-|Chapter 8. Strength of the heart|-
Saturday had finally arrived, marking the much-anticipated karaoke hangout. Izuku, getting ready for the event, decked himself out in a stylish grey jacket over a white-sleeved shirt. A simple necklace adorned his neck and rested against his chest, perfectly complementing his ensemble, while slim-fit black jeans and brown sneakers completed the look. The clothes themselves contoured the shape of his body quite closely, making his impressive physique noticeable underneath the layer of fabrics.
Having recently overhauled his wardrobe in light of having outgrown clothes, Izuku sought fashion advice from a blonde-haired teenager to ensure a presentable appearance. Despite Denki's eccentric and often otherworldly demeanor, he surprisingly possessed a keen sense of fashion. Grateful for the guidance, Izuku had curated a collection of outfits to rotate through, and today was the first occasion to showcase them in all their stylish glory.
Lost in thoughts of the upcoming fun he anticipated with his friends, the clock's ticking on the night table finally pulled his attention back to the present. At that moment, he realized he was perilously close to missing the bus. "Crap! I lost track of the time," he gasped, hastily erupting through the door of his room before speeding right past Inko, who flinched reflexively, almost dropping her phone, as the green-haired teenager swiftly dodged out of her way before raced towards the front door.
"Bye, Mom! I'll be back by the evening, okay?" Izuku called, turning to wave and smile at the surprised green-haired woman before instantly bumping into something and promptly losing his footing and landing on his backside.
A tall, towering man with a muscular frame, a domineering height comparable to All Might himself, stood by the entrance. He displayed rugged features marked by heavy stubble and a gruesome scar slashing diagonally across his left cheek. Short, dark hair and thick eyebrows contributed to his minimalistic, rural appearance, emphasizing the commanding presence he projected. On him, he donned a Brown suit jacket, green t-shirt, and grey suit jeans, accentuating the already intimidating air he was exhuming. Shifting to extend a hand to the green-haired boy, he exposed clear black eyes with a hint of dilation as he thoroughly observed the boy.
"You okay there, kiddo?" he inquired with a deep tone.
"All good, sir," the green-haired boy replied, grabbing the proffered hand. In a display of astonishing physical strength, the man almost effortlessly lifted him into the air. Izuku, recovering, bowed his head slightly. Observing the man closely, he noted the soft yet firm look in the man's eyes as he scratched his head as if contemplating his next move, and promptly, the green-haired teenager mirrored the gesture earnestly.
"Is your mother home? I would like to have a couple of words with her," he said solemnly, prompting the green-haired boy to turn around and place his hand on the door frame. "Mom, was someone invited over today?" he hollered. Shortly after, Inko emerged in the living room, holding a phone.
"I don't remember inviting anyone, who is—" A soft gasp escaped her, a moment of silence hanging in the air. "Mitsuki, I'll call you back in a moment." She pressed a button on the phone's display, then slowly placed the device on the living room table before making her way to the door. Her demeanor and aura shifted instantly, a light frown forming on her bereft features.
"Oh, how could I have forgotten? Of course, I had invited Iwao-san over for a cup of tea," she quipped, a barely visible nervous smile playing on her lips while her features tensed.
"Okay, Mom! I'll be back a bit late today," the oblivious green-haired teenager quickly waved goodbye down the stairs, a sense of urgency propelling his steps.
As he ran, a lingering curiosity danced in Izuku's mind. Pausing for a moment to glance at the man entering the apartment, he mumbled, "Have I..?" he thought about it for a moment before resuming his hurried pace. "Probably nothing." The air rushed past him, and the landscape transformed gradually with each inhale. For the first time in what felt like forever, the green-haired boy experienced something he had long forgotten—the tingling sensation of excitement and nervous anticipation. His lips curled up slowly, following a glint in his eyes.
After a short while, Izuku arrived at the station just in time. His eyes caught the silhouette of a sizable vehicle closing in, and he hastily motioned for it to stop. Stepping in, he promptly paid for his ticket. Yet, when he turned to find a seat, mild disappointment washed over him. Unluckily for the green-haired teenager, almost all seats in the bus were filled with people, leaving only one available spot in the back. Traversing to the rear, Izuku claimed the open seat and glanced at the girl in the window seat.
Around his age, beneath the dark-grey-colored cap, she concealed a sharp, white bob haircut. Her pale skin, marked by freckles scattering across her nose bridge and its surroundings, remained shielded from view. The seemingly vacant gaze of the girl was peering through the glass. It mirrored her piercing red eyes and an expression of emptiness and fierceness, creating an air of untouchability around her. She would not react to the green-haired teenager for a moment, but then, in a split second, her gaze locked with the green-haired boy through the mirrored reflection of the glass.
Momentarily in a daze, Izuku found himself staring longer than intended. Abruptly, the girl slowly turned her head. "What the hell are you staring at, huh?" a chilling aura crept down Izuku's spine, jolting him into attention. "E-excuse me!" He robotically bowed his head before placing his hands on his knees. To his dismay, the girl continued to gaze at him, triggering a drop of sweat to run down his features, his gulp echoing in the silence.
Shortly after, the green-haired teenager snapped out of his stupor when his phone vibrated in his pocket. Glancing at the chat room Ashido and Denki had created for the group, a flurry of messages fired back and forth, his friends reporting their travel progress with goofy pictures of landscapes and mixed selfies. A moment later, the blonde Jiro sibling sent an image depicting him and Kyoka, with the latter strangling him with her ear jacks. Izuku chuckled as he witnessed their antics. As it turned out, Kyoka did not like having her pictures taken under any circumstances, preferring to live in the moment rather than capture it.
Izuku, now standing in front of the establishment, pushed the doors open, and at the front of a sleek reception desk, he saw the familiar group of friends laughing and joking around before turning their glance toward him. In response, the green-haired boy raised his arm to wave back a vibrant smile dancing on his features as he took a couple of steps closer before noticing two unexpected participants mingling in the middle of the group.
"Soumei, Hatsumi, what are you two doing here? I didn't know you were coming too," Izuku grinned. The black-haired teenager and pink-haired girl engaged in animated conversation and then turned to greet him. "About that, I invited Hatsumi, who, in turn, brought Soumei along. I thought it made sense, considering they are now our pseudo-official support personnel," the blonde-haired boy admitted, waving his arm.
"Am I to believe that I was dragged here by Hatsumi because you invited her off one interaction alone?" Soumei stared at the blonde in disbelief.
"The guy is a certified flirting machine. If it moves, it gets hit on," Kyoka retorted with a snort.
"Hey!" Denki exclaimed, and laughter instantly rippled through the room, contagiously reaching even the Receptionist, who struggled to maintain her composed expression.
As the atmosphere settled, the friend group checked themselves in before entering their room. Upon entering, the green-haired teenager smoothly slipped off his jacket, draping it casually on a nearby coat rack. The sleeves of his shirt, contouring the shape of his arms, accentuated his impressive, lean physique, leaving little to the imagination.
"Midoriya, you're looking all mighty fine today," the pink-skinned girl jested, beaming at Izuku. She took a seat next to him, poking his arm playfully. The green-haired boy was taken aback, his hand resting behind his neck. "Hey, w-what are you doing, Ashido-chan!?" he exclaimed in flustering confusion, finding the girl inches away from him. Before he could react, Kyoka took her seat on his right side. To his surprise, she was now sulking and avoiding his eyes with her pupils constricted.
"Say, what kind of dietary and workout plan did you conjure to build muscles on top of your freaking muscles!" the red-haired boy interjected as he took his seat on the opposite aisle of the room. "I mean, out of every kid in our year, you must be the toughest guy aside from Todoroki, Shoji, and Shihai," he stroked an uppercut pose with his right palm on his left arm's bicep.
His nervous demeanor slowly dissipated as he thoughtfully rested his hand on his chin. "Let's see, on top of our curriculum, I run anywhere between 5 - 15km jogs daily, with taekwondo instructions every second day to enhance hand-to-hand combat capability-"
"Wait a minute, Midoriya, are ya doing all that on top of our training sessions too!?" the blonde-haired teenager exclaimed, abruptly standing up.
"Ah..." Izuku gulped, his voice momentarily hitching. "Yes, that counts towards individual quirk training, and I do it on the days I am not receiving instruction in—" He was about to finish the sentence when an abrupt shift in the atmosphere gripped the room. The air turned cold, and a collective look of worry etched itself onto the faces of everyone present.
Quickly recognizing the change, Izuku instinctively motioned his hands to regain their attention, his features now subtly tensing. "Don't worry! I'm not overdoing it, I promise. A qualified expert carefully crafted my workout regime to match my ability," he assured, the corners of his mouth forming a reassuring smile. The response elicited a collective exhale from those around him, each person visibly relaxing, except for the purple-haired girl. For a brief moment, she tilted her head, a spark of realization lighting up her eyes.
"Let's get this over and done with," Soumei declared, shattering the silence, raising from his seat to claim the first turn. "Oh, and I recommend using earbuds if you want to keep your hearing intact," he added, earning puzzled looks from everyone. Adjusting his glasses, he casually browsed through a list of songs.
Once the black-haired teenager had selected the song and rose from a crouching position, a brief hush fell over the room. Soumei brought the microphone close to his lips, his eyes dilating as a piano initiated a beautiful melody, casting a tranquil spell on the audience. Just as the room settled into a relaxed atmosphere, the beat dropped, and the black-haired boy unleashed a deep growl that reverberated through the space. The unsuspecting teenager had opted for a heavy metal song, predominantly composed of intense screams.
Undeterred, Soumei flawlessly executed the vocals and growls. His hair floated freely, and his features tensed, catching everyone off guard. Wide-eyed, the audience paused in silence, and for a fraction of a second, they were left utterly shocked. But then a loud cheer erupted, encouraging the bespectacled boy who had taken them on an unexpected sonic journey. While it lasted for a moment, the impression and impact were resounding.
"Holy damn, he is a total metalhead. Who else saw this coming?" the red-haired boy exclaimed.
"Wowza, how on earth are we gonna one-up that?" Ashido giggled. Almost in an instant challenging demeanor, the blonde-haired boy stood up with a knowing grin. "I believe my dear nee-chan can blow the competition out with no sweat," the blonde-haired teenager boasted, causing the girl in question to panic in a fluster and hide behind her ear jacks.
"I'm not that good; stop blowing it outta proportions," she said in embarrassment. Not a second later, the blonde passed the microphone onto her lap. Kyoka attempted to push it away in a fluster before a new arm reached out.
"You don't have to do it if you don't wanna," Izuku interjected, turning to face the girl, a firm gaze fixed on her. "I hope I can someday hear you sing, Jiro-chan," the green-haired boy finished as he motioned for Denki to pass the microphone, his palm open, ready to receive the mic, before a lightning-fast jab snatched it away.
"I- I'll do it!" Kyoka proclaimed as she stood up.
"Oh? Why the sudden change of heart, dearest nee-chan? Don't tell me it's because of-" Denki questioned with a smirk before turning to glance at the green-haired boy and at the girl who was now fuming with a tint of red covering her features.
"Shut up, idiot! I'm doing it because I want to," she retorted before setting the next song to play. The tune, categorized as heavy rock, underwent a magical metamorphosis as Kyoka started to sing. Her voice, though raw, carried an irresistible vibrancy, each note a perfectly struck chord. With eyes firmly closed, her left arm stretched towards the green-haired boy, with her palm facing upwards. She wove a melody that transcended the song's original intensity, infusing it with a breathtaking beauty that echoed through the air. Izuku found himself mesmerized as the singing began weaving new colors into his world. The purple-haired girl grinned widely. She let everything out in the microphone, swaying her hips with the beat and bobbing her head in a rhythm.
As the song came to an end, everyone fixated their gazes on the girl. She placed the microphone on the table and returned to her seat before glancing at the green-haired boy. "So how did ya like it?" she probed, nervously scratching her cheek, gaze slightly tilted downwards.
"Incredible performance! The way you sang the lyrics, it felt like you were living each word at the moment," the green-haired boy exclaimed excitedly. Kyoka lifted her glance in surprise. "Of course, you would say that," she responded, a hint of embarrassment in her voice, their bodies unconsciously drawing closer.
Before long, the blonde-haired boy caught wind of the situation, inserting himself with a devilish grin. "Flirting, are we? Midoriya, when are you getting mar–" he began teasingly, but Kyoka's swift and expertly placed uppercut silenced him as he staggered backward.
"...You!" Kyoka fumed with a crimson-red tint on her features, while the green-haired boy's features mirrored a mix of paleness and embarrassment as he witnessed his friend's demise in the hands of the purple-haired girl.
"Well, there's no denying her abilities and talents surpass mine, and that extends to her impressive punching power," Soumei remarked in resignation, now letting an almost unnoticeable smirk escape his lips. Everyone chuckled at his comment as their festivities continued. All of them began taking turns to perform their favorite songs.
Eventually, it was Izuku's chance to step up to the mic. Admittedly, he had never sung in front of others—though belting out tunes in the shower hardly qualified as a testament to his ability. But to him, this was a momentous task. The green-haired teenager, who felt more at ease when training, now faced the challenge of performing in front of an audience.
Robotically, the green-haired boy rose from his seat, feeling a tinge of nervousness in his back as he walked in front of the display and began scrolling through the songs. "I don't know any of these," Izuku lamented briefly. Almost reaching the bottom of the list, a familiar song caught his eye. "Perfect, I hope I don't butcher this," he thought, setting the track to play.
As the tunes began swirling around the room, the green-haired teenager gripped the mic firmly before releasing a clear pitch that lulled everyone. He was not hitting all notes, but to everyone, especially Kyoka, it was evident that he was singing with everything he had, tunneling his soul into the lyrics as the tune began to pick up. The girl had her eyes fixed on the boy, who bobbed his head at the tune while returning her glance with a beaming smile as he let the melody and rhythm of the song guide his every action.
At that moment, the girl felt the edges of her mouth subtly turning up. The calm melody of the keys gracefully shifted the atmosphere, bringing the melody to a close. Everyone stared silently at Izuku, their eyes widening before erupting into cheers.
"Wow, did not expect that outta ya," Denki commented.
"So our man is humble, can sing, and looks good? Anyone hearing the bells of idol gigs ringing 'cause I do?" Ashido joked before the blonde teenager snatched the mic away, screaming into it as the festivities continued. The purple-haired girl stared at him questioningly as the sounds blurred into the background.
"Phantom Horus, One step further, huh?" she questioned, to which Izuku nodded as he sat beside Kyoka.
"They're a pretty niche band," she remarked, genuinely curious. "I didn't think you'd be the type to listen to them."
"Well, I like the message they're trying to express through their lyrics," the green-haired boy began explaining with a glint in his eyes. "It's as if the words are a desperate scream for—"
"Help," Kyoka finished with a smirk playing on her lips. "I did not take you for a connoisseur of old-school alternative rock," she smiled mischievously as the green-haired teenager's cheeks flushed a hint of red. He chuckled while lightly scratching his cheek. "I wouldn't go that far. It's just that their tune has always resonated with me," Izuku's lips faintly curled up as he maintained eye contact.
After screaming their lungs out at the karaoke, the group had elected to continue their day in a nearby Yakiniku restaurant where Denki decided to show off his cooking skills, slamming pieces of meat on the hot stone before, a short moment later, turning a couple of pieces of meat into charcoal. Quickly, this prompted his sister to take over, not before giving a couple of good, piercing stabs with her earjacks.
As the day unfolded, they relished their time, and before they realized it, the sun started its descent. The group soon found themselves standing at the entrance, exchanging farewells.
"Midoriya, I'm taking our resident sunbeam around the town. Do you mind escorting my dear nee-chan home for me?" The blonde-haired teenager remarked, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he winked at the auburn-haired girl. She stared at him questioningly, her expression momentarily puzzled before a light of understanding dawned on her. "Oh... Oh!" Her face transformed, a radiant smile replacing the initial confusion.
As everyone else slowly departed, vanishing into the night's embrace, the purple-haired girl and the nervous green-haired boy remained, facing each other in the quiet darkness.
"Should we head on?" Izuku asked, and the purple-haired girl nodded in agreement. They walked in comforting silence as the remnants of daylight faded, leaving the landscape bathed in the serene glow of twinkling stars.
"Midoriya," Kyoka called with a firm tone. "I know you already said you were okay, but… why are you pushing yourself so hard?" her gaze fixed on the boy, who turned to look at her with a gentle smile as his eyes gazed at the distance. He closed his eyes for a moment, gathering his resolve. "You see, ever since I was a small boy this height." Izuku grinned as he motioned his hand onto his knee length. "I and a friend of mine used to watch heroes on the TV while dreaming about being heroes who could save others with a smile on their face like All Might," he recalled as he placed his arms into pockets of his coat. "So now I want to give it my best effort to make that dream a reality and make everyone who believes in me proud. " Izuku exhaled air as his features relaxed, a delicate downturn in the corner of his mouth visible.
"I see, that explains why you're going all out," Kyoka chuckled, giving Izuku a soft nudge on the shoulder. She lightly jogged ahead, spinning around to face the green-haired boy with a wide grin. "Still, that doesn't mean you get to worry your friends," she pointed at Izuku with her index finger. "Ya hear?"
"I hear you, and I wouldn't want to worry anyone—especially you." Izuku's eyes regained a calm focus, his features softening as he kept his gaze fixed on the purple-haired girl as they continued trudging on.
"Huh, why me?" the girl questioned with a curious smile.
"I thought I was quirkless, and then I happened to stumble upon a girl who reached out to me and showed me the way forward. So it would be an understatement to say that you mean a lot to me, Jiro-chan, and I never want to betray your belief in me," Izuku explained with animated intensity. Almost immediately, Kyoka's face turned crimson red.
"O- Oh? Look at you being slick. Are you sure you're not lying?" Kyoka flashed a mischievous smile, attempting to mask her embarrassment. In an instant, Izuku flusteredly began motioning his arms.
"H- Hey! Even I am not brave enough to– " the green-haired teenager tried to retort, but in the middle, he lost his composure in the face of Kyoka's panicked expression. In that very moment, Izuku covered his face with his right hand as his features began to slightly redden in a sudden realization of what he had just uttered.
"Idiot," the purple-haired girl whispered with a soft smile as the two teenagers continued to traverse the crowded streets in a comforting silence. They wove through the constant ebb and flow of people, with vibrant shops and neon signs vying for attention. A person here and there passed by. Some of them glanced their way in amusement or curiosity as the two seemingly preoccupied teens lost themselves in the hustle and bustle of the city. Eventually, the dynamic landscape transformed from the lively chaos of the bustling center to the quieter, more serene surroundings, consisting of apartment complexes and an occasional grocery store.
As they approached the entrance of Jiro's residence, the atmosphere shifted. The sound of footsteps on the pavement echoed softly, and the distant hum of city life gradually gave way to a serene calmness that began to envelop their surroundings. The two-story apartment complex, with its clean lines and modern design, stood subtly illuminated by the gentle glow of streetlights.
Kyoka, her vibrant dark-purple hair standing out against the muted starry sky, led the way up a short flight of stairs that ascended from the street level. The stairs, made of sturdy concrete, guided them to the elevated entrance of the two-story complex. As she reached the top, Jiro turned subtly, her fingers intertwined behind her back, and faced Izuku, who stood at the bottom of the staircase.
"Here we are," she said.
"Thanks for inviting me, Jiro-chan... I had a lot of fun," Izuku smiled, his features carrying a warmth that momentarily dazed the girl.
"Hey," Kyoka called, still in her place, her gaze fixed on the emerald-haired teen.
"Call me by my first name?" she asked, averting her eyes with a faint blush.
"Huh…? I- Are you sure?" the green-haired boy questioned, surprised.
"You heard me, broccoli head," she responded, standing with her left arm on the railing.
"B- But I thought– You weren't upset with me yesterday?" he said.
"It was embarrassing, okay!? I mean, it came out of nowhere. How do you think a girl would react?" she explained, scratching her cheek, a subtle blush on her face. "It made me happy too." Kyoka's features softened, and the green-haired boy, noticing the change, turned his head slightly away, his mind racing.
"O-okay then, Kyoka. I'll see you in school, okay?" Izuku stammered, adjusting himself upright, hands at his sides, attempting to contain the remnants of his composure as he kept his gaze pointing forward. A moment later, soft steps echoed as the purple-haired girl tiptoed down the stairs. She lightly punched the green-haired teenager on the shoulder.
"Thanks, Izuku," she said with a soft tone and a beaming grin, her face cheeks holding a tint of red. It was an expression the green-haired teenager had never seen radiating from the purple-haired girl. In one swift swoop, it sent Izuku's heart racing as new, pulsating, and colorful fireworks erupted inside him. Every sense in his body jumbled together, his eyes dilating. The sounds of the city, with cars traveling on the road, faded into a distant hum as time halted in place. The warmth radiated within him, accompanied by the rhythmic thud of his heartbeats.
Next, the girl gave a light wave as she ascended the stairs. The dazed green-haired boy forced out an awkward wave in return, standing rooted in place and glancing at the retreating form of Kyoka. When the closing door's sound echoed in Izuku's head, he spun around, taking slow strides. His breath felt stuck in his throat, yet as he moved along, something extraordinary unfolded within him. The cityscape blurred into insignificance as the echo of her laughter, the warmth of her touch, and the sparkle in her eyes lingered in his mind. His steps quickened, heart racing even faster. In that suspended moment, he found himself jogging, then running. The once unclear landscape of his conflicting feelings towards the girl had now changed, replaced by a single, resonating truth that painted a clear picture of vibrant colors: "Oh my god, I think I like her," he thought, his body in full motion.
Author Notes:
Dear God, I nearly flatlined from an overdose of sugar generated during the writing process of this chapter. I hope you enjoy the momentary fluff between our lead characters because things are about to take a chilling turn from this point onward.
P.S. Yes, it is a double-chapter release, and yes, I might have overdone it this time around.