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For the rest of the school day, Izuku could feel a pair of eyes trying to burn a hole through behind his head. Every time he looked behind him, sure enough, he would see the same person staring at him. Jiro would be giving him a somewhat embarrassed glare when he saw her, but the moment they would make eye contact, she would immediately turn away from him with a deeper blush.
Izuku sweatdropped, "I can't tell if she's angry or just really, REALLY, embarrassed."
"..."
"Probably the second one."
Izuku had seen Enso come back from the principal's office, but he noticed that he had a more serious aura around him for the rest of the school day. His head was constantly down deep in thought and he even paused a moment to answer a question from a teacher instead of answering immediately like he usually did.
"Did something happen? It must've involved Nezu. What did he say to him?" Izuku wondered, glancing back over his shoulder multiple times.
He glanced over his other shoulder and saw Jiro staring at him once again, who immediately turned her head away.
"There are so many things I have to worry about today..." Izuku sighed. So far, he had met with All Might and learned a little more about Ikari that he has to work on, he ran into Jiro and seemed to have made the girl angry, and now Enso was clearly not being himself despite looking like his usual self.
The school bell then rung to end the day.
"Alright! Freedom!" Their current last period teacher, Present Mic, shouted with his hands up as he rushed out the door.
"He acts more of a high school student than us..." The class sweatdropped.
Everyone started standing up and packing away their bags, Izuku stretched his arms before and started to pack his bag before he heard some commotion from the entrance of the class.
"W-Whats going on!?" Ochako uttered out.
"Huh?" Izuku looked back to see over two dozen students right outside their class' doorway, blocking the path as well as eyeing the students rather curiously.
"What business do you have with Class A?" Iida asked, confronting the students with a karate-chopping gesture.
"We can't get out!" Mineta cried out.
Bakugo got his bag and flung it onto his shoulder, eyes narrowing with a rather serious expression as he walked up to the many students blocking the door.
"They're scouting the enemy, small fry. We're the ones who made it out of the villain's attack, so they probably wanna check us out before the sports festival." He was surprisingly calm as he spoke, understanding exactly why those students were there.
He stopped right in front of the crowd, growling right before shouting, "Out of my way extras!"
The crowd was rather taken aback by this, some even stepping back.
"Kacchan!? Too bold!" Izuku uttered as he appeared near him with his hands over his head, complete disbelief that he called out all those students in such a manner.
"Stop calling these people extras just because you don't know them!" Iida called him out.
"I came to see what the famous Class A was like, but you seem pretty arrogant." A sudden voice called them out within the crowd.
Many people turned their heads and made space for someone to walk to the front.
A somewhat tallboy with sticking out messy indigo hair came from the crowd of students. He had partly triangular purple eyes with dark bags underneath them, and had a somewhat similar cold look as Enso did, but more... tired.
He continued, "Are all students of the hero course like this?"
Izuku and his friends comically shook their head side to side to show that they weren't like him.
The boy sighed, "Seeing something like this makes me disappointed."
One person of the class spoke out, "It's disappointing to see your quick judgment."
Izuku turned and saw Enso going up to the group.
"Please don't make it worse!" Nearly all of the class thought in worry.
Enso stopped next to Bakugo and in front of the indigo haired student.
"None of us are the same, don't go judging our class simply because of only one student."
The indigo haired boy raised an eyebrow, "Oh? You're not exactly giving us a good first impression yourself."
"I'm simply pointing out the facts, no two people are exactly the same. Every student in this school has a different quirk, each one has a different name, each one has different areas of skill. So it's not exactly fair for you to judge all of our class just because of one or a few people."
The tired teen stared at Enso for a silent moment, before rubbing the back of his head with his eyes looking away with a hint of irritation.
"Fine, I might've been quick to judge, but that doesn't change the problem in hand."
"What is that problem?" Enso asked as he crossed his arms.
The boy put his arm down and looked rather serious, "There are quite a few people who enrolled in general studies or other courses because they didn't make it into the hero course, because they couldn't make it into the course no matter how hard they tried. Did you know that?"
"No, I didn't." Enso immediately responded.
"Then that just means you're all weak small fry that aren't good enough to be in the hero course." Bakugo said to them.
The boy raised an eyebrow, "Not good enough? Do you even remember what was it that determined if people got into the hero course in the first place?"
Many people looked down as they recalled the entrance exam.
"Destroying robots... Could you really determine who's fit to be in the hero course by just that?"
He then glared at Bakugo.
"The school has left those of us a chance to finally prove our actual worth. Depending on our results of the sports festival, they'll consider out transfer into the hero course."
His eyes slightly narrowed.
"And it seems that they may also transfer people out."
Nearly all of Class A recoiled from this, the thought of being moved from the class being scary to them.
His eyes glanced at the rest of the class, "Scouting the enemy? I, at least, came to say it doesn't matter if you're in the hero course. If you get too carried away, I'll sweep your feet out from under you."
He put a hand in his pocket.
"I came with a declaration of war."
"This guy is really bold too!" Most of the students thought.
Both groups stared at one another, some staring in fear of having their positions taken, others hoping that maybe they could come into the hero course, but then there was Bakugo and the indigo teen, who glared at each other.
"Hey, Hey, Hey!" A sudden voice shouted from the crowd once more.
"Oh what now?!" Izuku thought frantically.
Someone jumped up from the ground looking rather angry. He had messy gray hair and black eyes that appeared to be tilted dramatically inward. His eyes had thick, jagged, tan-colored substances around it which are presumably his eyelashes, and had sharp, jagged teeth just like Kirishima.
"I'm from Class B next door! I heard you guys fought against villains, so I came to hear about it! Don't get so full of yourself! If you bark so much, it'll be embarrassing for you in a real fight!"
"What's with all of these bold people!?" Izuku thought as he turned into black and white colors.
"Tetsutetsu! What are you saying!?" Another voice pushed through the crowd.
Izuku recognized the voice, "Kendo?"
Kendo managed to bring herself above the crowd and grab the boy named Tetsutetsu by the ear. "What are you saying to the other class? Don't tell me that Monoma has been infecting you with his stupid ideas?"
"I heard that!" An angry voice rang out in the distance.
Everyone sweatdropped.
"Ow, ow! Hey! That hurts Kendo!" Tetsutetsu said as Kendo started to drag him through the students, turning her head to Izuku.
"Sorry about him class A, he's a nice guy too. He just needs a bit of a talk. I'll see you guys at the festival!" Kendo waved awkwardly. But when her eyes came into contact with Izuku, she smiled at him. "See ya Midoriya." Then she left, dragging Tetsutetsu with her.
"Midoriya?" A student mumbled.
"The one who destroyed that robot with one punch?" Another mumbled.
Everyone's eyes turned to Izuku and people started whispering about him.
A vein of anger emerged on Bakugo, "Huh!? Deku! Why the hell are you making yourself seem like the strongest!? I'll kill you!"
"Hey Midori! You're popular!" Mina joked.
"Why is my life like this?" Izuku said with an expressionless face, his entire body turning black and white.
The indigo haired boy heard about enough commotion and turned around, ready to leave, but before he could-
"I understand."
"Hm?" He turned a part of his head back to who said that clear at him, Enso. "What?"
Enso stepped closer to the boy, remembering the conversation he just had with Nezu.
"I know that you'll say exactly what's on your mind, but that might be good here. Not all of the students were treated fairly in their eyes, maybe you could help reassure them?"
"Is that rodent predicting future events unfolding? First that conversation right before the USJ incident, and now this... It may be his high intelligence, but it's still a wonder."
He stopped arm's reach in front of the indigo teen, everyone stopping their muttering and paying attention.
"I understand why you may have a grudge, or at least feel competitive, against class A and the hero course. I understand why you wish to win against us specifically."
The indigo teen scoffed at him. "You're the strongest one here, aren't you? What makes you think you could understand the things that the other students actually struggle for, only to get sent away from the spotlight?"
Hearing the words, 'You're the strongest one here' Bakugo nearly shouted his brains out, but Kirishima paid attention to the mood and covered Bakugo's mouth, where he, Kaminari, and Sero all struggled to hold him back while listening.
Enso narrowed his eyes, "If I really don't understand, then tell me if this is wrong. You, along with all of these other students gathered here, have quirks that aren't fit for destroying robots at the exam, correct?"
The tired teen's eyes narrowed and he looked more serious than before.
"Well?" Enso asked again, 180'd to the crowd of students. "Do you?"
Many students looked down at nearly what looked like shame.
"I assume I'm correct?" Enso he turned back to Shinso.
The boy's pupils looked left and right from the students, then back to Enso.
"Well, no one disagreed. And I can't either so... Yes. You are."
Enso crossed his arms again and continued. "The entrance exam wasn't fair for everyone, I agree with all of you on that. It didn't show anyone's abilities other than strength or destructive power. There wasn't anything in the exam to test someone's intelligence, there wasn't anything to test quick thinking or reliability, but-"
He turned back to Izuku, who looked surprised.
"-the one thing they did test right, or at least paid attention to correctly, was a person's spirit of saving others."
He turned his head over his shoulder to look at the indigo teen.
"None of you could show off your true abilities of expertise because of the way the exam was set up. I'm sure that some of you deserve to be in the hero course, even if I haven't seen your abilities."
Enso held his fist to his chest. "So if you really think you deserve to be in the hero course, then prove it. Show everyone that you all aren't just some 'small fry' that are hoping to be in a place you aren't ready for. Do your best and use the festival to show where you belong."
There was a moment of silence among the ground, with some of them actually looking determined more.
Izuku smiled, "He... He's actually encouraging them."
"Enso telling everyone to do their best… telling them to prove themselves..." Kirishima said with comical tears, "That's so manly- ouch!" He was interrupted as Bakugo bit his hand.
"Would you guys let go of me now you bastards!?" He shouted.
"Such a vile person..." Sighed the tired teen. But then he actually formed a small smirk, turning to Enso. "You know... You're a much better person than I thought you would be, despite looking so... villain-like."
Class 1-A flinched, "Is that really okay to say!?"
"I get that sometimes." Enso responded, not fazed at all by the compliment also sounding slightly insulting. "Now, may I ask you something else?"
"What is it?"
"We've been talking, but I don't even know your name, care to enlighten me?"
The teen looked as if he actually considered whether to tell him his name or not, but he chuckled and responded.
"Shinso. Hitoshi Shinso."
"Well Shinso, I'm Enso Ureshi."
"I already know who you are. You've already made quite the impression among many people."
"I see... I hope I changed that impression though."
Enso stuck his hand out.
Many people had anticipation in their eyes, wondering if the two were going to shake hands and mark good terms among the classes.
Shinso turned away, "Sorry... We're not here to be friends."
"He ruined the moment!" Everyone shouted in their minds.
"But you can still be respected rivals to one another." Enso didn't hesitate.
Shinso raised an eyebrow, turning back.
"Just a bit more, a little more." Izuku hoped.
Shinso then chuckled, reaching as well.
And the two shook hands.
~{An Hour Later}~
"One, two, three. One, two, three, and spin." Enso called out, watching Izuku move around gracefully as some music played.
Izuku was following Enso's counting and danced to the beat at a fast paste. His feet moved with each said number and the moment Enso said 'spin', Izuku spun in place rather fast while balancing on one foot.
"Now, handstand."
Izuku stopped spinning and leaned forward despite being dizzy, then placing his hands on the ground and sticking both of his legs straight up in the air.
Enso walked over and examined his stance. Izuku was slightly shaking, most notably in his elbows as he struggled not to bend him, and there were small movements in his feet.
"Hm, not perfectly straight yet, but you're nearly there. You've greatly improved." He took a few steps back. "Now, consecutively swing your legs while coming towards me."
Izuku leaned his body forward and when he fell to the ground he rolled onto his back, then sticking his legs out and proceeding to helicopter his legs up while using his hands to shift his body to move towards Enso.
When Izuku got close enough, he used his hands to slightly push his body up while his leg swung right at Enso's face.
Enso lifted his hand up and caught Izuku's foot in it, feeling a mighty impact with it.
"Your swings are strong, good. If you keep on improving, you'll be able able to use dancing effectively at the sports festival."
He pushed Izuku's foot away and the boy twirled along the ground and managed to move upright while spinning, getting back to his feet in a crouching position.
He then noticed Izuku smiling rather cheerfully.
"Did something happen?"
"Hm? What do you mean?" Izuku asked happily, stretching his legs. When he got up and turned to his left, he saw Enso's face right in front of his and looking rather menacing.
"What is it?"
"EEP!" Izuku backed up and shivered. "I-It's nothing!"
Enso appeared in front of him again. "Tell me."
"Alright just stop getting close!" Izuku shouted rather scared.
Enso backed up and gave him some space.
Izuku panted from the scare he got, "W-Well, I'm just kind of looking forward to you actually speaking at the sports festival now."
Enso raised an eyebrow, "Why exactly?"
Izuku smiled at him, "Well, today when the other classes checked on us and Kacchan gave them a bad impression of us, you came in and knew exactly what to say. Now I think we're on good terms with those classes at least. So I hope you could do the same at the festival and encourage everyone while also putting out the fire that our class had caused recently from misunderstandings."
"Hmph, I simply pointed out the facts and negativities I've noticed of the school. The entrance exam wasn't well thought out and some quirks are reliable for heroes even if they aren't center around fighting villains or destroying things."
"But that didn't mean that you had to also encourage everyone." Izuku pointed out, smiling.
"Of course I had to encourage them. We may be able to find some actually strong allies."
"Huh?" Izuku's smile faded. "What... What do you mean by that?"
He crossed his arms.
"We'll need allies with a particular set of skills in order to help us out. We'll need people we can work with to obtain information, to obtain power-ups, to fight alongside us. We'll need all the help we can get."
"B-But... for what?" Izuku asked.
"Not yet... I shouldn't say yet."
"Then when!?" Izuku asked eagerly, although very worried.
"When you're strong enough to at least... Run or hold your ground."
"Eh?" Izuku shivered.
"End of discussion, we're moving on to you're training." Enso strictly said.
Izuku looked down, looking defeated. "Fine..."
Enso noticed his sad tone and sighed, "You'll hear soon... trust me."
"I hope so..." Izuku thought.
Enso turned around. "We've invested a rather good amount of time in your dancing and you're near a good enough level to use it in actual combat. So now, I think it's time for us to work on to another topic alongside it for you to learn."
Izuku perked up. "I admit that learning dancing wasn't exactly something that I expected to receive, but I actually think that now it's helping me! I wonder what I'll next!"
"You're going to learn how to sing now."
Izuku turned comically black and white in shock, sudden lightning from nowhere striking behind him.
"C-C-C-Come again?"
"You didn't hear me? I said you're going to learn to sing-"
"Why in the world would I need that!?" Izuku interrupted him. "You can't possibly be suggesting to sing in a battle to fight, are you!?"
"Not exactly." Enso said, turning back to him.
"B-B-But then- Why do I-? How-!?"
"Calm down, I don't see why you're freaking out from this."
"I-I-It's just that... Singing is not something I can do!" Izuku declared.
"Is your singing voice that bad?" Enso asked him.
"Yes! I mean no! I-I mean- I don't know! I've never sung before and thinking of singing in front of other people is making me shiver to my core! There's no way I-"
*Smack!*
Izuku blinked as a red hand mark was on his face now.
"Eh?"
"Stop freaking out. I'm not going to make you sing in front of a crowd."
Izuku rubbed his cheek, surprisingly calm and not even flinching in pain from the slap.
"Th-Then, why am I gonna learn to sing!?"
Enso sighed, "It's to strengthen your internal organs."
Izuku blinked, "My... internal organs?"
"Your lungs specifically. I'm taking a page out of Present Mic's book and try to have you use One For All in the form of creating sounds waves, or just shouting to be simple."
"I can do that!?" Izuku shouted with his eyes comically shooting out of his sockets.
"I've seen beasts with special abilities to let them roar with so much destructive force that the land around them crumbles. I wish to try something similar with you."
"You wanna make me destroy the ground!?"
"No, I don't think you would be able to do that no matter how hard I would make you try. I wish to have you project your voice in a precise area in front of you with enough force to either hurt villain's ears for a moment for you to strike, or to just muster enough force to send them back entirely."
Izuku raised a finger up, "B-But I could use Delaware Smash to do that! Can't I!?"
"Well, I suppose you can, but ever fighter should have a few secret tricks up their sleeve. What if someone holds you down or wraps something around you to keep your arms close?"
Izuku looked rather surprised, "Y-You really thought about this, haven't you?"
"Of course I did."
Izuku sighed but couldn't help but smile, "Yeah, figures... So I'm going to use singing to strengthen my vocal cords so that I could raise my voice?"
"Precisely."
"You know... If you were anyone else, I would've called you crazy for this idea."
"But I'm not anyone else. So let's go." Enso started to head to the door.
Izuku blinked in confusion, "Eh? Go? Go where!? I'm not going to practice here?!"
"If we were to have you sing here, there would no doubt be noise complaints from the nearby residence and they'll find out that this abandoned building is actually inhabited."
Izuku grabbed his bag and chased after Enso out the door.
"B-But then where are we going?" Izuku asked as he quickly walked down the stairs.
"Somewhere that's meant for you to be loud." Enso declared, the sunset shining at him and Izuku from just on the ocean.
~{A Few Minutes Later}~
They came upon a small building with signs starting to light up in neon colors due to the sky getting dark, indicating it being nighttime.
Izuku looked up at the doorway and read the rather bright and colorful sign.
"Scream And Shout Karaoke Bar"
Izuku had a blank look on his face as he blinked multiple times, staring up at the sign.
"Um-" He turned to Enso, "Don't tell me-?"
"This place has soundproof rooms, good-quality speakers, microphones, and even a few rather spacious rooms. They even serve meals such as Udon, Sushi, and other Japanese delicacies along with over a dozen drinks and different flavored Mochi to eat."
"Why did you seem to describe the food the most?" Izuku sweatdropped. "Is food really the one thing he enjoys?"
"Let's go." Enso said, walking forward into the Karaoke Bar.
Izuku followed him in and admired the place. They were in a small lobby that had red carpet floor, dim blue lamps, and purple leopard walls all around the place.
Enso went up to the receptionist counter desk.
"Yes? How may I help you?" The middle-aged, brown hair lady asked him.
Enso placed a wad of cash on the counter.
"One medium-sized room for two hours, two large drinks of boba, and a set of every type of sushi you have. Keep the change."
"What the hell is up with you're appetite!?" Izuku shouted behind him with bulging eyes.
"Bless your soul." The receptionist said as she took the wad of cash and gave him a key for a room. "It's all the way down the hall"
"W-Wait!" Izuku cried out.
The two turned to him.
Izuku fiddled with his fingers rather embarrassingly, "D-Do you guys have Katsudon?"
"Yes, we do! I'll bring you one on the house!" The receptionist said proudly.
"Th-Thank you very much!" Izuku bowed.
"I hope the food won't be disappointing." Enso said as he started down the hall.
"Don't worry! I'll make sure it's perfect!" The receptionist said, then running into a door behind her that led into a kitchen.
Izuku followed Enso eagerly all the way into their room.
When they went inside, Izuku noticed a change of color scheme compared to the lobby. The ground had gray carpet, soft-looking black couches against the wall, and just one long, see-through table in the very middle of the room. There were large lamp light over them and even an air conditioner too. In the back of the room was a small wooden stage that consisted of a big screen, a microphone stand, medium-sized speakers on the sides, and a soundbox.
"This place looks rather nice." Izuku remarked in awe.
"The food should be here in... a long time. So for now, let's get started." Enso walked to the soundbox and found a certain outlet in it, where he inserted his device onto it.
"What's that?" Izuku asked him curiously as he sat down on the comfy couch.
A small device with music I've been searching for you to sing."
The television turned on and showed a list of songs.
"Each song will have higher notes than the previous ones, as well as a few unique tones. You'll use these to constantly practice changing your voice and pace your breathing."
He tossed Izuku the microphone, which the boy caught easily.
"For now, I will be playing actual versions of each song, try focusing on remembering the rhythm and lyrics. Then you'll practice singing them in the instrumental versions."
Izuku raised his hand.
"What?" Enso asked him.
"Are these songs from previous worlds, or from here!" Izuku asked him eagerly.
"...You'll figure it out."
"He didn't answer!" Izuku sweatdropped.
Enso pressed play on the first song and Izuku heard the sounds of electric guitars and drums.
He heard a few "OooOOOoooo's!" That went along with the beat and listened.
As the song went on Enso spoke, "Pay attention to the feeling that each word gives, pay attention to the sound of the tone."
After about 3 minutes and 55 seconds, the song faded away and left Izuku nervously shaking.
"How am I supposed to match that!?"
Enso picked the instrumental version, "Have you memorized it well?"
"I-I think so." Izuku uttered nervously.
Enso noticed his tense posture, "Take a few deep breaths, I don't want you stuttering throughout the song alright? Just let yourself get absorbed in it, try even closing your eyes, it may help."
Izuku listened and took a few deep breaths, actually seeming to help him calm down.
He stood up at Enso with a determined, yet slightly sweaty expression, gripping the microphone tightly.
"I'll... I'll do my best. I just need another moment."
~{Meanwhile}~
"W-Wait a second Ashido!" Jiro shouted to her current pink classmate holding her hand and pulling her down the sidewalk with a smile.
"Come on Jiro! It'll be fun!" Mina exclaimed with a toothy grin.
"Could you tell me where we're going!?" Jiro asked her.
Mina stopped and waved her hand and presented a building in front of her. "Right here!"
Jiro looked up and saw neon light signs.
"Scream and Shout Karaoke Bar."
"A karaoke bar!? You can't possibly be saying-!?"
"Of course! You had such a nice singing voice when I heard you earlier today! This place is amazing too! So come on, let's go!" She dragged her inside.
"Wait! Hold on!" Jiro said.
Mina went to the receptionist's desk and placed some money. "One room for an hour please!"
"Thank you, but I wish to let both of you know that if you make any orders of food, it will take a while for us to bring it to you because we have a rather large order currently coming."
"Okay, I'll keep that in mind! Thank you!" Mina said as she received the key from the lady.
Mina pulled Jiro into second to last room, which had a similar-looking room as the people next door.
Jiro was pushed into a couch where Mina then jumped right next to her. "What should we start with?!" She asked excitingly.
"What makes you think I want to 'start'?!" Jiro shouted angrily.
"Ehhhh? But you came with me!" Mina said in fake sadness.
"You dragged me here!" Jiro retorted, earlobes visibly agitated.
Mina pouted, "Come on Jiro, at least sing one song? I'll sing with you if it makes you feel any better!"
"I said no!" Jiro said, shooting up from her seat.
Mina's cheeks puffed up and she had comedic tears going down her eyes, "How could you be so mean?... I just wanted to hang out together so we could be friends... *Sniff*!"
"That won't work on me! I've seen you do that before already!" Jiro pointed at her, not fazed at all.
Mina turned her face around for a moment, look or irritation on her face. "Tsk! Dang it!"
She shot up from her seat and grabbed the girl by her shoulders, shaking her back and forth with more needy eyes this time. "Please! Please! Please! Please! Please! Please! Plea-!"
"Alright! Alright! Alright! Just stop shaking me!" Jiro shouted, her head feeling dizzy.
"Yippee!" Mina stuck her hands up in celebration.
"Just one song, alright?" Jiro said rather irritated.
"Sure! I'll buy you food too! Hope you like tempura!" Mina rushed to the phone by the door and started placing an order.
Jiro adjusted her now wrinkly U.A uniform as she glared over at Mina making the call.
"Seriously, she just decided to drag me here after we conveniently saw each other at the mall." Jiro thought as she took out her phone and started scrolling through her music.
"What the hell was up with today? I literally got dragged against my will here, there were all those guys from the other classes basically checking us out, and during lunch I ran into Izuku and he-"
She flinched and her cheeks warmed up as she remembered.
"No! I'm not laughing! You're just too cute to look at!"
She dropped her phone into her lap and placed her hands on her cheeks. Her eyes swirled and her mouth clamped closed in pure embarrassment
She started scratching her hair.
"He said that without stuttering and his heartbeat was so fast! He really wasn't lying! But he still knows what I was wearing! What he goes telling everyone!?"
Jiro stopped freaking out as she remembered Izuku's smiles and caring personality. "No... He isn't like that... He's too nice."
"Alright! So what do we start with?" Mina asked excitingly, but then she formed a look of surprise to see the girl red. "Huh? You aren't that embarrassed to sing are you?"
"N-No! It's just that- You know what!? You pick a song first!" Jiro shoved her toward the tiny stage.
"Yikes! Um, okay... Good to see you getting into it though!" Mina grinned, going to the soundbox and examing the list of songs.
Jiro leaned back and looked up, still red but taking deep breaths, "Why am I getting so worked up over what he said? He did help make me feel a little better about myself though... But he could've just been being nice..."
Jiro's earlobes then picked up a certain vibration in the distance, as well as faint words.
"This cruel fate, engraving-"
She leaned her head closer to the wall, trying to find the source of the words. "Is someone singing next door? I wonder..."
She stuck her earlobe into the wall, listening in full on the person singing next door.
"-hoping it reveals itself all to me and then I will know just where to go..."
"Alright! I think I picked something good for you!" Mina came back smiling.
Jiro didn't even seem to notice her presence and continued listening, puncturing her other earlobe on the same wall.
"What is it this time? You're not gonna get out of this-"
"Shh! I hear something." Jiro cut her off, listening clearer to the entirety of the room.
She heard an instrumental of guitars and drums, but she knew that it was clearly a person singing the vocals. He sounded familiar, but his voice also seemed to calm Jiro of her embarrassment, now entranced by it.
"Hey! Hey! What do you hear?" Mina pressed her head against the wall, "I can't hear anything! These walls are supposed to be soundproof!"
"Shut up! Let me listen!" Jiro snapped at her. She then closed her eyes and fully took in the voice.
She heard his voice get louder as the beat and music quickened.
"I hear a voice a' calling, telling me to risk it,
asking if I have been going the distance,
singing with a passion that I cannot denyyyyyy!"
"My eyes are swollen with the tears that I've been crying,
but to the rest of the world, ever-smiling,
singing for the courage that I'm dying to shoooooow!"
The drums suddenly rabidly beat before the lyric continued.
"With my peace sign up when I say goodbye,
write the story of a hero!~"
The electric guitars staring playing louder as the person momentarily went silent and waited.
Jiro unconsciously formed a smile as she listened, "I've never heard this song before. Heh, and the guy's not half bad... He's good even. It's as if he's putting everything he's got into this."
Mina just waited behind her with a pout.
Then Jiro heard the lyrics change.
"I didn't want to say that I protected you
and you were never weak, I'm number two.
You were stronger than I have ever been
and you mean more to me than you know..."
Jiro's smile slightly lowered, "This sounds personal..."
"I have changed myself since the day I yelled,
about how you go on by yourself,
so if you have to laugh, I should tell you that,
I'm afraid that I'm all alone..."
Jiro remained still as she listened to the rest of the song, making out what some of the lyrics could mean, while Mina fiddled with the controller for the soundbox.
This went all the way until Jiro heard the song end with the final lyrics:
"With my peace sign up when I say goodbye,
write a story of a hero!"
Jiro smiled as she turned to Mina. "Sorry about that, I just heard someone singing nice and... kind of wanted to hear it."
Mina couldn't help but feel annoyed that she had to wait in that silence, but she also couldn't' help but grin at what Jiro said.
"Oh wow, if you're the one saying that someone was singing nice, then they must be really good." She smirked.
Jiro turned red, "Wh-What's that supposed to mean!?"
Mina rushed over to her, "Don't stop listening! Listen to who's there now! See if you could learn anything!"
"But... isn't that a violation of privacy?!" Jiro uttered.
Mina deadpanned. "And what were you just doing just now?"
"Urk!" She turned away, in defeat. "Fair enough..." She plugged her earlobes back into the wall and listened.
Izuku let out a breath of relief and even smiled the moment he finished the song, then opening his eyes.
"How did I do- What's with that expression!?" Izuku cut himself off as he saw Ens with a look of shock on his face, one that he's ever hardly seen.
Enso stood up and looked down, walking towards Izuku silently.
"Wh-What is it?" Izuku uttered nervously.
The mentor grabbed Izuku by the shoulder and pushed him against the wall, then looking up with a very serious expression.
Izuku started to sweat nervously. "Did I do something wrong!?"
"Did you lie to me?" Enso asked in a serious tone.
"L-Lie about what!?"
"You've claimed that you've never sung before, yet your voice was shining and managed to perfectly match the rhythm and feeling of that song."
"I-I-I swear! I've never done this before! Honest!" Izuku frantically spoke.
Enso let go of him and back up, "Hm, you're clearly not lying, but to think you had a naturally nice singing voice. People are really surprising..."
"Th-Thank you?" Izuku stammered.
"So now I suppose we test out more songs for you. You ready Izuku?"
On the other side of the wall, Jiro completely freaked out, jumping away from the wall.
"D-D-Deku!?" She exclaimed out loud, turning immediately red.
Mina's eyes widened but her eyes sparkled. "No way! That was Midori who was singing 'nice' as you said!? Let's go over there and check him out!" She got up and started to pull Jiro."
"Mina! Wait! Please!" Jiro desperately tried to pull her arm back, but couldn't match Mina's physical strength. Her mind just kept frantically thinking about her earlier encounter with Izuku and how awkward it would be to face him now.
Enso was looking through the list of songs.
"You seem much rather ahead than I thought you would be in terms of controlling your notes and tones, perhaps you could learn how to apply One For All into your lungs much sooner than I thought you would."
Suddenly they both heard a rather rapid knock on their door.
Enso immediately appeared at the door. "Is that already our food? To think they would finish it quickly."
"Why'd he move so fast!? Is he looking that forward to the food!?"
Enso opened the door only to see a familiar pink girl with a rather angry and blushing punk girl.
"Enso?! You're here too?" Mina exclaimed excitingly. She then looked past him and saw Izuku sitting on the couch.
"M-Mina!? J-Jiro!?"Izuku cried out, shooting up from his seat.
Enso's eyes twitched, "Why... and how are you here?"
Mina let herself in, still holding a nervous Jiro behind her. "Heya guys! Jiro heard Midori sing from the other room and really liked it! She smiled a lot!"
Jiro suddenly gripped onto Mina's shoulder and her earlobes sparkled threateningly.
"Ashido... I was trying to be nice. But I think I have to shut you up." Jiro glared.
Mina shivered and let her go, rushing behind Izuku. "Midori! Save me!" She comically shouted.
"U-Um-!" Izuku looked at Jiro and the moment their eyes met, both remembered lunchtime and poofed in red.
Enso crossed his arms and his eyes shined red in a threatening glare, the room even diming to a red color for a moment.
"What are you both doing here?" He asked.
The three of them shivered and backed up, "Scary!"
Mina tried to keep her cool, "H-Hey you don't have to be so mean you know? Aren't you glad that two cute girls came to talk with you guys?"
"No"
"So blunt!" Mina shouted with bulging eyes.
She turned to Izuku, "Midori, do you think we're cute?!" she asked with puppy dog eyes as she pulled Jiro next her, who cried out "Eh?" in surprise.
Izuku turned red and turned away from them in embarrassment, "Y-Yeah… You're both really c-c-cute…" he managed to say.
Jiro turned into an even deeper shade of red and looked away like Izuku, "Again with the cute!?"
Mina formed a toothy grin, "Aren't you just the sweetest Midori" She teased.
A hand then grabbed her head.
"Eh?" Mina uttered, pupils trying to look up.
Enso had her head around his palm and gripped tightly onto it, holding her up. "You never answered my question." He said coldly.
"Owowowow! It's gonna come off! It's gonna come off! Save me!" Mina shouted comically as her legs dangled in the air and hands struggled to pry Enso's hand off her head.
Izuku and Jiro both turned blue in shock, backing up.
"Tell me... please?" Enso said, eyes flashing.
"He's saying please while holding her up like that!?"
"Okay! Okay!" Mina desperately shouted.
Enso released her and she landed with a thud on the ground, her head steaming up from pain. "Ow... Ow..."
She stood up, "How could you do that to a girl?!"
Enso reached for her head again.
"Wait! Jiro and I were just conveniently here to have fun until she somehow heard Izuku singing in the other room! So of course we came to say hi to him!" Mina quickly spoke, backing up from Enso.
"So in other words, neither of you have a real reason for being here." Enso said.
Mina rubbed her head, looking rather ticked off now. "Oh come on! We're friends and classmates you know!?"
"E-Enso, be nice. Please." Izuku said.
Enso was quiet before turning away, "Tsk..."
"Excuse me?"
They all turned to the doorway and saw the receptionist lady with a serving tray full of large amounts of food.
"So much food!" Mina and Jiro thought.
"Here is your order. But why are others in the same room?" The lady asked curiously.
"Th-They're friends!" Izuku answered.
"Oh! Then I'll bring their meals here later as well!" The woman said as she pushed the tray in. "Enjoy!" She then left the room.
"Good grief..." Enso said as he sat down and examined the trays of food.
Mina and Jiro both stared curiously at the food.
Izuku whispered something into Enso's ear, his eye twitched and he sighed.
"Fine..."
Mina and Jiro looked confused.
Izuku smiled at them.
"Wanna eat?"
~{A Few Minutes Later}~
"Hold on a moment, so you're telling me that Izuku wanted to have a fighting trick up his sleeve, so you told him to learn how to control his voice by singing so he could scream kinda like Present Mic?" Jiro asked with a somewhat unconvinced look. She placed a roll of sushi into her mouth.
Enso swallowed a roll as well, "Yes, but he wants to it be a reliable attack, so he wishes to attempt to focus the power of his quirk into his lungs and vocal cord to actually scream rather effectively as an attack."
"In his lungs? But what if he uses a lot of power?"
"Then obviously, like his arms and fingers, his lungs will literally. explode."
A mental image of two balloons popping occurred.
"Explode!?" Jiro, Mina, and even Izuku shouted as they turned in black and white colors.
"Wait, why are you surprised!?" Mina asked Izuku, regaining her color back.
"I didn't know about this either! Enso, you could've told me!" Izuku said.
"Well, you wanted to get stronger. It'll only happen if you use all your power or above your limit into your lungs. So just don't be an idiot and you'll live." Enso said as he dipped another roll of sushi in soy sauce.
Izuku hugged himself and started shivering nervously, "T-T-To think that my lungs could e-explode..."
"Well, you heard him. Just don't be stupid and you'll be fine." Jiro nudged him, taking a sip of her drink.
"But I'm curious, Ureshi-" Mina started.
"Just Enso."
"Enso, why are you teaching Midori this anyway?"
Izuku nearly choked on his drink.
"Simple, he wanted me to help him get stronger, so I am. Easy as that."
"Aw, what a nice friend." Mina smiled.
"Okay, I know that you're really strong and all, but do you really think you could make Deku's voice as strong as Mic's? Mic's quirk literally is screaming." Jiro pointed out.
Enso placed his plate of food down, "Of course not. There will be no way for Izuku's voice to scream even closer to Present Mic's high frequency, but I'm aiming for something different. I'm trying to help Izuku have a scream that's focused in a specific direction that would be strong enough to at least move people back and maybe even break certain objects."
"Ooo! Cool! What gave you the idea to suggest that to Midori in the first place? Because of Present Mic?" Mina asked curiously.
Enso glanced up, "I actually got the idea from Jiro."
"Me?" Jiro looked surprised.
"Yes, I've seen the way you've used your quirk to plug your earlobes into objects and use the vibrations to shatter them apart. So I figured Izuku may be able to do something similar, but clearly different, with his own quirk." Enso took a sip of Boba.
Izuku smiled, turning to Jiro. "I guess Enso saw you as good inspiration."
Jiro felt herself getting flustered and turned away from him.
"Which remind me, Jiro, do you play musical instruments?" Enso asked what felt to be out of nowhere.
Jiro looked rather surprised, turning to him, "Wh-Where is this coming from?"
"Please answer." Enso said.
Mina and Izuku looked rather curious.
"Well, yeah... I do know how to play a few…" Jiro said rather embarrassingly, twirling her earlobe and looking away.
"Which ones?"
"W-Well… I think I do the best at the guitar. Can I ask why it's important?" Jiro asked him.
Enso looked up and began to brainstorm ideas, and Izuku could swear that several different math equations were flying in the air.
He then gazed back to Jiro.
"Could it be possible for you to teach Izuku how to play the guitar?"
"Huh!?" Izuku and Jiro both uttered out in surprise.
"You don't have to do it now, but in the future." Enso reassured.
"That's not the problem! Why me!? Why can't you do it!?" Jiro asked him.
"Because I don't play the guitar." Enso responded.
"Urk!"
"I don't see whats the problem."
"Yeah Jiro! You should teach him! Then you could both play and sing at the same time!" Mina said excitingly.
Izuku perked his head to Jiro, "Y-You sing?"
Jiro turned away from him, "A little..." she said as she twirled her earlobe again.
"U-Um..." Izuku looked down and fiddled his fingers. "I-I-I actually would like to learn how to p-play an instrument... from you..."
"Eh?" Jiro blinked.
Mina came behind her and grinned, "Come on Jiro! Midori is begging you to teach him! You can't refuse!"
"I'm not really begging..." Izuku sweatdropped.
Jiro thought about for a few moments, putting on a serious expression as she looked from Izuku, to Enso, and then back to Izuku.
She stood up from her seat and looked down at Enso, "What do I get out of this?"
Mina pouted, "Come on Jiro, don't be-"
"I'll buy you a guitar of your choice."
"Deal." Jiro shook his hand with a grin.
Izuku and Mina sweatdropped.
"Isn't a guitar a bit too much?" Mina asked awkwardly.
"Not for me." Enso responded.
Izuku facepalmed with a sigh, "What is he? Rich? He must still be relying on gambling for money..."
Jiro turned to Izuku with a grin, "If you're gonna be learning from me, I won't let you back out of it!"
Seeing her suddenly pumped up, Izuku smiled. "I look forward to working with you in the future."
"This is so weird..." Mina thought as she awkwardly slurped her drink from a straw.
"Now..." Enso stood up. "Not to be rude, but may you two leave now? I wish to continue Izuku's lessons in singing and having others here will interfere with that."
"Wow, you're like his personal teacher!" Mina said.
Izuku flinched.
Jiro went over to Mina, "Come on Ashido, let's go. We got our food and we don't want to leave our rented room empty." She grabbed her friend and was actually the one to pull her outside.
"Aw, pooey... I wanted to here Midori sing again!" Mina pouted as she went out with Jiro.
"J-Jiro! One moment!" Izuku got up and followed them to the door.
Jiro raised an eyebrow, "What is it?"
Izuku formed a red color in his cheeks, "U-Um, sorry about... earlier today..."
Jiro didn't even have to think to figure out what he was talking about, blushing madly in an instant.
"Nani? Nani? What happened?" Mina asked, head frantically looking from Izuku to Jiro.
Jiro dashed down away, "Why'd you bring that up you idiot!?"
"Wait! Jiro! Tell me what happened!" Mina ran after her.
Izuku had a blank look on his face.
"You need to learn to speak to girls better." Enso shook his head side to side from his seat.
Izuku looked down with a comedic blue aura.
"Yes sir..."