BNHA: Singularity

After getting a decent distance from the cafe and the periphery of the red light district, Ashido abruptly threw up her hands and exclaimed, "Ah! That was so intense...!" in an enthusiastic but markedly relieved tone.
Turning to Izuku, a broad smile developed across Ashido's face as she added, "You know, you're a pretty good guy, Midoriya-kun. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure why I suspected otherwise. I guess it's because you don't really act like a boy around our age?"
Instead of commenting on Ashido's remark, Izuku raised his brows and asked, "Does this mean our date is over? I was kind of looking forward to hanging out with you. I mean, this is the first time I've ever accompanied a cute girl like this. It would be a shame to end things early."
Pointing directly at Izuku's face, Ashido exclaimed, "You see!? That's exactly what I'm referring to! What kind of middle-turned-high-schooler talks like that?"
Shrugging his shoulder, Izuku responded, "One who is polite and cares about how people perceive him? We are aspiring to be Pro Heroes, after all."
Exhaling an exasperated sigh, Ashido visibly deflated, hanging her arms and slumping her shoulders at the sheer 'insensibility' of Izuku's rationale. He was right, of course, but it just sounded so weird to hear a boy around her age speak with such 'level-headedness.'
Shaking her head, Ashido regained a bit of vigor as she asked, "Can I ask you something? You said something along the lines of always doing your best to be honest, so let me ask you this: What kind of girls do you prefer? Even if it's true that you think we're all cute, you 'must' have a preference."
Nodding his head, Izuku calmly remarked, "Honesty is the best policy..." before answering, "When it comes to physical appearances, I'm honestly not all that picky. What I 'do' prefer are strong and mature girls who are passionate about something they love and know precisely what they want from a relationship. In other words, I'm looking for someone I can treat as a friend and an equal."
Hearing Izuku's response, Ashido couldn't help massaging her forehead as she remarked, "Is this guy for real...?" under her breath. A normal boy would have hesitated or responded by vaguely listing off the features of the girl he was with. Izuku's answer exuded sincerity, but it was way too serious for a typical high schooler...
Noticing Ashido's obvious exasperation, a faint smile developed across Izku's face as he asked, "Should I have answered by saying I like girls with amazing physiques, pink skin, and badass eyes? Because it wouldn't be a lie..."
Looking up to meet Izku's gaze, a hint of incredulity briefly flashed across Ashido's distinctive gold and black-sclera eyes. Then, regaining her usual smile, she affirmed, "It's certainly better than your previous response. But you forgot to mention my horns. Do you not like them?"
"On the contrary," replied Izuku. "I just didn't think it would be appropriate to say I like horny women."
Though it was nearly indistinguishable due to her complexion, a blush developed through Ashido's cheeks when she heard Izuku's surprisingly brazen response. With how over-the-top and polite his other responses were, she didn't think he had it in him to flirt properly.
Unable to contain a smile, Ashido gave Izuku a weak shove as she said, "You dog..." in an embarrassed but slightly gratified tone. Even if Izuku's words were superficial lip service or simple ribbing, they made her heart beat a little quicker...
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After parting ways with 'Mina' at the station, Izuku was in an excellent mood the rest of the way home. Ashido had given him her number and permission to address her informally, so the two exchanged texts late into the evening while Izuku mulled over his plans for the following day.
Because of the rapport he had built with Nezu and All Might, Izuku was fairly certain he could persuade them to prepare countermeasures even if he didn't reveal the specific details of what might happen. Fortunately, he had experimented in the past by increasing each of his attributes to 100, so he had a reasonable excuse to offer.
By increasing his Luck to 100, Izuku's system rewarded him with a Perk called [Intuition]. As the name implied, it gave him a sixth sense of sorts. Unfortunately, even though it was a Perk obtained at 100 Luck, it wasn't very reliable. Izuku had tried using it to 'game' the stock market, but only around half his investments paid off. He had a much higher success rate by simply paying attention to the news and analyzing market trends, so he gave up on [Intuition] until he had spare attributes to pump into Luck.
Luckily for Izuku, Nezu, or anyone else, could see his current distribution of attributes. He also wouldn't be lying when he said he suspected an incident might happen, so even someone as brilliant as Nezu shouldn't be able to see through him. Beyond that, Izuku's true concern was whether the presence of additional teachers would positively or negatively impact the outcome of the incident...
As the first Nomu to appear in Boku no Hero Academia was designed to counteract All Might, the presence of additional teachers may very well lead to a massacre. Izuku doubted the Nomu was anywhere near Level sixty-thousand, but he should possess superhuman strength and agility along with the Shock Absorption and Super Regeneration Quirks. Normal Heroes would be completely powerless against it, so Izuku spent much of the evening deliberating the best course of action before simply sending Principal Nezu an email detailing his concerns...
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Early the following day, nearly as soon as Izuku broke through the mob-like group of reporters surrounding the front gate, a voice informing him to report to the Principal's Office sounded over the school's PA System.
Upon reaching Nezu's office, Izuku was asked to take a seat before the mouse-like dog-bear hybrid said, "I apologize for calling you here on such short notice, Midoriya-kun. I thought to send you an email, but I prefer to discuss matters related to the school's security in person."
Shaking his head, Izuku replied, "Please, don't apologize, Principal Nezu. If anything, I should be thanking you. My [Intuition] is far from perfect, so it's entirely possible I'm making a mountain out of a molehill..."
Raising his oversized, paw-like hand, Nezu firmly asserted, "I would never ignore the concerns of one of my students, especially when said concerns involve the safety and well-being of the entire student body. I also regard you as a trustworthy individual, so I don't believe you would send such an email unless you were fairly certain something would occur."
Punctuating his words, Nezu brought up a holographic display depicting a dome-like structure with the words Unforeseen Simulation Joint hovering in the air.
"For tomorrow's Foundational Hero Studies course, Class 1-A was scheduled to conduct Rescue Training at this facility, our world-renown 'Unforeseen Simulation Joint,' or USJ for short. Since it would be, mind the pun, fairly disastrous if an incident were to occur at such an important facility, I have privately conveyed your concerns to the supervising teachers and several of the more members of the Security Department. That includes All Might, so please, put your mind at ease and focus on your classes."
Feeling genuinely relieved by Nezu's words, Izuku adopted a broad smile and replied, "Thanks, Principal Nezu. I still have the impression something will happen, but if the Level 60,000 All Might is present, I can't imagine it will be difficult to resolve."
Blinking his somewhat beady black eyes, a very human smile developed across Nezu's face as he said, "Well, if there's nothing else, please be on your way."
Rising to his feet, Izuku lowered his head and thanked Nezu one last time before leaving, unaware that he had just passed the former's test. Most of what Nezu had just said were half-truths. He was skeptical and somewhat paranoid by nature, so he experimented to see if Izuku's words were truly the result of [Intuition] or something else. In other words, by pointing out he still felt as though something was amiss, Izuku had convinced Nezu he wasn't simply talking out of his ass...
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As Izuku had reached the campus around 15 minutes before the bell, Homeroom was already in full swing by the time he arrived. Fortunately, today was the day they were nominating their Class Representative, so it didn't matter if he was a little late. At the very least, Aizawa didn't even say anything as he entered the classroom.
Though virtually everyone noticed Izuku's arrival, the person to call out to him was Mina, raising her hand and shouting, "It's about time you showed up, Izuku-kun! We're trying to decide if you should be the Representative or Vice-Representative of the Class!"
Raising his brows, Izuku ignored the varied stares he was receiving from some of his male classmates, making his way over to the all-female group to ask, "What's this about, Mina-san? I don't recall volunteering for either position."
Spreading her hands and shrugging in a gesture of mock helplessness, Mina explained, "What can you do? Aizawa-sensei said we needed to pick our Class Representatives before Homeroom ended. Ida-kun suggested we put it to a vote, but just about everyone voted for themselves. You're the only boy that received more than one vote, so you and Yaoyorozu-san need to decide which of you is in charge."
Piggybacking off of Mina's words, Yaoyorozu revealed, "I personally cast my vote for you, Midoriya-kun, so I don't mind if you want to take the lead Representative position. I'm still lacking in many ways, so I was frankly a little surprised to receive two votes."
"And how many did I receive?" asked Izuku, genuinely curious to know the answer.
Anticipating Izuku's question, Mina held up five fingers and revealed, "You received a whopping five votes. One was your vote, as we assumed you would nominate yourself, while the remaining four came from Yaoyorozu-san, Uraraka-san, Tsuyu-chan, and Shoji-kun. On that note, you're free to change your vote, but it wouldn't change the fact you received the most out of everyone here."
Instead of opposing his nomination, Izuku adopted a smile, passing his gaze over Ochaco, Tsuyu, Yaoyorozu, and the nearby Shoji as he said, "Thank you for the votes of confidence. I would have nominated Ida-kun and Yaoyorozu-san for the positions, but if this is the result of diplomacy, I'll accept the result with humility."
Fixing his gaze on Yaoyorozu, Izuku added, "That being said, I believe you should take the Class Representative position, Yaoyorozu-san. I'm better at logistics and administrative tasks than leading people directly, so you can leave all the forms and paperwork to me. Of course, if you ever need my help directing people, I'll be happy to assist."
Though she was a little surprised when Izuku said he would have cast his vote for her, Yaoyorozu recovered quickly, a wide smile developing across her face as she said, "Thank you, Midoriya-kun. I shall do my best to meet both your and the Class's expectations."
As he was listening in on the conversation from his sleeping back, lying on the ground behind the teacher's podium, Aizawa rose to his feet and said, "Then that settles it. Momo Yaoyorozu will be the Class Representative, and Izuku Midoriya will be the Vice Class Representative. Get up here and give your introductions. After that, you can have self-study for the rest of Homeroom. I have a Staff Meeting to attend."
As he was one of the teachers that would be chaperoning Class 1-A during the following day's Rescue Training, Aizawa had already received a 'yellow' alert from Nezu informing him to come by the Principal's Office. Yellow was just two steps down from the worst-case scenario, so Aizawa had a serious expression as he departed the classroom, taking off at his maximum speed the moment the door closed behind him...
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Following Homeroom, the students of Class 1-A had Math with Ectoplasm, Modern Literature with Cementoss, English with Present Mic, and most of the boys' favorite course, Modern Art History with 18+ Hero Midnight.
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Name: [Nemuri Kayama]
Quirk: Somnambulist
Current Level: 25 (593,337 EXP)
Effective Level: 38
[Attributes]
Strength: 29
Agility: 33
Vitality: 108
Intelligence: 68
Dexterity: 47
Luck: 103
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As her Hero name suggested, Midnight, also known as Nemuri Kayama, was a Heroine who had embraced the more 'sensual' aspects of being a female Pro. She had long, spiky black hair, and her costume was inspired by comprised of a thin white bodysuit, a breastless black leotard, high-heeled boots, and purple stockings fastened by a garter belt. She also wore cuff-like manacles and a red eye mask, but most people didn't even notice the latter as they were too distracted by Midnight's mature, fit, and incredibly curvaceous body. Altogether, she looked more like a dominatrix than a proper Hero, complete with a red leather whip.
With UA having a policy that mandated teachers wear their costumes while teaching, Midnight's Modern Art History lessons were as riveting as they were informative. This was especially true for Izuku, but as he was currently trying to cultivate rapport with the girls in his Class, he kept his gaze from wandering even when Midnight walked right by him, her perky, tantalizingly round ass swaying in a way that 'demanded' attention...
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Following Midnight's Modern Art History lesson, Class 1-A, alongside the rest of the school, had lunch from 12:30-1:30 PM. Mina extended Izuku an invitation to sit with the girls, but he politely declined since it would set a dangerous precedent. He also really needed some friends he could hit the gym or spar with, so he ended up sitting with Shoji, Ojiro, and Sato as part of a larger group of boys.
Interrupting before Izuku had a chance to quiz the gym-rat trio about their workout routines, Kirishima asked, "So, Midoriya-kun, how was your date with Ashido-san?" with a somewhat forced smile.
Continuing before Izuku could offer his response, Kirishima added, "You know, the two of us actually went to the same middle school? She always was one of the popular girls, that Ashido-san."
Though he recalled that Kirishima was often 'shipped' with Ashido in his previous life, Izuku's expression was calm as he answered, "The cafe we went to was a bust, so we mainly just walked around before parting at the station. Still, it was pretty enjoyable for my first date. We even exchanged numbers near the end."
Inserting himself into the conversation, Kaminari jokingly remarked, "You don't pull your punches, do you, Midoriya-kun? It's only the third day of school, and you're already on a first-name basis with half the girls in our Class. Save some for the rest of us, man."
Shaking his head, Izuku calmly asserted, "I haven't really done anything all that special. I mean, I'm sure everyone here can agree that the girls in our Class are amazing, right? I just voice my thoughts aloud and treat them like people instead of members of an alien species. You should give it a try."
Exhaling a sigh, Kaminari groaned, "If only it were that easy. I honestly don't know how you can say half the things you say with a straight face. Whenever I imagine myself trying it, I get literal goosebumps. Seriously, man, you're something else."
Shrugging his shoulders, Izuku asked, "What do you want me to say?" before preempting Kaminari's response by adding, "The only reason such thoughts make you cringe is because they're insincere, even in your mind. Once you successfully confess and start dating a girl you like, you'll come to find such words flow like water."
As virtually everyone at the table was listening in when Izuku spoke, a peculiar, somewhat 'pensive' atmosphere descended upon the boys of Class 1-A. Izuku's claims were more than a little the top, but there was a logic in them that was difficult to refute. There was a reason people said things like, 'You never truly understand love until you've fallen into it.'
Inadvertently representing the other boys at the table, Ojiro was about to ask Izuku how he came to be so knowledgeable when the school's siren began to blare, followed by a mechanical voice stating, "Warning. Security Level 3 has been breached. Students, please remain calm and proceed to your designated evacuation zones. I repeat-"
Ignoring the automated voice's directions, the students in the cafeteria began stampeding toward the exits as if they were fleeing for their lives. A Level 3 breach meant that villains had invaded the campus, so those from the General, Support, and Business Departments pushed, shoved, and bumped into each other as they fought to be the first to flee.
Seeing the frenzied reaction of the other students, tensions among the members of Class 1-A increased rapidly, the usually taciturn Tokoyami asking, "What should we do...?" with a bead of sweat somehow forming on his bird-like face.
Noticing that quite a few people looked toward him when Tokoyami asked his question, Izuku adopted an assuring smile and replied, "What aspiring Heroes ought to do." before rising to his feet. Fortunately, Yaoyorozu and the other girls were already coming over, so Izuku just waited for them to arrive before asking the former if she could produce a megaphone.
Without questioning Izuku's intentions, Yaoyorozu unhesitantly produced a megaphone from her exposed thigh. Upon receiving it, Izuku set the volume to max, climbed atop the lunch table, and brought the mouthpiece to his lips before shouting, "Everyone, please remain calm and mindful of your surroundings. There is a high probability this is a false alarm, so stop trying to force your way out and start helping one another! Cooperation is the key to a safe and successful evacuation!"
Though not everyone listened to Izuku's words, the situation gradually de-escalated when the rest of Class 1-A joined in. Ochaco also got Lunch Rush, the retired Hero who prepared meals for UA's staff and students, to come over. Once he, a teacher nearly every student respected, took over, the evacuation became a lot smoother...
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As the Rescue Training at USJ wouldn't take place until the following day, Izuku got his first taste of a course that wasn't covered in the anime: CPR, First Aid, and AED Familiarization Training. It was a long and exceptionally boring class, but it was necessary since all Heroes needed to be CRP and AED Certified.
Once classes were finally over, Izuku was going to accompany Ochaco and Tsuyu to the station but had to change plans when Principal Nezu, once again, called him to his office. This time, however, the little mouse-bear-dog wasn't alone. With him were All Might, Aizawa, and a teacher in a bulky, astronaut-themed costume, Space Hero: Thirteen
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Name: [Anan Kurose]
Quirk: Black Hole
Current Level: 20 (104,112 EXP)
Effective Level: 44
[Attributes]
Strength: 15
Agility: 17
Vitality: 305
Intelligence: 58
Dexterity: 13
Luck: 41
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Noticing Izuku's eyes moving as if he was reading something, even if it was only for a brief moment, Nezu's smile broadened as he said, "I can understand your desire to know more about the people you meet, but it isn't polite to use your Quirk on people without their permission. There is no precedent for a Quirk like yours in the history of our country, but the laws concerning telepathy and mind-reading are likely to apply."
Blinking in surprise, Izuku made a mental note to acquire some glasses or goggles for his Hero costume as he replied, "I'm sorry, Principal Nezu. It's a habit I developed during my efforts to ascertain the value of each of my attributes. I'll be more mindful from now on."
Nodding in approval, Nezu said, "That's all I ask." before shifting topics, stating, "Now, onto business. First and foremost, I wanted to commend you for your quick response during the Level 3 Security Breach. Not only did you help de-escalate the situation and guide your fellow students to safety, but according to the report from Lunch Rush, you also assisted in escorting the injured to Recovery Girl. We're not even halfway through the first week of classes, and you're already well on your way to becoming an exceptional Hero."
Adopting a smile, Izuku was about to thank Nezu for his praise but was preempted by All Might shouting, "I, too, would like to say a few words! After all, while the parties responsible are ultimately the reporters who stormed the school, this incident wouldn't have occurred if I had held a press briefing and issued an official statement!"
Following his words, All Might surprised Izuku by bowing nearly ninety degrees and exclaiming, "Please, forgive me, young Midoriya! And thank you for ensuring no one was seriously injured during today's incident!!!"
Feeling more than a little taken aback by All Might's exceptionally over-the-top response, Izuku found himself at a loss for words. If he could, he would turn around and leave right there and then. Unfortunately, he was stuck enduring the awkward tensions, a wry smile developing across his face as he gradually recovered his senses, scratched his cheek with his right index finger, and replied, "I was just doing what I ought to do..." in a faint, nearly inaudible tone.
Hearing Izuku's utterance, the seemingly perpetual smile on All Might's face flashed like he was in a Colgate commercial. He didn't say anything, but Izuku got the distinct impression he had just moved up on the list of people All Might was considering to succeed him.
Inserting himself back into the discussion, Nezu exhaled a soft chuckle before linking his 'fingers' together and saying, "I would now like to move on to the second reason I called you here. Tell me, Midoriya-kun, do you still have a feeling something bad is about to happen?"
Assuming Shigaraki had gotten his hands on Class 1-A's itinerary, Izuku didn't hesitate to nod, his expression becoming serious as he revealed, "The feeling intensified during lunch and has since grown stronger. I can't predict the exact time or date, but I'm certain an attack will occur in the very near future. Furthermore, considering the timing, I believe it's safe to assume they are targeting All Might or attempting to spite him by harming the students in his care..."
Listening to Izuku's assertions, the smile on All Might's diminished ever so slightly. He was no stranger to Villains targeting and attempting to make a name for themselves by defeating him. He feared not a one of them, but if something were to happen to the students in his care, he would spend the rest of his life enduring the shame...yet another thing he had considerable experience with...
Nodding his head in response to Izuku's words, Nezu wore a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes as he said, "Thank you for your time, Midoriya-kun. Rest easy knowing we will prepare every measure to ensure no harm befalls you or your fellow students. That being said, there is a very high probability I will call upon you in the future. I hope I do not inconvenience you too greatly by doing so."
"Please, perish the thought," replied Izuku. "Even if I weren't a student of the Department of Heroics, I would do my utmost to ensure the safety of myself and my fellow students. UA is as much a symbol of the current era as our greatest Heroes. It cannot be allowed to become a battlefield or a place where Villains can come and go as they please..."
Surprised by the severity and conviction of Izuku's statement, a peculiar light flashed across Nezu's eyes. He had been the Principal of UA since its transformation to a Hero Academy more than forty years prior. He still had a bit of life left in him, but if All Might didn't choose Izuku to succeed him, there was the possibility he could groom the boy as his own...
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As if the fact they had been ignoring him all day was a distant memory, Tsuyu and Ochaco approached Izuku shortly after All Might was finished evaluating their performance.
Touching her chin, Tsuyu, wearing a predominately green, frog-themed bodysuit with goggles, remarked, "You really gave it your all, didn't you, Izuku-chan?"
Pumping her fists excitedly, Ochaco, wearing a form-fitting pink and blue bodysuit, oversized pink boots, pink wrist accessories, and a utility belt, added, "I know, right? That was totally awesome! Ah, I'm pumped up just thinking about it...!"
Adopting a somewhat wry smile, Izuku, still-shirtless, replied, "Thanks, Ochaco-san, Tsuyu-chan. I appreciate the compliment. Unfortunately, I still have a ways to go before I can call myself a Pro. If I hadn't lowered my guard trying to show off, I wouldn't be in such a miserable condition."
Though he hadn't sustained any serious injuries, Izuku was looking a bit worse for wear, his hair and body covered in a mixture of sweat, dust, and concrete fragments. He was fairly used to being dirty, but it felt awkward chatting with two girls while he looked like shit.
Exhibiting a surprising lack of shame, Tsuyu gave Izuku's body more than a cursory glance before remarking, "Your condition doesn't seem too bad. That thing that makes your body all shiny must be pretty effective, ribbit. But I'm a little confused. Didn't you say your Quirk was related to boosting your strength, speed, and intellect?"
Suppressing his feeling of awkwardness, Izuku nodded his head and gave his chest a light smack as he explained, "This is one of the side effects of increasing my strength beyond a certain threshold. It would disappear if I shifted my focus to something else."
Reaching the obvious conclusion, Tsuyu asked, "Does that mean you gain other effects by shifting your focus?"
Though a number of his classmates were listening in on the conversation, Izuku didn't hesitate to answer, "That's right. If I focus on enhancing my speed, my legs are strengthened, and my feet can stick to surfaces more easily. If I really push myself, I can even run across water or scale walls a certain distance."
Blinking in surprise, Tsuyu voiced the opinion of nearly everyone present, stating, "That's incredible. Your Quirk is a lot more versatile than I initially thought, ribbit. I'm envious..."
Shifting the focus away from him, Izuku retorted, "The Quirks I'm envious of are Ochaco-san's and Todoroki-kun's. Giving objects the properties of zero gravity and being able to freeze over an entire building is incredible." Recalling her defeat at the hands of the latter, Tsuyu hung her head and became a little downcast. At the same time, Ochaco exhaled a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of her head as she said, "My Quirk isn't anything to be envious of. It's super useful in certain situations, but it isn't as flashy or cool as an emission or enhancement-type Quirk. If I'm unlucky, I could be spending my entire career as a sidekick."
Resisting the urge to explain how batshit-crazy-overpowered even the weakest form of gravity manipulation was, Izuku smiled broadly and said, "You're too hard on yourself, Ochaco-san. We haven't known each other for long, but I can tell you're kindhearted and have a persevering spirit. All you really lack is confidence. Once you realize how truly amazing you are, nothing can stop you from becoming a Pro."
Not expecting such heavy praise, Ochaco's face blushed bright red as a sudden urge to run away swelled within her chest. Fortunately, she wasn't alone, allowing her a chance to collect herself as Tsuyu gazed up at Izuku and advised, "You should consider toning it down a bit, Izuku-chan. Even if you're being one hundred percent sincere, it comes off as disingenuous when you praise people too much, ribbit."
Scratching the back of his head, Izuku defaulted to the tried-and-true method of easing tensions through self-depreciation, expressing, "Sorry, Tsuyu-chan, Ochaco-san. Before enrolling in UA, I rarely had the chance to speak with girls other than my Kaa-chan. This is all kind of new to me, so I apologize if it seems like I'm laying it on a little thick. It's just that all the girls in our Class are super amazing. This is the UA High Hero Course, after all."
"Kero..."
Looking as though she had received critical damage, Tsuyu surprised Izuku by abruptly walking away. Things became especially awkward when Ochaco smiled bashfully and followed after her, but at least Izuku wasn't left completely alone. Immediately following the duo's departure, Kaminari and Kirishima approached him, patting his shoulders as they said, "You had a good run..." and "Better luck next time..." with looks of sympathy that were undermined by the glimmers of amusement in their eyes...
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After a surprisingly exhausting day, Izuku was seriously considering just going home after waiting nearly an hour outside UA's front gate. Ashido had said she would meet him there after she took care of something, but the sky was beginning to darken and she still hadn't shown up.
Fortunately, while he was a little annoyed, Izuku had plenty of thoughts to occupy his mind. After all, if things continued to develop as they were, the USJ incident would be occurring the following day.
With more than two years to prepare, Izuku had considered hundreds, if not thousands, of methods to prevent the events in canon from getting out of hand. He may have only watched up to the fifth or sixth season of the anime, but that afforded him more than enough knowledge to alter the flow of events in a favorable direction. At the very least, he wouldn't allow his favorite rabbit-theme Hero to lose an arm and a leg...
Interrupting Izuku's thoughts, Ashido finally arrived, waving her hand and calling out to him as she ran over.
Stopping once she reached Izuku's side, Ashido bent over, placing her hands on her knees and struggling to catch her breath. Notably, unlike the other students passing through the gate, she wasn't wearing the grey blazer associated with their school. Instead, she was wearing the red tie and white dress shirt worn underneath, allowing keen-eyed observers to see the outline of her bra and the faint pink hue of her skin.
Though he couldn't help taking notice of these two features, Izuku took care to ensure his gaze didn't wander as he asked, "Is everything okay, Ashido-san? I appreciate that you ran all this way, but I would have kept waiting even if you took another hour or two."
Instead of responding to Izuku's question, Ashido exhaled an exhausted chuckle and focused on trying to catch her breath. She had originally only planned to keep Izuku waiting around fifteen minutes, but she got carried away conversing with the other girls. Then, on her way over, she realized her body was perspiring quite a bit due to their afternoon training, so she ran over to the showers, gave herself a quick scrub, and changed into her backup uniform before rushing over nearly an hour late...
Catching Ashido a little off guard, Izuku extended her a bottle of water he had pulled from his backpack. He generally carried several bottles and a fully-stocked first aid kit for emergencies, so he had plenty to spare as he said, "Here, take this, Ashido-san. It's a bottle of alkaline water with a pH level of 9.5. It may be a little warm since it's been sitting in my backpack, but the flavor is better than conventional tap or mineral water."
Accepting the bottle, Ashido jokingly asked, "What are you, a Boy Scout? Who carries bottled water around in their backpack instead of a tumbler?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Izuku answered, "Someone who doesn't want to feel helpless if they encounter a young child or an elderly citizen suffering from Heat Stroke?"
Rolling her eyes, Ashido removed the bottle's lid and downed its contents in a single go. She was surprised by how fresh it tasted, but she didn't comment on it, returning the empty bottle to Izuku as she said, "Thanks, Midoriya-kun. That really hit the spot. Now, how about we get this party started? The cafe I mentioned closes around 6:30, so we'll need to hurry if we want to make it."
Without waiting for Izuku's response, Ashido grabbed his arm like an over-affectionate girlfriend, intentionally brushing her breasts against him with a bright and cheerful smile.
Contrasting Ashido's expectations, a slight frown marred Izuku's face as he said, "This may be a date, but I don't think we're close enough to walk together in such a lovey-dovey fashion. At least not yet."
Though he didn't really mind it, Izuku could tell Ashido was attempting to goad him. It may have worked if he was a legitimate fifteen-year-old, but he wasn't some inexperienced brat. He was also secretly holding out for a real woman, examples being Midnight, Mirko, or Mt. Lady, so it would take more than a bit of skinship and playful flirting to move him.
Loosing her hold on Izuku's arm but not releasing it completely, Ashido narrowed her eyes and teased, "Wow, look at you. So mature..."
Instead of refuting the assertion, Izuku gave an affirming nod and asked, "Now, where is the cafe? Since you seem determined to cling to me, I may as well escort you properly..."
Turning her eyes up with an expression that seemed to ask, 'Are you for real?' Ashido replied, "It's not too far from the station, around a block or two South. I'll give directions as we go."
Hearing Ashido mention that their destination was South of the station, Izuku's eyes briefly narrowed. Said area was riddled with love hotels and other 'recreational' facilities. If members of UA's body were seen there, it would adversely affect the school's reputation. It was no wonder Ashido had 'forgotten' her blazer...
("This dumbass...") thought Izuku, even as he followed Ashido's directions to a tee. He could simply refuse if she attempted to invite him somewhere compromising, so there was no harm in playing along. Rather, if things did develop in that direction, he could reinforce the notion he wasn't a hungry wolf that would jump at the first opportunity to feed his urges. He held out against Inko, so there was no way he would succumb to a brat with more bravado than sense...
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Though Izuku was correct in thinking that Ashido was steering him in the direction of Musutafu's version of a red-light district, the cafe she had in mind was located on the periphery, just outside the accepted 'boundary' of the region. It was the type of place people invited their boyfriends or girlfriends to when they wanted to take their relationship to the next level but lacked the courage to suggest it directly. As a result, the atmosphere within the cafe was palpably tense as Izuku and Ashido sat in a tiny booth intended for couples.
Exhibiting the same sense of unease as someone utilizing the cafe for its intended purpose, Ashido sat close enough to Izuku that her thigh grazed against his as she asked, "So, what do you think? Pretty interesting place, huh?"
Instead of immediately responding to Ashido's question, Izuku scanned their surroundings, inspecting every last person present before turning his gaze to the visibly nervous pinkette and replying, "I imagine it would be a nice place to visit if and when we get a little closer. For now, I think we're both out of our element."
Exhaling an uncharacteristically nervous chuckle, Ashido admitted, "You know, I think you may be right. The atmosphere is a lot tenser than I was expecting..."
Nodding in agreement, Izuku said, "Then there's no reason to hesitate. Let's get out of here."
Rising to his feet, Izuku extended his hand to help Ashido do the same. Their actions drew the gazes of several people, but as they had more to worry about than some random high school students, most looked away fairly quickly. As such, rather than falling into a trap, Izuku ended up in a situation where Ashido was the one embarrassed and forced to thank him when he lent her his blazer...
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Chapter 16: Chapter 16