BNHA: Singularity

Staring at the slip of paper containing a phone number and the time when Luna finished her shift, Izuku shook his head and exhaled a faint sigh. He had similar thoughts in the past, but the ease at which he was able to get the apparently Italian girl's number left him once again thinking he was in an eroge or a doujinshi.
"It's a real shame..." muttered Izuku, crumpling up the slip of paper and slipping it into his pocket to dispose of later. He wouldn't have minded having a one-night stand with Luna, but there was a time and a place for everything, and he wasn't in a position to act without inhibitions. He did, however, leave her a 300% service tip since he felt responsible for giving her the wrong impression.
With the elevator reaching the floor he was staying on, Izuku's eyes opened in surprise when the doors parted to reveal Toshinori in a yellow tuxedo and Cathleen, the latte resembling a female bodybuilder that had squeezed themselves into a black dress.
While Toshinori's eyes widened like Izuku's, Cathleen smiled broadly and said, "Oh, if it isn't your Sidekick. What was his Hero Name again? I think it was something cute like Kyokan?"
"It's Paragon," replied Toshinori, waggling the index finger of his right hand as he added, "Also, he's not my Sidekick! Paragon here might be young, but he's already a fine Hero!"
"Oh? If it's you saying it, it must be true," mused Cathleen, extending her left fist to Izuku as she added, "Nice to meet ya, kiddo!"
Though he was somewhat reluctant, Izuku returned Cathleen's fist bump, replying, "It's nice to meet you as well. Are the two of you heading down to get something to eat?"
Adopting a massive, toothy grin, Cathleen elbowed Toshinori in the side, stating, "It's my job to keep this big lug in check if he goes out of control, so yeah, we're grabbing a bite to eat together. I'd invite you to join us, but I'm sure you have your own thing going on."
Understanding that Cathleen was effectively telling him to stay out of the way, Izuku returned a curt nod and said, "Some other time, then." before making way for the golden-haired duo. Cathleen fawning over Toshinori risked throwing a wrench into his plans, but the latter's private life wasn't exactly his business...
Before the elevator doors could close, Toshinori said, "Sir was looking for you. He's staying in room 4203."
"Noted," replied Izuku, raising his hand in a casual farewell gesture and waiting for the doors to close before turning around, waltzing down a corridor filled with suit and sunglasses-wearing agents as he made his way to Nezu's suite. Several followed him with their gazes, but none tried to bar his passage as he approached the reinforced door numbered 4203 and pressed the doorbell.
"Are you Izuku Midoriya," asked the voice of a woman over the intercom.
"Last I checked," replied Izuku, raising his brows slightly as he pondered who the voice belonged to. He knew Nezu was planning to introduce him to the Pendragons, but he figured it would occur at a private dinner party or something similar.
"You are permitted entry," said the woman, followed by the door unlocking with a heavy thud. When it opened, a petite woman in a Maid outfit came into view, her inky-black hair styled in two distinct buns and her pupilless golden eyes exhibiting little emotion as she stared up at Izuku with a gaze that caused his Intuition to trigger...
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Name: [Ferrus Lindsey Harington]
Title: Arachnoid Assassin(Agility+30, Vitality+20, Dexterity+50)
Quirk: Death Leg
Bond Level: 50
Current Level: 63
Effective Level: 106
[Attributes]
Strength: 88
Agility: 132
Vitality: 309
Intelligence: 124
Dexterity: 289
Luck: 119
Free Attributes: 315
[Perks]
[Cold-blooded]
[Skills]
[Stealth], [Homing], [Armor Piercing], [Explosive Ordinance]
[Cold-blooded]: Invisible to thermal detection.
[Stealth]: Able to blend into your environment, becoming harder to detect.
[Homing]: Fires bullets that can curve around an object to hit a specified target.
[Armor Piercing]: Fires a high-velocity bullet that can penetrate most defenses.
[Explosive Ordinance]: Fire an incendiary projectile that can bounce off surfaces and be detonated remotely.
------------------------
Seeing the petite woman's Title, Level, Perk, and Skills, Izuku's eyes widened quite a bit. Ferrus's resembled an ordinary Maid at a glance, but everything about her status made it clear she took out more than simple garbage...
Sensing that Izuku had seen through her, Ferrus narrowed her eyes almost imperceptibly as she stood to the side, gesturing toward the room's interior as she said, "Sir Nezu and my Mistress are awaiting you within..."
Though it caused the hair on the back of his neck to stand up, Izuku made his way past Ferrus, making his way deeper into the suite to find Nezu and a remarkably beautiful woman with pale golden hair sitting at opposite ends of a dining table. Her Level wasn't particularly impressive, but the status of two lasses beside her caused Izuku's pupils to contract to the size of pinholes...
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Name: [Julianna Soliel Pendragon]
Title: Frost Queen(Vitality+100)
Quirk: Incitement
Bond Level: 57
Current Level: 34
Effective Level: 35
[Attributes]
Strength: 14
Agility: 25
Vitality: 332
Intelligence: 118
Dexterity: 51
Luck: 77
Free Attributes: 170
[Perks]
[Ice Affinity]
[Skills]
[Lesser Mana Detection], [Second Circle Ice Magic]
[Ice Affinity]: Increases affinity for and resistance against ice.
[Lesser Mana Detection]: Able to sense and manipulate Mana to an extent.
[Second Circle Ice Magic]: Able to manipulate Ice Elemental Energy to freeze or reduce the mobility of targets.
Known Spells: Ice Bolt, Frost Touch, Snow Field
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Name: [Historia Kunegunda Pendragon]
Title: Chosen Knight of the Foundry(Strength+100, Agility+100, Vitality+200, Luck+100)
Quirk: Lord of Camelot, Armory, Displacement, Tempest, Discernment
Bond Level: 57
Current Level: 81
Effective Level: 188
[Attributes]
Strength: 144
Agility: 163
Vitality: 959
Intelligence: 89
Dexterity: 142
Luck: 407
Free Attributes: 90
[Perks]
[Authority(Artorias)], [Mana Detection], [Dragon's Heart], [Dragon Scales], [Wind Manipulation]
[Skills]
[Omni-Weapon Specialist], [Fifth Circle Wind Magic], [Elementalization], [Great Divide], [Decapitating Strike], [Spatial Pierce]
[Authority]: The one who bears the Authority of Artorias possesses great charisma and can only be slain by a member of their own family.
Restriction: British Isles
[Dragon's Heart]: Vitality and Mana Capacity increase exponentially with age.
[Dragon Scales]: The user is impervious to most forms of blunt, piercing, and magical damage but weak against weapons with the Anti-Divine and Anti-Dragon traits.
[Wind Manipulation]: The user can feel the flow of air around them and manipulate it freely.
[Omni-Weapon Specialist]: The user has innate familiarity with most types of weapons.
[Fifth Circle Wind Magic]: Able to manipulate Wind Elemental Energy to hasten movements and slice through opponents.
Known Spells: Haste, Aero Bolt, Tempest Armor, Garuda's Wing, Wind of Fortune, Hurricane Crash
[Elementalization]: Able to transform the body into Wind Elemental Energy for a short period.
[Great Divide]: Condense Mana to create a blade capable of splitting the Earth and foes alike.
[Decapitating Strike]: Drastically increases cutting power when aiming for the neck of an opponent.
[Spatial Pierce]: An attack that ignores distance and defense to pierce a target in a straight line.
------------------------
Name: [Rebecca Wahldorf]
Title: Tiny Tinkerer(Intelligence+50, Luck+50)
Quirk: Metallurgy
Bond Level: 64
Current Level: 59
Effective Level: 108
[Attributes]
Strength: 63
Agility: 27
Vitality: 353
Intelligence: 215
Dexterity: 165
Luck: 257
Free Attributes: 295
[Perks]
[Genius], [Mana Detection], [Dexterous Fingers]
[Skills]
[Cartography], [Auto-Mapping], [Sense Trap], [Trap Activation], [Sense Treasure], [Resource Detection], [Monster Magnet]
[Genius]: Doubles Experience gains. Half as effective when sharing Experience.
[Mana Detection]: Able to sense and manipulate Mana to a reasonable degree.
[Dexterous Fingers]: Your fingers are quick, incredibly flexible, and allow you to discern things through touch, even with your eyes closed.
[Cartography]: Allows the user to produce maps so long as they are supplied with Mana and ink.
[Auto-Mapping]: When actively utilizing a map, an area of 5x5 meters is automatically inscribed.
[Sense Trap]: Diffiuse Mana through a terrain or dungeon to detect traps within twenty meters. Additional Mana can be used to increase the range up to 100m.
[Trap Activation]: Remotely activate traps detected by the Sense Trap Skill.
[Sense Treasure]: Diffuse Mana through a terrain or dungeon to detect treasure within twenty meters. Additional Mana can be used to increase the range up to 100m.
[Resource Detection]: Automatically detect water, rare minerals, and other natural resources within ten meters.
[Monster Magnet]: You are the natural enemy of Mimics, Changelings, and Doppelgangers. Monsters will instinctually prioritize attacking you.
------------------------
Before Izuku could thoroughly peruse their statuses, Julianna remarked, "You must be Izuku Midoriya, the young man that will soon attend the Royal Academy of Heroics alongside my daughter, Historia. Sir Nezu has told us much about you."
Bowing his head respectfully but maintaining a dignified countenance, Izuku courteously replied, "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Pendragon."
"Likewise," replied Julianna, shifting her gaze to Historia and Rebecca, stating, "Introduce yourselves."
Rising to her feet, Historia, wearing a sleeveless white blouse with a blue ribbon, a blue skirt, and black stockings, crossed a hand over her chest and bowed at a concise, fifteen-degree angle as she said, "Well met, Sir Midoriya. My name is Historia Kunegunda Pendragon, but my friends call me Histy. In public and at school, please refer to me as Arthur."
Frowning slightly, Julianna looked like she wanted to correct Historia but ultimately remained silent. At the same time, Rebecca, her pigtailed head barely above the table's surface when standing, performed an awkward bow and nervously muttered, "It's nice to meet you...my name is Rebecca Wahldorf. At school, please refer to me as Bedivere..."
Nodding his head, Izuku emulated Historia's act of placing her hand over her chest, bowing his head slightly as he replied, "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintances, Historia, Rebecca. I generally do my own thing, but I look forward to fighting alongside you within the breaches."
"It's convenient that you would bring that up," said Nezu. "It appears that Ms. Historia and Ms. Rebecca have been clearing C and B-Rank breaches for quite some time. Their most recent venture placed them against a vast horde of Goblins, led by a Hobgoblin Chieftain."
Though it earned her a disproving look from her mother, Historia's eyes glistened as she added, "It was a heart-poundingly thrilling experience! When the Hobgoblin Chieftain summoned a series of tiny meteors, why, I thought my heart might burst out of my chest!"
Matching Julianna's expression, Rebecca frowned as she cast a sidelong glance at her lifelong friend and softly lamented, "You're making a scene, Histy..."
"Indeed," added Julianna. However, instead of chastising her daughter, she redirected her gaze to Izuku, asking, "If you don't mind my asking, what Level are you, Sir Midoriya? Sir Nezu informs me you have at least some familiarity with the breaches."
Though he tensed slightly, Izuku showed no obvious signs of hesitation as he replied, "I recently attained Level 50. However, in terms of stats, I am closer to Level 110 and can enhance my body to approximate the stats of a Level 900."
Hearing Izuku's response, Julianna's usually cold, borderline apathetic countenance gave way to an expression of dignified yet open-mouthed stupefaction. Rebecca exhibited a markedly more comical version of the same emotion, but &nbsp;Historia's reaction stood out the most.
Like the battle junkie Izuku suspected her to be, a broad smile blossomed across Historia's face, her green eyes glistening as she linked her hands behind her back and said, "Once you become a student at the academy, it would be my honor to face you in a duel."
"Absolutely not!" interjected Julianna, staring at her daughter as if Historia had lost her mind. Unfortunately, the latter didn't seem to hear her as her gaze was firmly fixed on Izuku, awaiting his response like a child that had just asked Santa if they could have a pony for Christmas.
With Julianna ultimately shifting her gaze toward him, her stare even more intense than her daughter's, carrying with it an unspoken threat, the smile on Izuku's face visibly cramped as he awkwardly replied, "Allies shouldn't fight amongst themselves..."
...
..
.
(A/N: Beware the battle junkie...)

After seeing Julianna, Historia, Rebecca, and Ferrus off, Izuku exhaled a sigh of relief, prompting Nezu to muse, "Quite the interesting young lady, isn't she?"
Shaking his head, Izuku forced a smile and replied, "I'm more interested in her mother, not that I have any intention of pursuing either of them..."
Exhaling a light chuckle, Nezu mused, "Ah, yes, Lady Pendragon is quite the exceptional beauty, isn't she? Lord Pendragon is a lucky man."
With Nezu gesturing back toward the dining room, Izuku accompanied him, reclaiming the seat he had just risen from a few minutes prior. Nezu did the same, linking his paw-like fingers together before asking, "So, how were they? I assume you committed their statuses to memory?"
Nodding his head, Izuku revealed, "Lady Pendragon's Level wasn't very high, but she appears to have a basic mastery of Ice Elemental Magic. As for Historia, Rebecca, and that scary Maid...the former has the potential to be a monster. Her five Quirks aside, she possesses Perks that make her borderline indestructible and functionally immortal within the boundaries of the British Isles."
Raising his non-existent brows, Nezu remarked, "That's some useful information. And it certainly explains her bravado..."
Shaking his head, Izuku asserted, "I don't think she's aware of it. At the very least, her parents aren't. If they were, I doubt they'd let her travel abroad like this."
"I concur," replied Nezu. "As far as I'm aware, those that have gained access to Status Windows cannot see their Perks. That seems to be an ability unique to you and those within your Party."
"Speaking of which...are those with Status Windows able to view or share their statuses with others?" asked Izuku. "I've been wondering that for a while now."
"It is possible to share, but there also seems to be a Skill called Read that allows certain individuals to view the Status Windows of others, including monsters," revealed Nezu. "However, if there is a large disparity between the Level of the user and the target being observed, it only reveals partial information."
"Seems fairly useful..." remarked Izuku, adopting a somewhat cheeky smile as he added, "Though, not as useful as my inherent observation ability. I've yet to meet a single person whose Status I couldn't read in full."
Nodding his head, Nezu mused, "Indeed. Your observation ability might very well be one of the most valuable aspects of your Quirk. Information has always played a vital role in war and politics. When utilized properly, it can provide considerable leverage over people and circumstances as a whole~."
Punctuating his statement, Nezu pulled out his palm-sized holographic projector, triggering it to reveal the image of Izuku conversing with Luna in the second-floor dining hall. From an outside perspective, it looked a little surreal to see a wolf-headed woman interacting with a comparably ordinary-looking human...
Before Izuku could ask, Nezu revealed, "I had already hacked into the hotel's security and surveillance systems before leaving Japan. I'm not fond of being spied on, and my crawlers will let me know if any ne'er-do-wells access or attempt to compromise the building's security."
Narrowing his eyes slightly, Izuku flatly remarked, "I'm also not fond of being spied on..."
"I'm afraid that can't be avoided in this situation," said Nezu. "With the President of the United States temporarily residing here, you can expect everyone in this building to be closely monitored. There are a number of intentional blind spots, particularly within the high-end suites, but there are no less than seven satellites and more than a hundred agents keeping a close eye on everyone moving in, out, and about this building."
Though he could understand why security was so tight, Izuku couldn't help exhaling an exasperated sigh. Security at the expense of privacy had been a touchy subject in his previous world. He hated being spied on, but he would definitely want to know what people were up to if they entered his home or a place he was charged with safeguarding...
Shaking such thoughts from his mind, Izuku met Nezu's gaze, asking, "Any particular reason you pulled up this hologram?"
"Three, actually," replied Nezu, explaining, "First and foremost, I wanted to remind you that your actions are being closely monitored. Secondly, if you decide to pursue this particular heteromorphic woman, you should be aware that she has ties to the Italian Mafia. If she suddenly invites you to meet her family, I suggest you politely refuse."
"Wait, seriously?" asked Izuku. "If that's the case, how'd she manage to get a job in a hotel that caters to the President?"
Exhaling an amused chuckle, Nezu's eyes gleamed as he said, "Though they would deny it, the American Government has close ties with most of the criminal organizations and groups that have established roots in their country. Ms. De Luca's family owns the construction firm that renovates and maintains the Waldorf Astoria and several other landmark buildings. By entrusting the matter to them, the Governor doesn't have to worry as much about other organized groups since the Mafia tends to clean house and take care of outsiders on their own."
"..."
Though he didn't plan to 'pursue' Luna as Nezu suggested, Izuku made a mental note not to piss off the peculiar wolf girl. He wasn't exactly scared of the Mafia, but it was generally best not to offend groups that had been around for hundreds of years, especially if they operated enterprises that spanned the entire world.
Seeing through Izuku's thoughts, Nezu raised his brows and remarked, "I wasn't attempting to discourage you. Rather, I support how open-minded you are. A disheartening number of people regard those with mutant and heteromorphic Quirks as less than human. Even if your feelings are simply the result of curiosity, I hope you continue to foster a positive relationship with the heteromorphic community."
Exhaling another exasperated sigh, Izuku muttered, "I don't even think about things like that unless someone else brings it up. Heteromorphs? Mutants? In the end, we're all people. Asshats that construct reasons we can't coexist are the real sub-humans..."
"Most people would agree with you," said Nezu. "Unfortunately, it is often a very vocal minority that controls public discourse, often towards making people afraid. It's much easier to control people that way."
"..."
Seeing the frown on Izuku's face, Nezu exhaled a soft chuckle and said, "That's one of the reasons Heroes are so important. It only takes one truly inspirational individual to inspire others to change for the better. Toshinori believes you have what it takes to become such an icon, and I agree. You may not be perfect, but you are compassionate and willing to put your life on the line to protect others. You also appear to have the literal support of our planet. That must account for something."
"You'd think so..." replied Izuku, adopting a wry smile as he considered himself grossly unqualified for the tasks set before him. He planned to give it his all, but as a Paragon 'candidate,' he knew he wasn't the Hero that Telania had desired. She simply couldn't afford to request the aid of a proper champion...
"Well, either way, you won't be going at it alone," said Nezu. "You have a real knack for drawing others to you. If you ever find yourself in a pickle, you can expect that Toshinori, myself, or a member of your ever-growing Party will pick up the slack. No one person should have to bear the fate of an entire world on their shoulders."
Nodding in affirmation, Izuku's expression softened into a genuine smile as he replied, "I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, Sensei..."
Returning a smile of his own, Nezu mused, "No need for gratitude. As your Principal, I have a duty to guide and support you. Now, I believe I've kept you here long enough. I also have other matters to attend, so unless you want to stick around and watch me pour over data streams and security footage, I'll see you sometime before your departure."
"Will you be okay alone?" asked Izuku. "I saw Toshinori heading to lunch with Cathleen."
Adopting a somewhat scary smile, Nezu mused, "You're mistaken if you believe that you and Toshinori-kun are my only forms of protection. Bar the sudden appearance of our mutual enemy; I'm reasonably prepared for just about anything. To that end, feel free to venture outside and explore the city. You also have permission to act in the capacity of a Hero but try to avoid any serious situations or circumstances where you interfere with the duties of other Heroes."
Raising his brows, Izuku asked, "Venturing outside...isn't that just asking to be targeted by the Chinese?"
Maintaining his smile, Nezu replied, "Heroes, especially famous ones, are constantly targeted by villains and criminal organizations. With the power at your behest, all you have to worry about are errors in judgment. That's a weakness that can only be overcome with experience, so go, cut loose, and have fun. Just be careful if you enter any nightclubs. Hollywood has glamorized American nightlife. It's really just a cesspool of lonely people looking to drown their sorrows in drugs and alcohol."
As he had spent a substantial amount of time at nightclubs in his previous life, the smile on Izuku's face cramped. He knew Nezu wasn't launching a personal attack on him, but it 'felt' personal, knowing how much time and money he had spent on women whose names he couldn't remember and expensive alcohol whose brands he couldn't pronounce...
"I'll keep that in mind," replied Izuku, rising to his feet as he added, "See you around, Sensei..."
Nodding his head, Nezu mused, "Take care, Midoriya-kun. Your flight is on the 5th, specifically at 9:30 AM, so be sure to return before then."
Though he was tempted to remark he had no intention of staying out of the hotel overnight, Izuku ultimately remained silent. Melissa had gone with her father to some conference where scientists from around the world had gathered to discuss the Meta World Transversal phenomenon, so he had very little reason to remain in the hotel if Nezu didn't require his protection.
With such thoughts in mind, Izuku departed Nezu's suite, passing by the Secret Service Agents before stopping outside the entrance to his own. It was barely past 1 PM, so he had at least 4 hours before the girls woke up back in Japan. Even then, they had classes to attend, so he could only exchange a few texts with them before they became too busy to respond.
Earning curious looks from the Secret Service Agents stationed outside, Izuku exhaled a sigh and rested his forehead against the cool surface of his door. It made him feel like an ass, but he was seriously considering accepting Luna's proposal to 'hit the town.' Nezu's comment about going to a nightclub hadn't been randomly thrown out. Rather, before she gave him her phone number and informed him of when she would get off work, Luna had invited him to accompany her to a fairly famous club only a few blocks from the Astoria...
Shaking his head, Izuku opened the door to his room, kicking off his shoes before entering the living room area and plopping down on the couch. As boring as it sounded, the 'smartest' thing to do would be to stay in his room. He wasn't 'that' curious about New York, and if he saw something going down, he wouldn't be able to ignore it. He might not have a justice boner like Toshinori, but he was still a Hero...provisional or otherwise...
Staring at a spot on the ceiling above, the notion that there might actually be something wrong with him entered Izuku's mind. A part of him craved action, but until now, he had gone out of his way to avoid getting involved in anything serious. Now that Nezu had more or less put him on the spot, intentionally or otherwise, he felt like he should be doing something more than sitting on his ass or taking a nap...
...
..
.
(A/N: I dunno, man. The world would be a better place if people napped more xD...)

*ding-*
Hearing the sound of the doorbell, Izuku immediately opened his eyes, gently laying Melissa on the sofa before heading to the nearby intercom display to see who was outside. It was currently 5:23 AM, so he wasn't exactly expecting guests.
"Ah..."
Recognizing the familiar figure of Melissa's father, David Shield, a wry smile developed across Izuku's face as he called out to the sleeping beauty, his voice gentle as he said, "Melissa, your father is here. I can send him away, but I don't think he'd appreciate it..."
"Mnn...?"
Rising to a seated position, Melissa asked, "Papa's here...?" while rubbing her eyes. Then, as if a switch had been flipped inside her, she bounced to her feet, exclaiming, "Papa~!" as she ran to the front entrance to answer it directly. This wasn't particularly wise, considering there were people with Quirks that could mimic other peoples' voices and appearances, but Izuku followed behind her with a relaxed smile as he fixed his shirt.
As Melissa opened the door and bounded into her father's arms, Izuku remained in the background, confirming the Professor's identity before crossing his arms and leaning against the adjoining wall. He didn't want to interrupt the duo's reunion, so he waited for them to separate of their own accord, David looking at him with a slight frown as he said, "Izuku..." in a curt, almost threatening tone.
Raising his right hand, Izuku maintained a relaxed smile as he replied, "It's good to see you, Professor. How has your research been going?"
Shaking his head, David said, "Let's not talk about that right now..." before looking to Melissa, adopting a fatherly smile and adding, "I came here to see and spend time with my daughter before the summit."
Causing the smile on David's face to cramp, Melissa looked to Izuku as she asked, "Is that okay, Izuku? I'm certain I won't be gone for too long."
"Of course," replied Izuku, smiling wryly in response to the threatening glimmer in David's eyes. The latter wasn't genuinely angry with him, but no father appreciated having their daughters defer to their boyfriends for 'permission' while they were around. The only thing more maddening was seeing their little girl call someone else daddy...
...
..
.
After seeing the father-daughter duo off, Izuku returned to the sofa, lying down before pulling out his cell phone. 5:30 AM in New York was around 7:30 PM in Japan, so he wasn't surprised to find both the class and group chats were active, discussing Work Studies and 'club' activities.
Though clubs were typically associated with the General and Support Departments, nothing prevented students from the Hero Course from partaking in after-school activities. Rather, now that UA had become a boarding school, mandating that all students live on campus, joining a club was pretty much expected.
Opening an album the girls had sent him, Izuku smiled as he thumbed through images of them wearing idol-like outfits. Shino, Ryuko, Tomoko, and Yawara had agreed to become advisors for a Heroes-only club that specialized in self-promotion and marketing. Their group was one of the four hero teams that had founded the Union Affairs Office, so they had a lot to teach aspiring Heroes that wanted to establish and maintain a Hero organization...
...
..
.
After idling about for several hours, bringing the time to 8:41 AM, Izuku got up from the sofa to grab something to eat. Unfortunately, while the suite had a kitchen, pantry, and fridge, the latter was filled with drinks, and most of the cupboards were empty.
"How sloppy..." remarked Izuku, closing the pantry door and heading to the front entrance. The moment he opened it, one of the agents outside, an inordinately tall man with a square jaw and notably 'angular' features, asked, "Is there something we can do for you, sir?"
Meeting the gaze of the shades-wearing man, Izuku replied, "I'm hungry. Tell me where I can grab a bite to eat."
"There are dining facilities on the first and second floors," replied the man. "However, we would appreciate it if you remained in your room. If there is a particular type of food you'd like to try, we will bring it to you."
As he had already messaged Melissa, Toshinori, and Nezu to inform them he was going out, Izuku shook his head, stating, "I'm not going to spend my entire stay in New York trapped inside my room."
Furrowing his brows, the angular man expressed, "You're free to go, but we can't guarantee your safety if you venture off alone."
Though his Intuition triggered in response to the man's warning, Izuku maintained a relaxed smile as he replied, "I appreciate your concern, but I'll be fine. If your people can prevent strangers from entering my room while I'm away, that's more than enough."
Instead of trying to convince Izuku to stay, the angular man returned a curt nod, saying, "Understood." before stepping away, pressing his finger to his ear, and saying something to superiors. As for Izuku, he raised his hand as a casual greeting to the other agents before making his way past them, riding an antiquated-looking elevator with gold ornamentation and red carpets down to the second floor. Then, following the directions of the elevator operator, he soon found himself in a well-lit dining room with predominately white furniture accented by bronze frames.
Before Izuku could get a good look around, a sharply dressed woman with angular eyes, blue and white fur, and the literal head of a wolf approached him to ask, "Will you be dining alone, sir, or are you awaiting your companions?"
Recovering from his momentary stupor, Izuku replied, "I'll be eating alone but have reason to believe others will be joining me."
"Then I'll seat you at a table for four," responded the wolf-like woman, taking the initiative to lead the way. Izuku's eyes nearly lowered to her bushy tail as she turned around, but while he was certainly interested in heteromorphs, he wasn't a furry. He just had a healthy curiosity...
"Here we are," said the woman, gesturing toward a booth near the back corner of the dining area. Then, once Izuku had taken his seat, she adopted a practiced smile and said, "My name is Luna De Luca, and it is my privilege to be your server today, Mr...?"
"Paragon," replied Izuku. He wasn't in costume at the moment, but Nezu and Toshinori had both advised him to get used to utilizing his Hero Name while he was abroad. After all, while he didn't hold an official position, he was, technically, a representative of Japan.
"Okay, Mr. Paragon," replied Luna, briefly sounding like a Bostonian as she pulled out a palm pad and asked, "What can I get you to drink?"
"A cup of ice water and some saffron tea, please," replied Izuku. He didn't know if they had saffron tea, but considering the Waldorf Astoria was one of the most prestigious hotels in New York, catering to dignitaries from all over the world, they should be able to manage just about any request.
Nodding her head, Luna offered a curt "Understood." before asking, "And can I get you any appetizers? I recommend the Scallop Mouse and the Steak Tartare. We import scallops from Novigrad and Wagyu directly from Japan, so their flavor is guaranteed."
"I'll take both," replied Izuku, adopting an innately playful smile as he added, "I have a big appetite."
"I'll be sure to inform the Chefs," mused Luna, narrowing her distinctly golden eyes slightly before abruptly turning away to convey his order to the kitchen. Her reaction caused Izuku's brows to rise, but he didn't think much of it as he habitually checked the wolf girl's status...
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Name: [Luna De Luca]
Title: Party Invitation Required
Quirk: Grey Wolf
Bond Level: 71
Current Level: 18
Effective Level: 35
[Attributes]
Strength: 19
Agility: 38
Vitality: 81
Intelligence: 63
Dexterity: 45
Luck: 107
Free Attributes: 90
[Perks]
Party Invitation Required
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("It seems I made a good impression...") thought Izuku, subsequently adopting a wry smile and shaking his head. He wasn't in the world of Ishuzoku Reviewers and already had more than his fair share of beautiful and amazing women. He also had reason to believe this wasn't his final life, so rather than trying to sample every interesting or exotic woman he encountered, he should focus on overcoming his Trials and becoming an actual Paragon...
With such thoughts in mind, Izuku surveyed the dining room, inspecting the statuses of everyone he could see. Most had Levels between 10-15, but there were a few outliers in the 20s and 30s, presumably serving as bodyguards or private security.
Upon finishing with his sweep, Izuku thought, ("Doesn't look like any of my future enemies or classmates are present. Yet another false positive, courtesy of Intuition...")
Though his Intuition triggered as if to spite him, Izuku ignored it, pulling out his phone and placing it on the table. Then, picking up the tablet that was present, he looked through the surprisingly diverse menu, taking note of the fact that he could send orders directly to the kitchen. Not everyone enjoyed having a waiter or waitress continually intruding upon their meal, so there were options to keep them away, change servers, or have dishes delivered to the table via a trolley-like robot.
Interrupting Izuku's perusal of the menus, Luna returned with a long-necked pitcher, an ornate crystal glass, a tiny jade teapot, and several styles of serving cups, setting them on the table as she mused, "You're in luck. We just had some fresh saffron shipped in from Tyler, Texas. I'm not particularly fond of the South, but God knows they produce some world-class spices."
Having looked into the States after his reincarnation, Izuku understood why Luna might not be fond of the South. Southern hospitality was still a thing, but, like a disheartening number of countries and communities, they weren't very welcome of heteromorphs. There were even a few extremist groups that believed heteromorphs should be subservient to humans, so most stuck to the East and West coast, choosing to live in heteromorphic communes and more 'progressive' cities.
Instead of latching onto the conversation bait Luna had dangled for him, Izuku took a moment to sample the tea she had provided. He hadn't put in any sugar or honey, so it had a subtle, sweet, and tart flavor, common among flower-based teas. Still, while it left a distinctly bitter aftertaste in his mouth, Izuku enjoyed it quite a bit.
Seeing as Luna was patiently awaiting his response, her long and bushy tail wagging ever so slightly as she loomed over his table, Izuku adopted a wry smile and said, "It's delicious."
Adopting a smile that reminded Izuku of the husky he had kept for a few years in his previous life, Luna replied, "Glad to hear it!" before pulling out her pad and asking, "Now, are you ready to order or would you like to wait until your appetizers have arrived?"
"I'll take whatever you recommend," replied Izuku, the corners of his smile naturally curling upward as he added, "This is my first time in the States, and I enjoy trying new things."
Catching Izuku more than a little off guard, Luna promptly took a seat next to him, grabbing the menu tablet and perking up quite a bit as she said, "Well, if you're not in a hurry, we have a twelve-course tasting meal that includes three types of oysters, ebony lobster, caviar with smoked sabayon, marinated duck breast, a vegetable platter, and a truffle-based puree."
Instead of responding to Luna's meal suggestion, Izuku adopted a wry smile and remarked, "I can't imagine it's customary for members of the service staff to sit at the table of guests..."
Leaving Izuku at another loss for words, Luna responded to him with a playful wink, musing, "Consider it a special service. Besides, didn't you say this was your first time in the States? Feel free to ask me anything you're curious about. New York was practically my playground growing up."
With Luna leaning a little closer to him, her nose twitching ever so slightly, Izuku realized what was happening. Nezu had informed him about the peculiarities of his blood, and Nerumi had confirmed that his pheromones were a lot more 'potent' than the average person's. Luna's Quirk gave her a sense of smell that was hundreds of times more powerful than a typical human, so even if he acted casually, she could perceive his 'interest.'
("The things some people do for tips...") thought Izuku. However, instead of outright refusing Luna's company, he suppressed his better judgment and decided to ask her a few questions, initially about New York and then about the other guests staying at the hotel. With her exceptional hearing, she was bound to have overheard a few interesting tidbits of information...
...
..
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(A/N: Comment's section be like, "Do it...")

Chapter 121: Chapter 121