Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Months had passed since the entrance exam to UA. Izuku still couldn't believe it. His life was so fortunate now. It was hard to believe that for so long, that wasn't the case. His dad was never around, he was quirkless, and not even his mom could say "I believe in you. You can still be a hero."

Izuku didn't hold any animosity towards his mother. He still loved her. She had still been a positive influence in his life and had done her best to make up for her shortcomings in that department. He had noticed one of his notebooks missing and his mom acting suspicious, but he had decided he would look for it later. He might have left it at Mina's for all he knew.

He said goodbye to his mother and headed out the door, nearly jumping out of his skin when Mina was waiting right outside the door, school uniform on. Aside from the shock of her being right there (which he really should have expected), Izuku also couldn't help but notice how cute she looked in her school clothes.

"Gooood morning, Izu~! You excited? I know I am! I can't wait! We're going to UA! We're going to UA! Let me see what homeroom you're in!"

Mina Ashido crawled onto her boyfriend like a hyperactive child and tried to sneak a peek at the greenette's paperwork for school, which was still in his bag. Inko noticed this and tried to keep a straight face. Even after years of this, she still couldn't get over how cute her son and his girlfriend were.

"Wah! Hey! Easy, Mina! I-it's 1-A. I'm trying to walk!"

The pink girl gasped. Her eyes sparkled as she bounced up and down while grabbing Izuku's shoulders.

"YESSSSS! WE'RE IN THE SAME ROOM! YEAH BOYYYYY! C'MON, LET'S GO! MAMA IS HOPPED UP ON ESPRESSO AND WANTS TO SEIZE THE DAY!" In an instant, Mina yanked her boyfriend and dragged him comically towards the train station.

Izuku merely smiled as he and Mina headed to school. It wasn't long until they reached the  station. They used their passes and took their seats. The pink girl could barely stay in her own. The excitement was palpable.

"My aunt is coming in to visit this weekend by the way. Want to come over? " Mina recalled with a shine on her face. Izuku winced a little.

"I-I dunno. I like your aunt, but she's like an adult version of you. One Mina is enough." Izuku sighed. The pink girl definitely had a lot in common with her favorite aunt. Said Aunt even looked like an older Mina in a few key ways, except without freckles and with fangs.

"You spent too much time with Bakugou. You're being a bully. Stop bullying me." Mina pouted and proceeded to poke her boyfriend repeatedly.

"I-I'm not b-bullying you, Mina. O-or your aunt. Pffft. Cut it out!" Izuku wiggled as his girlfriend tickled him. He tried to get free but she overpowered him. "M-Mina! We are in public! P-Plea-HAHAHAHA!"

"Ahem!" An old lady nearby cleared her throat and shot an annoyed glare. The two kids settled into their seats after that. That is, for five minutes until Mina poked Izuku in the side and grinned widely.

The Ashido clan really was a family that loved to tease one another. Izuku had seen it first hand. However, if you were a close friend or more to one of the Ashido clan, you were pretty much part of the family. That made you a prime target. Izuku knew this very well from the slimy wet willies he had received if he didn't share a soda with Mina.

Admittedly, he liked her brand of teasing. It wasn't like the kind he experienced at school, where he was put down and cast aside, if not flat out targeted.

Here, he was in on it and that was the difference. It really boosted his confidence, being around Mina for so long.

He felt nervous. He had been quirkless for so long. He had been friendless for so long. We're things the best they could be? He shook his head and looked over to Mina, bouncing in her seat as she leaned against him while chewing bubble gum. His thoughts drifted to a couple days ago. He really hoped Kirishima was ok.

Before...

"What happened to your hair!?!" Mina was utterly shocked. Izuku was as well but in typical fashion, was muttering to himself and trying to figure out who Eijirou reminded him of with that hair.

"I am saying goodbye to the old me, the weak humanly me."

"Are you still hung up on that?"

"Yeah. I don't get it Kirishima. How can you say goodbye to something that never existed?"

"Smoothe, babe."

"I...you two...you are more heroic than I was. You faced villains to help people. I froze up in a similar situation."

"Kirishima..I ran screaming and crying at a villain and threw my backpack at it. I'm not the picture of bravery. I just did what felt right, even if it was to save someone who made growing up a living hell. "

"Neither am I. I sobbed pretty hard after I stepped in. That big dude was scary. Did you see him?"

Kirishima looked at his two friends as the cherry blossoms fell. The two fluffy-haired youths almost seemed to sparkle. His face flushed as the two smiled. Why was he like this?

"I guess I have growing to do." Eijirou rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"We all do. We're just entering high school. Just know that we'll be here for you when you move past this."  Mina placed a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder.

 Izuku wished he could be that inspiring. It was what he wanted to say but he didn't have the confidence to back it up. Still, he echoed her sentiments. "Yeah. We'll all do our best together. "

"You guys…" Ejirou nearly cried, clenching his eyes closed and making a fist. He lifted his head gently. "Come on. Let's go to the arcade in celebration. On me!"

The trio cheered and went off to enjoy a pleasant day out before the beginning of their high school careers.

Now...

The train stopped, bringing Izuku back to the present. He always thought Kirishima was a cool guy, confident in a way he wished to be. It turned out that the feeling was more mutual than initially believed. Izuku made a mental note to ask his friend how he was doing and maybe go out for burgers. Perhaps that would help. 

Mina popped out of her seat and offered her hand.

"This is our stop! C'mon, Izu! Let's mosey!"

Izuku nodded and smiled. The normally meek boy felt riled up. His dream was coming true, and he wasn't alone. That infectious Ashido enthusiasm had bitten him. "Right! UA here we come!"

X

The two arrived at the gates of UA once more, this time as students. They had only seen a little of it before and would now get to dive in headfirst. The young pair was definitely excited. Izuku was focused on finding their homeroom, however.

"Room 1A. Room 1A. God I hope that guy with the glasses isn't in our class. Or … you know...him…" Izuku gulped.

"If they are, I'll be there, Izuku. So will Tsu and Kiri. Ooo! I could scout ahead! There it is!" Mina encouraged her boyfriend before finding their homeroom. She rushed inside like a puppy off her leash.

"Uh oh, Izu," her voice rang out, causing Izuku some anxiety. He supposed it was only a matter of time, though. Steeling himself, the One-for-All inheritor entered

Sure enough, Izuku saw the blue-haired boy with spectacles speaking to a familiar blonde with spikey hair.

"Shit!" the greenette said to himself. At least he saw Kirishima and Tsuyu in his class. And there was that boy from Mina's dance class. The same one he took the entrance exam with. The look he gave Izuku was worrisome to say the least. No words. Just a sparkly stare and a wink.

"Dammit... It's you… Outta my way, nerd! I gotta get to class. Glad I don't have to see your stupid face every day. Move it."

"Wait...you're not in 1-A?" Izuku's eyes widened?

"No. I'm in 1-B. Outta my way, Nerd. I am not going to be late because of you."

Oh thank goodness. He was in a different class. Maybe there was justice in this world. He still had to deal with the serious boy from before. Sure enough, said boy spotted Izuku and strolled over.

"There you are. I was hoping to see you. I… wanted to apologize for my rudeness. I was most disrespectful and I hope you can forgive me ..."

Izuku was taken aback. On one hand, this kid was still intimidating with how loud and upfront he was. On the other hand, the humility and willingness to ask forgiveness was refreshing.

"I...Sure. I appreciate it. I'm Izuku Midoriya."

"Tenya Iida. I hope we can both do our best to uphold UA's reputation and legacy." 

A brunette appeared in the doorway right beside the two boys, gasping as her eyes fell upon familiar faces

"It's you two! The plain boy and the girl with cool eyes! Hey! It's me, from the entrance exam! Glad you both made it in!"

"Oh hey! It's you. The gravity girl! I was hoping to bump into you!" Mina cheered and leapt out of her seat, ready to shake the hand of a new friend.

"Yeah. So was I. Thanks again for offering your points...and for helping me...twice I guess." Izuku blushed and laughed. He was still not the best in these situations, but he had gotten better. "Wait, plain?"

"Hey, I think you're cute," Mina teased, giving her boyfriend's hand a squeeze.

Izuku was definitely relieved. Not only was he not in class with Katsuki, but he had some familiar faces to help ease him into things. It was going to be okay.

"I see I am going to be your classmate."

"Are you done blocking the door?" a tired sounding voice sounded up 

A disheveled looking man with long black hair and tired eyes appeared behind the small group, wrapped in a yellow sleeping bag. 

"Everyone suit up in your training uniforms. We're about to test your quirks.

X

Izuku spoke too soon. No Bakugou but there was still the chance he could either destroy his body again or get expelled. And if he had several events to complete, he would need his stamina.

 He had seen glimpses of his friends' quirks before, but now he got to see them on showcase in a series of events tailored to evaluate them. If Izuku wasn't freaking out about getting sent home, he would be geeking out. He was already feeling out about Eraserhead, the underground hero who served as their homeroom teacher. Even that was fleeting, however. 

"Hey. Don't sweat, Izu. Don't freak out about turning your bones into popcorn. Not everyone here has super physical quirks. You worked out a lot, right. You're in pretty good shape. Just lean on that when you need a rest." Mina leaned in and raised her fist. She couldn't help but be encouraging. It was in her nature, especially in regards to a certain nerd.

It made sense, but Mina's words still didn't quell her boyfriend's worries, nor did his realization of who their teacher was. 

Izuku was new to having a quirk and that is just what they were being tested on. Everyone else had either been born with theirs or developed them by an early age. Izuku had barely had time to develop his. Even the months he had since his acceptance into UA felt inadequate.

Stepping up, he felt like once more, he would lose his chance. He had already come close before. His luck could run out.

No. He had come this far. Others believed in him. But what if he let them down?

Izuku took a deep breath. With a snap, the greenette tossed the ball as hard as he could, concentrating his energy into his finger. It went flying with a satisfying velocity. Aside from the pain of a broken extremity, it felt good.

"Holy...did you know he could do that?"

"Maybe? Not exactly that though! NICE JOB, BABE! YOU SHOULD PITCH FOR THE ROGERS!" Mina could not contain her excitement she knew she would have to though. Nobody else among the students really knew Izuku's secret. She felt bad, knowing that there was a reason but that her and Izuku still had to lie to their friends. It felt wrong. Perhaps in time, All Might would ease up, but even she knew when to ease up.

The quirk apprehension tests continued until all were ranked. Her spine tingled, knowing that someone would probably be sent home. What if it was Izuku, even after all he went through? She supposed she had to be prepared for that but it still had her on edge. Sure, she was willing to stand up for him to All Might of all people.

Unlike All Might however, this Aizawa guy was scary. That erasure quirk made her quiver. How come the guy who could punch a building had to be less intimidating than the sleepy hobo with the scarf. The world was weird.

Similarly, Izuku was shaking.

"Well, the time has come. After judging you all accordingly and tabulating your scores, the one going home is...nobody. I never planned on eliminating anyone."

"It was a logical ruse." Aizawa gave an unsettling smile, the smile of someone who was not used to smiling. "If I offered up that threat, you would all push yourselves to do your best without holding back. Looks like it worked. Don't think things will be easy from here on out though. And you..." Aizawa pointed at Izuku.

"That is a strong power but you clearly don't have a good handle on it. Fix that…" 

And with that, the Erasure hero rounded a corner and headed back to the classroom.

X

It had only been a day or so, but Mina had gotten to know the rest of her class a little so far. She was hoping to see the other class though. Apparently Setsuna was in that one, as was Bakugou. The pink girl felt bad for anyone who had to deal with him. She still wasn't sure of Izuku's reasoning for not having him expelled. She trusted her boyfriend and would respect his wishes, but she still wasn't a big fan of it or Bakugou.

At least she didn't have to worry about her boyfriend's abuser trying to beat the shit out of him again.

"Ashido, was it? You know people in 1b, yes?" Ibara asked. She seemed nice, if not very devout.

"I mean, mostly two. Bakugou is a big jerk. How much, I can't say out of respect for... someone else. But Tokage is really cool. Her aunt and mine have a daughter together and we have been in the same dance class for years."

"I suppose. I hope we can build a kindred relationship with our sister class, even the wicked one of which you speak." 

"I suppose he is pretty wicked. I kind of wish Izuku had spoken up about him. He clearly is still afraid...but he said he wanted to let Mr. Explosions prove himself and learn to grow. Is that too forgiving?" Mina asked, clenching her mouth shut when she had almost let slip the history between Izuku and Bakugou.

"Forgiveness is something we must all do, I suppose. There are wicked souls who must be punished and shown the light, but perhaps wicked is another word for lost?"

"I mean...I'm pretty lost about the kid's deal but I suppose. At least he is in another class. Anyway, thanks for listening, ibashio!,

"Iba...shio?"

"Yeah. Ibara Shiozaki...but like, shortened. Like it?" Mina asked in a sing-song manner. Ibara frowned slightly.

"I am not sure. You seem like a friendly and kind soul, so I suppose I can get used to it." Ibara nodded with a polite smile.

"See? We're friends already. Hey! You know, you, my boyfriend, and my one friend in 1-B could form a team! Team green bean!"

Ibara blushed slightly at the enthusiasm and folded her hands.

"I...I am good, thank you. I appreciate your spirit though. I must go pray for now. I wish for the Lord to give me strength."

Mina found it odd that the new girl was praying right before lunch but that was her prerogative. Christianity was rare in Japan, even these days. It wasn't unheard of though. With that, the pink girl called over to her friends. "Let's get some food, everybody! I can't wait to dig in!"

Perhaps Ibara could be among her group someday.

X

Lunch Rush Cafe was one of the best parts of UA. It was like if a food court and a school cafeteria had an affair, and the resulting child had all the best traits of its sexier parent. Mina and Izuku found themselves at a booth with Ochako Uraraka and Tenya Iida, with Tsuyu and Kirishima joining them not long after

"So how long have you been dating? How did you meet?"

"I hate to say it, but you and Ashido seem like quite an odd pair."

"I think they are cute. It's like they are a couple of pink and green pom poms"

"I mean...she has been one of my biggest cheerleaders. Even before we realized how we felt, she became one of my best friends at a time I...didn't have any."

"Yeppers. We literally ran into Each other. It was like something out of an anime. How's that for a meet-cute?" Mina cheered, picking up some broccoli with her chopsticks and cheerfully feeding it to her boyfriend.

"We were there too. We kind of had a bet going on to see how long it would take for them to date. I won." Tsuyu croaked cheerfully as she ate her bento, which she had made herself in a frog-themed arrangement.

Ochako was torn between the cuteness of Tsuyu's froggy food and the equal cuteness of her first two friends at UA. She was foaming at the mouth at how romantic it was. "I'm so jealous. I hope I find a cute romance like you too."

"Need I remind you all that we are here to become the next generation of heroes and not for high school hanky panky." Tenya adjusted his glasses in a serious fashion, trying to appear authoritative. Instead, he came off as a stick in the mud. A stick that could go zoom on orange juice fumes.

"Nice wordplay, dude. Sounds like a hair metal album. No need to be so serious though." Kirishima noshed thoughtfully on some barbecue ribs he got from Lunch Rush.

"Yeah, dad! Lighten up!" Mina laughed as she took a bite of natto.

Izuku smiled at the whole scene. He felt truly happy. He was in his dream school, working to become a hero under his idol. He had friends, and even a girlfriend. Things had looked up for him since that day. The day he met All Might. No. Even before that. 

The day he met Mina. Things were making up to get challenging and he was still not used to it, but he felt he had good support.

Likewise, Mina was happy. She had always been praised as a good potential hero by people who knew her, but Izuku helped her put into focus what she liked about it.

 Sure, she had wanted to fall in love, but that was a back burner thing. Helping others who were treated poorly and offering them a lifeline and a source of warmth was something she found to be just as cool as stopping any villain.

X

  Meanwhile...

Katsuki sat in his seat, listening to Vlad King explain their training exercises. He had done well in the apprehension portion, but still had growing to do. That seemed to be the car for everyone. This was such a slog.

He had heard stories that the homeroom teacher for 1A had expelled an entire class before. The thought of Deku and his stupid fan club getting kicked out gave him some joy, but it turned out to be nothing more than a ruse. Could he have anything good happen? Even getting into UA felt spoiled for him.

Back in middle school, he was a big shot. Now he was nothing more than a fish in a large lake rather than the biggest one in a pond of small dry.

And that wasn't even waiting for the other shoe to drop. That kid with the shitty hair, Deku, raccoon eyes, and the frog knew about how he had treated the quirkless runt. Apparently said runt was not as quirkless as believed.

And now he had the balls to abandon that damn nickname. It took him long enough.

So why was Katsuki so worried? Why were things changing so much? How was he not expelled? Was Deku dragging it out? What was going on? This was going to drive him mad. Not even the bell for lunch gave him any relief. 

"I just have to show them. I'll show all those extras who belongs here." Katsuki growled to himself as he made his way down the hall

"You ok?" A girl with a ponytail and freckles politely tapped his shoulder. Her name was irrelevant to Katsuki but he was sure he heard it as Kendou. 

"Don't you fucking touch me, you ginger bitch! Who wears side ponytails anyway?"

 Kendou sighed and frowned. Apparently that wasn't going to work.

"You remind me of that hag I call my mother." the blonde boy scoffed.

"Guess I have to find a different way to reign you in, huh?"

"I don't need a fucking muzzle. You need to mind your own business."

"On the contrary, my rude friend. I think that is exactly what you need. And quite possibly a better personality," another blonde-haired boy spoke up, his voice oozing with the kind of smarm Katsuki couldn't stand as if he wasn't pissed enough as is. It was a different kind of anger, but anger, nonetheless.

Kendou was about to back off, planning to regroup.  Unfortunately, she needed to step in and quell her two classmates.

"Ok, that is enough of that." She sighed, knocking some sense into the other boy, Neito Monoma. With that, she dragged Monoma away and left Katsuki alone.

Katsuki seemed driven and had a lot of potential. However, there was definitely baggage there.  She just hoped he wouldn't take it out on everyone else. As for Neito, he was similarly driven, but seemed to be a different fish entirely. One that was a handful, and yet potentially less tricky than his explosive counterpart.

The class' big sister would have to keep a cautious eye out for the bombshell boy in particular. Her eyes followed his, however, to a table where 6 1-A students were sat.

They seemed like a pleasant bunch. Setsuna knew some of them pretty well. Her grumpy classmate apparently knew them too. Perhaps if she got to know them, she could get some clues on how to get this boy to interact with his classmates more.

X

Izuku was both ecstatic and neurotic. It was time for a special class with none other than the Symbol of Peace himself: All Might.

Even after a year of training with the man, Izuku couldn't help but fanboy. And yet there was also the pressure of being able to adjust to such a powerful quirk his body wasn't used to, as well as inevitably being the next All Might.

And now here he was, walking a corridor into the training grounds for this basic training exercise. Everyone looked so cool, and it was sort of intimidating. Still, even if his costume looked like a smiling bunny, the green-haired boy was proud of it.

Mina, who was nearby, had squeed over it and was about to use a nickname she had heard Inko use. That was until their friend from the entrance exams showed up, slightly embarrassed by how snug her super suit was. 

Izuku averted his eyes a little while Mina just gushed. "OCHAKO, HOLY COW! YOUR COSTUME IS SUPER CUTE!"

The brunette rubbed the back of her head and smiled.

"Thanks. It is a bit form fitting, but it is pretty similar to what I wanted."

"It's got an astronaut vibe to it! You're like a cool space girl!" Mina pumped her fist in the air.

"You like Space?" Ochako perked up and could feel a rush of excitement in her chest. Izuku couldn't help but smile. It was nice not being the only one nerding out for a change.

"Well yeah! I look like an alien. It comes with the territory. Plus, stars are so pretty!"

"I like your costume too, Uraraka. It reminds me of Thirteen!" Izuku finally chimed in.

"Thirteen is my favorite. That means a lot."

Mina gasped and, forgetting her surroundings, blurted out "Mine too! Eeeeee! Space sisters!"

The two girls chatted animatedly until All Might cleared his throat. "Is everyone ready? Let me explain the conditions."

The students gathered around and listened intently. One student in particular seemed intent on listening. 

Her costume left little to the imagination but she seemed rather studious. Apparently, she had entered upon recommendation. There were only 4 students per year who made it in that way. Those who did not pass the entry exam often attended other hero schools.

"Do you think she knows Tokage?" Mina whispered to Izuku. He shrugged and focused on All Might's words.

"Ok, everyone!" All Might, explained. "It's like this!"

X

Meanwhile…

Crowds swarmed by. Musutafu wasn't the busiest area but it was far from sleepy. It was home to the most prestigious hero school in Japan, and possibly the world, after all.

And with news that the #1 hero was teaching at UA now, things could only get more hectic. 

"It's just like sensei said…" a young man walked by, head hung low as he dug his hands into his hoodie pockets. He was extra careful about the finger placement. He only had so many hoodies after all.

This young man had been scouting the area for a while now, ever since the rumors started swirling about.

A crusty smile crept onto the chapped lips of the young man.

"Time to begin the game then. Press...start…"

Chapter Text

The training had gotten underway, with students arranged in two on two matches: hero vs villain. The premise was simple enough: the villains had a nuclear warhead in a building and the heroes needed to secure the device in order to win. The villains needed to incapacitate the hero team or at least hold them off while the timer ran out. 

Izuku was paired with Ochako against Ibara and Tenya. He could only imagine how hard it would be if Bakugou was his opponent. He would go all out, he imagined. Or rather, as "all out" as he could manage without exploding in itty bitty Izuku chunks.

"So I saw the blonde guy in the hallway after lunch. Bakugou I think? He glares at you and Ashido a lot. Does he know you guys?"

"I...um...It's complicated. We...used to be friends. Not sure how ready I am to share it all just yet. Sorry."

"Hey, it's ok. No rush, Deku," Ochako cheerfully responded. Izuku froze, wide eyed and became serious.

"Please don't call me that. Ever…" the normally awkward and well-meaning boy became colder.

"Oh...sorry. I thought it was just a childhood nickname."

"It's nothing… less than nothing actually….sorry. You didn't know," Izuku calmed down and shook his head. "We can talk about it later." He offered a shaky smile. Ochako could tell something was bothering him but chose not to push it. "Yeah. We should probably focus on Iida and Shiozaki anyway." The brunette cheered, hoping to smooth things over. His past seemed to be a sore spot, so Ochako supposed she could ask more later.

"Yeah. I guess we...Uraraka...do you hear that?" The greenette changed his tone from bashful to cautious in an instant.

A distant rustling of leaves could be heard, though it was slightly off. It had a certain scrapey quality to it, with an undertone of writhing.

"Get down!" Izuku shouted as he pulled Ochako down, their bodies hitting the ground with a thud. The gravity girl gasped as her partner covered her.

Vines shot out like vipers, ready to strike but narrowly missing the two students. They stretched out longer before hitting a wall. They retracted soon after. Izuku's hood from his costume was snagged on the vines, leaving him unmasked.

"Oh man, that was rough. Guess they know where we are," Ochako dusted herself off and helped up her partner. "Sorry about your mask."

"Yeah. Thanks, Uraraka. Neither seem to have extrasensory quirks or heightened hearing, so they must be using Shiozaki's quirk to search all routes to the objective. This is going to be tricky," Izuku muttered to himself.

"You ok?" Ochako wasn't quite used to his mutter storms. It was charming in a way though.

"Y-Yeah. I'm fine. Just formulating a plan. Follow me, Uraraka. We'll let the vines lead us to them," Izuku rubbed the back of his head

"Alright. I'll see you at the bomb. And , um...Midoriya?"

"Yeah, Uraraka?" the boy looked as his teammate paused for a second, clearly hung up on something.

"Sorry." The brunette looked less cheery now, showing remorse for bringing up a touchy subject with that old nickname. 

"No worries. We'll talk later. Um...you can even give me a new nickname if you want after this," It wasn't the best time for conversation but Izuku spent enough time around bullies to know when someone just made a mistake. Ochako was nice and potentially the first friendship he had made at UA outside of his girlfriend and the friends he shared with her. 

The brunette smiled and nodded silently, face beaming, even in this situation.

The two ran down the halls of the building, following the writhing plant tendrils until they reached a fork in the hallway. It was unorthodox for a residential building but perfect for a training exercise. Izuku thought for a moment. Divide and conquer was a good strategy, but not without pitfalls. Hesitating for a moment, the boy made a call.

"Let's reconvene in the bomb room. For now I think we should split up." Izuku gestured to Ochako.

"Are you sure, Midoriya?" Ochako asked with some doubt.

"About as sure as I can be. Let's move." The two students ran in separate directions, vowing to come together and win the round.

X

Ibara's eyes opened wide as she snapped to.

"Shiozaki, is everything ok?"

"I believe I have failed to restrain them. This may prove difficult. Forgive me. I thought I had touched them but it proved to be a diversion"

"Do not be so hard on yourself. Instead we must be hard on them. If we wish to do our best in this exercise, we should get into character, correct? It will help us get into the mind of the villains we fight so that we can more efficiently stop them."

"I suppose so but I do not believe that is what is expected of us here." Ibara stated calmly. "Besides… Surely to play at being wicked would invite wickedness into our hearts." The vine maiden shudders and lamented, causing even the straight-laced Iida some pause for thought.

"I suppose so. Still, I trust the teachers not to let evil taint us, so perhaps role-playing is not quite the invitation to disaster that you fear. And it wouldn't be very becoming of me not to trust my partner." He explained.

Ibara thought for a moment and exhaled. "Your reasoning is sound. I suppose it would not hurt. Very well…" the girl cleared her throat and became stone faced, shooting out her vines and covering the room. "Go, my children. Seek out the heretics and show them the light, lest they be consumed by darkness..."

Iida's eyes were wide beneath his helmet but he smiled. "Not bad. Not bad at all, Shiozaki. Properly chilling. You and I will make an excellent team," He offered his teammate a thumbs up.

Ibara blushed slightly and nodded. "Why thank you." She then turned her attention back to her vines. It was time to show these "heroes" what she could do.

Izuku dodged and rolled as the vines shot out in all directions. He hoped he could distract Ibara long enough for Ochako to secure the device. Unfortunately, Iida's speed was hard to counter.

"Think, Izuku. Think. He is fast and Shiozaki's "vine" is a powerful quirk with long range capabilities...it's hard to move around here...That's it!" A lightbulb went off in the boy's mind.

Izuku leapt around, subconsciously imitating Bakugou's movements to dodge the vines and get to Iida.

"Not so fast, do-gooder! I won't make things that easy!"

Izuku was trying not to smirk. Was Iida role-playing? He Was certainly dedicated. The young hero otaku couldn't help but join in. He decided an All Might impression would be too on the nose but he couldn't resist emulating his hero.

"I wouldn't have it any other way, villain. Why don't you come get me?"

Iida gave chase as Izuku switched to emulating the movements of his friends, particularly his girlfriend's fluid movements. Unfortunately she had more rhythm in her pinky toe than he had in his body, but he had years of watching her to pull from.

"Hoping to trip me up? A sound strategy but ultimately futile."

Izuku panicked and grabbed a slab of the floor, using One for All to rip it up and use it as a shield. He punched it in half, trying to restrain himself as to not level The building or destroy the mock bomb. The action caused damage to his arms as he held steadfast against the vines. His body was ablaze with pain as he gritted his teeth. 

"I'll hold them off, Uraraka. Go for the warhead." Izuku shouted to his teammate. 

Ochako hesitated, not willing to abandon her teammate. However, she steeled herself and made another break for it. If he could distract the two "villains" while she secured the objective, they could bring it back around. 

Unfortunately, she wasn't the only one who heard him. Iida rushed forward and delivered a brutal kick to Izuku's torso, knocking him unconscious.

"Forgive me, Midoriya. I must break character. I hope I have not caused you any long term harm. I held back," Iida whispered before picking Izuku up and tossing him to Ibara. The vine girl quickly restrained her unconscious opponent with her quirk.

"MIDORIYA!" Ochako shouted. Even if it was only training, she was still concerned for her friend and wanted to free him. Sadly, the objective came first. There was no way she could handle both opponents on her own, so she needed to get to the bomb. 

Gritting her teeth, the brunette readied herself. She was outmatched but unwilling to give up. What was it Midoriya was trying to do? Get Iida and Shiozaki to knock each other out? Maybe she could try that. Time was ticking away though. She needed to get to the bomb.

"Not so fast, my dear. You may float like a butterfly, but I will sting like a wasp!" Iida called in over the top fashion as he ran towards her. The zero-gravity girl levitated herself but could feel her stomach lurch as her feet left the ground.

"Hurk! No...Not yet…" Ochako groaned as she tried using leaves and debris to distract Iida. Unfortunately for her, his mask shielded his eyes pretty well. 

The gravity girl pushed herself to the point of queasiness, trying to get away, where Iida couldn't reach.

Instead, the speedster used Izuku's impromptu floor shield as a ramp to reach Ochako.

"You put up a good contest but it is over. Shiozaki, grab her!" Iida shouted. 

Ibara obliged and shouted out another set of vines from her right side, aiming to restrain the other girl when Iida hit her.

"Urg...now…" Ochako dropped to the floor and gagged, trying not to puke in her helmet. Missing with her vines, Ibara instead grabbed, Iida. 

"SHIOZAKI, NO!" Iida cried out as he was restrained by his own teammate.

Perfect. If Izuku wasn't unconscious, he would have smiled. Ochako slowly picked herself off the ground and stumbled to the bomb. She was almost there. The anticipation had her stomach in knots. Or maybe that was the vertigo.

"Oh no. Oh no!" Ochako panicked. She could feel it coming now. She was so close. So…

Vomit fueled the inside of her helmet as the girl fell in a heap. It wasn't long after that the buzzer rang, signifying the end of the match and serving as an alarm for Izuku. His head was ringing as he drifted briefly into consciousness, only to hear five disheartening words.

"MATCH OVER! VILLAIN TEAM WINS!"

The Hero team had put up a valiant effort, but their opponents were just too good in the end. The villains had won it. Izuku's tactical mind and powerful quirk were not enough in the end to grasp victory, nor was Ochako's determination As he laid back on the stretcher, he sighed to himself. Ochako gave him a thumbs up, however, as she was helped up to the nurses' office too

"We did our best. We'll just have to give it our call next time." the brunette smiled.

X

Mina watched in concern as her boyfriend was carried to Recovery Girl on a stretcher by the medic robots. Their new friend was also escorted. She had minimal injuries, but had thrown up profusely afterwards and needed some rest as well. All-Might tried to hide his emotions as well. He was bummed that his successor had lost but this was the beginning of the school year and the boy was up against people who had a much better handle on their quirks. He also didn't have as much familiarity with how they worked. Ultimately this could serve as a learning experience. He looked to his students and cleared his throat.

"Right. Now to determine the MVP of this round. Anyone want to hazard a guess?" The number one hero cleared his throat and addressed his students.

Mina was tempted to raise her hand and answer Izuku, but she didn't want to show her bias. Besides, the green-haired boy had still lost, with two broken arms and a bruised chest.

Momo had raised her hand instead, ready to provide her insight. All eyes were on the recommended student as she took the floor.

"Yes, Miss Yaoyorozu. Go ahead." All Might permitted.

"This is a tough call. Midoriya, though defeated and clearly unused to his quirk, demonstrated quick thinking and an adaptable strategy. His attempts at using his opponent's strengths against them while Uraraka made her way to the device were commendable. 

However, allowing Shiozaki's vines to go wild around the device would have ended in tragedy had this not been a training exercise. He also could have destroyed the building and the mock warhead with the force he used. He rendered himself unable to utilize his arms, which took him out of the running.

 Speaking of Shiozaki, her attacks became more reckless and desperate and, while she attempted to play the role of villain in this scenario, that facade fell apart quite swiftly.

Iida did a far better job of coordinating with his partner while committing to the villain role assigned him in this scenario. He could have lost easily, however, with Midoriya's plan to trip him up, combined with clever use of Uraraka's zero gravity. 

As for Uraraka herself, she seemed out of her element dodging multiple opponents with fast attacks and nearly made a mess out of things trying to defend herself. She recovered well at the end but it could have ended prematurely in the villain team's favor.

All that said, I have to give it to Midoriya. He had a strategy from the beginning but was willing to adapt it when things went awry. His willingness to sacrifice himself for his partner was also noble and commendable, even if the hero team ultimately lost."

The girl opened her eyes and looked at her classmates and teacher, who were all dumbfounded by her long and detailed evaluation.  "Sorry if I was a bit wordy. I do have another nitpick but it was quite a match. The girl bowed politely and looked to her teacher.

All Might was taken aback. If he knew any better, he would say she could teach this class. "Yes, well said. I couldn't have put it better myself. Their form could also use some work. Err, anyway, let's get on with the next match. Ashido, Aoyama, Kirishima, and Sero? You're up!"

The four students readied themselves and took their positions. The siren sounded as the match began.

"Game start!"

X

Up next was Mina and Aoyama against Sero and Kirishima. They were glad to be up against at least one opponent they were familiar with but still cautious about it. Mina tried to clear her mind and focus on the task at hand. She couldn't wait to visit Izuku and Ochako though.

"Are you going to tell me?" A voice broke her out of her trance.

"Tell you what?" Mina cocked her head and gave her friend a look of confusion. What was he getting at?

"How your beau got his power, of course. You introduced him as quirkless but that clearly is not the case now, no?" Aoyama asked slyly.

"He's just a late bloomer, dude. I thought we went over this. Anyway, stay frosty. The other team probably has eyes on us. I can slide in while you distract them. I'm good at evasive maneuvers,"

"I'll say," Aoyama whispered under his breath, annoyed by both his partner's evasiveness and the holes her acid had eaten through his cape.

"Hmmm?" Mina looked towards her partner. "Did ya say something?"

"Nothing~ They should be up ahead. We are facing your friend with the spikey hair, yes?"

"Yep. So at least we know partially what we're up against. Sero is new though, so we have to prepare for him. Got a plan?"

"Be dazzlin' as always. How about you? You're the one who associates with a walking hero encyclopedia, non?"

Mina thought. She wasn't Izuku. She didn't have as tactical a mind or several volumes of hero notes at her disposal. But she was good at going with the flow.

Still, she couldn't help but think about how her boyfriend would approach it. She had to take stock of what she knew and what she had. Aoyama was awful at breakdancing but they both had decent moves, especially Mina. 

"Follow my lead, Mr. Sparkle! I think I got one." the pink girl grinned. She looked to the side in deep thought. "I wish you were watching, Izu. I think you'll be proud." She muttered to herself. "This is going to be one for your notebooks."

-fifteen minutes later-

"BANZAI!" Mina screamed as she dropped through the ceiling, a perfect circle melted through the ceiling. Debris preceded her fall and crumbled as it hit Kirishima in his hardened form.

"What the- OOF!"

The redhead gasped as Mina landed on his head, knocking him to the ground as both friends fell to the ground. Meanwhile, Aoyama was hunched over in the corner, clutching his stomach.

"Sacre bleu! This was your plan?" the French boy groaned. His stomach was sore from the laser he shot off earlier in his ambush attack. Why did he have to be a decoy?

"It's a work in progress. Besides, I've got this." Mina offered a thumbs up as she melted through Sero's tape and rushed for the fake nuclear device. Unfortunately, the entire room was a jungle of tape.

"Wowzers, I was hoping this would be easier. It's like being a moth surrounded by flypaper." Mina thought to herself.

"Easy there, Acid girl! We're not going to make this easy!" Sero got to his feet with renewed vigor and shot some tape at his opponent. She narrowly dodged and put up a splash of acid to melt through his quirk.

"Hey, Kirishima, a little help? Her backup is down. Block her path!" Sero called to his teammate.

"Don't have to tell me twice, dude," the hardening boy nodded and slammed his fists together in preparation. His expression became serious as his hand became rough and jagged. 

"Sorry, Ashido. Nothing personal,"

Unfortunately, he was about to kiss the floor as a weight launched itself at him. It was Aoyama, who had lifted himself up and decided to tackle the other boy. He held on for dear life, trying not to think about the sculpted dabs in his hand. He blushed and clenched his eyes shut.

"Hey, man! Get off!" Kirishima shouted and struggled. Aoyama, however, refused to budge.

"No, Mon Ami. I am quite comfortable. Besides, our friends seem to be having fun and I wish not to interrupt," the boy winked.

Mina did what was akin to a triple axel as she shot acid towards the tape, trying not to be too sloppy. "Damn. I could hit the bomby boy. Gotta be careful."

Mina fell back after being caught in the leg by a stray stream of tape. Before Sero could capture her, however, she did a backspin and pulled her opponent off balance. Recovering quickly, Mina got up and delivered a savage uppercut.

"SHORYUKEN!" she shouted with pride as Sero went flying back. As he hit the ground, Mina grabbed some of Sero's tape and used it to restrain him.

"Hah! Headed by your own pasta! Score one for me!" the pink girl congratulated herself before turning to the bomb.

"It's petard…" Sero corrected with a strained voice.

"That's made up. What even is a petard. Anyway, I have to deactivate myself," Mina scoffed as she continued to melt through the tape. It was difficult to get through, like one of those halls in a festival attraction. Ultimately, though it paid off. As the pink girl grabbed the device, she raised her hand in victory before looking at her confused classmates.

"Deactivate yourself?" Kirishima asked as Aoyama clung into him like capture tape.

"Because I'm the bomb! Duh!" Mina winked and posed as she stuck out her tongue.

The "villain team" groaned, both at their loss and at the acidic teen's bad joke.

"Hero team wins!" All Might's voice announced over the intercom, signifying the end of the round. Mine cheered as she helped her teammate. She was eager to get out and head to see Recovery girl. As hyped as Mina was to see the other matches, there was someone she needed to see more.

She zipped out of the room and was ready to go until the intercom sounded again.

"Hold your horses, Ashido. We still have class and you are uninjured. Come back for the rest of the class, then you can go check on young Midoriya," All Might announced.

The footage was silent, but the pink girl's disappointment was palpable, as was her embarrassment. Mina wasn't exactly someone who felt shame, but to have her devotion to her boyfriend announced to the class was a little embarrassing. Bashfully, she headed back to the monitor room with Aoyama and watched the rest of the matches, unable to get Izuku off her mind 

X

Izuku woke up in Recovery Girl's office, his arms in a cast. There was a bowl of candy on his bedside table and a familiar face at his side.

"How are you doing, Mr. Crunchy bones?" Mina sat next to her boyfriend's bed with a reassuring smile. She wasn't fond of him being injured and would have to help him find a better way. 

However, she felt that at this time, her boyfriend needed support. He must have been feeling from his loss.

"Still feeling sore. I wish I had done better, Mina. I kind of messed up. I failed to stand out in my first basic training session and I let my partner down," Izuku spoke in a low, crestfallen tone. "Plus I missed your match. I didn't get to see how you did. Or how Tsu and Kirishima did. I missed everything..."

"Babe, are you kidding? You looked so cool. Like yeah, it wasn't some big flashy all-out battle with explosions and emotions where you won in a last ditch effort but I could see you on full display. We all could! You protected Uraraka, you tried to use Shiozaki and Iida against each other, and you were super "go-with-the-flow" about it. I am super proud of you. Plus, Uraraka tried carrying on with your plan. You really inspired her!" Mina spoke in an impassioned tone, arms waving wildly as her eyes sparkled.

"I suppose. But All-Might would have won," Izuku groaned as he looked sullenly at the wall.

"You're not All-Might though. You're a kid, like me. You haven't had your quirk that long and yet you are still keeping up with everyone else. We're all in this together. Besides, you still got MVP of the match for your plan and your quick thinking. Give yourself some credit, Izu!" Mina placed a hand on Izuku and smiled at him. "Speaking of the big guy…" Mina was cut off as a door slammed.

"I AM HERE...TO CHECK ON MY STUDENT!" All Might rushed in dramatically, throwing open the door to check on his protege.

Before the man could get closer, however, he was pulled down by his ear. Recovery girl had grabbed on tight.

"Hold it right there, young man! You are the number one Hero! Have more foresight than to burst into the room unannounced. People might question why you are visiting this young man. Also, don't slam doors!" the normally sweet old lady chastised.

Mina tried not to laugh as the hulking mountain of Justice was felled by a grandma.

"I'm sorry, Recovery girl. I just wanted to check on my students!" All Might apologized profusely before deflating like a balloon, coughing up blood as he did so.

"Careful! Please don't get blood everywhere. Should I get you a hospital bed too?"

The school nurse calmed down, regaining her composure as she looked over Izuku and Mina.

"It's very sweet of you to check on your boyfriend by the way, Ashido. It could have been worse I suppose, but his arms were a mess."

All-Might tossed Izuku his mask. "You dropped this. Probably not wise to lose your cowl, kid, but I suppose it couldn't be helped. Seems like you are already inspiring others, judging by miss Uraraka and Ashido."

"Yeah…" Izuku's thoughts turned to Ochako. He didn't really have much chance to talk to her, as Recovery Girl's quirk knocked him out. He felt delving into his past with Bakugou was too soon, but he really did want to make friends with the brunette. He got along well enough with her and Iida.

He was pulled from his thoughts as Recovery girl spoke. "I really hope you don't make a habit of breaking your bones, young man. I know this quirk of yours is too much for your body, but that is exactly why you should learn some restraint. I hope your girlfriend can help reign you in,"the old lady teased. She was slightly stern in her words but also quite compassionate.

"As for you, you are his mentor. Please do a better job of keeping him from shattering his arms." the school nurse turned on a dime and snapped back at All-Might, who was bowing his head apologetically.

"Yes. Of course."

"Man, granny's got teeth!" Mina whispered to Izuku, who stifled a laugh. As oddly scary as it was to see someone who could keep the symbol of Peace on his toes, the boy couldn't help but be amused.

"I certainly do, young lady. False ones however, I'm afraid. That reminds me. How did you get roped in to this? Toshinori here is pretty choosy with who he tells about his secret."

"Toshinori?" Izuku asked, his eyes widening. Was that...All Might's real name? A whole new world opened up for the fanboy and he could feel his brain running a marathon.

Mina, on the other hand, bashfully looked aside. "I kinda yelled at him… it was scary to go off on All-Might. I mean, he's flipping All-Might! But he initially told Izu he couldn't be a hero so I had no choice." Izuku looked just as embarrassed as his girlfriend did while telling the story. All-Might merely coughed.

"Yes, young Midoriya. My name is Toshinori Yagi...though I wasn't quite ready to divulge that yet…" the tall gangly man frowned at Recovery girl. She merely shrugged as if to say "And this poor child didn't ask for powdered bones. Tough break, kiddo. The symbol of Peace noticed this and sighed. "And yeah. Miss Ashido really did stand up to me. It's not everyday a middle schooler chastised me." the man sheepishly scratched his face.

"She seems like a keeper to me. You're all right in my book, Ms. Ashido. I feel like your boyfriend might frequent here, unfortunately, so please keep him out of trouble. Mr. Midoriya here probably prefers getting kisses from you anyway,"  Recovery girl teased, causing Izuku to turn beet red and Mina a deep lilac.

The pink girl kissed Izuku's cheek, deepening his blush. "You know it, Nurse lady. Anyway, is he free to go? I want to walk him home before I hang out with my friend Tsu tonight."

"You two are free to go. I want to talk to your teacher privately anyway." All-Might nodded, though he seemed hesitant, as if he expected to get another earful. Recovery girl was not an angry person, however. Merely a concerned physician looking out for the well being of the students. All-Might respected that.

The two curly haired students took their leave and went on with their day. As the school day wound down, they said goodbye to their friends and headed to the train station together.

Izuku sighed blissfully. He was already feeling better, not just physically, but emotionally. He was lucky to have a growing support structure, and at the center of that was Mina. It wasn't the most masculine move. He felt it might be silly or weird, but at this point. Izuku was willing to trust in Mina not to judge. He rested his head on her shoulder as they walked, less fearful of PDA then he was before. Even after years of dating, they still took baby steps, which suited them both. However, they had certainly hit their stride, with no signs of slowing down.

"Mina...Thanks for everything. You...um...you really are my hero…" Izuku choked out.

"I know, Midorkiya...You're mine too. Love you~" the pink girl nuzzled her boyfriend before pulling away slightly. She dragged him behind her as she ran for the station

"Love you too…" Izuku smiled as he ran to keep pace. He really was happier than he had been in a long time and the sting of his loss had already subsided. Mina couldn't help but beam alongside him. Just another day in the life of a happy pink girl.

X

Meanwhile, earlier in the day...

The training had gone by fairly quickly, with some hero teams faring better than others. Tsuyu had been paired with a tall boy wearing a facemask. Together, they made quick work of their opponents and earned praise for their swiftness and range.

Bakugou scowled as he overheard everything that had occurred during lunch. It seemed like 1-A's training was eventful. Deku's shitty girlfriend had apparently done very well in the basic training. He slurped his food angrily, remembering all the grief she had given him. And as for the quirkless runt himself, he had lost, which should have given the explosive boy some satisfaction. And yet it didn't. It didn't numb the nagging in the back of his head.

These feelings swirling around in the pit of his stomach were like wasps, stinging every inch of his insides. Being in the same school as someone he saw as inferior was bad enough. That person having friends and a girlfriend was even worse. He could even brush aside being "saved" by that loser. But for him to have had a quirk this whole time and to be praised by All Might, even in failure? That was becoming too much to bear.

He was even beginning to miss being called "Kacchan", not that he would ever admit it. It was annoying and he hated it but it was at least something he could point to and say "that's right. I am above you."

 The whole thing sickened him. He should have been the top dog, leaving all those extras and asskissers at his old school behind. But now he had baggage to contend with.

Fuck those nerds. I will kill them all with my power, show those extras what a real legend is.

"Thinking to yourself? My my, I was concerned when I didn't hear you shouting obscenities," a smug voice slid into Bakugou's ears. It was Monoma.

"Fuck off, bowlcut!" the spike blonde growled as he ate his spicy curry.

"How vulgar. At least I know you are still yourself." the fancy boy took out a bento stored in a european-style box.

"I hear our shot at Basic Training is tomorrow. Unfortunately it seems the class with all the prodigies and legacies will sadly overshadow us."

"Knock it off, dude. Nobody is overshadowing anyone. Stop scheming things based on stuff you overheard from Tokage." Kendou showed up, arms akimbo as she frowned at the two ill-behaved blondes.

"Yeah. Were you snooping on Mina and I?" Setsuna pouted next to her friend. None of that mattered to Bakugou. He had no time for these squawking nobodies. He would get to the top on his own.

And yet the blonde prodigy couldn't help but feel he had fallen. Eavesdropping? Sneaking up on people? Was this who he was? It was sickeningly pathetic.

"Whatever…" Bakugou scoffed. "It doesn't matter. Because I am going to murder the basic training." He picked up his tray and walked back to the classroom.

The cries of his classmates fell on deaf ears. Not even Monoma, who was on his side, could get through.

He walked down the hallway with a violent smile on his face. This was a setback, an annoyance. He needed to get his head back in the game. He hadn't lost anything. He hasn't been made a fool of. Not yet. He might have been a student like the rest of them, but Bakugou was ready to teach anyone who got in his way a valuable lesson about their place.

"Watch your ass, world. I'm about to show everyone what victory looks like…"

X

After school, Midoriya residence...

It had been a long eventful day, but Izuku was grateful. Sure he had lost, but he was still commended. What's more, he was starting to feel like he belonged at UA afterall, even in defeat.

Izuku returned home to see his mother on the sofa. She was engrossed in the latest news report and had apparently not heard him. This was a golden opportunity. Izuku wasted no time as he leapt into the seat next to her. A little mischief wasn't a bad thing and he was feeling surprisingly silly after his talks with Mina, All-Might, and Uraraka.

"Hi mom! Anything good on?"

"Wah! Izuku! Are you trying to give your mother a heart attack!?"

Izuku frantically waved his hands, trying to calm the situation. That was the last thing he wanted. "W-What? Of course not! I just...I wanted to thank you...for the costume. I know it could be tough for you, raising me on your own, practically. Thanks for believing in me. I know you feel like you failed in a way, but you didn't."

"Those words are too kind. I feel like I should have done more to have your back before, so I will do all I can now as your mother...I do have to say you have become more surprising lately. You haven't jumped out and surprised me since you were 4."

"I must have a positive influence in my life." Izuku smiled bashfully "O-Outside of you, I mean."

"Well she is always welcome. I'm surprised she isn't here now in fact."

"Tsuyu invited her over for a sleepover so it's just me for now."

"My little boy...my sweet Izuku. I am so proud. Things are really looking up for you." Inko hugged her son once more.

"Mom, c'mon." The boy blushed and squirmed. However, he didn't put up a real fight. How could he? He was happy. He lost his first basic exercise, but like Mina said, this was new to him. They were all out of their depth but he hadn't had his quirk for that long. Even with little practice runs of it before classes started, there was no way the boy could fly through classes without some growing pains.

"Hush. You're my little boy and always will be. I am proud of you, Izu-bunny." 

It was nice, the mother and son pondered, that despite everything, they could have this moment of playfulness they hadn't had in years. For that, they were grateful and both parties had to restrain the urge to hug and cry. Ultimately, they couldn't hold on and did so anyway, salty tears trickling into their mouths as they smiled.

X 

Mina kicked her feet comfortably as she laid down on her stomach amidst the blankets she brought with her. The Asuis had provided a delicious dinner of shrimp Udon with Okra ohitashi. The pink girl was now settling down to bed with Tsuyu.

The room was pretty much what you would expect. It was filled with frog themed paraphernalia, photos of friends and family, and Tsuyu's stuff for school. 

"Thanks for inviting me over, Tsu. It's nice to have a sleepover. Maybe we can do one with the other girls in our class when we get to know them better." Mina playfully kicked her feet as she rested on her stomach. Tsuyu had put in her Blu Ray disk of Sgt Frog for the two of them to watch.

"Any time, Mina. It's not often I get to have friends over. It feels like it's been a while since you or Habuko have been over. She is feeling sick so she couldn't make it."

"Awwww, that's a bummer. I liked doing her hair last time. It's super fluffy, like mine or Izuku's"

"Do you think we made the right call? Not going to UA about Bakugou, ribbit?" the froggy girl pressed a finger to her chin as she laid down on her blanket. It wasn't exactly Fair to have a sleepover with the host in a bed and the guest on the floor.

"I've been asking myself that a lot. Izuku said we should let him try to improve as a person and give him the chance, but I really don't know. At least he stays clear of us."

"Yeah. He's really scary. I just hope Midoriya is ok. It can't be healthy being around his old bully."

"I should talk to him about it. Again, I mean. I know it eats at Kiri a little. It's Izuku's choice though. Just hope it's the right one."

"So do I. At least he didn't start anything yet."

"He said "it just wouldn't be manly to start a fight out of nowhere but I feel like a bad bro doing bupkis!" in his usual Kiri way, " Mina said, slipping in and out of her Kirishima impersonation. Tsuyu couldn't help but let out a small, croaky laugh.

The two girls drifted off to sleep, knowing they would ride the train together in the morning. Mina looked longingly out the window before closing her eyes and entering a deep sleep.

"I wonder what tomorrow will hold."

Chapter Text

Izuku walked to class with Mina and Ochako. Eijirou was already ahead of them with Tsuyu and, naturally, so was Iida.

Izuku paused,lagging behind the two girls he was with. Mina in particular looked confused but decided to wait and see what was up 

"Hey, Uraraka? I wanted to apologize for being harsh. I just...don't have fond memories of that nickname." Izuku gingerly kicked at the floor, feeling his chest tighten before he unloaded his baggage. He just hoped it didn't scare off his new friend or complicate the unspoken arrangement he had with Bakugou.

"Oh. You mentioned you wanted to talk about that. That Bakugou guy was friends with you right?" The brunette smiled gently, sensing the tone shift and the tension in Izuku's voice.

"He used to bully me. I...got my quirk later than expected and everyone thought I was quirkless…Deku...it means worthless...less than nothing… I was called that regularly for a long time. I even started to believe it until I met Mina...a while after, even. Sorry for dumping this on you. You deserve to know though, Uraraka.

Ochako was stunned, eyes widening in surprise and sympathy. She struggled for words but eventually managed to grasp them. "Why don't you go to the principal about that? That's awful!"

"I thought about it. Mina asked me that several times. I guess I just wanted to give him a chance to grow. And...I guess I was tired of being seen as powerless and a victim. I probably still give him too many chances."

Ochako paused, taking in everything her friend just told her. It was a lot to drink in. She looked from Izuku to Mina, who stood by, frowning. 

Mina wanted to chime in but thought it might be best to let her boyfriend speak for himself. She held his hand for support. 

"I always thought it could mean "someone who can do anything" but I won't call you that again if it hurts. Sorry, Midoriya!" Ochako apologized. "If it helps though, you seem to have much better friends than you did before. I am happy to be one of them. Sorry for calling you Deku"

"It's ok, Uraraka. You didn't know. And yeah, I feel blessed. Anyway, we should get going before the bell rings. We don't want to be late," Izuku laughed sheepishly while rubbing the back of his head.

"Yeah. Iida might get all about with us and chop the air."

Mina put a hand on her boyfriend's shoulder and kissed his cheek. "You know you probably should just go to the principal about this at this point...but I am proud of you, babe."

Izuku bristled, feeling his heart rate skyrocket. Words failed him as his tongue tied itself in knots. Finally he choked out

"T-Thanks, babe. Shall we?" He offered an arm to his girlfriend, the first real friend he had made in so long. It was shaky at first, but version calmed down, having had time to acclimate to Mina's personality and her affections 

Mina gladly took her boyfriend's arm, giggling before she stuck her tongue out at him.

"Awwww, you called me babe! My little green bean is coming out of his shell" she teased. Izuku sputtered and blushed from the combination of PDA and flirtatious compliments.

"Beans don't have shells, Mina. C-come on. Let's get to class!" 

"You know what I mean, Midorkia. Alrighty! Let's get going!" The pink girl cheered, heading into the 1-A homeroom. "I wonder what we're doing in class today," Izuku pondered out loud before heading in after her.

X

"Elections?" The class asked in unison. Aizawa had dropped the news right out of the gate

Everyone seemed excited for such a standard high school activity.

Izuku thought to himself about who he would choose. There were a few friends he could think of as a good class president. Eijirou wasn't the most organized but was reliable and friendly. 

 And then there were Iida and Ochako. He trusted his new friends already and the former definitely seemed quite fit for leadership. And as for Ochako, she had helped him at least 3 times in the time they knew each other. In the end, however, there was only one choice in his mind.

" Man, I hope this isn't biased, " the boy thought to himself. Above Iida, or Ochako or Tsuyu, there was one person he saw as a friendly face worthy of leading the class.

Aizawa deadpanned his way through. "Ok. Now that that's over with, let's count the votes...looks like with a majority of the votes, Midoriya is class president and Yaoyorozu is Vice President." 

"I should step down. Iida seems to want the role and he would be better at it than me." Izuku exhaled, frowning into infinity as he turned to his bespectacled friend.

Iida slammed his hands on the table dramatically, startling his friends "Do not do that, Midoriya! I appreciate the gesture, very much so! However you know my obsession with UA and upholding its legacy. Had I thought you were Ill equipped for the position, I would not have voted for you."

"Yeah. Domf fe fo harb om yourfelf," Mina spokebup, mouth full of food. She swallowed her lunch and smiled at her boyfriend. "You're a good leader, babe." 

"I don't know. I lost that match. And I haven't exactly led very many-" Izuku picked at his meal as he blushed to himself.

"Are you still on about that, Izu?We talked about that though," the pink girl pouted as she gently poked Izuku with her chopsticks.

"Bro, you're too hard on yourself. You're great," Eijirou chimed in, pumping a fist in the air. He supposed he needed to follow his own advice.

"I must agree, Midoriya. You are too hard on yourself. I might not have known you as long as the others, but you seem to be quite exemplary and I still can't apologize enough for my previous rudeness when we first met. Feel proud of your victory," Iida doubled down on his assertions.

"I mean...I voted for Mina…"Izuku squeaked out while poking his fingers together and blushing.

"Awwww, babe~. I don't think I could accept but thanks anyway."

Izuku was grateful. He still felt unworthy on some level. Despite Mina's peptalk, there were still lingering regrets. And even with a support system now, most of his life had been torment and adversity. Low self worth had taken root and it would require longer than a couple years to deal with it. For now, however, he couldn't help but smile.

"So who is everyone's favorite pro?"

"I mean, it is kind of obvious, isn't it?" Ochako blushed. "I am a big 13 fan."

Mina cheered. "Heck yeah! They are a fave for sure. Also, Miruko! She is a queen! "

Suddenly, the air was pierced by a wailing siren and an announcement by staff to head single file to a safe area. The entire student body of UA were in a panic, running through the hallway in a frenzied human traffic jam.

Izuku struggled to get back together with his friends. The group was split into two, with Izuku, Ochako, and Tenya separated from Mina, Tsuyu, and Eijirou. He thought he saw Bakugou in the crowd with Setsuna and an orange-haired girl.

"I need a plan. Iida, can you--" Izuku muttered loud enough for his friends to hear. He was ready to take the lead. He supposed that if he was Class president, he would have to get better at taking charge 

Iida seemed to understand what Izuku's plan was but they were both cut off by a loud voice.

"Attention everyone! It is only the media. They are sneaking onto the premises, possibly to look for an interview with All Might." 

"Yaoyorozu?" Izuku was thinking of getting either himself or Iida to act as the walking man on an exit sign. However, his vice-president elect had already assessed the situation and come up with a prudent application of her quirk.

Mina hugged her boyfriend from behind, happy that the chaos had ended.

"Kind of bummed they didn't get in. It would be fun to be on TV."

"I do not see how trespassers on school grounds causing a panic would be fun, Ashido!"

"Man, don't be such a turbo buzzkill, Iida-kuuuun!" Mina whined.

"I mean he does have a point."

Mina frowned to herself, arms akimbo. "Of course you would say that. You were on TV."

"I wasn't trying to be. I was just trying to help," Izuku rolled his eyes gently, prompting his girlfriend to pounce upon him and give him a noogie.

"Are you being sassy, Izuku? Man, you really have come out of your shell."

"N-Not intentionally! Pfffft!

I guess it's a side effect of hanging with you. C-cut it out, Mina!" Izuku giggled and struggled against his girlfriend while Iida chastised them over their PDA.  

"So cute!" Ochako gushed as she stood to the side.

Out of the corner of his eye, Izuku saw Momo shuffling back to class. He perked up and held his hand up.

"Y-Yaoyorozu! Could you… um, hold up please? I want to discuss something with you."

The pony-tailed girl pointed to herself in confusion and walked towards her newly elected president.

"Yes, Midoriya? What is it? We should be returning to class."

Izuku bowed bashfully and tried to speak clearly and on point to avoid eating up time. "I had a thought that might work out for both of us "

X

Izuku stood before his classmates, inviting Momo up to the front of the class with him.

"I've come to make an announcement. I really appreciate the votes. In the face of my defeat in our first training exercise, I don't think I am fit to lead the class. I wanted to nominate a friend who I felt would be a better fit. However, I was recently told to have more faith in myself by some people I trust," Izuku turned to Momo and offered a hand. 

"Still, I don't think president is a good fit for me. During lunch, I found someone who already takes charge better than I do. Yaoyorozu...D-Do you want to swap with me? I can be VP and you can be president."

The recommended student was shocked. She was hoping to get it, as selfish as it was. It would look good on paper though. Still, she was hesitant. It felt almost impolite.

"I see. Very well. I look forward to working with you." The ponytailed girl smiled politely. It felt almost unearned but she couldn't help but feel excitement bubbling up.

"Um, Yaoyorozu?" Izuku looked up at his slightly taller classmate. The lingering awkwardness of the situation was eased ever so slightly by the realization that she was not so different. Granted, she was a girl, and a wealthy, gorgeous one at that. And yet they were both there to be heroes. What's more, he could tell she was resourceful, like he tried to be.

"Yes, Midoriya?" the ravenette looked at her vice-president with a slight look of confusion on her face.

"I...I know you are a recommended student, but it's ok to be excited over something you were hoping for." He offered a shaky, yet sincere smile.

"I...will take that under advisement...oh, why not? Everyone, I can't wait to do my best as your class president alongside Midoriya. I also hope that Iida-kun is willing to work on the Student council with us!"

The class cheered, happy either way. Some had hoped they had won but we're willing to give their class reps a chance.

Aizawa sighed and gazed at his students with tired eyes. "Fine. Whatever you think is best. As long as you pick the rest of your student council and get on with it."

The two student officials looked at each other and nodded. They had a lot of work to do but had already picked one cabinet member. For the time being, however, they had a good council going and Izuku couldn't help but feel a creeping sense of contentment.

And yet, in the back of his mind, he had to still ask: had he earned it?

X 

Class had ended and everyone had parted ways, heading towards their destinations. Mina and Izuku headed to their train when their teacher intercepted them.

"I AM HERE… to walk you to your stop." the number One hero announced triumphantly to his two pupils.

"Are you sure, All Might? Won't people ask why you're walking with us?"

The Symbol of Peace coughed up blood violently as he deflated into his true form.

"No worries. I brought a disguise. I used to use one back in the day to hide from The press. Even a hero needs some privacy now and then " the tall man said, donning a yellowish baseball cap. "It clashes with my suit, but between that and my true form, I should be able to duck the press for a bit. The media really wants their scoop.

Izuku perked up immediately at this new development. The disguise seemed oddly familiar and he couldn't place it, but his mind was swimming.

"You have a secret identity? How did I not know this? Was this from your days with Professor David Shield and Nighteye? Or was it from the time you teamed up with the hero known as Caped Baldy? Have you used other disguises or--"

Mina gently shook her boyfriend out of his mutter storm. "Breathe, babe. You're getting a bit too excited."

All Might, still in his skeletal form, wiped blood from his mouth and sighed. "No offense, young Midoriya, but perhaps you should work on talking about topics that aren't related to me."

"Oh...um...did you know your bones are always wet?" Izuku rubbed the back of his head.

"Oooo! Or that skin is the largest organ so if you hold hands, that's two organs touching."

"Maybe we'll stick to heroes for now." All Might sighed. He really was watching after some weird kids. He supposed this was the life of a teacher. Yet he couldn't help but smile. They had potential. All his students did. And yet this young couple made quite an impact on the old-pro.

"Would it be unprofessional of me to have a movie night for the kids?" He thought. Perhaps later. For now, All Might took off his cap and assumed his beefy hero form with a puff of smoke and a boisterous laugh 

"Anyway, it looks like you two are at your stop now. I must go. A hero's work is never done. I will see you tomorrow, though I might be late. See you tomorrow"

In an instant, All-Might was airborne, leaving his two students to watch in awe.

X

The next day, everyone in 1-A was abuzz with excitement. It was their first class trip and every student had the option to bring their hero costumes, though some still needed repairs. Izuku's costume was being mended, so he opted for his gym clothes.

While tempted to board with his friends, the One-for-All holder stayed behind with Momo to make sure everyone boarded.

"We're good to go. Get on unless you want to be left behind." Aizawa spoke in A monotone voice before boarding the bus. Momo and Izuku followed soon after and were seated.

The green-haired boy leaned back intently in his bus seat, staring at a trading card he kept in his wallet. It was a holographic All Might card, one he had owned since he was at least 4 years old. The memories attached were bittersweet but it was too good and meaningful a collectable to discard.

"Hey, Midoriya?" A voice broke Izuku out of his trance. He looked over to see Tsuyu, poking her finger on her chin.

"Oh, yeah, Asu...er...I mean Tsu. Sorry."

"I couldn't help but notice your quirk is a lot like All Might's."

"Oh...um...i guess I get it from my dad's side."

"Didn't you say his quirk was breathing fire?"

Izuku panicked, unsure of how to counter. He should have known Tsu would have questions. Of his friends, she was one of the smartest in the group. Luckily, Mina chimed in.

"Maybe he has like...some kind of telephonetics like his mom, but he has to touch objects to activate it?"

"You mean telekinesis? Also, how would that break his bones?"

Mina shrugged her shoulders and sighed, giving a wink to Izuku.

"Either way, dude, it's a pretty flashy quirk. Not like mine."

"Hey, that's not true. I think your quirk is really cool."

"You say that about every quirk, gero." Tsuyu spoke up. Eijirou nodded, adding "She's not wrong.

"I mean...maybe, but that doesn't make it any less true," Izuku poked his fingers together awkwardly before straightening up. "You've got a built-in suit of armor and can increase the strength of your punches and--"

Eijirou cut his friend off, waving a hand in order to stop the stream of compliments. "Whoah, dude. No need to butter me up. Man, you're going to turn me as red as my hair...Thanks, Midoriya," The boy blushed and grinned

Tsuyu wasn't entirely satisfied by the answer Izuku gave her but it was the best she was going to get for now. If her friend was holding back, She was sure he would open up eventually. He wasn't the best at it. Izuku was an odd boy, crying openly some moments and dodging things at others. The frog girl could certainly see why.

"So Midoriya, what's the deal with you and that Bakugou guy? He seems really intense." Kaminari butted in, wanting to know more about this group of friends he was in class with. The fact that there was an awkward nerdy guy with a cute girlfriend had him curious.

Unfortunately, he picked a touchy subject. The air grew tense as Mina, Ochako, Eijirou and Tsuyu held their breaths. Izuku hesitated and thought for a moment before squeaking out an answer.

"Um...we...used to be friends. Sorry. I can't say more than that."

"What, is he your ex?" the blonde boy teased, but saw that it didn't get the best reaction.

Jirou shot a jack out and jabbed her friend in the head.

"Sorry that captain Doofus is bothering you," the punk girl sighed in an aloof way. "Do you know where we are going? Some off campus site, right?"

"I heard it's like Universal Studios Japan, but for rescue practice. It will be pretty great to focus on other aspects of heroics outside combat. I am looking forward to it, honestly," Tenya responded, a wide smile on his face. "It will give us the opportunity to live up to UA's prestigious legacy."

Tsuyu looked out the window and smiled. "I am actually looking forward to this. I want to be a rescue hero, focusing on helping people during natural disasters, gero! This is rabbit ribbit ribbit" even the seemingly emotionless Tsuyu couldn't help herself. Her croaks became more frequent and her large hands fidgeted wildly As she hopped in her seat.  As Izuku, Mina, and Eijirou observed their friend, they couldn't help but smile as well.

The bus pulled up to a giant dome-like building, not dissimilar to a sports stadium. 

Eijirou was actually certain he had seen a baseball game with his family at one just like It.

Aizawa led the students off the bus and into the large, Arena-esque structure. The entire class gasped in awe at the scenery before them. Rolling landscapes based on different types of disasters lay before the students. Tsuyu's already large eyes widened as she stood next to Mina and Izuku.

Izuku poked Mina and Ochako on the shoulders in an excited fashion as a short, stout astronaut stepped into view, waving a gloved hand.

Mina and Ochako were fangirling in place as Aizawa introduced the figure.

"Alright, class. This is the Unforeseen Simulation Joint. USJ for short. I'll let Thirteen take over from here."

Sure enough, Thirteen spoke in a cheery, androgynous voice. "Hello, Class! I can't wait to get to know all of you. As Eraser said, this is USJ. I put a lot of work into this place with the rest of UA in order to help train students in the art of rescue. Heroics is about more than fighting villains and oftentimes, we will have to help citizens in the face of Natural disasters."

The air rippled ever so slightly, as if something was trying to breach the surface of a still pond. Suddenly, a black void opened up before the students.

"Something tells me this isn't in the curriculum." Tenya said wearily, taken aback by the sudden anomaly.

Soon after, the void stared back with two piercing yellow eyes as it took on a more humanoid form.

Stepping out from similar portals was an entire army of villains. At the helm was a lanky looking man with disembodied hands all over his body.

"So this is the next generation of heroes, huh?" The gangly man scratched nervously at his neck. His eyes focused in, blood red and filled with killing intent. "Can your teacher come out to play? Where is All Might?"

Chapter Text

The villains stood in front of the lake like an imposing army, awaiting orders. Towards the front were what seemed to be the three generals: the man of black mist, a thin young man covered in hands, and a large black creature with a beak-like mouth and an exposed brain, which was protected by a transparent casing.

"We are here to kill All Might. Perhaps some dead kids will get his attention. Either way, the 'Symbol of Peace' will die today."

Aizawa readied his scarf and took a battle-ready stance. For a man only in his 30s, he had the body language of a seasoned veteran. This is what it was to be a pro-hero.

"Thirteen, evacuate the students and try calling for backup. The sensors aren't working apparently and neither are most communications channels. Must be an electric villain. Kaminari, back Thirteen up by trying to reach the school. I'm going in." Flipping his scarf over his shoulder, the scruffy homeroom teacher prepared for battle.

Izuku objected, fearing for his teacher. One person alone could not handle that many villains at once, especially someone whose quirk relied on eye contact.

As such, the One-for-All holder started to info dump his objections but was stopped courtly.

"No pro hero worth their salt is a one-trick Pony," Aizawa spoke gruffly before pulling his goggles down and jumping into battle. "Get going!"

Izuku nodded reluctantly, hesitating before he ran towards the exit with his classmates.  He watched nervously for a second as Aizawa seemed outgunned. However, the season's pro soon proved to his pupil that he was more than capable.

Watching from a distance, the lead villain sighed while scratching his neck. "What a pain. Kurogiri, take the exit."

"Gladly, young master" the misty gentleman bowed and got to work, soon appearing in front of the main door.

"I am afraid we can't have that, my dear children. I cannot permit anyone to leave."

"Stand down, pal. We don't want trouble." Kirishima punched the palm of his hand, trying to bluff out the misty villain.  Ibara similarly stepped up, growing out her vines in a defensive stance.

"Agreed. Be gone, foul specter!" She hissed

They might have been students, but he couldn't just sit still and allow themselves and their classmates to be hostages of this humanoid void, or any other villain for that matter.

"I think not" the void spoke back. This prompted both Ibara and Kirishima to attack. Alas, they were absorbed by the mist and had disappeared.

A swirling ebony vortex grew from the villain and surrounded the class, swallowing all but a few. Iida had managed to grab Sato while Shoji shielded Ochako and Mina. Izuku, Tsuyu, Kirishima, and the rest, however, had been sucked into the mist and scattered elsewhere.

Mina could see from the corner of her eye as her friends and boyfriend vanished before her very eyes.

Izuku appeared in the air high above the massive lake within the USJ and could feel his heart squeeze as he plunged into the water below.

His eyes barely adjusted to the water as the bubbles cleared. He could see a menacing shape dart towards him.

"Sorry kid. Nothin' personal, but say goodbye!"

Izuku wanted to scream but water filled his mouth and lungs as he did so. Was this really how it was going to end?

"Hang on tight." A voice called out from underwater before it's owner kicked the Sharkman with full force. It was Tsuyu, and she had Mineta under her right arm

The frog girl wrapped her long tongue around her friend and rocketed out of the water.

"GOODBYE!" 

Izuku gasped for air as he was dropped onto the deck of a simulated ship.

"I can't do this! We're just first years! We have to face supervillains!?" Mineta sobbed uncontrollably, suiting his stature and the diaper he wore. It was meant to be a bowl but it didn't look like one to most people.

Izuku tried taking stock of the situation but he couldn't blame his classmate. It was almost symbolic that they had been warped to the shipwreck zone, as the three students were in too deep and their chances of getting out were sinking.

"What do ya think, Midoriya?"

"You...You can call me Izuku, Tsuyu. You just did in fact." the green-haired boy sighed thoughtfully as he assessed the situation.

The frog girl croaked contentedly, taking a spot next to her friend, watching him intently. 

"Just making sure we're on the same page still. Kind of weird not having to correct you anymore. So what's the plan, Izuku?" Tsuyu asked.

"We get back to our friends and stick together. I have no idea what everyone else is doing. Yaoyorozu should have a plan but I don't know where she ended up or with whom. All I know is that we have to get off here."

"HOW!? WE'RE DOOMED! WE ONLY HAVE TWO TEACHERS HERE AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THEY'RE ALIVE! GAH, I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M GOING TO DIE A VIRGIN!"

Izuku thought to himself, racking his brain trying to think why the villains were doing this. There were obvious reasons for them to want to eliminate the top hero. And yet it wasn't adding up still.

"We're outnumbered, outclassed...but if they want a fight...we're going to have to give it to them."

"I think I figured it out but things still don't add up. They knew we would be here. Or specifically that All Might was supposed to chaperone. They even organized villains with quirks suited for USJ. Maybe they got the info somehow when the school was put into lockdown."

"Who cares though! We're goners! Gone-" the erratic Mineta was silenced by Tsuyu.

"So what is standing out to you, ribbit?"

"You are...they zapped you into the flood zone. So that means they don't know our quirks. They thought that by dividing and scattering us that they could win. But not knowing what we can do? If anything, that gives us an advantage here."

Tsuyu nodded, understanding where her friend was coming from. "So we should share what we can do with each other, right? Come up with a plan from there, ribbit?"

"Yeah. I know your quirk is that you can do pretty much whatever a frog can do. Mine…" Izuku paused, taking a moment to explain how his quirk worked without giving away how All Might was connected. 

"That's right. I can also secrete poisonous mucus from my body and regurgitate my stomach if I need to. Neither of those are very useful here, gero," Tsuyu chimed in as she listened intently.

"I still think they're cool, Tsu...if a bit gross. Mine… is closer to a distant relative's, I suppose. I can increase the output of my body strength but at the cost of whatever body part I use. Pretty much a double-edged sword of super strength but not without really messing me up. How about you, Mineta?"

Izuku and Tsuyu turned to face their miniscule classmate, who grabbed a sticky glob from atop his head.

"My hair is pretty much just sticky balls. If I use too many, I start to bleed but they grow back. The better I feel that day, the stickier they are, but they bounce off me like rubber," the short boy explained. A pause filled the air and he started to panic. "How can sticky balls, breaking your own bones, and vomiting your stomach going to help us? I mean, the rest of what you guys can do is useful, but... We need help! What if help never comes? WE'RE BONED! BOOOOOOONED, I SAY!"

Izuku was not violent. He hated the thought of it. He wouldn't call himself a pacifist. If he was, his quirk would suit him even less than it did now. Still, his life history made him flinch at the thought of hitting someone else.

So even he was shocked when he slapped Mineta.

"Sorry. I-I shouldn't have, but we have to pull ourselves together. You have a good quirk. I just don't know how we can use it yet."

Just then, the ship they were on cracked him half from a villain attack, shocking the trio out of their conversation.

"God, can you brats stop yappin'? It's boring just swimming around here. Be good little casualties and get down here." A fish-like villain shouted angrily. The shark villain from before spoke up as well. 

"Yeah. Yer all chum in five minutes."

Izuku cursed himself that life wasn't like one of Kirishima's shonen anime. Then those five minutes would be approximately an hour or so. Alas, this was reality.

"WAAAAAAAAAAH!" 

The green-haired boy turned to see Mineta screaming in panic while throwing a flurry of sticky balls.

"What the heck, Mineta? You gave away your tactical advantage. Now they know what you can do."

"Mineta, did you really come here to be a hero?" Tsuyu asked calmly, her placid demeanor holding a mild hint of disappointment.

"Both of you shut up! You're crazy if you're not freaking out right now! We were just middle schoolers not that long ago. How are we supposed to face freaking villains!?"

Before Izuku could respond with "I mean, Hawks…", he noticed that the villains in the water were avoiding the sticky balls that Mineta had thrown towards them. He rescinded his planned retort anyway, realizing that they weren't all prodigies and that the situation was pretty terrifying 

"Huh. I guess they still don't know exactly what they can do, gero," Tsuyu observed.

Izuku stood steadfast and clenched his fist, teeth gritting together as he mustered up the nerve. With a deep breath, He spoke from the heart.

"Listen. 'The moment the enemy thinks they've won is your best chance at victory.'

 I remember that vividly from an old interview All Might conducted years ago. I used to watch it on repeat, sometimes when I felt hopeless and was ready to cry myself to sleep. 

My mom often had to pick me up and take me away from the computer. I never really got a tablet until middle school… but the point is...this is our best shot at getting out of here alive. We have to take it!" 

Bakugou's wild yet refined instincts flashed in Izuku's mind like a montage. The thoughts stung, as if they shared a quirk with the One-for-All holder's greatest tormentor. What hurt more was that there was still some level of admiration there. 

However, someone else had taken the blonde boy's place. Someone with a powerful quirk but a sunnier disposition. He thought of them all: Bakugou, All Might, Tsuyu, Kirishima, and Mina. His Mina. He didn't know where she was thrown to, if anywhere, but he was determined to see her again. It was in that moment that he channeled the greatest friend he ever had in his young life.

"Okay! LEEEEEET'S PAAAAARTYYYYYYY!" he screamed, leaping off the boat with a feral grin. His stomach was in knots and his body was running on adrenaline, but Izuku wasn't ready to go down like this. If there was a way, he would need the will. "Welcome to USJ!"

His mind slowed down and analyzed the situation. He would be heading into greater danger, even if he did escape. What's more, he would be down an arm after this gambit, or at the very least his pointer finger and thumb. But heroes did what they had to for a brighter day. "I can't hit all of those villains below, but I might be able to make a good enough splash to escape with. I just hope this shockwave is enough. It will have to be…"

"Man, this is too much. First that one crybaby kid starts panicking, now this one has a death wish."

 "Shigaraki told us to be on guard, but I dunno. We might not know what they can do, but this is our element. The only one who might be a threat is that frog girl, and we have her outnumbered." The lead villain ruminated with a toothy smirk.

The smile was short lived, however, as Izuku flicked his finger. He visualized the egg in the microwave and hissed through his teeth before releasing a primal yell. "DELAWARE SMAAAAAASH!!!"

A massive whirlpool formed as a violent wave of air pressure dented the surface of the water.

"What the SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!!!!" 

"MINETA, TSUYU! GRAB ON, NOW!" Izuku screamed as the pain shot through his fingers and up his arm, two of extremities dangling pimply like battered flags.

" Dammit, Midoriya. How are you so cool?" Mineta cried as he clung to his classmates. He flung more sticky balls at the villains, watching as they hit their mark 

X

Tenya was at a loss. He came from a successful lineage of heroes, the latest in a proud line of speedsters whose proud hearts roared like the engines sprouting from their limbs. He had wished to do UA proud; to do his family proud. They were one of the chief reasons it was "UA or nothing" for him.

And yet for all his seriousness and drive and pride, the bespectacled boy was stuck. His mind was racing. This wasn't a training exercise or some scheduled sparring match. This was the very thing his family trained for for years and he was reminded in That instant how much he paled in comparison.

"Hey Iida, do you have a plan? You're kind of our de facto student government right now, with Yaomomo and Izu missing" Mina asked with worry on her face. Ochako appeared beside her with a similar expression.

"Yeah, plus you are super serious and all about thinking ahead."

"The girls said it, dude. You're our best option for a plan, so what's it going to be?" Sero spoke out as well, arms behind his head as he looked to the ceiling before switching his gaze to the speedster.

The blue-haired boy felt overwhelmed. He didn't feel qualified. Why were his classmates looking towards him? What had he done to inspire such a response?

"You're class president correct?" Thirteen turned to Tenya and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Your classmates seem to be looking to you at this moment."

"I am afraid not. That position went to Yaoyorozu. Unfortunately, she was swallowed by that fiend's quirk, alongside Midoriya, our vice president…" he froze, teeth clenched out of frustration. To think he was even mildly jealous. What would he have done now if he were class president. What would he even do now?

"Hey! You said you wanted leadership, right, Iida? This is a perfect opportunity. You're the fastest here and our best chance of getting help." Ochako spoke steadfastly.

"She's right, dude. You seem super dedicated. Kinda scary in a way. I admire it, though and I know for a fact Izu does too. So buck up, Mr. Roboto! We'll cover you!" Mina smiled and gave a thumbs up.

Your classmates are right. You are our best hope right now. Please, young Iida. Use your quirk to save us." Thirteen pleaded calmly, eyes staring intensely yet kindly from beneath their helmet visor.

"I am afraid I can hear you all and, suffice it to say, I have no intention of making it easy. You children show promise. I will give you that. All the more reason not to let you out of my sights." The black mist villain spread out, blocking the exit. "Seriously though, discussing strategy loudly in front of the enemy? Beyond foolhardy!"

Thirteen stepped in and started using their quirk to suck up the black mist. They pointed at the mysterious villain, fingertips unlatching as a black hole sucked the enemy in.

"Go! Now! Your position in your class is irrelevant. You are the best equipped for this situation. Go get help. I will deal with this villain! As for you, it doesn't matter if you heard our plans. We will stop you!" The space hero glared at the villain known as Kuroguri.

"Will you? I admit your quirk is strong. Alas, the biggest weak points are exposed when a strong power is turned on itself. Observe!"

On cue, a portal opened up behind Thirteen and their quirk came out the other side, sucking violently at the astronaut hero. Ochako and Mina cried out in shock as their teacher was torn apart by their own quirk, a huge gash ripped into their costume by the force of "Black hole".

"It seems that a mere disaster relief hero is not much better than the man on the street. A pity that we were too big a disaster for you. And now with the shepherd disposed of, I shall tend to the flock. I think I will start with you."  Yellow eyes narrows within the formless fog as it shot out at Tenya. The tall boy winced, but stood strong until his vision was obfuscated.

Sato and Sero stepped in, shielding their classmate. The former shot out Tape in order to form a barrier. It was haphazard and rudimentary, getting torn down in seconds. And yet, he persisted while Sato provided backup.

"There are alarms on the outside. That means these guys are only causing trouble here. If you can get outside, you should be clear!" the yellow-clad hero student interjected.

"C'mon, man. Did you hear Thirteen? You're our best bet. Get out of here. We'll cover you!"

Tenya ran, face painted with panic as the image of his disfigured teacher stabbed into his fragile young psyche. Shoji tried tackling and containing some of the black mist as well, doing his part to clear Tenya's way out.

"This is becoming tiresome, four eyes. You keep underestimating me. Vanish!" A black void opened up like a hungry maw, ready to devour Tenya.

It was at that moment that Ochako noticed something. Mina saw a glint of determination in her eye. "What are you doing, Ochako?" the pink girl shouted.

"He was wearing a silver thing...like a neck brace." the brunette said quietly to her friend. It clicked into place for the pink girl.

"That thing has a neck? ...Of course! That means-" Mina cut herself off as she kneeled down by Thirteen's injured body. "I'll keep an eye on Thirteen. Kick his butt!"

Nodding with a fierce smile, the brunette flung herself towards the glint of metal. "Hey you! Don't underestimate us!" she screamed as she lunged at the bracer and activated her quirk on it, sending Kurogiri skyward.

"What the-" the misty gentleman exclaimed. He felt his body solidify and jerk as a leash of tape caught onto him, courtesy of Sero.

The raven-haired boy swung with all his might and let go, sending Kuroguri off into the distance. "So long, gas bastard!" he cried out with a triumphant smile.

Looking at the catapulted villains, then back to his class, an awestruck Tenya nodded and smiled before running through the door. "Thank you, my friends. We have fought valiantly so far, but our battle will soon be over. I will get help. I swear!"

Everyone exhaled as their classmate made it through, deciding to focus on caring for Thirteen and staying out of the action for now.

"Phew. Iida made it out. Maybe we can get some help." Mina thought, standing up in triumph before slumping to her knees once more. She was still terrified, out of her depth. 

One villain was scary but she managed to get that monster away during her middle school days. A whole army though? It was too much.  It wasn't like she could point them all to a hero agency And hope the problem went away. Not this time, anyway. And yet he was out there: Izuku. 

He might have had All Might's quirk but he barely had a handle on it or experience with it. Besides, he was in over his head too, regardless of how much smarter he was. At least he had Tsu with him but Mina was getting antsy. She didn't want to die here. She didn't want to be reckless and burn anybody with her acid.

But if she lost Izuku? She didn't want to think about it. Tenya's exit created an opening, a small window of time. The pink girl steeled herself, trying to keep herself from shaking. Every movement counted and she needed to be sure of herself.

"Leap of faith, Izu-bean. I'll be there soon."

"Mina!? Where are you going!?" The pink girl turned around to see a very concerned Ochako, alongside other classmates of theirs standing around the downed Thirteen.

"I'll be back, I promise! Izuku needs me!" Mina spouted frantically, trying to appear more in control than she was.

"I understand that, but think! Do you even know where he is?" Sero chimed in.

Just then, in the distance, a huge splash and accompanying sound manifested from the direction of the shipwreck zone. Mina smiled and turned to Ochako with a thumbs up. At this moment, both girls were unsure of themselves. The entire situation was unforeseen (fitting, given the venue) and they were still green in the skills department..

But there was a fire in Mina's black and gold eyes, one filled with worry, purpose, and longing.

"You looked so cool and fierce today, Ocha! Now it's my turn! See ya when I get back!"

Every video game, every roller derby she attended, had prepared her for this. Turn right. Turn left. Jump over this guy and slide under her. Mina's life flashed before her eyes.

 It was young and fragile but filled with seemingly meaningless moments that she could apply to this situation. Tears streamed behind her as she pushed through the fear. Images of her and Izuku filled her head as she flew towards him, like a moth towards light.

He always described her as his light in the darkness. It was cheesy but cute. The truth was, however, he was her light. Her mom had always referred to her as her little moth princess, and like a moth, Mina would fly for her boy every time. 

X

Landslide zone…

A horde of villains stood frozen as ice shot out from Todoroki's feet. He stood stoically at the edge of the landslide zone.

"W-What the hell!? No way this is just some punk kid. As s-s-soon as he warped here--" one of the villains shivered as he spoke stiffly from within a prison of ice.

"Divide and conquer, huh? I get the feeling you are nothing more than a bunch of low-level thugs with quirks they can't use properly" the young prodigy spoke, tone as cold as the tundra but hiding a fire deep down inside.

"Y-You little-" The spiky haired villain from before tried in vain to threaten the icy student, but it was futile.

"Shut up. Don't speak too much. You can't have expected to seriously overwhelm All Might, even with your numbers. Seems like you were meant for us. This level of cold should result in skin rot, but that wouldn't be very heroic of me. So tell me: what's the plan?"

 In the distance, two classmates, Aoyama and Tooru watched, unsure of what to do. Aoyama grabbed his stomach in discomfort as Tooru held on. 

"It seems that boy is as strong as he is handsome. Maybe we should have called out to him, dontcha think?" Aoyama winked, trying to look his best, even when winded and nursing a tummy ache.

"Man, why didn't we think of that sooner? I was too busy freaking out to come up with a plan!" The invisible girl claimed and pouted before relaxing. "We should probably go say hi now. Surprised he didn't notice us."

"Perhaps not, mon ami~. He is quite stoic, that one." Aoyama sat on the ground, finding a flat surface that wouldn't hurt his "little tushy" as he called it.

Suddenly, the two students heard approaching footsteps as a mysterious figure made himself known. The man looked vaguely reptilian and had a large build, one that neither child could provide an answer to. 

And yet, there was something lavish about his outfit, as if he could buy and pay for half these villains himself. There was something different about him.

"That is quite a show, isn't it. That two-tone kid is really something. I almost thought this was a waste of my time, but you have some strong classmates. Tell me: what can you kids do?" The man said with a smile. 

Mountain zone…

Momo stood her ground, expertly wielding a bo staff as she, Kyouka, and Kaminari fought off a swath of villains.

"Whoah, Jeez! Talk about a near death experience. My entire life just flashed before my eyes" Kaminari yelped as he dodged. "Just who the hell are these guys and why are they here?"

"Worry about the why and who later. We should concentrate on getting out of here. You're a lightning guy, right? Zap 'em already!"

"Did you not pay attention during training? We were teamed up! I can only cover myself in electricity. Besides, too strong of a discharge and my brain gets fried!" Kaminari protested.

"Fine," Kyouka kicked the boy suddenly and swiftly towards some villains with a deadpan look. "Be a human taser then." 

It was hard to maintain such an expression though when her heart was racing so fast. This was dangerous. Actually dangerous. This wasn't a mosh pit at a show or some pitched combat exercise. They could die here. She cursed under her breath.

"Seriously?!" Kaminari squealed as he bumped into a villain, his quirk activating on reflex. However, it worked out better than the boy expected as he shocked. "Oh wow. It works. I'm stronger than I thought. Leave it to me!" 

"You damn punk!" A pig-masked villain lunged for the boy with twin knives, while another punched him in the face.

Suddenly one of the villains was hit by a net courtesy of Momo while the other was shocked on contact with Kaminari.

"Focus, both of you!" Momo barked as She continued fighting off villains. Kyouka apologized and plugged her jacks into her boots, letting loose sonic reverberation towards the impending mob. 

Unplugging her jacks again, she thought about the modifications to her costume and how she had requested a method of directing her sound attacks. She wielded her sword in self defense, bringing it up to block several blows. "I had a plan. Aside from using Kaminari's quirk to help. I tried but it kinda fell apart. Guess strategy isn't my strong suit." She admitted to her pony-tailed compatriot.

 "If it helps, I can tutor you. My plan is taking some time. We just have to hold them off for a few minutes longer"' Momo exhaled.

The class 1-A president performed a complex combo technique with her staff and released another net from her elbow.

Kyouka couldn't help but stare and blush. She shook her head and focused up again

"Dammit. Rich girl's got moves and can make swords. I'm impressed. Guess I'll have to keep up." 

"It's ready. Jirou, get behind me!" Momo knelt down and stretched her arms out. Her back glowed and stretched slightly. The sound of tearing fabric filled Kyouka's ears as a giant sheet of insulation covered her and her class president.

"Correct. A 100mm thick sheet of insulation. Kaminari, Now!" Momo shouted as she hid underneath the shock-proof blanket.

"YES, MADAME PRESIDENT, MA'AM!" the shocking blonde grinned as he let loose on the villains around him.

Momo peeked her head of the blanket in triumph. She wasn't exactly leading her fellow students or showing just what the terms "recommended student" and "class president" meant, but she would do her best and make her way back to the exit with her impromptu partners in tow.

"Holy shit, she's stacked!" Kyouka's blush grew deeper as her jacks stiffened and vibrated with her increasing heartbeat.

"I can make new clothes. We should hurry and regroup though. I am worried about the others. By the way, you handlebar sword pretty well. Have you been trained?" The pony-tailed girl turned towards her punk rock classmate and smiled.

 Between the warmth of Momo's demeanor, her tactical mind, and her exposed body, Kyouka could feel any semblance of heterosexuality leaking from her ears and into the ground. Her heart rate increased as her jacks vibrated.

"Y-yeah. Lead the way, class pres." Kyouka smiled back as her and Momo exited the blanket. She couldn't help but hold in a laugh at Kaminari's goofy behavior, but decided to grab him along with Momo, so that they could reunite with the rest of their class together.

Conflagration zone…

Fire roared in the domed-in area. Controlled flames roared just strong enough to simulate an inferno but weak enough not to burn the place down. Sweat evaporated on the ground as it dripped off of Kirishima and Ibara 

The two fought valiantly. Ibara didn't take much pride in the violence, preferring more peaceful means. On top of that, the intense heat had her feeling weak, on the cusp of fainting.  However, the young student proved herself a valuable asset, wrapping several villains in her vines and dumping them in a pile, even when succumbing to her greatest weakness.

Kirishima took out as many of his own as he could while assisting his impromptu ally. 

 "That's the last of them, Shiozaki. Hot damn, you kick a lot of ass for a shrine maiden, though I guess you're more like a vine maiden!" the redhead smiled after exhaling from his nose. "We should get out of here and meet up with the others. You doing alright?"

"I am fine, I suppose. Thank you, though I do not know if the obscenities were necessary," Ibara frowned slightly, smoothing out the robes of her hero costume and trying not to trip over any broken-off debris. She winced as her feet burned and her vines cooked.

"Right, sorry. I forget how innocent and gentle you can be when you aren't scary strong." Kirishima stretched his arms and loosened up for what would likely be another fight. "Looks like you need some help though."

Ibara frowned deeper, looking to the ground. She gently folded her hands. "I am deeply sorry. I do not mean to be scary, nor do I wish to be a burden. I wish to be a hero who puts hearts at ease and leads through kindness. My quirk is a blessing...and I wish not to inspire fear or pity."

The hardening hero looked down and rubbed the back of his neck. Insecurities about his quirk and how he was perceived were issues he was all too familiar with. He wasn't great at speeches but he hoped he could give his classmate some manly words of inspiration.

Out of the blue, a chameleon villain revealed himself and leapt at the two teens, eager to attack. In an instant, Ibara's eyes locked onto the enemy and her demeanor changed from gentle to unforgiving. She wrapped a vine around the lizard man and slammed him to the floor with a cold scowl. "Repent, sinner…"

Her classmate looked at her awkwardly and offered another smile while she blushed slightly. Or maybe it was heat stroke. She didn't know anymore

"Yeah… Maybe inspiring a little fear in the bad guys isn't a bad idea for now. Come on. Let's mosey before you become a roasted salad." the boy flashed a toothy grin and cradled the weakened Ibara. A slight smile formed on her face as she let the teen boy pick her up and carry her out, ready to escape this nightmare. 

"Right. Let's reunite our flock."

X

The water held the flood zone trio in its wet embrace. They had gotten this far but still needed to be on guard. From their soggy sanctuary, the three could see their homeroom teacher taking on what they assumed was the villain leader. Izuku couldn't help but mutter about both how risky their own plan was and how seasoned Aizawa's combat style was. 

"Cut it out, Izuku. You're scaring me," Tsuyu stated bluntly. It was as close to a teasing tone as she could get. It was strange behavior, but she accepted her friend for his fanboyish eccentricities.

Below the surface however, it wasn't just a hobby or even a tool to tap into, but a coping mechanism. Izuku was still very much worried, and his friend could sense that, placing a firm, yet gentle hand on his shoulder. The green-haired boy nodded, then went back to his thoughts.

He thought back to how life was before Mina. Perhaps he would have survived, hanging onto his dream in a hopeless cycle of denial, maybe he would have even taken that swan dive that Bakugou suggested. 

But meeting this funny, hyperactive pink girl had meant the world. She was his first friend in a long time. He met more friends through her. He was surprised she didn't call the cops on the explosive blonde bully. He wasn't sure why he never let her. Maybe there was still a small part that refused to let go or that saw himself unworthy of being defended.

Everything Mina did for him, he wanted to repay 1000 times, thank her 1000 more.

Time stood still as the chaos went on around them. Just when he seemed to have the advantage, Aizawa was on the ground in a heap. 

The hand villain apparently had a disintegration quirk, using it to decay the clothing and skin off the Erasure hero's elbow. Finding an opening, the villain had Aizawa on the ground. Several other villains tried to attack but he narrowly dodged. Neither Izuku, Tsuyu, nor Mineta could make out the hand villain's words, but a large mass soon showed up, treating 1-A's homeroom teacher like a rag doll.

"W-Wha-?" Izuku was in shock. They all we're. Things had seemed dour but were starting to look up, only for the gravity of the situation to really set in. It was then that he heard the hand-villain speak clear as day with words that sent shivers down his spine. "This is our answer to All-Might… Our symbol of despair and violence: Nomu!"

In the distance, a pink dot approached and the green-haired boy's heart clenched, first in fearful anticipation, then in anxious relief and back again.

Mina was right there, running towards him. He saw her. He wanted so badly to dart towards her, to reach for her hand. But there were villains between them. The black mist villain had joined his leader.  If he was there, had he killed everyone? No. That couldn't be it. Mina was there. Dispersed them further? No. It was then that he was able to make out the words of the two villains in front of him.

"...failed to disperse...one managed to escape…" 

Iida must have escaped. He was the fastest of the group after all.

Mina and Izuku reached out for each other but before they could get close, a boot caught Izuku in the ribs, sending him back into the water.

"We should go. We can't handle an entire staff's worth of heroes. What a pain. Time to quit this game, Kurogiri.

Mina yelped as she was sucked into a black portal, only to tumble out on the ground near Tsu.

"Don't want to make this a total waste…" the hand faced man reached out towards the two girls, much to Izuku's horror as he resurfaced. The hands grabbed the two girls and… nothing happened. 

Mina closed her eyes in fear and screamed, but opened them again when she realized she was still alive. Tsuyu just exhaled, quaking silently as the shock set in.

"Pretty sneaky, Eraserhead. Looks like you still have some HP. Guess my new toy will have to fix that."

The Nomu appeared in a flash, faster than its bulky appearance let on. The beast's face was frozen in a braindead grin as it slammed the underground hero into the dirt.

Mina started crying as everything overwhelmed her. Her teacher was being beaten severely, her boyfriend got bodied, they were all at the mercy of villains, and she was nearly murdered. 

She felt a wave of water hit her as Izuku rushed out of the water, teeth bared. 

"I TOLD YOU NOT TO TOUCH THEM! DETROIT SMAAAAAAAAASH!"

Izuku was shocked when he felt his arm connect with flesh but his bones didn't explode. Was his quirk finally under control? How and why was that the case.

He was even more shocked when he looked up and saw the large buff bird zombie that was previously ragdolling his teacher.

Then it hit him. The villains had to have a plan for standing up to All Might, some ace in the hole against the greatest hero in the world.

Izuku was standing face to pecs with that very Trump card. This was the villains' plan on how to kill All Might. And it was horrifying.

"Smash, huh? Are you an All Might fanboy? Maybe I should kill you. Might send more of a message."

Before the Nomu could strike again, Tsuyu shot out her tongue and pulled Izuku towards her and Mina, who caught her boyfriend in a bearhug as he flew towards her.

Things were amping up, with the scattered students trying to reunite. Several had made it towards the main plaza and were hoping to catch up but had paused as they saw the chaos emerge. Kuroguri had landed nearby and reappeared near his young master after composing himself once more.

Suddenly, the door exploded with a mighty force, kicking up dust as it fell to the wayside. 

The USJ became silent. Everything grinded to a screeching halt. The only sound that could be heard was the rhythm of footsteps slowly approaching. 

A stark figure appeared in a mustard-yellow pinstripe suit with the jacket in his arms. His tie was crooked as if put on in a hurry. The form was unmistakable

"Sorry I kept you waiting, but fear not. I am here!" 

All Might had entered the stage.

Chapter Text

All-Might stood tall, his trademark smile nowhere to be seen. It was a smile that could put all hearts at ease. And yet now, there was only a scowl, a simmering rage within.

"My apologies, children. I was speaking with the Principal, but I had a bad feeling in my gut, So I headed here as fast as I could. I ran into Iida on the way and he filled me in. What I heard made my blood boil. You kids must have been terrified, thrown into an unexpected situation before you were ready, while my colleagues lay battered and bloodied. Do not fear, though…"

The statuesque hero clenched his fist as he tore his tie off. This was too much, just to get to him. There would be a reckoning and he was here to deliver it to anyone foolhardy to threaten children.

"For I am here!"

The remaining villains hesitated, intimidated by the huge presence of the number one hero. Nevertheless, they prepared to attack.

Unfortunately for them, however, he dealt with them in an instant as he scooped up Aizawa's broken body.

Izuku watched the whole thing intently, distraught at how severe things were. Not even All Might was smiling. He looked at Mina, who looked back at him in concern.

Seconds later, they were swept up by All Might as he whisked the four students and their homeroom teacher away in his beefy arms. As he did so, he knocked the hand off of the lead villain's face.

"Everyone to the entrance...Now! They wanted me, now they have me. I will take it from here," All Might spoke to his students in a firm yet reassuring tone.

"You're fast...very fast...but not as fast as expected. So the rumors are true, Mr. 'Symbol of Peace'...You're weaker now, aren't you," he uttered with a creepy smile beneath his hand-mask.

All-Might rushed forward, winding up a Carolina Smash on both Shigaraki and the Nomu. However, the Nomu leapt forward and took the attack head-on. It had no effect on the massive brute.

"It's no good, hero. Your attacks have no effect on Nomu because he has a shock absorption quirk. The only way to get around that is to tear him apart piece by piece, but he won't give you that opportunity."

"Thank you for the information. I appreciate it. No sweat!" All Might professed as he suplexed the Nomu into the ground with a mighty explosion.

Unfortunately,  as the season's pro drove his opponent into the ground, it opened up and swallowed both combatants, in an inky void. The Nomu dug its nails into All-Might's side, specifically the one with his injury from his last major battle.

"I see. You tried embedding him into the concrete. That won't work on an opponent that's as strong as you are. 

"I can't say I am fond of the thought of blood and gore within my gate. However if they are yours, I can happily oblige," Kurogiri said in a polite yet menacing tone as his portal closed around All-Might. "You see, if I close my gate around you, then I can guarantee you'll be half the man you are now. It's Nomu's job to keep you put.

In the distance, Ochako called out. "Hey! Mina is safe, and she got to Izuku! They're both safe! I see Tsu and Mineta too!"

Mina waved back and smiled. Izuku, however, looked at the scene unfolding, hands trembling as he watched his mentor and idol clash with a seemingly unbeatable foe. He felt a hand wrap around his and looked over to see Mina. She gazed into his eyes with concern, wanting to smile brightly and reassure her boyfriend. She couldn't though. All she could do was look into his eyes.

"I can't just stand here and do nothing. He was weaker from his injury before me. Now he is even weaker after giving me One-for-All. This is…"

"Not your fault, Izu. You're safe now. We all are. All-Might's got it...right?"

Izuku was shaky and on the verge of tears, with Mina offering a less shaky smile. She was just as nervous as he was, but he needed courage and reassurance. "Thanks but...I'm not so sure. Only we know his secret, besides the faculty. There is so much he has yet to teach me…"

"What do you want to do?" Mina asked, looking away. She was nervous. She and Izuku managed to take out some of the minor villains but these three were bigger threats than they could handle. 

If All-Might himself was having trouble, what could they do? Mina had her answer in an instant. It wasn't what she could do, it's what she couldn't do, and she could stand idly by and let Izuku watch his hero die. "Nevermind, I think I got it. And by it, I mean your back." Mina poked her boyfriend's cheeks. 

It was shaky, but a smile crept onto his face. He turned to their mutual froggy friends

"Tsu...could you take Aizawa to the entrance please?"

"Sure but why? What are you…"

Before the frog-girl could finish her thought, both Izuku and Mina ran ahead towards All Might. They were terrified, out of their depth, and there was every chance that they would help nothing and possibly die. They had to take whatever chance they had.

As the curly couple made a mad dash for their mento, a sudden but an odd rustling sound filled their ears. Vines closed in around the villain called Kurogiri in the shape of a globe, accompanied by a familiar voice.

"Leave them be, demon. I have returned for more." Ibara stepped in, sending out thorny green tendrils to keep the mist villain contained. "Unhand our teacher at once!"

"Shiozaki, can you detach your vines? I"m about to strengthen the barrier," Todoroki shouted before he shot through with a wall of ice.

Kurogiri writhed inside his prison and managed to escape before being encased in ice as Ibara ran for it towards her classmates. "Right. I am on my way."

Kirishima lunged out with a hardened punch to Shigaraki's face, which the villain unfortunately dodged.

"Dang. Almost had him."

Ibara, Todoroki, and Kirishima stood side by side, aiding Izuku and Mina in releasing All Might from Kurogiri's hold. Todoroki himself spoke up as his ice extended to the Nomu's side. It permeated the monsters cells and rotted his flesh. "We may only be kids but we cannot allow you to kill the Symbol of Peace, as if scum like you ever could."

Mina and Izuku smiled as their mentor crawled out of the black mist portal and stood up.

"Looks like Todoroki. Frosty...That kid is tough. Only a student but his control is so great that he didn't hit me. Thanks to that…"

All Might thought as he slipped away from the Nomu and leapt away. "His grip has loosened".

Ibara wrapped vines around Kurogiri again, binding him in place. "It seems there is indeed a body in that mist. You can teleport yours and others, but you still have a physical form. You can be contained." The robed girl glared as she did her best to keep Kurogiri from helping his allies.

"How bothersome," Shigaraki sighed in frustration, scratching away at his neck. "Kids these days are something, huh? Nomu. Take out the vine brat. Her preachy attitude is tiresome and we need our exit strategy.

Freeing its body from the portal, the Nomu righted itself and stepped forward, frozen chunks shattering and breaking off.

However, its form soon regenerated as limbs returned in grotesque fashion.

"I said it had a shock absorption quirk. I never said that's all it could do. This is hyper regeneration. Nomu is a superpowered living sandbag, created to withstand anything you've got." Shigaraki spouted confidently as the lumbering beast lunged for Ibara.

Her eyes widened as she tried to defend herself. In a flash, she was thrown back towards her classmates. Standing in front of her was All Might, holding a bruised, bloody arm up.

"This guy doesn't hold back," the old pro smiled. 

Shigaraki scratched at his neck again, thinking on what he had just witnessed. "He took one for the kid…"

"Anything to Save a comrade right? Violence for the 'greater good'? Just like that kid over there...the plain one. Or the horned girl next to him. See, that's what pisses me off, All Might. Heroes...villains...we both commit violent acts but we're still categorized. Good and evil. That's how it is. You're called a 'Symbol of Peace' but all you are is a tool of destruction and violence. I'll break that cycle and wake the world by killing you."

"Son, that is the biggest load of phoney I have heard. You were literally willing to hold children hostage and even murder them, just to get to me. Your words are hollow and meaningless. Idealistic villains have a fire in their eyes and a conviction that can chill the air. You just want to cause mayhem. You're doing this for fun, liar"

Shigaraki smiled beneath the hand on his face, chuckling softly. "Well damn. You called my bluff. Nothing gets past you."

Mina placed a hand on Izuku's shoulder and looked at him, then at her classmates.

"These guys are pretty spooky. I feel like my legs might turn into jelly. But we've got them outnumbered, right?"

"6 on 3. Those are good odds. Plus we all have pretty strong quirks," Todoroki observed

Izuku offered a shaky smile. His stomach was in knots still, but the tides seemed to be turning. "You're both right. And Shiozaki showed that the mist villain has a weakness."

"So did Ochako. She managed to sniff out that he had a neck, so we were able to get him away from Iida." Mina offered a thumbs up as she glanced over her shoulder towards the entrance.

"These are some brutal dudes we're facing, but with the 5 of us backing up All Might, we can take 'em on." Kirishima cracked his knuckles. Mina and Izuku nodded, ready to back up their teacher alongside their close friend and 2 of their most powerful classmates.

All Might had other plans, however. "No. I forbid it. To the entrance, now! I will handle this!"

"You would have been done for if I hadn't stepped in," Todoroki deadpanned.

"B-Besides, you're bleeding. That thing hit you pretty hard. Plus I think your ti--" Izuku caught himself just as All Might clenched his fist.

"Right you are, Todoroki. Indefinitely owe you for that. As for your concerns, Midoriya, fear not. Just sit back and let a pro show you how it's done!"

Shigaraki stared his prey down in frustration. This was not going as planned. Still, there was one last shot at victory. "Nomu, Kurogiri, kill him. I'll take care of the children. Let's clear this level and go home." The hand-faced villain ran for the 6 students nearby as his cohorts rushed All-Might.

"Heads up, everyone. Looks like we're fighting afterall," Kirishima stated to his comrades.

"The kid is right though. I barely have a minute left. Here I am warning him to keep One for All a secret and I'm about to blow my cover and my shot at saving everyone. I am weakening faster than expected but I have no other choice… because I am...the world's symbol of PEACE AND JUSTICE!!!"

The #1 hero clashed with the Nomu, pummeling it with everything he could muster. Every blow was a spectacle, shockwaves knocking anyone in the vicinity off their feet, physically and mentally.

"Weren't you listening? One of Nomu's powers is shock absorption!" Shigaraki hissed as he was blown back.

"So what?" All Might roared, the force of the blows between him And the Nomu being so massive that it blew everyone back. The hero addressed his sparring partner.

"He said your quirk was only shock absorption and not nullification, right? That means there's a limit to what you can take, huh, big guy!?"

A few punches landed in the #1's weak spot, blood spreading out in his white dress shirt. He winced in pain but persisted with unstoppable force.

"You were really made to fight me, right, and you can really withstand 100% of my power, then I'll just have to go beyond that AND FORCE YOU TO SURRENDER!"

Hurricane force winds whipped around as the battle tore through the landscape. Nobody could get close, hero nor villain.

Izuku stood back in shock, shaken to his core. " He's really going all out, even with his injuries. Each punch is targeted, not a single random punch...and every one is more than 100% of his power."

The young boy looked to his side as Mina helped him up and carried him towards their other classmates.

"You do know how to pick em, huh? All Might is scary strong. Guess that's why he's the best."

"Now for a lesson. You might have heard these words before, so let me show you what they really mean! Go beyond! PLUS ULTRAAAAAAA!" All-Might screamed with overwhelming vigor as he launched the Nomu out of the USJ dome, into the horizon with an enormous explosion that shook the very foundation.

The students observed with awe and excitement. Things had looked grim, but now they were in safe hands. Those who had not yet made it to the entrance or the scene if the fight could feel the very earth move. "That's All-Might for you. He really is the most amazing hero ever!" Mineta cried out with pride before looking at his own hands in shame.

"Geez! It's like the finishing move in a video game...or like a splash page in a comic! He beat the shock absorption right outta that guy! I've never seen brute strength like that!" Kirishima stated in disbelief.

"So this is what a top professional is capable of? It's like a miracle in real time...that power…" Ibara trembled, hands folded as she tried to process everything. "It's truly inspiring and terrifying all at once."I

"Yep...I am definitely slowing down alright. In my prime, it would have only taken 5 hits to send that guy packing. However, just now…" All Might stood steadfast with a clenched fist and his hair a mess. "It took 300 mighty blows."

All-Might turned to face the remaining villains as steam and dust rose off him. "Well, villain? Let's say we finish this up. Didn't you want to 'clear this level'?"

Shigaraki quakes with fear and anger as his plans turned to dust. Time was ticking and he was about to fail miserably. "You...cheated! You're supposed to be weaker...they lied to me. You're not weak at all.How dare you do that to my Nomu!"

"Well? Not going to clear the game? Come on, lad. I'm right here. Bring it on." All-Might growled confidently. However Izuku could see otherwise. It was a bluff. The #1 Hero only had moments before he reverted to his true form, revealing his secret to everyone and becoming an easy target.

X

Landslide Zone...

"So I'm going to be honest...I feel frustrated with this gig. I was told I could have a piece of All Might. That's the Holy trail for guys like me; getting to play a big role in ending the man who made my business he'll. 

But here I am, on the fringes of an army, led by some punk kid, his butler, and their science experiment. I am not anyone's goon and if I wanted to mess around with school children, I would have just visited my daughter. So I want to make you children an offer."

"M-Monsieur, we will not comply with anything scum like you have to say." Aoyama shaking delivered, adjusting his visor. The large green man only shook his head and flashed a sharp smile.

"Don't try to play brave, kiddo. I see your legs shaking. I don't know if it's fear or overexertion of your quirk. Maybe both. However, you clearly aren't up to fighting me. So let me go. I'll slip back into the shadows, I'll even go back to my comfortable cell of my own accord. In return, I'll give you information."

"Why should we trust you?" Tooru flailed in frustration. "You're one of the villains that attacked.

"A.) I haven't attacked you...yet. B.) I am nothing like those jokers. Besides, I'm a father of a hero student too. I just wanted a piece of the #1 Hero. I have no interest in random destruction. This plan pales in comparison to what I do."

The earth quaked and the sound of intense combat rang out in the distance.

"What the heck is that?,

"That, kids, is the sound of this whole operation going belly up. I'll see myself out."

Tooru and Aoyama stepped forward, nervous yet resolute. The green man scoffed, however. "Come on, kids. What are you really going to do? Frenchy here looks like he needs a bathroom break and you? Not much you can do without the element of surprise."

"Yeah? Well you have no exit. That gate guy is over where that big kaboom came from and you can't just walk through the front gate. So nyeh!" Tooru teased, sticking out her to fue for emphasis, as if anybody would know.

The villain sighed. "I don't need this today. Move it, blunder twins. Can't miss my cab. Otherwise, I'll be getting a lift with the coppers."

Tooru reached out and tried to stop the burly brute, but he merely leapt with a surprising amount of grace and ran for the source of the shockwaves. The two hero students were left behind.

"Poop! C'mon, Aoyama! Let's give chase! Maybe we can meet up with the rest of the class!" the invisible girl gestured with her right pointer finger in an animated fashion.

Groaning behind her, the class' resident sparkly boy grimaced. "Understood. I appreciate your vigor, Mon ami~ … but please do me a favor?"

"Mmm?" Tooru looked his way in confusion.

"Please don't say that word!" Aoyama slumped to the ground, clutching his stomach.

Mountain zone...

Momo and Kyouka had stopped in their tracks. They were so close. All they had to do was get to the entrance and they would be home safe. They had no idea what had happened to their teachers and had assumed the worst, but if they could take Denki and reunite with their classmates, they might stand a better chance.

And yet one villain had managed to shrug off their strategy. He was built, wearing an elongated skull-like mask. What's more, he had managed to grab Denki and hold him hostage 

"Hands up, girlys. No funny business or your friend here is done for. I don't want to kill a fellow electric type, but sometimes you do what you gotta do,"  the man menaced as he held the brainfried UA student. "Besides, it just means I know how to end him."

Momo thought to herself as she stared at the ground. "He must have laid low when we took out all the other villains. I imagine he has a higher resistance to electric attacks. Could he be the signal jammer?"

Kyouka looked towards Momo and gestured with her eyes before looking to the villain before them. "I didn't admit it to him, but I always thought Kaminari...really all electricity quirks...they're pretty cool. Those with them are natural born winners…"

Momo was confused as to what was going on until she saw one of Kyouka's ear jacks slide towards the back of her boots. Unfortunately, a bolt of lightning shot towards her feet, breaking her concentration.

"Nice try. Do you think I am gullible like your friend? I'm not going to fall for some stupid kid's trick. You heroes in training should take this as a serious lesson in hostage situations. I'll let this blockhead go if you comply. So what will it be? His life or yours?"

Before either girl could make a decision, shots rang out and the masked villain flinched as he fell to the ground, losing his grip on Kaminari.

Slowly, coming to his senses, Kaminari shook his head and looked up. "What the-"

Momo and Kyouka followed his line of sight after rushing to his aid. What they saw filled their hearts with joy.

The cavalry had arrived. 

X

Mina and Izuku ran forward just as the villains were about to attack. Mina didn't want her boyfriend to act recklessly but couldn't stop him, nor did she want to. All Might was the number one hero. So many people looked up to and relied on him. He was a teacher and mentor and one of the most important people in her boyfriends' life.

If anything happened to All Might, society would shudder. If anything happened to Izuku, her world would collapse. He was just one kid. The world might mourn him for a bit but it wouldn't stop in its tracks. For her? His smile and his laughter would cease. She couldn't stand there and not back him up. The young couple cried out in succession.

"Detroit…"

"SPLASH!"

Both teens worked in unison, as if they were so in sync in that moment that their bodies finished each other's sentences. Unfortunately Izuku's one leg gave out, the strain of his quirk being too much. Still he persevered and went for a punch on Kurogiri's real body. It had to be somewhere near the neck brace.

"Izuku!" Mina cried out in concern before focusing up and splashing acid towards the metal costume piece. A hand came out of the portal. It was Shigaraki's. Everything was happening too fast.

A bullet flew into the hand, causing it to recoil in pain. All eyes turned towards the entrance. Sure enough, Iida stood triumphantly in front of the UA teaching staff. They had arrived as backup to help clean things up. They cleaned up any villains still standing and drove the ringleaders onto the back foot.

"Damn! It really is game over, Kurogiri. Guess we should try again some GURK!"

Shigaraki was cut off by a hail of bullets from Snipe. They were non-lethal but still hurt like all hell. The young villain fell to the ground. Before Kurogiri could quickly get him to safety, they were sucked in by a strong force.

Thirteen had willed themself back up and was using their quirk to try and capture the two. Kurogiri pushed himself to his limit and used his gate to teleport both him and his young master. The large green gentleman from before ran franticly for his comrades and tackled them just as they disappeared. Thirteen tried to wrangle the three in but it was too late. 

As the villains disappeared, Shigaraki spat out words filled with venom. "You may have one here, Symbol of Peace, but Mark my words...When we next meet, you're a dead man!" And in a wisp of smoke, they were gone

"What in tarnation?" Snipe uttered as a female hero in bondage gear walked up beside him.

"Right? They just left an infamous villain behind with all these goons. And after such a dramatic entrance too" the heroine known as Midnight sighed.

The young hero students reconvened and were treated by their teachers. They had gotten a taste of what pros dealt with every day, before they were even ready. Izuku limped towards All-Might, who was on the cusp of turning back into his true form.

"Sorry I couldn't help. I was-" Izuku was cut off before All-Might could even speak.

"No. Stop that. You were amazing. Scary and you almost gave me a heart attack but you risked your life and managed to buy him time...please don't make that a habit by the way. I only have one of you." Mina punched Izuku in the arm before hugging him tightly. Tears streamed down both their faces as they embraced.

"Thanks, Mina...Sorry for worrying you. I almost got you into danger too."

"Pffft. I go where you go. We're a team, Midorkia."

"Ahem. Sorry to cut this short but I am just about out of time. Ashido's right though, kid. You saved my life again. If you and your girlfriend here hadn't bought me those extra seconds, I would have fallen here today, just like those guys planned. Pat yourself on the back, kid. You did good. But agreed. Please don't get too reckless." All-Might smiled, in a limbo between skeletal and muscular forms. He looked almost like Frankenstein's monster.

"I'm so glad...you're both ok…"

Izuku cried even harder as Mina held him, stroking his hair and weeping alongside him.

They had survived the day.

Unfortunately, it was only the beginning of things to come.

Chapter Text

Kirishima noticed Izuku and Mina on the ground, near a cloud of dust. He was glad his friends were ok, but needed to check in, just to be sure.

"Mido! Ashi! You ok?!" He called out. Tsuyu hesitated before following suit, hopping not far behind. Her friends were probably fine and being tended to by the pros, but they had dashed off recklessly. At the very least she could grab Kirishima if he was interrupting anything.

A wall of cement sprouted up from the ground, separating the two students from their friends.

All Might sighed in relief, coughing up a bit of blood as if to punctuate the situation. "That Kirishima kid has a good heart and young Asui has a good head on her shoulders. It wouldn't have been good for them to see me like this."  

"I'll tend to the wounded. You kids better meet up with your classmates at the entrance."

"What about Izuku and Mina, Ribbit?" Tsuyu asked, tilting her head inquisitively.

"Like I said, I'll tend to the wounded. You'll see them at UA. That's a promise." Cementoss repeated, sending Kirishima and Tsuyu towards the gates. 

Once they were gone, the UA teacher smiled at All-Might.

"Thanks, Cementoss. I owe you one." All Might grimaced, roping the blood from his mouth.

"Of course. I'm a huge fan of yours by the way. Anyway we should get you and those other two students to the nurse's office. It's better nobody sees you like this," the giant cement man smiled, his hands folded politely as they relaxed from using his quirk. "You really shouldn't overdo it though."

All-Might turned on his shoulder, feeling his whole body ache from the previous battle. His fellow hero and teacher was right. The more he overdid things, the less he was capable afterwards. Time was running short. And yet, it was unavoidable.

"Overdoing it saved my life. I couldn't hold back. They were really that strong…"

X

A swirling black fog opened up onto a hardwood floor in a small bar. Shigaraki, Kurogiri, and the buff green man from before spilled out with a thud before the portal dissipated.

"That...was a disaster...shot in both arms and legs...Nomu got captured after getting sent flying...We got creamed…" Shigaraki lamented, looking up from the floor at a computer monitor.  The villain's voice trembled with rage and disappointment, with a hint of confusion. "The kids were stronger than expected...reinforcements arrived...And All Might still put up one hell of a fight. He didn't seem weaker at all! You were wrong, Master…"

The screen seemed blank, darkened as if it were turned off. And yet there was the faintest shape of a figure visible. The figure's voice finally responded in a deep, authoritative yet cordial tone. "I was not. No. We merely got ahead of ourselves. This can serve as a learning experience, if anything. It's a good thing that League of Villains came cheap...no offense Mr. Waniago. Anyway, you said Nomu was sent flying?"

"Yes, I am afraid. We were unable to track him down and he is most likely apprehended. We were quickly driven to the back foot and I was unable to spare the time to do anything. No amount of warping will help," Kurogiro bowed his head in shame, breast clutched gently.

"Well, that is a pity. And after all the effort we put into making him as strong as All-Might." The mysterious man on the screen sighed, his vague silhouette stroking its chin.

The words echoed in Shigarski's head, as if they were scratching at his mind. As strong as All-might…

"Master...that reminds me...there was this one kid...he seemed pretty strong. He had a girl by his side. She had an acid quirk. If she hadn't held back it probably could have hurt. The boy however...He was as fast as All-Might. Even pulled some of the same moves."

The voice from the screen took on a curious lilt, as if something interesting had just occurred to the mysterious man Shigaraki called `Master´. "Is that so…"

"This was a waste. I was promised tickets to the death of the big man himself. I was even hoping for a piece of him. And yet I ended up as a pawn, working alongside goons I wouldn't have even employed." The man brushed himself off, walking across the floor.

"Please reconsider, Mr. Waniago. I can understand your frustration. A man of your caliber being so used to being a commander, only to end up a pawn...it is certain to sting the pallet and leave you wanting. As I told my protege, we will start again and gather new troops. And this time, you will get the role you deserve."

Waniago paused, feeling a shiver down his spine, as if the voice from the screen belonged to someone bet I d compare, veiled in shadow.

"Ok but let's make this clear. I don't do well answering to people. So if you are the one pulling the strings, I want to meet you personally."

"In due time. First, you need to prove to me you can live up to your reputation. Do that and we will meet."

"I should say no. Walk out right now...but I'm intrigued. I'll bite."

"Is that a pun?"

"I...I suppose it is." Waniago stroked his chin, smiling to himself. "But yes. Count me in. However, if I can't be a general just yet, at least let me do more than grunt work. I have experience in...resource management. I know a few folks throughout Japan. Allow me to prove myself by chaperoning your boy here."

"What do I have to learn from you? We sprung you out of jail." Shigaraki spat.

"Young Tomura, that is enough. There is no point crying over spilt milk. We have some useful information to glean from this. We cannot operate freely so we need a symbol like you. Find strong troops, listen to Mr. Waniago as well. He has some...useful insight that might help you in gathering troops."

Shigaraki hissed in pain as he strained to get up, frustrated both by his situation and the additional babysitters thrust upon him. "Master, please. I don't need this fool tagging along and slowing me down. Why should I-"

"That's enough, my boy," the voice of Shigaraki's master oozed through the speakers of the screen with a malevolent charisma that sent goosebumps up the spines of even seasoned criminals. "You are to be the symbol that we need. If All-Might is the Beacon for all heroes, then you too must be a symbol, young Tomura. Please accept the tutelage I provide and I promise that things will be very different…"

As the words hit Shigaraki, his defiant gaze softened. And yet, he never lost his edge. If all this was a learning experience, he was ready for his next lesson. This time, he would crush both his next test and the bodies of those who defied him. 

X

"16...17...18…"

Detective Tsukauchi looked over the entire scene, doing a quick headcount of the 1-A students. "Aside from the one with the messed up legs and the girl with the horns who refused to leave his side, everyone is present and accounted for.

"Detective, what about Mr. Aizawa? Will he be ok?" Tsuyu asked. She was concerned about Izuku and Mina as well, but they had taken a ride in the ambulance together and she was assured they were fine.

"His arms were splintered, his face was fractured, and he lost a layer or two of skin off his arm, for starters. No brain damage, thankfully, but his eye sockets were totally pulverized. He may suffer long-term vision problems and it will certainly affect his quirk," the detective explained with a sigh.

Even if they were still kids, there was No sense sugarcoating things. Aizawa was lucky to be alive but there would be long-lasting repercussions.

"Thirteen survived as well. They have terrible lacerations across their arms and back but otherwise unscathed. All-Might's injuries aren't life threatening either. Recovery girl should be enough to tend to him, so he went back to UA to see her."

"What about De- Midoriya? And Mina? Are they ok?" Ochako spoke up, catching her slip up as she remembered her friend's discomfort with that nickname. To her, it meant someone that could do anything. However, it meant something different to him. Something he seemed to want to leave behind. She respected that. 

Tenya also expressed concern. "Yes, tell me they're both alright. They were awfully close to those villains."

"They're going to be ok, right? They are with All Might, according to Cementoss!" Kirishima chimed in as well, trying to provide comfort to his classmates but also to himself. He wished he had done more to help, though he supposed there wasn't a whole lot he could do.

Tsuyu watched in concern, offering only a subdued ribbit. She had told herself Mina and Izuku would be fine. And yet she could not help but fear for her friends, especially after they both threw themselves into danger. She supposed it wasn't the first time and probably not the last, and yet it tugged at her heart.

She thought she heard something about the scary musclebound villain before being apprehended but wasn't entirely sure.  She tuned out the rest of the conversations going on with Detective Tsukauchi and the staff. 

As the rest of the class piled back onto the bus, Tsuyu sat between Kirishima and Ochako. Iida sat across from them as everyone else took their seats. 

The entire bus ride was silent for the most part. Nobody could say a word for the most part until Mineta of all people spoke up.

"I don't think I am ready for this…"

X

All-Might laid down in a hospital bed, eyes affixed to the ceiling.

"The situation being what it was, I can't scold the three of you this time. You were all reckless but there wasn't much choice," Recovery girl sighed as she spun around on her chair. 

Mina watched the clock, curious about when she and Izuku would be good to go. Sitting around a hospital room could be dull, especially when you're uninjured. However, she could not in good conscience leave her boyfriend alone. 

The door opened and a gentleman in a trench coat and hat appeared, looking like a stereotypical police detective. Mina wondered what he wanted. Perhaps to capture an international thief from a famous family of thieves? No, it was probably about USJ. The pink girl looked at her boyfriend and he looked back at her. They turned to look at All-Might in panic.

"Relax, kids. It's fine. My secret is safe here. This is Detective Tsukauchi, my favorite guy on the force." All-Might coughed and smiled.

"Well that's a weird way to introduce me but thanks,"

Tsukauchi entered the office, taking off his hat to address his old friend and protege.

"I wanted to report that both Eraserhead and Thirteen are in stable condition. If it weren't for the three of you, who knows what might have happened to the students?"

"I appreciate that, Tsukauchi, but you have one detail wrong…" All-Might looked his friend in the eye and gestured to Izuku and Mina. "The students put their lives on the line too. I probably would have died if not for these rambunctious youngsters here. And that's not even addressing the cover the rest provided."

Mina wanted to blush at the compliment, smile at the praise she and her boyfriend received from their mentor. However all she could think about was how traumatizing the experience was, and how this would lead to undue pressure.

She wasn't as smart as Izuku. She could think on her feet, sure, but his strategic mind was better than hers. And yet she was far from inept. She could read body language and situations. Not on an expert level, per se.

Still, she couldn't reject the glowing recommendation her teacher gave her. "We'll do our best, All-Might" the girl clapped her hands and offered a sheepish smile. She looked at Izuku and grinned. 

"What she did. We won't let you down," Izuku followed up, a slight squeak in his voice.

All-Might shook his head and smiled back as detective Tsukauchi placed his hat back on his head.

Recovery girl patted the two kids on the hands. "I believe in you both, dearies...but Ashido, please keep your boyfriend out of trouble. I don't want to see him on a regular basis. I am noticing a trend so far." The nurse sighed.

Mina grinned wide as she wiggled her eyebrows at Izuku. He tried hiding his face in his pillow as Mina teased him incessantly.

As All-Might watched, he couldn't help but feel a tightness in his chest. He felt the future was in good hands. However there was still so much they did not know and it would change their lives forever.

X

Classes were cancelled the next day. It was hard for the students to rest easy, especially those in 1-A. Still, Mina and Izuku tried to call their nerves after their traumatic experience 

"My aunt is coming to pick us up."

"Why?" Izuku asked. It was a bit soon, wasn't it? A little time to recover from his injuries and prepare for classes afterwards wouldn't be a bad thing 

"She knows we went through a lot and wanted to help us work through it. She's going to take us to the mall."

"Isn't it too soon?" Izuku looked on with concern. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate it, but it seemed like bad timing.

"Maybe? But I can't resist her...besides...I kind of want to go. Maybe just do a regular teenager thing after we faced something that almost took down All-Might!"

Izuku sighed, relenting as his girlfriend flopped backwards into his lap. "So...not to be ungrateful, but why didn't you just come with her?"

"I just found out, dude. She texted me just now." Mina looked up at Izuku and stuck her tongue out before giving him a quick peck on the lips.

"Hey Izuku?"

"Yeah, Mina?"

"Do you think things are going to be different now? We just faced villains...i mean, it's not our first time but...these were ones who could go toe-to-toe with All-Might. I dunno…"

Izuku thought for a few minutes. He couldn't help but feel the same thing, that overwhelming fear and pressure. She didn't always get credit for being a thinker. Mina was more physical than mental in all things she did.

"I really hope not...but I think we might…"

"Then we need this more than I thought. We went through more than other kids our age. Us and the rest of our class. We need… a bit of normalcy. Come on. Let's go buy some clothes!"

There was an unease drifting on the horizon. And yet both teens held hands, ready to face it together.

The moment was broken up by a tall, well-dressed woman who looked like an older Mina but with reddish-pink skin and slightly more demonic looking horns.

"Beep beep, kids! The fun bus has just pulled up! Ready for some well-needed distraction?"

"Aunt Chiaki!" Mina rushed over enthusiastically and hugged her favorite relative, bouncing up on her heels.

"Easy there, mini-Mothra. Looks like you're really loving that outfit I bought you last year." Chiaki chuckled.

"I'm good. Thanks, Ms. Sakura. Hello." The green-haired boy smiled nervously as he stood back. He was appreciative of the older woman, but she was a bit much at times.

"No. Get in on this now, broccoli boy!" Mina shouted, playfully coaxing Izuku over to the hug.

"Are you going to bite me again?" Izuku winced, playfully firing back. He realized he had said that out loud and slapped his hands over his mouth.

Mina yelped his name as her face broke out in a full blush. "Izuku no! Auntie Chi, do not listen to this man. He lies!"

"Wait what?" The older woman asked, buffering in surprise.

"Don't listen to him! He lies! His mouth speaks only falsehoods!"

Izuku rolled his eyes and smiled at his girlfriend as she claimed her arms in denial. 

"I am so biting your kneecaps…" Mina huffed, pouting as her boyfriend giggled.

"Easy there, kiddos. No biting each other. I don't want your parents thinking I'm a worse influence than I already am." Chiaki laughed and winked, grinning as her niece's boyfriend got flustered and tried hiding in his All-Might hoodie.

Mina took his hood down and kissed his nose. "It'll be fine, Izu-bean. If we can handle villains, you can handle my aunt and I for the day." Izuku chuckled as he relaxed in her hands.

"Look at you, two lovebirds. My little heroes. Come on. Let's go, kids. Kiyashi Ward awaits!" Chiaki announced, shuffling the hair of the two teens before pointing dramatically at the door. The trio exited the house and made it to Chiaki's car, a powder blue Miata, before driving off.

X

As the Miata pulled up to Kiyashi Ward mall, Mina and her Aunt exited the car, followed by Izuku. As they entered the building, they enacted their plan of picking out clothes and getting food. Chiaki prided herself on being the fun aunt, so this was a cakewalk for her. She also knew that when life threw a curve ball right at your skull, you needed some self care to get you back on your feet. This was no different.

"Aunt Chi, check this outfit out! Isn't it cool?" Mina came out wearing an outfit that would have been right at home in a 1980's hip-hop video, complete with a neon leopard print baseball cap and green parachute pants. 

"Nice, baby girl. A bit tacky but you make it work. Own that tack!"

The two students sat on the edge of a fountain, their bags sitting at their feet as Chiaki settled some business in another store, buying something special for her current girlfriend.

"Hey Izuku? You ever think of how we could have gone to school together?"

"I mean, we do now?" Izuku shrugged. He knew what she meant, but he couldn't help but be playful with her, an attempt to repay her for all her bouts of teasing.

"No, silly. I know that. I mean...you could have been schoolmates with me and Kiri!"

"Yeah...I think of it a lot actually. I am happy we got to school at UA together but I guess I always thought it would be easier to stay at my old school. We aren't exactly the most well off and your school was a bit more expensive."

"You can afford all that All-Might merchandise though," Mina scowled, her eyes narrowed as Izuku shrank back.

Letting out a boisterous laugh, the girl slapped her boyfriend on the back. "I'm messing with you. Man, you're easy. I do wish you could have joined us though. It's not that far and you would have been among friends.

"I already was, Mina. And even if I went to school with you...it's not like I would have been welcomed with open arms. It's not like quirkless people were viewed favorably in other schools."

"I know but you would have had Kiri and I. We would vouch for you. You would have had friends there."

"Mina, I have friends thanks to you. Life was rough because of Ka-… Bakugou. Sorry. Still so used to calling him that…"

Mina patted Izuku's hand but looked at him with pleading eyes. Part of her still wished she could have done away with the abuse he had endured at the hands of his former friend, and the negligence of those around them.

"I know, but I just hate to think that I couldn't have had more impact, you know?"

"You did though. You came at the right time, just like a real hero." Izuku smiled, holding his girlfriend's hand and basking in the warmth of her touch. "Come on. You said you wanted to buy some new clothes for us?"

"That's right. C'mon, Izu! We are going to return to school in style!"

"But we have to wear our uniforms." Izuku smiled sheepishly and offered a gentle laugh. "But lead the way. It's going to be fun."

Mina cheered as she punched the air and ran towards where her Aunt was to meet them, Izuku in tow. "Yippee! Let's gooooo~! We can end it all at the arcade before we leave."

Izuku shook his head and smiled widely, almost forgetting the recent events of USJ. It was a welcome reprieve and he was happy to have it, and to have her.

X

The next day opened up as was expected. As much as everyone tried to maintain an air of normalcy, it cracked fairly early on. It was hard to pretend things would be ok when they had changed so drastically, leaving three teachers and one student in need of medical help. Mina and Izuku looked at each other with concern before staring at the door as it opened.

Silence took hold as Aizawa walked in, wrapped in bandages like a mummy. His limited movements drew everyone's attention.

"Preparations must be made...for the Sports festival…" The homeroom teacher announced gruffly. He explained the significance of the event as everyone listened intently. However it was hard not to be distracted even slightly. While the tale the deadpan instructor wove of an event that surpassed the Olympics was enthralling, the flashbacks to nearly dying kept several students from fully latching on.

The class was in shock. They had just been tossed into an unexpected and traumatic situation, only for something so normal to occur. Was it too soon? Was this a distraction? Izuku couldn't help but mutter to himself while Mina leaned back in her seat and stared at one particular ceiling tile in deep contemplation.

The day progressed as normal as it could. However, the memories of the USJ incident were still fresh and had yet to scab over. Izuku noticed it in his classmates. Tsuyu seemed slightly uneasy. Even Mineta seemed slightly less perverse and more thoughtful. 

While Izuku hadn't gotten particularly close to the boy before USJ, he had seen his fear in real time, as well as his ability to react, even when on the verge of tears. There was something oddly relatable about it.

The day seemed like it would have a fairly mundane conclusion. That, however, was not to be. A large crowd loomed outside room 1-A, making it difficult to exit. It seemed as if the entire school was in the hall. Momo pulled out a megaphone but Kyouka held out an arm.

"I don't think we will need that." The punk girl stopped her friend, causing the class president to relent with a hushed"Very well. I like the megaphone though."

"Looks like you idiots stumbled into the limelight. Sorry, but that spit's reserved."

A familiar voice broke through the crowd as Bakugou cut through with a familiar swagger. It brought back painful memories for Izuku that Mina could quite easily see. However, there was something off about it. It was almost like it was a facade, meant to fool everyone including Bakugou himself.

"So you extras got into some shit, huh? That must have been a lot for you. But you slackers would have been better off if someone stronger had been there.

"Get out of here! Nobody asked for this." Izuku felt the ire escape his body. Even he was shocked.

"Well well, someone is getting full of themselves just because they got to face real villains. My friend-" Monoma chimed in before getting cut off.

"Don't push it, bowlcut!" Bakugou sneered, side-eyeing his classmate with a strong sense of annoyance. However, he let the other boy speak. As annoying as Monoma was, his flattery wasn't unwelcome and he was already proving useful.

"My...associate was merely speaking his mind. Is he not allowed?"

Izuku started to squirm. Who was this kid? Did Bakugou make a friend? Was that possible? The green-haired boy felt bad and started to retreat. He knew he shouldn't feel any guilt around his former friend, and yet some feelings were hard to let go of.

"Easy there. I couldn't help but notice how heated everything is." A new voice spoke up, parting the sea of curious onlookers. "Everyone here is looking to scope out the kids who survived a villain attack. It's clear your class is no slouch." 

Izuku felt uneasy as this tall, gangly boy with wild purple hair and bags under his eyes took center stage. It felt like with the Sports Festival around the corner, everyone wanted a chance to show what they could do. It was understandable. And yet, he just wanted a chance to breathe without a parade of challengers gunning for him.

He and his class could have died, for goodness sake. It was like a marathon of stress and anxiety. The Sports Festival was exciting and participating in it would be different from watching it with Mina at home. He just wished things would slow down for just a moment.

The purple-haired boy continued, glaring at Izuku. He pointed a finger at class 1-A and smiled mockingly.

"However, the sports festival will separate the wheat from the chaffe, so consider this a declaration of war. We in the general education Department get a chance at entering the hero program if someone is deemed unfit from the existing classes, so don't get too complacent with your newfound celebrity status, 1-A. I'll be taking that spot as soon as it opens up."

"I'll save you the trouble. I...I think I want to transfer schools."  Everyone turned around to look at Mineta. 

Chapter Text

Class 1-A was shocked, to say the least. The perverted boy who had tried peeking at Momo and groping Tsuyu had shown another side, and it was fear. He had seen the reality of the situation and he was not ready for it.

“Mineta, I don’t understand. You wanted to be a hero, right? You made it through the entrance exam. We all are shaken after USJ but-” Izuku winced as his shorter classmate rounded on him, shaking and yelling.

“Those were robots, Midoriya. Yeah, they are big and scary but UA had control over them. These were actual villains. They were unpredictable and nobody would have died. The school wouldn’t allow that, but at USJ? We could have died! You could have died! “

“I want to be a hero still, and maybe this is the best school for it but that’s the problem, isn't it? We’re a target. What makes us think this won’t happen again? I think I should  check other schools out. Maybe Ketsubutsu. I would say Shiketsu but you can’t date cute girls there.”

Mina pouted at the perverted boy's words towards the end, and Tsuyu just stared blankly at him, thinking back to her desire to drown him at USJ. And yet, both girls were taken aback by the tense moment. Izuku himself could only say “Mineta…”

Noticing the drama going down and the opportunity that had revealed itself, Shinsou could not help himself. He stepped up , licking his chops mentally. This was it. His opportunities were opening up like the gates of heaven.

“Are you so vain you think you’re the only one looking to get into the hero course? Or did you forget that there will be competition?” A female voice came from the crowd. Everyone looked to see a girl with dark hair and pigtails, giving her fellow general studies student an icy glare”

The boy sighed and tilted his head. “Are we really doing this?”

“Of course. Don’t think you are the only one whose dreams of getting into the hero course were dashed.”

“You actually have a quirk fit for it. Your grades just weren’t good enough.”

Izuku watched the whole thing with confusion. He was still surprised by Mineta leaving the hero course, but to see two general studies students bicker over the chance to fill the seat before it was even cold was certainly something.

“They sure seem to be going at it like jilted lovers, huh?” Tsuyu commented. Mina looked at her friends, then at the two competitors, then back. Her eyes lit up and she started popping up and down in her shoes.

“Oh Em Gee!!! What if they are!?”

“Mina. Please don’t ship two strangers we just met.” Izuku smiled as a sweat drop fell down his brow. He knew the pink girl loved romance and the possibility of it, and that never weakened when she found it herself.

“Don’t pay those extras or the perverted dwarf any attention, Deku! Focus on how I am going to kick you to the side of the road on my path to greatness! You and all those other extras. So don’t get cocky just because you got to face real villains! I will figure out how you got so damn strong  and I will beat your ass, you damn nerd!” Bakugou walked up to Izuku, looking him up and down with a seething rage. He offered a smile before walking over to his classmate, the smug blonde boy from before.

“You can have the scraps, bowlcut! I’m gonna-” Both Bakugou and Monoma were knocked out by Itsuka Kendou, who once again apologized to class 1-A. She had a very laid back yet sisterly aura about her.

“Sorry about these two. I know Bakugou won’t be happy after being knocked out, but he needed to cool off. He needed to cool off though. We can’t just be picking fights with our schoolmates. The festival hasn’t even started yet.” the redhead smiled meekly.

“Um, it’s ok. Yeah… He doesn’t like being hit. His mom is...yeah… but thanks. Kind of wish I could have done that growing up.” Izuku laughed nervously, slowly getting quieter before catching himself and addressing the girl before him directly. “Thank you, um…”

“Kendou. I heard about you. My friend knows you and Ashido. Sorry I can’t stay and chat more, but I should probably take these two away before they come to and start yapping again. I’ll see you all at the Sports festival I guess. Have a good lunch!”And with that, the tomboyish redhead dragged her two classmates off as if they were bad acts on some sort of televised talent show.

Mina nudged Izuku and smirked. “Man, where was she in our lives? Never thought anyone could shut Mr. Boom Boom up so easily.”

Izuku stared off , in awe that someone could handle Bakugou with ease in a way neither he nor Mina could. He couldn’t help but agree. “Yeah. She was right though, we should meet up with the others and eat.” He smiled and grabbed Mina’s hand, walking with her towards their friends.

X

Tsuyu and Kirishima had a head start, making it through to the Lunch Rush cafeteria and to get their tables while Ochako, Mina, Izuku, and Tenya walked down the steps. 

“By the way, Uraraka. You seem...um...rather pumped up for the Sports festival.” Mina stated, thinking back to earlier when the brunette had all of a sudden emanated the intense aura of a martial artist in a way none of her friends had previously seen. Ochako, rubbed the back of her head bashfully before regaining some of her previous energy.

“Of course. This is our best chance to stand out and get scouted. We may be going to the top hero school and...noteworthy among our schoolmates for being attacked by villains and surviving, but this is big! Huge, really!” The girl punched the air, taking both Tenya and Izuku by surprise but getting Mina fired up.

“I never asked. Why did you choose to become a hero?” 

“Oh, well, It’s kind of embarrassing. You don’t wanna hear…” The brunette tried to deflect. She had talked with her new friends before, heard of how Izuku and Mina met and of Iida’s heroic lineage. She felt like she couldn’t live up to her friends or that she might be shunned.

“Try me.” Tenya smiled, letting his guard down. He could often seem loud and robotic, but Izuku and Mina were happy to see him acting more down-to-earth. Ochako’s face flushed a bit and she kicked at the ground. She supposed she couldn’t deflect forever.

“Yeah, girl! Tell us. It can’t be that bad. I mean, Izu and I want to make people smile and put them at ease and Iida here wants to make his family proud, but there are like...So many reasons to want to be a hero.” Mina chimed in, getting enthusiastic. 

Ochako’s face reddened a bit more. The pink girl could be a bit hyper but she appreciated the encouragement. With a deep exhale, the brunette addressed her friends, hoping that she had just been worried about nothing.

“Money. Have you seen the merchandising deals and the commercials? Discarding guys like Captain Celebrity, you have the Hero billboards and people like Uwabami. If I can strike it big...Well...I must sound greedy. It is rather basic compared to Iida’s more noble motivations or Midoriya and Ashido’s but, I just-” The girl paused, blushing and staring at the floor. Before she could continue, Iida chimed in.

“Now now. There is nothing wrong with wanting to live more comfortably. Besides, by your tone, I can tell you are not a base or greedy person. Your motives are completely valid.” 

“Yeah. Izu would probably buy a solid gold All-Might statue if he could!” Mina chimed in with a smile, causing her boyfriend to reel back.

“I won’t be bullied for my taste in art.” the green-haired boy stuck his tongue out and blushed, causing his girlfriend to ruffle his hair. Giggling slightly for a moment, Izuku continued. “But yeah. I probably would. Just because you aren’t becoming a hero for the same reasons as us, doesn’t make you less of one.”

“Thanks, you guys. Really...but yeah, it’s not for me. You see, my parents run a construction business back in my home prefecture but...business is bad and we’re pretty poor. I moved to a tiny apartment to be closer to UA in hopes that, maybe, I could become a top hero and give them some extra money. I pretty much get all my food from school except for whatever I can get at a convenience store.”

Ochako looked past her friends and out the window of the school, seeing a vision of her younger self wearing a tiny hardhat and trying to move some boards with her quirk before throwing up. Her parents consoled her and said something about following her dreams. And yet, this was her dream.

“I want to make sure that my parents can live a better life. If I can’t save their business, I can save them from poverty by being a top hero! That’s why I have to do my best in the sports festival!”

Ochako looked at her friends, expecting them to be weirded out by her display again. Instead, they were cheering for her and clapping.

“That...is so cool. You’re more heroic than you give yourself credit for. Caring for your family and wanting to repay them for all they have done is most noble.”

All of a sudden, the giant form of the #1 hero and UA’s newest teacher slid into the hallway where the students were talking. “I am here, inconspicuously! Young Midoriya…” The large man  hunched down slightly to reach the childrens’ level and held up a small, cutesy bento box, wrapped in cloth adorned with his visage. “Young Midoriya, would you care to have lunch with me?”

Tenya was perplexed but also happy that his friend was looked on so favorably by the top hero as to be asked to attend a one-on-one luncheon with him. It was sure to be an unforgettable honor. Mina and Ochako couldn’t help but laugh at how cute the scene was, juxtaposed by how massive and powerful the man asking the question was. It was almost like an uncle trying to be cool. Izuku followed  his idol sheepishly, wondering what it was about. He looked to Mina, wondering if she was coming. Was this just a One-for-All thing or could she come too? Mina waved him off and smiled, mouthing “I’ll catch up, teacher’s pet. See ya soon!” before blowing a kiss. Izuku blushed at his girlfriend and caught the kiss in midair before slapping it onto his cheek with a little grin and turning to follow All-Might into his office.

X

Izuku entered All Might’s office, taking a seat as his mentor stood by the window in his true form.  His bento sat on the coffee table while Izuku dug into his casually.  The green-haired boy stopped to look at his mentor before the statuesque man sat back down and wiped blood from his mouth, locking eyes with the boy.

“I will try not to take up too much of your lunch, but I needed to talk to you. My power is on borrowed time. I can hold my muscular form for an increasingly minimal amount of time. 50 minutes specifically right now.It won’t be long before I can’t really use it. That is why it is time. I need you to step up at the Sports Festival.”

Izuku ‘s eyes widened, waiting for the older man to elaborate before swallowing a mouth full of gyoza his mom had made. The flavor filled his mouth but it went down hard as it hit the knot in his stomach as All-Might looked at him.

“Do you remember what I said to you on Dagobah Beach after you cleaned it up? The man spoke again.

Izuku scrunched his face into an approximation of his idol’s and deepened his voice. “Eat this!”

 “Not that!” All-Might shouted before pinching the bridge of his nose and sighing, taing on a more mellow yet focused tone. Despite being less intense, there was still a pressure in his words. “Look...This will be your coming out party, young Midoriya. You need to bring your A Game and announce to the world that you are here!”

Izuku looked on nervously. He barely had a good metaphor for his power, let alone the ability to handle the power itself. This was a lot being put on him and while he was grateful for the opportunity to be his hero’s protegee, the responsibility was overwhelming. He hoped desperately that the years of being labeled a disappointment would not yield truth, especially now that things seemed to be going his way.

“You overthink things too much. You’re stuck in a world of nonsense, kid. Look, I understand if I am asking a lot of you. You’re just a first year in high school, but I just want you to remember how you felt when cleaning the beach, and the moment you were done.”

Izuku left the office, only to see Mina waiting with some dorayaki. She pouted and raised an eyebrow, pretending to be disgruntled before smiling at the green-haired boy. She offered it to him and poked his cheek.

“Still hungry? I had some extra in my lunch and I wanted to share them with you.”  Izuku exhaled and happily took his girlfriend’s offerings, walking with her through the halls and explaining what their teacher had told him. She listened attentively and reacted accordingly.

“Whoah, seriously? Not even a full minute? That’s bonkers!” the pink girl said as she walked with her boyfriend back to class. “And he wants you to be the next him?”

“I mean...It’s an honor. It really is. But it’s hard to imagine a world without All-Might, you know? Let alone the fact that I was chosen to replace him.”

“You don’t have to replace him though. Not yet. Just be yourself, Izu. You don’t have to do anything like he does. Yeah. He’s the number one hero and you got his quirk now, but it’s yours now. Just do your best, babe. I believe in you!”

X

“I can’t believe Mineta is thinking of leaving. I mean, he’s a bit of a perv but wow. The USJ thing really got to a lot of us, didn’t it?”

Mina slumped in her seat, sighing as she took a sip of her bottled cappuccino. She laid her head on Izuku’s shoulder and looked up at him, continuing her thoughts as the train departed.

“Things are changing, huh? A classmate is leaving, we have people competing for his spot, and we get to be on TV. It’s wild, right?”

“It is. I thought you would be more hyped up.”

“Oh I am, but today was a lot, even for me. Besides, I like snuggling up to my boyfriend, you goob.” 

“Did you want to train for it together? We can go to Dagobah.”

“Nah. It’s actually become more hopping now so not as abandoned as it used to be. It would be great for a date spot though. Maybe for golden week.” the girl winked. Izuku rolled his eyes and blushed deeply, scratching his cheek bashfully.

“Maybe, I mean...if there isn’t anything planned for that week. Also did you want to come over for dinner? I know it’s short notice but you’re always welcome.”

“ Not tonight. My parents will want to know in advance. Maybe tomorrow? On one condition.”

“Is this something I am going to regret?”

“You’re going to paint my toenails and give me a shoulder massage.” Mina placed her index finger to her lips and winked before moving the finger to Izuku’s nose and gently tapping it.

“Oh that’s all?” The green-haired boy chuckled. “I thought it would be something worse.”

“Eeew. Perv. You wanna touch my feet.” Mina feigned disgust and playfully shoved Izuku away. “Get awaaaaaay~”

The rest of the train ride went like that, Mina teasing her boyfriend while he just took it and grinned. He had never thought being picked on would be something he enjoyed. It was the source of a lot of trauma and hangups. And yet here it was playful teasing, a warm light that filled his chest and made him feel not like someone pitiful or forgettable, but as someone deserving of love and respect. It was a feeling so wonderful that the only thing greater was told he could be a hero.

X

Time passed by like a montage, filled with hard work and determination. The days crashed like the waves of Dagobah beach as Izuku and Mina  readied themselves for the  big event. Everyone had apparently been doing the same, at local pools and gyms or even at their own homes.

The  day had arrived and the air was electrifying. Izuku couldn’t help but feel nervous as he was surrounded by so many of his peers. He still had trouble recognizing them as peers and not superiors. Each of them had such amazing quirks that they likely had better control over. He had to regulate how well he used his if he wanted to be able to compete any further in the sports festival.

He had promised All Might that he would do his best and stand out at the festival. This would be his debut as All Might’s successor. He looked at those he would be up against. There were his new friends, Ochako and Tenya, Class President Momo Yaoyorozu, and Aoyama, a mutual acquaintance of Mina’s.

And then there were his original crew., the ones who were his first real friends in a long time. They were all ready to do their best. Was it not only fair to do the same.

“Hey, you ok? You seem lost in thought. Don’t get too distracted or you might miss the buzzer.,” Mina grinned, winking at her boyfriend. She always knew what to say to either calm his nerves or get them worked up.

“Yeah. I have to focus up. All Might is counting on me.”

“Yeah, but...don’t worry about All Might, K?”

“Mina, I-”

“I know. You are his successor and you have to step up and all, but you will. I believe in you. And trust me, I am the step-up queen. Don’t worry about whether you will let anyone down. You won’t, K?”

“Mina...Thank you,” Izuku smiled, feeling a tear roll down his cheek. Ochako and Kirishima watched from afar and felt themselves blushing before shaking their heads. 

As if waiting for the sweet moment to pass, the first event came to a roaring start, quite literally as the giant robots from the entrance exam stopped into the clearing like huge metal leviathans. 

Everyone reacted accordingly, with some running for cover until they could get their bearings and formulate a plan, while others jumped right in as if this were just another day. Mina ended up separated from her friends and boyfriend and danced around the battlefield, doing her best to dodge the robots and return their destructive sentiment.

Feeling invigorated from Mina's words echoing in his head, Izuku rushed forward into the fray. He spied a freshly damaged robot. The boy pried off a piece of armor from the robot and used it as both a weapon and a shield.

It weighed him down significantly but he felt it would be useful later on. Mina was confused at first but rolled with it. She knew the boy had something up his sleeve. As long as he was still in good shape, she was happy. She turned her gaze to a robot in front of her and  spread a veil 

Izuku and Mina stood side by side. They were going to compete and see who was best. There was every chance they would end up on opposite sides in a future event, so they were preparing themselves. Mina would rather be working with her boyfriend, but she also knew she couldn’t coddle him. Besides, pushing him to do his best and hopefully find a way to control his quirk would be a plus. As encouraging as she was, the thought of her favorite boy in the world constantly turning his bones into dust made her wince. That  sheet of metal he had looked awfully heavy. It was her time to think.

Her eyes widened and lit up. She had an idea. It wouldn’t be a race per se, but it would guarantee that he could make it to the next step alongside her.

“Izu, run with that metal and slide on it. Follow my lead.” the pink girl declared excitedly. Izuku looked puzzled but did as she said. He watched as she skated along on a trail of slime and left some behind. That’s when it clicked.

“Mina, you are a genius!” He exclaimed. Those words were enough to make her trip up a bit. It wasn’t often she was complemented on her intelligence. Sure she was able to get into a top hero school, which was no easy feat, but thinking wasn’t considered her strong suit. To have one of the most studious people she knew complement her like that meant the world.

Izuku slid on the sheet of metal, trying to surf on it at first but deciding to stay crouched to lower his center of gravity and keep him from falling. The last thing he needed was to lose momentum.

Izuku and Mina kept pace, turning a competition between so many eager students looking for a spot in the limelight into a race between boyfriend and girlfriend.  Tsuyu watched the two and smiled. She could sense a friendly rivalry going on and decided to keep up.

She was conflicted on the topic of someone replacing Mineta. She wasn’t fond of his perverted antics, but to have a classmate leave so early had made her think about how the USJ incident had really changed so much. She hoped she could keep up. She knew Mina had boundless energy and Izuku had gained a lot of it himself since they had first met. He was still timid and awkward, but he had shown how much initiative he could take.

There was something in the back of her mind that bothered her, but she was focused on the present. Her quirk allowed her to keep a steady pace as well. She wasn’t the fastest in her class, but her leaping ability came in handy when it came to moving around.

Izuku ran behind Mina, almost myopically focusing on her until a loud explosion rang in his ears, followed by a sudden chill in the air as a stream of ice shot past. That was enough to snap him back into reality. He didn’t need to win, he just needed to make it into the arena for the 2nd event. And yet this was his shot. He needed to make this his coming-out party as All-Might’s successor. He could not go all out with One-For-All though, not yet at least. He was surprised he had been keeping pace this well without using his quirk.

He and Mina had made it to the next stage: a series of ropes and platforms overlooking a vast pit. Mina froze, not sure how she could make it through. She had decent balance but tightrope walking? She never learned how to do that. Tsuyu made it with ease, as did a bizarre steampunk girl from the support course, who had used her gadgets to cross.

Mina kept looking back the entire time. She could not keep her full focus on the race, no matter how hard she tried. She had focus issues in general. However, she couldn’t help it. She didn’t want to coddle Izuku. She knew he wouldn’t like that either. And yet she absolutely wanted to ensure that he made it there with her.

“Have faith in him, ribbit. You just have to believe in him, Mina. He’ll make it.”

Mina sighed and ran ahead, giving one last look towards the rope bridge and whispered her hopes to Izuku. Tsuyu was right.  

Izuku struggled with the scrap of metal as he had it tied to his back. It weighed him down, making him question how strong the rope was and if his finger strength was enough. He had trained too much to be a no-hoper though. He had people who believed in him. He had promised All-Might he would stand out and make himself known at the Sports Festival. He had promised his friends he would do his best. He had promised himself that he would do his best. He had promised Mina that they would be in this together.

A hand reached out and grabbed him with a familiar warmth.

“You came back for me?”Izuku panted as he  climbed up , needing a moment to regain his balance

“Yeah. Sorry. I know I should have faith in you and allow you to do things on your own but it felt lame to just completely turn my back on you, ya know? Not that the others are lame, but they also aren’t dating you.”

The two rushed ahead, trying to catch up to everyone else.

"Go ahead. I'll catch up." Izuku shouted, giving Mina a thumbs up.The teenage boy smiled before looking at the minefield. Again, he was glad these obstacles weren’t fatal as by all accounts, they should be. Giant robots, bottomless pits, and landmines? It was like a warzone, but with teenagers. Izuku chuckled nervously, telling himself it wasn’t that bad and that he would hopefully never be in an actual war situation. Otherwise, he might end up more traumatized than he already was.

“What are you doing, Midoriya?” Jirou had stopped to ask, confused by the strange muttering boy as he used  the scrap metal from stage 1 to dig up mines and put them in a pile. Everyone was focused on getting ahead and he was just wasting his time doing something strange. It was hard to believe he was dating one of the cutest girls in class.

Izuku laughed bashfully and barely made eye contact. “Other than embarrassing myself, making a huge gamble. Hey Jirou?”

“Yyyyyesss?” The punk girl asked in a confused and slightly annoyed tone. She wasn’t exactly close to the boy who served as vice-president of the class. 

“Your quirk is advanced hearing right? You might want to get out of here. These may be non-lethal mines but they will still be loud enough on their own. With a pile of them here...”

Before Jirou could ask any other questions, Izuku yelled “Surf’s up!” and slammed the  scrap metal onto his grenade pile, holding on for dear life as he was catapulted far ahead. Jirou  covered her ears and ran, trying not to get distracted. However, she could not help but gain some more respect for this strange boy. In some ways, he was just as alien as the girl he was dating. 

Mina looked up and saw Izuku  go flying up above her, watching with awe and excitement. She lost all tact and cheered as she ran  around the mine area.

“Woooo! You crazy son of a bitch! I love you, babe!” SHe stopped as she felt a click under her feet and felt herself get rocked backwards as a cloud of smoke and a loud bang filled her senses. She shouldn’t have gotten distracted. Still, she kept going, wafting the smoke from her eyes. “Woops. Should have paid more attention.”

Izuku was coming up on Bakugou and Todoroki, the two biggest contenders in the race. He needed to stand out while also conserving his strength for later on. There was only so much time to react.

Bringing the shield down with a slam and a thud, the green haired boy gave himself the momentum to tumble past the finish line and into first place. With that act, the boy propelled himself not only into the lead but into the attention of those before him and those behind him. The buzzer roared. More people made their way into the stadium but the event had reached its climax. Stage one was complete.

Chapter Text

Izuku was nervous. He had done his best to proceed to the next round and stand out without exhausting himself. In the process, however, he had painted a large target on his back. Due to having scored the most points in the first round, everyone was now gunning for him. He breathed a sigh of relief and tried to keep calm. He had trusted friends and allies, more than he could have ever imagined. They would stick this through with him, right?

“Hmmmmm...Pass. Sorry...but I want to take you on! Don’t think our friendly competition is gonna lose steam after the first event!” Mina teased. This girl was going to be the death of him. He looked to Kirishima and Tsuyu, hoping at least one of them would stand with him. He knew Bakugou would be gunning for him for sure, not just because of his lead but out of a pure vendetta and a desire to “put him in his place”.

“Sorry, bro...Ashido asked first.” The redhead grit his teeth. Having to choose between his two crushes...wait, he meant friends. Both? He could process that later. For now, he was kicking himself but he would make it up to Izuku later.

“Guess I’m on my own again…” Izuku exhaled. He knew that it wasn’t true. He still had his friends. But for now, they would be his rivals. 

“Don’t be so pouty, Izu. We still have your back. But don’t forget, you’re not the only one aiming to be a top hero. So focus on me, ok? We’ll see who can kick the most butt.”

Izuku shook his head and smiled. He really wasn’t alone. Not anymore at least. He was hoping to team up with his girlfriend but he should have known she wouldn’t let the competition thing go after the first stage.

“I wish you had this sort of drive with studying. Alright. You’re on, Ashido. I won’t lose.”

“Now that’s the spirit!” Mina grinned, purposefully ignoring the studying comments . She could hit the books later. For now this would be her shot to show others what she could do and have fun doing it. She nudged her boyfriend and selected her team: Kirishima, Tsuyu, and Ochako.

“Oh come on. Uraraka too? You really don’t play fair.” Izuku pouted. Why did he have to fall for the sporty type again?

“Nope. I play for keeps.” Mina winked as she leaned forward to tap her boyfriend’s nose with her finger. Izuku felt his heart rate increase from both the anxiety of picking a team and from his girlfriend’s teasing. “That’s why.” he sighed to himself and stood steadfast.

“Well don’t count me out because I won’t make it easy for you.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other-” Mina smiled warmly, gazing into her boyfriend’s eyes as they prepared to shake hands. However, a loud groan and the sound of explosions distracted them.

“O-of course.”

Izuku noticed two members of 1b with nobody else. He felt like he was treading dangerous water as they were Bakugou’s classmates. However, he knew that the redheaded girl was at least nice and he was familiar with Setsuna.

One was a tall angry young man with a green mohawk and the face of an insect while the other was a short cute girl with blonde hair and horns. He was nervous about reaching out, but desperate times called for one to step out of their comfort zones.

“Excuse me. I would like to team up.”

“Buzz off, idiot. We’re already teamed up. Besides, we are gunning for your points.

“Don’t be rude, Kamakiri. Hi, my name is Pony.”

“Nice to meet you, Pony. You look familiar...I got it! You look like the American hero, Cow Lady. A bit cuter, but still similar.”

Pony looked a bit confused at first.

“She isn’t fluent in Japanese. She’s an exchange student from America. No idea what she’s doing in Japan. It’s not all anime and pocky.” Kamakiri grunted. Izuku stroked his chin, then perked up, pounding a fist into his palm with determination. He repeated himself in near-perfect english, stuttering a few times with pronunciations.

Pony immediately got excited, hearing her native tongue.

“Awww thanks. She is my aunt. Not a lot of people have heard of her here. She is an American hero afterall. I am staying with her old friend, Snipe.”

“That’s so cool! It makes sense, actually! Cow lady and Snipe were a really underappreciated hero team a while back. I know All Might had teamed up with Cow Lady towards the beginning of his time in America!”

“You’re an All-Might fan too! I have some rare merchandise that was only available in the states during his 25th anniversary as a hero. I got it as a birthday gift.”

Izuku and Pony chatted animatedly in English as Kamakiri felt a vein pop in his head.

“Shut the fuck up! I told you we don’t need-”

“Can we team up with you, Madoriyo?”

“I-it’s Midoriya...but sure. I was going to team up with my girlfriend but she decided we should have a friendly competition.”

Pony looked somewhat dejected, as the fluffy green-haired boy was kind of cute but it was ok. It was like her auntie told her: “It’s a big pasture, sugar cube.”

“Oooo! I like that! It’s like this one show I love!”

“Sorry to leave you in the lurch, Tsunotori, but I think I have had my fill of Otaku nonsense. Gonna go see what the bird kid and octopus boy over there are doing. Looks like Shishida has joined up with them. See ya later”

“Wait, Kamikiri! Come back!” Pony shouted, her protests falling on deaf ears.

“Oho? An American, eh? That means I can try my babies out for an international Market,” Mei crept in, taking Pony slightly aback.

“Um...personal boundaries, miss. Wait...are those Steampunk goggles? Do...Do you cosplay!?” Pony felt herself geeking out again. It was Mei

“Sometimes, but mostly just for the aesthetic when I’m at school. I have been so busy working on my cute little inventions that I haven’t had time to go to any conventions. I have actually made some of my gear myself! I once made a fully functional mech suit modeled after Mobile FIghter Gaiogazinger Lagann XLR… It blew up though.”

Even Izuku was enamored. Support gear was sometimes just as important as a quirk, afterall and could work in conjunction with a hero’s innate abilities in order to keep them and others safe. As for cosplay, he had dabbled a bit. He had even talked Mina into going to a con or two.

“Pardonne moi, mon ami. I couldn’t help but notice your dear love forsaking you for the sake of competition. How cruel. Fear not, however. You have a dazzling ace up your sleeve>” a familiarly flamboyant voice rang in Izuku’s ears. He would hardly call what Mina did “cruel” but he wasn’t in a position to be too choosy.

“Oh sure, Aoyama. You’re on board. You guys ready?” Izuku made sure his newly assembled team was prepared. Mei raised her hand and cheered.

“Hold on, teammate! I have something that might be of use. You have been avoiding using your quirk a lot.”

Izuku rubbed the back of his head. He didn’t expect a lot of people to notice. On some level, he was still used to not really standing out. “That obvious, huh? Yeah. I am a late bloomer and the  blowback damages me if I go too hard, so I have been trying to save it for when I really need it.”

“Fufufufu~ I see how it is...literally. My quirk gives me an eye for detail. Again, literally. I can zoom in like a camera. Or a microscope. It’s not combat savvy but it sure as heck suits my needs. Anyway, I’ll be right back! I have something you are going to love!”

She ran off before Izuku or Pony could say another word and came back with a briefcase filled with support items. “I work day and night on these cute little babies! Allying with you will put my sweet little inventions in the spotlight while the big support companies all watch! Look at this one!” Mei reached for a jetpack with the energy of a caffeinated weasel. “I modified this design based on a certain hero!”

Izuku immediately caught on and was enamored. “No way! That looks like Air Jet’s pack!”

Mei giggled with pride. “Oh, it caught your eye, huh? I added my own twist to it. I also have matching boots. They are pretty lightweight. It took a few tries and only 3 of them exploded but they really turned out great!”

Pony spoke up. “Oooo! Do you have any for me? Me please!” The excited blonde drowned out Izuku’s concerns about explosions while Aoyama posed dramatically. 

“None for me, merci~. I have all I need.” he said, referring to his custom belt. Mei loomed over him with a sinister grin.

“Are you suuuuuure? There is always room for improvement. Hehehehe~”

Deciding to rein his team in, Izuku put on his support items from Mei and his headbands, “It’s about to start, guys. Let’s focus up.”

Like clockwork, the voice of the 18+ hero, Midnight, grabbed the crowd’s attention. “Is everybody ready? The event is about to start. Make your final preparations and get into gear!”

After everyone scrambled to finish up, Izuku and Mina locked eyes from across the arena, smiling at one another. They could not hear each other over the hustle and bustle, but they knew what the other was thinking. 

“Good luck, babe. See you in the winner’s circle”

X

The event began, with Bakugou and Monoma’s team immediately gunning for Team Izuku, only to get cut off by team Todoroki. Izuku wiped sweat from his brow. And forged on. He had to be very careful about how he used his quirk still, so he was relying on the strength of his teammates.

“Aoyama, use your laser to distract them while Tsunotori grabs some headbands and Mei increases our mobility. If we can put some distance between us and the other teams, we can win this.”

“Who says I’ll let you do that, Midorkia~?” Mina laughed as her team flanked Izuku’s team, using Tsuyu’s tongue to grab several headbands. Kirishima provided defense, while Ochako would use her quirk to disorient opponents. 

Izuku was feeling awkward. He wasn’t expecting to compete against mina. He knew he could count on her but he was very lucky in the past that he never had to face her. And yet a competitive streak was forming in him.

“Don’t be so meana, Ashidope!” Izuku fired back. He was ready to apologize profusely but Mina just grinned.

“Oho! Such scathing words! Is Mr. Bunny trying to be funny? Let’s see if you can keep up.”

Aoyama fired out a controlled naval laser, trying not to go too hard as to give himself a bad tummy ache. Kirishima, however, bodied it and steamrolled forward, while Tsuyu used her tongue to snag some headbands. Izuku thought fast and grabbed one as his froggy friend latched on.

“Uraraka, now!”

Ochako was a bit nervous about lifting 4 people all at once and she would likely offer up her breakfast to the arena, but she complied with gusto.

Izuku was internally geeking out at the strategy being employed by his girlfriend. He couldn’t help but feel a warmth growing in his chest, radiating throughout his body and supercharging his body. He felt pride in this girl. The way her team worked together was almost like a dance routine where each member was part of a single body.

“Hatsume, use your net gun to snag them. Tsunotori, aim your horns at Kirishima’s left shoulder blade and fire.” Izuku barked, feeling his synapses fire on all cylinders. He had no time to second guess himself right now. 

A distant explosion rang out and shot towards the two teams like a terrestrial comet of rage and artillery. Izuku couldn’t help but sigh at the fun being ruined but tensed up when he saw not one set of explosions, but two, and they were coming from the same group. Monoma was using his quirk to copy Bakugou’s as a form of propulsion while the angry boy himself served as the muscle. To round the team out, Tsuburaba served as defense and Shihai was their stealth weapon, just in case. Izuku had questions about their quirks that he was not able to answer from just a glance, but he would have to ask later.

“You losers done playing grab ass for all to see OR AM I GOING TO HAVE TO GET YOUR ATTENTION!?”

Mina used her quirk to sling a stream of weak, slippery acid to distract Izuku but her balance was thrown off and she threw it in the path of Iida. The stiff-lipped speedster skidded on the puddle and slammed into the arena wall, causing team Todoroki to topple and have to regroup.

“Oh my goodness! Mina, that was amazing! Good thinking on taking out the competition with that move? Todoroki and crew are going to be just as tough as Midoribro!”

“It was a fluke, wasn’t it?” Tsuyu croaked, looking towards her team captain.

“Thank you, Kiri! And no? Shut up? Totally intentional…”

Izuku watched with awe. He didn’t have a lot of time to react before he was being chased down by both team Bakugou and team Mina, but he was impressed. It could have been a mere accident but it was still a great strategy. He mentally took note and carried on. All of a sudden, a black blur shot out and latched onto Izuku.

“Tokoyami!”

Izuku recalled his team back as they tried to recover from the attack. They ended up losing two of their headbands, while Mina’s team took the opportunity to reach out for another. Mei zoomed in on Team Todoroki and  saw them approaching. “Green boy, we have company!” 

Izuku  turned but was too late, losing another headband. However,  Pony’s horns returned back with several headbands. Chaos ensued as several other teams went at it. He could see the purple-haired boy from general studies speed off with his team while some others stood still. A mess of thorny tendrils made of water had combined with Shiozaki’s vines to form a formidable weapon. The One-for-All inheritor was just happy they were distracted.

Suddenly, the thorns of wood and water converged on team Midoriya. “Spoke too soon”. Activating his jetpack and boots, Izuku urged his teammates to hold on tight as they took to the skies, just barely dodging attacks on all sides.

A stray lightning bolt from Kaminari, however, brought the crew out of the skies. Thinking quickly, Mei switched settings on her gun and fired a foam pellet. The pellet ballooned into a pile of foam that cushioned their fall.

Time was ticking down and Mina, who had watched the whole thing, sighed in relief, deciding to go back on the offensive. She reached out for Izuku’s team, with team Bakugou and team Todoroki doing the same.

Time ticked down until the buzzer roared to life, timed perfectly with a shockwave that took everyone by surprise and rendered them unable to see the results until the dust settled a little bit. In the end, 5 teams had scored enough points to proceed to the next round. Everyone waited with baited breath to see who would make the cut and even Izuku and Mina would be surprised by the results.

Midnight cracked her riding crop and declared the end to the explosive and action packed fracas of the Cavalry battle. “Wow, folks! That was incredible, but time is up! Please cease all activity and wait while we process the winners of this round. A short half-time show will ensue.!”

X

During proceedings…

The pros in the bleachers watched curiously, hanging on the edge of their seats. The cavalry battle was utterly engaging, if not slightly chaotic. The students clashed amongst themselves, with grudges and rivalries popping up alongside the typical bouts of competitive spirit.

A green-haired woman with a bandana took particular notice of two teams who were having a friendly back and forth at the beginning. SHe recognized them from the titantron broadcast of the obstacle course.

“Young love, huh? How romantic~. Glad to see that hasn’t dulled their ability to compete against each other. If anything, it seems those two might already know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.” the woman spoke to herself, a gas mask over her mouth muffling some of her speech.

“Did you say something?” The pro next to her asked, curious about his peer’s hushed monologue as much as he was about the chaotic competition below.

The green-haired pro laughed it off and continued watching with vested interest. It was always to see two parties in sync, especially when they were competing against one another. She secretly hoped they got the chance to face off one on one. That would really show her the potential they had both as individuals and as a cohesive unit. Only time would tell.

Elsewhere, a large, flame engulfed man that many would describe as “bara” watched with impatience. He was really hoping his son would drop the futile charade and use his fire side. It was great to hear the praise that other pros were heaping on Shouto, but it felt hollow if the boy didn’t use his fire. It would be unearned if Shouto insisted on holding back.

“Come on, Shouto! Use what I have gifted you. You are holding back on these weaker opponents.” The man known as Endeavor scowled. His son had shown great tactical advantage in the team he chose but was still dispatched too easily by that goofy looking pink child and her team. She didn’t even seem to be taking things seriously, just treating it like a game with that green-haired boy, the one similar to All-Might. 

From his seat on the other side, All-Might watched his two wards go all out, striving both to push each other and lift each other up. He had doubts about love in the field before. It was part of why he never settled down himself. THere were too many risks involved, especially with the giant target he painted on his back as the symbol of peace. However, Izuku was different. He couldn’t help but imagine it would be a whole other story if the young man was alone before UA. 

However, there was a level of trust, young and blossoming but also firmly planted. If these two could get the training they needed at UA, they would be in good hands. Perhaps, even, maybe it was time for...the older gentleman shook his head. THat was a thought for another time.

As impressive as Mina was, the seasoned pro’s hopes were squarely on his replacement to make himself known. He had entrusted One for All to this boy, a power that grew stronger with each person who passed it down, snowballing through the generations. It may have been too much for one person, but one had to wield it. Despite the wishes of some former sidekicks, Izuku was the person that All-Might had chosen.

Still, Mina had also shown promise. Anyone who could stand up for those perceived as a liability or a weakness, an outcast to society, had a bright future. She had more or less inserted herself into the equation. There was no time for All-Might to question whether his successor could make romance work where he had failed. Ashido was already there and she made herself known. In some ways, she reminded him of someone.

X

At Home, Mineta was working on the formwork and doing homework so that he didn’t fall behind. He was hoping Ketsubetsu would be less dangerous. He heard the homeroom teacher would be female so he was on board right away. He had already sent in a request letter and just had to finish up the process. Approval would probably take up to a week if life was generous. It was a rather short notice affair and the school year was already under way.

There were sure to be plenty of cute girls there. And yeah, All Might wasn’t teaching there, but maybe that was a good thing, Sure he was the best hero ever and the guy who always won, but that was just it. All-Might had a giant target on his back. Mineta still wanted to be a hero. It was a good fit for his quirk and he had come this far. Besides, heroes were cool and popular and girls loved them. It definitely aligned with his goals for life.

Perhaps, however, aiming for the top hero school right away wasn’t the right call.He would dial it back and go for a different school instead, one that wasn’t too far off from UA. His dad suggested Shiketsu, but was the old man insane? That place was super strict. They didn’t even let their student body date. How lame and archaic was that? It wasn’t like Mineta had much luck in that department anyway, but it wasn’t his fault he was involuntarily celibate, right?

His life did flash before his eyes momentarily. He was pretty sure Asui tried drowning him after he grabbed her breasts, but that wasn’t the only time he almost died. The entire USJ experience was a string of near-deaths and close calls. He turned on the tv to get his mind off things. He was almost done filling out the form when he saw that the Sports festival was on. Maybe he could see how his old classmates were doing.

He turned on the TV to see his friends engaging in some sort of battle royale where students carried each other and attempted to steal headbands from each other. It was certainly different from previous years he had watched. It was definitely engaging, yet he found it hard to watch without wondering if he made the right call. 

Should he have stayed at UA? Was he being too cowardly? Was he even meant to be a hero if that was enough to psyche him out? He trained for UA, dreamed of going there. But what happened at USJ? That freaked him out. He wasn’t ready for that. Not yet. Perhaps it was a test of his mettle and proved he was among the best. And yet, he felt traumatized. The short boy was sure he wasn’t alone in that, and he even cheered when All-Might and the other pros arrived, but he needed a step back. 

“I’m going to be a hero. I will still be the coolest guy...but I need to do it at my pace.” Mineta groaned, getting up from his desk and diving onto his bed. He found himself framed by the dakimakuras he owned of various heroines. It helped him view things with clarity, to zoom in on his life.

After a deep sigh, the boy looked back to the TV and saw Midoriya giving it his all. This timid, grounded boy with a quirk like All-Might’s and a cute girlfriend. Mineta felt jealous of this kid, almost angry at him for having what he had. And yet he couldn’t remain that way. Instead, he finished up and submitted his transfer forms digitally so that he could watch the Sports Festival without distraction.

He may not have been a UA student anymore, but he would still watch and learn. One day, he wanted to meet them again, and prove to himself that he still had what it took.

And if he found a cute girl with a big chest and a nice smile, well, that would be nice too. “Just my luck, I’ll find one like that and she’ll be a lesbian.” the boy sighed. He then smiled to himself as he started to think about that a little too deep , only to fall off his bed and bash his head on the corner. Luckily, his midnight Dakimakura softened his collision with the floor, but some blood from his head stained her.

X

Meanwhile, at Ketsubutsu Academy...

Emi Waniago stretched in her seat. This was quite an odd day of class. She was expecting training drills or a power hike with Ms. Joke. It would certainly help build her endurance. However, said teacher was missing, having gone to an event in another prefecture. Sure, Ms. Joke was the homeroom teacher for the second years, but she still liked to interact with the freshmen. Besides, she would joke about being twins with the crocodile girl, given their green hair and same first name. Emi smiled to herself and got out of her chair, opting for dynamic stretches to keep herself limber, just in case, much to the chagrin of a couple of her friends.

Beside her, her girlfriend, Asuga, traced the air with a finger and created a small whirlwind. It was a surprisingly slow day, but the youth considered the work load prior to it enough to make up for the lull. Besides, she was sure that there would be more than enough afterwards to get her in the groove.

“So what? We’re just going to watch another school’s sports day on TV instead of doing anything? Couldn’t we have just stayed home for this?” a slender girl with cropped black hair and reddish skin slouched in her seat while fidgeting with her pencil. “Is this because teach is thirsty for that scruffy hobo dude who works at UA? I mean, I know she’s the 2nd year teacher, but-”

“Show some respect, Ran. As a school, UA is a worthy rival and has spawned some of the top heroes in the country and even the world! ” Emi retorted boisterously, punching her chest as her friends eyed her nervously.

“Then why did you go here and not there? Then I wouldn’t have to hear you get so loud.” The amphibious girl scoffed as she fidgeted with her pencil. A stout young man sitting next to her at a window seat sighed at the salamander girl’s demeanor.

A redheaded girl in the corner stifled a laugh as she watched the whole thing go down, hiding her face behind her notebook. It was covered in punk band stickers and Celtic iconography. Emi glanced briefly between her two classmates, focusing on the redhead again. She was a transfer student, apparently. Emi groaned. Why was she getting guff for being loud? She wasn’t the one with a sound-based quirk.

“Settle down, class. We’ll be doing some training this week, but I thought I would treat you all to the Sports Festival, especially while we process some potential changes to our class line-up.” A lanky, bespectacled woman spoke as she adjusted her glasses, taking a seat at his desk. She finished setting up the feed on the TV and watched the events unfold on her own monitor.

The class was abuzz temporarily with what their teacher meant. Were they getting a new transfer student? It seemed an odd time to do so, but it was an odd world. When the event unfolded on the screen, however, the student body started to hush up.

As things settled down, the first year class focused their attention on the sports festival once more, with Emi deciding to eye one group in particular. She had heard rumors about 1-A. That they had been ambushed by villains. She had even heard that the Crocodile King himself was among the gathered criminals. You couldn’t always believe rumors and her dad being anything but the one pulling the strings seemed unlikely, but she couldn’t help but take notice. 

The tall, buff girl with green skin smiled, her eyes narrowing on the screen as the camera focused on the aforementioned green-haired boy with freckles. “Midoriya, huh? So that’s him.” He wasn’t much to write home about physically, but the way he carried himself was interesting. He was apparently quirkless when, which was a rarity. At least, that’s how Asuga initially told it. Theboy definitely had a quirk now. He wouldn’t have stood a chance at getting into UA otherwise. That’s for sure. Nevertheless, the gator girl’s interest was piqued by both her girlfriend’s former classmate and his own girlfriend. It was the boy that surprisingly had her attention the most, however.

“Ok, Midoriya. Let’s see if you’re as cool as I was led to believe.”

Chapter Text

All Might watched the matches unfold carefully. Izuku's first match against the general studies student Shinsou was certainly interesting, as was Mina up against team Midoriya's Aoyama. They both showed promise. 

He should have expected no less from both of them. He remembered hearing young Midoriya and Kirishima talking about the pink girl having experienced a villain attack before and, despite being afraid, showing bravery in the face of the situation. She had apparently  made sure the villain had met up with a pro who was able to safely subdue him, if memory served.

It was certainly risky, but to know both his successor and the girl who had stood up for him had already had such experiences had proven to be vindicating. He could not wait to see them in action against each other.

He thought back to the words of a former colleague. "You were wrong, Mirai. I think I made a good pick."

His phone vibrated in his pocket. Of all the times it could have been going off. He was tempted to ignore it, but as the number one hero, he had an obligation to check.

“Hi Uncle Might. It’s Melissa. Did you get my letter?

The memories swept over the old pro, nearly taking his attention off the tournament unfolding before him.  He sent a quick confirmation to Melissa and resumed his observations. He could worry about the I-expo later. There would be time for revelations later. For now, he had some proteges to cheer on.

The past would catch up with him eventually, like it always did. Until then, there were certainly some interesting matches besides Mina’s and Izuku’s. All the students showed potential, though some battles ended quicker than others.  There was one that had caught the number one’s eye: the fight between Ochako Uraraka and Katsuki Bakugou. Both had a connection to his protege, one being a current friend of Izuku’s while the other was… not so much. He knew the boys knew each other, and that Izuku had rescued Bakugou from the slime villain, only to be reprimanded by other pros. However, he could sense a hostility in the air when the two boys passed by each other. 

Uraraka lost, despite a solid strategy. Meaning the blonde bomber could end up as a potential hurdle for his protege to overcome. The pro looked to see Izuku and Mina comforting Ochako after her loss and congratulating her on a solid strategy while Bakugou was attended by his classmates:  Monoma, Tokage, and Kendou. There were a few more fights in the first round left, so All Might watched carefully. The next one looked to involve more friends Izuku had made. The boy had been skittish and also very much a fanboy, but it was good to know he was able to connect with others. Sometimes, you need friends in the hero biz.

The pro looked at a blonde girl with horns entering the arena, the one Izuku had teamed with. She looked vaguely like a hero he met in America, but he decided to spectate rather than speculate.

X

Team Midoriya's Pony went up against Tsuyu. The two girls stood opposite one another with Pony wishing her opponent good luck in their match. Unfortunately her Japanese was a bit off, but Tsuyu got the basic gist of what she was saying.

Pony fired off her horns as Tsuyu approached, causing the frog girl to jump back in shock. The horns boomeranged back around and nearly pinned Tsu.

Leaping out of the way, the frog girl flicked out her tongue and wrapped it around Pony's left leg. The horse girl bucked like a bronco, surprising Tsuyu and causing her to recoil.

The two animalistic combatants moved around the perimeter, getting a feel for one another. 

“You seem pretty formidable, Tsunotori. Did you get in on recommendation, ribbit.”

“No, ms. Froggy girl. My aunt and uncle both offered but I wanted to get in on my own.”

Tsuyu noticed a mix of Japanese and English coming from the girl’s mount. Tsuyu was only fluent in one but was picking up the other fairly well with help from Midoriya.

Tsuyu leapt onto one of the horns as it came for her and bounced off it, delivering a devastating kick. Pony, however, dug her hooves in and  shot horns out again.

Mina and Kirishima cheered their friend on, pumping their fists in the air. Izuku, however, alternated. He knew Tsuyu longer, but felt obligated to cheer for his Cavalry battle teammates. Besides, Pony seemed nice and he could see her being a good friend.

“Have a thing for cute girls with horns, eh Izu?”

“It’s not like that I...almost fell for that one. Nice try, Mina.”

Turning their attention back to the fight, the young couple watched as Pony skidded towards the edge of the arena after being tossed by Tsuyu’s tongue. The American braced herself and turned around to land a bronco kick on her froggy foe at the right moment, knocking the wind out of her.

The two girls seemed to be getting winded, equally exhausted as they gave their all, with neither going unnoticed. Pony spoke in her native English, throwing all but a few pros off who were more fluent than others in that language. With one last push, the girls charged forward, resulting in Pony getting knocked unconscious while Tsuyu stood up shakily.

Midnight announced the winner with gusto  as both girls were brought to Recovery girl to heal up any injuries they incurred.  Izuku was sad one had to lose, as Pony seemed really nice, but he was also glad his friend of several years had come out on top, even if Pony was his teammate.

“Dang, that was one banger of a fight. I know they are going to be out like a light, but want to check on them when they heal up?” Mina asked. Izuku nodded, having just put away his hero notebook. Perhaps he had a problem, but Mina seemed to think it was cute how passionate he was, so he kept it up.

“Yeah. Let’s give them time to heal, then we can visit them.” Izuku agreed. “In the meantime, I gotta go to the bathroom. I’ll be back.” the boy leaned in for a gentle peck on Mina’s nose, which she crinkled as she smiled.

“Eeew, is this a pre-piss kiss?” the pink girl teased, sticking out her tongue. Izuku looked at her blankly for a few seconds.

“I don’t like you anymore.” he stated plainly before walking away.

“Nooooooo, I was kidding! Come back!” the girl whined in an exaggerated fashion while hanging onto her boyfriend. Izuku struggled while laughing softly.

“I know, babe. I really have to pee!” Izuku pulled away to no avail as the pink girl playfully headbutted his shoulder. Jirou watched in her seat nearby both disgusted and confused but also finding herself strangely drawn to how close the two seemed to be.

“Fine, but just know...you called me babe in publiiiic~! PDA Midoriya~” Mina sang cheerfully after resigning herself. “Go to the bathroom.”

Kirishima watched and laughed, all the while feeling a twinge of jealousy, based on his feelings for both. The other students watched in a mix of confusion and admiration.

X

After vowing to congratulate his friends on their incredible match,Izuku headed to the restroom, needing to relieve himself after watching several matches in the first round of matches. There was one left and he didn’t want to miss it. Sure he wasn’t as close to either combatant, but they both possessed interesting quirks, and he wanted to add more info in his notes. Sure enough, after the OfA holder exited the restroom, one of the combatants approached him: Shouto Todoroki.

“Midoriya. Can we talk?” Todoroki spoke with a sort of aggressive calm, a placid soft spoken demeanor that had a stubborn ego lurking just beneath the service.

“Oh...sure? What’s up?” Izuku asked, hoping it wasn’t about the displays of affection Mina and he had just showcased to everyone. He was not ashamed of his feelings for her, but he still felt a bit flustered. At this point, however, he was mostly used to it.

“Your quirk is very similar to All Might's. I remember overhearing Asui say that as well. You also seem to have trouble controlling it. It’s perhaps why you and him seem to be rather close.”

Izuku did not like where this was going. This was worse than him asking about the PDA.

“Are you his secret love child?” The two-toned boy asked bluntly, confirming the Green-haired boy’s fears. 

Izuku just stared ahead, processing it all. All those years of wishing All-Might was his dad had culminated in this. At least All-Might was around. Still, at least it was only that.

“No. No. It is just a coincidence, I swear. Besides, I don’t really look anything like him, do I?”

Shouto was unconvinced, but conceded that point. He supposed that if Izuku was the illegitimate child of All-Might, he would have blue eyes and blonde hair. It was possible he could have hair dye and contacts. He was friends with Kirishima, who apparently dyed his hair. Perhaps. He was even related to that Bakugou guy. They seemed to have animosity between them, but Shouto never got to spend a lot of time with his siblings, so he didn’t have much knowledge of real brother relationships. Still that connection seemed unlikely. Having a long lost brother who hated you was like something out of a battle manga and was likely too out there to be real.

“I suppose. Still, it seems too convenient for you to just share such a specific quirk. Either way, I will beat you. No offence, but you barely have a handle on that power of yours. This will not take long, and neither will our fight. All I need is my ice. I won’t fight you with the bastard’s quirk.”

“Why, though? It’s your quirk, right? Just because you inherited it from Endeavor...that doesn’t make it his. It’s up to you how you use it. You’re not him.” Izuku reasoned.

“He hurt my mother...he drove her to the brink to the point where…” Shouto touched his face scar and looked down at his hands. “He said my eyes were like his, and when he found out what she did, he sent her away and continued his training of me, separating me from my siblings. His fire is part of his plan and I will not indulge him.”

“It’s not his fire though. He doesn’t control you or what you can do. I know Endeavor is a top hero, second only to All-Might...but you’re not him. Sorry, my words probably ring empty but...if we meet in the ring, remember that.”

“Whatever. You’re a nosey kid, Midoriya. We’ll get this over with soon enough.” the two-toned boy walked away, seeming simultaneously surly and introspective. He thought he heard Izuku say he would give his all but it didn’t matter. They would fight and it would be over. He kind of didn’t want to give his father the satisfaction, but he wasn’t going to lose either.

Izuku stood there dumbfounded, trying to piece together what just happened. All he knew is that he would be facing off with Mina next and it was going to be challenging. He knew her moves better than he knew anyone else’s besides Bakugou’s.

Endeavor found Izuku not long after, hoping to speak with him early. It really seemed like the green-haired boy was popular today. He wasn’t used to it and he wasn’t sure he would ever be.  “Guess I have to get used to it” he sighed to himself.

“This... loud mouth that Shouto is facing first… he seems like a waste, but everything will be compared to you. Your power...it is very much like All-Might’s. I know not if you are related to him or not and quite frankly, that is no concern of mine. You will serve as a good test run to see if Shouto has what it takes to surpass him. That’s all I wanted to say.”

Izuku sighed. Of course people would notice the similarities. He should have foreseen it. It was like karma for years of wanting to be All-Might. And to have father and son draw that conclusion almost back to back no less. The young man brushed it off and turned around to shake in his seat from the intimidation of the flame hero. At least, that was the plan. That was what Izuku told himself to do.

Before the number 2 pro could walk off, however, the green-haired successor to One-for-All stepped up. He was sure he would regret this. He was about to tell off a pro, the one directly below All-Might himself. What’s more, this was none of his business. And yet, he couldn’t help himself. He wasn’t sure if it was Mina’s influence, All-Might’s, or all his. Perhaps it was a mix. Either way.

“Wait… I am not All Might...and Todoroki is not you. We are all striving to be heroes, not proxies for our parents...and Monoma might be over the top...but he is not some piece of trash to be overlooked or discarded. None of us are. Watch the next match and see that. As for me, I am going to fight with my girlfriend and give it my all. If I fight Todoroki, I will do the same… but we are not tools for grudges.”

“Watch your tongue, boy. Know that SHouto will crush you, then surpass All-Might where I could not...he will not fail...not like…” the imposing man trailed off and walked away.

Little did either party know that both Bakugou and Monoma could see the whole thing, albeit from opposite sides of the hallway. Monoma could feel a hint of respect, but refused to let anyone else know that. He couldn’t let these 1-A clowns get too big of an ego, just because they did one cool thing. 

X

Izuku walked back to his seat, shaking like a leaf. The weight of what he had just done was crushing him. It seemed like the right reaction at the time, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he had bitten off more than he could chew. All-Might would probably scold him for that, well, as much as All-Might ever scolded anyone. He was almost to the bleacher when he felt a hand on his shoulder, followed by a familiar smug voice.

“Oh god please...no more people. No more conversations. I just want to get back to my seat.” Izuku thought, feeling the mental exhaustion of it all. He turned to face Monoma expecting him to start some shit too. 

“I wanted to say something to the oh so mighty powerhouse of 1A...You’re...not a bad guy, are you?”

Izuku was surprised. He was not expecting this from Monoma. In the short time he knew the boy, he did not come off as the most reasonable of boys. The fact that he saw the boy around Bakugou a lot in a more friendly capacity and less of a parole one like Kendou and Tokage had him worried, but not many people knew the truth about Bakugou yet. That was the unspoken agreement.

“Come again?” the green-haired boy asked. Seriously, it felt like he was getting pranked consecutively, even though it seemed like all parties were completely earnest.

“Jeez, you have wax in your ears, don’t you? I merely concede that maybe I misjudged your class, or perhaps you specifically. Tokage speaks highly enough of you and Tsunotori apparently thinks you are pretty cool. I almost felt betrayed until I saw you mouth off to a pro...in my defense. “

“You saw that?” the green-haired boy blinked. It really was just a marathon of drama, apparently.

“I did. I would have used that as evidence of 1A being too big for their britches but...one of our classmates fits that bill too, I suppose. Besides, if you could stand up for someone like me that you barely know… to be the number two hero of all people, well,  you aren’t as bad as I thought.”

“Oh, well I mean...of course. I kinda got my power late, but before that, people thought I was quirkless, told me I wouldn’t amount to anything...told me to ...nevermind. Sorry for oversharing. Um… good luck on your fight, Monoma.”

“Oh good, you remember my name. Good. Don’t let me think I misjudged you, Midoriya. I don’t take kindly to being patronised. And don’t get too comfortable, 1A. This doesn’t change anything. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to make my mark.” The Dramatic boy waved condescendingly as headed towards his match.

“Of course…” Izuku sighed and slumped against the wall. That went better than he had expected. It was nice to know that even people like Monoma could be nicer. It reminded him of Iida in a way. The green-haired boy smiled and took a moment. Mina was probably wondering where he was, but a little break was always welcome.

“DEKUUU, WHERE ARE YOU, YOU BASTARD!”

And the break was over. Izuku ran to his seat, not wanting to deal with anymore people wanting a piece of him until his fights, especially not him of all people.

“Yikes, babe! You ok? You seem stressed.”

“I… I just told off the number two hero…” Izuku said blankly, still processing his own actions.

“Oh, I see. cool...WAIT WHAT!?!?” Mina shouted, being shushed by Momo and Jirou as she jumped out of her seat.”

“Yeah...I shouldn’t have. It was a bad move and none of my business and he is THE NUMBER TWO HERO… but… I dunno. I will leave it at that.” Izuku had second thoughts about airing what little he saw of Todoroki’s dirty laundry. Still, he knew Mina would be curious.

“Are you sure? That seems awfully juicy. I heard bomb boy getting angry and screaming for you. Was it tied to that?”

“I dunno. Maybe. Apparently Monoma heard and was… actually reasonable.”

The next match started with a lot of fanfare. It was a class A vs Class B brawl and the freshly brewed rivalry was about to reach a head here.  Both combatants had only victory on their minds as they stepped into the arena.

“You’re not worth the time. Let’s get this over with.” Todoroki, dismissed his opponent, shrugging the hand off his shoulder.

Monoma sneered. This was his time to show off to his powerful friend what he could do. He would show everyone what he could do. He had been told for so long that his power was not suited to being a superhero. He was told he would be lucky if he was considered a sidekick for a vigilante. He knew it was versatile. 

He knew he could do a lot with it. And yet he was overlooked. There wasn’t much of an inciting incident to make him hate 1a, if he could call it actual hatred. However, if there was one thing the blonde boy could not stand, it was being overshadowed. Everyone was the protagonist of their own story, with their own arcs to go through.

He felt in his heart that this was his and he would make sure to shine. And if he failed, he would cheer his classmates on until they succeeded.

“Giving me the cold shoulder, huh? Sorry for being drole.”

Todoroki, just brushed off the blonde. “I will make this quick. Sorry.”

Monoma felt his temperature fluctuate wildly. He was getting chills and a fever all at once until it settled. This was going to be a tricky quirk to handle.

Monoma felt flames engulf him. It was too much. Was that why Todoroki refused to use them? Maybe a more personal reason. All Monoma knew was that it hurt. His vision was obscured by the waving of the heat in front of him. And yet, he hissed and pushed on. If he could put it out with the ice, he could push through. He refused to fall here. He got to the tournament. He was here on a grand stage where pros were watching. He would prove his class’s resilience. He would prove all his naysayers wrong. Kendou was sure to chop his neck for this, but he would deal with that later.

“I don’t know why you don’t use all your power. Do you pity me, Todoroki? Is that it? I hate to break it to you, but I don’t take pity sitting down. So I will stand until I faint. “

Todoroki’s eyes widened. This boy was insane. He was clearly going to pass out. He had bitten off more than he could chew and was going to pass out. It wasn’t a power he was used to...but Todoroki was. He remembered words that Izuku had said to him earlier., when he had said they would face off in the final round.

“It’s not your father’s power or anyone else’s...it’s yours.”

Those words echoed in his head, on loop until the voice saying them became Monoma’s.

“I’ll use this power of yours to prove my worth.”

“You’re right...I have been holding back...This is my power.”

Monoma countered the fire with Ice and the ice with fire. His clothes were nearly charred away, his pants holding through. The blonde boy said a silent prayer to the gods of decency and pushed through.

He hit the wall with a thud and fell unconscious.

Todoroki walked out of the ring and carried the unconscious 1B student to Recovery girl. He was crazy, he was brash, but he had proven himself worthy of Todoroki’s respect.

Todoroki turned to look at Izuku.

“Thank you...I know I haven’t fought you yet, but you were right. THis is my power, not the old man’s. This guy helped me see that too. I’ll have to thank him after he comes to...He might be obnoxious though. I should just leave a note. If I wanted to be shouted at, I would go to the old man.”

X

Monoma woke up, surrounded by a few of his classmates, with Bakugou in the back, looking as cheerful as always. However, his surly cockiness was replaced with a sort of...seething concern, if Neito had to place it. He still felt achy and tingly all over, from his injuries and the sting of defeat. FIrst round of the tournament and he went down too quickly, in his eyes. The crowds would certainly talk, alright. Not in the way he wanted though. It’s ok. They always talked.

Neito looked at the note, grabbing it carefully as he winced. He reached for his reading glasses, but remembered he didn’t have them on him. He wasn’t anticipating needing them.

“Sorry for not holding back but I suppose I should be thanking you. I have the feeling you would want nothing less than my all. You’re kind of annoying like that. May our next battle last longer.”

Monoma laid back in his bed. He honestly couldn’t tell if he felt condescended to or acknowledged. The fact that he was able to step toe to toe with one of 1-A’s heavy hitters was boosting his ego a bit, even if he lost. He had just hoped that after a bit of a rest, and once the Sports Festival had ended, he could see if any of the pros took notice.

“WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT, KNOCK OFF!?” Bakugou burst in, growling like a ferocious beast.

“Don’t worry, copy cat. I’ll show those extras what I can do, especially that shitty Deku. I have some questions I need answered.”

“Don’t be so mean, Bakugou! 1-A is really cool, especially, Midori-” Pony spoke up, having just recovered enough to visit her classmate and friend, Monoma.. However, she was cut off by the explosive boy with a fiery shout.

“Don’t even finish that sentence, Goat girl. I am going to wreck his shit. And then he is going to tell me how the fuck he has a quirk.” The  boy  growled, angered by the questions raised and why someone who had previously been nothing more than scenery in the past was now competition.

“Stand down, Katsuki. Pony means no harm. Still, I appreciate the vigor. Midoriya and you seem to have a history, correct? I have no gribe with him. He seems alright...but I don’t know him as well as you do. Besides, a win for 1B would be too sweet indeed. So give him hell, ma amie.” Monoma yawned in his bed and looked over at his classmates, who all looked concerned.

Bakugou scoffed and turned to exit. “Glad to have someone with some sense around here, big mouth. I’m going to cool my head, then I will punch Deku in his when the next round starts.”

The blonde boy didn’t even turn to face his classmates. They were strong alright. They unfortunately didn’t get much chance to shine, but he was admittedly impressed.  Still, he was dead set on being the best, and no matter how strong someone like Todoroki or Uraraka or Tsunotori was, he would be stronger, and kick Deku back to the side of the road where he belonged. That was his vow.

X

With that fight, the next bracket arrangement was set, with a brief reprieve so that the combatants could get ready. In the preparation room, Izuku went over his notes on Mina, focusing less on the doodles in the margins and the notes from Mina herself. She said something about healthy thighs to make Izuku blush, so he tried erasing it until he realized that Mina used a ball point pen to write her bits. 

"Hey, you are going up against Ashido, right?" Ochako asked, sitting next to Izuku and looking at his notebook, which he promptly hid.

"Yeah. Kind of nervous. I am thinking of holding back but Mina would kill me if I did. I don't want to lay hands on her. We are her students together. Who knows if we'll ever be up against each other in future training exercises."

"Have you thought of grappling moves? This way you could fight her without hitting her." The brunette pondered. She wasn’t as much of an analysis buff  as her friend was, but she was able to formulate a solid plan of attack, even if it backfired. Izuku had offered to help her, so it was only fair, right?

“I suppose. She would probably reverse it. She likes using leg locks…” Izuku blushed, while Ochako did so similarly, trying not to think of the implications, or of what a leg lock from an athletic girl like Mina would feel like. Mentally, punching herself to get back on topic, Ochako scratched her head.

“I don’t know, de...Sorry…”

“It’s ok. Um Uraraka? I trust you. You seem nice but...why did you almost call me Deku?”

“I dunno...I know you have bad blood with Bakugou and that it apparently means like… useless puppet… but it can also be read as ‘Someone who can do anything’, you know? That’s how I choose to see it, but I will stop if it brings back bad memories.” The gravity girl apologized as tears of embarrassment streamed down her face.

Izuku smiled and nodded.  “I still don’t feel comfortable with that nickname and the memories it dredges up...but that is a perspective I never considered. Thanks, Uraraka.”

“Any time, Midoriya.”

“Izuku… call me Izuku…”

“Ochako froze, blushing as this thoughtful boy asked him to use his first name. Could he do that? Wasn’t he already dating Mina?

“Yeah. We’re friends, right? I am not exactly used to being so casual like this, but I have had a good support structure for a few years now, so it only seems right, you know?” Izuku scratched the back of his head.

“You really care about her, dontcha?” Ochako rested her face on the table as she looked at her friend. The boy just sighed wistfully as he felt his face heat up. “She was my first friend in a long time… she believed in me and saw me as someone worth talking to when nobody else did, and I learned to slowly come out of my shell because of her. I made some friends because of her…” the boy stood up. “So as hesitant as I am to hurt her, I also owe it to her not to hold back. This is our shared dream and we’ll push each other to new heights...Sorry if that was cheesy.” Izuku slumped back into his chair sheepishly after seeing Ochako stare blankly.

The girl grabbed his hands tightly and looked him dead in the eye. “That was the single most romantic thing I have ever heard, holy freaking super crap! I can’t wait to see what you and Mina do out there, Izuku.” the girl smiled.

“Thanks, Ura...Thanks, Ochako.”

“Any time.”

The two laughed and sat down to strategize, while Mina hyped herself up in the hallway, feeling her heart race faster, both from the anticipation of this match and the kind words of her favorite boy.

X

Mina and Izuku stood at opposite sides. They could feel the hairs on their arms stand straight as they tried to push their nerves down. Most couples would not want to fight. And yet this was it, the climax of their competition this whole festival so far.  They would get to test their mettle against each other and put on a show for everyone watching to see.

“Just letting you know, babe, I won’t hold anything back.”

“So you’re going to disfigure me?”

“N-no. That’s not what I meant. Also, try not to break your arms. You need those.”

“I thought this was an all out fight.”

“ You know what I mean!”

The  fight  was fast and fluid, with Mina’s  fluid and rhythmic movements contrasting with the raw, feral energy of her boyfriend. Over time, however, he started to adapt and even try to imitate her movements.

“Wow, I really am flattered, Izu, but if you’re going to bite my style, you might chip a tooth!”

Mina leapt in the air and stomped down, bracing herself for her next onslaught. Sweat dripped off of her forehead as a wide grin formed on her face. This was not just a fight. It was a dance, This was her yard to stomp and she couldn’t have picked a better partner than her boyfriend. 

They both were so early in their tenure at UA but had already come so far. This would be their chance to really see what they could do against each other.

Wiping off her sweat in a dramatic fashion, Mina let loose with some acid, using that to try and ring Izuku out. Instead, the green haired boy rushed forward like a deranged rabbit, replicating her moves to the best of his ability. They weren’t as graceful, but they were recognizably Mina’s. He let loose a punch, feinting as to not hit her. She countered with an uppercut. Mina’s eyes widened, realizing that she had just hit her Izuku. 

She forgot herself in the moment and apologized profusely, only to be swept off the ground and pinned.

“Easy, you’re starting to sound like me.”

“No fair! You literally avoided hitting me.”

“And you didn’t.”

Their banter was not completely audible to the crowd but Jirou, who was sitting with her other classmates, could hear. SHe scoffed and smiled. “I can’t tell if those two are crazy for each other or just crazy but I have to watch out for them.”

Izuku put focus into his leg and rushed forward, trying not to break it while still aiming to use One-for-All. The propulsion caused him to rocket Mina’s direction, only for her to spin out of the way and deliver a kick of her own.

Gasping for a moment, Izuku grappled Mina once again and tried to spin-toss her. However, she quickly adjusted and landed on the ground, barely avoiding a ring-out as she slid across the Arena.

“That was more fun than scary, Zuku. We should try that again later.” the girl giggled.

Mina somersaulted over izuku and leaked some slippery slime from her hands with a very weak acidity. As the boy slipped and slid, she used the moment to kick him towards the edge of the ring.

A flurry of blows lept escalating, with both parties dodging each other deftly while sustaining some blows. What really captured the audience was the level of trust between the combatants. It was like a game between two people who knew each other intimately and would constantly come up with answers for the questions the other’s fists were asking.

Izuku flicked the air and sent a shockwave towards Mina, leading her to block the air from her face and close her eyes.  Izuku’s open palm struck her chest, causing her to cough as she was sent reeling. Acting on instinct, Mina flung acid towards Izuku, a stronger dose this time. She was desperate. She didn't want to hurt Izuku but didn't  want to lose either. Besides, she knew she couldn't  hold back forever.

Bracing himself, Izuku gritted through the pain and punched Mina in the leg as she aimed to kick him.

Izuku hopped out of the ring, flinching a bit from the pain. Walking over to where Mina was, he reached down to help her up. Mina hopped up to kiss her boyfriend on the lips before smiling at the crowd and giving a peace sign to them all.

“That was sneaky!” izuku blushed, sighing as he hid his face.

:Yeah, well we both deserve something good. Good luck with your next fight, babe.”

Izuku looked towards his next opponent, one he was both dreading and anticipating: Katsuki Bakugou. This would be the toughest one he faced yet. It was sure to be both challenging and Cathartic.

“Thanks. I’ll need it.” Izuku smiled as he gazed into Mina’s eyes and booped her nose, shrinking away when he heard someone clear their throat. He turned to see his next opponent and felt his blood run colder. It was Bakugou.

There were sure to be many other interesting bouts. Izuku would have loved to watch them all, both as a friend and as a classmate. However, he was too focused on the coming battle with his old friend turned tormentor. It was a long time coming and he was not sure how he would fight fully. He needed to strategize.

“Hey, Midoriya. You ok?” Kirishima asked.

Izuku smiled at Kirishima and offered a thumbs up. He supposed he could cheer his friend on and let his brain relax a bit. However, the looming bout kept him on edge. Mina noticed, resting a hand on the boy’s shoulders as her eyes sparked with concern. Izuku nodded sheepishly and offered a small smile, trying to reassure both his girlfriend and himself.

“Yeah, I’m good.”

“Good to hear, buddy. Hey...if there is anything wrong though, you can tell me.” Kirishima gritted his teeth as he looked at the ground bashfully. “We’re friends, right?”

“Of course, bro.” Izuku smiled, offering a shaky fist. He was still not great at it, but he was more confident in goofing off with his friends and encouraging them.

Kirishima reciprocated the gesture and fist bumped Izuku back. “Awesome. Anyway, wish me luck. My fight will be next.”

“Awesome, Horn buddy!” Mina cheered, showing up almost randomly, as if friendly support summoned her like a kind of “good vibes” fairy. “Who is your opponent?”

Ibara stepped into their midst, having just said a prayer for strength. “I believe I am. May god smile upon us both, Kirishima...because I will not hold back.” Her vines writhed like a viney kraken, preparing to strike.

“What a coincidence. Neither will I, Shiozaki,” Kirishima grinned while slamming his fists together in response. The next few fights were sure to be exciting. From the bleachers, a mysterious old woman watched with interest.

Chapter Text

Things kicked off vigorously, with Kirishima going up against Chikuchi Togeike. The girl's piercing, judgmental gaze was enough to make anyone feel cold, and her quirk, aqua-construct, was even more formidable than that. Kirishima felt like he was fighting the tides themselves, albeit as a video game boss, with the opening crack of Midnights whip syncing up perfectly with Chikuchi's opening strike.

In the stands, the mysterious older woman watched, her red aviator sunglasses reflecting the sun as she shifted in her seat. She raised an eyebrow as the redhead struggled. Perhaps he wasn't worth observing. She could have watched it from home with her dog. And yet, she kept watching. There was an energy about this boy, the way he carried himself, that made her feel oddly nostalgic. And yet, she had a feeling he had no connection to her former teacher. Regardless, she would sit comfortably and watch. It would have been easier for her to watch from her couch, but at her age, she needed some fresh air. It was good for the blood, after all.

Kirishima slumped, feeling his confidence slip. He wasn’t having much success aping his friends. He tried leaping like Tsuyu, deftfully dodging like Mina, and emulating the moves he saw from Izuku earlier.  He wanted to be so much cooler, to be someone that they could be proud of... that he could be proud of. If only he could be more like Crimson Riot, he thought. It's the reason his hair was red, after all; a hot-blooded manly color tp get his soul fired up, but was he really able to live up to that? It was then that his friends’ voices reached him.

“Oi Kiri! Come on, horn buddy! You got this! Whup her whip!” Mina shouted, leaping onto the bars of the bleachers as Iida lectured her and tried to get her to compose herself.

Tendril so of water shot out like spiky tentacles , almost like thorns really.  Izuku couldn’t help but notice how similar they were to Shiozaki’s vines, and yet they were very much different.

“You think a little soak will be enough to wipe me out? I’ve got friends cheering me on. I am nothing flashy, but I’m not out yet.”

Kirishima powered through, as the water smashed against him. He felt like the rocks from the old TOEI introductions in front of anime movies. His shirt got torn and drenched, but that was fine by him. He removed his shirt with a grin, much to the chagrin of his opponent.

“Are you crazy!? Put your shirt back on!!!” she blushed and hid her face.

“You kind of destroyed and soaked it. It’s not like losing a shirt means I lose my fighting ability. I’m used to fighting without one anyway.”

Mina raised an eyebrow and grinned, her brain racing as she made note of Chikuchi’s reaction. Not like she could blame her. Her friend was cute. They all were. Nobody was cuter than her boyfriend, though.

On the sidelines, Ibara sighed and blushed, feeling for her teammate.

“You’re tough. I admit, and that feels brisk as heck, but I can’t give up. NOT IN FRONT OF THEM!”

The tendrils of water converged to block Kirishima’s blows and knock him back.

“Getting hard on yourself , then cocky? Tsk. Pick a mood or I’ll pick one for you: defeated!” Chikuchi hissed through her teeth, an icy clare of contemptuous determination piercing her opponent as she pushed through. “Think you’re tough because you got in when we didn’t?”

“I’m actually surprised she didn’t. That quirk is very well suited for combat and could have been very useful against the robots at the entry exam. How did she not get in?”

Chikuchi overheard somehow, feeling herself get aggravated, however, instead of acting out, she attacked more ferociously, hoping to do to this boy what she failed to do to the robots at the exam, what she managed to do more successfully with the scaled-down ones from earlier, and what she was too afraid to do when the opportunity arose last time.

“You take this for granted. You probably heard that purple-haired scarecrow complain earlier. I suppose I can sympathize, but my quirk...I can do this...I should have been able to...but I froze. I failed, while you get to reap the benefits of being the focus of attention. That spot is mine.”

In a way, Kirishima could understand her frustrations, though not entirely. Still, it’s not like she would be replacing him. There was an actual vacancy that had opened up so, if anything, she was just making herself seem like a jerk to her potential classmates.

“I’m not limber...i am more rigid...i blame my quirk...but…” Kirishima pulled his Leg back and pivoted, delivering a powerful kick to the girl’s ribs.

“Didn’t take you for a leg guy, but Nakamura, you’re not…” Chikuchi growled and shot out her tendrils one more time, pushing Kirishima back again. This time, he ragdolled across the Arena like a rock. However, he grit his teeth and sharpened his arms, deciding to punch through the water as he ran. It certainly wasn’t graceful or cool but it was the best he could think of. He remembered seeing the move in an old broadcast of Crimson Riot from back in the day.

The mysterious old woman in the crowd smirked. “Well look at this fanboy. Sloppy...very sloppy...but a sight for sore eyes. “ She couldn’t help but feel a crimson wave of nostalgia hit her. THere might have been some reason to come here after all.

Chikuchi was thrown from the ring , landing with a thud as her water tendril went limp and soaked her to the bone. Spitting out some water that had entered her mouth, the girl sighed in frustration. At least she got further than  her chief competitor had. If anything, this boded better for her getting into the hero program.

And yet, she didn’t get as many cheers. How disappointing. At least a few of her friends thought she did well. The girl saw a shadow on the ground surrounding her and looked up. The boy she was fighting was standing there with a towel, an understanding smile, and still no shirt.

“You made a wrestling reference back there. You like Ring of Honor, sis ?”

“Don’t get the wrong idea. I am not here to make friends. I have enough in general studies. Keep your towel. You need it to cover yourself,” the girl huffed, walking off in a tizzy to the confusion and sadness of Kirishima. “And I am not your sis!”

“She didn’t have to be like that.” Kirishima sighed, returning to his spot and  joining his friends. He was wondering if maybe he still had a way to go if he wanted to be like them before he was swarmed by hugs and noogies from Mina and a barrage of excited murmurs from Izuku, while Tsuyu smiled and gave a thumbs up.

“Guess I am a winner today afterall,” Kirishima smiled, deciding for now just to relax and drink in the festivities. 

Time elapsed, burning like an olympic torch as the event wound up to a fever pitch. As the battles waged on, there were only two competitors left. Kirishima ultimately lost, but was happy to cheer Izuku on in return, like the green-haired boy had done for him before. He had even volunteered to get snacks while others participated in a quick scavenger hunt. 

“Hey, where’s Midoriya?” 

“He went to prepare for his fight. We’ll just have to wait and cheer him on, ribbit.” Tsuyu croaked calmly. Kirishima shrugged and smiled, taking his seat and holding onto his friends’ snacks for them, wondering silently what the final match would hold.

X

Izuku could feel himself getting tense. His next fight would be against Bakugou. He hoped he could get through it and just move on, that the tension would blow over and that this uneasy alliance could persist as long as the two former-friends kept out of each other’s way after this. He knew deep down, however, this wouldn’t be the case.

He hoped the other boy would have grown more mellow with friends, especially with Tokage there to keep an eye on him.

“You ok, Izu-bean?” Mina entered, taking a seat next to Izuku as he thought out loud.

“I’m...not really. Kinda nervous, actually. I still don’t have much of a grasp on One-for-All and Bakugou is too good. He has such good instinct and fluid movements and a head start on his power that I don’t.”

“Remember our fight?”

“It was today, so it is hard to forget.”Izuku laughed softly.

“We had fun. We just did our best to push each other and you did pretty well.” Mina smiled, ruffling her boyfriend’s hair. “I know Bakugou is an ass, and I agree with you, but you’re going to do great. And if he acts like an ass, don’t let him get you down.”

Izuku looked up, his face relaxing slightly. He was still worried. This fight was up in the air as to who could win, though the green-haired boy was still reverting back to old habits and doubting himself Regardless of who won, however anything that was bottled up would likely be unleashed and it would be hard, if not impossible, to contain it again.

“If you win, you’re buying me dinner. If you lose, I’ll buy dinner. Deal?”

“I mean, I can cook for you. You don’t have to spend money on me, Mina.”

“Well yeah. I don’t have to be as cute as I am but I still am anyway. Doesn’t matter if I have to. I want to, because you’re my boyfriend and you made it to the finals. Regardless of the outcome, 

I am super duper proud of you.”

Izuku couldn’t help but break down. He was feeling pent up, anxious, but also ready to get it on with. Knowing how much he was cared for and supported was giving him a second wind.

“You really are too good for me, Mina.”

“Quiet, you. You are amazing and you know it. You impressed freaking All-Might and also made it to the finals! You will end up in the winner’s circle...steppy things...You’re going to get a medal,ok? And even if you didn’t, I would make you one! For being a big dorkus and the best boyfriend. Now go kick bomb bitch’s butt!”

“Alright. Alright. I’ll do my best. But if I break any bones, try not to beat me too hard for being reckless.”

“I will push Recovery girl out of the way and kiss your boo boos myself. That is a threat AND a promise.”

Izuku sighed and smiled, placing his head against Mina’s as they took in the moment together. “If Mineta were here he probably would have had you and the other girls dressed up in cheerleader uniforms.”

“I can still do that for you.”

“Cut it out. That’s not what I mean. I’m just...he was gross but it’s still surprising. I hope he’s ok.”

“You really do worry for guys you shouldn’t, huh?”

“Guess it’s a doormat thing.”

“It’s a cute and heroic thing and you’re a good boy. Besides, I don’t need that costume as I am already your biggest cheerleader, you dummy.”

“My grades are better than yours.”

“That’s it. Not cheering for you anymore. You’re mean. No kisses for bullies.”

Izuku tripped over his words to apologize, then narrowed his eyes as Mina just grinned and winked. She really was a handful. “Alright, alright. I give. ANyway, I will try to be civil and appeal to his better judgment. Maybe I can get through to him and have him see me as an equal after getting this far.”

“What if that doesn’t work, babe?”

Izuku shrugged and hung his head down. “Then I’ll have to chip one of his teeth.”

“Brutal. Don’t do that. “

“Why? I might get expelled?” Izuku turned back to face her.

“Probably not. I was thinking more of where the Recovery girl would have to kiss him to fix that. Open mouth kiss from a grandma?”

Izuku could barely contain his giggles as Mina made a series of exaggerated faces at him. If he won this, he would take her up on her bet, maybe a nice Karaoke place. He may have had stage fright, but he knew she did not.

Either way, his body started moving towards its destiny, knowing what it had to do, and that regardless of outcome, Mina’s love and acceptance would be his greatest reward.

X

 Elsewhere, in 1B’s break room, a different tone resonated through the walls.“You’re not going to go over the top, are you?” Itsuka voiced her concerns in an exasperated tone. She knew Monoma was hard to handle sometimes, but Bakugou was really ready to go in for the kill during a televised event. She knew him as grumpy and egotistical, but he was ferocious right now. 

“Don’t fucking lecture me, hands. I knew this kid and he was a weakling loser. Something is up and I will beat it out of him. Not going to let him pity me, dammit! If I am going to go to the same school as him, I am going to beat his ass until he wishes he went somewhere else.”

“Oh my. That is really uncouth, almost unheroic, dare I say… But I like the competitive spirit, Bakugou my friend. Just don’t go too rough on him. He’s not all bad.” Monoma smiled.

“Are you enabling this? Really?” Kendou sighed, placing her face in her palm. None of this was really necessary.

“You couldn’t even beat Icy-hot, bowl cut. Shut your damn mouth...and don’t worry, you wanna show how great our class is? I’ll carry this whole lot on my back and beat those other losers, including shitty Deku! Today!”

Setsuna chimed in, trying to appeal to his good nature, despite having very little evidence of its existence. She knew enough about the basics of his childhood with Izuku and that one had bullied the other, but she was still just a 3rd party who had heard of it from others and never witnessed it herself.

“Hey...wasn’t he your friend? He’s kinda mine too. I know his girlfriend better, but like, you need to behave better, bro. We’re at the top hero school.”

“Don’t you fucking lecture me, Lizard bitch. I don’t need anyone’s approval to be the best. Get out of my damn way so I can kill him in front of his nosey ass girlfriend.”

Bakugou slammed the door, feeling his blood boil. He didn’t need friends. He was strong on his own, stronger than everyone else. He didn’t need to be chopped on the neck. He got that enough from the hag. He didn’t need friends, only victory and to be the best. He was going to show All-Might himself how great he was, the strongest hero in the world.

More than victory, however, Bakugou wanted answers, and if he couldn’t get those today, then he would just have to stomp his former friend back into the mud where he belonged. He would be proven to be weak and then maybe, some sanity would be restored when the people who took pity on him started to see sense.

“Hey!”

Bakuhou snapped his body in an instant towards the sound of a high, feminine voice. It was the horned foreigner in his class, Tsunotori. “The fuck you want, Goat!?”

“My name is Pony, not Goat! Please be nicer to our classmates. And to Midoriya. He is really nice.” the blonde girl pouted, stamping a hoof in agitation. She looks like a toddler to Bakugou, despite them being in the same age range. He was willing to tolerate these people if they stayed out of his way, but it seemed that wasn’t happening right now.

“Haaaaaah?!? The fuck you talking about? You don’t know him, horns. Otherwise, you would see him as the pebble he is. I am tired of people gushing about trash. Take your broken ass Japanese back into the bleachers. I have a nerd to kill.” Bakugou scoffed, feeling his ire rise as explosions roared in the palm of his hand. Pausing his hurried steps without turning his back, he spoke once more, this time in perfect English. “Don’t get in my way again, American.”

Pony felt her face go hot with frustration and her blood run cold with fear. Her classmate really was scary. As she ran back towards the bleachers, Bakugou walked towards the light, ready to snuff out those doubts in the back of his mind. He was not going to exist at UA on a compromise he never decided on. He was meant to be the only one from his middle school for greatness. He was going to set it right for the world to see, and nobody could stop him.

X

Izuku walked past Ochako on the way to the ring, ready to do his best, feeling the ache in his bones before he had even started. He wasn’t sure if it was from his previous injuries, anticipation of new ones, or both. His friend stopped him, regardless.

“Hey Midoriya?” Ochako asked, placing a hand on her friend’s shoulder.”

“Yes?” the boy asked. He really was just bumping into people today, huh? It was to be expected during the biggest competition in the country. He was half expecting Tsunotori next, but she was probably indisposed.

“I know you probably already talked to Mina and she knows things better, but best of luck. I know you have a touchy history with Bakugou that I don’t know all the details of. However, you are a really good guy with a strong heart. Your quirk is powerful, but I think your willingness to keep going is your greatest strength.”

“Wow...That’s very candid...thank you, Uraraka. That helps a lot.” The boy smiled, taking a deep breath afterwards and bracing for the coming conflict.

X

The fight began violently and almost instantaneously, with Bakugou barely giving his opponent time to react. He had been watching Izuku, his quirk, and how he used it. For starters, it was too sloppy, but very powerful, a challenge for his own abilities. What’s more, it was very similar to All-Might’s, and that led him to one possible conclusion: he was absolutely furious right now.

Izuku sensed this and barely dodged an explosion, feeling the ends of his hair singed and his ears ring. It was like history was repeating itself. He felt caught in a time loop, especially when he said that name he swore he would never use again.

“Kacchan...please. Let’s not do this here. Can we just have a normal fight?

“Fuck you, Deku. You weren’t supposed to be here. You are a weakass pebble, who should have just ended up as a janitor or something. You keep standing in my way, and now you lord your bullshit over me, like you’re better than me. You know the fuck you aren’t! And I thought you were going to stop calling me that!”

“Will you SHUT YOUR MOUTH FOR ONCE!? I AM SURPRISED I KEPT MINE SHUT THIS LONG!” Izuku shouted, the bottled up frustrations finally being too much to bear as he shoulder tackled his former friend towards the edge of the ring and used the momentum to throw the boy over his shoulder. 

“That’s right! Rage, you damn nerd!” Bakugou spat. “STop hiding behind your weak ass feelings and come at me!”

“You want Rage? NOW YOU WANT RAGE?! Fine...But you’re only still here because I HAVEN’T SPOKEN UP YET! DETROIT SMAAAAAASH!”

A hush filled the arena as the words echoed through. Not everyone could quite make it out, as the competitors didn’t have microphones. However, there was chatter among those that could make it out. Mina clasped her hands over her mouth. She kind of hoped at first that her boyfriend would spill the beans but had supported his decision regardless.

Tsuyu frowned. She had not seen half of the bad blood between the two former friends, mostly managing to avoid contact with the blonde bomber altogether.. She had only heard  most of it from secondhand accounts. It seemed like things would boil over eventually, but she believed her friend’s conviction to let bygones be bygones. She thought of her best friend from her own middle school and how they were still very close. It was sad that not all friendships lasted, but she could see why. 

Even if the details were still locked up tight, this tirade was going to get people talking, as was the ensuing fight. The gossip could wait. There was still a fight occurring, with unresolved trauma and aggression bursting out like a fireball. 

“I’m not laying down for you and I’m not covering for you. I ' M GOING TO WIN THIS!” DELAWARE SMASH!” Izuku roared, sending a brutal punch towards Bakugou, who spat up saliva and a bit of vomit. Not being one to just take that shock lying down, however, the boy got pissed, persevering and going for a facegrab on the other boy, despite concern from Cementoss.

He was bloodied and barely able to stand. Izuku’s body wanted to give out and rest. However, his adrenaline kicked in, keeping him on his toes. He dashed behind his former friend and aimed a finger flick at the boy’s face.

Feeling the wind in his face, Bakugou growled through it, bringing his arm up for a raging blast. However, Izuku grabbed it, flashbacks to the blonde's movements playing in his head.  The green-haired boy landed a kidney punch without All-For-One. He wasn’t sure if he hesitated out of fear or if he wanted to make it last, but Izuku mentally kicked himself for not trying to end it sooner. His former friend was formidable and a prodigy. Perhaps that’s why he valued strength the way he did. Izuku would call it admirable if it hadn't left him with multiple scars; physical and emotional.

Izuku seemed outclassed at first by his opponent’s fluid movements and powerful combat instincts. However, he was a strategist and a boy who refused to give up. Taking his already broken hand, Izuku winced through the pain, blood starting to drip to the floor. Winding up his shot, he used the momentum of his opponent’s approach and slapped him with as much of One-for-All as he could muster, essentially sending Bakugou nearly out of the ring, though it wasn’t enough.

“DON’T GET COCKY, SHITHEAD! I’M GOING TO KILL YOU ON LIVE FUCKING TV! DROP DEAD!”

Izuku froze like a deer in headlights, running low on stamina and ideas.He was probably going to lose, but at least he gave it his all. 2nd place wasn’t bad , he thought out loud. Besides, he was used to it. The explosions, the death threats. It was nothing new to him. However, he had people cheering him on now.There were people who believed in him, even before UA. Things were different now. 

He closed his eyes and hissed through his teeth. His arm hurt and it was about to hurt even more but not as much as Bakugou’s pride. The two boys lunged for each other and gave their all, screaming their attack names as if they were still kids, playing hero battle.

“EAT SHIT! HOWITZER IMPACT!”

“TEXAAAAAS-” Izuku’s arm glowed with power, tingling with a burning strength that somehow numbed the pain. It was as if his arm wasn’t about to break again, similar to what had happened at the USJ. Regardless, Recovery Girl would not be pleased.He would just cross that bridge when he came to it. In an instant, his arm shot forward like a gun, causing a shockwave as it hit his opponent’s attack. “SMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASH!”

He gave 100% effort to the attack, and as much energy as he could muster to not get ragdolled by the kickback. Both Izuku and Bakugou were knocked back in an awe-inspiring sonic boom that blew everybody’s hair back. Cementoss tried to put a barrier up between the two students to prevent anything too serious.

“Boys, stop! That’s enough!” he shouted, as he erected his walls. ANd yet it was not enough. When the dust settled, only one boy was in the ring, sweat dripping off his brow as he hunched over in pain, breathing heavily.

You...first...asshole…” Izuku spat out as he clung to consciousness. He could see Bakugou on the outside of the ring, temporarily unconscious. That probably wouldn’t last long. It was then that everything hit Izuku: the pain in his body, outburst of emotions, and the outcome. Had he… just beaten Bakugou.

“IiiiiIIIINCREDIBLE! WHAT WE SAW JUST NOW WAS ONE HELL OF A SHOWSTOPPER, FOLKS! MIDORIYA JUST BLEW BAKUGOU OUT OF THE RING!” Present Mich shouted over the speakers, while Aizawa groaned, telling him not to be so  noisy.

Tears of joy and disbelief started to fall. Izuku had  won, not just beating his tormentor of years and coming out on top, but fulfilling his promise to his mentor to announce his presence to the world. And yet, his brain felt fuzzy. The adrenaline wore off and the pain caught up to him. Most of all, he had a moment of clarity.

“What did I just do?”

Before the boy could everything sink in, he was tackled to the ground and immediately lifted back up by a blur of pink fluff!

“YOU DID IT! YOU DID IT YOU DID IT YOU DID IT!” MY BOYFRIEND WON!”

Izuku sighed and smiled. He could worry later. He could go to the nurse later, or at least right after this. For now, he let himself be held by his biggest cheerleader in the world. She really reminded him how lucky he really was. After all he had been through, he no longer had to go through it alone. Sure, he knew that for a while, but it was really hitting him again.

Soon after, Kirishima and Tsuyu started cheering from the bleachers, followed by Iida, Setsuna, Pony, and the rest of his teammates from the Cavalry battle. Perhaps Shinsou was right earlier. He was blessed. Noy by birth, of course, but by the people he had come into contact with. The ramifications of his outburst in the ring could consume him later. For now, he was trying to breathe as Mina hugged the breath out of him.

All-Might couldn't believe it. He was still in shock at what his protegee had done. He wasn’t expecting an easy victory, or really a victory at all. At the end of the day, he would still support the young man to whom he had bestowed his quirk. And yet despite the odds, Izuku had won. 

In the back of his mind, however, there was a slight worry. The country had seen the Sports festival, that was a given. Who exactly would take the most notice of Izuku, however, and what would their plans entail.  For now, however, all he could do was applaud and be proud of his students. It was then that it hit him that he was to be the one to award the medals, so he burst into his heroic form and started the process.

Meanwhile, in a seedy bar in the heart of downtown Kamino, the sports festival played loudly on the television while Kurogiri cleaned glasses. Shigaraki watched the whole thing with the utmost attention. From a monitor next to him, a deep, aging voice spoke.

“Interesting,,, So that’s the new holder of One-fo-All. He really is  interesting,,,and so was his opponent.”

“That’s what I’m thinking, master...which is why I have a plan.” the scrawny young man spoke to the computer, as Waniago and Kurogiri kept a careful eye. But first, we have other things to do.”

Chapter Text

Random passersby muttered as they passed by. If they had known Izuku since middle school, they would be wondering why that green Otaku was on a date with a cute Genki girl, let alone doing so consistently.  Instead, they mostly muttered about that crazy kid that nearly broke his body as he beat the tar out of that blonde kid.

Izuku and Mina, however, chose to ignore them all. It was nice to be recognized but even nicer to just relax. “It feels good to just be on a date. You and me. Just wish we didn’t get noticed everywhere.”

The two sat outside at a little cafe in Musutafu, drinking in the sounds of the city as well as the flavor of their boba milk teas. Mina let out a satisfied sigh as she reclined in her seat. Her boyfriend still looked uneasy, but she decided to be of some assistance by placing a gentle hand upon his.

“I know you’re worried about airing dirty laundry at that fight, but it wasn’t going to stay secret forever. Besides…as much as I think he should pay the piper, neither you nor Bakugou have to talk about the past. You don’t owe anyone an explanation if you don’t want to give one just yet.”

“I know, Mina.  Thank you.”

“So what do you think is going to come next? Do you think we’re going to do anything special in class?” Mina leaned back, stretching out her entire body before scooting back into her seat and leaning in towards her boyfriend. 

“I don’t know. Sorry for being a downer. You’re right. I guess I just have to wait and see what happens. As for class wise? I don’t know but it will probably be something big. I doubt it will just be normal classes after the Sports festival, at least right away. Then again, most of  the big stuff like hero names and internships come normally around 2nd or 3rd year.”

“Really? How do you know all that?”

“I… um…I’ve collected UA brochures for years.”Izuku sighed and smiled, trying to drink his boba without his arms. Nearby, there was a tray with 8 coffees nearby. Izuku certainly needed them.

“So that’s what that shoebox is for underneath your bed.” Mina chuckled, deciding to multitask by teasing the green-haired boy and testing a new nickname. "You keeping secrets from your girlfriend? For shame, Midorizu!" 

“Sorry for the secrecy. I know I don’t have to fear it with you.” Izuku winced and looked downwards, apologizing  to his girlfriend. He had to say, she could go a bit over the top with the pet names, but he honestly appreciated it.

“I know, love. Either way, it’s super dorky but I like that about you.” She gently pat her boyfriend on the shoulder from across the table, trying not to agitate his injuries. “Also this is funny coming from me, but you sure you need all that coffee, Zuzu? You probably don’t need all that caffeine.”

“One of them is decaf. I’ll be fine.” Izuku stated bashfully. "Besides, you're one to talk."

“Uh huuuuh? Yeah, not buying it, babe. Maybe you should save some of those later” Mina raised an eyebrow. She gently and carefully tried to scoot the tray away from him. "And I am one to talk because I know my limits. Clearly you don't. "

“Yeah…My mom told me something similar this morning at breakfast. Sorry, Mimi.”

Mina’s eyes lit up as her cheeks flushed. She absolutely melted at that nickname and tried to stifle a giddy laugh. Why was this boy so feral one moment and adorable the next? If he didn’t have fluffy sheep hair or a costume like a bunny rabbit, she would call her boyfriend a catboy. His gaze met hers, confused at first. A realization soon dawned on the boy.

“You're thinking of me in cat ears, aren't you…" Izuku blushed and sighed.

"Whaaaat? Noooo. Sh-shut up…maybe. Did Ofa give you mind reading powers?" Mina flailed and made a grand display, punctuating it with a pout. That pout soon melted as if it had fallen victim to her quirk. Izuku could relate.

"Know but I know my own girlfriend. What's oh-fuh? Is that like that Bofa thing?" Izuku squinted and picked at his food before placing a morsel in his mouth. He grimaced as Mina ruffled his hair.

"No, you goober. It's what I call your quirk to abbreviate it, but also because it's…it's… know." Mina looked around, then locked eyes on Izuku. She shifted her eyes left, then right, before leaning inband whispering in his ear.  "Secret."

"I wha- buh…I mean, it is but you literally just attracted more attention that way." Izuku blushed but after a hitch in his breath that one could mistake for a hiccup. Would he ever get used to this sort of attention? Perhaps not, but he was getting there. And that beaming smile of hers was always a welcome destination. 

"Babe, I always attract attention. I'm that good. They probably just think I'm teasing you, which is fair." Mina softened up. "Besides, you wanted secrecy and I will provide."

"I wouldn't call your teasing fair but go ahead." Izuku chuckled before looking at his food.

"Well look at you, my confident smiley boy…you ok though? I know you're still worried."

"Yeah. It's definitely going to raise questions for a lot of people. I appreciate it by the way…your attempts at secrecy."

"We're both Secret Squirrels, Izu. Who else in our class knows about One-for-All?" Mina leaned in and whispered. 

Izuku raised an eyebrow. "I thought we were calling it Ofa now."

"Jerk. So are you sure you're OK? You don't think Bakugou will escalate because he didn't get to be a big boy champion?"

"He wants to be a hero. He's not going to jeopardize that. He has the instinct. I hope he can learn to be a good person, but it's not my responsibility." Izuku sighed. He wanted to make similar barbs. He certainly earned it. Why was he being so charitable? "Whether he deems that we get his bluster and steam is irrelevant. He won't risk it."

“You still seem to think of him positively.” Mina frowned, tapping her fingers against the table. Izuku reached across the table and held her hand. He paused, thinking carefully about his words as his mood darkened a bit. It hurt, but he was working through it. Besides, he trusted his girlfriend implicitly as he spoke softly, so nobody else could hear.

“I am letting go but he still goes to school with us and I can’t deny how good he is at what he does, but he’s such an arrogant ass. I can’t believe I ever…”

“Was his friend?” Mina looked at her boyfriend with concern. She thought she had hit the nail on the head but instead it was something else. It took her a while to process. “Oh…OH!...So you had a…”

“It was hard not to admire him. He was my best friend…I thought at least…my first friend. He was so cool and confident and  it showed in his smile. Of course I had a weird… crush on him. I don’t really talk about it because I didn’t know there was a term for liking guys and girls at the time and, well…You know how he is.”

Mina got up from the table and hugged Izuku tightly, while he was holding his food still. He put it down haphazardly, trying not to drop it or tip it over, then returned the hug. It felt weird to talk about, especially in public, but he chalked it up to how comfortable he was around Mina. She really was a big pink beacon and he couldn’t help but feel secure.

“Sorry. That was weird to-” Izuku was shushed by Mina, who stood up and dragged him along with her. “No need to apologize. I’ve had bad taste in boys too. I think we both made pretty good picks now though. Come on. Let’s go hit up the arcade before we have to head home.”

Izuku smiled and got up, allowing himself to be puppeted upwards. He rolled his eyes playfully. “Ok, but I pick the game. You may have been teaching me a move or two, but I still have two left feet. So no DDR.”

“Ugh. FIne. I’ll make a dancer out of you yet, Mr. Midoriya. I’ll still kick your butt at skee-ball.” The pink girl winked as they both held hands and headed deeper into the bustling city.

X

Class was tense as Aizawa entered the classroom, no longer bandages like some sort of mummy. Mina could still remember how he showed up like that after the USJ incident. It was scary how their teacher managed to drag himself to work despite his physical injuries. 

Mina looked at Izuku knowingly. He wasn't that different. She followed his gaze to the empty desk that once belonged to Mineta. The kid was a perv but it was still weird to have him drop out, or at least transfer schools. She wondered who would fill his spot, and if they would be any better.

"I know you're all buzzing from the Sports festival still, and wondering if we'll be filling Mineta's vacancy. For now, pay attention. Today is a very important  topic..."

The entire class froze, wondering what serious material they would be covering today. The Sports festival was fun and all, but also intense, especially that last match. Izuku could feel eyes on him but never for more than a few seconds.  For now, the focus was on the day's activities, whatever they were.

"You're going to be choosing Heronames. You may get the chance to change them down the line but these are names that may stick with you for the rest of your lives. So make them count. Come in, Nemuri."

Everyone cheered, feeling relieved that this would be something fun and a good way to decompress. Izuku looked to his friends, then to the front of the room.

"Excuse me, Mr. Aizawa? Midnight?" The young man raised his hand.

"What is it, Midoriya?" Aizawa grumbled gruffly, having just gotten settled in his sleeping bag while Midnight took over.

"You said someone will be filling Mineta's seat eventually.  Will they be choosing their hero name too or will they have to wait?"

"A decision is still being reached as to who will fill the spot and we don't have an exact time table yet. We will alert you when a decision is made. Prior to that, your new classmate will have the chance to stand before you and present their hero name. Now shall we proceed?" The man stated calmly, crawling back onto the floor to nap.

Everyone went up one at a time, with a few having to go up more than once, namely Mina. Everyone had put their all into their names, with some trying harder than others. 

"Come oooooon! I was sitting on Alien Queen for years!" The pink girl protested when her first pick was rejected. Izuku was tempted to chime in but he just let it play out. Hopefully she could change it to Alien Queen later.

The only exceptions were Todoroki and Iida, with the latter still looking troubled.  His friends shot him a glance, wishing to speak with him about it later but for now, their focus was elsewhere  

Izuku scribbled furiously. He remembered all the hero names he thought of as a kid. They were almost all some derivative of All-Might. 

What else could a fanboy do when he dreamed of becoming the sidekick and successor to the #1 Hero? He couldn't exactly name himself Star & Stripe 2.0, could he? He didn't live in America like his dad. Actually  he wasn't even sure what country his dad was in anymore. 

Now, however, it was different.

Izuku got up in front of his class and exhaled. "It was tough and I almost went with Deku. It holds a lot of bad memories, but a friend recently helped me see it in a new light. Perhaps one day I can be comfortable with it. In the end though, I choose Midori Rush, the Can-do hero. The hero in green who will never keep you waiting" Izuku stood confidently by this name.

 He wasn't without nerves but he made his choice. He added more under his breath "…also for the rush I get from when she calls my name…

Midnight heard it well enough and gushed on the spot. "A brilliant and verdant name, filled with love. The passion of youth!"

Ochako smiled, knowing that she had such an impact on her friend, even if he ultimately decided against the other name. To know she could help him in some way made her feel warm and gooey inside.

Mina was trying so hard not to scream in excitement and hug her boyfriend.  He was so cute and romantic and a colossal dork. How could he be so cute? It was bonkers!

Kirishima stood up in excitement  "Such a manly name! And colorful! Red and green! Nice, bro!"

Aizawa grumbled loudly."Kirishima, sit down. You're disrupting class."

The spiky haired boy slid down in his chair bashfully, like a golden retriever that was told "No".

Tsuyu croaked fondly. "Guess I'm the only one out of the four of us not to pick a color-coded name, ribbit."

"I mean, Pinky wasn't my first choice but it worked out I guess." Mina sighed but couldn't complain that she wasn't alone. At least if Micha or anyone gave her any lip, Izuku would be there.

After the hero names were chosen, Midnight departed.  As the period wound down and the bell rang,  Aizawa stood up. "On the board is everyone's name and the list of offers they got from agencies. "

Izuku didn't get as many as one would expect of the champion, probably because of how scary he came off.

"Hey, what if we do our externship together! Pinky, Red Riot, and Midori! Team color Guard! No! Team Rainbow!"

Kirishima chimed in, absolutely loving the idea. " I dig it! Best friend Brigade. Tsu, you gotta get in on this."

"Sorry to burst everyone's bubble but as cool as that sounds, I don't know if we all got the same offers. Ribbit," Tsuyu stated curtly. Kirishima brushed the back of his head and sighed while Mina slumped in defeat.

"Ugh, Tsuuuuu why do you have to rain on my parade with your 'observations' a day 'realistic expectations '!"  Mina flailed and pouted while Izuku just patted her head. He knew she wasn't actually mad but he still liked to provide  comfort. Besides, she was adorable when she got like this, if not chaotic.

Tsuyu shrugged and put a finger to her cheek. "I am the Rainy Day hero after all.  Also I would have broken up the teeming anyway. Frog isn't a color afterall."

"Yeah but like…Salmon is a color and so is Timber Wolf gray."

Mina chimed in. "Yeah! Crayons never lied to me before…except when the colors were named after food…but let's not talk about that anymore."

Izuku looked at his girlfriend with concern. "Babe, was that a joke or did you actually eat crayons?"

Mina laughed. "Yeah. I was kind of weird as a kid. I used to eat stickers too. Isn't that wild?"

Tsuyu looked at her friends with a mix of "I love you goofballs so much" and "I am literally the one person in this quartet who will not end up in an emergency room for silly reasons," painted all over her face.

As Izuku walked with his friends, All Might stepped in.  "I AM HERE… to speak to you, Izuku Midoriya!"

Having put on the spot in front of his friends, izuku looked bashful. He could feel Todoroki's eyes on him, as if that burning question had ignited again. "Oh, hello All-Might. Just me?"

Mina noticed her boyfriend starting to panic. It had to have been One-for-All related. Why else would he want to speak to Izuku.

"Of course, Zuzu. You took home the gold, remember? There's probably something big and cool surrounding that, other than a medal, right?"

Izuku and All-Might noticed the pink girl wink as she asked the question. She wasn't subtle but most of the group wasn't paying too much mind. Tsuyu thought it seemed off, but she couldn't deny the logic of it all. She would just have to ask about it later.

X

The hero and his protégé once more entered his office for a one-on-one meeting, though Izuku did not know why. He would  soon find out.

"Looks like you got a few offers, huh? That's great kid. I'm proud  of you. Knew you could do it."

"Thanks. I wasn't sure I could. Was there something you wanted to see me about?"

"A couple things. One, There was a special request that came in for you. You don't have to take it, but he did want to meet you."

"Who did exactly?" Izuku asked. 

"The man who taught me. He was the closest friend of my master and one of the toughest teachers I ever faced. He goes by Gran Torino "

"Like the movie or the car?"

All-Might gently smacked the boy on the neck. "Don't be a smart ass. It's his hero name. If you don't intern with him, that's fine, but he did want to judge you for himself. He knows about One-for-All and that you're my successor."

Izuku thought for a moment. He wanted to go through his options before making a decision.

"Can I go over the other agencies  first? I am eager to train with the man that trained you, but I stood out, like you asked. I wasn't sure I would."

"Yeah. I'm proud of you, kid. A lot of people expected Bakugou to win. He definitely has good instincts and skills." All-Might mused, sitting on the couch in his office. He started to shake. "As for the man who made the request…he…" The pro hero paused, looking like an embarrassed file clerk who had just been demoted, despite still being in his muscle form.

Izuku was unsure what to do and reached out his hand. Was it weird to pat his idol on the back and say " There there, "?

Before the young man could speak, All-Might continued. "Pretty sure Gran Torino requested you because of a letter I wrote about you. He probably thinks my teaching is inadequate. He always was a hard ass and even if you won, he'll still find something to point out."

It was starting to worry Izuku, seeing someone even All-Might was scared of. It made him definitely want to weigh his options more. Still, to learn from someone who taught the greatest of the all time greats? It was too tempting to pass up.

"I will consider his offer and give you my answer soon. What was the second thing?"

"Excellent! That's all I ask!" All-Might gave a triumphant thumbs up before reverting to his true form. Reaching for a handkerchief to wipe the blood away, the hero thought for a moment and composed himself. " Was it too soon? " There were other things of importance right now. There couldn't be any harm though. "I was going to wait til Ashido is in the room. She'll probably want to come. Tell me, young man. Are you familiar with I-Island?"

X

As the day wound down, Izuku lingered in the locker room with Iida. He couldn't help but notice his friend's mood shift. He didn't seem like his usual self and the news that the hero known as Ingenium was nearly murdered had lead the young man to fear for his friend. The Hero Killer, Stain, had ambushed Ingenium and failed in ending his life but succeeded in ending his career.

As such, Iida had kept more distance of late and Izuku wanted to be there. He knew what it was like to not have much of a support structure for some time but was grateful to have found one when he did. He wanted to pay it forward to his bespectacled buddy, having gotten to see him as he was and no longer by first impressions. 

"I assure you, Midoriya. Everything is fine. My emotions will not cloud my judgment. I ask that you trust that."

Izuku really didn't want to be pushy. His friend clearly needed time to process things, but also needed to know that there were people that cared about him. The green-haired boy placed a hand on the taller boy's shoulder.

Iida flinched, a pained look in his eye as he craned his head towards his friend. "Please unhand me."

"I will. Sorry. Just…I'm not great at this. Better than I used to be though. Just…you don't have to be alone. I am here. We all are. Me, Mina, Uraraka, Tsu, and Kirishima. We all are."

He still wasn't sure about Todoroki but he hoped they could be friends too. He might have had better luck on that front if they had fought but life couldn't always be a Shonen anime. Besides, he still made his point to his classmate, much like he was doing here. "Just come to us when you're  ready, ok?"

Iida brushed Izuku's hand away and adjusted his glasses. There was tension in the air. The taller boy gripped his briefcase and seemed to quake before steadying himself. He turned and smiled placidly. 

"Thanks for your concern. I will if I must, but I assure you. I am fine. I will see you in class and again after my internship in Hosu. Wish me luck."

Before Izuku could pursue that line of question, Iida was out the door and swallowed up by a sea of other students. The conversation dropped after that and the two boys made their way back to their homeroom to finish the day. 

Izuku knew Iida was masking, that he was bottling things up. He wanted to be patient and let the other boy open up at his own pace. Sure his brother had survived, but what had happened was still jarring and very much a close shave.

Izuku stood there and lingered on his friend's reaction. He had known pain and turmoil but could not relate to this, having been an only child. Iida kept to himself, keeping a distance from even Ochako.

When the final bell rang, the speedster had made a quiet exit. All Izuku could do was meet up with his other friends. He knew Iida was fast but making a decision in regards to his internship site before most of the others was concerning to say the least, especially given how close it was to where Ingenium was attacked.

X

-That weekend-

Izuku laid down on his bed, rolling over to grab his phone. There were some good offers, with pros like Airjet, Backdraft, and King Yeti reaching out. Ultimately, however, the young man decided to go with his master's teacher. If anyone could help him the most, it was someone familiar with One for All and its secrets, or at least some of them. The boy grabbed his phone and sent All-Might a text.

"I will intern with Gran Torino."

All-Might texted back after five minutes, having called the older pro to inform him of Izuku's acceptance. The young man once again found himself thinking "That was fast". 

Everyone else was deciding on who they would be shadowing, with only Mina keeping hers a secret. Meanwhile, Iida left him on read. Was he being nosey and violating boundaries? He wasn't sure. He just needed to trust his friend.

It wasn't even a full minute after he put his phone down that he got a text from Mina.

"Hey Izuku. Can you meet me at the park?"

Izuku texted back. "Which one?"

"Our park, you goof. I want to show you something."

Izuku showed up, wearing his most sporting clothes that weren't his gym uniform. He settled on forest green athletic shorts, a white graphic tank top with All-Might's iconic smile plastered on the front, some black socks and his favorite red sneakers.

Mina, on the other hand, was wearing angular sunglasses, a hot pink crop top, matching hightops, and light blue shorts that were probably too short. If Izuku didn't know how comfortable she was wearing whatever, he would say this outfit was designed to get his attention.  But given how her thought process for getting dressed was mostly "This looks cute and fun! Sick!" , he promptly ruled that out 

"You look amazing. Not like me. I'm kinda plain." 

"Yeah. Plain cute. Now focus. Watch me." The pink girl placed down a Soccer ball, the gentle noise it made as it touched the grass bringing a smile to her face.

She gently tapped it, letting it roll to the side. Her smile morphed into a confident smirk as she dribbled the ball around the course, doing circles around Izuku before landing a devastating kick towards one of the nearby soccer goals.

She took the ball out of the goal and placed it once more in the center of the field. She breathed through her nose and glanced at her boyfriend before turning again to the ball. With a running start, she sent the ball flying through the air. It landed in the parking lot.

"Whoa. Maybe I overdid it." Mina panted. "Hope I didn't hit anyone's car. Still, once  I get back, it's your turn." 

"We're here to play soccer?"

"No silly. This is training. I brought a baseball too, like at the quirk apprehension test thing"

"Why?"

"So you can stop breaking your bones, Mr. Ouchies," she poked her boyfriend's forehead, staring with an intense, no-nonsense expression before dissolving into a goofy grin.

"It's not about eggs in microwaves or stuff like that. It's muscle control. You can kick a ball super far or just a little, low to the ground. Get it yet?"

It clicked for Izuku in an instant. Was it really that obvious? He could still use a muscle without overdoing it or flailing wildly and if he went to the gym, overdoing it could overexhaust him or hurt his muscles. It really wasn't that different here, was it?

"Mina…You're a genius!"

"I keep telling you but it's all 'Mina, that's not the correct answer!' or 'You can't just draw hamburgers on your math homewo-umf'," Mina was interrupted by a sudden peck on her lips, which took her by surprise.

"N-No fair! I wasn't ready, you jerk! Stop taking a page out of my playbook!"

"Whatever you say, coach," Izuku smiled, a light blush on his face. He still wasn't super used to public displays of affection. Even this far into their relationship, he still couldn't believe he even had a love language sometimes. Yet here they were, alone on an athletic field. He really was grateful. "Hey, Mina?"

"Hm?" The pink girl looked at him inquisitively.

"I don't thank you enough, Mina. For being my best friend, my girlfriend, and just all around amazing "  He looked to the ground, fists shaking and heart throbbing. He just could not express his full gratitude in words, even now 

Izuku looked up expecting his girlfriend to be teasing him with a mischievous grin. Instead, tears streamed down her face. Was she crying?

"Why are you such a cutiiiiiiie!?!?!!" the girl gushed, wiping her tears away. It really was easy for Izuku to forget that his girlfriend could be just as emotional as he was. She continued, giving an enthusiastic clap. "You really are a romantic, huh?"

"Nah. I'm a Midoriya. Romantic is my cousin." Izuku teased, causing Mina to groan.

"Ugh. You're a dork! I'm taking you back where I found you!" Mina stomped playfully, making a scene. In honesty, she loved seeing his playful side and was glad it was more frequent these days, even if he was still getting used to it.

"I mean, the bench we met at is right around there I think." The boy smiled fondly. It was so odd that he could be a bit of a smart ass. It sometimes felt out of character for him. But why? If anything, Mina had seen more of what was buried by trauma than anyone else. And their time at this park was a testament to that in and of itself. 

"Jerk! Jerkzuku Jerkdoriya! Wait, you're right.  It is here. Let's go sit on it." Mina grabbed his hand and dragged him towards where it all began.

As the bench came into view, so did something new: a food truck selling parfaits. Mina's mouth watered and her eyes twinkled with desire. This would make the date even sweeter.

"Wait, should we eat right now during training?" Izuku asked, scratching his cheek. Mina had already  rushed over to the food truck and purchased two Strawberry Matcha crepes.

 It wasn't a traditional combination but it was one that fit the two. The green-haired boy could only smile wistfully as his girlfriend came back with a Cheshire grin  and handed him his crepe

"Oh we're done with that. Let's have some fun, especially since we aren't going to see each other much during the internship."

"Yeah, that's right. Thank you.Some of them will have room and board, right?"

"You're welcome. And yeah. From what I heard. Airjet has a little barracks thing set up at his agency apparently." The pink girl chirped cheerily as she enthusiastically ate her treat. Izuku casually ate his crepe at a slower pace.

"That's right. He wanted to have a helicarrier to fit his theme but it was over budget for a hero that isn't even in the top 10 of the billboard rankings." Izuku recited information off the top of his head like a walking Wikipedia article. "I still can't believe you're interning with him!"

"Me neither, Mr. Encyclopedia. Death arms actually requested me as well but I went with Airjet instead because I love him! He's so cool!"

Izuku raised an eyebrow as he took a bite out of his crepe and swallowed. "Wow. Saying you love another man, right in front of me. Should I be jealous?"

Mina snickered as she elbowed her boyfriend. "Hush, you. You already know you're my favorite." She leaned in and gave a crepe flavored kiss on his cheek.

Izuku looked at her, excitedly reaching into her bag for her phone to take a selfie of the two, which he was not prepared for. He thought back to how much progress he had made but also how far he had to go. He remembered his talk with All-Might about All for One. He thought about how things would probably be more tense with Bakugou now.

However, in this moment, none of that mattered. He was happy. He was living his dream, he had possibly made a breakthrough that could help him manage his quirk, and he had people who cared for him.

"Mina?"

"Yefffafe?" Mina looked at Izuku with a face full of crepe before swallowing it and starting again.  "Sorry. Yes, babe?"

"Do you think Iida will be OK?" The green-haired boy asked his girlfriend, staring into space as she rested her head on his shoulder. She shrugged, wiping the crepe bits off her mouth.

"Honestly, no idea. You're closer to him than I am but he does seem off. I would be pretty out of it if anything happened to my brother, even if he annoys me sometimes. I can't imagine what 'zippy-zoomer-acts-like-a-boomer' is going through. But I will be there for him how I can be and I know he's lucky to have you as a best friend. "

"That was very heartfelt despite the ridiculous nickname. Please call him that when he's feeling better." Izuku chuckled lightly. 

"That's the plan. We should head back home soon. Mom will be making omurice and I want to get home before my bro hogs it all." Mina smiled, kicking her feet energetically as she breathed in the fresh air.

"That sounds delicious. Wish I could join you. I promised my mom I would help with dinner," the green-haired boy exhaled as he offered a gentle smile at the girl who helped him come out of his shell.

"Same. Oh! You and your mom should totally swing by sometime! You're always welcome!" Mina pounded her arms up and down in unison, buzzing with energy.

"I'll run it by my mom. It has been a while. " Izuku chuckled, feeling at ease. Even with all the uncertainty in regard to his quirk, the internships, and wondering when the shoe would drop with Bakugou. For now, however, he felt at peace.

"Oh, Mina. I almost forgot. Keep your calendar open around the end of first term."

Mina eyed him curiously as they got up. "Oh? How come? Thinking pretty far out, huh?"

"I got invited to i-expo because of All-Might, but because I won at the Sports festival, I also get to take a plus one."

Mina's eyes bugged out. "Vacation! Vacation! WOOOOOOOO! HECK YES! I'M PUMPED! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!" The Pink girl squeezed her boyfriend in the mightiest of bear hugs, relenting when he tapped on her back. "Sorry, babe. But yes. I would love to. "

"I thought you might but I still had to ask. I'll mark my calendar. Shall we head home now?"

"Yes. We shall." Mina bowed with a flourish, trying to restrain the giggle fit she was having. She grabbed his arm and the two strolled back to the field to retrieve the balls, then onward towards the station.

Chapter Text

The beginning of the internships arrived soon enough. Bakugou looked down at his hands. How could he lose to that pebble? Was he really holding out? Mocking him? First the girlfriend and the friends, then UA. Now this? It didn't make sense and it made him angry. And yet he also felt off, hollow even. Was it because he lost? He was supposed to never lose, especially not to that nerd.

And yet now there were rumblings and questions. He wanted that damn Deku to rage and rage he did. Ironically, the shrapnel fell back on Katsuki and it only deepened his frustrations. Why wasn't he on top? Why was he held hostage by this asshole who for most of his life was quirkless. And he had an Ace up his sleeve the whole time?

He would win. He was determined to, shaken or not. He was going to surpass everyone that got in his way, especially that shitty Deku and his backup dancers.

For now, however, he was at the agency of Best Jeanist, one of the top heroes in the country. If he was going to learn from anyone, it might as well be one of the best.

But why the fuck was he dressed like this? It's bad enough the loud mouth from his class was there too. To be dressed up like an utter dipshit, with his hair gelled down. It was hell. It was bad enough his mom knew Jeanist through modeling work, though he probably didn't recognize her.

"You lack elegance, which is why I will help rein you in. Injecting rowdy rapscallions with style and manners is where I truly shine."

Monoma stroked his chin. "How very elegant for a man in denim with pants past his belly button. Though I suppose he is truly the most elegant hero in the top ten."

"Will you freaks shut the fuck up about Elegance?"

"The only freakish one here is you." Best Jeanist sighed, posing dramatically with a comb and brush. "But we will fix that. Superior Jorts, fetch me the harness Michi left behind. I think we need something to hold this ruffian in place while we style him into someone more respectable."

"Can't you just use your quirk, sir?" The sidekick questioned.

"I need my hands and my focus free." The consummate professional hero stated calmly. Bakugou could feel a vein pop in his head but decided to relent.

"I hope that shitty Deku and his friends are having a worse time." He groaned as Monoma tried not to laugh and failed miserably. 

X

Kirishima arrived at a similar setup to Izuku, at the doorstep of an elderly person. However, rather than getting mistaken for dead or senile, his mentor was very much neither.

"Oh. It's nice to meet you Ms. Scarlet!"

"Don't call me Miss, boy. Ms. Scarlett. Bah. This isn't clue…but I am here to make sure you get one." The old woman scoffed, eyeing up the young man who towered over her like Clifford the big red teenager.

"What do you me-"

The old woman threw a 5 pound weight at the boy. It hit his head with a clang, his hardening activating just in time.

"Hey. Give me warning. " he was surprised the old woman was so strong but he supposed she had to be.

"Villains won't give you warning. You have to have better reflexes. Heroes are shields for those that can't protect themselves and inspiration for when they can. Now pick that weight up. I need it to secure the tarp. We're holding a blood drive. Just around the corner and a block from here?"

"Why?" Kirishima asked. It's not like he was opposed. He was down for it, but a friend once said questions led to answers.

"Because community service is just as much part of the game as punching guys really hard, bonehead. Follow me."

"Yes, ma'am. "

"You call yourself Red Riot, yeah?" She turned and looked over her shoulder. Memories flooded back but she would control their flow.

"Yes. Crimson Riot is my favorite hero of all time. I modeled myself after him" Kirishima couldn't help but gush. He felt like Izuku talking about All-Might (or any hero ever really.)

"Why model yourself after a corpse, boy? Pick role models with a pulse." The woman sighed, a cold venom in her words, masking something more genuine.

This got Kirishima fuming, but he knew he had to be respectful.  Unfortunately he couldn't hold his tongue. "What gives, grandma?! That's disrespectful! Plus he was the most manly hero of all!"

"I assure you, spikes, I'm uniquely qualified to give thoughts on Crimson. I stood by his side for years after all. And I have enough of his gender neutral machismo pumping in my veins for years to come."

The red-haired boy stared blankly at his mentor, trying to put it together before it slowly hit him like a smile bomb. "You did…huh…oh…OH! YOU'RE SCARLET! THE STEADFAST SUKEBAN!"

"No need to be so loud. I have my hearing aid in. Still, it's nice to be remembered…though I actually was the second Crimson Riot for a while too after his death. Guess the sequel never holds a candle to the original though." The woman shook her head and smiled? Wiping a stray bang from her eyes to grin at the boy once more.

Kirishima was utterly star struck and was very hyped to learn heroics from someone who worked under his favorite hero of all time.

"Are we going to fight villains? Are you going to use your quirk? Are you going to use it on me?"

"Probably just low level thugs. I'm an old woman. My blood isn't what it used to be. So unless you want an old lady's death on your hands, follow close and don't break off."

"Of course. I won't let you down." Kirishima stood steadfast. He would prove to himself and to Scarlett that he was a true hero, a true man, and a dependable friend 

"Good. I wouldn't want to slap you upside the head. I'd probably break my hand if I didn't pierce it on those spikes. Now let's mosey." Scarlett spoke calmly, holding up a hand and pointing in the direction of the blood drive. "We've got a lot of lifting to do."

"Yes, Maam!"

X

Izuku got off at his stop, walking to the address All-Might had given him. On the way, Mina texted him.

"I'm so excited I couldn't sleep. Running on monster and determination! I think I burned a hole in this shirt again! ;0;"

"Too much pink energy is dangerous. Be careful, Mina."

"Pfft. Always."

A second later. "Fuck! I tripped and fell! Send help!" Izuku couldn't help but smile and sigh at his back and forth with Mina. He couldn't wait to meet up with her again. Maybe they could go shopping again soon.

What Izuku saw was a short, elderly man in a pool of red. The boy felt his blood run cold at the scene before him. Was his mentor murdered? Was it a medical condition? Either way, he was freaked out. 

"Hello. Who are you?" The old man got up, nearly scaring Izuku to death.  "Why are you screaming, sonny? My hearing isn't that bad."

"Sorry. I just thought you were dead."

"I just tripped and dropped a plate of sausages. The ketchup got everywhere. Dagnabbit" the old man exclaimed, appearing quite senile.

"I'm Izuku Midoriya. All-Might said you wanted to train me so I decided to take your offer," Izuku smiled, trying to be polite. He wasn't sure if he got the right place, however.

"Who are you?" The man asked, sitting on the floor like a confused baby is an ill-fitting costume. It was hard to believe this was the hardest golden-age hero that sent a shiver up All-Might's spine.

"Really? I just told you."

"I'm hungry. Are you Toshinori?" The old man continued, looking confused and non-threatening. Izuku couldn't help but feel sad, if not slightly disappointed. It felt rude to admit that, however.

"I-I'll be right back. I'm going to make a phone call." The green-haired boy nervously made his way to the door, deciding to save face. Gran Torino turned around and headed for Izuku's briefcase, which he had put down on the floor. 

"Come at me, boy. I want you to show me what you can do with One-for-All…" He grumbled to himself, fiddling with the case.

"Nice costume.  Looks like a bunny. Come on. Put it on!"

"Are you sure you want me to fight you?" Izuku scratched his cheek, still unsure if this was going to work out 

"Who are you again?" The old man spouted again.

"I'm sorry, but I don't have much time to waste. All-Might is running out of power and I need to be ready to fill in for him. I can't fool around with you right now." The young man sighed, having had enough. He picked up and closed his case, ready to head back home and reach out to another agency. Hopefully it wasn't too late.

In an instant, a spark appeared in Gran Torino's eye and he zipped in front of the door, a smirk painting his face as he knocked the One for All Inheritor on his ass.

"Well if that's the case, put on your costume, Kiddo, because it's time to see what you're made of. Come at me, Embryo!"

Izuku felt a chill in his blood. That Joseph Joestar technique really fooled him. He should have known but he didn't. This really was All-Might's teacher.

"You got wax in your ears, kid? That muscle-headed boy scout couldn't teach a goldfish, so it's my turn to see what you can do. Catch me if you can!

The anxious teen looked around the room at the old man darting about like greased lightning. He was not expecting the old guy he met previously to be so spry, but then again, he did train the greatest hero in the world.

Izuku did his best to keep up without breaking himself, utilizing what he remembered from training with Mina. He did better than he thought he would but there was something missing that he couldn't put a finger on.

"Impressive, but still not enough. From what Toshinori told me, you kept breaking your bones. Looks like you have better control than I thought." Gran Torino smiled, turning into Grin Torino.

"I had help." Izuku retorted, feeling like hevwas on the cusp of breakthrough, but not yet into it.

"I can tell. Well if you think that's all you need, you can go home. I'm just warming up." And with a burst of speed, Gran Torino became an utter storm, giving his new ward more trouble than he could have imagined. 

Izuku's movements were still clumsy. He was so focused on emulating All-Might and controlling the massive power he had inherited, he hadn't really had much clue on how to stop his bones from breaking.

However, he was onto something after training with Mina. And the day's accident  was the linchpin to the whole thing. Izuku dove at the older man, who jumped up and landed with a crash onto an old kitchen appliance, utterly trashing it.

"Dammit. My microwave."

"Crap. Sorry." Izuku stopped, deciding to head over to the table where the wrecked appliance was.

"Nah. It's to be expected. Guess I'll just order another one." The old man sighed. "No idea what happened to it. Must've been old.

Avoiding comments about the old man being the one who broke it, as that was probably all a ruse at this point, the boy made an offer."You can see about same day delivery. I can pay you back the difference for shipping."

"You're too kind, kid. Don't worry about it. We will have to be more careful next time. Sit on the couch, we can watch TV in the meantime."

With no other choice, the teenager reluctantly agreed. Luckily, the marathon of old crime show reruns came to an end when one of the deliverymen dropped off a new microwave.

"Thank goodness for speedster. Papa needs his Taiyaki fix. Boy, do me the honor. Break her in." The old man grinned, sitting on the couch as Izuku plugged it in and put in a plate of Taiyaki. Unfortunately, to the old man's chagrin, the fish pastry didn't heat all the way through. 

"C'mon, kid. Don't you know how to use a rotating microwave? It's gotta spin to deliver the heat evenly. Otherwise it comes out wrong."

That was the eureka moment. Between the soccer field and the broken Microwave, it had all come together. Izuku took a deep breath and let the energy flow through him, regulating its flow. He closed his eyes, feeling everything spark inside him. "I've been thinking of this all wrong. It's not something I just switch on and off. It's in every part of me. I think I can catch you now."

"Is that so? In that case, think fast, kid."

Izuku felt the energy flowing through his entire body, a part of him that he could adjust at will.

Izuku lunged at Gran Torino, who narrowly dodged and leapt over the young man. However, he used that opening to focus on  his target. He just needed to stay steady, eye on the prose. He wouldn't break it this time. He pretended his fingers were a leg and Gran Torino was the ball.

"Goal!"

The airblast hit the veteran hero and sent him rocketing towards the wall, with little time to brace himself. Izuku skidded on the floor and made a dash for Gran Torino, catching him in his arms.

"Told you I could catch you."

"Jeez, kid! That was brutal…Not bad. I think I need to lie down a bit but that's the kinda trick I would have pulled on All-Might to keep him on his toes."

"Thanks. I just utilized something my girlfriend taught me before I came here. A couple things I guess."

"Well now, a lady killer, eh? That's right. Toshinori told me about a little pink spitfire who gave him an ear full. I saw you fight her at the Sports festival. That was probably your best performance, even better than your performance in the finals." 

The old man reclined on the couch, thinking back to his time with his partner. He would like to meet this girlfriend some day, if she was anything like Nana. "Your moves were raw. You won but you need more training. You fight too much like All-Might. You can't just copy his approach and think that's it. Too much brute force and emotion and copying his techniques."

Izuku thought about that, wondering if there was some truth to those words. After all, this was a man who left such an impact on All-Might despite only teaching at UA for a year, that the man was quivering in fear. "I guess you're right. I'm going to go get us some food. I should think about my approach 

"Anyway, don't get too cocky. I actually haven't had my coffee, so I'm not on my game right now. After I get some Joe, we'll go again. I wanna really test ya, kid."

Izuku was nervous. This man had given All-Might the shivers. He was not to be taken lightly. But then again, neither was Izuku.

"Good thing I test well." The young man took a deep breath and powered up Full Cowling, 5%. He still wasn't sure where that name came from but it sounded cool in his head. Plus his costume had a cowl he barely wore.

"Don't get too cocky, son. I can see those jelly legs. Try not to let that slow you down." Gran Torino took off like a rocket once more.

Izuku helped clean the apartment up and then tried again. This time his movements were careful and fluid, taking care to not destroy the apartment like before. He failed several times but managed to turn the tide.

"Not bad, unless I'm getting tired. I gave him 3 minutes and he got me within 2. Not a bad use of momentum. This kid's gonna be a monster," Gran Torino grinned to himself.

"That was faster than I expected. You still need guidance. I think you're still too hung up on trying to be All-Might. You have to be your own person, kid. The world is changing and it won't always need an All-Might. It will need whatever you provide. You have to figure out how you'll fulfill that need, who you're going to be".

"Hmmm. I guess that's what I'll figure out here."

"It's going to take more than a week, kid."

"It's a start. Besides, if I have to face off with All for One, I don't have years to figure it out."

"You're not wrong there. Anyway, we'll get in some more training tomorrow morning, then we'll go out and bust some criminals. I'm thinking Shibuya. Higher crime rate there, so it will make for a better learning experience."

"Really? I still need to improve."

"Nah, tomorrow will be enough,, I think. Fast tracking to phase 2. You're a fast learner and already seem on a good track."

"Alright then. If you say so." Izuku shrugged, admitting that he wouldn't mind more practical testing of what he could do in the field. It felt a bit premature, however. 

"I do. We'll clean up a few here and there and do the same thing the rest of the week. Besides, if we trade any more blows with each other, you might not learn. I heard you have prior experience with villain attacks."

"A little. All Might  helped save me from one, plus there was the USJ incident."

Gran Torino stretched his arms and yawned. "Well that's unfortunate but at the same time, that just means this might go by a bit faster. We should get some shut eye, kid. Big day ahead."

"Oh, are you sure? I can still go." Izuku felt pumped, ready to see what else he could do.

"Kid, I have neighbors, and I would rather you not break yourself or my property. Besides, an old man like me needs rest." The old vet winked. "Up the stairs, there's a spare room. Stick to it and get some rest. There's some spare clothes if you don't want to stew in your juices and a shower across the hall."

Izuku nodded. "I guess it has been a long day. Good night, Gran Torino."

"Who are you?" 

"That's not funny."

"It is to me."

Izuku shook his head, not sure whether to be annoyed or amused. It felt like he had gained a grandfather, complete with the grandpa's sense of humor. He was half expecting a "I guess they'll let anybody in here" from the man. Still, he had a feeling that under this strange old man's tutelage, things just might work out.

X

That night, Izuku slept on a cot in a spare room, staring at his phone screen as he talked to Mina.

M: "Shibuya! Sick! Send me pics!"

I: "We're going on patrol. I doubt we have time for sight-seeing. "

M: "Just don't play the Reaper's game without me, nerd."

I: "Wouldn't dream of it. I have a big day tomorrow. Heading to bed."

M: "Hold on. Can I call?"

I: "Everything ok?"

M: "Yeah. I just miss your voice idk ♡"

Izuku smiled, feeling his heart squeeze within his chest. They had seen each other earlier, and yet they would be separated for a few days, so it would be tough.

I: "Sure."

Like clockwork, his ring tone sounded off. The boy answered and heard Mina's soothing voice on the other end. 

"Hey. Sorry to be a pain. I know I probably sound clingy." 

"No. No. It's fine. I kind of wanted to hear your voice too…I can't believe we're working with pros." Izuku answered back.

"Right? It's so exciting! Like yeah, we trained with All-Might and a bunch of other heroes but this is like… out in the field. The real world, baby! I hope I get a jetpack! Gonna rain slime down on bad guys! Sploosh! Sticky with maximum acidity!"

"Maximum acidity kills people."

"Minimum. Sorry. Got too excited. So this guy trained All-Might, right?"

"Yeah. He says I have promise but I am trying too hard to be All-Might. Maybe he's right."

"I mean you are a huge fanboy. It's hard for you not to. But you also have a lot to offer beyond that. You're Izuku Midoriya, champion boyfriend and hero in the making!" Mina cheered.

"You really are my biggest cheerleader."

"If I had the costume, I mean…."

"Minaaaaa! What if someone hears?"

"Then don't be loud." Mina teased, sticking her tongue out as if Izuku could actually see her. "I miss you."

"I know but hey. It's just a week. We'll see each other soon"

"Yeah. I know. I'm going to let you get some sleep so you can kick bad guy butt. Let me know if you find the Lost master in Shibuya!"

"Uh huh. Yeah…" Izuku rolled his eyes and smiled. "And Mina?"

"Yeah, Izuku?"

"I'll dedicate the next crime I stop to you."

"Awwww. Dork. Same. Will spell your name out in acid. G'night ~"

"Good night, Mina. Oh…before I go."

"Gran Torino literally is a Zoomer Boomer."

"Holy shit!"

X

Elsewhere…

Tsuyu loved the sound of the waves against the sides of the Okie Mariner. Rescue work was her desired focus and, being a strong swimmer, she had to jump at any chance involving water (pun only slightly intended).

The closest person to her age was a girl with short blue hair with bangs framing her face. She was somewhere in her early to mid 20s and one of the few women on the ship's crew. Other than that, it was mostly burly sailor types. If it weren't for the captain and Sirius, she would feel slightly out of place.

She thought of her friends, looking at an old photo from two years ago that they took at a photo booth.

"Reminiscing, huh?"

"A little. Just thinking about my friends."

"Who's that in your locket?" Tsuyu asked. "Sorry for being nosey, ribbit."

"No. No. It's Ok. I don't get asked about it often. I actually love going on about it. My girlfriend, Kaoruko, gave it to me. Even when we're doing hero work in different prefectures, we're never apart."

"Your girlfriend is a hero too, ribbit?" Tsuyu inquired. She knew many heroes dated other heroes, but not all. Perhaps it was because they would be better trained to defend themselves or that they interacted with each other.  Either way it was interesting to Tsuyu, though not relevant to her situation.

"Bubble girl." Sirius smiled. "We actually went to school together and lost touch for a bit after that. Not too long though. We met up again about a year and a half ago, both as sidekicks.  We hit it off as if we had never parted and it just flowed from there."

"She's very pretty, ribbit. I'm happy for you." Tsuyu paused. "I have someone like that. Not as much of a wait but we're still just friends. Been too focused on hero studies to pursue anything. "

"Aren't two of your best friends dating?" Sirius asked.

"Yeah. They're different. I can be more straightforward but even I get a bit…nervous. I always had to be the adult, helping raise my siblings. I appreciated that but I also wonder if that keeps me from jumping towards things I want. I'm supposed to be the blunt one "

"Even the steadfast can get sea legs… That's what Captain Selkie always says." The blue-haired cremated. "And he's been married for half a decade."

"How come I never see his ring?"

"He keeps it around his neck most of the time, over his heart.  He thinks it's cute. For once, I'm inclined to agree."

"I suppose."

"Can I see your friend? The one you like?" Sirius leaned in, a playful sort of nosiness. It gave Tsuyu a taste of what it was like to have a big sister instead of just being one. She wasn't sure how to process it but it was novel to her for sure. She produced a picture of her with Habuko, her fiery mess of red hair hiding Tsuyu's hand.

"Oh wow, you two are adorable. You look so happy." Sirius smiled. "If you decide to just be friends, that's your choice. Not all strong friendships make good relationships, but if there's something your heart wants, it never hurts to try. Anyway, let's get going. We have a mission."

Sirius jumped to her feet and adjusted her headset, a larger version of hervears, which were also fin-like but less noticeable. 

Tsuyu took a deep breath and smiled. She was starting to feel better. She could only imagine what her friends were up to, but she would be sure to ask all about their internships when they all saw each other next.

X

It was dark by the time Gran Torino and Izuku reached Shibuya. "That's the best time for cleanup."

Putting away his phone (after grumpy old man comments), Izuku followed his mentor, helping him take down small incidents throughout the city.

"Not bad, boy. You've got promise. The banter is too much like All-Might's but you have good reflexes and control. I can't say I recognize all those moves. You ricocheted off of the wall like me, but was that a somersault?"

"Mina had me practice with her. I think I got the hang of it but I'm a bit sloppy."

"I think that's something you can work with. You seem to copy moves, huh?"

"Oh. Sorry. I didn't mean to plagiarize. I take a lot of inspiration from heroes but also just people I am close with."

"It's fine. Really. It helps set you apart from the big guy. I think you should lean into it more."

Izuku smiled and bowed, gracious for the praise. He supposed All-Might was both fast and powerful, but Izuku was smaller and speedier. "Plus people keep comparing my costume to a rabbit, even if it's not intentional, so capitalizing on that makes sense, especially with my hero name…" the boy muttered.

"Focus, Midoriya."

"Right. Sorry. Shall we continue?"

"Hey, Gran Torino?"

"Yeah?"

"Does All Might have a family?"

"I doubt it. He devoted himself to being a pillar that I don't think he really made time for anything else. Why do you ask?"

"No reason. Sorry for getting distracted."

"There was this one person Toshi told me about years ago, but I doubt they have seen each other in years."

"David Shield, All Might's first partner before Sir Nighteye, right?"

"You're kind of scary, kid."

"You literally gave the strongest hero in the world a panic attack."

Gran Torino smiled, patting the boy on the back. "I like the cut of your jib. Turn down the sass and let's kick more ass."

"Yes sir!" The boy nodded, following the older man onto the next site. The whole time, he could feel his hair stand on end, like something was about to happen soon.

X

At the villain bar…

It wasn't unexpected for criminals to pick fights with another, especially in establishments that served alcohol. This, however, was a bar brawl that would have lasting consequences, stemming from a meeting that would eventually turn the tide of hero society. 

"Where the fuck is Waniago?" Shigaraki groaned, not sure if he felt more sore from being stabbed or for being lectured.

"He has business to attend to." Kurogiri, who had helped facilitate this meeting, was polishing a glass. It was already well polished but he was distracted in the moment.

"I am his fucking business. I swear if I am ever forced to work with crime lords again, stop me." The impetuous villain cursed under his breath. 

"In order to accomplish anything in this world, you need a creed, a reason. If you act like a directionless animal, you will die like one. The word 'hero' has lost its meaning in the pursuit of capital. Likewise, villains who stand for nothing will also be culled."  Stain once again delivered his sermon of blood in the name of what he saw as Justice.

"Don't be so dramatic and pretentious.  You're passing me off. I don't have anything like that… but if I had anything close to that, I would say I want to take this society that props up sanctimonious guys like All-Might like gods…and turn it to dust." Shigaraki sneered and panted, still feeling the effects of his scuffle. He didn't expect Stain to be that strong. Rumors certainly weren't all bullshit.

Stain got up, having felt some satisfaction. "We are at polar ends and I will likely have to kill you down the line, but there's a creed…reasoning and goals in there somewhere. We both seek to tear down this current society, towards different ends but by a similar path.  You interest me, boy, and you showed your mettle at death's door."

The wiry-framed gamer scratched his neck in agitation, face scrunched up in annoyance beneath his hand mask.

"Eat shit and get out of here. Send this weirdo back to Hosu, Kurogiri. I need to go for a walk."

"Actually, young master, I say we drop him off together. This way you can test…them out." Kurogiri politely interjected as he opened up a black mist gate.

"Fine. Whatever. Let's just get on with this game." Shigaraki groaned, like a bored adolescent with murderous intent. "I want to get this underway already."

All three men stepped through the gate towards Hosu, cementing the eventual downfall of hero society as it was known.

X

The 3rd day of the internships rolled in, and Izuku was ready to get into the swing of things. He was still concerned over Iida, but the past 2 days had kept him distracted enough. He even felt like he might develop a new style sooner than later.

Once more, they took the train to Shibuya. The train rumbled along the tracks, the retired pro and his young ward sitting next to each other as they traveled through Hosu.

"Has your cape ever gotten caught on anything while you were zipping about?"

"At the beginning? I nearly killed myself several times. I almost did away with it. Capes and scarves can be a liability. Anything that's basically just a flashy noose. Eventually I just became so fast that nobody could take advantage of it."

"I see…" Izuku hummed to himself, taking notes. He was thinking of making modifications to his costume to take into consideration what he learned with full Cowling, and this miniature history lesson was giving him ideas. 

"Toshinori told me you took a lot of notes. He didn't tell me you decorated the journals though.:

"Mina did that. She gave me stickers for them so I just kind of went with it. Makes it easier to ID than a nondescript journal, even if I number and label them."

"You know, back in my day, heroes dating was a bit taboo. It was dangerous back then, not that it isn't now, but it was more of a wild west situation than the current climate."

"I worry about that sometimes, yeah. But we're both studying to be heroes. We're both giving it our all. I can't think of anyone I would rather have in my corner."

Gran Torino nodded sagely. The boy wasn't wrong. "That's correct. However, you may find yourselves in situations where you might have to put the wellbeing of others before each other's or yourselves. What's more, while some heroes can have families, it can result in tragedy for others."

"Speaking of tragedy for families…I'm worried about my friend. His brother was…"

Before Izuku could finish that thought, something rammed into the train. It came to a screeching halt as the conductor tried to make sense of the situation. In an instant, several blows made large debts in the car Gran Torino and Izuku were in. After a dramatic pause, a Nomu tore an enormous chunk out of the train car as the passengers flew into a panic.

One of the Nomu came at him, but Gran Torino kicked it out of the way. Izuku saw an opening and followed suit as it recovered, seeing it eye up some of the civilians.

"Midori kick!"

Izuku was going to congratulate himself for being less derivative of All-Might, but a Kamen Rider move wasn't much better. Besides, he had to find Iida. 

"He still has me on read… This is the last known location of the hero killer. Could Iida be going after him? No. That's too reckless for such a straight laced guy…but I can't just leave it to chance."

Unfortunately, he hadn't the first clue where to look. It was utter chaos, with heroes working their best to fight the Nomu while keeping civilians safe. There were apparently three on the scene, all weaker than the one at USJ but still imposing.

"Think. Think. The hero killer's victims…60% of them were found in deserted alleys…" Electricity sparked all over Izuku as his eyes darted around.  He knew how to narrow down his search now, he just had to hope he wasn't too late. Eventually, he found one a block from the agency of Native. Bingo.  The green-haired boy took out his phone and sent his location to everyone he could, then pocketed the device.

"I have a bad feeling about this. I should ask for backup. Anyone in the area might help… Gran Torino's going to kill me," the boy sighed, steeling himself before he dashed into the alleyway and wound up a Delaware smash.

X

Izuku had sent a mass text to anyone he knew who might be in the area. He knew that even with this new found grip on One-for-All, he would need any help he could get. If the Hero Killer was truly around and was about to kill Iida, it was going to take more than two teenagers to stop him. Maybe three would work.

Mina checked her phone, wondering how Izuku was doing. She hadn't talked to him since yesterday, before bed, and she liked checking in. She was wondering if that was clingy l, so she was about to pocket her phone when it buzzed. Sure enough, he had texted her.

"Coordinates? Huh. Weird mass text." Mina stared at her phone. Was he in trouble? That was in Hosu? She was a bit too far away. There was no way she could make it in time. It was probably nothing.

"Except Izuku would never…" the Pink girl worried as she checked her phone.

"Ashido! We're headed out. Holster your phone and take to the streets, we've got an armored car robbery."

"On it!" Mina saluted before looking to her side pensively. She put away her phone and sprang into action, leaving the agency HQ in a hurry alongside the rest of the team. "Please be safe, Izu." 

It took  about ten minutes to find the car as it drove down the intersection of Tano and Chakuti.  On the trip there, the young heroine decided to break the ice. "Airjet. You used to have an office near Aldera, right? Around Shizuoka?"

"Yeah. I take it you're a fan?" The man responded over Comms.

"My boyfriend is. He's currently in Hosu. That's who I was texting"

Airjet paused for a moment. "I just got a report that there's some trouble around there. Hope your boyfriend is OK. Now let's go. We've got a car to catch. It's in our sights. Can you flank it?"

Mina increased the output of acid from her feet and sped up. "I'll do my best. Pinky promise!"

Her legs burned and she could feel the velocity as she pushed herself. The car was starting to outspeed her. 

"Think…think…Bingo!" Mina said to herself, scanning the area until she saw an opening.

"Airjet, I have an idea but I might get in trouble for it."

"What is it, Ashido?" The pro asked. She was brilliant and enthusiastic, but a bit out there with ideas. He was hoping it wasn't that acid rain team attack idea of hers.

"I'm going to create a ramp for myself to jump on the car!" Mina shouted into her communicator device. There was a moment of silence before the voice of her mentor responded.

"Yeah, let's try to avoid excess property damage, rookie. I'll have one of my sidekicks pick you up and drop you off onto the car. Over and out." the buster hero responded, cutting communication with Mina, who pouted at having her idea shot down.

Still, she guessed he was right. Aftetall, he was the pro and she didn't have so much as a provisional license. Luckily, one of Airjet's sidekicks came along and picked her up.

"Try to aim yourself and hang tight. We have one shot." The young woman said to Mina, who nodded as she skidded along.

"Let's do this! Wheeeeeee! Oh god!"

Thud! Mina felt time slow down before she landed on the car, hanging on for dear life. She made it on board, now she just needed to stop the car. She pressed her hands into the roof of it, melting through with her strongest acid. It took a while and the robbers tried to shake her but eventually she made it in.

"Hi boys! Mind if I get a lift?" She shouted enthusiastically. One of the robbers tried to shoot her but the driver stopped him. 

"You'll hit the money, jackass. Use your quirk to knock her out!"

"How? I have a lockpick quirk. What the fuck am I supposed to do? Unlock her front door?" The one robber screamed.

"Stab her with the picks, jackass, at least then we can tie her up and hold her hostage. Now shut up.  We still have Airjet on our tail!" The driver shouted back. "Honda! Get her!". The third goon in the car cracked his knuckles and lunged for her.

Mina grinned. She didn't take any gun head martial arts, but she sure as hell had some moves of her own. Unfortunately in a closed, moving space, there was only one that mattered. She sprayed some weak but slippery acid on the floor, causing the attackers to fall.

"Try not to fall for me, dude. I have a boyfriend.  Also I'm in high school," she pulled one eyelid down and stuck out her tongue.

The driver growled before turning to see a barricade in front of him. Airjet saluted him before flying off. Panicking, the driver slammed on the brakes, causing the vehicle to lurch. Mina tumbled to the floor with a thud, but was otherwise unharmed.

"I'll take it from here, Pinky. Thanks for the assist." The Buster hero declared, dropping in from above. He turned to the robbers. "Sorry to bust in, but that's kind of my thing.  Do you boys have it in you to reverse or do you want to come quietly?"

Police sirens closed in as the criminals started to get antsy. Airjet's other sidekicks  blocked off all exits.  The gunman from before took aim but was blown back against the console. Before the driver could say "What the fuck did I say about the gun and the loot?" He had banged his head off the steering wheel.

Mina got up and dusted herself off, posing dramatically next to Airjet with a smile. After a standoff, the robbers relented.

"Man. This fucking sucks. We were gonna make it big." The silent goon from before complained as he was tied up with rope.

The diver rolled his eyes as the gunman slowly came to his senses and tried to struggle. "Just…shut up, man."

As the robbers were taken away, Mina walked up to them. The goons looked at her and she at them. Airjet watched nervously as she poked the driver, arguably the leader of the operation.

"Make better life choices, mister. " She worried if that was too preachy or presumptuous, but she figured these three weren't monsters. They were just boneheads trying to make a lot of money fast.

"Don't patronize us, you little brat!" The driver barked out, showing razor sharp teeth. Mina recoiled, knowing that unlike Setsuna or Kirishima, this guy probably would bite her.

"Don't antagonize them, Pinky." Airjet cautioned, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. "As for you three, the kid's right. Make better choices."

The three robbers cussed and struggled as they were led off by police. Mina looked towards the flashing lights as the police let the robbers away. Airjet walked up to her and followed her line of sight.

"You did good work, Ashido. A bit reckless but we'll work on that. I like your initiative, but a plan can be haphazard. Work on that and you'll go far. Help with cleanup while I talk to the officers who are still here." The buster hero instructed before jetting off in the direction of the squad cars.

Mina saluted the pro with a smile and turned on her heel with a flourish. As she went to join his sidekicks, she felt a buzz in her pocket. It had been a while since she had gotten that weird text from Izuku, plus the heads up that shit was going down in Hosu. She read the newest message from a few minutes ago, maybe 5 or 10 tops.

I:"Hey, Mina. We just got out of the hospital and I'm about to head back to Gran Torino's"

Mina's eyes bugged out as she looked at her phone. She wanted to do well at the internship but she needed to check in on her boyfriend.

"Airjet, I'll be back, I have an emergency call!" The pink girl shouted and 

rushed off to the side as Airjet tried to flag her down. He shook his head as he took off his helmet. Looking over to some of the police that stayed behind, he addressed them.

"Kids these days. Sorry she must be worried about the Hosu situation. Anyway, Pinky. That's a name you'll want to keep an eye out for in the future."

Chapter Text

The Stain situation had been tense and bloody, with the aftermath resulting in Izuku, Iida, and Todoroki in the hospital. Iida had it the worst, with his injuries leaving him with some light nerve damage in his hands. The three boys were reprimanded by their mentors, save for Todoroki. His father was left to deal with the aftermath and clean up.

The boys made it out the other end alive, but after some scars and some reprimanding from their mentors, there was one thing left: a visit from the Hosu chief of Police, Kenji Tsuragamae.

"It was in no small part to your efforts that we were able to apprehend the Hero Killer. Even with all the chaos that occurred, the threat was neutralized with little harm to the public.

However, there is still punitive action to be taken.  Officially, the law does not abide vigilantes or unregulated use of abilities, even in the service of good. As none of you are licensed, this vigilantism and unrestrained use of quirks cannot be abided by law, and as such you would have to be punished under the law… 

However, we are not without gratitude for your efforts in apprehending the hero killer. I would hate to condemn you for your help or to cut such promising hero careers short, especially when you're not much younger than my niece… As I said, however, the law is the law , so officially…it will be Endeavor who apprehended the hero killer…"

"You mangy mutt!" Todoroki spat, with Iida reprimanding him immediately. 

"Todoroki, that's enough. Let him finish!"

"I see…" Izuku sat stunned, looking into his cup of water as he listened to the proposed solution

"Does credit mean that much to you?" Gran Torino shook his head as the other boys looked at Izuku's disappointed expression.

The green-haired boy looked at his hands, then up again to explain his turmoil. "Not at all. It's for the best…I just…don't like keeping secrets from my girlfriend…She already knows about..." Izuku caught himself, realizing where he was. Gran Torino narrowed his eyes and shook his head. "All my embarrassing secrets. The It feels weird to lie to her."

"Nice save, kid," Gran Torino whispered to Izuku, who whispered back "Thanks."

"Understandable. I myself couldn't stand lying to my wife. Still, sometimes we keep secrets for a reason. It might seem unfair but ultimately it is for the best." Kenji nodded. 

"The importance of maintaining peace cannot be understated and unfortunately, some personal sacrifices are to be made, ones that seem minor in the grand scheme of things but are too personal not to hurt.

Gran Torino chimed in as well. "Relationships are bound to be tested in the field and fact is, high school romances don't often last… but we already had this conversation. You seem to care a lot about this girl and from what I've gathered, she's a keeper."

"She is." Izuku chirped. "We both have so far to go…but I feel like with a smile from her, I can do anything. "

Gran Torino thought back to an old friend, or perhaps something more. The ache in his chest felt so distant, yet still there after all these years.

"Let's just say, if she figures it out, neither confirm nor deny." The old man winked. Ken merely nodded, saying nothing."Now let's head back. I'll make supper."

"Are we cleared to leave though?"

"You are. The other kid, Ingenium, needs to stay another day but apparently you and Endeavor's son are free to go."

"One moment, actually. Woof. " Kenji halted the two

"Young Iida, we actually wanted to keep you abreast of something we discovered recently in the aftermath of Stain's apprehension."

"What was it?" Iida looked up 

"During his time as a vigilante, Stain had gotten into a fight with another vigilante that left him scarred. Said Vigilante was good friends with Tensei Iida…the hero known as Ingenium." The police chief spoke. "Said Vigilante has since moved on but we are still investigating that lead."

"So you think it was personal?" Iida looked down in frustration. He had put revenge behind him and would remind himself of the harsh lessons he learned today. Even though he aimed to truly earn the right to call himself a hero, this revelation made things no easier.

"Given his convictions, I do not doubt he truly viewed your brother as a false hero…however we cannot rule out other motivations either."

"Not to be rude, but why are Midoriya and I here for this? It seems more personal to Iida." Todoroki looked ahead coldly.

"Just to keep you three informed so you can be careful in the future. Also a friend is waiting for you at the hospital entrance, accompanied by someone else who has Intel on Stain. We'll be talking to them shortly. Midoriya, Torino, you're free to leave. "

"Wait…I wanted to apologize…" Todoroki looked down at his own hands with intense concern. "Any time I get involved with something, someone gets an injury to their hand… am I some sort of cursed hand crusher?"

Iida and Izuku stared at him, faces contorging in amusement before they burst into laughter. Todoroki just looked on with confusion at their reaction. "I'm serious though."

"That's enough fartin' around. Let's go home, kid. I'm starving," Gran Torino grumbled, nodding his head to Kenji and Manual before leading his young ward out of the room.

The two made their way to the hospital Lobby, where they ran into a similar duo of aging mentor and UA student: Scarlett and Red Riot.

"Midoriya! Bro! Are you hurt!?" Kirishima ran over to his friend and almost scooped him up in a bear hug, only restraining himself at the last minute due to the arm sling Izuku was in.

"Oh no. The police were too late. I see a corpse in an ill-fitting costume," Akane sneered, walking over to Gran Torino and slapping him on the back.

"Oh great. She's here. Shouldn't You be feeding pigeons in a park somewhere?"

"They kicked me out for cooking them afterwards. Anyway, It's important that I'm here. As much as I regret it, I helped train the man known as Stain."

Izuku was shocked. He supposed it made sense. He had to have learned his moves somewhere. What's more, they both had blood related quirks, so she was probably more qualified to give him advice back then. "That… actually makes a lot of sense."

The four paused for a moment to chat a bit before the old woman decided to keep them on track.

"We're headed up, Red. Nice meeting you,kid. You, not so much." Akane smiled warmly at Izuku before shooting a more antagonistic grin at his mentor.

"Go to hell you old crone!" The old man retorted.

"Been there. Unimpressed. Now everyone shut up. We're  needed." Akane held up a hand, then walked towards the elevator as Izuku and Kirishima waved at each other.

"What a pain. Anyway, stay here, kid. I gotta make a call to let Toshinori know you're ok," the old man spoke.

"Who?" Izuku looked confused.

Gran Torino growled as he smiled. "That's All-Might's na…" Realization hit the old man. This kid was too much.

"I'm going to make that call, Smart ass. I'll be right back." Grump Torino bonked Izuku lightly on the head with his cane before walking towards the restroom area, where the phones were.

Izuku wondered if he had gone too far but laughed slightly to himself. He was just glad things had worked out for now but he couldn't shake the feeling things would get worse.

X

Gran Torino stepped aside to the nearest payphone and dialed his old student. He was due for an update on the situation.

"Well, My teaching license is suspended for half a year and they docked my pay. Not like that bothers me too much. I had no interest in being a pro-hero or a teacher beyond serving a purpose anyway but I may have to cut the internship short for Midoriya."

"That's unfortunate…but at least you're all safe?"

"More or less. The kids are scuffed up but they will get to continue learning and growing. Midoriya seems to have found a handle on One for All, so  hopefully he can continue growing without me. If only he had a mentor who was still able to teach legally."

"Yeah. Yeah, I know. Thanks for updating me on the situation…I have a feeling there's more?"

"Of course. I have a bad feeling. This lines up too perfectly…mindless puppets with multiple quirks, the villain liance being spotted, and the Hero killer gaining more media attention. There is an infection below this malaise and someone wants that to fester. I think you know who…"

There was silence on the other end of the line. Torino gave his former pupil time to gather his thoughts. Finally, the voice on the other line spoke. "You don't mean…he's back? I had a feeling he would be…but now?"

"It all lines up too perfectly.  You told the boy about All for One right? Have you told him everything? About the previous wielders?"

"A while back during one of our little meetings on his progress. As for the greater details, No. I think it's time, especially because he said he saw vestiges during one of his fights. I think it's about time I step up as a mentor." The symbol of peace spoke in a hushed but urgent tone.

"Good, because my teaching license is suspended for a bit. Just as well though. I only got into it to help you along. There is something else though. Toshinori…you should reach out to David soon. I have a bad feeling about all this."

"One more thing actually, sir. Something I forgot…there was another figure that might be tied into this and we might want to keep an eye out."

"What could be important that hasn't already been addressed?"

"One of the villains from USJ has ties to organized crime. I saw him briefly. A large man with green, scaly skin. It can't be"

"You bozo! Sobek is wrapped up in this and you didn't bring that up first?" Gran Torino shouted over the phone. This changed things substantially. "It's  not out of character for him to have contingency plans. Keep an eye out for him"

"He's been lying low and we've been trying to trace him. If what we fear is true, not only do villains have a symbol and a creed on my level, but potentially the experience and resources that comes with being a crime lord. Even with a steady decline in those enterprises, that could lead to some major issues."

"The bastard really is collecting game pieces. Damn." Gran Torino growled in frustration. "Tell him everything. He needs to know the full story. And fill the girl in too. She might not be your successor, but if she's wrapped up in this, she should know."

"Ashido? I don't know. Should I get her wrapped up in this?"

"She already is, Toshinori. She has been since she scolded you apparently. " Gran Torino scratched his chin, reflecting on everything he had heard about her. "If she and Midori Rush are dating, any threat one encounters will seek the other out and they should know what they're in for."

"Very well. I'll call them in when we get back to classes. Thank you."

X

While Gran Torino spoke to All-Might on the phone, Izuku sent a quick text to Mina, letting her know the situation. 

A minute later, his phone rang.

"WHAT HAPPENED?! ARE…sorry. Calming down. Calm. Calm… ARE YOU OK?!"

"Mina I'm fine. I swear…we just had to um…get saved by Endeavor. We got ambushed by the Hero Killer during the chaos with the Nomu. My arm's a little sore but it's not too bad. Iida and Todoroki are staying overnight but we got out early, so Gran Torino and I are headed back to rest.

"Babe? You literally just raised more questions for me. How did the hero killer find you? Was it because of the stuff with Iida's brother? Why were Noumu there? Since when were there multiple Noumus? Is that even the correct plural form? Aaaaaah! Just…I'm glad you're OK but make sure to call me when you get back. I want to hear all the scary but exciting details."

"Of course. Also we bumped into Kiri. Apparently the hero he's interning with knows more about Stain and the police wanted to speak to her."

"Wow! Sounds busy and exciting. One sec… Yep…Airjet is calling for me. Sorry. I gotta go but yeah. Call me when you get back to Grampy Totino's place. Love Ya!"

As she hung up, Izuku was silent for a moment. He couldn't tell her everything, but hopefully, he wouldn't have to. He was just happy to hear her voice again.

Right after that, Izuku got another call, this time from Ochako. If he hadn't been dating one since middle school, he would probably be losing it over talking to a girl. He was just excited to hear from a friend.

"Hey Uraraka. What up?"

"Oh thank goodness! I was so worried when I got that address text. My heart was thumping like crazy. Are you and Iida ok?"

"Yeah. So is Todoroki. We all had a bit of a laugh about how our hands get hurt when Todoroki's around but it's fine. I'm actually in good enough shape to head back to my mentor's place for dinner. We're having Buri Daikon."

"Oo! Sounds yummy! Hold on…NO! MY HEART ISN'T THUMPING BECAUSE OF…HE HAS A GIRLFRIEND!!! AHHHH STOP STOP STOP! Igotta go. Gunhead's being a dork…just…you and Iida stay safe."

"Of course. I'll talk to you when we get back to class. Gonna head out and call Mina after we eat. She apparently saw some action tonight too."

"That's so cool. Don't stay up too late! Buh Bye, Mido…" The brunette was cut off by the boy on the other line.

Izuku felt nervous.  Was he being too familiar? What's more, he felt like Tsuyu was rubbing off on him. It didn't feel like him but in a way, it was now. He wasn't used to being informal. It wasn't his style.  And yet, he felt like he could allow it for his friends. "You…you can call me Izuku, remember. We're friends." He smiled as he spoke.  There was silence on the other end as Ochako said nothing. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah! Y-yeah. I'm fine. Just…still taken aback. I'll talk to you later, Izuku."

"Of course…hey…"

"Yeah?"

"Can I…um…call you besty?" The green-haired boy squeaked anxiously as he spoke. Ochako burst into a giggle as he said that.

"Of course. Now go get some rest and tell Mina I said hi!"

"Of course. See ya later!"

"Likewise!"

As she hung up, Izuku shook his head and smiled. He just couldn't get over how awesome it was talking to people who liked him, and he doubted he ever would.

X

The next morning arrived and Izuku headed downstairs towards the kitchen, expecting Gran Torino to be sleeping or perhaps nibbling on some Taiyaki. Instead he was sitting on the couch going over some files. On closer inspection, they seemed to be related to teaching.

"It's not becoming of a hero to snoop on an old man. Go have breakfast. There's some onigiri as well as Taiyaki on the table. Brew yourself some coffee as well. I'll be in in a minute."

Izuku felt shocked at the old man's intuition, but merely smiled and did as suggested, especially as his stomach was rumbling up a storm.

After a light breakfast and some moderate stretches, Izuku sat on the couch next to the old man.

"Are we doing anything  today, since we're only 60% through the week?" Izuku asked, only to be smacked with the file folder from before. Torino stored it in a nearby drawer and got up.

"About that…So unfortunately this internship will finish up with you doing some more training drills. I lost my teaching license for half a year and my pay is docked, but just because you got out early doesn't mean I'm sending you home just yet. We're going to do some laps around the local park. I want to test your speed and reflexes more."

Izuku felt saddened that everything was cut short but this would be a good wind down from the violent skirmish that happened on his 3rd day. He was just glad Iida was in a better mood now, and was aiming to put vengeance behind him.

"Fine by me. Good things happen for me at parks. Lead the way" The boy grinned, activating Full Cowling at 6%. It was a bit more than last time and perhaps he was pushing it. All he needed, though, was to take a deep breath and it felt natural. 

The day went on like that, with some basic drills and exercises focused on fine tuning One for All. As much as Izuku would have preferred more hero work, this was the best he and Torino could do with the current circumstances.

Before they knew it, they were on the final day of the Internships, with Izuku once more on the steps of Gran Torino's home. The gruff old man addressed his pupil.

"You're lucky the hero killer was using kid gloves."

"Only at first. Given how he's not above murdering children, I don't think he has kid gloves unless they refer to gloves he specifically uses to kill kids."

"I'd call you a smartass but based on his MO, and Native's testimony, you're on the mark." Gran Torino sighed. "And while it really doesn't affect us, that insight into the hero killer is worrisome. Just goes to show even men with twisted ideals can hold grudges. Even zealots aren't above petty emotions. And then that woman…"

"It makes sense. He had to develop his combat skills somehow. It's scary to know he learned from Crimson Riot's former sidekick."

"I'm just glad he passed out on his feet after that overblown speech of his."

"I just wish I hadn't been frozen in place after he saved me from that Nomu…there was something I wanted to say to him…it's best I didn't. "

"What could you have said to a guy like that, kid?"

"That if he was waiting for All-Might to face him in combat and kill him, he'd live a long life in prison."

"You're kind of a mouthy boy, aren't ya?" Gran Torino scratched his goatee and raised an eyebrow. "Maybe you're more than an All-Might fanboy after all."

"Wasn't always. Mouthy, I mean. I was always the other one. I have others to thank for the mouthy thing. Just glad I didn't hurt my arm too badly." The boy rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, offering a soft and humble smile.

"Don't bullshit me. You still have a long way to go." The old man retorted while waving his cane.

"I do, but I tried to exhibit some muscle control with how much output I gave, plus our previous villain takedown helped a little, even just a day."

Gran Torino couldn't exactly object. "Yeah, well if you keep this up, you should be good but you're still sloppy. I'll have to give that bag of bones you call a mentor a stern earful on how to be an actual teacher."

"That reminds me. I have never really heard your name before All-Might brought you up, but you easily could have been one of the standouts of history, with the likes of Crimson Riot or Yoroi Musha or the original Creaty."

"I never had interest in making a name for myself. I only did any of this to help a dear friend and fulfill a promise. Forget askin' me any more than that. You will find out more from To…I mean All-Might. Besides, not all the greats got talked about in those books. I can think of at least one"

Deciding not to ask about that last comment on the off chance All-Might brought it up, Izuku turned to leave. 

"I see. Well anyway, I should get going. Thank you for everything. I still have a lot to learn, like you said…but I still learned a lot."

"Who are you?"

"This again? Really?" It then hit Izuku what the old man meant. He had been nothing for so long. Just Deku. But he learned that that name could mean more. That he could mean more. He remembered the decision he had made in class that day and nodded.

"Midori Rush, sir." Izuku spoke with pride. "The hero who can do anything."

"Not a bad name, kid. A bit long but so is mine. I hope you can. Live up to that last part."

"Thanks, sir. I… I'm honored. Beep beep to you too."

"Get outta here!" 

Izuku accepted Gran Torino's request and headed towards the station. 

Smiling to himself once the boy was gone, Torino sighed. "What a pain in the ass. I miss him already…but no room for sentimentality…"

The man felt like One for All was in good hands. However, he still couldn't shake an incredible sense of foreboding, like things were about to get a whole lot worse.

X

Once everyone returned to class, everyone touched base on their internships, from Ibara's time with Kamui woods and Sero to Jirou's internship with Deatharms. 

"I can't believe you took on real villains! That's so cool! Also I'm surprised you didn't go with that Saxophone guy. Big Ben? Music is like…your thing right?"

"I decided against that. He was only in town for a little bit and I decided on someone more local. As for villains… I mean, I didn't fight them. I just helped with reconnaissance and evacuation. Besides, you have more experience. I saw you on the news with Airjet." The Punk girl absentmindedly twirled her jacks around her fingers before giving her friend a wink.

"Oh yeah. That. I kinda forgot. Once I found out Izuku was in the hospital, I immediately had to check on him. But I was like WAM! SPLASH! TAKE THAT! How about you, Tsu." Mina recreated her fighting moves from her internship without use of her acid, feeling more than happy to regain her friends with the experience. 

"It was mostly just rescue work, but we did take down a smuggler ship!" The frog girl casually croaked.

"That's really cool!" Mina and Kyouka exclaimed in unison. The three of them looked to Ochako, who was in the zone with her martial arts moves. The brunette exhaled in a focused and menacing manner.

"It was….very fruitful." 

"No kidding. That's really intense. I may have picked up a move or two as well." Mina said, beckoning everyone to clear the way as she performed a somersault kick and landed on the desk. She was surprised she didn't trip and lose her balance, especially  as she transitioned effortlessly into a sitting position with her legs crossed.

Her classmates clapped. Even Ochako had broken out of her trance to clap for her pink pal. Mina just smirked and gave a little vow to all her friends, stealing a glance at Izuku. He himself did the same, giving her a little clap.

"The ones who seem to have benefited the most from this would be you four…" Kaminari gestured to Iida, Todoroki, Izuku and Mina. "I still can't believe three of you faced the Hero killer. He was so cool… I mean…shit…killing people is mad and I know he's a villain but…"

"Jeez, jamming whey, don't choke on that foot of yours," Jirou teased.

"Such worship of one so sinful…" Ibara glared daggers at the boy. "Plus the News reported he may have conspired with those who attacked us, conviction or not."

Iida shook his head and exhaled. "Thank you, Shiozaki. You're not wrong. I can see your point about him seeming 'cool', Kaminari. Someone with conviction and a creed so strong it makes others tremble can be commendable and awe inspiring.  However he was a zealot, believing in a purge of those he viewed as unworthy and that alone is an error."

The bespectacled boy noticed as all eyes fell upon him. He knew they all believed that he, Todoroki, and Izuku were saved by Endeavor. That was the way it had to be so that they could continue down this path. 

"Yes. I was forced to grow…and to acknowledge how erratic my behavior had been." Iida spoke, stepping away from Izuku and Todoroki. "Despair and anger filled my heart, leading me astray. I worried everyone, including my friends and close family…I even have to say I worried myself. But rest assured, I will fully dedicate myself to being g a model hero and model student"

"Atta boy, Zippy Zoomer! That's the Iida we know and love! Vroom vroom follow the rules!" Mina cheered enthusiastically and threw up her hands.

Ochako nearly spit all over the place from laughing while Iida adjusted his glasses and blushed from embarrassment. "Yes…quite. Thank you, Ashido. Thanks, all of you. Anyway, let's get back into place, everyone."

Momo nodded and smiled. Her own internship wasn't anything to write home about  and, in fact, left her feeling a bit burnt out. However her fellow classmates had infected her with his reciproburst of determination . "Indeed. A good example. Let's prepare for class everyone.

Kirishima spoke up. "Sorry I couldn't help. Looks like you guys handled it without me. I would have been too much in such a crowded spot."

"What is Native's quirk btw? Cultural appropriation? Crying on the side of highways?" Mina joked. Izuku only looked away and tried to stifle a laugh. He actually knew the answer but didn't think anyone would be particularly interested. Instead, he focused on class and took his seat, stealing another glance at Mina before they awaited the start of the day.

X

The two teenagers headed to their teacher's office, feeling their hairs stand on end as they opened the door. It sounded important, so naturally Mina wanted to be there. However, even she had a put in her stomach.

"All-Might. You had something you wanted to talk to us about?" Izuku asked.

"Sit down… both of you. It's time I tell you more about One-for-All, and the villain that left me in the state I'm in…though he's probably worse off than I am."

"You told me about him once in passing. All for One, right?"

"Yes but there's more to it. He's actually the creator of our quirk in a way. There's still more I haven't told you, so strap in."

All-Might stood by the window and sighed. "I heard the hero killer got a taste of your blood. Ingesting part of the previous holder is how the quirk transfers. Luckily it must be willed on to the next person…and Will plays a big part in this story. There is only one person who would be able to transfer it by force…"

"All for One…" Izuku said under his breath, feeling an unease in his gut that he did not recognize. Mina placed a hand on his shoulder and looked at him with concern.

"All for One is the name of a man hidden by history, in hopes that it would render him irrelevant.  However he was always a step ahead…always scheming over the generations.  You see it's not just his alias, it's the name of his quirk… a power that can take the quirks of others and give them at will."

Mina felt her blood run cold. This felt eerie to her, like forbidden knowledge of some monster just below the surface of society. 

"When quirks first appeared, it wasn't just comic book fantasy. It completely brought human development to a screeching halt as we tried to make sense of this new evolutionary phenomenon."

"That's right. It set us back so much that we didn't have space travel again for years and even then, only to the moon. We still had to account for everything else." Izuku spouted, trying to hold back from info dumping. He bashfully sunk into his seat while Mina patted his head. "Sorry. Continue."

All-Might proceeded. " Right. Anyway, chaos broke out, the already extant ugliness of society was exacerbated, and laws lost their meaning. One man slid into the midst of it to take advantage of it all. He was the first to unify people…but used that to become a dictator. 

Using his ability to steal and give quirks, he bought people's allegiances and played on their fears and worst impulses. Those with evil in their hearts hailed him as a god king, but in the end, he was a tyrant, vicious and ambitious with no real view of people as anything but game pieces and the world as his board."

Mina couldn't believe what she was hearing but she felt like she had no choice. Was this guy so dangerous that history went out of its way to erase him, and yet he kept clawing back. What was worse, Izuku was expected to fight this guy.

"I can see you're worried, Ashido. I don't blame you. This quirk that I shared with your boyfriend here has a long lineage, with Midoriya as its 9th holder. I was the 8th and I fought All-For-one. We both barely made it out alive…in fact for a while, I thought he might have died. As awful as it is for the symbol of peace to say… I almost hoped it was the case."

All-Might took the pitcher of water from his desk and grabbed some cups from a compartment nearby, pouring himself and his students some.  It was going to be a long story, so he wanted them to be comfortable, even if the story itself was not.

"Anyway, as his reign grew in scope and power, he wanted more. Heroes rose up to stop him but failed. Every previous user had died eventually, often by his hand. My master…the 7th holder of One For All was one of them…she was like a mother to me…but I'm getting distracted. What you really need to know is how one-for-all is tied to All-for One."

Izuku listened intently. He knew about All-for-one by name but all this was a lot to take in. It certainly filled in more blanks about the urgency of the situation. He looked at his hands. 

Would he have to increase his output faster with Full Cowling? Would it be enough? He thought back to the vestiges he saw at the sports festival. He still had questions about them, but he had no doubt that most of them would be answered.  

Izuku looked at Mina, who hung on All-Might's every word. He could feel her hand grip his tightly and returned the favor as they both continued to listen.

"His brother was one of the few to stand up to him. However, he was sick and frail. All-For-One tried to imprison him, manipulate him, and appeal to him as family. And yet the young man would not budge. Finally, while the younger brother was imprisoned, All-for One tried one last thing: giving his brother a quirk. It was a simple one, one that the bastard thought was useless but that would still buy his brother's favor."

All-Might paused and stood up. "It was the ability to stockpile power. For one so frail, it almost seemed a cruel irony. That was probably  intentional on All-for-One's part. However, in all his scheming, there was one thing he didn't account for: The younger brother already had a quirk…one that did nothing, but could be passed on. Do you see what I am getting at?"

Izuku was stunned, but finally he spoke as the gravitas of the situation hit him. He looked at his left hand and activated Full Cowling for a second, clenching the hand into a fist. Mina gripped his right hand tighter.

"It became One-for-All!" The two students said in unison.

"BINGO! That power passed from person to person, growing more powerful through the generations. Itsca power All-for-one unintentionally created, one that will be his undoing, and one he wants back. I thought that, after all those generations, I was finally the one to put a stop to him…I was wrong…"

"So it's up to me then…" Izuku looked tense for a moment but steeled himself. "I'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES! Just tell me what to do and guide me and I will do it!"

Mina stood up with her boyfriend and gripped his hand tighter. "I'll be right alongside you, babe. Whattya say, All-Might? We got this or what?"

The man looked over at the two determined teenagers, a pit forming in what was left of his stomach. He needed to be honest, but at the end of the day, he couldn’t.

"Yeah… of course… Anyway, Follow me, you two. We've got hero basic Training and I want to know everything you learned. Especially after…the um…" All-Might looked at Mina, remembering that for the sake of peace and the future of the students involved, nobody else could know who really took down Stain.

"Mina figured out it was Iida, Todoroki, and I. " Izuku smiled sheepishly, Mina nodding confidently next to him.

"Like this boy can stay out of trouble." She elbowed Izuku teasingly and winked at him.

All-Might massaged his temples. "Well as long as there's no issue. Anyway, follow me, you two lovebirds! LET'S SEE HOW FAST YOU'VE GROWN!" He ballooned back into his large form, unsure how much longer he could hold it. Hopefully it was enough for the exercise.

As the pro led the two out of his office, he mentally kicked himself. He had to tell them the truth but couldn't: He most likely would be unable to stand by his protégé side when the time came. 

"I hope you're wrong, Mirai…" the man said under his breath, then headed off towards the training site in the opposite direction of his students, promising to meet up with them.

X

After everyone made it to the training area, the rescue exercise started. After drawing lots and deciding on order, the first five students started racing off towards All-Might's aid. Sero was making good time, as was Ojirou. However, it was really neck and neck between Mina and Izuku. Some students were in awe of how much the two excelled and stood out, while others thought it looked like a game between the two. 

Mina navigated the corridors and looked for any jumps and wails she could find, which was tricky. She could see Iida moving swiftly below, running with renewed purpose. He needed to prove he could grow? And that he could earn the name Ingenium. And yet even with his speed, he was having trouble keeping up with Izuku. He did manage to get ahead of Mina for a bit, but she managed to maneuver through some tighter spots.

"Sorry Zippy Zooms. I'm more flexible and can melt through stuff. See you at the finish line. Byeeee~"

Izuku ultimately made it to the end, just shy of Mina, who skidded to a stop right as her boyfriend reached the goal. 

After comments from both teachers and students about how incredible the showing was, the rest of the class had their chance to shine.

After their training, Izuku was pulled away to a section of thevarea away from prying eyes. All-Might eyed them suspiciously, wondering if they were so bold  as to engage in hanky panky during class. However he trusted his pupils to engage in better behavior than that and stalled for them, distracting the other studebts and teachers.

Meanwhile, the green-haired boy was thrown to the ground on his back by the force of pent up emotion.

He fell backwards, with Mina on top of him she was sobbing the whole time. He was surprised at how cheerful she had been, but he supposed it was because she trusted him enough to take care of himself. So he felt a panic of guilt when she tackled him tearfully.

"You texted me and I ignored it. I'm so sorry. I should have traveled there and…hic…"

"Babe, it's ok. It's not like you were nearby. Besides, Endeavor saved us. You were holding this in for this long? Why didn't you say it over the phone or in All Might's office?" Izuku asked, gasping for air.

Mina wrapped her arms around Izuku and planted a big wet kiss on his lips, taking him by surprise before nuzzling her nose against his.

"I don't know. It's just not the same. Plus we were both busy and I wanted to just...like...hug you like this. And besides" Mina pouted, cuddling her boyfriend. "Are you sure it was Endeavor?" Mina wiped her tears away and pouted, raising an eyebrow.

"I…um…" Izuku stuttered, knowing full well that would give it away.  He really was rumbled.

"I know you. Meddling Midoriya. Plus we literally fought guys together. I know you would get wrapped up in something.  You probably have to keep it secret but you probably did a lot of the work."

"If only you put that brain towards school work instead of gossip or the tall babysitter you had a crush on when you were ten."

"Eeeew. No. That's boring " Mina faked a gag reaction."Also that basically confirms it. Don't worry. I won't gossip… wistfully. 

"..."

"About this specifically. Promise." Mina waved her hands in front of her. "Anything hero related like this or OfA, my lips are sealed," the girl mixed, zipping her mouth up and throwing away the zipper, eliciting a snicker from Izuku.

"I know. Just wanted to return the favor."

"Mean to me! MEAN TO ME!" Mina pounded on her boyfriend's shoulder and wailed in played-up dismay. "Awful awful, mean to meeeee~"

"I'm just glad I stopped breaking my bones, as that might hurt." The boy giggled.

"I'm glad too. You really rocked it. It sucks that you still used Bakugou's stance to start out but it's sure to piss him off."

"Yeah. It will. I still have to admit he's got great movements. I switched up after that though. I'd rather honor other people"

"I'm surprised you didn't pull out any All-Might moves."

"Same here. Something Gran Torino said made me think. That's all. Basically I have to think of what kind of hero I want to be outside All-Might."

"Like, yeah. He's not totally wrong. You're not All-Might. You're you. It's ok to take influence from him as long as you don't forget what makes you so awesome. But you're an enthusiastic boy who wants to be there for others, to be what you didn't always have. That's commema…commandi…it's really cool is what I'm trying to say."

"I mean, you're an expert." Izuku smiled as he held her hand.

"I tripped over a rock or something at the beginning of the externships. Not exactly cool."

"You're  cute and cool though. The way you pout and flail, the way you come up with cute nicknames for me with such excitement…It's hard not to smile when you're around…but you're also so confident and energetic and you make people want to do their best."

Izuku smiled thoughtfully and looked to the sky.  When his eyes met Mina's again, she was on the verge of tears.

"Why are you so sweeeeeet! I can't stand it! You're the best boyfriend ever-herrrrr!" She cried into his shoulder and nuzzled him.

"I mean, I do that too. Would you call me uncool."

"Never!" The pink girl pouted. "You're the cutest and coolest! And as for Josei-Senpai, not my fauly shevwas so pretty and sweet." Mina blushed. "Honestly I might have a type if you're any indication. Anyway, let's eat! I'm starving."

"Yeah. Let's."

The two headed back towards the rest of the class and walked towards the cafeteria with their friends.

X 

A week before final exams…

"Whoa seriously? I like…barely studied. How am I higher than you, Aoyama?"

"I don't want to talk about it…"

"Join the club, Sparkles?" Kaminari lamented, with Ibara praying beside him.

"God has forsaken me on this day. My family will be ashamed."

"If you two and Ashido aren't doing great, I can help you with the stuff we learned in Class."

"Yaoyorozu, can I help with the study session?" Izuku chimed in while everyone celebrated this 2nd chance at academic survival.

"Huh? Are you sure? What brought this on?"

"I just want to help more as your vice president and also, as someone who has tutored Mina, I have some insight into how she learns best. Thought that might be helpful. I also have helped Kirishima before  and… Sorry. I don't mean to steal this from you."

"Not at all, Midoriya. In fact, it's admirable how much you care about her. And your friends of course." Momo commended.

"Of course. We're all in this together. They helped me through dark times. As a friend and as a boyfriend, it's only right I return the favor. As vice president, it's my duty to help you lead in any way I can, and as a hero student, helping those in need is what we do."

Momo felt her eyes sparkle at those words. To think people could find him so unremarkable  when, in actuality, he was a bright light.

"Alright, but could you swing by early to help me organize the books and the trays?" The rich girl commanded, feeling her blood rushed as she did what any competent leader would do. How did that old cliché go again? Fake it til you make it?

"Of course. I would be honored." Izuku agreed, happy to help.

"There…there is one more thing you can do for me…I um…need advice, I'm afraid." Momo's demeanor shifted as she became bashful again, eyes cast to the floor.

"Oh? What about? Hero related or personal?" Izuku asked, tilting his head to the side "if it's about the Practical, I heard from Tokage and Kendou it will be robots. Like the entrance exam. " The green-haired boy relayed the information to his co-leader, intending to tell everyone else as well. Mina had already started the legwork on that.

"Really? Interesting. I do hope that's correct. As for your question… I mean, I have been feeling less confident but it's the latter. I have…developed feelings for one of our classmates and … this person will be at the study session. Should I hold off on telling them how I feel or should I do it there? I don't want to be unprofessional."

Izuku stroked his chin, muttering to himself as he pieced it together. This wasn't his Forte, but he had picked up a few habits from Mina.

"...Going to be there…can't be Kendou or Todoroki then…I think I know who it is but I won't ask, just in case she can hear."

Momo's eyes shot open, like she had just been stabbed. How could he know she liked a girl? What was his reasoning? Could he see her expression and take it as confirmation? She consideres dragging him into the hallway and doing a perimeter check, but that was too conspicuous.  She just became more withdrawn instead and shushed him.

"O-oh…you um…thank you. I appreciate it.  I have very little experience with this sort of thing, having focused mostly on books and studies." Momo lamented. "Also please keep it down.

"Right. Sorry. Anyway...I mean, before Mina, neither did I. I was kind of…a loser nobody wanted to hang around.  She was the first girl to approach me honestly and not as a prank or a dare. So I can relate a little." Izuku smiled, trying not to ramble too much.

"Eventually after being friends for so long, we talked about our feelings and…here we are. Not sure how applicable that is to you or if you were hoping to date her next week instead of a year from now but I still hope that helps."

"I see. That's actually rather insightful. I have a lot to think about."

Izuku couldn't believe he was talking to a girl about how to talk to girls. He felt like he had come a long way from being an utter mess with this thing. Still, someone had trusted him enough to ask for advice and while he was no expert, he would still do his best to give his insight and advice 

X

Mina showed up to study in a green tracksuit over a white Cutie Honey t-shirt. Her lum chan plush dangled from her back and mounted with each step. She wanted to wear the alien jacket she got from Izuku for her birthday but decided it might be too much for studying.

She thought back to Izuku's words  the previous night, before they both went to  bed.

" Wanna come with me? I know you don't need to study as much as I do but it might be fun."

"Actually, I will already be there helping Yaoyorozu. I gave her some tips on how you learn best, based on us studying together. "

"Oh? Are we going to do the thing we do for math where you like… clap out a beat but you're bad at it and it's really cute."

"I…. We might do that. Yaoyorozu plays piano so she has better rhythm than me. I doubt she'll clap though….there is another reason I showed up. She needed advice but I can't say on what yet."

Mina was a bit bummed she couldn't walk with her boyfriend at first but they would have other opportunities, especially this Summer. She was hoping they could hit up a fireworks festival before Summer break ended, but that would have to wait. 

As for what he was helping Momo with, she could only wonder. What was it that Izuku was giving advice on that he couldn't tell her about? An idea crossed her mind. Did Momo like someone? Was it Izuku? Was he having an affair? 

"Nah. He wouldn't.  Right?" Mina laughed to herself, but still looked to the side in unease before nearly tripping. Focusing up, she decided to stick a pin in it and move on.

Kaminari, Ibara, Sero, Jirou, and Ojirou all showed up as well, standing before the gates of a huge mansion. Was this the right address? Mina could definitely only imagine her boyfriend's awe as well. "I'll ask him about it later."

Jirou pressed a button and the intercom roared to life.

The 6 of them had finally entered the building, it was overwhelming. Mina's house wasn't small per se but it certainly wasn't as big as this. She could see a grand staircase within the foyer and had to resist the urge to run up the stairs and slide down the railing.

Sensing this, Ibara and Jirou grabbed their classmates by the arms and shook their heads. "Ugh. Fun police. Fine."

"We're in the grand hall. Yaoyorozu is grabbing the tea."

"What's Midoriya doing here? That's surprising. " Kaminari whispered.

"He is vice president."

"Stop gossiping, dumbasses." Jirou gently jabbed her jacks at the jokesters.

"Yeah. Besides, I already know. He told me." Mina grinned. "I'm so gonna Ace this test."

"Mina could you come in real quick? I need your help." Izuku called to her.

"Hell yeah. Expert scholar on her way." Mina skipped her way to the grand hall, towards the voice of her boyfriend. 

When Mina walked in, she saw Izuku looking over books on music and fashion.

"Sorry I didn't divulge much. Needed to make sure you only found out when it was just us alone. I had promised Yaoyorozu… "

"Hello Ashido. Sorry for the secrecy. I would have asked you first but…you get really excited about this sort of thing and can be a bit of a gossip. Since your boyfriend is my vice president, I consulted him first. I apologize."

"No worries. Is it Jirou!"

Momo and Izuku looked at each other, then at Mina, with the rich girl slumping in quick defeat.

"Woooo! Called it! It was that easy to figure out." The pink girl smirked, trying to contain her enthusiasm.

"Was it that obvious?"

"I mean, of the four people I would have guessed, only one is here and it's definitely not Kaminari…no offense to him. And besides… I am the Columbo of Crushes, Yaomomo. I can figure this thing out on context clues." Mina stood on a chair with pride. "I mean, except for when Izuku and I were dealing with feelings for each other and weren't sure if it was mutual or not…"

"Good job, babe. Now apply that to studying." Izuku patted his girlfriend on the back and helped her off the chair.

"Also please refrain from standing on the furniture. It's antique and has been in our family for generations."

"Do you think she heard?" Mina winced, realizing her excitement probably blew Momo's cover.

"Probably." Izuku sighed. "Still, she could also be too distracted waiting in the foyer with the rest. Mina and I will lead them in."

"How about just you? I'll get Yaomomo hyped up for- '' Mina spun around and faced her classmate, ready to cheer her on.

"I'm not sure I'm ready to tell her yet. Maybe after finals? During Summer break… My family was invited to i Expo this year and I did have a pass for a friend. Should I ask her to go?" Momo pondered, feeling nerves take hold. She wanted to play things by ear for now, no pun intended

"Absolutely! Yes! We can make it a double date! Izuku is going because he won the Sports Festival and I'm his plus one."

"That sounds lovely. I'm actually kind of interested in some of the exhibitions this year, so I hope she doesn't find it too boring. In fact, I have another ticket too… should I give it to someone else too? Not sure who… we can figure that out later. Can you two let everyone in while I get the tea ready? The study materials are all prepared."

The young couple gave their hostess a thumbs up each and beckoned their friends.  It was time to actually study.

X

The day of the exams arrived and everyone had done their best? With those who attended Momo's study session doing especially well. The class president was taken aback by the gratitude, but was happy to have helped. 

"Once everyone is done with exams, head outside with 1B. The practical exams are about to begin. We will assign you your partner and explain everything."

Mina and Izuku were confused, noticing the chatters of everyone as they tried to make sense of it. Were they still fighting robots? Was this something  different?  Something else bothered Izuku though.

"Wait. Mr. Aizawa. If we're being partnered up-"

"You'll find out when you head outside." The homeroom teacher droned in a monotone voice.

"No. I know but there's an odd number of us in this class." Izuku reminded his teacher. The older man merely gave an unsettling smirk.

"Like I said… You'll see, Midoriya. Now head outside. It's about to begin."

Chapter Text

"What do you think? Is it going to be a heavy metal panic with the big robots?" Mina grinned, walking arm and arm with her boyfriend. Something was definitely going on with the practical exams that they didn't know yet, but they would learn soon enough.

"Heavy metal's not my thing. My sensibilities are more pop and folk." Izuku smiled back, feeling nervous but in good spirits.

"Pffft. OK. We'll pack a jumpsuit for i Island." Mina teased him, any anxieties she had over things being tempered by her upbeat attitude and the prospect of summer fun with her favorite boy. Something was weighing on Izuku's mind, however, and she could tell.

"Hey Mina..." Izuku stopped walking for a bit, gathering his thoughts. Now probably wasn't the time but he wanted to ask anyway. "After all this… I Island, the training camp…I know we're going to be working our butts off…but do you want to see the Fireworks with me after? The Atami festival isn't too far from where I live." 

The pink girl's eyes widened, and her grin grew wider. This really was going to be their best summer.

"Why Mr. Midoriya. I thought you would be so focused on being the next number one hero. I would be delighted to keep you company. ~" Mina teased in an overly haughty voice before bursting out into a giggle fit, complete with snorts.

"I think you drank too much of Yaoyorozu's fancy tea." The boy's eyes narrowed as he pursed his lips at his girlfriend's words. 

"Nah. I'm more of a coffee girl. Chai is good though. Or boba!" Mina gave her goofiest grin as she rested her arms behind her head. That smile and that confident silliness really had stolen Izuku's heart, whether it be a water balloon fight during a heatwave or in battle together, Izuku knew one thing for sure: Her smile assured him just as much as All-Might's.

The young couple walked out the entrance of the school and saw their friends and classmates lined up, opposite the entire teaching staff. They looked on in surprise to see all of 1B there. “What the heck? Are there still robots? Everyone is here!” Mina gasped in utter awe of everything before her.

"So, this is what Aizawa meant by his cryptic smile." Izuku whispered to Mina. He could see an assembly of teaching staff and UA alumni standing opposite students from both first-year hero classes.

"Good. Now that you're all here, we can begin. It was decided that robots would not be an adequate test of your combat abilities, so you will be paired up and tested on your weak spots by the teaching staff. We called in a few others to help, given that there will be 20 pairs tested"

"Wow. That's…" Mina counted on her fingers and eyed the scene nervously. She was cut off by the instructor before she could say anything further.

"Not all. You're probably all acquainted with each other to some degree. We will improve on that more in further exercises during the training camp and going into next term. However, it has also been decided that you will be paired with a student from 1B. In the field, you may find yourself working with someone you don't have a good rapport with. It is important for us to test all of you on those parameters."

The students erupted into a cacophony of confused exclamations, some excited at the prospect of working with their sister class, others doubting the point of an exam where they worked with people they barely knew. If anything, it seemed like how they should have started next term. And yet everyone was too stunned to question the teachers just yet.

"There is one more thing. We have explained the test to a student who will be using this test to springboard into the hero course. As you know, Minooru Mineta transferred to Ketsubutsu early on. We had a few students vying to replace him, and while both are still aiming to get into the hero course, only one of them has made it in so far."

A teenage girl with short black hair styled into a bob walked in. She carried herself with a cold, still nature, as if to swallow up all who stood in her way like an icy lake.

"Oh my God! Who is she?" Mina shouted in disbelief, trying to figure out who the girl was.

"Chikuchi Togeike.  We were at the Sports festival. I lost to Vines over there." The dark-haired girl shifted her gaze over at Ibara and gave her the stink eye.

The vine girl pointed at herself in confusion, only for Chikuchi to glare at her and make gestures as if to say "I want a rematch," much to the vine girl's dismay. She looked over at Kirishima, who merely shrugged. Mina was still lost.

"Who?"

"Mina, it's that gen ed girl with the pigtails. The one who has a water construct quirk."

"Ooooooh. Yeah. Her." Mina said in realization. "Was hoping it was the sleepy dude you beat up. We could have been hair buddies."

"Focus up. The exams start now. Your assigned teacher will walk over to you and escort you to your partner.  From there, transportation will be provided to your designated testing site and you will have time to prepare before facing your opponent." Aizawa explained further. 

Everyone was eventually assigned their teacher and partner. 

"Ashido, your partner will be Kuroiro Shihai." Nedzu explained. "And I will be your opponent."

The last ones remaining were Izuku and two people very familiar  to him.

"Young Midoriya, Young Bakugou, I will be your opponent. Try not to wet your pants, boys, because I won't be using kid gloves."

Izuku noticed Bakugou grit his teeth, and yet that determination doubled down on its presence. As the teachers called their assigned students and headed to their testing sites, one thing was clear.

Play time was over.

X

Everyone had ended up across UA grounds with a variety of instructors, each one proctoring their exams and driving them to be their best selves.

Mina and Shihai ended up in a maze of shipping crates and scrap. She could see a Crane in the distance. She tried remaining focused on the exam, but she couldn't help but think about who her boyfriend would be facing: All-Might himself. That was worrisome enough, but his partner was Bakugou.  It was like matching gasoline and fire. Why would anyone do that? 

"Oh God, that's the point, isn't it. Dang it." The girl groaned.  “Hey, shadow dude?”

“It’s Shihai Kuroiro. You can call me Vantablack.” The chuuni boy bristled while trying to appear cooler than he actually was.

“Sorry. My bad. Kuroiro, what can you do exactly?” Mina asked, hoping she could figure things out and succeed. If they were to compete against a literal genius, they needed to outthink him, or at the very least, outmaneuver him. “Can you, like… swim  in shadows and stuff?”

“That’s… a rather simplistic way of looking at my quirk. You seem better at analysis than I thought. You seem kinda ditzy.” Shihai pondered out loud. “You create acid. I remember from the Sports Festival.”

Mina stomped her feet and pointed a finger. “Well at least I’m not an edge lord, so there.” She stuck out her tongue like a petty brat. There was no time for this, though. They were being timed, according to instructions.  “And yes, That’s my quirk. Hold on. Let’s think… God this is hard. Focus Mina. You've used your brain before. Come on.” The pink girl groaned. “This is going to be like a maze or something, right?” 

Shihai raised an eyebrow at the peculiar girl, trying to make heads or tails of her. Unfortunately, as they were soon to be reminded, they were not alone. A voice came over the intercoms system, like something out of an action movie or a video game.

"Wise assessment, if not a bit rudimentary. Perhaps Midoriya really is a good influence  on you. However, you're still not exactly great as a  tactician.when you do show promise,  it rings as derivative."

"I need to formulate a plan. Shit!" Mina groaned and pulled at her hair before realizing what Nedzu had said. She thought she was growing in her critical thinking skills. Did that still need work?

"Language, Ms. Ashido." Nedzu spoke again.

"Sorry…wait. An intercom? That…would mean…" The pink girl apologized before piecing it together. This was not good, but it could be turned around.

"Putting it together, are we? Mr. Midoriya really has had an impact on you. If only your grades had reflected that prior."

"Yeah well…wait…I hear machinery. Shihai, let's book it. Meet me at that big crane over yonder. Keep to the shadows and don’t come out until you see the signal." Mina flashed a quick Victory sign before the two split up.

"Whatever you say, Pink girl." Shihai stepped into a piece of black paneling and headed for the goal.

Mina thought desperately, running away from the damage wrought by the crane."c'mon. C'mon..what would Izuku do?"

"I can't keep relying on Izuku. As much as I love him, we're both our  own heroes. If I want to be by his side, I need to step up. Time for a Pinky Plan." Mina smiled to herself. They didn't have a lot of time left, so they needed to move quickly.

Nedzu laughed maniacally at the crane console, nearly spilling his tea in his excitement. 

Mina found a shipping container nearby and melted through it with her acid. It took a lot of effort, but she managed it, making her way back through to Nedzu.the crane cane back the other way towards her, so she skidded frantically through, fumbling through the dark. Luckily (or unluckily, depending on your perspective) the light of the sun helped illuminate the way as the heavy machinery tore through everything on its way towards her.

The crane chased her throughout its range, with the agile alien queen doing all she could to not get caught. Once she felt she was within the safe zone, she did a little pin and a flourish with all the muscle her legs could muster. Finally, she arrived at her destination.

Mina took a big gulp and made her way up the crane, keeping silent and hoping to be as stealthy as a pink girl in garish clothing could be. As she reached the cockpit, she made a victory sign with her fingers and lunged for the principal. SImilarly, her partner had ambushed the ambiguous mammalian man.

"With all due respect, headmaster, I am commandeering this crane for the abyss." Shihai hopped out from a shadow beneath the seat for the cockpit, aiming to catch the principal. Unfortunately, it was for nothing.

"It's a hologram. You didn't think I would make it easy, did you?" A prerecorded message spoke out condescendingly. Mina stamped her feet and pulled her hair in an exaggerated manner before regaining her composure with a self-assured smile.

Mina sat down and counted on her hand. A loud thud, followed by an "oof" could be heard not far from the crane. Mina thought to a  bit of a flourish she did as she spun in place for a moment, as well as the extra oomph she put into her step to get away. It had luckily created a trap and enough acid for the rat man to slip into the newly formed pit trap.Flipping the intercom switch and taking the mic in her hand, the triumphant girl teased.

"It's a hole, gramps. You didn't think we would make it easy for you, right?" Mina teases, not actually sure about the Principal's age in relation to hers. After the two-person teen team made their way back to the ground, they eventually caught up to Nedzu and cuffed him, securing the win. Emotion bubbled up as the gate arch signified a win. It was fitting that the Principal's visage would call out his own defeat.

“Wait. I’m confused. I barely did anything. I tried ambushing him but it was a hologram.” Shihai scratched his head in confusion. “Did you even need me for this? Also, how did you know what way the principal would have gone?”

“It’s like… a beeline, my dude. Genius doesn't mean overcomplicated. If he doesn’t think we’re giving chase, then he’s going to let his guard down, especially if he thinks we’re idiots.” Mina stood, arms akimbo. “Also, You kept unseen. We needed him to think we were going for a straightforward ambush. Sorry for not being more transparent. I literally thought this plan up in a panic. I’ll consult you more next time.” The girl rubbed the back of her head and smiled bashfully. “Sorry you barely did anything.”

The shadow boy scratched his cheek and looked to the side. “Well, as long as you are sorry. Besides, a victory is a victory. Just let me do more next time. It felt like my shadow was swallowed by your light.”

 "Awwww, you got it buddy boy! Pinkest Pink and Blackest Black! You were no match for the Blackpink attack, sucker!" Mina posed triumphantly, while Shihai tried to slink back into the shadows. Unfortunately for him, Mina grabbed him by the shirt collar and posed with him. The boy could only blush and resign himself to this level of closeness he expected from a certain girl in his class, if she liked him that way at least. That was a concern for later, however, as the two made their way out of the area and towards success.

 X

While this was occurring, an out of this world examination was occurring between one of 1A's most promising students and the resident gremlin of class B. Monoma observed the situation as he went over what he knew about 13. Ochako happily corrected him but was rebuked for it as they reached a vestibule. Eventually, the topic of Izuku came up.

"So, you're friends with the troublemaker who defeated Bakugou, correct? How many disasters has he been involved in now?" Monoma blustered. Ochako could feel her patience slip, but she knew she had to work with this boy, even if he was obnoxious.

"Yes, I am. I really don't appreciate my class being bad-mouthed and it seems to mainly be you and Bakugou. I don't really appreciate that," the girl huffed.

"Calm down, space girl. The truth is, as much as I want my class to shine and show you 1-A ruffians who the real top dogs are…it's us, by the way, Underdogs that we are…I don't hold animosity towards Midoriya…'' Monoma sighed, as if in defeat. And yet there was a sort of sad hopefulness present in his smile.

 "You don't?" Ochako blinked a few times as she registered what her partner was saying.

"I'm not Bakugou. Whatever bad blood they have, they can sort out themselves. Midoriya certainly seems to trouble…but I also didn't expect him to stand up to Endeavor for me or give advice. He's not as arrogant as I thought. I'm not clamoring to shake his hand or be his best friend but… I suppose he's not deserving of being knocked down a peg…yet "

"Or ever…" Ochako shot the blonde the scariest glare he had seen in a long time, colder than the vacuum of space.

"You brutish girl. You're scarier than Kendou!" Monoma gasped, feeling his blood run cold. "Do you have feelings for him? Isn't he dating the Pink girl? How scandalous, 1A!"

Ochako had to resist the urge to punch her partner, but then she noticed something: Her hair was moving. Monoma seemed to notice too as he grabbed Ochako's hand and headed for some nearby safety railings.

"We've been spotted. Hold on tight!" The brunette shouted, with her Blonde accomplice shouting back in response before their ears popped from the pressure.

"I noticed!" Monoma growled as he gripped the railing. “They really are just going for the direct approach but when your quirk is a cosmic hammer, everything looks like nails, I suppose. “

"WHAT?" Ochako yelled, trying to make herself heard as the vacuum of space emanating from their teacher's fingertips hungrily devoured all it could. 

"I SAID I… oh forget it." Monoma scoffed and gritted his teeth, trying to formulate a plan. Sure enough, he got one.

"Uraraka, was it? I'm going to perform a risky maneuver. I am not the best of my class, I admit. But just watch me. I will show you how class B can shine, even in a black hole." He looked at her and grinned.

“Wait, shouldn’t we think things through better? We just got here and I’m sure They are trying to teach us something with this direct approach!” Ochako shouted loud enough for Monoma to hear. He merely closed his eyes and smirked. “This all seems haphazard.

“Sorry, I can’t hear you. Follow my lead and prepare for the swift but dignified strength of my quick thinking. And remember these old words of wisdom… Dude, trust me.”

Before Ochako could correct him and say that his plan lacked foresight, or that she was not a dude, or that he was being a proud idiot, it was too late. Monoma let go and felt himself get sucked towards 13. Clenching his eyes shut and biting his lip, the young man hoped his gambit could pay off. 

"Quitting already? Didn't think this would be that easy.” The androgynous astronaut spoke as their quirk sucked up everything, even sound. One could hear what was being said if they were close enough. Monoma was lucky enough to fall into that category.

"You were right! It’s not… for you, that is!” The cocky blonde grinned as he got a grip and his ability activated.

"What is this?" Thirteen exclaimed as they saw their quirk mirrored before their eyes.

"Two blackholes canceling each other out. If there were a supernova involved, I could call this an Eye of Harmony. For now, I call it a stalemate."

"You're wrong! It's our victory!" Ochako cried out, activating her quirk and causing herself to float before crashing down like a Meteor using her own momentum. In an instant, her Gunhead Martial arts made quick work of the Astronaut hero.

"Wow…if I had ¥1000 for every scary martial arts girl I knew…" the blonde boy chuckled to himself, grasping the edges of his jacket. "It still wouldn't cover my therapy bills. Still, I suppose we can call this a W?"

"We actually made a great team. Thanks Monoma."

"Of course. Don't get used to it, Gravity girl. We're still rival classes and I suggest you remember that…but for now, I suppose a speedy victory deserves praise."

"Awww shucks."

"So good job, Neito, for your brilliant gambit that helped secure our win. Oh you're too kind," Monoma laughed to himself, feeling his confidence swell up like a balloon. Ochako could only watch in annoyance and pout at her partner.

"I wish I had partnered with Aoyama instead."

"The French boy? Shame. You know us Belgians have perfected their language, they don't even have a word for ninety did you know that? They just say four twenty ten, that's so stupid. Not to mention Belgian fries are the greatest in the world…Is…is he single?" The blonde boy went on. Sure he was born in Kanagawa but that didn't divorce him from his heritage any more than a Sicilian born in New York.

Ochako raised an eyebrow. "Oh? I thought 1A was beneath you save for just this once?"

"Cruel, but fair. I suppose I can forgive him for being in my rival class…and for being French."

X

Kirishima looked over at Setsuna, who was stretching herself out and getting limber. They were about to face Cementoss, who neither had seen in action since the Sports Festival. Even then, neither had seen him go all out. Kirishima was feeling a bit anxious, but heated nonetheless. Afterall, this was the kind of obstacle he was good with.. He looked over at his partner, averting his gaze out of fear she would see him looking and get the wrong idea. Unfortunately for him, she noticed, giving him a wink.

"Hey." The red-haired boy waved bashfully.

"Sup, fellow chompchomp?" The green-haired girl grinned with her razor sharp teeth. "You psyched up?"

"As always. I'm gonna give it my all, like a man." The furnace of Kirishima’s soul had fired up, full force.

"Alright. Just don't tell me to man up too, Mr. Macho. I got bullied for that  before." Setsuna smiled to herself, a hint of sadness that her partner could not reach. They were both interrupted by a slab of cement, signaling that the battle had started.

"We're up against Cementoss. Looks like our main option is to break through." The dyed-redhead slammed his fists together, feeling his skin morph into a rockier texture.

Setsuna held up a hand. "We could but there's gotta be a different way. He can always put up more walls, so it becomes a game of chicken. Really, though, we can save ourselves the effort if we think up a way around. Think like Midoriya."

"I don't…think my brain can operate like his. That's not my strong suit. I harden. I hit.  That's the limit of my quirk.  All I can do is look at what others have.  A stronger quirk, a stronger mind, a braver heart…each other…But I will put that all behind me and be the best I can be."

"Stop that. If that's all you could do, you wouldn't be here. Look. Do you think if I distract Cementoss, you can knock him out?"

"Now that's a plan I can get behind.  I think I should be a distraction though. I'm a hammer. Big. Not very bright or flashy, but good at what I do. You're like a…God, that one word…precision? No…. Special. You're more specialized. If we attack that way, we can win."

"What if he overwhelms you?"

"As long as you pass, that's all that matters."

"Nope. Don't like that. We are both passing." Setsuna decreed without any hesitation. That resolve and determination brought the brightest of smiles to Kirihima’s face. He thought to himself as the walls kept coming and he kept punching through.

"Just because your quirk makes you sturdy, doesn't mean you can afford to be rigid in your thinking. For example…it's armor, right? Your quirk is armor."

"I guess. I just get hard and it's harder to hurt me."

"Yes? That's what armor is. Now shut up and keep listening.  Every part of you follows suit; correct? That probably includes hair and nails." Akane mused, smacking the boy in the face with her old baseball bat, ever so slightly.

“Why are you hitting me with a bat again?” The spiky-haired boy flinched instinctively with each bop, even if he didn’t feel it.

“Sports are good for a woman my age. Besides, if I can use this old toy of mine to beat anything into that thick skull of yours, it is this: You can be armor, but you can also pierce it!”

Kirishima snapped back to reality and charged like a rhino.

"UNSHAKABLE ARMOR PIERCING RIOT!"

Setsuna hesitated for a moment, wondering why he was shouting such a goofy attack name. It was probably for good reason.

"You shouldn't have hesitated.  Decisive strikes are important as even a second is enough for an opponent. Still this is no longer a war of attrition."

"Oh no!" Setsuna winced as she scattered her parts throughout the arena. She was hoping to Hierophant Green the situation while Kirishima unleashed his inner Jotaro. Alas, they were now both under attack.

"Wait…hold on. We can salvage this. Are you with me red?" Setsuna asked, having maneuvered her mouth over to her partner, in order for him to hear better while not divulging the strategy to the enemy.

"Of course, Lizard Wizard. What's the plan?" The boy exclaimed, as he started headbutting the cement panels at this point.

"He's a pro, but he's also just like…a guy? Not a God or a machine. So we can decide and conquer while his attention is split." Setsuna continued. "So as uncouth as this is…"

Kirishima nodded enthusiastically while smashing blocks, appreciating the strategy in both its simplicity and its effectiveness. It was definitely a good backup that played to his strengths. Setsuna definitely reminded him of someone in that way. "Yes, Ma'am!"

Setsuna ran interference, using some of her pieces to distract Cementoss and others to weave over and around his blocks in order to land hits. His skin was rough, but the rest felt gooey. If the lizard girl were to describe it, she would say it felt like hitting a sack of wet cement covered in dry cement. 

As the war raged on, eventually, Cementoss slipped up, opening him up for a punch and a kick to the face from both sides.

The wacky fun time Nedzu arch lit up as anything with a rodent-like boss/ mascot would. Capitalizing on the situation, the two sharp-toothed teens high fived.

"Nice job, Red," Setsuna exclaimed, bouncing excitedly in her boots,

"Any time, Green," Kirishima smiled. He felt a slightly moist warmth on his cheek as his whole face lit up to the same color of his hair. Setsuna grinned after her lips left the boy's cheek.”Seemed like you needed that."

"I-I… Cut that out!" Kirishima blushed harder, while Setsuna grinned, a slight hint of red on her cheeks. She mixed a pair of scissors and detached parts of her other hand in time with the simulated snips.

"Cut, you say? It's practically in my name, spikey boy." She stuck out her forked tongue as an added tease.. Kirishima was ready to just go home and celebrate their victory.  

"I can't handle any more crushes on friends…" The sharp-toothed boy sighed.

"What was that? Can't hear you?" Setsuna joked further, having reformed her hand and cupped it to her ear in jest.

Cementoss sat there during the whole thing, bemused. "Can you two Youngsters move on please? You passed "

X

Tsuyu entered what looked like a museum gallery, with a short brunette who was dressed like a mushroom. She seemed shy but trying to break through 

"I'm going to do my best. Just wish I was a little bit cuter."

"Do you ever just… feel like you want to shine and show everyone what you can do but you haven't grown into it yet?" Komori stopped in her tracks for a moment, having to grapple with her own insecurities.  “How do I make others smile when I can’t find my own?”

"We can talk later. We should focus." Tsuyu croaked, eyeing up the situation. “Stay alert and let’s address this problem, ribbit.”

"Right. Shroom shroom." The mushroom girl tensed up, keeping communication going while also still aware of her surroundings.

"I have a friend. His name is Midoriya. He’s kind of similar in that way. He seems to be headed down the right path. My friend Kirishima also has doubts, but he’s one of the sturdiest boys I know with the purest heart. I think if they can do anything, so can you. Now let's see what Team Toadstool can do, Ribbit." Tsuyu smiled, bringing a similar grin to her partner’s face. Komori nodded, ready to show what she was made of.

The moment was cut short as Ectoplasm made himself known, Spitting out wave after wave of clones. The two girls dodged as best they could. Unfortunately, The crowd became overwhelming.

“Eep!” Komori sprayed spores and waited for them to pop up as mushrooms. Unfortunately, the Ectoplasm clones tore through them before they could be of any use. Even with moisture in the air, the pro-hero was not allowing any openings for attack. He soon cornered and swarmed Komori.

“Komori! Move!” Tsuyu shouted as she grabbed the mushroom girl with her tongue and flung her away. The  mushroom girl reached out and tried to help, but could only watch in dismay as the clones piled onto Tsuyu and melted into a writhing clone blob, like something out of a Metroid game.

"You young ladies need to do your math. I'm multiplying by the moment and there is not much you can do to level the odds in your favor." Ectoplasm spoke in unison, laughing to himself as he held onto Tsuyu. 

 Cocking her spray bottles as if they were dual pistols and she were anything but a short teenager dressed like a fungal gijinka, Kinoko took a battle stance and got to work. "You sum things up well, but your calculations are wrong. We haven't reached our limit yet! Shroom!" 

Ectoplasm wasn't sure whether to be concerned over the ominous warning or impressed by Komori's wordplay. Either way, he increased his output.

"Impressive. Using the sprinkler system to help dampen the area and spread your spores. Good strategy. Unfortunately you will also encounter opponents who can adjust for such outcomes, as you can see.”. 

Tsuyu watched as her partner ran and tried to escape from their teacher and his many brothers. Komori kicked and picked at the blobby mass that held Tsuyu in its clutches. Tsu herself had come prepared, but preparations were nothing if you weren’t able to capitalize on them. She learned that as a sibling first and a hero student second.

She watched as her portobello Partner scampered about in a tizzy.

"I have to think. I can't let my partner down. I need to shine." Komori frantically pondered as more clones popped up around her. It was like an audience, but more anxiety-inducing somehow.

Tsuyu had seen her friends go through crises before, as well as living through one or two herself. She had seen what confidence issues could do, and as such, she took a deep breath and shouted.

"Don't give up hope, Shemage. It's not over yet. We've still got him outnumbered. Besides, we can still win this fight if we work together. I've got something up my sleeve."

“I don’t know if I can, Asui! I’m putting up a tough act, but there’s not enough fungus among us to beat this guy.”

“That’s wrong and you know it. There’s more spores than there are clones. You got this. Also… call me Tsu.” The frog girl groaned and wretched. Komori was concerned, thinking her schoolmate was disgusted by the blob she was in. FInally, however, the mushroom girl was able to add it all up.

“Thank you, Tsu. And you… can call me Kinoko!”

Komori took a deep breath and adjusted her cap, showing her eyes as she gave a confident smile. " Alright. I'll fake it til I she-make it then. I'll get you out, and we will head through those gates together. Now let’s put a cap on this! "

Spraying spores throughout the arena, the mushroom girl managed to take out several Ectoplasm clones. The whole room soon became like a fairy kingdom. One thing was for sure. The building would have to swiftly be fumigated to prevent mold breakouts or other issues. While she bought some time, Tsuyu fished out the cuffs she had swallowed and attached them to her tongue.

WIth the truest of aims, she  attached the cuffs to Ectoplasm’s wrists, ending the match. The ghostly guardian bowed his head in defeat and dispelled his clones.

“Well done. Both of you. You worked well as a team. You even have a dynamic little name. I think the future bodes well for ones as bright as you.”

And with that, the man turned around to assist in the clean-up while Komori and Tsuyu headed through the gates together.

“Hey, Tsu? Do you really think we can be friends?” Kinoko fidgeted as she walked, starting to lose the confidence she had gained during battle.

“Of course, ribbit. I would be happy to call you my friend. You did a good job today. I’m sure my friends would be happy to meet you too!” The frog girl smiled, only to nearly be toppled by a toadstool tackle hug.

“Thank you. I feel like I really needed that. I want to be an idol hero…someone who can make others smile and feel secure, not just in fighting enemies or keeping them safe, but keeping them inspired and entertained! Shroom shroom!” Komori beamed.

“I think that’s a good goal to have. You definitely remind me of my friends. Let’s go, ribbit.”

Thus, a new bond was forged in battle.

X

Iida looked at the entire testing site. It was crawling with traps and he had no way of being able to tell where the next one would come. Looking over to his side, he saw Itsuka Kendou of 1B patting the dirt with an enlarged hand before tossing a small stone towards the gate. Sand erupted like silicon geysers.

"What do you think? Iida? Hello?"

"Sorry. Just wondering about my friends. Yaoyorozu is a wonderful fit to lead us and Midoriya… I owe him a great deal.  I wonder if I could have shouldered the burden of being class president. Still, I try my best as secretary to keep a flawless record and to help my fellow council members."

"We should probably focus on passing."

"Right. Sorry."

"I think that's commendable. Now let's do our best to dismantle PowerLoader and win this fight, as heroes, as examples to our friends, and for our older siblings."

Iida had recalled that there was a Sora Kendou who went by the hero name, King Yeti. He had never made the connection before, but it made sense in his head.

"Can I suggest something, Iida? About your leg engines. Do you have like…a filter in your legs? Sorry if that's weird to ask. It might not be something we can even do in this exam."

"Not at all. I don't know how this would impact our strategy…oh…" The speedster had a realization. He had never thought too much on it in biology or health classes, but it was clicking now. The body was a machine, in a way, even those without engines sticking out of them.

"Yeah. See when someone exerts themselves, lactic acid builds up in the muscles and you get wear and tear. That leads to exhaustion. Then when the body repairs itself, you're a little bit stronger. It's the body's zenkai boost in a way, albeit less fantastical. Similarly with engines, you get gunky buildup from use and that affects performance. Just ask support. They’ll say the same. " Itsuka finished explaining, coming across like an adjunct professor on engine maintenance, if there were such things.

"So you're saying that if my leg engine's are clean, I should be able to go faster. I see…You know a lot about quirks." Iida stroked his chin as the girl spoke.

"I mean, not a ton. Just as much as anyone else. My dad's a mechanic and I'm building a bike, so it helps to think about all this."

"I hope this is not embarrassing then?" Iida looked down, feeling a twinge of nerves. He knelt down on the ground for his fellow student to mount him. “I will be the chariot that carries us to victory!”

"What…What do you mean?" Itsuka felt a sweat drop fall down her temple. She soon had her answer as the armored boy patted the ground, beckoning her to ride upon his back. Reluctantly, she obliged. "I guess you took the bike comments a bit literally."

Iida apologized and offered a thumbs up. "I feel like a bridal carry would be undignified for you. Besides, this puts us both in a better position to combine my speed and your fists."

"I'm sure I'll be fine. Fling me at him and I'll hit I'm with a Titan Fist while you go in with your recipro. Sounds good?"

Iida fired up his engines and ran, full speed with his partner gripping him tightly. she had to reach a bit. It wasn't like she had a tail. Still, with effort, the girl grabbed hold, thankful her hand didn't slip. While they deftly dodged the dangerous digging of Power Loader, Iida flashed back to his fight against Stain with Todoroki and Izuku, and the winning attack that had put a dent in the Hero Killer.

"Grab hold quickly, Battle Fist. I'm about to throw you." He shouted like the roar of an engine. " If you need to clear any distance, leave it to me!"

The two teens shouted in unison as their attacks merged in a collective punch of speed and power.

"Recipro EXTEND!

"TITAN FIST: INITIALIZE!"

As Iida and Itsuka sped past the traps before they could activate, Power Loader did his best to catch them off guard but alas, his own guard was discarded as he took a giant hand to the face.

"Way to go, Ingenium. That's some real leadership, title or not." Itsuka walked over to her schoolmate and gave him a playful chop on the shoulder. Her ponytail blew slightly in the wind. "Our big bros never got to team up, as far as I know. Guess we can do what they never got the chance to.”

Iida removed his helmet and smiled, grateful for the praise. He had doubted his heroic nature in the face of despair. Everything that had motivated him had been left for dead. Thankfully, Tensei had survived, and yet it had been such a gut punch that it threw Iida's life off course. He was thankful for those that had reminded him of why he wanted to be a hero and what he needed to do if he wanted to stay true to that path

"That means a lot coming from one such as you.. I am sure we will both make our brothers proud."

X

Recovery Girl checked the monitor on her wrist.with so many examinees, many needed to happen concurrently and it was hard for just one person to monitor them all, especially while they were healing those who were injured. If only they had full hospital staff. Alas, even one of the best schools in the country was still just that: a school.

"So Shiozaki fails while Yanagi passes, Togeike passes alongside Kodai by the skin of their teeth, and so far, it looks like Sato and Kamakiri have failed. Sero and  Bondo pass, As do Ojiro and Rin… Oh dear… That's…unexpected… Either way, I hope these robots will be able to attend to things while I monitor the coming fights. I must thank that Doctor for sending some interns to help out."

"Alright, Ashido. How are you doing today? You look slightly bruised but otherwise alright?"

"Of course. Would have been a goner and flat-out failed if I didn't have my own personal brainiac help me out of situations all the time. Eventually I was able to use my own smarts."

"Ahem."

"Sorry. Yeah. I would t have been able to pull it off without Kuroiro here."

Mina looked over at the clock, then back over at Recovery Girl.

“Hey, since I made it out with minimal injuries and the Principal is probably going to need to recover more than me, can I watch the remaining fights?” Mina asked, taking off her mask and tucking it away.

“I don’t see why not. It seems like something your boyfriend would do.” Recovery Girl pondered out loud, tickled by the devotion of the two fluffy haired Youngsters.

“Yeah. I guess we rub off on each other. It’s mostly his fight I’m interested in.. .and worried about.” The pink girl shifted bashfully, feeling her face heat up. She got quiet after a while and started to reflect on her past encounters with Izuku's former friend, as well as all she heard of him.

“No faith in your man? My word.” Recovery Girl teased. She supposed it was too harsh, but she had the feeling Mina would roll with it.

And roll with it she did, if rolling with it was code for blushing and flailing. “No! That’s not it. He’s amazing…" The pink girl paused again to consider her words. "but he and Bakugou...There’s a lot of history between them.”

"I see. Well, walk this way. Shihai, do you wish to watch as well?"

"A dark and stormy display? Interesting…but I'll pass. I'm going to go home and await my pre-order for Clandestine Order: Blood Oath." The boy shook his head and held out his hand in a dramatic gesture.

Mina's ears perked up. "Oooo! Good idea. I'm picking mine up at the store on day one. Did you get the special collector's edition or standard?"

"Collector's, of course. I double misjudged you, Pinky. It was nice meeting you," Shihai smiled, trying to come across as edgy and alarming.

"Likewise~"

"Right.  I'm going now. Good luck to your boyfriend.  Bakugou's a bit of a handful. Hope they can figure out whatever they were shouting about at the Sports Festival."

As the void boy left, Recovery Girl beckoned Mina towards the control room in order to monitor the other matches.

"You were worried about him, right?"

"Right… I have doubts about the team up. I can get they want to test the two because they don't get along, but it almost feels…unfair?"

“I don’t see why that’s…Oh. I see. You’re worried that it’s too vast to work through in a single test.”

“Yeah. From what I hear from Tokage, he’s grumpy and a jerk still, but mostly keeps to himself, especially after the fight against Izuku…which…”

“Yes, I actually wanted to ask about that. There have been a lot of whispers lately. I don’t pay mind to rumors, but this test of theirs is especially because they don’t get along.”

“I can’t. That’s Izu’s secret to tell. I just…” Mina hesitated, feeling conflict bubble up in her gut. “They have known each other since childhood. Bakugou is not Izuku’s biggest fan, let’s say. He doesn’t like me or Tsu or Kiri either.”

“I don’t blame you for not telling me. Betraying confidentiality in my field would lead to my termination. In matters of the heart, it’s not much different. I can say, however, this school does have a counselor. He’s currently fighting Shishida and Tokoyami, but I can recommend him to Midoriya.”

“Thanks.” Mina smiled, then went to a nearby seat to watch the monitors. She saw the matchup she was most anxious over and could not tear her eyes away. “Please, Izu. Hold out just a bit longer. You can do it.” Mina prayed silently to herself as she wished her boyfriend the best.

X

If there was a main event in all these simultaneous exams, this felt like it could be it. There were bound to be a few afterwards. In fact,  there were at least a couple left afterwards that Izuku hoped to catch.

All-Might wore restraint gauntlets, designed by Mei Hatsume, the support department girl Izuku had teamed up with during the Sports festival. He also had decided to go all out in villain gear he had assembled, once more with Hatsume's help.

"Why does he look like Roadhog?" Izuku wondered out loud. "Also those literally are kid gloves."

“Made from real kids. Go on! Try me!” Villain-Might beckoned, trying to goad the two young men into testing him. The two boys glared at him, feeling the enormous pressure of the odds against them.

Izuku looked at the cause of at least 55% of his trauma, if he was being generous. He was still feeling sore from their past encounters. And yet, if this was the point, he needed to keep an even keel. Their grades were on the line and Bakugou probably knew that. Besides, between 1B and the internships, maybe the explosive boy had calmed down a bit. Izuku had to at least try.

“So we should probably try to make a break for the exit. That’s our safest bet. A head on confrontation won’t be good. We can probably ambush him if we-” The green haired boy laid out a strategy. His nerves were shot, but he had to at least try.

"Nobody asked for your useless prattle, you NPC! Just go over to the exit and leave this to me. I don't need you getting in my way or airing your grievances with me on live tv." Bakugou spat, a simmering vitriol starting to grow to a full boil.

“Please, let’s not do this here. We have to at least try to-” Izuku bargained one last time, slowly being reaffirmed of his earlier assessment: Bakugou was still an asshole.

“I DO NOT HAVE TIME FOR COWARDS! GO BE AN EXTRA IN THE CORNER AND HOPE THE HERO-KILLER COMES BACK FOR ROUND TWO!” The blonde-boy shouted hatefully, realizing what he had said as soon as it had popped out. His eyes fell to the ground before shifting back to All-Might. Perhaps he had gone too far, but that was something to sort out later.

Izuku had heard enough. He had given this boy so many second chances and now he was ready for it to end. “Shut up! You pushed me and you know it. I can't believe I looked up to you."

The two boys devolved into a heating argument, old wounds oozing with the puss and blood of a friendship in tatters, exacerbated by the societal malaise that was slowly festering in the background and just below the surface.

"Fuck you! Cower all you want! It's what you were made to do anyway. I will fight and I will win. I won’t be blindsided or embarrassed or held fucking hostage. Get on the street like the pebble you are instead of treating me like some kind of charity case. I know you and your brain dead fan club would love that!"

"This is why we can't have a normal conversation! Oh my fucking God! Were you this proud when you assaulted me when I walked home with Mina? Was that winning! IS THAT HEROISM?!"

“DO NOT BLAB THAT! THAT WAS BEFORE, YOU FUCKING NARC! NOW FIGHT OR FLEE! I DON’T CARE WHICH!” Bakugou’s hands sparked with rage as he was one step away from taking on both his partner and his actual opponent at the same time. All-Might stood to the side, resigned to the whole thing. He was supposed to be a test for these kids, but time was ticking away for both the exam and his muscular form.

"Fine. Do your own thing. While You're busy inflating your ego in the corner, I'm going to be here trying to-" Izuku didn't even manage to get a sentence out as both he and Bakugou were clotheslined into a wall. As one tried to get away, the hulking hero grabbed the other and wielded him as a cudgel with which to beat the initial boy.

"You two seem to have used up all your energy fighting each other that you forgot you were supposed to fight me. What a shame. Is this really what passes for heroes these days? Pathetic!" All-Might played up his villain persona, ragdolling the boys if they so much as twitched a muscle.

 Internally, however, he hoped they could pull through and work as a team. "C'mon, boys. Heroes have to persevere and work together. I'm the waterfall. You're the Salmon. You have to overcome it!"

The pro had hoped, however, that if they did somehow fail, that there would be a second chance. As scary as Aizawa was, he seemed to mostly be bluster as a way to push the kids to grow through adversity. It was an approach he could appreciate but not easily replicate. It was certainly closer to Gran Torino's style than his master's approach, but no less effective. 

Izuku’s thoughts raced. This fight was going to be hard. He had faced tough opponents before, however. Not only that, he had a lot riding on his success. He needed to pass in order to go to the training camp. He needed to be able to succeed All-Might as soon as possible in order to stave off a coming wave of darkness being spear-headed by a man too evil for the history books. He had to do this all while being his own man and figuring out who that was.  And on top of all this, he had to lie about it all to his friends and family. At least he had Mina as a confidant too, but not even that softened the weight of all that pressure. 

The kicker to all this, of course, was that he had to hold back his frustrations with one of the biggest contributors of unrecognized trauma in his life. He wished things could have gone better, that they could have been separate and both achieve their goals without interacting with one another too much. He even agreed not to squeal about the bullying or the death threats. There was a spark of heroism deep down that Izuku couldn’t let go of in regards to his former friend.

Of course this would be the thing that dragged him down. Not today, however. The One-for-All holder refused.

“I am not a pebble. I am a block of marble, I will be  the pillar that holds all this up, even if it breaks me…” Izuku muttered to himself as he built up momentum. 

"Eh? You saying something, nerd? Speak the fuck up! I know you can from how much you screamed your head off during the Sports festival!"

"I was saying that you're not the only one who aims to win. So stay… OUT! OF! MY! DAMN! WAY!!!”

Izuku roared as he felt writhing in his arms, as if his veins and tendons had turned into serpents.  He had no idea what all that was about, but he would deal with it later. He rushed towards All-Might, jumping over Bakugou in a violent bout of leapfrog before unleashing a 6% full cowling-infused spiral elbow drop to All-Might’s neck.

“KNOXVILLE SMASH!”

It was then that the boy could have sworn that, somewhere out there, he heard a record scratch as everything slowed down and All-Might merely shrugged.

“Mediocre…”

Before Izuku could ask if that was a Mad Max reference, he was thrown back and crushed beneath his opponent’s weight.

“Perhaps there is no avoiding it…I need to get him to listen. Even just this once…” Izuku groaned, kicking himself mentally. It tasted like ash in his mouth, mixed with bile. However, if the teenager  could work out a temporary truce in order to pass, then maybe the day was salvageable.

“Serves you right, dipshi-OH FUCK!” Bakugou shouted as his reluctant partner was sent hurtling into him like a bowling ball. At least he wasn’t bleeding internally.

All-Might sent both boys into the nearby wall with a perfectly aimed punch. The explosive boy was positive he heard a crunch and, while it was good that he had Izuku as living body armor, it still took a lot out of him.

“The fuck is with these exams?” Bakugou spat to himself, feeling a fire build up in his own belly, like a furnace filled with bottle rockets and oily rags.

"Ok. So running won't work. Individual attacks won't work…God dammit… Ka…Bakugou. Look. If we want to pass…No. If we want to win, we need to swallow our pride and work together. Just this once and never again. I'll leave you alone and you can show how awesome you are."

"Do not patronize me, Deku. I will bite your goddamned torso and give you a disease!" The blonde growled through ragged breath.

"Duly noted. I don't want to fail because of this. I got so much riding on this exam, so let's put our egos aside and-"

Izuku was blasted pointblank in the face by Bakugou's grenade gauntlets before he could finish his thought. The blonde grinned maniacally, trying to psych himself up.

"Shut. Your goddamn mouth. I don't need anyone else. Not you, not my class, and not your fucking pity party backup dancers! I will be a hero on my own merits! Because HEROES NEVER LOSE! THEY NEVER SAY DIE? AND NEITHER DO-"

Bakugou's incomplete speech was punctuated by a hole in the side of a nearby building, where he lay lightly buried by rubble.

"Look… I'm going to sound like a broken record.We both can't stand each other…but if we want to win, we have to get through this." Izuku exhaled sharply, feeling like his insides had been tossed into a cement mixer and shoved back down his throat.

 "I'm not sorry for alot of our interactions lately. I felt in the past I was too lenient for your treatment of me, at least after i found people who didnt tell me to kill myself… but I didn't want to ruin your life and get you kicked out. I think somehow that wouldn't have helped things."

"I don't have to do jack shit with you, asshole." Bakugou seethed. "I honestly found you less insufferable when you still called me 'kacchan' like we were still toddlers."

"Are you two children done wailing at each other so I can wail on you? I think I'll start with freckles here."

Izuku eyed the grenade gauntlet. Knowing how Bakugou's quirk worked, he had his suspicions on how to operate the device.

"You can go back to hating me after this, but I'm not going to fail here." Izuku gritted his teeth and hoped his words would not come back to bite him.

"You want to kick me like a pebble down the road to victory, but this pebble kicks back!"

The grenade went soaring like a soccer ball towards All-Might.

"Oh? A gift for me?" All-Might prepared a windup to deliver a massive punch. He couldn't help but smile, but was probably setting himself up for disappointment. It all hinged in what happened next.

"I hate your guts, Deku, but I admit. You got balls." Bakugou hissed as he exploded the gauntlet in his teacher's face, completely tearing the mask. The blonde boy would have to deal with that steampunk maniac later for a replacement gauntlet but he would make Izuku pay first.

"Good news, boys. What's the terminology you kids use again?oh, that's right! You just unlocked my second health bar!"

"Holy…"

"Fuck."

"Watch your mouths or papa's gonna spank…but that does sum it up about right!" The old pro's eyes glowed with demonic levels of determination.  He was held back, but even those devices held their limits. Even as he lost his power after giving his quirk away, All-Might had no intention of going easy on the boys.

It was all a flash and a blur and an explosion of the senses as All-Might laid into them. Bakugou got up and roared in one last ditch effort, while Izuku cried out and was beaten into the rubble. It almost felt symbolic, except Mina wasn't there to pick him back up.

Mina…

 He wouldn't get to go to the camp with her.

Izuku cursed himself. He tried, but it was too little too late. It was too hard to let go of all that trauma. He hoped it could fuel him, but in the end, he was just now reading the instructions five minutes before the buzzer. Sure enough, that klaxon sounded and smothered any flicker of hope left. It felt like a bad dream. Everything went quiet except for a ringing in Izuku's ears, like a bomb had exploded nearby. It felt like childhood.

The time limit had ended, a buzzer signifying the occasion. All-Might looked at the timer and felt the weight of it hit him. Normally, he would go "oops. I got a little out of hand," and just laugh it off, but he couldn't.  Not now. The man looked at the two boys and shook his head solemnly.

"Ah kid…sorry." The symbol of peace reached out a hand, trying to find the words to comfort his young ward. Alas, it was too soon and all too raw.

Izuku slumped to the ground in defeat, bruised, bloodied, and beside himself. "No…don't be…it's my fault. I…need to be alone for a bit…" 

Sitting there against the juxtaposition of the Nedzu arch spelling it out comically, Reality crashed down and crushed the boy in disappointment. He let All-Might down. He let his friends down. He let Mina down.

He had tried to put aside the past and do what was expected but it was far too late for such a big task. He almost wished Bakugou was awake to beat him up. He wouldn't have even lifted a finger. It's how it all began, after all: With them on bad terms.

Dusting himself off, the green-haired boy walked towards the exit, cursing himself. Bakugou was out cold, utterly battered, inside and out.

Elsewhere, on a screen within the main monitor station, Mina Ashido watched in shock as the unthinkable happened. She felt tears run down her cheek before hitting the floor. 

Mina rushed out the door, past her friends, in hopes of comforting her boyfriend, but it all felt like a rock to the chest as reality set in.

Katsuki Bakugou and Izuku Midoriya had failed the practical exam.

Chapter Text

After the fight against All-Might, Izuku had left the hospital setup where Bakugou was still unconscious. 

It took gentle coaxing, but he was eventually led to the observation room. He found himself unable to resist as his girlfriend took him by the hand. He sat on the floor almost immediately, having lost the will to even stand.

Mina bit her thumb, trying not to cry. Izuku looked utterly dejected, barely paying attention to the remaining fights. His spark was fizzled out at the moment, with any attempts by Mina to get him invested falling short.

"Water whip girl is kinda in over her head, dontcha think? Her attitude isn't helping anything."

"Yeah…" Izuku half heartedly responded, slumping against the wall like an old doll. 

Tsuyu commented as well, noticing something peculiar about the match. "Kind of a weird match. Her quirk is not as effective on women, right? Maybe they are stretched thin, ribbit. What do you think, Izuku?"  

He muttered to himself, nobody understanding exactly what he was saying. They all just looked at each other, then the screen. 

The fight played out like an entrance exam for Togeike and a final for Kodai. It was certainly an interesting juxtaposition, as Izuku would say.

He sat silently, looking at the floor while the action took place. Midnight was on screen, facing Kodai and Togeike as they put a plan into action. It seemed as though, even with one girl being silent and the other being so cold and rude, they were able to execute a plan to wash the experienced pro away. The idea of using a nutshell as cover and water to dispel the pheromones was certainly not a bad one.

Mina was enamored at seeing one of her favorite heroes in action, but still felt compelled to cheer her schoolmates on. Granted, Togeike did not leave a good first or even second impression, and she didn't really know Yanagi, but wanting others to do their best trumped that.

She looked over to see if Izuku was scribbling notes or making commentary. Instead, he merely sat against the wall, watching the screens in silence. His gaze was affixed to the monitors, but almost seemed to look through them, as if his mind was elsewhere.

The fight with Momo and class 1B's Honenuki was also quite the interesting team-up, with them  managing to snag a win thanks to quick, flexible thinking and a solid plan from 1A's class president. Izuku watched as his fellow class rep struggled with her own insecurities about failure. He wondered if he could find a way to overcome it. Was he jealous? He didn't want to believe he was, and yet there it was. He felt pathetic.

Izuku had seen the whole battle. It was like an inverse of his own: a class rep from 1A going in with confidence issues and coming out the other end more successful. They worked out a plan to get Aizawa to blink, then knocked the underground hero off balance and coaxed him onto the ground. 

It took a while, with neither student having much chemistry with each other at first. However, as they progressed, they were able to formulate a winning strategy. As much as it pained the green-haired boy to admit, he was jealous and remorseful, even if he knew he didn’t need to be. Either way, he sat against the wall, accompanied soon after by Mina, Tsuyu, and Kirishima. Ochako, Iida, and Todoroki shortly accompanied him as well until the exams ended and they all parted ways for home.

X

When they returned to class for the final time before Summer break and the trip, Izuku felt determined. At least, he was in one regard: he needed on-site therapy. 

He set out to ask his homeroom teacher for advice. Naturally, the man assumed it was something else, bristling as he denied his student in advance. 

"Midoriya, I can't just allow a retest, nor can I waive the results, even if you did win the Sports Festival." Aizawa stated, shuffling some papers as he headed to the Teacher's lounge to grab some juice.

The green-haired teen objected, barely able to look his teacher in the eye. "That's not it, sorry. I actually want to start seeing the school counselor when we return to class. I have…I have a lot to work through. I thought I had it handled but this exam made it quite clear how untrue that is…If I need to do remedial classes during my trip to I Island…or even give up my plane ticket so I can focus on studies, I will. I need to do better."

The exhausted teacher looked his student over, seeing the remorse on the boy's face, alongside a sort of desperate resolve that was trying and failing to keep itself together.

With everything this problem child had been through, alongside his other classmates after USJ, he couldn't help but sympathize. And yet, the teacher could not let his student know that. Class was about to start soon, plus he had to meet with the student he had been tutoring before a quick meeting about the Training Camp.

"Pick your head off the floor. We have class soon. I want you to pay attention during the start of class. That will be a start. As for your other requests, approved and denied. Now sit down. Class will start soon. I'll be back."

Mina watched sadly as her boyfriend slumped to his seat. Kaminari, Ibara, and Sato were among the other failing students and had done their best to provide comfort through solidarity.

As always, however, Mina tried to console her boyfriend, with their usual circle of friends doing their best too.

"It's ok, Zuzu! The Green team is here to make you beam!" The pink girl cheered before realizing that at least two other green beans were missing as they were in another class.

"I thought we agreed on Fun Gang, ribbit!" Tsuyu croaked, adding levity despite her reputation for being more blunt and less jovial. Even still, her friends were tense and she wanted them to smile.

Mina watched it all nervously. She didn't want her boyfriend to be overwhelmed.

"Feels more like a Dekusquad…because I'm a loser. Sorry for bringing you all down. I shouldn't have insulted you all like that. I let you all down already."

Tsuyu eyed her friend with worry, as did Ochako and Kirishima. He was like a completely different person at that moment. Someone had heard enough, however.

"No. None of that!" Mina proclaimed, pointing at her dejected boyfriend before she bent over onto his desk and pushed her curly hair into his. Normally, she would rain tiny blows upon her boyfriend or tickle him, but this seemed the more appropriate tactic.

The bell rang and Aizawa snapped into action, grabbing everyone's attention. Class could begin properly.

"Everyone is here, so stop the nonsense. The bell rang so go sit down. Now, unfortunately, some of you failed. One of you is actually one of our best students and vice president. I expect more of you and disciplinary action will be discussed. As such…"

Eyes fell upon Izuku, who was too deflated to even shrink in his seat. He merely cringed with regret and watched his teacher with a glassed-over gaze. That was about to change, at least a little. 

"Everyone is going to the Forest Lodge. Everyone had already passed the written exam. As for the Practical, four of you failed in this class. Class 1B is getting a similar rundown, even if their fail rate for the practical is less than ours. Those who failed will be taking remedial classes, going over their weak points and improving them until they can't stand anymore."

"So this was all," Tsuyu piped up, wondering out loud if this was all a lie. She was soon to be proven correct.

"It was a logical ruse. If we just told you that the practical had no bearing, you wouldn't have taken things as seriously. Besides, as laid out in the practical themselves, you will encounter surprise situations in the field without prior knowledge. USJ cemented that lesson and some of you have had encounters beyond that."

"With all due respect, with repeated lies coming from you, trust is starting to erode." Iida raised his hand in polite objection, followed by Yaoyorozu.

“I must similarly object. While I can understand the motive was to light a fire under us and force us to take it more seriously, the fact remains that trust is an important factor in all this, as well as communication. Sorry for speaking out of line, but it must be said,” The class president finished. Izuku was mostly silent, but there were a few mutterings in agreement towards that end.

"That may be. I will consider that. Anyway, this will be a bootcamp, so don't expect all campfires and cookouts. I'm going to lay out what you should all be bringing on the trip. Yaoyorozu, hand out these checklists please. After this is over, you'll have swimming exercises to help with endurance."

Everyone quieted in their seats, with many feeling relieved by both the realization that they could go on the school trip, and that they would get to beat the heat today. Izuku, however, was still locked in his own mind.

X

The pool training came and went, with Togeike opting out to say goodbye to her Gen Ed friends. The rest of the class had engaged in some spirited races using their quirks.

Izuku, however, hung back, half heartedly kicking his feet in the shallow end of the pool. After a while, he had gone into the locker room to change back into his uniform and meet Aizawa, who had already been waiting.

"Thanks for meeting me after class, Mr. Aizawa. You said we had to talk about my student leadership?" Izuku asked flatly, the life gone from his voice. It had returned as a spark when he found out he would still get to go to the training camp. And yet his failure still weighed him down.

Just as Aizawa was about to discuss the repercussions of the test results with his student, Mina opened the door and allowed 1A in.

"We can't allow this." Momo interrupted. "Sorry for the rudeness. I felt the need to embody the urgency of the situation."

Aizawa stood up, as if he was about to say something or send his class out of the room. Instead, he listened, his body language speaking something Izuku was barely able to make out. 

"I agree with the class president. In the past, I would have been more staunch in my respect for such positions. Representatives must embody the best of us and showcase all the qualities a good leader must have. You showed me, however, that even the best can falter but that they are not out of reach. It's for this reason that, as honored as I am, I cannot accept the position, nor can I accept resignation." Iida raised his voice to speak, throwing in his thoughts on the matter.

Izuku shook his head. He would have felt touched by everything being said in his defense, but unfortunately he was too numb to feel it. "You heard, Aizawa. Besides, I can't set a good example after this. I failed so many people."

Kaminari chimed in. "Hey, I'm not a class rep. Nobody would vote for me if I paid them."

"You said it, Jamming whey, not me." Jirou teased, gently elbowing her friend. She couldn't resist the urge to tease her friend.

"Shush. Continue, Kaminari" Momo pressed a finger to the punk girl's lips to silence her.

"Thanks, Yaomomo. But yeah, Midoriya failed. So what? The fact that he is here with us, feeling the pain makes me support him more. If he had passed, he would probably be obnoxiously cheerful, but supportive. And I think he's still got it "

"Are you all finished interrupting a private conversation or do I have to expel you?" Aizawa stated harshly, shutting everyone else up. He set his eyes upon Izuku again and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. 

Clearing his throat, 1A's homeroom teacher resumed speaking. "Anyway, listen. Your fears are understandable but unfounded. If you're a leader among your peers, it's true that more is expected. 

However, even leaders fail. Heroes are not infallible and even if there is a certain amount of societal pressure, it's how we respond and grow that matters. Midoriya will stay as vice president but he will be on thin ice. Just because leaders aren't infallible doesn't give them liberty to keep messing up. Now if everyone can clear out..."

As everyone started to disperse, they muttered amongst themselves. As always, Aizawa was gruff, but not monstrous.

"Thanks…All of you. I really wish this provided more comfort, but I need to think a bit." Izuku bowed tearfully and made his way out the door.

"Jeesh. He's really taking it hard. I know he failed but so did I and you don't see me-" Kaminari rubbed the back of his head, gaining a punch in the arm from a very disgruntled pink girl. She soon settled down and explained.

"They have…a bad history. Him and Bakugou. I… I'm going to go talk to him." Mina rushed off after the green-haired boy, who had walked slowly towards All-Might's office.

As the pink girl left and the others followed suit, Aizawa looked down at his phone contacts, pulling up the names of Vlad King and Hound Dog.

X

The pink girl kicked herself. She almost went off on Kaminari. He didn't know. How could he? But it still pissed her off. And yet, as much as she wanted to defend her boyfriend's honor, it was not her secret to tell or her baggage to air. She might have been involved after a certain point, and even been privy to stories her boyfriend was not quick to share with anyone else. 

But that was just it. They were his stories to tell and she would not tell them without his consent.

"I am here…to check on my boyfriend." 

"Hey babe. Sorry for worrying you." Izuku smiled weakly, trying to appear strong.

"Welcome, you two. I had actually wanted to talk to Midoriya. I suppose I should let you in too."

"Is that ok, Izuku?" Mina asked.

The green-haired boy nodded silently and exhaled. It was admittedly a relief that things would work out in a way, and yet he still felt deflated. Sure, it all worked out. He should have realized that Aizawa would do something like this. Why did he feel so hollow? 

"Sorry, Mina. If I had just tried to keep it together better or had even just had Bakugou expelled..."

Mina said nothing as she flicked her boyfriend's nose, then pulled him into a big hug. Finally, she spoke.

"It'll be OK. We're still spending a couple days on I Island for I Expo, then headed back to Japan for the training camp, right? That's like a whole mess of fun we're gonna have. “

When Izuku didn’t respond, the pink girl paused for a moment, then spoke again. She knew from his face that he had acknowledged her. He was just still feeling down.

“You and I are going to come out of this so much stronger, we'll be pros before you knows!" Mina gently punched her boyfriend's arm; then stretched out lethargically. "Man, I am going to be so jetlagged but it's going to be so worth it. And then we can check out the fireworks festival"

"Yeah…" Izuku said silently, not looking up from his phone. He had asked for his strategies to be reviewed and for a full analysis of his practical exam so he could figure out what to improve. In the end, he already knew the answer.

"Izuku…" Mina whispered sympathetically.

"I should be relieved I get to still go to the training camp, right? That I still get to spend time with you there and at I Island. So why do I still feel so…disappointed in myself?"

All-Might took a seat next to his young ward, deciding to step in and give guidance.

"She's right. You should relax a bit. Aizawa and I spoke with Vlad King and we are working something out. We have to remain impartial, especially as nobody else is getting such a chance. But I wanted to ask you: What is it that made it hard to work with young Bakugou?"

"I TRIED! YOU SAW! I…Sorry. I…I can't though. God, I'm still defending him even after all this time.  Things truly haven't changed. If I had just come clean. I was worried about denying someone's potential or…or somehow him becoming a villain…"

"Midoriya…"

"Did you know he once told me to take a swan dive off the roof and hope I was born with a quirk in my next life? Or that he beat me up constantly and the teachers did nothing? Neither the police. I mean, I didn't really go to them except once but they didn't exactly take it seriously then."

All-Might winced, then softened. That explained what they were arguing about. He knew that the boy had trauma but had admittedly not asked about it very often. Hound Dog was more qualified for that sort of thing, but the point still stood. As a mentor, he had to do better.

"I could have saved myself and everyone the trouble. Maybe I would have passed. Doesn't matter though. I am still allowed to participate in the training camp. I'm just going to be stuck behind with him. And then, when classes resume, I'm going to see Hound Dog."

All-Might gritted his teeth. He knew the option that was already floated around was for the two boys to be paired up in remedial studies in the hopes of reaching understanding. And yet, based on what he had heard, that would just exacerbate things.

"I hoped that maybe…getting to go to UA and meeting people who could temper him and get him to chill out would help him. I really am a bone head. I rewarded him for past behavior because I thought 'it would be a shame for him to not get a chance. He has potential to be a hero', as if heroism is all about strength or badassery… It's just…so ironic. He was my vision of what victory looked like for so long and then I ended up failing while working with him. I should have just punched him out and dragged him to the exit."

"Midoriya…I know you're feeling down on yourself. You failed the practical test, true. But do not get discouraged."

"..."

Mina helped Izuku up, leading him out of the office. Meanwhile, All-Might sat in silence, contemplating what he had learned. He knew he wasn't doing the best job as a mentor, but he wished to improve. 

"Can't even inspire and uplift anymore. I really am losing my touch."

X

The entirety of Class A arrived at the Kiashi Ward Mall, though Togeike opted to wander off on her own. She wasn't here to socialize. Still, if she was to be part of this class, she supposed she should acclimate. Mina had suggested the idea, and Yaoyorozu had put it to a vote as to whether or not to invite their new classmate. While some were hesitant, including Togeike herself, it was decided that she would come to the Mall with them.

"You're new, right? This training camp will be useful for you as well." Yaoyorozu offered a hand of welcoming to the cold-eyed girl. She shrugged and stepped away from the offered hand.

"I'm actually going to be in the remedial classes with the failures. It's embarrassing, but I suppose that's what happens when I enter the hero course at the end of the term. They want to break me in since I'm not a danger magnet yet." The girl spat coldly. She coughed into her hand. "At least It's just catching me up on things. Anyway, I will go off on my own and get what I need. I know the way. I work here."

Mina frowned at that, then noticed as everyone started doing their own thing. She felt like she was in her element and would love to plan something else like this one day. For now, there were other priorities. Looking at her boyfriend, who was still feeling down, she remembered something. 

"Hey Izuku, you want to come with me to pick up our games?"

"I'm actually going to grab us some food. We can split up and I'll find a table. It will be kind of crowded there anyway."

"The whole mall is kind of crowded though," Mina pouted. "Are you sure?"

"I know. I'll be fine. I promise. I'll meet you at the food court. I just…"

"It's ok. I got you. Everything is gonna be OK. Because I am here."

Izuku gave a sad smile to the pink girl. He had felt like he let her down, as if her support right now was masking disappointment and shame. He knew better, but his guilt and frustration were not making it easy.

As he headed for the food court, he could feel eyes on him. He figured it was just anxiety exacerbated by  the situation. 

His intuition was correct, however. A familiar presence had set out that day to clear his head. He did not seek the heroes out, but serendipity had other plans. The hooded figure locked eyes upon his prey and approached. 

"Oh hey, get out! It's one of those UA kids! I think it's the one who won the Sports Festival! Can I get your autograph?"

Izuku said nothing, not in the mood for such discussions. He was still getting used to attention after the Sports Festival, but today, he had shut down. The hooded man had other plans, however. As he wrapped an arm around the teen boy's shoulder, the figure gripped him by the neck.

"No wait…Come to think of it, I remember you from someplace else. This can't be a coincidence, no. I think, actually, it just might be fate," The villain grinned malevolently. "Let’s have a nice chat. I want to ask you some questions."

"Is…is it about chapstick?" Izuku spat morosely. 

"I literally have you by the throat and can turn your skin to ash. Don't fuck with me." Shigaraki snarled, not in the mood for bullshit.

"Why not?" The green-haired boy deadpanned, not in the mood to fight anyway. Shigaraki's grip tightened, with his index finger hovering just above the boy's skin.

"What's with you, kid? I would advise you to listen or I’ll dissolve your throat, then the rest of you." The villain growled, getting rather fed up with the responses he was getting. He was already pent up to begin with. This was making it worse.

"Do it then. What's stopping you?"

The villain grinned in a haunting manner, his immensely chapped lips giving off the vibe of an undead ghoul. “Morbid. But you know I could probably kill 20-30 people before anyone stops me. Would you really let all those people die because of some tough guy death wish?"

Izuku hesitated, then listened reluctantly to his captor. He was tense, but he had little choice at the moment. "S-Spit it out," the green-haired boy choked as he humored his would-be kidnapper.

"That's a good little hero I knew you'd see it my way. Let's find a nice quiet place to talk in private, shall we?"

Shigaraki escorted his erstwhile hostage to one of the planter benches nearby, then sat them both down. Once he felt secure, he continued.

"There we go. Now, as for what's bothering me, well, I just don't get it. Everyone obsessed over All-Might, then the hero killer. I'm doing pretty much the same thing as Stain, right? Killing and destroying shit I don't like. What separates him from me? I brought the Nomu, they set Hosu on fire and spread chaos through the city. We even ended up on the news and yet all everyone talks about is Stain. People show up at my door. Stain Stain Stain. I turn on the TV or the radio or go to the mall and I see the same shit. It pisses me off." The wiry framed madman ranted, slowly starting to lose it.

Izuku waited for the villain to stop, then when he was certain it was his turn to speak, he did.

"I don't agree with the hero killer…in fact there was something I wanted to say to him and I couldn't get the words out. Probably for the best. But you, you're just kind of angry and ranty and you act like a child with all this power and no direction. Nobody will remember you after the novelty wears off."

Shigaraki moved his finger closer to Izuku's throat. The Green-haired boy continued, nonplussed.

"Stain has conviction though, a creed. He has a code and an endgame and that resonates with people, even if it scares them. It's like a dark charisma. All-Might is the pillar of our society. Stain believes that society needs to be purged in order to strengthen that pillar. To kill those he sees as corrupting the ideal. You get what I'm saying?"

"Yes. I think I see it all clearly."

"Good. I just want to eat lunch with my girlfriend and go home after she picks our games up.."

"Fine by me. I wanted to kill her too…wait. What game?"

"It's called 'Lay a single dusty finger on her and one of us will be down a hand 64'. You better get out of here. I gave you what you want, now go."

"I see I struck a nerve. See, that helped cheer me up a bit. Glad to know that something can get under your skin. Good to know when I rot it away."

“I see it all now. I get why you and Stain piss me off so much, and why these people are so careless and complacent in their little world, despite the threat my Nomu posed. It all goes back to All-Might.  Thanks for listening. And for the advice. I don’t need you anymore..”

X

Moments earlier…

Mina waited in line, eager to get the games so that she could eat lunch with Izuku and resume shopping. Normally, she would want to reconvene with the whole gang, or as much of it as possible. She might even comment on how close Momo and Jirou seem, especially after she and Izuku gave the former some advice. 

And yet, now, she was worried. Izuku was not exactly in high spirits, even after finding out he could go to the training camp. Shoes could wait, as could gossip and adventure. Her boyfriend needed her. What would her aunt do? Or her big sis? Granted, they were both gay, but it still felt like a valid question to ask herself.

"But maybe he also needs space…Ugh. I wish I knew what to do." Mina ruffled her hair in frustration, hoping to jostle a few brain cells into action.

"You can start by moving in line before people just step around you. There's a huge gap. Jeez."

"Oh, right. Sorry." Mina blustered before heading up in line. It had escaped her gaze, with everything that was on her mind, that a significant portion of the customers had moved up.

"He gets it. Heroism doesn't mean anything anymore. It's oversaturated with people only in it for money and glory. It's a cancer and he was the one who set out to cut it out like a devil's surgeon…You look familiar by the way"

"Oh…um, yeah. I was at the Sports Festival. Might have seen me there, or in the background on the news with Airjet."

"Pathetic. Posers and corporate whores, all of you. At least Stain looks to change it, to be that domino that falls and shakes society to its core."

"Oh, um…ok, dude. Sorry. I think you mixed up your metaphors?" Mina moved up in the line, slightly unnerved by the way this young man was speaking. He had to have been in his early to mid 20s.

"Society is a facade. Do you know it still treats heteromorphs with suspicion and disdain?"

Mina paused, feeling those words hit close to home. She hadn't encountered a lot of it growing up, but a few anti-mutant types had given her shit in her life, enough to stick with her. "Then I'll change it with a smile."

Mina did her best All-Might impression, though it was nowhere near as good as Izuku's yet. She would get there eventually.

"How naive…but commendable. I like the All Might impression. It's a shame he is involved in helping guide the next generation of such a phony institution like UA."

Mina made it to the counter and picked up her game, as well as Izuku’s. “Thank you for the talk, dude. Don’t badmouth my school, though. All-Might has been a great teacher, and I'll show you what a great hero my boyfriend and I will be.”

The young man thought for a moment, then addressed his fellow gamer. “That’s right. He was the green-haired boy, right? The one who faced Stain. He was acknowledged as a true hero.”

“I’ll be sure to tell him. I gotta go meet up with him. I’m famished. Later, man.” And thus Mina left the young lizard man to pick up his game, further pulling up his hoodie so that he could go incognito.

X

Back near Izuku's predicament…

Ochako watched as her friend was held by the throat by a creepy guy in a hoodie. She had just gone off to buy a suitcase. She needed a new one and was on a budget, but luckily Tsuyu had helped her find one.

"Is that…Please let go of him." Her voice got shaken and dark for a moment. Before she could approach further, a familiar blur of pink zoomed past and latched onto Izuku. Ochako smiled, knowing her friends had reunited, but still had to call the Police, just to be safe.

Mina, however, had glomped onto Izuku’s arm. "Babe! There you are. Was wondering where you got off to. Thank goodness."

"Mina…Please…Call…"

Her eyes met Shigaraki's and she could feel her blood run cold. Sweat started to sizzle in her palms as she contemplated her next move carefully. She could not use her quirk like this without licensure, lest she end up in the back of a cop car. Nobody but her and Izuku suspected who the hooded man was, save for possibly Ochako.

"Hey, do I know you from somewhere?" Mina narrowed her eyes at the pale young man who had her boyfriend by the neck. "You kind of have a grip on his throat.”

The girl grabbed the man’s arm, melting small holes in the fabric as she tugged on the sleeve. She didn’t want to get in trouble, but also wanted to get the point across. Either way, it was risky.

While all this was happening, the reptilian man from earlier was walking by up above, watching intensely as he saw a standoff occur while everyone else went about their day oblivious. He looked upon the shock of hair peeking out from the hoodie and narrowed his eyes in contemplation before walking off with his goods. He didn’t want to get caught if the cops were called.

“Oh. I see. He’s your boyfriend, and your friend?” Shigaraki put on an act, speaking to both Mina and Ochako loud enough for everyone to hear. He was right. He could have killed all three, as well as a few dozen more. However, he was here to clear his head, not bring the cops down on him while he was out for a walk. He had a lot to think about, either way. “My apologies. Was just asking him directions. I’ll be on my way.”

"Jeez, guys. What was up with him." Ochako blinked. "Was that really…that guy?" The brunette whispered the last part, as if it was forbidden knowledge. 

"Yeah. But he's gone now. Thanks for calling the police. They'll be able to handle it. Kind of a bummer that the trip ended prematurely. Did you get everything you need, Chako?"

"What I could on a budget. Had to dip into my food budget a bit. Iida helped me pay for some things."

"Oooo. Rich nerdy boyfriend?" Mina teased, unable to resist. As expected, her friend took the bait and wriggled awkwardly.

"W-wait, what? No, it's not like… s-shut up." Ochako turned as red as a tomato and felt herself start to float a little.

"Hey, no worries. Just messin' around, right, Izu? Izu?" Mina smiled and turned to face her boyfriend, but he had already had a head start, walking past Iida and Kaminari on the way.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to be rude. The cops will probably want to talk to us. We should go." Izuku turned around to address the two girls he had been with before. They hurriedly ran towards him to keep up.

While the cops were called and friends gathered around Izuku, Shigaraki walked briskly and discreetly towards an alternate exit where he could make it back to base. He was caught off guard by an unfamiliar voice.

“Hey…You’re the guy who released those things in Hosu, right? The one who is in league with the Hero Killer?”

“What if I am?” The villain looked over at the reptilian man, wearing a similar hoodie and trying to keep a low profile.

“I want in. With the League…if you’ll have me that is.” The young man  requested, his voice brimming with conviction.

“And why should I?” The other man raised an eyebrow in irritation. He could kill this idiot and be on his way, and yet he was curious. Perhaps they did need allies, but he at least wanted a say in who joined, even if they were similarly inspired by that pious jackass, Stain.

“I got the game. Not only that, but I will be an asset in battle. I'll tell you my experience in battle on the way.” The nameless youth patted his guitar case, jostling the contents inside with a metallic clang.

"Fine. Whatever. Follow me and stay close." Shigaraki growled, leading his new recruit into the darkness as they evaded police.

X

Following the encounter, the mall was evacuated and temporarily closed down while the police did a full sweep. Izuku and Mina were brought in for questioning at the police station, having been the ones to last see Shigaraki. There had also been Ochako, but she had only seen the tail end and called the cops.

Izuku sat in a folding chair as he contemplated what had occurred. He still couldn't believe that he was so bent out of shape, he was willing to die. His senses felt dulled, where normally he would have so many questions about it.

Instead, he promptly answered all of Tsukauchi's questions, leaving nothing out. He recounted everything, at least the relevant bits in regards to the investigation. He didn't need to vent his frustrations to the detective. He would go to therapy for that.

Next it was Mina's turn. Given that she had used her quirk slightly, she felt a bit anxious, but otherwise happily complied.

"We got Midoriya's testimony. It wasn't much we didn't already know, but it still helped clarify some things. You arrived on the scene after, but did you notice anything?" Tsukauchi stated calmly, handing Mina a small cup of water. She looked up, having been distracted by her own thoughts.

"Not really, aside from him glaring daggers at Izuku and I. He really wanted us dead. I think Izu mentioned afterwards that he said 'people at my door'?"

"He mentioned that too. It's not much, unfortunately but it's something."

"I figured. I wonder if the dude I met at the game store was one of those folks. He looked like he had a guitar case on him but it sounded like it was filled with knives.  He was talking about the Hero Killer a lot but I feel like that isn't much to go off of."

"Hmmm. Unfortunately, it's not. Even regular citizens are buying merchandise based on the hero killer in light of current events. And he could have just had money on his guitar case"

"Maybe. We did talk about games a bit and anti-heteromorph sentiment. He was pretty into the Stain stuff though."

As Mina and Izuku exited the Police station, they were greeted by All-Might, who had come to speak to the detective anyway.

"You kids must be famished. How about I take you out for a meal, My treat."

"No thanks. I'm not hungry…" Izuku looked aside, sorrowful. His stomach told another, louder story however. "...I'll help you with the tip."

As the three of them entered All-Might's car, the two teens piled into the back seat to sit next to each other. For a moment, Izuku considered sitting shotgun. However, he felt almost unworthy in the moment. That and Mina felt like his emotional tether at the time.

He hesitated before exhaling a haggard breath. "Hey, All-Might? Have you ever failed to save someone?"

"Yes, of course. There are places and times I couldn't have been there to help. I'm only one person. Even I can fail sometimes."

Izuku should have felt comforted, knowing that even his idol was a human who made mistakes. Nobody was perfect, after all. Plus, both were born quirkless, another point of similarity.

But instead, all he felt was an intense pressure to do better and not to mess up. Logic was screaming at him that the point wasn't to strive for perfection. And yet, it's all he could focus on.

Mina patted his knee and looked into his eyes. "Zuzu… It's ok."

The boy started to feel a wave of emotion come on, but he merely sighed as he rested his head on the car door. "No it's…Sorry. I'm sorry. I was out of line. I'm just feeling kind of empty right now. Might not even be up to play the game when I get home."

"Well hopefully some food will help. You've got good company, babe. We'll take care of you."

"Thank you…I appreciate you both, so much. I'm blessed…Sorry for taking you for granted."

"Don't sweat it, kid. You'll bounce back. These trips will help with that." All-Might gave a thumbs up to his student before turning back around to start the car. With a hum of the engine, the party drove out onto the road, headed for a family restaurant.

Mina nudged her boyfriend and gave him a peck on the cheek. "You heard the big guy, Izu. We've got you."

Izuku rested in his seat, trying not to let his insecurities and depression consume him before he could consume something himself.

The three eventually pulled up in front of a fancy looking eatery, like the one you would find in an American postcard, except it seemed to have been housed within an old movie theater. The sign above the door read "Blue Harvest".

As the trio entered, All-Might introduced the place to his young wards. Mina's eyes twinkled as she looked at all the film props and theater style decorations. Even Izuku couldn't help but smile, seeing her excitement on full display. "This place is great. Thought you might enjoy it. I actually come in here when I run out of steam in my muscle form."

The three were seated almost instantly. Mina opened the menu and was in awe of both the American style foods and Japanese classics, all named after various movies. 

Mina opted for a dish called "My Neighbor Natto-ro", which was showcased in the menu as being her favorite food in the shape of a whimsical creature. Izuku ordered a spider-man themed burger called the "Kobe Maguire". It was just within the limits of the diet All-Might had set for him when he had first started, but the pro was still concerned for his young ward.

The man himself ordered the "Francese Ford Coppola", having had a craving for Italian out of nowhere. I can't eat as much because of what happened to my stomach, but I can still enjoy a good meal. Plus they have a lot of film memorabilia. It's got a nice atmosphere. You should come here on Weekends, they have film screenings of some of the classics."

"Like the Alien series!" Mina squeaked excitedly. She was always looking for fun things to do and this definitely fell within that category.

"Only the good ones," All-Might winked, happy to be the cool teacher.

The two spoke the entire time, with Izuku mostly keeping quiet, wondering if it would be better if he wasn't there. He was happy they got along, and he supposed he could just chime in as well, but his heart just wasn't  in it.

The boy was instantly jostled out of it by the warmth of Mina's hand over his. He really needed to take her on another proper date to show how much he appreciated her right now. Maybe the two of them could go here for their anniversary, or to celebrate their birthdays. 

As the food arrived, so did a strange girl from a few tables over. She had been likely sitting with some classmates. Izuku noticed the other teens looking at their table out of the corner of his eye but was too tired to care. They seemed to be from another school, but he couldn't tell without their uniforms. 

What was hard to ignore was the large, green skinned girl with yellow eyes and sharp teeth running towards their table like an excitable puppy.

"You're Midoriya, right? The one who won the Sports Festival right?"

He still felt exhausted, and yet the hairs on Izuku's arm stood on end. He had already been recognized today and that had gone poorly. At least he wasn't alone. He would humor them for now.

"I guess? Who are you?" Izuku asked cautiously, raising an eyebrow.

"Emi Waniago. I go to Ketsubutsu. One of your former classmates transferred into my class. Mineta." The girl stated in a cheery manner, contrasting with her large frame. She looked like she could break his arm like a twig, but with the kind of personality where she would apologize right after.

Izuku looked up from his meal. He was wondering what the other boy had gotten up to. Hopefully nothing too obscene. "Oh. Is he doing well?"

Emi slumped a little and rubbed the back of her head. "Well…He's a nasty little pervert, but I've been keeping him in check. Someone's gotta! My girlfriend went to junior high with you. Anyway, we should fight?"

"Sounds about right. Also, no thank you." Izuku took a bite of his burger, chewing it quietly as he looked the green girl over. "Not in The best mood. Sorry."

Emi laughed softly and shook her head, looking a bit embarrassed.

"Hey. No worries. Not like we can use our quirks without licenses. Plus we don't go to the same school. But yeah, I thought I should ask. I just saw how cool you were in your fights and I was like `I wanna tussle with him'. Sorry for interrupting your meal. I must seem weird. Enjoy the food." The girl motioned to leave but snapped back around, as if she had just remembered something. "Oh right! You did pretty great too, Ashido right?"

Mina gave a peace sign and smiled brightly. "Yep yep. That's me! You heard of me?"

"I mean, you were at the Sports Festival, plus on TV with Airjet." Emi responded with equal energy.

The pink girl pondered as she took another bite of her meal. "Yeah…Wait, was your girlfriend the messy brunette with the wind quirk?"

Emi grinned even brighter. "Got it in one. Glad to know you've heard of me. Hopefully only good things.  Anyway, I should let you go..sorry to bother you. Enjoy the food. My friends are probably going all 'What is she doing? Is she bothering those people?' and I don't want to worry them."

The hulking green girl spun around and headed back to her friends, leaving Mina amused and Izuku perplexed. Before they could ask each other what just happened, the green girl spoke once more, this time in a more serious tone.

"Hey…one more question…When you were attacked at USJ, was there a big guy who was kinda green and scaley like me, but kinda sharply dressed?"

All-Might spoke up this time, remembering his last talk with Gran Torino, as well as that day at USJ. "I see…I thought I recognized that name. You must be the daughter of the notorious Gang boss, Crocodile King."

"Yeah…I don't like letting people know that though. I mean, I haven't changed my name, so it's inferred, but I still keep it low key. Sorry for getting weirdly personal to strangers," Emi looked at the ground, as if lost in thought. It caught Izuku's eye, as if behind her goofy and brash behavior was a mission. He could admire that. The girl's demeanor once again shifted to a more casual tone. "Wait…Skinny dude…Are you Ashido's dad? You have similar eyes kinda."

All-Might laughed softly and held up a hand. "No, no. I'm…a family friend. I drove these two here to celebrate the end of their first term at UA. The name's Yagi Toshinori."

"I see. Awesome! Well, anyway, see ya later, alligators. I mean, I'm the alligator here I guess but, um. Yeah. Right. Sorry. Bye."

Izuku sat on that revelation, thinking of his own father at that moment. He wondered if the man would be proud, or if he would even care.

Once the girl had left, he ate the rest of his burger slowly while Mina and All-Might finished their meals as well.

Unbeknownst to the group, a large imposing man watched from across the street, incognito in a black trenchcoat and Fedora, as well as a scarf to hide his face. It was sweltering, but he could take it.

"Well now. That's convenient." The man grinned to himself, then took out his phone and made a call. He was here on personal business, but was due to report to the League soon. He decided to check in with what was left of his empire, so that he could rebuild.

"Hello, boys? I'm back in business. Meet me at the usual spot. We'll discuss things there."

"King! It's good to hear from you...We might have a problem, though. Some of our main officers are behind bars, plus the business just isn't what it used to be."

Waniago scoffed. "Typical, but I can fix this," he thought to himself, then answered his subordinate.

"You leave that to me. Hold on. I'm getting another call." Waniago hung up and answered the call he had on hold, having heard the beep in his ear while he spoke. He switched to the other line and heard a familiar voice.

"Enjoying your little mission?"

"I was keeping an eye on my legacy, but I also have eyes on some people we know."

"Leave the girl. It's the man I'm after. As for the boy, I have plans for him too. Further down the line. Report to Shigaraki when you finish up. He may appreciate your intel." All-For-One spoke casually, as if speaking to an equal. Waniago could tell it was an act, but he would play along for now.

"I suppose I don't have much choice, do I?" The crime boss sighed, reclining in his seat as he watched the scene across the street. He paused when he saw the girl who had talked to them, taking care to remain inconspicuous.

"Of course you do. You can choose to humor an old man, or you can go back to prison. Can't have competition but I can have the best in my corner. I can always get that old campy has-been, Origin on the phone, but if I wanted a pale imitation, I would just clone myself."

"Fine. I'll play along. You don't scare me."

"Oh, of course. Aren't you a brave one?"

"Don't patronize me. Alright. I'll play along for now. I'll use my connections to help out as payment for my freedom. You might have a Broker, but I can get things that even he can't. "

"Intriguing. Assuming this isn't a bluff from an utter relic, I'll hold you to that." The other voice scoffed calmly from wherever it was holed away.

"That's rich coming from you…" The reptilian crime boss gave a bemused hiss over the phone. He did not like being condescended to. For better or worse though, it wasn't that different from other conversations with rivals, only this one gave the veteran villain chills he was unwilling to admit to as he gripped his burner phone.

"Enough wealth for a king?" All-For-One's voice purred malevolently over the phone, like that of a lion toying with a mouse. In this case, it was a lion and a crocodile.

"Perhaps." Waniago pondered aloud. "I'm going to resume surveillance. I'll keep you informed."

"See that you do. Goodbye, Mr. Waniago." And with that, the voice on the other line hung up. Waniago pocketed his phone and surveyed the situation until All-Might, Mina, and Izuku left the restaurant and drove away.

He got up from his seat and headed around the corner, where a nearby limousine was waiting. As soon as he entered, the car drove off for parts unknown. There was much work to be done. He remembered some intel he had gleaned from a conversation between All-For-One and an unseen informant. Once more, Waniago took out his phone and dialed a mysterious number.

"Burma, how fast can you get to I Island?"

X

Back at the mysterious Villain bar, Shigaraki had returned from his excursion, head fully cleared. His guests were still there: The villainous broker, the overly excited school girl wanted on charges of border by bloodletting, and the young man with burnt patchwork skin. He was hoping they had left, but he supposed it was better they didn't. Kurogiri greeted the head of the Villain League with much abplom.

"Welcome back, young Tomura. I trust you had a good walk?"

"Yeah. It helped me put things into perspective. Where's the croc guy?" Shigaraki looked around, finding one of his assigned chaperones to be missing.

"He's serving in another capacity right now. Said he had personal business, then was going to look into other prospects. For now, it's just me and our guests." Kurogiri answered his ward, shaking ice for some beverages to keep the others refreshed.

"What a pain. Either way? We have work to do. We're going to bolster our numbers, starting with you four," Shigaraki pointed at an old man, a young man, and girl, all of whom had showed up prior to his excursion.

"Leave me out of the action. I'm just a liaison, kid…Wait, did you say four?" Giren held up his hands in protest, then halted, zeroing in on the math of the situation.

"Don't have a heart attack over it. You won't do much in a fight but we need your connections. I was referring to the Stain fanclub. Come on in," the young leader of the League gestured to the entrance as footsteps could be heard.

The girl, named Toga, and the guy, named Dabi, looked on as a young man with reptilian features entered the establishment. 

"I forgot to ask. What do I call you?" Shigaraki looked his guest over once more, trying to further evaluate the stranger.

"Call me Spinner. I'm ready to make Stain's will a reality." The lizard man posed dramatically, trying to paint himself as an assassin for the cause. Instead, he came off as a bit of a larper.

"Interesting name. So luckily, thanks to my teacher, we have some inside Intel. We should find out where the UA students are going for their little training camp and teach them a real lesson. However, there are also some targets you'll be after. Tell me. Who here watched this year's Sports Festival?"

On the bar were two photos of UA students, taken from screenshots of the Sports Festival. One was an angry blonde with hair like a hedgehog. The other was a pink girl with horns and dark eyes. Spinner looked at the photo in surprise, then nodded.

"I spoke to one of the targets… The pink girl." Spinner mused, trailing off as he did so.

"Having second thoughts?" Shigaraki narrowed his eyes, rethinking his decision to bring this guy on. Still, it would be a good test.

Without hesitation, Spinner spat out a response and bowed his head in reverence, a zealot for Stain’s gospel of blood. "No. None at all. Say the word and I'm ready to give these fake heroes a wakeup call. Her boyfriend will probably come to us."

"Good. I can offer him as a bargaining chip to our potential recruit."

A voice came on over an old TV, sat in the corner of the room. "Don't be too hasty, young Tomura. That boy has something that belongs to me."

"Fine, but I get to kill him after." The young man seethed silently.

The TV was silent for a moment before All-For-One's voice spoke again. "As you wish, my pupil. That can be arranged."

Shigaraki nodded his head in satisfaction, then addressed the villainous broker nearby. "Thank you. Giran, keep scouting new members. We'll need them soon. Blood girl, hand me a knife. I'll give it back so don't whine about it."

Toga narrowed her eyes, not trusting the villain leader just yet. "You're just gonna disintegrate it, aren't you?"

Before Shigaraki could respond, he heard Spinner speak up, accompanied by the sound of a guitar case opening. "I have plenty. Think fast!"

The villain caught the knife with surprisingly good dexterity.

"Thank you. Also, fucking warn a guy next time. Anyway, as I was saying,  When their guard is down during their little class trip…" Shigaraki raised the knife and stabbed it into the bar counter. "We strike."

Everyone grinned as they readied themselves for attack. The heroes would not know what hit them until it was too late.

X

Izuku had arrived home after dinner with All-Might  and Mina, having parted ways with both. All-Might dropped Mina off first, then his pupil, telling him he would pick them up in the morning to go to the airport.

"Welcome home, Izuku. You were out all day. Everything ok?" Inko asked, walking over to greet her son.

"Yeah. It was…eventful. We stopped to pick up some extra stuff after they shut down Kiashi Mall for the day, so I'm set for my trips. Gonna go pack." The boy droned lifelessly, showing signs of exhaustion. This did not escape his mother's notice.

"I saw on the news. I hope they catch that villain soon. I almost fainted while watching."

She expected some sort of reaction out of her son, maybe words of reassurance and a little smile.  But there was none. She stopped her  son gently and spoke again.

"Izuku, are you sure you're ok?" Inko looked on with concern as her son headed towards his room to pack for his trips.

He took a deep breath and exhaled. He wanted to say he would be fine. However, he felt guilty enough about keeping One for All and all the details surrounding it a secret from her. He couldn't rack up lies. Besides, she would have figured it out, this at least.  

"No…I'm not. I let everyone down…" Tears started to hit the floor as it finally started to leak out. Inko gazed at her son with concern and led him to the couch where they could speak. When he was comfortable  enough, the boy continued. 

"It was Bakugou…We were teamed up for the practical exam and we failed. I wish I could have gotten along with him. I hate that I'm even thinking that. I have every right to be upset, I know. But if I had only gotten along with him earlier, we could have passed. Or maybe if I just punched him out and dragged him to the exit…"

Inko continued to listen before putting a hand on her son's knee to reassure him. He placed the bags he was gripping on the floor and finished, being careful not to reveal his connection to All-Might's legacy, as heavy as that was. "It shouldn't matter, as I still passed the written exam and I can still go on the camping trip. I just…I should have done better and I failed."

"Izuku…I'm sorry. I know when I said that before and cried instead of supporting you as a child, it hurt. You don't have to shoulder everything alone, though. I know talking to Mitsuki won't help, but know that your mama will support you. Whether it be designing your costume for you or cheering you on, just know I believe in you, and I am here."

Inko looked upon her son with eyes filled with tears and kindness. He wanted to break down so much, but he was exhausted. His mother continued.

"I want you to call me before bed on your trip to I Island. Reception will probably be bad in the woods, so stay safe at the camp too, ok?"

"I promise, mom. Thanks. I appreciate you a lot." Izuku felt like crawling into a hole somewhere, and yet his mother's words were incredibly important.  "I just need time."

"Well, I'm here if you need me. I'm very proud of you. You made it to UA, you're training to be a hero, and you have friends, as well as a girlfriend. I hope that counts for something."

"It does…I just wonder if it will all fall away."

"It won't. Call it mother's intuition."

"I hope you're right." Izuku mumbled. "I should get some rest.

"Well, before you go to bed, give your mother a hug. I'm not going to see you for 5 days."

Obliging her, the young man wrapped his arms around his mom and embraced her. She did the same, doing all she could to comfort her son. Eventually, they released each other.

"I'll be back after I Expo before we head on the class trip." The teenager spoke to his mom reassuringly, or at least as reassuring as he could be in his current mental state.

"You'll still be gone for almost a week, young man. I'm not exactly used to that." Inko gently bopped her son on the head, in awe of how much her son had grown, even if he couldn't see it right now.

"Fair. Good night, mom…and thank you." Izuku bowed and picked up his purchases from the day before walking quietly to his room. He resumed his packing until he had enough for both I Expo and the camping trip, leaving his essentials for the latter to the side for now.

He was surprised he had the energy to bother, but perhaps throwing himself into preparations would distract him long enough until he could fall asleep. Unfortunately, that didn't work.

He collapsed face first onto his bed and waited for sleep to take him. His phone chose that moment to vibrate, which he was tempted to ignore but ultimately chose not to. After some effort, the boy felt his way towards his phone and answered it.

"Hey…"

"Hey babe. Just wanted to check in on you. See how you're holding up before  we leave in the morning!" Mina's voice really was salve for his heart, even if they had just been with each other all day. He hoped to make it up to her one day.

"Still about the same. Sorry. Thanks for checking on me," Izuku muttered, moving his head so his chin touched the mattress and his words were more intelligible

"Of course. What kind of hero would I be if I didn't check on my number one fan?~" Mina smiled through the phone, the playful lilt of her voice caressing Izuku's ears. He could tell she said those words with a wink. He could also tell she was hurting for him. What kind of hero, no, what kind of boyfriend  was he to make her worry so much?

"What did I do to deserve you?" He finally answered, voice shaking a little.

"By existing…aaaaand by being smart and cute and friendly and the most heroic person I know. Even if things look dour, I know you'll be there with a smile. And when you can't smile, I'll be there smiling enough for the both of us until yours returns. Try to get some rest and dream of me. I'll see you in the morning, ok?"

Izuku smiled, feeling a spark again. He wasn't there yet, but he would get there again, he hoped. "Thank you. You're a queen."

"An Alien Queen. I don't care what Midnight says…Goodnight, Izuku. See you in the morning," Mina spoke softly over the phone as she rested in her bed.

Izuku smiled weakly, taking small comfort in the people who cared for him. He truly was blessed, even if he didn't feel like he necessarily deserved it.

"You too, Mina. Good night."

The boy hung up and put his phone on the nightstand before rolling over and falling asleep. He had a big day ahead, and he was unsure of so much right now. There were two things he was sure of though.

He was grateful for his support structure and he loved his girlfriend. 

X

It was around 5:30 the next morning. All-Might arrived at the airport, bringing his luggage to bag check alongside his two young wards.

"This should be fun. I hope you're excited." Mina cheered, barely able to contain herself. If it weren't for the energy drinks Izuku had seen her pound in the car, he would be surprised by how chipper she was in the morning.

"Yeah..." Izuku stated unconvincingly. It wasn't that he didn't want to go, but his insecurities were back and the sting of defeat had not yet healed. A small cup of coffee had kept him going as well, but only barely.

A warm hand grabbed his, prompting him to look up with tired eyes at the smiling face next to him. "I know you feel all gloomy and dead inside, but dontcha worry, Emodoriya. I'll be your lifeline."

"Thank you, Mina. That means a lot…Sorry I'm like this." He offered a weak smile back, the best he could muster at the time.

"Hey, no worries. Just focus on feeling better and we can take in the sights after, ok?" Mina gripped his hand tightly and smiled. She was like hot pink sunshine, radiating warmth outward.

In the line next to them, a lady with dark skin, a cowboy hat and a trenchcoat stood by, clutching a lead lined briefcase. "Check her out. I wonder if she's going to I Island too…"

Those thoughts were interrupted as All-Might hurried her and Izuku along in a different direction.

"Sorry. My nerves are frazzled. Our bag check is over here."

Izuku looked confused. He saw the line for flights to I Island and they were just in it. "Wait, are you sure?"

"Of course, my boy. Afterall, you think the Number One Hero wouldn't have a private flight?" The man winked. "Follow me."

Chapter Text

It was decades ago. It had to have been. All-Might couldn't quite place the year but he remembered it clear as day. He remembered his debut on the scene in America quite clearly, that warm California sun hitting his face as he hit the scene. He once heard on the radio that everyone was someone in LA. It felt like the perfect stage to announce himself on, at least until he was ready to return to Japan.

What he remembered more, however, was the day he met David Shield. They had been assigned as roommates together at university and were on their way to class when it happened. 

He had even saved David from a fire before growing closer to the man.  It was in Los Angeles, however, where the two made a dynamic debut aiding heroes Cow Lady and Elecplant against the Bad News Bros; Mr. Missile and City Smasher. The police swarmed them after their destruction and robbery of a local Casino, but were not enough for their combined forces. 

"Hah! No dice, coppers. All those numbers and the odds are still in our favor! Toodle loo, pigs!"

All-Might dashed onto the scene, preventing casualties with astounding speed. He had pulled up with his roommate, David Shield, in their experimental car, dubbed the Might Mobile (sometimes the Allmobile). The red roofless racecar aided in their pursuit and takedown of the criminals.

"Why do I let you talk me into playing sidekick, Toshi?" The brown-haired man sighed. "We're going to be late again."

"Because you're a superhero fanboy and you love me. Hey Dave. Since we're in your home state, I thought I would name a move after it." All-Might called down to his friend, then used a nearby building to launch himself towards City Smasher. Dave watched while in hot pursuit. He certainly couldn't dispute either claim. All-Might certainly was a marvel. It was awe inspiring.

Spinning like a ball for added momentum, the statuesque hero landed a devastating blow on the villain, sending them careening into the asphalt below.

"CALIFORNIA SMASH!"

The money from the robbery fell like expensive confetti as the nearby heroes and law enforcement gathered round. Everyone was enthralled by this new hero who had arrived and utterly defeated the Casino robbers. He had been in the state for a while, helping out, but he was still a relative no-name. 

Dave was happy to correct the record. After all, he had designed his friend's hero costume. It was only fair he got the word out. "His name is All-Might, a hero from Japan, and he's gonna be a Symbol of Peace for all."

All-Might laughed, a giant cheshire grin across his face before hopping back into the Might Mobile. "Couldn't have said it better myself, Dave. Come on. We better get going so we aren't too late."

X

All-Might snapped out of it as he was awoken from his memories by his students. One was reading a guidebook he had handy, while the other was watching out the window in amazement. 

"I have to say, it is a dream come true…being able to visit I Island at the start of summer vacation. It's a marvel, an artificial, mobile island populated by thousands of scientists, making advancements that can change the world," Izuku smiled weakly. He wished he was in better spirits, as this was something he had wanted to do for so long. Now, he had the chance.

"I was going to bring you anyway but since you won the Sports Festival, you get a plus one, who seems to be enjoying the flight a little too much," All-Might grinned. Izuku watched his girlfriend carefully, enchanted by her wonderment and worried that she would get airsick. Despite her earlier assertions, she seemed to be doing fine now.

"I've got enough wonderment packed for the both of us, Boss man! I can baby bird it to him later," Mina teased, causing both Izuku and his mentor to sigh in unison.

"Please don't say stuff like that."

Truth was, however, that the teasing and excitement from the fluffy-haired pink girl had a calming effect on Izuku. 

"No promises~," she sang, sticking her tongue out. Izuku responded in kind before turning to his teacher. "I forgot to ask by the way. Are you a keynote speaker here?" 

All-Might shook his head. "No, my boy. The reasons are far more personal. I'm visiting…an old friend. Family in a way. He was my first partner."

The green teen went into encyclopedia mode, rattling off info like it was second nature. "Dr. David Shield has contributed so much in the field of Support Tech. He's a legend in his own right. It will be great to meet him." 

"Glad you're in better spirits. You definitely know your stuff. You remind me of him in a few ways. You're both massive hero nerds. I think the two of you will get along well."

"A little bit. Not fully. I'll get there. Maybe. Sorry," Izuku spaced out, staring at his hands as he replayed the practical exam and Shigaraki encounters in his head. "That would be nice though. I hope I get the chance."

All-Might watched his student and hung his head. He still wasn't sure what else he could do to help, but hopefully, this trip would make things easier.

Mina looked out of the plane window, enamored by the clouds outside her window. Izuku couldn't help but smile at his girlfriend's childlike wonder. He was hoping some of his own would return soon.

"I didn't think you would be excited about this sort of thing. "

"How long have we been dating again? There's going to be cool stuff here and I like cool stuff. Besides, it matters to you and I love seeing those little freckled cheeks of yours light up," Mina grinned, pecking her boyfriend  on the lips.

The green-haired boy leaned his head onto his girlfriend's shoulder, feeling more relaxed now. "I love you."

Mina's cheeks flushed bright lilac at those words. "I love you too, Zuzu."

"Attention, passengers. We are coming in for a landing. Please remain seated until the plane has come to a full and complete stop."

All-Might looked around, checking if the coast was clear, before switching to his muscle form.

"Right. Since we're almost there, I better slip into something more familiar. Gotta keep up appearances, after all. I'll be doing this for the whole day. You two better change too. You got permission to bring your hero costumes, right?"

Izuku and Mina nodded in unison. They headed for the restroom, with Mina going first, followed by Izuku. They repacked their clothes and prepared for landing. All-Might patted the two students on the back reassuringly.

"You two have been through a lot already, each of you moving on your own to help others even before UA. And now here you are: The winner of the Sports Festival and a girl endorsed by a pro on live television! So smile and make yourselves known!"

X

As they landed and departed the plane, the trio were subjected to an immigration check. While it was occurring, All-Might decided to lighten the mood and make sure his pupils were paying attention.

"Let me quiz you both. Midoriya, why was this Island created?"

Izuju knew, having memorized it like so many other pieces of hero trivia. And yet, he wasn't up to full spirits. Luckily, he had support. "It was created for the greatest minds on Earth to research quirks and support items in a safe environment, away from villains. Its security system is on par with the maximum security prison known as Tartarus."

"Yep yep. That's why there has never been a villain attack on this place. That and the fact that it's mobile. It can just cruise to another location and keep itself safe."

Izuku looked at Mina, beaming with pride for her contributions. He couldn't help but feel proud of her as well. "Yeah. It's been free of villain attacks so far, just like Nabu Island."

"You two really know your stuff! Nicely done!" All-Might gave the two students a vigorous thumbs up.

After their immigration check, the trio stepped out of the airport and laid eyes on I Island, in the throes of the opening ceremonies for I Expo. It already had so many people, even before its official public opening.

"Whoa! Everyone is just using their quirks freely!" Mina gasped in amazement.

"Yeah, unlike Japan, there aren't any such restrictions. There is no crime here and everyone is able to freely express themselves. There are even special pavilions here designed for it," All-Might beamed. "Now about that hotel. It should be around here."

One of several passersby saw the Symbol of Peace and heard his voice, flocking towards the hero with great excitement.

Izuku and Mina were squished by the crowd as they were pushed aside. All-Might laughed boisterously as everyone came to see him.

"Welp, should have seen this coming. Should we try to find the hotel ourselves?" Izuku sighed exhaustedly. 

Before he could say anything else, however, some people noticed him. "Is that the winner of this year's Sports Festival? Huh! Neat. He's here with  All-Might. Lucky guy."

After about an hour, the crowds subsided, leaving All-Might with several lipstick marks on his face. 

"Well that took a bit longer than expected.  We better get going. I have a friend to meet. Mind coming with me, you two?"

"Oh! Dr. Shield, right?" Mina piped up, remembering the conversation on the plane. Sure, she had only half listened, but she gleaned the important bits.

"Yep. And it's gonna be a doozy keeping up this form. I…haven't told him about One for All."

"Isn't he your partner though?" Izuku asked softly, a hint of concern in his voice. "That seems like a given."

"Yes. However, it's important to keep a secret, for everyone's safety. We’ve touched base now and then but I haven’t seen him in over a decade. Been busy and all."

Izuku thought about that. If he was closer to Bakugou, he probably would have squealed so that the bomb boy knew he wasn't looking down on him. But now, he had more people he cared about and besides his girlfriend, he hadn't told a soul. He knew there was a reason, and yet it still hurt to lie to people he loved, now that he had them. He could only imagine having to keep it secret from Mina.

Just then, a blonde on a pogo stick came into view, her striking blue eyes shimmering nevertheless beneath her glasses. She seemed to be utterly thrilled as she bounced towards them.

"Uncle Might! You made it!" The girl jumped off her pogo stick and landed perfectly in All-Might's waiting arms.

The large man twirled the teenage girl around and pulled her into a giant hug. "Melissa! Oh my goodness! You've gotten so big. I remember when you were just a little tyke!"

"I've definitely gotten a bit heavier. I'm 17 now," The teenager laughed as All-Might held her. Izuku watched, unsure of the situation. "Besides, we've corresponded over texts."

"It's still been a dog's age since I've seen you, Melly Belly!"

"Noooo! Don't call me that. I'm not 5 anymore." The girl whined and squirmed, playing up her reaction. 

"Fair enough. Glad you're doing so well."

"Dang, Zuzu. She's a cutie." Mina whispered to her boyfriend, who merely shook his head. He had to tell himself she was just making playful conversation.

"You have a thing for nerds, huh?" Izuku responded naturally. He was glad the voice that told him Mina would leave him behind had been kneecapped and left in a ditch for now.

"Maybe…You're the only nerd I need though, Zuzu." The girl threw her arms around the boy, who was still too emotionally exhausted to protest the PDA. That and he found comfort in it. 

"Good to know. I'll hold you to that." He sassed affectionately 

All-Might looked back to the two teens. "Oh right. Where are my manners? These are my pupils from UA. This is Izuku Midoriya and the girl next to him is Mina Ashido."

The two responded in kind.

"Yo!" "Hello!"

Melissa walked around Izuku inquisitively, making note of his costume and its construction. Her attention shifted to his hands, which looked rather rough from the use of his quirk. She rubbed a thumb over the scars carefully, a sad tone in her voice.

"You seem to have some serious scarring on your hands. What kind of quirk do you have again?"

"It's…sort of like All-Might's but with intense recoil. I was a bit of a late bloomer, so I'm still not used to it. I call it superpower." Izuku recited his explanation. He knew it by heart at this point.

"I see. Mina, was it? Can I look your costume over?" Melissa walked over to the pink girl, observing the garish color scheme.

"Depends. Can I try that pogo stick? It looks like a lot of fun!"

"Oh. Maybe later. I actually have an extra at my dorm if you want. Sorry. Shall we meet Papa now? I can give your hero suit a once over later and make recommendations if you like."

Mina snapped her fingers in disappointment but was happy to meet this super egghead. Plus she could apparently keep one later.

"Alright then, Melissa, lead the way."

"Right. Thanks. Let's go!" Melissa cheerfully turned away and guided the trio towards her father. "He is going to be so surprised."

X

Two scientists toiled away in an office, filled with books, papers, and several awards. Photos adorned the wall along with several plaques and Graduate Degrees. Two desks in the office held the names of the scientists: Dr. David Shield and his assistant, Samuel Abraham.

"Sam, pass me that Soldering iron. Forfeits too please. I have to work out a few bugs with this device." David wiped the sweat from his brow with a nearby handkerchief. "It's not as impressive as our last little project but it should still be revolutionary."

"Live to serve," the other man, a more roundly built gentleman with short blonde hair, handed his fellow researcher the tools he requested. 

Dave adjusted his safety glasses and carefully fixed the wiring in the device, a sort of stabilizer for out of control quirks. He had read several studies on quirk enhancing drugs and sought to find a way to neutralize the effects. "If I'm correct…this little device should be able to calm someone under the influence of quirk drugs, at least long enough for them to get help. Kind of the polar opposite of..."

Unfortunately the device short-circuit and exploded. "Well, so much for another Nobel Prize, right, Sam?" The man joked, rubbing the back of his head bashfully. "Just glad my goatee didn't catch fire."

Sam forced an awkward chuckle, checking his voice-mail before pocketing his phone. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

"It's open," Dave responded, only to be answered by a voice he knew all too well.

"Papa! Glad you're here. I just swung by to tell you I brought a special guest." The teenage girl was brimming with energy, excited to share her surprise.

"A guest?" Sam looked at Dave in confusion, gaining a similar look in response. The younger blonde continued to drop hints as to the mystery person's identity.

"Yep. I invited him all the way from Japan. It's someone you love~" Melissa winked as she teased her father in a sing-song tone.

The prize winning scientist blinked, puzzled by his daughter's surprise and what it could be. He had a hunch but had convinced himself he was most likely wrong. He wasn't. 

"I AM HERE, SHAKING WITH EMOTION OVER OUR REUNION!"

All-Might hugged his oldest friend and spun him around in a similar manner to his daughter. However, this time, they looked at each other for a moment, as if it had simultaneously been too long and also no time at all.

"Dave, you lovable nerd! It's been too long! How's my favorite roommate doing today?"

"Toshi? What are you doing here? I thought you'd be busy?" Dave felt like his mind and heart were going to explode in unison. It was a lot to take in.

"Not too busy for you. Besides, I thought I'd show my two students here what I Expo is all about!" All-Might grinned widely, putting his oldest friend down carefully.

Melissa chimed in, further illuminating the situation. "Plus I may have invited him. You seemed in a funk, so I thought this would be the pick-me-up you needed."

Dave was bewildered in the best of ways. This was probably one of the best things that could have happened to him today, outside of discovering another element for the periodic table. The bearded man spotted the two teenagers accompanying All-Might.

"Well, it's certainly a pleasant surprise. And you said these two are your students?" 

Izuku spoke a-mile-a-minute, reminding Dave of himself in his younger days. "Nice to meet you, sir. I'm a huge fan of your work. Your advancements in quirk research can't be understated. I…may have read every interview you have ever given. Plus your costume designs for All-Might are the stuff that every All-Might fan knows by heart."

"Look at you being chipper. I mostly know you through my little herotaku here." Mina giggled. Izuku bowed his head, shuffling his feet. 

"Maybe I'm thawing a little bit," he whimpered, gaining a pinch on the cheeks. That only made him blush more.

"Well, I'm glad to know I'm iconic enough to be mentioned in the same breath as the Symbol of Peace. It's nice to meet you both. I look forward to getting to know you both." Dave laughed humbly. He stopped and frowned, however, when he noticed steam lightly emanating from All-Might's body. Something about it concerned him. He turned to his daughter and the other teenagers in the room.

"Melissa, can you show Mina and Izuku around the Island? I wish to speak to him alone for a moment. Sam, you can take a break too. Maybe you can find a nice suit for the opening banquet tonight."

"I mean, I could use a coffee, and maybe a shower. I'll see you later tonight, Dave. Same goes for the rest of you," Sam thought for a moment, then shrugged. "Take care, All-Might. Nice to meet you."

He exited the office, leaving Dave and his visitors alone. Melissa followed his lead, beckoning Izuku and Mina to join her.

"Alright. Don't want to spoil the heart felt reunion. C'mon. I'll show you around. Have fun~"

After everyone had left, All-Might exhaled. "Good, they're gone. I need a moment. " The Symbol of Peace coughed up blood as he deflated back into his skinny form in a puff of steam. He fell to the floor in exhaustion as he tried to gather himself. David offered a hand and pulled him up.

"You look rough, Toshi."

X

Elsewhere on the Island, another body hit the ground as shadows swirled at the heart of the Island. Screens lit up the darkened room like lanterns, flames of digital information flickering in the unlit chamber.

The villains oozed into the command center, infiltrating it like an infection as they used their firepower to subdue and capture the regular security detail. They were right on schedule. 

The weapons were secured, The island had been infiltrated. It was a longshot, but as the leader of the crew pulled a metallic mask from the case he was given, it all seemed to fall into place. "The ride here was rough but the destination was worth it…"

"It better be. This place is just as secure as Tartarus and we're in the middle of it. Better make this worth my time, Wulfram," A woman with dark tanned skin took off her sunglasses and pocketed them, no longer requiring their services. "Hope it's better than the in-flight movie," She quipped lifelessly.

"Glad you made it, Missy. I was hoping for your services. Could do without your attitude though," the masked man sneered, walking across the room to address his new player.

"Sorry. It's part of the package," the woman, known under the Pseudonym of Missy Burma, looked around at the aftermath of the newly secured security tower. The irony was not lost on her. "So…you're who I'm working with? A bunch of dime-a-dozen terrorists? If I weren't being paid handsomely, I would have skipped this whole thing," the gunslinger from the airport tipped her hat, trying to hide the utter boredom and disappointment on her face.

"I'm so very sorry to disappoint you, cowgirl. Why don't you mosey on back to the cavalcade of has-beens you collect paychecks from. We've got this," Wulfram scowled, already over her bullshit. "Your cutesy little gun tricks are surplus to requirements."

"Really? I hear your little dance troupe requested certain skills, ones I possess in spades. If you have another ace up your sleeve, I'll shuffle off then." The sharpshooter grinned, calling her current partner's bluff.

Wulfram could feel a vein pop in his head, but she had a point. As much as he wanted to shove her bullets through her eyes, they did indeed need her. "Of course. Right this way, Missy. We're awaiting further instructions from the client."

"Good. It looks like we'll need all hands on deck anyway. Check your sources, boys. All-Might's here."

"What? Are you serious?" One of the villains spoke up, a skinny man with unique facial hair. Wulfram stroked his chin nearby, intrigued by the information.

"Always. My intel and my own two eyes tell me he's here with two kids from UA."

"Interesting. So he wasn't kidding. Looks like the creepy masked guy was right. Looks like everything is going to have a bit of a wrinkle, but one we can handle. We just have to secure the package and everything will go according to schedule."

"Whatever. Also, where do you get off calling anyone's contacts 'has-beens'? Rumors say that guy is as old as quirks themselves."

"Doesn't make him a has been, just more of an 'always was'."

"I don't give a shit. Let's get this show rolling. If this plan goes belly up, I'm out."

"Our…special contact will keep things going smoothly. Don't you worry that pretty little head, Burma. There's layers you haven't even considered to this little heist." Wulfram gently patted the woman on the face, causing her to pull a gun on the man. He pulled his in return. They stayed steadfast in their aim remaining steady. If the room wasn't already quiet, it was now. The tension in the room was suffocating. 

Eventually, Missy lowered her gun and Wulfram lowered his. "Yeah, yeah. Just leave the guns to me. My aim is better. The only person who can give me a run for my money is locked up tight in Tartarus." The woman took a seat in a nearby chair and looked her team leader in the eye, face illuminated by security screens. "So bring me up to speed. What's the objective again?"

"We're busting into a vault to steal something…something incredibly valuable." Wulfram smiled maniacally. "And this little floating science lab will be turned against itself while we do it."

X

"So how should I address you two? First name, last name, or hero name?" Melissa queried, keeping step along with the two hero students.

"Hmmm...Midori Rush is fine." Izuku pondered for a bit before deciding on his hero name.

"You can just call me Mina!" The pink girl winked and smiled, spinning as she walked. 

"Noted. Follow me. I know where we should go first!" Melissa kept a steady pace alongside the two super teens. teens.

The three teens entered a large futuristic pavilion, displaying all manner of new support items, from vehicles to helmets. “Almost everything here is based in some way off a prototype my dad developed. Of course there's also plenty of invention exchanges going around as well from some of the brightest minds here and across the globe.”

Izuku and Mina were in awe of everything they saw, from a multi-adaptive vehicle to advanced wetsuits to a mind control guitar. Melissa had just finished helping Izuku out of the latest advancement in portable armor technology.

“Hi Midoriya…What are you doing with another girl?” Ochako appeared out of nowhere, with a difficult to read expression. "You seem to be having fun."

The green-haired boy breathed calmly. “What are you talking about? It's nothing like that. She’s just giving Mina and I a tour. Right, Mi…” Izuku stopped mid sentence, seeing Mina in the distance trying out a nanomachine skateboard and nailing a few tricks before falling on her back with a thud.

“I’m ok. I'm a natural at this.”

Izuku shook his head and walked off towards where the Pink girl had gone. “I’ll go check on her.”

"Oh. You look like you're both having fun." Momo cleared her throat, announcing her presence to the group. Izuku froze in place and turned to see her. Jirou was standing next to her as well, ear jacks at the ready.  The two girls followed the green-haired boy towards his fallen girlfriend, with Ochako close behind. Momo was ready for first aid. "Do you need an ice pack, Ashido?"

“Wait, Midoriya. Are you ok?” Momo placed a hand on Izuku's shoulder. He was surprised to see her at first, but vaguely remembered her mentioning that she was coming too.

The green-haired boy blinked. He wasn't the one that fell. It was then that he recognized what she meant and sighed. He offered a soft smile, still carrying an undertone of sadness. “...I’ll get there. Wait, where did Mina go now?”

The boy looked frantically for his girlfriend before he saw her trying on a helmet Melissa had shown him earlier.

“Yo! Izuku! Have you tried out this helmet? You can see everything! I think it's giving me a headache!” Mina said with a grin, shaking her shaggy mop of hair every which way. She saw her female classmates and was instantly excited. 

“Oh my god! You gals are here too? That’s so cool! Have you met Melissa Shield?" The pink girl gestured to her new friend, who smiled awkwardly after being put on the spot.

Momo smiled politely in kind, glad to know her friend was entirely unfazed. "Not properly. How do you do, Melissa? My name is Momo Yaoyorozu. On my right is Ochako Uraraka and on my left is Kyouka Jirou."

The two girls responded appropriately with brief responses of "Nice to meet you!" and "Sup," respectively. 

"It's a pleasure to meet you all. You three can come with us. There are a lot of pavilions, including the music one. It's got a full, state of the art karaoke bar. If you name a song, it can pull it up in an instant. It can even recommend songs based on mood, what tone you sing best in, and more."

"Huh. That's pretty rockin'" Jirou mused, feeling mildly curious.

Izuku thought about the karaoke suggestion, looking at Mina for a moment and blushing. He started to formulate an idea, one he would need help with later.

The six students found a nearby cafe with an excellent view of their surroundings. Luckily it was within walking distance of the Support Pavilion. They all ordered their food and sat at a large table. Melissa was fascinated by everything about the future heroes she had just met.

"So, you all go to UA together? Are you in the same class?" Melissa sat with her elbows on the table, invested in everything her new acquaintances had to say.

"Yep. Year one, class A, baby. We all have real world experience too." Mina grinned, satisfied with herself. Izuku still seemed pensive, but he happily grabbed her hand.

"Speak for yourself. I was in a commercial. That's hardly what I hoped for." Momo sighed, gaining a pat on the back from Jirou. She smiled softly at the other girl in return. "Thank you."

"That's still pretty impressive. That's not something everyone gets to do. How about the rest of you?" Melissa asked, fascinated by her new friends. Izuku watched her, seeing a bit of himself in her. 

"I got to help stop an armored car robbery!" Mina punched the air excitedly. "I was apparently name dropped by the pro I was working with too!"

"It's true. I'm proud of her. I…got rescued by the number two hero when I got ambushed by a villain. Still got to take a few down before then, so there's that" Izuku followed up, telling the official story. Mina knew the truth, however. She winked at her boyfriend, then looked over to her friends.

"I got to help evacuate some hostages. By the way, Death Arms apparently had met you two before?" Jirou raised an eyebrow. "Said you were a handful."

Mina and Izuku looked at each other, then at Jirou and spoke in unison. "Long story. Not important."

The punk girl shrugged, mildly put off by how the two were so in sync, if not slightly amused.

"And I got to learn some martial arts. It was pretty nice." Ochako flexed her left bicep and smiled. "Next time we're in trouble, I'm ready."

"So why are you all here again?" Izuku finally asked, curious about how his classmates were here, though he vaguely remembered speaking to Momo about it.

"Well, my father owns stock in one of the companies involved in the Expo, plus we have a heroic legacy as well. I had two extra tickets, since my family couldn't make it." The pony-tailed girl elegantly sipped the tea she had ordered.

"Yep. We played Janken to see who went with Momo. Jirou was already invited though." Ochako chimed in, miming the motions of the game to accentuate her point.

Momo and Jirou looked at each other, then averted their gazes, blushing heavily. Mina noticed and was about to say something, but Izuku patted her shoulder and whispered in her ear. "They'll announce it when they're ready."

Jirou heard it and blushed, pouting to herself but grateful that her moss-headed classmate had exercised restraint where his girlfriend was lacking.

"Anyway, I'll be back. I have to use the restroom." Izuku excused himself from the table for a bit and went to relieve himself.

"OK. Have fun. Try not to fall in." Mina teased back, causing Izuku to shake his head.

"No promises. I'll be back."

After he had left, Momo cleared her throat and gathered everyone's attention, including Melissa's, who had no context for what was to come.

"There's another reason we're here too…I'm sorry if it's out of line, since he isn't at the table right now, but we want to help Midoriya too. He has actually been quite helpful and I wish to repay his kindness. Besides, I have struggled with similar feelings and I wish to support my classmate."

"He's more than that. He's a friend," Mina corrected. "I know you two aren't as close to him as Iida or Ochako or our original group, but I think he values you both as friends. I know I do."

"Mina put it best. Izuku does seem pretty bummed out, but all we can do is be there and support him the best we can."

"I worry it's too early to say that we are his friends, but I do value his input and help. I would gladly call Midoriya a friend," Momo reflected. "But yes, we know his failure in the practical still greatly affects him. I suppose it hasn't been a long time, but it would not sit well with me to see one of us suffering like this. I can relate to feeling defeated and ashamed. That's why I'll help too, if I can."

"Thanks, class pres. By the way, we can do it later so we don't overwhelm him, but his birthday just passed. He might appreciate if we celebrated later. Maybe tomorrow." Mina explained as she adressed the other girls.

Momo's eyes widened a bit in surprise. "I had no idea. We shall have to make it up to him then." Everyone nodded in agreement, hoping it would help.

After a few minutes, Izuku had returned, planting himself in his seat next to Mina. He was followed, however. Kirishima and Kaminari brought out the food, to everyone's surprise.

Kirishima laid each order out with a grin, then dragged both Mina and Izuku into a hug. "Hey there, you two! Fancy seeing you here. Then again, you did win the Sports Festival. Looks like we got a full party on our hands too!"

"Hey, dude. What are you doing here?" Izuku looked up at his red-haired friend. Kaminari answered the question instead, however.

"Kiri and I applied to work as service staff for the Expo and they allowed us to attend. Of course, we're stuck here bussing tables while you're having fun. Looks like it's the cute girl Cafe now."

"More like the Corny Creep Cafe, Jamming Whey." Jirou aimed a jack at her friend.

"Yeah. Maybe that was too much."

"You think, dude?

Just then, a voice cried out from the distance, getting closer and louder as it spoke.

"Kirishima! It is unsanitary and uncouth to hug patrons while on the clock. If you're here to work, then work. You too, Kaminari! Stop flirting and focus more on your responsibilities!"

The owner of the voice soon came rushing into view, his arms pumping as his leg engines roared.

Izuku perked up a little, recognizing one of his friends. "Iida? What are you doing here? Looks like a lot of people came."

Iida adjusted his glasses after coming to a complete stop. "I was invited because I come from a long line of heroes. Only I could make it though. Todoroki is here too, I think."

"Really? Where is he?"

"I think he's over near some sort of attraction. Free quirk use is allowed here after all, but in case of villain attacks, the usual protocols apply."

"So I've read." Izuku promptly followed up. "I have a map of I Island at home. Got it in a magazine."

"Shall we walk around and enjoy the pavilions? I was really interested in the costume pavilion. They have some new advancements and I wanted to get ideas to upgrade mine," Momo asked. "It might help maximize what I can do while adding protection."

"We can do that later. No offense, but it feels a bit similar to the support pavilion we met Melissa, Mina, and Midoriya in," Jirou interjected.

"How about we walk around and I show you some of the best spots?" Melissa spoke up, happy to get to know more of this next generation of heroes. Momo and the rest nodded, speaking amongst themselves.

"We do get lunch break. I'm down!" Kirishima cheered, ready to see some action and excitement that didn't involve sandwiches and soft drinks.

Iida similarly voiced his approval. "It's always good to implement the buddy system. Besides, we might run into Todoroki."

That was all the confirmation Mina needed before skipping ahead and grabbing her boyfriend's arm in excitement.  "Aye aye! Lead the way, Melissa! Come on, Zuzu! Take my hand. We're gonna see it all."

"Yes, Ma'am," Izuku had no choice but to let himself get dragged towards the festivities. His classmates all exchanged looks with one another before giving chase.

X

Dave observed the state All-Might, having known via correspondence that something was up. To see just how bad it was with his own two eyes didn't do the descriptions justice. He looked like an animated scarecrow.

"I got your message. You've had this condition for a while now but it's gotten worse in recent months, right?"

The haggard, skeletal form of All-Might slowly crawled to his feet, dusting himself off. "Yes, that's the long and short of it. Basically, I won't have my abilities much longer. I can only maintain my muscle form for so long. I need to keep up appearances. However, eventually it will barely last a minute. It's taking everything within me to maintain it today."

"Do you know where this disease came from? Is it tied to All-For-One?"

All-Might hated to lie, but this was for the best. At least that's what he told himself. "No. I'm not sure where it came from."

Dave wasn't buying it. He knew this man far too long and much too intimately to be so easily fleeced. "Toshi…please don't lie to me." David removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose.

All-Might paused. He still had to lie, but through omission this time. Vague half truths still contained some truth, after all. "...Yes."

"I see..." The worried scientist put his glasses back on and turned his chair to face the skeletal hero. "I will do whatever I can to help you get back to full strength. The world needs All-Might. I'll make sure it never loses you." Dave couldn't bear the idea of a world without the man he loved. "You've been busy, huh? Haven't seen you in ages. You don't visit like you used to…I get it though. Part of the job. We're both busy men." 

"I'm sorry for worrying you. It's been too long. Things have been busy, between being the number one hero and teaching at UA. Keeping Japan's crime stats below 6% is a lot of work. I don't do it alone, but a lot of people look to me as a symbol, a pillar I turned myself into..."

"You don't have to tell me twice. I would like to run a few diagnostics. Strip down and lay in this pod. We can monitor your vitals."

"No dinner and a movie yet?" The pro joked, coughing up blood before wiping it away. He quietly complied with the request and assumed the position within the pod. "Right. Apply the EKG readers. I'll climb in."

"The machine will do all that for you. Just relax. Please." Dave cautioned in a soothing tone, activating the pod and monitoring its readings.

All-Might laid for what seemed like an eternity in the pod, his vitals being collected, as well as blood samples and blood pressure. Every possible medical test was run from within the unit. After running the blood through a centrifuge, David returned to his computer to analyze the rest of the results. What he found shook him to his core.

"This…No way. Toshi! Your quirk readings are dropping. You'll eventually lose your quirk fully at this point! What is going on? Did All-for-One grab it? These quirk readings are incredibly troubling. Anything you can tell me will make it easier to help you."

As the hatch opened, the shirtless pro got out and stood on his feet, still feeling a bit woozy. Eventually he found his footing and walked to the scientist's side. "No. It's totally fine. I'm not retiring anytime soon. I'm operating at a fraction of what I used to be capable of, but I haven’t slowed down yet." All-Might got up and walked over to his dearest confidant. "As for your question, I wish I had something to tell you."

"Yeah…I know. Alright. I'll keep looking. I'll study the lab samples and see if I can unlock this puzzle."

All-Might gently grabbed his old friend's shoulders and gave them an affectionate squeeze. He was testing the waters to see how deep they still ran. Luckily they were as familiar as ever. "I know. I have the utmost faith in you." 

Noticing the clock, the blonde man grabbed his clothes and started to put them on. "I should start getting ready. I need to keep this form up for the entire trip. Wish me luck."

"Yeah. Good luck. I have some things to finish up here. Otherwise, I'd help you with your tie. You never can get it right."

"That's why I opt for clip-ons…I'll see you later, Dave. That's a promise." All-Might joked, getting a tiny smile from Dave. It was hard not to reminisce and smile, even with the Sword of Damocles overhead. 

"It's a date. Just…be careful, ok?"

"You know me, Dave."

The scientist sighed, having an entire thesis paper's worth of anecdotes to back him up. "Yeah, that's why I'm worried."

David sat in his office, alone with his memories. Moments flashed before his eyes. He saw his first encounter with All-Might, their first outing together where he took California by storm. He even remembered the birth of Melissa and how happy they were. He didn't think he would be successful after so long on T, and yet here he was. Here they both were, fathers and heroes, bringing in a better tomorrow, one age at a time.

David still had copies of each costume he designed, as well as several framed photos of "Team Might". He even remembered when they met an up-and-comer who was now the top hero in the USA. To think they had seen her face so long ago. They had been so close, and yet there seemed to be a distance between them, aside from the ocean. Dave felt like there was something his partner wasn't telling him, even though he hated to entertain such a thought. 

"Where does the time go, Toshi?"

X

Izuku felt some of the spark come back. It was a welcome distraction for sure, being able to take in some of the new advancements and heroes. He still couldn't believe that they got to see Godzillo, likely due to one of his sponsors. "Tokage would probably be jealous."

"I think she is here as a tourist with the others in class A and B. I'm sure she'll see it on TV."

"Whoa! Some kind of hero challenge…want to do it together? We'd make a great tag team." Mina suggested. "We can see if they allow for that."

"I appreciate the thought, but I don't know. I…didn't do well with my last team-up." Izuku shook his head, having doubts about the idea.

"Yeah, but we get along way better. You'll be fine. I've got you." Mina pointed at herself with her thumb and grinned. Her boyfriend's expression, however, remained pensive. "It's ok if you don't want to. We can just watch."

Izuku offered her a soft smile and a nod. The two gazed at each other quietly and fondly before the silence was broken as they entered the arena, the rest of their party right behind them.

"Wait, is that the winner of the UA Sports Festival? Hey kid! Come over here. Let's see what you can do." The announcer, a young woman in flamboyant clothes, beckoned the student over. Izuku looked at her for a moment and blinked, realizing his choice was made for him essentially. 

Mina tugged his arm and squeezed his hand, letting him know it was OK to say no. He didn't owe anyone anything if he wasn't up for it.

If he was being honest with himself, he wasn't sure he was, and yet he had a lot to prove right now. He wanted to justify All-Might's investment in him.

"Alright…I'll do it quickly. Time me."

"No way. I'm doing it with you. We'll race each other."

"Alright. Iida, can you keep time for us? We're going to see who is fastest."

"Of course. I suppose I am qualified to judge races in a way." The speedster chortled, taking out both his phone and an actual stopwatch he kept handy. Nobody in his family left home without one.

"Ready~ Steady~ Go!~" The attraction judge shouted as the starter pistol went off. 

The curly couple burst into action like greased lightning, waging a coordinated attack on the strategically placed target robots located throughout the proving ground. Izuku bound up the rocks, like a mountain goat on monster energy and pixie sticks. In a moment, he shattered the record, with Mina just a second behind, melting robots left and right.

Melissa took notes on Izuku's performance, how he seemed to be holding back but also doing extraordinarily well. There was something familiar about his power, however. 

Similarly, she was enthralled by how in tune the two hero students were with each other, as if they were finishing each other's sentences with their fists. She had never seen a power type quirk compliment an acid quirk before, and vice versa. "Fascinating!"

"Wow, folks. This is new! A tag team attempt. Just check out that coordination!"

What started as a race soon became a coordinated attack on every villain target populating the artificial mountain. The "villains" in this exercise were robots, smaller than the ones from UA's entrance exam.

Izuku and Mina high fived each other, having finished in 10 minutes together. The crowd cheered until the dynamic duo climbed back up the stairs, towards the bleachers. However, Izuku could still hear a slow clap. Looking in the direction of the sound, he saw a familiar face smugly approaching in a rather suave hero costume.

"Well, well. Nicely done. Showing off, are we? Aren't we a little show boat, Sports Festival champion? Perhaps, though, it's time for someone else to have their chance in the spotlight, hmm?"

Izuku looked puzzled for a bit, turning to Mina, who was just as confused. "Monoma?"

"I'm glad you both recognize me, but please. Call me by my hero name. After all, it will be etched into the record books here toda…" The boy's teasing was cut short as he was yanked aside by another person Izuku and Mina recognized: Setsuna Tokage.

"Ignore Monoma. He hasn't had all his shots. Hey there, fellow greenie. I heard you were here!" The lizard girl grinned. "Glad to see the whole gang here, including my favorite Alien Queen~"

Mina leapt towards the other girl and pulled her into a hug, which was promptly reciprocated. "Tokage? I thought you would be here with the tourists."

The green-haired girl took off her domino mask and smiled, sharp teeth glistening. "Nope. I actually got an invite because of my dad's college buddy. He's a researcher here on quirk development over time. He offered tickets for my mom, dad, and I but mom had a dig and dad can't make it due to a surgery he's overseeing. So I brought a couple plus ones."

Setsuna gestures towards Monoma, who was pouting over being interrupted. 

"Oh…Who did you bring?" Izuku felt his spine stiffen and his heart rate increase. He didn't know Setsuna as well as Mina, but he still trusted her implicitly. They still had prior history as friends before UA. And yet, he couldn't discount certain possibilities.

"I had a few choices I considered but ultimately, after a lengthy decision process, I invited feral Mr. Darcy over here and…"

Izuku heard the excited clatter of hooves on the thoroughfare as a blonde with horns and large expressive eyes trotted up to the group in a horse-themed hero costume. 

"Aaaaaah! This is so exciting! Everything is so cool! I'm excited!" A high pitched voice called out, speaking clear English. Izuku turned around and waved, recognizing the exchange student he had teamed up with in the Cavalry battle. He hadn't gotten particularly close to her just yet, but he recalled thinking they could be good friends.

"Hey there, Tsunotori. Haven't seen you in a bit. How are you?"

"I'm good. Super excited to be here. Glad I was invited." Pony whinnied happily. "I can't wait to see everything! I heard All-Might was here too!"

Before Izuku or Mina could respond, the ring announcer spoke once again, prompting Monoma to enter the ring with the expected pomp and flourish "Up next, we have a new challenger: Phantom Thief!"

"Finally. I'm itching to show what I can do. It's a bit uncouth and not fitting for what I do. After all, a Phantom Thief must be stealthy and discreet. But if the name of the game is showing what I can do, let me trot out a power up I got from one of my classmates back at the hotel. Uraraka, can you hold my coat? I don't want it getting ruined. I'm reusing it for the banquet."

The young man carefully secured his pocket watch and wrapped it in his carefully folded jacket. He tossed it to the gravity girl, who was unamused.

"I'm not your assistant, you jerk!"

"Of course not. You're my equal. Unless you're too good to help out someone from my class." The blonde winked. 

Ochako pouted, her face turning red as she contemplated putting him in an armlock.

"Thank you, my dear Uravity. You're as polite as you are formidable. Now then…watch in awe as the Phantom Thief steals your hearts. Madame, start the clock when ready.

The attendant waved her arm and said "Go!", prompting Monoma to break out his secret weapon. His hands roared to life with the quirk he had borrowed: Bakugou's.

"KABOOM!"

Izuku's eyes widened as he felt his entire mood slip. It all came rushing back. His trauma, his anguish, the mean voice telling him he wasn't worthy, all of it was there. The final buzzer of his practical exam sounded in unison with the completion bell in real life.

Izuku rushed off, completely taciturn as he found a place to cool off. He needed to get his thoughts straight. He was having such a good time. Sure, he was still struggling, but not as much. At least, until now. Monoma had just finished up, beating Mina and Izuku by one second. However, the only award he got from his friends were glares, and worried looks.

While the group was left stunned, Mina rushed after Izuku, hoping to calm him down. Before she could rush out of the arena, however, a chill took hold of the area. A wall of Ice appeared behind them, completely encasing the mountain stage and decimating the villain robots in less than three minutes..

"Hello everyone. Glad to see you…Where did Midoriya go?" 

The group was utterly flabbergasted, trying to deal with the arrival of Todoroki and Izuku's emotionally frantic departure. They were all at a loss for words, even Monoma. Todoroki noticed the 1B student and remembered their earlier encounter at the Sports Festival.

"Oh. You're here too," the bicolor boy stated casually, underplaying his surprise. "You're still noisy."

The blonde fired back, unamused. "And you're still rude. You're Midoriya's friend, right? Let's go check on him."

Momo rested a hand on the boy's shoulder. "I am pleasantly surprised by your concern, but he might need space." Monoma glowered at this, but couldn't dispute the possibility, even if he wanted to.

"Maybe, but he also needs support." Mina chimed in. "Melissa, where's the calmest place here?"

The bespectacled girl stroked her chin and thought deeply. "Hmmm. We could split up and look for him. Do you know what he normally does when he's upset?"

Past scenes of their time together played in Mina's mind like a black-and-white movie. She remembered the creek he showed her near his house, the one he would play with Bakugou near until their friendship fractured. It was a long shot, but it was their best bet. "Someplace calm and quiet with trickling water. Like a stream."

"There is a fountain near here. I'll lead the way." Melissa ran ahead, Mina in hot pursuit.

"Let's go check on Izuku. We'll check the area and meet up near that fountain. Come on," Ochako agreed, throwing Monoma's jacket back at him and dragging him towards the rest of the group as they spread out to search for their friend. 

X

Izuku found someplace to cool off, a relatively unpopulated area of the island behind some public restrooms and near a fountain. It was surprising that such a calm and beautiful place was so empty at the moment, but the green-haired boy wasn't complaining. He could feel every synapse firing at once as his "fight or flight" response went haywire. He gripped his head and shivered to himself as a panic attack took hold.

"I got too comfortable. I let myself get complacent. I need to be better. I need to get better. I need to…"

He heard footsteps approaching and started to get up. "Sorry. I'll go."

A voice from before spoke out calmly.  "Why are you apologizing, mon ami? If anything, that's my line."

It was Monoma, looking rather beside himself. The rest of the group was there too, now with Todoroki in tow. 1B's resident troublemaker cleared his throat and spoke again.

"Midoriya…I owe you an apology. Look…I get carried away, I admit. I want to show my worth, and that of my class. However I should have considered your feelings in all of this. I have no animosity towards you. I know he does…or did…I haven't heard him mention you since then. He's been a lot more quiet. Anyway, my point is, you stood up for me when the number two hero called me unworthy of his son's time. The least I can do is extend that respect. I'm not without honor or sportsmanship."

Izuku just sat silently. Monoma felt a knot in his stomach, clenching his fist in frustration before he finally let go. "I said my piece. I'll give you some room. I am sorry. But first…Ashido, will I get smacked if I do this?"

Mina merely narrowed her eyes and gestured to indicate she was watching him. 

"I'm watching you too. You're already on thin ice with me," Ochako stared at the blonde boy with an unamused look. The boy held up his hands like he was under arrest.

Turning his attention back to Izuku, Monoma took a deep breath and exhaled. He stood back and set off a small explosion in his hand. "It was me. Just me. I don't know what history my brutish classmate has with you, but you will get no trouble from me. That's all I will say right now."

The blonde boy walked towards the rest of the group, allowing Mina to walk up and squeeze his hand. Izuku calmed down after a while, looking into Mina's eyes as she touched his cheek.

She spoke gently to her boyfriend.  "We can take a break and head to the hotel for a bit until the banquet, if you need time. We won't make this into an intervention but we're here for you."

"Yeah. I can give you more of a tour tomorrow. I can even show you and Mina something I have that I think might be useful." Melissa added. "You're here for two full days, right? I can bring you both to the academy to see."

"Yepper depper. We could walk around with everyone else tomorrow, as a group." Mina nodded. "We can meet up with you guys after."

"Not everyone. I can keep Bakugou away from you all, if that helps. We can minimize the contact between the two," Monoma added, trying to brush off his guilt over his earlier insensitivity. "If that is any consolation."

Izuku stood up. "I appreciate the gesture, but I can't avoid him forever, but thank you. I know you didn't mean anything…you didn't know anyway."

"What…exactly is your issue with each other? You don't have to tell me. We're not exactly friends, but what you said during your fight with him at the Sports Festival has me curious." Monoma asked, his expression taking on one of deep consideration.

"I'm not ready yet. Sorry." Izuku shook his head. "I still have some emotions to sort out."

Monoma paused. It had to have been bad. "That's fair. I won't push the issue. Let me know when you are ready. I might want my class to stand out but I cannot walk away if someone is in crisis."

Izuku looked at the boy, seeing past his usual bluster and mischief he shielded himself with. He said nothing, taking everything in.

"Are you sure you're feeling better, Izuku?" Mina frowned. "You still don't seem entirely like yourself."

"Not really, but I'll be fine. Thanks, Mina." The One-for-All holder gave his girlfriend a weak, shakey smile. "I'm lucky to have you."

"Feeling's mutual, Zuzubean."

Red filled the green-haired boy's cheeks at that nickname. It was embarrassing but also reassuring.

"I'll take him to Uncle-Might and we'll meet you all later. I even have tickets for you two," Melissa reached into her bag and pulled out two slips, which she handed to Kaminari and Kirishima.

"Alright, girls. Who wants to check out that games pavilion?" Setsuna spoke up, trying to add some distraction to her fellow students. It felt wrong in a way, but it was all they could do right now until Izuku was ready to rejoin them.

"Actually, I was thinking Momo and I would check out a pavilion elsewhere. If you guys don't mind…" Jirou twirled a jack around her finger, averting her gaze.

"Ouch. I see how it is. Oh well. Have fun, you two," Setsuna winked at the two girls, who blushed once more. "How about you, Pony? Want to come with us?"

"That sounds epic! Let's go! Melissa, are you coming with us afterwards?"

"I actually wanted to make some adjustments to Midori Rush's costume. I have an item that might help. Would you like to come, Mina?"

The pink girl was torn. She was excited to hang out with her friends, but couldn't just leave her boyfriend in the lurch.

"Sorry, Tokage. I have to keep my…"

The pink girl was cut off by her boyfriend, putting gentle pressure to her shoulder.

"Mina, it's OK. I'll go see this item for myself. I'll catch up with you, I promise. I don't want to slow you down." Izuku stated flatly, patting his girlfriend's hand. He then took it gently and kissed her fingers. "You deserve to have a good time."

Mina, however, objected. "No way. We're in this together. Wherever you go, I go…We're a team." 

"Thanks, babe. I'm actually hoping to talk to All-Might about something in private. I need to ask him something. Once I have my answer, I'll text you and meet you at the hotel room. Melissa, do you know how to get to your dad's office?"

The horned teen rested her head against her boyfriend's, holding his hands and taking in the warmth of his touch. "OK. Melissa, take care of him until he gets back here."

"Sure. I'll lead the way. What do you need to ask Uncle Might by the way?" The bespectacled girl inquired, empathy painted across her face.

"I'd rather keep that private. Just…need some advice is all. Let's go." Izuku stopped and turned to everyone. He fought back the tears, but the tears won out. He was already on the brink from his breakdown, but now, he was completely touched by the people in his life. He swore he would make it up to them one day. 

"Thank you, all of you. I can't say how much I appreciate your patience. And Monoma, you're fine. I know you meant nothing by that display. Thanks for checking on me too. I'll catch up."

Izuku walked next to Melissa, into the distance. Everyone watched as they got farther off into the distance until they disappeared.

Kirishima watched his friend walk away, utterly broken and off his game. He gritted his teeth and looked at the ground. "I wish there was more we could do for him. I haven't seen him this down in a while."

"We just need to be patient and compassionate. He needs time," Iida adjusted his glasses, reflecting on how the green-haired boy had helped him. Perhaps he should have done more, but in this situation, it wasn't his place.

"Which is why he went off with another woman." Kaminari pointed out flippantly. Jirou stabbed him with one of her ear jacks, while Mina gave him a death glare.

Kirishima merely sighed and grabbed his coworker, dragging him by the hand. "Come on, dude. Let's get back to work. Lunch break is just about over. We're gonna hit a rush. Sorry to leave you all. We better hurry, then we can hit up the party."

Kaminari sighed, following his friend back to the cafe. "Alright, alright. You don't have to tell me twice."

"Very prudent of you, Kirishima. I'm going to head back to my hotel room to prepare for the banquet later. Shall we all meet there later at around 6:30?"

"Sure. Just text Izuku. He'll respond when he's ready. I'll check in with him periodically too."

The group parted ways as Setsuna took Pony, Mina, and Ochako to the Games Pavilion, while Todoroki, Monoma, and Iida walked towards their hotel rooms and Momo headed off with Jirou.

Mina looked back over her shoulder, towards Izuku as he walked away. She couldn't tell if she was jealous, worried, or both. Either way, it was eating away at her chest, but all she could do was trust her boyfriend and keep in touch.

"Come on. Let's go check out those games. I'll text Izuku to make sure he's OK." 

Sending her boyfriend a simple heart emoji, Mina placed her phone in her pocket and accompanied her friends to the arcade, looking back one last time in her boyfriend's direction.

"Hang in there, Zuzu."

Chapter Text

The afternoon was dimming, with the sun slowly crawling over the horizon as the sky got orange and more vibrant. The hotel lobby was a bit busy but nowhere near as bustling as before. 

"Iida…Do you think Midoriya will be ok?" Todoroki paused for a moment, reflecting on his classmate. "I know I didn't fight him myself, but his words still reached me. That 1B kid as well."

"I do not know what his issues with Bakugou are. He seems to be keeping it close to his chest. Ashido, Kirishima, and Asui are aware of what it is, as is Tokage. Perhaps we should respect his boundaries."

"Didn't he say something in the alley to you? Something about butting in."

"It's a different situation. I was about to throw my future away for revenge. Midoriya seems to be retreating inward, however. He seemed to be doing well before Monoma used Bakugou's quirk."

"My ears are burning. The least you two can do if you're going to talk about me is include me in the conversation."

Iida froze, worried about how much the 1B had listened. "Monoma? How much of that did you hear?"

"The parts where my name was mentioned. I'm not one for apologies but I already said sorry for that. Looking down on me already?"

"No. Not at all. In fact, I actually wanted to thank you for your maturity in handling the situation."

"Well, I'm not going to kick someone who's down like that. Besides, he stood up for me to Mr. Prodigy over there's father. It's only fair I make the proper apologies for any accidental slight."

Iida stroked his chin with his thumb and index finger, losing himself in thought, but just slightly.  "I see. Thank you, Monoma. I take it this is your hotel too?"

The blond boy swept his hair back with one hand and snapped his finger in response.  "You guessed right. Glad to know your speed isn't compensating for anything. I wanted to freshen myself up for later. This coat should still be good but I'm thinking of a different waistcoat to go with it."

"Just say vest. Waistcoat is pretentious" Todoroki deadpanned, feeling nonplussed by the vernacular of his sister class's loudest proponent. "Also you're rude. Stop it."

"I was merely being friendly. I'm perfectly capable of doing that with your class, after all. Unless that's not enough for the illustrious 1A?" Monoma huffed, milking his reaction for all it was worth. And yet, beneath it all, there was worry in his eyes, guilt even. Iida could recognize these feelings painted in the usually antagonistic boy's body language. 

Once again, the boy spoke in a bemused tone, giving way to a far more genuine one. "OK, charlatan. I will call it a vest . Also, if anyone here is rude, it's you. Anyway, I really am concerned. Bakugou, as ruthless and uncouth as he can be, has been rather different of late. He seems introspective, but nowhere near as much as Midoriya. He's not one for sentiment, which I respect. And yet I…It puzzles the will. That's all."

Iida listened intently, able to sympathize with Monoma. As standoffish as he could be, he was still aiming to be a hero like the rest of them. Next to him, however, Todoroki blinked. "Did you just quote Shakespeare?"

"Ah, so the son of Endeavor has some culture to back up his raw power. Good to know," Monoma smirked, gesturing flamboyantly to his schoolmates. Both boys felt like they were talking to Aoyama, but more loud and condescending. 

"We literally learn about him in English class. He's not obscure. He's like the Beatles of classic literature," Todoroki responded coldly, stepping away from the blonde. "If you're going to talk, follow us." 

Iida apologized for his friend's bluntness, smoothing the conversation over. "Don't mind him, Monoma. He means no offense. We were just about to head to take in some more of the island before we prep for the banquet. Care to join us?"

Scoffing at this, the blonde boy kept up a pleasant façade. "I suppose I will. Not like I can do anything with anyone in my class right now, since they're just civilian guests. Tokage and Tsunotori are having their girl's night with Midoriya's girlfriend and Uraraka."

"Ah yes. Ashido is with them, isn't she? Hope they are all doing well. Anyway, we have some time before we have to get dressed. Was there anything in particular you wanted to do?"

"I was going to ask if Mr. Prodigy and I could settle the score, but I think it best we take in the support gallery a bit before we head towards the banquet."

Iida nodded curtly, supposing it was a prudent option. "That's right. I haven't checked it out very much myself. I know Yaoyorozu and Midoriya did so earlier, among others. We'll make it quick, however, so we can finish getting ready and meet everyone at the banquet."

"I already checked it out. It was okay but not much captured my interest," Todoroki dissented. "I'll tag along if you two are."

"Alright then, we'll check out the exhibition, then part ways temporarily before meeting up in the center."

"Of course. Lead the way, running man," Monoma gave a cheeky bow, gesturing for the other boy to walk in front.

X

Melissa led Izuku to where her father's office was. Unfortunately, the door seemed to be locked, with no response. Izuku knocked a few times, even looking through the window to find any signs of life.

"Huh. Maybe they stepped out. I can call papa on my cell. For now, how about I make those adjustments. Least I can do while we wait for a response," Melissa posited, trying to find the best solution.

"Yeah. All-Might hasn't answered him either. Weird...Anyway, lead the way." Izuku calmly followed, feeling like he was walking through cement. He was regretting not having Mina with him. Pulling out his phone, the boy pulled up her contact and hovered over the call button. 

"Here we are. My lab is a bit of a mess but feel free to look around." 

Izuku looked around and focused on the family photos, reflecting on his own parents. He saw someone missing though.

"So, did you know your mother?"

"Not really. I had a stepmom of sorts. My dad actually gave birth to me," Melissa smiled, wistfully looking at the pastel frame containing a baby photo of her and her father. Nearby in the photo was All-Might, who was present in the photo as well. 

Izuku nodded. He supposed it made sense. He was snapped out of the reflection by his host's swift speech. She seemed chipper, if not a bit concerned by something.

"No time to reminisce though. I actually had stuff to show you. I made two pairs, to try to run diagnostics on. I want to do matching boots, but I don't have much incentive, since they were originally made for someone else. It could be a nice lightweight yet durable twin to the gauntlets. I might work on improving those first. But I've been pulling all nighters between this and other obligations." The blonde girl rambled so fast, not even Izuku could keep up. 

He saw books and papers and spare parts laid out expertly, but was drawn to her enthusiasm. It reminded him of a few people he knew.

"You seem pretty studious. Isn't school out right about now?" The boy said, impressed.

"Yep, but I'm doing an independent study." Melissa spoke casually as she walked over to her work bench, past the family photos and awards.

Izuku looked at each one, then remembered something David had said earlier.

"Melissa…you grew up quirkless, right? What was it like for you? Sorry if it's rude to ask."

"Not at all. It's a bit odd but I've been asked before." The blonde girl smiled, shifting through some drawers until she found a briefcase with the item she was looking for.

Izuku hesitated, then wove a tale, trying not to give away the secret. "I…I have a friend. He was born quirkless. He was bullied for it, ignored by teachers and authorities. He wanted to be a hero but it wasn't exactly possible. He dreamed of it , hoping to save people with a smile. I used to think about what I would say to him but lately, I'm not so sure."

Melissa sat at her desk for a bit, thinking to herself. "I can't say I didn't dream of it at some point. However, I realized I wanted to be more like my personal hero: my father. I wouldnt get to fight villains personally, but knowing that what I make is helping save people and better mankind? It's just as good as donning a costume myself, at least in my eyes."

Izuku listened intently as Melissa brushed several photos with her fingertips before pulling out a dusty old album, filled with photos of her and her dad, her "uncle", and some of her earliest accomplishments. 

Her eyes met Izuku's once more, invigorating the boy a little. It was like, through seeing her purpose and motivation, he was looking into a mirror. She continued.

"If I could work hard and learn all I could, I would be able to advance support technology so much further. I have already had a few pros express interest in my inventions and I might even be able to graduate from the Academy early. America tends to go by 4 years of high school. I might end up becoming a top quirk scientist at a younger age than my papa."

"It's not a bad goal to have. I sometimes wonder if I'm cut out for mine. Sorry. Didn't mean to vent to you."

"No, no. It's fine. From what I've seen, you have a lot of people who seem to care about you. Especially your girlfriend. She's a really cutie."

"She's…this is going to sound cheesy as hell…but she's my hero. She's been my best friend for so long, well more like a few years but…it honestly feels longer than that. She's been my anchor for that whole time. I feel bad for making her worry and just…going off without her, but I want your help with something, besides my support gear I mean. Do you know how I can reserve the Karaoke Pavilion for a special performance? Like if there's a booth or something?"

"You really love her, huh?" Melissa grinned. "I guess I found a hero you care about more than All-Might."

Izuku looked skyward, smiling. He tilted his head back down towards Melissa and exhaled dreamily. "...It's that obvious, huh? All-Might's been my idol since I was a kid and I feel grateful to him for being my teacher, but I met her first. She really saved me when I was at my lowest."

The older girl smirked, feeling playful but also touched. She hadn't had much time for it herself as of late, but she knew what it felt like.

"I see. How long have you been dating? You kind of seem like a married couple." Melissa teased, causing Izuku to blush a little. His chest felt warm and fuzzy as he pulled out his phone, seeing several concerned texts from Mina, all with little reassurances. He smiled and responded back with a heart emoji, then pocketed his phone.

"Since middle school. We met each other before then and dated after a year of friendship. I still get injuries from my quirk, but I actually figured out a way to regulate it because of her."

After taking a blank sheet of paper from a nearby cabinet, Izuku carefully folded it into a paper football. Holding it in his hand, the boy took a deep breath and activated Full Cowling, dialing it back just enough to launch a paper football across the room with impressive force and even more impressive restraint. "Still working on it."

Melissa gave a little clap, impressed by the small demonstration. It was certainly a start.

"That's sweet. I'm happy for you two. And that was quite an interesting little show of what you can do. Oh, I forgot. The main reason I brought you here. I wanted to show you these. I made them for All-Might, based on archive footage my dad has, but I feel you'll be able to use them, based on what I saw at that attraction earlier. They need some adjustments, but the Full Gauntlets are just about done. I can bring them with me when we all meet up. You should go meet your girlfriend though, maybe see if you can find Uncle Might."

Izuku looked towards the exit, ready to leave, but still unsure about a few things. Still, this girl had already helped him so much, and he had just met her. He was sure that they would be friends in time and it felt odd how at ease he was. He chalked it up to being less nervous around girls these days, due to the company he kept. But more than that, Melissa was someone who was born quirkless and still fought for her dreams. In other words, in a way, she wasn't so different than he was.

"Thanks again, Melissa…and about the karaoke?" 

"Leave the arrangements to me. I'll get your stage set, Romeo.~" The girl winked playfully. "And you're welcome, any time."

"R-Right. I'm going to find All-Might. I think I know where he is. Thanks again. You really helped," Izuku bowed to her, unable to properly voice his gratitude.

"You already said that, silly. But yeah. You seem close to Uncle Might. You must trust him a lot." Melissa asked. "Never met anyone that close to their teacher. Weird question…but…"

Izuku instantly picked up where Melissa was going with it and shook his head. "My own dad isn't around often. He works overseas and I haven't seen him in years. I…wouldn't call All-Might a father figure, but he's definitely a mentor. Doesn't hurt that my quirk is similar to his…I've even had some people think I am his love child. Trust me, if he was, I would be telling the whole world. At least I have my mom."

Melissa laughed, rubbing the back of her head ever so slightly. "Yeah. I guess so. Anyway, I should get dressed. Go find Uncle Might, then tell your girlfriend how much you love her. She's probably worried."

Izuku nodded, eyes lingering on his phone as he thought of how much he must have worried everyone. He silently vowed to make it up to them. His thoughts turned to Mina and he found himself unable to stop smiling. 

"Yeah. She is. I don't think I've told her since…since the plane ride in. I should do that tonight. I doubt there's going to be a dance, so I'll keep this suit clean for tomorrow as well."

"I'm sure you'll look very dashing. Mina will like it." Melissa smiled back, color filling her cheeks as the boy gushed about his girlfriend.

"She likes me no matter what I wear. But yeah. I can't wait to see her again. I'll see you at the banquet. Thanks again in advance for the gauntlets, and for everything else."

As Izuku left, Melissa looked at a photo of her and her father posing with All-Might. It was his last visit before this one. She gazed at the photo, then headed back to her lab. She took out some samples she had prepared and put them into a machine. 

The device hummed its way to life and started to oscillate lights across its screen. 

"Initializing calibration."

Melissa waited patiently until calibration was complete. The device spoke once more in its digital, sing-song tone.

"Please insert DNA samples. Analysis will take 24 hours to complete."

The girl sighed, adjusting her glasses. She supposed she could wait. Science was built on patience after all, with countless hours of trial and error. 

"Oh well. I can wait. Come tomorrow, it's 'moment of truth time'..."

The girl's glasses glared in the electronic light, obscuring her eyes as she checked the device parameters. "Papa and All-Might have a secret, but I think I know what it is. Only one way to find out."

X

The Pavilion came into view, a technicolor dome shining in the afternoon sun. Mina, Pony, Ochako, and Setsuna all made their way towards it, with the 1B girls in the lead.

The other two teens, however, lagged behind the others, stopping to think for a while as they reflected on the day’s events. Ochako thought to herself, feeling a bit discouraged. One of her best friends was struggling, her parents were having trouble making ends meet, and there was little she could do about either. She looked at her hands, the ones she had focused on training. And yet they felt so weak, unable to reach out. “What kind of hero do I want to be?” That was the question she kept asking herself.

"You ok, Chako?" Mina quirked her head to the side as she walked alongside her friend.

The brunette nearly leapt out of her shoes, eyes bulging out as she tried to calm herself down. "Oh, It's fine. Nothing really."

Mina narrowed her eyes and drew closer to the other girl, as if investigating something. Ochako could feel her heart rate increase from the proximity, chalking it up to the sensation of being interrogated. Finally, the pink girl just shrugged and backed off. "Hmmmmm. Ok." 

"Really?"

"No."

Ochako froze. She supposed that was to be expected. Ever since the entrance exam, Mina and Izuku had entered her life. And now the former was reading her like a book. The brunette breathed through her nose. "Ok…I'm…Just worried. I know he's your boyfriend, and you knew him longer, but I'm worried about my best friend. Not sure how to help, though. It was so easy back at the entrance exam but now? I can't help my friends or family. He was the first person I met at UA, followed by you. I see you both doing your best and it makes me want to as well."

Frustrated tears started to well in the girl's eyes, but she fought them back, wiping them from her eyes.

"Oh yeah. Didn't you say your parents were in the construction biz? Hope they're doing better." Mina responded, gazing at her friend with concern. Their quirks must be pretty handy for it. Yours certainly could be…sorry. I sound like my boyfriend."

"You're ok. It's actually really cute! You two are amazing!" Ochako beamed, her cheeks lighting up at the bond between the two. Her expression became more placid, however, when she focused back on the topic at hand. "They're hanging in there. I really want to help them out more. They were my heroes, I mean besides like actual pros like Thirteen or Eel Boy."

"That guy? Damn, girl. You've got excellent taste. Purple Majesty is one of mine. I once tried to do my hair like his. Glad it's back to its usual self." Mina laughed awkwardly. "That was my first Halloween with my sister, back before she, well, was her. I still get teased by her for that costume. Izuku lost his mind over those photos. He went into full ramble mode. That's my nerd for ya."

Ochako laughed, feeling a little better. She couldn't shake her concerns, but she knew Mina was just as worried if not more so. Still, it didn't hurt to check in.

The pink girl looked straight at her friend, cheeks flushed lavender as her eyes shimmered with worry. However, mid sentence, a mental switch was flipped and her determination simmered at the top.

"As much as I hate to say it, he might need space…I want him to be ok, but all I can do is my very best. In the meantime, I'm going to find him a gift to pick him up. We already ate for his birthday, but we can get him some gifts here too."

All Ochako could do was nod. There was no argument from her. "I'd like that."

"Me too. Let's go catch up with the other girls."

Setsuna snuck up behind her schoolmates, wrapping her arms around both. "There you two are. Was starting to worry you ditched us. Everything ok?"

"Yeah, we were just both worried about Zuzu, that's all." Mina grinned bashfully as Ochako let out a surprised yelp.

Setsuna let out a short guffaw as she let go of her friends, beckoning them to follow so that they didn't get lost. "God, you two really are a couple. Pet names and everything. It's adorable. Anyway, stay close, ladies. Remember the buddy system!""

The girls toured the floor, seeing a variety of exhibits, games, and other kiosks. There were even a few helmets similar to the ones in the support pavilion. Mina could feel her head spinning from all the possibilities.

"No way! There's virtual reality, games that help train your quirk, and even some promoting the latest up and coming pros! I think I see Kendou's brother in this one! And Yanagi's sister! Ashido look!"

Mina was distracted. Normally video games and cool things were entirely up her alley. However, her boyfriend wasn't in the best mood and had also gone off elsewhere. Luckily her talk with Ochako had helped a little, but her mind was still troubled.

She sent a few texts his way, just to check in on him. She also sent him an update on everyone meeting up later at the banquet.

Her phone vibrated after a while, showing that Izuku had responded. It was only a singular heart, but that was something at least.

Zuzu : We couldn't find All-Might so I'm looking for him myself. I'll see you at the banquet. Sorry for worrying you.

And then another came, making Mina blush.

Zuzu : I love you, Mina.

"Midoriya's ok then?" Pony checked in, noticing her fellow horn buddy checking her phone. "Sorry for being nosy."

"No worries. He'll get there. Thanks, Pony," Mina smiled softly. "And thanks for inviting me along, Setsuna."

"Yeah. Me too. I don't really hang around your class often. You two seem nice though," Ochako chimed in.

"We try. You should hang out with Kendou though. I feel you two would get along well. Her mom is friends with Gunhead." Setsuna punched the air, acting as the cheerleader of the group in Mina's stead, since she wasn't at her fullest. 

Ochako casually spoke before the weight of the words hit her and her eyes bugged out. She was starstruck. "Really? That's cool…wait, Kendou…That's her mom? The MMA legend?"

Setsuna offered a sharp smile, flexing her arm in emphasis as she used her other hand to pat her bicep. "Yeppers!"

"Is it weird for me to ask for an autograph?" Ochako awkwardly poked her fingers together. It felt out of line, but she was honestly excited.

The lizard girl let out a guffaw. "Maybe a little but I'm sure you two would hit it off." She continued her back and forth with Ochako, while their horned compatriots watched in amusement.

"Oh, you think so? Wait, she's the one that knocks Monoma out, right?"

"That's her."

"I like her already."

"Cold."

Mina spied a new experimental ride machine, with a built-in 3D printer and several figure designs. She was thankful it didn't require her quirk. "Don't want to melt this thing." 

Before she could check it out though, something else grabbed her attention. 

There was a test game for emitter type quirks to test out their range and aim.

Pony's eyes sparkled. "Mina, look! It's like a carnival game back home! We should try it out. It will be fun!"

"Huh. Neat. Guess I can try. Then I'm going to get a 3D figure for Izuku."

Mina waited for the moving targets to start. She watched carefully as the targets shifted around, then threw some weak acid at it. She missed a few times, but ended up doing fairly alright

"Hey. That wasn't bad." Setsuna grinned, offering a thumbs up to her friend. 

"Ooh! Let me try!" Pony jumped up and down. "I've got a homing attack on my side. This is going to be like the 'Break the Targets' game in Smash Bros!" The horned girl waited for the game to start, then she launched her horns at the targets, having to do a few shots to break them all. "That's how we do it in Pima County!"

Mina had no idea what that meant exactly, chalking it up to an American thing. "Nice shootin', Cowgirl! You can teach me a thing or two."

"Really? I mean I suppose I could teach you a thing or two, one horn buddy to another," Pony smiled, her little tail shaking in excitement.

Mina was elated at the American girl's choice of words, letting out a hearty "Now we're talking! Horn buds for life!"

"Speaking of 'Horn Buddies'..." Setsuna broke up the conversation, clearing her throat as she decided to spice things up. Besides, Tsuyu hadn't given her a straight answer over the phone, so she decided to ask the next best friend. "Hey, Ashi. I forgot to ask. Is your friend Kirishima single? Wanted to ask Jirou out but it looks like she and Yaomomo might be a thing. But he's kinda hot." The lizard girl blushed, grinning dreamily.

Her friends all stared blankly, blinking repeatedly before the Pinkett of them let out an excited squeal.

"Oh? You two would be really adorable!" Mina gushed. "Wait. What happened though? I asked him how he did and he just blushed and said 'no comment'"

"Oh yeah. I kinda…kissed him on the cheek. He seemed like he needed it. Hey, do you think they have any rhythm games here? I know it's a Quirk and Support expo but we've got two girls who were in dance class together. Might as well show our moves."

Normally, Mina would push the issue, not allowing Setsuna to change the subject. And yet, she herself was a little distracted.

"You gals keep looking. I'm actually going to go try out that Figure thing and…YO! OH MY GOD! PLUSHY MAKER! YOU CAN MAKE CUSTOM MERCH OF HEROES, INCLUDING YOURSELF!" Mina could feel herself vibrating with excitement as she ran for the kiosk and instantly started making selections. The costume details weren't entirely accurate, but she managed to make likenesses of herself and Izuku. 

"Looks like it can add magnets or velcro so that the toy can hold accessories."

"Or hands." Pony added.

"I…Dare I?" Mina asked her friends before selecting her options. The kiosk thanked her and prompted her to return in 10 minutes. After that time had passed and Mina had gotten a 3D printed All-Might for Izuku, she picked up her plushies and marveled at them.

"I can make them kiss." Mina's eyes shimmered as she showed off her creations. Pony was enthralled by the display. Setsuna just chuckled and shook her head.

"Can't you just kiss your boyfriend in real life though?"

"Y-yeah, but it's cute, ok? Besides, anything I can do to make this trip amazing for him, I'll do. He…still feels like a failure after the practical, even if he still gets to go on this trip and to the training camp. He blames himself for not having Bakugou expelled earlier or just…punching him and dragging him to the exit."

"Poor guy. I can barely stand Baby BoomBoom myself from dealing with him personally, but Midoriya has dealt with way too much from what you have told me."

"Yeah. All I can do is support my boy and show him he's appreciated. I just wish there was more I could do."

Ochako piped up. "Hey, Mina? You said, Izuku's birthday was in July right?"

"Yep. The 15th. We celebrate both our birthdays together. So it's like we each have two birthdays. It's kinda wild."

"I think we should all chip in and sign a big card for the guy. He seems like he needs it. He's one of my best friends and I want to do what I can to cheer him up."

"He'd like that. Plus, remember how we're singing the birthday song to him tonight?" Mina responded, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "I can help you pick out a gift for him as well."

"If you insist…actually, I need to ask. What is Izuku's history with Bakugou? You don't have to tell me. I know you  worry about sharing things he's not ready to share…I'm just worried."

"I suppose I can…They were childhood friends, years before he met me or Kiri or Tsu. Years before I met either of those two. Then one day…things changed. Izuku's quirk took a while to come in. They thought he would be without it, so it caused him to become a punching bag for Bakugou and his backup dancers," Mina spoke solemnly. 

"Oh…So he bullied Izuku?"

"To put it lightly. Luckily, yours truly came onto the scene to brighten up his day. That didn't stop Bakugou from being shitty but I helped make things more manageable."

"Wait, for real?"

"Yeah…I didn't witness it first hand, but I know the stories."

"He is kinda scary…not as much right now though. He's been quieter, still grouchy, but less loud." Pony contemplated out loud. "I can't believe such a jerk is in our class."

Ochako joined in as well. "Yeah. I'm wondering now if Izuku will try to talk to a teacher about it. Or maybe try to settle his differences with the guy."

Setsuna stretched in place before leaning on Mina's shoulder. "I feel like the latter. I mean, he said he wanted to ask All-Might something, right? The guy's a teacher. He can probably do something."

"Maybe. I know we kept a truce. Zuzu wanted to distance himself from Bakugou, but still let him work to become a hero. Not sure if it's some rivalry thing or just him being kind," Mina stated calmly, holding onto her plushies as she did so. "Whatever Izuku does, I'll support. I just hope he's going to be ok. Like, I'm sure he will be but…I guess even I worry."

Out of the corner of her eye, Mina spotted Momo, who was on her own and looking concerned. Eventually, the class president wandered over and addressed them.

"Hey, have any of you seen Kyo…I mean Jirou."

The girls looked at each other, confused for a moment. Ochako spoke up. "Wasn't she with you?"

"I mean, she was. However, she got red in the face and ran off. I fear I did or said something wrong. We otherwise seemed to be having fun otherwise," Momo sighed, her mood seemingly sunken. Mina patted her on the shoulder, having an idea what happened and sympathizing.

"Maybe she just panicked. She hasn't been in a relationship before right? And neither have you. She probably  just got flustered," Setsuna reasoned. "Did you two get any particularly close?"

"Well…define close…" Momo hesitated, growing more bashful as the question hit. All eyes were on her, and it was exacerbating the fact. The massive grin on Setsuna's face was not helping matters. The lizard girl spoke jovially.

"There it is. Anyway, the way I see it, there's two options. We can look for her together, or you can send her a text and we can meet her at the Banquet."

"I agree. She's bound to turn up, and I don't think you did anything wrong, Yaomomo. We're all going to meet up at the party, so you can talk to her then. Just shoot her a text and see if she responds. If she doesn't, we'll look for her. I can even ask the boys if they've seen her, "Mina smiled assuring. She knew what her friend was going through and, besides finding it absolutely  adorable, felt compelled to help.

The raven-haired girl bowed, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. "I suppose that's the soundest strategy. I have just sent her a message checking up on her. I'll check periodically. Thanks again, all of you."

"Any time, class Pres. Now what say we enjoy this girl's time before we all head to a swanky banquet. No…Swankwet!" Mina cheered, starting to feel like her old self again.

"And besides, even if we worry, we just gotta believe in them, right?" The punk girl followed up, coming across as calmer and more relaxed as she offered the taller girl a hand.

Momo checked her phone, seeing a few messages from Jirou apologizing for running off. She offered to make it up to her friend as well, especially at the banquet.

Looking back at the hand offered to her and the friends standing by, Momo relented. "Very well. I'm ready when you are."

All the girls but Ochako shouted "Poggers!" in unison, causing the other girls to give them a weird look in return. Then, with Setsuna in the lead, the quintet made the most of their outing before they headed back to the hotels to prepare.

X

The cafe's business started to slow down as the day wound down. The two UA students on staff did their duties diligently as they worked towards closing time. One, however, seemed to be throwing himself into the job.

Kaminari sighed, cleaning off tables as the café neared closing time. It closed earlier than some of the other eateries on the island, plus a lot of the customers were heading to the larger eateries for more fulfilling meals.

"Hey, are you ok, bro? You seem to be a bit off," the electric boy stepped in, patting his friend on the shoulder.

"Yeah. I'm just worried about my friend." The boy smiled, looking down at the table he was cleaning.

His coworker, however, was unconvinced, though not unsympathetic. "Yeah. I noticed. I hope he's OK too. But you seemed to be a little distracted. Well, more like…you're going super hard core on the work. What's up?"

Kirishima held his breath, unsure of how to word it. He wasn't exactly the most well-spoken person he knew. Still, as much as he was hoping his friend wouldn't notice anything, he should have known that Kaminari could be more perceptive than he looked, on rare occasions. 

"This might seem out of nowhere, but it's been eating at me…You ever have a crush on multiple people at once?"

Kaminari blinked a few times in surprise and confusion. "Dude, where did this come from? You sure you're ok?"

"Fine. Guess I was asking for that," Kirishima gave an embarrassed laugh and continued to unload. Or rather, he would have, had his friend not continued. Kaminari pointed at himself confidently.