Flashback to 2nd day of school
I AM...HERE TO WAKE YOU! The blaring tones of Izuku's alarm shattered the silence, pulling him from the clutches of sleep like a ship torn from its moorings. He blinked away the residue of dreams, his eyelids heavy as anchors, finding himself suspended between the realms of slumber and wakefulness, a liminal space where reality and fantasy blurred.
A groan escaped his lips as he stretched, his muscles protesting the intrusion of consciousness like a petulant child roused from a deep slumber. Fragments of the previous night seeped into his mind, and with a start, he recalled the unexpected display of an unknown force, a surge of power that had rippled through him like a bolt of lightning.
It felt as if some dormant capability had awakened within him, leaving him both exhilarated and unsettled, a dichotomy of emotions warring within his breast. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Izuku pondered the unexplained power, his thoughts swirling like eddies in a restless stream.
The room felt different, charged with a subtle energy that whispered of possibilities beyond the ordinary, a palpable presence that seemed to hum with potential. Running a hand through his disheveled hair, the strands tangled and unruly, he grappled with the realization that something extraordinary had unfolded in the quiet hours of the night, a phenomenon that defied explanation.
He made his bed, his movements mechanical, his mind still occupied with thoughts of the previous night, the echoes of that strange awakening reverberating through his consciousness.
As he finished, he made his way to the hallway and into the dining area, where his mother was already setting up breakfast, the aroma of freshly cooked fare wafting through the air like a siren's song. "Good morning, Mom!" Izuku greeted her with a smile, trying to push the doubts about his power aside. Whatever it was, it would have to wait, a mystery to be unraveled in due time.
"Good morning, Izuku! How was your sleep?" his mom asked with a smile as she served the meal, her voice carrying a gentle warmth that enveloped him like a comforting embrace.
"It was perfect! Eight full hours of serene sleep, just as any Hero needs!" Izuku lied, the words tumbling from his lips with a practiced ease. In reality, every 40 minutes or so, he found himself caught in a dance between wakefulness and the desire for slumber, his mind a whirling dervish of fractured thoughts and fleeting impressions.
He didn't like lying to his mom, the deceit leaving a bitter taste in his mouth, but he didn't want her to worry, to burden her with the weight of his uncertainty. "That is great to hear, hun," she replied, her voice carrying a note of genuine relief. Izuku felt both amazed and grateful for his mom's accepting nature, her unwavering trust a beacon in the tempest of his inner turmoil. He didn't make a habit of hiding things from her, but she always took things at face value, a gift he cherished in moments like these.
After this exchange, he turned to their breakfast, the tantalizing aromas beckoning him like sirens calling to a weary sailor. It was a traditional fare, a feast for the senses: the earthy aroma of miso soup mingling with the savory scent of grilled salmon, the crisp fragrance of cucumber and konbu tsukemono, and the warm, comforting embrace of steamed rice, a staple that anchored the meal in familiarity.
Finishing breakfast, Izuku swiftly prepared for school—the familiar routine of gathering books and slipping them into his backpack unfolding like a well-rehearsed dance. Sunlight bathed the room, its golden rays filtering through the windows, a brief pause before venturing into the day's possibilities. With a final check, ensuring every necessary item was accounted for, he stepped out into the bustling world beyond, ready for whatever lay ahead, his footsteps carrying him towards the unknown.
School
Approaching the school gates, Izuku joined the stream of students, a river of young souls flowing towards the temple of learning. Each step carried him deeper into the whirlwind of another day, the air alive with the buzz of conversation and the scents of chalk and paper. Kinoko stood by the school gates, accompanied by two other female students, their figures silhouetted against the morning light.
As their eyes met, Kinoko's face lit up with recognition, a smile blooming like a delicate flower. They exchanged greetings, their voices mingling with the cacophony of the crowd, and it was then Izuku was introduced to Itsuka and Yui, their names rolling off Kinoko's tongue like melodies.
As Izuku and his companions strolled towards the school building, the echoes of their footsteps marking their passage, he couldn't help but notice Itsuka's curious glances. Her eyes, filled with an inquisitive spark, periodically flickered in his direction, like a butterfly alighting on a flower before taking flight once more. It was as if an unspoken question lingered in the air, a silent curiosity that hung between them, and he found himself wondering about the thoughts behind those searching looks.
As they split up to go to their respective classes, she gave him one last curious look, her gaze lingering for a moment before she turned away, disappearing into the sea of students.
The classes continued as normal, the familiar rhythms of academia enveloping Izuku like a comforting embrace. Yet, nobody really talked to him except for Neito, whose voice cut through the drone of lectures like a beacon in the fog.
After lunch but before going to the cafeteria, Izuku walked to Katsuki's desk, a sense of purpose guiding his steps. "Hey, Kacchan! Mind if we talk for a bit?" Izuku asked, still curious about what had happened between Katsuki and Neito. However, for some reason, everyone in the class froze, looking at them worriedly, as if expecting a classroom demolition, their eyes wide with apprehension.
Katsuki glared at him with the same intensity that his mother might have said he had since birth. He let out an irritated sigh, the sound like a hissing serpent. "FINE, NERD. BUT NOT HERE!" Kacchan shouted, his voice booming like thunder, loud enough to be heard at the school gates. He started walking to the door and looked back, shouting, "YOU COMING OR NOT?!"
"FINE, NERD. BUT NOT HERE!" Kacchan shouted with a voice loud enough to be heard at the school gates. He started walking to the door and looked back, shouting, "YOU COMING OR NOT?!"
'Sigh I wish he'd try to control his voice not to be so loud,' Izuku thought, wincing at the sheer volume of Katsuki's outburst.
They walked up the stairs until they reached the school rooftop, their footsteps echoing in the stairwell like the beats of a solitary drum. Katsuki had apparently obtained a key from a teacher the day before, a testament to his unique ability to bend others to his will.
Soon, they found themselves at the center of the school roof—an unofficial sanctuary for private conversations, a haven where secrets could be shared without prying ears. The distant hum of the city below provided a backdrop, a symphony of life pulsing beneath their feet.
"Hey, Kacchan. What really happened to Monoma-kun yesterday after lunch? It's nice to know I have more friends, but why did he have a black eye?" Izuku asked, his voice carrying a note of concern.
"WHY'D YOU ASSUME IT'S ME?" Katsuki retorted, his words lashing out like a whip cracking through the air.
"Because I know what the bruises look like whenever you use your quirk on your fists. And it just so happens that the bruising on Monoma-kun's eyes had the same pattern," Izuku explained, his tone measured and rational.
"FINE! YOU CAUGHT ME. IT'S BECAUSE THAT EXTRA MADE FUN OF YOU AND SINCE YOUR QUIRK'S ALMOST THE SAME AS ALL MIGHT'S, IT FELT LIKE HE'S BEING MADE FUN OF TOO! SO I WARNED HIM THAT HE BETTER WATCH HIS MOUTH AND THAT YOU CAN REARRANGE HIS FACE WITH NO ISSUES!" Katsuki bellowed, his words echoing off the rooftop like thunderclaps.
"Kacchan, I apprecia-"
"I DIDN'T DO IT FOR YOU, NERD! I DID IT BECAUSE IT FELT LIKE PEDOFACE IS MAKING FUN OF ALL MIGHT!"
'Pedoface?' Izuku thought, perplexed by the peculiar nickname.
"Fine, so afterward you punched him?" Izuku asked, still confused since based on what Katsuki said, the discussion should've ended there.
"NO, PEDOFACE SAID SOMETHING THAT IRRITATED ME TO THE CORE, SO I SUCKER PUNCHED HIM!" he replied, displaying a proud look as if asking for praise, his chest puffed out like a preening bird.
'Is it weird that I think he looks like a pomeranian? Pomer-face?' Izuku mused, his mind wandering into the realm of whimsy.
"That... is not something to be proud of. Kacchan, you seriously need to stop having fights. I get it's still early, but if UA runs a background check on you and finds out you injured multiple students during middle and high school, it might make them reconsider accepting you, you know?" Izuku tried to reason, hoping to make him understand the consequences, his voice carrying a pleading undertone.
"AND THEY MIGHT NOT ACCEPT YOU FOR BEING SUCH A PUSHOVER, BUT YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ME GETTING UP YOUR FACE AND COMPLANING NOW, DID YOU? I'LL DO THINGS MY WAY AND YOU DO YOURS YOUR WAY!" he declared, his voice a thunderous proclamation, as he started walking back down, possibly heading to the cafeteria, his footsteps fading into the distance.
"So much for using the approach that'll make him understand," Izuku sighed loudly, expelling the frustration building up within him, his breath a gust of exasperation dissipating into the afternoon air.
At the school cafeteria
Izuku walked into the cafeteria, which was more crowded than a train going through Tokyo during rush hour. The air was thick with the mingled aromas of myriad culinary delights, a tantalizing symphony of scents that set his stomach rumbling. Instinctively, he began scanning the area to find Kinoko, his eyes navigating the sea of students like a lighthouse guiding a ship through the fog.
'Let's see... hair that looks like a mushroom... mushroom hair... shroom hair...' His gaze flickered from table to table, until finally, 'Ah! There she is.' And it looked like she saw him too, as she immediately stood up and started waving in his direction, her arm slicing through the air like a semaphore.
"Izuku~! Here, shroom!" she called, her voice cutting through the cacophony of the cafeteria like a bell. It was hard to believe she was one of the shyest people he knew. 'Cute.' Not that the list was long anyway. He was also relieved she mentioned his name; otherwise, he would have hesitated to answer, afraid that the person she was calling was behind him. That had happened to him more times than he'd like to admit, leaving him feeling foolish and self-conscious.
He walked over to her, his steps carrying him through the currents of students, and saw that she was with Itsuka and Yui. They had reserved a seat for him, a small oasis amidst the bustling chaos. He glanced at the end of the line for food before Kinoko grabbed his attention, her voice a siren's call.
"T-There's no need t-to wait in line, shroom. M-My mom taught me how to make bento, so we made a lot, shroom. I can't eat them all, so I thought I'd pack another one f-for y-you, shroom."
She was covering her face with the bento box cover, but Izuku could tell her face was so red that, if he didn't know any better, he'd think her quirk was related to tomatoes instead of mushrooms, her cheeks blazing like twin suns.
The meal appeared to be a charming and creative bento box lunch. The main components were two rice balls or onigiri that had been shaped and decorated to resemble cute mushroom faces and hair, complete with nori seaweed features like eyes and smiles, each one a whimsical work of edible art.
The rice balls contained carrots, representing the spots of a mushroom. The bento also included broccoli florets, their verdant hues a vibrant contrast to the pale rice, what seemed to be fried chicken pieces, their golden exteriors glistening with oil, a tomato, its ruby flesh peeking through, and other whimsical food decorations or picks shaped like characters from a show, adding a touch of playful whimsy.
The overall presentation was visually appealing, playful, and designed to make the lunch fun and appetizing, a culinary canvas that beckoned to be appreciated and devoured.
"These look delicious! Are you sure it's okay for me to eat it?" he asked, feeling it was a shame to disturb such a beautifully prepared meal, as if he were about to deface a masterpiece.
"O-Of course you can, shroom. I'd l-love it if you let me know how it tastes, shroom."
Izuku picked up his chopsticks and began eating, savoring each bite with the reverence of a connoisseur. As he savored the bites of the thoughtfully prepared bento, he couldn't help but appreciate the flavors unfolding in his mouth, a symphony of tastes that danced across his tongue. The homemade meal, a kind gesture from someone dear, brought a genuine smile to his face. Each mouthful carried a sense of warmth and gratitude, turning a simple lunch into a moment of connection and comfort, a culinary embrace.
"Wow, this is incredible! You've really outdone yourself with this bento – every bite is a burst of deliciousness," he exclaimed, directing his praise to the person who had put so much care into creating this culinary delight, his voice ringing with sincere appreciation.
"R-really, shroom?" Kinoko's voice wavered, a mixture of pride and disbelief coloring her words.
"Absolutely really," he exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with delight. Kinoko's face turned even redder, but he also noticed Itsuka looking at him with curious eyes, her gaze appraising.
"Is there something the matter, Kendo-san?" he asked, feeling a bit unsettled by her scrutiny, especially since he was still shaken up by the previous night's events, a nagging sense of unease lingering at the edges of his consciousness.
"No, nothing. I'm just glad to know that Kinoko has someone who constantly makes her smile," Itsuka responded, her voice carrying a hint of something Izuku couldn't quite place, a subtext that eluded him.
"I aim to please. And having such a cute smile certainly doesn't hurt," he said with a grin, his words a playful deflection.
"Do be careful now though. It's always the quiet ones that are scary. You might get yourself kidnapped and tied to a chair for the rest of her life if you make her jealous," Itsuka teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Her? Shouldn't it be me?" Izuku countered, playing along with the banter.
"Right..." Itsuka's reply trailed off, a conspiratorial silence hanging between them.
"Y-You two are just teasing me now, are you, shroom?" Kinoko interjected, an unusual deadpan expression on her face, her features schooled into an exaggerated mask of indifference. Did she and Yui fuse or something?
"Maybe," Izuku said with a grin, his eyes twinkling with mirth.
"Moooouuu, shroom," Kinoko huffed, her lips pursing in an adorable pout, the syllable carrying a distinct mushroom-like quality that only she could imbue.
'Mushroom?' Izuku mused, his mind briefly wandering into the realms of whimsy conjured by her unique speech patterns.
After School
After school, the final bell's resonant chime signaled the end of the day's academic endeavors. Kinoko, Itsuka, Yui, and Izuku decided to hang out, meeting at the school gates, their figures converging like tributaries flowing into a central stream.
They went back to the karaoke place run by Tenchu. As they entered, the proprietor's gaze swept over them, a warm smile blossoming on her features.
"Oh my! Izuku-kun. I never thought you'd be such a ladies' man," she said, taking a look at the three girls trailing behind him, her voice rich with mirth.
This caused Kinoko-san to go beet red, her cheeks flushing a crimson hue that rivaled the ripest tomato. 'Seriously, is her quirk related to tomatoes, after all?' Itsuka looked very surprised, her eyes widening in a comical display of mock scandal, while Yui maintained her usual deadpan expression, unruffled by the playful insinuation.
"D-Don't say that, Tenchu-san! We're just friends, and please stop implying that I'd tarnish my beloved's honor by going after other women when I'm in a relationship," Izuku stammered, his face mirroring Komori-san's rosy hue, the words tumbling forth in a flustered torrent.
"Alright, alright. I always knew you weren't the type to become such a sleazeball, but I'm glad to have it confirmed, Izuku-kun," she said with a warm smile, her eyes twinkling with good-natured mischief.
"Thanks, I guess. We'd like to rent the room for two hours, please," he said, ensuring everyone would have a chance to participate in the musical festivities that awaited.
They made their way to the vibrant realm of the karaoke room, the neon lights flickering like fireflies as they entered, the anticipation of a musical escapade palpable in the air. With each friend selecting their favorite tunes, the room soon resonated with a medley of voices, a symphony of harmony. As the music enveloped them, the barriers of everyday life melted away, replaced by the pure joy of singing with friends. In that shared space, their voices intertwined, creating a melody that echoed the bonds of friendship, a tapestry woven from laughter and song.
Around the one-hour mark, Itsuka brought up the idea of having a little competition where the losers would have to sing a song the winners chose. Izuku was paired with Kinoko, which made him think it would be an easy victory, assuming they would base the competition on the scores they got at the end of the songs. But apparently, they would decide with rock, paper, and scissors, a twist that added an element of chance to the proceedings.
'What the heck?' Izuku thought, perplexed by the unorthodox method of determining victor and vanquished.
Kinoko and he lost, with Itsuka picking a love song duet, her grin positively impish as she made her selection.
'She's having fun, huh?' Izuku mused, shaking his head in amused resignation.
The two of them finished the song, their voices blending in a harmonious confluence, and got a score of 98. If he had to guess, it could be because he got carried away and sang the last part with their faces a mere eight centimeters from each other.
"I-I'll go... a-a-and powder my nose, shroom!" Komori-san stuttered, her words tumbling forth in a flustered rush as she hurried out of the room, her face a vivid crimson.
"Didn't notice she's wearing makeup," Izuku said, his brow furrowing in bewilderment at her hasty retreat.
"HAHAHAHAHA! I-I can't...Hahaha!" Itsuka laughed, holding her stomach as peals of mirth consumed her, her body shaking with unbridled amusement.
"What's so funny?" Izuku asked, perplexed by her unrestrained laughter.
"Haa...Haa... Sorry, Sir. But that comment about the makeup is just a sidesplitter!" she gasped between gales of laughter, her voice strained with mirthful exertion.
"Well, I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. Wait, did you just call me 'Sir'?" Izuku asked, his confusion mounting at the unexpected appellation.
"Yeah! I didn't realize it yesterday because we were too far away. But you're a Mage, aren't you?" Itsuka replied, her laughter subsiding, replaced by an expression of dawning realization.
"Mage? My quirk's Super Strength, you know?" Izuku asked, confusion etched upon his features, his mind grappling to make sense of her words.
"Wait, you really don't know?" Kendo-san asked, her face no longer joking around, her expression suddenly grave and serious, as if the weight of a profound revelation had settled upon her shoulders.
"I don't. What do you mean, I'm a Mage?" Izuku pressed, his curiosity piqued, a sense of anticipation kindling within him like a spark taking hold in tinder.
'Could this be related to the power yesterday?' Izuku wondered, his thoughts turning inward.
She then took a good long look at him, her gaze appraising, as if weighing the measure of his soul. "You said that you got Super Strength, right?"
"Yeah?"
"Any other powers? Durability? Speed?" she queried, her voice carrying an urgency that belied the magnitude of her inquiries.
"I mean, yeah. I have those too. Not absurdly so, but aren't those just simply byproducts of my Super Strength?" Izuku said, remembering how he once caught up to a speeding car as a challenge or that one time when he asked Katsuki to blast him with full power, not even getting a scratch on him. His mom got mad because of the destroyed clothes, though. And she got really mad when he explained what happened, a memory that brought a wistful smile to his lips.
"While it's not impossible that your quirk's related to those, giving you further boosts, your power, or at least part of it, didn't come from your quirk. It came from your Spark," she told him, her words landing like a thunderbolt, shattering the foundations of his understanding.
'Spark? What's that?' Izuku thought, feeling his entire worldview turn upside-down, the ground shifting beneath his feet as reality took on a new, unfamiliar shape.
"It's written all over your face, so I'll just explain. Spark is part of your soul. Your connection to Magic and the Divine. This connection varies from person to person, which differentiates their overall power," she explained, her voice carrying the weight of ancient truths, each word a revelation that reshaped the boundaries of Izuku's perception.
"That..." Izuku began, his mind reeling, struggling to grasp the implications of her words.
"That?" Kendo-san prompted, her eyes alight with curiosity and something akin to reverence.
"That is AWESOME! Oh my god. There are a lot of implications with just what you said. That would mean that souls exist. Also, divine and magic are concepts I didn't consider as truth before. What makes up a soul? Also, this Spark seems very interesting. I'm feeling excited just thinking about the experiments that can be done and what we'll learn..." Izuku's words tumbled forth in a torrent of unbridled enthusiasm, his mind racing ahead, already mapping the contours of this newfound realm of knowledge.
"OKAY! Pause!" Itsuka exclaimed, her voice cutting through his reverie like a blade, jolting him from his euphoric trance. "First, you must keep this an absolute secret. There are Mages who will become furious if this information spreads, Mages powerful enough to obliterate the entire country before you even realize it. And while I don't mind dying eventually, 12 is far too young. Can you promise that?" Her words carried a grave weight, a somber warning that reverberated in the depths of Izuku's being, causing a chill to run down his spine.
"Of course! I swear upon my honor," Izuku said, his voice resolute. If such beings truly existed, there was little they could do to him. He then inquired further, his curiosity piqued, "You mentioned there are types of... what did you call them? 'Sparks'? What are those, and what do I have?"
"There are essentially three types, ranked by rarity: Healer, Enchanter, and Evoker. Healers are self-explanatory. Enchanters create constructs. Evokers are the elite fighters. They wield raw elemental energies to overcome enemies. You know, fire, lightning, ice, and so forth. I don't know much about Evokers since they're exceptionally rare."
"Rare? How rare?" Izuku probed, his eyes wide with wonder.
"Like one or two born every generation worldwide. Exceptionally rare. Gran said there are times when centuries pass without an Evoker being born, though it's not too common. Depends on how restrained the Gods can be with their pants, she'd say," Itsuka replied with a wry smirk, her tone laced with amusement.
"Cool. So... what about you, Kendo-san?" Izuku asked, his emerald eyes gleaming with anticipation, eager to learn more about this mystical world unfolding before him.
"You're asking about mine first?" Itsuka asked, surprised by his curiosity.
"I'm saving that mystery for last," Izuku replied with a sly grin. "So, what is yours?"
"I don't have one. I'm a Werewolf. We possess the physicality to match an Evoker, and we can regenerate from any injury that won't instantly kill us. We don't have Sparks, however," Itsuka explained, her voice tinged with a hint of wistfulness.
"That's still incredibly cool! Okay, so for the reveal, what's mine?" Izuku pressed, his body practically vibrating with anticipation.
"You're an Evoker," Yui said softly, startling Izuku a little. "For context, I'm a Healer. What Kendo omitted was the reason for your rarity is that it usually takes several generations of Enchanters breeding their most powerful until one mates with a God. Or something immensely powerful, the difference hardly matters. The Evoker born can technically sire another Evoker if they conceived a child with another who has a Spark, but it depends on the power levels involved and how many generations it's been. Two or three at most if they're exceptionally powerful, and their partner is as well," she explained, her words measured and precise, her dark eyes betraying a hint of awe.
Izuku was equally amazed by the information and by how much Yui was speaking.
"Wait... My mother never displayed any abilities like what you're describing. If you're saying it takes generations to birth an Evoker, then..." Izuku trailed off, his brow furrowing in contemplation.
"You're the first in your lineage. In other words, you're of divine heritage - a Demi-God," Yui affirmed, her voice ringing with finality, her words hanging in the air like a proclamation.
Okay, hear me out. I was planning to leave the last chapter's "trouble" a mystery and just proceed to 14-year-old Izuku, but it felt super mean to Kinoko for no reason. That's why the next chapter's about to clear that up but I needed to set up Itsuka's and Izuku's connection here first. That doesn't mean that nothing happened between them but the implication's way too much compared to what actually happened. She'll still think what she will though. The next chapter will feature our favorite vampire girl! Or dhampir, in this case.
I'm not sure if I'll add Yui to the harem. If not, she'll get an elf /fae BF in the future. I get that I don't have the following to make such a poll, but just throwing it out there that it's in your hands whether she gets the elfu or the dicku.
Also, a little clarification in case it's not 100% clear, Kendo's regen is a byproduct of her healing factor, which isn't magic. Think of Nomu's regen but with a very significant downside revealed next chapter.
