Work Text:
Mikan Tsumiki was never pretty, or smart, or lovable.
Life made it abudantly clear to her, from her parents' neglect, to her classmates bullying her, to her so-called friends ridiculing her every chance they got, and even her own clumsiness, but still, that somehow brought attention to her, and that's exactly what the deepest part of Mikan's mind desired.
𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦. 𝘚𝘦𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘨𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘢𝘮. 𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘮𝘦.
She craved for the feeling of people's eyes roaming over her, craved to be acknowledged. She wanted everyone to depend on her and her only.
𝘗𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦.
Unfortunately, this mindset only brought her harm: she was deemed a slut, rumors spread around about her offering sexual favors to anyone who asked, men or women, students or teachers. Of course none of that was true, but if no one 𝘴𝘢𝘸 her, at least they were looking at her.
People said her name like it was cursed by the devil, barely even thanking her when she would fix up their wounds in the nurse's office, but that wasn't important.
Mikan wasn't important.
_
Just as she was closing the nurse's office for the day, a familiar voice in the hallway stopped her dead in her tracks.
" 𝘜𝘨𝘩, I can't even walk properly, fuck Hina and her stupid running race.. "
Junko Enoshima, the Ultimate Fashionista, the most famous model in all of Japan, the meanest girl in school, and the object of all of Mikan's fantasies, was trying to walk towards the infirmary with, apparently, only one functioning leg.
Until now, Mikan couldn't even try to talk to her, too scared to mess up even a simple greeting, but helping hurt people was her only purpose, and she couldn't let her shyness stop her from aiding someone in need, especially not the most gorgeous girl she ever laid eyes on.
" W-what happened? " Mikan asked as she rushed towards the girl, worried sick about her current state.
" Oh? I didn't notice Miss Nurse was here, I'm so lucky! I'll show Makoto next time he tries to insinuate otherwis-- " Junko kept mumbling to herself, seemingly forgetting about her injured limb in only a few seconds. This girl has been an enigma ever since she stepped foot in Hope's Peak academy, but sometimes she really had people questioning her and their own sanity.
" Y-you look hurt, I can see t-that your leg isn't working well so I-I think we should get to m-my office and.. "
A giggle erupted from Junko's lips, and Mikan forgot the rest of her sentence.
" Inviting me over already? Aw, thought you looked innocent.. Well, never judge a book by its cover, huh? "
Ah. So Junko had heard the rumors. Not that Mikan was surprised, pretty much everyone at school knew about her scandalous reputation, but a small part of her hoped that this beautiful girl, who made her get up even on the hardest days, gave her something to look forward to even if they never spoke, had somehow avoided the rumors.
" T-That's not what I-- I'm sorry I-I-- "
" Relax, girl, I'm just messing with you " Junko stated, grinning " I can't even walk properly, so help a girl out, won't you ? " she had dropped the grin, and Mikan swore that her tone was almost flirtatious ; she must have imagined it, Junko Enoshima wouldn't even look in her direction, let alone make avances to someone so disgusting.
" O-Of course! Can y-you walk by yourself.? The nurse's o-office is just a few s-steps ahead but I can h-help you if y-you.."
" I usually hate this stuff, but my fuckass leg hurts like hell, and you're pretty cute, so feel free to carry me, Miss Nurse! "
Cute? Was Junko making fun of her? But she sounded so genuine, not a hint of malice in her tone, it almost sounded like she was fond of Mikan, but that couldn't be right, they didn't know each other, so why was this girl being so.. kind?
Mikan chose to ignore the compliment, trying to focus on helping Junko despite the very visible blush on her face. Working up the courage to wrap her arm around the blonde's shoulders, Mikan helped her walk to the nurse's office, and each step they took together ignited a flame in her pounding heart.
" H-here.. "
The nurse spoke as they walked through the door, pointing to the examination couch.
" You c-can lay down and I'll c-check on your leg.. do you mind t-telling me what happened..? "
Junko huffed, looking annoyed about her injury, which made Mikan panic, hands instantly raising to cover her face.
" I-I'm sorry! P-Please don't hurt me! "
Her lips moved by muscle memory, she had said these exact words countless times, yet no one had ever listened to her pleads. No one showed her compassion, or mercy, no one forgave her for merely existing. No one, until..
" Uh, I wasn't planning to hurt you. "
Junko spoke, taken aback my Mikan's bizarre reaction.
" That despairful look.. it suits you, but how about healing my injury instead ? "
𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵. Mikan creeped her out, and now Junko was going to think she was a weirdo and never talk to her again.
" I'm s-so sorry, I'll g-get to it now..! "
After grabbing an ice pack from her supply, Mikan used a bandage to compress Junko's ankle, before placing the cold bag on the injury. She sprained it really badly, which was pretty unusual ; as far as Mikan knew, Junko barely practiced any sports, even though it was a mandatory course at Hope's Peak.
As if reading her mind, the model started speaking.
" I should've just skipped P.E today, but my dumbass teacher told me I'd be in trouble if I skipped, and like, who cares, but my micro-brained sister needed another person on her team to take part in some stupid race against Hina, Hagakure and Leon, so I graced her with my presence for once, and here we are! Augh, I'm never going to do her annoying ass a favor ever again! She didn't even deserve it! "
Mikan didn't know most of the people Junko mentioned, except for her sister, the mysterious Ultimate Mercenary, Mukuro Ikusaba. Everyone at school knew about them, and it was said that Junko was, more often than not, rude and dismissive towards Mukuro, who seemed more reserved and distant than her twin.
" I-I'm sorry, that m-must've really hurt.. A-Are you feeling better w-with the bandage? "
She mumbled, still nervous about being in the same room as Junko Enoshima, but comfortable in her office, her little world that made her useful. She loved tending to other people's wounds. She knew no one would tend to her's.
" It did, but luckily I have the best nurse in school to take care of me! You're Mikan Tsumiki right? From Class 77? "
This must be a prank. Junko said she was the best nurse? And she knew her name? She wasn't disgusted by the rumors circulating about her? No, no, this couldn't possibly be real.
" Y-You know my n-name..? " Mikan asked in a murmur, still pressing the cold pack on Junko's ankle.
Junko smiled as she nodded, blue eyes scanning the nurse's face, reading every line of her face like an open book. Mikan wasn't boring, she had en entire universe hidden away inside of her, and that's exactly what Junko wanted to see. She wanted to explore every nook and cranny of this timid creature.
" How could I not know! Hello? You're the Ultimate Nurse! I don't usually come here cause I'm, like, too perfect to be injured, but everyone knows about your talent! You're probably wondering about the rumors, aren't you? "
Mikan looked away in embarrassement. That was exactly what she was thinking, she didn't need to say it out loud.
" I never believed any of that shit, to be honest I don't know how anyone could, I mean look at you, you're 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 a virgin and-- "
The nurse hid her burning face with her hands, was that really what Junko thought of her ? God, this was the most embarrassing thing to ever happen to her, she had no idea if she should be glad that Junko didn't believe that stuff, or sad about apparently being visibly a virgin.
" Don't take that to heart! There's nothing wrong with being a virgin, and if you ever want to change that you can just let me know! "
Mikan was going to faint. Junko Enoshima was grinning ear to ear after telling her the most absurd and scandalous yet tempting offer of her life, was she joking or serious? Crimson spread across her cheeks, the clear result of imagining that scenario, and the shy girl didn't know what to say or where to look. Her whole body was burning, and she could've melted the ice just by touching it at this very moment.
" I-I.. I don't.. "
" Awww, don't worry, I was just teasing you. You're just so fun, maybe I should come here more often. I'm always so goddamn bored of this school. "
What was she saying? Coming more often means she would get hurt. Mikan didn't want her to get hurt, nor did she deserve the company of this heaven sent goddess. As much as she wished to spend more time with Junko, that couldn't be a reality, it was too good to be true.
" Y-You can't come here unless you get i-injured, I w-wouldn't want that.. "
A loud laugh followed Mikan's statement, as an angel-like voice eased all of her fears.
" I basically own this school, I could come here as much as I want, even when I'm healthy as can be! And if I do get hurt, you'll patch me up nicely, isn't that right, Mikan? "
Of course she would, she would do anything Junko asked her to do in no time. Maybe her life had a purpose, maybe she could hope in a brighter future, one where she was happy. Junko couldn't know, but she was the one to heal Mikan's wound today.
" Y-Yes! Just let me k-know whenever you n-need me! "
She nodded enthusiastically, a smile forming on her lips, her first genuine one in a long, long time.
" Good to know. " Junko declared, admiring the fruits of her work on Mikan's face " Now, as much as I'd love to keep you company, I should probably leave, my fugly sister must be looking for me all around campus, how despairing for her! "
The model stood up from the couch, taking a few moments to adjust herself to walk on her previously injured leg.
" Oh God, you do miracles, it's like I never sprained it! If I stabbed myself, could you fix it up? No, wait, actually, don't answer, I'll check for myself sooner or later! "
Mikan didn't want to find out, but she was left speechless by Junko's recklessness in saying such things, was she joking? Hopefully that was the case, or else she'd get seriously hurt and--
" Bye-Bye Miki! See you soon! "
Junko flashed her a big smile before all she could see and hear was blonde pigtails, and the sound of footsteps leaving the nurse's office, fading into the empty hallway.
As she locked the infirmary and left the school, only one thought occupied Mikan's mind: for the first time, she looked forward to living another day, and it was all thanks to the unstoppable force that was Junko Enoshima.
For the first time in her life, someone 𝘴𝘢𝘸 her.