Apotheosis

CHAPTER 42: SMILE

Izuku sighed as he got out of his limousine. He stared up at the entrance of U.A. With the threat he made to the principal after the fall of Allmight he honestly never expected to have to come here ever again. Izuku was surprised that they were even having a cultural festival. He thought that the commission would have shut that down because of the threat that the League of Villains still posed.

'That rat must have pulled some strings to get this.' Izuku thought as he placed his sunglasses on. Why was he doing this again? He looked back into the seat of the car to see Eri in a red and white child's dress. That's right. That blonde fool Mirio Togata thought that this would be a good idea.

The other day, after he explained to Eri how quirks were not a curse and showed her a demonstration, the hero Lemillion decided to step inside and make his introduction. Eri seemed pleased to see the person who almost died trying to save her was safe, but had yet to show a truly positive show of emotions. Mirio was also glad that she was safe. After greeting her the poor fool attempted to get the young girl to smile. He said that they all wanted to see her safe and smiling again. Much to both Izuku and Togata's shock they found that Eri had forgotten how to smile.

Izuku didn't hold any hard feelings for Mirio, in fact he found the older boy to be quite admirable and heroic. However his idea to bring Eri to U.A's cultural festival in attempt to cheer her up give her back some of the childhood she missed thanks to Chisaki, while with the best intentions, Izuku felt might be a mistake.

They just got Eri out of an awful environment, he didn't think surrounding her with more people, people that Izuku knew he couldn't completely trust, was such a good idea. Unfortunately that look on her face when Mirio explained all the cool things that would be at the festival. That look of curiosity and hope was not something the gauntlet user could deny.

A few phone calls later, Midoriya and Eri were given permission to attend at Mirio's request. Izuku also made sure to get permission for a few extra guests as well. He didn't want to have to attend this thing alone.

"Alright Eri. We're here." Izuku held his hand out for her to take. Eri took his hand and quietly followed him up to the school's entrance. Another limo pulled up and out stepped Ochako aka Angel, dressed in a white long sleeved shirt, sleeves rolled up, black plants and shoes.

"Sorry I'm late." She apologized. Uraraka wanted to have lunch with her parents that day, but also wanted to come with Izuku and Eri later. Something about saying hello to her friends.

"Actually you're right on time." Izuku was glad that she made it. Todoroki didn't have any friends at U.A and wanted to spend time training with Dabi, much to the pyromaniac's displeasure. Iida also wanted to train on that new treadmill that Mei Hatsume designed and built for him, so he elected to stay back at the base as well.

"Hi, you must be Eri." Uraraka smiled down at the little girl who hid behind the green haired boy's leg.

"She's a little shy." Izuku surmised. "This is a very good friend of mine Eri, she won't hurt you."

"H-Hello." Eri stuttered out, taking a brave step out from behind him.

"Nice to meet you too. You can call me Ochako." She then turned her attention to the older boy.

"You know you didn't have to dress so formally." Unlike Izuku the brown haired girl was dressed casually.

"I like the suit." He replied with a shrug.

"Come here." Uraraka walked right into his personal space and undid his poorly done tie, loosening the top button before tossing it into the back seat of the limo. Eri watched the whole interaction curiously. Even a girl as young as her wondered if they were more than friends. "There that's better."