Chapter 6 - The Place Where It Begins

Ah... I woke up late. I missed Izuku's last training session. But, I was too drained yesterday. Maybe I should take this chance to rest.

After yesterday's...whatever it was, Izuku and I laid on the beach for a while in silence before both of our stomachs growled, forcing us to scavenge for any open restaurants and ended up in a tiny izakaya nearly a kilometer away.

Then, once we've each gotten our fill, just in time to watch the sunrise, we separated once more, Izuku for the beach to clean up the last of the trash, and me to get even a tiny bit of sleep before the exams.

It actually surprised me that I actually didn't acquire horrible eyebags from only sleeping for 2 hours at most.

But it's an anime world so maybe, I shouldn't question it too much...

I really owe Izuku for waking me up from my pessimistic mood.

Maybe I'll help him a bit when Bakugo gets kidnapped.

...

I dawdled around for a few hours but got ready with enough time to spare. Right now, I was walking around trying to spot anyone I recognize from the anime but having little luck. At most, I would see some characters from class B or the others but none from class A.

Just as I was feeling disappointed, a familiar head of spiky blond hair passed by me, causing me to look. Hey~ Isn't that Mr. Explosive Personality? Just in time too!

Gleefully, I began to follow him around. Perhaps it was because I was wearing a heavy coat and steel-toed combat boots but, my loud steps apparently drew his attention.

"STOP FOLLOWING ME, DAMN IT!!!" He turned around and shouted.

"Oh hey! Good morning!" I greeted him cheerfully as if it was the first time we met.

"You..." Finally, a look of realization flashed through his eyes. "Shitty eyes?!"

"Bingo! You just won the jackpot! Prize is, my full attention!" I shouted in a sickly, high-pitched voice, making him look at me in irritation.

"Whatever. Just stop following me." He turned around rather uncomfortably.

"But, we're heading to the same place though~ And besides, I have a bad sense of direction so I might get lost~" I tilted my head, acting as annoying as can be.

"Shut up. Don't bother me." He said, not sparing me a single glance.

Huh? What is this? He's not exploding?

Interesting...

"Ah, I heard you were friends with Izuku when you were younger by the way. Though, the way I see it, you seem to dislike him very much now. I wonder what happened. Also, did you know that the chocolate ice cream from the shop near U.A. tastes really great? Oh, but the mango one is apparently really sour!"

And just like that, I chattered all the way to our destination. By the end of it, I was having the time of my life while my victim was looking like he would murder the first person he sees.

"Move aside, Deku!" Bakugo shouted, taking his irritation out on the innocent moss head who was just standing in front of the gate, looking at the building in awe.

"Kacchan!!" Izuku exclaimed in surprise and then, saw me. "Kaito..? Why-"

"Get out of my way or you're dead." Bakugo growled out angrily, cutting Izuku off as he strode off.

"M-morning! Let's both do our... best." Izuku trailed off as he saw Bakugo not paying him any attention.

"Bye-bye, Kacchan~ Let's hang out again later~" I cheekily waved him off, unable to restrain my urge to annoy him.

"PISS OFF, SHITTY EYES!!!"
Wuu~ I got told off~

"Ah~ Izuku~ I'm being bullied~" I slumped over Izuku's back, rubbing my cold cheek over his warm ones, trying to steal his heat.

"A normal person won't smile while being bullied, Kaito." Izuku smiled wryly and casually brushed me off.

"Really? But that's just because I enjoy it~" I playfully stuck my tongue out, the piercing he gave me all those months ago flashing as it caught sunlight.

"Haha! I'm glad you're the same as always." Izuku laughed and smiled.

"Mm~ Let's do our best today as well~" I smiled back at him and patted his head.

"Of course! This is it! Let's go!" He declared confidently, taking a step towards the building.

And then he tripped.

Oh! Oh! It's time to disappear! Don't worry, Izuku! I'll support you as the best wingman! Whoever you'll end up with, I'll continue supporting you from the shadows!

With that, I gracefully withdrew my presence.

...

Eh?

Just a moment ago, Midoriya Izuku was about to take his first step in realizing his dreams then, the next moment, he suddenly found himself floating in the air.

"Are you okay?" A light but cheerful voice asked as a girl looked at him in concern.

"Urk?!" Izuku's eyes widened as he began to clumsily flounder about.

Calmly, the girl grabbed his arm and he safely plopped onto the ground.

"It's my quirk. Sorry for stopping you, but..." The girl had her hands clasped together as she apologized with a smile. "Well, it's a bad omen to trip and fall."

Upon finally taking a good look at this stranger, Izuku stood frozen.

"This sure is nerve-wracking."

"Ya... Uh... Um..." Izuku stuttered, suddenly forgetting how to talk.

"Good luck to both of us!" Still frozen stiff, Izuku could do nothing but watch as the girl went off.

....I talked... to a girl!

Izuku was visibly elated. "Kaito! I just talked to a-"

He quickly turned around and found no one there.

"HE DISAPPEARED!!!"

...

"WELCOME TO TODAY'S LIVE PERFORMANCE! EVERYBODY SAY 'HEY'!!!"

Silence...

Ah... It's really too loud.

"WELL, THAT'S COOL, MY EXAMINEE LISTENERS! I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE GUIDELINES OF YOUR PRACTICAL! ARE YOU READY?! YEAH!!!"

I swear, if Present Mic talks a bit louder, my eardrums would burst.

As I was groaning in pain, the person sitting behind me kept whispering to himself in excitement.

From my vantage point, I knew that I was nowhere close to Izuku, so, just who could-

Oh. Oh!

To think that I would actually be sitting so close to a possible future classmate or schoolmate!

When he noticed someone looking at him, the boy turned and looked at me somewhat sheepishly.

"Sorry. Did I talk too loud?" He scratched the back of his neck in embarrassment.

"No, not really." I smiled at him in reassurance. "I just spaced out a little."

"Ah, right. Name's Kirishima by the way." He grinned, his sharp teeth flashing as he stretched out his hand.

"I'm Yamori. Let's both do our best." I smiled and shook his hand.

"You bet!"

"And you, with the curly hair!" A loud voice shouted from across the stadium. "You've been muttering this whole time... It's distracting!!!"

"If this is some sort of game to you, then please leave."

Surprised, Kirishima looked at me and we both stifled our laughter. Fortunately, we were far enough from Iida to be left unnoticed.

But, it's good.

Everything is proceeding the way I remember it.

For now, my interference seemed to have no visible effect.

...yet.

Let's hope it lasts.

"PLUS ULTRA! BREAK A LEG, EVERYONE!"

Before I knew it, we were already about to begin. I didn't even manage to hear the explanations but, it should pose no problems.

As long as nothing changed.