Chapter XXVIII: The Fox and the Rabbit
It was finally over. The U.A. Sports Festival had officially ended. Now it was time to go home, relax and, at last, celebrate. It had been a long day and everyone was looking forward to just continue with their lives. Before that, however, Class 1-A had one more hurdle: Aizawa.
"What's taking him so long?" Groaned Kaminari.
The locker room was filled with groans of exasperation. They all had their bags at the ready and the students carried themselves with an air of utmost exhaustion. No one had actually bothered to shower or change, and thus it was understandable that none looked at their best. Except Aoyoma. They had yet to figure out how he did it.
"Do you think he'll threaten us again with expulsion?" Kirishima wondered.
"Do you think he'll ever stop doing that?" Huffed Sero.
Izuku looked around, amused by the chatting group of students, each lost in their own conversation. Iida was being assaulted by the combined teasing efforts of Ashido and Hagakure and the less than gentlemanly words of Mineta, Kaminari and Hanta Sero.
"I do not have feelings for Izuku's Four Tails!" Iida angrily insisted for the umpteenth time.
"No? You sure? Because you act really weird when she's around" Ashido teased with a Cheshire smile.
"Go on, Iida, there's nothing wrong about liking a hot girl in a swimsuit" added a giggling Hagakure.
Steam shot off Iida's burning face as he angrily spluttered, karate-chopping his arms.
"Just accept who you are, Iida" Mineta said with a smug smile. "Welcome to the club, Class Rep!"
"Yeah, it's nice to have you as one of us" Kaminari joked.
"I am NOT like you!" Iida huffed and puffed.
"I don't know man, the way you just stare at Four-Tails…" Sero trailed off, trying and failing to hold back his laughter.
Izuku chuckled at that and shook his head. That was not a conversation he wanted to intrude upon, much less with Ashido and Mineta united under a common cause. Poor Iida… The fox boy's eyes moved to a side and fell on Ochaco, who talked to Jiro and Asui.
"-and then he was 'quit already!' but I was all like 'never!'" Ochaco retold.
"What a douche" Jiro snorted.
"You did rather well, all things considered, ribbit" Asui hummed.
"You think so? I really need to up my fighting game, don't I?" Ochaco chuckled, embarrassed, as she awkwardly scratched her neck. "Maybe I could intern with some fighter or something…"
"Urgh, I think we all do" muttered Jiro. "Do you think they'll teach us martial arts later on?"
"I sure hope so, ribbit" Asui said.
Izuku smiled at that but decided to intrude in that conversation either. Seeing that he had no one to talk to, he glanced around. The only person missing was Bakugo… who probably made a run for it before anyone could it to the locker room. Tokoyami was talking about internships with Shoji, Sato and Koda, with Aoyoma sparkling in different poses not far from them. Kirishima and Ojiro stood at a side, apparently talking about fighting styles (if the way they kept taking difference fighting stances was anything to go by). All in all, everyone was already loose and relaxed, eager to just get on with their lives and the next step in their hero careers: the internships.
It suddenly struck the fox boy just how odd they all were. Well, Izuku was thankful everyone had ended up being rather nice, with their own… personality quirks. Sincerely, the fox boy liked it and, admittedly, he found the amalgamation of personalities rather amusing. Izuku chuckled.
"Found anything amusing, Midoriya?" Yaoyorozu asked.
Izuku, surprised, found a hesitant Yaoyorozu timidly looking at him.
"I was just thinking about… well… everyone" Izuku said with a grin, gesturing to their peers. "I think I've grown fond of the class."
Tentatively, Yaoyorozu sat next to Izuku and took a glance of her own at their classmates. She ended up smiling fondly as well.
"They sure are quite the personalities, are they not?" Yaoyorozu giggled. "I admittedly did not expect to fit in so swimmingly."
"Because of your background?" Izuku teased, earning a blush from the tall girl. "There's nothing wrong with being a rich girl, Yaoyorozu."
"I know" Yaoyorozu mumbled, wringing her hands. "Regardless, I do fear it might cause some resentment. Throughout my childhood I was either scorned for by family's fortune or treated a tad too well for it… even till this day I find social interactions rather awkward."
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, I think the entire class is made of social weirdos" Izuku chuckled. "From Asui's bluntness and Shoji's silent treatment to Aoyoma and Ashido's extravagant personalities, we are an odd lot."
The two chuckled. Yaoyorozu looked at something behind Izuku and her smile faltered. The fox boy followed her gaze, only to find a lonely Todoroki in a corner, ignoring everyone.
"Yes, we definitely are an odd lot" Yaoyorozu hummed. "Say, Midoriya, I do not wish to be nosy but… is everything alright with Todoroki? I don't think I am the only one that is curious about what he told you."
"Oh, that" Izuku mumbled. "That's… something personal."
"It relates his father, doesn't it?" Yaoyorozu asked with a grimace.
Izuku didn't respond, averting his face.
"We all suspect that something is going on with his family. From his refusal to use his left-side to always addressing his father as Endeavor… and that scar of his... Unfortunately, none of us knows how to approach Todoroki" Yaoyorozu explained.
The black-haired girl sent a sad look at Todoroki.
"He is kind of unapproachable, isn't it?" Izuku hummed.
"Indeed. In any case, I am glad you managed to help him with – ehm – whatever troubled him and I – ehm – supposed we can count on you to help him further" Yaoyorozu tentatively said.
Izuku looked at Todoroki.
"I'll try… but he still has a lot to go through" Izuku stated.
"I know you'll do just fine" Yaoyorozu kindly remarked.
Izuku turned to her and the two shared a smile.
"By the way I wanted to tell you were rather amazing at festival, Midoriya" Her smile faltered "It is a pity I was unable to perform up to my expectations."
"Give yourself some credit, Yaoyorozu. You did amazing. Unfortunately, the nature of the tournament was bound to favor people like Iida. I mean, it was just an open concrete battle ring" Izuku said.
"And yet you succeeded with the very same disadvantages" Yaoyorozu remarked. "You are a rather resourceful and cunning. One could even call you… sly. I think we could all learn from you."
"N-none-nonsense" spluttered a blushing Izuku.
"It is the truth" giggled Yaoyorozu. She glanced at Ochaco, who by the flailing of her arms appeared to be in a story-telling session. "Now, if you don't mind, I think I want to hear Uraraka's version of events. It's bound to be interesting."
"She does know how to narrate a story, huh?" Izuku chuckled.
"Definitely" laughed Yaoyorozu.
And with that, she went to join Asui, Jiro and Uraraka.
Izuku glanced to a side, eyes falling on the lonely Todoroki. The fox boy frowned, unsure what to do. However, seeing that he had nothing better to do, he stood up and approached the dichromatic boy.
"Midoriya" Todoroki called, tilting his head. "Do you need anything?"
"Oh no, I was just… ehm… wondering how you were doing" Izuku said.
"I am doing fine" Todoroki stated.
Izuku scratched the back of his neck.
"S-so… not that I want to intrude… but what are you going to do now?" Izuku asked. He sighed, shaking head with immediate regret.
Come on, Izuku, it's none of my business, he thought.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to stick my snout where I shouldn't" the fox boy said.
"It's fine" Todoroki softly responded. He glanced at his left hand. "I think…" he took a moment to look around, making sure no one was overhearing "…I want to meet with my mother again, before the internships that is."
Izuku stood there, unsure what to say. How was he meant to respond to that?
"May I ask for your opinion, Midoriya?" Todoroki inquired.
"Sure!" Squawked Izuku.
"Do you believe I should intern with Endeavor?"
Izuku frowned, stroking his chin.
"He would be the best teacher to learn how to use your fire, Todoroki, but…" Izuku trailed off, feeling rather embarrassed by the entire talk. Since when was he some kind of counselor? Well, perhaps since he got his snout in other people's business. "Isn't it a bit too soon? Maybe you should pick someone else and – well – use the week of internships to have some time to think about… ehm… everything. You know, distance yourself from everything."
"That is sound advice" Todoroki hummed, contemplative. "Are there any heroes you suggest for the internship?"
Izuku frowned, humming.
"So, if you intend to train with fire maybe you need somewhere far from civilization... and like I said, maybe it will do you good to go away from any distractions" Izuku pondered.
Todoroki nodded in agreement.
"I guess it would be good if they are heroes that have dealt with forest fires" Izuku added.
"I do not intend to burn Japan, Midoriya" Todoroki stated.
"Well, no but... better safe than sorry" Izuku chuckled. "Are there any type of heroes you want to learn from?"
Todoroki frowned.
"I suppose I've been dedicating myself to combat. Perhaps I should take this opportunity to learn about other types of heroes, such as Rescue types" the dichromatic thoughtfully hummed.
"Hey, how about interning with...?" Izuku trailed off, only to pause.
"Yes?" Todoroki wondered.
"Ehm... the Wild, Wild Pussycats?" Izuku tentatively replied.
Todoroki stared at Izuku, who in turn stared back.
"You… aren't joking, are you?" Todoroki, surprised, inquired.
"Hey, I know they might be a bit goofy... and weird... and maybe a bit childish..." Izuku admitted. "Alright, maybe not them."
A funny thought occurred to the fox boy, making his chuckle.
"Can you imagine Endeavor's face when learns you picked them instead of him?" Izuku mused.
Todoroki blinked, baffled, only for a smile of amusement crawl on his face. However, he didn't look convinced, not that Izuku blamed him. The Wild, Wild Pussycats were not for everyone.
"Yeah, I know… it does sound stupid now that I think about it" mumbled Izuku, blushing.
"No, I do believe you made good points" reluctantly said the dichromatic boy. "However, I do not believe they are what I am looking for. I appreciate your input, regardless."
Izuku, at the moment, felt like an idiot. What drove him to be so blunt and honest with Todoroki?
"Oh, Midoriya!" A terrifying singsong voice called.
Izuku felt a shiver run down his spine as a pair of golden eyes set on him. Shuddering, he turned around, only to find the terrifying Cheshire smile of Ashido. Behind her, equally amused, was Hagakure and, trying to act as if she was uninterested, was Yaoyorozu.
"A-Ashido, h-how can I help you?" Uneasily stammered Izuku.
"How about you tell us about your little bunny girlfriend, huh?" Ashido purred.
"Th-there really isn't much to s-say" Izuku stammered. "Now if you excuse me-"
"Oh no, I want details!" Ashido shouted.
Before Izuku could do anything, Ashido and Hagakure grabbed poor Izuku and dragged him away. On the bench at the very center of the locker room, Izuku was forced to sit while the gossiping terrors stood behind him. Worse yet, everyone seemed to focus on poor Izuku.
"Come on, spill it!" Ashido cackled. "How long have you been dating?"
"Yeah, man, we suspected something but – geez – we didn't think you were so much into each other" Kirishima chuckled.
"Teach me your ways!" Mineta exclaimed, kneeling before Izuku.
"How did you do it, man? How did you land with a senior?" Kaminari asked.
Izuku's eyes darted around. By the looks of it, they all had been dying to ask about Rumi. Was it really that fascinating? Was it really worth their attention? Thankfully, before the situation deteriorated any further, the door to the locker room opened and in walked Aizawa.
"And what, pray tell, is going on here?" Aizawa asked.
Everyone froze, before hurrying to the benches and trying, and failing, to look as innocent as possible. Izuku, on his part, sighed with relief. Aizawa, as always, took a moment to study each and every single one of them with his arms behind him. In the end, he gave a simple nod of approval and stood before the door as if to block their escape.
"First is first" Aizawa grunted. He turned towards Iida and Izuku. "Congratulations to the winners of the festival. At least the ones that didn't run off... Iida, you are a talented fighter and more than a capable young man. That being said, you need to overcome your embarassment when it comes to the other gender."
Iida grimaced, bowing his head in shame while the others stiffled their snickering.
"Midoriya, congratulations on the first place. You proved yourselves to be both resourceful and cunning, and it is good to see you are comfortable with your quirk" the man said with a faint smile. Izuku grinned, only to see Aizawa's face turn back to its usual stern self. "However, you still need to work on your temper."
Izuku grimaced and bowed his head next to a similarly dismayed Iida.
"Now, as for all of you, I will spare you the usual threats of expulsion" Aizawa started with a faint smile. "To begin with, you all performed admirably. I daresay, it looks like you have all pushed yourselves today. For that alone, you should be proud. True, not all of you made it as far as others… but that is part of the woes of life. You did your best given the circumstances. Today, all of you, were…" Aizawa's smile stretched a bit more "…above acceptable."
The students smiled. However, none dared try to goad an angry response from Aizawa. They kept their visible happiness to a minimum.
"Moving on, on Thursday during Heroics we'll go over your potential internships. I have already been approached by various Pro-Heroes and, thus far, I've heard only positive things. Let me assure you, you all garned quite the positive attention" Izuku heard Mineta and Hagakure sigh with relief. "Take the next two days to reflect on today's performance. Try to think what you need to improve on or what skills you want to learn. While it is doubtful the hero agency you desire might offer an internship, try to figure out what type of hero do you want to learn from."
The students seemed thoughtful for a moment, and they all nodded at their teacher.
"Additionally, it is time you start thinking about your hero names" Aizawa told them. Everyone stared at the teacher, disbelieving. "Consider it your homework for Thursday. Do not feel pressured to come up with a name, though. However, it will be helpful if you at least come up with at least three alternatives to discuss during Heroics."
"Are there any rules regarding the names?" Iida eagerly asked, shooting a hand up in the air.
"Try to maintain a certain level of seriousness and, please, if you already have some childhood hero name, think it over before actually sharing it. Other than that, if you do come up with a name, make sure they haven't been taken or that no Hero Agency has property rights over it. You'd be surprised how frequent a problem that is" Aizawa remarked. "In any case, you'll go over that with Midnight on Thursday."
"Do you have any suggestions, sir?" Yaoyorozu asked.
"Yes, do not allow a classmate come up with your hero name" Aizawa grumbled, an eyebrow twitching. "Any other questions?"
Silence.
"Very well, that was all. You are dismissed" Aizawa stated, before he simply turned around and left.
No sooner had the door closed, the entire changing room broke into excited chatter. How could they not? Hero names? They had all been dying to finally have one. It was the official declaration of their status as aspiring heroes, after all.
"Hon-hon-hon, I've already have my magnificent hero name" Aoyoma proclaimed, sparkling much to everyone's attention. "The sparkling hero: Lumière!"
"Is that German for Sparkles?" Kirishima asked.
"German? I was under the impression he was Polish" Tokoyami hummed.
"Oh come on, guys, how can you not know he was speaking Russian?" Ashido interceded.
Aoyoma, on his part, choked on the ground, insulted by his classmates' ignorance.
"Guys, it's French for 'Light'" Yaoyorozu corrected with a lopsided smile.
The class merely chuckled with knowing smiles.
"I know what I want to be called" Kirishima boasted. "Red Riot, after the most chivalrous hero, Crimson Riot!"
"I wish I knew what to call myself" Kaminari grumbled. "Static Shock? Electroman? Volt-swaggen?"
"Yeah, you better try to keep it simple or else you'll come up with something stupid" Jiro huffed, poking the blond with her earphone jacks.
The teenagers grabbed their bags and, without further ado started walking out. In groups of friends, they were thankful they could finally leave. To their surprise, the stadium corridors, once dark and desolate, were full of people. Students of all departments stood in groups, chatting, with a few teachers here and there.
Iida, Ochaco and Izuku walked in their own group behind the rest, enjoying their freedom.
"I do not know what I could call myself…" Ochaco said with a pout. "What about you Iida? Do you have a name figured out?"
"Why, yes, I do: the speeding hero: Marathoner!" Exclaimed Iida.
Ochaco and Izuku exchanged baffled faces, before they covered their mouths, chuckling.
"Hey, it isn't that bad!" Iida harrumphed.
"It's so silly!" Laughed Ochaco.
"How about Overdrive?" Izuku suggested with a grin.
Iida blinked at Izuku, before humming.
"That… does have a nice sound to it" Iida admitted.
"Hey guys, I have it!" Ochaco exclaimed. "Uravity!" She beamed at her own name. "It's perfect, isn't? It's a mix between my surname and the word gravity! It's genius!"
"Sounds perfect" Iida remarked with approval.
"It sounds nice… and here I thought you'd go for something like Gravitas, Lady Graviton or Atlas Rising" Izuku shrugged.
"Uh, I like the sound of Lady Graviton" Ochaco said with stars in her eyes. "Sounds like a badass!" She frowned "although Uravity sounds better."
"What about you, Izuku?" Iida asked.
"Well, I am not sure. I have been thinking about it, and there was one name that… I don't know" Izuku said. "What do you guys think about-?"
"Fox Boy!"
Izuku froze, as did his friends. Rooted in place, they turned around, before a very familiar pink haired girl assaulted Izuku.
"Congratulations on breaking that bastards face, my fox friend!" Hatsume Mei exclaimed with her usual grin.
Izuku blushed as Hatsume leaned over him, once again invading his precious personal space.
"You were super cool! A pity you didn't have any of my babies. Still, it is nice to see some justice!" Hatsume laughed.
"Th-thanks" Izuku stammered as he grabbed Hatsume's shoulders and pushed her away. "Are you doing better?"
"Yes!" Hatsume nodded. "Now thanks to our super awesome victory I've got all kinds of internship offers at support businesses!"
"Really?" Iida and Ochaco asked, surprised.
"Well, no, but I am sure that is going to happen. There's no way my super cute babies didn't catch anyone's eyes" Hatsume stated with confidence.
Izuku released Hatsume, only to find the rather voluptuous woman once again leaning over him and invading his personal space.
"So I wanted to really thank you, especially you foxy! If you ever need any last-minute costume repairs or you want any personalized gear, come straight to mama and I'll give you all the babies you want!" Hatsume shouted.
To Izuku's growing embarrassment, many heads turned towards them at the last bit. The ensuing whispers did little to abate the furious blush on the fox boy's face.
"I can't wait to design gear that changes with each of your forms" Hatsume said with drool coming off her mouth. "Oh, I can see it! Babies changing size to adjust to the new height and weight, properties accommodating to the form… oh yeah…"
"I-I'll keep that in mind" Izuku mumbled, once again having to pry the pink-haired teenager off him.
"Well, that's it! Now back to work!" Hatsume laughed. "Ta-da!"
And with that, Hatsume Mei rushed away, leaving a baffled trio of aspiring heroes. Izuku looked down on his shirt and grimaced.
"Already having girls drooling all over you? Typical Class 1-A behav-" SMACK
Izuku and his friends sweatdropped as a very familiar smug blond, currently sneering at them while caressing his head. Monoma wasn't alone, though. He was accompanied by Itsuka Kendo, the furry guy (Jurota Shishida) and a handful other students from 1-B. Izuku did not miss the fact they all looked fresh and changed, differently from all of 1-A.
"Will you ever stop doing that?" Kendo sighed, shaking her head, before she turned towards Izuku with a friendly smile. "Hey there, thought we would drop by and congratulate you. You three were pretty neat out there."
Izuku was rather surprised by that. He blinked at her, dumbfounded. He sincerely hadn't expected Class 1-B of all people to show up and congratulate them. Then again, maybe now that the festival was officially over, there was hope to stop all the stupid rivalries and conflicts.
"Thanks" Izuku said. An image of an injured Kendo flashed across his mind, and a wave of guilt flooded into his gut. "Guys… I'm really sorry about Bakugo. I wish he wasn't so… well… Bakugo."
"Ha, what are you apologizing for? You gave him a well-deserved smack down!" Exclaimed a dark-green haired girl.
"Yeah, it was awesome!" The silver-haired boy with razor-sharp teeth (Tetsutetsu, if Izuku wasn't mistaken) added with equal excitement.
"Hell yeah! Izuku sure kicked ass!" Ochaco exclaimed.
"Language, Ochaco!" Iida admonished.
"I do not approve of senseless violence…" a vine-haired girl (Shiozaki, if Izuku remembered correctly) remarked "…but that sinner deserved punishment."
"I'm actually surprised you didn't take the medal in the end" Kendo said. "What was that about?"
"Too good for the number one position, huh?" Monoma huffed before he received another smack on the back of his head, courtesy of Kendo.
His classmates groaned, pinching the bridge of their nose. Izuku chuckled, though.
"I couldn't accept it… not after all that happened" Izuku admitted. "It was kind of a statement, I guess."
"Yeah, the festival was a bit of a wreck, wasn't it? I don't think there were ever so many injured participants before" Kendo sighed, nodding. She quickly gave a wide grin and a thumbs up. "You know, you are pretty cool in my books so I'll give you a warning: next year we'll leave your class in the dust."
"I only hope the Principal makes it more fun than this year" Izuku replied with a grin.
"It won't change anything!" Monoma huffed, stepping in front of Kendo. "1-B shall be triumphant!"
"Ha, bring it!" Ochaco exclaimed, waving a defiant fist.
"Ochaco, do not escalate inter-class tensions!" Admonished Iida.
The students from 1-B congratulated the three one last time before they marched off. Monoma had to be dragged away, though, and smacked a couple of times. The trio of friends chuckled at the departing group, somewhat amused by their fellow aspiring heroes, before they went back to walking across the corridors.
There were many students waiting outside various changing rooms, perhaps waiting for friends inside or maybe just entertained by their cell phones. In any case, it was hard to traverse the hallways without bumping into people. Sadly, most people weren't as amicable as Itsuka Kendo and her retinue. They scowled or glared at them.
Support Students whined about their broken gear while General Studies kids seemed absolutely despondent or angry. The students from the Management looked mostly resigned. Thankfully, a few seemed to at least be in a relatively good mood. Perhaps they had already accepted the odds had never been favorable or they were content with their current position.
Between the General Studies students, they came across familiar faces. The group that had annoyed Izuku and his friends during lunch time seemed particularly annoyed when they crossed paths. Izuku wasn't by any means vindictive… but he couldn't help but smile at them. They also went past a familiar tall boy and girl from 1-C, the very same that had been rather rude to Ochaco the week prior. They glared at Ochaco who awkwardly smiled and tried to act friendly, if not outright apologetic. Unfortunately, all she got was angry huffs and more glares.
As they came across other students of 1-C, Izuku spotted yet another familiar student, one leaning against a wall all by himself. It was strange to see Shinso clad in clothes other than his sport uniform. He looked better in jeans and a simple navy jacket. However, the bandages remained, causing Izuku to grimace with guilt.
"Hey" Izuku called, approaching the indigo-haired boy.
Shinso, who had been busy texting someone, was startled by Izuku, and his visible eye widened when he spotted the trio.
"You kind of disappeared after you were given leave" Izuku said.
"Oh…" Shinso said, confused. "I… didn't know you wanted to talk to me."
Izuku chuckled, feeling rather awkward.
"I just wanted to say, again, that I'm sorry for what happened – for what I did" Izuku sighed. "I wish it hadn't happened. So… ehm… y-you wouldn't mind if I try to heal you later on, would you?"
"You were… serious about that?" Shinso wondered, bewildered. .
"Did you think I was just being polite?" Izuku chuckled, only to notice the way Shinso stared at him. Apparently he did think Izuku had merely been polite.
"You shouldn't bother with me, Midoriya. You should focus on your own training. What happened was an accident and I kind of deserved it" Shinso said.
"No one deserves what I did to you" Izuku stated.
"Still, you shouldn't…" Shinso grumbled, looking away.
"If you wish for Izuku to train, consider your healing as part of it" Iida added.
"Yeah, Iida is right! The Three-Tails requires tons of practice so you probably would be of great help" Ochaco intervened. "Besides, don't you want to be healed?"
"I guess" Shinso said. "Well, I guess I don't really have a reason to say no if you are so insistent about it."
Izuku didn't miss the looks from the other students, glancing with suspicion and even hints of disdain. Shinso was clearly uncomfortable by the attention of his peers.
"Hey, Midoriya?" Shinso tentatively asked, unsure.
Izuku tilted his head, curious.
"Congratulations… on winning. I never got to tell you, did I?" Shinso said with a faint smile. "And for whatever its worth, I think you should have taken the medal."
"Nah, I just couldn't" Izuku huffed.
"A hero through and through. I can't believe how wrong I was about you" Shinso stated with disbelief.
"Hey, speaking of heroes, do you know if might make it to the Hero Department?" Ochaco abruptly asked.
Izuku sweatdropped at Ochaco's bluntness. That wasn't a question you just asked in the open, much less when there was a very good chance it would only offend the target of the question and infuriate anyone rude enough to eavesdrop on their conversation. That being said, Izuku was curious to know if Shinso had been approached by a teacher or hero, or maybe a representative from another Hero School.
"Actually, believe it or not, I might actually make it" Shinso said with a faint smile.
"That's excellent news" Iida said. "Were you sponsored by a Pro-Hero?"
"No, your homeroom teacher, Aizawa, told me he would recommend me for the Hero Department" Shinso looked away, looking rather embarrassed. "He did tell me that I have to get up to shape, though, or I wouldn't make it."
"Is Aizawa going to give you a test or something?" Ochaco asked, intrigued.
"No, but he told me that U.A. has a mid-term exam for those that might actually join the Hero Department. All I know is that it won't be like the Entrance Exam… and that it might be a lot tougher" Shinso sighed.
"But you are still going to try, are you not?" Iida wondered.
"I don't know" Shinso wearily confessed. "How can I catch up to you? I've never actually put that much effort and… well… I got this far by exploiting others. That's not the type of hero I want to be but… with a quirk like mine…"
Izuku grinned and placed a hand on Shinso shoulder, surprising the boy.
"You can make it, Shinso. If you really work you butt off, I am sure you can do it. I managed a lot in just one month, and you have like – what? Five months?" Izuku said as he patted the boy's shoulder.
"Easier said than done. I have to keep up in General Studies, find a routine to work-out, perhaps pay for a gym, maintain a specific diet, learn to fight…" Shinso listed off, daunted by the monumental task ahead.
"That's not the spirit, Shinso. A hero doesn't care what she can or can't do. She just goes beyond – Plus Ultra style!" Ochaco huffed.
"She's correct. A Hero seeks to overcome adversity" Iida hummed with a smile of amusement.
Izuku chuckled and, much to Shinso's surprise, gently bonked his head.
"Don't think too much about it and just do it. If you spend your time thinking for too long, you'll see life fly right before your eyes" Izuku said. "And hey, we could train together. If you need help, you only need to ask, y'know?"
Shinso averted his eyes.
"Why do you care about me?" Shinso asked, confused. "Pity?"
"We did warn you about Izuku's overly helpful nature, did we not?" An amused Iida pointed out.
That made the group chortle at the Fox Boy's expense.
"So you are just a good guy all the way, huh?" Shinso said with a shy smile. "I'll think about it."
"The power of friendship conquers everything!" Ochaco exclaimed, waving a fist.
The three boys sweatdropped at the overhyped girl.
"Well, guess we'll be seeing you on Thursday then" Izuku said.
"Sure" Shinso replied with a nod.
And with that, the trio kept walking out of the stadium, past the student section and right outside, into the open fresh evening air. There was already a large crowd gathering, with many students in groups chatting. Most seemed to discuss what to do next, whether to hang around or leave. Others seemed intent on discussing the Festival.
From the crowd, a trio of rabbit people hopped towards them, grins on their faces.
"Fox Boy, at last! What took you?" Rumi asked, gently punching Izuku's shoulder.
"Aizawa. He had a few things he wanted to say to us" Izuku replied.
"Really? Did any of your classmates get expelled or something?" Rumi wondered.
"Not quite" Iida said. "He actually congratulated us and told us we need to start thinking about our hero names."
"What's your hero name, Rumi?" Ochaco asked.
"Ha, I am the Rabbit Hero: Miruko!" Rumi exclaimed pointing a thumb at herself all while proudly smiling. "Pretty cool, huh?"
"She's called like that because they didn't accept her original name" Haku mischievously added.
"Yeah, she wanted to be named Lunar Destroyer" Hana giggled.
"Oy, that's private information, brats!" Indignantly yelled the rabbit girl.
"You wanted to be called Lunar Destroyer?" Ochaco giggled.
"Oy, it was some childhood thing I came up with, alright?!" Rumi exclaimed, flustered. She snapped her head at a snickering Izuku. "Oy, don't laugh Fox Boy!"
"Sorry" chuckled Izuku. "It just- it really sounds like a name you'd come up with, Rabbit Girl."
He wrapped an arm around the blushing girl's waist, all while she muttered under her breath. The group, finally re-united, marched out, slowed down by the hundreds and thousands of people walking around. Most kept a wide berth, but there were those that took pictures of the group. Not surprisingly, multiple Pro-Heroes, both ranking high and low passed by and offered internships or their congratulations.
"Awesome last move, kid" a Pro-Hero randomly commented towards them.
"Keep up the good work, fox guy" another Pro-Hero remarked.
"You sure got that Bakugo kid!" Another person said.
The audience even stopped the group for a few selfies. Iida, bless his poor soul, was unable to fend off those newfound fans he had somehow gotten, particularly those of the opposite gender. To Rumi's chagrin, there were a few girls that seemed eager to approach Izuku, who was starting to get really flustered with all the attention. The boy fans, though, now that was a new experience.
"Back! This Fox Boy is mine! You hear me?" Rumi growled, scaring a few young women from Izuku and standing in front of him. "Back, I say! Find your own Fox Boy!"
"Sis is getting so jealous" Haku snickered. Hana giggled next to her brother.
The one who seemed to get a surprising following, though, was Ochaco.
"Have you consider a career modelling? You look like you would be great for the job!" A very familiar modelling agent said amidst the crowd.
"That last move was awesome, gravity girl!" A boy shouted.
"You kicked ass, girl!" Another person said.
Ochaco buried her burning red face behind her palms.
Thankfully, they managed to traverse the crowd and most of the concession stands without much issues. True, they were stopped ever so often, but they never reached to a point they stopped moving. There was, however, one last hero who had to make an appearance. Scaring the crowd away, Pro-Hero Arachne showed up with a wide-smile, accompanied by Haia, the squirrel lady.
"Congratulations, Midoriya!" Arachne said in her serene voice. "I am glad you managed to win. Admittedly, we feared you had been defeated near the end."
"Thanks!" Izuku replied, tails wagging behind him.
"So remember us when you must pick a place to intern, alright fox friend?" The squirrel woman immediately said, stepping in front of the Pro-Hero. "Remember this: the Spider Hero Arachne, from the Iron Agency in Hiroshima, was the one who rooted for you from the start!"
"Haia" Arachne admonished her companion, shaking her head.
"It's fine" Izuku chuckled. "I'm actually considering interning with you… if you are open."
"You are?" A surprised Arachne responded.
"Really?" Haia gleefully squeaked. "See? I told you! If you insist enough you'll get an intern!"
"Yes, I am" Izuku nodded, ignoring the squirrel woman.
"I'm humbled. However, I am certain many more relevant heroes will offer internships since you won first place" Arachne timidly said. "I'll understand if you accept one of the more…" she trailed off unsure "…visible heroes out there."
"Mai, what are you doing?!" Haia angrily squawked. "Don't try to dissuade him!" She turned to the group of teenagers. "Don't listen to her, friends! Trust me, she is the best Pro-Hero to intern with. The invitation is for all of you, by the way."
"Oh, th-thanks but I might take another internship" Ochaco chuckled. "I think I'll go for Gunhead. We crossed him on our way here" she said, pointing at the way they came from.
"I am going to intern with my brother in Hosu, but I appreciate the offer nonetheless" Iida said with a bow.
"That's understandable" nodded Arachne with a kind smile. "Well, don't let me bother you any further. I am sure you are off to celebrate."
"Remember, the Iron Agency!" Haia exclaimed, only for Arachne to sigh, unceremoniously pick her up and carry her away.
The group chuckled before walking away. Izuku, on his part, grinned and his tails happily wagged behind him. Rumi rolled her eyes, but kept an arm wrapped around him regardless, amused by Izuku's happiness.
The concession stands were, unfortunately, growing more crowded by the second. The group, though, wasn't in any real hurry. They enjoyed the evening air and each other's presence. People kept offering their lively comments, particularly to Izuku. From Pro-Heroes to civilians, they all had something to say.
Just as they were near the exit, Ochaco stopped them.
"No, we will not stop for a quick snack" Iida grunted for the umpteenth time.
"No, guys, is that the Principal?" Ochaco asked as she pointed to a side.
Indeed, standing by the trees near the Concession stands, was the Principal. He was talking to a rather tall and thin man, clad in a suit, as well as a short greying man in a hero costume.
"Hey, I recognized that geezer. That's Grand Torino" Rumi said, surprised. "Geez, he looks ancient!"
"And that's All Might's former sidekick, Sir Nighteye" Izuku gasped.
Rumi's ruby eyes widened, much to Izuku's surprise. He had rarely seen her so shocked before but never due to Pro-Heroes. However, before they could do anything, the three Pro-Heroes walked away, right around a concession stand and out of view.
"I wonder what the Principal had to discuss with those two" Ochaco hummed.
"Internships, no doubt" Iida hummed. He turned to a still shocked rabbit girl. "I have not heard about that hero you mentioned… Grand Torino, you said?"
"Oh, he's old school, like real old school. An amazing kicker" Rumi mumbled, shaking her head.
"Hey, sis, are you alright?" Haku worriedly asked.
"I'm fine" Rumi grunted.
"You sure? Because you looked shell-shocked for a moment" Hana pointed out.
"I said I'm fine, damn it" Rumi muttered.
Izuku frowned but didn't push Rabbit Girl.
"Come on, guys, we are almost out of here" Izuku said. "Do you have any plans? Maybe we could – ehm – do something to celebrate."
"Sorry, guys, but my parents came to spend these three days with me" Ochaco told them with an apologetic smile. "We could do something before we leave for our internships, right?"
"I intend to spend time with my family. I am sure my mother has something planned… probably a family gathering. I am not certain when I'll be available for a proper celebration" Iida stated with a grimace.
"Guess it'll be the two of us, huh Fox Boy?" Rumi purred.
Izuku didn't complain. Instead, his tails wagged faster and his grin stretched wider.
"Just drop us home before you start snogging" Haku muttered.
"Yeah, I rather not watch you eat each other's face" Hana huffed.
"Ha, we'll see how you are in a couple of years" Rumi laughed.
The group carried on walking, passing yet more newfound fans and earning more comments. A handful of heroes stopped them to congratulate them and offer internships, all while Izuku had the displeasure of coming across more modelling agents. Much to his amusement, Iida and Ochaco were not spared and they found themselves blushing at the proposals of modelling agencies.
As the group reached the entrance gates, they heard a strange sound. They paused, baffled, and looked around. What could possibly the source of such… buzzing? To their surprise, it was none other than Iida – or rather, his cell phone. Somewhat amused by their reactions, the tall teenager smiled as he pulled out his cell phone.
"Oh, it's my mother" Iida said in earnest. "I assume she already has something planned for today…" he accepted the call and placed the device against his ear.
Izuku took the moment to wonder what he could do with Rumi. It wasn't like they could stay till late, given how Rumi had her own games the following day.
"Is everything alright?" Iida abruptly asked, frowning with concern.
His friends looked at the stiff boy. Iida's face turned ashen and his eyes widened.
"No…" Iida whispered, shaken. "I-I'll be there as soon as possible!"
He cut the call and made to leave, before Rumi grabbed him.
"Hey, Robot Boy is-?" She asked, concerned.
"My brother" Iida stated with a deathly pale face "he's been found dead!"
Rumi Usagiyama was no stranger to death. Still, she couldn't deny how the suddenness of Ingenium's death had yet to settle. Rumi knew she was supposed feel sadness… and yet, all she felt was a strange numbness instead. Perhaps it was the fact she wasn't a good acquaintance with Robot Boy's brother. In fact, she couldn't say she knew Robot Boy all that well. Fox Boy, on the other hand, wasn't taking the news well.
Having dropped her pesky siblings half a block from her home (they had pretty much sprinted to freedom), the two teenagers had changed course towards Fox Boy's house. That meant they were alone. Robot Boy had hurried away no sooner he was out of the gates and Infinity Girl went on her own way, stricken and saddened, perhaps as bad as Fox Boy.
So there they were, Fox Boy and Rabbit Girl, headed towards Fox Boy's home. Any other time they would have been laughing or goofing around. Now, though, they accompanied each other in silence. The sun was a couple of hours to the horizon and the sky was gaining an orange tint. In the end, they didn't utter a word until they came across a familiar apartment complex. They trudged their feet up the flight of stairs and straight to the Midoriya burrow.
As Fox Boy opened the house, Rumi made a mental note to get some fox decorations. The burrow needed more fox imagery, after all. Once inside, Fox Boy unceremoniously dropped his school bag inside.
"Mom, I'm home!" Fox Boy announced.
"I-Izuku!"
From around the corner came Inko. Rumi was surprised, though, to find her round eyes red and her cheeks wet with tears. Had she been crying? Maybe all the action from the Sports Festival got to her.
"Mom!" Fox Boy exclaimed, surprised. "What happened?"
"Oh, it- it is n-nothing" sniffed Inko, blowing her nose on a handkerchief. She managed to smile at Rumi. "H-hello, Rumi."
Rumi's ears twitched as another set of footsteps followed after Inko. From behind her, another woman appeared. Rumi blinked at the stranger, taken aback. There was something awfully familiar about her… That spiky blond hair, that face… could it be? No, there was absolutely no way that she was-
"Auntie Mitsuki" Fox Boy said, wide-eyed.
"Hey, kiddo" Mitsuki said, rubbing her own tearful blood-shot eyes.
Rumi glanced at Fox Boy, only to find him staring at the blond woman in disbelief. Inko sniffed a bit more only to look between the two. The tension was palpable but Rumi couldn't help but feel utterly confused. What was going on?
"So… yeah, here I am, paying a long needed visit! Long-time no see, huh?" Mitsuki exclaimed with a forced smile. "You were pretty cool out there, by the way."
"Thanks…" Fox Boy awkwardly said. "And yeah, it's been a long time…" he turned to his mother. "So… you are now back to talking with each other?"
"Yeah, I- I think we are" Mitsuku mumbled, exchanging sad faces with her friend. "I guess we just needed to clear the air between us. I mean, I kind of never understood what or why Inko screamed at me that day… until now."
Inko shook her head, a smile forming on her face.
"I-I might have come off a-a bit erratic when I yelled at you. I-Izuku didn't want to r-reveal too much and- and I was caught b-between anger and sadness and… well…" Inko confessed.
"And boy am I haunted by it" Mitsuku chuckled, although she looked stricken. "You sure can be scary, girl." She added, playfully nudging Inko.
Mitsuki's red eyes wandered off to Fox Boy, or rather his fox ears and tails.
"Look at you" Mitsuki chuckled, although her eyes were filled with agony and regret. "You sure are quite the handsome fox boy, huh?"
Mitsuki turned towards Rumi and eyed her from ears to toes.
"And you found a girlfriend! Geez, today is full of surprises, huh?" Mitsuki said, looking pained.
"Rumi, this is Mitsuki Bakugo… ehm, you know, Bakugo's mom. Mitsuki, this is Rumi Usagiyama" Fox Boy said, awkwardly introducing the two.
For a moment, the quartet merely stood by the entrance door, unsure what to say once again. In the end, the remorseful looking Mitsuki broke the silence.
"Look, Izuku, I'm- I'm sorry for everything Katsuki did. I wish… I wish I had done something. I knew everyone was feeding his ego but… I had no idea it was this bad!" Mitsuki said.
"It's fine" Fox Boy sighed.
"No it isn't" Mitsuki stated, grimacing. "I should have been better. What manner of mother just allows her son to become little more than a villain? I can't… I can't believe all the awful things Katsuki did to you."
"You didn't know because everyone wanted to believe Bakugo was destined for greatness. Everyone is at fault. Even I helped create the person he is today" Fox Boy told her.
"But I should have known better" Mitsuki said. "I just… I probably just didn't want to believe it."
"Oy, there's no point in crying over spilled milk. What's done is done. Now that you know, you need to punch some sense into that bas- that kid of yours" Rumi intervened.
"Yeah, guess you are right" Mitsuki scoffed. "Still, I wish I had done something."
"It's fine" Inko sniffed. "At- at least I got my friend back."
The two friends smiled at each other.
"How's Katsuki, by the way?" Fox Boy suddenly asked. "He kind of run off."
"Oh, he's a bit beaten but other than that…" Mitsuki responded, looking at the ground. "He's awfully quiet. He hasn't spoken much. I actually expected him to throw a fit. Instead he is just… ehm…?"
"Simmering? Fuming?" Fox Boy said.
"I guess" Mitsuki grunted with an amused smile. "I just hope he doesn't blow a casket! Well, at least you gave him a humbling beating. He's bound to have learned a lesson today – and he can't exactly whine, you know? Second Place isn't exactly a bad thing."
"I hope it's enough, though" Fox Boy sighed. "How do you go around undoing a childhood worth of everyone fanning his ego?"
"I don't know… I'll try to find a good psychologist - one that doesn't lie to me again" Mitsuki muttered.
"Well, as much as I enjoy talking about that bast- that guy, Fox Boy and I are off to Dagobah beach" Rumi intervened.
"We are?" Fox Boy asked, surprised.
"Yes, we are" Rumi huffed, nudging him.
"Oh my, Izu-kun, tell me that at least you have protection" Mitsuki teased.
"I – I you- we" spluttered Fox Boy, red-faced.
Next to the blond, Inko wasn't faring any better. Mitsuki burst out laughing, slapping a hand on Inko's shoulder. Rumi was surprised to find herself actually laughing along with the blonde.
"You haven't changed one bit!" Mitsuki laughed.
"Come on, Fox Boy" Rumi said, nudging the spluttering boy. She grabbed him by the scruff of his shirt and dragged him away. "I'll bring him back in an hour or two."
"Enjoy your time, Usagiyama, but do bring him in one piece!" Mitsuki said with a wide grin. "And I wasn't joking about the protection!"
Rumi chuckled as she dragged Fox Boy down the stairs. Once below, he seemed to regain some control of his senses and managed to start walking on his own.
"I- that – we…" Fox Boy stammered.
"Oy, don't worry, I won't be taking your virtue today" Rumi told him. She smirked at him, leaning close to his face only to purr "…unless you want to."
"I… ehm…" Fox Boy mumbled, gulping.
Rumi laughed and shook her head. The two carried walking down the streets, side by side, and, slowly, Fox Boy regained his composure.
"S-so… the beach, huh?" Fox Boy asked, red-faced.
"What is it? You don't like it?" Rumi teased.
"S-s-sorry, it's just that… I had forgotten how she was – Mitsuki, I mean" Fox Boy mumbled.
"She's fun" Rumi stated, surprising even herself. "I can't believe she's – you know – the bastard's mother." She raised an eyebrow at Fox Boy. "Did you ever try to – you know – tell her about the bastard?"
"Hey, I was a hopeless idiot who wanted to be friends with Bakugo. He was the cool kid. You don't get to be his friend if you snitch on him" Fox Boy grunted. "But… yeah, I might have told Mitsuki whenever Bakugo wanted to do anything crazy."
"Huh? Crazy?" Rumi asked.
"Well, yeah. Bakugo always wanted to impress the other kids or show off. One time he actually thought of jumping in front of a truck just to prove he could take it" Fox Boy retold. "Then there was this one time he started a fire just to show how he could withstand the flames… problem was the fire got carried away." He grimaced at the memory. "I got the blame for it…"
Rumi shook her head. She could barely imagine the pathetic state of Fox Boy. To think he actually wanted to be friends with the bastard. Much to her surprise, she found a claw hand wrap around her waist and pull her against Fox Boy. She didn't mind, not at all. In response, an arm of her own snaked around Fox Boy.
In no time, they made their way to Dagobah Beach. Whilst Fox Boy looked a lot better, they hadn't really talked much. They merely had enjoyed the closeness and the fresh air, ignoring the curious looks of each passer-by.
The couple settled on the sand. Rumi heard Fox Boy exhale with relief. For a moment, they merely remained there, staring at the ocean beyond. It was strange to believe that it used to be an awful dump. Fox Boy yawned, stretching his arms up, and Rumi rolled her eyes as one of his arms ended up wrapping around her once again.
"What a day" Izuku hummed. "I went through a rather awful tournament, saw a girl almost die, got to see my friends get beaten, mauled someone's face off, beat the crap out of my childhood bully… oh, and I won said tournament. Then my friend's brother was found dead and my mom regained her old friend."
"You are skipping some details… but yeah, that's the gist of it" Rumi replied. "Just wait until tomorrow."
Fox Boy groaned, earning a laugh from her. She leaned over and kissed his cheek, before he turned towards her and, for a brief moment, merely stared at each other. They smiled, rather amused (and tired) and, before long, they had leaned against each other and were back to Rumi's newfound favourite pastime. They kissed each other with surprising calmness, lacking the fervent desperation or the annoying hesitation from before.
Rumi was rather surprised she wasn't losing herself in her urge to just jump on the poor Fox Boy. Perhaps she was kind of exhausted by all the day's excitement, or maybe it was something else. Rumi might have craved for more… but at the moment, it didn't feel right and Rumi was not about to start pondering why she felt the way she did.
They remained seated, an arm wrapped around the other, unwilling to undo their closeness. Then, Fox Boy's arm swept under her waist and, earning a smile all while they kept their lips against each other, she was hoisted up and she found herself sitting on his lap. Rumi turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck, all while her legs fasted around his body. They stopped kissing, and pressed their foreheads against each other, savouring the moment.
Who knew I would find someone to be – well – a boyfriend? Partner? Mate? Bah, whatever he is, Rumi thought.
She offered a chaste kiss on Fox Boy's lips, before she found Fox Boy's face moving to the croon of her neck. She squirmed at the warm air of his nose and the tender touch of his lips there. Her own nose hovered over his neck and she took in the smell of sweat and, well, foxiness. She wasn't sure if perhaps that wasn't Fox Boy's scent or something, but she didn't mind. Rumi couldn't deny she kind of liked Fox Boy after a good workout.
From some random freshmen I thought little about to this... life sure is full of surprises, she mentally mused.
Admittedly, Rumi couldn't help but think about her childhood and how she ignored most people her age. She had no intentions of boyfriends or the kind, and friends were an afterthought. The person she cared about the most had been herself. And yet, there she was, with someone she was happy to be with, even a few friends. Who knew? Maybe she could even consider Fox Boy as some future hero teammate…
"You alright, Rabbit Girl?"
"Hmmm?" Rumi opened her eyes only to realize Fox Boy had long ended his ministrations and had been looking at her with a smirk. "Oh, just thinking about us. I wonder if we could be a good hero duo."
"Is the concept of teammates so strange to you, Rabbit Girl, or do you really want to be the next All Might?" Fox Boy asked.
All Might, Rumi thought, oh God… I can't believe I forgot about that!
And suddenly, Rumi's blissful state of mind broke and a wave of concern washed all over. She must have shown it in her face because she could feel Fox Boy's hands tightening behind her and his eyes burned with worry.
"Hey, Fox Boy…" Rumi tentatively started, frowning. She looked deep into his emerald eyes. "Remember that thing I wanted to tell you?"
He leaned over and gave her a comforting peck on her lips before slowly nodding.
"That very important thing you'd tell me after the Festival, right?" He hesitantly said.
"Yes, that" Rumi sighed, shaking her head.
Should I tell him? She pondered. Yeah, I've got no real excuse, do I? He deserves to know and now I doubt he can screw up. I owe it to him.
Having decided, Rumi took a deep breath.
"I overheard a certain conversation, one I really shouldn't have" Rumi mumbled.
"Rabbit Girl… you don't have to tell me, y'know? It can wait" Fox Boy stated, uncertain.
"No, Fox Boy, let me tell you" Rumi scoffed, a hand caressing his face. "You deserve to know and it is important."
Their eyes remained locked for a moment, the seriousness of the situation etched in their gazes.
"During the Second Event, I overheard Principal Nezu talking to three men. There was this old gruff sounding guy and a very stern and serious-sounding man" she retold. "I think they were Grand Torino and Sir Nighteye. Well, there was a fourth person… a man called Toshinori."
Fox Boy leaned back and Rabbit Girl kept her hands on his shoulders, as if to keep him seated.
"What did they talk about?" Fox Boy tentatively asked.
"All Might. They talked about him and…" Rumi softly said, biting her lips for a brief second of hesitation before staring straight into his eyes. "He is dying."
Fox Boy's eyes widened and his jaw dropped.
"I'm not sure but it does sounds like he isn't doing well. Remember how we noticed a drop in his public appearances before he became a teacher? It is because he is running out of time. Apparently, he has a limited time to use his quirk and he has this condition… I think an injury from a past fight" Rumi retold. "And… God, it appears that All Might takes this other form, the form of Toshinori. I didn't see him... but he definately is a far cry from the Symbol of peace we know about."
"So all this time... All Might was an enhacer type?" Izuku whispered.
"Looks like it. In any case, All Might isn't doing good. He has this cough... urgh, you must have heard it. I don't think he has that long" she said.
Fox Boy stared at her, emerald eyes riddled with confusion and panic.
"But that's not all" Rumi said with a grimace. "All Might is looking for an heir, someone to…" Rumi trailed off, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Look, this is going to sound weird, but I overheard them say that - geez, this sounds so weird! - All Might needs to pick someone to give his quirk to."
Fox Boy just stared at Rumi, dumbfounded.
"All Might is going to choose someone based on their actions at the Sports Festival" Rumi told Fox Boy. "And you, Fox Boy, are apparently a candidate for All Might's quirk."
Fox Boy didn't say a thing. He remained frozen in place. Rumi might have laughed at his stupid face were it not for the circumstances.
"So yeah… pretty crazy, huh?" Rumi chuckled. "Oh, and there was this talk about villains infiltrating U.A. and getting something out of it and maybe they are out to kill All Might." She shrugged at Fox Boy. "So… yeah, what a day, huh?"
Fox Boy scoffed and shook his head. Rumi chuckled and gave him a comforting kiss.
"How in the world did you end up overhearing such an important conversation?" He wondered.
"Aren't you going to tell me how nuts I am?" Rumi mused with a smirk, poking at his chest.
"Oh, I believe you" Fox Boy said, grabbing her poking hand and giving it a kiss.
Rumi found that a strange thing to do… but she kind of liked it. He kept hold of the hand, his clawed thumb trailed her palm as if fascinated by her callouses.
"You know, now that you mention, it is odd how I ended up overhearing that conversation" Rumi hummed. Fox Boy released her hand, only for his hands to caress her back. "Do you remember when you healed me a month ago?"
"Ah yes, an injury by… was it a hammer?" Fox Boy teasingly recalled.
"So you believe me about the Number One Hero being able to pass on a quirk and on his way to the grave but not that I was actually injured by a random hammer?" Rumi snorted with dry amusement.
"Hey, it is odd for a hammer to just drop on your foot. Quirks on the other hand… I can believe any crazy thing about them" Fox Boy pointed out.
"Only you, Fox Boy" she huffed with a roll of her eyes. "Yeah, right, so I found that same hammer on the middle of a corridor when I went to the bathroom. Wouldn't you know it? The conversation was happening just nearby."
"Really? That sounds too convenient" Fox Boy hummed.
"What? Like a set-up? Please, I doubt the arsehole who left a hammer to fall on my foot actually tried to have me overhear the biggest secret of our time" Rumi scoffed.
"Actually, Rabbit Girl, what if there is someone out there that wanted you to eavesdrop on that conversation?"
Rumi glared at him.
"Don't be ridiculous, Fox Boy. What manner of person would want that? Hell, what manner of person could actually manage to pull it off?" She dismissively scoffed.
"What about Principal Nezu?" Izuku asked.
Rumi raised an eyebrow, only for Fox Boy to avert his eyes and scoff.
"Fine, it does sound like a stupid conspiracy theory" he muttered.
Rumi chuckled and gave him a kiss on the lips. The two shared a smile. However, it was short-lived. The gravity of the truth fell on them quickly enough and, before long, they were numbly staring at each other.
Yeah… definitely not the best conversation when I want to get laid, huh? Rumi joked. Admittedly, she didn't want to get that far… yet. That didn't mean she wanted to just ponder on the tragedies and uncertainties of a fast approaching new Dark Age. To her surprise, it was Fox Boy who broke the silence.
"You know, All Might said something strange after I denied the Gold medal" Fox Boy hummed. "He said that I could make a great Symbol of Peace if I wanted to. Do you think…?"
Rumi's eyes widened.
"Really? Holy Rabbit, do you know what that means?!" She excitedly asked. "It means he might be considering you already!"
"You think so?" Fox Boy wondered, frowning. "I doubt he'll pick me over any senior student."
"Oy, come on, Fox Boy. There is no one better to inherit his power" Rumi said. "Imagine having All Mights strength and resilience? You would be amazing!"
"I… no" Fox Boy muttered, shaking his head. "I- I can't take such power."
"Oh, Fox Boy, I think I'd sleep easy knowing you had such a quirk and no some random fool" Rumi scoffed.
"I already have an amazing quirk. I like the Nine Tailed Fox" Fox Boy tentatively said. "I've still got too much to learn and discover, like that weird Fur Manipulation aspect Shinso mentioned. I want to know if it is really how he described it. There are also the other tailed forms."
"Ha, funny you say that. A month ago I remember how you growled at me to mind my own business. Remember that?" Rumi laughed, nudging him. "You were so ashamed of your own quirk…"
You were such a strangely pathetic, and yet you have proven to be pretty decent, Rumi thought with a grin.
"From a quirkless boy who was used to being just one person, trust me, changing bodies is the weirdest thing you can experience – especially between genders" Fox Boy chuckled, only to grimace. "Still… All Might's power? I don't know…"
"Think about it: All Might's quirk" Rumi hummed. "You could actually hope to beat me in a straight fight, Fox Boy!"
"Har-har-har" Fox Boy sarcastically grunted, earning a chuckle from the Rabbit Girl. "Sincerely, though, I think All Might should pick someone who is quirkless."
Rumi was about to rebut that when she paused.
How did I find myself someone like this guy? She wondered.
"You really are something, you know that? We are talking about inheriting one if not the most powerful quirk out there… and you go on and say to give it to someone else?" She said with a fond smile. "I must say, you can be quite the hero when you want to."
"You too" Fox Boy said with a smile of his own. "You really are pretty amazing, you know?"
"Oh, I know that" Rumi huffed.
The two stared at each other, lost in their eyes… before they snorted in perfect unison and broke out in laughter. Fox Boy leaned back and pulled Rabbit Girl against his chest, all while his back fell on the sand, enjoying the warm air and the last rays of sunlight. Rumi grinned with satisfaction as she snuggled against his chest, his tails and hands draping over her.
"I said it before and I'll say it again: snuggling is the most underrated shit ever" Rumi hummed, burying her face into his chest.
"Absolutely" Fox Boy hummed in response.
For a moment, the two merely enjoyed the moment. All Might, his quirk, certain doom… that could wait, couldn't it? Still, as much as they wanted to ignore the darkness looming over the horizon, they couldn't bring themselves to goof off ceaselessly.
"You know, Fox Boy?" Rumi hummed, relishing on Fox boy's warmth and scent. "I don't say this to anyone… but we could make a good duo."
"You mean, my strength, power, good looks and smarts plus your attitude? Yeah, we could be a great duo" teased Fox Boy.
Rumi chuckled, smacking the playful fox boy.
"Yes, we could and, well, I do want to. With people like the Hero Killer out there…" he hummed.
And there we are… the one topic we've been avoiding, Rumi thought with a grimace.
"You think it was him, don't you?" Rumi asked.
"I'm sure it was the Hero Killer. I doubt they'll tell the public but… he had been on the prowl and Iida had been worried about it… who else? You rarely hear villains beating heroes these days" Fox Boy morosely replied.
Rumi could feel the grief and confusion on Fox Boy's stiff body. No matter their close proximity, it was hard to forget that a terrible tragedy had occurred and, for once, Rumi couldn't bring herself to stop thinking about it either.
"I can't believe it. Ingenium… dead" Rumi murmured. With her face scrunched shut, she tried to dispel the fear swelling in her gut. Fox Boy's comforting hands helped a lot, though. "I never told Robot Boy… but I kind of respected Ingenium. He wasn't the top fighter out there… but he gave his all. Most heroes do."
"I actually never thought that much about him" admitted the Fox Boy with a pained voice. "There were so many heroes… and he never cared that much about the rankings so he never put that much of an effort to appear out there."
"He was a very laid-back hero" Rumi scoffed with a grin.
"Free-spirited, Rabbit Girl" Izuku said with a chuckle. "God, why would someone just kill him? For money? For fame?"
"They say Stain does it for sport" Rumi hummed.
The two remained silent, perhaps unwilling to delve into such a topic. Rumi could feel, though, Izuku's claws tensing with anger, as if eager to reap Stain's flesh. Rumi pushed herself forward, her face hovering over his, and kissed him.
"Are you afraid of being a hero, Fox Boy?" Rumi asked with a frown. "Of dying in the line of duty?"
"No" he said with a glare. "I'm more afraid about the people I might lose on the way…"
"I'm not going anywhere, Fox Boy" Rumi softly replied. "Perhaps you should worry about yourself, you silly fox."
She frowned at him all while his cunning emerald eyes bored into her soul.
"You are worried I might kill myself doing something stupid, don't you? During the internship" he concluded.
Shit, why does he have to do that? Rumi mentally swore.
"Fine, yes, I worry you might pull the selfless act and – you know – jump head first for some random person" Rumi grumbled. She glared at him. "Don't tell me you wouldn't do it."
"That's what a hero is supposed to do, isn't it?" Fox Boy pointed out.
"A Pro-Hero, not a newbie like you" she corrected, glaring admonishingly at him. "You have to get a hell of a lot stronger before you even think about getting in the way of the pros."
Fox Boy didn't reply, but by that scowl of his Rabbit Girl could tell nothing would stop him. She feared as much. A part of her was really worried that, even for all his strength and smarts, Fox Boy was not strong enough for the world of villains. She knew deep down he had proven he was more than capable... but how could she stop feeling like that?
"How about we forget about all the shit in the world and just… you know… enjoy ourselves?" Rumi proposed.
The two remained silent, unwilling to approach the dark topic at hand. As much as Rumi wanted to grieve Robot Boy's brother, she wanted to have a moment of happiness with her fox boy, just the two of them…
"Just the two of us" hummed Fox Boy with a faint smile.
"The best future hero team out there" she teased.
Fox Boy grinned at that.
"We can do it, right? Fox Boy and Rabbit Girl" Rumi said. "Sounds like a good hero duo, huh?"
"How about… the Fox and the Rabbit?" Fox Boy said with a hint of amusement. "Yeah… evildoers won't know what hit them."
Rabbit Girl chuckled, pushing herself from Fox Boy's chest. He stared at her, confused, only to find a smiling Rabbit Girl. Slowly, she leaned over and went back to kissing. This time, though, her hands bravely ventured down… and inside his shirt. The way Fox Boy's eyes widened was almost comical. However, retribution quickly came and Rabbit Girl squeaked as a pair of bold clawed hands swept under her own shirt, making her shiver.
"Fox Boy…" Rabbit Girl purred before she leaned over the boy and went back to kissing.
Better make sure we don't get too carried away… Rabbit Girl thought, losing herself in the moment. It was going to be hard, especially with the way those clawed hands caressed her.
Just… just a few minutes longer… she thought, purring as Fox Boy rolled to a side, pushing her down and ending on top.
Rumi lost herself in the moment, enjoying his lips against hers, and the way those claws brushed against her skin. She felt his hands venturing down… traversing her spine… down her butt-cheeks… and straight to her cotton tail. A moan almost escaped her and, instead, bit down on Fox Boy's neck. Instead of stopping, however, he carried on, his hands apparently entertained by her cotton tail. Of course, nothing good lasts forever.
"You alright?" Fox Boy asked, parting away rather hesitantly.
Oh boy, you have no idea! Rumi thought.
"Y-yes!" She blurted out, grinning.
Fox Boy, though, wasn't convinced. He frowned and raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Really? Because you shivered for a moment there" Fox Boy said.
"Oh, it was nothing" she purred, biting her lip.
Fox Boy looked around, unsure.
"It's getting late…" he said, hesitant.
And just when we were getting to the good part, Rumi mentally grumbled.
However, as much as she hated to admit it, he had a point. She had to go back to her home before her mother started a manhunt for her. Rumi sighed, annoyed, and turned towards Fox Boy.
"Just a few more minutes" Rumi pleaded with a pout.
He merely smiled and leaned over, gently kissing her. The future would bring many surprises and perhaps dark times were upon them. At the moment, though, they were just two teenagers, enjoying their time together. However, much to their dismay, the night was fast approaching…
The U.A. Freshmen Sports Festival had ended and all people could do was talk about in anticipation for the next games. The senior years, after all, would be far more exciting, wouldn't they? From news networks to commentary on the internet, everyone was still going over the events. There was a certain bar, secluded from most of society, that was no different: it had a massive flat screen playing the ending of the Sports Festival. The difference, perhaps, were the people watching.
Seated around a table, they were an odd trio, with a grey-haired middle-aged man known as Giran in between. There was something sleezy about his demenour, or perhaps that violet battered suit of his. He definitely looked different from the younger men seated opposite each other on the table.
One of Giran's companions was a pale man with a colourful plague mask and short, shaggy auburn hair, parted to the right. Clad in a fine and expensive black dress shirt and matching dress pants, he had the appearance of a wealthy individual, the complete opposite to the man opposite him. Said person was clad in simple black long-sleeved shirt and pants, almost like some random young man. With chapped lips and dry skin, he give off a certain creepy vibe, particularly with the white hair draping over him in a dishevelled mess.
It was strange to think about it, but at the moment, Giran could not believe he was in the presence of the rather new boss of Yakuza, known as Overhaul. Why he had a plague mask? One could only wonder. The other young man was no less notorious. Carrying a rather shadowy organization himself, Giran had known Shigaraki for longer. Speaking of which, why was Shigaraki scribbling in a notebook? Again, he didn't care as long as it got him paid in the end.
In the end, Shigaraki chuckled (Giran was surprised it no longer creeped him out) before he slowly closed his notebook and, almost adoringly, patted it. Overhaul squinted at Shigaraki, visibly impatient. Giran glanced behind him, where the bodyguards of each faction wearily glared at each other in the shadows.
If this goes awry I don't think I'm make it out in one piece, Giran thought with amusement. He glanced at Shigaraki. Perhaps it is time to actually talk business before they start killing each other.
"Do tell us, Shigaraki, who exactly is your target?" Giran said with a smirk. "The Yaoyorozu heir or the son of Endeavour?"
"Truth to be told… I think I am most inclined for the fox brat" Shigaraki hummed, scratching his long thin neck.
"Huh, I know what you mean. He could sell well, especially because of that hot-chick form of his" Giran said. "Animal girls sell extremely well."
Overhaul scowled at that but said nothing.
"I have no interest for such a frivolous thing" Shigaraki snorted. "No, it is the three-tailed form that interests me."
"The one that has those blue flames?" Giran huffed. "Why? Because she can heal?"
"Oh, it's more than just healing" Shigaraki pointed out.
"More? So she healed some scars. That isn't a big deal" Giran grunted.
"Scars are, technically, healed tissue Giran" Shigaraki pointed out with a grin. "Oh no, those flames appear to do more than heal like Recovery Girl. I think… the fox brat's fire can restore someone's health, something akin to… rejuvenation."
"As some kind of life force bull crap?" Giran asked, baffled.
He rolled his eyes, taking a moment to enjoy the rather expensive whiskey in his hand. Say what you want about near-death negotiations, they always served the best drinks.
"It could be a reversal type of quirk" Overhaul casually commented "…but it wouldn't be the first time I saw a life-force quirk."
"Whatever it is, the fox brat can heal scarred tissue meaning it is possible she could restore far more than what most healing quirks ever could. He could perhaps heal entire organs and old battle woulds..." Shigaraki stated with a wide creepy grin. "However, who says I'm after just one of them?"
Giran choked at that, coughing violently and spreading expensive whiskey across the bar. Overhaul, didn't do much better. He snapped towards Shigaraki, perplexed.
"You are going after the entire class?" Giran wheezed.
"Oh, I am going for more than just that" Shigaraki mused with a smirk. "But yes, I will attack an entire class of snot-nosed hero wannabes… 1-A in particular."
"That is ill-advised… but who am I to stop you?" Overhaul remarked with disdain.
"Kid, didn't you see the students just now? Class 1-A have a whole bunch of powerful quirks. That explosive brat, the Bakugo kid, could wreck through most guys I know – and that's without his costume. God knows what he is capable with equipment, and we are talking about top-notch gear here. And let's not forget the son of Endeavor. He can create glaciers, kid" Giran pointed out.
"And that is where you come in" Shigaraki said with a smirk, towards Overhaul.
"Yes, you did mention a substantial interest in my organization's… products" Overhaul hummed. "They won't be cheap."
"I was thinking more of a trade" Shigaraki snickered with a creepy grin.
"And pray tell, what do you have that I might be interested in?" Overhaul calmly wondered.
"You might think you've been inconspicuous, but I know your organization has been seeking to expand onto new… what did you call it? Products. Well, at least you do seem to be diversifying into something more biological than chemical by the sounds of it" Shigaraki said. Overhaul squinted at Shigaraki but said nothing. "Oh, I won't ask what exactly you need so much biotechnological equipment for… but I guarantee I can get it."
"What are we talking about here?" Overhaul tentatively asked.
"Chemicals, samples, test rats, thermocycler, centrifuges… and why stop there? I can get you Next Generation sequencers and safety cabins if you so much want to" Shigaraki replied.
"Impossible. Getting all of that would be hell – especially if you want to keep it quiet" Giran scoffed with a grin of amusement. "Since the Meta Supremacists and Conservationists of the Dark Age anything that can be used to study or work on quirks has been heavily regulated. Trust me, I know the smuggling business."
But Overhaul didn't care about Giran's opinion.
"…and what, pray tell, do you want in exchange?" He softly wondered.
"Trigger… and I am not talking the low quality kind you can find in a dark alley. I mean the high quality product you Yakuza so greedily protect and regulate" Shigaraki said.
"I suppose it won't be any short supply" Overhaul remarked.
"I need enough for more than two hundred people" Shigaraki remarked.
Overhaul didn't outright show surprise, other than slowly raising an eyebrow. Giran, in turn, whistled with surprise.
"And how in the world did you land such a small army?" Giran wondered.
"It isn't hard… you merely need to look in the right places" Shigaraki cryptically said.
"Or have a much more appealing face for recruitment, like the infamous Stain the hero killer" Overhaul scoffed.
"Ha, that's a good one" chuckled Giran, rolling his eyes. "Stain doesn't take money. Heck, he doesn't-"
"In a manner of speech, yes" Shigaraki stated.
"What?" Giran asked.
"You've been dying to confirm that all night, haven't you Overhaul?" Shigaraki chuckled with amusement.
The masked-man merely nodded.
"I don't quite… control him. I don't think anyone can. The best you can do it just provide for his needs and equipment and point him at Pro-Heroes" Shigaraki elaborated. "He's a tad too paranoid and self-righteous for a direct approach."
"And how do you manage to direct him then?" Overhaul asked, intrigued.
Giran looked at the two like they had lost their minds. Then again, from working experience, that usually was the case.
"Oh, you know zealots" mused Shigaraki "you just feed into their beliefs and they'll do all the killing. Of course, he can also be troublesome against your own cause… if you aren't careful. Stain has a bad habit of targeting our kind as much as heroes."
"Wow, wow, wow, hold on" Giran said, shaking his head. "Are we talking about THE Stain here? How did you manage to get to him?"
"You can't actually believe he has been eluding the entire force of our pathetic government on his own, can you?" Shigaraki taunted. "My organization is the reason Stain has gotten this far… a pity it will end soon."
"You are getting rid of him? Why?" Giran wondered.
"As much as I dislike filth like Stain, I do find his one-man crusade beneficial to my own organization" Overhaul coldly stated.
"He is no longer of any use to me… alive at least" Shigaraki mused. "He's worth more as a martyr." He added with a smirk.
"You intend to betray him?" Giran grunted with a grimace. "That could backfire, big time. He has quite a following growing and they'll come after you."
"Oh, it won't be at my hands. It is time for Pro-Heroes to actually do their part" Shigaraki remarked.
"How can you be so sure?" Overhaul wondered.
"Let's just say I know both where he is as well as a general idea of his quirk" Shigaraki mused. "In fact, I am sure he is in the perfect place for his defeat, somewhere where his quirk will not work as expected."
"Don't leave us hanging here, where is he?" Giran chuckled.
"Oh, that's for me to know and for you to guess" Shigaraki pointed out. "In any case, the deed is done. At some point next week, Stain will be either brought down or captured…"
"…and his followers will want revenge" Giran said with a smirk.
"And I suppose you, the secret benefactor, will just happen to swoop in to rally them against a common enemy" Overhaul concluded. "That is assuming your plan actually works."
"Oh, it will work. Stain will meet his end next week, and that's where you come in, Giran" Shigaraki said.
"Ah, so now I know why I am such a special guest today" Giran mused with a grin. "Oh, let me guess: weapons."
"Oh, not just weapons. I need all the gear you can get for my minions" Shigaraki stated.
"You know it will take some time to get that much, right?" Giran pointed out. "When will you need them?"
"In two weeks" Shigaraki responded only to turn towards Overhaul "the same with the Trigger."
Overhaul frowned.
"That's… quite the request" Overhaul said. "I don't believe we can guarantee the sum you ask for in such a short time. I'll have to smuggle quite a sum of reagents from the continent… and that can sometimes face complications."
"If you allowed Kurogiri to do the transporting…" Shigaraki mused.
"And give you an insight on my operations?" Overhaul said. "I'll get the Trigger you want by late next week… but I want some of the equipment now."
"We can arrange for that" Shigaraki huffed. He turned to Giran "so?"
"Well kid, that's… quite the tall order. I'll have to make a few calls to my… ehm… sources outside the city to smuggle everything in… but yeah, I think I can manage" Giran said. "I'll need some funds upfront, though."
Shigaraki merely nodded.
"You seem awfully confident this plan of yours will succeed even if your infiltration attempt to U.A. was botched" Giran stated.
"So that failed infiltration was yours?" Overhauled wondered, amused.
"Who says it was a failure?" Shigaraki responded. "On the contrary, it was a success. I got exactly what I wanted and everyone assumes it was a failure."
"Ah, I see" Overhaul hummed. "The ones caught were the decoy for the actual infiltration… did you succeed into breaking into their servers?"
"Of course not" Shigaraki scoffed. "I went for something feasible. Believe me when I tell you, I now have all the information I need to make a successful attack on the hero wannabes."
"Perhaps you will manage to succeed in this attack of yours with such resources at your disposal" Overhaul conceded. "However, I do not see why you wish to merely attack a class of brats."
"You kidding? Get me the Yaoyorozu girl and I'll find a buyer in no time. Her quirk alone is worth billions, and that's leaving out the fact her family is loaded" Giran remarked. "She could sell well as a bride too."
"Oh, it isn't just the brats I want" Shigaraki said with a smirk.
Giran and Overhaul frowned at the creepy young man with confusion.
"I want to bring down this pathetic society of Heroes and to do so, I need to destroy its main pillar" Shigaraki said.
"You mean U.A.? I guess a direct attack to the most prestigious school of heroes could get the message across" Giran stated.
"Oh, not the school. I want the actual pillar of our society… the very same that managed to finally bring us all out of the so-called Dark Age into this rotting peaceful age of pathetic heroes" Shigaraki said with a wide grin.
"You can't mean…?" Overhaul asked, frowning.
"Oh yes… within two weeks, I will attack U.A., kidnap an entire class of aspiring Pro-Heroes…" Shigaraki trailed off, grinning "…and kill the Symbol of Peace himself: the number one hero, All Might."