Disclaimer: Of course I don't own My Hero Academia, its characters, or the franchise.
Story: Mirai has always been the sidekick, second to All Might, even when he'd become a Hero in his own right. He'd always been considered 'the bridesmaid and never the bride' in people's eyes. Not this time, not when (though they've had a contentious relationship so far), there was a girl he finally wanted. David had been All Might's Sidekick first and had always been known as that and nothing, no one else. He had never become an actual Hero and he never would. But he had met her first and they had gotten close in the time they'd spent together. He'd be damned if he was second in this, when he'd been content to be the 'bridesmaid' to All Might's 'bride'. Izuku had become close to these two men, but she hadn't realized how close…or how close they'd actually wanted to be. Now she was feeling like prey and not sure if she wanted to run. She wasn't a Hero yet, so the excess of Sidekicks wanting to be by her side was rather…daunting. She really wasn't ready to be a bride just yet!
Set as an AU genderbending fic, post-Overhaul.
Spoilers: A bit of the Overhaul arc, some of the first BNHA movie, and a bit of the Endeavor Agency arc. But nothing explicitly spoilery.
Warnings: Age disparity, underage, cursing and sexual situations…
Pairings: Fem!Izuku/Sasaki Mirai (Sir Nighteye), Fem!Izuku/David Shield, Mirai/Fem!Izuku/David.

Always a Sidekick, Always a Bridesmaid

He winces, the jolt of pain shooting from his side as he sits on the chair. His eyes watches her closely as she moves away from him, her gentle hands helping him to sit before she flitters away to move about his kitchen like she'd always belonged.

Mirai didn't ask for this, for her to come and take care of him.

But he doesn't want to ask her to leave.

He can tell you any number of ways that he'd bluntly pushed her away in the past, how he'd told her over and over she would never be a good enough successor to One For All or how she should give it up to someone more deserving.

Except it hadn't stopped him from growing to like her regardless and he can't help himself sometimes when he just wants to watch and admire her and think then, even if she isn't worthy of One For All, she's bright and lovely and fiery all the same.

Now though, except for that last thought of her, he doesn't think of One For All or successors or worthiness. Just her.

Her and her brilliant shade of jungle green hair that is as wild as she is, her jeweled peridots for eyes that shine brightly, and the soft pink of her grinning lips. Her and her sunny personality, her utter determination, her captivating laugh and her sweet smiles.

Just Midoriya Izuku and her loveliness.

"Sasaki-san, are you hungry? I just finished!" she says cheerily and he hides the fond twist of his lips.

"Thank you, Midoriya-kun," he murmurs.

And she fills up a bowl of whatever she'd cooked and comes to him; and for a bit, Mirai could almost imagine this as a normal aspect of his life —domestic bliss with his significant other, a day with the girl of his dreams, the love of his life.

That most of all is what gets him, the idea that he is in love with this girl he'd refused to accept in the beginning and who he now is afraid will refuse to accept him now.

Izuku sits besides him and places the bowl of something that smells and looks delicious, and she takes the spoon and scoops up a spoonful, gently cooling it before holding it before him.

Even if it is a dream, a fantasy, right here and now she is with him and he can pretend it is just a normal day of their life together.


Mirai peers over at her from over his glasses, seeing her wash the dishes while he is resting at his couch after he has finished his meal. He's aching and still recovering from injuries he'd sustained in the fight against Overhaul, but he doesn't think he's as much of an invalid as everyone seems to think he is (even if he secretly appreciates and is happy to have Izuku take care of him because of it).

"You should be in school," he says with no inflection in his voice, face as serious as ever. Still, he says that but really he is just pleased to have all of her attention and care, and tries not to think of how he'd like to make a bride out of her one day.

Izuku waves him off, grinning at him from over her shoulder as she finishes washing up. "It's okay, I have permission and I'm ahead of schoolwork anyway."

He observes her, notices her quiet humming and the cheerful bounce to her step as she washes the dishes. He sees her finish and then makes a decision.

Mirai pats the seat on the couch next to him. "Then…shall we watch a movie together?"

She is practically beaming and gathers drinks for the both of them, before she carefully sits next to him and they find a movie he pays no attention to, as his attention is all on the girl next to him.

He softens a little more for her and thinks she's who he would want to spend day after day with, even doing something as simple as watch a movie together.

Suddenly a sound, a simple melody, breaks the little bubble of peace they were basking in and Mirai looks around in confusion. However, Izuku is already grasping for her phone in surprise and checking in on it.

He stays quiet and waits, wonders what is wrong and hope nothing is wrong. But he is instead treated to a wondrous sight —Izuku's face lights up and she smiles like the sun.

"David? Wow, it's been a while! I'm glad to hear from you…No, I'm not busy this weekend. Wait…what? No way! That's amazing! I'm super excited to hear that! I can't wait to see you!"

Mirai is taken aback by her enthusiasm and the surge of giddiness she has from this one phone call. He wonders who it is and feels an uneasy feeling settle in his gut. Part of him is tempted to subtly touch her and use his Quirk, figure out what in the future could happen.

He doesn't need to.

"Sasaki-san, I don't know if you ever met him, but All Might-san's other old Sidekick —David Shield? He is coming to Japan and is arriving this weekend!"

She's all smiles, but there is a churning in his stomach that makes him feel ill and unsteady, and he knows it's not his injuries making him feel this way.

Mirai suddenly is feeling uneasy and doesn't know why.


Later in the night, Mirai lays in bed and is failing to fall asleep. His mind is overrun with thoughts and he wonders how Izuku and David Shield of all people have met.

He hasn't, even though he was also one of All Might's ex-Sidekicks, met the other. Or even talked. No, the two had somehow missed each other's presence, despite both of them being connected through a single man that had been a large influence in both of their lives.

Now they were apparently connected through a girl as well.

Mirai had become Toshinori's Sidekick after David, but had also been the only one other and also the longest term-served one too. While David had become further into the support field, Mirai had wanted more —hadn't been satisfied with just being a Sidekick and staying second to Toshinori, even though that was how he was always seen as and still being seen as, though he is now a Hero himself. David had been more or less the opposite, and it baffles Mirai since in some ways they were (or should be) similar.

His phone chirps and he reluctantly takes a look at it. It's Toshinori's number and he sighs as he calls the other.

"Mirai? Are you still awake?" he hears his old friend ask.

"Yes, I was having trouble going to sleep. Is something wrong?"

"No, no! Just an old friend coming this weekend," Mirai feels uneasy again, "and I thought it was about time you two met? David Shield, a friend and also an ex-Sidekick, is coming to stay in Japan. There were…problems over at I-Island and he's come to move here. I was thinking you'd like to come for dinner at my place? You two could meet and we all can talk old times, catch up…"

Mirai thinks that he should say no (everything in him was saying no), but instead he agrees. It's been too long since he has talked with Toshinori and this would be a good time. And maybe he and David could commiserate over All Might and the man's old reckless and sometimes outrageous behavior. Maybe he could even find out about him and Izuku and how they met…

"That is fine," he agrees finally. "I shall see you then."

He doesn't know why he really regrets it already.


When he knocks on the door and it is opened, he isn't expecting to see Izuku there. It is supposed to be just himself, Toshinori, and David. At least he'd assumed so.

"Sasaki —" she cuts herself off and starts over, making that nasty little feeling he's been having grow. "Sir," she says formally, like she hasn't been calling him his civilian name ever since he'd allowed it after she'd stayed the night in his hospital room while he recovered from the fight with Overhaul. "Come in! All Might-san is inside with David."

David. No honorific and even on first name basis. How casual, how informal.

How close were these two?

Somehow feeling aggravated, he hides ill ease and the spark of strange feelings that erupt in him, nods to her, and follows her inside. Toshinori is laughing at something David had said in the living room, and there are boxes of food out and waiting to be opened.

"We just got take out and are eating in the living room," Izuku whispers to him. Her hand hovers hesitantly above his arm, before it retreats.

If they had been alone in his home, she would not have hesitated.

She moves away and grabs the plates and utensils to the side, hands them out to the ones closest to her —Toshinori first and then David with an odd, shy smile on her face.

He feels himself bristle and then mentally backtrack, wondering at his reaction. He's confused and upset, but most of all he knows there's something off in this situation.

A situation he feels like maybe he isn't knowing of all the details.

Now, more than ever, he is tempted to touch Izuku…or even David, and figure out this future. He's even reached out subtly, before he even realizes it. Then he draws back and moves away from her, away from them and towards Toshinori (still like a Sidekick hiding behind the Hero, still in the Hero's shadow, just the 'bridesmaid and not the bride').

Mirai is inwardly lost and not happy with the loss of control.

Through the dinner, he watches the two. David and Izuku. Izuku and David. They're so cozy and they laugh and joke around (Why can't she joke around with him when she knows how much he loves humor?), and Toshinori jumps in every once in a while. David laments on Izuku's brilliance (Mirai knows she's brilliant and so, so smart) and that it's being wasted away. She giggles freely with him frequently (It's so rare to hear in his Agency, why can't she feel like she can giggle around him?) and she is animated as she tells him about her life (Why won't she be lively for him and not just around him?).

Mirai is quiet and in the background, just listening, just watching, just the observant witness that feels like he's unable to change a future that is forming right in front of him.

And he is jealous and he realizes it now when he is as helpless as he was watching Izuku and David have a closeness that he didn't realize was a thing until it is in front of him.

The ill feelings churn in his stomach worse than ever.


Izuku does not show up at the Agency that day and he's already learned she's called in. He's certain she's with him and the idea makes something in him revolt.

He dislikes David Shield and more than that, he feels worry and unease that Izuku will slip away from him.

"You're still recovering, Sir," Awata says in concern but he waves it off.

"Iz —Deku-kun didn't show up at my home, so I assumed she might have shown up here," he says instead. "But I hear she's called in."

"Deku-kun? Ah, yes! She called in this morning. Says she's helping out an old friend."

"I see," he says and walks away. He has turned a corner when he hears a familiar voice, and subtly peers around it and overhears the conversation.

"Not just any friend!" Mirio pops up out of nowhere (literally, seeing as his top half has emerged from a desk he'd been hiding under). He moves closer to Awata like he's about to share a juicy secret. "She told me she's helping David Shield."

"All Might's other old Sidekick?" Awata gasps. "I didn't even know Izuku-chan knew him!"

Mirio nods emphatically. "Some of my other kohai told me about it —they met at the I-Expo, when All Might brought her along. Shoto-kun told me they became good friends, though they were also suspicious."

"You mean suspicious like…"

"Yes! I want to be surprised, but…" Mirio wags his eyebrows while Awata giggles.

"I shouldn't be surprised either," she says and smirks. "I think Izuku-chan has a type~"

Mirio chuckles and agrees, and Mirai wonders what they are talking about. The only thing he could catch was the implication of David and Izuku and he doesn't like it.

He heavily dislikes it.


David fixes his shirt for the thousandth time. It doesn't get any better. It's still wrinkled and messy and he probably looks like a mess.

But Izuku is coming to pick him up soon and he needs to look somewhat decent.

He's truly excited to see her again and is glad she agreed and wanted to pick him up. Though he could have called Toshinori and asked him, he really was hoping Izuku would do it. It's been too long since he'd seen her and he really missed her.

"Don't mess up, Dad! Not like last time," Melissa looks at him with a frown. "Make sure you focus your attention on her and do whatever you need to, that you have to do to win her over. Especially since last time…"

"Since I messed up," he says quietly. For though he hadn't known her yet when he'd made the deal, by the time he'd met her and fell in love at first sight, he knew already that the deal he'd made with those people would affect this new relationship. He should have never made the deal in the first place.

"Win her over again," his daughter encourages him and smiles sweetly.

David grins back and swore he would. Maybe he'd even get to propose and find himself with a bride soon…

And he is determined to win her over, no matter what. He hadn't been happy for the longest time, so when he'd finally met Izuku, she was like a breath of fresh air. That's why he couldn't screw this up.

"David! You're actually here!"

Hearing her voice brought a smile immediately to his face and he turns to face her, seeing her bright, lovely face happily grinning as she rushes towards him. She throws herself at him and he catches her, holding on tight to her and inhaling her scent.

God, he missed her.

"It's been so long," he murmurs. "I've really missed you, Izuku."

She blushes and grins back. "Me too. Last time was…"

"A lot," he knows. "This time is different."

She gazes at him too scrutinizingly, but doesn't say anything to it. Instead, she grabs his hand and leads him the way out of the airport.

"So show me this new place of yours!"


Since he hasn't been there before, the two of them have to navigate around the city and follow the directions David was given for his new apartment. It's in a well-to-do area and looks large from the outside and in reach of plenty areas of interests or need within the city. Going inside shows it's also very high-end and already fully furnished, and he's pleased with it.

It's bigger than his humble apartment back on I-Island, but just as (if not more) comfortable as it, and he thinks that it's the perfect place to reconnect with Izuku. It is, after all, close to her now; closer than living on I-Island ever was, and she's just a phone call away.

"Here's my new living space," he grins and makes a sweeping gesture to the inside of his apartment. "Since officially being kicked off the island, I now get to live around here and be near you," he chuckles and nudges her.

She smiles shyly but her face lights up in excitement. "I'm sad you had to leave your home and that Melissa decided to stay behind, but at the same time I'm happy to be able to see you more often."

He gives her a soft smile and can't help hug her.

After gathering a few snacks and their drinks, they settle on his couch and relax. They start catching up and he tells her about leaving I-Island and how life for him has been like up until his move.

"I don't think a lot of people on the island knew how to treat me after the whole incident," he muses. "I was pretty avoided after it and I was limited in what I could do…But they also knew that I was beyond useful and talented. I messed up and had to be punished, but my actions were understood and they didn't want to waste my potential. In the end, I'm glad it ended this way and I'm here…with you now."

She is beaming so happily at him. "I'm glad too. Even though I was…" she slides around her own hurt about the incident on I-Island, so he doesn't push her about it either. "Anyway, I've gone through a lot since then too!"

She tells him all about what she's been up to as well and ends up starting in on her current work studies at the Nighteye Agency. She looks tender all of a sudden and an abrupt, unexpected pull on his gut makes him uneasy and at edge.

"Ah, Sasaki-san can be pretty strict and looks too serious, even though he's actually really into humor and laughing," she thinks aloud, sounding too fond, too oddly informal.

Even if she speaks of him with an honorific and respectfully, she still calls the man by his civilian name and that sets off alarm bells in his head.

David is caught off guard that the other Sidekick of All Might is suddenly brought up like this and that it seems somehow Izuku has found her way to know the other and by now, even has become seemingly affectionate about him.

Jealousy rages and he doesn't want to acknowledge that maybe he's too late after all.

They're interrupted then by Izuku's phone and she fumbles for it, surprised to get a call all of a sudden.

"Oh! It's Toshinori-san," she says and answers it quickly. "Toshinori-san? Yes, David is here with me. Really? I wouldn't mind. I'll ask him about it right now." She moves from the phone and gestures to it. "Toshinori-san is inviting you to dinner tomorrow."

"Are you coming? If you are, then most definitely," he says teasingly, winking at her, even as he still feels low after thinking about her and Nighteye.

She rolls her eyes but grins into the phone. "Yes, he says he'll come. We'll both see you tomorrow, Toshinori-san!"

She hangs up and they resume hanging out together, with him starting a movie they could enjoy.


Nighteye is…not what David expected. He's certainly stern, as Izuku described, but he's too quiet and does nothing but observes them (when the man finally arrives and is hanging around in the background). His nerves feel alight, feeling the scrutiny from the other man and how Nighteye is utterly focused and too watchful. Having himself be watched so closely makes him feel aggravated and even slightly paranoid, but he tries to ignore the other.

Only he can't and he ends up watching the other, trying to figure out what is his problem.

And then he does figure out the problem.

More often than not, Nighteye's eyes drift over to Izuku, lightens a little and is hiding a fondness for her that isn't visible unless you look close enough. And David is looking.

It makes David rage and despair inside, even as he worries and is jealous. Izuku has already kept going on with her life after what happened on I-Island, has experienced more and lived more. She has already opened a new chapter in her life, one that Nighteye has become a part of and has settled himself in.

And he knows…Nighteye gazes upon her like David does.

But he's not ready to lose out and so, as dinner continues (and even past the food being eaten), David stacks on the affection with Izuku. He doesn't shy away and goes on to be as affectionate and openly tender with her as possible, and lays it thick with the physical touches. He stays appropriate, but he knows for Japanese standards he's still too much, even though he's enjoying making Izuku giggle and blush.

But he's loved brushing her hair back, teasing her, touching her shoulder or arm, or even simple nudges to her over a joke or two. A half embrace or held hand is everything to him, and even though it started on purpose to rile up his new rival, he forgets it all as he basks in Izuku and everything that is her.

That doesn't mean he can't feel the man's eyes boring into him every second that passes.


David bides his time and finds a space in the moment where he could strike —Toshinori and Izuku are catching up and are quietly talking in the kitchen while they also deal with cleaning up, and he locks eyes with Nighteye. For a moment, they just trade stoic looks before David smiles falsely at him.

David has always been second in life, always behind All Might and always the faithful Sidekick. He has never been troubled by it and has never cared to be more or been bothered by being "second".

He'd be damned if he was second to Nighteye when it came to Izuku though.

He had known Izuku first. Had become close to and attached to her first. He was not going to lose out to Nighteye, not when he'd settled for less for everything else.

"Not to be…condescending," he starts out, still wearing that false smile filled with resentment and hidden wariness, "but I think I can see that you have a problem with me…and Izuku. Specifically us," he ends with meaning.

Nighteye flinches and he inwardly grins, pleased he's made an impact and that the other had understood immediately.

"We have history though, so not surprising," he continues blithely, subtly watching the other, who grows more tense the more he talks. "The first time we met, though, was electric and we got along immediately. After all, we have lots in common and after everything that's happened since our first meeting…Well, we do make a good duo and connect so well."

He can see Nighteye's jaw clench, those bright yellow eyes glaring back at him.

"Honestly, one too many people around can be such an annoyance and not needed at all," he ends. "Izuku and I are close and don't need outsiders to be interfering so much."

Or at all.

But Nighteye's nose flares and his glare sharpens. And then he sneers at David before speaking one thing, his only contribution to this quiet struggle that somehow began between them.

"Perhaps someone is too much of a Sidekick and afraid to move on, so nonsensical, insecure words is all can be said instead. What a pity."

David bristles and can feel his cheeks warm in embarrassment, even as he trades glares back at the other former Sidekick.

Izuku and Toshinori come back, but he knows this isn't over and he isn't content to be just second.


It feels normal to be feeling on edge these days. All Izuku knows is that things seem to have shifted and she isn't sure what has happened or when or where to pinpoint the change —the catalyst to this feeling.

She almost jumps when David is somehow by her side. He gives her a concerned look and she just tries to dismiss it, smiling weakly at him. He cups her face and frowns.

"Everything alright?" he asks, thumb brushing back and forth against her cheek.

Her breath hitches and confusion inwardly swirls around her head. David has been a lot more touchier and affectionate with her lately, and though she doesn't dislike it…it confuses and takes her aback. It makes a strange tug on her navel and fluttery feelings to erupt in her, and she doesn't know how to handle it.

"Sorry I'm so distracted," she apologizes instead of answering. "Just…out of sorts," she vaguely admits to. Because of you, she doesn't say. "Schoolwork," she lies instead and the two of them settle on his couch to look over his blueprints for a new project he is starting.

He shifts closer to her unconsciously and she swallows heavily, feeling her heart beating like a drum.


When she visits the Nighteye Agency, though she doesn't work there anymore, everyone still greets her cheerily like she's one of their own. Maybe she always will be, having worked there once.

"Izuku."

She turns to the voice immediately to greet them, only for her brain to halt as she realizes that the person who spoke to her is not only Sasaki…but that he's addressed her so informally and in public.

It jars her and for a moment she is just staring at him. He raises a fine eyebrow and she blushes heavily back.

"Sasaki-san," she hesitantly says, glancing around. She's not sure how to address him anymore, especially since lately he's been more firm in allowing her to use his civilian name plainly. "I didn't know you would be here. I thought you are still recovering."

He nods to her. "I am still a bit…sore. But I was cleared to move around and do light work, so long as I'm not fighting or doing the 'heavy lifting.'"

She smiles at that. "I'm glad! That's really good news, Sasaki-san."

"Mirai," he says suddenly, making her falter and glance at him in surprise. "You can just call me Mirai, as you please."

Her eyes are wide and she has no idea what to do or say then. He has been so much more informal with her for a while now and she doesn't know what to make of it.

"Mirai…" she tests out and she's astonished to see his face soften towards her.

He reaches out and brushes her hair back and her breath catches. Somehow or other, she feels like the tension between her and two certain men keep being created and evolving until it is this suffocating thing that's got a hold of her.

Izuku gives Sasaki —Mirai a weak smile and acknowledges she is a coward as she turns from him and starts to walk hurriedly away.


"You look very pretty today, Izuku," David compliments her. "I like how your dress compliments your eyes."

Izuku laughs lightly, not acknowledging the prickling senses that make her alert to everything that is David. But he simply takes her hand and kisses it, winking at her.

"I mean it, Izuku," his eyes darkens and she inwardly shudders, feeling her nerves alight within her. "You're beautiful."

And she knows, as obvious as it is now, that she has to acknowledge he's been flirting with her and that it's not just him being playful or teasing. He's flirting flirting, in a way that she knows is meant to be more than platonic between them.

She's struggling to make sense of it all.

"I'm just going to check in with the others," she says, hiding her shakiness. "Thank you for coming here to pick me up."

David smiles and nods and she turns her back to him, trying to not look like she is running away. She rounds a corner and runs a shaking hand down her face, trying to get ahold of herself.

Then, continuing on to find Mirio and the others, she decides to finish off her visit and have dinner without thinking too much on this situation.

Unfortunately, she is distracted as she says her goodbyes to the others and tries to wave off their worries. Saying goodbye to everyone but Mirai (that is another thing for her to get used to), she decides to leave since he is nowhere near and she's sure she's kept David waiting.

And yet, who else but the very man who previously eluded her appears then, just as she is about to reach David.

"Mirai," she breathes out in surprise and is worried to see him so aggravated. "Is something the matter?"

"Is something the matter?" his nose flares and he strides forward, cornering her against the wall. It's not like him and she can see he's really agitated. His eyes, however, bright yellow and so, so pained bores into her heavily. "Everything is the matter, when you're with him and not me."

And he leans in and her eyes widens because she knows what he's about to do. If she pushes him, she knows he'll move. But she's frozen and maybe she doesn't want him to move away from her.

Mirai kisses her and it takes all of her breath away.

Then a throat clears and she gasps against Mirai's mouth and jerks away, sees David there and looking at them with stoic eyes and no expression and she feels her stomach drop.

She looks away from him and pushes away from Mirai, pretends nothing has happened and continues onto the exit to have dinner like normal.

Everything is too much to contemplate and right now she can't do it. She just can't.


The restaurant is elegant and classy and absolutely beautiful…but things has been tense since leaving the Nighteye Agency. David and her speak in halted tones and uncertain sentences. He doesn't look angry and he's no longer stoic, but he's…bitter and resigned and she doesn't know what to do or how to make him…not bitter and resigned.

They eat in silence and this is not the outing she has hoped it would've been, something reminiscent of the fun and bright dinners they used to have back on I-Island.

They leave there as they came there —awkward and tense and on uneven footing with each other.

She's sleeping over his home but wonders now if that's such a good idea with how things are between them —it's too uneasy and she doesn't know what to say to him. But they're already there and she's too timid to speak up about it.

"I'm sorry," he says suddenly and though she's confused, a feeling of relief rushes through her.

The silence between them is broken and it also seems at least he's not mad at her.

David gives her a rueful smile. "It's just…it's alway like this," he murmurs. "I was used to being in Toshinori's shadow, to being the one that was second in people's minds because he glows so bright and captures everyone's attention. And I was okay with that. I didn't mind."

He comes closer to her and his hands comes up, holds her face in his warm hands as he looks into her eyes with sorrowed ones.

"But I didn't want that to be this time around," he says desperately. "I don't want to be second to you. Not in your mind and heart."

And David leans in and she knows what he means to do, just as surely as she knew what Mirai would earlier.

He kisses her like he doesn't want to breathe. They crash against each other and Izuku is pulled into his atmosphere, like it was gravity and pieces of her are just colliding haphazardly against him; her hands grasped onto him and she leans up on her toes, pushing back against him needily.

She likes the way his tongue traces her lips. She likes his broad, solid build pressing against her and the way his hands grip her hips. She likes how his lips slot against hers and the way he pulls her into him.

David takes her breath away, just like —

Izuku breaks away from him and leans her forehead against his chest, breathing heavily as she grips onto his shirt. She bites down on her lip as her eyes tear up, while David is standing still against her.

"…Izuku?"

She takes in a ragged breath and closes her eyes.

"I like you," she admits. "I really, really like you, David. But I also like Mirai and I can't do this."

She pulls away from him and doesn't look at him as she moves around him and leaves the apartment, deciding that she should've gone home in the first place after all.


Izuku stays away from them both for a month. She doesn't answer phone calls, avoids visiting the Nighteye Agency, checks in with Mirio on Mirai's health, and asks Toshinori about David. She focuses on her schoolwork and her work studies over at the Endeavor Agency, and tries not to let her very obvious depression get out of control and drain her.

But it doesn't wholly work, it seems, because Enji grabs her collar and drags her out of the training room, leaving behind a stupefied Katsuki and a knowing Shoto.

"Spill," Enji barks out at her, shoving a carton of her favorite ice cream from the refrigerator in his kitchen. "You're distracted, which isn't like you."

Izuku fidgets in place, but looks at him cagily from under her eyelashes. She nibbles her lip, but gives him a helpless shrug.

"Would you really want to give advice or talk about it if I say it was 'boy trouble'?" she says, knowing the irony of it.

Enji's eyebrows scrunch together and a shadowed look passes over his face briefly, before he presses his lips together. "So…boys. Anyone I know? One of your classmates?"

She sags over her ice cream carton and shovels mouthfuls of the ice cream into her mouth.

"David Shield and Sasaki Mirai," she admits and he visibly pauses.

His jaw clenches several times and his turquoise eyes darkens into a darker shade. "All Might's old Sidekicks."

She squirms in place but nods reluctantly. He sighs then and runs a hand through his hair.

"Both of them giving you trouble?" he grunts and she despairingly explains the situation, which makes another strange look pass over his face.

She puts the carton of ice cream onto the table away from her and she pulls her legs up to hide her face in them. She feels a warm hand take one of hers and looks up into Enji's face, his lips halfheartedly quirking up.

"So…the two of them have feelings for you…and you reciprocate both of their feelings," he says and she unhappily nods. "And you don't want to choose between them, so you decided you had to stay away. That and you're trying to run away."

She grudgingly nods.

"You don't have to choose," he tells her then, catching her off guard. He continues gently. "They're the ones pursuing you and are older. They're the ones who have to convince you. They need to give you a chance to think and breathe, and you should take your time and think which one of them you feel for most, or if you end up choosing neither.

"If they want to be with you, they need to consider you first. You are definitely more mature than most your age and know yourself…but you also have your whole life ahead of you, and maybe you'll choose to be with them or you don't. It's up to you…Regardless of anything, they know and should think about the age difference, so if they want to be with you, they need to give you room to seriously reflect choosing being with one of them."

"But…what if I do really, really like them and do want to be with them?" she whispered. "I just…can't choose. I like David. I've liked him since meeting him on I-Island. And I've really come to care about Mirai after all this time."

Enji squeezes her hand. "You still don't have to choose. There's no rush, not for you. Not only because it's you, but because of all the important differences you all have, that all needs to be carefully thought on. Especially for you."

"It's not selfish?" she mutters. "Having feelings for them both and being unable to choose?"

He gives her a half smile, briefly glancing away from her before looking back at her tiredly.

"No. You can't choose who you have feelings for after all."

Enji squeezes her hand again and gives her a lingering kiss on her forehead as she feels relief from his words.


Even after the sound advice she is given, she can't find herself meeting either of the two. She's still unsure of herself and terrified what it means if she were to meet them. Worse, she doesn't know what the other would think and do if she chooses to meet with one of them first.

She's never been the one that has admirers. Her friends are pretty and sociable, and not awkward like her. She isn't approached by guys and she never had the nerve to try to approach them. She is always too shy and self-conscious, and felt better just being alone. There is always the joke in their group that if any one of them would get married, Izuku is always going to be a bridesmaid and could be counted on.

So David and Mirai has thrown her off and put her off-kilter.

She hides away in her home and wishes her mother had stayed behind and not gone on to visit her father in the States. She should've hid in the dorms, but no one was spending their weekend there, when it was nearing the holidays and family time is warranted.

Hell, she should've gone with her mother at least.

Izuku debates calling Toshinori to keep him company, when there's a knock on the door. She glances at it in confusion and thinks that maybe Toshinori had come to keep her company. Rising from her chair to go to the door, she hesitantly opens it, only to freeze up and look out of it like a caged animal.

David stands there morosely and they don't say a word.

"You're avoiding me," he finally says and she flinches, confirming it.

"And me," another voice says and her eyes widens when Mirai steps into view from the side and both men stare her down.

She loses all breath and watches them warily; the two of them go side by side and then step together towards her.

"If the two of us fighting over you upsets you, that isn't what either of us wants," David spoke seriously.

"It's important you know that and know just how much you mean to us," Mirai continues.

The two men glance at each other with unreadable looks. They're not exactly fighting but they aren't happy either. But they're both there and they're actually teaming up with each other against her.

David reaches out first and cups one side of her face. "We talked."

Mirai reaches for the other side of her face and cups that side with his hand. "And we came up with…a solution."

The two of them gently push her back into her apartment and then enter after her, the door closing behind the men with a final click.

(Mirai) Started 11/2/21 — Completed 11/3/21
(David) Started 11/11/21 — Completed 11/16/21
(Izuku) Started 11/21/21 —Completed 11/30/21

A/n: For the BNHA Poly Bang on Twitter :) Hope you guys enjoyed this thing! Kudos and comments are always super appreciated!

Full version on AO3 as always~