"Huh? I can go to Yaoyorozu's house for training? Really?"
Uraraka Ochaco's eyes lit up immediately. She had never been to Yaoyorozu's home before, and the thought of getting closer to her new friend made her instantly agree.
Masata, who had clearly overthought things, nodded as well.
"Yeah, that works. Honestly, today was supposed to be a training day anyway. And there's no food at my place, so we might as well go eat at Momo-chan's house."
A short while later, Ochaco sat carefully inside Yaoyorozu's extended luxury car.
"Um… Yaoyorozu, do you usually go to and from school in a car like this?"
Ochaco, who had never experienced anything close to a wealthy lifestyle, looked visibly uneasy.
"Prepare yourself, Chacha," Masata said calmly from beside her.
"Momo-chan's house is… really rich. If you're already this shocked, you won't have enough eyes later."
After all, Masata clearly remembered how stunned he had been the first time he went to Yaoyorozu's home.
"Once we pass that hill, we'll arrive," Yaoyorozu Momo said, turning back from the passenger seat with a gentle smile.
"The kitchen prepared a big dinner today. After we eat, I'll show Chacha around the manor. Masata can go train first."
Ochaco was a little confused. How long could it really take to tour a house?
She got her answer very quickly.
"From this gate… all the way to the end of what you can see," Masata said as he stepped out of the car and pointed ahead,
"that entire area belongs to the Yaoyorozu family."
"…!"
Ochaco froze in place like someone who had just entered another world.
After a few seconds, she rushed over to Yaoyorozu Momo and stared at her as if she were some kind of legendary creature. Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"So that means you're basically a noble lady?! That's amazing!"
"Ah… honestly, our daily life isn't that different from everyone else's…" Momo replied modestly.
No, it's definitely different, Masata complained silently, remembering the first time Momo had dragged him through a high-end shopping district like it was nothing.
Dinner and Training
Dinner was lavish—by Yaoyorozu standards.
For Ochaco, whose family background was far more ordinary, it was downright extravagant.
Rare ingredients she had never even heard of, unique cooking methods, and an almost ceremonial dining process made her deeply experience what life among the wealthy was like.
After dinner, once the manor tour was finished, Yaoyorozu Momo was practically pulled by Ochaco toward the training grounds in the back mountain.
"Oh, you're here."
Masata, who had been in the middle of endurance training, stopped when he noticed them approaching.
After fighting the sludge villain and the giant robot at school, Masata had clearly felt changes in his body. Every aspect of his physical ability had improved.
It seemed that training was never as effective as real combat.
One or two weeks of exercise couldn't compare to the growth brought by a single life-and-death fight.
Even so, regular hard training was still valuable.
Thanks to his passive Quirk [Cell Enhancement], the daily improvements were subtle—almost imperceptible. But over time, those tiny gains added up to something terrifying.
These days, Masata rarely felt truly exhausted during training. Long periods of high-intensity exercise could still drain him, but as long as he rested briefly, his energy recovered quickly.
Of course, that was only if he wasn't hungry.
"Masata! Hurry up and teach me close-combat techniques!"
Ochaco suddenly cheered, revealing her energetic side again.
"…It's not that I can't teach you," Masata said seriously, switching into instructor mode,
"but I'd recommend building your physical foundation first, Chacha."
"With your current stamina, even if your technique is perfect, you still won't be able to handle real villains."
"And another thing—my Quirk is powered by physical strength. Don't be fooled by how strong it looks. The stamina cost is terrifying."
"The only reason I can use it for extended periods is because my physical conditioning is strong enough."
"After all, energy doesn't come from nowhere. I don't know exactly what price your Quirk demands, but a stronger body will definitely help."
After finishing his explanation in one breath, Masata picked up his specialized resistance trainer and started moving again.
"Of course, that's just my personal opinion. The choice is yours."
Yaoyorozu Momo nodded in agreement and added,
"What Masata said is absolutely right. Hero work requires immense stamina and endurance."
"Take me as an example—compared to before, I can now create the same objects using less fat and at a faster speed. That improvement is very noticeable."
After hearing both of them, Ochaco hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly set aside the idea of learning techniques.
"Hmm… When I use my Quirk too intensely, I end up vomiting. If training can help me overcome that, then I'll do it. Otherwise it's just too embarrassing…" she laughed awkwardly.
"Great! I know you can do it!" Masata encouraged loudly while pulling the resistance band to its limit.
"But talking won't help—move!"
"Shake out your sweat and blood!"
"Yes, Instructor Masata!"
Late Night at the Manor
After their exhausting workout, the three of them walked out of the training grounds under a bright moon.
"It's already so late," Yaoyorozu said.
"Why don't you stay here tonight, Chacha? I'll have the butler prepare clothes. And I don't feel comfortable letting you be alone with Masata."
"…Is that really how you see me?" Masata asked bitterly, hearing the implication clearly.
"Hmph. I just want to sleep with Chacha," Momo replied calmly.
"You go shower and rest."
Since Masata and Yaoyorozu Momo had been childhood friends, there was no shortage of rooms in the mansion. Masata had his own room there, something both families tacitly approved of.
After all, Masata's parents worked at the Yaoyorozu Group as mid-level executives and had an excellent relationship with the company's chairman.*
...
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