The boy is ashamed to say that he was dreading this confrontation. He promised to help Shinso, but his abilities are tied to that side of himself.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GF3SCFPS3
Can he even help in his current state? The First didn’t explain everything about his power.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡub7fjo9t6B
Shinso: “You promised we’d talk after the festival. I didn’t expect to have to track you down, though.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjIxcshWpc
Izuku: “S-Sorry, I had a lot on my mind. B-But I did promise so… ”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCkpD8N98C
Shinso: “It’s fine. Come on, walk and talk.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhbDobMX6w
The boy follows Shinso out of the school, and for a few minutes, they walk in silence. Attempting to break the ice, Izuku asked a question.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR53oAUCVWW
Izuku: “So… did you get offers?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpcDPs29JA
Shinso: “Of course not. Why would you ask that?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLr6IWWfiK0
Izuku: “R-Right… I’m sorry.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrswnLEzQwp
Shinso: “Whatever. There are general agencies I can go to, but they won’t help me like you can.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8c6n3a0sE
Izuku: “But I… have to go to internships.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrJh6RM3C7
Shinso: “Are you… really trying to worm your way out of this?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnvyUy8wlt
The boy could feel the look of disgust aimed at him.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwIE1QCDIl
Izuku: “N-No! Of course not! But how are we going to do this?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0kVuou1ts
Shinso: “I was sure you would have had a plan already in place. For some reason… I felt you could do something like that. Speaking of, you feel… different from before.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KMCGO8Yvt
Izuku: “… Sorry, I just made some major changes in mindset. Doesn’t change anything. I will still help you become a hero.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4RrM1TNUD
Shinso: “And how will you do that?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEQlC1fwM7
Izuku: “By practicing on me.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JXVHRtPCB
They stop. Shinso looks at the determined Izuku with confusion.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukOuLp5clQ
Shinso: “Are you sure?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0UxKaU2OA
Izuku: “Yes. Don’t practice on anyone else but me. I can take it. Do you remember what to do?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPi2FJjexe
Shinso: “… Yeah.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIYu21rEIo
Izuku: “Then brainwash me.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJCGwTVsMN
Shinso: “I don’t think so. I tried that before, and we both know how that turned out. But… I do have an idea.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNCJBTFAhD
Izuku didn’t mind the sly, evil look Shinso was giving him. Whatever he has planned, he would deserve it and more.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgAtTf6ZMb
Shinso: “Command: Pain.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhY7RnYFcTL
Izuku waited for his nervous system to burn on command, but nothing happened. Both boys looked surprised by such an outcome.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoqQdWRHBz
Shinso: “Were you lying to me?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYa8k7hquIy
Izuku: “No! The only reason why it wouldn’t work would be… ”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBkQQQXMqd
The esper couldn’t help but click his teeth in annoyance. Even now, they mess things up.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nmVVjxYT5
Izuku: “I must be immune since I’m the source of your new quirk.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTy8DyPr64Y
Shinso: “Well, that’s unfortunate.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuQuKK8ywi
Izuku: “You’re telling me.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa37xVPw93S
Shinso: “Now what?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpY1HoBf0rE
Izuku: “I guess we can only work on controlling inanimate objects.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelVn6UCaDH
Shinso: “Great… ”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunWPTrYAXF
Izuku looks around, trying to find something he can use for an example. Settling on simplicity and no property damage, he moves a single leaf from a nearby tree to his palm.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFjGowQWYl
Izuku: “Change this leaf into something else.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzVZwULMmP
Shinso: “Huh?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRidopzEyoO
Izuku: “The quirk you received is Authority. Apparently, from what I remember, you can’t handle anything too powerful. But the bare minimum should allow you to change things by your will alone.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvk8RM1K2bK
The boy holds the leaf in front of Shinso’s face.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuFpe8BKxm
Izuku: “So do it. Command this leaf to become something else.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDx7RoFmWR
Shinso looks at Izuku, and for a split second, he seems just like how he was before.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblRrdplPtw
A being that stands above.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnheeRE6nS
Listening to him, Shinso focuses on the leaf and chooses his command.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSx8xShle2a
Shinso: “Command: Become Steel.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdixr6cCSxA
Instantly, as if it was always reality, the leaf turned into a leaf made of steel.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqbY3nlkpK
Izuku: “Good job. But maybe you should have said “iron” and used only one word.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQVyLKyzc8
Shinso: “Why?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJrQMm25ik
Izuku: “Your nose is bleeding.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdpNUwZ0oD
Shinso wipes his nose, and sure enough, blood was leaking. He also felt a bit light headed.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBpg261zXc
Shinso: “One word, simple changes. Alright.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjuKoVBXiC
Izuku: “Also, don’t try to do anything on a large scale. Like turning a building into sand or commanding a whole crowd to stop moving.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHskhYOjUKt
Shinso: “The fact that’s possible is-”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFtmTn3gG1
Izuku: “Terrifying? I know, you’ll… hopefully get used to it. With this though, you can practice on your own.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHIWvtC77Q
Shinso: “Yeah, thanks. This… can really work. I can… become a hero.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NUTLBRkP8
Izuku: “Of course. You should also learn to fight so you can better use the items you create from this. A steel leaf can be deadly.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbjEiZJpJI
Proving his point, Izuku throws it hard enough to stick in the concrete ground.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLxi3bi168
Izuku: “This way, you won’t have to rely on mind control or any other power society deems as evil. See? You can be a hero.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgFXXvVxgM
For once, Shinso smiles as he sees actual hope on the horizon.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFfzLFsAjb
Shinso: “Thanks, Midoriya.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfaqbfDUgk
Izuku: “Any time. Be sure to pick a general agency that can help you fight better. If they don’t work, I’ll ask Aizawa if he can train you.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhXLn1hawn
Shinso: “Heh, you’re really spoiling me.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzH5N1eIA6
Izuku: “Anything for my apos-”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kckllTT8u
His eyes widen and his heart nearly stops.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEdO3fRUT4
Izuku: ‘What was I… about to say?’
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUjJET8cMv
Shinso: “Hm?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8IvYtfAo0
Izuku: “M-My friend. Haha, we’re friends, right?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaN8H65Ai0x
Shinso: “Hmmmm, I suppose. You helped me enough to be called that. Never had one before, sorry if I don’t suddenly turn into an extrovert.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySTsH56Soh
Izuku: “Haha, don’t worry about it. W-Well, I’ll see you later, Shinso.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0VjFPGFAh
Shinso: “Right.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgqkCP33FV
With that, the two parted ways. Much to Izuku’s relief, because of his facade of calm was breaking. Recollecting himself, he takes a breath and walks home.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFji12SiliY
Izuku: ‘Kiri… ’
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrys9815tON
Some comfort would go a long way right now, and there’s no one else that can grant it. Therefore, it’s a shame that cuddle time will have to wait.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCZTXAs19r
Because when he opened the door, removed his shoes, and walked to the living room, he saw Kiri kneeling before Inko, who was on the couch. His mother’s face was conflicted and bewildered.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLtlKI5DpH
Izuku: “… Oh no.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvDZfDLqoW
Kiri: “Sorry, couldn’t say no to okaa-san.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwffsdHvhon
Izuku: “So… ”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbveLDufVd
Inko: “I know.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9m5arhquSM
Izuku: “… Of course.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKVArcPMWG
Joining Kiri on the floor, he waited for the punishment.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPJXr3kRtH
Inko: “Sweetie… I… don’t really know what to say. You two… love each other?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3q5ajKGAcP
Kiri: “Yes.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9h5I8j0F4
Izuku: “Y-Yes.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaXHAjjOYI
Inko: “Are you sure you’re not… confusing this with a different kind of love?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mXIlbrtxF
Izuku: “I don’t feel the same way towards Tatsu or Fubuki. K-Kiri… is special.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfzky31X1C
Kiri: “Izu… ”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yrDRFZMiV
Inko: “I know you’re not blood-related but this… I don’t know what to think.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yXdD6GGo8
Kiri: “Accept us?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmdmMdjz9w
Inko: “Sweetie, I want to. If you’re happy, I’m happy. But we all saw you like family, so hearing all of this really just… confuses me. Have you two… ”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzbJfqAjuv
Kiri: “Yes.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe84OpIcYo6
Inko: “Oh my god… ”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgke42Ku1I
Izuku: “N-N-No! That is not what she meant! Kiri means kissing!”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrag1Y9Y3Fr
Inko: “Oh… that is… better… I guess.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwQVR9ej2M
Kiri: “What was she talking about then?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCEyoizfDS
Izuku: “I’ll… ”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMlJg9Rikn
Accepting his fate, he lowers his head and covers his blush.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecqRelusUw
Izuku: “Explain later.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRA4Ij6G7F
Inko: “Wait, Izu, she doesn’t know about-”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQHryDoP9y
Izuku: “Mom, please… this is hard enough as is.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVFynaYoAW
Inko: “You’re telling me. How are we going to explain this to your sisters?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlxIw1zYpu
Izuku: “Please don’t tell them! Not yet. Not until I… actually decide to be with Kiri.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRAR5IpRZk
Inko: “… What do you mean?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxaAwvgcHa
Izuku: ‘Might as well tell everything. Why not? The hole can’t get any deeper, right?’
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRa6cbvusr
So he explains the love triangle the poor/lucky bastard has gotten himself in. Inko already looked tired and confused before; this only made it worse.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsfwA6Bite
Despite that, she can’t help but feel a tiny bit of pride. Her boy, before getting a quirk, couldn’t even get a girl to look at him. Now? Two girls seemingly love him enough to compete over him.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHFLJNK7DJ
But that can only end one way; a broken heart. She wants to comfort the poor boy or give some advice. But the mother has to admit, this is way out of her field of expertise.
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Inko: “I don’t know what to say, Izu. I think I need… time to think. Can you two… sleep separately tonight? For Mommy?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoZ2KdSgdF
The two look at each other.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VDJ1PTTOB
Kiri obviously doesn’t want to separate, while Izuku really wanted some comfort. Despite that, they both cared for their mother and so nodded.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Tu0Gzv43M
Inko: “Thank you. It’s just for tonight. I know you both are used to sleeping together. But I need one night to really come to grips with this.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrS2QHenNV
With that, Inko carries herself to her room and shuts out the world. The duo are left to wonder if their love was worth this. If Inko reacted like this, who knows how Tatsu and Fubuki will react?
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGs79nBZCKb
Kiri: “I’m… sorry.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtP89K2q9S7
Izuku: “You don’t have to apologize.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfs8gQoOdS
Kiri: “If I never kissed you-”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcl4qacjF2v
Izuku: “I-It’s fine. I-I was already kind of f-f-falling for you. I was even getting j-j-jealous of Kirishima.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYgxlCZagd
Kiri: “R-Really?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAB2EfjujMz
Izuku: “Yeah, silly, huh?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1Eb7qJ6TM
Kiri shakes her head and smiles.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GouSqbD7E
Kiri: “Now you know how I felt.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLG57WJzdn
Izuku: “Haha, I guess I do.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡus3QaMBoLP
Silence regained its space between the two, something Kiri didn’t let stay long.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACrBa5FtPz
Kiri: “Maybe okaa-san is right.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDLvBikrvV
Izuku: “W-What do you mean?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TKB4ZGkre
Kiri: “Onii… ”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLukL98dlF
He told her not to call him that, but as she nuzzled his neck and softly kissed it, he couldn’t help but let it slide this time.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tC38MyPT9
Kiri: “I love you. I really love you. But… do I love you because I genuinely do, or because I was made to?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SAIVC3b9Z
His breath hitches at the implications of that.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIDQTV5H86
Kiri: “You deserve someone who truly loves you, not some mental projection that was made to do so.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinjMUOmlyq
Izuku gently moves her so she’s looking into his eyes. He goes in for a comforting kiss, but Kiri moves out of the way.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xZLras84g
Izuku: “Kiri?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyjpBOI3Ts
Kiri: “Not fair, remember.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnpWT2m8Dx
The boy mentally slaps himself. How could he forget Yaoyorozu?!
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqWHhcvoiE
But he just wanted to comfort Kiri.
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With a kiss? A hug would suffice, right?
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As that conflict rages, Kiri further removes herself from Izuku.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcJM0MAtu4
Kiri: “That’s why I was avoiding you. I didn’t want to distract you or myself while figuring this out. And if I am not in genuine love, then at least you have… Udders. So… spend time with her.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzn7EzWki4
She really had to force that last part out.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Hof9fqQ5P
Kiri: “Within reason. No kissing on the lips.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1oM2isBeu
Izuku swallowed his smile at her slight protectiveness; there was a more pressing matter.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHqMlXr6da
Izuku: “But… how are you going to figure this out?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yPNCqBgE7
Kiri: “I’ll talk to Dark Shadow; he’s similar to me. Aside from that, simple introspection. That’s all I can do. So… maybe… Okaa-san doesn’t need to worry in the end.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWRSCZiJQg
With that said, Kiri gets up and kisses Izuku’s forehead.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5kFaBz8Ov
Kiri: “Good night.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7Tdv0MnUZ
Kiri walks to her room and softly closes the door. Meanwhile, Izuku falls back on the floor and sighs.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYBMKenFVb
Izuku: “There’s no way she’s not genuine.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwEG6Z6Gy7
But this will give him a chance to get close to Yaoyorozu without much guilt. Kiri is the one pulling away to give her rival a chance. So-
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvnhiOWQGY
*Ring*
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzOPuDdQMv
Speaking of rival…
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobuwOYQ4SH
Momo: “Are you alright? Did you get home? What did Shinso want with you?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVidyQMyx4a
Izuku typed back his reply while smiling at the similar but different protectiveness.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXakNxitfW
Izuku: “I’m alright, and yeah, I’m home. Shinso just wanted some help with something. Nothing to worry about.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMy207KEXxI
Momo: “Thank goodness.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMcyNNCPPm
Momo: “So… do you want to talk tonight?”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdg4V26r0gG
Momo: “It’s totally fine if you don’t want to.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEc631XKJE
The boy looks at the rapid-fire text and again sighs. Part of him doesn’t want to… for Kiri’s sake… but the rest of him could use the company.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwipcbbIY8p
Izuku: “Alright.”
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvrkWB1H37
The tired esper gets up and returns to his room, all the while texting Momo about anything that comes to mind.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFyE3DW2k8
A great distraction from the complications of the night.
ns216.73.216.176da2
