BNHA: Singularity

Without waiting for anyone to respond, the bunny-eared woman, Mirko, focused her gaze on Izuku, asking, "So, you're the brat who wants to be my intern?"
Recovering from his stupor, Izuku became serious, answering, "Yes." in a firm tone.
Crossing her arms and nodding, Mirko left Izuku at a momentary loss as she asked, "You wearing anything under those pants?"
Before Izuku could respond, Nezu interjected, stating, "Miss Mirko, please do not sexually harass my students. Even if you simply wish to check the muscle definition of his legs, now is neither the time nor the place for you to do so."
Clicking her tongue, Mirko asked, "What's the problem?" before giving her muscular thigh a slap, adding, "Female Heroes are pretty much expected to show off our legs, not to mention our other assets. I just want to see if he's worth the time I'll have to spend away from defeating villains. I don't have time to babysit a brat."
Preempting Nezu's response, Izuku surprised the mouse-like Principal and Toshinori alike by unfastening his belt and promptly dropping his trousers. His primary focus during his training was running, core, and leg exercises, so he was confident in their definition and tone.
Adopting her characteristically predatory grin, Mirko mused, "Oh? You're a bold one, aren't you? Now, flex! I want to see those quads on the verge of bursting...!"
Before complying with Mirko's demands, Izuku turned to Nezu, smiling wryly as he said, "Sorry if I damage your office..." before channeling the power of One-for-All into his legs. He was pretty sure Mirko was trying to get a feel for his power, so he settled for a multiplier he could hold for a few seconds, amplifying his physical attributes by 200x as he flexed the muscles in his thighs.
Though the definition of Izuku's thighs wasn't lacking before, their size increased quite a bit. More impressively, a discernible shockwave spread through the room, creating a wind pressure that smacked Mirko's smiling face while simultaneously snapping the elastic bands of his boxer briefs' leg holes.
Not light with her praise, Mirko candidly remarked, "You've got some juicy thighs, kiddo. Like something straight out of a two-piece meal. But check these puppies out...!"
Striking a pose like a bodybuilder, hands behind her head and abdominal muscles on full display, Mirko flexed her thighs to their limits, producing a shockwave of her own as her already meaty altars inflated by nearly thirty percent their original size.
("Holy shit...") though Izuku, his eyes wide and visibly bulging from their sockets.
Seemingly satisfied with Izuku's response, Mirko gave a prideful 'hmph' before adopting a more relaxed posture, arms crossed and chest slightly puffed out as she stated, "You still have a long way to go. Though, since you're a guy, I suppose that's your limit. Any bigger, and you'll crush your balls and have to deal with chafing."
Inserting himself back into the conversation, Nezu's expression and tone were chastising as he muttered, "Miss Mirko..." in a warning tone.
Waving her hand dismissively, Mirko replied, "Yeah, yeah, I know." Then, focusing her gaze on Izuku, she added, "You show promise, kid. You don't strike me as one of those wannabe Heroes who can't accomplish anything without boring strategies or greater numbers. A bonafide power-type that overwhelms his enemies with raw, unadulterated strength...!"
Without giving Izuku a chance to respond, Mirko nodded, seemingly in response to her own assertion, before adding, "I've made up my mind! If it's just a week, I don't mind showing you the ropes and teaching you how a Solo Hero performs their duties. Once your internships start, head over to Okunoshima, the island East of Hiroshima and North of Omishima. You can get there via ferry, swimming, or, if you're really hot shit, leaping over to it directly. I don't bother keeping track of dates and stuff, so just walk around the forest or busy yourself with training. I'll eventually notice you."
Finished with what she had to say, Mirko turned away, quipping, "See you when I see you, chicken legs," as she sauntered out of the room. Izuku's eyes nearly lowered to take in her half-exposed, exceptionally toned ass cheeks, but having snuck a peek at Mirko's status, he figured it probably wasn't the wisest idea...
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Name: [Rumi Usagiyama]
Quirk: Rabbit
Current Level: 83
Effective Level: 219
[Attributes]
Strength: 388
Agility: 442
Vitality: 647
Intelligence: 39
Dexterity: 460
Luck: 219
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Though Mirko was as dumb as a brick, her Level and physical attributes were among the highest Izuku had seen. However, as her Quirk, Rabbit, was a Mutation-type, he wasn't too surprised. Such quirks impacted the physical appearance, physique, and, in many cases, the personalities of those who possessed them. The latter was especially true for those with Quirks related to animals, as they often inherited the habits and 'instincts' of the animals they represented.
As he was focused on the information about Mirko's Rabbit Quirk, Izuku didn't hear the Principal calling out to him until Toshinori placed a hand on his shoulder, saying, "You should probably pull up your trousers..." with an awkward smile on his face...
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With one of Nezu's 'surprises' being that they had already contacted his mother and had a professional moving company relocate all their stuff, Izuku made his way to what would be his new abode, presumably until the dorms were built.
Staring up at the modern, two-story villa the school and prepared for him and his mother, Izuku couldn't help thinking, ("That beautiful little chimera is way too awesome...")
Though the outside was somewhat spartan, having white walls, dark grey windows, and a shingled roof, Izuku could easily imagine the house going for &yen;400-500 million based on his market research. The total flooring area came out to around 340 square meters, but if he included the garage-like workshop Nezu had prepared for him, it was closer to 400.
Resisting the urge to check out the workshop immediately, Izuku pressed his hand to the biometric scanner next to the front door. UA recorded the biometric data of each of its students, for a variety of reasons, so Izuku's profile was already saved to the house's state-of-the-art security system. Thus, after a second or two had passed, Izuku's excellent hearing let him pick up on a series of mechanical clicks, followed by the front door sliding open with a hissing sound. When he inspected the door's profile, it was at least 8cm thick and had at least six layers. Also, much like a vault, instead of a simple latch, it had several thick bars that protruded from the top and bottom of the door, fixing it in place when closed.
Before Izuku could finish investigating the building's security, the sound of someone running reached his ears, followed by his mother flying down the stairs, shouting, "Izuku-chan! Look at our new home...!" with tears and a bit of snot streaming down her face.
After Izuku's 'rejection,' the effort Inko put into her yoga and calisthenics had diminished. She still exercised for around twenty minutes each day, but she had become noticeably plumper, particularly around her ass and thighs. It was impossible to call her fat. Rather, as she snuggled against him and gave him a big hug, Izuku was briefly reminded of Toru...
Suppressing that notion before an accident could occur, Izuku returned his mother's embrace, giving her a firm squeeze and patting her back a few times before loosening his hold. She continued embracing him for a while longer, but after calming down, she abruptly became excited before dragging him around for a house tour. This included a large living room, a restaurant-quality kitchen, a small laundry room, an onsen-like bath, four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a loft, an in-ground pantry that led to a panic room, and, of course, Izuku's private workshop, rigged with enough state-of-the-art equipment that Mei would probably try to sneak her name into the Midoriya Family register...
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With school being closed the day after the Sports Festival, Izuku had nothing to do but lounge about. Nezu had given him a glimpse of the funds he had access to, assets exceeding ten-trillion Yen, so he no longer had any need to earn money. Rather, if his net worth were made public, he would be one of the richest people in the world. Ten trillion Yen was equivalent to seventy-seven billion USD, so unless he began spending like a madman or made some extremely terrible investments, he couldn't even put a dent in the interest he was collecting...
As Izuku was pondering making a few anonymous donations to some in-need charities, his phone vibrated. This was fairly normal, but the moment he heard it, Izuku's eyes widened as he leaped from his bed, grabbing his phone and checking it within three seconds.
Seeing several messages asking where he was, a wry smile developed across Izuku's face as he remembered his promise to celebrate with his classmates. The various surprises Nezu had given him the day before, not to mention his very peculiar meeting with Mirko, had caused him to forget. However, before hopping in the shower, washing up, and getting dressed, Izuku's eyes gleamed as he noticed the DMs from Toru, complete with a little paper clip icon that denoted she had sent him an attachment.
Feeling a knot form in his throat, Izuku swallowed it down before opening the message with a fair amount of expectation. To his surprise, instead of an image, the attached file had an MP4 extension. In other words, it was a video...
Staring intently at his screen, Izuku scanned his fingerprint and waited for the video to load. Once it had, the familiar sight of Toru's pink room came into view, specifically focused on her bed. More noticeable, however, was the lingerie floating atop it, an incredibly racy set of white lace that looked like something a girl would wear during their honeymoon, complete with a garter belt and stockings to highlight Toru's legs.
"Are you watching this, Izuku?" asked the Toru from the video, prompting Izuku to lower the volume of his phone as a precaution.
"My body has been burning up since this afternoon..." explained Toru, adding, "It's embarrassing to admit, but I regret not taking things further. That's why I've decided to start a new training regimen. Would you like to see how far I've come...?"
Since Izuku obviously couldn't answer her, Toru sat up, placing her phone on a stabilizer at the edge of her bed. Then, with her legs spread in an M-pose, the outline of a hand entered her panties, seemingly trying to get at something rather than simply touching herself.
Just as Izuku's curiosity peaked, Toru pulled out something clear from her panties, holding it up to reveal a small, crystal-clear dildo with a T-shaped stopper.
"It's a bit small," remarked Toru, her voice exuding a sonorous undertone. "But I don't want to risk damaging something that ought to be torn by the boy I like..."
Though it was difficult to determine exactly what she was doing, Izuku imagined Toru had brought the dildo up to her lips as the top half abruptly disappeared. When it reappeared a few seconds later, accompanied by a loud 'pop,' Toru seemed to hesitate for a moment before saying, "If you're not busy right now, I could sneak out or tell my parents I'm going to meet up with some friends from school...then, instead of practicing on my own, we could 'train' together..."
Pausing the video to check when Toru had sent it, an exasperated sigh emanated from Izuku's throat when he noticed it was from the previous afternoon, particularly around the time he was speaking with Nezu and Toshinori. Fortunately, before he could lament the missed opportunity too much, Izuku noticed Toru's most recent test, stating, 'If you have nothing going on after the party, want to rent a karaoke booth? I've been meaning to show you the full range of my vocal cords. I'm really good at hitting the high notes.'
"This little minx..." muttered Izuku, even as his fingers rapidly typed his response. It would depend on when the party ended, but if it were still early enough in the evening, he wouldn't mind accompanying her for a few hours. Not in the slightest...
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After a short train and taxi ride, Izuku found himself on a private road circling a massive gated estate, complete with its own forest, a private lake, and a European-style mansion that kind of reminded Izuku of the White House.
"I wonder if I could afford something like this..." muttered Izuku. Then, immediately dismissing such thoughts, he pressed the intercom on the ornate sliding gate bearing the name 'Yaoyorozu.' A few seconds later, a female voice asked, "Yes, how may I be of assistance?"
Since he didn't recognize the voice, Izuku presumed it to be one of Yaoyorozu's servants, answering, "My name is Izuku Midoriya. I'm here to attend the Class 1-A Post-Festival Celebration."
Without hesitation, the voice responded, "Ah, yes, Ojou-sama has been expecting you. Please wait there or walk along the main road leading to the estate. One of the servants will arrive shortly to escort you."
"That won't be necessary," replied Izuku, adding, "I'll be there in a few seconds."
"Then someone will be at the front door to receive you," responded the woman, promptly cutting the connection the moment she was finished.
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As Izuku was the last to arrive, the other members of Class 1-A, sans Todoroki, were waiting for him in an enormous dining room housing a large fireplace, multiple chandeliers, and a rectangular table more than 20m in length.
"Oh, hey, Midoriya-kun! It's about time the man of the hour showed up!" exclaimed Kirishima, the first to notice Izuku's entrance.
Spurred by Kirishima's remark, most of the other members of Class 1-A offered greetings of their own. Yaoyorozu, in particular, came right up to him, smiling radiantly as she said, "Welcome to my family's Summer Villa, Midoriya-kun. It pleases me that you were able to make it."
Resisting the urge to ask if this was really just the Yaoyorozu Family's Summer dwelling, Izuku returned a smile of his own, responding, "I'm thankful for the opportunity. Both to be here and to see you in casual clothes. Very nice."
Contrasting the school uniform Izuku usually saw her in, Yaoyorozu was wearing a short-sleeved red polo over some white, formfitting shorts that displayed most of her creamy white legs and thighs. She liked to be able to use her Quirk at a moment's notice, so short-sleeve shirts, shorts, and skirts were her go-tos when it came to casual wear.
Cupping her right cheek, Yaoyorozu exuded a bit of 'ara-ara' energy as she said, "Oh, Midoriya-kun. Ever quick with the compliments, I see. Not that I don't appreciate them~."
Raising his brows slightly, Izuku remarked, "I see you're in a particularly bubbly mood today."
Adopting a radiant smile like a cool Summer day, Yaoyorozu explained, "This is the first time I've brought friends over. The mansion is usually very quiet, so it's nice to have so many people present."
As her Grandfather was part of I-Island's Board of Directors, and her parents were constantly traveling around the world to support various humanitarian efforts, Yaoyorozu often lived alone. She wouldn't describe herself as lonely, as there were servants and aides to tend to her every need, but she couldn't help being happy to have friends over. So much so that she seemed to be exuding a subtle yet incredibly bouncy 'glow.'
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With the celebration wrapping up around 5 PM and the return trip taking around half an hour, Izuku and Toru were, unfortunately, unable to go out for karaoke. They also lived in different directions, so when Yaoyorozu was preparing cabs for everyone to return, Izuku ended up sharing a ride with Ochaco. She lived in a rent-free apartment provided by the school for 'low-income' students, so she lived fairly close to the campus, only a single train stop away.
As the cabs Yaoyorozu rented were all luxury shuttles(black, armor-plated limousines), Ochaco was visibly nervous as she sat across from Izuku, awkwardly pointing out, "I knew Yaoyorozu-san was suuuuper rich, but knowing something is quite a bit different from experiencing it directly. I never thought I'd have the chance to try caviar during a celebration with classmates..."
Hearing Ochaco's comment, the thought of annulling her family's debts briefly appeared in Izuku's mind. However, as he had already decided to leave it to the Principal, and because he didn't want Ochaco to feel even more indebted to him, he quickly suppressed it, stating, "It was quite the experience. Though, if I'm being honest, I would rather live in a medium-sized home with my family than some mansion. Unless they're a pro, no person 'needs' a private tennis court..."
Regaining her usually bubbly smile, Ochaco replied, "I know, right? It all seems so...extra. My goal when I became a Hero was to ensure my family could live happily without worrying about money. But that...just the house tour left me completely exhausted..."
"Yeah, it was a little excessive," responded Izuku. Then, as Ochaco had brought it up, he asked, "Is your goal really just to provide for your family? If that's the case, you could probably make more money as an assistant researcher on I-Island than a Pro Hero. Humanity may not be making any meaningful progress into space right now, but a Quirk like yours would be a tremendous asset for testing equipment and conditioning astronauts for spacewalks."
Blinking several times, Ochaco's brain seemed to be working overtime for a few seconds before she rubbed the back of her head, an awkward smile returning to her face as she admitted, "You know, I never even thought of that..."
Regaining a bit of her vigor, Ochaco pumped her fist and added, "Though, now that I've decided to become a Hero, I intend to see it through to the end!"
Nodding in approval, a somewhat affectionate smile tinged Izuku's face as he said, "That's great. Your power is super useful for helping people, and with adequate Support items, you could easily become one of the top female Heroes."
Reverting to her awkward state, like there was some kind of switch for it in her mind, Ochaco exhaled a nervous laugh, once again rubbing the back of her head as she said, "Let's hope the agency that accepts me has those kinds of resources. Support items are pretty expensive, especially if you have them custom-made..."
"There's no denying that," said Izuku. "However, I don't think you'll have any problems. If you befriend someone from the Support Department or become good friends with Yaoyorozu-san, you're good to go."
Though he was tempted to point out that she could also join the agency he intended to create, Izuku left that for a later date. Ochaco was one of the girls crushing on him the hardest, so if he suddenly asked if she wanted to be a part of his future team, it would presumably become her entire motivation. In other words, if things didn't work out between them, it could derail her entire career.
"I would be lying if I said I hadn't thought about it..." admitted Ochaco. "I just don't think I could take advantage of someone's friendship like that. If Yaoyorozu-san suddenly started gifting me expensive items or clothes, I think my brain might short-circuit..."
"I can totally see that," mused Izuku, exhaling a light chuckle as Ochaco slightly puffed her cheeks. The latter had spent much of her life wanting nothing more than to ensure her family was happy and healthy, so money was more of a burden to her than something she genuinely desired. It just so happened that money was 'necessary' to guarantee those two things, so, like most people living at or below the middle-class line, Ochaco had no choice but to pursue it.
Shifting the conversation in a beneficial direction, for both of them, Izuku suggested, "How about this? Remember me mentioning having you help with the development of Support items? If you help Mei-san and me with developing new equipment, we can provide you the prototypes for Field Testing. I'm thinking of creating a trademark in the future, so you could even become the brand's Poster Girl. You're certainly cute enough."
With Izuku reminding her of their conversation the previous day, Ochaco's thoughts began to meander. She was listening to what he was saying, but her primary concern was the agreement they had made. When she looked up Mirko costumes online, even the cheapest one cost more than a million Yen. Unless she settled for a cheap Halloween knock-off, she had no idea how she would afford one...
"You still with me, Ochaco-san?" asked Izuku, noticing the former's blank stare.
Coming back to her senses, Ochaco smiled awkwardly and replied, "Yeah, sorry about that, Izuku-kun. I got a little distracted. But yeah, if you think I'll be able to help, I'd be happy to lend my assistance. I don't know much about engineering or Support items, but I'll do my best!"
Witnessing Ochaco regain her vigor for the umpteenth time, Izuku's smile softened into an appreciative look. He also had a good idea why her mind had wandered, so he surprised her by saying, "I sent in the order for your Mirko outfit last night. I'm looking forward to seeing you try it on."
"Eh...?"
Overcoming her initial confusion, Ochaco's face began to turn red as she waved her hands in front of her and exclaimed, "No, no, no, that wasn't a part of our agreement! I'm supposed to be 'rewarding' you, not the other way around...!"
Raising his brows, Izuku countered, "Are you kidding me? I get to see a cute girl wear a bunny outfit in private. That's an opportunity some would pay an arm and a leg for."
Preempting Ochaco's response, Izuku added, "Don't get too excited. To be honest, I actually bought multiple versions of the outfit since I didn't know which would fit you. If any of the other girls in our Class are foolish enough to make a wager with me, I was planning to distribute them over time. Who knows, maybe a day will come when I get to see everyone in a bunny girl costume? Hahahaha~"
Adopting a somewhat accusatory, pouty expression, Ochaco narrowed her eyes at Izuku and asked, "You really like Mirko-san, don't you, Izuku-kun...?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Izuku admitted, "Well, she is my favorite Pro Heroine. It would be significantly stranger if I didn't."
"Then if she offers you an internship, will you accept it?" asked Ochaco.
Since it wasn't something he could keep a secret, Izuku revealed, "She has, and I already have."
Blinking in surprise, Ochaco needed a moment to process Izuku's words before asking, "Wait, seriously? But isn't Mirko super famous for being a Solo Hero? As far as I'm aware, she doesn't even have an Agency. How are you supposed to intern with her?"
"Who knows?" answered Izuku. "She approached me after the Sports Festival and asked if I wanted to intern with her, so I accepted without hesitation. As for what I'll be doing for the internship? She said she was going to show me the ropes of being a Solo Hero."
With Izuku being the winner of the Sports Festival, Ochaco wasn't too surprised to learn a Hero had approached him directly. She did, however, feel a peculiar sense of 'urgency.' She doubted anything would happen, but with Mirko being Izuku's favorite Heroine, the chances weren't zero that something might.
Catching Izuku a little off guard, Ochaco abruptly asked, "Do you mind if I sit next to you?"
Without actually waiting for Izuku to respond, Ochaco moved from her seat and plopped down next to him with zero distance between them. There was space for up to five people on the long leather seat, but she elected to sit right next to him, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as she gazed up at him and asked, "How soon until the costume arrives?"
Though he hadn't actually placed the order yet, Izuku confidently replied, "It should arrive sometime tonight or tomorrow morning." Any competent Support Company had priority and overnight shipping, so if he forked over an additional fee, Izuku was certain they could get it to him within a few hours.
Adopting a broad smile, Ochaco said, "Then it's settled. Unless you have something better to do, bring them to school, and then we can go over to my place to try them on. I'm worried you'll think the costume looks dumb on me after you spend time with the actual Mirko, so this is the best time to try it out."
Without hesitation, Izuku replied, "Sounds good to me. But I am a little curious about something..."
Tilting her head to the side, Ochaco asked, "What is it...?" with an innocent look.
Turning his face to meet Ochaco's gaze completely, Izuku's smile gained a hint of playfulness as he asked, "Did you really need to sit next to me to say this?"
Instead of answering Izuku's question, Ochaco adopted an expression akin to an abandoned puppy as she asked, "Can I not sit next to you...?"
Shaking his head, Izuku's smile softened as he replied, "On the contrary. I'm glad you did..." before holding out his left hand, palm-side up. Ochaco was a little confused by his actions at first, but after several seconds had passed, she blushingly linked her fingers through his for the remainder of the car ride...
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With Bakugo unable to participate in the reward ceremony due to his injuries, Izuku and Todoroki were relatively alone as they stood atop their respective podiums, waiting for the hatch above to open up so they could be elevated into the arena.
Seeing Todoroki standing with his head hanging and shoulders slumped, the awkward tension became too much for Izuku to bear, compelling him to say, "Look, man...I hope there are no hard feelings between us. I know what I told you before wasn't exactly polite, but I was annoyed after your father paid a visit to my waiting room. I didn't have to say those things or embarrass you like that..."
Though Izuku didn't actually apologize, his words were enough to break Todoroki out of his brooding contemplation, an annoyed look marring his face as he looked up and asked, "He came to your waiting room? What did he say...?"
"Something I imagine you're pretty familiar with," replied Izuku. "He called me a stepping stone and went on about how it's your destiny to surpass All Might and become the No. 1 Hero. He also wanted me to pressure you into using your flames, even offering me a reward if I managed to do and chose his agency for my internship."
Furrowing his brows even deeper, Todoroki remarked, "That definitely sounds like him..." without asking how Izuku responded to his father's offer. After all, it was fairly obvious he hadn't accepted it.
Bringing their conversation to an abrupt end, one of the stagehands shouted for them to be careful and not lose their balance while the hatch above them opened, revealing the blue sky overhead.
"We'll talk later," said Izuku. "For now, even if you're not in the best state, you should raise your head and present yourself with dignity. Real Heroes aren't seen moping, at least not in front of the people they have a duty to protect..."
Setting the example, Izuku stood straighter, a confident smile developing across his face as he raised his chin slightly and puffed out his chest. He didn't actually care about taking First Place in the Sports Festival, but he could at least pretend to for the hundreds of students that would readily trade places with him.
Waiting for Izuku and Todoroki's podiums to reach the apex of their short journey, Midnight struck a cheerleader-like pose with her whip, shouting, "Let's all give a round of applause for our First and Third Place finishers, Izuku Midoriya and Shoto Todoroki from Class 1-A!"
With the crowd erupting in cheers, the smile on Izuku's face became a lot broader. Todoroki had a comparably deadpan look, but at least he wasn't moping about like before.
"Now, it's time to confer the medals~!" shouted Midnight. "And the one who will present the medals this year is naturally-"
Crashing down into the arena like a human meteor, Toshinori, in his All Might form, bellowed, "IT IS I, ALL MIGHT! AND I'M HERE WITH THE MEDALS!"
If the crowd was cheering before, they practically erupted when All Might appeared, wearing his Golden Age costume. Various news agencies and public figures had been speculating about his retirement since he became a teacher at UA, but he was still the No. 1 Hero. The reputation and status he had built over the past forty years echoed globally, but nowhere louder than the stadium he was currently standing in...
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After promising his classmates they would meet up the following day for a celebration, Izuku, once again, found himself in Principal Nezu's office. This time, it was only him, the Principal, and Toshinori present, the latter appearing a little choked up as he said, "I know I already said this, but I'm proud of what you've accomplished today, Midoriya. Not only did you take First Place, but you also did your best to inspire the other students. I have a few notes, but I couldn't have asked for a better result."
Nodding in agreement, Nezu added, "It really was a marvelous display of skill and control. Though, I am a little worried. With you awakening a Quirk associated with a past user of One-for-All, I fear your status as All Might's successor has been revealed. As such, there is something I would like to propose, an arrangement I believe you will be more than pleased to hear."
"If it's something arranged by the Principal, I have little doubt that will be the case," replied Izuku, fully trusting Nezu's foresight and judgment. The tiny cat-bear-mouse had been an influential and supportive ally to him, so much so that he had already set the incident with Detective Tsukauichi in the back of his mind.
Linking his paw-like fingers together, Nezu revealed, "As the inheritor of One-for-All, it isn't an overstatement to say you're this nation's hope. As your Principal, I have a duty to ensure you're able to realize your potential and complete your studies without fear of villainous retaliation. As such, I would like to invite you and your mother to live on the campus, far beyond the reach of normal villains."
As the safety of his mother was one of the things he was most concerned with, Izuku didn't hesitate to respond, "I couldn't ask for more. Thank you, Principal Nezu."
Though it was a little awkward since he was sitting down, Izuku lowered his head as steeply as possible. He had planned to make a similar request once the dorms were constructed, but this was much better. Now, even if the incident at the Summer Training Camp doesn't occur, he won't have to worry about returning home to find it ransacked and his mother missing...
"I cannot even begin to express how truly grateful I am..." added Izuku, a bit of his emotions leaking out as his throat tightened.
Adopting an appreciative smile, Nezu replied, "You are very welcome, Midoriya-kun. Truth be told, we completed these arrangements some time ago, but I wanted to save the revelation as a reward. You've worked very hard, so you certainly deserve one."
Raising his head, Izuku adopted a smile of his own. However, before he could say anything, Nezu added, "And that brings us to our next topic..."
With Nezu directing his gaze to Toshinori, Izuku did the same, his eyes becoming progressively wider as the lanky man revealed, "I've talked it over with the Principal, and we've decided to transfer ownership of some of my accounts over to you."
Nodding his head, Nezu's smile broadened as he appended, "I've been handling Toshinori-kun's finances for quite some time. When I proposed doing the same for you, he suggested transferring most of his assets to you. Now, you won't have to worry about your finances. Instead, I'd like you to focus on developing your Quirk and mastering the power of One-for-All. You're also free to invest time and energy into the production of Support items, but I believe you've already found someone more suited to that task. If not...well, Toshinori-kun and I have even more good news..."
With Nezu passing him the baton with his gaze, a glimmer of nostalgia reflected in Toshinori's blazing blue eyes as he revealed, "I'm sure you will receive one of your own in the coming days, but I received an invitation to attend this year's I-Island Expo from the daughter of my close friend. You probably know him as the man who served as my first-ever Sidekick, the brilliant inventor who went on to shake the world with his innovative spirit and passion for helping others, David Shield!"
Excited by the notion of meeting one of the world's most brilliant scientific minds, Izuku asked, "Are you suggesting I attend I-Expo as your guest? If so, I am more than happy to oblige."
Striking a pose that didn't suit his skeletal form, Toshinori waggled his index finger from side to side as he clarified, "While it's true I'm inviting you to attend the Expo, there is another reason I'm bringing you along. Dave's daughter, Melissa, is just as brilliant as her father. She also wishes to follow in Dave's footsteps, so, as my successor, I wanted to introduce you. The two of you are similar in age, so she would make a phenomenal Sidekick once you become a Pro."
As Melissa was nearly as famous as her father, holding the top ranking in I-Island Academy since her enrollment, Izuku was intimately familiar with her. She was Quirkless, but some of the patents she had filed looked like devices straight out of science fiction. Izuku had always wanted to meet her, but the prospect of teaming up with her was just...insane. It would be like having a female Tony Stark in his back pocket...
Too taken aback to offer a better thought-out response, Izuku replied, "I mean...I wouldn't be against the idea..."
Adopting a squinty-eyed smile and giving a thumbs-up, Toshinori left Izuku even more speechless by adding, "Lucky for you, she happens to be a very attractive young lady. With your shared interest in developing Support Items, you may be able to become more than Sidekicks. You're young, so now is the best time for such things. If you follow my example, you'll end up an old man without anyone to welcome you home."
"..."
Though he knew Toshinori was making a joke, it was impossible for Izuku to miss the loneliness in his eyes. He was certain that Toshinori had more than his fair share of women throwing themselves at him, but because of his dedication to duty and the burden thrust upon him as a Successor of One-for-All, he was presently 56, his body ruined, and no wife or kids to share his final years.
("Maybe when I rescue Eri, she can use her power to restore his body to its prime. After that...well, my mother is a very lonely woman...")
While the thought of calling Toshinori his father gave him goosebumps, the weary Hero had been more of a parent than his actual father. Izuku had never met the man, but the memories he inherited from Deku were all he needed to disdain him to his core. Compared to that paragon of human filth, Toshinori was a literal Saint.
Adopting a faint smile, Izuku surprised Toshinori by suggesting, "Since my Kaa-chan and I will be living on the campus, you're more than welcome to stop by for dinner. If you'd like, you can even live with us. After all, even if your power is diminishing, you're still All Might. I wouldn't have to worry if I knew someone like you was protecting her."
Believing Izuku was just being kind, a gratified smile developed across Toshinori's face as he replied, "I would be honored to join you for dinner sometime. However, I'll have to decline the offer to stay with you. Thank you, though. I am grateful knowing you were prepared to share your home with me."
Since he couldn't force the matter, and also because Toshinori currently looked like a skeleton, Izuku's expression softened as he replied, "If you ever change your mind, the offer stands. You granted me your power and have now vested me with tremendous wealth. I'm absolutely confident I could have succeeded on my own, but nearly everything I have right now was given to me by you, Toshinori-san. This might sound a little forward, but I sincerely regard you as my family. If not a father figure, then a very awesome Uncle."
Not expecting Izuku's words, Toshinori muttered, "Midoriya-kun..." as tears began to well in his eyes. Unfortunately, at that exact moment, the door to the Principal's office was kicked open, accompanied by a bronze-skinned, bunny-eared woman shouting, "How much longer are you going to make me wait!?"
...
..
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Chapter 40: Chapter 40