"You WHAT?!"
1-A turned their heads toward the pinkette, watching in confusion as she squeezed her lithe fingers around her friend, vigorously shaking her.
The brunette in question felt her already rosy cheeks flush harder as memories of the aforementioned night assaulted her brain.
Leaning in towards the pinkettes ear, Ochako restated herself, her tone as hushed as possible.
"I…kissed him."
Instantly, a high-pitched squeal flooded the room as Mina ensnared her friend in a bone-crushing hug.
"I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT! GO URARA!" The pinkette shot to her feet, swinging her arms in the air before accompanying it with a small dance.
Ochako could feel her face melting off from her blush.
Turning away from the pinkette, Ochako surveyed the classroom, searching for the boy who'd caused her embarrassment to begin with.
"I don't think I see him today…" A slight frown settled upon her face as she returned her gaze to the still-dancing Mina.
"She just kissed you?"
Izuku nodded, idly strumming an acoustic guitar his therapist had handed him; the aforementioned guitar being tucked away from sight prior to today.
"Y-Yeah. W-We were talking a-about the USJ and then she leaned in and k-kissed me." A blush painted his features as his fingers danced across the fretboard, a bright, full, B chord reverberating throughout the office.
Dr. McKnight scribbled on his clipboard, his brow slightly scrunched as a look of rumination pained his feelings.
Meanwhile, Izuku continued to play, dropping his index finger off of every string but one and sliding his third and fourth fingers to the second fret to play E before starting the progression from the beginning.
After a short while, a smile crept its way onto the older man's face as his head rose from his board.
"Two Beers In." A glint of approval flashed in the man's eyes as Izuku procured his own grin.
The Jujutsu Sorcerer allowed himself to feel his fingers feverently dance across the fretboard as his right thumb rhythmically strummed the instrument.
"Y-Yeah. When I first started playing I ended up going down a Midwest Emo rabbit hole and found out about Free Throw. It's probably basic but Two Beers In is my favorite song from them."
Dr. McKnight gave an approving hum before redirecting the conversation.
"We'll speak more on that some other time. For now, tell me about this girl. Do you like her back?"
Although his patient had yet to answer, the older man was granted his answer almost immediately.
Izuku's hands remained as they were, elegantly dancing across the fretboard as he shifted from B Major to C Sharp Minor for the song's chorus.
His face, however, was the complete opposite.
His face was covered from neck to hairline in a bright red blush, as though his head had been dunked in a bucket of face paint while his Six Eyes feverently searched for a distraction wherever possible.
Finally, he spoke.
"I-I uh…I-I. I t-think I d-do but what if she doesn't…"
An uncomfortable silence filled the office as the Sorcerer's right hand stopped strumming, opting to shake nervously as sweat leaked freely from seemingly every pore on his body.
Until a small laugh snapped that silence in half.
Six Eyes snapped upward as the Sorcerer looked toward his doctor, confusion and slight indignation painting his face.
Catching the twinge of anger, the doctor hastily raised his hands before explaining himself.
"Izuku, excuse my breach of professionalism, she fucking kissed you. You've made massive improvements in your self-confidence, don't let that falter over a kiss you received."
Instantly, the vexation the Sorcerer felt melted away as his Six Eyes fell to the ground, his face flushed.
His doctor was right, and Izuku knew it.
Slowly raising his bright blue eyes, Izuku thought over his next words before speaking.
"...What if we don't work out?"
It was a legitimate concern, but nonetheless, Dr. McKnight refused to allow him to wallow in his negativity.
"The guitar you're holding was a gift from a woman whom I considered my first love. She meant the world to me but we eventually fell apart."
The doctor was met with a confused gaze from his patient which he dismissed with a wave of his hand.
"Let me finish. Although we didn't work out, I loved every second of being with her. She pushed me to be a better musician, and a better fighter; and when I switched my career toward medicine, she gave me her full support. What I'm saying, Izuku, is don't let that fear of the future stop you from being happy in the present. Don't think just do."
Izuku stared at his doctor intently, absorbing every word that flowed from the man's mouth as he contemplated his next decision.
It didn't take long for him to reach his conclusion.
"Yes sir."
A smile painted both of their features as Izuku stood, ready to head to school as late as he was.
"Wait, Izuku,"
"Yes?"
"Keep the guitar. It was a gift from her. Let it remind you to prioritize happiness over fear."
"Sorry, I'm late!"
The greenette burst through the door of 1-A, guitar case in hand as he breathed heavily.
Aizawa turned a lazy gaze to the boy before responding to him, his tone matching his eyes.
"You didn't miss anything too important. Take a seat, I have an announcement to make." The sorcerer nodded at the instructions before hastily taking his seat.
Kyouka, who noticed what the greenette had brought to class, turned back toward the boy, waving slightly to gain his attention.
Six Eyes met coal black as Izuku waved back at the girl, a smile on his face.
"Yes, Jirou?" His tone was light as his smile winded slightly.
He hadn't talked to her in a while.
Fighting back the blush threatening to take her face, Kyouka cleared her throat before pointing toward the guitar case and speaking.
"I didn't know you played." The greenette turned his Six Eyes to the case before a blush crept onto his features.
"I-I know a thing or two." A small grin weaseled its way onto the girl's face, happy to have a fellow musician in 1-A.
Twirling her jacks on her finger, Kyouka could no longer fight the crimson that now painted her face.
"Then you'll have to show me when we get the time."
"As first years, the UA High Goodwill Sports Event, informally known as the Sports Festival, is your first chance to display yourselves to the public. Think of this as your hero debut before your hero debut." Aizawa observed the initial reaction of his students, his already-present frown deepening as his expectations were subverted negatively.
They weren't at all excited.
1-A shared apprehensive looks with one another, silently asking each other to speak on behalf of the class, Mina volunteering per usual.
"No offense Aizawa-Sensei, but we just got through a villain attack. Wouldn't it be a bad look hosting the sports festival?" Her criticism was valid as a majority of the class nodded their heads in agreement.
Aizawa pinched the bridge of his bandaged nose, furrowing his brow as he thought of the best way to explain UA's reasoning to his students.
He didn't have to, however, as Izuku did it for him.
"Not necessarily. If anything it's a show of strength y'know? UA is essentially telling, not just the villains, but the press that despite suffering a villain attack, UA students are strong enough to show up and show out at the Sports Festival in so little time after."
A round of murmurs surrounded the class as they contemplated the words of their class president and homeroom teacher as Aizawa took the chance to piggyback off of the Sorcerer's words.
"Midoriya is correct. By hosting the Sports Festival we not only show the resilience of our Hero Course students, but we also publicly display the skills you've all attained in your short period of schooling. I implore you all to compete because I know that you all have the ability to steal the show and earn us a complete 1-A sweep."
Shock.
Shock befell 1-A as they witnessed their prickly homeroom teacher essentially beg them to compete, conveying to them a sense of pride he had in them.
It was enough to light a fire within class 1-A.
Ochako was the first person to speak, standing from her desk and shooting a fist into the air before exclaiming loudly.
"1-A SWEEP!"
"Can I help you?"
Izuku stood in front of a crowd of students, a confused look painting his features as he patiently waited for someone to speak.
A purple-haired boy, who seemed as lethargic as their homeroom teacher, looked the Sorcerer over, as though he was studying him.
The aforementioned greenette allowed it to happen, a kind smile on his face as his own classmates began to crowd behind him.
Finally, the tired-looking boy spoke.
"The UA High Goodwill Sports Event serves as a display of strength for UA. However, there also serves a secondary function not many know of."
The smile that marked Izuku's face began to falter, his eyes furrowing as he recognized the look in the lethargic boy's eyes.
Envy.
It was the same look he held in his eyes during his early youth, constantly pining to be something more.
But the envy in the lethargic boy's eyes was accompanied by sweltering indignation poised wholly toward class 1-A.
Focusing his Six Eyes on the boy in front of him, Izuku spoke once more.
"And what exactly is that secondary function?"
A small grin weaseled its way onto the tired boy's face, but it wasn't one of friendly mirth.
But one of arrogance.
"It allows students from other courses to transfer into the Hero Course, should they display skills considered exemplary. Conversely it also-"
Izuku cut him off.
"It means that we have a chance of being kicked from the Hero Course."
The purple-haired boy's smile grew.
"Consider this conversation a deceleration of war. I will secure a seat in the Hero Course, even if that means I have to take it from one of you. Seeing you all parade around as though you're strong when in reality you won the genetic lottery infuriates me; I'll enjoy the look on your faces when I replace you."
Izuku furrowed his brow further, his anxious smile now replaced by a disappointed frown as he looked his challenger over.
Six Eyes met Lavender as the Jujutsu Sorcerer wrapped up his assessment of the lethargic boy.
"Despite your height, you have visible fat on your arms and stomach. Your legs lack any muscle definition and based on those deep breaths you're taking despite engaging in little to no physical activity, I can tell you rarely do any exercise." The Sorcerer punctuated his assessment by pinching the fat under the boy's arm.
Stepping back, Izuku carefully removed his blazer and dress shirt, revealing a carefully crafted muscular structure for all to see.
"Unlike you, however, we in the Hero Course work ourselves half to death, constantly striving to push past our limits so that we can save as many lives as possible."
The Jujutsu Sorcerer drove his finger into the chest of the boy, nearly sending him to the ground before speaking once more.
"If you want a spot in the Hero Course then be prepared to face off against a group of students who've run themselves ragged and then some to get where they are, and I don't mean just 1-A. Despite their name, 1-B are just as capable as we are meaning you'll have two classes worth of students to best and you plan on doing that with no sort of physical training?"
The lavender-haired boy's eyes narrowed as he tried to ignore the ache in his chest. Despite his animosity toward the Hero Course, Izuku was right about one thing.
How could he hope to compete against the very best when he was too lazy to properly train his body?
Shifting his gaze to the floor, the lethargic boy contemplated his next move, eager to subvert the new expectations placed on him.
Until Izuku spoke once more.
"Wanting to rise above your station isn't a bad thing, especially within this school, but if you hope to do so you have to be ready to break yourself into pieces before putting them back together. Here," The greenette reached into his pant pocket before handing a piece of paper to the lethargic boy.
Unfolding the page, the lavender-haired boy silently read the title, a confused look settling in his eyes as he did so.
"Fast Track to Grade 1: 5 Month Plan to Becoming A Grade 1 Sorcerer"
Sensing his confusion, Izuku clarified, a warm smile settling onto his face.
"After our Battle Trials, Mineta asked me for tips to get stronger. It was because of that that I made this, a five-month plan that'll make you bleed, sweat, and cry all while improving your physical strength."
The Sorcerer held out his fist, his small smile now a wide grin.
"Train yourself half to death and then come challenge me. Truly earn your spot among the Hero Course because I truly believe that, despite what you think of your quirk, you can become a Hero."
"The key to higher kicks, brother, is to get your knee high. The better your knee elevation, the higher your kicks."
Aoi shot off an elegant right-round kick, the strike cutting through the air with a height Izuku could only hope to replicate.
With a nod, Izuku fell into his stance before mimicking his older brother, his results impressive but not nearly as close to the source of inspiration.
The younger Sorcerer kissed his teeth, a twinge of vexation on his face as a result of his failure.
His brother noticed this and rested one of his hands on his younger brother's shoulder.
"Don't beat yourself up over a kick, brother, how about we focus on something else? Anything else you've been having trouble with?" The twinge of annoyance in the boy's face melted, being replaced by a look of confusion as he thought it over.
The younger Sorcerer's fist slammed into his palm as he came to a realization.
"I've been using the same two Cursed Techniques for a while. They're strong but the incident at the USJ made me realize just how screwed I am once they're neutralized."
Catching onto the thought process of his younger brother, Aoi finished his thought before he could.
"And now you're wondering if there is a chance you can use the Cursed Technique of another one of my friends."
"Is that disrespectful? I'm sorry if it is." The greenettes voice dropped as he began to count the individual grains of sand beneath his feet via Six Eyes.
Noticing his despondency, Aoi squeezed his younger brother's shoulder, causing the greenettes Six Eyes to rise back to meet his brothers.
"Izuku. My friend and mentor have imparted upon you their techniques alongside their wills. If you're able to utilize the techniques of other passed Jujutsu Sorcerers then please do so, because that means they have entrusted you with their very being!" Aoi punctuated his speech with a strong hug, almost crushing his little brother as he lifted the boy from his feet.
The aforementioned brother lost his look of guilt and replaced it with one of determination, eager to carry out the will of his deceased brethren.
Mustering up all the air he could, Izuku managed to breathe out a question.
"W-What technique s-should I try first?"
A wide grin split Aoi's face.
"I have just the technique in mind."
"Are you sure this is for your quirk? I don't mind making it but these can't get a little iffy, especially here."
The Jujutsu sorcerer nodded before handing her a form.
"I got clearance from Nezu, so long as I don't use the real deal I can file it under a tool for my quirk until I get my Hero License."
The support student nodded, her shoulder-length pink locs shaking as she did so, reminding Izuku of a certain American therapist he knew.
"Welp as long as it's somewhat legal!" She punctuated her sentence with light humming as she handed Izuku a package.
Opening the wrapping paper, Izuku smiled, eager to break in his commission as soon as possible.
"Thank you…"
"Mei. Mei Hatsume. Don't forget that name cuz soon enough I'll be the premier support item manufacturer!"
Izuku chuckled as he watched the passion bubble beneath her eyes.
"I won't, Mei, once I become a Special Grade Sorcerer I'll be sure to commission plenty of Cursed Tools."
"Ok! But what's a Cursed Tool?"
"ARE YOU READYYYYY?!?!"
It was time.
After training himself into the ground with his brother, Izuku felt as though he was finally ready to take on the Sports Festival.
"Today isn't just an opportunity to show off, it's an opportunity to make my debut as a hero prospect and as a Jujutsu Sorcerer. This is a major step in my journey to become the number one hero and a Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer!" Clutching his fist, Izuku poured Cursed Energy into the appendage, watching the deep blue flame-like wisps encompass it.
With the chaos of the first few days, Izuku hadn't been allowed to truly feel as though he was a hero course student. But here, mere steps away from making his introduction alongside his classmates,
He truly felt as though he was a student of 1-A.
Allowing the Cursed Energy to dissipate, Izuku made a move toward his bag, unwrapping the support item he'd ordered and shoving it inside his jacket.
He wanted to keep that as a surprise for later.
So engrossed in his preparation, the Sorcerer nearly jumped out of his skin when a cool hand settled onto his shoulder.
"Midoriya." The Greenette relaxed, he knew that voice well enough.
Turning from his bag, Izuku met his classmate's eyes, the boy's gaze being just as cold as his quirk.
"Is there something I can help you with, Todoroki?" He let a smile come to his face, happy at the chance to help one of his classmates.
Shoto, however, lacked any sort of mirth.
"As of right now, you're one of the strongest in 1-A." The smile on Izuku's face faltered.
He didn't like where this was going.
"I wouldn't say that; everyone in our class has their own strengths, strengths that I don't possess. Don't count anyone out during this event, regardless of their course, because I have faith they'll surprise you." By the time his speech was over, Izuku realized two things.
Shoto seemingly didn't care.
And everyone else did.
A chorus of cheers filled the area as students from every course cheered on the now-blushing greenette.
Before Shoto could open his mouth to speak, a feminine voice called out for their class to begin their walk.
"I ask that the freshman Player Representative come to the stage for opening remarks."
The crowd of the aforementioned freshmen stared at each other, ignorant of who among them held the position mentioned by the Pro Hero.
Noticing said ignorance, Midnight pinched the bridge of her nose before speaking again.
"The Player Representative is the student with the highest score on the entrance exams."
A chorus of 'Ohhh' rang throughout the crowd before they focused their attention on the aforementioned highest scorer.
Izuku Midoriya.
The Sorcerer felt his face flush and his heart rate increase, hesitant to speak in front of, not just the entire school, but the entirety of Japan.
"What if I say the wrong thing? What if my speech is too long? What if accidentally offend the other classes? Will they kick me from the festival? But this is my first chance to make my debut! I can't afford to mess this up...but what if I do?" The crowd continued to stare at their representative as he ran over every bad possibility in his head several times over.
Until a padded hand squeezed his own.
Izuku turned to meet the owner of the hands he'd grown accustomed to in such a short amount of time, his head completely covered in crimson.
Ochako was no better as her entire body threatened to seize up at the contact she initiated, her brown eyes refusing to meet his blue ones.
Breaking the awkward silence, Ochako managed to speak, her eyes still refusing to meet his.
"Y-You got this, Deku. You earned the representative spot so use it to say what you already said to us!"
And so that's what he did.
Walking as confidently as he could, Izuku stood behind the microphone, Six Eyes scanning the massive crowd in the stands and locking onto his brother and mother, both of whom smiled at him before pointing slightly to the left. Shifting his gaze, Izuku's Six Eyes met brown ones as Dr. McKnight waved to him, a smile painting his face as he flashed an encouraging thumbs up.
That, paired with Ochako's words, was all the encouragement he needed.
Clearing his throat, Izuku settled his gaze over his fellow freshman, a determined glint flashing in his eyes before he spoke.
"I-I've received a few declarations of w-war. And while I'm glad that many think that I'm strong enough to deserve that, I c-can't let the efforts of my fellow students go unappreciated. Each and every one of you has the potential to win this festival because each and every one of you has strengths unable to be emulated by even All Might. So use that strength; use it to beat your competitors, and use it to beat yourself so as to become the best you you can be. Now say it with me, Go Beyond,"
"PLUS ULTRA!"
"The first event is…the Obstacle Race!"
After a brief explanation of the event, the freshmen stood at the starting line, eagerly awaiting the signal to start.
Once the whip cracked, Izuku immediately jumped, watching as Shoto's ice ensnared a number of the other competitors.
Clasping his hands together, Izuku flashed the hand sign for Nue, using the summoned bird to carry him over the ice.
"A SNEAKY TRAP FROM SHOTO TODOROKI! HOWEVER, IT SEEMS LIKE SOME MANAGED TO AVOID IT! WHAT SHALL HE DO?!" Present Mic yelled.
Izuku chuckled to himself as he continued to sprint the length of the course, avoiding any ice traps from his classmates as he ran.
This pace continued for a while until they arrived at the next section of the obstacle course.
"THE FIRST OBSTACLE HAS ARRIVED, THE FOREST OF ROBOTS!"
The aforementioned Forest of Robots was, in reality, a plethora of robots from the entrance exam swinging wildly at them.
Slipping into the shadow of one robot, Izuku narrowly evaded getting crushed by a metallic limb before popping out and continuing to run toward the finish line.
"HELP!"
Until he heard that voice.
Turning on his heel, Izuku caught sight of a red-haired girl, presumably from the general or business course, cowering under the fast-approaching fist of one of the robots.
Raising his left hand, the Jujutsu Sorcerer flashed the seal for Orochi, summoning the massive snake which consumed the arm that threatened to crush the cowering girl.
Rushing away from the finish line, Izuku ran to the girl, scooping her up before resuming his pace toward the finish line.
"WHAT'S THIS?! IZUKU HAS SAVED A BUSINESS COURSE STUDENT AND IS RUNNING WITH HER TO THE FINISH LINE!" As soon as the words left his mouth the crowd went ballistic, cheering the Jujutsu Sorcerer on.
Izuku poured a moderate amount of Cursed Energy into his legs, pushing past Momo to secure third place behind Katsuki.
Shifting his gaze, Izuku looked down at the girl in his arms, a warm smile painting his features.
"Are you alright?"
She offered a small nod, twinges of pink dusting her face.
"Alright. I'm gonna set you down, is that alright?" Another nod.
Slinging her over his shoulder, Izuku used his newly freed hand to summon Divine Dogs, the twin wolves grabbing the shocked Business Course student and setting her down gently while still allowing Izuku to maintain his pace.
"1-A IS IN THE LEAD! BUT, WILL THEY BE ABLE TO KEEP THAT LEAD WHEN UP AGAINST OUR NEXT OBSTACLE, THE FALL?!?!?!?"
The Fall was a massive canyon that could only be crossed by walking on ropes.
Izuku could fly using Nue.
Izuku was now in second place.
Upon passing Katsuki, the blonde ground his teeth, pouring more sweat into his explosions in an attempt to gain on the Sorcerer resulting in the two trading second and third.
Up until they hit the final obstacle.
"WE'RE REACHING THE CONCLUSION OF OUR THRILLING OBSTACLE RACE! THE FINAL OBSTACLE IS THE MINFIELD! PRETTY SELF EXPLANATORY!"
Upon reaching the minefield, Shoto and Izuku slowed their pace as Katsuki, who was all but immune to the low-level explosions the mines produced, secured first place.
But Izuku planned for that.
Recalling his Shikigami, Izuku began frantically collecting the mines, pilling up as many as he could all while the other contestants began to overtake him.
"OUR FRESHMAN REPRESENTATIVE IS FALLING BEHIND! WILL HE BE ABLE TO RETAKE HIS LEAD IN SO LITTLE TIME?!"
Spoiler alert,
He was.
The Jujutsu Sorcerer jumped onto the mines, reinforcing his body with Cursed Energy, which launched him forward a number of places.
Directly behind Katsuki and Shoto.
The former shot an aggressive glare back toward the greenette, a maniacal grin on his face as he continued to rocket forward.
"BACK BEHIND ME WHERE YOU BELONG, DEKU! NONE OF YOUR SHITTY SHADOW PUPPETS CAN HELP YOU CLOSE THIS GAP!" And Katsuki was right, none of his Shikigami could close the gap in such a short amount of time.
None that Katsuki knew of that is.
Bringing his fingers together, in a way not dissimilar to Ochako whenever she releases her quirk, Izuku called upon his newly subjugated Shikigami.
"Gama."
The large frog emerged from the shadows, wrapping Shoto and Katsuki in its tongue before throwing them backward, securing Izuku first place.
And securing his victory.
"The second event will be…A PILLOW FIGHT!"
The qualifying freshmen stared at Midnight as she went over the rules for the event. A look of disbelief settling on their faces.
"Each winner of the pre-qualifiers will be awarded a point value, hit a contestant three times with your pillow and you will be awarded their point value in addition to your own. However, that contestant could very well regain their points by striking you three times. You're allowed to form teams of up to three."
After wrapping up her explanation, Izuku, Ochako, and Mei formed a team, ready to begin the next event.
"10 MILLION POINTS!"
The greenette clutched his pillow, a look of determination painting his features as he awaited the start of the event.
As soon as the whip cracked, the other contestants were on Izuku like white on rice, swinging their bolsters at the greenette who narrowly managed to dodge.
Stomping his foot, Izuku allowed himself to melt into the shadow of one attacker before emerging behind him and slamming his pillow into the attacker, absorbing his points.
Running back to his team, the Sorcerer grabbed the wrist of a blonde student before sweeping his legs out from under him and slamming his pillow into the contestant, gaining his points.
Leaning next to the brunette, Izuku spoke decisively.
Their next plan would net them plenty of points.
"Do it. Now."
The brunette nodded, a light dusting of pink on her face before turning to her fellow teammate.
"We're good to go."
The pink-haired woman nodded before setting some charges on the ground and backing away, the contestants closing in on her and her team doing the same.
With a maniacal grin and a twitch of her finger, Mei detonated the charges, creating a number of large hunks of rock.
"Your turn Gravity Girl!"
The aforementioned brunette nodded, tagging a number of the newly created boulders with her quirk, removing their gravity.
"Izuku!"
The Jujutsu Sorcerer nodded, flashing the hand seal for his newly subjugated Shikigami which ensnared the floating debris with its tongue.
With a wave of his hand, Gama sent the floating rocks toward a number of approaching contestants, Katsuki and Shoto included.
The aforementioned duo retreated, aware of the Sorcerer's plan and wanting nothing to do with it.
"Release!"
They were glad they did so.
The debris dropped instantly, trapping a number of contestants and allowing Izuku's team to steal a myriad of points with little to no risk.
"ATTACK DEKU NOW!"
"TIMES UP!"
"FUCK!"
MODdenial:We just got past USJ and S.S. Matcha has already sailed?
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!
Ant: Type shi
3headed-dragon:A nice little emotional chapter to help with character development, I like it. Ochako has kissed Izuku, does this confirm that this is the pairing or will things change down the line? Keep up the good work.
Ant: Ian gon speak on the ship word is bond.
Heisenbones: "Throughout heaven and earth, I alone am the honored one..
Now what if he had Shrine?
Ant: Izuku won't have any of Sukunas cursed techniques. I got ah plan for Sukuna and AFO yah just gon have tah wait word is bond.
Y'all know the deal type shi say it w me,
WORD IS BONDDDDDDD