Chapter 10 Bunny law

The warehouse buzzed with excitement as Izuku and Mei finalized their test of the drones. Wearing a sleek neural headset, Izuku guided the drones with precise mental commands, their tiny engines humming as they maneuvered through the air. A screen attached to the headset displayed multiple feeds from the drone cameras, giving him full control of their navigation.

"Okay, looks like test 264 is promising," Izuku noted, his voice steady with focus.

Mei clapped her hands, a triumphant grin spreading across her face. "Oh, we are so ready for next week's science fair! I can already hear the applause and see the awards!"

Izuku chuckled at her enthusiasm, but before he could respond, Toga burst through the doors, her face lit with excitement. "Guys, guess what? I got my transformation!" she shouted, practically bouncing with energy.

Both Izuku and Mei's eyes widened. "Seriously? Your dragon form?" Mei exclaimed, already grabbing her binoculars and some note paper. "Let's test it out in the junkyard. No way we're risking the lab."

The trio made their way to the nearby junkyard. The air was thick with the stench of rust and decay, but the wide-open space was perfect for testing volatile abilities. Izuku and Mei stepped back to give Toga room, anticipation buzzing in the air.

"Alright, Toga, let's see what you've got," Izuku encouraged.

Toga took a deep breath, closing her eyes as her body began to glow faintly. Her fox ears and tail vanished as her form started to shift. The transformation was dramatic, a puff of smoke enveloping her. Mei raised her binoculars, scanning the sky.

"She must've gone airborne—wait, where is she?" Mei said, confused.

Izuku squinted at the ground and noticed a glimmer of golden scales. He walked closer and froze. "Uh, Mei... she's not in the sky."

"What?" Mei lowered her binoculars, looking down. There, on the ground, stood a tiny golden dragon no bigger than a house cat. Its eyes sparkled mischievously, and its little wings flapped in excitement.

"Aw, come on!" Mei groaned. "How am I supposed to ride that?"

Toga's high-pitched voice chirped from her dragon form, "Hey! I'm working on it, okay? I can level up the skill, and it'll get better! Right now, this is what you get."

Izuku burst out laughing, clutching his sides. "Toga, your voice! It's so squeaky!"

Toga growled, her tiny dragon claws scratching at the ground as she darted toward him. "Don't laugh at me, broccoli boy!" she squeaked, her voice sounding more like a chipmunk than a fearsome dragon.

Mei joined in the laughter, leaning on Izuku for support. Toga, undeterred, leaped into the air, her tiny wings fluttering furiously as she launched herself toward Mei. "I can carry you!" she declared, wrapping her small dragon arms around Mei's waist.

Her wings flapped harder, lifting Mei off the ground, albeit very slowly. They rose about 10 feet into the air before wobbling slightly. Mei screamed, clutching onto Toga. "This is not how I imagined riding a dragon! I feel like I'm being carried by a giant lizard balloon!"

Toga flapped her wings harder, gritting her teeth as she tried to keep them both airborne. Mei, clinging tightly to Toga's small dragon form, let out a nervous laugh. "This is insane! I need a harness or something! Maybe a seatbelt next time!" she shouted, her voice tinged with both fear and excitement.

Izuku was on the ground, doubled over, laughing so hard his stomach hurt. "A giant lizard balloon! Oh, Mei, you're killing me!" he wheezed between bursts of laughter.

Toga, clearly struggling, shot him a glare from above. "Laugh it up, broccoli boy! I've got this under—ah!" Her wings wobbled precariously as Mei shifted, trying to get comfortable.

The pair started to rise higher, now above the nearby building. Izuku's laughter stopped as he noticed how much Toga was struggling. His expression turned serious. He moved beneath them, his hands outstretched, ready to catch Mei with telekinesis if she fell.

"Careful! Don't drop her!" Izuku called up.

Toga growled. "I won't—oh, crap!" she yelped as Mei slipped from her grasp.

Izuku's focus sharpened as he activated his telekinesis, prepared to slow Mei's fall. But before she could even descend more than a foot, a shadow passed over them, and a large dragon with white scales swooped in from nowhere, catching Mei in its clawed hands with effortless grace.

"What the—?!" Izuku exclaimed, his heart racing. He instinctively reached for one of his gadgets, thinking a dungeon creature had escaped.

But then he noticed something strange about the dragon—it was wearing clothes. The creature had an aura of authority, and its movement was purposeful. It wasn't an escaped dungeon monster.

The dragon landed smoothly, placing Mei gently on the ground. It turned to Toga, its golden eyes narrowing. "Land. Now," it commanded.

Toga, flustered, obeyed immediately, transforming back into her human-dragon hybrid form as her tiny wings disappeared. "Uh, sorry?" she muttered, scratching the back of her head.

The white dragon shimmered and shrank, revealing a girl wearing a red Chinese dress with bat-like wings clawed headgear. Her golden hair was cut short, and her sharp, piercing gaze scanned the group. She looked older than them, but not by much.

"I'm Ryuko Tatsuma," she said firmly, crossing her arms. "Second-year at U.A. And what the hell are you three doing messing around in a junkyard, risking getting yourselves killed?"

Mei, brushing off her clothes, muttered, "It's called testing, and you just interrupted it."

Ryuko's gaze landed on Izuku, and her expression shifted. Her eyes narrowed, and she tilted her head, studying him carefully. She reached out and cupped his cheeks. "Wait a second... I know you."

Izuku stiffened, his hands frozen mid-air. "Uh, no, you don't. You definitely don't."

Ryuko squinted, her golden eyes narrowing further before her face lit up in recognition. "You're the Yakuza boy!"

Izuku's stomach dropped. "No, no, no, I'm not! You've got the wrong person!" he said, waving his hands frantically.

Ryuko pulled out her phone, her lips curling into a grin. "Yeah, right. Besides, I'm not calling the cops... I'm calling something worse."

"What could possibly be worse than the cops?" Izuku asked, dread creeping into his voice.

"Rumi," Ryuko said simply, holding the phone to her ear. "She'll sniff you out in no time."

Izuku's instincts kicked in. "Nope!" he shouted, throwing down a smoke pellet and flashbang. The resulting explosion of light and smoke blinded and disoriented Ryuko. "Let's move!" he called to Mei and Toga.

The three bolted, diving into an alley to escape. Mei yanked out three masks from her backpack—her "Masks of Disguise." Each mask shimmered as they put them on, altering their appearances instantly. Izuku now looked like a lanky, brown-haired boy in casual clothes. Mei's pink hair turned black, and her glasses disappeared. Toga's fox ears were gone, and her hair became short and brown.

"Head to the warehouse. Don't look back," Mei instructed, her voice firm. They sprinted through the maze of alleys, their footsteps muffled by the sound of the city.

Back in the junkyard, Ryuko coughed as the smoke began to clear. Her vision returned, and she growled in frustration. Her phone chimed with a text.

Rumi: Send me the location. I'll take care of it.

Ryuko smirked as she typed back. "They can run, but they can't hide. Not from you."

Back at the warehouse

Izuku paced nervously, running his hands through his green hair. "Yakuza? Why did she call me Yakuza? She wasn't even there during the fight!" His mind raced, replaying every moment of the day.

Mei, sitting nonchalantly at her computer, gave him a sheepish glance. "Soooooo… funny story…"

Izuku froze, narrowing his eyes at her. "Mei. What did you do?"

Mei grinned nervously, avoiding eye contact. "Nooooothing…" She paused, then quickly added, "Okay, maybe yes, I did something."

Izuku groaned, gripping the back of his chair. "Mei. What. Did. You. Do?"

"Well…" Mei clicked a few buttons, pulling up a video on her computer. She hesitated before muttering, "I might have... accidentally-on-purpose uploaded the video of your fight."

Izuku's eyes widened in horror. "You did WHAT?!"

Mei flinched as his voice echoed in the warehouse. "It's not that bad! It's just a little video. I thought it would be cool to share the memory with the people who were there!" she said, spinning her chair to face him.

"Cool?" he shouted, rushing to her side. "Mei, why would you upload a video of me fighting? This isn't some highlight reel for the school! People are gonna think—" He stopped mid-sentence, staring at the video's title. "Wait. What's this called?"

Mei winced, leaning back in her chair. "Uh… Yakuza Boss vs. High Schooler."

Izuku nearly fainted on the spot. "Oh no. Oh no, no, no, no." He grabbed the mouse and scrolled down, seeing the view count. "Three million views? THREE MILLION?!"

Mei gave him an apologetic smile, scratching the back of her head. "Oops?"

Izuku dropped into the nearest beanbag chair, holding his head in his hands. "This is a nightmare. Mei, why?"

"Well," she began, spinning around dramatically in her chair, "I blurred out me and Toga, so nobody knows who we are."

He blinked at her, his mouth agape. "Wait… you blurred yourselves out, but not me?!"

Mei shrugged. "You're the star of the show! And c'mon, it'd be a crime to cover up that handsome face. Plus, intimidation doesn't work if people don't see who's throwing the punches!"

Toga giggled, leaning on a nearby table. "She's got a point, you know."

Izuku groaned, collapsing further into the beanbag. "Great. Just great. Now the whole world thinks I'm some wannabe Yakuza boss. Oh god, what are the comments like?"

He opened the video on his phone, scrolling through the comments. Some called him a "scumbag" for fighting Kendo. Others painted him as a violent delinquent. A surprising number of comments from girls, however, were about how "hot" he looked during the fight.

He sighed. "Okay… mixed bag, but still, Mei—what do I do now? Dye my hair? Remove my freckles? Start a new life on a different continent?"

Mei chuckled nervously, but before she could reply, a voice echoed through the warehouse. "Yeah, maybe you should've done that before I got here."

Izuku snapped his head up. Standing in the entrance was a tan girl with bunny ears, red eyes, and a predatory smirk. Her athletic frame was dressed in a sleek one-piece suit paired with thigh-high boots and gloves. Her energy was electric, almost radiating raw power.

"Uh… who are you?" Izuku asked, standing cautiously.

She stepped forward, her boots clicking against the floor. "Name's Rumi Usagiyama. Second year at U.A. But you can call me Mirko," she said, her grin widening. "I heard some interesting things about you, Yakuza boy."

Izuku sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I'm not Yakuza," he muttered. "You're trespassing, you know."

Mirko ignored him, cracking her knuckles. "You're a tough one, huh? I saw the video. Brutal stuff. But I'm here for a fight, not your life story. So, put your fists up."

Izuku paled. "Wait, you're attacking me… just because?"

"Yep," she said simply. "Logic's not stopping me. Let's go!"

Before he could react, Mirko blitzed forward. Her foot slammed into his stomach, sending him flying into one of the warehouse's steel pillars. The impact rattled the room as Izuku slid down, clutching his ribs. "Seriously?! Lady, I just finished fixing this place up!"

Mei grabbed her weapon, a modified blunderbuss, while Toga transformed into her dragon hybrid form. "What the hell is wrong with you?!" Mei shouted.

Toga, her tail flicking angrily, lit a ball of foxfire in her hand. "Back off, bunny girl!"

But Mirko didn't even flinch, her eyes locked on Izuku. "Stay out of it," she warned them. "This fight's between me and him."

Izuku stood up, coughing slightly. "Okay, fine. You want a fight? Let's do this. But let's not wreck the place—I just got it, and it's not even fully paid off."

Mirko tilted her head, smirking. "Fair enough. Try not to disappoint me, Yakuza boy." She rolled her shoulders, her muscles tensing as she prepared for another strike.

Mirko wasted no time closing the distance. She was a blur, her speed incomprehensible. Izuku tried to block as her left leg came soaring towards him in a devastating roundhouse. He raised his arms to defend, but the sheer force behind her kick sent him staggering to the side. Before he could regain his footing, she was already in his blind spot.

"Too slow!" she shouted, slamming her fist into his ribs. The impact felt like a sledgehammer. Izuku grunted, stumbling backward, his arms trying to cover his sides.

He retaliated with a swift jab aimed at her face, but Mirko ducked effortlessly, her rabbit ears twitching with anticipation. She sidestepped and retaliated with a low kick to his shin, buckling his leg. As he faltered, she leaped, driving her knee into his gut. The air rushed from his lungs, and he crumpled forward, coughing violently.

"Come on, Yakuza boy! This can't be all you've got," she taunted, bouncing lightly on her feet. "You've got all those fancy toys, don't you? Use them!"

Izuku growled, steadying himself. He threw a right hook, aiming for her temple, but she swayed gracefully to the left. He followed up with a spinning back kick, but she caught his leg mid-air with one hand.

"Not bad… if I were blind," she quipped before twisting his leg and sending him crashing to the ground.

Izuku rolled to his side, trying to regain his composure, but Mirko was relentless. She dashed forward and stomped down, forcing him to roll away. He scrambled to his feet and threw a flurry of punches. A right jab, a left uppercut, and a low straight—each one aimed to overwhelm her.

Mirko dodged them all with infuriating ease, weaving between his strikes like water flowing around rocks. "You've got spirit," she said, grinning. "But that's not gonna cut it."

She suddenly crouched low and surged upward, her head slamming into his chin in a powerful headbutt. Izuku's head snapped back as stars burst in his vision. He staggered, his knees wobbly, but Mirko didn't relent. She spun and delivered a powerful roundhouse kick to his side, the impact reverberating through his ribs like a crack of thunder.

He flew into a nearby crate, crashing against it with a loud thud. Mei shouted from the sidelines, her voice desperate. "Izuku! Stop, you're gonna get yourself killed!"

Toga, now in her dragon hybrid form, growled. "She's too fast! We can't even distract her!"

Mei reached for her firearm, only for Mirko to dart toward her. With a quick spin, Mirko kicked the weapon out of Mei's hands, sending it skittering across the floor. "Nah uh," she said, wagging her finger. "You're not part of this." She turned back to Izuku, her grin predatory.

Izuku pushed himself off the ground, his vision blurry, his breathing labored. Blood trickled from his split lip, staining his white suit. He barely had time to react as Mirko closed the gap again, landing a brutal uppercut that sent him airborne.

As he hit the ground, she was already on him, driving her knee into his chest. The force knocked the wind out of him again, and he wheezed, clutching at his torso. She stepped back, watching him with an almost bored expression. "You done yet?"

Izuku gritted his teeth and tried to stand, his legs shaking under him. He launched a desperate right hook, but she parried it with ease, slapping his hand away. Before he could follow up, she spun, her heel smashing into the side of his head. He crumpled to the ground again, clutching his temple.

"I expected more from you, Yakuza boy. All that hype, and this is all you've got?" she mocked, crouching down to meet his gaze.

Izuku groaned, struggling to his knees, his arms limp at his sides. Blood dripped from his mouth as he coughed violently. His vision swam, and his breaths came in ragged gasps. Despite the pain, he lifted his head, glaring at her with defiance.

Mirko raised an eyebrow, tilting her head. "Still got some fight in you, huh?" She grinned, cracking her knuckles. "Good. Let's see if you can surprise me."

Mirko began laughing heartily, her voice echoing through the warehouse as she glanced at her reflection in a nearby shard of broken glass. Her nose was slightly swollen, and a thin streak of blood traced down her lip. A purple bruise was forming on her cheek, but her grin only widened.

"Not bad, not bad at all," she said, running her fingers over her bruised cheek. "Hell, most villains can't even land a hit on me, let alone a flurry of punches like that. Fantastic. Even my classmates can't hold a candle to me." She looked over at Izuku, who was still catching his breath on the floor. "Thanks for making it fun, broccoli boy. I like that a lot."

Izuku coughed, shaking his head as he sat up. "Glad I could… be your punching bag," he muttered, glaring at her half-heartedly.

Mirko smirked, crouching down beside him. "Oh, don't be so sour. You're tough, and I respect that. I'll come back when I need a good fight. But… you'll need to beef up a bit, kid. You're good, but not good enough."

Without warning, she grabbed Izuku by the arm and yanked him up to his feet. "Come on, pose with me. Say cheese!"

"What? Wait, what—" Izuku stammered, but before he could protest, she dragged him in front of a nearby reflective surface and threw up bunny ears .

Mirko made rapid-ear motions with her hands while leaning close to him. "Do it! Come on, make bunny ears!"

Izuku groaned, raising his hands reluctantly to mimic her pose. "This is ridiculous…"

"Shush! It's for posterity!" Mirko snapped a picture on her phone, grinning like a maniac. She typed furiously for a moment, then laughed as she hit send.

"Sent it to my dragon buddy," she said with a wink, sliding her phone back into her pocket.

"Great," Izuku muttered, rubbing his sore neck. "Now there's photographic evidence of my humiliation."

"Evidence? Nah, this is gold!" Mirko slapped him on the back hard enough to make him stumble. "Alright, broccoli boy. I'll see you around. Probably sooner than you'd like."

Instead of leaving, however, Mirko plopped herself into the nearest beanbag chair. She sighed deeply, shifting around until she was curled up comfortably. "Oh man, this is comfy. You guys have it good here," she murmured, her voice already growing soft. "Gonna take a quick nap. Don't wake me."

Within seconds, she was out, her ears twitching faintly as she dozed.

Mei walked over, arms crossed, staring at Mirko in disbelief. "Is she seriously sleeping here? What is she, a stray cat?"

"More like a stray bunny," Toga muttered, her arms crossed. Her fox ears twitched irritably. "You sure we shouldn't just toss her out? She kicked the crap out of you."

Izuku sighed, collapsing into another beanbag chair. "Let her sleep. If we wake her up, she might decide to use me as a punching bag again. I'm too tired to deal with her right now."

Mei squatted down beside him, inspecting his bruised face. "You know, for someone who just got beaten to a pulp, you're surprisingly chill. Does she not bother you?"

Izuku shrugged, wincing at the movement. "She's annoying, sure, but… I think she actually respects me. In her own terrifying way."

"Respect, huh?" Mei leaned closer, smirking. "Sounds like someone's got a bunny admirer."

"Don't even start," Izuku groaned, covering his face with his hands.

Toga chuckled, sitting down beside him. "I mean, she did call you fun. That's practically a love confession coming from someone like her."

"Okay, both of you need to stop," Izuku said, his voice muffled through his hands.

Mei tapped her chin thoughtfully. "You know, this might work in our favor. If she keeps coming back for fights, you'll get stronger, and we'll have someone to test all our gadgets on!"

"I'd rather not use myself as a test dummy," Izuku muttered, peeking out from between his fingers.

Toga grinned. "Too late, broccoli boy. You're already our favorite experiment."

Izuku groaned, letting his head fall back against the beanbag. "This is my life now, isn't it?"

Mei patted his shoulder, her smile wide and mischievous. "Yep. And you love it."

Izuku carried the potion carefully across the room, stopping in front of the beanbag chair where the bunny girl lay curled up. She snored softly, one of her ears twitching slightly. He let out a sigh, flicking her ear gently.

Her eyes snapped open, and before he could say a word, she threw a punch. Despite her awkward position, the force behind it was incredible. Izuku barely dodged, the air pressure from her fist brushing his face. He stumbled back, holding up his hands.

"Whoa, whoa! Relax!" he said, his voice strained.

She blinked a few times, her gaze hazy. "What do you want, kid?"

He held out the potion. "Drink this. It'll help."

She sniffed the liquid, scrunching her nose. "Smells weird."

"Yeah, well, it's supposed to heal you, not taste good. Just drink it."

She shrugged and took the vial, tipping it back. Her eyes widened slightly as the liquid worked its magic, her wounds closing up. She flexed her fingers and rotated her shoulders, testing her newly healed body.

"Wow," she muttered, "that's some good stuff. Kinda miss the soreness, though. A little pain reminds you that you're alive, you know?"

"Sure," Izuku said, his voice flat. He watched her flop back onto the beanbag and promptly fall asleep again. Letting out a deep sigh, he turned back toward the screen that displayed his stats.

He scanned his physical stat, noticing it was still sitting at 95. The massive reserve of XP he had been saving caught his eye. Without hesitation, he poured it all into his physical stat. As the numbers ticked upward, his body tingled. His muscles shifted and tensed as the stat rose from 95 to 160.

He took a step forward and blurred slightly with the motion. Surprised, he threw a punch into the air, the speed and force startling even him. He followed it with a roundhouse kick, the air whistling around his leg as it cut through.

"Damn," he muttered to himself, clenching and unclenching his fists.

Mei wandered over, watching him with a curious glint in her eye. "Oh yeah, definitely gonna need some enchantments to keep up with that."

For the rest of the day, the group worked diligently. Mei crafted a series of items, starting with a belt of strength. She handed it to Izuku, grinning proudly. "This bad boy will give you a solid 50 to your physical stat."

Next, she worked on a pair of bracers. "And these'll add another 20. So, with these equipped, you're sitting at… let's see… 230 physical."

Izuku strapped on the belt and bracers, feeling their effects immediately. He moved through a series of kicks and punches, the sheer speed and power making the air ripple around him. A small smile spread across his face.

"Now we're talking," he said. "I might actually be able to keep up with her now."

Mei smirked, leaning against her workbench. "Well, somewhat. You've still got a ways to go before you're on her level, but this is a start."

Toga walked in, her fox tail swishing behind her. "What's all the commotion about? Are we starting a fashion line or what?"

"Training gear," Mei said with a grin. "Izuku needs to bulk up if he's gonna handle the next crazy person who shows up."

"Not just me," Izuku interjected. "You're both joining me. That fight lit a fire under me. I've been too relaxed. It's time to push myself, and I think we should all do the same."

Toga grinned, her sharp teeth glinting. "Fine by me. I've been meaning to see just how far I can take this dragon thing."

Mei's eyes sparkled as an idea struck her. "Perfect! I've been working on a training suit for Izuku anyway. It's got wires and springs to restrict movement, plus it's weighted. I can make versions for both of you too."

Toga raised an eyebrow. "Weighted suits? Sounds like torture."

"Exactly!" Mei said cheerfully. "The system even confirmed that physical training can increase stats as long as it's intense enough. So… let's make it intense."

Izuku nodded. "Let's do it. Tomorrow, we start for real."

The next day

The morning, Izuku and the girls walked to school together. As they reached the gates, Kendo approached him with a determined look.

"Broccoli boy," she said, crossing her arms. "I want a rematch. It's been a week, and I'm ready."

Izuku sighed deeply, rubbing the back of his neck. "Not now, Kendo. I've got a lot going on."

"Coward!" she teased, smirking. "Come on, show me what you've got."

Without a word, Izuku moved. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of her, his fist hovering just an inch from her face. The sheer speed and control of the motion left her stunned. She could feel the faint pressure of the air displaced by his punch.

Her eyes widened. "How… how did you get that strong?"

"Sorry," he said, lowering his fist and stepping back. "I can't say."

As he turned to walk away, she grabbed his shoulder. "Wait," she said, her voice softer. "Maybe we can train together. You know, come over to my dojo sometime?"

Izuku thought about it for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, sure."

She smiled and pulled out her phone. "Come on, let's exchange numbers."

He hesitated, raising an eyebrow. "Is this, like, a date thing?"

Her expression went completely deadpan. "No."

"Oh, right," he muttered, fumbling for his phone. "Makes sense."

They exchanged numbers, and Kendo walked off with a satisfied grin. From behind a nearby power pole, Monoma peeked out, glaring at the interaction. He muttered to himself, his mind racing with the possibilities of spinning this into a new rumor. But after a moment of deliberation, he decided against it, biting his tongue and disappearing before anyone noticed him.

At school

Later that morning, Izuku was unexpectedly called to the principal's office. The summons came from a teacher who didn't explain much, only that the principal needed to speak to him urgently. Confused, Izuku followed.

When he entered the office, he was met with the sight of Kendo sitting stiffly in a chair, looking equal parts guilty and frustrated. The principal, an octopus-like creature with a serious demeanor, was staring them down.

"Sit," the principal said, pointing to the chair next to Kendo. Izuku obeyed, his curiosity piqued.

The principal turned his computer monitor toward them. On the screen was a paused video of their rooftop fight. The angles clearly captured every brutal exchange, complete with Izuku's "Yakuza" getup.

"So," the principal began, his tone sharp, "fighting on school property. Yakuza boy, you can't just go around fighting girls. This kind of behavior is unacceptable."

Izuku opened his mouth to protest, but Kendo spoke up first.

"Actually, it was my fault," she said, bowing her head. "I was the one who challenged him. The first time, he didn't even show up, and I kind of… forced him into the fight."

The principal's expression softened, though his surprise was evident. "You're admitting you started this?"

"Yes," she said firmly, bowing again. "It was my mistake."

The principal leaned back, his tentacles tapping rhythmically on the desk. "Well, if that's true, then Izuku, it's clear this was self-defense. You're free to go."

Izuku let out a sigh of relief and nodded. "Understood. And, uh… I won't wear that getup at school anymore. Just in public."

The principal raised an eyebrow. "Good. We've already had enough rumors about you being part of a crime syndicate."

As Izuku left the office, Kendo remained behind to face the consequences. The principal suspended her for three days, though he did commend her for taking responsibility. When she returned home, her parents gave her an earful, making sure she understood the weight of her actions.

Back at the warehouse

Izuku moved around the modest kitchen they had set up in the warehouse, eyeing the abundance of carrots piled up on the counter. "Why do we have so many carrots?" he muttered to himself, shrugging as he decided to make the most of it. He whipped up a carrot cake, complete with cream cheese frosting, while also roasting some carrots to accompany a tender beef roast he had been slow-cooking.

As the aroma of roasted vegetables and spiced cake filled the air, Mei and Toga wandered into the kitchen, sniffing appreciatively.

"You're spoiling us," Toga said, leaning against the counter with a grin.

"Yeah, daddy's gotta keep his girls happy," Mei teased, earning an eye roll from Izuku.

The table was soon set, and the three of them sat down to enjoy the meal. The first bites were filled with appreciative hums and smiles, but the peaceful atmosphere was quickly shattered by the unmistakable sound of someone shouting.

A familiar, assertive voice boomed from the entrance. "Where the hell are my carrots?!"

Before they could react, Rumi Usagiyama—Mirko—strode into the kitchen with the intensity of a thunderstorm. A large duffel bag was slung over her shoulder, and her sharp eyes scanned the room until they locked onto the spread of food on the table.

Her eyes narrowed as she stomped forward. "What's all this? Is that... my carrots?"

Toga snickered, whispering to Mei, "This is gonna be good."

Izuku stood up cautiously, holding up his hands. "Okay, first off, I had no idea they were yours. Second, carrot cake?" He slid a slice of the moist, spiced cake in her direction, hoping to appease the rabbit-eared powerhouse.

Rumi took the plate, sniffed the cake, and took a hesitant bite. Her ears twitched as she chewed, and her expression softened as the flavors hit her. "Damn, that's good," she muttered before wolfing down the rest of the slice in record time.

Izuku let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "See? No harm done."

As she finished licking a bit of frosting off her finger, Rumi smirked at him, her red eyes gleaming with mischief. "You're a good wife."

Izuku blinked, utterly confused. "Wait, you mean husband, right?"

"Nope," Rumi said, plopping herself down at the table and helping herself to some roasted carrots. "If you can't beat me in a fight, you're my wife."

Toga and Mei burst out laughing, slapping the table as Izuku's face turned a deep shade of red. "That's not how it works!" he protested, glaring at the two girls for their lack of support.

Rumi leaned back, looking as casual as ever while munching on another carrot. "Says who? It's bunny law. If you lose to me, you're mine. And since you lost, you're my wife now. Get used to it."

Mei wiped tears of laughter from her eyes. "You know, Izuku, I think she has a point. You're a great cook, and you've got the apron thing down."

"I don't even wear an apron!" Izuku exclaimed, flailing his arms in frustration.

"Not yet, you don't," Toga said, leaning in with a sly grin. "But we could get you one. Something with flowers. Maybe lace."

Rumi smirked as she pointed her fork at him. "See? They get it. You're already halfway there."

Izuku groaned, dropping his head onto the table while the three girls cackled around him. "Why is this my life?" he muttered, though a small smile tugged at his lips despite his embarrassment.

Rumi polished off another plate of food, finally sitting back with a satisfied sigh. "Alright, wife, keep this up, and maybe I won't rough you up next time we fight."

"You're impossible," Izuku said, rubbing his temples.

"Yeah, but you love it," she shot back, tossing a roasted carrot into her mouth.

Izuku lifted his head from the table, taking a deep breath to steady himself as the girls around him erupted into more laughter. His green eyes narrowed slightly, the smallest hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Alright, enough is enough," he said, standing and adjusting his shirt as if bracing himself for battle. He leaned forward, planting his hands firmly on the table. "I am not your wife, Mirko, and I'm done letting you just roll in here and act like you own the place."

The room fell silent for a beat, Rumi raising an eyebrow as she took another bite of roasted carrots. "Oh? You got some fight in you, huh? This'll be fun."

Izuku crossed his arms, his expression resolute. "It's not about fighting. It's about respect. You can't just barge into our home, steal our food—"

"My carrots," Rumi corrected, pointing a fork at him.

"—And call me your wife! I'm nobody's wife!" he finished, ignoring her interjection.

Mei snorted, mumbling under her breath, "Could've fooled me. You've got the cooking and cleaning down."

"Toga does more cleaning than I do!" Izuku shot back, pointing at the dragon-fox hybrid, who raised her hands innocently.

"Don't drag me into this, husband," she teased with a grin.

Izuku's left eye twitched as he turned back to Rumi, who was watching him with a bemused expression, arms crossed and one ear flicking lazily. "Look," he continued, voice firm. "I respect your strength, Mirko. You're clearly an amazing fighter, and yeah, you're probably the strongest person I've ever faced. But that doesn't mean you get to walk all over me."

Rumi leaned forward, a smirk forming on her lips. "And what are you gonna do about it, wife?"

"That's it!" Izuku snapped, reaching over to snatch the fork out of her hand and slamming it onto the table. "You're not calling me that again!"

The room fell silent again, and Rumi blinked in surprise, seemingly processing his outburst. Then, slowly, her smirk widened into a grin. "Huh. Not bad, broccoli boy. You got some backbone after all."

"Of course, I do!" he retorted, arms flailing slightly. "You don't get to treat me like a pushover just because I lost one fight!"

"Technically," Mei chimed in, "You've lost all the fights against her so far."

"Not helping, Mei!"

Rumi leaned back in her chair, putting her hands behind her head and laughing. "Alright, alright. I'll ease up on the 'wife' thing… for now. But you're still my favorite punching bag."

"Fine," Izuku huffed, sitting back down and stabbing a piece of roasted beef with his fork. "As long as we're clear."

Mei leaned toward Toga, whispering loudly, "Did you see that? He really is husband material. All assertive and stuff."

"Totally," Toga replied, grinning wickedly. "But he's my husband, obviously."

"No way, he's mine!" Mei countered, playfully shoving Toga.

"Girls!" Izuku groaned, glaring at them over his plate. "Not now!"

"Fine, fine," Mei relented, holding up her hands. "But I'm just saying, Mirko's got competition."

Rumi snorted, glancing at them with a lazy smirk. "You two? Competition for me? That's cute."

The banter continued, but for the first time, Izuku didn't feel like he was losing control of the chaos around him. He smirked faintly, feeling a little more confident as he dug into his meal, ignoring Rumi's pointed stares and the girls' teasing.

"Maybe this isn't so bad," he muttered under his breath, though he wasn't entirely sure he believed it yet.

Rumi rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on. You stood up to me a minute ago, all big and brave. What happened to that fire? Scared I'll stomp you into the ground again?"

Izuku crossed his arms, trying to look unfazed. "I'm not scared. I'm just practical. I lost, okay? I need time to recover, train, and get stronger before we do this again. I've got class, tests, homework, and then training with the restriction suit. I don't have time to be your sparring partner every five seconds."

Mei, seated nearby and tinkering with a new gadget, chimed in with mock seriousness. "Wow, boss. Look at you, using logic. Who are you, and what have you done with Izuku?"

Toga giggled, flicking one of her fox tails. "Maybe Mirko knocked some sense into him during that last fight."

"Very funny," Izuku muttered, shooting them both a look before turning back to Rumi. "The point is, I can't fight you again right now."

Rumi tilted her head, studying him for a moment before shrugging. "Alright, fine. I'll let you off the hook this time. But you'd better be ready when I come back."

Izuku sighed in relief but froze as Rumi added, "Good thing I'm sticking around, though. I can keep an eye on you, make sure you don't slack off."

"Wait, what?" Izuku stared at her, his jaw nearly hitting the floor. "You're sticking around? What do you mean, sticking around?"

Rumi smirked, plopping herself down into one of the beanbag chairs and stretching out like she owned the place. "What? This is a nice setup. Better than my neighborhood. It's closer to UA, so I save on bus fare. Rent's free if I crash here, and I can focus on training instead of scraping together money to live."

Toga blinked, confused. "You're… moving in?"

"Obviously," Rumi replied nonchalantly, grabbing a carrot from the table and munching on it. "Bunny law. I won, so I get to keep the place."

"Bunny law?" Izuku repeated incredulously, feeling like he'd stepped into a cartoon.

Mei, unable to resist, leaned over with a wide grin. "Boss, she's invoking bunny law. You have no choice but to comply. It's in the rulebook."

"Rulebook?!" Izuku shot back, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

"Relax, broccoli boy," Rumi said, waving him off. "I'm joking. Well, mostly. But seriously, this place is way better than my old one. I can save money, avoid bad neighbors, and still get to school on time. Win-win."

"You can't just move in without asking!" Izuku argued, gesturing around the room. "This is our place!"

"And I'm asking now," Rumi countered, leaning back with a smirk. "So, what do you say? I mean, I'll pull my weight. Help with training, maybe clean… sometimes."

"Define 'sometimes,'" Toga deadpanned, raising an eyebrow.

Rumi shrugged. "Like, once a month? Twice if I'm feeling generous."

"You're really selling yourself here," Izuku muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Mei clapped her hands together, grinning. "I think it's a great idea. She's strong, she can keep us on our toes, and if anyone messes with us, we've got an enforcer!"

"Enforcer?" Izuku echoed, looking even more bewildered.

"Yeah!" Mei said, pointing at Rumi. "She's got that whole scary bunny vibe going on. It's perfect!"

"I'm not scary," Rumi protested, puffing out her cheeks slightly. "I'm adorable. Look at me."

"Terrifyingly adorable," Toga quipped, smirking.

Izuku sighed, slumping into a chair. "Fine. Whatever. Just… don't break anything else, okay?"

"No promises," Rumi replied with a cheeky grin, tossing another carrot into her mouth. "This is gonna be fun, broccoli boy. Get ready."

Izuku couldn't tell if he felt relief or dread.

Later that day during training

Izuku tightened the straps on his restriction suit, the wires and weights already biting into his movements as he took a deep breath. The suit, a masterpiece of Mei's ingenuity, was designed to make even simple movements feel like wading through mud. It was heavy, cumbersome, and exactly what he needed to push his limits.

"Alright," he muttered, adjusting his gloves. "Let's do this."

Toga stood nearby, her fox ears twitching as she stretched, her own restriction bands snug around her arms and legs. "You're not the only one training tonight, broccoli boy," she said, smirking as she raised her arms over her head, loosening up. "I'm coming for you."

"Please don't," Izuku replied with a weary smile, already feeling the strain of the suit. "One of you beating me up is enough."

"Aw, afraid I'll do worse than Mirko?" Toga teased, her tail flicking behind her. "Don't worry, I'll go easy. Maybe."

Mei, sitting nearby with her clipboard and tools, grinned mischievously. "You two better be careful. If you break anything, I'm not fixing it tonight. Boss, don't overdo it. You're still recovering from earlier."

Izuku waved her off. "I'm fine. Just gotta keep pushing."

Rumi walked in from the kitchen, munching on a carrot. "Oh, are we having a training montage? Sweet." Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she sauntered over, tossing the carrot core into a trash can. "Mind if I join?"

"Actually, I'm—" Izuku began, but Rumi didn't wait for his answer. She plopped herself down on his back just as he got into position for push-ups, grinning ear to ear.

"Perfect timing," she said, crossing her legs and resting her elbow on his head. "Let's see if you've got the strength to carry a real workout buddy."

Izuku groaned under the added weight but started lowering himself nonetheless. "Rumi, you're heavy."

"Excuse me?" she shot back, feigning offense. "I'm all muscle and carrots, thank you very much."

Toga burst out laughing, watching as Izuku struggled to lift himself back up. "You've got this, broccoli boy! Show the bunny who's boss."

"Not helping," Izuku grunted, sweat already forming on his brow.

Mei tilted her head, scribbling something down. "You know, this could be a great test for the suit's durability. Rumi, bounce a little."

Rumi complied, bouncing slightly on Izuku's back, which earned a sharp gasp from him. "Hey, stop that!"

"Why?" Rumi teased. "You're already suffering. What's a little more?"

"Bunny torment," Toga declared, sitting cross-legged on the floor as she worked on her own set of weighted leg lifts. "And I thought I was supposed to be the mischievous one."

After what felt like an eternity to Izuku, he managed to complete his set, collapsing onto the floor as Rumi hopped off. "Not bad, broccoli boy," she said, patting his head. "You've got some grit."

"Gee, thanks," he wheezed, rolling onto his back.

Toga, finishing her workout, plopped down beside him and poked his cheek. "You're like a squishy green pancake right now. Want me to help you up?"

"No thanks," he replied flatly, staring at the ceiling.

Mei, now setting up some weights for herself, chimed in. "You two better wrap it up soon. We all need some sleep. Big day tomorrow."

"Fine, fine," Izuku said, dragging himself to his feet. "Last round."

As he continued with squats, Toga and Mei joined in, following their own routines while Rumi alternated between offering sarcastic encouragement and stealing bites of their post-workout snacks.

Finally, after what felt like hours, the group finished up. Izuku wiped the sweat from his brow, exhausted but satisfied. "Alright, I'm calling it. Bedtime."

Toga yawned, stretching her arms above her head. "Finally. I'm beat."

Rumi smirked, tossing a towel over her shoulder. "Not bad for a bunch of amateurs. Keep this up, broccoli boy, and you might survive our next fight."

"Can't wait," Izuku muttered, trudging toward his room.

Mei, ever the last to leave, lingered at the workbench. "I'll catch up. Just need to finish this one tweak."

"Don't stay up too late," Izuku said, giving her a tired smile.

Izuku collapsed onto the bed with a groan, every muscle in his body screaming for rest. He barely had time to adjust when he felt a soft presence beside him. Turning his head, he saw Toga, her golden eyes glinting softly in the dim light as she leaned down, wrapping him into a gentle embrace. She pulled his head to her chest, letting him hear the steady rhythm of her heartbeat.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice soft, yet tinged with concern. "You've been pushing yourself a lot lately."

He sighed, closing his eyes briefly. "Yeah, I'm just tired. And maybe a little worried. That match earlier—it wasn't my worst loss, but it reminded me how far I still have to go. What if it wasn't just a sparring session? What if it was a villain next time, or worse, what if something bad happens to you? I don't want to fail when it really matters."

Toga silenced him by placing her lips on his, a sudden yet tender kiss that left him stunned for a moment. She pulled back, her cheeks slightly flushed but her expression resolute.

"You're cute when you're like this," she teased, brushing a strand of hair from his face. "But you need to understand something—you don't have to carry all of this on your own. We're a team, Izuku. We can take care of ourselves, and we're all working hard to get stronger. Mei's working on magical items for herself and you. I'm pushing myself every day. You're not alone in this."

He looked at her, his eyes softening. "Thank you, Toga. That means a lot."

Before either could say anything more, the distinct crunch of a carrot shattered the quiet moment. Both their heads snapped toward the door, where Rumi leaned against the frame, munching on a carrot like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Sup," she said casually, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips.

Izuku and Toga exchanged a bewildered look before turning back to her. "What are you doing here?" Izuku asked, voice heavy with exhaustion.

"Well, I came to ask—where's my bed?" Rumi replied as if it were the most obvious question in the world.

"We only have one bed since, uh, we share," Toga explained, her tone guarded, "but you can just use the beanbag chair."

Rumi raised an eyebrow and then walked over to the bed, plopping down on the edge beside them. "Nah, scoot over a bit. Make some room."

"Wha—wait, no, you can't just—" Izuku started, but Rumi was already sprawled out on the mattress, letting out a satisfied sigh.

"Oh my god," she murmured, sinking into the softness. "This feels amazing. Way better than the mattress I usually have—it's got, like, yellow stains and smells weird. This? This is luxury. And pillows! Holy crap, these are fluffy."

Toga pinched the bridge of her nose while Izuku stared at Rumi in disbelief. "Uh, it's pretty warm here too, but—"

"Love the heat," Rumi interrupted, cutting him off as she pulled a blanket over herself. "This is perfect. I'm staying."

Before Izuku could argue, Rumi shot up suddenly. "Wait. Pinky's still up, right? I'll go grab her. Be right back." Without waiting for an answer, she bolted out of the room.

Toga and Izuku stared at each other, utterly baffled. Moments later, they could hear the sounds of scuffling and a familiar voice protesting loudly.

"No! Let me go! I'm not done! I've got babies to make! Let me finish my work!" Mei's voice echoed down the hall.

Seconds later, Rumi returned, dragging a squirming Mei into the room by the collar of her lab coat. Mei kicked at the air but couldn't break free.

"Come on, Pinky," Rumi said nonchalantly, depositing Mei onto the bed. "Time to sleep."

"No! I have to finish my inventions! I'm on the verge of greatness!" Mei wailed dramatically.

"You're on the verge of passing out," Rumi countered, flopping back onto the bed. "Now quit whining and get comfy. This bed's amazing, and I'm not giving it up."

Mei looked at the bed, then at the others, before begrudgingly crawling under the blanket. "Fine," she muttered, "but only because this feels nice."

Izuku, sandwiched between Toga and now Rumi and Mei, let out a defeated sigh. "This is my life now, isn't it?"

Toga grinned, snuggling closer. "Yep. Get used to it, broccoli boy."

Rumi chuckled, tossing her carrot core onto the nearby nightstand. "Night, wife."

Izuku groaned, but a faint smile tugged at his lips as the room finally quieted, the chaos fading into a peaceful warmth.

Author's Note:

Wow, two chapters in one day—definitely not for the faint of heart, but I had a blast bringing this to life! So, we've officially got the Bunny Girl entering the scene, and let's be real, she's an absolute riot. Bunny Law has her staking her claim as the fun chaos gremlin of the group, and her dynamic is something I'm already enjoying.

Now, let's clear something up: Rumi isn't locked in as a romantic partner yet. She's more like an unpredictable, friendly intruder, but if you guys are vibing with her energy and how she interacts with the group, I'll keep the possibility open. I'm still leaving one more slot for the final girl, upping the harem cap to four. However, if three feels like the sweet spot for the dynamic, we can leave it at that and have Rumi play the role of the chaotic, platonic intruder.

As for what's next, the upcoming chapter(s) might take a more focused approach. I'm planning to give some spotlight to our favorite pink-haired mad scientist Mei and her Broccoli Boy as they navigate the antics of a certain mischievous blonde-haired inventor and her dad. Plus, I might throw in a surprise appearance by an idol (wink wink). You didn't hear it from me.

Thank you all so much for sticking with me this far! The support and feedback mean the world, and I hope you're having as much fun reading as I am writing. Drop a review, share your thoughts, and let me know how you're feeling about the dynamics so far. See you next chapter!