Chapter Text
There wasn’t much to do at three in the morning.
Izuku lazily thumbed at the buttons on his handheld, making his little avatar walk around aimlessly. All the shops were closed, none of the trees had any fruit to pick, and you could only fish so many times in a row before it got old.
But Izuku couldn’t sleep, nor did he particularly want to stop playing yet. He liked the nice limbo that he felt- his mind was too preoccupied with worrying about fruit and bells and how to make his (in his opinion) boring-looking town into something amazing, to worry about real-life problems.
Besides, the music was nice.
A spark of an idea flashed in Izuku’s mind, and he headed towards the train station. Maybe someone had left their gate open on Nearby- you didn’t need any friend codes for that; you could just walk in. Visiting others’ towns was something Izuku loved to do- on Nearby mode, it felt more intimate to him, as if he was visiting a neighbor, in a way. Sort of. There was always a chance he could know the person the town belonged to! And even if he didn’t, the person couldn’t be that far away from him.
The idea made him feel a little warm inside.
It looks like SATSU is open to visitors! Would you like to travel there right now?
Izuku balked at that name- SATSU? Who screamed their town name? Who names their town Murder? Oh, sorry- MURDER?
Maybe it was one of those horror-themed towns! Izuku had seen online that those were getting more and more popular.
But would that be a good idea at three in the morning?
Well, Izuku thought, I’m not doing anything else! I’ve seen a lot of scary stuff, a town won’t be that bad! Compared to what he had faced at USJ, a horror-themed Animal Crossing town was no comparison.
Besides! If it’s REALLY that bad, I can just come back!
He smiled at his screen and hopped on the train to Satsu.
Satsu was not a horror-themed town.
When Izuku got to the other town, the first thing he noticed was its flag. It seemed to be… explosion themed? It reminded him of Kacchan! Not so much of a scary murder-town.
He stepped off the train station, and was greeted by… if he were to be honest, his new favorite town.
Izuku had seen his fair share of lovely towns. He’s frequented dream towns, keeping a log of the codes of the ones he liked, drawing inspiration from the many different styles for the aesthetic of his own town.
But this? This seemed more… intimate.
It seemed to be themed to a forest- what Izuku wouldn’t give to see this place during the day! The trees were close together and the walkways were winding in such a way that it gave a sense of privacy from the world, as if shielding Satsu’s resident from any prying eyes. He was about to start walking deeper into the town, then he remembered- the message board! Mayors usually put some sort of rules there as to what to do in the town! Or something funny. Maybe Satsu’s mayor had something to say about his town? It wouldn’t hurt to check.
DON’T TAKE MY FRUIT. DON’T TAKE MY JACOB’S LADDER. IF YOU EVEN THINK OF TOUCHING MY JACOB’S LADDERS I WILL ACTUALLY FIGHT YOU IRL. I WILL DO IT, THAT’S WHY I ONLY HAVE NEARBY ON.
Tsuki-chan
Satsu’s Mayor’s name was Tsuki-chan? That was the cutest name Izuku had ever seen! What was someone with such a cute, soft-sounding name doing with Murder-town the forest paradise with the aggressive warning note? And Jacob’s Ladders? You only get those when your town is in perfect condition!
Izuku wondered if he would see one. Maybe he could get on Tsuki-chan’s good side by watering it? Or leaving a present? Or something. He started on the winding path, holding back from running because he wanted to take in the scenery. He knew first-hand how hard it was to design a town like this- Tsuki-chan must be super committed to their game if their town looked like this! And why wasn’t it a dream town? It was cute enough to be!
Maybe, Izuku wondered to himself, Tsuki-chan is like me. They like privacy, and intimacy? Coziness? Satsu screamed cozy-ness; despite the name, it was a clear respite from the world, just like how Izuku’s own town was for him.
He still half-expected something to jump out at him, though.
Seriously, why SATSU?
The dissonance between the coziness of the town so far and Tsuki-chan’s name versus the name SATSU and the threatening message board, still left Izuku reeling.
Would Tsuki-chan actually show up and fight him if he touched their prized rare flowers?
Who knew.
Going off that flag, they probably had an explosive personality.
Izuku laughed to himself softly- he was easily amused at this hour.
The Kacchan-ness of the whole town amused him, as well. He imagined Kacchan, hunched over a DS and furiously tapping at things and moving trees around, and he laughed again.
He wondered what a town made by Kacchan would look like. It probably would be a horror-town.
Not like this town.
As he went deeper, the trees dispersed, intercut by hydrangea bushes. Occasionally, there were beacon fires- a stood up torch- to light the way.
He heard some rustling over the background music, and he stopped in his tracks.
Was something really going to jump out at him?
Was Satsu really a horror town all along and Tsuki-chan is just REALLY good at horror? Was this just their ploy to get me to let my guard down? Is that why they have their gate open at three in the morning? To get unsuspecting people like me to walk in and then jump them with the things they’ve prepared?
Izuku found himself gripping his DS a little harder. Whatever it was, he was prepared! He came into this expecting a scary town, so he was totally ready for whatever Tsuki-chan had planned!
He walked forward, and came upon… another avatar. One with blond hair, red walnut-shaped eyes, and was that an Aggretsuko letterman?
Never mind that for now. This must be Tsuki-chan! Izuku thought to himself. But why do they look so much like…
Then, it clicked.
The avatar. The message board. The flag. The town name.
Could this really be…
Kacchan?
Izuku’s eyes widened in realization. “Wait!” He whisper-shouted, out loud.
“Tsuki-chan… Kacchan… Katsuki… Tsuki…!”
His eyes were huge as he noticed Tsuki-chan’s avatar was staring him down. He hoped, if this really was Kacchan, that he didn’t catch onto who Izuku was. He doubt that he would appreciate Izuku’s intrusion on what was most likely supposed to be private. He didn’t think anything about his appearance was particularly telling- His outfit was a recreation of All Might’s hero costume, including a hat that looked like his hair. He had the username 129, as he first got the game in middle school, and he didn’t want to risk any of his classmates stumbling across him on Nearby and making fun of him for playing. It was a fairly clever pun, and he grew to like it- Ichi, two, ku. Sure, in order for it to work, one of the numbers has to be in English, but he thought it was clever nonetheless.
Izuku pulled up his menu and selected an emotion, making his avatar smile and wave at Tsuki-chan. He quickly selected another one, and his avatar clapped. He hoped Tsuki-chan got the message that he thought their town was wonderful!
He seemed to, as Tsuki-chan struck a pose for him. Showoff! Izuku thought. I mean, I guess Tsuki-chan earned the right to show off!
Tsuki-chan turned around to continue what it was they were doing- oh! Izuku had just noticed the watering can in their hands.
Watering their bushes, of course. They wouldn’t look this nice all on their own. But! He smiled at the screen. That means Tsuki-chan has no problems with me!
An idea crossed Izuku’s mind.
His own watering can was still in his inventory- he took it out and had his avatar make a questioning expression at Tsuki-chan. Is it okay if I help you?
To his surprise, Tsuki-chan’s avatar nodded, so Izuku took his place at the bushes on the other side of the walkway, and started to water.
Was this really, really Kacchan? Izuku thought to himself. Did he catch on and is just pretending to not know who I am? Kacchan’s so smart, I bet he could figure out the pun easy! If it’s him, he’d be so mad at me! He obviously doesn’t want anyone to know he plays! Should I just leave once I’m done?
He glanced at Tsuki-chan, who was still diligently watering their bushes.
Is… it bad that I want this to be Kacchan? Kacchan hates me, but… he’s being so nice right now! If it is him. Is it even good that I want to be with Kacchan? Am I just… setting myself up for hurt?
No!
He’s- he’s changing! I can see it! He’s not mean to me anymore, he has friends, he’s kind of mellowing out a little! And he’ll mellow out more!
Maybe we can be friends again! If not at school, then maybe here?
I wonder what Kacchan is like when nobody’s around to see him…?
He has a reputation! I guess that would be important to him! He always did have a big ego… maybe he’s scared of doing something that doesn’t match what people think he would do?
Like play Animal Crossing!
That would make sense. Kacchan’s so prideful, of course he’d have secrets! Like that one time he broke his leg in middle school! He couldn’t hide that but he yelled at anyone who pointed it out- even his own friends!
And he smacked me in the leg with one of his crutches.
And then I saw him trying to hop without them! His friends were encouraging him!
Izuku frowned at the memory. Kacchan had fallen over trying to hop- more than once! But his friends didn’t even try to help him up, or even get him to stop! Izuku knew that Kacchan would’ve been mad if they’d tried, but he was hurting!
Izuku almost went up to Kacchan, guaranteed hostility be damned, and tried to help him up.
Almost.
Kacchan would’ve seen that as worse than falling over. He would have probably seen it as worse than breaking his leg at all.
Does Kacchan not like help at all? Or is it just my help that he doesn’t like?
Maybe I could ask him one day. When we’re a little closer!
Maybe we can finally talk about it.
Kacchan didn’t seem to hate help in general- here Izuku was, helping him right now! But maybe it’s because Kacchan is different if he has that shield of anonymity? Or was it because of the hour? People did tend to be different when tired.
If this even was Kacchan.
Either way, this was nice.
Helping the mayor of Murdertown with their flowers.
If it really was Kacchan, it made this moment all the more special, in Izuku’s eyes.
He tried not to focus on whether or not he should be feeling like this about Kacchan, and just continued to help.
The flower bushes had ended a little ways back, giving way to regular flowers. These ones were orange lilies.
Izuku wondered where Tsuki-chan kept the Jacob’s Ladders. Maybe Tsuki-chan would show him, or they’d come across one!
Izuku’s never seen a Jacob’s Ladder in-game before. He wondered, if he friended Tsuki-chan, and asked really nicely, if they would show him?
Or maybe Tsuki-chan would appreciate less timid-ness? Taking the initiative! Even if they weren’t Kacchan, they seemed to be a headstrong type of person! Maybe they would be annoyed by something along the lines of your town is so nice! could i maybe, if you want, see the jacob’s ladders? i won’t take any! please?
They had reached the end of the trail, and Izuku noticed that the rest of the foliage in this new area were all watered. His eyes flicked to Tsuki-chan, and seeing them put their own watering can away, he did the same.
It was now or never! Maybe.
Maybe Tsuki-chan wasn’t going to bed and he had a little more time! But maybe they were. Who knows! Not Izuku. He needed to be friends with this person.
Even if this was Kacchan. Especially if this was Kacchan.
He was done shying away and letting Kacchan do whatever! He was done a long time ago. Izuku wanted him and Kacchan to talk, and even though he couldn’t force Kacchan to talk to him- in fact, it would be better if Kacchan came himself, it wouldn’t hurt for Izuku to sort-of, nudge him along?
Maybe this encounter is exactly what the two of them needed!
And if it wasn’t Kacchan, Izuku would have a new friend! If they weren’t Kacchan, they sure seemed to have the same pride and assertiveness as Kacchan- so maybe they would know what to do?
He sent the friend request.
After a couple of seconds, the little indicator popped up. Tsuki-chan accepted it! Izuku’s heart was going a mile a minute. He wanted to be Best Friends, so him and Tsuki-chan could talk, but he couldn’t make them Best Friends. It had to be Tsuki-chan, that was how the game worked.
So Izuku improvised.
Two emotions: Love, for the little heart indicator on the friends list, and Thought, for the thought bubble.
C’mon! Please, understand! I want to talk to you! Please!
Tsuki-chan stood still.
Izuku held his breath.
Another indicator popped up. Izuku raced to see for real- yes! Tsuki-chan had understood, and agreed! Out of curiosity, he quickly checked Tsuki-chan’s Town Player Card.
Tsuki-chan was striking an irritated pose in their picture, wearing the same thing they did that night. Izuku smiled a little. It fit Kacchan’s personality- and Tsuki’s, he supposed. He quickly skimmed the rest of the info.
“YOU CAN LOOK BUT YOU CAN’T TOUCH”
Shizuoka Prefecture
SATSU
Mayor Tsuki-chan
Birthday April 20
There was no way this all was a coincidence.
No way there was another hotheaded guy who lived in Shizuoka Prefecture with a birthday on April 20 who looked like that and had “Tsuki” in their name.
Or- his name, the card’s color had confirmed that Tsuki-chan was, in fact, male.
There was no way this wasn’t Kacchan. No way on this Earth.
Izuku had already made the first step, and he had to follow through. His heart beat with excitement and anxiety.
Tsuki-chan: wow. can’t believe All Might likes my town.
Tsuki-chan: can’t believe All Might took a break from hero work. to water my flowers.
Izuku’s hands shook as he typed out a message. Remember, don’t be timid. Impress him!
129: do not worry!! why not?
129: because i am here!! to water your flowers!!
Wow, that was the absolute worst! Izuku mentally slapped himself and prepared for Kacchan to know who he was instantly.
Tsuki-chan: hahahahaha.
Tsuki-chan: fucking nerd.
Tsuki-chan: you wanted to talk?
129: yeah! i was just wondering, if i could see your jacob’s ladders?
129: i want to steal one! (^～^)
Tsuki-chan: HEY.
129: it was a joke!!
Tsuki-chan: better f in be.
Tsuki-chan: follow me.
Without waiting for an affirmative, Tsuki-chan started down a path, Izuku hurrying to catch up. This was going better than Izuku thought! Did he really think Izuku’s All Might joke was funny?
He tried to ignore the fluttering in his heart.
Tsuki-chan: here we are.
He stood next to a garden area, where there were a cluster of Jacob’s Ladders. Izuku stared at the layout- it was amazing! Kacchan was good at a lot of things, so it makes sense that he would be good at this, too.
129: i love your town!! it’s so cute!! so pretty!!
129: the layouts!! everything!! i love it so much! you’re amazing!
Tsuki-chan: flattering me won’t get me to give you one.
129: that’s not what i meant by that at all!!
129: i’m sorry!! please don’t be mad!!
So much for being assertive.
Tsuki-chan: oh my god wedge that stick out of your a.
Tsuki-chan: i thought you would fire back. or something.
Tsuki-chan: i don’t bite. promise.
Tsuki-chan: fire’s more my specialty.
Did… did Kacchan want an argument? Was this was one of those friendly banter things?
He doesn’t know who you are. Just go for it!
129: oh really? i couldnt tell because all your insults are so dull!
Tsuki-chan: HAHAHA
Tsuki-chan: f that was a good one. im totally f ing stealing that and using it.
Tsuki-chan: theres this a hole in my school that that would be perfect against.
Tsuki-chan: f ing fire quirk b tch.
129: oh? what school?
Tsuki-chan: not telling. what if we went to the same school?
Tsuki-chan: it would actually kill me.
129: not if i kill you first!
Was he doing this right? Was that a non-banter time?
Tsuki-chan: haha. you’re good at this.
Tsuki-chan: if you were a hero you’d be pretty f ing menacing.
Tsuki-chan: if i was a villain and the hero started bantering back better than me, i’d be pretty shaken.
“If you were a hero?” Was this really Kacchan talking? Where was- where was the gloating? The pride? The arrogance? The… anything?
129: oh but im not studying to be a hero!
129: i wanted to get into ua but…
129: :(
Something twisted in Izuku’s stomach at the lie. But if Kacchan were to find out who he was, it would be a disaster.
Izuku wasn’t willing to throw this away to avoid the possibility.
Tsuki-chan: i’m gonna make you really jealous then
Tsuki-chan: because i know we don’t go to the same school
Tsuki-chan: i can tell you that. i actually go to ua
129: WOW REALLY? THAT’S AWESOME!! YOU’RE SO AWESOME!!
It was Kacchan, it was! There was no way it wasn’t! Izuku’s body was buzzing with energy and feelings and his heart almost leapt right out of his chest.
Tsuki-chan: heh. guess i am.
Tsuki-chan: and don’t you forget it, nerd.
129: don’t you have school tomorrow though?
Tsuki-chan: it’s not that late.
129: tsuki… its 3:30…
Tsuki-chan: WHAT.
Izuku couldn’t help snort at that.
Tsuki-chan: I’VE BEEN HERE SINCE LIKE 6
129: dont worry, i get lost in the relaxation too!
Tsuki-chan: OH MY GOD. GOOD F ING NIGHT NERD.
129: wait!! are you gonna be here tomorrow?
Tsuki-chan: yeah. at 6ish. thats when i usually play.
129: i’ll be here!! do not worry!!
Tsuki-chan: dont nerd too hard it might actually kill you.
Tsuki-chan: now get out of my town. im gonna close the gate.
129: ok!! good night!! (ﾉ´ヮ´)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧
Izuku made his avatar give Tsuki-chan a little wave as he scurried back to the train station, and back to his own town.
Even so soon after this encounter ending, he wondered if it really happened.
I met Kacchan on Animal Crossing. I watered his flowers- he has FLOWERS! I insulted him and he liked it! We’re friends! And I’m gonna talk to him again tonight!
He almost missed the little indicator.
A present. From Tsuki-chan.
Izuku held his breath as he opened it.
“FOR YOU. I’VE GOT A LOT OF THEM ANYWAY.”
A Jacob’s ladder.