Chapter Text
Izumi Midoriya was, in what would be a shock to many, a lonely girl. Sure, she had people she was friendly with at her school, (the cycling club, for instance) but she’d never quite managed to make friends since moving to Nara she tried to ignore the phantom pains of burning and kicks. The name Kacchan turning to poison. Maybe it was her, her fascination obsession with plants and engineering turning people off. Maybe it was her single-minded drive to be a hero, coloring everything she did in a singular goal to get better, go faster, be stronger, until she could stand against everything and save people with a smile. In any case, this was how she found herself, riding home alone once more, taking a more circuitous route to enjoy the late spring afternoon. Something made her stop. Standing over her bike, she looked around for what had caught her subconscious mind’s eye. She finally spotted it... or rather, her.
A girl, maybe about her age, wearing a disheveled seifuku (from a school closer to Kanto, she thinks). Blonde hair up in a pair of messy buns. They look like spider lilies, the botany part of her mind supplies. Cute Face screwed up in an expression of fear and self loathing as she scrubbed tears and was that blood?! from it.
“A-are y’ okay?” Her feet moved on their own, carrying her towards the girl, bike abandoned on the curb. The girl starts. Amber catlike eyes wide with fear meeting her own green ones wide with concern. She’s surprised the girl hasn’t bolted. “A-ah saw y’ cryin’. Can Ah do somethin’ to help?” Her hands hold the other girl’s. who seems surprised at her boldness.
“I-I’m fine.. j-just a bad day” The girl smile, a hint of what looks like fangs before her smile narrows. Looking as plastic as Izumi’s figurines “I-I should go, I’m sorry for bothering you.”
“Wait!” Izumi is surprised by her own boldness now. “A-at least let m’ get y’ somethin’ t’ clean up with.” She drags the girl over to her bike, digging through her bag and pulling out a package of tissue. “We, my mom and Ah, tend t’ cry a lot, so Ah always have spares.” A weak, but more true, smile; progress! “M’ name’s Midoriya Izumi.”
“T-Toga Himiko, thank you Midoriya-san” A flash of… something, when she gives her family name. Grabbing the tissues and cleaning up. Izumi scrupulously ignores the red staining the tissue
“D-do y’ live far? Ah could give y’ a ride.” No she’s not deparate for a reason to keep talking to this cute blond girl.
“I-I don’t want to trouble you” Another flashes of that same something. Was that fear?
“It’s no trouble, Ah usually go for a ride after school so Ah don’ have anywhere t’ be.”
Toga Himiko notices the hint of bitterness, wondering what it is, but knows better than to ask. Good girls don’t pry. She registers what the cute girl, plant like hair looking like a softer than normal curtain of willows in variegated shades of pink, white, and green, Midoriya was saying, panic and fear flooding her system again. She can’t go back, doesn’t want to go back. Back to demon and locked doors and endless hunger hunger hungerHUNGERHUNGER. Her expression shutters, thankful that the other girl was busy with her bag and didn’t see.
“Th-thats okay Midoriya-san, you’ve already done a lot for me by stopping and checking I was okay. You don’t have to go that far for a demon me. You couldn’t ride all the way to Kyoto on my behalf. I-I’ll just catch a train in a bit.” She begs silently for her to not push the issue.
Izumi purses her lips, taking in the tenseness of the cute other girl . The way her slitted eyes have been blasted wide by barely restrained panic. And oh isn’t that a familiar feeling.
“Well, if yer sure. Would y’ like to walk with me then? That is, if y’ want? Ah know Ah’m just some Deku girl, but y’ seem nice and it’s a nice andAh’dliket’gett’knowy’bettercauseAhdon’treallyhaveanyonet’hang-” She claps her hands over her mouth, before it can betray her further, cutting off the incomprehensible stream of mumbles. Her face is bright red as she hears a familiar soft sound, followed by a surprised trill oh my gods she makes sounds like a cat, that’s adorable from her companion. Sighing she reaches up, plucking the flower from her head with a small wince. Handing it to the shocked blond. “Red lily?”
“Snrk.” A snort escapes Himiko before she can help it. The Togas’ would be mortified. She quickly regains her composure, giggling demurely behind her hand, hiding her demonic fangs, like a good girl should. She delicately takes the offered flower, tucking it into her hair, enjoying the aroma of it. Covering up the delicious smell of copper and life and ferns and steel. “Thank you, Midoriya-san, and I would lo-like to walk with you.” She already told the Togas her parents that she was staying at a “friends” house until late to work on a project. Thank goodness Miho had been willing to cover (though she could do without the knowing looks and hints at a secret love). She wishes she could just stay away for good. She’s nearly blinded by the smile suddenly beamed at her. A thousand megawatts hidden behind plump, kissable, lips.
They walk in silence for a time, shooting each other small glances when the other isn't looking. Toga is the one to break first, asking the willow haired girl some basic small talk. Hated Hospitality and decorum lessons finally having some worth. Surface level chat, the weather, idols (that one didn’t go far), favourite colour (Red and Pink for Izumi, Red, Black, Pink, and Green for Himiko), occupied their time for a while before, without realizing it, Himiko asked the question. She almost didn’t notice the variegated haired girl stop. She looked over at her confused by her friend companions stiffness.
“I’m sorry I shou-”
“D’ y’ really wan’ t’ know?” There’s a hint of fear there, of old wounds never fully healed. Voice and accent thick with it. A desperation for acceptance that Himiko knows all to well.
“Well… yeah. Why wouldn’t I?” Himiko’s confusion is audible.
“Jus’… promise not t’ laugh?” Somehow she sounded even more desperate.
“Of course! I would never laugh at you Midoriya-c-san” Good girls don’t laugh
“Ah wanna be a Hero.” There’s a wistfulness there, but below, a core of raw determination and will. A drive that sends shivers down Himiko’s spine. She wishes she had half her conviction. Maybe then she wouldn’t be trapped. Absently she realizes that she’s staring, but she can’t seem to stop. Something about this wonderful girl has captivated her utterly.
Izumi starts, blushing slightly. “A-Ah know t’s a silly dream, but Ah-”
“It’s not.” She shakes herself slightly. Tamping down on Desires to bite and cut to become this girl and release so much cute red red red red. “You… I think you’ll be a great hero.”
Izumi feels herself tearing up, it’s not the first time someone supported her dream. With the exception of her mother, though, it always felt like they were paying lip service. Better than actively stomping on it. Poisoning her dream with fire and pain. Hastily wiping her eyes with a tissue, hoping her friend she doesn’t mind her emotional nature. Like her last one.
She coughs a couple times to clear the frog in her throat.
“W-what about y’ Toga-san?” Her head tilted adorably inquisitively. Willow branch hair swaying in the gentle breeze.
Himiko, for her part, freezes. A thousand and one thoughts, demon, worthless, only good to marry off, disgusting monster, spiraling through her head. She’s not sure how long, but finally she answers.
“Free. I want to be free.”