Chō Akemi/Relationships

#### Tamaki Amajiki

Tamaki was Chō's childhood friend from her younger, happier days. Captivated by her bright nature, he took a liking to her, often comparing her to butterflies, another creature he admired for their bright, beautiful characteristics, which eventually led to him giving her the nickname "Butterfly". Though initially shy towards how optimistic she was, the two were always most comfortable with one another, a trait unusual to Tamaki.

After her return, Tamaki was indeed surprised by her sudden apathy, but accepted the change, under the belief that even people close to another could change with enough time and distance. The more time they spent together, however, he began to realize that her new personality had been sprung from not mere abandonment, but from something darker, though she never worked up the courage to tell him why until the legal case arc.

Steadily, upon growing closer, Tamaki eventually realized that Chō never changed at all, as the cheerful person he once admired had merely been buried under an attempt to keep her emotions and therefore her quirk in line. Upon admitting to this, the two eventually realize they have feelings for one another, a fact that put them in a difficult position, as such strong emotions would only make Chō's quirk harder to control. Despite this, they care very much for each other, enough to break down even their own social shortcomings.

#### Nejire Hado

Chō met Nejire during her first battle trial as a first-year in the hero course. Though initially swamped by her airheaded and energetic nature, she was reminded of her childhood self and eventually became the first stepping stone to restoring the person she once was. The two end up becoming friends after Nejire declares that they'd make an amazing dynamic, a "black cat, golden retriever" friendship, so to speak.

Nejire, on the other hand, was just looking for a female best friend, as she found it difficult to make one due to most of her female classmates believing she was either arrogant or not taking being a hero seriously. However, she eventually realized what Chō went through and inspires her to train her emotional strength, in order to not only be in more control of her quirk, but to be able to connect with people like she used to.

### Class 3-B

#### Mirio Togata

Mirio was Chō's first friend growing up. Upon both being cheerful, bright individuals back then, they got along right away, making friends wherever they went. However, Chō only realized Mirio was one of her true friends, after seeing that everyone else had forgotten about her after her time away, except him and Tamaki. That being said, she also feels jealous of him, as he always shone like the sun, making her feel like second best. Still, she eventually accepts that role with pride, even paying homage to it when she chooses her hero name, Vega.

In turn, Mirio enjoyed being in Chō's company, though he was sad to see her drastic change when she returned home years later. This only made him resolve to get her back to normal, though he later corrects this mindset upon understanding why Chō went through such a dramatic change in behavior, upon being the first to suspect the real reasons she had to leave him and Tamaki as children.

### Class 1-A

#### Izuku Midoriya

Chō first met Izuku when they were young, the day their respective lives were about to change forever. During their brief interaction, she encourages him and his doubts about what he believes is his late-developing quirk, saying that a quirk's power was only what you make of it. Her words end up having an effect even after Izuku discovers he will be quirkless, as he still hangs onto the belief he can be a hero even without a quirk, believing that was what Chō's words meant.

After they reunite when she shows up with the Big Three, Izuku ponders her sudden change and wonders if she's forgotten her own advice, subtly reminding her of it when he speaks to Eri when she doubts her own quirk's abilities. Despite her recent changes, he looks up to Chō and is grateful to her for inspiring him to not lose hope when it came to being quirkless. She also admires him for how much he's grown since they met and genuinely believes he will be the number one hero, one that she would gladly put her faith in, as he put faith in her so long ago.

#### Fumikage Tokoyami

Chō meets Fumikage during his work study, as they both studied under Hawks. She admired how put together he was and how easily he was able to control his own quirk, Dark Shadow, which could also easily get out of control, given the wrong conditions. Though he respects her as an upperclassman, he finds her timid nature unhelpful, as he believes no one should fear using their own quirk.

At the same time, he admits he once felt the same way about his quirk, recalling the first time it got out of control during his own childhood. The two manage to find solidarity in both wanting to be able to use their powers without backlash, instead fashioning the unknowns into something beneficial to the public, as heroes are meant to.

## Pro Heroes

### Midnight

Midnight is Chō's godmother, entrusted to her by one of her best friends, Chō's birth mother, should anything happen to her parents. After their imprisonment, she does everything she can to protect Chō from those who wish to protect the world from her quirk in unethical ways, such as the researchers of the Kyushu Institute of Quirk Research or the legal team behind Chō's rights. She is Chō's gateway to U.A. High, and many other opportunities she believes will help her. Because of her support, Chō views her as the woman who fills the void her mother left behind.

Despite her protecting Chō the best she can, Midnight too has her doubts about her and only ignores them out of respect for her friend, though at the same time, it doesn't mean she's lost all faith in her. She believes that Chō has the ability to become a great hero, one that people will admire instead of fear, and that she will do it without her help.

### Hawks

Hawks is the Pro Hero who takes Chō on for her work study, though his free-floating methods are not very appealing to Chō, as she had always been taught that being a hero is a serious matter. However, Hawks manages to teach her otherwise, saying it's important for a hero to act unbothered by trouble to put the people's mind at ease, though it's not the same as shutting emotions out entirely, as she had done.

Chō learns much from Hawks, though he admits he wouldn't have taken her if not for Midnight's request. Still, he eventually admits that he sees her potential, noticing how hard she tries to be the bright individual she once was, despite the suffering she has endured, much like he did when he was younger. He goes on to teach her how to be more free with her quirk, as letting others decide what it should and shouldn't do gives the impression it's not really hers at all.

## Civilians

### Eri

Chō immediately makes a connection with Eri, with their childhoods being so similar, to the point where Eri views her as a big sister, someone she feels safe opening up to. She often looks to Chō for advice, something she never experienced before, and it makes her feel empowered to be able to help someone without the use of her quirk, something Midnight had always advised she work on due to her probation.

In addition, Chō