Chapter 7

Hatchlings

"A-Are you sure I should do this, sir?"

"Of course, my boy!" Toshinori chuckles as he accompanies Izuku by train to a neighboring town. "Cleaning the beach for your training has gone quickly and smoothly thanks to the augments your quirk already provides. It's been more efficient than I could have dreamed! But, that means we need to fill the gaps in your training with some more practical skills." He passes Izuku a bottle of water. "Personally, I've never been the most skilled combatant, much more focused on brute strength, up until my injury. Your style on the other hand, as analytical and quick-witted as you are, would be best applied to proper martial arts! The dojo I'm taking you to is owned and run by a retired hero who specialized in it. His quirk, Muscle Memory, helped him adapt to new techniques with excessive ease. There won't be a martial arts master like him again any time soon, but with his dojo training you, you'll be in fine shape for combat in short order."

"Muscle Memory…" Izuku pauses, and as it clicks, he raises his head in shock. "We're going to Hiroshi-sensei's Toso Kune Do classes?! B-but- how am I gonna afford that?!"

Toshinori breaks into laughter, only to be cut off by a quick spurt of blood. As he pulls out a handkerchief to clean it, he pats Izuku's shoulder to calm him and explain. "He was a friend of Gran and my master's, and although he's not in on the secret, a call from Gran and from 'All Might's secretary' got it covered. Remember, Midoriya-shonen. I may not be working much now, but I've still got merchandise sales that make the Treasury jealous."

Izuku blanches for a moment as that kicks in. "… T-These classes are just a drop in the bucket to you, a-aren't they?"

"They most certainly are. Although he also provides discounts for students he sees particular promise in, so it may be less than half a drop soon! All depends on how quickly he comes to like you."

"Well…" Izuku takes a breath to calm himself. "… I won't let you down, sir." He pauses and looks down to his hands. "You know… this... really does seem like a perfect match, when I think on it." He clenches his fist. "The way my quirk looks, and works... it's just like the Henshin hero shows from the era before quirks. And Horoshi's dojo teaches a style invented by an American actor for one of the best, Jason David Frank. His work in the American version of the Super Sentai series is legendary, and he invented that style on the set. And Horoshi Yamada… a descendant of Horoshi Maeda, the greatest stunt doubles for Super Sentai. It all came together perfectly, and now… someone with a quirk just like their shows is going to learn what they passed down."

Toshinori's grin stretches wider. "Those shows are classics, and exemplary of what it means to be a true hero. It's a bold and meaningful legacy to carry, Midoriya-shonen. That said, who would be your favorite among them all? I may not seem like much of a nerd, but…" He hums as he sits back. "Well… my American comic merchandise collection is actually quite massive."

Izuku's jaw drops for a moment, but he starts to laugh it off. "Y-You really have to show me that sometime! Please tell me you managed to get an actor's suit from an old set."

"I got Keaton's Batman suit in an airlocked case." He chuckles and grins like a madman. "But back on topic, who would be your favorite henshin hero of the old age?"

Izuku grins and tilts his head back, knowing the answer all too well already. "Kamen Rider Build. He was a genius with versatility like no other! H-Honestly, I… I see a lot of the best parts of myself in him. I just kinda relate to him..."

Toshinori nods. "He's an excellent example. Some Riders were bumbling fools that stumbled into greatness, but he made it for himself, proving pure skill, determination, and hard work to be the backbone of his identity as a hero. It's a fine choice, young man. And having seen much of the American version of Sentai, the Power Ranger series, myself… I'd say Jason David Frank's character Tommy Oliver is much the same, so your respect for him is just as fitting."

The remainder of the ride, to random people on their commute, is just a boy and an emaciated man nerding out about shows very in the modern age truly know or remember. To the, it's a discussion of ideals people have held for millennia and how they've carried into the reality of modern day.

The dojo's exterior really feels like an homage to Tokusatsu. The logo, dubbing it the "Green Dragon's Den", is backed by lit silhouettes of five posing heroes in helmeted costumes with horns. Behind them is a huge green dragon, coiled and glowing. Izuku shivers as he approaches, getting giddy enough to squeal through his nose.

"Pretty intimidating, huh?" Izuku's attention is drawn to a young man with crew-cut blonde hair, already wearing his gi and sporting a massive, muscular tail. "I know it freaked me out at first, but although Hiroshi-sensei's strict, he's quite kind to those who really put effort in."

"But he'll run you into the ground first." Izuku's whips around to his right to see a red head with a ponytail and slim figure, carrying sparring gloves clearly custom made with an expanding material. Growth quirks are common enough for him to spot that material from a mile away by now. "But hey, if ya don't have the guts for it, don't come, right?"

After a few moments, Izuku nods and steels himself. "Right! I'll master everything he throws at me!" He grins. "I-I'm Midoriya Izuku. I look forward to training with both of you!" He bows a bit too deeply and almost looses his balance.

The girl chuckles and slowly pulls him back up. "No need to be so formal. I'm sure you'll do great, with determination like that. I'm Itsuka Kendo. The stiff here is Mashirao Ojiro."

"Stiff?"

Kendo laughs it off. "So, what brings you here?"

"O-Oh, um.. I've already been training my quirk and strength up with another retired hero, and he thought it best a mind like mine be put towards a more skilled form of combat than their own. Can't really argue with his logic, but he kinda sprung it on me on the way here."

Kendo snorts. "Oh, you have that kind of sensei, huh? Yeah, seen that type. Can be fun, but…"

"An absolute mess when they spring something special on you." Izuku sighs deeply and hangs his head. "I respect the man more than anyone on this earth, but his teaching leaves a lot to be desired."

Ojiro pats his back. "Well, you'll find Hiroshi-sensei much... stricter, but more predictable."

Izuku nods and straightens himself out. "Right. Thanks, Ojiro."

"Before we go in, though…" Kendo points to the device strapped to Deku's shoulder. "Is that quirk support gear?"

"O-Oh, yeah!" Deku looks to his belt case and pops it open to reveal the capsules. "M-My quirk requires DNA samples in my bloodstream, s-so I got this made for safe and quick injections of clean samples donated by a few heroes. I-It was kind of a miracle I got my hands on some of these, e-especially Snipe's!"

Kendo steps back in shock. "Snipe?! Holy- why do you have a sample from him?!"

"Um.." He scratches his head as he closes the case. "My quirk lets me adapt others quirks into mine temporarily, so my mentor decided I needed to work with a wide range of impressive samples."

Kendo stammers, but slowly grins. "Oh, I have to see this! Thankfully, Hiroshi-sensei still has his quirk counseling license, so if we're in his dojo and permits it, we can use our quirks all we want!"

Izuku nods and jabs into his left hand. "Then this is exactly what I need." He huffs and finally starts marching in. The main chamber of the dojo is… massive. A huge series of mats for combat and basic exercises, a rock climbing wall, weight training area, tightropes and balance beams, bars and poles hanging from the ceiling, and much more.

In the middle of it all is a native Japanese man with voluminous black hair and a thick, but shapely beard down to his collarbone. He shifts through his stances, throwing random strikes at moments that seem inopportune at first, but quickly prove to cover many weak points. Unorthodox in method, practical in application. But then he suddenly changes stances entirely, going through quick leaping strikes, swinging his leg clean over his head and down in vicious axe kicks. He stops the fourth kick short and stops in a crane pose before transitioning into mantis and going for some low strikes as she sweeps back and forth. Eventually, he stops in a low seeping kick with his leg fully extended, then slowly rises to his feet. "Ojiro-kun, Kendo-chan, welcome. I see you've met our newest student." He turns and bows. "Welcome, Midoriya-kun."

Izuku bows deeply. "T-Thank you, Hiroshi-sensei! I-I look forward to working with you!"

He grins as he uprights himself. "A bit nervous, are you? I suppose that's alright. Now, Yagi-san mentioned your quirk is something quite unique, but said it's best I witness it myself. Are you prepared for a demonstration?"

Izuku nods and digs into his belt. "Hmm... no, that won't quite work. Too flashy. That one needs more equipment. Maybe?... Oh, that should work! Good thing he let me keep it…" Izuku picks out a yellow and white sample labeled with "GT" and quickly injects himself with it. He places the sample back in his belt and seals it up just as the suit bursts into place and seals around him. The larger shins his steam from his feet for a moment before his cape bursts from his shoulders and he takes to the air with Jet. He rockets around the room for a few moments, dodging through various pieces of exercise equipment and obstacles before stopping with a halting burst back in front of him and dropping to the ground.

Horoshi hums as his grin grows wider, and he almost laughs. "That's a sample from Gran, isn't it?"

Izuku nods, although his face is still hidden in his organic helmet, which actually keeps him calmer and reduces his anxiety. "He gave it to me personally. I suppose I'm not surprised you know each other! You seem like you'd get along swimmingly."

"That we did. He made one hell of a partner, the few times we worked together! Him, and that wonderful woman Nana. Though you'd be damned if you got between them in any way." He chuckles a bit. "And that young upstart they trained. Seeing how far her managed to get now…"

Izuku nods and smiles softly beneath his helmet. "He's still very proud of All Might. A-Although he does tend to beat on All Might a bit still…"

Ojiro stammers. "Wait, you're telling me All Might lets an old man kick him around?"

Horoshi barks out in laughter. "Indeed! He'd never raise a finger to Gran. He owes the man much, and respects him a great deal. And it's good to see you have proper reverence for your predecessors, no matter how old, Midoriya-san." He crosses his arms. "And if Gran is impressed with you, then you're already good in my books. So, let's get you fitted with a gi and we'll get this training properly started!"

"Right!" Izuku throws his fists in the air, but unconsciously activates Jet and blasts himself up into the tightrope, which slingshots him back down into a belly flop into the mats. "… Just… give me a moment."

Training that day does rather smoothly. Horoshi quickly notes how easily Izuku picks up new stances and moves, and his physique so far isn't something to scoff at. He's still far behind the rest, as new as he is, but he catches up at an impressive rate. Ojiro and Kendo meanwhile seemed to stick to him pretty quickly, pointing out flaws and helping him adapt them- and adapt he did. Every correction in his stances and strikes was memorized quickly and applied effectively. He would be sure to rise through the ranks quickly.

By the time it ended, Izuku was barely winded, when compared to the training he's already been through. But he learned a lot. And now, he's on his way out with Ojiro and Kendo in tow, leaving Horoshi with a grin on his face as his class leaves for the day. Once they're gone, he collects his phone from his office and makes a quick call.

"Horoshi." Gran answers. "Quite the surprise. Let me guess… Midoriya impressed you, didn't he?"

"That he did, old friend. He'll be a fantastic student. I had a feeling he would be worthwhile when he used your quirk, but the rest of the day made and even bigger impression. He'll be one of the best of this generation for certain."

.

.

Inko sits on her couch late in the afternoon, waiting for Izuku to return from his training. She worries, but seeing how much stronger and more confident he is, how much happier, has been too good to deny. At this point, she's gotten used to it, even comfortable. No different than waiting for him to return from school.

Having this free time has been quite helpful. She doesn't have to work so much overtime now, coming home earlier and enjoying her home for once, now that All Might is footing some of their bills. She tried to deny it at first, but the man is just far too convincing. That charisma is intoxicating, and yet, even more so when he's being his natural self and setting that boisterous public personality aside.

But as she waits for her son, a set of booming knocks rouses her from her thoughts at the realization that only the very man she'd been thinking of would knock like that. She opens the door and ushers him in. "Good evening, Toshi! Izuku hasn't gotten back yet. Wasn't he training with you today?"

"Oh, he's training with Horoshi-san today, actually. A proper martial arts form would suit him well, and there's nobody better."

Inko reels back. "T-The Green Dragon Dojo?! Toshi, you're spoiling us!"

Toshinori laughs boisterously before he deflates into his natural self. "It's nothing at all to me, Inko. I wanted to speak with you for a bit, actually. And I know Izuku informed you he made a few friends while training today and he'd be returning late. That gives us plenty of time." He chuckles nervously. "Which… if this chance I'm about to take works, we'll need it…"

Inko tilts her head. "U-Um.. what do you mean, Toshi?"

After a few moments of hesitation, Toshinori reaches out to her. "Would you like to accompany me for dinner tonight?"

Inko's eyes slowly widen as his words sink in, accompanying a deep blush. After a few moments, she even tears up a little. "T-Toshi… a... a-are you sure? I-I look terrible, I-I've let myself go for so long, a-and I really don't have much to offer-"

She's silenced by Toshinori's large, bony hand on her cheek and wiping that tear away with his thumb. "Inko, my dear… You have no reason to doubt so much. You are by far one of the most incredible women I've known, and I would be honored if you accepted."

She stammers silently for a moment, but finally smiles and nods eagerly. "O-Of course! I would love to!"

Toshinori grins ear to ear as she accepts. "Then let's get going. I'll make sure this night is wonderful."

.

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A.N.: So, I have returned, and life is nuts! I started another day job, I have several chapters of a 3rd fic done and I wanna get 10 done before I start uploading it, and I almost half a month of videos for my youtube channel backlogged and ready! Also absolutely loved New Pokemon Snap, streamed all of it on Twitch, and now I'm getting back to my BotW Master Mode streams! So yeah, things are pretty good right now. This is kind of a shorter chapter, but I couldn't extend it without overdoing things and taking forever, honestly. But the next one should be faster. So for now, thanks for reading, consider hitting up my youtube channel, my Twitch channel, my P8treon, and so-on so I can hopefully ditch my day job and focus on being a content creator!