CHAPTER TWO: DISCOVERY

Kumo woke with a start, sunlight glaring right in her eyes as she rolled over in bed to check her
phone. ‘Shit…. I slept in’ She mentally cursed, noticing a text from Uraraka. ‘No school today
huh? Shit…. How am I gonna get the notes from Deku now?’

Groaning inwardly, she sent a text off to Izuku, asking him if they could meet up to go over
notes. She rolled off from bed, stretching before getting ready for the day ahead.

Last night had been such a trainwreck, she’d arrived home to Nyoko and Irren sleeping in a
blanket fort, and after relocating them both to a bed, she passed out on the couch. Luckily
enough, there was a note left on her coffee table from Nyoko telling her of how he left for the
day but set Irren up with some homework to keep her busy while Kumo rested up.

Breathing a sigh of relief, she got dressed and headed downstairs to grab a bite to eat and
check in on Irren. Of course, she’d find the child was seated at the counter with a bowl of cereal
and a little book she was trying to read.

“Hey there squirt, you have fun with Nyoko yesterday?” She asked, pulling up a stool to sit
beside the little one.

“Mmmhm! We- We ate ice cream and got ta play in the park but- but he had’ta go ta work so…
so I reading” Irren held up the upside-down book for Kumo to examine.

The elder, of course, took the time to upright the book. “Goofball.” She shook her head, ruffling
Irren’s hair. “Let’s get you ready for daycare okay? I know I don’t have school today but I need
to do big kid things. Special surprises for my little marshmallow, got that?”

“Heehee!! Can we um… Can we walk in- in the park?”

“Only for a little bit, okay? Now you sit still so I can brush your hair, you chose a really pretty
outfit today. The ducky overalls are your favorite aren’t they?” Kumo asked, gently running her
fingers through Irren’s hair to part it into different sections. “Should I put the ducky bow in your
hair so it matches?”

Irren gasped with delight, flapping her hands eagerly which prompted Umbra to do the same.
“Yes!!! “
“Alright, Alright. Sit still for me then okay? “ The cloud kid instructed, gently putting two pigtails in
the child’s hair, securing the ducky bow on the left one and a plain blue bow on the other.
“There! You look absolutely stunning!”

A ding would ring out as Irren leaped out of her chair, running around to show off her outfit to
anyone who passed in front of the shop. It was of course a text from Izuku. His mom wasn’t
letting him leave so soon after enduring everything that occurred yesterday, so she’d have to go
to him. He texted her his address and with that, Kumo was mostly prepared to head out.

“Irren let’s get our shoes on now okay? Can you show me how to tie them again?” She asked,
slipping on her shoes before kneeling to watch Irren tie them.

“You gotta make the bunny go under the loop and- and come out” Irren attempted to explain as
she tied Kumoko’s shoes.

“Right!” Kumo exclaimed, tying Irren’s shoes before grabbing their backpacks. “Here ya go
squirt!”

“I’m notta squirt! I- I’m a washing mashing!!”

“You’re a what?” Kumo struggled not to laugh, amused by the child’s antics as Irren slipping her
own bag over her shoulders.

“A washing mashing” She repeated, pursing her lips at Kumo as she puffed out her cheeks in
defiance.

All Kumo could do was give a little shake of her head, taking the washing mashing by the hand.
“Alright then Miss Washing Mashing. Hold me and Umbra’s hand while we go to daycare okay?
And if you’re very very good for Mr.Nyoko, I’ll take you to the gamestore!”

Irren’s eyes widened to the size of saucers as Umbra took on a vague human shape beside her,
holding her hand as they exited the shop. “Can- Can we get games at Gamestore?”

“We can try, but you have to be super duper good for Nyoko okay? “

“Okay!!” Irren nodded, trying to swing herself between Kumo and Umbra’s arms. “I’m- I’m an
airplane now but I- I gotta be swung because I- I don’t have wings”

The child was swung gently in response to this, giggling a storm when she’d swing forwards and
backwards. It wasn’t too long before they arrived at the daycare which, much to Kumo’s dismay,
was closed for maintenance.
“Dammit…” Kumoko checked her phone, trying to figure out what to do now. The only logical
way forward was to take Irren with her but… she didn’t want to impose. Perhaps she could just
swing by with Irren to pick up the notebook and then return it to Deku at school? Yeah…. Yeah
that would work!

“Okay Little Bird, Nyoko’s not working today so we’re gonna go visit my friend from school. Is
that okay?”

“Okay!” She beamed, reaching up to be let onto Kumo’s shoulders for a piggy-back ride.

The older sister shook her head, chuckling to herself as she knelt, hoisting her sister onto her
shoulders before heading off towards Deku’s apartment. Thankfully, it wasn’t that far from the
cafe, in fact… It was only three blocks away. Much closer than the daycare, but still a decent
walk considering the traffic. Thankfully Umbra wasn’t clinging to Irren today because the journey
would be much more difficult with his added weight.

“Can we play with- with your friend? Did- Is- He-... Did he like drawing?” Irren asked as they
approached the apartment complex, leaning her head back to look at the blue sky above.

“He likes to write. Maybe you two could write a story together. “ Kumo suggested, checking her
phone once more to ensure she had the right address. “You gotta get off my shoulders now,
okay Irren? We’re gonna go in a elevator and you gotta hold my hand to be safe”

The child paused a moment before slipping herself down to the ground, her shoes clacking
gently upon contact with the pavement below. Umbra slithered close, shrinking down to fit into
Kumo’s shadow as they stepped into the outside lift.

Irren gave a little tug on Kumo, prompting her to look down as the child asked- “Can I press the
button?”

A smile crossed her lips as she gently lifted Irren by her hips. “Press the third button sweetie,
the one that has a three”

“Boop”

“Good job!!” Kumo applauded, setting Irren down as the lift began traveling upwards, gently
swinging the child’s arm to keep her occupied until the lift lurched to a stop on the third floor,
doors opening just in time to see Deku exiting his apartment down the hall.

“Deku!” She called out, waving her arm to get his attention. “Hey!”

“Kumo you made it!” He exclaimed, running over to them both. “Awe… Is this your little sister?”
“Yeah, so sorry about that. The daycare was closed and I didn’t have anyone else to watch her-”

“That’s okay” Deku beamed a bright smile at them both, kneeling down to address Irren. “I’m
Izuku! But you can call me Deku, what’s your name?”

Umbra reared over Irren, towering over Deku in turn to strike should he dare attack his keeper.
And just as Izuku’s eyes wandered upward to meet Umbra’s abyssal gaze, Irren loudly and
proudly announced- “I’m a Washing Maching!” - to which Umbra liquified against the floor in
amusement of the child’s response.

The verdette blanked, staring at the air with disbelief, before his head tilting to the side slightly“A
wa-”

‘Oh my god he thinks we’re insane’

“Her name is Irren” Kumo interjected quickly, trying to laugh off the situation as she lifted Irren
up into her arms. “And the shadow is Umbra, he’s her quirk. A erm… living shadow thing, kinda
like Tokoyami I guess heheh…”

With a shake of his head, Izuku was back in the moment, shooting to his feet with excitement.
“That’s so cool! Is he like Dark Shadow? Can he fly or is he confined to the ground? Does he-”

“Izuku?” A voice called out from the still open door down the hall, prompting Midoriya to jump,
slapping his hands over his mouth when he realised the rambling he’d been subjecting them to.

“Sorry!! Uh, coming Mom! “ He called back, sheepishly rubbing the nape of his neck. “Erm… My
mom made lunch for us, she kinda went overboard so I’m sure we’ll have enough for you and
Irren both”