"I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!!!"

"Then come at me!"

"That would make me just as bad as you!"

"If you think I'm so bad then leave and take Deku with you!"

The little girl turned around and  grabbed the small curly haired boys hand, helping him up from the water below him. As she walked up from the stream with Izuku's hand in hers the spiky haired boy behind them yelled out one last remark.

"I never want to see your faces again, your dead to me!!!"

She froze.
The girl turned around to meet Katsuki's eyes. There he was, red faced with tears pouring out of his eyes. He sniffed a few times wiping his nose on the sleeve of his shirt.
There was no regret in his eyes, just pure fury. So she gripped onto Izuku's hand tightly and ran off, far away from the stream, far away from Katsuki, far away from the friendship that was now burning up in flames. Breathing heavily they finally stopped, the little girl let go of Izuku's hand and held her own up to her now wet face. Finally succumbing to Katsuki's words the girl crouched down, tears running down her petite face. Izuku went over and hugged her tightly with tears in his eyes as well.

"We have been by his side every day supporting him and helping him, yet he treats us this way!? It's not fair Izuku!"

The girl knew today was the day in which the friendship that the three cherished was crushed into tiny pieces. The trio would now be a duo, full of regret to what could have been.

✿ ✿ ✿

Tamiko abruptly opened her eyes, taking slow ragged breaths she pushed her face onto her pillow. Even in her dreams she couldn't take a break from the past and her mistakes. Turning on her back she faced the ceiling above, staring at her Kamui woods poster. Thinking back to that day, she knew Katsuki was in the wrong. He was the one who pushed Izuku down into the water when all poor Izuku did was offer a helping hand. He had no right to yell at him.
Yet Tamiko couldn't help but blame herself. She knew that after Katsuki developed his quirk, he began to act more differently towards her and Izuku. He began acting as if he was more superior then everyone around him, and she noticed it, yet she ignored it thinking he was just on a happy high from developing his quirk. What if instead of lashing out she had communicated with him effectively, told him that what he was doing was wrong and that despite that she still cherished their friendship.

"Who are you to tell me what to do! I don't need to grab Deku's hand if I don't want to, I don't need anyone's help, much less from you and your useless quirk Tamiko!"

Even now his words still stung.

She reached over to grab her phone from the nightstand, checking the time. It was way earlier then she'd like, school didn't even start in another two hours yet she couldn't go back to sleep now being wide awake. So she decided today would be a different day, the school opens early so maybe she could text Izuku to come early with her. She could bring some board games and snacks to pass the extra hour. Then again he probably isn't even awake right now. Unlocking her phone, she began texting the him her plans for the morning. Surprisingly enough he replied immediately and a smiling Tamiko jumped off her bed, body now energized to hang out even if it was still at school. Quickly putting on her uniform and bookbag she placed her flower pin in her hair carefully. Tamiko looked over at her self in front of her bedroom mirror tucking in a few stray hairs.

"Today will be a fun day, so keep your head held high," she gave herself a quick wink before heading down the stairs to the doorway. Leaving a text to her mother that she would be leaving earlier then usual, Tamiko headed out of the door.

✿ ✿ ✿

After walking up to Izuku's home she took her phone out of her pocket and  clicked on his profile. She held the phone up to her ear, waiting for him to answer her call. Once he did Tamiko couldn't help but notice his hard breathing. He was slightly out of breath but she didnt see the need to acknowledge it since it was only slight.

"I'm outside Izuku! Are you almost done over there?"

"Oh Tamiko! I-Im so sorry but would you mind walking off without me for a bit, I'll make sure to catch up its just that something came up suddenly, s-sorry!"

"Always gotta leave me hanging huh Izuku."

"SORRY TAMIKO!"

She chuckled a bit pulling her phone away from her ear as to not have her ears bleed from his loud outburst.
"I'm just messing with you Izuku, I'm always the one who's busy so I don't mind going off on my own for a bit," she smiled and placed her phone closer to her mouth "Alright see you there...love ya."

There was a short silence between the two until Izuku spoke up hesitantly on the other end.

"Love you too Tamiko."

As if her smile couldn't get any bigger, it did.

Once he hung up she continued to walk to school this time with a small skip in between her steps every now and then. Finally reaching the school she slowed down her stride, viewing the koi fish in the front pond she giddily gripped onto her bookbag straps swishing from side to side. Izuku always could brighten up her day no matter how bad it was going. She felt safe and warm when she was around him and yet even though they have known each other for years they never seemed to get bored of each other.

It's been a while since I've slept over his house, Tamiko thought. A pick me up in the form of a slumber party was what she needed. For some reason she hadn't been feeling well these past few days. Why had she been thinking about her past failures so much, the mistakes she made, all of it was coming back like a sudden gust from some unknown sea. Perhaps it was the new chapter in her life nearing, and her mind just trying to  remembering one last time of her past before it all goes away to make room for new high school memories.
At least she hoped so.
She would rather forget all about her past. The loss of a friend, a kindling friendship that could have blossomed. She truly wanted to forget him as, selfish as it sounds she wanted to start fresh, make new friends at her new high school with Izuku by her side, nothing from before burdening her consciousness.

She would be the happiest person in the world.

As she reached the entrance she noticed a dark figure near the alleyway near the front doors. At first Tamiko thought it was possibly a teacher taking a smoke break out side before the students began coming in, however she was heavily mistaken.

It was none other than Tanuki Daichi.

Tamiko bowed her head, hoping her long strands of hair would cover her face making her almost unrecognizable along with the lack of light due to the sun not having risen yet. She kept speed walking until she heard his low, heavy voice call out her name.

"Tamiko, is that you?"

She stopped in her tracks and looked up at the dark haired boy. He held a sickly strained smiled on his face, eyes scrunched into thin lines.

"It is!"

He was acting as if he met a childhood friend he hadn't seen in years. Cigarette in hand he waved Tamiko to come over, with that sickly sweet smile still plastered on his face.

"U-um, I need to meet up with somebody inside I can-"

"I'm the first student here, it's just you and me, all alone,"

At a distance, Tamiko could see him raising his hand, fingers brushing against each other to create a snapping noise.

In that one moment, at the snap of his fingers, and her name escaping his lips, Tamiko's body jolted in place.

Her mind became foggy.

Her body began moving as of it had a mind of it's own.

What was she doing?

She slowly neared the smirking boy, body trembling at the unknown feeling that overcame her body. She tried so hard to stop herself from nearing him. Yet her body didn't let her. She couldn't believe what was happening to her. Her mind and body were no longer her own. Tears of fear blurred her vision, yet she clearly felt her body now pressed up against Tanuki. 

"My my Tamiko, what's gotten into you?"

Bastard

She felt his fingers brush against her lips roughly as he looked into her eyes. The longer she stared into his eyes, the more she felt like she was falling into an abyss of wickedness. It was as if they held all the evil in the world, and reveled in it. She felt vile come up in the back of her throat as his hand gripped the back of her neck and his lips grew closer to hers. The tears she held back now poured down her face at the realization of what was to come and how there was nothing she could do about it.

Please, help me

The sound of a fist hitting flesh echoed through the alleyway.

Tanuki was not hovering over her anymore, instead he was on the ground nursing a sore jaw. Immediately she was in control of her body again, it felt as if she had risen out of a cold lake, gasping for air to enter her oxygen deprived body from holding her breath underwater. she hunched over, clasping her hands over her chest to steady her racing heart.

"Yo, are you good? Did this piece of shit hit you?"

Tamiko looked up at the boy with the same voice that always echoed in her dreams. His piercing red ruby eyes met hers. She was frozen in place once again despite now having control over her body. So it was Bakugou who had interfered and saved her. It made everything more real. The weight of  what could have happened if Bakugou hadn't intervened hit Tamiko like a truck. She looked down at Tanuki hunched over clutching his jaw as he groaned. The world around her began to spin, and her heart raced as if it were trying to escape her chest. She couldn't catch her breath, despite gasping for air. Her hands shook uncontrollably, and she felt like she was drowning in a sea of her own thoughts. Every sound became muffled, and every sight blurred together into an indistinguishable mess. It was as if the walls were closing in on her, and there was no escape from the overwhelming feeling of dread that consumed her entirely.

Fuck, she was having a panic attack.

"Hey! Idiot look at me! Fuck, she can't hear me...."

She felt large callused hand grip each side of her face, bringing her head up as her eyes met Bakugou's scarlet ones.

"You need to get a grip," he said firmly, his voice cutting through her hyperventilated sobs. He pulled her away from the alleyway and up to the entrance, away from Tanuki. She felt her breathing even out as she clutched onto Bakugou's hands that rested on her cheeks. she leaned into them as her body calmed down. She felt him stiffen at her actions, but he stayed still nonetheless watching her every move.

"Are you alright no-"

"Tamiko! Sorry that I took so long!" The sound of running footsteps could be heard. Izuku had arrived to school and was making his way up to Tamiko and Bakugou, however once he was close enough to see them clearly he stopped immediately. His heart skipped a beat as he saw Tamiko standing beside Bakugou, her eyes red and puffy from crying. He saw Bakugou's hand on Tamiko's face and couldn't help but feel a twinge of something at the sight of them together. Something happened.

Something bad.

"What happened?" Deku asked, trying to keep his voice steady. Bakugou immediately let go of Tamiko and distanced himself as if she had burned him. Before leaving to the alleyway, he whispered something in Tamiko's ear.

"You don't have to tell him shit, that's up to you when you feel ready," Bakugou gave her one last look before he headed back to the alley. As he left, Izuku stepped closer to her, taking her trembling hands in his own. 

Seeing Izuku brought her a warm comfort. New tears flowed freely down her cheeks as she buried her face in his chest. He held her close, rubbing soothing circles on her back and whispering words of comfort in her ear. She felt safe in his arms, like nothing could hurt her as long as he was there. 

"Talk to me," he whispered, looking into her tear filled eyes. She shook her head, unable to speak through the sobs that wracked her body. But Deku didn't need words to understand what she was feeling. He pulled her into his arms, holding her tight as she cried against his chest. He wanted to know what happened, but looking at the mess that she is right now, it wouldn't be a good idea to keep asking her. She would tell him when she was ready to.

"You don't have to tell me anything right now, alright," he began walking towards the entrance with an arm around Tamiko, guiding her inside the school building. 

"Wait, Izuku, can we not go to school, just for today," she looked up at him, hands holding his arm, "I don't think I'm in the best condition to be in class right now," she chuckled tiredly pointing at her tear stained face and bloodshot eyes. Deku couldn't help but feel guilty for skipping school, but he couldn't resist when Tamiko looked like this.

"Of Course"

✿ ✿ ✿

They found a quiet spot by a river in the forest where they used to hang out as kids. Deku watched as Tamiko closed her eyes and rested on the grass near the river bank, exhausted from from todays events. Feeling grateful for this moment of peace they sat there in silence, Izuku felt a surge of affection for Tamiko as she clumsily reached over into the bag of snacks they bought at the convenient store near the school. She took out a chocolate bar and began munching on it as she sat up. She caught Izuku's gaze and smiled up at him. 

"Thank you for coming with me," she said softly. Deku smiled back, feeling content and happy. 

"Anytime," he replied. 

"I'll always be here for you."

Tamiko froze for a second, chocolate bar hovering over her mouth as her mouth stayed slightly opened at his words. He was fiddling with his fingers looking down at the grass they were sitting on. He seemed nervous as he scratched the back of his neck.

Why is he so god damn cute!

Tamiko leapt onto Izuku, hugging him tightly. He yelped in surprise as they both laid down on the grass

"Awww, Izuku your gonna make me cry again," she crossed her arms as she laid on top of his chest looking up at him. His eyes were a verdant oasis in the midst of his sun-kissed complexion, like emeralds set against golden sand Tamiko thought. 

She felt safe.

"You know Tanuki right?" Tamiko began looking unsurely up at Izuku.

"Yeah, the Tanuki from our class...what about him?"

"He uh...I think he used his quirk on me to...try to do stuff with me." Izuku jolted up, making Tamiko rise up as well.

"He what!?" Izuku exclaimed as he clenched his fist. He looked down at it with thoughts running through his head.

What was he thinking.

"Hey hey, calm down, nothing happened other than him touching my face and waist, all thanks to Bakugou." She look down at her hands that clenched the grass below them. Izuku looked to the side, confused as to how this could have happened. No one really knew anything about Tanuki's quirk, hell, he was the only person Izuku didn't have anything written about in his "Hero Analysis for the Future" notebook. "I think he has a mind controlling quirk," she continued as she played with the hem of Izuku's sleeve. "After he said my name and snapped his fingers, I fell in a trance where I couldn't control my body. It felt like he was controlling my every movement and I was trapped in my own mind, not being able to do anything, frozen." Her hands began to shake until Izuku steadied them with his own.

"Considering what he did and what he could've done, he will probably be expelled." Izuku held Tamiko's hands tighter and continued. "Do you want me to be there with you when you tell the principle? The security cameras should give them enough evidence of what Tanuki's capable of."  She smiled at him. He always had kind words for others. His actions matched his words, as he went out of his way to help those in need without expecting anything in return. Whether it was holding the door open for someone, or offering to carry someone's heavy bags, he did it with a cheerful disposition that made others feel good. His kind and friendly demeanor made Tamiko feel at ease, and he had a way of bringing out the best in her. She saw in him everything that she wanted to be. Generous, empathetic, and positive all the time. It inspired her to become a better person .

However, as she continued to think about the nice boy and his many positive qualities, the girl also began to feel a sense of inadequacy. She compared herself to him and felt like she fell short in so many ways. When he smiled, Tamiko truly believed that he outshined the sun.

That was Izuku Midoriya.

"You know, I've always been jealous of you Izuku."

Tamiko spoke with just gentleness that it almost past by Izuku's ears, but he still heard her words. Finally taking in what she said, Izuku jumped up flabbergasted with a bewildered look on his face.

"W-what do you mean!? I should be the one that's jealous," he pointed a finger at Tamiko as she stayed sitting on the ground surprised at his sudden outburst, "I haven't been able to stand up to Kacchan for years and you just do it everyday!" he scratched his hair and shook his head. He couldn't believe what she was saying, if only he had an ounce of her confidence and resilience, maybe then he would be able to make amends with Bakugou. 

"I guess we both need to work on a few things," she layed back down next him, staring into the sky above.

"I guess we do," the boy replied, raising a hand towards the sky as if reaching for something tangible, like a book that was misplaced.

Tamiko viewed his hand, which seemed to be slightly calloused. 

Hmm.

That's different.