Katsumi sat with Izuku studying for hours, Izuku explaining the information to her as they went through his school books. She copied down everything needed to know for each subject and how different questions were expected to be answered. It was boring work.

Halfway through Katsumi decided to switch her seat, sitting right next to Izuku so she could see his work better. He felt a bit anxious being that close to her. They hadn't known each other for that long, and her casual closeness with him was strange. Calling each other by their first names, training together and now being so physically close? His heart was beating out of his chest! Though he was the one to close that physical gap with that hug, he hadn't expected her to adapt to it so quickly.

Either way with how lax she was with learning Izuku was forced to ignore his racing heart. He had to be the serious one. He wasn't the brightest student but he always paid attention in class, Katsumi on the other hand seemed like she would spend more time being told off than listening to the teacher.

She constantly tried to change the subject, look at her phone or would just start teasing him in order to not have to work. It made their progress much slower. But when Izuku's Mum came back home, all her focus issues magically disappeared. She sat up straight and started writing intensely as if she had been working hard the whole time.

'Would you like any help cooking Ms Midoriya?' Katasumi asked as Izuku's Mum set down the shopping bags on the kitchen counter. Seemed like she was still looking for an out.

'Oh thank you dear but please, focus on your studies!'

'Yeah Katsumi,' Izuku muttered. She jabbed him under the table.

By the time Ms Midoriya had finished dinner, they had gone through about half of the subjects. Katsumi was happy to take a break, finally escaping the dullness of academia.

'Here we are! Enjoy!'

'Thank you for the meal.'

Katsumi was starving seeing she had neglected to eat all day (she could hardly count that yoghurt bowl). Gleefully she dug into the meal Ms Midoriya had set out. As she slurped up some noodles her face lit up. God, it was good. Furiously she made her way through the ramen.

'Delicious!' Katsumi grinned as she placed down her chopsticks.

'I'm glad you like it dear.' Ms Midoriya smiled.

'You're not done already are you?' Izuku gave her a judgmental look as he watched her clean her mouth.

'Y'know you can be real rude sometimes Izuku.' Katsumi continued to eat.

Ms Midoriya sighed, 'He really can be! He's always getting annoyed when I try to help him.'

'Mum!'

Katsumi did end up finishing before either of the Midoriyas. Ms Midoriya took the opportunity to ask her about America and her family, giving her something to talk about as they ate.

'Oh well, y'know… Americas like… pretty big.'

'Certainly! Where about's were you living?'

'I moved to California when I was eight, my Mum was a model here and now she owns a magazine company there or something.'

Izuku's eyes widened, 'Really? So your Mum's famous? Who is she?'

Katsumi had to restrain herself, only shooting a dirty look towards Izuku for a second to avoid his mother noticing. Of course, the All Might fanboy would want to know what sort of woman the hero was into.

'Her model name was Noa. She used to be big here in Japan for modelling before she started going down the business route.'

Ms Midoriya put a finger to her chin, 'Noa… That name sounds familiar. Ah! Wasn't she the model who could change her appearance?'

Katsumi blinked in surprise, 'Yeah actually. She was always in high demand cuz she could literally look anyway a company wanted.'

'What an incredible quirk! She could have been a spy hero with such a quirk.'

'Oh Izuku, always thinking about heroes.'

'Yeah,' Katsumi couldn't imagine her mother ever being a hero. 'if you think about it, my quirk's just my mother's on steroids.'

Izuku nodded, remembering how All Might had explained how his quirk worked. Although Katsumi didn't possess One For All it was anyone's guess about whether it had in some way affected Katsumi's body or quirk.

Once they had finished eating Katsumi insisted on helping Ms Midoriya clear up, Izuku remained at the table, scribbling into a notebook.

'It's quite late honey, how are you getting home?'

'Oh yeah, I should message my Dad.' Katsumi took out her phone to message him.

'Feel free to stay in the living room while you wait for him, dear,' Ms Midoriya smiled as she dried a plate, 'It's quite late though so you'll have to excuse me, my bed is calling!'

Katsumi grinned, 'Yeah sorry I've kept you all up late,' Katsumi turned to look at Izuku sitting at the table, 'It's probably way past your bedtime Izuku, I hope you won't be cranky tomorrow!'

'You're four months older than me.'

Once they had finished cleaning up Ms Midoriya bid her goodbyes to Katsumi, ensuring she knew she was welcome to come round whenever she wanted.

'Looks like I charmed your Mum,' Katsumi plopped down next to Izuku. He had a notebook in front of him faced down, the one he had been writing in.

'Yeah I'm glad,' Izuku sighed, 'I can't believe you were making fun of me in front of my own Mother though!'

Giggling Katsumi leaned her arm on the table, resting her head against her hand as she looked at the boy next to her. Izuku looked away from her gaze, feeling his face heat up.

'Anyways, here!' he pushed the notebook towards her, his cheeks feeling even hotter.

'Oh, is this what you've been keeping secret?' Katsumi picked up the notebook, 'Quirk Analysis for Katsumi?'

'Remember how you asked me to write down my ideas for how you can use your quirk?' Izuku watched as Katsumi opened the book, 'Well I wrote down as much I could think of to help you, well at least I hope it'll help you.'

Katsumi looked at the notebook, she flipped through the pages full of writing and diagrams. Ideas on workouts to strengthen her body, move ideas, different applications of her quirk she could use. There were different analyses of heroes and how she could borrow from their fighting styles and how to adapt them for her quirk. She recognised some ideas he had already shown her, like Kamui Woods, but there was so much information. It must have taken forever.

'How long did this take you?' She whispered, still looking through.

'Oh uh,' Izuku realised how intently he had been staring at her and looked away, 'I started working on it when you asked me to, but I don't have much free time so I could only work on it for a little while every day so that's why it took so long…'

Katsumi slowly placed the book on the table, Izuku pursed his lip. Oh god, she didn't like it. It was weird. She definitely just meant it as an offhand comment, why'd he have to go make it such a big deal?

'Sorry, I know-'

Katsumi turned around and threw her arms around him. He yelped as they fell to the floor.

'Ugh! You're so cool!' Katsumi cried as she squeezed him, 'I'm gonna treasure this book forever!'

Izuku felt like he was about to melt into the floor as he felt Katsumis's body push up against him for the second time that day. Only this time she wasn't crying and in a vulnerable position. Without the heavy atmosphere from earlier, he was feeling quite a bit different about this hug.

'I can't believe you did that for me!' Katsumi beamed at him as she released him, he dropped down, frozen in shock.

'Oh, whoops looks like I broke you,' she poked his burning cheek as she got off him. She picked up the book again, holding it up in the air, 'I can't believe how detailed this is! Do you have one of these for yourself?'

Izuku stared at the ceiling, still dazed, 'Huh?'

Katsumi leaned over him, shoving the book in his face, 'You have one of these for yourself?'

'Huh, uh I have a bunch.'

'Damn!' Katsumi pulled back.

Izuku slowly sat up, his heart finally beginning to slow. He watched as she continued to look through the book. A smile crept up on him as he saw the grin she wore as she read through the pages. All that effort had been worth it.

'Is your Dad going to be here soon?'

'Huh, what's this?' Katsumi cocked her head before she started laughing, 'Costume ideas?'

'Ack!' Izuku sprung up, 'You don't have to use them! I just-'

Katsumi held up the book, pointing the the drawing of a female body labelled, 'hero suit'.

'Hahaha! Is this a costume idea?' She snickered, 'This the sort of stuff you wanna see me in?'

Izuku slapped the sides of his head, 'No! No! That's not-'

'Shhh!' Katsumi put a finger to her mouth, 'Your Mum's tryna sleep!'

Izuku found himself wishing that All Might would just come and pick her up. He had too much excitement that evening.

'Ohh I see, it's like a female version of All Mights suit,' Katsumi took a better look at the drawing before she turned back to Izuku, 'Bet you wish you had an excuse to wear somethin' like this…' Izuku just sighed in defeat, she was just going to keep teasing him. He brought his knees up to his chin.

'It's a pretty good design, I might just use it.'

'Are you messing with me?' he mumbled into his knees.

Katsumi smiled, 'No not really, I'll probably change it, it's not very fashionable I won't lie but I like the idea of using Dad's colours.'

Izuku looked up at her, 'Is your Dad here yet?'

'Agh!' Katsumi dropped the book in surprise, she pouted and looked away in feigned hurt, 'Wow, you really want me to leave that badly?'

'It's past my bedtime.'

When her Dad did come, Izuku walked out to his car with Katsumi. He reassured All Might she had been no trouble (even though she had) and said his goodbyes. As they drove off he yawned. It was late and he still had homework to complete for tomorrow, it was going to be a long night.

The next day at school Izuku was even more exhausted than usual. It wasn't uncommon for him to go to school tired with how intense the training regime All Might had given him, but the excitement of Katsumi coming around his house had tired him more than any run or lifting he had done.

He yawned as he flicked through his notes, filled with calculations of how to maximise the amount of exercise he could do before the exam. He had to get stronger to inherit All Might's quirk, there was no room for failure, so he had to go above and beyond what All Might had set for him.

As he looked at the scribbles on the paper his vision became blurry. Rubbing his eyes he picked up a pencil, he might as well spend his break doing something, even if he was tired.

'Hey Midoriya.'

Izuku looked up, a group of girls hovered around his desk giggling at each other.

'Hi?' He managed to squeak out. He wasn't used to his classmates talking to him. The girl who had spoken before hushed the girls behind her.

'Sorry about them, but can I ask you something quick?'

'Sure.' He said apprehensively, where was this going?

'Last Friday were you at a park?'

'Uh… yeah.'

'See!' The girl turned back to her friends, a wide grin plastered on her face, 'I told you guys!'

'Yeah, but he didn't say anything 'bout a girl.'

Izuku felt his face flare up. He had been at the park, with Katsumi. He wouldn't have thought anyone from school would be there- thank god All Might wasn't there that day.

'Look at his face, it's bright red! You were with a blonde girl weren't you- tell them, they don't believe me!'

'Uh, yeah…' He looked away, trying to think of a reason to end the conversation. He had a feeling they were making fun of him.

'Damn really?' One of the other girls came forward, 'Akane-chan said she was like- model pretty. What were you doing with her?'

'Well-'

'Yeah, she had all these cool piercings and her clothes were from that fancy sports store at the mall.'

'Woah is she rich?'

'She doesn't go to our school how do you even know her?'

'Uh-' Izuku tried to get a word in as the girls chattered too loudly.

'Yeah, you two seemed really close.'

'Haha… I wouldn't say that.'

'Omg was it a date?'

Izuku eyes widened and his mouth flew open. A couple of students had been obviously eavesdropping. He could feel all their eyes on him. The thought of jumping out the window seemed really appealing at that moment, though he didn't think All Might would be very pleased about that.

'God can you extras shut up!'

For the first time in his life, he was actually relieved to hear Bakugo shouting.

'Come on Bakugo we're just-'

'I don't care!' From the front of the class, Bakugo had turned round, obviously annoyed by the commotion. '

'You guys are so damn loud I can't hear myself think!'

'You're the one who's shouting Katsuki.'

'Shut up!'

Izuku shoulders relaxed as the girls walked away, muttering in annoyance. He picked up his pencil and pressed it to the paper.

'Omg was it a date?'

Feeing his cheeks flush he pursed his lips, staring down blankly at the paper. No, it wasn't a date. He didn't even like her like that. He did like being around her though, All Might's training sessions had actually become a little fun with her. His heart also had a bad habit of beating too fast when she was around, but that was normal, anyone would feel nervous being around her, she was so pretty after all. But he didn't like her likethat. No, no way. Sure he had spent hours and hours making that book for her but that was a symbol of friendship, he would do that for anyone.

They were simply training buddies.

He shook his head, Katsumi was his friend, his only real friend at the moment. There was no point in risking that at the moment. They had only really just met, and with all the training he didn't have time to think about feelings.

Stroking his hair back as he leaned over his desk Izuku sighed, there was still so much time till the exam, yet there were seeming not enough hours in the day to prepare. He sighed.

And All Might would be annoyed if I tried anything.

Izuku slapped his forehead, why was he still thinking about Katsumi? Did he somewhere in his head think he would have a chance with her? Why, because she was nice to him?

He frowned. He had to get into UA first, then he could think more about it.

Katsumi thanked the nail tech again as she left the salon. She grinned as she looked at her freshly done set. They were shorter than her last set, those had been long even for her. She had only been able to get them because she had been forced to leave the gymnastics team due to being arrested. Now she was starting it up again, along with all the other strenuous activities she was partaking in to prepare for the UA exams she needed to shorten her nails. At least she didn't have to remove them completely, not yet at least.

The nail tech had done a fantastic job, she couldn't help but keep glancing at the shimmering emerald green. Grinning, she walked along the street. It was almost lunch, maybe she should get some food.

She came across a convenience store, the Japanese food they sold there was still pretty new and exciting to her. The food sold was much nicer than any food sold back in America. Leaving with an onigiri in one hand and a lemon soda in the other she almost skipped along the road. She couldn't wait till the afternoon, they were set to clean the beach once Izuku left school. Smiling she thought about the book he had given her, it was safe in her bedside drawer at home. Katsumi had tried to read through it a little last night but was too tired. That night she didn't need to take any sleeping pills to sleep, it was the first time since she came back to Japan that she had slept naturally.

Everything was so good and she was in such a good mood she almost ignored the weird feeling that shot through her body.

But she didn't ignore it, and she stopped walking. Out of the corner of her eye, she swore she saw something. She was stood next to an alleyway, a little gap between two buildings. But staring into the darkness, it was seemingly empty.

Katsumi swore she had seen something in there, a flash of yellow?

'Ha,' breathing out, she shook her head and continued to walk along the street. There weren't many people around, but she couldn't help but feel eyes on her.

She walked back to the train station quickly.