BNHA: Singularity

With his house being located on the campus, Izuku was able to take his time eating and preparing for his day before heading to class.
"Good morning, Yaoyorozu-san," said Izuku, finding the ever-reliable Class Representative waiting for him when he arrived.
Adopting her usual smile, Yaoyorozu replied, "Good morning to you as well, Izuku-kun. I trust you and Uraraka-san were able to return home without incident?"
Nodding his head, Izuku answered, "For the most part," before adding, "Thanks, by the way. Both for the cab ride home and allowing us to use your home for the celebration."
Shaking her head, Yaoyorozu asserted, "No need. Even if I weren't the Class Representative, I would have opened my home to everyone. Since I am, it was only natural to suggest hosting the party there."
Offering a second nod, Izuku made a few more comments before he and Yaoyorozu began preparing for Homeroom. There wasn't much to do, as they were returning from an extended break, but it never hurt to stay on top of things...
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With morning classes passing without incident, Izuku was seated with the boys from his Class, discussing the upcoming internships, when Kaminari, as usual, changed the subject to the girls, remarking, "Say, Midoriya-kun, I noticed you sitting at the girls' table during the Sports Festival's lunch break. Seriously, man, how are you on such good terms with them? When Mineta and I asked if we could eat together, they practically chased us away!"
"We've been over this," replied Izuku. "I haven't done anything special to win them over, so there's nothing much I can say. As for you and Mineta-kun, your problem is that you're too eager and openly perverted. If it had anything to do with our looks, you'd be fairly popular."
"Come on, man. There 'has' to be more to it than that," asserted Kaminari. "You're clearly doing something right, so share your wisdom with the rest of us single dogs."
With nearly everyone's attention focused on him, Izuku closed his eyes and exhaled a faint sigh before reasserting, "I don't have any secrets, but if you want my advice on relationships, I can share it."
Leaning forward with his elbows on the table, Kaminari remarked, "Now we're talking." with great anticipation.
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Izuku explained, "Any lasting, or, at the very least, meaningful relationship is built atop a foundation of friendship. As for the actual building blocks, a healthy relationship requires passion, shared interests, and security. If you only look at women and think, 'man, she's cute; I really want to date her,' you're already undermining yourself. While attraction is important, if you lack a shared interest or can't provide for one another's mental, physical, and emotional needs, the relationship is doomed to fail."
Staring directly at Kaminari, Izuku added, "Your problem is you only care about 'being' in a relationship, not its quality. That, combined with the fact you act like a pervert, makes you seem unreliable and self-centered. Most girls seek partners that can provide for or support them emotionally. Keep thinking about your own wants and needs, and even if you get a girlfriend, they won't be with you long."
Scratching his head, Kaminari's expression became somewhat awkward as he said, "Damn, Midoriya-kun, that's harsh. I appreciate the advice, but you don't hold back, do you?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Izuku replied, "What did you expect? I mean, we are students of UA. Giving it our all and then going even further beyond is kind of our whole schtick. Plus Ultra, and all that."
Before Kaminari could respond to his words, Izuku looked around the table, adding, "I'm not some love guru, but if you ever need my advice, feel free to ask. I can at least give it to you straight."
Responding to Izuku's 'provocation,' Mineta, with a somewhat resentful look on his face, said, "It would be easier if you just told us what the girls liked. You spend so much time with them; you must know something that could be useful to the rest of us."
Resisting the urge to tell Mineta to fuck off, Izuku just shook his head, maintaining a relaxed smile as he replied, "Learning about the person you like and getting to know them personally is part of becoming friends with them. If you stop staring at the girls as objects of desire and start treating them as potential friends, everything becomes much easier."
Deciding he had had enough of talking about the girls, Izuku shifted his attention to Tokoyami, saying, "Anyways, Tokoyami-kun, you said you got a referral from the No. 3 Hero, Hawks, right? That's awesome, man. Based on what I heard, Hawks is one of the most efficient Heroes in the biz. He rarely leaves his patrol area, but things are super peaceful there thanks to his presence."
Nodding his crow-like head, Tokoyami replied, "Indeed. I was honestly a little surprised since I suffered such a crushing defeat in the tournament. I just hope I'll be able to live up to his expectations."
Returning a nod of his own, Izuku asserted, "You'll be fine. Your Quirk is one of the most versatile in the entire Class. Just being able to fly gives you a massive advantage over most people, so once you master wearing your Dark Shadow as a veil, you'll become a lot stronger."
"I appreciate the vote of confidence," replied Tokoyami, his beak forming a smile as he added, "If you had not encouraged me to delve deeper into the abyss, I might never have realized my full potential."
Waving his hand in front of his face, Izuku refuted Tokoyami's words, assuring him he would have reached a similar conclusion in time. Then, as was often the case when he spent time with the boys in his Class, Izuku passed the lunch break talking about how each of them, himself included, could improve...
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With the bell ringing to announce the start of afternoon classes, Aizawa arrived in the classroom with his usual deadpan expression and haggard appearance. Everyone fell silent as he entered, remaining that way until he reached the podium at the front of the room, revealing, "There will be no training this afternoon. Instead, in preparation for your internships, you will be choosing Hero names."
Hearing that they would finally be choosing their Hero names, everyone in the Class became excited. Well, almost everyone. Izuku still hadn't come up with a Hero name he was satisfied with, so his enthusiasm was lacking compared to his classmates. Fortunately, he knew what came next, so the smile on his face was genuine.
Shortly after Aizawa showed the breakdown of everyone's intern referrals and began discussing the importance of picking a proper Hero name, the door to the classroom slid open, followed by the appearance of Midnight shouting, "Because if you fail to pick a proper name, it'll be Hell from then on!"
Contrasting the excitement of the other boys in Class, Izuku maintained a faint smile, sitting contentedly at his desk in the back of the room until he noticed Midnight looking directly at him. It was only for a brief moment, but he was certain their gazes had met before the buxom, raven-haired Heroine took over at the front of the class, explaining, "Your Hero name is effectively your brand. It's what people all across the world will come to know you as, so choosing a name that reflects your Heroic principles is of paramount importance. Fail to pick a proper one, or have your name given to you by the public, and it could haunt you your entire career."
Nodding his head, Aizawa added, "The way your futures end up depends heavily on your Hero names. As they say, 'names and natures often agree.' All Might is a good example of this, as his name not only reflects strength but it's also a play on the phrase, 'everything is going to be all right.' Thus giving rise to his most iconic catchphrase."
Taking over for Aizawa, Midnight raised her hand and enthusiastically exclaimed, "Everything will be all right! Why, you ask? Because All Might is here!"
Though All Might was not, in fact, present, nearly everyone in the Class clapped in response to Midnight's outburst. Shortly after, Aizawa left the classroom, leaving the R-Rated Heroine in charge of helping the students pick their Hero names...
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With classes letting out much earlier than usual, Izuku politely refused an invitation from Ojiro and Shoji to hit the gym. He would have liked to, but he already had a prior engagement. Thus, when everyone began to head home, he pretended to do the same, accompanying Tsuyu and Ochaco to the station. Then, after seeing Tsuyu off, Izuku and Ochaco boarded a train together, making their way to the latter's apartment, a fairly simple dwelling with a single bedroom and a bath.
Rubbing the back of her head, Ochaco, appearing 'very' nervous, said, "Sorry if it's a bit cramped. I also don't have much furniture, but you can sit on my bed if you'd like..."
Making Ochaco even more embarrassed, Izuku took a whiff of the air and remarked, "It smells like you," before providing a bit of relief as he added, "It's a very pleasant aroma."
Exhaling a sigh, Ochaco patted her chest a few times before doing her best to perk up as she asked, "So, did you bring them? You didn't forget them at school, did you?"
"Of course not," replied Izuku, removing his backpack and opening it to reveal several vacuum-sealed packages. Ochaco's face paled when she noticed they were from the company that produced Mirko's actual Hero costume, but she did her best not to panic, snatching Izuku's backpack as she stammered, "J-Just give me a moment..." before rushing into the bathroom.
As the costumes he had purchased were around &yen;9,000,000 a piece, Izuku wasn't even remotely surprised by Ochaco's reaction. He could have bought a much cheaper variety, but he believed it might receive some 'additional benefits' if he got his hands on the real deal. He might not want Ochaco to feel indebted to him, but feelings of 'appreciation' were always welcome...
While Ochaco was busy getting changed, Izuku resisted the urge to look around her room and settled on her bed. However, instead of sitting, he shamelessly laid down, placing his hands behind his head and closing his eyes in preparation for a short nap. When he heard the shower turn on a few minutes later, that was precisely what he did. After all, it would be at least half an hour before Ochaco got changed and mustered the courage to come outside...
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Rousing Izuku from his slumber, the timid voice of Ochaco called out, "I-Izuku-kun...?" in a hesitant tone.
"Hmmm...?"
Opening his eyes, Izuku was tempted to feign ignorance and pretend like he didn't know what was going on, but he immediately changed his mind when he saw Ochaco. He had expected her to look good in Mirko's outfit. After all, it was a 'very' well-designed Hero garb. However, while that was certainly the case, it was more accurate to say she was adorable...almost unreasonably so...
Seeing the stunned look on Izuku's face, some of Ochaco's nervousness began to fade away, allowing her to smile bashfully as she said, "Sorry for taking so long. My...my body was a bit sweaty due to nerves, so I decided to take a quick shower before getting changed..."
Blushing at the admission of her nervousness, Ochaco promptly decided to change topics, stammering, "A-Anyways...how do I look? I don't think it suits me that well, but...well, since it's your reward, I guess it only matters what you think...Izuku-kun?"
As Izuku was still in an open-mouthed stupor, Ochaco began to get a little worried. Fortunately, repeating his name was enough to break the spell he was under, prompting him to express, "You look amazing." with the most sincere, wide-eyed look he could manage. Then, as important things were best repeated, he added, "Like...really, really amazing...it's almost ridiculous..."
Not expecting such heavy praise, Ochaco's face became redder each time Izuku called her amazing. She was still super embarrassed to be wearing such a tight and revealing costume, but she was happy to have gone through with it. It made what came next much easier...
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"So, what now...?" asked Ochaco. "I put it on, but it doesn't feel like much of a reward if that's all I do. Should I do some poses or something...?"
Shaking his head, Izuku answered, "The terms of our wager were that you wore it, that's it. If I start making additional requests, I'd be overstepping my bounds..."
Adopting a faint smile, Izuku added, "Though, if you 'want' to pose, I'm certainly not going to close my eyes and look away. Rather, I doubt I'd be able to take my eyes off you..."
"I-I see..." replied Ochaco, pressing the tips of her fingers together as she often did when she was nervous.
"T-Then, how about this?" asked Ochaco, striking a cutesy pose with her hands held to resemble the ears of a rabbit. The outfit included a bunny-eared headband, but that didn't mean her actions were any less cute.
Instead of saying anything, Izuku just smiled and observed Ochaco with interest. He suspected she had 'ulterior motives' behind inviting him to her apartment, but, as he had made it clear he wasn't looking for a committed relationship, he wasn't entirely sure what she was thinking. He doubted she had the same 'nature' as Toru, but there was a saying that the quieter a girl was in public, the louder she was in the bedroom...
Seeing Izuku just staring at her from her bed, lying on it as if it belonged to him, Ochaco's nervousness slowly gave way to frustration. She wasn't sure how she wanted things to develop, but she thought Izuku would be a little more 'aggressive.' She had even prepared herself for some rather risque requests, including light petting, but it was starting to look like he had no intention of doing anything but observing...
After failing to get a rise, even after striking a pose that showed off her butt and the tiny white tail above it, Ochaco surprised Izuku by stamping her foot and exclaiming, "At least say something...!"
Feigning that he was blinking black to awareness, an awkward smile adorned Izuku's face as he sat up, rubbing the back of his head as he excused, "Sorry, Ochaco-san...I was so taken by how adorable you were that my brain kind of shut off..."
"Oh...oh, I see..." replied Ochaco, regaining a bit of her earlier timidity as a somewhat silly smile developed across her face. She still felt vexed, but no girl hated being called cute. At least not when it was coming from the boy they liked...
Mustering some courage, Ochaco met Izuku's gaze with slightly upturned eyes as she said, "Still, it feels weird if I stand here and pose while you lie down and watch. If you'd like...we can try other things..."
Without explaining what she meant, Ochaco made her way over to the bed and sat down, her back and exposed shoulders facing Izuku. Then, after a moment of extreme tension, she looked over her shoulder with a fierce red face and said, "I could...I could try acting like your pet rabbit..." in a faint, nearly inaudible tone.
As he was genuinely too dazed to respond, Izuku and Ochaco just stared at each other for several seconds before the latter, seeming interpreting his silence as consent, abruptly laid back across his lap, staring up at him as she said, "Pet me..." in a faint but resolute tone.
Without any discernible hesitation, Izuku extended his left hand to caress Ochaco's head, eliciting a narrow-eyed smile as he did so. She seemed to really enjoy having her hair stroked, but after a minute or two passed, she opened her eyes and softly asserted, "You don't have to focus on just my head, you know..."
Since the alternatives were Ochaco's cheeks and everything below, Izuku hesitated for a split second before placing his right hand on her stomach. Ochaco's body tensed as he did so, but instead of saying he had crossed the line, she closed her eyes and regained her smile.
While gently stroking Ochaco's hair and surprisingly toned abdomen, Izuku thought to himself, ("I think I'm starting to understand what kind of girl Ochaco is. She clearly enjoys being pampered, so the real question is...is she also the type that will use this as an excuse to return the favor? It sure seems like something she'd do...")
Feeling a little emboldened, Izuku moved his hand further up Ochaco's abdomen, his thumb and wrist grazing her boobs as he massaged her diaphragm. Her body tensed as he did so, but she didn't seem to mind it. Rather, with her eyes closed, face beet red, and a somewhat forced smile, she eventually said, "It's okay if you touch them..."
Since the only other things Ochaco had two of were eyes, ears, hands, and feet, Izuku knew she was talking about her breasts. Thus, after a brief moment of feigned hesitation, he gently cupped Ochaco's left boob, remarking, "It's soft..." as if it were his first time doing so.
While keeping her eyes closed, Ochaco exhaled an awkward ehehe-type laugh. She was clearly very embarrassed, but much more than that, she didn't want things to end. After all, the further they went now, the easier many things would be in the future...
With Ochaco effectively allowing him to do as he pleased, Izuku bounced, jiggled, and gave each of her breasts a few light squeezes. Unfortunately, as the material used to make Heroine outfits were incredibly durable and high-end, he couldn't make out her nipples through the fabric. He had a pretty good idea of where they were based on Ochaco's reactions, but he would have liked to tease them directly.
After several minutes of apparent fumbling around, Ochaco opened her eyes to reveal a faint glaze covered each of them, asking, "Do you like my breasts, Izuku-kun...?"
Without hesitation, Izuku answered, "Absolutely. They have a borderline addictive softness, and I can feel your heartbeat through them...thanks for letting me touch them, by the way. I held out some hope that I might be able to, but I never though you'd actually let me..."
Blinking in surprise, Ochaco asked, "Oh? You mean you 'wanted' to touch my breasts...?"
Smiling wryly, Izuku replied, "I mean...yeah? I am a guy, after all. It would be stranger if I didn't want to touch them..."
Piggybacking off of Izuku's words, Ochaco steeled herself as she asked, "Then there must be other things you want to touch, right? You are a boy, after all...I'm sure you have a similar interest in butts and thighs..."
Instead of denying it, Izuku maintained his smile as he remarked, "Well, Mirko 'is' my favorite Heroine..."
Though she didn't appreciate Izuku suddenly mentioning Mirko's name, Ochaco chose to ignore it as she sat up, suggesting, "Then...how about a change in position? I could try sitting in your lap...or I could use my Quirk, and we could try cuddling in the air..."
"The latter sounds incredibly interesting..." admitted Izuku. "However, if we take things any further, I'm not sure I'd be able to hold myself back..."
Seeing Izuku look away from her, staring at something in his lap, Ochaco eventually followed his gaze. When she noticed what he was staring at, her already red face became crimson as she internally exclaimed, ("Is that what that was!?") while recalling the feeling of something hard against her back.
"That's how it is," said Izuku. "I mean, you're a beautiful girl, Ochaco-san. Donning that outfit and letting me touch your breasts...it would be weirder if I didn't have a reaction..."
As she wasn't exactly 'calm' herself, Ochaco didn't condemn Izuku or accuse him of being a pervert. Instead, she cupped her crimson cheeks, roughly massaging them with a strange, v-shaped smile on her face. It might have been indirectly, but the notion she had touched a boy's penis was making her brain go crazy...
Seeing Ochaco abruptly start floating, seemingly unaware that she had activated her Quirk, Izuku's expression softened. The one thing he was still getting used to in his new life was how 'animated' everyone was. He did his best to behave in a similar manner, but doing so made him cringe or caused him to suffer other forms of mental damage. Still, at times like this, he greatly appreciated that he had been transmigrated to a world of anime...
Coming to her senses after bumping into her ceiling, Ochaco muttered, "What...when did I activate my Quirk...?" before turning herself upright and negating its effects. Fortunately, when she looked over to Izuku, he didn't seem to mind. Instead, he had a gentle, what Ochaco convinced herself was a 'loving' smile on his face. At the very least, it compelled her heart to skip a beat...
Seemingly out of nowhere, Ochaco surprised both Izuku and herself by asking, "If you had the opportunity to sleep with Mirko-san during your internship, would you do it?"
Though he was caught off guard by the question, causing his smile to disappear, Izuku only hesitated for a moment before responding, "More than likely. I mentioned this to Mina in the past, but I have a preference for passionate women who know what they want. That's the true reason Mirko is my favorite Heroine. I'm more reserved, but she and I have very similar natures..."
Disregarding most of what Izuku had said, Ochaco moved closer to the bed, her expression gaining a certain 'allure' as she asked, "So, as long as a girl knows what they want, you're okay with them?"
"It's not that simple," replied Izuku, adding, "Truth be told, I consider myself a hypocrite. I'm fiercely loyal when I'm in a committed relationship, but when I'm not...I'm more like a hungry wolf. The only reason I don't act on my feelings is that, more than anything else, I hate hurting the people around me...especially those I care about..."
"..."
Though she got the impression Izuku was trying to warn her, Ochaco sat down on the edge of the bed, holding his gaze without saying anything. Her female intuition told her that 'something' would happen when Izuku left for his internship. Izuku had a way of seeding himself in the heart of every girl he interacted with, so if he and Mikro were left alone together, Ochaco was certain a line would be crossed. That's why...
Moving her hand closer to Izuku's, Ochaco had a look that made it very clear she wasn't joking as she asked, "Izuku-kun...do you want to have sex with me?"
Feeling his throat tense, Izuku carefully considered his response before admitting, "I would be lying if I said I didn't..."
Gaining a faint smile, Ochaco left Izuku even more speechless as her fingers grazed his, accompanied by the question, "And what about Tsuyu, Mina, and the others? Do you want to have sex with them as well...?"
"..."
If this were his previous world, Izuku would have been certain he was walking into a trap. Instead, his mind raced to piece together a response that wouldn't make him look like a complete and utter scumbag...
Without waiting for Izuku's response, Ochaco's smile softened as she said, "It's okay...you don't have to lie or force yourself to try and come up with an excuse. I think most of the girls understand you aren't looking for a 'normal' high school romance. As strange as it sounds, that may be why we're so attracted to you...you're so mature, and you almost always tell us exactly how you feel. It's...reassuring. I feel like if I entrusted you with my everything, you'd take care of me for the rest of my life..."
Regaining her serious expression, Ochaco's voice was nearly a shout as she said, "That's why it's okay, Izuku-kun! If you really, really, really want to have sex with me, I think we should just go ahead and do it! That way, I won't have any regrets, even when I see you with another girl...!"
Though he was tempted to ask how, exactly, having sex would leave her without regrets, Izuku's mind wasn't in the condition to ask questions or make witty remarks. All he could think was, ("Is this really the world of My Hero Academia, or did I transmigrate into an eroge...?")
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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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Chapter 42: Chapter 42