Chapter Text
Himari Midoriya was a woman of many contrasts: a kind heart wrapped in a bubbly exterior, a fierce loyalty often betrayed by a neurotic mind. And right now, that neurotic mind was winning.
The scene on her television played on a torturous loop—a green-haired boy, her boy, launching himself into a monstrous sludge villain. On the fourth replay, the horror hadn't faded; it had curdled into a cold, sharp fear in her chest.
Unconscious of her own power, thin tendrils of smoke began to curl from her lips with each ragged breath. She paced her living room, a caged flame, her footsteps muffled by the rug. A small, uncontrolled flare of fire sparked from behind her lips. Her apartment was filling with the scent of ozone and panic, the visual proof of her quirk reacting to the turmoil within.
She told herself she would calm down before doing anything, but her phone was in her hand and ringing before the thought had fully formed.
Izuku picked on the second ring.
“H-hello?”
“ZUZU.” Himari practically shouted into the receiver. “WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?”
There was a flustered squeak on the other end. “H-Hiichan?”
“No, don’t you Hiichan me! I just watched you on the news, Izuku! You—you jumped into a villain attack! Does Aunt Inko know about this? You’re a kid, Zuzu! Never mind the fact you’re quirkless!” She continued to pace, heart pounding. “Do you have any idea how badly that could’ve gone? If All Might hadn’t been in the area, if he hadn’t gotten there in time—! You and that Bakugo kid would’ve…”
She cut herself off, exhaling sharply, her voice trembling with leftover adrenaline.
“Izuku, sweetheart. I could’ve lost you.”
On the other end, Izuku was quiet—too quiet. She could practically hear him shrinking into himself. “I… I didn’t think. Kacchan was—he was scared, and— no one else was doing anything and—”
His voice cracked.
Instantly her anger melted into worry.
“Oh zuzu…” Her tone softened, her shoulders loosening. “I know. I know you were trying to help. That’s who you are.”
A pause.
Then she said, more gently. “But you scared me half to death. And I had to find out through a news broadcast.”
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“I know you are,” She sighed, rubbing her temples. “Okay. Now that I’ve finished lecturing you—”
Her serious tone evaporated.
“OH MY GOD YOU MET ALL MIGHT!”
Izuku choked and started coughing. “W-what—Hiichan?!”
She flopped onto her couch, kicking her legs like a child. “You MET him! The All Might! Japan’s number one! The symbol of peace! I’ve been working in the Pro Hero industry for two years and not ONCE have I met him! Not once! Meanwhile my teenage cousin meets him by almost becoming sludge pudding?!”
“I—it wasn’t—he—uhm—” Izuku babbled hopelessly.
“Zuzu. Details. NOW”
He made a strangled noise. “I—well—he saved Kacchan first, and then he talked to me afterward and—and he was— he was really… kind and cool. And—”
His breath hitched, followed by a tiny, emotional laugh.
“His hand was so big when he put it on my shoulder. I thought I was going to faint.”
Himari pressed a fist to her mouth. “I am so jealous. I could scream.”
“You’re a hero too, though,” Izuku protested, flustered. “You’ll definitely meet him someday.”
“Not if Endeavor keeps dragging me to his stupid Friday-morning training drills,” She muttered. “I swear that man has never smiled once in his entire life.”
Izuku laughed nervously. “Y-yeah… he’s, um… intense.”
“Anyway.” She sat up straighter. “Tell me, EVERYTHING. What did he smell like? Sweat and Justice? Did he smile at you? Did he say your name? Oh my god please tell me he said your name!”
“Hiichan—!”
“I just want to LIVE VICARIOUSLY THROUGH YOU, ZUZU!”
His laugh came more easily now—warm, bright, a balm for them both.
But as he finished recounting the encounter, Himari’s excitement eased into something quieter. She stared at the dark TV screen, the news anchor long since finished.
Something about his voice… something unsteady, something held back.
She frowned. “Izuku… is there something you’re not telling me?”
Silence.
A heartbeat.
Then he forced a little laugh. “N-no! Nothing like that! I’m okay. Really.”
She didn’t believe him.
Not for a second.
But she also knew that tone—knew when Izuku was curled inward, overwhelmed, afraid she’d be disappointed.
So she didn’t push.
“Okay,” she said softly. “If you say so.”
He exhaled in relief.
“But Zuzu?”
“Y-yeah?”
“Next time you see a villain?” She pointed sternly at the ceiling, even though he couldn’t see. “Call a hero. Don’t be one.”
“A-Ah—right…”
“And,” she added smugly. “I still can’t believe you met All Might.”
Izuku groaned into the phone.
Himari laughed, the sound warm, soft, and full of love.
But inside she couldn’t shake the feeling.
Something happened today. Something big. And Izuku wasn’t ready to talk about it.