This document beta'd by kylekatarn77

5. Alone Together

Heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with.

-Tony Stark

"Midoriya, Bakugo, I have to say, I'm immensely proud of both of you!" their teacher said, patting each of them on the shoulder. It was the last day of school, and Izuku was cringing at the sudden attention. For a moment, he thought Bakugo would erupt with anger, but instead the other boy just gave him a knowing smirk.

"Well, we both might have gotten into UA, but only one of us qualified for the Hero Course," Bakugo stated. "Deku's with all the other extras in the support course."

"Yes! But to make it in on recommendations alone! I had no idea you were such a talented inventor, Midoriya! It must have been all those things you learned during your years here," their teacher bragged.

Instead of correcting the teacher that it was Mei who helped him, Izuku just looked down, tapping his fingers together and blushing. Again, he expected Bakugo to lash out, being reminded that he'd had to work for his placement at UA while Izuku had simply been given a place, but Bakugo just laughed.

"Ha! I got the highest score of the entire year! I bet Deku just showed them something lame he'd cobbled together. At least you've figured out your place, nerd. Maybe if you work hard enough, I'll even let you make some of my gear!"

That got Izuku to look up, startled. "I would be honored to help someone as strong as you, Kacchan."

"Don't call me that," Bakugo hissed, for the first time showing his usual irritability. "From now on, you address me as Bakugou. I won't be associated with a damn extra like you, understand?"

"Now, now, boys, I'm sure you'll both do great things at UA. It's not every day we get to send two of our students to the top school in the country. And from my own homeroom class as well!" their teacher said, puffing himself up. "Make sure to remember me, when you both become famous."

"Pff. Sure," Bakugo said, turning to go. "It will remind me how great I've become, to remember what worthless trash I left behind!"

Their teacher seemed mortified at that, but Izuku bowed quickly to him. "Thank you very much, sir! I'll be sure to think about the things you've taught me as I attend UA!"

"Well, ahem, see that you do," the teacher ordered, looking mollified.

Izuku left, and for a moment, he almost called out to Bakugo. But then his hands formed into fists, and he glared after Bakugo, who continued to walk away, unconcerned about what was behind him.

"One day, one day you'll recognize me as a fellow hero, Kacchan!" Izuku whispered. "Because now, I have a friend who believes in me! I'll surpass even you, and become the most amazing hero the world has ever seen! The world's first and greatest quirkless hero!"

Mei, true to form, was already working when Izuku got to her workshop. "Izuku! Quick, come over here, I want to test these new smoke bombs!"

"No, wait, don't-" but it was too late. Mei detonated the smoke bomb inside of her own room, which of course set off the fire alarm, and caused the entire shop to have to be evacuated. A panicked customer called the fire department, even though there was no actual fire.

"Just...just go for a few hours, Mei," her mother said, shaking her head wearily. "This was your last day of Junior High! There was supposed to be a celebration! But now...we'll have to spend a long time cleaning up this mess."

"We could help, Mrs. Hatusme," Izuku offered tentatively.

She smiled at him, shaking her head. "No, not you Izuku. Take Mei somewhere and...and do something normal, for once. You two don't do anything but build things and study. It isn't right. You kids should have fun once in a while. Here. I was going to spend this on dinner tonight, but, well, I think maybe it's best if you two disappear until your father calms down, Mei. It's only 10,000 yen, but I'm sure you can do something fun with it."

"Yes ma'am!" Mei said eagerly, snatching the money away. "Come on Izuku, you heard her! We'll keep ourselves busy for a few hours!"

They hadn't gone far before Mei started giggling maniacally, holding out the money before her. "This is enough money to get all kinds of stuff! We could get some more coils of tungsten wire, ooo, or a few large resistors or-"

"Not this time." Izuku reached out and snatched the money out of Mei's hand.

"What!? Izuku, what are you doing! Give that back ! We need more stuff for our babies!" Mei squawked, drawing the attention of several passers by.

"It's not what it looks like-"

"Damn deadbeat dads. Kids these days, no respect," one of the pedestrians muttered, a woman with a head like a parrot.

Izuku sighed as Mei continued to try to take the money back. Izuku frowned and held it away from her. "Mei! Look, we, we should take a day off. Let's...let's do something fun, like your mom said. We did just graduate from Junior High! We could go see a movie, or get something nice to eat."

Mei eyed Izuku. "Hmm. But we'll use the rest of the money for things for our babies?"

Izuku sighed. "Yeah, OK. I do really want to make some new stuff before the semester starts. Maybe if I show Power Loader what I can do with the new gear, I could-"

"Right, then let's go do something fun!" Mei declared, grabbing Izuku's arm and hurrying forward. She paused after a few seconds, frowning and looking back at him. "Um, what's something fun we can do?"

"Er, we could see a movie?" Izuku suggested.

"Ok. What movie?" Mei demanded.

"Um…" Izuku scratched his head. It had been a long time since he'd had enough free time to keep up with new movie releases. "I think...I think a new All Might Movie came out? But...but I don't really want to see that…"

"Eh, that sounds boring anyway," Mei said dismissively. Then she brightened. "I know! Those comic books you're always reading are kinda fun! They have some neat ideas in them! We could go get more of those! I bet they're even cheap!"

"Yeah, sure," Izuku agreed hastily. Now that he thought about it, what was something fun he wanted to do? He'd never been much of one for amusement parks or arcades. And he really didn't want to see a movie with All Might in it right at this moment. His former idol had dramatically fallen from grace in his esteem. These days, he'd no longer had much All Might memorabilia, having sold most of it for money to buy new materials to use with Mei, or for training weights and gear.

Come to think of it, Izuku really only did a few things these days. He went to school, he studied with Mei, he worked on inventions with Mei, he tested inventions with Mei, and he trained using The Hero workout program. At first his mother had been worried he'd been spending too much time away from home, but ever since Power Loader had personally called her to congratulate her on his acceptance to UA via recommendation, those worries had melted away.

"I'm so happy that you've found a new dream to pursue, Izuku!" his mother had said, hugging him tightly. "You'll be an amazing Support! You've always been talented, and a hard worker, and now you have something you can really do to channel all that into!"

Izuku knew his mother had been trying to encourage him, but it just made him bitter. Not even she believed in him. Only Mei did, and thus, it was with Mei that Izuku spent his time. He didn't trust his dreams with anyone else.

Izuku and Mei took the train to Coruscant Comics in a comfortable silence broken only by Mei's humming. Mei alternated between periods of manic babbling and tuneless humming, depending on whether or not she had something she was obsessed with to talk about. Izuku didn't mind either, but it was nice to have some time with Mei where they weren't either working or studying. It almost felt like something normal friends would do, though Izuku would be the first to admit that he and Mei did not exactly have what anyone would call a normal friendship.

"Well look who it is!" Mr. Azara said as Izuku walked in. "And now, I know why you haven't been coming in as often! Midoriya! You should have told me you had a girlfriend!"

As Izuku went beat red and spluttered, Mei walked straight up to the counter. "Hello. I am Mei Hatsume. We have been told to do something fun. I think that the Iron Man and Batman comics are fun. We would like to buy some. Or possibly any schematics relating to the support devices that Bruce Wayne or Tony Stark possess. Oh! If you have any schematics for a better variety of smoke bomb, I would really like those too!"

Mr. Azara laughed as Izuku shuffled up beside Mei. "Well well, you've managed to find a lady as single minded as you are, Midoriya! And a cute one too. Well, you're a fan of Iron Man and Batman, are you?"

Mei nodded. "As an inventor, I found reading about the exploits of fellow inventors particularly entertaining. They gave me so many ideas for my babies! We modified number 17 into a grappling hook for increased mobility and drawing in baddies! It was so impressive that Izuku and I were both accepted into UA on recommendation! I'm a genius, and he's going to be the best hero in the world!"

"You got into UA!" A huge grin split Mr. Azara's face. "My God Midoriya, you actually did it! And on recommendation too! Which course? From your talk of inventions, I assume the Support Course?"

Izuku nodded, still feeling embarrassed that Mr. Azara had assumed Mei was his girlfriend. She didn't think about Izuku like that, even if he was having a harder and harder time not thinking of her of less as just a friend and more of well, a pretty girl who was his friend. "Y-y-yeah, um, that's the one. But you see, Mei isn't-"

"That's fantastic! This calls for a celebration! I think I might have something for you two kids. Hold on." Mr. Azara ducked into the back of the shop, while Mei hummed to herself and bounced slightly on her feet.

Izuku was busy studying his feet and wondering if Mei would actually be offended that Mr. Azara had said she was his girlfriend, or if Mei, as usual, hadn't picked up on that social cue, when someone cleared their throat behind them. Izuku spun to see who it was, while Mei continued to fidget, still looking at the doorway Mr. Azara had gone through.

"Well well, we don't usually get such...attractive specimens in this establishment," a fat, greasy skinned teen a few years older than Izuku and Mei with prominent acne said in a nasally voice. Izuku vaguely recognized him as a regular at the comic store named 'd never done more than exchange a few words on the lastest comics when Izuku had visited the store in the past. The other boy had been pleasant enough then, but now he was leering at Mei in a manner that both made Izuku uncomfortable and vaguely angry for some reason.

"Hello, I am talking to you," Koji repeated.

Mei finally glanced at him. "Yes, hello. I am Mei Hatsume. I am here for comics."

"Well, this is a comic book store," Koji said, folding his arms over his chest. "I happen to know a great deal about comics. What do you wish to know? I wouldn't mind discussing such things with a female, if she weren't too dull."

"Do you know about Iron Man and Batman?" Mei demanded. "Do you know how to replicate the items on Batman's tool belt? I've been working on making smoke bombs, but I think I need a better ventilated workspace. I'm considering trying out some laser devices for slicing through locks, but I don't have the necessary power devices yet."

Koji blinked at that. "Iron Man? Batman? Those are lame, old comics. Why aren't you interested in more interesting heroes? But then, you are with Midoriya. He's mostly interested in All Might, who is far too mainstream, but he does have an impressive amount of knowledge of other, more interesting heroes as well."

"I see. Well, I'm only interested in those two. It was nice to talk to you." With that Mei turned right back around, and began humming to herself again.

Izuku breathed a sigh of relief, but then Koji reached out and tapped Mei on the shoulder. "Hello, excuse me? I was not done talking to you."

Mei glanced at him, but Izuku found himself stepping forward. "Koji, have you read up on the latest issue of All Star All Might? I haven't been reading them as often lately."

"What are you talking about, Midoriya? You know All Might is far too mainstream for a conossour like me," Koji sniffed.

Just then, Mr. Azara came back, holding a stack of DVD cases. "Koji! Leave the poor girl alone. Go drool over something else. She's already taken, or didn't you see her come in with Midoriya?"

"Well, I just thought-"

"That would be a first. Go bother someone else, or I won't hold your limited edition His Purple Highness figure when it comes in next week!"

"Ugh. Fine. She was rude anyway." Koji walked off, and Mei smiled at Izuku.

"I bet he's ASD! He has no social skills."

Izuku's jaw dropped open. Mei's total non sequitur had caught him completely off guard. Normally, it was Mei displaying a deplorable lack of social graces. How on earth could she recognize those same shortcomings in someone else?

For his part, Mr. Azara nearly dropped his stack of DVD cases, he was laughing so hard. "Ha ha! Oh, he certainly might be! Ha ha, Midoriya! Where did you find this girl?"

"In a dumpster," Mei said helpfully. "He saved me and my baby."

"Now that is a story you'll have to tell me some time," Mr. Azara chuckled, dapping at his eyes with a handkerchief. "She seems like a perfect fit for you, Midoriya! You two make a cute couple. But here, these are for you two."

Izuku took the offered case, hoping Mei would continue to ignore the commentary, and read, "Batman, the Animated Series? Huh, that's interesting."

Mei peered at the DVD, then made a face. "Ugh, it's in English, with subtitles? I hate English."

"What? I don't accept that sort of Heresy in my store!" Mr. Azara declared in mock outrage, planting his hands on his hips. "Begon, infidel! We are a purely subs over dubs establishment."

"Ok. Come on Izuku, we can go do something else fun. Or we could just go to the electronics store and get stuff for our babies!"

"Um, Mei, he's joking," Izuku said, catching Mei's arm. "He um, he makes jokes like that sometimes."

"Oh." Mei turned around and shrugged. "Sorry, I don't really get jokes. Was that sarcasm? Mr. Onizuku says I'm bad at sarcasm."

"It might have been," Mr. Azara said, shaking his head. "You really would fit in around here, Mei. But, if you don't like English, I have Batman: Ninja and Ironman 2010, in the original Japanese."

"Ok. How much? We only have 2000 yen," Mei declared.

Izuku winced. That was only a fifth of what they had, and old stuff like this was usually expensive.

"Well, how about it's free to borrow? I bet you two just graduated from Junior High, right? And you got into UA! That's pretty great. Think of this as my graduation gift to you. Just bring them back when you're done."

"Really?" Izuku gasped. He smiled and bowed. "Thank you so much, Mr. Azara!"

"Yes, thank you!" Mei agreed, reaching for the DVDs. Then she glanced at Izuku, did a quick bow in the direction of Mr. Azara, and snatched the offered DVDs. "This fulfills our fun obligation, does it not Izuku?"

"Well, I mean, we should actually watch some of it, Mei," Izuku said he hurried after Mei. He waved one last time to Mr. Azara, who was gathering up the other DVDs and chuckling to himself. He winced. He hadn't ever corrected the store owners assumption that he and Mei were dating, but it was too late now, especially since they'd received such a wonderful gift.

"Well we can't go back and watch them now, my mom's probably still getting dad to stop being mad," Mei said. "So, I suppose we should go shopping!"

"Maybe we could go to my place and watch them?" The suggestion was out of Izuku's mouth before he could force himself and stop to think. What sort of boy would Mei think he was, inviting her back to his place to watch movies together? Oh, wait, right. She was Mei. She'd probably just ask if he had any more spare vacuums.

"That is acceptable," Mei agreed. "Especially since we still have the 10000 yen! Oh, there are so many wonderful things we can buy for our babies!"

"Yeah, um, why don't we pick up some food first. I'll text my mom and let her know we're coming over and bringing dinner."

"Ugh! Fine. As long as it's not too expensive!" Mei stated. "But we should really spend at least a little time planning on what we're going to build next!"

"Well, maybe the movies will have some ideas," Izuku suggested. "Ninja's are supposed to have really cool equipment, right? Maybe we can get some ideas from Batman: Ninja."

"Very well. That doesn't sound like too much of a waste of time," Mei agreed, though she then turned the DVD case over and began reading the back, humming to herself and smiling. She might actually be looking forward to it.

They ended up getting some hot meals from the corner store near Izuku's apartment. His mother excitedly greeted them at the door, having set out places for them to eat as they watched the movie. "Ohhh! My baby boy, graduated from Junior High! And going to UA! And you're having a friend over for movies! This is so wonderful!"

"I-i-it's not like it's a date or anything!" Izuku protested.

"Really?" Mei asked, sounding confused. "I thought we were having fun. Isn't that a date? Mr. Onizuku told me about dates, and this sounds like one." She looked to Inko. "Do you think this is a date? I think Izuku is confused."

"It can be a date if you want it to be one, sweetie," Inko said, patting Mei's arm. "Now come inside. Oh, you brought drinks! That's good, I was worried we wouldn't have anything you liked!"

"I run on coffee, energy drinks, and the occasional Strawberry Yoohoo!" Mei declared.

As it turned out, Mei was perhaps the worst sort of person to watch a movie with. She constantly commented on what was happening, remarking on whether or not something was impossible, or declaring that she could build a better version of whatever was currently on screen. As it happened, however, Izuku didn't mind, as Batman: Ninja, was a completely nonsensical movie that he likely would have found dull and boring without Mei's color commentary. He ended up laughing and poking fun at what was happening along with Mei, while Inko just sat on the couch, eating popcorn and crying.

Izuku was fairly certain his mother was convinced that he was having his first date, and that such an emotional event was sending her into a tizzy. This didn't really feel much like a date to Izuku. There were no awkward pauses, he and Mei didn't stare into each others eyes, or call each other pet names, or accidentally touch hands, or do any of the things he would have expected on a real date. And there definitely wasn't a dramatic love confession. Instead, he felt comfortable, and was just enjoying being with his friend.

At the end of the movie, he smiled at Mei. "That was fun."

"Really? I thought that movie was dumb. You seemed like you didn't like it either," Mei mused. "Did you really like it? I thought you were smarter than that."

"No, it was bad," Izuku laughed. "But it was fun watching it with you. Especially when you pointed out how impossible those transforming castles were!"

"There is no way steam engines or coal powered electrical plants could have provided enough power to do any of that! And the physics just didn't work! They didn't explain how any of that worked! And how does a bomb rupture the space time continuum and send them backwards in time to Japan, when they're from America?" Mei ranted.

Izuku laughed. "Exactly! And the part with the monkey's forming a giant monkey? Their body heat would have killed them all!"

"See? That's exactly my point! It was so dumb!" Mei agreed. She frowned. "Say, was this fun? Was watching the movie, even if we didn't like it, fun?"

"I think so. At least, watching it with you was fun. Especially since we got to make fun of it together!"

"Hmm. Well, OK. This was fun. But I think making our babies together is more fun!" Mei declared.

Inko let out a gasp, and Izuku had to jump up and pound her back until she coughed out the bit of popcorn she had choked on.

Mei frowned, tilting her head to one side. "Should I do something?"

"N-no, I'm fine, Mei," Inko gasped.

"She means the inventions!" Izuku hurriedly explained. "She calls them her babies! Well, our babies, really. But that's what she means! We, we don't do a-a-anything like, like that!"

"A-a-alright, Izuku, but I'm warning you! No funny business." Inko glared at her son. "If you were to do something to tarnish Mei's reputation, I wouldn't know what to do with you!"

"That would be pretty hard. Everyone already thinks I'm super weird," Mei commented.

For some reason, that made both Izuku and his mother burst into laughter. After a moment, Mei laughed as well. "Yes! We are all very weird!"

"I think you're right," Izuku giggled. "But I wouldn't have it any other way, Mei."