Nozomi eyed Kuriko curiously as she climbed into the car. She looked very annoyed as she strapped herself in and retrieved her book. She wondered what got her in that state. She usually has bad days at school but for the last week she's been fine with everything. What upset her? Of course she felt Nozomi's eyes on her and looked towards her. They stared at eachother until Kuriko made a couple of gestures while mouthing her annoyance as well.

Ah, so that's it.

Dodgeball.

Nozomi started the the car and drove off. A simple thing. Dodgeball. She wasn't a fan of the game for multiple reasons. Who decided it was a good idea to throw hard balls at eachother? The game is hell for those who are prone to bullies. Kuriko sadly fits that profile and is always a target. The kids in this new school don't openly bully her. No harm ever came to her. They did talk about her. Rumors were spread and she was avoided. That was ok. She liked being alone and could care less about what the fools think. During any game of dodgeball is when the physical harm begins. She was sure multiple of them used their quirks when those balls are thrown. The thing is that Kuriko hates gym class for that reason alone. It's always an open window for anyone and everyone to bully her, while not bullying her at the same time.

Usually that backfires on them because she's athletic despite not being a fan of sports. It helps having an uncle that is a master in that field. The man was annoying in her opinion but he trained her in many forms. That helped her in most situations, if she cared enough.

The reason she was so annoyed this one time was because someone threw a ball at her head. Her glasses almost broke again and now her head hurts. So annoying. She didn't even do anything about it this time. She had better things to worry about than a cocky teenager. The pain in her head would not fade as easily as a physical wound. A headache is the worst. She could hardly focus on her book or any of her usual thoughts. So the book was discarded and she just sat there watching the road in her annoyance. She'll repay the bastard tomorrow. He'll regret it. He would've gotten off easy if he had dealt her a physical wound. She can heal that. A headache is something she can't stop despite all the quirks she had. It was most likely due to her having all those quirks.

Nozomi kept glancing at the annoyed Kuriko, who was now rolling down the window. She gets really fidgety when she has a headache and does everything to rid herself of it. She had rested her head on the window and let the wind mess up her hair. She still had her annoyed expression on her face. Nozomi sighed. That boy was going to suffer dearly. A headache is the thing Kuriko despises. She should try distracting her. It worked in the past. Might work now.

"So"

Kuriko glanced at her, the only sign of interest was her raised eyebrow.

"Did you make a friend? " Nozomi asked with a knowing gaze. Kuriko stared at her with a familiar look. It was the look she always gave the woman when she didn't feel like elaborating. She gets that look often.

"Just tell me. I saw this blonde walk up to you and you let her walk with you. Who is she? "

Kuriko looked away from her and returned to staring out the window. She most definitely did not have any interest in telling Nozomi anything. There was nothing to tell in her opinion. Himiko is just a girl she's decided to study closely. That's about it. She uses her in her study of human behavior and emotions and Himiko in turn uses her to keep her bloodlust under control. Nothing else needed to be added onto it. Complications is the only thing it would cause.

Friendship

She doesn't like that word at all. Himiko wants her to be her friend. She agreed to be her friend despite her not seeing their relationship as such. Himiko was smarter than she let on. She wouldn't be surprised if the girl realized she lied when she said she would be her friend. She obviously didn't care. She needed someone to understand her and Kuriko does and wants to learn more. Apparently that's all that mattered to the blonde.

She sighed.

"Kuriko? "

Nothing.

"Fine" Nozomi gave up. When Kuriko doesn't want to talk it's hard if not impossible to convince her. "I'm just curious. At least you finally made a friend if that's what you two are"

~~~~~~

"What are you doing in my house? How did you even get in here? "

Natsumi smiled secretively and flipped her pen between her fingers.

"Welcome back" Noriko came down the stairs dressed in a robe and drying her hair casually.

"We're out of ice cream" Nemuri came strolling out the kitchen with a bowl full of ice cream.

Her statement about no ice cream got Kuriko's attention. She was quick to fact check this. Blue eyes stared into the freezer seeing no ice cream at all. She blinked as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing. She turned on her heels and marched out back into the living room. All eyes followed as she walked up to Nemuri and snatched the bowl of ice cream away. She glared before placing herself in her self proclaimed corner of the room. She looked annoyed as as shuffled ice cream into her mouth

"You can't just take my ice cream Like that, Kuriko" Nemuri complained but made no move to reclaim Her treat.

Kuriko glared at her for a short while before returning focus to her favorite treat. It was in no way Nemuri's ice cream. She broke into their house and stole her ice cream . She usually doesn't mind her having some, but taking the last bit of what was left was forbidden. That was a high level of betrayal to Kuriko.

"Why in the world are you three in my house? " Nozomi asked again

"I needed to do some paperwork on the new case" Natsumi replied as she placed her feet on the coffee table and motioned to the documents in hand

"I just felt like coming over" Noriko said with a shrug.

"I was looking for ice cream"

"What is wrong with you idiots" Nozomi groaned. "Natsumi why don't you just work at home? Noriko, you should know to call before a visit. And Nemuri, you should buy your own food instead of taking Kuriko's"

"I did buy her the ice cream so technically I did buy my own food" Nemuri stated.

"I don't have time for this "

Kuriko was disappointed by how fast she finished her treat. She appeared next to her mother and showed her her empty bowl while pointing to the door.

"Fine" Nozomi grabbed her keys. "We need to go grocery shopping anyway. Go change"

Kuriko was gone within an instant.

"Mind if I tag along? "Nemuri asked.

"Yes I do" Nozomi couldn't deal with her childhood friend right now. "How did you even get into the house? "

"Ask Natsumi"

The eldest of the sisters smiled innocently and was obviously not going to elaborate.

"I can't trust any of you"

~~~~~~

Nemuri could be such a child sometimes. Kuriko as well. The girl has her moments. Such a moment was currently taking place. Nozomi stood at a safe distance, shopping cart in front of her and watched Nemuri and Kuriko raid the freezers for ice cream. They each had their own kart and they were overflowing . That tower they built was going to topple over. If they thought Nozomi was going to pay for all of that, they had another thing coming.

"Kuriko, Nemuri" Nozomi pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. What was she supposed to do with these two. "You're each limited to three tubs of ice cream, put everything back right now"

Nemuri looked very disappointed but did as told and started putting the ice cream back. Kuriko, however did not like the idea and to prove her point she added another tub of ice cream to her stack. She met Nozomi's eyes and did not falter when she received a scolding look.

"Kuriko, put it back"

She gave her mother a look that always made her falter but Nozomi was resolved this time. That was too much ice cream. Three tubs will do for now.

"Kuriko three or none"

Kuriko glared before placing one tub of ice cream back in the freezer.

"Place them all back until you have just three"

Kuriko sighed and mouthed a word as she did as told.

"No cursing"

"Look at that, she rebelled " Nemuri chuckled. Kuriko always did as told. Maybe it was only ice cream that makes her disobey.

"Don't look so happy about it"

At some point Kuriko dumped three tubs of ice cream in Nozomi's shopping kart.

"Good, that wasn't so hard was it? "

Kuriko shrugged and wandered off, leaving Nozomi with Nemuri.

"What do we need? "

"There is no we, you have to go home" Nozomi pointed out.

"But I like staying at your place. "

"Apparently everyone likes staying at my place"

"Awe, I'm special aren't I? "

"I don't think your any more special than my sisters " Nozomi pointed out. "You're going home"

"I thought you loved me, why so cruel? "

"I am not being cruel. You need to stop breaking into my house"

Kuriko returned at that moment to drop two boxes of cereal into the kart and add her own opinion on Nemuri's stay at their house. Her silent words brought a blush to Nozomi's face and a victorious smirk to Nemuri's own.

"The kid has a point" Nemuri teased.

"Kuriko, we are not dating"

Kuriko didn't seem convinced with her mother's statement. She knew better. That blush on her cheeks said something else. There was that and the fact that could feel her emotions very easily. Both of them. They love eachother more than friends should. At least that is what Noriko and Natsumi taught her when it came to that emotion. They never steered her wrong before. And if indeed Nozomi is telling the truth and they are not dating than it brings up the question as of why.

Kuriko didn't tend to interfere with such things. She could usually care less, but when you're the one that is very aware of other's emotions and you see them on the daily it is hard not to care. In her mind they should just admit it, get together and do whatever it is couples do and be done with it.

Kuriko also could not understand why nozomi had a problem with Nemuri staying with them. She's been around since she was a kid and she's gotten used to her presence in the house. She did the dishes. She would cook. She would try to help Kuriko in anyway she could. She would also help Nozomi when she gets to absorbed in her work.

Plus she bought her ice cream, that's a major plus.

Nemuri is good for Nozomi. For as long as Kuriko could remember she had made her mother happy. She's the one hero Kuriko didn't despise. She actually means what she is doing and is aware that not everyone could be saved. She does not make false promises or anything along those lines. She's a good person like Nozomi and she made Nozomi happy. That was all Kuriko cared about when it came to the two. If she made her happy she had no reason to feel any way about their relationship.

"You know, she seems far happier today" Nemuri pointed out as she watched Kuriko go around the store.

"I suppose"

"Do you know why?"

"No, not really. She did have her ice cream"

"Maybe her headache went away"

"That sounds reasonable "

"Could be" Nemuri shrugged. "So? "

"Don't you start Nemuri"

Nemuri laughed but said nothing more.

"You're going home"

Again she laughed.

~~~~~~~~~

"Hey Deku! "

Izuku didn't acknowledge the person. He never acknowledged anyone calling him that name. Not anymore. He continued on. Ignoring the looks of everyone. Ignoring their words. He just continued on as silent as ever.

"Don't ignore me, useless Deku"

He was forcefully made to face whom ever decided to approach him. He came face to face with one of the most popular boys in his school. He didn't have time for this. He wanted to head outside to sit alone behind the school. He didn't need anyone delaying his trip. He did not need some jock with an IQ lower than the ground to pick on him just to give him a sense of dominance

"What is it? "

"So you haven't gone silent" the boy chuckled, holding the unfazed boy by the collar. "You've been acting a bit cocky lately. I thought it was time to remind you of who you are. Put you back in your place"

"Is that so? "Izuku's voice was lacking any emotion. "Aren't you just trying to stroke your ego? I heard you lost royally to the neiboring school. Must suck, huh? Star of the basket ball team couldn't even make one basket during the game that would decide where the school stood."

There were murmurs running down the hallway at his statement. The boy holding him by the collar was red with anger. It didn't take much to ruffle his feathers.

"What did you say, you little twerp? "

"I'm sorry" Izuku smiled. "I forgot your IQ does not surpass that of a two year old. Actually I think even a two year old could outsmart you. You know, since you did not understand what I had said moments ago , maybe I should present it in a picture book for you. I hope you could understand then. If not I'll just have to let an infant explain as best they can"

"You little sh-"

"What? Are you going to hit me now? Will that make you feel better? " Izuku asked. "Go ahead then. Hit me"

The boy growled and raised a fist to do just that. Before he made contact with the impassive boy his hand froze in mid air. Try as he might he could not push further . What the hell?

"I thought you were going to hit me"

"Damn you! " he pushed harder but he couldn't move his fist. It was as if something was pushing him back. He looked at Izuku, meeting unreadable eyes. He couldn't be doing this. He was a quirkless twerp. Someone else must be helping him.

"What are you doing man, just hit him! "

"I can't you idi-"

Before he could finish his sentence he was sent through the air and towards a wall. Everyone around them gasped in shock at the scene. He was stuck to the wall, struggling to break free. They all looked at Izuku, who was staring at the boy. Did he do that? Wasn't he quirkless?

Izuku fixed his collar and continued on his way.

He was not going to sit back and be bullied like some pathetic child. Not anymore.

Deku the name of a useless boy. Deku. He was so used to that name. Deku. He's had that name since a he was a child

Deku

The windows broke as he continued down the hall.

Useless Deku was no more.