Izuku set the massive cut of steak down on his tray, marveling at the sheer size of it. Despite his best efforts, Masako insisted he needed to ‘embrace the glory of steak’ with her. How was he supposed to turn down the puppy eyes, or rather kitten eyes, she gave him? Left with no choice, Izuku followed suit and piled on the red meat, earning himself another rough lick from the lioness.

  ‘I’m pretty sure friends don’t lick each other…’ Izuku sighed, having come to terms with his ‘retionship’ with Masako. Ever since their outing at the beach, even someone like him with minimal experience with girls up until recently could tell that things had changed between them. Spars were becoming both more intense and physical while also becoming intimate. Not to mention how her affectionate licks had become nearly an everyday occurrence.

  Yet they weren’t dating. Not yet, at least. Izuku hadn’t ‘earned’ the right by defeating her in combat, something that Masako had been adamant about. However, that was easier said than done, even if she eagerly awaited it. Even with only 8% mastery of One for All, Masako Ojiro still had the upper hand regarding raw skill. She was a genius at martial arts, and her lioness quirk enhanced them tenfold. Ciming her once and for all may be the most formidable challenge yet for Izuku. But he didn’t mind it. In fact, he looked forward to it. After all, he really liked her.

  So, with a promise to himself to master his quirk further, Izuku let the status quo go for now, even if he sometimes had to deal with a tail wrapped around his arm. Such as times like how he did now when the two joined the rest of their friends at a table, where a colorful variety of food choices reflected each of their personalities.

  Ochako opted for a tray filled with sweet treats: pastries, fruit tarts, and a decadent slice of cake. True to form, Katsumi went for spicy dishes, her pte filled with red-hot curry and chili-covered skewers. Itsuka opted out of the steak-eating contest and chose a banced meal featuring rice, vegetables, and grilled chicken. Across the table, Kirishima matched Masako’s carnivorous enthusiasm with a tray piled high with ribs, sausages, and a steak nearly as big as Izuku’s.

  "This is manly food right here!" he decred, digging in with gusto.

  As they dug in, the group couldn’t stop raving about the food. “This is amazing,” Ochako said, her voice muffled slightly by a mouthful of cake. “I can’t believe how good everything is.”

  “And the variety!” Itsuka added, gesturing with her fork. “It’s like a gourmet buffet.”

  “Exactly,” Masako said, already tearing into her second steak. “Meat, perfectly cooked, and endless options. What more could you want?”

  Izuku had to agree. This was the best. Taking a moment to look for the fantastic chef, Izuku found him again behind the Japanese Cuisine counter, and as if hearing their praise, Lunch Rush gave Izuku a thumbs up. The aspiring hero’s face lit up, and he quickly returned the gesture, grateful for the incredible meal. ‘Reminder: Get his autograph ter…’

  While the group continued to eat, Ochako’s eyes caught on a flier pinned to a nearby bulletin board. “Hey, what’s this?” she asked, getting up to grab it. She returned to the table, holding up the flier, which advertised the UA Start of School Festival. “There’s a festival tomorrow? I hadn’t heard about this.”

  “Oh, yeah, the festival,” Itsuka said, nodding. “It’s a big deal. The staff and uppercssmen work together to set up a fair to welcome the new freshmen and kick off the school year. There are all sorts of vendors, performances, and even shows featuring uppercssmen and alumni.”

  Izuku’s eyes widened with excitement. “Have they announced which alumni will be coming this year?”

  Itsuka shrugged. “I’ve only heard rumors, but supposedly, some pretty big names might stop by. Last year, I heard they had a few pro heroes come back to do demonstrations.”

  Izuku was practically vibrating with enthusiasm now. “Can you imagine who might show up? Top Heroes like Best Jeanist or Edgeshot could make an appearance! UA has so many amazing alumni!”

  The others chuckled at his enthusiasm, though they couldn’t help but feel a bit of his excitement rubbing off on them.

  “Guess we’ll find out tomorrow,” Katsumi said, smirking as she stabbed a piece of her spicy curry. “Ain’t Endeavor an alumni, too?”

  “Yeah, but he’s uhm…” Itsuka hesitated to find the right way to say it. “Not exactly the type to come to a festival, you know?”

  The group collectively nodded. Katsumi chuckled. “Yeah, that tracks. He’s kind of a dick.”

  “I’m hitting every food stall they have.” Masako excitedly announced, mouth full of what was likely her fourth cut of meat.

  Ochako stared at her with a bnk face. “God, I’d love to have your metabolism.”

  It was Katsumi’s turn to stare bnkly at her fellow haremette. “Cheeks, you’re literally eating cake for lunch.”

  Ochako froze and fiddled with her bangs. “... It’s a cheat day.”

  As the group was finishing their meal, Itsuka leaned forward with an idea. “Hey, since the festival’s tomorrow, why don’t we exchange numbers? That way, we can all keep in touch and coordinate.”

  Everyone nodded in agreement, pulling out their phones and passing them around to input their contact info. It was a bit chaotic, with people trying to spell their names correctly and adding little icons or nicknames. Izuku made sure to add everyone, feeling a small swell of pride at how quickly they were bonding as a group. In the before times, the aspiring hero didn’t have the luxury of having many friends. Now, things were radically different. He had two amazing girlfriends and a whole host of good friends to share his dream of becoming a hero with. Things were good.

  While entering Itsuka’s number, Izuku’s phone buzzed with a new text. He gnced at it and smiled. “Kyoka just texted me. She’s arriving now.”

  Katsumi, sitting beside him, rolled her eyes but smirked. “Go help her, nerd. I know you’re dying to ask anyway.”

  Before Izuku could stammer out a response, Ochako giggled. “Yeah, we know you, Izuku. Of course, you’d want to help her move in.”

  Izuku chuckled, shaking his head. “You’ve all got me figured out, huh?” He pocketed his phone and stood up. “I’ll catch you all ter.”

  “Remember, go easy on the chivalry, Romeo,” Katsumi called out as Izuku collected his trays to deposit the dishes in the designated bins. She gave him a knowing smirk. “If you keep swooping in for her, she might lose that resolve of hers.”

  “Nah, she won’t,” Izuku replied, a broad smile on his lips. “She’s strong, like you.”

  “I told you to tone it down, ya dork.” Katsumi’s heart skipped a beat. “... Jeez.”

  As Izuku approached the parking lot, he spotted Kyoka standing by her family’s SUV, looking distinctly uncomfortable as her father animatedly spoke to her. He slowed his pace, not wanting to interrupt, but curiosity got the better of him.

  "Come on, Kyoka, just admit it. You messaged your boyfriend to help you with your stuff," her father said, a pyful smirk on his face.

  Kyoka’s face flushed, and she groaned, crossing her arms. “Dad, for the st time, he’s not my boyfriend! He’s just… helping out, okay?”

  At that exact moment, Izuku stepped closer. Kyoka’s eyes nded on him, and her usual nonchant expression immediately softened, her face lighting up in a way that didn’t go unnoticed by her father. Izuku smiled and waved. “Hey, Kyoka!”

  Her father huffed, muttering under his breath, "Not dating, huh?"

  “Daaad,” Kyoka grumbled, clearly mortified, as she grabbed Izuku’s arm and pulled him toward the back of the SUV. “C’mon, let’s just get this over with before he says anything else.”

  Izuku chuckled, feeling slightly awkward but happy to help nonetheless. As they opened the trunk, he noticed several oddly shaped cases among the bags and totes. He tilted his head, curiosity piqued. “Are these… instruments?”

  Before Kyoka could respond, her dad chimed in from behind them. “You bet they are! My little rock star can’t live without something to strum on. Brought all her favorites, too.”

  Kyoka’s face turned red as she spun around. “Dad! Stop embarrassing me!”

  Izuku ughed softly, brushing off the awkwardness as they began unloading. He admired the care Kyoka took with each case, noting how her dad’s pride in her was evident. Once they had everything stacked neatly on the dolly, Kyoka turned back to her father.

  “Well, thanks for the ride,” she said abruptly, her tone casual as she avoided looking directly at him. She grabbed the dolly's handle and started pulling Izuku along, but after just a few steps, she stopped and turned back.

  Without a word, she ran up to her dad and wrapped him in a tight hug. Her arms trembled slightly as she held him, and though she fought to keep her voice steady, her teary eyes betrayed her emotions. “Thanks for everything, Dad,” she said softly.

  Her father hugged her back just as tightly, his own voice thick with emotion. “You’re gonna do great, kiddo. Just be yourself, and you’ll be amazing. I love you, my little Songbird.”

  He pulled back slightly, gncing over Kyoka’s shoulder at Izuku. Giving him a firm nod, he silently communicated what words couldn’t: Take care of her.

  Izuku nodded back, understanding the weight of the gesture.

  With a final squeeze, Kyoka stepped back, quickly brushing at her eyes. “Alright, see you ter, old man. Don’t cry too much while I’m gone.”

  Her dad chuckled, waving her off. “You’re the one crying, kid. Go on before I embarrass you in front of your boyfriend more.”

  Kyoka rolled her eyes and grabbed the dolly and Izuku’s hand, pulling him along toward the dorms. She was quiet as they walked, her head slightly bowed. Once they were far enough away from the parking lot, Izuku stopped and gently pulled her into a hug. She stiffened at first but quickly rexed, leaning into him.

  “I get it,” Izuku said softly. “Moving away is tough. But hey, you’re not alone, okay? We’ve got each other, and everyone else here, too.”

  Kyoka let out a soft ugh, her voice a little shaky. “You’re such a dork… but thanks.”

  They stood there for a moment longer, Kyoka gathering her strength before pulling back and offering him a small, genuine smile. With a nod, she tightened her grip on the dolly’s handle. “C’mon, let’s get this stuff upstairs before my mascara runs. I can’t let my new cssmates think I’m a softie or anything.”

  “Right, of course not. You’re the badass rocker chick.” Izuku said with a smile, walking beside her as they headed toward the dorms.

  Kyoka shot him an appreciative smile. “Damn straight, Green.”

  As Izuku and Kyoka entered the 1-B dorms, they were immediately greeted by the imposing presence of the Pro Hero Vd King. The gruff hero was stationed behind a desk near the entrance, much like Yaoyorozu had been for Css 1-A. His sharp eyes scanned the newcomers as they approached.

  Izuku’s face lit up with excitement as he recognized him. “Holy smokes! It’s Vd King, the Blood Hero! He’s been a teacher here at UA for over a decade now. A real veteran dedicated to nurturing heroes!”

  Vd raised an eyebrow at the subtle praise but let out a low huff, clearly trying to mask any reaction to the fttery. “Welcome to the 1-B dorms,” he said briskly. “We’re here to turn students into heroes, not celebrities. Now, names?”

  Kyoka shook off her amusement from her friend’s excitement and stepped forward. “Hey there, I’m Kyoka Jiro.”

  “And I’m Izuku Midoriya.” Izuku chimed in a second after, though after seeing the teacher begin to look down a list of names, he added, “Oh, I’m actually in 1-A. Just here to help Kyoka move in.”

  Vd’s sharp gaze flicked between the two, and his brow furrowed. “Is that right?” He leaned back slightly, crossing his arms. “I trust you’ve read the Housing Code of Conduct, correct? Couples between csses are not allowed to share and stay in one another’s rooms. You are to stay in your own in order to foster retions with your peers.”

  Kyoka’s face turned a deep shade of red. “Not you too…” she groaned, flustered by the insinuation. “He’s just a friend! I asked him to help me because he’s rad like that!”

  Vd didn’t look entirely convinced, gncing pointedly at their body nguage. “Uh-huh,” he muttered. “You’ll forgive me if I have my doubts. I’ve seen plenty of ‘just friends’ over the years.”

  Izuku rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, unsure how to handle the situation. “Really, sir, we’re just friends helping each other out. Nothing more.”

  Vd huffed, shaking his head as he resumed his work. “Fine, fine. Just remember, students are expected to stay in their assigned dorms, no exceptions.” He handed Kyoka her room key. “Jiro, room 303B. Welcome to Css 1-B.”

  “Thanks,” Kyoka said quickly, already grabbing Izuku’s sleeve. Without warning, one of her extended ear jacks looped around his wrist, and she began pulling him along. “C’mon, Green, let’s go.”

  As they exited the check-in area, Vd’s low muttering reached their ears. “Young lovers these days… always in denial.”

  Kyoka groaned, her face still burning as they approached the elevator. “Seriously, Is everyone going to think we’re dating?”

  Izuku chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. “I mean, to be fair, they aren’t complete-”

  Kyoka held one of her ear jacks to his lips to interrupt him. “We've been through this before. I’m not ready.”

  “And I’ll be waiting,” Izuku muttered under his breath, completely aware his friend heard him with her enhanced hearing.

  The elevator ride to the third floor was awkwardly quiet. Kyoka stared at the numbers on the panel as if willing the doors to open faster. Izuku, meanwhile, fiddled with the dolly handle, unsure how to break the tension left by their unstated retionship status. Thankfully, when the doors opened, a new distraction greeted them.

  Down the hall, a fmboyant young man with blonde hair and a sparkling belt was struggling to maneuver a massive full-length mirror into his dorm room. The mirror, nearly as tall as he was, wobbled precariously as he attempted to wrestle it through the narrow doorway.

  On instinct, both Izuku and Kyoka moved to help. “Need a hand?” Izuku called out, already walking over.

  Kyoka nodded, adding, “That doesn’t look like a one-person job.”

  The young man, who spoke with a distinct French accent, turned to them and shook his head dramatically. “Non, non, merci!”

  A few moments ter, as the mirror nearly tipped over and the struggle grew more desperate, the man sighed dramatically and relented. “Très bien. I accept your generous offer.”

  With the three of them working together, they managed to maneuver the mirror into the room without further incident. Once inside, Izuku and Kyoka took in the sight of several other full-length mirrors already set up at various angles around the space. The effect was almost overwhelming, with reflections bouncing off every surface.

  Kyoka raised an eyebrow. “Dude, why do you have so many mirrors?”

  The blonde student struck a dramatic pose, his hand on his hip and his head tilted back as if basking in invisible light. "Ah, mon ami, I need them to see myself sparkle from all angles." he decred, his voice brimming with confidence. “A star must always shine!”

  Izuku snorted, unable to suppress a ugh at the sheer theatrics. “Well, you’ve definitely got the star power. I’m Izuku Midoriya, and this is Kyoka Jiro. She’ll be in your css.”

  The rocker gave her new cssmate a peace sign. “Yo.”

  The young man turned to them with a dazzling smile. “Enchanté! I am Yuga Aoyama, the radiant light of Css 1-B.” He struck another pose, his belt gleaming under the dorm’s fluorescent lights.

  “Right,” Kyoka said bnkly, clearly unsure how to respond.

  Izuku, grinning despite himself, gave a small wave. “Nice to meet you, Aoyama. Good luck getting everything set up.”

  As they stepped out of his room, Aoyama called after them, “Au revoir, mes amis! May your day be as sparkling as moi!”

  Kyoka closed the door behind them and returned to pulling her things toward her dorm room. “Well, he’s a whole vibe.”

  Izuku chuckled, thinking of css 1-B’s ‘Shining Star.’ “He seems nice, though. And…well… memorable.”

  “Memorable’s one way to put it,” Kyoka said with a smirk as they approached the door to her suite. As they entered room 303, they noticed a green-haired girl carefully pcing dinosaur stickers along the door to her private space. When she heard them, she turned around and grinned widely, dispying her sharp teeth.

  “Heya!” she said, bounding over to greet them. "I'm Setsuna Tokage. Looks like we're roomies."

  Kyoka smiled back. "Nice to meet you, Tokage. I'm Kyoka Jiro, and this is my friend Izuku Midoriya."

  Setsuna's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she took in the sight of Izuku. "Hunk spotted. You didn’t waste any time bringing a guy to your room. Hell yeah, girlfriend!"

  Kyoka groaned, already feeling her patience tested. “He’s not my boyfriend. He’s just my friend who’s helping me move in.”

  Setsuna grinned mischievously and extended her hand toward Izuku. “Pleasure to meet you, totally-not-boyfriend.”

  Izuku, always polite, reached out to shake her hand. The moment his fingers wrapped around hers, the hand detached from her wrist, leaving him holding it. Setsuna gasped dramatically. “What the fuck?! What did you do!?”

  ‘I didn’t use One for All by accident, did I?!’ Izuku’s face turned pale as he instinctively dropped the hand, stammering apologies. “I-I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to… I… Quick, we need some ice!”

  Kyoka’s jaw dropped, but as the initial shock faded, she noticed a distinct ck of blood or any real panic from Setsuna. Her suspicion grew as she narrowed her eyes. “Wait a second… something’s not adding up.”

  Setsuna couldn’t hold back anymore and burst into ughter. “Busted!” She wiggled her detached hand, which was still lying on the ground, and unched it into the air. Then she made it do a little dance before it zipped back to her arm and reattached seamlessly. “My quirk lets me split my body into pieces. It’s perfect for pranks.”

  Still recovering, Izuku clutched his chest. “You almost gave me a heart attack.”

  “Sorry, sorry,” Setsuna said, though her grin betrayed no genuine remorse. “When you got a quirk like mine, it’s hard not to! A great icebreaker, ain’t it?”

  “I suppose…” As Izuku’s heart rate slowed, his curiosity overtook his earlier panic. “That’s an amazing quirk, though! You can separate any part of your body? Are there limits to how far they can go?”

  Setsuna’s smirk widened, clearly enjoying the attention. “Yup! I can split into up to fifty pieces, and each piece is fully mobile for a good while.” She spun her hand in a circle for emphasis before letting it return to her side. “It’s great for multitasking and messing with people.”

  “I can see that,” Kyoka muttered, though her tone was more amused now.

  After getting his fill of questions asked, Izuku noticed something else that piqued his interest. Several times, he caught sight of some of the decor his new friend had up in her room. From a velociraptor bedspread to a mp featuring pterodactyls, there was a pretty obvious theme. Interested to see where the conversation could turn, Izuku gestured to the dinosaur stickers Setsuna had been pcing earlier. “You’ve got a lot of dinosaur stuff. Are you a big fan?”

  Setsuna’s face lit up as if he spoke the magical words she’d been waiting to hear. “Fuck yeah, I am! Dinosaurs are the coolest! T-Rex’s, triceratops, fuckin’ ankylosaurus. Dude, they are so fucking rad! Did you know stegosaurus had a brain the size of a walnut? Isn’t that like wild? It’s like they evolved to have only eating and fucking on the brain. Oh! And did you know-”

  Suddenly, it was like the tables had turned, and a different green-haired nerd unched into an enthusiastic expnation about her love of dinosaurs, from their fascinating history to her favorite species. At first, Izuku was overwhelmed by her intense knowledge and fun facts. Still, eventually, he was able to match her intensity with several observations he remembered from science csses growing up. As basic as they were, his simple facts fueled Setsuna into unching even deeper down the dinosaur rabbit hole.

  Watching the exchange, Kyoka shook her head with a small smirk. “She’s got your energy, Green. When you talk about quirks, this is exactly what you’re like.”

  Sensing an opportunity, Setsuna zeroed in on Izuku like a shark smelling blood in the water. She suddenly separated her top half from her legs, levitating her upper body until she was at eye level with Izuku. Wrapping an arm around his neck, she teased, “Maybe it’s because we’re both green-haired nerds. I knew I liked you for a reason!” Her smirk widened as her voice took on a sultry tone. “So, my fellow greenie, if you’re totally-not-her-boyfriend… You single?"

  Izuku, caught off guard, stammered, "Well, actually-"

  Kyoka, now flustered, intervened. "He has two girlfriends already!"

  Setsuna shrugged nonchantly. "Doesn't bother me. Mean’s he’s hot goods… which I’m starting to see for myself…”

  Izuku’s face flushed crimson, and he waved his hands in front of him nervously. “Uh, t-thanks? I mean, I’m not really-”

  Before he could finish, Kyoka grabbed his arm and pulled him toward her room. “Okay, that’s enough! We’ve got stuff to do.” She shut the door behind them with a firm click, locking it for good measure. She exhaled heavily, muttering under her breath, "Wait in line…"

  “Well, that was… something,” he muttered, gncing at Kyoka, who had crossed her arms and was gring lightly at the door as if Setsuna might barge in at any second.

  “She’s ridiculous,” Kyoka said, her voice tinged with annoyance. “What’s with her just coming at you like that?”

  Izuku scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. “I’m pretty sure she was just teasing us, especially after the whole ‘just friends’ thing.”

  Kyoka turned away, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. Once again, she cursed her own self-limitation. Shaking off the thought, Kyoka cleared her throat and gestured to her pile of bags. “Let’s just unpack, yeah?”

  Izuku was ready to do just that, except there was a problem. Kyoka’s dolly of belongings was still out in the shared space.

  Kyoka sighed as she realized the same thing. “Stay here. She might try flirting with you again if she even catches a whiff of you.”

  Izuku chuckled at the thought and watched as his friend performed her stealthy operation to retrieve her belongings. She stabbed her jacks into the wall to listen for where the predator happened to be. Once the coast was clear, it took only a moment for her to return with her things, smming the door behind them to keep out the carnivorous lizard that dwelled beyond it.

  The rocker breathed out in relief. “Shall we?”

  The two of them worked together to unpack Kyoka’s things, carefully arranging her belongings until her room started to take shape. Once everything was in pce, Kyoka's room had transformed into a cozy, music-themed haven. Posters of her favorite bands adorned the walls between her heavy use of soundproof padding. A common courtesy that Kyoka said was super important to her. Then, her desk was neatly arranged with a ptop, headphones, and various sheet music. All that remained were several instruments still in their boxes.

  “I’ll handle those ter,” Kyoka said, brushing some hair behind her ear. “Some of them are pretty delicate to set up, and it takes time.”

  Izuku nodded but then hesitated. “Are you sure? I wouldn’t mind helping.”

  Kyoka gave him a small smile. “I don’t mind spending the time with you, but I think I’ll manage. Besides, it’s kind of my thing, you know?”

  "Still… You've got a really cool setup here," He chuckled softly. “Though… I’d like to learn sometime. You know, how to py something. If you’re up for teaching me.”

  Kyoka's eyes lit up with excitement. "Really? I'd love to teach you some time! Uhm.. If you want, of course…"

  Izuku smiled, appreciating her enthusiasm. "I'd like that. It sounds like a lot of fun."

  As they were finishing pcing some memorabilia from her favorite Deep Dope album, Izuku’s phone buzzed with a text. It was from Kirishima, asking if he was still up for hitting the gym. Izuku texted back his response and began to prepare to leave. “I should get going. Nearly forgot, but I told my roommate I'd go check out the gym with him after lunch.”

  Kyoka nodded, a hint of reluctance in her eyes as she walked him to the door. "Alright then. Thanks again for helping, Green. It means a lot. I’ll… uh… see you ter?"

  "For sure, Kyoka. I'll see you soon. Try to get along with the new roommate," Izuku said, giving her a knowing smile.

  Kyoka jokingly scoffed at the notion. “Ehh, I guess I'll try.”

  Speaking of the reptile, just as Izuku stepped out the door, Setsuna’s head poked out of her room, her green hair bouncing with the movement. “Hey, Greenie! You do like dinosaurs, right?”

  Caught off guard, Izuku blinked. “Uh… yeah? Why not?”

  Setsuna’s grin widened, fshing her sharp teeth. “Great!” Before he could process what was happening, he felt a tug near his pocket and looked down to see her detached hand slipping a piece of paper inside. She reattached her arm in an instant and winked. “Call me sometime.”

  Flustered again, Izuku stammered, unsure how to respond. Kyoka rolled her eyes and pushed him further out the door, shutting it firmly behind him. After a few moments, she could hear his voice again through the door, this time calling out to someone about helping them carry a suit of armor or something.

  ‘Who the hell is bringing a suit of armor to their dorm?’ Kyoka wondered, but she forced herself not to open the door to sate her curiosity in order to avoid any more contact between her close friend and the carnivore, who was slyly grinning at her at the moment.

  Turning to her green-haired roommate, she tried to keep a neutral tone. “Hitting on your roommate's best friend is a bit forward, ain’t it?”

  Setsuna shrugged, her grin still in pce. “It’s just some teasing. Not my fault you haven’t sealed the deal with him. But hey, you know what they say… The early pterodactyl gets the juiciest meat.”

  Kyoka rolled her eyes at the attempt to make a dinosaur pun, but she didn’t respond. Instead, she slightly frowned and returned to her room, where her fingers traced the edges of one of her many instrument cases. Her promise with Izuku came back to her forethought, though not without a pretty prominent concern. ‘This is going to be a long year. Damn Green is a fucking chick magnet.’

  She only hoped she could reach her personal goal of becoming a hero and showing him her rocking self before someone else captured his heart.

  Weebvious