Chapter 17: Girl time

"Izuku! Have you been eating properly? Getting enough sleep? You're not overworking yourself are you?" Inko asked still not used to spending time away from her son.

"Mom I'm fine. I've been eating and sleeping plenty and no I'm not overdoing it I've been sticking to my training program like All Might told me to" he told her giving her a hug so she'd relax. She returned his embrace taking a big breath to calm herself. Uraraka observed the scene.

Wow she really is as protective as he says. I can only imagine how difficult it is for her when he's not here all week. What's brushing against my leg?

She looked down to see a small very fluffy black cat stood in-between her legs brushing its tail against her. It was looking up at her and meowed.

"Aww look at you" she said kneeling down to let the feline sniff her hand. Once it was satisfied she began to stroke it before picking it up.

"Ah I see you've already met Charlie" Inko said noticing Uraraka holding her cat.

"She's gorgeous. Oh where are my manners? It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs Midoriya I'm Ochako Uraraka" she said introducing herself.

"Oh please don't be so formal call me Inko and the pleasure is all mine. Please come in" Inko offered welcoming the girl into her home.

"Thank you" Uraraka said as she took her shoes off still holding the feline in her arms.

"Izuku has told me a lot about you" she said as they walked into the living room.

"Oh did he now?" Uraraka asked looking at Deku and raising an eyebrow.

"Mom please don't embarrass me" he said getting nervous and scratching his head avoiding the gaze of his girlfriend.

"Oh don't worry I won't. I was just going to tell her how you're always talking about her whenever you come home and all the amazing things she did in training and how pretty she is-" Inko rambled before Deku had heard enough.

"MOM!" Deku yelled getting embarrassed. Uraraka just burst out laughing.

"Aww you're so sweet sometimes. How long has he been talking about me might I ask?" Uraraka asked wanting to wind Deku up a little.

"Uraraka!" Deku shouted unimpressed that the two most important women in his life were double teaming him.

"Oh months dear I'm surprised he didn't ask you out sooner" Inko replied.

"Please stop" Deku begged. Uraraka began laughing again.

"Ok fine I'll stop. We can talk about all that when Deku's not here can't we Inko?" Uraraka said teasing the poor boy.

"Of course dear. There's so much to talk about where to begin?" she said happy to tell the girl whatever she wanted to know about Deku and she too was having fun watching her son get more and more red faced and flustered.

"Great as long as I'm not here to hear it that's fine" Deku said not wanting to hear another word. Charlie meowed and jumped down from Uraraka's arm running off into the kitchen.

"Oh yes of course it's feeding time" Inko said scrambling after her.

"You want a soda?" Deku asked Uraraka.

"I'd love one thanks" she replied.

"Ok I'll get you one. Feel free to sit on the couch" he said gesturing towards the sofa in the living room.

"Will do" she said happy to sit down after all the walking around they'd been doing today.

"Oh dear no no no no no no no..." Inko began to mumble.

"Mom what's wrong?" Deku asked concerned.

"I forgot to get the main ingredient for dinner" she said ashamed of herself.

"Ok I'll go to the store down the round they're usually open late on a Sunday" he said giving Uraraka her soda and then picking his shoes up and putting them back on.

"Izuku wait you don't have to do that" Inko called after him.

"It's fine mom I'll be back in a few minutes. Uraraka you gonna be ok without me?" he asked feeling a little guilty leaving her with his mother alone and also dreading what they'd talk about.

"Well I was fine without you for the first 16 years of my life so I think I can handle 10 minutes apart" she joked.

"Oh I like her" Inko said chuckling a little. The two girls looked at each other and began laughing. Seeing this Deku couldn't help but smile.

Yeah she'll be fine they're already getting along great.

"Be back soon" he called as he shut the door.

"So Ochako...oh I'm so sorry is it ok if I call you that?" Inko asked.

"It's fine" she said smiling at her.

"That's good. I hate to ask this but I worry about him a lot. Is everything going ok with him at school?" she asked going a little red faced and slightly embarrassed.

"Oh um yeah everything seems great with him. He aced all his tests this week and the party last night was great" she said trying to put Inko at ease.

"That's good to hear. You'll keep an eye on him for me won't you?" she asked.

"Of course Inko" she smiled as she said it.

"Thank you Ochako" she said taking a breath.

"Oh I almost forgot I got a gift for you while we were shopping" she said suddenly jumping off the sofa to grab her bag.

"Oh that's sweet but you didn't have to do that" Inko said.

"I know I just felt it'd be rude not to. Deku doesn't even know what it is yet I kept it a secret from him. I think you'll like it" she said as she pulled out a white shirt with a picture of Deku smiling and some large text under it that said "My #1 Hero!".

"I thought you might like to wear it when he's on TV like the sports festival each year or you could wear it to bed or something. Sorry if it's too big Deku said he was bigger than you so just to be safe I got a shirt in his size" she said holding up the shirt for Inko to look at.

"Oh...oh Ochako...it's wonderful. I think I've got a new favourite shirt" she said beginning to tear up.

Oh so that's where Deku gets it from.

"Um Inko are you ok?" she asked concerned putting the shirt down on the kitchen counter.

"Yes it's ok I'm fine. It's just Izuku is my whole world really. I'm sure you see now why he cries a lot" she joked wiping her eyes and laughing slightly.

"Honestly I don't mind that he cries a lot it's one of the things I like about him" Uraraka said comforting the woman before her.

"How so?" Inko asked curious.

"Well...it's just there isn't a lot of guys that are so open with their emotions and I kind of like the fact that Deku isn't afraid to be seen crying. He doesn't try to hide it he lets the world see him for what he is and I think that's admirable to show the world who you really are and that you feel emotions. I think people forget sometimes heroes are only people too even All Might so I guess I just think it's refreshing to see" she explained.

"I suppose you're right. People used to say he was a crybaby" Inko said getting a little upset thinking about the way other kids had treated her son growing up.

"Oh well it's kind of a running joke in our class that crying is a secret quirk of his. I mean when he cried at the sports festival his tears shot in the air and he cracked the ground where he was stood" Uraraka said chuckling at the memory.

"They make fun of him? Still? He still gets made fun of? Oh no no no no-" Inko began but Uraraka quickly saw her tearing up again and explained.

"No wait that's not it they're not making fun of him. Honestly the whole class respects him greatly he's one of the strongest and smartest in the class and the joke about his crying being a quirk is actually something that Deku started. He joked about it one day and everybody has gone along with it since and Deku thinks it's hilarious" she explained before the poor woman broke down.

"Oh thank god. I was so worried he was going through all that again" Inko said composing herself realising she'd misunderstood in her paranoia.

"...going through what again?" Uraraka asked worried there was something she didn't know.

What isn't he telling me?

"Hm? He hasn't told you?" Inko asked.

"Hasn't told me what?" Uraraka returned her question with one of her own. Realising she made a terrible mistake Inko started back tracking.

"Oh no I've said too much of course he didn't tell anyone why would he it was very difficult for him he's never even talked to me about it-" she stopped as Uraraka grabbed her hands. Inko looked into her eyes and saw concern as well as fear. She was terrified of what she didn't know about Deku's past.

Do I really want to know? Is it better not knowing? Am I going to get mad at him? No stop it. I have to ask.

"Inko...what happened to Deku?" she asked fighting back tears but failing miserably.

"N-nothing if he didn't tell you then I don't want to betray his trust" Inko said tearing up herself now squeezing the teenagers hands trying to comfort her.

"But you started panicking when you thought people were making fun of him at school and you said 'he still gets made fun of?'... so what happened Inko?" Uraraka asked again the tears falling down her cheeks.

"Ochako... I can't tell you that" she replied the two of them trying their best not to sob with their vision going blurry from all the tears in there eyes but they fought them back.

"Why not?" Uraraka asked unsatisfied with her answer.

"It's not my place. Izuku has to tell you for himself" she told the poor girl but she couldn't take it she needed answers.

I've always thought about what it was like for him growing up quirkless especially with Bakugo around. Was it really as bad as I think it is? I'm not sure I want the answer to that question. No it's too late if I don't find out it's going to eat away at me. I have to know.

"Did...did Deku....get bullied?" Uraraka asked still holding her tears back the best she could. The two of them stood there squeezing each others hands as tightly as they could.

"Ochako I can't-" Inko began.

"Please!... I....I need to know...I'm begging you...I need to know...please Inko..." Uraraka pleaded with her. They both looked into each others eyes for a moment when Inko saw the care and fear and pain she felt thinking about what Deku might have gone through. She couldn't help it she had to tell her the truth she had the right to know and she'd never seen anyone other than herself this emotional or concerned about her son. However she couldn't bring herself to say it straight.

"I think you already know the answer" she said to the poor girl before her.

"Please...I need to know Inko...I already know I just...I need you to say it...did he get bullied growing up?" she asked for the final time. Inko squeezed her hands as hard as she could dreading the next word to come out of her mouth. She began sobbing before she'd even said it.

"...yes" she said. Uraraka had known it was coming but she still wasn't prepared to hear it. She immediately broke down into tears collapsing to her knees and letting go of Inko's hands covering her face and sobbing into them.

"Oh Deku...why didn't you tell anyone?...why didn't you tell me?...you sweet, brave, wonderfully stupid boy" Uraraka sobbed. Inko couldn't bare to watch this and joined her on the floor embracing the girl before her.

"You know I've never seen anyone care for my son as much as I do other than you" Inko said still crying but somewhat controlling the amount of tears that fell down her face. Uraraka looked up at her wiping her eyes her crying put on hold for a moment.

"Seriously?" she asked.

"Yeah. He never really had any friends growing up. Not real ones anyway" she explained.

"How? He's so wonderful. Everything about him is amazing. He's so brave and determined and kind and selfless and strong and smart and caring there isn't a bad bone in his body I don't understand how anyone wouldn't want to be his friend. Our entire class gets along with him" Uraraka said confused why anyone would be so horrible to such a sweet boy.

"That's good to hear that he has some real friends now. I'm glad he has you too" she said smiling at the girl. Uraraka couldn't help but smile back and the two of them hugged each other.

"You know I should be thanking you Inko. You made him into the boy he is today and for that I can't thank you enough" she said grateful Deku had such a great mother to raise him.

"Yes well he's not a little boy anymore. He's becoming a man now whether I like it or not which means he needs another woman in his life to love and guide him and be there for him when things get tough" Inko said. Uraraka understood where she was going with this conversation. She was passing on the torch to her.

"Inko I promise I'll take care of him. I'll make sure he becomes a man we can both be proud of" Uraraka said making a pretty big and bold promise forgetting the fact that her and Deku had only been dating for a day but she didn't care she wanted to be there for Deku until the end.

"I know you will" Inko said hugging the teenager tightly before wiping the last few tears from her eyes Uraraka doing the same tightly holding onto the older woman.

"I'm back" Deku called. The two girls quickly jumped up from the floor wiping their eyes and faces frantically trying to hide the fact they'd been crying.

"Oh hey Deku you're back" Uraraka said trying to play off how flustered she was.

"What did you guys get up to while I was gone?" he asked them.

"Oh um-" Uraraka began but Inko had her covered.

"Just girl stuff. It's nice to have another female to talk to for a change" she said winking at Uraraka while Deku wasn't looking.

"Oh in that case I won't ask for any details" he said not wanting to know what they'd been talking about. He stood up to face the two of them seeing they were stood right next to each other behind the kitchen counter. Their eyes were red and watery.

Something is wrong. They've both clearly been crying but what about? Just go with it for now and I'll talk to Uraraka later.

"Anyway Izuku pass me the shopping and you can help me prepare dinner" Inko said snapping him out of it.

"Right of course mom" he said.

"You sure you don't want me to help?" Uraraka offered.

"That's sweet Ochako but I can't accept a guest having to make their own dinner. Not in my house" Inko insisted.

"Well if you're sure" Uraraka said.

"Quite. I appreciate the offer though you're a very polite young lady" she said smiling at her.

"Ochako?" Deku questioned.

"What?" Inko asked.

"Deku still calls me Uraraka" she explained.

"Izuku! You don't call her by her first name?" she asked furious with her son.

"Um.... no. I'm just used to calling her Uraraka" he explained scratching his head in embarrassment.

"Well from now on Deku I want you to call me Ochako" she said teasing him a little. She couldn't shake what Inko had told her about Deku's childhood though it was nagging away at the corner of her mind. It would have to wait until they left then she'd bring it up.

"Ok I'll call you Ochako from now on" he winced a little as he said her name.

"Good now come help your mother" Inko said beckoning him over.

"Yes mom" he said running over to help her prepare dinner. Uraraka returned to the sofa and sipped on her soda. All of the sudden a small bundle of fur jumped into her lap before snuggling up into a ball and taking a nap.

"Oh hello you" Uraraka said scratching behind the ears of the feline much to it's approval.

"You two are getting along well I see" Deku said sitting down next to her since his mother didn't need his help anymore.

"Yeah she seems to like me. Hey could you get that ball of yarn out of my bag? I'd get it myself but I don't want to disturb her when we're on such good terms" Uraraka said.

"Yeah I'll grab it for you" he said getting up to get the toy for Charlie. They spent the rest of their time waiting for dinner watching Charlie play with her ball of yarn laughing when she fell over or scared herself somehow. She was soon distracted by Deku's laser pointer as he aimed it at the wall and watched as she followed it around studying the dot on the wall before jumping to try and grab it. Uraraka had a turn too the two of them having fun confusing the poor cat until eventually Inko called them for dinner. They sat down at the table and talked about school life, their friends, the party last night and the girls made fun of Deku at every given opportunity much to his disapproval but he was powerless to stop them. Deku had begun washing the dishes when he looked out the window and saw the dark clouds looming in the sky.

"Hey mom what's the weather forecast?"

"I don't know why?" she asked. As if on cue it began pouring it down with rain and lightning struck in the distance a loud boom of thunder soon heard a few moments after the flash.

"Oh dear" Inko said.

"Deku we have school tomorrow what are we gonna do?" Uraraka asked.

"We'll just have to wait it out" Deku said.

"That's not gonna happen Izuku. I'm looking at the forecast now it says this is going to last until the early hours of the morning. You'll have to stay the night there's no trains running because of it so you'll have to get up really early in the morning to make it to school on time" his mother suggested although she was telling them more than suggesting.

"Where will we sleep?" Uraraka asked.

"My room I guess" Deku said. Uraraka shot him a look that said 'you idiot your mother is right there'. Inko seemed frozen obviously hearing what her son had suggested.

"Well I meant you could sleep in my room and I'll take the couch" Deku said quickly trying to cover himself.

She can't know we've already slept together.

"Sounds good to me as long as you're sure you don't mind taking the sofa" Uraraka said. Inko still hadn't moved until she finally took a big breath and spoke.

"That sounds fine I'll grab some spare sheets for you Izuku" she said getting up to leave to look for spare bedding for Deku.

"Almost" she whispered to him.

"I know I'm so stupid" he whispered back.

"Yeah I know you are" she said laughing at him.

"Hey that wasn't very nice" he said sarcastically. Inko soon returned with some spare sheets for Deku and some spare pyjamas for Uraraka. She decided to leave them to it and have some alone time since she was tired and ready for bed which Deku thought was strange because she'd never go to bed before him she had to make sure he was asleep first. He didn't mind though it gave him time to cuddle up on the sofa and watch TV with Uraraka. Eventually she got tired and realised it was getting late and since they needed to be up so early in the morning she decided to go to bed. Uraraka kissed Deku goodnight before going to his room to hop into his bed before texting him "seriously you're such a fanboy you've got two rooms full of All Might merchandise. Do you have two of everything or something?" making him a little embarrassed. He replied back explaining it was all different stuff which Uraraka thought was cute. He was about to turn out the lights and go to sleep when his mother appeared standing over him with a look in her eyes Deku had never seen before.

"Mom?" he asked.

"Izuku. We need to have a little chat..."