Izuku bounced out of class, yelling goodbye to his classmates before running down the halls and toward the gates. He stopped and looked around, seeing Max and his girlfriend Miriya. He ran over and jumped onto Max's back. The boy let out a startled yelp, and Myria went to immediately throw a punch but stopped when she saw it was Izuku.

"That is a good way to get punched, you know," she said. Miriya was a tall girl and was commonly mistaken for a model because of her height and good looks. She stood 5'9, with long, flowing green-black hair that hung to her knees, a sensual hourglass figure, and piercing dark green eyes. It was customary for her to be stopped on the street by boys and girls captivated by her. Yet she only had eyes for her boyfriend, Max.

Izuku pouted, still clinging to Max. "You wouldn't do that; if you did, I wouldn't turn into a red panda for you."

"It's a green panda in your case," Miriya countered, "Now, please unhand my boyfriend."

"Yes, please let go," Max whined. "There is a reason why I opted for General Studies." Max was not tall, only 5'4; he had bright blue hair and eyes hidden by thick black frame glasses. He was very slender and looked like a stiff breeze would knock him over. The mystery of how he had won Miriya's heart was a constant discussion amongst those who saw the couple together.

"Where is Shina?" Izuku said, looking around.

"She was talking to the professor," Max answered. "Where were you this morning?"

"I bet he overslept," Miriya snickered.

"Hey…maybe…" Izuku said. Looking around, he spotted Shina's stunning red hair running towards them. "SHINA!" he yelled, waving her down. Shina was a beautiful girl with stunning red hair and eyes. She had a slight build, but her smile was as bright as the sun, and she had an infectious nature.

Shina smiled, and Izuku turned his back. She gleefully leaped and landed on his back. "TO THE TRAIN, MY NOBLE STEED!" He was about to become a horse when Miriya chopped him on the head.

"DON'T YOU DARE!" Mirya said. Izuku and Shina had the decency to look sheepish as she slid off his back.

"SORRY MIRiYA!" they said before laughing and walking towards the train.

"How was it in the big bad hero course?" Shina said.

"Not bad. We all had orientation," the other nodded. "Then, after that, we had a quirk assessment, which was pretty cool. There were lots of cool quirks, and the other students were nice. I may have upset one of them, but after I apologized, everything seemed good."

"Remember to mind your manners," Mirya said.

"Well, at least you apologized," Shina added.

Home

Izuku said bye to his friends and approached his house; he stepped past the gate and froze. They made him realize the many hours he spent as an animal when he was being stalked. He looked over and saw his neighbor to the right, Mr. Ido, looking out the window. To his left, Mrs. Hina was peeking over the fence.

He dropped his bag and started to move in a crouch, his eyes sweeping his surroundings. With his hands low, he crept towards the door, looking for his stalker. He made it to the step. He would be safe if he could enter—just a few more steps.

Suddenly, he was tackled from above; his stalker had sprung their trap. He was knocked onto and down the walkway, and his neighbors let out an enormous cheer. He rolled and attempted to kick off his assailant; he got his foot under them and tried to kick them off. His attacker rolled and turned it into a handspring cartwheel.

Izuku scrambled to his feet; as he whirled, he was speared in the gut, sending him crashing down again; he tried to trap the head and lock them into a guillotine choke. A sharp blow to his ribs relaxed his grip, allowing them to pop their head free. He kept his legs locked, trying to keep them close; he caught the glint of the blade in the sunlight, and it came down towards him. He managed to grab the attack with both hands in a desperate measure to stop the attack. Then he felt another blade against his throat.

"You're dead," his opponent giggled.

Mrs. Hina cheered, and Mr. Ido groaned. "You owe me 1000 Yen!" Mrs. Hina cheered.

Izuku fell back in defeat, "If I could use my quirk, I would beat you no problem," he groaned. "One day, Himiko, one day!"

"Nope, my little Izuku," she sat up her cat, her grin gleaming. You will never be better than me! And since you lost, you know what that means."

Izuku sighed, "Yes, I will be your kitty, but after I do my reading for class."

"I can live with that," she grinned, springing up and skipping into the house.

"You're killing me, Izuku," Mr. Ido shouted. Izuku waved, grabbed his bag, and walked into the house.

"How was your first day, Izu?" Himiko said from the kitchen. "Were you late?"

"A future hero in training is never late; we arrive exactly when we mean to," he said, trying to sound wise.

"Just in the nick of time?" Himiko said, coming over with a glass of juice for each of them. Izuku nodded.

"How was your day?" Izuku said as they walked over to the table.

"It was good; being a third year is nice," Himiko said. "I met with that lady from the Hero Commission today about taking their offer, but…" Himiko shivered. Something about her…just made me feel icky. I think I am going to stick with Ms. Joke."

"Well, if it isn't broken, don't fix it," Izuku said as he sat down to read, and Himiko returned to work on her homework. Himiko was also in the hero course, but she went to Shiketsu. She sat on the couch, staring at him until he closed his book, and then she started to do a happy wiggle.

"What breed?" he sighed.

"Munchkin!" Himiko squealed. Izuku smiled and transformed as he was walking. With a bit of a struggle, he exited his clothes before sitting at the base of the couch, looking at her. Himiko lifted him and placed him in her lap. He got into a comfortable position and settled in, and she stroked his fur. "Love you, Izu," she said.

"I love you, Himi," he managed to say past a yawn before he fell asleep in her lap.

Himiko Midoriya

Running away from home is generally not the right answer, but it is the only answer in certain situations. So when Himiko Toga ran away, it was in the latter category; she had been so blood-starved that evil thoughts had run through her head while her little sister was sleeping. She didn't even realize the knife was in her hand; thankfully, she regained her senses. She put the knife away, packed her backpack, and fled.

She was found crying in an alley by a police officer, a kind woman with green hair and eyes. Himiko screamed, begged, and pleaded not to be taken back or sent back to that place. To be put back in the house where she was starved, beaten, and imprisoned. She didn't want to go; in a hysterical frenzy, she tried to attack the officer, but it didn't get her very far.

Through the hysterics and sobs, the officer picked up on the fact that this poor girl needed blood. So when Himiko was placed in the back of the squad car, she assumed she would be taken back home. When the car stopped, she had expected to see her house, not a tiny butcher shop. The officer didn't say a word; they walked into the shop and emerged carrying two jugs filled with dark red liquid and a Styrofoam cup.

"I have gotten you some blood," the officer said. "I am going to uncuff you so you can drink it. Can you stay calm and not try to attack again?"

Himiko's eyes widened as she stared at the jugs, following their movements with her head.

The first drink was heavenly. The first glass was gone in seconds, then the second and third. Blood ran down her chin as she asked for more. The officer poured her another cup and retrieved some wet napkins to wipe her face. It was so gentle and caring that Himiko could only stare into those tender green eyes.

What she saw made her weep. Her mother didn't even look at her most of the time, and when she did, her gaze was full of disgust and anger. She would dream of being looked at with love, compassion, and understanding; that was what she saw in the officer's eyes.

Then the officer hugged her, soothed her, and let Himiko feel safe. Once Himiko felt better, she pulled away, wiping her eyes. The officer smiled so tenderly.

"Better?" The officer asked; Himiko nodded. "More blood?"

"Yes, please," Himiko whispered.

"Now, I want you to take your time," the officer said. "Tell me why you don't want to go home."

Himiko took a deep breath and told her why. She told the police officer about her quirk and her desire for blood. When the officer didn't recoil or look at Himiko like a freak, it emboldened Himiko. She talked about how her parents wouldn't let her have blood; how she would sometimes get it from an animal she caught or even a dead pet, she came across. She craved it, needed it, and how her parents found it disgusting, evil, and vile and would punish her by locking her in her room.

The longer she went without, the more she felt herself slipping away. Then, in the incident with her sister, Himiko said how much she loved her little sister and how the thought of hurting her scared her so much that she just had to run away.

The officer sat there listening, taking notes, and asking questions.

"Himiko, I am going to do everything I can to help you," she said. And I will help your sister, but things will take work. I will be with you every step of the way. Can you be strong?"

"You promise?" Himiko said.

"I promise, I won't leave you, I will not abandon you," the woman held out her pinky. "Trust me."

Himiko took the woman's pinky with hers and shook. She was eight years old. On her Ninth birthday, she came to her forever home with her new mom and little brother. For her tenth birthday, she became Himiko Midoriya.

Family Dinner

She walked in and smiled. asleep on the couch, she saw her daughter with her son curled up as a cat in her lap. She set the fried chicken on the table, gingerly took a seat across, and sat silently, watching them for a bit before she woke them up for dinner with a gentle kiss and a head scratch.

They sat around the table, passing the food around; once everyone was served, she nodded to Himiko. Each of the children took turns talking about their day, and Inko started getting more information from each of them.

She was very interested in why Himiko didn't like the woman from the Hero Commission. Her daughter had terrific instincts, and Inko fostered this for Himiko to trust. She prodded gently and pushed Himiko to explain why she felt this way. Himiko told Inko that the lady from the commission was saying one thing, but Himiko thought she wasn't saying what she wanted from Himiko.

Inko smiled when Himiko announced that she had decided to stay with Emi; it reminded Inko that she had to call the heroine about the picnic Emi had invited her to. She only lightly reprimanded Izuku for running late before she let him gush about all the different quirks in his class. He was happy to tell her about meeting Ochaco at lunch and exchanging phone numbers. He explained that he had to apologize to Setsuna for startling her when he came into class. Himiko felt a tinge in her head as she coaxed the details of his interactions with Ochaco and Setsuna from him.

"Did you smooth everything out?" Inko asked; she smiled, hearing that everything seemed to be all right with the apology to Setsuna.

"Oh, that reminds me, I won't be home for dinner tomorrow night. I am going out to dinner with Midnight," Inko said.

"Where are you going?" Izuku asked.

"I don't know, but it has an amazing desert. She said it would blow my socks off, something about pie," Inko replied.

Himiko could feel her headache getting worse. It is a wonder that Izuku was even born, she thought.

"You're all right, baby," Inko said, taking Himiko's hand. "Are the headaches back?" Himiko smiled slightly and nodded.

Setsuna

She stepped out of Momo's car floating; a casual goodbye to her friends, she drifted into her house. She offered her big sister a blissful smile, ignoring whatever she had said. She wafted down the hall to her room, spread her arms, and fell upon her bed. She rolled onto her back, pulled up her phone, and stared at the contact: Izuku Midoriya.

His cheerful smile and wave as he left the class, the call of his goodbye as he bounced away. She whispered a reply; she could barely focus on the meeting with Vlad Sensei after class, him thanking them for their hard work today and detailing their assignments for the following day. A poke in the side from Momo brought her back into focus. It also turned into a game of each girl poking the other while trying to stifle laughter and not get caught; Vlad Sensei ignored the girl's little game, and internally, he smiled.

This year's class was shaping up well, and he felt very good about his students and how this year was going; seeing two recommended students playing the same game he saw his daughters play was heartwarming. Usually, there was this fierce competitiveness that he hoped to curtail. He wanted them to compete, but he wanted them to be a team, to support and push each other. So he let the girls play.

Setsuna felt pressure on her bed. Propping herself up on her elbows, she saw her mom smiling. "Good day?"

"It was an amazing day," Setsuna said. "He was there, Mom. Not only was he there, but he was in my class!"

"Does this mystery boy have a name?" her mother smirked.

"Izuku Midoriya," Set said his name wistfully, making her mother smile. "The most perfect name that has ever been."

"Now?" her mother sighed. "Were you able to at least talk to him?"

Set sat up more, her face showed mock anger, "Of course I did, Mother; I am your daughter, after all. I played it smooth, making him chase me a little and ask for my number." Set shrugged, "I gave it to him, of course; let him know that I am not averse to talking. Figured we should be engaged by the end of the month."

"Oh, engaged by the end of the month," her mother laughed. Tell me about him."

"Well, he is gorgeous, can't tie a tie, shapeshifts into animals, and turns into Dinosaurs, even baby versions, he claims," she says confidently that she knows everything.

"What kind of person is he? What kind of student? What kind of hero does he aspire to be?" her mother said, despite her daughter's pout. I am happy that you are so smitten, Setsuna."

"I am not smitten, mother," Setsuna countered. "You just don't get it, he is amazing."

"No, Set. I understand that he is handsome and can turn into a dinosaur," her mother said. "While those are great catalysts for getting to know him better, you should be doing just that. Get to know him better is all I am asking, Set. I don't want to see you get hurt."

"Fine," an exasperated Setsuna replied. "I will wait until summer before announcing our engagement."

"Your restraint is praiseworthy," her mother said as she exited the room.

Once the door was closed, "I can't afford to wait too long. Who knows what that Ochaco girl will do."

Ochaco

She walked into her bare apartment and said she was home to nobody. Instead, she sighed, set the tea kettle to boil, and called her parents to tell her about the first day. She pulled out her bowl of instant ramen and her notepad, doing some math to check her budget. The school offered lunch and breakfast. If she arrived early enough, she could skimp on dinner, stretching her budget a bit more.

When her mother asked if she needed anything, Ochaco told her no. It was a lie; there were several things she could use but needed…that was a different story. Her parents were not financially well off, so paying for an apartment for her in the city, providing a stipend, and paying her tuition were all too much.

A failing construction business that, if they would just let her stay home and get certified, she could have helped save them so much in costs when it came to heavy lifting. But they had told her no, to pursue her dream of becoming a hero, to live her life and not worry about them. She had agreed to do that, but she would ensure she would rise to the top to provide for them. She wanted to make people happy, feel safe, and be a hero, but she also wanted to care for those important to her. Was that so bad?

Aside from a few unfriendly boys in her class, at least all the girls seemed nice. She had protested the new shoes and bookbag her parents had given her on the day she left home, but she was secretly thankful when she saw how pretty the girls in her class were. At least she could fake it for a bit.

The first day was chaotic and not in a good way: the quirk assessment test, the threat of expulsion, and nearly getting in a fight with that loudmouth Bakugo when he called them extras and then called her Round Cheeks. She was about to slap him when Mina pulled her back. The other girls had complimented her on her vigor but told her that slapping someone was a guaranteed way to get expelled, no matter how much they deserved it.

Toru came up with the idea of making sure he didn't come in first in any event, which set the girls to work. They did everything they could, talking and working together to figure out ways that one of them could place the highest possible in each event. As they walked off the field, Ochaco looked at him and smirked, "How does it place to score lower than some extras?" She saw him grit his teeth, about to say something, but she turned back on him and walked away.

She was happy that when she went to lunch, she saw him, the cute boy with curly hair and diamond freckles. Watching him turn into a T-Rex and battle that giant robot was amazing, an image she would never forget. When he fell, she did all she could to try and save him. It was that deed that earned her rescue points. Ochaco wondered if she would have even made it in without them.

She smiled, thinking of how fate had brought them together. She happened to be there when he tripped outside the gate. What were the odds they would end up in the same testing group? Then she got trapped. He was the only one to come to her aid, and in turn, she was able to save him. Then, to bump into him when he was walking out of the cafeteria, a minute either way, and she may have missed. Fate sent her all the signs, and her horoscope said she would meet someone special on the exam day.

She thought that if she skipped eating at home and loaded up at school, she would be able to put aside enough money to go to the movies. She pulled out her phone and looked up what was playing. She smiled, seeing that Edge of the Universe was playing.

Ochaco: Hey Izuku this is Ochaco. It was so good to see you today. Are you free this weekend, and would you like to watch a movie with me?

She hit send on the text and went to wash her fork from dinner; she heard her phone chime and ran over.

Izuku: Hey, Ochaco, it was also good to see you today. The movie sounds like fun. There is this movie I have been wanting to see called Edge of the Universe. It is a cool space opera movie. I wouldn't mind seeing that, or is there something else you want to see?"

Ochaco giggled and jumped around, pumping her fist in the air.

Ochaco: I was hoping you would say that movie; I have wanted to see it. I love Noran Radd's movies.

Izuku: I know they are so good. We can talk more about them tomorrow at school…say, at lunch.

Ochaco nearly fainted.

Ochaco: Sounds good. I will see you at lunch tomorrow.

Izuku: I will save us a seat by the window.

Ochaco neighbors heard a celebration erupt from the girl's apartment.

Midoriya House

"Himi, what are you doing with my phone?" Izuku asked.

Himiko turned and smiled. "Oh, nothing much. I'm just answering a text for you!" She tossed him his phone.

Izuku quickly opened his phone and read the thread. "Himiko, did you just set me up on a date? And how did you know my password? I just changed it yesterday."

"Because, little brother, I am just that damn good," she winked. "MOM IZUKU HAS A DATE THIS WEEKEND!" she yelled; Izuku's mouth fell open.

"You bitch," he whispered.

"OH IS IT THAT GIRL HE SAVED!" Inko yelled.

"YUP!" Himi smiled at Izuku. "You can't back out now," she whispered. "Have fun going shopping." Himiko laughed, walking down the hall.

"Izuku, we should probably buy you a new outfit for your date!" Inko said, coming up the stairs.

"Mom!" Izuku whined. "It's just a new friend thing. Don't make it all weird."

"Nonsense. We will go tomorrow, and maybe you can get a haircut; you are getting a little shaggy," Inko added. We will go tomorrow after school. I have an early shift. I will pick you up."

Izuku sighed, defeated, "Yes, Mom."

The Perfect Text

Setsuna had been staring at her phone for hours, during dinner, in the bath, now as she sat on her bed a piece of hair at the corner of her mouth. She had sent dozens of text in the group chat, texted some of her other friends who hadn't gone to U.A.

She agonized over the perfect opening text for her future baby daddy. A hundred started and failed attempts; it had to be perfect. It had to be masterfully crafted, with just the right wording and the right amount of subtext. Convey that she thought he was cute and open to him making a move. Finally, inspiration hit her like a bolt of lightning; she typed it out and mulled it over. With a satisfied smirk, she knew that he would be all over her after she hit send.

Setsuna: Sup.

Nailed it, she screamed mentally.

Izuku: Nothing much. U?

Whoa, slow your roll there, my Adonis; I will not make you chase me that hard, Set thought. An hour later, she finally crafted the perfect response.

Setsuna: Chillin.