6

4:30 PM, Saturday(First Reset)

The call picked up after a single ring, Uraraka's altered voice flowing smoothly through the microphone.

"Hey, Tsukauchi. Hope you're doing well."

"Hello, Prophet. I still have no idea how you got this number."

It was easy for Izuku to get the man's cell number after their earlier hack(not that they wanted to admit that to a detective), and a lot safer to call him with their information directly.

"I can see the future." Uraraka reminded the man. "That really shouldn't surprise you."

Tsukauchi sighed. "I guess not."

"Speaking of which! Today, at around 7:20 PM, there's a big bank robbery-the one about...five blocks east of Mt. Agency." 

"What? No one hits that one. It's way too close to most hero patrols, not to mention our precinct..."

"Well, they did." Uraraka said simply. "There were five of them, in masks. At least two carried guns."

"Do you know any of their quirks?"

"Nope. I only saw their ringleader's-some kind of fire. That's how they escaped. No one was killed, but there were a lot of injuries in their getaway..."

"Alright." There was a pause, likely the detective writing notes. "Your quirk has definitely been accurate in cases so far. Thanks for the information, as always, though I can't help but wish you did this through official channels..."

"You know that wouldn't be the best idea, with a quirk like mine." Uraraka spoke a bit slower here, making sure she got the wording right. "I'm not in a stable position like Sir Nighteye, and there are plenty of people who'd want to know the future for their own ends."

"...I suppose that's true."

"Until next time then, detective." She hung up before he could respond-not very Uraraka-like, but very much a 'mysterious informant' thing to do.

After seeing how much Prophet had changed the outcome of that day, it was hard to resist using the name again. And again. Simply telling the well-connected detective about an appearance of villains and what they knew about it was almost always enough to make a major difference in a situation.

Prophet represented both of them, and while originally created as a way to discreetly pass on information and get around the detective's quirk, it was quickly becoming their own persona.

Unless they actually went out and solved foreseen villain incidents themselves, Prophet couldn't be considered a vigilante. What they were doing was completely legal. 

But as the detective understood, foresight quirks were incredibly valued. So while they couldn't get in trouble with the law, they had to be very careful dropping tips.

They didn't actually have visions of future events-just Izuku's memories of watching the news. They knew the basics and the time an event happened, yet none of the specifics. 

If Izuku was being honest, that really bugged him. The bank robbery they told Tsukauchi about-Izuku knew almost nothing about it but the time it happened. The detective's actions could make things go worse.

Of course, Izuku could learn about an event, Reset, go there and get all the information himself, Reset again, and then tell Tsukauchi everything. But a teenager wouldn't be allowed near a villian attack(for good reason) and his very presence could drastically affect what happens...

A sudden poke to his shoulder broke him out of his thoughts with a jolt.

"Are you trying to give me a headache?" Uraraka teased. Izuku blinked.

"Uraraka, was I-"

"Muttering? Yeah." Uraraka shrugged. "I love hearing your thought process, though, so I let you go for a while. Stop making that guilty face."

Guilty face? "Thanks. I didn't think you'd actually remember to poke me" Izuku admitted, rubbing his shoulder. "Ow."

Uraraka grinned. "Never underestimate me, Izuku-kun. But you're right, we need to be more careful about the tips we give, especially when we don't know everything about the incident."

They left for the beach, his mom warning him not to bring back sand again as they jogged out the doorway.

Blocks passed behind them, Uraraka ranting lightly about her English homework. Izuku was easily fluent after a bit of practice and his quirk, something that made her adorably annoyed. 

Izuku noticed everything he experienced. If something didn't immediately prick at his attention, he'd notice it later when he read through the memory. So, he knew that the black cat behind them was actively following them for some reason, turning where they did, keeping the same distance away from them. Hm.

"Can we stop for a second?" Izuku asked. Uraraka nodded, albeit confused.

The black cat padded closer and closer to them as they paused on the sidewalk, its bright yellow eyes seeming almost intelligent. It stopped at Uraraka's feet, rubbing its furry head on her ankle.

Uraraka squealed , immediately bending down to pet the creature. "Oh my god , she's the cutest cat I've ever seen."

The cat didn't shy away from her hand, just continuing to gaze up at her as she stroked her fur. 

Izuku squatted down next to her, hesitantly reaching out as well. His eyes widened. "Wow, are all cats this soft?"

"Depends." Uraraka answered, her face stretched with a wide smile. "Strays like her usually aren't, though."

"How do you know she's a stray?" Izuku asked.

"People in Musutafu usually put thin collars on them to tell." The cat leaned into Uraraka's hand a bit as she petted her neck, and the girl seemed to melt.

Izuku watched the cat's eyes fix on Uraraka's, glancing at him from time to time. She slowly backed away from the two of them, turning to walk away. 

Then the cat stopped and looked back, and Izuku realized that she wanted them to follow her.

"Do cats...usually do that?"

Uraraka stared as the cat flicked her head at them again. "I don't know. Should we..."

"Don't worry." The girl patted the cat next to her, and the tabby leaned into her palm. Her lips curled up the slightest bit. "I have Star here, to protect me."

That had to be one of the weirdest conversations he'd been in. He was almost glad when she wandered away, her cat clinging to her shoulder almost protectively. 

Izuku wondered if Star had a quirk.

Izuku hummed. "Let's see what she wants."

He didn't have to tell Uraraka twice, the girl excitedly following after the creature.

The cat walked a little faster, now that they'd made their choice, glancing back every now and then. Minutes and several turns passed, the buildings giving way for more trees as they got closer to the edge of the city.

Izuku looked up at the meow to see a shrine at the very top of a hill, a huge number of steps building up to it. The cat paused for a second to let them take in the sight before steadily padding up the steps.

Uraraka sighed, and Izuku nearly did too. That many stairs were never a fun time.

The cat seemed to be completely fine, somehow, and that was probably the most annoying part as they huffed up the many, many stone steps, the shrine getting closer and closer into view. They were both a little tired when they finally reached the top. 

The shrine itself was a small wooden building, traditionally designed and decorated and surrounded with a forest of green. It was beautiful and somehow nostalgic in a way only historical artifacts could manage.

What drew Izuku's attention were the dozens and dozens of cats laying over the ground in front of them, even on the steps of the shrine itself. There were all kinds of colors and breeds, some awake and some asleep. 

It was a cat haven.

"Whoa." Uraraka breathed. "I've never seen so many cats before, all in the same spot. Why are they all here?"

Izuku pointed. "I think I figured out why."

Laying down near the mass of cats was a familiar blue-haired girl. She was curled into them, asleep, and some of the awake ones lightly stepped around her. 

As they watched, the black cat next to them slowly stalked over, skillfully wading around felines until she made her way to the girl and...booped her on the nose.

The mysterious girl woke up, intelligent gray eyes focusing on the two of them.

"Hello, Uraraka-san, Midoriya-senpai."

"You're that girl, from before. How do you know our names?" Uraraka asked, surprised.

"Her quirk let's her learn through her cats, somehow." Izuku answered for her. "It's logical to assume that she's heard us talk before."

Also, she just implied that she was an underclassman. Mentally going back through the class lists...

"You're Nono Seika, right?" Izuku guessed.

Nono nodded, absentmindedly stroking the black cat. Her face was still blank. "You're very observant, Midoriya-senpai. My quirk, Feline, let's me access the senses of every cat in the city while I'm asleep, as well as view their memories."

Uraraka's eyes widened. "Wow, that's pretty cool. So that's why you're asleep all the time."

"You must know everything that goes on in this city." Izuku realized, amazed.

"Everything that the wandering strays see, yes. I know about Perfect Recall, Reset, and Prophet." Izuku narrowed his eyes. "I won't tell anyone, though."

"What did you call us here for then, Nono?" Uraraka asked. 

"I'm here to make the both of you an offer, Uraraka-san, Midoriya-senpai."

Izuku winced. "You really don't need to call me that. What's the offer?"

Nono tilted her head. "Okay, Midoriya-san. I overheard that you needed a way to gather information, especially in a Reset. With my quirk, that's what I do best. I've never been able to do anything with the things I know, you clearly found a way to."

"So you want to help us." Izuku summarized. 

"Not just that. I will support the two of you in your hero careers with my quirk when possible. I'm not planning to be one myself-I want to be a vet, if that wasn't obvious-but I don't really have plans for that future. I will enter U.A's General Education course a year after you do." Izuku wasn't surprised that she knew what school they were planning on.

That was generous, to say the least. "There's something you want, isn't there?"

Nono handed them a picture. Izuku took it curiously, Uraraka leaning over his shoulder to see. 

It was a beautiful silver cat, his blue eyes almost bored as they glanced over at the camera.

"...Do you just have printed pictures of all your cats?" Izuku couldn't help but ask.

"As she should!" Uraraka gestured at all the cats at their feet. "Look at all of them!"

"His name is Mercury." Nono said softly.

"He's really cute-"

"A few hours ago, he got hit by a car."

"-oh my god." Uraraka caught on instantly. "...You want us to save him."

"Yes." Her emotionless voice trembled so slightly that Izuku nearly missed it. "Please."

"When did it happen?" Izuku questioned.

"Sometime between 8 AM and 1 PM. That's when I noticed he was gone, and then found out what happened. I wasn't watching him, and I can't see the memories of cats when they..." Nono trailed off.

A five-hour timeframe. 

"Our save is at 6:40 AM." Izuku mused. "If we come here immediately and ask you to connect to Mercury, can't you just make sure he never goes there in the first place? Because-"

"-even if you don't know where he was, if he's at the shrine there's no chance he gets hurt." Uraraka finished. 

Izuku glanced at her, and she smiled back. 

Nono nodded. "That works. He's probably nearby. My past self would believe you."

An easy resolution. But... "I'm happy using a Reset to save Mercury, offer or not. I'm sure Uraraka is too." Uraraka nodded her assent. "But if we Reset, you won't even remember this conversation. Or have any reason to help us afterward..."

"I can see why you'd think that. But simply mentioning Mercury's name is proof enough that I can trust you. Helping you two with hero work doesn't cost me anything. Also, my father has told me that I need more human friends..."

Izuku blinked, taken aback at the bluntness. Uraraka just grinned. "Of course, we'll be your friends! And save Mercury!"

Nono actually bowed , low enough to make Izuku incredibly awkward. 

"Thank you."

They walked away from the shrine(going down all of those stairs was far easier than going up) and back to Izuku's house to see how the robbery went.

The main difference in the events was Midnight being put on patrol nearby, but she was able to skillfully subdue all of the villains with ease. Izuku learned that another one of the villains had a fire-based quirk, and that another had an enhancer.

He wouldn't tell Tsukauchi about the new information he got this Reset, instead resolving to use the same words as last time. This loop was probably the best-case scenario for the robbery, and he didn't want to risk that. 

Izuku nodded to Uraraka, and she clapped her hands together, familiar phrase on her lips.

"Reset."

Reset

6:40 AM, Saturday(Second Reset)

Izuku smiled. "We've Reset."

"Cool, why? Is this another villain thing?" Uraraka tilted her head.

"Huh? Oh yeah, there was this armed bank robbery. But we can worry about that later."

Uraraka blinked. "That sounds like the more important issue-"

"A cat gets hit by a car in a few hours." Izuku interrupted.

" Where. "

Izuku showed her the entire conversation with Nono. Uraraka took a few seconds to absorb all the information she just absorbed, hand cupping her chin thoughtfully.

"Nono Seika, huh. It's kinda weird going to meet someone for the first time yet already having memories of them. So, do you remember where this cat shrine is, Izuku-kun?" Uraraka joked. 

"I'm pretty sure I do, yeah." Izuku quipped back.

Izuku, like the amazing friend he is, didn't show Uraraka the memory of having to trudge up the stairs. But like the petty person he was, he didn't warn her about them, either.

Izuku was half-expecting Nono to not be there, but there the cat-like girl was, asleep in a pile of fur. Izuku stepped over and gently poked her forehead. 

Nothing.

"Uraraka, can you..."

Uraraka shook the girl roughly awake, now knowing that she had a sleep-based quirk and needed more of a...push. It was also interesting that she still could feel stuff while connecting with a cat, something Izuku would need to ask about sometime.

Nono rubbed at her eyes sleepily. "Midoriya-senpai and Uraraka-san. I wasn't expecting you two to show up here."

"Actually, you asked us to come here. You know about Reset, right?"

"Yes, I do. But why would I..."

"Your cat, Mercury. He gets struck by a car within a few hours." Uraraka explained. "You asked us to Reset to save him."

Nono's hands trembled, the most emotion Izuku had seen from her yet. "I see. Thank you. Give me a moment, and I'll connect to him."

Nono leaned more into the cats around her, her long blue hair dripping down onto them as she laid back down. Her breathing evened out within a minute. If only Izuku could fall asleep that fast. What a skill.

Nono's eyes suddenly blinked open. "We have a problem. Mercury, he's too far away."

Huh? "I thought your quirk covered the entire city."

"It does. I can connect to every cat in the city, and sense what they do, but I can't compel cats to do anything if they're a certain distance away. From his surroundings Mercury's at this park right now."

Izuku reconsidered. "Alright. I know where that is. Go back to sleep and send one of these cats to follow us. We'll run there as fast as we can, and you can guide us until we reach your control range."

"Okay."

7:14 AM, Saturday(Second Reset)

Nono sent Star with them, the tabby leading them across sidewalks and roads in a dash. Izuku didn't know cats could even move that fast, but they were barely keeping up.

"I like using Reset like this." Uraraka murmured.

"To save cats?" Izuku tilted his head.

"Well, yeah, but that's not what I meant. As Prophet we've helped lots of people indirectly these past few weeks. But this is something we're like, actively doing ourselves. If that uh, makes sense."

"It does." Star flicked his tail at them-they were falling behind-and the pair rushed to catch up. "Even if we're just saving one cat. Maybe when we get our provisional licenses, we can just...pretend we end up on villain attacks by chance."

"I honestly can't tell if you're joking or not."

"...Not completely. Why?"

"I'm pretty sure U.A would figure it out after you manage to get caught up in every single hero fight, Izuku-kun. Your mother said that you chased those long before you ever knew the future. That's why she made you call so often, and carry an extra handkerchief..."

Izuku held back a wince. "...She really tells you everything, huh?"

Uraraka only smiled. "You were a cute baby, you know."

Star suddenly stopped, turning to meow at them. Her paws patted at Uraraka's shoes.

"This must be how far she can direct her cats." Uraraka noted. "And we travelled so far-that's an impressive range."

They found the park easily after that and walked along a path of stone, enjoying the scenery in their search. It was a nice place, somewhere Izuku would definitely visit again sometime.

Mercury was a little fatter than he was in the picture, but unmistakably the same silver cat, sunbathing in a patch of grass when they found him. He lazily glanced up at them as they approached. 

Izuku was glad they knew where he was. However...

"What do we do with him, now?" Izuku asked. "Nono can't affect him from there. Do we just...follow the stray around, and make sure he doesn't get hit by a car?"

"I guess?" Uraraka mused thoughtfully. "We could always catnap him."

"...What?"

"Like, kidnapping. But with a cat. Catnapping."

"I really don't think that's how words work, Uraraka. That sounds more like we're about to put him to sleep..."

"That's also an option!" 

Izuku tried and failed to suppress his smile. "How about, instead, we just...take him back to the shrine?"

"But Izuku-kun-"

"You can carry him there."

"Yes!"

All cats loved Uraraka-because she was Uraraka. Mercury didn't move as she carefully picked him up, actually curling himself around her shoulders. 

"Is he too heavy? You're going to be holding him for a long time." Izuku asked as they started walking back.

"Nope, I can handle it. Hey, Izuku-kun, if Nono is feeling everything Mercury is, and I'm carrying Mercury, does that mean I'm technically carrying Nono?"

Izuku hummed. "Yeah, pretty much. Is that weird for you?"

"Not really...though I doubt Nono herself would let me pick her up like this. Should I ask her?"

Izuku glanced at the cat in her arms. "Uraraka, you uh, already have..."

"Oh, right!"

They walked for a long while, talking about anything and everything. They must've been within Nono's control range for many minutes now, but Mercury didn't make any move to escape Uraraka's hold. 

Uraraka didn't place Mercury down until they reached the shrine's stairs, letting him pad up the way easily. Meanwhile the two of them didn't move, staring up at the many steps above.

"We've run around a lot today, huh." Uraraka wiped the sweat off her forehead. "I really don't want to fight those stairs again..."

"You did just bring a fat cat all the way over here. I asked you if you wanted me to help, and you said no..."

Uraraka let out a long sigh.

Izuku laughed, talking on impulse. "You know, I can give you a lift if you want. Just like how you carried Mercury-" 

Uraraka brightened instantly. "Really?"

Izuku blinked, not expecting her to take the offer seriously. But well, why not? He bent down and showed her his back, letting Uraraka scramble onto him like a cat.

He stood carefully, stumbling a little at the sudden weight. She hugged his neck to stabilize, and once she was in place he started walking up steadily.

Uraraka grinned into his hair. "I've never been this tall before. The view's pretty great. When I look behind us it's like-"

"If you keep shifting around, Uraraka, you're going to make me slip." Izuku muttered. 

"Sorry!"

He was quite thankful that the shrine was nearly abandoned-carrying her on his back like this was really embarrassing.

Nono stared at them as they finally arrived several minutes after Mercury. Izuku awkwardly let Uraraka down before slumping to the ground himself, completely exhausted.

"We uh, found your cat." Uraraka pointed at him.

The blue-haired girl bowed. "I see. I can't thank you enough for saving Mercury, Midoriya-senpai, Uraraka-san."

Uraraka waved her off. "It was nothing, Nono-san!"

"No, really. My cats are...well, everything to me." Nono paused. "I must have offered you something, before you Reset. I'll grant that, whatever it was."

Nono didn't remember any of their earlier conversation. Izuku knew Nono was rich, from the shrine she lived in as well as being able to provide for all of these cats so easily. Not to mention how useful her ability was. They could ask her for literally anything, and the girl would probably accept.

He exchanged a glance with Uraraka, reaching a silent agreement.

Izuku hummed. "Two things."

Nono nodded. "Alright. What are they?"

"One, stop calling me Midoriya-senpai. Please. " Nono slowly blinked, confused, and Uraraka snickered. "And two..."

"How about being our friend?"

Notes:

This chapter is pretty simple, which I kinda felt like I needed instead of more fights. I wanted to introduce Seika Nono early, too, and expand the group a little.

By the way, how painfully obvious is it that I love cats but have never owned one before?