Work Text:
Neito Monoma had never particularly liked Izuku Midoriya.
This was not personal. Mostly.
Midoriya was simply representative of everything wrong with Class 1-A.
Overpraised.
Overexposed.
Constantly involved in catastrophes.
Somehow incapable of completing a school year without becoming nationally significant.
Annoyingly powerful.
Painfully earnest.
Ridiculously freckled.
Not that the freckles mattered.
Obviously.
"Midoriya."
Izuku looked up.
"Monoma!"
Monoma smiled.
"How wonderful. They really will let anyone into these conferences."
Izuku blinked.
Then smiled.
"Good to see you too."
Monoma's eye twitched.
That wasn't the correct response.
They were twenty-four now.
Professional heroes.
Adults.
Allegedly.
And somehow...
Monoma still found himself irritated whenever Midoriya refused to be irritated by him.
"I see Class 1-A continues to monopolise public attention."
Izuku nodded.
"Probably."
Monoma paused.
That wasn't right either.
"You agree?"
"I mean..."
Izuku looked towards the enormous promotional banner featuring himself,
Bakugo and Todoroki.
"...yeah."
Monoma stared.
Izuku sighed.
"I told them they should feature more heroes."
Monoma's prepared speech died.
"Oh."
"I suggested you, actually."
Silence.
Monoma stared.
"...What?"
Izuku smiled.
"Your agency's response during the Yokohama incident was incredible."
Monoma's brain stalled.
That wasn't- No.
Absolutely not.
He recovered.
"Naturally."
Izuku nodded enthusiastically.
"Especially the way you rotated
between Quirks."
Oh no.
Monoma knew that look.
He'd seen it at U.A.
Notebook.
Eyes.
Muttering.
Midoriya was about to become unbearable.
"You copied Kamiji's Quirk first, right?"
Monoma blinked.
"Yes."
"Then switched to Shoda's."
"Yes."
"And you maintained the first effect after switching."
Monoma stared.
"...Yes."
Izuku's eyes lit up.
"I knew it!"
Several people looked over.
Izuku lowered his voice.
"Sorry."
Monoma frowned.
"You watched the footage?"
"Of course."
Of course?
Izuku was already reaching into his bag.
Monoma's eyes widened.
"No."
Izuku froze.
"What?"
"Do not take out a notebook."
Izuku slowly withdrew his hand.
"...Okay."
"You have notes about me."
Izuku's face reddened.
"I have notes about lots of heroes."
"That wasn't a denial."
"No."
Monoma stared.
Something strange happened in his chest.
He ignored it.
"Anyway."
Izuku continued.
"The timing was incredible."
"You had maybe four seconds between contact and activation."
"Three-point-seven."
Izuku's eyes widened.
"You measured it?"
"I was there."
"Right."
Izuku laughed.
Monoma stared.
Ridiculous freckles.
Again.
Irrelevant.
"Still..."
Izuku smiled.
"Your Quirk is amazing."
Monoma went still.
There it was.
A sentence he'd heard before.
Kind of.
People liked Copy.
Obviously.
It was useful.
Versatile.
Interesting.
Powerful in the correct circumstances.
But there was always something after it.
Your Quirk is amazing when you're around strong people.
Imagine what you could do if you copied Endeavor.
You'd be terrifying with Erasure.
What would happen if you copied…
Always somebody else's name.
Somebody else's power.
Somebody else's brilliance.
Monoma smiled.
"Yes, well, I have the privilege of borrowing the talents of considerably more gifted individuals."
Izuku frowned.
"No."
Monoma blinked.
"No?"
"That's not what I meant."
Izuku leaned slightly closer.
"I mean Copy."
Monoma stared.
"Yes."
"My Quirk."
"Yes."
"The Quirk that copies other Quirks."
Izuku looked confused.
"...Yes?"
Monoma narrowed his eyes.
"You understand the inherent
contradiction in what you're saying."
"I don't think there is one."
"Of course there is."
Monoma crossed his arms.
"The value of Copy is determined by
what I have available to copy."
"Partially."
"Entirely."
"No."
Monoma stared.
Midoriya stared back.
Oh.
He was serious.
Izuku's hands started moving.
Monoma recognised danger.
"Copy isn't just replication."
"You have to understand an unfamiliar
Quirk almost immediately."
"Activation requirements."
"Limitations."
"Effective range."
"How it interacts with your body."
"You don't get years of practice like the original user."
"You sometimes get seconds."
Monoma's smile faded.
Izuku continued.
"Then you have to decide whether it's useful."
"When to switch."
"What combinations work."
"How long you can maintain them."
"Whether the copied Quirk requires something your body can't provide."
"That's not borrowing someone else's talent."
Izuku looked directly at him.
"That's yours."
Monoma said nothing.
Which was rare.
Historic, perhaps.
Someone should document it.
Izuku smiled.
"The copied Quirks aren't what make Copy incredible."
"You are."
Silence.
Monoma's brain stopped.
No.
No, absolutely not.
Midoriya could not simply say things like
that.
There should be laws.
Monoma recovered approximately six seconds later.
"Well."
His voice cracked.
He hated everything.
Izuku blinked.
Monoma cleared his throat.
"Obviously."
Excellent.
Saved.
Izuku smiled.
Monoma hated that too.
Probably.
"Actually..."
Izuku reached towards his bag again.
Monoma pointed.
"I said no notebook."
"I was going to show you something."
"No."
"You might like it."
"Absolutely not."
"I analysed your Quirk."
Monoma froze.
"...How much?"
Izuku looked guilty.
That was concerning.
"Midoriya."
"A little."
"Define little."
Izuku looked away.
"Midoriya."
"...Twenty-seven pages."
Monoma stared.
"Twenty-seven."
"Some are diagrams."
"That doesn't help."
"Technically it reduces the amount of
written-"
"Twenty-seven pages."
Izuku's face reddened.
"I got interested."
Monoma's stomach did something deeply inconvenient.
"Give me the notebook."
Izuku blinked.
"You said-"
"I've changed my mind."
They found an empty table.
The conference continued around them.
Neither noticed.
Izuku opened the notebook.
Monoma stared.
Tabs.
There were tabs.
COPY – MECHANICS
COPY – COMBAT
COPY – RESCUE
COPY – COMBINATIONS
COPY – LIMITATIONS
And-
Monoma's eyes narrowed.
COPY – THEORETICAL
"What is that?"
Izuku immediately became excited.
"Oh!"
Monoma regretted asking.
Forty-five minutes later...
They were still there.
"No."
Monoma pointed at the page.
"That wouldn't work."
Izuku frowned.
"Why?"
"Because you're assuming activation transfers with the Quirk."
"It doesn't always."
Izuku's eyes widened.
"Wait."
Notebook.
Pen.
Muttering.
Monoma watched.
"Say that again."
"No."
"Please."
Monoma smiled.
"Twenty-seven pages and you missed something."
Izuku looked delighted.
Delighted.
Not offended.
Not embarrassed.
Excited.
"Yes!"
Monoma stared.
"What is wrong with you?"
"A lot, according to Kacchan."
"That was rhetorical."
Izuku scribbled.
"So the activation condition-"
"Depends."
"On?"
"Whether it's intrinsic to the Quirk or reliant on a secondary physical adaptation."
Izuku looked up.
"That's fascinating."
Monoma's stomach did the thing again.
Stop.
They argued.
Actually argued.
Not hostile.
Not really.
Izuku proposed something.
Monoma dismantled it.
Monoma explained something.
Izuku challenged it.
Back and forth.
Ideas.
Theory.
Possibilities.
Monoma realised something disturbing.
He was enjoying himself.
Nobody talked to him about Copy like this.
People asked what he could copy.
Who he'd copied.
What combination was strongest.
Midoriya wanted to know how he used it.
How he thought.
How he adapted.
How he chose.
An hour passed.
Then:
"Midoriya."
Izuku looked up.
"Yeah?"
"The conference ended."
Izuku looked around.
The room was almost empty.
"Oh."
Monoma stared.
Izuku checked the time.
"Oh!"
"Excellent observational skills."
"Sorry!"
They packed up.
Izuku slid the notebook into his bag.
Monoma watched it disappear.
Then:
"I want a copy."
Izuku froze.
Monoma immediately regretted phrasing.
Izuku slowly looked at him.
Monoma sighed.
"Of the notes."
"Oh."
"What did you think I meant?"
"Nothing."
Midoriya's face was red.
Interesting.
Monoma filed that away for absolutely no reason.
"I'll scan them."
"Good."
Izuku smiled.
"Actually..."
Monoma waited.
"If you're willing..."
Izuku rubbed the back of his neck.
"Could we go through them together?"
Monoma stared.
"For accuracy."
Izuku added quickly.
"Obviously."
"Since you know your Quirk better than anyone."
Monoma's chest tightened. Again.
He smiled.
"Naturally."
Izuku smiled back.
"So?"
Monoma pretended to consider.
"Fine."
Izuku brightened.
"Really?"
"Don't make me reconsider."
"Sorry."
They walked towards the exit.
Side by side.
Then Monoma glanced at him.
"Midoriya."
"Hm?"
"You genuinely think Copy is
impressive."
Izuku frowned.
"Of course."
"No."
Monoma stopped.
Izuku stopped too.
Monoma hated how difficult the next question felt.
"Not what I copy."
"Copy."
Izuku looked at him.
Understanding appeared.
His expression softened.
"Yeah."
No hesitation.
"Copy."
Then:
"Your Quirk."
Monoma swallowed.
"And the way you use it."
There it was again.
Yours.
Monoma looked away.
"Well."
He adjusted his jacket.
"At least someone from Class 1-A developed reasonable taste."
Izuku laughed.
"Apparently."
Monoma looked at him.
That laugh.
Those freckles.
That ridiculous green hair.
Something shifted.
Tiny.
Inconvenient.
Dangerous.
No.
Absolutely not.
This was Midoriya.
Class 1-A.
The enemy.
Well.
Former enemy.
Academic rival.
Former academic rival.
Professional… Colleague. Fine. Colleague.
They reached the street.
Izuku checked his phone.
"I should get going."
Monoma nodded.
"Yes."
A pause.
Then…
"I'll message you?"
Izuku asked.
Monoma blinked.
"About the notebook."
"Oh."
Obviously.
"Yes."
"Great."
Izuku smiled.
"See you, Monoma."
"Midoriya."
Izuku walked away.
Monoma watched him.
For perhaps slightly longer than necessary.
Then turned.
"How fascinating."
Monoma froze.
Kendo stood behind him.
Arms crossed.
Smile dangerous.
Monoma stared.
"How long have you been there?"
"Long enough."
"Meaningless statement."
"Long enough to hear Midoriya tell you you're incredible."
Monoma's face warmed.
"He was discussing my Quirk."
"Mm-hm."
"Professionally."
"Of course."
"Analytically."
"Twenty-seven pages."
Monoma's eyes narrowed.
"You were listening."
"You weren't exactly whispering."
Kendo smiled.
"So."
"No."
"I haven't asked anything."
"You were going to."
"Was I?"
"Yes."
Kendo's smile widened.
Monoma walked past her.
"We are colleagues."
"Didn't say you weren't."
"He has an academic interest in my
Quirk."
"Twenty-seven pages."
"Stop saying that."
Kendo followed.
"Do you like him?"
Monoma stopped.
Turned.
Looked genuinely offended.
"Midoriya?"
"Yes."
"Of Class 1-A?"
"Formerly."
"The class responsible for approximately ninety percent of U.A.'s property damage?"
"That's not statistically accurate."
"Close enough."
"The boy who monopolised national media attention for half our adolescence?"
"Saving the world probably contributed."
"That's hardly an excuse."
Kendo stared.
Monoma stared back.
Then…
"No."
Kendo raised an eyebrow.
"Absolutely not."
"Okay."
"I do not like Midoriya."
"Fine."
"He is irritating."
"Sure."
"Obsessive."
"Yep."
"His hair is ridiculous."
"Obviously."
"And..."
Monoma stopped.
Kendo waited.
"...His freckles are stupid."
Silence.
Kendo's expression changed.
Oh.
Monoma saw it.
"No."
"Neito."
"No."
"You noticed his freckles."
"Everyone has noticed his freckles."
"I've never heard you mention them."
"Because they're irrelevant."
"You've mentioned them twice in five minutes."
Monoma froze.
Kendo smiled.
Slowly.
Dangerously.
"Interesting."
Monoma walked away.
"Kendo."
"Yeah?"
"Never speak to me again."
She laughed.
That evening...
Monoma received a message.
Midoriya: Hi! Sorry it's late.
Then immediately:
Midoriya: Actually it's only 8:14 so I suppose it isn't particularly late, but I didn't know whether you were working tomorrow and, Monoma smiled before he could stop himself.
Another message.
Midoriya: Sorry. Anyway.
Then…
Midoriya: Are you free Thursday?
Monoma stared.
His stomach flipped.
Ridiculous.
Notebook.
This was about the notebook.
Obviously.
Monoma: Potentially.
Three dots.
Midoriya: There's a café near my agency that's usually quiet.
Midoriya: We could go through the Copy notes?
There.
Professional.
Analytical.
Normal.
Monoma typed.
Monoma: Fine.
Then, because he had dignity:
Monoma: I suppose correcting twenty-seven pages of Class 1-A incompetence is a burden I can bear.
Izuku responded:
Midoriya: lol
Monoma stared at the emoji.
Then smiled.
Again.
Across the city...
Izuku looked at his phone.
Smiled.
Then reopened his notebook.
He'd written something after leaving the conference.
A new section.
One sentence.
Underlined.
Monoma's greatest advantage isn't
Copy. It's Monoma.
Izuku looked at it.
Thought about the conversation.
About how quickly Monoma understood each theoretical scenario.
How confidently he'd corrected Izuku.
How animated he'd become talking about his Quirk.
Izuku smiled.
Thursday would be fun.
Meanwhile...
Monoma lay in bed.
Staring at the ceiling.
One sentence replayed.
Again.
Again.
Again.
That's not borrowing someone else's talent.
That's yours.
Monoma closed his eyes.
Then another.
The copied Quirks aren't what make
Copy incredible.
You are.
His eyes opened.
"No."
Absolutely not.
He rolled over.
"This is not happening."
His phone buzzed.
Midoriya.
A photograph.
The notebook.
One newly written sentence visible.
Monoma's greatest advantage isn't Copy. It's Monoma.
Monoma stared.
His face heated.
He threw his phone onto the bed.
"No."
A second later...
He picked it back up.
Read it again.
Then once more.
His stomach flipped.
Monoma buried his face in his pillow.
This was bad.
Very bad.
Because Neito Monoma had spent years learning how to borrow almost anything.
Strength.
Speed.
Fire.
Ice.
Creation.
Power.
For a few minutes, he could make almost anything someone else possessed his own.
Unfortunately...
There was one thing he had absolutely no idea what to do with.
A compliment from Izuku Midoriya that he couldn't convince himself belonged to anybody else.
Monoma arrived seven minutes early.
This was normal.
Professional.
Responsible.
It had absolutely nothing to do with
Midoriya.
Obviously.
He entered the café.
Quiet.
As promised.
Midoriya had chosen well.
Monoma disliked that.
He preferred when Midoriya gave him obvious reasons to criticise him.
"Monoma!"
There.
Corner table.
Midoriya waved.
Notebook already open.
Two drinks on the table.
Monoma stopped.
Two.
Interesting.
He approached.
"You ordered for me."
Midoriya froze.
"Oh."
Immediate panic.
"I remembered what you had at the conference."
Monoma stared.
Midoriya's face reddened.
"But I probably shouldn't have assumed you'd want the same thing."
"I can get something else."
"Or you don't have to drink it."
"Obviously."
"I just thought-"
"Midoriya."
Izuku stopped.
Monoma sat.
"It's fine."
"Oh."
Izuku smiled.
"Okay."
Monoma looked at the drink.
Exactly what he'd ordered.
He remembered.
That was… Fine. Normal.
People remembered things.
"Notebook."
Monoma said.
Izuku immediately brightened.
"Right."
Safer territory.
Twenty-seven pages.
It became thirty-four.
Then thirty-eight.
"No."
Monoma crossed something out.
Izuku frowned.
"Again?"
"Again."
"Why?"
"Because you're treating Copy like storage."
"It isn't."
Izuku leaned closer.
"Explain."
Monoma did.
Five minutes.
Then ten.
Izuku listened.
Actually listened.
Eyes focused.
Occasional questions.
No interruption unless he genuinely
wanted clarification.
Monoma found himself gesturing.
Talking faster.
Getting animated.
"The copied factor isn't retained in the same way."
"So when I switch-"
Izuku interrupted.
"You're not retrieving something."
"Exactly."
"You're reacquiring."
"Exactly."
Izuku's eyes widened.
"So theoretically-"
"No."
"You don't know what I'm going to say."
"You're going to suggest simultaneous activation."
Izuku froze.
Monoma smiled.
"Predictable."
Izuku looked offended.
"I am not."
"You absolutely are."
"I was going to ask about overlap."
"Which is simultaneous activation with extra steps."
Izuku stared.
Then laughed.
Monoma smiled.
This was fun.
Annoyingly.
Two hours passed.
Neither noticed.
At some point...
The notebook stopped being the subject.
It started with heroes.
Naturally.
Then agencies.
Then U.A.
Then teachers.
Then…
"Vlad King was better."
Izuku stared.
"No."
Monoma smiled.
"There it is."
"Aizawa-sensei was incredible."
"At sleeping."
"He was an amazing teacher."
"Your class was unsupervised approximately eighty percent of the time."
"That's not true."
"You fought villains at fifteen."
"That wasn't his fault!"
"You lived in dormitories because villains kept finding you."
"Also not his fault!"
"Your class representative attempted murder."
Izuku froze.
Monoma took a drink.
"That was..."
Izuku struggled.
"...complicated."
"Excellent defence."
Izuku started laughing.
Not polite laughter.
Real.
Head tilted back slightly.
Eyes squeezed shut.
Monoma watched.
Too long.
Again.
Freckles.
Stupid.
Izuku looked at him.
"What?"
Monoma immediately took a drink.
"Nothing."
"You're staring."
"I am capable of looking in your general direction."
Izuku's cheeks pinkened. Interesting. Very interesting.
Monoma filed that away.
For professional reasons.
Conversation moved again.
Hero rankings.
Monoma thought they were ridiculous.
Izuku mostly agreed.
Publicity.
Agency politics.
Merchandising.
"Your merchandise is terrible."
Izuku looked offended.
"What?"
"Your merchandise."
"What's wrong with it?"
"That plush."
Izuku froze.
"Which plush?"
"The one with the enormous head."
"They're all like that!"
"Yours looks haunted."
Izuku laughed.
"It does not!"
"It watches people."
"It's cute!"
"It has the eyes of something that knows when you'll die."
Izuku was laughing again.
Monoma smiled.
Then Izuku said:
"I like talking to you."
Monoma stopped.
Completely.
Izuku apparently didn't realise he'd
detonated something.
He continued.
"You disagree with me."
Monoma blinked.
"Most people do."
"No."
Izuku shook his head.
"I mean..."
He thought.
"People disagree with me, obviously."
"Kacchan disagrees with me recreationally."
Monoma snorted.
"But you..."
Izuku smiled.
"You make me defend things."
Monoma stared.
"You don't just say I'm wrong."
"You explain why."
"And sometimes I think you're wrong."
"Often."
Izuku laughed.
"But sometimes you're right."
"Often."
"Don't push it."
Monoma smiled.
Izuku continued.
"It's fun."
There. Again. That stupid warmth.
Monoma looked away.
"Well."
He adjusted his sleeve.
"Naturally."
"I am excellent company."
Izuku smiled.
"You are."
Monoma looked back.
No sarcasm.
Damn him.
The café started closing.
A member of staff approached.
"Sorry."
Both looked up.
"We're closing in ten minutes."
Izuku blinked.
"Oh!"
He checked his phone.
"How is it nine?"
Monoma stared.
They'd arrived at six.
Three hours. Three. They packed.
Izuku paid.
Monoma noticed.
"Midoriya."
Izuku looked up.
"You paid."
"Yeah."
"Why?"
Izuku blinked.
"Because I invited you."
Monoma stared.
That sounded...
Dangerously like… No.
Notebook meeting.
Professional.
"I'll pay next time."
Monoma said.
Izuku smiled.
"Next time?"
Monoma froze.
He had walked directly into that.
"Obviously."
He gestured towards the notebook.
"We're not finished."
Izuku looked down.
They absolutely were.
The notes were complete.
Both knew it.
Silence.
Izuku smiled.
Small.
"Right."
Monoma narrowed his eyes.
"Don't."
"I didn't say anything."
"Your face did."
"My face?"
"Yes."
"What did it say?"
Monoma walked towards the door.
"Nothing."
Izuku followed.
Laughing.
Outside...
Cool night.
Busy pavement.
They stood.
Neither left.
Monoma checked the time.
"I should go."
"Yeah."
Izuku shoved his hands into his pockets.
A pause.
Then…
"Saturday?"
Monoma's heart jumped.
"What about it?"
"I'm free."
"Congratulations."
Izuku laughed.
"I meant..."
His cheeks pinkened.
"Do you want to get food?"
Monoma stared.
No notebook.
No conference.
No professional excuse. Food.
Monoma should ask.
As colleagues?
Simple.
Instead…
"Where?"
Izuku smiled.
"I know somewhere."
"Of course you do."
"So?"
Monoma pretended to consider.
"Fine."
Izuku's smile widened.
They parted.
Monoma walked towards the station.
Thirty metres.
Then his phone buzzed.
Kendo.
Kendo: How was your date?
Monoma stopped.
Monoma: It wasn't a date.
Immediate response.
Kendo: three hours in a café
Monoma: Quirk analysis.
Kendo: and?
Monoma frowned.
Monoma: And what?
Kendo: you talked about quirks for three hours?
Monoma stared.
No.
They hadn't.
Maybe an hour.
Then… Everything else.
Monoma: Irrelevant.
Kendo: haha
Monoma put his phone away.
Saturday.
Not a date.
Obviously.
Monoma changed shirts four times.
This meant nothing.
The first was uncomfortable.
The second was too formal.
The third...
He simply didn't like.
The fourth was correct.
Nothing to analyse.
He arrived.
Midoriya was already there.
Again.
Green jacket.
Black shirt.
Jeans.
Monoma looked.
Noticed.
Looked away.
Midoriya smiled.
"Hey."
"Midoriya."
"You look nice."
Monoma's brain crashed. Immediate. Total.
He recovered.
"Obviously."
Izuku laughed.
Monoma's face warmed.
"Shall we?"
"Yeah."
Izuku had chosen a small restaurant.
Not expensive.
Not crowded.
Good food.
Monoma approved.
Silently.
He wasn't giving Midoriya the satisfaction.
They sat.
Ordered.
Then… Talked.
No notebook.
Nothing professional.
Just… Talked.
Izuku asked about his agency.
Monoma told him.
Izuku asked why he'd chosen it.
Monoma explained.
Then realised Midoriya wasn't asking surface questions.
He wanted to know.
"So you wanted somewhere that uses team rotations?"
"Yes."
"Because of Copy."
"Partly."
Monoma paused.
"Also..."
He looked at the table.
"I don't particularly enjoy solo work."
Izuku blinked.
Monoma smiled faintly.
"Shocking, I know."
"I wouldn't have guessed."
"Most people wouldn't."
Monoma continued.
"Copy is better with other people."
"So am I."
Izuku looked at him.
Monoma regretted saying that.
Too honest.
But Izuku just nodded.
"Me too."
Monoma blinked.
"You?"
Izuku smiled.
"I spent years thinking being strong meant being able to handle everything myself."
His smile became smaller.
"I was wrong."
Monoma stared.
Something about that answer...
No performance.
No heroic speech.
Just truth. "You know..."
Monoma said slowly.
"I used to hate you."
Izuku laughed.
"I know."
"No."
"I mean genuinely."
"I know."
"You're taking this very well."
"You announced it frequently."
"Fair."
Izuku smiled.
"Why?"
Monoma stared.
"Why did I hate you?"
"Yeah."
Monoma could make a joke.
Class 1-A.
Media attention.
Disaster magnet.
Easy. Instead...
Maybe because Midoriya had been
honest… He was too.
"You had something I wanted."
Izuku's expression changed.
"What?"
Monoma looked away.
"Power."
There.
Izuku said nothing.
Monoma continued.
"Not your Quirk specifically."
"Just..."
He searched.
"Something that felt like yours."
Izuku went still.
Monoma laughed quietly.
"Copy is useful."
"Incredible, apparently."
Izuku smiled.
"It is."
"But when I was younger..."
Monoma looked at his hand.
"It never felt like mine."
"I'd touch someone."
"Borrow something incredible."
"Then lose it."
"And everyone would talk about what I'd
borrowed."
"Never..."
He stopped.
Izuku knew.
"Never you."
Monoma looked up.
Izuku's expression was soft.
Too soft. Dangerous.
"Exactly."
Monoma said.
"I thought Class 1-A had everything."
"Attention."
"Recognition."
"Power."
"And you..."
He laughed.
"You had more power than anyone."
Izuku looked down.
Monoma continued.
"So yes."
"I resented you."
"A lot."
Izuku smiled faintly.
"Understandable."
Monoma stared.
"Don't do that."
"Do what?"
"Agree with me."
Izuku laughed.
Then Izuku looked at him.
"For what it's worth..."
Monoma waited.
"One For All didn't feel like mine either."
Monoma froze.
Izuku continued.
"Not for a long time."
"It belonged to All Might."
"Then everyone before him."
"I spent years trying to use it like him."
"Trying to become..."
Izuku smiled faintly.
"...Someone else's version of a hero."
Monoma stared.
He hadn't expected that.
"When did it become yours?"
Monoma asked.
Izuku thought.
"I don't know."
"Gradually."
"When I stopped asking how All Might would use it."
"And started asking how I would."
Monoma's chest tightened.
Izuku leaned forward slightly.
"Maybe Copy's the same."
Monoma looked at him.
"The Quirks disappear."
"Sure."
"But the decisions don't."
"The experience doesn't."
"The skill doesn't."
"Every time you use someone else's Quirk..."
Izuku smiled.
"...You get better at using yours."
Monoma swallowed.
"You're annoyingly insightful."
Izuku laughed.
"I've been told."
Dinner ended.
Neither wanted to leave.
Again.
So they walked.
They found a park.
Sat. Talked more. Eventually...
Izuku asked:
"Why Class 1-B?"
Monoma looked offended.
"Superior teaching."
Izuku laughed.
"Seriously."
Monoma smiled.
Then shrugged.
"They were mine."
Izuku looked at him.
"My class."
"My people."
"They..."
Monoma paused.
"I never had to copy anything to belong there."
Izuku's expression softened.
Monoma immediately pointed.
"Do not look at me like that."
"Like what?"
"That."
"I don't know what I'm doing."
"You do."
Izuku laughed.
Monoma looked away.
Then:
"They're important to me."
"I know."
"How?"
"You never shut up about them."
Monoma stared.
Izuku grinned.
Monoma laughed.
There. Again. Easy. Fun.
Midoriya was fun.
That was deeply inconvenient.
They eventually reached the station.
Again. Stopped. Again. Neither left. Again.
Izuku smiled.
"Tonight was fun."
Monoma nodded.
"It was acceptable."
Izuku laughed.
"High praise."
"Don't become accustomed."
Pause.
Then Izuku said:
"We should do it again."
Monoma looked at him.
"No notebook?"
"No notebook."
"No Quirk analysis?"
"Unless you want to."
Monoma smiled.
"I don't."
Izuku's smile widened.
"Good."
Monoma's heart jumped.
Because there was no ambiguity now.
They wanted to see each other.
Not because of work.
Not because of Copy.
Just… Each other.
"Next week?"
Izuku asked.
Monoma nodded.
"Fine."
Izuku laughed.
"Fine."
Izuku's train arrived first.
He stepped towards it.
Then turned.
"Monoma."
"What?"
A pause.
"I meant what I said."
Monoma frowned.
"Which thing?"
"At the conference."
Oh.
Izuku smiled.
"Copy is yours."
Monoma's chest tightened.
Then Izuku added:
"But..."
He looked slightly embarrassed.
"I think I was wrong about something."
Monoma raised an eyebrow.
"Finally."
Izuku laughed.
"I said Copy wasn't what made you incredible."
Monoma waited.
Izuku rubbed the back of his neck.
"That's true."
"But..."
His cheeks pinkened.
"I think I was focusing too much on the Quirk."
Monoma's heart started pounding.
Izuku looked at him.
"You'd still be incredible without it."
Silence.
The train doors beeped.
Izuku's eyes widened.
"I have to-"
He jumped aboard.
Doors closed.
Monoma remained on the platform.
Staring.
Izuku waved through the glass.
Then disappeared.
Monoma did not move.
Five seconds.
Ten.
Then…
"What the hell, Midoriya?"
His face was burning.
His phone buzzed.
Kendo.
Of course.
Kendo: how was your definitely-not-date
Monoma stared.
Typed.
Deleted.
Typed again.
Monoma: I may have a problem.
Kendo responded immediately.
Kendo: YOU LIKE HIM
Monoma closed his eyes.
Monoma: That isn't the problem.
Three dots.
Kendo: what's the problem then?
Monoma thought.
About the café.
The restaurant.
The park.
Midoriya laughing.
Midoriya listening.
Midoriya remembering his drink.
Midoriya telling him Copy was his.
Midoriya saying he'd be incredible without it.
His stomach flipped.
He typed:
Monoma: I think he might actually like me back.
Kendo didn't respond for nearly a minute.
Then…
Kendo: Neito.
Kendo: you went to dinner.
Kendo: alone.
Kendo: on a saturday night.
Kendo: after he told you that you looked
nice.
Monoma frowned.
Monoma: Yes.
Kendo: what exactly do you think a date is?
Monoma stared.
Oh.
Meanwhile...
Izuku sat on the train.
Thinking. A dangerous activity.
Monoma was...
Different from what he'd expected.
Still dramatic.
Still competitive.
Still capable of turning literally anything into Class 1-A versus Class 1-B.
But also… Thoughtful. Funny. Sharp. Loyal.
Much more vulnerable than he let people see. Izuku liked talking to him.
Liked arguing with him.
Liked making him laugh.
Liked when Monoma smiled after a compliment and then immediately tried to hide it.
Liked- Oh.
Izuku froze.
Then slowly covered his face.
"Oh."
A passenger glanced over.
Izuku ignored them.
Because apparently… Somewhere between twenty-seven pages of Quirk analysis and an argument about whether Aizawa had actually supervised Class 1-A...
Izuku had developed a crush on Neito Monoma.
His phone buzzed.
Monoma.
Izuku's heart jumped.
Monoma: For clarification.
Izuku stared.
Then:
Monoma: Was tonight a date?
Izuku stopped breathing.
Oh. Oh no.
He typed.
Deleted.
Typed.
Deleted.
Then…
Midoriya: Did you want it to be?
Sent.
Coward.
Absolute coward.
Across the city...
Monoma stared at the message.
His heart hammered.
He could escape.
Make a joke.
Say no.
Easy.
Instead...
For once...
Neito Monoma decided not to borrow someone else's answer.
He typed his own.
Monoma: Yes.
Izuku stared.
His stomach flipped.
Then he smiled.
Huge.
Midoriya: Then it was.
Pause.
Then…
Midoriya: And I'd really like another one.
Monoma read it.
Once. Twice. Three times. Then smiled.
No audience. No performance. No superiority. Just Neito.
Monoma: Fine.
Three dots.
Then Izuku:
Midoriya: cool
Monoma smiled wider.
Then added:
Monoma: I would too.
And somehow...
That felt more frightening than anything he'd borrowed in his life.
Because this time...
The feeling was entirely his.
The second date was different.
Not because they did anything particularly different. Coffee. Walk. Dinner. Arguing. Mostly arguing.
The difference was… They knew.
Izuku knew it was a date.
Monoma knew it was a date.
Izuku knew Monoma knew.
Monoma knew Izuku knew.
This was terrible.
"You've been quiet."
Izuku said.
Monoma looked offended.
"I am perfectly capable of silence."
Izuku smiled.
"Are you?"
"Yes."
"I've never seen evidence."
Monoma stared.
"Perhaps I'm simply forced to speak more frequently around you because somebody needs to compensate for
Class 1-A's chronic intellectual deficiencies."
Izuku laughed.
There. Better.
Monoma relaxed. Slightly. Insults. Good. Familiar. Safe.
They were walking through a shopping district.
Izuku had suggested a hero equipment exhibition.
Monoma had mocked him for suggesting work-related entertainment on a date.
Then agreed immediately.
They'd spent ninety minutes inside.
Monoma had enjoyed every second.
He would deny this under oath.
Now they had coffee.
Izuku carried his.
Monoma carried his.
Shoulders occasionally brushed.
Every time...
Monoma noticed.
Every. Single. Time.
"So."
Izuku glanced at him.
"Third date?"
Monoma nearly walked into a sign.
He recovered.
"Confident."
Izuku's face immediately reddened.
"I didn't mean-"
There.
Much better.
Monoma smiled.
"Oh?"
Izuku looked away.
"I meant if tonight goes well."
"Perhaps I haven't decided whether it has."
Izuku looked at him.
Monoma took a drink.
"You stayed at the exhibition for an hour and a half."
"Professional curiosity."
"You bought a support-item catalogue."
"Research."
"You argued with the representative for fifteen minutes."
"He was wrong."
Izuku laughed.
"You had fun."
Monoma stared.
Izuku smiled.
"Admit it."
"Never."
Izuku stepped slightly closer.
"Third date."
Monoma's heart jumped.
"Possibly."
"Friday?"
"I'll consult my schedule."
"You told me earlier you're free Friday."
Monoma froze.
Izuku grinned.
Damn him.
"Fine."
Izuku laughed.
"Friday."
Their shoulders touched again.
This time… Neither moved.
Monoma was good at flirting.
Exceptionally good. In theory. He could smile. Lean close. Deliver a line. Watch someone blush. Easy.
He'd done it before.
Confidence was performance.
Monoma understood performance.
So… He decided to regain control.
They stopped outside a bookshop.
Izuku looked through the window.
Monoma stepped closer.
"Midoriya."
Izuku turned.
Monoma smiled.
Slow.
Deliberate.
"You know..."
He leaned slightly towards him.
"If you wanted a third date this badly, you could simply admit you're becoming rather fond of me."
There.
Perfect.
Izuku's face reddened.
Victory.
Then Izuku smiled.
"Okay."
Monoma blinked.
"What?"
"I am."
Silence.
Monoma's brain shut down.
Izuku continued.
"I'm becoming really fond of you."
No. Illegal. Absolutely illegal. Monoma stared. Izuku's cheeks were pink.
But he didn't look away.
Monoma had no response.
None.
Izuku's smile widened.
"Monoma?"
"Shut up."
Izuku laughed.
Monoma walked into the bookshop.
Izuku followed.
"Where are you going?"
"Away from you."
"We're on a date."
"A tragic oversight."
Izuku laughed harder.
Monoma hated him.
This was becoming increasingly difficult to believe. The third date happened Friday. Obviously. Monoma arrived first. Izuku arrived two minutes later.
"Hi."
Monoma smiled.
"Midoriya."
Izuku looked at him.
Then…
"You look really good."
Monoma froze.
Again.
"Stop that."
Izuku blinked.
"Stop what?"
"Saying things."
Izuku laughed.
"Things?"
"Compliments."
"You don't like compliments?"
"I like them when they're delivered by people whose opinions don't inexplicably matter."
Izuku stopped.
Monoma stopped.
Oh.
That had escaped.
Izuku's expression softened.
Monoma immediately pointed.
"Don't."
"What?"
"That face."
"What face?"
"The sincere one."
Izuku laughed.
"Sorry."
"No, you're not."
"No."
"I'm not."
Dinner.
Then walking.
Then… Naturally… An argument.
"Endeavor."
Izuku said.
Monoma stared.
"No."
"Yes."
"Absolutely not."
"In terms of raw combat
effectiveness-"
"No."
"Monoma."
"You've eliminated versatility."
"I haven't!"
"You have."
"His Quirk-"
"Powerful."
"Range."
"Exceptional."
"Mobility."
"Very good."
Izuku frowned.
"So what's the problem?"
"Predictability."
Izuku stopped.
Monoma smiled.
"There."
"No."
"Yes."
Izuku started gesturing.
"That's not necessarily a weakness if your core abilities are strong enough to-"
"It absolutely is."
"Not always."
"Against an adaptive opponent?"
"Depends on the opponent."
"Exactly."
"That's not agreeing with you!"
"It sounded remarkably similar."
They were in a park.
Late evening.
Few people around.
Neither noticed.
Izuku pulled out his phone.
Monoma stared.
"What are you doing?"
"Finding the Hosu footage."
"You have Hosu footage saved?"
"No."
Pause.
"...Yes."
"Of course you do."
They sat on a bench. Close. Very close. Izuku found the clip. Monoma leaned in.
Their shoulders pressed together.
Neither noticed at first.
"Here."
Izuku pointed.
"Look."
Monoma watched.
"That proves my point."
"It absolutely doesn't."
"He's repeating the same movement pattern."
"Because it works!"
"Until it doesn't."
"That's true of literally every strategy."
"No."
"Yes!"
Izuku looked at him.
Monoma looked back.
They were...
Very close.
Both stopped.
Izuku's face warmed.
Monoma's did too.
Neither moved.
The argument vanished. Completely.
Monoma's eyes dropped.
Izuku noticed.
Oh.
Then Monoma recovered.
Mostly.
He smiled.
"You're staring."
Izuku swallowed.
"So are you."
"Perhaps I'm assessing your argument."
"My argument is on the phone."
Monoma's smile twitched.
Damn.
Izuku looked at him.
Really looked.
Then…
"Can I kiss you?"
Monoma's heart stopped.
There were several possible responses.
Something clever.
Something flirtatious.
Something that restored control.
Instead…
"...Yes."
Izuku leaned closer.
Monoma closed the remaining distance.
Their lips met.
Warm.
Soft.
Brief.
For approximately one second...
Monoma forgot how to do anything.
Then Izuku's hand lightly touched his arm.
Monoma relaxed.
The kiss lasted a little longer.
Then they separated.
Silence.
Izuku stared.
Monoma stared.
Izuku's cheeks were red.
Monoma knew his were too.
Then Izuku smiled.
Monoma's heart jumped.
"Don't."
Izuku blinked.
"What?"
"Look pleased with yourself."
Izuku laughed.
"I am pleased."
"Arrogant."
"You kissed me too!"
"Technicality."
"How is that a technicality?"
Monoma smiled.
"You initiated."
Izuku stared.
"Fine."
"What?"
"You want to be difficult?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Izuku leaned closer.
Monoma's confidence disappeared.
Immediately.
"Then you initiate the next one."
Monoma froze.
Izuku smiled.
Oh.
Challenge.
Terrible choice, Midoriya.
Monoma stared.
Then reached up.
Caught the front of Izuku's jacket.
And kissed him.
Izuku made a tiny surprised sound.
Monoma felt absurdly victorious.
For approximately half a second.
Then Izuku kissed back.
And Monoma stopped thinking about winning. Second kiss. Longer. Still gentle.
Monoma's fingers remained curled in Izuku's jacket.
Izuku's hand settled lightly at his waist.
Monoma's heart went insane.
They parted. Barely. Foreheads almost touching.
Izuku smiled.
Monoma breathed:
"Say nothing."
Izuku laughed softly.
"I didn't."
"Your face is insufferable."
"You kissed me."
"Yes."
"Because I challenged you."
Monoma's eyes narrowed.
Izuku's grin widened.
Monoma realised.
"You did that deliberately."
"Maybe."
"You manipulated me."
"I asked you to kiss me."
"Through psychological warfare."
Izuku laughed.
Monoma kissed him again.
Mostly to shut him up.
Mostly.
Later...
They walked towards the station.
Hands not touching.
Yet.
Monoma looked down.
Their hands were close.
Very close. Ridiculous. They had kissed. Three times.
Holding hands should not be more intimidating.
And yet… Izuku's fingers brushed his.
Monoma looked over.
Izuku looked ahead. Coward. Monoma smiled.
Then deliberately hooked his little finger around Izuku's. Izuku looked down. Then at him. Monoma raised an eyebrow.
"Problem?"
Izuku smiled.
"No."
Their hands joined properly.
Monoma's heart did something embarrassing.
He ignored it.
At the station...
Izuku squeezed his hand.
"So."
Monoma sighed.
"If you ask about a fourth date after spending half the evening arguing with me and the other half kissing me, I will begin questioning your observational abilities."
Izuku laughed.
"Fourth date, then?"
Monoma smiled.
"Obviously."
Izuku's train arrived.
He stepped aboard.
Then turned.
Monoma expected a wave.
Instead...Izuku leaned back out. Quick kiss. Monoma froze. Izuku pulled away.
"Night."
Doors closed.
Monoma stared through the glass.
Izuku grinned.Monoma slowly raised his middle finger.
Izuku burst out laughing as the train departed.
Kendo called five minutes later.
Monoma considered ignoring it.
Then answered.
"What?"
"How was the date?"
"Acceptable."
"Did you kiss?"
Monoma nearly dropped his phone.
"Kendo."
Silence.
Then screaming.
"YOU DID!"
"I said nothing!"
"You didn't need to!"
"Kendo."
"WHO KISSED WHO?"
"None of your business."
"NEITO."
"No."
"Was it Midoriya?"
Monoma hung up.
Phone immediately rang again.
Decline.
Again.
Decline.
Message.
Kendo: MIDORIYA KISSED YOU
Monoma typed:
Monoma: I will block you.
Kendo: YOU DID
Monoma blocked her.
Temporarily.
Meanwhile...
Izuku called Uraraka.
She answered.
"Hey!"
"Hi."
Pause.
Uraraka immediately knew.
"...What happened?"
Izuku smiled.
"Nothing."
"Midoriya."
He laughed.
"We kissed."
Silence.
Then…
"YOU WHAT?"
Izuku held the phone away.
Ten minutes later...
His phone buzzed.
Monoma.
Monoma: Your friend is annoying.
Izuku frowned.
Midoriya: Which one?
Pause.
Monoma: Fair point.
Izuku laughed.
Then…
Monoma: Kendo.
Midoriya: What did she do?
Monoma: Apparently our private lives are now a matter of national importance.
Izuku smiled.
Midoriya: Ochaco had a similar reaction.
Pause.
Monoma: You told her?
Izuku's smile disappeared.
Oh.
Had he… Was that…
Maybe Monoma wanted privacy.
He typed quickly.
Midoriya: Sorry. I should've asked.
Three dots.
Stopped.
Returned.
Monoma: Midoriya.
Midoriya: Yeah?
Monoma: It's fine.
Pause.
Then:
Monoma: I told Kendo too.
Izuku relaxed.
Midoriya: Okay.
Another message.
Monoma: Although technically she extracted the information through hostile interrogation.
Izuku laughed.
Midoriya: Sounds traumatic.
Monoma: I may never recover.
Pause.
Then Izuku typed:
Midoriya: I really liked kissing you.
He stared.
Too much?
Maybe?
Sent.
Oh well.
Monoma received it.
Read it.
Stopped breathing.
No.
Again.
Sincerity.
His one weakness.
He typed:
Monoma: Your technique was adequate.
Izuku responded immediately.
Midoriya: thanks lol
Monoma smiled.
Then:
Midoriya: You kissed me three times.
Monoma's smile disappeared.
Damn evidence.
Monoma: Extensive testing was necessary.
Midoriya: And the conclusion?
Monoma stared.
He could joke.
Probably should.
Instead...
He smiled.
Monoma: I'd like to do it again.
Izuku's stomach flipped.
Midoriya: Me too.
Midoriya: Fourth date?
Monoma laughed.
Monoma: Yes.
He put his phone down.
Smiled.
Then noticed something.
His reflection in the dark train window.
No performance.
No smug grin.
No superiority.
Just… Happy.
His.
Monoma looked at his hand.
The same hand that could touch someone and borrow something extraordinary.
A Quirk.
An ability.
A piece of someone else's power.
For years, he'd measured himself through things that belonged to other people.
But Midoriya...
Midoriya kept doing something deeply irritating.
He kept pointing towards the things that belonged only to Monoma.
His decisions. His intelligence. His humour. His loyalty. His skill. His ridiculous personality.
And apparently...
His feelings. No copying. No borrowing. No comparison. Just his.
Monoma smiled.
Then his phone buzzed.
Midoriya.
Midoriya: Goodnight.
Pause.
Midoriya: I really like you, by the way.
Monoma stared.
Face burning.
He typed:
Monoma: You're intolerable.
Three dots.
Midoriya: Is that a yes?
Monoma rolled his eyes.
Then smiled.
Monoma: Yes.
Because that answer belonged to him too.
Neito Monoma had been dating Izuku Midoriya for twenty-three days.
Not that he was counting.
He simply possessed an excellent memory.
Twenty-three days.
Seven dates.
Fourteen kisses.
Approximately.
He wasn't counting those either.
Obviously.
And somehow...
Nobody knew.
Except Kendo.
And Uraraka.
And presumably anyone Kendo had told.
Which meant everyone in Class 1-B.
And presumably anyone Uraraka had told.
Which meant… Oh.
"YOU'RE DATING MONOMA?!"
There it was.
Izuku closed his eyes.
"Kacchan."
Bakugo stared across the table.
"You."
He pointed at Izuku.
"Are dating."
Point.
Across the room.
"THAT."
Monoma looked offended.
"I am a person."
"Debatable."
"How charming. I see adulthood has done nothing to improve Class 1-A's manners."
Bakugo stood.
Monoma smiled.
Izuku immediately got between them.
"No."
"I haven't done anything!"
"Either of you."
Bakugo glared.
Monoma smiled pleasantly.
Izuku sighed.
The reunion had been Uraraka's idea.
Nothing formal.
Just drinks.
Former classmates.
A few people from 1-B.
Some friends.
Normal.
Until Kaminari noticed Izuku and Monoma holding hands beneath the table.
Kaminari was currently staring.
Mina was staring.
Kirishima was staring.
Todoroki was staring.
Iida looked like he was processing a tax document.
Tsuyu smiled.
Kendo had her face in her hands.
Mina leaned forward.
"How long?"
Izuku's face warmed.
"Um..."
Monoma answered immediately.
"Twenty-three days."
Silence.
Izuku slowly looked at him.
Monoma froze.
Mina's grin became enormous.
"Twenty-three?"
Monoma recovered.
"Approximately."
Kendo laughed.
"Sure."
Kaminari pointed.
"Wait."
"Who asked who out?"
Monoma opened his mouth.
Izuku said:
"It was complicated."
"It was not."
Monoma corrected.
"You failed to clarify whether our first date was a date."
Izuku stared.
"You didn't know either!"
"I suspected."
"You asked me afterwards!"
"Because somebody needed to establish terms."
Kaminari looked between them.
"This is the most romantic argument I've ever seen."
Jirou nodded.
"They're perfect."
Monoma looked offended.
"Don't lump me in with him."
Izuku laughed.
"You kissed me first on our third date."
Monoma's mouth fell open.
The table exploded.
"IZUKU!"
Mina shouted.
Izuku immediately realised.
"Oh."
Monoma stared at him.
"You."
Izuku covered his mouth.
"Sorry."
"You've betrayed me."
"You kissed me!"
"After you kissed me!"
"That still means you kissed me!"
"Details!"
Bakugo looked disgusted.
"I hate this."
Kirishima laughed.
"I think it's cute."
"Of course you do."
Todoroki looked at Monoma.
"Are you his boyfriend?"
Monoma stopped.
Izuku stopped.
The table quietened.
Because… Technically… They hadn't used that word.
Dating? Yes.
Dates? Yes.
Kissing.
Frequently.
Hand holding.
Occasionally.
Midoriya had fallen asleep at Monoma's apartment twice.
Monoma had a toothbrush at Izuku's.
But… Boyfriend.
Monoma looked at Izuku.
Izuku looked back.
Both suddenly nervous.
Todoroki frowned.
"Was that an inappropriate question?"
"No."
Izuku said quickly.
"Just..."
He looked at Monoma.
Monoma's heart jumped.
Izuku smiled.
"Do you want to be?"
Monoma stared.
Here?
In front of everyone?
Seriously?
He could feel Kendo watching.
Mina watching.
Bakugo looking like he'd rather eat the table.
Monoma swallowed.
Then smiled.
"Well."
He leaned back.
"I suppose somebody has to maintain standards within your romantic life."
Izuku laughed.
"So that's a yes?"
Monoma looked at him.
And beneath the performance...
Smiled.
Real.
"Yes."
Izuku's expression softened.
"Okay."
Mina screamed.
Kaminari applauded.
Kirishima joined.
Iida attempted to restore order.
Bakugo threatened everyone.
Todoroki nodded.
"Congratulations."
Tsuyu smiled.
"Good for you, Midoriya."
Kendo raised her glass towards Monoma.
He rolled his eyes.
But smiled.
Boyfriend.
Interesting.
Ten minutes later…
Monoma discovered the greatest benefit of dating Izuku Midoriya.
He could weaponise it against Class
1-A.
"So."
Monoma draped one arm across the back of Izuku's chair.
"How does it feel?"
Kaminari frowned.
"How does what feel?"
"Knowing that after years of Class 1-A stealing the spotlight..."
His smile widened.
"...One of your most famous members chose Class 1-B."
Kendo closed her eyes.
"No."
Bakugo stood.
"YOU WANNA DIE?"
Izuku buried his face in his hands.
"Monoma."
"What?"
Mina was laughing.
Sero nearly fell out of his chair.
Monoma continued.
"A historic victory."
"This isn't a competition!"
Iida shouted.
"Everything is a competition if you're sufficiently committed."
Kendo grabbed Monoma by the collar.
"Sit down."
"Violence! Typical Class 1-B oppression!"
"You are Class 1-B!"
"Exactly!"
Izuku was laughing.
Monoma noticed.
And smiled.
Worth it. Later...
They walked home together.
Izuku bumped his shoulder against Monoma's.
"Historic victory?"
Monoma smiled.
"Accurate."
"I'm not a trophy."
"Of course not."
Pause.
"You're significantly more troublesome."
Izuku laughed.
Their hands found each other.
Natural now.
No hesitation.
"Boyfriend."
Izuku said.
Monoma looked over.
"What?"
Izuku smiled.
"Nothing."
"Why did you say it?"
"I like it."
Monoma's face warmed.
"Ridiculous."
"Boyfriend."
"Stop."
"You're my boyfriend."
"Midoriya."
Izuku laughed.
Monoma looked away.
Still holding his hand.
After a moment:
"...You're mine too."
Izuku stopped.
Monoma immediately realised how that sounded.
"I mean-"
Izuku smiled.
Oh no.
"Your boyfriend."
Monoma clarified.
"I meant I'm your boyfriend."
"I know."
"Not ownership."
"I know."
"Obviously."
"Neito."
Monoma froze.
Neito.
Izuku had never called him that before.
Monoma stared.
Izuku's cheeks pinkened.
"Is that okay?"
Monoma's brain had ceased functioning.
"Yes."
Very quick.
Very honest.
Izuku smiled.
"Neito."
Monoma swallowed.
"Izuku."
There.
Fair.
Izuku's smile widened.
They continued walking.
Closer now.
A month became two.
Then three.
Dating Izuku remained… Unexpected.
He was affectionate.
More than Monoma had predicted.
Not constantly. But casually.
Hand on Monoma's back.
Fingers intertwined.
Head against his shoulder. Quick kisses. Little things. Monoma pretended they didn't affect him.
They did.
Izuku also complimented him. Constantly.
This was considerably worse.
"That was brilliant."
"Obviously."
"You look nice."
"Naturally."
"I love listening to you talk."
"Your standards are improving."
"You have really pretty eyes."
Monoma walked into a door.
Izuku never let him forget it.
One evening...
They were at Monoma's apartment.
Izuku had brought food.
Monoma had chosen a film.
They'd spent forty minutes arguing about the film.
Then watched something else.
Halfway through...
Izuku's head rested against Monoma's shoulder.
Monoma's arm rested around him.
Easy.
Then Izuku noticed something.
A photograph.
U.A.
Class 1-B.
Graduation.
Monoma in the centre.
Kendo beside him.
Tetsutetsu behind them.
Everyone smiling.
Izuku smiled.
"You look happy."
Monoma followed his gaze.
"I was."
"Best class in U.A. history."
Izuku laughed.
"There it is."
"Truth shouldn't offend you."
Izuku looked at the photograph.
Then:
"You really love them."
Monoma's smile softened.
"Yeah."
No joke.
No performance.
"Yeah, I do."
Izuku looked at him.
Monoma noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You're doing the face."
"What face?"
"The one where you're thinking something unbearably sincere."
Izuku laughed.
"Maybe."
Monoma sighed.
"Get it over with."
Izuku hesitated.
"I think that's one of my favourite things about you."
Monoma blinked.
"What?"
"How much you love people."
Monoma stared.
Izuku continued.
"You act like everything's competition."
"And you're dramatic."
"Insulting."
"Sometimes unbearable."
"Midoriya."
"But..."
Izuku smiled.
"You care so much."
"About your class."
"Your agency."
"Your team."
"People you've worked with."
"You remember what everyone's good at."
"You know when they're struggling."
"You brag about them more than you
brag about yourself."
Monoma went quiet.
Izuku looked at him.
"You make people feel like being on your team matters."
Monoma swallowed.
There it was.
Again.
That horrible thing Izuku did.
He noticed. Not Copy. Not the performance. Not the rivalry.
Him.
Monoma looked away.
"You're exaggerating."
"No."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"Midoriya."
"Neito."
Monoma stopped.
Izuku's voice softened.
"You know you're allowed to believe me."
Monoma stared at him.
Something in his chest tightened.
"I do."
He said.
But quieter than usual.
Izuku waited.
Monoma sighed.
"Mostly."
Silence.
Then Monoma spoke again.
"I spent a long time..."
He stopped.
Izuku didn't interrupt.
"...Thinking there wasn't anything particularly special about me."
There.
Awful.
He hated saying it.
Izuku's expression softened.
Monoma continued before he could stop himself.
"My Quirk literally requires other people."
"I can't create anything."
"I don't generate anything."
"I borrow."
"And when I was younger..."
He laughed faintly.
"It was easy to think that was all I did."
"Borrowed other people's strengths."
"Borrowed attention by being loud."
"Borrowed relevance by competing with your class."
Izuku sat up.
Monoma immediately regretted everything.
"Forget it."
"No."
"Midoriya."
"No."
Izuku turned towards him.
"You're wrong."
Monoma smiled faintly.
"Excellent emotional support."
"I'm serious."
"I know."
Izuku reached for his hand.
Monoma let him.
"You don't borrow people's strengths."
Izuku said.
"You understand them."
Monoma looked at him.
"You see what people can do."
"Sometimes before they do."
"You build around them."
"You adapt."
"You make teams stronger."
"And none of that disappears when
Copy does."
Monoma swallowed.
Izuku squeezed his hand.
"That's you."
There.
Again.
Monoma looked down.
"You're very annoying."
Izuku smiled.
"I know."
"Painfully sincere."
"I've heard that."
"Your hair remains ridiculous."
"Okay."
"And your freckles-"
Izuku raised an eyebrow.
Monoma stopped.
Damn.
Izuku smiled slowly.
"My freckles?"
"Irrelevant."
"You've mentioned them before."
"Have I?"
"Several times."
"Unlikely."
Izuku leaned closer.
Monoma narrowed his eyes.
"What?"
"You like my freckles."
Monoma stared.
"Absolutely not."
Izuku smiled.
"You do."
"I tolerate them."
"You think they're cute."
"I have never used that word."
"Do you?"
"No."
"Neito."
"No."
Izuku moved closer.
Monoma's face warmed.
"Stop."
"Say it."
"Never."
Izuku kissed his cheek.
Monoma froze.
Then another.
Closer to the corner of his mouth.
"Midoriya."
Another.
"Confess."
"You're abusing your position."
Another.
Monoma tried not to smile. Failed.
Izuku pulled back.
"Freckles."
Monoma stared.
Izuku grinned.
Monoma sighed.
"...They're fine."
"Fine?"
"Attractive."
Izuku's eyebrows rose.
Monoma's eyes widened.
Oh no.
Izuku's smile became enormous.
"Attractive?"
"Forget I said that."
"No."
"I take it back."
"No copying and no taking back."
"That's not a rule."
"It is now."
Monoma grabbed his shirt.
Kissed him.
Izuku laughed against his mouth.
"Effective distraction."
Monoma murmured.
"Shut up."
Then kissed him again.
The kiss softened.
Monoma's hand moved to Izuku's cheek.
His thumb brushed across the freckles he'd spent months pretending not to notice.
Izuku smiled.
Monoma felt it.
When they separated...
Izuku remained close.
"Neito."
"Hm?"
"I love you."
Everything stopped.
Monoma stared.
Izuku stared back.
His expression changed.
Nervous now. For once...
Midoriya looked genuinely terrified.
Monoma's heart pounded.
Love.
They hadn't said that.
Not yet.
Izuku swallowed.
"You don't have to say it back."
Monoma's brain immediately objected.
Not because he felt pressured.
Because the idea that Izuku could say that and think Monoma wouldn't…
Ridiculous.
"You're an idiot."
Izuku blinked.
Monoma cupped his face.
"Of course I love you."
Izuku's eyes widened.
Monoma's own face warmed.
"But apparently..."
He smiled faintly.
"...I needed you to go first."
Izuku smiled.
That smile. Huge. Bright. Monoma loved that too. Annoyingly.
Izuku kissed him.
Monoma kissed back.
No argument.
No challenge.
No competition.
Just… Love.
Later...
Izuku fell asleep against him. Again.
Monoma remained awake.
One arm around him.
His eyes drifted towards the old Class 1-B photograph.
Then towards Izuku.
For years… Monoma had thought strength meant possessing something extraordinary.
Something powerful.
Something nobody could take away.
He'd hated that his own gift seemed built entirely around things belonging to everyone else.
Then Midoriya had come along.
With twenty-seven ridiculous pages.
A notebook.
Too many questions.
An irritating amount of sincerity.
And he'd pointed out something
Monoma had somehow missed.
Copy was his.
His decisions were his.
His skill was his. His mind. His loyalty.
His ridiculous competitiveness.
His love for his friends.
His feelings. His life. All his. And Izuku?
Monoma looked down at the sleeping hero against his chest.
Smiled.
Well...
Not his.
Not like property.
He'd already clarified that.
But… His boyfriend.
His person.
Someone who had chosen him.
Not his Quirk.
Not what he could borrow.
Not what he could become with someone else's power.
Him.
Izuku shifted.
Eyes barely opening.
"Neito?"
"Hm?"
"You okay?"
Monoma smiled.
"Go back to sleep."
Izuku's eyes closed again.
Then, barely awake:
"Love you."
Monoma's chest warmed.
He brushed his fingers gently through
Izuku's hair.
Ridiculous hair.
His favourite.
Not that he'd admit it.
"I love you too."
Quiet.
No audience.
No performance.
Nothing borrowed.
Nothing copied.
Just his.
And for Neito Monoma… That was more than enough.