Chapter 41:

(Time for that little in-between chapter! I figured I'd give Lucas and Shoto a final moment to solidify their friendship. And after that, I can work on a few Claus chapters. Enjoy!)

Lucas knew he was asleep, only this time, he wasn't near that sunflower field like the other time. He could've sworn he was in his home, he could hear his Papa's voice talking with someone. "And you're un-ashamed of our child's loss in the tourney?" It was that person again, Giygas. "Of course I'm not ashamed. No matter what place my boy gets, if he gets stronger or smarter by losing, I'd say that's a good thing." Nezu had said, "Papa?" Lucas asked.

"Ah, a fitting time to pop in, my little pup. I'll be making a blend of berry tea in a moment." Nezu had said, sipping from his teacup. Something was off here, Nezu has never met this man, nor would he even trust this man in their house immediately. "I do hope you are rejuvenating as your teacher permitted you to, my dear boy." Giygas simply said, as if he were truly a parent or relative. "Y-Yes…But more importantly, how are you even here? I know Papa didn't let you in." Lucas had said, "Now now, my boy. I know I may look like Papa, but I wouldn't exactly be the real one." Nezu had explained, giggling a bit. Lucas didn't know how to respond to that, was this one of those philosophical conversations he liked to have?

"He speaks truth, Lucas. The Nezu before you is mere cognition of your father." Giygas had explained, "Cognition? So…I AM still dreaming. That's why you're here?" Lucas was hoping that was the answer. "Indeed. Needless to say, a conversation with Nezu is very effervescent and stimulating." Giygas said, "I understand why you can go to him for comfort and advice, even with his evident sadism."

Lucas looked on, uneasy about what was going on. "I see you distrust me, my boy. Very good to keep your caution." The man complimented him, "But you need alleviate your fear, I am not your enemy. I am family." Giygas had said, "I don't know who you are." Lucas said, bluntly.

"And yet we share the same power?"Giygas had said, which stunned Lucas. "This IS a byproduct of cognition mechanized by you. None but of my descent have the power to create their domain in Magicant…" Giygas had said, "…I am clearly painting a vague picture. I should start with my self first." Giygas had looked at his child, "I once told you I was not man, and I speak the truth of it. I am from a world unknown to you beyond the moon." Giygas said to him. Lucas brushed his hair, "S-So…you're an alien? I understand the world I come from is outlandish to what once was, but you can't expect me to—"

"Did I not tell you I speak the truth?" Giygas had said, almost eerily. Giygas looked outside, noticing the coming sunrise. The "alien" in question had sighed in annoyance, "It seems you must awaken, Lucas. We shall finish this discussion another time." Giygas had said, Lucas wasn't about to let him leave. "Wait, you know about my powers!" Lucas had said, walking up to him. But he could feel himself waking up for the next day.

(Later)

"Lucas! You can't be sleeping all day, pup." Nezu had said from beyond his room. Lucas yawned and was annoyed that he had to wake up, "I'm getting up, Papa…" the boy said, drowsily. Was that dream real? There was no way, his mind could be facilitating an answer for his power, since there seemed to be none. "I know the Sports Festival was tiring, Lucas. But that's no reason to sleep in all day." Nezu told his son, Lucas just looked annoyed until he started waking himself up. He had something he was going to do today, after all. Once he had changed into his usual clothes, he grabbed his phone and texted Shoto.

"Did you want to help me make omelettes?" The chimera asked his child, "Oh, okay. I'll be there in a minute." Lucas said, "All right. You grab the seasoning while I grab the eggs." Lucas rubbed his eyes, walking into the kitchen and looking for the spices that Nezu normally puts in the omelettes.

"Was there anywhere you were going today?" Nezu asked him, "Yeah, I figured I'd take the train to Akihabara, I was planning on hanging out with Shoto, today." Lucas explained, to which Nezu stopped what he was doing. "I see…Is Endeavor going to be supervising his son?" Nezu had said, concerned for Lucas's sake. "No, he's not. I figured I'd take time to get to know him better now that we're friends." Lucas said, Nezu had smiled, calming down a bit.

"Very well, son. But I want you two to be careful, there are still many villain attacks reported and of course there's the Hero Killer on the loose." Lucas nodded, "I'll be okay, Papa. Don't worry, I'm not a baby anymore." Lucas said, Nezu cheerfully smiled with an undertone of passive aggression. "Excuse me, we're being rude now, are we? I can be worried about you, even if you're now a teenager. Perhaps I should forbid you from going if you can't bother to be nice to your Poor Papa." Nezu said, shrugging his shoulders, almost innocently and smile still on his face.

"Hey, I'm not being mean to you, I'm just saying, Papa!" Lucas said, "Besides, if I were treating you like a baby, I'd never let you go out, and I'd climb onto your shoulder and keep you in a small hug, almost like I used to hold you those few years ago." Nezu was chuckling at fond memories of holding his child. Lucas sighed, "Papa, you know I hate it when you do that." Lucas said, annoyed while Nezu simply giggled. "I know, my dear boy. You know I love to tease you." The "mouse" explained, clapping his hands together. "Now then, these omelettes won't make themselves, eat first before you leave, little pup." Nezu said. Lucas sighed, embarrassed.

(Later)

Thankfully, Shoto had responded to his text and said he'd come over to Akihabara, claiming he had some good news to tell him. Lucas was happy for him, and it was good that someone was doing well with the aftermath of the Sports Festival and the recent events. Lucas was hoping Tenya would be okay, it was sad to learn something had happened to Ingenium after the Sports Festival. "I need to get stronger…If I can prevent the next one…Nobody would have to get hurt." Lucas had hoped all his training would pay off, come what may with the potential internships. "I know I showed my abilities and people acknowledged them, at least. I may not have one, but I was still seen by Pros. Any experience I can gain from working in the field should be considered an experience." Lucas said to himself, hearing the announcer saying that his stop was coming up. "I better get ready to leave." Lucas looked as the train began to move through a tunnel.

(In Electric Town)

Lucas waited by one of the nearby arcades for Shoto to show up, looking up some advice for soil management for his flowers. "Lucas." Shoto's voiced called out to him, "Oh, Shoto. Glad you made it." Lucas had said, smiling. Lucas offered him a fist bump, "Um…" Shoto was a little awkward. "Y-You put your fist out." Lucas said, sheepishly. "Oh. Here." Shoto bumped Lucas's fist, "So, are we going to play games at the arcade?" Shoto asked, "That's the plan, I figured we'd check some of the stores for any anime or games. I've been planning on getting one of the new Pokemon games that came out!" Lucas said, before retreating into his Mr. Mew hoodie. "S-Sorry, I guess I-I'm a little too excited." Lucas had said, deciding to reel it in. "Don't be. You fought for my friendship on a battlefield, the least I can do is humor you." Shoto said, folding his arms. Lucas looked at him, before chuckling a little. "Thanks." Lucas had said, before they entered the arcade.

"—So, you went to go see your mom?" Lucas asked, to which Shoto nodded. "I figured it was time I stopped running and tried to find myself again. It turns out…my mother has…returned to her former self." Shoto said, smiling a little. Lucas smiled for his friend, "That's incredible! Now you're sure to rebuild your bond with her!" Lucas had said, "I'll admit, I'm a bit jealous."

Shoto picked up a toy gun to an arcade game, "Why's that? Are things unwell with your mother?" Shoto asked, "No, I don't know my mom. My dad doesn't talk about her…Although, I'm starting to believe I'm adopted." Lucas explained, shooting a few enemies in the gun game. Shoto looked at the game's incoming enemies and fired.

"Did your father ever marry?" Shoto asked, "No, he says he couldn't unless he found another animal with a Quirk, which was unlikely." Shoto was immensely weirded out by that response, though he didn't show it. "Heeheehee, I bet that got you confused." Lucas said, mischievous smile on his face. "You're implying that your father is…an animal?" Shoto began to theorize, Lucas whispered into his ear. "Wouldn't you like to know?" Lucas showed a bit of a mischievous expression on his face Shoto was left confused. "You don't intend to reveal who he is?" Shoto asked, Lucas merely nodded.

"On your right!" Lucas shot a few other enemies approaching them in the game. "Thanks for the backup." Shoto said, pointing his gun to shoot the person coming at Lucas. They had both been defeated.

"Well, we got a pretty good score, either way." Lucas said, staying optimistic. "Any games you wanted to play while we're here?" He asked, Shoto looked around, there wasn't a lot he was able to do during his childhood. "Um…let's try the Mario Karts, over there." Shoto was curious about the racing game, "Oh, perfect! Let's go!" Lucas then said, walking ahead of him to play the game.

(Later, in Shibuya(OH MY GOSH, JUST LIKE PERSONA 5!)

"Where are we going now?" Shoto asked, "I have to go the gardening store to pick up an order and then I thought we'd get ice cream at Miyashita Park. I know a place that's popular now, but if you don't want to, there are tons of restaurants on Center Street." Lucas explained, Shoto had barely let out a chuckle. "Ice cream's alright, thanks." Shoto admits that he never had this experience before, but it was starting to become fun with Lucas as great company. "Although, I'm not opposed if there's zaru soba at those other restaurants." Lucas smiled, "All right, let's pick up the order and then head to Center Street." Lucas said, immediately changing his mind. "Really? You don't want ice cream now?" Shoto asked. "Of course not. I'm treating you, so it's only fair we get something you want." Lucas explained, "So, my friend, let's get going!"

(At Center Street)

Shoto should've expected Lucas to have a hobby in gardening, with his nature showing something more caring of others. "Having fun yet? I'm sorry I had to drag you to run my errand." Lucas apologized, Shoto smiled slightly, amused by how this day was going. "I'll admit, I wasn't expecting to head to a gardening store, but I'm still having fun all the same, I suppose." Shoto explained. "I should've expected you were a gardener." Shoto said, "It's a passion for me. I've been planting flowers at UA for a while now." Lucas explained, "I know Sensei always said it could distract me, but I think it's a great way to relieve stress." Shoto nodded, "I suppose Mr. Aizawa WOULD say something along those lines. Either way, I guess that's impressive."

Shoto said, "Thank you. Speaking of which, I'm guessing this season I'll be planting my favorite flowers." Lucas said, "Oh, and what are those?" Shoto asked. "This may be influenced by recent events, but I think I'll plant sunflowers this coming semester." Lucas explained, before having some of his noodles. Shoto nodded, "I see. Although, for now, we should more focus on the coming internships. And I think we'll be registering a code name, too." He advised his friend. "Oh, right. That IS supposed to come up." Lucas said, "Have you decided on a name?"

Shoto brushed his hair, "I can't think of anything. So I may as well go with Shoto." Lucas then thought about that answer, "Well, your name does allude to your powers…maybe that's actually perfect." Lucas realized, and smiled. "Thank you. But what about you? Are you going by "Raito" or "Flower-Boy"?" Shoto asked, "Why'd you have to bring Bakugo-san's nickname up? ...And…I don't know. I was just told to come up with an alias, but…I dunno, it doesn't have a good feel for a hero name." Lucas said, before thinking about Katsuki's nickname.

"I think you two may be onto something." Lucas said, "Hm?" Shoto looked confused. "Maybe I should change my intended hero name." Lucas suggested, thinking he has an idea of what his name should be. "If we're going to talk about Bakugo, there's something I wanted to tell you." Shoto said, which left Lucas confused.

"You aren't what he called you when I fought him." Shoto said, to which Lucas started to remember what Bakugo had called him, but he dare not repeat it. "I…I never meant to actually lose…I didn't care about winning because my only concern was trying to reach you." Lucas explained, "I promise you I didn't go easy on you with those attacks." Shoto blinked and rubbed his eyes, "No need to apologize. I understand now." He said, stoically. "I'm sure I've told you this, but…I appreciate your willingness to be my friend on a battlefield." Shoto said. "I didn't have time to think about what he said about you, but I know I didn't agree when I heard it." Shoto realized, Lucas scratched his arm nervously. "I'm glad to hear that. Thanks." Lucas said, realizing that he had begun to doubt that since yesterday. "I am glad we're friends now, too." Lucas said, happily.

(Later)

They both had went their separate ways for now. Shoto said to let him know what they could hang out again, and Lucas was excited for that. He texted him one last time:

(Text)

Lucas: I hope you really had fun. I know this is difficult, but I'm here if you wanna talk about anything. -

Shoto: Thank you. I had fun today, we should do this when we have another break from school. But for now, let's focus on tomorrow.

Lucas: U got it! :D We should invite Izuku, Tenya and Ochaco, too!

Shoto: I suppose that would be fun. See you.

Lucas: Bye! ;)

(End of text)

Lucas had a seat and watched as the night lit up the city. He had held his bags of sunflower seeds in his hand. When he looked at them, his prior conversation with Shoto about his name came back to mind. "Hmm…" Lucas thinks he figured out his name.

(Okay, I'm pretty sure this chapter was sort of random, but I was trying to focus less on loredumping and over explanation and just have Shoto slowly come out of his shell to have fun with a friend, while Lucas has worries of overdoing it and being too self absorbed, and decides to consider Shoto's suggestions before his own. Anyways, next chapter will be a Claus based one, look forward to that. Stay strong and awesome!)