Chapter 24: Bonus Chapter/Epilogue

"Let me see 'em again!" Mitsuki demanded, holding her hand over the table and making grabby motions.

Izuku and Katsuki sighed, reaching for their new provisional licenses. They'd both passed, somehow, though Katsuki had cut it close when yelling with someone he was supposed to rescue. They'd come over to the Bakugou residence for dinner with Aizawa and Hizashi to celebrate. Inko wanted the chance to thank the two for looking out for Izuku for so long, too.

Dinner had finished a while ago, and now they were drinking tea and talking. Izuku and Katsuki had recounted different parts of the exam several times already.

It had been every bit as difficult as he'd expected. The other schools were prepared for UA, and their class had been targets right out of the gate. Even though Izuku hadn't been part of the sports festival, he'd been in the news enough they'd still been prepared for him.

At least they'd thought they were prepared. He grinned as he remembered blocking the first volley of attackers with a simple shield. He'd then grabbed a few of the projectiles with his flames and redirected them back at the students who'd thrown them, managing to tag two of the three targets he needed. The rest were able to block his first attack.

Katsuki hadn't stuck with him during the exam. They'd agreed beforehand that they both wanted to pass on their own merits, so they planned to ignore each other as much as possible. Once they knew what the first part of the exam was, Izuku tried to nix the plan. It was dumb to run off on their own when it would be a fight between classes, and they'd need each other to watch their backs. Katsuki wouldn't budge though.

Izuku wanted to tear his hair out. It was no wonder why he had issues asking for help sometimes, really.

At least they'd both made it through. Katsuki apparently had Kaminari to thank for his success, and Izuku had teamed up with Sero and Uraraka. He probably could have manipulated his fire to pinpoint his last target sooner than he had, but he'd been unwilling to leave his classmates like that. He'd passed in the end, and he was sure Aizawa and All Might would be proud at his efforts towards teamwork.

It was easier, somehow, to team up with his classmates. He hadn't needed to give it a second thought.

The rescue portion had been…interesting.

Even though they were actors, seeing someone stuck under rubble and covered in (fake) blood had freaked Izuku out, and he'd stumbled at first until finding his groove with everyone else.

Katsuki had again gone off with Kaminari and Kirishima, and Izuku could only imagine how that had gone. Katsuki didn't really have a comforting bedside manner.

He'd cut it close. He'd passed by only a few points, and he didn't seem happy about it.

It was better than Todoroki, who hadn't passed at all because he'd gotten in a fight with a kid from Shiketsu. And Izuku had questions about that, but they'd have to wait. Todoroki at least had the chance for some extra classes and an early retake of the exam with some other kids.

He hoped Endeavor wasn't too upset about it. He'd have to remember to check on Todoroki later.

"Ha, can you believe it, Inko?" Mitsuki said, leaning back in her chair and looking at the two licenses. "Our little brats are actually growing up."

Inko smiled beside Izuku and brushed her hand through his hair. "It's pretty incredible."

"They're both going to make amazing heroes," Hizashi said.

Aizawa grunted his agreement. After being out all day, he was probably close to his people limit. The fact they got him here at all was kind of impressive.

"So what's next for you boys?" Masaru asked.

"Work studies," Izuku replied. "They're like the internships, but we get to help more directly."

He would have to find a new agency to go to. He highly doubted Endeavor would welcome him back after Hosu, and it wouldn't feel right working for Endeavor without Todoroki.

"I need to talk with you about that later," Aizawa piped up. "Remind me before the end of the night."

Izuku tilted his head. "Okay?" He wasn't going to be benched from participating in the work studies, was he? As some kind of actual punishment for going after his dad the other night?

Aizawa didn't say anything more on it, and Mitsuki started teasing Katsuki about his internship with Best Jeanist, even pulling out her phone to show what his hair had looked like when he came home.

"You let someone play with your hair?" Izuku demanded. "I've never even been allowed to touch it!"

Katsuki grumbled and sank in his seat. "He was my supervisor, what was I supposed to do? But I'm not making that mistake again, he used so much damn hair gel…"

Izuku giggled. He'd missed family dinners like this. Aizawa and Hizashi had been great, but it wasn't family, not like this. This was home. He hadn't felt this content in years.

They stayed later than they should have; they were going to be late for the dorm curfew, which was kind of hilarious since they were with their teacher. Izuku had the chance to ask Aizawa about the work study while they walked back from the train station, Hizashi and Katsuki a little farther ahead.

"So, what did you want to talk about?"

"You have a potential work study agency lined up," Aizawa stated.

Well, that was certainly different than being told he couldn't participate. "Wha-really? Where?" Did he mean with him, since Izuku hadn't done the internship with him? Was he going to babysit Izuku during this?

"Sir Nighteye Agency."

Izuku stopped walking. "All Might's old sidekick?" Was this real life? He was seconds away from jumping up and down and screaming.

Aizawa grunted. "Don't get excited. It's because of the info we recovered from busting Dragon's operations. Nighteye has been working on the Reversal case for a few months now, and he's curious about you. He wants to meet up with you next weekend. It doesn't guarantee anything, but if you impress him he'll probably take you on."

Izuku's mind raced. The chance to work with All Might's old sidekick was incredible. Heck, just meeting him was a dream come true. He'd have to ask All Might how to impress him.

"I told you not to get excited," Aizawa muttered. "He's not easy to impress. And it looks like this deals with the Yakuza. I'd prefer none of my students getting into an altercation with them."

"Fair, but if any of your students had to, wouldn't you prefer it to be me?"

"Now you show self-confidence?" Aizawa glared at him.

Izuku grinned back.

Aizawa rolled his eyes and mumbled about problem children under his breath.

Izuku returned to the dorms with a spring in his step, and before he went to bed, he looked at his license one last time.

The Flaming Hero: Eclipse

He'd fought his father and come out victorious. That was one obstacle on his path to being a hero. Soon, his name would get out there and his reputation would surpass his father's. As a hero, he'd make up for everything his father did and then some.

It would start with this work study. He'd impress Nighteye, and they'd bring an end to this Reversal drug once and for all.

And whatever obstacles came up after that, well, he'd eclipse them, too.