I return. With over 150 favourites and over 200 followers. Hell yeah.
'' = speech
' = thoughts
'' 'quote' '' = one character quoting another previous line
[][][] = little transition
{}{}{}= flashback begins/ends
I'll quickly reply to some reviews:
PasiveNox: Once again, thank you for the kind words.
OLDONOM: Thank you. I try to make the battles as easy to understand as possible. Hopefully that translates.
ProjectIceman: I don't really know what you intended with that review. Maybe to make fun of my writing? Maybe to say that the actual chapter was funny? I don't know.
TJ Jordan: Nejire was fairly tipsy when she and Izuku first slept together. She believed that Izuku wasn't as plastered as he was and slept with him. And as someone who has been blackout drunk, it is very much a case of having no memory whatsoever, hahaha.
I really don't have much to say this time. So, enjoy.
Even by Izuku's standards, the last week had been incredibly hectic.
On Friday, he had slept with Nejire after he got blackout drunk at a class party.
On Saturday, Ochako and Nejire had proposed they form a polyamourous relationship (after they had defeated a villain in a 7/11).
On Sunday, he had once again had some 'fun' with Nejire and saw Mina give Denki the worst Chinese burn he had ever seen.
On Monday, he babysat Eri for Aizawa and Miss Joke and was tricked into giving the girl ice cream.
But Tuesday had been the most extreme day yet. After the draining and difficult training with Class B, he had travelled half the length of the country to help Nejire, who had activated her distress beacon.
Now it was Thursday morning. He had woken up about midday yesterday, coated in bandages from the burns Molten had given him. Nejire had visited briefly, but only to deliver some flowers and words of wisdom for burns. At least she could always make him laugh.
Even her comedy affected him. After all, if what All for One said was true… he didn't like to consider it. He had wandered around the hospital a few times, despite nurses' protests. He had gained a strange resistance to injury.
Maybe he had his arms blowing up for a year and a half to thank for that.
He had passed Molten's room a few times on his circuits. His injuries were severe. He would live. Maybe life would be difficult to live if he were to use his quirk again. That ensured that his hero days were over.
Gust was awake, though still incredibly sore from Hawks using his feathers to pin her to the ground. When he had spoken to her, he couldn't help but stare at the wounds on her calves and forearms. She was optimistic that she could get back to hero work after her physiotherapy.
Splash was the best of the bunch. He had suffered a concussion, a few bruised ribs and a small, hairline fracture on his arm. He had walked out of the hospital a few hours ago. Izuku knew what that meant. He'd have dozens of pros that could counter him monitoring his home. They couldn't risk All for One reclaiming his body.
Izuku rolled out of bed. His mother had just left to get him some food and he eyed the change of clothes she had brought. He gripped his hospital gown tightly. He may as well get ready to leave, right?
He slid some underwear on under the gown and threw the blue clothy robe onto his bed. He pulled his sweatpants over his knees as he turned his back to the door.
''Ooh! U-Uh-'' He spun around.
''H-Hi, Deku.'' Ochako waved nervously.
''Hey.'' He pulled his pants up and tightened the waist before approaching the brunette and pulling her into a hug. Her bobbed hair brushed against his bare chest as she melted into his embrace.
''I'm sorry I didn't visit yesterday. They told us-''
''That it was media central up here? Luckily most of them left during the night.'' Izuku released her to meet her eyes as he finished her sentence.
''Mhmm. All Might visited yet?'' Ochako moved to an empty seat at his bedside as Izuku threw a shirt on.
''Yeah; he dropped by with my mom earlier. They're just out getting some food.''
''O-oh. Would you still want me here? I can leave if I'd be imposing…'' Uraraka circled the pink pad on her thumb with her index finger.
''Don't be silly! My mom loves you!'' Izuku lifted her chin with two fingers.
Uraraka beamed. ''Okay!''
They weren't alone for long. Inko and Toshinori returned with a tray stacked with various breakfast foods.
''Ochako!'' Inko handed the tray to Yagi as she squeezed her son's girlfriend in a warm hug.
''Hello, Mrs Midoriya!'' Ochako said with strained words as the greenette crushed her.
''Inko, dear! Inko!'' The doting mother requested as she backed up. All Might strode past the two and gently placed the tray into Izuku's arms.
''Your pants aren't chafing against the burns, are they?'' He asked his successor.
''Don't worry, I already checked my full range of motion.'' Izuku said with a smile as he eyed the waffles and yoghurt in front of him. For a hospital, the food was almost always great here.
''Ah, good thinking. We wouldn't want to slow your recovery, would we?' Toshinori chuckled as he fished into his pocket for a bottle of green tea.
''I thought you didn't like the brand stuff?'' Izuku asked as he pointed to the bottle.
''I would usually make my own, yes. But your mother said this one was good. I trust her word.''
''As you should! A mother is never often wrong.'' Inko jested as she took a seat next to his bedside. As All Might took the other, Izuku eyed Ochako. She was standing rather awkwardly behind the two adults.
Izuku swung his legs over the side of the bed and placed the tray in his lap. He patted the spot on the bed next to him and Uraraka blushed deeply as she gratefully took the space.
Izuku hummed happily as the yoghurt hit his tongue.
''Is it good?'' Ochako asked.
''Wanna try some?'' Izuku scooped another spoonful and held it up just in front of her lips.
The gravity girl gulped nervously as she eyed their two observers. All Might was staring at the side of his green tea bottle closely, seemingly checking the ingredients.
Inko, on the other hand… She had never known the woman to look so devious. The knowing grin told her all she needed to know.
Ochako parted her lips and Izuku popped the spoon in. Her eyes widened. As the spoon came out again, and she could thoroughly taste it, she hummed too.
''It is good! I thought hospital food was terrible!'' She said excitedly, bouncing on the bed.
Izuku laughed. Ochako laughed. Inko laughed.
''Feeding each other, eh?'' The Midoriya matriarch cackled. ''Have you two finally got there, after all this time?'' She said in equal parts mockery and enthrallment.
''I-its's not that-''
''No no! We're not-''
The two teens stumbled over their words. Their faces erupted into fiery blushes.
''I don't see why you can't tell her, Young Midoriya, Young Uraraka.'' All Might said before taking a quick sip of his tea. His blonde eyebrows raised in shock as he mulled over the flavour. 'Have I finally found a good tea?' He thought, already smoothing over the last topic in his mind.
''Tell me what!?'' Inko hopped in her seat in anticipative glee.
Izuku and Ochako looked at one another. The boy felt four fingers wrap around his own. Ochako had made sure to keep her pinky raised to avoid floating him, but nodded as she squeezed his calloused hand. He turned to face the two.
''Mom… Ochako and I… we're d-dating.'' He smiled as he fought off his blush.
''It's only been a few days since we made it official, but, ya know…'' His girlfriend added.
Inko cupped her chin in thought for a few seconds. And then leapt out of her seat and engulfed the young couple in a tight hug.
''FINALLY!'' Tears streamed down the woman's face. ''You two couldn't have frustrated me more, you know!'' She pulled back and looked between them rapidly.
''How long had you wanted us to date?'' Izuku asked in concern.
Inko gripped his shoulder and stared him in the eye. A dark aura seemed to surround her as her eyes shadowed over.
''Years.''
Izuku gulped. Ochako giggled. All Might chuckled nervously. Maybe they did wait a little too long…
[][][]
Izuku had been officially discharged a half hour later. With his own insistence on his recovery and All Might's brief and incredibly biased analysis of his injuries, the head nurse had finally caved and allowed him to leave.
''The recipe's under the icing, sweetie.'' Inko said as she held out a bag of baking supplies. ''Just follow it closely and you'll have a perfect cake.''
Izuku grinned at his mother. ''I'll try. Haven't actually baked in a few months.''
''Izuku.'' His mother said softly.
He looked down and carefully studied the look on Inko's face.
''Treat her well. It doesn't take a psychic to know just how much she cares for you.'' She looked back briefly. Uraraka and All Might were discussing tea as All Might bought a second bottle from the vending machine.
''I would never treat either of them badly.'' Izuku said, his lips curling up into a smile.
''Hmm? 'Either of them'?'' Inko tilted her head.
Her son's eyes burst open. 'Oh no.'
''So you have two women in your life.'' Inko began. The Midoriya's stood in silence for a moment as the elder woman pondered.
''Is it Nejire Hado?'' She said as she looked up at him.
He nodded.
''You have quite a knack for attracting beautiful women, Izuku.''
''Just like Dad.'' He responded. Inko rolled her eyes at his attempt.
''You can't distract me with compliments. But thank you.''
Inko handed him the bag and readjusted her handbag on her shoulder.
''I promise to treat them as well as I can. And to protect them as well as I can, too.'' He gripped the plastic handles tightly as he looked past his mom to see Ochako and Toshinori approach.
''Good. I wouldn't doubt you regardless.'' She heard the footsteps. ''Just make sure to give me lots of grandchildren!''
Izuku turned beet red as Inko spun on her heels. ''Ready to go, Toshi?'' She asked, the smallest hint of her devious grin hidden behind a fake cough.
''I suppose we should be going; after all, we have those dance classes later!'' Yagi seemed to grow more and more excited as the sentence progressed.
''You alright, Deku?'' Ochako closed the gap when she noticed Izuku's red face.
''Y-Yeah! Just feeling hot, haha!'' He squeaked out as Inko cackled under her breath.
''All right! Take care, you two!'' Inko stood on her tiptoes. Izuku ducked down as she kissed his forehead. Ochako was surprised when Inko dragged her into another quick hug.
All Might ruffled Izuku's hair. ''Be safe. No more incidents before you graduate, hmm?''
His successor nodded. ''I'll try. Hopefully Nejire doesn't need my help again.''
''She's a strong hero. And now that All for One's presence has been quelled, we have little to do but observe his brain.'' The former Number 1 scowled slightly. ''It's a shame we can't destroy it. I could finally sleep peacefully knowing he was gone.''
''Enough hero talk, Toshi.'' Inko took his arm. ''Ring me on Sunday, Izuku.'' She said as the two got into All Might's car.
''I will. Later, Mom. Later, Dad.'' He watched as the couple sped off down the road.
'''Dad'?'' Ochako said, voice full of amusement. He straightened up.
''I did it again?'' He mused.
''Mhmm. It's cute. And about time, honestly. He's been great to you and you've been great to him.'' She wrapped an arm around his, her fingers tracing the scars.
''It'll still be weird if they get m-married.'' He was nervous just thinking about it.
''No duh! It's All Might. You idolised him. Being his son is like a fairytale for you.'' She laughed as they started the walk to the station.
''S-Speaking of-'' He looked down at her as they waited to cross the road. A few drivers recognised them and honked their horns, but they had yet to be swarmed by reporters or paparazzi. ''D-Do you want to get married? O-Only a few y-years from now, obviously… ''
He didn't even need to look back at her to see the blush on her face. He could feel the warmth from her pink cheeks on his shoulder.
''I-Izuku! I-I didn't think you'd even consider that f-far ahead…'' Her grip tightened on his arm.
''W-Well, yeah. I do. I can't think of a reason why we'd ever break up, Ochako.'' He smiled warmly at her. ''Especially when we've only been dating for a few days.''
''You haven't seen my true self when I'm at home, Deku. I could be the world's biggest slob!'' She said in jest.
''But you'd be my slob.'' He joked back as he pulled out his train pass from his pocket.
''Awwww. We can be slobs together!'' Uraraka did the same and they entered the platform.
Luckily for them, it was 10am. Not exactly a popular time to be travelling on a weekday. They had a few admirers as they walked, now apart as to not arouse suspicions of their relationship, up the platform.
''What about Nejire?'' She asked as the couple made sure they were long out of hearing range for most people. Unless someone had a hearing quirk. That was always annoying.
''I… I guess I'd marry her too? I wouldn't want either of you to be a mistress…''
There was a pregnant pause between them.
''This is why I don't like the idea of being with both of you.'' He sighed deeply.
''You said it made you feel 'selfish' when we spoke about it with her.'' Ochako said as she glanced at the station clock. ''Same feeling?''
''Y-Yeah. But with that train of thought comes the idea of not being able to make both of you equally happy.'' Their train approached in the distance. ''And I feel like… if we do this, that should be the most important thing.''
''Well, being with you makes me happy... '' Ochako checked around them and cupped his face. ''And I'm sure Nejire would agree.''
The train screeched to a halt in the station and the brunette released his face and grabbed some sunglasses from her handbag. Izuku put his hood up and pulled up a face mask.
''Going incognito is a bit of a bother sometimes, huh?'' Ochako grabbed his hand as they walked aboard. The train was fairly empty, much to their relief.
''At least brown hair is a bit more common. Imagine having to hide green!'' He semi-shouted with his voice hushed.
Izuku ushered her into a window seat and plopped down next to her.
''Music?'' Uraraka asked as she offered him a headphone. He would have listened to his own, had he not left his phone at UA.
He accepted the earbud and placed it in the ear that was facing her. Soft, soothing Lofi filled his ear as he felt her fingers slot between his. Her head came to rest on his shoulder and he jolted slightly.
''O-Oh, sorry, Deku.'' Ochako shifted to sit up straight but felt Izuku's hand gently push her head back into place.
''You're good. Just wasn't expecting it, is all.'' He brushed her hair out of her face as she nestled into him again.
It took all of his composure to not stutter or leap away out of embarrassment. Then again, they'd had sex. Why was he so intimidated by someone invading his personal space?
Ochako was pondering the same thing as she tried to focus on the music. 'It's up to me to get this boy relaxed.' She said as she squeezed his hand softly.
[][][]
The train journey was only about 2 hours to reach Tokyo. Izuku was just thankful he didn't live in the 21st century, when it took over 4 hours from Aomori.
They still had another tram journey to make before they reached Musutafu, but thankfully it was only about 15 minutes. As they stepped foot onto the station platform, Izuku instinctively tensed up. Of all the times he'd been recognised and hounded by fans, Tokyo had been the worst.
They walked out into the hustle bustle of the Tokyo lunch rush and scanned for the fastest route through the crowds to reach the tram station.
Ochako tied her hair back into a ponytail as they walked as quickly as possible to avoid any-
''Hey! Is that you, Izuku!?'' A voice called out from behind them. Izuku stopped dead. 'That voice!'
He spun.
''Auntie Mitsuki!'' He smiled warmly as approached them.
''Heya, kiddo!'' She grinned as she ruffled his hair. ''Back from a date?'' She said mischievously as she nodded to Uraraka.
''No, hahaha!'' Izuku said nervously. ''Uraraka came to visit me at the hospital. We're just headed back now.'' He thumbed behind him to the tram line.
''Oh! So that's the line Katsuki gets back from Ketsubutsu! Thought I recognised the signs around here.'' The blonde woman squinted at the restaurants and sports shop logos from their position across the road.
''But anyway! Hospital!? You aren't still blowing your arms up, are you? Your mother was worried sick for all of your first year, ya know?'' She scowled sarcastically. ''And I had to be the one to hear about it!''
He grimaced. ''Sorry. Mom's always been a bit overprotective.''
Mitsuki smiled sadly. ''With Katsuki being as awful to you as he was, I can understand why.'' She sighed. ''At least he's gotten better. I couldn't imagine him surviving even two minutes as a hero with his attitude.''
''He doesn't even call me 'Round Face' anymore!'' Ochako said in an attempt to lift the older woman's mood.
''Good; I had enough trouble trying to stop him calling that poor Mina girl 'Raccoon Eyes.' I'm surprised his friend stayed as his friends considering the nicknames he gave them.''
Mitsuki looked up. ''Is that your tram pulling into the station?'' Izuku spun.
''Oh wow! Sorry, Auntie!'' Izuku clasped Ochako's hand and dragged her across the road. At least the traffic had stopped.
''I'll call your mother later!'' Mitsuki yelled after them.
Izuku called out to the station attendant, who very politely held the doors. The two zipped into the carriage at some speed.
Once again, they were thankful that it wasn't peak hours for travel. A single old woman sat in the furthest seat forward and a mother sat with a child a few seats behind. He felt the air on his neck and chin. Had his hood and mask-
''DEKU!'' Yep. The child squirmed as his mother clutched him tightly. She looked at the young couple and smiled as she wrestled her son back into his seat.
''Would he like a picture or an autograph or… something?'' Izuku walked up the aisle.
''Hmmm… would you like a picture with Deku, Isamu?'' The mother turned to her son.
''Yes please!'' The boy looked at him and smiled brightly.
''Okay, Isamu!'' Izuku motioned for him to make his way over to him. Isamu rushed down and stood in front of him. Izuku knelt down and placed a hand atop Isamu's head. His mother snapped a few photos and called her son back to her. As he scrambled back into his seat, Izuku took one on the other side of the aisle, legs facing outwards to face his fan. Ochako took a seat in front of him.
''So, how old are you, Isamu?'' He smiled warmly.
''Six!'' The young boy said excitedly as he held up his thumb on one hand and all his fingers on the other.
''Do you want to be a hero?''
The boy seemed far less enthused by that question but nodded with a pained smile.
''What's your quirk?''
The boy's face fell. ''I-I don't have one…''
Izuku felt the urge to comfort Isamu as his lip trembled. But he discarded those thoughts. 'A true hero smiles… no matter what!'
There were a few moments of silence before Isamu looked up to Izuku, expecting a look of disappointment or disgust. His mouth gaped as he took in the hero's expression.
A big, toothy smile! Surely he hadn't heard him right…
''W-Wha-''
''You can be a hero, Isamu.''
The boy's brown hair seemed to spike up on top of his head. His blue eyes sparkled in adoration.
''B-But, I'm quirkless, how can I be a hero?''
''Hard work. Eating your veggies. Studying hard and doing homework. It all helps, trust me.'' Izuku briefly looked up to the boy's mother, who was looking at him as quizzically as her son.
''B-But-''
''Would you like to hear a secret, Isamu?'' He asked, his face now taking a serious turn. The boy nodded gingerly as Izuku leant in close and cupped his mouth.
''I was quirkless, too.''
Isamu sputtered and failed to find the words.
''Try your best, Isamu. And if you ever feel down or like you won't make it, look at that picture of me and you!'' He beamed at him once more. This time, it was infectious.
''Mhmm!'' The boy nodded ecstatically as Izuku stood. Their stop was approaching. Ochako gave Isamu's mom a curt nod as she threw her handbag back over her shoulder.
The tram came to a gradual stop. As the doors opened, Izuku turned and waved to the mother and son.
The couple touched down on the platform and began the walk back to U.A.
The tram started moving again and Isamu began bouncing in his seat. Though that wasn't the tram's fault. He was just too excited. He looked up to his mother, who was smiling to herself at the thought of the polite exchange.
''Mom, I can be a hero!''
Heya. Bit of a filler chapter, I suppose. Felt like I needed Inko to turn up at some point though. And to add some little details here and there that, once again, will come into play in the future.
Anyway, those new manga chapters, huh!? God it's very depressing right now. Luckily I don't see the current state of heroes being forced upon them indefinitely, especially since Izuku says in the opening of both the show and manga: ''This is the story of how I became the greatest hero.'' Which implies he's definitely alive and proud to be a hero, unlike the heroes in the manga at the moment.
I'm just so sad that he left Ochako and everyone at U.A though! Damn you, Horikoshi!
Right, that's about it. See ya!