The Gym class was supposed to be simple—run, jump, throw, and be done with it. But for Izuku and Bakugo, simplicity was a distant dream.
"Midoriya, Bakugo! You're paired for today's relay drills!" barked their PE teacher, a gruff man who seemed to enjoy chaos more than anything.
Izuku tensed. He exchanged a glance with Bakugo, whose face twisted in immediate protest.
"No way," Bakugo snapped, his voice sharp enough to cut glass. "I'm not working with him!"
"Same here," Izuku added, crossing his arms in what he hoped looked like resolve, though internally he was already dreading the inevitable, he knew his teacher well.
The teacher grinned, clearly enjoying their suffering. "Tough luck, boys. Now line up and stop whining!"
The first few drills were a disaster. Izuku tried handing the baton to Bakugo, only for Bakugo to grab it so forcefully that Izuku nearly fell over.
"Watch what you're doing, Dickhead!" Izuku snapped.
"Maybe if you weren't so clumsy, I wouldn't have to!" Bakugo shot back, his voice dripping with venom.
The next round wasn't any better. When it was Bakugo's turn to pass the baton, he hurled it at Izuku with enough force to leave a dent in a wall.
"Are you trying to kill me you bastard?!" Izuku yelled, barely catching it in time.
"Move faster, damn nerd!" Bakugo roared from behind him.
The teacher stood on the sidelines with a camera that discreetly captured everything, he had an expression of pure joy.
'Ahh ... kids fighting...what a joy.'
He posted the video on his Herotube channel under the name of Diego_Cisneros_7112.
He smiled as he saw 12 views after a while, his eyes looked down at the recommendation bar and saw a video of a guy called Gentle Criminal, he rolled his eyes and clicked not interested.
By the end of the class, both boys were panting and covered in dirt, their teamwork having somehow gotten worse with each drill.
The teacher shook his head in mock disappointment. "You two are like oil and water. It's almost inspiring how bad you are together."
"I'm not teaming up with him again," Bakugo growled, stalking off.
Izuku sighed in relief, agreeing with a nod.
---
As Izuku opened his locker later that day, a flash of pink caught his eye. Taped to the inside of the door was an envelope with a heart drawn in the corner.
Izuku stared at it for a moment, his brain processing what it meant. A confession? From who?
He picked up the envelope, his curiosity briefly piqued, but then his memories took over. He had no time for romance, not with the U.A. entrance exam just around the corner, not with these type of girls
'Where were you when I was at my lowest?'
Izuku thought that if he could choose anyone, it'd be Ochaku when he goes to U.A
Without even opening the letter, he tossed the letter into the trash can by the lockers and walked away like a savage.
Behind him, a group of students watched, slack-jawed.
"Did he just…?"
"Yep. He threw it away."
"Man, that's cold."
Cries of a girl with shoulder length hair and Glasses filled the hall but zero shits were given by Izuku as he walked out.
Izuku didn't look back. He had more important things to focus on, it wouldn't work anyway, he will go to U.A while everyone else will go to random schools, young love is a risky road full with regrets.
He needed an equal in life, someone who loved him, not whom he wanted, Izuku had experience with this from his past life.
Pure heart, only a certain cheerful girl with a bob cut came to mind.
---
Later that evening, Izuku and his mom settled onto the couch with a bowl of butter popcorn between them. A popular comedy show was on, and the two of them were laughing so hard they could barely breathe.
Onscreen, the main character—a clumsy office worker—had accidentally spilled coffee all over his boss's private part.
The said boss made such a funny expression as he screamed in pain hysterically.
"Did you see his face?!" Inko exclaimed, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.
Izuku grinned, his own laughter bubbling over. "Yeah that guy is super fired!"
For a moment, the stress of his training and preparation melted away. These quiet, happy moments with his mom were rare, and he cherished them deeply.
---
A few days later, Izuku decided to treat his mom to dinner at a nice restaurant downtown.
"Inko-san," he said with mock formality as they sat down, he was wearing formal black suit. "tonight, you're the guest of honor. Order anything you want."
Inko laughed nervously. "Izuku, this place is so fancy. Are you sure we can afford it?"
"Don't worry about it, Mom. I've been saving up for a long time."
They ordered a feast: grilled salmon, sautéed vegetables, and a decadent chocolate dessert. Inko's eyes sparkled as she took her first bite of the salmon.
"This is amazing," she said, her voice filled with wonder.
Izuku smiled, bittersweet as he saw how happy his mother was with a simple outing."You deserve it, Mom. You've done so much for me—it's only fair I do something for you."
Inko reached across the table to squeeze his hand. "You're such an amazing young man, Izuku. I'm so proud of you."
Izuku felt a lump in his throat but managed to smile back. "Thanks, Mom. That means a lot."
---
The following week, Izuku decided it was time to introduce All Might—disguised as Toshinori Yagi—to his mom, he had delayed this on purpose and refused to let All might talk with his mother many times.
Reason? He wanted to be ready as he wanted them to meet in a light environment when no weight is on his shoulders so that he can enjoy the moment as well.
Tomorrow the U.A exam will happen, he has studied very well using his Sharingan to memorize everything.
Was this cheating? Nah, who cares anyway, there is countless people with mind enhancing quirks so why shouldn't be use his tools to it's maximum capacity?
"Mom," Izuku began as he led Toshinori into their apartment, "this is Yagi-sensei. He's been helping me with my training, the man that helped me better myself for the past 10 months, a man I consider a second father after my own, Yagi-sensei, this is Inko, my mother."
Inko blinked at the gaunt figure before her, her son spoke of him so highly so he must be an amazing man to turn her son into the young man she is seeing today "Oh, my. You're so… thin."
Toshinori laughed awkwardly, partially by Midorya's overly flattering introduction and his mother's motherly tone as she addressed him."Ah, yes, I've had some… health issues. But your son has been an incredible student."
As they sat down to dinner, Inko quickly fell into her usual routine of doting on their guest, her motherly instinct radiating pure love.
"Yagi-sensei, you're far too skinny! Here, have some more rice," she said, piling food onto his plate.
Toshinori had to almost shield his eyes as the woman appeared super bright to him, he tried to protest but eventually gave in, eating with a dorky happy expression.
Izuku looked at Yagi and shot him a look that clearly stated he knew what was on his mind, the man coughed awkwardly and drank water to hide his embarrassed expression.
'As expected, against a caring woman I'm hopeless...!' All Might thought as he chatted with Inko with great enthusiasm, she reminded him of his Sensei, Nana Shimura.
Izuku watched the interaction with a small smile, yet he had to suppress a vein from popping on his forehead as those two seemed to forget get his existence?
But Izuku had to admit, it was surreal to see the Symbol of Peace sitting at their humble dinner table, chatting with his mom as if they were old friends.
'Well...if it's him then I don't mind, I'm sure my dead father won't as well.'
He and his mother had been living from government pension after his father was killed in a villain attack overseas, his life insurance policy forced the company to provide for his family.
'Men are brave.'
Izuku thought of any man that is more worthy of Inko than All Might and failed to find anyone, so he begrudgingly gave his blessings.
If All Might could read his mind, then he would be coughing blood for days.
By the time the meal ended, the atmosphere was warm and filled with laughter.
As Izuku landed on his bed late at night, his thoughts descended from the high that is that happy evening.
Such a happy family...he has to protect them.
And only by growing stronger can he enjoy these moments.
As expected, Izuku wanted more of these happy moments, he felt greedy for them.
He never had greed for money or women, Izuku felt greed for happiness.
Now with OFA at 20%, he started to subconsciously lower his guard.
'... More...I need to grow stronger...!'
Determination filled his eyes as he closed his eyes, sealing his day.
---
Izuku opened his eyes to see a black void around him, the figure of a woman looked at him quietly, Izuku recognized her instantly.
Nana Shimura, 7th user of One for All.
Izuku tried to speak but failed as his mouth didn't materialize yet, he wasn't strong enough.
"No need for introductions, you seem to already know everything, and I already have your memories" the woman's tone was casual as she eyed Izuku with interest.
"Regardless of who you are, Izuku Midorya or Shishido Saiko, one thing is certain, you're the 9th user of One for All and the one who has the potential to end it all."
She extended her hand to Izuku, the hand was holding a power lightning up with stars on her palm
The raw appearance of a quirk.
"Take it, my Quirk, Float, I suppose you already know what to do with this, do your best, Izuku"
The world around him began to crack.
"We'll continue this another time."
He fell down into the endless void.
Izuku opened his eyes with a start, he didn't expect Nana to appear now before the exam, he expected her to appear somewhere around the time of the USJ attack.
He looked down, he was floating with his blanket above the bed.
"..."
Yet, his smile was wide, Float, the ability that allows him to float himself or anything he touches.
He slowly descended with a thought, huh.
Surprisingly easy to use
Izuku imagined himself using 100% of OFA to enhance Float and lift an entire island like a certain guy from a certain show about a boy with a straw-hat.
---
The next morning, Izuku stood before the towering gates of U.A. High School. The rising sun cast a golden glow over the campus, and the faint hum of excitement filled the air as other students arrived.
Izuku took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. This was it—the first step toward his dream.
"No matter what happens," he murmured, his eyes filled with determination, "I'll give it everything I've got."
With that, he stepped forward, ready to face the challenges ahead.