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Uravity receives an unusual request from a fan one day, a seemingly random day, not even a particular difference in weather marked it as anything special. This fan would spend money, any amount of money, for a private meeting with the number four hero. Even if it costs her a life saving’s worth.
Otaka Fumiko… Uravity writes down the name as a reminder to respond to the email later. The tone of the email is neutral, but if someone is this desperate to meet with a hero, then she wouldn’t cost them anything at all.
______
Uravity is somewhat apprehensive on the day she is scheduled to meet with this woman. Throughout their brief correspondence, Otaka had given no indication of what she wanted to talk about or why. The only request she was given is to wear her hero outfit. She’s meeting her hero, after all…
Despite the warnings from others at her agency, Uravity doesn’t feel that this is foul play. Her gut feeling does not tell her that this woman has malicious intent.
Still, the apprehension has her distracting herself until she loses track of time, and Uravity is a few minutes late to the meeting. She rushes in to her office, apologizing profusely.
“I’m so sorry, I have no excuse. I know this is important to you,” Uravity is embarrassed enough that she struggles to meet Otaka’s eyes, “I’ll make sure to tack on some time at the end to make up for it.”
“It’s okay.” The woman is wearing a black mask, her voice ever-so-slightly muffled. “I’m just happy to finally see you in person.”
Uravity sits down at her desk, and finally gets a look at the woman across from her. There’s nothing that stands out about her appearance. She has long black hair, with the front parts of it tied back behind her head. Two small strands of hair fall into her forehead. Her brown eyes slant upward. Even with the mask, Uravity can see that they are around the same age.
“Otaka Fumiko. It’s very nice to meet you.” Uravity finally gets her bearings. “Is there anything in particular you’d like to discuss with me?”
There’s a silence for a few moments. The woman is staring at her with a strange, unplaceable emotion.
“Ochako,” Otaka says with a tone of wistfulness. She doesn’t say anything more.
Uravity’s eyebrows furrow, confused, the apprehension returning. There are very few people in her life that calls her that. She begins to rethink everything that had brought her to this point- Otaka had only referred to her as Uravity, but perhaps she has a more parasocial relationship with her than she thought.
The way Otaka had said it, perhaps it was the inflection, speaks of an immense amount of love.
“Um…” Uravity has never been in this situation before, but then again, she brought this on herself by being too sympathetic. “Please call me Uravity… only my friends call me Ochako.”
Otaka’s eyes widen slightly. “Oh…”
Or perhaps this woman was just slightly strange.
Before Uravity could continue, Otaka fiddles with her mask and says, “The romantic part of me said that you’d still recognize me… even if it was just my voice… this life I’m living really is a nightmare.”
Despite her confusion, the hurt in Otaka’s tone made Uravity’s stomach twist. “I’m sorry… do I know you?”
“I hope so.” Otaka places her hand down into her lap. “Even after all this time, if you had forgotten me… I’d stab you again.”
It takes no time for Uravity to understand, but she has no time to process what this means.
“Himiko!”
There is no dramatic rush, no hug, no declaration, or even any movement made at all. Ochako sits in stunned silence, and Himiko gazes back calmly. The clock continues ticking.
“I’m here to turn myself in, hero.” Himiko is unusually still as she speaks. “I just wanted to talk to you again, I wanted you to see who I am now… but I blew it, didn’t I.”
There is no reason to process the ‘how’, Ochako realizes. It is a simple and plain truth that Toga Himiko is alive.
“No…” Ochako finally breaks out of her stupor. “I… I want to talk to you.”
“You do?” Himiko’s eyes crinkles slightly. Not enough, Ochako can tell even without seeing it that it is a practiced smile. Not the beautiful one that she still remembers so clearly. “I don’t even know what I would talk about. My life has been hell, Ochako.”
A deep, buried ache in Ochako’s heart was driving every word. “Talk to me about that.”
“Ochako…” Himiko remains frighteningly still as she speaks. “I have a husband… and children. I live with them in a large house that reminds me of my childhood home.”
It is something that should be happy. Something that makes Ochako gasp and grin, congratulate this woman that should have been her closest friend for living the ideal life.
But it is not. It is a simple, neutral statement that makes Ochako sick to her stomach.
“Do you…” Ochako isn’t sure what to say for a few moments. Does Himiko love her family? Of course she does, there is no one that loves like Himiko. Is Himiko happy? Of course she’s not. Ochako finally lands on, “Your husband… does he let you have his blood?”
“My husband doesn’t know what my quirk is.” Another neutral statement that makes Ochako want to vomit. “Nobody does.”
“Himiko…” Ochako wants to cry. She might cry. This woman, the story of Toga Himiko, is one that has haunted every day, motivated her. Ochako has spent her life changing the world to one that Himiko could live in. She thought she had, she really did. Uravity often meets parents who thank her for her work on expanding quirk counseling, and she often meets happy little ones with violent quirks that are living life just like any other.
But the fact that Himiko herself is living like this only shows that she has failed to change society for the better in some deep, fundamental way. She’s not sure where she failed. She just knows she has.
And now, worst of all, Himiko wants to turn herself in.
“I’m not arresting you, Himiko.” There is no hesitation in her voice. “That was so long ago… we were just kids.”
“I knew you would say that, Ochako. You’re such a kind person. So much so that you’ve forgotten the law.” She lowers her head slightly. “If you don’t want to catch me anymore… then I’ll have someone else do it. Maybe Tsuyu, or Izuku. But I want it to be you, Ochako.”
“No… Himiko.” Her voice cracks. “Please. Even if you aren’t happy… stay with your family. Your children. We can be friends. I can help you find more happiness in your life. I’ll do anything.”
“It’s too late for that.” There is finally some movement as Himiko shakes her head. “I left them a letter that tells them everything. I quit my job. I’ve already ruined my own life. Don’t think of it as a punishing me, Ochako… think of it… as killing Otaka Fumiko, and setting Toga Himiko free again.”
It doesn’t make sense. Ochako understood Himiko better than she ever understood herself, but this Otaka Fumiko is a puzzle.
“Please, Ochako.” There is finally emotion in Himiko’s voice again. “End this nightmare for me.”
A tear slips out of Ochako’s left eye and falls down her cheek.
______
On August 13th, 26 years after the war that devastated society, Uravity arrests Toga Himiko without struggle.