Chapter 31: Pancakes and Bunnies! Trainer Midoriya's Disastrous Debut!

Yu's hand settled on Izuku's shoulder and gave him a gentle shake.

"Izuku... time to wake up," she murmured, a kitchen apron thrown on over her clothes. "Don't tell me you're gonna sleep in. It's the big day, remember? You're finally gonna introduce yourself to your chosen one."

The boy let out an incoherent grunt against the pillow, stretched out an arm, and before Yu could react, grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her down onto the futon beside him, wrapping both arms around her and squeezing her against his chest like she was some giant stuffed animal.

Yu stayed there for a few seconds between the warm sheets, comfortably curled up against Izuku. A mischievous smile crept onto her lips.

I could stay like this all morning...

She rested her cheek against his shoulder and sighed, enjoying the moment.

But this kid's been waiting weeks for today... No way. I'm not gonna let him miss it just because he's too cozy here with me.

And with a small smile, she shook him again.

"Come on, Izuku. Up. I'm not letting you sleep in today!"

She patted him lightly on the arm. But Izuku was still deep asleep, his breathing slow and his brow relaxed.

Yu watched him for a moment, and then, without quite understanding what pushed her to do it, she leaned in a little and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

Izuku slowly opened his eyes.

Yu pulled back fast, her face flushed. Why did I do that?! What the hell are you doing, Yu?! She brought a hand to her chest, thanking the heavens the kid slept like a rock.

"Yu?" he mumbled, blinking, his voice thick with sleep. "What're you doing in my bed?"

Yu swallowed hard, forcing herself to stay calm. With a casual smile, she brushed away the green lock of hair that had fallen over his forehead with two fingers.

"Came to wake you up, sleepyhead." She gave the lock a small tug before letting it go. "I made pancakes, so you'd better get up now unless you wanna eat them cold."

Izuku closed his eyes again with a lazy smile, pulled her back toward him, and buried his face against her chest, nuzzling there for a little more warmth before surrendering to the day.

"Mmmm... thanks for waking me up, Yu," he said, his voice muffled. "Guess I wasn't a very professional assistant today, huh? Letting my boss wake me up with breakfast already made is a pretty serious workplace offense. Dock it from my paycheck if you want."

"I'll think about it," she answered, pressing her lips together to keep from laughing. "Now let go of me and move it, you're not gonna be late because of me."

Izuku sat up with a yawn and held out his hand to help her up. Yu took it, pulled herself up in one motion, and smoothed down her apron with a quick gesture to hide the blush that still hadn't quite faded.

Without me even noticing, every morning we look more like a couple than a boss and her employee, she told herself, watching him as he stumbled toward the bathroom. And the worst part is, it doesn't even bother me anymore...

Izuku grabbed his phone from the nightstand before going to wash his face. Among the notifications, one in particular caught his eye.

It was from Ibara. She usually expressed herself through short, carefully chosen messages, but that morning she had sent a text much longer than usual. He could even sense a certain excitement in her words.

"Good morning, Midoriya-san. I do hope I am not disturbing you at such an early hour, but I have received news that I could not refrain from sharing with you.

U.A. Academy has contacted me and requested that I present myself there today. They have not yet explained the reason for the summons, and to my surprise, the request comes from the principal himself.

I have not even had the opportunity to take the entrance exam, so I confess that I find it difficult to understand why someone of his position would have taken notice of me.

I must admit that the excitement has prevented me from sleeping. That an institution as admirable as U.A. has decided to grant me its attention, I consider a true blessing.

Whatever the reason for this summons may be, I shall endeavor to receive it with humility and fulfill whatever is expected of me. If this opportunity has been granted to me, I am certain I must not take it lightly."

Izuku typed his reply, happy that Ibara was taking it so well.

"That's great, Ibara-san. I'm sure it's a huge opportunity and that you're gonna do amazing. Good luck today, though I don't think you'll need it..."

He put the phone away without losing his smile. She had no idea what was waiting for her, and part of him felt a tingle of anticipation.

Ibara Shiozaki, I know you're gonna do incredible.

******

Gym Gamma was a huge, brightly lit space, with sky-high ceilings and reinforced flooring built to withstand Quirks capable of tearing down walls.

Yu walked through the entrance a step behind Izuku and froze the moment she recognized the silhouettes waiting for them inside.

Nezu being there, she understood. Nemuri being there, tablet under her arm and a teasing smile on her face, she could also accept. But there was a third figure leaning against the wall, arms crossed and white ears sticking up, that made her clench her teeth immediately.

And what the hell is the damn rabbit doing here?!

"Good morning, everyone," Izuku greeted them with a quick bow, completely oblivious to his boss's mood.

"Good morning, young ones!" Nezu answered enthusiastically, holding a steaming cup of tea between his tiny paws. "I hope you've had a pleasant morning. Since our dear Rumi is part of this little experiment, I thought it would be wise to have someone with practical combat experience oversee the trials."

Nezu took a sip of his tea before continuing.

"And naturally, no one seemed more appropriate than her to evaluate the combat potential of our candidate."

Mirko's grin widened as she locked eyes on Yu.

"Besides, I was curious. Wanted to see with my own eyes who the tadpole picked as his first student. She'd better be worth it, 'cause I didn't come all the way here to waste my time with some weakling."

She planted herself in front of Yu with a cocky smile, and without any warning, shoved her chest against hers, forcing her back half a step.

"Well, well, rookie, looks like you're still taking up more space than you're supposed to."

Yu caught her balance, narrowed her eyes, and shoved her right back, slamming her bust against Rumi's without giving an inch.

"If you came to show off, bunny, you picked the wrong girl. I'm not letting you push me around."

Off to the side, Izuku's eyes lit up. Two pro heroines chest to chest, sizing each other up without looking away, was something he'd only ever seen in the pages of his manga.

Is this the legendary tit battle I've read so much about?! A man's honor demands that I take part! IT'S MY TURN! CRUSH ME INSTEAD!

He took a determined step toward the exact point where both pairs of breasts met, ready to offer himself up as a sacrifice to the cause.

Suddenly, a hand landed on his shoulder before he got there.

"Hold up, tiger," Nemuri stopped him, appearing at his side with a mischievous smile. "Before you go running headfirst into your own doom, we've got a little matter to sort out."

She leaned toward him slightly, lowering her voice like she was about to share a secret.

"In a minute you're gonna have to explain to a girl that your training method requires you to put your hands on... some pretty delicate areas."

Her smile widened.

"And you can't just tell her 'trust me' and hope it works out. If she doesn't want it, no training's gonna happen. So you'll have to get her to understand exactly what you're gonna do and, most importantly, to be okay with it."

Nemuri gave him a little tap on the shoulder.

"So tell me, hero. Did you prepare a speech that can convince her without making you look like some sketchy pervert? Or were you planning on winging it and praying it all works out?"

Izuku turned his head reluctantly, resisting the urge to look away from that heavenly scene, but he understood the question was more important than his curiosity. He turned around and looked at her with eyes shining with determination as he gave a thumbs up.

"Of course I did, Nemuri-san. Don't you worry, 'cause I'm cool as a cucumber. I've got it all under control."

Nemuri blinked, thrown off by such a ridiculous answer. Her confidence in the plan collapsed sooner than she expected.

In the end, all she could do was sigh and give him a resigned smile. Heaven help us all.

She stared at him a few seconds longer before shaking her head softly.

But what can I do... Even when he says the dumbest things, he still makes you wanna trust him.

"Ah, it seems our guest has arrived," Nezu announced suddenly, savoring his tea with elegance. "Such admirable punctuality. I'm delighted to see that waiting won't be necessary after all."

The door opened softly, and Ibara Shiozaki entered the gym with her back straight and her hands clasped in front of her, freezing at the sight before her.

Standing there were three of the country's most renowned heroines and the principal of U.A. himself, all gathered in one place, looking at her.

"Ibara-san, welcome!" Izuku greeted her, waving with a cheerfulness that didn't match the solemnity of the moment at all.

Mirko scratched her cheek as she looked her up and down.

"Hmph. I pictured someone more muscular. I dunno, more legs for jumping, more arms for hitting. Well, we'll see what the plant girl's made of."

Ibara didn't quite catch the comment. Her whole attention had landed on the green-haired boy waving at her in the middle of that imposing group. Little by little, the tension that had been gripping her stomach began to ease.

"Midoriya-san...?" she murmured, and a warm smile lit up her face. "What a pleasant surprise... So it was you."

She lowered her gaze slightly, still with a serene expression.

"The email mentioned a special program, but I never would have imagined that you were involved. It seems Providence has arranged a meeting far more surprising than I had anticipated."

Izuku walked up to her and placed both hands on her shoulders.

"Ibara-san! I know you're surprised to see me here, but there's a reason! You have a heart and a potential that very few have been able to see. That's why I'm here. Let me help you reach it, let me be the one to walk with you as far as you can go. I know it might sound crazy, but I swear when I explain it, you're gonna understand!"

Ibara felt her heart race at the force of those words. She was about to answer with something dignified when a voice cut her off without the slightest delicacy.

"So what? You gonna tell her that to train her you're gonna have to grab her tits, or you saving that part for later?" Mirko blurted out with a cackle.

Izuku's heroic, convincing, and professional monologue shattered in midair. The boy blinked and turned toward the rabbit with a confused expression.

"Hey, wasn't I supposed to be the one to say that part?"

He looked to Nemuri for backup, and the heroine just shrugged and shot him a thumbs up.

"Convince her, tiger. I'm staying out of it."

Yu brought her hand to her face and let out a stifled groan. Just great. The rabbit just torpedoed the biggest social disaster on the planet's whole introduction. And that was already asking a lot, expecting Izuku not to say something stupid.

She took a deep breath and stepped forward. Ahhh... fine. Whatever it takes for this to go well.

"Shiozaki-san, listen," she said in a much softer tone. "It sounds a lot worse than it actually is, okay? Mirko's got more muscle than brains, so she explains everything in the crudest way possible."

Yu shot a sideways glance at Rumi before continuing.

"Izuku's Quirk works through physical contact. That's all. It's part of the training, there's nothing weird or indecent about it." She smiled, trying to take the awkwardness out of the whole thing. "So relax. Izuku can explain everything calmly, and this time, I'll make sure no one opens their mouth again before he finishes."

Izuku looked at her with fire in his eyes. Having a boss capable of fixing his disasters with such grace felt like the greatest privilege in the world, and he couldn't help but jump back into the conversation with obvious pride.

"She's totally right, Ibara-san. And let me introduce her the way she deserves. This is Mt. Lady, the heroine I work for and, without exaggerating one bit, the most beautiful woman in all of Japan."

Nemuri brought a hand to her chest and faked an expression of pain.

"Excuse me?! And what about me, young man?" she protested dramatically. "Weren't I supposed to be your wife too?"

Izuku felt like he was about to spit blood. Why?! Why did the rabbit and the BDSM enthusiast have to pick today of all days to make things hard for me in front of a girl as innocent as Ibara?!

"W-wife?" Ibara repeated, her eyes wide as saucers.

Nemuri, seeing her reaction, smiled with mischievous satisfaction.

"Oh my... did I surprise you, dear?"

Ibara pressed her hands together in front of her chest, trying to regain her composure.

"M-Madam Kayama... with all due respect... could you please explain to me what exactly that statement means?"

"Aww, Ibara, you're so formal. I love it."

"I-it is not a matter of formality!" Ibara answered, growing redder by the second. "If those words are true, then... Midoriya-san should have informed me of a matrimonial relationship of such significance!"

Nezu, sitting cross-legged on a chair he had pulled out of who knows where, simply took another sip of tea, enjoying the show from the best seat in the house.

"Nobody's anybody's wife, Ibara-san," Izuku cut in quickly, waving his hands. "Nemuri-san is just joking, she's the official supervisor of the program. Please don't pay attention to anything that comes out of her mouth today, or Mirko-san's either. They're both in a... um... very peculiar mood."

Izuku decided the only way out was to move forward before the chaos swallowed him whole. He cleared his throat and stepped closer to Ibara. Instead of launching into another speech, he took both her hands between his.

"Ibara-san, do you remember what I told you in the park? That my thing isn't making myself strong... but helping others bring out what they've got inside."

Ibara nodded, holding onto those familiar words in the middle of so much confusion.

"I remember, Midoriya-san. You said that was the purpose of your Quirk."

"What I didn't tell you is how I do it. And I'll be honest with you... I don't fully understand it myself. I know I have to touch the person and focus on helping them, and out of nowhere, things happen. But most of the time, I'm the first one left with my mouth hanging open at what comes out. There's a lot about my own power that still escapes me."

He squeezed her hands a little without realizing it.

"That's why I didn't come looking for just any student, or some tool to show off in a report. When I saw you taking care of that plant, I knew I wanted someone like you to walk with me through this. Someone to figure it out with, slowly and without rushing. What do you say? Do you want... to come along with me on this crazy ride?"

Ibara was left speechless. She had prepared herself for a pompous, distant proposal. What she had in front of her was a clumsy young man holding her hands and admitting to being just as lost as she was, asking her to get lost together.

She lowered her gaze to the hands wrapped around hers. For some reason, those words had managed to convey to her the serenity she so desperately needed.

"I... must confess that I still do not fully comprehend what this entails. It is something I never would have imagined when this day began. However... I sense sincerity in your words, Midoriya-san. And if you truly believe that I can walk by your side and be of help to this purpose... then I shall accept." Ibara softly raised her gaze, her expression serene. "It would be an honor to be of assistance to you."

"Perfect!" Izuku let go of her hands right away and smiled, visibly relieved. "Oh, and there's something I should warn you about now, so it doesn't catch you off guard later. Since I still don't know exactly which spot makes your power react best, I'll probably have to try in different areas until I find it. But if anything makes you uncomfortable, all you have to do is say so and we'll stop, okay?"

The solemnity died on the spot.

Ibara blinked.

"D-different areas...?" she asked, bringing her hands to her chest. "What areas exactly are you referring to, Midoriya-san?"

"THERE IT IS!" Mirko let out a laugh that echoed through the whole gym and slapped her thigh. "I told ya! Welcome to the circus! BAHAHAHA!"

Yu covered her eyes with one hand and let out a sigh.

"Nemuri, I swear, if you don't stop him right now, I'll stop him my way."

Nemuri, far from stepping in, leaned against the wall and watched the scene with a smile, biting her lip to keep from cracking up and to maintain her serious supervisor façade.

Ibara looked at them one by one. At the clumsy boy who had convinced her, at the three heroines who seemed like a charming little group of demons, and at the principal drinking tea in the middle of the storm. She closed her eyes and bowed her head.

"Lord... grant me strength."

What kind of situation have I just gotten myself into?

*******

Author's Note:

I'm sharing the set I made of Mitsuki Bakugo cosplaying Mai Shiranui. If you'd like to see more sets like this, come visit me at [patreon.com/itszeroo](https://www.patreon.com/itszeroo), where you can also read several chapters ahead.