I feel like I owe all MHA fans a story.

I hope you like this one! This was inspired by B_25 on Fimfiction!

Stay tuned for more chapters!

Chapter 1: Unusual indifference.

"Stop right there!" Shouted Izuku Midoriya as he jumped over a table in order to catch the villain in front of him.

"You heroes aren't gonna take me alive!" Shouted the villain as he ran into the next room.

"Come on, blackwhip! Restrain him!" Said Izuku before aiming his arm towards the retreating villain. After a moment, a black tendril shoots out of his glove and wraps itself around the man's waist, keeping him from running away further.

"Agh! Damn it!" Cried out the villain, stopping dead on his tracks.

Izuku kept his fist clenched tightly before looking at the room. It was then that he finally noticed Endeavor holding two knocked out villains with his hands.

Endeavor looked at Izuku with his characteristic serious expression. "Deku, are you alright?"

Izuku nods. "Yes, I am. Thanks!"

Endeavor looks at the restrained villain with a frown before turning towards Izuku again. "What about him? Did he give you much trouble?"

Izuku shakes his head. "Not at all, sir. I finally figured out what his quirk is! His quirk lets him communicate with his friends telepathically, but Kaachan and Todoroki must've taken them out by now. We should be fine!"

The villain looks at Izuku with a side glare. "You have a big mouth, don't you?"

Izuku looks at the villain with a conflicted expression, not sure if he should be expressing anger, nervousness or offense at the man's words. "Huh?"

Endeavor walks towards the man and yanks him away from Izuku's grasp. "Don't listen to him, Deku. Lowlife scum like him just want to tke cheap shots at you to make you feel bad. Tell the others that the raid was a success."

The villain giggles. "Sure, tell yourself that."

Before Endeavor can respond, Shoto Todoroki and Katsuki Bakugo enter the room. Todoroki speaks up. "It's done. The other two villains have been defeated. I suspect Midoriya caught the last one."

Izuku nods. "I guess I did."

Bakugo scoffs. "Don't get too excited, Deku. You got the weakest of the bunch, that's it. Don't get any funny ideas of being able to surpass me."

Izuku smiles sheepishly. "I wasn't, Kaachan!"

The villain chuckles, getting everyone's attention. "Oi, green-haired boy... You sure seem like an interesting person. Your movements and tactics show that you're a skilled person, but your emotions and expressions make it clear that you're all soft and mushy inside."

Izuku's eyes go wide. "Huh?!"

Bakugo looks away, smiling to himself. "Yup. Damn nerd is always crying waterfalls."

Izuku looks at Bakugo with a flustered, nervous expression. "Kaachan! You're not helping!"

Endeavor holds the villain in front of his face. "Shut your mouth if you know what's good for you. Your words mean nothing, villain. We've been investigating you for some time now, and we know everything about you and your allies. There's no hope for you to escape, so I don't see why you're acting this way."

The villain shrugs with a smile. "Eh. I'm just feeling lucky today."

Izuku's nervous expression shifts from embarrassment to puzzlement. 'What does he mean by that?'

Izuku turns around to think about what the villain could be referring to, and then, he notices it.

From a wardrobe on the wall, Izuku saw something move in the darkness from within.

The villainous man inside smiles to himself. 'Damn you, Endeavor. Because of you our operation failed. Well, you won't be getting out of this one with my mates, I promise you.'

The villain extends his hand and aims it towards the flame hero, being careful to not make any noise or do something that could get the heroes' attention. 'My quirk might seem useless to most people, but I'll prove them wrong. Just one little blast in their direction and their emotions will be such a mess that they won't be able to even stand up. I'll escape with my mates and we'll lay low for a while until we can strike again.'

The man's hand starts to glow.

But before he can fire, the door opens to reveal a very serious-looking Izuku Midoriya about to pounce on top of him.

The villain's hand changes color and switches from black to white in an instant. "Huh?!"

Izuku shouts back to the group. "Endeavor, guys, look out!"

The group looks back in surprise, only to be met by the sight of Izuku Midoriya taking the full force of some kind of energy attack which blinds everyone in the room for a moment.

When the group opens their eyes, they see Izuku laying unconsciously on top of a stunned and very confused-looking villain in the wardrobe.

"Midoriya!"

"DAMN IT, DEKU!"

"Deku!"

Izuku's eyes flutter open. He's staring at a dull, white ceiling, the harsh fluorescent lights above casting a sterile glow that feels foreign and cold. The soft beeping of a heart monitor to his right is the only sound, punctuating the stillness of the hospital room. For a moment, his vision blurs, the world around him shifting in and out of focus as he tries to ground himself.

'Where…?' His thoughts are slow, sluggish, like they're moving through molasses. He pushes himself upright, the scratchy sheets rustling beneath him as his body protests the movement. A dull ache radiates through his limbs, but something else gnaws at him, something deeper, more unsettling.

"You're awake." A nurse's voice says softly from the doorway. She approaches, clipboard in hand, but Izuku barely looks at her. Her words feel distant, as though coming from the other side of a wall.

"How long was I out?" His voice comes out rougher than expected, and he clears his throat, trying again. It feels strange to hear himself speak, like the words don't belong to him.

"Just a few hours," the nurse replies, glancing over his vitals. "You were caught in some kind of quirk attack during the raid. But don't worry, you're stable now. It looks like you were lucky."

'Lucky...?' The word echoes in his head as he tries to recall the events that previously unfolded.

Let's see... He, Bakugo and Todoroki were called to Endeavor's agency because their help was needed in an upcoming raid. He remembered getting dressed in his hero outfit, sneaking inside the villain base, chasing a villain he managed to surprise, seeing a bright light in front of him and then...

Nothing.

What happened?

Izuku presses a hand to his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart, but it feels detached, like someone else's pulse beneath his palm. His breath quickens, but not from panic. It's as if his body is reacting on autopilot, performing a function it knows is expected of it. Something is wrong.

"I'm fine, right?" Izuku asks, his voice calm in a way that feels unnatural.

The nurse nods. "You're physically healthy, yes, but we'll need to run some more short tests just in case. Quirk-based injuries can be unpredictable, so it's best to be cautious."

Izuku nods, but his thoughts are elsewhere. The pounding headache he expected is faint, the physical pain is almost nonexistent... But there's a small void inside him, a tiny, hollow space where... something else should be.

Why did he feel like something was missing?

He can remember the raid, the surge of adrenaline as he and his friends stormed the villain base, the way he threw himself between Endeavor and that strange villain... He remembered feeling like he had been struck with something before he blacked out. That feeling was one of slight pain, yet he remembered feeling all kinds of emotions right before the light blinded him.

He remembered feeling anger towards the villain, worry for his friends, determination to save them...

But now… now there was something that felt off inside him.

Izuku swings his legs over the side of the bed, standing slowly. His knees wobble for a moment before he steadies himself. The nurse hurries forward, but he waves her off. "I'm okay."

She frowns, watching him closely. "Still, you should rest for now. I'll inform the doctor that you're awake. If everything goes well, you should be dispatched today."

The nurse leaves the room, but Izuku barely notices. His gaze drifts to the window at the far end of the room, where the curtains are drawn slightly open. Sunlight filters through, casting weak beams across the sterile floor. He walks over, his footsteps light, and pushes the curtain aside.

Outside, the city hums with life. Cars move in neat lines, and tiny figures bustle about their day. It feels foreign, almost surreal. A part of him knows he should be eager to get back into the action, to see his friends, to check on the aftermath of the raid. But he only feels…

Indifference?

Izuku takes a slow, deep breath.

"This… isn't right," he whispers to the empty room. "What's happening to me?"

A few hours later...

Izuku yawns as he walks inside the dorm rooms, only to be met by the worried gazes of his classmates.

Uraraka speaks up first. "Deku! You're back!"

Kirishima stands up from his seat. "Midoriya! We heard what happened, man! Are you okay?"

Izuku nods, rubbing his left eye. "Yup. As good as ever, Kirishima."

Sero speaks as well. "Are you sure? I mean, I don't mean to sound harsh or anything, but you were pretty much the only injured person at the raid-"

Then, Mina stands in front of Sero, waving her arms frantically. "SHH! Too soon, Sero!"

Izuku shrugs. "Guess you're right, Sero. Still, I'm fine."

Momo raises an eyebrow, feeling just as worried as her classmates yet not showing it physically. "Really, Midoriya? You were discharged from the hospital way too soon..."

Izuku shrugs again. "Eh. There was a lot of papework and law-related stuff to get through, but aside from that, I feel fine. Why is everyone making a big deal out of it?"

Mineta's eyes widen for a moment. "Huh? More like, why aren't YOU making a big deal out of it, Midoriya?"

Iida nods, stepping forwards while chopping the air in front of him. "I agree with Mineta. Midoriya, you experienced a severe attack from a villain. We're all here to support you and make sure you're well!"

Izuku smiles faintly, as if Iida's tone is amusing somewhat. "Iida, it's fine. No need to get worked up. I think everyone's making a bigger deal out of this than it deserves."

Iida frowns. "Midoriya, that's no way to respond! We're concerned about your health, especially after that villain incident! You're acting as though none of this matters."

Izuku sighs. "Because it really doesn't. I'm fine, I've got no reason to make a big deal out of it. Besides, all this fussing over me of all people? Come on, it's unnecessary."

Iida lowers his arm, clearly thrown off by Izuku's uncharacteristic lack of gratitude. Around the room, the rest of the class exchanges worried looks.

Mina raises an eyebrow in curiosity. "Uh, Midoriya, you sure you're okay? You're not… you, you know?"

Izuku keeps the same tired expression. "What do you mean? I'm me. My name is Izuku Midoriya, my hero name is Deku, I have green hair, my favorite hero is All Might, my favorite food is-"

Uraraka interrupts him, clearly worried. "That's not what she meant! Deku... What's wrong with you? You're acting like... like..."

Jirou chimes in. "Like Todoroki?"

Uraraka nods. "Yeah!"

Todoroki raises an eyebrow, not understanding what the girls meant.

Izuku shrugs. "Eh, I'm not quite as cool. Speaking of which, Todoroki..."

Todoroki looks at Izuku with an xpectant expression. "Yes, Midoriya?"

Izuku raises his right arm. "Wanna arm wrestle me tomorrow?"

The whole class looks at Izuku as if he had been replaced by an alien.

Todoroki raises his eyebrows, not expecting that at all. "Huh? Arm wrestle you? Why?"

Izuku shrugs. "Dunno, guess I've always wanted to know how strong you are."

Todoroki crosses his arms, not sure how to take that statement. "And if I refuse?"

Izuku shrugs. "Eh, guess I'll skip training tomorrow, then."

Everyone stares at him in shock, since Izuku has never once complained about training.

Sero laughs, a bit unnerved. "Dude, are you serious? Since when do you not want to train?"

Izuku looks back at Sero with the same expression. "Since always. I just never said it. I mean, what's the point in training every single day if it just wears me out? Eh. It's not like skipping one day will ruin my progress."

Kaminari forces a laugh. "Heh, maybe that's true, but man, it's kinda weird seeing you this... calm. And… kinda, uh, reckless?"

Izuku tilts his head, looking thoughtful, as if considering Kaminari's words without really being bothered by them. "I don't see what's wrong with it. Actually, I was thinking about doing some things I've always wanted but never got around to. Like..."

Izuku looks at Jirou and smiles faintly. "Jirou."

The earphone girl points to herself in surprise. "Me?"

Izuku nods. "Yup, do you think your parents could teach me guitar? Always thought it'd be cool to pick that up."

Jirou rubs the back of her head in surprise. "Uhh... Yeah...? Maybe...? Guess so...? If you're really interested then I could teach you the basics right now and-"

Izuku shakes his head. "Actually, scratch that."

Jirou looks at Izuku, not sure what to expect from him anymore. "Huh?! Now why DON'T you wanna learn guitar?"

Izuku points to his fingers. "I mean, I'm constantly breaking these guys, so I'll probably sound off-tune, which means I'll have to try extra hard to sound right, and that honestly sounds like a lot of work, so... No, thanks."

Everyone goes silent, not sure if the person standing in front of them is Izuku or some kind of impostor.

Jirou turns around and leaves. "Aight, I'm out."

Uraraka steps forward, placing a hand on Izuku's shoulder. "Deku... You're starting to scare us. What's wrong with you?"

Izuku looks at Uraraka with a deadpanned expression. "What's wrong with me? Well, I broke my fingers at the Sports Festival which left some permanent scars, I battled some villains at the Forest Training Camp which busted my arms, I fought against-"

Uraraka shakes her head, starting to feel frustrated. "No! That's not what I-! UGH! What's the matter with you?! Why are you acting like... some sort of robot?"

Izuku shrugs. "I'm just being honest with what I feel like."

Momo clears her throat. "That's... nice, Midoriya. But, are you sure you don't need a little more time to recover from your injuries? Perhaps the doctors and nurses overlooked something in your body. Maybe you'll feel more like your old self after resting well."

Izuku smiles politely. "Momo, it's not like I'm injured or anything. I feel great, actually. Oh, and by the way, Momo? I've always wanted to know if you'd help me design a hero suit that's a bit more, I don't know, striking?"

Momo's eyes widen, clearly startled. "Striking? As in…?"

Izuku puts his finger to his chin in thought. "I'm thinking something edgy, maybe black and red. And way less armor. Something that just looks cool."

The idea stuns everyone. Izuku's focus has always been functionality and protection. The notion that he'd prioritize "cool" over everything else throws everyone for a loop.

Sero laughs nervously. "Black and red? Midoriya, that's… way more, I don't know, Bakugo's style?"

Izuku shrugs. "Maybe, but it's not like he owns those colors."

Bakugo, who had been overhearing from the adjacent room, scowls and steps forward, fists clenched. "The hell did you say, Deku?! Since when did you start talking like you don't give a crap?!"

Izuku shrugs yet again. "Dunno, Bakugo."

Then, everyone goes silent again.

Bakugo's brain malfunctions for a second. "What... did you just call me?"

Izuku's expression remains the same. "Bakugo. It's your name, right? I know I've always called you 'Kaachan', but I feel like we needed a change of pace. It was starting to feel forced."

No one breathes.

No one makes a sound.

Not even Bakugo speaks, being too surprised at how bold and almost uncaring Izuku sounded.

Eventually, Momo clears her throat again. "Right... Well... Umm... It's... great to see you're feeling better, Midoriya! It's getting late, so... How about we all go to sleep for now and... Well... Get some rest...?"

After taking a moment to snap out of their trance, everyone nods, getting away from Izuku as quickly as possible.

Izuku stares at their retreating forms for a moment before shrugging and walking to his room. 'What a weird day... Eh. Bet I'll feel even better tomorrow in class.'

The next day...

'Scratch that. Screw class.'

Izuku yawned as he stretched on the edge of his bed. The last thing he felt like doing today was going to class.

'You know... I've never taken some time off for myself...'

Izuku smiles faintly before putting on some jeans, a green shirt, his signature red shoes, and a scarf.

'Wonder how U.A is during school hours.'

Then, Izuku walks out of his room, decided to wander around U.A, looking for something, anything more interesting to do than attending class.

After walking down the stairs, he sees Uraraka drinking a cup of cofee in the kitchen.

Izuku looks at the clock on the wall for a moment. 'Hm. Guess Uraraka overslept again. Wonder if she's late for class like me. In that case, I'll just ask her out on a date. I mean, I've always liked her and I've heard Mina say that she 'ships us' plenty of times before, whatever that means. Screw it, why not?'

Izuku walks up to Uraraka, who, upon feeling someone else behind her, turns around swiftly.

Izuku waves nonchalantly at Uraraka. "Heya there, Uraraka."

Uraraka breathes a sigh of relief. "Oh, Deku! You almost scared me! I didn't even hear you!"

Izuku shrugs. "Eh. Wasn't trying to be noticed but I also wasn't trying to be unnoticed."

Uraraka frowns softly. "So... I see you're still... Uhh... Like this."

Izuku nods. "Guess so. Anyways, what are you doing here, Uraraka? Shouldn't you be in class?"

Uraraka groans, turning back briefly to place the cup on the sink. "I know, I know... I overslept again! I hope mister Aizawa doesn't scold me too much..."

Izuku shrugs. "Eh. Knowing him, he's probably sleeping right now."

Then, Uraraka looks at Izuku with a raised eyebrow. "Wait... Now that I think about it, what are YOU doing here, Deku? You're always one of the first people to wake up! I thought you were a morning person!"

Izuku nods. "I am, I just didn't feel like waking up early today, nor do I feel like I want to go to class today."

Uraraka opens her eys wide. "Huh? That's... so unlike you, Deku... I mean, you've never missed a class before."

Izuku speaks straightforwardly. "Guess I felt like breaking the bad habit today. I feel like doing something for myself today. Speaking of which, do you want to go out with me today? Like… on a date, since we're both late for class already."

Uraraka's eyes widen, her face turning red in an instant. She opens her mouth to respond but seems completely caught off guard.

Uraraka stammers. "W-Wait, a... a date? A DATE?! YOU and ME?! Right NOW?!"

Izuku nods calmly, as though he's asking about the weather. "Yeah. I think it would be nice. I mean, I like you, so... why not?"

Uraraka's heart is racing, her mind spinning. She's imagined this moment before, but never like this, never with Izuku so calm, so direct. "Uh, I... Well, I... This is just so sudden! I mean, a date? You and me? Right now? I mean, not that I wouldn't, b-but we're in the middle of training for our next exams, and I'm kind of... sweaty! A-And I should probably, you know, freshen up..."

Izuku shrugs "Sure. That makes sense."

Uraraka lets out a nervous laugh, trying to gather her thoughts as she continues her rambling. "A-And after that, there's also my study group tonight with Yaoyorozu! Yeah, I have a lot of studying to do. Can't afford to fall behind in class, you know! Heroes need good grades too!"

Uraraka fidgets, tugging at her sleeve. "Plus, I have to work on, um, my... technique! Yeah! Can't leave that out!"

Izuku watches her silently, no sign of hurt or disappointment on his face. 'Hmm... Struggling to look at me, making all sorts of excuses... Yeah, she's definitely saying no, but she's trying to be polite.'

When she finally trails off, still blushing and stammering, Izuku just nods again. "Alright, then. Guess that's a no."

Izuku walks out of the dorms, brushing off his hands. "Thanks for being honest, Ochaco."

Uraraka, lost in her flustered excuses, doesn't realize he's leaving.

She stares at her hands, still bright red and rambling. "It's not that I wouldn't want to someday... or... you know, maybe in a better moment... Wait, Deku?"

Uraraka looks up, but he's already gone, as if he had never been there in the first place.

Her jaw drops as she realizes he left so casually, without even looking disappointed. "What... just happened? Did I... did I turn him down? Or did he just... give up? But he didn't seem upset at all..."

Uraraka stands there in silence, heart still racing but now overtaken by sheer confusion as her blush deepens. "Did he really just ask me out, and then... walk away like it was nothing?"

She shakes her head, still not sure how to process what just happened, feeling as if her whole world had been tilted sideways.

Izuku stretches his arms as he takes in the sight of U.A on a busy day without him being in class. It was quite a lovely place, all things considered.

Even in the middle of the day, the vast open spaces seemed unnaturally quiet without the usual hum of chatter and hurried footsteps. As Izuku passed by the main building, he caught faint sounds of voices drifting through open windows, lectures mixed with the occasional burst of laughter coming from inside the classrooms.

Though, despite skipping class being what he wanted to do for the day, Izuku still felt... bored.

'Hmm... Well... U.A is a cool place and all, but... Now that I think about it, there's not much to do aside from schoolwork... Where could I spend some time alone...?'

Izuku looks around campus for a moment before his gaze fixates on a particular building.

'The gym...? Eh, sure, why not. I can pretend I'm training while listening to music. Should be enough to kill some time, for now at least.'

Without thinking too much about it, Izuku opens the door to the gym, and he walks in casually, hands in his pockets. Upon entering the gym, he spots an unexpected student using the equipment.

Itsuka Kendo stood at one end of the room dressed in her hero outfit, focused as she practiced a series of punches, then pivoted into a set of quick strikes with her legs. The gym echoed with the thuds of her fists and boots hitting a heavy bag. She was clearly putting in intense effort, her brows being knitted in concentration.

Itsuka glances over her shoulder, slightly surprised to see the famous Izuku Midoriya here and not in class.

Itsuka pauses her training, wiping some sweat from her forehead. "Midoriya? Aren't you supposed to be in class?"

Izuku shrugs, unbothered as he glances around the gym with mild interest. "I guess. But I didn't feel like going today. Figured I'd come here instead."

Kendo raises an eyebrow, her surprise clear. The Midoriya she's heard about is usually enthusiastic, punctual, and fully committed to class, definitely not the type to skip for no reason. "You just didn't feel like going?"

"Yup."

"Just like that?"

"Mhm."

"So... No one sent you here on a quest? Or with a specific reason?"

"I'm here on my own free will."

Itsuka crosses her arms, studying Izuku curiously. "Huh. That's... different for you. You're usually the last person I'd expect to be skipping class."

Izuku smiles slightly, shrugging again. "Maybe. Just feels like a waste of time today."

Itsuka watches him, a faint frown forming. She's still catching her breath from her workout, but something about the way he's speaking doesn't sit right with her. "So... any reason you came to the gym specifically? You here to train?"

Izuku speaks nonchalantly. "Not really. Just came here because it's quiet."

Itsuka nods, but the unease lingers. She's still processing the odd tone in his voice and the way he seems disconnected, almost too calm. She tries to shake it off, turning back to her training routine.

Itsuka throws another punch, exhaling sharply. "Well, I guess I'm here for similar reasons. It's actually a bit of a relief to train without anyone watching. People expect certain things, you know? Especially when you're the class representative. Just wanted to work on my technique without feeling like I'm being graded on it."

Izuku watches her, expression unreadable. He leans casually against a wall, looking at her with a flat gaze. "That makes sense. The pressure to live up to other people's expectations can be pretty annoying."

Itsuka hesitates, slightly taken aback by how blunt he sounds. "Yeah... yeah, exactly. Not that you'd understand, though. You're... well, you. You've got all those amazing moves, you stood out at the Sports Festival, and, uh, you have All Might's support…"

Itsuka trails off, noticing he doesn't seem to react at all to her comment.

Izuku's face remains completely neutral, as if he's unaffected by the praise or any reminder of his connection to All Might.

Izuku speaks in a low, almost dismissive tone. "It doesn't really matter to me right now."

Itsuka blinks, taken aback. "Oh... okay. Well, I guess we all have our off days."

Izuku tilts his head. "Do I seem like I'm having an off day?"

Itsuka tries to lighten the mood with a small laugh. "You're just really throwing me off, I guess. I thought you were always the 'go beyond' guy."

Izuku gives her a small, detached smile, but there's no warmth behind it. "I was. Maybe it's overrated."

Itsuka's smile fades, sensing something is genuinely wrong. She pauses, debating whether to ask more but hesitating. After a moment, she stops her training entirely. "So... You're... really not going to class?"

Izuku shrugs. "Nope. Doesn't seem important today."

Itsuka raises an eyebrow. "Okay, well, what are you going to do, then?"

Izuku pauses, looking thoughtful, as if mentally flipping through a list. "I've always wanted to see if I could get to the top of that skyscraper in Musutafu, you know, the one with the big U.A. billboard. Bet I could climb it pretty fast if I really put my mind to it."

Kendo's eyes widen as she stares at him. "Wait, what? You... you want to climb the skyscraper?"

Izuku nods casually. "Yeah. Seems like it'd be a pretty cool way to test out my grip and balance. I'd have to watch for updrafts, though. Those can mess up your footing, even at low heights."

Itsuka stares at him, utterly baffled. "Midoriya, that's a terrible idea! There's a reason pros don't just go scaling skyscrapers for fun!"

Izuku shrugs, unconcerned. "True, but it'd be interesting to see if I could do it without getting caught."

Itsuka's jaw drops, but Izuku seems oblivious, moving on to his next idea without a second thought. "Oh, and I've always wondered if I could handle a full-speed charge at All Might's bronze statue in the courtyard. It'd be cool to see if my quirk would let me break through solid metal. I mean, I've never tried it before."

Itsuka puts a hand on his shoulder, trying to steer him back toward reason. "You want to... charge at the statue? Full speed?"

Izuku nods with a faint smile, as if it's the most logical idea. "Yeah. A lot of villains use metal armor or shields. It'd be a good way to see if I'm strong enough to get through something dense like that."

Itsuka swallows, her expression shifting from confusion to outright concern. She's heard about Midoriya being daring, but this feels like recklessness on a whole new level.

Itsuka forces a laugh to mask her nerves. "Well, uh... maybe there are better ways to practice than charging into solid bronze! You know, controlled settings?"

Izuku shrugs again, seemingly unmoved. "Maybe. Or I could find some water towers in the city and try pulling them down. You never know if you'll need that kind of force in a rescue scenario."

Itsuka clenches her fists slightly, looking at him determinedly and firmly. "Alright, that's it. I'm coming with you today. Someone's got to make sure you don't end up smashing statues or tearing down water towers!"

Izuku glances at her, indifferent but slightly amused by her insistence. "You're welcome to tag along if you want. Though, I doubt it'll be much fun for you, Miss no-fun."

Itsuka forces a smile. "Are you kidding? Fun's my middle name! But let's, uh, try a few... less destructive activities, okay?"

Izuku nods, still looking around as if planning his next move. "I'm fine with that. How about... I don't know... Ice cream?"

Itsuka nods. "Sure, yeah, whatever keeps you from breaking the law OR yourself."

Izuku nods again. "Right. Just lemme get changed real quick."

Itsuka raises her eyebrows. "Get changed?"

Izuku nods as he reaches for the drawers on the gym's walls, guarding the students' hero outfits. "Yeah! You're already dressed up, so I might as well do the same so we look cool together. Plus, you never know if someone could need help, right?"

Kendo breathes a sigh of relief, thinking she's bought a bit of time to watch over him and hopefully keep him out of trouble. As Itsuka waits for Izuku to get changed, she finds herself glancing at his direction, still processing just how drastically he's changed.

"Midoriya... What on Earth happened to you?"