Chapter 4

Breakers and Builders

Ariden, Izuku, and Katsuki

It had been three weeks since the boys had sealed what some would call a masochistic death pact. But they handled the extra strain well and didn't feel any worse for it, though they were a little more tired each day. Who could tell the difference? The boys were more than confident that no one would notice. They had never been more wrong.

The final bell of the day had rung. Most students filed out of classrooms and into the fresh March afternoon while some lingered around finishing up tasks or idly chatted with their friends.

Izuku was absorbed in his end-of-the-day ritual of scrolling through news feeds and seeing all the articles and reports of the heroics that happened that day. Ariden, however, idled the time away, staring out the window and enjoying the small break the end of school afforded him.

Ariden's eyelids grew heavy as the March sun warmed him. Just as he was about to close his eyes, his phone rang, jolting him awake. Ariden quickly pulled his phone from his pocket and looked at the caller ID. He rubbed his eyes to ensure he wasn't dreaming when he saw who it was. Mei Hatsume: Inventor Extraordinaire.

"When did I give her my number?" Ariden thought as he stared at the screen.

He pushed the receive button and put the phone to his ear

"Hello?" He asked hesitantly,

"MINION, ARE YOU THERE!?" Mei shouted through the speaker.

Ariden instinctively recoiled from the assault on his hearing.

"Yes, I'm here." He said as he gingerly put the phone back to his ear. "Why are you shouting?"

"I'M NOT SHOUTING! IN MATTER OF FACT YOU ARE WHISPERING!"

"I…"Ariden was at a loss for words. "Why are you calling?"

"OH YEAH! I WAS CALLING TO TELL YOU THAT ONE OF MY BABIES EXPLODED, AND ALL I CAN HEAR NOW IS RINGING! SO WE'LL HAVE TO DELAY TRAINING UNTIL THAT CLEARS UP!"

"Why am I not surprised?" Ariden sighed to himself. "Alright, thanks for letting me know. I'll pass it on to Izuku," he said. "Please be careful, and try not to do anything to make it worse."

"WHAT? YOU STILL WANT TO WORK?" Mei shouted. "DON'T WORRY. THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF WORK TO DO!"

"I… Just…" Ariden started. "We'll see you later, Hatsume." He shook his head, exasperated.

"WHAT?"

Ariden ended the call and sighed. As he lifted his head, he noticed a few lingering students had started to stare at him.

"Who do you think that was?" One student murmured loud enough for Ariden to hear.

"It sounded like a girl!" A female student squealed, "Do you think he has a girlfriend?"

"Get real!" A student with rocky hair scoffed, "As if anyone in their right mind would date a quirkless freak like that!"

"Dude, shut up! He's staring right at us!" The girl hissed.

Ariden just glared and scowled at them as he walked over toward Izuku.

"I assume you overheard my conversation?" Ariden asked as he reached Izuku's side.

Izuku was silent as he continued to scroll through news feeds.

"Hey, are you listening?"

"It seems Mt. Lady is making a huge impact in the news, Though Kamui Woods still has the spotlight," Izuku mumbled.

"Yo! Earth to Izuku!" Ariden shouted in Izuku's ear as he karate-chopped his head.

"Ah!" Izuku yelped. "What was that for!?" He glared at Ariden.

"You were mumbling to yourself again." Ariden said, "That and I've got news."

Ariden relayed what Mei had "told" him to Izuku, though far more quieter.

"Wait." Izuku held up his hand to pause the conversation. "How did you get Hatsume's number?"

"Why do you ask?" Ariden smirked. "You jealous?"

"What!? No! Not at all!" Izuku blustered as he tried to hide his blush.

"Relax." Ariden laughed as he patted Izuku's shoulder. "Hatsume somehow put it on my phone without me knowing," he said. "The thing is, I've always kept my phone on my person while over there. How she managed to get a hold of it…" Ariden shuddered. "I'm trying my best not to think about it."

"You don't think…" Izuku mused aloud as he looked at his phone trepidatiously.

"Oh, more than likely." Ariden nodded.

Izuku fumbled with his phone for a few seconds. Whatever he saw made the blood drain from his face.

"H-how?" Izuku's voice trembled in fear.

"Just… Don't think about it. It's best to let some sleeping dogs lie," Ariden said as he patted Izuku's shoulder in commiseration. "Anyways, I thought we should take advantage of the delay and get some extra training."

"Sounds like a plan." Izuku nodded.

The boys gathered their things and started to depart. But as soon as they stepped into the hallway, they were forcefully yanked back into the classroom by their collars. Ariden and Izuku flailed at their unknown assailant, sending their bookbags clattering to the ground. An explosion to each of their necks quickly stopped their struggle and told them precisely who they were dealing with. The hands then forced them to turn their gaze upwards, and they met Katsuki's crimson eyes, which burned with rage as he glared at them.

"Deku! Ari!" Katsuki snarled.

"K-Ka-Kaachan!" Izuku stuttered in fear.

"What do you want, Kat?" Ariden sighed in resignation.

"What do I want?!" Katsuki sneered at Ariden. "How's about a fucking explanation on what the fuck you two dumbasses are doing!"

"W-what are y-you talking a-about?" Izuku asked meekly.

"Oh, don't try to feign ignorance, Deku! Ever since that incident in January, you two have been acting weird. So I will give you the count of ten to tell me what you two have been doing, or I'll make that sludge bastard look like an amateur!"

"Okay, fine! You caught us!" Ariden threw his hands up in exasperation. "We've been training to be heroes!" He huffed. "Oh wait! You've known that since we were kids! Mystery solved! Can we go now!?"

Katsuki looked at both boys in disgust.

"You idiots didn't learn a damn thing after your helpless asses got saved." Katsuki shook his head in disdain. "I'd wager your egos' have swelled because of it. Probably think you're better than everybody. Especially me!"

"What?! Ka-Kaachan no! We don't think that at all! We're just trying to get stronger, that's all!" Izuku said.

"Really now?" Katsuki snorted derisively. "Two quirkless losers like yourselves will never be stronger than you are right now."

Katsuki released his grasp on their necks. The Boys sighed in relief at the end of the impromptu interrogation and started to collect their things that had fallen to the floor. But as they tried to grab the charred notebooks that had fallen from their bags, Katsuki plucked them from their grasp.

Ariden and Izuku looked up to see Katsuki's glare again directed at them. Katsuki's nostrils flared as he fumed in silent rage. He looked at the books in his hand, then back at the boys. He repeated the action twice before he fixed his burning gaze permanently onto the brothers as if he were a judge about to pass a sentence.

"I thought I destroyed these a while ago," Katsuki said in a low, menacing tone. "I'll take this as a reminder never to leave a job half-done."

In a flash, Katsuki slammed both palms onto the notebooks. The notebooks went up like kindling to the flame. Katsuki let off explosion after explosion until all that remained was blackened and burnt. The young man wiped the sweat from his brow and tossed the remains at the brothers' feet with a satisfied smile.

"Here is what you are going to do," Katsuki said. "This training shit? Over. Done!" he snarled. "Second, You are going to swear to me right here and now that you are going to give up on this fucking suicidal dream of being a hero!" He hissed at them venomously. "Third, you aren't going to contact that bitch anymore! And if she calls you, block her number!" He said as explosions crackled in his palms. "After tha-"

Katsuki never finished his statement. The two boys rushed and pinned him against the wall in the blink of an eye. Izuku had his arms pinned to his chest, palms facing him and rendered that avenue of escape futile. Ariden pressed his elbow against his throat, further restricting his movement.

"What the fuck?!" Katsuki cursed to himself.

He tried to force his way out, but that only caused the boys to redouble their efforts.

"When the hell did they get so strong!?"

"Someone…" Izuku huffed as he exerted himself. "Told us… that we could be heroes!" he proudly proclaimed. "And no matter what you say or do, Kaachan… We will never quit!"

Katsuki almost flinched when Izuku met his glare with one of his own with far more will behind it.

"Kat…" Ariden said softly as he got face-to-face with Katsuki. "You don't get to dictate who our friends are, nor insult them." He said a little louder, "And If you ever try shit like this again, I swear to god I will break your fucking hands so hard you'll never be able to use your quirk again." He growled deeply. "Understood?"

Katsuki just stared at the two, perplexed.

"I'll take that as a yes," Ariden grunted.

Without another word, they released Katsuki. Ariden and Izuku retreated quickly out of the classroom. But Katsuki didn't give chase as they had expected of him. The young man dusted himself off and found a chair to sit and contemplate what had just happened.

"They stood up to me…" Katsuki mused. "About time those idiots grew spines." He smirked. "There's hope for them yet." He thought. "But…" Katsuki's amused countenance, however, quickly turned into a scowl. "Those assholes stood up to me! Little fucking pricks do think they're better than me!"

Ariden and Izuku ran for their lives. They raced through the city as if the hounds of hell were on their tracks. They dodged everyone and everything in their path. The only feeling that rushed through them was pure, unadulterated fear, the fear of death, the fear of indescribable pain, The fear of Katsuki Bakugo.

"Holy shit! How did we get away with that!?" Ariden shouted over the wind that rushed past the brothers.

"I don't know!" Izuku shouted back. "But all that matters right now is getting to Hatsume's place before Kaachan catches up and turns us to ash!"

"How will that help us!?" Ariden asked.

"It won't, but at least there will be witnesses when he does kill us!"

The police received many reports that day of two young men racing through the city with speed quirks. They never caught The Phantom Speeders, however. A bounty for any information on them still exists to this day.

I could have sworn I heard Kaachan behind us when we were running.

Nah, man, Those explosions you heard were your brain frying itself because you stood up to Kat.

Mei

Mei laid on her back and stared at the clouds as they rolled by. She tried to ignore the annoyance she felt at her father for banning her from the workshop. But she failed. How the hell was she supposed to know that overcharging a generator would make it explode? Mei sighed and refocused on the clouds passing by.

She examined each one that passed by. She started to see vague shapes within the ethereal white masses. Within her mind's eye, Mei gave those formless shapes more definition. And with more definition, a potential invention sprung. Mei scanned the sky, her mind racing with a flurry of new ideas. She continued to do so until her head throbbed from mental fatigue.

"Dammit." Mei hissed in annoyance as she rubbed her temples. "What's the point of thinking about inventing things when I can't make anything!"

With a huff, Mei propped herself against the workshop wall and stared down the road that led from her house. Time passed, but there was no sign of The Boys' arrival. Mei groaned impatiently and pulled out her phone to check the time. But as soon as she turned her phone on, she was distracted by the background of her phone screen.

It was a picture she had taken when they first tested those hover boots The Boys had helped her make. She had managed to snap the photo at the perfect moment. It was right after Ariden had activated the boots. The terror on his face as he started to soar into the air, much higher than intended, was priceless. Izuku's frantic gesturing as he raced after his brother was icing on the cake.

"That was a good test run." Mei smiled to herself. "Only a few bruised ribs and no explosions."

Mei looked at the photo more closely, specifically at the hover boots.

"My minions have really come a long way." she thought. "We've already completed three major projects. I wonder how much we'll accomplish when they have a year of experience."

As Mei mused to herself, she opened up her photo galley and scrolled through various photos of the projects they had completed.

"Wonder if they'll be as good as me?" She thought. "Or maybe they'll be better?"

A cold dread filled her stomach at her last thought.

"And if they are better than me…" Mei bit her lip anxiously. "Would they leave me behind?"

The young woman shook her head in an attempt to uncloud her mind, but it was no use.

"How do I know they won't just leave when I've taught them everything I know? She thought as her breathing started to grow faster. "Can I trust them?"

At memory lept forth from the recesses of her mind.

"You haven't put us in the ground yet, so I trust you." Izuku nodded.

Mei's breathing calmed down a little.

"As much as we complain, I must admit it is fun." Ariden shrugged. "So I have no reason to doubt you."

She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.

"Since when did I get so self-conscious?" Mei quietly laughed at herself. "I have no reason to doubt them." She thought. "They trust me, So I'll trust them." She solemnly vowed.

Mei felt a sudden warmth and giddiness rush her as she finished her oath.

"What was that?" She blinked in surprise at the sensation.

Mei stood up and paced back and forth, contemplating the new sensation she felt.

"Am I getting sick?" She thought. "No, no, no." She shook her head. "Getting sick doesn't feel nice, so that isn't it." She mused. "Could I have had an epiphany? No, I couldn't have. Or else I wouldn't be thinking about this in the first place."

Mei continued to think for a while, each idea more fruitless than the last.

"Dammit!" She scowled. "I wish my minions were here! They'd have helped me figure this out!"

At that moment, the sensation that had eluded her grasp reappeared. And she finally realized she had experienced it long ago when she was little. Back when she had.

"They aren't just my minions anymore, are they?" Mei smiled softly. "They are my friends!" She thought excitedly. "It's been so long since I've had any!

Mei nearly jumped for joy but stopped when she suddenly realized something.

"How do friends work again?"

Her thoughts were interrupted by a low rumbling. Mei looked up and saw a giant cloud of dust rising into the air that grew closer by the second.

"The hell?" The young woman quirked an eyebrow.

Mei used her quirk and zoomed in on the dust cloud. She was surprised when she saw Ariden and Izuku at the center of the tumult.

"They're finally here!" She smiled. "I didn't know they had speed quirks." She thought as she examined them from afar. "Hmm, I wonder what kind of babies I can make for that quirk?"

She preoccupied herself with the thought while waiting for the boys to arrive finally. As the boys got closer, Mei dusted herself off and greeted them.

"Hey, gu-" Mei started.

Izuku rushed past her, ripped open the workshop door, and practically leapt through the doorway. Mei turned to Ariden, confused.

"What's up with him?" She asked.

Ariden ignored her question and continued to run toward the workshop. He rushed past Mei and swept her off her feet in a bridal carry without missing a step. As soon as he entered the workshop, he used a foot to slam the door shut. Izuku, waiting off to the side, slid a worktable in front of the door to barricade it further. Mei was perplexed.

"Guys? What are yo-" She started to ask.

Izuku clamped a hand over her mouth and looked at her with such urgency that Mei couldn't help but comply with his unspoken request. All three sat there in tense silence for what felt like hours. However, Mei grew bored after a while and decided it was time to get to the bottom of whatever was happening.

"Hey, guys." She said, "Mind letting me down?"

Both boys looked at her in surprise as if they had forgotten she was there. A moment of realization passed through them, and they blushed madly.

"We're so sorry!" Both boys apologized as they quickly let go of her.

"I am so sorry!" Izuku apologized again as he bowed so low he almost banged his head on the worktable. "Please forgive us for invading your personal space!"

"It's fine." Mei shrugged nonchalantly. "Besides, I do it to you two all the time. Seems only fair if you do the same."

Ariden and Izuku blushed even harder at the idea.

"Anyways. What's going on with you two?" She asked.

"Oh! It's Nothing; it's just uhh…" Izuku meekly smiled as he struggled to find words.

"We were running from a rabid dog!" Ariden blurted out. "We were headed your way when this giant dog came from nowhere and started chasing us!"

"Yeah! It was massive! With sharp teeth and foam leaking from its mouth!" Izuku added, perspiration on his brow.

Mei looked at them incredulously.

"I know I'm not exactly the best at reading people." She said and pinched the bridge of her nose. "But I know a lie when I hear it." She said, "Besides, everyone knows Rabies was eradicated almost 70 years ago."

Ariden and Izuku just smiled at Mei sheepishly as sweat dripped from their brows.

"Come on, tell me what happened," Mei asked.

The Boys remained silent and shifted uncomfortably.

"Please?" She said with a worried smile.

Izuku broke eye contact and looked away. Ariden just grimaced and sighed bitterly.

"You know you can trust me, right?" Mei said gently. "That's what friends do, right?"

Ariden's gaze softened a slight smile on his face. He reached into his backpack, took out the burnt remains of the notebooks, and laid them on the work table. Mei approached and examined them. They were utterly ruined. Only the innermost parts of the book had managed to survive. But even then, the pages had yellowed from whatever had caused them to burn. Mei finished her examination and looked at the boys for further explanation.

"When you called, someone overheard us," Ariden explained. "And Ka-" He started but stopped quickly and coughed to cover up what he was about to say. "Needless to say, they aren't a fan of us trying to be heroes."

Mei looked at Ariden curiously. She'd have to find out who Ka was later.

"They confronted us and told us to give up on trying to be heroes." Izuku continued the explanation. "One thing led to another, and they destroyed our notes."

"They also told us to stop hanging out with you." Ariden snorted derisively. "Called you 'that bitch'." He shook his head.

"Oh, please." Mei rolled her eyes. "I've been called worse than that." She laughed. "But what I want to know is, Why is this person after you?"

"We may have stood up to them." Izuku rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Good." Mei nodded in approval. "My minions are no cowards!" She declared proudly. "Another thing. Why would anyone want to mess with you guys in the first place?"

The boys tensed at the question. Their expression turned morose, with a tinge of fear in their eyes.

"Did you say something rude to them?" Mei started speculating. "Did you accidentally bump into them, and they've held a grudge ever since?" She mused aloud. "Oh! Do you owe them money?"

The Boys looked at her oddly but didn't say anything.

"No, that can't be the answer." Mei stroked her chin. "It could be less personal and more general…" She trailed off. "Is it because…" Mei said slowly, "Your quirks are weaker than theirs?"

Ariden and Izuku flinched as if struck in the face.

"Ha! So that's it!" Mei cheered at her correct guess. "There's nothing to be ashamed of, you know. Take my quirk, for example. It's no good in a fight, but it has its uses." she said as she pointed at her eyes. "I don't know why I haven't asked you guys yet, but what are your quirks?"

"..." Izuku's lips moved, but whatever he said was inaudible.

"Sorry, my hearing is still coming back." Mei smiled as she cleaned out an ear. "Could you speak up?"

"..." Izuku's mouth moved again, but whatever he said couldn't be heard.

"Oh, to hell with this!" Ariden snapped. "What he's trying to say is. We don't have quirks, we are useless freaks!" He shouted angrily. "There! Happy now?!" He scowled.

Mei's eyes widened in surprise. Her minions, quirkless? Now that she thought about it, it made sense. Not once in all their time together had they mentioned or used their quirks. Even when she tested her various babies on them, she chuckled quietly at the memories of all those test runs they had done.

"Are you mad at us for not telling you earlier?" Izuku asked timidly.

"What?" Mei blinked, shaken from her reverie by the unexpected question... "Why would I be mad about you guys not having quirks?" She asked. "Quirks or no quirks, it makes no difference to me."

"Seriously?" Ariden looked at her, surprised.

"Take a look at this." She said as she held out her phone.

Both boys looked at it and saw her photo of them.

"Look at what you've accomplished without a quirk." She grinned softly at The Boys. "And think of what you will accomplish after this moment." She said as she placed a hand on each of their shoulders. "Besides, you two are my friends! With or without quirks." She smiled sweetly.

Mei watched as tears welled in the corner of Ariden and Izuku's eyes.

"Shit! They are starting to cry! Did I say something wrong!?" Mei thought. "What I mean is-"

"Thank you," Izuku said softly. "You do not know how much that means to us." He said with a trembling smile.

"Yeah, what he said." Ariden chuckled as he swiped at the corner of his eye. "But seriously, You are one of the few people we can call a friend."

The familiar sense of camaraderie rewashed over Mei. She reveled in the feeling. It had been so long since she had experienced anything like it. But the feeling quickly passed, and Mei returned to the present. She turned her focus back to the burnt remains of the notebooks. Her friends had a problem, and Mei wanted to fix it. And she had just the solution.

"Do you mind if I keep these?" Mei asked as she pointed at the books.

The boys looked at each other and shrugged.

"Sure, though I don't see why you'd want to," Ariden said.

"You'll see." Mei said, "Every inventor worth their salt can turn even garbage into a marvel." She said as she picked up the notebooks. "Or at least gain inspiration from it."

"What are you planning to do?" Izuku asked.

"I've got an idea for a brand-new baby!" Mei proudly proclaimed. "One that I'm sure you'll make good use of! I guarantee it!"

"Us?" Izuku raised an eyebrow. "Thank you, Hatsume, but you don't need to waste your efforts on us."

"Yeah, we appreciate the thought." Ariden bowed. "But I'm sure you could use your time better."

"How can I call myself an Inventor Extraordinaire if I don't follow through on my ideas?" Mei sniffed sardonically. "Besides, this new baby will also help me."

"How?" Izuku asked.

"To make it, I must expand my skill set," Mei explained. "There are some fields of study I have neglected to learn. And now is the time to fix that," she said. "Also, 'cause I am making one for myself!" she laughed.

"Of course you are." Ariden snorted.

"What kind of an inventor would I be if I didn't make stuff for myself?"

"Well, regardless, thank you, Hatsume." Izuku bowed in gratitude.

"Yeah, Hatsume, I don't know how we'll be able to repay you." Ariden bowed as well.

"Stop with all this formal stuff." Mei complained, "You know I don't care for it." She said, "Besides, we're friends now, right? You can call me Mei."

"Easily done, Mei." Ariden smiled.

"Are you sure?" Izuku asked worriedly.

"You've called me by my first name once, and I never gave you grief for it." Mei pointed out.

"W-well then, thank you, Hatsu- M-M-Mei." Izuku stuttered as he blushed madly.

"Maybe I should make you say my name until you no longer stutter." Mei grinned evilly.

"Cut the poor man some slack. You're gonna make him stroke out." Ariden laughed.

"It'll take some getting used to," Izuku said, composing himself. "But since we are on a first-name basis, feel free to use ours as well."

"Sounds good." Mei nodded. "Just one question."

"Yes?" Both boys said at the same time.

"What were your names again?"

To this day, Mei forgets our names sometimes.

I once overheard her refer to Kirishima as "Stoner dude."

The dark purple of twilight had replaced the bright blue sky when Mei looked up from her textbook. The Boys had gone home for the day a while ago, which allowed her to study in peace. Mei looked at her worktable. It was covered in stacks of hastily written notes and mountains of textbooks on various subjects. She stifled a yawn as she stretched. Mei thrived when it came to hands-on work but not so much when it came to theory and study.

"Mei." Her father called for her as he entered the room.

"Go away!" Mei groaned. "I'm busy."

"Watch your tone, young lady," Kikai said sternly. "And what have I told ya about pushin' yourself?"

"I know, I know," Mei mumbled. "I just…" She started and ground her teeth. "I just need to learn all this stuff as soon as possible so my newest baby is perfect."

"Well, that's new." Kikai raised an eyebrow. "You've never been one for perfectionism. God knows how many times I've tried to teach it to ya. So why are ya so gung-ho on making it perfect now?"

Mei turned to look at her father. Her countenance was one of pure determination.

"Those Boys I've been training, Ariden and Izuku…" Mei said.

Kikai raised his eyebrows at hearing Mei remember someone's name.

"I am making this baby for them." She explained. "It will help them out a lot…" Mei grimaced involuntarily. "From what it seems, they need all the help they can get. And I don't want to be the one to let them down."

Kikai chuckled and patted her on the shoulder.

"I'm sure whatever you're making will turn out great."

Mei looked at her father and smiled.

"Of course, it will! I am a Hatsume, after all!"

"Damn straight you are! Now then, let me see what ya got goin' on."

The old man bent over Mei's shoulder and randomly grabbed a book.

"Digital and Document Examination by Conan Holmes…" Kikai read out loud. "Mei, this is a forensic analysis textbook. Just what in the hell are you tryin' to make."

"Can't tell you, trade secret," Mei smirked.

"I've taught you well." Kikai beamed with pride. "Tell ya what, Why don't I help ya? Some of this will take a while to learn, and you seem to want to get started as soon as possible."

"What's the catch?"

"You have to go wash up for dinner, and you can explain it all to me as we eat."

Mei's smirk turned into a beaming smile. She instantly got out of her chair and hugged her dad tightly. She then gave him a peck on the cheek and rushed off to wash up. Kikai just chuckled and shook his head. When Mei had exited the workshop, Kikai turned his attention to the desk, examined the mess his daughter had left behind, and smiled softly.

Ariden and Izuku

The city street was deserted save for a few bystanders on their way home. A few stars shone in the night sky and the glow of the street lamps blocked out the rest. Ariden wiped the sweat from his brow as he rested on the bench. Izuku sat next to him, chugging a water bottle like it was the last drink he'd ever have.

"So…" Ariden said as he stretched his limbs. "What do you think Mei is going to invent?"

"Well, she did take our notebooks…" Izuku mused. "Maybe Hatsume is making them indestructible."

"You can call her Mei dude." Ariden shook his head. "I don't see why you are adamant about not saying her first name."

"I just don't like being so informal. It feels rude." Izuku sighed. "Anyways, we're getting off-topic. What do you think, Hatsu?"

Izuku cut himself off when he noticed Ariden smirking.

"What do you think Mei is making?"

"Well, first off, Indestructible notebooks? This is Mei we are talking about here."

"Good point."

"She'd never go for anything so simple," Ariden said. "She's probably going to make us something outrageous like cyborg eyes or books made of fire."

"You don't think she'd actually make those, right?" Izuku turned pale.

"Hell, if I know." Ariden laughed. "But I'm sure if I told her those ideas, she'd probably make them."

A frigid night breeze sent a cold chill down each of the boys' spines. Their hair stood on end when they thought they heard what sounded like crazed cackling. Both boys got to their feet in a heartbeat, their aching bodies no longer on their minds.

"I think we've rested for long enough," Izuku said as he looked around in a cold sweat.

"I agree." Ariden nodded rapidly. "How about we race home?"

"Loser does dishes for a week?"

"Deal."

Toshinori

Toshinori was glad he had listened to Inko's advice a few weeks back. Taking a break every now and then had done wonders for him. That was how he found himself again in the Midoriya's apartment, drinking green tea and chatting with Inko. Toshinori could admit that he had started anticipating when he could simply sit down and talk with Inko.

"...As I was cleaning up the mess, Ariden and Izuku ran in dressed up in boots and capes," Inko said as she recounted one of her myriad stories. "And they told me, 'Have no fear, for we are here!'"

"Of course they did." Toshinori chuckled.

"They told me their names were 'Mighty Clean' and 'Captain Pristine.'"

Toshinori held back his laughter in fear of coughing up blood.

"I am absolutely going to use that against them." He said once he recovered his composure. "But I have to ask, where did the-"

Before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by the door bursting open. Ariden and Izuku tripped over each other as they entered the apartment and landed in a pile. The two adults watched in bewildered silence. Ariden was the first to stand up, he held his fist in the air, and he looked as if he had won an Olympic medal.

"I… win!" Ariden said between labored breaths.

"No, you… didn't!" Izuku huffed as he got back to his feet. "I reached… the door first!"

"True… but I entered first."

"No... you didn't! We both entered at the same time!"

"So it's a tie then?" Ariden raised an eyebrow.

"No! I got to the door first! I won!" Izuku glared at Ariden.

"Well, I was the one who opened it!" Ariden snapped at Izuku,

"That doesn't matter!" Izuku shouted back,

"Oh yeah…"

Toshinori and Inko turned to look at each other. Toshinori offered her a small smile while Inko scowled and rolled her eyes at her sons.

"Boys! That's enough!" Inko shouted.

Inko gestured with both hands. The back of both boys' collars grew taut as they were tugged towards Inko. She continued pulling at the air until both sons were in her grasp. She then separated them to either side of them and glared at them.

"Boys. I've taught you better than this!" Inko scolded with a withering gaze. "And yet here you are, acting like children in front of a guest!"

Both boys turned to look at the living room and were surprised when they saw Toshinori sitting in a chair. Toshinori couldn't help himself and greeted the boys with the smuggest grin he could manage. He slowly sipped his tea, enjoying the spectacle.

" ? Why are you here?" Izuku asked.

" has been coming by every few days to let me know how your training is going and to take a break from his busy job," Inko said.

"Of all the places to take a break, and you chose here?" Ariden said as he looked at Toshinori quizzically. "Is there something you aren't telling us?" He said, a wicked gleam in his eye.

Toshinori blushed and nearly choked on his tea at the unspoken implication. He watched as Inko grabbed Ariden by the ear.

"Where are your manners!?" Inko scolded her son. "You know better than to embarrass a guest!"

"Alright! Alright! Sorry!" Ariden winced. "Can you let go of my ear before you tear it off?!"

Inko let go with a huff.

"Now, go to your rooms and do your homework."

"Yes, ma'am." Both boys said, their shoulders slumped, faces downcast.

Toshinori watched the boys go to their room and then turned to see Inko facepalming.

"That was certainly something." He smiled and shook his head.

"I'm…" Inko paused, trying to find the words. "I'm so sorry. I've raised them better than that. I just-"

"Don't apologize." Toshinori chuckled warmly. "With all the stuff I deal with at the office, their rambunctiousness is refreshing."

"They still shouldn't have acted like children!" Inko fumed.

"They are still teens." Toshinori shrugged, "I'd imagine they haven't grown up completely yet." He took another drink of his tea. "Besides, while they can be immature, they are still two fine young men." He said, "I, for one, would be proud to have sons like them."

"Well, thank you." Inko smiled and blushed. "Though be careful what you wish for." She giggled.

"Ain't that the truth." Toshinori laughed as he turned to glance at the clock. "Well, look at the time. It's best if I get going."

"Of course, let me show you the door," Inko said as she walked with him. "And thank you for coming by. I look forward to the next time." She said as she opened the door.

As Toshinori crossed the threshold, he turned around to face Inko.

"One last thing before I go." He said. "Have you given any thought to my offer?"

Inko's expression turned somewhat conflicted as she orbited between being unsure and serious.

"I need more time to think." She said after a moment.

"Of course, there is no rush." Toshinori nodded. "Have a good night, and thank you for the tea."

"Good night, . Be safe getting home."

"Good night to you as well, Ms. Midoriya."

"Please," Inko smiled at Toshinori. "Call me Inko. I feel like we've known each other long enough to do away with formalities."

"Then it's only fair that you can call me Toshinori." He smiled back.

"Well then, Good night, Toshinori."

"Good night, Inko."

Toshinori flashed Inko a quick smile and left. As he walked across the parking lot to his truck, his footsteps echoed across the apartment buildings. He unlocked it and put his hand on the door handle. But he didn't open the door; instead, he looked up into the night sky and observed the few twinkling stars. A gentle smile played on his face as he star-gazed.

"Who would've thought finding a successor would be so interesting."

Author's Notes

Hello once again. While this upload took a bit, it wasn't as bad as last time. So, all in all, I am pleased with my progress. I don't really have much to say beyond that at this time. Besides that, I am already working on the next chapter and other stories. One of the stories I have cooking is based on the game Pyre from Supergiant Games. I love the hell out of that game. I'm rambling, so I'll close off as I usually do. You've made it this far, so thank you for reading whether you enjoyed it or not, though I hope you enjoyed it. Please share your thoughts in the Comments. I relish reading through them. Until next time, take care

-TheWritersApprentice