Chapter 11: Ambush Predator

Hours before Izuku’s Practical Exam

Masako Ojiro's muscles rippled beneath her skin as she tore through another wave of robots. With every strike, her lionesses’ claws sliced through the metal adversaries, her precise martial arts skills honed from years of training evident in each fluid movement. Sweat trickled down her forehead, but she paid it no mind, her golden eyes laser-focused on the next target.

‘This… this has to be enough,’ she thought, her claws embedding into the chest of a 3-point robot. From the outside, you would think the lioness was calm and focused based on how efficient she was in taking down the metallic enemies. Yet the truth couldn’t be more different. Her heart was panicking. ‘Why’d there have to be a freaking written exam…’

She clenched her fists as she remembered the hours she’d spent hunched over books, trying to cram as much as possible. Despite her efforts, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had failed it. She had studied so hard, with her study group helping her every step of the way. ‘Midoriya worked with me for weeks... What if I fail?'

Her pulse quickened as that fear grew louder, drowning out her common sense. She pushed harder, each strike more reckless than the last. Martial arts and combat had always been her solace—control, discipline, precision. But now, in her desperation, she was losing that clarity.

Her focus tunneled, and soon, all she could see were enemy robots. Each one felt like another problem she needed to solve with brute strength—another obstacle in her way to becoming the hero she desperately wanted to be. The more she fought, the more her fear of failure drove her, pushing her to tear apart the machines with abandon.

That was until she heard a soft thud behind her.

Masako spun around, her claws raised, only to freeze mid-motion. A towering, quiet boy stood there, holding a rescue robot in his arms. He was broad-shouldered and gentle in his movements, almost like a giant cradling something fragile. Around him fluttered birds, and small critters scampered at his feet. He didn’t say a word. Only a gasp escaped his mouth as he stared at her with wide eyes.

For a moment, Masako’s mind raced. She’d nearly attacked a fellow examinee. The boy hadn’t even noticed her frenzy—he was too focused on the rescue robots, carefully collecting the unfortunate robots and scanning for others with the help of his animal companions.

‘What am I doing? This isn’t what we worked for.’ Masako realized, her heartbeat slowing as she reigned in herself. This time, a low rumble escaped her, not in anger but in frustration at herself. The point of this exam wasn’t just to destroy—it was to save, to be a hero. She had forgotten that, let her fears consume her, and nearly attacked someone who was doing the right thing. 'Midoriya would never act like this...'

With a deep breath, she lowered her claws and approached the large, quiet boy. He gave her a shy glance before returning to his task, silently directing his birds and critters to search for more injured rescue robots.

“I’m sorry,” Masako breathed out, stepping back so she could bow her head to the man. The quiet examinee nodded slowly but didn’t speak. His eyes softened, and he offered her the smallest of smiles as several birds and tiny critters scurried around his feet. Masako supposed they had something to do with his quirk and that they were guiding him to more rescue robots.

"Let me help," she said softly, her voice a little shaky as the adrenaline from the fight faded. He didn’t respond with words; rather, he just gave a simple nod of acknowledgment. Together, they started moving through the debris, her fighting off any combat robots that approached while he rescued the smaller, damaged bots.

As they worked in tandem, Masako found her focus shifting. She wasn’t just trying to win anymore; she was trying to be better. The Lioness was trying to be the hero she had trained to be—not just a fighter, but someone who could protect others. Just like the green-haired boy she had grown fond of.

The large man still hadn’t spoken, and Masako hadn’t asked for his name, but she didn’t need to. They moved smoothly together, and she felt calm for the first time during the exam. The anxiety of the written test still loomed over her, but she knew now that she could overcome it. Regardless of her results, she just had to focus on being the best version of herself.

As the final buzzer rang, signaling the end of the practical exam, Masako stood still for a moment, catching her breath. Her body ached from the combat, but it was the type of ache she liked. It meant that she could be proud of how hard she tried regardless of the outcome. Fostering a smile, she turned to the quiet boy who had helped her finish strong.

“Hey, thanks for putting up with me. Name’s Masako Ojiro, by the way.” Masako said, her voice filled with genuine appreciation. The boy shifted slightly, his hands fidgeting as he looked down at his feet. For a second, it seemed like he might not respond, but then, in a voice so quiet the sounds of other examinees almost drowned it out, he spoke.

“K-Koji Koda…” he mumbled.

Masako’s lion ears perked up. Something about his voice was extremely pleasant to her. Like a soft serenade despite the shakiness in his nervousness. She grinned, her usual bright, upbeat personality shining through. “Koda, huh? That’s a pleasant voice you’ve got, especially to these ears.” She tapped her ears with a playful smile. “You should talk more!”

Koji’s face turned a deep shade of red, and he gave a slight nod before looking away, clearly shy and overwhelmed by the compliment. Masako chuckled softly, not pressing him further, though the bashful blush on his face was adorable. It kind of reminded her of how Midoriya turned red when they wrestled.

Before she could say anything else, a familiar voice called out, “Hey, Masako!”

Masako turned around to see her fellow workout buddy, Kyoka Jiro, approaching with her hands shoved casually into her pockets. The rocker girl’s sharp eyes took in the scene and raised an eyebrow at Masako. “How’d you think you did?”

Masako’s ears flicked as she scratched the back of her head, bashfully avoiding eye contact. “I think I did… fine,” she said, though the hesitation in her voice was noticeable. She didn’t want to mention her fear about the written test or her near accident with Koda. There was no point in bringing up what she couldn’t change.

Kyoka looked like she was about to comment, but Masako quickly remembered her manners. She turned back toward Koda, smiling brightly. “Oh, right! I should introduce you to—”

But as she looked, Koda was gone. He had slipped away so quietly that she hadn’t even noticed.

Kyoka smirked. “Scare them away already, Masako?”

Masako nodded with a laugh. “Maybe… He’s a shy one. Get this! I think he can talk to animals! He had all these-”

Just as she was about to continue, a nasally voice cut in from the side. “If you’re looking for friends, I could be one,” a small figure piped up. Masako and Kyoka turned to see a short boy with purple, ball-like hair and a grin that sent a slight shiver down Masako’s spine.

Under his breath, he muttered, “Score! UA even has sexy cat-girls.”

Both girls’ ears twitched simultaneously. Masako’s eyes narrowed while Kyoka’s brow furrowed in irritation. With their enhanced hearing, there was no way they missed that comment.

Kyoka didn’t waste a second. “Creep,” she snapped, her voice harsh as she stepped forward. “Scram.”

The boy backed off quickly, though not without throwing one last look over his shoulder. “Fine, fine…” he muttered before scurrying off.

Kyoka shook her head, clearly annoyed. “Gross. I hope that guy’s not in our class at UA,” she said, her tone heavy with distaste. She grabbed Masako’s arm and started pulling her along, eager to put distance between themselves and the purple ball boy.

Masako laughed, the tension from earlier fading as she allowed Kyoka to lead the way. “Knowing our luck, he might be.”

Kyoka sighed dramatically. “Let’s hope for the best.”

“So,” Masako said, giving her friend a playful nudge, “how do you think you did?”

Kyoka shrugged, her usual nonchalant attitude showing, though her fingers idly twirled one of the audio jacks dangling from her earlobes. “I think I did alright,” she replied, her voice calm but thoughtful. “Finding robots to rescue was a cinch, and I got through most of the villain robots without too much trouble.” She smiled softly and added, “Just did what Green suggested, and it worked. Guess Green’s workouts helped out after all. Now, if only his study sessions helped…”

“You and me both,” Masako blushed with a sheepish grin.

The two walked in comfortable silence for a few moments before Kyoka, clearly curious, glanced at Masako. “Speaking of him… How do you think Green’s doing?”

At the mention of their mutual friend, Masako couldn’t help but notice the subtle shift in Kyoka’s demeanor. The usually cool and laid-back girl suddenly became just a little more reserved, her voice quieter, her expression softer. It wasn’t much, but Masako had spent enough time around Kyoka to catch the signs.

“Oh, I’m sure your man is doing just fine,” Masako teased, putting a little extra emphasis on the word 'your,' enjoying the way Kyoka’s face immediately went red.

“W-What?!” Kyoka sputtered, her hands shooting up as if to cover her blush, though her headphones tangled in her fingers. “H-He’s not—”

“Ah. You’re right. He’s not your man. Yet.” Masako laughed, her tail swishing playfully behind her. “Just ask him out already. Everyone knows you have a thing for him.”

Kyoka immediately turned red, her composure breaking for a moment. “I—what? No, I don’t! We’re just friends, that’s it! Green’s just a really good friend!”

Masako chuckled, seeing right through the denial. “Uh-huh, just friends. Sure.”

**** to change the subject, Kyoka straightened up and crossed her arms defensively. “If anyone’s got a crush on Green, it’s you! You’re the one who spends every moment fantasizing about wrestling with him!”

“And you don’t?” Masako laughed heartily, shaking her head. “Nah, Midoriya’s a good friend, but I can’t accept someone who hasn’t made me submit as my Mate.” Her eyes glinted playfully as she added, “And trust me, no one’s done that yet. Not even Green.”

Kyoka rolled her eyes, the blush still faint on her cheeks. “You’re such a muscle brain,” she muttered. “Only you would measure attraction by who can beat you up.”

Masako grinned proudly, not denying the claim. “What can I say? Strength is sexy. If I’m going to be in someone’s Pride, he’s gotta be able to tame me.”

Kyoka sighed, but a small smile tugged at her lips. “You’re impossible. It’s not like Green would go out with… you anyway. Have you seen how in love he is with Bomb for Brains? He’s 100% Trad.”

Not catching the pause before the punk girl referred to her chances, Masako simply smirked. “I wouldn’t be so sure. Besides, if Midoriya can take me down… Let’s just say there is a reason people call lions ambush predators. I can be quite patient.”

“I don’t think patient and Masako can fit in the same sentence.” Kyoka rolled her eyes as she returned to twirling her earphone jacks.

“Yeah. Yeah.” Masako’s tone was light and teasing, but as the teasing subsided, she added more seriously, “But for real, I’d say the boy’ll be fine. I don’t think there is a person out there more prepared for this than him. He’ll smash it for sure.”

Kyoka nodded in agreement, her expression softening again. “Yeah, he will.”

The two girls fell into a comfortable silence as they continued walking, both of them thinking about their friend still out there, giving it his all in the practical exam. Despite the teasing and the nerves that came with the entrance exam, they both had faith in him—just as they knew he had faith in them.

Yet, just as the two girls finally began to unwind at their respective homes, a single text shook the status quo. Masako smirked as she read it, clearly pleased that her suspicions were true. On the other hand, Kyoka’s heart dropped. Insecurities reared their ugly head as she read the rare text from Katsumi Bakugo.

BombB1tch: "Try to keep up. Deku just bagged himself a model."

**********

A few days had passed since the UA entrance exam, and Izuku Midoriya found himself pacing his room, his nerves at an all-time high. His thoughts were a whirlwind of doubt, replaying every moment of the exam over and over again. He had performed well—he knew that logically—but logic did little to ease the weight of uncertainty pressing on him.

And then there was All Might. Izuku hadn't heard from his mentor since the exam, which only added to the swirling storm of worry. Had he done something wrong? He and his mentor usually talked at least once a day at this point, even if they didn’t have a scheduled session at his personal gym. It wasn’t even uncommon to find the Pro Hero popping up at his apartment for dinner, something the young man had taken note of. Yet his Mom hadn’t seen him either. She’d just say, “Toshi’s been quite busy, it seems.” The mystery gnawed at him, making it impossible to relax.

Grabbing his phone, Izuku absentmindedly checked his messages. He had already reached out to his friends, hoping for some reassurance or distraction. Kacchan had gone off to meet with Ochako for some “Girl Business” leaving the boy quite lonely at the moment. Ojiro was always available to work out with, though she also seemed quite stressed since the exam. Then there was Kyoka, who hadn’t responded at all in the past few days, which only made his stress worse.

‘Why hasn’t she replied?’ Izuku thought with a pang of worry. Kyoka wasn’t the type to ignore him for no reason, but her silence gnawed at him.

His thumb hovered over her name in the chat, debating whether to send another message, but his phone buzzed in his hand before he could decide. A new message. ‘Masako Ojiro.’

OjiRawr: "Hey, Midoriya! If you're free, come down to the beach. I got a plan, and I need you!"

Izuku blinked at the message. ‘A plan? At the beach?’ The vagueness of the message puzzled him, but the distraction was welcome. He tapped out a quick reply.

AllQuirkedUp: "What do you mean by ‘Plan’? Like, training?"

He waited for her response, but when his phone buzzed again, the answer wasn’t much clearer.

OjiRawr: "You'll see! Just come down when you're ready!"

With a resigned sigh, Izuku decided it was better than sitting at home and letting his doubts fester. He hurriedly changed into some workout clothes, grabbed his bag, and called out to his mother.

"Mom, I'm heading out for a bit!" he yelled from the front door.

"Okay, sweetie! Be safe!" His mother’s voice carried from the kitchen, a hint of concern lacing her tone, but she trusted him enough not to pry too much.

Izuku jogged out of the house, the weight of his worries still heavy on his shoulders. As he made his way to the beach, he couldn't help but think about Kyoka. Why was she avoiding him? Had something happened during the exam that he wasn't aware of? Could he find her at the music store if he wanted to seek her out? The girl had been taking fewer shifts lately. He knew that. The man sighed. ‘I hope she’s alright.’

Izuku reached the beach, the sound of crashing waves and the smell of saltwater instantly calming his restless nerves. He scanned the shoreline, quickly spotting Masako Ojiro standing near the water, waving him over. What took him by surprise, however, was her attire. Masako was in a sleek, sporty bikini, her muscular physique accentuated by the sun glinting off her golden skin. For a moment, Izuku found himself entirely mesmerized by the sight.

His face heated up, and he quickly shook his head, mentally scolding himself. ‘Focus, Izuku! She’s your friend!’

Just as he was gathering himself, Masako rushed up to him with her usual enthusiasm, a wide grin on her face. “You made it! Perfect timing!” she said, her tail flicking behind her in excitement.

Before Izuku could even greet her properly, she launched into her plan, her words coming out fast and full of energy. "So, here's the deal! We’re going to do a triathlon. First, we’ll swim out to that buoy way out there," she pointed to a tiny dot far off in the distance, “then swim back, run up the beach until we find some bikes, and then cycle around the town!”

Izuku blinked, trying to process everything she’d just said. "Wait... a triathlon? Like, right now?"

Masako nodded enthusiastically, bouncing slightly on her feet. "Exactly! It'll be great training!"

"Are you serious?" Izuku asked, his voice full of disbelief.

"Completely!" Masako replied, her eyes gleaming with excitement. She was clearly all-in on this idea.

Izuku scratched his head, a bit thrown off by the sudden proposal. "But... where would we even get bikes?"

For the first time, Masako faltered. She glanced off to the side, her tail drooping slightly. “Well… I figured we’d, uh, find some along the way?”

Izuku sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose. The plan was ridiculous, but he could see how much she was looking forward to it. After a moment of deliberation, he shrugged and said, “Alright, fine. I’m in.”

Instantly, Masako’s face lit up, her tail swishing back and forth excitedly. “Yes! I knew you’d say yes! You’re the best, Midoriya!” Before he could react, she hugged him tightly, her arms wrapped around his back. Izuku stiffened, feeling the warmth of her body against his, and his face quickly turned red again.

Masako let go just as suddenly and stretched her arms above her head, her muscles rippling under her skin. "Let's get ready, then! Gotta warm up!"

Izuku quickly spun around to avoid staring as Masako started her stretches. He focused on his own warm-up routine, trying desperately to ignore the sounds of Masako moving behind him. ‘Just focus, Izuku,’ he told himself, forcing his thoughts to stay on the task ahead.

After a few minutes, Masako called over her shoulder, "You ready, Midoriya? Take that shirt off and let's get going!"

Izuku hesitated for a second, but when he saw her waiting expectantly with her tail wagging, he complied, pulling off his shirt. Masako let out a playful whistle as she looked him over. “Looking good, Midoriya! Your hard work is paying off!”

His face burned at the compliment, but he quickly muttered, “Thanks,” before turning toward the water.

Masako grinned and raised a hand in the air. “Alright! On my mark! Three… two… one… go!”

They both sprinted toward the water and as soon as they hit the waves, Izuku dove in, his swimming form sharp and efficient. He quickly gained a lead on Masako, his powerful strokes cutting through the water with ease. After a few moments, he glanced back to check on her.

To his shock, Masako was far behind, floundering in the water. She was thrashing about wildly, struggling to stay afloat. Panic shot through him, and without a second thought, Izuku swam back as fast as he could.

"Masako!" he all but screamed out her first name as he reached her. She was sputtering, trying to keep her head above the waves, but clearly not in control. Izuku wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her toward the shore, kicking hard to keep them both afloat.

Once they reached the shallows, Masako coughed violently, spitting out seawater as she stumbled onto the sand. Her lioness tail lay limp behind her as she sat down, looking defeated.

Izuku, still panting from the exertion, looked at her incredulously. “You’re not… the greatest swimmer, are you?”

Masako cringed, clearly embarrassed. “Yeah… not exactly,” she admitted between coughs.

For a moment, Izuku stood there, staring at her in disbelief. His worry quickly morphed into frustration. “You could have gotten seriously hurt! Why didn’t you say anything before we started?” he scolded, his voice harsher than usual.

Masako winced, her ears flattening against her head. “I… I just didn’t think it’d be that hard,” she mumbled, avoiding his gaze.

Realizing he’d been too harsh, Izuku took a deep breath, softening his tone. “Masako… what’s going on? Why are you pushing yourself so hard?”

“I, ugh… Nothing gets past you, huh?” Masako sighed and rolled onto her back. "I'm just...nervous about the exam results. I think I nailed the practical, but the written part...I'm not so sure. Despite all the coaching and tutoring you gave me, I'm scared I'll let down my parents, my sensei, and especially you if I don't make it in. I-I just wanted something to distract myself."

Plopping onto the sand beside his friend, Izuku realized that Masako Ojiro's worries mirrored his own. He felt the same anxiety about letting down the supportive people around him. His dream had long since been more than his own. Between his mother, his lovers, his idol, and even his friends like Masako and Kyoka, each of them was a part of his dream now. Letting them down wasn’t an option. But just as he feels like Masako could never let him down, he realizes that she and everyone else who supports them must feel the same. He took a deep breath, determined to help his friend.

"Masako, you're one of the strongest and most determined people I know," he began, looking her in the eye. "Not to mention, your martial arts are top-notch. Plus, you've worked so hard to improve your academics. Even if the written exam was tough, I'm sure you did better than you think. And honestly, UA would be lucky to have you. I can’t see a future where you don’t make it in."

Masako’s ears twitched as he spoke, her tail slowly calming. “But the written—” she started to say.

“—won’t matter as much,” Izuku interrupted. “I mean, you did well enough, right? You’re smart, Masako. You put in the effort, and that counts. Besides, heroes aren’t just about being book-smart. They’re about making decisions in the moment, helping people, and giving everything you’ve got. And you’ve already proven you can do that.”

Masako’s lips curled into a soft smile for the first time since they sat down. “You really think so?”

“I know so,” Izuku said confidently, smiling back. He was relieved to see her relax, even if just a little.

At that moment, that smile made Masako finally understand Kyoka. The ambush predator suddenly had little patience. She couldn’t wait for him to tame her.

They sat quietly for a moment, enjoying the sound of the waves and the cool breeze that washed over them. In a way, this was a conversation Izuku needed to hear for himself. He just didn’t think he would be the one explaining it. The tension between them seemed to ease, and for the first time, the young adults felt like they could both breathe again.

That’s when he suddenly felt something wet and rough brush against his cheek.

He jolted in surprise, turning sharply toward Masako. To his shock, she was retracting her tongue, a sheepish grin on her face. She had licked him—like a cat.

Izuku’s mind went blank momentarily, unsure of how to process what had just happened. But before he could even think of saying something, Masako jumped to her feet, her usual energetic grin back in full ****.

“Alright! Enough of that. We’re still going for a swim!” she announced, grabbing his arm.

“Wait—what? Didn’t you just—” Izuku stammered, still in shock from the sudden sign of affection, but Masako wasn’t having it.

She dragged him toward the water, her laughter bubbling up over the sound of the waves. “C’mon, Izuku! Let’s go!”

And just like that, all of Izuku’s worries about the exam melted away as he was pulled into Masako’s world, full of energy and warmth.

**********

AN: Howdy Howdy! Long time no see! Sorry for the delay on this one, was in a little slump for a second there but we're good! I hope y'all enjoyed a little slice of life from our favorite Lionesses point of view! We even got to see a few new characters! Also, the news of Izuku's second girlfriend has hit the friend group. How will this affect the girls who may or may not have some feelings for our green-haired protagonist... We'll have to find out! I also had a little fun coming up with "Chat Names" for our characters. If you have any suggestions, feel free to shout them out! Until next time!

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!