The next few days weren't too bad, finally ending the middle school chapter of my life for the brief week of summer.
Even if It was a cloudy day, the tickets for the USJ were already bought, and the train ride into Osaka ended up being so peaceful. I'd fought hard to get today away from the studio since I only had a week away before the school year, but it was promised to Jiro first.
Harry Potter, Nintendo, Demon Slayer, One Piece. All of these famous IP had rides and foods, my favorite being the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, especially the Forbidden Journey attraction. Something about seeing a magical world that I cherished as a kid in 3D was just so cool.
"I think I need to sit down a minute." I mumbled, sick to my stomach, even though the attraction had been so engaging, or maybe because it was.
Jiro laughed softly, and the feeling of my stomach turning inside out became butterflies. At this point, I was well aware of my crush and how to avoid it for the sake of our friendship. Besides, I kind of liked the butterfly feeling.
"That's kinda sad." She teased lightly as I took a few pepto-bismol pills. In no way, shape, form, or fashion would I puke in front of Jiro.
Once I was good to go again, we spent the better part of two hours just exploring the park, looking at items in the shops, and taking photos with the mascots in their costumes.
The Three Broomsticks restaurant was a good place for lunch before going to ride some of the Jurassic Park rides, a few more pepto-bismol pills enough to keep me going while we spent one last glorious day of freedom together, until it started to rain at least, the two of us calling it a day and heading to the train station.
Today had been everything I expected and then some, even if it wasn't everything I dreamed. My dreams with Jiro weren't spent in crowded parks.
"This was fun. Thanks for agreeing to come with me." I told her, waiting under an awning as the rain came down heavy now, the train still ten minutes from us.
"Thanks for inviting me out, although it's the least you could do since I'm your friend." She teased lightly, playing with her ear jack. It was a cute little habit she had.
"I'm going to be really busy after school and on the weekends now, so I wanted to spend one day with my best friend and have memories I could hold onto. Keep me humble when I'm a famous music icon and all that." I admitted, even though I covered myself with a joke.
"So you got into a school? Which one?" She questioned me, but I waved my hand and leaned back against the rail of awning.
"Nowhere fancy. I'm just taking a couple of classes in case the whole music thing doesn't work out."
It was a lie, but only because I wanted to surprise her and see her face when we both got off the train to go to U.A. together. I'd have to figure out how to hide my uniform, but I'd figure it out.
Jiro looked away, off to where the train tracks disappeared in the distance. "So, this is the last time we'll see each other for some time?"
How did I answer that without outright lying a second time?
"I'll always find time for you if you need me." I finally told her, my voice squeaking a little as I looked off in the same direction, the both of us going quiet until after we were on the train.
As we got closer to my stop, I felt a pit in my stomach, anxiety and fear, mixing with something else entirely, leaving my palms sweaty and heart beating faster the closer I got to departing.
"Thank you." I told her softly, my stop in sight.
"For what?" She questioned, looking over at me.
"For being the muse that motivates me."
Standing next to the door, I smiled as I got off, disappearing into the crowd and heading back home. It wasn't a confession, but it was closer than I ever thought I'd get.
The next few days were all work, spending as much time as I was legally allowed inside of a recording booth or learning how to dance. I knew beforehand how much work would be involved, but I didn't know how much of it was going to be physical. Oh, well. If I wanted to outshine heroes, I needed to look better than them anyway.
"Under the lights when everything goes
Nowhere to hide when I'm getting you close
When we move, well, you already know
So just imagine, just imagine, just imagine
Nothing I can see but you when you dance, dance, dance
Feeling good, good, creeping up on you
So just dance, dance, dance, come on
All those things I shouldn't do
But you dance, dance, dance
And ain't nobody leaving soon, so keep dancing!" I sang, wondering how the company had a song that matched my range already. Then again, it could have just been a song that another artist turned down. Not that I was complaining. The sooner I could produce a song, the sooner I could build hype for a full album.
As soon as I was done recording, it was back to the dance studio, learning the moves that they'd choreographed. At least I was getting into shape, a well-balanced meal plan helping me build mass I didn't have.
Finally, the day before my first day of high school, the song dropped online and on streaming. No announcement or advertising, just put out for the world to grasp onto.
At the release party, which was just regular lunch, but I got to have some dessert, Mr.Kanon approached me.
"Okay, kid. We've made you a social media page that's been hinting that you're gonna drop something, and now you just need to record a video telling your followers to listen and share it."
Social media? When had they gotten it for me? And followers? Already? All my exposure came from a video I didn't know was recorded of me.
"Uh, okay... so I just need to ask them to check it out and share it?" I questioned, a phone being put in place in front of me.
"Whenever you're ready." He told me, and I could see my mother looking over, keeping an eye on the situation.
Taking a deep breath, I made sure my face looked okay. "I'm ready."
As soon as the camera started recording, I smiled.
"Hey, Midoriya Izuku here! We've just dropped my very first single." Picking up the phone, I made sure to include the crew who helped put it all together so quickly.
"You can listen to it on all major streaming platforms, and of course, watch the music video on YouTube. Please, like and share, and let's make sure that my crew and I can keep making music for you all."
After winking into the camera, the camera cut, and then they made me re-record it a few more times until it was perfect, a brunette woman walking over to me.
"Hi. I'm Foromi Sōsharō, and I'm gonna be your social media manager. Before you post anything, it goes through me first, and yes, I'll be posting updates for your pages." She told me, but I was already tuned out, just thinking about the direction I wanted my music to go.
"Mr.Kanon, sir? I'm grateful for the chance to make any music, but I want to make my music more personal from now on. Something that will resonate with people on a more personal basis. Not every song on an album has to be that, I don't mind making a catchy song just to cash in on, but in thirty years, I want my music to be considered a classic." I told the man with my career in his hand, watching his eyebrow raise the more I spoke, until he guffawed at me, all eyes on us.
"Albums? You're a bit ahead of yourself." He told me, looking at me with a strange look. But I had things to say, and now I had an outlet to say it.
"Yes sir, I am. And that's where I plan to stay." I told him, grinning up at him and getting a hearty laugh in return.
"We'll work out your next hit later. You should be relaxing and enjoying this moment. You've earned it." He told me, patting my shoulder before his phone rang, and he left to handle his business.
The rest of the day was spent at home making sure I was ready for school tomorrow and texting Jiro as much as I could.
That night, I remember looking up at the moon, just a sliver in the sky, the light of the stars almost hiding it from view. Stars shined bright, but I would make even the moon pale in comparison.
Waking up to my alarm, I got ready for the day, my uniform on under a pair of baggy jogging pants and a hooded jacket.
"I'm leaving, mom! See ya later!" I called, eating the fancy breakfast bar the company gave me. Counting calories was easier when exactly how many calories was inside something.
What I was prepared for was a quiet day, maybe a little exciting later at school, but other than that, nothing too big.
What I wasn't prepared for was for people to recognize me, both ats violin kid and from the music video. It was weird to think I had fans already. So far, it seemed like I was hardly doing anything.
Taking the train early, I got off in time to wait for Jiro at the train station. I could at least pretend that we weren't going to the same school for a little while longer.
"Midoriya? What are you doing here?" Jiro questioned once she saw me, and all I could do was grin at her. She was dressed in the same uniform I was, but she managed to actually tie her tie properly.
"We go the same way, until a point." I explained, not the whole truth, but at least it wasn't a lie. "So we'll see each other every morning."
She smiled back, punching me in the arm. "You made me think we weren't going to see each other at all."
"Sorry, I didn't realize we could take the same train."
One ride later, and it was our stop, getting off with her and getting a confused look as I did.
"What are you doing?"
"Going to my class, as part of 1-H in the support course. It's my turn to support you." I told her, taking off my jacket and shoving it in my bag. For now, I was stuck in my jogging pants.
Jiro fiddled with the cord of her earphone jacks, glancing sideways at me. "You know, Midoriya, you've got this... really inspiring way of never giving up. It's, um, kinda cool."
I felt my cheeks heat up slightly at her praise, quickly looking away and hoping she didn't notice.
Regaining feeling in my brain, we kept walking in silence, but I didn't feel like there was anything that needed to be said.
"I'll see you at lunch. Um, if you want to, I mean. If not, I get it, were not like obligated to eat lunch together." I stumbled through my words, feeling like an idiot. Great. I hoped the rest of my teen years weren't spent being this awkward.
"Yeah, I guess if you sit by me." She replied, and as we flashed our IDs to the scanner, it really kicked in how real this was. I'd joined a whole course mainly focused on engineering just to support her. God, was this really just a crush at this point?
The halls were normal, a little bit of a disappointment, but I suppose after years of expectations for this place, I held my own a little too high. It was still a high school at the end of the day.
"This is your classroom." I noticed, and I didn't want to say goodbye, not yet.
"Yeah... don't forget to find me at lunch, okay?" She told me, her jack lifting my chin up as she looked at me, an amused kind of look in her eyes.
"If you make it anymore obvious, other people are going to notice."
Obvious? Me? Did she know how I felt? Did she feel the same way if she did? What did that mean?
"Wha-?" I tried to ask, but she left me in the hall, questioning everything while students moved past me until a girl with brown hair shook me from my thoughts.
"Hey, you okay, guy?" She asked, but I shuffled off to my own class, confused and in my own little world as I found my seat, Powerloader standing in front of the class.
"Welcome to the support course, first years. I'm your homeroom teacher, Powerloader. Today is going to be a bit slow. First, we'll be attending the assembly for a few words from the principal and then a brief tour of the support workshop." The hero explained, giving us all a chance to talk with one another.
"Midoriya, you're here." I heard as a pink dread flopped in my face, and Hatsume got way too close to me, and my personal space.
"Huh? Oh. Hatsume. Yeah, I made it, thanks to you." I answered, pushing the thoughts away. They couldn't burden me if I wanted to be there for Jiro. Whatever she knew or felt, I was here to support her.
"Alright, line up and make your way to the assembly. Follow the second years." Powerloader instructed, leaving us to our own devices for now.
"Hey, you're Midoriya Izuku, right?" A girl with red glossy skin that shined a little.
"Um, oh, yeah. That's what my student ID says." I joked, offering a smile and cringing a little as she squealed.
"Can I get a picture?" She asked, and I remembered that I was technically famous now. But seriously, my song couldn't be that popular yet.
"Um, sure. But, what's your name?"
"I'm Kōtaku Akatsuya." She introduced herself, and as I moved in for the picture, I put up my fingers for a peace sign.
"Hai, chiizu!" And once the picture was taken, I rubbed my neck. Man, that was weird. And I'd have to do that a lot more if I was going to be more popular than All Might.
"Oooh~ look at the big star. You're a one hit wonder, and when people forget about you, you'll just be another grease jockey like the rest of us." A large muscular boy with hands that were so small I couldn't help but laugh at the comparison between the rest of him as the class followed 2-H out into the hall.
"You're just upset because of that old saying. You know, the one about having small hands, and it meaning you have something else that's small." I replied, a master of back sass. I'd learned from Bakugou and Jiro, and there was no way I was letting some random dude bully me.
Sputtering, he looked like he wanted to say something, but he shut his mouth and followed behind another of our classmates.
The assembly was held in a huge gymnasium, and I didn't notice Jiro anywhere, a whole section missing. U.A. was a little more free with their academics than most schools, but surely 1-A would show up for this.
A small, mouse or small bear creature in a suit climbed up the Present Mics leg, up onto the podium, and I guessed 1-A had more important things to do than come to an assembly.
"Greetings, esteemed staff and students! For those of you who don't know, I am Principal Nezu, and it's my honor to welcome you all to a new and promising school year. We've all gathered here to help you embark on a journey of self-discovery, growth, and discovering. Every single one of you brings something new and unique to the table, and we're proud to help you reach your aspirations and to help guide you to new heights."
Pausing, he looked around, pride shining on his cute little face. "Third years, help your underclassmen. First years, learn all you can from your upperclassmen.
Second years, you're in such a unique position to both learn and impart knowledge." He looked at each class, and for a brief second, I met his eyes, intelligence practically overflowing from him.
"So this year, embrace every challenge with courage, support one another with kindness, and finally, pursue excellence in every endeavor you face. So I welcome you once again to U.A., where your potential is limitless, and the future is yours to shape."
Applause for his speech, but he didn't move, and as the clapping died down, he spoke. What elss could he possibly have to say?
"Now, I know we're all anxious to for the first day of class, but before we disassemble, I'd like to announce a new faculty member joining us. You may have heard rumors, and yes, they were true. Please welcome All Might as our new Foundational Hero Studies instructor!"
The man himself leaped down from the ceiling where it seemed like he'd been waiting, and this time, the applause was deafening, but all I felt was contempt.
One dream was crushed, and the other was detoured by his actions. Why should I cheer for someone like him?
Like Nezu, he looked at the students and all the different courses. And like our principal, his eyes met mine. The difference between the two was that instead of warmth and his overwhelming intelligence, all I felt from All Might was pity. It was obvious he recognized me, but all I could feel for the man was anger and contempt, glaring into his blue eyes and sneering. He didn't deserve the praise they gave him, and as the applause and cheering slowly stopped, he continued to glance in my direction. The great big oaf had probably never had anyone hate him before, and as the assembly ended, I felt a large hand on my shoulder.
"Young Midoriya. Perhaps we should have a talk."
(The song used is Can't Stop the Feeling- By Justin Timberlake. Anyway, thanks for reading. Leave a comment of any songs you'd like used. Okay... Bye!!!)