Chapter Text
"I can't believe you didn't drink that poison." Katsuki gave Ochako a glare, rubbing at his lips as if it could get rid of the aftertaste.
"Oh, you're all right," Ochako said, patting him on the back. "It probably wasn't so terrible, right?"
"It was fuckin' awful!"
Ochako put up her hands. "Okay, but hey, on the bright side, you can read the scrolls now. Let's go see the community center and get a list of everything we'll need."
She let out a groan. When Katsuki gave her a weird look, she put her hands over her face.
"What's wrong with you?" he asked.
"Let's just," she said while placing her hands on his back and pushing him into town, "get this started."
He gave her a last look over his shoulder, but didn't push on the topic again. What the fuck was her deal? He was the one dying from that disgusting glop the crazy wizard forced down his throat.
They passed by a few villagers, which Ochako said hi to, but Katsuki blatantly ignored.
"Why are you talking to me?" One of them asked her, a beer in his hand and his shirt half tucked in.
"Ha?!" Katsuki said, whipping his head around. "You kidding me? What kinda fucker responds like that when someone says hi?"
"Uh," Shane said. "You. You've been rude to everyone since you got here."
"Shut up," Katsuki growled. "Why wouldn't I be rude to someone like you?"
"There a problem here, boys?"
Katsuki glanced at the newcomer, Mayor Lewis. Tch, as if he needed this guy. Just looking at him made Katsuki mad. The fucker threw turnip seeds at their feet as if their world hadn't been turned upside down.
"Not at all." Ochako waived her hands in front of her, a dopey smile on her face.
Katsuki rolled her eyes and looked to the left, a run down house with a silver trash can outside. Why the fuck couldn't he look at her when she smiled like that? What, was he fuckin' sick in the head or something?
"Ochako," Lewis said, his smile warm as he turned his attention to her. "Wonderful to see you, hope you're having a good day so far."
"Oh, yes," she said. "We were just heading to the community center actually-"
"The community center?" Lewis barked, his eyes wide. "Really?"
"Yeah, we're gonna put the dumb thing back together apparently," Katsuki said, crossing his arms.
Lewis levelled them both with a thoughtful stare while Shane walked away, muttering under his breath.
"I've been looking for someone to help with the old building," Lewis said. "It's become quite the eyesore."
"Perfect." Katsuki flicked his wrist into the air, splaying his fingers with the motion. "No need to say more, we're already on the job."
"If you build up the center," Lewis continued in spite of Katsuki's brush off. "It would mean a great deal to the town."
"You can count on us," Ochako said, placing her hand over her heart.
How can someone be so sincere all the freaking time?
"Yeah, I didn't eat that goo for fuckin' nothing." Katsuki still had that disgusting taste on his tongue.
Lewis raised an eyebrow at him, seemingly unsure what to make of that statement. "Right, well, let me show you the way."
He didn't wait for an answer, instead turning and heading into town. Ochako shrugged before following the old geezer. Katsuki groaned, uncrossing his arms as he stomped after them.
It took only a minute to get to the stupid, dilapidated structure. Lewis unlocked the front door and walked inside.
Katsuki took the place in, his upped lip pulled back as he surveyed the ruined furniture, the mold filling up corners. Cracks were everywhere, in floors and the walls. He wouldn't be surprised if the whole roof came down and put them out of their misery right then and there.
"What a dump," Katsuki said.
Lewis started tapping his foot against the old flooring. "Back in the day, it used to be a place of wonder, a community hub. A lively place full of memories."
"We'll get it back to the way it was." Ochako walked over to a broken fish tank in the far corner. Glass pieces were scattered along the floor, so she tip toed around it before picking up a large chunk and turning back to the others. "We have to."
After some more back and forth, Lewis finally shut the door behind him to leave Katsuki and Ochako the fuck alone.
"Finally." Katsuki breathed out, his shoulders sagging in relief. He turned to look at Ochako. "Where is..."
Over her shoulder, sitting on the broken fireplace mantle, was some kind of blob creature. It had short legs and arms, with the body of a tiny green pumpkin.
Katsuki raised both eyebrows and he pointed at it. "What the fuck is that thing?"
Ochako swiveled her head to follow his gesture. "I don't see anything."
"This thing," Katsuki said, stomping over to the fireplace. He picked it up and it made a weird squeaky sound. It wriggled in his grip while its arms and legs flailed about in a panic. "Fuckin' squishy pumpkin."
Ochako's eyes lit up. "Oh! You mean the Junimo." She bounced over to him. "Shoot, maybe I should have drank the potion, I want to see the little cutie."
"Cutie?" Katsuki looked down at the thing then held it up to see it from a different angle. "Looks freaky to me."
She smacked his shoulder. "Don't you dare say that."
Katsuki opened his grip, letting the thing jump away from him. He watched as it scurried across the floor, disappearing down the hall.
"Fan-fuckin-tastic," Katsuki said. "I'm so god damn happy I drank that goo to see the weird things."
"Katsuki," she said, and once again he was a bit dazed at the sound of it coming off of her lips. "You can also read these."
In her hand was a list of items. He took it from her and scanned the contents. "Kay, its just a bunch of fish."
"Well, I can't read it at all," she said, gesturing to the page. "It's just a bunch of weird symbols for me."
Katsuki stood up straight and spoke in a teasing tone. "Ah, so I'm the most important person here, huh?"
"Don't get such a full head." She puffed up her cheeks.
It always amused him when she did that to her face. He'd always resisted the urge to reach out and smack both cheeks when they were back at school. But now, with no one else around, he let himself do it.
A whoosh of air left her and she looks ridiculous with her face squished between his hands. He couldn't help it, he let out a sharp laugh.
Her face still smooshed, she started to laugh as well, though the sound was strange with the pressure of his palms.
She pulling his arms down by encircling his wrists with her small hands. "Let's get the rest of the lists and go home."
He tilted his head. "Lists? As in plural?"
She nodded, walking down a hallway.
"How many are there exactly?" Katsuki asked, following close behind.
"Well, let's see..." Ochako picked up each list around the building and ruffled through them to count. "Six in total."
Katsuki rolled his head back and groaned. "You gotta be shittin' me."