A Name That Fits

The days that followed were a blur of training and hero work, with Bakugo and Osby making a concerted effort to use my preferred name. It was a small thing, but it made a huge difference to me. I felt like I was being seen, like I was being recognized as the person I truly was. But despite their best efforts, I could tell it wasn't easy for them to adjust. They would slip up sometimes, referring to me as Izuku or Midoriya out of habit. And every time it happened, I felt a pang of frustration. One day, as we were walking back to U.A. High after a training session, Bakugo turned to me and said, "Vesper, can I ask you something?" I nodded, curious about what he wanted to know. "Why does it bother you so much when we call you Izuku or Midoriya?" he asked, his brow furrowed in confusion. I sighed, trying to find the right words to explain. "It's just...when people call me Izuku or Midoriya, it feels like they're talking to the hero," I said. "They're not talking to me, they're talking to the public persona. But it's more than that." I hesitated, unsure of how to articulate my feelings. "It's also that...Izuku is a boy's name," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "And when people call me that, it makes me feel like I'm a boy. But I'm not a boy." Bakugo and Osby exchanged a surprised look, and for a moment, I worried that I had said too much. But then Osby's expression softened, and he nodded. "We understand, Vesper," he said. "We'll try to be more mindful of that." Bakugo nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we get it. You're not a boy, and you don't feel like a boy. We'll use your name, and we'll try to see you as...as you." I felt a surge of gratitude towards my friends, and for a moment, I felt like I was home. I was Vesper, and that was enough. But as we continued walking, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had only scratched the surface of my identity issues. Being a hero was complicated enough, but being a hero who didn't feel like they fit into traditional categories was even more challenging. As we approached the school, I saw a group of students staring at me, their eyes filled with curiosity and speculation. I felt a surge of anxiety, wondering what they were thinking. But then I remembered my conversation with Bakugo and Osby, and I stood a little taller. I was Vesper, and I was proud of who I was. I smiled to myself, feeling a sense of determination. I would make it work, no matter what. I would be a hero, and I would be myself.