Chapter 8: Exam Preparation
(FEW DAYS LATER) 10 MONTHS TILL ENTRANCE EXAM
"Alright, remember to lift with your legs and not your back," Izuku said as he hoisted a fridge up.
Izuku had been up almost all night in Mindspace which was about 40 hours in there, coming up with the soundest ideas to help him in passing the Entrance Exam for UA. Now he knew from confidence speaking he would pass if he were to take it now, but he wanted to be the best of the best.
Tokoyami, Jiro, Shoji, and Ibara checked up and called the two of them after the incident and they said they couldn't believe that we were famous. Izuku tried to wave it off, but they were persistent in telling them that they were glad to see they were fine. His family though was different. He was barely talking to them as of right now after that whole excursion between them. He would move out but that wouldn't make any sense.
UA had a dorm system making sure that their students were safe and if they went out and bought an apartment that would be more of an unnecessary expense even if he had a lot of money at his disposal.
He and Chase had come up with the idea to clear out a beach for an assortment of reasons. Reason number one was community service of sorts. The Dagobah Municipal Beach used to be a beautiful beach that Izuku remembered coming to when he was really young and now it was a place with meters tall full of garbage.
Reason number two he could train here and not have anyone know of what trying he was doing. He could train his new quirks and continue to grow stronger. The focus of the next months would be more on quirk training specifically rather than physical. Yes, he was getting physical training by picking up heavy trash, but he trained in the open area once it was cleared out.
Reason number three was the metals and minerals here. Izuku wanted to try to build some tech for himself or others and this place had lots of it. Copper, steel, iron, and even aluminum could be salvaged from the heaps of discarded appliances and machinery. If push comes to shove, he could just sell the stuff.
He placed the fridge down near the entrance and sighed. This would be hard, but he was willing to do it. He thought about the events that happened the past few days and he shook his head. For lack of a better term, his family really was stupid sometimes. It wouldn't lie if he said he didn't few better letting them hear some of what he had inside of him all these years but that was just a drop in the bucket. He really wanted to let it fly but that could wait for another day.
He actually chuckled that he had gotten clearance to clean the beach so fast by the city but then he realized he was in the news recently with the Sludge Villain Incident and you could guess why. The best part was that he was given clearance because Kamui Woods, Death Arms, and Mt. Lady endorsed it which is why it got pushed so quickly. He had asked personally if they could keep this under wraps for obvious reasons. They would send one truck a day so he would have to make the most of what he did while he had it here.
Izuku took a deep breath, rolling his shoulders to ease the tension building there. The fridge wasn't the heaviest thing he'd moved in the past few days, but the accumulated exhaustion from his relentless efforts was starting to creep in. He glanced at the massive piles of trash that still needed sorting and chuckled under his breath. "One day at a time," he muttered.
He worked till 3 pm clearing up a decent section that was about 15 feet by 15 feet. The truck was filled with garbage and pulled out his notebook with the next part of his plan. The three quirk creations he had available were already thought out and he was about to test one of them: Fa Jin.
Fa Jin fascinated him which was funny as most of the quirks of the previous users of One for All were. Fa Jinallowed him to build up kinetic energy through repetitive motion, storing that energy like a coiled spring waiting to explode. It was versatile and powerful, but the trick was learning to control it. Izuku had been experimenting with different movements to find the most efficient way to charge it without exhausting himself too quickly.
The next quirk he needed to make was Jolt. Now yes, on its own Jolt isn't all that powerful but Izuku wanted to infuse the potential of One for All into Jolt to make it much stronger. The upgraded version of Jolt would allow him to channel bioelectricity at very high levels and then expel it from his body. He would be able to channel it around his body to give him a huge boost in speed but not in physical attacks. He would be able to channel the electricity into bursts or streams of lightning. Not to mention he would be immune to any electric-based attacks.
Lastly, the last quirk creation was going to be used for something he called Zephyr Rush. To put it simply it was air and wind manipulation. He could use it to propel himself forward, launch himself through the air, and glide through the air. He would be able to use it to control gusts of wind within a certain area and he would have to train hard to make the intensity of the wind gusts stronger but that would be fine. Lots of work and only so much time but he knew he got this.
Izuku clenched his fists as he put them into a fighting motion. "Alright, let me try punches really quick," he said reading himself to use Fa Jin.
He began with light, rhythmic jabs, alternating between his left and right fists. Each punch was fluid and precise, and as the motion continued, he could feel the energy slowly building in his arms. The sensation was strange at first—a faint buzzing that grew stronger with every repetition.
"Okay, I think that's enough buildup," Izuku muttered, stopping his movements. He squared his stance, focusing on the target he'd set up—a makeshift punching bag crafted from salvaged materials.
With a deep breath, he threw a single punch, releasing the energy in a controlled burst. The impact was explosive. The punching bag flew backward, crashing into a nearby pile of trash. The force of the blow reverberated through his arm, and he winced slightly at the strain.
"Wow," Izuku said, flexing his hand as he examined the results. "That's definitely stronger than my normal punches. But…" He glanced at his arm, feeling the lingering tension in his muscles. "It puts a lot of stress on my joints. I'll need to be careful with how much energy I release at once. I need a lot of training with this quirk, so I don't mess up my body."
He jotted down in his notebook nodding at the results. "So, Fa Jin could be used to boost my speed, strength, or both. Though it does take a while to charge, that could be changed if I were to do it rapidly. So, this could give me a boost in jumping, running for extra speed, punching, kicking, and anything else physical," he said making bullet points.
"This is going to look like I am going to have a harder time using quirks with Fa Jin to try to counterbalance it," he said.
"Yo, Yagi," said Jiro from behind him tapping him on the shoulder.
"Aaaaaaaaaah," jumped Izuku throwing his notebook and pen into the air and catching them before they hit the ground.
"Holy crap you scaredy cat. You were muttering for like 3 minutes; I heard you from the street. Did you forget you invited me here?" she said showing him a few bentos.
Izuku blinked, his face flushing crimson as he realized how oblivious he'd been. "Oh no! I—I completely forgot, Jiro! I'm so sorry!" He bowed deeply, clutching his notebook and pen against his chest like a lifeline. "I was so caught up in testing Fa Jin and writing everything down that I—"
Jiro sighed, waving him off with one of her earphone jacks. "Chill out, Yagi. I'm not mad or anything. But seriously, you've got to stop mumbling to yourself all the time. People are going to think you've gone off the deep end." She held up the neatly wrapped bentos, her other hand resting on her hip. "Please tell me that you ate today," she said looking at him.
"Oh yeah…sure…I did," he said looking away from her.
Jiro narrowed her eyes, her earphone jack twitching slightly in a way that made Izuku feel like a child caught in a lie. "Yagi," she said, her tone flat and unimpressed, "your hesitation just gave you away. You haven't eaten anything, have you?"
"No, I have, I ate two apples…one for the morning and one for lunch," he said.
Jiro groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Two apples? Seriously? That's not a meal, Yagi, that's a snack. You're going to waste away if you keep this up. Sit down. Now." Izuku crossed his arms looking away from her.
Jiro raised an eyebrow, her earphone jacks twitching in annoyance. "Don't even try it, Yagi. You're not getting out of this. Sit down before I make you."
"See now, I know for a fact that you are too nice to me to try that. Even though you poke me with your Earphone Jack half the time. I swear you did it the other day like 10 times while we were playing darts," he said looking dejected as he walked over to her to sit down.
Jiro smirked as Izuku grudgingly plopped down beside her, crossing his legs and folding his arms like a pouty child. "First of all," she began, handing him one of the bentos, "if I poked you 10 times, it's because you deserved it. You're terrible at darts, by the way."
Izuku let out a small huff as he accepted the bento, mumbling, "I wasn't that bad."
"You missed the board entirely four times," Jiro retorted, raising an eyebrow. "And don't even get me started on the time you hit the wall."
"That was one time!" Izuku protested, though his face flushed with embarrassment.
Jiro snickered, leaning back on her hands. "Relax, Yagi. I'm just messing with you. But seriously, you need to eat more than just apples if you're going to keep training like this. You're pushing your body way too hard."
Izuku opened the bento, the delicious aroma wafting up and making his stomach growl audibly. His cheeks turned a deeper shade of red as Jiro gave him a knowing look. "Fine," he muttered, picking up the chopsticks. "But only because it smells amazing. Did you make this yourself?"
"Not this time," Jiro admitted, brushing her bangs aside. "My mom whipped it up when I told her I was coming to see you. She said you probably weren't taking care of yourself and made me promise to bring extra."
"Ah, that stinks I like the way you make the rice," he said looking at the food.
Jiro blinked in surprise at his comment, her cheeks turning the faintest shade of pink. "What are you even talking about, Yagi?" she said, brushing off the compliment with a flick of her wrist. "It's just rice. Anyone can make it."
Izuku shook his head earnestly, pausing mid-bite to look at her. "No, really. The way you make it… I don't know. It just tastes better. You add this little… I don't know what to call it… personal touch, I guess?"
Jiro fidgeted with her earphone jack, pretending to check something on the ground beside her. "You're weird," she muttered, though there was a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Now stop stalling and eat."
Izuku took a bite of the rice and grilled fish, his eyes widening as the flavors hit his tongue. "This is incredible," he said, his voice muffled by the food. "Your mom's cooking is amazing."
"She'll be glad to hear that," Jiro said with a small smile. "Now eat the whole thing. Don't even think about leaving a single grain of rice."
Izuku grinned, holding up his chopsticks in a mock salute. "Yes, ma'am!" He dug in with newfound enthusiasm, savoring every bite of the meal. It was a rare treat for him to eat something so delicious, especially with how preoccupied he'd been with training.
Jiro leaned back, watching him devour the food with a mix of amusement and satisfaction. "You act like you haven't eaten in days," she teased. "Seriously, Yagi, what's the deal? Why don't you ever take a break?"
Izuku paused, chopsticks halfway to his mouth, and glanced at her. "I just… I guess I feel like I don't have time for breaks. There's so much I need to improve on, and everyone else is working so hard. I can't afford to fall behind."
Jiro sighed, her expression softening. "You know, you're allowed to take care of yourself, right? Nobody's going to think less of you for taking a moment to rest. In fact, you're probably going to get stronger if you give your body time to recover."
"Yeah, I guess,' he said finishing the bento and taking another one. "Your mom makes amazing food," he said.
"I'll be sure to tell her," said Jiro twirling her jack. She looked next to Izuku to see his bag with him and walked over to it. She pulled out a book and plopped herself back down next to him with Izuku shaking his head grinning slightly.
"Oh yeah, just help yourself," he said gesturing to her.
She looked through Hero Analysis Book 13 and smiled. She had meant to ask him this sooner, but she wondered if she was in here.
Izuku blushed seeing her flip through the pages. Jiro turned a few more pages, her expression thoughtful. She was scanning through the detailed analysis of various heroes, their strengths, quirks, and strategies laid out in meticulous detail. Her gaze flicked over the familiar names and classifications, but her focus quickly shifted when she spotted something familiar.
"Hey," Jiro said softly, her voice low as she pointed to a section on the page. "Is that… me?"
Izuku glanced over at the page and immediately felt his face heat up. His fingers fumbled as he quickly tried to close the book, but Jiro stopped him.
"Wait, wait," Jiro said with a teasing smirk, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Don't hide it now. Let me see!"
Izuku swallowed hard, looking down at the book. His mind raced with thoughts—how long had it been there? How much did she know? "It's nothing special," he mumbled, trying to play it off.
Jiro tilted her head, her smile widening as she leaned in closer to get a better look. "Nothing special? Seriously? You wrote an entire section about me. 'Hero Analysis: Kyoka Jiro.'" She chuckled softly, flipping through the pages. "Let's see what the 'nothing special' part has to say."
Izuku kept his hand on the book looking away from her. "Well, ya know…I do an analysis of heroes and future heroes…I've done them on Yaoyorozu, Tokoyami, Shoji, and Shiozaki as well. I just don't want to you to think it's weird."
Jiro raised an eyebrow, her smirk softening into something more contemplative. "Weird?" she echoed, folding her arms. "Why would I think that's weird? It's actually kind of impressive that you take the time to do this."
Izuku glanced back down at the book, his fingers still resting lightly on the pages. "I guess I just don't want it to come off the wrong way. You know, like I'm obsessing over details or trying to overanalyze everything."
Jiro leaned in a bit closer, her expression gentle now. "But you're not. It's thoughtful, Yagi. You're just trying to understand how everyone works so you can be better, right?"
He nodded slowly, still feeling a bit self-conscious. "Yeah, that's pretty much it."
"So, then let me see and finish eating your damn food," she said pointing her Earphone Jacks at him.
"I did," he said pointing to the empty bentos.
"Good. Then let me read the analysis you did of me. You know you are going to have to change this when we enter UA right," she said opening it to her.
"Yeah, I know…say could you tell me a bit more about your Earphone Jacks," he asked curiously. "I mean I have basic info on there, but I'd like to know more."
Jiro's expression shifted from playful to thoughtful as she paused, her eyes glinting with a mixture of amusement and introspection. She toyed with the end of her earphone jack absentmindedly before speaking.
"They're not just tools for me," she began softly. "They're a part of how I communicate and perceive the world around me. Each of the jacks has a specific frequency range, and I can adjust them to pick up different sounds—low, high, or even subtle vibrations. It's how I can detect things that most people wouldn't normally notice." She paused, a small smile forming on her lips. "It's kind of like being able to hear in more dimensions than just with your ears."
Izuku listened intently, his curiosity piqued. "That sounds really useful," he said, leaning forward slightly. "But it must be difficult sometimes, right? Like if you're overwhelmed by too many sounds or frequencies?"
"Yeah, it can be but, I've been doing it for years, so it is pretty easy to know what is?" she said, looking into the book and finding an interesting detail about herself and blushed as she read it. She closed the book immediately trying not to meet Izuku in the eyes.
Izuku noticed Jiro's sudden shift in expression, her blush betraying her usual calm demeanor. The brief moment of silence felt heavy, the weight of the unspoken thoughts lingering between them. He shifted slightly, unsure whether to break the silence or give her space to gather her thoughts.
"Hey," Izuku said gently, leaning a little closer. "You, okay?"
"Oh yeah, I'm good. But I was going to ask you, are you done training then," she asked twirling her Earphone Jack.
"Not yet, I was going to…OOOWW!" he yelped from Jiro poking him in the arm with her Earphone Jack.
Izuku rubbed his arm where Jiro had poked him, his expression one of mild discomfort mixed with confusion. "Hey! What was that for?"
"I asked you are you done?" she said poking his chest with each word.
"And I said no I was going to….OOOOOOWWWW!" he yelped once more from Jiro poking him with her Earphone Jack.
Izuku winced, rubbing his arm where Jiro had just jabbed him again. "Would you stop abusing me please? This is what I was talking about earlier when you keep poking me."
Jiro couldn't help but giggle at Izuku's reaction. "Oh, come on! You know I'm just messing with you." She leaned back in her chair, her playful demeanor returning as she rested her feet on the bench.
"Ok, I guess I am done training for today then sense you said so," he said sighing looking sad and dejected.
Jiro raised an eyebrow at Izuku's dejected tone, her playful expression softening. She leaned forward again, her feet dangling off the bench as she rested her chin on her hands. "Hey," she said, her voice a bit gentler now. "Don't look so down. You've been working hard. You deserve a break."
"Well, you made me feel down, by poking me and now I can't train," he said playing sad as he went on hoping Jiro knew he was joking.
"Oh please, you'll be fine," she said hitting him in the arm.
"Ouch Jiro, you just poked me there please stop hitting me for a minute," he said rubbing it out.
Jiro gave a light chuckle at Izuku's reaction, her playful demeanor softening. "Alright, alright, I'll go easy on you… for now." She said getting up from her spot. "Come on dude, let's go do something," she said.
"Like what, darts?" he asked
"Yes, actually. We can go to my place again," she said pointing in her house's direction.
Izuku nodded with a small smile. "Darts sounds like a good break from all the training." He gathered his belongings and stood up, adjusting his bag on his shoulder.
Jiro led the way back toward her house, her Earphone Jacks swaying slightly as she walked. The setting sun cast a warm glow over the landscape, creating a peaceful ambiance. Izuku walked alongside her, the light conversation from earlier still lingering between them.
Jiro looked at her friend and blushed once more. She thought back to the words he wrote in the book about. She couldn't shake that feeling that he said about her.
"She also looks cute when her Earphone Jacks tangle or when she fiddles with them."
Jiro's blush deepened as she thought back to the words Izuku had written about her. The memory of his observation played in her mind—simple, yet unexpectedly personal. She hadn't expected such a thoughtful reflection, and it made her feel something she couldn't quite pinpoint.
"What a dork," she thought smiling slightly. "My dork."
Here is how Inori's and Ichiro's quirk works for anyone wondering.
Ichiro Yagi-Quirk: Impact Drive: It is a quirk that is very similar to One for All, though it is not as powerful. Ichiro as the ability to have several activations that can amplify his body's strength, speed, durability, agility, and endurance many times over and these activations are known as 'Impact Levels'. Each level makes him more powerful over time. Hypothetically, if he trained hard enough, he would have the ability to be on the same level as One for All but as of now that is far out of reach. He has six levels of Impact as of right now, and they are as follows:
Impact Level 1: Provides minor enhancements in strength, speed, and durability. Useful for everyday tasks and basic combat.
Impact Level 2: Increases his abilities significantly, allowing him to perform more impressive feats, like heavier lifting and faster movements.
Impact Level 3: Further enhances his physical attributes, improving his durability and agility, making him more effective in tougher battles.
Impact Level 4: Boosts his capabilities to a more substantial degree, offering enhanced endurance and the ability to handle more intense situations.
Impact Level 5: Reaches a high level of performance, allowing him to push through tougher challenges, though with noticeable strain on his body.
Impact Level 6: Temporarily reaches a peak, though it leaves him vulnerable afterward, requiring rest to recover.
Theoretically, as I said earlier, he could have an infinite number of levels of Impact if he trained hard enough.
Inori Yagi-Quirk: Mind's Reach: It is a quirk that evolved from One for All and Inko's quirk Attract creating a powerful telekinesis quirk. She has the ability to generate telekinetic fields that allow her to push, pull, suspend objects much more than her weight and at high speeds. Such as fridges and even vehicles. She even has the ability to use telekinesis on herself to allow herself to effectively float or fly. The range of her telekinetic range can increase with trying but right now it is 75 feet in all directions. Though her range is that small she can focus on several tasks at once, such as stopping falling debris, immobilizing enemies, and rescuing civilians. The downside to her quirk is if she overuses it can cause headaches that progress to migraines and will cause it to feel disoriented and maybe even pass out from the strain and pain. While Inori has excellent control, her Quirk requires immense concentration. Distractions or mental disruptions can weaken her hold on objects or cause her to lose control.
5 MONTHS UNTIL THE ENTRANCE EXAM
After five months of relentless effort, Izuku stood on the now-transformed beach, his hands on his hips as he surveyed his progress. What once resembled a chaotic junkyard was beginning to look like an actual beach again. The sand was clear of debris in large sections, and the sound of waves lapping against the shore felt less muted by the overwhelming clutter. The transformation was a testament to his hard work, and though his muscles constantly ached, he felt a deep sense of pride.
As promised, he had been saving some of the scrap he found—bits and pieces of metal, old appliances, and even a few intact objects that still had some utility. A neatly organized pile sat in one corner of the beach, waiting for the day he would find a use for them.
Izuku wiped the sweat from his brow, glancing down at his hands. They were calloused and slightly bruised from days of lifting and sorting, but he didn't mind. This work wasn't just about cleaning a beach—it was about becoming stronger and preparing for the future he dreamed of.
Fa Jin was more or less understood to the point he wouldn't hurt himself. He may or may not have broken his fingers testing out his quirk by flicking them rapidly and then releasing them but that was a test run. He now had a total of 8 quirks or 9 if you included Synthesist right now. Something that he loved about this quirk was the ability to create multiple quirks for his use to help others. But something that he had noticed was this was a huge double-edged sword.
Yes, having several quirks in your arsenal was amazing but the malicious training, hours of work, along with blood, sweat, and tears was something else. He did have one quirk creation point and he was saving it for something that would go well along with his other quirks.
He only had five months left and he would be out of that place. The money he earned from his notebook covers was flowing in now and he would be fine on his own, there was no point in buying an apartment because he would have to live in the dorms anyway and he didn't need to waste money like that. But something he did buy was a storage unit. It was a large one too containing available scrap metal and other materials that he stored up from the beach. Right now, he was using Blackwhip to clean up some of the debris from the area. Blackwhip had been one of the more challenging quirks to master, its raw, almost chaotic energy requiring constant focus and control. But now, it felt natural, a tool he wielded with confidence.
He smiled as he thought of his plan from the start. He created quirks that would not be noticeable if they were noticeable, they could be explained easily. He would say he had a Stockpile quirk that allowed him to use energy in different forms. It would make more sense because he could then say Blackwhip, Zephyr Rush, Jolt, and Fa Jin were different ways he could use energy. His other quirks were Eagle Eye's, Brain Boost, Cell Surge, and Danger Sense but like he said they weren't noticeable or too noticeable.
He looked over to his phone to see he was getting a call from Yaoyorozu, and he smiled.
"Hello," he said answering the phone.
"Hey Yagi, just reminding you that I got a few of us together to have some dinner," she said.
"Oh, who's coming again," Izuku asked as he changed out of his clothes.
"I think it's Jiro, Shiozaki, you, and me because Tokoyami and Shoji are busy with some training for the exams," she said.
"Sounds good," Izuku replied, adjusting his shirt. "What time should I meet you all?"
"Around seven. I thought we'd try that new fusion place downtown," Yaoyorozu said, her voice brimming with excitement. "I heard they do amazing tempura, and their desserts are supposed to be divine."
Yagi chuckled. "You had me at tempura. I'll be there. Should I bring anything?"
"Just yourself," she replied warmly. "It's been a while since we all hung out together. I think we could all use a break from the grind."
"Agreed. I'll see you there, Yaoyorozu," Yagi said before hanging up.
1 HOURS LATER
The restaurant was cozy, with warm lighting and a faint aroma of grilled seafood wafting from the kitchen. Yaoyorozu had already claimed a corner table, her elegant presence impossible to miss. Jiro and Shiozaki were seated with her, chatting animatedly.
"Yagi!" Yaoyorozu called out, waving him over.
"Hey, everyone," he greeted as he slid into the seat beside Jiro. "Good to see you all."
"Good to see you too, Yagi," Jiro said with a smirk. "I thought you might have ditched us for your training schedule."
"You were the one to tell me not to overwork myself," Yagi replied with a grin. "Besides, you guys are more fun than the beach debris."
Shiozaki chuckled softly, folding her hands neatly on the table. "We all need a break once in a while."
"Exactly," Yaoyorozu agreed, passing around the menus. "And tonight is about unwinding. No training, no strategizing—just good food and good company."
The conversation flowed easily, shifting between updates on training, amusing anecdotes, and shared dreams for the future. Jiro talked about her recent music project, while Shiozaki shared her experience volunteering at a local community garden. Yaoyorozu mentioned a new book she was reading, and Yagi found himself relaxing in their company, his usual intensity giving way to laughter and camaraderie.
As the dishes arrived—crispy tempura, savory udon, and a variety of sushi rolls—their table grew livelier. Yagi couldn't help but marvel at how much he appreciated moments like these. Despite the pressures they all faced, their bonds made everything feel a little more manageable.
"I still can't believe you got recommendations," said Izuku digging it his food.
Momo waved it off like it was nothing, "Well, my quirk is pretty strong," she said.
"Strong is an understatement," Jiro chimed in.
"No," Izuku said pointing to her with his chopsticks. "I was meaning your brain. You are pretty clever," he said shoveling in more food.
"I agree with Yagi. You are intelligent, so it is no surprise," Ibara said, nodding in agreement.
Momo had blushed at Izuku's words which didn't go unnoticed by Jiro who narrowed her eyes at her.
Momo cleared her throat, the blush lingering on her cheeks. "We thank you two, but I think that we should dig into the food," she said trying to ignore the compliment.
Jiro unconsciously scooted over to Izuku a little bit more as she continued to eat her food. Izuku wouldn't lie when he said he was starving as he continued to eat some food. Izuku jumped slightly when he felt Jiro's leg brush against his.
"So, Yagi," Yaoyorozu said, steering the conversation to a lighter topic. "How is cleaning up the beach going? You know the offer is still on the table if you need any help."
"It's going good but it's ok. This is something I need to do on my own," he said looking at her.
"It's admirable," Yaoyorozu said, her voice warm with encouragement. "But don't hesitate to lean on your friends if it ever gets overwhelming. You don't have to shoulder everything alone."
Izuku smiled softly, appreciating her words. "Thanks, Yaoyorozu. I'll keep that in mind."
Jiro smirked, nudging him with her elbow. "You're too humble for your own good, Yagi."
"Well, someone has to be," Izuku replied with a light chuckle. "Otherwise, I'd be insufferable, wouldn't I?"
Jiro rolled her eyes playfully, but the smile on her face lingered. She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand as she glanced at Izuku. "Insufferable? You? I think it's more likely you'd trip over yourself trying to apologize for being 'too insufferable.'"
"Fair point," Izuku admitted, his grin widening.
Shiozaki tilted her head thoughtfully. "Your humility is certainly one of your strengths, Yagi. It's rare to see someone work so hard and remain so grounded."
Izuku rubbed the back of his neck, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks. "Thanks, but I think it's just... normal, you know? You do what you have to do to improve."
There was silence between the four of them as they continued with their meal. "Anyone want dessert?" asked Momo.
"I could go for dessert," Jiro said, setting her chopsticks down and leaning back in her chair. "Something sweet to top this off sounds perfect."
"Same here," Izuku chimed in, finishing the last bite of his tempura. "What's on the menu?"
Shiozaki nodded politely. "I wouldn't mind something light, perhaps fruit-based."
Yaoyorozu waved over the server, who approached with a welcoming smile. "What do you recommend for dessert?" she asked.
The server gestured toward a small chalkboard near the entrance listing the restaurant's specials. "We have matcha parfaits, yuzu sorbet, and a selection of mochi. The chef's special is a fusion-style chocolate lava cake with a hint of miso caramel."
"Ooh, that sounds fancy," Jiro said, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm intrigued," Izuku admitted. "Let's get one of those to share."
"I'll also take the yuzu sorbet," Shiozaki added. "It sounds refreshing."
"I'll have the parfait," Yaoyorozu decided.
"Same," Jiro said. "Parfait sounds solid."
With their orders placed, the group fell into a comfortable lull, their conversation shifting to lighter topics. Izuku found himself smiling as he watched his friends, their laughter and warmth filling the space around them.
When the desserts arrived, the table lit up with excitement. The parfaits were beautifully layered with matcha-flavored cream, sweet red bean paste, and crisp rice crackers for texture. The yuzu sorbet glistened like freshly fallen snow, and the lava cake oozed rich chocolate and caramel when it was cut into it. The four friends enjoyed there desserts quietly savoring each bite.
As the restaurant began to quiet down for the evening, Izuku glanced at the time on his phone. "Wow, it's already getting late."
Yaoyorozu nodded, checking her watch. "I suppose we should start heading out."
Izuku grabbed the bill much to the displeasure of the others. "You don't have to pay, Yagi," said Ibara going to grab it.
"It's fine I got it," Izuku said keeping it out of reach of the others who were also trying to grab it.
"I insist on paying," said Momo who was still trying to grab it as the group got to the counter to pay.
Izuku held firm, clutching the bill like his life depended on it, a determined smile on his face. "Really, it's on me this time. You all can get the next one."
Momo frowned, crossing her arms. "That's not fair, Yagi. I suggested the dinner, so I should pay."
"Exactly," Ibara added, her tone firm yet gentle. "You've already done so much for us, Yagi. Let us do this for you."
Jiro chimed in, smirking as she reached over to tug at the edge of the bill. "Come on, Yagi. Don't be a hero about it—at least not here."
"Guys I am telling you I got the money and the meal is covered. You don't have to worry about it," he said handing the man the money to pay.
The cashier took the money from Izuku, giving him a polite bow. "Thank you for dining with us. Have a wonderful evening."
Momo sighed in defeat, shaking her head with an exasperated smile. "You're far too stubborn, Yagi."
"Seriously," Jiro added, poking him lightly in the arm as they exited the restaurant. "It's like trying to argue with a wall—an unreasonably polite, green-haired wall."
"I ain't stubborn. I just want to do the right thing," he said.
They all chuckled as Izuku did his normal routine of walking them down to the train station.
As the group strolled toward the train station, the evening air was filled with a gentle breeze. The streets were quieter now, the hustle of the day giving way to a peaceful calm. Izuku walked slightly ahead, his hands tucked into his pockets, while the girls chatted behind him, their voices light and teasing.
"You really didn't have to do that, Yagi," Momo said, her tone part exasperation and part gratitude. "I'm perfectly capable of paying for dinner, you know."
"I know you are," Izuku replied, glancing over his shoulder with a soft smile. "But I wanted to. You've all been so supportive, and it's the least I could do to show how much I appreciate you."
Jiro snorted, shooting him a playful glare. "You sound like you're writing a thank-you card. We're your friends, Yagi. You don't need to pay us back for just... existing."
"I know," Izuku said with a chuckle. "But it still feels good to do something nice once in a while. Especially for the people you care for."
Izuku did realize the weight of his words as he still faced forward, but the girls all had blushes of varying degrees on their faces.
The quiet moment between them lingered as they walked, the subtle warmth of the evening enhancing the calm atmosphere. Izuku didn't glance back again, though he could feel the girls' eyes on him. He smiled softly to himself, a quiet sense of contentment settling over him. It wasn't long before the group was at the train station and Izuku looked at the girls.
"Well, we are here," he said showing them the place.
Jiro stretched her arms as they reached the train platform, a teasing grin still lingering on her face. "Well, at least this time you didn't insist on walking us all the way home, Yagi," she said with a wink. "It's always a bit of a trek."
"I don't mind the walk," Izuku said, adjusting his backpack. "It's nice to spend a bit more time with you all," he said watching the train pull into the station.
"That is very considerate of you, Yagi," said Ibara walking up to him in a bold move, hugging him and making him blush.
"Have a good night," she said walking onto the train. Momo and Jiro, not wanting to be outdone followed suit, each giving Izuku a quick hug before stepping onto the train. Yaoyorozu lingered for a moment, smiling warmly at him before saying goodbye.
"Thank you, Yagi," she said softly, her tone filled with genuine affection. "Take care on your walk home."
Izuku watched as the train doors closed, the quiet hum of the station becoming a little more subdued. He stood there for a moment longer, a gentle smile still on his face, the warmth of their farewells lingering in the cool evening air.
"Oh god…is that a friend thing or is it a girl thing. I need to understand friendships better so I can be less awkward," he said fanning himself off and walking home. Izuku got to his home and shut the door to his apartment. It was about 8:30 pm and he was going to go clean up before bed when his father stopped him.
"Hey, Izuku," Toshinori said standing in front of him not sure how to stand. Switching between leaning and crossing his arms.
Izuku furrowed his brow at his dad. "Yeah, did you need something?" he asked.
"Uh…well…I was just…wondering…if you needed anything for UA…in the next months…it is only a bit away. Like school supplies or anything or even if you me to help you with your forms for the General Course?" he asked.
Izuku shook his head in annoyance. "No, Dad, I should be fine. I got everything taken care of," he said trying to walk past him.
Toshinori watched his son with a mix of concern and hesitation, his arms still shifting awkwardly at his sides. "Are you sure? I just had Inori and Ichiro fill theirs out before they went to their rooms."
"Yes, I am fine, I filled it out months ago," he said trying to walk up the stairs but was stopped by him pulling his arm.
"Please wait just a moment your mother and I need to talk to you for a bit," Toshinori said noticing how firm his arm was meaning he was working out.
Izuku let out a soft sigh, his frustration evident but not directed at his father. He paused on the staircase, looking back at Toshinori with a raised brow. "Okay, fine. What's going on?"
Toshinori glanced around briefly before stepping aside and inviting Izuku into the living room. "Sit down," he said, his voice unusually serious. "We just want to talk for a bit. It's important."
Izuku hesitated, then made his way into the room and sat on the couch. He crossed his arms, still slightly exasperated but curious about what his parents needed to discuss. Toshinori took a seat next to him, while Inko quietly sat down for a cup of tea on the small table in front of them.
"Izuku," Toshinori began softly, his usual confident demeanor subdued, "We've had this discussion with Inori and Ichiro, but we wanted to ask you what you wanted to do after UA."
Izuku looked confused but decided to play their game. "I will be honest with you; I haven't thought much about it. I mean I will be barely 15 when I first start school."
Toshinori nodded thoughtfully, his gaze steady. "That's understandable."
"So, is that it? Are we done?" asked Izuku wanting to be done with this conversation.
Toshinori let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "Not quite, son. This isn't just a quick chat; it's a chance to figure things out together. You don't have to have all the answers, but we want to make sure you're thinking about what's ahead."
"Yeah, well, I don't really think now is the best time to talk about this," he said getting up from his seat.
Toshinori raised his hand gently, signaling for Izuku to pause. "I understand you're tired, Izuku. I promise we won't take too long. Please, just hear us out."
"I said I am fine," he said ignoring him and starting to walk away.
Toshinori's expression shifted to one of surprise. "W-wait why?"
"Because, if I am not comfortable enough to have this conversation with you. You should respect that," he said.
Toshinori stood frozen for a moment, Izuku's words cutting through the air with an unexpected sharpness. The weight of them settled in his chest as he watched his son ascend the stairs, his back tense, his movements deliberate.
Inko had a worried look on her face, "He still is pushy with us."
"Yeah, that's what sucks," said Toshinori sitting down.
Toshinori sighed heavily as he sank into the couch, resting his elbows on his knees and cradling his head in his hands. The room felt heavier than it had just moments before, the air thick with unspoken worries.
Inko reached over and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, her voice soft but firm. "Toshi, he's still a teenager. He's going through so much right now. You can't blame him for wanting to set boundaries. Hell, Inori and Ichiro are doing it."
"Yeah, I know, but not like what he was doing," he said putting to where Izuku was a moment ago. "I just wait a bit then. He is right when they will be a little over 15 though." Inko nodded as she rubbed her husband's hand as they turned the TV on.