” Himiko said as she grabbed Izumi’s arm.
“Sure,” Izumi smiled at the other girl and allowed herself to be dragged to her new homeroom.
Unfortunately, she was so caught up in Himiko’s excitement that she failed to notice Ochako lingering in front of her homeroom. Nor did she notice the longing stare that the girl gave her as she entered her new homeroom.
It had been a few months, but Izumi once again dreamed of Deku. The woman walked through the ruins of the city until it suddenly ended, as if the city was a painted landscape and a portion of the picture had been torn away.
And ahead of her was a moonscape. She remembered the images of the moon’s surface from what Ochako had shown her. Izumi couldn’t help but wonder what her subconscious was working on as Deku stepped out onto the lunar surface and made her way toward the large crater that dominated the horizon.
The last time this happened, Deku had discovered a massive mixture of a school and a fortress, and there she fought an explosive villain that looked like Kasumi.
Izumi couldn’t help but wonder what Deku would find as the heroine stopped at the edge of the crater and looked over the edge. There, she saw a massive labyrinthine catacomb partially exposed to the surface. She didn’t remember anything like that in the books Ochako showed her!
But whatever was down there, Deku was determined to find it as she hopped off the edge of the crater and landed on a platform before she descended downward…
“I’m sorry I won’t be able to make it to the art viewing next week,” Ochako apologized as they boarded the train. “Mom and Dad have had to pull extra shifts and I’ve gotta take care of things at home–” She grimaced.
“I’ll miss you, but it’s okay!” Izumi tried to assure the other girl as she sat down in their seat. “Himiko promised she could come. And in exchange I’ll go to watch her tea ceremony. So we won’t be all alone.”
Ochako had a faraway look in her eyes before she closed them and shook her head. When she opened them she gave Izumi a weak smile. “At least you’ve got that. I promise I won’t miss the next one, though!” She promised with steel in her eyes.
Izumi’s smile widened. “I’ll make sure my next piece is extra-special then!”
After a long journey, Deku entered a long hall. Much like the cavern she just exited, it looked surprisingly man-made despite being in the middle of a crater.
The hero was on guard as she walked down the corridor, drawn like a magnet towards the only splash of color in the endless grays and blacks. A figure clad in pink and black. As Deku got closer, more details were revealed in the pale twilight of the cavern. She wore thick pink knee-high boots with heels, pink bubble-shaped gauntlets on her wrists, and a black headband that framed an opaque pink visor. And as Izumi studied her, a name bubbled to the surface of her mind.
Uravity.
Her name was Uravity.
When Deku finally stopped in front of the other woman, Izumi studied her further and came to another conclusion: just like she had dreamt of a villain based on Kasumi, this character must be based on Ochako.
Even if she couldn’t see her face, she’d recognize her anywhere.
Deku offered her hand, palm side up, and tilted her head slightly as she looked at the other girl. Uravity didn’t move at all, but her gauntlets began to glow with a bright pink light.
As Izumi got ready for bed, she heard her phone ringing and froze as she recognized the ringtone.
Rushing over to her nightstand, she rips the phone from its charger and puts it to her ear.
“Hey Dad!”
He started speaking, and her smile grew wider.
“That’s great! I can’t wait!”
The next morning Izumi got to the platform first and waved excitedly to her best friend as she got close.
“Hey Ochako, I’ve got great news!”
“Really?” Ochako said as she closed the distance between them.
“Yeah! My dad’s coming back to Japan for a few weeks, starting next week!”
“A few weeks? Will that impact your studies?”
“Nope!” Izumi made a fist. “I’ll just have to do my homework super early so I can spend the rest of my time with him!”
“That’s great,” Ochako said. “I’m really happy for you!”
She tried to smile, but Izumi couldn’t help but notice it didn’t reach her eyes.
Dozens of rocks around the room responded to Uravity’s gauntlets, glowing pink one after another before they started floating upward. Finally, a massive meteorite – possibly even the cause of the crater! – floated up from behind Uravity.
Suddenly, half a dozen wires shot out from Uravity’s gauntlets, each one acting like a miniature version of Deku’s shadow tendrils. They grabbed rocks and began to hurl them at the other woman.
Deku nimbly rolled out of the way, avoiding the first wave as she raised her left hand. Half a dozen shadowy tendrils appeared, each one working to defend their owner from harm.
Finally, Uravity herself began to move. She stepped forward and raised her hands as the wires latched onto the massive meteorite – and hurled it toward Deku.
The heroine grimaced and planted her feet before her left eye began to glow as the green fire flared around it, dispelling the shadowy twilight. She held up her left hand and the tendrils coalesced and solidified into a massive canon.
With the unyielding surety that Deku was known for, she leveled the cannon at the massive meteor and fired. Over and over the barrel flared with green light, each bullet cracking the rock until it exploded into a shower of dust and pebbles that pelted the heroine, but didn’t obscure her. Even through the cloud, the green light of her eye acted as a beacon to announce her presence.
Deku walked forward until she emerged from the fog and leveled her weapon at her opponent. Undeterred, Uravity slid into a combat stance as her gauntlets once again glowed pink.
Izumi raced to the platform, not bothering to wave as she bowed to her friend. “I’m so sorry!”
“Zumi…” Ochako breathed. She tried to hide it, but the other girl could hear the undercurrent of disappointment in her words.
“I really meant to be there!” Izumi straightened and looked at her friend. “But I’ve been so caught up with my dad–”
“I know,” Ochako’s face softened. “I just– I don’t want you to feel like you have to be there. Spending time with your dad is important! I don’t want to get in the way of that!”
“You’re important too, Ochako,” Izumi insisted. “And I want to be there! Just Dad– we got caught up in– never mind,” she sighed in frustration. “I messed up.”
She didn’t know why, but it hurt to see a look of shock pass over the other girl. “Thanks, Izumi.”
“Now then,” Izumi gestured toward the train. “Why don’t you tell me all about it on the train? I know it’s not the same, ehe, but…”
“Sure,” Ochako smiled as she gestured toward the train, but Izumi felt something was missing.
As they sat down, she made a note to figure out how to repay the girl – later. For now, she did her best to pay attention to her and let her know that she mattered.
Even if Izumi had been a bad friend recently.
“I’m still not great at the 100-meter dash, but I took first in Shot Put!” Ochako beamed.
“That’s amazing!” Izumi smiled at her friend before she bowed her head. “I’m really sorry I missed it.”
“Me too,” Ochako’s smile faltered.
“Your next event’s in three weeks, right?” Izumi asked. “Dad’ll be gone by then, so I’ll be sure to come.”
“I– yeah, that’s right,” Ochako said. “I’m surprised you remembered.”
“Of course I remembered your schedule,” Izumi said as they reached the door to her homeroom. “I’ll text you tonight, okay?”
“Okay,” Ochako said softly.
Izumi pulled the door open and stepped inside, only to feel a pair of familiar hands wrap themselves around her arm.
“Zumi!” Himiko said. “How’s it like having your dad back?”
Izumi gave the girl an awkward smile. “Hey Himi, at least let me drop my stuff off.”
She managed to free herself from the other girl’s grip and walked over to her desk, dropping her bag unceremoniously on top of it. She turned around to face Himiko– and froze.
The door to the classroom was still open. But Ochako wasn’t the one standing there.
Uravity was.
Izumi let out a strangled sound and blinked in surprise, but when her eyes opened she caught the back of Ochako’s very normal school uniform – not the fancy pinks and blacks of Uravity’s outfit – as the girl disappeared from view.
“Something wrong Zumi?” Himiko asked curiously.
“No– nothing’s wrong,” Izumi gave the other girl a reassuring look. “Just got lost in thought for a moment.”
“So, what’s it like having your dad back?” Himiko asked a second time.
Izumi shook her head – she was just imagining things after all!
Turning to her friend, her face lit up as she thought about her dad. “It’s been great!”
“That’s odd,” Izumi said as she looked down at her phone. “Normally Ochako texts me when she’s not riding the train.”
She tried to wait as long as she could, but her best friend never arrived. When she couldn’t wait any longer, she dashed onto the train just as the doors started to close and crashed into her seat.
“I hope everything’s okay,” Izumi said as she sent the other girl a text message.
With nothing else to do, she pulled up a story on her phone and began to read.
“Geez, still nothing,” Izumi said as she looked down at her phone at the end of the school day. “I wonder if something happened to her phone?” She looked down the hallway as students filed towards the stairs. “I bet she’s getting ready for track practice right now!”
After checking in with the Art Club, Izumi dashed down to the field. She asked around, but nobody had seen Ochako – not even her classmates! Ashido told her that Ochako asked to be excused around lunchtime yesterday because she wasn’t feeling well and that she hadn’t seen her since.
“If she’s not feeling well that would explain why she’s not at school,” Izumi said distractedly as her feet carried her back to the art room. “But that doesn’t explain why she isn’t answering her texts…”
She sat down in front of her current project and pulled the cover off to reveal the half-finished picture of Deku standing in a long hallway with her hand raised, and a small pink glow in the background.
“I hope she’s okay.”
The unease in Izumi’s stomach persisted when Ochako once again didn’t show up at the train station the next morning. As she boarded her train, Izumi made a note to call her parents after school and see what was wrong!
She didn’t have to wait that long for her answer, however. Halfway through morning lessons, the teacher received a phone call. The haggard-looking man answered it and spoke curtly before he hung up and turned toward Izumi.
“I don’t know what you did, but the principal wants to see you.”
“M-me?!” Izumi squeaked as she pointed to herself.
The teacher sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Yes, you. Now get going.”
“Yes sir!” Izumi said as she shot up out of her seat.
She wrenched the door open and took off, ignoring protocol until she reached the principal’s office. Slowing down, she saw the door was already open and stepped inside. There she saw Principal Nezu – a small mousey man – talking to a police officer and a man in a long brown coat who were sitting on his couch.
“Ah, Midoriya, there you are.”
Izumi swallowed the lump in her throat. “You– you called for me?”
“Yes,” the principal folded his hands behind his back and sighed. “As much as I wish the situation were otherwise, these two gentlemen would like to speak to you.”
“Don’t worry, you’re not in trouble,” the man in brown said almost reflexively. “I’m Detective Tsukauchi with the Shizuoka police.” He reached into his coat and extracted a picture before placing it on the table.
It was Ochako.
“Two days ago Miss Ochako Uraraka was reported missing. Her parents informed us you are her best friend, and so we were hoping you may have some ideas that would help us locate her.”
He continued talking, but Izumi didn’t hear a word he said as she stared at the photo in horror.
Ochako… was missing.
III.
“Wha-what do you mean Ochako is missing?!” Izumi tried her best to keep herself from yelling at the officers. “She– she was fine when we came to school two days ago!”
“We know,” Tsukauchi held up his hands gently. “Now please if you can calm down–”
“How– My best friend is missing!” Izumi began to turn toward the door. “I have to–”
“You have to find her,” The detective finished her sentence for her. “You must really care about her.” He continued gently.
“I–” Izumi felt her eyes clouding and swiped at them. “Yes.”
“The best thing you can do right now is sit down and answer our questions,” He continued. “We want to find her and make sure she’s safe and sound just as much as you do. And I’d like to think we are better equipped to search for her than you are by yourself.”
“You’re right,” Izumi hung her head and collapsed into a chair. “Sorry.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. I realize this must be scary for you, losing your friend like this.” Izumi nodded and he continued. “So will you help us?”
“Okay,” Izumi whispered as she raised her head to look at the detective. “If it helps bring Ochako back, I’ll do anything.”
She sat there fiddling with the hem of her skirt as the detective asked her countless questions: Did she notice anything strange recently? Has her behavior changed? Did she have any enemies?
Izumi may have yelled at the detectives when they insinuated that her parents may be at fault. The detective at least had the good sense to apologize to her, saying he was trying to cover every angle – an unfortunately high number of missing person cases could be traced back to family, after all.
For the rest of the questions, she tried to be as honest as possible, only leaving out one important detail - the brief glimpse of Uravity. She feared what they would think of her if she mentioned she hallucinated her friend wearing a costume of a fictional character she dreamed up, after all!
When they were finally done they thanked her and left, leaving her alone with her school principal.
“Would you like the rest of the day off?” He asked quietly.
Izumi nodded. “Y-yeah. I don’t think I can concentrate on classes anymore today.”
“That’s what I figured. Either that, or you’d sneak out.”
“Wha–I wouldn’t!” Izumi insisted.
“Of course you wouldn’t,” Nezu said. “Very well, you are dismissed for the day. I will inform your teacher that you are free to pack your bag and leave.”
“Thank you,” Izumi bowed to the principal.
“Don’t thank me, I am merely looking after my students’ wellbeing. I hope after an evening’s rest you will be feeling better.”
“Me too.” Izumi lied.
I won’t feel better until she’s back.
She ran.
From the moment Izumi stepped out of the school gate, she took off running.
“Ochako didn’t disappear from home, she disappeared from school! That means–”
That means if Ochako’s anywhere, she has to be here, right?
She ran to Uraraka Construction’s latest site, her parents missing.
She ran through the shopping district, desperately searching shops for a familiar flash of brown hair.
She ran through the shrines and parks, looking for a girl camped out.
She ran until her legs gave out and she collapsed on a bench.
“Ochako–” Izumi gasped the other girl’s names in between breaths. “Please–”
If this is my fault, I want to make it right!
But I don’t know how.
She spent countless hours searching, only stopping long enough to catch her breath before she took off again. It wasn’t until the sun dipped low on the horizon and the lamps around the city turned on that she finally stopped.
Izumi reached out, panting as she leaned against a light post, the lamp shining down on her in silent accusation.
Look at her. It announced She wants to save everyone with her words and art, but she can’t even save the person most important to her.
“When did it get so late?” Izumi asked nobody in particular.
As if to remind her of her weakness, her stomach growled.
“That’s right, I haven’t had anything to eat since breakfast.” Izumi closed her eyes and sighed. “I guess I should…” She fished her phone out of her bag and froze.
> 30 missed calls.
Eyes going wide, she unlocked the screen and began scrolling, seeing dozens of frantic messages from her parents as they spent the entire day trying to get ahold of her.
She quickly jabbed the screen, pressing her mom’s phone number and dialing as she slammed her phone to her ear.
“Zumi–”
“I’m so sorry!” Izumi wailed as she slid down to rest on her knees. “After I got news about Ochako I just– and now– I’m– I’m–”
“Zumi, honey, where are you?” Her mom said, her voice warm and welcoming even if Izumi could hear it quivering. “We’ve been worried about you. After we heard the news–”
“I’m,” Izumi looked up and scanned her surroundings. “In the shopping district on the northwest side of Shizuoka.”
“Are you safe?”
“Yeah,” Izumi said. “Hungry and thirsty though…”
“Stay there. Your Dad borrowed a car and will be there soon.”
“Okay,” Izumi said.
She sent her dad a GPS ping before she collapsed on a nearby bench. Sure enough, fifteen minutes later she watched a car pull up in front of her and the passenger door opened to reveal Hisashi Midoriya, her dad.
“Hey Zumi, you gave us quite the scare.”
“I’m sorry,” Izumi sniffled as she rubbed at her wet eyes.
“It’s okay, what’s important is that you’re safe now. Let’s get you home and we can talk about it.”
“Okay,” Izumi said as she stood up and walked to the car. She barely had time to sit down before she felt her dad’s warm embrace, and she leaned into his side.
“I miss her.”
“I know you do, but you don’t want to push yourself too far. What happens if you get yourself in trouble? We–” For the first time ever, Izumi heard her dad’s voice crack. “--we don’t want you to disappear too, you know.”
Izumi closed her eyes and felt tears running down her face.
“I don’t want to disappear either, but–”
Where are you, Ochako?
Of course, her worry for Ochako carried on in her dreams.
When the scene came into view she saw Deku locked into combat with Uravity. The woman was fast, each punch of her fist punctuated with pink light as Deku brought up her canon to deflect the blow. And with each strike Izumi saw Deku flinch, the force of impact threatening to tear her weapon out of her grasp.
“No, please–” Izumi begged. “That’s Ochako! She’s– you’re–”
Her words didn’t have any effect as Deku leaped upward, practically reaching the ceiling. At the apex of her jump, she aimed the cannon at Uravity and began firing, massive shells raining down on her foe and cratering the ground around her as her opponent dodged the shots.
“I wanted to give you a friend! A companion! Not another opponent!”
Deku landed in a crouch with her gun pointed upward, and it began to glow green as it collapsed into its component tendrils, only to quickly reform into a massive black broadsword.
Uravity responded in kind, gauntlets flashing pink as two nearby rocks began to float. Then two wires sprang free of her gauntlets and attached themselves to the rocks before retracting, pulling the rocks close to her arms and forming a pair of makeshift flails.
Deku’s face remained unchanging as she rose to her feet and charged.
“No!” Izumi tried to reach out.
Uravity landed a blow that would crush a lesser person’s shoulder. But not Deku’s. The woman gritted her teeth as she stepped back and reset herself. Uravity came in for another attack and she swung her massive blade in a sweeping arc, but her foe nimbly dodged backward. The two traded blows, neither one gaining an advantage over the other.
Deku once again leaped into the air, this time landing on a rough outcropping along the wall. She aimed her large blade at Uravity and the other woman responded by launching both of her rocks at the opponent, cables rapidly extending as they smashed into the wall.
But Deku was already airborne, leaping over the attack. The green fire around her eye flared to life as she spun in a circle. Her massive blade arced in a downward slash, severing the cables and preventing Uravity from retracting them. The heroine finally landed in a low crouch, her free hand pressed into the ground as she stared at her opponent.
While her face was hidden, Uravity’s body language was enough to show her surprise. She stepped back, caught off guard at being suddenly disarmed, and searched for something to use as a weapon.
Deku, meanwhile, pressed her advantage. She quickly stood and adjusted her grip, both hands tightening around her blade as she leveled it at her opponent and charged.
“Stop!” Izumi begged. “Don’t hurt her!”
For a brief moment, she swore Deku’s eyes went wide as the blade missed her opponent’s chest and slid harmlessly past her.
Then Uravity’s gauntlets glowed pink, and both women were buried under a pile of rubble as the ceiling collapsed.
-Beep! Beep! Beep!
Izumi groaned as she pushed herself upright.
“When did I get into bed?” She asked numbly as she looked around the room. The last thing she remembered was crying in her dad’s lap while her mom rubbed soothing circles into her back. “Did Dad…”
She reached out and silenced her phone with a sigh. “I bet they want me to go to school today too,” She looked at the discarded and dirty uniform that lay in a crumpled heap on her floor. “Not that it’ll help.”
Izumi forced herself out of bed and went into the living room to talk to her parents. Despite her begging to take the day off, neither of them would budge. They promised to call her if the police heard anything, and also offered to let her continue searching for Ochako after school.
It certainly wasn’t what she wanted to do, but part of her agreed that it was for the best. If nothing else, she should check on Himiko to see how the other girl was doing.
Of course, she didn't have to wait long to find out. Izumi was barely out of the train station when she felt a familiar form crash into her, letting out a muffled squeak as she felt warm arms wrap around her.
“Zumi,” Himiko cried.
“Himi,” Izumi choked out as she leaned into the other girl. “I’m sorry–”
“Don’t be,” Himiko insisted. “It’s not your fault!”
But I’m scared that it is.
“I know,” Izumi lied, “but still–” She finally pulled away to look at the other girl. “Enough about me, how are you doing?”
“I’m okay,” Himiko said with a fake smile plastered across her face. “I’m worried about Ocha but she’s tough! I’m sure she’ll be back before we know it.”
“You would know, huh…” Izumi said softly.
“I have to believe it,” Himiko admitted as she opened her eyes. “Otherwise I’d be falling apart just as badly as you are.”
Izumi’s gaze softened as she took comfort in the fact that Himiko wasn’t as careless as she appeared. “It’s okay to be sad, you know.”
“For you, maybe,” Himiko bit her lip and turned away. “I miss her too.”
Izumi crashed into the other girl’s back and was rewarded with a startled yowl as she wrapped her arms around Himiko’s stomach. “Thank you, Himi.”
When they pulled apart, both girls ran the rest of the way to their school, barely making it in time before classes began. Between classes, Himiko checked up on Izumi, and vice-versa, both girls trying to keep their spirits up knowing that their friend was– somewhere. Not here. Not in the classroom next door where she should be.
School dragged on for an eternity. But they were finally dismissed for the day. Izumi packed her bag as quickly as she could, only to be ambushed by a pair of arms wrapping around her again.
“You’re going to look for her, aren’t you?”
“Mhm,” Izumi nodded. “Mom and Dad told me I could as long as I don’t ignore their calls again.”
“Let me know if you find her?”
“Of course,” Izumi said as she squeezed the other girl’s hand. “Thanks for your help today.”
“You helped me too, you know,” Himiko mumbled quietly.
Izumi gasped and smiled softly, knowing the other girl wouldn’t acknowledge a reply even if she offered one.
The girls separated and Izumi left the building feeling much calmer than she did the day before. Panic and worry still dominated her thoughts, but the edge of desperation had been dulled.
I guess Mom and Dad were right. Izumi thought as she stepped out of the gate and looked skyward. Going to school did help. But now–
Izumi took a deep breath and looked out to the gentle slopes of the nearby mountain, and the forested national park that lay at its base.
If you’re not in town, that means I need to expand my search.
Determination creeping into her veins, Izumi started walking towards the train station.
No matter where you are, I’ll find you.
Izumi searched the park for hours, trying to find every hiding place and landmark that Ochako had ever mentioned to her. And when the shadows grew long as the sun began to set she pulled out the flashlight she had brought, trying to continue her search for as long as she could.
It wasn’t until the sun had almost set and her mom called that she was once again forced to give up. She made her way back to the entrance of the park where her dad met her, and her mom had a hot meal and comforting arms waiting for both of them when she got home.
After dinner Izumi took a hot shower, cleaning the day’s dirt and grime off of her before she slipped into her night clothes. She wished her parents goodnight and even made it all the way back to her bedroom before she couldn’t hold it in any longer. Curled up on her bed, she hugged her knees to her chest as the tears threatened to spill.
“Ochako…”
Izumi picked up her phone and opened the messenger app. There, near the top of the list, the kanji for Beautiful Day sat, reminding her of her first encounter.
“Who would have guessed that first meeting…” Izumi rubbed her eyes as tears leaked out. “...every day with you was beautiful.”
She brought up her keyboard and began typing.
>> I miss you.
Closing her eyes, Izumi breathed out and pressed send, silently praying for something, anything in response. When she opened her eyes, she felt the sting of disappointment as her message didn’t even have a read acknowledgment. Refusing to give up, she continued to stare at her phone in silent vigil, tears slowly trailing down her face until the numbness of exhaustion finally consumed her.
Deku was trapped.
Like a fly caught in a web, she hung suspended in the air, her arms and legs wrapped in dozens of cables.
As she clawed her way back to consciousness, she looked around, finally spotting an approaching splash of pink. Like a spider approaching its prey, Uravity walked closer to her. Her spotless clothes were now dusty and torn, but she still managed to look intimidating as she stopped less than two meters away from Deku.
Izumi held her breath as she watched the two women staring at each other, afraid to break the tense silence of the stalemate.
Whatever the two women silently traded back and forth was enough as Uravity’s gauntlets suddenly glowed pink and the wires began to tighten around Deku.
Deku’s left eye ignited in response, the green fire growing bright as she began to pull at the wires. For a brief moment, it looked like she would be unable to escape, and would instead be crushed under their force–
–but then a loud snap was heard and one wire flew away from her. Then another and another, and Deku’s left arm was free! Shadowy tendrils leaped out of her hand, quickly attacking the remaining wires and freeing their owner as Deku collapsed to the ground.
She wasted no time rising to her feet, a shadowy tentacle wrapping itself around a large stone to mimic the weapon Uravity used the night before. The other woman fought valiantly but was forced to go on the defensive, unable to find an opening to retaliate. Every time her gloves glowed pink and rock approached Deku, the shadowy tentacles managed to batter it aside, refusing to let her fall for the same attack a second time.
And step by step, Uravity was slowly forced backward.
That was when Izumi noticed the pit Uravity was walking towards.
“No! Please! Don’t do this!” Izumi called out. “She– if you keep this up– Please stop! I don’t want you hurting Ochako!”
As her desperate plea rang throughout the chamber, two things happened. First, Deku froze mid-swing, her arm raised as she was ready to deliver a crushing blow with the rock suspended in the air.
Second, a portion of Uravity’s faceplate cracked and shattered, revealing the face of the woman underneath and confirming what Izumi knew all along.
Despite the distance. Despite the shadowy darkness that filled the room and the strange pink irises, Izumi would recognize that face anywhere.
Izumi was dragged out of her sleep by a single beep from her phone, informing her that she had a message. She reached out for the nightstand but it wasn’t there. Cracking a bleary eye open, she searched around her bed and found it sitting beside her. She picked up the phone and turned it towards her to see the screen.
1 Message: Beautiful Day
“Ochako!” Izumi bolted upright and unlocked the screen.
Her message contained no words, just a single green star.
But for Izumi, it may as well have been a novel.
Adrenaline and hope surging through her veins, Izumi threw herself out of bed and grabbed a change of clothes. She was out of the bathroom in record time and racing through the living room, shouting a hurried apology to her parents as she grabbed her bag, threw her phone into it, and promptly bolted out of her family’s home.
Izumi didn’t even wait for the doors to fully open on the train before she was on the move, leaping off the platform and racing up the stairs two at a time until she emerged from the station. Letting her feet and memories carry her, she ran through the quiet morning streets until she entered the park. She urged her legs to go faster, hope acting like wings on her back all the way to the observation deck–
–but it was empty.
“Wha– but–” Izumi felt tears coming on as she frantically looked around until something caught her eye.
There, on the ground, something sparkled in the morning light. Izumi dashed over and fell to her knees as she saw what it was.
“Ochako’s phone charm–” Heartbreak laced Izumi’s every word as she reverently picked it up like it was some precious object. Wrapping her hands around it, she clutched it to her chest.
“Ocha– OCHAKO!” Izumi wailed. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I–”
Her words died in her throat as she suddenly felt herself engulfed in a pillar of green light. Gasping, her head jerked up–
–and she saw Deku floating there.
“You!” Izumi exclaimed. “You’re real!”
Deku closed her eyes, the bright green flame temporarily fading. “Of course I’m real.” She said, her words resonating with Izumi’s very soul rather than spoken aloud.
“That means–” Izumi’s eyes went wide. “Please! Take me to Ochako!”
“You want to see that girl, despite the pain in your heart?”
“Pain–” Izumi repeated the word dumbly. “Of course! What kind of question is that?!”
“Have you forgotten my purpose so easily?”
Izumi gasped, staring at the woman in shock.
Deku is– the reason I can be strong is because she’s always there to protect me!
“You want to protect me… from Ochako?”
“Yes. I exist to protect you from your pain and suffering. Just like Uravity exists to protect her.”
Izumi gasped and flinched back. “But Ochako–”
“Her feelings became too much, so Uravity decided to intervene directly to help her.”
“No!” Izumi’s veins turned to ice.
That means–
“Like her, your feelings are threatening to tear you apart,” Deku’s eye flared brightly in the morning light.
“You’ve got it all wrong!” Izumi threw out her hand, holding the charm tightly in it. “This pain– I don’t want you to take it away from me! I need it! It reminds me of how I hurt her and how–” She closed her eyes and held her hand to her heart. “--I need to make things right between us. Please– if you’re supposed to protect me then help me! ” Izumi felt herself deflate. “Take me to see her.”
Her eyes went wide in surprise as she felt herself turn weightless and begin to float upward until she was at eye level with Deku.
“Even though it may bring you more pain, you still wish to see her?”
“Yes!” Izumi said without hesitation as she felt a single tear running down her cheek. “It’s true, you’ve done so much for me. But sometimes I– we need to face the hurt to get better. Otherwise–” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “--we can’t experience the world to its fullest.”
Izumi waited as Deku stared at her in silence.
“I understand now, this is how you want me to protect you.”
Izumi’s eyes went wide as she watched Deku float closer and closer to her. She screwed her eyes shut waiting for the woman to collide with her – but instead, she passed through her. A warmth filled Izumi’s very being, like some part of her that she had forgotten had been returned. Opening her eyes, she gasped as she saw the world through a bright green tint out of her left eye.
And then her vision went white.
IV.
Whatever happened, Izumi felt sore all over. Feeling panic grip her, she blinked rapidly, trying to restore her vision, until she realized where she was.
It was at the end of her dream. Deku – no, she – stood there with one arm raised. And less than two meters away stood Uravity – no, Ochako – her arms raised defensively as her pink eye stared at her.
But now that she had a clear angle, she shuddered. Uravity’s eye was filled with anger and malice, not the bright warmth of her best friend.
If it’s just like Deku said, she has to be in there! Just like I’m–
Izumi lowered her weapon, the shadowy tentacles releasing the rock which fell to the ground in a loud crash. Meanwhile, Uravity continued to stare at her, her arms at the ready as she was prepared to defend herself.
But Izumi wasn’t intending to attack her.
“Ochako!” Izumi called out, her voice a mixture of familiar yet unearthly as she reached out to the other girl. “Please, I know you’re in there!”
She was rewarded with the sight of a familiar brown swirling around the other girl’s iris, mixing with the pink. The other girl then spoke, with a similar familiar-yet-unearthly tone. “Izu…mi?”
“Yes!” Izumi stepped forward. “I’m here, Ochako! I’ve been looking for you.” She felt herself smiling. “And I finally found you.”
“You–” The eye turned a solid brown as it went wide. “Izumi, you shouldn’t be here!”
“Neither should you!” Izumi countered. “I came to bring you home!”
“This–” her eye rapidly shifted back to a solid pink. “--is my home!”
“No, it’s not!” Izumi insisted with a shake of her head. “You belong in Shiozuka, not here! Everyone misses you, they’re worried about you. Ochako,” Izumi stepped forward. “I’ve missed you so much, so please –”
“No!” Uravity took a step back before her eye shifted from pink to brown. “You deserve better than me. I was jealous of you and Himiko. She’s so thin, and pretty, and well off and I can’t compete with that!” Her eye turned glassy. “It felt like all I could offer you was the time we had together and then you switched homerooms and we both got busy and I lost even that. And then with how easily you seemed to get along with her once the homeroom change happened– I got scared and upset.” She closed her eye and Izumi watched the single tear fall until it disappeared beneath the visor. “You deserve someone better than me in your life.”
Izumi felt her heart crack. “I don’t want anyone better. I want you!”
Ochako gasped and her eye shot open. “Really?”
“Mhm!” Izumi nodded as she grabbed the hope in the other girl’s tone like a lifeline. “You’re so easy to talk to and you care about everyone and you’re just as beautiful as your name and–” Izumi stepped forward “I’m a big dummy for not seeing it sooner. Sure it’s harder to spend time with you now but that just means every moment I do get with you is even more precious. And it’s my fault for not making that clear.” Izumi rubbed her eyes with the sleeve of her costume.
“So please–” She stepped forward. “Come back with me!”
“You–” Her eye shifted back to a hard pink. “Liar!” Uravity steps back again, teetering at the edge of the ledge. “You hurt her!” Uravity spat the words at her. “Do you really think words are enough?”
“No,” Izumi said firmly. “I don’t,” Izumi rushed forward to pull the other woman into a hug. “But I’m ready to show you – both of you - that I mean it. I screwed up, but I’m never going to let you go again.”
She felt the anger in Uravity’s gaze as the woman grabbed her shoulders, fingers digging into her skin.
“Even if it means you’d die too?” Uravity asked, her neutral tone somehow making it worse as Izumi saw pink at the edges of her vision.
Izumi felt the other girl growing heavier by the second, threatening to send them both over the edge. “Yes! These last few days– I don’t want to spend another one without you, Ochako.” She tightened her grip on the other girl. “I’m never letting you go.”
She closed her eyes and held on tight, begging Deku to lend her her strength as the girl in her arms got heavier by the second. Even through her eyelids, the pink light grew in intensity, threatening to overwhelm her.
“Izumi!”
She heard her name, and suddenly the light was gone – and the other girl felt lighter again. Before she could react, she felt the Ochako’s grip on her change as she hugged her back.
“I don’t want to spend another day without you either.”
Izumi gasped and opened her eyes to see that the Uravity costume was gone, confirming it was Ochako who embraced her – just Ochako, in her school uniform.
“Ochako!” Izumi laughed in relief as she adjusted herself and pulled her best friend closer, feeling a rush of warmth as the other girl’s cheek squished into hers.
As much as she wanted to celebrate, however, their reunion had to be cut short as they heard a rumbling above them.
“Eep!” Ochako squeaked as she looked up as small rocks began to fall. “How’re we getting out of here?!”
Izumi’s face hardened as she looked at Izumi. “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you–”
The same way Deku protects me.
Ochako let out a startled squeak as Izumi swept her up in a bridal carry and she started to run toward the exit, the pathway back to the city burned into her memories. Or perhaps they are Deku’s memories? She shoved the thought aside as she ran.
The girl in her arms was more important right now.
She felt relief wash over her as she emerged into the dull green light of the sky above, and leaped upward. Deku’s strength carried both girls to the edge of the crater, and she landed perfectly as she held her precious cargo tight. She stood up and sprinted in a mad dash back to the city, not stopping until she had crossed the threshold and felt pavement beneath her.
Panting heavily, she looked down at Ochako’s stunned face. The girl slowly turned to look up at Izumi and smiled at her as brilliantly as the morning sun before she broke out into laughter.
Izumi felt relief wash over her as she laughed as well, pulling Ochako close as their two voices filled the silent air with their sounds of joy.
When they were done Izumi lowered her best friend to the ground and the two turned back toward the crater. The earth itself seemed to waver before it collapsed inward, almost as if it was a picture being crumpled into a ball before it disappeared.
The two girls finally turned towards each other and Ochako stared into Izumi’s eyes for a moment before her face fell.
“Zumi I’m sorry,” Ochako started.
“Chako, it’s okay, really!”
“No!” Ochako yelled forcefully before she froze. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. “ Please . I need to say this.” She opened them and Izumi nodded before she continued.
“You remember how Himiko mentioned Tsuyu at the beginning of the year?” She opened her eyes and waited for Izumi to nod before she continued. “Back then the three of us were inseparable. Until she had to swap to class E, away from Himi and me.” Ochako closed her eyes. “Then she had more and more responsibilities at home because her mom had two more kids and then–” Ochako opened her eyes. “This last semester as things kept happening, I was scared of losing you, Zumi. I didn’t want a repeat of what happened with Tsu. Especially not you. You’re so–”
She reached out and gently pinched at the corner of Deku’s costume, holding a piece of fabric between two fingers. “But you seemed so happy around Himi and I felt selfish, so I tried burying my feelings. Then when you forgot about the meet I couldn’t take it anymore and…” Ochako’s brown eyes, filled with sadness, locked with Izumi’s own. “The next thing I knew I felt like I was dreaming of fighting Deku. Until I heard your voice.”
Izumi took Ochako’s hand in her own. “Uravity. She’s like Deku – she lives inside of you, trying to protect you. Just like Deku protects me. She just…” Izumi gave her a sad look. “...didn’t know how. So when that happened…”
“Just like your dreams that you told me about, huh?” Ochako said.
“Yep!” Izumi smiled. “Although…” She looked up at the pale green sky and the deserted city. “I didn’t expect this to actually be real!”
“So you weren’t dreaming of Deku? Everything you told me about her. It really happened?”
“I guess so,” Izumi rubbed the back of her head, noticing the immediate difference between her other self’s long ponytail and her normal messy curls.
Ochako seemed to notice too as she looked at her curiously. “Does this mean this is what you look like now?”
“Nope!” Izumi said quickly before she faltered. “At least, I don’t think so? Deku will stay here and I’ll go back to being just Izumi in the real world.”
“I happen to like ‘just’ Izumi, though,” Ochako said as she smiled warmly at her best friend. “So I hope you’re right.” She turned her attention to herself, examining her school uniform. “And I guess I’ll never know what Uravity looks like.”
“I can draw her for you!” Izumi said.
Ochako’s head snapped up as she stared wide-eyed. “Really!?”
“Mhm!” Izumi nodded rapidly. “I’ve been thinking about what you said about Deku and after today… I’d really like to give her a companion for my stories. And…” Izumi felt a faint heat rising to her cheeks. “Who’d be better than her?”
“I’d love that,” Ochako said. “If she really is my other self, I’d like to know what she looked like.” She turned toward the empty wasteland where the crater sat. “After all that she tried to do for me, she deserves that, at least.”
“I don’t think she’s gone yet,” Izumi said.
“Really?” Ochako asked curiously.
“Yep! I’m pretty sure she’s still alive, right there,” Izumi jabbed a finger toward Ochako’s heart. “Just like Deku’s alive in my heart, protecting me. I think… as long as you protect her, she’ll always be there, ready to protect you too.”
“Just like Deku, huh?”
“Just like Deku!” Izumi nodded.
“I hope you’re right,” Ochako smiled at her. “Although hopefully she won't bring me back here aga–” Her words were cut short as she paled slightly and wobbled.
“Chako!” Izumi rushed to her side and held her close.
“Sorry. I just got tired all of a sudden.”
“I think that means it’s time to go home.”
“Yeah,” Ochako closed her eyes and leaned into Izumi. “But how do we get there?”
“Trust me?” Izumi asked as she scooped Ochako up in her arms again.
“Not as much as you deserve,” Ochako said as she rested her head against Izumi’s shoulder. “But I’m getting there.”
Izumi felt the green light around her left eye flare, and suddenly she saw a familiar column of green light appear in the distance. She gave Ochako a moment to get comfortable, the other girl wrapping her arms lightly around Izumi’s neck. Once the other girl was ready, Izumi walked toward the light.
Her dreams have changed in the past few months.
One day Deku ran across Uravity again. Deku tensed up, ready to fight, but then Uravity removed her mask, revealing bright pink eyes filled with warmth instead of anger. The heroine’s stance relaxed as she once again offered her hand and this time Uravity took it without hesitation. They stared at each other silently for a moment before Deku released her grip and continued onward. But she was no longer alone – Uravity fell in place next to her side, almost as if she had always meant to be there.
Izumi couldn’t be happier – after everything Deku and Uravity have done for the two of them, they deserved this!
Eventually, their journeys once again brought them to the edge of the city. But this time rather than a crater, they saw a gothic castle in the distance, something straight out of a horror novel. She couldn’t tell if it was supposed to be a fortress or a prison.
Uravity once again donned her mask, her gauntlets appearing on her wrists. For a brief moment, Izumi feared what would happen next, but then she felt relief as the woman offered a hand to Deku. Nodding in understanding, Deku took the woman’s hand. In her other, eldritch black tendrils shot out before they coalesced into her oversized cannon.
As one, the two women turned toward the castle and began walking towards it.
And Izumi knew that even if they had to fight its owner first, the two of them would find a way to help her.