[Third Person POV]
**Edna Mode's Fortress — Late Evening**
The night had settled over the sprawling estate like a velvet curtain, stars scattered across the sky like diamonds on black silk. Edna Mode's residence—more accurately described as a technological fortress disguised as a stylish modernist home—sat nestled among manicured gardens and reinforced walls topped with security systems that would make military installations jealous.
Inside her private study, surrounded by sleek furniture and cutting-edge technology seamlessly integrated into the elegant décor, Edna Mode reclined in her favorite chair. The diminutive fashion designer and technological genius had just finished a video call with her old friend Bob Parr and was settling in with a recently published light novel—Black Clover, recommended by a certain speedster who wouldn't stop pestering her about it.
She'd barely opened to the first chapter when—
CRACK!
A brilliant flash of yellow lightning exploded through her study, followed immediately by a blur of motion that resolved into a blonde-haired teenager casually dropping into the seat beside her as if he'd simply walked through the front door like a normal person.
"Hi, Edna! Whatcha doin'?"
Denki Kaminari sat there with his characteristic grin and a lollipop stuck in his mouth at a jaunty angle. Beside him, also materializing from the electrical discharge, was a small girl with silver-blue hair and a horn protruding from her forehead. Eri clutched her own lollipop, her red eyes sparkling with innocent delight.
Edna didn't even flinch. She simply closed her book with a resigned sigh, removed her glasses, and turned to face her uninvited guests with the expression of someone who'd been through this exact scenario far too many times.
"What are you doing here, breaking into my personal space like this?" Her accented voice carried equal parts annoyance and weary acceptance. "Every single time you visit, you do this. You know I installed a doorbell, yes? And a door? These are inventions humanity has perfected for millennia."
Denki rolled his eyes with exaggerated drama, shifting his lollipop to the other side of his mouth. "Come on, Edna. We're friends. Friends don't need to knock. That's like, rule number one of friendship."
"That is absolutely not—" Edna began, but her expression completely transformed the moment her gaze shifted to the little girl beside him.
"Good evening, Aunt Edna!" Eri said in her soft, polite voice, offering a small wave along with the brightest smile.
Edna's severe expression melted like ice cream in summer sun. "Eri, darling! Good evening to you too!" Her voice took on a warmth reserved exclusively for the child. "You are always more than welcome here, piccola. You can come anytime, even stay overnight if you wish!"
"Thank you, Aunt Edna!" Eri beamed, clearly delighted by the warm reception.
Denki's jaw dropped in theatrical offense. "Okay, wow. Your favoritism is literally showing. Like, physically manifesting in this room. We've known each other for almost a year, and this is the treatment I get compared to her?"
Edna turned back to him with a deadpan expression that could freeze lava. "Of course I favor her. She is adorable, polite, and actually respects the concept of doors and security systems. Unlike a certain speedster who breaks into my highly secured home and calls it 'friendship.'"
She gestured dramatically around her study. "Do you know why I built this fortress? Why I invested millions in the most advanced security protocols available? So I could have peace. Privacy and Solitude." Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "But no. A certain lightning-powered delinquent treats my biometric locks, laser grids, and AI surveillance systems like a mild inconvenience."
"To be fair," Denki grinned unrepentantly, "your security is really good. It takes me almost three whole seconds to bypass now. You're improving!"
"GET OUT."
Before Denki could respond with another witty comeback, Edna snapped her fingers with sharp precision. Immediately, two sleek robots—designed with her signature blend of form and function—glided into the room carrying trays.
One delivered a plate of Eri's favorite snacks along with a glass of apple juice. The other presented Edna with an elegant porcelain teacup filled with steaming tea.
Denki looked between the robots expectantly. "Uh, what about mine?"
Edna took a delicate sip of her tea, savoring it before responding. "You are a speedster, are you not? You can acquire snacks faster than my robots can traverse the kitchen. Go get them yourself."
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
"Immensely."
Denki sighed dramatically, but his expression softened when Eri tugged on his sleeve. "It's okay, Denki-oniichan! I'll bring you your snacks!"
Before he could protest, she'd already hopped off the couch and was heading toward the kitchen with determined little steps, her lollipop clutched carefully in one hand.
"Eri, you don't have to—" Denki called after her.
"But I want to!" she called back, her voice echoing cheerfully down the hall.
The moment Eri disappeared around the corner, the atmosphere in the room shifted dramatically.
Denki's casual grin vanished, replaced by sharp focus. Edna's playful antagonism melted into serious professionalism. They both sat up straighter, their body language transforming from friends bantering to colleagues discussing critical matters.
"Now that she's gone," Denki said, his voice dropping to a more serious register, "tell me. Did you find anything useful regarding Eri's situation?"
Edna set down her teacup with precise care, her sharp eyes meeting his. "Her Quirk is truly fascinating, no matter how many times I analyze it. The complexity, the potential applications and the sheer power..." She shook her head in a mixture of admiration and concern.
Their collaboration had begun months ago when Denki first approached Edna about analyzing the anomalies in his supposedly normal Electrification Quirk.
Edna's own Quirk—Analysis—allowed her to comprehend and break down the fundamental mechanics of other people's Quirks, understanding how they functioned at a level most scientists could only dream of achieving. It was this ability that had made her the world's premier hero costume designer, capable of creating gear that enhanced and complemented abilities in ways that seemed almost magical.
That professional relationship had evolved into genuine friendship, cemented further when Eri entered the picture.
"Eri's Quirk—Rewind," Edna continued, pulling up a holographic display from her wrist device. Complex diagrams and data streams filled the air between them. "It's an Emitter-type that allows her to rewind a living being's body to a previous state. The applications are..." she paused, searching for the right word, "staggering."
Denki leaned forward, studying the data. He already knew the basics from his meta-knowledge, but hearing Edna's professional analysis always provided new insights.
"She can heal injuries instantaneously," Edna listed, highlighting relevant sections of the display. "Reverse physical damage, restore a person's body to an earlier condition. And if left completely uncontrolled..." her voice darkened, "she could potentially rewind someone out of existence entirely."
'Yeah, that's the nightmare scenario,' Denki thought grimly. 'Overhaul figured that out the hard way in the original timeline.'
"The good news," Edna continued, adjusting the holographic display to focus on Eri's horn, "is that her Quirk does not function constantly. Her horn accumulates energy over time—think of it as a biological battery. The larger the horn grows, the more energy she has stored. When she uses Rewind, the horn shrinks proportionally to the energy expended."
A 3D model of Eri's horn rotated slowly, displaying various power levels color-coded from green to red.
"When her horn fully depletes," Edna explained, "she cannot use Rewind again until it recharges naturally. This built-in limitation is both a safety mechanism and a vulnerability."
"And right now?" Denki prompted.
"Fortunately, her horn is quite small and still in the early stages of energy accumulation. She has minimal stored power, which significantly reduces the risk of accidental activation."
'Thank god,' Denki thought. 'In the original timeline, years of abuse and forced Quirk usage left Eri's power completely unstable. Getting to her early, before Overhaul could do his damage, might have saved us from that nightmare.'
"Your instinct to bring her to me was correct," Edna continued. "Over this past week, working with her directly and applying my Quirk analysis capabilities, I've made significant progress understanding her psychological barriers."
She pulled up another set of data—brain scans, psychological profiles, stress response patterns.
"Eri can control her Quirk," Edna stated with confidence. "The primary obstacle is fear. Deep, traumatic fear instilled by her biological father when he repeatedly exploited her Quirk for his experiments."
Denki's hands clenched into fists, electricity sparking faintly between his fingers. Even now, months after rescuing Eri, the rage he felt toward Overhaul hadn't diminished.
"However," Edna's voice softened slightly, "thanks to your family adopting her and the fact that her horn has minimal stored energy, we've significantly reduced the risk of Quirk-based accidents. The loving, stable environment you've provided is doing more for her recovery than any technical solution I could devise."
Before Denki could respond, they heard the patter of small feet approaching. Both immediately shifted back to their casual postures, the serious discussion seamlessly transforming back into friendly banter.
Eri appeared in the doorway, carefully balancing a plate stacked with various snacks—chips, cookies, small sandwiches—all of Denki's favorites that she'd memorized. Her face was lit up with accomplishment, clearly proud of herself for not spilling anything.
"Denki-oniichan! I got your snacks!" she announced proudly.
Denki's expression melted into genuine warmth. "Thanks, Eri! You're the best!" He accepted the plate and immediately gave her an affectionate head pat, which made her giggle and lean into the touch.
"Hey, Eri," he said gently, "why don't you go play with those toys Aunt Edna made for you? The robots can show you to the playroom."
Eri's eyes lit up. "Really? Can I, Aunt Edna?"
Edna smiled—a genuine expression she seemed to reserve exclusively for the child. "Of course, piccola. The new toy I designed for you should be finished charging. The robots will show you."
On cue, one of Edna's robots approached Eri with a gentle chirp, its optical sensors glowing warmly. Eri waved enthusiastically at both adults before following the robot down the hallway, her lollipop clutched happily in one hand.
---
[Denki's POV]
The moment Eri was out of earshot, my mind immediately returned to darker considerations. I stared at the holographic display still hovering in the air, showing Eri's Quirk data, but my thoughts were already racing ahead to bigger problems.
'Helping Eri adjust to her Quirk is critical,' I thought, absently munching on a cookie. 'If her horn accumulates more energy, if she accidentally activates it without control... the consequences could be catastrophic. But as long as I'm here, as long as I can guide her development, she'll have the peaceful, normal childhood she deserves.'
But that wasn't my only concern. Not by a long shot.
'All For One.'
The name alone sent a chill down my spine despite the warmth of the room.
'In the original timeline, he was focused on Shigaraki's development, on stealing One For All, on his grand plans to reshape hero society. But now? With all the changes I've made, all the deviations from canon? There's no way he's not paying attention. Especially after the Sports Festival.'
I thought back to the raid that had happened two days ago—the coordinated Pro Hero assault on the League of Villains' recruitment base. It had been all over the news: dramatic footage of All Might leading the charge, Endeavor's flames lighting up the night sky, Hawks' feathers cutting through the air with surgical precision.
'According to the news reports and what Megumi-nee could tell me from her Pro Hero connections, most of the League members got captured,' I continued my internal analysis, popping another cookie into my mouth without really tasting it. 'But the core members—Shigaraki, Dabi, Twice, the actually dangerous ones—they all escaped. Which means the League is wounded but far from dead.'
I frowned, 'Part of me is frustrated that the Pro Heroes couldn't finish the job. All that firepower, all that coordination, and the main threats still slipped through their fingers. But...' I paused, considering the strategic implications. 'Actually, this might work in my favor. The League is running low on manpower now. Their operations will be disrupted. Whatever plans All For One had will need to be put on hold while they rebuild.'
A small smile tugged at my lips.
'Which gives me more time. More time to train, to prepare, to get stronger. More time to set my own plans in motion.'
My thoughts drifted to the project I'd been working on in secret—a personal AI system that would soon be completed. Once operational, it would give me eyes and ears everywhere, help me track villain movements, maybe even locate All For One's hidden facilities.
'Instead of waiting for him to make his move, I'll take the fight to them,' I decided, my resolve hardening. 'Strike first and hard, end this before All For One can cause the level of damage he did in the original timeline. I just need to be stronger. Fast enough, smart enough, powerful enough to actually make a difference when it matters.'
My mind then shifted to another complication—Toga Himiko.
'She's still maintaining her Emma Akane disguise perfectly. Not even the other students suspect anything. And since she didn't participate in the Sports Festival, she didn't get any direct internship offers. So she'll be doing her work-study with Mom's agency.'
I made a mental note to check in with her during the week. Toga was... complicated. Her feelings for me were genuine but obsessive, her instability barely contained beneath that cheerful exterior. Keeping her stable, keeping her on the side of something resembling heroism, required constant attention.
'One more complication in an already impossibly complicated situation,' I thought wryly. 'But at least she's a complication I can monitor.'
"Denki."
Edna's sharp voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. I blinked, refocusing on her. She was studying me with those analytical eyes that seemed to see through every layer of pretense.
"What has you thinking so deeply?" she asked, her tone making it clear this wasn't a casual question. "I know that expression. You're planning something, or worrying about something, or both."
I hesitated for a moment, then decided there was no point hiding it from Edna. She was already too perceptive, and besides, she was one of the few people I could actually trust with this kind of information.
"The hero internships," I said, keeping my voice neutral. "I got over 7,000 offers."
Edna's eyebrows rose slightly—one of the few outward signs of surprise she ever displayed. "Seven thousand? That is... impressive, even for a Sports Festival champion. Who will you be choosing?"
"I've narrowed it down to two options," I explained, leaning back in my seat. "Either Rumi Usagiyama—Mirko—or Sir Nighteye's agency."
"Interesting choices." Edna took another sip of her tea, clearly processing the strategic implications. "But tell me something, Denki. Why did you not choose your mother's agency? She is a top-ranked Pro Hero with an excellent reputation. Working with her would provide obvious advantages."
I couldn't help but grin at that. "Because I can visit Mom's agency literally whenever I want. What's the point of using this internship opportunity if I just go somewhere I already have complete access to?"
'Plus, in the original timeline, interning with different heroes exposed students to diverse fighting styles, different philosophies, new perspectives on heroism. That's the whole point—broadening your experience, not just reinforcing what you already know.'
"By choosing a different agency," I continued, "I get to experience a completely different environment, learn from heroes with different methodologies, see how other Pro Heroes operate. I already know everything about how Mom's agency works. Going there would be comfortable, but it wouldn't really teach me anything new."
Edna nodded slowly, a small smile playing at her lips. "A logical conclusion. Very well thought out." She set down her teacup with deliberate care. "Then my advice is simple: choose with both your heart and your mind. Follow your instincts. I believe in your judgment."
I raised an eyebrow, unable to resist teasing her. "You're putting a lot of faith in a sixteen-year-old kid's decision-making abilities."
"Am I, though?" Edna's eyes narrowed thoughtfully, and I felt a spike of nervousness. "I have long suspected that your mental age is far older than your physical appearance suggests. You do not behave like a normal sixteen-year-old, Denki. Your strategic thinking, your emotional maturity, your knowledge base—these are not typical of someone your age."
'Oh shit. Does she actually suspect—?'
"However," Edna continued before my internal panic could fully spiral, "your mysterious Quirk might be the explanation. Some Quirks do affect the user's mental development in unusual ways. The electrical activity in your brain, the constant stimulation, the enhanced cognitive processing—it could account for your... peculiarities."
I forced myself to breathe normally, nodding as if this explanation made perfect sense. "Yeah, that's probably it. My Quirk does weird things to my brain chemistry."
'Thay was a close call. Way too close.'
For months now, Edna and I had been working together to understand the full extent of my Quirk. What had started as simple analysis had evolved into something far more complex and honestly kind of terrifying.
"Speaking of your Quirk," Edna said, as if reading my thoughts, "the data we have collected over these months continues to be... astonishing."
She pulled up a new set of holographic displays—complex graphs showing electrical output, cellular data, energy projection models. The numbers made my head spin even though they were describing my own body.
"When we first began this analysis," Edna explained, highlighting specific data points, "I was skeptical of your claims about your power level. I thought perhaps you were overestimating due to youthful enthusiasm."
She paused, her expression deadly serious. "I was wrong. If anything, you were underestimating."
The holographic display shifted, showing a comparison between my current electrical output and the power consumption of major Japanese cities.
"Your current electrical capacity," Edna stated with the precision of a scientist delivering groundbreaking research findings, "could power several major Japanese cities for multiple days. Not hours but days. And this capacity is not static—it continues growing steadily even as we speak."
I stared at the numbers, feeling that familiar mixture of awe and anxiety.
"Your destructive potential is equally alarming," she continued, pulling up impact projections. "You could level several city blocks with your current output if you chose to discharge everything at once. And if you were to die while fully charged..."
The holographic display showed a catastrophic explosion radius.
"The release of energy would cause massive collateral damage across a significant area. You are, essentially, a walking power plant with no off switch."
'Jesus. I knew I was powerful, but seeing it quantified like this...'
"According to my analysis," Edna said, her voice taking on an almost philosophical quality, "your electrical power functions like a dam. The dam holds back water—massive amounts of water—and you are currently only using a small, controlled portion for your daily activities. But if that dam were to break, if the structural integrity failed..."
She let the implication hang in the air.
"All of that water would be released at once. Catastrophically."
I swallowed hard. "That's... a cheerful thought."
"It gets more interesting," Edna continued, clearly in full scientist mode now. "Your cellular regeneration rate has been increasing progressively. What started as minor accelerated healing has evolved into something approaching a genuine healing factor."
She pulled up microscopic footage of my cells repairing damage, dividing and regenerating at visibly accelerated rates.
"If current trends continue," Edna said carefully, "you may eventually develop a healing factor comparable to Wolverine from those old American comics."
My eyes widened. "Seriously? Like, full regeneration from major injuries?"
"Potentially. Your cells are already demonstrating remarkable resilience and repair capabilities. Given time and continued development..." she shrugged. "The projection models suggest it is possible."
Then her expression grew even more serious, which I didn't think was possible.
"And there is one more thing, Denki. Something I have hesitated to mention until I was more certain."
"What?"
"I suspect," Edna said slowly, choosing her words with extreme care, "that you may eventually have Eternal Youth."
The room seemed to freeze. I couldn't move, couldn't breathe, couldn't process what she'd just said.
"Eternal Youth?" I finally managed to choke out. "As in... not aging?"
"The way your cellular regeneration is developing, the way your electrical field seems to be fundamentally altering your biological structure at the molecular level..." Edna spread her hands. "All evidence suggests that your aging process may eventually slow to the point of near-cessation. You would not be invulnerable—sufficient damage could still kill you—but aging itself may cease to be a limiting factor."
'Holy. Fucking. Shit.'
"We both know," Edna continued, her voice dropping to barely above a whisper, "that there is something inside your body. Something we cannot identify through any means available to modern science. Every scan, every analysis and every test shows that something additional exists within your biological structure, but we cannot determine what it is or where it came from."
She locked eyes with me.
"This unknown factor is what makes your current development possible. Without it, even Quirk Awakening could not produce these kinds of results. It is as if something was installed in your body specifically to allow you to utilize these abilities without your cells destroying themselves from the electrical load."
I kept my expression carefully neutral, but inside, my thoughts were racing.
'It's the reincarnation. It has to be. Whatever entity or force or cosmic accident that brought me to this world, it must have altered my body fundamentally to accommodate both my memories and my abilities. It's the only explanation that makes sense. My "cheat" ability for being reborn in this world.'
"Do you have any theories?" Edna asked, watching me intently.
I shook my head, lying smoothly. "No idea. Just lucky, I guess?"
She didn't look convinced, but she also didn't press the issue. Some mysteries, it seemed, she was content to leave unsolved.
I sighed heavily, pushing the existential dread about potential power plant to the back of my mind where I kept all my other anxiety about breaking the timeline. "Let's focus on more immediate concerns. What's going on with my parents? Mom told me, you wanted to see me but it sounded suspicious."
A mistake. Immediately, I realized my mistake.
Edna's face twisted into an expression of pure disgust. "Your parents are having a 'moment together,' as you so delicately phrased it earlier. I suggest you do not return home tonight unless you wish to require extensive therapy."
"Oh god." I buried my face in my hands. "Why did I ask? Why did I open my mouth?"
"You may stay here for the night," Edna offered, her tone making it clear this was more of a command than a suggestion. "Both you and Eri. I have guest rooms prepared, and it would be—" she paused, searching for words, "—more appropriate than you walking in on your parents' romantic reunion."
"Thanks, Edna. Really. You're a lifesaver."
"I am aware." She smirked slightly. "Now, speaking of projects—how is the Regeneration Cradle coming along?"
I grimaced. "Stuck. I've hit a wall with the neural interface calibration. The technology is just beyond my current expertise, and I need someone who actually knows what they're doing with advanced medical machinery and cybernetic systems."
"Hmm." Edna's expression turned thoughtful. "I may know someone who could assist. A colleague of mine—exceptionally skilled with advanced machinery and biotechnology integration. I could arrange a meeting in the future if you are interested."
"Definitely interested," I said immediately. The Regeneration Cradle project—my attempt to create technology from my previous world's movies to help with severe injuries—had been stalled for months. Getting expert help would be invaluable.
"Who is this person?"
"I will not tell you his name yet," Edna replied with a mysterious smile. "It is better if you meet him yourself. See with your own eyes. Make your own judgment."
I wanted to press for more information, but I'd learned that when Edna decided to be mysterious, no amount of questioning would crack her resolve.
"Fair enough. I trust your judgment."
"Good." She nodded approvingly. "Now go put Eri to bed. It is late, and she needs proper sleep for healthy development."
I stood up, stretching slightly. "Yeah, you're right. Thanks again, Edna. For everything—the analysis, the help with Eri, letting us crash here."
"You are welcome, Denki." Her expression softened slightly. "Despite your annoying habit of breaking into my home, I do consider you a friend. And Eri is..." she paused, something almost tender crossing her features, "special. I will always help you care for her."
I smiled genuinely at that. "You're a softy under all that terrifying competence, aren't you?"
"Get out before I activate the security systems."
Laughing, I headed toward the playroom to collect Eri and get her ready for bed, my mind still processing everything Edna had told me.
'Eternal Youth. Healing factor. Enough power to level cities. An unknown factor in my biology that makes all of this possible.'
I glanced down at my hands, watching small sparks dance between my fingers. 'Just what the hell am I becoming?'
---
[Denki's POV - Next Morning]
The morning sunlight streamed through the guest room window, warm and golden. I'd slept surprisingly well considering everything on my mind, though I'd had weird dreams about lightning and time and purple electricity that felt important but slipped away the moment I woke up.
After getting ready for school and making sure Eri was properly fed and happy—she'd had a blast playing with Edna's robots and didn't want to leave—I dropped her off at home. Mom and Dad were both there, looking suspiciously satisfied with themselves, which was information I immediately deleted from my brain for the sake of my sanity.
"Have a good day at school, sweetie!" Mom called out as I practically fled the house.
"YEP OKAY BYE LOVE YOU BOTH DON'T NEED DETAILS GOODBYE!"
'Never asking about their private time again. Ever. Some knowledge is too dangerous to possess.'
---
The train station was absolute chaos.
U.A. students were everywhere—a sea of excited teenagers lugging suitcases, backpacks, and the distinctive rectangular cases containing hero costumes. The air practically vibrated with anticipation. Loud conversations overlapped, creating a wall of sound punctuated by bursts of laughter, nervous energy, and the occasional shout.
This was it. The Hero Work-Studies. One week of actual hands-on experience with Pro Heroes. For most of my classmates, this would be their first real taste of what hero work actually entailed beyond controlled school exercises.
"Did everyone bring their hero costumes?" Aizawa-sensei's eternally exhausted voice somehow cut through the noise like a knife.
"Yes, Sensei!" the collective response rang out.
"YEEEES, SENSEEEEI!" Mina's voice rose above everyone else's, practically vibrating with excitement as she hoisted her costume case over her head like a trophy.
Aizawa's weary gaze slowly, painfully slowly, turned toward her. "Ashido."
The single word carried enough disappointed teacher energy to power a small city.
"...Sorry, Sensei." Mina's voice dropped to normal volume, though her grin didn't fade.
Aizawa cleared his throat, his capture weapon shifting slightly as he addressed the group. "Normally, wearing your costume in public is prohibited. During the work-studies, however, it is permitted." His eyes swept across all of us with that unsettling intensity that made it feel like he could see directly into your soul and was disappointed by what he found there. "That does not mean this is a fashion show. You are representing U.A. and the Pro Heroes who have chosen to mentor you. Act accordingly."
A few students chuckled nervously.
"Good luck." He gave a slight, dismissive wave. "And mind your manners. I don't want to receive any complaints about Class 1-A students being disrespectful or reckless."
'Translation: Please don't make me do more paperwork. I'm already running on negative sleep and pure spite.'
I'd finally made my decision about the internship—Mirko over Sir Nighteye. It hadn't been easy. Nighteye would have provided valuable strategic insights, connections to the other Heros, and the kind of analytical training that would complement my combat abilities perfectly.
But Mirko... Mirko represented something different. Freedom and Raw combat experience. A hero who didn't overthink things, who trusted her instincts and fought with everything she had. Plus, she was fast—really fast. Training with her would push my battle experience to new levels in ways that office work with Nighteye simply couldn't match.
'And it's absolutely NOT because she's gorgeous with legs that could crush watermelons,' I told myself firmly.
My internal justification was interrupted by the sight of Momo across the platform, talking with Toru, Uraraka, and Mina.
The morning light caught her dark hair, and when she laughed at something Uraraka said, my heart did that stupid fluttering thing that I was still not used to.
'Right. Time to be brave. Time to be smooth. Time to absolutely not embarrass myself in front of the girl I like.'
I took a deep breath and walked over to the group. The moment they spotted me approaching, Toru, Uraraka, and Mina exchanged knowing looks and immediately scattered like startled birds, leaving Momo standing alone.
Their giggles and poorly suppressed grins followed them as they retreated to a "safe" distance where they could still watch the show.
'Traitors. I'm never helping any of you with homework again.'
"Morning, Momo," I said, proud of how steady my voice sounded despite my heart trying to punch its way out of my chest.
"Good morning, Denki." Her smile was soft, genuine, and did absolutely illegal things to my ability to form coherent thoughts. "Are you excited about your internship?"
"Yeah, definitely. Listen, Momo, I wanted to talk to you about something before we both leave for the week."
Pink immediately colored her cheeks, and she glanced away slightly. "Oh? What about?"
'Here goes nothing. Be mature and direct. Don't be weird.'
"About our future," I said, managing to sound far more confident than I felt. "I think we should have a serious discussion about where things are going between us. After the internships are over, obviously—I don't want to distract either of us while we're trying to learn from Pro Heroes—but I wanted you to know it's important to me. You're important to me."
The pink on her cheeks deepened to red. She fidget with the strap of her costume case, clearly flustered but not unhappy. "Our future? You mean... us? Together?"
"Yeah. Us." I scratched the back of my head, suddenly feeling very much like a sixteen-year-old asking a girl out properly for the first time. "Look, I'll be honest—I don't have a ton of dating experience. Actually, I have zero dating experience if we're being technical about it. But I really like you, Momo. And I want to make sure we're on the same page about what we want this to be."
'Smooth, Kaminari. Very smooth. 'I have zero experience' is definitely the sexy confidence girls are looking for.'
But Momo's expression softened further, something warm and affectionate in her eyes. "I appreciate your honesty, Denki. And... I'd very much like to have that discussion with you. After our internships, when we can both give it the attention it deserves."
"Great!" I tried not to sound too relieved and probably failed. "So it's a date. I mean, not that this conversation is about a date, but we'll have a date to have the conversation about whether we're dating. If that makes sense. Which it probably doesn't because words are hard sometimes."
Momo laughed softly, covering her mouth with her hand in that elegant way she had. "It makes perfect sense, Denki. I'm looking forward to it."
'This is going better than expected.'
Before I could say anything else—probably something stupid that would ruin the moment—a familiar energetic presence materialized beside us.
"Momo-chan! Time to go!" Emma Akane—aka Toga Himiko in her meticulously maintained disguise—bounced up with her characteristic enthusiasm. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, and her smile was bright and cheerful in a way that would seem completely innocent to anyone who didn't know her true identity.
Momo and I exchanged a brief glance. We were two of the only people who knew "Emma's" real identity, a secret that felt heavier with each passing day.
"Right, I should get going," Momo said, adjusting her grip on her costume case. "Ryukyu's agency is across the city, and I don't want to be late on my first day."
"Good luck with your internship," I told her, trying to sound casual and supportive rather than ridiculously smitten. "I'm sure you'll do great."
"Thank you, Denki. You too—"
'Now or never. Be bold. Channel that teenage confidence everyone keeps saying you don't have.'
I leaned in quickly and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Good luck, Momo. I'm really looking forward to our next meeting."
Then I immediately turned and walked away before my nerve could fail or my brain could catch up with what my body had just done.
Behind me, I heard a small, strangled sound that might have been Momo's voice trying to form words. I didn't dare look back.
Then I touched my lips unconsciously, feeling heat rise to my face. My heart was pounding so hard I was half-convinced everyone could hear it.
'Damn, that took more courage than fighting Nomus. Why is romance harder than actual combat? At least with fighting, the objectives are clear and the worst that can happen is death. With this, the worst that can happen is—'
I risked a glance back. Momo stood frozen in place, one hand pressed against the spot where I'd kissed her cheek. Steam—actual visible steam—was rising from her head, and her face had turned so red it rivaled Kirishima's hair. Her mouth opened and closed soundlessly, like a fish trying to remember how breathing worked.
Mina, Toru, and Uraraka were absolutely losing their minds in the background, barely containing their squeals of excitement.
'Yeah. Definitely worth it.'