A Slice of Life

“Can I meet up with Izuku now? Or is he busy?” You and Melissa had just made it back to campus. She had eagerly asked to come along with you, and you had happily agreed.

“I think he’s quite comfortable right now, Nemuri has just taken care of him.” Finding some rather masochistic tendencies in Midnight, you had decided to tie them to Izuku. If the vague sense of contentment emanating from his room was any indication, you’d been right to. “Why don’t you meet up with Mei? If I know her, she’ll still be tinkering away.”

Melissa’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “She’s my new colleague, right? The one who made almost two hundred different support items this year alone? Before you gave her Nezu’s quirk?”

“That’s the one.”

“Oh, we’re going to have so much fun! I don’t think I hit two hundred until my third term on I-Island. It’s going to be great to have someone else as passionate about this to bounce ideas off!” She looked off toward the main building. “Would you like to come along?”

You wanted to check how Nezu was coming along, but it would probably be entertaining to see the meeting of these two. “Why not? I’ll be able to see what Mei’s been working on.”

You led Melissa to the support classroom. The sound of Mei humming happily, and the gentle clacking of metal greeted you as you prepared to open the door. It was nice to hear her being calm for once, no maniacal laughter or explosions.

It would also be far more concerning in the future, you decided, as opening the door revealed a massive portal, luminescent blue, framed by a hodgepodge of scrap. Mei was tinkering with a small component on a side table, caught up in her own world.

Ignoring the otherworldly glow, Melissa hopped over to Mei. “Hi! I’m Melissa. We’re both going to be support engineers at Izuku’s agency.”

Broken from her focus, Mei whirled around, grabbing Melissa’s hands and bringing their faces uncomfortably close together. “Really? Will you? What’s your favourite screwdriver?”

Melissa was unphased by the apparent non-sequitur. “Number zero philips head. What do your goggles do?”

“Support item. My quirk gives me sensitive eyes, so regular welding goggles don’t work. Do you have any support items for yourself?”

“I was born quirkless, so no, but I did make a gauntlet that let Izuku use his full strength for three blows. Why are you trying to make a time machine?”

Wait, time machine? Your look through Mei’s mind had only gotten as far as seeing that the portal could teleport things.

“Normal support items are pretty useless with Ren here. She can change quirks up to remove their downsides. So I’m moving to things that quirks can’t do. Like time travel.”

“So you’re building a centrifuge?”

“There’s very little data on quirks that mess with time, so I’m in the ‘throw everything at the wall and hope something sticks’ phase of this.”

Melissa thought for a moment. “I think my dad had a bunch of data on Nighteye’s quirk. That could help.”

Mei let Melissa’s hands drop, cocking her head in confusion. “Who’s your dad? And what’d you say your name was?”

“My dad’s David Shield.” Mei nodded in recognition, which was about as close to starstruck as she got. “And my name’s Melissa. Trust me, I understand getting more caught up with work than people’s names. I was like that pretty much until I finished high school.” She grinned sheepishly.

Mei huffed. “It’s just so rarely worth it. People’s quirks are usually much more interesting than their personalities. Anyway, until the data gets here, do you want to see how many things you can fit through that portal before it explodes?”

“Sounds fun, Mei.”

Leaving those two to their reckless endangerment, you left to find the principal. He was once again in his office, tapping away at his keyboard.

He looked up as you entered. “Ah, Miss Yamada. I was wondering when you would be back. You’ll be happy to know that Mirko will be hosting combat classes here next week, starting on Monday. Additionally, it is now significantly more difficult to find suspicious clips of yourself, including the footage from your excursion into Tarturus.”

“Thank you very much, Nezu.”

“You’re very welcome, Miss Yamada.” You turned to leave, but were interrupted. “Before you go, by the way, I have a question for you.”

You didn’t bother lifting it from his mind. “What would you like to know?”

“Why do you use your power like you do?” His gaze was piercing. “Most mindbenders reject their abilities, become villainous puppet masters, or follow the example of Mister Shinso by committing to heroism. And yet, beyond your modelling career and your time with Mister Midoriya, I never found much evidence of you using your quirk.”

“My quirk is a tool, Nezu. Nothing more. The worst man I ever knew took visceral pleasure in breaking the minds of those around him.” Living with your father had been a singularly horrific experience. “I have also read enough minds to lose my faith in humanity. Izuku is the exception, the first and only good person I’ve ever met. He deserves happiness, so I use my quirk for him.”

“Do you not think you deserve happiness? And do you believe Izuku would be happy if he knew what you were doing?”

“I am happy, now that I can help Izuku. He’ll find out eventually, but I just have to show him that the world is better this way. He’ll understand.”

Nezu finally broke eye contact with you, looking down at his desk. “You adjusted my mind so that I wish for your success, Miss Yamada, so understand that I have only the best of intentions when I say this. You are delusional.”

“Shu-” You stopped yourself. Silencing him with your quirk was something your father would do. Not you. Reading his mind confirmed that he did, in fact, have good intentions. He was just wrong. “Shut up.”

Nezu nodded. “If you insist, Miss Yamada. My thanks for controlling yourself.”

You spun on your heel, leaving the office. You needed to see Izuku, that conversation had left you in a foul mood, and his adorable face and calming mind were just the cure you needed.

As you approached the dorm, you saw Nemuri climbing down from his window, carefully scaling the side of the building. She shot you a wink and a kiss, mouthing thank you as she left for the teacher’s quarters. That, right there, was happiness. What would Nezu know about happiness? Nothing. He was a rat.

Izuku was already downstairs, sitting on the couches, one arm around Momo. You threw yourself down next to him, snuggling into his side. His free arm came around to wrap around you, pulling you in tighter. You sighed.

“Everything okay, Ren?” He asked, concern evident in his voice.

“No.” You mumbled. “Don’t want to talk about it, though. Just want hugs.”

He lay his head on top of yours. “Okay, then. Hugs it is. How was your day? Apart from whatever made this happen.”

“Good. Fun. I met Melissa. She’s trying to crack time travel with Mei as we speak.”

“I mean, if there’s a duo that could, it’s them. I wonder if they’re going to use quirk studies? Nighteye’s could be useful. There’s also a team of european heroes that all have time-based quirks, though the closest thing to time travel that I’ve ever seen is Eri’s quirk. Even then…” He dissolved into muttering, mind moving at a mile a minute. Momo grabbed his chin and pulled him into a quick kiss to break him out of it.

“Remember, try not to do it in the middle of a conversation, honey. It isn’t polite.” She said as she pulled back her face

He blushed. “Sorry, I forgot.”

“I don’t mind.” You shifted a little, moving your shoulder to a more comfortable position.

“It’s cute. I like to see you get excited about things.”

“Thanks Ren.” His face was still flushed.

“I saw Melissa’s mind while we ran through the contract, by the way. She has one hell of a crush on you.”

“I- ah- really?”

“Mmmm. Thought I should warn you this time, given that the last few you got with were surprises.”

He was silent for a moment. A quick look at his mind told you what was running through it, and you sighed. “Izuku, I don’t care how many people you are with. I care that you love me, and more than that, I care that you’re happy. If someone is sleeping with you, and I’ve talked to them about that, then I can assure you they’re on the same page.” You were the one who reached up to kiss him this time. “Not everything needs to be thought through that much. Be with who you like, my love. I will always support that.”

“Do you want to be with anyone else?”

“If I one day do, I won’t hesitate to have that conversation.” Not that it would. “But unless it does, there’s very little point in worrying about it.”

The sound of faint sobbing interrupted your conversation with your beloved, and you looked away from Izuku for a moment.

“What’s that sound?”

Mina, sitting on the couch across from you, gestured to a quietly crying Mineta in the corner of the room. “He’s very alone.” She explained.

Jirou, next to Mina, jumped in to elaborate. “It doesn’t help that Tsu shot him down. What you said seemed to get through to him, but still. Months of being a sex pest isn’t forgiven in a day or two.”

Huh. You’d forgotten you’d made some changes to him. Maybe with a little more time to acclimatise, he’d become tolerable.

“I should go talk to him.” Izuku began lifting his arms from the two women next to him, but was stopped by Mina.

“Let’s be real, Midoriya, you aren’t the guy to talk to him. You’re living his dream, anything you say is gonna be a slap in the face.”

“Thanks Mina.” You mumbled as Izuku uneasily settled back down.

“Anytime.” She turned back to Jirou to continue her conversation.

You and Momo both spent the night in Izuku’s room, though the lovemaking was more reserved than normal. The next morning, after the residents of dorm 1-A left for class, you decided to investigate that Eri girl that your love had mentioned.

From what you had gleaned, she was housed in dorm 3-B in order to be closer to her current carer: Mirio Togata.

Mirio was remembered fondly by Izuku but, then again, so had Bakugo. Your darling’s sense of right and wrong was faultless, but his judge of character was not. Reading the man’s mind as he came to open the door though, you had to say Izuku was on the money with this one.

Apart from a tendency towards inaction, he was a beacon of cheer and morality. Hell, had you met him before Izuku, there might be a harem centred around a different man right now. There was little point entertaining that idea. The past was the past, after all. Or it was while Mei and Melissa’s machine lay unfinished.

The odd-eyed boy opened the doors to the dormitory, warily examining how much of a threat you possessed. Well, you could tell he was being wary, his wide smile and open demeanor didn’t betray a whit of his true feelings.

“Hi there Miss! Any way I can help you today?”

“Absolutely!” You said, matching his level of energy. “I’m Ren Yamada, Izuku’s girlfriend. I was hoping to see Eri. Izuku mentioned her yesterday, and she sounded like the most adorable little thing!”

Mirio laughed. “I’ll see if she’s around.” he walked back into the dormitory, relaxed frame not betraying the fact he had just lied to your face. Once he was out of sight, he pulled out his phone, messaging Izuku to confirm your story.

Thankfully, your boyfriend responded quickly, and Mirio returned with a sheepish grin.

“I guess you know what I was doing, don’t you?” Izuku had mentioned you could read minds in his reply. “In my defence, you’re a complete stranger, and there are still members of the Shie Hassaikai out to get her.”

“Oh, I understand.” You said cheerfully. “In fact, I’m glad you’re being careful. Not enough people are when it comes to kids.”

“Right?” He started off towards the back of the dorm. “So you’re Deku’s girlfriend? Nejire mentioned you a couple times. Said you were building him a harem or something.”

“It’s every guy’s dream, and I want him to be happy. That’s why you’re called Lemillion, right? That’s the amount of people you want to bed.”

Mirio laughed at your weak attempt at humour. “Given your quirk, I think you know that’s not true. Mister Nighteye would’ve liked you before, well, you know.” His smile didn’t falter, but you felt his mind darken. “But I really don’t think that is every guy’s fantasy. I know if I settle down at all, it isn’t going to be with more than one girl.”

He really meant that, too. “Well, it might not be every man’s dream, but Izuku is certainly happy with it.”

“Oh for sure. I hope it all goes well for you two. For all of you.”

“Thank you, Mirio.”

The conversation was cut off as you reached the spacious back of the dorm. The architecture of the place was the same as the first-year dorm, but the furniture was arranged entirely differently. Sitting at a low table against the window, sheafs of scrawl-filled paper surrounding her, peering into a terrarium of beetles, was Eri.

“I’m back!” Mirio called out, making sure to warn the girl well before he got close.

Eri looked up, massive eyes shining with reserved hope. “Mirio!”

“This is Ren. She’s Deku’s girlfriend.”

Eri slowly approached you, steeling her nerves to speak. “Are you a hero too?”

You chuckled. “No, no I’m not. Just a model who fell in love with her dashing saviour.”

“Oh.” She was struggling to find something else to say. The poor girl probably hadn’t had a chance to interact much, given her upbringing. May as well find some common ground.

You looked into Eri’s mind and you saw a girl with the power of a god. One whose father figure had used and abused her for his own sadistic ends. One who had given up on humanity. And one whose faith in humanity had been restored by a green-haired man who refused to give up.

It was like looking into a mirror, and you could not help but weep.

Mirio pulled a blanket off from the couch, wrapping it around your shoulders. “It’s not quite a cape.” He said gently. “But I hope it’ll help anyway.”

“I-I’m sorry.” You sniffled. “I shouldn’t have looked at her mind. I can relate a little too much.”

“I’m not sure what happened to you, but if you can remotely relate to Eri, then it must have been awful.”

“It’s not too bad. Not anymore.”

You felt a small tug on your clothes, and looked down at what had caused it. You saw Eri, holding out a sheet of paper. Every inch of it was written on in a shaky scrawl, all saying the same thing.

It will be okay.

“Saying it helps.” She said, eyes full of understanding.

You gently took it from her hands, holding it to your chest. “Thank you Eri. I don’t usually need to. Especially not since I met Izuku.” Eri didn’t say anything, but her mind had turned down a depressing route. “You’ll get there too, you know. He can’t hurt you anymore. And even if he could.” A quirk of All For One called Orator coloured your voice. “I would drag him through hell myself for trying.”

Orator made you more persuasive. You had no reason to use it normally, it was essentially a weaker version of your quirk. But you weren’t trying to make Eri believe you would actually do that. You were trying to tell her you believed that you would.

Eri nodded. She still didn’t smile, but you could sense that she felt a little better.

You stayed for a while longer, reading her quirk with Search. You didn’t copy it, deciding it too difficult to control. Perhaps once Eri got a handle on it you could get some tips from her, but for now you left that can of worms alone.

Finally, lunch came around. Mirio and Eri left for the cafeteria, and you went to find Mei.

She was alone in the support classroom, staring at a whiteboard filled with equations and diagrams, munching on a sandwich. As you entered, she bit into the sandwich, holding it in her mouth as she uncapped a marker to make a correction.

“Where’s Melissa?” You asked, leaning against the doorframe.

Mei looked over her shoulder. “Mmmph mph.” Reading her mind, those grunts translated to “my mouth is full of sandwich, read my mind.”

Yeah, that was fair enough. You looked past her surface level thoughts, and saw that Melissa had run off at the start of lunch to find Izuku.

“She’s not going to be back anytime soon.” Izuku was vigorous. “So I’ll tell you what I found out now.”

You began laying out the details of Eri’s quirk, delving into the mechanics behind it with Mei. On the edge of your consciousness, you felt Melissa pull Izuku into a closet. It had been a rough day or two mentally, but you felt like it was getting better now.