Chapter 24: Date Part 1
The National Tokyo Museum had stood ever since the late 1800's, within it lied many historical pieces. Within the secure building were many artifacts that had been curated by the museum throughout history, numerous artefacts laid within the walls of this structure. From the earliest days of Japan, to the Isolated decades the island nation kept its borders closed to all outsiders, to the Shoganate Eras that waged wars across the land. To the dawn of quirks, this building and its treasures of history within had stood the test of time, but not for the lack of other forces trying, there had been numerous hero battles over the years in the surrounding area, sometimes inside the museum itself when someone was trying to steal a priceless artifact.
Because of this, a local agency had a dedicated patrol near the area that would every two hours swing by the museum grounds and search for another hour. Many of the sidekicks who did this route for the agency called it a pretty easy one, mostly due to the fact that the Museum was impenetrable, the building itself getting a massive overhaul in the actual strength of the structure to not only protect itself from the collateral damage of villains. But to also help accommodate some of the larger visitors they got so they could enjoy the exhibits on display as well.
This meant the glass was bulletproof, the walls impenetrable, the air ducts vacuum sealed to an insane degree, even water pipes were reinforced with steel in case the weight of an extra large body could somehow cause them to come undone from the floors they laid beneath.
However, all of these came at a cost.
This building was, in fact, impossible to break into physically. So there was no need for outside security measures like cameras, plus the lack of wiring and electricity, AND the reduced man hours would help pay for the expenses of doing ALL of this.
Besides, there were still plenty of security cameras in the building itself.
Which was monitored off site from the museum though high speed Ethernet cables…..which ran under the ground outside the building.
Right outside.
Outside, where the biometric locks that were designed for the staff to enter was located. Which required a fingerprint, voice, and eye scan. Which one could in theory all get by recording what one of the guards said, ran it through AI to get a close approximation after getting enough samples, a copy of fingerprints from their home, and a scan of their eye to make a copy of.
The latter of which of course would require a heavy sedative and an optical scanner to 3D print and color the iris and pupil exactly. But that wasn't hard if you knew the right people, and once that was taken care of, it was just a matter of avoiding the security cameras' motion sensors and browsing the exhibits for what one would take.
There was lots of samurai armor, but those would be a chore to leave with. So the shadow that almost danced along the light fixtures passed them and into the next wing, an old weapon might be a good target, they were easy to carry and there were always people wanting to collect those. But no, they had something different in mind, they had done their homework on all the pieces that the museum curated.
And what they were looking for was a tablet. Not the type that people bought at the store, but an ancient tablet that had been discovered and moved there recently.
Honestly what it was or what it had on it didn't matter, what did matter is that this would be the last night that it would be here, due to a private collector paying an obscene amount of money to have it added to their collection. Which wasn't a super rare occurrence, what made this instance different from how it was usually conducted was that this wasn't official.
There was a forgery prepared that would replace the actual tablet on the day the museum would have their pieces appraised by a team of professionals. One of whom had been paid handsomely to do this switch. Not as much as the curator of the museum, but still.
And currently, that tablet was on display on the museum floor. In full view of the interior cameras. The shadow walked along the light fixture above with practiced grace, as easy as one would stroll down the sidewalk. They picked the scroll because they figured with someone else stealing it and having a forgery made, no one would miss it. Plus, they could always ransom it back after leaking the whole scandal.
But how would one get at the tablet?
Because those cameras watching it were wired that if they were externally tampered with in any way the alarm would sound. So the only way the scroll could be stolen was if they lost power, and that, well, that just couldn't be done from inside…..but on the outside however, where a vial of acid was currently slowly eating its way through the concrete where the hardline wires that powered those cameras were?
And when they investigated this morning, finding the scroll gone. No signs of breaking in, and a perfectly cut out hole in the glass containing the scroll? No one would know how it was done…..well almost no one.
The Black Cat would know for sure.
"Puuurrrrrfect." She grinned to herself.
And so she would leave the way she came, strolling out on posts, gannets, wires, and swinging across grapnel points, just as the agile creature she was named after would. Strolling outside, she felt her phone buzzing in her pocket. "Crap." she muttered. Her black gloved hand tapped her ear beneath her platinum blonde locks, "Hello-"
"MISSY YOU ARE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE YOU HAVE NO IDEA-" a feminine voice screamed into her ear, causing the white haired woman to flinch and reflexively hang up on the call.
"....errors have been made." She realized as she secured the tube that now held the scroll over her chest with a strap and raised her arm, a small device firing a hook that reeled her in upon securing a hold of a secure point in the surrounding trees that littered the path she was walking down. She felt her phone buzz again, this time she made sure to brace herself before answering, "Ok so your probably mad-"
"Dear it's me." A slightly older, deeper, male voice said.
"Oh! Heya Gentle."
"Don't just 'heya' me! You hung up on La Brava!!"
Black Cat sheepishly grinned to herself, "Yes….i did. Reflexively. Is she mad?"
"Dear, I had to put a barrier up in the living room, she's trying to claw her way through it." She heard him distantly try to calm her down before turning back to her on the phone. "We talked about this! We were going to post about the guest together as your debut! But if you destroyed the feed of the cameras then La Brava couldn't do that."
Black cat swung out of the trees and onto the street lamp that hung high enough that she was able to leap over to a rooftop. "Yes but then I thought, 'Hey if this guy who is getting a forgery to make sure no one knows he took this thing. What else might he have?' So I thought that if I swipe it and don't announce myself? Then people will start asking around for it, and then we can find out who's trying to buy it." She explained.
She heard Gentle hum in thought on the other side of the phone, she could also faintly hear La Brava storming around in a huff. "Well…..that WOULD be more eye-catching than a simple robbery. The channel would probably do much better." He thought.
"Exactly!" The black cat said with a grin, "All we gotta do is wait a few days, listen closely. And we'll have our mark." she proposed as she shot out her grappling hook and swung off.
Only for her to nearly drop when she heard La Brava snatch the phone from her distracted boo and yell, "You owe me subs!!!"
"I mean I'm a top so I can give you some." Black cat cheekily replied.
Itsuka was always a pretty clean person, but she was sure chronic germophobes would be a little put off but all the oral hygiene supplies she had used in the last three days.
After...inheriting One for All, she admittedly was too tired from training to really consider what this entailed. After All Might transferred his power, she went to school, barely able to stay awake, and made it home in time to sleep for almost 12 hours straight. Eri was a little worried when she checked in on her, almost thinking she somehow died from exhaustion only to have those fears dashed when she heard Itsuka lightly snoring.
The next day was…..she was sore. Everywhere. She didn't know if this was part of All Might's quirk 'settling in' so to speak or just her body punishing her for going so hard for a couple days straight. Either way, it was a pain in the ass to go to school in that state. But a nice long bath at home helped soothe her soreness. After that however….was when reality started to settle in.
She hadn't….well, tried anything really. Her earlier idea of having Recovery Girl look her over after One for All was transferred had come into play. So the day before her date, she would get checked up by the healing heroine and given a full examination. But that was tomorrow's problem. Tonight, she had to get things ready for her date.
Her hair was down out of her usual ponytail and she had already changed into her comfy clothes for the evening. And she had planned to come up with an idea beyond just 'a date' for something to do with Izuku, back when she was dating they'd at least have a vague idea of what they could do. But it had been such a spur of the moment decision on her part that she had absolutely nothing in mind.
Sitting down at her desk, she pouted at the laptop. She had spent a good hour and a half looking up some stuff to do on the weekend but….well the issue was there was so much they could do. There was dinner, movies, plenty of places to go, a couple events that would probably be fun, but what would Izuku like? Not to mention her own enjoyment as well, she was sure that Izuku would be perfectly fine going to hear a pro hero lecture but as a date idea that was...not appealing to her.
She figured she was the one to ask him out, it was at least her responsibility to plan the date after all. Her first date with Natsuki had been to a movie theatre, where he promptly did the 'yawn' trick, she thought it was cheesy but didn't stop him...of course now she would have slugged him. She felt herself frown as her ex's face came to mind, a old bitter feeling spread over her chest that she pushed past. She didn't want to be reminded of him the first time she goes on a date with Izuku.
Besides, there's nothing good out right now. She thought upon glancing at some of the films playing at the moment. The next idea was something pro hero related that she knew he would like. However that was easier said than done, there WERE meet and greets, autograph signings, and stuff like that which to her surprise was pretty regular. But this weekend, none of them were around where they lived. And taking a train ride somewhere neither of them had been for a first date seemed a little much.
Not to mention there was no guarantee that Izuku didn't already have their signature or something.
She supposed she could just ask him what he wanted to do but it seemed kind of silly to do now…..besides she knew him pretty well by now. She could figure something out. Maybe I'm over thinking this, I don't need to do some big, romantic date, Izuku is always down to try anything. So…..maybe something low key? She thought as she typed in local events. Her eyes scanned the page and stopped when she saw one, "Hmmm. That actually might be perfect." She said, looking up the time and location.
The knock at her door drew her out of her thoughts, "Come in." She looked back to see her mother open it, poking her head inside before opening the door fully.
"Hey Itsuka, do you have a sec?" She asked, her daughter blinked and spun around in her chair to her.
"Uh, sure mom, what's up?" She asked as Emi entered the room and closed the door.
"Well your dad and I have been in touch with Child Services regarding Eri, and we have a slight issue we need to address." She explained, causing Itsuka to instantly go on guard. "Well, and this is kind of a no brainer, but all kids need to go to school to get an education." She explained, "But given Eri's case, a public school might not be the best option, and….well if I'm being honest I'm not sure if she would like being around so many strangers."
Itsuka frowned at that, "Yeah, now that you mention it, I don't think she's exactly ready for that yet." She agreed, while Eri was more than friendly with her and Izuku but with strangers like Nighteye and Le Million she slowly began to open up a little bit. Two adults who were aware of her situation were completely different than a room full of kids her own age was a different story. "So….what are you and dad thinking? Homeschooling?" She asked a little unsurely.
Emi sighed, "I would love nothing more than to spend all day teaching that little girl everything I know. However, most of what I know is martial arts. Not things a little girl needs to know at this moment."
"I mean you say that." Itsuka smiled.
Emi grinned at her daughter knowingly, "Funny. But instead, we're going to look into an alternative."
Itsuka titles her head, "Like a tutor?" She asked, that being the closest thing to come to mind.
Emi made an iffy gesture, "Well, sort of. Child protection cases will have temporary teachers help a child with their education, however they're usually for a short term. As for Eri, and how she's part of an ongoing investigation…..that would be longer, so it's a special case." She explained in greater detail.
Itsuka hummed as she thought about it, someone to teach Eri and look after her would be ideal. While her mom's work was, well, literally right down stairs, leaving Eri alone upstairs all day felt wrong. But…..that also didn't address all the issues, Eri did need to learn to interact with kids her own age. But she couldn't do it in a classroom the way that other kids did…..
"Well…..I'm kind of worried about her socially. I mean…..I care about her but me and Izuku can't be her only friends." She pointed out.
Emi sighed and folded her arms over her chest, "That's true too. I was thinking about having her in some of my younger classes or something but I don't know. The dojo is a totally different environment than a school, you're focused more on self improvement than social circles." She sighed. She had seen many of her students form friendships over their training periods together, however the fact that they went home at the end of the day and that this place was Eri's home added a layer to that idea.
Itsuka sighed as she rubbed the back of her head, "Yeah, and also I don't know if Eri would be ok with a place where that has any violence in it at the moment." She pointed out.the little girl had experienced such…..crulety already, she was a little afraid that seeing someone get hurt might trigger something. And it was a dojo, people did get hurt.
Itsuka groaned at the conundrum, "Is this what parents worry about when their kid goes to school? If they'll make friends or not?"
Emi snorted, "That wasn't an issue, you and Set became friends so early on. And then Nejire and Yui later on." She recalled with a fond smile.
Itsuka chuckled, Nejire had looked after them, being two years older than her, Yui and Set she was technically the most responsible. That however was debated when their parents came home one day to hone everyone up on the roof of the Hando household. "...you know, that actually gives me an idea." Emi raised a brow at her daughter as she continued. "Set's little sister is around Eri's age, maybe we could have them meet up? Introduce her to someone her own age?" She asked.
Emi's eyes brightened at the idea, "Oh that'd be wonderful! We could do it this weekend even, have them come over Saturday and-"
"Um…..actually mom I'm….busy Saturday." She said sheepishly, her face turning a little red.
Emi noticed, "Oh? With what?"
"…..I um…..asked Izuku out on a date."
"...."
"...."
"...I'm sorry…..you mean to tell me that you HAVEN'T been dating that boy?!?" Emi asked in disbelief as she pointed her finger out as though it was at Izuku. Her daughter looked away somewhat bashfully, her mom giving her the most dumbfounded expression. "But what about you deciding to march on over to his place and ask him out months ago?!!" She asked.
"Er-well, he was going to visit his dad's grave that day soooo…." She trailed off.
"And every other day after that?" Emi asked, her daughter suddenly found the floor very interesting. "...ok yes. Go take your boyfriend out on what should be like your tenth date." Emi finally said loudly at the absurdity that was her daughter's apparent lack of game. "We'll do the thing with Setsuna and Sera the day after, I'll give them a call...and honey?" she asked. Itsuka looked up expecting more of her mom's roasting due to her inaction, but was met by a genuine smile, "....I really like that boy."
Itsuka's face warmed as she smiled, "I do too...I really want this to go well." she admitted.
Emi walked over to her daughter, standing beside her, her arms reached down and pulled her into a slight hug, "It will. He's a nice young man, he's got a good head on his shoulders, and I think he likes you too. Maybe he just doesn't realize it yet." Itsuka smiled as she gave her mom a hug back. "...also you just won me a bet with Inko."
Itsuka pulled back from her mom, "Wha-oh my god you bet on me asking him out?!?"
Emi grinned and shrugged, "Yeah I did, it was easy money! I mean sweetie I like Midroiya but lets be honest do you think he'd be the one to make the first move?" she asked.
"...well he kind of kissed my cheek on christmas so….." Itsuka mumbled.
Emi blinked. ".....oh damn I guess I underestimated him." she smiled. It's a rolled her eyes despite the blush that dusted her cheeks, "So, what are you wearing for it?" She asked. It's a looked at her closet, standing from her seat she walked over, pushed the folding doors open, and stepped back to look over her wardrobe.
"Well considering this is the first date he's ever been on, and the fact that...well it's Izuku. I don't want to send him into a coma." She pondered.
"Well not yet." Emi grinned as she walked over "It's going to be nice this weekend too, so there's options." She added.
Itsuka nodded, "Yeah but I'm going for something casual…..but….well I want to look nice." She said bashfully, she had a couple outfits she could go with. A sweater with leggings she could pull off, but if they did a lot of moving around she could get sweaty. So maybe something lighter, but nothing that showed off a lot of skin...well she had one or two of those and she was pretty sure those would kill Izuku if he saw her wearing them.
Emi sighed as she walked back, "I'll leave you to it hon." She said as she left her daughter. As she opened the door to the hall, she heard a squeak on the other side, poking her head out, she saw that Eri was standing in front of it with her coloring book in her hands. "Oh sweetie I'm sorry, I didn't know you were there!"
"It's ok Emi." the little girl said with a flustered look, she looked down at her coloring book and stepped back to let Emi leave her daughter's room. It had become a ritual for her to spend the last hour or so before bed with Itsuka, Emi smiled as the little girl walked into the bedroom behind her, "Hi Ken." She greeted.
Itsuka jumped a little and turned to the little girl with a smile, "Hey sweetie." She greeted, and then noticed the coloring book. "Coloring tonight?" She guessed.
Eri shyly looked down, "If you want."
"I most certainly do." she agreed before looking back at her closet. She let out a huff, Eri tilted her head, looking around Itsuka's leg at her closet.
"…..there's not a monster in there is there?" She asked unsurely.
Itsuka had to suppress a snort, the other night she had thought there was something underneath her bed when it was only Felicia. And while the cat typically didn't give much of a crap about what people thought, she had almost seemed sad it had upset Eri, cuddling her all night as recompense. "No sweetie, I'm just trying to pick out something nice to wear."
Eri tilted her head, "Nice? Like....pretty?" She asked, looking at some of the clothes.
"Yes honey."
"...well I think you're pretty." She complimented.
Itsuka smiled, "Why thank you. You're very pretty too, Eri." She replied, making the girl smile. She turned back to her closet, "But….well me and Izuku are going out on a date tomorrow and I want to look nice for him." She said before letting out a sigh of exasperation.
Eri's eyes lit up, "Deku? Can I come too?" She asked excitedly.
Itsuka gave the sweet little girl an amused smile, "As much as I'd love to honey, this is…..well, this is just something me and Izuku are going to do." She gently declined, though she definitely was going to message Setsuna about that play date later. Eri pouted a little, Kendo knelt down to look her in the eyes, "But, we'll do something fun soon. Tomorrow is….." she trailed off as a soft smile took over her lips, "….tomorrow is just me and Izuku."
"….ok." Eri said, "Um….Whats a date Ken?" she asked.
Itsuka smiled, taking her by the hand and leading her to her bed where she helped the little girl up onto before sitting down, spreading out Eri's coloring book. "A date is when…..two people who like each other very much spend time together."
"Ohhhhh." Eri hummed, "...is this a date?"
Kendo snorted as she opened the box of crayons, "No honey. A date is…..well….romantic."
"Romantic?" Eri repeated. "Oh! Like the lady and the tramp!" She realized.
"...yes?" Itsuka said.
Though if she was being honest given the story of that movie she wasn't sure which character she would be associated with...if she was the tramp then Izuku being the lady…..ok that was kinda funny actually. Eri, who thankfully didn't know there was some context to that comparison, beamed as she took a crayon and started coloring. "So you wanna slurp spaghetti with Deku?"
Itsuka snorted, the idea of a dinner date wasn't a bad one, but she had a pretty good idea what they could do for their first one. "Not that in particular, but I want to spend some time with him and…..grow closer to him." She said as Eri colored a tree very carefully so as not to go outside the lines. "See...well, Eri….you know how my mom and dad love each other very much?" She asked.
Eri paused and nodded, "Uh huh."
She felt herself falter momentarily, almost saying 'Well that's what I feel for him.' But it was much too soon for that. Much too soon, "A date is….a step in that direction." She instead said.
"Ooooh." Eri said before a smile bloomed, "Then I hope you have lots of dates with Deku!"
Itsuka snorted, "Me too."
"...does that mean you're gonna smooch Deku?" she suddenly asked.
Itsuka's expression shifted to one of shock, and then shyness, "I-Well-that's…..that's kind of….fast. I think. Well-" she fumbled before taking a minute to find composure. "I don't…..I don't know Eri. That sorta thing isn't…..you don't know when you'll do it, it just needs to feel right. Does that make sense?"
Eri thought about it, poking her chin with the blunt end of her crayon as she thought. For a second Itsuka recognized the gesture as something Izuku would do when writing in a notebook, and she was grateful that she, like many kids her age, didn't chew on it. "I think so…..like giving someone a hug?"
The redhead smiled, "Kind of. I mean personally I would never turn down one of your hugs." She teased, ruffling the girl's hair gently. Eri giggled and returned to her coloring, Itsuka smiling fondly as she aided her by handing her crayons. However her mind thought about it, kissing Midoriya, not a peck on the cheek but an actual kiss.
She wanted to roll her eyes at how….well, childish it was to think about it but the way her chest fluttered made it hard.
And then. She realized something.
She had just gotten One for All…..through sharing DNA with All Might….so was there a chance she might do the same thing if she kissed Midoriya??????
.....I am not going to ask All Might for permission to make out with Izuku. She silently promised to herself.
........Izuku had a date....with Itsuka Kendo...….this weekend.
That thought had been in the forefront of his mind, when he went to work and did photo assignments for Hodo, who commented on how quiet he was. Or going to school and finishing up his final exams, and his classmates there found his blank stare to be a little creepy. Or when he was at home and the blank expression caused his mom to ask why he was just staring at the cooked fish she prepared. So today, he finally decided to do something about it, to try and be proactive.
Me: Hey Setsuna, do you have a minute?
Yo Parsley, what's up? :Setsuna
Me: Well I need to ask you something, but it's probably better to talk in person about it then over a chat. Is that ok?
...this isn't a booty call is it? :Setsuna
Me: Dhjfifhfdidiiswjshendjd
Me: NO!!!
Hehehehe:Setsuna
Me: ....Kendo's right, your mean.
She loves me for it. :Setsuna
But yeah, no problem :Setsuna
You know Enji Ward? I live over there, and there's this park there we can meet at/ :Setsuna
Me: OMW
It took him fifteen minutes by foot to get there, he was still laying low as Spider-Man, but it gave him plenty of time to focus up and get his mind ready to talk about his date.
Walking to the park, he looked around in search of his friend. Walking past some little kids he smiled a little as he stepped aside so one could run and join them. Turning his attention back down the path, he caught sight of a green head of hair sitting on a bench with a smoothie in her mouth. Upon seeing him, she waved him over, "Dang Parsley you got here quick." she greeted as he jogged over.
He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, "Yeah, I was out and about when I called you-erm, sorry for reaching out of the blue like that."
Setsuna waved him off with a hand and then gestured him to sit next to her. "No problem, I was hankering for a smoothie from this place nearby. We can drop by if you want one too." She offered, holding up the drink with a shark-like grin. "So, what's rolling around in your noggin that you had to seek out my wisdom?" She asked jovially as the fellow green haired young man took a seat beside her.
Her joking expression dimmed slightly when she saw the contemplative look that Midoriya's face carried. "I...well, Togake, this is kind of private….not to me exactly, it's between me and Kendo and….well I'm hoping you can be discreet." He prefaced.
Setsuna's expression shifted, "Um…..ok is this about...your new little friend?" she asked. Izuku gave her a confused look but realized she meant Eri. Itsuka had mentioned in a text that she had told her and Yui what was going on, considering that they were her oldest friends and visited pretty regularly she couldn't exactly hide Eri.
He would have agreed but he couldn't think of what to text the girl he was going on a date with and just sent her a thumbs up emoji....yeah he really needed to do something about this. "No, it's…..
The young woman gave him a nod, "Yeah, sure thing Midoriya, I get you." She said, cautiously taking a sip of her smoothie.
"...Kendo asked me out on a date."
She nearly spat the drink out, "W-What???" She asked excitedly with a large grin. She opened her mouth, about to congratulate her friend on finally asking this dork out, but held herself back. "That's awesome man!" She instead said.
Izuku's face flushed with embarrassment, his eyes darted away, "T-T-Thanks but…..um...I've never really been on a date before." He admitted. Setsuna held back a snarky comment about how obvious that was, "And I really...I want Kendo to enjoy herself. But I don't know what I should do!? I mean, what is she going to expect? I'm not suave, or funny, andIcantdance,wouldshewanttpdance?maybeicouldifihad-" Setsuna put her yogurt down and clapped her hands to make him stop.
"Yo. Relax Midoriya." She said with a reassuring smile. "First off? Who asked who?"
"Um. She did." He told her.
Setsuna shrugged, "Then you're golden! She'll find something you'll both enjoy, Ken is super good at planning." She said with a grin, recalling how Itsuka not only was not only one of the best organizers she knew their age but was actually someone who took joy in it. However Midoriya didn't seem relieved by that, "…..ok seriously Parsley, what are you worried about?" She asked more seriously.
Izuku sighed, "...she….well….back at Christmas…..Kendo told me about her ex. Natsuki." He said, the name caused Setsuna's more curious demeanor to shift to an irritated one. "…..and the fact that she asked me out? After that…." He couldn't find a word to describe what he felt for someone he never met before but still disliked in spite of that.
"Useless bag of dicks?" Set provided.
Izuku bit back a laugh, "Er-I wouldn't…..say that phrase but yeah. But…..she went through that with him, and she's…..asking me out and...I can't screw this up for her Togake." He said shaking his head, "I don't want her to…..to feel like….that. Ever again."
Setsuna pursed her lips together, "…..Midoriya. I'm gonna ask you something. And I want you to answer truthfully." She said in a serious tone. He turned to her, "Did you say yes to this date, just so Kendo wouldn't feel bad?" She asked.
Izuku blinked and blushed, "N-No! I…..I…..I like Itsuka...I...I think I have for a while." He admitted. Setsuna watched him closely however, as though she was trying to peer into what he really thought. He had never seen Setsuna so serious before, and stuttering nervously, while something he was known to do, didn't make him sound confident with his answer.
But nevertheless, he continued, "…..it's just...she had her heart broken….i don't know what that's like…..but I can only imagine how much it hurt." He said symmetrically, Setsuna frowned as she thought back to those weeks after the breakup. Kendo wasn't a mess by any means but she was so mad at herself for not seeing what Natsuki really was, and she felt guilty that he had been trying to desperate her from she and Yui without knowing it.
Izuku leaves back on the bench, "And…..I like Itsuka…..I've…. never really....felt like this for someone before but….I admire her. I think she's such a caring, strong, and thoughtful person." His hand went up to his chest, he could feel his heart thundering as he spoke. "When I talk to her? I feel….scared, but calm at the same time…..when she smiles and she's happy I'm just filled with joy. And when she's sad I just want to comfort her…I mean I'd do that for anyone but with her it's…..it hurts to see her like that…....I don't know if this is what it's like to like someone that way…..but I think it is." He explained as best he could.
Saying all that out loud for the first time, vocalizing it to another person and hearing himself say it? It was clear that he….well loved was a pretty strong word that sounded too soon to say. The only love he knew was familial not romantic...but he knew what affection was, he knew what attraction was, and this went deeper than that. He felt like his face was on fire from how embarrassed he felt saying all that out loud, looking over he half expected Setsuna to be cringing at how he just talked.
Instead she was staring at him.
"...um…..Tokage?"
She bullied, "Pars….Midoriya." She said, her tone more serious . She shook her head, giving him a stern expression, "Look, I'll be honest…..Itsuka is like another sister to me. And after her shitbag of an Ex? I decided that anyone who she wants as a boyfriend has to win me over." She said, pointing her thumb at herself. Izuku was taken aback by that, however it did make sense considering how close the two friends were. "So when I learned that she had feelings for you, I'll tell you right now, she was hesitant herself. Both because of what that fucker did to her, and…..she was worried that you not having many friends would make you feel pressured to say yes. Regardless of your actual feelings."
His eyes widened, realizing that he had sounded like that he opened his mouth to speak, only for her to put a hand up to stop him. "…..Midoriya. You're a good person, I know that...but this is my best friend so I'm gonna be defending her in every way." She said, Izuku felt a wave of uncertainty pass over him, but regardless of that he felt…..relived in a way that Setsuna was this defensive of her friend. "…..which is why I hope you understand how big it is when I say...your super in love with her you dork." she said, a grin breaking out.
Izuku's face became inflamed, "L-L-L-!!!!" He sputtered.
Setsuna snorted and grabbed his shoulder as he seemed to be tipping over, "Ok, big word, I know, maybe not that. But…..damn if you don't care about her like you do..." her grin softened a little. "And I really respect that you were honest with me about it." She added.
Izuku's red face looked down, "I….i kinda just kept talking without really thinking."
Her hand patted his shoulder, "Well I think you guys will be fine…..you obviously care about her a lot. And she cares about you too. So go out tomorrow, enjoy yourselves." She encouraged before pulling her hand back as Midoriya looked up at her. "…..also not to take away from this but why not just ask your parents?" She questioned.
"Well my dad is dead and my mom would cry so much at me having a girlfriend she would cause water damage to our downstairs neighbors." Izuku replied bluntly.
Set blinked.
He only stared back.
"They've complained to the landlord, we send them a fruit basket to try and make up for it."
"Riiight. So ok then, what exactly do you want to know?" She asked, not quite sure how else to respond to that. She should have realized how much she was in trouble when he pulled out a notebook and pencil seemingly out of nowhere.
The examination by Recovery Girl took place at a nearby clinic. The examination was really just like a regular doctor's appointment with Itsuka, the only difference being she was examined by a pro hero who also happened to be a medical professional. "I would have preferred to do this at UA. But unfortunately my office is being renovated at the moment." She told Itsuka as the ginger haired girl got re-dressed in her casual clothes she brought with her.
Kendo smiled as she pulled her pants on, "It was no problem ma'am."
"Oh don't call me that, just call me Granny." She corrected as she spun around in the rolling chair to face the newest inheritor. "So this is just after a glance over but there isn't any noticeable change to your body after inheriting One for All." She said.
That caused Itsuka to pause, "Nothing?"
"Physically I mean." She amended. "I'm sure that All Might explained his….current state to you to some degree at least?" she asked, hoping quietly to herself that Toshinori at least had made that clear to her.
The ginger haired girl cupped her chin as she recalled their early talks. "Well I know that he can only maintain his….erm…big form for a few hours. The way he explained it to me was that it was like flexing a muscle, and that his….forms, were a result of an injury he got." She looked at Recovery Girl, "I didn't really ask about….how he was injured...it seemed personal." She added, she was naturally curious but part of her senses that it was a touchy subject for All Might.
That and....part of her almost didn't want to know. Seeing All Might in his small form the first time had been so shocking, the symbol of peace, the strongest hero in the world, was actually a scrawny little guy. It wasn't that she looked down on him for it of course! But…..growing up with him as a hero to everyone made her want to try and maintain that in some small way.
Recovery Girl nodded quietly before explaining, "I never met his mentor, so I only ever had Toshinori's medical history to go off of with his something like One for All effects a human body." She explained.
Kendo hummed as she leaned back against the examination table, "And I'm guessing that because he doesn't have his own quirk, you were worried about how mine would be affected?" she asked, recalling how she asked Itsuka to demonstrate a big fist for her.
"Ah, he told you, good." Recovery Girl said in relief. "But yes, that is a factor as well. And I'm glad you were proactive and wanted this examination after receiving the quirk." She said approvingly. Itsuka looked down at her hands and expanded them slightly, she had done it countless times before but doing it now she was more aware of exactly what she was doing out of caution.
"It...well it doesn't feel different. I sort of expected it to." Kendo admitted.
Recovery Girl hummed, "Understandable. However it seems like your understanding of One for All is derived from how Toshinori used it." She observed. "Keep in mind, One For All acted as his ONLY quirk. And while he's told me of his mentor's quirk and how one for all affected hers, you should keep in mind that how it affects yours could be very different." She warned gently.
Itsuka looked down at her hands with equal amounts of intrigue and fear, "So…..what should I do?"
Recovery Girl lowered the clip board, "At the moment it seems like your quirks are operating separately from one another. Activating Big Fist doesn't activate One for All."
"Yeah I haven't…..clenched yet." Itsuka said, grimacing as she recalled what her mentor told her to do. "But your right, when I use Big Fist it doesn't feel any differently, All Might told me that it would take a while for One for All to acclimate to my vessel. So I kind of assumed it was still doing it...but he didn't say exactly how much time it would take."
The older woman hummed, "Then I would suggest carefully attempting to activate One for All. But JUST activate it. The entrance exam is in two weeks, and the last thing we want is you meaning to activate one and getting the other by mistake." She advised. Itsuka nodded in agreement at the idea, it was a simple step, but a smart one nevertheless, in a way she had to treat one for all like she was just discovering her quirk for the first time. "Now then, was there anything else you wanted to go over?" Recovery Girl asked.
Itsuka opened her mouth to politely decline but stopped herself as something came to mind.
".....Erm...this…..this stays between us right? Not All Might?" she asked, probably sounding a little suspicious.
"Dearie please I'm a medical professional, anything you say to me I'm bound to keep between us." She told her, setting the clip board down on the nearby table.
Itsuka felt her cheeks flush a little but nodded. "Ok so....All Might told me about how All for One is transferred by…..sharing your DNA with someone." She explained, recalling the exact phrasing of how All Might explained it with her. "I was wondering if you knew how…..that worked?" she asked.
Recovery Girl hummed in thought, "Well…..I'll be honest with you Kendo, it confuses me." She admitted before looking over at the young woman's surprised expression. "Just because my quirk allows me to heal people doesn't mean I'm not any less of a medical professional. I've studied Toshinori's quirk for as long as I've known him, the fact that it's two quirks that combined into one by its own right is astounding. And that's not even getting into the properties of it."
Itsuka prized her lips at the thought, she hadn't considered that but it was possible, actually probable, that One for All was the first quirk that underwent a coupling like that. "But, as Toshinori has explained it to me, One for All's transfer is two fold. Firstly, there has to be a target." She said as she raised a finger. "Some quirks I've seen work in a similar way, it has to do with how the brain recognizes and associates, someone you have to intend to give one for all. And secondly," she raised another finger, "is the DNA transfer, I think this is due to how One for All nod only gives you a quirk but enhances your own."
Itsuka nodded in understanding. "Ok…..but…..well, erm....lets say that someone cuts some of my hair and eats it. Will they just….get One for All?" She asked, a little more aware of the actual risks now.
Recovery Girl shook her head. "No, you need to identify them as someone you want to give it to."
Itsuka felt a wave of relief, "Ok, that's good." She said before her cheeks flushed a little. "But…..well what if…..some of my DNA mixed with someone's…..intentionally?"
"....."
"....."
"Dear. I'm old. Not stupid. I know you mean sex." Recovery girl said with amusement.
"I-! What-no! I mean-that's-" Kendo's face was beat red as she waved her hands in front of her defensively.
"It's perfectly fine, you're young and allowed to make your decisions, I'm not your mother, but you should be fine." She explained as steam seemed to rise off Itsuka's face at the misunderstanding. "Nana had a child while she had One for All, so there's nothing to worry about there." She said, causing the residual apprehension to leave Itsuka's body.
"Ok that's….good to know." Itsuka said, her eyes boring into the ground as she tried to fight down the fluster she was feeling.
"Though I understand why you'd think that. Toshinori probably didn't go into a further explanation." She said with a roll of her eyes. Clearly exasperated by Toshinori's usual lack of mentorship experience, "Then again that man has never been in a relationship as far as I know."
Itsuka snorted, "Yeah….All Might kinda has a chastity vibe to him."
"I believe the term your generation is, 'He's got no game.'" Recovery Girl dissed, making Itsuka cover her mouth to suppress the laugh. With how everyone, including herself, tended to put All Might on a pedestal, it was refreshing to have someone like Recovery Girl talk about him like she knew him.
"Ok he's my mentor, and I have to defend him…..but you got me there." Itsuka joked.
Recovery girl smiled softly at her, "I'm glad that you see him like this…..so many people idolize him. Not to say Toshinori isn't a good person, he is. But people tend to see the symbol instead of the man." She said with a hint of sadness. Kendo blinked at that, and then nodded in understanding, causing the doctor to smile, "This person you're seeing...is it serious?"
Itsuka blinked in surprise at the question, she was even more surprised by the answer she gave, "I want it to be."
Her smile turned a little brighter, "Glad to hear. Now then, if that's all, you're free to go." She said.
Giving her thanks, Itsuka dressed and left the clinic, as she walked out the doors she felt a small sense of relief... but it was quickly smothered by another realization. If she really was serious about Izuku…..there was going to come a point where she would HAVE to tell him about one for all.
...shit.
Izuku studied the notes that he made with Setsuna meticulously for hours after talking with her. Which admittedly after looking over them for so long…..a lot of it was just being a nice person with some romantic intention laced in. In fact if anything this caused him to ask her if some people just didn't have the wherewithal to just be…..well….a decent human being. And her response was, "Not all attractive guys were nice guys unfortunately."
…..if I can I need help Setsuna find a nice guy. He thought as he laid out the clothes he had selected for his date with Itsuka. She had texted him that she was planning to swing by his place and they would take a short train ride to the date location which she was being secretive about.
He had decided to go with a nice pair of jeans he had just gotten, a grey long sleeve shirt that didn't have a pun on it, which he tried to fight Set on but she clearly didn't have a sense of humor, and a nice brown coat of his that would be perfect for the spring weather.
It was all laid out on his bed, ready to be put on...along with his Spider-Man suit
He looked down at the red and blue costume, for the first time in his life, with hesitation. It was a stupid idea to wear it tonight, he actually hadn't worn it the last week with all the HPSC drama. And he hadn't planned on changing that tonight but…..when he was searching for his wallet in his backpack he found it and laid it out on the bed automatically.
And now, with the white lenses of his mask staring back into his own eyes, he felt a pang of guilt. It wasn't about his lack of activity lately, there were plenty of other heroes around to help and in truth it was smart to not be Spider-Man unless he needed to be. Which was why he kept his costume with him at all times.
But he was about to go on this date with Itsuka, the thing that had been consuming his mind all week, and his costume was a cold splash of reality he needed to realize something dire.
He needed to tell Itsuka he was Spider-Man.
His...well calling it plan was generous, his intent had been to tell her his secret before they dated, then if she was ok with it, to start dating them. It seemed like the most respectful and easy way to do it….but then Itsuka had to….well, sweep him off his feet apparently. "...I'm not going to tell her tonight. I want her to have the best first date ever." He told his costume. "…..I don't know if I should bring you. You know, considering?" He asked.
\\Understandable.//
How izuku didn't SHRIEK at the top of his lungs when he jumped at the picotech's reply he'll never know but he did let out something between a whimper and gasp in shock. He forgot that his suit's AI would respond to it, "I-you can talk??? Out loud?"
\\…..Izuku. This unit is a highly advanced A.I. bin control of millions of small nanoscopic machines and developed by the smartest man alive. Yes. This unit can speak out loud.//
"...fair." He winced at how simple that sounded out loud.
\\Question. Why hesitate to bring this unit with you?//
Izuku rubbed the back of his head, not exactly expecting to have a discussion with his A.I. "It's just...it feels like tempting fate? Like, if I bring you, I'll be kind of asking for something to happen where I'll have to leave." He said, recalling the experience with Bullseye he had, and how he had to leave the party with Itsuka and the others early.
\\But if something does happen. Would you not act?//
Izuku felt himself deflate a little, "...no….i would." He admitted. "…..just…..don't alert me to anything for tonight please." He asked, trying to at least grant Itsuka that much.
\\Crime notifications are now set to off.//
Izuku picked up the suit and slipped it on, feeling a slight twinge of disappointment with himself but pushing it aside as he dressed himself for his date. Stepping in front of his mirror he looked over himself, smiling to make sure that there was nothing in his teeth, he looked over at his dresser where his wallet and keys were. Setsuna told him that Itsuka wouldn't care about who pays for what, but he was determined that he at least go half on...whatever it was they were doing.
"Izuku?" his mother's voice came with a knock on his door before it opened slightly, peeking inside when her son hadn't dissuaded her, she saw him as he turned to her and blinked in surprise at her son's attire, "Wha-what is this??" she asked with a laugh as she gestured to her blushing son. "You look so-so-"
"Nice?" Izuku guessed.
"Adult!" she exclaimed, her arms falling to her sides as she shook her head in amazement, "Sweetie did-did I forget something?" she asked, not sure if Izuku had told her that they had some dinner plans or something that she had filed away in her mind and just forgot about.
Izuku blushed a little, "Um…..well….mom…..me and Itsuka are…..going out tonight." He shyly admitted.
Inko's face turned blank.
"....Itsuka?" She repeated in disbelief, a little stuck on the fact that her son was using her first name already.
Izuku swallowed, "Y-Yeah…..she asked me out after we gave our statements last week."
"....I-I-" his mother's eyes watered dangerously.
"Oh no."
Inko recognized what was coming and quickly ran to his window, threw it open, and a waterfall of tears poured out the window and down the side of the building as she wailed, "My little baby is going on a date with a nice girl!!!!!" She bawled as Izuku rushed over to pat her back consolingly. After giving her emotions a few minutes,and probably watering whatever plants people had hanging outside their bedroom windows below, he eased her back in as she wiped her eyes and then beamed at him. "I'm so excited for you!"
Izuku chuckled, his face warming, "Y-Yeah…..I'm more nervous to be honest." He admitted.
His mother took him by the shoulders, "That's alright. I was nervous on my first date with your father too. And him? Well, he was no better." She said as she walked him out of his room. "But after that happened? We had a wonderful time." She smiled fondly as she recalled their first date. As they entered the living room, they both stopped at the knock at the door. Inko all but shoved her son towards it, Izuku quickly straightened up, patting his shirt and jacket down, then reached for the door and opened it.
"He-hey Itsu-" he began to greet before he saw her.
The first thing he noticed was her lips, she was wearing lipstick...something he had never seen her wear, and honestly didn't picture her as someone who would casually wear it. But the slightly pink tinted lips were alluring and seemed to highlight her entire face even more somehow. Her hair wasn't done up in anything fancy, and maybe it was just him but her finger locks somehow looked better than they did before.
Then he noticed….well, the rest of her.
She wore a black sleeveless blouse with buttons going all the way to her beck. Her arms, well defined as when he last saw them, stuck out against the black material as her arm retreated around her back and grabbed her opposing elbow. Her legs were covered by a pair of tight blue jeans with a brown belt, and her feet were wearing blue slip-on shoes that looked comfortable.
"Hey yourself." She greeted, a hint of shyness in the typical confident voice she carried. She didn't normally dress up, even with her ex they never really did anything this fancy so showing up to Izuku like this left her feeling a little self conscious. But upon seeing the way his mouth opened and closed at her appearance, she felt her confidence quickly return. "…..this is usually the part where you say I look nice. I'll start, you look very nice." She teased.
"You look beautiful." He replied earnestly, and just as easily as the words left him, so too did the confidence she gained slip out from her.
She felt her face warm but she didn't look away, "T-thanks…..and seriously, you look very nice Izuku."
They both blushed and looked away, Inko, who had watched the scene unfold, was peeking out from the hallway with her chest fluttering happily for her son. He turned his head to see her gesture him onward, "Um-s-so what exactly did you have planned?" He asked, genuinely curious for whatever it was she had thought up.
The question brought a proud smile to her face, her hand reached out and took his, "It's a surprise I think you'll like. It's a bit of a walk but not too far." She said as she gently pulled him to the door. She caught sight of Inko watching them, the mother silently smiling at her. She gave her a short nod, and it made Itsuka's chest swell with emotion at the silent approval.
Stepping outside, she adjusted her hand so her fingers entertained with Izuku's, she felt his fingers clench around hers in surprise bellowed before resting against hers. She smiled at him as she walked down the balcony towards the stairs, Izuku felt his heart skip a few times at the casualness of her holding his hands but it brought a comfort to him. "Um…..ok! Um. I'm….im really excited to see what it is." He told her.
Itsuka smiled as she squeezed his hand, "I think you'll like it." she said confidently.
It was late, darkness had fallen over the Kendo dojo, the moonlight was the only thing that illuminated Itsuka's bedroom as her body laid back onto it, her eyes were half open as she looked up at Izuku, her arms looped around his neck as his face, which was only a few inches from her own, blushed red in the limited light the moon cast.
Oh….oh god. Izuku swallowed as he looked down at her.
Her heart was pounding in her chest as her hands slowly slid back from around Izuku's neck to the sides of his face, she could feel how warm his skin was beneath her fingers. His breath came out in a shudder, he was leaning over her on the bed, his one hand supporting him on the mattress while the other held onto Itsuka by the small of her back.
Itsuka's neck slowly craned up.
H…..how do I get myself into these situations?!?