BNHA: Singularity

Checking himself out in the mirror, dressed up in his Hero costume, Izuku couldn't help remarking, "I look like a jackass..."
Though he was quite fond of his costume, Izuku had never seriously worn it publicly. Now that he was considering going on patrol around New York, he suddenly felt reluctant. It didn't help that, while utilizing Blackwhip, he looked more like a villain than a Hero.
*do-do-do-do-do~*
Hearing the phone to his room, Izuku turned away from the mirror, making his way over to an ornate landline, seemingly comprised of gold and ivory.
"Hello...?"
"Apologies for the disturbance, but is this Mr. Paragon speaking?" asked an exasperated-sounding man.
"Who's asking?" asked Izuku.
"This is Thomas Nicholson of the concierge, calling on behalf of Ms. Luna De Luca. She insisted that the two of you were acquainted," explained the voice.
Raising his brows, Izuku thought, ("I know her Bond Level shot up to 88, but I couldn't have left 'that' deep an impression on her...")
Looking at the phone's built-in clock, Izuku noticed it was around twenty minutes after Luna's shift had ended. He figured she would just go about her business if he didn't show up, but he was apparently mistaken.
"Is she there right now?" asked Izuku.
Before the concierge could respond, the sound of the phone being snatched away from him echoed through the phone, followed by the voice of Luna answering, "Heeeeey~! Where the heck are you? Weren't we going to hit the town together?"
"Sorry, but some things came up," replied Izuku, adding, "I didn't exactly come to New York to play around..."
"Well, are you busy right now?" asked Luna. "We don't have to go clubbing or anything. We could always go for coffee. Or, if you have time, maybe go to the mall, watch a movie, and grab a bite to eat? I know this darling little diner on West 23rd Street."
Exhaling a faint sigh through his nose, Izuku replied, "Sorry, Luna, but I'm busy. Maybe some other time."
Though there was a slight pause, Luna eventually replied, "Hey, it's okay. I would have preferred it if you had let me know in person, but it is what it is. Let's talk tomorrow at breakfast, okay?"
Before Izuku could respond, Luna apparently returned the phone to the concierge, prompting him to state, "I apologize for the inconvenience..."
"It's fine," replied Izuku, hanging up the phone and feeling the slightest tinge of guilt. He hated lying to people and felt partially responsible for leading Luna on, even if that was never his intention. Odds were, she just wanted him to take her to an expensive restaurant or buy her some stuff, but he couldn't know that without actually going out with her.
Shaking his head, Izuku made his way to the master bedroom, pulling out an armored briefcase and retrieving a thick laptop to peruse the files that Nezu had forwarded him. Luna might not have seen his Hero costume, but she knew his Hero Name. New Heroes drew a lot of attention, so now that he told her he was busy, going out on patrol was no longer an option. He could lie to her again by telling her he was forced to go out, but piling lies upon lies was rarely a good idea...
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"I"m baaaaaaack~!" called out Melissa, entering Izuku's suit around 10:20 PM. By then, Izuku had already changed back into civilian attire or, more accurately, business casual. After all, he had no way of knowing when Historia would come to bother him or if someone important would show up.
"Welcome back," replied Izuku, emerging from the master bedroom with a smile. "Have you eaten? If not, there's Pho in the fridge."
Returning a luminous smile, Melissa revealed, "I went to dinner with my Papa. We had Italian food at a restaurant called Trattoria Sofia."
"I'm glad you were able to spend some time with your father," remarked Izuku, gesturing to the couch and adding, "Do you want to talk about the conference?"
Though she exhaled a tired sigh, Melissa joined Izuku on the couch, snuggling up to him as she complained, "People can be so dumb, Izuku. Nearly half the scientists at the conference believe we should prioritize finding a way to stabilize the breaches, not close them. Like, I understand where they're coming from, but we have enough problems trying to solve the crises of our world. Proposing to send expeditionary forces to others is no different from invading foreign lands. It's only going to make things worse. If anything, we should be trying to reach an accord with those on the other side..."
Nodding his head, Izuku muttered, "Then that's what we'll prioritize once the breaches materialize in Japan. If there are entities on the other side we can communicate with, we'll try to reason with them. If we can't, we'll focus on finding a solution to close the breaches permanently..."
Regaining her smile, Melissa placed her head against Izuku's shoulder and mused, "I knew you'd see things the same way as Papa and me~!"
"Well, peace is always better than war..." replied Izuku, punctuating his statement with a kiss to the bubbly blonde's crown. He would have liked to do more, especially after such an irksome day, but circumstances didn't permit it...
"And how was your day?" asked Melissa. "Meet any cute girls to tour the city with~?"
"..."
Raising her head from Izuku's shoulder, Melissa blinked cutely and asked, "What's wrong?"
Shaking his head, Izuku revealed, "I received an invitation but ultimately shot it down. I mainly just spent the day here..."
Adopting a slightly concerned look, Melissa asked, "It wasn't because you were worried about what I would think, right? I knew what I was getting myself into when I decided to be with you, Izuku. You don't have to force or restrain yourself on my behalf..."
Exhaling through his nose, Izuku assured, "I'm really not...I just didn't think it would be appropriate to fool around while we're on a diplomatic mission with the Principal..."
Furrowing her brows, Melissa asked, "Is that really the case? You're not just trying to put my mind at ease, are you?"
Though she didn't think Izuku was lying outright, Melissa's Intelligence had surpassed 400 during her stay on Ōkunoshima. Her intuition and mental acuity had increased alongside it, so she could tell he wasn't being completely forthright.
Adopting a wry smile, Izuku answered, "You're right. The truth is that I'm tired of you girls seeing me as some sex-crazed beast that can only think with his lower head. I don't 'need' to have sex with every single girl I take an interest in..."
"But you 'want' to, right?" asked Melissa, adopting a gentle smile as she added, "If that's the case, you should just do it. None of us are going to judge or resent you, Izuku. We love you just the way you are."
"..."
Feeling that she had put Izuku on the spot, Melissa tried to lighten the mood, leaning against him and adopting a teasing smile as she added, "Now, tell me all about her. She must be attractive or fairly unique to have caught your attention."
Though his response wasn't immediate, Izuku eventually told Melissa everything he knew about Luna, including her affiliation with the Italian Mafia. Melissa wasn't all that surprised by the latter, as a lot of Italians in New York had at least a tangential connection to the Mafia, but her brows raised quite a bit when she learned that Luna was a full heteromorph.
"Did you get a picture of her?" asked Melissa, genuinely curious to see what Luna looked like.
Shaking his head, Izuku replied, "No. She gave me her number and told me when she would be getting off work, but I kind of stood her up. Not intentionally, but she had the concierge call around twenty minutes after her shift ended..."
"Oh, wow," said Melissa, subsequently asking, "What was her Bond Level before and after your encounter? You must have gotten a look at it, right?"
"It was 71 the first time I looked and 88 when we parted ways," replied Izuku, recalling the information as images within his mind. And, now that he said it aloud, 71 was quite high for an initial impression...
Thinking the same thing as Izuku, Melissa remarked, "That's pretty high. Maybe she recognized you from the UA Sports Festival? It was broadcast around the world."
"It's possible," admitted Izuku. "But it's equally likely that she views me as a nice-looking wallet. She knows I'm visiting from another country, so she could just be aiming for my money under the guise of having a good time."
"Isn't that better?" asked Melissa. "I know the thought of 'using' women makes you uncomfortable, but you should be able to satisfy your curiosity and move on fairly quickly this way."
"Well...you're not wrong..." replied Izuku, adopting a wry smile due to the sheer ridiculousness of the conversation. He never expected Melissa, of all people, to be the one encouraging him to have a vacation fling or one-night stand. Women could be frightfully adaptive at times...
Nodding her head, Melissa stated, "I'm planning to accompany my father for the second day of the conference tomorrow. You should take Luna on a date and explore the city. You can't stay cooped up in your room during your first trip to the US."
Though he was tempted to suggest accompanying Melissa and her father to the conference, Izuku eventually forced a smile and joked, "Assuming she isn't too upset about me blowing her off this afternoon..."
"She asked you to meet her again, right?" asked Melissa. "She can't be 'that' upset. If so, you could make it up to her by buying a pendant or a pair of shoes. If she's half the gold digger you suspect her of being, that should silence any complaints she might have. Just make sure to get her photograph. I'm sure the others will want to see what she looks like."
"Sure..." replied Izuku, feeling like he had just been coaxed into something he had made a concerted effort to avoid. It wasn't a pleasant feeling, but, at the same time, a small part of him was looking forward to the following day. At the very least, he wouldn't be stuck inside, bored out of his mind...
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"You're here~!" exclaimed Luna, dressed in a distinctly different outfit from her waitress getup. In place of a white blouse, bowtie, apron, and slacks, she now had on blue-blocker glasses, a punk rock t-shirt, form-fitting leather pants, a stylish biker jacket, and boots.
Raising his brows, Izuku asked, "Do you not have work today?"
"Not exactly," replied Luna, briefly poking out her tongue before clarifying, "I asked my friend, Becky, to cover my shift. I figured you would be busy again this afternoon, so I thought we could at least enjoy a meal together. Whaddya say?"
Since pretty much everyone from the group chat had spurred him to accompany Luna on a date, Izuku adopted a smile and replied, "Sure, sounds good. Do you want to eat here or go somewhere else?"
"Oh, can we!? I know a ton of great restaurants!" exclaimed Luna, linking her hand around Izuku's bicep and pressing the side of her boob against him as if it were completely natural.
Nodding in affirmation, Izuku replied, "So long as they aren't too far from the hotel. We could also go and see a movie. I don't have anything going on today."
"Really!?" asked Luna, her ears and brows perking up as her bushy tail began to sway excitedly behind her. It wasn't full-on wagging, but she was clearly thrilled by the prospect of a day, potentially even a night, on the town.
"And it'll all be my treat," replied Izuku. "Consider it my apology for not accompanying you yesterday afternoon."
"Seriously?" asked Luna. "You don't need to apologize or anything. It was my bad for thinking we had agreed to meet up. Anyways, just forget about all that. Let's go have some fun~!"
Pulling Izuku by his hand, Luna guided him to the elevator, taking it down to the employee parking area in the basement. There, she revealed to him the true reason she had on leather pants and a jacket. Rather than simply thinking they were stylish, it was because she had an actual sports bike...
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(A/N: For those that are curious, I wrote two chapters of a Bleach Fanfic pilot and posted them to my Patreon. I'm not planning to drop this story, but I just wanted to get the idea on paper before it disappeared into the abyss. &macr;\_(ツ)_/&macr;)

"Ever ridden one of these bad boys?" asked Luna, presumably talking about her bright red sports bike, but it was difficult to be sure as she was bent over slightly, staring back at him with narrowed eyes.
Shaking his head, Izuku replied, "No, but I've thought about getting one once I get my license."
Blinking in surprise, Luna rose to her full height and asked, "You don't have a license? I got my learner's permit when I was fourteen and my road license when I was sixteen."
"I never really needed one," replied Izuku. "Japan's public transit system is the best in the world, and if I need to, I can get around faster on foot than in a vehicle."
"Oh? Is your superpower speed-related?" asked Luna, perking up quite a bit as she added, "I'm pretty fast myself, you know? My tail helps me keep my balance, even if I lean reeeeeeally far forward."
As if to prove her point, Luna leaned over nearly ninety degrees, hands on her waist as she swayed her tail and hips from side to side.
"I can see that..." remarked Izuku, his eyes lowering to Luna's toned butt. She may have had the head of an anthropomorphic wolf, but the structure of her body was unmistakably human.
"Whatcha lookin' at~?" asked Luna, rising to her full height and turning to face Izuku with a lowered snout, upturned eyes, and a playful smile. She knew exactly where Izuku had been looking, but she was curious to hear what he had to say for himself.
Adopting a relaxed smile, Izuku smoothly replied, "I was thinking we need to get you out of those pants and into a dress."
Narrowing her eyes in amusement, Luna's smile broadened as she said, "My place isn't too far from here, but I don't have nothin' fancy like a proper dress. The poshest outfit I have is the one I wear for work, but that's uncomfortable like you wouldn't believe."
Stretching the fabric of her t-shirt, Luna added, "I prefer clothes that are comfortable and easy to move in. Even these pants. They might look like leather, but they're made from a faux, super-stretchy material."
"Then, after we finish breakfast, we'll go shopping," said Izuku. "I don't mind if you want to wear casual clothes, but we might be snubbed if we try to enter a fancy restaurant."
Though excited by the prospect of shopping, Luna crossed her arms, rolled her eyes, and said, "Story of my life, right there. Outside Piccola Italia and the Zoo, pelosa like me aren't wanted in fancy neighborhoods and restaurants."
Ignoring the metaphorical minefield that Luna had laid out for him, Izuku asked, "The Zoo?" in a confused tone. He had heard of Piccola Italia(Little Italy), but he had never heard of any places called the Zoo. Excluding the actual Zoo, of course.
"Eh, it's slang for the part of town where heteromorphs live," explained Luna, adding, "Be careful if you ever go through there. After being treated like animals for so long, some of the residents have given up trying to act human. They give the rest of us pelos a bad rap."
"I take it they're not fond of, what would you call us, naked apes?" asked Izuku.
"Ma dai!?" exclaimed Luna, clutching her stomach and exhaling an open-mouthed laugh before saying, "You're funny, cump&agrave;. And no, we don't call you naked apes. We call our allies cump&agrave;, meaning friend, and those who don't, gabba, meaning idiot. There are some less polite words, but I don't use them. At least not for you."
Punctuating her statement with a playful wink, Luna briefly turned around, grabbing her spare helmet and tossing it to Izuku as she asked, "Want to try steering, or are you okay riding pillion? You're a lot bigger than me, so it might be a little awkward."
Though he caught the helmet with ease, Izuku adopted a wry smile as he asked, "Wouldn't it be better to take a taxi? Especially if we're planning to go shopping."
"I'm a wolf, cump&agrave;. Unless you dial up a premium service, ain't no taxis stopping to pick me up," said Luna.
"Then let's rent a car," suggested Izuku. "I'm sure a hotel like the Waldorf Astoria has rental services."
"Oh, totally," replied Luna, pointing to an area of the underground parking lot where several luxury and sports cars were located. "But they're really expensive, like $4000 a day. There's also a $5-10,000 security deposit, so it would be a lot cheaper to rent someplace else."
Though he was tempted to flex his wealth, Izuku responded with a curt, "Give me a moment," before turning away, pulling out his cell phone, and texting Nezu. He was pretty sure their VVIP service package included a chauffeur and even a security detail, so he wanted to see if he could use it before blowing fifteen grand on a rental.
Assuming that Izuku was about to try and show off, Luna sat back against her bike and pulled up her left leg, resting her cheek against her knee and observing him with a smile. She was tempted to tell him he didn't need to try so hard to impress her, but she didn't want to offend or upset him. Rich people tended to enjoy spending money, so if that's what Izuku wanted to do, she didn't mind indulging him. She just wanted to have fun with a cute, pleasant-smelling foreigner.
Turning back to Luna, Izuku asked, "Are you okay with having someone chauffeur us around, or would you prefer to drive?"
"That's up to you," replied Luna, narrowing her eyes slightly as she added, "It could be fun to ride in the back of a limo and sip on some champagne."
"We'll consider that for this evening," said Izuku, sending his response to Nezu as he added, "It's a bit early to be drinking."
"That's probably for the best," mused Luna, adopting a playful smile as she revealed, "Don't tell anyone, but I'm a bit of a lightweight. I also tend to get clingy, so you've been warned."
"I'll keep that in mind," replied Izuku, returning a smile as he placed his cell phone into his breast pocket. Less than a minute later, a man dressed as a hotel employee showed up, carrying with him a bunch of keys as he practically ran over.
"Oh, hey, Thomas," said Luna, raising her hand and performing a casual wave.
Though he briefly cast an incredulous look toward Luna, Thomas's main focus was Izuku, forcing a smile as nervously as he presented the keys and said, "Your keys, sir."
Shaking his head, Izuku thumbed toward Luna, saying, "Let the lady choose. I don't have a license."
"Right..." replied Thomas, shifting his attention to Luna as he asked, "Which car would you like to drive...ma'am?"
"Do I really get to choose?" asked Luna, moving next to Izuku and staring up at him with excitement in her luminous golden eyes.
"Go ahead," replied Izuku. "My package includes free vehicle rentals, so you have your pick of the litter. No pun intended."
Turning her eyes up, Luna muttered, "Ma dai..." before snatching one of the sets of keys from Thomas and darting over to a car that looked more like a spaceship than a road-faring vehicle. In fact, Izuku was positive he had seen a similar model with rotary wings.
Alleviating Thomas's paling complexion, Izuku gave the man a firm pat on the shoulder as he said, "Thanks for the quick service. I'll be sure to send you a gratuity payment later."
Regaining a practiced smile, Thomas replied, "T-Thank you, Sir. If you need anything else during your stay, please don't hesitate to ask for me by name."
"I'll consider it," said Izuku, retracting his hand from Thomas's shoulder and following after Luna. She looked like a kid that had just received a go-cart for their birthday, but instead of a box car, the vehicle she was about to drive easily cost more than half a million dollars.
"Hurry up and get in~!" exclaimed Luna, waiting in the driver's seat with an unfettered smile and wide, excited eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming," replied Izuku, ducking his head to avoid hitting it on the slanted scissor door. This was ultimately unnecessary, as the car was made to accommodate much larger individuals, but he had smacked his head on a similar door in his past life.
"It looks even more like a spaceship inside..." remarked Izuku, settling into the remarkably comfortable passenger's seat, seemingly made from some kind of memory foam material. As for why he had commented on the interior, it was because the dash panel was entirely digital, framed by Tron-like lights.
"If that's you're reaction, you're gonna love this," said Luna, inserting the key into the ignition and turning it. As she did, the dashboard came to life as the previously clear windows tinted, making the car's interior dark and atmospheric. At the same time, the seat Izuku was seated in seemed to conform even further to his body as it simultaneously moved back a little, giving him more legroom.
Pointing to the display on his side, Luna said, "Check it out&mdash;full biometric data. The computer system can sense if you're sick, intoxicated, or injured and automatically take over, driving you home or to the hospital. With this puppy, we don't even need a chauffeur."
"I take it that you like cars?" asked Izuku.
"Duh," replied Luna. "I don't know how it is over in Japan, but here in New York, every man, woman, and child has dreamed of owning a car like this. It's a status symbol, especially for those who feel they have something to prove."
"Well, it's ours for the next couple of days," replied Izuku. "Feel free to put some miles on it."
"Oh, definitely," replied Luna, adopting a smile that showed off her sharp teeth as she mused, "Did you see the look on Thomas's face? He's going to be sick to his stomach when he reads the odometer. The hotel gets to charge more if the car doesn't have a lot of miles on it."
"Don't do anything that might jeopardize your job or career," said Izuku. "There is an old adage that says 'you only live once,' but it's best not to compromise yourself just to have some fun..."
Raising her brows, Luna turned to Izuku and remarked, "That's a pretty responsible thing to say. Just how old are you?"
"Sixteen," replied Izuku, the corners of his smile curling upward when Luna's eyes widened in surprise. It was impossible for him to tell her age based on her appearance, but he suspected she was around 23-25 since she had previously informed him she was close to getting her Masters in Finance and Economics.
Recovering from her stupor, Luna adopted a wry smile and scratched her cheek as she admitted, "Wow, I was way off...I thought you were at least twenty...."
"I get that," replied Izuku. "People have always told me I was mature for my age. If you don't mind my asking, how old are you?"
"I turn twenty-three in March," replied Luna, a conflicted look developing across her face as she faced forward and lowered her gaze, seemingly in deep thought. Seven years wasn't an insurmountable age gap compared to some celebrities, but she suddenly felt like she was taking advantage of a horny teen with more money than sense...
Catching Luna a little off guard, Izuku said, "We don't need to have sex. To be honest, one of the reasons I didn't meet up with you yesterday is because I thought I had given you the wrong idea. If you just want to see a movie and hang out, I'm more than down."
Passing the buck back to Izuku, it was Luna's turn to surprise him by stating, "But I kind of want to?" in a questioning tone, scratching the back of her head and smiling awkwardly as she added, "Your scent got me really riled up yesterday, so I think we have good compatibility. What's your sign, by the way? Mine's Pisces."
"Uh...Cancer?" replied Izuku, not entirely sure as he had never looked it up.
"See?" said Luna. "Cancer and Pisces have amazing compatibility. Let's just pretend I didn't ask for your age, and if anyone else does, tell them you're twenty. You certainly look it."
Though he got the impression Luna was forcing herself, Izuku responded with a relaxed shrug and replied, "Sounds good. Just don't be afraid to change your mind. I didn't choose the name Paragon because I believe I'm perfect and without flaws. It's because I want to become someone who can inspire others."
Noting the sincerity in Izuku's expression and tone, Luna regained her usual smile, asserting, "You treat others well, even if they're different than you. I'm sure you'll make a great Hero someday. For now, however, you're playing the part of my compagno...my 'companion.'"
Raising his brows, Izuku remarked, "I'm pretty sure compagno means something else..."
Narrowing her eyes and adopting a surprisingly alluring smile, Luna teased, "Well, it's not wrong..." as she positioned her hand over the manual transmission and caressed the knob, all without breaking eye contact...
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(A/N: If Luna weren't covered in fur, she would have been sweating...)

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...)

Chapter 123: Chapter 123