Chapter 164: Homecoming Tales (3)

Chapter 164: Homecoming Tales (3)

~Third POV~

[New Year's Eve, Ochaco's Neighborhood, Japan]

Ochaco Uraraka, a clone of Ren Yuki, was home for New Year's Eve, and both her parents were busy enjoying each other's company and swapping endless stories late into the night. They were surprised to learn about her relationship with her boyfriend.

The parents smiled at the news, supporting their daughter's relationship while being informed of Ren's status. At first, they were concerned about the idea of being one of Ren's girlfriends in his harem, but once he learned he'd marry into the rich family and become a future number-one hero.

They changed their tune rather quickly. Both knew that their future (and theirs) would be secured. Add the ability he can give Quirks or offer refinements for payment, making millions from Pro Heroes. It certainly helped Ren to be rich.

Returning to Ochaco's life, the most thrilling bit was that her father's construction business had been doing better lately. The smiles on her parents' faces as they relayed the good news brought her more joy than anything.

Ren listened happily, unaware he had hired Ochaco's parents, offering some work for future projects that Nezu approved to make. Along with Nezu hiring her parents to help a future student like Ochaco become focused on her goals of being a Pro Hero.

Well, anything except for the upcoming mochi-pounding event—a local tradition on New Year's Day that she'd be joining this year. It was New Year's Day, and a gloved Ochaco was teamed up with Ren as she roared, "Hrahhh!"

The elderly neighborhood smiled at her hard work as one of them encouraged her, "There ya go, Ochaco! Put yer back into it! We're whipping up the stickiest, tastiest mochi you ever laid eyes on!"

It was her job to flatten the mochi with a mallet over and over while her partner kneaded the dough between blows as he said excitedly, "You got it! Hrahh!"

When it came to her favorite food, Ochaco took no prisoners. One of the neighborhood kids who'd come to watch with friends said excitedly, "Whoa, Ochaco's so intense!"

Steam rose from the finished product, which was handed off to another group of neighbors to be sliced, rounded, and paired with kinako powder, anko paste, sweet soy sauce, or shredded radish. There was nothing but good vibes in the air as the community started feasting on the mochi they'd created together.

Both Ren and Ochaco scarfed down the mochi moaning content, "Mmm!"

They both beamed with contentment as Ochaco scarfed down her portion of extra-stretchy mochi topped with kinako. The children were enjoying their mochi, too, but then one of them gasped, suddenly remembering something, and looking worried, said, "Hey, hey, Ochaco! Is that Toga girl bullying you at school?"

Ren paused, hearing that topic. Ochaco paused as she replied, confused, denying it as she said confused, "Huh? Not a chance! Why d'you ask?"

The kid looked confused but asked in an uncertain tone, shouting, "Cuz, I mean, we saw how tricky she was to you at the sports festival thing, surprise attacking you!"

Ochaco hadn't been sure where they'd gotten the idea that she was being bullied, but suddenly, it clicked. They'd seen her painful defeat by Toga during the televised sports festival, so they were having a hard time imagining her living peacefully in the same dorm building with the girl who'd given her that merciless takedown.

Understanding the concern, Ochaco smiled as she cheerfully explained, "Naw, that wasn't bullying. She just gave me a proper fight, is all."

Ren smiled at her answer as the kid asked, confused, "You sure?"

Patting the kid's heads, Ochaco explained in a calm tone, being chill about the whole situation calmly, "Mm-hm. It was frustrating to lose that battle, but I'd rather eat an honest loss than have her go easy on me! That fight inspired me to work even harder, and Toga's not all bad!"

Ren smiled as the boy was satisfied with the answer. The two of them began to continue eating mochi in peace, trying out different varieties.

After conquering one helping of each mochi variety, Ochaco challenged herself to round two. As she returned with her refilled plate, her parents beckoned them to sit by them as her father said cheekily, "There's just something different about digging into mochi you pounded, Ochaco!"

Ochaco boasted, flexing her biceps in a cheeky tone, "You can thank these guns for that!"

Ren slyly grinned as his words made Ochaco's face flush red, listening to his casual tone, "I would know she's got them strong arms."

Ochaco's face flushed red as he wiggled his eyebrows as she muttered, "Ren!! Don't say that just so casually…"

Her mother, who gave one of her daughter's arms a squeeze, replied cheekily, "Oh, we can tell mister Yuki."

Ochaco chuckled, clearly tickled pink by the praise, "Heh heh…"

That was when her father curiously asked her daughter about their homework, "But how's that winter homework coming along? Not gonna leave it 'til the last second like always, right?"

Ochaco's face flushed red, embarrassed, having forgotten it, as she replied sheepishly, "I-I'm on top of it! Getting it done, y'know. Erm, but I forgot all about the Kakizome assignment."

Blinking, a bit confused, her father asked, tilting his head, "Kakizome? What is this, kindergarten?"

Shaking her head, she explained clearly with a sigh escaping her lips, "Aizawa Sensei doesn't want us losing too much focus over the break, I guess. We're s'posed to represent an aspiration for the coming year. Any ideas?"

Ochaco's father thought for a bit before he offered his suggestion, "I'd go with Shobai Hanjou, hoping for business success."

Ochaco's mother gave her opinion as she offered her suggestion to her daughter, "I just want a safe, happy home so that sentiment Kanai Anzen gets my vote."

Hearing his wife's suggestion, Ochaco's father, placing a hand under his chin in a thinking position, said casually, "Yakiniku Teishoku could be a good option. Everyone loves a grilled-meat combo platter."

Ochaco replied with a laugh at her father's suggestion, "I'm not writing a menu, Dad!"

Suddenly, she found herself wondering what Ren Yuki would write. She turned her head as he stuffed a mochi into his mouth. She asked curiously, "Hey, Ren, what exactly are you planning to write for your homework assignment?"

Finishing his Mochi, Ren heard her question as he replied easily and nonchalantly as he playfully said in the end, teasing her, "I'm planning to write Douryoku for 'effort.' Darling~"

Ochaco blushed hearing this. Ochaco's mother smiled, but her father, on the other hand, went pale as he thought, mentally crying, 'Boyfriend … Engagement … Marriage! My poor sweet baby girl!!!'

Ochaco's father then gets visions of his daughter's future flashed before his eyes, which are quickly filled with tears as he says without shame, "It's too soon… for my little girl to be a blushing bride!"

Ochaco's face went red as she exclaimed in an embarrassed tone, "You're the one who needs to slow down, Dad!"

One of the neighbors, who overheard the conversation, asked curiously, "What's that? Sweet li'l Ochaco's getting married?"

One of the old men muttered as he asked, eyeing Ren cautiously, "Who's the lucky feller? Lemme read 'im the riot act to make sure he's worthy!"

Beet-red Ochaco said to the gathering crowd in an embarrassed tone, "There's no 'lucky feller'!"

Ochaco's mother said a bit angrily, punching her husband's arm, "You gotta stop running your mouth, dear!"

Ochaco's father, fully in the throes of his extended delusion, blubbered in a dead tone, "My Ochaco…"

Once the hubbub had subsided, Ochaco took a deep breath and got back to her beloved mochi as she grumbled, but at the same time, she knew it all came from a place of love, "Stupid Dad…"

Marriage could very well be in her future, but she couldn't spend time thinking about that now. There was too much else to focus on if she was ever to grow into a hero who could bring smiles to the masses.

As Ochaco bit into her anko mochi, stretching it out into a long strand, it came to her as she thought happily, 'I'll do Mochi for my kakizome! Since Mochi is tough and tenacious, just like how I wanna be!'

She popped the piece of mochi into her mouth, stretchy strand and all, and the chewy, anko-covered treat filled her with satisfaction like nothing else. It was the first day of the New Year, and Ochaco was feeling energized and inspired.

*Chu*

But she froze as Ren kissed her cheek, making her father pale white as he said sweetly to Ochaco, "You know you're really cute when you freeze up Ochaco-chan?"

Her face went deep red, her eyes spiraling as Ren chuckled at the reaction. Her father looked as if he had aged years witnessing what had happened…

/////

[New Year's Eve, Yaoyarozu Mansion, Japan]

An extravagant New Year's party was unfolding in the banquet hall of the castle-like Yaoyorozu mansion. It was a yearly to-do that drew over three hundred guests from the Yaoyorozu family's elite social circles.

Momo Yaoyorozu the daughter of the family was dressed up to the nines and Ren Yuki the protégé of All Might and guaranteed future No.1 Hero in a sleek black suit as they went around greeting the party guests.

One of the party-goers spoke up to Momo in a respectful tone, "I hear you're enrolled at none other than U.A. High, Momo."

Momo turned as she waved her hand slightly and answered the partygoer's question in a respectful tone, "You've heard correctly. U.A. is the best institution around for instilling self-discipline, though I still have a long way to go."

The casual small talk came effortlessly to Momo, who'd been attending these shindigs since before she could remember. These experiences mingling with high society might even come in handy someday if she ever had to infiltrate a fancy function for a hero's mission as she thought, 'Any moment now, I suspect…'

The Yaoyorozu New Year's party always featured a presentation or performance by an artist or entertainer of some sort, and it was one element of the night that Momo always looked forward to. As she wondered what the evening's entertainment might be, the lights suddenly dimmed, and a spotlight shone on Mr. Yaoyorozu, who stood atop the banquet hall's stage.

Momo's father was looking as suave and put together as ever, began to speak in a proud tone, "Friends and family… I know this is a moment you've all been waiting for, but instead of the usual catered entertainment, we've hastily thrown together a special film for you this evening."

Momo had been out of the loop concerning this year's party planning since U.A.'s decision to send the students home at all had been rather last-minute as she thought, confused, 'A film? Of what, I wonder?'

Ren, seeing his fiancé's confused expression, chuckled a laugh, getting her attention as he slyly replied, "I wouldn't worry too much, Momo… let's just say your father is certainly an interesting doting father."

Momo suddenly felt uneasy at Ren's words. Now, the massive screen that lowered over the stage only piqued her curiosity further as her father said in a proud tone, "Put together by an Academy Award-winning director, this short film chronicles the path thus far of our beloved daughter, from birth to present. I give you The History of Momo Yaoyorozu!"

Momo gasped, taken aback, "Huh?"

Ren chuckled, paying full attention and muttering mischievously, "Oh? Now this, I gotta see Momo-chan."

*BAM*

The film's title appears on the screen with a bam, accompanied by a dramatic, sweeping soundtrack. The first scene seemed to be about Momo's parents falling in love, but she was too busy marching away to see much as Ren paid attention to the film.

Off to the side of the stage, she found her parents standing with their head butler, who'd been with the family since before Momo was born, as she asked, "Father! Care to explain the meaning of this?"

Mr. Yaoyorozu, on the other hand, merely replied happily, seeing Momo's surprised expression, "Surprised, are you? That school of yours didn't leave us very much time to put this together."

Mrs. Yaoyorozu, with a broad smile, added in a cheerful tone, "Though I must say, the director was delighted at the opportunity."

Momo's face was red out of embarrassment as she was flustered, asking in an embarrassed tone, "I'm not concerned about the details. I'm asking why you've commissioned such a thing in the first place!"

Her father replied nonchalantly to his daughter proudly, "Because we want these good people to know just how wonderful you are, naturally."

The movie moved on to a scene featuring a newborn Momo, which elicited cheers and murmurs of "Aww!" from the audience.

Momo felt as if her parents had sat the entire guest list down for a look at her baby photo albums. In a way, this was worse, but her father was blithely unaware of her embarrassment as he said, frowning, "That dormitory room they've stuck you in. It must be awfully cramped. I could hardly believe it when they forced you to mail all those boxes and furniture back home."

Momo's mother agreed with a slight nod as she added calmly, "Indeed. They only allowed us to send a single cardboard box as a care package. Why, we could barely fit a collection of your favorite teas in there, let alone everything else you ought to have with you…"

Momo's father nodded, agreeing as he added calmly, gazing at his daughter, berating the school lightly, "And I take it you must endure, erm, communal bathing? I suppose you're in desperate need of a private soak after so long, no?"

Suddenly, his face lit up with a flash of inspiration as he said in an excited tone, "I know! We could have a spa built on the U.A. campus! Patrons could reserve bathing times, giving you some privacy and helping the students of U.A. to battle their fatigue."

Soon, both Momo's parents began to ponder out loud using their wealth to add a mall, game room, and amusement facilities. But Momo's piercing shout stunned her garrulous parents into silence, "Father!"

Her father, at which Momo narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips, asked, "Whatever is the matter?"

Momo took in a deep breath as she regained her form and politely explained to her parents in a determined tone, "I… appreciate the sentiment, I do. But my U.A. experience is not lacking anything. They say that home is where one hangs one's hat, even if that happens to be a, erm, cozy dorm room. And quite frankly, bathing with the other girls presents an opportunity for meaningful communication. As for shopping, yes, I may feel inconvenienced now and then, but the school store offers the essentials. Living in a dorm provides endless entertainment in the form of conversations with classmates. Every day, I find myself learning new things from them. As it happens, I've been listening to a genre of music called 'metal' lately. It was my friend Jiro who opened my eyes to it or ears; I suppose while I've enjoyed the honor and privilege of introducing her to classical music, meager though my knowledge may be. These seemingly trivial things add up to a valuable experience and one that truly makes me happy. All of which is to say, I'm quite satisfied with my life at U.A. High, thank you very much."

Momo's parents seemed at once shocked and dejected by their daughter's sincere, impassioned defense of U.A. But her father smiled as he relented and calmly said, "Very well… We only have the best intentions, but I suppose we shouldn't meddle."

Momo's mother nodded as well, accepting her daughter's passion for UA in a proud tone, apologizing, "Momo… I'm afraid we were so excited to finally have you back home that we got ahead of ourselves. Apologies…"

Momo, suddenly fearing that she'd been too harsh said shyly, "Mother, Father… Oh dear…"

It was when the family butler interjected in a respectful tone, "Miss Momo, your parents are simply concerned about your first communal living experience to the extent that they lose sleep over it. Do try to understand that."

Momo, turning back to her parents, asked, surprised, "Is that true?"

Momo's father nodded his head with a light smile as he said honestly, "What sort of parents would we be if we weren't worried about you?"

As the two were discussing moments of Momo's life, they soon got into a back-and-forth argument about which moment was cuter. Momo couldn't help but chuckle at her parents' back-and-forth.

Meanwhile, up on the movie screen, a young Momo was playing in the gardens while her parents watched, their eyes unmistakably full of love. As she watched them bicker in real time about which of them missed her more, she sensed that same love, preserved and strengthened over the years, as she thought, 'To make them worry so much, though … Clearly, I must learn to be more considerate about these things.'

It was a moment of reflection that led to newfound determination as she thought in a determined tone, 'I shall have to grow competent enough for others to feel comfortable relying on me! So that they do not need to worry or fret!'

That was when Momo suddenly remembered the kakizome assignment as she knew what to pick in a confident tone and thought, 'Why not Jitsuryoku as "competence"?'

Momo's mother then asked who'd noticed Momo looking pensive and concerned, "Momo?"

Listening to her mother's words snapped her back to reality as Momo apologized with a smile on her face in a kind tone, "Oh, it's nothing, really. But I'm afraid I've missed a good portion of the film you made in my honor. May I watch it from the start, later?"

Her father smiled as he said, "Of course!"

Momo's Mother agreed with a happy smile on her face as she said happily, "We can sit down with the staff for another screening."

Momo smiled weakly at the thought of another public viewing as she turned to the screen. There, for all to see, young Momo was creating a matryoshka doll for the first time, beaming with satisfaction and pride.

Ren, witnessing the movie, already had a video camera at the ready with his phone as he thought cheekily, 'The whole class gotta know about this. It will certainly be a blast for them and Momo to remember hehehe…'