BNHA: Singularity

"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 getting a bite to eat at a restaurant close to the Waldorf Astoria, Izuku and Luna hit up the largest mall in New York, a truly monstrous monument to capitalism known as the World Central Mall.
While the rest of the world was in a state of crisis, most Americans didn't even consider the Meta World Transversal phenomenon a serious threat. For them, it was someone else's problem, an event that would have been utterly unrelated to them if not for the fact it pumped up the cost of food, energy, and imported electronics.
"This place is packed..." remarked Izuku, genuinely awed by how many people were moving about the seven-story, 5.2 million square foot, 1373-store mall.
"Of course it is~!" exclaimed Luna. "People come from all over the world to visit the World Central Mall. It's a major tourist attraction."
"I can see that..." remarked Izuku, his eyes feeling a little dry and fatigued from inspecting too many people. He wasn't particularly curious about the mass of people walking around, but there were a ton of costumed Heroes within the mall, some on patrol and others taking a break.
Seeing Izuku massage his eyes, Luna asked, "You good, cump&agrave;? Not used to being around a lot of people?"
Shaking his head, Izuku replied, "Japan is still rebuilding its population in the wake of the Quirk Wars. It gets crowded in the metropolitan areas, but never quite like this."
"There's a park and greenhouse center on the top floor," said Luna. "Want to check it out?"
"I'm not really tired," replied Izuku. "Let's just go where you want to go. I should be fine once we get into an actual store."
"Eh, I'm fine with heading back to the car," said Luna. "I'm saving up to move into a new apartment once I graduate, so I didn't come here to do any shopping. Take enough business and finance courses, and you learn quickly that purchasing things in-store is pretty wasteful."
"What if I offered to pay for everything?" asked Izuku, adopting a faint, fearless smile.
Narrowing her eyes, Luna replied, "My mamma and babbo didn't raise me to be dependent on others. If you want to spend money on me, that's on you, cump&agrave;. I'm just here to have fun."
"Then let's find something out for your parents," replied Izuku, adding, "And anyone else you happen to be close to. I imagine you have a pretty big family."
"Six brothers and eight sisters," replied Luna. "I'm the third oldest, but I have twin sisters named Loona and Neve."
Blinking in surprise, Izuku asked, "You're a triplet?"
"Technically," replied Luna, scratching her cheek as she clarified, "It's common for the girls in my family to have 2-3 kids at a time. I was born alongside my two sisters, but we look nothing alike. Loona has grey fur like my babbo, and Neve's is pure white."
"Ah..."
"Disappointed?" asked Luna, giving Izuku a playful punch in her arm as she teased, "Don't be greedy. You don't even know if you can handle one De Luca girl. If we all sank our teeth into you, there wouldn't be any meat left on your bone."
Though he was tempted to ask if she was speaking from experience, Izuku guided the conversation to the original topic, asking, "So, where to? Want to pick your mom out a necklace or something?"
"Sure, but it shouldn't be too pricy," replied Luna. "If I return with a bunch of expensive presents and jewelry, my parents might think you're trying to buy their favor. I won't get into the reasons why, but things might become difficult for you if that happens. Let's just say my 'extended family' doesn't mesh well with Heroic types..."
Pretending he had no idea what Luna was referring to, Izuku maintained a relaxed smile as he teased, "You'll be the one choosing the gifts, so it's on you if there are any misunderstandings. I'm just doing what I can to make this a day to remember."
Adopting a narrow-eyed smile, Luna grabbed Izuku's arm, musing, "Sure. And, in exchange, I'll give you a night you won't forget..." before licking his cheek...
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As the more expensive, name-brand stores were located on the upper levels, Izuku and Luna made their way up to the sixth floor of the mall, passing through a series of scanners as they went.
Assuming that Izuku didn't know what the scanners were for, Luna explained, "America uses a Social Credit System where your ID is linked to your bank account, digital profile, and other personal information. If you have a dangerous Quirk, a criminal record, or carry an unregistered weapon or support tool, the elevator will stall until people from the Public Security Bureau show up to chaperone you."
As if in response to Luna's words, the elevator abruptly came to a stop, followed by the lights dimming a digital strip around the roof displaying the words: For your safety and well-being, please remain calm and follow the instructions of the Public Security Bureau. Thank you.
Raising her brows, Luna looked to Izuku and asked, "Are you carrying? Or is your Quirk something dangerous...?"
Adopting an awkward smile, Izuku rubbed the back of his head as he revealed, "I'm wearing my Hero Costume and a few unregistered support items..."
"Ma dai..." muttered Luna, smacking her forehead. She knew that Izuku was a Hero. At the very least, she believed him when he told her he was one. However, if it turned out he didn't have a license or a permit to carry and operate the support tools he was wearing, things would become very troublesome very quickly.
"Relax. It won't be an issue," asserted Izuku, adopting a calm and relaxed demeanor. Sure, most of his support items weren't registered, but Melissa had filed the necessary patents through a subordinate company of Shield Labs. His name was on the registry of Heroes authorized to field test their equipment, and according to Nezu, he had limited immunity and approval from the Governor to act as a Hero within the Manhattan city limits.
Seeing Izuku's confidence, Luna narrowed her eyes and mused, "Okay, Mr. Bigshot. But if we get arrested, you get to explain to my babbo how his baby girl ended up in a holding cell."
"Sure thing," replied Izuku, maintaining his composure as the message system informed them a representative from the Public Security Bureau had arrived and to take a step back. The standard procedure was to turn around and place their hands against the wall, so Luna's brows perked up quite a bit when the doors parted, revealing a bespectacled woman in a power suit and an incredibly athletic-looking man with a Hero Costume consisting of a black bodysuit with a yellow arrow pattern adorning his broad chest, back, shoulders, and legs.
Recognizing the man immediately, Luna's eyes widened as she muttered, "Vector Hero, Force Maxim..."
------------------------
Name: [Timothy Adams]
Title: Party Invitation Required
Quirk: Vector
Bond Level: 44
Current Level: 47
Effective Level: 69
[Attributes]
Strength: 78
Agility: 43
Vitality: 193
Intelligence: 71
Dexterity: 68
Luck: 241
Free Attributes: 235
[Perks]
Party Invitation Required
------------------------
Contrasting Luna's worry, Izuku thought ("Weak...") even though Force Maxim's Quirk was fairly useful, allowing him to arrest the momentum of objects with his hands and feet and use it to empower his strikes. The caveat was that he couldn't absorb and discharge energy at the same time, so if he were forced to endure a continuous assault, his body would rapidly heat up.
------------------------
Name: [Amanda Riviera]
Title: Party Invitation Required
Quirk: Pathokinesis
Bond Level: 51
Current Level: 23
Effective Level: 28
[Attributes]
Strength: 14
Agility: 16
Vitality: 71
Intelligence: 93
Dexterity: 25
Luck: 67
Free Attributes: 115
[Perks]
Party Invitation Required
------------------------
("This one is a lot more dangerous...") thought Izuku. Pathokinesis was the ability to read and manipulate emotions, so it could be a powerful tool for both good and evil, allowing the user to pacify and rile people up with a touch.
Wearing a professional, business-like smile, the bespectacled, intelligent-looking brunette said, "Please, be at ease. Neither of you is in any kind of trouble. Rather, when our scanners identified you, my Supervisor couldn't believe you were walking around without an escort."
Directing her gaze at Izuku, the brunette, Amanda, adopted a 'troubled' smile as she added, "The PSB would be in quite the pickle if something were to happen to you on our watch."
Furrowing his brows, Izuku pointed out, "We'd draw more attention with you chauffering us around. Also, if you're aware of my identity, you know I'm more than capable of protecting myself. Tell your Supervisor that their 'concern' is unwarranted and, more importantly, unwanted."
Maintaining her smile, Amanda shifted her attention to Luna as she stated, "We would comply under ordinary circumstances, but the identity of your companion makes things difficult. She may not have a criminal record, but she is a known associate-"
Raising his hand, Izuku said, "I'm going to have to stop you right there. Get your Supervisor on the phone or bring them over to me. While you do, I'll be placing a call to the Governor..."
Losing a bit of her 'friendliness,' Amanda's smile cramped as she said, "I don't believe it's necessary to get the Governor involved. We just want to ensure-"
"Enough," said Izuku, exuding an invisible pressure that caused Force Maxim to step forward, hands raised in a placating gesture as he said, "Whoa, now. Let's not do anything rash, okay, kiddo? No need to make a scene."
"You're absolutely right," said Izuku. "Yet, here you are, making a scene over nothing."
Pulling out his cell phone, Izuku was prepared to dial up Nezu when Luna abruptly hugged his arm, whispering, "Let's just get out of here. There are plenty of jewelry and clothing stores elsewhere. We don't need to waste our time with these stronzos(assholes)..."
Though he felt obligated to pursue the matter, Izuku didn't want to put Luna on the spot. Thus, after a moment of deliberation and a judgmental glower at the duo of Amanda and Force Maxim, Izuku turned to Luna and replied, "If that's what you want, that's what we'll do..."
With Luna nodding her head, Izuku directed his gaze back to Amanda, regaining his glower as he asked, "You don't have a problem with that, do you?"
"Of course not," replied Amanda, forcing a smile despite cursing her Supervisor in her mind. She could tell at a glance that Izuku wouldn't let this matter go, so she was almost guaranteed to be thrown under the bus, even though she had only been following orders...
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With Amanda and Force Maxim allowing them to go, Izuku and Luna rode the elevator down to the first floor, departing the mall and returning to the car. Luna had a conflicted look the entire way, but before she could find the words to apologize, Izuku surprised her by saying, "I'm sorry you had to go through that..."
Recovering from a momentary daze, Luna adopted a sad smile, shaking her head as she said, "It's fine. I've experienced much worse. Besides, I appreciate how you stood up for me..."
Shifting her gaze to Izuku, Luna's smile regained its vigor as she mused, "That chick with the glasses totally pissed herself when you flared up at her. I almost feel sorry for her."
Shaking his head, Izuku grimaced as he said, "You shouldn't. Anyone that can look at another person like that is undeserving of sympathy..."
Shrugging her shoulders, Luna casually remarked, "Not everyone sees us as 'people.' I think that's what initially drew me to you. You may have had a perverted glimmer in your eyes, but you're not like those furry nutjobs or the perverts that pick up prostitutes near the Zoo..."
Leaning toward Izuku, Luna closed her eyes and gave him a sniff, adding, "You also smell really good. If I didn't know better, I would think you were wearing a pheromone spray to try and trigger me..."
Attempting to lighten the mood even further, Izuku joked, "Nope. This is my natural musk. Pretty manly, isn't it?"
"It smells kind of sweet," replied Luna, drawing even closer to Izuku so she could sniff him more 'intently.' It was a little awkward, and her nose was cold, but Izuku didn't mind it until she started to lick the underside of his ear.
"Luna...?" called out Izuku, his voice carrying an awkward undertone and a wry smile developing across his face.
Pulling away momentarily, Luna asked, "Do you not like me licking you? I don't really 'do' kissing..."
Shaking his head, Izuku replied, "It's fine. You just caught me a little off guard, that's all..."
"Then can I continue?" asked Luna, her golden eyes glistening hungrily in the low light of the car's interior. When Izuku eventually nodded his head, she resumed licking him earnestly, her surprisingly long and rough tongue lapping up the remnants of his dried sweat as she gradually shifted to his side of the car...
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(A/N: There's a special place in Hell for bigots (U ^ U)...)

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;)

Chapter 124: Chapter 124