|| An hour later ||
Izumi stands on the balcony; phone pressed to his ear as the call rings a few times before connecting.
"H–Hey, Izumi!" Midoriya's voice comes through, noticeably brighter than when they met at U.A.
Izumi raises a brow. "From the tone of your voice, I'm guessing you got accepted?"
"Yes! I received a letter from U.A.! I didn't get any villain points, but they awarded me sixty rescue points—so I passed their criteria!"
"So there were more criteria than what they mentioned on paper."
"Yes! And—Izumi—you saw it, right?!" Midoriya's voice shoots up an octave. "All Might is actually teaching at U.A.! Like—like officially teaching! A real teacher! In the staff video!"
Izumi lets out a quiet breath of amusement. "I did. It was surprising… but welcome news."
Midoriya continues, unable to stop himself.
"I mean, I knew he said he'd 'see me at school,' but I thought he meant metaphorically! I didn't actually think he'd be on staff! Do you know how insane that is? The Symbol of Peace, grading papers and taking attendance? Imagine him saying 'settle down, class'—I can't—my brain can't handle this—"
"Breathe, Midoriya."
"I am! I think—maybe. Oh my god. All Might… a teacher. At my school. OUR school."
Izumi shakes his head slightly, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. The enthusiasm is genuine—and loud.
Silence settles for a moment, giving Midoriya time to calm down.
Izumi breaks the silence with a question. "Have you spoken to him yet?"
Midoriya deflates instantly. "No… not yet. He hasn't called. I thought he would, but—he's probably busy. He mentioned he had a lot of paperwork to do in the message from U.A."
Izumi leans against the glass railing, eyes drifting toward the glow of the town in the distance.
"The Symbol of Peace is now working as a teacher in one of the best schools in the world. His schedule is probably packed," he says. "He'll contact you. Don't overthink it."
"R-Right. You're right," Midoriya says, sounding a little steadier.
In the background, Izumi faintly hears a woman calling Midoriya—likely his mother.
"I'll talk to him as soon as I can… and then I'll call you again after that!"
"Sure."
"Okay! Um—have a good night, Izumi!"
"You too."
The call ends.
Izumi lowers the phone, idly rotating it in his hand as a thought surfaces.
'If I'm remembering correctly… All Might contacts Midoriya the night he gets his result.'
He exhales.
"I guess my call is coming soon."
"Huh? Who's gonna call you?!"
Ayaka's voice comes from behind him.
Izumi turns around to find her standing at the veranda door.
"How many times do I need to tell you to knock before entering, Ayaka?"
He walks over, grabs her cheeks, and stretches them left and right.
In a distorted, squished voice, Ayaka replies, "What's the use? You're always scanning your surroundings anyway. You know I'm here before I even step onto this floor."
"Still. You should follow proper etiquette."
Izumi lets go of her cheeks and walks into his room, collapsing face-first onto his bed.
From the mattress, his muffled voice comes out. "What did you need?"
Ayaka doesn't answer immediately. Instead, she flops onto the bed beside him—on her back—and proceeds to drive her elbow into his spine.
"…Hmm. You do know that doesn't affect me, right?"
"Can't hurt to try," she says, continuing to jab at him like a determined woodpecker.
"Do you want to join me and Mum for combat training tomorrow? It's been a while."
Izumi stays quiet for a moment, still face-down in the plush bedding, before responding, "You're only asking because you learned a new move today and want to test it in combat. Not because it's been a while."
"Wow! Everybody, look here—the Captain Obvious."
"Alright, get off." Izumi pushes Ayaka away and sits up. "Maybe not tomorrow. I'm meeting a friend. I might go train with him."
"Huh? Who is this new friend? And why haven't I heard of him before?"
"Someone I met at U.A."
"Is he strong?" she asks immediately.
"Well… it's complicated. But his quirk is destructively strong."
"Alright! Then I look forward to meeting him."
"Maybe. Maybe not. He won't come here—I'll be going there."
"That's fine. I'll see him at U.A."
Izumi walks to the TV in front of his bed, opens the drawer underneath, grabs a controller, and returns to sit down.
"Alright, get out. I want to play some games," he says as he pushes Ayaka off the bed.
Surprisingly, Ayaka accepts her defeat without a single complaint. With light, quick steps, she heads toward the door.
"Bye!" she chirps, slipping out quietly.
Izumi stares at her retreating back, confused, then turns his attention to the TV screen. The game menu flashes:
=>[Start?]
He stares for a few seconds… then slowly turns his head toward the door Ayaka just left through.
A beat.
"AYAKA!!!"
One second later, Ayaka's voice echoes through the mansion,
"IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!"
Izumi freezes, dumbfounded. Then, with a defeated groan, he sets the controller aside and reaches both hands toward the ceiling in sheer, silent frustration.
***
Izumi stops in front of his mother's study and knocks on the large brown double doors.
"It's Izumi."
"Come in," Aoi answers.
Izumi steps inside to find both his parents seated at the long table — stacks of documents spread out, two laptops open, soft desk lamps casting warm light across the room. It looks like they've only just begun working.
"I have something to do," he says. "So, I'll be going out for a bit."
Jin looks up immediately, raising a brow.
"This late?"
Izumi nods.
Jin exhales. "You have training tomorrow. Don't stay out long."
Aoi lifts her head from the file she's reviewing.
"Mr. Kaito isn't here at this hour. Do you want your father to drive you?"
Izumi shakes his head. "It's fine. I'll go by myself."
Aoi studies him for a moment, then gives a small nod.
"Very well. But be back soon. As your father said — proper rest is important for your training."
"I will."
Izumi stares at his parents for a moment.
"You can tell Ayaka to stop hiding. I won't do anything."
Both Aoi and Jin stare at him with identical blank expressions, as if silently asking 'What are you talking about?'
"You two can stop acting. You don't need to hide her. I alrea—"
He's cut off when the cupboard doors abruptly swing open.
"Who's hiding? I was just looking for something in the cupboard," Ayaka says as she steps out, completely unbothered, and starts walking toward the exit.
As she passes Izumi, her pace subtly slows — clearly bracing herself for potential retaliation.
"I didn't find it here. I'll look for it elsewhere," she says in the most suspiciously casual tone possible.
The moment she fully clears his reach, her steps speed up, and she sprints out of the room.
"Love ya!" echoes faintly as she disappears down the hallway.
Izumi doesn't react. He doesn't even glance at her for a moment.
He just stares at his parents.
His parents, in turn, remain as emotionally responsive as two polished stone statues.
Not a blink.
Not a twitch.
Not even the acknowledgment that their daughter just crawled out of a cupboard like a gremlin with a guilty conscience.
Izumi sighs and steps back toward the door.
"Bye. I love you three."
The door closes behind him with a quiet click.
Inside the study, the room remains silent for a few seconds.
Aoi slowly turns her head toward her husband.
"…Do you think he's going to meet a girl?"
Jin lets out a short laugh.
"Not likely."
Aoi narrows her eyes. "You say that like you're certain."
"I am," he replies, leaning back in his chair. "You need to give up. He's not thinking about relationships right now. He's too focused on his training."
She folds her arms.
"Aren't boys his age usually very interested in girls? Is it going to be our job to find a match for him?"
Jin sighs.
"If anyone needs a matchmaker, it's probably him. But… let's give it time. He'll figure it out eventually."
Aoi hums, unconvinced, her expression halfway between concern and motherly determination.
Which is exactly when Ayaka crashes back into the room as if she never left.
She pushes the doors open, vaults over the arm of the couch, lands sprawled across the cushions, and immediately pulls out her phone — thumbs already scrolling at lightning speed.
"Don't worry, Mom!" she announces proudly. "I'll set him up with someone at U.A.! You can count on your daughter!"
Aoi blinks.
Jin rubs his forehead.
Ayaka scrolls.
The two adults sit among their scattered paperwork — one worried that her son is too oblivious for romance, the other resigned to the fact that he absolutely is — while their daughter confidently plots social sabotage from the sofa.
***
|| Few Hours Later ||
All Might and Midoriya are running along the beach from fans who have recognized All Might. After a few minutes, they finally stop, catching their breath.
Midoriya leans forward, hands on his knees, and looks up at All Might.
"All Might, do you know anyone named Izumi?"
All Might raises an eyebrow and nods.
"I do. He is… also a student who was accepted into the hero course. Well, accepted is putting it lightly—it's more like U.A. welcomed him."
"Welcomed him?" Midoriya tilts his head, puzzled.
"The boy is already on par with pro heroes. Him and his sister. They're well-mannered, disciplined… there was no way U.A. could turn away students like that." All Might looks at Midoriya and continues, "You can learn a lot from them, young Midoriya."
Midoriya's excitement is short-lived. His shoulders slump slightly, a shadow passing over his expression.
"If there are already people my age who are on par with pro heroes… then can I compete with them? I'm already behind… people who were born with quirks."
All Might remains silent for a few moments, placing a reassuring hand on Midoriya's shoulder.
"You do not need to be disheartened, young man. While you need to work harder than others, this also gives you the opportunity to learn—from their mistakes, from their experiences… you are not alone on this journey. You have me in your corner, and I am certain you will have many others who will help you along the way. So do not falter. Keep striving."
Midoriya's eyes well up, and he cries silently, trying not to make a sound. After a few seconds, he wipes his face with his sleeve and looks up at All Might.
"Thank you, All Might. I will make sure to work hard."
All Might pats his shoulder a few times and straightens.
He pauses, then his expression shifts, curiosity breaking through his composed demeanour.
"But tell me, young Midoriya… why were you asking me about Izumi Adachi? You wouldn't have met him—he didn't take the entrance exam."
Midoriya straightens, nodding eagerly.
"I met him after I completed the entrance exam. He was waiting for me and approached me when I exited U.A. I found it odd—someone waiting for me—but then he mentioned you."
"Me?"
"Yes. He said we share a connection… with All Might. So, he was aware of my relationship with you. I'm not sure if he knows about OFA…" Midoriya continues rambling in his usual, excitable fashion.
Izumi didn't notice, but the air around him seems to grow heavy. All Might, deep in thought, remains quiet, letting Midoriya's words hang.
The tense atmosphere breaks when Midoriya finally asks,
"How do you know him, All Might?"
All Might blinks, his serious expression softening as he shifts back to his usual demeanour.
"I first met him at the Adachi mansion, when I visited Electro after his retirement."
"Electro?"
"Ah, yes. You probably wouldn't recognize him—his hero career was short-lived."
Midoriya furrows his brow, thinking.
"Electro… I think I recognize that name…"
His eyes suddenly sparkle with realization.
"Yes! There was a hero with that name. He was famous for his electric quirk and his appearance. But he disappeared a few years ago."
All Might nods.
"Ah, you remembered. He was an incredibly talented young man, full of potential. Unfortunately, a villain encounter left him injured. I am greatly indebted to him."
"I see."
"That was the first and only time I met him. I saw his video again during the screening process for the entrance exam. It's odd—he knows about the connection between you and me, yet approached without intent to cause harm. At least, that's how it seemed to me."
All Might falls silent, lost in thought. Then, looking down at Midoriya, he asks:
"Young Midoriya… why don't you contact him? Tell him to meet us here."
Midoriya nods.
"You think it's a good idea? He might just be speculating, but this would confirm the connection we share."
"From what I know about the young man so far, I don't think he would have any ill intentions. If he did, he wouldn't be this easy-going. From what I've seen—his intellect, his videos, his written tests, his interview—he's not sloppy. He knows the power of the Adachi family."
Midoriya quickly makes a call to Izumi, sending him the location of the beach.
"It will take me ten minutes to arrive. Please wait."
All Might frowns slightly, thinking to himself:
'Ten minutes? The Adachi estate is quite far from this beach. Even with a driver rushing, it should take him at least forty minutes.'
On the phone, Izumi's calm voice replies,
"Alright. I will see you soon."
Midoriya ends the call and turns to All Might.
"He'll be here in ten minutes."
They wait in silence, the sound of waves crashing against the shore filling the air. A few minutes pass.
Then All Might's eyes sharpen.
"…Young Midoriya. Look there."
Midoriya follows his gaze. Far in the distance—beyond the rooftops at the edge of the city—brief streaks of white-blue light flicker between the buildings. At first, they look like reflections… but then they move. Fast. Too fast.
Another streak erupts across the skyline, leaping from one rooftop to another.
Midoriya gasps.
"W–What was that?!"
Another streak flashes across two rooftops in an instant, clean and sharp. There's no sound. Not even the faintest crackle.
All Might narrows his eyes.
"That speed… that control… that should be him."
Midoriya's mouth hangs open as more streaks appear—short bursts of light zigzagging from one rooftop to the next, each one getting a little closer. They follow a straight, deliberate path toward the coastline.
"Is he… actually jumping across the rooftops?" Midoriya mutters, eyes wide.
A final streak appears above the last row of houses—brighter than the others but still silent. It shoots forward in a single controlled line, dropping toward the beach. The glow dims as it approaches, as if Izumi is deliberately lowering his output to avoid waking anyone.
The light cuts out completely at the top of the stone steps leading down to the sand. A silhouette stands there—motionless, composed, faint traces of lightning drifting off his clothes.
Izumi begins his descent without hurry, each step quiet and steady. By the time he reaches the bottom, any remaining energy around him has settled.
Up close, there's no flash, no rumble—just Izumi, calm as if he had taken a normal evening walk.
He stops a few paces away and gives a polite nod.
"Hello, All Might. Midoriya."
***