CrimsonGeist: I genuinely don't know if there's a better author I've seen on this site outside of you. The only person that comes even close is Epsilon.
Re: I always appreciate the praise, and even though I'm not one of the big content providers who might or might not have a Pa,treon page, it means a lot when my OC-centric stories are well-received. All of the Naruto re-skins and OC re-skins that are just rampant wish-fulfillment certainly don't help the bias...
As for the Jackie Chan Adventures reference I alluded to last-chapter about the-chapter-before, the "Radio-Controlled Ankle Cuffs" worn by Finn, Ratso, and Chow in Season 4 Episode 9 "The Good Guys" seemed like too good a Capture Item to pass up on~
As Mineta's [Pop Off] showed during the USJ Arc, restraining Villains together in a huge bundle is incredibly effective, but only works when you can forcibly mash them all together; hence why I went with the JCA-inspired "Telescoping-Chain Capture Cuffs" against a bunch of Zombies (adaptable to more than just ankles).
Anywho, onto the show!
*MHA*
The following day in homeroom…
"YEAH! WE ALL PASSED!" Mina and Kaminari whooped excitedly.
"Quiet," Aizawa cut in, making the class clam up. "Everyone may have cleared the written and practical tests, but Kirishima, Kaminari, Ashido, Sato, and Sero, you just barely toed the line; Kirishima, Sato, and Sero on the practical, while Kaminari and Ashido were the written. I expect a larger margin from you all the following year."
"Yes, Aizawa-sensei!" everyone announced.
"It's a good thing you five managed to pass, because the special supplemental lessons, would've been far worse than summer school," the Erasure Hero said ominously, causing shudders to run up their backs. "Anyway, I'll be handing out camp manuals. Take one and pass it back."
A short time later…
"Well, whatever the case, it's nice that everyone gets to go," Ojiro hummed good-naturedly.
"An entire week of training camp!" Iida proclaimed.
"This packing list is huge," Izuku gulped.
"I don't even have a bathing suit, so there's still a ton of stuff I've got to buy…" Kaminari hummed.
"Oh, I know!" Hagakure chirped. "We're off tomorrow and tests are over, so, how about we all go shopping together, Class A?"
"Good idea! This'll be a first, come to think of it!" Kaminari nodded excitedly.
"Hey, you come too, Bakugou!"
"No way in hell! What a waste of time."
"You gonna come, Todoroki?" Izuku asked eagerly.
"Can't. Genki and I have plans."
"What about you, Tsu?" Ochako asked.
"The same." Though she remained tight-lipped.
"Ah, I see…" Momo hummed to herself, glancing Genki's way and then to Tsu. "I... hope you have a pleasant time."
"C-Come on, Momo-chan, no need to make that face..." Genki soothed toward her downtrodden expression. "There's still I-Island coming up. I'm sure we can hang out together then."
"Yes, you're right! We should all make travel arrangements!" Momo nodded regaining her bubbly tone as she held up her phone.
"Sounds good," Todoroki hummed. "If we all make plans with the same service, we might be able to get a discount."
"In fact, it's possible Yuuei might be able to foot some of the bill," Iida saw fit to add in.
Which elicited an entirely separate discussion all on its own...
*MHA*
The following day…
"Habuko-chan!"
"Tsu-chan!" the two greeted as they met at the train station, the paradigm of their friendly embrace making the non-Heteromorphs nearby slightly-to-wildly uncomfortable. "I'm so glad we get to hang out again!"
"*Kero~*" Tsuyu nodded happily. "Sorry I dragged you out here for a double-date, though…"
"I'm always happy to see the boy whose 'kokoro' you make go 'doki-doki'~" the snake Heteromorph giggled. She'd have winked if she could've, but snakes don't have eyelids. "And anyway, that just means there's a boy here for me. Is he cute~?"
"You're about to find out. Here they come right now," Tsuyu replied, Habuko fluffing out her hair and making herself presentable before turning around, her golden eyes going wide as the son of the No.2 Hero smiled her way, a wave of his hand sent in her direction while the son of the Former-No.2 waved toward Tsuyu.
"Hello there," Todoroki greeted. "We met during the joint training exercise, but I don't think we were formally introduced. I'm Todoroki Shoto. It's a pleasure to see you again," he said with a charming smile.
"Tsu-chan."
"Yes, Habuko-chan?"
"Did I ever tell you you're my best friend?" the snake Heteromorph asked with misty eyes.
As this was going on…
"Genki."
"Yes, Shoto?"
"My cheeks hurt. Also, my face is feeling a little warm."
"That means it's working. Just keep smiling like your mom taught you."
"When should I ask her about giving my mother grandchildren?"
"Not until a year after graduation, you dope!" Genki hissed as he lightly chopped Shoto on the back of the head, the stoic boy taking Rei's request for 'grandbabies' way too literally. "Mongoose-chan, it's so great to see you again. I trust you healed up alright?"
"Please, call me 'Habuko-chan'. A friend of Tsu-chan's is a friend of mine," the snake Heteromorph said happily.
"Of course, Habuko-chan. Shall we show you around before the karaoke?"
"I'd love that!"
"Alright then," Genki nodded. "Shall we go, then, Tsu-chan?" he asked offering his arm.
"H-Hai…" Tsuyu blushed at the gesture. It was sappy as hell, but chivalry was still endearing.
"Habuko-chan?" Shoto said offering his own arm.
Habuko in response was blushing as red as her hair, but linked arms with the handsome 1-A boy, shooting a happy look Tsu's way over the dual Quirk-user's head.
Of course, the good times weren't meant to last…
"Oh crap! It's the paparazzi!" Genki swore a while later as a camera-wielding crowd zeroed in on them.
"Habuko-chan! We didn't sign waivers to have our faces photographed! Zap 'em!" Shoto insisted.
"STRANGER DANGER!" Habuko cried, yanking the tab on a Present Mic-brand Security Buzzer before hitting the approaching crowd with her [Paralysis].
"Run for it, *kero*!" Tsuyu croaked as the four of them ran from the downed bodies congesting the street.
*MHA*
"Ugh… So much for showing you around…" Tsuyu groaned as the four of them hid out in a hole-in-the-wall noodle shop, their faces obscured with numerous Hero-brand sunglasses; an Endeavor-inspired pair for Genki, an All Might-inspired pair for Shoto, a Mirko-inspired pair for Tsuyu, and a Mt. Lady-inspired pair for Habuko.
"It isn't so bad. I still had a lot of fun~" Habuko smiled as she slurped noodles.
"Sorry we ruined the day out. Guess we're a little too high-profile…" Genki lamented.
"That was probably more my fault than yours," Shoto conceded, not realizing how self-agrandizing that could come across as.
"Eh, it's part and parcel for the job," Tsuyu hummed as she ate.
"And we can always do karaoke after ramen," Habuko nodded. "Sh-Shoto-kun, say 'ahhh'," she blushed holding up a piece of chashu pork on her chopsticks.
Shoto blinked confusedly, but Genki's elbow into his side made him let out a startled- "Ah!" -, Habuko sneaking the tasty morsel in, and then blushing as she stared down at the ends of her chopsticks.
"Genki-kun."
"Hai, Tsu-chan?"
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it. And besides, Shoto would be useless without me~" Genki said as he elbowed Shoto in the side again, glancing at his ramen and then up at Habuko.
"Habuko-chan. Say 'ahhh'," Shoto said in his usual monotone.
He was lucky he was handsome.
Steam shooting out of Habuko's nostrils, once more blushing red up too her hair, she overshot Shoto's chopsticks and wound up taking his entire hand into her mouth.
"Well that's embarrassing…" Tsuyu said as Habuko froze up, whereas Shoto was blushing as something wriggled against his fingers. "Habuko-chan. Save that kind of play for the third date."
The two reeling away from one another with wild blushes on their cheeks, Tsuyu let out an adorable croaking sound before drawing some of the noodles from their bowl and offering them up to Genki.
"Here, Genki-kun. Say 'ahhh'."
"Ahhhm."
*MHA*
The two pairs would've enjoyed the rest of their meal in peace, but then, the paparazzi found them again and, well…
"What part of 'no' don't you weasels understand?!"
"I DO NOT CONSENT!"
*JIIIIII!*
*Thu-Thu-Thu-Thump!*
"Quick! Out the back!"
Yeah… That happened…
*MHA*
"Genki-kun, how'd you get them to let you in through the back?" Habuko asked as the four of them were let into the backdoor of a familiar karaoke joint
"There was a little Villain rampage a while ago with exploding pigs, and I helped Tsu-chan, Izuku, and Ochako evacuate everyone across the rooftops," Genki answered after paying the man.
"Wait, that Villain?" Habuko gawped, remembering it on the news if only for the sheer weirdness of it. "Was his Quirk making farm animals explode, or…?"
"It was just commanding pigs," Tsuyu answered. "The explosives were radio-controlled."
"Seems like a waste of good bacon."
"That's your takeaway…?" Genki gawped Shoto's way.
"Hold on, how come we don't know about this deal?" Tsuyu said as they all sat down, the grateful employee setting some sodas on the table.
"You guys don't know how to 'network'," Genki answered. "And even if you did, would you actually use this deal?"
" . . . Fair point," Tsuyu returned. Nepotism in any form was always controversial in the industry, but it was also inescapable. You couldn't just turn down the goodwill of your 'constituents' without hurting their feelings and damaging your own reputation. One of All Might's own lectures had been about all the 'freebies' he'd had to contend with over the years as Japan's No.1; as long as he took some of the 'souvenirs' beyond the "Might Gate" for himself, he could get away with having his secondary clerical office clerk give the others to the All Might Agency staff. "As long as no cash is being exchanged…"
"Enough 'work talk'! Let's sing some karaoke!" Habuko whooped excitedly as she sat beside Shoto.
*MHA*
After a couple hours of stress-relieving karaoke and snack food, it was finally time for the four teens to part ways. Tsuyu escorted Habuko back to the train station since they had to go in opposite directions, and Shoto made his own way home, he and Habuko exchanging numbers~ Genki, having the closest residence to Yuuei out of the four of them, was greeted by Ochako upon his return.
"Genki-kun! How'd your date go!" she grinned peeking out of her doorway.
"Exhausting. Damn paparazzi…" the Heteromorph sighed. "What about you? How did your day go?"
"Actually, about that…" Ochako said as her expression grew somber. "Listen… Could you do something for me?" she asked worriedly.
"Sure. What do you need?"
*MHA*
*Knock*Knock*Knock*
"I've got it!" Izuku said going for the door, leaving his mentally-exhausted mother on the couch. "Genki?" he blinked into the peep hole before opening up. "What're you doing here?"
"I heard what happened from Ochako after I got back home. Are you alright?" Genki asked worriedly.
"Yeah… More or less…" Izuku replied with a sigh. "Ah! Please! Come on in for the cold!"
"If you insist," Genki nodded as he stepped inside. "Good evening, Midoriya-san. How are you holding up?"
"Ah, Goki-er-Genki-kun. I'm doing… fine…" she said in a stressed voice.
"Sorry for the inconvenience. I came by to check on how Izuku was doing."
"Oh, it's no trouble at home. Please, make yourself at home. I'm just going to be… sitting down…" she sighed as she returned to the living room. Genki, looking toward Izuku, was led toward his room, the door shut behind them so they could converse in private.
"So… About what happened at Kiyashi Ward…" Genki groused.
"Shigaraki…" Izuku began in a strained tone. "He slipped the net. I couldn't stop him."
"Well, what else would you have done? Blown up your arm and killed half the shopping mall trying to catch the guy?"
"You know I don't break my bones anymore…"
"My point still stands. Even with your Quirk under control, what were you going to do? Go after him and get arrested again like with Stain?"
"H-How did you find out about that?!" Izuku gulped, hoping his mother couldn't hear.
"I didn't. You just told me," Genki said flatly.
"Urk!" the greenette choked.
"You, Shoto, and Tenya should really work on your acting skills if you want to commit fraud."
"It wasn't 'fraud'. It was a lie of omission…" Izuku muttered. Endeavor technically did make the arrest, and it was everyone else who said Endeavor fought-and-captured the Hero Killer. All he, Shoto, and Tenya did was agree to not countermand the statement. "And you are way too observant for your own good…"
"I just know how the industry works, kid. I mean what's more-likely? Endeavor accidentally breaking half the bones in Stain's body, or you three beating the shit out of him on purpose before giving the credit to Endeavor so you don't break Quirk Misuse laws without a License?"
"We're the same age."
"I've heard it both ways," Genki shrugged. "Anyway, you seem to be holding up okay. I'm sure Ochako will appreciate the good news."
"Sh-She asked about me?" Izuku squeaked happily.
"Why she didn't come herself, I'll never understand…" Genki sighed. 'Is meeting his mom really that intimidating?' he wondered. "Anyhow, you ready for I-Island?"
"Y-Yes, I am…!" the greenette nodded. "What're you looking forward to?"
"I'm going to see a specialist to help with my… condition," he trailed off, rubbing at his bicep.
"You think they'll have something to help you long-term?" Izuku asked worriedly.
"If they don't, no-one else will," Genki shrugged. "Anyhow, I'm gonna get out of your hair. See ya later."
"Wait!" Izuku said holding up a hand. "Genki-san, can I confide something in you?"
"If it's about your homosexual feelings toward 'Kacchan', you should probably talk to your mother."
"W-Wh-Wh-Wha-WHAT!?" Izuku sputtered with a red face up to his root. "No! Oh god no!"
"Just checking. You were kind of up his ass from what the rumors say."
"I-It's a fated clash between rivals…" Izuku stammered. "Anyway, that isn't what I wanted to talk to you about. It's about… It's about what happened today."
"During the shopping trip you mean…" Genki hummed.
"Yeah… That," Izuku nodded, peeking out the door to make sure his mother was out of earshot. "When Shigaraki had me by the throat, when I was just a finger-touch away from death, even though I was talking about the difference between him and Stain, for some reason… For some reason, my thoughts kept drifting back to Uraraka-chan…"
" . . . Izuku… Do you remember Haimawari-sensei's lecture about work/life balance?"
"She just popped into my life one day, and then we were always together. I kind of assumed it would always be that way. But when people pop into your life, they can disappear just as fast. There is no guarantee that there'll always be a 'tomorrow' for us," Izuku quoted verbatim, doing a pretty good sleepy-eyed imitation of their former-Vigilante instructor. "That was what you were talking about, right? Why do you ask?"
" . . . "
" . . . Oh! Oh, I see…" Izuku realized, a blush coming to his features.
"Izuku, I know you want to be like your… idol…" Genki said eyeing Izuku's veritable 'All Shrine' and wondering if he needed to see the school councilor over it, "but that isn't what he wants for you. All Might-sensei wants you to be better than him. And it might not seem like a big thing right now, not when you're still so young, but having something to lean on outside of Hero life… having someone to come home to…"
"We're the same age…" the greenette repeated under his breath.
"Point is, don't let this slip you by. Maybe it'll persist after Yuuei, or maybe it won't. But point is, you and Uraraka-chan really like one another, or you at least have the inklings of that sort of relationship going, so don't be afraid to explore that. Because once you leave Yuuei, you won't have as many freedoms as you take for granted right now."
"W-Well that may be true, but focusing on a relationship might take time away from-"
"Izuku," Genki cut him off, tapping on his phone before showing off a count-up timer. "Do you know what this is?"
" . . . The American Debt Counter?" he guessed.
"This is the number of Villain-related deaths for this year," he said, his words like ice water. "Even when All Might was at his peak, he couldn't do anything about it. People die, every single day. It's the hardest lesson a Hero will ever have to learn; that no matter how hard they try, no matter how many people they manage to save, no matter how unfair it is, you'll never be able to turn the tide. Never completely. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you realize that it's okay to be just a little bit selfish, to carve out a little happiness for yourself…"
By the look on his face, Izuku already had confronted that reality, even if he hadn't accepted it.
"You really think All Might wouldn't mind…?" the greenette asked, feeling the phantom weight of his idol's eyes on him from all angles.
"I think All Might would be a really shitty person if he wanted you to wind up a lonely bachelor worn-down to skin and bones exactly-like-him," Genki said frankly causing Izuku to recoil as though struck. "Just don't let your relationship decay like Endeavor's did, and I think you'll be fine. Albeit, that's a really low fucking bar, but still…!"
"I'll… I'll give that some thought…" Izuku nodded, realizing with how much Genki had been hanging out with Todoroki, how much they'd had to endure because of their fathers' silver crowns, that he might… did, have a much firmer understanding about what life outside of Hero work in-relation-to was really about.
The percentage of "Second Generation" Heroes within 1-A was actually quite small, now that he thought about it. Iida had the longest-standing "pedigree", but apart from him, only Shoto and Genki had parentage that were once or still-were part of the industry. Apart from Yaoyorozu whose parents were rich, everyone else came from humble, ordinary upbringings from all ends of the socioeconomic spectrum.
"Good. Now, before I head out, there's one last thing I have to do," Genki said walking over to the door. "MIDORIYA-SAN! IZUKU HAS TIGHT-PANTS FEELINGS FOR A GIRL! HE NEEDS YOUR MOTHERLY ADVICE!"
"IZU-KUN, MY BABYYYYYY!" his mother bawled.
"Genki you traitor!" Izuku cried as his mother's footsteps drew closer.
"I'll always remember you, bye!"
"Start by remembering me right now! Genkiiii!"
It was of course in vain, as like an oily shadow, Genki had vanished into the night with ninjutsu, leaving Izuku to his mother's tender mercies.
*MHA*
AN:
I couldn't bring myself to jump right into the I-Island Arc; not with that whole thing at the Kiyashi Ward Shopping Mall to deal with. Albeit, I put my own spin on it. Shoto visits his mother on Saturdays, but now that he has a friend in the son of a Former No.2 Hero, one who Rei wanted him to become friends with from the very beginning… I thought I'd flush out that dynamic a bit more.
That, and I think in this iteration at least, he and Mongoose-chan make for a cute couple~
And even if Genki didn't go to the mall with Izuku, their little "after-action report" still offered up a great segue for serious, mature dialogue that I enjoy writing as much as I enjoy reading. Epic fight scenes and technical Quirk usage are all well and good, but too many "explosions" and I might as well be watching a cheesy 90s action flick.
Anywho, no more fiddlefarting around. Next chapter I start the I-Island Arc; not sure how-many chapters it'll be, but I hope you have as much fun reading it as I do writing it, and that you leave lots of Reviews before, during, and after that Arc.
So until next time, see you on the season finale of Teen Titans: Two of Four Elements!
GO BEYOND!
EXCELSIOR