Disclaimer: Of course I don't own My Hero Academia, its characters, or the franchise.
Story: Izuku ends up enjoying a fan convention, only to surprisingly run into and befriend none other than Sir Nighteye. Not that she knows that. Mirai on the other hand finally found a kindred spirit, albeit someone young. These two end up traversing a friendship full of fanboyism and fangirlism, all the while tip toeing around the awkward 'other' tension between them, even when All Might himself enters the equation…
Set as an AU genderbending fic, canon-rewrite.
Spoilers: Probably the whole series, at least up to the Overhaul arc.
Warnings: Age disparity, underage, cursing and sexual situations…
Pairings: Fem!Izuku/Sasaki Mirai (Sir Nighteye)
A Fan's Guide to Heroics
Chapter Eleven: Integration
When Izuku met them in the dining area, Inko could see Mirai's face light up and the shy, happy look on Izuku's face in return. It further reiterated to her that these two were very close and sincerely happy together.
Friendship is what they both kept adamantly pushing towards her, but she could also see what was brewing under the surface.
Inko wasn't exactly blind or deaf. Her daughter had, when first informing her about her 'new friend' that she wanted to introduce, implied her feelings for him as well as hinting that he had felt the same. It was never exactly said, but Inko could read between the lines. Likewise, talking to Mirai just now, the way he talked to and about Izuku, it would be impossible not to understand just exactly how he felt about Inko's daughter. And seeing them together (or even them individually when talking about the other), and it was all too obvious that friendship wasn't what they really wanted from each other.
But then, remembering what Mirai had said about their recent stumble in their relationship, regarding the age gap and Izuku's age…Well, she also understood just why their relationship is stalling at friendship for now.
And at the table, watching Mirai dole out food for an embarrassed Izuku and the man teasing back in his dry voice, she had a feeling 'friends' isn't exactly going to be what they were going to stay as.
"Mm! I missed your cooking, Okaa-san," Izuku said happily. "And I really missed having my favorite from you."
"It is quite delicious, Inko-san," Mirai agreed. "I can see where Izuku-kun got her cooking skills from."
"Oh, you!" Izuku swatted playfully at him. "Stop teasing me all the time."
"I cannot. It's a wonderful pastime."
"Ugh, you jerk!"
A brief smirk flitted across his lips, while Inko inwardly shook her head at them in amusement and knowing.
"So…" Inko drew out. "Tell me how you two ended up meeting."
The two looked at each other, oddly embarrassed. "Um…it's a long story," Izuku started, blushing heavily.
"Rather than long, it's more embarrassing," Mirai admitted instead. "Izuku-kun, would you like to tell it?"
"I don't think I can without stopping and wanting to hide my face."
Mirai chuckled and shrugged. "Alright, then I shall. The thing is, Inko-san, I had recently concluded my business at the convention and was looking around and searching for interesting All Might merchandise. I'm a collector, you see? I was hoping to find things I have not seen or have collected already."
Inko mentally snorted. Of course. No wonder Izuku was drawn to him; All Might fans! It made her smile to see Izuku bonding with someone, especially over something her daughter loved.
"I was surprised to find a very rare, very expensive All Might statue. Coincidentally, your daughter was there and had been eying it at the same time apparently."
"I was," Izuku ended up taking over anyway, giggling. "I was amazed and wanted it immediately. I had just been talking to the seller and had just about to ask to buy it, when I heard someone else also say 'I'll buy it!' at the same time as me."
"We ended up clashing in front of the seller," Mirai recalled in amusement. "I remember him being so bewildered. I was, admittedly, very abrasive as I demanded if Izuku-kun could afford it."
"I was just as abrasive when I demanded the same of you," Izuku laughed. "I was probably worse, since I ended up calling you 'Mr. Salaryman' insultingly."
"And then we proceeded to both take out our phones and use our cash apps to buy the statue," Mirai chuckled. "Which then led to her offering me a custom made one from her, and the seller discovering her lucrative business and asking her to sign her Endeavor work for a reduced price on the All Might statue."
"Poor Mirai-san was forgotten and pushed to the wayside," Izuku giggled again. "He desperately asked to accept my original offer if I wouldn't mind sharing the All Might statue with him. I felt bad for him and thought he was a kindred soul, so I said yes and we ended up becoming friends over time."
Inko couldn't help laughing herself, feeling like this was definitely a cute meeting and maybe something that would've happened in one of those Korean romances she sometimes tried to binge on Netflix when she had time and energy.
"What a meeting," Inko smiled widely at the two sitting together and across from her. "I'm sure you two have had a really good relationship so far, despite the recent revelations about Izuku, so please know I will be happily supporting and accepting your friendship," she gave her approval again, as she'd only let Mirai know.
Izuku squealed and clapped her hands. "Thank you so much, Okaa-san! Despite the recent things we learned about each other, we still really enjoy being with each other and want to be friends still."
"And what had you learned about Mirai-san, Izuku?" Inko asked teasingly.
"In hindsight, I feel pretty dumb," Izuku started, rubbing the back of her head in embarrassment, "but him being Sir Nighteye was totally obvious."
Inko laughed…but then paused and sort of back tracked through that, going to stare at Mirai in shock. Mirai blinked before his cheeks tinted lightly.
"Ah, Izuku-kun, I may have forgotten to mention that to your mother."
Izuku burst out laughing. "Did you? No wonder she looks like she's in shock! I'm sorry I didn't mention it either, Okaa-san."
Inko felt a little faint at the realization and even took another look at the Pro-Hero she knew was an old Sidekick of Izuku's favorite All Might, and who Izuku had been extremely fond of as well. Her daughter had certainly talked enough about both men.
She could definitely see the resemblance now.
"Please continue to treat me normally, however," Mirai immediately said. "As I told Izuku-kun, I enjoyed our casualness and preferred it. So might I also request that you also ignore my Pro-Hero identity and treat me as you have been so far?"
"Of course, of course," Inko agreed, understanding. "Though, may I assume the casualness between you and my daughter is because of more personal reasons?" she couldn't help teasing.
The very obvious, blaring red color on the Hero's face, as well as Izuku's indignified "O-Okaa-san!" was very worth it.
"You two, at this point, might as well just drop the honorifics," Inko told them in amusement. "I think the two of you are much too close and obviously fine with addressing each other familiarly to bother with those anymore."
"If I-Izuku doesn't mind," Mirai glanced hesitantly at Izuku.
Her daughter beamed back, more than ready to be super casual with the man. "Of course, Mirai!"
Inko chuckled and decided she was very much agreeable to their relationship. Now to somehow prepare Hisashi for it…
Mirai was content like this, even as awkwardly sitting on the floor like he was. Cross-leggedly. Hunched over his laptop. With his long limbs and lanky body. Yeah.
But at least he was with Izuku in her loft and the two of them were working on their individual things. She had classwork and his Agency had been handed a new case that he was looking over and would be presenting to his team tomorrow.
"So…you know how I attend Aldera still, even though I'm a Todai student?" Izuku spoke up, even though her eyes stayed glued to her own laptop screen.
"Yes. I still don't understand that?" Mirai prodded her, looking away from his laptop to stare at her in scrutiny.
"You know how schooling is in Japan; you're only required to attend school up to middle school —lower secondary, which ends up at 9th grade," Izuku started. "I'm starting 9th this month, so last year in Aldera. Most kids have to stay; as a Quirkless Adult, I could have quit school the moment I turned 10."
His scowl felt like it was going to end up permanent at this point.
"But at the same time, when it comes to schooling, the laws are a little bit fickle. Technically, I can quit and not go to school, but being at a certain age where most others would be required to go, I also have the option to attend school. As a Quirkless Adult, I also have the option to do higher education. And again, since I'm a Quirkless Adult, regardless of my present educational history, I was allowed a special entrance test to determine my qualification into Todai."
"I see. So that's how it is," Mirai said, understanding how she'd managed her current education situation. "Why attend Aldera then?"
At the sudden quiet, he started to feel alarm and began wondering if he'd somehow said something wrong.
"I want to go to a Hero school," she whispered, catching him off guard. "But I'd have to finish off middle school to actually get into high school. Hence attending Aldera."
"Oh," he said, having not expected that. "Well then…what Hero school were you thinking of?" he asked, curious about it.
Her hunched over form straightened up and she turned to him, looking surprised and too careful. Realizing she had expected a negative reaction from him, he simply gave a smile and waited patiently. She gave him a small smile back and put her laptop to the ground beside her.
"I really want to go to UA," she told him in a hushed voice. "It's where Best Jeanist, Endeavor —where All Might went. Where you went," she said, cheeks pinked. His lips tugged up. "I just…I've always wanted to be a Hero and go to UA."
"Then of course you'll get in," Mirai encouraged her. "I have no doubt you will."
Izuku gazed at him in awe, looking too hesitant and timid for his liking. "Do you mean it? You really think a Quirkless nobody, some useless deku like me could get in and even be a Hero?"
Hearing her talk about herself like that made his blood boil (but also wonder who the hell put these ideas into her head)?
"First of all, do not ever talk about yourself like that," he lectured her angrily. "You are not a Quirkless nobody and you're nowhere near useless. You're absolutely amazing —you're incredibly intelligent, intelligence that puts me to shame and would make the Principal of UA himself covet you and do whatever the hell Nedzu can to make you a student of his school."
"You're exaggerating," she mumbled, looking down.
"I'm not," he insisted. "Nedzu would probably kill for you. Legally…Or as legal as he could make it…"
Mirai thought on that some more and inwardly shivered. He found that it was a very likely scenario, in the case of that chimera meeting Izuku.
"I take it back —I think it's best that rat demon never finds out about you," Mirai declared, grimacing.
She looked at him in amusement, but at least she wasn't so sad-looking anymore. "You know, I'm pretty sure his base is more stoat than rat."
He stared at her, blinking a few times. "Hm…interesting theory. I might just ask him that, the next time I see him." Then he mentally shook his head. "In any case, you don't even need a Quirk. Your intelligence is so amazing, people will probably mistake it as one. In fact, your analytical skills are so impressive, I'd wanted to ask you to work with me in my Agency, after I let you know who I was and after your studies were finished. Offer's open, by the way."
Her pinked cheeks were gratifying.
"I'll think about it, " she grinned before being back to being hesitant. "…Then I guess I'll be applying for UA…"
"Good," he nodded. "I can write up a recommendation letter for you too."
She looked taken aback before a contrite look took over her face. "Mirai, you know I wasn't telling you to use you or anything, right? You're a good friend and I'm not looking to take advantage or anything."
He waved her off. "You're not and I understand —I know you. Besides, it's called networking. When you have connections, it's best to learn to use them and how they can be useful. Consider this a lesson in the more Twilight and Underground Heroics you'll learn, as well as politics."
She still looked bemused and hesitant, but at least she was nodding in acceptance.
"And to go back to needing a Quirk to be a Hero, may I remind you that my Quirk is virtually useless in battle?" he said dryly. "Foresight can predict an opponent, so long as conditions are met, and has restrictions on it. And once used, it can't be utilized until 24 hours later —leaving me to fight with nothing but myself and my Hyper-Density Seals. I'm more or less a Quirkless Hero," he said in deadpan, raising an eyebrow at her.
Izuku said a quiet 'oh' and gazed at him contemplatively. "That makes sense," she muttered, blushing. "It was one of the reasons why I liked and admired you as a Hero anyway."
"There you have it," he said. "Anyway, since my specialty is fighting without a Quirk most of the time, would you like me to train you? It'll be helpful for you when it comes time to do the entrance exams to UA."
Her eyes widened. "Oh, would you really?!"
He pushed his glasses up. "Yes, of course. As your friend and as a Pro-Hero at that, it would be remised of me to not offer my help. I would want you to be prepared and be able to protect yourself as well, since I care about you. It would only be right."
She was blushing heavily by then but at least also full out grinning, which pleased him immensely.
"I would also like to officially introduce you to my team and bring you to my Agency, so you can have a proper look around."
"Oh my God, I'd love that!" she gushed. "I didn't get to really look around since I was more focused on taking care of you and everything."
That made him blush and inwardly feel embarrassed at the memory of his behavior.
"Well, anyway, come with me to work tomorrow morning and I'll give you a tour," he coughed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Thanks so much, Mirai!" she squealed, tossing herself at him.
He easily caught her, even though he'd been taken by surprise, and held her with one arm while the other held his laptop away from them.
Mirai smiled to himself, pleased he'd done something to make her happy and to have helped her in some way.
Izuku was very excited about going with Mirai to his Agency. The idea that she would be looking around Sir Nighteye's workplace was amazing, especially as a fan. As a friend though, it was a huge milestone in their relationship, mostly as she would be introduced to other important people in Mirai's life.
"Are you ready?" Mirai asked, looking nervous. She wondered why; shouldn't she be more nervous than him? She was the one being introduced to new people. "We'll be early, so I'll show you around first. Usually Centipeder comes in first, so he'll probably be the first to meet you."
She knew her face lit up and she was practically vibrating out of her skin, but she was super excited about meeting Mirai's Sidekicks. Plus, she sort of knew Mirio from tutoring him that one time, so she was excited about meeting him too.
Izuku followed Mirai to his car, where she sat beside him and tried not to fidget so much. But her excitement was hard to contain and looking over to him saw his face slightly smiling.
"They sort of know about you," he told her unexpectedly. "They kept noticing I was suddenly texting a lot and I let them know I made a friend at a convention. I was also, as I mentioned, watching Ouran at work, so they over exaggerated about my 'not working at work'. Though at least that, they don't know you were the influence of. Mirio knows you from when you tutored him and I told Centipeder more about you when I was worrying over your age and the whole age gap."
"Oh…So he knows the most about things between us," she said, feeling unsure about that.
"He's a good friend and who helped me realized I wanted to keep knowing you," he told her. "Prior to that, I was a 'depressed mess', as Bubble Girl informed me. Not that she knew why…"
"Were you really?" she asked hesitantly curious.
He winced. "I believe I was brooding and lifeless the entire time, and I'd spent more time on my couch and bed than I'd ever had. Though I had also thrown myself into my work more than ever, hence one of the others stepping in and trying to bring me to my senses."
"Then I'm glad," she declared. "I really missed you and worried I'd never get to talk to you again," she was bluntly honest.
"Me too," he murmured. Then he hesitated before reaching out and taking one of her hands. She giddily gripped it tightly, refusing to let go. "Thank you for accepting me back."
"Thank you for coming back," Izuku said simply.
When they arrived at his Agency, he parked in his usual spot and then traveled the long way to the front, instead of going to the parking garage's elevators. Through the front of the building, he showed her the lobby, where the receptionist usually was, and then he led the way to the elevators finally. Going up a level, he showed the main floor where he worked.
"Those are where my Sidekicks and I work," he pointed out the desks and his office. "We handle most of the cases that head our way here. Our day to day operations occur on this floor."
Izuku whirled around in awe, gazing at everything in her excitement. She was standing in an actual Hero Agency and exactly where they did their work!
"This is amazing!" she grinned widely, unable to help hopping from desk to desk and looking over everything. "Oh my God, Mirai, this is so cool. Did you build this place with your own money or did you find it and bought it? Did you convert the space and did you have a vision of how you wanted your Agency to be structured? Oooh, this desk is definitely Mirio-kun's —that's a UA textbook."
Mirai couldn't help the laugh, fondly trailing after her. He was also very proud and pleased she liked his Agency. He had worked hard to build his Agency from ground up and to separate himself from the image of All Might. That she, someone important to him, approved so heartily of it made him extremely happy.
"I saved up all the money I'd made as All Might's Sidekick," he admitted. "I used some of what I set aside to buy this building and then convert it to what I have now. The All Might statue pretty much took a huge chunk out of what was left," he said sheepishly.
"But worth it," she said giggling, hand out to him. He pushed his glasses up and slapped it. "Yes, very worth it."
'Especially since it led me to meeting you,' he wanted to say.
"Anyway, there's other floors I haven't shown you," he told her. "I have a training floor, where the gym is situated, and there's a floor for the medical ward. The top is the meeting rooms, where I hold meetings for larger groups, especially in collaboration with other agencies."
"Then let's go!" she grabbed his hand, heading out of the main floor and back to where the elevators are. "You can show me your office afterwards. I didn't really look around, since I just carried you to bed and then we went to sleep."
Face flaming hot at that, he coughed and changed the subject. "Let me show you the other floors! The gym area is where I can start teaching you."
"Oooh, lead the way, Mirai!"
Mirio had already started organizing his desk to start the day, after he'd greeted Bubble Girl and Centipeder. He was surprised not to see Sir, since the man practically lived in his office and was the first there before anyone else. However, Centipeder was there first and had talked to them about their assignments for the day, and when questioned, had also not known where Nighteye was.
"Wonder if he's late for once," Bubble Girl mentioned, though she sounded skeptical. Mirio understood. That would be unlike Nighteye after all. "Though has anyone tried his cell?"
"Not yet. I was about to in a bit," Centipeder revealed.
Just then the mahogany doors to the main floor opened, and they heard Sir's voice and an unfamiliar female's.
"So then you have a small staff of people around here too? I haven't seen anyone yet though!"
"They come in a little later. It's not a problem for them to come in at a later time since the mornings are reserved for me and my team to get settled and start our work inside."
Mirio perked up, since he at least recognized that voice.
"Oh, it's Midoriya-sensei!" he exclaimed, startling the others and making Nighteye and said girl stop right in front of the doors.
"Mirio-kun!" Midoriya-sensei said in consternation.
He grinned at her, seeing now what his tutor looked like. She was pretty, with her wild green hair and bright eyes that looked like gems. Her few freckles made her look cute too, so he could totally see why Sir was really enamored with her…even if Sir had never said that he was.
Nighteye cleared his throat. "Everyone, this is Midoriya Izuku…the friend I'd made at that convention I told everyone about. Izuku, this is Awata Kaoruko, also known as Bubble Girl. That's Moashi Juzou, known as Centipeder. And you've met Mirio over the phone," he ended dryly.
Mirio saluted after the others said their 'hellos'. "Hey there, Sensei! Pleased to meet you in person. Thanks again for the help. I actually understood it and got a good grade on that paper!"
She smiled brightly at him. "I'm glad to be of help, Mirio-kun. Any time you need help, let me know. But enough with the 'sensei!'"
"Anyway, let me show you my office, Izuku," Sir interrupted, frown on full blast. "Since it was saved for last, we can take a break and rest there."
"Okay, let's do that, " Midoriya smiled prettily at Mirio's mentor. "Is your All Might collection there? You promised you'd show it to me today!"
"Ah, yes, it is," Nighteye answered in embarrassment, an odd look on the normally stern man. "Nothing on yours though. Your collection makes me green with envy, I confess."
The two of them chattered while walking away from them and towards Sir's office. Bubble Girl shook her head.
"All Might stans," she laughed. "No wonder Nighteye befriended her. They seem to be super alike. Though she's really cute and pretty. Surprisingly young though."
"How did you end up knowing her, Mirio-kun?" Centipeder asked him curiously.
Mirio forgot that only Sir had been there and had also been the one to hesitantly introduce and ask his friend for help.
"I asked Sir for advance math help that one day," Mirio reminded them. "But even he had trouble with a lot of the problems. He brought up and offered to call his friend, and that's how Midoriya-sensei and I were introduced. She really is very smart —Sir said she's even a Todai student! But you're right; I'm also surprised at how she looks and how young she is. Aside from being an All Might fan, she isn't someone I'd picture Sir befriending or knowing at all."
"It's a bit even more convoluted than that, I'm afraid," Centipeder said cryptically. "But I suppose I'll leave that to Sir to talk to us about and reveal, if he wants to."
Mirio tilted his head in thought, now really curious to know.
Started 4/16/23 – Completed 4/19/23
A/n: Ahhh, it's been too long :( Life got super busy and I've been job hunting. This chapter has been done for a long time, just didn't have the focus to edit and post it. Sorry, everyone! Hopefully, I will be able to put a little more focus on this in the future~
Quick Points:
1. Inko ships it. Hisashi won't.
2. I actually researched and did too much looking into Japan's education system, etc. Geez y'all, save me from myself.