Izuku awoke slowly, the comfort of Momo's bed second only to the satisfaction he felt sleeping with his hoard again. As soon as his eyes opened and he stirred in the warm morning glow, he felt Momo's hand scratch his back gently, making him look up into her face. She was already awake, looking down at him nestled into her shoulder with affection in her eyes. He moved up a little closer, allowing her to lean down and kiss him on the forehead.
"Morning," he whispered.
Momo smiled softly, blush growing on her cheeks. "Good morning."
On Momo's far side, Ochako and Mina stirred, each of their eyes opening as they shifted and stretched.
"God, I missed this," Mina said lazily.
"Same," Ochako drawled. "Sleepin' without y'all just ain't the same."
Mina's black and gold eyes traced over Momo, then Izuku, then further down the bed. A seductive smirk grew on her face as she looked back at Izuku. "Looks like someone else missed this too. Little Midori's happy to see us."
Izuku became very aware of the tent being pitched further down the bed.
Ochako scoffed as she put her chin on Mina's head. "Callin' anything to do with that 'little' is a bit misleadin'."
He began to blush harder as he flexed his quirk, but before he could make "little Midori" vanish, he felt Momo's nails dig softly into his back.
"Ah, Mina warned me about that," Momo said, her voice a little forced. "You stop that."
"Mo?" Izuku asked, looking up at her. She had a blush covering her face and she kept averting her gaze every few seconds, but she was otherwise staring straight at his face.
"I…" she began, taking a deep breath to steady her pounding heart that Izuku could almost hear without his quirk, "would like to, er, take care of you."
Mina's face lit up. "Oh ho! Do you think you're ready?"
Momo took another deep breath through her nose and nodded once. "I am, yes. I've been… looking forward to this over this past week. I would like to do it."
Izuku's instincts hummed in delight in the back of his mind as they lazily woke up. To keep them contained, he let them flow into his senses, heightening his perception and focusing his mind.
"If you want to," he said softly, trying to help bolster her confidence, "I'd love that."
Momo's blush darkened as he heard her heartrate pick up further before she turned to look at Mina and Ochako. "But, I would like to, uh-"
"You'd like to do it alone?" Mina suggested.
Momo nodded. "If that's okay?"
"Of course," Ochako said kindly.
Mina smiled knowingly. "Oh, we know how to entertain oursELVES!"
She yelped as Ochako leaned over her and grabbed fully onto one of her breasts, squishing the soft flesh gently between her fingers. Before she could say anything else, Ochako kissed her fully and Izuku saw her fluffy pink hair begin to float slightly.
Ochako broke the kiss, throwing her covers off and standing up as Mina began to rise toward the ceiling. She grabbed her girlfriend and threw her over her shoulder as she headed for the door, holding one of her legs in her right hand and her pink butt in place with the other.
Mina had a goofy smile on her face as she put her hands on Ochako's back to prop herself up. "Good luck you two~" she teased as Ochako carried her out of the room like a prize and shut the door behind them.
Izuku and Momo both laid there for a moment before they started laughing. After several seconds, the silence returned and he looked over at his girlfriend, who was looking up at the ceiling and seemingly steeling herself.
"Mo?" Izuku asked again.
"I've been thinking about this for a long time," she said softly, "and now it's finally here."
Before he could say anything else, she pulled the covers off his chest and rolled over onto him, straddling him and sitting on his hips as she stared down over her nightgown-covered bust. He stared up into her onyx eyes as she looked back into his green, which were glowing more and more each second. He could feel her significant weight, a reminder of her quirk adaptation as she pressed him into the soft bed.
Momo ran a hand over his chest as she smiled slightly. "I'll admit, I've done a lot of… research , as well as some practice , but this will be my first time with someone else. Please be patient with me."
Izuku lifted a hand and placed it on her hip, holding her side gently. "I'll go at your pace."
Momo ran a hand up her thigh and placed it over his as she smiled down at him. He saw a fire begin to burn in her eyes as she leaned down, pressing her generous chest against his collar bone as he felt her weight covering his sternum. She leaned into his ear and whispered. "Then, before we get started, remember what I told you…"
"You are mine ."
She leaned back slightly as Izuku's quirk surged in his mind. A part of him was indignant at the idea of being subservient to anybody, but he was very aware that Momo wasn't truly his superior. She was simply having fun, playing a role, living out her fantasies and her preferred way of showing her love and experiencing pleasure, just like how Ochako loved to struggle with him, or how Mina loved him showing off his power. In the end, it was a game, and making his hoard happy was both the goal and the reward.
Let the games begin.
Momo looked slightly taken aback by the glow erupting from his eyes, but then she smiled and moved in to kiss him. Her lips pressed against his as she gripped the sides of his head and bit his lip gently, tugging as she pulled back and stared into his eyes.
"I'm not very experienced with this," she admitted with a smile, "but that just means I need practice. You're gonna lie there until I'm satisfied with my progress."
It wasn't a request, it was an order, and one with which he was happy to comply. Izuku's other hand drifted up to rest on her hip as she gripped his head with one hand and ran the other along his horns, making his distinctive 'purring' rumble up from his throat while she resumed her kiss. Her tongue began to clumsily bat at his own as she made out with him, causing strands of saliva to connect them whenever she pulled back to breathe or kiss other parts of his face.
Her passion and her love caused his quirk to rumble with satisfaction as she gazed down at him, her black hair draping over his face. It made the rest of the world fade away until the only thing that seemed to exist was Momo.
As she kissed him, a familiar, yet unique smell tickled at his nostrils. By now, he recognized 'excitement' when he smelled it, but it was very distinct from Ochako's and Mina's. This was Momo's scent, his Mo's scent, and he knew that as long as he lived, he would never forget it.
Finally, she pulled back entirely, putting her weight on his hips again as she smirked down at him. Compared to Ochako's first time, Momo was either much more confident or was simply acting the part quite well. She didn't have anything on Mina, but that wasn't surprising, as she didn't have Mina's experience.
Momo grabbed the bottom of her nightgown and began to lift it slowly, revealing her panties, then her stomach, which was toned, but under a healthy layer of fat due to her quirk, then finally the bottom of her breasts. They were larger than Mina's, and the only ones he had ever seen of comparable size were Nejire's. He couldn't put a number on them, but he could tell from a glance that his hands wouldn't come close to being able to grab them entirely.
She saw the transfixed look on his face, which both seemed to bolster her confidence, as well as cause her arousal to tick up, at least if Izuku's nose was to be trusted. She lifted the nightgown all the way over her head, tossing it to the floor as she placed her hands on Izuku's abs and rubbed up to his chest.
"Like what you see?" she asked, her face growing redder as she grew more bold. He could see the cracks in her confident facade, but he was determined to help her enjoy herself as much as possible; her first experience should be one to remember.
Izuku nodded, his eyes wide. A few of her cracks healed as she righted her smirk and reached down to grab him by the wrists. Momo lifted his hands up, placing one on each of her breasts and holding them there.
He was right, his hands were nowhere near big enough. Soft flesh poured through his fingers as he squeezed slightly, but there was so much more beyond what he could grab. He felt his hands sink in, causing his heart to beat faster as his face heated up and more blood rushed to the tent he was still pitching behind Momo.
Her confident smirk turned to surprise for a moment as she felt that tent brush against her backside, but then she grew a seductive smile as she pushed herself further back on his body, putting pressure on his manhood as she rubbed herself against it.
"You've been quiet ever since we got started," she said softly, her demeanor dropping as she looked at him with concern, even though he could hear her heart beating just as quickly. "Is something the matter?"
Izuku smirked internally but kept his actual face blank. Time to make his first move in this game.
He opened his mouth slowly, watching her carefully. "You hadn't given me permission to speak."
Momo's concern turned to shock as she processed his words. He felt her scent grow even stronger as blood rushed to her face, but also to her depths, to the point where he could feel the heat radiating off her as she straddled him.
The shock faded away as she bit her lip and chuckled to herself. "Aren't you just perfect ~"
Izuku smiled at her praise. It was bizarre to be manipulating her into being more assertive, but this strange inversion seemed to be working. His father had told him to work more with his quirk, rather than against it, so why not?
"I think you deserve a reward," she cooed as she rolled halfway off him and swung her leg over so she was reclining next to him. She held herself up on her left arm as she looked down on him, reaching her right hand toward the bed sheets covering his legs. "I've been waiting for this…"
She whispered under her breath, "You got this, you're almost there," which made Izuku feel a little bad for hearing what he 'shouldn't'. Her hand shook slightly as it grabbed the bedsheet and pulled it back in a single tug, removing the first layer of armor between her and him, leaving only his underwear.
"I must admit," she began as she stared down at his crotch, "I saw this once before, at the hospital."
Was she there when Ochako touched him? Izuku looked at her with confusion, but she wasn't looking at his face.
"I'm finally here," she continued.
Momo's expression seemed to say 'nothing ventured, nothing gained' as she reached forward again and hooked three fingers under the waistband of his underwear and pulled down, freeing his manhood from its fabric prison.
Her face turned even redder as she stared down at it. She slowly bit her lip as her breathing became a little heavier and her eyelids closed ever so slightly.
"Oh, I had imagined, but this…" She finally turned her gaze up to Izuku, hunger in her eyes. "This is far more than I ever thought… oh, you really are special, aren't you?"
Izuku stared back, letting out a small whine to tell her just how needy he was; he was playing it up a little to try and stoke her fire, which seemed to work. Momo smiled wider as she reached over and placed a single finger on his tip, teasing it gently.
"Just leave it all to me," she cooed, which he was more than happy to hear. One finger became two became five as she slowly reached around his pulsing shaft, feeling its heat as her fingers barely wrapped around it.
Momo looked slightly intimidated for a moment before she shook it off, beginning to slowly move her hand up and down his length and a frustratingly slow speed. Izuku made a soft moan of pleasure, encouraging her to continue. He saw a small, proud smile grow on her face as she began to move faster, her gentle hand gripping him firmly as she stroked.
Izuku's breathing began to pick up as she continued, making sure to give her physical reactions to bolster her slowly growing confidence. Her motions were smooth and felt much nicer and more practiced than Ochako's had on their first time, but she had mentioned that she had 'practice'.
He bucked once as her hand pulled down, thrusting off the bed slightly as he chased the sensation. Momo smiled even wider for a moment before she collected herself and pulled her hand away, causing him to whine slightly. She pulled herself to a proper kneel and reached a hand below, gently cupping his twin orbs.
"These are… exceptional specimens," she almost whispered. "In all my research, I've never seen anything like this…"
Izuku bucked again, trying to remind her of his need. She rolled her twin prizes around in one hand as the other pressed on his stomach. "None of that," she scolded lightly. "Keep that up and I'll make you wait even longer."
He nodded, noting that she may enjoy chastising him for 'misbehaving'.
She placed her hand back on his shaft, wrapping her fingers around it slowly before moving her other hand to it as well. With both hands gripping his length, she began to move up and down once again, her pressure firm, but gentle.
Momo's face was red and he could hear her pounding heart as she looked over at him with needy eyes. "Although, if you're so eager, maybe I should just give you what you want."
Izuku's eyes went wide as he felt a warm wetness begin to cover his shaft. Before he could look, she moved her hands again, causing him to throw his head back and hiss and a bolt of pleasure shot through his mind. It felt like his entire length was being covered in a warm, wet sheathe, like how he imagined actual sex might feel.
"Ah, you like it?" she asked playfully, holding up a hand and showing the smooth liquid flowing from her palm. "I did research into the best kind of lubricants for pleasure, then spent time making sure I could recreate it."
Izuku should have known better. Momo's version of 'practice and research' was much different than anyone else's; she was brilliant and diligent, and with her quirk, she could do almost anything. Maybe he was less in control than he thought.
Momo resumed her handjob, stroking up and down his length with both hands and increasing in speed. Izuku hissed again and hit the bed with a fist as a lightning bolt ran up his spine, which caused her to coo in delight.
Izuku grit his teeth, determined to hold out as long as possible, perhaps as an act of defiance. She kept going, stroking him and creating more lube as needed to keep him trapped in a storm of sensation that he had never experienced before, but he wasn't giving in. Not yet.
Momo felt him pulsing, but he forced himself to hold on. His quirk raged, his horns growing and scales flashing up his chest as he dug his proverbials claws in, resisting the feeling of tightness and pleasure echoing from his shaft.
Finally, after several minutes of torture in paradise, he reached a breaking point.
"M-Mo-" he hissed through his teeth. "I'm-"
"I won't have you making a mess of my room," she said firmly. Before he could respond, she removed one hand, brought the other up to his tip, and dragged it down in a single motion. He felt a tightness form over his length and cracked one eye open, spotting a red condom that she had just created down him.
With that, he surrendered.
A low roar rumbled out of his throat as his balls clenched and he erupted into the condom. Pulse after pulse echoed through his body as he released, his every muscle trapped in a flex as all of his determined resistance caught up to him. He couldn't see and could barely breathe, but he could hear Momo.
"Oh, oh my," she said, surprise clear in her voice. "A-are you still going?" She waited a few seconds, one hand still gripped loosely around him. "You're still going. I-is this normal?"
Izuku's body finally relaxed as one last spasm ran through him and he began to breathe again. He lay there panting as Momo seemed frozen, stunned by what had just happened and not exactly sure how to proceed.
"That was…" She shook her head and straightened her back a little. "I have certainly never come across anything like this in my research. Do you take some sort of supplement or were you backed up or… surely you have an explanation for how, er, productive you are?"
Izuku propped himself up on his elbows so he could look at her better, but he was distracted by the latex covering 'little Midori'. The tip had ballooned a considerable amount, which made him feel a little proud, in a raunchy way.
"It's my quirk, Mo," Izuku explained as he looked up at her concerned, yet curious face. "I've always had a 'productive' biology, as you put it, as my quirk really wants to have kids."
Momo nodded a few times. "You hoard people and breeding would both cement the woman's place at your side and further expand your hoard. That makes sense."
He raised an eyebrow at her using the word 'breeding' like that, but he continued regardless. "It's gotten a lot worse ever since I started dating Ochako and Mina, and even worse since you joined. Mina thinks it's my quirk responding to the 'increased need' of having more women around me. Her logic being I need to be able to tend to and please all of you."
"Fascinating," Momo muttered. "Regardless of her hypothesis, I think it's clear there is something going on."
She finally realized she still had a hand on his shaft and that the condom was still stretched over him. With a quickness that implied this was not the first time she had put or removed a condom on something like that, she pulled it off. However, a stream of the thick, white liquid landed on her thumb as she did so. Izuku began to look around for a towel, but then he remembered Momo could just make one. He was about to suggest just that, but paused as he saw her looking at it curiously.
Momo raised her hand to her face as she smelled the mess, which made her pull back not out of revulsion, but of surprise. Izuku sat there silently as she leaned back in, stuck her tongue out and licked a small trail off her finger.
Izuku's eyes went wide at the same time her own did, but for different reasons. He was surprised with how bold she was acting, but she was surprised by, as far as he could tell, how good it tasted?
Her eyes lit up as she quickly ran her tongue along the rest of her thumb and swallowed. "Oh my, that tastes… heavenly!"
Izuku's jaw dropped as his quirk roared in the back of his mind. Ochako and Mina 'enjoyed' the taste of his seed, but—of their own admission—it was more out of their love for him, rather than the inherent taste. They said it tasted fine , good even, but Momo apparently disagreed.
"Oh, it's a perfect mix of… and a subtle dash of…" She wasn't even finishing her thoughts as her mind raced. However, as her eyes fell on the condom she was holding in her other hand, she froze.
'No way.'
Momo slowly lifted the condom to her mouth and gently tipped it over, letting it flow out as she swallowed once, twice, three times until it was empty.
Izuku was completely stunned. He hadn't even seen Mina act like that.
Momo sighed contentedly. "Oh my… that was divine. I didn't know that it was supposed to taste that good!"
Izuku continued to stare.
"Oh, it was so lascivious, but so thrilling at the same time," she bubbled. "Delicious, satisfying, invigorating!"
She was gushing about it like she had tried a new blend of tea, not done something so… lewd. However, as he began to recover, he noticed that her smell had strengthened even further.
"Now," Momo said seductively, putting a hand on his chest and pushing him back down, "time to test something else Mina told me about~"
Izuku's head fell back onto a pillow as Momo swung her leg back over him and crawled up the bed. Unfortunately, this was her first time doing something like that and she accidentally kneed him hard in the armpit, making him flinch and hiss in pain.
"Oh! Sorry, Zu, are you alright?" Momo asked with worry in her voice, her confident persona vanishing.
Izuku let out a heavy breath and nodded. "Yeah, just caught me off guard. I'm good."
She cupped the side of his face with her hand, still not convinced. "Are you sure? That looked like it hurt."
He nodded again. "If you want to make it up to me… keep going."
Momo looked concerned for a moment longer as she watched his face to make sure he was sure. A confident smile from him assured her and she nodded back. With a deep breath and another nod, she tried to climb back into her confidence.
Much more carefully this time, Momo lifted her knees above his arms and placed them above his head, securing his face between her thighs. Her red panties were hovering over his face for but a moment before she lowered herself down, pressing her hot, pulsing folds right over his mouth and nose.
The smell had been growing in strength but now it was overpowering. Momo's scent poured into his brain, overwhelming the rest of his senses and subduing all thoughts beyond her.
She rubbed herself up and down his face, leaving traces of her juices along the way as a testament to just how aroused she was. "I didn't think it would feel this good to have you beneath me, but it does. Now, Zu, get to work ~"
Izuku obeyed immediately, eager to taste her. He pushed his tongue against her soft, silken underwear, putting pressure on her pulsing slit and trying to do as much as he could to bring her pleasure.
It was Momo's turn to hiss in pleasure as her back arched and she pressed her dense weight down further. Her thick, muscular thighs shifted, taking their place firmly around his head, dulling his hearing as they threatened to swallow his head in their soft power. He often found himself in a similar position with Ochako, but this felt different. While Ochako also wanted him to pleasure her as she rode his face, she was playful, competitive, and energetic. Momo, on the other hand, was firm and commanding. Ochako took what she wanted, Momo demanded it.
He loved these women.
"Deeper," she ordered.
Izuku pressed harder, but her panties were in the way and he couldn't comply. He looked up to her for what she wanted, barely able to see her face past her breasts.
Momo smirked, seeing his silent question. "Tear them off. I can make more."
Izuku began to lift a hand up, but she slapped it away. "You have teeth, Zu. Use them."
His eyes went wide from between her thighs, but he understood. Izuku carefully opened his mouth and grabbed onto the fabric with his teeth, pulling them away from her sensitive flesh before he pushed the smallest bit of his quirk through them, sharpening them and shredding them, exposing the heat hidden behind. She was shaved bare, barely a trace of stubble in sight.
She really had been preparing for this day, it seemed.
"Yes~" she moaned. "The man who stood up to Terrorflame and Stain… and he's lying beneath me. Good boy~"
Izuku wasted no time getting to work, running his tongue up her soaked slit before wrapping it around her sensitive nub, causing her thighs to squeeze tighter around his head as her hands grabbed onto the headboard of the bed for support. While she was reeling from the surge of pleasure, he drove his tongue into her for the first time, causing a needy moan to escape her throat.
He set to using all of the knowledge Mina and Ochako had taught him over the past several weeks to give Momo everything she wanted and more. His forked tongue danced over and teased her clit between delves into her hot, wet depths, teasing and prodding at every fold and savoring every needy pulse. He kept himself from going too deep on this first time to avoid any surprises, but even without that, between his relative experience and how worked up she was, it didn't take long for her to start panting and mewling.
She was close, he could feel it, so he gave her that one last push. He grew his tongue even longer, letting it snake in and out of her fold while teasing her nub at the same time, causing her thighs to clench powerfully as she arched her back and barely contained a deep moan. Unlike before, her thighs didn't release, but squeezed harder as she pressed down further, rubbing herself up and down his face as he continued to tongue at her, chasing that peak she was near.
Then her spring snapped and she cried out, her pleasure echoing through the room before she could bring herself to her senses long enough to grab a pillow and cover her face with it. With each pulse that echoed through her core and up her spine, her thighs clenched around his head, making him feel her passion and her strength as she rode out her orgasm.
Pulse after pulse, wave after wave rocked through her. Izuku was stuck in the same proverbial boat with Momo as the storm crashed against them. He could feel every shockwave rolling up her body as she held onto the headboard for dear life.
His face was covered by her juices as her entire body shook a few more times. With one final, raspy breath, her body relaxed and she slumped back onto his chest, both of them panting heavily.
It took over a minute for Momo to get her senses back. She twitched a few times from aftershocks as she came down from her climax before finally letting out a huge sigh.
"Oh, Zu…" Her voice was dripping with affection and admiration, much like his face. "That was… the best orgasm I've ever had. None of my toys ever came close."
Izuku smiled, his face beaming with pride and love as his quirk crooned happily under her praise. Seeing her so pleased was fulfilling in that primal way, ensuring that his hoard would stay with him and continue to grow and prosper.
Momo rolled over and flopped down on her back next to him, staring up at the ceiling with a glow about her. He reached over and grabbed her hand in his, holding it gently and causing her to smile as she gazed upward. They lay there in content silence for a few minutes, but he soon noticed a change in her demeanor, a nervousness that had made itself known.
"Zu, that was amazing," she began carefully, "but tell me, was that too much? I didn't mean to get so carried away."
Izuku rolled over onto his side so he could look down at her. "No, no, nothing like that. That was great, really! Seeing you act so confidently really made me feel special, and those things you did were amazing."
"I just…" She paused, taking a thoughtful breath. "I got so worked up. At first, I was just acting to try and help myself go through with it, but then once I saw you react under my touch, all the pleasure I was giving you, and then that incredible taste of your… I lost myself. I just started acting out my fantasies on you, not asking what you wanted or anything, and I feel like that was wrong."
He reached down and stroked a lock of her hair from her face as he smiled kindly. "You acting out what you wanted is exactly what I want. I'm glad you felt so comfortable around me that you could lose yourself like that."
"You're just saying that to be nice," she said softly.
With a rush of motion, Izuku was on top of her, both of her hands pinned over her head as his face hung over her own. She blinked up at him as he opened his mouth, showing off his fangs. "Don't forget, Mo. You're mine . You are part of my hoard, and my hoard is my greatest pleasure. Your happiness is my happiness. I will stop at nothing to ensure that you get everything you want and deserve."
Izuku leaned down, gently grazing his sharp fangs over her neck before running his tongue along it. Momo giggled, shaking her arms gently so he released them before wrapping them around his back and pulling him down.
"Yes, yes, my dragon," she cooed into his ear. "I want to ensure you're just as happy and cared for as I am. Promise me you'll tell me if I go too far or make you uncomfortable?"
"I promise," Izuku replied without missing a beat.
Her arms squeezed tighter around his back. "And thank you for making my first experience truly wonderful. I've been fantasizing about this for… well, a long time, and you blew my expectations out of the water. I love you, Izuku."
"I love you too, Momo."
They lay there, Izuku on top of Momo for a minute in silence, each staring into each other's eyes as they held each other close.
Eventually, Momo broke their stare as she glanced away nervously. "Are you, um, well, Mina mentioned your stamina and, are you done?"
Izuku chuckled, running his hand through her hair gently. "Only if you are."
She closed her eyes and refocused herself. After a moment, she opened them back up, then rolled over, putting herself back on top as Izuku's was pressed into the mattress. She winced in pain as her long hair got caught under him for a moment, both of them laughing awkwardly as she freed herself and then looked down at him kindly.
Momo ran a finger over his lips and down his chest. "Then you won't mind if I get another taste or two, would you?"
Izuku smiled. He had her wrapped around his finger.
It felt good to be wrapped around her finger, too.
Ochako bit her finger as Mina's tongue licked at her needy pussy. She was laying on her back, her legs wrapped around Mina's head as she ate her out and made her moan as sparks of pleasure raced up her spine.
"God, I missed this," she panted. "I missed you ."
Mina's beautiful eyes stared back with love and a look that said 'me too' even as her mouth was preoccupied. Over the weeks, she had gotten quite good at knowing exactly where all of Ochako's pleasure spots were, and she was quickly bringing her to a climax.
With one final lap of her tongue, Ochako's legs squeezed and locked, shoving Mina's face deep into her crotch as her orgasm hit. The waves of pleasure rolled over her as she coated her girlfriend's mouth and nose with her juices, both of them riding out her climax until Ochako's legs finally relaxed and Mina was able to pull back and get some air into her lungs.
Mina licked up what she could off her face and rubbed the rest off with a towel before sighing happily. "That was a long week, huh?"
"Mhmm," Ochako agreed, looking down at the beautiful pink skin on full display before her. "I needed this."
Mina began to slide up the bed, licking and planting a kiss on one of Ochako's sensitive nipples before reaching her face and kissing her on the lips. "Me too. I thought about you every night~"
Ochako pushed up and kissed her back. "I'm glad we have time to do this."
"With midterms coming up sooner than later, we should take all the time we can," Mina lamented.
"How dare you bring up schoolwork at a time like this?" Ochako asked indignantly. "I would have expected that from Momo, not you!"
Mina giggled. "Sorry, sorry. Don't worry, we have all day to do whatever we want… and I plan on doing just that~"
"Speakin' of Momo," Ochako added as she rolled over and pinned Mina to the bed. "I was surprised Tsu asked her out."
"Surprised? Yes," Mina agreed. "Upset? Hell no."
Ochako kissed Mina's neck, tracing her way down to her collarbone. "Oh, I'm not upset either. I think Tsuyu would be a great fit. I feel something between us already, and I bet it could grow into more." She cupped one of Mina's beautiful breasts and teased the nipple with her tongue.
Mina's arms wrapped around Ochako's head and pulled her down into her chest. "I don't blame her for taking her time; I'm honestly glad she is. Momo basically fell into our lap, but I'd hate for us to rush into anything and find out that it won't work. That would just be awkward all around and maybe even break Tsu's heart. I couldn't bear that."
"Same," Ochako said with a sigh. "Slow and steady. All of us need to be sure of our feelin's before we do anything."
Mina's eyes sparkled as she grew a mischievous smile. "I am looking forward to seeing what she can do with that tongue, though~"
"Mina…" Ochako scolded.
"Oh, please," she huffed. "I'm allowed to be horny when I have a naked woman on top of me. Besides, don't act like you're so innocent."
"Fine, fine," Ochako admitted. She reached up and gently stroked one of Mina's horns, causing her to whine softly.
Mina's nails dug into Ochako's back. "Playing dirty, are we? Fine. You want to work me up? You better take responsibility. Break me ~"
Ochako smirked. "I'll do my best!"
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Now back to our regularly scheduled plot!
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Mina and Ochako had wandered back in an hour or so later to find Momo and Zu cuddling on the bed together. After taking showers, they all headed to the common room for breakfast, where Zu and Mina treated their taller girlfriends to a delicious, American-style breakfast. Mina made a point of feeding a strip of raw bacon to Zu before she cooked the rest, while he fried up some eggs.
Ochako and Momo had enjoyed the service, but Momo at least had felt a little guilty because she honestly couldn't return the favor. It was a bit of an embarrassment, but Momo couldn't even cook rice. The last time she tried… well, it hadn't been pretty. All her life, she had been cooked for and now that she was on her own, she felt her shortcoming looming over her. Fortunately, Zu, Satou, and some others had been keen on making food for them almost every day, so she was able to avoid it, but to have such a gap in her knowledge was unacceptable. She was supposed to be a functioning adult one day, and adults had to know how to cook.
Ochako didn't seem to be a great cook either, or at least she had never really attempted to cook anything as far as Momo knew. Now that she thought about it, Mina and Zu had mentioned how good Mrs. Midoriya was at cooking, and that she had taught Mina some of what she knew. Perhaps she would be willing to teach Momo as well? She could even bring Ochako along for a bonding experience as well as some moral support when she inevitably burned water trying to boil it.
After eating, they returned to Momo's room and snuggled back down under the covers. As it turned out, she had no need to enforce the cuddling, as Zu, Ochako and Mina were more than eager to comply. A long day of talking, hugging, relaxing, and laughing interspersed with some kissing and some serious discussion was just what she needed after a week under Sir Nighteye. They tried to keep things away from the heavier topics, such as the past week, and Stain specifically, but sometimes their conversation drifted that way. In the end, the knowledge that she could spend a full day with them and not get sick of them was a very good sign, or at least it seemed that way. It wasn't like Momo had any knowledge of how relationships really worked.
Momo laughed once. To go from absolutely single to being in a relationship with three other people? UA truly was a madhouse.
"Mmn?" Mina mumbled from her spot laying on top of Momo, her head nestled between her breasts.
"Were you asleep?" Momo asked quietly.
Mina adjusted herself a little, her back resting on Momo's stomach. "Maybe a little…"
"This movie isn't that bad," Ochako remarked from beside her as she and Zu were wrapped up together under a blanket.
"No," Mina admitted, "but Momo's Momos are very comfortable."
Momo nearly screamed. "My what ?!"
Zu and Ochako both began laughing hard, making Momo blush harder.
Mina responded by adjusting her head a little and sighing happily.
After a few seconds of confusion, Momo let out a sigh of defeat and reached down to continue petting Mina's fluffy hair. Her girlfriend mewled under her touch as they all went back to watching the movie, as inane as it was. Momo had lost the plot a while ago and was more focused on her thoughts than what was happening on the screen.
She had set up an expensive projector she brought from home along with a large pull-down screen to watch the movie in her room. It took up much less room than an actual television, and it wasn't like she had a ton of extra space; who knew the UA dorm rooms would be so small?
She looked over and smiled at Zu, who was cuddled up with Ochako. All day he had been doting and fussing over all of them, making sure they were well fed, comfortable, and otherwise cared for; it felt like she was back home in many ways. Was this what Ochako and Mina had been experiencing ever since they started dating him? Momo was almost envious, but she had the pleasure of having his love now, too.
Momo caught Ochako glancing over at her over Zu's head, smiling softly before she turned back to the movie. Between that and Mina laying on her, Momo thought that maybe she had their love as well.
And maybe… maybe they had hers as well.
They had only been dating for a week, and it was much too soon to make those sorts of decisions or for her to be sure of her feelings, but the one thing that was certain for the time being is that right now, she was happy.
"So," Mina began cheerily as she sat on Momo's bed, "what're you gonna do on your date?"
Momo finished tying her black belt around her waist and looked at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a jumpsuit romper that was the same red as her hero costume along with a simple necklace her mother bought her and some practical shoes. To top it all off, she had a burgundy felt hat that she hadn't ever worn before. It was a cute outfit, not too ostentatious and not too bland, but it felt a little tight, especially around her chest. Momo tugged at the fabric, huffing to herself. She had bought it this past winter; had she really grown this much in just a few months?
"We're going to a park," Momo answered. "A picnic, even! Zu is downstairs getting the food ready for me."
"Of course he is," Mina said with a laugh. "Midori would wash my clothes if I asked."
Momo paused, looking at Mina carefully. "Do you really think so?"
Mina rolled her eyes and patted the bed for Momo to sit next to her. "A picnic though? No offense, but I wouldn't have guessed that from you."
"Well, if you must know," Momo responded as she sat down with her back to Mina. "It was Tsu's suggestion. I merely suggested an alternative location from what she had in mind."
Mina gathered Momo's hair up and began to braid it. "This 'alternative location' wouldn't happen to be in a country club or something like that, would it?"
Momo was quiet for a moment. "It… may be something like that."
They settled into a comfortable flow of conversation about this or that as Mina braided Momo's hair into a single thick plait hanging down in front of her right shoulder. As 11 o'clock drew nearer—the time she was supposed to meet Tsuyu outside—she found herself growing more and more nervous.
"Mina," she began softly, "do you have any… advice?"
Mina blinked. "Advice? Like for the date? Honestly, as cliche as it is, just be yourself, Momo."
"I was hoping for something beyond that," she said with a sigh.
Mina laughed as she put an arm around Momo's waist. "Look, if you try to hide yourself from the person you're trying to date and turn yourself into what you think they might like, it's not gonna work out. Yeah, sure, you might date each other for a while, but eventually, who you really are is gonna come out. Even if you're good at hiding things, you're not gonna be happy while you're pretending. It's just stressful, yeah? If they don't like who you really are, then either it's not gonna work out now, or it's not gonna work out later. Trust me, it's a lot better to be honest from the beginning."
Momo thought for a moment, and Mina was right. She had tried to create a wall separating herself from Zu by pretending she didn't care about him anymore. It was draining to constantly have to maintain that facade, and ever since she dropped it, things had improved dramatically. It was only when she started being honest with herself and others that she found herself in her current position.
"You are quite right," Momo said softly, putting her arms around Mina and pulling her into a hug. "Thank you."
Mina made a soft mewling noise as she hugged Momo back. "No problem. Remember to have fun and try not to focus on worrying too much! Now, get down there before Tsu wonders where you are."
"Right, of course," Momo muttered as she reluctantly released the hug, grabbed her hat and headed for the door. Mina followed her out of the room and down the stairs as they made their way to the common room where Ochako and Zu were waiting for them.
Ochako cooed as she saw them. "Oh, I love your outfit! It looks great on you!"
Zu was studying her clothes and accessories with an intensity she wasn't expecting. He handed her the basket full of food as he smiled up at her. "You look stunning. I'm sure Tsu will love it."
Momo took the basket as she blushed under their praise. "Thank you both. I'll tell you all about it later."
Zu and Ochako both nodded as they came in for their own hugs. "Have fun," Zu said softly.
"You're gonna have a great time," Ochako whispered.
The hugs broke apart and Momo stood there for a moment before yelping as Mina spanked her playfully.
"Stop stalling! Get out there!" Mina 'encouraged' with a grin.
Momo smiled nervously as she nodded, took a deep breath, put on her hat, and headed outside.
She stepped out into the bright late-morning sun and spotted Tsuyu sitting on one of the benches on the porch. She smiled and stood up as she saw Momo, letting her see her own outfit.
Tsuyu was wearing a light yellow dress with green accents along with an oversized, dark olive cardigan. A cute straw hat cast a shadow over her face, accentuated by a white bow on the band. Her outfit combined with her short hair made her look truly adorable, and while Momo was only a couple inches taller than Zu, she had a full foot on Tsuyu, which only made her cuter.
Now that she thought about it, Tsuyu's posture was a little straighter than it had been. Perhaps her hair was weighing her down more than she thought?
"You look very pretty," Tsuyu said flatly, in her Tsuyu way.
Momo blushed a little. Were they starting with the compliments already? Wait, she had to remember what Mina said; just act natural. Not only that, she needed to maintain her confidence. Remember what she and Zu had done the previous morning.
"You look beautiful as well," Momo responded kindly, smiling down at Tsuyu. "You have exceptional taste."
Tsuyu looked up at her warmly for a few moments before she spoke again. "You seem nervous."
Momo winced. "Was it that obvious?"
"Yes," Tsuyu answered. "But don't feel bad. I'm nervous, too."
"Really?" Momo asked slowly, blinking a few times. "You don't seem it."
Tsuyu ribbited happily. "I don't show very much emotion, but I assure you, I am nervous."
That… actually made Momo feel a lot better. She didn't have to put on a face for Tsuyu at all; she could just be herself, nerves and all. Tsuyu felt the same way, but she wasn't being weird about it. Honestly, it made her feel calmer.
Momo smiled. Tsuyu had a tendency to do that, she supposed. "Well, shall we, then? It's not too long of a train ride."
After a short train ride followed by a trip in a taxi, they arrived at the gates of the Nakamura Nature Reserve, one of the private natural parks set up in the last century or so to maintain some green in a world that was becoming more and more urbanized every year. There were still national parks run by governments, but certain wealthy families took to maintaining their own reserves for more exclusive clientele. After all, those with money were almost always willing to pay for a bit of exclusivity and privacy, especially outside of the city. Those that couldn't quite afford vacation homes or private yachts could still enjoy nature in relative peace.
The Nakamura park consisted of a small mountain and the surrounding lands, every acre an investment in conservation. The fields, forests, and streams were all protected by patrols of rangers that walked the trails to make sure trespassers or other delinquents didn't damage what they had worked so hard to preserve over the years and ensured the privacy of other guests.
They entered through the gates and into the modest building that sat at the entrance. The woman sitting at the front desk looked up from her computer with a practiced smile on her face as she prepared to greet them. Her eyes lit up with recognition as she stood up and bowed slightly. "Ah, Miss Yaoyorozu. Please, do go in. Enjoy your day."
Momo nodded politely as they walked past into the small atrium and back outside, stepping out into a nexus of different trail heads that went all different directions. "Where do you want to go?" she asked her… date .
Tsuyu looked around and spotted the large board with a map on it that showed the different trails. "These all look nice. Do you have any recommendations?"
"The mountain trail is rather difficult," Momo began, "but the view is beautiful once you get to the peak. Now that the cherry blossoms have gone, the so-called Cherry Trail isn't as spectacular, and I've always found the shade around the lake to be quite enjoyable. I'd recommend one of those three."
Tsuyu nodded as she listened. "The lake sounds good. It's… this one?" she asked, pointing at one of the trailheads leading off into the grasslands around them.
"Yes, it's a beautiful walk. Good choice, Tsu," Momo said with a smile.
They set off together, Momo carrying the basket while Tsuyu and her walked through the bright late-spring sun. The trail had plenty of shade from the trees as it winded along the wide, slow-moving stream toward the lake. Between the shining sun, the pleasant temperature, and the slight breeze, Momo could hardly imagine a more beautiful day.
"This is amazing," Tsuyu commented as they crossed over a rustic wooden bridge. "Thank you for bringing me here."
Momo smiled politely. "Oh, it's my pleasure. I'm happy that you like it. I must admit, you were quite right when you said that we haven't spent much time together outside of the whole group of women, and I am glad that we can do so now."
"Me too," Tsuyu responded. "UA has been non-stop crazy ever since we arrived. Just think about the first week: Aizawa's quirk assessment, that battle trial, the lunchroom incident, and then the USJ."
Momo felt her stomach drop a little as she remembered that day. "Crazy is one way to put it. But we got through it, right?"
"We did, thanks to you," she said with a ribbit.
"Me?!" Momo gasped. "I barely did anything. Zu is the one who saved all of us."
Tsuyu nodded, not missing a beat. "He saved me twice, but you were the one who saved him. If it wasn't for you leaping into action, he wouldn't have made it, would he?"
Momo remembered what All Might had said back on that fateful Friday.
"The doctors wanted to pass on their thanks for your quick reactions. A few cracked ribs is much better than death, which is what would have happened to Young Midoriya if you hadn't intervened."
"I suppose you're right," Momo muttered, averting her gaze by watching a few birds fly through a field to her left.
"It's just like what happened when my heating broke," Tsuyu continued. "You swooped in as fast as you could and helped me. If it wasn't for you, I might have wound up in the hospital or something. I don't feel like I ever properly thanked you for that."
Momo felt her face heat up again. "Oh, well, no thanks are needed. I'm just happy to help, really."
Tsuyu smiled kindly, lifting the brim of her hat so she could look up into Momo's face easier. "That's what makes you a hero."
"O-oh," Momo stammered. "Thank you, Tsu."
She laughed in her froggy way. "That was a little cheesy, huh? Sorry about that."
"No, no, it was very sweet," Momo assured her. "Thank you, really."
"You're welcome," Tsuyu said softly. "I hadn't had the opportunity to say so yet. Not really."
Momo wasn't comfortable receiving all the praise; it made her feel selfish. "You are quite the hero yourself, you know. Zu told me all about the events of your internship. There would be several men at the bottom of the ocean were it not for you, and Zu might even be in jail, from the way he told it."
"Maybe," Tsuyu remarked after a moment of thought. "Izuchan seems to be a bit dramatic sometimes."
"Bordering on melodramatic, yes," Momo sighed. "He takes his quirk and such very seriously."
Tsuyu nodded. "He's a very good speaker, but looking back, it's good to see that you see that too. It did seem like he was going to seriously hurt that villain, though. Knowing that somehow, that big, 15-foot dragon is Izuchan? It's a little daunting."
"And to think I had him purring this morning while I pet his horns," Momo muttered wistfully. "It's true; to think all that… potential is buried within his body. It can be frightening at times. Out of all of our first encounters with his instincts getting out of control, I think it's safe to say yours was one of the most frightening."
"The way you're phrasing it almost makes it sound like some sort of initiation," Tsuyu replied.
Momo smiled sadly. "I suppose it is, in a way. Each of us have had an incident where we've discovered that we have the ability to get through to him. Ochako's was at the battle trial, where she was able to stop him from hurting Mineta. Mina stopped him from hurting her when she broke into his room."
"Izuchan was going to hurt Mina?" Tsuyu asked, a touch of worry in her voice.
Momo nodded. "She broke into his room and that upset him very much. The way he described it, he was close to seriously hurting her. Mina's version of the event is much more favorable, but who knows with that woman."
Tsuyu put her finger to her chin—a tic that Momo found utterly endearing. "That makes sense, I think. Hmm…"
"My 'incident'," Momo continued, "was much less dramatic. He was ruining a broom closet in the depths of the sports stadium. If I hadn't arrived, he may have damaged valuable cleaning ingredients." She sighed as she laughed sadly to herself.
Tsuyu took a moment or two to think. "Is that why he didn't have a shirt on when he fought Todoroki?"
"Ah, yes," Momo replied sheepishly.
"You know," Tsuyu continued, looking up at Momo again as they began to enter into a forest, "he was almost disqualified for being late to that match. If you hadn't helped him, he wouldn't have made it."
"R-really?" Momo asked, shocked. Nobody had ever said anything to her about it. It made sense, but she just hadn't ever thought about it.
Tsuyu nodded again. "And don't think I didn't notice that Todoroki only started using his fire after that match. I don't know what Izuchan said to him, but he certainly got through. If you think about it, if you hadn't helped him, he couldn't have helped Todoroki."
Momo's eyes widened slightly. "I… suppose you're right, Tsuyu. Thank you again."
Once again, Tsuyu had turned the praise back on her. Endearing, yet a little frustrating.
A little while later, they stopped at a small pond about halfway to their destination. Momo admired the pristine waters and the sound of birds and other animals calling through the forest. Tsuyu crouched down next to the pond and waited there for a little bit, apparently watching something intensely. Momo tried to follow her vision, but she didn't see anything until a small motion caught her eye. There was a small green frog sitting just under the water's surface between some grass, apparently looking back up at Tsuyu.
The two continued to stare at each other for a little while, neither moving beyond their blinking until the frog—the smaller one—hopped closer. It jumped onto a rock next to Tsuyu and looked up at her for another moment before shooting its tongue out and hitting her cheek. Tsuyu smiled wider as the frog quickly hopped away back into the pond.
Momo had normally found frogs and such to be less than desirable, but she couldn't help but find that whole… exchange anything but adorable. Tsuyu stood up after a few more seconds with a peacefulness that Momo envied about her.
Perhaps she should take a page out of Tsuyu's book and be blunt about the situation. Yet again, confidence was key. "That was very cute, Tsu."
Tsuyu rubbited happily. "She seemed just as curious about me as I was about her."
"That was a female?" Momo asked curiously.
"That was a Japanese gliding frog," Tsuyu explained. "The women are a good bit bigger than the males and have some different markings."
Momo grew an interested smile. "I didn't know you were a herpetologist."
"I've always had an interest in these sorts of things, especially frogs, for obvious reasons," Tsuyu said bluntly. "I wouldn't call myself a herpetologist, it's just a hobby."
"I think it's lovely that you have an interest like that," Momo said proudly. "I admit, I know little about them, but I'm always interested in learning new things. Could you teach me some?"
Tsuyu blinked once. "Sure, I suppose. I'm getting pretty hungry now, though, so could we get to this lake and eat first?"
"Oh, of course! Come now, it's not much farther."
"Sorry I'm late," Toshinori said as he entered the conference room in Mirai's agency. "There was a villain I had to take care of on my way here."
It was a modestly sized room with a table in the middle lined with chairs. Mirai—although he wanted most people beyond Toshinori to call him Sir—sat at the head of the table, while Sorahiko sat along one of the sides looking quite annoyed.
Mirai looked over his triangular glasses at him with that same intense glare he always seemed to have. "Sorahiko was nearly about to leave."
"Does punctuality mean anything to you?!" Sorahiko shouted.
Toshinori winced and quickly took a seat at the foot of the table, the chair groaning slightly under his weight. "My apologies. Are you both ready to begin?"
Sorahiko huffed. "I've been ready for nearly a half hour."
"Right," Toshinori replied sheepishly. "You both told me some good things about your students, but now that the week is over and Hosu is at least somewhat behind us, I would like to hear your final assessments."
Sorahiko and Mirai looked at each other, the latter tipping his hand to the older man.
"Fine, I'll start," he began gruffly. "That Iida boy is a good kid, but too uptight. I got him to loosen up a little, but his head is in a dark place right now. He has a weight on his shoulders that he's already having a hard time bearing, although it seems like he's the only one making himself carry it. If you offered him One For All, he would probably accept, for fear of disappointing you or his brother, but the weight would crush him. Besides, he's already having a hard time controlling himself at higher speeds. My current recommendation is no for Iida."
Toshinori rubbed his chin. "I felt the same thing during class. Thank you, sir."
Mirai pushed his glasses up his nose with one finger as he straightened his shoulders. "Miss Yaoyorozu has incredible potential, both in body and in mind. However, she has problems with confidence and freezing up when put in difficult situations. When she is able to act, she is impressive, especially for a first year student, but that hesitation could cost her dearly."
"During the first week of class, she was a beacon of confidence," Toshinori noted. "However, after the USJ she seemed much less sure of herself, and even more so after the Sports Festival."
Mirai nodded once. "She was born into money. From what I was able to gather, she had everything provided for her when she was a child and I suspect that she wasn't often given a chance to fail. Those tastes of defeat broke her confidence and she's still building herself back up; with the proper support and encouragement, she'll become something truly impressive. I suspect she will be a top ten hero within only a few years. However …"
He tilted his head slightly, looking over his glasses. "I cannot recommend her as your successor. I believe her focus should be on her intelligence and decision making. Her quirk's strength comes from its flexibility and versatility. It must be wielded with precision, not strength."
"I can't argue with that," Toshinori muttered, rubbing his chin again. "As for Young Bakugou, he is also a fantastic student with amazing potential. He is well-trained and has a good head on his shoulders. I have little doubt that he would benefit greatly from One For All, but I have ruled him out."
Sorahiko raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"For starters, he essentially told me he wouldn't accept it."
Mirai's glasses flashed as he tensed up. "You told him about your quirk?!"
Toshinori quickly held up his hand defensively. "No, no, nothing of the sort. When we were standing outside of Hosu, waiting to be let in, I asked him about Trigger. I asked him if he would accept a power boost if given to him, and he told me assuredly, emphatically, 'no'. It's about as close to confirmation as I can get."
Mirai relaxed visibly. "I see. That was clever of you."
"And secondly," Toshinori continued, "and you both may find this distasteful, but it just didn't feel right. Something in my gut told me that he wasn't the one."
"Come now," Mirai scoffed, "that is the same reasoning you gave for delaying with Togata. With All For One still out there, we don't have time for this."
"Cool your jets, Mirai," Sorahiko interjected. "I think Toshinori has the right idea."
"I do?" Toshinori asked, surprised by Sorahiko's defense.
The short man nodded. "When Nana was talking to me about choosing her successor, we discussed a lot of things. She spoke about your lofty goals and high-minded ideals, Toshinori, but she told me that there was something more to it as well. She always believed in, well, the 'romance' of One For All. She believed that those who wielded the quirk never truly died, but lived on through it. When I asked her if she was certain of her choice, she told me she was, she said 'it felt right'."
Toshinori was stunned. "Master… said that about me?"
"Course she did!" Sorahiko said with a hearty laugh. "She always believed in you, you knew that. And I know you've made her damn proud. What I'm trying to say here is I think that One For All is a little more complex than we might be giving it credit for. If Toshinori says it doesn't feel right, I think we should respect that."
There was a tense pause, then Mirai sighed. "Very well."
"I haven't ruled Young Togata out," Toshinori said, trying to be diplomatic, "but I'm still getting to know a lot of my students, and while I have certain gut feelings about some of them, I'm not close to making a decision. Besides, I have time."
"Perhaps less than we might hope," Mirai warned. "But that is agreeable for now. Let's hear about the other candidates you have in mind."
It was just about half past noon when they arrived at the lake. Technically, the term 'lake' was a little hyperbolic, as it was more akin to a glorified pond than a true lake; at its deepest point, Momo's head would barely be underwater should she stand on the bottom. Regardless of its size, the lake was beautiful. The water was crystal clear and calm, the only motion along the water coming from the slow moving stream feeding in and out of the lake, as well as disturbances from fish breaking the surface and birds hunting. In the middle of the lake was a grassy island dominated by an abnormally large maple that cast its shade over the island in the midday sun. The trees around the shore rustled gracefully as a gentle wind blew over the lake, completing the peaceful scene and filling Momo with a serene calm.
"Woah," Tsuyu said, a touch of awe in her voice. With how little emotion she showed normally, that little touch felt so much more powerful. "This is beautiful."
Momo smiled as she looked down at the shorter woman. "Isn't it? Where would you like to eat?"
Tsuyu looked around for a moment before pointing out onto the water. "That island looks nice."
"It does," Momo agreed, furrowing her brow. "But I don't think we can get out there easily. I could make a boat, but then we'd have to carry it out and that would cause all sorts of issues. Alternatively, I could make-"
"I could get us out there," Tsuyu interrupted.
"Are you sure?"
Tsuyu blinked once. "Do you trust me?"
"Of course I do," Momo replied without hesitation. Tsuyu had been nothing but reliable ever since they met.
"Then get on my back and I'll jump us over," she explained.
"I… alright," Momo replied hesitantly. She was a full foot taller than Tsuyu and much larger in other ways as well, not even including her increased density. "If you're sure."
Tsuyu nodded, leaning over slightly so Momo could climb on. "Hook your ankles together around my waist," she instructed calmly. "Good, now reach your arms around me and grab onto your forearms."
Momo leaned forward, doing as Tsuyu instructed. As she climbed on, she felt Tsuyu's back muscles moving to hold her weight and she was impressed by how powerful they felt. Unfortunately, as she leaned forward, Tsuyu's head was at, well, chest height and she had to take off Tsuyu's hat and press the back of her head into her cleavage.
"O-oh, the basket," Momo said nervously, trying to hold her confidence together.
"Got it," Tsuyu responded quickly as her tongue shot out and grabbed the basket, lifting it up easily and holding it in front of them. "Ready?"
"R-ready."
Tsuyu squatted a few times, getting a feel for the weight on her back. "You're much heavier than you look."
Before she could respond, Tsuyu jumped into the air with Momo holding on to her back tightly. Wind rushed through her hair as she saw them nearly eye-level with the tops of the trees surrounding the lake, but they began to descend before she could get a good look around. As quickly as they had jumped, they landed on the shore of the island, Tsuyu's legs absorbing the impact as they came to an abrupt stop.
"And you are much stronger than you look," Momo replied breathlessly.
Tsuyu carefully let her step down off her back before placing the basket on a rock and turning to look up at Momo. "Thank you. It's because of my quirk, of course. I assume that's why you're so heavy?"
Momo nodded. "Increased density so I have more lipids to work with."
"That makes sense," Tsuyu replied calmly. "Also, you're blushing a lot. If it makes you feel better, I enjoyed it."
In shock, Momo looked at Tsuyu's face for the first time since they landed and noticed that her cheeks had a faint blush on them as well. "Oh? Oh. Um, well, shall we eat?"
Tsuyu nodded, eager to finally put food in her stomach. Momo grabbed the basket as the two made their way to a soft patch of grass in the shade of the maple and sat down on the blanket Momo created. She opened the lid and began to pull out whatever Zu had packed inside.
Sitting on top were two carefully wrapped sandwiches, a bag of chips, a still-cold thermos, two cups, a small plastic container and… a pair of peaches. Momo sighed; of course he packed those. She shook her head as she opened up the container and saw a small collection of cookies—freshly baked by the smell. Just how much effort had Zu put into this?
Momo handed one of the sandwiches to Tsuyu and set out the chips and fruit between them, placing the sweets to the side for now. She gracefully poured a cup of lemonade for both of them before settling back and relaxing. Despite how talkative they had been so far, both seemed willing to eat quietly, simply enjoying the other's company and the pristine nature around them.
A few bites into her sandwich, Tsuyu reached for one of the fruits. "Peaches?" she asked calmly, shooting a glance up at Momo and causing her to blush slightly. She held it up and took a bite out of the peach, her eyes going slightly wide and a noise of surprise escaping her throat as juices erupted over her chin.
Tsuyu quickly covered her mouth politely. "Juicy," she commented, before looking around for something.
Momo quickly produced a napkin from her arm and handed it to her, watching coyly as Tsuyu wiped… peach juice from her face. She felt a pang in her heart as a rather lewd image flashed through her mind.
'Zu, you bastard,' she thought. There was no way he packed peaches by accident.
The two continued to eat in peaceful, albeit a little more awkward silence for several minutes until it was time for Momo to pull out the cookies. She opened the container and offered it to Tsuyu, who graciously took one of the delicious-smelling treats.
"It's nice to just… slow down for a bit," she commented as she held the cookie and looked around.
Momo gazed out over the clear water and took a deep breath of the crisp, fresh air. "It's rare that I get these opportunities, but yes, it is."
"You should try to take them more," Tsuyu responded. "You can't pour from an empty cup."
That was wise. Momo had been pressured to succeed for all of her life; she never found much time for relaxation. Wasting time, doing nothing, these were anathema to her goals and her progress.
Momo watched as Tsuyu took a bite of the cookie and hummed happily to herself. Not to be left behind, Momo sampled her own treat, finding it just as enjoyable as Tsuyu had.
"These are really good, Momo," Tsuyu said politely.
Momo's shoulders slumped slightly. "Oh, well, I didn't make them. Zu did. I can't cook at all." She didn't know why she admitted such a thing, but maybe she just had her guard down out here in nature.
"Really?" Tsuyu asked. She put her finger to her chin again and stared at Momo for a few seconds. "Do you have any siblings?"
Momo shook her head. "I'm an only child. Why?"
"That's a shame. You would've been a good sister," Tsuyu answered.
"Why do you say that?" Momo persisted.
Tsuyu chuckled in her froggy way. "The way you fuss over the other women and me shows me that you're a very kind and empathetic person. Like how you took charge when I was cold. I wasn't very aware of things, because I was halfway to hibernation, but when I heard your voice, I knew things would be okay."
Momo's heart clenched. "Mina told me the same thing. You all really do see me as some sort of leader, don't you?"
"Of course we do," Tsuyu said, with a hint of concern in her voice. Her brow furrowed as she touched her chin and tilted her head. "I'm surprised you don't see it."
"I do see it," Momo sighed, "but I'm not sure if I deserve it."
Tsuyu blinked once. "Why not?"
Momo bit her lip. She wanted to be in that position, she was completely and utterly thrilled that the other women looked up to her, but she couldn't in good conscience take on that role if she wasn't the best suited. It would be a disservice to the others and a disservice to herself. She was trying to work on her confidence, but she had to be careful that confidence didn't mutate into arrogance.
Because that's what it had been. Coming into UA as a recommended student, she wasn't riding high on confidence, it was arrogance. She thought that nothing could have stopped her, but it hadn't even taken a week for that all to come crashing down. The USJ didn't damage her confidence, it had damaged her hubris, and the fight against Todoroki had shattered it. With that veneer gone, what did she have left? Just… pieces of what she had been and what could be; pieces she had just now started putting back together with the help of Mina, Zu, Ochako, and others.
"Why me?" she finally answered. "Why not Eiko? She's so energetic and bold, I could see people following her. Or Ochako? I've never seen someone with a heroic drive like hers. Or Mina! She's so personable and everyone seems to like her; she's the natural choice. Or why not you? Tsuyu, you would make an excellent leader!"
"Me?" Tsuyu responded, looking surprised for once.
Momo nodded furiously. "Yes, you! The truth is, all my confidence and everything else you all think about me is just a thin facade! Whenever something terrible happens, the first thing I do is freeze and panic. Truly, I envy you, Tsu. You have this ability to stay calm and collected that I just don't. I'm trying to get better, but I'm not there yet, not by a long shot. What if I freeze up at the wrong moment and someone gets hurt?"
There was a beat of silence before Tsuyu ribbited once and smiled softly. "You know, Izuchan told me the same thing, that he was envious of me, I mean. I'll tell you the same thing I told him: I attribute much of it to my siblings. My parents work a lot, so I had to take care of them. Early on, I learned that panicking doesn't really accomplish anything but is often harmful. People tend to stay calm if they're around someone staying calm. If Satsuki spilled something and I got upset, she would cry, but if I didn't react, she wouldn't. I learned to be this way, but you haven't had that opportunity. Don't feel bad that you're not perfect in everything. That's why we're at UA, right? To learn."
Momo was close to tearing up. "I… yes, of course, you're right. The more experience I have, the less likely I'll be to freeze up. I just…" She looked over at Tsuyu's calm face and she felt calmer as well. "I don't know if I'm ready. Why should I lead if you would do it better? Why wait for me to learn what you already know?"
"Momo, I think you're going about this the wrong way," Tsuyu said, tilting her head again. "This isn't some elected position—you already won that one, technically—the rest of us didn't meet in a room and secretly declare you our supreme ruler or anything. You don't have a badge or anything official, nor are we listening and obeying your every word. You're taking this far too seriously. You are our friend, our classmate, a brilliant woman whose confidence goes a lot deeper than she thinks it does. If there was a group decision to be made, I know exactly who the other women and myself would turn to first, but it is not your job to be perfect nor to take responsibility for all of our decisions."
Tsuyu shifted a little closer on the blanket. "You were the one who impressed everyone on day one by winning Aizawa's quirk assessment test. You dominated your match of the battle trial. You were the one who kept Izuchan alive and kept our class whole at the USJ. You were the one who saved me when I was having troubles. There is a reason Eiko came to you first. If we're both being honest here, I find it easier to be calm around you. UA is a new place for all of us, including me, and it's not easy to be away from your family for the first time, but you make it easier. All of our classmates do, but when you're in class or at the dorm and you get that confident tone to your voice, I feel a little more at home."
Momo couldn't take it anymore. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Tsuyu, not even caring that she was pressing her chest into her. "Thank you, Tsu. I couldn't sit by while any of you were in trouble, but I feel the same way about you. I feel calmer around you and I honestly look up to you. I hope to be able to emulate you one day."
Tsuyu hugged her back for several moments before they broke apart, but for some reason, they took each other's hands, holding them between themselves. "You pointed this out earlier, but I just want to emphasize this. Each of us have different strengths, but each of us also have different flaws. We're here not just to become heroes, but to help each other become heroes as well. I'm not perfect and neither are you, but we can help each other become better."
Momo squeezed Tsuyu's hands. Honestly, she was sounding a little like Zu; perhaps he had rubbed off on her more than she thought, or maybe Tsuyu just had a remarkable head on her shoulders. "Yes, precisely. Building a strong foundation of support and comfort will help us excel, and I am proud to be an anchor for you, as you are an anchor for me."
Tsuyu squeezed her hands back as they sat there for a few moments. "This got heavy fast, huh?"
Momo felt like she should have felt awkward, but instead she just laughed. "I suppose that is my fault. I do apologize for making this all about me. I honestly feel so selfish."
"Part of that is my fault, too," Tsuyu replied. "I kept redirecting the conversation back onto you."
"Well, then we'll just have to fix that," Momo declared confidently. "We have several hours before we need to return and we'll use them well. How about you tell me more about your family? I'd love to hear about them."
Tsuyu smiled warmly and knowingly before she began to speak.
It was later in the day when Yaoyorozu and Asui arrived back at the dorms. The sun hadn't quite set yet, but the shadows were growing longer and a slight chill was creeping into the air. They stopped on the porch in front of the doors and exchanged a few words as they stood there in their nicer attire. Yaoyorozu reached down and grabbed one of Asui's hands, holding it between them for a few moments as they said some more words. Asui did that adorable little tic where she put her finger on her chin as she spoke up at the much taller woman.
Yaoyorozu looked deep in thought for a moment before she nodded. They seemed to not care if anybody was watching as she leaned down and the two exchanged a quick, chaste kiss on the lips before opening the door and entering their building.
She had been sent by Aizawa to tell 1-A about something, but as she stood there on the path outside of their dorm, Nejire found her mind filled with a hundred new questions.
Notes:
Hey, it's been a while, but hopefully that long-ass chapter made up for it. With this virus thing, I've been busier than ever, even though I'm working from home. Funny how these things work. So far, my city has been pretty insulated from the pandemic, but we're not out of the woods yet. I'll do my best to stay safe.