Chapter Text
“Attention passengers, the train will be arriving soon.”
“Yawn~ … Gosh, I should have slept more.” Ochako Uraraka mumbled, rubbing her eyes. Last night, after being awoken by a rather vicious nightmare, she was unable to fall asleep again, so to calm herself down she decided to scroll the internet. Before she knows, the sun has risen and she hasn't slept a peep, scared that she is gonna be late to school if she decides to sleep now, even if that will get her feeling more rested, Ochako decides to just get ready and get to school.
“Ugh… maybe I should just sleep before the bell, Aizawa-sensei sleeps all the time, he wouldn't mind.” She rubs her cheeks, trying to stay awake at least until she gets to school.
“Uraraka!” A shout catches her attention, walking toward her is a boy her age, blue hair brush neatly, red eye hind behind square frame glasses. His uniform neat and tidy unlike her harshly put on one.
“Oh… Hi Iida, yawn~ you here early.”
“Of course, I always get here early, it is important to be early after all.” Iida said, chopping his hand up and down in his signature style.
Iida Tenya, one of her new classmates and their class president. Since the day they meet, he has always been stickler for the rules to the point that it weirded her out. How can someone be this strict on rules ? But she knows that under all that, he just wants what is best for people.
“You are here early today too, Uraraka. May I ask why?”
“There no specific reason really, I just can't sleep so I suppose why not just get here early.”
He gasps. “Uraraka, sleep is very important, you shouldn't force yourself to get out of bed early.”
“I had a nightmare last night… Can't really sleep after that.”
“Oh… I apologize for assuming.”
“Attention passengers, the train for platform 3 will be arriving shortly. For your own safety please stand behind the yellow line and wait for the train to come.” The train announcer said as their train came into the station. It moves slowly before stopping completely. “Please wait for the current passenger to come out before you come into the train.” The train door opened, though there are not many people going off the train right now since it is so early in the morning.
“Should we get going then?”
“yawn~ uh huh, let's get going.” she nodded.
- - - - -
“This train will be stopping at Futatabi station and Musutafu station, please remember what station you are stopping at so you won't miss your destination” The announcer said as the train started to move. “Thank you for driving this train with us”
The station they will be stopping at is Musutafu station, where U.A high, the school where she and Iida are currently studying at, is. U.A is Japan's top hero school in the country and they are studying to be heroes. Honestly, when she first got the packet that said that she was going there, she thought that she was dreaming. U.A is a school that Ochako has been dreaming of going to since she was a kid. But with everything that happened, it just left her feeling tired.
“You want to talk about it?”
“Huh?”
“Your nightmare. Whenever I have a nightmare, I usually talk to my brother about it...” He rubs his neck, properly realizing how weird it sounds. “Do you want to…?”
“...Not really, it's about what happened a few days ago you see.”
A few days ago, their class had an outing to USJ, the Unforeseen Simulation Joint ( or Universal Japan according to Denki ). It was supposed to be a nice day, she even got to meet her favourite hero. But then they were attacked by villains, they don't even register that they are villains at first, just another exercise that U.A have given them until their teachers shout out .
And that thing, the one that the blue-haired one has called a Nobu, she doesn't even know what that thing was. It has the head of a bird, its brain exposed, muscle pulsing with every move it makes, unblinking eyes staring straight at them. After smashing her teacher's head to the ground, ( the sound of Aizawa sensei skull hitting the ground still haunted her sleep) It even took several hits from All Might before it got blown away, not defeated, blew away.
Ochako doesn't know what that thing is but one thing she does know is that.
That thing is not human.
“Ah, alright then”
They fall into silence, with the sound of the train in the background, the only thing she wants to do now is just to fall asleep, her eyes lid is getting heavier with every second and she can’t help but yawn.
“You know, it takes about 30 minutes from our station to Musutafu station.” Checking his watch, Iida said. “I don’t mind if you decide to take a nap, I’ll wake you up when we get there”
“Ah, thank you, Iida! Excuse me then.” Setting her bag on her lap and hugging it close, she tries to settle into a more comfortable position.
Ochako riffed to sleep.
- - - - -
Ochako wakes up with a startle.
“Is everything alright?”
“It's nothing… Just a bad dream.” She rubs her eyes.
“We have arrived at Futatabi station, the door on the left side will be open. For your own and other people's safety, please stay far away from the door. We thank you for your cooperation.”
Now think about it, she has been getting more nightmares recently.
Ding~ The sound of a bell catches her attention.
Among the people entering the train is a boy about her age, at least she thinks so, it is hard to tell with his hair obscuring her view. He looked around a bit looking for a space to sit before deciding on the row of seat diagonal from her. Putting his backpack, which looks more like a cabinet with straps than a backpack, down with a rather heavy thug, he sat down.
Looking at him, Ochako couldn’t help but stare. He has long green curls that reach his shoulder, obscuring his face. He was wearing traditional clothing. A green kimono, the same shade as his hair, with elaborate embroidery of cane bird and plum blossom. An yellow Obi tie into a bow on his back, highlighting the whole outfit, that sash alone must have taken at least months of her parent company income. Underneath, he was wearing a pair of black pants and geta sandals. Since it is early in the morning, there aren't many people around but she sure that even in a crowded train, he would have stood out nonetheless.
Looking at him, Ochako can help but think. He looks very…
“Pretty…” She whisper
“Uraraka, did you say something?”
“Oh did I say it out loud? I was just talking to myself” She looked at Iida, hand covering her mouth in embarrassment.
“Is something…” a sound of a bell. “The matter?” A voice asks them, it sounds pure.
Looking back, the green-haired boy is looking at them, head tilted curiously.
So that was where that sound was coming from, under his mess of hair, on his left ear was a bell with a gold tassel.
“N-Nothing… I was just thinking that your kimono looks very beautiful.”
“Thank you, I just got it recently as a gift.” He smiled, hand placed on his chest.
Lucky, she could only wish to have such a beautiful kimono.
“If I may ask, where are you going, wearing such elaborate clothing?” Next to her, Iida asks him.
“It's for my job.” They waited for him to continue, but he didn’t say anything else.
Well that's odd...
Yawn~
“Still feeling tired?” Iida ask her
“Yea, to be honest I haven't been sleeping well lately. I keep having nightmares.” She rubbed her eye, it must have looked red by now.
“I could help with that.” The green-haired boy said. “Something to reduce nightmares, give you better sleep.”
The cabinet next to him seems to… shake? It properly just the train, she must haven’t got enough sleep. On it stuck multiple pieces of papers with strange symbols on them, a few she could recognize from the protective charms that her landlord had stuck around the place, a superstitious woman she is.
“I have just the perfect thing for you.” He opens his cabinet to reveal… more drawers?
“Are you an apothecary?” Iida asked.
“An apothecary?” She echoed him.
“The cabinet is called a Tansu, this one specifically is called a Kusuri-dansu.” He pointed to the cabinet. “It is used by apothecaries and contains many small drawers to hold medicinal herbs. It might seem heavy but since it was made to be carried around, It was made with light wood and has very little metal detail to reduce the weight. So it is not really as heavy as it looks.”
“Wow...You are really well informed about this, Ida.”
“Ah… It's just something that I pick up.” He rubs his neck, embarrassed.
“An apothecary…” Ding~ “ I suppose you could say that. I am… something of an apothecary”
“Ah!” The green-haired boy is standing right in front of them now, holding something in his hand. When did he get here? She looked over to Iida, he looked shocked, it seemed that he didn’t notice when he had moved either.
“I apologise for scaring you.” He said, his voice slow and smooth. “May I have your hand? I have something to give you.”, He offers out his hand, it looks rough and calloused, opposite to his look.
She offers out her hand and he takes it, his grip firm but not hurting. The boy looked at her hand, even though she could not see his eyes, she could feel it. They stay like that for a while, Ochako considers taking her hand back since it was getting uncomfortable but he then gently puts something in her hand and closes it, akin to how a grandparent would give their grandchildren candy.
She tries to guess what he has given her, it was small and light. Opening her hand revealed a charm, an Omamori, it was purple in color with a yellow string attached to it.
“What is this?” Iida asks, he seems on edge.
“A sleeping charm.”
“Sleeping charm?” She repeated.
“It helps reduce nightmares and gives you better sleep. I made it myself.” She could hear a hint of pride in his voice. “I was told it was quite effective.”
While she was not really one to believe in the supernatural, she has not been sleeping well for awhile now, and with how heavy her eyelids feel. Ochako feels inclined to believe him.
Besides, it looks quite cute too.
“If you don’t believe me, you could test it right now.”
Yeah, that's a good idea. It would be a while until they reached Musutafu station, she could afford a nap.
Iida glared at the boy, suspicious of him. She doesn't know why, he seems nice enough.
The green-haired boy either doesn't notice the glaring or he is very good at pretending, smile at her.
Yawn~ . Gosh she is getting sleepy again.
“Well then, if you excuse me.” The green hair boy said walking back to his seat, the sound of his sandal echoed throughout the train.
"...Uraraka, I think you should return the charm to him. To be honest, he give me-”
“Iida?” She cut him off
“Huh, yes Uraraka?”
“You wake me up when we get there right?” Looking at the charm in her hand, she held it tight.
“Yes, of course.”
“Ok then yawn~ thank you” she said, closing her eyes.
Once again, Ochako riffed to sleep.
- - - - -
“We have arrived at Musutafu station, the door on the left side will be open. For your own and other people's safety, please stay far away from the door. We thank you for your cooperation.”
“Uraraka. Uraraka, wake up! We here” Iida called out to her, shaking her gently.
“Huh?” Awoken from her slumber, Ochako rubs her eyes sleepily.
“We’re at our station. Let go or we're gonna miss it.” He pulls her up and leads her out, as the train door closes behind them.
Stepping on to the station, Ochako stretched her limb.
“Did you sleep well?” Iida asked her.
“Yes-yawn- The best sleep I have in a while actually." She has been plagued by those nightmares for days, yet they didn't come up again when she was holding the charm… “Now think about it. Did you see where the apothecary is?” Musutafu is the last station on this line, so this must be his destination.
“The… apothecary?”
“You know, the one that gives me the charm.” She held up the charm. “It works! I didn't have any nightmares while I was sleeping and I feel much better now. I want to thank him and also pay for the charm. So did you see him anywhere?” Iida seemed like he didn’t believe her though. Standing on her tippy toe, Ochako tries to find him, he stands out a lot so it must be an easy task.
“... There he is!” Iida said, pointing to the green hair boy as he left the station, cabinet on his back.
“Ah, let go then!” She said as she pulled Iida along with her. Now that she got a well rested nap, Ochako felt much more energized.
“Slow down, Uraraka! No running in the station!”
“Ah, it's fine. And call me Ochako, we friend, Uraraka is too stiff!”
“...Ok, Ochako.”
- - - - -
“Hey! wait up!” She called out to the green hair boy but he didn’t seem to stop. “Apothecary!” that seems to make him stop in his tracks.
“Um” He turned back to them, his sandal clicking as he did so. “Is something the matter?”
It takes a while to catch her breath, Iida standing right behind her with no sign of needing to take a breath, damn speed quirk. Taking in one final deep breath, she looked at him. “ Thank you for the charm, I got such a good rest because of it.”
“Oh my, it's my pleasure.”
“Uh… How much was the charm then, let me pay you.” Ochako said, trying to get her wallet from her bag, she has been saving money for something else but to have a good night sleep again, she will do anything, that doesn't mean she has to like it though.
“Ochako, let me pay for you.”Seeming to notice her predicament, Iida offered her. Taking out his own wallet.
“You don't have to do that Iida, it's mine, I should pay for it.”
“But Ochako-”
The apothecary put his hand up, stopping their argument. “There is no need to fight, you could keep it.”
“But that's your product, isn't it? I can’t just take it for free.” She said worriedly.
“It's fine, he seems to like you too.”
…. What does that supposed to mean?
The apothecary didn't say anything, simply tilted his head.
“... I still want to repay you, do you need anything?” She asked.
“Ochako… It's rude to keep pushing it, you know.” Iida said, his mouth pressed into a thin line.
“Ah… Sorry if I cross the line-”
“You know, it's been a while since I came back to Japan." He cut her off, hand tapping his chin. “So I am a little lost here, therefore if you can show me the way then I would appreciate it.”
“Where are you going then?”
“Can you show me the way to Shinyoku shrine?”
"Shinyoku shrine?” She had never heard of that place before.
"Oh you mean the one with the green roof?” Iida seems to know where that is.
Ding~ a wind blow though
"Yes, that the one.”
“It's quite a concealed shrine, I'm surprised you know of it.”
"I could say the same to you.” The apothecary quipped back. Looking at Iida for an uncomfortable period of time.
"Uh so you…” Iida clearly feels uncomfortable, yet he still points him the way.
That's quite far from here. Now think of it, he properly already knows the way, maybe he just said that cause he doesn't want it to get awkward, which she is thankful for.
"Ah, thank you very much for your help.” the green hair boy bowed. The bell on his ear makes a sound as he moves. "I'll be going now.”
The wind is starting to kick up, blowing his hair higher.
As he stood up straight. She could see his face more clearly now. His face still has some baby fat, freckles dotting his face. He wears red eyeliner under his eyes, making it look like he just finished crying. And his eyes, so green that she could get lost in it, still, it holds such maturity for a boy his age. It doesn't seem to fit his face at all.
"Take good care of the charm for me, alright?” he seems fond… This is the first time since they first met that he seems to act normal. “We’ll meet again.”
“What do you mean-” before Iida could finish the question, a strong gust of wind blew thou, making them both close their eyes in order to not get any dust in.
“The string of fate likes to tangle with each other after all.” The bell rang rapidly in the wind before it suddenly stopped.
When they opened their eyes, the boy was already gone. The echo of bell in their ears was the only thing that told them that he was ever there.
Walking through the hallway, his footsteps echo through the hall. School ended a while back, most students have either left school or are doing club activity, leaving the hallway completely vacant. The sun shines through the window along the hallway, creating a calming atmosphere. Though he can't say for sure what he is doing is consider calming.
Before long, he had arrived at his destination, the sign above the door said “class 2-C”. Walking into class, remembering to close the door behind him, he stops and listens, the sound of scratching on wood fills the room. Turning his head toward the sound, he found the culprit.
Above the last desk in the second row, was a blurry image of a girl in uniform. Her hair messy and unkeep, covering her face, her cheeks hollow out, skin blueish. Blood stained her uniform collar. A box cutter clutch tight in her hand.
“You ought to stop doing this.” He said, walking up to her, hand in pocket. “This isn’t good for anybody.”
She ignores him, simply continues on with what she is doing. A glance down the table, he could see words carved out.
“DIE” “Don’t go to school anymore.” “Ugly” "Insignificant"
He let out a sigh, taking a picture out of his pocket, he placed it on the table. That seems to get her attention.
The picture shows a girl about his age, long hair falling down her back, eyes full of life, looking simply happy to be here. She was smiling gently at the camera, head a little tilt to the side.
“That's what you look like when you are still alive, right? Finding this takes a lot of effort, you know.”
Picking up the picture, she stares at it, box cutter long forgotten.
“When you keep holding on to something, even if it hurts you, you will lose more and more of yourself.” Looking out the window, he admires the sun painted sky before continuing. “And sometimes, you’ll forget how you even look.”
“So maybe, it's better to just... let it go.” He looks back at her, now standing there is a young girl, tears flowning down her cheeks. No longer a mirror of her former self.
“You are not supposed to be at school anymore, don't you think?” He asked.
She nodded slowly, figure turning into tiny pieces, reflecting the sunlight for only a moment before disappearing completely.
That girl was a student here, long ago. Life ends too soon because of other people's words and actions. She haunts her main tormentors, when they move away, she moves on to other people. And she has been here ever since.
Until now.
Even though UA is praised for being one of the best schools in the country with the best facility that puts their student health and study above all. That only became true recently when Nezu became the principal. The last few one for the better words are greedy, and her bullies have a lot of backing.
“Humans are all the same.” Running his hand through his blond hair, he mumbled, taking in a deep breath and letting it out.
How the rodent could stand them and even went out to teach and protect them is beyond him.
Now to change out the table.
“Neito!!! Over here” Standing next to the gate, Akari Tokoyami shouted, waving her hand wildly around, her shadowy form connected to her brother, Fumikage Tokoyami, who simply sighs at her antics. To their left stood Shouji Mezo, one hand holding his bag, the other holding a note book, he seemed to be very focused on its content. To their right are Reiko Yanagi, her hands loop into her bag straps, resting her hand in the pose she usually did.
“I told you all not to wait for me.” Neito Monoma said, walking up to them.
“But we can’t just leave our kitty behind! What if he gets lonely?” She joked.
Monoma grumbled but didn’t say anything and she let out a chuckle. Unlike when she was in class, playing the role of a sentient quirk, she completely let herself be when she was with them.
“Should we be going then? Mother has manganage to get some good mochi back for snack time and I really don’t want to miss that.” Fumi said.
“Oh! It is the one from the shop next to Sitake street?” Yanagi asked him.
“The one and only.”
“You could join us if you want to, mom always buys a lot.” Akari continued.
“Then excuse me then!” Yanagi smiles softly at them.
“Sorry to cut your conversation short.”Shutting his book, Shouji said, getting their attention. “But if you want to be home in time for afternoon snack. We should really get going now.” He put the book back into his bag.
“Ye! let go then!” Akari said, wrapping her body around them and pushing them out the gate. “ For mochi!”
“Sis! Slow down! you dragging me!” Desperately trying to keep his balance, Fumi tries to reason with her but it doesn’t look like she will stop anytime soon.
- - - - -
Walking down the empty street, they chat among themself. To his left are the Tokoyami siblings and Shouji and to his right is Yanagi. They have been friends for at least half a decade at this point. But since they are in different class, the only time they get to hang out is after school and when they are on the job. A let down really, Akari was really looking forward to them being in the same class together, that would certainly make things easier.
“Oh right, how was the girl haunting class 2-C, did you manage to get her to pass on?” Turning to Monoma, Yanagi asks him.
“Yes she passed on, looks like we don't need to worry about that class anymore.”
“Ah that's great!” Akari said, grasping her hands together. “We were trying to help her but as you know, we didn't have the skill for it.”
"Yes, our skills are much better suited to making charms rather than doing exorcism.” Fumi added.
"Dont sell yourself short, Fumi. Matter of fact, I quite like your charms.” Shouji said.
"Oh, thank you for the compliment.” Fumi thanked him.
"UGH, get a room, you two love birds.” Akari said dramatically before turning to Monoma and Yanagi. "See!? This is what I have to deal with every time we hang out, you know.” Pointing at them, she adds.
"Akari, stop, we are just friends and you know that.” Fumi scolds his sister, next to him, you could see that Shouji's ears are turning red and he looks away, coughing.
They all look at the two of them unimpress, Fumi seem to be unaware of Shouji's predicament though.
"...And they were friends.” Monoma said in a monotone voice.
"Oh gOsh, AnD TheY wEre FriEnds” Akari parrotted him. They all laugh before Fumi lightly chops his sister on the head.
“But really, I wish we could help more though. Like how you and Izuku are suited to deal with anything.” Yanagi said
“You all have your own strength, how else would I get that picture? Also you can’t compare yourself to Izuku, he is a different monster altogether.”
“You right… I shouldn't have compared myself…. ” She doesn't seem convinced though. But if he continues, Yanagi would just try to undermine herself more. So he dropped it.
“You know, talking of Izuku, I think he came back from his training!” Shouji mentioned.
“WHAT!?” Monoma shouts in surprise, next to him, Yanagi stares at them dumbfoundedly.
“Oh right! We think he just came back this morning actually.” Fumi added.
“Why didn't I know about this!?”
Midoriya Izuku, could be simply described as the string that ties all of them together. A group of misfits that somehow made the oddest group of friends. And Izuku was in the center of it. If it was not for him, they would never have met each other.
About 3 years ago, Izuku started his training abroad and they haven’t heard from him since. Except a few letters here and there. (The letter was a good choice, because Monoma swore if he hadn't sent those letters, he would have gone and met him himself.)
“Awww, did our kitty miss his owner?” Akari teases him. Monoma could feel his cheek heating up.
“Akari, stop teasing the poor guy.” Fumi pulled her back. “Remember the girl in our class I told you about, Uraraka?”
“The one that is not sleeping well?” Yanagi replied.
“Yes that one. She has been having increasing nightmares since that day but when we came to class this morning, she looked better. There is still a noticeable eye bag of course, but she seems much better .”
“Yep and there was a very familiar energy coming from her too. So we asked her about it.” His sister added.
- - - - -
“Uraraka, it delighted me greatly that the lord of darkness has seemed to crease his hold on you ” Standing in front of her desk, Tokoyami asks, Dark shadow perching on his back like an oversized cat.
“He means that he is glad that you seem to look better than yesterday. Did you get a good night's sleep?.” Behind him, Shouji translated, trying not to tower over her.
“There is no need, Shouji. I am getting used to how he talks. Thanks for asking, but I wouldn’t say it was a good night's sleep.”
They stay quiet, waiting for her to continue.
“Well it's more of a 15 minute nap on the train but I didn't get any nightmares so I count that as a win.”
“You still have nightmares?” Shouji asks her worrily.
“Yup, for a few days now actually."
“You… should really talk to Hound Dog about it.”
“No worry, I actually took another nap at lunch break and I didn’t get anymore uh… like nightmares, so I think it's basically gone at this point.” She looks like she doesn't want to talk about it anymore.
“May I ask for your secret?" Tokoyami asks, changing the subject, he takes glances at the creature that was currently looking at them over her shoulder before changing his focus back to her.
“Oh yes, wait a sec let me show you.” Uraraka reaches into her bag, pulls out a charm and shows it to them.
- - - - -
“Lo and behold, it Izu work.”
“Althought we can't tell if it latched on to her because it like her or because of all the food.” The bird head boy grimaces.
“But it's just like him, isn’t it? To go and help someone as soon as he gets back.” Yanagi chuckled.
“Well that's just what made him Izuku in the first place.” Monoma added. “Still the same old we knew years ago.” That thought brings him some comfort, even if they haven't seen each other in person yet, Monoma knows the one he meets will be the same one that left three years ago.
“Oh so that's why you imprinted on him, like a kitty in a box at the side of the road.” Akari remark. It’s not wrong… but still.
“...Why are you after everybody today?”
“What do you mean by that? I like this everyday, I hate everybody equally.” She declared. They all roll their eyes at her antics.
“But really, why didn’t Izuku tell us that he had returned? Isn’t this important information?” Shouji inquired, he looked a little hurt. Understandable really, he has been friends with Izuku longer than any of them.
“Maybe he wants it to be a surprise?" Yanagi said, trying to comfort him. She doesn't seem to believe it either. It is not like Izuku to do this.
“Or maybe… he came back in such a rush that he didn't have time to notice us.” Fumi noted. “I mean Mr Goya didn't know about it either.”
“And Mr Goya would be the first to know, he is really high in rank.” Akari added.
“Either way, we could all ask him tomorrow. He should be at home right now, and he just came back. For now, we should give him some time to rest.” Monoma said. They all nod in agreement.
“So we all should focus on what's ahead right now. Like mochi for afternoon snack!” Akari declared. “Common Fumi, let go! I want to be the first one home!” She dragged her brother with her.
Fumi simply laughs and starts running, trying to keep up with his sister.
“Hey wait up you two!” Shouji starts running after them. Followed by Yanagi.
“Neito, you coming?” Turning back Yanagi ask him.
Sometimes, Monoma wonders why he deserves such good friends, because he doubts that he is that lovable.
“Coming!” He chirped, running after them.
As the setting sun cast long shadows behind them. Their laugh echoed throughout the street. It was nice.
“Remember to protect me alright?” Laying on her bed, Ochako holding up her charm. The light of the traffic seeping through her window.
Although she got a good one and a half hour of sleep today, (A whole one hour and a half of uninterrupted sleep.) She, for a better word, is still skeptical. Yes the apothecary was nice enough, but she hasn't tested it on a whole night's sleep yet. What if the charm was weak and can only work for a short amount of time? And once again she’ll be haunted by the image of her teacher and classmate on the ground, blood pooled around them as that thing ran toward her and-. No, the charm would protect her right? He said it was effective.
Taking a deep breath to calm herself. Ochako dropped her hand over her chest.
… Look at her, she is such a hypocrite, who is she to judge her landlord for being superstitious, she is no different now.
Yawn~ She rubs her eyes. She is getting sleepy and it is quite late already.
Looks like it is time to test out how effective this really is.
Settling into a more comfortable position, holding the charm close, Ochako closes her eyes and starts to drift to sleep.
Unbeknown to her, next to her bed lay a strange creature, unseeing by normal eyes. It has the face of an elephant, the body of a bear, the leg of a tiger and the tail of an ox. It tusk long and curl up, its trunk draped across her with its head laying on the bed, waiting for its next meal, tail swinging slowly from side to side.
It was a creature made of the leftover piece of another animal. It was a Baku
Laying next to her, it pleased with just simply eating her dream. Her worries for nothing really, it will happily eat up all her unhappy dreams making sure to leave only the happy one. If this is what it has to do to pay for its sin, it won't consider this as a punishment at all.
Though looking at the charm clutch in her hand, it worry about the boy who seals it here too. He too has a lot of dreams that need to be eaten away. Yet he has given this to her, a sacrificial boy he is.
Though he did say that they will meet again after all, so it will simply wait.
“I'm so glad you're back here with us dear.” She hugged her son tight.
“Yes mom, you said the same thing when I came back this morning too.” He stated. “And so is this afternoon, and evening, and-”
“Oh you. Can’t a mother worry about her own son?” She huffed, squeezing his cheek. “I miss three years of your life, you know, three years of your growth as a person that I can not see.” She stops and takes a deep breath.
“You fill into your kimono great, Izu-dear.” Inko Midoriya whispers, cradling his face.
“Thank you mom.” Izuku Midoriya replies, leaning into her touch.
“I’ll let you go now, there is still a person you haven't said hello to yet, right?” Reluctantly, she let him go.
“Uh huh.” He nods, looks at her for a while, trying to take in her face. He grew in those three years, both physically and mentally. The most noticeable one is that he is taller than her now.
Don't get him wrong, he is not tall by any means, considering his mother's height. Matter of fact, he is only a little taller than her. Still the fact that now, he has to look down to meet her eyes makes him quite…sad.
His mother still looks the same as he remembers and yet, he looks different.
“Well I’ll be going now.” Holding a lantern, he walked out onto the rocky path behind the shrine. “Goodnight mom!” he started walking.
Izuku walks for about 3 steps before looking back, his mother is still there, looking at him.
“Dont worry mom, I'll still be here in the morning.”
“...Of course, goodnight Izu-dear.”
“Night mom!” He chirped.
Making sure that his mother had walked back into the main house to rest for the night. Izuku continued in his tracks, walking deeper into the forest behind the shrine.
It is well into the night at this point, with the only source of light being the lantern in his hand. Although he doesn't have to worry much. The land around is well protected by charm and talisman with their guardian looking over the whole place.
Before long, the trees around him start to thin, open up to a clearing with a small lake in the middle. There are cattails growing around the lake, fireflies roaming around lighting up the space. The lake reflects the star above, looking like it holding a piece of the sky itself.
The path leads up to a little altar with a roof over head, a bell hanging on it, a rope connecting to the bell. Under it is a silver tray.
Walking up to the altar, Izuku hung up the lantern on one of the poles. He took out his earring and put it on the tray. Clapping three times, he held on to the rope and rang the bell.
The bell echoed throughout the clearing. He walked back and waited for something to happen.
Suddenly the ground starts shaking as from the water, something starts to immerse. Water poured down from its giant frame. The firefly has started to disband, not wanting to get hurt by what just came from the water.
After a while, the water starts to clear up to reveal a dragon, green scales simmering in the moon light, its horn branching out like a tree, blooming plum blossoms signifying it awaken. Golden hair rundown it back as its long body also starts to immerse from the water looking like it is going to over fill the lake. It claws sharp like knives and whiskers that seem to define gravity. Yellow eyes slowly open up to see who dares to awaken it at such hours.
Yet looking at such beast, rather than feeling scared, he is filled with a sense of familiarity.
The dragon looked around, its mouth full of teeth, opening up to say something before locking eyes on the green hair boy and it stiffened, surprised that he was here.
Looking up at the dragon, Izuku simply smiles.
“I home, Hazuki-san.”