Better late than never, huh? No apologies though, it's December. The month that keeps on giving. And taking. And giving again. But you're not here for rambles, you're here for... No idea actually, why are you here for? Guest review time!
Guest
Your words are kind, but I can't just let everything out of hand like that XD Deadlines are needed for me.
Sadguest59
I'm sorry! I just copy it from the previous chapter, without checking!
That does it for guest reviews. I love to hear your thoughts and hope to hear many more. Also.
I OWN NOTHING! I'M BUT A HOBO THAT SNEAKS INTO THE LIBRARY AND WAISTS TIME WRITING THIS INSTEAD OF WATCHING PORN!
"Hey there!" -regular dialogue
"Who is this guy again?" -inner thoughts
"I AM HERE!" -All Might muscle form
"Time limit is nearing!" -All Might muscle form inner thoughts
This chapter was beta read by Marethyu. Thank you for your awesome work!
"Thank you all for taking the time out of your busy schedules to attend this meeting."
In the room gathered were many U.A alumni, and some who could not attend directly had sent their sidekicks. In the room off to the side, to their wonder, sat a face well known to those who were at least a little bit familiar with the global hero scene. Tornado of Terror, the top American hero.
"It brings my heart great joy to see so many of you responding to your alma mater cry for help. As you may be familiar, we've recently implemented a dorm system to provide better protection to our students, after our first years, in particular, were twice targeted by the organization known as the League of Villains."
Many heroes nodded in understanding, to either confirm they knew of the new implementation or to confirm that they saw the reasoning for it.
"But, it was decided that is not enough. So we established a new department, Campus Security. What I called you for today is to ask if any of you would wish to volunteer to assist in making the U.A safer in these times."
Heroes seemed reluctant. No one had seen All Might since the end of the Kamino battle, and crime was on the rise. It was the perfect time for them to make a name for themselves.
"We don't expect you to commit to this, of course. But if you could maybe stay here for a day or two in groups of three, switching as your schedules allow it, that alone would bolster our defenses significantly, and with no set schedule or personnel lower the chances of any prepared assault."
"But would it not be bad if we all switch between each other all the time? How would anything be kept in order? Coordination in case of an attack is important."
"A good question. Of course, everything will be coordinated by the leader of the Security team. "Due to her ties with japan, the U.A was able to request that the team be led by Tornado of Terror!"
Every eye in the room was suddenly on Tatsumaki, who gazed at them with boredom, before resigning herself, and speaking a few words.
"U.A has graciously offered me the position of heading the new Security team, temporarily, until I have to return to the States. It is a position I accepted eagerly, as it is in my interest to protect the heroes of tomorrow." But mostly Izuku.
"So… any volunteers?"
Some heroes signed up, writing when in their schedules they'd be free. From about 130-ish heroes that responded to Nezu, about half signed up to help guard U.A during the day. Now it was on Tatsumaki to learn of their abilities, organize shifts, and prepare protocols for various emergencies. A lot of work, but then, after she's done, she can crash the 1.A dorm, and eat some dinner. Izuku would definitely love showing off his great super-cool hero big sis, right?
Izuku carried the last of Mina's stuff up the stairs, putting them down in her chosen room. For his work, he got to be her ride, as the pink-haired girl jumped on his back, somehow even more bubbly than usual.
"Thanks a lot for the help, Midori! Now that we live together, we can practice dancing even more!"
"Actually, Nezu told me he had a training program in mind for me, so I don't think I'll practice with you as much."
"Oh." Mina looked quite saddened by the fact. They didn't practice much before because of commuting and Izuku's duties as vice-president. She had hoped to make big moves during their time living together, and dance practice seemed the best time to do it. But if he was not gonna do it anymore-
"Hey, I said I won't practice as much. I still wanna learn more though, just maybe we limit it to Tuesdays and Thursdays?"
"Yay! It's a date!"
Those words sent Izuku ramrod straight before he relaxed again. She did not mean it like that, he was sure. If Mina noticed his strange reaction, she did not mention it. Instead, she dragged him back downstairs to chill with the class and maybe eat something. Seemed like someone had the same idea because there was a head of blond hair rummaging through the fridge.
"Hey! Which chick ordered this much Canadian bacon?" Kaminari asked, completely unaware of Momo freezing in place, before rapidly looking around and paling, seeing Izuku standing at the stairs, clearly within hearing range. Was it just her or did the boss music start playing? Why was Izuku walking towards the kitchen? Was he walking slowly, or was it just her brain perceiving everything in slow motion? And she must be imagining the dorm shaking with every step right? RIGHT?!
Izuku approached the fridge, where Kaminari was standing, the Electrification user unaware of the Storm that was approaching.
"Hey Midoriya, check this out. A whole shelf full of this weak Canadian stuff. Someone trying to watch their figure maybe, eh?"
Izuku inspected the fridge himself, picking up a pack of bacon to inspect it himself. Then he looked up with a smile.
"Thanks a ton, Yaoyorozu! This is real quality stuff! I'll have some right now!"
Kaminari realized how close to death he had just been and promptly collapsed. Mineta was quick to check on him and declared what happened to the room.
"His brain was fried from fear!"
"Wheey…"
"Is he gonna be okay?" Izuku seemed quite concerned for his classmate's health, but it only scared the class more. Izuku Midoriya was not the most… sociable.
Now, Izuku was a bit people dense, but he managed to pick up on some of the clues, like Bakugo's palms popping, and Tsu slowly inching aways. He remembered the few times his classmates tried to reach out to him, sometimes litrealy, only to be scared of by his attitude, or the aura he gave off. He could do little to stop the aura. But he could stop acting like an asshole. So he decided to do something about it. He dragged a chair in front of the TV, stepped on it, and faced the class.
"I owe all of you an apology. It has come to my attention that during my involuntary absence, my allegiance came into question. I blame no one for this, and I do not want to hear any names. I have behaved unbecomingly, seeking solitude, and not making much effort to respond when you reached out to me. I can't promise to befriend you all, but I shall endeavor to try harder, and at least get to know you as my classmates, and maybe friends."
Izuku bowed to his classmates.
"I am sorry for my behavior. I'll be in your care, and hope we can get along."
The class was silent for a second, but then Mineta broke the silence.
"I told you already, Izuku, we're bros! We're in this together!"
"Yea, it's all good Midori!"
Momo felt like she should say something, but a hand on her shoulder stopped her. It was Bakugo.
"You already apologized to the fucking nerd, and as he said, he doesn't want to know if you were with or against him. Extras don't need reasons to be split. He's moving on, so should you."
Momo gave her kinda-friend a grateful nod. Meanwhile, the rest of the class all professed their fate in Midoriya. Tenya was especially loud, but no one dared to look his way, lest they see him holding Ochako's hand so indecently. The class slowly began to disperse, but before they could each go off on their own, Mina stepped on the chair next.
"Guys! Now that we're all moved in, we should have a room contest!"
"Or we could play Xing Hai Shi Bu Xing!"
"Or spin the brottle!"
In the end, it was decided they would have the room contest, mainly because no one wanted to know what 'spin the brottle' was, and Yaoyorozu refused to make the various items necessary for Xing Hai Shi Bu Xing. It was actually fun, and Izuku was impressed with Todoroki's traditional room, Tokoyami's edge, and Mineta's… collection. For some reason, he was also the only one who dared to enter the midget's room, the rest just had moved on. He also reminded himself to ask Iida for some books and to always knock before entering, lest he saw something indecent.
Koda's bunny was neat, and while he was not a music person, he could appreciate the instruments Jiro had on display. He also noticed a fancy hairbrush with some long black hair in it, but decided to ignore it, it was not his business anyway. He enjoyed the taste of cake Sato baked for everyone, and was thoroughly impressed with the size of Yaoyorozu's bed. In the end, he voted for Todoroki's room, but Sato took the lead with his, as Mineta called it, 'sugary bribe'.
When he finally retired for the night, on his comfy cardboard bed, he felt relaxed. The dorm was still new, and it would take time getting used to living with everyone, but seeing the rooms, and the hustle and bustle, it made the whole thing look and feel more homely. His thoughts slipped to other things that made his cheeks redden, and cover his head. It was with such thoughts in mind, he drifted to sleep.
The class stood next to Gym Gamma, all costumed up, and excited as ever. Aizawa announced that they'd be working on their super moves! It sent them all into a frenzy that soon got a lot calmer, once Midnight strolled into the room, making all the boys sit down and cover their crotches. Truthfully, it has been a long time since one of her 'accidental strolls', but the way she whispered to them in the hallways, asking about homework, or even just how their day was, kept their memories fresh.
"Well, go on in." Aizawa strolled with three other teachers in tow. Aside from Midnight, they were to also be supervised by Cementos and Ectoplasm.
"Welcome, students, to my Training Kitchen lab. As you can see the floor is made entirely from concrete, giving me more than enough material to work with to create various environments for you to test your super moves in. Ectoplasm, meanwhile, will supervise each of you personally and offer advice. Any questions?"
One hand was raised, the class president, Yaoyorozu.
"We're not all present, Midoriya is not here yet."
"Midoriya is receiving special training from principal Nezu. His test will likely be different from yours, so Nezu is preparing him for that."
It would also be terribly unfair to have such a powerhouse with them during The Crushing of the U.A, but Aizawa kept that to himself. It would look bad if the problem child went off solo and completed the task, and it would look even worse if he carried the whole class. As amusing as it would be to see other schools being crushed for a change, it was a rational decision to not have him participate.
"So, you took control over the army spawning villain from Kamino, convinced him to clone the Nomu that attacked USJ, just so me and Mirio can have something to train against?"
"Precisely!"
"I think I now know why my sister doesn't like you."
Izuku faced down the beak-faced monstrosity that stood limply, without any will of its own.
"Ahh, don't worry about them, we have a few ideas on how to incentivize them. Nomu activation, test 1: playing a recording of Shigaraki's voice. Begin"
From all around the room, a familiar voice sounded out.
"Now Nomu… KILL!"
Everyone waited tensely. But the Nomu did not move one bit. It stood there limply. Nezu wrote something down on his computer, before pressing the mic in the observation room.
"No response in his vitals, or increased brain activity. Proceed with the second test."
Shinso pulled out a curious gadget, reminiscent of a facemask. After pulling it on, he fiddled with it, before giving a thumbs up.
"Nomu activation test 2: imitating Shigaraki voice. Begin."
"Nomu, KILL HIM!" Some may expect a dramatic pose, but Shinso did not even point a finger. His voice though was an incredible imitation of Tomura Shigaraki.
The Nomu still did not move. Nezu made some more notes.
"Nothing on our end still. I think we should pull out all the stops. Using your newfound ability, while imitating Shigaraki."
That got Izuku interested.
"A new trick you learned, Shinso?"
"Yes."
"Neat."
"Nomu activation test 3: using Silver Tongue, paired with voice imitation. Begin."
Shinsou took a deep breath, and spoke once more, something in his voice sounding different even to Izuku.
"Nomu, KILL HIM!"
Black blurred over the small distance and Izuku quickly crossed his arms to guard against the punch that could shatter concrete.
"Hella strong this thing. What's the objective here?"
"You must destroy it before it creates any significant damage to this room. The ground where it stood has cracks in them from the launch, that's already minus points from you."
"So I should have destroyed it as soon as I saw it?"
"Precisely!"
Izuku looked accusingly at Shinso who stood bored at the other end.
"You guys already tested these out, didn't you. You knew from the start what would work."
"Yea. Sorry. Nomu, FULL SPEED!"
The creature obeyed, disengaging the power struggle, and blurred around the room, trying to attack from the blind spot. But Izuku was too fast following it with ease. That was when he also realized it kept causing more damage to the room, simply by moving around.
"Shit."
He rushed on the offensive, easily catching up to the critter, before grappling it in a full nelson. A good kick to the legs, and the creature was kneeling, restrained.
"Good. Now, kill it."
Izuku… hesitated.
"Izuku, this is a Nomu, an amalgamation of evil, a result of quirks being crammed into one person without a proper catalyst, and then followed by weeks of brainwashing to eliminate even a single spark of personality. It's a biological robot, unfeeling, its only purpose is what it's commanded to do. Now, please. Put it out of its misery."
Izuku gazed down, and all he saw was the exposed brain. And the eyes. Somehow in its struggle, the creature twisted its eyes to look at him. Empty. Despite all the power it used to try and wrestle free, there was nothing. Small mercy. Izuku released the creature, but before it could even realize it, his hands already held its head and twisted.
Nomu was no more. All that was left was the brown sludge it melted into.
"Right, this was just a simple clone."
Nezu entered the test room, his tiny steps snapping Izuku out of the spiral of morbid thoughts he almost began descending.
"How are you feeling, Izuku?"
"...Pretty shit."
"Yes, I imagine so. You did about as well as I expected, all things considered."
"You knew I would hesitate?"
"I was counting on it. In fact, I would have been a lot more concerned if you did not. I do not want to turn you into a killer, Izuku. but you know Nomu. And you now know what they are. Containing them is a solution, but one that can be undone with a single command from the right person. As of yesterday, the HPSC declared any Nomu to be killed on sight. We managed to hang onto ours, to prepare the best of the best students for what may come. But one day, even that Nomu will have to be ended."
Shinsou walked up to them and laid a hand on Izuku's shoulder.
"To do good, you better prepare to give it your all. That's what you said to me. It was in a different context, but something similar applies. I know you're better than to see the world in black and white. I see the world in infinite shades of gray. Or maybe that's because I lost my color vision from a caffeine overdose."
Izuku nodded and turned towards the rat.
"Are we done here?"
"Just one more thing. Here."
Nezu passed a piece of paper and a plastic card. It was his provisional license. Izuku stared at the small piece of plastic, before pocketing it. He did not like this. Was his purpose not to become a hero for fun? Killing a monster, that was definitely not fun. He turned towards the exit, but before he left, he turned back and looked Shinso in the eyes.
"You should stop by the 1.A dorms sometimes. It would be good to meet your fellow heroes, right?"
Before the purple-haired teen could respond, Izuku was out of the room. Seeing as Nezu was already busy, making arrangements to have the room cleaned and fixed, he also stepped outside a certain lightness in his step and a smile in his eyes.
"Bye Yuyu!"
"Hang on."
Nejire stopped and faced her friend, who got all up in her face and looked over every inch of her face with a scrutinizing look.
"Something's different. Have you been sad recently?"
"No."
"Angry?"
"Not really. A bit upset maybe."
"No, you pout when you're upset. I got it! You look… distracted. Concerned maybe? Did you get a bad grade or something so now you have to actually study?"
"I study!"
"You cram before tests."
Nejire pouted and turned away, ready to walk. But at the end of the hallways, she saw Izuku, who looked like he was looking for someone. That someone was her, as soon as he spotted her, there was a light on his face, and he almost ran towards her.
"Nejire! I-" He noticed Yuyu standing behind her.
"I need… your help with something! Yes, I need you to help me."
Nejire was confused but if it was Izuku asking, then she could spare some time. It was just strange because-
"I thought you wanted us to stay apart until Friday."
Izuku looked at her, then at Yuyu, before making a decision l, and rolling with it.
"I said that because I panicked. I'm happy that I asked you, and even happier that you said yes but I had a different scenario in my head. but then we talked, and it was fun, and then you started teasing me, and I just blurted it out. But I'm still happy I did!"
"Ok, you two are gonna have to give me some context here." Yuyu was confused but also felt like something shifted in the dynamic of the Universe.
"Oh, well, Izuku helped me move in the dorms, then helped put together my stuff, and we ate pizza and we talked, then I wanted sleepovers, and Izuku did too, but not at his place, then he asked me out!"
Nejire told the whole story in one breath, with no effort, and Yuyu understood perfectly.
"I see. And you said yes?"
"Yup! We're going on Friday!"
"Ok. Ok, ok, ok, ok. I see then. Well, Nejire, you better help your boyfriend here with whatever he needs, I gotta catch my train."
Yuyu rushed away from the couple, Izuku standing there confused, and Nejire a little worried. But Yuyu was a big girl, and it wouldn't be the first time their friendship went through a rough patch. She turned towards Izuku.
"So, what do you need help with?"
She was engulfed in a hug. His hands around her waist, and his head buried in her shoulder. You never had to ask her for hugs, so she quickly wrapped her arms around him. He held her gently, uncertain, so she squeezed harder, making him do so in turn.
"Everything ok?"
"No. But it's better now."
"Wanna talk about it?"
"...I don't think so."
"Well, I'm here, or a phone call away. I'll drop anything. Except for hero stuff. With Ryukyu gone, we need all hands on deck."
"I'd never ask you to choose between me and heroics. Tell Wyrm I'd be happy to help."
"He'll be happy to hear it, but you can't do much until you get your license."
"Well, it's a good thing I'll be able to get it early then."
"Right! You better get it, or no date for you!"
Izuku smiled into her shoulder, squeezing her tight one last time, before letting go.
"I'll head back to my dorm. Feel free to swing by any time."
"I'll sneak through your window! Then everyone will be surprised how I got there, and I'll be like 'Speak in 20 words or less!'"
Izuku blushed a bit, Nejire enjoyed impersonating him way too much. He was trying to be better! But he also shivers in thought how he'd be if he hadn't met her. He already planned to bring some nice flowers to Ryukyu, he should add some fruit as well.
He gave her a smile and turned around, but before he could go, something jumped on his back, the familiar blue hair in the corner of his eye, and his hands automatically grabbing some soft skirt-covered thighs, while grabby arms danced across his chest.
"Nejire?"
"That hug was for you. Now this one? This one's all for me! Also, you got nice pecs."
They stood there for a minute or two, and it was nice. And Izuku definitely did not think about the soft things in his hands, or the soft chest pressing into his back, nope. All too soon, Nejire got off, but she did not leave without parting words.
"Thanks for not grabbing my butt, maybe I'll give you a reward after our date!"
With that she was gone, leaving Izuku steaming, all kinds of 'rewards' flashing through his mind. He started realizing that maybe this girl would be the death of him. And maybe he would not mind.
Days passed in a flash, and soon enough it was time to board the bus that would take them to the exam site. Students chatted among themselves, but it was clear there was tension in the air. Especially for Momo, who somehow wound up sitting next to Bakugo.
"Are you alright?"
The silence was her answer.
"It must be upsetting that Midoriya got his license before you, but there was barely a week before, does the difference really matter?"
More silence.
"You're a pain in the ass."
That got a reaction from him. The tiniest smirk.
"Do I have to use expletives to get you to talk to me?"
"Dunno, High-class, why would you talk to me?"
"Because we're friends?"
"You're barely better than an extra."
Momo took a deep breath. She'd crack that shell with time, but this time being mean would not help. So she would have to use the less easy approach.
"I heard you got defeated by Todoroki during the last battle training."
"So fucking what? Icy-hot just got lucky."
"Maybe I will get lucky as well?" Hook.
"In your fucking dreams. I destroyed you at the Sports Festival."
"Maybe. But who walked away from that fight with bruised ribs, I wonder?" Line.
"Fuck you. If you want a fight, we will fight, but don't you dare fucking cry when I win!"
Huh. She guessed she did not need a sinker. Satisfied, she leaned back into her seat, and enjoyed the rest of the ride. Once they boarded off the bus, in the middle of grabbing their costume cases from the luggage compartment is when they heard a panicked cry.
"Eraser! Thank goodness you're here! I have terrible news! Have you heard of Updog?
"What's upd-"
Before the sentence could be finished, Ojiro's mouth was covered by Aizawa's capture tape.
"Do not talk to this person, and do not respond to any question she might ask you. She's a teacher from another hero school."
At the empty dorm, Izuku sat on the couch, dressed casually. Mineta tried to push him into a suit, but just the image of himself in a suit, standing next to Nejire made his head hurt from the contradiction. Nejire was the opposite of everything a suit could possibly stand for.
So he just went with a simple shirt that said: "Funny Writing" on it, and some jeans. It looked like the autumn might come early this year. Hecking again that he had everything on him, he felt a shiver down his spine. The good kind.
DING DONG
He went to open the door. And there she stood. Wearing a pink bardot top that exposed her shoulders, and folded over her chest, barely meeting the black skirt at the waist. Blue horizontal lines circled over the black material, and to complete the outfit, black thigh-high socks.
"Ready to go, Izuku?"
Well, first, Happy Holidays. Second, happy 2022. And Third... Thank you for reading through this year. Let's see what I said at the end of last year... Nothing. Might have been a good thing cause I remember talking some hot shit at the end of 2019, and look how that went. We made it another year. We are still moving forward. I plan to get a rejuvenation shot soon. Stay safe another year my friends, peeps, readers. Let's meet here next month for the anticipated date chapter! READ. REVIEW. Let me know what YOU think, and we'll read each other next time. NPGamer out.
PEACE
Twitter: NPGamer11
Discord: Syber Space, disc ord . gg / QpnCqgf
Ko-fi: ko - fi / npgamer11
The next chapter of One Punch Deku MIGHT come out on the 15th of January, 2022.