Hello again! Here we are, near July's end. Where to start? I was originally going to tackle this arc in two parts, consolidating things down and aiming to end this particular fic at chapter 30. However, the creative process is fluid, plans change, and trying to tackle the build up of 15 previous chapters alongside the plot of a three act film in two chapters? Yeah. That wasn't going to work out all that well.
I know Izuku has been sad the past two chapters. I'm not going to keep him miserable and "emo" (the 2000s called. They want their insults back), but mental health is complicated and sometimes people take a while to heal in their own way. Progress isn't linear.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel, however, and it's at the entrance of the arc after this. Izuku will get better, gradually. He'll get by with a little help from his friends.
Also thanks to Viral and Gal for beta reading this and for (in the case of Viral) giving me permission to use an OC I helped her create.
Also Izuku and Mina really are a bit of a power couple. Even in the tough times, these two have each other's back. I really want to explore dynamics and support structures
in my writing, especially here. I like to think I succeed to a degree.
Tune in next time for things to heat up, some heart-to-hearts, character revelations, and me serving the supporting cast better. Until next time, ciao~!
P.S.: Happy birthday, Mina! I uploaded the last chapter on Izuku's birthday. Only fair I follow up.
—-
It was decades ago. It had to have been. All-Might couldn't quite place the year but he remembered it clear as day. He remembered his debut on the scene in America quite clearly, that warm California sun hitting his face as he hit the scene. He once heard on the radio that everyone was someone in LA. It felt like the perfect stage to announce himself on, at least until he was ready to return to Japan.
What he remembered more, however, was the day he met David Shield. They had been assigned as roommates together at university and were on their way to class when it happened.
He had even saved David from a fire before growing closer to the man. It was in Los Angeles, however, where the two made a dynamic debut aiding heroes Cow Lady and Elecplant against the Bad News Bros; Mr. Missile and City Smasher. The police swarmed them after their destruction and robbery of a local Casino, but were not enough for their combined forces.
"Hah! No dice, coppers. All those numbers and the odds are still in our favor! Toodle loo, pigs!"
All-Might dashed onto the scene, preventing casualties with astounding speed. He had pulled up with his roommate, David Shield, in their experimental car, dubbed the Might Mobile (sometimes the Allmobile). The red roofless racecar aided in their pursuit and takedown of the criminals.
"Why do I let you talk me into playing sidekick, Toshi?" The brown-haired man sighed. "We're going to be late again."
"Because you're a superhero fanboy and you love me. Hey Dave. Since we're in your home state, I thought I would name a move after it." All-Might called down to his friend, then used a nearby building to launch himself towards City Smasher. Dave watched while in hot pursuit. He certainly couldn't dispute either claim. All-Might certainly was a marvel. It was awe inspiring.
Spinning like a ball for added momentum, the statuesque hero landed a devastating blow on the villain, sending them careening into the asphalt below.
"CALIFORNIA SMASH!"
The money from the robbery fell like expensive confetti as the nearby heroes and law enforcement gathered round. Everyone was enthralled by this new hero who had arrived and utterly defeated the Casino robbers. He had been in the state for a while, helping out, but he was still a relative no-name.
Dave was happy to correct the record. After all, he had designed his friend's hero costume. It was only fair he got the word out. "His name is All-Might, a hero from Japan, and he's gonna be a Symbol of Peace for all."
All-Might laughed, a giant cheshire grin across his face before hopping back into the Might Mobile. "Couldn't have said it better myself, Dave. Come on. We better get going so we aren't too late."
X
All-Might snapped out of it as he was awoken from his memories by his students. One was reading a guidebook he had handy, while the other was watching out the window in amazement.
"I have to say, it is a dream come true…being able to visit I Island at the start of summer vacation. It's a marvel, an artificial, mobile island populated by thousands of scientists, making advancements that can change the world," Izuku smiled weakly. He wished he was in better spirits, as this was something he had wanted to do for so long. Now, he had the chance.
"I was going to bring you anyway but since you won the Sports Festival, you get a plus one, who seems to be enjoying the flight a little too much," All-Might grinned. Izuku watched his girlfriend carefully, enchanted by her wonderment and worried that she would get airsick. Despite her earlier assertions, she seemed to be doing fine now.
"I've got enough wonderment packed for the both of us, Boss man! I can baby bird it to him later," Mina teased, causing both Izuku and his mentor to sigh in unison.
"Please don't say stuff like that."
Truth was, however, that the teasing and excitement from the fluffy-haired pink girl had a calming effect on Izuku.
"No promises~," she sang, sticking her tongue out. Izuku responded in kind before turning to his teacher. "I forgot to ask by the way. Are you a keynote speaker here?"
All-Might shook his head. "No, my boy. The reasons are far more personal. I'm visiting…an old friend. Family in a way. He was my first partner."
The green teen went into encyclopedia mode, rattling off info like it was second nature. "Dr. David Shield has contributed so much in the field of Support Tech. He's a legend in his own right. It will be great to meet him."
"Glad you're in better spirits. You definitely know your stuff. You remind me of him in a few ways. You're both massive hero nerds. I think the two of you will get along well."
"A little bit. Not fully. I'll get there. Maybe. Sorry," Izuku spaced out, staring at his hands as he replayed the practical exam and Shigaraki encounters in his head. "That would be nice though. I hope I get the chance."
All-Might watched his student and hung his head. He still wasn't sure what else he could do to help, but hopefully, this trip would make things easier.
Mina looked out of the plane window, enamored by the clouds outside her window. Izuku couldn't help but smile at his girlfriend's childlike wonder. He was hoping some of his own would return soon.
"I didn't think you would be excited about this sort of thing. "
"How long have we been dating again? There's going to be cool stuff here and I like cool stuff. Besides, it matters to you and I love seeing those little freckled cheeks of yours light up," Mina grinned, pecking her boyfriend on the lips.
The green-haired boy leaned his head onto his girlfriend's shoulder, feeling more relaxed now. "I love you."
Mina's cheeks flushed bright lilac at those words. "I love you too, Zuzu."
"Attention, passengers. We are coming in for a landing. Please remain seated until the plane has come to a full and complete stop."
All-Might looked around, checking if the coast was clear, before switching to his muscle form.
"Right. Since we're almost there, I better slip into something more familiar. Gotta keep up appearances, after all. I'll be doing this for the whole day. You two better change too. You got permission to bring your hero costumes, right?"
Izuku and Mina nodded in unison. They headed for the restroom, with Mina going first, followed by Izuku. They repacked their clothes and prepared for landing. All-Might patted the two students on the back reassuringly.
"You two have been through a lot already, each of you moving on your own to help others even before UA. And now here you are: The winner of the Sports Festival and a girl endorsed by a pro on live television! So smile and make yourselves known!"
X
As they landed and departed the plane, the trio were subjected to an immigration check. While it was occurring, All-Might decided to lighten the mood and make sure his pupils were paying attention.
"Let me quiz you both. Midoriya, why was this Island created?"
Izuju knew, having memorized it like so many other pieces of hero trivia. And yet, he wasn't up to full spirits. Luckily, he had support. "It was created for the greatest minds on Earth to research quirks and support items in a safe environment, away from villains. Its security system is on par with the maximum security prison known as Tartarus."
"Yep yep. That's why there has never been a villain attack on this place. That and the fact that it's mobile. It can just cruise to another location and keep itself safe."
Izuku looked at Mina, beaming with pride for her contributions. He couldn't help but feel proud of her as well. "Yeah. It's been free of villain attacks so far, just like Nabu Island."
"You two really know your stuff! Nicely done!" All-Might gave the two students a vigorous thumbs up.
After their immigration check, the trio stepped out of the airport and laid eyes on I Island, in the throes of the opening ceremonies for I Expo. It already had so many people, even before its official public opening.
"Whoa! Everyone is just using their quirks freely!"
"Yeah, unlike Japan, there aren't any such restrictions. There is no crime here and everyone is able to freely express themselves. There are even special pavilions here designed for it," All-Might beamed. "Now about that hotel. It should be around here."
One of several passersby saw the Symbol of Peace and heard his voice, flocking towards the hero with great excitement.
Izuku and Mina were squished by the crowd as they were pushed aside. All-Might laughed boisterously as everyone came to see him.
"Welp, should have seen this coming. Should we try to find the hotel ourselves?" Izuku sighed exhaustedly.
Before he could say anything else, however, some people noticed him. "Is that the winner of this year's Sports Festival? Huh! Neat. He's here with All-Might. Lucky guy."
After about an hour, the crowds subsided, leaving All-Might with several lipstick marks on his face.
"Well that took a bit longer than expected. We better get going. I have a friend to meet. Mind coming with me, you two?"
"Oh! Dr. Shield, right?" Mina piped up, remembering the conversation on the plane. Sure, she had only half listened, but she gleaned the important bits.
"Yep. And it's gonna be a doozy keeping up this form. I…haven't told him about One for All."
"Isn't he your partner though?" Izuku asked softly, a hint of concern in his voice. "That seems like a given."
"Yes. However, it's important to keep a secret, for everyone's safety. We've touched base now and then but I haven't seen him in over a decade. Been busy and all."
Izuku thought about that. If he was closer to Bakugou, he probably would have squealed so that the bomb boy knew he wasn't looking down on him. But now, he had more people he cared about and besides his girlfriend, he hadn't told a soul. He knew there was a reason, and yet it still hurt to lie to people he loved, now that he had them. He could only imagine having to keep it secret from Mina.
Just then, a blonde on a pogo stick came into view, her striking blue eyes shimmering nevertheless beneath her glasses. She seemed to be utterly thrilled as she bounced towards them.
"Uncle Might! You made it!" The girl jumped off her pogo stick and landed perfectly in All-Might's waiting arms.
The large man twirled the teenage girl around and pulled her into a giant hug. "Melissa! Oh my goodness! You've gotten so big. I remember when you were just a little tyke!"
"I've definitely gotten a bit heavier. I'm 17 now," The teenager laughed as All-Might held her. Izuku watched, unsure of the situation. "Besides, we've corresponded over texts."
"It's still been a dog's age since I've seen you, Melly Belly!"
"Noooo! Don't call me that. I'm not 5 anymore."
"Fair enough. Glad you're doing so well."
"Dang, Zuzu. She's a cutie." Mina whispered to her boyfriend, who merely shook his head. He had to tell himself she was just making playful conversation.
"You have a thing for nerds, huh?" Izuku responded naturally. He was glad the voice that told him Mina would leave him behind had been kneecapped and left in a ditch for now.
"Maybe…You're the only nerd I need though, Zuzu." The girl threw her arms around the boy, who was still too emotionally exhausted to protest the PDA. That and he found comfort in it.
"Good to know. I'll hold you to that." He sassed affectionately
All-Might looked back to the two teens. "Oh right. Where are my manners? These are my pupils from UA. This is Izuku Midoriya and the girl next to him is Mina Ashido."
The two responded in kind.
"Yo!" "Hello!"
Melissa walked around Izuku inquisitively, making note of his costume and its construction. Her attention shifted to his hands, which looked rather rough from the use of his quirk. She rubbed a thumb over the scars carefully, a sad tone in her voice.
"You seem to have some serious scarring on your hands. What kind of quirk do you have again?"
"It's…sort of like All-Might's but with intense recoil. I was a bit of a late bloomer, so I'm still not used to it. I call it superpower." Izuku recited his explanation. He knew it by heart at this point.
"I see. Mina, was it? Can I look your costume over?" Melissa walked over to the pink girl, observing the garish color scheme.
"Depends. Can I try that pogo stick? It looks like a lot of fun!"
"Oh. Maybe later. I actually have an extra at my dorm if you want. Sorry. Shall we meet Papa now? I can give your hero suit a once over later and make recommendations if you like."
Mina snapped her fingers in disappointment but was happy to meet this super egghead. Plus she could apparently keep one later.
"Alright then, Melissa, lead the way."
"Right. Thanks. Let's go!" Melissa cheerfully turned away and guided the trio towards her father. "He is going to be so surprised."
X
Two scientists toiled away in an office, filled with books, papers, and several awards. Photos adorned the wall along with several plaques and Graduate Degrees. Two desks in the office held the names of the scientists: Dr. David Shield and his assistant, Samuel Abraham.
"Sam, pass me that Soldering iron. Forfeits too please. I have to work out a few bugs with this device." David wiped the sweat from his brow with a nearby handkerchief. "It's not as impressive as our last little project but it should still be revolutionary."
"Live to serve," the other man, a more roundly built gentleman with short blonde hair, handed his fellow researcher the tools he requested.
Dave adjusted his safety glasses and carefully fixed the wiring in the device, a sort of stabilizer for out of control quirks. He had read several studies on quirk enhancing drugs and sought to find a way to neutralize the effects. "If I'm correct…this little device should be able to calm someone under the influence of quirk drugs, at least long enough for them to get help. Kind of the polar opposite of..."
Unfortunately the device short-circuit and exploded. "Well, so much for another Nobel Prize, right, Sam?" The man joked, rubbing the back of his head bashfully. "Just glad my goatee didn't catch fire."
Sam forced an awkward chuckle, checking his voice-mail before pocketing his phone. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
"It's open," Dave responded, only to be answered by a voice he knew all too well.
"Papa! Glad you're here. I just swung by to tell you I brought a special guest." The teenage girl was brimming with energy, excited to share her surprise.
"A guest?" Sam looked at Dave in confusion, gaining a similar look in response. The younger blonde continued to drop hints as to the mystery person's identity.
"Yep. I invited him all the way from Japan. It's someone you love~" Melissa winked as she teased her father in a sing-song tone.
The prize winning scientist blinked, puzzled by his daughter's surprise and what it could be. He had a hunch but had convinced himself he was most likely wrong. He wasn't.
"I AM HERE, SHAKING WITH EMOTION OVER OUR REUNION!"
All-Might hugged his oldest friend and spun him around in a similar manner to his daughter. However, this time, they looked at each other for a moment, as if it had simultaneously been too long and also no time at all.
"Dave, you lovable nerd! It's been too long! How's my favorite roommate doing today?"
"Toshi? What are you doing here? I thought you'd be busy?" Dave felt like his mind and heart were going to explode in unison. It was a lot to take in.
"Not too busy for you. Besides, I thought I'd show my two students here what I Expo is all about!" All-Might grinned widely, putting his oldest friend down carefully.
Melissa chimed in, further illuminating the situation. "Plus I may have invited him. You seemed in a funk, so I thought this would be the pick-me-up you needed."
Dave was bewildered in the best of ways. This was probably one of the best things that could have happened to him today, outside of discovering another element for the periodic table. The bearded man spotted the two teenagers accompanying All-Might.
"Well, it's certainly a pleasant surprise. And you said these two are your students?"
Izuku spoke a-mile-a-minute, reminding Dave of himself in his younger days. "Nice to meet you, sir. I'm a huge fan of your work. Your advancements in quirk research can't be understated. I…may have read every interview you have ever given. Plus your costume designs for All-Might are the stuff that every All-Might fan knows by heart."
"Look at you being chipper. I mostly know you through my little herotaku here." Mina giggled. Izuku bowed his head, shuffling his feet.
"Maybe I'm thawing a little bit," he whimpered, gaining a pinch on the cheeks. That only made him blush more.
"Well, I'm glad to know I'm iconic enough to be mentioned in the same breath as the Symbol of Peace. It's nice to meet you both. I look forward to getting to know you both." Dave laughed humbly. He stopped and frowned, however, when he noticed steam lightly emanating from All-Might's body. Something about it concerned him. He turned to his daughter and the other teenagers in the room.
"Melissa, can you show Mina and Izuku around the Island? I wish to speak to him alone for a moment. Sam, you can take a break too. Maybe you can find a nice suit for the opening banquet tonight."
"I mean, I could use a coffee, and maybe a shower. I'll see you later tonight, Dave. Same goes for the rest of you," Sam thought for a moment, then shrugged. "Take care, All-Might. Nice to meet you."
He exited the office, leaving Dave and his visitors alone. Melissa followed his lead, beckoning Izuku and Mina to join her.
"Alright. Don't want to spoil the heart felt reunion. C'mon. I'll show you around. Have fun~"
After everyone had left, All-Might exhaled. "Good, they're gone. I need a moment. " The Symbol of Peace coughed up blood as he deflated back into his skinny form in a puff of steam. He fell to the floor in exhaustion as he tried to gather himself. David offered a hand and pulled him up.
"You look rough, Toshi."
X
Elsewhere on the Island, another body hit the ground as shadows swirled at the heart of the Island. Screens lit up the darkened room like lanterns, flames of digital information flickering in the unlit chamber.
The villains oozed into the command center, infiltrating it like an infection as they used their firepower to subdue and capture the regular security detail. They were right on schedule.
The weapons were secured, The island had been infiltrated. It was a longshot, but as the leader of the crew pulled a metallic mask from the case he was given, it all seemed to fall into place. "The ride here was rough but the destination was worth it…"
"It better be. This place is just as secure as Tartarus and we're in the middle of it. Better make this worth my time, Wulfram," A woman with dark tanned skin took off her sunglasses and pocketed them, no longer requiring their services. "Hope it's better than the in-flight movie," She quipped lifelessly.
"Glad you made it, Missy. I was hoping for your services. Could do without your attitude though," the masked man sneered, walking across the room to address his new player.
"Sorry. It's part of the package," the woman, known under the Pseudonym of Missy Burma, looked around at the aftermath of the newly secured security tower. The irony was not lost on her. "So…you're who I'm working with? A bunch of dime-a-dozen terrorists? If I weren't being paid handsomely, I would have skipped this whole thing," the gunslinger from the airport tipped her hat, trying to hide the utter boredom and disappointment on her face.
"I'm so very sorry to disappoint you, cowgirl. Why don't you mosey on back to the cavalcade of has-beens you collect paychecks from. We've got this," Wulfram scowled, already over her bullshit. "Your cutesy little gun tricks are surplus to requirements."
"Really? I hear your little dance troupe requested certain skills, ones I possess in spades. If you have another ace up your sleeve, I'll shuffle off then." The sharpshooter grinned, calling her current partner's bluff.
Wulfram could feel a vein pop in his head, but she had a point. As much as he wanted to shove her bullets through her eyes, they did indeed need her. "Of course. Right this way, Missy. We're awaiting further instructions from the client."
"Good. It looks like we'll need all hands on deck anyway. Check your sources, boys. All-Might's here."
"What? Are you serious?" One of the villains spoke up, a skinny man with unique facial hair. Wulfram stroked his chin nearby, intrigued by the information.
"Always. My intel and my own two eyes tell me he's here with two kids from UA."
"Interesting. So he wasn't kidding. Looks like the creepy masked guy was right. Looks like everything is going to have a bit of a wrinkle, but one we can handle. We just have to secure the package and everything will go according to schedule."
"Whatever. Also, where do you get off calling anyone's contacts 'has-beens'? Rumors say that guy is as old as quirks themselves."
"Doesn't make him a has been, just more of an 'always was'."
"I don't give a shit. Let's get this show rolling. If this plan goes belly up, I'm out."
"Our…special contact will keep things going smoothly. Don't you worry that pretty little head, Burma. There's layers you haven't even considered to this little heist." Wulfram gently patted the woman on the face, causing her to pull a gun on the man. He pulled his in return. They stayed steadfast in their aim remaining steady. If the room wasn't already quiet, it was now. The tension in the room was suffocating.
Eventually, Missy lowered her gun and Wulfram lowered his. "Yeah, yeah. Just leave the guns to me. My aim is better. The only person who can give me a run for my money is locked up tight in Tartarus." The woman took a seat in a nearby chair and looked her team leader in the eye, face illuminated by security screens. "So bring me up to speed. What's the objective again?"
"We're busting into a vault to steal something…something incredibly valuable." Wulfram smiled maniacally. "And this little floating science lab will be turned against itself while we do it."
X
"So how should I address you two? First name, last name, or hero name?" Melissa queried, keeping step along with the two hero students.
"Hmmm...Midori Rush is fine." Izuku pondered for a bit before deciding on his hero name.
"You can just call me Mina!" The pink girl winked and smiled, spinning as she walked.
"Noted. Follow me. I know where we should go first!" Melissa kept a steady pace alongside the two super teens. teens.
The three teens entered a large futuristic pavilion, displaying all manner of new support items, from vehicles to helmets. "Almost everything here is based in some way off a prototype my dad developed. Of course there's also plenty of invention exchanges going around as well from some of the brightest minds here and across the globe."
Izuku and Mina were in awe of everything they saw, from a multi-adaptive vehicle to advanced wetsuits to a mind control guitar. Melissa had just finished helping Izuku out of the latest advancement in portable armor technology.
"Hi Midoriya…What are you doing with another girl?" Ochako appeared out of nowhere, with a difficult to read expression. "You seem to be having fun."
The green-haired boy breathed calmly. "What are you talking about? It's nothing like that. She's just giving Mina and I a tour. Right, Mi…" Izuku stopped mid sentence, seeing Mina in the distance trying out a nanomachine skateboard and nailing a few tricks before falling on her back with a thud.
"I'm ok. I'm a natural at this."
Izuku shook his head and walked off towards where the Pink girl had gone. "I'll go check on her."
"Oh. You look like you're both having fun." Momo cleared her throat, announcing her presence to the group. Izuku froze in place and turned to see her. Jirou was standing next to her as well, ear jacks at the ready. The two girls followed the green-haired boy towards his fallen girlfriend, with Ochako close behind. Momo was ready for first aid. "Do you need an ice pack, Ashido?"
"Wait, Midoriya. Are you ok?" Momo placed a hand on Izuku's shoulder. He was surprised to see her at first, but vaguely remembered her mentioning that she was coming too.
The green-haired boy blinked. He wasn't the one that fell. It was then that he recognized what she meant and sighed. He offered a soft smile, still carrying an undertone of sadness. "...I'll get there. Wait, where did Mina go now?"
The boy looked frantically for his girlfriend before he saw her trying on a helmet Melissa had shown him earlier.
"Yo! Izuku! Have you tried out this helmet? You can see everything! I think it's giving me a headache!" Mina said with a grin, shaking her shaggy mop of hair every which way. She saw her female classmates and was instantly excited.
"Oh my god! You gals are here too? That's so cool! Have you met Melissa Shield?" The pink girl gestured to her new friend, who smiled awkwardly after being put on the spot.
Momo smiled politely in kind, glad to know her friend was entirely unfazed. "Not properly. How do you do, Melissa? My name is Momo Yaoyorozu. On my right is Ochako Uraraka and on my left is Kyouka Jirou."
The two girls responded appropriately with brief responses of "Nice to meet you!" and "Sup," respectively.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all. You three can come with us. There are a lot of pavilions, including the music one. It's got a full, state of the art karaoke bar. If you name a song, it can pull it up in an instant. It can even recommend songs based on mood, what tone you sing best in, and more."
"Huh. That's pretty rockin'" Jirou mused, feeling mildly curious.
Izuku thought about the karaoke suggestion, looking at Mina for a moment and blushing. He started to formulate an idea, one he would need help with later.
The six students found a nearby cafe with an excellent view of their surroundings. Luckily it was within walking distance of the Support Pavilion. They all ordered their food and sat at a large table. Melissa was fascinated by everything about the future heroes she had just met.
"So, you all go to UA together? Are you in the same class?" Melissa sat with her elbows on the table, invested in everything her new acquaintances had to say.
"Yep. Year one, class A, baby. We all have real world experience too." Mina grinned, satisfied with herself. Izuku still seemed pensive, but he happily grabbed her hand.
"Speak for yourself. I was in a commercial. That's hardly what I hoped for." Momo sighed, gaining a pat on the back from Jirou. She smiled softly at the other girl in return. "Thank you."
"That's still pretty impressive. That's not something everyone gets to do. How about the rest of you?" Melissa asked, fascinated by her new friends. Izuku watched her, seeing a bit of himself in her.
"I got to help stop an armored car robbery!" Mina punched the air excitedly. "I was apparently name dropped by the pro I was working with too!"
"It's true. I'm proud of her. I…got rescued by the number two hero when I got ambushed by a villain. Still got to take a few down before then, so there's that" Izuku followed up, telling the official story. Mina knew the truth, however. She winked at her boyfriend, then looked over to her friends.
"I got to help evacuate some hostages. By the way, Death Arms apparently had met you two before?" Jirou raised an eyebrow. "Said you were a handful."
Mina and Izuku looked at each other, then at Jirou and spoke in unison. "Long story. Not important."
The punk girl shrugged, mildly put off by how the two were so in sync, if not slightly amused.
"And I got to learn some martial arts. It was pretty nice." Ochako flexed her left bicep and smiled. "Next time we're in trouble, I'm ready."
"So why are you all here again?" Izuku finally asked, curious about how his classmates were here, though he vaguely remembered speaking to Momo about it.
"Well, my father owns stock in one of the companies involved in the Expo, plus we have a heroic legacy as well. I had two extra tickets, since my family couldn't make it." The pony-tailed girl elegantly sipped the tea she had ordered.
"Yep. We played Janken to see who went with Momo. Jirou was already invited though." Ochako chimed in, miming the motions of the game to accentuate her point.
Momo and Jirou looked at each other, then averted their gazes, blushing heavily. Mina noticed and was about to say something, but Izuku patted her shoulder and whispered in her ear. "They'll announce it when they're ready."
Jirou heard it and blushed, pouting to herself but grateful that her moss-headed classmate had exercised restraint where his girlfriend was lacking.
"Anyway, I'll be back. I have to use the restroom." Izuku excused himself from the table for a bit and went to relieve himself.
"OK. Have fun. Try not to fall in." Mina teased back, causing Izuku to shake his head.
"No promises. I'll be back."
After he had left, Momo cleared her throat and gathered everyone's attention, including Melissa's, who had no context for what was to come.
"There's another reason we're here too…I'm sorry if it's out of line, since he isn't at the table right now, but we want to help Midoriya too. He has actually been quite helpful and I wish to repay his kindness. Besides, I have struggled with similar feelings and I wish to support my classmate."
"He's more than that. He's a friend," Mina corrected. "I know you two aren't as close to him as Iida or Ochako or our original group, but I think he values you both as friends. I know I do."
"Mina put it best. Izuku does seem pretty bummed out, but all we can do is be there and support him the best we can."
"I worry it's too early to say that we are his friends, but I do value his input and help. I would gladly call Midoriya a friend," Momo reflected. "But yes, we know his failure in the practical still greatly affects him. I suppose it hasn't been a long time, but it would not sit well with me to see one of us suffering like this. I can relate to feeling defeated and ashamed. That's why I'll help too, if I can."
Thanks, class pres. By the way, we can do it later so we don't overwhelm him, but his birthday just passed. He might appreciate it if we celebrated later. Maybe tomorrow."
Momo's eyes widened a bit in surprise. "I had no idea. We shall have to make it up to him then." Everyone nodded in agreement, hoping it would help their friend's mood.
After a few minutes, Izuku had returned, planting himself in his seat next to Mina. He was followed, however. Kirishima and Kaminari brought out the food, to everyone's surprise.
Kirishima laid each order out with a grin, then dragged both Mina and Izuku into a hug. "Hey there, you two! Fancy seeing you here. Then again, you did win the Sports Festival, Midoribro. Looks like we got a full party on our hands too!"
"Hey, dude. What are you doing here?" Izuku looked up at his red-haired friend. Kaminari answered the question instead, however.
"Kiri and I applied to work as service staff for the Expo and they allowed us to attend. Of course, we're stuck here bussing tables while you're having fun. Looks like it's the cute girl Cafe now."
"More like the Corny Creep Cafe, Jamming Whey." Jirou aimed a jack at her friend.
"Yeah. Maybe that was too much."
"You think, dude?
Just then, a voice cried out from the distance, getting closer and louder as it spoke.
"Kirishima! It is unsanitary and uncouth to hug patrons while on the clock. If you're here to work, then work. You too, Kaminari! Stop flirting and focus more on your responsibilities!"
The owner of the voice soon came rushing into view, his arms pumping as his leg engines roared.
Izuku perked up a little, recognizing one of his friends. "Iida? What are you doing here? Looks like a lot of people came."
Iida adjusted his glasses after coming to a complete stop. "I was invited because I come from a long line of heroes. Only I could make it though. Todoroki is here too, I think."
"Really? Where is he?"
"I think he's over near some sort of attraction. Free quirk use is allowed here after all, but in case of villain attacks, the usual protocols apply."
"So I've read." Izuku promptly followed up. "I have a map of I Island at home. Got it in a magazine."
"Shall we walk around and enjoy the pavilions? I was really interested in the costume pavilion. They have some new advancements and I wanted to get ideas to upgrade mine," Momo asked. "It might help maximize what I can do while adding protection."
"We can do that later. No offense, but it feels a bit similar to the support pavilion we met Melissa, Mina, and Midoriya in," Jirou interjected.
"How about we walk around and I show you some of the best spots?" Melissa spoke up, happy to get to know more of this next generation of heroes. Momo and the rest nodded, speaking amongst themselves.
"We do get lunch break. I'm down!" Kirishima cheered, ready to see some action and excitement that didn't involve sandwiches and soft drinks.
Iida similarly voiced his approval. "It's always good to implement the buddy system. Besides, we might run into Todoroki."
That was all the confirmation Mina needed before skipping ahead and grabbing her boyfriend's arm in excitement. "Aye aye! Lead the way, Melissa! Come on, Zuzu! Take my hand. We're gonna see it all."
"Yes, Ma'am," Izuku had no choice but to let himself get dragged towards the festivities. His classmates all exchanged looks with one another before giving chase.
X
Dave observed the state All-Might, having known via correspondence that something was up. To see just how bad it was with his own two eyes didn't do the descriptions justice. He looked like an animated scarecrow.
"I got your message. You've had this condition for a while now but it's gotten worse in recent months, right?"
The haggard, skeletal form of All-Might slowly crawled to his feet, dusting himself off. "Yes, that's the long and short of it. Basically, I won't have my abilities much longer. I can only maintain my muscle form for so long. I need to keep up appearances. However, eventually it will barely last a minute. It's taking everything within me to maintain it today."
"Do you know where this disease came from? Is it tied to All-For-One?"
All-Might hated to lie, but this was for the best. At least that's what he told himself. "No. I'm not sure where it came from."
Dave wasn't buying it. He knew this man far too long and much too intimately to be so easily fleeced. "Toshi…please don't lie to me." David removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose.
All-Might paused. He still had to lie, but through omission this time. Vague half truths still contained some truth, after all. "...Yes."
"I see..." The worried scientist put his glasses back on and turned his chair to face the skeletal hero. "I will do whatever I can to help you get back to full strength. The world needs All-Might. I'll make sure it never loses you." Dave couldn't bear the idea of a world without the man he loved. "You've been busy, huh? Haven't seen you in ages. You don't visit like you used to…I get it though. Part of the job. We're both busy men."
"I'm sorry for worrying you. It's been too long. Things have been busy, between being the number one hero and teaching at UA. Keeping Japan's crime stats below 6% is a lot of work. I don't do it alone, but a lot of people look to me as a symbol, a pillar I turned myself into."
"You don't have to tell me twice. I would like to run a few diagnostics. Strip down and lay in this pod. We can monitor your vitals."
"No dinner and a movie yet?" The pro joked, coughing up blood before wiping it away. He quietly complied with the request and assumed the position within the pod. "Right. Apply the EKG readers. I'll climb in."
"The machine will do all that for you. Just relax. Please." Dave cautioned in a soothing tone, activating the pod and monitoring its readings.
All-Might laid for what seemed like an eternity in the pod, his vitals being collected, as well as blood samples and blood pressure. Every possible medical test was run from within the unit. After running the blood through a centrifuge, David returned to his computer to analyze the rest of the results. What he found shook him to his core.
"This…No way. Toshi! Your quirk readings are dropping. You'll eventually lose your quirk fully at this point! What is going on? Did All-for-One grab it? These quirk readings are incredibly troubling. Anything you can tell me will make it easier to help you."
As the hatch opened, the shirtless pro got out and stood on his feet, still feeling a bit woozy. Eventually he found his footing and walked to the scientist's side. "No. It's totally fine. I'm not retiring anytime soon. I'm operating at a fraction of what I used to be capable of, but I haven't slowed down yet." All-Might got up and walked over to his dearest confidant. "As for your question, I wish I had something to tell you."
"Yeah…I know. Alright. I'll keep looking. I'll study the lab samples and see if I can unlock this puzzle."
All-Might gently grabbed his old friend's shoulders and gave them an affectionate squeeze. He was testing the waters to see how deep they still ran. Luckily they were as familiar as ever. "I know. I have the utmost faith in you."
Noticing the clock, the blonde man grabbed his clothes and started to put them on. "I should start getting ready. I need to keep this form up for the entire trip. Wish me luck."
"Yeah. Good luck. I have some things to finish up here. Otherwise, I'd help you with your tie. You never can get it right."
"That's why I opt for clip-ons…I'll see you later, Dave. That's a promise." All-Might joked, getting a tiny smile from Dave. It was hard not to reminisce and smile, even with the Sword of Damocles overhead.
"It's a date. Just…be careful, ok?"
"You know me, Dave."
The scientist sighed, having an entire thesis paper's worth of anecdotes to back him up. "Yeah, that's why I'm worried."
David sat in his office, alone with his memories. Moments flashed before his eyes. He saw his first encounter with All-Might, their first outing together where he took California by storm. He even remembered the birth of Melissa and how happy they were. He didn't think he would be successful after so long on T, and yet here he was. Here they both were, fathers and heroes, bringing in a better tomorrow, one age at a time.
David still had copies of each costume he designed, as well as several framed photos of "Team Might". He even remembered when they met an up-and-comer who was now the top hero in the USA. To think they had seen her face so long ago. They had been so close, and yet there seemed to be a distance between them, aside from the ocean. Dave felt like there was something his partner wasn't telling him, even though he hated to entertain such a thought.
"Where does the time go, Toshi?"
X
Izuku felt some of the spark come back. It was a welcome distraction for sure, being able to take in some of the new advancements and heroes. He still couldn't believe that they got to see Godzillo, likely due to one of his sponsors. "Tokage would probably be jealous."
"I think she is here as a tourist with the others in class A and B. I'm sure she'll see it on TV."
"Whoa! Some kind of hero challenge…want to do it together? We'd make a great tag team." Mina suggested. "We can see if they allow for that."
"I appreciate the thought, but I don't know. I…didn't do well with my last team-up." Izuku shook his head, having doubts about the idea.
"Yeah, but we get along way better. You'll be fine. I've got you." Mina pointed at herself with her thumb and grinned. Her boyfriend's expression, however, remained pensive. "It's ok if you don't want to. We can just watch."
Izuku offered her a soft smile and a nod. The two gazed at each other quietly and fondly before the silence was broken as they entered the arena, the rest of their party right behind them.
"Wait, is that the winner of the UA Sports Festival? Hey kid! Come over here. Let's see what you can do." The announcer, a young woman in flamboyant clothes, beckoned the student over. Izuku looked at her for a moment and blinked, realizing his choice was made for him essentially.
Mina tugged his arm and squeezed his hand, letting him know it was OK to say no. He didn't owe anyone anything if he wasn't up for it.
If he was being honest with himself, he wasn't sure he was, and yet he had a lot to prove right now. He wanted to justify All-Might's investment in him.
"Alright…I'll do it quickly. Time me."
"No way. I'm doing it with you. We'll race each other."
"Alright. Iida, can you keep time for us? We're going to see who is fastest."
"Of course. I suppose I am qualified to judge races in a way." The speedster chortled, taking out both his phone and an actual stopwatch he kept handy. Nobody in his family left home without one.
"Ready~ Steady~ Go!~" The attraction judge shouted as the starter pistol went off.
The curly couple burst into action like greased lightning, waging a coordinated attack on the strategically placed target robots located throughout the proving ground. Izuku bound up the rocks, like a mountain goat on monster energy and pixie sticks. In a moment, he shattered the record, with Mina just a second behind, melting robots left and right.
Melissa took notes on Izuku's performance, how he seemed to be holding back but also doing extraordinarily well. There was something familiar about his power, however.
Similarly, she was enthralled by how in tune the two hero students were with each other, as if they were finishing each other's sentences with their fists. She had never seen a power type quirk compliment an acid quirk before, and vice versa. "Fascinating!"
"Wow, folks. This is new! A tag team attempt. Just check out that coordination!"
What started as a race soon became a coordinated attack on every villain target populating the artificial mountain. The "villains" in this exercise were robots, smaller than the ones from UA's entrance exam.
Izuku and Mina high fived each other, having finished in 10 minutes together. The crowd cheered until the dynamic duo climbed back up the stairs, towards the bleachers. However, Izuku could still hear a slow clap. Looking in the direction of the sound, he saw a familiar face smugly approaching in a rather suave hero costume.
"Well, well. Nicely done. Showing off, are we? Aren't we a little show boat, Sports Festival champion? Perhaps, though, it's time for someone else to have their chance in the spotlight, hmm?"
Izuku looked puzzled for a bit, turning to Mina, who was just as confused. "Monoma?"
"I'm glad you both recognize me, but please. Call me by my hero name. After all, it will be etched into the record books here toda…" The boy's teasing was cut short as he was yanked aside by another person Izuku and Mina recognized: Setsuna Tokage.
"Ignore Monoma. He hasn't had all his shots. Hey there, fellow greenie. I heard you were here!" The lizard girl grinned. "Glad to see the whole gang here, including my favorite Alien Queen~"
Mina leapt towards the other girl and pulled her into a hug, which was promptly reciprocated. "Tokage? I thought you would be here with the tourists."
The green-haired girl took off her domino mask and smiled, sharp teeth glistening. "Nope. I actually got an invite because of my dad's college buddy. He's a researcher here on quirk development over time. He offered tickets for my mom, dad, and I but mom had a dig and dad can't make it due to a surgery he's overseeing. So I brought a couple plus ones."
Setsuna gestures towards Monoma, who was pouting over being interrupted.
"Oh…Who did you bring?" Izuku felt his spine stiffen and his heart rate increase. He didn't know Setsuna as well as Mina, but he still trusted her implicitly. They still had prior history as friends before UA. And yet, he couldn't discount certain possibilities.
"I had a few choices I considered but ultimately, after a lengthy decision process, I invited feral Mr. Darcy over here and…"
Izuku heard the excited clatter of hooves on the thoroughfare as a blonde with horns and large expressive eyes trotted up to the group in a horse-themed hero costume.
"Aaaaaah! This is so exciting! Everything is so cool! I'm excited!" A high pitched voice called out, speaking clear English. Izuku turned around and waved, recognizing the exchange student he had teamed up with in the Cavalry battle. He hadn't gotten particularly close to her just yet, but he recalled thinking they could be good friends.
"Hey there, Tsunotori. Haven't seen you in a bit. How are you?"
"I'm good. Super excited to be here. Glad I was invited." Pony whinnied happily. "I can't wait to see everything! I heard All-Might was here too!"
Before Izuku or Mina could respond, the ring announcer spoke once again, prompting Monoma to enter the ring with the expected pomp and flourish "Up next, we have a new challenger: Phantom Thief!"
"Finally. I'm itching to show what I can do. It's a bit uncouth and not fitting for what I do. After all, a Phantom Thief must be stealthy and discreet. But if the name of the game is showing what I can do, let me trot out a power up I got from one of my classmates back at the hotel. Uraraka, can you hold my coat? I don't want it getting ruined. I'm reusing it for the banquet."
The young man carefully secured his pocket watch and wrapped it in his carefully folded jacket. He tossed it to the gravity girl, who was unamused.
"I'm not your assistant, you jerk!"
"Of course not. You're my equal. Unless you're too good to help out someone from my class." The blonde winked.
Ochako pouted, her face turning red as she contemplated putting him in an armlock.
"Thank you, my dear Uravity. You're as polite as you are formidable. Now then…watch in awe as the Phantom Thief steals your hearts. Madame, start the clock when ready.
The attendant waved her arm and said "Go!", prompting Monoma to break out his secret weapon. His hands roared to life with the quirk he had borrowed: Bakugou's.
"KABOOM!"
Izuku's eyes widened as he felt his entire mood slip. It all came rushing back. His trauma, his anguish, the mean voice telling him he wasn't worthy, all of it was there. The final buzzer of his practical exam sounded in unison with the completion bell in real life.
Izuku rushed off, completely taciturn as he found a place to cool off. He needed to get his thoughts straight. He was having such a good time. Sure, he was still struggling, but not as much. At least, until now. Monoma had just finished up, beating Mina and Izuku by one second. However, the only award he got from his friends were glares, and worried looks.
While the group was left stunned, Mina rushed after Izuku, hoping to calm him down. Before she could rush out of the arena, however, a chill took hold of the area. A wall of Ice appeared behind them, completely encasing the mountain stage and decimating the villain robots in less than three minutes..
"Hello everyone. Glad to see you…Where did Midoriya go?"
The group was utterly flabbergasted, trying to deal with the arrival of Todoroki and Izuku's emotionally frantic departure. They were all at a loss for words, even Monoma. Todoroki noticed the 1B student and remembered their earlier encounter at the Sports Festival.
"Oh. You're here too," the bicolor boy stated casually, underplaying his surprise. "You're still noisy."
The blonde fired back, unamused. "And you're still rude. You're Midoriya's friend, right? Let's go check on him."
Momo rested a hand on the boy's shoulder. "I am pleasantly surprised by your concern, but he might need space." Monoma glowered at this, but couldn't dispute the possibility, even if he wanted to.
"Maybe, but he also needs support." Mina chimed in. "Melissa, where's the calmest place here?"
The bespectacled girl stroked her chin and thought deeply. "Hmmm. We could split up and look for him. Do you know what he normally does when he's upset?"
Past scenes of their time together played in Mina's mind like a black-and-white movie. She remembered the creek he showed her near his house, the one he would play with Bakugou near until their friendship fractured. It was a long shot, but it was their best bet. "Someplace calm and quiet with trickling water. Like a stream."
"There is a fountain near here. I'll lead the way." Melissa ran ahead, Mina in hot pursuit.
"Let's go check on Izuku. We'll check the area and meet up near that fountain. Come on," Ochako agreed, throwing Monoma's jacket back at him and dragging him towards the rest of the group as they spread out to search for their friend.
X
Izuku found someplace to cool off, a relatively unpopulated area of the island behind some public restrooms and near a fountain. It was surprising that such a calm and beautiful place was so empty at the moment, but the green-haired boy wasn't complaining. He could feel every synapse firing at once as his "fight or flight" response went haywire. He gripped his head and shivered to himself as a panic attack took hold.
"I got too comfortable. I let myself get complacent. I need to be better. I need to get better. I need to…"
He heard footsteps approaching and started to get up. "Sorry. I'll go."
A voice from before spoke out calmly. "Why are you apologizing, mon ami? If anything, that's my line."
It was Monoma, looking rather beside himself. The rest of the group was there too, now with Todoroki in tow. 1B's resident troublemaker cleared his throat and spoke again.
"Midoriya…I owe you an apology. Look…I get carried away, I admit. I want to show my worth, and that of my class. However I should have considered your feelings in all of this. I have no animosity towards you. I know he does…or did…I haven't heard him mention you since then. He's been a lot more quiet. Anyway, my point is, you stood up for me when the number two hero called me unworthy of his son's time. The least I can do is extend that respect. I'm not without honor or sportsmanship."
Izuku just sat silently. Monoma felt a knot in his stomach, clenching his fist in frustration before he finally let go. "I said my piece. I'll give you some room. I am sorry. But first…Ashido, will I get smacked if I do this?"
Mina merely narrowed her eyes and gestured to indicate she was watching him.
"I'm watching you too. You're already on thin ice with me," Ochako stared at the blonde boy with an unamused look. The boy held up his hands like he was under arrest.
Turning his attention back to Izuku, Monoma took a deep breath and exhaled. He stood back and set off a small explosion in his hand. "It was me. Just me. I don't know what history my brutish classmate has with you, but you will get no trouble from me. That's all I will say right now."
The blonde boy walked towards the rest of the group, allowing Mina to walk up and squeeze his hand. Izuku calmed down after a while, looking into Mina's eyes as she touched his cheek.
She spoke gently to her boyfriend. "We can take a break and head to the hotel for a bit until the banquet, if you need time. We won't make this into an intervention but we're here for you."
"Yeah. I can give you more of a tour tomorrow. I can even show you and Mina something I have that I think might be useful." Melissa added. "You're here for two full days, right? I can bring you both to the academy to see."
"Yepper depper. We could walk around with everyone else tomorrow, as a group." Mina nodded. "We can meet up with you guys after."
"Not everyone. I can keep Bakugou away from you all, if that helps. We can minimize the contact between the two," Monoma added, trying to brush off his guilt over his earlier insensitivity. "If that is any consolation."
Izuku stood up. "I appreciate the gesture, but I can't avoid him forever, but thank you. I know you didn't mean anything…you didn't know anyway."
"What…exactly is your issue with each other? You don't have to tell me. We're not exactly friends, but what you said during your fight with him at the Sports Festival has me curious." Monoma asked, his expression taking on one of deep consideration.
"I'm not ready yet. Sorry." Izuku shook his head. "I still have some emotions to sort out."
Monoma paused. It had to have been bad. "That's fair. I won't push the issue. Let me know when you are ready. I might want my class to stand out but I cannot walk away if someone is in crisis."
Izuku looked at the boy, seeing past his usual bluster and mischief he shielded himself with. He said nothing, taking everything in.
"Are you sure you're feeling better, Izuku?" Mina frowned. "You still don't seem entirely like yourself."
"Not really, but I'll be fine. Thanks, Mina." The One-for-All holder gave his girlfriend a weak, shakey smile. "I'm lucky to have you."
"Feeling's mutual, Zuzubean."
Red filled the green-haired boy's cheeks at that nickname. It was embarrassing but also reassuring.
"I'll take him to Uncle-Might and we'll meet you all later. I even have tickets for you two," Melissa reached into her bag and pulled out two slips, which she handed to Kaminari and Kirishima.
"Alright, girls. Who wants to check out that games pavilion?" Setsuna spoke up, trying to add some distraction to her fellow students. It felt wrong in a way, but it was all they could do right now until Izuku was ready to rejoin them.
"Actually, I was thinking Momo and I would check out a pavilion elsewhere. If you guys don't mind…" Jirou twirled a jack around her finger, averting her gaze.
"Ouch. I see how it is. Oh well. Have fun, you two," Setsuna winked at the two girls, who blushed once more. "How about you, Pony? Want to come with us?"
"That sounds epic! Let's go! Melissa, are you coming with us afterwards?"
"I actually wanted to make some adjustments to Midori Rush's costume. I have an item that might help. Would you like to come, Mina?"
The pink girl was torn. She was excited to hang out with her friends, but couldn't just leave her boyfriend in the lurch.
"Sorry, Tokage. I have to keep my…"
The pink girl was cut off by her boyfriend, putting gentle pressure to her shoulder.
"Mina, it's OK. I'll go see this item for myself. I'll catch up with you, I promise. I don't want to slow you down." Izuku stated flatly, patting his girlfriend's hand. He then took it gently and kissed her fingers. "You deserve to have a good time."
Mina, however, objected. "No way. We're in this together. Wherever you go, I go…We're a team."
"Thanks, babe. I'm actually hoping to talk to All-Might about something in private. I need to ask him something. Once I have my answer, I'll text you and meet you at the hotel room. Melissa, do you know how to get to your dad's office?"
The horned teen rested her head against her boyfriend's, holding his hands and taking in the warmth of his touch. "OK. Melissa, take care of him until he gets back here."
"Sure. I'll lead the way. What do you need to ask Uncle Might by the way?" The bespectacled girl inquired, empathy painted across her face.
"I'd rather keep that private. Just…need some advice is all. Let's go." Izuku stopped and turned to everyone. He fought back the tears, but the tears won out. He was already on the brink from his breakdown, but now, he was completely touched by the people in his life. He swore he would make it up to them one day.
"Thank you, all of you. I can't say how much I appreciate your patience. And Monoma, you're fine. I know you meant nothing by that display. Thanks for checking on me too. I'll catch up."
Izuku walked next to Melissa, into the distance. Everyone watched as they got farther off into the distance until they disappeared.
Kirishima watched his friend walk away, utterly broken and off his game. He gritted his teeth and looked at the ground. "I wish there was more we could do for him. I haven't seen him this down in a while."
"We just need to be patient and compassionate. He needs time," Iida adjusted his glasses, reflecting on how the green-haired boy had helped him. Perhaps he should have done more, but in this situation, it wasn't his place.
"Which is why he went off with another woman." Kaminari pointed out flippantly. Jirou stabbed him with one of her ear jacks, while Mina gave him a death glare.
Kirishima merely sighed and grabbed his coworker, dragging him by the hand. "Come on, dude. Let's get back to work. Lunch break is just about over. We're gonna hit a rush. Sorry to leave you all. We better hurry, then we can hit up the party."
Kaminari sighed, following his friend back to the cafe. "Alright, alright. You don't have to tell me twice."
"Very prudent of you, Kirishima. I'm going to head back to my hotel room to prepare for the banquet later. Shall we all meet there later at around 6:30?"
"Sure. Just text Izuku. He'll respond when he's ready. I'll check in with him periodically too."
The group parted ways as Setsuna took Pony, Mina, and Ochako to the Games Pavilion, while Todoroki, Monoma, and Iida walked towards their hotel rooms and Momo headed off with Jirou.
Mina looked back over her shoulder, towards Izuku as he walked away. She couldn't tell if she was jealous, worried, or both. Either way, it was eating away at her chest, but all she could do was trust her boyfriend and keep in touch.
"Come on. Let's go check out those games. I'll text Izuku to make sure he's OK."
Sending her boyfriend a simple heart emoji, Mina placed her phone in her pocket and accompanied her friends to the arcade, looking back one last time in her boyfriend's direction.
"Hang in there, Zuzu."