The first four chapters have been pretty harsh, this chapter is more fluff with some character development. I wanted to break it up some before they go back to school. That being said lets go.

Friday-

Izuku planned to visit the mall after class on Friday, and Pony joined him outside the entrance to wait for the girls from 1-A. She wore well-fitted blue jeans and a white t-shirt featuring an American flag shaped like a skull.

Izuku was dressed in blue jeans and a black long-sleeve compression shirt. When Pony asked if he had other options, he admitted he didn't. However, he did mention that he had purchased multiple shirts of the same kind since they were on clearance. Pony insisted that he get more variety in his wardrobe and promised he would have more options after today.

A large part of the heroic class had returned to class today, with the rest of 1-B to return on Monday; they watched the trickle of students come out. Reiko spotted them immediately and came over with a small spring in her step as her eyes fell on Izuku. His classmates gave them a wave and offered excitement at having the class together again soon.

When 1-A exited, Izuku received mostly glares from boys as the Momo, Toru, and Kyoka made their way over with a smile; they were followed by a girl with green hair and a frog quirk. The girl walked over and bowed to the trio from 1-B.

"I would like to apologize for my actions in the brawl Tuesday; my emotions got the better of me when I saw Mina get attacked."

"There is nothing to apologize for; I should apologize for slamming you into the table," Reiko said, returning the girl's bow. "I hope this has not taken away any opportunity we may have of being friends."

The other three bowed. "No, we would love to be friends; you suffered the most from Bakugo's rampage. If you are willing, we would love nothing more." Momo said.

Reiko smiled as she lifted her head, "Then let us be friends then; please call me Reiko."

"Call me Tsu," the girl replied, "I would appreciate it if you two did also." She added, directing her comments to Pony and Izuku.

It wasn't until the group started walking towards the train station that Izuku came to the dawning recognition that he was the only guy with six girls, very pretty, beautiful, and intelligent girls. Though he had just met Tsu, she seemed rather nice. He wished Hiryu was here, but he had a scheduled call with this family, so Izuku understood his absence. He tried not to dwell on the group dynamic too much, but his brain became acutely aware as they crowded onto the train. They all smelled so lovely, so distinct.

The ride was not too long as they disembarked with a crowd and made their way to the mall; Izuku stopped and stared for a moment; Momo asked. "Is this your first time to a mall?"

Izuku nodded, "There was a shopping center with a discount clothing store near where I lived, so that is where I bought all my clothes. I always thought about going, and honestly, I wondered what it would be like to go with friends. It makes me happy; you know. Something to cross off the bucket list."

"Well, cross it off, Green Bean. " Kyoka said as she lightly poked his side with her jack, causing a giggle from Izuku as his hands flew to his mouth. "What was that?" Kyoka said, laughing.

"Are you susceptible to tickles, Izuku?" Reiko asked inquisitively with her finger by her mouth, her head tilting to the side.

To cute! Was all Izuku mind could immediately process. "Well, that phone won't buy itself," he said, blushing and walking towards the mall.

The girls laughed and walked after him, "Don't be shy, Izuku; I am susceptible to them as well, a fact my father regularly exploits," Reiko said as she caught up to him.

"You know I always wanted to go with friends to the mall as well," Momo added.

"You have never been to the mall with friends either?" asked Pony.

"No, I was home-schooled; it wasn't until I came to U.A. that I have ever been able to interact with people my age outside of balls or garden parties." The heiress said.

"Well then, let's have a great time then for Momo and Izuku," Toru said, pumping her fist into the air.

"Yes, we should do our best to have some fun, Kero," Tsu said, "Besides, this first week of school has been anything but fun."

"Yes, this first week will not be forgotten easily," Pony said.

After quickly checking the directory, they went to the phone store, as Momo told the others about the first heroics class.

"And after she convinces us of her plot and we help her escape, she executed us with a paintball gun!" Kyoka said. "I had to wash my hair three times to get it out."

"I am sorry, Kyoka," Momo said, hiding her mouth as she chuckled. "Ah, here we are."

The group entered and walked over to the phones; Izuku looked utterly lost; turning to the girls with a look of a deer in the headlights, he mouthed the words "HELP." They all laughed before setting about helping their quirkless friend. Momo first asked budget before they moved around the store looking at different phones; each girl could help him narrow down his choices, helping him avoid getting something with too little storage or insufficient resolution. As he made his purchase, Pony spied an excellent phone case with a black sword inlaid on it; she picked it up with a smile. "I am going to buy this for you, Izuku." She said.

"Pony, you don't need to do that," Izuku protested.

"You are correct, but I want to as a way for you to remember your first shopping trip."

"I don't think I would ever forget but thank you, Pony."

Kyoka bought him a pair of wireless earbuds, which she insisted on. Izuku didn't know what to say. He just looked at the girls, "Thank you both so much; you don't truly understand what this means to me. Would it be inappropriate if I hugged you?"

Pony blushed slightly as she hugged him. First, Kyoka was a fiery red as she said, "It is not a big deal, but if you want to?" She blushed harder when he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight.

They stepped out with his new phone securely in its case; Izuku couldn't stop smiling. "Can I have your phone numbers? You don't have to if you don't want to."

Reiko stepped up first, "It would bring me much delight to share phone numbers with you."

Izuku smiled, "Thank you, Reiko… how do we do that."

Toru laughed and said, "Here, I will show you."

When the chime of shared contacts came from his phone, Izuku was beaming; then, when the other girls stepped forward to do the same, he couldn't stop smiling. "Now what? Do we have to leave now?" he said, hoping the answer was no.

"Oh, no, green bean, we are going to get you some new shirts," Kyoka said.

"Yes, Kyoka, I very much agree; all he owns are those compression shirts."

"That is terrible, though it shows off your very nice muscles, Kero," Tsu said without shame.

"TSU," Momo said, slightly shocked.

"What? He has very nice muscles; I say what's on my mind."

Izuku blushed, "Well, I have quite a bit of extra money right now; some new clothes would be nice."

Together, they strolled and visited various stores, with the girls occasionally stepping inside to browse and seek Izuku's input. Though he didn't entirely comprehend their fascination with fashion, he recalled Inka's pointers and provided complimentary remarks. While exploring clothing boutiques, he selected several new shirts for himself. To his surprise, each girl gifted him a shirt - Tsu apologized for the scuffle, while the others from 1-A expressed gratitude for his guidance in training them, Pony, and Reiko, due to their friendship. Although Izuku found the outpouring of affection slightly overwhelming, he graciously accepted their thoughtful presents and felt content.

They had a splendid evening after enjoying a meal at Big Belly Burger. They even taught Izuku to take pictures with his phone and capture memories together. Momo arranged for a car to drop everyone off at their respective destinations. Izuku expressed his gratitude to the girls for the fantastic day and hoped to repeat such an experience, preferably with more classmates joining them. Pony and he walked off to the dorms laughing and carrying on.

-Limo-

"That was a delightful outing; thank you again for the ride home, Momo," Reiko said as the car drove away from the campus.

"It was rather pleasant. I would very much like to do it again," Momo responded.

"Izuku seemed to have a perfect time," Toru said.

"It was nice to see that he is normal; during the fight and training, he is so confident; I was cool to see him act like a dork," Kyoka said.

"I didn't notice it during the fight, but he is hot," Tsu said, causing the car to go silent. "I can't be the only one that thinks so. Ribbit."

"No, Izuku is very handsome," Reiko added quietly, a blush on her cheeks.

Momo blushed and smiled, "I wouldn't go that far, Tsu, but he is rather nice."

"I would play tickle fight with him anytime," Toru said, causing the car to erupt into laughter.

Quietly, Kyoka said, "You are not wrong, Tsu, you are not wrong."

The rest of the ride home, the girls talked about class and weekend plans; foundations of friendship were laid down that evening.

-Izuku-

After saying goodnight to Pony, much like a kid with a new toy, he knocked on Hiryu's door to get the boys' phone number. They only talked briefly before Hiryu excused himself from the conversation, citing that he was going to bed. Izuku decided to shower before calling it a night; he was settling down when his phone chimed. Unsure, he looked at it to see he had received his first text message.

Reiko: I hope I did not wake you, Izuku; I just wanted to say I had a lot of fun today.

Izuku: I did, too; thank you for coming with me; I enjoyed it.

Reiko: That is good to hear. If you had no plans tomorrow, you would be amenable to attending the aquarium with me. My father gave me two tickets and I would very much like it if you would do me the honor of accompanying me.

Izuku: That sounds like fun, but I have plans for the morning. Could we go in the afternoon?

Reiko: Yes, we could meet at the aquarium at 2 pm.

Izuku: I can do that; I look forward to seeing you tomorrow. Just send me the address as I have never been.

Reiko: I will do so; I will see you tomorrow. Goodnight Izuku.

Izuku: Goodnight, Reiko.

Izuku set his phone down, set an early alarm, settling down to sleep. A stray thought slipped into his mind just as he was about to sleep. Aquarium? Alone with a girl? On the weekend? IS THIS A DATE? Like many before him and many that would follow, sleep would be hard to acquire when such thoughts enter someone's mind.

The morning came a little bit sooner than Izuku could have wanted, but undeterred, he awoke dressed in his usual attire but making sure to pack a change of clothes for later in the day; he exited the dorms and began his trek to the soup kitchen. He wanted to visit his friends and talk with Inka about the possibility of what would happen later in the day, being a date.

Inka and Silk were there to greet him as he entered through the employee entrance. They hugged briefly before getting to work on the breakfast of the hungry folk that would soon be filling the hall. The conversation quickly turned to his first week of school as the others arrived. The staff swore Bloody vengeance when Izuku told them about the brawl in the lunchroom; their bloodlust was slightly sated when they told them about Bakugo being expelled from the hero course and arrested. Inka paid close attention to Izuku when he talked of Reiko; she had a knowing smirk when Izuku pulled her aside to talk about his rendezvous with a said girl later at the aquarium. Inka asked, "Do you want it to be a date?"

Izuku stopped and pondered it. "I don't know, in the context of getting to know her better. Then yes. I don't know if in a romantic sense. It doesn't feel the same as with Ana."

"That's good, and nothing ever will feel exactly like that again. If it does, then it isn't real. Also, it is perfectly ok for you not to know Izuku. Many lovely ladies surround you, and some are interested in you. They are probably trying to figure it out for themselves as well. Remember, the mystery of life isn't a problem to solve but a reality to experience."

"Enjoy the moment?"

"How many moments are you guaranteed?"

"Simply two, birth and death, and we control neither."

"Then enjoy this one, my Izuku, but for the love of god, tell me you are not wearing that to this "date"?" Inka said while motioning to his clothes.

Izuku smiled. "No, I brought a change of clothes."

Izuku enjoyed catching up with the other workers the rest of the morning, exchanging phone numbers, and taking pictures. He found that he enjoyed capturing memories, something he could revisit. When Ando came in, Izuku ran out to hug her and talk; she was excited to see him and hear about his first week; not wanting to worry her, he gave her a sanitized version of events. The trained psychologist raised an eyebrow and stared him down till he gave most of the truth, leaving out his confrontation with Hound Dog and Mr. Aizawa.

After the breakfast service ended and the staff cleaned up, Inka let him shower quickly and get ready for this date. She kissed his cheek after styling his hair and ensuring he was presentable.

"Advice?"

Silk stepped over to the boy, "As soon as somebody falls in love, all the wits seem to dribble out the bottom of his head."

Izuku laughed, "I will keep that in mind, Silk; thanks, I guess."

Izuku smiled and headed out the door, bound for the aquarium.

-Reiko Friday Night-

Reiko stepped out of the limo and entered her home; her mother greeted her; the two women nodded to each other and immediately moved to the kitchen. Wordlessly they moved into a quick routine of preparing tea. Once the tea was brewing, Reiko quickly disappeared into her room, removing her uniform, and changing into an oversized shirt and shorts before returning to the kitchen as her mother set the cookies on the table and took her seat. Reiko took her seat; both women were silent until tea was served.

"How was your return to school?"

"Pleasant, except for a handful of missing classmates; it was good to be back."

"When will the full complement return?"

"Monday."

"Are you far behind in your assignments?"

"No, Vlad Sensei ensured I was sent all my assignments while I sat out after the incident."

"Your trip to the mall?"

"Very Pleasant, It was a large group. Izuku and Momo had never been to the mall, let alone with friends, so it was an endearing experience. We were joined by an additional girl from 1-A who apologized for her role in the incident. I also apologized as I slammed her onto a table. At least no ill will is being harbored from them."

"Is there anything else?"

"Yes, I am fairly certain that I am not alone in my affections for Izuku."

"How many others?"

"The new girl Tsu is her name, quite openly complimented his muscles and called him hot; Toru agreed with the statement, and Momo stated that while finding him physically appealing, he would want to get to know him better. I fear her interest may increase once she finds out he is brilliant. I was unsure of Kyoka until Izuku hugged her in thanks for a gift. I suspect she may like him more than her classmates. I believe Pony is a fierce rival due to her proximity and friendly nature; he carried her from the gym to their dorms after they worked out. They were able to exchange friendly banter. Also, he has been teaching her Japanese for at least two weeks before starting school."

"How does this make you feel?"

"Uncertain, Izuku made quite an impression during the practical exam. I find him most visually appealing, finding that not only did he make it into the heroic class but that he has done so while quirkless raised him even higher in my mind. I understand the scars; they are troubling, but I feel I understand after reflection. He has managed to unite our class and offers to help others without motivation for personal gain. It is all rather inspiring; with all that happened, I fear it can be a set of extraordinary circumstances fueling this crush."

"He appeared mysteriously at the exam to enflame your mind, only to disappear before you could find more. Upon starting class again, you find him appearing in your life, yet this time you find hardships and trials that he has faced to be there. He had a life of tragedy and discrimination, yet he made his way to the esteemed U.A. The incident further reinforces the discrimination he has faced increasing the fantasy."

"Exactly, Mother, I am racked with unfamiliar thoughts. I am unfamiliar with these feelings; while there were a few boys I found attractive in school before, it was more of a passing fancy; after talking and learning more about them, it faded."

"Have you had a direct conversation with Izuku? Some but not really. There were always others present, and we only had 1 ½ days of class before the incident. Though he has a cell phone, the possibility of a conversation has increased."

"So, you have possible romantic rivals, but you are unsure you want to pursue Izuku romantically."

"That is correct; I am seeking counsel on how to proceed."

"Ask him out on a date?"

"A date? But Mother…"

"A date is a way of getting to know someone better in an intimate setting; once a physical attraction is established, a date is a way to see if a mental attraction can be established. Suppose you find something there that you wish to pursue further. Three things will happen; you will find that you neither want to be friends nor pursue romantic involvement, which I find highly unlikely. Two, that the path of friendship is the best course. Three that you are interested in more than a superficial manner and wish to pursue him romantically."

"That makes sense. But how do I go about that? I do not think I have built the confidence to ask him on a date."

"Then don't. Use the extra ticket excuse. He is a nice young man; he will accept first and may realize later the implications."

"Extra ticket?"

"Oh, I have this extra ticket, and the person I would go with canceled. Would you like to go with me?" Her mother said in a fake sweet voice. "Works almost every time. That is how I got your father to go on a date."

Reiko raised an eyebrow, "Where did you two goes?" realizing she didn't know much about her parent's courtship, she had always thought that her father had relentlessly pursued her mother.

"We went to an aquarium, then I talked him into dinner, and at the end, I did a wall slam and claimed his lips for a minimum of 20 minutes, then went home."

"MOTHER," Reiko exclaimed, her face going red.

"I found your father attractive and was not about to let him go very easily. We may have a cool demeanor for the world, but our blood burns hotter than most. People will mistake our lack of emotion for lack of passion; they are very wrong."

"I would like to take him to the aquarium."

"Good, then go tell him. Let him suggest a time, and I will buy the tickets."

Reiko jumped off her seat and ran to her room; from the living room, a voice called out. "Did you have to tell her about the wall slam?"

"I did, and in fact, I want you in the room as soon as I am done buying these tickets for our daughter."

"Yes, dear,"

-Date Day-

As Reiko got off the train, she felt a rush of butterflies in her stomach. She had been nervous all morning, especially about her choice of clothing. She sought her mother's advice and wore a navy-blue blouse that complemented her pale skin and accentuated her waist, a black wide-brim hat, a simple silver chain, earrings, a black skirt, and matching heeled sandals. She hoped that her date would appreciate her outfit. During the journey, she indulged in daydreaming about what she wanted to happen on this date, but she knew she couldn't let her flights of fancy and hormones take over. Slamming a wall was out of the question.

As she stepped off the mode of transportation, she felt hopeful that her expectations of him were accurate and that he would exceed them. She could feel her heart beating rapidly as she spotted him standing beneath the clock. He looked dashing in a fitted dark green button-down shirt, showcasing his toned physique with rolled sleeves revealing his muscled forearms. His black pants and shoes completed the look. Her cheeks reddened slightly as she noted that he had even styled his hair for their meeting, showing that he had put effort into it.

He noticed her approaching, standing to greet her properly; she opened with the typical greeting of "Hello Izuku, I hope you were not waiting long."

He replied with the standard, "No, I had only just arrived myself, Reiko. I must say that you look very pretty today."

"Why, thank you, Izuku. I am pleased with your outfit as well. Shall we proceed to the Aquarium?"

"Of course," he responded, turning, and offering her his elbow; shyly, Reiko took his arm and walked towards the aquarium.

At first, the walk was silent, both did not know how to proceed, and Izuku remembered Inka's advice again.

"Thank you for inviting me again, it was a nice surprise. Also, I get to cross another thing off my bucket list."

"Going to the aquarium with a friend?"

Izuku blushed some, "Yes, let's go with that."

Reiko smiled, "I am glad I can do so for you. So, I take it this is your first time?"

"Yes, always wanted to go, but you know," He said with a slight shrug.

They walked arm in arm through the exhibits talking; Reiko would point out some things from previous visits that she had found fascinating. She discovered they loved books, mysteries, and the unknown. He needed to be better versed with pop culture but had seen some older horror movies, much to her delight. They were discussing a senior American author and his alarming book involving clowns; she giggled at how this brave boy at her side proclaimed he might have to consider tripping a child and running from a demon clown. After watching the Dolphin show, he smiled at her warmly as she gushed about her love of dolphins; seeing her passions emerge over their aquarium date was lovely. Reiko, for her part, couldn't remember when she had laughed and smiled so much; then he bought her a stuffed version of the star dolphin, Comet.

They sat eating ice cream watching the sea ray exhibit and enjoying the scenery and each other's presence.

"This has been much fun, Reiko. Would you mind if we did this again sometime?"

"I would enjoy that, Izuku; I would enjoy that very much," she replied, squeezing Comet.

"Would like to get some dinner? Or do you have to go home?"

"Dinner sounds lovely," she said with a smile.

They made their way to the exit, her retaking his arm. Do we look like a couple? They both thought. He led her to a nice nearby Yakiniku restaurant; he insisted on paying as the ticket to the aquarium was already paid for.

"Have you ever had a girlfriend before?" she asked.

"No, there was this girl named Ana. She was the first girl I liked that way, but when her parents found out I was quirkless, they forbade us from speaking; they even left the area soon after."

"All because you were quirkless?"

"Yes, her parents didn't seem to mind that we were getting closer till they found out I was quirkless, then it all went downhill."

"That's terrible," Reiko said. "What are your views on romance then?"

"For some time, I had given up on the idea, assuming that I wouldn't find anyone who would accept me. However, now I am open to the possibility. As Vlad Sensei mentioned, our lives can be cut short after graduation, and mine even more so. It's surprising to discover how many individuals accept and embrace me for who I am. This has exposed me to a newfound perspective on life that I thought was unattainable. Though it may sound melancholic, I had relinquished hope in attaining what I deemed unattainable. How about yourself?"

"I strongly desire to meet someone and have a romantic experience. My parents love for each other is not obvious to everyone, but it is evident to me. Witnessing their love every day motivates me to want to experience the same. Although being a hero may present challenges, I will work hard to maintain it if I find the right person."

The two just smiled at each other, thinking about what the other had said. Both understood what was being said between the lines, though they needed to be bolder to act on it. Their feeling was still clouded, time may not be on their side in the long run, but it was for now. He walked her to her train. They both stood there somewhat awkwardly, unsure how to proceed. As the train pulled up, Reiko took the initiative, embraced Izuku tightly, and he responded immediately.

"Thank you for a lovely day, Izuku."

"It was my pleasure; please let me know when you got home safe."

"I will."

With a slight step back, she let her thoughts wander into a world of fancy and the desire to kiss him. But instead, she chose to express her happiness with a smile and boarded the train. He stood there, watching the train depart before making his way to his own station, feeling a sense of lightness and happiness. The ability to dream once again was a pleasant feeling.

*Authors Note*

So a fluff chapter after the seriousness of the first week. I know that Reiko featured prominently in this chapter but this is not me signaling that she is going to be the paring. As of right now it is Reiko, Pony or Kyoka.