The elevator hummed softly as it descended, carrying Izuku, Katsumi, and Eiko down to the dorm’s ground floor. As soon as the elevator doors slid open, Izuku spotted a familiar figure waiting to step in. The one and only Momo Yaoyorozu. Her long bck hair was still neatly held up in a ponytail, though there was a hint of tiredness in her eyes. It reminded him how she’d spent a rge chunk of the day manning the front desk to greet new arrivals.

  “Yaoyorozu!” he greeted, stepping onto the ground floor with Katsumi hanging from his arm while Eiko trailed behind him. “How’s everything going? Earlier, I noticed there was a sign and a robot at the reception desk. I was going to ask about that.”

  Momo let out a soft sigh, waving her hand as if to dismiss any concern. “Ah, yes. As you know, I was temporarily assigned that duty, but the school eventually had a change of heart. Our Resident Teacher came by and repced me with a reception robot.”

  Izuku blinked. “A reception robot? I guess that makes sense.”

  She nodded, smiling politely. “Apparently, UA only wanted a ‘friendly, human presence’ during daylight hours for first-day arrivals. But after six o’clock, they decided it was more logical to station the permanent robot rather than tie up our teacher or another student. Our teacher also wanted me to get some rest.”

  Katsumi snorted in mild amusement, crossing her arms. “Sounds like a pain,” she muttered. “All ‘cause our teacher couldn’t man it themself? Must be zy.”

  “I wouldn’t say that… though he did look rather exhausted,” Momo offered in defense. “Regardless, I met up with my roommate afterward so we could share some time together. We barely spoke after our move-in, so it was nice to finally get to know one another and, well, eat something without feeling rushed.”

  Izuku smiled warmly, gd she'd found time to settle in. "I am really happy to hear that. I was actually about to invite you to join us for dinner. Perhaps we could even continue our conversation from earlier."

  Momo’s expression softened. “Thank you for thinking of me, Midoriya. I would stay to at least socialize, but to be honest, I’m… quite tired.” She gave a polite bow of her head. “Desk duties today were more taxing than I expected. And I do need some rest.”

  “Oh, for sure,” Izuku replied, not wanting to pressure her. “Then I hope you get a good night’s sleep.”

  “I appreciate it,” Momo said, returning his smile. “Also, my roommate Shiozaki is still in the dining area finishing her dinner. If you decide to head that way or need someone to share the table with, she’d probably be delighted to have the company.”

  “New friend?” Eiko grinned. “Hell yeah, we’ll keep her company!”

  Yaoyorozu giggled at the redhead's exuberance. “Be sure to do that. Good luck with your cooking. I’ll see you all tomorrow.” She offered a small wave and stepped into the elevator as the doors slid shut.

  “Let’s check things out then,” Izuku said as he pulled the girls along.

  Izuku led Katsumi and Eiko as they made their way to the dining area, briefly passing by a row of doors beled with a sign that read “Storage,” mirroring the other side of the elevators where the communal bathrooms and undry room were. The wide, polished floors and spacious hallways reminded him of just how much UA had invested in these dorms. The fact that the dorm was meant for only twenty students made all this space feel especially luxurious.

  “So there’s a lounge somewhere over that way, right?” Eiko asked, gesturing vaguely in the direction they were going. “I think I saw a few big couches and some TV sets earlier, but I didn’t get a closer look.”

  Izuku nodded. “Uh-huh. From what I can tell, the western half of this floor is basically the main gathering area: the kitchen, dining hall, and lounge. Then on the eastern side…” he turned his gaze in that direction. “...there are a few rger rooms. I’m guessing the Resident Teacher lives in one, but I’m not entirely sure what the others are for.”

  “Probably something me like a study hall,” Katsumi suggested with a shrug. “You think they got an arcade or something?”

  “Arcade!” Eiko lit up, excited at the idea. “That would be sick!”

  “Well, we are still in a school.” Izuku hummed, doubtful of the prospect. “But this is UA, so maybe there are some surprises.”

  As if the mention of surprises summoned one, they passed a series of gss doors that led out to the courtyard, where Izuku saw a neatly trimmed wn and the glimmer of a recreation pool. Even though evening was rolling in, lights around the courtyard were gently illuminated, giving the outside area a welcoming glow.

  “Oh, wow. There’s even a pool,” Izuku pointed out, pausing for a moment. “With there being a pool at the Rec Center, I wouldn’t have thought they would build one into the dorm’s courtyard. Wait… does every dorm have one?”

  “Are we sure we’re living in school housing?” Katsumi huffed in disbelief. “This joint is more like a private resort.”

  “True that. Looks more like a recreational pool rather than p ones from earlier. Ooh! I can totally see us grilling or hanging out,” Eiko mused before sheepishly adding, “Well, maybe I won’t grill. Mina says anything I cook turns to coal.”

  “Works for me.” Katsumi grinned, pointing a thumb at her boyfriend. “This guy can handle all the cooking. When he’s behind a grill…His meat is on another level.”

  “Kacchan…” Izuku sighed. “Don’t phrase it-”

  “Woah, no way!” The redhead bounced in pce, her imagination running wild with thoughts on all the sorts of dishes her roommate could grill up for her. “C’mon, you gotta let me try sometime! Please!”

  “You want a taste of his meat?” Katsumi smirked, clearly enjoying her fellow tomboy's denseness. “I don’t know… You haven’t really proven yourself just yet.”

  “Midoriya!” The tomboy suddenly rushed up to him and pressed herself into his chest. “What can I do to prove myself to have your meat!?”

  “Don’t drag me into this…” Izuku sighed, trying his best not to look down at the girl's cleavage as she bore her earnest ruby eyes into his. It hadn’t really crossed his mind before, but somehow, Retcon always seemed to make his formerly male friends absolute beauties. Kirishima was no exception.

  “Please!” Eiko pleaded from the bottom of her heart, her eyes transforming into the soulful stare of the dreaded puppy-dog eyes.

  Despite the tomboy's obviously different intent, Izuku couldn't help but picture what his girlfriend was implying. Instead of the entrance to the courtyard, they were back in their dorm. Pressed together more intimately than they were now. Her rosy face matched the hue of her hair as she sent him a smouldering gaze. Breathless words tumbled from her swollen lips… ‘Give me your meat.’

  A tap on his shoulder startled Izuku right out of what happened next in his imagination. Looking over his shoulder, he sees a smug Katsumi eyeing him closely. Gulping, Izuku turned back to the redhead, patiently awaiting an answer, and mumbled out his response. “I’ll… see what I can do.”

  Lights twinkle in Eiko’s crimson eyes as pure happiness floods them. “Woo-hoo, I have the best roommate ever! I love you, man!”

  Her procmation may have been ptonic to her, but it only added to Izuku’s flustered state. Despite how often his lovers uttered those three words, he couldn’t deny the effect that they had upon him. Just hearing them directed toward him made him weak in the knees. As his heart recovered from the critical hit, Izuku watched the tomboy skip off ahead, leaving him in the dust before he could comment on her word choice.

  Meanwhile, Katsumi sidled up to her man and looped herself around his arm. Grinning from ear to ear, she whispered in his ear. “So you really want to give her your meat, huh nerd?”

  “S-Shut up.” Izuku sighed, red-faced and already exhausted. “You started this.”

  “Don’t worry, babe.” Katsumi gnced between the redhead and the growing mass in her man’s pant leg with increasing fervor. “I’ll figure something out.”

  With the topic of his meat being put to rest, the trio continued to the dining area, where rows of tables and chairs were neatly arranged. Beyond it y the kitchen, fully stocked with professional-grade appliances, a handful of cooking stations, and a wall of cabinets that looked freshly filled with ingredients. Eiko let out a quiet whistle, clearly impressed.

  While she did so, Izuku’s eyes darted across the dining area, taking in the long tables, plush chairs, and bright overhead lighting. Sure enough, sitting at one end of the long communal tables was a young woman with a mane of vine-like locks neatly coiled around her head. Eating her bread bowl filled with soup, she suddenly paused mid-bite as she noticed the newcomers. She quickly pced her spoon back as she spoke. “Oh, it's the really forward boy from this afternoon.”

  The lightbulb of recognition went off in Izuku’s own head. “Oh! You’re the one I almost knocked over earlier,” he said in a rush, cheeks tinged pink. “Hey, I’m really sorry about that. I was in such a hurry, and-”

  “Seriously, Deku. Just how many girls did you 'bump into' today?” Katsumi teased, elbowing him lightly in the ribs.

  The vine-headed girl carefully set down what remained of her soup bowl. “Th-there’s no need to apologize so earnestly. It was only an accident.”

  “Still…” Izuku trailed off before recalling a critical detail. “That’s right, I never caught your name. I’m Izuku Midoriya.”

  “Ah, true. Let’s rectify that.” She offered a polite bow from her seat. “My name is Ibara Shiozaki. I regret not introducing myself properly before. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Midoriya. A-And your… friends as well.”

  Izuku dipped his head in return, a little self-conscious under Katsumi’s suspicious stare. “It’s nice to properly meet you, Shiozaki.”

  Katsumi gave a curt nod. “Katsumi Bakugou,” she said before gesturing to Izuku. “I’m his bitch.”

  Izuku’s heart stopped as Shiozaki’s face went red. “O-Oh my.”

  Before Izuku could chastise his love for her crude manner of speech, Eiko politely stepped forward next, fshing a friendly smile. “Eiko Kirishima. How’s the kitchen? Looks like it’s packed with stuff!”

  Shiozaki turned to the redhead and brightened slightly at her greeting. “Uhm… Yes! My roommate and I investigated and found that it was fully stocked. I made some broccoli cheddar soup in a bread bowl, which unfortunately took much longer to make than I would have hoped.” She motioned to the half-eaten meal. “I wasn’t sure if it was all right to use some of the supplies… but hunger got the better of me.”

  “Eh… I doubt that’s a problem,” Eiko assured her, waving a hand dismissively. “If the school stocked it, it’s meant for us to eat. That’s probably why they built this pce in the first pce, right?”

  “Yaoyorozu said the same thing.” Shiozaki smiled. “I appreciate your reassurance.”

  Before Izuku could say more, the soft chime of the elevator sounded from across the floor. Moments ter, the doors slid open, revealing Ochako and Itsuka stepping out together. Ochako’s eyes sparkled when she spotted Izuku.

  “There you are!” Ochako called, making a beeline for Izuku. She joined him in a warm, quick kiss by way of greeting, which he returned, albeit with an embarrassed chuckle. Itsuka grinned at the scene, gncing over at Katsumi and Eiko with a friendly wave.

  Shiozaki’s eyes widened at the sight, and she gave a startled blink. Despite the ash-blonde girl's vulgar procmation of her status as ‘his bitch,’ this was clearly a different girl sharing a kiss with him. She seemed a little thrown, yet Katsumi’s ck of distress over another woman kissing her man told Shiozaki everything she needed to know. There was more to Izuku’s retionships than she’d initially realized.

  Izuku gently pulled back and surprised Ochako with a possessive grip of her waist. Not that she minded in the least. “Shiozaki, this is Ochako Uraraka, my second girlfriend,” he expined. “Oh! And that’s Itsuka Kendo, her roommate.”

  “Heya.” Itsuka waved, already moving closer to the kitchen to get a better look at the amenities.

  Shiozaki’s eyes momentarily went wide. “I see…” Her voice was soft. It was clear she wasn’t quite sure how to handle the reality of someone having multiple partners.

  Katsumi slipped her hands into her pockets. “There a problem, Thorny?”

  “T-Thorny?” Shiozaki shook her head quickly, her vines swaying. “N-not at all. It’s just… unusual for me. My beliefs… well, they emphasize more traditional retionships.” She hesitated, not wanting to offend anyone. “I-I hope you understand if I’m a bit uncertain how to respond.”

  “It’s okay,” Ochako said softly, offering Shiozaki a reassuring smile. “It’s not for everyone, and we’re not asking for approval or anything.”

  Shiozaki exhaled, relief flickering across her features as she pced a hand over her heart. “Thank you for understanding. I do wish you all happiness.”

  With that, she turned back to her half-eaten soup, eager to focus on something less delicate. She lifted the spoon to her mouth again. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll… finish my meal. I wouldn’t want it to get cold.”

  The table fell into a slightly awkward silence for a moment, but it was obvious Shiozaki meant no offense. She simply had no experience dealing with poly retionships. Hoping to ease the mood, Eiko cleared her throat. “So dinner, am I right?”

  “Yes!” Izuku leaped for the chance to change out of the awkward atmosphere. “Let’s figure out what we can throw together.”

  Ochako nodded enthusiastically, and Itsuka rolled up her sleeves, looking game. The group congregated in front of the rge isnd counter in the fully equipped kitchen. Katsumi, leaning against the counter with her arms folded, had a smug grin on her face.

  “Ladies, by the way,” she announced, pointing at Izuku, “Deku said he wanted to cook for us. So he’ll be leading the charge.”

  “Meat!?” Eiko squealed, confusing the other girls in the process.

  Izuku should have seen this coming after she was hyping him up to Eiko just moments ago. The other girls shared an expectant look that sealed the deal for him. “Yeah, sure,” he relented. “I’m not the best cook or anything. I just have some experience cooking with my mom, but I’m hardly-”

  “Oh, c’mon,” Ochako chimed in sweetly, sidling up beside him. “You’re just being modest. I know for a fact you can whip up a mean meal, Izuku. Besides, I’ll help out!”

  “I’m not too shabby at cooking either, so I don’t mind being an extra pair of hands either,” Itsuka added, more than ready to get to work.

  “Oooh! I’m-” Eiko started, but once again remembered that she had a complete ck of skill in the kitchen. “-gonna sit this one out, I think…”

  “No problem, Kirishima. I think we've got this covered.” Ochako gave her a thumbs up and a sweet smile.

  Izuku hyped himself up. This was the first meal he cooked for people who weren’t his lovers or family. He had to perform. “Alrighty then. Any ideas?”

  With that, the trio began tossing around dinner ideas. Eiko leaned against the high counter across from them, chin resting on her palm, while Katsumi stood nearby, occasionally interjecting but mostly letting the rest pick out dishes. At st, two clear winners emerged: cssic katsudon and a heaping pte of spaghetti and meatballs.

  Izuku set about gathering the rice, meat, breadcrumbs, and everything else needed for katsudon; Ochako and Itsuka tackled the spaghetti side, rummaging for pasta, tomatoes, and ground meat. Meanwhile, Eiko and Katsumi took a seat near the counter, engaging in some light banter.

  It wasn’t long before the hum of the elevator caught everyone’s attention. Out burst Mina, carrying her typical high-energy aura. She practically bounced across the floor, zeroing in on Eiko the moment she spotted her.

  “Eiiiiiiiiiiikooooo!” she shouted, tackling her bestie into a hug. “Hey-hey guys! What’s cooking, good lookin’s?”

  Before Eiko could answer, Katsumi smirked, jerking her thumb at Izuku, who was meticulously dipping pork cutlets in batter. “My man’s hooking us all up with dinner.”

  Mina let out an exaggerated gasp, turning her gaze to Izuku. “Wooow, Midori! You’re totally husband material, aren’t you?” she teased, feigning a swoon.

  Both Izuku and Ochako, who were working side by side at the stove, flushed pink at the statement. Being called anything in the realm of husband was the furthest thing from Izuku’s mind, though Ochako couldn’t deny the statement. Itsuka just snorted at their reaction, amused by how easy it was to rattle them.

  Katsumi tapped her foot on the tile floor, arms still folded. “Damn straight,” she agreed, smirking slyly in Izuku’s direction. “He’s pretty convenient to have around.”

  “Don’t say it like that,” Izuku mumbled, cheeks afme. “I’m just cooking. It’s not that big of a deal.”

  Mina giggled, then turned back to Katsumi and the others. “Anyway, I’m Mina Ashido, Eiko’s bestie. Nice to meet you all!” She offered a little wave. “Heard so much about you guys already.”

  “Sup,” Katsumi said curtly, but there was a spark of interest in her eyes as she studied Mina’s friendly, open demeanor. “Name’s Katsumi Bakugo. Me and Pink Cheeks are the dorks women.”

  “That’s me! It’s nice to meet you,” Ochako giggled, turning around to fsh a bright smile. “I’m Ochako Uraraka.”

  Itsuka tossed a friendly greeting over her shoulder from the stove. “And I’m Itsuka Kendo. Gd you could join us.”

  “I’m so looking forward to getting to know you guys!” Mina smiled. She then turned to Eiko, leaning in conspiratorially. “So, whatcha been up to since we split, Eiko?”

  Katsumi seized the opportunity, her smirk deepening. “Oh, you wouldn’t believe what your bestie-”

  Eiko’s eyes went wide, and her cheeks fred crimson. Quick as a fsh, she cpped a hand over Katsumi’s mouth. “N-nothing! Nothing that important happened,” she stammered, trying to keep her voice light. “Just a normal shower. Then we came down for dinner…”

  “Oi! Hands off Brick Tits!” Katsumi struggled out of her fellow tomboy's grasp. “Only Deku can gag me!”

  Shiozaki nearly had a spit take at the explosive blonde's proctivities. Izuku only sighed while the rest of the girls giggled. Meanwhile, Mina’s brows rose suspiciously. “As much as I’m down to talk kinks… Eiko, Babe, Bestie, you do remember I can smell gossip like a shark smells blood, right?” She gently wrapped an arm around Eiko’s shoulder and loudly whispered in her ear. “You better spill the tea ter!”

  Eiko groaned, though a small smile tugged at her lips. “Seriously, can’t I have any privacy…?”

  Mina let out a loud ugh. “C’mon, we’re like sisters. It’s my job to get all the details.”

  A glint entered Eiko’s eyes as she remembered that she had ammunition. “It’s not like you want me talking about how at the gym y-”

  “Okay! Fine, I get it!” Mina interrupted, pouting as she let the subject die off. But she was far from dropping it. ‘Does it involve Midori? Oooh girl! I will get to the bottom of this.’

  From across the counter, Izuku huffed a relieved ugh, grateful Eiko had cut Katsumi off before she shared too much about the earlier incident. He had just wrapped up forming the meatballs and passed them along to the girls to cook while he began focusing on frying the pork. Ochako and Itsuka worked seamlessly as they tag-teamed the spaghetti, now with the meatballs and sauce in the works. Soon, the enticing aromas of frying pork and simmering tomato sauce flooded the kitchen.

  No sooner had Izuku set the st batch of pork cutlets aside to drain than the automatic doors at the dorm’s main entrance slid open, catching the group’s attention. A young man in a hoodie ambled in, exuding an air of id-back confidence. He paused, sweeping his gaze over the people scattered around the dining area.

  “Hey!” he called, drawing immediate notice. “I’m Kosei Tsuburaba. I reckon you folks are my cssmates.” His grin was rge and contagious, though Izuku could sense a flicker of intrigue in the newcomer’s eyes as he scanned the various girls with interest.

  Eiko brightened, waving him over. “Oh, hey! Another friend, huh? Nice to meet you, man! Wanna join us for dinner?”

  Mina hopped up, arms crossed behind her head. “You totally should! We’ve got a small feast in the works, courtesy of our personal chef.” She punctuated the remark by pointing at Izuku, who was in the middle of transferring pork cutlets to a cooling rack.

  Tsuburaba gnced at Izuku, and as far as Tsuburaba could tell, he was apparently at the center of quite a few lovely female cssmates’ attention. The newcomer’s grin grew slightly more fixed, though he managed to keep his tone jovial. “Oh, yeah? Sounds great. I was just about to make dinner pns with my roommate, actually. Mind if I invite him, too?”

  Eiko shrugged, smiling easily. “Sure thing. The more, the merrier, right?” She looked to Izuku for confirmation, and he offered a thumbs-up, though he pursed his lips when he realized it meant preparing more servings.

  “Right. We’ve got plenty of ingredients,” Izuku said, trying not to let the minor stress show. He made a mental note to scale up the recipe on the spot.

  Itsuka caught on to Izuku’s subtle worry and giggled softly. “Don’t worry, I got you,” she murmured, moving to grab a few extra potatoes and more tomato paste for the sauce.

  “Sweet!” Tsuburaba enthused. “Be right back, then.” He hurried off to the elevator, presumably to gather his mystery roommate.

  In the meantime, Katsumi and Ochako both started setting extra pces at the rge dining table. Mina chatted excitedly with Eiko about new cssmates, wondering aloud who else they’d end up meeting. Shiozaki, feeling more comfortable now, quietly offered to help bring out cups and utensils.

  Not much ter, the elevator dinged again. Tsuburaba returned, this time with a distinctly reserved figure trailing behind him: a bird-headed young man whose very presence seemed to exude a calm, almost brooding aura.

  “This is my roommate, Fumikage Tokoyami,” Tsuburaba announced. “A pretty fly guy.”

  Tokoyami rolled his eyes at the avian pun and offered a small bow, voice low and composed. “Greetings. I appreciate the invitation to dine with you.”

  Izuku turned from the stove, wiping his hands on a dish towel. He blinked in recognition. “Wait, we’ve met before, right?” His eyes lit up as he recalled the memory. “You’re the one who helped me that day at the mall. When I was, uh, chasing after a friend.”

  A flicker of realization came to Tokoyami’s avian features. “I do recall something along those lines. At the music store, no?”

  Ochako turned to Izuku, confused. “What's this about?”

  “Yeah, that was the day Kyoka.. You know.” Izuku started to say.

  Ochako quickly recalled the circumstances and dropped her question. “Ah, right, right. So he’s the one who helped you out?”

  Izuku nodded, appreciating his girlfriend for not having to expin to his new friend group how a third girl had confessed to him. “That’s right. He pointed me in the right direction so I could catch up to her. I really appreciate that. Thank you again.”

  Tokoyami dipped his head in acknowledgment. “It was no trouble. I simply did what I thought was necessary.” He gnced around, noticing the girls present. “I gather the young woman you mentioned is not… here?”

  Izuku shook his head. “She’s actually in css 1-B. She’s also one of my close friends.” He supplied before adding. “But even though she’ll be in a different dorm, I’m sure we’ll see her around.”

  Tokoyami nodded, evidently satisfied. “Understood.”

  Meanwhile, Tsuburaba was already grabbing a seat next to Mina. He gnced around, mouth watering as he spotted the piping hot pans, pots, and bowls of simmering sauce. “Man, this looks amazing,” he said, voice brimming with enthusiasm. His gaze flicked from Eiko to Katsumi and quickly settled on the other girls as well. ‘And I’m in great company, too.’

  Eiko chuckled, giving Tokoyami a small wave to invite him closer. “Hey, come take a seat! Food’s almost ready!”

  Tokoyami nodded politely. “Thank you. This is a generous dispy of hospitality.”

  With that, he perched himself at the table, quietly observing the lively banter. With the bird-headed young man situated for conversation, Izuku returned to work, carefully pting the finished katsudon while Ochako drained the spaghetti. Itsuka stirred the sauce and slipped the st batch of meatballs into the pot to simmer.

  It wasn’t long before ptes clinked and cttered as everyone lined up to serve themselves from the steaming pots of katsudon and the hot pan of spaghetti and meatballs. Izuku stood by, dle in hand, feeling equal parts relieved and proud that the food had turned out well. Especially considering it was a spur-of-the-moment meal with so many new faces around. Katsudon was among his favorite dishes, so he hoped he did his mother's recipe at least some justice.

  “Easy, Kirishima,” Itsuka teased, gently steering Eiko’s hand away from scooping a mountain of spaghetti when she already had a helping of katsudon. “You’ll clear the entire dish if you’re not careful.”

  Eiko gave a sheepish grin, setting down the oversized serving of noodles on her pte. “Sorry, it just looks so good.”

  Shiozaki, who had been quietly finishing up her soup, slipped over with her bowl and carefully dled a small portion of pasta onto a side dish. “It does smell wonderful,” she murmured appreciatively. Meanwhile, Katsumi lounged by the counter, arms folded and a confident smirk pstered on her face, as though she’d been the one sving away in the kitchen all evening.

  Once everyone had settled with their meals, Mina took a big bite of her katsudon, her eyes going wide in delight. “Oh my gosh, Midori! This is amazing!” She held up her fork dramatically for emphasis. “Absolute total foodgasm!”

  “Bakugo wasn’t kidding!” Eiko started to say. Somehow, Izuku knew he’d dread what she was about to say. “Midoriya’s meat is amazing!”

  Tsuburaba and Shiozaki nearly had a spit take at the tomboy's words. They were confused when they noticed a ck of reaction from anyone else. As for the others, they were already quite used to the redhead's outbursts.

  “You could say that again!” Mina agreed, taking a big chomp out of her pork. Izuku could only sigh as Katsumi shot him an amused chuckle.

  All around the table, murmurs of agreement eventually rippled. Even Ochako and Itsuka beamed at the indirect praise, happy their teamwork in the kitchen had paid off. Izuku’s cheeks warmed, and he rubbed the back of his neck, trying not to fidget under the flood of genuine compliments.

  “R-really, it was a group effort,” he insisted, gncing at Ochako and Itsuka. “I couldn’t have done it without them. They made the sauce and prepared all of the accompaniments.”

  Ochako blushed a little, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. “Heh, thanks, but you were the one who handled most of the katsudon and the meatballs.”

  Itsuka nodded around a mouthful of spaghetti. “You may have carried, but I’d say it was a team effort.”

  Across the table, Tsuburaba couldn’t help but notice the way all the girls sang Izuku’s praises, sending some part of him inwardly pouting in jealousy. Still, he grudgingly admitted to himself that the food was delicious. Another bite of pork cutlet reminded him there was no denying the green-haired guy had culinary skills to match his luck with women.

  In between mouthfuls, the conversation drifted toward their first day on campus. Eventually, the topic of the dorm facilities came up, and Mina brought up the pool. “I saw it earlier when I peeked out at the courtyard,” she said, swirling her fork in the spaghetti sauce. “We’ve gotta have a pool day at some point. Maybe next weekend or something!”

  At the mention of a pool day, a flicker of excitement lit up in the eyes of the male students. Tsuburaba coughed awkwardly, picturing a potential lineup of bikini-cd cssmates. Izuku, on the other hand, was getting quite accustomed to the sight of his girlfriends in swimwear. Yet he couldn't quite stop himself from picturing them anyway, and he couldn't stop what fshes of pink and red joined his mental image of his girlfriends.

  “Yeah, that’d be sweet,” Eiko chimed in, blissfully unaware of the images dancing through Tsuburaba’s mind. “I mean, we saw how nice that courtyard area looks. I’d be totally down for a barbecue or something. Plus, Midoriya said he’d grill for us!”

  “Did I…?” Izuku mumbled, yet genuinely happy he had friends who loved his cooking.

  “Let’s see how our schedules look once csses start,” Itsuka suggested. “But I’m in if you all are.”

  Mina cpped her hands together, practically bouncing with excitement. “It’s settled, then! We’ll figure something out soon.”

  Eventually, the st of the dishes clinked into pce on the drying rack, signaling the end of a successful dinner cleanup. Izuku wiped his hands on a towel, a contented feeling settling over him as he looked around at his cssmates. It was hard to believe how quickly they’d meshed in just one day.

  Shiozaki, who had been quietly slipping toward the exit, paused mid-step. “Thank you all for the meal. I think I’ll retire for the evening-”

  “Wait, wait, wait!” Mina excimed, practically hopping in pce. She swooped in front of Shiozaki before the vine-haired girl could slip away. “The night’s still young! We can’t let you head off so soon. We haven’t all gotten to really hang out together yet. One social game, I promise!”

  Tokoyami, also drifting in the same direction, let out a quiet sigh. “I… am also not one for socializing,” he stated, folding his arms over his chest. But before he could get another word in, Tsuburaba draped an arm over his shoulder in a show of camaraderie.

  “Oh, lighten up, man! We can’t leave these dies hangin’. Plus, I’m sure it’ll be fun,” Tsuburaba said enthusiastically. A mischievous glint flickered in his eyes as he fshed a grin at Eiko and Mina. Tokoyami let out a low sigh but didn’t object, clearly resigned to going along with his enthusiastic roommate.

  Izuku gnced at Ochako and Itsuka, who both shrugged amiably. Katsumi offered a noncommittal grunt while Eiko looked up from reorganizing a stack of ptes and nodded. Seeing all the nods, Shiozaki sighed softly, apparently caving to peer pressure. “If everyone else is in favor… I suppose I can stay a bit longer.”

  “That’s the spirit!” Mina cheered, nudging her forward. The entire group then made their way to the lounge area just beyond where they had been eating.

  The lounge was cozy, with rge sofas and a few beanbags arranged around a low table. Multiple TV screens and a stack of board games occupied one corner, while a few floor mps cast a soft, welcoming light over everything. The group sat in a loose circle. Katsumi, Izuku, and Ochako squeezed next to each other on one couch while Itsuka took up a recliner next to them. Then Eiko and Mina commandeered another couch, as Tsuburaba and Tokoyami settled onto beanbags. Shiozaki hovered uncertainly before Eiko wavered her over to cim a spot on her couch.

  “So, who’s got a game idea? Cards? Board games? Something else?” Mina asked, rubbing her hands together eagerly. “We need something to break the ice and get to know each other better!”

  Katsumi looked ready to veto anything too silly, but Eiko piped up first. “What about… Never Have I Ever?”

  ‘Oh boy.’ Izuku gulped. He was not looking forward to what his friends might learn tonight.

  Weebvious