Chapter 26: Costume Curiosity

As they wandered out of the expo grounds and back into the main festival thoroughfare, Tenka began thinking aloud about where they should head next. “If we are to maximize our experience, perhaps we should prioritize the showcase next. They are likely to become more crowded as the day progresses.”

Before anyone could answer, Izuku’s attention was stolen by a very familiar sight.

At one of the picnic tables near the food stalls sat Ochako, Mina, and Itsuka. The three of them were surrounded by trays and paper boats loaded with festival food. Takoyaki, yakisoba, candied fruit, grilled skewers, taiyaki, and what looked like at least two different desserts. Ochako was in the middle of alternating between bites with an expression of pure bliss.

As if gravity itself had shifted, Izuku found his feet carrying him toward her.

“Ochako!” he called.

She looked up at the sound of his voice, and the moment her eyes landed on him, her entire face lit up. “Izuku!” she beamed, her excitement immediate and genuine.

He approached the table with a smile, stopping just beside her. “How’s the food?”

“It’s amazing!” Ochako said without hesitation, already grabbing a skewer and holding it out toward him. “You have to try this. It’s seriously so good!”

Izuku didn’t hesitate, leaning in and taking a bite from what she offered. The flavor hit him instantly, and his eyes widened in approval. “Whoa… yeah, that’s really good.”

Ochako giggled as she followed up with a bite off the same skewer. “Mmmm~ Right!”

Mina, who had been watching the entire exchange with barely contained excitement, clasped her hands together and let out a delighted squeal. “Oh my god, you two are so cute! Eating off the same skewer and everything. Eeeee~!”

“M-Mina!” Ochako flushed immediately, ducking her head as she giggled. Still smiling, she turned and offered some of her food to the others as well. “You guys want some?”

Tsuyu accepted a small portion of an untouched dessert with a polite nod. “Thank you, kero.”

Tenka declined with a courteous shake of her head, while Kyoka simply waved it off, more interested in observing than eating at the moment. She had to wonder how the hell the brunette could put down so many calories and still rock that body of hers. One glance at her endowed breasts was all it took for Kyoka to curse the unfairness in the world.

Meanwhile, as Izuku sat down with Ochako and naturally fell into an easy rhythm, Itsuka leaned back in her seat and looked toward the rest of the group.

“So,” she began, a hint of amusement in her tone, “how was the Tech Demo?”

“It was fascinating,” Tenka said, eyes brightening. “There were multiple thermal-regulation concepts that could revolutionize endurance-based heroics.”

Izuku perked up too. “Yeah, especially the vented coolant systems and modular heat dispersal supports. Some of the designs could seriously improve mobility quirks.”

Itsuka leaned forward with interest, her passion for motor vehicles coming in clutch. “Oh? Like active cooling?”

“Precisely,” Tenka replied, launching into a detailed explanation that quickly became almost absurdly technical. Within seconds, she and Itsuka were discussing coolant systems, pressure release, and the theoretical limits of sustained propulsion support.

Kyoka gave it about three seconds before quietly stepping away from the conversation, sliding over next to Mina with a knowing look. “So,” she muttered, “where’d Setsuna go?”

Mina pouted and stabbed at a takoyaki ball with her skewer. “Ugh, don’t remind me. Miss ‘important heiress’ got a call from her grandpa and ran off to help with something at the Hero Costume Showcase.” She puffed out her cheeks. “Which sucks because we were just about to get something juicy out of Ochako.”

Kyoka smirked. “Tragic.”

Izuku, catching the mention of the showcase despite only half listening to the engineering talk, turned toward them. “Hero Costume Showcase?” His eyes lit up. “I wonder what companies will be there. Showing off the next advancements in heroic protection and aesthetic presentation!” Izuku shot to his feet. “Which way did you say Setsuna went, Mina?”

Mina pointed lazily toward a more refined section of the festival in the distance. “Yeah, that big fancy area over there. Designers, pro heroes, all that high-end stuff.”

“That does sound worthwhile,” Tenka agreed, adjusting her glasses. “Observing professional costume design would be beneficial for our future development.”

“I’m curious too,” Tsuyu added.

Ochako glanced down at the food in front of her before looking back up at them with a sheepish smile. “I should probably finish eating first… You guys can go ahead, though! I’ll catch up in a bit.”

Kyoka shrugged. “I’ll stick with her.”

“Same. No rush here,” Itsuka said casually, lifting her coffee.

Izuku smiled at how quickly their little friend group came together. He then leaned down slightly and pressed a gentle kiss to his girlfriend's cheek. “I’ll see you there.”

Mina practically vibrated with excitement. “I just can’t with you two!”

Izuku laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head as he stepped away. “S-See you in a bit!”

“Oh no you don’t, mister,” Mina exclaimed, doing a half roll off the bench and bouncing to her feet. “I may have failed to get juicy secrets from Ochako, but that just means I have to try from the other side.”

She then sauntered her way towards the green-haired dork, somehow making an exuberant smile seem slightly menacing. “Which means that I am going to be tagging along with you, Mister Hunk.”

She then wrapped a casual arm around his neck, bringing Izuku into close contact with the pink menace. He tried looking away from Mina’s grinning complexion, as foolish as it was. Meanwhile, Tenka stood to follow, and Tsuyu followed closely behind, her dessert still in hand, simply enjoying the time out with friends.

The group made their way toward the Hero Costume Showcase and were in awe of its presence. Even from the outside, the structure looked far too grand to be something built for a single day. The white-and-silver structure rose over the festival grounds like its own miniature convention hall, with banners displaying the logos of various support and costume companies fluttering in the breeze.

The group slowed to a crawl as they crossed the threshold. The awe of what they beheld was overwhelming, beyond anything they had expected. The building had been divided into several sections, each one cleanly laid out and bustling with guests. At the entrance stood a collection of informational kiosks where attendants handed out pamphlets and maps of the exhibit. Beyond that lay the main showcase floor, a sprawling display of hero costumes, support gear, and promotional exhibits from major design firms. Further off to one side, a large panel room had been set aside for company representatives and designers to answer guests' questions. The entire building looked polished and professional enough to be a permanent installation, not something built to last only through the festival.

“Whoa,” Mina breathed, eyes wide. “They went all out.”

Tenka nodded slowly, clearly impressed. “The logistics behind constructing this for a single event must have been staggering.”

Tsuyu gave a small hum of agreement. “It is very fancy, kero.”

Izuku, however, had already ascended to another plane of existence. The moment his eyes landed on the first row of displayed hero costumes, all restraint vanished. He darted into the showroom with a sparkle in his eyes, muttering at a speed that would have made even Tenka blink.

“Oh wow, look at that chest plating, that’s definitely inspired by Crust’s older armor line, and that silhouette over there has to be based on a flexibility-focused support weave, and is that Midnight’s mark of approval on that bodysuit display, no way, the contouring on that is insane, and oh, oh, those frills, those have to be from the same design studio as the Wild Wild Pussy Cats’!”

The girls could only watch him in amusement as he bounced from display to display, pointing out details, design choices, and hero affiliations with frightening accuracy.

Mina clasped her hands behind her back and giggled. “He really is adorable when he gets like this.”

Tenka adjusted her glasses, though a small smile tugged at her lips. “His knowledge base continues to be astonishing.”

Tsuyu tilted her head. “He’s in his element, kero.”

Izuku was in the middle of explaining the practicality and origins of Crust’s armored aesthetic when he suddenly heard a familiar giggle far too close to his ear.

The husky voice then added, “You really are a hero nerd.”

He jumped and spun around so fast he nearly tripped over his own feet. Floating beside his head was a grinning mouth. Izuku yelped, and then immediately recognized the source as the rest of Setsuna’s body sauntered up behind it with lazy confidence, her detached mouth snapping back into place as she laughed at his reaction.

“T-Tokage!” The geek exhaled, calming his racing heart.

“The one and only,” she said with a smug grin. “I could hear you from across the showcase. Thought, ‘Yep, that’s definitely Greenie yapping about costumes,’ so I came to collect you.”

Before he could ask what she meant by that, Setsuna looped herself around his arm with shameless ease and began tugging him along toward the back section of the venue.

Izuku blinked as he let himself be pulled along. “H-Hey, wait, what do you mean collect me?”

“You’ll see.” She giggled, not giving him any room to question.

The other girls had to hurry to keep up as Setsuna pulled him through the crowd with the confidence of someone who had every right to be there. That confidence suddenly made a lot more sense once they reached a reptilian-themed company display tucked toward the rear of the building. And when Izuku saw what was on display, he stopped dead in his tracks.

At the center of the booth were two unmistakable costumes. One was the sleek, tightly wrapped ninja attire of Edgeshot. The other was Ryukyu's elegant and imposing draconic outfit. Both were displayed with prominence among a myriad of other styles and shapes, though they were clearly given greater focus than the others, highlighting the company's greatest achievements. Both bore a pair of plaques bearing the heroes' names and ranks, accompanied by the logo of Tokage Industries, Setsuna’s family company.

Izuku’s eyes widened until they practically sparkled. “No way...”

Setsuna smirked proudly and folded her arms. “Yep. These are ours.”

Tenka stepped closer, her own expression sharpening with interest. Mina let out an impressed whistle, and even Tsuyu’s eyes widened slightly.

Setsuna gave the display a little flourish with one hand. “I mentioned this to Greenie and sexy legs earlier, but my family’s company specializes in bio-engineered fabrics designed to react to a hero’s quirk factor. That means the material doesn’t just fit the person wearing it, it actively works with the quirk itself.”

She pointed first to Edgeshot’s costume. “Take him, for example. His quirk lets him stretch, flatten, and reshape himself in ridiculous ways. A normal costume would rip apart or fall off the moment he used it seriously. Our fabric lets the outfit transform with him, so he can keep full costume integrity while using his quirk.”

Izuku looked like he might ascend. “So cool!”

“And Ryukyu’s?” Mina asked, leaning in curiously.

Setsuna nodded toward the second costume. “Same principle. Her transformation puts a ton of stress on standard materials. So our design compensates for the scale and structural shift involved.”

“That is an extraordinary application of costume technology,” Tenka said, genuine admiration in her voice.

Tsuyu nodded. “That seems very useful, kero.”

Izuku looked between the costumes and Setsuna with unconcealed awe. “Your family’s company really made these? That’s amazing. Seriously, that’s hero support on an entirely different level.”

Setsuna puffed up a little under the praise, clearly pleased. “Obviously.”

Mina grinned. “Okay, rich girl, I’ll admit it. This is pretty cool.”

Setsuna tossed her ponytail. “Glad you noticed, babe.” Then she looked back at Izuku, and her grin shifted into something a little more teasing. “Shame your quirk doesn’t really fit the profile for one of our specialized suits, though.”

Izuku blinked. “Huh?”

“My family’s company is very strict about who we design for,” Setsuna explained. “We don’t just hand out adaptive suits to anybody. The quirk has to justify the investment, and we do a super rigorous interview to make sure the client matches our company's morals.”

Izuku gave a small, understanding nod. “That makes sense. Something that specialized would have to be a really big investment.”

“Mmhm,” Setsuna said. Then her grin sharpened. “Of course, if you really wanted a Tokage wrapped around you, all you’d have to do is spend a night with me.”

Izuku short-circuited on the spot. “I-I what?!”

Mina clapped her hands together, utterly delighted. “Damn girl!”

“Please do not encourage her,” Tenka said immediately, face turning pink as she stepped in and physically wedged herself between Izuku and Setsuna.

Setsuna pouted dramatically as Tenka took Izuku by the shoulders and moved him a full step back. “Aww, come on. I was just flirting.”

“You were being indecent,” Tenka corrected, though the blush on her own face made her look less than entirely unaffected by the conversation.

The lizard girl stuck out her tongue at the enjoyment-ruiner. “Booo~ No fun!”

With Setsuna’s flirting somewhat contained, the carnivorous girl practically took on the role of a personal guide. She walked backward in front of them with her hands clasped behind her head, occasionally having her eyes pop off and glance behind her, to make sure she didn’t run into anyone, naming companies and tossing out bits of trivia about their specialties with the easy confidence of someone who had grown up around this world.

“That section over there is AquaGear,” she said, pointing toward a sleek blue-and-silver exhibit dominated by water-resistant fabrics and hydrodynamic silhouettes. “They specialize in suits for aquatic and amphibious heroes. They’ve done work for Selkie and a few other marine rescue pros.”

Tsuyu’s eyes lingered on the display a little longer than usual. “I know them,” she said. “My costume was designed through AquaGear too, kero.”

Izuku turned to her so quickly it almost looked painful. “Really? Have you seen it already? Why’d you go with them?”

Tsuyu shook her head. “Just the follow-up from the design I sent in. I was aiming for a wetsuit for when I eventually go into aquatic work, so I figured they were my best option.”

That answer sent Izuku’s imagination somewhere dangerous. He immediately pictured Tsuyu in a skin-tight wetsuit, sleek and form-fitting, hugging every curve of her surprisingly soft and bottom-heavy figure. The image slammed into his brain with enough **** that he had to look away and clear his throat. Unfortunately, his face heated up in the process.

Tsuyu tilted her head. “Why are you blushing, kero?”

Izuku nearly bit through his tongue while Setsuna and Mina, both catching on to what exactly he was thinking, pounced without mercy.

“Aww,” Mina cooed, clasping her hands together. “Midori’s imagining how sexy Tsu would look, huh?”

Setsuna grinned wickedly. “Can you blame him? A custom wetsuit on her? That’s dangerous.”

Tsuyu blinked slowly, clearly not following the leap. “I don’t think I’m anything special.”

Izuku’s poor heart fumbled over itself at that. The thought of Tsuyu sincerely underestimating herself after what his imagination had just done to him was almost worse than the teasing.

“Seriously, babe? Your ass-” Before Setsuna could lean in and make things worse, Tenka stepped between them yet again with the weariness of a woman performing an already-familiar duty.

“Enough,” she said firmly. “Tokage, Ashido, your commentary is completely unnecessary.”

Setsuna threw up her hands in surrender, though she was still smiling. Mina only giggled and bumped Tsuyu lightly with her shoulder.

The group continued onward, passing displays for fire-resistant combat wear, adaptive armor systems, stealth-oriented fabrics, and modular support accessories. Eventually, Setsuna pointed toward another company display with a more industrial, rugged look. The mannequins there were broader, more varied in shape, and clearly built around bodies that deviated heavily from the human norm.

“That’s Henkei Kōgyō,” Setsuna explained. “They specialize in outfits for heteromorphs and heroes with more diverse body constructions. Gang Orca works with them, and so do a bunch of underground pros who need custom structural support.”

“Oh yeah…” Izuku murmured as he tried to recognize a few of the designs, but was surprised when he failed to do so. It was as he surveyed the few designs from Henkei Kōgyō that Izuku’s gaze wandered onto someone he hadn’t seen since his very brief interaction the previous day. Mezo Shoji.

The large heteromorph stood a little apart from the rest of the crowd, his imposing frame impossible to miss. He was studying the displays with a quiet intensity, multiple eyes and appendages focused on the layout of the suits and the tailoring methods listed on the placards.

Izuku smiled and approached him. “Oh! Hey, Shoji.”

Shoji turned and gave a calm nod. “Midoriya, right? And I see Ashido is with you as well. Hello.”

“Hey, hey!” Mina waved both hands enthusiastically. Thanks again for helping me move in yesterday. You were super rad. You guys should have seen him!”

Shoji inclined his head modestly. “It was no trouble.”

Izuku stepped a little closer and gestured to the others. “Oh! This is Tsuyu Asui, Tenka Iida, and Setsuna Tokage.”

Each girl greeted him in turn, and Shoji responded with his usual calm politeness.

Setsuna’s eyes wandered toward the company signage, then back at him. “You into Henkei Kōgyō?”

Shoji folded one of his duplicated arms and answered in the same low, measured tone he always used. “I am. As a heteromorph, finding a company capable of designing a suitable hero outfit is not simple. There are very few that can account for major anatomical differences without compromising function.”

He gestured toward one of the displayed suits, which had expandable seams, reinforced anchor points, and multiple modular openings designed for appendages. “Henkei Kōgyō is the one designing my Hero Costume. From what I understand, they are one of the better options. I have looked into them before, but I do not have much familiarity with their full design process.”

Izuku’s expression softened into thoughtfulness. “That makes sense.”

Shoji paused for a moment, then added, “They were also one of the few companies capable of designing something suitable for me.”

That simple statement hit harder than he probably intended. Izuku’s expression shifted as the implication settled in. “Only one of a few?”

Shoji nodded. “Unfortunately so.”

Izuku’s mind immediately began branching outward from Shoji’s situation. Hero costumes were one thing, but if this was difficult, then everyday life probably came with countless hidden problems too. Basic clothing, beds, furniture, transportation, even things like school desks and bathrooms had probably all been designed with only the standard body types in mind.

His gaze briefly shifted toward Mina and Tsuyu.

Technically, both of them counted as heteromorphs. Mina’s pink skin and horns, Tsuyu’s amphibian traits; they both stood out, but they still fit within a relatively average human shape. Shoji, on the other hand, had far more to account for. His multiple appendages, his scale, the practical needs of a body that functioned differently from the norm, those things likely changed nearly every part of his daily routine.

Izuku frowned slightly as he considered it. “I never really thought about how much extra planning that must take.”

Shoji gave him a sidelong look. “Most people don’t.”

There was no bitterness in his voice, just simple truth.

Tenka adjusted her glasses, her expression sympathetic. “That seems like a major blind spot in both industry and public infrastructure. One would hope hero-focused institutions would be more mindful.”

Setsuna crossed her arms, her expression sharpening in a way that showed this was not just some abstract topic to her. “The better companies are getting there. Slowly. But custom plans are expensive, and a lot of firms still treat heteromorph support like a side market. Unfortunately, my family’s company is too specialized to really expand into that field properly, but I know it’s a problem.”

“That sucks,” Mina said plainly, all humor gone from her voice.

Tsuyu nodded. “It shouldn’t be that hard for people to get clothes or gear that fit them, kero.”

Shoji looked at each of them in turn, then gave a small, surprisingly gentle smile from beneath his masked face. “I appreciate the concern. It is improving, slowly.”

Izuku felt something tighten in his chest at that. “That would be great,” he said earnestly. “Hopefully you’ll have too many options before long.”

Shoji regarded him for a moment, then gave a small nod. “That would be nice, Midoriya.”

The others echoed the sentiment in their own ways. Mina with immediate, heartfelt agreement. Tsuyu with a quiet nod. Tenka with firm conviction. Even Setsuna, usually teasing and irreverent, looked genuinely thoughtful.

Shoji’s eyes softened behind his mask as he listened to the others speak. He did not say much, but inwardly, he felt a small sense of relief. ‘If these were the sorts of people entering the hero world beside me, then perhaps… that future we hoped for is not so far away.’

His thoughts of the future were eventually shattered by a certain pink-haired girl tugging at his arm, a wide grin on her face as she did. “So you’re joining us on our tour, right? We got Lady Tokage herself giving us the deets!”

“Damn right you do!” Setsuna smiled. “Once in a lifetime, you know?”

Multiple of Shoji’s arms blinked at the sudden request. “I… Sure.”

Shoji allowed himself to be swept along with the others as Setsuna resumed her role as guide. The group moved deeper into the showroom, the displays becoming larger and more prestigious the farther in they went. The lighting grew more dramatic, and the crowd around them thickened, heightening the sense that they were approaching something important.

Setsuna smirked over her shoulder as she led them around a corner. “Alright, nerds. This is the main event.”

Izuku stepped forward, took one look at the centerpiece of the next exhibit, and nearly stopped breathing.

At the center of the largest display in the entire venue stood a pristine hero costume unlike any other. It was instantly recognizable, both in its iconography and in its sheer presence. The bright colors, the proud shape, the classic lines of its design all radiated strength and hope. It was an immaculate Silver Age outfit belonging to none other than All Might.

Izuku’s jaw dropped.

“No way,” he whispered. Then, much louder, “No way!!!”

Every head in the group turned toward him as the green-haired boy surged forward, eyes glittering with absolute adoration. He looked like he might spontaneously combust from excitement.

“This is one of his older costumes,” Izuku said rapidly, hands half-flailing as he pointed at the display. “You can tell from the broader shoulder line and the slightly more classic cape fastening style. This was from before he streamlined his movement for the modern era. It’s a full Silver Age design philosophy, larger-than-life silhouette, brighter colors, more symbolic visual strength than tactical practicality, but it worked because he was All Might!”

He turned back to them, practically vibrating. “Do you know how huge this is?! This is a piece of hero history!”

Tsuyu watched him with a calm, slightly amused look. “You really are a fanboy, kero.”

Izuku flushed a little, but he could not deny it. “I really, really am.”

Mina giggled while Setsuna crossed her arms with a smug smile that said she had expected exactly this reaction. Tenka looked impressed, though perhaps more by Izuku’s fervor than the costume itself.

Shoji, who had quietly followed them in, observed Izuku’s expression for a moment before speaking in his usual calm tone. “Would you like me to take a picture of you with it?”

Izuku whipped around so quickly it was almost comical. “Really?!”

Shoji nodded once, and the green-haired dork could hold it any longer. “Yes, please!”

As Izuku hurried to stand near the display, trying and failing to strike a pose that did not make him look like an overexcited child at a museum, another voice joined the scene.

“It is remarkable, isn’t it?”

The tone was smooth and carried the sort of confidence that came from age and status. The students turned to see an older man approaching them, his pointed nose and sharp eyes giving him an almost severe profile. He was dressed in an elegant suit that seemingly marked him as someone important, and he regarded the All Might display with measured appreciation.

“There are few symbols in modern history as powerful as this one,” the man continued, folding his hands behind his back. “An entire society came to believe in safety because of the man who wore it. Strength, certainty, security. All things built around the existence of one overwhelming protector.”

He tilted his head slightly, his expression contemplative. “Though one cannot help but wonder what becomes of people when that sense of security fades one day.”

Izuku blinked, then straightened a little, instinctively taking issue with the implication. “I think… even if that happened, people wouldn’t just fall apart. All Might didn’t only protect people. He inspired them too. He made people want to be brave, and heroes want to stand up for others. So I think society would keep moving forward because of what he gave it.”

The man looked at him, then smiled faintly, as though amused by the young man’s earnestness rather than dismissive of it.

“A fair and heartfelt answer,” he said. “My apologies. I did not mean to intrude on your moment.”

He then inclined his head politely. “Rikiya Yotsubashi. President and CEO of Detnerat.”

That got an immediate reaction out of Setsuna. Her posture tightened, and the easy teasing energy she normally carried gave way to something sharper and more guarded. “Detnerat,” she repeated. “Your company develops support items and everyday-use tools for the public to better utilize their quirks.”

Her tone remained civil, but Izuku noticed the difference right away.

She continued, “You’ve also funded a lot of philanthropic work and community support projects.” Then she narrowed her eyes just a touch. “Though I am a little surprised to see you at U.A.’s festival.”

Izuku glanced at her, confused. That description had been almost entirely positive, yet her delivery had shifted in a way that made him wonder what exactly was going on. Then he remembered her earlier comment during the jog, that her grandfather did not care much for Yotsubashi. Maybe that was all this was. Perhaps a family business grudge?

Yotsubashi did not appear offended. If anything, he seemed amused by her directness.

“I’ve recently taken an interest in the coming generation of heroes,” he said. “More specifically, I have been exploring the possibility of entering the hero costume development market. Detnerat already works extensively with quirk-adaptive utility products. Hero support is a natural next step.”

He gestured toward a side display not far from the All Might exhibit. “In fact, I have a prototype on display just over there.”

Shoji turned his masked face in that direction and paused. “That design… It’s for a heteromorph.”

Yotsubashi nodded. “It is. I apologize for eavesdropping, but I happened to catch part of your conversation earlier. You spoke of the difficulty in finding companies capable of working with your stature. Detnerat would be honored to provide support, should you wish it.”

“That is… generous,” Shoji said carefully, clearly surprised. It was not often that someone of Yotsubashi’s stature made such a personal offer, and certainly not after only overhearing a fragment of a conversation in passing. "But why me?"

“I believe that no matter who you may be, everyone deserves the right to express themselves and their quirks,” the man proclaimed, the message resonating with the masked heteromorph. “My company is especially suited to just that, and I would like heroes such as yourselves to never worry about 'finding the right company' again.”

Setsuna’s eyes narrowed as her protective instinct flared up. “Surely there’s a catch.”

“It is practical, Miss Tokage,” Yotsubashi corrected with a small smile. “Society benefits when capable people are not held back by a lack of infrastructure.”

Shoji hesitated. Izuku could almost see the thoughts moving behind that calm exterior. Just moments ago, they had all spoken about hope, about wanting a better future and more options for people like him. Now, standing in front of him, was the sort of opening that might actually help create that future.

“That said, there is no need to make a hasty decision like this.” From inside his jacket, he produced a stack of sleek business cards and handed one first to Shoji, then to the others standing nearby as well. The cards were thick, elegant, and minimalist, with Detnerat’s name embossed across the front in sharp lettering.

“When you feel ready,” Yotsubashi continued, addressing Shoji directly, “give the number a call. My secretary will handle the rest.”

Shoji lowered his gaze to the card in his hand. For a moment, he simply stared at it. It was only paper, but it carried with it the shape of a possibility, one that felt very close to the future he had just spoken of.

Yotsubashi placed a hand on Shoji’s wide shoulders and continued. “When you are ready, let's discuss your needs in more detail and see how we can tailor an outfit that suits you perfectly."

Izuku smiled warmly and gave Yotsubashi a polite nod. “Thank you. That’s really generous of you. I’m glad to hear your company is trying to do things like this.”

Yotsubashi returned the nod with practiced grace. “It is only natural. I would like to see a future in which everyone can be… liberated from those societal misgivings.”

The choice of words seemed to hang in the air for just a second too long. Then, as if catching himself before elaborating, Yotsubashi’s expression smoothed over once more.

“But enough of that,” he said. “Since we’re all here, how about I take a picture of you students in front of the All Might display?”

Izuku’s face lit up all over again. “Really?! Thank you!”

Yotsubashi took the phone from Izuku and, after a brief bit of arrangement and one warning from Tenka that “everyone should stand with proper posture,” snapped a few shots of the group in front of the Silver Age All Might costume. Izuku looked thrilled, Mina and Setsuna threw playful poses, Tsuyu stayed relaxed, Tenka stood upright and composed, and Shoji remained calm but visibly more at ease than before.

When the photos were done, the students thanked him once more and said their farewells. Yotsubashi accepted them with a calm smile, and the group began making their way back toward the venue's exit. Setsuna, however, slowed after only a few steps.

“Oh, right,” she said suddenly, tapping a finger against her cheek. “I was supposed to do something for Gramps back at the showroom.”

She turned on her heel, then looked back toward Izuku with a familiar, mischievous glint in her eyes. “Try not to miss me too much, Greenie. I know it’s hard~.”

Before Izuku could sputter out a response, Ochako, Itsuka, and Kyoka had finally approached from the other side of the corridor.

Kyoka took one look at Setsuna leaning a little too close to Izuku and immediately smacked her on the forehead with an earphone jack. “Back off, lizard girl.”

Setsuna laughed and raised her hands in surrender. “Okay! Okay! Later!”

Then she sauntered off before anyone else could stop her, leaving the rest of the group to reform around Izuku.

Ochako stepped closer, smiling sweetly as she looked between everyone. “So? How was the showroom?”

Izuku opened his mouth to answer, but his eyes drifted to Shoji first. The taller boy was quiet again, one hand lightly touching the pocket where he had stored Yotsubashi’s card, his gaze thoughtful and distant in a way that did not look unhappy so much as reflective.

Izuku smiled softly. “It was good.”

---

Yotsubashi remained standing near the All Might display after the students had left. The massive costume towered over him, bright and immaculate, the symbol of a society built on certainty and inherited faith. He folded his hands behind his back and regarded it in silence.

‘Those students were interesting. Energetic, idealistic, still unshaped in so many ways.’ Yet within that rawness, he could already glimpse the possibility of what they might become. ‘The future we envisioned, the liberation we sought, would not be born from empty rhetoric alone. It would need people. Symbols. Catalysts.’

As those thoughts settled in his mind, another voice entered the scene.

“Well now, this is a surprise.” A blue-skinned woman with rich purple hair approached with an amused smile, carrying herself with the easy confidence of someone used to being exactly where information was happening. Her fashion was eye-catching, and so was the sharp glimmer in her eye.

Yotsubashi turned toward her and let a polite expression settle into place. “Ah. Chitose Kizuki of Shoowaysha Publishing, if I’m not mistaken.”

Chitose placed a hand on her hip and grinned. “You remember me? I’m flattered.”

“You have a noticeable presence in the media industry,” Yotsubashi replied smoothly. “It would be difficult not to.”

The two exchanged the sort of pleasant public smiles that hid far more than they revealed. They spoke lightly for a few moments about the showroom, the festival, and the strong turnout from students and guests alike. Then Yotsubashi allowed the conversation to shift.

“I’ve found myself rather interested in UA’s incoming freshman class,” he said.

Chitose tilted her head at that and pulled a notepad seemingly out of nowhere, clicking her pen with a grin. “Oh? And what sparked that little… curiosity?”

Yotsubashi’s expression remained measured. “Only a personal interest. I would like to keep an eye on how they grow.”

There was a slight pause, then Chitose chuckled, the sound low and knowing. As a fellow member of the Meta Liberation Army, she understood him perfectly well.

“Well,” she said, scribbling something meaningless onto the notepad for appearances’ sake, “maybe I’ll keep an eye on them too. A little boots-on-the-ground journalism never hurt anybody.”

Yotsubashi smiled faintly. “Ah, yes… I would very much enjoy reading it.”

With that, he inclined his head and excused himself from the event, leaving Chitose to watch him go with curious amusement in her eyes.

Neither of them noticed the tiny detached ear tucked out of sight near the edge of a display wall.

Far away from the main floor, inside a standby room attached to the Tokage Industries section of the showroom, Setsuna sat with one leg crossed over the other, idly twirling a strand of hair between her fingers as the separated piece of herself fed her the sounds it had overheard.

“How curious,” she murmured to herself.

---

AN: Howdy Howdy! More of the festival! This time with some extra Setsuna and Shoji! Plus, we got a hint of a potential future plotline? I've always wanted to find a way to introduce the Heteromorph discrimination more naturally into the story, as well as Detnerat and the Meta Liberation Army. This is killing two birds with one stone! I hope you all enjoy it! :D

Be on the lookout for a couple of new stories of mine that I've been working on as Quests. They may or may not be why this chapter is so delayed...

As always, thank you all for reading, and be sure to check us out on my Discord for behind-the-scenes looks at all my writing. Lastly, a special thanks to Zephyr0F8 for beta-ing this chapter