"I give up." Izuku heard Lizzy complain as he idly brushed his teeth.
"Come on, a normal therapist can't hear this and for once I'm willing to talk with someone about my problems." He complained.
"And the amount of problems you have would kill any qualified shrink." Well that hurts.
"Hey, at least acknowledge I was right to be who I was during the festival. Only the least Demon-like Demon could've gotten the seed, you know?" He would forever love that fact for the rest of all time.
"I acknowledge that you feel proud due to the sheer surprise of the situation helping you make it grow, and that it doesn't fix the fact you've been hating yourself for years."
"I mean, I always hated being quirkless. My mom could tell you that much, or she would, if you'd show yourself to her."
"No, there's a difference between hating what you are, and hating yourself. The former can be fixed with biology manipulation or a sex change operation." He was definitely not going to rely on those. "The latter means you hate yourself on a spiritual and personal level."
"Well, I've always held Bakago's opinion in the highest regard, even when I hated him. He was the symbol of victory for me, which is why I always tried to chase him."
"Then let's fix that first!" Lizzy shouted. "Your next goal in the demon world, find a new Symbol of Victory to chase!" She created a scarf and began to reenact the fist of the North Star.
"Wouldn't the obvious answer be Ameri?" He thought for a full second. "She's the strongest student in Bablys, and the closest to being a hero our age."
"Oh really, let's try something then." She said, waving a hand. "Enter Demon Mode and take her power."
"Right." He twisted the ring. "Okay, let's go.." Nothing happened. "Uh, be super powerful.." Nothing at all. "What the heck happened? Why isn't it working?"
"Look in the mirror." Lizzy said. He turned, noticing the white hair.
"But, it activated." He spoke, confused.
"It did, now catch." She tosses him his toothbrush … which now weighed even more than his bow!
"Wh-what the hell!? How did I get so weak!?" He keeps in shape now! His muscles were still around!
"Romantiaist is based on perception remember?" She reminded him. "Ameri-Chan didn't want you analyzing her in person because it might mess up the image. The stronger you think you are the stronger it makes you, but vice versa …"
"So it won't ever work for me until I fully stop hating myself?" Izuku groaned. "Well, at the very least I have a way to check my progress. So if the gap between me and Ameri is too far for me to reach, I need a smaller target?"
"Precisely, someone in the Misfit Class mayhaps?"
"I guess Sabro would be next, he is my rival, but he's also already super buff in almost every way, and that already makes me feel a bit insecure about my body. Seriously, he needs to start wearing a shirt."
"Then what say Goemon and the warriors spirit?"
"That sounds nice, but he might be a bit miffed still about Midnight Special. On that note, Picero and Kaumi are out. The former just started doing anything other than sleep, and Kaumi's in no way a role model to anybody in any sense."
"Fair point on all three accounts. So who's left? There's Jazz the thief, Lied the Gamer, Schiender the Scholar.."
"Well there's Azz and Kerori …" He put a hand to his chin. "I know the latter isn't a good role model in a moral sense but she has a lot of confidence in herself. And Azz managed to tame his Wicked Phase, that alone is an intense show of restraint and skill."
"Yeah, but if you start acting more like Azz now, then the rumors will never die, and over half the freshmen know he's dating Gaako. You don't want to mess up a good opportunity when you have it."
"Then I guess Kerori and Kuromu are my new role models …" What has his life become, he never thought he was into pop before. He finished his clean up and entered the dining hall. "Morning Grandpa, morning Mom!" He waved out.
"Morning Izuku-kun … or Deku?" Huh, what was Grandpa talking about?
"Grandpa, it's me. I'm not in a Wicked Phase, or whatever that was." Probably best to act as clueless as his family about that. "I actually feel better about myself now than I've ever been in a long time. I can officially qualify for Demon King, why would I be stressed about that now?"
"Oh….ah... that's good." His mom had the same face as his Grandpa.
"Shall I prepare some Hellgrey Tea to keep you calm?" Opera sked with a curious glint in their eye. "Anything you would like to talk about?"
"Not anything particular at the moment, other than wondering how many titles I can get at school before it becomes ridiculous."
"Me and Opera stopped counting when we hit the triple digits." Sullivan spoke with a wave of the hand.
"I believe my favorite was the Androgynous Animal." Opera nodded like they were proud of it.
"At least none of them led people to believe you're some sort of harem collector. The eyestalk girl still hasn't stopped following me, and I think Kerori sold my likeness to the school shop, because I've seen a few students carrying the dolls she made of me." Then again, he had hero merchandise now. That alone made the thought more tolerable.
Amaryllis was so happy as they all walked in. "I'm so glad everyone could make it. I made sure my little cotton candy didn't try and sneak me away this time."
"And I would have gotten away with it if it weren't for those meddling kids." Alice grumbled. Come on, Lily and Viole weren't that bad. She was even giving them a trip to Walter Park for that information.
"Heheehee, sorry, I don't mean to laugh…" Izuku giggled. "I know that this is bad for you, but what you just said brings back memories, good ones for once funnily enough."
"Is that what people told you back home?" Eiko asked from behind her lover. "Meddling in people's business because you tried to be a hero?"
"Not exactly. But All Might once said that the Essence of being a hero is Meddling in affairs you don't belong to." Oh, she knew Sullivan was a terrible father to Inko, but he just blabbed about the surface world too? For shame.
"Hey Izuku-kins, I wanted to ask but … what's with the horn? It looks like Deku-kins." Clara spoke with a bit of intimidation.
"My what-now?" Izuku felt the side of his head, and sure enough, on the left side of it, a small horn curving upwards could be felt, just barely breaching out of the jungle of his messy green hair. "When the hell did I grow this!?"
"You've had it since this morning. I wanted to talk about it but you didn't say anything and it just felt like a mammoth in the room." Eiko mumbled out with a blush.
"Wait, wait-no, this shouldn't be possible! I can't-I never-I'm still hu-I-why is this happening to me now!? I-I just accepted who I was-and-what does this mean!?" Oh boy, Inko's kid was a nervous wreck. A cute little bundle of nerves.
"Maybe it was just all the magic you keep putting in you changing what you look like?" Asmodeus asked curiously. "Remember, it's bottled up inside, now it could be just a natural growth."
"Oh right!" She almost forgot. "You became a love bunny at the Harvest Festival right? I was impressed, but I'd like to talk about the fine details. Mainly about your seduction tactics. It's best to start small if you're aiming for a harem, so you shouldn't overwhelm yourself on the first go. Overstimulation to anything is very harmful and can burn out your passion quickly."
"MOTHER!" Asmodeus shouted with a blush, but not as prominently as everyone else in the room. "This is why I try to get you away, you just ruin everything!"
"Oh come now, I haven't even moved onto foreplay yet." After all, you need to start small, first second base before fifteenth base. "Since you're a furry, girls are going to love it when you nuzzle them right at the neck, the fur can send so many shivers down a lady's spine like you wouldn't believe.."
"Hold on, let me take notes…" Eiko immediately summoned a notebook. Oh, already so dedicated. "Note to self, find a fursona that matches Izu's and Ameri's." And already planned the first concubine! Ah, it reminded her of her days at Bablys with Raim.
"Fuzzy Izuku-kins is comfy to pet though, why does the neck matter?" Clara, oh so innocent, just like her mother … somehow … how does a woman have children without understanding reproduction, it was horrifying. Was that the power of the Loli?
"I'M NOT A FURRY!" The boy was in clear denial. Happens to the best of us.
"Oh come now, what you are matters to no one." That seemed to make him pause. "What you are on the inside, regardless of fur or race, is a sweet boy who makes my Alice happy. I thank you so much for that, I rarely see a day when he doesn't smile anymore."
"Mother, please don't say that to him. He'll never let me hear the end of it." Alice moped.
"So Izuku-kins is Azz-Azz's hero! He makes you smile everyday!"
"Yes, he's even Alice's code word for turning back to normal." The dragon girl laughed.
"GAAKO WHY!?" Oh, her boy was so embarrassed. So cute!
"So you're not going to hide your relationship anymore? I mean, everyone at school knows." Eiko blurted out.
"Relationship?" The children froze at the mother's question. "My little baby has a relationship!?" She grabbed the boy. "Quick tell me now, and don't lie to your mother, or you'll regret it." The children shivered at her aura, but she had to know who to thank and praise for being with her baby.
"Oh, um they don't mean me. They mean …" Alice turned to Izuku with an almost regretful look. "Ms Midoriya and Kalego-sensei." What the fuck?
"YOU POMPOUS PINK BASTARD, WHY'D YOU PUT THAT THOUGHT IN MY HEAD!?" Izuku jumped at her son. Since when did he start using so much crass language?
"Oh, does that make Aggy-sensei Izuku-kins Daddy?" Clara asked with excited eyes.
"Clara-why-why-you my-why.." Inko's baby started breaking down mentally, letting go of his vice grip on Alice's neck before retreating into a dark corner. "Why...why…..why...why…" This boy needed a therapist pronto.
"Don't worry Izuku." The boy looked at her with a spark of hope. "I'll make sure to get with Inko far before that bastard Kalego does." For some reason her son entered another corner. What did she say wrong?
"See what you did, Azz!? Now you're both broken!" Eiko chastised Alice.
"There is no escaping her horror … all shall suffer …" Her cotton candy muttered to himself.
"Auntie Amary, can we play now?" Viole came into the room with Lilly, noticing the two boy's defeated states. "Perfect! I'll grab Izu-kun, and you grab Azz! We'll be ruling the world before lunch!" Aww, they grow up so fast.
Ameri walked into the household. It wasn't anything too special, she's met the Asmodeus group before, her father works as a crow after all. What was different this time however, is that she was invited for a … hang out with Izzy!
It was a bit of a surprise, he suddenly called HER out of nowhere earlier in the morning and invited her. HE made the first move this time! He went out of his way to include her! He was getting so bold now. The next thing you know he's leaving bouquets of flowers on her doorstep and they start sneaking out at night to stargaze and in the light of the moon, they'd embrace each other in all their passions!
Oh, it would be amazing, truly spectacular. It would be perfect as she held onto his cheek like Rin, leaned into his embrace as she- "Ameri, welcome." Oh, the woman of the house was in front of her. "Is your father around? I didn't recall a meeting being held today."
"No, Izzy invited me to join. My father will arrive later with a ride, however, there is no need to worry." She assured her.
"Ah, another girl to add into the love bunny harem. How lovely, I just wish my Alice could be a little more in touch with his romantic side. Guy or Girl, hell I'll even take animals at this point." That didn't sound right.
"Wait, but isn't he datin-"
"Ameri, glad you could make it." Suddenly the boy of said conversation grabbed her hand, dragging her away. "We should hurry, my little cousin is starting to make Izuku prince of the kingdom." She was doing what!? Ameri grabbed Asmodeus's hand and started moving fast enough to leave sparks.
"Izzy! I'm here! Don't become a prince until I become your princess!" She barged into the room, where she saw, quite frankly, an adorably laughable sight of Izzy being tied up in rope while wearing a crown, the two Asmodeus cousins arguing back and forth on both sides of him.
"... Hey Ameri." He waved with his foot. "I've become far too used to people barging in on situations like this." He muttered. "Glad you can make it, and sorry for the madness."
"Lady Red Hair! You came!" Valac cheered gleefully. "Why the hell did you come?!" She still held the same cheery voice.
"Izzy invited me." She responded with a smile and headpat to the little harlot, enough force to cause small cracks into the ground. "It's not a problem when he does it, is it?"
"Nope, no problem at all." Eiko spoke from her spot, wearing a horse costume. "... They wanted a steed and Clara already called dibs on the witch. Also I'm trying to find a decent animal for a personal project."
"At least yours isn't racist." Ameri turned to Gaako, who ironically, was in a dragon costume holding a princess doll. "It's like forcing me to wear my mother's skin after they peeled it off right in front of me. So uncomfortable."
"That's your punishment for stealing Azz, you wench." Lilly pouted.
"I never stole Azz!" Wait a second, wasn't she-
"Regardless, the two wanted to be the princesses, with me and Izuku as the princes." Asmodeus replied. "Although Lilly wants him to be tied up in the dungeon over a boiling pot of oil, and Viole wants to keep him locked up in her room.
"I can keep him secure!" Viole shouted proudly. "He's constantly watched over by me, alone, with no one else coming in at any point of time, and he doesn't get in Azz's way!" THAT was never going to happen if she had anything to say about it.
"Hey, we agreed on a compromise. He's locked in your room, tied over a boiling pot." Lilly complained. "No matter how much I wish to use the witches curse."
"I shall not curse the nice Izuku-kins, only the meanie, prince Azz-Azz, to never be able to sit down at any time!" Clara giggled menacingly … or tried to, it was still cute.
"Well he'll beat up the dragon and save the day!" Lilly cheered. Gaako growled a bit but made no comment at the girl in question.
"Actually standing isn't that big of a problem, I do it all the time. Plus when you hang around Izuku your leg strength triples from running for your life daily."
"It's not daily." That was Izzy's only complaint on the situation apparently. "Don't worry, the boiling pot is just olive oil that's not heating up, thankfully."
"But the smell...ugh.." She still remembered the rookie hunt. Valac knew how to utilize her abilities in a fight. "Well, it's obviously what my role here should be." She casually walked up to Izzy and picked him up without a problem. "As a knight of the kingdom, I shall save the prince and ride off into the sunset with him."
"Ride off …" And her steed passed out, lovely.
"Oh yeah, we totally forgot to get a knight." Viole muttered
"I just kinda thought pinces and knights were the same thing." Lilly shrugged.
"You won't get away from your diabolical plans Lady Red Hair!" Valac summoned some sort of vial from her pockets. "I'll save the prince from your clutches!"
"What part of that was Diabolical? I'm the dragon, I literally know that kind of stuff." Gaako asked, and she felt the need to agree.
"I'm saving the prince from you!" Ameri cried out, brandishing the air. "... Can I like, have a plastic sword or something?"
"Oh right, sure." Clara quickly gave her a weapon. "You good?"
"Yeah I can work with this."
"Cool, now then, to battle!"
"Oh good, for a second I was starting to think we were taking this seriously." Izzy sighed. What was he talking about? She was holding him in her arms close to her chest. This was as serious as it gets!
"The food is great." "Definitely." "So are you doing well on your tests?" "Straight As, I'm making sure to pass."
David watched as the children interacted with the lovely family he swore to look after. They made conversation instead of quite dining, they ate ravenously instead of collected, and they once tried to start a food fight. The house has never been more lively, and he couldn't be happier!
"I'm just glad we were able to keep up our grades even with all the training." Young Midoriya chuckled as he took a bite of his roasted devi-beef. "And I'm still at B-average. That's amazing in my book in any case."
"You're smart enough to keep up with us, you simply lack the basics." Young Azazel spoke as she took a bite of the roast. "Once you have those down and your habits kick in, you'll return to your original grades. I expect you to be A-average by the end of the year."
"I wouldn't be going Plus if I didn't try at least."
"If we're talking about grades let's talk about Eiko." Young Koopa grinned. "The girl made it into the top ten without studying at all for the end of Terminous other than making a simple study guide."
"Yeah, I don't even need to study for anything anymore. Everything in class we need to know is already locked all the way up here." Young Oni tapped on her forehead. "Yet I still can't cook for the life of me. Could've used that life skill in the middle of the jungle."
"Yeah, we survived on plain tasting stew, grass, and spite. The banquet at the after party was amazing." Young Midoriya smiled. "You gathered so many good ingredients Azz, it was delicious."
"Well, how else could I have gotten Hé(5) without it? I just went Plus Ultra as well. Just because I'm helping you shouldn't mean I shouldn't help myself." Master Alice proudly spoke.
"My baby boy is already a Hé(5) in his first year. I'm so proud of you, my little cotton candy." Madam Asmodeus smiled and pinched the young master's cheek.
"Mommy makes all my food for us! She hunts it fresh from the forest of confusing steps!" Young Valac simply chomped her meal in large bites. "We even have a song about the most important ingredient to have!" Suddenly, lights and background music came up in the background.
"Oh come on, that's supposed to be a family thing. Are they all just hiding in the background or something?" Young Asmodeus called out, looking around the room.
"Honestly the songs aren't … that bad." Young Midoriya spoke with a flinch. "I'm still humming the song from the Division Party. Although that reminds me, we haven't met one of your brother's yet, Urara, right?"
Young Valac, in between lyrics, turned. "Yeah, he's super weird and abnormal compared to all of us."
"There's someone you find weird and abnormal…?" Young Asmodeus looked terrified. "He must be the worst of them all. A complete lunatic!"
"Yeah, he talks funny and does super weird stuff. People are constantly asking if he's actually related to us." Young Valac finished her song. "But yeah, all you need is love and everything you make will always taste good!"
"Really? How do you put love in your food?" Young Azazel looked quite invested in the conversation. "I've often thought about owning my own bakery at some point, but my father never lets me cook in the house. I did once, and he said it was so delicious that he couldn't handle it if I made something so amazing again or he might explode from how delectable it was." Ahh, the lies we tell the youth of today. Their innocence must be protected at all costs.
"If you want to cook something, I can ask my mom to show you around the kitchen tomorrow." Young Midoriya offered. "I'm heading out with Lied tomorrow, but my Mom should be there with Grandpa and Opera if you need help with anything."
"You're heading out with Lied?" Eiko asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, he wanted to hang out with games at his place. Said 'two young kings' should know each other better." He shrugged. "He kinda got dragged into the sidekick position, so it's the least I can do for him. We're all friends anyhow." That was the word Young Asmodeus seemed to hold quite dear to him.
"I CAN BE THERE TOO!" Young Oni shrieked with a red face. "Eh, after all, why split the team up so soon?"
"But I thought you said you were going to learn how to cook?" Young Valac asked with a confused head tilt. "I'll be with Mamadoriya too! Operko still needs to teach me how to live with Izuku-kins after we graduate!"
"Opera's teaching you what now?"
"Nothing you need to concern yourself with." Young Azazel waved off. "It's just something we bonded over at Walter Park."
"I but, he, and, AAAHHH!" Ah, young romance, truly a beauty to watch.
Inko waited outside the house with Ms Valac, 'Aunt Peach', and Henri. "It's so nice to meet you sir. My daughter has talked about yours for so long. Would you like some tea, cookies, stories, baby pictures?" And said father was being hounded by the mothers.
"My niece talks about Ameri often too, I've seen it in her diary. Ah, the young mind, so instinctually insistent on insanity. I've seen her plans for the three-way." Eiko's what-now?
"MY PRINCESS WON'T BE TAINTED BY A THREE-WAY!" The sheer fire emanating from him was immense in heat, but quickly dissipated by a shift in his glasses. "Sorry sorry, stressful day at work. Say, Ms Midoriya, have you acquired a job of any sort?" He asked her.
"Still looking, I don't want to survive on Dad alone, but I don't want to get a job just from his name." She responded with a smile.
"We have a position open if you so wish. I wouldn't be doing it for your father but the mother of the … friend of my Ameri." The man was still steaming to the brim with hatred at the thought of her son.
"Thanks, I'll be sure to consider it." Inko responded with a smile. "After all, our babies are getting pretty close with each other. It's only natural that we should start being friends too." All that mattered here was that her son had the choice to date who he pleased. The only question now was which girl would make the most cute grandbabies
"They are getting close." Peach smiled. "He was so well behaved back at my house. And the story of how he saved her on that first day...ah, brings back memories. The saving, the chaos, the ghosts that come around for some reason along with the flying turtles and mushrooms stuffed in floating bricks …" Why did that sound so familiar? "Luckily Eiko's improving herself as well, so it hopefully won't end like how it did with my ex."
A giant thud came from behind. Silently, she slowly turned, not seeing Peach's forlorn expression, and turned to the massive and spiked out shell creature standing before her looking straight at them. "Um … hello there." She weakly waved.
"AH, YES, YOU MUST BE THE PARENTS OF MY DARLING DEMON'S MINIONS!" It shouted out, wait, minions?
"Oh, Lord Koopa, I wasn't expecting you to come." Henri nodded at the FREAKING MONSTER like it was normal, not even flinching an inch.
"OF COURSE, ANYTHING FOR MY GAAKO." Oh, Gaako's family. She understood that the girl looked different, it would be hypocritical to assume she was a monster when quirks could cause so many weird looks, the Midoriya hairline was green after all. But she never expected Gaako's father to look like … THAT. "I RARELY GET TO SHOW UP AT HER STUFF, CASTLE NEEDS RUNNING, ARMY NEEDS RALLYING, EIGHT KIDS, COOKING THEIR MEALS, TRYING TO FIND A MOTHER." Ah, an overworked father, she could see it in the strangest of them. Like that most of her fear vanished.
"Well, just know she's doing well for herself." Inko decided to chime in. "She's gone up two ranks and has a lovely relationship with Asmodeus now. She's always clinging to him obsessively everytime I see them now, they hardly let each other go." She had plenty of teasing material to work with now that she wasn't actively threatening the boy.
The father let out a laugh that sounded like thunder. "THAT'S MY GIRL! TAKE WHAT YOU WANT AND NEVER TOOK NO FOR AN ANSWER! NOW IF ONLY SHE TOOK MY BEDROOM LESSONS TO HEART …"
"She DOESN''T need your bedroom lessons." Peach grumbled loudly.
"OH, PEACH, DIDN''T SEE YOU THERE." He twiddled his fingers like a schoolgirl. "AH, SO EIKO AND GAAKO ARE STILL PRETTY CLOSE, SOME COULD SAY LIKE FAMILY...SO.."
"You messed up any chance when you kidnapped me! I broke up with Mario because I got tired of the constant back and forth rivalry between you two!" Did Nintendo have access to the netherworld?
"BUT KIDNAPPING IS THE BIGGEST FORM OF ROMANCE! AND THAT CHEAP BASTARD KEEP GETTING IN THE WAY LIKE THE PUNK HE IS!" Okay now she was starting to see what was going on.
The door opened, everyone coming out with a smile on their face. Except Gaako, who just groaned when she saw her father. "I'm with my friends, I'm stress free, no need for a Wicked Phase, no need to feast on live flesh, trust in the comfort of the Calamity Cult." Oh dear, this was going to be a whole mess on the ride home for them.
"HOW IS MY LITTLE GIRL DOING? DID YOU HAVE FUN? DID YOU GET HURT AT ALL?"
"No dad, I'm fine!" She shouted back.
"Oh, Mr Koopa, how is it going? Your daughter has been lovely to have around." Asmodeus bowed curtly, trying to avoid the awkwardness by cutting straight to the point.
"OF COURSE SHE HAS! SHE MY DAUGHTER AFTER ALL! SHE HAS YOU PEGGED ALL THE TIME NOW, DOESN'T SHE!?"
"Oh, what does that mean?" Amaryllis asked the two. Oh, poor boy.
"Nothing, we're just friends. Now then, we should get them home, it's getting late and I'm sure you'd like to talk with the parents yourself." Asmodeus spoke, trying to get the topic off hand.
"It is getting late." Henri observed, offering a hand. "Would you like an escort, madam?" For some reason Amaryllis glared at Henri. She got that he was a bit overprotective, but this seemed like overkill for reasons to not like him.
"Yes please!" Ameri squeaked out an answer for her. "Ah-sorry, didn't mean to interrupt, I just, well, there's something I've wanted to ask you." The tall girl looked with pleading innocent eyes, grabbing Inko's hands into her own. "I was wondering if, IF YOU COULD TEACH ME HOW TO COOK!?"
"Me too pretty please, I need to improve my skills for Izuku-kins!" Clara asked, already having climbed piggyback onto her mother.
"I need to come too!" Eiko joined in. "I-if we're ever abandoned in the jungle again, I should learn how to provide for him in the best possible way!"
Oh, going for brownie points, sure thing. "I'd love to teach you all, I've been cooking for Izuku for years now after all." The girls smiled, but Henri seemed to get closer with a look in his eyes.
"Now then, I'm pretty sure it would be prudent for me to come with and-" He was cut off by a dainty hand on his shoulder.
"Now now dear Henri, the young ones don't need that much protection … do they?" Amaryllis asked with a spark forming around her.
"Well I didn't think this day could get any more awkward, but it can. To think the horn is the least of my problems today." Izuku walked up to her, pointed to his latest appendage. "I'd like to think it looks good on me, but what do you think?"
She smiled. "It looks lovely, it reminds me of that Kohai you mentioned once … Amy something?" That sent her son into a foul mood.
"So Deku reminds Clara of Kiriwo…" Was there something wrong?
"I don't know the full story but … it doesn't matter who it looks like. What matters is the person behind the look, and it's you." She ruffled his hair and horn and whispered softly. "Demon or Human, you're still Izuku." The smile he gave her made every day worth living.