Chapter 18: Lots of Talking
A few days after the Sports Festival ended, many recovered from injuries and the battles they had amongst their peers. Izuku was currently jogging to class as he was about five minutes before the bell. Izuku was thinking about his friends Iida as he looked to the news to see that he was attacked and sent to the hospital with career-ending injuries. It was by the Hero Killer. He hadn't seen him at all the past few days, so he knew it was bad. He then heard a voice out from behind him.
"Yagi, we better hurry before we're late," Iida said, pulling his raincoat over himself a bit more, and he and Iida picked up the pace.
Izuku turned, startled but relieved to see Iida beside him, jogging with a determined look despite the grim news surrounding him. The rain drizzled lightly, dampening their uniforms as the two moved quickly toward the entrance of U.A. High.
"Iida, you're here," Izuku said, glancing at his friend. "Are you… okay?"
"I am fine," Iida replied curtly, pushing his glasses up. "Let us hurry."
Izuku frowned slightly. He could tell Iida was suppressing his emotions, but he didn't want to push too hard. They had arrived just in time, slipping through the classroom door as the bell rang.
Not long after Mr. Aizawa walked into the room, he was no longer in his cast anymore.
"Ribbit, wow Mr. Aizawa you are fully healed now," said Asui with curiosity in her tone.
"Yes, I am. I am ready to go for whatever happens but that isn't the point right now. Today we have a class on hero informatics," he said, creating suspense in the room. Everyone felt like a 100-pound weight was just set on their chest as he looked at them blankly.
"You all need codenames. Hero names, in other words," he said as the class started to cheer. Aizawa's eyes turned red to silence them in what they did.
"This is also about the pro hero draft pics that I told you about a bit ago. Normally, this is for the second and third years, but when first years are offered. It allows for heroes and other pros to see if you are worth the time and effort and if they will invest more time and money into you," he said, hitting a button with a screen lighting up behind him.
"Here are the totals for the offers given to those who received them," he said, showing them.
Izuku Yagi: 4,887
Katsuki Bakugo: 2,556
Shoto Todoroki: 982
Fumikage Tokoyami: 360
Momo Yaoyorozu: 111
Reiko Yanagi: 89
Enjiro Kirishima: 66
Ochaco Uraraka: 20
Hanta Sero: 18
Mina Ashido: 3
Izuku sat there, mouth agape as he dropped his pencil at the amount of offers he got. "Are you sure that is right Aizawa-sensei?"
Aizawa sighed, rubbing his temples. "Yes, Yagi, these numbers are correct. You got the highest number of offers in your class, so don't act surprised."
The entire class erupted into chatter.
"Dude, 4,887 offers? That's insane!" Kaminari exclaimed, leaning forward in shock.
"You really impressed a lot of pros," Yaoyorozu added with a smile. "Not that I'm surprised."
Izuku swallowed hard, still trying to wrap his head around the sheer number. He knew he had performed well during the Sports Festival, but this was beyond what he had expected. He cast a glance at Todoroki and Bakugo. Todoroki looked indifferent, as usual, but Bakugo…
The blonde was practically radiating anger. His eye twitched, his grip on his desk tightening.
"Tch. I don't care about numbers," Bakugo muttered, though it was obvious he did.
Aizawa, ignoring the chatter, continued, "Regardless of your offers, every one of you will be interning with a pro hero. For those without offers, we've arranged internships through other means."
The students who didn't receive offers nodded, relieved they wouldn't be left out.
Midnight stepped forward, flipping her whip playfully. "But before you go running off to your internships, we need to finalize something very important—your hero names!"
Excitement filled the room once again.
"This is the name you'll carry into the future, so make sure it's something that represents you," Midnight explained. "It should be something that speaks to your heart, your ambitions, and your ideals as a hero."
The students murmured among themselves as Midnight gestured toward the whiteboard. "Now, let's get started!"
Kirishima eagerly stepped forward first, scribbling something down before turning the board around.
"Red Riot!" he declared proudly.
"Ah, after Crimson Riot?" Midnight asked with an approving nod.
Kirishima grinned. "Yeah! He's my idol, and I want to embody his spirit!"
The class clapped for him, and one by one, the students continued presenting their hero names.
Tsuyu chose "Froppy."
Yaoyorozu went with "Creati."
Tokoyami, in his usual brooding manner, picked "Tsukuyomi."
And, of course, Bakugo…
"King Explosion Murder!" he shouted confidently, turning his board around.
Silence.
"Rejected," Midnight deadpanned, crossing her arms.
Bakugo scowled. "Then how about Lord Explosion Murder?"
"No."
Bakugo grumbled under his breath as the class snickered at his struggle.
As the process continued, Izuku found himself lost in thought. The sheer number of offers he received was overwhelming, but what weighed on his mind more was Iida.
He hadn't spoken much since class started, and even now, as students excitedly wrote their hero names, Iida sat there, silent and unmoving.
Izuku watched as his friend finally stood up and walked to the board. He took a deep breath before writing:
Ingenium.
The room fell quiet for a moment.
Midnight's expression softened. "Ingenium… a noble name."
Iida nodded stiffly and returned to his seat without saying another word. Izuku clenched his fists, feeling an unease settle in his chest.
Then Shoto walked up from behind Izuku and showed him his name. "How about this?" he asked, wanting his opinion. He looked at the name with a nod of approval. "That's a good name Todoroki."
He walked to the board showing it to everyone.
Flamefreeze.
"Great name and straight to the point," said Midnight. Kaminari was still thinking about his when Toru whispered to him.
"How about Thunder Pudding," she said giggling with Mina joining in. "Would you guys be quiet about that," he said pouting as he hid himself in his arms.
Soon it was Izuku's turn as he went up to the board. He inhaled slowly as he turned around to show the class. Many were surprised at his choice of Hero name—especially Shoji, Momo, Jiro, and Tokoyami. Tokoyami even had his mouth open from shock. Bakugo, who would usually glare but had his eyes wide as he stared at the name, he and Izuku's siblings mocked him with.
The board read Deku.
"Interesting name, what does it mean?" asked Midnight.
Izuku smiled as he told everyone. "The name Deku means hope. It means that no matter how many times I fall or fail, I'll get back up. It's a reminder that there's always a way forward. I don't want to give up, no matter how hard things get. It also reminds me to keep pushing for happiness, not just for myself, but for the people around me. I want to help people, be the kind of hero who never gives up, who fights through anything to protect others."
Izuku's hands were shaking slightly, but his voice was growing stronger, more confident as he continued. "I want to be the symbol of hope, the kind of hero who doesn't give up on anyone, no matter what. If I can prove that I can turn something meant to bring me down into something that motivates me to keep going, then I'll be able to inspire others to do the same."
There was a brief silence after he finished speaking. Midnight smiled, her eyes reflecting understanding. "Deku, huh? A name born from perseverance. It's perfect for you, Izuku."
Soon after… everyone had given their hero names and Aizawa had woken up to talk to everyone once more. "Alright class. Let us focus on the agency aspect of things now," he said grabbing some papers.
"Everyone who has offers from heroes will have a different list than people who didn't receive offers. For those who didn't receive any, you will have about 40 agencies to choose from," he said, handing out papers.
"I want you all to think about this carefully. This is a big decision for you all as this will last 1 week. You should also be careful what type of agency you would like to choose, as there are different ones," he said, gesturing for Midnight to continue.
"If you want to be someone like Space Hero 13 then you should work for someone who works on rescuing people rather than fighting, and vice versa. Though you will work with people in all these fields at one point. Just remember that," she said striking a pose.
Aizawa set the last stack of papers on Izuku's desk and sighed, grabbing his sleeping bag. "You all have two days to decide so you better choose wisely," he said starting to walk out the door with Midnight.
The classroom fell into a murmur as everyone began looking over the papers Aizawa had handed out. Izuku started on the list of agencies, each with a brief description of the work they specialized in. His mind was spinning, trying to decide where he would fit best. With so many options and so little time, the pressure was on.
LUNCHBREAK
"So did you guys choose yours yet?" asked Mina, leaning on her desk.
"I am doing it with Mt. Lady," said Mineta giving her a thumbs up.
"Leave it to the pervert to go and learn under a pretty heroine," said Asui as she walked by him.
Mineta gave an offended look and pouted, "What? She's strong, and I can learn a lot from her!"
"You do realize Mt. Lady isn't just about being strong, right?" Tsuyu replied with a playful smirk.
Mineta groaned, clearly embarrassed, but he wasn't the only one trying to decide. Izuku sat at his desk, eyes scanning the papers in front of him. The list of agencies seemed endless, and while he'd heard of some of them, many were new to him. Each agency had its own reputation, goals, and heroes that specialized in particular areas.
"Who are you thinking of?" Momo asked, leaning over to Izuku's desk.
"I'm looking for well-rounded heroes right now. Ones that do a bit of everything," he said, crossing out names that weren't the best choice for him. "What about you," he asks curiously.
"Kamui Woods," he said, making a few of the others pleasantly surprised.
"Kamui Woods?" Izuku repeated, surprised but impressed. "That's a good choice. He's a great hero—strong, reliable, and someone who'll teach you a lot about strategy and teamwork."
Momo nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Yeah, he's the kind of hero who knows how to stay calm under pressure, and his wood-based quirk has a lot of versatility. It'll be a good learning experience, for sure."
"Yeah, I am going to narrow this down until I get eight of them on my list then go from there," he said, looking surprised when he saw Edgeshot was on his list.
"You've got this, Izuku," Momo encouraged. "Just think about who will help you grow the most as a hero, not just who's famous or well-known."
Izuku smiled, grateful for her support. "Thanks, Momo."
Iida had put down one name on his list and decided to get up and go for the rest of the day. They were doing nothing else for today. Only choosing people they wanted.
Soon the son started to set and Izuku had ten hero agencies that he narrowed down to that would be the most well-rounded for him.
Not in any specific order, he had Endeavor's Agency, Edgeshot's Agency, Best Jeanist's Agency, Gang Orca's Agency, Ryukyu's Agency, Hawks Agency, Fat Gum's Agency, and Sir Nighteye's Agency. It was a solid list, and he could finally go and give the paper to Aizawa. He got up from his desk and Uraraka, who had been waiting for him to go. "You ready Izuku?" she asks happily.
"Yeah, I need to stop by Aizawa-sensei's office really quick. Tell him that I narrowed the list and I will choose by tomorrow," he said, opening the classroom door to see All Might sliding in.
"I am here in an awkward position," he yelled out as Izuku jumped slightly from his dad. "May I speak to you really quick, Young Izuku?" he asked, shaking slightly.
"Uhhhh…sure," Izuku said as Ochaco waved him off.
"I'll go back to the dorms," she said as she waved at him. Izuku looked at his dad who was still shaking.
"Follow me," he said as he walked to the teacher's lounge. He opened the door to see Inori and Ichiro were sitting on the couch, as a man in a yellow and white suit who looked like an elderly man. He had a walking stick, and he looked Izuku up and down as he went to sit on the couch with his siblings. Toshinori undid his buff form and stood across from the other end of the room.
"Well, I haven't seen you all since you were babies," said the old man as he walked closer. "My name is Gran Torino. You likely haven't heard of that name at all," he said, taking a seat across from them.
"Kids…this man here…is the man…that trained…me…and is one of my masters…" he said shaking horribly, making the three of them confused. "You good dad?" asked Ichiro as he leaned forward.
"Yep…just give me a second…" he said slapping his legs and they stopped shaking. The three siblings turned their heads back to Gran Torino who was glaring at Inori and Ichiro.
"I came here for one person," he said. "That person is the youngest of you three. Izuku," he said looking him up and down again.
"Why me, sir?" he asked curiously.
"From what Toshinori told me of what he did, you and what your siblings did you…I am disappointed and pissed," he said gripping his cane.
Ichiro said up and looked at Gran Torino and glared. "Now hold on old man," he said before Gran Torino glared at him. "Shut up brat…respect your elders," he said before turning back to the three of them. "Now I have been watching you three the past few weeks and I can say that I am…interested to say the least. I can see that Inori…is legitimately trying to undo her wrongs…I can respect that…you realized that you messed up with treating your brother like garbage and want to fix that. Do you see it too, Izuku?" he asked looking at him.
Izuku nodded slowly, "Yes sir…I do." Gran Torino nodded. "Good. Ichiro on the other hand. That is a different story. You do not look like you want to fix it all. That is what is disappointing, but we will talk about that later. I am here to say, Izuku," he said getting his attention.
"I heard you had damn near 5000 offers from hero agencies and pro heroes for internships. Is that the list in your hand," he asked. Ichiro looked shocked and jealous at his brother. He only had 1349 offers.
"Yes, sir, it is," Izuku replied, swallowing hard. He could feel his palms beginning to sweat.
Gran Torino tilted his head, eyeing the list carefully. "And you've narrowed it down to eight?" he asked, a mix of surprise and curiosity in his voice. "That's impressive. You know, I would've expected you to be more flustered, especially with all those offers. Most kids your age would've gone wild with excitement, maybe even started picking out the most famous agencies."
Izuku nodded, his thoughts racing. "I... I wanted to choose carefully. I'm not just looking for fame or recognition. I want to learn from heroes who are well-rounded. Heroes who will help me grow and teach me what I need to know."
"I like that mindset. Let me see the list," he asked. Izuku handed it to him and nodded.
Gran Torino took the list from Izuku, his sharp eyes scanning over the names of the agencies one by one. Izuku felt a slight tension in the room, and he couldn't help but fidget in his seat. Gran Torino had a certain intensity that made him feel both respected and slightly intimidated.
"Hmph," Gran Torino grunted after a moment, his fingers tapping on the list. "Endeavor, Edgeshot, Best Jeanist, Gang Orca, Ryukyu, Hawks, Fat Gum, and Sir Nighteye… Quite the selection you've got here, kid."
"Thank you," he said as he looked away from him.
"What I wanted to tell you was that because you have been offered by many heroes, I would like to tell you that I will also be there to help you alongside whoever you choose. I would have taken on all three of you but because of…the circumstances…I won't," he said looking to the three of them.
"Though Inori. You keep proving yourself and that might change one day," he said, assessing her.
Inori didn't meet his eyes. "Yes, sir," she said.
"Alright. I will talk about this later, but your father needs to talk about something to Ichiro alone, so please step out for a moment," he said, going to the corner to watch what Toshinori would say. He handed Izuku the list and Inori, and he walked out, feeling like that went by in a blur.
He shut the door as Inori looked down at the hallway, not seeing his eyes. She turned to him and spoke.
"You want to have that talk now," she asked. Izuku sighed and nodded. "Sure," he said, walking over to a bench in the hallway with her sitting down a few seats away. They both sat in silence for a few minutes before Izuku spoke.
"You know…Inori…I don't 100% blame you and Ichiro…for everything anyway," he said making her look up.
"Why?" she asked whispering.
"Because mom and dad consistently fed yours as well as Ichiro's ego. So much to the point that you were on a high horse that you couldn't be knocked off," he said looking at her. Inori's eyes softened as she listened to Izuku's words, but she still felt the weight of his previous judgment. It was clear that despite his attempt to understand, the pain of their past still lingered for both of them.
"However, I do blame you for what you did to me, Inori. It wasn't right. When you, Ichiro, and Bakugo would beat the hell out of me without an actual reason behind it. It was dumb and stupid. There were a few times when I went to the hospital myself. I eventually learned how to patch myself up just for that reason. The one I remember the most though was the day that you stepped in front of me when Bakugo tripped me, and I had enough of you shit and pushed your face first into the locker. After school, you then proceeded to hold me and fling me around while Ichiro punched me in the chest. I bet you didn't know that I had a few broken ribs as well as a broken nose after that whole thing, but I had no one to go to because our parents didn't believe me. There wasn't a point in telling them," he said quietly.
Inori remained silent as she absorbed his words, her face pale. She could see the weight of those memories in Izuku's eyes, and for the first time, it felt like he wasn't just speaking out of anger or resentment, but from a place of deep hurt. The hurt she had caused. The room between them felt heavy, the atmosphere thick with unspoken guilt and regret.
"I know. I really doubt…that you could or would forgive me on that. There is nothing that can reverse that no matter how much I want it to. Or hope that it will happen," she said looking at him. "I'm sorry…for everything…you don't have to believe me…just know that I am…like I said before…you won't get any problems from me…not anymore," she said wiping a tear from her face.
Izuku glanced at her, his expression still torn between anger and the understanding that had started to form over the past few moments. The rawness of the situation was undeniable, and though he couldn't fully shake the resentment, something in his chest felt lighter. It wasn't a forgiveness, not yet, but there was a kind of uneasy peace settling between them. The words she spoke felt sincere, and for once, Izuku didn't feel like she was just saying what he wanted to hear.
"I appreciate you saying that, Inori," he said quietly, his voice hoarse. "But you have to understand that it's going to take time. I'm still angry… and I can't just forget everything that happened, no matter how sorry you are."
"I know," Inori replied softly, her eyes downcast, focusing on the ground. "I wouldn't expect you to forgive me right away, or at all. I don't deserve it, not after everything I did to you."
Izuku clenched his fists, fighting the wave of emotions rushing through him. "You don't get it," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "It wasn't just the fighting, Inori. It was how you all acted like I wasn't even there. Like I didn't matter. You—Ichiro—Bakugo… you were all part of that. I was invisible to you, like I was some kind of punching bag." He paused, looking at her with a pained expression. "I spent so many nights wondering because I even bothered trying to be a hero, with people like you making my life hell."
Inori flinched, her face contorting with the weight of his words. She had never really understood just how deep her actions had cut him. She had never stopped to think about how she and the others made him feel invisible, weak, like he wasn't even worthy of being seen as a person, let alone a hero.
"I know…" was all she said looking at him.
Izuku looked at her, his eyes full of pain but also understanding, a tension still between them that could completely erase. "I know you want to change, Inori. I saw it. I can see you change too. The other day Kyoka came up to me and said you apologized to her. I didn't expect that. That's how I know you are changing, for the better anyway."
Inori almost forgot she did that. Then something came to her mind. "Izuku, why haven't you told anyone of what we did. Like the higher levels of U.A., because if they caught wind of it, we wouldn't even be near the school. So why haven't you told anyone aside from a couple people?"
Izuku nodded at her question and decided to respond. "Because…I know that people can change. You are proof of that. I remember that I wanted nothing more than to have your names all over the streets saying Izuku was abused by his family but…I couldn't. I am a guy who believes in second chances. Even if you treated me like shit, I recognize that you and Ichiro want to be heroes. To be someone that can save others. I didn't want to take that away from either of you, or I am surprised that I didn't in the first place."
"You really believe people can change?" Inori whispered, her voice shaky, as though testing the sincerity of her own words.
Izuku met her eyes, his expression softening, but there was still a firmness to his gaze. "I do. I don't want to be the kind of person who holds grudges forever. It doesn't do anyone any good, not for me and not for you." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "I'm not saying it's easy, and I'm not saying I'm not still hurt, but I believe that if you want to change, you can. That's what being a hero is all about, right? Giving people the chance to be better."
Inori had streams of tears falling from her face as she looked at her younger brother. "I will change," she whispered, more to herself than to him. "No matter what. I will make sure that I can be someone as worthy to be your sister again. I promise you that."
Izuku glanced at her, his expression softening even further. "That's all I can ask for, Inori."
The door to the room opened and Inori wiped her tears away as Ichiro stood out. He looked over to Izuku with a blank look. Not anger. Not frustration. Not sadness. Just a blank look. He turned to walk away, back to the dorms, just ignoring the two of them. Grand Torino and Toshinori came out of the hallway seeing him walk away.
"What happened in there?" asked Inori.
"Nothing to worry about," said Toshinori. "We just had a talk about something from the tournament in the festival and other things, but Gran Torino has something for you Izuku."
He walked over and looked at him in the eyes. "Here is my info. Tell me who your decision is so that I can help you. I will get in contact with that hero and then we shall go from there," he said walking away.
"I also know you two are the users, if you know what I mean. We will stay in touch," he said with them understanding what he meant immediately. "Alright you two. Go and get your stuff to head to the dorms and decide who you want to be with in the internships," said their father as he went back to the lounge. "Have a good night, you two."
As Izuku and Inori stood in the hallway, the weight of their conversation still lingering in the air, they exchanged a brief glance before nodding to each other. Without another word, they turned and made their way toward the dorms, their thoughts heavy with everything that had been said.
Izuku clutched the list Gran Torino had returned to him, his mind racing with the decision he had to make. He had narrowed it down to eight, but now, knowing that Gran Torino would be working with him no matter what, his choice carried even more weight. He needed to choose a mentor who would push him to be better, someone who could help him unlock his true potential.
Walking side by side, Inori hesitated before finally speaking. "Izuku… I know you said you believe people can change, but do you really think Ichiro will?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Izuku sighed, staring straight ahead. "I don't know," he admitted. "Ichiro's different. You… you've shown that you regret what you did. You're making an effort. But Ichiro… I don't know if he's even acknowledged that he was wrong. Until he does, nothing will change."
They walked in silence for a while longer, the cool night air brushing against them as they reached the dormitory building. As they stepped inside, Inori hesitated once more.
"Izuku… thank you," she said sincerely. "For even giving me the chance to fix things."
Izuku looked at her, his expression still guarded but less tense than before. "Like I said… it'll take time. But I hope you mean it."
She nodded, determined. "I do."
With that, they went their separate ways—Inori heading to her room, and Izuku making his way to his own, still gripping the list Gran Torino had given back to him. He sat down at his desk, staring at the names of the pro heroes he had selected.
Endeavor. Edgeshot. Best Jeanist. Gang Orca. Ryukyu. Hawks. Fat Gum. Sir Nighteye.
Each of them had something to offer, each a powerhouse in their own right. He knew that any of them could help him grow. He knew that he might have many internships through the terms, so he could go with others in case something happens.
He smirked as he thought of his answer. If Gran Torino was there, then he could help with his power as well as some other things to help. He smiled as he texted Gran Torino his answer and started to jog back to the dorms.
THE NEXT DAY
Izuku was walking back with some of his friends and classmates from Class 1-A and 1-B as they talked to each other animatedly. "These internships are going to be nuts," said Tetsutetsu as he slung around Kirishima. "Yeah, Kirishima and I are going to be under the same guy. He is the hero Fourth Kind."
Izuku chuckled, catching Tetsutetsu's enthusiasm. "Sounds like it's going to be intense." He looked over at Kirishima, who was grinning from ear to ear. "You two are going to be a force to be reckoned with."
Kirishima nodded, his red hair spiking with excitement. "Fourth Kind's got some wild abilities. I'm ready to go all in!"
"I'm going with my dad and brother. I might as well, and not to mention they can help me control my fire and ice," said Todoroki calmly.
Itsuka smirked. "I think that I will go with Uwabami."
"You sure? What kind of hero do you want to be? She doesn't seem like that much of a fit for you," said Izuku with Itsuka giving him a pout.
"That is why I said, I think. I might join Momo with what she is doing with Kamui Woods or something," she said, crossing her arms.
"That would be better to be honest," said Kirishima chuckling.
"What about you Izuku?" asked Shoji, opening the door for the group as they made their way into the dorms.
"I decided that I would do mine with Edgeshot," he said, making the others nod impressed.
"Edgeshot, huh?" Tetsutetsu said, raising an eyebrow with a grin. "That's a pretty solid choice, Izuku. The guy's a freakin' ninja. You'll probably learn a lot of stealth and precision from him."
Izuku nodded, a hint of excitement creeping into his chest. "I think so. His quirk is so versatile, and he's been known to get in and out of situations without even being noticed. If I can learn how to move more strategically, I'll be able to think on my feet more."
"Plus," Izuku continued, "I think his style of thinking could really help me out. He's precise and always thinking ahead, and that's something I can apply not just in combat, but in other situations too."
Kirishima grinned, clearly impressed. "Man, you're gonna be a beast after that! Stealth and strategy, huh? Just don't let Edgeshot get too far ahead of you; otherwise, you'll lose him, literally."
Izuku laughed softly. "I'll try to keep up, but I'm sure he'll be teaching me a lot more than just that. It'll be a good challenge."
They reached the common area of the dorms, where most of their classmates were starting to settle down. The energy was high, with everyone buzzing about their internships and their plans for the coming weeks. It was clear that this was a major step in everyone's journey toward becoming pro heroes.
Izuku looked around and nodded to himself. He had an idea. He would make everyone an awesome dinner for all the hard work they were about to do. He would just have to go to the grocery store to get some stuff because they had jack shit. He quickly ran to his room to get his wallet and change into some clothes. He put on a black long sleeve with white sweatpants and his red shoes as he slid on the railing down the stairs. He was hoping not to be noticed, but he was stopped when Tokoyami called out to him.
"Izuku, where are you off to in such a hurry?" Tokoyami called out from across the room, his deep voice drawing everyone's attention.
"Just going to the store real quick. I am going to make everyone a meal for how hard we all have been working. Wanna come with me," he offered to him.
Tokoyami shrugged his shoulders as he stood up. "Why not, might as well help you with all the ingredients and food for 40 people in the dorms."
Todoroki peered out from right around the corner and looked at the two of them. "Did someone say food?" he asked, making Izuku and even Tokoyami jump.
Izuku blinked, surprised by his sudden appearance. "Oh, uh, yeah! I'm going to the store to grab some ingredients for dinner. Thought I'd make something nice for everyone since we've all been working so hard."
Todoroki raised an eyebrow, his cool composure still intact, but there was no hiding the slight interest in his expression. "You cooking, Izuku? That's... unexpected."
Izuku scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed. "Well, I figured it'd be nice to do something for everyone before we head into our internships. You know, a little team bonding before it gets hectic."
Tokoyami, who had already been leaning toward the idea of helping Izuku, now seemed more intrigued by Todoroki's presence. "Are you interested in joining us, Todoroki?" he asked, his voice low and steady.
Todoroki tilted his head slightly, as if contemplating. "I don't know... but if there's food involved, I'm willing to give it a shot. Besides, I can't let you two handle all that by yourselves, especially if it's for the entire dorm. Let's just say it's... an offer of help," he said with a slight smirk that made Izuku's stomach flutter in excitement.
"Great!" Izuku exclaimed, relieved that Todoroki was on board. "Thanks, Todoroki! I wasn't sure how I was going to manage it all by myself."
"Don't worry, Izuku," Todoroki replied, walking closer. "I'm sure it'll be fine. If it's edible, I'll be impressed."
With the trio now headed to the store, Izuku's mind buzzed with ideas for the meal. He was excited but a little nervous. He was thinking about what to make everyone. He needed a meal with the basics for something filling and good: meat, fruit, veggies, rice, and finally dessert. It was only 1 p.m., so he had plenty of time.
They got to the supermarket and grabbed a cart to get what they needed. "Izuku, what do you think is suitable for this meal?" asked Tokoyami.
"I was thinking chicken mainly and some fish for some variety and have some rice too. Then some fruits and vegetables. Then dessert," he said, looking at the aisle numbers for where the food was.
"Sounds reasonable," Tokoyami said with a nod. "A well-balanced meal will keep everyone in top condition for what's ahead."
Todoroki hummed in agreement. "I assume you have a plan for how to cook everything without it taking all night?"
"Well, yeah. I know how to cook and bake if need be. I am not a master chief, but I think I can cook pretty well," he said, smiling.
"You can cook? You never said that before," said Tokoyami raising a brow.
Izuku chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, it's not like it ever came up in conversation."
"Very well. Let's go to the meat section then," said Tokoyami nodding at Izuku.
They walked over to the meat section and Izuku looked at the chicken and fish. "You guys good with chicken breast and tights with salmon. The salmon is good for muscle recovery."
"Chicken breast and thighs sound good to me," Todoroki replied, glancing at the selection of salmon. "And salmon is a solid choice. Rich in protein and omega-3s—good for recovery and endurance."
"I am fine with that too," nodded Tokoyami.
Izuku grabbed several packs of chicken and salmon, loading them into the cart. "Alright, that's the protein done. Next up, rice."
The trio made their way to the grain aisle, where Izuku picked up a large bag of rice. "This should be enough for everyone," he said, testing the weight before placing it into the cart.
Todoroki studied the shelves. "Do we need any seasonings? Plain rice will be pretty bland."
Izuku smiled, already a step ahead. "Good call. I was thinking of making some garlic butter rice with herbs. Adds some flavor but isn't too overpowering."
Tokoyami glanced at Izuku. "You sound like you've done this before."
"I get bored sometimes," he said pouting and looking at the ground.
Tokoyami and Todoroki exchanged a glance before Todoroki smirked slightly. "So, when you're not training or analyzing quirks, you're in the kitchen experimenting?"
Izuku nodded. "I have a very specific set of skills. Skills that I have acquired over a long period of time."
"Nice movie reference," said Tokoyami amused slightly. Izuku smiled at him when he felt someone tugging at his pants. The three of them looked to see a kid around seven years old smiling at Izuku.
"Excuse me, mister, are you from the Sports Festival on TV? Izuku or something," he asked excitedly.
Izuku blinked in surprise before crouching down slightly to meet the kid's eye level. "Oh! Uh, yeah, I was in the Sports Festival." He scratched the back of his head, feeling a little awkward but also flattered. "Did you watch it?"
The little boy nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! You were so cool! You went boom! And then whoosh! And then SMASH!" He mimicked the movements of some of Izuku's fights, swinging his arms wildly, almost toppling over in the process.
Izuku chuckled. "That sounds about right."
"You two were also in the battles. You were the fire and ice guy, and you were the black and dark bird dude," he said, pointing to Tokoyami and Todoroki.
Tokoyami exhaled quietly but nodded. "That is an accurate, if somewhat simplified, assessment of our abilities."
Todoroki, on the other hand, merely gave a small nod. "Fire-and-ice guy works, I suppose."
The boy's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Can I get a picture with you guys?"
Izuku looked to see the boy's mother walking towards them with her phone. She likely told him to go and talk to them, which was cool.
Izuku smiled warmly at the kid. "Of course! We'd be happy to take a picture with you."
The little boy's face lit up with joy as his mother handed over the phone to Izuku. "Thank you so much! He's a huge fan of all of you," she said, looking between them.
Izuku crouched down again, giving a thumbs-up while Tokoyami stood to the boy's left, his arms crossed in his usual cool demeanor. Todoroki simply placed a hand in his pocket but nodded slightly, his expression neutral yet not unkind.
"Alright, say 'Plus Ultra'!" Izuku prompted with a grin.
"PLUS ULTRA!" the boy cheered as his mother snapped the picture.
After checking the photo, the mother beamed at them. "Thank you so much! You've made his day."
Izuku chuckled. "No problem. I'm glad we could."
The boy looked up at them, still bouncing with excitement. "I wanna be a hero like you guys someday!"
"You can do it," Izuku encouraged. "Just keep training, and don't give up, no matter what."
The boy nodded determinedly before his mother gently ushered him away. "Come on now, let's let them finish their shopping."
"Bye, mister Izuku! Bye, fire-and-ice guy! Bye, bird dude!" he called out as he waved.
"Take care," Tokoyami replied with a small nod.
Todoroki exhaled, shaking his head slightly. "Must be nice to have someone remember you by name, Izuku. At least my name wasn't something like bird dude," he said smiling to himself.
"I will admit, I expected something a bit more… dignified," Tokoyami said with a sigh, though there was a trace of amusement in his voice.
With that, the trio resumed their shopping.
"Let's see…I need some broccoli…what do you guys want for dessert? Some like fruit salad to keep it healthy, or do you want something sweet?" he asked as he put broccoli in the cart.
Izuku glanced at Todoroki and Tokoyami as they walked down the aisle. The two of them seemed lost in their thoughts for a moment before Todoroki spoke up. "Fruit salad sounds good. It's refreshing after a meal like this."
Tokoyami raised an eyebrow. "I would not be opposed to something more… decadent. Perhaps a chocolate cake?"
"Alright, so both then," he said, getting lots of strawberries, cantaloupe, and honeydew. Now let's get the rest of the cake ingredients." He quickly made his way down the baking aisle, grabbing flour, sugar, cocoa powder, and a few other essentials for the cake. Meanwhile, Todoroki walked beside him, pushing the cart with one hand, his other hand in his pocket. Tokoyami lingered behind, scanning the shelves with a more focused look on his face, as if the whole shopping trip was some kind of mission.
"So, do you guys think we'll be able to find some time to relax soon?" Izuku asked as he carefully chose the right baking powder. "I feel like the last few weeks have been non-stop, with school, training, and everything else."
Todoroki gave a short exhale, his lips twitching upward in a faint smile. "A break sounds nice. But I don't think it'll happen anytime soon. There's always something to do, whether it's preparing for the internships or continuing to improve ourselves. The work never stops."
Izuku nodded thoughtfully. "I know what you mean. It's like, no matter how much you want to take a step back, there's always something pushing you forward."
"That's the life of a hero," Tokoyami added, his voice surprisingly serious for someone whose usual demeanor was so composed. "It's a constant battle, not just against villains, but against yourself. You have to keep pushing forward if you want to be the best. But I do know the teachers and admin are required to give breaks because we are only 15 years old after all. Not like we are 23 or something."
"Fair point. You are doing your internship with Hawks then Tokoyami?" he asked as he put more stuff into their carts.'
"Yes indeed. It should be nice. He is the number three hero after all," he said nodding once more. Soon all of the ingredients Izuku needed were collected, and they checked out with the food, and started to make their way back.
Izuku hummed in thought. "Now how am I going to get this through without being seen," he said to himself.
"You don't want anyone seeing this stuff? Oh yeah, you said it was a surprise," said Tokoyami.
"Uh…we will be fine. Let's just use Dark Shadow to hide it all," offered Todoroki as he pointed to him.
Izuku nodded eagerly. "Great idea, Todoroki. We'll just have Dark Shadow carry everything. That way, no one will notice until it's time for the big reveal." He smiled, relieved that they had a plan. The last thing he wanted was for the others to spoil his surprise.
Tokoyami shot him with a knowing look. "You're lucky I'm willing to cooperate with your plan, Izuku. Just make sure you don't end up with too much cake in your hands; otherwise, I might have to step in to help out," he said with a smirk, walking ahead of the group.
"You just want some cake, don't you, Tokoyami," said Izuku smiling at his friend.
"Who wouldn't," he said smirking as they walked onto the school grounds. Soon they were at the doors of the dorms, and he activated Dark Shadow who grabbed all the supplies, and they made their way to the large kitchen.
As they entered the kitchen, Izuku quickly set up his workspace, laying out the ingredients with practiced hands.
Tokoyami, his usual calm self, immediately began scanning the area for anything that could potentially disrupt the surprise. His sharp eyes were always looking out for possible distractions. "I'll have Dark Shadow keep watch while you work, Izuku," he said, his voice low and composed, though there was a hint of anticipation in his tone.
Todoroki, on the other hand, walked over to the fridge and placed the ingredients that needed chilling inside. "Let me know if you need help with anything. I'll be in the living room if you need me."
"Actually, could you chop up the fruit for the fruit salad? Tokoyami, could you get the water set to boil the rice? I'll get the salmon and chicken and other stuff ready. If they smell it then they do but it'll be fine," he said as he started to open up the packs of food.
Todoroki nodded and began prepping the fruit for the fruit salad, carefully slicing strawberries, honeydew, and cantaloupe. His movements were precise, but there was a slight air of relaxation about him, as if this task was a welcome distraction from his usual intensity. Meanwhile, Tokoyami took a few steps towards the stove, activating Dark Shadow to keep watch as he turned on the kettle and set it on the burner. The dark, feathered figure watched over everything with a vigilant, almost intimidating presence, its glowing eyes scanning the room.
Izuku, who was already busy with the salmon and chicken, hummed to himself as he began seasoning the meat. He glanced over his shoulder, noting that everything was falling into place. The kitchen felt surprisingly calm despite the flurry of activity happening in the space. It was almost as if the team had fallen into a rhythm.
"Alright, I've got the rice boiling," Tokoyami said, his voice smooth and controlled as always. "Do you want me to start on the garlic butter for the rice?"
"Yeah, that'd be great," Izuku replied, turning his attention back to the chicken. He seasoned it with garlic powder, paprika, and a pinch of salt before placing it on a grill pan. The scent of the spices began to fill the kitchen, adding to the growing layers of delicious smells. "Thanks, Tokoyami."
With a nod, Tokoyami grabbed the butter and garlic, melting them in a pan on the stove. His movements were practiced, though his usual seriousness never wavered. As the garlic sizzled, he added herbs—parsley, thyme, and rosemary—creating a rich, savory aroma.
Todoroki finished chopping the fruit and began arranging it in a large bowl. The vibrant colors of the fruit combined in a visually pleasing way, making it look as if it belonged on the cover of a recipe book. He added a little honey to the mix to give it a touch of sweetness. "It will 100% be enough for 40 people. This fruit bowl is huge," he said.
Izuku chuckled as he glanced over at the massive fruit salad. "Perfect. It looks like we're going to have a feast." He returned his focus to the chicken and salmon, flipping the pieces carefully. The sizzling sound of the meat on the grill pan was accompanied by the soft hum of the rice as it began to boil.
Tokoyami focused on the garlic butter simmering on the stove. With careful hands, he stirred the sauce, making sure the garlic and butter blended smoothly with the herbs, creating a rich and flavorful aroma that made the kitchen smell even more delicious.
Izuku grabbed a tray and began plating the salmon and chicken, the grill marks adding a beautiful color to the meat. The anticipation for the big surprise dinner was growing, and Izuku couldn't help but smile at how well everything was coming together.
"You're all set for the garlic butter sauce?" Izuku asked Tokoyami as he moved the grilled chicken and salmon to the side to rest.
"Just about," Tokoyami responded, his focus unwavering as he carefully poured the garlic butter sauce over the rice. He paused for a moment, taking a moment to appreciate how everything was coming together. "I have to admit, Izuku, your cooking skills are impressive."
"Thank you," he said grinning. They then heard something coming from the doorway. "What's that smell," said a feminine voice. Izuku sighed at that voice.
"Make sure that Setsuna doesn't get in here, Tokoyami," he said, with him nodding. "Dark Shadow has us covered," he said as Dark Shadow went to the doorway.
"Dark Shadow, block the entrance," Tokoyami said calmly, his voice barely above a whisper as his shadowy familiar stretched across the doorway, effectively stopping anyone from entering.
"Hey, what's going on here?" she asked, her hands resting on her hips as she peered inside, eyes scanning the busy kitchen. The overwhelming aroma of the grilled food and garlic butter rice filled the air, making her stomach rumble audibly. "This smells incredible, and I've got a good nose, you know. What are you guys hiding?"
Dark Shadow waved his hands in front of him, "Nothing."
Setsuna chuckles. "I call bull on that. So, let's see...Tokoyami is here, just based off of Dark Shadow," she said trying to look around him. She then saw Izuku and smirked even more. "Oh my gosh, Izuku is in here, now I got to see," she said, separating herself into pieces.
"Sorry ma'am you aren't on the VIP list," said Dark Shadow trying to stop her.
Setsuna grinned mischievously, her body disassembling into pieces, slipping through the gaps in the door. "You really think you can keep me out?" she asked, her voice coming from all directions as her fragmented form reassembled just inside the kitchen, her smirk plastered across her face.
Izuku, now caught in the act, sighed, knowing there was no stopping her now. He gave Tokoyami an apologetic look. "I guess the surprise is blown," he muttered, not entirely surprised by her usual antics.
Setsuna bounced into the kitchen with a gleam of curiosity in her eyes, eyes widening as she saw the spread of food being prepared. The grill marks on the chicken and salmon, the garlic butter rice simmering with herbs, and the vibrant fruit salad that sat on the counter—all of it made her stomach growl louder. "Wow, okay. You guys have been busy! Is this all for me, or are you planning to feed the whole school?" she teased, eyeing the large portions of food.
"Well, it was supposed to be for the forty of us before we all head off to our internships," said Izuku as he started to work on getting the chocolate cake mix ready.
Setsuna raised an eyebrow, her mischievous grin widening even more as she looked at Izuku. "Oh? Forty, huh? You were gonna keep this a secret from me? You know I have a thing for chocolate cake," she said, her voice dripping with playful sarcasm. "I'm hurt, really. But, I'll let it slide, since it smells so good. You have chicken, salmon, rice, fruit, and cakes. You should have just asked me out on a date."
"It's... it's not like that," he stammered, clearly flustered. "I was just trying to make something nice for everyone before we all leave for our internships. It's for all of us—no special reason, I swear."
Setsuna let out a playful laugh, her eyes glinting with mischief. "I'm just messing with you, Izuku," she teased, leaning against the counter. "But seriously, this spread is impressive. Who knew you had it in you?"
Izuku chuckled awkwardly, running his hand through his hair. "I, uh, like to cook sometimes. It's a nice way to relax." He turned his attention back to the chocolate cake mix, trying to focus on getting everything ready. "The cake's for dessert. I'm hoping it'll turn out well."
"Well, do you guys need help?" she asked. "Just to set out the stuff on the counters in here. It's quite a bit for 40 people, especially when there's like hundreds of pieces of chicken and lots of salmon," he said, helping Tokoyami with rice and garlic butter.
"Alright, I can do that," she said walking over to them to get the chicken from near the stove.
Izuku nodded as Setsuna walked over, her energy as high as ever. "Thanks, Setsuna," he said, trying to focus on the next steps in the meal prep while she got to work.
Tokoyami, still standing with his usual composure, glanced over at Setsuna's action. "Just be careful with the chicken, Setsuna. We don't want anything to go wrong now." His voice was calm, but there was a hint of seriousness as he spoke, though it was likely more out of habit than concern.
Setsuna, unfazed by his caution, grinned widely. "Don't worry, I've got it under control," she said, beginning to carefully set out the chicken pieces on the counter, making sure everything was arranged neatly. "It's nice to see everyone working together like this. I feel like we should make more of these team dinners—if only to show off how great I am at organizing food." She gave Izuku a playful wink.
About 20 minutes later, the food was ready to go, and the cakes were in the oven now. They just need to bake while they can eat all. It was about 5 o'clock and nearly everyone smelled what was cooking in the kitchen, and they were curious about what was going on.
"Guess you can't keep it a secret anymore Izuku," said Tokoyami.
"Yeah. That's alright. It's almost time to eat the main course anyway," said Izuku finishing mixing the rice.
Izuku nodded, his excitement bubbling as he turned his attention to the oven, where the cakes were just about done. The smell of the main course had already made its way down the hall, and he could tell that the others were starting to get hungry. "We should do this again," he said smiling.
Setsuna, who had been busy organizing the spread, turned toward him with a playful grin. "Oh, I'm sure we'll be doing this more often now that we know you're hiding cooking skills. You might even start a new trend around here," she teased, her fingers running along the edges of the fruit salad bowls as she added the finishing touches.
Todoroki, who had been quietly monitoring the progress of the dishes, finally spoke up. "You really have thought of everything. It's impressive how much work went into this. I'm glad I could help," he said, his usual reserved demeanor softening in the warmth of the moment.
"Yeah, me too," Tokoyami chimed in. "I think it's time to tell them it's ready."
Izuku walked over to the doorway to call to everyone in Class 1-A and 1-B. "Time to eat guys," he said with everyone getting up from their seats in the large common area. As more students filed into the kitchen, their eyes widening at the sight of the spread, a chorus of exclamations filled the room.
"Whoa, this looks incredible!" Kirishima exclaimed, his usual enthusiasm matching the energy in the room. "Izuku-bro, you made all this?"
Izuku chuckled nervously. "I had some help from everyone." He gestured to Tokoyami, Todoroki, and Setsuna, who were all standing nearby, giving the scene a mix of casual coolness and sly grins.
"Looks like we have enough food for a small army," Sero joked, rubbing his hands together as he eyed the chicken and salmon with hunger.
"This is going to be amazing," Mina added, eagerly bouncing in place. "I could really use a good meal like this before we head off for internships."
Izuku felt a wave of relief wash over him. The stress of keeping everything a secret and preparing such an elaborate meal was melting away, replacing with the warmth of seeing his friends and classmates enjoying the fruits of their labor.
"Okay, everyone, help yourselves," Izuku said with a grin, stepping aside to give the others room to dig in. As they all crowded around, plates quickly filled up with chicken, salmon, rice, and the vibrant fruit salad.
Setsuna, who had been grinning the entire time, now took a seat, eyeing her plate with approval. "I guess I can forgive you for hiding all this from me," she teased, reaching for a piece of chicken.
Todoroki, now seated at the table, nodded in satisfaction. "This is really good, Izuku. You should cook more often."
Tokoyami, ever the quiet one, simply gave a slight nod of approval, his attention focused more on his meal than the conversation.
As everyone dug in, the energy in the room lit up. The hard work that went into making the dinner paid off, and the laughter and chatter around the table felt like a much-needed respite from the pressures of being a hero-in-training.
"Thanks for doing all this, Izuku," Inori said from across the table, his voice softened by a mouthful of rice and chicken. "I'll admit, this is good."
Ichiro nodded as he ate the rice. "I guess this is good," he said just loud enough for Izuku to hear him. Izuku smiled at everyone's reactions.
"Since when could you cook?" asked Jiro, surprised, but ate the food faster than normal. Momo looked up at him. "Yeah, you never told us." "Since always and it was never brought up."
"This shit is awesome," said Tetsutetsu scarfing down his food. "I have to agree," said Monoma. "I've got nothing sarcastic to say," he said eating some fruit salad.
"Are you sure you're not secretly a professional chef?" Uraraka asked, pausing between bites of chicken and rice, her face lit up with genuine amazement. "This is incredible, Izuku!"
Izuku scratched the back of his head, trying to downplay the praise. "I just follow the recipes and enjoy cooking. It's not that big a deal," he said, though his smile was full of pride.
Kaminari, already on his third serving of chicken, raised his hand dramatically. "I nominate Izuku to make all our meals from now on. This is like restaurant-level good!" He stuffed more food in his mouth, clearly not bothering with manners. "Honestly, I didn't think you had it in you, bro."
Izuku ate his dinner with gusto, and it honestly was pretty good. He at least wanted to do something for everyone. He then heard the oven go off and he walked away for a minute to get the three cakes out of the oven. He pulled them out and carefully set them on the counter to cool.
Sato looked in the direction of the kitchen with narrow eyes. "My baker sense is tingling right now."
The room seemed to be quiet for a moment as everyone turned their attention to the cooling cakes. Sato's playful comment only added to the anticipation, and soon everyone was craning their necks to get a look at the treats.
Izuku was in the kitchen, got out the chocolate frosting, starting to open it when he felt someone tap his shoulder. He looked to see Yui Kodai in his face, and he jumped in surprise. She mumbled something that caught his attention.
"Cake?" she said pointing to it.
Izuku looked at her. "Yeah, that cake. I need for it to cool off before I put the frosting on it."
"Cake?" she said once more.
Izuku blinked, a little taken aback by Yui's enthusiasm, and chuckled nervously. "Yeah, the cake. You'll have to wait for a bit before I can frost it, though. It needs to cool down first."
Yui's expression shifted from eager anticipation to one of deep concentration. She stared at the cakes, and then back at Izuku, nodding slowly as if processing this important information.
"Cool down…" she repeated, as though saying the words out loud would make the wait seem less excruciating.
Izuku smiled softly at her, admiring how seriously she took this, but also feeling a little amused. "You're really looking forward to it, huh?"
Yui nodded vigorously, still transfixed by the cakes. "I like cake," she mumbled under her breath, as if that was all the explanation anyone needed. Her eyes never left the dessert, her hands wringing together impatiently.
"It'll be a bit. Let your stomach settle, and it will be done cooling off," he said, putting the frosting done.
Kodai sighed and nodded at him but turned around, walking away from the kitchen.
"Is that cake in their Izuku?" asked Sato.
"Yeah, it is. I need to give it time to cool off before we can eat it," he called out to them. Izuku waited in the kitchen for the cakes as some of his classmates and friends walked in to wash their dishes.
Itsuka was standing there with a smirk off to the side with Kodai holding her by the shoulders, peeking over her.
"Cake?" Kodai asked once more, making Izuku laugh. "Just a couple more minutes."
Izuku chuckled at Yui's unrelenting enthusiasm. "You really like cake, huh?" he asked, amused.
Yui nodded enthusiastically, her eyes locked on the cakes like a hawk, her hands gripping tighter at Itsuka's shoulders in anticipation. "Cake," she repeated softly, almost as if it were a sacred word.
Itsuka, watching the exchange with a smirk, leaned against the counter beside them. "She has always been a fan of cake so don't mind her," she teased, her gaze flicking between Izuku and the eagerly waiting Yui.
Izuku grinned, feeling a warmth in his chest at the sight of everyone enjoying themselves. "I didn't realize cake was such a big deal," he said with a playful shrug.
"Well, it's cake," Itsuka said matter-of-factly. "Who doesn't love cake?"
The group of students in the kitchen began to finish cleaning up their plates, and the energy in the room shifted slightly as everyone seemed to be drawn back to the sight of the cooling desserts. Some were still lingering around the counter, talking and laughing, but most couldn't help but steal glances at the cakes, eagerly waiting for them to be ready.
After a few minutes, Izuku looked down at the cakes. They had cooled sufficiently, and it was time. He grabbed the chocolate frosting and began spreading it over the first cake. As he worked, he noticed several of his classmates beginning to gather around the counter again, and he could feel the anticipation in the air.
"Alright, I think we're good now," Izuku said with a satisfied nod as he finished the last cake. He turned around to find most of his friends standing nearby, practically hovering in place as they waited for the moment to dive in.
Yui was right there, her eyes practically sparkling. "Cake now?" she asked again, her voice almost pleading.
Izuku laughed softly. "Yes, it's ready. I'll get you guys slices."