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Ochaco was walking next to Tsuyu distractedly, giggling to herself due to the joke she had just told. It was very dumb, but she was attempting to lighten the mood a bit which fortunately encouraged her froggy friend to let out a few warm giggles. Ochako didn't tell jokes very often, but she always loved to see Tsuyu so happy. It made her day. “Why are frogs so happy?” “I don’t know, kero. Why are they?” “Because...because they eat whatever bugs them !” Tsuyu had offered to take the other girl on a walk that late afternoon, mostly due to the fact that she was miserably holed up in her room. She was only aware of this due to the fact that they were texting. The girls were extremely close. Their friendship was very strong, and so they kept greatly in touch along with each other, always making sure to talk every day (whether it be in person or through text or calls). They both enjoyed talking to each other so incredibly much because of the immense happiness they experienced while doing so. When Tsuyu had just found out about her poor friend feeling miserable, that was when she proposed the great idea of going on a walk with her. She knew that Ochaco had a fond love of nature just like she did, so it would both grant them a necessary break from any stress or just negativity in general.
OchacoTaco: Please save me. ;-; *cries*
I’llTsuYu: what’s wrong ?
OchacoTaco: I’m so bored. I don’t think I’ve ever been this bored in my life.
I’llTsuYu: ohhhh, i see .
I’llTsuYu: in that case, would you like to go on a walk ?
OchacoTaco: YES
OchacoTaco: What time works for you?
I’llTsuYu: whatever works for you :p
I’llTsuYu: 1835 sound good ?
OchacoTaco: YES, I’LL SEE YOU THEN! “I'm glad we decided to go on a walk today!” she said cheerfully, grinning. “I really needed it. I felt all miserable and lonely back in my dorm.” She looked at a large tree that was just about fifty feet away from them, quickly proceeding to request to stop by there once they reached the destination. “You're welcome, Ochaco-chan. That's what friends are for, kero,” she responded, sitting just in front of the great big trunk of the tree. She leaned against it, and then the brown haired girl joined her, even leaning against Tsuyu gently. Tsuyu let the girl lean against her, as it didn't bother her in any way, shape, or form. It was quite nice to be sharing physical contact with someone because of the warmth through embrace that it gleefully provided. Due to the fact of how she was, she never blatantly asked for it out of the blue, or even really at all - it was solely received and accepted. Ochaco smiled, giggling again and then looking into Tsuyu's warm eyes. They were orbs of forest green which promised nothing but luck and fortune, and they contained such a quality that was indescribable to the point where nobody else even possessed it. It was so difficult to identify, but it made her heart feel full and it made her experience hiraeth. Ochaco swept back a stray hair nervously, moving to instead focus on the world unfolding just before their eyes. They had chosen a fortunate park to walk in, which had no structures in the way; it was simply a wide, large flat field of grass with trees sprinkled among the way. It reminded Ochaco of sprinkles on a cupcake, in a way. The wind blew, which swayed the grass in a heavenly way. It was such a breathtaking sight because of the way that the sun's rays and angles of the blades of grass tricked Ochaco's eyes into perceiving it as waves of some sort. However, instead of a deep, sentimental blue that would allow one to dream or think, it was just an easy green that allowed Ochaco to feel lively and happy. Those were the feelings she felt herself experiencing whenever she was with the froggy girl. She was unlike anybody else Ochaco had met, and so she had to give her credit for those unique qualities. They were faint, yet strong at the same time. When Ochaco felt these emotions, it seemed like everything became softer and it seemed like all of her problems mattered less. Though she found herself admiring Tsu extremely often, she didn't question it romantically; or at least, that's what she thought. She had always assumed she was straight; she had a small crush on Iida, and a crush on Deku, getting over them over time. Deku and Iida weren’t girls, so she simply wouldn't be attracted to girls then...right? It scared her, thinking about it. She always avoided it when she could, just because of the fear and anxiety that it made her experience. Though she was accepting of others, it scared her when she thought about being with another girl. It was such a huge fear of hers, to be judged; she was raised to not care about what other people thought, but things weren't that simple. In an attempt to stop dealing with this confusion and pain, Ochaco had entirely shut herself from thoughts like these. She instead tried to focus on boys only, looking through magazines and frantic Google searches. Though she had experienced crushes on boys, she only had had a crush on a small select few, one of them obviously being Deku. She couldn't get herself to drool over the muscularly toned abs, or the voice, or whatever else girls found attractive about men those days. She did find some of them really cute, but she wasn’t weird about it. For some reason, she always thought about girls. She had once thought to herself that having a husband would be okay, but what about a wife? The whole experience stressed her out immensely, so she never tried doing that again. Why was sexuality so frustrating and scary to think about? Tsu allowed her to have deep, complex thoughts. She couldn't begin to explain how difficult they were, nor bring them up to the other's attention. Though she wished she could talk it out with someone and ask what they mean, she was unsure if she'd be able to comply. “Weird day, huh?” Ochaco awkwardly broke the silence, ripping out a few blades of grass from the dirt. She crunched them slightly in her hands, knowing they weren't like leaves. Her hands started to get dirty. “How so, Ochaco-chan?” Tsu mused gently, looking at the beautiful display in front of them. She never feared to stay curious or honest, but at this point, she was genuinely confused. Her emotions didn’t show as obviously, though. Sometimes it was hard to assume how she was feeling, or what mood she was trying to give off. “Eh, I'm not really sure…” she responded, chuckling nervously with a blush. “It just feels different today? Like I'm waiting for something to happen...but I don't know what. It should just be a regular day!” Tsu still wore her signature vacant stare, but it seemed more thoughtful, and perhaps even more emotional. “You're cute, kero.” She placed the tip of her index finger gently on her chin, as she usually did. Ochaco dropped the grass that was in her hand immediately as she blushed, just slightly in shock as she went slack-jawed. “Oh, y-yeah?!…Thanks…!” Tsu’s comment had caught Ochaco off-guard, and as a result, she didn’t know how to react; her response was more awkward than she had hoped for it to be. She had been called cute by other people before, but it didn’t feel the same as it did when Tsu called her that. Maybe she was making a big deal out of nothing, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Something was different about it. Once she was able to gain full control of herself, she stood up and stretched, gazing at the gorgeous land that stretched far. It would be a short while before they'd arrive on campus again once they started walking, hopefully not too long if they walked a steady pace. Ochaco held out her hand, for Tsu to take it. “We...we should start heading back,” she proposed gently. Tsu nodded, carefully taking her hand as to avoid her Quirk acting out. She lifted her fragile pinkie as she squeezed the other’s gently, only to receive a squeeze back. They liked squeezing each other’s hands. Ochaco, for some reason, really enjoyed short and cute gestures like that. They were fun to mess around with, especially, because if they had done it for too long it would cause Ochaco to burst out laughing — and then Tsu would smile and blush lightly, letting out some heartwarming keros . The two girls began the short journey back to campus. Though it wasn't even necessary to call it a journey due to how long it had taken them, it was still like one of some sort. The two girls exchanged laughs, stories, and feelings. It was a pleasant experience. It was funny because it was only the smallest things in life that allowed you to enjoy it the most. In Ochaco’s case, it meant walking in random areas in Musutafu, Japan with her favorite girl. Realistically, her favorite person, because she was always on her mind — whether it be in the morning, afternoon, or night, she was always thinking about her and sometimes what fun they could be having. Ochaco lost count of how many times she yearned and wished to go out with Tsu one night, past curfew, just to go lay in the grass and stargaze together. She would point out every constellation she knew by heart, with the help of the gift Tsu had given her for her birthday one year (a star map), even naming a few unofficially; then she would burst into a giggling fit, looking into Tsu’s eyes...Tsu would smile as their faces got closer, closer, and closer, just until they were about to — About halfway during the walk, they managed to bump into a small store. It sold mainly cheap or fun items, like candy. Tsu, fortunately, had some money on her, so she decided to get them both some mochi. She knew they both enjoyed mochi, especially Ochaco herself; as for Tsu, mochi wasn't her most favorite candy. However, she was more than willing to definitely try it again. It wouldn’t hurt to give it another chance. That, and she hadn’t eaten it in so long; maybe her opinion would change. Tsu held the door open for Ochaco, who bashfully walked in just before she did. Once they were both inside and browsed in just a few aisles, Ochaco spotted something and tugged Tsuyu's arm gently, excitedly pulling her towards the said item. When Ochaco had spotted it, her face immediately and noticeably brightened up. It was such a pure thing to see; the sea of maple honey in her eyes sparkling radiantly as she then smiled, her smile genuine and gorgeous. “Tsu-chan, Tsu-chan! It's strawberry mochi! I love strawberry mochi so much... it's really good...can we get some? Oh, please?” she begged, her voice noticeably higher-pitched than normal. From the way she was asking so innocently, she would remind anybody nearby of a kid in a candy store. Essentially, that's exactly what she was, but she seemed younger; more energetic and full of spirit. It was a wonderful sight to see, and it was so wholesome. Ochaco’s bright energy was one of Tsu’s favorite things. Tsu nodded, grabbing two bags. “Of course, Ochaco-chan.” She and Ochaco headed to the register happily. Five minutes, some yen, and some bubbly excitement later, they were finally exiting the store, back on their way to the dorms. Everything seemed so nice and great now; the sun was setting beautifully just before their eyes, the sun dipping into the horizon with the pinks and oranges and purples. Ochaco and Tsuyu both adored nature, so this just improved their adventure significantly and made them even happier. They both absolutely adored the gorgeous sunsets of Japan. Tsu was sure to hand Ochaco her bag first before they continued their walk, just so she could start eating it when desired. Ochaco eagerly grabbed the bag, strolling cheerfully alongside her friend just as she had before. She ripped it open, immediately stuffing some into her mouth. She sighed with pleasure as she tasted the delicious flavor of the creamy, sweet strawberry bursting into her mouth. “Ah...this is so good…” Mochi was one of Ochaco's most favorite things. She heavily admired the slight chewiness from the rice flour casing, but what she loved most of all was the soft inside that just seemed to melt in your mouth. The strawberry mochi was her favorite due to the sweetness and tart flavoring of the ripe fruit. Unfortunately, Ochaco couldn't eat these delicious treats as much as she desired. Her family's financial situation made everything difficult, and as a result, they didn't always have leftover money for treats. She knew better not to ask for anything at any point while they were struggling because she knew her parents would feel guilty and give her some of what they barely had.
She didn't want that.
Ochaco always grew up around tight money. It always broke her heart because of how much her parents struggled. She would often see her mother crying in her parents’ bedroom, or she would see her father miserably sitting at his desk or the couch with Mrs. Uraraka. She popped another piece of mochi in her mouth, her eyes watering.
“Honey, you don't have to do that for us,” her mother had told her, gently ruffling her hair. “You should grow up to be who you want to be. Choose the job that you want. You don't have to worry about Mommy and Daddy when you're all grown up. You can have your own successful business of some sort — but no matter what job you choose, or who you'll be — you'll be very successful at it.”
The mochi melted in her mouth as she very slowly chewed it. Her tears were on the verge of spilling out, ready to betray any and all of her wishes at any moment.
“Now, now, don't be sad, darling! Here, I'll get you some strawberry mochi that I made earlier. It'll surely cheer you up, right? We can't have our little ball of sunshine being upset, can we? Go on! They're just waiting to be eaten! They want to party in your tummy.”
The tears immediately overflowed as she clenched the bag, whimpering a little. The memories seemed to drown her more than her own tears. “Thank you! Thank you so, so much, Mommy!” Why was the mochi giving her flashbacks? It was quite unusual, and it wasn't exactly pleasant, either. It had never happened before, not even the last time she had the treat. Perhaps it was nostalgia? Tsu hugged her tightly as she had stopped and cried in the middle of their walk. She was aware of Ochaco's financial struggles, and yet Ochaco hadn't even said anything to Tsu regarding the mochi or its memories, she had the heart and knowledge to understand exactly why she reacted like that. Tsu was different. She was able to sense and know exactly how Ochaco was feeling more than half the time, and it had honestly shocked her. She wished that she could have that ability, but it was slightly harder for her to identify other’s emotions if not harder. Ochaco continued to cradle onto Tsu, arms wrapped around the other. Tsu had baby soft skin, she noticed as she could feel the other's cheek brushing up against one of her own. The flashbacks had made her uncomfortable, but the moment Tsu hugged her, her soft touches immediately made everything pleasant. The world around them even became softer and kinder, because Tsu's affection had the ability and power to immediately make everything so much better. Tsu’s kind affection allowed her to not care about the rude, nosy stares of a passerby — at first, they had just made her even more anxious. But, with Tsu hugging her and whispering sweet nothings that melted like crystals in her ears, the harsh reality of the terrible world around them seemed to gradually fade away. Tsu huddled near her as they continued to walk some more with slow and gradual encouragement. This soothed her and calmed her down even more. I’m so thankful for your existence. She sighed dutifully as they continued to walk, fortunately calming down. She didn't know why she had had that random outburst, because she had been able to eat the scrumptious treat before without having to deal with the emotionally impacting flashbacks of when she was five years old. It was so random and so sudden, she hadn't known what to do. And yet, when she had gone through that difficult event, Tsu had been there for her. Ochaco appreciated Tsu so much more than she even realized. She had this strange, odd feeling deep inside of her, that she wanted to live with this girl forever. She never wanted to leave her. She was strangely special to her. The thought of Tsu one day leaving to live with her own family strangely made Ochaco upset and even envious. She didn't even know why she was thinking about that, as they were still teens. They still had so many hurdles to jump over despite the ones they already had gotten through. And yet, despite all the strangeness of experiencing these difficult thoughts, she brushed it off as nothing. She just assumed that they were close friends with a strong bond that she never wanted to lose. Sadly, it occasionally really got to her. One night she couldn’t stop crying because of how awful she felt in regards to thinking about that situation. She never wanted Tsu to leave her, as she wished that she would stay forever with her; however, that made her feel guilty. She felt that if they were to live together, she would invade the other’s future and her own life. She wanted Tsu to do whatever she wanted, but every time she put thought into it her own selfish wants washed up on the shore of her fragile mind. Truthfully, she had never felt a bond this strong with anybody else she had known. Not Iida, not Midoriya, or any other people — besides Tsu, of course. It was unclear to her, what this meant. She so badly wanted to know what this whole situation had meant. She wanted to know why she had fantasies and thoughts of herself buying a house with Tsu and even starting a new family. Ochaco knew she was straight. She had a small, tiny crush on Iida and got over it quickly. She had a crush on Midoriya as well, but though it lasted longer it did wear off. The thought of being with a girl didn't exactly confuse her, but she wasn't even sure at this point. She never kissed a girl. Though she was straight, she once caught herself thinking to herself that she wouldn't mind kissing Tsuyu. Her lips looked so soft and comforting, and she dreamt that they would taste like freedom — Poor blushy Ochaco was so into her own thoughts that even though she had fortunately managed to stop crying, she hadn't even realized it when they had arrived back on campus. All they had to do was just walk back to either Tsu's or her dorm. Knowing how things were, most likely Tsu's — Ochaco was embarrassed by how plain her dorm was compared to the other girl's. “We're here, kero,” Tsu said, once they had made it successfully back to the dorms. Ochaco was thankful that she avoided mentioning the crying, and she never did. She was so happy that Tsu had the ability to respect other people's privacy. Respecting others was one of Tsu’s greatest qualities. She wasn’t the type to be judgemental. She never cared if other people cried or not; she understood how controlling and powerful emotions were. Surprisingly, Tsu had had some of her own breakdowns — not nearly as often as others, no — occasionally. It was rare to see, but it was absolutely heartbreaking to witness. Ochaco felt terrible for Tsu the day she had comforted her during one of them. Ochaco, however, admired how emotionally strong Tsu was. Though she had portrayed signs of weakness at times, it was very rare. She pretty much always managed to hold herself together, and it not only impressed her but it also inspired her. She wished that one day she’d be able to become as strong as that, if not more. “Can we go to your room?” Ochaco asked gently, her lips quivering as if she were about to cry again. Though she wasn't, or at least she thought she wasn't, she felt like she was close to doing so. I can’t let anyone see me like this. I’ll feel safer once I’m in her room. I always feel safe around her. “Of course, Ochaco-chan,” Tsu said, taking her hand and gently pulling her to her dorm (as she followed, of course). Tsu unlocked her room with her key, letting Ochaco in before coming in herself and closing the door behind them. Ochaco set her shoes by the door, set her mochi on the table, and then flopped on her soft bed. Tsu smiled gently, following Ochaco and setting her things down before sitting next to her on the bed. Something that Ochaco absolutely loved about Tsuyu was that she loved to cuddle, and she had no problem with it. Tsu was fun to cuddle with because she was soft and she smelled like heavenly petrichor with a hint of magic. Magic didn't have a scent, but she was magical in the way that she smelled like home. Something Ochaco also loved was how soft she was. She was like a huge pillow — she was a fantastic cuddle buddy, and she was also warm. The sound of her heartbeat alone made Ochaco feel like everything was going to be okay. They cuddled each other as they listened to the fan in her dorm whir softly. Ochaco blushed as she snuggled even closer to Tsuyu. The temperature was a little too warm, but Tsu adjusted the fan so that it would be regulated. She couldn't keep it too cold because she would either enter hibernation mode or get really sick. “This is nice,” Ochaco said softly, smiling to herself as she looked up to the ceiling. It was neatly plastered with sticker frogs. How Tsu was able to decorate accordingly without receiving consequences was beyond her, but it still looked really nice and was fitting to how Ochaco would have imagined her dorm to look like (even though she had seen it before). Ochaco yawned a little, letting herself sink into the soft Azores jasmine-scented sheets and the world of comfort. She even pressed herself up against the other girl, smiling because she knew that Tsu wouldn't have minded in the slightest. She wanted to look into Tsu's eyes, but she was so tired that her eyes were fluttering, much like a flickering light, because of how tired she was. “You can sleep, Ochaco-chan.” And so she did. She fell asleep nestled against Tsu's chest, listening to her heartbeat. That moment she was falling asleep, the world as she knew it didn't exist anymore. She was just a girl laying with another girl in a quiet universe full of secrets to be discovered. They were just two stars in a galaxy. With the guidance of the music of her own and Tsu's breathing along with the whirring of the fan and Tsu's heartbeat, she fell into a deep, comfortable sleep unlike any other she had ever experienced. She wanted nothing but to sleep forever, comfortably cradled in the strong, stable grip of Tsu’s arms. Her dreams were magical, unlike any others. They were special and unforgettable, and they contained special qualities that she would grasp with the strongest grip she could possibly possess so she could hold onto it forever. She would never let it go. With the slightest push of the wrong force, it could get lost in a world full of stars and discoveries. Eventually, when the time came, the stardust picked her up and carried her to the realm of fantasies and dreams. Ochaco sat next to the hearth of the burning fireplace. From solely the seat of her fine leather couch, she could see a magical world just awaiting her outside of the window. Outside, blankets of sparkling white heaven coated the world. It gleamed in all its glory, frosty and gorgeous. The stars were shining and contrasted beautifully against the rich shade of the cool night sky. Children could be seen, playing with and in the snow. They laughed as they engaged in snowball fights, created snow angels, and built snowmen.
Ochaco sighed peacefully, revoking her attention from the outside world and gave it to the person who sat next to her, knitting a light green sweater. “I remember when we were having fun like that in high school.” Her voice was deep, woven with fatigue yet care. For some reason, she felt very tired, but she wasn’t resting.
She was much older now. Her honey brown locks greyed over time, and her once baby soft clear face now had many wrinkles. It was once constantly flushed with excitement, but at this point in time, the pigment was slowly, gradually beginning to fade away.
“Me too,” the anonymous replied with a small smile, continuing to knit the sweater. In the top right corner, a print of a frog’s head had been stitched into it with care. The sweater was very soft, but it was also thick which proved it had a great use for cold weather.
“I can’t even believe we got married. It’s been almost forty years since then. Time really does fly by,” Ochaco surmised. Winter caused her to feel nostalgic.
She took a sip of her hot cocoa. In this harsh cold, the best way to get through it was to have a nice, warm beverage, a burning fireplace, and reliable clothing that suited the weather. Thankfully, she had all of those things, along with the company and love of the anonymous.
The other person nodded, letting out a soft noise of agreement.
Ochaco was about to bring up something else, but then in her vision, everything began to appear warped, and it felt like she was spinning. She fell into a black pit of nothing, or at least, that’s what it had appeared as. After what it seemed like forever, she managed to land on some huge mounds of shimmering gold dust.
And, just as soon as the dream had begun, it ended. The stardust was now picking Ochaco up, proceeding to then disintegrate right after it dropped her back into the harsh world of reality. As it disintegrated, it took all memory of the dream with it. Slowly, slowly, slowly...she began to sink into reality, and then — Ochaco awoke with a start the next morning. It was sunny, and it was very peaceful. She could hear birds just chirping peacefully outside of Tsu’s window, and she could see the rays of sunlight beaming through the material of her curtains. She could tell it was going to be a great day. She eagerly hopped out of bed, stretching and yawning and immediately she headed over to Tsu’s dresser. It was one of the fancy ones with a mirror, one that she wished she had when she was younger. She always admired the aesthetic of them, and how gorgeous they looked. She knew one day she would manage to get one when it was convenient, and when she could afford it. Tsu had already been awake. She was doodling at a desk which was properly placed next to her window. If she wanted inspiration, all she’d have to do is just draw back the curtains. Once that was done, she’d then have access to a gorgeous view. Having a window in her dorm gave her the best advantages. With her favorite sparkly green gel pen, she was doodling little frogs all over her paper, decorating the border with neatly-intertwined vines. She also added a few hearts here and there, along with other things that seemed fitting for the drawing. “Can I use your brush, Tsu-chan?” she asked the other shyly, completely and utterly unsatisfied with her rat’s nest. Upon first look at her reflection, she already saw how absolutely terrible it looked. “Of course, kero.” She used a gentle tone, clean and warm like glazed honey. Ochaco smiled and thanked her as she took the brush, proceeding to then brush the decent length of her honey brown locks. She hummed to herself as she stared at her reflection in the mirror just in front of her. When she just finished brushing, her hair definitely looked a lot better. Ochaco usually avoided severe bed head by pulling her hair back in a low ponytail or bun, but since she had fallen asleep without doing anything she had to suffer the consequences. As much as this was unwanted, it was to be expected. Upon further inspection in the mirror, her clothes weren’t as neat as they once were. They were wrinkled from the movements she made in her sleep, and the collar of her shirt was grossly soaked from drool. She felt embarrassed by her messy display because she didn’t appreciate looking terrible especially in front of Tsu. It was something she had definitely wanted to avoid, but because of this unfortunate event, she was forced to deal with the consequences. It frustrated her terribly because she wanted to look presentable. However, that was impossible when you moved in your sleep. She sighed miserably, setting down the brush at once and then turning to face Tsu. Since Tsu was facing the window and working on her doodle dump, she couldn’t see the other girl. “Hey, um, I’d stay longer, but I look terrible!” Ochaco conceded, awkwardly giggling afterward and shifting her feet. “I saw you were up earlier than me. I hope I wasn’t a bother, and I really hope I didn’t snore too loudly last night —” Tsu let out a soft kero in response before quickly giving a proper reply. “Don’t worry, kero. You weren’t any trouble. You barely snored.” Ochaco breathed out a sigh of relief. She was so thankful that she hadn’t been trouble the night before because she wasn’t fully aware of her own sleeping habits as they were terribly inconsistent. “Okay, good! Well, I’ll see you later, Tsu-chan…” she began to leave the dorm room, but stopped when Tsu gave a quick response. “See you, Ochaco. You can come by anytime, if or when you want. Kero.” Ochaco smiled, leaving for real and then closed the door. Strangely enough, she could feel the odd sensation in her stomach fade not so immediately after she left the room. Strangely enough, it made her think of butterflies just fluttering around in her stomach. What was that? She ignored her urgent thought as she then continued speeding down the hall, arms hugging herself. She truly had no idea what was going on, but she was scared to find out. She wasn’t even sure if she did want to know, period. Just as she made it to her own room, she rushed in, shutting the door behind herself as she sighed with both relief and something else she was too mentally tired to identify with at that moment. Eh… it was probably nothing.