The Emperor's Dragon II

The Big Leagues

Mei knocked on the door. This was kind of exciting for her. Growing up she hadn't been lonely because she'd had her inventions - and her chat with Izuku - but she'd never been invited to a friend's house. Technically she hadn't been invited this time either, but she had gotten special permission to leave UA for a weekend.

Power Loader had said she needed the time off.

She'd come here. To Tsu. It was where Ochaco had grown up. It had a been a bit of a pain finding Ochaco's address but Janee had come through for her.

The door opened and Mei looked into the brown eyes of her friend.

"Mei!" Ochaco exclaimed. "What are you doing here?" she demanded.

She was happy. Mei could tell she was happy, but she was very surprised. And apparently, she had paid attention at UA because she hadn't wasted time asking how she was. She'd gone straight to the pertinent question.

"I came to-" well, she hadn't come to offer Ochaco a job. She had come to make sure Ochaco did the job.

"To-?" Ochaco prompted, opening the door wider but not yet inviting her in.

"Ask you to do a job," Mei finished. That was accurate.

Ochaco stared at her and then shook her head. "Mei, I'm not going to take pity money," she said firmly.

Mei shook her head in return. "It's not that. I need you to do this job," she elaborated. "Can I come in to explain?"

That seemed to remind Ochaco they were standing with the door open. "Uh... yeah sure," she said, stepping back to let Mei in.

Once inside, Mei toed off her shoes and accepted a pair of house slippers from Ochaco. The shoes at the entry were neat, but not precisely lined up. It displayed a house where people lived. Mei liked that. Ochaco led her down the corridor and into the lounge room. It was connected to the dining area and kitchen through an open plan. Ochaco gestured for her to sit at the table.

"Do you want some tea?" she asked.

Mei nodded.

"Ochaco, who was it?" A woman's voice sounded from another part of the house. Mei had heard it before. Ochaco's mother.

The brown-haired girl gave her an apologetic smile. "A friend," she yelled back.

"A friend?" there was a note of disbelief.

"Mei," Ochaco clarified.

"Mei?" The voice sounded closer and a moment later Ochaco's mother appeared.

"Mei!" she greeted her. "What are you doing here?"

"I was in the area," Mei replied. It was an old joke.

Tamiko didn't believe it.

"I came to ask a favour from Ochaco."

"She came to offer me a job," Ochaco said, sounding flat.

Tamiko looked confused. "That's very nice of you b-"

"I can't do the job without Ochaco," Mei interrupted. "How about I tell you all the details?" she offered.

"Yes, I think that would be best. Ochaco pu- Ah, you are already doing it," Tamiko smiled at her daughter, as she ushered Mei to a chair.

Mei took one of the chairs at the table. There was an opening to the kitchen so she could see Ochaco putting on the kettle and getting cups out for tea.

"How is-" Tamiko paused.

"School is going well," Mei replied to the unasked question. "But today is definitely business."