The Emperor's Dragon II

Unpaid Debts

Sozonushi sat across the desk as one of the Doctors who'd been on Ochaco's case from the beginning read a report. His wife, Tamiko was with their daughter. Yesterday, he'd have been impatient to join her, today, he could be more patient. He wanted to go see her, and he had earlier but... she was awake, and that was all that mattered. He could talk to the Doctor now because then they'd stop pestering him.

The woman sighed and ran one hand through her hair. It was a riot of colour that shifted between the strands. Her quirk gave her rainbow hair, and it really was that. Her name was Suzu Niji and she'd always been nice.

"Is there something?" Sozonushi asked.

"That's the problem," she told him. "There is no reason Ochaco should have woken up. There was no warning for it, no sign that she was coming out of the coma."

"Should there have been?"

Suzu nodded. "There definitely should have been," she said, though Sozonushi could hear the regret in her voice. "I know that's not what you wanted to hear but we should have picked up some change before it occurred."

"But she's awake, isn't that a good thing?" Sozonushi asked.

Suzu looked uncomfortable. "It is, but-" she shook her head. "Without knowing why Ochaco woke up, I can't guarantee that she won't suffer a relapse."

He felt cold at the statement. "Is that what all the tests are for?" Since Ochaco had woken up, the hospital had been running tests. Blood tests, comprehension tests, physical tests... just about every test he thought they could do. They'd even put her through an MRI. It was that report Suzu was reading.

"They are all positive for now but-" Suzu gave him a sad look. "I want you to know the reality of the situation."

Sozonushi nodded. "You have always done that, and I am thankful but-"

"You don't care," she finished his sentence.

"I don't care," he confirmed. "Ochaco is awake. That's all we've been praying for. And she doesn't seem any the worse for wear," he said. He'd seen that his daughter was lucid and beyond her waking up, that's all that they wanted to happen.

They had their daughter back. Nothing else was really important.

Before Suzu could answer, there was a knock on the door. Suzu looked at him and Sozonushi realised she was asking for his permission. He gave a nod. "Come," she called.

The door opened and another Doctor came in. The man was young and he handed a tablet to Suzu. She touched the screen and read it.

Sozonushi saw her eyes fly open. "What is this?" she demanded of the other Doctor who hadn't left.

The male Doctor gave him a look, obviously wondering if it was safe to speak.

"Sozonushi is Ochaco's father," Suzu snapped.

He looked chastised and gave a single nod. "Her quirk has changed," he said.

"I read that, Tayori. What exactly do you mean?" Suzu growled the question.

"Her quirk has changed," the now identified Tayori said again. "During the tests we asked Ochaco to activate it, and it wouldn't but then-" he paused, and again looked at Sozonushi.

He felt cold at the information. What did it mean that Ochaco's quirk had changed?

"If it didn't activate, we just have to give it another day or so," Suzu shook her head, as if dismissing the problem. "It's not unheard of for quirks to be dormant for a little while after a patient comes out of a coma. It's one of the reasons we put people into coma's in the first place."