[A/N: Let's move on!]
The next morning came quietly, sunlight spilling across the curtains in warm streaks. Izuku left the house earlier than usual, his steps carrying the heaviness of someone who couldn't bring himself to rest properly.
He didn't want to linger on the couch a second longer—the reminder of his own choices and mistakes weighed heavier than any villain he had faced. Still, he could only blame himself.
When he returned home, the sight that greeted him tugged at his chest. Inko had fallen asleep on the couch, her body curled slightly, the blanket slipping down her arm.
Even in her sleep, faint worry lines creased her face. Izuku paused for a moment, guilt prickling through him. Quietly, carefully, he scooped her into his arms as though she were fragile glass and carried her to her room. He tucked her in, pulling the blanket over her shoulders before slipping out without a sound.
He wasted no time rushing to his own room. Stripping away the fatigue and the unease clinging to him, he stepped under the shower, the water striking his skin in a rhythm that was more punishing than soothing. He pressed a hand against the cool tile, thoughts circling.
' Unfortunately… I'm not free today. I still have that date with the girls from class.' His brow furrowed. ' Man, I hate making promises I can't keep. I'll go. I have to.'
Once he finished, Izuku dropped onto his bed, hair still damp, towel slung over his shoulders. He reached for his phone almost absentmindedly, thumb unlocking the screen.
Notifications flooded the display—messages from Yuu, cheerful texts from every girl in his class. The brightness of their words only deepened the weight in his chest.
He let the phone fall onto the pillow beside him, staring at the ceiling for a long moment before shutting his eyes.
' I'll deal with them later, ' he told himself, voice heavy with exhaustion. And just like that, his body gave in, pulling him into sleep.
A few days slipped by in a blur.
It was Wednesday, not much had really happened worth remembering—at least nothing earth-shattering. The so-called "class dates" had come and gone.
Against his expectations, Izuku found himself actually enjoying them. Each girl had their quirks—some conversations lighthearted, others surprisingly personal—but for some reason, the system had forced him to date them one by one, as if testing his patience along with his charm.
Monday had been the most eventful. He and Momo had been chosen as class representatives, a responsibility that felt heavier than it sounded.
And, as if the title wasn't enough, the press had managed to breach U.A. security that very same day. Their chaos had been made possible by a scrawny man-child with chapped lips.
Izuku handled it like a veteran, stepping forward when others hesitated, his calm confidence turning a bad situation into proof of why the class had chosen him. By the end of it, no one questioned his role as Class Rep.
After that, though, the week dragged. Filler days, nothing but fodder events.
Izuku had deliberately kept his distance from Yuu and Mitsuki, needing a break from constant stimulation. For once, he wanted silence, even if only for a little while.
Which was hard at home since Inko was practically horny all the time. Though that's something he'll deal with later. For now.
Then there was the Homeless Shelter project. Like planned, Izuku had used his influence to help Ochaco's parents secure a high position in the company overseeing it.
Construction had already begun at the site, workers moving in and out daily, and for once things seemed to be going smoothly. It was progress he could feel proud of.
That morning, he stood at the entrance of U.A as his mom's car pulled away. The campus gates loomed tall before him, sunlight glinting off the polished metal.
Slipping off his headphones, he tucked them into his bag and adjusted the strap on his shoulder before heading inside.
' So today's the day the League of Villains makes their move,' he thought, his expression calm even as his heart stirred.
' I'm kind of excited. Of course, as a true hero I have to keep the class safe. But… everyone needs their chance to grow, to face real danger. I'll let them take their fights. The only thing I really want— his lips twitched upward —is the Nomu.' He thought.
Before he could step forward, the front doors swung open and Midnight emerged, heels clicking against the pavement. She nearly collided with him, but Izuku reflexively raised his hands to stop her. Fate, however, had a cruel sense of humor—his palms pressed directly against her chest.
Midnight arched a brow, her smirk slow and dangerous. "They feel good, right?" she teased, voice like silk.
Izuku's smile didn't waver as he pulled his hands back. "Yeah," he said plainly.
That blunt honesty made her laugh, the sound rich and playful. "You're really something, kid. You handled yourself well last time. You've got one heck of a quirk on you."
"Thanks," he replied, matching her tone with a subtle smirk. "I'm a fan of yours too. So… when do we start those extra classes you promised?"
Midnight giggled, brushing a lock of hair from her face as she leaned closer.
"You're a little too young for that. But… come find me in your third year, okay? Then we'll talk." Her finger grazed under his chin lightly before she sauntered past him, hips swaying with deliberate flair.
Izuku couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head as he turned toward the entrance.
' At least she's not a pedo,' he thought, slipping inside just as the morning bell rang.
In class, the room buzzed with the low hum of chatter and the occasional scrape of chairs against the floor. Izuku sat in his usual seat near the window, his gaze drifting outside toward the training field, lost in thought.
"Hey, Izu," a soft voice broke his focus.
He turned, smiling as Ochaco swiveled her chair around to face him. "Hey, what's up?"
"Nothing," she said, fiddling with her fingers a little before meeting his eyes. "I just… felt like talking to you, I guess."
"Really? You must like me then," Izuku teased with a small chuckle.
Her cheeks lit up pink as she stammered, "Y-Yeah, as a friend."
"Yes, a friend of course," he replied, smirking playfully before leaning in just enough to keep the conversation going.
They slipped into an easy rhythm, voices dropping low as they talked about little things—training, food, whatever came to mind. Ochaco's eyes brightened as she laughed at his comments, and for once the class around them faded into background noise.
Then, out of nowhere, Toru's cheerful voice chimed in. "Hey, Zuku!"
Izuku blinked, raising a brow. "Zuku, huh? That's new."
"Yeah," she giggled, her invisible outline leaning against his desk, "I thought I'd take a different approach from Ochaco. Do you like it?"
He smiled. "It's alright. I don't mind it."
"Cool! Then that's what I'll call you from now on!" Toru declared, bouncing on her heels before skipping back to her seat, her energy practically radiating off her invisible frame.
Izuku watched her go, lips tugging upward. ' Toru really is cute. When will she finally learn to control her quirk again?'
When he glanced back, Ochaco's smile had faded, her lips pressed into a tight line. Her chair hadn't moved an inch, but her mood had definitely shifted.
' Jealousy will be the death of humanity, ' he thought, fighting back another smirk as he turned back to the window.
His gaze drifted down to the field again—and this time his heart skipped. Nejire, with her long, flowing blue hair, was running drills in her U.A. training gear, her energy as radiant as the morning sun. Even from this distance, she stood out, her every movement full of grace and power.
' I can't wait to meet her, ' he thought, his eyes narrowing with anticipation. 'She was honestly one of my favorites in the story.'
TO BE CONTINUED