Jeez, this chapter turned out longer than expected. I was actually aiming for it to be shorter. Next chapter will probably be just as long, considering all it has to accomplish and cover. I still want to thank Jess for beta reading. This was a hell of a chapter.

I tried to summarize a lot of things so as to not rehash too much, but I also made some changes. Some were subtle, others were not. With Mineta elsewhere, I found the locker room peep hole scene easy to junk. Literally nothing would happen and nobody would get perved on.

I did some world building and mild fleshing out of OC's, while also building towards the future. A few things almost made it in but I decided against it. They could still make it but we'll see. Anyway, tune in next time for...

The exam arc!

Then after that, the follow up stuff before we get into some Summer madness with I Island and the Training Camp. We will also check in with those kooky criminals in the Villain Alliance.

Til next time. I am going to try to work on other stuff for now, especially Power, some commissions, and a little surprise I need to brush up and restructure a bit. SYS!

P.S.: Sorry for taking so long on the Titans fic. I'll get to it again soon. Promise!

P.P.S.: Ending this fic at ch 30 and then, if I decide to do a 3rd book, it will be a while after I finish WDR. For my sake.

—-

The Stain situation had been tense and bloody, with the aftermath resulting in Izuku, Iida, and Todoroki in the hospital. Iida had it the worst, with his injuries leaving him with some light nerve damage in his hands. The three boys were reprimanded by their mentors, save for Todoroki. His father was left to deal with the aftermath and clean up.

The boys made it out the other end alive, but after some scars and some reprimanding from their mentors, there was one thing left: a visit from the Hosu chief of Police, Kenji Tsuragamae.

"It was in no small part to your efforts that we were able to apprehend the Hero Killer. Even with all the chaos that occurred, the threat was neutralized with little harm to the public.

However, there is still punitive action to be taken. Officially, the law does not abide vigilantes or unregulated use of abilities, even in the service of good. As none of you are licensed, this vigilantism and unrestrained use of quirks cannot be abided by law, and as such you would have to be punished under the law…

However, we are not without gratitude for your efforts in apprehending the hero killer. I would hate to condemn you for your help or to cut such promising hero careers short, especially when you're not much younger than my niece… As I said, however, the law is the law , so officially…it will be Endeavor who apprehended the hero killer…"

"You mangy mutt!" Todoroki spat, with Iida reprimanding him immediately.

"Todoroki, that's enough. Let him finish!"

"I see…" izuku sat stunned, looking into his cup of water as he listened to the proposed solution

"Does credit mean that much to you?" Gran Torino shook his head as the other boys looked at Izuku's disappointed expression.

The green-haired boy looked at his hands, then up again to explain his turmoil. "Not at all. It's for the best…I just…don't like keeping secrets from my girlfriend…She already knows about..." Izuku caught himself, realizing where he was. Gran Torino narrowed his eyes and shook his head. "A-All my embarrassing secrets. It feels weird to lie to her."

"Nice save, kid," Gran Torino whispered to Izuku, who whispered back "Thanks."

"Understandable. I myself couldn't stand lying to my wife. Still, sometimes we keep secrets for a reason. It might seem unfair but ultimately it is for the best." Kenji nodded.

"The importance of maintaining peace cannot be understated and unfortunately, some personal sacrifices are to be made, ones that seem minor in the grand scheme of things but are too personal not to hurt.

Gran Torino chimed in as well. "Relationships are bound to be tested in the field and fact is, high school romances don't often last… but we already had this conversation. You seem to care a lot about this girl and from what I've gathered, she's a keeper."

"She is." Izuku chirped. "We both have so far to go…but I feel like with a smile from her, I can do anything. "

Gran Torino thought back to an old friend, or perhaps something more. The ache in his chest felt so distant, yet still there after all these years.

"Let's just say, if she figures it out, neither confirm nor deny." The old man winked. Ken merely nodded, saying nothing."Now let's head back. I'll make supper."

"Are we cleared to leave though?"

"You are. The other kid, Ingenium, needs to stay another day but apparently you and Endeavor's son are free to go."

"One moment, actually. Woof. " Kenji halted the two

"Young Iida, we actually wanted to keep you abreast of something we discovered recently in the aftermath of Stain's apprehension."

"What was it?" Iida looked up

"During his time as a vigilante, Stain had gotten into a fight with another vigilante that left him scarred. Said Vigilante was good friends with Tensei Iida…the hero known as Ingenium." The police chief spoke. "Said Vigilante has since moved on but we are still investigating that lead."

"So you think it was personal?" Iida looked down in frustration. He had put revenge behind him and would remind himself of the harsh lessons he learned today. Even though he aimed to truly earn the right to call himself a hero, this revelation made things no easier.

"Given his convictions, I do not doubt he truly viewed your brother as a false hero…however we cannot rule out other motivations either."

"Not to be rude, but why are Midoriya and I here for this? It seems more personal to Iida." Todoroki looked ahead coldly.

"Just to keep you three informed so you can be careful in the future. Also a friend is waiting for you at the hospital entrance, accompanied by someone else who has Intel on Stain. We'll be talking to them shortly. Midoriya, Torino, you're free to leave. "

"Wait…I wanted to apologize…" Todoroki looked down at his own hands with intense concern. "Any time I get involved with something, someone gets an injury to their hand… am I some sort of cursed hand crusher?"

Iida and Izuku stared at him, faces contorging in amusement before they burst into laughter. Todoroki just looked on with confusion at their reaction. "I'm serious though."

"That's enough fartin' around. Let's go home, kid. I'm starving," Gran Torino grumbled, nodding his head to Kenji and Manual before leading his young ward out of the room.

The two made their way to the hospital Lobby, where they ran into a similar duo of aging mentor and UA student: Scarlett and Red Riot.

"Midoriya! Bro! Are you hurt!?" Kirishima ran over to his friend and almost scooped him up in a bear hug, only restraining himself at the last minute due to the arm sling Izuku was in.

"Oh no. The police were too late. I see a corpse in an ill-fitting costume," Akane sneered, walking over to Gran Torino and slapping him on the back.

"Oh great. She's here. Shouldn't You be feeding pigeons in a park somewhere?"

"They kicked me out for cooking them afterwards. Anyway, It's important that I'm here. As much as I regret it, I helped train the man known as Stain."

Izuku was shocked. He supposed it made sense. He had to have learned his moves somewhere. What's more, they both had blood related quirks, so she was probably more qualified to give him advice back then. "That… actually makes a lot of sense."

The four paused for a moment to chat a bit before the old woman decided to keep them on track.

"We're headed up, Red. Nice meeting you,kid. You, not so much." Akane smiled warmly at Izuku before shooting a more antagonistic grin at his mentor.

"Go to hell you old crone!" The old man retorted.

"Been there. Unimpressed. Now everyone shut up. We're needed." Akane held up a hand, then walked towards the elevator as Izuku and Kirishima waved at each other.

"What a pain. Anyway, stay here, kid. I gotta make a call to let Toshinori know you're ok," the old man spoke.

"Who?" Izuku looked confused.

Gran Torino growled as he smiled. "That's All-Might's na…" Realization hit the old man. This kid was too much.

"I'm going to make that call, Smart ass. I'll be right back." Grump Torino bonked Izuku lightly on the head with his cane before walking towards the restroom area, where the phones were.

Izuku wondered if he had gone too far but laughed slightly to himself. He was just glad things had worked out for now but he couldn't shake the feeling things would get worse.

X

Gran Torino stepped aside to the nearest payphone and dialed his old student. He was due for an update on the situation.

"Well, My teaching license is suspended for half a year and they docked my pay. Not like that bothers me too much. I had no interest in being a pro-hero or a teacher beyond serving a purpose anyway but I may have to cut the internship short for Midoriya."

"That's unfortunate…but at least you're all safe?"

"More or less. The kids are scuffed up but they will get to continue learning and growing. Midoriya seems to have found a handle on One for All, so hopefully he can continue growing without me. If only he had a mentor who was still able to teach legally."

"Yeah. Yeah, I know. Thanks for updating me on the situation…I have a feeling there's more?"

"Of course. I have a bad feeling. This lines up too perfectly…mindless puppets with multiple quirks, the villain liance being spotted, and the Hero killer gaining more media attention. There is an infection below this malaise and someone wants that to fester. I think you know who…"

There was silence on the other end of the line. Torino gave his former pupil time to gather his thoughts. Finally, the voice on the other line spoke. "You don't mean…he's back? I had a feeling he would be…but now?"

"It all lines up too perfectly. You told the boy about All for One right? Have you told him everything? About the previous wielders?"

"A while back during one of our little meetings on his progress. As for the greater details, No. I think it's time, especially because he said he saw vestiges during one of his fights. I think it's about time I step up as a mentor." The symbol of peace spoke in a hushed but urgent tone.

"Good, because my teaching license is suspended for a bit. Just as well though. I only got into it to help you along. There is something else though. Toshinori…you should reach out to David soon. I have a bad feeling about all this."

"One more thing actually, sir. Something I forgot…there was another figure that might be tied into this and we might want to keep an eye out."

"What could be important that hasn't already been addressed?"

"One of the villains from USJ has ties to organized crime. I saw him briefly. A large man with green, scaly skin. It can't be"

"You bozo! Sobek is wrapped up in this and you didn't bring that up first?" Gran Torino shouted over the phone. This changed things substantially. "It's not out of character for him to have contingency plans. Keep an eye out for him"

"He's been lying low and we've been trying to trace him. If what we fear is true, not only do villains have a symbol and a creed on my level, but potentially the experience and resources that comes with being a crime lord. Even with a steady decline in those enterprises, that could lead to some major issues."

"The bastard really is collecting game pieces. Damn." Gran Torino growled in frustration. "Tell him everything. He needs to know the full story. And fill the girl in too. She might not be your successor, but if she's wrapped up in this, she should know."

"Ashido? I don't know. Should I get her wrapped up in this?"

"She already is, Toshinori. She has been since she scolded you apparently. " Gran Torino scratched his chin, reflecting on everything he had heard about her. "If she and Midori Rush are dating, any threat one encounters will seek the other out and they should know what they're in for."

"Very well. I'll call them in when we get back to classes. Thank you."

X

While Gran Torino spoke to All-Might on the phone, Izuku sent a quick text to Mina, letting her know the situation.

A minute later, his phone rang.

"WHAT HAPPENED?! ARE…sorry. Calming down. Calm. Calm… ARE YOU OK?!"

"Mina I'm fine. I swear…we just had to um…get saved by Endeavor. We got ambushed by the Hero Killer during the chaos with the Nomu. My arm's a little sore but it's not too bad. Iida and Todoroki are staying overnight but we got out early, so Gran Torino and I are headed back to rest.

"Babe? You literally just raised more questions for me. How did the hero killer find you? Was it because of the stuff with Iida's brother? Why were Noumu there? Since when were there multiple Noumus? Is that even the correct plural form? Aaaaaah! Just…I'm glad you're OK but make sure to call me when you get back. I want to hear all the scary but exciting details."

"Of course. Also we bumped into Kiri. Apparently the hero he's interning with knows more about Stain and the police wanted to speak to her."

"Wow! Sounds busy and exciting. One sec… Yep…Airjet is calling for me. Sorry. I gotta go but yeah. Call me when you get back to Grampy Totino's place. Love Ya!"

As she hung up, Izuku was silent for a moment. He couldn't tell her everything, but hopefully, he wouldn't have to. He was just happy to hear her voice again.

Right after that, Izuku got another call, this time from Ochako. If he hadn't been dating one since middle school, he would probably be losing it over talking to a girl. He was just excited to hear from a friend.

"Hey Uraraka. What's up?"

"Oh thank goodness! I was so worried when I got that address text. My heart was thumping like crazy. Are you and Iida ok?"

"Yeah. So is Todoroki. We all had a bit of a laugh about how our hands get hurt when Todoroki's around but it's fine. I'm actually in good enough shape to head back to my mentor's place for dinner. We're having Buri Daikon."

"Oo! Sounds yummy! Hold on…NO! MY HEART ISN'T THUMPING BECAUSE OF…HE HAS A GIRLFRIEND! AHHH STOP STOP STOP! Igotta go. Gunhead's being a dork…just…you and Iida stay safe."

"Of course. I'll talk to you when we get back to class. Gonna head out and call Mina after we eat. She apparently saw some action tonight too."

"That's so cool. Don't stay up too late! Buh Bye, Mido…" The brunette was cut off by the boy on the other line.

Izuku felt nervous. Was he being too familiar? What's more, he felt like Tsuyu was rubbing off on him. It didn't feel like him but in a way, it was now. He wasn't used to being informal. It wasn't his style. And yet, he felt like he could allow it for his friends. "You…you can call me Izuku, remember. We're friends." He smiled as he spoke. There was silence on the other end as Ochako said nothing. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah! Y-yeah. I'm fine. Just…still taken aback. I'll talk to you later, Izuku."

"Of course…hey…"

"Yeah?"

"Can I…um…call you besty?" The green-haired boy squeaked anxiously as he spoke. Ochako burst into a giggle as he said that.

"Of course. Now go get some rest and tell Mina I said hi!"

"Of course. See ya later!"

"Likewise!"

As she hung up, Izuku shook his head and smiled. He just couldn't get over how awesome it was talking to people who liked him, and he doubted he ever would.

X

The next morning arrived and Izuku headed downstairs towards the kitchen, expecting Gran Torino to be sleeping or perhaps nibbling on some Taiyaki. Instead he was sitting on the couch going over some files. On closer inspection, they seemed to be related to teaching.

"It's not becoming of a hero to snoop on an old man. Go have breakfast. There's some onigiri as well as Taiyaki on the table. Brew yourself some coffee as well. I'll be in in a minute."

Izuku felt shocked at the old man's intuition, but merely smiled and did as suggested, especially as his stomach was rumbling up a storm.

After a light breakfast and some moderate stretches, Izuku sat on the couch next to the old man.

"Are we doing anything today, since we're only 60% through the week?" Izuku asked, only to be smacked with the file folder from before. Torino stored it in a nearby drawer and got up.

"About that…So unfortunately this internship will finish up with you doing some more training drills. I lost my teaching license for half a year and my pay is docked, but just because you got out early doesn't mean I'm sending you home just yet. We're going to do some laps around the local park. I want to test your speed and reflexes more."

Izuku felt saddened that everything was cut short but this would be a good wind down from the violent skirmish that happened on his 3rd day. He was just glad Iida was in a better mood now, and was aiming to put vengeance behind him.

"Fine by me. Good things happen for me at parks. Lead the way" The boy grinned, activating Full Cowling at 6%. It was a bit more than last time and perhaps he was pushing it. All he needed, though, was to take a deep breath and it felt natural.

The day went on like that, with some basic drills and exercises focused on fine tuning One for All. As much as Izuku would have preferred more hero work, this was the best he and Torino could do with the current circumstances.

Before they knew it, they were on the final day of the Internships, with Izuku once more on the steps of Gran Torino's home. The gruff old man addressed his pupil.

"You're lucky the hero killer was using kid gloves."

"Only at first. Given how he's not above murdering children, I don't think he has kid gloves unless they refer to gloves he specifically uses to kill kids."

"I'd call you a smartass but based on his MO, and Native's testimony, you're on the mark." Gran Torino sighed. "And while it really doesn't affect us, that insight into the hero killer is worrisome. Just goes to show even men with twisted ideals can hold grudges. Even zealots aren't above petty emotions. And then that woman…"

"It makes sense. He had to develop his combat skills somehow. It's scary to know he learned from Crimson Riot's former sidekick."

"I'm just glad he passed out on his feet after that overblown speech of his."

"I just wish I hadn't been frozen in place after he saved me from that Nomu…there was something I wanted to say to him…it's best I didn't. "

"What could you have said to a guy like that, kid?"

"That if he was waiting for All-Might to face him in combat and kill him, he'd live a long life in prison."

"You're kind of a mouthy boy, aren't ya?" Gran Torino scratched his goatee and raised an eyebrow. "Maybe you're more than an All-Might fanboy after all."

"Wasn't always. Mouthy, I mean. I was always the other one. I have others to thank for the mouthy thing. Just glad I didn't hurt my arm too badly." The boy rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, offering a soft and humble smile.

"Don't bullshit me. You still have a long way to go." The old man retorted while waving his cane.

"I do, but I tried to exhibit some muscle control with how much output I gave, plus our previous villain takedown helped a little, even just a day."

Gran Torino couldn't exactly object. "Yeah, well if you keep this up, you should be good but you're still sloppy. I'll have to give that bag of bones you call a mentor a stern earful on how to be an actual teacher."

"That reminds me. I have never really heard your name before All-Might brought you up, but you easily could have been one of the standouts of history, with the likes of Crimson Riot or Yoroi Musha or the original Creaty."

"I never had interest in making a name for myself. I only did any of this to help a dear friend and fulfill a promise. Forget askin' me any more than that. You will find out more from To…I mean All-Might. Besides, not all the greats got talked about in those books. I can think of at least one"

Deciding not to ask about that last comment on the off chance All-Might brought it up, Izuku turned to leave.

"I see. Well anyway, I should get going. Thank you for everything. I still have a lot to learn, like you said…but I still learned a lot."

"Who are you?"

"This again? Really?" It then hit Izuku what the old man meant. He had been nothing for so long. Just Deku. But he learned that that name could mean more. That he could mean more. He remembered the decision he had made in class that day and nodded.

"Midori Rush, sir." Izuku spoke with pride. "The hero who can do anything."

"Not a bad name, kid. A bit long but so is mine. I hope you can. Live up to that last part."

"Thanks, sir. I… I'm honored. Beep beep to you too."

"Get outta here!"

Izuku accepted Gran Torino's request and headed towards the station.

Smiling to himself once the boy was gone, Torino sighed. "What a pain in the ass. I miss him already…but no room for sentimentality…"

The man felt like One for All was in good hands. However, he still couldn't shake an incredible sense of foreboding, like things were about to get a whole lot worse.

X

Once everyone returned to class, everyone touched base on their internships, from Ibara's time with Kamui woods and Sero to Jirou's internship with Deatharms.

"I can't believe you took on real villains! That's so cool! Also I'm surprised you didn't go with that Saxophone guy. Big Ben? Music is like…your thing right?"

"I decided against that. He was only in town for a little bit and I decided on someone more local. As for villains… I mean, I didn't fight them. I just helped with reconnaissance and evacuation. Besides, you have more experience. I saw you on the news with Airjet." The Punk girl absentmindedly twirled her jacks around her fingers before giving her friend a wink.

"Oh yeah. That. I kinda forgot. Once I found out Izuku was in the hospital, I immediately had to check on him. But I was like WAM! SPLASH! TAKE THAT! How about you, Tsu." Mina recreated her fighting moves from her internship without use of her acid, feeling more than happy to regain her friends with the experience.

"It was mostly just rescue work, but we did take down a smuggler ship!" The frog girl casually croaked.

"That's really cool!" Mina and Kyouka exclaimed in unison. The three of them looked to Ochako, who was in the zone with her martial arts moves. The brunette exhaled in a focused and menacing manner.

"It was….very fruitful."

"No kidding. That's really intense. I may have picked up a move or two as well." Mina said, beckoning everyone to clear the way as she performed a somersault kick and landed on the desk. She was surprised she didn't trip and lose her balance, especially as she transitioned effortlessly into a sitting position with her legs crossed.

Her classmates clapped. Even Ochako had broken out of her trance to clap for her pink pal. Mina just smirked and gave a little vow to all her friends, stealing a glance at Izuku. He himself did the same, giving her a little clap.

"The ones who seem to have benefited the most from this would be you four…" Kaminari gestured to Iida, Todoroki, Izuku and Mina. "I still can't believe three of you faced the Hero killer. He was so cool… I mean…shit…killing people is mad and I know he's a villain but…"

"Jeez, jamming whey, don't choke on that foot of yours," Jirou teased.

"Such worship of one so sinful…" Ibara glared daggers at the boy. "Plus the News reported he may have conspired with those who attacked us, conviction or not."

Iida shook his head and exhaled. "Thank you, Shiozaki. You're not wrong. I can see your point about him seeming 'cool', Kaminari. Someone with conviction and a creed so strong it makes others tremble can be commendable and awe inspiring. However he was a zealot, believing in a purge of those he viewed as unworthy and that alone is an error."

The bespectacled boy noticed as all eyes fell upon him. He knew they all believed that he, Todoroki, and Izuku were saved by Endeavor. That was the way it had to be so that they could continue down this path.

"Yes. I was forced to grow…and to acknowledge how erratic my behavior had been." Iida spoke, stepping away from Izuku and Todoroki. "Despair and anger filled my heart, leading me astray. I worried everyone, including my friends and close family…I even have to say I worried myself. But rest assured, I will fully dedicate myself to being g a model hero and model student"

"Atta boy, Zippy Zoomer! That's the Iida we know and love! Vroom vroom follow the rules!" Mina cheered enthusiastically and threw up her hands.

Ochako nearly spit all over the place from laughing while Iida adjusted his glasses and blushed from embarrassment. "Yes…quite. Thank you, Ashido. Thanks, all of you. Anyway, let's get back into place, everyone."

Momo nodded and smiled. Her own internship wasn't anything to write home about and, in fact, left her feeling a bit burnt out. However her fellow classmates had infected her with his reciproburst of determination . "Indeed. A good example. Let's prepare for class everyone.

Kirishima spoke up. "Sorry I couldn't help. Looks like you guys handled it without me. I would have been too much in such a crowded spot."

"What is Native's quirk btw? Cultural appropriation? Crying on the side of highways?" Mina joked. Izuku only looked away and tried to stifle a laugh. He actually knew the answer but didn't think anyone would be particularly interested. Instead, he focused on class and took his seat, stealing another glance at Mina before they awaited the start of the day.

X

The two teenagers headed to their teacher's office, feeling their hairs stand on end as they opened the door. It sounded important, so naturally Mina wanted to be there. However, even she had a put in her stomach.

"All-Might. You had something you wanted to talk to us about?" Izuku asked.

"Sit down… both of you. It's time I tell you more about One-for-All, and the villain that left me in the state I'm in…though he's probably worse off than I am."

"You told me about him once in passing. All for One, right?"

"Yes but there's more to it. He's actually the creator of our quirk in a way. There's still more I haven't told you, so strap in."

All-Might stood by the window and sighed. "I heard the hero killer got a taste of your blood. Ingesting part of the previous holder is how the quirk transfers. Luckily it must be willed on to the next person…and Will plays a big part in this story. There is only one person who would be able to transfer it by force…"

"All for One…" Izuku said under his breath, feeling an unease in his gut that he did not recognize. Mina placed a hand on his shoulder and looked at him with concern.

"All for One is the name of a man hidden by history, in hopes that it would render him irrelevant. However he was always a step ahead…always scheming over the generations. You see it's not just his alias, it's the name of his quirk… a power that can take the quirks of others and give them at will."

Mina felt her blood run cold. This felt eerie to her, like forbidden knowledge of some monster just below the surface of society.

"When quirks first appeared, it wasn't just comic book fantasy. It completely brought human development to a screeching halt as we tried to make sense of this new evolutionary phenomenon."

"That's right. It set us back so much that we didn't have space travel again for years and even then, only to the moon. We still had to account for everything else." Izuku spouted, trying to hold back from info dumping. He bashfully sunk into his seat while Mina patted his head. "Sorry. Continue."

All-Might proceeded. " Right. Anyway, chaos broke out, the already extant ugliness of society was exacerbated, and laws lost their meaning. One man slid into the midst of it to take advantage of it all. He was the first to unify people…but used that to become a dictator.

Using his ability to steal and give quirks, he bought people's allegiances and played on their fears and worst impulses. Those with evil in their hearts hailed him as a god king, but in the end, he was a tyrant, vicious and ambitious with no real view of people as anything but game pieces and the world as his board."

Mina couldn't believe what she was hearing but she felt like she had no choice. Was this guy so dangerous that history went out of its way to erase him, and yet he kept clawing back. What was worse, Izuku was expected to fight this guy.

"I can see you're worried, Ashido. I don't blame you. This quirk that I shared with your boyfriend here has a long lineage, with Midoriya as its 9th holder. I was the 8th and I fought All-For-one. We both barely made it out alive…in fact for a while, I thought he might have died. As awful as it is for the symbol of peace to say… I almost hoped it was the case."

All-Might took the pitcher of water from his desk and grabbed some cups from a compartment nearby, pouring himself and his students some. It was going to be a long story, so he wanted them to be comfortable, even if the story itself was not.

"Anyway, as his reign grew in scope and power, he wanted more. Heroes rose up to stop him but failed. Every previous user had died eventually, often by his hand. My master…the 7th holder of One For All was one of them…she was like a mother to me…but I'm getting distracted. What you really need to know is how one-for-all is tied to All-for One."

Izuku listened intently. He knew about All-for-one by name but all this was a lot to take in. It certainly filled in more blanks about the urgency of the situation. He looked at his hands.

Would he have to increase his output faster with Full Cowling? Would it be enough? He thought back to the vestiges he saw at the sports festival. He still had questions about them, but he had no doubt that most of them would be answered.

Izuku looked at Mina, who hung on All-Might's every word. He could feel her hand grip his tightly and returned the favor as they both continued to listen.

"His brother was one of the few to stand up to him. However, he was sick and frail. All-For-One tried to imprison him, manipulate him, and appeal to him as family. And yet the young man would not budge. Finally, while the younger brother was imprisoned, All-for One tried one last thing: giving his brother a quirk. It was a simple one, one that the bastard thought was useless but that would still buy his brother's favor."

All-Might paused and stood up. "It was the ability to stockpile power. For one so frail, it almost seemed a cruel irony. That was probably intentional on All-for-One's part. However, in all his scheming, there was one thing he didn't account for: The younger brother already had a quirk…one that did nothing, but could be passed on. Do you see what I am getting at?"

Izuku was stunned, but finally he spoke as the gravitas of the situation hit him. He looked at his left hand and activated Full Cowling for a second, clenching the hand into a fist. Mina gripped his right hand tighter.

"It became One-for-All!" The two students said in unison.

"BINGO! That power passed from person to person, growing more powerful through the generations. It is a power All-for-one unintentionally created, one that will be his undoing, and one he wants back. I thought that, after all those generations, I was finally the one to put a stop to him…I was wrong…"

"So it's up to me then…" Izuku looked tense for a moment but steeled himself. "I'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES! Just tell me what to do and guide me and I will do it!"

Mina stood up with her boyfriend and gripped his hand tighter. "I'll be right alongside you, babe. What do ya say, All-Might? We got this or what?"

The man looked over at the two determined teenagers, a pit forming in what was left of his stomach. He needed to be honest, but at the end of the day, he couldn't.

"Yeah… of course… Anyway, Follow me, you two. We've got hero basic Training and I want to know everything you learned. Especially after…the um…" All-Might looked at Mina, remembering that for the sake of peace and the future of the students involved, nobody else could know who really took down Stain.

"Mina figured out it was Iida, Todoroki, and I. " Izuku smiled sheepishly, Mina nodding confidently next to him.

"Like this boy can stay out of trouble." She elbowed Izuku teasingly and winked at him.

All-Might massaged his temples. "Well as long as there's no issue. Anyway, follow me, you two lovebirds! LET'S SEE HOW FAST YOU'VE GROWN!" He ballooned back into his large form, unsure how much longer he could hold it. Hopefully it was enough for the exercise.

As the pro led the two out of his office, he mentally kicked himself. He had to tell them the truth but couldn't: He most likely would be unable to stand by his protégé side when the time came.

"I hope you're wrong, Mirai…" the man said under his breath, then headed off towards the training site in the opposite direction of his students, promising to meet up with them.

X

After everyone made it to the training area, the rescue exercise started. After drawing lots and deciding on order, the first five students started racing off towards All-Might's aid. Sero was making good time, as was Ojirou. However, it was really neck and neck between Mina and Izuku. Some students were in awe of how much the two excelled and stood out, while others thought it looked like a game between the two.

Mina navigated the corridors and looked for any jumps and wails she could find, which was tricky. She could see Iida moving swiftly below, running with renewed purpose. He needed to prove he could grow? And that he could earn the name Ingenium. And yet even with his speed, he was having trouble keeping up with Izuku. He did manage to get ahead of Mina for a bit, but she managed to maneuver through some tighter spots.

"Sorry Zippy Zooms. I'm more flexible and can melt through stuff. See you at the finish line. Byeeee~"

Izuku ultimately made it to the end, just shy of Mina, who skidded to a stop right as her boyfriend reached the goal.

After comments from both teachers and students about how incredible the showing was, the rest of the class had their chance to shine.

After their training, Izuku was pulled away to a section of the area away from prying eyes. All-Might eyed them suspiciously, wondering if they were so bold as to engage in hanky panky during class. However he trusted his pupils to engage in better behavior than that and stalled for them, distracting the other students and teachers.

Meanwhile, the green-haired boy was thrown to the ground on his back by the force of pent up emotion.

He fell backwards, with Mina on top of him she was sobbing the whole time. He was surprised at how cheerful she had been, but he supposed it was because she trusted him enough to take care of himself. So he felt a panic of guilt when she tackled him tearfully.

"You texted me and I ignored it. I'm so sorry. I should have traveled there and…hic…"

"Babe, it's ok. It's not like you were nearby. Besides, Endeavor saved us. You were holding this in for this long? Why didn't you say it over the phone or in All Might's office?" Izuku asked, gasping for air.

Mina wrapped her arms around Izuku and planted a big wet kiss on his lips, taking him by surprise before nuzzling her nose against his.

"I don't know. It's just not the same. Plus we were both busy and I wanted to just...like...hug you like this. And besides" Mina pouted, cuddling her boyfriend. "Are you sure it was Endeavor?" Mina wiped her tears away and pouted, raising an eyebrow.

"I…um…" Izuku stuttered, knowing full well that would give it away. He really was rumbled.

"I know you. Meddling Midoriya. Plus we literally fought guys together. I know you would get wrapped up in something. You probably have to keep it secret but you probably did a lot of the work."

"If only you put that brain towards school work instead of gossip or the tall babysitter you had a crush on when you were ten."

"Eeeew. No. That's boring " Mina faked a gag reaction."Also that basically confirms it. Don't worry. I won't gossip… wistfully.

"..."

"About this specifically. Promise." Mina waved her hands in front of her. "Anything hero related like this or OfA, my lips are sealed," the girl mixed, zipping her mouth up and throwing away the zipper, eliciting a snicker from Izuku.

"I know. Just wanted to return the favor."

"Mean to me! MEAN TO ME!" Mina pounded on her boyfriend's shoulder and wailed in played-up dismay. "Awful awful, mean to meeeee~"

"I'm just glad I stopped breaking my bones, as that might hurt." The boy giggled.

"I'm glad too. You really rocked it. It sucks that you still used Bakugou's stance to start out but it's sure to piss him off."

"Yeah. It will. I still have to admit he's got great movements. I switched up after that though. I'd rather honor other people"

"I'm surprised you didn't pull out any All-Might moves."

"Same here. Something Gran Torino said made me think. That's all. Basically I have to think of what kind of hero I want to be outside All-Might."

"Like, yeah. He's not totally wrong. You're not All-Might. You're you. It's ok to take influence from him as long as you don't forget what makes you so awesome. But you're an enthusiastic boy who wants to be there for others, to be what you didn't always have. That's commema…commandi…it's really cool is what I'm trying to say."

"I mean, you're an expert." Izuku smiled as he held her hand.

"I tripped over a rock or something at the beginning of the externships. Not exactly cool."

"You're cute and cool though. The way you pout and flail, the way you come up with cute nicknames for me with such excitement…It's hard not to smile when you're around…but you're also so confident and energetic and you make people want to do their best."

Izuku smiled thoughtfully and looked to the sky. When his eyes met Mina's again, she was on the verge of tears.

"Why are you so sweeeeeet! I can't stand it! You're the best boyfriend ever-herrrrr!" She cried into his shoulder and nuzzled him.

"I mean, I do that too. Would you call me uncool."

"Never!" The pink girl pouted. "You're the cutest and coolest! And as for Josei-Senpai, not my fauly shevwas so pretty and sweet." Mina blushed. "Honestly I might have a type if you're any indication. Anyway, let's eat! I'm starving."

"Yeah. Let's."

The two headed back towards the rest of the class and walked towards the cafeteria with their friends.

X

A week before final exams…

"Whoa seriously? I like…barely studied. How am I higher than you, Aoyama?"

"I don't want to talk about it…"

"Join the club, Sparkles?" Kaminari lamented, with Ibara praying beside him.

"God has forsaken me on this day. My family will be ashamed."

"If you two and Ashido aren't doing great, I can help you with the stuff we learned in Class."

"Yaoyorozu, can I help with the study session?" Izuku chimed in while everyone celebrated this 2nd chance at academic survival.

"Huh? Are you sure? What brought this on?"

"I just want to help more as your vice president and also, as someone who has tutored Mina, I have some insight into how she learns best. Thought that might be helpful. I also have helped Kirishima before and… Sorry. I don't mean to steal this from you."

"Not at all, Midoriya. In fact, it's admirable how much you care about her. And your friends of course." Momo commended.

"Of course. We're all in this together. They helped me through dark times. As a friend and as a boyfriend, it's only right I return the favor. As vice president, it's my duty to help you lead in any way I can, and as a hero student, helping those in need is what we do."

Momo felt her eyes sparkle at those words. To think people could find him so unremarkable when, in actuality, he was a bright light.

"Alright, but could you swing by early to help me organize the books and the trays?" The rich girl commanded, feeling her blood rushed as she did what any competent leader would do. How did that old cliché go again? Fake it til you make it?

"Of course. I would be honored." Izuku agreed, happy to help.

"There…there is one more thing you can do for me…I um…need advice, I'm afraid." Momo's demeanor shifted as she became bashful again, eyes cast to the floor.

"Oh? What about? Hero related or personal?" Izuku asked, tilting his head to the side "if it's about the Practical, I heard from Tokage and Kendou it will be robots. Like the entrance exam. " The green-haired boy relayed the information to his co-leader, intending to tell everyone else as well. Mina had already started the legwork on that.

"Really? Interesting. I do hope that's correct. As for your question… I mean, I have been feeling less confident but it's the latter. I have…developed feelings for one of our classmates and … this person will be at the study session. Should I hold off on telling them how I feel or should I do it there? I don't want to be unprofessional."

Izuku stroked his chin, muttering to himself as he pieced it together. This wasn't his Forte, but he had picked up a few habits from Mina.

"...Going to be there…can't be Kendou or Todoroki then…I think I know who it is but I won't ask, just in case she can hear."

Momo's eyes shot open, like she had just been stabbed. How could he know she liked a girl? What was his reasoning? Could he see her expression and take it as confirmation? She consideres dragging him into the hallway and doing a perimeter check, but that was too conspicuous. She just became more withdrawn instead and shushed him.

"O-oh…you um…thank you. I appreciate it. I have very little experience with this sort of thing, having focused mostly on books and studies." Momo lamented. "Also please keep it down."

"Right. Sorry. Anyway…I mean, before Mina, neither did I. I was kind of…a loser nobody wanted to hang around. She was the first girl to approach me honestly and not as a prank or a dare. So I can relate a little." Izuku smiled, trying not to ramble too much.

"Eventually after being friends for so long, we talked about our feelings and…here we are. Not sure how applicable that is to you or if you were hoping to date her next week instead of a year from now but I still hope that helps."

"I see. That's actually rather insightful. I have a lot to think about."

Izuku couldn't believe he was talking to a girl about how to talk to girls. He felt like he had come a long way from being an utter mess with this thing. Still, someone had trusted him enough to ask for advice and while he was no expert, he would still do his best to give his insight and advice

X

Mina showed up to study in a green tracksuit over a white Cutie Honey t-shirt. Her lum chan plush dangled from her back and mounted with each step. She wanted to wear the alien jacket she got from Izuku for her birthday but decided it might be too much for studying.

She thought back to Izuku's words the previous night, before they both went to bed.

"Wanna come with me? I know you don't need to study as much as I do but it might be fun."

"Actually, I will already be there helping Yaoyorozu. I gave her some tips on how you learn best, based on us studying together. "

"Oh? Are we going to do the thing we do for math where you like… clap out a beat but you're bad at it and it's really cute."

"I…. We might do that. Yaoyorozu plays piano so she has better rhythm than me. I doubt she'll clap though….there is another reason I showed up. She needed advice but I can't say on what yet."

Mina was a bit bummed she couldn't walk with her boyfriend at first but they would have other opportunities, especially this Summer. She was hoping they could hit up a fireworks festival before Summer break ended, but that would have to wait.

As for what he was helping Momo with, she could only wonder. What was it that Izuku was giving advice on that he couldn't tell her about? An idea crossed her mind. Did Momo like someone? Was it Izuku? Was he having an affair?

"Nah. He wouldn't. Right?" Mina laughed to herself, but still looked to the side in unease before nearly tripping. Focusing up, she decided to stick a pin in it and move on.

Kaminari, Ibara, Sero, Jirou, and Ojirou all showed up as well, standing before the gates of a huge mansion. Was this the right address? Mina could definitely only imagine her boyfriend's awe as well. "I'll ask him about it later."

Jirou pressed a button and the intercom roared to life.

The 6 of them had finally entered the building, it was overwhelming. Mina's house wasn't small per se but it certainly wasn't as big as this. She could see a grand staircase within the foyer and had to resist the urge to run up the stairs and slide down the railing.

Sensing this, Ibara and Jirou grabbed their classmates by the arms and shook their heads. "Ugh. Fun police. Fine."

"We're in the grand hall. Yaoyorozu is grabbing the tea."

"What's Midoriya doing here? That's surprising. " Kaminari whispered.

"He is vice president."

"Stop gossiping, dumbasses." Jirou gently jabbed her jacks at the jokesters.

"Yeah. Besides, I already know. He told me." Mina grinned. "I'm so gonna Ace this test."

"Mina could you come in real quick? I need your help." Izuku called to her.

"Hell yeah. Expert scholar on her way." Mina skipped her way to the grand hall, towards the voice of her boyfriend.

When Mina walked in, she saw Izuku looking over books on music and fashion.

"Sorry I didn't divulge much. Needed to make sure you only found out when it was just us alone. I had promised Yaoyorozu… "

"Hello Ashido. Sorry for the secrecy. I would have asked you first but…you get really excited about this sort of thing and can be a bit of a gossip. Since your boyfriend is my vice president, I consulted him first. I apologize."

"No worries. Is it Jirou!"

Momo and Izuku looked at each other, then at Mina, with the rich girl slumping in quick defeat.

"Woooo! Called it! It was that easy to figure out." The pink girl smirked, trying to contain her enthusiasm.

"Was it that obvious?"

"I mean, of the four people I would have guessed, only one is here and it's definitely not Kaminari…no offense to him. And besides… I am the Columbo of Crushes, Yaomomo. I can figure this thing out on context clues." Mina stood on a chair with pride. "I mean, except for when Izuku and I were dealing with feelings for each other and weren't sure if it was mutual or not…"

"Good job, babe. Now apply that to studying." Izuku patted his girlfriend on the back and helped her off the chair.

"Also please refrain from standing on the furniture. It's antique and has been in our family for generations."

"Do you think she heard?" Mina winced, realizing her excitement probably blew Momo's cover.

"Probably." Izuku sighed. "Still, she could also be too distracted waiting in the foyer with the rest. Mina and I will lead them in."

"How about just you? I'll get Yaomomo hyped up for- '' Mina spun around and faced her classmate, ready to cheer her on.

"I'm not sure I'm ready to tell her yet. Maybe after finals? During Summer break… My family was invited to i Expo this year and I did have a pass for a friend. Should I ask her to go?" Momo pondered, feeling nerves take hold. She wanted to play things by ear for now, no pun intended

"Absolutely! Yes! We can make it a double date! Izuku is going because he won the Sports Festival and I'm his plus one."

"That sounds lovely. I'm actually kind of interested in some of the exhibitions this year, so I hope she doesn't find it too boring. In fact, I have another ticket too… should I give it to someone else too? Not sure who… we can figure that out later. Can you two let everyone in while I get the tea ready? The study materials are all prepared."

The young couple gave their hostess a thumbs up each and beckoned their friends. It was time to actually study.

X

The day of the exams arrived and everyone had done their best? With those who attended Momo's study session doing especially well. The class president was taken aback by the gratitude, but was happy to have helped.

"Once everyone is done with exams, head outside with 1B. The practical exams are about to begin. We will assign you your partner and explain everything."

Mina and Izuku were confused, noticing the chatters of everyone as they tried to make sense of it. Were they still fighting robots? Was this something different? Something else bothered Izuku though.

"Wait. Mr. Aizawa. If we're being partnered up-"

"You'll find out when you head outside." The homeroom teacher droned in a monotone voice.

"No. I know but there's an odd number of us in this class." Izuku reminded his teacher. The older man merely gave an unsettling smirk.

"Like I said… You'll see, Midoriya. Now head outside. It's about to begin."