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.
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Can he even help in his current state? The First didn’t explain everything about his power.
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Shinso: “You promised we’d talk after the festival. I didn’t expect to have to track you down, though.”
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Izuku: “S-Sorry, I had a lot on my mind. B-But I did promise so… ”
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Shinso: “It’s fine. Come on, walk and talk.”
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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.
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Izuku: “So… did you get offers?”
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Shinso: “Of course not. Why would you ask that?”
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Izuku: “R-Right… I’m sorry.”
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Shinso: “Whatever. There are general agencies I can go to, but they won’t help me like you can.”
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Izuku: “But I… have to go to internships.”
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Shinso: “Are you… really trying to worm your way out of this?”
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The boy could feel the look of disgust aimed at him.
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Izuku: “N-No! Of course not! But how are we going to do this?”
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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.”
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Izuku: “… Sorry, I just made some major changes in mindset. Doesn’t change anything. I will still help you become a hero.”
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Shinso: “And how will you do that?”
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Izuku: “By practicing on me.”
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They stop. Shinso looks at the determined Izuku with confusion.
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Shinso: “Are you sure?”
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Izuku: “Yes. Don’t practice on anyone else but me. I can take it. Do you remember what to do?”
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Shinso: “… Yeah.”
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Izuku: “Then brainwash me.”
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Shinso: “I don’t think so. I tried that before, and we both know how that turned out. But… I do have an idea.”
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Izuku didn’t mind the sly, evil look Shinso was giving him. Whatever he has planned, he would deserve it and more.
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Shinso: “Command: Pain.”
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Izuku waited for his nervous system to burn on command, but nothing happened. Both boys looked surprised by such an outcome.
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Shinso: “Were you lying to me?”
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Izuku: “No! The only reason why it wouldn’t work would be… ”
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The esper couldn’t help but click his teeth in annoyance. Even now, they mess things up.
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Izuku: “I must be immune since I’m the source of your new quirk.”
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Shinso: “Well, that’s unfortunate.”
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Izuku: “You’re telling me.”
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Shinso: “Now what?”
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Izuku: “I guess we can only work on controlling inanimate objects.”
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Shinso: “Great… ”
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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.
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Izuku: “Change this leaf into something else.”
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Shinso: “Huh?”
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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.”
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The boy holds the leaf in front of Shinso’s face.
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Izuku: “So do it. Command this leaf to become something else.”
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Shinso looks at Izuku, and for a split second, he seems just like how he was before.
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A being that stands above.
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Listening to him, Shinso focuses on the leaf and chooses his command.
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Shinso: “Command: Become Steel.”
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Instantly, as if it was always reality, the leaf turned into a leaf made of steel.
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Izuku: “Good job. But maybe you should have said “iron” and used only one word.”
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Shinso: “Why?”
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Izuku: “Your nose is bleeding.”
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Shinso wipes his nose, and sure enough, blood was leaking. He also felt a bit light headed.
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Shinso: “One word, simple changes. Alright.”
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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.”
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Shinso: “The fact that’s possible is-”
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Izuku: “Terrifying? I know, you’ll… hopefully get used to it. With this though, you can practice on your own.”
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Shinso: “Yeah, thanks. This… can really work. I can… become a hero.”
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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.”
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Proving his point, Izuku throws it hard enough to stick in the concrete ground.
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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.”
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For once, Shinso smiles as he sees actual hope on the horizon.
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Shinso: “Thanks, Midoriya.”
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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.”
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Shinso: “Heh, you’re really spoiling me.”
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Izuku: “Anything for my apos-”
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His eyes widen and his heart nearly stops.
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Izuku: ‘What was I… about to say?’
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Shinso: “Hm?”
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Izuku: “M-My friend. Haha, we’re friends, right?”
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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.”
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Izuku: “Haha, don’t worry about it. W-Well, I’ll see you later, Shinso.”
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Shinso: “Right.”
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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.
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Izuku: ‘Kiri… ’
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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.
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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.
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Izuku: “… Oh no.”
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Kiri: “Sorry, couldn’t say no to okaa-san.”
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Izuku: “So… ”
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Inko: “I know.”
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Izuku: “… Of course.”
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Joining Kiri on the floor, he waited for the punishment.
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Inko: “Sweetie… I… don’t really know what to say. You two… love each other?”
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Kiri: “Yes.”
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Izuku: “Y-Yes.”
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Inko: “Are you sure you’re not… confusing this with a different kind of love?”
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Izuku: “I don’t feel the same way towards Tatsu or Fubuki. K-Kiri… is special.”
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Kiri: “Izu… ”
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Inko: “I know you’re not blood-related but this… I don’t know what to think.”
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Kiri: “Accept us?”
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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… ”
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Kiri: “Yes.”
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Inko: “Oh my god… ”
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Izuku: “N-N-No! That is not what she meant! Kiri means kissing!”
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Inko: “Oh… that is… better… I guess.”
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Kiri: “What was she talking about then?”
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Izuku: “I’ll… ”
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Accepting his fate, he lowers his head and covers his blush.
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Izuku: “Explain later.”
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Inko: “Wait, Izu, she doesn’t know about-”
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Izuku: “Mom, please… this is hard enough as is.”
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Inko: “You’re telling me. How are we going to explain this to your sisters?”
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Izuku: “Please don’t tell them! Not yet. Not until I… actually decide to be with Kiri.”
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Inko: “… What do you mean?”
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Izuku: ‘Might as well tell everything. Why not? The hole can’t get any deeper, right?’
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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.
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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.
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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?”
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The two look at each other.
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Kiri obviously doesn’t want to separate, while Izuku really wanted some comfort. Despite that, they both cared for their mother and so nodded.
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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.”
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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?
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Kiri: “I’m… sorry.”
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Izuku: “You don’t have to apologize.”
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Kiri: “If I never kissed you-”
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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.”
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Kiri: “R-Really?”
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Izuku: “Yeah, silly, huh?”
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Kiri shakes her head and smiles.
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Kiri: “Now you know how I felt.”
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Izuku: “Haha, I guess I do.”
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Silence regained its space between the two, something Kiri didn’t let stay long.
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Kiri: “Maybe okaa-san is right.”
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Izuku: “W-What do you mean?”
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Kiri: “Onii… ”
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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.
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Kiri: “I love you. I really love you. But… do I love you because I genuinely do, or because I was made to?”
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His breath hitches at the implications of that.
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Kiri: “You deserve someone who truly loves you, not some mental projection that was made to do so.”
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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.
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Izuku: “Kiri?”
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Kiri: “Not fair, remember.”
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The boy mentally slaps himself. How could he forget Yaoyorozu?!
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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.
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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.”
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She really had to force that last part out.
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Kiri: “Within reason. No kissing on the lips.”
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Izuku swallowed his smile at her slight protectiveness; there was a more pressing matter.
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Izuku: “But… how are you going to figure this out?”
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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.”
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With that said, Kiri gets up and kisses Izuku’s forehead.
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Kiri: “Good night.”
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Kiri walks to her room and softly closes the door. Meanwhile, Izuku falls back on the floor and sighs.
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Izuku: “There’s no way she’s not genuine.”
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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-
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*Ring*
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Speaking of rival…
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Momo: “Are you alright? Did you get home? What did Shinso want with you?”
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Izuku typed back his reply while smiling at the similar but different protectiveness.
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Izuku: “I’m alright, and yeah, I’m home. Shinso just wanted some help with something. Nothing to worry about.”
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Momo: “Thank goodness.”
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Momo: “So… do you want to talk tonight?”
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Momo: “It’s totally fine if you don’t want to.”
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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.
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Izuku: “Alright.”
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The tired esper gets up and returns to his room, all the while texting Momo about anything that comes to mind.
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A great distraction from the complications of the night.
ns216.73.216.176da2
