Chapter II: Paths Intersect

Gojo sat idly on a metal beam in some abandoned building while looking at his successor. It was just two days ago when Six Eyes manifested in Izuku. The poor boy had one hell of an experience when he awakened the ocular powers inherited from the jujutsu sorcerer while yesterday was a check-up with the doctor regarding the kid's late "quirk" emergence. And as per Gojo's advice, Izuku was made to wear dark-tinted glasses to lessen the effects of Six Eye's perception.

"What are we going to learn today, Gojo-sensei?" Izuku asked with giddying excitement. After managing to cover the fact his powers weren't a quirk, the greenette quickly asked permission from his mother if he could train with it. Being the supportive mother that she is, Inko agreed but set a rule that Izuku would be home before dinner on weekdays.

"Curse energy basics first," the white-haired man replied. "We have ten months to prepare for U.A.'s entrance exam and I want you to learn the basics after a month or two. It's mostly about control and whatnot. That said…"

Izuku tilted his head a bit, curiously anticipating his teacher's input.

"I think we're gonna need a week to watch some movies."

"Huh? Movies?"

"Well…we could but I'm not sure if there are any cursed corpses left."

"DID HE JUST SAY 'CORPSES'!?"

"I know!" Gojo exclaimed. "Are there any toy stores nearby?"

Odd question, but Izuku answered, nonetheless. "I think there was one just a few blocks from here."

"Good! After our session today, you'll be heading to that store and buying a stuffed animal; a monkey would be ideal. Oh, and a pair of boxing gloves."

"Sure…" answered a bewildered Izuku. While the greenette didn't know what the ancient ghost was planning, he was willing to go along with it considering what he did for him. "By the way, what are we going to do today?"

Instead of answering, Gojo simply pointed at two empty cans of beer and said, "Could you pick up those two beer cans and put them on top of that fallen concrete pillar?"

Izuku did what he was told and placed the two pieces of garbage on top of a concrete pillar that was situated not far from where they stood. "So, what now?" the green-haired teen asked.

Gojo already revealed the basics behind Infinity and Six Eyes a couple of days ago. Though that knowledge may be useful, it wouldn't mean a thing if Izuku didn't understand the concept of curse energy and the underlying principles that governed it. So, like any teacher, the honored one started with the basics.

"Izuku," Gojo began, "do you know what curse energy is?"

"It's the accumulation of negative emotions," answered Izuku. "That's what you said when we first met, right?"

"It is. However, since it stems from negative emotions, that makes it volatile and extremely hard to control. Considering that everyone has negative emotions, it's logical to assume that everyone has some curse energy regardless of how small it is."

"Does that mean heroes could use curse energy like a jujutsu sorcerer?" posed the green-headed jujutsu sorcerer trainee.

"Good question. I do think it's possible but it won't be as effective as it was four hundred years ago."

"How so?"

"Well…" Gojo took a few seconds before producing a plausible answer. "For the most part, the current world focuses more on the development of quirks. So, I expect that the idea of jujutsu sorcerers has faded into history even within the Three Great Clans. However, what truly made the use of curse energy obsolete was that unlike in the past, the number of negative emotions in people today isn't as much thanks to the pro heroes who actively keep the peace. With these professionals out there doing well, the citizens have little to worry about."

"So, what you're saying is that the emergence of quirks and the rise of pro heroes was the cause of why jujutsu sorcerers disappeared. Is that it?" questioned Izuku. "Since pro heroes put people at ease, they don't experience the same number of negative emotions like in the past which then lessens the amount of curse energy of the world."

"That's my theory, at least," confirmed Gojo before adding, "That said, it's not far-fetched to think that there are some people who are familiar with jujutsu sorcery even today.

"Anyway, getting back on topic; we jujutsu sorcerers can use curse energy as is. However, it wouldn't be as effective because it isn't channeled the right way to maximize its potential. That's where curse techniques come in." Gojo then pointed at the two empty cans. "Observe…"

Izuku's attention was now focused on the two cans he picked up earlier. At first, nothing happened. Suddenly, one of the empty cans got a huge dent in its body while the other one got so twisted that it was as thin as a string.

"Whoa!"

"Can you tell me what happened, Izuku?"

Going by his teacher's earlier explanation, the boy had a promising idea of what Gojo demonstrated.

"One was crushed by pure curse energy while the other was twisted using a curse technique," Izuku answered then began elaborating. "Based on your explanation earlier, since a curse technique maximizes the potential of curse energy, the damage done to the twisted can of soda was greater compared to the other one."

Gojo was impressed. If he weren't blindfolded right now, Izuku would see the surprise in his eyes.

"Well, how about that?" the ghost mentally remarked with a grin. "He already has a sharp mind as well as great observational skills. Imagine the monster he'd become with Six Eyes. Oh, the possibilities.

"Bravo, Izuku!" Clapping, Gojo slowly walked toward the boy but noticed that he was squirming. "Uh…something wrong?"

Jerking a bit, Izuku quickly dismissed his teacher's concerns and said, "N-No! It's just t-that I don't g-get much praise."

"Stuttering," Gojo thought. "A clear sign of confidence issues. It must be from being bullied by that blonde kid. I need to do something about that."

"Well, you better get used to it because you're gonna get more," Gojo revealed, earning him a surprised look from the boy. Chuckling, he then said, "Honestly, you should feel glad that someone's praising you. It means that you did something to earn their interest and that they recognize your skill and efforts."

Izuku's fidgeting ceased, now he was focused on his mentor's words of encouragement.

"…And considering how fast you grasp the concept of curse energy, it's safe to assume that you have more potential than you realize."

Confidence. That's what Izuku lacked and what he sorely needed after years of torment. Gojo knew that Izuku had immense potential that's why he was chosen as his successor. It will be demanding work but considering the teary smile of appreciation the kid was giving him, it was a step in the right direction.

After a few good minutes of letting Izuku cry himself out, the teen and his ghost mentor resumed their training.

"Since curse energy is fueled by negative emotions, that makes it difficult to control." Gojo continued his explanation while the young Midoriya listened attentively, producing a notebook and pen a few seconds ago to jot down notes.

"So, I need to be angry or scared to produce curse energy?"

"Nope," replied the blindfolded man. "Do that, and your powers will go out of whack. The best jujutsu sorcerers are known to produce curse energy even from the faintest of negative emotions. They are also trained to avoid wasting their curse energy when their emotions are flaring up as well. There are several training methods for this but the one that will give us the best and quickest results is watching movies."

"Why watch movies, though?" Izuku asked his teacher.

"Have you ever watched Avengers Endgame?"

The mere mention of the classic lit up Izuku's eyes. "I did!" cried the boy in glee. "It was the greatest superhero movie ever!"

"Bingo!" The reaction was just what Gojo expected. "So, which part of the movie did you feel the greatest emotion?"

"There were two scenes," Izuku replied. He then started enumerating. "The first was when the portals appeared and the forces who were snapped by Thanos came to help. That was the single most epic thing I have ever seen considering that movie was hundreds of years old!"

Gojo smirked. "Who wouldn't like that scene from that movie?"

"The next one was great but it was more solemn than epic." The greenette's demeanor changed from excited to sullen. "It was when Tony Stark died. He just used the Infinity Stones to snap away Thanos and his army. After that, his body couldn't take the toll of using that much power and passed away. All the heroes present kneeled before him, honoring his sacrifice to save the universe."

"Well damn. The kid's a superhero nerd, that's for sure." Now that Gojo managed to elicit some emotions from the kid, it's time to delve into the purpose of binge-watching. "Curse energy is powered by emotions, right?"

"Right."

"Binge-watching movies happens to be the best way to bring about those emotions," Gojo explained. "They make you laugh, cry, sad, excited, and many more. However, jujutsu sorcerers don't just let these emotions get the best of them or they'll end up expending too much energy. You need to reign it in, powering your curse energy but in precise and controlled amounts. You already have Six Eyes, so you basically get a free pass. However, learning to control your curse energy without relying on Six Eyes will benefit you better eventually."

"That makes sense," Izuku agreed. While Six Eyes was a godsend, learning to manipulate curse energy without a crutch was better.

"For now, though, I think it's best to get you into shape," Gojo suggested. "Find a place that's littered with heavy objects. Physical activities that work your entire body are better than exercises that simply target individual muscles. Got any suggestions?"

That question got Izuku thinking. Except for the less fortunate areas, Musutafu was a clean city. Trash wasn't a common annoyance for the populace since there were efficient waste disposal systems put in place by the city government. That said, there was one place in the city that was considered its official dumping ground.

"Dagobah Beach," replied the teen. "It's the city's local dumping ground for discarded appliances and heavy equipment."

"Then that's where we're headed tomorrow!" exclaimed a rather jovial Gojo. "For now, let's get to that toy store you mentioned and buy that monkey."

At the same time, Kazui Kurosaki strolled through the streets, leisurely whistling a tune his mother sang to him when he was younger. Instead of his unique battle garb worn the night before, his clothes consisted of a bluish-green hoodie, dark blue jeans, some sneakers, and a green-striped, white bucket hat.

"What to do? What to do?" pondered Kazui while observing the different establishments around him.

There was the mall, arcade, an internet café, some food stalls, and a whole host of things that could pass the time. It was Saturday and with nothing to do, he wanted to make himself busy.

Kazui traced the rim of his bucket hat, remembering the amount of money he spent to get the accessory customized. It was something a family friend wore back in his original world. The guy could be considered the smartest on the planet and lucky him, he was his tutor once upon a time. Though it looked out of place in his get-up, he liked wearing it because it made him feel unique…not that he already is.

His eyes suddenly landed on a music store, one with rows of violins hanging on display. Most of his classmates at Yavin High don't know this, but Kazui was good at playing the violin. It was one of the hobbies his father and mother encouraged. He was proficient with the stringed instrument and would've performed in his first recital had everything not gone to Hell.

Shaking the terrible memory off his head, Kazui pushed the door to the store and went inside. Rows upon rows of musical instruments were neatly lined up within the establishment and yet, his attention quickly drifted towards the violin section.

He could still remember the first violin his mother bought him. From then on, he practiced every day with it until his supposed recital. There was even an instance where he wrote a piece for that specific performance. He still had every note memorized, though the hybrid wasn't sure if he'll be able to finally play it.

Kazui reached out and took a violin from the shelf. It was a Stentor 1018 Standard. Currently, it was considered a very old model yet its quality was the reason why it was still in production. The polished wood alone was a testament to the fine craftsmanship of the instrument. The strings were well-maintained despite looking like it was in the shelf for a long time. Most of all, when he tried to play a tune, the sound it produced was crisp and soothing.

"If I had some money right now, I'd definitely buy this," muttered the carrot-top. Sadly, he was on a budget. While the city government did give orphans like him an allowance, it was only enough to provide for his necessities.

"You know your way around violins."

Eyes darting to the stranger, Kazui found himself staring at a young woman about his age. Black hair tied in a ponytail and wearing what looked like expensive clothes, the girl carried herself as if she came from an upstanding family. Initially, Kazui had bad impressions of people like her since they tend to act all high and mighty. However, this person seemed to be gentle and well-mannered. Maybe he can indulge her in some light conversation.

"I know how to play one," replied the young hybrid. "I got started when I was ten years old when my mom bought me my first violin."

"Have you ever played in a recital before?" asked the girl. She looked interested after finding out that the young Kurosaki knew how to play the instrument.

Kazui's face slowly morphed into a sullen expression. That day was not something he wanted to remember.

"Is something the matter?" The girl was now worried when she saw the change in his face.

"It's nothing," Kazui dismissed. "Just a bad memory."

"Oh, I'm sorry." The young woman had a hand on her chest, a sign of sincerity. "I didn't mean to–"

"I know you didn't; so, don't worry. Still, thanks for the concern, though."

"You're welcome." Now feeling at ease, it was best to introduce herself. "I'm Momo Yaoyorozu."

"Kazui Kurosaki."

"It's a nice name." Momo meant what she said. Kazui did have a nice name. "It means 'The Brave,' right?"

Kazui's mood grew brighter. "It is not every day you meet someone who understands the true meaning of your name. Thank you, Yaoyorozu-san."

"It was a pleasure, Kurosaki-san." With that, the adolescent girl left the store but not before waving goodbye and giving a smile to the young reaper.

Kazui just stood there, wondering what just happened. He came to this store out of curiosity and ended up talking to a girl; a beautiful one at that. Although their conversation drifted to some unsavory memories, Momo Yaoyorozu was quick to apologize and change the subject for his sake. That made him smile.

"I hope I get to see her again," muttered the boy. "It's not every day you get to meet someone like her."

Seeing as the only interesting thing in the store had already left, Kazui decide to head out once more and venture into the city, now a little cheerful.

-o0o-

Kazui walked through the streets of Musutafu for another hour but found nothing of interest compared to meeting that Yaoyorozu girl. While the city itself was a hotspot for hero activity, they did not impress him that much considering he can confidently overpower any hero he might come into blows with. That is not him bragging but he was trained by the fiercest people ever known; the toughest being his father.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure I should just head back and call–"

The boy's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by laughter from an alley just a block away. Curious, Kazui approached the dark path and to his surprise, found the girl he had talked to earlier being surrounded by five men.

From looks alone, Kazui could tell they were villains. Two of the miscreants had mutation quirks, specifically enlarged fists, and beast-like appearance. The other three he guessed had emitter quirks if the floating objects, crackling electricity, and embers were to go by. His eyes then focused on the black-haired girl he met earlier. She had a scowl directed at her assailants while holding a Bo staff in her left hand.

"Where the heck did she get that?" asked Kazui to himself.

The girl wasn't carrying anything a while ago. That said, judging the bruise on one of the villains' faces told him that she knew how to use the thing. Even her stance and form were enough of an indication that Yaoyorozu knew how to fight.

Still, Kazui wasn't interested in just letting a girl get ganged up on by a bunch of perverted men. So, using Flash Step, he appeared behind the beast-like villain and delivered a vicious kick powered by Blut Arterie, sending the poor sob through a wall.

Kazui winced when he heard a few bones crack. "Damn. I accidentally put too much strength on Blut Arterie."

"KENTARO!" yelled one of the criminals.

"…THE FUCK!?" cried another. "Where the hell did this kid come from?"

Meanwhile, Momo Yaoyorozu was surprised by the sudden appearance of the orange-haired boy from earlier. "Kurosaki-san?"

"Nice seeing you again, Yaoyorozu-san," Kazui said cheerfully. "It seems you're in a bit of a pickle. Want some help?"

Initially, Momo had everything under control until the villains showed their quirks, putting her at a disadvantage. She was trained to fight and the stinging mark on one of the assailants was proof that she could defend herself. However, the arrival of Kazui Kurosaki just tipped the scale massively to her side.

With a knowing grin, Momo Yaoyorozu replied, "Kurosaki-san…I would be delighted if you will."

Now that permission was given, red lines appeared on Kazui's forearms. His smile morphed into a deranged grin that unnerved the miscreants who tried to take advantage of Momo. Cracking his knuckles, he slowly walked toward his would-be victims with hidden glee.

"I'm gonna enjoy beating the ever-living crap out of you."

The abrupt change in his voice further plunged the villains into a state of fear. That effect of Kazui's voice having two distinct individuals talking through one mouth made him sound like a demon. Heck, even Yaoyorozu was a little shaken. That short span of frozen fright was all Kazui needed to make the first move.

Appearing in front of the pyrokinetic, the young hybrid grabbed the man's face and slammed him to the ground. The impact created an indentation and small hairline fissures on the ground.

Yaoyorozu used that moment to lunge on the electrokinetic. The villain saw her and tried to fight back but he telegraphed his intentions. The teen ducked under an electrified punch and whacked her staff at her attacker. She delivered a dozen more strikes quickly, leaving the guy with a concussion before falling into an unconscious heap.

"Sajō Sabaku." Kazui's words were followed by the appearance of golden chains from his fingers that slithered toward the remaining offenders.

The move caught Yaoyorozu's attention. The ethereal chains seemed to emanate familiar energy. For now, she and Kazui had to deal with the remaining attackers.

The two villains tried to dodge the incoming chains, yet the light construct relentlessly followed them until it wrapped around their bodies.

"Hey!" yelled one of the bound criminals. "What the hell is this!?"

"You better let us go, you punk, before I–"

Unfortunately for them, they didn't get to say anymore when the raven-haired girl pulled out a taser gun and electrocuted the two criminals, silencing them. Momo then took out her phone and dialed the authorities.

"Where'd you get the taser?" Kazui asked. His voice was now back to normal.

"Oh! I made it using my quirk. It's called 'Creation' and it lets me create anything using the lipids in my body as long as I know its chemical composition."

"Neat." Kazui was impressed. "That's a versatile quirk."

"Thanks," chirped Yaoyorozu cheerfully. "Although, it does leave me tired if I get a bit excessive."

"Well, it's a good thing you only made two objects to fight those idiots. Speaking of those idiots…"

The police finally arrived and rounded up the incapacitated villains. Considering they were just defending themselves; the officers were lenient and let them off Scott-free with using their quirks. That said, the two were still reminded not to use them unless it were special circumstances.

With that done, the cops eventually left with the criminals, leaving Kazui and Momo by themselves.

"Thanks again for coming to my rescue," the girl thanked the young Kurosaki.

"Don't mention it," said Kazui. "I couldn't let a pretty girl like you get beat up now, would I?"

That little comment made the rich girl blush. Despite barely meeting the carrot-top, Momo Yaoyorozu couldn't deny that Kazui Kurosaki was a great person to spend time with and she wouldn't mind seeing him again in the future.

"That said…" She had seen his quirk and it was powerful, so there was a slight possibility. "Will you be taking the U.A. Entrance Exam?"

"Huh?" the question was completely lost to the hybrid. "What brought that up?"

"Well, you seem to have a powerful quirk and I think you'd make a fine hero." It was Kazui who blushed this time. "So, I guessed that with a quirk like yours, you'll be applying for the Hero Course in U.A. What is your quirk, by the way?"

Kazui sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "How do I explain this?" he thought to himself. Luckily, he was quick to come up with a believable lie. "It's called Fullbring," he answered. "It lets me harness energy to do different stuff like enhancing my physical attributes or perform energy-based skills like that golden chain earlier. Basically, it makes me a jack-of-all-trades."

"It seems you also have a versatile quirk," Momo commented, impressed at Kazui. "So, will you be applying for U.A. too?"

"I think I am. Wait, what do you mean 'too'?"

"Oh. Did I not mention it earlier? I'm also applying for the school's Hero Course. Although, I might get in via recommendation."

Kazui just shrugged. "Be that as it may, at least there will be a familiar face when I get in."

"Confident, are we?" said Momo with a smirk.

"You did say my quirk was powerful," Kazui replied with a grin.

"That I did." Yaoyorozu took out her phone again and asked, "You don't mind sharing contacts, do you?"

"Sure," Kazui said cheerfully.

The two teens exchanged numbers. Looking up, the young Kurosaki could see that Yaoyorozu was eager to have his number. He had to admit though, that he was also eager to get hers.

After that brief exchange, Kazui and Momo hid their phones and stared at the orange sky.

"Well, I better get going," said the girl. She sounded disappointed.

This didn't escape Kazui's notice and decided to cheer her up. "Hey. Don't be so bummed. You can always call me if you want someone to talk to."

"I would, but my parents are adamant that I focus on getting good grades to get into U.A."

"I couldn't fault them," admitted the orange-haired boy. "That said, I'm sure they can let you take a few breaks, right?"

"They do," answered Yaoyorozu.

"So, what's the problem?" asked Kazui. "Focus on your studies but if you need someone to talk to, I'm just a call away."

Somehow, Kazui's words brightened Momo's mood if the smile on her face was any indication.

She would like to get to know him but sadly, her driver arrived all worried and distressed.

"Lady Yaoyorozu are you alright?" the driver who wore a butler's suit cried after coming out of the car which was, to Kazui's surprise, a limousine.

"I'm unharmed, Azusagawa," assured Momo. "It was thanks to Kurosaki-san that I'm safe," she said pointing to the boy with her.

The butler quickly bowed deeply once he came face to face with his master's savior. "Thank you, young man, for coming to my mistress' aid."

"It's no big deal," Kazui casually said. "I just did what any good person would do."

"Such humility." Turning around, Azusagawa then reminded Yaoyorozu heiress that it was time to leave.

Sighing, Momo looked to her savior and smiled. Though she wouldn't mind spending a few more minutes with the orange-haired teen, it was getting late and her parents would be worried about her considering the attempted mugging and harassment.

"I guess this is goodbye for now," Momo said, slightly dejected.

Kazui noticed this and flashed his own smile at her. "Cheer up, Yaoyorozu-san," he said. "As I said earlier, I'm just a call away if you get bored."

"Momo…"

"Hmmm?"

"Call me Momo," Yaoyorozu requested. "I think you've earned that much considering what we've been through earlier."

"Then call me Kazui," the boy offered.

"Sure thing, Kazui."

Momo eventually left for her home but not before saying goodbye to Kazui.

The boy in question simply looked on as his new friend disappeared into the bustling streets of Musutafu. His day now brighter than ever, the hybrid finally left to take much-needed rest after an exciting day.

"What are your thoughts on Kazui, Azusagawa?" Momo questioned her driver.

"Aside from being a swell lad? He would be the perfect boyfriend for you if I do say so myself," replied the butler with a sly smile. It grew, even more, when he saw Momo turn beet red as seen through the rear-view mirror.

"AZUSAGAWA!" yelled a now flustered Momo. "That's not what I meant!"

Letting out a hardy chuckle, the mischievous servant ceased his teasing and answered earnestly. "What's there to say? The moment I saw him, I knew that he was hero material."

While she agreed to that, Yaoyorozu had other thoughts regarding Kazui Kurosaki, specifically his quirk. It got her to think deeply since she found similarities between the energy her new friend mentioned to one long forgotten.

"He was definitely using curse energy," she concluded. "That said, why did it feel so pure?"

Only Kazui Kurosaki can answer that question.

"Remember to buy the monkey and a pair of boxing gloves, Izuku."

Gojo's cheery tone was all young Midoriya could hear while entering the toy store. After a quick talk with one of the store employees for direction, Izuku found the stuffed toy section. Scanning the rows upon rows of cuddly stuffed animals, the young would-be sorcerer finally found what he was looking for.

Izuku took one of the stuffed monkeys on display and examined the object, wondering how a plush toy could help him train his curse energy.

"This looks good."

Young Midoriya jumped from Gojo's sudden input. "Don't scare me like that!"

"You were so busy wondering how a plushy can help your training that you started muttering."

"Sorry."

"Don't be." Gojo noticed something and pointed his finger at another part of the store. "Looks like someone needs some help."

Izuku looked to where his mentor was pointing and found a brown-haired girl reaching for a cheap-looking toy gun precariously perched on top of a high stack of toys. What's more, said toy gun was on a box with a bulky die-cast tank replica.

"Come on, come on," the girl grunted while almost getting the plastic shooter. "I've got to get this before my little cousin's birthday."

"Uhm…I think that tank is about to fall on her," Gojo stated.

Just as the spirit predicted, the box with the heavy tank toy fell.

"EEK!"

The girl in question let out a frightened squeak and braced herself for impact.

On instinct, Izuku almost instantaneously got between the brunette and the metallic toy. Instead of hitting him, it merely bounced off and landed harmlessly on the ground.

"Wait. Was that Infinity?"

"It was," replied Gojo. "You activated it on instinct to protect yourself and the girl which, I must say, was impressive considering we haven't begun learning the states of Limitless. Also, you just teleported."

"Well, for what it's worth, at least the girl didn't get hurt. I don't want to find out what would happen if that tank hit her in the head."

"A concussion, that's for sure. Speaking of the girl…"

"Oh god! Are you hurt?"

When Izuku turned to the girl he just helped, he couldn't help but just stare at her. What would he say? Except for his mother, the young Midoriya had no experience talking to girls his age whatsoever.

…Especially a girl this cute.

"Hold up! Did I just think she was cute?"

"You most certainly did, my young apprentice."

"Please don't make this any more awkward than it already is, Gojo-sensei."

"…And pass up the best entertainment I've seen in four hundred years? Heck no! Besides, the girl is a total cutie! It'd be a waste if you didn't get her number."

"I thought we were supposed to buy a plushy, not picking up girls!"

"Uhm…hello?"

Izuku's banter with his sensei finally stopped his attention now towards the round-faced girl.

"I saw you got hit by that die-cast tank," said the brunette in worry. "Are you okay?"

"Oh! I…umm…yeah," Midoriya uneasily answered. "My quirk prevented the thing from actually hitting me."

The girl breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness. Although, I saw the toy fall on you. Are you really sure you're okay?"

"Yeah," the greenette assured. "My quirk has a default state that slows down anything that comes near me."

Suddenly, the brown-haired girl's eyes lit up. "Really!?" she asked in excitement. "It sounds like my quirk!"

Now, Izuku was curious. "How so?"

"My quirk is called 'Zero Gravity' and it lets me cancel the gravity of any object I touch! Here, I'll show you." Placing the soft pads on her fingers onto the toy tank, the object which was approximately a kilo or two was now floating.

"That's amazing!" exclaimed Izuku as he watched the girl guide the toy back to where it was previously.

Even Gojo was impressed. However, it only added fire to his teasing of his successor.

"Well, what do you know? She can manipulate gravity while you can manipulate space. You two are basically meant for each other!"

Apparently, Izuku didn't hear the spirit since he went on a spiel on how the girl's quirk worked and the possible theories on improving it. The boy was so engrossed in his own thoughts that the brunette was starting to get creeped out.

"Wow," Gojo whistled. "I wonder how long it's going to take before he realizes?"

Luckily, Izuku managed to stop himself from muttering any further. When he looked at the girl in front of him, she looked flummoxed, bewildered, perplexed, and a little creeped out.

"I went into a rambling spree, didn't I?" Izuku questioned.

"Uhm…yeah," answered the brunette.

The greenette just wanted to crawl into a corner right now.

"Smooth… like sandpaper!" Gojo remarked with a snicker.

"Please don't, Gojo-sensei," Izuku pleaded to his mischievous teacher. "I'm already dying of embarrassment here."

No response came.

Somehow, Gojo actually stopped.

Now with some peace inside his head, Izuku's attention returned to the girl before him.

"How about you?" he asked. "Are you alright?"

The girl beamed at him and replied, "I'm fine. Thanks for what you did earlier."

To Midoriya's surprise, what the brunette did next was the least expected thing he could think of – she introduced herself.

"I'm Ochako Uraraka, but you can just call me Ochako. After all, you did save me from a potential concussion."

"Oh…uhm…my name's Izuku Midoriya." He couldn't believe it. A girl just introduced herself to him.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Izuku. I can call you Izuku, right?" She got a nod for an answer. Ochako then asked, "Hey, will you be enrolling in U.A.?"

Again, Izuku just nodded.

Noticing the time, the girl now known as Ochako picked up the toy she intended to buy and began heading to the cashier. But before that, she gave the green-haired boy a cute smile that lit up his cheeks and said, "Well, I better get going. It was nice knowing you, Izuku. I hope we get into U.A. and become classmates. Bye!"

Ochako finally left the store after paying for the toy. Izuku just stood there in a daze; unable to comprehend what just happened.

"I…I just talked to a girl," he muttered. A bright smile then appeared on his face, feeling proud of himself. "I just talked to a cute girl and she gave me her name."

"It would've been better if she gave you her number."

"GAHH!" The boy almost toppled over the stack of toys thanks to Gojo's sudden comment. "Don't scare me like that!"

"I'm just reminding you that you didn't get that girl's number."

"Again, with the number?"

"At least you can talk to her by phone," the honored one stated. "Now, you're gonna have to wait a whole ten months just to see her again."

That fact hit Midoriya like a truck, bumming him out at the missed opportunity. Be that as it may, he can't just ask for some girl's number. He didn't want to be disrespectful.

"Anyways, I think you should get going and buy that plushy and some boxing gloves."

Nodding to his sensei, the greenette purchased the items requested by Gojo and left the store. Still, he was curious as to what purpose a toy will serve.

"Hey, Gojo-sensei? You never did tell me how a stuffed animal will help my training."

"Oh, that's easy. I'll be using that to make a cursed corpse."

"Mind telling me what cursed corpses are? Just hearing the word 'curse' and 'corpse' in the same sentence seems to make my skin crawl."

"Basically, they're objects imbued with curse energy. They're usually curses inhabiting non-living objects with some form of self-control and are usually used by sorcerers for various purposes."

"So, it's like a robot given a set of commands?"

"Good analogy! The plushy you bought will be the vessel for our cursed corpse."

"Neat! So, what are you gonna make it do?"

"Oh, I'm gonna make it punch you in the face."

Izuku nearly stumbled upon that answer. "WHAT!?"

"You remember that binge-watching movies were part of our training, right?" The boy nodded. "While watching, you'll be pouring a set amount of curse energy into the doll. If you lose concentration, it will punch you until you give it the necessary curse energy."

Somehow, a shiver ran through the young Midoriya's spine. Things just got harder for him and it seems Gojo isn't finished yet.

"You should also remember that you'll be under a strict physical regiment to improve your body. You don't want to look all frail during the exams now, so expect yourself to be put through the wringer."

Gojo sounded so cheery that Izuku groaned. The spirit was looking forward to his upcoming ten months of pain and misery. The only thing the kid was able to say was…

"What have I gotten myself into?"