Izuku caught up to Ochaco Uraraka just outside the building and scratched the back of his head apologetically.
"Uh… looks like we'll have to reschedule," he said. "Aizawa-sensei needs me for something."
Ochaco blinked, disappointment flashing across her face for just a moment before she smiled again.
"Oh—yeah, that's fine! Next time, then," she said quickly, though her tone carried a quiet reluctance.
"Definitely next time," Izuku replied with a reassuring nod.
With that, he turned and followed Shota Aizawa through the halls of U.A., their footsteps echoing softly against the polished floors. They soon entered a more secluded wing of the faculty area and stopped before a heavy door.
Inside was a meeting room—simple, professional, and far more intimidating than any classroom.
Sitting around the table were Midnight, legs crossed and eyes sharp with curiosity; All Might, towering even while seated; and at the head of the table, calmly sipping tea, Nezu.
Izuku swallowed and took a seat.
The moment he did, he felt it—every pair of eyes in the room focused squarely on him.
Uncomfortable didn't even begin to cover it.
'I feel like I need adult supervision,' he thought dryly.
"Midoriya boy!" All Might boomed suddenly, leaning forward with his usual larger-than-life presence. "I'm sure you already know why we've brought you here!"
Izuku tilted his head, feigning innocence.
"Is it because I beat up those villains?"
There was a brief pause.
"…No," Aizawa said flatly. "It's about your quirk—or rather, your abilities."
He adjusted his scarf slightly before continuing.
"We want to know their origin. What you displayed today is… unprecedented. We've never recorded a case like yours, and we'd like to understand it better."
Izuku shrugged lightly, leaning back in his chair.
"I just call it an unreadable quirk," he said. "Kind of to cope, I guess. I wasn't born with a quirk, so… I think it's a blessing that I somehow got this strong without one."
It was vague. Intentionally so.
Telling them the full truth would sound more unbelievable than that—and Izuku knew it.
He remembered how in One Punch Man.
When Saitama tried to explain how he became so strong they either laughed or believed he was lying. Which in all honesty wasn't a bad reaction if you think about their world.
Some truths were better kept quiet.
The teachers exchanged brief glances before returning their attention to him.
Midnight leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand.
"At what age would you say you first noticed yourself becoming stronger? Faster?"
"Thirteen," Izuku answered without hesitation.
"And what were you doing when it happened?" she asked.
"Running away from a dog," he replied evenly. "I suddenly felt myself accelerating faster than an average person."
Nezu's ears twitched with interest.
"And after that?"
"Nothing," Izuku said. "I told myself it was just adrenaline."
For the next thirty minutes, the questions kept coming.
Strength. Endurance. Control. Growth rate. Limits.
Izuku answered them all—carefully. Truthful enough to be believable, vague enough to protect what mattered. When it was finally over, the room fell quiet.
Nezu let out a small sigh and folded his paws together.
"Somehow, we've ended up right back where we started," he said calmly. "Still… thank you for your cooperation, Izuku."
His eyes sharpened just slightly.
"For now, we advise you to keep a low profile. I'm sure you understand why. The League of Villains now recognizes you as a threat."
Izuku nodded, standing up.
"Alright."
No arguments. No questions.
He left the room, the door clicking shut behind him.
Once outside, he stretched his arms above his head, rolling his shoulders as the tension finally drained away.
Then—
He jumped.
Izuku launched himself high into the sky, clearing the campus walls with ease. Wind rushed past his ears as he landed on a rooftop, then another, skipping effortlessly from building to building as he made his way home.
Soon enough, he arrived.
He slipped inside, kicked off his shoes, and changed into something comfortable, the day finally catching up to him as he exhaled deeply.
Tomorrow was a day off.
But something told him life wasn't about to slow down anytime soon.
.....
The next day arrived far more peacefully than the one before it. Just sunlight filtering through the city and a rare sense of normalcy.
Izuku stood outside a quiet café near U.A., hands in his pockets, posture relaxed but his mind oddly alert—like he was preparing for a fight that wasn't coming.
He checked the time once, then looked up as footsteps approached.
And paused.
Momo Yaoyorozu walked toward him, dressed simply—nothing extravagant, yet effortlessly elegant. A light blouse, a skirt that swayed gently as she moved, her long dark hair tied neatly behind her. She looked… different outside her hero costume and school uniform.
"Sorry if I kept you waiting," she said warmly.
"You didn't," Izuku replied immediately. "I just got here."
' Always wanted to say that. And I always wanted say ' I always wanted to say that ' ' he thought.
She smiled at that, clearly relieved, and the two of them stepped inside together.
The café was calm, filled with low music and the quiet murmur of conversations. They chose a table near the window, sunlight pooling softly between them. For a moment, neither spoke—both adjusting to the strange intimacy of being alone without training, danger, or expectations looming over them.
Momo broke the silence first.
"Yesterday was… intense," she said gently. "I wanted to thank you. For everything you did."
Izuku shook his head.
"You don't have to thank me. We're classmates. That's what heroes are supposed to do."
She studied him for a moment, eyes thoughtful.
"You say that so easily," she said. "But what you did went far beyond what anyone expected. You never hesitated."
Izuku shrugged, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"I just didn't want anyone else to get hurt."
Their drinks arrived, and the conversation slowly eased into something lighter—classes, training, favorite foods, even embarrassing stories from their first weeks at U.A.
Izuku found himself laughing more than he had in days. Momo relaxed too, her usual composed demeanor giving way to something more genuine.
At one point, Momo Yaoyorozu slowed her steps and turned toward him, fingers lacing together in front of her. A faint blush dusted her cheeks, subtle but unmistakable.
"You know…" she said quietly, eyes flicking away for a second before meeting his again, "it's nice seeing you like this."
Izuku blinked, genuinely caught off guard. For a moment, he didn't know how to respond. Then he let out a small breath, shoulders relaxing.
"…Yeah," he admitted. "It's nice to relax and not care about U.A. for a moment."
Momo smiled at that—not the composed, elegant smile she wore at school, but something softer. More personal.
Afterward, they continued walking through the nearby park. Leaves crunched gently beneath their feet with every step, the scent of grass and water lingering in the air.
The city noise faded into the background, replaced by the quiet rush of wind through trees and distant birdsong. Time felt slower here—like the world had given them permission to breathe.
They stopped near a small stone bridge. Below it, a narrow river flowed steadily, the water shimmering as sunlight danced across its surface. Momo rested her hands on the railing, her long hair swaying slightly in the breeze.
"I'm glad you came," she said softly. "I was worried you might cancel."
Izuku leaned beside her, glancing down at the river.
"I almost did," he said honestly. "But I'm glad I didn't."
She turned to him with a teasing look, lips curling upward. "You're joking… right?"
Izuku shrugged lightly, eyes still on the water. "I guess we'll never know."
She studied him for a moment—his relaxed posture, the way his expression softened when he wasn't thinking about training or responsibility. Then, without warning, she stepped a little closer and pulled out her phone.
Click.
Izuku blinked as she snapped a selfie of the two of them, her smile bright and unguarded.
"Huh?" He leaned over, curiosity winning out. "What phone is this?"
She handed it to him casually.
"Oh, it's an iPhone 54. It hasn't been released yet, but I somehow got one."
Izuku stared at the screen for a second longer than necessary, then handed it back.
"…You want me to get you one?" she asked earnestly.
He laughed and shook his head.
"Nah. I'll stick to my Android."
She laughed too, amused, slipping the phone back into her bag.
'Man… she's rich,' Izuku thought, lips twitching into a grin.
TO BE CONTINUED