"-ss of consciousness-"

"-Nausea, sickness-"

"-Ay away from strong lights and loud sounds, overwhelming stimulus-"

Izuku's face scrunched up somewhat as consciousness slowly began returning to the blond. Her body felt like deadweight despite that however. 'So tired….'

A soft, inviting mattress was beneath her and the smell that permeated this room made one thing go through her mind. 'Am in a hospital?'

An elderly voice reached her ear, the same one she'd been hearing snippets of throughout her 'nap'.

"Aside from that, just use common sense and follow the instructions I gave you. Concussions are nasty, but you're past the most dangerous stage. I'm afraid I can't do more thanks to the exam and the toll it took on you." She was fighting with her body to avoid falling back asleep, trying to open her eyes. 'Sounds familiar, kind of…'

"What about her? Will she be alright?" A worried feminine voice asked, sounding tired. 'Uraraka?'

"Don't worry about her dearie, she's just drained. Nothing some decent rest won't fix up, though I'm not sure she will be waking up-" Izuku's eyes began to flutter open, causing her to flinch at the sudden light. "-Well, prove me wrong."

She looked to her side, slowly pushing herself up. She saw Uraraka looking relieved as she sighed and beside her, much to the blonde's surprise was the blue haired teen she'd almost gotten into an argument with. His name was Iida right? She was pretty sure that's what he said during the presentation. Finally, at her side was a rather small, elderly woman in a white coat, with glasses and her hair up in a bun. 'Wait, isn't that the healing pro hero…' "Recovery Girl?"

"Ah, you recognize me? That's certainly a good sign. Your name, dearie?" The old lady inquired, pulling out a nearby clipboard. "Just need to check a few basic things. Make sure everything Is functioning properly."

"Izuku Midoriya, miss." She explained, noting the odd glance she got from Iida and Recovery Girl. Uraraka also had a brief moment of confusion, though it was tempered due to having already heard her name. "And yes, I'm sure I got that right. I know Izuku is a boy's name, still my name as well. Long story."

"Well, alright then. How are you physically? Anything sore, or sensitive that shouldn't be?"

She paused for a moment, feeling around herself and rocking back and forth a little to check. Once she was satisfied she turned back to the pro. "Fine, just tired really."

"Well that is to be expected." The short nurse hummed, writing away. "You went beyond your limits with your quirk with your last attack in the entrance exam."

"Oh yeah, the zero pointer. Maybe that amount of energy was a little overboard, but I wanted to be safe instead of sorry." She thought, sheepishly rubbing the back of her neck. She turned, seeing Uraraka looking at her with a small smile and she returned it. "Worth it though."

It was admittedly kind of funny how fast the brunnette's face lit up red at those words, but it wasn't like she was lying. It was also better to focus on this than end up going back down the train of thought she'd been on before she collapsed.

"Well I'm glad to see your memories are also intact. In that case, I believe you are cleared to go, dearie." The nurse said with a bright smile. "Just try to be careful in future if you pass the test, I understand U.A.'s motto is Plus Ultra but push your limits to far and you'll just become another patient in my infirmary. Oh, and as you might have guessed these two wanted to converse with you before you leave."

"Understand. Thank you." The blonde nodded, watching the woman walk off before she turned to the other two teenagers. Silence hung between them for a moment, before Izuku turned her attention to Uraraka first. Might as well start with the less awkward conversation. "How are you? I saw you had a pretty nasty cut before I passed out."

"O-oh, I'm fine thanks to you, and Recovery Girl!" The brunette quickly assured, clapping her hands together with a small smile. "A bit of rubble hit me on the head and gave me a mild concussion. I just need to be careful not to overwork myself according the nurse, and get a decent amount of rest."

Izuku nodded, and Iida spoke up briefly. "I hope that helps."

"Thank you. Anyways, aside from that I stayed behind because I couldn't leave you. Not after you came back to help me even after I was rude to you and just left you earlier today. Sorry again about that." The girl said, with a light bow. Izuku chuckled, shaking her head.

"Hey, no need to apologise. I'm sorry I made you uncomfortable, I kinda just speak what's on my mind and I guess when I don't have any ill-will I'm just kinda a flirt. So, sorry." Looking up and seeing the girl's conflicted face she quickly added an addendum with a teasing smirk. "Though I'm not saying I didn't mean what I said, you are quite the looker."

Uraraka squeaked, hiding her face behind her hands while Izuku laughed. She cautiously turned to the other teen and her gaze hardened a bit. "Well, it might take her a moment to calm down so… you wanted to talk as well?"

"Yes. Tenya Iida, from Somei Academy." He introduced himself for the second time today, before standing up and surprising both girls with the deep bow he took. "And more accurately, I would like to apologise. While I do not condone the language you used, you were right that I was presumptuous and also rather rude towards you, on reflection. I merely wished everyone to be on equal footing, but my way of going about it was not at all alright and I had assumed you were not taking the test seriously because of your attitude. After seeing you in action during the exam however, clearly I was proven wrong."

Silence rang out for a moment after that, before Izuku smiled a soft, somewhat sad smile. "You know… I think that's the second time someone's given me a genuine apology for their actions. Actions that needed an apology I mean."

She tacked on that last bit with a small glance to Uraraka, still smiling.

"You know what… I'm sorry as well. Probably not as much but I am sorry." She said with a small laugh, putting a hand on Iida's chest and pushing him up. 'Holy damn he's built- stop it, Izuku!' "At the least I should go been more creative with my insult, calling you an ass was just plain boring."

"Uh, thanks… I think?" Iida said, tilting his head in confusion and getting a snicker out of Izuku.

"Sorry for how hostile I was straight away though, in all seriousness. I just… I'm kind of used to dealing with less than stellar people, my classmates aren't exactly paragons of virtuousness or the like. Which means I'm used to having to be on the defensive verbally and physically. Clearly, you're better than them though so… thank you." She said, getting a smile from the teen which got a small giggle from her.

"Well I'm glad we were able to settle than, and put that little bit of unpleasantness behind us." He said, while the regeneration teen got out her bed and spotted her belongings beside her bed, picking them up. She noted Uraraka and Iida already had their stuff on them.

"Well, I feel the same. Also I think you should try to exercise that smile a little more, definitely don't want to be hostile with someone so attractive." She said with a shit-eating grin, laughing when the boy began to sputter at the compliment, cheeks tinging red slightly. Uraraka had finally calmed down herself only for Izuku to flash both with an impossibly bright grin she'd most definitely retained from her old self that could make anyone with a heart melt in an instant. "Not saying which of you is better looking, but we all know I'm the hottest. The fact you're close to me though means you're still amazing though."

"MIDORIYA!" Uraraka complained, hiding her face again and making the blonde laugh as he walked around the two and threw her arms around both of their shoulders.

"Sorry! Couldn't resist. Besides, I think it's good to have a pick me up after that exam." She explained, before frowning for a moment as she turned to her new… friend? "Sorry if this is weird, not exactly great at social stuff but would it be alright if I walked you home? Just want to be sure you make it safely, considering the concussion and all…"

"I…I'd like that." The girl nodded, a small smile coming onto her face despite herself. Iida stood up, securing his bag.

"Would you two mind if I accompanied you then? I believe we will all be travelling by train anyways and I'd also like to be sure you both return safely. As the one among us who didn't require any medical attention, it would be irresponsible of me not to offer."

"Heh, so you have attractive personality qualities as well as looks then. Great! Izuku laughed, which only get louder as the tall teen began spluttering once more.

"This flirting is hardly appropriate! Please!" The boy complained, before getting a light hit in the arm.

"Well, if it's making you uncomfortable then fine." She conceded, as they finally began to make their way out the infirmary and through the halls of U.A. for the first time. Hopefully, it wouldn't also be the last.

They made small talk from there until they got onto the train, learning small random details about one another.

Things like why each of them wanted to be a hero, all of them finding common ground in wanting to help others as part of their motivations even if that was not that surprising, where they lived and even their quirks.

Iida apparently had engines in his legs due to a mutation quirk that allowed him to run at high speeds and deliver power strikes with his legs. Rather a useful quirk in the blonde's opinion.

Uraraka's was an emitter type, though it relied on a partial mutation that caused pink pads to grow on her fingertips. When all five from either hand touched something, the person or object she was touching will lose it's gravitational pull as long as it was in her weight limit.

It was a very technical quirk that actually awakened Izuku's love of quirks from her past more fully than before, the potential applications of such a technical quirk flooding her mind briefly.

Then the conversation turned to her, and she faltered in front of them, smile dropping into a frown. "Well… you see… you know those lasers and eneryb balls I was throwing about?"

"Yes?"

"Mm-hm?"

"Well, they're just a side effect of my actual quirk. An awesome, useful side effect but a side effect none the less. They only work because I generate this special kind of energy I'm able to manipulate for my quirk to function. My actual quirk is called Regeneration." She explained simply, trailing her finger over the table in front of her. "Long story short, let's me cheat death but… sorry, maybe later but I can't talk about it right now."

"That's alright. It sounds like a powerful quirk though, if it allows you to do that as well as what you were capable of in the entrance exam." The tall blue haired boy of their group complimented with a small frown on seeing her discomfort.

It wasn't that she was somehow upset about her past or that but… there was a chance she was going to go to school with Uraraka, which would likely mean she was going to have to share a changing room with her.

It was awkward enough for her, especially considering she most definitely was still into girls even if she had a new appreciation for the masculine form, but Aldera had seen that she was identifying as a girl now and decided to move her.

She had no problems staying in the boys room if she'd had to, she could defend herself but with her new body perhaps it was for the best. To say changing with the other girls of her class was uncomfortable though was an understatement.

So she'd prefer a fresh start, at least for a while until she was ready to share her past properly. She looked out the window as a sudden lull in the conversation appeared and ended smiling lightly when she saw on one of the news broadcasts that were put out publicly that there was apparently a recent rescue with the pro hero Thirteen. It seemed she wasn't the only one either.

"That's awesome!" Uraraka exclaimed to herself with a smile, seeing the report. "Their my inspiration honestly, saving people despite not having a quirk necessarily perfect for it and not to mention the space theme."

"Yeah, they're so cool!" Izuku gushed herself, her ever present nerd side starting to slip through. "I heard she's already saved a few thousand people in the last year alone, and their attitude towards it all is so noble."

"I know right?! Like how cool can one person be?" Uraraka beamed, as the two quickly dissolved into discussing the pro while Iida looked on in quiet amusment.

Soon enough, they arrived at the first of their stops, a small city area where they walked Uraraka to her apartment, the girl opening it and revealing she lived alone much to both her new friends surprise.

She beamed, getting them to wait a moment before she came out with a pen and some paper, writing down on two different scraps she gave to Izuku and Iida. "Here, my number. I honestly had a lot of fun you two, just talking together! This way, even if one or all of us don't get in, we can all still be friends."

"That's great, thank you!" Izuku said, rather quickly as she gave a light bow, beaming bright. "I'll message you later to make sure you're recovering properly."

"I shall do the same." Iida promised, and the brunette nodded at the two with her own sweet, bright smile.

"Thank you, both of you. I'd love to keep talking but I gotta let my parents know I'm back now. Thanks for making sure I got home safe." She said with a bow, before finally turning and walking in while the other two waved her off before turning to each other.

"So Midoriya, you said you lived in Musutafu?" Iida inquired, getting a nod from the girl.

"Yup." She confirmed as they began to walk away, travelling down the stairs and back to the nearby station. "I can make it on my own if you just want to go home."

"Nonsense, it would hardly be alright of me to leave you now." The tall teen said. Soon enough they fell back into small talk along the way, trading their own numbers as well when they finally got the blonde to her apartment.

Inko had been more than happy to see her 'baby sweetheart' as she now stuck to calling Izuku, seeing as the child might change gender again and it would be a difficult thing to relearn.

she'd taken the girl into a tight hug when she'd heard what occurred and had practically screamed with joy when the girl talked about Uraraka and Iida, grip tightening.

It was perfect, and all that was left to do now was wait.


It was two weeks later, when Izuku could be found pacing back and forth near the front door, phone in hand with a scowl. Texting Iida and Uraraka was a fine distraction from time to time but they couldn't be there for every moment until the letter would arrive, detailing whether she passed or failed.

From the kitchen, Inko spotted her child and rolled her eyes with a fond smile. "It won't come any faster just because you want it too sweetie. If anything you'll make it feel like it's slower."

"I know, it's just… frustrating. Not knowing, not to mention All Might still hasn't texted me or phoned back since our training finished and I haven't seen him on the news anywhere. I'm starting to get a little worried about him." She said with a small frown. She'd never admit it to her mentors face but since she started training with him and saw his 'weaker' side, she'd grown somewhat protective of the man. Especially considering what he did to Aldera, proving himself, she would return the favour in a heartbeat if she had to.

"Patience is a virtue." Inko hummed, as she added some meat into the pot of food she was cooking. "You have definitely been more impatient since you changed sweetie."

"I am plenty patient." Izuku huffed, only for her mother to roll her eyes.

"Clearly." She said, her daughter's sarcasm having rubbed off on her somewhat over the past few months. "I'm just saying-"

BRIIIING BRIING!

Izuku immediately turned to the door as the bell went off, hurrying to open it and finding a man with a bag on his shoulder and a few letters in his hand. "Hello, are you Inko or Izuku Midoriya?"

"Yes, I am Izuku." She nodded, being handed a small stack of letters. The man nodded, beginning to leave after that. "Thank you!"

With that, she closed the door before hurrying to the couch. She put her mom's letters to the side and found two addressed to her. The first was a generic letter simply related to a hero newsletter she preferred to get in person in case of any pictures of new pro's being included.

The other looked fancy, with a wax seal she broke off quickly, a small metal disk falling out. Then suddenly, a hologram shot up in front of her as All Might's giant visage made her jump. "Ah!"

"AHAHA! I AM HERE, AS A PROJECTION!" The man exclaimed, before continuing to go on about how he was apparently now a teacher at U.A. while Izuku silently seethed.

"You couldn't at least give me a heads up?!" She growled through gritted teeth. Still, in the end she was smiling as she knew now that he was alright. "You are so getting it when I see you again, matchstick."

Then finally, he said the words she was waiting on. Apparently, her attack against the zero pointer hadn't been for nothing. Rescue points, assigned for helping others and she got seventy of them along with her normal score.

"What this means my girl…. Not only have you passed the exam, but you have placed first in it, as I once predicted!" All Might laughed with that boisterous laugh of his. "So allow me, young Izuku, to welcome you to your hero academia!"

A clattering noise suddenly sounded through the apartment as the hologram faded away, getting the blonde to look around and see her mother with tears in her eyes.

Smiles were shared before the plump woman launched at her child, pulling her into a tight embrace.

"MY BABIES GOING TO BE A HERO!"

Nothing felt more perfect than this moment. Only two more weeks of waiting until she could attend U.A.-

Her eyes widened. Another two weeks… of having to be patient…

…..

'FUCK!'