My hero system

by Dr.Cats

Izuku gains a mysterious system granting him video game-like classes, skills, and quests. Marked as "early access," he has two years before the full release to uncover its secrets. As he grows stronger, Izuku must choose: follow his idol's heroic path or forge his own, even if it leads to a darker destiny.

16. Chapter 16 Surprise adoption

Chapter 16 Surprise adoption.

Izuku returned to the shop, sliding open the door with an air of calm that didn't match the tension hanging in the room. He strolled to his seat, where his half-finished bowl of ramen waited, still steaming. Picking up his chopsticks, he resumed eating as though nothing had happened, savoring each bite.

Neito, Itsuka, and her parents stared at him expectantly, their eyes darting to one another as they waited for him to speak. But Izuku stayed silent, his focus entirely on the noodles.

Finally, Itsuka's father cleared his throat. "Uh… so, what happened?"

Izuku slurped another bite of ramen, then casually reached for the second bowl the chef had set out earlier. "Oh, yeah. I made a deal," he said between bites, his tone almost dismissive.

They all leaned in, the tension thickening. "A deal?" Neito asked, clearly itching for details. "What kind of deal?"

Izuku waved a hand lazily. "The debt's going to be taken care of. No worries." He pointed at the empty bowls in front of him with his chopsticks. "In the meantime, I'd suggest you load me up with some more noodles. I've got work later, and I need my energy."

Itsuka blinked in disbelief. "Wait, that's it? You're not going to explain how you did that?"

Izuku raised a brow at her as he shoveled another mouthful into his mouth. "What's there to explain? I handled it."

Neito leaned forward, incredulous. "Handled it? That's all we get? We're sitting here freaking out, and you're just eating ramen like you didn't almost die yesterday?"

Izuku set his chopsticks down, glaring at Neito. His calm demeanor shifted in an instant to something colder, sharper. "Neito, do you want me to remind you how we got to the point of 'almost dying' yesterday?" he asked, his tone dangerously low.

Neito shrank back slightly. "I mean, I didn't—"

Izuku held up a hand to silence him. "Let me spell it out for you. Yesterday, I went through hell because of you. You didn't give me a plan. You didn't give me enough information. You dragged me into a fight blind, and I nearly paid for it with my life. Now, if you want to talk about it, fine. But if you do, I'm going to get angry. And if I get angry…" He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the counter as his eyes bore into Neito. "I'll break your legs. Got it?"

The room fell silent, the air heavy with his words.

Neito swallowed hard, glancing nervously at Itsuka. "Fine," he muttered, sliding his chair back. He moved to sit next to her, mumbling under his breath, "Are we sure this guy isn't Yakuza?"

Itsuka, still processing everything, shrugged. "Honestly? At this point, I don't know. But he's helping us, so maybe just… don't piss him off. Okay?"

Neito let out a sigh, rubbing his temples. "Fine. Fine. I'll drop it."

Izuku smirked faintly as he finished his second bowl, pushing it aside and pulling out his phone. He fired off a quick text to Toga, then leaned back in his chair. "She'll be here soon," he said to no one in particular. He glanced at the parents. "You might want to get the shop prepped. It's about to get busy in here."

Itsuka's mother hesitated. "What do you mean by busy?"

Izuku only gave her a cryptic smile. "You'll see."

A few hours passed

before the door swung open again. Toga waltzed in, her fox ears twitching playfully and her tail swishing behind her. She held a bundle of masks in her arms, grinning brightly as she approached.

"Ta-da!" she chimed, placing the masks on the counter in front of Izuku. "Your very special delivery is here, broccoli boy!"

Izuku chuckled at her enthusiasm, standing to inspect the masks. "Perfect," he said, slipping one on briefly before taking it off. He turned to Toga. "You're going to be vital for this. We're kidnapping someone."

Toga's smile widened, her eyes glinting with excitement. "Ooooh, who's the target? Someone important? Oh! Is this a heist? Are we stealing a treasure?!"

"Not quite," Izuku said, his tone serious. "We're rescuing a little girl. Her name is Eri. She's being used for experiments by some Yakuza scumbag."

Toga's ears perked up, and her playful demeanor softened. "A little girl?" she asked, her voice quieter now.

Izuku nodded. "Yeah. It's going to be dangerous, and we'll need to be precise. You'll use your quirk to create illusions for our cover. I'll handle extraction." He glanced at Neito and Itsuka. "You two just follow my lead and don't get in the way."

Toga saluted dramatically. "You got it, boss!"

Neito groaned. "Wait, why am I even here for this?"

Izuku shot him a look that could freeze fire. "Because you dragged me into this mess, and you're going to help clean it up."

Itsuka sighed, standing to join them. "Alright. What's the plan?"

Izuku's expression hardened. "The plan is to save her. No mistakes. No screw-ups. We move out soon."

The gravity of his words settled over the group as they exchanged determined glances. Toga adjusted her mask, her grin returning. "Let's go save a kid. I'll make sure we look good while doing it."

At the ramen shop, the two Yakuza members arrived, both looking tense as they stepped through the door. Izuku stood near the counter, calmly eating another bowl of noodles. As they walked in, he glanced up at them with a neutral expression, gesturing toward the alleyway without saying a word.

The two thugs exchanged uneasy glances but followed his instruction, exiting through the side door. Izuku turned to Itsuka and Neito, pointing to the alleyway as well.

"You two, go with them. Stay out of sight but keep an eye on what's happening. Toga," he added, turning to the fox-tailed girl, "you too. I need you to be ready with your illusions if anything goes sideways."

Toga grinned mischievously and gave him a quick salute before bouncing out the door. Itsuka hesitated, her expression torn between frustration and gratitude, but ultimately followed without a word.

From the shadows of the alley, the group watched the ramen shop's entrance. It was quiet, almost too quiet, until a massive figure entered the scene, instantly commanding attention.

"Oh my god," Itsuka whispered, her eyes widening as she caught sight of the unmistakable hulking form of All Might, the number one hero. "What is he doing here?"

Neito's jaw dropped. "What the hell? Is that actually him?"

Toga clutched her sides, practically vibrating with excitement. "No way! This is insane!"

Izuku, still inside the shop, casually greeted All Might as the hero approached the counter. "Welcome," he said, sliding a steaming bowl of ramen in front of the towering figure. "Your usual, sir?"

All Might laughed heartily, the sound echoing through the small shop. "Yes! Thank you, my boy! I could never resist the finest ramen in the city."

Izuku reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone and hitting the record button. "Oh my god," he said, his voice filled with mock surprise, "it's the number one hero, All Might, eating at this humble ramen shop!"

He made sure to pan the camera around, capturing the shop's name and logo prominently in the frame before focusing back on All Might, who was grinning broadly.

"Yes, yes!" All Might said between bites of noodles. "This shop is a hidden gem! I always make it a point to stop here when I can. Quick service, delicious ramen—what more could a hero ask for?"

Izuku kept recording, his inner strategist already imagining the buzz this would create. "Wow, number one hero endorses local ramen shop! That's gonna blow up," he muttered under his breath.

Finishing his bowl with his usual dramatic flair, All Might stood, brushing off his hands. "Well, I must be off! Duty calls!" He gave a signature thumbs-up to Izuku and the shop owner before leaping into the air, disappearing into the skyline in a single bound.

Izuku ended the recording, a sly smile on his face as he uploaded the video to the right forums. "And… post. That should do wonders for business."

He walked out to the alley where the group was still stunned into silence. Toga was the first to break it. "How do you know All Might?!" she practically shouted, her golden eyes gleaming with curiosity.

Neito shook his head, looking at Izuku like he'd grown a second head. "Seriously, are you even a real person? First, you're beating up fighters, and now this? What's next? You're gonna tell us you're secretly a prince or something?"

Izuku shrugged, brushing past them. "Focus on the mission. We're not here to chat about my connections."

Itsuka grabbed his sleeve, her tone sharp. "You can't just drop that on us and expect us not to ask questions!"

Izuku sighed, adjusting his glasses. "It's a long story, and we don't have time for it right now. Let's get this done first."

They followed as he led them further into the alleyway, the weight of their task ahead settling back over them.

Itsuka's tears flowed freely as she clutched Izuku's arm, her gratitude spilling out with every word. "Thank you. You saved my family. You saved our shop."

Izuku gently patted her head, his expression soft but distant. "It's not a big deal. Really. Let's keep going. We've got more to do."

They made their way toward the compound, tension growing with every step. As they neared the perimeter, Izuku stopped, turning to Itsuka and Neito. "Alright, you two. I need you to hide here." He pointed toward a dumpster in the alley.

Itsuka's face scrunched up in confusion. "What? Why the dumpster?"

Neito looked equally skeptical, eyeing the rusted container. "Seriously? That smells like it hasn't been emptied in weeks!"

Izuku crossed his arms, his tone firm. "It's important for the mission. If anyone sees you, it could ruin everything. Please, do it for Itsuka's family. For the little girl."

Grumbling under their breaths, the pair reluctantly lifted the dumpster lid. The rancid smell hit them like a punch, and both recoiled.

"This is the worst idea ever," Neito groaned, climbing in first.

Itsuka followed, pinching her nose. "You owe me for this, Izuku!"

Izuku simply smirked. "Noted. Stay out of sight until I give the signal."

He walked toward the compound with Toga, Botan, and Asa. Botan raised an eyebrow, glancing back at the dumpster. "So, what's with the pair of them hiding in a trash bin? Some kind of decoy?"

Izuku gave a sly grin. "It's better if you don't know. Trust me."

Botan shrugged, clearly not convinced but choosing to let it go. Asa, meanwhile, handed over a folded map of the compound. Izuku took it, unfolding the paper and scanning it carefully.

"Good," Izuku said, handing Botan a small metallic spider. "Slip this into your pocket. When you're inside the compound, let it loose near the security room. It'll handle the cameras and put them on a loop for us."

Botan examined the mechanical device, his eyebrows raising in mild surprise. "Impressive. You invent this yourself?"

Izuku gave a noncommittal shrug. "Something like that. Just make sure it gets into the security room."

He took out two masks, handing one to Toga. The masks shimmered as they transformed the wearers into convincing Yakuza members. Toga inspected her reflection in a nearby shard of broken glass, her fox ears and tail gone, replaced by a slicked-back hairstyle and a cold, stern face.

"I miss my tail already," she muttered.

Izuku adjusted his mask, now appearing as a burly enforcer with a deep scar across his face. "Focus. If anything goes wrong, use your illusions to hide us. We also have a mask for the girl. Once we find her, it's a simple matter of convincing her to come with us, placing the mask, and walking out. No mistakes."

They moved in midday, the bustling compound a mix of workers and armed guards. Toga's illusions masked their movements as they slipped past patrols, blending seamlessly into the Yakuza ranks. Botan and Asa walked confidently ahead, leading them toward the underground levels.

The compound grew quieter as they descended, the natural light replaced by dim, flickering bulbs. They reached a heavily secured door. Botan nodded toward Izuku. "She's in there."

Izuku exhaled slowly, motioning for Toga to stay close. With a subtle flick of his wrist, he signaled the mechanical spider to move, watching it scuttle into a vent leading to the security room. Within seconds, his earpiece buzzed, confirming the cameras were on a loop.

The door creaked open, revealing a cold, sterile room. In the center, a small figure sat on the floor. Eri. Her white hair fell over her face, her red eyes wide and cautious as she looked up. Bandages covered her arms and legs, and her frail body was wrapped in a tattered brown cloth.

Izuku knelt down, his voice soft and gentle. "Eri?"

She flinched, scooting back against the wall. "Who… who are you?"

Toga stepped forward, her tone unusually kind. "We're here to help you, sweetie. We're going to take you somewhere safe."

Eri's eyes darted between them, her small hands clutching the edge of her cloth. "I… I don't believe you. Everyone says that, but they hurt me."

Izuku removed his mask, revealing his true face. He smiled warmly. "You're scared. I get that. But we're not like them. I promise, we'll get you out of here."

Eri hesitated, her red eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Promise?"

Toga knelt beside Izuku, holding out the mask. "This will make you invisible. No one will see you if you wear it. You'll be safe."

Eri stared at the mask, her tiny hands trembling as she reached out and took it. Slowly, she placed it over her face. Her features shimmered, blending into the image of an average-looking child.

Izuku stood, offering his hand. "Let's go."

Eri hesitated for only a moment before taking his hand. With Toga's illusions still masking their presence, they began their careful ascent back to the surface, Botan and Asa trailing behind to cover their exit.

As they emerged from the compound, the operation was seamless. Not a single guard had detected them, and the streets around the compound were eerily quiet. Izuku removed his mask and handed it back to Toga, who did the same with hers, her fox ears and tail returning to their rightful places. Eri clung to Izuku's arm, her small hands trembling slightly.

Botan and Asa stood by the alleyway, their faces a mix of relief and gratitude. Botan nodded, his voice low. "Thank you. You've done more than we could ever repay. The debt? Consider it gone."

Izuku crossed his arms, glancing back toward the compound. "Good. Make sure to hold up your end. And remember—if I hear about you or anyone else laying a hand on this family again…" His voice dropped to a growl. "You'll regret it."

Asa raised his hands in surrender. "We got it, we got it! No more trouble. You have our word."

Botan gave a firm nod. "We'll take care of things from here. Just… keep the girl safe."

Izuku looked down at Eri, who was watching the exchange with wide, curious eyes. He crouched down to her level, his tone softening. "Eri, you're coming with us now. You'll be safe. No one's going to hurt you anymore."

Eri hesitated for a moment before giving a small nod, her grip tightening on his arm. "Okay."

Izuku and Toga led Eri back toward the warehouse, leaving Itsuka and Neito still hiding in the dumpster. As they entered the warehouse, Izuku sighed heavily, exhaustion settling over him like a heavy blanket. He pulled off his coat and hung it up by the door.

Eri's eyes lit up as she looked around, taking in the gadgets, tools, and large TV. She marveled at everything, her small hands brushing over the workbenches and equipment. "Is this… my new home?" she asked quietly.

Izuku smiled warmly, ruffling her white hair. "Yeah, this is your new home. We've got everything you need here. You'll be safe."

Her face broke into a small, genuine smile as she explored further. Toga, meanwhile, disappeared into the kitchen area, rummaging through cabinets and preparing a plate of snacks. She returned with a small tray of food and a cup of juice, placing it on the table in front of Eri.

"Here you go, little one," Toga said with a grin. "Eat up. You've earned it."

Eri sat down tentatively, taking small bites of the food. Izuku, exhausted, collapsed onto the beanbag chair with a heavy sigh. Before he could settle in, Eri crawled up onto his lap, curling up against him like a cat seeking warmth. He blinked in surprise but quickly smiled, resting a hand on her head and gently patting it.

Toga chuckled softly, sitting down beside them. "Looks like you've got a new fan, broccoli boy."

Izuku smirked, still patting Eri's head as her eyes fluttered closed. "I think I can live with that."

Eri sat up slightly, her big red eyes scanning the room. She turned to Izuku, tilting her head. "What's all this stuff?"

Izuku chuckled, gently lifting her off his lap and setting her down on the beanbag chair beside him. "This stuff? Oh, it's just some gadgets and tools we've been working on. Here, let me show you."

Eri's curiosity sparkled in her eyes as Izuku stood and led her to one of the workbenches. Toga followed behind, grinning from ear to ear. "She's such a curious little thing! Look at her, all wide-eyed. Absolutely adorable," Toga gushed.

Izuku smirked. "Yeah, she's definitely cute. And way too smart for her age—I can tell already."

Toga leaned against the table, watching as Eri looked at one of the devices. "You know, broccoli boy, we look like a little family right now. Me, you, and this little bean." She ruffled Eri's hair playfully, earning a giggle from the young girl.

Izuku rolled his eyes, though a faint blush crept onto his cheeks. "You're imagining things. But… I guess it's not the worst comparison." He crouched next to Eri, holding up a small gadget with blinking lights. "This is a motion sensor. It detects movement and lights up when something moves past it. Wanna see?"

Eri nodded eagerly. "Yeah!"

Izuku flipped the switch, setting the device on the table. As he waved his hand in front of it, the lights blinked in rapid succession. Eri clapped her hands, giggling. "That's so cool!"

Toga joined in, crouching on the other side of Eri. "You like that, huh? Wait until you see this." She reached for another gadget, this one resembling a small drone. "This little guy can fly around and take pictures. Watch."

She activated it, and the drone buzzed to life, lifting off the table and hovering in the air. Eri's eyes went wide as the drone snapped a picture of her and displayed it on its tiny screen. She gasped. "That's me!"

Izuku laughed. "It's you, alright. We can even make it print the picture if you want."

"Really?" Eri asked, bouncing on her toes.

"Really," Izuku confirmed, retrieving the photo and handing it to her. Eri held it carefully, staring at it like it was the most precious thing in the world.

Toga nudged Izuku with her elbow. "See? She's already fitting in perfectly. You've got the 'dad' role down. All you need now is an apron."

Izuku groaned, rubbing his temples. "Can you stop with that? You're embarrassing me."

Eri looked up from her photo, tilting her head. "What's a 'dad'?"

Both Izuku and Toga froze for a moment. Toga broke the silence with a laugh. "Oh, sweetie, a dad is someone who takes care of you, protects you, and makes sure you're safe. Kind of like what broccoli boy is doing now."

Eri turned to Izuku. "So… you're my dad now?"

Izuku sputtered, his face turning beet red. "Uh, I mean… I guess? If that's what you want to call me."

Eri smiled and hugged his leg tightly. "Okay, Daddy."

Toga burst into laughter, leaning against the table for support. "Oh my gosh, she actually called you Daddy! This is the best day of my life."

Izuku sighed, his face still burning. He crouched down to Eri's level, patting her head. "Alright, alright. You can call me that if you want. Just don't let her tease me too much, okay?"

Eri nodded, a serious expression on her face. "I won't. Promise."

The three of them continued to explore the gadgets and devices, with Izuku showing Eri how they worked and Toga chiming in with playful remarks. The warmth in the room was undeniable, a makeshift family dynamic forming as they laughed, learned, and bonded together. For Eri, it felt like a fresh start. For Izuku and Toga, it was a moment of joy and peace amidst the chaos.

After spending an hour exploring the gadgets, Toga announced dramatically, "Alright, my two little nerds, it's time for food!" She clapped her hands and gestured toward the small dining area they'd set up in the warehouse.

Eri looked up from the drone Izuku had just handed her, her stomach growling faintly. "What's for dinner?"

Toga grinned. "Well, little bean, we've got a feast. Or, well, as close to a feast as we can get. Come on, let's set the table."

Izuku chuckled, setting the drone back on the workbench. "I guess I'll heat up what Mei left for us. I think there's some rice, stew, and maybe some steamed veggies."

Eri followed Toga to the table, and the older girl lifted her onto one of the chairs. "You're gonna love it, Eri. Broccoli boy here makes sure everything's good and healthy." She leaned closer to Eri, mock-whispering, "But don't worry, I snuck in some sweets for dessert."

Eri giggled. "Really? What kind?"

Toga winked. "Cookies, of course."

Izuku rolled his eyes as he returned from the small kitchenette with bowls of steaming stew and plates of rice. "Don't spoil her too much, Toga. She's got a big appetite to grow, not just for sugar."

"Lighten up, Dad," Toga teased, sticking her tongue out at him.

Eri beamed as Izuku set her plate in front of her. "Thank you, Daddy."

Izuku's cheeks flushed red, and Toga nearly fell over laughing. "Oh my gosh, she's still calling you that! This is amazing. I'm never letting you live this down."

Izuku sighed, shaking his head as he sat down beside Eri. "You're incorrigible. Alright, let's eat before this stew gets cold."

Eri picked up her spoon and hesitated for a moment, looking at the food. "This looks so good," she said softly, almost as if she couldn't believe it.

"It is good!" Toga said around a mouthful of rice. "Broccoli boy makes sure we're well-fed."

Izuku smirked, ruffling Eri's hair. "Go on, try it. You'll like it."

Eri took a small bite of the stew, her eyes lighting up as the flavors hit her tongue. "It's really good!" she said, her voice filled with wonder.

Toga grinned. "Told you. He's like a master chef when he wants to be."

They ate together, the atmosphere warm and filled with light conversation. Eri chatted about the gadgets she liked, Toga shared ridiculous stories about her childhood, and Izuku tried to steer the conversation toward something less chaotic whenever Toga started getting too wild.

At one point, Eri looked up at Izuku with a thoughtful expression. "Can I stay here forever?"

Izuku paused, his spoon halfway to his mouth. He set it down and leaned closer to her. "You're safe here, Eri. As long as you want to stay, this is your home."

Her eyes welled up with tears, and she hugged him tightly. "Thank you… Daddy."

Toga snorted into her rice, nearly choking. "Oh, she's really milking this now. I love her."

Izuku hugged Eri back, his voice soft. "You're welcome, Eri. You're family now."

As they finished their meal, Toga brought out the cookies she'd promised, and Eri's face lit up like a firework. The three of them shared laughter and stories late into the night, the bond between them growing stronger with each passing moment.

Rumi stood in the doorway, her muscular frame filling the entrance as she held up a duffel bag stuffed with cash. She tilted her head, smirking at Izuku. "Hey, wife, we've got to talk about the finances. I'm thinking some of this should go toward my wardrobe."

Izuku sighed, rubbing his temples. "Could you not call me that in front of—"

"Who's that?" Rumi interrupted, her eyes narrowing as she spotted Eri sitting on Izuku's lap. The little girl blinked up at her, her red eyes curious and wide.

Eri climbed off Izuku, standing up and giving a polite bow. "Hi, I'm Eri. Who are you?"

Rumi raised an eyebrow, a soft smile forming as she crouched to Eri's height. "I'm Rumi. Nice to meet you, kid. Where'd you come from?"

Izuku stepped in, placing a hand on Eri's shoulder. "She's… someone I'm helping. Let's just say she's staying with us for now."

Toga leaned back on the beanbag chair, waving her hand dismissively. "She's part of the family now, Bunny Girl. Deal with it."

Rumi's eyes narrowed playfully as she stood up and crossed her arms. "Family, huh? Well, if she's family, she's gotta learn to keep up. Tough love and all."

Eri tilted her head, confused. "What's tough love?"

Izuku shook his head. "Let's not get into that. Actually, Rumi, we were just about to head out and get Eri some clothes. You want to come along?"

Rumi grinned, tossing the duffel bag onto the couch. "Sure, wife. Let's go play house."

Izuku groaned as Toga cackled in the background. "Fine, but you're carrying the bags."

Eri pulled out her mask, sliding it over her face as she fiddled with the settings. Her horns disappeared, freckles scattered across her cheeks, and her white hair and red eyes remained. She looked up at Izuku. "How do I look, Papa?"

Izuku froze, his face going red. Rumi burst into laughter, slapping her knee. "Oh, this is too good. She's got you wrapped around her finger, huh, 'Papa?'"

He sighed, patting Eri on the head. "You look great, Eri. Let's go."

Toga, who had been lounging nearby, stretched lazily. "I'm gonna hang out with some friends and spend the night at their place. You three have fun playing house."

Shopping trip

Their first stop was a colorful children's clothing store. The bright pink and blue walls were adorned with pictures of cartoon characters, and racks of tiny outfits filled the space.

Eri clung to Izuku's hand as they entered, her eyes wide as she took in the array of clothes. "There's so much," she whispered.

"Pick whatever you like," Izuku said gently, giving her a reassuring smile.

A store clerk approached them, her smile warm but curious. "Welcome! Oh, what a cute family you are."

Izuku opened his mouth to correct her, but Rumi cut him off. "Thanks! Isn't she adorable?" She ruffled Eri's hair, winking at the clerk.

The clerk chuckled. "She's got your eyes and hair, ma'am, and her freckles come straight from her dad. You're a lucky couple."

Rumi's face turned bright red, and she looked away, muttering, "Yeah, sure, whatever."

Izuku just sighed, rubbing his temples. "Let's just focus on the shopping."

Eri picked up a dress, holding it up to her chest. It was a light blue sundress with tiny daisies embroidered on it. "What about this one?"

Rumi crouched down, inspecting the dress. "It's cute, but you should try it on first. You've got to make sure it fits, kiddo."

Eri nodded, heading toward the dressing room with Rumi trailing behind her to help. Izuku wandered over to a rack of jackets, pretending not to notice the glances and whispers from other customers about the "cute family."

When Eri emerged from the dressing room, she spun around, showing off the dress. "How do I look?"

Rumi clapped her hands. "You look like a little princess! Perfect for our tiny terror."

Izuku smiled softly. "It suits you, Eri. Do you like it?"

She nodded enthusiastically. "I love it!"

"Then it's yours," Izuku said.

After they finished purchasing the clothing. They continued shopping, Rumi directing Eri toward the dressing room with another set of outfits to try on. Eri, ever obedient, darted inside with a bright smile, clutching the clothes close.

Rumi turned to Izuku, her cheeks still flushed from earlier. She stole a glance at him, appreciating his calm demeanor despite the chaos of the day. She bit her lip, then suddenly leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. Izuku blinked, surprised, as their lips parted.

"Rumi—" he started, but before he could finish, she grabbed his arms, pinning them behind his back with ease. She kissed him deeply this time, her tongue grazing against his in an almost possessive way. He muffled a little, unsure of how to react, but found himself kissing her back instinctively.

A cough interrupted them. The store clerk stood a few feet away, her face beet red. "Uh…sorry to interrupt, but…uh…could you not?"

Both of them broke apart instantly, their faces turning just as red as the clerk's. Rumi ran a hand through her hair, laughing awkwardly. "Yeah, uh, sorry about that. Got…caught up in the moment."

Izuku stood there, stunned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Caught in the moment?"

Rumi looked at him, her face burning brighter. "Yeah, uh…you know, just…you're being all kind and stuff, and, uh…" She trailed off, clearly embarrassed.

"You're not running off now," Izuku said, grabbing her hand gently. "We still have to buy you some clothes, remember? You can't bail on this." His voice was soft but firm, grounding her.

Rumi hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah…okay. I'm sorry. That was…yeah." She kept her gaze low, still flustered.

Before they could dwell on it further, Eri skipped out of the dressing room, spinning in her new outfit. "I like these ones!" she declared, holding out her arms to show them. "But I don't like these ones," she added, pointing to another pile of discarded clothes.

Rumi crouched down to Eri's level, her awkwardness fading as she smiled at the little girl. "Alright, kiddo. We'll get the ones you like. How about I hold the pile you don't like and Papa holds the good ones?"

Eri giggled, nodding. She grabbed both of their hands, her tiny fingers squeezing tightly. "Can I hold both your hands?"

Izuku and Rumi exchanged a glance before both smiled and answered, "Of course."

…

After picking out everything Eri needed, Rumi dragged Izuku toward the women's section. "Alright, since you made me promise to get some clothes for myself, let's get this over with," she said, her voice laced with faux annoyance.

Izuku grinned. "I didn't make you promise, you volunteered."

"Semantics," Rumi muttered, sorting through racks of leather jackets and snug-fitting jeans. She held up a sleek black jacket, turning to Izuku. "What do you think? Too intimidating?"

Izuku tilted his head, pretending to analyze. "It's very 'you.' Intimidating but cool."

Rumi smirked, tossing the jacket over her shoulder. "Good answer."

Eri held up a bright pink skirt with sparkles. "What about this one, Mama Bunny?"

Rumi's jaw dropped slightly. "Uh…kiddo, I don't think that's my style."

"It could be," Eri said innocently, grinning.

Izuku snickered. "You should try it on."

"I'll try it on if you wear something pink," Rumi shot back, narrowing her eyes.

Eri's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Papa in pink? Yes!"

Izuku groaned but relented. "Fine, fine. But only if you get something sparkly, Rumi."

The little family spent the next hour playfully arguing over clothes, with Eri laughing loudly as Rumi and Izuku kept one-upping each other with ridiculous fashion choices. By the end of the trip, Rumi had a stylish but functional new wardrobe, and Eri was giggling non-stop about her "parents'" antics.

…

After picking out everything Eri needed, Rumi dragged Izuku toward the women's section. "Alright, since you made me promise to get some clothes for myself, let's get this over with," she said, her voice laced with faux annoyance.

Izuku grinned. "I didn't make you promise, you volunteered."

"Semantics," Rumi muttered, sorting through racks of leather jackets and snug-fitting jeans. She held up a sleek black jacket, turning to Izuku. "What do you think? Too intimidating?"

Izuku tilted his head, pretending to analyze. "It's very 'you.' Intimidating but cool."

Rumi smirked, tossing the jacket over her shoulder. "Good answer."

Eri held up a bright pink skirt with sparkles. "What about this one, Mama Bunny?"

Rumi's jaw dropped slightly. "Uh…kiddo, I don't think that's my style."

"It could be," Eri said innocently, grinning.

Izuku snickered. "You should try it on."

"I'll try it on if you wear something pink," Rumi shot back, narrowing her eyes.

Eri's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Papa in pink? Yes!"

Izuku groaned but relented. "Fine, fine. But only if you get something sparkly, Rumi."

The little family spent the next hour playfully arguing over clothes, with Eri laughing loudly as Rumi and Izuku kept one-upping each other with ridiculous fashion choices. By the end of the Conversation, Rumi had a stylish but functional new wardrobe, and Eri was giggling non-stop about her "parents'" antics.

….

Rumi stood in the dressing room, tugging at the zipper of her dress. "Damn thing's stuck," she muttered to herself. She peeked her head out and spotted Izuku nearby. "Hey, Papa, I need your help," she called out.

Izuku walked inside, looking confused. "Wait, I didn't see you grab a dres—" His words were abruptly cut off as Rumi grabbed his shirt, pulled him inside, and pressed her lips to his in a heated kiss. Her hands slid up to his shoulders, pulling him closer as she deepened the kiss, her body pressing against his. His back hit the wall with a soft thud.

She broke the kiss momentarily, her lips a breath away from his. "Be a good Papa and let Mama Bunny take care of you," she teased, her voice low and sultry.

"Rumi—" he started, but before he could finish, her lips captured his again, this time more passionately. Her arms snaked around his neck, holding him in place as her tongue brushed against his. His mind raced, but his body instinctively responded, kissing her back as the heat between them grew.

Rumi grabbed his wrist, pinning it to the wall beside his head, taking control as her tongue danced with his. She pressed herself closer, her other hand resting on his chest, her nails lightly grazing his shirt. The warmth of her body against his made his breath hitch, and he found himself momentarily lost in the moment.

She finally pulled back, her face red, her breathing heavy. "Hey, um…" she started, struggling to find the words, "I'm not usually like this. But last night, seeing you like that… I kind of…"

Before she could finish her sentence, she kissed him again, her actions louder than her words. Izuku felt her hesitance and desperation, but this time, he gently broke free from her grip. His hands slid down to her waist before cupping her behind firmly, making her gasp softly.

"Rumi," he said, his voice steady but kind, "we should—"

Before he could continue, a small voice called out from outside the dressing room. "Mama Bunny? Papa? Is everything okay?"

They froze, their faces flushing as the tension snapped back to reality. Rumi pulled away quickly, trying to fix her hair while Izuku awkwardly adjusted his shirt. He popped his head out of the dressing room, his face still flushed. "Yeah, everything's fine, Eri! Just helping Mama Bunny fix her dress!"

Eri tilted her head, looking curious but smiling. "Okay! Don't take too long. I found another outfit!"

Izuku turned back to Rumi, who was covering her face with her hands, clearly embarrassed. He chuckled softly. "Let's, uh, finish up and get out of here before things get even more awkward."

Rumi nodded quickly, grabbing her bag of clothes. "Right. Let's go."

The shopping trip wrapped up soon after, with Rumi avoiding eye contact for the rest of the time. Eri, oblivious to the tension, skipped along happily with her bag of new clothes, and Izuku couldn't help but smile at the strange but warm moment he had just shared with Rumi.

As they returned to the warehouse, the door slid open to reveal Mei, grinning from ear to ear. She was surrounded by stacks of new materials, tools, and parts she'd purchased, all neatly arranged in crates and bags. She waved enthusiastically, grease smudged on her cheek.

"Welcome back!" Mei greeted, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Then her gaze fell on Eri, who was holding Izuku's hand tightly and looking around nervously. "Oh? Who's this little one?"

Eri hesitated, stepping slightly behind Izuku for safety. He smiled gently and knelt to her level, patting her on the head. "It's okay, Eri. Introduce yourself."

Eri peeked out cautiously and spoke in a small voice. "M-my name is Eri..."

Mei crouched down to her level, her bright smile unwavering. "Hi, Eri! I'm Mei Hatsume, but you can just call me Mei! I'm a scientist and an inventor!"

At the word scientist, Eri's eyes widened in fear, and she yanked on Izuku's hand, starting to cry. "I don't want to be an experiment!" she wailed, tears streaming down her face.

Mei looked startled, her hands shooting up in a defensive gesture. "Whoa, whoa, hold on! Experiment? What? No! That's not—"

Izuku quickly knelt down and pulled Eri into a gentle hug, stroking her white hair soothingly. "Hey, hey, it's okay," he said softly, his voice calm and reassuring. "You're not going to be an experiment. I promise. Mei's not that kind of scientist. She makes cool inventions to help people, not hurt them."

Eri sniffled, her little hands clutching tightly onto Izuku's shirt. She peeked up at him with teary eyes. "R-really?"

He nodded firmly, giving her a warm smile. "Really. You're safe here, Eri. No one's going to hurt you. You can trust Mei; she's just a little… enthusiastic."

Mei, who had been frantically trying to find a way to fix the situation, suddenly brightened. "Hold on!" she said, darting over to a nearby crate. She rummaged through it for a moment before pulling out a small bar of chocolate. "Here! Chocolate fixes everything, right?"

Eri hesitated, looking at the brightly wrapped candy in Mei's outstretched hand. Slowly, she reached out and took it, unwrapping it carefully. She took a small bite, her face lighting up instantly at the sweet taste. "It's... really good," she said softly.

Mei clapped her hands together, her smile returning. "See? No scary experiments here, just chocolate and inventions!"

Eri glanced up at Izuku, who nodded encouragingly. She gave Mei a small smile. "Thank you."

Mei puffed up her chest proudly. "You're welcome! And hey, if you ever want to see some cool gadgets, just let me know! I'll make something awesome for you, like a... um... oh! A self-heating blanket! Or maybe a toy that lights up!"

Eri's eyes sparkled with curiosity, the earlier fear beginning to fade. "Really? You can make things like that?"

"Of course I can!" Mei grinned. "That's what I do!"

Izuku chuckled, standing up and ruffling Eri's hair. "See? Nothing to worry about. Mei's good people."

Eri smiled shyly, looking between Izuku and Mei. "Okay... thank you."

Mei beamed, giving Izuku a thumbs-up. "Crisis averted! Now, let me show you all the stuff I got with the duffel bag money. I have so many ideas, and you're going to help me with at least half of them, Broccoli Boy."

Izuku groaned, already feeling the exhaustion creeping in. "Let me get some rest first, Mei. It's been a long day."

Mei tilted her head, scrutinizing him. "Fine, but after your nap, you're on invention duty. No slacking!"

Eri giggled softly at their exchange, holding onto the chocolate bar tightly. For the first time in a while, she felt like she might actually be safe.

As the evening wore on and everyone settled into the warehouse, Mei suddenly perked up, as if she remembered something crucial. She turned to Izuku, who was leaning back on the beanbag chair, rubbing his temples from the long day.

"Oh, hey, Broccoli Boy," Mei said, her voice brimming with excitement. "Did you forget that we have the UA tour tomorrow?"

Izuku groaned and tilted his head back. "I didn't forget. I was just hoping you'd forget to remind me."

Mei rolled her eyes. "Yeah, no chance. It's a big day, so we're leaving early. You're going to see where we'll be making our big inventions! The world needs our genius, Izuku!"

Eri, sitting on the floor next to Izuku, looked up curiously. "What's UA?"

Izuku smiled gently, leaning forward to explain. "It's a school for heroes and support inventors. Mei and I got accepted into the support course there, and tomorrow is our tour to meet the staff and see the labs."

Eri tilted her head. "So you'll be gone tomorrow?"

Mei, noticing the slight sadness in Eri's voice, knelt down beside her. "Don't worry, little one. I've got it all handled." She pulled out her phone, quickly typing a message to Toga. "Toga can babysit you while we're gone. She's great at keeping things fun, isn't she?"

Izuku raised an eyebrow. "You're sure she's responsible enough to babysit?"

Mei smirked. "As long as we don't leave her with any sharp objects or explosives, we're fine."

Izuku shook his head but couldn't help smiling. "Alright. Just let her know to tone down the chaos for one day."

A few moments later, Mei's phone buzzed with a response. She held it up triumphantly. "Toga says yes! And she's actually excited about it. See, everything's under control."

Eri smiled a little, relieved. "Okay. I like Toga. She's funny."

The next morning came quickly, and Izuku, Mei, and Rumi were up early. As they prepared to leave, Toga arrived at the warehouse, a bag slung over her shoulder and an energetic grin on her face. "Alright, where's my little cutie? Auntie Toga's here to save the day!"

Eri ran up to her, hugging her tightly. "Hi, Toga!"

Toga lifted Eri off the ground, spinning her in a circle. "You're going to have so much fun today! We'll do everything you want, okay? Movies, snacks, whatever!"

Izuku walked over, giving Toga a stern look. "Just... keep it low-key, alright? And no weird games."

Toga stuck out her tongue. "Relax, Broccoli Boy. I've got this covered."

Mei and Rumi were already by the door, waiting. Mei waved impatiently. "Come on, Izuku! We're going to be late!"

Izuku knelt down, patting Eri on the head. "We'll be back before you know it, alright? Be good for Toga."

Eri nodded, her small hands clutching the chocolate bar from the night before. "Okay, Papa. Have fun at UA."

Rumi smirked, leaning against the doorway. "Yeah, Papa. Don't forget to bring home something nice for Mama Bunny while you're out."

Izuku groaned, his face reddening as Toga burst out laughing. Mei rolled her eyes and grabbed Izuku's arm, dragging him toward the door.

As they left, Toga set Eri down and crouched to her level. "Alright, kiddo. Let's show this warehouse how much fun we can have while they're gone!"

Eri giggled and nodded, ready for a fun day with her mischievous babysitter.

Izuku adjusted his bag nervously, glancing at Rumi as the three of them made their way toward UA. The morning sun cast long shadows on the street, but the awkward tension between them felt heavier than the summer heat. He finally turned to Rumi, who was walking confidently by his side.

"Rumi," he asked, trying to sound casual. "Why are you coming with us? I thought this was just for the UA support course tour."

Rumi shrugged, her ears twitching slightly. "Why not? I'm curious about the support course. Besides, someone's got to make sure you two don't get into trouble."

Izuku gave her a skeptical look. "You're coming to supervise us? That's new."

Rumi smirked, punching him lightly in the shoulder. "What? You don't trust me, Wife?"

"Stop calling me that!" Izuku groaned, his face reddening.

Mei, walking a step ahead, suddenly chimed in. "So, how far have you two gone?" she asked nonchalantly, without even looking back.

Both Izuku and Rumi froze mid-step, their faces turning crimson. They immediately began stammering over each other.

"W-We haven't gone anywhere!" Izuku blurted, his words tumbling out like a rockslide.

"Yeah, I don't know what you're talking about!" Rumi added, her voice a pitch higher than usual.

Mei stopped walking and turned around, her mischievous grin almost as blinding as the sun overhead. "Come on, I'm just asking. It's obvious the bunny girl finally made her move." She pointed dramatically at Rumi. "So? What was it? The surprise adoption? Or did you get a peek at his length?"

"MEI!" Izuku nearly shouted, his face so red it looked like steam might burst from his ears. He buried his face in his hands, wishing he could disappear.

Rumi, equally flustered, waved her arms wildly. "What the hell, Mei? You can't just ask stuff like that!"

"Oh, I can," Mei said smugly, crossing her arms. "It's a scientific inquiry. For research purposes."

Izuku peeked through his fingers, glaring at Mei. "Nobody's gotten a peek at anything!"

Mei raised a hand dramatically, as if declaring a major discovery. "Correction: I have. By the way, impressive."

Izuku felt his soul leave his body. He stumbled forward, muttering, "Why? Why does this always happen to me? I just want a normal day for once."

Rumi, her face still flushed, gave Mei a sharp look. "You're going to give him a heart attack, you know."

Mei giggled, skipping a little ahead of them. "Relax, it's all in good fun. Besides, it's obvious you two are into each other."

Izuku buried his face deeper into his hands, mumbling incoherent protests as Rumi groaned in frustration, her ears twitching furiously.

Mei spun on her heel, her grin mischievous and her eyes gleaming. She stepped closer to Izuku, who was still reeling from her earlier comment. Without warning, she grabbed him by the collar, pulling him down slightly.

"Let me show you how it's done," she said playfully, planting a firm, passionate kiss on his lips.

Izuku's eyes widened in shock, his hands instinctively hovering in the air, unsure of what to do. Mei deepened the kiss, her hands gripping his collar tightly, and for a moment, everything around them seemed to blur into the background. When she finally pulled away, she licked her lips with a satisfied smirk.

"Now that's how you leave a mark," Mei teased, leaning back with a triumphant glint in her eye.

Izuku stumbled back a step, his face turning as red as a ripe tomato. "W-What was that for?!"

Mei tilted her head innocently. "What? A girl can't kiss her boyfriend? Or wait..." She turned her mischievous gaze toward Rumi. "Am I stepping on the bunny girl's toes?"

Rumi's ears twitched, and her face flushed, but she folded her arms defiantly. "I don't care what you do. Not like I'm jealous or anything," she muttered, though her tone betrayed her irritation.

Mei clapped her hands together, her teasing grin widening. "Great! Since everyone's cool with it..." She leaned toward Izuku again, her lips just inches from his. "So, Broccoli Boy, which one of us is the better kisser?"

Izuku froze, his brain short-circuiting. "W-What?! I-I'm not answering that!"

Mei raised an eyebrow, feigning curiosity. "Why not? You've experienced both, so you should be able to compare. Purely for scientific purposes, of course."

Rumi's cheeks burned brighter, and she pointed accusingly at Mei. "You're enjoying this way too much."

Mei giggled, stepping back but keeping her eyes on Izuku, whose face couldn't possibly turn any redder. "Oh, I'm having the time of my life. But seriously, Izuku, you should answer. For science."

"I'm not answering that!" Izuku yelped, practically hiding behind his hands. "Why would you even ask that?"

Mei sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. No fun. But for the record, you're lucky to have us both in your life." She shot Rumi a wink, adding fuel to the already blazing fire of embarrassment.

Rumi grumbled, glaring at Mei. "You're the most infuriating person I've ever met."

"Love you too, Bunny," Mei replied with a mockingly sweet tone.

Mei's eyes gleamed with mischievous energy as she stepped up to Izuku again. Without warning, she grabbed a lock of his hair, gently pulling him closer. Her lips pressed against his, this time with more intensity, her free hand resting lightly on his chest. Izuku's face burned as he instinctively placed his hands on her shoulders, caught completely off guard.

Mei deepened the kiss, tilting her head slightly as her fingers played with his hair. Her teasing demeanor softened just a bit, as if savoring the moment. When she finally pulled away, a sly smile played on her lips.

"See?" she said, her voice teasing but carrying a hint of sincerity. "This is how you kiss someone you really like."

Izuku stammered, his face crimson. "W-Why are you doing this, Mei?!"

Mei chuckled, still close enough that her breath tickled his skin. "Because it's fun, Broccoli Boy. And because you look really cute when you're flustered." Her hand lingered on his chest for a moment before she finally stepped back.

Rumi, who had been watching the entire scene, felt her ears twitch with irritation as her own face turned beet red. She clenched her fists, wanting to intervene, but she forced herself to stay rooted in place. What the hell am I even feeling right now? she thought, her emotions battling between jealousy and disbelief.

Mei smirked, clearly reveling in the moment. She placed her hands on her hips and turned toward Rumi. "Come on, Bunny Girl. Don't just stand there pouting. If you're jealous, do something about it."

Rumi's eyes narrowed, and her blush deepened. "Jealous?!" she snapped, her voice rising. "As if I'd be jealous of... that!"

But her body betrayed her as she took a step closer, her gaze darting between Mei and Izuku. She saw the way Mei was looking at her—challenging her, daring her to act.

"Fine," Rumi said at last, gritting her teeth. "If you think you're so great, I'll show you how it's done."

Before Izuku could process what was happening, Rumi grabbed him by the front of his shirt and yanked him toward her. Her lips crashed into his, her kiss fierce and commanding. Izuku's hands flailed briefly before landing awkwardly at his sides, completely overwhelmed by her dominant approach.

Unlike Mei's playful and teasing kiss, Rumi's was full of raw intensity, as if she were claiming her territory. Her hands gripped his shirt tightly, and she pulled him even closer, making sure there was no mistaking her intent.

Izuku's mind went blank as he felt her warmth and the sheer force behind her kiss. He couldn't help but respond, his lips moving against hers, though he was still too stunned to do much else.

When Rumi finally pulled back, she stared into his eyes, her expression somewhere between satisfaction and a mix of embarrassment and pride. "Now that's how you kiss someone," she said, her tone slightly breathless.

Mei clapped her hands, laughing. "Not bad, Bunny! You've got passion, I'll give you that." She tapped her chin thoughtfully, pretending to take notes. "But you're a little too aggressive. Poor Izuku looked like he was about to pass out!"

Rumi growled, her face burning even brighter. "Shut up, Gear Head! You're the one who started this stupid contest!"

Mei leaned in toward Izuku with a mischievous grin. "So, Broccoli Boy... who's better?"

Izuku threw his hands up, shaking his head rapidly. "Nope! Not answering that! Never answering that! You're both... different! You have different... uh... techniques!"

Mei raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Different techniques, huh? Sounds like a cop-out answer to me."

Rumi crossed her arms, glaring at him. "Yeah, that sounds like a guy who's afraid to tell the truth."

Izuku groaned, rubbing his temples. "Can we just drop this? Please? I-I don't want to compare you two. It's not right!"

Mei pouted mockingly. "Aw, look at him trying to play peacemaker. Fine, we'll let you off the hook this time." She winked at Rumi. "But only because I'm feeling generous."

Rumi rolled her eyes, still blushing. "Generous, my ass."

As they resumed walking, Mei gave Izuku a playful nudge. "By the way, Broccoli Boy, you've got lipstick smudges all over your face. Might want to clean that up before we get to UA. Unless you want everyone to know what you've been up to."

Izuku groaned again, covering his face with his hands. "Why me...?"

Rumi turned to Izuku, narrowing her eyes as she asked, "Hey, why do you act super fragile sometimes, and then other times, you're all suave and overly confident? It's like you're two different people."

Izuku adjusted his glasses, considering her question. "That's my Yakuza persona," he replied smoothly. "It's kind of like slipping into a different role. When I put on the outfit, it feels like I need to act differently. You know, more in control, more... commanding."

Mei chuckled, leaning in with her usual mischievous grin. "Oh, it's like a different flavor of Izuku," she said. "Personally, I think it's spicy. But, hey, you could always try being that way without the outfit. You don't have to, but I'd love to see it."

Izuku rubbed the back of his neck, laughing nervously. "Yeah, I could. But... should I? It feels kinda rude, you know?"

Rumi snorted, rolling her eyes. "Who cares if it's rude? It's hot." The words left her lips before she could stop herself, and her face immediately turned crimson. She looked away, flustered. "Uh, I mean... hypothetically."

Izuku's expression shifted, a playful glint lighting up his eyes as he slid a pair of glasses from his pocket and placed them on his face. He straightened his posture, his entire demeanor transforming into someone brimming with suave, unshakable confidence. With an easy smirk, he leaned toward Rumi, tilting her chin up gently with his fingers.

"Hey there, beautiful," he purred, his voice low and smooth. "What brings you here? Oh, wait—I remember now. It's me."

Before Rumi could respond, Izuku closed the distance, pressing a firm, passionate kiss against her lips. Her eyes widened in shock, and when he pulled back, she was left utterly speechless, her face as red as a tomato.

Mei let out a low whistle, clearly entertained. "Okay, okay, Broccoli Boy. Didn't know you had that in you."

Izuku kept his gaze locked on Rumi, his smirk growing wider. "What's wrong, my Bunny?" he teased, his tone dripping with confidence. "Speechless already? I was just getting started."

"Hey, stop it!" Rumi stammered, her ears twitching uncontrollably. Her attempt to sound annoyed was betrayed by the flustered grin tugging at her lips.

Ignoring her protest, Izuku leaned in again, stealing another kiss—this one slower and deeper. His hand slid around her waist, pulling her flush against him. When he finally broke the kiss, he let his lips hover close to her ear, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You say 'stop,' but your eyes are telling me something else entirely."

Rumi let out a breathless giggle before coughing, trying to regain her composure. "We should be going," she said, though her voice wavered slightly.

Izuku didn't let go. Instead, he tightened his hold, his hand slipping lower to rest on her behind. He gave it a playful squeeze, earning a squeak from Rumi as her face somehow turned an even deeper shade of red.

"Nah," he said smoothly, his tone light but commanding. "Let's take our time. I don't mind being a little late... you're worth it, after all."

He winked, stealing one last kiss, and started guiding her forward, his hand still firmly planted on her behind. Every so often, he'd give her another squeeze, smirking at the flustered glare she shot him.

"You're impossible!" Rumi muttered under her breath, though the small smile on her lips betrayed her true feelings.

"And you're adorable," Izuku shot back without missing a beat. "My Bunny deserves all the attention in the world."

Mei trailed behind them, furiously scribbling notes in her journal. "Okay, okay, bossy Izuku is officially my favorite. This is gold. Keep going, Broccoli Boy. I'm learning so much!"

Izuku chuckled, sparing her a glance. "You taking notes, Mei? Good. I'll make sure to give you a proper demonstration later. For now..." He turned back to Rumi, tilting her head toward him again. "Let me focus on my Bunny."

With that, he leaned in, stealing yet another kiss, his confidence never wavering as he led the group toward UA.

Izuku's hand remained firmly on Rumi's behind as they walked toward UA, eliciting a small squeak from her every time he gave it a squeeze. Her face was burning red, her ears twitching furiously. When he playfully brushed his fingers against her tail, she nearly jumped out of her skin.

"Hey, that's sensitive!" she hissed, glancing at him with wide eyes.

"Oh?" Izuku leaned in, his lips grazing her neck as he whispered into her ear, "So you like it?" His tone was low and teasing, sending a shiver down her spine.

Rumi's response was an incoherent mix of flustered stammering and faint growls of embarrassment. Mei, walking behind them, was in hysterics, clutching her sides as she laughed at the scene she had orchestrated.

"You two are priceless!" Mei cackled. "I can't decide if this is cute or hilarious."

Before things could escalate further, they reached the gate of UA. Izuku's demeanor shifted immediately, his Yakuza persona fading as he straightened up, his usual awkwardness returning. Standing at the gate was Powerloader, his arms crossed, his gaze focused on the group.

"Wait a second," Powerloader said, pointing at them. "There were only supposed to be two students. What's she doing here?" His gaze landed on Rumi, narrowing suspiciously. "You! Why are you here, Destructive Rabbit?"

Rumi coughed, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly. "Uh, hey, Powerloader. I just wanted to, you know, show my friends around UA. Be helpful. Productive."

Powerloader's eyebrow twitched. "You're banned from the support course. Don't you remember?"

Rumi blinked in confusion. "Wait, what? Why am I banned?"

Powerloader groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Maybe because every time we suggested support equipment, you told us to, and I quote, 'go fuck yourselves, I don't need that useless junk.' Ring a bell?"

Rumi's jaw dropped. "I—I may have... uh, okay, yeah, I might've said that. But that was old me!"

"That was literally last month," Powerloader deadpanned. "Not to mention, every time we tried to alter or upgrade your gear, you told us to just fix what was broken and shove anything else, well, you know where."

Mei shook her head in mock disapproval. "How dare you insult inventors like that? I should build you some support equipment just so you don't look like an idiot."

Rumi's ears drooped, her entire posture radiating shame. "Okay, okay! I was a bit... feisty back then," she muttered.

Izuku leaned in, his hand giving her behind a reassuring squeeze. Her face flared red as he whispered softly into her ear, "It's fine. You're just passionate. But you'll be gentle with me, right?"

Rumi froze, her blush deepening to a near-impossible shade. She let out an unintelligible squeak before hastily stammering, "I—I'm gonna go... uh, walk around. Yeah. After the support tour, come find me!" She turned and bolted into UA, practically running away in embarrassment.

Izuku chuckled softly, watching her retreating figure. "Well, that's one way to handle her."

Powerloader sighed, shaking his head. "I don't even want to know what just happened there. Let's get this tour started."

Surprise exam

As Power Loader led Mei and Izuku into the testing lab, the massive room brimmed with potential. Every corner was packed with tools, spare parts, and equipment humming with energy. Power Loader waved his hand across the room, speaking in his usual gruff tone. "Alright, you two, listen up. This isn't your typical sit-down test. As recommended students, you're expected to prove you can work under pressure and deliver results."

He handed them a stack of blueprints, his eyes narrowing. "You've got one hour. Normally, it's two hours for a single student, but since there are two of you, your time has been halved. Your task is to build these five inventions exactly as shown on the blueprints."

Mei grabbed the blueprints eagerly, flipping through them. "Rocket boots, power pants, torso enhancement, jet pack, and helmet integration? Hah! Child's play."

Izuku glanced at the designs and frowned. "Wait a second…these schematics are functional, but there are a lot of inefficiencies and redundancies here. If we build these exactly as shown, they'll work, but they won't be great."

Mei smirked, nudging him with her elbow. "You're catching on, broccoli boy. That's the real test! They want us to think outside the box."

Power Loader crossed his arms, watching them carefully. "Clock starts now. Good luck."

As soon as the timer began, Mei and Izuku exchanged a glance. Without a word, Mei ripped the blueprints in half, much to Power Loader's initial surprise.

"What the—" Power Loader began, but then paused, a small smirk forming on his lips as he realized what they were doing.

Mei grinned at Izuku, her mind already racing. "Alright, partner. Let's redesign these bad boys. They're good, but we can make them better. I'm thinking streamlined circuits for the boots and a lighter alloy for the pants' support structure."

Izuku nodded, focusing his telekinesis to start gathering tools and materials. "Agreed. I'll handle reinforcing the jet pack's propulsion system. The current design overheats too quickly. Let's add a heat dissipation grid."

Using telepathy, he continued: I'll also optimize the helmet's integration software to reduce latency. You focus on the mechanical improvements while I handle the electronics.

Mei's grin widened. "I like how you think. Let's do this."

Their teamwork was seamless. Mei sketched out her modifications, her pencil darting across a nearby whiteboard as sparks of creativity lit her eyes. "Izuku, pass me that tungsten carbide rod! And don't forget the graphene sheets!"

Izuku's telekinesis swept across the room, floating the requested materials to her workstation while his other hand soldered components for the jet pack. "Got it. Make sure the rods don't interfere with the mobility mechanisms. We'll need full range of motion."

As the hour ticked by, Power Loader watched from a distance, his expression shifting from skepticism to admiration. They weren't just following the blueprints—they were dissecting and reassembling the concepts into something far superior.

Mei called out, "Boots are done! These babies will hit Mach 2 with zero drag."

Izuku replied, his hands steady as he wired the jet pack. "Jet pack is complete. Added a failsafe to prevent burnout. The torso armor's microfibers are weaving now—it'll be ready in five minutes."

Mei raised a brow. "Think you can finish the helmet integration in time, broccoli boy?"

He smirked. "Already ahead of you."

With less than ten minutes left, the pair assembled their final creation. Each piece of the power suit clicked together flawlessly. The jet pack connected to the torso, the boots locked in place, and the helmet synced every component.

Mei wiped her brow, standing back to admire their work. "Well? What do you think?"

Izuku stepped forward, inspecting the finished suit. "It's not just functional—it's a game-changer. We've increased efficiency, reduced weight, and added versatility."

Power Loader approached, his arms still crossed but his face betraying a hint of pride. "Time's up. Let's see what you've got."

Mei gestured grandly to the suit. "Presenting the Next-Gen Hero Power Suit 2.0!"

Power Loader gave it a once-over, his practiced eye catching every detail. He ran a hand along the streamlined edges of the jet pack and examined the reinforced boots. "Hmph. You didn't just build the blueprint. You improved it. Most students don't realize that's the real test."

Izuku smiled modestly. "We figured if this was a UA exam, you'd want to see creativity and problem-solving."

Power Loader nodded. "You're not wrong. Welcome to UA, Hatsume and Midoriya. You've earned your spot."

Mei whooped in excitement, throwing her arms around Izuku. "We did it, broccoli boy! We're officially UA students!"

Izuku chuckled, patting her on the back. "Yeah. We really did."

Power Loader rubbed the back of his head, his grin turning slightly sheepish. "Well, not exactly. You've nailed the practical, but there's still the matter of the written exam. We can take care of that right now, though."

Mei groaned dramatically. "A written exam? Come on! We just built the next big thing in hero tech, and you want us to sit and write essays?"

Izuku chuckled nervously. "Yeah, Mei, it's kind of part of the process. We'll be fine."

Power Loader waved his hand dismissively. "It's not that bad. Just a couple of hours. Basic hero support theory, ethics, and some tech-related problem-solving. You two can handle it. Head over to the testing room down the hall. I'll set it up."

Mei sighed, grabbing Izuku by the arm. "Come on, broccoli boy. Let's get this over with before my brain melts from boredom."

The written exam room was sterile and quiet, save for the hum of overhead lights. Power Loader set a stack of papers in front of each of them. "Alright, you've got two hours. Begin."

Mei flipped through the test with exaggerated dramatics, mumbling to herself. "Explain the ethical implications of quirk-enhancing gear… blah blah blah… Why is safety the primary concern in hero tech design… blah blah… Why don't they just ask if we know how to build cool stuff?"

Izuku leaned over slightly. "Focus, Mei. You've got this."

She stuck her tongue out at him but quickly got to work.

Two hours later, they walked out of the testing room, stretching their arms. Power Loader was waiting with the results. "Well, well. Hatsume, Midoriya… Congratulations. You both passed with flying colors."

Mei and Izuku high-fived, grinning ear to ear.

"Now you're officially UA students," Power Loader said, nodding approvingly. "Welcome aboard."

Mei threw an arm around Izuku's shoulders. "See? I told you we'd crush it!"

Izuku smiled, his excitement bubbling over. "Yeah, but it's still kind of surreal. We're really going to UA."

Mei smirked mischievously. "Better get used to it, broccoli boy. We're just getting started!"

….

Two hours later, they walked out of the testing room, stretching their arms. Power Loader was waiting with the results. "Well, well. Hatsume, Midoriya… Congratulations. You both passed with flying colors."

Mei and Izuku high-fived, grinning ear to ear.

"Now you're officially UA students," Power Loader said, nodding approvingly. "Welcome aboard."

Mei threw an arm around Izuku's shoulders. "See? I told you we'd crush it!"

Izuku smiled, his excitement bubbling over. "Yeah, but it's still kind of surreal. We're really going to UA."

Mei smirked mischievously. "Better get used to it, broccoli boy. We're just getting started!"

…

They decided to head back to the warehouse, their laughter and cheers echoing down the streets as they waved goodbye to Power Loader. Toga was waiting for them at the door, practically bouncing on her toes. "Well? Did you pass? Tell me everything!"

Mei grinned and threw her arms wide. "We didn't just pass, Toga—we crushed it! UA's about to get Hatsume-fied!"

Eri, not fully understanding but swept up in the excitement, clapped her hands and began twirling in little circles. "We crushed it! We crushed it!" she cheered, giggling as she stumbled into Izuku.

Izuku chuckled, scooping her up and spinning her around. "That's right, Eri! We crushed it!"

As the group poured into the warehouse, Izuku suddenly froze, a realization hitting him like a brick. "Wait a second… Rumi. We forgot Rumi."

Mei, already heading toward the kitchen, waved a dismissive hand. "She'll find her way back. You know she's practically indestructible."

Izuku scratched his head, laughing nervously. "Yeah, but she's going to kill me."

They didn't let the thought linger long, diving into preparations for a celebratory feast. Mei and Toga teamed up in the kitchen, churning out platters of steamed carrots, a golden-brown roast, perfectly folded dumplings, and fragrant fried rice. The table was soon covered in dishes, the warehouse filled with the delicious aroma of victory.

Eri sat on Izuku's lap at the table, cheerfully sampling little bites from each dish. She especially loved the carrots, her face lighting up every time she munched one. "Yummy!" she declared, earning a pat on the head from Izuku.

Halfway through dinner, the door slammed open, revealing a very frazzled and irritated Rumi. "What the hell, broccoli boy? You just left me at UA!"

Izuku stood sheepishly, holding his hands up in surrender. "I texted you! And you made it back, right? There's food…"

Rumi narrowed her eyes but softened slightly at the sight of the feast. "You owe me a plate. No, three plates. And a massage. My feet hurt."

Toga chuckled as she scooped some food onto a plate. "Here, start with this. Izuku's got magic hands, so maybe he'll help you out later."

Rumi's ears twitched, and she turned red. "Yeah, whatever. But don't think this gets you off the hook."

The atmosphere lightened as they all settled down to eat, talking excitedly about the support course and their plans for the future. After the dishes were cleared and Eri was curled up with her favorite stuffed animal on the bean bag, Izuku gently tugged Toga aside.

He rubbed the back of his neck, looking a little nervous. "Hey, Toga. So… I was thinking. Tomorrow, do you want to go on a date? Just the two of us. All day."

Toga's eyes widened, then sparkled with excitement. "Really? Yes! Absolutely yes!" She leapt into his arms, giggling. Then, tilting her head, she asked, "But where did this come from?"

Izuku smiled sheepishly. "Look, I know I've been… busy. Too busy. Things keep happening—stuff I can't ignore. And I've been thinking about it, and, well, I feel like I haven't been the best boyfriend lately. I want to make it up to you."

Toga's heart melted. She hugged him tightly, pressing her face into his chest. "You're not a bad boyfriend. Life just throws a lot at you. The island incident, Rumi, Eri, that crazy battle… I mean, you've been through a lot. I get it. I'm just happy you're thinking about me."

Izuku leaned down and kissed her, pouring every ounce of affection into it. His hands found her waist, pulling her closer. As the kiss deepened, his hand slid lower, giving her tail a playful tug.

Toga gasped, her cheeks turning scarlet. "Hey! My tail's sensitive!"

Izuku smirked. "Oh, I know," he teased, planting another kiss on her lips.

She swatted at him lightly, her laughter breaking the moment's tension. "You're impossible."

He grinned. "And yet, you still said yes."

Thank you so much for continuing to support this story! I know the Eri rescue felt a bit rushed, but I really wanted to dive into the UA tour and let everyone enjoy some sweet and lighthearted moments with Eri adjusting to her new home. I hope you enjoyed that mix of action and fluff!

Next chapter is all about the Toga and Izuku date! I'm planning on making it a really special day for them—fun, heartfelt, and maybe even a bit spicy. I know a few of you have asked for more intense moments between them, so I'll give it my best shot! If things get too steamy, I'll probably fade to black unless everyone is cool with me going further—let me know your preferences.

As for UA and the 4th girl, I've got three potential candidates in mind. What I'm planning to do is write a dedicated chapter for each of them, so you can get a feel for how they interact with Izuku and the story. Once I post those chapters, you'll get the chance to vote on who joins the group. I'll announce when it's time for voting so you don't miss out.

Thanks again for all the reviews, comments, and encouragement—it really keeps me going! Let's see where this story takes us next!