Hey, it's your boy Alex_DLC. Quick heads-up before we keep going:
The March Patreon focus poll is live and ends tomorrow. It's free to vote, and it lays out what's getting written next. This series and Hero × Gacha already have locked slots—this poll is for the third slot for March.
Also—if you're the "I need more chapters now" type: I've currently got 4 advanced chapters up on P*treon, and the 5th advanced chapter should be available sometime tomorrow. After that, I'm shifting focus to March properly.P*treon.com/Alex_DLC000
And lastly, I've seen a few comments and worries about the harem discussion. Based on the responses, I do have a plan that I think will work for the majority of people—but I'm not going to try to appease everyone, because that's not realistic. I want the story's direction to stay my direction, while still being engaging and different from a lot of other fanfics. The plan is built off the feedback I've seen (it's a mixed bag), and you'll start seeing how it plays out as we keep going. Trust me for now—if I stumble later, you can cook me then.
That discussion will stay up until Chapter 20 is public, and then I'll remove it from the chapter list.
Alright—back to the chapter!
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After a quick hour workout with Hiro, Jun came out of the shower locker room to a waiting Toga.
He dried his hair with a towel. "Didn't workout?"
Toga huffed. "Of course not, I gotta be on my best game against this 'friend' of yours."
That got a laugh from Jun. "Well, I'll expect the best then."
He grabbed his gym bag, letting it hang from his shoulder. "Well, let's get going. We might already be late."
Toga fell in step with him. "And who's fault is that?"
Jun shrugged. "Showers feel good and I like smelling good." After a moment, he broke into a smile as he pulled her head into his chest.
"See? Smells good, haha!"
Toga let herself stay there a tad long before she pushed herself away, cheeks flushed. "Jun!"
He stepped ahead, leading her. "What? Don't like my smell?"
Toga stomped her foot before catching up. "Stop bringing up your smell!"
Jun shrugged, keeping his smirk. "Can't help it. It's a good body wash. You should try it."
Toga pushed his arm, pouting. "I have my own body wash, and it's good!"
Jun kept walking but turned his head towards her. "Wanna trade then?"
Toga let out a groan, her pace speeding up past him.
Jun let out a chuckle, keeping his pace, adjusting the strap on his shoulder. Looks like she forgot all about her 'rivalry'.
Before long, Toga was slowing down, letting him catch up.
He walked a little bit in silence beside her, seeing the café at the end of the street. "Something on your mind?"
Toga nodded, looking up at him. "What's your friend like?"
Jun let out a laugh. "She's a ball of social energy. Like me kinda, just constantly active it feels."
Toga's brows furrowed. "Like you? So you two get along?"
Jun thought about it for a moment. "Yes and no. Our energies sometimes grind against each other but we learned to deal with it."
More like she learned from me doing it first, but semantics.
Toga looked ahead, shoulders tense as the café got closer and closer. "Well, we're almost there."
Looking ahead, Jun saw the café but no Mina. "She's probably inside."
Jun opened the door for Toga while scanning the inside.
At a window table, Mina sat with a muffin in front of her, fidgeting with a fork.
She was wearing a stylish purple shirt, keeping her outfit casual. Jun saw through it almost instantly. Oh? She's dressed up more than usual.
Jun waved over. "Yo, Mina!"
When she looked up, a small smile formed. She went to get up but froze for a half second as her gaze switched over to Toga.
"Hey Jun! Who's this?"
Jun pulled out seats for him and Toga, making sure to position himself between both girls. "Well, this is Toga Himiko. Toga, this is Mina Ashido."
Toga put on a slightly forced smile, nodding to Mina. "Nice to meet you, Mina-chan."
Mina lowered herself back into her seat. "Nice to meet you too, Toga-chan."
Jun looked at the muffin that Mina had ordered. "You already ordered? Guess you've been waiting for a while."
Mina waved him off. "It's fine, I was just getting a snack. We can get whatever now."
Jun pulled out a few bills from his wallet, placing it on the table. "Well, it's on me. So you two get whatever you want. My treat for hanging out."
Toga was the first one to grab it. "I'll get you something too. After all, I know your favorites."
Mina tilted her head, maintaining her smile. "Oh? You didn't tell me how you knew Jun?"
Toga's smile grew more genuine as she got up. "I've known Jun since we were kids. How long have you known him?"
Mina got up as well, turning towards the counter as she glanced over her shoulder. "Well, basically all of middle school. He talks to me everyday~"
Jun could hear them continuing their barely concealed competitive banter as they walked to the counter.
Well, at least Toga is talking instead of just shutting down.
He looked over to them waiting in the line. He could see they were both tense, but clearly less so than they both probably realized.
It's good that Mina's confidence brings Toga out of her one-track mind.
Jun pulled out his phone as it buzzed. A notification from his gambling account.
Jun sighed, pocketing it again as he watched Mina and Toga order. Toga's little smirk when she looked back and pointed at a croissant.
Gambling, huh? Well, it's been almost a year since I needed to. Maybe a large payout before I go to U.A. to finally call it quits.
Jun stretched, leaning back into the chair as he looked around at the café. It wasn't long before he could hear the girls coming back, mid-competition again.
Toga was the first he heard. "-calls me Bloodbug, what does he call you?"
Mina slid into her seat, placing her food and drink down. "Dancer, it's really a skill."
Toga placed Jun's food and drink down first but tilted her head at Mina. "You can dance?"
Jun picked up the croissant. "She breaks it down hard."
Toga finally sat down, taking a long drink. "That's cool."
Jun raised a brow, noticing the slight dip in Toga's energy. So he took a large bite of his croissant, then tore the remaining into two pieces. "Not that hungry, you two have it."
"Thanks Jun~" Mina immediately took her piece, placing it among her own food.
Toga grabbed hers, looking at it for a moment. Jun rolled his eyes and leaned over. "You can eat it, Bloodbug. It was good, I was really not that hungry."
Toga looked at him, taking a bite of the croissant. "It's good."
Jun leaned back, recentering himself. "It is, yeah."
***
Later that evening, Jun sat at his desk. The café hangout had lasted almost half an hour.
It started as Mina versus Toga questions, then drifted into story time that kept circling back to Jun.
When Toga got home, she said she needed to study before retreating into her room. That confused Jun because he could tell she wasn't lying.
Thinking of her situation, Dad said he was talking to a lawyer soon, right?
Jun spun in his chair looking at the ceiling. I hate that I'm out of that loop. I get the important information at least.
Sticking out his leg to catch himself on his desk, Jun scooted in. "Well, I can focus on this."
He bit the end of his pen as he opened his notebook labeled 'U.A prep'. Physique checked. Now it's skills. Reflexes. Even Quirks.
He circled skills then wrote beside it, 'Equipment'. Besides Kirishima's quirk, I don't have a real defense or way to attack. U.A. will fix that but that's then, not now.
Tapping his chin with the pen, he continued out loud. "Batons? Martial arts? Do I want to be a budget Nightwing?"
Hell, Budget Nightwing still has more aura than me probably.
He flipped a page. Equipment needs funds, and my parents are probably going to pay for Toga's lawyer. So one big last payout? That's my goal.
He turned towards his laptop. And internet gambling isn't going to cut it.