The morning breeze blew gently through Musutafu Park, rustling the leaves on the trees and carrying with it the sound of children playing and the occasional bark of a dog. Hiroshi Tanaka strolled through the park with his trusty sketchpad tucked under his arm. After yesterday's chaotic but oddly fulfilling hangout with Bakugo and Midoriya, he found himself in unusually high spirits.
"I still can't believe Boom Boy actually liked my drawings," Hiroshi muttered, a small smirk on his lips. "And Green Bean? That kid's like a walking fan club for anyone with a Quirk."
He paused at the base of a tree and settled into the shade, pulling out his sketchpad. Today, his plan was simple: work on precision. He had gotten decent at drawing creatures, but their stability left a lot to be desired. If he was going to stand out at UA someday, he needed creations that wouldn't collapse like melting butter under pressure.
"All right, let's try something simple," he murmured, twirling his pen. He sketched a small sparrow, focusing on crisp lines and proportional wings. As the final detail, a streak of black on its tail, was completed, the sparrow twitched, its body shimmering as it peeled itself off the page.
The bird flapped its wings experimentally before taking to the air, circling above him in smooth, graceful loops. Hiroshi grinned. "That's more like it."
"Whoa, that's amazing!"
Hiroshi turned his head to see Midoriya running toward him, his notebook already in hand. Behind him was Bakugo, looking as annoyed as ever.
"Green Bean?" Hiroshi said, raising an eyebrow. "Didn't we just hang out yesterday? Don't tell me you're stalking me now."
Midoriya flushed red and shook his hands frantically. "N-no! I was just out collecting data on heroes' patrol routes, and I saw your sparrow!"
"Collecting data?" Hiroshi smirked. "Man, you're like a walking Wikipedia with bad social skills."
"I-I just like learning about Quirks!" Midoriya stammered.
"And I just don't care," Bakugo interjected, stomping over. "I only came because someone wouldn't shut up about 'cool ink birds.'" He glared at Hiroshi. "So, what's the big deal this time?"
"Glad you asked," Hiroshi said with a grin, gesturing to the sparrow, which was now perched on a branch. "Behold: stability. My newest masterpiece hasn't dissolved into goo yet."
Bakugo squinted at the bird, unimpressed. "Big whoop. It's a bird. Can it explode?"
"No, but it can do this." Hiroshi snapped his fingers, and the sparrow swooped down, darting around Bakugo's head in quick, sharp movements. The blond boy swatted at it, growling in frustration.
"Knock it off, Ink Boy!"
"Sorry, couldn't resist." Hiroshi smirked and gestured for the sparrow to land on his shoulder.
Midoriya, meanwhile, was furiously scribbling in his notebook. "This is incredible! Your Quirk seems to combine artistry with a unique form of animation. I wonder, do the creatures you draw have any inherent limits? Like, can you make them as large as a building, or are you restricted by your stamina?"
Hiroshi blinked. "Uh, yeah, there's definitely a stamina thing. The bigger or more detailed the drawing, the faster it drains me."
Midoriya's pen flew across the page. "Fascinating… If you trained your endurance, you could potentially create massive constructs for combat or rescue operations!"
"Great," Hiroshi said, rolling his eyes. "Another reason to hit the gym."
"Or you could just not suck and make stuff that's actually useful," Bakugo said, cracking his knuckles. "Like, I dunno, a giant robot with laser eyes."
"Yeah, let me just whip that up real quick, Boom Boy," Hiroshi shot back, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Midoriya raised his hand as if he were in class. "Actually, a robot construct could be a great idea. If you added armor-like details to make it more durable, "
"Guys, I was joking," Hiroshi interrupted.
As the afternoon wore on, the three boys continued brainstorming, and bickering, about Hiroshi's abilities. Bakugo insisted on testing every creation by either punching it or blowing it up, much to Hiroshi's dismay. Midoriya, on the other hand, peppered Hiroshi with questions, jotting down notes at lightning speed.
"Okay," Hiroshi said, flipping to a new page. "Let's settle this. I'm gonna draw something that'll blow both of your minds. No complaints, no nitpicking, just watch."
He hunched over his sketchpad, his pen moving with purpose. Slowly, a sleek wolf took shape on the page, its body lean and muscular, with glowing eyes and sharp fangs. Hiroshi poured every ounce of focus into the details, from the texture of its fur to the menacing curve of its claws.
When he finished, he held up the sketchpad triumphantly. "Ta-da!"
The wolf shimmered as it sprang to life, landing on the ground with a thud. It growled softly, its glowing eyes scanning its surroundings.
Bakugo's jaw dropped. "Okay, that's actually kinda cool."
Midoriya gasped. "It looks so real! Hiroshi, this is incredible!"
The wolf prowled around the group, its movements fluid and lifelike. Hiroshi beamed with pride. "Not bad, right? I think I'm finally getting the hang of this."
"Let's see if it can fight," Bakugo said, sparks crackling in his palms.
Hiroshi glared at him. "Oh, come on. Can't you just enjoy the art for once?"
"Nope." Bakugo launched himself at the wolf, aiming a small explosion at its side. The wolf dodged with lightning speed, baring its fangs in a warning growl.
"Ha! It's got reflexes!" Bakugo said, his grin widening. "Come on, Wolfie, show me what you've got!"
"Bakugo, stop!" Midoriya shouted, but it was too late.
The wolf lunged, swiping at Bakugo with its claws. Hiroshi's heart pounded as he realized how much energy the wolf was draining from him. He could feel his stamina slipping away, but he couldn't let the wolf lose to Bakugo.
"Alright, Wolfie, let's wrap this up," Hiroshi muttered, snapping his fingers. The wolf froze mid-attack and dissolved into a cloud of ink, leaving Bakugo standing there with a smug look on his face.
"Guess it couldn't handle the heat," Bakugo said, dusting off his hands.
Hiroshi flopped onto the grass, breathing hard. "You're insufferable, you know that?"
Midoriya crouched next to him, offering a hand. "Are you okay? That wolf must've taken a lot out of you."
"Yeah, I'm fine," Hiroshi said, accepting the help. "Just… remind me never to let Boom Boy test my creations again."
"Like you had a choice," Bakugo said, crossing his arms.
Despite the exhaustion, Hiroshi couldn't help but laugh. These two were a handful, but they made things… fun. And for the first time, he felt like he had a shot at fitting into this crazy, Quirk-filled world.
The three of them sat under the shade of a tree after Hiroshi's wolf creation had disappeared in a swirl of ink, taking with it most of his energy. Midoriya flipped through the pages of his notebook, muttering notes about Hiroshi's abilities, while Bakugo sprawled on the grass nearby, tossing pebbles at a tree trunk with surprising accuracy.
"You seriously overwork yourself for those drawings," Bakugo said, his tone as blunt as ever. "If you had a real Quirk, you wouldn't need to sit there scribbling like some art geek."
Hiroshi shot him a glare. "This is a real Quirk, Boom Boy. Just because it doesn't go 'boom boom' doesn't mean it's useless."
"Tch, whatever."
Midoriya glanced nervously between them, adjusting his grip on his notebook. "H-Hiroshi's Quirk is actually really impressive," he said, his voice a little shaky. "The creativity and control required to make his drawings come to life, it's incredible. And it's versatile! He could use it for combat, rescue, reconnaissance…"
Hiroshi grinned. "See? Green Bean gets it."
Midoriya smiled shyly but didn't say anything else, his gaze dropping to his notebook. Hiroshi noticed the shift immediately. The earlier spark in Midoriya's eyes dimmed, and he seemed to shrink in on himself.
"Something on your mind, Green Bean?" Hiroshi asked, leaning back against the tree trunk.
"Huh? Oh, no, I was just…" Midoriya hesitated, fidgeting with the corner of his notebook. "I guess I was just thinking about… Quirks. How cool they are. How everyone has their own unique abilities…" He trailed off, biting his lip.
Hiroshi tilted his head. "Wait a second. You don't have a Quirk, do you?"
Bakugo scoffed loudly from his spot on the grass. "Of course he doesn't. Deku's as Quirkless as they come."
Hiroshi blinked in surprise, looking at Midoriya. "Wait, seriously?"
Midoriya flushed red and gave a small nod, his gaze fixed on the ground. "Y-yeah. I'm Quirkless. It's not a big deal, really. I mean, it is, but I've learned to, "
"Okay, hold up," Hiroshi interrupted, waving his hand. "First of all, I didn't mean to make this awkward. Second, you're out here taking notes on everyone's Quirks like you're about to ace some kind of Pro Hero exam. That's impressive."
Midoriya blinked, clearly caught off guard by Hiroshi's tone. "W-what?"
"Yeah, I mean it." Hiroshi leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Most people with Quirks, " He shot a glance at Bakugo, smirking. ", don't even bother learning how other powers work. You're out here analyzing the heck out of everything, even though you don't have a Quirk yourself. That takes serious brains, dude."
Midoriya's mouth opened, then closed again. He looked like he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I… I don't know about that…"
"I do," Hiroshi said firmly. "I don't care if you're Quirkless, Green Bean. You've got a skill that most heroes don't: you think. You see possibilities in people's powers that they don't even see themselves. Like earlier, you suggested I could use my ink for shields and armor. I never even thought of that!"
Midoriya blinked rapidly, his cheeks pink. "R-really? You think that's… a strength?"
"Duh," Hiroshi said, smirking. "Heroes aren't just about flashy powers. They're about smarts, strategy, and knowing how to use what you've got. And you've got that in spades, man."
Bakugo snorted, sitting up. "Pfft. You're wasting your time pumping up Deku's ego, Ink Guy. He's not cut out to be a hero."
"Yeah? And you're not cut out to be a decent human being," Hiroshi shot back, earning a scowl from Bakugo. "Look, I get it, Boom Boy, you've got explosions for hands, so you think you're better than everyone. But I bet even you could learn a thing or two from Midoriya."
Midoriya looked between the two of them, stunned. "Hiroshi, you don't have to, "
"Nope, I'm saying it," Hiroshi interrupted, jabbing a finger at Bakugo. "You're a powerhouse, but you don't plan things out. You just charge in and blow stuff up. Green Bean here could probably out-strategize you in his sleep."
Bakugo's palms crackled with sparks, but Hiroshi didn't back down, his grin widening. "You gonna explode me for telling the truth?"
"Ugh, whatever," Bakugo grumbled, flopping back onto the grass. "You're both idiots."
Hiroshi laughed, leaning back against the tree again. "You're not wrong, but I'm a cool idiot."
Midoriya chuckled softly, a sound that quickly grew louder. It was nervous, but there was genuine warmth in it. "Thanks, Hiroshi. That… that actually means a lot."
"Don't sweat it, Green Bean," Hiroshi said, giving him a thumbs-up. "Just promise me one thing."
"W-what's that?"
"Keep doing what you're doing. Because when we all get into UA, and I mean all of us, you're gonna be the guy who saves our butts when everything goes sideways."
Midoriya's eyes widened, and for the first time, he smiled, really smiled.
"Yeah," he said softly, clutching his notebook. "I'll do my best."
The mood under the tree shifted after Hiroshi's words. Midoriya was still sitting cross-legged, notebook clutched to his chest as he processed what had just happened. Bakugo, arms behind his head as he lay on the grass, stared at the sky with an expression that could only be described as mildly annoyed but reluctantly listening. Hiroshi, meanwhile, absentmindedly doodled a lopsided penguin on his sketchpad, letting the conversation hang in the air.
"So," Hiroshi began after a moment of silence, breaking it with a playful tone, "since I just handed out the greatest motivational speech of my short life, I think we need to establish something."
Midoriya blinked, tilting his head. "Establish… what?"
Hiroshi put his sketchpad down and pointed the pen at Midoriya like it was a microphone. "That you, yes, you, Green Bean, are officially the brains of this operation."
Midoriya's eyes widened. "M-me? The brains?"
"Yes, you, nerd," Hiroshi said with a grin. "Look, I can draw cool stuff, Boom Boy over there can blow things up, "
"You bet I can," Bakugo muttered without looking at him.
", but you?" Hiroshi continued. "You're the guy who can take one look at a situation and figure out ten different ways to win. We'd be stupid not to make you the strategist of the group."
Midoriya waved his hands frantically. "I-I don't know about that! I mean, I like analyzing Quirks and strategies, but being responsible for actual plans? What if I mess up?"
Hiroshi rolled his eyes. "What if you don't? You ever think about that?"
"Y-yeah, but…"
"Deku," Bakugo cut in, sitting up now and glaring at Midoriya, "for once, I actually agree with Ink Guy."
That earned Hiroshi a startled glance. "Wait, what?"
Bakugo ignored him, his sharp red eyes locked onto Midoriya. "You're a pain in the ass, and you talk too much, but you're good at this stuff. You know more about heroes and Quirks than anyone I've ever met. So stop whining and own it."
Midoriya froze, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "Kacchan… you… you really think that?"
"Don't make me say it again, nerd," Bakugo growled, though his tone lacked its usual edge.
Midoriya fidgeted with the edge of his notebook, his expression a mix of shock and something softer, maybe gratitude. "I… I don't know what to say."
"Say 'yes,'" Hiroshi said, breaking the tension with a grin. "Come on, Green Bean. Imagine it, you, sitting in some dramatic command center, barking out orders while me and Boom Boy go out there and do the heavy lifting. It'll be awesome!"
"You're making it sound like a video game," Midoriya said with a nervous laugh.
"That's because it is a video game, except the stakes are a little higher and there's no restart button," Hiroshi replied, smirking. "And you're the guy who gets to play the mastermind. The hero behind the heroes."
For a moment, Midoriya didn't respond. He stared down at his notebook, his fingers brushing the cover as if he were gathering his thoughts. Then, with a deep breath, he looked up at Hiroshi and Bakugo.
"Okay," he said, his voice still soft but steady. "I'll do it. I'll be the strategist. But only if you both promise to listen to me and not just rush into danger without thinking."
Hiroshi raised a hand. "Deal. I mean, I can't argue with someone smarter than me."
Bakugo crossed his arms, scowling. "Tch. Fine. But don't think you can boss me around, Deku."
"I-I wouldn't dream of it, Kacchan," Midoriya said quickly.
"Good," Bakugo grunted, but there was the faintest hint of a smirk on his face.
Hiroshi clapped his hands together. "Perfect! We've got the Boom Boy, the Ink Master, and now the Brainiac. The dream team is officially in business!"
Midoriya's cheeks flushed, but a small smile crept onto his face. "Dream team, huh? I kind of like that."
"Of course you do," Hiroshi said, standing up and dusting off his pants. "We're gonna kill it at UA, you'll see. And when we're out there saving lives, people are gonna be like, 'Wow, how did they pull that off?' And we'll just point to you and say, 'He's the genius who made it happen.'"
Midoriya's smile grew, and for the first time in a long time, he felt a spark of confidence in his chest. "I'll do my best," he said, his voice firm. "I promise."
Hiroshi gave him a thumbs-up, and even Bakugo gave a curt nod of approval.
The three of them sat in silence for a while, enjoying the gentle breeze. For once, things felt… easy.
"So, what's our next move, Brainiac?" Hiroshi asked, breaking the calm.
Midoriya blinked. "Huh? Oh, um… I guess we could start with analyzing Hiroshi's drawings and figuring out how to make them more stable, "
"Yeah, I was kidding," Hiroshi said, waving him off. "Relax, Green Bean. Strategizing can wait until tomorrow."
Midoriya laughed, and even Bakugo snorted in amusement.
The late afternoon sun was dipping lower in the sky, casting golden rays across Musutafu Park. Hiroshi stretched out on the grass, hands behind his head, as Midoriya furiously jotted down notes in his ever-growing "Quirk Analysis" notebook. Bakugo sat a short distance away, absently sparking small explosions in his palm to keep his hands busy.
It had been a surprisingly good day. For the first time, Hiroshi felt like the three of them were clicking as a team, or at least as a trio of kids trying to figure out their place in a world of Quirks and heroes.
"So," Hiroshi said, breaking the comfortable silence, "now that we've established Green Bean is our official strategist and Boom Boy is… well, Boom Boy, we need to talk about something important."
Midoriya looked up from his notebook, blinking. "What's that?"
"Hero names," Hiroshi said with a grin.
Bakugo rolled his eyes. "You're such a dork."
"No, hear me out," Hiroshi said, sitting up. "If we're gonna make it big in the hero world, we need names that stand out. Something catchy. Something people will remember."
Midoriya tilted his head thoughtfully. "I guess that makes sense… Hero names are an important part of a hero's image."
"Exactly!" Hiroshi said, pointing at him. "So, let's brainstorm. Green Bean, what would your hero name be?"
Midoriya froze, his eyes widening. "M-my hero name? I, I've never really thought about it…"
Bakugo snorted. "Figures. Deku probably wants something dumb like 'Analysis Man.'"
Midoriya flinched. "I-I don't, "
"Hey, lay off," Hiroshi said, cutting Bakugo off. "It's not like you've got anything better, Boom Boy."
"Damn right I do!" Bakugo said, standing up and pointing at himself. "When I'm Number One, people are gonna call me the King of Explosions!"
Hiroshi burst out laughing, clutching his sides. "King of Explosions? That's the most over-the-top thing I've ever heard!"
"It's better than anything you'd come up with, Ink Geek!"
"Oh yeah?" Hiroshi smirked, tapping his pen against his chin. "What about… Captain Kaboom?"
Bakugo's face turned red, and he glared at Hiroshi with enough intensity to rival his explosions. "You wanna die?"
Midoriya stifled a laugh behind his hand. "I-I think it's a little… creative."
"See? Green Bean gets it," Hiroshi said, grinning. "Now, what about you, Midoriya? Got any ideas?"
Midoriya hesitated, his cheeks turning pink. "W-well… I guess I'd want something that represents never giving up. Like… always trying my best, no matter what."
Hiroshi raised an eyebrow. "Okay, I like where this is going. Something like… Determined Hero?"
"Or Tryhard Hero," Bakugo muttered.
Hiroshi ignored him. "Come on, Green Bean. Let's hear it."
Midoriya looked down at his notebook, clutching it tightly. "I… I've always kind of liked the name 'Deku.'"
Both Hiroshi and Bakugo froze.
"Deku?" Hiroshi repeated. "The thing Boom Boy calls you as an insult?"
"It's not an insult!" Midoriya said quickly. "At least… it doesn't have to be. I like how it sounds, and it can mean, like… someone who can do things, you know?"
Hiroshi tilted his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Huh. You know what? That's actually pretty cool. Turning something negative into something positive, that's hero material right there."
"Lame," Bakugo muttered, but there was no real venom in his voice.
Hiroshi chuckled. "All right, so we've got Deku, Captain Kaboom, and…" He tapped his chin. "I guess I'd be something like… The Inkspire."
Midoriya's eyes lit up. "That's such a clever name! It sounds inspiring, and it fits your Quirk perfectly!"
"Exactly!" Hiroshi said, grinning. "It's like a triple pun, ink, inspire, and spire. You know, like a tower? Because I'm obviously on top."
Bakugo groaned, flopping back onto the grass. "You're so full of yourself."
"And yet, here you are, still hanging out with me," Hiroshi shot back with a smirk.
As the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, the three boys sat in companionable silence. Hiroshi idly sketched a few doodles in his sketchpad, a tiny version of Bakugo yelling at a cartoonish Deku, with Hiroshi's stick-figure self smirking in the background.
"Hey," Hiroshi said after a while, his voice softer than usual. "Thanks for today, you guys."
Midoriya blinked. "Huh? What do you mean?"
"I mean this." Hiroshi gestured to the three of them. "Hanging out, talking about dumb stuff like hero names, and you letting me test my drawings on you."
"Not like I had a choice," Bakugo grumbled.
Hiroshi ignored him. "It's just… I've only been in this world for five years, but this? This feels good. It feels right. Like I've got something worth fighting for, you know?"
Midoriya smiled warmly. "Yeah. I think I know what you mean."
"Tch. Don't get all sappy," Bakugo muttered, but he didn't move from his spot on the grass.
Hiroshi grinned, looking up at the sky. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he belonged.