Chapter 28: A Sweet Evening

The sun had begun to sink behind the tallest buildings of the U.A. campus, casting the festival grounds in warm amber and purple hues. The booths were still open, the last of the food stalls were doing steady business, and clusters of students lingered around the attractions as if they were trying to squeeze every last second of fun out of the day. Even so, the atmosphere had shifted. The morning’s excitement and afternoon’s chaos had softened into the comfortable exhaustion of a day well spent.

Up on the main stage, Present Mic stood beneath the bright lights, one hand on his headphones and the other gripping his microphone as if it were an extension of his soul. Music still pulsed through the speakers, though it had mellowed from the high-energy tracks he had been blasting earlier.

“ALRIGHT, U.A.! THAT’S WHAT I CALL A FESTIVAL!” Present Mic shouted, earning one last cheer from the crowd. “Thank you all for coming out to another successful Start of the Year Festival! To our brand-new first-years, welcome to the family!”

Near the edge of the main plaza, Izuku stood with Ochako, Katsumi, Masako, Kyoka, Tenka, Tsuyu, and Itsuka. By this point, even the most energetic among them were starting to tire out.

Ochako stretched her arms above her head with a soft groan. “That was so much fun, but I think my feet are officially done.”

Itsuka rolled her shoulders and nodded in agreement. “Yeah, same. Guess we could head back and crash for a bit before bed. Got class tomorrow and all.”

Tenka adjusted her glasses, clearly pleased by the responsible suggestion. “An excellent point. Considering tomorrow marks our first official day of classes, adequate rest is highly advisable.”

Katsumi shoved her hands into the pockets of her jacket. “You sound like the damn orientation pamphlet.”

Tenka gave her a stiff look. “Someone must promote proper student conduct.”

Izuku laughed lightly, feeling that warm contentment settle in his chest again. “Yeah, let’s head back. It’s been a long day.”

He had barely taken a step when a husky voice whispered directly beside his ear.

“Leaving already?”

Izuku jolted with a startled squeak, spinning around so fast that Ochako had to grab his sleeve to keep him from bumping into her. “W-Who?!”

A floating mouth hung in the air beside his shoulder, grinning wide before breaking into a cackling laugh.

Kyoka saw it and immediately deadpanned. “Tokage.”

The mouth giggled again. “Guilty.”

From the nearby crowd, Setsuna Tokage sauntered toward them with all the confidence in the world, hips swaying and eyes sparkling with mischief. Her detached mouth drifted back toward her face and reattached smoothly, the sight still making Izuku’s brain itch with fascination.

“That is still so cool,” Izuku muttered before he could stop himself.

Setsuna’s grin sharpened. “Aw, Greenie. You really like my mouth that much?”

Izuku’s face went crimson. “You know that's not what I meant!”

She leaned forward with a playful gleam in her eyes. “If you’re that curious, I can personally show you what this mouth can do later. Though I gotta warn you... I’m a biter.”

Kyoka’s earphone jacks twitched as her face flushed. “Nope. Shut that shit down right now.”

Setsuna laughed and held up her hands. “Relax, Jiro. I’m only teasing your boyfriend-adjacent emotional support nerd.”

While Kyoka tried to glare Setsuna into behaving, two other girls approached from just behind the green-haired menace. The first was immediately familiar to both Izuku and Ochako. Yui Kodai walked with her usual quiet composure, her expression almost perfectly neutral despite the lingering festival noise around them.

Ochako brightened instantly. “Yui!”

She rushed forward and wrapped her half-sister in a hug. Yui accepted it without complaint, her arms rising after a brief delay to return the gesture. Her expression barely shifted, but Izuku caught the faintest hint of pink on her cheeks as Ochako squeezed her.

“Hello, Ochako,” Yui said softly.

Ochako pulled back with a smile. “Did you have fun today, Sis?”

Yui gave a tiny nod. “Mhmm.”

“That’s good!” Ochako said, apparently fluent enough in Yui’s minimal responses to understand the emotion behind them.

The second girl stood just beside Yui, pale and slender with medium-length silver hair and a ghostly calm to her. Her elbows remained tucked close to her sides while her hands dangled loosely in front of her, lending her posture a slightly eerie quality that fit surprisingly well with her quiet presence.

Masako perked up when she spotted her. “Oh, Yanagi!”

The silver-haired girl turned toward her, blinking slowly. “Hello, Ojiro.”

Masako stepped closer with a friendly smile. “I didn’t get to talk with you much this morning before I ran off. Sorry about that.”

“It is fine,” Reiko Yanagi replied, her voice soft and airy. “You seemed impatient.”

“Yeah, that sounds like me.” Masako laughed, rubbing the back of her neck before turning to the others to explain. “Yanagi here is my roommate. She’s super cool!”

The ghostly girl’s face had a slight touch of pink from the candid comment. “I wouldn’t say that…”

Setsuna then swept between Yui and Reiko, throwing an arm around each of their shoulders with theatrical pride. Both girls accepted this in very different ways. Yui barely reacted, while Reiko slowly looked down at Setsuna’s arm as if quietly determining whether it was attached.

“Sooooo,” Setsuna announced, “we were thinking about having a little 1-B girls’ night.”

Kyoka blinked. “We were?”

Setsuna pointed at her. “You are now.”

Masako tilted her head. “Girls’ night, huh?”

“Yep,” Setsuna said, grinning. “Yui, Reiko, me, and whoever else we can wrangle from the dorm. You two should join. Class bonding, roommate bonding, gossip bonding, all the important kinds.”

Kyoka folded her arms, her deadpan returning with a vengeance. “Why do I feel like that last one is the real reason?”

“Because you’re smart,” Setsuna replied without shame.

Masako hummed, then glanced at Izuku and the others. “Honestly, that could be fun. We should get to know more of 1-B anyway.”

Kyoka hesitated, clearly torn between caution and the fact that a girls’ night with her classmates did sound fun. After a moment, she sighed. “Fine. I’ll join.”

Setsuna cheered, then detached both of her arms from around Yui and Reiko so they could stretch across the space and loop around Kyoka and Masako too. “Yes! Perfect. I can’t wait to get all the juicy details out of you two.”

Kyoka’s face immediately fell. “I regret everything.”

Masako laughed, entirely less bothered. “Good luck getting anything embarrassing out of me.”

Setsuna’s grin turned predatory. “Challenge accepted.”

Izuku gave Kyoka a sympathetic smile. “Good luck.”

Kyoka pointed at him with one earphone jack. “Don’t look that relieved. Some of those questions are absolutely going to be about you.”

Izuku stiffened. “Oh no.”

Katsumi smirked and leaned into his side. “Have fun, Ear Jacks.”

Reiko lifted one dangling hand in a faint goodbye. “Good night.”

Ochako waved warmly to her sister after another quick hug. “Have a good night, Yui.”

Yui gave another small nod, a small dusting of red still on her face from her sister's unbridled affection. “You too.”

Izuku watched them go, then turned back toward the remaining group as Present Mic’s final farewell echoed across the plaza. With a subtle glance, Ochako slipped her hand into his while Katsumi quickly claimed his other side without hesitation. The other girls shared knowing looks as they followed behind, watching the trio of lovers hand in hand.

By the time the group made it back to Heights Alliance, the festival lights were glowing behind them, and the campus paths had finally started to quiet down. The moment they reached the dorm lounge, everyone was ready to collapse.

Itsuka dropped into one of the armchairs with a sigh that sounded like it came from her soul. Tenka sat with equal exhaustion despite maintaining better posture than any exhausted person had a right to, though even she visibly relaxed once her back touched the cushions. Tsuyu claimed a corner of the sofa and tucked her legs beneath her, blinking slowly as she shimmied back and forth like a frog settling on a lily pad.

Izuku barely had time to sit before Katsumi claimed his left side and Ochako claimed his right.

“Ahhh,” Ochako sighed, stretching out across the sofa and bringing her head down onto Izuku’s thighs. “Festival day was amazing.”

Izuku smiled down at her, his fingers gently combing through her hair. “Yeah. It really was.”

Katsumi leaned against his shoulder. “Tiring as hell, though.”

“Worth it,” Itsuka said, closing her eyes for a second.

Ochako’s peaceful expression suddenly twisted into a pout. “Almost perfect.”

Izuku blinked down at her. “Almost?”

She looked up at him with the saddest brown eyes she could manage. “We never found mochi.”

Katsumi snorted. Itsuka covered her mouth to hide a laugh. Even Tenka’s lips twitched.

Ochako puffed out her cheeks. “Don’t laugh. I was looking forward to it.”

“You ate like twelve things,” Katsumi said, unimpressed.

“That doesn’t mean I ate the right twelve things,” Ochako replied, turning her pout towards Katsumi, completely serious.

Tsuyu nodded once. “That is fair.”

Izuku chuckled, still combing his fingers gently through Ochako’s hair. “Sorry, Ochako. I didn’t realize you were looking for it that badly.”

“I didn’t want to make everyone stop at every dessert stand,” Ochako mumbled as she turned her head and seemed to try to burrow deeper into Izuku’s lap. “But still…”

Katsumi tilted her head, glancing toward the open kitchen across the dining area. “You know, our nerd could probably make some if you wanted.”

Ochako’s head popped up from Izuku’s lap like she had been revived by magic. “Really?”

Izuku’s hand froze in midair. “W-Wait, I don’t know about that.”

Katsumi smirked. “You’ve made it before.”

“Once or twice,” Izuku corrected quickly. “And it wasn’t anything fancy. Also, your favorite is red bean paste, right? That takes a while to make from scratch, and I don’t know if the kitchen has any already prepared.”

Ochako’s expression softened, and she reached up to take one of his hands. “Izuku, if you made it, I’d be happy with any flavor.”

His face warmed. “You say that like I’m not capable of messing it up.”

“I believe in you,” Ochako said earnestly, eyes starting to sparkle as thoughts of fluffy sweetness had already consumed her.

“Sounds like she’s not picky.” Katsumi leaned closer and gave him a wicked little grin. “She’d love any filling you give her. I know I do.”

Izuku’s brain stalled while Ochako’s face went pink.

Tenka shot upright like someone had sounded an alarm. “Bakugo! That was an entirely inappropriate remark!”

Katsumi leaned back, smug as ever. “What? I was talking about dessert.”

Itsuka rolled her eyes and smirked. “Sure you were.”

Izuku covered his face with one hand. “Kacchan, please…”

Ochako, her own cheeks still flushed, grabbed his hand and squeezed it as she tried very hard not to giggle. “She ain't wrong! I m-mean about mochi, that is…. I still want mochi.”

That was the final blow for Izuku. He sighed as he felt himself begin to gently drift into the air. The smile that tugged at his lips gave him away. “Okay. I’ll see what I can do.”

Ochako beamed up at him and kissed his cheek. “Thank you!”

With a simple pull, he was off the couch and floating into the air. Then with an overeager shove, he was sent sailing towards the kitchen. With a quick twist to reorient himself, he called out as his feet hit the ground and gravity reasserted itself.

“If this turns out badly, nobody gets to complain,” Izuku warned, his head turned to glance back at the lounge area he had been evicted from. Katsumi’s approving look and Tenka’s shellshock were still present.

Tsuyu raised her hand lazily. “I will eat imperfect mochi, kero.”

Itsuka chuckled. “Same. Mochi is mochi.”

With that bit of support behind him, Izuku made his way toward the open dining area. The kitchen beyond it sat clean and ready, its polished counters gleaming beneath the warm lights, and after a whole day of festivities, cooking something sweet felt like a peaceful way to end it all.

However, before he could reach the pantry, the elevator at the back of the room chimed. Izuku glanced over as the doors slid open, revealing two familiar figures stepping out.

The first was Shoji, calm and towering as ever. He still didn’t know how he slipped away from the group without anyone noticing earlier. Meanwhile, the second was a broad, furry young man with a dignified air, dressed neatly despite the late hour. Izuku recognized him after only a moment. They had not spoken much, but there was no mistaking Jurota Shishida from the entrance exam.

“Hey Shoji.” Izuku brightened and waved. “Shishida! Long time no see.”

Shoji nodded in return as Shishida turned toward him, blinking once as he studied Izuku’s face. Then recognition settled in. “Ah. Midoriya, correct?”

Izuku nodded. “Yeah. I’m glad you made it in.”

Shishida’s expression warmed, and he inclined his head politely. “Likewise. I recall your performance during the entrance examination. The strong man and I destabilized the Zero-Point Robot, giving you the opening to deliver the finishing blow. It was an impressive display.”

Izuku rubbed the back of his neck, bashful under the praise. “Thanks. I couldn’t have done it without everyone's help. You, Sato, Iida, and Ochako. Everyone.”

Shishida nodded approvingly. “A commendable attitude. I look forward to studying alongside you.”

“Same here,” Izuku said, smiling. “Are you two heading somewhere?”

“I arrived at the festival rather late,” Shishida explained. “My suitemate Shoji was kind enough to accompany me so I might enjoy what little time remained.”

Shoji waved one of his many hands somewhat dismissively. “It was no issue.”

Izuku smiled at the two of them. There was something quietly nice about seeing Shoji already connecting with someone who likely understood at least some of the same challenges he faced. “That’s great. I’m glad you got to see some of it.”

Shishida adjusted his posture, glancing toward the lounge. “And you?”

“Oh, I’m making mochi,” Izuku said, then immediately looked a little embarrassed by how domestic that sounded. “Or trying to, anyway. One of my girlfriends wanted some, but we never found any at the festival.”

Shoji’s eyes softened faintly. “That sounds kind.”

Shishida gave a thoughtful nod. “A noble use of the kitchen.”

Izuku laughed, hand reflexively coming to scratch the back of his head. “I don’t know if I’d call dessert noble, but thanks.”

The two heteromorph students began moving toward the hall, and Izuku stepped aside to let them pass.

“We’ll have to catch up soon,” he said. “Maybe during class tomorrow.”

“I would like that,” Shishida replied.

Shoji gave another small nod. “See you later.”

“See you,” Izuku said, waving as they continued on.

Once they were gone, Izuku turned back toward the kitchen with renewed purpose. He rolled up his sleeves, washed his hands, and began opening cabinets in search of what he needed. Glutinous rice flour was the first victory. Sugar came next. Cornstarch was easy enough to find. The fillings were the tricky part. Then, after a little more searching through the well-stocked pantry, he found a sealed container of pre-made red bean paste tucked neatly beside a few other dessert ingredients.

Izuku’s eyes lit up. “Yes!”

From the lounge, Ochako’s head immediately popped up. “Was that a good yes?”

“A very good yes!” Izuku called back. “They have pre-made red bean paste!”

Ochako gasped like he had just announced the discovery of buried treasure. “I love this school!” Her hands rose up alongside her head before she fell back down again.

Katsumi’s voice followed with a teasing edge. “Pretty sure you love him more right now.”

“Yep … “ Ochako squeaked. “Katsumi!”

Izuku laughed under his breath, his own face warming as a smile settled on his face. He set the container down alongside the other ingredients. Still, now that he knew he could make Ochako’s favorite, his confidence grew. He kept searching anyway, wanting to give everyone a few options. After a quick census, he found chocolate spread, strawberry jam, peanut butter, and a container of sweet custard, which soon joined the red bean paste on the counter. Not every filling was traditional, but the variety made him smile. Mochi was already a small comfort food treat. Making several flavors for everyone felt even better.

Izuku continued his work in the kitchen and soaked in the atmosphere of camaraderie that flowed in from behind him. After just a bit of time, he had already mixed the mochi dough over heat and was carefully working it into a smooth, glossy consistency. His fingers were already dusted with cornstarch, and he had a faint streak of flour on one cheek from where he had absentmindedly rubbed his face earlier.

As he portioned out the filling options, the dorm entrance opened.

Izuku glanced up from the counter and saw three young men entering from the front. Two of them were easily recognized. Tsuburaba walked in with his usual upbeat energy, one hand tucked into the pocket of his hoodie while the other gestured animatedly toward his companions. Tokoyami walked beside him with far more restraint, his arms tucked into his pockets folded and his posture composed in a way that made him look as if he were brooding, even though he was probably just deep in thought.

The third young man was unfamiliar to Izuku.

He had black hair tied into neat braids and carried himself with a calm but slightly formal air. Tsuburaba led him toward the lounge, where the girls looked up from their relaxed positions on the couches. Izuku couldn’t catch the entire conversation from where he stood, but he caught enough that, combined with the body language, he was able to roughly understand what was happening. Tsuburaba gestured proudly to the new arrival, Tokoyami gave his usual dignified nod, and the young man introduced himself with a polite bow. Ochako smiled brightly, Katsumi gave a lazy wave from beside her, and Tsuyu blinked up at him with her usual neutral calm. Tenka, naturally, rose up to return the greeting properly.

Izuku smiled softly at the sight before turning back to his work.

'Looks like another classmate has arrived,' he thought as he dusted his hands again. 'I should introduce myself once I’m not covered in cornstarch.'

He was just about done filling the dough when a voice sounded from much closer than expected.

“Looking pretty good.”

Izuku startled so sharply that the little ball of dough in his hands nearly slipped onto the counter. He turned and found Itsuka leaning casually against the nearby countertop, one elbow planted on the surface while she watched him work with an amused smile. He tried his hardest to maintain eye contact.

“K-Kendo,” Izuku said, laughing awkwardly as he regathered the dough. “You scared me.”

“Sorry,” Itsuka said, though the grin on her face made the apology only halfway convincing. “Didn’t mean to sneak up on you. I just wanted to see how the mochi operation was going.”

Izuku looked down at the carefully prepared pieces in front of him, suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious. “It’s, uh, going okay so far… I think. I’m still not super confident.”

Itsuka tilted her head and eyed the neatly portioned fillings. “For a guy who keeps saying he barely knows how to make this, it looks pretty good. Smells great too.”

The praise warmed him more than he expected. “Thanks. I’ve made a few different kinds. Red bean for Ochako, obviously, but I have the chocolate, strawberry, custard, and peanut butter that everyone requested. I am interested in trying those too.”

“Ambitious,” Itsuka said, glancing toward the lounge where Ochako was very obviously trying not to stare in their direction. She failed as her eyes were once more peeking out over the top of the couch. “Your girlfriend is going to lose her mind.”

Izuku chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck and leaving another faint dusting of cornstarch on his skin. “That’s the hope.”

He looked from Itsuka to the rest of the group. The girls had started chatting with the new arrival, while Tsuburaba had already claimed a spot near the edge of the sofa and Tokoyami stood nearby like a watchful shadow. “Were you not going to hang out with everyone?”

Itsuka’s smile softened slightly, and she shook her head. “I’m actually heading up early. First day of real classes tomorrow, and I’m pretty tired, ya know?”

“Oh,” Izuku said, a little surprised. “That makes sense.”

“I just wanted to check in on you before I disappeared,” she added, tapping the counter lightly with her knuckles. “You’ve been running around helping everyone since yesterday. Figured someone should make sure the chef wasn’t overworking himself.”

Izuku blinked at her, then smiled with genuine warmth. “Thanks, Kendo. I appreciate that.”

Itsuka shrugged, though the gesture did not quite hide the faint fondness in her expression. “No problem.”

Izuku glanced back toward the lounge, curiosity returning. “By the way, who’s the new guy with Tsuburaba and Tokoyami?”

“Hiryu Rin,” Itsuka answered easily. “He’s from China.”

Izuku’s eyes widened with interest. “Oh, really?”

“Yeah. Pretty polite guy from what I’ve seen,” Itsuka said. “Apparently, he’s also got an older sister named Yue in the Hero Course a year above us.”

“That’s really cool,” Izuku said, his excitement building as he glanced toward Rin again. “Siblings going into heroics together must be amazing. It makes me think of Crust and Mantle. They’ve worked together before, and their defensive quirks complement each other so well.”

Itsuka laughed softly. “Of course the first thing that pops into your head is hero sibling teamups.”

Izuku flushed. “I mean, it’s kind of relevant.”

“Sure it is,” Itsuka teased, as she pushed off the counter. “You should go introduce yourself once you finish up.”

“I will,” Izuku said with a smile. “Thanks for telling me.”

Itsuka gave him one last look, then gestured toward the mochi. “Good luck. And save me one for tomorrow if there are leftovers.”

“I’ll try,” Izuku said with a glance back at the lounge. The not-so-subtle gaze was still noticeably present. “But with Ochako here, no promises.”

Itsuka chuckled and started toward the elevator. “Fair point.”

Izuku watched her go for a moment, feeling quietly grateful for her check-in. Itsuka had an easy way of grounding people, even when she was teasing them. Despite being the same age, she really had this sort of… Big Sister energy about her. Caring and tough.

More time passed as Izuku put the finishing touches on the mochi, letting them cool just long enough that the texture settled into something soft, chewy, and hopefully presentable. He had arranged them carefully on a tray, the surface dusted with just enough cornstarch to keep the snacks from sticking.

He was just adding a final light dusting when footsteps approached from the lounge side of the dining area.

Tsuburaba, Tokoyami, and the braided young man Itsuka had identified walked past the kitchen island on their way toward the elevator. Tsuburaba noticed Izuku and immediately grinned, dragging the third boy slightly closer with a wave.

“Yo, Midoriya,” Tsuburaba called. “Before we head up, figured I’d introduce you. This is Hiryu Rin. He’s in 1-A with us.”

Rin gave a polite bow, a small smile that felt calm and slightly reserved. “It is nice to meet you, Midoriya.”

Izuku’s own smile brightened, and he quickly returned the bow, careful not to tip the tray too far. “Nice to meet you too, Rin. Welcome to Class 1-A. I’m looking forward to working with you.”

“Likewise,” Rin replied.

Tsuburaba leaned in with a grin, clearly unable to leave things on a simple introduction. “Anyway, once you’re done feeding your girls, you should come up to my suite. We’re gonna play some video games.”

Izuku loved the idea of getting to know the guys better, though a previous promise to his girlfriends weighed on his mind. “Thanks for the invite, but I’ll pass for now. Ochako mentioned wanting to spend some time together tonight, so I should check in with her first.”

Tsuburaba froze, then slowly turned his head toward Tokoyami with the hollow-eyed stare of a man seeing someone living his deepest dreams. “He says that like it’s normal.”

Tokoyami looked at him sidelong. “For Midoriya, it may be.”

“That’s the problem,” Tsuburaba groaned, clutching his chest. “The rest of us are out here fighting for scraps, and he’s rizzing them up with homemade sweets. We stand no chance, man.”

Rin stood between them with the awkward politeness of someone who had not yet figured out how to respond to his new classmates’ sudden dynamic. “I… hope your evening goes well.”

Izuku laughed lightly. “Thanks. Maybe another night.”

Tsuburaba pointed at him as the elevator doors opened. “Offer still stands, man. Games, snacks, no romantic drama.”

Tokoyami stepped into the elevator. “With you present, drama remains possible.”

Tsuburaba clutched at his heart. “Wow, betrayal from my own roommate.”

Rin gave Izuku another small nod before following them in. The doors slid shut on Tsuburaba’s exaggerated suffering, leaving Izuku chuckling to himself in the kitchen.

Then he paused.

“Oh, shoot,” he muttered. “I meant to ask Rin about his quirk.”

He stared at the elevator for a second, then shook his head. It could wait. Classes started tomorrow, and if there was one thing U.A. seemed uniquely good at, it was putting students in situations where quirks became impossible not to discuss. For now, he had a very important dessert delivery to make.

He picked up the tray and made his way into the lounge. Ochako’s gaze locked onto him almost instantly, but more specifically, they locked onto the tray. Her entire expression shifted from barely leashed desire to pure, hungry delight. Her mouth practically watered as Izuku approached, and she sat up from the sofa like a shrine maiden receiving an offering.

“Izuku,” she whispered, “is that…?”

Izuku smiled nervously as he carried the tray closer. “A couple dozen assorted mochi. I really hope they’re good enough.”

Before he could say anything else, the dorm entrance slid open with a burst of energy.

“Honey, we’re home!”

Mina’s voice rang through the lounge before the girl herself fully entered, loud, bright, and overflowing with the sort of enthusiasm that made it feel like she had brought half the festival back with her.

She spotted Izuku with the tray and pointed at him dramatically. “Midori, this is the part where you’re supposed to say, ‘Do you want dinner, a bath, or me?’”

Tenka turned crimson on the spot. “Ashido! That is an inappropriate comment to direct toward a male peer!”

Katsumi, still slouched comfortably on the couch, rolled her eyes. “Ha. You wish, Pinky.”

Mina giggled and stepped aside as the rest of her companions filed in behind her. Eiko entered first, looking refreshed and cheerful, with Momo following at a more elegant pace. Behind them were two girls Izuku had not yet met.

The first was a short brunette with a very curvy build, dressed in a soft white-and-red sundress that made her look like she had wandered out of a springtime postcard. Her posture was shy and reserved, her hands clasped close as she stepped inside and glanced around nervously.

The second girl was impossible to miss for the opposite reason. Or rather, impossible to see.

A blue-striped tank top, short shorts, and a pair of gloves bounced into the room, with nothing visibly filling them. The invisible girl practically skipped across the floor, all cheer and confidence as she waved both gloves toward the gathered students.

“Hi, everyone!” she chirped. “I’m Toru Hagakure, and I’m super excited to finally meet more of my classmates!”

Izuku blinked, then smiled warmly. “Nice to meet you, Hagakure.”

Toru’s attention immediately snapped to the tray in his hands. “Ooooh, is that mochi?”

Ochako had already taken two of the red bean pieces and had bitten into one. The moment the dessert hit her tongue, her eyes went wide and sparkling, and a little sound of joy escaped her as she collapsed back into the sofa cushion. “Mmm…”

Izuku’s shoulders relaxed all at once. “Good?”

Ochako nodded rapidly, still chewing with absolute bliss.

Toru bounced closer. “Can I have one?”

Eiko perked up too, leaning over the back of the sofa. “Wait, Midoriya made mochi?”

Momo’s eyes brightened with polite interest. “That sounds lovely, if there is enough to share.”

“Of course,” Izuku said quickly. He set the tray down on the coffee table with a smile. “Please, everyone have some. I made a few different fillings.”

That was all the invitation the girls needed. Toru swooped in first, grabbing one at random with a delighted gasp. Eiko claimed a chocolate one after asking which was which, while Momo selected a custard flavor and examined it with a refined curiosity before taking a small bite.

Before the brunette girl could linger awkwardly near the edge of the group any longer, Mina swept around behind her and placed both hands on her shoulders.

“And this,” Mina announced proudly, “is my suitemate, Kinoko Komori. I found her up in our suite when I went to drop off Mini Mina, so obviously I kidnapped her for friendship.”

Kinoko gave a timid wave, her cheeks pink. “H-Hello. I hope there’s enough shroom for me.”

For a second, everyone processed the pun.

Then Mina beamed as if she had just witnessed genius, turning to the group and pointing with both arms. “See? She’s adorable.”

Kinoko ducked her head, flustered but smiling faintly.

Mina leaned in with a grin. “Don’t worry, Kinoko. Everyone here is a fun-guy.”

Eiko groaned immediately. “Mina, you’ve used that pun about twelve times since you learned she likes mushrooms.”

“And it keeps being funny,” Mina said, puffing out her chest with immense pride, a hand coming to rest haughtily atop her chest. “Because I am a comedic genius.”

The group fell into a quick round of introductions while sharing the mochi. Toru was bubbly enough to fill any gap in conversation, and Kinoko gradually relaxed as people responded kindly to her, while Momo praised Izuku’s dessert as if she were a mistress thanking her private chef. At least, that’s what Izuku felt like.

Ochako, meanwhile, was on her third red bean mochi and looked like she had reached enlightenment.

“This is perfect,” she murmured.

Izuku’s face warmed. “I’m really glad you like it.”

Katsumi smirked at him. “Told you she’d lose her mind.”

“I am not losing my mind,” Ochako said, holding the mochi protectively as she leaned into Izuku’s shoulder. “I’m appreciating his hard work.”

Toru gasped suddenly, as if remembering something important. “Oh! Before we came back, we were with some of the 1-B girls, and they said they were doing a girls’ night!”

Mina’s eyes lit up like fireworks. “Ooooh, Yes! Awesome idea!”

“Yeah, yeah,” Toru said, bouncing on her toes. “And I think we should do one too. It sounds awesome.”

Mina slapped both hands on the back of the sofa. “Yes. Absolutely. One hundred percent. We need more juicy social bonding.”

She then pointed dramatically around the room. “We played Never Have I Ever last night, and it was so scandalous. Shame some people missed out.”

Toru gasped loudly. “You played Never Have I Ever without me?”

Momo looked surprised as well, though her interest seemed far less scandal-driven. “Oh. That would have been a nice opportunity to become more familiar with everyone. A shame I was so exhausted yesterday…”

Tsuyu, still calmly eating a strawberry mochi, nodded. “I missed it too. I would like to join if there is another gathering, kero.”

Kinoko opened her mouth, perhaps to say that she would rather not be the center of any social chaos, but Mina gently clamped both hands on her shoulders again. “Kinoko’s in too.”

Kinoko blinked. “I am?”

Mina shot her a thumbs up. “You are.”

“Oh,” Kinoko said softly. “Okay.”

Tenka folded her arms and looked torn. “Building camaraderie among classmates is indeed important. However, I am concerned by the repeated use of words such as ‘juicy’ and ‘scandalous’ in relation to these activities.”

Mina grinned. “That’s because they’re the best parts.”

Tenka inhaled through her nose, visibly gathering her principles around herself like armor. “Then I shall attend in order to keep things proper.”

Katsumi, on the other hand, stood from the couch with a yawn. “Yeah, no. I’m out.”

Mina turned on her instantly. “What? No, come on, Bakugo. You have to join.”

“Not happening,” Katsumi said. “I’m crashing early.”

“I want to join but…” Ochako hesitated, her gaze drifting from the girls to Izuku. “I… kind of wanted to spend time with Izuku tonight.”

The simple honesty of it made his heart squeeze. Izuku smiled gently at her. “It’s okay. Go have fun with them. We can do something after, or another night.”

Ochako’s expression softened with clear affection. She leaned in and kissed his cheek, lingering just long enough to make him blush. “Okay then. I’ll text you after.”

Mina clasped Toru by the shoulders as both girls leaned in with matching wicked energy.

“I told you they were cute AF,” Mina whispered. “And a sexy nighttime rendezvous?”

“So romantic,” Toru added, swooning at the thought.

Ochako went red. “That’s not what-”

Tenka rose to her feet, cheeks pink but expression firm. “Midoriya is a proper young man. He would know better than to engage in anything so uncouth on U.A. property.”

Katsumi stopped mid-step, then slowly, dangerously, she grinned.

“Oh, Glasses,” Katsumi said, voice dripping with amusement. “You have no idea how ‘uncouth’ he can be.”

Izuku, who had been reaching for the empty tray on the coffee table, jerked so hard that it was a miracle he did not send it flying.

Katsumi stretched lazily, utterly shameless. “The things he did to me last night? I’m still damn sore.”

Eiko, who had just bitten into a chocolate mochi, suddenly choked and turned bright red as memories of a certain sight from the night before came roaring back. How utterly manly Midoriya looked as he turned the brash tomboy into a sex-crazed puddle. It had been the hottest thing she had ever seen in her life. Thankfully, nobody noticed. Mina and Toru were too busy swarming Katsumi like gossip vultures.

“Wait, wait, wait,” Mina said, grabbing Katsumi’s arm. “You can’t just say that and leave.”

Toru bounced on the balls of her invisible feet. “Details! We need details!”

“Nope,” Katsumi said flatly, as she pried herself free and pointed toward Izuku, who had tried to quietly collect the dishes and escape any gossip. “I’m helping the nerd clean up, then I’m going to bed.”

Mina and Toru both pouted as Katsumi marched toward the kitchen with the confidence of someone who had successfully thrown a grenade into the conversation and walked away as it exploded.

With Katsumi refusing to talk, both gossip-hungry girls slowly turned toward Ochako. The brunette froze with the last bite of red bean mochi halfway to her mouth.

Mina smiled sweetly. A little too sweetly.

Toru clasped her hands together. “So, U~ra~ra~ka…”

Ochako gulped, finished the mochi, and suddenly wondered if choosing girls’ night had been a terrible mistake.

Across the room, Izuku glanced back at her with sympathy while Katsumi joined him at the kitchen counter, smirking like a demon.

“You did that on purpose,” Izuku muttered as he rinsed a bowl.

Katsumi bumped her hip against his. “Obviously. But it’s not like I lied.”

He sighed, but despite the embarrassment, he could not quite stop the smile as it crept onto his face. Behind them, the lounge filled with laughter, teasing, and the frantic sound of Ochako trying to defend herself from questions she had absolutely not prepared for.

By the time Izuku and Katsumi finished cleaning up, the lounge had fully surrendered to chaos. Mina and Toru had successfully migrated the conversation toward girls’ night planning, which mostly seemed to involve the two of them throwing out every possible game that could cause maximum embarrassment. At the same time, Tenka objected to each one with increasing urgency.

The two slipped away from the kitchen and headed toward the elevator, Katsumi casually ignoring Mina’s last desperate attempt to drag her back into the gathering.

For a moment, the elevator was quiet except for the soft mechanical hum as it carried them upward. Katsumi stood beside Izuku with her arms crossed, her shoulder nearly brushing his. The silence was comfortable, at least until Izuku glanced down at his flour-dusted body.

“I definitely need a shower,” he said, laughing under his breath. “I think I have mochi dust everywhere.”

Katsumi glanced at him from the corner of her eye. “You look like you fought a bakery and lost.”

He laughed, and she looked away so he couldn’t see the faint smile tugging at her mouth.

The elevator stopped on the second floor, and the doors opened to Katsumi’s level. She stepped out first, hands in her pockets, and Izuku followed her into the quieter hallway. Compared to the lively lounge below, the second floor felt almost peaceful. The sounds of girls’ night planning faded behind them, replaced by the muffled quiet of closed suite doors and distant dorm ventilation.

Katsumi slowed near her suite entrance.

Izuku stopped beside her, holding her close for a moment to give his usual good night kiss. As the two separated, Izuku softly spoke to his first love. “Well, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow morning. Goodnight, Kacc-.”

He barely finished the sentence before Katsumi moved.

One hand caught the front of his shirt while the other slammed against the wall beside his head. Suddenly Izuku found himself backed into the hallway wall, Katsumi pressed close in front of him. His eyes widened for half a second before she grabbed his collar and kissed him hard.

His brain stopped working.

This kiss was fierce, hot, and unmistakably Katsumi. There was nothing shy about the way she claimed his mouth, nothing hesitant in how she pushed up against him and forced every stray thought out of his head. Izuku made a muffled sound of surprise before melting into it, one hand returning to her waist while the other braced lightly against the wall behind him. Her fingers curled in his shirt, and for a few heavy seconds, the entire world shrank down to the warmth of her lips, the heat of her body, and the low hum she made when he kissed her back.

When they finally separated, Izuku was breathing harder than he had any right to be from just a kiss. Katsumi looked up at him, cheeks flushed and eyes sharp with want. She bit her lip, and the sight nearly finished whatever composure he had left.

“Damn it,” she muttered.

Izuku swallowed. “Kacchan?”

She exhaled through her nose, annoyed at herself more than him. “I wish I hadn’t promised Round Cheeks she got night two.”

His face burned. “O-Oh.”

Katsumi’s grip on his shirt loosened slightly, though she stayed close enough that he could feel the warmth of her breath splashing across his neck. “After last night, I’m only hungrier. You get that, right?”

Izuku’s breath caught, but he nodded honestly. “Yeah.”

She clicked her tongue, frustrated but not cruel. “But a promise is a promise. I told her she could have a private night with you, so I’m not gonna be a greedy bitch and stomp all over it.”

That softened something in him immediately. For all her bluster, all her teasing, all her possessive fire, Katsumi still cared. She still respected Ochako. She still respected him.

Izuku leaned down and kissed her again, gentler this time, his hand rising off the wall to join its other in embracing Katsumi. “There’s plenty of time in the future.”

Katsumi hummed into the kiss, her fingers tightening once more before she forced herself to pull away. For a moment, she looked like she was genuinely debating dragging him into her suite anyway. Then she stepped back, turned toward her door, and walked away with a deliberate sway that made Izuku’s face heat all over again.

She glanced back once, smirked, and gave him a lazy wave. “Enjoy your night with Round Cheeks, nerd.”

Izuku stood there in the hallway for several seconds after her door closed, then he covered his face with both hands. 'We haven’t even gotten to the first day.'

Still warm from the farewell, and more than a little dazed, Izuku made his way back to the elevator and rode it up to the third floor. By the time he reached his suite, his thoughts had mostly stabilized into something resembling coherence, though the memory of Katsumi’s kiss lingered in the back of his mind like a spark refusing to go out.

A shower. That was what he needed. A shower to clean off the flour, cool down his face, and maybe regain enough mental stability to handle whatever Ochako had planned for later.

His suite was quiet when he entered, which made sense. Eiko was probably still downstairs, or maybe with the others getting pulled into girls’ night. He moved through the shared living space, grabbed a clean pair of briefs and shorts from his room, then stepped into his suite’s bathroom.

He set the clothes on the vanity, turned on the water, and stepped beneath the warm spray with a relieved sigh. The heat loosened the stiffness in his shoulders and washed away the lingering cornstarch from his hands and forearms. Flour dust swirled faintly down the drain, and the last bit of festival grime followed with it.

For the first time all day, Izuku was alone with his thoughts.

The festival had been incredible. Chaotic, yes, but incredible. He had met so many classmates, learned about support tech, seen hero costumes up close, helped Pony, made mochi for Ochako, and somehow escaped Mina’s social gravity for another day. Tomorrow, though, was the real start. The first true steps toward becoming the hero he had dreamed of being since he was a little kid watching All Might videos.

Izuku rested one hand against the shower wall and smiled to himself through the falling water. 'I’m really here.'

After a few more minutes, he shut off the water and grabbed a towel. Steam curled around the bathroom as he dried his hair, then his face, then worked the towel over his shoulders and chest. He quickly dressed in the briefs and shorts he had brought, then reached for the counter.

His hand found nothing. He stared at the empty space where a shirt should have been, then slowly closed his eyes. ‘Of course I forgot a shirt.’

A muffled burst of voices sounded from beyond the bathroom door. Izuku paused, towel still hanging around his neck.

One voice was definitely Eiko. Her bright and brash tone carried through the door, though he could not make out the exact words. Another voice answered, higher and bubblier. Maybe Mina? Regardless, he frowned at the door.

'Okay. Kirishima brought someone over. That’s fine. It’s probably just one person.' He glanced down at himself again. Bare chest. Shorts. Damp curls. Towel around his neck. 'I’m covered enough. It’s my suite. I just need to walk to my room and grab a shirt.'

He placed one hand on the door, then paused as another thought hit him. 'Please don’t be Ashido.'

With a quiet breath, Izuku opened the bathroom door and stepped out.

The suite went silent. Then came the gasps. Then the catcalls.

Izuku froze in the doorway. It was not just Mina.

Mina was there, of course, standing near the coffee table with both hands clasped together and a grin so wide it looked physically painful. But she was not alone. Ochako sat on the sofa with a pillow clutched against her chest, her eyes wide and her face instantly red. Eiko stood near the kitchenette, looking like her soul had temporarily left her body. Toru’s striped tank top and shorts bounced excitedly near the armchair, her invisible hands slapping over where her mouth probably was. Momo sat with her hand to her mouth that completely failed to hide the pink rising on her cheeks. Kinoko had gone red enough to resemble a mushroom cap. Tenka looked as if she had just witnessed a major violation of dormitory protocol and did not know which section of the student handbook it applied to. Tsuyu blinked slowly from beside the sofa, eyes calmly traveling from Izuku’s damp hair to his bare torso and back up again.

Eight girls. All in his shared suite. All staring at him.

Izuku’s face went nuclear.

“U-Uh,” he managed, gripping the towel around his neck. “Hi?”

“Well,” Mina said, dragging the word out as her grin turned feral. “Girls’ night is off to a fantastic start.”

“Nobody told me there would be a show!” Toru bounced in place before looking at Ochako. “Damn girl, you’re hitting that!?”

Ochako made a tiny squeaking sound and hid half her face behind the pillow. Her eyes, however, did not look away.

Momo cleared her throat delicately, turning her gaze toward the ceiling with heroic effort. “Midoriya, I apologize. We did not realize you were currently using the shower when we arrived. Kirishima assured us you would have brought clothes in with you.”

Tenka shot to her feet, face scarlet. “Everyone, avert your eyes at once! Midoriya has clearly been placed in an unfair and compromising situation.”

Tsuyu tilted her head. “He is wearing shorts, kero.”

“That is not the point!” Tenka cried.

Kinoko covered her face with both hands, though she peeked through her fingers.

Eiko looked the most mortified of all. Her cheeks were bright red, and she seemed torn between apologizing, laughing, and diving out the window.

“Dude,” Eiko said slowly, hands raised in surrender, “I can explain.”

Izuku closed his eyes as he recalled Tsuburaba’s offer. 'I should have gone with the boys.'

---

AN: Howdy howdy! Today we got a bit of a massive transitional chapter as the festival finally comes to a close and a spontaneous "Girls Night" begins! I hope y'all like the fluff I've put in. I don't want to just dart between canon events without having my own spin on their relationship growth. That said, classes WILL start soon, and canon events will be rolling on from there. Anyways, next time, look forward to some scandalous shenanigans!

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, Lizzy, and Benthom for beta-ing this chapter!