She did it.
She actually—
"I did it…"
Izumi's voice trembled, barely audible over the settling debris.
"I really… I really can become a hero…"
For a brief moment, everything felt light.
Weightless.
Like all the fear, all the doubt, all the years of being told no had shattered along with the robot beneath her.
But then—
Reality hit.
Pain exploded through her body.
"—AHHHHHH!!"
Her right arm hung uselessly, twisted at an unnatural angle. Cracks spidered beneath her skin—the damage immediate and undeniable.
Her legs—
Gave out completely.
Broken.
Unresponsive.
The power of One For All had surged through her like a storm—
And left destruction in its wake.
Her body began to fall.
Fast.
Too fast.
The wind howled past her ears as gravity reclaimed her, dragging her down from the height of her leap.
The ground rushed up to meet her.
"Ah…"
Her vision blurred, tears mixing with the sting of wind against her face.
Don't forget, kid… you might be a "vessel" now… but One For All might still be too much for you to handle…
Be careful until your body adapts…
So this is what he meant…
I'm an idiot…
Izumi clenched her teeth mid-fall.
Ten months…
Ten months wasn't nearly enough.
Her body trembled violently as pain flared through her limbs.
Get a grip!
She forced her good arm to move, reaching down as she looked toward the ground.
Think! Think! Think!
"Guuhhh—!"
What do I do?!
Her heart pounded.
At this rate—
She'd hit the ground and become nothing more than a stain on the pavement.
I have to do something… anything—
Her eyes snapped to her remaining arm.
That's it.
I-I can do what All Might would do…!
Her arm lifted shakily.
Her fist clenched.
It buzzed with unstable power.
I only get one shot…
"Detroit—"
"Don't worry…"
A soft voice cut through the chaos.
Izumi's eyes widened.
She turned—
A figure dove from above.
Fast.
Direct.
One arm outstretched toward her.
"I'm here~"
For a moment—
Everything slowed.
Her breath caught.
Her heart skipped.
He reached her and pulled her firmly into a warm embrace.
Their bodies met.
Her eyes widened.
Something in her chest fluttered.
SWISHHH—
A rope shot outward, wrapping around a nearby pole.
Their momentum shifted instantly.
Instead of falling—
They swung.
For a brief moment, everything suspended.
The wind softened.
Their motion steadied as they arced through the air.
Izumi's body pressed lightly against his chest, close enough to feel his steady breathing.
Her fingers were still curled around his sleeve.
"…You're shaking," Aoyama murmured, glancing down at her.
"I… am not," she lied instantly, though her voice cracked.
Aoyama's lips curved slightly.
"Sure."
He adjusted his grip carefully—steadying her without holding her too tightly.
"…You're safe now."
The words landed heavier than expected.
Izumi didn't respond.
She just looked up at him.
And for a second—
She forgot the fall.
Forgot the pain.
Forgot everything except the warmth of his hold and the strange calm in his voice.
—
The ground returned.
They landed.
Safe.
A beat of silence lingered.
Izumi was still pressed lightly against him, her breathing uneven.
"…I…"
She looked up at him, dazed.
Aoyama glanced down with a small grin.
"Told you. I've got you."
Her heart thumped harder.
CLANK—
A damaged one-pointer staggered into view, sparks flying from its broken frame.
Its movements were sluggish.
Unstable.
Barely functional.
Aoyama's eyes flicked toward it.
A clone began to split off—
But—
"Wait!"
Izumi grabbed his sleeve weakly.
"P-please…"
Her voice shook.
"Let me take it down…"
Aoyama paused.
She looked at the robot—
Then back at him.
Desperate.
"I just need one point…"
Her grip tightened.
"There's no time… I won't find another one like this…"
Her eyes trembled—but didn't break.
"Please."
Aoyama sighed.
"…You're serious, huh."
He looked at the sluggish robot.
Then back at her.
"…Fine."
She didn't expect him to actually agree so easily.
He looked down at her, his hair swaying slightly.
"It might be damaged, but I doubt you have the strength to finish it off."
He spoke bluntly—stating the truth.
"Here. Take this. Since you only have one arm, it should help."
He rummaged through his duffel bag and handed her a taser.
Before she could react—
He lifted her into a princess carry.
Izumi froze.
Her face flushed instantly.
"W-wha—?!"
He stepped forward, carrying her toward the one-pointer.
"But," he added casually, "I don't do favors for free."
He glanced down at her, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"So you owe me one."
His grip tightened slightly as they approached their target.
"No questions asked."
The damaged robot twitched—
Target locking.
Aoyama stopped just within range.
He looked down at her.
"Go on."
Izumi swallowed.
Her heart pounded.
Her arm trembled—
But this time—
"Thank you…"
She meant it.
CRACK—!!
Electricity surged through the unit.
The machine convulsed—
Then collapsed.
—
[(1) Main Love Interest] (°NEW)
Affection Level: 1 — Small Crush
Affection Points: ▰▰▰▰▰▱▱ (5 / 7)
—
"Aren't I lucky~"
Aoyama spoke from the rooftop of a small skyscraper, watching the aftermath of Izumi's first 100% strike.
One foot hung off the edge, the other planted firmly.
I wondered if taking Ochaco earlier changed things…
Without her injury, Izumi might've withdrawn. Failed the test. Maybe scraped a few points from damaged robots—but not enough.
Instead—
The world corrected itself.
It gave Izumi her moment.
Even after his interference.
Even after removing the trigger that should've created her big rescue score.
Aoyama's gaze shifted.
Iida was rushing back toward the scene.
His right leg was still stuck with a stray sticky ball from Minette—left behind earlier by one of Aoyama's clones spreading them through the streets.
He leaned back slightly.
I had a feeling someone would try to step in…
That's why he stayed ready after the Zero Pointer appeared.
One clone had already tracked Iida—watched him hesitate—
Before he sprinted forward, engines roaring, hero instincts kicking in the moment he saw Izumi about to fall.
That's when Aoyama moved.
He cut in.
And saved her himself.
Because there was no way—
He was letting some "enemy-to-lovers" setup steal Izumi from him.
"Blegh—!!"
The sound snapped him back.
Ochaco was hunched beside him, clutching a plastic bag.
His hand gently rubbed her back.
"There, there… let it out."
A faint green glow pulsed from his palm as he used healing magic.
She looked up at him—pale, shaken.
"Please…"
"Don't look… at me…"
Her voice was weak.
"This is… beyond embarrassing…"
She slumped forward again.
Her eyes trembled.
Almost pleading.
Aoyama paused.
"…You're so damn cute."
"W-what?!"
She blushed instantly.
He didn't correct himself.
Instead—
He gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Don't move."
Her breath caught.
"…Now you're even cuter."
Her face burned.
"I… might forgive you for ruining my shirt."
He gestured casually to his shirtless torso.
Her eyes widened.
"T-that was my fault!"
"I-I'll buy you a new one! Just tell me how to contact you!"
Aoyama tilted his head.
"Hm…" He pretended to think.
Then shook his head.
"If anything, I'm the one at fault for spinning you around even though you told me you get queasy."
"I also won't feel right asking for compensation."
He leaned back slightly.
"So—how about this?"
"I won't stop you from buying me a new shirt…"
"As long as you let me take you out for lunch."
He smiled.
"Call it mutual compensation."
Mutual compensation…
Ochaco echoed in her mind as he continued.
"Today's Tuesday… so how about Friday?"
"I… I'm not free Friday… or Thursday…"
She hesitated.
"But… tomorrow I should be free."
"From ten to… maybe three?"
Aoyama grinned.
"Tomorrow, huh?"
"It's a date."
"A-A DATE?!"
She panicked.
"I don't even know your name!"
"How is that a date?! We just met—shouldn't I know you better first?!"
Pfft—
Aoyama laughed.
Not mockingly.
Just genuinely.
"Sorry—sorry. I forgot to introduce myself."
"I can be forgetful."
He straightened.
"Hikaru Aoyama."
She blinked.
"What?"
"Hikaru Aoyama."
He pointed at himself.
"That's the name of the selfish bastard hitting on you."
He winked.
"Don't forget it."
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
Congratulations, Ben Tennyson (Hikaru Aoyama).
You have successfully gained the interest of one (1) Main Love Interest.
Name: Uraraka Ochaco
Classification: Human (Enhanced via Genetic Evolution)
Narrative Role: Female Lead
Affection Level: 1 — Small Crush
Affection Points: ▰▰▰▱▱▱▱ (3 / 7)
"I won't forget," Ochaco said quickly.
Her voice was still shaky—but firm.
"I mean it… Hikaru Aoyama."
Aoyama paused.
Then smiled.
Not teasing.
Not playful.
Softer.
"Good."
He leaned back, looking over the city.
Then back at her.
"Because I want to see you again after this."
Her heart skipped.
"Even if tomorrow isn't officially a date…"
"I still hope you show up."
Ochaco froze.
Her voice lowered as she found her answer—
"…Okay."