"Turn in your choices before the weekend."

"We've only got two days?!!"

Denki moans with the rest of his classmates as Aizawa-sensei walks out of the classroom, with Midnight and Colossus waving happily at them before following him out.

After most of the class had their hero names picked, Aizawa had explained they would be picking a hero agency to spend a week-long internship with. And while Denki is thrilled to have so many offers, ideally, he would've spent the time with his dad.

But apparently, it has to be a hero registered in Japan, and Thor technically wasn't so Denki couldn't choose him. Too bad. He was kind of hoping they could spend the week in Asgard, as he still has never had the chance to visit himself.

How much fun it could've been! Flying, or falling with style as Izuku calls it, around the castle! Seeing the Rainbow Bridge. Meeting some of dad's friends, who he's always talking about. It would be-

Ack! What's he doing?! He's only got two days to pick an internship! And here he is, getting lost in his head like always! See, this is why you've always had to cram your assignments, Denki! Whether it's daydreaming about Asgard, life as a hero, or about Tokage-

Oh, look! His internship papers! Denki distracts himself from his wandering thoughts and hot face to scan the paper, looking for any obvious names.

It's then he realizes he has a problem. What does he want to get out of these internships? He can't really progress with his overall powers because none of the heroes could help him with that. His biggest issue right now is using his abilities without Thunderstrike.

Sure, Denki could enhance his physical abilities even further and blast small lightning bolts without it, but at the moment, most of his moves still came from channeling his power through his weapon.

He chuckles a little, glancing back to see Izuku studying his paper intensely while muttering under his breath, and rolling one of his blue marbles in his hand. He won't admit it to his cousin, but Denki is sure he wouldn't have won that final match without Thunderstrike. If Izuku hadn't brought it and offered to let him have it, he probably would have lost.

Thor had done what he could to assure him, telling him it took a very long time for him to use his powers effectively without his hammer, so no one expected Denki to be able to.

So, if he couldn't properly practice his powers with or without Thunderstrike, then what was he supposed to do?

The thought consumed Denki through the next few classes and the first part of the lunch period, with most of class 1-A deciding to head back to the classroom after quick meals to finish deciding on their internships.

With him being brought onto a small detour before they got back.

"So, what's going on?" Denki asks.

Izuku shrugs, looking as confused as him as to why they were both pulled into an empty classroom by Uraraka. "Sorry, sorry! This'll take just a second!" She apologizes to them. "I just have to confirm something that's been on my mind for days, and if I don't get an answer, I'm gonna go crazy!"

She laughs after that, you know, like all sane people do, before getting serious way too fast for comfort. "So, just to make sure. You really are Deku's cousin, yeah?" She questions him.

Why does he suddenly feel like he's being interrogated? "Last I checked."

"So…" she points from Izuku to him a couple of times. "You know about…um, you're also…"

He tilts his head in curiosity. Thankfully, Izuku seems to get it. "Oh! You're wondering-" He turns to Denki. "Sorry, I should've texted you. I did end up telling Uraraka about who we really are."

Right! Denki won't admit he actually forgot about that. "Yup! Denki Thorson here! Best looking half alien at this school. Nice to properly meet ya."

"Shhhhh!" Uraraka shushes him, putting her hands up. "You can't- you can't say that so loud! What if someone hears and figures it out?!"

"I'll think you'll find we're amazing at keeping secrets. I mean, no one else knows," Denki reminds her.

"He's right," Izuku agrees. "And even if someone else was around, I'm sure Nezu would take care of it. I wouldn't be surprised if he's watching us on some cameras right now."

Uraraka whirls around to the other boy. "The principal knows?! You told him?"

She looks back and forth between the demigods, both unsure of how to answer.

"Actually-"

"You see-"

"It would seem," all three teenagers jump at the sound of Nezu's voice coming over the intercom of the classroom. "That our resident extraterrestrial's abilities to keep their secret may be slightly over-exaggerated." The mic cuts out to the sound of his cackling.

"Uh. In summary, I think we're good," Izuku laughs a little, rubbing the back of his head.

"Okay, okay…" Uraraka says with a strange calmness that makes Denki nervous. He's proven correct when she explodes on him. "You're also half-alien?!! Have you always known like Deku?! Have you been to space? Can you survive without a suit? I was reading about Thor, can you lift his hammer? Are you going to be king after him? Can you-"

Uraraka sucks in a breath, panting after her onslaught of questions. Denki snickers, looking over her at Izuku. "You two have clearly been spending a lot of time together." He feels a great deal of satisfaction when both the oblivious dorks go a little red.

"Anyway, I lost you after question two, can you start again?" Denki can't hold his laugh at the face Uraraka makes. It looks like she forgot what she asked too.

"Let's see." Izuku taps his chin. Here we go. "Yes, Denki is half-alien just like me. No, he found out last year. He hasn't been to space. Yes, we can both survive in space for a little bit without any protection…theoretically. Neither of us have tried to lift Uncle Thor's hammer. And, yes, he will be king. That's all I think?"

"Woah, woah." Denki saves Uraraka from having to speak and lets her catch her breath. "Me be king? No way. You've known about this stuff your whole life; you should be king."

"Nooooo!" Izuku flails his arms in front of him. "I can barely handle being class president! It should be you!"

"I vacate the position to you!" Denki tries.

"I vacate it back!"

"You can't do that!"

"I just did!"

"I am in a room…" Uraraka's whisper puts a stop to the back and forth, "where two demigods are going over who gets to be king of a mythological land…" she looks up. "You know, the biggest worry for most people our age is homework, right?"

"You chose the hero track, you wanted something more exciting," Denki jokes, bumping Izuku. "Does it get better than two alien classmates that can use magic? And you're taking this better than I thought?"

Uraraka shifts her feet around. "I've had a couple of days to digest it since Deku told me. Plus, I had dinner with his family and met his dad…"

"Ohhhh," the realization hits Denki. "You met Uncle Loki." Izuku makes the same face he always does when he hears 'Uncle Loki.' "Say no more. You've met an actual god so the rest of us are way less impressive."

"No!" Uraraka mends immediately. "It's not like that! It's just- um. You see-"

Denki cuts her off with his laughter. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding! I know you didn't mean it! You both are so easy to mess with, you know that?" Denki laughs even harder when Izuku and Uraraka give him matching pouts.

"But still," Denki manages after getting control of himself. "I think you're handling all of this better than most."

"She is now," Izuku snickers. "You should've seen her when I actually told her. She was freaking out! Uraraka was yelling, screaming, and questioning everything she knew! It was…it was…" Izuku withers as Uraraka hits him with a look that's somehow both a pout and glare at the same time.

Clearly, she has many talents. That, and Izuku is whipped. But Denki will wait to tell him that until more things are let out in the open.

Izuku swallows. "I-I mean…Uraraka handled herself very well and was totally composed the entire time and did not at any point lose her cool." He glances at her and she leans closer… menacingly. "And Mochi is the best dessert ever?"

She nods, satisfied, and looks away. Meanwhile, Izuku shakes his head at Denki, mouthing 'ice cream cake.'

"Yeah, okay." Denki waves them off, letting Izuku off the hook for now. "But I wanna be there the next time you tell someone our secret to witness the freakout." He gives his cousin a pointed look.

"Are we planning on telling someone else soon? And if we did, who?" Izuku wonders.

"You told someone, so it's only fair it'd be Kaminari's turn," Uraraka points out. "Tokage?"

"W-what?" He doesn't like the direction this conversation is headed in. "Why would I want to tell her?"

"I mean…because…" Izuku gestures to him and then in the direction of the 1-B classroom. "You know."

"I know what?"

"Um…" Uraraka starts nervously. "Not really sure how to put this, but it's pretty obvious…you guys like each other, right? Like really like each other?"

It feels like Denki just fried his own brain with his lightning.

"I mean, yeah." Izuku scratches the side of his head. "We're not saying you do! But if you did have a thing for her and wanted to tell her someday, I'd be okay with that."

Denki raises a finger in the air. "You… noticed we might have a thing for each other?"

"No offense but it's kind of like Uraraka said. It's sorta obvious you like each other," Izuku says carefully.

"Yeah." Uraraka laughs a little. "The signs are pretty clear. You'd have to be pretty oblivious not to notice."

Denki has a lot he wants to say, but he's not sure if he should. "So let me get this straight. You two, of all people, are making fun of me for not noticing Tokage might like me back?!"

"Well, yeah!" Izuku cracks up, and Uraraka covers her face to silence her laughter. "How could you not notice she likes you?!"

It is with every fiber of his being Denki regrets the Sports Festival has passed. Without it, he has no legitimate excuse to punch Izuku in the face. At this point though, he might do it without an excuse.

"One more time." Denki makes sure to point at each of them as he speaks. "You, Izuku Lokison, and you, Ochako Uraraka, are making fun of someone for being oblivious about crushes?! Do you not realize the irony right now?!"

The two infuriating teens share a confused look. "What do you mean, Denki?" Stop looking like a lost puppy, Izuku. It won't save you from what's coming.

"I don't get it either, what's ironic about this?" Uraraka questions.

Should he tell them? He wants to tell them. They'd have it coming. But also, at the same time, his dad has told him how satisfying it is to push Uncle Loki out of windows. Denki feels he wants to test this theory with Izuku.

Unfortunately, the one time Denki wants to take a test is interrupted when the door opens behind them. "I thought I smelled something this way." Logan raises an eyebrow at the trio.

"M-Mr. Howlett!" Uraraka stutters. Denki notices a small fond smile on Izuku's face. "Guys! This is the man I told you about! He's the one who gave my parents that amazing job! It's great to see you again, sir! But uh-" something dawns on her. "Were you looking for the principal's office or teacher's lounge?"

"No, I work here now." That seemed to be all he was going to say on the subject. "Good to see you again, kid. And for the last time, it's Logan."

"It's good to m-meet y-you, sir!" Izuku pretty much yells, offering a stiff bow. Right, they're not supposed to know each other. Thank goodness for Izuku because he couldn't keep up with all this crap.

And damn, he wasn't kidding about him stuttering badly when he had to actually lie. Time to show him how a pro does it. "Hello!" Denki waves. "Name's Denki Tho- uh, Kaminari. Yes, Kaminari! It's so great to meet you, uh, sir!" There's a pause. "You're taller than I thought you'd be!"

Nailed it.

Logan takes a long time to sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose while Uraraka gives them both a weird look. "Get to class," he tells her. "These two will be right behind you."

Uraraka slowly nods and gives them both an awkward wave before leaving the room. Logan turns to them as soon as the door closes. "What the fuck was that?"

"Uh…our best?" Izuku's attempt falls short.

"Alright. I can understand you being shit at lying," the old hero tells Denki. "Your old man couldn't lie if there were lives on the line. That's not an exaggeration. I've seen it. Thankfully for him, I have a healing factor. But you!"

He rounds on Izuku, who squeaks in terror. "Your dad is one of the best liars in the universe." He gestures up and down to the green-haired boy. "What the hell happened?"

Izuku hesitates. "I- um. I've never really been good at lying? I can stab someone a bunch of times without hitting any vital organs though! And I'm a good stabbing teacher if that helps! Those are some things I got from my dad!"

"That's not helping your case." Logan shakes his head and reaches inside his jacket, looking for something.

"Let me guess." Denki crosses his arms. "It was Eri you taught all those stabbing techniques to."

"What?" Izuku seemed to be lost in thought for a second. "Oh, yeah. Her too."

"Goddamn." Logan takes a swig from a flask that Denki isn't sure he's allowed to have but he's sure not gonna be the one to tell him. "You'd think you would've at least picked up on lying with all the time you spent with Wade in the states."

"Actually…" Izuku starts sheepishly. "Uncle Wade was pretty open about the things he did."

Logan pauses before he takes another drink. "Yeah, that tracks."

"So, why are you here today?" Denki brings up the question again.

"After that shit," Logan spits, "Vlad King pulled, he got canned. And since no one else has as much experience, Nezu hired me to teach his class for the rest of the year."

"Really?!" Izuku looks like he has stars in his eyes. "Wow! That's so cool! You're gonna be here all the time now and-" a look of horror appears on his face. "Wait, about the guys who attacked me, you're not gonna…you know…"

"Fucking hell, I'm not just gonna stab kids, Izuku," Logan defends himself hotly, putting his flask away.

"You've stabbed me," Izuku mutters.

"You've stabbed him?!"

Logan makes a motion with his hands for them to lower the volume. "Sheesh, calm down. Izuku was young and wanted to test how well his regeneration worked."

Denki spins on his heels toward Izuku. "And you thought the best way to do that was letting him stab you?!"

"I was right!" It's at this moment that Denki realizes that he's probably going to have to spend a good portion of his time stopping Izuku from getting himself killed. "It worked! I got excellent data on my regeneration, and it was a small stab in the leg, nothing bad!"

"Anyway," Logan interrupts before their conversation could spiral further. "Kids aren't getting away with it either. The four who attacked you all got detention for the next month. Their internship heroes are being assigned to them and mandatory therapy."

"Oh…wow." Izuku looks like he's in shock. "I wasn't expecting all of that."

Logan hums. "Yeah. And the class President, what was her name…Kendo. She's going to make them all apologize to you at some point, so be ready."

—-

"How do I decide who to intern wiiiiith?!" Mina flops against her desk, groaning dramatically.

After the news that the guys who attacked Izuku at the festival were facing punishment, Denki had to drag his malfunctioning cousin back to the classroom.

He got Izuku to admit on the way back, that after he had so many run-ins with Bakugo growing up that ended with nothing being done by teachers, he was caught off guard by what Logan had told them.

Ah, another time Denki is saddened that the festival has passed. He'd love to get paired with Bakugo in the tournament right now…

"There, there Mademoiselle." Aoyama pats her back. "Just choose who will make your sparkle shine brightest!"

"I believe I will require a different approach," Tokoyami says flatly, Jiro nodding with him.

"Nonsense! All people sparkle in their own unique ways! No matter the quirk ou l'absence de!" Aoyama spins dramatically. Denki smiles at the words, as do several of his classmates, but inclines his head curiously, having understood the French part.

Izuku uses his powers to add sparkles around Aoyama and make fireworks appear behind him, eliciting cheers from the class.

"Any idea where you guys are gonna go?" Denki asks after everyone had calmed down and split into smaller groups to help each other decide. Iida had chosen to stay at his desk, so naturally, the rest of their friends decided to congregate there.

It took a little convincing but Izuku was even able to convince Todoroki to be there with them, albeit standing a bit awkwardly away from everyone, but he was still there. He heard Izuku say something about planning their next prank on someone and the fire and ice user had become much more willing. Denki chose not to ask.

"I do!" Uraraka raises her hand. "I'm going with the Battle Hero: Gunhead!" She punches the air a few times to emphasize her choice.

Tsu looks up from her list. "You're gonna expand on what Midoriya's been teaching you? Ribbit."

"I am!" She confirms with a fire in her voice before turning to Izuku. "I'm gonna learn some new techniques and finally beat you!"

"That's the spirit!" Izuku tells her happily. "Keep thinking that's possible and pushing yourself!"

It's not lost on Denki and Tenko what he means, both going "oooooooh," at the same time. Todoroki leans forward and asks Tenko what's going on. His explanation that Izuku was doing a "pro gamer move" didn't help any.

Uraraka narrows her eyes, standing up straight. "Are you saying I could never beat you?"

Denki knows that smirk on Izuku's face. "No, I didn't say it. Technically, I was implying it." Just for safety reasons, Denki checks to make sure the windows are closed so Izuku can't be tossed to space.

Getting in his face, Uraraka whispers dangerously to Izuku. "After internships. Me. You. Fight. And you're gonna eat dirt."

"After I win, I'll help you with your trash talk too," Izuku counters, living for the challenge. Denki rolls his eyes. Get a room you two.

He hears Tenko whisper to Todoroki, "When she's telling him she's gonna make him eat dirt, she doesn't mean it literally."

Todoroki nods. "Yes, I understood the analogy. But thank you."

"Before the lovebirds get into it, did you have any ideas of what you want to do?" Denki inquires of their frog friend. He ignores Izuku appearing behind him, looking down and red-faced.

Tsu, likewise, ignores Uraraka who's in a similar pose behind her. "I want to do something with water rescue, ribbit, so I'm looking for an internship that could offer me the opportunity."

"Nice!" Denki gives her a thumbs-up before looking behind him. "What about you two, Tenko and Todoroki, thoughts?"

"My father," Todoroki answers simply.

That snaps Izuku out of his funk. "You sure?"

The son of Endeavor nods. "If I want to have any hope of controlling my fire, he is by far my best chance." When Izuku stares at him with wide eyes, he finishes with, "Eri was very insistent on seeing more of my quirk."

They all giggle a little before Denki looks at the other boy. "And you Tenko?"

He shrugs, tapping a few buttons on a mobile game. "I decided. Gran Torino."

Uraraka emerges from her hiding spot. "I've never heard of him?" Izuku somehow looks both excited and nervous for Tenko.

"And you, Iida?" The bespectacled boy doesn't answer Denki, instead continuing to flip through his papers, while occasionally marking something down. "Iida?"

Izuku taps his shoulder, and Iida jumps. "O-oh! I apologize!" He does his best to bow in his seat. "I was in deep thought. I am, as of this moment, still unsure." He leaves it at that, going back to page flipping.

Denki shares a look with Izuku. He might not be the smartest in the class, but that doesn't mean he's dumb! He still got into UA after all. And it's clear that something is wrong with Iida. There wasn't a single hand chop when he spoke!

Being a little more serious, if Denki had to guess, Iida had planned to intern with his brother and now…well probably best they drop it. Everyone else seems to share the feeling as small conversations break out between them.

Which sucks because it means Denki can't ignore his problem anymore. What was he looking to get out of his internship? Seeing Izuku go back to his offers, Denki gets his attention. "I'm guessing you can't intern with your dad either?" He whispers.

The greenette shakes his head. "No. I wouldn't really want to anyway. I'm trying to use the internships to learn how to do things differently than dad taught me."

That's interesting, maybe Denki could try something similar? "What do you mean?"

"Well, I know how to attack someone from basically every angle…except the front. Dad was always against full frontal attacks. He said that was more for your dad because he had the power to back it up." Izuku looks at his hand. "But I think with my ice powers, I think I do too. And hopefully, it'll make me a more well-rounded hero."

"So that's what you want out of the internship?" Denki clarifies.

Izuku shrugs, going back to scanning his papers. "Partly. Dad taught me how to be like him, which you know from our fight, is only going to get me so far. I need to learn how to be a hero. How to be me."

Denki hums, lost in thought. Izuku was trying to learn the things his dad couldn't teach him? Should he do the same? Izuku had the smarts, clearly, and was looking to use a bit more power. Wait, he said Uncle Loki said his dad had the power. The same power Denki has.

Thor always said what makes him and his brother a good team is how they complement each other, usually making up for each other's faults. So it'd make sense that Denki's faults would be the opposite of Izuku's, like it is for their dads.

A brief flash of how he won the festival goes through his mind, and he's got it! It's the same thing he used to beat Izuku. He needs to learn to fight smarter! Not harder! That's what he needs to learn from the internship! How to dissect his opponents and not just fire lighting at everyone and hope for the best!

Denki quickly wraps his arms around Izuku's neck, bringing the other boy into a hug. "I got it! I figured out what I want to do! Thank you and your brain so much!"

Izuku taps his arm quickly. "You're…welcome… choking…"

"You said it buddy! I'm so happy I'm getting choked up too!" Denki hugs tighter, knowing exactly what he's doing.

Tenko stands, walking over to them, and Izuku holds his hand out to him for help, but the decay user walks past him, grabbing Izuku's phone charger off his desk. "I'm gonna borrow this, thanks."

"Tenko!…traitor!"

Denki chortles and Todoroki watches curiously, tilting his head. He slowly leans over to put his arm around Tenko's neck.

"Don't you dare."

"Let's walk home together, Deku!"

Izuku smiles brightly at Uraraka. "Sure!" Classes had let out for the day, with most people deciding on their internships. "Hey! Iida, you want to- oh." Izuku stops when he realizes Iida had already left.

"He's…gone." Uraraka observes, downtrodden.

"Maybe he had somewhere to be?" It's a weak excuse and they both know it. "I guess let's see who else is around?" Izuku opens the door to the classroom, and screams.

"I am here!! In a bizarre position!" All Might yells, sliding in front of the door while bowing.

"All Might?!"

"Young Midoriya! Please head to Principal Nezu's office with Young Tenko! Thank you!! Now I must be off! Villainy doesn't take a break and neither shall I!" And with a blast of wind, he's gone. Leaving a flabbergasted Izuku and Uraraka at the door, both of their hairs a mess. Well, even more so than usual for Izuku.

"I…guess I'll talk to you later?"

Uraraka nods. "Guess so- ack!"

She chokes when Mina grabs her from behind, dragging her to the rest of the girls. "Don't worry! We'll take good care of her!" Uraraka doesn't look convinced, but Izuku offers her a supportive wave anyway.

After whatever that was, Izuku finds himself walking next to Tenko toward Nezu's office. He guesses All Might had to leave so quickly because he was out of time. "Do you know what this is about?"

Tenko shrugs his shoulders, rolling his head to crack his neck. "No idea. Was about to ask you."

As they near the office, another door opening catches both of their attentions, and Izuku isn't able to contain a gasp as he sees Kacchan stomping out of Hound Dog's office.

Monoma sneers at the other blond from where he waits outside. Upon seeing Izuku and Tenko, he turns his nose in the air and walks into the office, bumping Kacchan as he closes the door behind him.

"Kacchan-"

"Not a word, Deku." Kacchan puts a finger in his face, and Izuku puts a hand up to stop Tenko from getting in between them. "I bet you thought I forgot what you said at the festival."

"It's a little unfair of me to ask because I'm still learning this myself, but it's helping. Start opening up to other people and learn to accept help. For both hero work and everything else."

"Well, I didn't! And you know what? Katsuki Bakugo has never backed down from a challenge, and he won't now! By the time I'm done, that mutt is gonna praise how no one has ever fucking killed it in sessions more than me!" He huffs, avoiding Izuku so he doesn't bump him, and stomps away.

The two boys left alone stand in silence for a minute, before Tenko breaks it. "Do I want an explanation?"

"Probably not."

"Fair."

Far too quickly, the pair find themselves being offered tea by Nezu along with a skinny All Might. All three are wise enough to accept. "Thank you for coming on short notice. I promise this part of our conversation should not be too long."

Beady black eyes look up at all of them, and Izuku feels he should take a sip, lest the eyes focus on him. "The theme for today is transparency. And for the betterment of everyone, All Might and I have come to a decision to let you know that you are both aware of One for All."

"Wait, he knows?" Izuku and Tenko say at the same time, pointing at each other. The boys turn to face the other. "You do?" They speak at the same time again. "Stop that! Ah!"

Izuku scrunches up his face in thought. "Wow, you know. So why-" he breathes in quickly, looking at All Might. "Did you?…" he looks between the hero and Tenko. All Might gives him a quick nod and Izuku races over to Tenko, with the taller boy nearly having to jump back to avoid being run over.

"He offered you the quirk, yeah? Did you say yes? Pleeeease tell me you said yes?! So, you said yes? Did you? I gotta know! What are you waiting for?! Tell me!"

"Erm, young Midoriya. Perhaps it'd be easier for young Tenko to answer if you stopped shaking him."

It's then that Izuku realizes that yes, without meaning to, he had been shaking Tenko rigorously for an answer. Not his fault the other boy didn't say anything fast enough.

"Thanks," Tenko mumbles after Izuku lets go, straightening his blazer. "And yeah, I said…yeah."

"That's AMAZING!!" In an instant, Izuku has a conjured notebook in his hands and he's lucky the pages don't light on fire, he's turning them so fast. "How do you feel?"

Seven materializes next to Izuku. "Is there just a heroic power flooding through you all the time? Do you transform like All Might? Has your sense of justice become ever prevailing? Oh my goodness, can you change the weather like he does? How about-"

"This is exactly what I was hoping for," Nezu chuckles. "More minds to help ensure that Tenko here can master his new quirk in a safe and timely manner."

"Ohhhhh!" Another realization hits Izuku. "That's why you're interning with Gran Torino! Because he's going to help you with One for All!" Tenko confirms this. "That makes sense. To be honest, I thought you just chose him so you could be closer to your video games."

"…"

"…Tenko."

"It wasn't the very first thing to cross my mind, okay?"

"Okay, well, either way, I wanna help in any way I can!" Izuku offers excitedly to everyone else in the room. "Can we start right now? Are your punches as powerful as All Might's yet or do you need to build up to that? Let's go find an empty gym and you can punch me!"

In another part of the school, Denki's older cousin senses begin to tingle.

"I appreciate your enthusiasm, and believe me, there will be time for all of that later."

Nezu raises his paw to placate Izuku from afar. "However, we have one more matter to discuss. I thank you for your time Tenko, these two will be done shortly."

Jarred from the sudden dismissal, Tenko confusedly agrees and leaves, along with Seven vanishing. Once his security measures are back in place, Nezu continues. "As I said, the theme for today is transparency. Midoriya, I leave this decision completely up to you, but you should know."

Nezu gives Izuku his full attention, making him nervous. "All Might here has brought up concerns over your new ability of cryokinesis, for you see, the only other person we have known to have multiple quirks like that was a very powerful villain."

"Not that I think you're a villain!" All Might is quick to interject. "Or related to him or working for him in any sort of capacity. I was just confused because he was the only one I knew who could do what you do."

"I have assured All Might that I know the secret of your abilities and he has nothing to be concerned about." Nezu checks his teacup and begins to refill it. "And he has agreed to drop the subject today no matter what should transpire. But I felt it was justified that I at the very least give you the option of telling him, should you choose."

Tell All Might his secret? At least with Uraraka, he was sort of sure she'd accept him, but with All Might…actually, is there any reason to feel any different? The man had trusted him with his biggest secret and had been nothing but supportive since they met.

"You don't think I'm a villain?" Izuku asks hesitantly. A small pit of guilt bloomed inside him.

"Never." All Might's voice is unwavering, and Izuku feels like he has no choice but to believe him. "I'd like to know of course, but if you don't want to tell me, I'd understand. And you would still have my full trust, my boy."

Dang It All Might, why do you have to go and say stuff like that? Does Izuku even have a choice here? It's obvious. But before he does, something said earlier comes back to him.

Izuku takes one of his phones out of his pocket. "Do you mind if I call Denki really quick?"

"BAHAHAHAHAHA!!"

Izuku feels like he should be concerned with Denki's lack of ability to breathe while he rolls across the ground, laughing so much he's crying. But right now, he has his own things to worry about.

Like holding in his own laughter and not spitting up the tea he had drunk at the worst possible time! He has no idea how Nezu would respond.

"I promise you All Might," Nezu says with fond exasperation. "That's the answers aren't in there."

"No!" All Might refuses to listen. The pages of his 'Teaching for Dummies' book are a blur as he flips through them. "The description said this book could help me no matter what my students said to me! There has to be a section on aliens!"

Nezu sighs, laughing a little to himself, before looking at Izuku. "Everyone copes in their own way. As you will have to do if you spit my tea onto the floor."

Yup. He definitely does not want to know what Nezu would do.

"Tenya!"

The younger Iida smiles softly at his brother, who waves at him from his hospital bed. "I didn't think you were coming today? Mom and dad said they couldn't."

Tenya shakes his head, dabbing his hands with some of the offered hand sanitizer and sitting down, rubbing it in. "Yes, I had thought I would be getting ready for my internship, but decided to come see you instead. I hope I'm not intruding on any plans you may have made?"

"You did, actually." Tenya's anxiety spikes at Tensei's words. "Was hoping to compete in a marathon today, but since you're here I guess I can forget it."

He meets Tensei's jokes and smile with a frown, his eyes involuntarily traveling to brother's blanket-covered lower body. Where his legs are hidden. Legs that didn't, and more than likely, will never work again.

"No?" Tensei's smile turns sympathetic. "Guess you're not there yet?"

"How can you joke at a time like this?" His fists couldn't be clenched harder if he tried. "Brother, everything you've worked for, your career, y-your future, have been taken! And the man responsible…" Tenya swallows to keep the bile down that constantly threatens him these days.

He feels nothing and everything at the same time. His stomach is coiled in on itself, with waves of anger constantly pulsating through his system. Somehow, Tenya feels both hot and cold. A never ending headache pierced his skull, and yet, despite all that, he knows exactly what he has to do when he gets to Hosu.

"How can you be so happy when the man responsible…is free?" Tenya finally asks in a low voice.

"Because I know they're gonna get him," Tensei answers almost instantly, a small smile still on his face. "I won't lie, this isn't exactly how I pictured my life going…but there's still so much good I can do for the world! Even if it's from a wheelchair.

"Besides!" The former hero stretches. "You can get a ton of training by pushing my butt all over town! You get a workout and I get the feeling of running again, it's a win-win!" Tenya feels as if this is supposed to make him better but his stomach just feels tighter.

However, it'd be rude to dismiss Tensei's attempts at humor completely. So Tenya manages the best smile he can, a very strained one, and looks up at his brother. "Yes, I…I'd like that." Tensei doesn't look convinced, but nods anyway.

"I'm here you know." Tensei reaches over and pats his knee. "If you wanna talk about anything, or say how you're feeling. It's okay."

There's so much Tenya wants to say! He wants to reassure Tensei that Stain won't have the chance to do this to anyone else. That his attack will be avenged. He wants to tell his brother what he's planning and get his approval so badly.

But he doesn't. And Tenya knows why. He won't admit it but he knows. Tensei wouldn't approve. Even more so, he might try to stop him. And it scares him because Tenya knows he'd probably listen. So it's better to not give Tensei that chance.

Tenya puts his own hand over Tensei's. "Thank you, but I'll be okay. It's you I'm more concerned about." The older Iida looks like he has more to say but before he can, the door to the room opens.

"Alright, Mr. Iida, your lab results came back negative so that- oh." The doctor, an older gentleman, looks up from his clipboard at Tenya. "I apologize, I didn't realize you had company."

"No, I must insist on being the one to apologize!" Tenya stands and bows. "I'm sorry if I interrupted your important work!"

"No, nothing like that." The doctor waves him off, laughing good-naturedly, before closing the door behind him. "We've just received some test results that went exactly as we expected."

He drops the clipboard into a slot located at the foot of the bed. "You must be Tenya Iida, it's a pleasure to meet you!" He shakes Tenya's hand vigorously with his warm hand. "I watched your performance at the Sports Festival. I believe you're going to make a fine hero when you graduate."

"Thank you." Tenya is never one to forget his manners with his elders, no matter how he feels.

The man sighs contently. "Well, I suppose I'll leave you to spend your time together. I'm sure they need me somewhere-"

"Dr. Akama Reiwaru to the burn ward. I repeat, Dr. Akama Reiwaru to the burn ward," a voice drones over the PA system.

"Speak of the devil," The doctor shakes his head. "That's me. Again, I'm sorry to interrupt. Mr. Iida, we'll speak later. And it was great to meet you." He squeezes Tenya's shoulder, before leaving the brothers to catch up on their day.

Good news. All Might believes him and Denki. Bad news. They might have broken his brain. Izuku isn't sure. But the way he was muttering about needing to go home and soak in his hot tub didn't seem all that normal. At least they got a sincere thank you from the man before he left and a promise to talk more the following day.

"That went better than expected!" Nezu cheers after Denki had left, saying something about a text. "And don't worry, I'm having a delivery business I help operate deliver some of All Might's favorite food and drink to his house to help soothe him. It will be there when he arrives."

"Wait, you run UA and part own a delivery company?" Should Izuku be surprised? Probably not but somehow, he still is.

"I have my paws in a great many things Mr. Midoriya."

Izuku screws up his face in curiosity. "You do?"

"Of course!" Nezu takes his cup back from his student, looking satisfied that he had finished his tea. "From UA to many notable charity organizations. I also serve on the board of several companies ranging from all fields of interest. Not to mention running the Japanese branch of the OWCA-"

"The what?"

"Oh, honey. Has that silly rabbit run off again?" Koji Koda nods sadly at his mother, getting up from checking under his bed. "Let's go take a look around. She always turns back up."

Koji follows her out of the room, only one thought on his mind.

'Where's Yuwai?'

"It's nothing you need to concern yourself with." Nezu puts his teapot away. "I imagine you don't want to spend your whole afternoon with your principal so that's all for now. Until we meet again."

While Izuku knows he shouldn't have been surprised that Nezu has all sorts of businesses, he feels he's justified in being surprised when he exits the school to find Uraraka by herself.

"Hey!" Izuku gets her attention. "I thought you would've gone home by now."

"I was supposed to," Uraraka confirms. "But Mina said she wanted to talk to me about something and asked to meet here when the other girls left. I don't know where she is though…"

Her phone dings and the anti-gravity user checks it. "Oh, Mina just texted me. She says something came up and she can't make it."

"I'm sorry you had to wait here for nothing," Izuku apologizes. He didn't do anything wrong, but he feels she still deserves an apology from someone.

"It's not so bad." She shakes her head, her hair bouncing a little as she does. "It worked out anyway! You're here! Walk home with me?"

"Yeah, I'd like that," Izuku says sincerely, beginning the walk home with his best friend. Neither noticed, in a bush a little ways away, giggling that slowly morphed into a squeal.

At another set of doors, Denki is surprised to see Tokage walk out of the school at the same time as him. "Didn't think you were one to float around after hours?"

She rolls her eyes at the joke but laughs a little anyway as they make their way out of the building. "That girl, Mina, in your class said she wanted to meet up, but she just told me something came up and had to bail. You?"

"Similar." Denki shows her his phone. "Toru texted me that some place was giving out free samples of their burgers out here but I guess they're gone now."

"That sucks." Tokage pats his back. "Mind hanging out with me instead?"

Denki pretends to mull it over. "I really wanted that burger…but I guess you're not that bad," he smirks.

She returns his smirk right back. "Stick with me and maybe you'll get your mouth on something else."

"Promise?"

"Pfff c'mon!" Tokage laughs and pulls Denki along. "You'll never guess who we got as a teacher now!"

Running along, neither noticed stifled laughter coming from a bush, before the person moves along, going to meet her companions.

"It worked!" Mina cheers when she finds Toru. "Both couples together on the way home!"

"I wasn't sure we'd get them both!" Toru agrees with both girls turning to the third member of their shipping group. "But you were right. We just had to change it up a little."

"Denki and Tokage think they're both sooooo smart," Thirteen mocks. "But at the end of the day, they're just as big of dorks as the other two."

"So we set them both up to spend as much time with each other as possible," Mina recounts.

"Alone if possible," Toru adds.

"And get them on as many mock dates as possible," Thirteen finishes. "With our powers combined, I think we can get them both together before the end of the semester!"

"Lofty goal, but I wouldn't have it any other!" Mina accepts the challenge!

"Let's do it! Air-Five!" The pair of girls back up a little and high-five the air between them, before looking at Thirteen expectantly. It's then he realizes the reason they're not high-fiving for real is because he wouldn't be able to.

Giving them one of the most appreciative smiles he could, Thirteen air-fives with them. "Yeah!"

AN: Don't worry, I realized my mistake after this chapter and how easily people can confuse the Hero Thirteen with Izuku's clone Thirteen, since it skipped my mind that when people read "Thirteen," they think of the hero first, whoops heh. From this point onward, they will be distinguished a lot more clearly.