My Highschool Boyfriend Is Japan's Most Wanted

Chapter Ten: A Plan

Chapter Ten
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A week before Izuku awoke from his trance, Ochako had been feeling the weight of his absence. She missed her lover more than anything, and while he had gone into trances time and time again, he had never gone into one for such a long period of time before. Ochako didn't understand the vestige world, and the concept wasn't something that could just be explained to her with Izuku’s words. It was an experience that she and Izuku wouldn't share because he saw One For All as a curse. He wouldn't share it with her even if she begged him, too.

This isolation from Izuku hurt, it ate her heart and tore apart her spirit. While she had Eri it just wasn't the same without Izuku being here with them. The only person she could talk to was Shoto and he was focused on his plans to take down the Prime Minister. Still, Shoto made time for her and still tried to talk about life and how things changed in Class 3-A.

Ochako couldn't help but feel a little sad that she hadn't been a part of Class 1-A's transformation into Class 3-A. She understood that she couldn't return, and she didn't regret her decision to join Izuku and Eri. She just wished that after all of these years that something would change, that the truth would be revealed and things could return to normal, that the happiness she found wouldn't be overshadowed by the loss she experienced.

She sighed as she walked into the living room seeing Shoto standing up tall, his body covered in protective layers made from materials found inside of the house along with a massive backpack that contained medical supplies and other useful items he would need for his journey to find Reo Yuki.

"Ochako, I thought you were sleeping." Shoto said, his voice filled with sadness. "I'm sorry I should have spoken to you, Eri and Izuku, before I left but I felt that it was best for me to just leave before I bring more danger to you and your family." Shoto explained as he zipped up one of the pouches, avoiding direct eye contact with Ochako.

The shame that radiated off of Shoto had mass, it was something Ochako could feel and it made her heart ache even more. She didn't want Shoto to leave on his own, especially when he was in this position as a result of chasing the Prime Minister. If Shoto had simply waited it out, he could have lived a happy and peaceful life, a life similar to the life Ochako and Izuku were living at the present.

"Shoto, you've done this so much for us that I couldn't possibly repay you, any danger that follows you is danger that would have someday found us." Ochako said.

Shoto seemed to ponder this but he couldn't accept that. He had failed to stop the abomination, he had failed to expose Aka for the fraud he truly was. All he had done was fail, and now his body was much weaker than it had been when he first faced the abomination. If the Abomination reappeared, then Shoto would die, and if he remained here, the Abomination would kill those close to him. Knowing what he knows about Aka its possible Izuku would live, but losing the love of his life was something that would kill Izuku. It would dig into him, tear away at what made him Izuku, and corrupt him from his heroes path. "I need to go." Shoto said his face more determined than ever.

Ochako felt something stir inside of herself. A calling to something more, and something that she hadn't felt in years. "I'll go." She said the words surprising herself.

Shoto paused as he looked at Ochako not sure if she was joking or telling the truth. "You can't I won't do that to Izuku, I shouldn't even be here." Shoto said.

"Izuku won't act, he's trapped within himself, trapped within his past and he can't escape, Tartarus changed him and I guess it changed a lot of us." Ochako said  as memories of the horrors of Tartarus flowed into her mind. The death caused by Tomura Shigaraki, the battle with All For One and Reo Yuki, it all reeked of pain and misery, an overwhelming stench that haunted everyone.

"The deaths were not his fault, they were Shigaraki's, Aka's it's not his burden to bear." Shoto said. He, too, remembered Tartarus, and he understood the effect it had. Despite not being as close to Bakugo as Izuku was, he understood that they held a connection, a painful yet ever-present connection.

"You're right, it's our burden, now let me bear my share Shoto, if not for Izuku for my own sake." She said tears forming in the corners of her eyes. "Let me do this for him, please." She pleaded.

"I'm not letting you join me Ochako, I won't put your life on the line." Shoto said, determined as he slung a backpack over his shoulder.

Ochako frowned as she grabbed him by the arm, causing him to begin to float. "I won't let you leave unless it's with me, so make your decision." She growled. She felt bad for acting like this towards Shoto, however she needed him to understand she was serious. Ochako enjoyed her life, but she felt burdened by the cost of all that it took to maintain her life.

Shoto growled, he could try to move in zero gravity using his flame side, but it would damage the house. He could also feel Ochako's advancements with her quirk, his knowledge wouldn't be comparable to her current skills. If she was serious enough, he would have to hurt her in order to leave, which would draw him into conflict with Izuku. Ochako had him at a disadvantage, and if he tried to abandon her, it would risk Izuku’s anger.

Ochako could tell what was going through his head and let him go gently to the ground. "Now let's get going, Izuku won't be happy we left." She said the ending a slight prod at the disgruntled Shoto.

Shoto didn't say anything in response as he exited Izuku’s house, Ochako in tow cursing himself for not sneaking out better. He knew eventually he'd have to face Izuku, but the mission had to come first, he knew or rather hoped that he would one day understand the reasons behind his decisions.

Unbeknownst to either Shoto or Ochako, Eri had been waiting nearby, listening to everything that was said. She loved and respected Izuku. However, she wanted to do something for him. He has rescued her twice from the clutches of the Yakuza, and while she wanted to stay with Izuku forever, she wanted to repay him. After all these years of protecting her from the harm she would have undergone, she wanted to save him. She could tell that something was bothering him, and she hoped by following Shoto and Ochako, she could save her savior. Little did she know the consequences her actions would bring to not just Japan but the world at large.

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