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The post-it between Ochako’s fingers had been scrunched beyond recognition from how she had fidgeted with it during the entire train ride to the beach near where Tsu had done her work study. She glanced at the note for the millionth time to confirm that she had in fact gotten the location correct.
Constellations flickered overhead, guiding Ochako toward a girl who felt like home. Taking a deep breath, Ochako clung onto the heavy duffle bag she’d swung over her shoulder as she wandered across the sand.
Would Himiko still love the pink in her cheeks? Would that connection still be there now that Himiko was finally out from behind bars and working a community service job?
Ochako clutched a fist to her chest. She sure hoped so. Sometimes she’d envisioned what would have happened in a universe where Himiko had bled out on the battlefield instead of being ushered into a villain hospital in the knick of time. She’d imagine how she would have clung onto the image of Himiko’s beautiful tearful smile while her face was still her own as her hair darkened from blonde to brown. Ochako would think of how in another life how the scar on her abdomen in a universe would ache with the knowledge that Himiko wasn't there.
So in a universe where Himiko was just a train ride away, Ochako was going to run right toward her no matter how terrifying the thought of meeting again in person. No matter how terrifying it was to take the leap and finally address all the feelings that had bubbled to the forefront all those years ago.
Sure, Himiko and Ochako had kept in touch… but Ochako already knew that seeing eyes that flickered like gold again would be an entirely different whirlwind of emotions. And with how Himiko had stayed at the beach long past sunset to meet Ochako, there was no turning back now.
As a tall white tower emerged along the edge of the shore, a lithe figure waved in Ochako’s direction. The red detailing on Himiko’s lifeguard jacket flickered beneath the moonlight. A bulky black ankle monitor shone against her skin as she swung her feet back and forth while sitting atop the lifeguard’s chair. A familiar sunshine smile illuminated the entire night sky and glowed brighter than even the stars themselves.
Stunned by the sight of Himiko, Ochako let her duffle bag fall onto the ground. Standing in a pink bikini top and blue exercise shorts (because Ochako had lost track of her swimsuit bottoms), she walked closer and tried to take in every detail of Himiko since the detention center hadn’t let Ochako visit. She’s gotten a little taller. A small scar had formed at the corner of her lip from when she had bitten into a glass bottle on a dare.
But even with several years since the war behind Ochako and Himiko, striking gold eyes and soft blonde hair looked as beautiful as ever. A loose ponytail hung as the nape of Himiko’s neck – so wisps reminiscent of spider lilies in sight. No sight of hair worn down cascading around her face like a mask either.
Frowning, Himiko stared at Ochako’s midriff. Ochako crossed her arms and raised a brow. “Don’t like the bikini? Sorry it’s mismatched –”
“No, at all! It looks cute on you.” Himiko shook her head so fervently she nearly tumbled out of her lifeguard chair. Stumbling down the stairs, Himiko rushed toward Ochako and stared at the faded gash on her stomach. “It’s just – I’m sorry for hurting you.”
“Hey, I love the scar. It’s a reminder of how I managed to save you and how you saved me right back.” Smiling, Ochako reached out and grabbed Himiko’s wrist gently to set her hand down on the scar.
“But –”
“No buts! Besides, this little thing means that my publicists won’t pressure me into doing lingerie and swimsuit photoshoots.”
Worry subsiding from her furrowed brows, Himiko let out a chuckle. “Aww, I would have loved to see an Uravity swimsuit photoshoot.”
Ochako wiggled her eyebrows and winked. “Well, then I guess we’ll just have to arrange a private one for you.”
Grinning ear to ear, Himiko sent a sly grin Ochako’s way and plopped down on the sand. Ochako steeled her nerves and dared to sit down beside Himiko. When Himiko scooted closer rather than inching away, Ochako went as far as setting her head on Himiko’s shoulder and basking in her warmth.
As she traced hearts in the sand, Ochako cleared her throat. “So how has freedom been?”
“Pretty good. It’s been nice to finally use shampoo again that isn’t from the prison commissary.” Himiko flipped her ponytail as if to prove how much softer hair was.
Falling onto her back, Himiko stared at the sky and smiled at the stars. “And lifeguarding is pretty nice. Saving lives instead of taking them. People also smile at me for once… unless they recognize me that is.”
Ochako interwove her calloused fingers with Himiko’s. “Well, they’ll see you for who are soon enough.”
A girl with an adorable smile. The kind of girl who wanted to be loved and appreciated. And to have the option to live out avenues other than villainy. Maybe things would have been different if Ochako and Himiko had met as kids in a sandbox – but that didn’t mean that Ochako couldn’t still make a difference, that Himiko couldn’t break free from the shackles of being branded as a villain.
Himiko broke the brief moment of quiet. “Want to know what I like best about being a lifeguard?”
“Sure!”
“It reminds me of you and how you reached out to me while I was drowning in grief over Jin.” Tears flickered in the corners of her eyes as she stared off toward the deep blue waves stretching far into the distance. “Jin should have gotten the chance to walk along this beach too.”
Ochako reached out and placed a hand on Himiko’s shoulder. “I know.”
“On paper, I know that I should just be grateful that Shiggy and Dabi made it out alive – but I’m just so tired of the people I love slipping out from between my fingers.”
Not missing a beat, Ochako wrapped Himiko in a tight embrace. Who cares if she and Himiko hadn’t been so physically close since the two of them were bleeding out on the battlefield? Risking awkwardness was worth it if it meant comforting Himiko. “It’s okay to still be hurting. And if it helps at all just know that I’m not going anywhere.”
Ochako patted Himiko’s back, letting her sob onto her shoulder. Eventually the crying ceased as the soothing sound of the ocean washed away Himiko’s tears. Eyelids a bit puffy, Himiko leaned against Ochako’s shoulder, to her like a lifeline.
Glancing at the pier a few hundred meters away, Ochako stroked Himiko’s hair. “This beach is pretty nice.”
“It really is – and I heard it’s even more beautiful when fireworks light up the sky here.” Himiko sighed. “It’s just too bad I missed out on New Year’s fireworks.”
“I’m sorry,” Ochako said.
“Hey, it’s not your fault. And I’m out of prison now.”
“Well, I got something for you.” Stumbling to her feet, Ochako rushed over to the duffle bag she had cast aside. Himiko’s eyes went as wide as saucers as Ochako held up a box of fireworks.
“Ochako...” Himiko gasped. “I only mentioned the missing fireworks a couple of times over the phone. I can’t believe you remembered.”
“What can I say? Everything about you is just unforgettable.”
Himiko sent Ochako the sort of look that left her feeling like her legs had turned into Jello. Straightening her back, Ochako focused on the task at hand and tried to calm the flush in her cheeks as she set up fireworks with the same dedication she had for heroics.
Once the rockets were placed along the shoreline and a respectful distance from where Himiko was sitting, Ochako set the base of the cylinders ablaze. As Ochako wiped the soot off her hands, a kaleidoscope of lights burst across the sky. But even though the fireworks were mesmerizing, Ochako only had eyes for Himiko.
Turning her gaze away from the fireworks for a moment, Himiko got all choked up and stared Ochako directly in the eye. “I’m scared.”
Of love? Of second chances? Of trying to live in a world and trying to drown out the voices telling her that she was a villain? But Ochako would be waiting for Himiko at the bottom of every ledge, ready to catch her as she was falling all over again.
“Well, aren’t we all?”
Reaching out to cup Himiko’s cheek, Ochako smiled wistfully. She pulled Himiko’s close and as their lips pressed together, a thousand sensations exploded across Ochako’s nerves like fireworks. Every touch set a fire off underneath her skin and Himiko tasted blood and the tart flavor of pomegranate as Ochako sank deeper into the kiss.
So what, if love was a little bit terrifying? Did it matter how scared Ochako was about people thinking that a pro hero former villain couldn’t work out? After facing life and death together, Ochako honestly couldn’t think of anyone who she would rather take that leap of faith with.