A Hero's World
CH 045 - Being There
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- HEIGHTS ALLIANCE 1-A, SATURDAY, MORNING -

Shoka leaned lazily against Izuku's firm shoulder, a warm cup of coffee in her hands as the morning sun shone its light down on the campus lawn. On Izuku's other side sat Momo, who daintily drank from her own cup of coffee. Behind them, in plain clothes, stood Aizawa, who was in the middle of downing a large jug of coffee, and Nemuri, who cooed at the sight of the three students and the little girl in front of her. The only sound that filled the air, aside from the usual birdsong, was from the little girl sitting on Izuku's lap.

"What store are we going to first? Do you really think they'll have something I'll like? What if I don't find anything I like?"

Shoka listened to Eri barrage him with a series of questions about what they were going to do today. Eri had the basic idea down, but her curiosity and minor excitement had gotten the better of her. Seeing the little girl express something other than quivering fear or concerning silence was something to smile about, and she had been getting better day by day just by being around Izuku.

They, along with Aizawa and Nemuri, were going to the mall and a few other shops to get her some clothes, toys, and personal touches to her room. She and Momo had spent a few good hours over the week talking with Eri about what she wanted her room to look like. Since Eri had grown up with little to nothing at all, they struggled at first, but after a while they narrowed down her tastes after browsing online catalogs.

One of the biggest requests happened during last night's session in order to narrow down everything. Eri had quietly expressed the desire to have a wall like Izuku's. Shoka swore she saw his heart skip a beat at Eri's innocent desire to mimic him even more than she already did.

Shoka let out a light chuckle at the memory and turned her full attention to Eri. It reminded her of how much Eri had taken Izuku’s little impromptu art lesson to heart and had been drawing a pair of rabbits, one freckled and one horned, regularly, so to hear she wanted to paint a wall seemed like the next step. Sometimes, a black cat and a white and gold owl joined the pair of rabbits in those drawings. When Shoka first saw the crude cat next to a tiny, snow-white bunny with a horn, her heart swelled with a mixture of emotions.

One thing Shoka felt, which gave her pause when she was around the little horned-girl, was a feeling of inadequacy. It was a recent development, one that came up due to Shoka’s Quirked hearing picking up bits and pieces of conversations between their friend group and their odd behavior whenever Izuku interacted with Eri.

On top of that, there was a certain look Eri started giving her, Izuku, and Momo the last few days. Izuku received it whenever he smiled or acted like a father around her. That was a given since she had essentially attached herself to him. Momo had been getting the same look recently. The heiress doted on Eri to her heart’s content, quite pleased whenever Eri came to her for anything.

Then, Eri started giving Shoka the same look. While Shoka wouldn’t deny she enjoyed it on a subconscious level, the issue was that she couldn’t exactly describe how it made her feel. As best she could, it made her feel both the most important person in the world, but also like she didn’t deserve it.

Each time Eri gave her that look, Shoka remembered the bits and pieces of what she heard about their friend's bet, and the gray-eyed beauty couldn't deny the inevitable. Eri would no doubt see Izuku as a father figure if things kept on as they were.

While Izuku and Momo had somehow eased into the role of Eri’s unintended guardians, Shoka struggled now that she could also fill such a role. At best, she could continue to do what she had been doing already and just be friendly with Eri, helping where she could and was more than intent on leaving the bigger things to her boyfriend and girlfriend. She just didn’t think she could live up to the image Eri was building up in her head.

However, Eri seemed to have other ideas, and, ignorant of Shoka’s inner turmoil, wanted to spend an equal amount of time with her as she did with Momo.

Shoka had pushed those feelings of inadequacy deep down inside her, keeping up a mask around the little girl as best she could. Just because she felt weird about the whole situation, that didn't mean she would make Eri feel ignored or unimportant. She had already dealt with enough in her short life, and Shoka didn't want to be another thing that made it even harder.

That, and Shoka couldn't help but relate to the little girl. It brought back some issues Shoka had long thought were locked away in her heart and mind.

Izuku and Momo caught on that something was bothering her, but Shoka brushed it off, telling them both it was just something she had to deal with on her own. She saw their conflicted expressions, and she knew they didn't want to just let it go, but they gave her the space she needed.

As Eri directed her string of questions to Momo, Shoka's eyes darted to the pathway leading up to their dorms. She scanned the area, hoping to see any sign of their ride. Momo had called for a vehicle big enough to carry them, their escorts, and anything they bought for Eri, but it had one stop to make before coming to pick them up. The rest of 1-A had all taken bets on whether it would be a limo, a fleet of SUVs, to even a private helicopter.

Momo had given Kaminari a confused look at his suggestion before casually remarking that the helicopter was currently being worked on, updating its systems and to repair some minor damages. She did state that the family helicopter was specifically for emergency use only, but later confirmed that anything regarding Eri had been added to the list of approved uses for the aerial vehicle already. Everyone had agreed that the reasoning behind that little addition was sound.

Still scanning the campus grounds and finding a lull in Eri's questions, Shoka asked one of her own. "Soooo, what do you think Mamadoriya's reaction is going to be when she sees Eri IRL?"

Izuku rubbed the back of his head as a weak chuckle escaped his lips. "Well, based on her text this morning, I would say she'll be over the moon." Digging through his pocket, he pulled out his phone and held it out so he, Shoka, and Momo could all see it.

Shoka broke out into an intense bout of laughter while Momo did her best to contain her own mirth.

Mamadoriya: I can't wait to see my GRANDBABY!

BunyMight: Mom, Eri's a ward of UA.

Mamadoriya: Izuku, sweetie. If what Nezu has told me is true, you're her father in all but blood.

Mamadoriya: I can bet that makes Shoka and Momo her mothers, and I’m sure Melissa is well on her way to joining them.

Mamadoriya: Which makes me...

[Mamadoriya changed her name to GrandMamadoriya]

GrandMamadoriya: A GRANDMA!

BunyMight: Wait... Since when do you talk to Nezu?

GrandMamadoriya: I'll explain later.

BunyMight: I am so confused and worried...

BunyMight: Also. WE?!

Izuku smiled at his girlfriend's laughter as he slipped his phone back into his pocket. "Yeah. Needless to say, she's excited to meet Eri. She told me last night that pictures are nice, but she needs to see Eri, as is her right," he said.

Momo’s shaking shoulders settled as she spoke up. “My mother had a similar reaction when she messaged me.” She dug into her purse and pulled out her phone, navigating her way to her messages before holding out the device for everyone to see.

QueenMother: Your father and I have already created a new account for Eri.

QueenMother: We've moved over ¥160,000,000 into it and will move more at a later date.

LadyMateria: Mother, I know Shoka says I often accidentally flaunt our wealth, but now I find myself taking on her role and must remind you that such an action is rather superfluous.

QueenMother: Nonsense. This is simply a paltry start to the amount of money I will be spending on my future granddaughter.

LadyMateria: Mother!

LadyMateria: It's too soon to be having such thoughts!

QueenMother: Again, nonsense.

QueenMother: You're absolutely smitten with Izuku and Shoka.

QueenMother: And that Melissa girl is slowly worming her way into your heart if I read your previous messages correctly. Wedding bells are a guarantee at this point.

QueenMother: On that note...

[QueenMother changed her name to QueenGranMama]

QueenGranMama: By the way, we are on our way with the limousine.

LadyMateria: Mother? What do you mean, "we"?

Izuku and Shoka read and reread the conversation between Momo and her mother. Momo seemed to realize her mistake as she hurriedly stashed her phone.

"Obviously, my mother was simply having a laugh at my expense," Momo quickly said, trying and failing to hide the intense blush on her cheeks. "As I told her, it's too soon to be considering something like that."

Seeing the dazed and embarrassed expressions on the three hero student's faces, Eri asked the innocent questions that would push the three over the edge. "Too soon for what?"

Shoka saw Izuku and Momo gape at the question, both obviously trying to find the best way to answer Eri. Nemuri struggled to stifle her laughter as she picked up on what Eri was asking the trio. While Izuku and Momo's minds seemed to restart, Eri turned her attention to Shoka, recognizing that she was the only one who had her wits about her. Shoka bit her lip as she tried to ignore the inquisitive pair of red eyes gazing upon her.

“Ms. Shoka, what does Ms. Momo mean? Too soon for what?” Shoka felt her resolve crumbling. Once more, Shoka felt that mixture of importance and the conflict caused by it. Eri didn’t go to anyone other than Izuku, Momo, or her if she had a question -outside of Eri’s lessons with Nezu, that is- and it showed the level of trust and reliance Eri had with the three.

Feeling uncomfortable with the silence and the expectation on Eri’s face, Shoka was about to answer when her eyes picked up movement on the horizon. A long limousine, bearing the markings of the Yaoyorozu family, came down the road towards the dorm.

Seeing a chance to pass the puck along to someone else, someone who would be more than willing to entertain such a question, Shoka made her move. "That sounds like a great question for Mamadoriya." She paused for a moment, remembering Momo's texts with her own mother before adding onto her statement. "And Momo's mom."

As if on cue, the limousine came to a stop in front of the pathway leading to the dorm when the door opened rather suddenly as Inko and Anri appeared. Shoka could practically see them vibrating with excitement, wide smiles on their faces as their eyes landed on Eri. With enough grace and restraint, the two made their way over to the group sitting on the porch. Izuku stood up and set Eri down, holding her hand as he walked towards his mom, with Shoka and Momo trailing right behind them.

As soon as Izuku was within Inko’s range, she entered into her mother hen mode and fluttered around him, asking him question after question as she inspected him. “Oh sweetie, it’s so good to see you! How are you doing? Have you been eating well? Youhaven’tdoneanythingrisky,haveyou?” Shoka and Momo thought they were safe, only for Inko to turn her attention to them without even hearing an answer from Izuku. “Ofcourseit’swonderfultoseebothyougirlsaswell!Areyoubothdoingalright?Howhaveclassesbeen?”

Anri stepped up and placed a hand on Inko's shoulders, getting the Midoriya matriarch to slow down her questioning. "Inko, breathe. You need to give them a chance to answer you," Anri said with an amused smile.

Inko followed Anri's directions and gave the group a sheepish smile. "Right. My bad." Her smile turned more relaxed as she looked at the trio. "I'm just so excited to see my baby!" Her green eyes darted downward, taking in the sight of the little girl slowly peeking out from behind her son's leg. "And of course I'm also excited to me this little cutie."

Getting down onto her knees, Inko's green orbs met Eri's. As she spoke, her tone was gentle, carrying with it a great deal of motherly affection. "Hello, sweetie. I'm Inko and I'm Izuku's mom."

Anri followed Inko's example. Straightening out her skirt, she dropped to her knees, right next to Inko, and gave Eri a warm smile. "And I am Yaoyorozu Anri. I am Momo's mother." She looked up at Momo and her green-haired boyfriend. "Both Inko and I have heard so many wonderful things about you, Eri."

Eri considered their words before craning her head to look up at Izuku and Momo, only to turn back to Inko and Anri. Shoka saw the gears turning in her head as connections were made. Her eyes then turned to Shoka, and the gray-eyed hero student could practically see the unspoken question on her mind.

Not wanting Eri to linger on such a thing, Shoka gave her a gentle nudge, reminding Eri of her manners. "Well? Don't forget to say hi to Mamadoriya and Ms. Yaoyorozu, kiddo."

Eri blinked, realization flashing through her eyes as she turned her attention back to the pair of mothers. "H-hello. I'm Eri. I-it's nice to meet you," she said with a timid wave.

Inko and Anri released a sound that was a mixture of a coo and squee in response to the little girl’s greeting. Shoka could see that the two were struggling to restrain themselves from glomping onto Eri so they didn’t scare or overwhelm her.

"It's nice to meet you, Eri," replied Inko. "Are you excited to go shopping?"

Eri nodded in response to the question. Inko smiled back and stood up, dusting off her knees before helping Anri. She then held out a hand towards Eri. "Well then, let's get going," Inko said.

Inko waited patiently as Eri looked at the outstretched hand. Mustering up her courage, she looked to Izuku, who gave her an encouraging nod, and then back to Inko. Slowly, Eri reached out and took Inko's hand, feeling the warmth and comfort coming from the Midoriya matriarch as her fingers gently wrapped around Eri's hand.

Feeling secure in Inko's presence, Eri spoke up and pointed at the limousine Inko and Anri arrived in. "Are we going in that?" She asked.

Anri chuckled at the sound of wonder in Eri’s voice. “Yes, we are, dear.” She brought a hand to her cheek, her cheery tone turning to disappointment. “Honestly, I was hoping the helicopter would have been finished in time so we could give you such a wonderful sight of the city.” Her disappointed immediately shifted to cheer once more as she brought her hands together. “We will just have to save that for next time!”

Momo groaned into her hands as she hid her face in response to her mother's antics. From their spot on the porch, Nemuri leaned over to Aizawa, speaking in a hushed whisper as her mind finally made sense of Anri's statement and unintentional flaunting of the Yaoyorozu wealth. "A helicopter? Really?"

Aizawa simply shrugged. "Apparently anything regarding Eri is reason enough to use it."

Nemuri kept her eyes on Eri for a long moment before nodding sagely at her friend’s answer. "Right. That checks out."

Moving from the porch, they made their way to the limousine, trailing behind Izuku, Shoka, and Momo as they joined the others. After piling into the vehicle, they took off, making their way to the mall...

While being trailed by a fleet of nondescript SUVs, courtesy of the security company that worked for the Yaoyorozus.

“Alright. Where is our first stop?” Aizawa asked his students as the group entered the atrium. He didn’t want to be here, but he would make the most of it and try to keep things moving. Even then, he knew that plan was doomed to fail as soon as the Midoriya and Yaoyorozu matriarchs claimed grand-motherhood. Any stop was guaranteed to last longer than he hoped by a large margin.

He was just glad the younger Midoriya had provided him with enough coffee to last the next few hours. He had several large thermoses stashed away and ready to go the second his current one went dry.

"There is a rather quaint furniture store on the east side of the mall," Momo answered. "We spent last night covering over their stock on their website, and Eri found several things she was interested in. We will just need to look at what we asked to be set aside so Eri can have the final say."

Her mother picked things up from there. "I will have a truck to pick up what she chooses and drop it all off back at the dorms." Anri looked over at Aizawa and Nemuri. "UA's automated drones should be able to handle setting things up without us, yes?"

Nemuri waved off the elder Yaoyorozu’s concerns with a smile. “That they can. Nezu programmed their code himself, after all.” If they paid close enough attention, they would have seen a tiny twitch of fear at the corner of Nemuri’s mouth as she spoke of the U.A.’s small robotic army of drones. They were helpful, but she and her colleagues all worried about the highly probable event that Nezu enacts one of his plans for world domination on a whim.

She hoped that being friendly to any drone she came across placed her firmly on any "Friendlies" list they may have.

Making their way to the furniture store Momo mentioned, Eri walked between Inko and Anri, holding their hands as she took it the sight of the busy mall. The multitude of people that filled the atrium, upper-walkways and footpaths caused her to flinch every so often, but the comforting squeezes of her hands and the comforting smiles that Inko and Anri gave her helped calm her nerves. Whenever she needed greater reassurance, she could always look ahead and see Izuku, Shoka, and Momo right in front of her. Before long, the group had arrived at their destination.

Walking into the store, the colorful furniture on display, both unique and mundane, immediately mesmerized Eri. From beds and beddings, to nightstands, dressers, and cupboards, the entire store was filled from corner to corner. It hadn’t even been ten seconds before a well-dressed sales attendant made their way over to the group, breaking Eri from her visual wanderings.

"Welcome! Welcome! How may I help you today?" the attendant said.

Momo stepped up, moving with years of grace and poise as she adopted a much more business-like demeanor. “Hello. We’re here to check on our order. We should have several pieces set aside for us. It will be under the name Yaoyorozu.”

There was an immediate shift in the attendant's demeanor, causing Momo and Anri to sigh in unison, bringing a hand to their cheeks as they expected what was to come.

“Of course, Ms. Yaoyorozu! We’ve set aside our best stock just for you and your group. We did have to contact our sister location for several pieces you wished to see, but they arrived in a timely manner, at least several hours ago!” the attendant excitedly explained. He ushered the group along, asking a series of excessive questions as he tried to provide the best customer service he could.

“It seems that my darling Momo forgot to use one of our aliases again,” Anri remarked with a resigned smile on her face.

Inko blinked owlishly at her friend's remark when the realization hit. "Oh, so that's why when we had dinner together, you and Hideo used a different name!"

Shoka, overhearing the two mothers, leaned over to her buxom girlfriend with a smile on her face. "So, how many fake names do you and your family use?"

Momo groaned into her hands in response. Seeing Momo mentally beat herself up, Izuku gently patted her shoulder and gave it a squeeze, an action Eri mimicked, though due to her height, she could only pat Momo’s leg. Momo smiled at the two, appreciating their shared effort to comfort her.

After being led to the section of the store that their order was held, Eri's eyes widened, her mouth agape as she stared at the furniture she had seen earlier with Izuku, Shoka, and Momo. While the pictures made everything look good, seeing them in person was something else. When she finally found her voice, it was quiet, barely above a whisper.

"T-those are mine?" she asked Izuku, her ruby-red eyes gazing up at him imploringly.

Izuku chuckled and rubbed the top of her head. "If that's what you want."

Eri turned back to the grouped-up furniture. Izuku swore there was a sparkle in her eyes as she did, which made sense to him. After all, every piece of furniture she chose was a distinct shade of delicious red.

Leaving the furniture store satisfied, the group moved to their next destination. One thing Inko and Anri were insistent on, where toys and books for Eri. That had been another thing that the three hero students had looked at earlier, but decided that for those it was best for Eri to see the toys in person.

Eri was hesitant at first, though with gentle reassurances from Izuku and Momo, she took an active role in choosing her own toys and books, though she didn't feel right asking for too much. A few stuffed animals and puzzles were a good start in her mind. One item that caught her fancy was a snow-white, plush bunny that she immediately gravitated towards. Once the bunny was in her hands, Eri rushed back over to Izuku, holding it up so she could show him its face.

"It's like yours, Izuku!" she exclaimed, a sliver of excitement lacing through her soft voice.

To Izuku's surprise, the snow-white bunny was practically the same, right down to the stitching that made up its face.

When the time came to visit the bookstore that was in the mall, Momo had to hold herself back from getting lost in the aisles. Her excitement bled to Eri, who had taken the tall raven-haired heiress by the hand and asked where to go. Momo didn’t stand a chance and eagerly let Eri take the lead while Izuku and Shoka were right behind them with knowing smiles on their faces. Inko and Anri had been the most helpful here, remembering the many books they read for their children and wanting to pass those titles along so the same experience could be shared with Eri.

After the bookstore, Anri offered to make a purchase for both Aizawa and Nemuri as thanks for chaperoning them for the day and taking care of Eri. The two Pro Heroes at first denied the offer out of courtesy, but when Anri essentially offered a blank check, their resolve easily crumbled. Within minutes, Aizawa exited a camping store with a new sleeping bag while Nemuri said she would wait for one of their next stops on their list to get her purchase.

Now, Izuku, Shoka, and Momo sat at a table in the food court, enjoying a small snack while watching Eri being doted on by Inko and Anri. Shoka took a sip from her cup, taking the occasional glance over at Eri. Once more, those deep feelings of inadequacy had returned.

Noticing the conflicted look in her eyes, Izuku took one of her hands into his own, getting her attention. "Is everything alright, Shoka?" he asked.

Shoka didn't answer right away. Her head hung low, her gray eyes staring into her drink. She opened her mouth to speak, only to close it as she couldn't find the right words to express her troubled thoughts. Izuku gave her hand a gentle squeeze, which she appreciated.

“I-“ she started, only to stop as she carefully considered her words. “Eri’s gotten pretty attached to us, yeah?” Her held tilted towards Izuku, her eyes dancing with a small level of mirth as she looked at him. “Well, more like really attached to you while Momo and me are just along for the ride.”

Izuku and Momo found themselves nodding at the gray-eyed young woman’s words, as they noticed the same thing she had.

Shoka’s mood shifted as a humorless chuckle escaped her. “It’s just got me thinking. You and Momo seem to pull off the whole parent thing, and me?” Her eyes dipped downward again. “... I really don’t think I’m cut out for it. I think it’s obvious that none of us expected something like this to happen.”

Her shoulders slumped as she stared into her drink. “I just… I’m kinda unsure how to really handle it.”

Releasing a shaky breath, she looked up at the food court’s skylight, her voice growing weaker as she continued to vent her thoughts. “I didn’t really have the best examples to work with.” Her eyes became duller as two fuzzy specters came to mind. “Not like they were really there for anything…” She cringed when she realized she that said that part aloud, despite her voice dropping to a low growl.

Seeing the worried looks Izuku and Momo sent her way, Shoka tried to wave off their concerns. While the two understood Shoka’s past had its difficulties, the gray-eyed beauty had a tendency to be tight-lipped about it all. A mall wasn’t really the place to air out her dirty laundry, though Shoka realized that now there would be no trying to hide it from them any longer.

Releasing a resigned sigh, Shoka continued. “It’s just… how Eri looks at me," she gestured to the three of them with a lazy flick of her fingers, "looks at us, like we're the most important people in the world. I don’t really know how to feel about it.”

Izuku’s mouth curled into a tight, understanding smile. “Yeah,” he said softly. “I know what you mean, Shoka.” He lifted his head and looked over at Eri. His smile loosened, becoming more natural as he watched the little girl try some ice cream that his mother was holding out for her. “If it helps, I’m sort of just fumbling around. I just try to think about what my dad would have done for me and follow his example.”

“You’ve been acting like a real Papa Bear, that’s for sure.” Shoka looked at her boyfriend, unconsciously biting her lip as she hoped he would have a definitive answer for her to work with. “You make it look real easy. Both of you do. Is it really that simple?”

Izuku chuckled. “Nope! I really meant it when I said that I’m just fumbling around.” Shoka seemed to be put off by the answer, which was clear from the small pout on her lips as she stared at him. Giving her hand another squeeze and looking into her eyes, Izuku continued. “I think the best we can do is just be there for Eri.”

As she listened to both Izuku and Shoka, Momo had plenty of time to organize her thoughts well enough to formulate an efficient answer that would appease her girlfriend. “It’s how my parents showed me their love.” Izuku and Shoka turned their attention to the heiress, giving her their full attention as she spoke. “As you know, their work kept them rather occupied. I grew up with the help of maids and butlers…”

Remembering the times her luxurious home felt empty caused a small frown to form on Momo’s face before returning to a gentle smile as much better memories came to her. “But whenever Mother and Father returned, even if they were exhausted from their work and meetings, they always came to me first, wanting to know exactly how my day was.”

Looking at Izuku and Shoka, Momo continued. “They were there for me. I believe Zuzu has the right idea. Regardless of whether Eri’s perception of us changes into something more, we can, at the very least, be there for her."

Shoka pondered the simple answers that Izuku and Momo gave her as the two distant specters came to mind. Their faces were blurry, with only a few distinct features shining through the haze. She felt their dull eyes on her, and even then, it’s not like they regarded her. Dismissing the specters with a frown, Shoka came to again as Izuku continued the conversation.

“I-I-I’ll admit, it’s kind of scary to think about parenthood this early-” he said before being cut off.

Shoka nodded along and gave Momo an amused look. “And Momo’s mom talking about marriage didn’t help.”

Momo had the decency to blush at that. Playing with her bangs, curling the ends around her finger, Momo shyly looked away from her paramours. “It is rather forward-thinking from my mother,” she said.

“Y-yeah,” Izuku replied, not really able to deny it. Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, he looked back over at Eri, who was now enjoying her cup of apple juice that Anri had handed her. He saw the competitive stare between his mother and Anri, making the scene even more comical to him as Eri remained blissfully unaware of it all.

When Eri’s eyes landed on Izuku, she gave him a wave from. Izuku smiled and returned the gesture, watching as the corners of Eri’s mouth twitched slightly upward, only to still fail at forming a smile. “We just need to be there for her,” he said resolutely. Looking at his girlfriends, he took Momo’s hand into his free one. “And if things change, I think that we can handle it. We’ve got four heads working together since we have Melissa with us now, and Eri enjoys talking to her on our video chats almost as much as Melissa does.”

“It will certainly help to have her with us soon. Though, I must say I am mostly excited to just be able to spend time with her in person,” Momo remarked, giving Izuku’s hand a squeeze. “And I am quite fond of Eri. I am finding it difficult not to imagine her in our lives at this point.”

Looking back at Eri, Shoka couldn’t help but agree with that statement. Once more, the fuzzy specters returned, giving Shoka one last disinterested look. Thinking about Izuku and Momo’s answers, she dismissed them, no longer wanting to deal with their lingering presence. ‘I may have had shitty examples, but I guess they showed me what not to do,’ Shoka thought with a frown.

She suddenly found Eri’s gaze upon her, breaking her out of her thoughts. Crossing the distance and joining them at their table, Eri wrapped her tiny arms around Shoka, surprising the gray-eyed young woman. “What’s up, kiddo?” Shoka asked.

Eri looked up at her, her red eyes expressing worry as she answered. “You were looking sad. And Izuku gives us hugs when we’re sad, and you always smile when he does.” Looking unsure of herself, Eri’s eyes darted to the floor. “I-I thought you would smile when I did, too.”

Surprised by Eri’s innocent response, Shoka’s frown melted into a cat-like smirk. Picking up Eri and setting the little girl down on her lap, Shoka returned the hug. “Yeah, Izzy gives some pretty good hugs. Thanks for cheering me up, kiddo.”

Once more, the corners of Eri’s mouth attempted to curl upward, making it a fraction higher than they had before.

Ignoring the less-than silent ‘awws’ coming from Inko and Anri’s table, Shoka kept her attention on Eri. “So, you ready to find you some new threads?”

Eri gave Shoka the most enthusiastic nod she could muster -not really understanding what Shoka meant but figured it had to do with clothes since that was their last stop before returning to the dorms. “Uh-huh.” Looking over at Momo, Eri asked them an open question. “Will I get to look as pretty as you two?”

Shoka couldn’t help but laugh at the question. “Eri, you’re already pretty. I’m pretty sure Momo and me need some tips from you so we can look just as pretty.”

As her earlier insecurities faded away little by little, Shoka settled on what she could do for the little girl on her lap.

‘Yeah. I can be there for you, Eri,’ she thought as she, Izuku, and Momo stood up from their table. After discarding their trash, they rejoined Inko and Anri, followed by Aizawa and Nemuri, and returned to their shopping.

Momo walked with an excitable bounce in her step as she led the combined group of 1-A and 1-B alongside Izuku and Eri, with BK and the other Kats joining their human counterparts. Today was the planned group study session, and while Momo was quite excited for it, she could tell that many of her fellow coursemates had various reactions to the fact they had to study. That didn't put her down, however.

"Hey, Midori? How much longer until we get to this study spot of yours?" Momo heard Mina ask.

Izuku turned to look over his shoulder, a bright smile on his face showing just how excited he was to reach their location. "Not that far. Just another block away. You should know where we're going by now."

Momo saw Mina blink in response, obviously confused by the statement before a realization hit her. Next to her, Toru had also come to the same realization, as had Kirishima and Kaminari, which caused them all to break out in excited cheers. Not long after, the group traversed the last city block and beheld the sight of Café Wildkat. There were curious murmurings among them, though many thought that studying at a cozy café seemed to be the perfect spot to do so.

Izuku and Eri were the first through the door, with the freckled hero student happily calling out to one of the two occupants in the building. "Hey, Mr. H!"

"How's it goin', Phones? Been a while since you dropped by," Mr. H replied with a lazy wave.

Izuku entered the building with Eri, followed by Momo and the large group of students. Izuku made his way to the counter and helped Eri up to a seat that was several spots away from Aizawa, who seemed to materialize from nowhere. Paying his sensei no mind, Izuku kept his attention on his mentor as the others grabbed their own seats. Some sat with their friends while others seemed to bridge the gap between classes. Bk leaped from Izuku’s shoulder and landed on the counter, meowing at Mr. H before hopping onto Eri’s lap.

Mr. H watched it all with a smirk on his face before looking down at the newest addition to the Wildkat Crew. "And this must be the kiddo that Phones has been telling me all about," he said, pointing at Eri. "How's it goin' for you, Little Miss?"

Eri gave the coffee maker a tentative wave as she replied to him. "I-I'm good."

Mr. H gave her a nod. “That’s good. Well, to get introductions out of the way, I’m Mr. H and I own this little coffee shop,” he said, holding out his arms as he gestured to the room. He then pointed at Izuku, Shoka, and Shinso before jabbing his thumb over at Aizawa. “I’m also these three's mentor, much like Mr. Grumpy Kat over here.”

Mr. H leaned onto his counter, his smirk shifting into a gentle smile as he continued to talk with Eri. "Now, one thing that Phones told me, was that a certain Little Miss loves herself some apple juice." 

At the mention of the tarty drink, Eri's eyes widened as she instantly nodded. "I do!"

"Well, I got a surprise for you. I learned how to make some myself, so you'll be the first to try it," Mr. H replied with a chuckle. He shot Izuku a look, waving him to come closer. As he did, Mr. H handed him an index card. "I wrote down the steps for you so if this is a hit with the Little Miss, then you can make it for her back at uni."

Izuku nodded thankfully and stashed the card away in his backpack. As Momo moved over to the counter to join them, Mr. H addressed her next. "Ponytail, I have some of that Gold Tips Imperial you like when you go study-mode on us."

Giving the man a playful pout, Momo answered him in a haughty tone. “As you should. How else am I to teach my fellow students if I am not at my best with a nice cup of tea?”

Smiling and shaking his head, Mr. H then addressed the group of students at large, cupping his hands around his mouth to amplify his voice over the slightly noisy group. “Alright, everyone!” Seeing that all eyes were on him, Mr. H continued speaking. “There’s a house rule I like to keep to here. Every guest gets one cup on the house. You tell me what your mood is, and I’ll oblige ya. But after that cup, you’re all going to be working with my special brew I make for students who need something while they study. Don’t worry about payment. I’m doing this as a solid for my Kats, so the brew will keep flowing as long as cups are empty.”

That caused the group of students to erupt in a chorus of cheers. Giving them a bow, the coffee maker turned from the counter and prepared Eri’s apple juice and Momo’s tea before tackling the single orders. As he did, Itsuka made her way over to Izuku and Momo.

"So, how do we wanna handle this?" she asked.

"It would be best to figure out how everyone feels regarding the coursework," Momo answered. "We can learn who needs help with what and then delegate certain subjects to those who know it best."

Izuku chimed in from there. “Momo is our best bet when it comes to science and math. I’m pretty good with Hero Law and Hero Art History, and I know Iida can help me with Hero Law.”

Itsuka nodded and turned to look at her group. Seeing the few she knew had favorite subjects, she called out to the first of them. “Hey, Nirengeki! Hands on deck!” The stout young man turned around in his seat to look at her. “Think you can help Iida cover Hero Law and Momo here with science?”

Nirengeki nodded. "Of course!"

Momo followed Itsuka's example and called out to Iida next. "Iida? Do you mind assisting Nirengeki with that?"

Iida rocketed up from his chair, an excited smile on his face as he responded. "Why yes! I would be honored to assist my 1-B coursemate as we tutor the others."

Momo brought a hand to her mouth in order to cover up her laughter, only for her shaking shoulders to give away her mirth.

Izuku scratched the back of his head, his mouth curling into a warbly smile as he talked to his friend. "Appreciate the enthusiasm, Iida, but inside voice."

Iida quickly apologized and sat back down. Looking at the group, he got an idea that he immediately shared with Momo and Itsuka. “Should we sit with our teams? We can dedicate a few hours to regular study and then after that, have an hour with our teams to go over our practical.”

Itsuka bobbed her head, agreeing with Izuku’s point. “That’s not a bad idea. It can’t hurt.”

With a plan set, Izuku, Momo, and Itsuka rounded up the group tutors and began their study session. Mr. H came by and started taking in everyone's mood. From there on, the café became a place dedicated to the advancement of 1-A and 1-B's academic learning. As the students studied and Mr. H and Aizawa fell into a comfortable conversation, Eri sat at the counter, going over her own homework.

She struggled to completely grasp the numbers and equations in front of her. She was tempted to ask for help, but she didn't want to bother anyone when they seemed to be having a good time. To her shock, someone noticed the troubled look on her face and quickly offered their assistance.

"Is everything alright, Eri?" Momo asked as she stood behind the little girl, looking over her head at the worksheet on the counter.

Eri opened her mouth to answer, only to close it with a tiny frown. Momo seemed to pick up on Eri’s unease and spoke softly to her, trying to get her to open up. “It’s alright, Eri. Take your time.”

Eri looked unsure of herself for a moment before she finally responded to the buxom heiress. "I don't understand all this," she said, gesturing to the semi-answered worksheet. "B-but I didn't want to bug you or Izuku. I'm sorry."

Momo stroked the top of Eri’s head, combing the wavy, snow-white locks with her fingers. “You never have to worry about that, Eri. Izuku and I will always make time to help you, and I’m quite sure Shoka and Melissa would do the same. All you ever have to do is ask.”

Gazing up at the raven-haired young woman, Eri nodded in response. Something inside her stirred, her heart swelling as relief flooded her being. With a quiet voice, Eri replied. “O-okay.” Still nervous, she pointed at the third problem on her worksheet. “Can... can you help me, Ms. Momo?”

Momo's smile simply grew as she bounced on the heels of her feet. "Of course, Eri!"

As Momo leaned in and began teaching Eri, the corner of Eri's mouth curled just a bit higher.

"Alright, for problem number three, you have what number added to six?" Momo asked, pointing to the first number in the problem.

Eri stared at the numerals and brought up her hand, counting on her fingers as she remembered the ones Nezu taught her. She recognized the shape, but she wanted to be sure. Momo waited patiently, keeping up with Eri’s counting until she finished. When Eri did, she held up both hands, showing Momo her completed count. “Um, it’s uh, nine?”

Momo chuckled. "That's right, Eri. Now, what do you get when you add nine to six?"

From her seat, Shoka shared a knowing look with Izuku as the two listened to Momo eagerly teach Eri mathematics. Giving Eri and Momo one last look, the two returned to their work, Shoka to her studies while Izuku helped Toru with Hero Art History.

Mr. H took a sip from his cup of coffee, leaning against the counter as he chatted with Aizawa. "So, the Kats seem to have been adopted by the little snowball."

Aizawa glanced over at his students before letting out a gruff hum in response. "So far, they're taking it better than I expected."

Mr. H nodded along. "It'll help that Inko accepted Nezu's offer, yeah? Give Eri another person to rely on."

Aizawa paused his drinking, the lip of his coffee cup stopping centimeters from his mouth as he stared at Mr. H. "And how did you know that?"

“She told me as much,” Mr. H replied with a limp wave. “She got the email from Nezu when she stopped by for her morning cup of coffee before her shift at the hospital a week ago.” His eyes met Aizawa’s, giving the Underground Hero a conspiratorial look. “What I wanna know is, how did Phones take the news?”

He didn’t have to wait long for an answer as his phone let out a chime. Taking it out of his pocket, he noticed he had just received a message from the man sitting across from him with a video file attached. As he looked back at his friend, he was meat by an impassive stare from Aizawa, who held his phone in his hand.

"Thanks, Grumpy Kat," Mr. H replied as he returned his phone to his pocket. "So, since you lucked out on babysitting duty, how's everyone else doing back at campus?"

"Having to finish setting up for finals without your coffee," Aizawa responded by taking a very long sip from his cup.

"Nice glasses, Nem. When did you get those?" Present Mic asked Midnight as he claimed the seat next to his friend and colleague.

"Aren't they just fabulous?" Midnight responded with a beaming smile. She tapped the sides of her sharp, red-framed glasses with her fingers. "I got them from the Musutafu branch of Il Cavallo del Re!Courtesy of the Yaoyorozus!"

Present Mic nearly fell from his chair hearing the shop Midnight mentioned. “Holy shit! Don’t things from that store cost us like, half of our salary?”

Midnight giggled feverishly. "Yes!"

"Lucky... I remember seeing a nice jacket there once," Present Mic responded dourly as he remembered the price tag of said jacket.

It would take years of saving just to afford it, and by the time he did, it would have already been out of style.

Seemingly picking up on his subordinates’ mood as soon as he entered the room, Nezu responded with a cheery reply. “Perhaps if I plan a future deal with the Yaoyorozus for extra funding, maybe you can get a raise, Hizashi.”

Everyone in the room immediately clasped their hands together, praying to both Nezu and whatever merciful deity they could think of in order to make such a deal happen. While U.A. had more than generous funding, the Yaoyorozus still topped them by several zeros.

Hopping up to his seat, Nezu looked around the room. Everyone he needed to address for the First-Year Hero Course was here, along with Gran Torino, who would be helping with the practical. All that was left was to make sure that the other heroes he asked to assist would join them soon via video conference.

"Now then-" Nezu said before the doors to the conference room opened up, effectively cutting him off.

In his seat, All Might choked on his spit, caught completely by surprise as his former sidekick, Sir Nighteye, entered the room. Next to him, Gran Torino grunted in annoyance, not at all happy to see the sharply dressed man.

"Ah, Sasaki," Nezu said to the man. "I had expected you to join us through the video call."

Nighteye made his way to the conference table and took a seat at the end, undoing the buttons to his light-gray jacket and straightening out his red and white polka-dot tie as he did. When he sat in his chair, his long fingers ran through his neatly combed head of green hair, fixing the several strands of yellow that were laced within his locks. He folded his hands together, interlocking his fingers when his sharp gaze landed on All Might. The No. 1 Hero fidgeted slightly under his former sidekick's golden-eyed gaze, almost deflating with how sharp the glare was, and felt some relief when the man turned his attention to Nezu.

"With something as important as this, it's better to be here in person," Nighteye replied stoically.

"Pull the other one," Gran Torino grumbled under his breath.

Nezu knew the meaning behind the Pro Hero’s words, but held his tongue for now. Instead, Nezu simply nodded and tapped the power button on a nearby remote, causing the screen behind to come to life as it displayed U.A.’s logo. Soon, the screen divided itself into several black rectangles, which soon switched to display different heroes appearing on screen.

Endeavor's stern visage was the first. If anything, the Flame Hero was punctual, something Nezu appreciated, even if he didn't care much for the hero.

Next was Edgeshot, who gave every a nod of acknowledgment as soon as he appeared.

"YO!" The sudden loud greeting caught everyone off guard as Beat and his sister were the next heroes to join the call.

"Beat, bring it down a few levels. You're too loud," CodeR sighed as she chided her brother.

Several more heroes appeared, with no one missing from the call. Seeing everything proceed as planned, Nezu began the meeting. “Now then. Let’s get underway.” Passing several folders down the table, Nezu opened his own, bringing the group’s attention to the first point. “We are holding a different practical for the final exams for our students this year,” he focused on the screen, giving the heroes who joined the call a grateful nod, “which we are grateful you accepted to help us with this plan.”

He tapped another button on the remote, causing the screen to shift as a new graphic appeared on the side. "My staff and I have worked on several scenarios to test our students. From defensive objectives, to protection, capture, rescue, or even simply defeating villains within a time limit, we have covered a wide array that should give anyone assigned to these matches a proper test."

"Each scenario will have a team of four students, made up of two students from both Hero Courses," Nezu explained as he moved on to the next graphic. "Here are the teams determined by random draw for the first-years. This past Friday, we had a series of capture the flag matches, with one team facing the other. Despite 1-A and 1-B not having much interaction this semester, the teams worked rather well together."

"I'm surprised," remarked Edgeshot. "Random team-ups don't always work out."

"Our first-year students take their future careers rather seriously," said Vlad King. "At least, I know my kids do, and from what I saw of Aizawa's group, so do they."

Edgeshot nodded. "Right. I know that my intern and her classmate worked rather well together during the Shibuya Incident."

All Might smiled as he remembered how Izuku had handled himself that night. Suddenly feeling someone’s gaze on him, All Might looked around the room and saw the unimpressed stare Sir Nighteye gave him through his angular, golden-framed glasses. Knowing what the man was thinking, All Might’s smile soured a little.

"Not only them, but my son and his classmates handled themselves well during the attack on Hosu," Endeavor added. The others could hear a smidgen of pride in his voice as he spoke, mixed with a small level of annoyance. It was obvious he was still sore that his son had chosen to ignore his orders during the attack, though some wondered if he was more angry that Shoto had to share the glory.

“While our students learned to stand on their own, they do understand the value of teamwork. Several of them learned that lesson long before walking our halls,” Nezu stated proudly. “And that is what we wish to nurture further with these scenarios.”

Moving the presentation along, Nezu continued. "We have ten teams this year. They already know that their final practical exam will be random. It is my hope that the teams spend some time before that working together with their Quirks and their teamwork. In fact, our first-years are holding a group study session right now, as we speak."

He smiled as his beady eyes gave off a faint glint of amusement. "Seeing them prepare for the worst makes me feel quite fuzzy inside."

"How are you determining who challenges your students?" Endeavor asked the Chimera, ignoring his strange proclivities.

"Simple. Once we received your acceptance in joining us for these exams, I determined the best pairs that I believe would fairly challenge our students," Nezu explained. "I do have several concessions in mind that you all will need to follow to ensure that fairness to a degree.

"And did you apply those pairs to certain scenarios already, Mr. Nezu?" CodeR asked.

Nezu nodded as his muzzle curled into a smile. “Indeed, I did, Ms. CodeR.” He clicked the forward button on his remote as the pairs he established appeared.

Everyone in the room and on the video call studied the pairs. Nezu listened to the quiet murmurings among them. He simply waited until someone asked him a question before making any comment or explaining his reasoning. He didn't wait long as the most boisterous among the group of heroes spoke up.

"Yo, Ratman. Are these duos set in stone, or can we switch it up?" Beat asked, ignoring the scandalous looks he received from some of the other heroes due to the way he addressed Nezu..

"I am open to suggestions if you feel the need," Nezu replied, his smile not once wavering.

Beat simply shrugged. "Just wanted to know if you wanted to go easy on the newbies. I mean, sickin' me and Gran Torino on them is kinda cruel if you ask me. I don't mind hard-mode but there's passin', and then there's just barely crossin' the finish line," he said.

"If you think that's bad, take a look at the scenario we've been given, Blondie," Torino stated with a vicious grin.

Beat blinked several times before looking at the file his sister had pulled up for him. A matching grin appeared on his face as he read over his and Torino's scenario. "Bitchin'. I'm fine with this, yo."

Nezu clapped excitedly. "Good. Then that is one team set for its intended scenario." Looking around the room, Nezu addressed the rest of the test's participants. "Does anyone have any objections or changes they would like to voice?"

"I'm fine with my partner and scenario," Edgeshot said. "How about you, Snipe?"

"Those greenhorns won't know what hit 'em," Snipe replied with a tip of his hat.

Nezu looked at the monitor, focusing on the younger Bito. "CodeR, while Eraser Head isn't here right now, he did let me know that he has no issues pairing up with you for your scenario."

"Sweetness! I'll talk shop with him when he's free," the tiny blonde replied excitedly.

The rest of the duos came to an understanding, and while some made switches, the rest accepted Nezu's recommended pairings. From his seat at the end of the conference table, Sir Nighteye scanned the documents Nezu provided him, thoroughly reading every line. His eyes then turned to the monitor, landing on the Flame Hero, who returned the man's gaze.

"Our partnership is acceptable," Endeavor said before looking away.

Nighteye let out a small hum before returning his attention to the page he had been studying seconds earlier.

With everyone accepting their partners, Nezu moved on to the next part of the meeting. "Wonderful," he chirped. "Then all that's left is to determine which team faces which scenario. I have already determined those who I think will be challenged with each one, but I will leave my recommendations open to change."

"If I may, I wish to-" Endeavor attempted to voice his opinions, only to be cut off by his partner.

"While I admire your desire to test your son, that would not be best for him," Nighteye remarked. Though his tone was even, All Might could tell there was a minor level of amusement coming from his former sidekick as he spoke. Apparently, he found something funny with how much Endeavor wanted to be a part of his son's life. "I would, however, recommend that we face Team E."

Everyone in the room watched as a tense silence filled the air. Endeavor grunted, not entirely happy with his partner, but took his recommendation in stride and looked over the edited files of the students that formed Team E. After reading over the documents for a moment, he spoke up. "And why this team?" he asked.

"It's noted that while their relationship is improving, there is still a deep-rooted tension between Midoriya and Bakugo," Nighteye explained. "They are also considered powerhouses within 1-A's ranks, so they require facing off against someone who can easily handle their Quirks and push them to the edge. Combined with my support, Team E will have a difficult time succeeding in our scenario."

All Might held his tongue as Sir Nighteye's interest in Team E was quite apparent to him. Calling him out on it now wasn't the best time, however. All Might would wait until the meeting ended before discussing his former sidekick's true intentions.

Endeavor considered his partner’s points. He remembered the last match of the sports festival, the intense battle between Midoriya and Bakugo. He would be lying if he said a part of him wasn’t curious to see that power up close.

The fact he would get a shot in on the young man who beamed him with a shoe also didn't escape his mind.

"Fine," Endeavor replied gruffly. "I'm willing to entertain your request, Nighteye."

The sharply dressed hero simply nodded in thanks and let the other heroes have the floor. He then looked over at Nezu. The university dean stared back impassively, his expression betraying nothing. From his spot at the table, All Might felt the need to protest, knowing full-well that the odds that Team E could even hope to pass the practical were now next to zero. His heart stopped when Nezu gave his answer.

“Granted,” Nezu said calmly. Nighteye was about to offer his thanks for Nezu’s accommodation when he was cut off by the fluffy chimera himself. “With a stipulation added regarding the use of your Quirk. We will settle the details later.”

Sir Nighteye was quiet for a moment, but gave Nezu an understanding nod in return. All Might watched the interaction with a held breath, one that he slowly released as some of the tension left his body.

For twenty more minutes, the heroes debated and discussed who should face off against whom, some perfectly happy with Nezu’s recommended teams while others felt they would be better off facing a different one. While that was happening, an intense staredown was happening between the No. 1 Hero and his former sidekick.

All Might couldn’t help but feel attacked by Sir Nighteye’s further interest in Team E, more specifically, one member of Team E in particular. All Might expected him to voice his opposition to his choice in his successor, but to go so far as to physically challenge that successor was another matter altogether.

Taken out of his thoughts, All Might looked around the room one last time. He saw that everyone else had come to a consensus, chatting amicably among themselves while Nezu finalized the match-ups.

Nezu was rather pleased with how smoothly things went and moved to cap off the meeting with a few more words. “Now that everything is settled, this meeting is adjourned. You all were given a code earlier when you accepted to help us with our finals. This code is a password to a file on one of our secured servers that has a recording of the match-ups we held for 1-A and 1-B earlier this Friday. This should give you time to get a better understanding of our students and their abilities for the practical this coming Friday.” His beady eyes narrowed as he looked at each person around the room. “Be warned, you cannot access these videos without the password, nor will you be able to save them elsewhere. You will not receive another password should you lose yours, either.”

Seeing everyone nod in understanding, Nezu's sharp tone turned chipper once more. "Wonderful! Well then, you are all free to leave. I am off to meet with our second-year teachers to discuss their upcoming practicals." Hopping down from his chair, Nezu made his way to the door, giving everyone one last wave. "Ta ta!"

The heroes joining the meeting via video disconnected one by one as the others filed out of the room. Soon, only three remained: All Might, Gran Torino, and Sir Nighteye. The three didn't talk, choosing instead to let an uncomfortable silence fill the air between them. As soon as it was safe, All Might let his Quirk rest, his body deflating, and revealing his skeletal form in a puff of smoke.

"Mirai," Toshinori said through a cough.

"Toshinori," the man replied with a slight nod.

Cutting to the heart of the matter, All Might asked the burning question in his mind. “Why are you doing this? You have no say in who I choose to be my successor.”

"Even so... as someone who knows you best, I wanted to make sure you made the best decision with your head and not your heart," Nighteye replied coolly. "Your successor is just as reckless as you are."

Torino released a gruff laugh, causing the man to look over at him. "Right. Can't let the oaf choose someone just like him. Better to just mold a clone of him instead. Sound logic, Sir," he said with an eye roll.

"Mirai, you know why I chose to teach this year," All Might remarked, bringing the green-haired man's attention back to him. "I need to slow down. To help shape the next generation of heroes. It was also a chance to find my successor here, and I did."

His tone grew sharper, his mouth formed a sour frown, with his eyes narrowing as he glared at his former sidekick. “I was even considerate enough to meet with your protégé. And while young Togata will become a fine hero on his own, he isn’t my choice. Midoriya is, and even then, I didn’t choose him immediately. I took my time before coming to my decision.”

"And was he truly the best choice?" Nighteye bit back. "How much of yourself did you see in him? I have looked into who he is. He is an idealistic, reckless young man who leaps into danger without a care about himself or the consequences that follow."

Toshinori shot up from his chair, slamming his hands against the table as his glare intensified. "It wasn't just my say so, but One for All's as well!" He noticed Nighteye's surprised expression at that admission, but Toshinori was too incensed to care. "And if this is all about little Eri and young Midoriya's unintentional interference in your investigation, then just say it! Even if you have valid grievances, I still say young Midoriya made the right call. I would have done the same in his shoes!"

“And I would have had to calm your heroic nature in order for you to see the bigger picture,” replied an aggravated Nighteye. “Do you truly think I wish for that little girl to be in the clutches of a man like Chisaki? He is a monster, one that needs to be stopped, but now he has become much more careful with his organization’s movements. Any leads I once had are bust. Because of your successor’s actions to save one, he has put thousands more at risk.”

The former sidekick's golden eyes narrowed as he stared at Toshinori. "How many will Chisaki hurt in order to get Eri back? How many will die in the bloody path he carves to do so?"

Toshinori’s fingers curled into fists. He clenched them tightly, his knuckles turning white as he listened to his former sidekick’s points. They were valid, and Toshinori knew it, but he couldn’t fully accept it. “I know. Yes, young Midoriya has made things harder, I won’t deny that.”

Looking back at Nighteye, Toshinori smiled as he thought of his successor. "But young Midoriya did what all heroes should. Reaching out and saving someone in need. And in the end, I put my faith in him to continue to do the right thing and save those thousands Chisaki threatens with his goals."

“And if he crumples under the pressure?” Nighteye asked, quirking his brow. “What happens when he shows you that he isn’t the successor you hope him to be?”

“Then he will get back up and try again. He doesn’t give up. It’s just who young Midoriya is. And because of that, I know he’ll prove you wrong,” Toshinori replied confidently. “In fact, I’ll be there to see it. I’ll join yours and Endeavor’s scenario.”

Nighteye stared at the No. 1 Hero for a long minute, weighing the man's words and confidence in his mind. Seeing that Toshinori wouldn't be deterred, Nighteye let out a resigned sigh. "Fine. I accept your proposal. Just remember, his future loss is already determined. This idea is completely asinine and will prove nothing."

He stood up from his chair and buttoned up his jacket. Giving Toshinori and Torino a nod, he moved to the door and opened it. Stopping inside the frame, Nighteye looked back over his shoulder. “How has Eri been? I’ve asked Tsukasa to keep me in the loop, but hearing it from you would help put my mind at ease.” As he spoke, his tone was noticeably softer, something that brought a smile to Toshinori’s face.

“She has been steadily improving,” Toshinori replied with a bright smile. “Slowly but surely, she’s healing. You have young Midoriya to thank for that. She’s practically attached at his hip, though he tells me they have been working on that. Just recently, he, young Sakurane, and young Yaoyorozu refurbished little Eri’s room and are working on getting her to sleep on her own.”

Nighteye stared impassively at Toshinori for a moment before finally responding. "I see." Giving his old friend a nod, he turned to leave. "It was good to see you again, Toshinori."

As the doors to the conference room closed, Torino wasted no time commenting on Nighteye's earlier behavior. "Still a real barrel of laughs, that one." Shooting his student an inquisitive look, he couldn't help but question Toshinori's plan. "You really think the kid will beat Mirai?"

Toshinori didn't even waste time answering the elder hero. "Absolutely. I have faith in him."

Torino leaned back in his chair and scratched his beard. "Well, he and his team have their work cut out for them, that's for sure."

Toshinori's smile faltered slightly. "Yes." While victory wasn't assured, he still believed Izuku and his team could achieve it.

Thinking about his successor, Toshinori wondered what he was doing at the moment. Had the study group with 1-B been successful? How was Eri coming along? While Mirai's earlier words had merit, Toshinori still felt that saving her was the right thing to do, and with how much Izuku cared for the little girl, he had no doubt that if Chisaki ever made an appearance, Izuku would do anything to protect her.

As night settled on the Hero University, Izuku gently tucked Eri into bed, carefully making sure both she and her bunny plushie were cocooned in the warmth of her sheets. When he finished his task, he picked up a small device that was sitting on her new nightstand. "Just remember, Eri, if you need me, you just need to call for me and I'll hear you on the monitor connected to this one," he explained once more.

While Eri had been willing to try sleeping alone in her new bed, Izuku knew she needed some extra reassurance. Thanks to a suggestion from his mother, Momo used her Quirk to create a baby monitor for them to use. Knowing that Izuku was simply a call away, Eri managed to sleep last night, albeit with some difficulty.

"Okay," Eri replied as she snuggled against her bunny plushie. "Y-you'll wake me up again like this morning, right?"

Izuku smiled and nodded. “Of course, Eri. Then, you and me will have breakfast with Shoka, Momo, and the others.”

Seeing her nod in return, Izuku stepped away from her bed and watched as sleep came to claim her. When her breathing slowed to a soft, steady rhythm, Izuku quietly left her room. Stopping by his room to grab the receiver to Eri’s monitor, he then made his way downstairs to join the others. Himiko noticed him right away and gave him a fanged smile at his return.

"Welcome back, Papa Bear!" the bun-haired young woman called out, garnering everyone's attention. "Is Eri all tucked in?"

"Yeah. So far, so good," Izuku replied as he sat down at the table Shoka, Momo, and the rest of their friends sat at. Setting the monitor onto the table's surface, Izuku leaned back in his chair, letting out a long breath as BK jumped up to his shoulders. "She's still a little scared to sleep alone, but she's trying."

Momo reached over and squeezed his shoulder. "She will be fine, Zuzu."

"I know, I know," he replied with a tired smile. "I just can't help but be a little worried, you know?"

A muffled whimper came from the monitor's speakers. Izuku, Shoka, and Momo all tensed, ready to bolt from their chairs, an action mimicked by their Kats. Before they could take a step, Eri's breathing steadied, causing them to relax, albeit slowly.

Kyoka let out an impressed whistle. "Damn. You all were ready to book it."

Shoka's mouth scrunched up as she looked at her friend. "It's starting to become automatic at this point." She scooted her chair closer to Izuku's and rested her head on his shoulder. Feeling the tension leave his body, she made herself comfortable. As she did, her gray eyes kept darting to the monitor as she idly scratched RK's chin. "If we ever see that asshole Overhaul, I'm going to wreck his shit."

"Better do it before I can come up with a Psychronization that atomizes him," Izuku growled out. "But that's after I punch him in the face really fucking hard..."

The others around the table grew quiet, surprised by the vitriol in Izuku's voice. There were times they saw him get angry, but this was on a different level. They weren't the only ones, though. Over at the lounge area, even Bakugo picked up on the intensity in Izuku's tone. While he was surprised his former friend could carry such anger, he also felt a little impressed by it.

"I believe this is the point in time to say that we all need to chill," Shoto remarked dryly as he stroked FK's head.

The Wildkat Crew all turned their heads towards him. Shoto met their gazes with an impassive one of his own. After a brief staredown, Shinso released a snort, followed by a fit of giggles from Himiko.

Seeing that everyone had become more relaxed, Shoto spoke up again. "There. My work is done."

Izuku chuckled at his friend's remark. "Thanks, Shoto." Shoto gave the freckled hero student a small nod in response.

As the earlier tension faded away, the group descended into idle small talk, discussing what they expected to see during their finals to what plans they may have during the summer break. At one point, Izuku, Shoka, and Momo called their friends out about the current bet they had running, only to receive no apologies for their friendly wager for what they deemed was inevitable. Minutes passed into a full hour as several of their friends joined in, causing various small groups to form as their small talk broke off into different subjects.

After two hours, the friendly camaraderie ended as a fearful shriek cut through the relaxed atmosphere.

Everyone sat stunned as they stared at the receiver on the table. To hear the little girl, whose presence they had grown used to and enjoyed, make just a distressful cry was gut-wrenching. Shinso tore his eyes away in time to see a green blur rush up the stairs as the smell of the ozone tickled his nose. Shoka and Momo were gone a second later, chasing after the blur with RK and SK hot on their heels.

Upstairs, Izuku and Bk burst through Eri's door, the hairs on their bodies rising as fear and concern clouded their minds. The first thing Izuku saw as he entered the room was a terrified Eri, crying as she clung to her bunny plushie. Her sharp horn glowed with a golden energy. He moved to take a step further in, only to be stopped by BK, who yowled at him in warning. Taking a moment to gauge the situation, Izuku noticed that the golden glow turned erratic, as energy flowed chaotically around Eri's horn.

"I don't want to go back! I-Izuku!? Where are you!?" Izuku's heart clenched as soon as he heard the desperate cry coming from Eri.

"Izzy! What's the sitch?" Shoka asked as she and Momo slid behind him. He turned to see the fearful and worried looks on their faces as they looked over his shoulders and into the room.

“Eri’s having a nightmare, and it caused her to activate her Quirk unconsciously,” he stated as his eyes went back to Eri. His mind raced, trying to think of a way to reach Eri in order to calm her down without risking the effects of her Quirk.

"I'm calling Aizawa-sensei," Momo declared as she took out her phone and dialed their sensei.

As Momo worked on alerting their sensei of the situation. Izuku and Shoka tried calling out to the distressed child.

"Eri! It's alright! It's just a nightmare!" Shoka cried out.

"I'm here, Eri! Please, just try to focus on my voice!" Izuku called out. He took a tentative step forward, using BK's instincts to gauge how close he could get to Eri. "I'm here, Eri," he said once more, much softer this time as he inched closer.

A low yowl came from BK, making Izuku stop several feet away from Eri’s bed. She was just within his reach while also feeling miles away.

“Eri,” Izuku tried calling out to her again. This time, her body twitched, as if she recognized his voice through the nightmare. Still, it wasn’t enough for Izuku as he still needed to reach her. His eyes widened as an idea came to him. Turning to look over his shoulder, he called out to his gray-eyed girlfriend. “Shoka, go can grab my Abyss Fiber pin. It’s in my soft case on my desk.”

Giving him a nod, Shoka rushed out of the room and straight to his. He heard his door open over the growing cacophony of sounds made by Eri and the worried murmurs of his friends and coursemates who were just outside Eri's room.

A hand gripped his shoulder, causing him to tense up in response. "Aizawa-sensei is on his way," he heard Momo say.

A pair of feet thudded against the hardwood floor as Shoka squeezed past the others and back into the room. “I got it, Izzy.” Izuku turned and held out his hand. Shoka placed the pin in his palm, and Izuku could already feel his Quirk connecting to the Psych.

Attaching it to his shirt, Izuku held out his hand as Banjo's voice reverberated in his mind. "Okay, Niner, I know your Psych isn't as wild as my Quirk was, but you still need to keep calm." Despite how collected the fifth-user sounded, even Izuku could hear the hint of worry in his voice.

Nana's voice came next, offering her advice as Abyss Fiber became active. "Be gentle with her, Izuku. Keep your voice steady and quiet. Jolting her awake is just as bad as letting her deal with her nightmare."

With the reassuring presence of his predecessors, Izuku summoned an energy whip and willed it forward. His Psych lost some stability, matching Izuku's flayed nerves. Feeling Shoka and Momo's hands on his shoulders, he pushed forward, the energy whip stabilizing as it reached Eri.

"No," Eri whimpered. "I don't want to go back. Don't take me away."

Izuku frowned heavily at Eri’s continued pained whimpers. Each time she spoke, it felt like a dagger to the heart. “I’m here, Eri,” he repeated, clinging to the phrase like a mantra.

"As are we, Eri," Momo added.

"And we aren't going anywhere, kiddo," chimed Shoka.

Eri's fearful whimpers lessened as the soft voices of the trio reached her. Feeling his resolve strengthen, Izuku pushed the abyssal whip closer, its tip gently nudging Eri's shoulder. She flinched away at first, but that didn't deter Izuku. As he continued to nudge the little girl, he kept talking, keeping his voice calm and level as he reached out to her. "I'm here, Eri, just like I said I would be."

Izuku's efforts were rewarded as the chaotic energy blasting from Eri's glowing horn slowly dissipated. When the energy fully receded, Izuku noticed that Eri's horn had shrunk from hits sharp, jagged curve to a smooth, tiny nub. Soon after, her eyes shot open, her chest heaving as she gasped for air. After regaining her awareness, her eyes landed on Izuku as fearful tears turned to relieved ones. She shot off her bed and slammed into Izuku, wrapping her tiny arms around his waist.

"I saw him, Izuku!" she cried out. "He was going to take me away! H-he was going to hurt you, and Ms. Shoka and Ms. Momo, too!" Her weak grip on him tightened, fearing that if she let go he really would disappear. "I couldn't find you. A-And he kept saying that my curse would make you disappear for good."

A pair of arms wrapped around her. Feeling the warmth of the embrace, Eri unconsciously nuzzled against Izuku. She sat there, crying as Izuku simply held her and gently stroked her head.

“It's alright, Eri.” She sniffled at his words, her body still quivering despite his gentle reassurances. Izuku bit his lip, thinking over his words, needing to find the right ones to say to her. “It was a nightmare, and those are always scary. It's okay to be afraid of those. Just remember, Overhaul isn’t here.” The arm he had around her tightened its hold, bringing her closer to him as she spoke. “But I am. So are Shoka and Momo. We’re here, Eri.”

BK, RK, and SK made their voices known as well, joining together in a loud chorus of meows. Izuku chuckled, "And so are the Kats."

Eri slowly pulled away, still gripping Izuku's shirt as she looked up at him through red, teary eyes. Izuku smiled. It was the same smile he always gave her that made her feel safe.

"If Overhaul ever shows up again, even if it's in your dreams, just remember that I'll always be there," he stated firmly. "I'll make sure he can't hurt you. Because no matter what, I'll be the hero you need me to be."

Silence fell over the room. Even the crowd of students out in the hall grew quiet as Izuku's words hung in the air. The only thing that broke through the silence was the few sniffles Eri made every few seconds. After a long moment, Eri melted back into Izuku's hug. "You promise?" she asked him.

"I promise," Izuku assured her.

Nodding into his chest, Eri felt her earlier fears wash away. "C-can you and Ms. Momo and Ms. Shoka stay here tonight? I-I don't want to be alone..."

"Of course, Eri," he answered without question.

Eri sent Shoka and Momo a pleading look, hoping that the two would agree to do the same. They didn't even have to be asked.

"Sure thing, kiddo. It'll be like a slumber party."

"How could I even say no to such a request?"

Izuku shifted his body, moving it around so he was sitting against Eri's bed. After he made sure Eri was comfortable, he looked at Shoka and Momo. The two raven-haired beauties were already moving to sit beside him, with Shoka on his right and Momo on his left. Momo took the comforter off of Eri's bed as BK, RK, and SK joined that, taking up whatever spot they could on the pile of students.

As the four humans and three Kats shuffled around for a moment or two, Izuku noticed Aizawa hanging around in the doorway. Getting a nod from his sensei, Izuku returned his focus to the little girl in his arms. Soon, the crowd dispersed, each member of 1-A giving Eri a relieved look before heading to their rooms.

It would be quite a while before Eri had fallen asleep once more. Every time she closed her eyes, she would open them again, looking at Izuku, Shoka, and Momo, as if she was worried they would disappear like in her nightmare. The three hero students didn't risk falling asleep until Eri did. After a long hour, the little girl finally drifted off to sleep.

Izuku, Shoka, and Momo each released a relieved breath they didn’t know they were holding. As if they all remembered yesterday’s discussion, they shared a look with one another, knowing full well that they were committed to Eri. Resolved with their shared decision, the three followed behind Eri as they sleep claimed them, letting the night come to a close as they waited for tomorrow.