chapter twelve;

     IT WAS HARD FOR YOUKO TO LEAVE AIZAWA'S SIDE, as the man wouldn't allow the little girl to wander off, ever.

everyday was the same schedule of eating, napping, training, napping, eating, training, eating, showering, then sleeping again.

training was probably the most interesting it ever got, as youko got to view all the amazing quirks and different combat styles.

though during aizawa's napping times, youko would somehow find a little critter and try to practice her own quirk.

it obviously didn't work as well, as she figured out that she needed to maintain a few seconds of eye contact to have the person under control. hence why bugs, with tiny pin-like eyes, didn't help much.

and since the girl was limited in many ways, youko came up with the brilliant plan of sneaking out of her cell at night.

everyday after dinner and showering, youko would be escorted back to her little cell. everyone had assumed that the little girl didn't have a quirk, as she showed no signs of it whatsoever.

advice from youko's father, the little girl was glad she kept her quirk a secret, to the point that not even dabi or them knew of it yet.

youko sighed as she slid out of the creaky bed and into her white slippers. her simple matching pearly white gown followed as she neared the thick metal bars.

"e-excuse me!", youko coughed out, catching the attention of the only soldier that was guarding her cellar.

     "yes?", the guard kindly answered, to which youko was starting to feel a bit bad about what she was about to do.

     "u-umm...c-could you look at my right eye please? I think something got in it", youko politely asked as the guard had tried to check on the girl's eye while the dungeon was very poorly lit.

"hmm...well I don't see any—"

"open this cell and not let anyone know of it", youko commanded in an authoritative tone.

youko worried for a moment as the guard gave the little girl a dumbfounded look. that is, until the soldier had done exactly what youko had told him to.

"thank you", youko squeaked as she quietly skipped off further into the eerie dungeon.

     the little girl hugged herself as she dearly missed the warmth of her blanket, even though it wasn't as royally comfortable as the one she shared with shigaraki.

     youko silently huffed as she was nearly about to give up until she had reached the end of the dimly lit halls.

     a sturdy metal gate was purposely painted to match the colors of the stone wall, so that when people passed by, most would accidentally overlook it.

     youko hesitantly inched closer to the cellar door as she debated whether she could see who was inside or not.

     after all, it could even be empty for all she knew.

     youko took deep breaths in as she decided to knock on the door since no one was around anyways.

as the little girl's fingers grazed the iron door, she felt a buzz in her head.

"h-hello?", youko mumbled as she turned around, worried that someone was here.

'youko...'

"w-who's there?!", youko asked as she started feeling scared. either she was going insane or there was a ghost and she obviously couldn't see it.

'youko...it's me, grandpa'.

     "grandpa?? where are you? why can't I see you??", youko questioned.

     the girl suddenly gasped. "you didn't turn into a ghost did you?!", youko cried.

     a chuckle inside youko's head was heard, making her once again question her sanity. perhaps she's been hanging out with toga too much.

     'telepathy...one of my quirks. I'm locked up behind this door', all for one explained. 'and just talk using your mind. don't let the guards hear anything'.

     'how am I supposed to get you out grandpa?? are you okay? do you still have your tubes?', youko worried, completely smushing her face against the metal door now.

     'I'm okay youko. and no need, it'll be a while until I can get out', all for one said.

     'okay then...'

     'how did you get here youko? shouldn't you be with tomura?', all for one asked, feigning ignorance.

     'mm...all might...he took me away from papa', youko dejectedly (mentally) said.

     all for one sighed, to which youko perked up at that.

     'i-is something wrong grandpa??'

     'youko, remember what I said about your father? about why he hates heroes so much?'

     'mhm!'

     'well...it's because—hmm...I'm not sure if you're ready to hear this yet though...'

     'grandpa!! you can't just do that to me!! please tell me, I promise I'll listen!!', youko pouted, not that all for one could see, but the man could surely imagine.

all for one grinned. he had the little girl hooked and that was all he needed.

'promise you won't tell your father I told you. he's...a bit ashamed of his past, to the point he barely even remembers it', all for one said.

'did papa really have that bad of a past??'

'indeed...it's a shame that your father grew up in an anti-hero household. when your father's quirk unexpectedly developed, he had murdered his entire family. no one helped him...not even the heroes. he was left alone on the streets when I found him'.

     youko deeply breathed in as she felt her knees wobble beneath her.

     'but he didn't mean it. it wasn't his fault. you understand, right youko?'

     'mhm...'

'he only has you left youko. you won't ever leave him right?', all for one asked.

the man had waited for the right moment to reveal shigaraki's past to youko. though what he didn't expect was for her to find him here.

in the end, it all worked out.

'of course not!! I love papa!! even though...even though he killed them....'

'if you honestly think about it, it was quite despicable of the heroes to leave an abandoned child on the cold streets. you can only imagine how alone and scared your father must have felt'.

'I promise you grandpa. I will never leave papa!'

'that's the spirit youko. you must stay by tomura and assist him at all times, do you understand?'

'of course grandpa!! you can count on me!', youko smiled.

     'that's good youko...that's good. I'm sure that as long as you're by tomura's side, all will be well'.

     'when will I hear from you again grandpa?? how long will you stay in there??', youko curiously inquired.

     if all for one had many quirks—and was super powerful—why couldn't he just break out of the cellar himself?

     'soon, my dear. for now, just focus on returning to tomura's side. I'll be back before you know it', all for one answered.

     'hmm...alright then. I suppose I'll hear from you soon then grandpa...'

     'indeed youko. the next time we meet...I assure you the future will be altered once and for all'.

     youko had wanted to ask what her grandpa had meant, but she knew he wouldn't have told her anyways.

     thus, the little girl started heading back to her cell, as she needed to patiently wait for shigaraki to come get her.

     'remember, if we ever get separated, stay where you are. I will come find you'. 

     youko pouted as she trudged back into her tiny cell. it has already been nearly a week and she just wanted to see her family.

     "it's been a while princess".

     youko immediately looked up in surprise as she covered her mouth from screaming.

     "d-dabi?!"

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