THREE YEARS LATER

Stepping outside the Midoriya mansion for a bit, Izuku stretched out as he surveyed the massive lawn. The gazebo by the large oak tree had a single occupant under its roof, light pink hair spilling out beneath the sunhat in a loose ponytail. Strolling over, he found one of his wives, Mina, sitting on the patio couch reading a romance manga over her bulging belly in a simple white sundress. She perked up when she saw his shadow cross into her field of vision.

"Oh, Izuku! I didn't expect you home this early."

"Well, I had a bit of a tricky day, but managed to wrap everything up to be home a few hours early," Izuku said, sitting down next to her. "What are you reading?"

"Oh, it's 'The Tide Past Jupiter' again. Thought I'd pick it up for another read while I'm on maternity leave."

"Again? You always say that manga isn't that great, but it feels like almost every other month you're back to reading it again."

Mina shrugged. "Well, I don't think stories necessarily have to be great to mean something to you. Mostly, it..."

She trailed off, hiding her blush with the book as she murmured, "It reminds me of how I ended up with you..."

Blushing himself at the memory, Izuku brought her in for a tight hug as he rubbed at her swollen stomach. "Oh yeah. I remember. And it's a story I'm very much going to enjoy telling little Izuna as he grows up."

"Or Mizuki."

"Or Mizuki, yes. We'll be finding out which one soon."

"Maybe they'll be twins like what happened with Ochaco! I'd love a Satoshi and Nana duo of my own!"

"You joke when you say that, but I don't think we'd be prepared," Izuku said in exasperation. "Seven kids instead of eight was a big surprise, and we're headed for another eight after Ochaco got pregnant again."

"Don't remind me." Mina winced. "It's already been four months, but I think I'm still a little sore from all that."

"Really?" Izuku glanced up and down her body. "Where exactly? I can help alleviate the stress."

Mina shot him a proud smirk as she traced over her lips. "Somewhere around here..."

"Really? Must hurt a lot, then."

"You have no idea..."

He gently caressed Mina's face, bringing her towards him slowly as their lips met. The manga fell, forgotten, onto a stray patio cushion as the two enjoyed the quiet, intimate silence of night together.

THE PRESENT

Pulling up in front of the stairs leading down to the subway station where the derailment had taken place, Itsuka got out of her car and scanned the area for Izuku and Ochaco. She saw the two waving at her behind the caution tape, and she made her way over.

"I hope I didn't keep you guys waiting too long," she said, adjusting her costume.

"Not at all," Izuku said as they all began heading down.

"Eri got to school without any problems?"

"Yup, but we had to sign a few autographs," Izuku said, cringing slightly at the memory. "Some of those kids have to have asked for our signatures a dozen times now. Not that I can blame them. I remember when I was like that."

"You're still like that," Ochaco said flatly, making Itsuka clamp her hand on her mouth to stop any giggles from escaping.

"That aside, after we do a bit of investigation, Mina was hoping to hang out somewhere we could talk," Ochaco said. "She says she knows a good place."

"That sounds good," Itsuka said. "I would feel a little bad about not inviting Setsuna along, though. This has to be private, after all."

"What's private?" said a familiar, perky voice. All three heroes, despite their years of experience, nearly tumbled down the rest of the stairs as they jumped. Behind them was a floating, disembodied head with moss-like hair.

Regaining her composure, Itsuka dropped her voice to a dangerous growl. "Setsuna... I've told you not to sneak up on people like that."

"Chill girl, chill! I was just inspecting the area when I noticed you all," Setsuna said. Her head shot backward nearly ten meters toward the headless body that strutted toward them. Setsuna reattached her head before jumping past the trio and sliding down the railing into the station. As she slid past, Izuku couldn't help but notice how her purple suit clung to her body. In particular, now that she had grown older, her hips had widened considerably and the extra curves weren't lost on Izuku as he stared at her massive ass tightly gripping the stair railing. Ochaco pinched at his ear for looking too long, to which he muttered a quick apology. Itsuka resisted the urge to give him a jealous pinch as well, lest she rouse any suspicions.

Setsuna flashed a toothy grin at them and beckoned them down the steps. "C'mon, we can walk and talk!" Izuku, Itsuka, and Ochako nodded at one another and started down the steps towards Setsuna.

"So? Gonna answer me? What were you guys whispering about?"

"Like we said, it's private," Itsuka said pointedly.

"Aw, no need to be mean. It's been a minute since we've hung out, work or otherwise."

"That's true," Itsuka sighed hugging Setsuna close as she got to the bottom of the steps. "It's wonderful to see you again."

"Aw," Setsuna said as she hugged Itsuka back before pulling away. "I was surprised when Mina said the ultra big shots Deku and Uravity were coming too. We're glad to have the help."

"Any time," Izuku said, continuing down the steps. "So what exactly are we looking at here? I was informed there weren't any serious casualties."

Setsuna's face grew grim. "An unidentified villain of some sort attacked one of the first trains this morning. Me, Awase and Ibara got everybody out, but whoever the perpetrator is, they were huge. And they had these weird whips coming out of their back."

"Nomu?" Izuku asked. Setsuna shrugged.

"Not sure. But that's why it's good you're here. I hate how these things are still scurrying around. Even after everything we've fought for, it's like they refuse to go away." Setsuna clenched her fist. "Like they're allowed to exist because we have to pay for mistakes previous hero generations made."

"Well, we'll get rid of all of them someday," Izuku reassured her, patting her shoulder. "I'm sure of that. And when we do, it'll be a new start for all of us."

Twirling her hair around her finger, Setsuna looked at him mischievously. "You know just what to say to a girl, Midoriya. Be careful Ochaco, he's a smooth talker!"

"W-wait," Izuku said as Setsuna strutted ahead. "I was just trying to..."

"That's just how she is, you know that," Itsuka said, rubbing his back. "When she teases you, that just means she likes you."

"Maybe she likes me a little too much then," Izuku muttered nervously. Ochaco reassured him with a quick peck to his cheek.

"C'mon Mr. Popular, we've got a Mina situation to attend to after this."

Down by the rails, the carnage of the derailed train was laid out on full display. It seemed to have been knocked completely off the tracks, with the wreckage reaching past the ticket booth and toward the stairs. The broken concrete and tile, electrical wires hanging down and the dust scattered all over the floor created a scene of carnage straight out of a disaster movie. Heroes and police officers were roaming about, talking, and investigating the scene. A familiar woman in a form-fitting uniform that strained itself against her voluptuous curves was crouched in front of the tracks, looking down.

"Hey, Mina," Ochaco called out. Her friend perked up, waving at them.

"Oh, guys, you came! So uh, about that thing..."

"We know. It can wait, though," Izuku said firmly. An awkward silence hung in the air after that as nearly everyone shifted nervously. Setsuna looked between the faces of her friends in confusion.

"Am I sensing something weird between you all, or am I just being a little too self-conscious?"

"It's private Setsuna. Sorry," Itsuka said.

"Okay, okay, I get it."

"We're not trying to be rude," Ochaco said placatingly. "It just really is between the four of us."

"And that's fine," Setsuna said. "You guys just seem kinda uneasy."

"It's nothing you have to worry about, Setsuna. Honest," Itsuka reassured.

"I would like to know, however," said Ibara, walking over from the other side of the station. The long vines that consisted of her hair coiled themselves back down her hair as she had finished repairing as much of the damage as she could for the time being. "If something concerns you, Itsuka, I will consult with the Lord on how best to help you."

"That won't be necessary," Itsuka said. "I appreciate the worry, but this is something we need to deal with ourselves."

"I don't like how you've been keeping these things secret from me lately, Itsuka," Ibara said. "But I shall assume there's a reason for it. I shall pray that you see through whatever is troubling you."

"Thanks."

Izuku noticed that Ibara flitted her gaze over to him for a brief second before proceeding to say her greetings to everybody. Maybe he was just being paranoid, but her wariness was a little worrying.

"Yo, guys," said Awase, spiky hair sticking out past its headband. "This thing we're chasing went further down the line. If we want the trains up and running fully again, we're gonna need to flush 'em out."

"I won't be much help, being underground," Ibara admitted. "I'll have to hang back. There's only so much power I can get from the artificial sunlight my support items produce and I've expended much of my strength keeping everything down here from falling into further ruin."

"We'll take care of that," Izuku said. "I'll take the lead with Itsuka right behind me. Ocha, hang back and use some debris in case this villain sneaks past us somehow. Awase can stand by to immobilize them. And Setsuna—"

"Way ahead of you, boss man," Setsuna said. Her head popped off her body again as she flashed a grin and a thumbs up from her now headless neck. The effect, as always, was quite unnerving. "I scouted ahead and heard something coming from a service room already, but I can check to see if it's still there. We thought we'd wait for you before proceeding just in case."

"Glad to see you're thinking quick as always, Tokage," Izuku grinned. "Alright, let's get going."

"Oh, and since I'm sure the temptation is strong, no staring at my ass while I'm gone, boys. Okay?"

Leaving her male friends blushing as she floated away down the dark tunnel cackling, Setsuna proceeded to do her surveillance. She returned a few minutes later, making herself whole again.

"Yeah, they're still there. Got kinda nervous the closer I got, though. I got this feeling from them I can't really explain..." She seemed a little lost for words.

"What is it, Setsuna?" Ibara pressed.

"You're going to think I'm being a little paranoid, but the closer I got to that thing, I started getting scared. Not the normal type of jitters either, this was real terror. It was almost like... well, it was almost like I felt around Shigaraki."

The others grew noticeably stiffer at that.

"Change of plans," Izuku said. "You're all staying here. I'll go alone. Be ready for anything and keep the officers back."

"Hang on, that's not what we agreed on—" Before Itsuka could finish her sentence Izuku had already flown down the tunnel.

"That idiot doesn't listen when things are dangerous… Dammit."

"I mean, it's Midoriya, right?" Awase asked. "He can handle it."

Ochaco remained silent. She walked over to some rubble and began touching loose chunks, getting them to float up by the entrance. Kneeling, she fixed her gaze on the entrance to the tunnel, waiting for what would come out. She and the others jumped as they heard what sounded like one of Izuku's sonic punches. The sound of crushed rock followed and some rather inhuman grunts. The noises continued, growing closer and closer. They heard a whistling sound like an old steam engine. They braced themselves and grew ready for a fight as the sounds grew closer, and then—

WHOOMPH!

A searing gust of air billowed out from the tunnel. Everybody lifted their arms up to their faces to withstand the heat and saw a green blur sliding between the tracks and landing with an explosion of stone and concrete as it impacted the ground.. Out from the tunnel came a black blur. Izuku shot out of his imprint in the ground to meet it, a sound akin to a clap of thunder echoing throughout the station.

As he and the villain clashed in mid-air, everybody managed to get a clear glimpse of them. Bulbous limbs on a grotesquely obese body, ejecting bursts of hot steam out of different pores that ran across its form. Jagged, malevolent yellow eyes and an exposed cranium. There was no doubt. It was a Nomu. But not just any Nomu.

"A High End!?" Mina shouted.

"We need to contain it. Immediately!" Awase yelled.

"Ochaco!" Itsuka shouted as she leaped to help Izuku, fist slamming into the ground where the Nomu had been barely half a second prior, having jettisoned itself with Izuku further down the track. They continued to trade blows even as she ran after them.

Ochaco's weightless rubble had scattered from the massive gust of steam. Abandoning trying to get them all together again, she instead released them and proceeded to use different bits of rubble instead, using her wrist cable to tie them together behind her. "Mina, I need your acid!"

Mina wordlessly ran alongside Ochaco as Izuku continued to trade blows with the monster. It wasn't that his punches weren't powerful enough, but the Nomu's bulbous body was so filled with air that it was akin to punching a giant beach ball. If he used too much power, he also ran the risk of causing more damage to the station and, possibly, officers.

Gritting his teeth, he saw Itsuka running behind the Nomu, massive fist raised. Getting an idea, Izuku kicked the Nomu back and watched it bounce away. He shot out Blackwhip where it latched into the tunnel wall and around a support pillar, suspending him momentarily in the air.

Stretched out for a perilous, tense second, he let Blackwhip launch him forward and he made a corkscrew motion as he rocketed toward the High End. Itsuka was right there to attack from the other side, and as her enlarged fist pushed the Nomu forward, it was met with the studded impact of Izuku's shoes. Trapped between the two, the Nomu seemed to squish like a balloon before searing steam blasted out of its pores. Itsuka cried out in pain, quickly darting away even as Izuku landed on the platform safely away from the blast of heat.

"Take a bite of this," Mina yelled as she splashed some of her acid onto the rubble, making it steam and melt. Using her quirk to make herself float, Ochaco flew up in the air and swung the rubble in a lazy arc, releasing her quirk just as it made its downward trajectory.

"Acid Avalanche!" she shouted, the searing rocks falling onto the now-deflated Nomu and making it cry out in pain, gouging out bits of concrete in its frenzy. Ibara's vines shot out to restrain its rampage, holding its limbs tight around its body.

"Awase, now! The carbon fiber!"

Grunting, Awase jumped down with a massive beam of carbon fiber in his arms, pushing himself against the Nomu and immediately welding it to the wall. There was still some steam pouring out, but he welded the monster to the wall with his quirk as tightly as he could.

"RAGHHHHHHH!"

Spotting the other carbon fiber beams, Izuku grabbed a few with Blackwhip, leaving Ibara to grab the rest. He flung them over onto the tracks and began slamming them into the open parts of the Nomu's body, as Awase continued welding it to the wall with each one. In a matter of seconds they were finished, and the High End Nomu was wrapped up in a carbon fiber cocoon welded to the wall.

Rubbing his forehead beneath his bandana, Awase took a deep breath. "Not how I normally like to blow off steam, but that might have done the trick."

Chuckling, Izuku smacked him on the back. "Excellent teamwork, guys."

"Are we sure that thing's a High End, though?" Setsuna asked. "It just used that one quirk, even if the fight was short."

"Maybe it didn't have time to use more," Ibara speculated.

"Maybe," Awase repeated, taking a deep breath. "Man, I'm feeling a little dizzy."

"You alright, Awase," Ochaco asked, jumping down.

"I'm fi—" Awase started before cutting himself off. "Wait. I think that thing managed to get a hand on me while we were struggling. Hard to tell in the heat of the moment, but I started feeling lightheaded after that. Maybe that was another of its quirks?"

"You'd better get a checkup," Izuku said. "If it was a quirk put in a High End Nomu, it might've done something very serious to you."

"I'll take him," Ibara said, casually picking Awase up with her vines even as he protested. "It's easiest for me to transport him, and we can't have Deku or Uravity preoccupied in case they're needed. See you later."

"Shiozaki, hey—" Awase cried out as she began trotting away. Setsuna cackled at his retreating form.

"He looks like a spiky piece of luggage like that!"

"Excellent work, everybody," Izuku said. "Against a High End, that went about as well as it could've."

"You know it," Mina said, flashing a grin. "And once that Nomu is hauled away, I do want to talk about that thing I contacted you about."

"Right," Ochaco sighed. "Better get on with it."

Setsuna grew puzzled at their strange behavior again. She opened her mouth to speak but was quickly cut off by Itsuka.

"No, you are not coming along."

"Ouch! I didn't even say anything! Alright, alright, I get it. Chill!"

An hour later, everyone had met at a nearby café. They were still in their costumes. It was a sister location of the café where Momo had discussed her one night stand request all those months back. It brought back memories for the two, especially as they began relaying the whole story to Mina who sat in silence, sipping her coffee. They were on the second level in a special room near the back for privileged customers who wanted to discuss things in silence like they did now. Itsuka sat beside them and chimed in when they got to her side of the tale.

When they were finished, Mina set down her drink, contemplating the three past her interlocked fingers.

"So Momo got desperate."

"Yeah."

"Came to you guys."

"Yep."

"And so she becomes a second girlfriend."

"Uh huh."

"And from there, you started picking up girls like Pokémon?"

"I mean, I wouldn't put it like that," Izuku said. "But, well... I guess it can seem that way."

Mina surveyed the three of them, stroking her chin.

"... What?" Itsuka ventured. She jumped as Mina clenched her fist and bounced up and down in frustration in her seat.

"That's it? There's nothing else? You all just decide to—"

"Keep it down," Ochaco hissed.

"Oh, sorry!" Mina lowered her voice as she continued. "You all just decide to screw each other and go 'haha, we're dating now!' I mean, where's the romance in that? The epic declarations of love in the middle of pouring rain, the dashes to the airport as you try to stop your lover from taking that last flight which will separate them from you for the rest of your lives? The anguished confessions, the heart stopping revelations that you always loved each other this whole time! You're saying that after getting five girlfriends, you experienced none of that? No hardships, just straight up harem building?"

"Uhhhhh..." Izuku wasn't quite sure what to say to that. He settled for the low risk option now that they were in this deep: being bluntly honest. "Yes?"

"Oh my Goooood!" Mina slumped in her seat. "I can't believe I was up all night agonizing over how this happened. When I was thinking about how Momo was acting, the flirty way Mirko danced with you at the gala, I was thinking there was this whole grand story to it all but noooope! What a waste."

"Wait, you didn't sleep last night Mina?" Ochaco asked.

"I'm running on about four coffees right now, including what I just drank," Mina moaned. "I'm crashing right after this and booked an early morning shift at my agency. My sleep schedule is gonna be wack this next week or so."

"You read way too many romance manga," Ochaco sighed. "You can't blame us for your unrealistic expectations not coming true."

Mina sat up straight again. "No, those expectations are what we call idealistic. What's unrealistic is a guy nabbing five super hot girlfriends. I mean... how?"

"I'm still asking myself that," Izuku muttered. "I mean, I don't know what else to tell you, Ashido. That's the whole story."

"You have to keep this secret Mina, please," Itsuka said, pleading with her hands together. "I've never asked you for anything before, but right now I am. This remains hush."

"I know that," Mina said. "Give me a little credit. It's just I... I kinda expected something a little more epic and heart racing."

"We get enough of that through regular hero work." Ochaco sighed. "I don't know if I could take that in my love life. So, please, keep it a secret. Can you do that for your best friend? Please?"

Mina perked up. "Best? Even more than Tsuyu?"

"She's my other best friend."

"I see... Either way, your secret's safe with me."

Izuku and his girlfriends breathed a collective sigh of relief. "That's a weight off my back," Itsuka said. "Might as well order something since we're here."

Conversation proceeded normally, with everybody making casual conversation and ordering sandwiches. Their chat went on for about an hour before it broke. Once again, Izuku wondered if he was being too self aware as he noticed Mina's eyes kept flitting toward him every few minutes or so. Then again, it should only be natural given that they were so close to one another, but he thought he detected something a little curious held in her yellow eyes. Like there was another question dancing at the edge of her mind she was keeping locked away, but he didn't feel it was his place to press.

An hour or so later, they had all finished and stepped outside.

"Alright, I'd better go and meet up with Setsuna," Itsuka said, stretching out. "Promised her we'd patrol around here for the afternoon. You guys stay safe, alright?"

"See ya later, Itsuka," Izuku said. Itsuka nodded and, uncharacteristically for her, dropped her wallet. Izuku instinctively bent down to pick it up for her at the same time she did and grew a little red as she took the opportunity to sneak a quick peck at his cheek before she pulled back up in case any of the nearby civilians were watching. She tucked the wallet into her belt and waved goodbye. Mina, watching the whole thing, practically had stars in her eyes.

"Now that's the kind of thing I like to see."

"I bet," Ochaco said, tired. "Come on, I don't see anybody nearby, but I don't feel like being accosted for another impromptu autograph session."

"I feel the same," Izuku said. He was about to pick her up when he noticed Mina looking at them with a somewhat forlorn expression in her eyes. He recognized it because Itsuka had sported the same one a while back.

"Is something the matter, Ashido?"

This shook her out of her reverie. "Oh, no, it's fine! Just about to wish you two well and all. The circumstances are weird, but it's great to hear everything's relatively drama free. I'm gonna head home now and get some sleep. Laters!"

Taking her leave rather hastily, Mina flounced away to her car, starting it quickly and driving away. Izuku and Ochaco looked at one another.

"That was a little weird, even for her," Izuku commented.

"Yeah," Ochaco said. "I'll talk to her a little later. But for right now, work."

"Right," Izuku nodded diligently, taking off from the ground and flying to their regular patrol area. The normal wave of civilians pointing up at them and screaming their names followed their flying forms in the daylight.

About an hour before that when Izuku and the others had finished telling Mina their story, Setsuna walked out from the café, and shook out the long trench coat she was wearing. She readjusted her beret and made her way to the patrol area to get ready for when Itsuka would arrive. The ear she had sent to eavesdrop on her friends quickly reattached itself to the side of her noggin as her thoughts raced through what she had heard.

It wasn't like she had necessarily wanted to spy on her friends, and she was feeling especially guilty now after overhearing it, but goddamn had they all been acting suspiciously. They couldn't have expected her to keep her curiosity in check with how they'd been acting. But even so, she couldn't help but feel conflicted.

'A harem, huh? I didn't expect Midoriya to be that bold, but I guess things make a little more sense now.'

Looking up at the bright, cloudless sky, Setsuna decided to keep this bit of info, and the fact she knew about it, to herself for the time being. The Lord only knew how some people like Ibara would react.

'But still. A harem? Dang, Midoriya. Who knew you had it in you?'

She smirked as she strutted along. Not that she was particularly interested herself, but a polyamorous relationship like that sounded fun. If possible, she'd like to try something like that someday. She'd just have to find the right guy, first. Although, she surmised that was the basic motivation for any pretty young woman in search of love.

Harem List:

Ochaco Uraraka

Momo Yaoyorozu

Itsuka Kendo

Kyoka Jiro

Rumi Usagiyama

Amateur Espionage Agent List:

Setsuna Tokage

ACK! No smut again! I know some of you are probably disappointed, but I promise to make it up to you next week. This chapter was devoted to plot development and, as you saw, I've planted a few seeds for future story arcs. I think what I enjoyed most about this chapter, aside from thinking up the crazy action, was writing Setsuna. She's a big tease with a bigger ass to boot. Hooray for thicc dino waifus!

Harem order: Ochaco, Momo, Itsuka, Kyoka, Rumi (Mirko), Mina, Toru, Mei, Tomoko (Ragdoll), Tsuyu, Nejire, Nemuri (Midnight), Ibara, Ryuko (Pixie-bob), Kaoruko (Bubble Girl), Melissa, Yui, Camie, Shino (Mandalay), Setsuna, Moe (Burnin'), Ryuko (Ryukyuu), Pony, Yuyu, Reiko, Kinoko, Himiko.

Thank you all so much for reading and I hope you're staying safe. Don't forget to fav/follow if you enjoyed this and if you want to stay more up to date on my work, be sure to follow me on Twitter MilHypotheses. Until next time!