Chapter Eight: Love Turns Into Jealousy (REDUX)

Izuku and Kyouka spent the next week and a half training their quirks to the utmost limit. However, Izuku could never figure out how to use One For All like he had before, it had seemed that now every time he tried to use it he was breaking a limb.

Luckily All Might had connections to recovery girl, the youthful hero, so Izuku could continue to practice his quirk so that he wouldn't die of bone fractures. The pain persisted, however, and Izuki was slowly becoming more and more frustrated with the lack of proper quirk usage he was suffering from.

Jirou however had focused on strengthening her jacks physically, and expanding the surfaces that she could port them into. She was also trying to learn of a way to incorporate them into her hand to hand combat, with a lot of creative input from Izuku.

"This has got to be the hardest quirk to master!" Izuku said, flopping down on the sand of Municipal Beach. His muscles were sore, and his lungs couldn't keep up with his exercises. The frustration is shown with a groan from the depths of his heart.

Kyouka giggled at his form. He had been trying to use the quirk consistently for a short amount of time, but he wasn't making any sort of progress. The anger must have built up.

"Well you're breaking your bones when you try to use it. Have you tried not using it in just one part of your body? Maybe that'll evenly distribute the power." She suggested, unknowingly giving a cheat code into plot development.

Izuku shot up and looked at Kyouka with wide eyes. "KYOUKA YOU'RE A GENIUS!" He shouted, bringing himself to his feet. He got into his fighting stance, and poured One For All throughout his body. The red marks of his quirk appeared all across his body, it even began to seem like he was glowing himself.

The red streaks went away and Izuku stood at attention as green lightning surged around him. He tried to take a step forward and flinched, before being brought down to his knees, an aching pain striking every muscle in his body.

"AGH!" He yelped in pain. Kyouka quickly rushed to his side, in a panic. His body quaked with the spasms of muscle pain, breathing heavily as his eyes shot open, thriving too much to be able to even blink.

"Izuku!" She called, as she knelt beside him. He groaned as the pain began to subside, his muscles screaming in soreness, yet he couldn't help but chuckle.

"I-I guess I still need to practice a bit…" He said,blinking slowly as he slowly began to stretch and bring himself back to his feet. Kyouka pouted and punched him in the back of the head, watching as he began to thrive in even more pain.

"Dumbass!" She shouted, ready to strike him again. Kyouka then heard a voice clearing their throat, but she already knew who it was. All Might must have returned from whatever business he had going on.

"Y-Yes you certainly do need to train a bit more. I think your body needs time to accumulate the power. Maybe start smaller? You're trying to take in all the power of One For All at once, which could easily harm you in unimaginable ways." All Might suggested from behind the two teens.

Izuku stood shakily at attention and nodded. "Yes, sir!"

"I don't think I'm ready for this." Izuku stated, as the two future heroes stood in front of the massive school building before them. The boy's nerves had definitely started to hit him, and seeing the actual campus he wanted to get into was definitely frightening.

"You really gonna get cold feet now?" Kyouka asked, while she too was feeling nervous from actually being here to take the exam. She just wasn't going to let that stop her because she had Izuku here with her.

"K-Kyouka t-this is a bad idea I-I shouldn't be here- I-I-'' Izuku sputtered out, starting to go into full panic mode. Kyouka sighed and slapped both of his cheeks. Locking eyes with Kyouka gave the boy a fierce look, sending a very clear message. It was too late to turn back now.

"We've got this, Izu." She said, a small blush adorning her face at their proximity. Izuku placed one of his hands on hers, and held onto it. He smiled. Kyouka was good at knocking him out of his senselessness. This was his only chance to do what he could've only dreamed of a few months ago.

"Right. Let's do this!" He exclaimed, taking a step forward. Unluckily for him he tripped, and a course for the ground seemed inevitable. He took back everything he just said.

'I'm such a damn failure!' He screamed at himself as he neared the ground. He flinched, but the impact never came. Upon opening his eyes he realized that he was hovering a few inches above the ground. What the hell?

"I used my quirk on you to stop you from falling." He heard a girl's voice say. It seemed rather cheerful, and bubbly, so it definitely wasn't Kyouka. "I hope you don't mind!"

Kyouka and Izuku simultaneously turned their heads to the girl. Kyouka with a bit of annoyance, and Izuku with eyes of bewilderment. What was her quirk!? The brunette reached for the boy, but Kyouka quickly set him upright on his feet before she could grab him.

"Release." She said, touching her fingertips together. Izuku's feet were planted on the ground once more and he looked amazed. An anti gravity quirk! That's so cool!

"Welp, can't be late for the test! See you guys!" She said, running off ahead of them. Kyouka looked at Izuku and his eyes were dead set on the brunette. She began to feel a bit of tightness around her chest, but she shrugged it off. It was nothing, right?

"What do you think her quirk was?" He questioned pulling out his notebook. Kyouka just snatched it from him, and started walking ahead of the boy. It wasn't nothing, it bothered her. It bothered her a lot.

"Wh- Kyo, what's wrong?" He questioned as he jogged to catch up with her. She just continued to stomp away in an annoyed silence, leaving the greenette to question what he had done wrong.

Kyouka wasn't going to enjoy this test, was she?

Izuku and Kyouka had unfortunately sat right next to Katsuki Bakugou himself. Izuku had a panicked look on his face, as Kyouka simply glared at the ash blonde hot-head. Though he instinctively seemed to ignore them for the most part.

"I know I'm god-like but quite starin' ears." He said, not even glancing at the girl. The girl grew even angrier at the boy, but Izuku's hand atop her own brought her out of it. Seems he wasn't as good at ignoring them then they had originally thought. Kyouka sighed and slumped in her seat, placing her attention at the podium. It was then that Present Mic himself walked out on stage, ready to blow out a few students eardrums.

"HELLO LISTENERS!" He shouted, causing Kyouka to flinch and cover her ears. Izuku's grip on her hand tightened. He knew that her hearing was quite sensitive so Present Mic was definitely not a good hero for her to be around like this.

"We're going to get down to it now that you young listeners have taken the written exam!" He exclaimed pressing a button on a remote, bringing a screen down.

"First thing's first, young listeners!" He started. "You will be facing robots for the practical exam, the more robots you destroy the more points you get! There are four kinds of robots in total, the one-pointers, two-pointers, and three-pointers!"

There was murmuring heard between the students before a tall boy with glasses decided to speak up, raising his arm up to gain the attention of Present Mic.

"Sir! Excuse my interruption but you claimed there to be four kinds of targets and you only listed three! What about the fourth target?" He questioned. The boy's hand then pointed towards Izuku, who jumped in surprise as the attention was now on him, "And this boy has been muttering the entire time! If you're not going to take this exam seriously then you can never hope to be a hero! Shape up or leave!"

Izuku flinches and starts to shake in fear, Kyouka however becomes enraged. "Oi, why don't you mind your own business four-eyes!" She shouted, glaring at the bluenette. The boy flinched at the girl's attitude, but before he could make a rebuttal, Present Mic screeched out into the crowd making everyone cover their ears.

"Now that that's been taken care of… You're right the fourth robot is a surprise. It's a zero-pointer, if you see it you should steer clear of it." He stated, ominously. The students shaking in fear at what he could mean by steering clear of them.

"Now get to your assigned test areas, and good luck little listeners."

Unfortunately Izuku and Kyouka were split into two different test groups. Kyouka looked over to the Bakugou who conveniently got grouped up with her. She sighed, knowing that she definitely had some real competition for this test.

On Izuku's end however he had that four-eyed jerk from before, and conveniently the girl who had saved him from falling earlier! Maybe now he would have the chance to thank her, and maybe ask about her quirk! As he started to head over, the tall boy with glasses stood before him, blocking his path.

"This test is very serious. If you're going to distract others then you have no right to take it." He stated firmly. Izuku sighed, but nodded.

'I'll show that jerk…' He thought to himself. Izuku stretched his muscles and braced himself. His face showed pure determination. He needed to pass this.

"Oh yeah, I forgot to mention…" Present Mic's voice was heard over the intercom. "There is no countdown! In a real battle you'll have to rush out even if you're not prepared!" He declared, as a buzzer went off and the door to the testing sight opened.

Already there were many different robots present, and two people shot off to destroy them. Izuku Midoriya, and the tall boy with exhaust pipes in his calves. Izuku had taken out three robots at once before anyone could even fathom what had happened. Even the boy who had kept up with him was shocked.

Izuku had used only 3% of One For All, his muscles were tense, but he could keep going. He could move, and he'd definitely make sure that he'd win this thing for sure!

'Seven points!' He counted. Two three-pointers and a one-pointer. Then all the students rushed past both of them, rushing to get points for themselves.

Izuku rushed off to find more robots, but all around him everyone else was taking them. He ran to a different area where he saw the girl from before dropping robots with her quirk. A two-pointer snuck up behind her, he quickly launched over, punching the robot, and successfully breaking it.

'That makes nine!' He added to his count. He quickly rushed away, destroying many of the different robots, and ended up with 41 points in total. He had stopped to take a breath, his quirk was really taking a toll on him now, and he knew that using it more would definitely destroy his body.

He then heard a loud rumbling, and rapid footsteps coming his way. "It's the zero-pointer!" he heard someone call out. He looked over and sure enough the titan of a robot was there, rolling towards them.

'Shit! I've got to run!' He shouted at himself mentally. As he started to run off, he heard a quiet voice. A near silent cry for help that someone like Kyouka could've been the only one to hear.

"Someone… Help…" She tried to call out, weakened from her quirk and was trapped under the rubble. She could barely keep herself together, and she feared for her safety.

Without a moment's notice, he ran forward towards the zero-pointer. The tall boy from before caught sight of him. Izuku couldn't think of anything other than saving the person in danger, as he reached the foot of the robot he leaped into the air, breaking his legs in the process.

The boy reached his fist back, and remembered the words All Might had said to him when using his quirk. The words that would strangely enough fill the greenette with enough determination to destroy his own body for the greater good.

"…So clench your buttcheeks kid, and yell this from the depths of your heart!"

"SMAAAAAAAAASH!" He screamed out, as he punched the robot with everything that he had. The bones in his arm shattered with the mere impact of the punch.

The robot falls to the ground, and everyone in the testing area is shocked. The sound of the punch travels even to Kyouka's testing area, she shrugged it off, hoping that Izuku didn't go all out or something. He could've gotten seriously hurt if he did.

Kyouka had been doing quite well in her testing area, amassing 22 points in the exam, however the constant explosions from Bakugou had left her feeling like she was deaf. She even had her own run in with the zero-pointer. "Holy shit that thing is massive!" She heard someone exclaim. She turned around to see the massive robot, and everyone fleeing.

Luckily Bakugou was nowhere in sight, maybe she could get away with this…

She darted towards the massive zero-pointer and plugged both of her jacks into it. She started to think of a certain someone to make her heart race, and pumped her heartbeat into the robot. Her main goal was to disrupt the electronics with the vibrations of her heartbeat, in hopes to stop the machine entirely.

"Vibration disruptor!" She yelled out, and the electrical components of the robot started to malfunction causing the robot to shut off. Her eyes widened in shock.

"I…" She started staring up at the robot's deactivated form. "I DID IT!"

She smiled, maybe now she'd actually be able to keep up with that overpowered cabbage patch! Unfortunately for her, a certain blonde saw all of what had transpired and he was enraged.

The test ended, with Izuku being saved by the brunette once again. Recovery girl came around and healed everyone, and as she healed Izuku's injuries he passed out.

Kyouka suddenly received a text from All Might telling her that Izuku would be in the nurse's office. She swiftly was encased in rage, and stomped all the way to the Recovery Girl's office. Recovery girl had been typing away at her computer when the door to her office slammed open and there was Kyouka Jirou. About time she showed up.

"I was wondering when you'd show up." She stated, sighing. She turned her attention to the girl who had burst through the doors and gestured to the greenettes bed. "Yeah, he did it again. Saved some poor girl who was trapped under the rubble this time though."

Both women walked up to the bed as he laid there unconscious. Recovery girl sighs, and heads for the door. She had a few things to take care of, so she could leave her with the greenette, right?

"Wait for him if you must, I'm going to run an errand, dearie." She said, as she left. Kyouka turned to the boy, and it was now a tradition for her that whenever he got knocked out because of recovery girl she'd play with his face.

This tradition first started when she decided to draw on his face as a prank. Due to his complaints she now had his permission to play with his face as long as she promised not to draw on it again. Of course she was definitely tempted.

The girl cracked her knuckles and poked his cheek. She nearly squealed at how soft his face was, he even had a bit of baby fat leftover on his face. The girl suddenly had an idea that made her blush like mad. But honestly in a situation like this, she really could get away with it…

She stared at his sleeping form, and whispered his name. No response. She took a deep breath and went for it; she kissed him on the cheek. Kyouka covered her face in her hands as it began to heat up, what was she thinking!?

'Why did I do that!?' She screamed internally. Thank god that Izuku hadn't been awake for that or she would've died of embarrassment! Hell, he would have as well.

"Kyo?" She heard Izuku's tired voice call. She turns to see him sitting up and rubbing his eyes, and froze. He didn't know about any of what she just did, did he?

"A-Ah, y-you're awake." She says, slapping him on the back of his head. Best way to keep him from figuring it out; blunt trauma. "Dumbass! Look where being heroic got you! Recovery girl can't keep doting on you, be careful!"

He flinches at the sudden loud noise, and rubs the spot she had hit him. Seriously this girl was too much sometimes, but he couldn't go without her presence for more than a few minutes at a time.

"I-If I didn't, someone c-could've lost their life, Kyouka. I-I had to and you know that." He states firmly. Kyouka sigh's, and just shakes her head at the boy. He stands up on his feet and pats her on the head.

"T-To make up for it, h-how about we get some food? My treat." He offered. Kyouka smirked at this and just grabbed his hand off of her head, Izuku then realized that he might have just agreed to something he shouldn't have.

"Fine, I'll take you up on that. I'm feelin' ramen, is that okay?" She suggests and he simply nods as they walk out of recovery girl's office. Izuku looks down and notices that Kyouka hadn't let go of his hand, perhaps she didn't notice but it left the boy with a red face. He would've said something if not for his own desire not to let go. He clenches her small hand in his and they head off to get ramen, sort of comfort coming along with their journey to the ramen shop.

Although Kyouka felt a pang of jealousy when he talked to that girl from before, she definitely felt at ease at the fact she was the one to be here with him now. Talking and laughing like friends should, and with no real interruptions.

Yeah, nothing could beat this.

"So how do you think you did? I'm not even sure if I passed if I'm being honest." She said, as the two waited for their respective meals. She had only received about 22 points, so passing the exam didn't really seem likely, although only time would tell.

"W-Well, I think I did fine. I got around 41 points before destroying the zero-pointer." He said, flexing his arm at the memory. He was glad that the soreness was gone, but having to break his arm for something like that just didn't cut it. He still needed to improve.

Kyouka threateningly points her jack at his face. "If you do something like that again, I'll make it hurt worse than you breaking a bone." Izuku puts his hands up in defense and nods. He didn't need to be a victim of another assault.

"Well, I got around 20 points or something so I might be fine? If battle points are all that's valued on the exam then it's just rigged." She pouts, as Izuku stifles a laugh at her annoyed expression. He could feel deep down that she had passed, but her pouting due to the scoring was pretty adorable.

"I-I just hope they pass me even though I kinda, y'know… Broke my bones." He thinks aloud, actually not mumbling for once. "But I'm sure we passed! We trained hard for this!"

His determination really brought a smile to her face. She lightly poked his side and made him jump. Seemed she really wasn't going to forget about him being ticklish.

"You're somehow the most optimistic person I know, you know that?" She said, laughing at his playful glare. The two soon after get their food and spend the rest of their time together talking about what happened during their respective tests, and oddly enough Izuku had been receiving a few stares as they talked.

As they left, Izuku had stood firm in his decision to walk her home from now on, swearing never to let an incident like before to happen ever again. He was going to make sure that Kyouka remained safe regardless, and if getting stronger was the way to do it, then he'd get as strong as he'd need to be.

"Well, I'll see you for training tomorrow." He said as they reached her doorstep. Kyouka turns to the boy, and stares at him, noticing something on his face. Her face went pale. It was HER lipstick mark on the boy's cheek! Fuck, she knew she shouldn't have done that! Has he been walking around like that the entire time and they hadn't noticed!?

"U-Um.. Wait, you kinda have s-something on your face…" She said, pointing to his cheek. He casually wipes it with his sleeve, and smears it. God damnit, why did this have to happen..?

"A-Ah! No! Y-You're making it worse, idiot, let me!" She beckons him towards her. She pulls out a handkerchief and wipes the boy's cheek clean.

'Come to think of it, this is the first time I've touched his face while he was awake…' She notes mentally, as she runs her thumb across his cheek. Izuku blushes deeply, and clears his throat. Kyouka swiftly pulls away.

"S-Sorry… Um, I'll be seeing you. M-Maybe tomorrow we can practice your guitar skills after training." She suggests, backing away towards her door. Izuku hums in approval and the two separate for the day.

Izuku rubs his hand over the cheek she had essentially just caressed and smiled with a deep blush on his face. The feeling of her hand on his face lingered and he sighed in bliss.

'Her hands are so soft…'

Bingo Bongo, that's the next REDUX chapter!

This chapter sees a few changes between Izuku and Kyouka, per the norm.

Sadly, I really couldn't get rid of the lipstick scene, I love it way too much, I'm sorry.

Anyways, hope y'all enjoy!

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