A Beach Campout (Open)

"Of course I'm right Monty now let's go you, silly boy," She gave him a small giggle as she watched him tuck his hair behind his ear. He was certainly a handsome young man, to say the least especially when his hair wasn't covering his face. Yet Kyouko couldn't romantically look at him as he was more like a lost and scared puppy to her. She felt almost obligated to help him out and bring him out of his shell. Did that mean she was a terrible person to pry into the personal life of another possibility, but sometimes the results justified the means right? Besides, it wasn't like she was trying to hurt the poor boy. There was nothing wrong with helping someone right?

When they reached Perry Sensei Monty and the talking marsupial told the handsome youth about burgers and melted cheese. Kyouko felt a tad queasy thinking about that. While she could handle a burger, even if it was a tad messy at times, cheese sometimes wasn't the best thing for her. It would be rude to refuse a dish made for them though so she would have to muster up her nerve and deal with it for now. Sitting next to Monty, but to keep an eye on him and give him someone to talk to if he got too nervous she looked around at the group of people involved. It was a decent-sized group of people students and teachers alike. The setting almost felt like a family dinner back home where a bunch of cousins and aunts and uncles came together to enjoy each other's company.

The memory of her mother's elaborate meals and her father's almost demanding, but calm voice echoing across the table to stop her cousins from making a mess filled her with such nostalgia. While Kyouko was still always allowed to return home to her family and they would accept her back the fact she would have to hide her quirk and return to the days of practicing in the forest nearby saddened her. She was always so lonely swinging from the trees without anyone to compliment her or talk to her about her quirk. At least here in Japan and at UA she had classmates and fellow students to chat with about quirks. She was, mostly, free to do as she pleased on campus and train her quirk without risk of being in trouble from authorities or her parents. This school was a blessing and she wouldn't give it up for the world and that meant she needed to cherish every moment while enrolled here.

Kyouko was brought back from her daydreaming about home when she and Monty were spoken to by Mizuki and then Desmoshi. "It's a pleasure to be here," Kyouko responded politely to Mizuki before looking at Monty and continuing, "We wouldn't miss it for the world. We could use the rest from our constant training at school." She answered for Monty as she wasn't sure if he could answer the girl's question. Hopefully, he didn't mind this, but if he did she would have to apologize later to him after the party. Kyouko was then about to respond to Desmoshi's question about how they were enjoying the school, but Monty answered before her. Kyouko felt a tinge of pride that he was willing to answer for her that meant he was improving in confidence even if his answer was a bit stuttered. She put her hand under the table and looked for his and went to grab it while giving it a squeeze to show she was proud of him. Hopefully, it wouldn't spook him too much since she was sitting next to him.

Monty's answer though was so sad to Kyouko and she couldn't help and interject afterward though, "Don't be surprised Monty you are very capable and reliable." She gave him a very kind smile and continued, "You will be a great hero someday I just know it. You just need to overcome your fears and stand tall." Kyouko would take her free hand and attempt to place it on his cheek so he would look her in the eyes and say, "If you don't feel you can do this alone just know I will be there to help you." She would continue to stare at him for a few seconds in silence before adding, "Everyone will be here to help you grow. Students and professors alike. Together we will all grow into exceptional heroes and strive to make the world a better place. We can't do that without you so just have faith in yourself and we can help trudge you along to be the hero I know you can be." Kyouko would lower her hand from his face and speak to Desmoshi, "Yes it was quite rough, to begin with, but we have learned so much from it and I hope to grow as a student from these experiences."

Watching everyone encouraging each other. Spending time with another one despite adversities. It was a good thing to actually see. Mizuki wanted to be a part of that. She strived to be a part of that. It was just she was so afraid of being different than everyone else. Before this, she went through a lot of rough patches in the past few months.

Flashback

She ripped off the poster of Redhorn of her wall. She was done. The meditation had shown her that much. She was done chasing after someone who didn't see her as she saw herself. But it wasn't just Redhorn. But all the pro heroes that she met. They all judged for the decisions she made during the rampage. But they put on her record "failure to strategize". Although she was doing her best and while being the first year.

But the meditation had shown her. She was done trying to be the hero that she saw others as. She would define her own version of being a hero. She held the other half of the necklace that Yang gave her. She will be her own hero with her. Some of the pros have shown that they only wanted it for the fame, not to protect others. She pulled out the blade that Charlotte made for her. Its blue blade is shown in the light. Yeah. She won't be like her mother. Or Redhorn. Or anyone else. She will be her own hero. She threw the poster away into the already full bin.

End of Flashback

She knew the focus to be her own hero now. One, she wanted to help her brother be number one. Two, she valued the freedom of it and wanted to define her own way of being one. And third... Yang. She looked over to the other woman. She made her want to be a better hero. "Beaumont, I have faith in you," Mizuki said softly. "You made it for a reason. And now you would have a chance to define your own version of a hero." Mizuki watched as everyone ate, hoping that her words were somewhat inspiring. Another thing her mediatation was trying to teach her was to be closer to people. Especially to the ones she liked most.

Junko looked at all the students and at the adults that came to this beach gathering. But she wasnt a social person and had a hard time getting along with people due to her strict nature that was ingrained in her. But seeing everyone was safe, she approached Desmoshi. "I really appreciate your organizing skills young Desmoshi. But I am afraid I have to go. I see things are under control and most of all safe which was my main reason for arrival. I need to go elsewhere to go and work. So enjoy the rest of your day, young one" Junko politely said goodbye to Desmoshi as he was the only student that interacted with her

And with that, she made her leave and thus did not stick around for the night time. Maybe one day she would. But today was not that day. She knew students at UA could stir trouble if she is absent, so she went to make sure everything was fine. She doubted anyone would miss her here anyway. Plus she wasnt a musical talent that could contribute in any meaningful way in the evening. Hopefully the kids would have fun for the rest of the day. And hopefully they would not stay TOO late out at night