Author's Note: One more follow up from the previous chapter. Enjoy!

4: Graduation Day

Izuku was marveling at the halls as he and Katsuki were lead along by Recovery Girl to the lounge where their parents were waiting for them. Katuski was watching his friend with a twitching brow, "Could you please not nerd out for once?" He demanded heatedly as the boy continued to flit around like a hummingbird from wall to wall.

Izuku just turned around and grinned at him, "How are you not?!" The boy gushed happily, "This is U.A.! The school we've been dreaming about since we were kids!"

The ashen blond had to smirk at that, "Alright, I'll admit, this place is cool," he said, "But at the end of the day, it's still just a school."

"It's just the coolest school in the history of academics!" Izuku beamed happily, "The best of Japan's Heroes graduated from these same halls!" He was dancing around giddily, "All Might and Endeavor, the No.1 and No.2 Heroes went here!"

Recovery Girl chuckled, "My goodness," she smiled at the pair, "I haven't seen anyone this excited about being in school for a long time." She said while Katsuki just shook his head at the verdette.

"Between the two of us," the blond said while Izuku kept bouncing around, "We're the most determined out of our class to get into U.A.'s Hero Course."

The elderly Heroine smiled, "Well, I can honestly say that you two won't have any problems unless you're just blatantly stupid about your tests," she said with a hint of joking in her tone, "And I certainly don't see Nezu allowing your friend to attend any other school aside from this one." Katsuki looked down at her, "I know that Vlad told you that this school takes on troubled cases, didn't he?" The blond nodded, "Well, Izuku being unable to control his Quirk certainly counts: the H.P.S.C. would snap him up otherwise, and turn him into the next Lady Nagant."

Katsuki snorted, "Nah, Deku's too soft for that kind of work," she looked at him, a scowl on her face, "Ah, he knows I call him that sometimes," he explained, "It used to drive our folks crazy because of what it meant, but he flipped it on its head and told them that it was my way of saying "you can do it", or something like that."

"But that isn't how it started, is it?" Recovery Girl was sounding extremely judgemental at the moment, but sighed a moment later, "I won't tell you two how to conduct yourselves around each other when you've probably known each other for a long time, but you might want to keep that nickname between the two of you," she said as they came to the lounge, "Some of the teachers aren't as understanding as the rest of us."

Meanwhile, Izuku was still having the time of his life, even if the only color he could see was black and different shades of red. Each class room they passed had enormous doors on them, most likely for those with Quirks that made them larger than usual, or had true Gigantification Quirks. He wanted so much to peek inside and see how the classes were conducted, but even he managed to restrain himself, given his history with the teachers at Alderaan: he was always blamed for whatever trouble was caused, even when he was nowhere near the scene when it happened.

As he was about to pass another room, someone grabbed him by the back of his shirt, "Izuku, come on!" Katsuki said from behind him, "We're in enough trouble already!"

Izuku hissed, "You really think we're gonna get in trouble for what happened?" He asked, though he was certain he already knew the answer. The principal would do anything to discredit him because he thought he was a Quirkless kid playing at having a Quirk. More than once he had heard the man talking to Katsuki about abandoning their friendship and looking for someone else to hang around with. Katsuki had gotten so tired of it that he had cursed him out so badly that he had the man in tears.

Katsuki gave out a sigh, "I don't think we're gonna weasel our way outta this one," he said, shrugging, "The bastard's had it out for both of us since the beginning of the year, even if he does treat me like the goose that laid the golden egg." The blond muttered the last part, the words leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.

Behind them, Recovery Girl chuckled once more, "If you two are referring to the school that Midoriya wrecked because of his Quirk," she smiled as the two turned to her and nodded, "Then I think you'll find that you won't have much to worry about," she said as she pointed her cane at the pair of them, "You see, the reason that Vlad was even there today was because he was investigating the school for illegal Quirk usage within the classrooms." She explained, "Not many middle schools are able to get a license that allows them to train Quirks, and fewer still have the funding to afford such a license. Alderaan doesn't seem like a school that would have the money required to finance a proper training area, let alone a Quirk Preparation License."

Izuku frowned, "Well, I know I never saw a license like that whenever I was called to the principal's office."

"A trouble maker, eh?" Recovery Girl chuckled.

Katsuki shook his head, "Nah, the teachers just liked blaming him for shit that wasn't his fault," he jerked his thumb at the verdette, "He was basically Quirkless until what?" He looked at his friend, "An hour ago?"

Izuku shrugged, "Basically."

"Anyway," the blond continued, throwing another thumb at his friend, "This guy's more by the books than some cops we've met."

Izuku frowned at him, "Hey, I've gotten in plenty of trouble outside of school!" Why he felt the need to defend himself, he didn't know.

Katsuki rolled his eyes, "Nerd, the only time I've actually seen you in real trouble was that one time you tried to sneak one of my dad's cigars," he reminded him, turning to Recovery Girl to explain, "And then he was only curious about why my dad liked them so much." He said while the woman chuckled, "Our moms found out and chewed him out something awful before they both got onto dad about leaving his cigars lying around for a kid to get into." He chuckled, "He hasn't smoked one since then...at least not in the house."

The woman rolled her eyes, "Well, rest assured, you boys won't be seeing any trouble from your old school," she smiled, "It's why Vlad left so suddenly. He's going to be presenting his findings to the educational board of the H.P.S.C., and once they're after them, there's no getting way." She started down the hall again, "Come along, boys, we've kept your families waiting long enough."

エックスメン

The scene that greeted the two boys when Recovery Girl left them to return to the nurse's office while they entered the lounge was that of their mothers laughing hysterically while they were crowded around a tall, thin blond man as they were scrolling through their phones.

"And this," Mitsuki said while grinning hugely, "Is my boy when he was four, ha!" She laughed, "He and Izuku got matching onesies at their birthday parties, and they wore them every day!" The man she was showing her phone to sputtered as he saw the image. "Aren't they darling?"

Izuku felt cold dread spreading through him while Katsuki's eye was twitching violently, "Kacchan...are they...?"

"Yup," the blond ground out while Inko showed the man another picture on her phone, prompting more laughter, "Hey, you old hag!" The blond roared before his mother could show off another baby picture.

"Brat!" The woman snapped right back, "I told you not to call me that! Least of all in public!"

"I'll call you whatever the hell I want to if you keep showing off those damned pictures!" The blond whipped around on his friend, "I thought you deleted all of them?!"

Izuku backpedaled, "So they had back-ups! Sue me!" He yelped right before he was suddenly pulled forward by an unseen force. "Ack!"

"My baby!" Inko wailed, having used her Quirk on the boy's clothes to haul him to her like a sack of laundry. He was then brought into her arms with bone-crushing force. "I was so worried about you when I got the call from the school! Were you hurt!? Did they treat you alright? Oh, my baby!" Inko's sudden change from proud to blubbering mother was enough to make even Aizawa flinch.

All the while Izuku was turning blue in the face from how tight he was being hugged. "K-KACCHAN HELP!" He squeaked.

"Auntie, you gonna choke him like that!" Katsuki shouted at the woman while she was crying absolute fountains of tears (one stream was actually hitting the blond man in the face). But Katsuki's shout brought her out of it quick enough as she released her son for a much needed gasp of air.

"Oh, dear, sorry about that," she said to the blond man, offering him a handkerchief from her purse. "I get so emotional that I can't help myself."

The man just chuckled as he dabbed at his face, "Oh, not to worry, Ms. Midoriya," he said goodnaturedly, "I wouldn't be in the position I am if I couldn't handle a little bit of moisture." He handed her back to cloth, "But I can see that Power Loader was able to solve the little problem your son was reported to have." He said with a gesture to the now shaded teen.

His mother looked at him, "Oh, my you're right!" She said as she took in the new set of sunglasses the boy was now wearing, "Those...actually look quite nice on you, Sweetie." She said before taking out her phone and snapping a picture of him before he could protest. "Oh, this will make you such a lady killer!" She said dreamily: the only other thing she loved more than her son was the idea of having grandchildren.

Izuku was too out of breath to care about the picture for the moment. His attention was more on the principal as the mammal sat across from a shabby-looking man with a grey scarf wrapped around his neck.

"I'm glad to see you doing so well after seeing the condition you were in earlier, young man," he said with a gentle smile, "Allow me to introduce myself, I - "

"You're U.A.'s principal, Nezu," Izuku blurted out suddenly before his brain caught up with his mouth, and clamped it shut, "I-I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to - "

Nezu simply chuckled at the boy's panic, "There's no need to apologize, Mister Midoriya," the mammal said, "Your mother has already told us that you have a sharp mind, and often take highly detailed notes on Heroes and their Quirks," he smiled at the boy, "I think I feel honored that you would even know about me at all when so few know who actually runs this school, or try to forget that their children are under the care of an animal."

"Now then," the principal continued, "I would like to know a few things about your history with Alderaan Junior High, if you would be so kind?"

Katsuki stepped forward, "What do you want to know?"

Nezu smiled at the blond, "Oh, the usual, my boy," he said, "How the teachers treated you, your experiences in the classrooms, and how often the students used their Quirks."

The two boys looked at each other for a moment before the blond gave him a nod. They then launched into a long and detailed explanation of their time as students at Alderaan, and how Izuku was treated since his Quirk only recently manifested. And the special treatment that Katsuki received since his Quirk was so powerful.

"I see," Nezu said a few minutes later, "And you've both experienced this sort of treatment during your time there?"

Izuku nodded, "Well, yeah, they thought I was Quirkless," he shrugged, "It was only natural that they treated me differently."

"The hell it was," Katsuki grumbled, "There were plenty of students that you could beat down even if they used their Quirks," he told the verdette, looking at the principal, "I always hated the way they'd try to kiss my ass every day. Like doing that was gonna make them famous or something."

Aizawa frowned behind his scarf, "Most schools nowadays will try to promote the fact that famous Heroes were taught there," he said with a shake of his head, "U.A. is even guilty of it," he cast a look of annoyance in Toshinori's direction while the man flinched, "All Might makes it no small secret where he trained to become a Hero, and then there's Endeavor, the No.2 Hero, who also graduated from this school," he shrugged, "It has it's uses since we have plenty of funds to conduct our classes. But schools all across the world are starting to advertise which Heroes graduated from them."

"Which makes me believe that the principal of Alderaan is guilty of more than just allowing students to use their Quirks in the classroom." Nezu said with frown. Then there came a very menacing gleam in the mammal's beady black eyes, "I can't wait for Vlad to get more information on them so that I can take them apart!"

Toshinori gave a small shiver, "Erm, Nezu, about what we were talking about earlier?" The blond man said with a gesture toward the boys, "I think it's only right to let the boy know that he's caught the eye of a Hero."

Izuku looked at him, "Really?" He muttered, feeling embarrassed. "I did?"

Nezu nodded, "Indeed you did, my young friend," he then shook his head, "However I doubt that you will be pleased with who it was that witnessed your show of power in the medical ward."

Katsuki frowned, "Someone was watching us?"

"Yes," Nezu said, "I know that it was rather rude, but the two men and their children wanted to see how we handled situations like Mister Midoriya's," he explained, "However, one of them took quite a shine to you after seeing how your Optic Blast was able to damage a solid piece of adamantium - "

Toshinori sputtered, "He's that strong?!"

"Don't interrupt, Toshinori, it's rude," Nezu chided the man before clearing his throat, "Ahem, as I was saying; the Hero that was watching wanted to have you as an intern should you decide to attend U.A."

Katsuki elbowed his friend, "Hey, see if he'd take me on, too."

"C'mon," Izuku chuckled and shoved him away, returning his shaded gaze to the mammal, "Who was it that was interested?"

"Endeavor."

The moment the man's name left his mouth saw the two boys pale considerably. Toshinori chuckled, "Not a fan, eh?"

Katsuki sat back, "Do you know how many fatalities that guy has?" The ashen blond asked, shaking his head, "My Quirk's way more dangerous than his Hellflame Quirk and that's me being careful, but he never hesitates to use deadly force."

Izuku was nodding, "He's also been reported to be abusive towards others." The boy said, "He doesn't have a lot of fans like All Might does because he comes off as cold, and menacing even to the people he saves." Izuku shook his head, "I'm honored, but I'd have to say no."

"But we do want to come to U.A.!" Katsuki suddenly blurted out, Izuku nodding furiously beside him, "It's been our dream since we were kids!"

Nezu smiled widely at the pair, "That makes me exceedingly happy, boys," he said, "However, I think that first the two of you will need a little training."

Aizawa looked at the rodent, "That's blatant favoritism."

"True," Nezu agreed, "And it would go against U.A. morals if we offered you early training," his gaze slipped to the blond sitting near the window, "However, Mr. Yagi here is a very good personal trainer, as well as a personal assistant to All Might himself." The parents and children all turned to the blond man as he blushed under the mammal's praise, "And I think that you would benefit greatly from the experience, Toshinori. When was the last time you trained someone?"

"Quite some time ago," Toshinori chuckled, giving the principal a look, "But are you sure about this?" He asked, "Aizawa has a point about the favoritism thing."

Nezu nodded, "And it would be if you were working for U.A.," the mammal said, "However, I don't recall having someone by your name on my extensive list of employees." Nezu smiled and pointed toward Izuku, "And while I see that the young man is fit for someone his age, he could do with a little improvement, and I believe that Mister Bakugo wouldn't mind a little training himself."

Masaru stood, "Wait wait wait, hold on!" The man said and gestured to the boys, "Izuku just blew up their school - no offense, son, - "

"None taken, Uncle," Izuku said bashfully.

"Ahem, it's fine if you want the boys trained up a little before trying out for your exams," Masaru continued, "But how are they supposed to graduate? It'll take us months to find a different school for them to enroll in, especially since I'm sure Izuku's records have plenty of black marks on them thanks to that puffed up money hungry s.o.b. of a teacher!"

Aizawa looked at the man, "Well, if that's what you're worried about," the man said, "While U.A. doesn't have any junior high schools, it does have an online course for those grades for certain students that are homeschooled." He gave a rare smile, "If these two want to skip all of the courses and go straight to the graduation exams, they should have no problems."

"Which would free up their remaining time to train their bodies, and for young Mister Midoriya to gain some much needed experience with his Quirk," Nezu agreed while the blond man just chuckled, "If the two of you would like, I can have the tests brought up on a couple of our computers in just a few minutes, then you two will be free of your junior high shackles, and be well on your way to getting into a fine Hero school...what do you say?"

Izuku frowned and looked at the blond next to him, "What do you think, Kacchan?"

"I say we go for it," Katsuki nodded, "Not like we're gonna get a better offer than this, and you need to get a handle on those eyes of yours."

Izuku smiled, and looked at the principal, "We'll do it!"

エックスメン

Several Days Later: Yaoyorozu Estate...

Momo Yaoyorozu's life at home was an incredibly dull one.

Her father often reminded her that her life was much more luxurious than that of many others, which was quite possibly true as the girl wanted for nothing. She had maids at her beck and call, food fit for Michelin Star restaurants, and closets so full of clothes that she outgrew much of them before she could even try them on.

Yet, as stated before, it was dull.

Add to the fact that her father was raising her like a prized breeding mare, Momo felt like she was in a cage. Her only reprieve was when she was able to leave the house on her frequent shopping trips. She went out so often when she reached her teenage years that her father didn't even ask where she was going anymore. Which meant she was only free from him whenever she was spending his money. Of which she knew he kept track of.

She was planning one such outing that very day and was on her way to her father's office to let him know she was leaving as a courtesy. She came down the stairs from her room, and strode toward the massive double doors that were his private office. "Father," she said, not even bothering to knock, "I wanted to - Oh!" Her hand flew to her lips as she saw a guest sitting in front of her father, "Forgive me, Father, I had no idea you were entertaining company today?"

The man seemed in a better mood than she would have thought considering that she had just interrupted him in the middle of a meeting. He was smiling at her, "Think nothing of it, daughter," he said in a jovial tone, "This was a rather surprising visit." He informed her before asking, "Are you going out?"

She nodded, painting a false smile on her face, "Yes, I wanted to let you know before I left." She said while the man he was meeting with ignored her. Though when she entered the room, she saw him turn his head ever so slightly, giving her a glimpse of what looked to be an ornately decorated plague doctor's mask.

Her father nodded, "Just be safe, dear, there's been a rise in Villain activity throughout this area since All Might returned," he snorted, "One would think that with him in the area, the scum would stay where it belongs."

"Indeed, Father," she said as she turned to leave, "Sorry for bothering you, Sir," she said to the guest before shutting the door and leaving them alone. Outside the door, she shivered, feeling as though she had just been in the presence of someone vile.

Meanwhile, Isshin sat back in his chair comfortably, "And this is why you should call me in advance for these meetings," he told the man across from him, "While my daughter knows I have dealings with...less than savory businesses, I would prefer she be kept in the dark about many of those business deals."

"I apologize for that," his guest said, "But the matter that I wanted to discuss was of the greatest importance."

Isshin sighed and laced his fingers together, "I have a feeling that it has something to do with Japan's No.1 trained monkey?" He said, referring to the return of All Might to the city. "Do you need safer routes for your Trigger transportation?"

The guest sighed, "Maybe, but that is something I believe I have a solution to for a later date," he reached into his coat, and produced a manilla folder, "This is what I wanted to speak with you about." He passed the folder over to the man, "Something that I think will turn this Heroic society on its head."

He opened the folder and began looking through it with interest, his eyes widening. "Chisaki...I'm not sure I'm fond of this idea of yours," Isshin said with a frown. He closed the folder, "It has merit, my boy, but is there no way to get around the extraction of the materials?"

The now named Chisaki shrugged, "My...Quirk...allows me to repair whatever damage the extraction process produces," he replied, "What I really need is a better way to refine the product." He explained while Isshin handed him back the folder, "The product itself has been tested, and it works, Yaoyorozu!" He told the man, "Think about it! A drug that erases a person's Quirk!" He said with a flourish, "There are people out there that would pay several fortunes for something like this!"

"I agree with you," Isshin said, "But the fact that you have to harvest the materials from..." he shook his head, "I can look for someone that can help you with the refining process...but do not show these documents to me again...nor do I want to hear about...the source," he said, "Lest I lose my resolve...you understand?"

Chisaki nodded, "I do." He said, "Not everyone has the stomach for this sort of thing."

"Indeed," he sighed, and leaned forward, "I am on board with this new product, Chisaki, make no mistake of that," he said as his voice took on a hardened edge, "But if you are caught," hsi eyes narrowed, "Not only will I cut ties with you, but I will do everything within my power to bury those severed ties, do you understand?"

Chisaki nodded, "I understand fully," he said, "It's nothing that I wouldn't do myself were the situations reversed," his own eyes narrowed, "You have a lovely daughter, after all."

Isshin smiled at him, "Don't try to threaten me, boy," the man said, "She may be my daughter, and worth her own weight in gold, but do not think that you can use her against me." He leaned back in his chair, "Perhaps you would do me a favor in ending her," he pondered aloud, "That way I can produce a proper male heir to my business empire instead of waiting for her to produce a suitable male grandchild."

Chisaki gave a huff, "You really are one of the coldest people I've ever met."

"Says the man that periodically tears apart a child," Isshin reminded him, "As I said, all I care about is my portion of the profits," he went on as he sat back, "And soon I will have the country's No.2 Hero in my back pocket through the union of our children, provided that little whelp even favors women." He began to grin, "Even though I don't care for the physical harm you must inflict, this drug may prove useful to me...and soon."

エックスメン

Mustafar City: Dagobah Beach...

When Izuku and Katsuki accepted the offer of training, the two boys had no idea whatsoever to what they were agreeing to. Once the tests to graduate were taken, and deemed passable, Toshinori Yagi had become a nightmare. He planned out their entire days from the moment they woke up to the moment they went to sleep. He even made meal plans for the pair of them to help them with muscle growth.

Exercising had only been the tip of the iceberg when their training began, however.

The first morning they had arrived at the beach, they had found it to be completely covered in garbage. Old appliances, litter, even some old car parts were buried in the sand. And it was now their task to clean all of it within ten months until the U.A. entrance exams took place.

"Nerd, are you even lifting?!" Katsuki groaned as both of them attempted to haul an old washing machine up the steps to the back of Toshinori's truck to be hauled off.

Izuku groaned right back, "Of course I am!" He snapped, "Just watch your feet!"

"How the fuck can I watch my goddamn feet when I can't see down past my fucking chin!" Katsuki groaned, his chin resting on the rusted appliance. The two continued to struggle with the machine and finally managed to lift it over the last step. "Fucking hell!" The blond groaned as he sat down to rest, "I've lifted weights that didn't feel this damned heavy!"

Izuku nodded in agreement, "Maybe we should've gone to a gym instead?" He asked with a hint of joking in his tone, knowing full well that they were lucky to be trained by the blond man.

"You can quit anytime you want, Nerd," the ashen blond breathed out, "I'm sticking with this shit to the end!" He said as the man in question came up to them with bottles of water. Katsuki looked up at him, "You're a fucking sadist, you know that, old man?" He said, accepting the water.

Toshinori chuckled as he handed the other bottle to Izuku, "Well, I've been called worse than that," he said, "But I have to say that you boys are doing well." He smiled as the boys gulped down their water, "It's only been a week, and you've moved several tons of metal."

"We know," Izuku groaned, his arms feeling like wet noodles, "I've never felt so sore in my life, not even when Kacchan blasted me."

"I said I was fucking sorry, didn't I?!" Katsuki roared while Toshinori laughed, "Besides, I haven't used my Quirk on anyone...not since..."

Toshinori sighed: he had been informed of the boys' past with each other, and the reason behind Izuku's lack of control over his Quirk. And after Izuku's Quirk had finally gained enough energy to make itself known to the world, Katsuki's blame of himself had only worsened. Izuku certainly didn't blame him anymore, if he ever did at all, though his guilt seemed to be a driving point.

After a few moments of resting and finishing their water, the pair returned to moving the machine toward the truck, and man handled it into the bed. Toshinori then clapped his hands, "Alright boys, let's call that a day!" He said, "This is the fifth load today, so after we take it to the scrap yard, whatsay we grab some food?"

"I could eat," Izuku nodded tiredly, "What about you?" He asked his friend.

Katsuki nodded, "Mango habanero wings," he said wistfully, "I could eat a mountain of 'em."

Izuku made a face, "How can you eat something that spicy?" He asked as Toshinori shut the tailgate, "Those things practically melted my face of the first time you convinced me to try them!"

Katsuki scoffed, "I told you to use the blue cheese dipping sauce, but no, you said you couldn't stand the smell!"

"Not everyone likes blue cheese, Kacchan," Izuku argued as they got into the vehicle. He then turned to Toshinori, "You don't like it, do you?"

The man just grinned, "I'm more of a ranch dressing kind of guy."

"See?" Izuku pointed out.

"Pussy." The other boy accused.

"Am not!"

Toshinori was laughing himself silly by the time they rolled out of the parking lot and down the road toward the scrap yard.

エックスメン

Author's Note: Not much going on in this chapter. Momo's trying to keep away from her father, who is dealing with some nasties under the table. Izuku and Bakugo are being put through the training regiment from hell, and we are stopping here because I was starting to feel forced at writing this last part. Not that I don't like how this chapter turned out, amigos, 'cause I do, just felt that going any further would have been counterproductive...or just boring.

Anyway, the next chapter I plan to have a few interactions between our main characters. If you wanna see where it goes and who it is, hit that Review Button! Adios Amigos!