Musume

Chapter 27

Things went back to normal after their visit to I-Island and Yumi spent the last two weeks of her holidays before the forest camp just meeting her friends and getting in a few hiking trips with her uncle.

The only thing bothering her was Shoto’s strange behavior, the boy blushing faintly and looking away from her whenever he was caught staring. As much as she tried to think what could’ve caused it, nothing came to mind.

And then a few days before the forest camp was bound to begin, she received a call from Asui inviting her to the pool for some fun. They had asked for the school’s permission to use the pool for some sun bathing.

Her father was reassured by the knowledge that only the girls from class 1-A would be gathering and he didn’t protest her going, unlike whenever she suggested going swimming with her friends.

Funnily enough, unknown to her, the boys were also there training and she ended up joining them after a few volleyball games with the girls. Unfortunately, Shinso was still on holidays with his family.

“How’s your summer been?” she asked, sitting between Fumikage and Mezo on the shade.

“It’s been good so far.” Answered Kirishima in front of her.

“Yes, it’s been calm except for the attack on I-Island.” Added Mezo.

She knew Fumikage and Mezo still felt a bit bad that they’d been running late to their meeting and got caught outside the building when everything happened, thus ending up unable to help them deal with the hostage situation.

Knowing that, she got ready to change the topic of conversation, but was distracted when she saw Shoto slip shirtless into the space between her and Fumikage.

The boy looked at her for a moment before blushing faintly and looking away again. Yumi frowned at him and finally had enough.

“What’s wrong with you? You’ve been acting weird lately.”

Shoto’s blush became more pronounced and he looked up at the sky, but the other boys looked at her incredulously.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

He was saved from her rant by Tenya announcing they’d be doing races and the girls deciding to join, but she threw him a look that clearly stated their talk was not over.

It turned out to be fun, but when the races were over and before Tenya could propose anything else, she took Shoto’s hand in hers and dragged him to the corridor that led to the changing rooms. She turned to him, arms crossed over her chest defensively.

“So? What is it?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He said avoiding her eyes.

“You’ve been acting strange since the incident at I-Island.”

“I… you said something when you were concussed…” he admitted in defeat.

“I did? What was it? Did I insult you or something?”

“No, you said… that I smelled nice… and something about my smile…” admitted the boy with a faint pink hue to his cheeks.

Immediately, she felt a blush creep up her cheeks and it was her that looked away this time. She had said that? When she was concussed?

“I don’t remember that.” She muttered almost too low for him to hear.

“It’s okay, though, you had a concussion, I’ve read that it is typical to say things without sense or that you don’t mean when you have them.” Revealed the boy finally relaxing now that he knew she hadn’t even remembered.

“Y-yeah.” She stuttered. “It must be that.”

Luckily, they were interrupted by the arrival of Tenya.

“There you are, Todoroki, we were looking for you. As the winner of your race, you have to participate in a last race against Midoriya and Bakugo.” Then he seemed to take in the situation he’d walked in and looked them critically over. “What were you doing here alone?”

“We were just discussing something.” Replied calmly the blue-and-grey eyed boy.

“Okay.” Shrugged Tenya. “Now, come, we’re all waiting for you.”

Yumi stared after them thoughtfully before following.

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Shinso rang the bell to the house with an excess of energy he rarely felt. He hadn’t seen Yumi since the holidays began and he was eager to get back to their routine.

Toshinori opened the door and ushered him inside, asking about his holidays as they waited for Yumi to come down from her bedroom.

When she did, she wore the standard UA uniform and a bag full of things on her back, like him.

“Shinso-kun! I’ve missed you!” she said giving him a hug. “I’ve got lots of things to tell you, but how were your holidays? Are you excited to start the camp?”

Shinso watched in some amusement as she sat down to eat her pancakes as she talked to him. This was the very reason he’d chosen to be early that day.

It was so good to have his best friend back.

Yagi-san looked just as amused as he watched them interact.

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As the vice-president of class 1-A, Yumi was next to Tenya as they indicated for the students to board the bus.

Their first stop was just an hour away, but still her classmates left the bus and started to stretch as if it had taken hours.

She sighed; for some reason, she had a feeling that what Aizawa-sensei had been trying to tell them in the bus had been something important, but she had been unable to hear him over the ruckus caused by her classmates.

And then their apparent new teachers made their entrance and she face-palmed. How had anyone let them choose that name for themselves? Did no one with any common sense explain to them why ‘Pussycats’ was not a very appropriate name for anyone?

She sighed again.

Summer camp hadn’t began and she was tired already, all her energy from that morning gone.

Next to her, Shinso gave her an understanding look.

And then their teachers explained that they had to get to the camp before midday if they wanted to have lunch.

As the floor slid from under their feet, Yumi sighed for the third time.

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As soon as they arrived at the camp entrance, Shoto leant her his fire and she started to heal her banged up classmates.

It was the least she could do after they’d helped her through the forest. Even Shinso had been of help using his new scarf, but she’d been little more than a dead weight for them.

It was something she wished to remedy as soon as possible, though she didn’t know how to yet.

“Thank you, Yumi-hime.” Said Izuku when she was finally finished with him.

She smiled at him, her mind still lost in thought, and stood. She swayed a bit, feeling more tired than she’d expected.

Healing 21 people had taken a toll on her life-force, despite the wounds being little more than scrapes.

Shoto gave her a concerned look as the Pussycats introduced the kid going with them but she smiled again, reassuring him.

Then her stomach made itself known.

Aizawa seemed to hear it, for he told them to get their things from the bus and go to the cafeteria, were they would all have dinner before bathing and going to bed.

“Tomorrow, real training will begin.”

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Dinner was a veritable banquet and a lively affair and it was followed by some time soaking in the natural hot springs that were in the area.

After that, Yumi changed into her pajamas and went to bed as her female classmates talked. She was out like a light as soon as her head hit the pillow.

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Watching her classmates begin their quirk training, for the first time since she started school, Yumi noticed the reality of the disadvantage she was in.

Physically, she was now the weakest member of Class 1-A and her quirk only allowed her to fight against living opponents, with no way to defend herself from animated enemies or quirks.

In the last three months, Izuku had learnt to control One For All and even Shinso had made up for his own weakness by starting to learn Eraser-head’s fighting style.

She, on the other hand, had been left behind.

As they all got to work, she approached Aizawa-sensei.

“Could I speak with you, please?”

The man looked at her with piercing black eyes and nodded before walking her to the edge of the clearing. They both took a seat on a fallen log and Yumi stared at her hands as she explained her concerns.

When she was finished, her teacher sighed.

“I was wondering when you would bring this up.” He admitted. “The truth is I can see no safe way for you to train the offensive aspect of your quirk; I’m still thinking about it. As for your fighting style… have you considered a support item that enhances your strength?”

Yumi blinked. No, she hadn’t.

But… yes, she could speak with her cousin.

It would have to wait until the camp was over, though.

“Until then, I want you with Todoroki. Maybe the dormant genes of your quirk will activate if you activate your quirk long enough.” Revealed the teacher.

“Yes, sir.”