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Tenya wakes up at three-fifty-nine sharp, his internal clock waking him up moments before his alarm goes off. Or rather, it would go off if for some reason Tenya's internal clock should fail.
Tenya's morning routine is compromised of short, simple steps.
He wakes up and stops his alarm before it can even begin, then slides his thick-bridged glasses onto his nose. Tenya grabs his clothes for the day , then exits the room with PJ's still on. He pauses at Midoriya's door and knocks thrice; sharp, loud knocks that wake Midoeiya with ease while allowing his neighbors to remain fast asleep.
Tenya continues to the locker room, where he takes a brisk shower to prepare for the day. It's there that he dons his clothes and smooths his hair, before exiting the room to head up to his own and drop off his things.
Then Tenya heads to the kitchen to fetch his and Midoriya's protein shakes. Tenya always blends them the evening before so as to not be discourteous to his classmates at such an early hour.
Shortly after that, Midoriya arrives. He and Tenya wave to each other, whisper morning plesantries, and drink their shakes. Sometimes, one of them will yawn and the two get stuck in such a loop for several minutes.
Luckily, this is not such a morning. Midoriya drains his smoothie in record time, and Tenya finishes his shortly after. He fills the cups with water to soak while he and Midoriya jog; he feels guilty every time but Tenya always finishes his dishes eventually, so he tries not to fret.
Their jog is a simple one. They first go around Yuuei's campus, setting a leisurely pace for themseves and speeding up to a brisk run by the end of the loop.
After that first lap, they usually head into the thick grove that lays just outside of Heights Alliance.
This morning, Midoriya deviates from their usual path when he slows to a stop after the first loop.
Tenya runs a few steps forward, hoping vainly that Midoriya will catch up. Tenya grinds to a halt when he doesn't.
When he speaks, concern colors his words. "Midoriya-kun, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Midoriya reassures quickly. He sounds genuine, but Tenya knows his friend far too well to trust him blindly on this.
Tenya walks decisively, reaching Midoriya in a mere three strides. He places hishands on Midoriya's shoulders, bends down to look him in the eyes. "Midoriya, I need you to tell me the truth. Are you alright?"
"Yes," Midoriya says empathetically. "Iida I'm fine, it's just…" he scuffs his feet on the ground, then looks up at Tenya with wide eyes.
"Well?" Tenya asks. He winces when it comes out sharper than he intended it.
"Do you remember earlier in the summer, when we visited the Support Labs with Uraraka?"
Tenya accepts the change of topic with a vague nod. He shudders as he recalls the Support Labs and the fierce student who commands them.
Hatsume Mei, Support Course menace.
Tenya takes a deep breath, regaining his composure.
"Yes, I remember. I would be hard-pressed to forget it, in fact. What of it?" Tenya tilts his head slightly, curious.
"It's just- you said you'd show me how to kick like you do."
Tenya inhales sharply. He remembers Midoriya saying that- of course he does- but when Midoriya hadn't brought it up in the following weeks, Tenya simply assumed that he was uninterested.
An incorrect assumption, clearly.
"Of course I'll assist you," Tenya rushes to assure. "I just- you hadn't brought it up and I didn't want to be so arrogant as to presume-"
"No, the fault is all mine," Midoriya interjects. Tenya opens his mouth, speech already in mind. As if sensing the coming argument, Midoriya ducks his head and continues, "In any case, thats not important. So… when can we start?"
Tenya thinks for a moment, then exhales with a grin.
"At the beginning of our lunch period, I shall ask Aizawa-sensei for access to one of the training centers," Tenya proposes eagerly, hand chops accentuating his words. "We can meet back here tonight?" he adds hopefully.
Midoriya nods and grins. It is practically blinding.
-
They continue their routine from there, though the jog is shorter than normal.
Tenya stays behind when the lunch bell rings, and Aizawa releases the gym keys with minimal prodding.
The rest of the school day passes blindingly fast, as does dinner.
Finally, Midoriya and Tenya meet in the common room at seven o'clock sharp. Midoriya thrusts an Ingenium-themed water bottle at Tenya.
He gasps and grins, "Thank you, Midoriya. I shall treasure this forever!" Midoriya flushes happily at Tenya's joy, then waves off his praise.
"I mean it," Tenya insists. "It must have been expensive!"
"Er, not really," Midoriya downplays. He opens the door as he speaks, and Tenya is hit with a gust of crisp fall wind. He nods his thanks, and Midoriya closes the door behind him.
"Even so," Tenya says. "Thank you." Midoriya bites his lip to conceal his grin.
It's a short walk from there, and they reach the gym in no time. Tenya unlocks the training center and holds the feather-light door open for Midoriya before following him inside. Looking around, Tenya can't help but to marvel at the gym and all it contained.
It had looked large on the outside, but on the inside?" It was absolutely humongus. Tenya shouldn't have been surprised, considering that this is U.A. after all.
There is a wide-open space with sparring mats to the right, and training equipment to the left. A wide running track loops around the gym.
Tenya exhales and smiles, turning to Midoriya. "I have a quick warm-up planned, and then we can begin, if that sounds alright?"
"That sounds perfect," Midoriya agrees readily. He crouches slightly, clenching his fists and looking up at Tenya. "Bring it on!"
"Of course," Tenya exclaims. He pushes up his glasses and says, "Plus ultra!"
Then Tenya pauses and holds up a hand. "One moment, please!" He crosses the floor in three long strides and plugs his phone into the speaker system. With a few quick taps, his music is queued up.
NEVER SURRENDER begins to play through the speakers.
"Now we can begin," Tenya says. Midoriya smiles and nods, determined.
Tenya leads them in a quick series of stretches, and ten minutes later they're seamlessly switching gears.
Tenya finds weighted punching bags and demonstrates various kicking strategies.
Midoriya has the foundations down in another half-hour, and Tenya lets him practice his form as he observes.
Overall, Midoriya picks up the basics and goes a little further, all in a rather short period of time.
They pause for a snack halfway through, enjoying the raisins and orange juice that Tenya brought. It's delicious.
Midoriya manages to break four punching bags in half as many hours. Four! Tenya finds himself glad that they didn't spar.
(Midoriya and Tenya have sparred in class before and he’s never been injured, but still. There’s something unsettling about watching Midoriya destroy three quirk-enhanced, quirk-proof punching bags in half as many hours.)
Tenya corrects Midoriya's form a few times,but he picks up Tenya's fighting style with remarkable ease.
Eventually Tenya's alarm goes off, and he stops the music.
"Unfortunately, it's nearing curfew. We need to clean up and return to the dormitories." Midoriya nods. He looks faintly disappointed, which is how Tenya feels.
They discuss Midoriya's progress and make plans to continue training together as they clean. When they return to the dorms, Midoriya heads to his room before pausing at the base of the stairs.
"Hey, Iida?"
"Hm?" Tenya looks up from where he'd been searching fir a healthy and quick late-night snack. (Ashido must have had another "study session" in her room, he reflects upon seeing the near-empty fridge.)
"Call me Izuku," he blurts. Tenya's shock must show on his face because Midoriya- Izuku?- rushes to continue, "I know it's rather forward, but we're friends- I hope- and in any case you-"
"Izuku," Tenya interjects. Izuku stops rambling, bright green eyes focusing on him. "I would be honored to call you by your first name. As such, it's only fair that you call me Tenya." Izuku jolts in surprise and points to himself, as if saying, 'Me?'
Tenya nods.
"Well, if you insist," Izuku says happily. Tenya graciously doesn’t point out the fact that he did not insist and in fact asked very politely.
"Goodnight, Tenya!"
"Goodnight, Izuku." Tenya waves until Izuku vanishes up the stairs, then resumes his rooting through the fridge, a faint smile lingering on his face.