"Sometimes the biggest battle isn't against your opponent—it's figuring out who you really are when the fight's over."

- Author

Izuku's POV

The city sprawled beneath me as I soared through the crisp night air, the wind tugging at my cloak, my senses scanning the streets below. The usual hum of Musutafu was absent tonight—too quiet, almost unnervingly so. Crime had been unusually low lately. No petty thieves, no low-level villains—just the quiet hum of the city, and I wasn't a fan of silence when I was itching for some action.

"Seriously, not even a pickpocket?" I muttered under my breath, my boots skimming the side of a building as I slid between rooftops. "What does a guy have to do to find some action around here?"

I landed on the edge of a towering skyscraper, crouching low. My fingers traced the cool surface of my suit as I adjusted the settings on my visor. I sighed, crossing my arms. "Guess I'm out of luck tonight."

Just as I was about to deactivate the suit's systems and call it a night, a voice broke the silence.

"Hey there," it was casual and confident, slicing through the quiet.

I whipped around, instinctively on guard. Standing there with an easy posture, as if she hadn't just appeared out of thin air, was a girl with periwinkle hair that flowed down past her knees, and royal blue eyes that assessed me with an almost playful curiosity. Her costume was eye-catching—royal blue with mint green markings, knee-high boots, and yellow gauntlets, the design sharp and vibrant. She looked like someone who wasn't just passing through.

I raised an eyebrow. "Uh... you've got quite the entrance."

She flashed a grin. "I do try. But hey, you know you're wanted for vigilantism and theft, right?"

I snorted, amused. "Wanted? For doing what? Helping people and stopping the bad guys? Guess I'm doing something right."

She didn't laugh, her eyes narrowing as her posture shifted slightly. "It's not funny. You're making a mess of things."

Without another word, I activated my IQN eyes. The air around us felt heavier as the electromagnetic waves shot from my mask's lenses, a flicker in her eye marking the moment her quirk began to waver.

She stumbled back, eyes wide as her abilities faltered. "What the—?"

"Yeah, it's a little unsettling when your superpower stops working, huh?" I smirked, slowly approaching her, my tone dripping with casual confidence. "I call it the Infrared Quirk Nullifier—IQN for short. It makes quirked people like you a little less... dangerous."

She gritted her teeth, trying to regain her footing. "You have a quirk that can erase someone else's? Like Eraserhead?"

I didn't answer right away. Instead, I pushed forward, dashing at her with the kind of speed that would've caught most off guard. We collided—my fists coming at her fast, but she was quick, graceful even. She blocked my punch with her forearm, then twisted around in a fluid motion to aim a sharp elbow toward my ribs.

"Impressive," I grunted, ducking under her swift leg sweep. "But I'm faster than you think."

Her eyes flashed with competitive fire, and she spun into a rapid series of jabs. "You've got moves for someone without a quirk."

"You should see what my suit can do," I retorted, leaning back as her fist barely grazed my shoulder. I sidestepped her next punch, spinning into a counter that sent my foot crashing into her side.

She staggered but recovered with a swift pirouette, narrowing her eyes. "I can tell. But it's not enough to stop me."

I chuckled but stayed focused. "We'll see about that."

With a quick flick of my wrist, I deployed the grappling strings from my fingertips, shooting them in rapid succession. They wrapped around her body like a net, and she fought against them, but they tightened with relentless precision. I tugged on the strings, pulling her in.

"Not so fast," I teased, my grip firm.

Her mouth twitched with frustration. "You're a lot stronger than you look."

I gave a nonchalant shrug, smirking. "I told you, it's not just strength. It's tech... and a little bit of brains."

She struggled against the ropes, her body tensing as she tried to break free, but the more she fought, the more the ropes constricted. I gave her some room, though—she was a hero, after all. "Come on, I thought this was the big fight. You've got me tied up and all... but you look like you're ready for a nap."

She grinned, a spark of determination lighting her eyes. "I'm just getting started. Don't get cocky, Silent. I'm not done yet."

"That's the spirit!" I shot back, leaning in slightly. "Right now, it looks like you're all tied up... literally. You'll be needing a chiropractor after this."

She let out an exasperated laugh, then her body tensed with energy. Without warning, she launched herself off the ground, her body lifting into the air with an unexpected surge of power. My eyes widened. She was flying now.

"Nice try!" she yelled over her shoulder, twirling midair, her movements effortless. "But I'm not stuck anymore, Silent!"

I smirked and activated the repulsors in my boots. A surge of energy propelled me upward, and I shot toward her with speed. I aimed a flying kick at her, but she pivoted swiftly, her foot slamming into my chest. The impact sent me spiraling back, my body losing altitude before I regained control.

"Alright, alright," I grinned, feeling winded. "I see you've got some moves too."

She descended, almost lazily, her hands glowing with the raw energy of her quirk. "Gring Wave!" she shouted, sending a massive shockwave toward me.

The air shimmered as the force rippled toward me, faster than I could react. I dove sideways, narrowly avoiding the brunt of the attack, but the shockwave hit me from the side. My tonfas raised, they absorbed most of the impact, but the force still sent me sliding across the rooftop, my feet skidding out from under me. I barely kept my balance.

"Whoa!" I grinned, brushing the dust off myself. "That's one heck of a windmill you've got! Think I need a bigger fan?"

She landed lightly, her posture poised as she squared off against me. "Not bad. You can take a hit."

"I like to think of myself as durable," I replied, giving her a thumbs-up. "At least I'm not a punching bag. I'm more of a punch bag, you know?"

She raised an eyebrow, her tone cold. "You're annoying, but you've got some skill."

"Hey, being annoying is just a byproduct of being amazing," I grinned. "But hey, are we done here, or do I have to show you the full suite of my amazing gadgets?"

Her eyes narrowed. The excitement was still in her gaze, but it was mixed with something darker now. "What's it gonna be, Silent? You've got me cornered, but I'm not out yet."

"True," I said, stepping back slightly. "You've got me sweating now. But don't worry—I've still got a few tricks left."

Without another word, I shot my grappling strings again, releasing them one after another in a flurry. They whipped around her legs, binding them together before she could react. I yanked, pulling her toward me in a swift motion. Before she could recover, I twisted, using her momentum to slam her onto the ground, pinning her for the moment.

"Now, that's what I call a wrap-up!" I teased, stepping back and releasing the tension on the strings. "What do you think? Do I need to throw in a free punchline with every takedown?"

Her smile was sharp, but there was an edge to it. "You're lucky you're so cocky. I don't know anyone who could've tied me up and made me laugh at the same time."

"Gotta keep things interesting," I said with a grin. "You know, I might've just found myself a new workout partner."

She rolled her eyes, but there was no warmth in her smile now. "Keep dreaming."

"Fair enough," I said, stepping back. "But next time, how about we skip the whole 'combat' part and go straight to the 'weird conversation' part?"

"Deal," she sighed, her shoulders tense. "But you've still got a lot to learn about teamwork."

I cocked my head, raising an eyebrow. "Hey, I don't need a team to do the right thing. I work better solo. Besides, I've got all the action I need right here."

"True. But keep that up, and you'll regret it." She winked, her voice a little more serious now. "I'll be watching you, Silent. Don't forget that."

I grinned back, gave her a wave, and flicked a string off her. "Yeah, yeah. Until then... catch you later."

With a single push from my boots, I shot back into the night, disappearing above the rooftops.

"You're not too bad, Silent!" she called after me, but I was already gone, vanishing into the shadows.

Back at the Garage Condo

I returned to my hideout, feeling a sense of accomplishment. The results of the IQN test were beyond my expectations, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction. My theory on how Eraserhead's quirk worked had proven successful in creating the IQN, and now it was finally functioning as intended. But, even with this success, I knew there was still room for improvement. There were always more tweaks to make, more future tech to build. The night had been productive, but the work never stopped.

What caught me off guard, though, was the unexpected encounter with Nejire Hado. I never imagined I'd cross paths with someone from U.A., let alone a second-year student. Her personality was exactly what I'd expect from what I'd seen in the anime—bubbly, confident, and full of energy. Still, there was something about her that stood out even more in person. But I wasn't going to dwell on that. I had my own mission to focus on.

The buzz of the night's events began to fade as I walked toward the corner of my garage condo, where the suit hanger stood. The sleek black exoskeleton gleamed in the dim light of the room, the white accents contrasting with the shadows. I reached up, my hands moving with practiced precision as I deactivated the suit's systems, feeling the weight of it slowly release from my body.

First, I removed the helmet, the cool air against my skin a welcome relief. I placed it gently in its designated spot, making sure it was secure. Then, I peeled off the gloves, letting the pads of my fingers stretch and flex, relieved by the freedom. The boots came off next, followed by the tight, protective layers of the exoskeleton. I carefully hung each piece, making sure they were arranged properly for easy access next time.

Once the suit was hung up and everything was in order, I ran a hand through my hair, sighing as I stretched out my limbs. The adrenaline from the fight still lingered, but now it was time to unwind.

I glanced at the time. It was already late, and with Saturday ahead of me, I could finally take some time to rest. A solid 8 hours of sleep sounded like heaven right now. I stretched out, let out a long yawn, and let my mind drift as I settled into bed. For now, it was time to recharge. Tomorrow was another day, and there was still so much to do.

Thank you all so much for reading this chapter, and I truly appreciate all the support you've shown. Your encouragement means the world to me. I hope each and every one of you has an incredibly blessed day. Looking forward to seeing you all in the next chapter—until then!