A/N: Another OC this chapter! Don't worry - he has a small role in the grand scheme of things.

"Let's see…" Izuku murmured to himself as he studied two products on the shelf. One was cheaper, yet one was a recognizable brand that his mother often used. "Which one…"

It took him a moment more of staring with narrowed eyes, but as he nodded to himself and went to grab one, another arm appeared in his peripheral and he turned, startled, to see another boy around his age reaching for the same product.

"Oh, sorry," he immediately apologized, backing up. "You can have it."

"Nah, that's alright, you were reaching for it first." The boy shook his head, shaggy brown hair falling into his face. He grinned, and sharp teeth gleamed at him before he held out his hand. "I haven't seen you around here lately. You new?"

"Uh… yeah?" He blinked owlishly before slowly reaching out to take the offered hand. "I'm… Midoriya."

"Like, Midoriya Izuku?" A hint of surprise made his eyes widen from beneath his bangs and he chuckled in disbelief. "I never would have recognized you with your hair dyed like that. What in the world is Yuuei's favorite first-year doing all the way out here? You finally get tired of that elitist dump?"

He cringed a little, smiling politely back as he racked his brain for an excuse. "Well, I… um… just thought I'd get some new scenery, that's all."

"Alright, tough topic, I get it." The unnamed boy chuckled again and reached for the generic-branded product. "Changing the subject… how are you liking the district so far? Or is it a bit too small for you? I know Musutafu is quite a bit bigger."

"It's okay," Midoriya answered, grabbing the other package and putting it into his basket. "It's more peaceful."

"I'll say." The brunet nodded contemplatively. "We don't have to worry about the big leagues clogging things up with chaos and villains don't really seem to stay for long."

Boy, if only that were true for me, he found himself thinking in response. Then he shook his head. No, Izuku, don't think like that. That's not very heroic of you.

"So, uh," Izuku began instead, noting the way the boy's hair completely covered his eyes. "Can you see well enough?"

The boy paused, turning his head. "Eh?"

"Well- I mean," he fumbled, gesturing to his long bangs. "Your hair…"

"Huh… ah, I get it." He nodded with a wry smile. "It's to prevent people from getting hit with my Quirk."

"Really?" Suddenly his interest was piqued, and he looked more seriously at the boy. "So it's an emitter type… kind of like…"

The nameless boy watched him mutter for several amused seconds before he quietly asked, "Would you like to see?"

"You would?"

"If you really are that curious, sure, I don't mind." He shrugged nonchalantly, but there was a hint of something tense in his tone as he slowly parted the bangs to the side so that one eye could be seen.

The half-lidded eye was a beautiful color - or rather, colors. Swirling gradients of blue, purple, and pink circled his pupil and immediately caught Izuku into a mesmerized trance.

His mouth dropped open and he couldn't help but stare into the boy's pretty face for as long as his eye was visible.

As soon as the curtain of hair dropped again, so did the trance - and he blinked owlishly, feeling the haze of admiration and wonder leave his mind. "Whoa…"

"Yeah," the boy snorted, stuffing his hand in his pocket. The other gripped the handle of the shopping cart tightly. "Apparently when my Quirk manifested, I caused so much trouble in my kindergarten that I had to be pulled out. I can't control it that well because my parents forced me to grow out my hair so that nobody else can see me."

"That's horrible," Izuku noted softly.

"Horrible is an understatement." Somehow he could tell he was glaring at the ground even though the veil of hair covered all but his nose, mouth, and chin. "Even the doctors said that I was cursed. Some Quirk this is."

"What did you call it?"

"Something stupid," he waved it off. "Anyway, enough about my Quirk. Why are you so interested in me?"

"Well, I have this note-" Izuku began to explain, but he stopped himself cold.

The notebook. He'd completely forgotten.

The boy watched as Izuku's face crumbled in despair, his hands clutching the basket tight enough for the metal to creak.

"... Hey, dude…" he hesitantly spoke up. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Izuku answered faintly. "Yeah, just… remembering something I shouldn't."

"You too?" There was a moment of surprise, before he placed a hand atop the shorter boy's shoulder. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised… because of how destructive your Quirk can be… but hey, cheer up. You're all good now."

Taking a shaky breath, he tried to smile. "Y- yeah."

"Hey," he tried again. "At least you're here. I've only met a few people at my new school that bully me for my Quirk, and even they're outnumbered by the people who don't even care. You're lucky you're away from UA. Who knows how badly they'd treat people like you and me."

You have no idea.

He wanted to defend his dream school, but tiredly, he realized he couldn't muster up the effort to care anymore.

"And anyway, Besupin Academy is practically the best of the best around here." He chuckled. "For a local school, it sure has a good rep. You'd be surprised by how many Quirkless students go there. I've never even met a Quirkless person before in my life!"

Izuku stopped cold in his tracks, the list in his hand wrinkling as he stared at the boy. "They do?"

"Sure do. I don't know why, but I guess it's a matter of principle." He shrugged. "At least they've got somewhere to go, I guess. Sucks if they wanna become a hero though. They still won't get respect."

The words burned themselves into his brain. Quirkless, Quirkless, Quirkless. Quirkless students had a place to go. Quirkless students were enrolled into the academy.

Why didn't I see that school pop up when I was researching high schools? He wondered in despair. Then again… I was so dead-set on Yuuei that I likely wouldn't have given it a glance anyway.

The boy trailed off, noticing that he'd stopped listening. With a sigh, he turned to fully face him. "You're dazing off a lot. Are you alright? Are you still feeling side-effects from my Quirk? I didn't think it would last long enough if I used only one eye."

"Huh?" He asked dumbly before shaking his head with a nervous laugh. "Sorry, I was just thinking… about Besupin Academy."

"Yeah, good school."

"Sorry for not listening." He bowed at the waist, careful not to spill the contents of his hand-held basket.

"Hey, don't sweat it." He waved it off. "I just realized I didn't give you a name. I'm Aibana. Aibana Kei."

Kei smiled at him - genuinely this time - and pointed to the shampoo. "If you're gonna keep the color fresh, I'd recommend you use that brand. It's the best for a good price."

A/N: So, Kei! His name is written to mean 'gemstone', referencing his multi-colored eyes. Y'all know I had to explore what would happen if someone had a 'standard harem protagonist' power, and what that would do to them emotionally and mentally. I might make a spinoff starring him sometime in the future, who knows.

Please tell me what you thought!