Chapter Four: Preparations

Izuku stirred in his sleep, attempting to move from his position only to feel a weight on his chest. It was fairly light, but the presence was there. He felt what appeared to be hair as he reached around aimlessly trying to figure out what was on him, and came to a sudden realization.

It was Kyouka Jirou.

The man grunted as he opened his eyes, and sure enough there she was. Laying straight on top of his chest after what he assumed was another one of their passionate nights. The man smiled slightly as he stared at her laying her head atop his chest.

'Y'know… When she's like this, she's actually kind of cute.' He thought, before his face flushed with the realization of what just went through his mind. He thought… He really just thought she was cute. He wouldn't deny the fact that she was attractive, but did he seriously think that so sincerely.

Izuku slapped a hand to his head, before peering out of his fingers and realizing that he was in her assigned hotel room. The issue would now arise on how the hell he was gonna get out of here without the others finding out as he was sure that many of them were up already.

'Actually… What time is it..?' Izuku said, looking around the room for any semblance of a phone, or maybe even the hotel alarm clock. His search seemed to be for nought as the two of them had seriously thrashed her entire room around.

"You're moving around too much. I'll make an excuse, stop moving and let me sleep here." The woman beneath Izuku spoke, tapping her hand against his chest. Izuku hummed in response and relaxed, exhaling as the two laid together in silence.

Kyouka's eyes, however, were wide open. Despite what she said, her heart was racing too fast for her to be able to go back to sleep. Why, you might ask? Well, Kyouka was laid against Izuku Midoriya's chest. But the real kicker was; she enjoyed it.

She enjoyed laying up against the man's chest, hearing his heartbeat and feeling the slow rise and fall of his chest after a breath. He was also well-toned, and had scars littered over his body that just made him look that much sexier. But what she found herself enjoying the most was the proximity. Being close with him like this and not fighting; it was really nice for some reason.

Her face reddened as a sudden question popped up into her mind, and yet it was entirely likely. 'Did I… Have I fallen for him..?' She thought. Kyouka would ponder on that for the rest of the time that they were laying together, though the greenette was in the same boat.

Why were they continuing like this? It was obviously because the two of them had some kind of connection or compatibility. And apparently it wasn't just sexual in nature either. It seemed like after she had gone over to the Midoriya Estate she had realized just how… Intriguing he was. And now she was completely hooked.

Both of their faces were tinted red, with the only thing stopping them from talking was the fact that Kyouka was supposed to be "sleeping". Izuku, feeling rather bold, stroked the girl's hair, playfully running his fingers through it as she laid on him. Kyouka could feel her heart skip a bit, and a crooked smile found its way upon her face. This was one hell of a moment, and they'd savor it for as long as they could.

Unfortunately, someone knocked at Kyouka's door, causing both of them to shoot up out of the bed like their lives depended on it. Izuku scrambled to grab their clothes, handing Kyouka's hers so that she could quickly get ready and answer the door while he put his clothes on himself/cleaned the room.

Kyouka opened the door to reveal that it was her best friend, Momo Yaoyorozu. "Ah, hi Jirou. Just wanted to see if you were up, we have to meet with the others downstairs in a few. Something about getting supplies and all that, and while I know you don't like Mido- Oh! I didn't know you two were meeting in here."

Kyouka quickly looks behind her to reveal Izuku sitting in the woman's surprisingly neat room, sitting at a table waving to Momo politely. Neither his suit, nor did his hair even look slightly disheveled. How the hell did that guy work!?

"Uh, yeah we are. We'll be down shortly after we've finished discussing an important matter." Kyouka informs, waving the girl off and closing the door behind her with a sigh. "I don't know how you do it, but you work wonders."

Izuku snickered, "I know, you moan it in my ear almost every night." He said, causing the purplette to quickly whip her head around and glare at him. She then punches the man in his stomach, forcing him to the ground, and points to the door of her room.

"GET OUT, PRICK!"

The teams meet up in the lobby of the Midoriya's hotel, awaiting the arrival of Izuku and Kyouka. Eventually the two arrive, bickering as usual, though a few of their members have started to get the feeling that something has changed between the two of them. It didn't seem to be as hostile as before, and instead more… Playful.

"Yeah whatever, Tiny!" Izuku retorts, snickering at the girl's height. Kyouka's face erupts, and her scowl deepens as she tries to kick the man as hard as she can in his legs to bring him down to her height. Unfortunately, Izuku was seemingly built like a rock and only stumbled slightly as he continued to laugh.

"I'm not that short, asshole!" She exclaims through grit teeth as they finally make their way to the group, calming down as they're about to give their announcement for today's plans. "Anyways, hello everyone. I'm sure you've wondered why we called you down here today."

"We're going on a bit of a shopping trip so that everyone is supplied for their assaults on the Shie Hassaikai's different locations." Izuku cuts in, drawing everyone's attention to him. "We'll be sure to help you all get everything that you might need for your arsenals as well as extra materials that we'll use to help defeat the Shie Hassaikai's leaders."

There seemed to be a bit of grand excitement between the members, and a bunch of idle chatter began to roar throughout the lobby as it had been cleared out by the staff. Suddenly a hand shot up, a question was had.

"How exactly are we going to pay for everything? Will it be out of our pockets, or?" Momo Yaoyorozu spoke as she raised her hand. Izuku and Kyouka looked at one another before smiling and pointing to a group of suited men and women that entered the lobby's main hall.

"These guys will follow you around, helping you carry anything as well as paying for most things with the money we earn from being such a successful business syndicate." The green haired man stated as the suited group bowed respectfully. It was quite nice to have underlings that would help you out.

"Alright everyone, we've got limos waiting for us outside, we're heading to the black market so be armed just in case. Don't do anything stupid." Kyouka instructed, clapping her hands to signal everyone to gear up and head outside for the limos.

"Y'know it's pretty nice seeing you take charge. You act like a real brat, but I guess you can be pretty serious, huh?" Izuku teased, causing the purplette to punch him straight in his nose. Izuku gripped at his face and groaned, he was seriously gonna get a bloody nose from that.

"Don't say that out loud, people will get the wrong idea. Now, c'mon let's go." She said, hooking her arm around Izuku's with a smile and yanking him forward. Izuku sniffled and smirked at her action before he was whisked away to ride in their limo, a flutter in his heart left him but with a single question.

What was she doing to him?

"So Midoriya… What exactly are we allowed to buy?" Kirishima questioned as the group entered a rather large and ominous building. The building would contain many different shops filled with both legal and illegal contraband. It was a hotspot for those partaking in the black market, yet despite that there seemed to be a large mall right next door to the building.

"Well, if you can find something you think you'd need then everything goes I guess. Just don't go overboard and get yourselves in trouble. Kacchan." Izuku stated, glaring straight at the ash blonde who grunted and turned away from the greenettes gaze. "Perhaps everyone should go with a partner so that nothing gets out of hand…"

"Oh, that's a good idea. Mind if I assign them?" Kyouka asked, warranting a nod from the man. This would probably come to bite them in the ass later, but Izuku didn't really care as long as there wouldn't be any trouble. But knowing his luck, there was definitely going to be trouble at every turn.

"Alright so, I think I'll definitely pair up Yaomomo and the pomeranian." Kyouka started, causing Momo to have to try and calm down her raging boyfriend. "Next up, Kirishima and Sero. You two both wanted to get stuff to help you hit harder, sorry Mina."

Mina blushed as her eyes widened at the implications that Kyouka was trying to hint at. "I-I keep telling you we aren't like that!"

Izuku chuckled and rolled his eyes before pointing to Ochako. "Maybe Mina and Ochako should go off together? They both wanted to get something to help with blunt impacts."

The two girls looked at each other and smiled, approving of the idea as they locked arms and skipped away in a rather ridiculous and over-excited fashion. Seriously what was wrong with those two.

Kyouka then cleared her throat, "Alright, next team is… Ojiro and Koda. Maybe after that uhh… Tokoyami and Shouji. Next up Tsuyu and Todoroki, you both wanted something to help regulate your body temperatures… After that Sato and Iida. Oh but that leaves Hagakure- Anyone you'd want to partner up with?"

The girl looked around at the groups around her, before deciding to join Ojirou and Koda. "I'll join these guys. I get along with Ojirou well enough, so…"

"I guess that just leaves us to go around together." Kyouka stated, turning to the greenette beside her. What Izuku may or may not have known was the fact she separated everyone like this on purpose just so that she could spend some time with him. "Shall we get going?"

"You did this on purpose, didn't you? Have I charmed you already?" Izuku stated, a bit smugly while snickering. Kyouka rolled her eyes and started to walk off, causing Izuku to quickly jog over to catch up while laughing at her rather annoyed expression. "Oh c'mon, you're not denying it, short-stuff!"

"Again! I'm not that short! Can you quit it with that!? We just need to get what we need and get out of here, right? So what the hell do we get first?" Kyouka interrogates, turning to glare at the man following behind her. Izuku cupped his chin as he thought for a moment before saying only a single word.

"Ammo." He states, walking past her and heading straight for a stand that would sell exactly what he was looking for. Kyouka quirks a brow as she begins to follow behind him with a questioning expression on her face.

"Ammo? And that's it? That's all you came here to get?" She questions, earning a nod from the man before her. Her face deadpans as she stares straight at him. "Wouldn't you want armor, or like brass knuckles, or something?"

"Don't need it. I only need myself to take down that bastard Chisaki." Izuku replies through grit teeth, his face twisting into a rage-filled scowl. Kyouka humms in response as they eventually reach a skeletal looking man who looked oddly familiar…

"So you're back, Midoriya. You only come see me when things get a bit serious." The man stated as he leaned back in a lawn chair. Compared to the other stalls around him, his seemed a little bit more run down, but Kyouka could still swear she had seen this man once before. Perhaps he was disguised in some way.

"Yeah, the family's in a bit of a situation so… I've come to get some ammunition for, 'One For All'. It'd be greatly appreciated, Toshinori-Sensei." Izuku replied, causing Kyouka's eyes to widen in shock.

"Wait Toshinori? You're Yagi Toshinori the business mogul!?" She exclaims, causing both Izuku and said business mogul to shush her swiftly. A few heads turn and look at the three of them before going about their business without caring much. "S-Sorry, it's just… Wow, I never thought I'd meet you. How do you even know this cabbage-patch?"

Izuku glares at her due to the nickname she used in front of Toshinori. The scrawny man chuckled before sighing in reminiscence.

"I'd tell you, but it's a bit of a secret, Miss." He said, Izuku nodding in agreement. The man then handed Izuku a small pouch which rattled with the metallic ammunition that was encased in said fabric.

"Thanks, Toshinori-sensei. After this I may have more time to visit, let's go out for tea, alright?" Izuku suggested, causing the man to smile and nod in approval. Kyouka and Izuku soon walked as the men waved each other off. Their relationship confused Kyouka as they seemed to be rather close, but at the same time he treated him with such respect; you could tell he admired the man.

As the two left, they suddenly heard the familiar shouting of a rage induced Katsuki Bakugou, and the worried chatter of his panicked girlfriend trying to calm him down.

"THE HELL YOU MEAN YOU CAN'T SELL IT FOR LESS!? YOU JUST SOLD ONE TO THAT OTHER GUY FOR CHEAP! SHE NEEDS A COLLAPSIBLE STAFF YOU PRICK, DON'T MAKE ME KILL YOU!" His voice booms through his vicinity, signalling his location to Izuku and Kyouka. The two look at each other before sighing and heading over, finding him grabbing a man by his collar and screaming straight into his face.

"Kacchan, put him down." Izuku instructs, causing the blonde to whip his head over to his two "bosses". Momo sighs in relief at the sight of the two coming over to help tame her crazy boyfriend. "Seriously, you're not even paying for it. Relax."

"Don't tell me what to do, Deku. This guy was trying to rip off my girlfriend, you think I'm just gonna let that slide!?" Bakugou snarls, causing Izuku to roll his eyes as he stepped over to the man.

"Well, it's not your money that he's taking." He starts before leering over the man with an intense, yet fear inducing gaze. "But regardless, I'm sure we can work something out. Isn't that right, sir?"

The man gulped and nodded, handing said collapsible staff to the greenette who then handed it to Yaoyorozu. The man then turned around and faced the group. "Pleasure doing business with you. Anyways, get on to what you need, I have a feeling that we'll have to check on the others as well."

"As much as I hate to admit it, we probably should. Who knows what the others are getting up to…" Kyouka remarks as she and Izuku walk away from the couple. Bakugou turns to Momo as they both watch the two of them walk off and start having some sort of playful banter between the two of them.

"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" Bakugou questions. Momo nods before giggling softly and putting a hand over her mouth as she watched her best friend laugh along with the greenette who she "hated".

"Oh, I am. She's head-over-heels."

"So what exactly did you need, Kyouka?" Izuku questioned. The woman paused as she tried to recall what exactly she needed from this area.

"Surveillance equipment, I think? I wanted to get a parabolic microphone so I can listen in through walls, and the like. With my hearing I figured it would be useful." She responds, causing the man to humm in response with a nod. He honestly found it quite impressive the degree to which she could hear such faint sounds. In turn, however, that made her ears especially sensitive for when they were alone.

"That's quite impressive that you can hear so well. What is it like being able to pick up on so much?" Izuku asked, brushing her hair away from her ear just so that he could, A) Get to touch her without it seeming completely unwarranted, and B) To touch her ear so he can tease her.

The purplette jolted slightly as she felt the man's scarred finger run along her ear and she quickly swatted his hand away with her face flushed. "D-Don't go touching me like that! A-At least… Not in public."

The woman then turned her head away from Izuku as she grew embarrassed at what she had just suggested. It was now Izuku's turn to have his face tinted with red. That bashfulness along with her not rejecting the idea outright was enough to send Izuku's heart into overdrive. That was probably the cutest thing he's seen her do, period. Honestly it seemed like the two of them were getting embarrassed around each other more and more as of late; it was as if they were in highschool.

"Ah… Right, sorry." He responds, placing his arm stiffly to his side as they continued their walk through the area, searching for either their comrades or Kyouka's surveillance equipment.

"Ah, there it is!" Kyouka exclaims, pointing towards a stand that was selling exactly what she needed. The purplette hooked her arm around Izuku's and yanked him along, completely disregarding what had happened prior. "Come on! Let's get it before someone snatches it!"

Izuku was helplessly pulled along until they finally reached the stall where a rather unfamiliar boy sat. The boy was adorned in a dark school uniform, with a gas mask that covered his face. The eyes somehow glowed with a deep crimson color.

Kyouka slammed her hands on the stand, startling the boy. "How much for the parabolic mic?" She questioned, causing the kid to peer at her through his mask before smirking at her and her green haired companion.

"60." He simply said. "But perhaps a couple's discount is in order? I'll make it half off." He added, causing the duo's faces to flush as they attempted to give some sort of denial to his statement. Messing with these people was quite fun.

"W-We're not- Ugh, whatever, it's a good deal. W-We'll take it." Kyouka said as her face turned a light pink. Izuku pinched the bridge of his nose as one of his lackeys whipped past them and paid for the device, taking it from Kyoukas hands and walking off with it.

"Well, I guess that's all that we neede-" Izuku starts before being cut off by the booming voice of one Kirishima Eijirou, and then a crash as he's tackled through the stall behind them.

"TETSUTETSU WHAT THE HELL!?" Kirishima's partner, Sero, exclaims as he pushes the silver haired man off of the red-haired man. "As 'manly' as that is, you can't just tackle him like that out of the blue just cause you're happy to see him!"

"Kirishima." The quiet, yet eerie voice of Izuku Midoriya spoke. All three men suddenly turned to look at Izuku Midoriya who's face displayed nothing but a scary close-eyed smile. "Mind explaining why you're throwing yourselves through the stalls here, hm?"

"W-Well you see…" Kirishima started before Izuku cut him off with a punch to the back of his head, sending him straight to the ground once more. Kyouka snickered as the man collapsed at Izuku's strike.

"QUIT GOOFING OFF!" The man exclaimed, signalling to his lackeys that they needed to pay for the damages. Izuku glared at the three men as a group appeared around them, including a few more of his crew such as Tsuyu, Todoroki, Iida, and Ojiro.

"I can't deal with this…" Izuku mutters before turning and noticing his team sitting around them. He then pointed to his glasses-wearing friend, "Iida. You and Todoroki are in charge. I'm going for lunch."

The two men nod, and Izuku turns to walk away. As the crowd disperses around them Kyouka decides to tag along; purely for business purposes of course. It would definitely not be her trying to get a date out of him.

Definitely not.

"So why did you decide to follow me?" Izuku questions as he walks down the street with Kyouka right beside him. The woman's cheeks reddened as she whipped her head away from the man.

"Can't I just want to come with you for lunch? I mean we hardly speak to each other outside of work, and… Well, you know." She responds, her body language seeming a bit more bashful than usual. Izuku quirks a brow at her out of confusion; she's acting like a tsundere now.

"Riiiiight… So, what're you in the mood for? I was thinking ramen, but if you don't want that we can search around the mall or something." He suggests, turning his head to the woman beside him. He watched as she brushed some hair past her ear, noticing that she really was a beautiful woman. Y'know, when she wasn't trying to fight him, or just generally scream at him.

"Ramen sounds good, it's… Well, it's actually my favorite food. Is there a good spot around here?" She said, as she turned her head to see Izuku staring right into her eyes with what appeared to be… Bewilderment? She couldn't quite put a finger on what expression he had on his face, but he seemed to be deep in thought while staring at her.

Suddenly he snapped out of his trance and directed his head forward. "U-Uh, yeah… There's a ramen bar up ahead. Didn't know you favored it so much, though I guess I don't actually know much about you in general."

Kyouka giggled softly at his stuttering before locking arms with the man, a soft smile adorning her face as they walked down the street. "How about we change that then? Let's get to know each other a bit more."

"Sure, but why are you clinging to me?" Izuku questions in a deadpan tone. The purplette blushes before scowling at the man she was walking with. Seriously, what was his problem?

"Got a problem with it grass-for-brains!? Keep it to yourself and let's get to this ramen place already! Fucking asshole!" She shouts, removing herself from their arm lock and smacking him in the back of the head. Suddenly she hears Izuku chuckling as she tries to stomp off angrily, warranting her to swiftly turn around only to see Izuku smiling at her.

His smile was so sweet, and his eyes seemed to shine with life as he wiped a fresh tear from his eye due to his laughter, and rubbed the spot where she had just struck him. Kyouka's heart nearly jumped out of her chest at that smile of his, he looked so cheerful that it was infectious.

"That's more like you, Kyouka."

And the two would come to smile and laugh with that same cheerfulness as they went on their date-but-it-totally-wasn't-a-date. The two spent much needed quality time together, just getting to know one another and actually having fun together outside of simply stressing over their operation.

And that's chapter four of Running For Your Life!

In all honesty this was a difficult chapter to make, which is why it took so long... But here we have Izuku and Kyouka possibly getting feelings!?

But we've finished it, and I present it to you guys! I really hope you guys enjoy this chapter, and please leave some reviews for us!

See you all in the next chapter, which may be sooner than you expect as someone's birthday is coming up in the MHA universe!

Discord: /fwth3ZndHX