Chapter 3: Tails from the Gym

The sun was high in the sky as Izuku and All Might found themselves back on the testament of their hard work and dedication over the past couple of months. Dagobah Beach was now virtually spotless as beach-goers finally began to take note of their exhaustive work and partook in the fruits of their labor. While they soaked up the sun and danced in the waves, Izuku stood in his training gear, sweat dripping from his brow. His every movement caused his muscles to ache, albeit pleasantly from exertion.

Ever since inheriting the awesome might of One for All, Izuku could hardly control its power. Through careful training, the most he could muster was roughly 2% of the overall strength. The percentage seemed nebulous at first, but any more, and he’d risk jumping straight to 100%, something that he quickly learned was far beyond his mortal body. At the rate he was going, he would barely cross the 5% mark he had hoped to break by the time the UA Exams began.

All Might, in his Small Might form, watched with a proud smile as Izuku performed another set of controlled punches, each imbued with a small fraction of One for All's power. Even with that little, the beach echoed with the sound of his strikes, the sand scattering with each impact.

"Excellent, Young Midoriya!" All Might bellowed, his voice filled with encouragement. "You've come a long way. Your control is improving every day."

Izuku beamed at the praise. Part of him felt silly at how easily he turned bashful under his idol's praise. But honestly, All Might was the Number 1 Hero. If he says you’re making progress, you are making GOOD progress.

Something had crossed his mind, however. Until now, all he had done with his mentor was pick up trash and practice punching. Would that be enough? No. If he wanted to stand at the top, he needed more.

He paused, catching his breath, and approached his mentor. "Yagi-Sensei, I’ve been thinking... the U.A. Entrance Exam is getting closer, and I need to build up a proper fighting style. I know you have your signature punching style, but I’m not sure if I should just replicate that."

All Might nodded, understanding the dilemma. "Hmmm. Finding your own fighting style is crucial. It needs to suit your strengths and abilities. My apologies, Young Midoriya, I hadn’t thought about that. You’re right. My style works for me, but it might not be the best fit for you."

Izuku pondered this, his brow furrowing in thought. He’d have to discover something for himself if that's the case. But where would he even begin? "So, how did you find your own fighting style?"

All Might leaned back slightly, reminiscing. "I experimented with various techniques and approaches when I was but a young fledgling like you. Personally, I found that a strong, straightforward style suited me best, given my physical build and the nature of One for All. But it took some trial and error. What’s important is to find what feels natural and effective for you."

Izuku nodded, absorbing the wisdom. "I see. But what do you think I should look into if I'm not just replicating your style?"

All Might smiled, his eyes twinkling with an idea. "Given your quick adaptability and analytical skills, I think you should look into mixed martial arts. MMA offers a wide variety of techniques—striking, grappling, and submissions. It provides a broad base and allows you to pick and choose what works best for you."

Izuku's eyes lit up with excitement. "That sounds perfect! Where should I start? Do you have any recommendations for a gym?"

All Might placed a hand on Izuku's shoulder. "Leave that to me, my young successor. I'll use my connections to find you a good place to train. The right environment and trainers can make all the difference."

Izuku felt a surge of gratitude and excitement. "Thank you, All Might. I really appreciate it."

All Might nodded, his expression serious but warm. "It's my pleasure. You've shown incredible potential and dedication. With the right training, you'll be ready for the U.A. Entrance Exam and beyond."

The following day, Izuku found himself outside of a state-of-the-art gym dedicated to martial arts. Using his cover as an Agency Trainer, All Might made the arrangements to get Izuku into the reputable mixed martial arts gym. The place was bustling with activity, with trainees of various skill levels honing their craft. The green-haired boy couldn’t help but feel excitement and nerves as he stepped inside.

The gym instructor, a burly man with a kind smile and a mustache, approached them. "Mr. Yagi, always a pleasure. So, this is the young man you've been telling me about?"

“Likewise, Coach Takeo.” Toshinori Yagi shook hands as he nodded with a smile. "Yes, this is Izuku Midoriya. He's been training with me for the past couple of months, and we thought it would be beneficial for him to get some professional guidance here—something to help him find a direction for his fighting style as a future hero."

“Future hero, eh?” The instructor looked Izuku up and down, nodding approvingly. "You've got a good frame, kid. But let's see what you can do. Care to demonstrate what you got?"

Izuku hesitated, feeling the pressure of performing in front of professionals. But with a reassuring nod from All Might, he agreed. "Alright, I'll give it a try."

“That’s the spirit, kid.” Coach Takeo grinned before turning towards a group of men practicing their kicks. “Oi, Ojiro! Get up in the ring. I've got someone for you to spar with.”

As the instructor called out, a young man with a large tail turned to meet their gaze. The blonde-haired man nodded his head respectfully and complied. “Sounds good, Coach.”

Following his opponent's lead, Izuku left his bag with his mentor and hopped up into the ring. There, he could get a closer look at who he was about to spar with. The man was just a little taller than him and had a massive tail resembling a lion's. Other than that, there was nothing else notable other than the fact that Izuku could tell he was well-trained based on the muscles he sported.

“Do you need a second to warm up, or are you good to go?” His opponent asked, expressing his sportsmanship.

“Uh, yeah, just give me a few seconds to stretch real quick,” Izuku replied in kind. “By the way, I’m Izuku Midoriya. Thank you for sparing with me.”

“Yeah, no problem, man.” The tail-man gave him a quick bow, his tail flickering with anticipation. “And I’m Mashirao Ojiro. Let’s have a good match.”

Izuku finished his stretch and put on his most confident smile. “Likewise, Ojiro. Don’t go easy on me!”

The two squared up, and after a brief explanation of the rules, the spar began. Despite his best efforts, Izuku found himself simply outmatched by Ojiro's agility and experience. Although they were asked not to make use of quirks, Izuku couldn’t deny that his opponent was more than capable without the muscular tail he had. Even without using it, he was able to maintain balance and deliver strikes skillfully, like a trained professional. The gulf between them was apparent. In a matter of minutes, Ojiro finished the match with a divisive blow.

Izuku, panting and slightly bruised, couldn't help but feel impressed. "Wow, you're really strong, Ojiro."

Ojiro blushed at the compliment and extended a hand to help him up, smiling modestly. "Thanks, Midoriya. You did well for your first match. You’ve got potential."

“I can see it.” A third voice intruded on their conversation. The combatants looked to the side, where they saw All Might and Coach Takeo critiquing what they had just seen. Takeo was the one who started and continued speaking. “He’s got something in there, all right. We’ll take him, Yagi.”

Yagi-Sensei sighed in relief. “I told you he had talent.”

The mustachioed coach snorted in response. “Ojiro, take your new partner and show him around the place.”

Ojiro nodded, still catching his breath. "Come on, Midoriya, let's start with the basics."

Izuku followed Ojiro through the gym, observing the various stations and training areas. The place was bustling with activity, filled with students practicing different martial arts disciplines. The sounds of fists hitting punching bags, the rhythmic thumping of feet on mats, and the occasional cheer or shout of encouragement created a lively atmosphere.

"This is the main training area," Ojiro explained, gesturing to the expansive space filled with training equipment. "Over there, we have the weights section, and beyond that, the cardio machines. It's important to balance strength training with endurance work."

Izuku nodded, absorbing the information. "Do you spend a lot of time here?"

Ojiro chuckled. "Pretty much every day. I take the train here after school most days. It's a great way to stay in shape and improve my skills. Plus, the community here is really supportive. Everyone pushes each other to do better. Even a ‘normal’ guy like me."

Izuku could tell there was a bit of self-deprecation in those last words but chose not to comment on it. Apart from that, as they walked, he couldn't help but feel a growing sense of excitement. This place was a haven for those dedicated to becoming stronger, and he was eager to learn from everyone around him. As much as he enjoyed his private sessions with All Might, being in a place like this wanted him to push himself to be even better.

Eventually, the tour ended, and the duo met with their respective mentors. While they were away, the adults had settled on tuition, with All Mights Agency taking the bill. Izuku wanted to speak up but was assured that his mentor had to do this for his sake. With that said and done, Izuku was formally enrolled in Takeo’s Gym with access to all its amenities.

For the next few weeks, a certain rhythm had been created regarding his training. On weekdays, Izuku would find himself at the gym, developing his fighting style and discipline. Then on weekends, he would spend time with All Might, developing his mastery of One for All. It was pretty balanced, though his girlfriend was getting annoyed with how much time he spent without her. To appease her, he got her enrolled at the gym as well, once again using All Might’s Agency as a backer. He could still see the wide grin on All Might’s face when the young man had asked his mentor for that favor.

Regardless, Izuku was getting stronger in both body and quirk. Not only that, he was also forming a stronger bond with his sparring partner, Ojiro. The blonde-haired man had become a good friend to him, especially after he revealed his dream of attending UA to become a hero. However, Izuku noticed something about his friend early on. As much pride as he had in his combat prowess, as soon as something was mentioned about his quirk, the tail-man would change in demeanor. It was almost as if he was embarrassed by it.

One evening, after an intense training session, Izuku and Ojiro sat on the mats, cooling down with some stretches. The gym was quieter now, most of the other students having already left. Izuku looked over at his friend, finding him focused on his stretches.

"Ojiro, can I ask you something?" Izuku began, curiosity evident in his tone.

Ojiro leaned up from his hamstring stetch, his face quizzical. "Sure, Midoriya. What's on your mind?"

"I’ve noticed you sometimes seem a bit... hesitant, especially when you talk about your quirk. Why is that?" Izuku asked gently.

Ojiro sighed, looking down at the tail curled into his lap. "The sort of people going to UA and becoming heroes have amazing quirks and powers," he said, flicking his tail slightly. “And I just have a tail. It’s strong, sure. But at the end of the day, it’s just a tail. Plenty of people have tails, you know. I guess I just feel... ordinary."

Izuku listened as his friend spilled out his feelings. But he disagreed. To him, all quirks were unique and incredible. Even something as “ordinary” as a tail was anything but to him.

Izuku frowned, shaking his head. "I don’t think that’s true at all! I think you’re awesome, Ojiro! You say it’s ordinary, but look at what you’ve done with it. Not only are you incredibly skilled at martial arts, but your agility and balance surpass even the highest-ranked heroes. You’ve trained so hard to make your quirk work for you. That’s not something everyone can do. That’s anything but ordinary."

Ojiro felt himself getting misty-eyed, but he fought back. “Thanks, Midoiya. You’re a good guy. Still… I wish my quirk had a bit more to it—something to help me stand out.”

While Ojiro talked, Izuku felt a strange sensation, a familiar pull from his reality quirk. It had been weeks since he last felt it activate, yet its appearance now meant only one thing. His heart-to-heart with Ojiro had deepened their bond enough for his quirk to recognize their connection. Izuku could Retcon him now.

'I can Retcon him. But should I?' he wondered, his mind racing with possibilities.

Ojiro literally just talked about how dismayed he was in his quirk, and Izuku argued against it. Would it be right for him to change him after that? Izuku could remove all his doubts or even change his quirk with a simple thought. Izuku gulped; the possibilities were endless, and he knew he had to be careful with such power.

Izuku's mind started racing with ideas. 'What if I could help Ojiro feel more special? Maybe enhance his quirk so it's more powerful and noticeable?' He pondered, thinking about the best way to utilize his reality-editing quirk.

He considered enhancing Ojiro's tail to give it more strength and versatility. But as he thought more about it, a new idea formed in his mind. 'What if his quirk could be more involved, like something more dynamic? It does look like a lion's tail... yeah, that could work! Give him something more Lion-like to match his tail!'

As he rationalized the decision in his head, a thought crossed his mind. Plenty of pro-heroes had animals as the basis of their quirk. The first one popping into his head was the Rabbit Hero Mirko. The energetic heroine had often boasted about her “Rabbit” quirk and its various capabilities. It wouldn’t be farfetched to give Ojiro something similar. Izuku even thought about how the attractive bunny used her looks to give her an edge. He mused, ‘Hell, it could even help him stand out if he used his features like Mirko.’

Before Izuku could second-guess himself, his quirk acted on his subconscious decision. This time, the tingling sensation was more assertive as reality subtly shifted around him. His idea of giving Ojiro a Lion-like quirk was a success! Yet when his thoughts deviated toward a particular showboating rabbit, an unintended change wormed its way into reality.

Izuku watched in awe and slight horror as the transformation occurred before him. In an instant, Ojiro's muscular form began to shift, his features becoming more feminine. His blonde hair turned tawny as it grew longer and thicker like a mane, while his body became more streamlined and curvaceous. Izuku’s jaw dropped to the floor as his friend became something else. Mashirao Ojiro was now a woman, her physique strong yet graceful, exuding both power and elegance. The girl even sat in a more confident posture.

Masako Ojiro, oblivious to the changes, continued the conversation as if nothing had happened. "Great talk, Midoriya. I was feeling a bit down, but you’re a good friend. Now, let’s get back into the ring for a spar! Gotta keep our fangs sharp!"

Izuku, still in shock, tried to maintain his composure. "Y-yeah, uh sure, Ojiro."

Ojiro flashed him a toothy smile, fangs apparent as her slimmer lion's tail flicked with a sense of joy. "I wanna show you a couple of tricks I’ve learned."

As Masako pulled Izuku along toward the practice pads, he smacked himself mentally, feeling a pang of guilt and frustration. 'I did it again. I unintentionally made a friend into a girl. I need to be more careful with this quirk.'

"Alright, Midoriya, let's see what you've got!" Masako said, bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet. Her lion-like sensory and agility abilities were evident in the way she moved, every motion fluid and precise.

Izuku took a deep breath, settling into his stance. 'Focus, Izuku. Just treat it like any other match,' he told himself. Yet, as he took in his opponent’s form, he couldn’t help but focus on his friend’s new appearance. The Lioness's muscles were well-defined, while her long golden hair flowed behind her in a ponytail. Even more captivating were her sharp eyes that were entirely focused on him as if she were a predator looking at her prey. Izuku gulped. If his Retcon wanted Ojiro to stand out, it worked. She was breathtaking.

They circled each other for a moment, each gauging the other's movements. Masako's eyes were sharp, her senses keenly attuned to every subtle shift in Izuku's stance. She moved first, darting forward with a speed that took Izuku by surprise. He barely had time to react as she delivered a swift series of strikes, her speed making her a difficult target to counter.

Izuku blocked and dodged as best as he could, but Masako's relentless attacks kept him on the defensive. She moved with the grace and precision of a predator, her lion-like abilities from her new quirk giving her an edge in both speed and perception. Despite his best efforts, Izuku struggled to keep up with her.

Masako feinted to the left, then spun around to deliver a powerful kick from the right. Izuku managed to block it, but the **** of the blow sent him stumbling backward. Before he could recover, Masako was on him again, her movements a blur as she continued her ****.

"You're doing great, Midoriya!" she called out, her voice filled with excitement. "But you need to be faster!"

Izuku gritted his teeth, pushing himself to keep up with her. 'I can't let her control the pace,' he thought. 'I need to disrupt her rhythm.'

He focused on her movements, trying to anticipate her next move. He noticed a slight twitch in her tail just before she launched her next attack, using it to time his dodge perfectly.

He countered with a quick jab, catching Masako off guard. She stepped back, her eyes widening in surprise, but a smile quickly spread across her face. "Nice one!"

He had momentum. He charged at her, feinting a punch to the left before quickly switching to a right hook. Masako saw through his ploy and ducked under his arm, spinning to deliver a sharp elbow to his ribs. The impact knocked the wind out of him, and he staggered back, gasping for breath.

Masako didn't let up, pressing her advantage. She moved in close, her strikes precise and unrelenting. Izuku managed to block a few hits, but she was too fast and too skilled. With a final, mighty sweep, she knocked his legs out from under him, sending him crashing to the mat.

Before he could recover, Masako was on top of him, pinning his wrists down. Her weight pressed against him, and he could feel the strength in her body. She leaned in close, her face inches from his, her eyes intense.

"Submit," she demanded, her voice low and commanding.

Izuku tried to struggle, but she had him firmly in her grip. He could feel the heat radiating from her athletic body, her breath hot against his skin. He could even see an odd expression on her face as her nostrils flared. If he didn’t feel like prey before, he felt it now. Yet, despite the intensity of the moment, he couldn't help but notice the beauty in her features, the raw determination in her eyes.

"I... I lose," he finally gasped, his body going limp.

After what felt like an eternity, Masako grinned and released him, standing up and offering him a hand. "That was awesome, Midoriya! You're getting better every day."

Izuku smiled back and reached for her hand. Once pulled onto his feet, the young man breathed out his tension. "Thanks, Ojiro. You're an incredible fighter. Sparring with you is always a great reminder of how far I need to go."

Masako laughed, her eyes sparkling with joy. "Well, you keep me on my toes, too. Let's keep pushing each other to get even better! Then maybe one day I’ll be the one under you!"

Izuku blinked and blushed as the girl made an unintended innuendo. “Uhhh. Yeah. Look forward to it.”

“Oh, I am.” The Lioness winked before turning and skipping off. “Shower time!”

‘Or maybe it was an intentional innuendo.’ Izuku gulped. Just before the girl made the turn toward the showers, she shot him another wink. He realized what he had done. This wasn’t a gym anymore. It was a lioness’ den. ‘I’m in danger.’

**********

AN: Howdy Howdy! I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter. As you can see our Intrusive Thoughts struck again and turned one of our peers into a fiesty Lioness. Who could have seen this coming! Next time we take a little break from the training for a nice day at the mall. I wonder who we'd run into there...

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