Chapter twenty two!

So now we've got quirk ball. The scrimmage will have a brief explanation of the rules, and I'll put in a short note on them before each actual game.

This chapter is going to be fun, you'll get to see how wickedly intelligent Izuka is, and how her creations impact the people who wear them.

Now, into the chapter, let's go!

)=(

"Begin!"

Izuka watched with rapt attention as the scrimmage kicked off. Tensei received the first pass from their team captain and took off.

The sub goalie, who Izuka recognized as a second year with the hero moniker 'Kamui woods', received the destructive shot that Tensei sent his way.

"They know their quirks." Mustard nodded.

Aizawa shrugged. "Perhaps. This isn't their best performance."

Izuka frowned. "How am I supposed to measure the jerseys effectiveness if they don't do their best?"

Aizawa smirked. "Is someone frustrated?"

Izuka blew a raspberry at the man, before continuing to watch.

Kamui passed the ball forward to Touya, who dribbled a bit, before igniting his foot and rocketing the ball forward with a decent kick.

"Hm… it's interesting that he's using his quirk in that manner. It doesn't give a boost."

Izuka nodded. "While it doesn't give a boost in speed, it makes the ball a little too hot to handle."

The goalie slapped the ball away with a hiss as their hand was burned.

"Hot…"

Izuka nodded. "You can't attack people in quirkball. Even if he could, his quirk is too dangerous to use without causing serious physical harm."

Aizawa blinked. "So he needs to use it with a different approach than what he's normally taught. Instead of being an unrelenting force… I might need a reread of the rules, it's been a minute…"

"Quirkball, at a base, has all of the rules of soccer. But, that's where things change. The ball is made of an almost indestructible material fusion of about eight different metals and heat proof polymers. It's heavier than a normal soccer ball. The aim of the game is for team members to score goals. They cannot use their hands to touch the ball, or it is a foul. There are a few loopholes for mutation quirks, but those rarely come up. Goalies defend the goal obviously. They keep points from being scored. There are regulations on the goalies abilities. For example, Kamui woods cannot cover the goal with his quirk, otherwise, any hit on his covering would be considered a goal. There are also only five players including the goalie on each team. Besides those things, anything goes, even using your quirk on opponents, as long as you aren't going for a kill. In Todoroki's case, his quirk is so hot that any hit from it would cause heavy injury. Our main problem with him was developing clothing that would resist his heat. So with him-"

"He's a decoy." Mustard smirked. "A big ol' trap. Anyone who wants the ball will have to brave the heat in order to get close, and anyone who wants to receive his kicks, well, they might want some burn ointment."

Touya flexed his hands as he pursued the opposing player. As they ran into the field's defense box, he ignited his fingertips and fell into a slide.

"Increasing his speed with his quirk…" Aizawa nodded. "Using his hands like thrusters. A good utilitarian use of his power."

Izuka tapped Mustard on the shoulder. "Write down that we'll need gloves for his uniform. His hands are looking a bit crispy from that move."

Touya passed the ball back to their goalie, and Kamui launched it forward.

"Woods's quirk could work really well in offense."

Aizawa nodded. "Unfortunately, when he was playing last year, the refs ruled that any vines used from his quirk, even if they come from his legs, are ruled as hands. So any position other than goalie renders him useless."

"Ah… I see."

The ball was intercepted by the team captain. He gave a snap of his fingers as he kicked the ball, and it rocketed forward. As a player went for the intercept, the team captain gave a whistle, and the ball swerved around them.

"Woah." Mustard exclaimed.

"He's got his quirk down pat…" Izuka nodded. "His uniform is the only one without some second function. It's just resistant to any type of force or energy blast. He'll feel like he got hit by a truck, but it'll keep him from being liquefied. At least at full power. He could probably take a quirkball hit to the chest an just feel like he was lightly punched."

Aizawa nodded and blew a whistle as the team scored the first goal.

"Excellent work! Next ball is to team Beta. Make sure you're using everything at your disposal."

The professor yawned as the game started again. This time, Tensei flexed his hands, before taking off even faster than before.

The young man moved too fast to process. He was a blur as in the first five seconds, the ball was in the opponents goal once again.

"Nice work on that uniform. His ability to go that fast is normally hindered by his legs capacity for damage."

Izuka nodded to Aizawa. "It would really suck if he went that fast, just to have his legs break, you know?"

"Indeed. Well, looks like you two have your first call."

Izuka and Mustard looked to see one of the second year players, who had a hardening quirk, call them over as his expanding body had torn the uniform a bit.

Izuka ran over with a box of supplies, quickly stitching up the tear.

"I'll do my best to fix the elasticity of the shorts after the scrimmage."

"Thanks Miss!"

Izuka smiled. "Please, call me Midoriya."

The scrimmage went on without another issue. Izuka and Mustard had done their job well when developing the uniforms, almost too well for Aizawa's liking.

'Her mind is so quick to process situations and come up with solutions… Honestly, she'd be the ideal hero if she had some kind of quirk to gain publicity better. Although there s always underground work…'

Izuka and Mustard dropped the uniforms off at the lab. Izuka spent a few minutes remaking the hardening quirk students uniform so that it would flex to fit his body changes.

"So…"

"So?"

Mustard coughed and walked up behind Izuka, wrapping his arms around her. "What is the plan for tonight?"

Izuka blushed and raised her arm to hold one of his hands. "Would you like to stay the night again?"

Mustard spun the girl around to face him. "How about dinner first?"

"But we aren't dressed to go out!"

Mustard shrugged. "People see UA uniforms all the time. We can be bad just this once."

The young woman nodded and let Mustard guide her out of the studio. "You know… your dynamic is always confusing me…"

"Oh?"

"Yeah, sometimes you're whiny and almost like a child. Other times…"

Mustard blinked. "Other times?"

"You catch me off guard." Izuka chuckled.

"And is that good or bad?"

The young woman sighed with a blush on her face. "I haven't decided yet…"

Mustard smirked and gave Izuka a quick kiss. "Come on. Let's go."

The young man pulled Izuka to her truck and sat her in the passenger seat. "Keys?"

"You're driving?"

The young man rolled his eyes. "You have to trust me with that some time or another. Come on!"

Izuka handed the young man the truck keys, and he quickly hopped into the drivers seat and started the truck.

"So where are we off to?" Izuka asked while pulling her hair back into a ponytail.

"Oh, just a little place near the beach. They make the best Dhal you will ever taste!"

Izuka's mouth began to water as she thought of the dish, smooth and buttery, with a hint of earthy taste that was further complimented by a hint of sweetness. "You promise?"

"Only one way to find out!" Mustard smirked, causing Izuka to pout as he pulled into a parking space.

"No fair. You know how to make my mouth water!"

"It's something that you've always been able to do, with your cooking skills. Now come on. The other reason I chose this place is because my mom is a waitress."

"No! No no! We weren't doing this until next monday."

Kiken shook his head. "Yes, But I thought it would be a little better if my mother knew you first. It might lessen the amount of torment we have to go through."

"You mean squealing and excitement and picking?" Izuka raised an eyebrow.

"Yes."

"Alright, let's go!"

Izuka walked into the restaurant with her boyfriend, who chuckled as they walked to the desk where a waiter was ready to seat them.

"Do you have a reservation?"

"No, sorry." Mustard scratched the back of his head.

"Quite alright young man. Table for two I presume?"

Izuka smiled. "That would be perfect."

The waiter led them up to the second floor, and over to a small table near one of the restaurant windows, overlooking Takoba Municipal Beach park.

"It looks beautiful doesn't it?" The waiter asked. "This used to be a family table, but we changed it to a couples setting after the beach was cleaned."

Izuka nodded, looking outside through the window and watching as a few families played in the sand.

"I'm glad that it's still clean."

"As am I. Hopefully it stays that way for a while. For now, I will leave you two to decide on what you'll be having. One of our writers or waitresses will return for the menus and your order."

"Thank you very much." Izuka smiled.

"Thank you." Mustard nodded.

Izuka sighed as the waiter left, once again booking at the beach.

"You should be proud of working so hard." Mustard nodded.

"I guess." Izuka shrugged. "Although, it is nice to see people enjoying it."

"Come on, cheer up. I know he didn't recognize you, but do you really want to be a hero for publicity?"

Izuka chuckled. "Yes and no. I don't want to attract the wrong attention, but at the same time, I want to be a symbol for everyone in the world, that anyone can be a hero, no matter their quirk, or lack-there-of."

Mustard nodded. "Yeah, I get that. My quirk has always been called villainous."

"It just takes better control." Izuka shrugged. "Which is what you've worked on, no?"

"Yes. I've made a lot of progress, but it's just slower than I'd like it to be."

"Things take time sweetie. And you always work super hard." A voice interrupted.

"Mom! You did get our table!" Mustard smiled.

"Of course! Is this the young woman you've been seeing? Or are you two just friends?"

Izuka smiled and held out her hand. "Izuka Midoriya, independent study at UA. I am his girlfriend."

The woman smiled. "Oh there's no need to be so formal with a handshake dear. Come on, let me give you a hug."

Izuka smiled and stood up, wrapping the woman in a hug as she chuckled.

"Ah! You're a strong one! Some type of strength enhancement?"

"Actually, no." Izuka chuckled, sitting back down. "I don't have a quirk."

The woman nodded and gave Mustard a thumbs up. "Quirk or not, I don't care. Honestly, the fact that you don't have one makes me respect you more. You found yourself a good one Kiken."

"I know I did." Mustard smiled, taking Izuka's hand in his own.

"Now, let me guess. He told you all about the Dhal?"

"It would be a crime if I didn't get it." Izuka smiled.

"Of course. I'll get you two your food then. Anything to drink?"

"Just water please." Izuka smiled.

"Same for me." Mustard nodded.

"Wonderful. I'll be back in a minute! Then I can ask you about our day."

"Mom…"

"Oh don't you even. You two walked in in your uniforms, so you have to tell me! You've got the rest of the restaurant watching anyways."

Izuka glanced around as discreetly as possible, finding that the other patrons within the restaurant staring and whispering.

"Shit… they'll take pictures…"

"Feel like I'm in a zoo…" Mustard grumbled.

"Well, you're the one who chose to wear the uniforms. So I guess-"

"Yeah yeah, I get it. This is on me." The young man smiled.

"So, you're getting us dessert later." Izuka smirked.

"Hey! You're the one who deals with stocks and money making! Your patents should be more than enough for dessert!"

"Well, they would be if they weren't all invested in a research project. I even had to call in a favor from a friend to get some sponsorship."

"You did? Who is it?"

"That's a secret!"

Mustard grunted as his mother brought back the water. "So, tell me about your day? Just a quick run down. I have time."

"Well, for my classes we did tactics and hands on training, spars and city situations. Then I went to Izuka and we finished up the quirkball uniforms in time for practice."

"Wonderful! And you Miss Midoriya, what did you do today?"

Izuka smiled. "Well, I had an eventful day. I had a few breakthroughs in the lab today, I contacted a friend and we made a pretty big plan. So now I'm just working on my projects again.

"And what sort of projects do you work on my dear?"

Izuka shrugged. "Bits and pieces of things here and there. I study quirk engineering."

"You're working on creating quirks?"

Izuka chuckled. "Something like that, but in my case, I take my inspiration from quirks that already exist."

"Impressive. You have quite the mind young lady."

Izuka chuckled. "Thanks, I do my best."

"All right, well it was lovely meeting you. I will go get your food and then return to work. Will you be home tonight Kiken?"

"I sort of implied I'd stay the night…"

"I'll make sure he's safe ma'am."

"I just hope the two of you keep it safe. We don't need a little hero yet."

Izuka blushed. "I-Erm… Well. Yes."

"Wonderful. Honestly she is lovely Kiken, I can't wait for her to meet your father!"

Izuka chuckled as the woman walked away. "She was… nice."

"Sorry about that." Mustard groaned. "She's just being my mother."

"Should I still expect more at your home?"

"We may need to prepare some counters to those comments…"

Izuka chuckled as their food was brought out. She thanked Mustards mother as she returned to work.

"You weren't lying… This is probably the best Dhal I've had in a while…"

"Told you so." Mustard smirked. "Does this mean that you'll be getting us dessert?"

"Keep dreaming."

)=(

And there's chapter twenty two. I've been working on and off on this, and always hate it so this is like, the eighth version.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed. Feel free to ask questions, and I will do my best to answer!

Until next time,

Sushui Out!