Togachako works

Realization

(Childhood friends AU)

Ochaco smiled at Himiko, throwing the ball at her. They were currently playing in the park, doing some physical activity while their parents were watching them. Ochaco tried to ignore the weird stares from the blonde's family, though they sent an uneasy feeling down her spine. Her quirk had manifested recently, so she was careful when throwing, not wanting to make it float unintentionally, as she didn't quite understand and control her powers just yet. And as far as Ochaco knew, Himiko was still quirkless. Well, even if she was, they would stay the best of friends forever! Nothing that happened could make them fall apart.

When finally, they were out of the adults' watchful eyes, they settled down on the grass, Ochaco finally asking the question she had been itching to. "Did you get your quirk yet?" She definitely didn't know it could be viewed as rude, her curiosity getting the better of her. Though, of course, if her friend responded offendedly, she would stop this bad habit of her. Instead of the usual shrug and change of conversation she was met with every day, this time a huge grin appeared on the blonde's face. "I did! I'm so excited to tell you-" Her smile distorted in a frown, as she crossed her arms. "My parents forbade me to talk about it though. Don't know why." Ochaco pouted on her own, rolling her eyes. "Your parents are weirdos." The brunette stuck out her tongue. She always had this feeling with them, as if she should stay away. She concluded it was because they were bizarre. "Right! Won't stop me from telling you..."

And so, Himiko didn't spare a detail.

...

They were running down the hall, a teacher chasing after them. Himiko was laughing her heart out, while Ochaco was struggling with breathing, letting out strangled cries. "What the hell, Himiko?!" Her ragged voice asked, tightening the grip on the other's hand. "Come on! We can skip being misses perfect for a day! Let's have some fun!" And the cheerful grin on Himiko's face immediately convinced Ochaco, dusting her cheeks with a rosy tint. She blamed it on the heat of the run.

After all, she was right! They always had the perfect grades; they were well-mannered students. Teachers considered them models, even, asking others to take examples on them. Though their straight As weren't without nights of studying and frustration, while still relaxing. Ochaco knew all about Himiko's obsession but wasn't weirded out by her rants. They were best friends, and she was far from judging. Still, when the blonde brought her dead birds... Her mind screamed to run away. And she didn't listen to it, she was a supportive friend, despite her own uncertainties. She didn't hate the sight of blood per say, but she hated the fact that it was purposefully shown. Scrapes on the knees when they fell? That was perfectly okay. But the blood dripping down from a dead bird, where Himiko buried her fangs? That was... another story.

Nobody else at school knew about the nature of her quirk, except the teachers, who quickly forgot after getting to know Himiko. It was always forbidden she talked about it, and when she sometimes caught Ochaco's disgusted face at her discoveries, she knew why. She matured, she wasn't dumb, though all her thoughts were spinning with "why"s. Why couldn't they understand how perfectly beautiful blood was? The deep red, varying in hue depending on the person or where it came from. The metallic, yet amazing taste, tied to the perfect smell of it. It was all so natural, which led to her own confusion. She built a mask, burying her obsession deep down, to be the student they all thought her as.

Ochaco & Himiko were misses perfect.

But they couldn't notice the gap that was forming between them, way too blinded by their deep bond. Nothing could break it, right?

...

Ochaco dropped her bag on the floor, going still, paralyzed by fear. The sight she was faced with was one of pure horror.

Her best friend, cutter at hand, drinking from a straw... the blood of her crush. 

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A/N

All feedback is greatly appreciated! It motivates me to keep writing <3