Entering the base camp, Class 1A was treated to a tremendous meal. Aizawa sat down at a large table, along with Vlad King, the Wild, Wild, Pussycats, and some of Class 1B's students, who had arrived at the camp shortly before Class 1A. Class 1B finally had the chance to be introduced to Noikari.
"It's nice to meet you," one student, a girl with dark moss-colored hair remarked, sitting across from Noikari.
"Yeah, I don't know what your type is, but I really hope you end up liking us!" said another girl, Itsuka Kendo, as she smiled brightly and gave Noikari a pat on the back.
Bakugo grimaced but couldn't help but chuckle. That little runt was quite the lady charmer it seemed.
As Noikari talked to the two female students, a third student walked over with seeming grace. Noikari was shocked as the person leaned heavily on his shoulder, forcing Noikari's position to shift.
"So you're the new little squirt of 1A, huh?" commented Neito Monoma, leaning into the child's face. "Hmm, you don't appear to be a student. Oh, could it perhaps be that you're the class mascot?" The blonde teen spoke to Noikari eloquently and mockingly, as if trying to provoke him. Noikari glared but said nothing.
"What's this, can the mascot not speak? Well, if that's the case, perhaps I could copy your quirk for a bit, perhaps take it for a spin?" He laughed at Noikari's angered expression.
Before the arrogant hero could continue antagonizing the child, he was promptly silenced by a chop to the neck, courtesy of Itsuka. Noikari straightened up as he saw the Copy hero hit the ground unconscious. Itsuka sighed as she turned back to Noikari.
"I'm sorry about him. He's always tried provoking Class 1A."
Still slightly shocked, Noikari stuttered "I-it's okay. Thank you." He cupped his hands and bowed slightly in respect. This earned him a hearty laugh from the other student.
"Hehe, you're adorable! I've never known someone so sweet and polite before!"
Noikari blushed faintly, but he managed to regain his composure after hearing that.
"Hey, Noikari!" Izuku's voice shouted.
Turning around, Noikari quickly answered "coming!" before looking back at Itsuka. "Sorry, they need me for something, but thanks again for helping me."
"Not a problem!" said Itsuka cheerfully as she waved goodbye.
Noikri hurried over to Izuku, who was standing with Bakugo and Kaminari. "Something wrong, you guys?"
"Not at all," Izuku answered. "We were just about to go to the hot springs and figured that you'd want to come."
"Hot springs...?" Asked Noikari curiously.
"Yep!" Kaminari confirmed, grinning. "They got really high-quality ones too!"
"Well alright then..." Noikari replied, still unsure. He hadn't ever gone to a hot spring before, though he had heard of them. The four students walked through the base camp until they reached a door which led to the hot springs. There were two sides, one for the boys and one for the girls. A large wooden wall separated the two sides. As the four walked out to the hot springs, they saw the rest of the boys of Class 1A already there, enjoying the relaxing waters.
"There you guys are," remarked Eijiro. "Get in here, the waters great."
"I know, I know." said Izuku, running past the group of boys to join the others in the water. As the other three began to strip out of their clothes and into their swim trunks, Noikari followed suit behind them. He felt a little uncomfortable wearing nothing but a pair of swim shorts in a hot spring with people all older than him, even if the gap wasn't all that much. Any unease Noikari felt however, was quickly left behind as the warm waters of the spring soothed his aching body and cleansed his mind. The boys started talking about numerous things, such as training so far, as well as more interesting topics.
"Hey, Tokoyomi?" Noikari asked.
The Jet-Black Hero opened a single eye in response. "Yes?"
"Um, is that how you actually look?"
"Is what how I look?"
"I-is the bird head a mask, or. ."
The bird-like hero sighed. "No Noikari, it is not a mask."
"Oh...oh, sorry I guess," responded Noikari bashfully.
Tokoyami closed his eyes once again, the jet-black feathers that covered the side of his face fluffing up as he relaxed into the hot springs.
The child continued talking with the other boys about a variety of things until it was dark out. The other students eventually drifted away, heading back inside for the night Soon, only Noikari, Tokoyami, Shoji, Ojirou, and Mineta remained. Eventually, the latter four also decided to head to bed, leaving Noikari alone. Despite how the waters felt, Noikari wasn't tired at all. The child sighed before deciding it was best to at least get out of the water. Grabbing a towel from a stand, Noikari wrapped himself up before climbing a ladder that was leaning on the wooden wall that separated the two sides of the hot springs. Sitting down on top of the wall, Noikari began to meditate.
After several minutes, Uraraka, Momo, Hagakure and Kyoka came outside to use the hot springs. . Noikari opened a single eye to glance down but otherwise did nothing, merely closing it again as he continued to meditate. Almost immediately, the 4 girls noticed Noikari deep in thought atop the wall.
"Are you still awake, Noikari?" called one.
Noikari didn't respond, almost as if he was in his own world. All the girls looked at each other in confusion.
"Do you think he's awake?" Hagakure asked.
"We might as well check." Added Momo before turning to her friend. "Kyoka?"
Taking her cue, the Earphone hero extended a small, thin headphone jack from her ear, which she slowly inched up towards Noikari. Softly, she poked him to see if the child would react. Nothing. Twice more she repeated the tactic, and both times elicited just as little of a response as the first. Deciding it was best to just leave him be, Kyoka retracted her headphone back to her earlobe. Thinking nothing of it, the girls simply decided to talk about everything they had done in the last few days, laughing and enjoying each other's company.
Although unseen, Noikari smiled. Truth be told, he was actually awake the whole time Kyoka was testing him. But he hadn't responded because he sensed something.
More accurately, he sensed someone.
Sneaking out after the rest of the men had gone asleep, Mineta decided it was the perfect time to try getting a peak at the ladies. He walked out to the hot springs as quietly as possible, careful not to be heard by the girls on the other side. The Fresh-Picked Hero stopped in fright when he saw Noikari's figure sitting on the wall separating the sides of the hot springs, but he calmed himself once he realized Noikari was asleep.
Unfortunately for him, Noikari wasn't asleep, only pretending to be. But Mineta didn't know that.
With nervous strides, Mineta inched closer and closer, every step filling him with anxiety. But he knew it would all be worth it in the end to see those luscious bodies.
Gripping the ladder, Mineta climbed slowly, taking extra precaution in remaining unseen. Finally, after what seemed like hours, Mineta finally reached the top of the wall, ending up right next to the meditating Noikari.
'Looks like he's asleep,' the pervy hero theorized. "I have to take my chance now. To see all of those beautiful girls in their gorgeous swimsuits, their bodies just perfect!' Mineta's nose nearly started bleeding from the mere thought, but he composed himself. The moment of triumph awaited. Slowly, he crawled up the wall. Closer and closer he approached. Just a few more inches, and he would be able to see the girls.
Right as Mineta's hand touched the top of the wooden gate, a single eye opened. Then the second. Noikari knew he would come here.
Mineta didn't notice had seemingly awakened the child until a tearing sound emanated from above him. His entire body froze up as Mineta knew there was only one thing that could've made that noise. Gazing slowly upward, the Grape Hero immediately became fearful of the sight that awaited him.
Noikari, with a single tentacle hovering above his back.
Gulping in fear, Mineta decided it was best to try and deescalate the situation. Nervously, he tried to explain. "H-hey, Noikari. I um, didn't think you'd be out here."
The child wasn't buying it. Instead, he wrapped the lone tentacle around Mineta's legs and pulled him close until he was mere inches from Noikari's face, making sure Mineta was staring him directly in the eye. Noikari's gaze burned into the boy's mind like a flame. The child spoke in a voice that was calm yet menacing. "I thought I told you not to try anything pervy like this again." Mineta couldn't look away from him, no matter how hard he tried. "Well, I-um, the thing is. . I-I was just-"
Noikari cut him off. "Do you remember this morning when you tried touching Momo, and I told you I wouldn't be as lenient?" the boy inquired threateningly.
"Yeh, uh yeah." Stammered Mineta, feeling his heart rate increase dramatically.
Noikari pulled him even closer, ending his threat as he whispered into Mineta's ear.
"I'm a man of my word."
With that, he released the grip on Mineta's legs, only to instead wrap his tentacle around his midsection before hurling him into the water of the boys' hot springs. Mineta shouted as he impacted the water, briefly sinking below the surface before coming back up, gasping for air. Quickly getting out of the water, Mineta took one last glance at Noikari and swiftly ran inside, taking a towel with him. He quickly dried himself off before dashing off to where his room was, trying to escape any further embarrassment.
Noikari sighed before turning around, preparing to continue meditating, only to hear a voice from the women's side of the springs.
"Thanks, Noi!"
Glancing over, Noikari shrieked in shock at what he saw. Kyoka, with seemingly no problem with her naked body being exposed to him, happily waved and thanked him. The others were smiling, although also embarrassed, while Momo blushed and covered her breasts with her hands.
As the surprise hit him, Noikari lost his balance, swaying and gasping and shouting out in complete panic, feeling the weight of everything coming crashing down on him as he fell from the ladder and faced the same problem Mineta had just a moment ago.
For a moment, the girls sitting in the hot spring weren't sure how to react. Noikari's fall wasn't something they expected, and the shock left them confused as from the other side of the hot springs, they heard Noikari shout before his body smacked into the water, a loud splash emenating.
Noikari bobbed up out of the water totally drenched and startled. He wasn't sure what to say; his mind was still recovering from the fall. For a moment, there was an awkward silence as Noikari heard a voice from the girls side of the springs. "Uhhh. Are you okay, Noikari?" Uraraka asked.
Noikari replied back, though slightly flustered. "Yeah I'm. . I'm okay, thanks!" And then without another word he turned and went running back to the boys' quarters, grabbing a new towel for himself along the way. The other girls listened to him race out of the hot springs, grabbing himself a towel before running back inside. The girls outside just looked at each other in confusion.
"Did we do something wrong or something?" questioned Jiro.
"I don't think so."
Noikari, cheeks still red with embarrassment, quickly dried himself off. Upon drying himself, he placed his towel neatly across the chair he normally occupied before changing. Deciding to get a quick drink before going to bed, he cautiously entered the kitchen, surprised to find two occupants already there.
Tsuyu was seated on the table, reading an old book with a spoon in her mouth, while Mina was standing next to her. The Frog Hero noticed the boy walk in and looked up at him curiously.
"What are you doing up so late, kero?" she inquired.
He didn't reply, instead grabbing a cup from the cabinet and pouring himself a glass of water.
"Oh, I-I'm just getting a drink before I go to bed." he replied nervously, hoping that the two hadn't seen or heard his embarrassing spill just now. After finishing his drink, he headed toward the stairs. "Good night." Before heading back upstairs he glanced at the two girls one last time. Both of them had a curious look on their faces but said nothing as he continued his way up. Once he was safely inside his room he flopped onto the bed, closing his eyes.
'So far everything is going well.' he thought to himself. 'Tomorrow will most likely be even tougher, but I'm ready, I think.'
With that final thought, Noikari drifted to sleep.