Three months had passed since their training had began on Dagobah, and Itsuka had moved onto her fourth heap of trash. At the moment she was trying to haul a whole truck without using her quirk to test her strength while Izumi…
She was using her speed to stay hidden just behind the man, footsteps light before she pounced, aiming for the head. All Might heard her just in time, turning and punching the girl with enough force her body split in two before she reformed.
All Might never held back for her, partially in revenge for her initial punch and mainly to give her the best training possible. The first time he'd done it had been hilarious though. (Well for the greenette, for the blonde it might be the source of some trauma. He had taken an hour to stop freaking out even after the girl had reformed.)
"Nice try, young Izumi!" The blonde called with a laugh as the girl's feet dragged across the sand, before she used her tendrils like bungee's to slow herself down. "Aren't you more of a brawler though? Sneak attacks weren't your style I would have thought."
"Nothing is my style, and everything is!" Midoriya called back, shooting a tendril at the blondes foot before he could react and pulling him off his feet. She leapt above, aiming a kick for his chest to knock him into the ground. "I'm versatile like that!"
Before her foot managed to land though, the blonde grabbed her and swung her around, launching her into the side of the truck Itsuka was dragging, getting a shout from here. "Watch me, you two! I don't have the super durability you too do!"
"Sorry, Itsuka…." The greenette said, rubbing her head and standing up. The blonde walked up to them, giving the signal they could take a small break. The red head walked over to the greenette and collapsed onto her shoulder, making Izumi laugh. "Truck heavier than you thought?"
"I mean yeah, I've never tried to move something that heavy without my quirk before, I didn't realize how impressive it actually was when quirkless people did it…" The girl moaned, rubbing her head into the shapeshifters shoulder. "I might just take a nap here a moment…"
"No naps, my girl!" Their teacher laughed, as he shrunk into his smaller form. He gave them both a once over with his sunken eyes, smile on his face. "Young Midoriya, you need to work on improving your ability to change tactics as soon as necessary. You kept committed to that kick even after I made my attempt to block it. I understand that being as powerful as you are, likely means you don't get a chance to spar against people who can keep up with you often but you must always assume your opponent is able to beat you if you don't put in your all."
"Yes sir!" Midoriya nodded, bowing slightly as she did before going back to her original position.
"Young Kendou, looking at your progress so far I think it would be a good idea for you to start with the lockers over there. They should be more in your wheelhouse at the moment. Take them to the steps out of the beach and I'll do the rest."
"Yes sir!"
Occasionally, due to the blonde's new long term stay in Mustafu city, he'd end up involved in hero work as was his job. He'd mostly take on simple crimes as they occurred, ending them quickly.
He also was developing a record for stopping the most crimes occurring hidden in the shadows of alley ways or in the depths of abandoned buildings. The only one who truly stood way above him due to how long they'd been doing it was the Prototype herself.
As a natural consequence, the two had began to run into each other more and more as they found out about the same criminals at the time. Usually this would also result in the same conversation every time.
"Should you really still be doing this now, my girl?"
"I can't exactly just leave it, when I used to be the only one who found out in time. Don't get me wrong, the pro's in Mustafu are getting better but we've always been one of the worst for these hidden crimes. If you don't find out, then I'm the only one who knows. You know how bad the crime rate used to be here?"
"Yeah, Just…. Be careful. I can't bail you out if someone finds out who you really are."
"Right…"
Of course, the media had picked up on it as well, multiple headlines being printed about how they kept being seen in the same area lately. They didn't particularly care, as none of them had even come close to guessing why they were actually working together.
Still, it was a little frustrating for Midoriya with all the dirty looks she got from Kacchan as a result. Perhaps the most blatant example of the two working together had come from a villain attack that had occurred on the beach while they were training.
Itsuka had been the first to spot an odd crew of people stomping towards the group, quirks being used without regard. Izumi and All Might had been just out of sight, in there regular forms when the shapeshifters danger sense had went off.
She'd been wrapped in her costume just a moment later, and her mentor took the hint to change into his muscle form.
"Well, well, well. Look at this guys. Some stupid chick's decided to impose on our turf!" One of them had called, a malicious tone in their voice. In an instant the greenette had leapt atop one of the trash heaps to see Itsuka backing off slightly as the thugs walked towards her.
"Your turf?! I've been training here for months!"
"It's our turf now, girl." Another snarled, as Midoriya formed her claws. She didn't need to go all out on the intimidation factor like this, but she wanted to. She dropped down in between them all silently. "What the?!"
"Leave." She said simply, in her deep voice as she slowly stalked towards them. Some of the other thugs began to back of but the two at the front put up their fists, trying to control their shaking.
"We-We aren't scared of some r-random freak like you!" One said, trembling voice oh so convincing. "We can t-take you!"
"I highly doubt you can, young man. However even if you could, you'd bring me own ire down upon you." All Might's voice said, causing them all to look back and see the man. Though he was smiling, he radiated a silent aura of anger. "Never threaten my girls again. Never threaten anyone again. Leave!"
With that, the thugs ran away, all except for one who decided using his quirk instead was a good idea. His quirk that had been nothing more than a light spray of water, like a water pistol to the two powerhouses before him.
Needless to say, he didn't win that fight. Normally that probably would have been the end of that but after it was over, Itsuka had looked up with a teasing grin.
"'Your' girls?" She asked, raising a brow as she smiled. Midoriya blinked, having not even picked up on that while the blonde flushed.
"W-well you are my only students! Of course I'm a little protective." The man waved away, walking off. The two girls behind him just shared grins at that.
One day, in the seventh month of their training, All Might had been more distracted than usual. He normally was still able to give a completely even fight, usually in his favour with Izumi but today she landed blow after blow on him with ease.
His head constantly turned towards Itsuka, who was busy trying to haul the truck from before once again, finally managing to budge it. After the third time the girl had kicked him halfway across the beach without him preparing for it she'd decided to address it.
"All Might, you ok? You've been kind of out of it for a while now." She pointed out, offering a hand to the man while he shrunk down into his skinny from, sighing.
"Just…. Have a problem on my mind I can't figure out the answer to." The lanky blonde explained, taking a seat on a nearby bench, the girl following behind. "Do you remember how I told you about One for All those months ago?"
"Of course, would be kinda hard to forget." The greenette nodded, dragging her feet against the sand. "You stockpile and pass on power, to simplify right?"
"Yes. You see my girl… I told you I have been looking for a successor but I haven't told you for how long, have I?" The lanky man questioned, to which the greenette shook her head. "Pretty much just after I got my injury. I tried looking for you to get back into the game, like I explained but… I couldn't keep up with what I used to be able to do. I'm constantly growing weaker, I can feel it. I need to find a successor soon…."
Midoriya gulped at that, looking at the ground. It was weird to think about, someone who had always been the strongest person she'd known about since she was born getting weaker. Then it clicked in her head why the blonde would bring it up again.
"Are you thinking of giving it to Itsuka then? Is that why you're getting distracted?"
"Yes. Normally… Normally it wouldn't take me to long to figure out if I considered someone absolutely worthy of One for All. Make no mistake, in terms of morality and such, I would give it to her without a doubt but…. I need my succesor to be someone with the drive to never give up, to run in and fight no matter what, no matter who. Someone who will fight to embody the very ideals of being a hero…. My successor needs to be someone like you, young Midoriya."
She blushed a little at that, scratching the back of her neck. All Might sighed as he leaned back, and Izumi turned to him with a questioning gaze. "So what makes it so hard to decide with Itsuka?"
"Those thugs from a while back are a good example. I do commend young Kendou for doing the responsible thing, backing off and considering running for help as she isn't a pro yet but you…. You leapt in without hesitation, not backing down just because of some punks. The thing is…. From what I've seen of you both these past seven months you both have an amazing drive and desire to be a hero, I just… I don't know if Kendou would be able to take it all the way. I need someone who can be… the symbol… of peace…"
"I…. guess that would be pretty annoying." Midoriya nodded, missing the twinkle in the blonde's sunken eyes as he realized something. "I hope you can find a good candidate."
"But I already have." The blonde said simply, getting a look from the girl. He gave her a grin as he stood up. "I've been trying to make my successor as the symbol of peace and my successor for One for All the same person for my own ease but… Young Midoriya, you match up too perfectly for what I'm looking for. You have the power to match up to One for All on your own. Though you may not accept my power, will you accept this? My offer to train you as the next symbol of peace?"
Her throat went dry, her eyes went wide and the entire world seemed to stop moving. Her…. The next….symbol. This was a decision that needed care, elegance, deliberation.
"Uh kid? I-"
"YESPLEASETHANKYOU!" The girl blurted out before she could stop herself. Biting her tongue, she shook her head and looked back up at the man. "I mean, If you really are sure, I would appreciate it immensely."
"Nice save, Kiddo." The man laughed, placing a hand on her head and ruffling it a bit. "Now…. What do you think? Though I know your biased. Do you think Kendou would be a good candidate for One for All?"
"I…. won't pretend I know enough to justify a proper decision but if it was me…" The girl placed a finger to her chin in though, before smiling. "As long as she had a guiding hand in the right direction, she could probably manage more than you'd ever suspect. Still, you're the expert so…"
"Right… I'm the expert." All Might repeated quietly, as the two walked back towards sparring. "Shall we try your whipfist power next?"
"uh, I don't know, that's only really for non-human-"
"TOO LATE, WE'VE BEGUN!"
And once again Midoriya was punched in the face, repeatedly.
It was the final day of their long road of training. The two girls had been looking forward and yet dreading this day for so long now, as the day of the U.A. entrance exam was also today.
They wouldn't be able to do anymore, so they were at the best they could possibly be before going into the exam. Still, All Might had called them down the beach as early as possible before they went off to the exam, having something important to tell them.
"Ah, young Midoriya, young Kendou!" Their teacher called out, grabbing both their attentions. They turned to see him running down the length of the beach, the sand practically sparkling, as the water at the edge of the beach reflected the first rays of the sun. The blonde stopped before them both with a wide grin. "Well my girls, I have to say both have you done tremendously! Young Kendou, this beach is absolutely spotless, well done!"
"Thank you, All Might." The girl said with a bashful smile, bowing. Then the muscular man turned to Midoriya and suddenly threw a punch that the girl caught, flipping around his arm and kicking him in the face before leaping back with a grin.
"Good reflexes, young Midoriya." The blonde commended, rubbing his cheek and turning back to them. "You both came to me ten months ago to see if you had what it takes to get into U.A., at the time I already thought you to could pass the exam but now I know for a fact you both deserve to get into my old school. With your drive and determination, you will both be amazing heroes. You already are amazing students to me."
At that, the two friends shared a hug in excitement.
"Now, young Midoriya, you should get on your way to the exam. Young Kendou, I must keep you a little longer." The man said, getting an odd look from the red head. Midoriya however grinned, already having an inkling to what this was about. "I need to tell you about my quirk. Young Midoriya already knows, so she can go."
"I'll see you both later!" Midoriya said, smiling while she turned and took off. Trying to resist the urge to swing to the exam was really difficult but somehow she managed, getting to the station in no time.
She was finally on her way to joining U.A., Itsuka beside her as it was supposed to be.
Nothing could ruin her good mood today!
Then Bakugou climbed aboard the train.