You guys are the best! Here's another chapter, folks! Summer time!

Disclaimer: I don't own a thing!


Leader

I stop going with Izuku and Katsuki to Hero fights. There's a reason I'd rather be Underground. Because you'd have to be the picture of morality. Yeah, whatever. So I don't tag along with them. Instead I practice my dancing more, and meet up with Yota-Sensei more often. Which leads to. .

"Kana-chan, this is my best friend, Shogo Isano, and her younger brother." Yota-Sensei introduces us. "Isano, Ryoji-kun, this is one of my students; Atsushi Kana."

Both have piercing violet eyes and dark blue hair. Ryoji, however, looks like he spends all his time in the sun. Isano is pale with bags under her eyes. Both are polite, though. Even if Isano teases Yota-Sensei without mercy. Her brother is my age and has an augmentation Quirk. But what gets me is. .

Achievement Unlocked: Team Leader

Achievement Unlocked: Another Brother

Achievement Unlocked: Ultimate Duo

A fourth member. And he's supposed to be our Leader. And a second brother. Katsuki won't like this, but he can get over it. . . . Well. .

"Nee-chan teaches hand-to-hand." Ryoji reveals.

"That's why I asked her to come today." Yota-Sensei informs me. "She agreed to meet you. But. Even if she agrees, that doesn't mean you can slack with me."

"You got it, Yota-Sensei!" I bow politely to Isano. "Thank you for your time, Shogo-san."

"Heh." Isano smirks at me. "At least you've got manners. Where are the other two?"

"Watching Hero fights."

Yota-Sensei shares a look with Isano, who does not look pleased. Maybe she doesn't like Heroes. Or it could be . .

"I won't teach them." A lump forms in my throat. "I don't teach reckless fools who needlessly go to dangerous places. They can just as easily watch them on the News."

"Don't Heroes-"

"Heroes have years of training and discipline behind them when they fight." Her face is stern. "They also know when not to get involved and when they're not needed."

"Yes, Shogo-san."

"Enough of that." She waves a hand as if to dismiss the previous topic. "Yota mentioned your goal to be an Underground Hero."

"I want to support my friends, but I don't want all the attention." I reply. "I don't like big crowds."

"To support your friends. .?" Isano gives a side glance to Yota-Sensei. "That is a more noble goal than a majority of Heroes today."

Ryoji steps up next to me. He's shorter by half a foot, and that amuses me for some reason. Katsuki and Izuku are nearly your height. My new Party member offers an encouraging smile. It's oddly reassuring. Isano's expression softens.

"Alright." She nods. "I'll train you at the same time as my cute Otouto."

Ryoji doesn't make a remark about being called cute. He just shoots a sly look her way.

"Don't you have a date?" Her face is cherry red.

"It's not-!" Isano cuts herself off, turning to Yota-Sensei. "I . . do have a date, actually."

"Congrats." Yota-Sensei smirks. "Don't keep her waiting. I'll keep the kids entertained."

"We begin tomorrow." Isano nods to me, not bothering to respond to the taunt. "Thursday and Friday every week. Be here at five in the morning or don't bother showing up. I'll be back."

"Bye, Nee-chan."

"See you, Otouto."

We turn back to Yota-Sensei expectantly. They raise an eyebrow. Their lips curl upward.

"Do what you want. This is your only free day."

"Sundays and Mondays-"

"Don't push it."

Ryoji links arms with me and leads me out. "I know a great ice cream place."

"Do they have mint chocolate?" A smile stretches across my face.

"I like your style."

Ryoji isn't like Katsuki or Izuku. He's not quite as silent as I am, but he has confidence and this charismatic aura around him. No wonder my Quirk sees him as our Leader. Also, he has a different kind of smart. Katsuki, despite his constant anger, is a natural genius. Izuku is analytical, as he can break down Quirks, and people with the right training, within a few minutes of seeing them in action. Then there's me. Rather than smart, I can be clever, which is not actually the same thing. Due to this 'not being my first Rodeo', I come up with the off-the-wall solutions the other two wouldn't have thought of. It also means that I can convince them to eat weird combinations of food by telling them that it's either 'an American thing' or 'something from my culture'. Watching the absolute disgust on their features when I got them to put honey mustard on their ice cream was priceless. But. On to Ryoji.

He, like the rest of us, has a different type of smart. Ryoji is. . people smart. Or street smart. Whichever. The blue-haired boy takes us on a path that very obviously avoids where I normally walk. It's an area that usually has the most Yellow. When I point this out, Ryoji lets me know I'm lucky that I haven't been kidnapped yet. Guess I'm definitely not street smart. Because you can't put yourself in another person's perspective, and therefore can't understand why others don't behave like you do. Right. Like, what could make someone want to hurt an animal? Animals are better than people, regardless.

My, our, new Leader does not necessarily want to be a Hero. But we discuss the pros and cons, and Ryoji is sold. He'll be a fantastic co-leader to Katsuki if we do manage our own Agency.

It's peaceful, talking to Ryoji. No overexcited fanboy squealing, or enraged yelling, or curse words every other word. Speech flows smoothly from me instead of me having to constantly focus on my words to stay coherent. Even in English, I sometimes need to go back and repeat what I said so that it comes out clearly. Which is why I mostly stay silent. But hanging out with Ryoji is different. He's patient and non-judging.

His parents both work as Sidekicks at the same Agency as my Mom. Isano, his older sister and our trainer, decided against the Hero path. Too much energy to give for other people, she had explained to him.

"You don't like crowds?" Ryoji eventually asks.

"No." I shake my head. "Too many people for my Quirk to keep track of. I get a bad headache and start to go into an anxiety attack."

"Not a panic attack?"

"They're not the same." With a shrug. "Panic attacks come at you out of nowhere. They don't last as long, but it feels like your heart is being ripped right out of your chest. Anxiety attacks are caused by certain . . circumstances depending on the person. They only last as long as the stressor is present, but is zaps your energy for the rest of the day and you need time alone to regain that energy."

He nods thoughtfully. "You know, you speak more clearly when you're confident about something."

My face heats up at that. It's the most I've talked in a while. Probably the most I've ever talked.

"Or maybe it's because you're easy to talk to." He averts his eyes. "Izuku and Katsuki are fun to train with, to plan with, but they both have such high energy that . .That it's really draining. Or kinov- ugg- kind of like staring into the sun."

Ryoji doesn't poke fun of my mistake. "You too. I mean! Not the part about 'Izuku and Katsuki', because I don't know them! But the 'you're easy to talk to' part. The only thing girls I go to school with talk about is boys or strong Quirks."

"I'm focusing on my own path first." Our eyes meet. "When I'm older, then I might think about that stuff."

"Right." He grins broadly.

And then a familiar duo of Blue appears. It's Mr. Aizawa and Mr. Yamada. The blond stops and grins when he spots me.

"Hey, HEY!" He drags his reluctant friend over. "It's the little trouble maker! Kana-chan, right?"

"That's me." Ryoji slides forward to kind of stand in front of me. "This is my friend, Ryoji. Ryoji, this is Yamada-san and Aizawa-san."

Mr. Aizawa's eyes narrow. Loud, blond man isn't so loud. Ryoji links arms with me again. There's something I'm missing here, isn't there? They never said their full names in front of you, idiot. Oh. OH. Crap. It's too late now.

"Take a breath." I smile thinly at Ryoji.

He doesn't have time to finish a thought. "Wha-"

Fast Travel

We both manage to land on our feet in the gym. My new friend turns an interesting shade of green while my head kills me. A tickle in my nose. I wipe it with the back of my hand. And it's not snot. It's blood. So that's why Auntie was so upset before. At least I don't pass out this time.

"That's one way to travel." Yota-Sensei frowns down at me. "But you might've overdone it."

"Ryoji?" His eyes lock on the blood dripping down my chin. "You okay? Sorry about Jumping like that. At least I didn't pass out this time."

". .You passed out 'last time'?" Yota-Sensei's voice is deadly quiet.

I have to hide my eyes from the suddenly blinding light. Everything spins for a second. A pair of arms scoop me up. Yota-Sensei lays me down on a yoga mat. They shake their head.

"There's no couch, so that's the best you'll get." They stand. "I'll find a washcloth or something."

Then Ryoji is there, playing with my hair. His hands falter for a moment.

". . 'Ryoji'?" It sounds like he's blushing.

Right, I forgot how formal Japanese people can be. "Is that okay? You can call me Kana, if you want."

"Yeah, that's. .I'd like that." He doesn't bother protesting or seem against it.

Yota-Sensei comes back with both a box of tissues and a damp washcloth. I wipe off the blood and press the cloth to my forehead. The relief is instant. A flick to my nose makes me jump. My Sensei glares down at me.

"Well, I'll have to let Isano know to train you with that too." Yota-Sensei says evenly. "So you won't give any of us a heart attack when you show up bleeding and tired."

"I felt like I was going to throw up." Ryoji unhelpfully adds.

"Izuku did throw up." Why did I say something that's only digging my grave deeper?

"Nice."

"Yeah, I don't think he landed on his feet either."

Ryoji wheezes. He leans against the wall for support. His laughter is contagious. Even Yota-Sensei snorts at us.

"I'm glad you're getting along." There's a genuine smile in their voice.

"Did you doubt me, Sensei?"

"Someone's getting snarky. It's about time, brat."

The ache clears and I remove the now dry cloth. Yota-Sensei takes it without a word. My family's getting bigger, huh? That's right, let the love in. My chest is light. I didn't realize there was any weight there before. It's nice. I scoot over to the wall and lean next to Ryoji. He nudges my shoulder a little.

"The day's not even half-over and I feel great." I kick my shoes off.

"Nee-chan won't be back for another hour or two."

A peaceful silence rests between us. Yota-Sensei has given us some space. I imagine, even though I've known Izuku and Katsuki longer, Ryoji has already slotted himself into the best friend roll. He inspires me to be confident.

"Want to dance?"

His grin is all the answer I need. My new friend twists off the ground gracefully, and then offers a hand.

I can't wait for him to meet the other two.


Whew! Okay, more OCs! One more Summer chapter and then a new school year! See you guys next time!