Feet cross a concrete landing without ever treading over the yellow paint line that separates them from crumpled ticket stubs and food wrappers spotting a gravel rail bed. Other pairs of legs pass by in the other direction, following map routes that post the train schedule on nearly every wall. Constant motion carries a flow of people throughout the station, men and women walking up or down escalators to pass through turnstiles. Red sneakers scrape to a sudden halt, followed by the collective shoe scratches of others. Class 1-A gathers at a track with their teacher, standing to the side where commuting pedestrians won't be obstructed by their crowded presence.

"You've all brought your costumes I see. Good. Don't drop or leave them behind when you get on and off your trains", Aizawa looks over the group of teens to perform a mental headcount. Izuku's grip on the handle of his U.A uniform's briefcase tightens. When Aizawa sees his entire class is present and accounted for, he allows himself to close his tired and dry eyes for a second of rest. He absentmindedly scratches at the stitches sewing his left cheek together before reopening his eyes. "I expect all of you to be on your best behavior. Now get going."

A commotion of conversation breaks out amongst the group as they begin to split off in duos and trios. "You headed to Kyushu? I think it's that way", Ashido pairs off with Uraraka. Sero says something to Kaminari while they walk in the other direction. Only a few remain with Aizawa on that particular platform once everyone takes their respective paths. Kirishima, Bakugo, and Jirou idle with Izuku while they wait for their train; Jirou toys with an ear jack, twisting it on one of her fingers.

Izuku glances in her direction, catching her returning the stare. They each look away as quickly as their eyes met, blushing. "So, have you decided on a hero name yet?", the girl shyly tries to salvage the situation before it can turn awkward.

"Not yet", Izuku chuckles but the humor fades as he responds, "I've been a little too distracted to come up with anything…" He forces down an instinctive wince when he realizes he made things uncomfortable again. Wanting to prevent a weird silence, he asks, "Any suggestions?"

Before Jirou can get out a response, Kirishima suddenly wraps his arm around Izuku's shoulders, pulling him in close for a side hug. "How about taking a page from Bakubro's book and calling yourself Lord Chainsaw?!", he flashes his patented shark toothed grin that seems more aimed towards 'Bakubro' than Izuku.

Izuku exchanges a look with his childhood friend, raising an eyebrow. "Tch", but the blonde rolls his eyes in response before closing them to avoid having to elaborate, "Don't go copying me."

"I doubt that's the last thing he'd wanna do", Jirou's deadpan response doesn't let the blonde disregard them for too long though.

"Oi", Bakugo's eyes snap back open as he turns to face them. He opens his mouth, ready to retort, but stops when he makes eye contact with Izuku. There's a strange exchange of brief staring that takes Izuku by surprise. Even more startling to him is when Bakugo scoffs, only saying, "Whatever", before letting it go.

Izuku clears his throat, recovering from the odd exchange. "I'll probably just go with something simple, like, I dunno.. Chainsaw Man?", he shrugs as he throws out the first idea that comes to him.

Kirishima jerks Izuku with his recoil, still not unlatching his arm from the other boy's shoulders. "That's it? Not to be a hater, but that's kinda basic", the fanged redhead's pointed grin falters but remains intact to stay polite as he shares his opinion on the name.

Jirou comes to Izuku's rescue, prying Kirishima off him in order to separate the two and share her own thoughts. "Maybe, but it still sounds hardcore", she steps in between them to also prevent potential future invasion of space.

Blinking back his shock, Izuku has to do a double take. "You really like it?"

Hearing him sound so hopeful, Jirou smirks, unable to help herself from teasing him. "It's not THAT metal, but someone had to back you up. Heaven knows Bakugo wasn't going to", she feels proud of herself when she's able to simultaneously take another shot at the explosive member of the bunch.

But Bakugo doesn't restrain himself from firing back this time, "You're one to talk, Ears" It's his turn to smirk as he points out, "Earphone Jack isn't all that original either."

"Oi", Jirou's smile shifts to a scowl. Izuku has to place himself in her path to Bakugo when he catches her glowering at the blonde.

Before things can escalate to the next level, a new voice chimes in. "Don't tell me I just walked into an argument", all heads turn to see who. Much to the group's surprise, Hitoshi Shinso approaches them. "It's too early in the morning for that", he appears as he had on the day of the Sports Festival; eyebags compliment his bed head as he cracks open a coffee can.

"Shinso?!", Izuku can't contain his shock when he recognizes the boy he had fought.

"You're late", the only person who doesn't show a shred of surprise is Aizawa. The teacher appears as tired as the newcomer, their resemblance uncanny when they stand side by side.

Shinso takes a sip of his coffee before his excuse comes out as a low drawl, "I made a stop at the vending machine."

Bakugo flicks his gaze from person to person, patience growing thin as he waits for them to ask the question that's bugging him. When they don't, he growls and explodes, "What the hell is mindfuck doing here?"

"Language", Aizawa fixes his student with a stern look before answering, "After Shinso's performance in the Sports Festival and Mineta's withdrawal from the class, it was only rational for me to consider him for the hero course."

"Dude! Congrats on getting in!", Kirishima moves forward in an effort to wrap the boy in a celebratory hug.

But Shinso sidesteps the attempt in order to dodge it effectively, "Save it for after I've proven myself", he watches as Kirishima stumbles past him.

"Shinso's right", Aizawa nods, "He's not been fully accepted just yet" The explanation that follows makes Kirishima pick himself up. "Rather, while you're all away during internships, I'll be evaluating Shinso myself to see if he should be allowed in."

"That's still good news for you, Shinso, I have no doubt you'll manage", Izuku flashes the boy an encouraging smile which Kirishima and Jirou reciprocate with an additional thumbs up.

Shinso looks away, "Thanks.. I guess", his voice quiet as he shyly smiles softly.

"Wow, but an internship with Aizawa Sensei, I don't envy him", Jirou nudges Izuku as she whispers to him and the others within proximity. Kirishima winces before nodding while Izuku feels a twinge of sympathy as well.

They jump when Aizawa raises his voice, "Quit chattering and pay attention to your surroundings" They think they're caught before realizing he only did so because of the rise in reverberation of screeching steel on steel. "The train is arriving", he gestures with his head in the direction of the tunnel that's slowly turning from dark to dim.

The wheels grinding the tracks stop their electrified spin. Everyone steps back, staying behind the yellow painted line until the train glides to a full stop. When the connected cars open each of their doors, the passengers swap from inside and outside. Immediately, seats are filled and spots are taken.

Aizawa and Shinso go to the back of the car where they stand off to the side. Bakugo steals an open seat, simultaneously claiming the one next to him for Kirishima to sit. The redhead chuckles as he apologetically shrugs, "Sorry guys but ya snooze ya lose", leaving Jirou and Izuku to fend for themselves.

The duo move to the other side of the car where one chair is available. "Y- You can have the seat if you want", Izuku offers it to Jirou with a sheepish step back.

"Oh, thanks, but it's fine", Jirou waves her hands while stammering, "You take it."

"Ah, but I insist!", Izuku frantically shakes his head while returning the gesture.

Bakugo watches the exchange from the sidelines, rolling his eyes at their antics. He huffs before grumbling his suggestion, "Why don't you just have her sit in your lap?"

Izuku's eyes nearly pop out of their sockets. "I'll stand!", he blurts out an instant response despite his voice squeaking.

Jirou would have probably reacted the same way had he not done so first. Rather, she pouts instead. "You turned down Bakugo's suggestion a little hastily there", her arms fold across her chest as she fixes Izuku with a sassy stare, "The thought of sharing with me really that bad?"

Izuku's head nearly flies off when it swivels to look at the girl in shock. "What?! No!", he gets whiplash when he does it a second time, "I- I mean-" The boy searches the enclosed car for someone to save him as he begins to panic.

"Do you not like me? Am I not attractive enough for you?", but Jirou's jacks raised menacingly with the aura an angry woman radiates makes everybody just as cowardice.

Izuku stumbles over himself as much as he does his words, "No! I mean, yes, I do! I find you very attractive!", but finally finds his feeting when he lands on his answer.

Izuku and Jirou both realize what he's said and blush. All the tension in the air evaporates, both of them avoiding looking at the other. The moment stretches rather than passes. Eventually, Izuku forces himself to mumble, "F- Fine.. You can sit on my lap.."

He sits down, still directing his gaze to be far off from Jirou. When the moment continues to elongate, he can't help himself, he looks sidelong to see if the girl will actually commit.

Jirou covers her face, unable to hide her intense blush. Her cheeks are hot in her hands, nowhere close to cooling off. Nevertheless, she slowly lowers her back end to sit down. Izuku and her tense up when her ass makes contact with his lap. It doesn't help that they both nervously fidget, the movement below making them all the more aware of their touch.

Bakugo grins, satisfied to watch their squirming. That is, until Kirishima nudges him. "Smooth! But why didn't you use that same rizz technique on me?", he leans in close until he invades the blonde's personal space.

Bakugo drives a palm into Kirishima's face, giving the redhead a shove and driving him back. "Shut the fuck up, shitty hair!" He huffs and puffs as he restrains himself from showing too much emotion, "I only helped the nerd out cause I owed him one for all the trouble I caused."

Suddenly, the train's brake unlatches and the car shifts with a jolt. Jirou is jerked back, forcing Izuku to wrap his arms around her. Once he catches her in order to prevent her from falling, the train starts moving forward. It's then he realizes the position that they're in. "S-Sorry!"

But Jirou grabs his arms before they can move away. She brings them back around her waist. Wrapped in a strange hug, they each continue to blush over their close proximity. But, Jirou speaks for them both when she says, "I- It's fine"

AUTHOR'S NOTES

I miscalculated how much I have to do before I get to Stain but maybe a lighthearted chapter isn't so bad every now and then. Either way, I'm delighted to keep getting positive reactions and I'll do my best to make these upcoming moments as epic & dramatic as I can.