The next day, Izuku had pushed Rumi them to the limit. The sun was high above the training hall's skylight, casting warm rectangles of light across the mats. The air was thick with the faint scent of sweat, dust, and determination.
Now, the two of them lay sprawled out side by side on the mat, staring up at the ceiling in silence. Their chests rose and fell with heavy breaths, the echo of their last spar still ringing faintly in the air.
Rumi's white hair clung to her forehead, her ears twitching slightly as she turned her head toward him. "I know I can beat you if we fight more," she said between breaths, a cocky smirk tugging at her lips.
"In another reality, maybe," Izuku replied, his tone relaxed but teasing.
She barked out a short laugh and kicked lightly off the floor, sitting up and brushing her hair back. She stood and stretched, her toned muscles flexing under the afternoon light.
"Well, I'm feeling like visiting some hot springs right now. What do you think?" she asked, turning to him with that same mischievous grin she always wore before suggesting something impulsive.
"Sure," Izuku said, rising smoothly. He floated a few inches off the mat, flipped midair, and landed perfectly on his feet — the move effortless, casual, and annoyingly graceful.
Rumi blinked, tilting her head slightly before letting out a low whistle. "I understand why your whole school loves you," she said, smirking as she walked past him. "You're just effortlessly cool."
Izuku scratched the back of his neck, trying to hide the faint smile tugging at his lips. "Thanks, I guess."
She laughed, grabbing her towel and tossing him his own. "C'mon, cool guy. Let's see if you can handle a proper soak after all that training."
As they walked toward the exit, sunlight poured through the wide doorway, casting long shadows of the two heroes across the gym floor — a rare calm settling between them after another day of relentless work.
...
A few minutes later, they were on their way to a hot springs bath not far from their flat. The steam rising from the water outside hinted at the warmth that awaited. Izuku went and got changed, stepping out in nothing but his underwear, a towel loosely wrapped around his hips, the cloth clinging slightly from residual moisture.
Rumi appeared a moment later, her entire body wrapped in a single towel. Underneath, she was completely bare, the boldness of it making Izuku's pulse pick up instantly. The towel couldn't hide the smooth curves of her body, and the confident way she held herself only amplified the effect.
"See you in a few minutes," Izuku said, reaching for the male section. But she stopped him, her fingers latching onto his hand.
"Nope, I'm not sitting there alone with my thoughts. Come here," she said, tugging him close. She signaled to the staff, shutting down the mixed bath for their privacy, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Without a second thought, she peeled off her towel, and Izuku caught the full view in an instant. His breath hitched slightly, though he tried to remain composed.
' I've already seen her naked, but it's always a blessing to witness that body,' he thought, his eyes drinking in the sight as he peeled off his own towel and stepped into the steaming water.
Rumi floated effortlessly in the deep spring, steam curling around her, her hair clinging wetly to her shoulders. She drew a deep, contented breath, tilting her head back.
"I live for hot springs! Come on, let's go further—it's hotter there," she said, moving gracefully through the water until they reached the center, where visibility was limited.
Izuku could still see her clearly, though, every curve and subtle movement reflected in the hazy water. He let himself admire her in silence for a beat, the warmth of the spring radiating around them.
"Day three… how is it so far?" she asked, her voice soft, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Fun. I'm learning a lot of stuff as well. So I'd say I got the best out of all the options I had," he replied, eyes never leaving hers.
"Great. I've never taken anyone in before, but I'd say for my first time… you're already the best of any I'll take in," she admitted, a faint blush rising to her cheeks.
"That's… nice to hear," he said, a small, genuine smile tugging at his lips.
Minutes later, they stepped out of the hot springs, feeling the lingering warmth of the water on their skin. Izuku quickly took a cold shower to cool down, the sharp water making him shiver slightly before he got dressed, starting with clean, dry underwear. The simple act of putting on fresh clothes felt surprisingly satisfying after the relaxing soak.
By the time they returned home, the late afternoon sun was spilling through the windows. They had a quick meal—something light, just to keep their energy up—before getting ready for a night of crime fighting.
This rhythm continued for the next couple of days. Early mornings filled with training, afternoons with minor patrols, and nights with occasional calls to action.
On the sixth day, Izuku woke up on the couch, his body stiff but comfortable, only to realize Rumi had fallen asleep draped across his chest. A small strand of drool had escaped onto his shirt.
' Damn,' he muttered to himself, gently lifting his head, ' guess watching Madam Web was a bad idea… didn't even make it a minute before I passed out. And she just… followed right after.'
Rumi stirred suddenly, springing awake and immediately sitting up on his lap. Her wide eyes scanned the room as she realized the situation—and then froze. For some reason, her chest was bare, her soft, round nipples catching the morning light.
Her gaze dropped to Izuku, who had instinctively looked, and then shot up at him in panic as she realized he was shirtless too. Her cheeks flamed crimson as she scrambled to cover herself.
"Don't write about this in your report!" she hissed, hurriedly sliding off his lap and darting toward her room.
Izuku leaned back on the couch, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Well… I'll try," he teased lightly, watching her storm off with a mix of amusement and disbelief.
He shook his head and got to his feet, stretching. ' That's… a cool way to wake up,' he thought, rubbing the back of his neck and stepping over the blanket she'd left behind.
He paused, mentally checking the day's agenda. ' Stain and the Nomu are attacking Hosu City today… yeah, that's the big one. I gotta be ready.'
With a final glance toward Rumi's closed door, Izuku squared his shoulders.
"Alright. Let's get ready," he said to himself.
A few minutes later, Izuku was sitting at the dinner table, a steaming bowl of oatmeal in front of him. The early morning sunlight filtered through the window, casting warm stripes across the wooden floor. He blew on the oatmeal lightly before taking a careful bite, lost in the quiet comfort of the small kitchen.
Rumi stepped out of her room, stretching lightly. The moment she saw him, her eyes flicked up — and she caught him blushing faintly, a brief flush creeping across his cheeks. She raised an eyebrow, a small smirk tugging at her lips, and walked toward the table, sitting down across from him.
"You made any for me?" she asked, tilting her head, curiosity sparkling in her gaze.
"Of course," Izuku replied, pointing toward the pot on the stove. "Check the pot."
"You could have dished some out for me," she said, leaning slightly forward. "Then again… I know you're just avoiding the dishes."
"That is correct!" Izuku said, raising a hand in mock triumph as he took another bite.
"You do know we have a dishwasher," Rumi added, narrowing her eyes teasingly.
"Yeah… I'm looking at her," Izuku replied, his grin widening as he chuckled.
Rumi frowned, clearly unimpressed with his joke. "I could report you for that, you know."
"I'm kidding," Izuku said, holding back laughter, though his shoulders shook slightly with suppressed amusement.
"Also… forget what you saw!" she added abruptly, pointing a finger at him.
"What did I see?" he asked, voice dripping with teasing curiosity.
"You know very well," she said, her smirk returning as she stood, grabbed the pot, and plopped herself down on the other side of the table, starting to serve herself directly from it.
Izuku blinked in mock surprise, watching her dig in, the smell of the oatmeal warming the room even further. He couldn't help but smile — mornings like this, playful and simple, were rare, and somehow, they made everything feel lighter.
TO BE CONTINUED