Chapter 23: A Chance to be More
"Izuku! Come here for a second!" Inko's voice rang out from the entryway.
"Coming Mom!" The verdette got up from his place in front of the television, leaving behind his crayons and journal. It was the second one he had started and he just finished his notes over a new Hero who just debuted. He spared the TV one last glance, making sure he didn't miss anything.
The verdette turned the corner, stopping suddenly in place. His eyes grew wider as a bright smile formed on his face. "DAD!"
"Hey Little Green!" Hisashi exclaimed. The Midoriya patriarch dropped to a knee, holding out his arms to catch the speeding Izuku, the two embracing in a tight hug.
Inko watched on with a smile on her face, chuckling at the reunion between her two boys.
"How've you been, Izuku?" Hisashi loosened his hold, leaning back to get a better look at his son.
"Good! I started a new journal today! I'm documa-. Uh, no, doceminting. Hmmmm, doku... Docu..." The little verdette tilted his head, bringing a hand to his chin as he tried to say the word correctly.
Hisashi chuckled, ruffling Izuku's fluffy hair. "The word is 'Documenting, but good try. And good word choice, Izuku."
"Yeah! Documenting! I'm documenting some new Quirks I saw!" Izuku bounced on his heels as he recounted his day.
"Well then, sounds like you might like some help in your research." Hisashi and Inko couldn't hold back their laughter at the speed Izuku nodded, his excitement very apparent. "Well, first things first, our brains require food. And luckily," Hisashi turned to Inko, "we happen to know one of the best chefs in the world."
"Oh, you sweet talker," Inko replied, kissing Hisashi on the cheek. "Well, I suppose I shouldn't disappoint my greatest supporters. Luckily I know exactly what they want."
As Inko made her way to the kitchen, Izuku and Hisashi shared a look. "KATSUDON!" Hisashi dropped down, as Izuku jumped up, the two Midoriyas giving each other an enthusiastic high-five. Hisashi followed after his wife as Izuku ran to his room to grab his first complete Hero Analysis notebook. He joined his father at the table and the Midoriya family chatted among themselves while Inko cooked their meal.
"So, Izuku." The younger Midoriya looked at his father, the elder Midoriya's eyes became softer as he broached the potentially sensitive topic. "Have you had any luck with your Quirk yet?"
The young verdette lowered his head, his hands clenching tightly at the question. "... No. I even tried some of the things you told me to."
Izuku felt his father's hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see Hisashi giving him a kind and understanding look as he spoke, "Hey, I know it must be tough. And I'm sorry we haven't found the answer yet. Don't give up and keep trying."
"After all, does All Might give up?" Hisashi asked with a cheeky smile.
"No! Because heroes don't give up!" Izuku answered, his emerald eyes shimmering.
"And you're going to be one of the greatest heroes, so that means you can't give up either." Hisashi ruffled his son's hair, eliciting a series of laughs from the young Midoriya. Hisashi leaned back into his chair, another question on his mind. "Have you been keeping in touch with that pen pal of yours?"
"That he has." Inko decided to answer. "He checks the mail every day just to see if they sent him a letter."
"Mooooooom... it's not every day." Izuku whined, trying to downplay how often he actually did check the mail. This caused Inko to chuckle at his antics. He pouted, choosing to ignore his mother, and looked back at his dad. "But yeah. I send them a letter every time! They're so smart, Dad! They have so many cool ideas for support items for Heroes!"
Izuku paused, tilting his head as he had a thought pop up that he wanted to ask about, "Wait, how did you know about them?"
"Easy answer. Your pen pal is a child of someone I'm working with at the moment. I figured it would be nice for the two of you to be friends." Hisashi explained.
"Ooooooh!" Izuku accepted the answer easily. If they were the kid of someone his dad worked with, that would explain why they're smart. To him at least.
He honestly had fun sending letters to them, even if it took a while to hear back from them. He asked his mom if he could try to email them, but she shot down that idea. She said he was too young to be using email. She also said that letters had some more meaning to them. Personal, that was the word she used.
Inko had finished making their lunch and the Midoriya family spent it having small talk about school or work, or in Izuku's case, Heroes. Despite the extra helpings Izuku and Hisashi consumed, they had finished rather quickly, letting the father and son go over Izuku's notebooks, the older Midoriya answering any questions his son had while helping him think up of ways to improve the Quirks he had written down.
To Izuku, it was one of his best memories.
"Mom... I'm home." Izuku called out as he slowly entered the apartment with the day's mail in hand. He was sporting a large bruise on his cheek, parts of his school uniform scuffed up and torn from earlier that day.
At least Bakugo had left him alone.
The verdette lifted his head, surprised his mother hadn't greeted him yet. He took off his shoes and made his way further into the apartment. As he did, his ears began to pick up on the sound of crying from the living room. Izuku peeked around the corner to see his mom seated on the couch, her tears freely falling down her face and dripping to the floor.
The young verdette called out to her again, making sure to make his presence known in order to not startle her. "Mom? What's wrong?"
Inko looked up, her watery eyes taking in the sight of her son's disheveled appearance. She wanted to ask him about it, but she had to steel herself for what she needed to tell him. He looked as if he already had a rough day, and she was about to make it worse .
"I-I-Izuku... Sweetie, I... I-I don't know..." More tears built up in the corner of her eyes as she struggled to find the words. Izuku quickly moved over to her and brought her into a hug, rubbing circles into her back to help calm her down.
"Mom, you can tell me, just take your time," Izuku said.
Inko took several deep breaths as she steadied herself, though her body fought against her as she continued to tremble. The Midoriya matriarch looked her son in the eyes, still unable to give him the news without breaking down. She forced those feelings down, gathering her courage as she spoke, "T-there was a Villain attack at the conference H-Hisashi was at. He... H-he and some of his colleagues w-were taken, and he tried to save them..."
Izuku's body froze in place as his eyes went blank. His young mind tried to rationalize the news as best as it could. Maybe his dad was just hurt. Maybe he wouldn't be coming home as soon as he said he would, but at least he was fine.
Inko's words shattered those hopes.
"He's g-gone, Izuku. H-he died, protecting his colleagues..."
The mail in the verdette's hands dropped to the ground. The sound of crying was the only thing that filled the somber home of the mother and son as they tried to comfort each other at their loss. Everything faded from their minds.
Including a letter from an old friend.
Izuku and Bakugo had arrived at the central plaza in time to see the Nomu in action. Izuku stared wide-eyed at the brutality and strength the hulking Villain displayed. The verdette's breathing grew hectic as he watched Aizawa get his face slammed into the ground. His mind began to play tricks on him as he saw a familiar mess of fluffy black hair instead of the shaggy and unkempt mess that was Aizawa's.
He felt his heart pounding in his ears. Soon he heard nothing. He only saw his mentor suffering. At the conjured illusion of his father. At how the two began to shift back and forth to where Izuku didn't know if what he was seeing was real or not.
He ignored Bakugo yelling at him in concern.
Izuku focused on the Nomu, as one thought ran through his head.
'I can save him!'
He felt Ego surge with energy as he directed it into Excalibur.
'I WILL SAVE HIM!'
"... Midoriya?" Hound Dog's voice broke the verdette of his memories.
Izuku blinked several times, making sure he was back in reality. He was sitting across from Hound Dog, the Pro Hero looking at him with some concern.
"Sorry sir." The verdette answered. "When I saw the Nomu attacking Aizawa, I didn't really think. I just acted."
Hound Dog took in Izuku's words, writing them down with the rest of his observations. There was a silence hanging in the air as the verdette sat nervously in his seat. The counselor looked up and asked Izuku another question, "How are you feeling, knowing that you and your coursemates managed to defend yourselves during the attack. That your instructors are still alive if only injured."
"Relieved."
"And knowing that Aizawa will make a full recovery?"
"Glad. I don't really know what I would do if I learned he didn't make it."
"Is this because he was one of your mentors before your enrollment? That he is someone you greatly admire?" Hound Dog kept his eyes on Izuku, taking note of any changes in his tone or demeanor.
"Yes," Izuku answered honestly. "I think that since I was there... If I simply watched and didn't do anything... I don't think I would ever forgive myself. I didn't want to lose him too."
Hound Dog hummed, which came out more as a low growl, jotting down Izuku's response. The Pro Hero looked at the clock on his wall, noting how late it was into their session. "Midoriya, while these sessions are just to check up on how you and the rest of your class are handling the attack, I also am taking the opportunity to offer you all my services. It is my opinion that you could use someone to talk to. And I am willing to listen if you are willing to give it a try."
Izuku gave the Hero an appreciative smile. "Thank you, Hound Dog. I'll think about it."
"Please do." The Hero replied with a nod. "Just let me know and we can schedule a time. No matter what, I am here for you and every one of your coursemates."
"Thank you, sir." Izuku stood up from his chair, giving the Hero a small bow, and made his way to the door. Before he could turn the handle, Hound Dog stopped him.
"One last thing, Midoriya. I'm sure others have told you that while your actions and willingness to go above and beyond to help someone is commendable, you need to remember this: Even us Heroes can't save everyone. Sacrificing yourself is a drastic reaction on your part. Please consider your life as one you also have to save."
Izuku didn't respond right away, taking a moment to listen to the Hero's words. He turned to look over his shoulder and spoke, "I know. But... Even if I can't save everybody, that doesn't mean I shouldn't try, right?"
- NEZU'S OFFICE, MONDAY -
The sound of keys clicking could be heard in the dean's office. Two individuals typing away at a fast pace, their eyes focused on the increasing amount of code and programs that flew across their computer screens. Nezu steepled his paws as he double and triple-checked their work, his black eyes scanning each line for any mistakes.
He plugged in a USB and executed an intrusion routine. Before his eyes, the code changed and adapted to the intrusion, removing the virus with ease while fixing itself. Nezu activated another protocol, this time replicating a jammer that hindered the changing code. A subroutine activated, allowing him to bypass the jamming while the code continued to fight for dominance.
The chimera smiled and looked across his desk to his guest. "Success. Thank you for your assistance, Ms. Bito."
"Of course, Mr. Nezu. Always happy to help out my alma mater."
Sitting in the chair across from Nezu was a thin young woman. Bito Raimu. Though she prefers to go by Rhyme.
She had serene blue eyes and chin-length blonde hair, with the ends being slightly tousled, hidden under a peach and black cap with a silver crown applique sewn into the font. She wore a baggy, white hoodie with a crowned skull and crossbones graphic printed on the front, underneath an oversized peach and gray colored jacket that was tied together with a ribbon under her neckline. The sleeves of the jacket were broken up into a three-colored stripe pattern, the hem and cuffs being the inverse of each other. Printed on the chest of the jacket were white skulls turned to face each other. She wore a pair of black shorts that peeked out from under her hoodie, a pair of peach-colored socks that went past her ankles, and yellow shoes tied together with black laces.
"This was a fun challenge. I don't really get a lot of opportunities to work on code this sophisticated." Rhyme said as she closed up her laptop.
"Of course, Ms. Bito. I am impressed with the level you have pushed your Quirk to. I take it that Hero work has been good to you and your brother?" The chimera asked.
"Mhmm," Rhyme answered with a hum. "We're doing pretty well in Shibuya. Plus some of the commission work I get helps cover some of our bills so we're doing better than we thought. Speaking of, I should probably start heading back now. Make sure I'm there to cover Beat while he's on patrol."
Nezu nodded. "I understand. I have already transferred the payment into your agency's account. Would you like me to accompany you on your way out?"
"Sweetness. And sure, I don't mind talking a bit more. It's been a while since we got to chat like this." Rhyme answered with a smile. The small blonde stood up, slinging her backpack across her shoulders as Nezu clambered up her arm, perching himself on her shoulder.
The two left the office, making their way down the halls of U.A. as the students began to head to their first class. Rhyme took note of the atmosphere, her expression becoming one of worry as she saw 1-A from across the hall.
"How are they holding up?" She asked the chimera.
Nezu let out a sigh. "As well as we could have hoped. Hound Dog spoke with them over the weekend, but it's obvious they are still shaken up."
"Well, hopefully, the new security program will help prevent this from happening again." The small blonde said.
"Indeed. Our first real test run will be in a few weeks." Nezu explained, leaving a hint for Rhyme to pick up on.
"Wait. You're still going to hold the sports festival?" She asked, surprise apparent in her voice. "But... why not-"
"Wait? I and the rest of our instructors had tried to do so. Unfortunately, the Commission got to our board. They had 'convinced' them that we should act as though nothing is wrong." Nezu closed his eyes, doing his best to remain calm. "Where I would agree that showing off our resolve and ability to recover from a Villain attack would do wonders for our image, it should have been on our terms."
"Thankfully, my ally within the Commission managed to pull some trustworthy Heroes together in order to help provide extra security for the event. It will be sure to prevent any overconfident Villain from striking once more. And with the addition of our new system which you helped create, we shouldn't have any issues." The white-furred instructor finished explaining.
Rhyme gave him an unsure look, but conceded to his points with a nod. She continued to make her way to the main entrance of the building, not really having anything more to say on the matter.
"By the way, I have something for you." Nezu dug through his vest, pulled out an envelope, and handed it to Rhyme. "When the time comes for Internship offers, you and your brother's agency will be able to throw your hat into the ring, so to speak."
Rhyme took the envelope and began to skim through its contents. Her eyes widened at the official offer she had to consider. "But, Beat and I have only been an active agency for a year. Why would the Commission allow this?"
"Where I do have to follow the Commission's rules due to U.A. being a part of the Hero System, I am able to exploit some loopholes or use many of the liberties I am granted. Allowing a Hero team I know and trust to help guide our future Heroes is not outside of my power." The chimera had a gleam in his eyes as his smile widened. "I do, after all, have admin privileges."
Rhyme chuckled at the chimera's words, not able to dispute them. "Well thanks, Mr. Nezu. We'll make sure to watch it when the time comes."
- CLASSROOM 1-A -
Classes had rolled back around. Even with the break, 1-A was still coming to terms with what had happened to them. The sessions with Hound Dog had helped. Mina and Toru were back to their bubbly and energetic selves, even if it was currently toned down. Tokoyami had opened up a bit more, doing his best to interact with the others, though he still had his limits. Aoyama had done his best to brighten everyone's mood by sharing his thoughts on what made them dazzling in his eyes.
That had done wonders for 1-A's mindset. Seeing the positives in themselves and others.
That, and Sunday's coffee and muffins. That certainly helped.
Izuku just quietly watched everyone as they interacted, not really in the mood to join them at the moment. He saw Shinso keeping his head down, the indigoette trying his best to get in a few extra minutes of sleep. Shoka was scrolling through her phone, just reading through whatever caught her attention. He saw her pause on an article about some weird art pieces made up of piles of junk appearing in Shibuya.
Momo was chatting with Kyoka, the two discussing a series of bands and CDs the ravenette heiress was curious about and wanted to get recommendations from the punkette. The rest of 1-A were just chatting amicably with one another when Kirishima asked a question.
"Hey, so who do you think will cover for Aizawa-sensei?" He looked around, seeing everyone go into thought at his query.
"Kero Probably one of the elective Instructors. Kero kero If I had to guess." Tsuyu voiced her opinion.
Kaminari perked up and offered his suggestion, "What about All Might?"
Iida adjusted his glasses. "It is possible. He would be the most logical choice since he would be the most experienced."
Kyoka's ears twitched as her jacks picked up the sound of footsteps coming closer to the room. "Hey, guys. We're about to find out."
At her words, the door opened up, the sight of a bandaged hand visible for 1-A to see. Their eyes widened as a heavily bandaged Aizawa entered the room. His right arm was set in a sling while the left arm was wrapped tightly in several bandages. His head didn't fare better, with an eye patch sitting over his right eye held in place by bandages wrapped around his head and face, with several patches covering cuts that peppered his cheeks. His messy hair spilled out of his wrappings at the oddest angles.
It would have been a comical sight. But 1-A was more worried about their instructor.
"Aizawa-sensei!!!"
Izuku, Shoka, and Shinso stood up, knocking their chairs back without a care as they looked at their mentor. There was a mixture of concern, shock, and relief in their eyes as they took in the sight of the injured Hero. Aizawa spared them a look, his lone visible eye softening just a tad before turning back to address the class.
"Alright. Everyone back in their seats." The tired Hero said. 1-A did so, everyone quieting down with Aizawa giving them an appraising nod. "Good. Before we get started-"
"Excuse me, Aizawa-sensei? Where I think I speak for all of us when I say we're glad to see you back, but shouldn't you still be resting?" Iida interrupted, raising his hand as he spoke.
"Your concern is appreciated, but not necessary. While I may not be able to handle Hero work, I will not ignore my duties as your instructor. A few more healing sessions with Recovery Girl and I will be fine. That in mind," Aizawa glanced at Izuku, the verdette already guessing at what the Hero was about to ask, "Midoriya, I'm going to need several pots of the strong stuff. I know Hanekoma spared a few jars of that brew for something like this."
Izuku huffed in amusement and nodded. "Of course, Aiazawa-sensei."
"Good. Moving on. As I was going to say, you all did well." 1-A beamed at his praise. Aizawa gave them a moment to let it sink in. "All of you stuck together, rose up to the challenge, and came out of it stronger than you were. I read the reports and your testimonies and I have some things to say."
"Yaoyorozu, Iida, Uraraka, Aoyama, Sato, Ashido." The group of six perked up as he called their names. "You all determined an objective and found a way to achieve it while protecting each other and your instructors. Thirteen wanted me to pass along her thanks for your actions." Yaoyorozu gave a bright smile while Iida nodded at the Hero's words. Ochaco pumped her arms in excitement. Sato crossed his arms and gave a brief nod of acceptance. Mina bounced in her seat while Aoyama seemed to shine, the occasional sparkle appearing brighter than normal.
"Asui, Sero, Kaminari. You all were put in a difficult spot and anyone could have lost themselves to their panic. But you didn't and found a creative way to use your environment and Quirks to your advantage. Well done." Tsuyu smiled and let out a happy croak while Kaminari and Sero gave each other a high five from their seats.
"Shinso, Jiro. Like Asui, Sero, and Kaminari, you displayed an excellent strategic mind by using the Landslide Zone to your advantage while having to deal with multiple Villains. Most impressive, was the fact you kept to stealth tactics, keeping calm the entire time as you lured the Villains into your trap." Kyoka twirled one of her jacks around her finger as she wore a small smile on her face. Shinso just gave a smirk, though on the inside he was beaming.
"Sakurane, Tokoyami." He stopped as Dark Shadow emerged from Tokoyami's body. "... And Dark Shadow. While you three had it easier, you performed one of the more difficult actions a Hero could undertake, convincing a Villain to think about their actions and choosing the better option." Aizawa quickly raised his hand, cutting Shoka off before she could speak. "And while Susuki was not a Villain per se, my point still stands. Sometimes, Villains can be talked to. Talked down from their actions. Your words and prior relationship helped turn the tide in the attack. So, congrats."
Shoka lowered her head, her lips forming a content smirk at Aizawa's words. Tokoyami remained quiet while Dark Shadow was more animated about the praise from the Underground Hero.
"Kirishima, Shoji, Hagakure. You three had to work against the environment on top of dealing with Villains. But you played it smart, each of you sticking to a role to turn things around in your favor. Good job." Kirishima whispered out a quiet manly at Aizawa's praise, while Toru jumped up from her seat, unable to contain her happiness. Shoji was the more reserved of the group, but they could see the pride in his eyes.
Aizawa's tone softened as he looked at his shyest student. "Koda. While you didn't have to fight, you still had to face them. Even then, while scared, you didn't panic or cause issues for Todoroki. Just remember, you will have to find the courage to face such odds or more aggressive Villains." Koda was quiet but gave Aizawa a series of slow nods.
"And lastly," Izuku, Bakugo, and Todoroki sat up straighter in their chairs. Aizawa gave them each a calculative glance as he spoke, "Obviously, you three saw fit to take on a challenge far outside your skill level. And even then, you three showed remarkable teamwork despite the differences in your personalities. You saw the difficulty of your objective and found a way to overcome an overwhelming force. Good job. I mean it."
"Moving on to other things, I have news." Aizawa stopped at his next point, causing 1-A to tense up in their seats while some leaned closer as they felt on edge. The Underground Hero continued to let them stew with their thoughts, taking joy in the little things.
He was confined to a hospital bed for several days, without coffee. He needs something to bring up his mood until Izuku can get him his caffeine fix.
Aizawa saw his students begin to fidget as the silence got to them. He had his fun, so he figured he better move things along. "The U.A. Sports Festival is coming up in two weeks."
1-A slumped in their seats at the news, every letting out a sigh of relief.
Kyoka questioned the decision. "Wait, why are we having the sports festival after a Villain attack on the school?"
"Yeah, I gotta agree. Seems pretty weird to have it." Kaminari said, agreeing with the punkette.
"Unfortunately, it is out of our hands to some degree. As U.A. is a part of the Hero system, we are subject to rules and regulations set by the HPSC. Thankfully, Nezu has a rather large amount of autonomy that helps keep them away from how we handle things." Aizawa explained. 1-A leaned in, wanting to know more. Aizawa had made it apparent he didn't like the Commission, and now was a chance to learn more about his dislike of them. "So, they decided to go with underhanded tactics. Nezu believes they managed to convince the school board to hold the event as usual, despite our arguments to wait another week or so."
"With this in mind, U.A. has already started working on updating our security and crisis management systems. By holding such a large event, we will show that we will be in control if something happens, or better yet, prevent something from happening. Nezu has also assured me that our security will be increased to five times our usual, something I both agree with and disagree with. Who can tell me why?" He looked around the room, seeing who might have the answer to his impromptu question.
Iida was the first to raise his hand. Aizawa figured that Tensei's brother would know. "Sensei! It is because doing so would pull Heroes off of their usual patrols, meaning others have to cover for them. Not to mention that while the increase of police on our campus may deter Villains or criminals from acting against the university, that means they are more likely to commit a crime while the festival is underway."
"That's correct. It's why when events need added security on this scale, we tend to ask larger agencies who can afford to spare several Heroes to assist us." Aizawa looked around the room while his students took in his words. "That also provides you all a much bigger opportunity. Our sports festival is one of Japan's biggest events, with viewership even growing outside the country. This means more eyes will be on you all as you compete. And with more Heroes from agencies here to act as security..."
"It means we all have a better chance at getting scouted by an agency." Izuku finished Aizawa's point. Everyone turned to him as he continued to explain, "While the Hero in charge of the agency may only be able to watch the broadcast or the stream, one of their sidekicks can watch us in person and provide a stronger recommendation. Their words will have more weight."
"And that means after we graduate, we have a better chance at joining an agency as a sidekick or even have a good enough rep to go solo," Kaminari added.
Kyoka threw in her two cents. "Though some people miss their chance to become independent after that. The words 'Eternal Sidekick' exist for a reason."
"Who you join also matters. Larger, more well-known agencies could provide you with more experience and popularity, but you will be under much more scrutiny and suffer harsher criticisms if you make a mistake." Aizawa continued. "If you work for a smaller agency, you won't get much recognition, but you could have a greater presence and ties to the community you work with. It is something you should consider going forward. And something that starts with this festival."
"One chance a year." Aizawa gazed at his students, seeing a shift in their demeanor. Their eyes sharpened with seriousness and determination.
"Three chances during your studies here." More and more of them seemed to have a fire lit in their hearts.
"You have shown me you all are willing to work hard. Keep up that pace. Don't slow down or slack off. If you can face off against Villains a week into your first semester, then I better see all of you make it far in the festival." And with that, everyone was fired up.
Aizawa smirked behind his capture scarf. He expected them to do well, but it would be up to them to see how far they could go. After they quieted down, he finished up. "Going forward, your elective classes will be canceled for the next two weeks starting tomorrow to give you time to train. Fridays will also have a free period at the end of the day for you to do so. If you need help, ask."
Izuku and the rest of 1-A made their way to the cafeteria after being dismissed from their class. The group of Hero students began to chat amicably, thinking about the many prospects or opportunities to show off their skills and abilities to the pros.
"Man, I can't wait for the festival to start! I'm getting super pumped for it!" Kirishima cried out in excitement.
"We just have to make sure we stand out. The pros are bound to notice us!" Sero added.
Toru bounced with each step. "I'm super nervous though! I need to make sure I stand out during the festival!"
Mina slid beside her friend, wrapping an arm around the invisible girl's shoulders. "Well, if they miss out on you, then they're obviously blind!" The two girls laughed together as they walked in step.
"But of course, we are also competing with each other. So, I am sorry to say, I may shine too brightly for you all to be noticed." Aoyama said with a friendly jab. The others had to concede that he had a point.
"That just means I'm gonna do my best!" Came the rather intense reply from Ochaco. The usually happy-go-lucky gravity girl had a competitive edge to her, her eyes sharp as she got ahead of the group and stared them down. "Everybody, I'm gonna do my best!"
As Ochaco threw her fist up into the air, some of her fellow coursemates mirrored her action, though it was more out of confusion and fear than camaraderie.
Izuku kept walking on, his mind racing with thoughts and scenarios. As his mind began to settle on one idea, Shoka nudged him with her elbow. He blinked in surprise and looked at his gray-eyed girlfriend as she spoke, "Hey, Izzy. Watcha thinking about? Mind sharing with the class?"
Izuku and Shoka stopped walking. The verdette brought a hand to his chin, unaware of the growing attention he was garnering from the rest of 1-A. As Izuku spoke up, they listened, "Well. I was thinking about some of the things Aizawa-sensei mentioned. About how having more pros here to act as security may increase our chances at getting noticed."
"Yeah, and?" Shoka asked, tilting her head at where he was going.
"We may already have their attention. U.A. wouldn't have any chance of keeping the attack on the USJ quiet. There are already articles all over the place talking about it." The verdette explained. When he noticed everyone was following along, he continued, "That means they know about us. Or, more specifically, that we faced off against Villains. Meaning..."
"That we'll be judged more harshly compared to the other Hero Courses." Shinso chimed in. "We have notoriety. Which can either work in our favor or against it."
"So that means if we mess up, we might not get any offers..." Kaminari said, understanding what the two meant. "Shit."
"Language!"
"There's also another thing." Izuku hesitantly added.
"And that is?" Mina asked.
As 1-A entered the cafeteria, all eyes fell upon them. While some offered sympathies and understanding, others were cold and openly challenging the Hero students.
"It means we have a bunch of targets on our backs from some extras thinking they can even step up to the top dog," Bakugo said as he walked past the group. When he got far enough away, he stopped in place and turned around, his red eyes locking on Izuku's green ones. "We'll settle it then, Nerd. So don't let any of these extras take you out before I get my chance."
Izuku steeled his nerves and maintained the eye lock with the ash-blonde, neither of them willing to give the other this small victory. As this went on, a pair of heterochromatic eyes stared at the two, his focus on the two he deemed worthy to be his goalposts.
Izuku and Shinso exited their elective classroom, Monoma bidding them farewell as he had to join up with several of his coursemates from 1-B. The pair walked through the halls of the empty building, making small talk about training ideas for the other. They had made it past the teachers' lounge when a voice called out to Izuku.
"Young Midoriya."
Izuku and Shinso stopped and turned to face the voice, slightly surprised to see All Might calling for the verdette.
"All Might-sensei? What do you need?" Izuku asked as calmly as he could. As much as his Hero worship had subsided with Mr. H's help, when your hero calls out to you, part of you begins to have a nerdgasm.
"I'm glad I caught you! I know it is rather late, but there is something I wish to speak to you about. Do you have some time to spare?" The No. 1 Hero asked.
"YES!" The verdette immediately covered his mouth, embarrassed at the outburst.' Come on Izuku! You already got to talk to him last year, plus an autograph, calm down!' "I mean, yes I have time to spare."
Izuku shot Shinso a betrayed look, the verdette pouting at the indigoette barely containing his fits of laughter. Shinso calmed down enough to speak to his friend as he rolled his eyes, "Go on. Just make sure to message Shoka and Momo. I don't want to be the messenger if you forget to keep them in the loop."
Izuku shook his head at his sleep-deprived friend's words. "I don't need a reminder. But thanks anyway."
As Izuku went for his phone to message his pair of ravenettes, All Might let out a hearty chuckle. "Haha. A good call, young Midoriya. And sorry for taking your friend away, young Shinso."
"No worries, All Might." Shinso turned to walk away, looking over his shoulder to look at his friend and the Pro Hero one more time. "And if he starts to nerd out, snap your fingers in front of his face. Mr. H figured that trick out early on. It does wonders."
"Oh ha ha, Shinso! Remember who makes your coffee! I can cut you off at any time you know!" Izuku called out as he put his phone away.
Shinso had turned the corner when Izuku said this threat. The indigoette's words rang out as he disappeared, "No you won't."
Izuku huffed in defeat, knowing full well he really couldn't cut Shinso from coffee. He really did become an enabler. He was brought out of his thoughts by All Might laughing at the pair's antics. "It's good to see you have such strong bonds with your friends, young Midoriya."
The verdette spared one more glance at where Shinso went, a fond smile on his face. "Yeah. I have some pretty great friends, that's for sure."
All Might's smile had shifted to a very fond one as he watched Izuku. He put a large hand on the verdette's shoulder, getting his attention. "That you do. Now, let's head inside. I have something important I wish to discuss with you." All Might said as he pointed a thumb at the teachers' lounge.
Izuku gave the No. 1 Hero a nod and followed him. All Might held the door open for the Hero student, letting him enter the room first. As Izuku made his way to one of the couches, All Might went over to the small kitchenette. He turned to look at the verdette, "Would you like a cup of tea?"
Izuku set his backpack down and replied to the blonde Hero, "Yes, please."
Izuku sat down and waited for All Might to finish up. For the time he worked, the two were silent. The verdette simply waited on All Might as the No. 1 Hero was mentally going about how to begin. His time was up once the tea had been made.
All Might made his way over to the couches, setting the tray down and handing a cup to the verdette. "Here you go."
"Thank you, All Might-sensei." Izuku graciously took the cup offered to him and took his first sip, savoring the flavor of the tea. He set the cup down and looked at the No. 1 Hero, wondering what he wanted to talk about.
He didn't have to wait long as All Might began to speak, "Young Midoriya, what I'm about to tell you requires the utmost secrecy on your part. If you wish to leave now, then that's fine. But, if you stay, please do not spread what you learn here around."
"Uh, sure, All Might-sensei. Is everything all right?" Izuku asked, quirking a brow at the seriousness asked for by the blonde pro.
"Yes... All right. Please, stay calm." All Might said as smoke emanated from his body.
Izuku watched on in concern, his mouth agape as he stood up. "A-All Might-sensei!?"
The smoke disappeared, and so did the No. 1 Hero. In his spot, Yagi Toshinori sat, further confusing the verdette. "All Might?"
Toshinori let out a tired sigh as if the weight of the word was pushing down on him. "Yes, young Midoriya. It's me. Just... in my natural form."
Izuku's legs gave out, causing him to fall back onto the couch. His mind was racing with thoughts as he tried to make sense of what was in front of him. Only one question seemed to be the right one to ask the man in front of him. "W-what happened to you?"
"I'll show you," Toshinori answered. He took off his jacket, setting it down beside him as he untucked his shirt, pulling it up to reveal a rather nasty scar on his left side. A small crater of damaged skin sat just under his chest, with surgical incisions and web-like scars expanding out from the grizzly sight. "It is an injury I got from a powerful Villain five years ago."
The verdette just stared at the wound as the emaciated Hero explained the extent of his injury. "Half of my respiratory organs were destroyed and I lost my whole stomach. Despite our advancements in medical technology, neither could be saved in time. The damages were that extensive. I went through many surgeries, leading to what you see now." He gave a weak chuckle. "Hard to believe that the No. 1 Hero of Japan, the Symbol of Peace could be brought to this state."
"The All Might that you and the rest of Japan sees," Toshinori continued, "is simply the dying fire of the Symbol of Peace. Three hours. That is how much time I can dedicate myself to Hero work before I can no longer use my Quirk without draining my time limit further. But even then, I lose more time each day."
"That... T-that can't be..." Izuku muttered in disbelief. Something clicked in his mind, his encyclopedic Hero knowledge coming to the forefront. "Wait. Five years ago? I know you disappeared for a time but the only big fight that comes to my mind is the one you had with Toxic Chainsaw. But the timing doesn't line up. Even the damage you suffered doesn't match with what he could do."
Toshinori gave the Hero nerd an amused smile. "You really do know your stuff." His expression became somber as he explained. "You're right though. That punk wouldn't be able to do something like this to me. No. This happened because of someone much worse. Someone who has been kept out of the public's eyes for decades, centuries even."
The blonde had a defeated look in his eyes as his gaze fell to the floor. "Someone... I thought I killed those five years ago. Someone..." The emaciated Hero let out a haggard sigh. "Someone who I think has returned."
"Why keep it hidden?" Izuku managed to ask.
"Because the Symbol of Peace cannot be daunted by evil. It is something I'm afraid I have allowed to happen. Because I am a symbol, that means should something happen to me, then the people would lose faith." Toshinori clenched his hand into a fist. "But I have been a symbol for so long, that I have started to forget that I'm still human. Where the symbol cannot grow weary, the man behind it is barely holding on."
His blue eyes locked with Izuku's. The verdette could feel the remaining embers of All Might's spirit still burning through that gaze. And he felt as if something was calling out to him. "But before the symbol is gone, I can help usher in a new one. To help raise a successor who can be better than I was. To be a newer, stronger symbol that is also human."
"Do you remember what you told me the first time we met? What you said that pin of yours represented." Toshinori asked, pointing at Ego pinned to the lapel of Izuku's school jacket.
The verdette looked down, his fingers lightly touching the pin as he felt it hum from within him. Izuku smiled as he remembered that day. "I said this pin was inspired by you. That it would represent the kind of Hero I would be." Izuku looked up, his emerald eyes shining with determination and power. "That I would be a Hero for all."
Toshinori smiled at the student's words, proud that he still held true to his words and aspirations. "Well said, young Midoriya. And that is why I wish to make you my successor. To help you become a symbol of your own. One to surpass me. But, I would also offer you my power."
Izuku blinked, unsure if he heard what was said to him correctly. "Um. What do you mean by that, All Might?"
Toshinori couldn't help but chuckle at the look on the verdette's face. Izuku gave him a deadpan look as he waited for the No. 1 Hero to recover from his fit of laughter. Those feelings were immediately replaced with concern when the emaciated Hero began to cough up blood. After a moment of making sure the blonde man was alright, he continued to speak.
"Sorry about that, young Midoriya. And please, while I am like this, call me Mr. Yagi." He saw a gleam in the verdette's eyes and realized he just gave the Hero nerd a priceless piece of information. And while he trusted Izuku not to share his name on top of everything else, it was still something that shouldn't be focused on at the moment.
So, he did as Shinso suggested.
With a snap of his fingers, Izuku returned to the discussion. He blinked owlishly at the Hero, now currently aware of what just happened. He was too embarrassed to even apologize.
"Back to the matter at hand. I wish to offer you my Quirk." Toshinori was quick to hold up a hand, signaling Izuku to wait until he had finished. "This Quirk was passed on to me by my master, who received it from another Hero. This Quirk, One For All, is a sacred torch passed down through generations of vigilantes to Heroes. Each wielder adding on to its power. And I wish for you to become my successor and the next wielder of One For All."
Izuku took this new information with a grain of salt. A Quirk that could be passed on by choice was almost too hard to believe. But to be offered another Quirk was something he had to think about.
"What would happen to my Quirk if I accepted?" Izuku asked.
"I can only speak from experience from my Master." The emaciated Hero leaned in as he explained, Izuku doing so as well as he listened intently. "Her original Quirk, Float, allowed her to hover in the air, at least a few feet off of the ground. When she received One For All, her Quirk's power was amplified on top of receiving the strength and durability offered by the Quirk itself. Her simple Float turned into Flight, allowing her to soar through the air at high speeds."
"Based on that, I would assume that with the enhanced strength you would receive, your Quirk would be amplified. Quite possibly, your Psychs would power themselves up drastically, but we would have to run some tests to be sure. I wouldn't want to risk hurting yourself or others by trying something in the field." Toshinori said with a chuckle.
Izuku gained a faraway look in his eyes. "Yeah... stress testing is not fun..."
"You too huh?" Izuku's words only caused the Hero to laugh harder, bringing back his own memories of stress-testing One For All in his youth when he was in America. David got on his case plenty of times for that.
Izuku paused for a moment. "Wait, you said your master's Quirk was amplified. But what about yours?"
"Ah..." Toshinori's smile immediately dropped at that question. He should have expected this to come up. He took in a heavy breath and slowly let it out. "I was actually Quirkless before my master deemed me worthy to be the next wielder of One For All."
"I... I see." Izuku simply said, his tone apologetic. "I'm sorry, I know that must have been difficult... I know I had to deal with that to some degree. Before I could even use my Quirk, there were plenty of people who called me a liar. It didn't help that I still have a second joint in my pinky toe. My mom and I still haven't found an answer to that one."
"It wasn't easy, but I know it was much easier than dealing with Quirklessness nowadays. It hurts, seeing people be discarded and degraded so callously." The blonde man stated, anger seeping into his voice. He calmed himself down, doing his best to focus on the discussion at hand.
He looked up at the verdette across from him, trying his best to gauge Izuku's thoughts on the matter. He watched as Izuku seemed to have a mental debate with himself, stopping to speak up, only to hold back and mull it over some more.
After a minute of this, Izuku asked a question. "Why me?"
"Two reasons." Toshinori held up a finger, signifying his first point. "Because of your spirit. Your drive to be a Hero. Ever since that day with the Sludge Villain, I knew I had found the successor I was looking for, but I still had to be sure. During the entrance exams, you displayed that heroic spirit when you rushed head-first into danger, all to save young Uraraka. Then, you did what would be impossible for most students and took down the 0-Pointer, not because you wished to fight it, but because you knew you had to protect those around you."
"Second," He said as he held up another finger, "One For All seems drawn to you. I do not know why, but it is though it knows you are the one. There have been moments where I have felt One For All trying to reach out to me, sometimes in dreams, other times in visions. But I knew it was the Quirk itself. For it to have such a strong reaction to you, well, it must mean something."
Izuku felt a little cautious about that. "And are you really sure it's right about me? What if that feeling you have meant something else?"
Toshinori nodded at the verdette's point. It was a good one, but one he had already thought about and considered. "I'm absolutely positive that One For All deems you worthy. And so far, you have yet to give me a reason to doubt you or your heroic nature."
The No. 1 Hero gave Izuku a warm smile that began to erase all doubts he had. But before he gave the Hero an answer, a thought ran through his mind. One that would determine everything.
"Yagi-sensei, would I be able to tell those close to me about receiving One For All? That you want me to be your successor. I can't lie to them." Izuku's mood took a drop at the prospect of lying to Shoka and Momo. To lie to Shinso. Not to mention Mr. H or Aizawa-sensei or his mom. To be All Might's successor was like a dream come true. But not one that should come with such a cost.
"I'm not alone. I have them with me. You asked me to keep this a secret, but I can't keep this from them if I accept it." He looked the Pro Hero in the eyes. "I'll still keep your injury and your Quirk to myself. I won't betray your secrets like that. Please, believe me on that."
Toshinori didn't respond, he simply listened to the verdette. He had those who knew about One For All, but those people either knew beforehand or knew about it out of necessity. He had never really told anyone about the Quirk of his own volition, save the student in front of him. After a moment of thought, Toshinori gave Izuku another smile as he reached over to pat his shoulder.
"Young Midoriya. Should you accept, it won't just be my secret. It will be yours as well. If you trust your friends, those you deem worthy to know, then it's your choice. But you must be willing to live with the potential consequences that could arise from such a choice." A weight seemed to be lifted from the verdette's shoulders. Toshinori leaned back and continued to speak, "It's your choice." He reiterated. "Will you accept to become my successor, to become the next wielder of One For All? To accept the responsibility that carrying this sacred torch requires of you?"
Izuku thought about what accepting would mean. His childhood dreams were reinforced. He remembered facing the Nomu and not being strong enough to defeat it on his own. To have the ability to protect those he cared about drove him to accept the offer. His goal, to be a Hero to everyone, was possible.
Izuku didn't hesitate. He clenched his fist tightly as his steely gaze fell onto the No. 1 Hero, his emerald eyes shining with power. "I accept. Help me become a Hero for all!"
Toshinori's smile widened at the response. "Such a spirited answer, with no hesitation. Just as I had expected of you, young Midoriya. When the time comes, I will transfer my Quirk onto you, making you the next wielder of this sacred torch!"
"But, I would suggest we wait," Toshinori said, knocking the wind out of Izuku's sails. The verdette just stared at the No. 1 Hero, waiting for an explanation. "Well, the sports festival is coming up, and then there are your internships. If we gave you One For All now, you would either be torn on training to use it correctly, or trying to learn how to use it on the fly. Stress testing, as it were. And with how much power has been building up since I was given One For All, there could be issues in trying to wield such power!"
Izuku blanched at the knowing look Toshinori gave him. It made sense. A Quirk that amplified his Quirk, while also giving him super strength, would lead to some bad times.
"So, I suggest we wait until you return from your internships. Then, you and I will have plenty of time to train with One For All while under the supervision of Nezu, Recovery Girl, and Aizawa." The blonde man explained further.
"Right." Izuku simply answered. He paused when he finally registered the names Toshinori listed. "I take it that they know about One For All and your injury?"
"Nezu and Recovery know about both as they were there when I was injured and knew my mentor. Recovery Girl was also in charge of my surgeries, so it's best if we have her nearby in case you get injured." Izuku nodded at the reasoning behind the two joining them when he would receive One For All. "As for Aizawa, his Quirk would be a boon to have as a precautionary measure. With him also being your instructor and your mentor, I figured it would be best to bring him into our shared circle of trust, wouldn't you agree?"
Izuku nodded once more, again, finding the logic behind the decision sound.
Toshinori clapped his hands and smiled. "Then it's settled, after your internship, we will transfer One For All to you. For now, train for the sports festival. Show the world who you are! I can't wait to see how you do, young Midoriya."
Izuku stood up from the couch, giving the blonde man a bow. "Thank you, All Might. For believing in me."
Toshinori stood up and walked over to Izuku, clasping his hands on the verdette's shoulders. "Think nothing of it, young Midoriya. I only wish to see you become the great Hero I know you can be."
Izuku struggled to hold back the happy tears threatening to spill from the corners of his eyes. He grabbed his backpack and made his way to the door. When he put his hand on the knob, he suddenly stopped as a lingering question came to the surface of his mind. "Yagi-sensei, the Villain who injured you... you said you think he returned."
Toshinori closed his eyes. It wasn't something he wanted to linger on, but since Izuku would become his successor, he couldn't in good conscience keep this from him but he didn't want to overload the young man too soon. "Yes. But we have talked long enough, young Midoriya. We will talk again soon, and I promise, I will tell you everything. For now, go back to your dorms. And when the time comes, we can tell those you trust everything. In the meantime, you can at least let them know that I asked you to be my successor. Does that work for you?"
"... Yes. Like I said, I can't lie to them." Izuku said determinedly.
"Nor will I ask you to, young Midoriya," Toshinori replied with a smile.
"Thank you, Yagi-sensei. Have a good night sir." With that, Izuku left, leaving the No. 1 Hero alone in the room.
Toshinori's smile never faltered. He could feel One For All reaching out to him as if to let him know it agreed with his decision. For now, he would go home and get some sleep.
He still had lessons he needed to plan.
Izuku sat on his bed, running his hand through his semi-wet hair. It was late and he was more than ready to fall asleep. The last few days, combined with the notice of the sports festival and All Might's offer, had finally caught up to him.
He was going to tell Shoka, Momo, and Shinso about All Might's offer, but he honestly didn't know how to bring that up. And he forgot how much he wore his heart on his sleeve. Shoka and Momo immediately showed concern when he got back to the dorms, already taking notice that something was on his mind and it was eating away at him. But before they could get to the meat of the matter, the rest of their friends had joined in before Izuku could say anything without drawing the wrong kind of attention.
Shinso shot him a questioning look when they crossed paths and Izuku returned it with one of his own. Shinso accepted it. He knew Izuku would tell him what was up when he could.
Izuku stood up and made his way to his desk. His eyes fell upon the opened sketchbook sitting in the middle, the page littered with pencil marks and eraser shavings. His lips formed into a thin line as he stared at the sketch in front of him. The verdette let out a huff. "I'll figure this out later." He muttered.
Izuku cleaned up his workspace and finished getting ready for bed. He removed his shirt, leaving him in only a pair of black sweatpants. The verdette turned off his lights and made his way over to his bed, only to be stopped by the sound of knocking coming from his door. He quirked a brow, confused and wondering who would want to talk with him this late at night. He found out the answer as soon as he opened it.
"Quick, before Iida decides to play hall monitor," Shoka said in a rush as she made her way, dragging Momo by the shirt as she did.
Izuku blinked and closed the door, his body moving robotically as he did.
"Uh, not that I'm not happy seeing my girlfriends but what are you two doing here?" The verdette asked.
He blushed at their state of dress. Shoka was wearing a sleeveless black tank top that did wonders in showing off her figure, the pair of deep-red athletic short shorts that hugged her form tightly as her slender legs were on full display. Momo was simply wearing a large, baggy white t-shirt with the word 'Oppai' written across the chest. The shirt draped over her body with the hem sitting just above her upper thigh. Despite the size, it didn't do much to hide her impressive bust.
Though Izuku had to do a double take. He was sure that was the 'Oppai' joke shirt he remembered being in his closet.
He also didn't remember it being that large.
Or Momo taking another shirt from him. She and Shoka did keep the shirts they borrowed when they painted the wall. That he remembered.
As he finished getting a wonderful sight of the ravenettes, he noticed that Shoka and Momo seemed to stall as well. He swore he saw Shoka lightly lick her lips while Momo's cheeks had gone a shade of atomic red. He then realized that he had discarded his shirt before answering the door, giving the two young women a view to appreciate.
Izuku looked anywhere but the two ravenettes in his room as he moved to grab his shirt. "Oh, um. Sorry, let me ju-"
"Nono!" To his and Shoka's surprise, Momo was quite vocal about her disagreement with that action. The busty heiress' eyes darted back and forth between her two lovers as her embarrassment grew. "I mean, it's fine Zuzu."
"Y-yeah. Definitely fine." Shoka commented.
Izuku didn't show it, but a feeling of pride and accomplishment swelled up in him at their words. He let those feelings settle as he coughed into his hand, doing his best to try to get back to the matter at hand.
"So, what's with the late-night visit?" He asked.
"W-well. We noticed you have been rather distant since your session with Hound Dog." Momo said. The onyx-eyed heiress began to fiddle with the strands of hair that hung over her face. "Shoka and I had a discussion and came up with an idea to help us all relax."
Shoka stepped up to bat as she took over. "We also haven't been able to really sleep lately. Sooooo, we figured that, maybe..."
Izuku gulped at the implied idea. His heart raced, the beats reverberating throughout his chest. Shoka and Momo had looked at him expectantly, their eyes locking on to him as he considered the idea. If he was being honest with himself, he wasn't against it.
He liked the idea very much.
"I-I wouldn't mind." He said, a light blush dusting his cheeks.
The two ravenettes gave him a soft smile. Shoka walked over to him, gently taking his hand into her own, and led him to the bed. Momo moved the sheets and comforter out of the way and slid across the bed with her back to the wall. She gave Izuku a shy look as she gestured for him to follow after her.
Izuku did so, getting as close to the busty heiress as he could. Momo lifted up her body, allowing him to slide his arm under her. He pulled her close, her body pressing against his as his arm wrapped around her.
The two felt a small shift on the other side as Shoka wasted no time in joining them. Izuku felt her nuzzle the crook of his neck as she got comfortable in his embrace. Her arm draped itself across his chest as she shifted herself closer to him.
The verdette felt his body relax. All the tension had left him as his mind began to focus only on Shoka and Momo. He looked to his right and saw the slender ravenette bury herself further into him, her cheeks rubbing against his skin, all with a content smirk on her face. Izuku then looked to his left to see Momo giving him a warm smile, her half-lidded onyx eyes stared deeply into his emerald ones as she leaned in.
His mind began to hyper-fixate on the feeling of their bodies pressing against his, their legs beginning to entwine as they all got more comfortable. But what he began to focus on was the feeling of their breasts against his chest and arms. At how the thin fabric of their shirts barely hid the softness of those wondrous sets of orbs. Izuku began to blush as he felt their nipples poking out from underneath their shirts, rubbing against him at the slightest of movements from any of them.
He inhaled, taking in the scent of the two young women. Momo had smelled of peaches, funnily enough, with a hint of tea on top of it. Shoka gave off a more natural scent to her, one that reminded him of a spring breeze.
While Izuku basked in the blissful comfort he found himself in, Shoka and Momo began to explore on their own. Shoka's hand traced the verdette's musculature, her fingers lightly grazing his body as she drew circles over his heart. Her lips tentatively danced across his skin as she took in his scent. The smell of Café WildKat's house blend was so ingrained in him that it made sense to her. Momo had buried her face into the mop of Izuku's green hair, smiling as she picked up the smell of cinnamon from his curls. The busty heiress pressed herself against him, enjoying the warmth his body exuded.
Before the three of them could get lost in the motions, Shoka calmed herself down enough to ask the question that had been on her mind since Izuku returned to the dorms. "Izzy? Is everything alright? Shinso said you talked with All Might earlier. You seemed kinda out of it when you got back."
Whether it was divine intervention or happenstance, it gave Izuku the chance to tell the two ravenettes about the sudden change in his life.
And he took it.
"Yeah. I just had some things to think about." The verdette started to explain. "All Might... He asked me something important. Something that will change some things." Izuku couldn't hide the concern dripping from his voice. He was proud to become The No. 1 Hero's successor, but there was that lingering feeling of self-doubt. The one thing he and Mr. H were never really able to stamp out.
Momo grew worried at Izuku's mood shift. She gave him a warm smile that set him at ease. "Zuzu, whatever it is, you know we will be here for you. No matter what changes."
Izuku's arms tightened around the two as she softly spoke, "Thank you... It's just... All Might gave me an offer. But before I gave him an answer, I told him that if I had to keep it a secret from you both, from Shinso, Mr. H and Aizawa, and my mom, then I couldn't accept it."
Shoka looked at Izuku in shock, her gray eyes widening at what he said. "Wait, you were about to turn down an offer from All Might? Who are you and what have you done to our Izzy?"
That simple joke broke Izuku out of his slump, his laughter filling the room. Momo looked at Shoka, the gray-eyed ravenette giving the heiress an accomplished smirk. Izuku began to calm down, his fit of laughter breaking down into soft chuckles. "I know, I know. The biggest Hero fanboy gets an offer from All Might and almost turns him down. Pretty sure the world would be ending if that happened."
"No," Momo stated. "We all know Nezu would sooner take over and then cause the end of the world before he'd let someone else take credit for it."
That got a kick out of Izuku and Shoka, who let their mirth be known.
"True," Shoka said through her laughter. She settled back down, laying her head on Izuku's chest.
The verdette stared at the ceiling of his room as he continued. "There are things I can't tell you. They're not my secrets to tell. But," He looked at both the ravenettes, his eyes becoming sharp as he spoke, "I won't keep the important things from either of you. All Might asked me to become his successor. And I accepted."
Shoka and Momo could hardly contain their surprise at the declaration. Those surprised looks turned to proud ones as they made their opinions known.
"Nice one, Izzy."
"Congratulations, Izuku."
"Thank you, both of you," Izuku said with a soft smile. "There's more, but I can't share it with you now. But I will. Because you're both important to me. And I don't want to keep it a secret from you." There was still a little bit of worry plaguing his mind, but that was soon dispelled by the pairs of lips that brushed up against his cheeks. The two girls lingered there for a moment, letting the verdette feel their affection and support through their actions.
As the two ravenettes pulled away, Shoka leaned in for another kiss, her soft lips connecting with Izuku's. Shoka began to tease the verdette as she deepened the kiss, her tongue invading his mouth as they began to interlock. She pulled away with a hungry and proud smirk on her face. "No worries, Izzy." He heard her say softly, her words just barely above a whisper.
He felt Momo's hand on his cheek as she turned his head to face hers. "We can wait." With her piece said, the heiress pulled him close to her, letting her pepper him with small pecks before diving in for a much more intense kiss.
The three fell into a comfortable silence, their breathing creating a relaxing rhythm as they lay together on Izuku's bed. That rhythm was broken up by Shoka's soft and melodious laughter, causing Izuku and Momo to look at her in confusion.
Shoka calmed down enough and managed to explain herself in between her laughs. "Sorry. Just had a thought."
"And what would that be, Shoka?" Momo asked.
Shoka shot an amused look at Izuku. "Oh, just how accurate Izzy's HS name is now." She nuzzled herself against his chest once more, getting comfortable as she lay there. "Our Izzy, becoming Buny Might."
Izuku groaned at the realization but smiled nonetheless.
Then Momo joined in the teasing. "Indeed. Our mighty Buny."
"Oh! Don't forget Cinnabuny."
"Of course!"
Izuku gave in to his fate, letting the two ravenettes have their fun. He merely smiled, finding himself feeling at ease for the first time since the attack. Time had passed and as the night went on, if one looked in on room 2-2L of Heights Alliance, they would see Shoka and Momo, at peace in Izuku's arms while the verdette had the warmest smile on his face as he pulled the two ravenettes closer to him.