The months until the U.A entrance exam seemed to fly by after that. With Bria being held for questioning, and more importantly under the watchful eye of Lilith, Boscha could relax and focus on getting back on her feet. Since everyone in their group was aware of Lucia now, she was free to hang out more, and she quickly became a normal part of their conversations. She was chaotic and high energy, but that just made her the perfect balance for Luz's calm ordered approach.
A few other things changed as well. Gara became a widely known couple and were celebrated everywhere they went, and they never stopped being 'nauseatingly adorable' or that's how Eda described them. Boscha never stopped being a Queen bee, but between Skara and Luz she was a lot nicer about it, and after a worryingly short conversation, Boscha took up residence in a spare room at Luz's under the partially false impression that she might still be in danger from whatever group Bria had been a part of. In all honesty, Boscha just didn't want to be left alone again, and Willow and Skara didn't have a spare room.
Another thing that got ironed out was where the teens would stay while attending U.A. Eda, the Park's, and Boscha (taking advantage of one of her parents' forgotten debit cards that she used whether they knew it or not) managed to buy a small house near campus that would serve as the teens temporary home while they attended classes. Skara was only taking a few music classes from a nearby smaller school, so she volunteered to handle most of the day to day maintenance in exchange for a room (probably Gus's, but nobody pressed). As long as it was soundproofed so she could practice without disturbing anyone, they were happy to have her.
For the last few weeks of school Boscha made sure to join Luz and Willow for training. She mostly stuck to the side so she could focus on her physical therapy for her knee, but she also took notes and sketched in a spare notebook of Luz's when she got an idea for a potential support item for either of her friends.
When they all graduated from middle school they were surprised to receive gifts from each other. Skara received a new laptop and mic so she could record her music easier wherever she got inspired. Gus received something to put him on the map and give him some clout, the ability to be the only person to ever get an interview with both Death Shadow and the Harpy. Willow nearly cried when Boscha handed her the first of her new support items, the Dryad Guards. They looked like wooden bangles or bracers, but they were living wood, and using them Willow could create vines or armor regardless of where she found herself. Boscha had a similar reaction when Luz and Eda presented her with a full set of tools and a mobile forge. Even if Boscha's parents didn't care enough to show up, she knew her new family always would.
Finally it was Luz's turn, and both Boscha and Eda had something special. Eda started, "So originally I gave these to Cammy for our first anniversary, and they're one of the only things that survived the fire. Since you're going to go off and become the hero she always knew you could be… I decided you should have them instead. That way you can have a piece of her legacy with you no matter where you are." Luz opened the box Eda handed her, and found a pair of vantablack fingerless gloves with an inscription stitched inside 'So that you never run out of light, and come home to your Lechuza'. Eda noticed Luz saw the inscription and blushed, "Please keep that to yourself. Cammy was the only one who ever called me that. I love you both, but I think I want to keep that just between your Mami and I, OK owlets."
Luz smiled and Eda saw a wink from a red eye, "Thanks mom. We'll treasure these forever."
Boscha gave a showman's bow as she handed over a hooded cloak, "Since your mom got something special for you, Luz, I thought I'd make something one of a kind, just for Lucia." As soon as Luz felt it in her hands she felt tears leak from her eye as Lucia felt overwhelmed. Seeing this Boscha chuckled, "I originally thought about making it black. Everybody thinks black because it absorbs light, but you need something both beautiful, as well as effective, and you look outstanding in royal purple. That's not all there is to this cloak though. Remember when I tested materials to see what worked as the best medium for your abilities, I included thin veins of silver between the inner and outer layer of velvet, so if you ever find yourself in need of wings… this little number should do the job. It's still experimental, so I don't know how well it will hold up, but I didn't want you to feel left out."
About a month before the exams everyone prepared to make the move. It took an entire day for Lucia to slowly move all of their stuff through the shadows, and anything fragile had to be moved the conventional way, but once they finished moving in the teens were ecstatic. Musutafu was a great town, and they lucked out being only a short walk from the U.A. campus. The Park's, Gus's dad Perry, and King cried when they had to go home, but everyone gave them a hug. In the ten months since the incident at school the Triplet's never reached out, and were completely unreachable after that first call from Eda. The Melody's were a mystery as well, but Skara and Gus assured everyone that they sent their best wishes from wherever they were.
The general layout of the house ended up being fairly straight forward. The kitchen and living room were community spaces while Willow claimed the small garage as her room and greenhouse. Boscha did the same with the basement. Gus and Skara ended up with the master bedroom since it was the largest, and Boscha helped make it completely soundproof. Luz and Lucia took the spare room since they didn't need as much space with the caveat that the roof was also hers for whatever reason.
About a week into their stay though everyone found out why. The morning after a full moon they found Luz barely dressed and sleeping on the roof. Thankful there was nobody to spot her, but it sparked a conversation when they found her.
"So, does anyone know why Luz was basically sleeping naked under the stars last night? I'm not one to judge, but that's not normal right?" Asked Gus looking at his other roommates. "Is it a girl thing I've never heard about, or a Luz thing?"
Boscha groaned as she drank coffee that was so dark and thick it looked like mud, before stirring it with a strip of bacon, "No Gus it's definitely a Luz thing. Eda filled me in when it happened the first time. For whatever reason twice a month she feels compelled to 'moon bathe'. It's only during the full and new moon, and if you want to keep breathing, don't try to stop her. Apparently Eda tried once shortly after Luz moved to Japan, and it's one of the only times she ever gotten scared. Just a reminder… She was eight then and not nearly as strong as she is now. Just leave her be, she can get kinda testy and sensitive about it. She doesn't know why she needs to do it, and pressing her will only piss her off."
When Willow volunteered to bring Luz some clothes, Boscha was very insistent she do it instead since she had helped Eda do it a few times. When Boscha stepped onto the roof with the help of one of Willow's vines she heard Luz grumble, "Fuck off Bosh. You know the rules. Don't bother me until I come down on my own."
Boscha chuckled, "I just figured you'd prefer me over Willow, or at least Lucia would."
Luz's face blanched before turning scarlet as Lucia thought about Willow finding them in nothing but a bra and hip shorts. With a stammer Lucia whispered, "Thanks Boscha. This is not how I planned for Willow to see me naked." "Gross Cia! We talked about this. You are not doing… any of that, much less with my best friend. I already have to hear your perverted thoughts. I refuse to experience you living them out."
Boscha let out a belly laugh, "Wow Luz. That's cold. Your poor lonely twin is in love. Can't you suck it up and let her woo the target of her affection. You never know they could be soulmates."
Luz growled, "Why don't you let her get dirty with your body then."
Boscha batted her eyes, "Bold of you to assume I wouldn't jump at the chance. Willow is beautiful, and I'm a woman of varied taste. I'd be more than happy to take one for the team if it meant two people I respect a lot could end up falling in love to stay. Just because I'm doomed to die alone doesn't mean getting to experience true love, even by proxy, it would be a pleasure for me."
"Fuck off triclops! I'm willing to share a lot of things, but Willow isn't one," roared Lucia which only made Boscha laugh even harder.
"I'm kidding… mostly. My point is, you two need to figure this out. You can't expect Lucia to live alone forever, Luz, and it's not fair if only you get to enjoy finding your soulmate. Someday you'll find your one and only, and Lucia will have just as much of a right to say no than, as you do now. No matter how uncomfortable it might make you, maybe consider accepting that Willow could do a lot worse, and at least with Lucia you know she'll never be mistreated… like I was. There's no guarantee it will even get that far. We both know if Willow said no, Lucia would walk away, so the only one you're hurting right now is your sister. Dick move, Noceda," Boscha stated, slightly annoyed despite the hilarity of the situation. Luz took the clothes and slipped inside, but inside her head Luz was grumbling nonsensically. Boscha had a point, and Luz hated it, but Lucia just felt hopeful, and thankful for her three eyed friend.
The morning of the exam Skara wished everyone luck, and the rest left to face their destiny. Luz came prepared with a black hoodie, thin black sweats, and her new gloves for luck. Willow and Boscha were in similar gear, Willow's hoodie was yellow and Boscha's was red, and they both wore gray gym shorts. They walked into the university with heads held high, and an aura of confidence.
They were led to a large lecture hall with teared row seating, and they mentally prepared themselves for what was about to happen. A half hour later, the room was packed with applicants, and in walked the Voice Hero: Present Mic. He was a tall, thin man with long blond hair styled into a tall mohawk, a small brown mustache, and a wide smile. His costume consisted of a high collared black jacket, black leather pants, and knee high boots. He also wore black gloves, and multidirectional speakers. The whole thing was covered in studs except for his headphones and orange tinted shades.
The girls listened as Mic explained how the practical would work. Everyone would be separated from anyone they went to school with, and sent out into one of eight urban test areas to fight off 'robo-villains'. There were four types and each had a point amount attached, namely the primary three that were worth one, two, or three points depending on difficulty, and then the single zero pointer in each area that represents a threat better avoided since it doesn't give points. There was a minor interruption when some rigid stereotype tried to question Mic, but Mic dealt with it calmly, and beyond earning an eye roll from Luz and Boscha there wasn't much else of note.
After the written exam, the trio shared a small hug for luck before they separated to head to their test areas. Willow was nervous, but Luz couldn't be more calm. No matter how rough they tried to make this test, Luz had been a vigilante for a few years. Even if her mom took care of the bulk of looking after their community she had spent 'time on the front lines'. This test would be especially easy for her for another reason, she didn't have to hold back. The applicants weren't allowed to fight each other, and she didn't have to worry about hurting or taking in the bots.
As her group got ready for the test to begin, Luz looked around at the others, and she felt her heart start to beat faster as soon as she caught sight of minty green hair. Off to one side stood the most beautiful girl Luz had ever seen. Long mint green hair with brown roots and tied back into a tail that still fell past her shoulders, an athletic build, like a dancer, that hinted at lean muscle without being bulky, and as the girl turned Luz's heart almost stopped as she saw her fiery golden eyes.
When the test started, Luz almost didn't notice right away, but she heard Lucia scream in her head, "Look later Lu. Test now." All the same Luz didn't dash out like the others, instead she listened and felt for any tremors. These bots had to be heavy and dense so when they moved they more than likely give themselves away. Servos, gears, or heavy steps, it didn't matter, but as soon as Luz caught a sign she was off and running. With a combination of parkour and light claws that she could use to climb walls or tear apart bots Luz slipped into her practiced hunter mindset. The points were irrelevant, and every other applicant was just a civilian in need of protection. When she came across them she left them be if the person had it under control, or supported them if they were having a hard time, but with every interaction Luz got faster and more efficient. She learned weak points and exploited them to end bots in one shot after two or three interactions with each type. Even without her darkness, it was midday, and the sun was shining bright. Luz had all the power she could ask for.
The whole time Lucia acted as her copilot, they agreed that Luz would have to handle all the fighting, but that allowed Lucia to think and keep an eye on the wider environment. Luz could allow herself to tunnel a bit and focus on the target before her. It was a system they had mastered after weeks of night hunts, and while the roles were usually flipped it was no less effective. About a minute before the end of the test, Luz and Lucia both felt a charge in the air followed by a massive sonic boom and a large tremor from the next test site over.
Ignoring everything else Luz started to run as fast as she could. Both of the sister's minds slipping into a single thought process; run, jump, bounce, flip. No obstacles could stop her and she couldn't hear anything, but the wind as it whipped past her ears. All everyone else saw was a streak of light as Luz pumped all the light she could absorb directly into her legs. After only a minute or two Luz came across a scrap yard. Somebody had fought and destroyed a zero pointer, but judging by the sounds of distress it hadn't been an easy fight.
When Luz reached the epicenter she found a boy with mossy green hair and three shattered limbs, and a brown haired girl laying nearly unconscious from exhaustion on some debris. Since the girl seemed mostly unharmed except for some scratches, Luz focused on the boy. Everyone watched as the area around her dimmed, and light concentrated itself around her arms before Luz slammed her hands on the boy's back and the glow began to transfer to him. Everyone saw the boy's broken limbs twitch and the sound of bone snapping back into place. It was slow and exhausting, but Luz was healing him as best she could, until an old lady came walking over and put a hand on her shoulder, "Well done, young lady, but let a pro help you out. You provide the power and I'll help you guide it." Luz nodded with heavy eyes, and saw the woman give the boy a kiss. In moments the boy looked fully healed, but then everything went dark for Luz.
When she woke up, Luz was laying on a cot in an unfamiliar room. As she looked around she found Willow looking worried and Boscha standing with a faux look of annoyance. "So… did your tests go well?" Asked Luz sheepishly.
Boscha scoffed, "Well enough. Some brat with an explosive quirk made it rough to score, but Willow made it work. Now spill it. We heard you decided to get some extra credit?"
Willow punched Luz on top of her head, but it was softer than usual, "What were you thinking? They told us you jumped exam sites to help some injured guy? They could disqualify you for that."
Before Luz could answer, the little old lady appeared from the other side of a privacy screen that she retracted to reveal the boy in question. Now that she had time to get a better look at him, he was a fairly standard looking guy if a little short: round face, watery green eyes, a sea of freckles, but also an innocent kind smile, like a baby animal. With a small stammer he bowed his head, "Recovery Girl told me you helped heal my injuries. Th-thank you. I-I-I'm Deku… I mean Izuku. Izuku Midoriya."
Luz chuckled, "No problema, Izu. I'm Luzura Noceda, but everybody just calls me Luz. How did you hurt yourself like that anyway? The test was rough, but not shattered limbs rough."
Izuku's eyes went wide, "I-I-Izu?"
Luz laughed, "Ya, I prevented you from being crippled for life. I figured being able to call you a nickname is the least of what I'm owed."
Boscha rolled her eyes, "Just because he's cute doesn't mean you can adopt him Luz."
Luz just snorted, "Why not? It's what I did with you Bosch?"
Izuku just watched them bicker for another minute before he sighed, "I'm sorry I troubled you Luz. I… I don't have very good control of my quirk."
Willow gave him a reassuring smile, "I know the feeling. I was a late bloomer, and when it first awakened… It wasn't a great experience. Once we all get accepted we'll help you master it. I promise."
"You hear that, Izu? You're going to get the best sparring partners around," beamed Boscha.
Izuku looked away sadly, "I don't think they'll let me in. I kinda froze up during the practical, and the only bot I busted was the zero."
Willow and Boscha's eyes went wide, "You took down a zero… ON YOUR OWN!"
Luz snickered, "Nice. Don't worry though. I racked up enough points for both of us. I'll see if they'll let me pass some over to you, and I'm sure that brunette I saw might be willing to do the same. You have a lot of potential. It would be a shame to see you bounced just for being 'green'."
Izuku looked like he was about to cry, "Why? You've helped me so much already."
Luz looked away awkwardly, "Un heroe ilumina sus vidas incluso sin disfraz. A hero brightens lives even out of costume. My Mami used to say that alot, and I try my best to keep it alive."
Izuku gasped, "Your mom was Red Wrath? Your Red Wrath's daughter but that's impossible according to reports she didn't have any surviving family but your here and your quirk is so similar…"
They watched as the boy continued to devolve into a spiral of muttering and speculation until they heard Boscha snort, "He just keeps getting cuter. Come on Lu, let us keep him. Skara gets to keep Gus."
Willow let out a groan, "Firstly, Gus is her boyfriend not her pet, and second Gus is the reason we found our place so cheap. If anything, Skara is Gus's pet."
Boscha just shrugged and smirked, "Not the point. Come on Zuzu, I promise I don't bite… much."
Luz shook her head and smiled, "Ignore the thirsty tri-eyed wonder. I won't let her hurt you, and yes… my mom was Camila Noceda. My existence had to be a secret given how she died, but I'm strong enough to protect myself now, so it's time people learned that the Solar Heroines light shines on. In the meantime, we were going to go celebrate surviving the exams. I'm sure it'll be fine if you joined us, right ladies?"
The other two just smiled, "Sure, if it's alright with Recovery Girl, we'll just head out and find Gus."
The older lady nodded, but before the teens left Luz saw her wink and whisper so only Luz heard her, "Do me a favor. Tell Eda 'Hi' for me, and I'm glad to see things aren't going to be boring around here anymore. I missed having a Clawthorne around."
As Luz and Izuku walked, she heard him nervously stammer, "I-I don't… are you sure you want to invite me to celebrate with you all. You seem so strong and nice… I'm just a Deku. Maybe Kacchan was right, 'once a Deku, always a Deku'."
Luz heard the sadness in his voice, and it kinda pissed her off. Luz let out a low growl and for a moment Izuku thought she saw a flash of purple in her eyes, but he blinked and it was like it was never there. With a snarl Luz pulled the shorter boy close so they were staring eye to eye, "Izuku Midoriya, you are not a Deku. You are not useless or any of the nasty things anyone has ever called you. Fuck this Kacchan, whoever they are. You're amazing and sweet, and anyone who can't see that isn't worth listening to. Am I understood?"
Izuku smiled as tears ran down his face, "Thank you Luzura."
Luz snorted with a cocky smile, "If anyone messes with you just say the word and Onee-chan will straighten them out."
Izuku blushed, "O-o-ok… o-onee-san." There was a sudden beeping and Izuku checked his phone, "My mom is wondering where I am…"
"Your Mom? Tell her she's invited too, my treat. The girls and I would love to meet her. Small question though, do you like spicy food?" Luz smirked with a mischievous glint in her blue eyes.
That night was filled with a lot of laughter and a lot of crying. Inko, Izuku's mom, proved just as sweet and sensitive as her son, and learning about how Luz had helped him after the exam just ended up making her ball in joy. Soon both Midoriya's were crying, and Luz was hugging them both reassuringly. When Luz tried to make Mrs. Midoriya feel better by proudly announcing that his 'onee-san' would protect Izuku from any dangers that came up, the older woman just looked in awe at the girl and cried even harder as she thanked every kami and spirit out there for helping her boy find such dependable friends.
Dinner was a mixed experience. Luz had made sure to learn all the dishes her Mami used to make, and the Midoriya's weren't ready for just how spicy Luz's cooking could be. Gus thankfully had extra strawberry Kakigori to share with them or Boscha might not have been the only one spitting flames. Willow's beef skewers went over better, and Skara surprised everyone with a variety of fruit mochi.
After dinner they all sat around to talk a bit more, and Boscha gave Izuku a flirty wink, "Tomorrow's our off day, but the day after you're invited to train with us. Luz is kind of a health nut, so I'm sure she can help you with your quirk, and if you need any gear I'll be here to see what I can do. We've got your back Zuzu."
Izuku's eyes lit up and a notebook seemed to just appear in his hand, "I was wondering… if you're comfortable… Could you tell me about your quirks?"
Inko smiled having expected this, but everyone else shrugged, and they went around showing and explaining their quirks. Gus started with his 'Houdini'. It allowed him to create insubstantial clones or small illusions that can't interact with anything, but they were great for sending out messages or scouting because Gus could remember whatever his clones saw after they got poofed. Gus wasn't one for fighting, so he was happy his quirk didn't really have any combat potential to entice one.
Skara was up next with her quirk 'Mystro'. It gave her an incredibly sharp ear, the ability to play anything she's heard at least once as long as she knew the instruments for it, and the ability to convert sound into pressure waves. Skara had dedicated her time to learning every instrument possible to maximize what her quirk was capable of, but she was a 'bard and not a fighter'. She had only trained herself enough to defend herself and her 'Allegro'. The nickname made Gus blush, especially when Skara explained it was the name for a cheerful happy type of music. "He makes my days bright and warm, so he's the Allegro of my heart".
Boscha nodded as she created a small flame in her hand. Cyclopis apparently allowed her to handle heat and fire to a point where she could forge without the need for gloves or much protective gear. She could create small flames, but it exhausted her quickly. It also gave her a small strength boost, but not a huge one. As a result, Boscha had studied all kinds of metals, fabrics, and other materials, and trained her body to be even stronger. Boscha showed off her knee, and Inko cringed, but they moved on.
Willow grinned as she created and handed Inko a bouquet of flowers, oddly Willow saw Luz out of the corner of her eye, and her bouquet of white roses suddenly exploded in vibrant colors: crimson, cobalt, purple, and surprisingly black. Willow looked as shocked as everybody else as she sweat dropped. Inko just smiled as she accepted the flowers. As Willow explained her quirk she saw Luz smile as well… but also a flash of crimson in Luz's eye. Dyrad gave Willow total control over all types of vegetation including growth size and properties. Willow's passion was botany, so she loved to experiment, and as a result she had a number of specific plants for specific purposes: reinforced vines, flame resistant bark, and pollens to help immobilize or pep up whomever smells them. Of all the girls present, Willow was proud to admit she was the strongest physically. Willow even flexed for their guests as a joke, and Willow saw Luz blush while Luz felt Lucia overheat inside her head and pass out.
Finally they reached Luz, and Izuku noticed everyone got a bit uncomfortable, but he didn't ask. Luz sighed, and explained that she couldn't really display her quirk at the moment because it was very light dependent, and if she tried the room would get very dark, very fast. Instead she promised a real demonstration another time, but her quirk Legendary Light wasn't all that complicated in her opinion. Her body could draw in light and convert it into raw energy which she could then use in a number of ways like: creating and manipulating handheld simple objects like gauntlets, bats, shields, or blades, powerful blasts she called Sunbeams, or infuse it into another person to help them heal or as a physical booster to her own body.
Each application had limits though. She couldn't make guns or anything more complicated than a bow, and only she could use them. If anyone else tried, the object would disperse or explode depending on the amount of energy remaining. Her Sunbeam's were powerful but could be incredibly hard to control and depending on her focus they could be as dangerous as a magnifying glass was against ants, a real life Archimedes heat ray. By far though, Luz hated her healing the most. It was so weak compared to what her Mami could do, and even minor healing exhausted Luz more than anything else. If there was an ability Luz had that made her feel inadequate, it was her healing light.
The whole time they were explaining, Izuku was writing feverishly and taking notes, but then he felt everyone's eyes shift to him expectantly, and he started to sweat. "I-I guess it's my turn… right?" Everybody else nodded kindly, but Lucia noticed how nervous Izuku was, and pointed it out to Luz who just felt confused by it. This was turning into a pattern with him, and neither Noceda liked it. In a quiet voice, Izuku started to explain, "It's still really new to me… I haven't had it for very long. As far as I know it's just a standard strength enhancer, but I don't really know much about it." The whole time Izuku never looked up or at anyone in the room.
Seeing Izuku didn't know what else to say, Boscha asked, "Really? That's it? Come on Zuzu. Can't you at least give us it's name?"
Izuku shook his head as he continued to not look at anyone. Trying to help Gus asked, "Well how recently are we talking bud?"
"Today was actually the first time I really tried using it, but I spent the last ten months trying to condition myself to handle it. Didn't work very well I guess," Izuku sighed before trying to make a joke.
Everyone paled at that, but Luz pulled Izuku into a half hug, "Ok that's enough everyone. In the end it doesn't matter. When we start to train we'll help Izu figure it out, and in no time he'll be just as comfortable with his quirk as any of us are. Until then let's just let it go. Now it's getting late. I'll walk these two home while you all clean up." Luz got up and walked their guests to the door.
The walk back to the Midoriya's apartment was quiet, and Izuku noticed how Luz seemed to walk peacefully along with the occasional wind blowing through her hair, but oddly her eyes remained closed for most of the walk and a warm smile was present the whole time. Before he went in Izuku cleared his throat, "Thanks for today onee-chan. I've never really had friends before, so that was a lot of fun.
Luz just looked down at him, and Izuku noticed Luz's eyes were a purple violet color unlike the usual blue that they were all day. With a smile Luz ruffled his hair, "We had a lot of fun too, Izuku. If you ever need to talk, we're here for you. Get some rest, and we'll see you for training the day after tomorrow." Without another word, Luz started to walk away, but just before she was fully out of sight, Izuku saw Luz start parkouring as she ran, and Izuku snorted in amusement.
Wednesday morning Izuku woke up early, and found Luz waiting for him outside with a breakfast sandwich and a cup of orange juice that tasted kinda funny. When Luz saw his confused look she chuckled and taped his drink as she said two words, "Protein powder."
Originally they were all going to train in a small park the girls found, but Izuku made an alternate suggestion. That's how they all found themselves at a clean beautiful beach. As they approached, they saw Willow poke her finger into the sand, and from out of the hole sprouted a thin tree with short branches, like a coat rack. Izuku was confused at first until Boscha, Willow, and Luz all shed their track clothes. Underneath they were wearing stretchy tank tops and yoga shorts. Izuku just froze for a moment until he heard all three girls laughing and Boscha snicker, "I think we broke him." Coming over to cup Izuku's cheek Boscha gave him a wink, "See something you like Zuzu?"
Izuku's face turned scarlet, before he saw a powerful elbow collide with Boscha's toned abs. She didn't seem to hurt her, but it did knock her back a step, and they both saw Willow give Boscha a reproachful look, "Boschy, none of that. We're here to train, not flirt."
Boscha just shrugged, "Multitasking Park. We're hot and confident. Why not have a little fun?"
Willow rolled her eyes, but Luz broke up the growing argument, "So Izuku, I was thinking we'd start with setting a benchmark. Willow, if you could?" Willow smiled and outstretched her hand making a rough plant doll appear by the edge of the water. "So Izu, I want you to punch that doll with your quirk. It should be soft enough that it shouldn't give much resistance, so you shouldn't break anything regardless of how hard you hit it. I want to see your form, and exactly what we're working with here, so I can help figure out where you need help."
"Ya if there's anyone who can help you learn to throw a proper punch it's 'Ms. Golden Gloves' over here," teased Boscha as she sat to the side to stretch.
Izuku looked from Luz to the others in confusion, and saw Luz blush. Willow just smiled at her, "Midoriya, Luz was captain of the Boxing team in middle school. She also led the fencing and baseball teams, but you don't look like someone to use a weapon."
Luz blushed deeper, and Izuku saw a flash of red in her eyes, but he ignored it. Squaring up on the doll Izuku cocked back his fist and 'smashed' it. Surprisingly he only strained the muscles in his arm, but as he looked back he saw Boscha and Willow looking at him wide eyed while Luz was frowning. In a serious tone she asked, "Has anyone ever shown you how to throw a proper punch before?" Izuku scratched the back of his head awkwardly, and Luz sighed, "Ok, so we need to start at the most basic level." Luz got into a stance in front of him before stating, "Mirror my stance." Izuku tried his best, but Luz snorted, "Now hold it while I correct it."
For the next twenty minutes, Luz led Izuku through some basic forms and techniques, and Izuku immediately felt the difference in his muscles. Luz's forms felt better and more natural than what he was doing before, and when Luz had him try the doll again his arm didn't ache afterward nearly as much as before. After that Luz led him through her usual routine, and he marveled at how strong and agile his friend was. Even when he had to take a break around the ninety minute mark, Luz kept up her own training, and Boscha directed Izuku's attention to small things of note, like how she positioned and pivoted her feet or when and how she dropped her shoulder. During the whole experience Izuku had only one regret, why didn't he remember to bring his notebook?
This continued for the next week, and Izuku was happy for the distraction. His mentor hadn't reached out since the morning before the exam, but Luz helped him ignore that and he was making a lot of progress according to Luz. For the first three days Luz was adamant Izuku not use his quirk during their couple spars, but once she was confident he had the basic forms down, she relented.
Willow and Boscha each sat at opposite ends of the space they planned to use as a sparring ring, and once they gave the signal it was safe, Luz and Izuku got started. Luz allowed Izuku to go on the offensive first. Trying to overwhelm Luz quickly, Izuku reared back and attempted to fire off a powerful right straight to Luz's chest, but Luz just effortlessly swept it aside causing a huge burst of wind to be released and drive back the on-coming surf. Slipping under his wide defense Luz landed a palm strike to Izuku's sternum, and pushed him back gasping for air. Despite the pain, Izuku released a powerful pressure with a quirk infused swipe of his arm hoping to blind Luz with kicked up sand, but to his dismay he felt a knee slam into his back. Just like that the fight was over with Izuku pinned under Luz's knee.
Luz snorted, "Nice idea with the sand, but remember, it blocks your sight as much as your opponents, so expect a counter attack especially from an opponent like me who has a lot of agility."
Izuku groaned, "Thanks, but it's still really depressing… you didn't even use your quirk did you?"
Luz laughed, "Sorry Izu. Once you get some control over how much power you use, I know I'll have to though. You're incredibly inventive, and I can't wait to see what you think of next." A mischievous gleam entered her eye, "Like… explain how you could escape this hold. You impress me, and I'll let you up." Luz leaned a bit more weight into her knee as an incentive.
Izuku groaned, "My first thought, you have my core immobilized but not my limbs. If I had enough control to not break my arms trying it, I could slam my palms into the beach. The wind should knock you back, and the kicked up sand should buy me an opening to adjust and come at you from the back or side."
Luz leaned back a bit to release some of the pressure, "Thumbs up Izuku, but what if you got caught on solid ground?"
Izuku thought for a second before he smiled, "You're using your right knee, so same idea, but only in my left hand. I use the wind it releases to push you off balance, and your knee to slide enough for me to squirm free."
Luz let Izuku up, "And that's why you're going to do amazing things, Izu. You have an amazing mind, you just have to let your body catch up. No matter how long it takes… I'm going to help you get there." When they finished cleaning up Luz looked to Izuku with a bit of hesitation, "I have one last exercise to show you… but for the best results it'll have to wait. Meet me here at midnight."
Izuku gave Luz a confused look, but nodded with a smile, "If you think it'll help, then I'll be here, but… why do you seem so nervous?"
Luz grimaced, "I… I have my reasons. For now just trust me Otouto."
Izuku smiled wider, "Ok Onee-can."
Boscha laughed at them, "It's still weird you insist on calling each other that. Aren't you technically older than her?"
Luz blushed, "Shut up, Bosh! He's only two months older than me, so it doesn't matter. Also I'm the one with more experience and I'm half a foot taller… thus I am the big sister. Now, shut your trap, or do you want to go another round. I didn't need my quirk last time we boxed, and I won't need it this time."
Boscha snorted, "Bring it Noceda, but later. If I'm going to beat you, it'll be at your best." As they walked away Boscha whispered just loud enough for Luz to hear her, "But let's be honest, I'm not the one you want to be on top of. I know both of you prefer green after all." Luz spun on her heel and glared at Boscha's smirking face, but her blush gave her away, so she just grumbled as she stomped away.
Under the light of the crescent moon Izuku returned to the beach, and looked for Luz. It took a while to find her, but Izuku found her sitting with her feet in the waves and just… looking out over the waves and into the starry night sky. It was still a few minutes to midnight, so Izuku just sat and joined her.
Not looking at him, Luz sighed, "I've always loved the night: how the stars twinkle, the shine of the moon, and the wind… oh god, the breeze over the waves or through the trees… it never fails to put me at ease."
Izuku smiled, "I've never really stopped to see it, but you're right. This is amazing."
Luz smiled back before directing Izuku to sit opposite her, "So this training is geared more toward your mind then your body." Izuku noticed Luz looked on the verge of tears, but she just took a moment to compose herself before she continued, "When I had trouble controlling myself… My mami took me to the beach and showed me what I'm about to share with you. Now, I want you to close your eyes, and try to slowly let your quirk flow through you. Listen to the waves, and allow it to guide your thoughts. Don't let your power build in any one place or overwhelm your senses. Let your heart and quirk synch up with the waves… the wind… and become one with the world around you. Your power is immense, but only a drop in the bucket compared to everything around us."
Luz opened her eyes and watched as the tell tale signs of Izuku's quirk rose and fell just as she expected it would. Izuku smiled, but kept his eyes closed, "I can feel it, and… I think I can control it. I-I don't feel like I'm about to burst. It's like a pressure inside me… an egg in a microwave, but I'm in control. I can feel the heat rise or fade. It's not perfect, but I can feel it… it's not just on or off anymore." Izuku chuckled, "This feels… amazing. It's like lightning coursing through my nerves and fire in my muscles just itching to be used."
Izuku finally opened his eyes to see Luz's smiling face looking back with radiant purple eyes as she said, "We're happy we could help Izuku. Our mami would be proud to know that her trick helped you."
Izuku gave Luz a puzzled look, "Luz, you just said 'our mami'. I know we joke around and call each other siblings, but I'm worried about you. I've noticed your eyes flicking different colors, sometimes red and now they're purple. If there's something going on… you can tell me. After all you've done to help me, I want to be there for you too."
As soon as Izuku pointed it out Luz's eyes returned to blue, but flickered red for a moment as a look of disorientation spread across her face. Taking a breath Luz stated, "Not yet. Izuku, we both have secrets we're not ready to share, and don't bother looking worried or freaking out. I trust you to tell me when you're ready, but you have to show me the same courtesy, ok? For me, let's just say there are aspects to who I am that… I don't think you can understand or accept. As much as keeping them a secret from you hurts, losing you would hurt so much more. You're my friend, despite my inviting demeanor… I don't have many of those."
Izuku sighed, "I guess that's fair for now. Thank you, Luz. I don't really have many friends either, so you're important to me too." For a while they just sat and listened to the crash of the waves, and enjoyed just feeling comfortable around another person.
For the rest of the week Luz helped Izuku learn to control small amounts of the power that coursed through him, starting with just one percent, but quickly moving on to two. When the letter that would tell everyone whether they were accepted came in, Izuku was nervous, and so was Luz, but for two very different reasons. Izuku was sure he'd failed the exam, but thanks to Luz and his other friends Izuku made peace with the fact that he could potentially transfer in next year. It was depressing, but he still had hope no matter what happened. Luz on the other hand was terrified that the school knew who she was, and would refuse her on principle or worse… capture her to be locked up in Tartarus.
In the end, Izuku had nothing to fear. He was accepted, and even passed in the top ten of applicant's. Luz on the other hand had been right to be worried. When she opened her letter there was a holo disk inside that played the relevant information for her enrollment, but just like Izuku's, Luz's was unique.
After the standard congratulations and instructions were given by All Might, The number one hero of Japan and arguably top three in the world, Luz's message changed. All might was sitting alone, and he appeared less than overjoyed with his face stern.
Ms. Noceda or Clawthorne, in this case the name you choose doesn't matter. After a lengthy discussion by U.A.'s principal, Nezu, and a vote held by the whole staff you have been accepted, but do not think this clears you of consequence or responsibility for the things you've done. The ground you walk on now is very fragile and any violation of the rules put in place for the safety of the school or law in general will result in your immediate removal. We do not accept your methods, but you are a capable incredibly talented child, and you have a right to become better. Do not take this opportunity for granted or it will be lost forever.
With that ominous message sent everyone got to see the results from the entrance exam, including the previously unknown rescue points. Of particular note was Izuku who aced the written exam, and got the most points of all applicants in the rescue category with sixty, but as he had thought zero villain points. As a result he earned tenth place over all.
Tied for eighth with a boy named Tenya Ida, and Willow. Willow had done very well on the written section while receiving twenty-one villain and forty rescue points. A boy named Katsuki Bakugo got third with an impressive seventy-seven villain points, but zero rescue points, giving him the reverse issue of Izuku's score. In second was Amity Blight with seventy-eight villain points, and also no rescue points.
Most shocking to everyone who didn't live with her though… Luz got the top spot. Her written exam was middling, but on the practical she earned sixty villain points and forty rescue points, beating out Amity by over twenty total points. The part that amazed Willow and Izuku, because he remembered Luz joking about it, was that Luz hadn't given her best during the practical. She had been cagey as to why, but they both knew she wasn't joking. If she had wanted she could have scored more villain points, but that had been before they were made aware of rescue points, so the possibility of Luz scoring lower for beating more bots was a possibility.
A few hours after Izuku received his letter he was back at the beach to meet up with All Might, his mentor, but neither was aware of a third individual present. Luz had come to 'meditate by the sea', like she usually did when she felt stressed, but found an odd blond skeletal man already there. She was going to ignore him and wait in the shadows for him to leave, so she could do her thing, but then she saw a familiar mop of green curls. Worrying about why their friend was meeting up with a suspicious older man in the middle of the night, Lucia took control and they lingered in his shadow. If her Izu was in any danger, Luz would be there to save him, but instead she heard their whole conversation.
As Izuku rushed toward the man Luz heard him shout, "All Might!"
"All Might, where?" yelled a few passerbys.
The man paled, "Quick! Say you were mistaken."
Izuku stammered, "Wrong guy! My mistake!" The couple groaned and walked away sadly, but Izuku and All Might took a breath of relief. "Sorry. I was just so excited to see you. When I didn't hear anything all week I got worried, but I get it. You were busy, and it probably isn't easy getting set up to teach at U.A. Congratulations by the way."
"Thank you young Midoriya, but I'm here to congratulate you. You did great. Don't worry, I wasn't one of the judges, so you did this completely on your own. You should feel proud, U.A. is a rough program to get into, but you did it," stated All Might with a grin.
Izuku beamed, "Thank's, but I didn't do it alone. You helped me train, and you gave me 'One For All'. I might have passed, but you gave me the tools to do it." Izuku bowed deeply, "You told me I could make my dream come true. Thank you so much for believing in me." Izuku straightened and held up his fist as it started to glow, "I didn't stop training either. After the exam I made a couple new friends, and they've helped me start getting control. Luz showed me how to let our quirk flow. She's so cool."
All Might suddenly bulked up and grabbed Izuku by the shoulders with a concerned look, "Luz? Luz Noceda? What have you told her?"
Izuku was surprised and confused, "Ya, I don't know why you're worried, Luz has been amazing. I kept the secret like you told me too. Even when they indulged me and told me about their quirks…" Izuku looked away sadly, "I lied to them. I said it was a generic strength enhancer, and I didn't know its name. I hated it, but I did as you said. Why do you look so scared? Luz is so kind and supportive." Izuku blushed, "It started as a bit of a joke, but… when I'm around her it really does feel like having an older sister."
All Might took a deep breath and sighed sadly, "Young Midoriya, I understand it will be rough, but you have to be careful around people like her. She's dangerous, and they can slip into villainy so easily. If you can help her stay on the path, that's great, but if not, you have to take a step back. You can only save those that want to be saved. We save everyone we can, but you can't save everyone."
Izuku was horrified and a little angry, "What are you saying All Might? Luz is a hero. Her mom, Camila, was the you of the Dominican Republic, before she was murdered. You can't really think someone so filled with light and kindness could ever hurt anyone. She's helping me become the hero I've always wanted to be just like you are." Izuku teared up and All Might saw the hurt in his young wards eyes, "Even if you're right… I refuse to fail her. She's… she's my friend. I WILL NOT LET HER FALL. If she needs to be saved, I will be her hero because that is what we do… because I know she would do the same for me. How can you judge her when you haven't even met her?"
All Might was caught off guard, but then he began to beam, "I'm sorry, young Midoriya. You're right. I allowed my fears and hang ups to blind me. I should at least give her the benefit of the doubt until I meet her, but…" All Might kneeled and gave Izuku a stern look, "I need you to keep your eyes open. There are things I doubt she's told you about, and it's not my place to reveal them, but she isn't the pure beacon of light that you think she is. Honestly, nobody is… even me, but that doesn't mean she's beyond help… yet. If you think you can help her, then do it. Be the hero I know you can be. Today just proves that my faith was well placed. You will be the next Symbol of Peace, and a better hero than I ever was. I can't wait to see you shine, my boy."
Izuku gave a faint smile, "I promise to do my best. Would you like to see my progress?"
All Might deflated into his skeletal appearance as blood gushed from his mouth. After wiping it away he said, "I'd love to, and I want to hear about the training you've been doing." Izuku smiled and showed All Might the forms Luz taught him, and explained to him how and what he'd been doing to progress. When Izuku was done, All Might just sat and contemplated everything he heard. "Young Midoriya, I'm proud of you and your progress, and I'll admit… Ms. Noceda appears to know her stuff. The forms she showed you are from a number of sources: boxing, Muay Thai, and a bit of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. My style has always centered around basic powerful punches, but I also had full access to 'One For All' from the start. From what you just said, that isn't the case for you."
Izuku shuffled nervously, "D-did I do something wrong? Please tell me I don't need to eat another hair! No offense All Might, but your hair spray tastes really bad."
All Might let out a powerful laugh, "No, you're fine Midoriya. My mentor told me that every bearer of our quirk handles it differently. If I remember correctly she was shocked I could handle it as well as I did. I actually encourage you to continue to do what you're doing. Because of my size when I power up, something like BJJ would provide very little in a fight for me, but you have a more normal or slightly smaller physique. The strength boost gives you an advantage over most opponents physically, and it's common for those with increased strength to have larger frames. Learning to counter the ones you might otherwise have issues with is actually a great idea. Muay Thai focuses on maximizing your body's dexterity, so combining it with that much raw strength is a no brainer, and…" All Might chuckled, "I was quite the boxer myself once upon a time. These days it wouldn't be much of a fair fight, even in my diminished state, but it's a solid foundation to build on."
Izuku turned and fired off a two percent right straight over the waves, and they saw a small corridor form in the surf, "I'm just happy my muscles don't ache anymore when I punch, and unless I try to fist fight Cementoss I shouldn't break any bones in a fight either, unless I go over my limit. Luz has been amazing about that too. She has limited healing with her quirk, so even when I start to hurt myself she can help prevent it from getting too bad. My arms may bruise, but there have been no breaks since the exam."
All Might smiled, "Good to hear. Now it's getting late. You should probably go get some sleep."
Izuku checked his watch and paled, "Oh no! I'm supposed to meet Luz and Willow in four hours. If I'm late they're going to sick Boscha on me again."
All Might looked concerned, "Are you in danger?"
Izuku snorted and just sighed, "Not really. Boscha is just super clingy and flirty. She treats me like a stuffed toy if Onee-chan or Willow don't keep her under control."
All Might froze for a second before he nearly doubled over and collapsed from laughing, "A ladies man already. I can't help feeling proud of how far you've come, young man. And an Onee-chan? Aren't you a busy boy?"
Izuku blushed, "It's not like that, I promise. They're just really good friends!"
All Might nodded as they started walking away, "Whatever you say, Midoriya. Whatever you say."
Notes: Praise be, I finally have enough time for proper notes, and this chapter is the perfect time to pull back the curtain. I'll admit I have a real soft spot for this Boscha, and giving her the 'my friends are my family' treatment is part of that. Also I continue the tradition of Eda and her collection of claimed orphans. She might lose Luz, since she's actually her mom in this AU, but she gets Boscha to rebalance the scales. No she's going to adopt her, but that doesn't mean she can't be her mother figure.
For the record there are three remaining pieces of Camila in this AU. The gloves are the first, and I know where all three are. Yes, Camila and Eda had nicknames for each other just like canon Lumity does, Lechuza (Owl) and Dove, and if Eda went straight that would have been her hero name. Version one of Luzura's cloak of shadows is on the books, and is based on actual science since purified silver acts as a natural energy conduit like copper as well as a spiritual one, so regardless of the universe (science or magic) silver is the answer. We'll learn more about the Melody's later, but rest assured they are good people (not a red herring, I'm serious).
Luz and her roof compulsion is incredibly important (I might be joking). Yes, Eda got stabbed by an eight year old because the kid HAD to sleep naked under the stars. Isn't that a fun image. Boscha is the best worst wingwoman ever, and now we see the main reason why Wilcia hasn't happened yet, and it's not any weirder than dating conjoined twins (which is basically what Luz and Lucia are).
I have no hate for Ida btw. I call him a 'rigid stereotype' because that is how Luz sees him in that moment, a preppy, rich, rule obsessed, stick in the mud. I love Ida as a character, but he got done dirty at the start since we don't get to see how great a guy he is until later. Since this is primarily from Luz's point of view we miss a few interactions with Izuku, but I do my best to make note that they happen even if we don't see them. Also when we get to costumes, unless I say otherwise assume they are unchanged. I'm doing my best to handle describing the 20 students in 1-A in small groups, but going over everyones specific costumes all at once will feel so janky. I try to keep interactions small (no more than 5) for a reason. The more people the better the chance someone gets lost in the shuffle or forgotten, and I take pride in my interactions.
Could Luz have scored better on the practical exam? Maybe. She definitely could have gotten more villain points if she tried, but it would have come at the loss of rescue points since she wouldn't have had time to help out as much. In the end Luz got first place because she balanced both sides of being a hero, where Amity and Bakugo only focused on smashing bots. Amity only beat Bakugo because she only hunted three pointers (Luz cleaned up everything else) instead of indiscriminate destruction. Also the only reason Willow didn't get second place was because she was in Bakugo's test area, and had to keep protecting people from rubble and explosions instead of hunting bots. She trains with Luz and has the second most experience because of it.
Hope you enjoyed the peek into how the twins fight. I'm actually super proud of how it came out. The main issue with Recovery Girls quirk is it uses the victims stamina as fuel to heal. Luz provides an alternative power source. There are consequences, but we don't see them yet.
I know the immediate connection between Luz and Izuku is weird, but there is a reason… trust me. It will make sense later. Onee-chan is literally 'big sister', it's not sexual or a kink, it's familial and reassuring in this case. Kind of like if Luz declared herself his senpai, except it's a slightly different relationship.
If anyone has questions about the Hexsquads quirks, ask away. I'm not sure I explained them well. Gus's quirk is kind of like shadow clones, but without most of the benefits since they are completely insubstantial.
Btw the reason Luz had her eyes closed when she walked the Midoriya's home was because Lucia was in control and using her quirk to keep an eye out for danger around them. I don't know if I left enough clues, but there you go.
So All Might is a great motivator and adviser, but a terrible mentor. He doesn't know how to help Izuku train his body or techniques because it came naturally to him. Luz is taking up that role. Izuku will pay it back later, but for now that's the situation. Also, All Might never takes the time to teach Izuku form. He learns it eventually, but by then his arms are fubar so it's too late to get the best results.
In All Mights defense, Luz is terrifying on paper. She has a body count, and was trained by one of the most competent vigilantes around. She might have two quirks, which could imply a connection to All for One. He has a right to be scared. He just doesn't have the important details.
I'm stopping here since this chapter is late. See ya next week. Shine on beautiful readers. Shine on.