"Oh, sorry, I don't really have an answer, but I remembered the formula for solving the problem." Smiling warmly at her, Izuku awkwardly began to write down the entire lesson. According to Venom, the lessons were extremely slow and boring compared to the adrenaline rush they experienced every night in battles with villains or heroes.
The lesson ended, but no one was in a hurry to leave the classroom, as the teacher had to leave or stand up first before the students.
"So, since we have a work month..." At the mention of the words "work month," many students grumbled discontentedly. The work month included cleaning the entire classroom by one student. Cleaning was done on a schedule after all lessons, from the best student in terms of academic performance to the worst.
"Since Midoriya Izuku is the best student in our class, he will clean the entire classroom today. Tomorrow, another student will clean. You can join him if you want to help." Everyone gave him a haughty look and wanted to laugh, but they knew that this fate would affect everyone.
"I hope everyone understand."
"Yes, sir." The teacher left the classroom, and the students just sat silently, waiting for the next lesson. Turning to Melissa, Izuku looked at her with a sad smile.
"I'm sorry, Shield-san. I think we'll have to cancel our bike ride." He turned away from her sadly, putting his books in his backpack. Suddenly, Melissa didn't seem offended by him.
"It's okay, Midoriya-san. I'd be happy to help you clean the classroom. It's always more fun and faster together, right?" Izuku couldn't believe his ears. This was the first classmate in his life who had decided to help him. Yes, he could have done it alone, but remembering how his classmates treated him, this situation was a breath of fresh air.
"Thank you, Shield-san. I am very touched by your help." The students left the classroom and headed for another room. As Izuku walked alongside Melissa, he kept glancing at her. She walked proudly, as if fearing nothing. Her smile never left her face.
Izuku couldn't take his eyes off her confident gait. Unlike him, who slumped his shoulders and tried to be inconspicuous, Melissa seemed to radiate calmness and strength.
"Aren't you afraid that others will think something wrong?" he finally blurted out, clutching the strap of his backpack. Melissa turned her head, her blue eyes flashing with a slight mockery.
"What could they think? That I'm helping a friend?" She shrugged. "Let them think what they want."
Friend...
The word echoed warmly in Izuku's chest. He so rarely heard it directed at him.
"Thank you," he whispered, but Melissa had already confidently stepped forward, opening the classroom door.
Class was over, and with it came Izuku's duty to clean the classroom. Before, he had stayed late to clean up, remaining alone, and then walked home all by himself.
When they returned, they found the room empty. Sunlight fell on the desks, raising a light dust in the air. Izuku sighed and reached for a rag, but Melissa beat him to it, deftly grabbing the bucket.
"Let's have a mini-game. First, a speed test: who can wipe the desks faster, and then who can put the desks on the table faster." Not wanting to be outdone by her enthusiasm, Izuku smiled and held out his pinky finger to her.
"If I win, I get your chocolate." Venom hissed approvingly, looking forward to the upcoming treat. In that short time, he had become too fond of the Shield family's chocolate. Her blue eyes also sparkled, and she couldn't help but smile at her classmate's behavior.
"If I win, you'll help me with a project." She crossed her pinky with his, looking into his emerald eyes with confidence in her abilities. There were 20 desks with chairs in the classroom, and each of them took 10 so it would be fair. They both took a rag in each hand with a bucket and prepared for the countdown. They both thought that one of them would start the countdown, but for three minutes there was only silence, and no one dared to look each other in the eye.
Turning their heads, Izuku and Melissa met each other's gaze. Melissa smiled, while Izuku shrugged.
"Go ahead," Izuku said.
"No, you," Melissa replied with a smirk. With a sigh, Izuku offered his initiative to resolve this awkward problem.
"Then let's start together."
"1."
"2."
"3."
Jumping up at the same time, Izuku and Melissa rushed to the desks. The rags in their hands became weapons in this mad race. Venom, sensing his master's excitement, hissed quietly in his head:
"Faster, Izuku! Chocolate depends on it!" Izuku sped up, wiping desk after desk, but Melissa seemed to move with unruffled ease. She wasn't just wiping dust — she was doing it with an almost artistic grace, as if it were a dance.
"How do you do it so fast?" Izuku asked breathlessly, already finishing his fifth desk. To his surprise, it was much more energy-consuming than carrying heavy trash on the beach. While Izuku wiped the desks, Melissa did it all much faster.
"Experience and skill," Melissa winked, tossing the rag into a bucket of water. Helping her parents in her free time, she sometimes worked part-time to tidy up the café during closing time or after customers had left. Working in the café with her parents, she understood well how to keep records and statistics for the business and had a keen understanding of the spirit of the modern age.
Izuku snorted but didn't slow down. At one point, he accidentally knocked over a bucket, and water nearly spilled onto the floor, but Melissa deftly caught it with one hand without even pausing.
"Hey, be careful!" she laughed. "If you lose because of your clumsiness, it will be sad."
"I won't lose!" Izuku wiped his forehead and rushed to the next desk with renewed vigor. When the last surface was cleaned, both of them froze, breathing heavily.
"So who's faster?" Melissa grinned, tossing the rag from hand to hand.
Izuku looked at his desks, then at hers, and gave up.
"Okay, I admit it, you won."
"Yay!" She jumped up and down happily. "So you're helping me with my project!" Her laughter and joy were so familiar and heartfelt to him. He remembered the last time he had been genuinely happy with a friend. His memories were interrupted by Melissa and her voice. Izuku noticed how her voice softened when they were alone; in front of her classmates, her voice was confident and unwavering, which made the teachers respect her.
"So we still have to mop the floor, wipe the blackboard, and clean the windows. Where shall we start?" Izuku put his finger to his chin and began to think. His pensive look amused Melissa greatly. Even when asked ordinary questions, Izuku looked as if he were trying to win the lottery in every possible scenario.
"I think we should start by wiping the windows." Opening the special door for cleaning supplies and buckets with a key, his gaze immediately fell on two spray bottles with rags. They contained plain water because the school administration was afraid that the chemical composition of the liquid could harm the students and their eyesight during cleaning. Giving her the rag and spray bottle, they began washing the windows, telling stories from their lives and jokes along the way. Despite social problems with Izuku and people, he easily communicated with her as an equal.
"Maybe it's because she's quirkless?" Izuku asked himself, losing touch with reality. His head was filled with hundreds of thoughts and ideas. He couldn't stop thinking about his visit to the doctor and the black slime.
Melissa, seeing how often he drifted away from reality, decided to brighten up Izuku's gray everyday life by cheering him up. She sprayed his face with a spray bottle. The touch of the thin, cold stream of water brought Izuku back to reality. His gaze returned to Melissa, but, feeling excited, she began to spray even more water, forcing Izuku to cover himself with his hands. He liked it — the way she smiled and laughed. Not wanting to spoil the moment for her, Izuku also began to spray her. Covering herself with her hands, she began to hide behind cover so as not to get caught in the crossfire. They tried to hit each other for so long that they forgot why they had started cleaning. Both smiled and laughed, succumbing to the euphoria of the moment. Outside, the orange sun was still shining with warm orange rays.
The water sparkled in the rays of the setting sun, scattering in small splashes across the classroom. Melissa, hiding behind an overturned desk, peeked out for a second — and immediately got a jet of water right in the forehead.
"Gotcha!" Izuku laughed, but before he could rejoice, a return shot hit him in the neck. Water ran down his collar, making him shudder.
"Cold!" he snorted, but immediately responded with a burst from the spray bottle. Melissa deftly dodged, sliding behind the teacher's desk.
"You're too predictable, Midoriya-san!" came a voice from behind the desk. She continued to fire at Izuku until his projectiles hit the blackboard.
"Oh, is that so?" Izuku narrowed his eyes, and then Venom hissed in his head:
"Let me take control. I'll show her what a real duel is." Venom also wanted to join in the fun between the two classmates.
"No way, this is a fair fight," Izuku thought, but the symbiote had already pushed him to take decisive action. Izuku lunged forward, somersaulting over the desk, and ended up right in front of Melissa. She gasped, but didn't lose her composure — she pressed the sprayer point-blank.
**PSSSH!**
Water splashed right in her face.
"Ha! Victory is mine!" she exclaimed triumphantly, but then immediately realized that Izuku... had disappeared.
"Not so fast," came a voice from behind her. Before she could turn around, cold drops hit the back of her head. Melissa screamed and jumped aside, but Izuku was already rushing after her, sprayer at the ready.
"Give up?" he asked, taking aim.
"No way!" Melissa spun around sharply and... **CLICK**. Her spray bottle made an empty sound. She was out of water.
Silence fell.
Izuku froze, his finger already on the button. Melissa looked at him, drops of water running down her face, but her eyes burning with excitement.
"Well, cowboy, are you giving up?" she whispered.
"Shoot," Melissa said. Izuku hesitated.
"Do it," Venom urged. But instead, he lowered the spray bottle and laughed.
"No way. It was a great duel, but I'm not going to finish off an opponent who can't fight back." Melissa snorted, but her smile betrayed her approval. With Izuku's gun pointed at her, she raised her hands in surrender, but then grinned, having come up with a cunning plan.
"Noble. But do you know what that means?" Her tone was friendly, so Venom and Izuku didn't suspect anything.
"What?"
"That you still lost!" She lunged forward and snatched the spray bottle from him.
"Hey! That's not fair!" Izuku laughed, stepping back.
"In a real duel, everything is fair!" Melissa pressed the button... But nothing happened. They both looked at the spray bottle at the same time — it was empty too. There was a moment of silence, and then they both laughed.
"A draw?" Izuku suggested.
"A draw," Melissa agreed, wiping her wet hair.
They looked at each other, and at that moment something clicked — not in the classroom, but between them. Something new. Izuku was familiar with this feeling, but he couldn't fully admit it to himself. It was a painfully familiar situation with a person who appreciated him for who he was.
But then the door burst open.
"What are you doing here?!" the teacher's indignant voice rang out.
Izuku and Melissa froze like deer in the headlights. The floor was flooded with water, the desks were pushed aside, and they themselves were wet from head to toe. Cold water dripped from their faces; they weren't exactly scared, but they were surprised by the teacher's sudden appearance. Although these two were considered the smartest in their class, they behaved, frankly speaking, like children.
"Um..." Izuku began.
"We... were cleaning up!" Melissa finished cheerfully. The teacher looked at them, then at the chaos in the classroom, and sighed.
"Clean up all this mess. Both of you. And make everything shine." When he left, Izuku and Melissa exchanged glances. They stood there for about five seconds, hesitating to respond to each other, when Izuku giggled at the "cleaning" they had done. Melissa was not far behind and actively supported her friend's cheerful mood. They laughed so hard that Melissa had to take off her glasses so she wouldn't drop them while laughing.
"Well... team?" she smiled. For a moment, Izuku thought she looked even more beautiful without her glasses than with them. Their uniforms were wet, but that didn't stop them from moving around.
Izuku smiled back.
"Team."
While Melissa wiped the windows, Izuku took out a bucket and mop to clean the floor. Having fun, Izuku also came up with various ways to entertain himself so that cleaning would seem faster and more enjoyable together. Dipping the mop in water, he cleaned the floor, constantly wiping away the dirt left by his classmates.
"Midoriya-san, can I ask you something?" Suspecting nothing, he continued cleaning, not taking his attention away from the task at hand. Izuku answered affirmatively and laughed, but Melissa's tone faltered slightly at the upcoming question. Swallowing hard, she glanced at him and asked the question.
"Where did you get those bruises and scars on your arm?" Izuku stopped and glanced at her. They were marks from bullying by his classmates, including a couple of scars left by Bakugo. The fresh bruises from the battle with Ingenium had not yet completely healed. If he had to lift his shirt, a whole bunch of dried scars would be visible for the rest of his life. He was afraid of how Nejire would react if they met at UA. If she had been with him during training, she would not have let anyone touch him. Izuku didn't want to lie, especially to his friends, but for the sake of fun and to keep the mood warm and cheerful, he lied.
"Oh, I thought no one would notice. You're very observant after all." Melissa finished wiping the windows and met his gaze with some concern.
"These are the results of cleaning and training on Dagoba Beach." Melissa narrowed her eyes, clearly not believing his explanation. She slowly approached him, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Does training on the beach leave *such* scars?" Her voice sounded skeptical. She gently took his hand, turning his palm upward. On the inside of his wrist was a thin, almost white mark—clearly from a burn. Izuku felt Venom tense beneath his skin, ready to protect him, but he mentally calmed the symbiote.
"Well... it varies," he muttered, looking away. Melissa didn't let go of his hand, as if it hurt her. Seeing how tense her friend was, she didn't ask any more personal questions. Not now. The time would come, and she would ask about it when they became closer.
"Be careful, Midoriya-san. It's noble to help others, but don't forget about yourself." Izuku mentally exhaled, relieved that Melissa hadn't asked any more questions. Removing his hand from her soft, pleasant-to-the-touch palms, he continued mopping the floor.
"Our interests coincide after all, Midoriya." Returning her smile, she crossed her arms, hiding her excitement from him. Izuku was surprised, but he also didn't understand the meaning of her words. Did he really look like that when he talked to people?
"I don't understand," he replied dryly. Continuing to wipe the floor, Izuku remembered his early drawings of gadgets and costumes that he and Andy had come up with for various situations. A skilled mechanic would have helped them, but those who could create heroic equipment reported to the state, which made it difficult for Izuku to remain anonymous. His hope lay with independent enthusiasts and a shady broker who could do almost anything.
"Oh, it's simple. I'm going to enroll in a UA business course in the future, and to increase my chances of admission, I need to create a portfolio. I need to understand marketing and promotion, and your desire to clean up the beach will help me a lot." After pausing, Melissa watched her classmate's reaction. Izuk, processing the information, muttered thoughtfully, assessing future prospects or problems.
"So you're going to film me cleaning the beach?" Izuku wiped the entire floor and, heading to the office, listened to Melissa's explanation of how her project would help them in the future. The offer sounded extremely tempting, but it would attract a lot of attention. Remembering how he had been condemned on the internet and how they had tried to cancel him, he wanted to refuse the idea immediately.
"Yes, but for the sake of your anonymity, we'll change your voice and put a mask on you so that you become a kind of mascot." Izuku froze, mentally weighing the pros and cons. Venom immediately jumped into his thoughts. Mascots were the talismans of large companies. Did she really want to start building her future right now?
"A mask? Great idea. No one will know it's you. And if the project takes off, we'll have resources." But Izuku hesitated. Even with a mask, it was risky—his movements, habits, and manner of speaking could give him away. However, Melissa's gaze, full of sincere belief in this venture, made him give in. She believed that the unpretentious could achieve a lot if they just put in the effort, and everything would work out. During her stay in Japan, she noticed how many things depended on having the right quirk. And not having a quirk basically meant not having the right qualifications.
"Okay... but only if we think everything through to the smallest detail. No hints about my identity," he said firmly. Melissa beamed at him.
"Of course! I've already come up with a concept — 'The Secret Hero of Dagoba'. An anonymous fighter for cleanliness who inspires people to change!" Izuku blushed. It sounded... too pretentious. He had no intention of having two alternative personalities in his heroic sphere and in his ordinary life. Thinking about it, a thought involuntarily arose: wouldn't he lose his face and himself in his colorful life?
"Um, maybe just 'The Beach Guy'?" he muttered. Melissa laughed; Izuku's simplicity appealed to her, but she always thought about flashy images that would attract people's attention, even though she lived and behaved modestly, unlike her thoughts.
"Boring! The hero needs a memorable name!" After emptying all the water and putting down the bucket, their gaze fell on the dirty board. Everything was clean, and the easiest task imaginable remained.
"We'll have time to discuss and work everything out, but for now, I suggest we clean up and go for a bike ride."
In the schoolyard.
Approaching the school exit, Izuku took out his phone, which had an app for renting bikes and helmets. The bikes were recreational but reliable. As a means of transportation, bicycles were the best option for Japan. Clean streets and special roads for cyclists.
Izuku took a green leisure bike, while Melissa took a gray one that was quite new. Helmets were also available for safety. The sun had not yet set, and its rays lit their way.Izuku remembered how to ride a bike, but he had never ridden with anyone else. Glancing over at Melissa, he smiled and issued her another challenge.
"Our goal is to get to your café, and then I'm going home." Without waiting for an answer, Melissa pedaled as hard as she could and sped ahead, leaving Izuku stunned.
"Then catch up!" she shouted, trying to break away.
"We won't let her," Venom smiled. Taking his foot off the ground, he began to pedal vigorously in low gear, accelerating for the heavier gears that would allow him to catch up with her. Izuku pedaled effortlessly, shifting gears, but he had to put in more and more effort to reach the desired speed. They were riding on a special bike path for cyclists. As they tried to overtake each other, they kept looking at the pond they were passing by. The sun's rays reflected off the water, creating a shimmer, and to the human eye it looked like a small rainbow.
Izuku caught up with Melissa and even overtook her, leaving her behind. She was surprised by this, but despite all her efforts, she couldn't catch up with him. Izuku turned his head, as if laughing at her. Melissa involuntarily admitted defeat.
"Slow down, I already know I can't catch up with you." She stopped pedaling actively and rode on inertia alone. Izuku played along and slowed down slightly to stay level with her.
"You're still stronger and faster than me, Midoriya-san." The words about strength boosted his self-esteem. No one except Venom had ever praised him, but hearing it from another person was pleasant, despite his reluctance to boast. They rode along, talking about their various interests. Thanks to his sharp tongue, Izuku learned that she was interested in heroes. This was not surprising to Izuku, as her future profession at UA was closely related to heroes.
"By the way, when I was in America, I was in a scout troop," she shared happily. Izuku had a vague but extremely superficial knowledge of this youth movement. His knowledge revolved around movies in which teenagers in Boy Scout uniforms sold cookies door-to-door. They were mostly portrayed in a comedic light — in various movies and cartoons set in a bizarre and ridiculous era.
"Wow. I know very little about it, but I'd love to hear more," he replied. Opposite them were teenagers just like them, wearing uniforms that differed from theirs. For the first time, Izuku felt not boredom from loneliness, but a new spark that appeared in his soul. All this time, his friend was an alien who was getting used to Earth customs and culture. He was so used to him that he didn't pay attention when he looked at the computer and studied everything new to him.
"Many people have the association that we knock on strangers' doors and offer to buy cookies. And it looks extremely funny. We do it to buy hiking equipment, but behind it all is financial management." At that moment, they got off their bikes and sat near the bridge over the ditch. Their rental time was up, and after putting their bikes in a special place, they were a little tired and decided to rest and get to know each other better.
"We collect badges as achievements throughout the summer. We, girls and boys, had a competition to see who could collect the most medals. Before coming here, I went to scout camp every summer, and the last time I was there was when I was 13." Izuku listened enthusiastically to his American friend, admiring her desire to develop further despite her innocence. For as long as Izuk could remember, he had been fascinated by heroes, but he had not developed himself physically. For the last three years of his life, he had mourned the loss of his closest friend, forgetting what it meant to smile and feel genuine joy.
"That's cool, really cool." With her keen eye, Melissa noticed how his smile faded and was replaced by a sad smile, which she understood better than anyone.
"Did my words hurt you, Midoriya-san?" At that moment, Izuku turned his head and remembered that sincerity was the best tool for finding and making friends.
"No, that's not it," he immediately denied, but then added, "I was blind all the time. I constantly clung to my quirk and thought it meant life. All my life I wanted to be a hero, but everyone told me that without a quirk, you can't become a hero, even my mom didn't believe I could become one."
Hearing Midoriya's past, she sympathized with him, because she could have been in his place if it weren't for luck and the environment in which she grew up, without encountering the quirk racism that was prevalent in the criminal states of America. She didn't interrupt him out of respect for him and listened attentively. But she wanted to know what fueled Izuku's desire to become a hero when even his own mother didn't believe in his dream.
"Midoriya-san, what fuels your desire to become a hero?" Adjusting her glasses, she was met with Izuku's determined gaze, and he answered her without hesitation. During their conversation, she learned that Izuku had very few friends, or rather, none at all except her. Recalling the past, Izuku threw the first stone he found into the ditch.
"I think if your determination knows no bounds, maybe you'll become a symbol for us." Scratching the back of his head, he forced an awkward smile, as he didn't understand who they were talking about.
"Us?"
"I mean the quirklesses. In our time, there are no quirkless heroes. Who knows, maybe you will become the first official hero in Japan without any quirks. Imagine how you will become an idol for many who were born like us." Izuku remembered Takeshi, who died of starvation. If he proved that the impossible was possible, how many lives could he save with his exploits, proving to everyone that the unremarkable are just like everyone else. He used to be inspired by the symbol of peace, but now he drew inspiration from a simple school teacher, Miss Fuyumi, who showed him that you don't need superpowers to be a hero. She actually became a hero to Izuku, pulling him out of the clutches of despair.
"I believe you can do it, Izuku." The mention of his name made him wary, but at the same time, it made him trust her. Only Fuyumi and Andy called him that. He would never object to it. She trusted him and was sincere with him. So why couldn't he respond in kind?
"Thank you, Melissa, that means a lot to me." Izuku held out his fist, and realizing what it meant, she smiled and hit his fist, and as soon as their fists touched, she made a cute sound.
"Pooh," she blurted out. Izuku smiled, but noticed a green ball floating down the ditch, carried by the current. Further away, he could hear the breathing and panting of children chasing after the ball.
The children looked to be around 5 or 6 years old, but that didn't stop Izuku from putting two and two together and realizing that they had dropped the ball in the ditch and were chasing after it in hopes of someone's help. Melissa also noticed this and became slightly wary.
"Help, our ball fell into the ditch. Help us get it out, Mom will scold us if we lose this ball!" Without thinking twice, Izuku took off his backpack and began to remove his shoes and socks. Finally, he took off his jacket and handed it to Melissa, who looked at him with admiration for his selflessness.
"I'll help!" he blurted out. Pulling his pants up just above his knees, Izuku dipped his foot into the cold water, sending shivers down his spine. The wave carried the ball further and further away from him. But, picking up his pace slightly, he slowly but surely made his way toward the ball.
In the end, he managed to retrieve the ball, which was stuck between the rocks. The water reached just below his knees, and he was able to walk through without getting wet. When he reached Melissa, he threw her the ball, and she passed it to the children. They thanked him and Melissa and happily ran off to continue playing.
But there was one problem: once he went down into the ditch, he would not be able to get back out. Izuku raised his head, assessing the height of the ditch. The bank was steep and slippery from moisture. He tried to grab a ledge, but his fingers slipped. Melissa carefully climbed down, taking off her shoes so as not to get them dirty, and, descending to him with bare feet, said:
"Hey, give me your hand!" Melissa knelt down, holding out her palm to him. Izuku reached out, but just as their fingers were about to touch, the ground beneath Melissa's feet became extremely slippery, and she fell on top of him in surprise.
"Ouch!" she screamed, losing her balance. Izuku tried to catch her, but fell into the cold water with her. His school uniform was soaked through, as was hers. She fell on top of him, and Izuku's gaze was fixed on Melissa's eyes as she lay on top of him. They stared at each other without looking away. They froze in front of each other; neither could move until their faces began to redden at the same time. Venom watched the awkward situation and laughed maliciously.
"What are you waiting for, Izuku? Kiss her!" — this thought made Izuku blush even more, unable to move. His breathing quickened, and he could feel her breathing becoming uneven as well. She, like him, began to blush, and because of the moisture on her glasses, she couldn't see Izuku's expression clearly. Her glasses fell off due to inertia, and he managed to see her gaze, but at that very moment, Melissa tried to catch her glasses, which were being carried away by the current.
"My glasses!" she cried in panic. They got up, and Izuku rushed over to retrieve her glasses.
"I'll get them!" she said, standing up, even though she could see Izuku's silhouette, she couldn't see him clearly because of her blurred vision.
Three minutes.
For three long minutes, Melissa stood in the middle of the ditch, squinting helplessly in the direction her glasses had floated away. The water reached her knees, the cold penetrated her bones, and her heart was pounding wildly — not so much from the fall as from what had happened afterwards. She was extremely upset about the situation. Izuku was extremely friendly, and thanks to him, she was finally able to feel the value of friendship. In an attempt to go with the flow, she tried to forget this situation, but she was not very successful.
"He... I... we almost..." Her thoughts were confused, her cheeks were burning, and the water continued to caress her legs.
"Izuku?!" she called, but all she heard in response was the splash of water somewhere ahead. Meanwhile, Izuku, bent over double, made his way through the current. Venom giggled in his head:
"Well, hero? Saving your glasses is worthy of a medal!"
"Enough!" Izuku snapped mentally, but he almost jumped when his fingers finally touched the metal frame. "Found it!"
The glasses were intact, though wet. He hastily rinsed them in the water and turned around — right in front of him was Melissa, who, apparently, had been following the sound of his voice.
"Here," he said, holding out the glasses, but she couldn't see clearly and grabbed his hand instead. Silence. Despite the cool water, Izuku's hand was warm.
"Um..." Izuku froze, feeling her fingers squeeze his wrist. She held on for a moment longer. Realizing her mistake, Melissa quickly pulled her hand away, but immediately stumbled as her foot slipped on the wet rock.
"Careful!" Izuku instinctively caught her by the waist, and she clung to his wet shirt. Their faces were inches apart again. With his other hand, he put her glasses on, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw the sympathetic expression on his face.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, feeling himself burn under her touch. No one had ever come this close to her before, except her family, and this incident reminded her of a scene from a silly sitcom about school life. This made her feel both amused and ashamed for watching such shows.
"It's... it's okay," she quickly adjusted her glasses and immediately recoiled as if she had been burned. Awkwardness hung in the air like a thick fog. Izuku, like her, tried to forget this situation, but they couldn't forget each other's expressions, even if they wanted to.
"We... need to get out of here," Melissa muttered, avoiding his gaze. Izuku wanted to forget this awkwardness and remembered how she had pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Yes," Melissa nodded and immediately felt cold water on her back. Goosebumps ran down her body, and when she turned around, she met Izuku's gaze. He splashed water at her, challenging her.
Not wanting to be left out, she splashed water at him too.
The water droplets sparkled in the air before crashing down on Izuku. He closed his eyes, but a second later he responded with a new attack, raising his palm to create a fan of spray.
"Ouch! That's cold!" Melissa cried out, but instead of retreating, she took a step forward, scooping up water with both hands.
"This is war," Izuku laughed, retreating.
"You started it!" She launched a water charge at him, which hit him right in the chest and then in the face. Izuku's hair was soaked, and it was easy to see how it partially blocked his view.
Venom hissed with delight:
"Don't give up! Show her who's boss!" Izuku didn't keep her waiting — he abruptly lowered his hands into the water and, turning around, created a wave that covered Melissa from head to toe.
"Izuku!" she snorted, wiping her face, but her eyes burned with excitement. "You'll regret this..."
She suddenly crouched down, completely submerging her hands in the water, and before Izuku could react, Melissa rose sharply, drenching him from head to toe.
"A draw?" he suggested, shaking himself off. He enjoyed playing water games with her. But he knew one thing: she would never give up if he challenged her.
"No way!" she jumped forward, trying to grab his hand, but Izuku deftly dodged her.
And then the fun began. They ran around in the shallow water, splashing each other, laughing, and completely forgetting that just a few minutes ago, the situation between them had been awkward. Water flew in all directions, and their laughter echoed over the ditch, attracting the attention of a couple of passersby, who just shook their heads as they looked at the wet teenagers.
"Do you give up?" Izuku grabbed Melissa by the wrist, holding her back from another attack.
"No," she said. But their game was interrupted by a voice that was familiar to Izuku. That rough, yet pretentious voice. They both looked up and saw a wooden hero in armor wearing a blue suit. He looked up at them and began to lecture them.
"Swimming is prohibited in this area. Please leave this place immediately." All the fun was gone, and Melissa raised her hand to get the hero's attention. She explained to him that they couldn't just get out on their own. The hero sighed and, using his quirk, pulled the teenagers out of the ditch. The tree wrapped around their waists and landed them near the curb.
One of the figures was painfully familiar. Green hair and a black school uniform that was wet. Shrugging and lecturing them, the hero walked away, leaving the teenagers behind. Melissa was shivering, and grabbing his black jacket, Izuku threw it over her, smiling.
"Thank you," she whispered, wrapping herself in the fabric that smelled of frosty wind and something else — something that was purely Izuku.
"You need to warm up too," she remarked, but he just waved his hand.
"I'm fine."
"No," Melissa snorted, but then froze when she saw his sleeve cling to his skin, revealing the contours of his scars. She frowned but said nothing.
Izuku quickly lowered his arm, but it was too late. Melissa had already seen. But instead of asking questions, she just sighed and said:
"Let's hurry to the cafe. It'll be warm there."
They walked down the street, leaving wet footprints behind them. Passersby turned to look, but they didn't care.
"Are you sure you don't need my help?" Melissa asked. They were standing in front of the Space Needle. Izuku didn't want to cause her any trouble and decided to joke about it.
"No, thanks, I have a dryer at home," he said dismissively. Of course, his inner voice insisted that he stay and try the chocolate he liked so much, but for the sake of propriety, he decided to decline the offer. After all, he had invited her on a bike ride that ended in a water fight.
"Wait, don't go. I have something for you." Her cheeks flushed slightly at her own words. It seemed a little embarrassing to her, but she tried not to show it. Izuku stood on the street, completely wet, as the wind blew against his body. He shivered slightly and moved around to warm up faster.
She quickly ran into the cafe and went to change her clothes, remembering her mother's words, who had scolded her for running around the house in wet clothes. She was embarrassed that she had come in wet clothes, as if she had just bathed under a waterfall.
"Seven minutes have passed, and she's not coming out," Venom broke the silence, smirking that he had been standing humiliated on the street while she had deceived him. Izuku just dismissed the thought. He believed, but Venom, like an alien creature accustomed to human society, did not believe in such miracles. However, to his surprise, Andy Melissa came out in her home clothes with a bag in her hands.
Izuku smiled slyly, because Venom's expectations had not been fulfilled. In turn, accepting that he was wrong, Andy fell silent. Melissa quickly ran up to him and bowed, as if apologizing for the long wait.
"I'm sorry, I wanted to give this to you quickly, but there were some complications. " Taking the package in his hands, Izuku looked curiously at its contents and saw chocolate sweets with sprinkles. Venom, seeing these sweets, wanted to pounce on the treats, but restrained himself by Izuku's will. Due to Fuyumi's influence, Izuku could not accept worship directed at him.
"Don't stand there and bow. A simple 'sorry' or 'thank you' is enough. It seems that bowing is not customary for you." Due to cultural differences, they did not fully understand what they wanted to convey, but at least they absorbed a little bit of each other's culture.
"It seems like you bow when you apologize to each other?" They rubbed the backs of their heads at the same time in an awkward parallel, but they liked that he and she were interested in each other's cultures. This earned Izuku mutual respect, and even Melissa admired his curiosity.
"A simple 'thank you' is enough. Friends and team?" She held out her fist, adjusting her glasses. She felt awkward making such gestures, as she had never interacted so closely with the opposite sex in the last two years she had been in Japan.
Izuku hit her fist and gave her a friendly smile.
"Friends and team." Behind Melissa, her mother's voice could be heard from the cafe door. As much as Izuku wanted to spend time with her, she had her own personal life, which he respected.
"I have to go. See you tomorrow at the party, and don't eat all the treats." Izuku didn't quite understand the last word, as Venom took control of his hand and bit off a square chocolate treat with different colors of chocolate on each side.
"Oh, yes, this is perfect." Izuku tasted the treat and was also delighted, just like his alien friend.
"I'm still surprised how an alien can eat only chocolate." Venom just grunted, wiping the remains from Izuku's face with the wet sleeve of his white shirt. He didn't pay attention to etiquette when it came to his treats.
"Would you prefer us to feed on human brains?" The thought of eating someone else's head was repulsive. Images popped into his head that became unpleasant just thinking about them.
"No."
"Then sit down and be quiet." Venom continued to eat the chocolate bar while Izuku was indignant at his behavior, but said nothing, as he was also a living creature like him.
—
When he got home and took off his wet uniform, he threw it in the washing machine and turned it on. Going into his room, Izuku looked at his closet, where his party costume was hanging. He chose a fairly simple but memorable look.
A dark green robe with a brown belt at the waist and a sword sheath on the back. He rented the sword; the geek store had a lot of items, especially from the fantasy world, where swords were commonplace. He wore brown gloves on his hands to hide some scars, and they were comfortable to wear and grip the sword handle. He also wore gray slim-fit pants and brown boots on his feet, which he took from his parents' closet. Although the shoes were several sizes too big, he compensated for this with a symbiote that made it look like the shoes were his size. And the icing on the cake was a dark blue shield with painted patterns. An important touch was the brown witch's hat.
He looked taller in the mirror, but when he picked up the blunt sword, the image was complete.
Looking around, he noticed how perfectly his costume fit him. Venom poked his head out and grumbled lazily,
"Another costume from a video game. I'm sure the character would look better in black." Izuku, although he understood his friend's dissatisfaction, did not want to be associated with his alternate personality. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a message on his phone. The tentacle broke free from his back and instantly transmitted to Izuku.
"Convenient," the thought slipped into his head. He was pleasantly surprised by who had written to him.
Semper Augustus🌺
"Hello, Izuku. I hope you're doing well. Tomorrow, the whole class is gathering in the gym in the evening. I sent a message to all the students, so please don't be late and follow all the rules I warned you about. Thank you and have a nice evening! ( ＾▽＾)"
Izuku🌱
"Hello. I'll definitely come! 😄"
While Izuku was chatting with Fuyumi, Venom was browsing the internet and checking out the news happening around the city. Scrolling through the usual boring news about the appearance of a new hero or Allmight's exploits, Venom stumbled upon an interesting piece of news. Izuku joined him and began to look at the article.
"Sludge Villain has escaped from a regular prison. Eyewitnesses claim that he has begun robbing stores." Venom and Izuku exchanged glances and returned their gaze to the article. Izuku knew the physiology of this villain and remembered that his weak points were his eyes.
"I have a party tomorrow, and I think the hero can handle it." Shrugging, Izuku got ready for bed. His muscles still ached from the exertion, but now the definition was visible.
Sixteen hours later
Standing in front of the school gates in the evening in his adventurer's uniform, he noticed other students dressed in their cosplay outfits. Izuku couldn't distinguish all the costumes, as some of the characters were from a rather bizarre era. One of his classmates dressed as an anthropomorphic blue hedgehog with red sneakers, blue fur, and a fanny pack containing something resembling coins.
The girls' costumes were not as revealing, but they looked attractive. After all, Fuyumi-san took care to preserve female dignity. They did not have revealing outfits, such as bare thighs, low-cut necklines, or large areas of exposed skin, so as not to arouse the boys, who are beginning to mature at this age. But she did not forbid them from wearing parts of the costumes. The main thing was that the entire costume did not consist of spandex alone.
"After all, the stolen money played its part." As Izuku walked toward the school entrance, he saw a terrifying pumpkin with a candle lit inside it. It was spring, and Halloween was still six months away. Venom also wondered why someone would light a candle in a pumpkin.
"Fuyumi has some strange tastes," Izuku commented as he passed through the school turnstile. He saw that the walls and lockers were decorated in Fuyumi's style and design. It was nice to see her efforts. She had put a lot of thought into everything. Sometimes her creativity knew no bounds. The corridors were empty, but the loud sound of music attracted and at the same time alerted Venom's attention. The loud noise made him uncomfortable. Izuku remembered how he used to cover his ears when a car alarm went off.
"Grab your balls and let's go." Izuku was embarrassed by his words and, out of pure curiosity, decided to ask him directly:
"How do you know such words?"
"The internet." Rolling his eyes, Izuku walked on, and the sound could be heard from the gym. Two people were standing near the entrance to the gym: a tall girl in a blue jacket with special symbols on her chest, white tight-fitting leggings, and tall blue boots with black gloves. She wore a steel mask on her face and yellow glasses that hid her eyes. She had a blue cap on her head, but red strands in her thick white hair stood out. It wasn't hard to guess who she was.
Next to her was a guy with red hair on one side and white on the other. He wore an iron mask covering his face and a blue jacket with red lines, inside which was a kind of gray shirt resembling armor. He had iron inserts on his shoulders and blue pants with knee pads and thigh pockets.
As he approached them, he was immediately greeted by Fuyumi with a distorted and dry robotic voice.
"Look, Prime. The valiant traveler has switched sides to the Decepticons." Shoto looked at him suspiciously and stood up valiantly. Although it was not characteristic of him, he tried to get into the role of his character.
"Freedom and choice are the rights of every living being. If he fights for our better future, he will be on our side. My leadership will bring us a bright future," he said solemnly. It looked more amusing than inspiring. Fuyumi's younger brother lacked acting skills. Izuku couldn't help but chuckle at the scene.
"I choose Fuyumi-san's side." With a smile, he signed his name on the paper in front of Fuyumi. She was delighted and spoke in her normal voice.
"Megatron would be pleased with you," Fuyumi said enthusiastically, analyzing her student's costume. Izuku raised an eyebrow in confusion, wondering who Megatron was.
"Excuse me, Mega who?" Venom was also curious about who he was.
"Meet my sister, she's dressed as Soundwave, and I'm Optimus Prime from the first generation. It's a very old cartoon series that we watched as children." During their childhood, they were unable to spend time together. But Angie Todoroki had changed, albeit with a lot of effort. He gave them time to spend together. On one of his trips to the market, Toya went into an antique shop and found a DVD player along with a bunch of movies and cartoons for pennies.
One evening, his attention was drawn to a cassette with a bright TRANSFORMERS G1 cover. After watching it alone, he liked the plot and characters. It was essentially about heroic robots fighting evil robots. One evening, he called all his brothers and sisters to watch it together. They also liked the series, and Fuyumi and Shoto remembered the characters from the cartoon.
Fuyumi and Shoto liked Izuku's outfit and cosplay. It was clear that he had put a lot of effort into creating it.
"I dragged Shoto out of the house so that he could finally make friends and acquaintances. Otherwise, this sociopath would be completely alone, without any classmates or acquaintances." Shoto's expression changed, immediately denying all of Fuyumi's possible scenarios. He had friends, but she always thought that Shoto was sad and lonely, which wasn't true.
"That's not true. We had a bet. The loser has to make the winner's favorite drink and dish. Actually, she was supposed to make me cold soba, but Fuyumi decided to drag me out of the house and help her." Upon hearing the whole truth, Fuyumi comically began to shake her head, denying it all. Behind her mask, she blushed that Izuku had heard the truth and began shaking Shoto's arm to make him feel a little ashamed. Shoto smiled slyly behind his mask at his sister's reaction. Izuku liked the chemistry between them; it was fun to see Fuyumi outside of the school classroom.
"And you're keeping track of who will have more people in their fraction?"
"Yes," the two replied in unison. Izuku asked what Fuyumi would win if she won their bet.
"It's very simple. Shoto knows how to make 'very' good coffee, right, Shotooooo?" Fuyumi asked, deliberately stretching out his name. The unsuspecting boy wanted to express his dissatisfaction.
"That's not it..." Fuyumi kicked Shoto's ankle to keep him from saying anything unnecessary. Fuyumi turned her head, and it was clear from her expression that she wasn't joking.
"Yes, I know how to make coffee."
"Wonderful, and now, Midoriya, you can go to the hall. As soon as everyone is gathered, we can start the event." Izuku nodded to her and laughed at the whole situation. He was curious to see if his girlfriend, who never missed this kind of event, had come. Leaning close to Fuyumi's ear, he asked her about Melissa. She smiled slyly behind her mask and, turning to him, pointed to a girl in a yellow jumpsuit and a motorcycle helmet.
Thanking her, he walked through a crowd of people dressed in their cosplay outfits. There were witch girls, many guys dressed as video game characters, and only one dressed as a traditional Japanese samurai in red armor. Approaching her, he coughed into his fist to get her attention.
Melissa was seriously surprised to see her friend. His costume was much more elaborate than her simple yellow jumpsuit and motorcycle helmet. He had black stripes from his neck to his ankles and yellow sneakers on his feet. Izuk noticed the scabbard on her back, but there was no samurai sword.
"Izuku, I'm here!" she shouted, taking off her motorcycle helmet. Her golden wheat-colored hair was tied back in a ponytail. The jumpsuit hugged her body, and Izuku couldn't help but stare at her face.
"I know where you were going to look." Izuku panicked slightly, but Venom had a ready answer.
"Yes, yes, it's all the hormones' fault." Venom laughed until Melissa interrupted him.
"You look amazing!" Izuku's adventurer costume delighted her. She had no idea that Izuku paid such close attention to detail. She thought of him as a painfully simple person, even though his desire to be a hero set him apart from others, but she didn't know him very well. And she certainly wouldn't underestimate him.
"Thank you. But I think your costume is nice too." Melissa beamed at his words and moved closer to his face. She had expected her costume to be too ordinary, but she was surprised when her close friend, her first friend, appreciated her efforts.
"I don't think so. My costume is too ordinary for this party. Although, of course, I tried to find exactly the same jumpsuit, but I couldn't find anything like it here. I had to order it from Okinawa itself. And I just painted the helmet yellow." She spoke quickly. Did Izuku really look like that from the outside? But he had no trouble understanding Melissa's speech, despite her American accent, which was very noticeable.
"But your efforts are obvious to the naked eye. Your costume is from some movie or video game." Proudly sticking out her chest, she beamed at that moment, remembering the first adult movie she had watched with her parents.
"I saw that movie a long time ago. It was directed by Quentir Tarantil. It has a very interesting plot. And the main character is a very cool character who wields a katana." She demonstratively pretended to hold a sword in her hand, waving it around. Izuku seemed very interested until Venom asked about the movie.
"Ask her what the movie is called." Izuku asked this question, and Melissa gladly answered him.
"Kill O-Ren Ishii." Venom remembered that movie. Izuku had to cover his ears because Fuyumi climbed onto the stage with a microphone in her hands. The gym was decorated beyond recognition. Cute decorations, lots of drinks and snacks were laid out on the table, waiting for their turn. Fuyumi had something resembling a cannon slung over her shoulder.
Fuyumi raised the microphone, and her voice, amplified by the speakers, echoed throughout the gym:
"Welcome to the 'Fantasy in Reality' party!" The crowd erupted in applause. Izuku and Melissa exchanged glances, smiling.
" Today you can look forward to contests, dancing, and, of course, choosing the best costume!" Fuyumi continued, waving her hand toward the table with the prizes. There were many prizes: from large teddy bears to cool Endeavor figurines and even special rare posters, figurines, and merchandise featuring them, which attracted the attention of the entire young audience.
Venom immediately whispered to Izuku:
"If we don't win, we'll eat the judges." He grinned, and Fuyumi began to explain all the rules, including prohibited actions towards other participants.
"No!" Izuku whispered sharply in response, but Melissa heard him and laughed.
"Your costume is really cool," she said, adjusting her helmet.
"Do you have a chance of winning, Izuku?" Putting his sword and shield near the snack table, Izuku volunteered to be one of the participants.
"The first game is pretty simple. All the participants come on stage and dance to different songs and rhythms. The person who dances perfectly to the rhythm wins the first game and receives rare Dabi hero figures that are not yet on sale, autographed by the hero himself." Unfortunately, those with bulky costumes were unable to participate, as their costumes restricted their movements while dancing. Their dance would have looked as if they were robots covered in salt water. Izuku handed his shield and sword to Melissa so that they would not get in the way while dancing.
To Izuku's surprise, Shoto also joined the dance floor. There were 12 participants out of the 68 people who came to the party on stage. The judge was Fuyumi, who watched everything from the stage.
With her incredible charisma, she knew how to capture people's attention, and even when her face was not visible, the students could only be charmed by her voice when she spoke to people. It was for these reasons that the young teacher was able to improve the academic performance of many students. All she had to do was get the children interested in the subjects and studying, after which their enthusiasm and interest took over.
"Let's do it together." Joining her, many students were already ready to start the countdown.
"1." Izuku tensed up, because dancing wasn't his thing, let alone attracting the attention of a crowd of peers. Venom himself insisted on this dance to prove to them that they should not be underestimated, even in the guise of Izuku Midoriya.
"2." Izuku had to take a deep breath. The stress was burning not only his lungs but also his ears. So Izuku gave control of his body to Venom so that he could impress everyone on the dance floor.
"3."
"EJECT!!" Fuyumi shouted in a robotic voice.
As soon as the music started, Izuku's body jerked violently — Venom had taken complete control. Izuku danced awkwardly, making it seem as if he was trying to squeeze something resembling a dance out of himself. His movements were awkward and jerky, making Shoto seem more confident than Izuku. Venom didn't like this, so he took full control and stopped Izuku's movements.
"Hey, what are you—" Izuku began, but his voice was immediately drowned out by the powerful beat.
"This is no good."
And then...
He took off.
First, a sharp jump with a turn, landing on one hand, and then immediately a spin, his legs cutting through the air, his green cloak fluttering like wings. The crowd gasped. Melissa, who had been watching him, was also surprised by this turn of events. He was full of surprises after all, which made her happy.
"WHAT THE—" someone shouted, but his voice was lost in the general roar. Venom made Izuku's body move at an impossible speed:
- Windmill — spinning on his back, legs in the air, like the blades of a windmill. His speed was astonishing, and the spin seemed so fast that Izuku had been training since childhood. His legs spun like a helicopter propeller. Izuku fell on his back and spun, which made him slightly dizzy from the strong somersaults. Towards the end, he began to slow down and smoothly transitioned to another type of dance. Standing with both feet on the ground, he made confident movements with his hands, as if inviting someone to dance, which Melissa understood as a hint but did not dare to join him.
- Flare — the music stopped, and he stood in a dramatic pose, resting one hand on his waist and holding the other on top of his head, as if holding an imaginary hat. He did not look at the other participants and fixed his gaze downward, waiting for the next piece of music. The music started, and with an energetic start, Izuku jumped, landing on both hands, and began to twist his feet to the beat and rhythm of the music, sometimes slowing down, sometimes speeding up. All the guys envied such movements, and Melissa watched with interest as Link from Zelda skillfully danced to the energetic music. Finally, the music stopped, and Izuku had to stand up to start the third dance.
- 1990 — standing on one hand, the other pressed against his chest, legs stretched out straight. Accustomed to a calm rhythm, Izuku closed his eyes and began to dance to the beat. Venom regained control of his body, and the carrier moved independently, without outside help.
"He's never danced before! Maybe I should get to know him better, I still have four months of training with him," Melissa thought, not believing her ears. She never expected to meet such an interesting person.
"It's not him," Shoto remarked dryly, crossing his arms. Fuyumi froze with her mouth open, even her robotic voice malfunctioning:
"Shoto, do you see that?!" Shoto nodded slowly:
"Optimus Prime approves." Meanwhile, Venom didn't want to end the dance on a boring note and pulled out the ace up his sleeve that had been there from the beginning.
Headspin. Izuku spun on his head, legs stretched upward, arms out to the sides — and then suddenly stopped, jumped to his feet, and did a backflip, landing in a perfect stance. The music stopped, and a slightly sweaty Izuku watched the crowd's reaction. There was dead silence, and in the next second, everyone without exception began to applaud. The crowd erupted in applause.
"THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!"
"Is he a professional?!"
"Midorika, where did you learn that?!" Izuku, finally regaining control, was breathing heavily. His face was flushed with embarrassment, but his eyes burned with an unusual gleam—a mixture of delight and horror at what had just happened.
"This... um... I..." He looked around helplessly, not knowing what to say. He had never managed to wow an audience before, but now he had done it and gained recognition from everyone, even his bully Katsuo. Venom chuckled in his head:
"Take the compliments, fool. You just became the king of the party." Fuyumi, recovering from the shock, raised the microphone:
"Ladies and gentlemen! It seems we have an undisputed winner!" The crowd erupted in cheers again. Melissa was the first to rush over to him, her eyes shining with admiration:
"Izuku, that was incredible! You... you..."
"I don't understand how it happened myself," he muttered embarrassedly, rubbing the back of his head. Shoto came closer, studying Izuku intently:
"Interesting technique. Have you been training in secret?"
"You could say that," Izuku laughed nervously, feeling Venom growling contentedly in his mind. Fuyumi triumphantly handed him the grand prize—a rare autographed figure of the hero Dabi.
"You surprised everyone today, Midoriya. Especially me," she said, her voice filled with genuine pride. The party continued with renewed energy. Music blared, people laughed and danced, and Izuku, surrounded by admiring glances, finally felt...
Recognized, if only for a moment.
The music continued to play, and many students chatted among themselves, discussing costumes and their favorite characters, despite their differences. In addition to the music, laughter and joy could be heard, and some even drank beverages and ate snacks from all the tables.
Izuku was having fun with Melissa, who kept asking questions, trying to get answers out of him, because she was so interested in his abilities. Izuk constantly dodged the questions, trying not to reveal Venom inside him. He put his Dabi figurine in the locker, as it was the first figurine released with his limited autograph. Dabi was not known for his marketing and lagged behind other heroes in popularity. But his popularity was based solely on spectacular fights and strength of spirit.
The best costume contest began. Unfortunately, Izuku did not place in the top three, as there were students who had worked harder on their costumes than he had. But he was not upset and continued to have fun.
On his way to get drinks, Izuku could not find Melissa, as if she had disappeared. He couldn't find her in the crowd of costumes. He didn't even see that yellow jumpsuit.
Venom directed him in different directions, but he still couldn't find her. He even saw Shoto quietly eating soba near the snacks. Izuku began to worry that Melissa might have run away or felt ill during the party.
Suddenly, the lights in the room went out. Many students panicked in the darkness and began to crowd toward the exit, but Izuku felt that it might be a trap and decided to just quietly sip his juice.
The spotlights came on and were directed at the stage where she was standing. Fuyumi without her blue hat, glasses, and mask. Izuku gasped and almost choked on his drink when he saw her face without glasses. She was flawless: her turquoise eyes sparkled in the light, and the red strands among her thick white hair created an incredible appearance that Izuku could not even imagine. He couldn't understand how he could have been blind all this time when there was a pearl of beauty right in front of him. He tried to look away, but nothing worked, and he stared at her, glued to her, without taking his eyes off her. Her figure was gorgeous, especially in that costume. Not only him, but half of the male audience was staring at her, unable to look away. Everyone continued to admire her until the second spotlight turned on, directed at another person.
"Melissa?!" Izuku exclaimed. She was sitting in front of the white piano and seemed full of confidence. Everyone's gaze shifted from Fuyumi to Melissa. No one suspected that this duo would be so compatible.
"Come on, Melissa, you can do it. You did it then, you can do it now. " With her nimble fingers, she touched the keys, playing as gracefully as her experience, which she had acquired since the age of five, allowed her. Everyone in the hall forgot how to speak and began to watch Fuyumi, who was holding the microphone, in silence.
"First I was afraid, I was petrified..."
Everyone held their breath at Fuyumi's voice. No one had heard her sing before, and even Izuku gasped at the gentle sound of her voice at the beginning, like a cool, silky wind in the scorching heat.
"Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side..."
With her incredible voice, she closed her eyes and sang from the bottom of her heart, putting her whole self into every word. Melissa played along with her rhythm, trying to keep up.
"But then I spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong..."
The piano music began to crescendo, and some of the students became anxious, but no one cared. Everyone was eager to listen to Fuyumi's voice, which captivated their souls.
"And I grew strong, and I learned how to get along..."
Fuyumi froze, opening her eyes and looking at her audience. Smiling, she began to sing again, but unexpectedly took a step forward.
"And so you're back from outer space..."
Her energetic tone infected most of the students, and half the class began to dance to her singing. Melissa began to play the piano more passionately, trying to convey the spirit of the music to everyone present along with Fuyumi.
"And I find you here with that sad look upon your face..."
At the end of the sentence, the hall erupted in applause, and, taking it to heart, Fuyumi put all her passion into making the students forget about their social lives and routines for a moment, so that this party would be remembered for a lifetime.
"Or made you leave your key..."
Without exception, everyone began to jump and applaud her to the infectious music. No one remained indifferent, and everyone wanted to be closer to her or hug her for the positive energy she shared with everyone.
Izuku froze in place, unable to take his eyes off the stage. Venom chuckled in his head:
"Well, hero, tongue tied?"
Melissa seemed to be completely at one with the music. Her fingers flew across the keys with unexpected passion, and her golden hair, tied back in a ponytail, swayed in time to the music. The yellow jumpsuit, which she had considered too plain, now shone under the spotlights, making her the center of attention.
Fuyumi, meanwhile, had accomplished the impossible — she had transformed the school gym into a world-class concert venue. Her voice, sometimes soft and silky, sometimes powerful and passionate, was mesmerizing:
"Go on, go, walk out the door..."
Not wanting to be left behind, Izuku danced awkwardly. Shoto also joined in, but no one yet suspected Fuyumi's final gift. But the time would come. Continuing to sing, she spun around, her short hair flying from side to side, but each time she returned it to its original state, which looked extremely beautiful on such a beautiful woman as she. She was young and full of strength to move forward despite all the problems.
"You're the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye..."
Now, instead of dancing, most of the students just stood mesmerized, watching her, some even singing along. No one remained indifferent, and everyone at least wanted to be close to her or hug her because of the positive energy she shared with everyone.
"No, not I, I will survive..."
The lights in the room went out again, but after a minute, no one rushed to turn them back on until a blue fire appeared on the ceiling. Many ordinary people would have thought it was a gas leak, but Izuku knew from the flames who it was.
"It's Dabi!" he exclaimed, and the spotlight was directed straight at him. All the students shouted and applauded at the same time when they saw the popular hero within the walls of their school. Jumping down from the ceiling, he landed on the stage, softening his fall with fire. Fuyumi stopped singing, which upset many, and the microphone was taken over by Dabi in his shiny hero outfit with white hair.
The stage lit up with blue flames as Dabi landed gracefully next to Fuyumi. His trademark smirk remained on his face, and his snow-white hair shimmered in the spotlight.
"Well, kids, did you miss me?" he shouted into the microphone, eliciting another burst of applause. Izuku felt Venom tense up inside him.
"What is he doing here?" the symbiote warned. To everyone's surprise, Fuyumi didn't look happy at all. She crossed her arms and snatched the microphone back.
"Dabi, we agreed on 9:30 p.m.! Did you mess up again?" The hero froze for a second, then scratched the back of his head. The brother and sister always had a funny relationship: Dabi was always on time, while Fuyumi was almost always late, but thanks to her sharp tongue, she always managed to get away with it.
"Um... well, technically it's 9:27 p.m. right now..." Dabi snorted, always amused by his sister's reaction. It looked funny, but with so many eyes watching them, he couldn't fully enjoy the moment.
"Three minutes isn't being late, it's being punctual!" Fuyumi didn't give up, causing the audience to laugh. Dabi, without missing a beat, turned to the hall. Everyone watched the popular hero of the new generation with bated breath.
"Well, will you forgive me for those three minutes? I didn't come empty-handed!" He snapped his fingers, and confetti in the form of small blue flames rained down from the ceiling. The girls squealed with delight.
Izuku noticed Melissa quietly approaching him and taking his hand. Izuku immediately felt her gaze on him, admiring his piano playing.
"That was amazing, Melissa. I didn't know you were capable of that." Hearing the compliments directed at her, Melissa's cheeks flushed slightly. She adjusted her glasses and smiled at him.
"Now you know more about me. I don't want to show my talents to everyone. My mother says it could jinx me." Izuku was intrigued by her view of the world, and even the way she modestly interacted with him added to his trust in her. Modesty was a trait that had been lost in this eccentric society. Everyone tried to stand out from the crowd with their quirks or origins. This was a little annoying to those who were less fortunate. For Izuku, modesty had become part of his personality, but his inner self constantly wanted to prove that he was not made of the same stuff as everyone else.
"I had to help Todoroki-san. After all, she couldn't find suitable pianists for her performance." Not believing his ears, Izuku put his shield on his back and put his fake sword in its sheath. Unexpectedly, he took her soft, small hand; her skin was smooth, which seemed strange to him compared to his own hand, covered with scars and calluses. But she did not protest, only squeezed his hand tighter. Izuku was surprised by this and focused his gaze on her. The music in the background played loudly, preventing them from admiring each other. Admiring each other, they did not notice how a guy in a hockey mask and a torn brown jacket with a machete in his hands interrupted their moment. Melissa had a faint blush on her cheeks, and the light made it impossible to see her true emotions about this.
Fuyumi stopped singing, and the entire hall fell silent, waiting for a reaction from her students. The hall erupted in applause, everyone clapped, and some boys whistled, unable to contain their emotions. If they had flowers, they would have thrown them on stage. Breathing heavily, she looked around the hall, holding the microphone.
"Thank you. Thank you very much, I tried my best for you. And for an unforgettable party, I will be replaced for a while by the hero Dabi from the Endeavor Agency." Toya activated the fire, putting on a fire show without endangering the children. They asked him questions, and many teenagers approached him, asking for autographs. Even Izuku snuck in among the fans, asking him to sign his shield with a marker.
"Oh, Midoriya. Long time no see, how are you?" Izuku eagerly answered his questions and actively conversed with him, keeping the dialogue going.
"I hope you're making good use of my martial arts book? Soon I'll be training Shoto to prepare for the UA. If you want to join, give me a call." Izuku gladly accepted the offer and approached Melissa. She understood the fascination many teenagers had with heroes, as their vivid images inspired awe in everyone. She also admired All Might, who had shown her true heroism, even though he was ranked second in all of Japan. Dabi, at least, was busy talking to his fans for half an hour until he heard Fuyumi's voice coming from the speakers.
"Attention, all students! This is the last test, and after that we all go home. Find your soul mate and let's start dancing!" Izuku blushed deeply when he heard this. Moments with Melissa flashed through his mind, and when he looked at her, he knew what was coming next. The other participants hurriedly looked for soul mates. Plucking up his courage, Izuku held out his hand to her, inviting her to dance with him. She walked forward uncertainly and gently took his hand. With her free hand, she asked for Izuku's hand. He took her delicate, soft hand and intertwined their fingers, even though it was awkward for both of them. Just like yesterday, they were close to each other. Thoughts about yesterday's events were running through both of their minds.
"Shall we begin?" she asked calmly, although a hurricane of emotions was raging inside her.
"Let's begin," Izuku replied. He had been thinking of different ways to make the dance romantic. Venom wasn't helping him, because he believed that romance wasn't for him. Izuku relied only on himself and his wits to impress not only himself but also the girl in front of him.
A slow melody flowed through the hall, and the couples began to sway smoothly to the music. Izuku and Melissa were standing so close that he could smell her perfume — something sweet, with notes of cherry and lilac. He liked the scent and even considered using perfume to make a good impression. He had never thought about it before.
"You... um... play well," Izuku muttered, trying not to look her straight in the eye. He admired her playing and even imagined her playing classical music, which had long been forgotten in the current era as a relic of the past.
"Thank you," she smiled, slightly embarrassed. "And you... dance surprisingly well. Although, to be honest, I still don't understand how you did it."
"I improvised," he said with a sly smile, feeling Venom smirking in his head. Melissa tilted her head slightly, bringing her face closer to his. Up close and under the light, he seemed more attractive. Because of the makeup and other cosmetics, his face seemed covered in glitter and looked more interesting than yesterday. Could it be attraction?
"You know, Izuku... you sometimes surprise me. You seem like a normal guy, but..."
"B-But?" Izuku's voice faltered, but he tried to keep a confident expression, even though he was sweating and panting, trying to impress her. She noticed his awkwardness as he looked anywhere but into her eyes.
"But there's something... special about you," she whispered seductively, sending shivers down Izuku's spine. It was his first conscious contact with a girl his age.
His heart skipped a beat. He wanted to say something, but at that moment Melissa took a step forward, starting a sensual dance, spinning around him so that he would grab her and feel this moment very closely. Melissa grabbed his shoulders and moved closer to his face. Her lips were inches from Izuku's, and she stopped, not letting them touch. Izuku was stunned by her movements and was ready to experience something new in his life when she spoke sweetly.
"Give in to the moment, Izuku." The next moment, she pulled away from him. He grabbed her hand, instantly pulling her toward him. Izuku placed his hands on her waist, almost touching her chest. Melissa placed her hands on his chest, running them over his muscles, which were not large but were noticeable under his green top. The jumpsuit prevented him from enjoying her body, just as Melissa could not enjoy Izuku's muscles.
If Izuku had his way, he would have taken off her yellow jumpsuit, but she removed one hand from his chest and deftly took the elastic out of her hair, letting her curls fall free. Her hair broke free, touching Izuku's hands. Giving in to the moment, Izuku removed his hand from the girl's waist and slowly took off her round glasses. With two fingers, he grabbed the hinge of the glasses, and with the other three fingers, he ran his hand over her cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin. A sweet sigh escaped her lips, and grabbing Izuku's hand, she took the glasses. Izuku thought it was a mistake, but to his surprise, she put the glasses on his eyes.
Izuku was stunned as never before and felt a closeness he had never experienced before. He closed his eyes slightly so that she would not miss and put them on without error with filigree precision. As soon as he opened his eyes, the glasses brought her face closer, and at that moment she was more beautiful than before. Her blue eyes seemed so familiar to him that they even reminded him of someone. Her golden hair covered them from the side, like a kind of cover. Melissa, looking at Izuku, giggled at his new look. He definitely suited this image of a young alchemist.
"Hehe, your new look suits you, Izuku-kun." This made him smile, and he moved closer to her ear, grabbing her waist. She felt his hot breath on her neck and heard his confident voice.
"Trust me." And in the next second, he let her go. Taking two steps back, Izuku grabbed her hands and pulled her toward him. At the last second, he let go of her hands, allowing her to wrap her arms around his waist. Their eyes met again, blurry though they were, but Melissa could see his smile. She gasped when he squeezed her waist tightly and almost dropped her, but he didn't let her fall. Her long golden hair touched the ground, and slowly but surely, Izuku carried her through the air, never taking his eyes off her. She locked her arms around his neck, not letting go, so that his attention was focused only on her and no one else. He carried her slowly, and she, like him, felt a closeness she had never felt before. Their eyes were locked on each other, and neither wanted to let go.
Izuku suddenly lifted her up, causing her to gasp in surprise, and, turning her toward him, he pulled her close, locking his arms around her and hugging her. Grabbing her by the shoulders, he pushed her forward, and she let out a sound of panic, but he grabbed her hands from behind, digging his fingers into her jumpsuit. He pulled her toward him, almost dropping her to the ground, but regaining control of the situation, he lifted her up, and, not wanting to fall behind him, she jumped into his arms. Izuku regained his bearings and caught her in a princess carry. She grabbed his neck, her nails digging into his skin, but he didn't feel it. He spun around with her, but Izuku hesitated slightly and let go of her legs, interrupting the moment of closeness. Sensing her friend's panic, she quickly realized what to do and locked her arms around Izuku's waist. Their eyes met again, and, not wanting to drop her, he spun around with her. He spun her around five times, squeezing her thighs tighter, running his hands over her firm buttocks and back. She stood up and squeezed his shoulders tightly, not wanting to let go. Her emotions were joyful, and she smiled sincerely at him, and the thought occurred to her that this was a date.
"I underestimated you," she blurted out. Her hot breath was palpable, and her breathing was slightly uneven, but no one stopped until the music ended. Izuku's hand, wanting more contact, reached for the zipper of her jumpsuit. His cheeks burned red, and recognizing the gesture, Melissa removed his hand and slightly opened the jumpsuit herself, unexpectedly for herself.
The zipper of the jumpsuit unzipped with a slight rustle, revealing the white T-shirt underneath. Izuku felt his fingers tremble slightly as he touched the warm fabric on her side.
"What am I doing?!" flashed through his mind, but Venom just chuckled, "Finally."
Melissa didn't pull away. On the contrary, her fingers gently rested on top of his, as if giving permission. Her blue eyes, now without glasses, seemed even bigger and brighter. She smiled, and at that moment the music changed to something faster and more rhythmic. Around them, other couples began to move more energetically, but they remained frozen in their own little world.
Melissa suddenly squeezed his hand and pulled him along.
"Shall we continue?" she whispered, now it was her turn to continue what they had started. Clasping her hands around his neck, she pulled him onto the dance floor. But Izuku didn't let them fall. She narrowed her eyes, trying to make out his face, and when she saw his joyful eyes sharing the moment with her, she rose and spun around him. Her feet touched the floor gracefully and elegantly, and on her toes she grabbed his hands.
Looking around while everyone was distracted, even Melissa, Venom pulled Melissa's waist toward Izuku with his small mustache so that they would be even closer. Izuku's hands caressed Melissa's white T-shirt, and as he caressed her back, he felt her quiet moans, but the music was becoming more and more energetic, and grabbing his hands, Melissa clasped them and began to dance even more energetically.
Melissa spun around sharply, her golden hair fanning out as she pressed her back against Izuku's chest. His hands instinctively wrapped around her waist, and her fingers slid down his forearms, leaving goosebumps on his skin.
"Are you... sure?" Izuku whispered, feeling her body press against him in time with the music.
In response, she simply tilted her head back, touching the back of his shoulder with her neck. "Isn't it obvious?" Her lips curved into a cheeky smile as she deftly ran his hand along her thigh.
Venom hummed approvingly: "Finally, she's stopped pretending."
The music grew louder, and Melissa, as if possessed, began to move with unexpected grace. Her hips swayed smoothly, and her arms flew upward as she spun around Izuku, sometimes approaching him, sometimes moving away, as if playing with him. Every movement was a challenge, every touch a promise.
Izuku, at first stiff, gradually began to give in to the rhythm. His hands slid down her sides, feeling every curve under the thin fabric of her jumpsuit. When she turned to face him again, their eyes met—there was a fire in her eyes that he had never seen before.
"You... aren't what I thought you were," he muttered as she pulled him by the collar, closing the distance between them to a minimum.
"Neither are you," she said, her breath mingling with his, hot and ragged. Suddenly, all the lights in the gym came on. Izuku turned red as a tomato, speechless, only panting uselessly. Melissa, though blurry, saw how close they were. She saw Izuku's hand on her thigh and her hand around his neck. She noticed his unbuttoned jumpsuit. They had given in to each other so much that they forgot whether they were friends or not.
She instantly pulled away, quickly buttoning up her jumpsuit.
"Attention everyone! I declare this party closed. I wish you all a pleasant evening and weekend. See you on Monday!"
"I hope everyone enjoyed themselves!" she shouted, and the hall responded with a unanimous "Yeah!" "See you next time! Don't forget to pick up your things and... try not to burn down the school on your way out, okay?"
The last sentence was clearly addressed to Dabi, who just laughed in response. He started walking toward the exit to keep the children safe from the crowd, walking ahead of them. The crowd began to disperse, and Izuku and Melissa found themselves at the exit.
"Hey, Midoriya!" Shoto called out to them, approaching with two glasses in his hands. He took off his mask and focused his attention on them.
"Fuyumi said to give you these." He handed Izuku a glass with something bright red in it and Melissa a glass with a green cocktail.
"What is this?" Izuku asked cautiously.
"She says it's the 'winner's drink.' But to be honest, I wouldn't drink it if I hadn't seen her make it." Melissa cautiously sipped her cocktail and immediately grimaced at the overly sweet and cold taste, which was refreshing after their dizzying dance.
"O-o-o, it's... very sweet." Izuku followed her example and almost choked.
"It's not sweet, it's... like pure sugar with a berry explosion in your mouth!" Shoto shrugged indifferently. Fuyumi was an excellent cook, but she was never good at making drinks, which was her weakness.
"She always does that." At that moment, Fuyumi herself approached them, no longer wearing a mask, but with a satisfied smile.
"So, how was it?"
"It was amazing!" Melissa exclaimed sincerely.
"Thank you, Fuyumi-sensei," Izuku added, trying not to look her straight in the eye, as her gaze still made him feel uncomfortable.
Fuyumi smiled even wider.
"See you on Monday, then!"
"I saw that most of the participants were on the Decepticons' side. I won. Soundwave is superior,autobots is inferior."
Leaving last, they said goodbye to their teacher and walked in silence across the courtyard, trying to process what had happened between them. Melissa was the first to break the silence as they walked in the same direction.
"Come on, this will stay between us, Izuku." She looked at him, squinting, and realizing this, Izuku put his glasses on her.
"That's better. I... I won't tell anyone about this, don't worry."
The moon lit up the deserted streets as Izuku and Melissa walked side by side, maintaining an awkward silence. Their shadows merged on the asphalt, lengthening and shortening under the streetlights.
"Izuku..." Melissa suddenly stopped, her voice trembling. "Do you... do you think we..."
Venom immediately hissed in Izuku's head, "Oh God, she's going to say it was a mistake."
But Melissa just adjusted the glasses Izuku had returned to her and laughed unexpectedly. "We looked like real idiots in there, didn't we?"
Izuku felt the tension ease from his shoulders. "Y-you mean our... dance?"
"Dance?" She raised an eyebrow, and a mischievous sparkle danced in her eyes. "I'd call it something between an acrobatic etude and an attempt to undress me in the middle of the gym."
"I didn't... I mean, I..." Izuku choked on his embarrassment, but Melissa put her finger to his lips.
"Shh. I'm kidding." Her hand slowly lowered, lightly brushing his chin. "Actually... I liked it."
Izuku's heart pounded wildly. Venom stirred beneath his skin, clearly pleased with the turn of events. Silence hung between them, broken only by the distant barking of a dog. Then Melissa suddenly stood on tiptoe and quickly, almost tenderly, touched his cheek with her lips.
"Call me tomorrow," she whispered before turning and almost running to her house, leaving Izuku standing with burning ears and a silly smile.
"Well, Romeo," Venom teased, "looks like you had a successful first date."
Izuku didn't answer. He just stared at Melissa's receding figure, feeling something warm and new spreading through his chest.