"Izuku! You're going to be late for school if you don't get up soon!"
He loves his mom. He really does. But waking him and making him get out of his nice cozy bed was pushing it. Even if he won't do anything about it. He's learned his lesson since the time he tried to turn his mom into a frog…
Ugh. He was having the best dream too. He was flying over the ocean! It was so cool!
"Izuku! Don't make me come in there!"
This was not.
Grabbing a book off his desk, Izuku trudges into the dining room where his mother sets his breakfast down for him. "Izuku you just got up…" Inko says, eyeing the book in his hand.
"There's less than a week until the Sports Festival mom, I gotta learn as much as I can," Izuku dismisses her concerns and sits down, taking a bite of his toast and conjuring a pencil to add a few new notes he thought of last night.
Inko sighs, getting up to make her own plate. "I know honey but I don't want you to burn out. Didn't you train enough this past weekend at…where did Heimdall send you again?"
Izuku taps the pencil's eraser on his cheek thinking. "Sorry mom, what did you sa-oh! I went to Antarctica."
His mom makes a face. "What kind of training did you-" her phone rings, causing Inko to lose her train of thought when she picks it up from the counter.
The teen looks back down at his book to continue his note adding before Inko's curt voice distracts him. "What do you want?"
That takes all of Izuku's attention immediately. She never talks to anyone like that. Well…no one except-
"Izuku." He gulps at her stern voice while she hands him the phone. "You have to leave soon. Make this quick."
Inko's attitude has him thrown for such a loop, Izuku doesn't think when he puts the phone to his ear and absentmindedly says, "hello."
He comes back to his senses when he has to yank the phone away from the loud voice on the other end. "Okay, okay! Sorry!" Izuku placates the other caller, switching to English. He takes advantage of the man's rambling to finish a few pieces of toast.
"Yes…yes I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking!" Izuku is groaning but he can't keep the small smile off his face. "And by the way, it's called Japanese. Not 'ching-chong,' Uncle Wade."
Izuku shakes his head fondly while his uncle continues to yell, walking to the kitchen to put his plate in the sink. "Yes, I called Uncle Logan to help my friend...well for starters, he was already in Japan."
After vanishing the book Uncle Thor gave him, Izuku listens more while walking back to his room. "Are you even allowed to get on a plane?" He pauses for the answer. "The last time you said you'd find a way, you stole an entire jet."
Izuku can't help but laugh as he reaches his room. "Fine, technically we stole it. My mom's still mad at you for talking me into that." Another pause. "No, I didn't say I regretted it…"
Was this what his mom was talking about when she said Uncle Wade was a bad influence on him?…nah.
He goes over to his desk and starts to pull out school supplies from the drawers. "Yes, I told mom why we needed it! That taco place you like on the west coast of the US was closing soon and we needed to get there fast." Izuku listens. "No, it wasn't good enough for her."
The greenette starts to pack his bag. "You wouldn't have been able to help anyway. My friend's parents own a construction company and needed work."
Izuku shivers. "I don't know what you would've used their equipment for and please don't tell me…yes you've told me the story with the Zamboni a million times."
Finishing with his bag, Izuku vanishes it before organizing and putting his notebooks back on the shelf. "My birthday? Haven't really thought abiut it, why?…no Uncle Wade you can't bring me a gun."
"What?" Izuku checks his phone on his desk and opens the text messages. "Oh, yup, here are all the pictures of guns. It doesn't matter anyway, guns are illegal here…yes I could keep it in my pocket dimension but I couldn't use it…don't tell me 'not with that attitude!' "
Izuku can't stop himself from laughing at the whining coming from the other end of the call. He puts his phone in his pocket before checking the emails on his second phone and vanishing it.
"Sure, if you actually make it here then I'll at least look at whatever gun you got me, okay?" Izuku holds the phone away from his ear again because of the loud cheer of victory.
"Alright it's been good talking to you but I gotta-huh?" Izuku stops, unsure. "Say hi to the readers for you? Sure, whatever you say…bye Uncle Wade."
He hangs up his mother's phone still bewildered. His uncle's great but he can be so confusing sometimes.
Straightening his tie and making himself oh so comfortable on Aizawa's shoulder, Nezu smiles as a car pulls up to the front gate of UA.
"How do you even get up there without me knowing…" Aizawa groans.
"Physics," Nezu answers vaguely. It was so much fun to keep humans guessing. And judging by the slight shiver he felt from the man, it was working. Aizawa was the one that had to go ahead and wear the most comfortable scarf in the world around his shoulders, it should not take an intelligence quirk to figure out why Nezu likes his shoulder so much.
But enough of that. He could go on and on about his indentured servants but he has two guests to campus today walking up to the gate! "Am I a mouse? A dog? A bear? My real identity is…the Principal of UA, Nezu!" He cheers happily, ignoring Aizawa's pained sigh.
Logan laughs a little. "Nice meet you in person, Principal Nezu, your reputation precedes you."
"As does yours." When the man tilts his head a little, Nezu continues. "Come now, even we in Japan have heard the tales of the Wolverine."
"Well hopefully you haven't heard too much," the older hero remarks, putting a hand on the shoulder of his companion.
"Ah, yes. You did mention you were bringing someone else." Nezu looks down at Logan's companion, a young girl. Still at least a few years off from the age necessary to attend UA.
If Nezu had to guess, and he was good at guessing, the girl is of Mexican descent, with straight black hair that came to her shoulders. She wore jeans, and a gray shirt with a horse and rainbow on it covered by a jean jacket. Perched on her head was a pair of pink and blue sunglasses.
"Does she speak Japanese?" Nezu inquires.
"No." Logan shakes his head, sighing a little. "Just English and Spanish. Little brat is as stubborn as a mule when trying to teach her shit."
Nezu hums, looking back down at the girl. "Hello," he says in Spanish. "I'm Principal Nezu. What's your name?"
The girl narrows her eyes at him before looking at Logan, who gives her a reaffirming nod. She looks back at him for a few more seconds before simply replying, "Laura."
The principal claps his paws excitedly. "Wonderful!" Aizawa clears his throat with not so much subtlety. "Oh, very well Aizawa. Mr. Howlett, if I may?" Nezu gestures from one man to the other and the foreign hero understands immediately.
"Just Logan," he says, leaning forward so Nezu could climb onto his shoulder from Aizawa's. Wordlessly, the Erasure hero hands the two guests visitor badges and walks away. Nezu knows it's to try and get a nap in before homeroom…where the man will nap as well.
"Shall we begin?" Nezu moves himself to be more comfortable while they begin their walk around the school.
"I gotta say, I was surprised when I received an invitation to tour the campus of Japan's most prestigious hero school. Most places are a bit too…intimidated for that." Logan looks around the campus, eyeing their surroundings. Nezu notices that Laura keeps a close eye on any passing students.
"Well when both the leader of one of America's two biggest hero teams and a fellow educator comes to my country, how could I possibly resist?" Nezu purrs.
"Temporary educator," Logan corrects. "I'm only Headmaster of the school until they find someone better. A lot of bullshit politics that come with the job I'm not cut out for."
"Don't be so modest." Nezu chuckles. "From what I've gathered, you have been 'temporary' headmaster of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters for years now."
"And I'll never fucking understand why…" Nezu will never claim to be an expert on human emotion, something whose intricacies will more than likely forever elude him. But he has a feeling the hero doesn't mind the position he holds as much as he lets on.
"I'm sure the experience of the longevity aspect of your quirk has allowed you to have is a valuable learning tool for your students as well," Nezu says.
Logan laughs, his face softening. "It is. Hoping for those kids to not make any of the same dumb fucking mistakes I did." He looks fondly at Laura for a moment. "Even if I will never get used to it being called a quirk."
"Even after the term's common usage the past couple of centuries?" Nezu asks curiously.
"Well after being called a mutant for the first couple of centuries, it's hard to let go. Especially since we're still referred to as such in certain parts of America," Logan informs him.
"I can imagine the country's high rate of late bloomers contributes to that." Humans always finding ways to discriminate against one another astounds him.
"A lot of kids don't get their powers until around 13 in America," Logan confirms. "Because of that, they don't have nearly as much control of their abilities as other kids do, that's usually when they come to Xavier's school."
"Well, giving those children a safe haven must be rewarding in itself," Nezu says in still a cheery tone but one that's a bit softer than his usual. The chimera points Logan in which direction to go.
"It is," Logan says quietly, pulling Laura just a bit closer to him. "Speaking of students, couldn't help but overhear about the USJ incident. If there's anything we can do to make sure those bastards pay, let me know."
"That is very much appreciated." Nezu checks the status on his phone. "But we are following every lead we have at the moment. And despite my best efforts, a program another faculty member and I built has not been able to revive the camera footage lost during the attack."
They stop in front of a door and Nezu pats the man to let him down. "If you'll excuse me, I have a quick phone call to make and we can continue the tour after but I believe Ms. Laura will enjoy herself through here until then."
"You know you still haven't told me why I'm here," Logan says in a humorous tone.
Oh, Nezu does love it when humans aren't dumb. "Well if the X-Men are wanting to bring heroes to Japan, I thought they would need a place to earn their Japanese hero licenses."
"Funny." Logan looks off in the distance. "I was supposed to meet with your Hero Commission today to discuss that but they had to cancel on me at the last minute. And that's when you called."
"Well!" Nezu can't help his giddy feeling. "What a fortunate turn of events for me!"
Logan raises an eyebrow. "And unfortunate for them, right?" Oh Nezu does like this human. He hopes he gets to meet more.
At the sound of the door opening, Izuku turns away from where Eri is using Nomu as stabbing practice to the entrance of Gym Gamma. "Uncle Logan? What are you doing here?"
"Your principal invited me," he says looking around the gym. "You know I didn't quite believe you when you told me about this place…"
"Says the man who has a jet that comes out from under his basketball court," Izuku deadpans.
Wolverine smirks at him. "You would know, wouldn't you? Considering you and Wade stole it."
Izuku groans while Logan laughs. Neither noticing Laura walk away to the middle of the gym. "I'm never gonna live that down, am I? We were just borrowing it! And we were gonna come back with food for everyone!"
Loki's son crosses his arms. "I don't know why you guys are always coming after me, Uncle Wade was the adult in that situation…"
Logan snorts. "You're lucky it can be controlled remotely. By the way, I never found out, how'd your parents take that little stunt?"
The green-haired boy shrugs. "Dad gave me a new gaming system." At Logan's look, he adds, "but mom grounded me so I couldn't use it for a while!"
The old hero looks like he wants to say more but then, "L-L-Laura?" Izuku hears Eri try. The two look over to see Eri and Laura looking at each curiously. "Laura?" Eri says hesitantly again.
The other girl nods vigorously before making a face like she swallowed a lemon. "Eri?" The unicorn beside her jumps up and down cheering.
"That's Laura, huh?" Izuku doesn't take his eyes off the girls while they sound out different words in each other's languages. He takes out his phone and sends a text. "Clone/daughter? I thought my life was crazy."
"And I guess that's Eri then. You were right, way cuter than you could describe." Izuku pouts. "And believe me, kid, the world is a much more fucked up place than you can imagine." He points at Nomu. "Like that, right there, whatever he is. Doesn't even faze me."
Izuku snickers. "Good to know. How's the Uraraka Construction Company working out?"
Logan crossed his arms, also continuing to watch the girls teach other words. "I know you're asking how I behaved when I went over to their house and I was fucking gentlemen, Izuku."
"There's a first time for everything…"
"Ignoring that. We've only just started the actual construction but you were right. They're hard workers and eager. Your girlfriend's parents are everything you thought they'd be."
Feeling his cheeks warm up, Izuku replies, "s-she's n-not my-well, you know…"
Logan glances at him. "She's not? That why you didn't want me to tell her it was you who recommended them? But you do like her, don't you?"
He can feel himself getting redder. "I-I'm not s-sure…m-maybe?"
"Izuku." At Logan's serious tone, he looks up at him. "Take it from someone who's lived a very long while. The one thing you can never get back is time. When you figure out your feelings for this girl, don't wait too long, got it?"
"O-okay," Izuku manages to get out. "It's just…i-if I ever did want something like that with her…" Izuku's voice becomes more firm. "I'd want her to know about me before…about who I really am."
"Probably a good decision," Logan comments.
The two stand in silence for a minute before Izuku speaks up, wanting to change the previous subject, "are you guys gonna be in Japan long?"
Logan doesn't comment on the abrupt change. "Just a couple of months until the new mansion is built for the X-Men team here. Speaking of which, offer is still open…"
Izuku relaxes, getting back to more familiar territory for him. "Sorry, but Uncle Thor upped his offer again and he's ahead."
The mutant runs a hand through his hair. "Do I even wanna know who he got this time?"
Izuku can barely contain his excitement. "He said he got Miguel to agree to sign something for me!!"
The laugh that escapes him when Logan slaps a hand to his face almost knocks him over. "I was afraid of that…how am I supposed to compete with goddamn Spider-Man…" Logan grumbles.
"Looks like if I ever leave Japan I'm becoming an Avenger," Izuku sings.
"Midoriya?" Izuku's gloating has to wait because that's when Kaminari decides to come into the gym. "Hey, I got your text and brought it, what's up?"
"I almost forgot, Thor said something about having a son now." Logan says to their new arrival.
"Who are…" the blonde's face lights up. "You're Wolverine!" He runs up to them so fast, that traces of lightning streak over him. "My dad told me about-" he stops. "Wait, Midoriya, does he know about…you know what?" Kaminari whispers as if the man right next to them can't hear.
"Yeah, about as subtle as the hammer his dad uses. Of course I fucking know about that stuff," Logan laughs.
Relief washes over Kaminari's face. "Oh, phew! Anyway, my dad said you're awesome! The way you could tear through villains like they're nothing!"
His uncle looks a little too proud for Izuku's liking. "Well thank you, I-"
"He's also a really good singer!" Izuku interrupts, taking the wind out of Logan's sails. His uncle gives him a dirty look. "That's for the jet."
Kaminari looks like Christmas came early.
"Anyway, you got it?" Izuku asks his cousin, who gives him a confused 'yes' before handing over Thunderstrike to him.
"What'd you need it for?" Kaminari questions.
"Thunderstrike gives whosoever is holding it All Speak." He holds the weapon out to Eri and Laura and gestures to them to hold onto it. "And these two need a little help."
Both girls grab onto the hilt and look at each other, waiting for something to happen. "Go ahead." Izuku's voice causes them both to jump. "You can understand each other now."
"We can?" Laura gapes at Eri.
"You can understand me," the older girl states.
"Y-yeah," Eri says, more nervous now. "Hi…"
Laura stares at her for a few uncomfortable seconds. "You're like me."
"Huh?"
Slowly, Laura reaches over with her free hand and pulls Eri's sleeve up. Izuku sees the bracers he gave her, along with her scars. "Bad men hurt you like they hurt me."
Eri's eyes widen. "They hurt you too? Are your bad men still chasing you also?"
Laura shakes her head, giving Eri a viciously proud smile. "No…" she makes a fist with her free hand and two adamantium claws shoot out of her knuckles. "I stabbed them!"
"That's an understatement…" Izuku hears Logan mumble.
"Wow…" Eri looks enthralled with the blades. She reaches for them and looks at Laura for permission but she shakes her head, Stopping Eri from touching them. "When they come out, does it hurt?"
"Every time," Laura responds.
Eri looks back and forth between the claws and herself before seemingly coming to a decision. "I wanna stab the bad men who hurt me too!" She flicks her wrist on her own free hand, causing her hidden blade to spring out.
Chucking, Izuku pats her head. "I'll give you a turn once I have a few rounds, sound good?" Eri agrees excitedly. Both her and Laura now admiring each other's blades.
At least, they were until the two lock eyes, having a silent conversation despite the magical item that could let them talk between them. Izuku realizes what's happening a few seconds later.
"Nomu, don't interfere," Izuku commands, backing up. The girls step back from each other as well after putting Thunderstrike down, never taking their eyes off each other.
Laura clenches her other fist, her second set of claws jutting out. Eri bends her knees, placing a hand by the belt she wears over her UA uniform.
"Eri doesn't have a healing factor!" Izuku quickly makes sure to point out just in case. Laura probably spars with Uncle Logan a lot so…
Neither of the girls acknowledges him. Yeah, it's probably gonna be alright.
"Some of the things you've told me about Laura…" Izuku starts.
"Even when we're practicing, we don't go for kill shots. I'm not a fucking animal, Izuku." The look he gives his uncle is enough to tell him he doesn't believe him on the animal part. Look at his name!
There's no warning when it starts. Laura charges at Eri with a yell. The horned girl responding with two throwing knives flicked at her opponent but Laura slides on her knees under them.
Eri runs and jumps over the sliding Laura, flipping in the air and avoiding a swipe from the other girl. Laura gets up and is on Eri instantly, who's barely able to duck Laura's first swipe before jumping back from the second.
Laura lunges forward again looking to stab Eri in the shoulder, but she backs away again, this time unsheathing her second blade and stabbing at Laura's arm, the Wolverine clone blocks her with her other set of claws, a clang! rings through the room as the blades collide.
Eri tries to stab Laura with her other arm but is blocked again. With their arms taken, Laura lets loose a yell of rage before a blade pokes its way out of her shoe, surprising everyone but her father.
Again, Eri jumps away just as Laura kicks her foot forward but she doesn't let up, jumping high in the air and twisting to try and stab Eri in the arm. Seeing an opportunity, this time, Eri spins toward Laura getting ready to slash her leg mid-air-
But the older girl is too experienced for that, spreading her arm out to punch Eri in the face before she could get the chance. Eri only has a second on the ground before she has to roll away, Laura's foot claw impaling the ground where Eri's leg was just moments ago. Laura yells again in rage, yanking her foot out of the ground, sending cement flying.
Izuku leans over to Logan. "Did uh…did you teach her that?"
Logan scratches his nose. "No, she…she came like that."
Laura screams, trying to bring her claw down but Eri blocks the blow, going for a counterattack instantly forcing Laura to dodge for the first time.
Sidestepping a thrust from Laura, Eri hits her claw, sending it skyward before trying two quick slashes at Laura's midsection, the other girl dodging both. Eri stabs downward at Laura's leg and she responds by trying to stab Eri's hand with her foot claw.
But it looks like this is what the unicorn was waiting for, parrying the blade with her own and disrupting Laura's balance for only a second but that's all Eri needs. She slashes upward and Laura tries to turn her head but it was too late.
Laura backs up feeling her cheek and wincing. A small cut leaks blood onto her fingers. Eri smiles victoriously but it quickly vanishes with the hungry smile Laura answers her with.
The little mutant wipes her cheek and jumps at Eri, who rolls underneath her. The rewind user spins around and rises up on one knee raising her arm to attack, but Laura takes her own advantage.
She uses Eri's knee as a boost to get herself up and wrap her legs around the white-haired girl's shoulder, spinning them both to the ground and slamming Eri on her back hard.
By the time her red eyes find focus again, there are two claws centimeters from her eyes. With it clearly decided, she relaxes and retracts her blades, surrendering.
Laura nods, and gets up while helping Eri up at the same time, both girls giggling.
"Wow!" Kaminari claps. "Today I found out I could have my ass handed to me by either one of them!"
"Well, I think it's pretty clear who the better teacher is," Logan says smugly, taking out a cigar but stopping when Izuku shakes his head. "Really? No? Fuck."
Izuku laughs. "At least they're not taking it hard." He refers to Eri trying to copy the spinning mid-air kick Laura did but falling on the ground in an undignified heap instead. But she gets up giggling more and Laura tries to show her how to do right.
"I think Eri did good, especially considering I've only been training her for a year," Izuku observes. "You know, since I'm poised to be an Avenger…" he takes great satisfaction at the face Logan makes. "Maybe I should avenge Eri's loss…"
Logan's smile takes a much sharper tone, his hand dropping and forming a fist. "You sure you wanna do this, bub? You know I'm the best at what I do…and what I do isn't very nice…"
Izuku conjures a knife. The excitement in him building. He never gets an opponent he can freely cut with no consequences! "Everyone thinks you're immortal Uncle Logan…should we test that?"
The two stare each down waiting for someone to make the first move-
But a warning bell goes off, signaling homeroom beginning in just a couple of minutes, Snipe entering just as it does.
"Midoriya. Kaminari. "Ya'll better get a move on or you'll be late. And knowing Aizawa, he'll blame me."
Taking a breath, Izuku vanishes the knife. "Next time."
Logan nods. "See you around, kid."
"Again, I'm so sorry about Monoma and I promise to try and keep my class in line." Class 1-B's Itsuka Kendo stands from her bow. Her vice rep, Nirengeki Shoda does the same next to her.
Izuku…wasn't sure what to say. When the reps of their sister class asked to see him and Yaomomo in between classes, he didn't know what would happen but this was honestly one of the last things he expected.
Thankfully, while Izuku does a great impression of a fish, Yaomomo is there to pick up his slack. "We thank you for your dedication, Kendo. I do not know why our class rep didn't inform anyone of this." Oh, he just got a look. "But any help is very much appreciated."
Kendo looks relieved. "That's great to hear. I also wanted to let you know, Midoriya, that not everyone believes Vlad-sensei. Just Monoma and some idiots he's riled up."
Realizing he is in fact, not a fish and has the ability to speak on land, Izuku replies with, "thanks, Kendo. I really thought I was going to have all twenty of you jumping me at the festival…"
She laughs. "No no. Well, I'm glad we could sort that out. It was great to meet both of you!" They exchange goodbyes and begin to walk away but the orange-haired girl calls out one last time before they do. "Oh!" Kendo starts, trying to contain more laughter. "I'm obligated to ask, you don't actually talk to villains right?"
Izuku laughs with her. "I'm not the traitor, Kendo. And I haven't given any info about UA or any students to any villains!"
Sometimes, weird sentences pop into Toshinori's head. One's that he knows he can't repeat out loud because they'll sound weird, especially if he does it while he's buffed up. Sentences like, he's looking forward to seeing the creative ways teenagers beat each other up for the Sports Festival.
Is that a weird thing to say? Probably. But considering the millions who watch the festival every year, he's not the only one.
"All Might?" Speaking of teens, a certain one's voice pulls him out of his thoughts.
"I apologize, young Tenko. What did you say?" The two were currently standing alone in one of UA's many workout rooms after school.
"Nothing, just that I finished that last set of weights. Was there anything else you wanted me to do?"
He smiles at the young man. "No you've done plenty today, I'll see you tomorrow." Tenko nods, going over to a bench to pack his bag and switch shoes.
To be honest, he wasn't sure how he expected the boy to react when he approached him about helping him train for the festival but Tenko agreed so quickly, it looked like he himself was surprised!
Whether that was because Tenko was finally willing to talk to him or he thought All Might's training would be easier than anything Gran would put him through was anyone's guess.
Reaching the door, Tenko stops, scratching his neck. "Hey…" Toshinori says nothing, letting him take a few minutes to collect his thoughts. When Tenko speaks again, it's low and his voice cracks a little. "I don't understand why…"
All Might relaxes a little. "It's pretty simple, my boy! I want to see you do your best at the-"
"I don't understand why…" Toshinori's voice dies as Tenko's voice grows harsher, the boy still won't face him. "You should hate me."
Feeling his heart crack a little, he immediately replies, "I never did."
The two stand in silence again for a few minutes, young Tenko playing with the doorknob. "I want to believe you…so bad but…"
"I'll say it as many times and for however long you need. I never hated you, nor did I ever blame you for what happened," Toshinori says firmly.
Truthfully, at the time, there were too many emotions going through Toshinori for him to figure out how he felt. Hearing from Tsukauchi that some informant had told them it was a quirk accident and the boy was running, all he could focus on was finding Nana's last blood relative before something bad happened.
And he did. All Might didn't know how he'd feel when he actually found him but seeing that crying boy covered in blood in that alleyway, his emotions became clear. He would protect him.
Tenko gives him a look over the shoulder, a quick nod, and disappears without another word. Maybe it's his endless optimism that Gran is always making fun of him about talking, but it feels like progress.
Denki huffs before kicking off the tree. He hits the next one, pretty easy since he's in a forest, and pushes off again. Lightning covers his body, allowing him to move faster, but he can feel himself draining even faster, still, he pushes himself. The festival is close!
His foot slips on the next tree and he yells out, hitting the ground and rolling for a couple of meters, the lightning around his body dying out.
Instead of getting up, he lets himself have a second to catch his breath, which is in short supply right now. The evening sun's rays coming through the trees look beautiful…
"That was your longest time yet!" Thor's voice hammers it's way into his tranquility, his father's smiling face coming into view. Was Denki a little annoyed that his dad didn't look winded at all keeping up with him? Maybe.
"Thanks, dad." He's helped into a sitting position and given a bottle of water, which he drains half of almost instantly.
"This Sports Festival is a blessing in disguise for us." Thor sits beside him. "Learning to use your powers without your weapon to channel them is important, and this festival gave us an excuse to continue that training." He laughs thunderously.
"So, I'm doing good?" Denki gets out between gasping breaths and water drinking.
"You've got a long way to go but your start is beyond anything I could have predicted. I have no doubt you'll go far in the festival. Which reminds me…"
He gets up, standing over his son. "There's one more part of your training we have to get to before your festival starts."
"What's that?"
The smile Thor gives him isn't one he's used to. In fact, that kind of look would probably be better on Uncle L-
"I have no doubt that like you, Izuku will make it far into the festival, which means you two will more than likely meet in combat." Denki grimaces.
"Which is why…" Thor continues in a whisper before announcing loudly. "We are going to start your lessons in 'How to Beat a Loki 101!'"
Denki can't help but laugh at his dad's antics, standing up with him. "Isn't that kind of unfair though?"
"First lesson." Thor holds up a finger. "Learn to think like a Loki. I have no doubt my brother has given Izuku lessons on how to combat me which means…how to combat you. I have never lost to my brother in a fight, and I expect you to keep up that tradition."
He can tell his father isn't completely serious but Denki gives him a determined nod anyway. "I'll do my best!"
"You should've seen her!" Izuku says excitedly from where he sits by his desk. "Her punches and kicks are already so much faster than when we started!" Two and Twelve sit on the floor in front of him listening.
"Then!" Izuku doesn't stop. "I had to answer an email from my phone but she grabbed me and slammed me into the mat when I looked away and reached for it!" His head starts to hurt a little.
Two laughs while Twelve does what he does and analyzes. "I'm assuming you've taught Uraraka to take advantage of any opportunity the opponent gives? And you did not actually stop the fight when you reached for your phone?"
Izuku shakes his head. "I just said to give me a second and she literally did!"
"All I'm hearing," Four says, appearing next to him. "Is that someone liked it when Uraraka slammed him into the mat."
He looks away, his headache getting worse but his cheeks reddening. "Shut up…"
"Not a denial." Three observes, materializing as well on his other side. "Of course, he could also be proud that Uraraka is picking up his lessons with much enthusiasm and learning quickly."
Izuku grabs his head, it's starting to hurt even more. What's going on? He knows what it feels like when he's about to have a clone-induced panic attack but he hasn't had one of those since before UA! But this is different…it's familiar but he can't quite place it…
Oh no.
He just remembered.
"Are you alright?" Two asks.
"It's happening again." Five states clearly, making himself visible. "It's been a long time."
"Wait, that? But what could it-" Two doesn't get to finish before Izuku grabs his head with both hands and yells out. Green lines flash erratically on his body and the room disappears in a green light, blinding everyone.
When it's over, Izuku is gasping, hands on his knees. After getting control of his breathing, he looks up. The rest of his decoys are all looking at the same spot. Right in front of him, a clone sits on his bed looking at him curiously.
Izuku can tell his clones apart. That's why they're numbered. Two through Twelve. Each has a different part of him. He recognizes any of them instantly. Which is why they're all stunned.
None of them know this clone. It's number Thirteen. But…what part of him does it-
Thirteen looks at everyone before taking a fond sigh and laying down in the bed. "Uraraka looks really cute when she's determined, doesn't she?"
Izuku falls off his chair. Four looks more excited than he's ever been. "No way! No way no way no way!" He points at a stunned Izuku on the ground. "You can't deny it anymore! To us or yourself! Literally! Proof you have a crush on her!"
Sitting up suddenly, Thirteen puts a hand to his head. "Oh my god…my name is Thirteen…like her favorite hero…"
"This…is the greatest day of my existence…" Four gets out before bursting out laughing, the other clones joining him rolling on the ground. Even the logical Three couldn't stop himself.
"I don't…" Izuku tries weakly.
"The proof is laying on your bed!" Five yells, trying and failing to get control of himself.
"Hey." Thirteen gets their attention. "If you don't want to confess to her, I can do it for you."
"He's gonna be a handful to control at the festival." Two wipes a tear.
"Festival?…" Izuku asks, dreading at knowing what the answer could be.
"Well, yeah!" Four gives him a thumbs up. "When you make the third round, we're all gonna be in the stands cheering you on with your classmates!"
"We can't wait to meet them." Five whispers conspiratorially.
"Could this day get any worse?" Izuku moans, leading to another round of laughter.
Night has fallen on Japan by now. In an office, the owner has elected to keep the lights off, letting the room be consumed by darkness, save for the light coming from the computer screen.
He rewinds the video and plays it again. His hearing is better than that of humans but even he is unsure. Taking a sip of tea, he lets the video play again.
"I am Izuku Lokison. Prince of Mischief. And I am burdened by glorious purpose."
He drags the video to the side and watches the boy get teleported to the Downpour Zone, where he's saved by Kaminari. His program was still reconstructing some of the footage from the attack but he was able to get the Central Plaza footage from the USJ.
Opening the program, he searches, and ah, lucky him! It seems the recordings of the downpour zone are ready to be viewed as well! And so he does. Taking in every word from a conversation between a certain blonde and green-haired boy.
"Well," Nezu rubs his paws together, looking at the paused image of 'Midoriya' and 'Kaminari.' "I believe it's time we sat down for a little chat."