Expect the Unexpected: Mei Hatsume x reader (BOOK 2)

Chapter 44: You can do this, Ochaco!

Seemingly hours later, you were greeted by a startled Midoriya.

"Good you're awake," you sighed, as he took in your appearance.

You seemed in an even worse state than before, a thick bandage wrapped all around your torso with nothing but a jacket thrown over your shoulders. Your scars were bandaged up as well, along with your hands which had multiple cuts on them. Unlike before, where you could still walk without your wheelchair, it seemed as if you'd been strapped down onto the aid this time.

"Stared at me long enough?" You smirked, to which the boy blushed a brilliant pink.

"Sorry!" He squeaked out.

"Midoriya-kun, Y/N-chan," a familiar voice greeted the two of you as the owner walked in. "You'll be pleased to know that you can be released now, since the stress on the military police is decreasing and you're all healthy."

"Thirteen are you sure?" You asked, concerned. "Izuku collapsed from exhaustion, surely there must be more injuries to treat."

"RG did her best," they shrugged, releasing the two of you to meet Sero and Shoji outside.

"Shirakumo-chan aren't you cold?" Sero asked, to which you shrugged it off with a simple denial.

"My quirk was built for this weather," you sighed as you stepped out into the rain and zipped up your jacket. "Doesn't mean I hate it any less."

"We're- we're at school," Midoriya realised as he followed you. "But Y/N how did they convince you?"

"I promised to stay by your side," you reminded him, moving forward.

"And our barrier is just as good or even better than that of Shiketsu now!" Hagakure laughed.

"Still," Midoriya mumbled. "I shouldn't be here. Y/N stay here, please."

"No, we didn't fight our classmates just for you to leave again," you groaned, watching him as he shrugged and walked off. The protesters at U.A weren't improving your situation, calling Midoriya names as they realised that he was the holder of One for All.

However, Uraraka grabbed his wrist, forcing him to stay.

"Don't worry about it. We're all determined to not let go," she reassured him. "So now it's our turn to protect you."

Your eyes widened as you saw the girl who only wanted to help her family, who thought her quirk was weak, grow into a hero who would help rescue anyone.

In the front of the audience stood Best Jeanist and Hawks, holding a speech to the audience to adjust as Midoriya stayed here.

"He shouldn't be asking," you scoffed, annoyed at the two heroes begging for something as simple as human decency.

"Send him out, he's a threat to us all!" Some protester shouted, only making Midoriya more anxious as he grabbed onto your hand.

"Uraraka-chan?" You asked, hoping she could do something, though she was on it before you even turned to meet her eyes. "I can't wait to see her become a top pro hero."

"Hey!" She yelled, grabbing the megaphone from the heroes. "Listen up, Deku-kun has a special power that could save us all, but for that he needs to be alive! He already left the school to protect us but my friends and I brought him back so that he could stay safe. Yes, he is wanted by the villains for his power because it's the only thing that can stop them, and he's already gone through so much trying to do so. So please, take a closer look and try to understand before you make assumptions!"

Suddenly, a civilian glanced over at you two, eyes widening as she remembered who you were.

"A special power doesn't make a person special!" Uraraka continued. "So please understand his situation, for he is just another person like you and me!"

"We'll step in when you can't handle it with just each other, that's what we're here for," Bakugo smirked, leaning on the back of your wheelchair.

"We'll be fine," you choked out, eyes downcast. "I refuse to allow more people to get hurt because of my poor planning."

"I recognise you!" The lady pointed out. "You saved me, and told me there was a girl who helped you all along!"

Your eyes widened in mild surprise as she recognised you as well, glad that Midoriya had acknowledged your efforts.

"So the people are to cover themselves in filth too?" A civilian scoffed, enraging you only further.

"Not at all!" You argued, multiple heads turning to you as people began to recognise who you were. "We heroes and heroes in training will take care of it, which is why it's even more important that we're all safe and healthy. My classmates found us alive and helped us defeat a villain when Deku-kun was at the brink of exhaustion and I was nearing overuse! We're doing everything we can!"

"Y/N-chan..." Midoriya gasped from next to you, glad you were standing up for him and coming to terms with your reality.

"You're a liar, you were presumed dead for so long!" A man yelled at you.

"I was fighting from the sidelines while paralysed!" You retorted. "I recovered because I promised to keep this country safe! And I don't break promises!"

"We can't assure everyone's safety but we, as heroes, will try our best to make sure you get to see your family at the end of the day!" Uraraka continued, memories of Toga flooding your brain as you remembered how distraught she was after Twice died.

"Uraraka-chan!" Midoriya sobbed, surprised that she never stopped fighting for him.

"We're as scared as you are, we've lost friends and family as well, so in that sense we're all just the same. So please lend Deku-kun all your strength while he can recover, because this is his hero academy!" She finished, tears pricking at her eyes for presumably the same reason.

He instantly collapsed onto his knees, crying hysterically at her words, so overcome that someone was willing to advocate for him like their life depended on it. Just as you laid your hand on his shoulder, the lady you'd rescued and Kota rushed over to comfort him as well.

"Denki, the speech is over and all that needed to be said was said," a soft voice spoke. "I need your help again today, are you coming?"

She was clad in black, dreadlocks that were usually tied up hanging loosely around her shoulders as her figure itself showed visible signs of sleep deprivation. She only met your eyes once, golden eyes lighting up briefly, only to dim again.

"I'm hallucinating again, aren't I?" She smiled sadly, clutching tightly onto Eri. "Give it up Mei, she's not coming back."

Though, as she turned to leave, Eri wrangled herself out of Mei's grasp and rushed over to you, tears streaming down her face as she threw herself onto your weak figure.

"N/N-chan!" She cried as you stroked her hair, smiling softly at Mei as her eyes grew wide.

"It's me," you whispered, as she walked over to you. "I'm really here."

She suddenly burst crying, letting herself fall onto you as she hugged you tight for the first time in nearly two months.

"I promised I would come back by the end of the day, didn't I?" You choked out, running your fingers through her hair.

"Never scare me like that again!" she sobbed, face full of tears as her expression showed nothing but fear.

The duality of it all was ironic, for once upon a time you were emotional while she was cold. But now, she was emotional while you'd become emotionless.

Two sides of the same coin.

A/N: the reunion arc is officially complete with only one more filler chapter leading to the next arc!

QOTD: thoughts on the flip between Mei and Y/N 👀

Have a great day/night!