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Ochaco checked her notes one last time before stepping into the community centre playroom. She was here for a work-study assignment focused on "Relatable Heroics"—learning to support citizens with diverse needs. Her charge for the afternoon was 15-year-old girl with big, curious eyes and a pair of noise-cancelling headphones resting around her neck.

"Hi! I’m Ochaco," she said with a warm, bubbly wave.

You didn't look up from the wooden blocks you were lining up. You didn't say a word. Ochaco remembered the briefing: You were autistic and often non-verbal, especially in new environments or when you were deep in focus.

Instead of hovering or forcing a conversation, Ochaco sat on the floor a respectful distance away. She pulled a small, plush toy from her pocket and placed it gently on the floor.

"I’m just going to hang out here, okay?"

For twenty minutes, the only sound was the clack-clack of blocks. Ochaco waited patiently, occasionally humming a soft tune. Slowly, you shifted. She reached out, grabbed the plushie, and tucked it into the crook of her arm. Then, you pointed to a block that had rolled too far away for you to reach.

"You want that one?" Ochaco asked softly.

You nodded once, a sharp, clear movement. Ochaco used her quirk, tapping the block with her fingertips to make it weightless. It drifted over to you like a little bubble.

"Floating is my superpower," Ochaco explained, matching your quiet energy. "But patience is yours. You’re doing a great job building that tower."

Ochaco felt a rush of warmth that rivalled the feeling of winning a battle. She didn't need words to know they were friends.

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