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Ojiro could tell something was wrong with Hagakure.
The invisible girl, usually bubbly and cheery, was unusually quiet and withdrawn. So much so that during hero training All Might had asked if the mentioned girl was out sick- not realizing she was in the room with everyone.
“I’m here…” She spoke, startling both Kirishima and Iida beside her. Even her voice lacked her usual joy. “Sorry, All Might…”
“What? No, my dear! Don’t apologize!” All Might told her, embarrassment on his face at his misstep. “I’m so sorry my girl. I’m glad you are here with us today.”
Mistake or not, it clearly did a number on Hagakure’s mood. Before long, it truly did feel like she was out sick. Hagakure stayed out of sight and range, her invisible suit turned on even when practice was over. When she slipped away during training, no one noticed.
Well, except for Ojiro.
Watching the gym doors fall shut, Oijro felt himself start to grow concerned about his friend. He needed to go after her. Looking around the room, he casually made his way to the doors, hoping no one would notice two students missing from class that day. With a flash, he was out as well.
“Hagakure?” He called out, walking along the U-A courtyard as he searched for his friend. “Hagakure, it’s me! Oijro! Where are you?”
He was about to turn down a new corner when he heard it. Soft sniffles coming from behind one of the dorm buildings. The tailed student quickly made his way over to the sound.
“Toru?” He asked, heart breaking when he found her. Her invisible suit was visible again, her knees brought up to her face and arms wrapped around them. Her shoulders shook with tears as sobs racked her body, each one just as heartbreaking as the one before.
“Oh, Toru…” Ojiro came over and sat beside his friend, wrapping his tail around her from behind and pulling her close. Hagakure froze, startled when she realized she wasn’t alone. “M-Mashi?” She whimpered, looking up at him. If he could see her face, he’d imagine it was tear stained. “Yeah, it’s me.” He told her.
The invisible girl let out a weak wail and clung to his chest, burying her face into his collar as she cried. Ojiro’s arms came around her tightly, rocking her gently as he whispered words of comfort to her. “Hey, hey, it’s gonna be okay. You’re gonna be okay.”
After some time, the girl pulled back, reaching up and wiping at her face with a strangled sob. “I-I hate my quirk!” She choked, earning a shocked look from her friend. “What? What do you mean?”
“I’m so….invisible! No matter how many cute outfits I wear, or how bubbly I act, I’m never gonna be attractive to anyone! And that’s not all! You saw what happened in class today; I didn’t even have my invisible suit on, yet All Might didn’t even know I was there! No one did!” She sniffled again, reaching up and wiping at her face with her hands. “It’s like I have to fight to be acknowledged, you know? Even when I’m not feeling my best, I need to act like I’m okay, or people will forget about me!” Sighing, she looked up at Ojiro, her shoulders slumping. “I know this sounds ungrateful. There are thousands of people in our world who’d kill to have a quirk like mine. I just...really hate it.”
Ojiro listened quietly to the girl's words, watching as she ducked her head in shame and misery. Finally, he spoke. “You’re not ungrateful Toru. Not at all.” When she startled, he reached out, taking her hand in his. “I might not know what it’s like to be invisible, but I can understand hating our quirks.” He flicked his tail subconsciously, briefly gathering Hagakure’s attention.
“I think what’s important is that our quirks aren’t what define us. We define ourselves. It’s perfectly normal to have days where we hate our quirks, just as it’s normal to love them.” He let his tail lift up and gently brush against Hagakure’s cheek, making her scrunch and giggle. “And for the record, you’re not invisible to me. Even when you’re not your usual self. I’ll always be here looking for you.”
Hagakure was quiet, thinking over what Ojiro had just said. Finally, she reached out, gathering his tail in her arms and pressing her face into the soft tuft of hair. “Thanks, Mashi. For the record also...I think your quirk is something worth loving too.” She hugged it close, making the other student smile. “I’m grateful to you for coming to find me. And for caring about me so.”
Ojiro nodded, his tail flicking with happiness upon hearing her smile. Hagakure giggled again, moving away from the tail. “You’re tickling me!”
“Oh, am I?” He teased, now intentionally flicking his tail along her face and shoulders, making the smaller hero squeal and giggle. “Yehahhahahahhahahase! Mahahahahhashi!” God he missed her laugh. It was so sweet sounding and happy.
Deciding he wanted to hear more, he moved his tail and darted his hands out and gently wiggled them along her waist, earning even more sweet giggles and laughter from the invisible girl. “Come on, let me hear that smile of yours!” He teased gently, grinning when she fell into him, laughing and squealing as she caught his hands in hers. “Mahahahahashi! Pleehehehehehhehase!”
Ojiro was about to go for her knees when someone cleared their throat. “So this is where you’ve two been.”
Hagakure squeaked and fell back, and Ojiro whipped around to find Aizawa standing there. “A-Aizawa Sensei! S-Sorry, we were, I was-” Ojiro scrambled for an explanation, only to be cut off by their teacher.
“Hagakure. Are you feeling better?” He asked, surprising both students. “Oh, um...y-yes sir. I do. I’m sorry for skipping class.” She got up and bowed, Ojiro doing the same. “Please forgive us.”
There was a brief moment of silence before Aizawa responded. Oijro and Hagakure felt a hand pat their heads, making them both look up. “I’ll let this slide for now. Next time however, I won’t be so kind. Next time just tell me where you’re going.”
Both students nodded, relief flooding their beings, along with happiness. “Yes sir!”