Dekiru 10: The Symbol Of Peace And The Protector Of Earth

by Phantomdanger

Izuku Midoriya, previously quirkless, was offered One For All by the greatest hero, but during training, he discovered the Omnitrix. Now his on the journey to be the greatest hero, the Symbol of Peace and The protector of Earth. It's Hero Time!

44. Chapter 39: Undertown

The four teenagers stood atop a rusted metal platform overlooking Undertown, a sprawling, labyrinthine city of patchwork buildings and glowing neon signs.

The air was thick with the smell of oil and strange spices, and the streets below teemed with bizarre creatures—aliens of every shape and size mingling with shadowy figures that could easily pass for heteromorphs.

Hovering vehicles zipped through the air, weaving around towering structures cobbled together from salvaged parts.

Ibara clasped her hands together, her emerald eyes wide as they took in the otherworldly sight. "Praise the Lord," she murmured, her voice trembling with awe. "This must be one of His hidden wonders. A city beneath the earth, a testament to His boundless creation... It reminds me of scriptures speaking of things hidden beneath the earth."

Setsuna leaned on the platform's railing, her sharp eyes scanning the chaotic streets below. Her lips curved into a smirk as she took in the city's sheer scale."It's got a certain charm, doesn't it?" she said, her tone light but laced with a hint of wariness. "Scrappy, gritty... dangerous. Definitely not your typical tourist spot."

Mina's enthusiasm bubbled over as she leaned forward on the platform's edge, her pink eyes wide with excitement. "This is AMAZING! Like something out of a sci-fi movie! Can we explore? Pleeease? I wanna see everything!"

Izuku's jaw hung open as he scanned the sprawling chaos of Undertown. His eyes lit up with a mix of wonder and curiosity, practically glittering in the glow of neon lights.

"This place... Woah," he breathed, the words barely audible. His muttering tendencies quickly took over.

"How long has this been here? Is this where all aliens live? Or maybe some people with mutant-type Quirks, too? And the food here—oh, what kind of ingredients do they use? Do they have unique cooking techniques?" His voice rose in pitch as he rambled, his gaze darting in every direction.

Setsuna leaned on the railing, a sly grin tugging at her lips. "Dork," she teased, crossing her arms as she watched Izuku mutter like a wind-up toy.

Before anyone could laugh, a loud blaring horn interrupted the moment. A massive, clunky train-like vehicle barreled toward them, hovering a few feet above the ground. "Get out of the way, meatbags!" the driver snarled, his voice distorted and gravelly. "This is Undertown, not a playground!"

Izuku's instincts kicked in. Danger Sense flared, and he lunged toward Setsuna, pulling her out of the train's path just in time. The two tumbled to the ground as the train roared past, rattling the platform beneath their feet.

"Undertown..." Izuku muttered, the name sticking in his mind as he glanced after the train.

The train zoomed past, its driver yelling, "Get outta the way, meatbags! This is Undertown, not a playground!" Izuku murmured, "Undertown?" Setsuna smirked, her eyes gleaming with mischief. From beneath him, she could feel his body heat, and her grin widened.

"Nice reflexes, Midoriya," she whispered, her breath tickling his ear. "If you wanted to be close to me, you could've just asked." She wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him in. Her soft breasts pressed against him, sending a flush through his face.

Izuku's eyes widened, and he stuttered, "T-Tokage, that's not—!"

Setsuna giggled as she let go of his waist before blowing into his ear and Izuku immediately jumped away.

Setsuna giggled mischievously, her fingers slipping away from Izuku's waist as she leaned in closer. With a playful smirk, she blew a teasing breath into his ear.

Izuku's eyes widened in surprise, his body jerking back instantly, his face turning a deep shade of crimson. "W-What the heck, Tokage?!" he stammered, still trying to regain his composure.

Setsuna sat up, still grinning as she brushed herself off. "Relax, Midoriya. I'm just messing with you. And seriously, call me Setsuna already. You make me feel like a teacher when you're so formal."

"Setsuna!" Ibara exclaimed, her cheeks tinged pink. "That kind of behavior is utterly improper! Have you no shame?" She clasped her hands in front of her chest as if trying to will the scene away.

Mina, meanwhile, burst out laughing. "Midori you're so easy."

The vine-haired girl's blush deepened as she scowled at Mina. "That's completely irrelevant! And stop encouraging her antics!"

Mina stuck out her tongue playfully before turning to Setsuna. "Still, that was pretty smooth."

Setsuna smirked, standing up and dusting off her pants. "What can I say? I've got a gift."

Izuku, still flustered, waved his hands in front of him. "L-Let's just focus, okay? We're in a completely unfamiliar place, and we need to stay alert." He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "Ester called this place an alien underground city. If we stick out too much, we could attract the wrong kind of attention."

Mina's eyes gleamed with excitement. "An alien underground city?! This just keeps getting cooler! Do you think they have, like, alien malls? Alien arcades? Oh, what if there's an alien spa?!"

Setsuna chuckled, nudging Mina with her elbow. "Alien nightclubs, maybe? I bet this place is wild after dark."

Ibara folded her arms, her expression stern. "Focus, everyone. We're here for a mission, not a sightseeing tour. This place may look wondrous, but it's likely full of danger as well."

Mina pouted but didn't argue, while Setsuna shrugged. "Fine, but if we pass by an alien market, I'm stopping. Just saying."

As they walked deeper into Undertown, the city seemed to envelop them. Buildings loomed overhead, their patchwork designs casting long shadows.

Mina suddenly stopped in her tracks, throwing her arms out to block the others. "Hold up! We need new clothes!"

Izuku blinked, confused. "Huh? Why?"

Mina gestured to their outfits. "Look at us! Izuku's in his pajamas, Ibara looks like she's about to lead a choir, and me and Setsuna—well, we just scream 'tourist.' If we want to blend in, we need to dress the part!"

Ibara sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Ashido, we don't have their currency, nor do we have time to waste on such trivialities."

"Trivialities?!" Mina gasped, clutching her chest like she'd been mortally wounded. "Ibara, you wound me!"

Setsuna grinned, leaning in close to Mina. "She's just jealous she can't pull off alien fashion like we could."

Izuku gave an awkward chuckle, trying to mediate. "Let's, uh, focus on finding the target first. Maybe if we have time later..."

Mina groaned but didn't argue, while Setsuna muttered, "Alien market later. It's happening."

As they continued walking, Ibara kept her gaze fixed ahead, her posture rigid with determination. "Stay close, everyone. This is no place for carelessness."

l

...

[With Miruko]

Itsuka and Miruko moved quickly, their eyes locked on the trail of footprints left by Izuku's shoes. The faint glow of streetlights barely pierced the darkness, but Miruko's sharp senses made tracking easy.

"He stopped here," Miruko said, crouching as her fingers brushed over the ground. Her tone was calm but alert. "Three others caught up with him." She sniffed the air, her nose twitching. "They were chasing something—something electrical. Smells like ozone."

Itsuka blinked, impressed. "You're amazing, Miruko! How do you do that so easily?"

Miruko shot her a smirk, standing upright. "Comes with the job, kid. Gotta rely on more than just your eyes." Her expression quickly hardened again. "Focus up. We're not here for praise—we're here to bring that kid back."

Itsuka nodded, her worry creeping in despite her efforts to stay calm. "Izuku's always diving headfirst into trouble... What if he's in over his head this time?"

Miruko glanced at her, her voice steady but not unkind. "Worry won't help him now. Use that energy to track him down."

Itsuka clenched her fists and took a deep breath. Slapping her cheeks lightly, she forced a determined look onto her face. "Right. Let's get him back."

Miruko grinned slightly, a hint of approval in her eyes. "That's more like it."

The two heroes pressed on, scanning every shadow and sound as they followed the trail, their resolve unshakable.

...

As Izuku and his friends wandered through the bustling streets of Undertown, they passed by various vendor stalls, each brimming with strange and unfamiliar items. The air was thick with the mingling scents of exotic foods, strange spices, and a metallic tang that seemed to cling to the air itself.

Mina's attention was immediately drawn to a stall showcasing slimy, oddly-colored dishes. "I kinda wanna know how they taste," she remarked, her eyes fixed on the bizarre-looking food, a mix of curiosity and hesitation in her voice.

Setsuna, scrunching her nose in disgust, made a gagging noise. "Ugh, Mina, don't even joke about eating that!"

Izuku eyed the food nervously. "Do you think it's even safe for us to eat?"

A gruff voice came from behind the counter, and the vendor—a burly man with a rough beard, his accent thick and coarse—chuckled darkly. "Perfectly safe for humans, though it's gonna cost you 5 Taydenite," he said, his voice carrying the unmistakable drawl of someone used to haggling in a place like this.

Mina tilted her head, puzzled. "Taydenite?" she asked, not recognizing the term.

Setsuna crossed her arms, her brows furrowing. "Must be their currency," she deduced.

The vendor raised an eyebrow at Setsuna and Mina looking at the singed hero costumes. "You two wouldn't have run into a Nosedeenian, did ya?"

The two girls exchanged a confused look, neither one sure what he was talking about. Setsuna spoke up first. "Nosedeenians?" she repeated. "What's that?"

The vendor's expression darkened as he leaned in slightly, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "They're aliens that eat electricity. We call 'em Nosedeenians, but humans call 'em Megawatt. Dangerous things, those. They can tap into electricity and use it to their advantage. And they've got a twisted sense of humor."

Mina's eyes widened as the memories of the previous attack flooded her mind. "That's the thing that attacked us!" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of realization and fear.

The vendor nodded grimly. "Thought as much. Let me tell you, those Nosedeenians ain't to be trifled with. They get real dangerous if they feel threatened."

Setsuna's gaze hardened, her usual playful demeanor replaced with suspicion. "What do you mean?"

The vendor's face grew more solemn, his voice low. "I mean, when they're cornered or feel threatened, they can get real destructive. They've already caused some serious damage to a nearby town a couple years back. No joke."

The group exchanged uneasy glances. They all silently took in the weight of his words.

"Thank you..." Izuku started to say, but hesitated, realizing he hadn't caught the vendor's name.

The vendor grunted as he wiped his hands on his apron. "No need for thanks, kid. Just keep your distance from those things." He then turned, clearly ready for the next customer to step up.

As they thanked the vendor, he smiled and waved them off. The group continued walking, their pace slower now as they processed the conversation they'd just had. Ibara broke the silence, her voice curious but steady. "So, how did you figure out the Megawatt were alien in origin?"

Izuku reached for the Omnitrix on his wrist, activating it with a small flick of his finger. He cycled through the forms, stopping at the alien.

"The Omnitrix glowed yellow, and... well, I just pieced it together," Izuku said, a slight shrug accompanying his explanation.

Mina's eyes widened, her voice high with surprise. "So, you can transform into those little guys?"

Izuku nodded, his expression serious, but Mina's reaction only deepened her intrigue.

Setsuna, walking just behind them, clasped her hands behind her head, her usual carefree grin replaced with a thoughtful frown. "Hopefully, you don't end up with their sense of humor. Those things were a nightmare," she commented, her voice holding a touch of disdain for the creatures' antics.

Ibara's expression tightened, her tone more formal and composed. "Yes, well, they attacked a nearby store, and Kamui Woods and I tried to stop one of them. It...uh...got past us." Her eyes briefly darkened as she recalled the encounter.

Setsuna let out a soft giggle. "Seems even aliens have their kinks, huh?"

Ibara's face flushed slightly, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment as she stiffened, trying to retain her composure. "Yes, well, it was...unexpected," she replied, her voice tight but controlled.

Izuku, sensing the discomfort in the air, quickly redirected the conversation. "Let's stay focused on the mission. We need to make sure those Megawatts don't hurt anyone," he said, his tone shifting to a more serious note.

Mina nodded enthusiastically, her eagerness returning. "Right! Let's get to it!"

But Setsuna's mischievous grin was already creeping back into place. "And maybe next time, Ibara, you could wear something a little more...alien-proof?" she teased, her voice light but with a playful edge.

Ibara shot Setsuna a sharp glance, her cool demeanor returning as she leveled her eyes with Setsuna's. "Oh, very funny, Setsuna," she replied dryly, though the hint of a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

Ibara's gaze flickered to Izuku, her expression softening just slightly. Her eyes silently conveyed a grateful, unspoken "thank you" for steering the conversation away from her embarrassment. She quickly turned her attention forward, her face still carrying a light blush, but her posture remained unshaken.

Despite the small color in her cheeks, she carried herself with the same quiet dignity, maintaining her calm demeanor. Only the faintest flush on her face revealed the subtle impact of the moment.

...

Mirko and Itsuka finally picked up Izuku's trail, leading them to the outskirts of the city. They stood before the entrance of a tunnel, its darkness stretching endlessly, with only the faint hum of flickering fluorescent lights offering any comfort.

The air was thick with the smell of damp earth and mold, the sound of their footsteps echoing faintly as they moved forward.

Itsuka's frustration began to show. Her pace quickened as they ventured deeper into the maze of tunnels. "This is a damn maze... Where the hell did he go?" she muttered, clearly irritated.

Mirko, always the confident one, flashed a grin, noticing the tension in Itsuka. "Relax, we'll find him," she said, her tone casual but reassuring. "And when we do, we're gonna give him a piece of our minds... maybe throw in a few rounds in the ring to get some of that energy out."

Itsuka smirked, her annoyance melting into something more amused. "I'm taking the first match. He's definitely overdue for some discipline."

Mirko laughed, the sound carefree. "Oh, I'm sure you'll get your turn, but I'm not just gonna let you have all the fun." She gave a wink. "I'll be sure to let him know what it means to mess with Mirko."

They pressed on, the labyrinth ahead only fueling their determination to catch up with Izuku.

...

The four friends meandered through the vibrant vendor stalls, surrounded by alien technologies that seemed like dreams made tangible. They wandered separately but kept within each other's sight. Mina slipped on a bowl-like helmet and posed dramatically, while Ibara stood at a stall stacked with ancient-looking books, one of which she picked up and leafed through, her expression thoughtful.

"Excuse me, vendor," Ibara asked politely, her voice soft but firm, "could you explain the premise of this book? The language appears unfamiliar to me."

The vendor, a mysterious woman draped in flowing scarves and adorned with jangling bracelets, smiled knowingly. "Ah, my dear child," she said in a lilting voice that seemed to carry secrets, "that book speaks in tongues older than the stars themselves. It tells of wisdom hidden in the sands of time, for those with eyes keen enough to see."

Ibara's brow furrowed slightly as she closed the book with care, her curiosity piqued. "Thank you," she said, bowing her head lightly before placing the book back on the pile.

Meanwhile, Izuku and Setsuna stood in front of a stall displaying peculiar alien gadgets. Izuku's eyes sparkled with awe as he examined the items, while Setsuna reached out to poke a sleek device.

The moment her finger touched it, a small shock sparked against her skin. "Ow!" she yelped, quickly withdrawing her hand, her cheeks flushed in both surprise and embarrassment.

Izuku chuckled softly, his concern laced with humor. "Maybe we shouldn't touch random alien tech."

Setsuna rolled her eyes playfully, rubbing her hand. "Yeah, yeah. Lesson learned." Her grin remained as she returned to examining the gadgets..

Izuku's attention, however, was drawn to a gleaming silver orb etched with electric blue markings. It sat slightly apart from the other items, as though waiting for him to notice it. He picked it up, the smooth surface cool against his palm.

The vendor, who had been observing them with a watchful gaze, suddenly stepped forward. "Ah, what's this now?" she said, her voice sing-song and rich with an accent that carried a mystical air. "You've found the N'Terian Portal Generator, little one."

Izuku blinked at her, momentarily caught off guard by her vibrant presence. "The... N'Terian Portal Generator?" he repeated.

The vendor nodded slowly, her many bangles chiming softly with the motion. "Mmm, yes," she said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "A device of great power. It can whisk you away across the stars, through the folds of space and time itself. But heed my warning, chile—its magic ain't for the faint of heart. One wrong move, and poof!" She threw her hands into the air dramatically. "You're lost to the cosmos."

Izuku swallowed nervously, clutching the orb tighter. "That... sounds intense."

The vendor tilted her head, studying him with sharp, knowing eyes. "Intense, yes. But you, boy..." Her gaze lingered on his face as if she were seeing someone else in his place, her expression softening. "You remind me of someone I once knew. Someone who carried the same spark in their eyes."

Izuku blinked, unsure how to respond, but the vendor's smile deepened, a hint of wistfulness in her features. "They too had a knack for stumbling upon things meant for greater paths. And just like them, I see you will use these wisely."

He blinked, unsure of how to respond. The vendor's smile widened, her teeth yellowed but her aura undeniably magnetic. "Three, you shall take. Not one, not two. Three." She held up three fingers, her bracelets jingling.

Izuku's mouth opened to protest, but the vendor waved him off with a dismissive flick of her hand. "No, no, chile. No arguing with fate. These are yours, as sure as the sun rises."

With a graceful motion, she floated three identical orbs toward him. Izuku scrambled to catch them, stumbling back slightly but managing to grab all three. They clinked softly in his hands as he held them close.

"Th-thank you," Izuku stammered, his face red as he tried to process her generosity.

The vendor let out a low chuckle, the sound echoing like a wind chime. "No need for thanks, little one. Just remember—what you hold in your hands is more than mere trinkets. Use them wisely, hmm?"

Izuku nodded quickly, bowing his head in gratitude before retreating back toward his friends, the strange orbs still clutched tightly in his hands.

Behind him, the vendor smiled, her eyes twinkling with an enigmatic light as she watched him go.

"Hey, check this out!" Setsuna said with a mischievous grin, motioning toward Izuku as they walked over to Ibara. "Midoriya picked up some alien tech."

Ibara looked up from the book she was leafing through, her serene expression turning curious. "Alien tech? What kind of item did you acquire?"

Izuku held up the three silver spheres, their blue markings glinting faintly in the light. His face lit up with excitement. "These! A vendor just gave them to me."

Mina's eyes widened, leaning closer to inspect the spheres. "Whoa, seriously? Lucky find, Midori!"

"Yeah," Izuku said, his tone shifting slightly as his shoulders sagged. "But now I have to carry them around, and they're kind of awkward to manage..."

Mina laughed, reaching over to pluck one of the spheres from his hands. She bounced it in her palm experimentally. "Aw, come on! They're just about the weight of a tennis ball. You're acting like it's the end of the world."

Izuku scratched his cheek sheepishly. "I know, but three of them together feel pretty bulky..."

With a mischievous smirk, Mina snagged the other two spheres from his hands and turned to Ibara. "Guess what, Ibara? You're officially in charge of these bad boys now!" She deposited the spheres into Ibara's bag without waiting for a reply.

Ibara blinked, her brows raising slightly, but she didn't protest. Instead, she adjusted her bag and offered a gentle smile. "If it eases your burden, I'm more than happy to assist."

"Thanks, Shiozaki!" Izuku said earnestly.

As they continued wandering through the bustling streets of Undertown, they asked every vendor and passerby they could find about the Megawatts, but no one seemed to have any useful information.

Mina groaned dramatically, slumping against a wall and resting her cheek on her hand. "Ugh, it's like trying to find a needle in a haystack! Nobody knows anything. This is driving me nuts!"

Before anyone could respond, a young boy with long hair and an orange stripe walked past them, his stride faltering slightly as he overheard their conversation. His eyes darted to the group, and for a brief moment, alarm flashed across his face.

He quickly composed himself, straightening his posture and trying to appear nonchalant, though the nervous energy radiating from him was hard to miss.

Setsuna's sharp gaze flicked to him. "Well, would you look at that. Someone seems awfully jittery."

Izuku tilted his head, noticing the boy's sudden shift in demeanor. "Do you think he knows something?"

"Only one way to find out," Mina said, already pushing off the wall with renewed energy. "Let's go see if we can make a new friend!"

...

Ibara's gaze sharpened as she watched the boy's movements, her voice calm but firm. "Pardon me, but didn't the teachers mention that knowledge of aliens is incredibly rare? He seems suspicious."

Mina pushed herself off the wall, her brows furrowing. "Yeah, and he's our age. What's a kid like him doing here anyway?"

Setsuna's lips curled into an eager grin. "Only one way to find out. Let's go ask him! Maybe he's hiding something juicy."

Izuku, always ready to investigate, approached the boy with a warm, non-threatening smile. "Hey there! Do you have a moment? We just want to—"

Before Izuku could finish, the boy's eyes widened in panic, and he bolted, weaving through the busy vendor stalls with surprising agility.

"Hey, wait up!" Mina yelled, instantly sprinting after him as he knocked over several stands in his rush.

"Ah! My goods!" one of the vendors cried as baskets and trinkets tumbled to the ground.

The group took off after the boy, their focus locked on his fleeing form. Izuku's face tightened with determination as he shouted, "The Sports Festival! He probably knows we're Hero Course students!"

Mina glanced over, her expression skeptical but alert. "You think that's why he's running?"

"Absolutely," Setsuna replied confidently, her legs moving at full speed. "Only guilty people run from heroes!"

Ibara abruptly stopped, her expression unyielding as she drove her hair into the ground. "Then let's ensure he cannot escape!" Green, thorny vines erupted from the earth ahead of the boy, twisting and snapping like predatory snakes.

The boy skidded to a halt for just a moment, his eyes darting wildly as he calculated his next move. With a grunt, he leapt into the air, narrowly avoiding the vines as they lashed out, missing him by mere inches.

"He's fast!" Mina exclaimed, pushing herself harder to close the gap.

Desperate, the boy reached into his bag and pulled out a strange, gun-like device covered in glowing wires. Without hesitation, he aimed and fired.

A stream of crackling yellow energy shot toward the group, forcing Izuku and Setsuna to dive out of the way. The blast struck a nearby vendor's stall, shattering it in an explosion of wood and debris.

"Hey, watch it!" Mina shouted angrily, dodging falling splinters as she charged ahead.

The boy didn't stop, vaulting over a fence with practiced ease and scrambling up a fire escape. He climbed higher as Ibara's vines surged forward, snapping at the metal frame but falling just short.

"How is he still getting away?!" Mina growled, her frustration mounting.

"That weapon..." Izuku muttered under his breath, his mind racing. "Where did he even get that?"

"We can't let him escape!" Setsuna shouted, her body already breaking apart into floating pieces. Her limbs and torso soared ahead, closing the distance with unsettling precision.

The boy fired at her disjointed parts, but Setsuna weaved effortlessly around each blast, her laughter carrying through the chaos. "Come on, is that all you've got?" she taunted, her grin wide and unbothered.

Ibara watched, her expression unyielding as she called out, her voice ringing with authority. "You cannot outrun your consequences! Surrender now!"

The boy glanced back, his movements growing more frantic as the group closed in.

...

Mina, Izuku, and Ibara gave chase, but the boy was unnervingly quick, scaling walls and leaping rooftops with an agility that left them struggling to keep up. Gritting his teeth, Izuku glanced down at the Omnitrix and began cycling through its options. "Come on, give me something fast—FastTrack, maybe!"

He slammed the Omnitrix dial, and a flash of green light burst forth, momentarily blinding Mina and Ibara. When the light cleared, Izuku found himself not as the sleek, speedy FastTrack but as a gelatinous, wobbly green figure with an anti-gravity projector floating above his head. "Goop?!" Izuku exclaimed, his voice warbling slightly as he looked down at his gooey, transparent hands. A wide grin spread across his face.

"Actually...this could work!"Goop shouted, stretching his gooey arms to an impossible length, grabbing a nearby streetlamp, and flinging himself forward with ease.

"Goop?" Mina asked.

"Practical," Ibara noted, keeping pace as her vines whipped forward to vault her over a low wall. "But he'll need more than versatility to catch that boy. He's surprisingly agile."

As they reached the rooftops, Setsuna's floating body parts soared ahead, weaving through obstacles like a swarm of birds."We can't let him get away!"

Goop gaze hardened, stretching his torso to slip between two chimneys and closing the gap between him and the fleeing boy. "Not happening!"

The boy, now visibly panicking, looked up and spotted the anti-gravity projector hovering above Goop's head. A sly grin crossed his face. "Big weakness, huh? Let's see how you manage without it!" He pulled out his weapon and fired a crackling yellow blast directly at the projector.

Setsuna gasped, her eyes going wide. "Izuku, watch out!"

The blast struck the anti-gravity projector, but instead of shorting out, a shimmering force field absorbed the energy, dissipating it harmlessly. The boy's smug expression fell instantly.

"Nice try!" Goop called, his voice tinged with satisfaction.

As the chase continued, the boy aimed wildly, one of his shots striking an apartment building. The explosion sent chunks of debris raining down toward a crowd of civilians below.

Goop didn't hesitate. Stretching his gooey form across the gap, he caught the falling rubble in a gelatinous web, absorbing the impact before carefully setting it aside.

Setsuna's heart skipped as she watched him protect the civilians without a second thought. Shaking herself from her reverie, she called out,

"I'll get them to safety—You've got the rescue part down!" Her body parts zipped down to the street, guiding panicked civilians away from the falling debris.

"Right!" Goop shouted, spreading himself thinner to catch the last chunks of rubble.

Once the civilians were clear, Goop retracted his form, setting the rubble aside. His gelatinous body shifted back into a more upright stance as Setsuna regrouped, her torso snapping seamlessly back into place as she strode toward him.

She gave him an approving nod, her grin teasing. "Not bad, you know, for a giant blob of alien goo."

Goop's form wobbled slightly, the motion resembling a sheepish smile. "Thanks, but it wasn't just me—it was a team effort. And, uh, it's Goop, not 'alien goo,' by the way," he added, his tone light yet self-conscious.

Setsuna smirked, crossing her arms. "Sure, sure. 'Goop.' Guess it suits you, considering you managed to hold it together out there... literally."

Goop chuckled softly at her jab, but Setsuna's eyes lingered on him a little longer than usual. Watching him stretch himself to protect the civilians, the way he threw himself into danger without hesitation—it wasn't just impressive; it was... endearing.

Her heart gave an unfamiliar flutter, and she glanced away quickly, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks.

'Focus, Setsuna. You're here to catch the bad guy, not swoon over goo-boy.' She mentally shook herself, but a faint blush betrayed her internal struggle.

But her gaze drifted back to him. His gooey form shimmered in the light, giving off an almost ethereal glow as he straightened up. Setsuna's lips quirked into a softer smile, one she didn't fully realize was forming.

"Something wrong?" Goop asked, noticing her momentary silence.

"Huh?" Setsuna blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. "Oh, uh... nothing. Just thinking about how you actually pulled that off without melting into a puddle of nerves."

Goop wobbled again, his version of a laugh. "I'm getting better at handling pressure, I guess."

"Yeah, you are," Setsuna replied, her voice quieter this time, almost thoughtful. Her eyes softened as she glanced at him once more.

Clearing her throat, she crossed her arms again, masking her thoughts with her usual smirk. "Anyway, don't let it go to your gelatinous head, hero. We still need to catch that kid."

"Right!" Goop said, his form straightening with determination.

As they turned to resume the chase, Setsuna allowed herself one last glance at him, a small, almost shy smile tugging at her lips.

...

As the cheers from the crowd started to die down, the approaching footsteps grew louder. Mina and Ibara arrived, both looking fatigued but determined. Mina's face was flushed from exertion, and her hair was a bit tangled from the chase.

"Did you catch him?" she asked, breathless but hopeful, scanning the area.

Goop and Setsuna exchanged a glance, both shaking their heads. "He got away," Goop admitted with a small sigh of disappointment, his gooey form wobbling slightly.

Mina, noticing their downcast expressions, offered a reassuring smile. "Hey, don't worry! The fact that he ran means he's hiding something. That's a pretty big lead, right?"

Ibara nodded, her sharp gaze already darting around the area. "We can ask around, see if anyone saw where he went. Someone might know."

Izuku, feeling the pressure of the situation, reached up and touched the Omnitrix dial, the device glowing brightly as a green flash enveloped him. A ripple of surprise swept through the onlookers.

"H-He just turned from Polymorph to human? How?" a voice from the crowd whispered.

The transformation was instant, and before anyone could react, Izuku stood there in his human form, his previously gooey body now fully restored. The crowd gasped.

"He has the Omnitrix!" someone shouted, their voice full of shock.

"The Omnitrix?" Another voice, filled with disbelief, echoed through the crowd. "But that's just a myth! A legend!"

Izuku blinked, realizing that all eyes were on him. The whispers grew louder as people pointed and stared.

"That's not just anyone—that's Izuku Midoriya!"

"Izuku Midoriya?" A few people exchanged confused looks. "Wait, as in Hisashi Midoriya's son?"

Izuku's heart raced, and he looked around, his discomfort evident. He hadn't known much about his father's past until recently, and hearing his name mentioned in such a revered tone caught him off guard.

"He's the son of the greatest plumber, the one who battled some of the most powerful beings in the galaxy!" someone exclaimed with awe.

Izuku's gaze dropped, his face scrunching in embarrassment as he processed the magnitude of what they were saying. He hadn't even known Hisashi Midoriya was this famous. All of this was overwhelming.

"The one who defeated the Xarxians?" someone pressed, their voice reverent.

Izuku's brow furrowed slightly. "Xarxians?" he muttered under his breath, unsure of what that was but sensing how serious these people were. It didn't take a genius to understand they thought his father was some sort of hero.

"Yes! And the Vorgons!" another voice added. "The Dragon of the Cosmic Inferno!"

Izuku blinked in surprise at the mention of the title. He hadn't heard about it, but judging by the reverent tone in the crowd, it was clear this was some sort of legend.

A sense of unease crept over him. He wasn't sure how to feel about being compared to a figure of such mythic proportions. His father might have been legendary, but he was just Izuku Midoriya, a boy with dreams and a lot of confusion about his own identity.

The crowd was still whispering in amazement, some people even bowing their heads in reverence. Izuku could barely hold back his discomfort, his head slightly lowered as the whispers of "The Dragon of the Cosmic Inferno" echoed in his ears.

"I didn't even know the Omnitrix was real," someone murmured.

Izuku's face flushed slightly at the remark. He wasn't sure how to explain that the Omnitrix wasn't just a myth to him—it was something he now carried, something that had become part of his life in ways he couldn't fully grasp yet.

The girls, seeing the mounting tension around him, moved quickly to form a protective barrier. Mina placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, offering him a small smiled.

Izuku's eyes darted nervously from face to face as the crowd continued to murmur. They were still staring at him with awe, like he was something otherworldly.

The whispers continued, but now, in unison, a few of them muttered:

"The Dragon of the Cosmic Inferno..."

...

Izuku's eyes snapped up, his face flushing a deep shade of red. He looked like he wanted to melt into the ground, his body stiff with discomfort.

As the citizens continued to whisper, "The Dragon of the Cosmic Inferno!" their faces lit up with joy, their voices rising in excitement. They surged forward, their hands outstretched, eager to shower Izuku with praise.

The girls moved to shield Izuku, but they were roughly pushed aside as the crowd pressed in, each person trying to get closer. "Let us through! We must thank 'im!"

Before Izuku could react, the citizens crowded around him, patting his back, shaking his hands, and congratulating him like he was already some kind of hero.

"Yer father saved my family!" a grizzled hulking man with multiple arms hick Irish accent said, his eyes gleaming with gratitude. "He protected us from the Florana—my kids would've been dead if not for 'im!"

An elderly woman, her voice thick with emotion, clasped Izuku's hands tightly. "My grandchildren would've been slaughtered by them DNAliens if yer father hadn't risked it all to save 'em!" she said, her voice cracking as tears streamed down her face.

A young couple approached, their faces full of admiration and awe. The woman spoke first, her voice trembling with emotion, "We were stranded on a planet, and yer father risked his life to save us!"

Her partner added, his voice deep with gratitude, "He fought off a pack of Vulpimancers to make sure we got outta there alive! We owe him everything, lad!"

Izuku stood there, stunned and red-faced, as the crowd continued to shower him with praise. The sheer weight of it all was overwhelming. He hadn't realized his father's name meant so much to so many people.

Then, a burly man with a thick southern drawl picked Izuku up and hoisted him onto his shoulders, his voice booming with pride. "Looky here, y'all! The son of the Dragon of the Cosmic Inferno! He's a hero, just like his old man!"

The crowd erupted into cheers, with some people wiping away tears of joy, their faces glowing with admiration.

Izuku's face turned an even brighter shade of red, and he waved his arms awkwardly, trying to squirm free from the man's hold. "W-Wait, please! I'm just—uh—I'm not—uh..."

"Ah man..."

...

Miruko's eyes lit up with relief as she saw the light ahead. "Hell yeah, we're almost there!" she called, her usual tough exterior softening slightly.

Itsuka struggled to keep pace behind her, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "You... you don't slow down, do you?" she muttered, feeling like she was chasing a hurricane.

Miruko didn't even break a sweat, her eyes already scanning the surroundings. As they emerged from the narrow passageway, she skidded to a stop, her gaze darting over the city below. "Now that's somethin' else," she grinned, obviously impressed.

Itsuka caught up, eyes wide at the sight of the bustling marketplace. Strange, Heteromorph quirk users filled the streets, their powers on display as they went about their day. "I've never seen anything like this..." she murmured, unable to tear her eyes away from the sights.

Miruko scanned the crowd, sharp as ever, spotting people celebrating in the distance. "Looks like they're throwin' a party or somethin'," she muttered, her tone still gruff but with a flicker of curiosity.

Itsuka took a step forward, legs shaking from the exertion. "M-Miruko..." she started, her voice barely above a whisper. "I need a sec..."

Miruko gave a quick glance over her shoulder, her gaze softening just a bit. "Yeah, yeah. Rest up," she said, her voice still direct but with a touch of understanding. "I'll check out what's goin' on over there. Don't take too long."

Itsuka sank to her knees, catching her breath, her body screaming for a break. Miruko, meanwhile, had already started heading toward the crowd, eager for whatever came next. "You better be ready, we've still got work to do," she called over her shoulder, her grin returning.

...

Izuku, Ibara, Mina, and Setsuna sat at a tavern, surrounded by the murmur of conversation. The group was the center of attention, with curious patrons eager to share stories and praise.

A man with striking features—large fins on his neck and under his elbows, white eyes, claws, and white markings on his face and chest—caught their attention. He held a metal container under his chin, containing water, and his razor-sharp teeth gave them an unsettling feeling as he smiled.

"Your dad was a legend in the Pyronite and Piscciss Volann war!" the man exclaimed, his voice animated with excitement. "We were in the middle of a battle, and I thought I was the best pilot. But your dad... well, he humbled me that day!" He laughed, clearly relishing the memory. "Shot me right out of the sky, and I've never been able to forget it!"

His story was incredible, but he spoke with such joy and nostalgia, not bitterness or resentment. Izuku, however, felt uneasy as he listened to the praise for his father. A mix of emotions churned inside him, unsure of how to react to the man's enthusiasm.

A thin man with technological eyeglasses perched on the tip of his nose leaned in close to the group. His eyes flickered back and forth with an unsettling intensity, his movements twitchy and erratic. "So, what brings a bunch of humans down here, huh? We don't get your kind down here often..." His voice was high-pitched, and there was an eerie edge to his tone. He darted his eyes around the group before focusing on Mina.

Mina, ever the curious one, smiled brightly. "Oh? You don't get humans down here often?"

The thin man let out a high-pitched giggle, his eyes gleaming with manic energy. "Oh, we get plenty! Plumbers, heroes who wander into the sewers... like that Knuckleduster guy. He came crashing through here last week, chasing some poor soul!" He mimed the chaos, hands flailing around wildly as if reenacting the scene.

He started pacing back and forth in front of the group, his eyes flicking around the tavern with paranoid intensity. "You'd be shocked what ends up down here... all sorts of strange creatures, bizarre characters!" He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a hushed whisper. "I've seen things... things that'll make your hair stand on end!"

The group exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of how to respond to the thin man's erratic behavior.

Izuku's eyes widened as he recognized the name. "Knuckleduster...?" he repeated, his voice trailing off in a mix of recognition and confusion.

...

The thin man, known to the townspeople as "Old Man Kuroba," let out a high-pitched chuckle. "Ah, yes, Knuckleduster! That old coot is always causing trouble!"

Before the conversation could continue, a muscular woman with battle scars and warrior clothing intervened. Standing a towering 10 feet tall, her massive frame seemed to block out much of the room as she grasped Old Man Kuroba by the collar, her grip firm but gentle. "Kuroba-san, behave yourself," she said, amusement evident in her voice. "He may look eccentric, but he's harmless. However, he does have a point—what are you kids doing here?"

Izuku hesitated for a moment before answering, "Uh, we were tracking a few Megawatts, and now we're looking for a kid..."

Setsuna put down her vibrant purple concoction, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Ah, the boy in question?" she began, her voice taking on an air of mystery. "He's a teenager with long black hair, featuring a striking orange streak that covers the right side of his face. And let's not forget those black facial markings—quite the mysterious look, if I do say so myself."

Izuku, Ibara, and Mina exchanged impressed glances. "Wow, Setsuna, you're a regular detective!" Mina exclaimed.

The woman, still holding Old Man Kuroba by the collar, chuckled and rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Sounds like one of Fistrick's boys, all right. They've been up to something. Try looking at the edge of town—that's where they usually hang out."

As the group stood to leave, Mina suddenly froze. Her eyes were locked onto something in the distance, her body rigid and her muscles tense. Her face drained of color, and she looked as if she had seen a ghost.

Izuku immediately noticed the change in her demeanor. Concern gripped him as he turned to follow her gaze. That's when he saw her—a towering figure, 17 feet tall, with dark brown skin and stripes running down her arms and neck. Her skin had an orange-reddish hue, and her eyes burned with a piercing pink intensity.

Mina's eyes widened in fear, and her breathing became shallow. Izuku could see the panic rising in her, and he instantly knew that she was reliving a painful memory. Without hesitation, he moved to her side, his hand gently resting on her shoulder. "Mina, what's wrong?" he asked softly, his voice filled with concern.

Setsuna, blissfully unaware of Mina's distress, was staring at the towering woman in awe. "Wow, look at her! She's so cool!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Mina's body began to tremble slightly as her eyes widened, flashing with a memory from long ago—a painful reminder of when she had encountered a villain last year. Her breathing quickened, and her gaze became distant, as though the scene unfolding in front of her wasn't even registering.

Izuku immediately noticed her slight tremble. His concern grew as he saw her attempt to mask her discomfort, her smile stiff, her posture forced in an attempt to appear unaffected. He could see right through it.

"You okay?" Izuku asked, his voice soft but filled with worry, as he leaned slightly toward her, his gaze locked onto hers.

Mina let out a weak chuckle, her shoulders tensing. "Oh, I'm fine, Midoriya. No need to be such a worrywart," she tried to tease, but the words came out flat, lacking the usual playful tone.

Izuku's heart skipped a beat as he watched her, feeling the weight of her unease. His own hand instinctively moved toward hers, and he gently slid his fingers between her trembling ones, squeezing softly.

Mina's breath hitched, her face flushing a deep shade of lilac. Her heart was thundering in her chest, the warmth of Izuku's hand in hers both grounding and overwhelming. She felt her nerves settle slightly, even though her chest still tightened with the remnants of fear.

Her cheeks turned even redder, and without thinking, she inched closer to him, her body seeking the comfort of his presence.

She leaned in just a bit more, her face pressing against his side as she allowed herself to relax in the safety he offered. The words they didn't speak were louder than anything.

Izuku's danger sense flared, and before he could react, a furious Mirko barreled toward him. "You damn idiot!" she yelled, her face flushed with rage.

Izuku barely had time to process the situation before Mirko's swift kick sent him flying across the alleyway, crashing into a pile of garbage.

The crash echoed through the alley, catching the attention of Ibara and Setsuna, who quickly rushed to the scene. They arrived to find Mina standing frozen, Mirko still fuming, and Izuku buried under the trash.

Izuku groaned from beneath the heap, pushing himself up and looking up at Mirko, bewildered. "M-Miruko, what the hell...?" he stammered, still reeling from the impact.

Mirko's face was beet red with fury as she stood over him, hands on her hips. "What the hell do you think you're doing, Midoriya? Running off without a word like some kind of rookie? I'm your mentor, you hear me? I don't care what the hell you're up to, you're not pulling this crap on me!"

Izuku was about to respond, but before he could, Mirko swooped down on him. With a swift motion, she grabbed him by the scruff of his collar, lifting him off the ground effortlessly and slinging him over her shoulder, like she was carrying a bag of rice.

"Put me down, Miruko!" Izuku sputtered, his voice muffled against her shoulder as he struggled.

Mirko gave a low grunt, unfazed. "Shut up. You're coming with me, kid. And when we get back, we're gonna have a nice, long sparring session to knock some sense into that thick skull of yours."

Izuku's eyes widened as he tried to wiggle free. "Wait, I can't go back yet! We've got a lead!" he protested urgently.

Mirko stopped in her tracks, her eyes narrowing as her expression shifted from anger to confusion. "A lead? What the hell are you talking about now?" Her voice was a mix of frustration and curiosity, but her grip on him didn't loosen.

Ibara stepped forward, his voice steady. "There's a group of villains called the 'Megawatts.' We've got a lead on someone who might know their whereabouts, but... he attacked us and got away."

Mirko's eye twitched in annoyance, her temper flaring up again. "Okay, hold up." She turned her glare on the group. "Where the hell are your mentors? Why the hell are you all out here without backup?" Her voice was low and menacing, a clear sign she wasn't interested in excuses

The others shuffled nervously, avoiding her gaze. Ibara's expression was tight, and Setsuna scratched the back of her neck uncomfortably. Mina took a step back, sensing the storm of Mirko's fury. They all knew they were in for it now.

...

"Uh, we, uh, didn't think it was necessary to bring them," Mina stammered, a nervous laugh escaping her as she scratched the back of her head. Her usual bubbly attitude was a little strained in front of Miruko.

Miruko's sharp eyes narrowed into a fierce glare. "Not necessary? You're lucky I'm here to clean up your mess!" she snapped, her tone firm and unyielding. "You three are in big trouble, and you're going to have to answer to your mentors for this one."

The three girls exchanged nervous glances. The gravity of the situation hit them all at once. They were in deep now.

"Thought so," Miruko muttered under her breath. "I'll be taking charge of this investigation. You'll follow my lead. No arguments. Got it?"

The trio gulped, but the confidence Miruko exuded made it clear they had little choice. "Yes, ma'am!" they replied in unison, relieved that Miruko was at least taking the reins.

Izuku, still feeling a little anxious, glanced around, his concern growing. "Where's Itsuka?" he asked, scanning the area until his eyes fell on her.

Itsuka was struggling to keep up, her face pale and drenched in sweat. She was breathing heavily, trying to match Miruko's pace, but it was clear that the intensity was taking its toll. Her legs shook, and her expression was a mixture of exhaustion and determination.

Upon seeing Izuku, a wave of relief washed over her face, but it quickly turned into a scowl. "Izuku, you idiot," she muttered, her voice tinged with fatigue. "I was worried sick about you, and now I'm stuck chasing after you...and trying to keep up with Miruko...this is torture."

Miruko, a few paces ahead, looked over her shoulder and raised an eyebrow. "Hey, you're still on your feet. I didn't expect that much stamina. I guess you've got more guts than I thought."

Itsuka glared at her, visibly frustrated. "That's not comforting, Miruko. This is hell on my legs."

Miruko smirked, amused by Itsuka's frustration. "Well, at least you're not crying like some pro heroes I've seen trying to keep up with me." She chuckled, showing a rare soft side beneath her tough exterior. "You've got some spirit. I'll give you that."

Itsuka rolled her eyes, still clearly displeased. "You're enjoying this way too much, Miruko."

Miruko flashed a wide grin. "Maybe just a little."

Itsuka shot Izuku a tired, but pointed glare. "I'm going to make you pay for this," she muttered under her breath.

Izuku could only swallow nervously at the threat.

As they continued to move forward, they heard voices approaching. Turning around, they spotted Setsuna, Ibara, and Mina coming toward them.

"Hey, big sis!" Setsuna greeted with her usual cheeky grin.

Ibara gave a polite bow, though her eyes still held a hint of nervousness. Mina was still a bit flustered, her cheeks tinted pink from the recent close encounter with Izuku.

"What are you guys doing here?" Itsuka asked, a mixture of confusion and frustration in her voice.

The four teens exchanged glances before Setsuna sighed dramatically. "Long story. We'll fill you in later."

...

After a few minutes of downtime, Izuku explained the situation, leaving out the details about the Omnitrix and his father. "Aliens, huh?" Miruko chewed on some food, her gaze distant as she mulled over the information. "That explains a lot. Their tech is way too advanced. I've seen some advanced gadgets in my time, but this? It's beyond anything I've come across."

"And you're chasing these... Megawatts?" Itsuka asked, glancing at Ibara and Setsuna. Both nodded in confirmation.

Miruko let out a low whistle. "I see. So, we're dealing with some serious alien tech and these Megawatts are a problem, huh?" Her eyes turned sharp, her expression turning serious. "Alright, listen up, brats. I'm gonna lay it out for you."

The group fell quiet, focusing on Miruko.

"When you're facing villains, especially ones with tech like that, you gotta keep a few things in mind. One, they don't care who they hurt. Villains will use civilians as human shields or throw them into danger just to make their escape. Your first priority is to protect the innocent at all costs. That's non-negotiable."

Izuku frowned, thinking about it. "But how do we balance saving civilians and actually stopping the villain?"

Miruko grinned grimly, her tone still hard but with a hint of experience. "That's the hard part, kid. The reality is that sometimes you'll have to choose. You might have to let a villain slip away for the greater good. It's not easy, but you'll learn when it's the right call. Just remember this—never hesitate when it matters, and never forget what you're protecting."

Izuku nodded slowly, absorbing the weight of her words. "And... what if we're not sure what the right call is?"

Miruko's gaze softened slightly. "That's when you ask for help. Don't be too proud to get assistance from your teammates or other heroes." She paused, then let out a short, dry laugh. "Even I know when it's smarter to work together. And trust me, that's not something I say often."

Izuku tilted his head. "But you never ask for help, Miruko."

She snorted, leaning back slightly. "Yeah, well, I don't ask for help—ever. But even I know when it's smarter to work with others. Call it a... hypocritical moment. You can learn from my mistakes, kid."

The teenagers nodded, absorbing Miruko's advice as they continued down the street.

As they walked, the boy who had previously run away from them emerged from a nearby garage, a phone pressed to his ear. "Yeah, they were definitely UA—" He froze upon noticing them, quickly transforming his phone into a weapon. With a crackling hum, an energy beam shot toward them.

Miruko smirked. "Looks like we found our guy!" she said, her eyes lighting up with excitement. The group scattered, narrowly dodging the blast.

The boy, Corvo, rolled under the garage door and slammed it shut behind him. Itsuka clenched her fist, her eyes narrowing as she prepared to break it down. But before she could act, the roar of an engine shattered the moment.

A rugged, jeep-like vehicle emerged from the garage, its yellow and orange color scheme glowing ominously.

The vehicle was clearly modified, alien tech coursing through it with a sinister, technorganic vibe. Twisted bumpers, pulsing hood ornaments, and shimmering wheels made it seem as if it had been built for a purpose far darker than just travel.

Corvo slammed the accelerator, the vehicle roaring forward. Itsuka shot forward in a blur of motion, leaping beside Miruko and the others, ready to chase. Mina used her acid to slide down the street like an ice skater, zooming ahead with an effortless speed.

"Go, Midoriya! We've got this!" Mina shouted, a grin on her face.

"We'll catch up! Don't slow down!" Setsuna echoed, her voice full of confidence.

Ibara turned to Izuku, her eyes determined. "May the gods of justice guide us as we chase down this sinner. He will not escape."

Izuku nodded, a sense of urgency overtaking him. He pressed the Omnitrix, the dial popping up to reveal SpiderMonkey's holographic form. A green flash of light enveloped him as the transformation took place.

"Spider Monkey!" Izuku exclaimed, launching into action.

SpiderMonkey shot a web line, swinging from a nearby rooftop with the grace of a seasoned hero. Corvo glanced in his rearview mirror, spotting Spider Monkey gaining on him, and swerved to try and shake him off. But Spider Monkey was tenacious, using his webs to keep pace as the vehicle tore down the street.

Miruko, ever the quick thinker, leaped forward, her powerful legs propelling her into action. "You all keep after him. I'll handle the civilians," she called out as she sped through the streets, her reflexes sharper than ever.

As Spider Monkey closed in, Corvo threw the car into overdrive, screeching through the road with reckless abandon. Spider Monkey, now stuck to the vehicle, kept his grip tight. "Pull over!" Miruko shouted, but Corvo only laughed maniacally in response.

"Leave me alone! I didn't even do anything!" Corvo yelled, slamming the pedal to the floor.

"Then why'd you run?" Miruko taunted, her voice taunting. Her grin didn't falter.

SpiderMonkey felt the rush of wind as the car sped up, but his sticky powers kept him tethered to the vehicle. Suddenly, SpiderMonkey's Danger Sense went off like a blaring alarm, and he instinctively swung to the side as an energy beam shot from under the car.

"Tch, slippery insect," Corvo growled, shooting off two more blasts, his hands shaking with anger.

"Insect? Buddy, I'm an arachnid," SpiderMonkey retorted, grinning as he delivered a punch to the car's frame, knocking a hole clean through it. He yanked the steering wheel, causing the vehicle to spin wildly out of control.

The car flipped and spun through the air before crashing down onto the asphalt, debris scattering across the street. SpiderMonkey swiftly leaped off the vehicle, shooting another web to pull Corvo out of the wreckage and onto the ground.

Before Corvo could regain his bearings, Miruko was already there, delivering a precise kick that sent him crashing into a nearby wall with a sickening thud. Corvo groaned, struggling to rise, but it was too late. Vines shot from the ground, wrapping tightly around his limbs, rendering him immobile.

"Nice work, Shiozaki!" Izuku called out, giving a thumbs-up.

Ibara nodded curtly, her expression stoic. "Justice prevails."

Miruko and Itsuka approached the tied-up boy, who glared at them with a mixture of anger and fear. Miruko smirked slightly, her eyes gleaming with amusement, while Itsuka patted Izuku's back. "Nice work, Izuku."

Miruko's gaze shifted to the boy, her expression turning hard as she leaned in. "We know you know something about the Megawatts. Spill it."

The boy sneered, defiance still evident in his eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about. But I do know you're all pretty interesting... especially you, Miruko. You look cute when you're angry. Maybe we could... have some fun. You and the girls, that is. And the green-haired loser over there can just leave."

Shiozaki, standing nearby, shook her head in disbelief, her voice laced with disapproval. "I'll pray for your soul, boy. You desperately need it."

Mina and Setsuna both scoffed in unison, "As if."

Miruko's smirk disappeared, replaced by a dangerous, icy glare. Her foot slammed against the wall beside the boy's head, the entire structure cracking and crumbling inches from his face. The boy's eyes widened in horror, his breath catching in his throat.

"Unless you want that wall to become your new face, you'd better start talking," Miruko growled, her foot hovering dangerously close to his head. "I'd rather not have your brains splattered on my boots."

The boy's bravado shattered, replaced by sheer panic. "Okay, okay! I'll talk! Just please don't hurt me!"

...

Miruko stepped back from the wrecked wall, eyes narrowing as she fixed her attention on Corvo. "So, what do you know about the Megawatts?"

Corvo scoffed, a smirk tugging at his lips. "You think you're tough? You'd be dead in an instant if you ever crossed my boss."

Miruko raised an eyebrow, her tone still flat. "Yeah? And who's this boss of yours?"

Before Corvo could answer, a strange noise suddenly echoed from the wrecked car, a high-pitched, almost mechanical sound. Itsuka's eyes sharpened, immediately on alert. "That's definitely not an engine noise."

The group exchanged uncertain glances as they approached the vehicle. Corvo's panic was almost palpable. "There's nothing in there! I swear!"

Setsuna leaned in, her curiosity piqued. "Oh, now I'm definitely checking it out."

With a swift motion, Itsuka and Izuku popped the hood of the car, revealing a strange cylindrical device crackling with glowing yellow energy. Just as they tried to make sense of it, the device exploded, showering them with smoke and glass shards. As the explosion settled, a small creature emerged, buzzing with static electricity.

The group froze. "A Megawatt?" they all said in unison, eyes wide.

The little alien, no taller than a foot, with a cylindrical black body and bright yellow lightning bolt across its chest, began to zip around wildly. It crackled with energy, and in an instant, it let out a screech and zapped Corvo with a jolt of electricity. "Argh! Stop! Please stop!" Corvo yelped, his body twitching violently with each shock. "Zzzt! Zzzt!"

Miruko stood back, watching with a raised eyebrow and a smirk. "So that's a Megawatt, huh?"

As if on cue, more Megawatts emerged from the wreckage, each one crackling with energy, their small eyes glowing with irritation. They turned back to Corvo, unleashing a barrage of electric shocks on him. "Zzzt! Zzzt! Stop it!" Corvo screamed, now thoroughly scorched and helpless on the ground.

Then, as quickly as they had started, the Megawatts paused, their eyes swiveling toward Izuku and the others. They began to gesture urgently with their tiny hands, as if beckoning them to follow.

Mina furrowed her brow, confusion crossing her face. "Wait, do they want us to follow them?"

Izuku glanced at the creatures, a mix of caution and curiosity in his expression. "I think so... but why?"

Shiozaki crossed her arms, her tone skeptical. "What do they need us for? They're the ones causing all this mess."

The Megawatts' gestures grew more insistent, their frantic movements urging them to move.

"I don't know," Izuku said, uncertainty lingering in."But... I think we should follow them. They might be trying to lead us to something important."

The group hesitated, exchanging uncertain glances, but the Megawatts' urgency made it hard to ignore. Finally, they relented, stepping forward as the little aliens zipped ahead, clearly leading the way.

...

Corvo watched them go, anger and helplessness burning in his eyes. "I don't like this," he muttered, still feeling the residual shock of the Megawatts. "You're all going to regret this."

He struggled against his restraints but was stuck fast, rooted to the ground. Corvo's face twisted in a scowl.

...

The five students and Pro Hero Miruko pursued the Megawatts, who were darting between the power lines with incredible speed. As the group emerged onto a crowded street, Izuku quickly assessed the situation.

"This is gonna be tough to keep up with them," Izuku said, glancing back at Miruko and the others. "The streets are packed, and those Megawatts aren't slowing down. I'll go after them. You can track me with my phone."

Miruko's expression remained as hard as steel, her gaze never leaving Izuku. She exhaled sharply, clearly not thrilled by the idea. "Tch. Fine, just don't do anything stupid, Midoriya," she snapped, her voice curt. "We'll catch up, but you stay out of trouble. Got it?"

Izuku nodded quickly, not wanting to argue. Without wasting any time, he activated the Omnitrix, cycling through the holographic options before stopping at the silhouette of a Megawatt. "Let's test this out!" he said, slamming his hand on the dial. A burst of green light engulfed him, and when it faded, he stood as Buzzshock—a Megawatt.

"Whoa, I feel way too energetic!" Buzzshock chuckled, his voice crackling with static. "And... mischievous, too."

In a blink, he converted his body into pure electricity, zipping effortlessly through the power lines, his speed almost blinding.

Miruko watched him for a moment, her gaze lingering. She quickly snapped her attention away, her lips tight in a thin line. She didn't want to admit it, but a small, begrudging respect flickered behind her eyes.

"Don't go off getting yourself fried, kid," she muttered under her breath, her eyes now scanning the horizon. She turned to the others, her voice cold and professional as usual. "Alright, let's move. Stick to the plan. Keep an eye on Midoriya's location. And don't let him get ahead of us."

As they set off, Miruko's phone buzzed in her hand, and her gaze flicked back to it. She could see Izuku's location update in real-time. Her brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of concern crossing her face before she quickly tamped it down.

She was a pro, and she didn't let worry cloud her focus. But as she followed the students, a small, inexplicable warmth lingered in her chest, an admiration she refused to acknowledge.

"Just don't screw this up, Midoriya," she muttered to herself. "I'll be right behind you."

The air crackled with green and yellow sparks as the Megawatts, alongside Buzzshock, stopped at a rundown warehouse on the docks. The harbor stretched out behind them, ships bobbing lazily in the water, while the salty breeze mixed with the scent of ozone.

Izuku, still transformed into Buzzshock, paused and tapped the Omnitrix on his chest. A green flash erupted, and in an instant, he was back to his human form. He glanced at the massive metal building looming ahead. The Megawatts gestured urgently toward the entrance, their faces anxious.

"Is this the place?" Izuku asked, but they remained silent, their expressions pleading.

He frowned, trying again. "What's going on? Why the hurry?"

The Megawatts only twitched, more agitated. Izuku's confusion grew, but he knew better than to rush in alone. He stood tall, looking around the quiet harbor. "I'm not going in there without Miruko and the others," he said firmly. "Let's wait for them."

...

The Megawatts darted around Izuku, clearly impatient, zapping him with bursts of electricity.

"Ow!" Izuku winced, the shock coursing through him, but the Megawatts were undeterred, their faces urgent as they gestured toward the warehouse.

They zipped inside, disappearing into the shadows. Izuku hesitated, then looked around nervously before gulping and following them inside.

...

Izuku, in Full Cowl, vaulted through an open window, grabbing hold of a set of hanging chains. His fingers gripped tightly, the cold metal biting into his palms. He swung himself effortlessly, landing softly on the catwalk above. His eyes widened as he looked down at the vast expanse of the warehouse floor below.

The center of the room housed a massive, ominous machine, its middle section encircled by glowing yellow orbs, pulsing with an eerie, otherworldly energy. As Izuku's eyes scanned the machine, the Megawatts dove toward the orbs, unleashing a flurry of sparks, before revealing capsules containing their brethren, suspended inside.

Izuku's heart skipped a beat. They're using them as a power source? He couldn't believe it. "No way..." His voice barely rose above a whisper, disbelief heavy in his chest.

He leapt from the catwalk and descended in a fluid motion, landing behind a stack of crates, just in time to hear footsteps approaching from above. He crouched low, eyes focused.

A man emerged, clad in a robotic suit, his mechanical arms crackling with electricity.

"Some of the batteries have escaped!" He shouted.

He landed hard, his boots thudding against the concrete, and quickly began absorbing the Megawatts into a glass container mounted on his shoulder.

Izuku's Danger Sense hit him like a sledgehammer, a stabbing pain in his skull warning him of the immediate threat.

He spun around just as another figure emerged from the shadows—a second man, also dressed in a mechanical suit. His palms glowed with a fierce, yellow energy. Izuku didn't wait.

The moment the man moved, Izuku surged forward. His legs propelled him with explosive speed, the ground beneath him cracking as he closed the distance.

He side-swept the man's legs with a powerful swipe, the force sending the attacker stumbling to the ground.

The impact reverberated through Izuku's body as he immediately followed through, spinning mid-motion and landing a backkick that struck with bone-jarring force. The mechanical man was sent flying, crashing into a nearby stack of crates with a deafening slam.

Before Izuku could process the victory, the second man, face contorted in rage, raised his palms and unleashed a violent blast of electricity. The energy crackled and split the air, a wave of raw power roaring toward him.

Izuku's instincts kicked in. He ducked low, narrowly avoiding the blast as it tore through the crates behind him, shattering them into splinters. The force of the explosion pushed a shockwave through the air, but Izuku kept his footing, heart racing.

Then his Danger Sense screamed again, louder this time. The hairs on his neck stood on end as he whipped around, only to be hit with a surge of electricity from behind. A powerful electrical bubble surrounded him, crackling with intense voltage. Izuku's body locked in place as the shock coursed through him, his muscles twitching involuntarily.

His heart hammered in his chest as he struggled against the shock, every movement felt like dragging a ton of weight behind him. With a grunt, Izuku punched forward, his fist colliding with the edge of the bubble. The force of his punch reverberated through his arm, but the bubble held firm, the shock intensifying as the electricity surged into him.

The man overseeing the attack smirked, watching as Izuku's body jerked with the current.""Gotcha now."

Izuku floated inside the electrical bubble, his glare unwavering despite his situation. The air around him crackled."Aw, man."

The warehouse doors flew open with a deafening screech, the impact sending a shockwave through the room. They slammed against the walls, causing the floor to tremble underfoot.

Fistrick strode in, his every step radiating confidence. His orange Mohawk stood out like a beacon, and the black-and-white face paint streaking across his face only added to his intimidating presence. His bulging muscles strained against his sleeveless shirt, each movement a show of pure strength.

Fistrick's eyes locked onto Izuku, his lips curling into a smirk. "You better be worth interrupting my workout for, bro," he said, his voice dripping with disdain as he assessed the teen.

One of the thugs behind him snickered. "Looks like a U.A. student. Must've caught wind of our operation and came to play hero."

Fistrick chuckled darkly and walked over to a nearby punching bag. He cracked his knuckles, letting out a frustrated sigh as his muscles flexed with each punch. "Humans shouldn't know about the alien tech, bro. How the hell did this kid find out about our operation? We got a big deal going, and some kid's messing it up."

A thug stepped forward. "Sir, the kid with the green hair... he's Hisashi's son."

Fistrick froze mid-punch, then turned slowly, his smirk widening. "Well, shit, Hisashi's overgrown sperm. Your daddy ruined a lot of my business back in the day. Now his little shit is doing the same?" He laughed, shaking his head. "What a joke."

Izuku's eye twitched in anger, his fists tightening, even as the electrical bubble continued to sting. "I must've missed the sign outside," he shot back, his voice laced with sarcasm.

Fistrick scoffed, his voice low and smug. "Ha, kid, this kind of alien tech doesn't just fall off a truck. After your daddy died, business has been booming. I've been making bank off stealing alien tech."

Izuku's eyes narrowed in disgust. "You're using these aliens as your slaves! That—That's just..."

Fistrick waved his hand dismissively. "Listen, kid, it's simple. One alien makes it, I steal it. It's a business, bro." He gave smirk.

"And I sell it to the highest bidder. Pretty smart, huh? Need to put food on the table."

Izuku's jaw clenched, his anger palpable. "I'm not your bro."

Fistrick laughed heartily. "Ha! Whatever. Hisashi's overgrown sperm. Wasn't too smart of you to come alone, kid." He flashed an arrogant grin, turning his attention back to his thugs.

Izuku's phone buzzed in his pocket, a smirk creeping onto his face despite the bubble's confinement. "Who said I came alone?"

Before Fistrick could react, the air around them seemed to shudder with anticipation. With a deafening crash, the warehouse doors were blasted off their hinges, flying across the room with such force that they hit the far wall with an explosive bang.

A blur of movement followed as Miruko, Itsuka, Setsuna, Mina, and Ibara stormed in, all of them looking ready for a fight. Miruko's gaze was fierce, her muscles coiled like a predator ready to strike.

Fistrick's eyes widened for a moment before he let out a deep, mocking laugh. "Oh, you brought the whole squad, huh?" he sneered, cracking his knuckles.

"This is gonna be fun, bro."

"Midoriya!" Miruko yelled, charging through the wreckage as she effortlessly dodged a crackling bolt of electricity. Her tone was sharp and no-nonsense. "I told your dumbass to stay out of this until I got here! Now I gotta save your dumbass!"

Without missing a beat, Miruko's leg shot out with incredible speed and precision, delivering a brutal kick to the villain holding Izuku in the electrical bubble.

The man went flying back with a loud grunt, the electrical bubble flickering and finally dissipating with a sharp crack.

Izuku dropped to the ground, his knees buckling slightly from the release of pressure. He barely had time to react when a hand slammed down onto his head.

"Ow!" Izuku yelped, rubbing his head.

"I told your dumbass to wait!" Rumi snapped, glaring down at him, irritation and concern.

Izuku rubbed the spot on his head where she'd patted him. He looked up at her sheepishly. "You were taking too long."

"Not an excuse!" she shot back, crossing her arms over her chest. "You think I want to babysit your ass, kid?"

Izuku, his usual self, couldn't help but fire back. "Aren't you the one always saying we shouldn't hesitate in a fight?"

Miruko's brow twitched, a visible vein popping up on her temple as she scowled at him. "You're pushin' it, Midoriya," she growled.

But before she could say more, her ears twitched and she instantly pulled Izuku behind her, her instincts sharp.

A loud whoosh of air sliced through the room as an energy blast surged toward them, crackling with destructive force.

Miruko's eyes were locked on the incoming attack, and without a moment's hesitation, she dove to the side, twisting her body, narrowly avoiding the blast that obliterated the ground where they'd been standing just moments before.

"Watch your back!" Miruko barked, her voice suddenly serious as she glanced back at Izuku, who was blushing at being held so close by her in the heat of the moment. She quickly released him, letting him regain his balance.

Izuku, still flustered, nodded, adjusting his stance, but his focus never left the battle.

She cracked her knuckles, each pop reverberating like the promise of a storm. "Now let's show these guys what real heroes look like."

With that, she launched herself into action, her legs coiling like springs before she propelled herself through the air with explosive force. The ground beneath her shattered as she came down hard, executing a perfectly timed axe kick that hit the ground with a deafening crack.

The shockwave sent debris flying, the sheer power of her attack shaking the very foundation of the warehouse. Villains scrambled to avoid the blow.

Izuku cycled through the Omnitrix selections, slamming down on the dial with determination. A bright green flash lit the warehouse as his voice rang out, "Goop!"

Fistrick sneered, cracking his knuckles. "You can switch into all the slimy alien forms you want, bro, but I'm still gonna squash you like the bug you are!" He punched his palm.

Itsuka charged forward, her hands growing into massive fists as she aimed to stop Fistrick's goons.

One of them stepped forward, his hand sparking with electricity before he unleashed a bolt toward her. "Nice try!" she shouted, pivoting to dodge, her massive hand swinging like a wrecking ball.

Before the goon could react, Setsuna appeared behind him, her disjointed fist slamming into his face with enough force to send him stumbling. "Heads up!" she quipped, reforming with a smirk.

Mina skated into the fray, her acid melting one of the goon's mechanical arms. Sparks flew wildly as the arm hissed and fell to the ground, the metallic clang echoing. "Oops," she teased. "Looks like you need a mechanic!"

With the goon distracted, Itsuka's colossal fist came down like a meteor, smashing him into the ground. The sheer force of the blow sent shockwaves through the warehouse, shaking the very foundation.

The goon groaned in the deep, fist-shaped crater, his body trembling from the impact. The resounding crack of the hit left no doubt about her strength.

Fistrick glared at the scene, shaking his head with an air of annoyance. "You just made a huge mistake, bro. I don't lose. Ever."

Mina skidded to a halt, planting her hands on her hips. "Yeah, well, I make mistakes all the time," she shot back with a cocky grin. "But turning you into scrap metal isn't one of them."

Nearby, Miruko launched herself at another goon, her legs coiling like springs before delivering a powerful kick aimed at his chest.

A mechanical shield popped up just in time, deflecting the blow. The impact sent sparks flying as Miruko landed gracefully, her ears twitching in irritation. "Coward," she spat. "Hiding behind your toys won't save you!"

Meanwhile, Fistrick smirked and began retreating toward the center of the room. A hidden platform beneath his feet hummed to life, the sound of gears grinding against each other. "You're all real confident, huh? Bet none of you stopped to ask why we needed so many Nosedeenians!" he taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance.

The platform lifted him upward as the floor split open, revealing a hidden chamber below. A bright light engulfed him as the sound of machinery roared. When the light dimmed, a massive 13-foot mech suit emerged, its bulk shaking the ground with every step. Smoke hissed from vents on its shoulders, and glowing containers filled with terrified Nosedeenians—screaming Megawatts—lined its frame, their anguish echoing in the cavernous room.

From inside the mech, Fistrick's voice boomed, filled with dark glee. "You think you're so tough, huh? Well, let's see how tough you are when you're up against power like this!" The mech's arms whirred as it powered up, the energy from the captive aliens sparking to life around him.

Ibara's hands clenched tightly together, her expression hardening as she gazed at the suffering Megawatts. "You dare to exploit God's creations for such vile purposes!" she declared.

"This is an affront to the natural order and a sin that cannot be forgiven!"

Fistrick's laugh echoed through the room, mechanical and distorted. "It's just business, bro. And right now? Business is booming!"

The group instinctively stepped back as the towering mech suit loomed over them, its metallic frame creaking ominously. Red targeting lasers danced across the six, locking onto each of them.

The mech's arms opened, revealing an array of missiles primed to launch. A deafening

WHOOSH!

Filled the air as the missiles erupted from their launchers, streaking toward the group with blinding speed.

Goop reacted instantly. His gelatinous, translucent green body quivered as he stretched himself wide, elongating his limbs to grab Miruko, Mina, and Itsuka.

Encasing them in his malleable form, he compacted his body into a dense, protective sphere.

His glowing green core, suspended in the center of the viscous mass, pulsed with energy as he began charging One For All.

The faint crackle of power hummed through his form, the inner light illuminating the translucent green walls around the girls.

"Hang tight!" Goop's voice echoed within the sphere, distorted slightly by the quivering gel.

Meanwhile, Setsuna split her body into multiple pieces, her head and limbs scattering across the warehouse in a flurry of movement.

Her disembodied parts darted and twisted through the chaos, narrowly evading the missiles that streaked past.

Every time the shockwaves threatened to disrupt her, she quickly reassembled herself, only to fragment again and continue her agile evasion.

The missiles struck the ground with devastating force, each explosion shaking the warehouse to its core.

The concrete floor cracked and buckled beneath the onslaught, sending debris flying in all directions.

Fires erupted from the impact zones, their searing heat filling the already chaotic environment.

The Goop sphere absorbed the brunt of the nearby blasts, Goop's malleable body rippling with each impact.

His protective coating held firm, insulating the group from the heat and concussive force. "I can't hold this forever!" he called out, the strain evident.

Miruko's sharp ears twitched as she calculated the brief window of opportunity. "Then let me out, slime boy! I'll rip that tin can apart myself!"

Goop stretched an arm out from the protective ball, his gelatinous form rippling as he channeled One For All at 16%. Energy surged through his glowing, translucent green body, lighting up the dim warehouse.

With a whip-like motion, his arm elongated and snapped forward, striking the hulking mech with a thunderous CRACK.

The force of the impact created a shockwave that shattered nearby windows and sent loose debris flying across the warehouse.

The sheer force of the blow sent Fistrick's mech hurtling through the air like a missile, its massive frame crashing through the reinforced walls of the warehouse with an ear-splitting

BOOM!

The wall caved in under the impact, leaving a gaping hole as Fistrick was flung outside, landing in the nearby harbor. The mech's heavy frame skidded across the asphalt, tearing up chunks of the ground before coming to a stop near the edge of the water.

Inside the warehouse, Goop's gelatinous form retracted, releasing the girls from his protective ball.

Miruko immediately sprang into action, her legs a blur as she dashed toward the hole in the wall.

She leapt through the opening, her body twisting in midair as she locked onto Fistrick, who was slowly rising from the wreckage.

"You're not getting up from this one!" she roared, launching herself with enough force to leave cracks in the concrete beneath her.

She spun like a missile, her powerful legs coiling for a devastating kick.

As she made contact with the mech, a deafening BOOM rang out, the impact creating a shockwave that sent waves rippling through the harbor.

But when the dust cleared, her fierce red eyes widened in disbelief. The mech stood unscathed, not even a scratch visible on its reinforced armor.

"What the hell?!" she growled, her ears twitching in frustration.

Fistrick's distorted laugh boomed from the mech's speakers. "Nice try, bunny girl, but this armor's alien-grade. Your little kicks aren't gonna cut it, bro!"

Before she could react, the mech's massive fist rocketed toward her with blinding speed. It slammed into her gut with bone-jarring force, the sound of the impact echoing like a cannon blast. Miruko's breath left her in a sharp gasp, her body folding over the blow before she was hurled through the air like a ragdoll.

She crashed into a nearby boat with a sickening

CRUNCH.

The vessel shattering under the sheer force of her impact. The wreckage groaned as she slumped against it, coughing as she tried to catch her breath, her fierce eyes still locked on Fistrick.

"That all you got, bunny girl?" Fistrick taunted, his mech's servos hissing as it stomped forward, each step shaking the ground,

The other girls and Goop hurried through the gaping hole in the warehouse wall, emerging into the harbor. Their eyes immediately fell on Miruko, slumped against a boat, the dented metal molded to the shape of her body. She wiped blood from her lip, glaring daggers at the hulking mech.

"I bet this bad boy'll skyrocket in value when they find out it took down the Number Seven Hero, Miruko," Fistrick taunted, his voice dripping with mockery. "What do you say, bro? Makes for a hell of a sales pitch."

With a sinister grin, he aimed a volley of missiles at Miruko. Her eyes widened as the glowing projectiles streaked toward her, leaving trails of smoke.

Before she could react, Goop sprang into action, his gelatinous arm stretching out like a whip. He snagged Miruko with precise timing, yanking her away as the missiles struck the boat behind her.

BOOOOM!

The explosion roared through the harbor, sending a fiery shockwave that rippled across the water. Pieces of the boat were obliterated, debris raining down as the group shielded themselves from the heat and force of the blast.

Miruko clicked her tongue in frustration, shoving Goop's protective arm away as she steadied herself. "Damn it!" she spat, venom lacing her tone. "What the hell is that thing made of? I hit it with everything, and it didn't even leave a dent!"

"Alien tech," Goop replied, his voice distorted as the green slime rippled with restrained energy.

"Not just any alien tech, bro," Fistrick interjected with a smug chuckle. "This bad boy's got Detrabyte-grade armor. Nigh-indestructible. The guy I swiped it from? He won't miss it. Dead men don't complain." His laughter echoed from the mech, the sound grating and cruel.

Itsuka stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "Miruko, are you saying you couldn't even scratch that thing?"

Miruko's face twisted in frustration, her pride clearly stung. "No," she admitted through gritted teeth.

Fistrick slammed the mech's massive foot into the ground, the sheer weight sending tremors through the harbor. Cracks spiderwebbed out from the impact as a jagged pillar of earth erupted, forcing the group to scatter in all directions. The ground continued to quake, the noise of the shifting earth deafening.

Mina retaliated, skating along the uneven surface and hurling globs of acid at the mech's legs. The glowing substance sizzled on contact, but the mech remained unscathed.

"That the best you've got, bro?" Fistrick sneered. "You'll need something stronger than that!"

Mina's frustration boiled over as she watched the mech shrug off her attack. Meanwhile, the massive machine began to lumber forward, each step sending tremors rippling through the ground. Itsuka barely dodged as one of its fists came crashing down where she'd stood moments before, the impact forming a deep crater that cracked the concrete.

Gritting her teeth, Itsuka enlarged her hands to their maximum size, delivering a powerful punch to the mech's torso. The blow landed with a resounding THUD, forcing the mech to skid back slightly. For a moment, Fistrick faltered, the mech's servos groaning under the strain.

"Not bad," Fistrick growled, "but not good enough!"

As the mech reared its other fist to strike, thorny vines erupted from the ground, coiling around its arm like constricting snakes. The vines tightened with incredible strength, halting the punch mid-swing.

"Bro?!" Fistrick exclaimed, twisting to see Ibara standing firm, her hair flowing like a halo of green as it burrowed into the ground, anchoring the vines.

"You dare defile this world further with your corruption?" Ibara said, her voice steady but laced with righteous fury. "You will be held accountable for your sins!"

The mech struggled violently against Ibara's vines, gears screeching as it thrashed. With a loud SNAP, the mechanical arm broke free, splintering the thorny restraints. Fistrick wasted no time, swinging the massive fist toward Itsuka. Her eyes widened in alarm as the mech's strike connected, the impact producing a resounding BOOM.

"Argh!" Itsuka cried out as her body was hurled across the harbor like a ragdoll. She skidded along the rough pavement, tumbling to a stop with a pained groan, dust and debris clinging to her clothes.

Fistrick smirked within his hulking suit, the sound of his cruel laughter echoing through the harbor. "You can't touch me, bro," he sneered, his arrogance oozing through every word.

From above, Goop's gelatinous form stretched and shifted, his fist swelling to an enormous size. Charging his malleable body with the electric crackle of One For All, his arm coiled like a spring, building tension with every moment. With a thunderous WHAM, Goop unleashed his punch, the force detonating through the air like a shockwave.

Fistrick's mech shot backward, careening through the harbor. The sheer momentum sent him barreling into a cluster of boats, the metal tearing apart with a deafening cacophony as his mech punched clean through them. Splinters of wood and shards of fiberglass rained down, the boats now marked with gaping, Fistrick-shaped holes.

Goop landed with a wet splorch, his amorphous body rippling as he re-formed. Nearby, Setsuna floated down, her fragmented limbs assembling midair. She whistled low.

"Woah, talk about some power," she said.

Before they could relax, a low, rumbling noise came from the water. Fistrick's mech rose from the waves, water cascading off its hulking frame. With surprising ease, he shoved aside a small boat blocking his path, his movements defying the mech's massive bulk.

"Bro..." Fistrick's voice drawled, an unsettling grin audible even through the modulated speakers. He reached down and hoisted a nearby boat with alarming ease.

Setsuna's eyes widened in horror as she noticed passengers scrambling on the deck. "Crap!" she exclaimed, immediately splitting her body into dozens of pieces.

Her airborne limbs darted toward the boat, grabbing passengers one by one as the hulking mech effortlessly lifted it overhead.

"Move! Now!" Setsuna shouted as she deposited a pair of passengers onto solid ground. The last person screamed as the mech flung the boat with terrifying force.

The air seemed to shatter under the velocity of the projectile, the boat spinning end over end as it hurtled toward Ibara, Mina, Miruko, and Goop. The group reacted instinctively, leaping in different directions to avoid the incoming wreckage.

The boat slammed into the ground with a cataclysmic CRASH, the impact shaking the earth and kicking up a storm of dust and debris.

Shattered wood and torn metal scattered everywhere as the remnants of the boat tumbled, carving deep gouges into the pavement before finally skidding to a stop.

Ibara landed gracefully, her vines shooting out to anchor her as she avoided the worst.

Mina rolled across the ground before popping up, acid already bubbling in her hands. Miruko flipped mid-air, landing with her usual agility.

Goop re-formed nearby, his gelatinous body rippling from the force of his jump. His luminous green eyes focused on the massive mech, now looming once again as Fistrick stomped forward, the ground quaking with each step.

"That's your idea of a fight?" Fistrick taunted, his voice dripping with mockery. "You can't even keep up, bro!"

Miruko wiped dirt from her cheek, her crimson eyes narrowing. "I'll admit," she muttered, venom lacing her words, "this thing's tougher than it looks. But nothing's indestructible."

"Okay, we need a plan!" Goop said, his voice firm but tinged with urgency.

Mina whipped her head toward him, her golden eyes blazing with determination. "Midori, your goo—it's acidic, right? Like my acid?"

"Uh… yeah?" Goop replied, tilting his gelatinous head in confusion.

Before they could continue, the ground quaked as Fistrick's mech stomped closer. He grabbed another boat effortlessly, hurling it with deadly precision.

Itsuka's enlarged hands shot forward, catching the vessel mid-air with a grunt of effort. The impact pushed her back, but she dug her heels in and held firm.

"Setsuna! Get everyone off this thing!" Itsuka barked, her voice commanding.

"On it!" Setsuna responded, her body splitting apart as she darted through the boat, grabbing passengers and ferrying them to safety.

Itsuka, with a deep breath, used her massive hands to launch the now-empty boat like a missile straight at Fistrick. The mech merely reared back its fist and smashed it to splinters mid-flight.

"Woah…" Fistrick said, whistling as wood and metal rained around him. "This puppy's a beast! And here's the kicker—I'm not even using my Quirk, and I'm wrecking a top pro!"

Miruko's crimson eyes narrowed dangerously, her body coiling like a spring. "We'll see about that," she hissed, her tone venomous.

Mina turned back to Goop, her expression intense. "Midori! Listen up. You've got the perfect body for this. Your goo is acidic, right? Adjust it—make it corrosive enough to melt through whatever alien junk that mech is made of."

"Adjust it?" Goop repeated, blinking.

Mina groaned, her hands gesturing wildly as if trying to convey her thought through sheer willpower. "Concentrate your acidic properties! Think industrial-strength—something that can cut through metal like it's butter. Crank up the pH or… or whatever you do! You're literally a walking, squishy chemistry set!"

Goop blinked again before realization dawned. "Oh! You mean ramp it up. Got it." His gelatinous form rippled as he began to focus, the green glow intensifying.

Fistrick's mech stomped closer, the ground shaking violently.

Mina smirked as she launched herself toward Fistrick, her acid skates igniting with a hiss. She zigzagged, spraying streams of her sizzling acid at the mech.

The liquid struck the surface, eating into the outer layer, though not as deeply as she hoped.

"Not bad, but you're gonna need something stronger than that, sweetheart!" Fistrick jeered as he swung an oversized arm at her.

Mina leapt back, narrowly dodging the blow. "Oh, don't worry," she shot back, her voice dripping with confidence. "We're just warming up. Dekiru 10, show him what you've got!"

Goop's glowing body twisted and expanded, his acidic properties visibly intensifying as fumes began to waft off him. "Alright, let's see if this works," he muttered.

With a grunt, Goop launched himself forward, his body swelling as he exhaled a cloud of acid-laced fumes. In one swift motion, he stretched his arm out, morphing it into a massive, fist-shaped weapon.

It collided with the mech suit with a sickening crack, the force of the impact pushing the hulking machine backward. Its feet dug into the ground, kicking up a trail of concrete as it struggled to regain its balance.

Fistrick's cocky grin faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered, smirking again. "Nice try, bro—"

"WARNING!" A loud alarm blared from the mech suit, the sudden sound catching Fistrick off guard.

His eyes widened as the large dent Goop had created in the armor began to bubble and hiss. Acid ate through the metal, fumes expelling from the crack as the mech groaned in pain.

"Oh no, bro," Fistrick muttered, his confidence slipping as the damage became apparent.

Miruko, sensing the opportunity, shot forward like a cannonball, her body propelling itself toward the vulnerable spot with unmatched speed. A grin spread across her face, her eyes narrowing with fierce determination.

"Oh yes!" she called out.

She delivered a devastating kick to the very spot Goop had hit, her leg smashing into the weakened area with bone-shattering force.

The mech lurched sideways, groaning as cracks spiderwebbed across its surface. Fistrick cursed under his breath, stumbling within the cockpit. "Dammit!" he barked as his mech staggered to regain its footing.

Goop reeled his arms back, his eyes focused with deadly precision. A crackling surge of power ran through his body as he gathered One For All at 16%.

"Gomu Gomu no Gatling Gun! Goop addition!" he shouted.

With a snarl, Goop pushed his body to the limit, snapping his arms back like a spring and stretching them forward in a blur. Each punch became a blur of motion, his fist pounding into the mech's exterior with the force of a freight train.

BAM! BAM! BAM! The blows hit with such ferocity that the very ground trembled with each impact.

The sound of metal warping under the repeated strikes echoed throughout the harbor, the suit buckling and creaking as Goop continued his relentless barrage.

Fistrick's eyes widened as his mech groaned under the pressure. "Bro…" he muttered, his voice trembling for the first time.

"Go-Go-Go-Gomu Gomu no..." Goop's voice rang out again, his body contorting as he stretched even further, exuding a toxic cloud from his elongated limbs. His arms reached out, expanding with impossible length as everyone watched in stunned silence.

"BAZOOKA GOOP ADDITION!" Goop shouted as he thrust both massive palms forward in unison, the force of the impact so intense that it sent a shockwave through the air.

The mech suit was met with an explosion of force, the palms slamming into it with a deafening BOOM!

The ground buckled beneath the sheer force, and the entire mech was sent hurtling back, tearing through the air like a ragdoll. Sparks erupted from its joints as its armor crumpled under the force of Goop's attack.

The shockwave rippled outward, knocking boats off their moorings and sending waves crashing against the harbor's edge.

The ground trembled as Fistrick's mech was forced back into the water, the massive suit now little more than a battered and mangled hulk.

The mech groaned as it struggled to stand, Fistrick's voice dripping with frustration. "Dammit, bro... you're really starting to piss me off."

Goop's glowing body pulsed, his arms stretching like liquid tendrils. With a swift motion, they shot forward, wrapping around the mech's massive arms. "Hey, hey, bro, what the hell are you up to?" Fistrick's voice wavered with panic.

Goop smirked, his form shifting. "Just a little... spring cleaning." The sizzling sound of metal met the air as his acidic body began to eat away at the mech's joints, the goo bubbling and disintegrating the metal at an alarming rate.

Mina grinned, her eyes widening in anticipation. "That's it, Goop! Melt it down!" The mech's arms began to sag, the once-imposing structure now buckling under the acidic assault.

With a final hiss, the arms crumbled into a mass of molten metal, the mech now vulnerable. It groaned and collapsed, falling to its knees before crashing down to the warehouse floor in a heap of smoking wreckage.

Fistrick's voice crackled in disbelief, his confidence completely shattered. "You gotta be kidding me..."

Before he could react, Ibara's vines shot up from the ground, coiling with ferocious strength as they ripped apart the mech's chest plating, exposing Fistrick inside. The group stood, watching as the once-imposing mech suit was now a lifeless shell.

Miruko smirked, stepping forward with a confident stride. "Not gonna hide behind your toys anymore, huh?"

Fistrick growled in frustration, his fists clenching. "Do you have any idea how much this thing cost?!" His eyes flared with a sudden, eerie yellow glow, and his body began to shimmer as an astral projection ripped itself free from the wreckage of his mech suit.

The others stepped back, eyes widening in shock as the astral form of Fistrick grew, towering over them. With a heavy slam of his projection's fist against the ground, a shockwave pulsed out, cracking the earth beneath them and sending debris flying.

"Bro, you're in trouble now—" Fistrick sneered, but he was suddenly cut off by an unexpected sensation.

"Huh?" His head snapped to the side as he felt a cold, slimy slap across his arm. He stared in disbelief as the tongue wrapped around him, his arm suddenly going limp.

"What the—?!" Fistrick's voice faltered as the long pink tongue continued to slap and coil around his body, the goo coating his skin, rendering his astral projection weak. His body struggled to move, the energy draining rapidly.

"H-Huh?" Fistrick stammered, his confidence evaporating as his astral form flickered.

Goop turned, seeing a familiar face perched atop the warehouse. "Tsu?!" His voice filled with surprise as Tsuyu, now in full form, perched and stretched her tongue out, the tip of it flicking playfully against Fistrick's projection.

"Call me Froppy," she replied coolly, her voice calm as ever.

Miruko grinned, taking advantage of the opportunity. With a burst of speed, she launched herself forward and landed a powerful kick square on Fistrick's exposed projection, sending him crashing hard into the ground. The impact echoed through the area, and Fistrick's eyes rolled back in a dazed stupor.

"Not so tough now, huh?" Miruko said, her voice full of satisfaction as she stepped back, watching Fistrick's astral form flicker and collapse.

...

[Time-skip]

Izuku grunted, now back to his regular form as he and Setsuna freed the Megawatts from the wrecked mech suit. The tiny creatures zipped out of the containers, buzzing with excitement, darting around Izuku and Setsuna in joyful loops.

"Ribbit, looks like you two had quite the interesting start to your internships," Tsuyu remarked, crossing her arms and watching them.

Izuku wiped his brow, pulling a capsule as another Megawatt shot out like a lightning bolt, grinning as it zipped around him. "Yeah..." He let out a sigh, his exhaustion evident as he pulled the last capsule, giving Setsuna a quick glance as she freed the last one.

"So, what brings you here?" Mina asked, waving her arms to cool off her overheated hands while sipping water from a bottle a woman handed her.

"Thanks," Mina said, giving a smile to the stranger. "Uh...?"

"Sirus," the woman replied, offering a friendly smile. Her bright blue eyes, sharp and intelligent, gleamed as she adjusted her short, light blue hair, which was styled to the right. Her hero costume consisted of a sleeveless white sailor uniform with a dark blue, double-trimmed collar and a short skirt. A loose red scarf was tied around her neck, and her gloves matched her blue wrist guards. Thigh-high boots adorned her legs, each with wavy lines running down them. A flat hat with a ribbon sat atop her head, and large communication devices shaped like blue fins sat over her ears.

"We got word someone was planning a deal with smugglers we're tracking," Sirus explained, her voice steady and serious.

Tsuyu gave a casual glance at the destruction around them. "Ribbit, and you guys weren't exactly subtle with that fight," she added, gesturing to the wrecked harbor and the chaotic scene they'd left behind.

Izuku's eyes flicked toward Fistrick's unconscious body, now lying motionless on the ground, surrounded by his thugs, who were bound tightly in Ibara's vines. Ibara herself was off to the side, sipping from her water bottle, trying to rehydrate after the intense battle.

"He did mention something about making a deal..." Izuku murmured, his thoughts focused on Fistrick's words before everything had gone south.

"Impressive for a bunch of first years," a deep, gravelly voice boomed from behind them. The figure approaching them was none other than Selkie, a man with a muscular physique, his body resembling a humanoid spotted seal. His face, framed by a gray beard, was a combination of rugged strength and surprising warmth.

He wore a full-body wetsuit as part of his hero costume, complete with yellow goggles perched on his head and retractable flippers attached to his limbs. A stylized "S" was emblazoned on the left shoulder, marking his iconic status. Despite his imposing frame, there was an undeniable charm to his presence, a balance of professionalism and approachability.

Izuku's eyes lit up, and his face practically glowed. "Woah! The hero Selkie!" He exclaimed, barely able to contain his excitement. His eyes sparkled like stars, completely starstruck by the legendary hero standing before him.

Selkie chuckled, crossing his arms with a smirk on his face. "Ha! I don't get that kind of reaction every day, but I'm glad you're excited," he said, his voice rich with confidence and kindness.

"I bet my cuteness makes you all big fans, huh?" Selkie cooed, his voice teasing yet somehow endearing, as he struck a playful pose.

The girls couldn't help but think in unison, 'So cute.' Tsuyu felt a small smile tug at her lips as she watched the quirky hero interact with them.

Miruko blinked, momentarily unsure of what to make of the scene.

Selkie gave a wink, knowing exactly how to keep things lighthearted. His sidekicks behind him groaned collectively, but Selkie didn't seem to mind.

"You know, gotta keep the fans happy," he said with a mock-struggling sigh. "What's the point of saving the day if you can't look good doing it, right?"

But his expression quickly shifted into one of focus. "Alright, enough goofing off," he said.

He turned to the group. "What are you kids doing here, anyway?" Then, his gaze fell on the massive wreck of the mech suit. "And... what in God's name is that?!"

The sight of the wrecked mech suit, its hulking frame twisted and torn, left Selkie momentarily speechless. His awe quickly turned to concern.

Sirus, standing next to Selkie, examined the wreckage, her expression grave. "I've never seen technology like this," she murmured.

"And the fact that it was able to cause all this..." She gestured to the devastated harbor, with boats punched through and large ships tossed about like discarded toys. "It's terrifying."

Selkie shook his head, his usual bravado faltering for a moment. "Who the hell made this?" he muttered, incredulous. The weight of the situation seemed to finally hit him.

Fistrick groaned from where he was bound, slowly regaining consciousness. His eyes flickered open, and a low chuckle escaped him. "Can't believe I got my ass handed to me by Hisashi's overgrown sperm," he grumbled, clearly embarrassed but trying to save face despite his defeat.

Tsuyu turned to Izuku, her brow furrowed. "I take it this has something to do with aliens?" she asked, her tone blunt as always.

Izuku nodded, lowering his voice so that only Tsuyu could hear. "Yep. It's... complicated," he said, his eyes briefly flickering to Fistrick, who was still recovering. "I'll explain later."

"How were you able to paralyze him like that?" Izuku asked.

Tsuyu glanced away, her cheeks tinting slightly. "Well, I… kind of used my venom," she admitted, lightly tapping her fingers together. "I coated my tongue with it." She hesitated, her voice growing softer. "It's a little gross, so I'd rather not get into the details…"

She blushed, glancing at Izuku nervously, worried he might find her disgusting.

'I coated my tongue with the toxin from my stomach, she thought, feeling a twinge of self-consciousness. It's like how frogs do it... I had to upchuck a bit of it to cover my tongue properly. It's kind of gross, though.'

She glanced at Izuku, her face reddening as she mentally cringed. I really don't want him to think I'm gross. Better keep that little detail to myself.'

"To be able to take on someone like Miruko with that kind of tech... this could be a game-changer," Sirus said, her mind already racing through the possibilities. She looked at the wreckage with a mix of fascination and concern. "What are we going to do with it?"

Just then, Izuku's phone rang, cutting through the tension like a sudden shift in the air. "Uh, hello?" he answered, a bit confused by the timing.

Just then, Izuku's phone rang, the sound cutting through the tense silence like a sudden jolt. "Uh, hello?" he answered, his brow furrowing as he glanced at the others, unsure of the timing.

"Ah, Midoriya!" Nezu's cheerful yet calculated voice came through loud and clear. Izuku quickly put the call on speaker, allowing everyone to hear. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important. Please leave the Level 5 mech suit at the harbor. We'll be sending a team to collect it as soon as possible."

"Nezu?!" several voices said in unison, their surprise evident.

Miruko folded her arms, her eyes narrowing sharply. "Convenient timing, rodent," she said, her tone dripping with suspicion. "What, you just knew we'd have a mess for you to clean up?"

Nezu laughed lightly, utterly unfazed. "Ha ha! Why, yes. And I hope you're doing well, Rumi."

"Save it, furball," she shot back with a snort, tilting her head toward Selkie and his team. "Alright, I'm done here. You don't mind taking care of cleanup and booking the trash, do you?"

Selkie gave a small sigh, his tone good-natured despite the added workload. "Not like we have a choice."

Sirius sweat-dropped, muttering, "Yeah, thanks for that."

"Perfect," Miruko said with a grin. "Appreciate it." She waved a hand as Izuku turned his phone back to normal mode.

Izuku hesitated for a moment, curiosity getting the better of him. "Um, Nezu... how did you know we'd need your help with this?"

Nezu chuckled, the sound deceptively innocent. "Yes," he replied simply.

Then, with a decisive click, the call ended.

Sirius turned to Miruko, raising an eyebrow. "Wait, hold on. Why are you with these kids, Miruko? What's the deal here?"

Miruko crossed her arms, her expression flat. "I'm interning them. What's it look like?"

For a moment, there was stunned silence before everyone burst out laughing.

"HAHAHA!" Sirius doubled over, practically gasping for air. "You're telling me the Rabbit Hero—the lone wolf who hates working with teams—is suddenly taking on six students?!" She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, barely able to contain her amusement.

Miruko's eye twitched as her patience visibly thinned.

"Oh, come on, Rumi," Sirius teased, still grinning. "What's the angle? Don't tell me you're going soft on us."

The sidekicks exchanged skeptical glances, chuckling quietly among themselves.

Selkie chuckled, leaning back with an amused grin. "Are you even qualified to be taking on interns, Miruko?"

Miruko's eye twitched, her sharp glare cutting through the air. "Qualified? Listen, flipper boy, we're not a team. I'm just dragging these brats around to keep from going stir-crazy." She jabbed a thumb toward Izuku and Itsuka. "Those two are actually my interns. The rest of them?" She gestured toward the others with an annoyed wave. "They ditched their pro heroes like a pack of dumbasses, and now I'm stuck babysitting."

Setsuna, Mina, and Ibara flinched, guilt settling heavily on their shoulders.

"Ah, crap... I'm so dead," Setsuna muttered under her breath, scratching the back of her head.

"I'm gonna be scrubbing toilets for a month, aren't I?" Mina groaned, slumping like her soul was leaving her body.

Ibara clasped her hands together, her expression stricken. "Oh, Lord, please grant me forgiveness for my recklessness..."

Miruko crossed her arms, her smirk sharp enough to cut glass as she turned back to Selkie. "And you wanna talk about qualifications? I handled five interns at once. Had 'em track down a smuggler, infiltrate his operation, and take down a villain who was tossing boats around like they were wiffle balls." She leaned forward slightly, her tone dripping with cocky satisfaction. "So, yeah, I think I've earned my damn credentials."

Selkie raised his hands in mock surrender, his grin widening. "Alright, alright, I get it. No need to rub it in. I'm officially impressed."

Izuku felt a wave of guilt as he turned to the three girls, scratching the back of his head nervously. "Sorry, guys... I didn't mean to drag you into all this. I didn't think things would get this crazy." His tone was earnest, almost apologetic.

Setsuna immediately grinned, her sharp teeth flashing as she leaned closer to Izuku, her shoulder lightly brushing his. "Oh, come on, Mophead. Cleaning up trash, scrubbing floors, and doing grunt work? Totally thrilling stuff," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"But hey, I got to help some aliens today. That's gotta be worth some bragging rights, right?" She winked, making Izuku chuckle despite himself.

Mina giggled, her pink cheeks flushed with excitement. "Seriously, today was way better than anything Blazeheart had me doing! I mean, sure, toilets might be in my future, but fighting alongside you?" She nudged Izuku's arm playfully, her bubbly energy contagious. "Totally worth it!"

Ibara, standing a bit more reserved, folded her hands neatly in front of her. Though her expression was calm, there was a glimmer of warmth in her eyes. "I must confess," she began, her voice soft yet firm, "this has been far more fulfilling than the mundane tasks I was assigned. However..." Her voice grew more somber, and she sighed. "I suspect Kamui Woods will have much to say about my 'unauthorized' activities."

"Yeah, we're all gonna be in for it," Setsuna muttered with a smirk, though the slight tension in her voice betrayed her own concerns.

"I'm definitely on toilet duty for the next week," Mina groaned dramatically, throwing her head back as if lamenting her fate.

Miruko, who had been silently watching, barked out a laugh. "Toilets, lectures, grunt work—it's all part of the hero grind, kids. But..." She crossed her arms, her tone turning more serious.

"If you three can quit screwing around, learn from this, and show me you've got the grit for this kind of work, maybe—maybe—I'll think about sending an offer next year. But you'd better earn it."

The girls perked up slightly at her words, though Setsuna couldn't resist teasing. "Guess that means we've gotta impress the big bad bunny, huh?"

Miruko rolled her eyes but smirked. "Damn right, you do. Don't make me regret babysitting you."

...

[Timeskip]

As the first light of dawn stretched over the docks, everyone groaned, the long night finally catching up to them.

"We've been up all night?!" Itsuka complained, her voice loud and exasperated. She rubbed her temples, her face etched with frustration. "Aw, man, this sucks!"

Setsuna leaned against a wooden post, squinting at the horizon as the rising sun reflected off the water. "Yeah, I didn't even notice the time," she muttered, her usual smirk dulled by exhaustion. "I feel like my body's made of lead."

The group nodded in agreement, a shared fatigue settling over them. Despite their weariness, the adrenaline of the night still hummed faintly in the air. They stood in a loose circle, quiet except for the gentle lapping of waves against the dock and the occasional creak of wood underfoot.

Nearby, the pro heroes they were interning with waited, their faces a mix of relief and stern disappointment. When the girls noticed their mentors' expressions, they groaned in unison, already bracing for the inevitable lecture.

"Yep, we're dead," Mina muttered, her shoulders slumping. "Like, super dead."

"Maybe if we act really sorry, they'll go easy on us," Setsuna said with a half-hearted chuckle, though her smirk didn't quite reach her eyes.

Miruko finished her conversation with the other heroes, her sharp gaze flicking to the group. She crossed her arms, her tone curt. "Alright, everyone. Wrap it up. You're getting an earful."

As the group began to disperse, Mina hesitated, her golden eyes flickering toward Izuku. Her usual bubbly energy was tempered by something softer, more vulnerable, as she stepped forward.

"Hey, Midori!" she called, her voice light but laced with nervousness.

Izuku turned to her, his green eyes wide with curiosity. "Yeah, Mina?'

She walked up to him, her hands clasped behind her back. "Thanks for being amazing tonight. I mean it," she said, her tone uncharacteristically quiet. Before he could reply, she leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, her lips brushing his skin.

His breath caught in his throat, his heart pounding so loudly he was sure she could hear it. A blush spread across his face almost instantly. "M-Mina?!" he stammered, his voice rising in pitch.

She laughed softly, stepping back with a grin, though her cheeks were tinged pink. "You're such a dork," she teased, her usual playfulness returning. "But… I mean it. Thanks for everything." With a small wave, she turned and walked back to her mentor, her heart hammering in her chest.

Setsuna had been leaning casually against the post, watching the exchange with her sharp emerald eyes. For a moment, she felt something twist in her chest—a pang of jealousy she hadn't expected. Shaking it off, she straightened up and sauntered over to Izuku, her usual confidence masking the unfamiliar tightness in her throat.

"Well, Mophead," she said with a teasing grin, "looks like you're popular tonight."

Izuku, still flustered from Mina's kiss, tried to respond, but his words came out as an incoherent jumble. Setsuna chuckled, but the teasing note in her voice faltered as she took a closer look at him. His wide, earnest green eyes, the way he nervously rubbed the back of his neck—it tugged at something deep inside her.

Her smirk faded, replaced by a softer, more vulnerable expression. "Relax, hero," she murmured, her tone unusually gentle. Then, in one quick motion, she leaned in and pressed a kiss to his cheek, her lips lingering just a moment longer than Mina's had.

Izuku's breath hitched, his heart thundering in his chest as a tingling sensation spread from where her lips had touched.

"You're easy to like, Izuku," she said, her voice low and sincere, before stepping back, her cheeks faintly red. Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked away, her heart racing faster than she cared to admit.

Ibara had been standing quietly to the side, her hands clasped in front of her as she observed the interactions. Her heart felt heavy and light all at once, a confusing mixture of emotions swirling within her. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward.

"Midoriya," she said softly, drawing his attention.

Izuku turned to her, still red-faced and dazed. "Y-Yeah?"

Ibara hesitated, her green eyes meeting his. She reached into her satchel and pulled out the three small spheres he had given her earlier. "Thank you for your kindness," she said, her voice steady but quiet. "It means more than I can express."

She handed him the spheres, her fingers brushing against his as he took them. Then, in a move that surprised even herself, she leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek.

Izuku froze, his breath hitching as her soft lips lingered for just a moment before she pulled away. Ibara stepped back, her face flushed but her expression serene. "May you continue to act with such righteousness," she murmured, bowing slightly before retreating.

Izuku stood there, completely still, his mind spinning as he tried to process what had just happened. His face burned crimson, and his heart raced as he watched the girls walk away one by one.

Before he could even begin to make sense of it, Miruko grabbed him by the arm.

"Alright, lover boy," she said with a dry laugh. "Let's go before you get yourself into more trouble."

...

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