Izuku Midoriya wasn't sure why he looked toward the U.A. gates as he stepped outside. Maybe it was habit. Maybe it was just a lingering sense of unease after everything that had happened with Stain. Or maybe, deep down, he had been expecting her, and there she was. Leaning casually against the outer wall of the school, Yu Takeyama stood with an effortless confidence that made her impossible to ignore. She wasn't in her hero costume this time. Instead, she wore a fitted black jacket over a dark gray shirt, paired with well-worn jeans and sturdy boots. The kind of outfit someone could wear anywhere, blending in with the crowd, but she didn't blend in. Not to him.

Her blonde hair was tied back in a loose ponytail, a few strands escaping to frame her sharp, striking features. She looked relaxed, but Izuku could tell she was paying attention to everything around her, her sharp purple eyes flicking across the passing students, taking in details most wouldn't notice, but when she saw him, those eyes softened. Izuku's breath hitched. For a moment, the world around him faded. The laughter and chatter of his classmates leaving for the day became a distant murmur, and the weight of his backpack felt suddenly heavier.

His feet carried him forward before he could think. When he stopped in front of her, she smiled. "Hey, kid," she greeted, her voice casual… too casual, like she was trying to make this normal.

Izuku swallowed. His mind raced with questions, but only one made it past his lips. "You…" His voice was quiet, almost uncertain. "You were at the hospital."

Yu's expression flickered, the softness in her gaze shifting just slightly. There was something unreadable in her eyes, something almost hesitant. "Yeah," she said, as if it were obvious.

Izuku hesitated, his fingers curling at his sides. There was something strange about her, something that didn't feel like the Yu Takeyama he had seen on TV. And definitely not like the one he had run into with his mother. That Yu had been polite but distant, treating him like any other fan she might meet on the street. But this Yu… She looked at him like she knew him. Not as a stranger. Not even as a fellow hero-in-training. Like she had known him for a long, long time, and that unsettled him more than anything. Yu tilted her head toward the street, breaking the silence. "Mind if I walk with you?"

Izuku blinked at her, caught off guard by the request. She wanted to walk with him Why? He hesitated, glancing back toward U.A. The last of the students were filtering out, some in small groups, others heading toward the train station or waiting for rides. None of them seemed to notice the tall woman waiting outside the gates. When Izuku turned back to her, she was watching him patiently, waiting for his answer. Curiosity burned in his chest. He nodded. "…Okay."

They fell into step beside each other, leaving the school behind. For a while, neither of them spoke. The city was alive around them, the distant honking of cars, the rhythmic chatter of pedestrians, the occasional rustle of leaves caught in the evening breeze. It was a peaceful moment, the kind of quiet Izuku rarely had outside of his own thoughts. Yet, he felt anything but at peace. His mind kept circling back to the same question. Who is she? Yu was the first to break the silence. "You look better," she said, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. "Guess Recovery Girl worked her magic."

Izuku flexed his fingers slightly, feeling the lingering tightness in his skin. He nodded. "Yeah. I'm lucky."

Yu let out a short breath, something between a chuckle and a sigh. "You say that a lot."

Izuku blinked, caught off guard. "Huh?"

She kept looking ahead, her expression unreadable. "That you're 'lucky.'"

Izuku hesitated before nodding. "Well… I am." Yu didn't respond right away, but the silence that followed felt heavier than before. Izuku glanced up at her, noticing the way her jaw tensed slightly. Like she wanted to say something but was holding herself back. It was an odd thing to focus on, but something about it made Izuku uneasy. Finally, he worked up the courage to ask. "I… I want to ask…" He swallowed, then forced himself to meet her gaze. "Who are you?"

Yu's steps slowed just slightly. She didn't stop, didn't falter completely, but there was a hesitation in her movement, a brief pause before she kept walking. For a moment, he thought she wasn't going to answer, then she smiled. Not the confident smirk of a pro hero. Not the polite, practiced smile of someone used to being in the public eye. Something else, something softer, something that made Izuku's chest tighten with an emotion he couldn't name. "I'm just someone who worries about you," she said simply.

Izuku's breath caught. That answer… It wasn't enough, and yet… Somehow, it was. His hands clenched at his sides. "…Why?"

Yu looked at him then, really looked at him, and in that moment, he saw it again. That sadness, that quiet, aching sorrow. Like she was looking at something she had lost, or something she had never had in the first place. "…Because you remind me of someone," she said at last.

Izuku opened his mouth, ready to ask more, ready to demand an answer, but then she did something unexpected. She reached out and ruffled his hair. His thoughts stopped. His breath hitched because she had done this before. Back in the hospital. Just like this. It was so natural, so effortless like she had done it a thousand times before, and yet… It felt wrong. Not in a bad way. Just like it was meant for someone else. Yu smiled down at him. "See you around, Midoriya." Before he could say anything… before he could ask, she turned the corner and disappeared.

(...)

Izuku Midoriya walked with his hands in his pockets, his shoulders hunched slightly as he stared down at the pavement. The evening air was cool against his skin, but he barely noticed. His mind was too preoccupied, replaying the conversation he'd just had over and over again.

"Because you remind me of someone."

The words echoed in his head, carrying a weight he didn't quite understand. Yu Takeyama, Mount Lady, had walked him home. Talked to him like she knew him. Touched his hair like it was something she had done countless times before. But it wasn't just that. It was the way she looked at him. Like she was looking at a ghost. Izuku exhaled sharply, kicking a loose pebble along the sidewalk. He should feel grateful, right? A Pro Hero, one of the most recognizable in the country had gone out of her way to check on him. To walk him home. That was… nice, but something didn't feel right.

It was the way she carried herself. How different she seemed from the Yu Takeyama he had seen on TV, the one who was brash and bold, always stealing the spotlight. This version of her was quieter, more controlled, and more than anything… older. Not in the physical sense, but in the way she held herself. Like someone who had seen and experienced too much. It reminded him of All Might. That thought sent a small shiver down his spine.

His feet had carried him toward Musutafu's quieter streets… the same path he had taken countless times before, leading back to the place he had once called home. He was passing by the underpass now, the very one where his life had changed forever. The place where the Sludge Villain had attacked him, where All Might had saved him, where his dream had been reignited.

Izuku slowed his steps, glancing at the tunnel entrance. The lights buzzed softly, casting long shadows across the pavement. It was empty, quiet. Just another street in the city. But to him, it was so much more, and then a familiar voice broke through his thoughts. "Huh? Midoriya?"

Izuku turned abruptly, his heart skipping a beat. Standing just outside a small café across the street, holding a cup of coffee in one hand and tapping something on her phone with the other, was Yu Takeyama but… not the one he had just spoken to. This was the Yu Takeyama. The one he recognized from interviews, from the sports festival, from every news report that followed her larger-than-life battles. She was wearing casual clothes, a light bomber jacket over a cropped sweater, dark leggings, and sneakers, but there was no mistaking her. The blonde ponytail, the confident stance, the sharp yet playful glint in her purple eyes. This was Mount Lady. The real one.

Izuku stiffened, his mind scrambling for an explanation. Why was she here? Had she followed him? No, that didn't make sense. He had just seen the other Yu not long ago. Could she have changed clothes and rushed over here? No… something about her expression was different… more relaxed, more carefree. This was a completely different person. How was that possible?

Yu blinked at him, raising an eyebrow. "You okay? You look like you just saw a ghost."

Izuku almost laughed at that. If only you knew. He swallowed, shaking his head quickly. "N-No, I just… wasn't expecting to see you here, Mount Lady-san."

Yu made a face at the title. "Ugh, don't call me that when I'm off the clock. Just Yu is fine." She took a sip of her coffee, giving him a curious once-over. "You look kinda down. Bad day?"

Izuku hesitated. How was he supposed to explain this? That he had just spoken to a version of her who acted completely different? That she had walked him home, spoken cryptically, and left him feeling like his entire reality was slipping out of his grasp? Yeah, that wouldn't sound crazy at all. Instead, he forced a smile. "Just… a lot on my mind, I guess."

Yu hummed, tapping her fingers against the side of her coffee cup. "I get that. You've been in the news a lot lately, y'know? Fighting Stain and all that." She tilted her head. "What were you doing all the way out here, anyway?"

Izuku glanced back at the underpass, then back at her. "Just… passing through."

Yu followed his gaze, her expression shifting slightly. "Oh… this place." She took another sip of coffee. "Didn't this used to be Sludge Villain territory or something?"

Izuku nodded, suddenly feeling smaller. "Yeah. This is where All Might saved me."

Yu whistled, her eyes flicking between him and the tunnel again. "Damn. Talk about nostalgia." She smirked, nudging him lightly with her elbow. "Guess this spot's kinda special for you, huh?"

Izuku managed a small chuckle. "Yeah… you could say that." For a moment, they stood there, the cool breeze drifting between them. It was almost normal, a casual conversation between a student and a hero. But Izuku's mind wouldn't let him relax.

Two Yus. The same person, but not. Why did the other one look at him like that? Why did she care so much? And why was she so different from the one standing in front of him now? He wanted to ask. He needed to ask. But he couldn't. Not yet.

Yu stretched, letting out a small yawn. "Well, I won't keep you, kid. You should get home before your mom starts freaking out."

Izuku blinked. "How did you?..."

Yu grinned. "Come on, I saw her with you the other day. Inko Midoriya, right? The sweetest lady alive?" She winked. "Tell her Mount Lady says hi."

Izuku let out a soft laugh. "I will."

Yu gave him a two-finger salute before turning back toward the café entrance. "Later, Midoriya." As she walked away, Izuku found himself staring after her. He clenched his fists. Something was going on, and he was going to find out what.
(...)

Izuku had barely stepped through the front door when he heard the sound of laughter drifting from the kitchen. His mother's laughter. Warm, genuine, and comfortable. It was the kind of sound that usually put him at ease, except this time, it sent a strange chill down his spine. Because there was another voice. A familiar one. A voice he had last heard only hours ago. Izuku quickly kicked off his shoes, his heart pounding as he stepped into the hallway. The scent of home-cooked food filled the air, something rich and savory. He could hear the soft clinking of dishes being set, the faint sizzle of something cooking on the stove, and then he saw her.

Standing in the kitchen beside his mother was her, Yu Takeyama, but not the one he had just spoken to near the café. Not the brash, confident, playful hero he had known from interviews and news reports. No, this was the other one. The woman who had walked him home. The one who had looked at him like she had seen a ghost.

She was out of her hero costume now, dressed casually in a soft purple blouse and dark jeans, her long blonde hair tied loosely behind her head. She moved through the kitchen with ease, as if she had done this a thousand times before, helping his mother with the dishes, handing her ingredients, stirring the pot on the stove… like she belonged here, like she had always been here.

Izuku stood frozen in the doorway, watching as his mother, Inko Midoriya, let out another small laugh, shaking her head as she wiped her hands on her apron. "Yu-chan, you really didn't have to help with all this," she said warmly. "You're a guest! I feel bad making you work."

Yu chuckled, her voice light, but there was something underneath it—something softer, almost nostalgic. "It's no trouble at all, Midoriya-san. I like helping. Besides, I couldn't just sit back and let you do everything yourself."

Inko smiled. "Oh, you're such a sweetheart! You remind me of Izuku, always trying to do everything for everyone."

Izuku swallowed hard. Yu's smile faltered for the briefest second, and then she glanced up, her sharp violet eyes meeting his. For a moment, time seemed to stop. Izuku felt a strange tightening in his chest, an unspoken tension crackling between them. There was something in her expression… relief? Sadness? Guilt? It was impossible to tell. As if nothing had happened, Yu's lips curled into an easy smile. "Hey, kid," she said, leaning casually against the counter. "Took you long enough to get home."

Izuku blinked, his brain struggling to catch up. "I… uh…"

Inko perked up, wiping her hands clean. "Oh, Izuku! You're home just in time. Yu-chan has been such a wonderful guest. She stopped by to check on you, and I invited her to stay for dinner. I hope you don't mind."

Izuku's throat went dry. Mind? Mind?! There was a mystery woman in his house, one who looked exactly like a Pro Hero he had just spoken to hours ago, but who wasn't that person. One who knew him, who had walked him home, who had spoken in cryptic riddles, who had treated him like someone she missed, and now she was casually making dinner with his mother? His hands clenched at his sides.

What the hell was going on? Yu must have noticed his unease because she tilted her head slightly, her smile never fading. "You okay, Midoriya? You look like you've seen a ghost." The exact same words the other Yu had said to him earlier.

Izuku inhaled sharply. His brain was screaming at him to demand answers, to ask who she was, why she was here, what she wanted from him. But with his mother standing right there, so warm and welcoming, so comfortable with this stranger… he couldn't, not yet. Instead, he forced a small, stiff smile. "Yeah. Just… surprised to see you here."

Yu smirked. "Yeah, well. I figured I owed you dinner after walking you home and all."

Inko clapped her hands together. "It's so wonderful to have company! I don't know how, but I feel like I've known Yu-chan for ages already." She turned back toward the stove, humming softly. "You two go sit down, I'll bring the food over in just a minute."

Yu patted her on the shoulder. "I'll set the table."

Izuku watched her closely as she moved around the kitchen, retrieving plates and chopsticks with practiced ease, as if she had done it a hundred times before. As if this wasn't the first time she had been here, but it was, wasn't it? Izuku's heart pounded as he sat down at the small dining table, trying to process the impossible situation unfolding around him. Who was she? And why did it feel like she had always been a part of his life… when he knew for a fact she hadn't?

(…)

The air outside was crisp and cool, the quiet hum of the city filling the spaces between their footsteps. Izuku walked beside Yu in silence, hands shoved deep into his pockets, his thoughts swirling in a tangled mess of confusion and frustration. Dinner had been… surreal. His mother had treated Yu like an old family friend, and Yu had played along with practiced ease, never once letting slip anything that would reveal her true identity, and now here they were… walking together under the glow of the streetlights, the weight of unspoken questions pressing down on Izuku's chest like a heavy stone.

He glanced up at her from the corner of his eye. She looked relaxed, almost too relaxed, as if she had no doubts or worries at all. Her long blonde hair shifted gently in the breeze, and the way she carried herself—calm, assured, familiar—made something in Izuku's chest tighten. This woman was not Mount Lady, and yet… she was. His fists clenched. He couldn't take it anymore. "…Who are you?" His voice came out quieter than he expected, but it was steady. Firm.

Yu didn't stop walking, but she hummed lightly, as if she had been expecting the question. "I told you already. Yu Takeyama."

Izuku gritted his teeth. "No. Who are you really?"

That finally made her stop. They had reached the beach, the same beach where he had once trained under All Might, where he had pushed his body to its limits to inherit One for All. The waves lapped gently at the shore, the moonlight casting silver ripples across the water. Yu turned to face him, her violet eyes meeting his with an unreadable expression. "I don't know what you mean, Midoriya."

Izuku's frustration bubbled over. "Stop it! Just… just stop with the vague answers, with the cryptic looks! You know me! You've known me since the moment we met in the hospital! You looked at me like… like you missed me or something!"

Yu's lips parted slightly, but she didn't speak. Izuku took a step closer, his heart pounding. "You walked me home like it was normal, like it was something you've always done. You helped my mom cook dinner like, like you'd been in my house a hundred times before! But I don't know you! I've never known you! So tell me… who are you?"

A long silence stretched between them, the waves crashing softly against the shore. Yu exhaled, running a hand through her hair. "…You're a stubborn one, aren't you?"

Izuku scowled. "I deserve to know the truth."

She studied him for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, with a soft sigh, she turned toward the ocean, crossing her arms as if shielding herself from something unseen. "What if I told you the truth wouldn't make sense?"

Izuku frowned. "Try me."

Yu chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "You're just like him…" she murmured under her breath.

Izuku stiffened. "Like who?"

Yu didn't answer. Instead, she turned back to him, her gaze softening. "I can't tell you everything. Not yet. But… you're right about one thing." She hesitated, as if choosing her next words carefully. "I do know you, Midoriya. Just… not the way you think."

His breath hitched. "…Then how?"

Yu sighed, shaking her head. "That's not something I can explain in a single night."

Izuku's jaw clenched. She was dodging again. Every time he pushed, she pulled away, keeping just out of reach, giving him just enough to keep him questioning but never enough to satisfy the gnawing uncertainty in his chest. It was infuriating. "I hate this," he muttered under his breath.

Yu raised an eyebrow. "Hate what?"

Izuku looked at her, his expression tense. "This. You. The way you talk in circles, the way you act like you care but won't tell me why. The way you make me feel like—like I'm missing something important." His fists clenched at his sides. "I hate that I don't understand."

For a long moment, Yu didn't say anything, then, to his surprise, she stepped closer. Before he could react, she reached out, gently brushing a stray lock of hair away from his forehead. Her touch was warm, careful, fond—and it sent a strange shiver down his spine. Izuku froze, eyes widening as she leaned down slightly, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to his forehead. His entire brain short-circuited.

Yu pulled back just enough to look him in the eyes, a small, knowing smile on her lips. "You don't have to understand everything right now, Midoriya." Her voice was quiet, almost soothing. "Just know that you're not alone."

Izuku swallowed thickly, his face burning. He had no idea what to say to that.

Yu chuckled, stepping back. "Go home, kid. Get some rest."

And before Izuku could even think of how to respond, she turned and walked away, disappearing into the night. Izuku stood there for a long time, his mind spinning, his heart hammering in his chest. He touched his forehead absentmindedly. "…What the hell just happened?"