-x- Izuku -x-

It did become regular, Shoto drinking from him. Of course it wasn't every time he went over, as Kacchan was there much of the time, but at least once or twice for every cycle he was a human. With how damn good it looked for Shoto, he kind of wished he could try fresh blood, too. But there was nobody he could take from that would consent.

His mom would never, she'd be furious about both of them doing such a thing, and Kacchan would definitely not be willing. She wouldn't only be angry at Shoto about the blood drinking, but it was Izuku that had offered, a few times by now. And Shoto had refused the previous times. But now, after the first, he had zero issue with control. He pulled away every time Izuku told him to stop.

And Izuku did give a lot to him. He drank for a full thirty seconds once, which was the limit. But Izuku had only been tired and limp a bit for a few moments before he felt his body get warm inside as his blood cells divided at a rapid place, easily and quickly replenishing him. It was almost a nice feeling. Unique. Feeling his body just automatically repair itself felt interesting.

When he'd told Shoto, he was interested. "Sounds interesting." Izuku nodded. "I… wish I could return the favor," he said. "But drinking from another vampire makes you sick, so I can't." He sounded disappointed in himself.

"It's really no big deal-"

"It is, Izuku," Shoto said quietly but firmly. "Everytime… you just trust me fully. It should be scary, shouldn't it? To have a vampire drink from you?"

"Well, a stranger, yeah. But I don't mind this. And we've been through too much together to not fully trust one another," he insisted. Shoto wiped his eye and looked away. Izuku made no comment on it. "Let's go out and practice." Shoto agreed, and both of them suited up in sunscreen, helping each other reach hard places like the middle of the back.

Then they both put concealing clothes on. Izuku was not threatened by the sun so much in human form, but the sunburns were injuries that didn't heal so fast. "I want you to try making some stuff to counter me," Izuku said brightly. "Like, a fence. Or a net behind you." It sounded like an interesting idea.

So they spent awhile with Shoto attempting to make shapes, figures. After awhile, he managed to make a fence. It was not aesthetically pleasing, but it was a fence. A strong one. He practicing make more, and it worked! He was encouraged, being able to make more things other than small figurines. "Now let's try and have you make it while I send you flying."

Shoto nodded, and he lost count of how many times he went flipping through the air. He did not vomit, he refused, no matter how dizzy he got. He wouldn't not throw up Izuku's blood, no way in hell. But he managed to make a fence while in the air, ending ice from his hand to latch onto the ground and then spread outward into a tall fence.

"Nice! Kacchan will be impressed!" Izuku praised. Shoto was panting and his arm was starting to tremble. "Need a break?"

"Yeah," Shoto confirmed. "We should make Bakugo some moves." Izuku nodded.

So the next day, he came over, and Shoto had thought of something to use. But first he had a question. "Bakugo, does it bother you that I still call you by your surname?"

"Call me whatever, as long as it's not Kacchan. I don't need two weirdos pronouncing my name shitty." Izuku's cheeks went red. Shoto nodded.

"Katsuki is okay? You call me Shoto."

"Cause you changed your name and don't like being called by it." That was true. "I don't care, really." Shoto nodded. He would keep calling him Bakugo, because that was what he was used to, and the other didn't mind. "So, you want me to learn new moves?" he asked, tearing into the bag of beef jerky.

They nodded. "Shoto improved on making useful forms out of his ice, so we thought you should learn something."

"I had an idea. These were needed," and he put some sunglasses on. Both of the others looked curious. "Fire is bright. It there a way for you to make it like a flash? So bright it would temporarily blind your enemy?" Bakugo put his hand to his chin, and thought. Then he grinned.

"Let's fucking try it." So they went to the backyard, their training ground. Izuku sat on the deck while he other two squared off, Shoto having the strong sunglasses on. Bakugo put both hands together, and bit his lip as he tried to make a sphere in his enclosed hands. Light started to leak out, but then it blew up, throwing him back. "Hell yeah, I can totally master that!" he said brightly.

They spent awhile for him trying to perfect it until he managed to direct the explosion forward. While it was still an explosion like his other attacks, holding it in his hands and pouring more and more nitroglycerin into it from his sweat glands, it grew brighter and brighter until, right at the last moment, he opened and make his palms face front.

It blinded Shoto for a few seconds before his eyes healed over at a rapid speed. But it left splotches in his vision, like he'd glanced at the sun. "Fuck yeah! That was a great idea!" he said ecstatically. "But damn my hands hurt," he admitted. They were shaking, and bright red, skin irritated and inflamed. "I'll need equipment to help with the burn once we get to UA," he said.

"What will you do about the frostbite?" Bakugo asked. If Shoto used his ice for too long, his arm would start to get frostbite and hurt, shake for awhile. It healed fairly quickly after he stopped using it, the skin tissue reforming. But in a head in fight, it would be hard to happen. It took time and relaxation for the frostbite to go away.

Izuku said, "If you use your left side to heat it up, it would work."

"My right side can get burnt by my left. I should try and regulate the temperature better."

"Oh yeah, you'd need it hotter to melt the ice, which it all you use it for," Izuku mused.

Bakugo said, "Focus on the temperature, then." Shoto nodded. He didn't like fire at all, didn't like looking at it. Which was why he pressed his palm fully on ice when he melted it, so he didn't need to see it. So, he'd focus on the temperature, only accepting seeing the fire when it melted the ice on his arm, because that was necessary.

"We'll be ready by then," Izuku said firmly. Bakugo grinned, and Shoto gave a nod.

-x- Izuku -x-

Izuku heard the whole conversation between their homeroom teacher and Shoto. Bakugo was waiting for them outside, claiming the whole school smelled like shit after one of the pipes in the bathroom blew. And it was true, but all vampires developed a way to just tune out bad smells. So he and Shoto weren't too badly affected, focusing on other scents instead.

But Shoto was told the teacher had sent in a recommendation for UA. Shoto's quirk had developed rapidly over the last few months of practice. Kacchan was slower, but he had mastered his stun grenade without hurting himself. But he'd developed a way to store the sweat so he was able to use it all at once and more powerful. So his simple explosion had doubled in size and intensity. The only way it didn't start fires was to create a wall of ice to block it.

The homemade equipment was one glove, which was insulated and collected sweat while his other hand was what caused the explosion. He'd yank the thumb open of the glove and the sweat would drip onto his other hand, which created the massive explosions. He was fast and practiced at it, but would need to get a real piece of equipment for that once they got their hero costumes.

Shoto came out of the classroom, looking perfectly normal and not pleased he'd gotten three recommendations from three of his teachers over the middle school time. Meaning he was automatically accepted. Well, not automatically, but the chances of getting in were extremely high.

"Congrats!"

"Yeah. Now you don't need to worry about me not getting in. Maybe it would have been good for you to use your quirk and then also get in on recommendation," Shoto said, not sounding at all impressed or happy, of course.

Well, there was nothing to do about it now, it was too late. They went and told Bakugo, who looked annoyed a bit. "Well, now I don't gotta be distracted from your ass failing." Shoto nodded, and Izuku was glad Kacchan wasn't too bitter. They went to their homes, Shoto walking Izuku home, just to be nice. They'd already walked Bakugo home. Both he and Izuku were nervous about the entrance exam in a few days.

They were all good at their quirks/vampire abilities. So Izuku wasn't too worried, but he was to an extent. Of course he was nervous, it was applying to UA without a quirk. He had to pass off his strength and speed as a enhancer quirk. But he felt he could do it if he was careful and crafty. He'd be nervous, but Shoto probably would be more.

For some, still unknown reason, Izuku was still half human half vampire. If he was suspected while in human form, he could just go outside and prove he was a human by stepping into the sun. Shoto wasn't. The staff already would know about them being vampires. Izuku would only have the 504 plan meeting if he made it in. Shoto's was scheduled for a few days from then. At least Izuku would be prepared for his own since his friend was having his first. His foster family insisted that he'd be let in. Vampires were rarely refused entry to schools as it was discrimination and they could get hit with lawsuits easily.

But this was UA, they could do whatever they wanted. But it wasn't like they - or anybody - would know about Shoto's dark childhood as a vampire. It was so strange to know all three of them had been together nearly four years. It didn't feel that long at all. School was no hell anymore, and Izuku would always believe it was up to Shoto and Bakugo. Shoto more, as he deterred others even before Bakugo was in the same class.

He looped his arm through Shoto's who looked surprised. "I'm happy for you."

"Thanks."

He said goodbye to his best friend and watched him walk the way he'd come. Unlocking the front door, Izuku saw his mother sewing on the couch. "Hey, mom! Guess what? Shoto got a recommendation to UA, so he doesn't need to do the entrance exam!"

"That's wonderful! That must make you less worried. I'm so happy for him," she said honestly. She still didn't know that Shoto was still feeding off of Izuku. Neither worried about it anymore. While Shoto still kept himself focused instead of losing himself in the feeling, he trusted himself now.

Trust in each other was great, but trust in yourself was so much more satisfying and emboldening. "Are you and Katsuki-kun excited?"

"Nervous. Now that Shoto is probably set to go, we both have to make it. Tearing him down with us would be hurtful. Probably not to Shoto, but to us. Shoto wants to be with us no matter where it is. But I'm glad I don't need to worry!" Izuku explained with a smile.

"I sure hope nobody finds out about you two. I don't want yout to have more drama, and especially at UA. You can't really leave there without missing a huge opportunity…" Inko said, sounding worried.

"I'm nervous, too. But we're both very careful about the sun and all. And Shoto and I don't need to bring blood to school. He can drink half in the morning and be fine through the day," Izuku replied. "If our classmates find out… they just have to deal with it…" but his voice wavered, worried, too. He was worried they'd be shunned.

Would Izuku be accused of cheating, not having a quirk? Well, he wasn't powerless, but still, it was nerve wracking, being different. He'd been different for four years now, but it was still worrying sometimes. That what he was would bring things down. And he had to hide being a hybrid as best as he could or he might become some anomaly people were fascinated with. He didn't want that.

He headed to his room, and looked in the mirror on the wall, which made his room look bigger. Sometimes he still wondered if he was the same person he was before he was changed. Really, his whole world changed after that. Looking out the window, he did hate that he was scared of the sun half his life in some degree.

But he couldn't let the sun scare him away from living. Yeah, it had been agony, to be burnt by the monster in the sky. But it wouldn't make him crawl into the shadows and not live. Like Shoto had done for so long at rehab. If Izuku had changed a lot, Shoto had changed just as much. He wasn't scared of life. Of messing up. Of getting hurt. He enjoyed his life, no matter his past.

His face was always the same, but that didn't mean his best friends and foster family couldn't see the changes in him. They were just hard to notice from the naked eye of those who didn't know him.

Kacchan had also changed considerably, but not as much as the other two. He was still the same brash, loud person. He was still human. But he had friends. Made friends, not enemies. Well, his enemies were his best friends' enemies. Endeavor was his enemy, bullies were his enemies.

Shoto's demons were Bakugo's enemies, too. If he could, he'd blow them to bits. If Izuku could, he'd punch it to pieces. He was such a different person, and he loved who he was now. He'd be a hero, no matter what, side by side with his loved ones. He wiped his eyes, and smiled a teary smile. This was always who he was meant to be.

-x- Shoto -x-

Shoto sat in the hallway on the bench with his foster mother. He still had two moms, Rei and Mikaela. Though he called neither of them mom to their face. Or to anybody, really. He just thought of them in that way.

UA was huge. He only saw it from the windows of the hallway in the main building, but he could see its size just from there. It had to be even bigger than what he saw, as it was only one side of the school. There should be more students than were admitted in a campus this gigantic. He was patient, listening to everything. It was still the school year, so there were students there.

The walls were thick, but he could hear them from the open classroom doors. He turned around when people approached the door. It slid open, and a man with blond hair sticking nearly straight up and some hero equipment on that looked like a stereo around his neck. Thanks to Izuku and his hero obsession, Shoto knew everyone in that room. Their names at least.

Then there was All Might. He smiled, seeing him. The hero gave him a thumbs up. It had been years since seeing him, and it was nice to see a friendly face that already knew him. He sat down next to his foster mother at the end of the table. Even the principal was there. He knew all these heroes must be his teachers. He was just glad All Might was there, though.

"Welcome, Himura-kun and Mikaela-san."

"Please, call me Shoto, my first name," Shoto said politely.

"Shoto-kun, then. My name is Nezu." The principal was a big mouse that could speak. It was interesting. Then there was Midnight, All Might, Present Mic, Ectoplasm, Eraserhead, and Cementoss. Shoto bowed politely. "We've looked over your grades, and they are spectacular. Straight A's and also recommendations from three previous teachers. They said that you rescued students from a fire at school?"

Shoto nodded silently. "My friend helped me. He's applying, too. Bakugo Katsuki."

"Hopefully you both make it in if you've both already saved your peers before. This meeting is, of course, to find accommodations. Will you tell us about yourself?"

"I'm a vampire. My name is Himura Shoto." They were clearly expecting more. He got awkward. He couldn't figure out what to say. "What else do you want to know?" he asked.

"What is your history?" Nezu asked.

"I was homeschooled until sixth grade, after I got out of rehab for the vampirism. I was only there the last few months, and then I went to a middle school for the whole time. My quirk is ice and fire. I don't use the fire for personal reasons." He was proud of himself for saying so much. "I seem boring and uninterested from some medicine I've taken for years. I'm not acting disinterested in everything."

"Thanks for being honest," Nezu said. "How much blood do you need a day?"

"Nine servings. Since I need to much, I use blood powder instead of regular, liquid blood. It is dehydrated blood cells, and when you mix them into a drink of any kind, the same nutrients are given. It's just more convenient than carrying around nine bottles of blood a day. I drink in the morning and night. The daytime is fine," he explained.

Eraserhead bluntly spoke something that made Shoto terrified. "What happened to you the night four people died." His face drained of all color. Mikaela didn't react, though she would later.

They knew. "That should have been wiped…" he said, eyes wide and fearful.

"UA has resources," Eraserhead said. "What happened that night? This information does not immediately bar you from attending UA. Please explain." Shoto didn't want to. "Please. We will listen silently and attentively. Take your time." They knew that it was traumatizing. He didn't want to take too long.

His hand was taken by his kind foster mother, who would be hearing all of this for the first time, but still supported him.

"I was turned, and then for the next year, I was locked in my house's basement. I wasn't given any blood. My father would always just shout that I should fight off the thirst. It was painful, and none of my family would help me even though I was screaming all the time." Midnight gasped. He didn't make eye contact with any of them.

"I finally got out one night, and ran away. I was starved and went insane, so I attacked people. I killed four before I was tased and restrained. Then I was stuck in rehab for nine months. Everyone else left after a few weeks or months. I was heavily mentally and emotionally damaged from it all. I'm… I'm still not healed and all. Still issues. The meds help me. This makes me more comfortable," he said, touching his collar.

"What does it do, Shoto-kun?" Nezu asked.

"If my heart rate skyrockets if I get thirsty, it will electrocute me, and spawn a muzzle. I haven't needed to use it in a long time, though. It just makes me feel safer. Same with these bands. They lock together." He pulled out his phone. "It's connected to an app someone else can control." He pressed the button, and activated everything. He passed out for a few seconds, face hitting the table, muzzle making a loud noise.

When he woke back up, he was fine. They were all speechless. "Who the hell made that?" Present Mic asked. Shoto looked to All Might, who honestly said he had. "You knew him before?"

"A few years ago he found me and asked for my help. These were what he requested. A child asked me for help, so I did," he said honestly. Eraserhead was not okay with this, but didn't press.

"I'm actually only as good as I am because of another student that will be applying. Midoriya Izuku. He's also a vampire, we met in rehab. He's not nearly as screwed up as I am, though, so you won't have to worry about him."

"We may have two vampires in one year?" Midnight asked in interest.

"Shoto, did you father go to jail?" Present Mic asked.

"No, sir. He got a slap on the wrist and I was removed from his home. I live with a foster family right now." They were angry that the father had not faced consequences. Shoto was not averse to ratting him out, so he did. "He won't ever be punished because he's a pro hero."

"Who?" Cementoss asked.

"Endeavor. My original name was Todoroki Shoto, but my surname was changed to my biological mother's." The table was shocked. "I haven't been in contact with him since I was taken away and put in rehab." He didn't look up, clasping his hands on the table.

"Is this true?" All Might asked, not smiling. Mikaela must have nodded to confirm it. He finally looked up, and the table looked furious. "And you still want to be a hero?"

"I want to be a good hero. I want to help people. Rescuing, not just fighting villains like Endeavor. I don't - I won't be like him. That's why I never use my fire side. I don't like… I don't like fire, after living like that," he said quietly, back hunched, extremely uncomfortable. "I know that I don't have the best past, but I won't ever hurt people again. I won't ever starve again."

They looked to Nezu, and it seemed the verdict would be passed. He was prepared to be denied, and ruin everything for his friends. "Welcome to UA, Shoto-kun," Nezu said. Shoto's head jerked up, and his eyes were widened in shock. "By your testimony, I believe that you will be safe around our students and your classmates. I believe that you truly wish to be a good, just hero. Your past is behind you. I am sorry we were nosy." Yeah, Shoto wasn't happy about that. "Nobody but this room knows about that time."

"My friends know. They accepted me, even if one is human. Midoriya and then Bakugo Katsuki."

"They are good friends, then," Cementoss said. Shoto rubbed his eye and nodded.

"I will be your homeroom teacher. Aizawa Shouta. Now that I know all of this information, I can do more to accommodate you. Is there anything you specifically need?"

"No. I can't think of anything. None of my other schools has needed to accommodate. I bring my blood powder to school sometimes, but it's mostly because it tastes good and gives some more energy. But I don't need it. To others, it just looks like a baggy of kool aid." He pulled out out of his backpack.

"You won't ever use that app in my classroom. Am I clear?"

"I'd still like all of you to have access to it," Shoto said. "Just in case something went really wrong."

"Very well," Aizawa said. Shoto sent them all the link. It was a private app, of course. So it only connected to his choker and wristbands. "And there's the option for only using the cuffs?" Shoto nodded. "What about only activating the muzzle, but not the shock." He shook his head. Aizawa sent All Might an annoyed look. It was a bit funny, but of course he didn't laugh.

"Is that all, principal?"

"Yes," Nezu said. "The student body will not know about this unless you want them to. The only ones that know are in this room and our school nurse. We will help you hide it from your classmates. We have your back, Shoto-kun." Shoto pursed his lips, not wanting to cry. "Then we'll see you the first day of school. Make sure to submit your desired costume design and sizes for the uniform."

Shoto nodded and was so glad to get out of that room. He hurried to the car, his foster mother keeping up just fine. It was silent on the walk. He didn't even make it to the car before he started to cry. "Nobody should have known that," he cried. "I didn't want you to know," he said in shame. "Nobody should know…"

Mikaela hugged him. "It's alright. You're not a monster."

"I drink Izuku's blood," he confessed.

"You don't think we can smell it?" she asked with a lightly amused face. "Besides, we're the ones that taught you that it is fine if it's safe and both parties give consent. It's not a big deal, but you may not want to spread it around." Shoto nodded. He got in the car, and fell asleep on the way back, completely emotionally exhausted.

-x- Izuku -x-

Based on Shoto's explanation about his meeting, Izuku was sure that he'd be accepted for him being part vampire, too. But he was upset that they got documents that should have been erased, because now Shoto felt scared anyone could find out. It would ruin his life. Izuku tried to convince him they wouldn't spread it.

"Yeah, if they do, sue them and get a shit ton of money. You know how rich that school is? And I hope they do some shit about Endeavor. But it's nice hearing what kind of teachers we'd have."

"Based on the way they treated you, and what they heard, I doubt they'd split the three of us up. You name dropped us, and we'd probably be seen as emotional support to you. Which we are, but still. They sound so nice."

"It might be pity."

"Maybe, but pity with good intention isn't bad, right?" Izuku said, something Shoto always said. The vampire nodded. Izuku hugged him, as Shoto was still very upset and shaken by the news, not wanting his teachers to think of him as a monster. "The only monster they probably saw was the cause of all of your issues," he assured him, massaging his scalp until his body relaxed, leaning against Izuku.

He asked, "Will you do the braid?"

"Sure." And he did the small braid that Shoto played with. Bakugo didn't call it stupid anymore. He looked over and saw the blonde hunched over, looking serious. "What's wrong, Kacchan?" Izuku asked, tying off the braid with the tiny elastic bands.

"I don't know. Hearing again about what happened, fully. Makes me feel angry and sad. I'm just glad they were nice or I'd have to go and blow up their faces." Izuku shook his head. "I'm serious! If anyone finds out, I'll make them regret it. I can say this stuff because I'm not technically a hero in training right now! So I'm fine to make death threats," he said bluntly.

Shoto stayed leaning against Izuku, playing with his own hair, silent.

"You'll keep making death threats, though," Izuku said with a laugh. "We should train, entrance exam is tomorrow." Shoto said he'd help them. They all headed outside, and Izuku was first. It was safer to have Kacchan use his at night or late in the day so he didn't burn anything away on them and reveal their unprotected skin to the sun.

Shoto was sending spikes of ice at Izuku, who was either dodging or blowing away. But when Shoto started throwing them, using his own vampire strength, he had to dodge. Blowing them back with air force was no longer possible. One hit him in the shoulder, tearing a nice gash into it. He grunted.

Bakugo looked to Shoto, who was unaffected. The scent of his blood no longer really got to him deep down. "You know, I've been wondering something," the explosive teen said. "Have you been feeding off of him?"

"Yeah."

"Thought so. You don't react to his blood anymore. Could'a told me, it's not like I think you'll just attack any human or some shit." But he didn't sound too bothered or upset by it.

They practiced some more before all of them were bored and tired of the exertion. So the rest of the day, Shoto helped them with the entrance exam paper test studying. Flashcards and quizzes were the tried and true method of studying. At least for them.

Izuku was nervous, but only about the entrance exam. He knew he'd be accepted as a vampire. Well, half vampire. Still no answer on how, but they weren't exactly looking anymore anyways. It wasn't like it was horrible. He was used to it and it didn't affect him much. Both vampires were just so used to their ways that it felt like there had never been a "before".

The next day, Shoto saw them off at the campus, Inko having driven all of them. He would be waiting for them, no matter how long it took. "Good luck," Shoto said. "You'll pass."

"Hell yeah, I will," Bakugo said, and crossed his arms.

"Oh! It's you guys!" a familiar female voice shouted. They turned around to see Uraraka Ochako. "I can't believe the coincidence!" she exclaimed happily, hurrying over. "Are you guys all trying to get into the hero course?!"

"Shoto already got accepted through recommendation, but we're both trying for the hero course. I'm sorry we never kept in contact! My phone shattered and I lost everything on it," Izuku said, seeming flustered. Bakugo huffed and started to walk inside. Izuku went after him, Uraraka walking with them.

He gave one more wave to his best friend, planning on coming back out to tell him they did well. Kacchan seemed to really dislike Uraraka, but maybe he just wasn't used to people being friendly with each other besides the three of them. And Shoto was not coming with them for once, it was someone else.

"What's your quirk? We never got to talk about it before," she said in a bright voice, seeming really happy to see him. A familiar face. Izuku said he was strong.

"Not the most interesting, but my physical capabilities are above average."

"'Above average'? Seriously?" Bakugo barked. Izuku flushed a bit. "This bitch could stomp you into paste." Uraraka was shocked by the statement, and calling Izuku a bitch. Though Bakugo called people bitch no matter who they were or how he was related to them. And he thought that statement was unnecessary. "I can blow shit up. What about you?"

"It's not the best for fighting, but I can take away an object or person's gravity."

"Can you fly?" Izuku asked in awe, wishing he had his notebook. Oh, he couldn't wait to see so many interesting and strong quirks! They had to be good to make it into UA's hero course after all! Uraraka said she could float. "Wow! You can do it to everything?" She nodded, looking bashful.

"So can the other guy use ice? I saw it out of the corner of my eye when we were running! And you both knew the villains were coming!"

"That 'other guy' is Himura Shoto," Bakugo snapped. "And anybody could have heard that stuff." He was covering for them, but being rude all the same. No, this was Kacchan's personality, just not around the other two in private. Yeah, Izuku had a rude best frined. But that was just him, so he couldn't scold him without being annoying. It would be pointless and not worth it.

"Oh, okay. And you are?" she asked.

"Bakugo Katsuki," he replied.

Izuku took in the surroundings while they walked. UA was really big, Shoto already told them, but he was surprised by just how huge the main building was up close. He'd seen it on photos promoting the school, or what was sent to applicants. But in person, it was daunting, truly. They followed arrows inside, and entered a massive room with countless seats. Hundreds. The three of them headed to desks near each other.

Right now, Izuku was a human, which was lucky. He wouldn't die from the sun. Well, be given away and permanently burnt. He never wanted to have the burn Shoto had on his arm. It would never go away.

He put his backpack on the back of his seat, and they were silent. Izuku looked over at Uraraka, and she looked very nervous. Though Izuku was, too. Bakugo had his note cards out and was sifting through them rapidly, eyes flicking quickly. Wanting a refresher. He was nervous, too, that he'd fail before he could even begin.

Of course they wouldn't know their scores on the written test for a week or so. Once everyone was in, the room hot and smelling of many people, a ton of them sweating in nervousness, lots murmuring under their breaths. He could already hear crying. It wasn't a good atmosphere to make him feel confident. Shoto was waiting for them to win out there. He wouldn't disappoint either of them, and counted on Kacchan doing well, too. It was all of them or none of them.

The test was handed out, and Izuku looked over all the questions before trying to answer. He was startled that they had nothing to do with book smarts. Everything they studied was for nothing, of course! The school already knew what kinds of students they were from their student records! And this was for the hero course, so they were hero related questions!

He answered as best as he could, using both common sense and observations he'd made over the years of heroes and himself. It took everyone a good three hours, and Kacchan finished before him. Shoto was lucky he went in through recommendations. Less stressful. When he did finish, he looked over everything many times.

How would Shoto have done here? He was smarter than both Izuku and Bakugo. Well, he'd never know. He turned the packet of paper over, and fidgeted on the wristband he had that Shoto had gotten for him in exchange for the silly braid. It was sweet, and the band was All Might color themed.

If he made it in, he'd get to be taught by him! There was an obnoxious beep when it was over, and a chorus of sighs around the room. A few who had been silent finally broke into tears. Izuku felt good that he wasn't one of those that fell apart. He either knew what he was writing an answering, or he was numb and in denial.

When they got their backpacks, which had exercise clothes in it for the activity, they followed the arrows and got separated from Uraraka. The mob of students was too thick to find her through. His nerves took hold and he forgot about her fairly quickly as his thoughts raced a mile a minute. It was time. It was here, he had to actually use everything he'd trained for. All the months of training, it was for this moment.

"Chill. We'll do fine. No way will Shoto get in without us," Bakugo said gruffly. Izuku nodded, and they filed into a massive, packed auditorium. "Fuck it smells for me, must be terrible for you."

"It smells like sweat, yeah."

"And farts."

"Yeah…" They got cards before sitting down. Present Mic was their speaker, and he explained the practical exam.

"Usually, we have our listeners fight robots, but not this year!" Present Mic shouted. He didn't even need a microphone, he was loud even not using his sound based quirk. "It's a doomsday scenario!" Izuku's brows furrowed. "You'll need to make it through with your vests intact!" Some cheap vests were passed along each row. Izuku got one and passed the pile onto Kacchan and then those beyond him.

These vests were awful. They were thin, and cheap beyond belief. Easy to damage. "There will be enemies, of course! You'll need to make it to the end of the ten minute time limit without damaging your vest! There will be enemies inside waiting for you!" It sounded awful, Izuku would much rather be fighting robots, they'd be easier.

Even Kacchan wasn't positive about this, nervous as well. Looking at their cards, they were not in the same arena. Their first time of their hero journey not spent together. It was a kind of bittersweet moment. "Don't fucking lose," Bakugo muttered.

"You, too," Izuku said, and they went to their busses. He sat in the back, trying to calm down. Uraraka was there, too, but sat in the front of the bus, and closed her eyes, clearly trying to calm herself. Izuku had no sort of ritual, and he was starting to get very, very nervous. He would be fine, would heal from injuries, but he had this poorly made garment he couldn't have ruined. If he was Shoto, he'd be lucky to cover it in ice to protect.

When they got there, it was to a huge dome. Izuku could hear the chaotic noises from inside. There was a huge door, and he could even feel the cold wind coming out from beneath the large double doors. They were truly massive, too big to open for a normal person. He was about to go ask Uraraka if she wanted to team up, but he was grabbed by the shoulder.

A tall teen with glasses and a firm face. "That girl is calming herself. Do you want to ruin for somebody else?" Izuku was a bit confused by his severe tone of voice.

"Why would you think that?" Izuku asked awkwardly. He was losing his confident with his friends not there. No, he wasn't a quirkless "loser" any more. He wasn't helpless, and he was going to make it into UA no matter what.

"Because you were going to interrupt her cool down." Izuku didn't argue further, now discouraged from asking if she wanted to team up. It wasn't like they weren't allowed to. The doors opened, and they saw the mess inside. It really did look like a doomsday. There was somehow a storm going on in the inside even if the weather was perfectly fine outside.

They were entered in groups of ten, and taken by small busses to different areas to be spread out. Izuku was on the same group as the severe guy. He wanted to get away from him soon. Ah, he should have just gone to the familiar face and ignored him! But would he have been a bother to her? He didn't want to ruin her chances, too.

How was Kacchan doing?

When they were dropped off, Izuku stayed in the group before walking away, following his scent to a place high up. There were sounds of screams and weird snarls from everywhere. It echoed in the wind. The timer went off, and huge animals came over them. But they weren't real, he could tell. They had no heartbeats. They were machines.

They attacked, and he dodged, blowing them away with his air force or punching. Dodging was the best he could do as there were so many. But then they ganged up on him, he went punching and kicking, destroying them and hurrying along, now on his own and separated from others. The vest was whipping around from the wind, and he was very careful to not even touch the fabric.

More animals came, and then it started to hail. The UA technology was incredible! He would be in awe if he wasn't so worried and uncomfortable. He wondered how Uraraka was managing with her gravity quirk. She could always make herself float about and abode the machine animals.

Bigger beasts came out, and the timer in his head told him there were three minutes left. He had to make it three more minutes, and destroyed more animal machines. If he didn't already know, he'd have been worried they were real and he'd killed some. He came across the severe guy, and Izuku heard a familiar voice, as he was listening to everything that made noise, to be prepared. He found Uraraka under some machinery.

He hurried over and extremely carefully lifted it off of her. She looked exhausted and seemed to have thrown up. He didn't show that he saw this. When he had taken the machinery off, her vest was somehow not in tatters. "Now what?"

"One minute left," Izuku said, and more animals came. She turned some weightless and Izuku blasted some and kicked the smaller ones that came zooming under foot. Then the timer went off. "Is my vest okay?" he asked with a shaking voice.

"Yes! What about mine?" He checked it out and confirmed it was fine. "Yay!" she cheered. They headed to the entrance, the storm dissipating, the hail that covered the place fading away as if it were evaporating with no heat. They made it out, and Shoto saw so many were crying with vests that had tiny rips in them.

Severe guy was there, looking stern and tall. Very tall. He seemed intact and fine. Another guy, blonde with a relaxed posture and sure of himself look. Those were the only ones he could see that weren't crying. Uraraka was shaking, and one of her legs seemed injured. "Do you need help walking?" Izuku asked.

"No, don't touch me. I'm worried my vest will rip at the last moment." He understood, and then left, finding the injured were to the side, and were being healed by Recovery Girl. Izuku was glad she existed there. When he inevitably got hurt, he could claim it was her quirk that miraculously healed him.

Shoto said that she knew about his condition, meaning she'd also know about Izuku's. Many of the contestants were bleeding from bite wounds. The machines had the same features of large animals. He was glad he hadn't actually killed any living creatures. When they made it to what looked like a check out, his vest was inspected. He held his breath until he got the all clear, and was given a green badge.

His legs shook and he turned to jelly, to his knees, letting out deep breaths. He calmed himself down, and Uraraka flopped down beside him. "We did it… we made it," she sighed. "What do you think about Bakugo?"

"He made it. He's not careless with how he moves and uses his quirk," Izuku said. "I hope I passed the written test…" he muttered, as that was what all that was left to not let him attend. After everyone was fixed up, they made their ways to the bus. They sat down, and all of the crying teens were in the back of the bus. The four in that group that passed were in the font of the bus.

Izuku was exhausted mentally and emotionally, and fell asleep in his seat. The severe guy woke him up when they were there. "I saw you help her. What were you going to bother her with?"

"I was gonna ask if she wanted to team up. I wasn't going to bother her," Izuku said. He smelled Bakugo at the gate, waiting, and hurried over before the tall one said anything more. Uraraka trotted along, too. "Did you make it?" he asked Bakugo nervously. But he took the green badge out of his backpack.

"We're fuckin' hero students," he said smugly. "Now Shoto isn't so special."

Izuku grinned, and let out a relieved sigh. Kacchan looked at Uraraka like she was a pest. He said nothing, and walked inside. They collected their backpacks from the lockers where their normal clothes were. Izuku didn't bother changing. He was wet from the rain and hail. It really was amazing they could create a storm inside of a large area. Not natural, but seeming that way.

Artificial hail, so interesting!

When they made it to the entrance, Izuku ran and saw Shoto. "We made it!" Izuku shouted and hugged him, so happy. "We all get to stay together, now!" he said, tearing up. Shoto gave him a relieved smile. "It was so cool, but also really nerve wracking! I can't wait to go here and see all the interesting things we can do!"

"We're all hero students now. No way did I fail that written exam." Izuku agreed, he didn't think he failed. He couldn't help but assume he was accepted, but if he wasn't, that would be very painful.

"Did you pass?" Shoto asked Uraraka, of course seeming not interested at all. Maybe she saw it that way, as she frowned. But she nodded, and turned to Izuku without a word to Shoto. He wasn't bothered, and walked to Kacchan and helped him with his backpack strap that was twisted.

"Can we exchange numbers?" Uraraka asked. Izuku was exchanging numbers with a girl! He was talking to a girl that actually wanted to talk to him! Amazing! He exchanged numbers with her, and said, "Hope you made it in. Hope we all made it in."

"I did," Shoto stated.

"No way are you the only one getting in," Bakugo said, though he was smug, clearly thinking he'd be accepted. They were to get confirmation letters within a week. "Let's go get some ice cream or some shit."

"I'd rather have ice cream." Bakugo rolled his eyes.

"I'll message you what I got when it comes!" Uraraka said, and then waved goodbye before she went in the direction of her parents. Izuku was shocked he had the number of a girl!

Shoto looped his arm through his. "You made a new friend," he said with a light smile.

"Nobody will replace you guys, don't worry."

"Who else would I get blood from?" Izuku snorted, and they headed to get some ice cream, to the nearest place on the map. "Tell me about it," he said to his best friends. When it was explained, he admitted, "Sounds more interesting."

"But stressful," Izuku added.

"Intense," Kacchan offered. "Shoto, you'll have to tell our class you actually care. That girl clearly misunderstood your attitude."

"But I wasn't rude. I asked how she did," Shoto said in confusion.

"Yeah, but you looked like you didn't actually give a shit."

"Oh."

"Don't worry, we'll help explain. Maybe say you have some sort of affliction and the meds help with it. People would probably be nosier if it was having to do with a mental illness," Izuku explained. Shoto nodded, and all happily ate their ice cream, relieved.

-x- Shoto -x-

Sitting in Izuku's bedroom, the two non-recommended students held their envelopes. Shoto was nervous, hoping they made it, hoping they weren't wrong, and all this happiness of success was for nothing, and that something had gone wrong. It seemed to good to be true. They were about to find out if that feeling was accurate.

The letters had something hard in them, along with a paper. They'd inspected them like children would a Christmas present, feeling around it without opening. But now that they were all in the same place, Izuku and Bakugo both opened them at the same time. Shoto's hands were clasped together tightly, hoping beyond hope that they made it.

That something went right. That they got lucky, or maybe this would pay for the troubles they'd gone through. Both envelopes were holding projectors. They went off automatically once it was open, so there were two All Might recordings talking over each other. They had to wait for them to end so each could be listened to separately, but both of them had him, in near sync, congratulate them.

They made it! They all cheered. Well, Izuku and Bakugo did, loud and obnoxious. "We made it!" they cheered. They looked to Shoto, who was smiling, but had tears on his face. Both grew serious. Izuku wiped it away, and smiled reassuringly.

"Nobody is leaving anybody behind," he promised. Shoto nodded, and wiped under his eye and nose. "We're all going to be heroes!" Bakugo laughed brightly, and it was just a wonderful moment, because now Shoto didn't need to worry about being separated. He wanted these two in his life for the rest of it, however long that was.

His two best friends were meant to be in his life, to accept him. What would he do without them? And what would it be like to have more friends? He was scared they'd be found out, but knew they'd always have each others backs.

"Time to design costumes!" Bakugo announced. "I finally actually got one down that I like!" he bragged. "Only took me a few fucking years," he added flippantly. Izuku had his own idea, and Shoto had none. "All this time and you came up with nothing?"

"I didn't really have much hope I'd make it in. I didn't want to make one without knowing you two would make it, too." Now they worked to make him one. He didn't want anything flashy, but needed it covering his whole body. He really wouldn't want a body suit, but something tighter fitting was fine.

As well as strong fabric so it didn't rip and expose his skin to the sunlight. He didn't really want a helmet, and was always fine with sunscreen on his face. It ended up being blue and white with boots. Long sleeve with tight gloves with the palms bare so he could use his quirk better. He wasn't good at it coming through clothes still. At least not the right clothes.

Keeping most of his hand that faced the sun covered was good enough. He also would have gaps in the soles of his shoes for the ice to get out. He had a belt that had little pockets and pouches. He'd put blood powder in those, like energizers. Again, Izuku was jealous he couldn't get blood powder. And Shoto did feel for him, as it was much more convenient, but he had to drink considerably less, so the permanent vampire saw him as the lucky one.

Izuku got a text while Shoto was coloring in the page. It was simple, unlike Bakugo's who had modifications on the gauntlets to work with his quirk. Izuku and Shoto's designs were more simple. "Uraraka-san was accepted," he said brightly. "There was this guy who accused me of trying to ruin her chances by asking if she wanted to team up."

"Idiot."

"He might have just been stressed, but he was intimidating! Tall and grumpy seeming," Izuku explained. He texted back, fingers moving quickly. They were all good at responding quickly to one another. It wasn like they had other friends to text with, though. Well, now Izuku did. "What were the weirdest quirks you saw, Kacchan?"

Shoto had seen some weird ones and voiced his. "A guy made of wood planks came."

"Hah! I got you beat. One guy had three heads, and they were all arguing with each other," Bakugo cackled.

"He'd never be alone," Shoto stated.

"Not in a good way!" he laughed. "What about you?"

"I was too nervous, I didn't really pay attention, to be honest," he admitted. "Weren't you nervous?" Shoto asked.

"Not really. The only thought in my head was to pass. It wasn't like I could mess up when that was the only option. You got through with the least issue, dick," he said to Shoto, who shrugged. "Though getting recommended after using it to save a bunch of people should be expected and all," he added. "When's your meeting? Now that you've been accepted and all," he asked Izuku.

"I think they'll tell me in a few days. We still have a couple weeks until graduation, and the break." They nodded, and Shoto was truly content. But nervous. "Do you think we'll make new friends?"

They were all quiet for a moment before Shoto said, "I won't tell anyone else, about my stuff. You'll always be my most important friends. No matter what." Bakugo had this soft, tiny smile on, his face relaxed completely.

"I always pictured going into this alone," he said, with Izuku nodded in agreement, having felt the same. "I won't tell anybody your secrets, so I expect you won't tell mine. Not that any are more important than fucking vampires and murder." He said the last part very quietly.

Izuku said, "Your secrets are just as valid. But we won't tell a soul anything you've said that is anything important." Bakugo scoffed, and said everything he said was important. Izuku chuckled and Shoto smiled. He was so happy, and hoped hero school was fun and interesting. And that he wasn't found out, that Izuku wasn't found out.

Well, the adults that mattered to them would know, but nobody else. Kids were not as respectful about it, clearly. Unless you save their lives and all.

Bakugo was the first to leave, and it left Izuku and Shoto the only ones in the apartment, as Inko was running errands. "Want to do it now?" Shoto nodded, and shuffled over. He gently massaged the spot, right between his neck and shoulder, but low enough to be under his shirt collar. He pulled his sleeve to the side so no blood got on it.

"You know, we could just make a small cut, if biting hurts…" Shoto said, his mouth watering. Izuku replied he had no problem with it.

"Hurry, before you drool all over the carpet," he teased. Shoto turned pink a bit, but bit down. He knew exactly the speed to drink so it both lasted longer and was less painful. Izuku didn't really make a reaction, the room silent but for the wonderful sounds of blood rushing into his mouth and through his body.

He was keeping count, so he pulled away just before Izuku was to tell him to stop. He got the tissue and dabbed on the wound, stopping the blood. The bites were never very deep. Only a few teeth punctured the skin. If he hadn't sanded down his fangs, that would be easier to bite with, but neither regretted him getting rid of them.

"You know me so well! I was about to tell you."

"I know your body well," Shoto said. Izuku rose his brows. "I can tell you and Bakugo's body temperature. I can smell when you're human or vampire. I can recognize your distinct heartbeats, your breathing pattern, how much you sweat when running or walking."

"Whoa, I never noticed that from anyone!" Izuku said in awe.

Shoto said, "Just because I'm quiet doesn't mean I'm distant from what's going on." He gave a small shrug. "I can also tell when you are thirsty. It makes a noise where the breath going down your throat sounds a tiny bit more nasally."

"That's amazing, Shoto," Izuku told him sincerely. Shoto gave a small smile. Being praised for things only he could do was a really good feeling.

"You won't find other friends and forget us, right?" he asked, unable to stop himself. He wished he hadn't exposed the insecurity, though.

But his friend smiled at him even more warmly. "I'll never forget or leave you both behind. I know Kacchan feels the same. You're my best friends, but also family. I love you guys, the best friends I could ask for."

Shoto smiled a little wider in relief.

"You're the catalyst, though." Shoto looked questioning. "You brought me and Kacchan together. He was being better and all after the vaprism, but it was you that made us connect again. I think you don't think you're important, but you really are! I would still be all alone if I hadn't met you."

Wiping his eye, Shoto nodded. "Thanks," he mumbled.

"Anytime. I'll tell you that if you ever feel unimportant."

"I know someday it'll end, though. I'm just enjoying it while it lasts."

"I'll show you that's not the truth. Promise," Izuku replied brightly. He knew Shoto enough to not try to convince him, he'd need to how it for it really to be believed. It was a nice conversation, and by the end, the bite mark was gone, and the blood replenished. Shoto wiped his mouth with a tissue and then washed it out in the bathroom sink before returning to the bedroom to help Izuku plan what he was to say at the meeting, whenever that would come.

-x- Izuku -x-

"I'll wait outside for you," Shoto said, giving Izuku a squeeze on the shoulder. "They're nice." He nodded, and he and his mother walked into the meeting room. Izuku knew that his vampire friend would be able to hear it all, which he wasn't bothered by. If it went badly, then he wouldn't need to reexplain what happened.

The heroes were indeed all there, those that Shoto had told him. He was so excited to meet them! And All Might was there, too! He was so tall, so buff. More than Endeavor was, but he wasn't grumpy looking at all. Izuku sat down next to his mother. The room still smelled like Shoto after all this time, his unique vampire scent.

"It's nice to meet you both," Nezu said. He was on Eraserhead's shoulder, smiling brightly. Izuku wondered more about his quirk, and if his body was compatible with his human mind. So interesting! He bowed and replied the same. "We've never had two vampires in the same school year before," he said brightly.

"Shoto-kun told us about you." Izuku knew this.

"He was happy with how everyone reacted. Though you going through his records did make him uneasy," Izuku said nervously.

"I can understand why. Though you have no known incident like his, we still need to speak to you as someone who needs accommodations. First, how much blood a day do you need?" Nezu asked. Izuku gave his answer. "Is it liquid or blood powder?"

"Liquid. But sometimes Shoto shares the blood powder with me. Since I only need three or so bottles a day, it's easier to just use straight blood," he explained. "But there's something nobody knows, so I think I should tell you just so you aren't surprised." This got everyone's attention. "Please don't tell anybody else about this. It's… sensitive information."

Eraserhead said, "We won't tell anybody outside of this room. You have our word."

"Right now, I'm in a human body. Every nine days, I change. So, for nine days my body will be that of a vampire, and the next nine will be a human. As a human, I still have all of the vampire traits, besides needing blood. The sun still gives me burns, but more like nasty human sunburns. Not the kind that will permanently scar or kill me.

"I can still heal, have the sensitive senses, and the super strength." They seemed skeptical, and asked if it was possible. Izuku nodded. He took his finger, and with his right hand, snapped it in half. He didn't make a sound, but the bone righted itself.

"Okay, both of you need to stop hurting yourselves to prove a point," Present Mic said firmly. That's right, Shoto proved his equipment worked by activating it. Izuku turned a bit pink in the face. All Might spoke.

"Are you quirkless, Young Midoriya?" Izuku nodded. "Young Shoto spoke of you, when we first met. After asking for help, he asked me if his 'kind of sort of vampire' friend, who was quirkless could still be a hero." Izuku gave a warm smile. "I told him yes. And here you are."

"It's really okay, that I'm quirkless?"

"You already pass your vampire traits as a quirk, right?" Nezu asked. Izuku nodded. "I see no issue. There's no actual, written in stone requirement for what makes a hero. Does Shoto-kun not use his strength?" he wondered. Izuku liked them all, and knew his conversation was a billion times lighter than the grim one Shoto had.

Izuku said, "He does, but doesn't emphasize it. And mine is stronger. Stronger than any vampires I knew, his foster family said so." Looking down at his hands, he said, "I've mastered control by now. At first I kept breaking things. But I've got it down, now," he said brightly.

Midnight asked, "How do you know when you've changed into a human or vampire?"

"The constant thirst in the very back of my mind goes away or comes back. I never needed the kind of devices Shoto still keeps, I was in and out of rehab in the normal six weeks. So I have fine control around blood. Shoto does, too, but still feels safer and more comfortable in his stuff."

"I heavily dislike those devices. They are inhumane and cruel," Eraserhead said, giving All Might a nasty look. Izuku mad no comment. The teacher hero then turned back to look at the incoming student. "I'll be both of your homeroom teacher. Along with Bakugo Katsuki, who Shoto mentioned before. I will keep both of your secrets, and cover for you if needed. I will lie to your classmates if necessary."

Izuku gave a small smile, and nodded. Nezu said, "Welcome to UA, Midoriya-kun." Izuku beamed, and kept the tears in. "You've already sent in your suit desires. We'll keep sunblock on campus for you, the strongest we can find."

"Are we the first vampires here? To come to UA?"

"Oh, of course not," Nezu replied. "There are plenty of heroes that nobody knows are vampires. So, it's rare and a minority to have vampires, but you are not the only ones. For this next year, you two are the only in the school, however. But that information stays private besides those who will interact with you personally."

He was glad for this. He and Shoto weren't the only ones, they weren't bothersome. He bowed in thanks. "We'll see you and Shoto on the first day of school," Eraserhead said. Izuku nodded, and bowed before walking out. Shoto was smiling.

"Told you they were nice," he said. Inko came out, and the door closed, her letting out a deep breath.

"You're attending UA, honey. Your dream came true," she said, tearful. Izuku took her hand, and Shoto's. "All three of you will make great heroes. And you'll all be in the same class! That's very lucky." The two teens nodded. Izuku was pleased that he wasn't asked too much about the fact he was half vampire and half human, because he simply had no answers, couldn't explain why it happened to him, or if it would ever change.

Shoto said, "What did you do that Eraserhead got upset with?"

"Oh, I proved I still had my healing power by snapping my finger in half."

"Better than electrocuting yourself," Shoto mused. "I only did it so they knew it worked. They all have the possibility to activate it, but based on Eraserhead's response, he probably won't ever."

"They all seem so understanding! And I'm really touched, how you brought me up when meeting All Might. Why did you never tell me?"

"I didn't think you'd like the answer. It was a sort of yes, but said it would be super hard. So I didn't want to discourage you."

"Oh, yeah, that was before I got my super powers." Shoto nodded. Inko let them talk, staying silent just to listen. After they got to the car, the three went to the donut shop and got a few donuts. When they got home, Izuku called Kacchan to give him the scoop. He was very happy that they were all in the same class.

"Bet the teachers will be shocked with how not goody-goody I am, hah!"

"Probably! Shoto is definitely not similar to you. But we'll stay friends. And we all proved to be smart. Passed the exams and everything!" Shoto was smiling on his bed, the content tilt of his lips showing how good he was feeling. Everything was going right so far.