"Hero costumes today!" Mirio could barely contain his excitement as they walked to class. After a week of regular classes, they were finally starting their hero training.
"No more worrying about your clothes?" Anakin asked.
"The Support Department said they figured it out. They used my hair to make the fabric - something about DNA allowing it to phase with me."
Class 1-B gathered in one of UA's training grounds, where Vlad King stood next to a cart of numbered cases.
"Your hero costumes are designed based on your quirk registration forms and special requests," he explained. "Try them on, test them out, report any issues to Support."
Mirio grabbed his case first. Anakin picked up his own, marked with his name. Inside lay the components of his requested outfit - a light brown tunic with an outer darker brown tabard that crossed over his chest, a brown leather utility belt to secure it, matching dark brown pants and boots. A long brown robe completed the ensemble.
In the changing room, Anakin put on each piece. The tunic crossed over his chest, secured by the belt at his waist. The tabard hung straight, and the boots fit well.
Mirio emerged in his hero costume - a white skin-tight top with the number '1000000' stamped boldly across his chest in yellow. Green lines acted as a belt at his waist, with similar lines on his shoulders forming two V's. His baggy dark blue pants had white backing, and he wore white knee-high boots with yellow soles. A red cape and matching red gloves completed the outfit. He also carried a white visor with yellow lenses, though he mentioned it would probably fall off when he used his quirk.
"Watch this!" He activated his quirk, phasing through the floor. When he popped up a few feet away, his costume stayed perfectly in place. "It actually works!"
They headed back to the training ground where other students tested their costumes. Nejire's outfit was designed to help channel her Wave Motion quirk.
"Time to test these in combat," Vlad King announced. "Pair up for sparring. Remember, this is about learning your costume's capabilities."
Anakin and Mirio faced each other in the training ring.
"Ready?" Mirio grinned.
Anakin raised his hand, using The Force to sense Mirio's position.
Mirio phased into the ground immediately. He emerged behind Anakin for a surprise attack.
But Anakin sensed him coming. He spun, catching Mirio with The Force mid-emergence, holding him suspended.
"Not fair!" Mirio laughed.
Anakin released him. Mirio tried phasing up for an attack but emerged too far to the left, missing completely.
He phased again, this time accidentally coming out horizontal to the ground instead of vertical. Before he could correct himself, Anakin caught him with The Force.
"Still working on the directions," Mirio laughed.
"You did so good during the Entrance Exam" Anakin laughed.
Mirio sheepishly scratched the back of his head, "I was locked in during the exam"
"Time!" Vlad King called. "Good work. Support Department wants feedback on the costumes."
"The fabric responds perfectly to my quirk," Mirio explained. "It phases when I phase, no malfunctions or tears."
"The support team wove it from your hair?" another student asked.
"Yeah! Something about DNA compatibility. Keeps it linked to my quirk when I use it."
They spent the rest of the afternoon practicing, getting used to fighting in their new costumes.
"This changes everything," Mirio said as they packed up after class. "No more carrying spare uniforms everywhere!"
"No more public embarrassment?"
"Well, let's not get too optimistic."
After changing back to their uniforms, Nejire came up to them.
"Hey, since we're the only recommended students, we should form a study group," she said, taking out her phone.
After exchanging numbers, Anakin and Mirio headed to the station.
"Can't wait to see what else I can do," Mirio said.
"Don't get too excited. I don't want you to phase through the train on the way home." Anakin said while laughing.
After saying goodbye to Mirio at the station, Anakin took his usual route home. He stopped at the ice cream shop on the corner with its faded blue awning. He'd been coming here since he was three, back when his mom would take him after doctor visits.
The bell chimed as he pushed open the door. Mai looked up from wiping the counter, her brown hair pulled back in its usual ponytail.
"Anakin! Look how much you've grown!"
"You said that last week too."
She laughed, already reaching for a fresh cone. "Chocolate as usual?"
"Yeah."
"Your mom still working those long hospital shifts?" Mai asked, scooping his ice cream.
"Yeah, same as always."
She nodded, then went quiet for a moment. "Tell her I said hi. Haven't seen her in a while."
Anakin hesitated before asking, "Any news about your brother?"
The scoop paused mid-motion. A brief silence filled the shop.
"No," she said quietly. "It's been almost three years now."
"Sorry, I shouldn't have-"
"I see you're in your UA uniform," Mai cut in, forcing a smile as she handed him his cone. "How's hero training?"
"It's good. We just got our hero costumes today."
"That's wonderful! You'll have to tell me all about it next time." She turned to help another customer who'd just walked in. "Take care, Anakin."
"Yeah. See you next week."
Outside, Anakin walked toward home. The streets were getting darker as evening set in. His phone lit up with messages about their new costumes - Mirio was still excited about finally having a suit that worked with his quirk.
When he got home, his mom was already there, making dinner.
"You're late," Megumi said. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah. Stopped for ice cream."
"How's Mai?"
"Quiet. Still no word about her brother."
Megumi nodded, turning back to her cooking. "How was costume testing?"
"Good. Support Department figured out something that works for Mirio's quirk."
After dinner, Anakin flopped into his desk chair. A new notification popped up - Nejire had made the study group she'd mentioned earlier. A cat waving its paw flashed across his screen, followed by dozens of exclamation marks.
He glanced at his unfinished math homework, then back at his phone.
"One problem first," he told himself.
6 Days Later
Sunday rolled around, finally a break from Mirio's daily excitement about his costume staying on. Not that the messages stopped - Anakin's phone had been lighting up since morning with his friend's continued enthusiasm.
"Ben, that's not where the chopsticks go." Grandmother swatted his hand away from the table setting. "You've been eating here every Sunday for how long?"
Anakin's grandfather grinned, deliberately placing another pair wrong. "I like to keep you on your toes."
Sunday lunch at his grandmother's apartment. His mom and grandmother worked in the kitchen while Great-Grandma Chiyo watched from her favorite spot by the window, pretending not to be amused by the whole scene.
"Ani, stop playing with your phone and help your grandfather," his mom called. "Before he turns this into modern art."
"I think it looks creative," Ben defended his chopstick arrangement.
"You put three sets at one spot," Grandmother pointed out.
"Extra prepared."
Anakin grabbed the chopsticks with The Force, rearranging them properly. His grandmother rolled her eyes. "Now who's being creative?"
The apartment filled with cooking smells - his grandmother's miso soup, fresh rice, grilled fish. She'd even planted new herbs on her balcony, adding them to everything lately.
"Speaking of creative," Chiyo spoke up, "how's that new costume working out?"
"Better than Mirio's old ones." Anakin dodged a flying kitchen towel from his mom. "What? It's true!"
"Your friend finally keeping his clothes on?" Ben asked.
"Dad!" Megumi sighed.
"What? Valid question!"
Lunch landed on the table somehow, despite Ben's best efforts to "help." His grandmother had outdone herself - probably trying out new recipes on them again.
"So," Grandmother sat down, "hero course going okay?"
"Yeah. We've got a study group later."
"The recommendation kids?" Chiyo asked between bites.
"Mhmm. At Nejire's house."
Ben perked up. "I could-"
"No!" Four voices cut him off.
"The shrine incident," Grandmother reminded him.
"That was-"
"Three times," everyone finished for him.
His phone kept lighting up - Nejire sending rapid-fire messages about their study plans. Something about cats and snacks and which subjects to focus on first.
"You better get going," his mom said, checking the time. "Before she sends an entire novel."
His grandmother packed up leftovers while he got ready to leave. "For the study group," she insisted, pressing the container into his hands. "Better than convenience store snacks."
Outside, his phone pinged again.
Nejire: "Does anyone have a cat allergy???"
Mirio: "Only if I phase through them! "
"Great," Anakin sighed
Heading for the train station, wondering what he was getting himself into.