Serika Midoriya

"Anything?" Reika asked as Shiori finished examining Mao.

"No chips in her head or anywhere else. Has a bunch of fractures though. She also had THIS hidden in her cleavage" Shiori grumbled as she slammed an SD card case on the table.

"Then I think she's safe. I can house her in the adjacent apartment yes?"

"Take the secret passage though. I have no idea who this is, but I can tell she's probably surrounded by danger."

                                                                          ...

Mao awoke in a room she didn’t recognize. She had passed out in the woods and could not remember anything that happened afterwards. She frantically sat up and looked around. She was in a small bedroom and was bandaged up and wearing a bathrobe.

“Ara! You’re awake. Don’t worry, I’m not here to hurt you,” Reika smiled.

She was wearing jeans and a jacket rather than her business suit.

“Who are you!” Mao nervously glared.

“I’m Reika Yuzume, a detective with the Tokyo Metropolitan police.”

Mao began to panic as Reika stood up.

“I am also here to save you.

“___!?”

“You’re a victim of abuse and most likely grew up sheltered and indoctrinated by a parental figure. Based on the fact that you’re a young woman with no signs of sexual abuse, I assume the figure to be your mother.”

“__!”

“The look in your eyes tells me I’m right. I assume you hated and feared her to the point where you’d recklessly flee without even clothes or cash. The fact that you sloppily shaved yourself completely devoid of hair proves you were not as pressed for time. Though you fear for your life and fear you would be recognized if you had kept your hair. The fact that you’ve been hiding in the woods for a few days rather than seeking help like a normal person would, shows you don't trust people. I understand you are frightened, but please trust me. I want to save you. If you are who I think you are then that’s all the more reason for me to help you start a new life.”

“What the hell do you know about me!?”

“You’re Mao Ookuma, the daughter of Ruchi Ookuma.”

“____!”

Mao’s heart began to beat faster and faster as she collapsed to the ground in terror.

“I’m not going to hurt you! I’m here to help you.”

“LIKE HELL I’D BELIEVE THAT! YOU’RE AN ILLUMOUS GOON THAT’S GOING TO TORTURE ME TO DEATH BECAUSE I KILLED- “

“So, she’s dead.”

“____!”

Mao began to cry as Reika walked over to her.

“NO! PLEASE DON’T! I DON’T WANT TO BE HURT! DON’T KILL ME! I HAVEN’T EVEN EATEN ANY GOOD FOOD! [FUCK YOU], YOU- “

Reika embraced Mao in a hug.

“It’s OK, you’re safe. I’m not with Illumous. I’m trying to stop them."

“Like- “

“Do you know who Fubuki Dakota is?”

“Yes… I watch her videos…”

“She’s a wonderful journalist and a hero is she not?”

“Yes, she’s a hero… She saved me, she showed me that monster could be hurt.”

“It’s OK, I’m here for you. We can take this as slowly as need be. Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone else find out about you. I even brought some things for you."

Mao glanced over at the table and immediately noticed some manga and cans of matcha soda. She immediately rushed over and began drinking. Tears poured out of her eyes as she downed the cans in seconds.

"It's so good! Fuck that bitch for never letting me drink this!" Mao cried.

"Is there anything else you want? I can go out and bring it to you," Reika said as she showed Mao a catalogue on her phone.

"Order whatever you want. I have no qualms about the cost," Reika smiled.

Mao's eyes lit up as she scrolled through and clicked on everything that grabbed her interest.

A few days later...

Mao checked out her clothes in the mirror. She was wearing short shorts, a black T-shirt that exposed her midriff, and a baseball cap.

“You look bold girl,” Reika complimented.

“Shut up! I look Beautiful,” Mao glared.

“You’re starting to get a nasty mouth. “

“The hell’s wrong with that huh!?”

“Nothing, though you might have trouble making friends.”

“Who needs em! I’ve got you. Besides, how do I know they aren’t some Illumous rat?”

Reika sighed as Mao sat next to her on the bed.

“I can’t be with you forever; you need to get back on your own feet and become independent rather than depend on me.”

“I know that…”

Reika took off Mao’s hat and looked at her face.

“You didn’t like the makeup?”

“I mean, I tried putting it on like they did in the video, but I just looked weird. So I wiped it off.”

"I’ll do your makeup this time, if you don’t like it you don’t have to wear it.”

                                                                           ...

Mao gasped as she looked at herself in the mirror. She had never seen herself look this beautiful before. Tears began to pour out of her eyes.

“NO! Don’t cry! It will smear!” Reika warned. 

Her warning came too little too late as the makeup smeared all over Mao’s face.

“Well, you’ve got a pretty face, so you don’t need to wear any makeup,” Reika giggled as she wiped Mao’s face. She then gazed down at Mao's smooth radiant legs.

“I see you've been using that razor I got you."

“Yep! I’ve never been happier or looked so sexy before.” Mao giggled.

“I’m impressed you learned to shave so quickly, there’s now hardly a nick or scrape anywhere on your body.”

“I only became a bleeding mess because I was rushing and used a kitchen knife. I just wanted that hideous sludge clinging to my body gone. Though if it weren't for Fubuki, I'd have been brainwashed or worse microchipped. That bitch threatened to chip me if I so much as plucked out a single hair."

Reika clenched her fist as her expression darkened.

“I’m glad that piece of shit is dead. The fact that that piece of shit would subject her daughter to such cruelty just to control you sickens me."

"Yeah fuck that bitch! I never wanna see her sludge anywhere on my body ever again."

Reika smiled as she rubbed Mao’s head.

“So, are you ever going to grow out your hair?”

“What’s wrong with being bald?”

“Nothing, though I assume you’d like to try growing your hair out, considering you’ve never been allowed to do so before.”

“___.”

“You’re afraid your hair will link you back to that piece of shit, correct?”

“Yeah.”

“Have you seen what color it was when it grew back?”

“Nah, I've been shaving it every day.”

“Don’t shave your head and eyebrows next time, let them grow out and see what color they are.”

A few days later...

Mao glared at herself in the mirror.

“Dammit, its green.”

She began lathering her head and eyebrows with shaving cream as Reika entered the apartment.

“Hello, its me.”

“Oh, I’m in the bathroom, you can come in though,” Mao grumbled

Reika entered and smiled at Mao.

“It’s green I assume,” Reika smiled

“Yeah.”

“Well before you shave it all off, at least let me see it.”

Mao begrudgingly wiped herself off with a towel as Reika gazed at her hair.

“Oh, it’s a beautiful forest green. You should definitely grow it out,” Reika warmly smiled.

“But it will- “

“Your hair is far brighter and lighter than that piece of shit’s black sludge ever hoped to be. Plus, this is now YOUR hair, not hers. You're also free to style and wash it, or even dye it as you please.”

Tears began to pour out of Mao's eyes.

“C- Can I really, Can I finally grow out my hair like a normal girl. Can I finally go outside and do things that people normally do every day?” Mao cried.

“Yes, let’s go out right now. Those sneakers I got you have just been sitting by the door, it’s about time you wore them,” Reika smiled.

Mao tearfully smiled as she ran towards the door and slipped into a pair of chartreuse sneakers. She then sloppily tied the laces as Reika chuckled and taught her how to properly tie them before they set foot outside.

“Oh right, did you finally decide on a new name for yourself? I'd like to get you that new ID so you can start going to school.” Reika stated.

“Yeah, Serika Midoriya.”

“Serika Midoriya huh? Were you inspired by that manga you've been hooked to?" Reika giggled.

“Yeah, though I doubt I'll ever be a hero. Still its nice to be able to finally read and watch things I've always wanted to check out."

"You've got the green hair now too. Besides, if you became a detective like me you could definitely help people. Though I'd suggest just living a normal happy life until you truly decide what you wish to do. Don't let me influence your decisions and actions. Now one more question, why did you choose chartreuse sneakers?"

“Because I like the color!”

“All I needed to hear.”

The two laughed  and smiled as they walked down the street. On September 9th 2017, Serika's new life was about to start.