"Did I not tell you how sweet this place is?"
"I-I-I-It is pr-pretty sw-sw-sweet."
Izuku and his new friend and fellow employee, Jirou, sat in a table booth in a pizzeria where she wanted both to meet.
And he can tell why she wanted to go here. Called Windknight's Lot Pizzeria, a local restaurant. Construction on the borderline between Mustafu and a sister city in the nineteen-seventies, the old age. Popular among the locals for its Medieval British theme and its seventy-seven kinds of pizza toppings. The two most favored pizzas are Blueford and Tarukus. The latter Jirou chose to order and while it was being made they talked of how they came upon All Around the World.
"Wait, let me get this straight again. You came upon the place when you saw a KISS-themed All Might figure?" Kyouka laughed, twirling a straw in her drink.
"Y-Yeah," Izuku grinned, "It wasn't until I f-f-found out it was a bootleg model figure and not an official one." Yet he still kept. Proudly displayed in his room along with the other All Might figures.
"That's hilarious. I just found it when it had that one scat album I was hunting for." She studied him. "You do know what that is, right?"
He nodded. The little encyclopedia that is his brain went to work. "Is a form of jazz singing where the singer uses their voice as an instrument with wordless and nonsense words or just plain gibberish. The most well-known is Scatman John in the very late nineteen-ninety, who had a severe shutter in his life but uses it as his advantage when it comes to his music. His most popular song called-"
"Okay, okay. No need for that." Kyouka motioned her hand to stop. "Just a simple yes or no. Though I'm kinda glad you know that rather than…" Her face scrunched up in disgust. "The other meaning."
The emerald boy chuckled as he understood her misfortune of understanding the other definition. "Yeah, I know the other meaning. Made a mistake on clicking on a link that I thought links to music sites with scat artists I wanted to listen to but instead-" He shuddered. "-it led me to that. I quickly went back to the previous page but for a while I got uncomfortable every time I used the bathroom."
Kyouka snigger. "I can't imagine. My old man told me the other meaning when he introduced me to jazz." She sipped her drink. "Speaking of dads, what about yours? I told you about mine being a musician so how 'bout you tell me what your old man does?"
"Mi-Mine father." He placed his chin on his palm glumly looking through the restaurant's window. "I ne-never knew my f-father. My mother ju-just te-tells me he wor-works overseas in the U.S.. He never vi-visits but se-sents child support money. Bu-But." He suddenly recalled several times he heard and saw his mom crying several nights in his life holding a small portrait of his father causing him to grip the restaurant's cup tightly. He scowled almost bearing teeth, anger rose in him as he tightened his grip on the cup more causing it to strain.
Kyouka, sensing she touched a sensitive topic seeing the rather scary expression on him, quickly dissolved the question. "Hey hey forget about it. You don't have to tell me about him if you're not comfortable. Sorry for bringing it up."
Izuku, hearing her voice, snapped up, blinked and sent an apologetic smile. "It's all right, it's ju-just I'm not u-u-used to talking about… him." Kyouka looked at him closely wondering if he was going to tell her why but when it seemed he was not going to talk any further she leaned back against her chair and shrugged her shoulders. "Cool cool, let's talk about something else then." She raised her head seeing the ceiling fan on low speed wondering what to talk about next. Izuku knew what he wanted to talk about, opening his mouth to start a new conversation.
"Here's your order. One Tarukus pizza, medium-sized."
Pushing and Roaring to the Limit
He froze at hearing a very similar chainsmokers voice. He slowly turned his head to see the one who brought their pizza. And lo and behold he sees Kowazou with a hat that's part of the pizzeria's employee's uniform somehow managing to fit under the rusty-color pompadour. He sets the circular tray that's carrying the pizza down, and slices it into perfectly shaped triangles. "Is there anything else you want?" said Kowazou, waiting patiently as an employee is trained to do so.
"We're cool," said Kyouka, thanking him. Not noticing Freckles freezing up like those street performers who painted themselves gold or silver then begin not moving. "But can I get a refill for this?" She held up her cup.
"Certainly." He took the cup and went to refill it.
"Oh man." She clapped her hands rubbing them together as she licked hungrily at the cheesy goodness. "This is going to be good." She took a slice and just as she's going to take a bite Kyouka paused when she noticed her emerald-hair music companion looking slack-jawed. "What's up?" She looked back seeing the same employee who was refilling her drink, upon seeing his features closely, was somewhere around their age. "You know that guy?" She asked, looking back at him.
Izuku snapped out of his gaze. He took a slice. "N-n-not exactly. Ma-maybe. We-we passed each others sev-several times."
"You guys go to the same school?"
"N-no different sch-schools."
She let out a 'ah'. It was somewhat reasonable. Both her and Freckles lived closer to each other, yet both of them went to different schools and both might have passed each other without realizing until the day at the store changed all that. They then ate the pizza when Kowazou came back with Jirou's drink. "Here you go, enjoy your meal." He left, not even giving a glance at them as both of them linger their gaze on him before returning to their meal.
They had an enjoyable time. Eating and talking/discussing the popularity of music in each century which it then turned into a rant by Kyouka when they came to the early twenty-first century - especially the two first two decades - of how terrible they are. Izuku manages to get her to change topics by asking her why British Punk is the Punk which she happily explains.
Some time later Izuku excuses himself to use the restroom which made Jirou crack a joke at him not trying to remember the other meaning of scathing, making Izuku let out a sarcastic laugh in response.
Washing his hands on the commercial sink after finishing his businesses, Izuku cheerfully whistled. 'This is great.' Izuku thought, not minding someone appearing beside him and washing his hands. 'A nice change of pace. Hanging out with a friend, training with the All Might to become the best, and not being a nervous wreck all the time is really taking a load off from my social anxiety. I thought I'd make a fool of myself in front of Jirou but nope this is great.' Turning off the faucet he went to grab a paper towel. 'Yup, a nice change of pace.' Just after drying his hands he felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see who it was only to be stupidly agape upon seeing the friendly smile of Kowazou.
"Hey Midoriya, how's it going," asked Kowazou in a friendly tone.
Izuku could only dumbly respond with a, "Uhhhhhhhh"
"Hey it's alright I ain't here to continue our beef. Or rather if it can even be called one since Shiho is the only one who cares."
"Sooo…," slowly Izuku said. Still deciding whether or not to follow his flight-or-fight instinct. Being in encounters like this so many times he could count the first thing Izuku always attempts to do is disperse it. "You don't care about this between us at all?"
"Not at all." Kemuri said, not bothered by Midoriya's fidgeting. "But this is a really good chance to apologize to you for what happened back then."
Izuku blinked in surprise. "Re-Really?"
"Yeah, but," Kemuri closed one of his eyes and lifted his shoulders, his head leaning against one of them. "I can apologize on behalf of myself and if Taihi was here he'll do the same but Shiho won't because, in his words, it's about the principles of being a delinquent. But anyway Izuku Midoriya." He took off his hat, placing it on his chest and bowed. "I'm sorry."
He couldn't speak, only stared at the delinquent who not only apologized but bowed even. The only one who ever said sorry to him in his life was his mom thinking it was her fault for not giving him a quirk and later for saying that instead of a yes to his teary question if he can be a hero like All Might which after her apology she told him he can be a hero.
It really made him happy for a long time when she told him that. But she was the only one. Nobody else did. Not his fellow classmates, for all the bullying, the malicious pranks, the slurs, and especially the beatings, the school staff who turned a blind eye and even punished him for 'provoking them' and defending himself. And Kacchan… well she was Kacchan but she'll ask them about her punishment whenever both her and him get into a fight. They just wave it off giving her a slap on the wrist which greatly infuriated her but didn't say nothing more but a 'just stay out of my way Deku' leaving him to the staff who give him ludicrous amounts of detention and after school cleaning which led to more beatings from those who waited for him. The many excuses Izuku gave to his mom were almost non-stop when she fretted asking him where he got so many bruises.
But it all stopped after he got his quirk. They just awkwardly mind their business when he was around. But did he expect at least one apology from them after all these years? No, none of them ever did. Even when years pass by, not one of those sonsabitches ever says at least a simple apology to him for the bull crap he took from them. He swears when he becomes a hero and sees one of them in immediate danger from a villain he just turns a blinde eye away from them and leaves them to their deaths and go straight to hel-
"Hey Midoriya, are you all right?"
He parted from those thoughts locked deep in him and saw Kowazou sending him a concerned look. "You uh got a dark look on ya. Are you mad at my apology?"
He shook his head and waved his hands frantically. "No no no no. It's not that. It-it-it's just I never had someone apologize to me before."
"No kid?" the rusty pompadour arch his brow. "Well guess I get the honor of being the first one then." He chuckled at the attempted joke Midoriya made, prompting Izuku to awkwardly laugh as well.
Kemuri checked his watch for the time. "Looks like my lunch break is about to be over. It was nice to see ya again Midoriya." He waved goodbye.
"Ye-yeah it wa-was nice to see you again too Kowazou," said Izuku with a slight wavering smile. Happy in knowing this didn't end in a full blown brawl but in a much more benevolent solution. Maybe acquiring a new friend in the process.
Just as Kemuri is about to exit the restroom he tells Izuku one more thing with a teasing tone. "Enjoy your date, Midoriya." And with that he left with a slight smirk.
Izuku's body stopped in motion, his eyes wide so comically it was dangerously close to popping out. Taking a few moments to register what Kowazou said before he responded. "It's a date?!" His wheezing voice rang in the empty restroom stall; it sounded like someone's throat was dry for days. He, too, left the restroom soon after all cherry red in the face.
"Man that hits the spot doesn't Freckles?" Kyouka stretched, feeling fully content with that cheesy goodness and the wonderful topping sitting just right in her stomach.
"Ye-Yeah," said Izuku, his face having a now less shade of red. He can not get Kemuri's words out of his head as it's very well hammered down.
"I still don't know why you gave that guy a big tip." Kyouka said, slightly recalling just as they were about to leave, the check paid, Izuku left a somewhat more generous tip than average.
"I ju-just fe-feel his service is gre-great," Izuku replied, remembering Kowazou giving him a wink and thumbs up of the supposed date just as he and Jirou left.
"Whatever. Hey, since it is still the afternoon, I wanna go to the arcade. I heard they put these really old fighting games. Really want to see how clunky they are and how dated the music is."
"Uhhh sure. Let's go."
They went to the arcade. Once there they went to the first newly-implemented fighting game arcade they saw. Picking any random character and duking it out just by mashing buttons. The slow pace, clunky movement and the obvious jank were apparent in the game but it didn't deteriorate the fun they had. It was a great time between them even when some people, who take their craft in fighting games seriously, pass by and scoff at the appalling display of gaming in their view.
But they didn't care, they just had fun. Trying each and every arcade game until an announcement from the intercom said they had a half-hour left before closing time. Checking to see how much coins they have left just to find out they're almost running out they decide to call it a day, leaving the arcade to go to other places before returning to their respective homes but not without enjoying each other's company as they walk.
But unknown to them this entire time a pair of red eyes stares at them in disbelief as Katsumi Bakugou grits her teeth in frustration, not believing the merry interactions before her. She hid herself using the arcade machines the moment she spotted them entering and during this entire time she didn't understand the ugly feeling she had in her chest as she witnessed Deku being happy, from which she recollects hasn't visibly bear that feeling for a long time, with someone she doesn't recognize. And with how that shit school has that 'everybody knows everybody' vibe going on Katsumi should be at least aware who that purple hair extra is but she's coming up with blanks.
A person behind her who was waiting for his turn for the arcade game she was playing hesitantly asked her. "Ummm are you finished cause I waited for my turn-" she lay out her hand and let out a few small pops terrifying him. "I'll go play another game then." He quickly scampers as fast as he can away from her.
And he did not, in fact, pee himself a little.
Closing the door Izuku came back home whistling a jolly tone after saying his goodbyes with Jirou, both of them had a great day today. He certainly had a good time on their not-a-date-just-friends-hanging-out day together with Jirou saying they should go again some other day. Something he wholeheartedly agreed on.
Hearing the click of the door open and then closing followed by the aforementioned whistled Inko looked behind her shoulder, sitting on the couch watching a trashy soap opera that she absolutely loved with Ranrou, who the owner allow to be inside (he couldn't say no to the sweetest family he ever met) laying beside asleep as she stroked his fur, seeing her son coming out of the front door taking off his brightly red shoes with a green heart pattern and carrying them.
"Welcome home sweetie. How was your day?" She asked, sending him a motherly smile. Delighted seeing her baby boy be this cheerful and unwind for a long time, a breath of fresh air not seeing the skittishness and tension usually in him imprinted in her memory for the majority of her motherhood.
"It was great. We had fun," he answered, petting Ranrou who was awoken by their voices and was happily excited to see his green-haired friend back home.
"I'm happy to hear but when am I going to meet this Jirou girl?" she asked. When she found out from him telling her he's going out with a friend she was ecstatic thinking he and Katsumi had patch up their friendship, noticing how distant they were with each other since they were four. But admittedly to her surprise it wasn't Katsumi but another girl named Kyouka Jirou who her son recently met and seems happy about. Setting that aside she is still happy that her baby boy made a friend - and a girl to boot - he can spend time with instead being in his room and training with Mr.Yagi at the beach most of the time.
"Some-someday mom. When she had a day off from her job." Slightly embarrassed, Izuku made his way to his room not before giving his mother a quick peck on her forehead, who happily accepted it.
"Well just let me know. I want this girl to somehow manage to sneak her way into my baby boy's heart and might be more than friends." She said with a teasing tone and a cheekily smile towards her son, who almost left her view but can totally tell his face turned scarlet.
"Mom!"
Someday later
"Just a few more, my boy, and we'll take a break after."
The voice of All Might informed him as Izuku lowered himself down again between two short chin-up bars All Might placed on the beach, holding on the metal pipes with a trying firm grip on them due to the sweat accumulated from his palm as he held his legs up vertically. The weight of the clothes he was wearing were light but now it felt like the materials they were made out of were replaced with lead.
'Control the center of your weight. Don't lose your balance on your grip or you're going to have to start over again.' Izuku gritted his teeth as he lifted himself up, his arms trembling. The sun was at its high point warming his body under the tracksuit, slowly roasting him. He can feel the sweat coating him all over to cool him but the heat is just unbearable. The only consultant helping him through this was his mentor's encouraging words and the eternal dream that was waiting for him to make it into a reality.
It's been weeks now since All Might revamped the American Dream plan and things were back on track. There were no setbacks and interference lately not including when the Number One Hero left to do hero work for a few days. Izuku was given manageable days off so he can work in his day job which before he used the days off of it for the days of the training regimen. And, to his silly excitement, gets to work with Jirou now that their work schedules are nearly identical.
Currently he's doing the dip-exercise to strengthen his upper body while trying to keep his legs afloat above the sandy ground. If he touches the ground, even a simple graze, he has to start all over again even if his arms are screaming in pain for him to stop.
As for learning Pankration there has been a… few bumps on the road of trying to get the style down to a T.
"All right young Midoriya, your first lesson is to push me."
"Push you?" Izuku asked ludicrously, not expecting the first lesson of the ancient art to push the Number One.
Toshonori nodded. "Yup, push me when I'm in 'puff' my hero form," replied All Might.
"Uhhh ok," said Izuku as he prepared himself in front of All Might firmly planting his feet on the sandy ground, taking a deep breath and then swiftly thrust his arms on the giant's midsection, pushing him with all his strength.
But All Might stood there not budging. Not even a single inch like an unmovable mountain against the harshest of climates Mother Earth has to offer.
"Come on young man," Izuku heard his idol say, "Is this really all you got? Even my grandmother can push me over, and she's dead." He said with a heartening laugh which made Izuku try even harder.
He tries to get in a better position and push again but All Might still won't even bulge. He then put his shoulder against the steel-like figure and pushed one more time with all his weight. He stopped, noting nothing isn't working so far until an idea pops up. He walked away from All Might who arched his brow wondering what his protégé was going to do next when Izuku ran back at him, full speed, and collided in a tackle against him hoping he could finally push the Number One Hero. Instead, he crashed like a test dummy and roughly landed on the sand groaning in pain as All Might couldn't help but pour out beans of sweat from his head in a form of dumbfoundedness at his successor's last attempt to push him.
"Uhhhhh take five?"
Lessons he then learned first started with the wrestling aspect, or lower Pankration as it is called, beginning with the locks-
"And this is called the arm bar," Toshinori, in his normal form, demonstrated to Izuku as both of them were on the ground with the blond lying perpendicular to the emerald boy, both of his legs entrapping Izuke's arm and his wrist held tightly by the Number One's callous hands. It was quite a painful learning experience for Izuku, feeling his arm might snap off. "And if I put more pressure on it I can break the arm and possibly pierce your skin with your humerus bone, you got that?"
Izuku couldn't speak because of his mentor's leg covering his mouth so he gave a thumbs up to confirm he understood it.
Then the chokes-
" This next one is called the rear naked choke," All Might, now in his hero form, taught, his arms wrapping around young Midoriya's neck not too tightly but enough to keep him airborne, his legs dangling like noodles. " Great to stop a rambunctious villain and if they're still rowdy." Izuku felt the tree trunk-like arms tighten, starting to make it hard to breathe. " Put more pressure in ten seconds or less and they'll go unconscious." All Might then felt Izuku's hand tapping his arm repeatedly in desperation, making him check just to see a blue face. " Oh crap! I'm sorry!"
The takedowns, and the kick techniques especially one that is called, literally, kicking in the stomach.
" This one is very important, my boy," said All Might as he and Izuku stood with some space between them. " All you have to do is kick me in my non-existent stomach."
"Kick you in the stomach?!"
" That's right,'" he patted his belly. " Right here. One good kick and it will take the wind out of them, and possibly internal bleeding if you really let it lose. So kick me in the non-existent stomach young man. Don't worry it won't hurt since there's nothing there." He paused for a moment. " I think."
And then lastly the… unsavory moves.
"And remember young Midoriya if the villain is becoming more trouble than they're worth then gouge them, hit them in the groin, break their bones or knee them to the head until they yield." The Number One lists off, not noticing his protégé's unsettled expression.
Izuku awkwardly asks the Symbol of Peace, not expecting to hear such violent ways to stop a villain from him. "Are they really necessary?"
Toshinori wisely nodded. "Yes."
And from there he also learned other wrestling forms such as the Nordic's Glima, France's Gouren, Britain's Freestyle, Brazil's Luta Livre and many more. He also learned such things from them such as grappling, clinching, and the mount positions. Something All Might observed when training him, noting how quickly the emerald boy learned them like a sponge.
And now he's going to learn the striking aspect of Pankration that went beyond its origin: Boxing.
"And fifty, all right young Midoriya take five."
He let go and dropped like a bowling ball with the sand cushioning him. Izuku could be annoyed that he's going to have sand stick on him again for days but he could care less on the matter as he quickly unzips his tracksuit and lets out a sigh of sweet relief when the cool sea breeze hits his sweaty upper body that glistens under the sun with the black tank-top, rising up and down from his quick breathing, fully wet from the sweat gluing to his skin.
He felt the tongue of his faithful friend licking his face in a form of comfort making Izuku giggle. The light under his eyelids darkens more, making him open them to see All Might with a hand out to him. He simply grabbed it and was pulled up. His legs felt like jello once he stood on his feet, wobbling if it was set off by an earthquake that occurred. He wouldn't have fallen back on the ground again if it was All Might who quickly caught him.
"Woah there my boy, steady yourself for a bit to regain your balance. Use your quirk if you have to."
Izuku shook his head no. The pain in his lungs couldn't let him after doing that simply two sets of the dip-exercise he felt other people can do with ease. He tried to hold himself but almost again ended up tumbling down if he didn't grab the metal pipe of the chin-up bar.
"Can you still continue?" he heard All Might questioning him with a concerned voice that almost sounded like a… parent? That's weird.
"Ye-Yeah," he said in a hoarse tired voice, "I can still go on. Just… I can really use that five minutes."
"Are you sure?"
Izuku bobbed his head. "I'm not gonna call it a day because of this."
He felt his arm placed around the blond mentor's shoulder. "All right, but you are still going to take the five minute break. And if I see your body giving out I'm calling it alright young man?"
Izuku couldn't help but smile and said a simple yes as both teacher and student (and dog) went to a bench that was found in the small hills of garbage that is getting smaller and smaller everyday. Clean and sanitize by the Number One Cleaner of course.
Toshinori sat his young successor down on the bench and went to his truck to get the protein shakes and small snacks. The American Dream plan has been plain sailing even if he's away or if young Midoriya is stuck in trying to get a technique down to a T. He still worries if he or young Midoriya are overdoing the training but no complications appear whatsoever.
He got the snacks and drinks and went back. If he has to be honest he thought the training would be disastrous due to his very, very, very limited ways of teaching. The Number One Hero won't sugarcoat it; he wasn't good at being a teacher even if a student isn't his successor. He guess the reason why young Midoriya was able to learn the wrestling lessons like a natural was because he, himself, knows those styles. Learning them since high-school and college with the help of foreign-exchanged students he still has connections to today. And since boxing he knows very well too is coming up, then his successor will be able to learn them rapidly as well. But there's one thing he dreads to teach young Midoriya.
How to use [One For All].
But he'll cross that bridge when they get there.
He sat next to the green fluff who petted his dog and whistled to the tune of an eighties song that was being played from the boombox.
"Here you go my lad," he passed a protein shake to Izuku who took it and drank it slowly. Remembering to take it easier than last time he drank it when training for [One for All]. "After this we'll now move onward to boxing. It's going to be different from wrestling."
"How different?" Izuku asked, savory the chocolate flavor of the protein shake.
"The main thing is, unlike almost all wrestling styles, boxing is fighting standing up. Just like with wrestling it was said it started all the way back in Ancient Greece invented by the Ancient hero, Theseus, who fought the guardian beast of the Labyrinth, the Minotaur."
He explains further with Izuku paying full attention. "Since then boxing became widespread across the world becoming one of the most popular sports and one of the surviving sports in the post-quirk age to still be organized with many, many mortified rules to accustomed to a boxer's quirk. Albeit that only applies to high-profile organizations. The majority of the sport went underground. Either in small promotions or unsanctioned underground fights with no rules or weight classes that adjust a boxer's quirk."
He holds up three fingers. "There are three styles of boxing and each of them follows the rock-paper-scissors rule where one style can beat the other but couldn't with the third.
"The out-fighter, who utilize distance, range, fast and short techniques, and quick footwork, the best out-fighter example will be, and one of my personal heroes and inspirations, the one who is the greatest in the world: Muhammad Ali of the Twentieth century.
"The second style is the brawler or slugger. Just as the names suggest. They forego any strategies and footwork, instead they make it up with their sheer punching power hoping to bring their opponent with a powerful punch and they can take as many punches just as throwing them. They tend to be slow, leading them to be open up to the other to counter punch. The best examples of them are George Freeman, Rocky Marciano, and John L.Sullivan.
"And lastly the third one is the swarmer or in-fighter. This is the one I used the most way back then in my early years. This style is to get close to the opponent and let it all out using a flurry of punches while not letting the opponent have any breathing room. Most boxers have short statutes and they use it to their advantage to get close as much as possible while dodging any punches sent their way. The best examples of them are Mike Tyson, Jack Dempsey, Joe Frazier, Manny Pacquiao, and…" Toshinori's face turned to disdain. "...Balrog, a boxer today who is well known for using under-hand tactics to win."
"Anyway," he shook his head. "That's the three of them and each of them had their own sub-styles which we'll get to later. Not only that, it is not uncommon for a boxer to mix all three of them together. But for right now we'll focus on the first style I think suits you more effectively."
"Really?" Izuke asked, excited about which one he'll learn next. "Which one?"
Toshinori smirks at his successor's enthusiasm. "In-fighter."
Someday later
In another city sitting next to Mustafu three boys are walking home from school discussing the incident that happened to one of them the other day. "He was right there and instead of teaching him a lesson you made a friendly chat with him and even apologized?" Shiho said, not believing what his bud was saying.
"I was working and he genuinely seemed like a cool dude once I talked to him. He was even going out with this cute chick who looked like she belonged in one of those punk bands. That big tip also helps." Kemuri said.
Shohi was not amused to hear from Kemuri that he had a run in with Midoriya while working and didn't do anything. "It doesn't matter if you were working you could have slugged him there and there. It would be even better if that old lady of his also saw his lights knocked out to see how pathetic he is."
Taihi, who was silent on the matter, arched his brow. "Old lady?"
"I was raised in the countryside. You know how I talked." Shohi responded before turning his head back to Kemuri who looked indifferent at the subject matter they were discussing. "Come on Kemuri. You have to at least haze him."
"Nope." was his buddy's answer.
The black pompadour let out an annoyed groan. "We're delinquents. We follow the delinquent code. If we don't even punch the hell out of Midoriya then we bring shame to the code." He then looked abashed. "Even if we were in the wrong is the principle that matters."
The other two pompadours mutter in agreement.
Taihi decided to change the conversation to the one that concerns them the most. "You guys heard what the people in Bakura High are talking about?"
"Oh yeah, I heard," Shohi responded. His face and voice turn serious. "A gang in Ambria High is planning to come over to our turf and take over. Like hell I'm gonna let that happen. The moment they put one step here I'll make them regret even having the thought of wanting to take over our turf."
"I don't know man," Taihi became anxious. "From what I heard that gang has at least one hundred members. I even heard they took over their school and the school admission can't do anything to stop them or else they'll be screwed by them. Like, really screwed."
Shohi, in an attempt to relax his buds, put his arms around their shoulders and patted them to ease their worries. "Have no worries dudes, as long as I have both of you I know we can take them on, even if they have a hundred. Not only that." He slyly smirks. "We have our quirks. With them we can't lose to those posers. So come on, what do you say? You guys got my back?"
Both of them stood in silence, pondering what they should do, then nonchalantly responded.
"All right."
"Whatever."
Shohi happily smiles one-arm hugging them, prompting the other two to smile and hug him back. "Yeah! That's the spirit! The three of us can take on everything as long as we have each other's back."
Then something caught the black pompadour's eye. His breath hitch, not believing his day turned rather lucky. "But we'll deal with that later. Right now we have this to finish with."
The other two were confused. Taihi was the first one to voice out. "Deal with what?"
He jerked his head forward causing the other two to see what's in front of them. What they saw was a person in a light green tracksuit with the hood over their head running a light jog. Both Taihi and Kemuri didn't know who this person was, which made Shohi get excited judging by those maniac eyes he's exhibiting full display. They looked up and down when they finally figured out who thanks to a pair of red sneakers with its distinct green hearts pattern that popped out.
They had rather disbelieving looks while Shohi had a devious one, not caring for the slightest reason why Midoriya was on their turf. "Oh ho ho ho. Today is our lucky day. I don't know why he's here but I'm going to finish this right now." he dislodged himself from them and quietly ran up to Midoriya.
The other two, with nervous anxiety, look on as their leader sneaks up as fast he could to catch Midoriya in surprise like a hunter to an unsuspecting deer.
Izuku ran across the street in a light jog that acted as the resting period in his interval training. He was out of his home city and in a neighboring one. The reason he was running in this city was because All Might wanted to increase his cardio and stamina. Highlighting routes and streets where he runs from point A to Point B. Some were quite short, ranging one mile to three miles, and thankfully this is one of the short ones. But the majority of them were ridiculously long. Ranging from four to a whopping ten. Running across places he was familiar with to other places he had never been to in his entire life despite living in the city since birth. Other cities neighboring Mustafu were also used as his running ground. And while Izuku wants to explore these strange and unknown places these sub-worlds hold, he keeps on running to further the process of the ADP.
His boxing lessons are going rather smoothly too. Learning the rules from the old age and today's from small booklets. Gaining his own boxing gloves, a gift from All Might that he'll cherish greatly. He, however, later learns they don't completely protect his hand, a misconception he thought was true, instead cushioning them enough he would only feel a stingful pain but packs an added wallop to anyone who receives his punches.
With those first two established lessons in boxing, All Might started him with the first one that is considered the most essential. The jab.
"All right, young Midoriya. Which hand do you use the most?"
"Um, the right one," Izuku answered, raising his right hand.
"That means your left hand will be your jab," Toshinori exclaimed. "Now punch me with your left hand."
Already used to All Might's instant orders, Izuku threw a left directly at All Might's upper body. It hit the mark but he threw it so awkwardly one would mistake it if he was hitting him with an imaginary hammer.
"Okay... spotted several mistakes but that's alright we'll correct them until you'll throw one perfectly." Toshinori said, can't help but internally cringe by the appalling motion that shouldn't even be called a punch. "First you have to fully extend your arm straight when throwing a jab. Now again."
Izuku threw a jab again but fully extended his arm straight this time. Just like last time he hit All Might's chest awkwardly butswiftly draw back, hissing and soothing his knuckles to wash away the smarting pain. He sent a quizzing look at his favorite hero's body. Just what does he eat? Literal iron or something? Does [One for All] have a defensive mechanism? Before he goes on in one of his mumbled sprees, All Might reel him back in.
Toshinori snapped his finger. "Gotta get gloves and wrapping tape later. But good try except you stiffen your whole arm when you launch that jab. Relax your arm and hand and still loosen them when you throw but the moment you hit harden them immediately. It sounds complicated, but with practice and effort you'll be able to throw one perfectly. Now again."
He did it again once. He relaxed his arm, his fist loosen. He threw the jab, fully extended, and when it was about to land on All Might he stiffened as possible. The moment he hit All Might the impact was instantly noticeable. It hurt his hand more but All Might let out a small groan. Not from the pain, oh no he didn't feel that, but from the impact.
Izuku inhaled and exhaled, small golden sparks danced around his hand, washing away the pain. He shook it off to wear out the remaining numbing that still lingers.
Toshinori inspected his chest not expecting the jab to hold a respectable punch power from a sloppy execution. Young Midoriya offered to heal him but he declined, saying he dealt worse and praised the emerald dreamer. "That was a great young Midoriya. Now that we know what we're working with, I'll get the equipment and tomorrow we're going to your boxing lessons."
From that day forward along with cleaning up the beach, wrestling, and other physical training, boxing has been added to the curriculum. Learning the in and outs of the style. From the punches to the defensive postures to the footwork and to parts of the body he inflicts for optimal damage.
Back to reality he perked up when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket signaling his recovery period was over.
Just as Shohi was about to ambush him, Izuku did a full-burst sprint. Going fast on his feet, an observer will make an exaggerated comment that he was going fast as a speedy bullet.
Shohi, along with Kemuri and Taihi, just stood there dumbly watching Izuku run with a small dust cloud trailing him. Shohi then flatly said.
"Okay, let's plan our fight against the Ambria gang."
(Montage) (1)
Izuku jump rope doing the speed step variation. Half an hour had passed and he had half an hour left.
He did push ups with one arm and each time he pushed himself up he quickly switched one arm with the other.
Moving around, he unleashes quick jabs in the direction of All Might's head where the Symbol of Peace holds mitts in front of his head. He then shouted at Izuku to do a right cross.
Carry Ranrou, who is enjoying the wind against his muzzle and fur, on his shoulders he ran all around Musutafu in a set course with the beach being the starting and end point.
Squeezing and unsqueezing the gripper underneath his desk as Izuku mindlessly answers questions on a test in school with no one around noticing it except Katsumi who sent curious glances at him.
Pulling two large refrigerators put together by ropes the successor took each step with great difficulty as the predecessor was on top on the right in his hero form reading a newspaper while the dog was sleeping on the other.
He let a devastating body blow on the Symbol of Peace who stumbled a bit, then slapped the chest guard and shouted at him to use his quirk this time.
Fifteen minutes had passed and he switched to the criss-cross jump rope variation, going faster.
Toshinori swung a medicine ball over his head and hit Izuku on his stomach who is doing a set of the v-variation of sit-ups.
Down the street he slowed down in front of a store and waved at Jirou who saw him and happily waved back and resumed his running.
Izuku bobbed and weaved dodging and evading tennis balls thrown by All Might in his normal form as Ranrou gather the tossed ones one-by-one and return them back to the Number One Hero.
Clinching standing up, Izuku tried to bring All Might down using his quirk for aid as the blond giant resisted back in his hero form.
Five minutes passed and Izuku swung the rope faster, blurring in motion, jumping as much as he could for the remaining time.
Each day the amount of garbage on the beach is noticeablyshorten little by little.
Now on the road that leads to the parking lot of the beach he turns full-sprint while getting a good hold on his dog.
His legs screamed at him to stop as he kept running. He then sees sand on the side of the road making him run even faster as before.
The timer rang, telling him it was over. He let go of the jumping rope and dropped to his knees breathing hard. Relishing in managing to finish.
Closer and closer he didn't stop until he made it to the parking lot, and into the beach. He fell face forward on the sand. Ranrou, not hurt by the fall, got off of him and barked happily. Toshinori pressed a button on a stop watch and proudly smiled.
"Well done my boy. You broke a new record."
Izuku let out a weak 'yeah' and gave out a thumbs up.
A/N: (1) In the A03 version, which is not at all different, (Montage) is also a link to an 80s song called Keep on Working by Dwight Twilley. Like I told the in endnotes on that site I'm gonna make this story as 80s as possible.