— 3rd POV —
The sterile lights of the UA infirmary hummed softly as Ryo sat upright on the bed
No longer pale, no longer trembling, but fully rested and alert.
Beside him stood a nurse with a clipboard, flipping carefully through several pages of fresh diagnostic results.
"Alright, Takatsuki-san," she began, pushing her glasses up. "We've finished analyzing your updated quirk readings."
Ryo leaned forward, eyes bright.
The nurse continued, "Your quirk Living Gauntlet appears to have changed. Previously, it enhanced only your arm's offensive capabilities. But after the incident with the Zero Pointer, it seems your quirk now provides a full-body boost. Strength, agility, reaction time… all slightly elevated."
Ryo grinned."Nice…"
"But," she added firmly, "when you activate that new 'shield mode', the boost drops significantly.
The quirk diverts its power to reinforce the shield, so you become physically weaker, though your defense skyrockets."
Ryo nodded thoughtfully.
"So… I become tanky but a bit weaker overall."
"Exactly. And as for why or how your quirk evolved…" She shrugged. "We have no clue."
"Thank you."
The nurse smiled. "You're cleared to go. Just avoid fighting giant robots for at least a week."
"...No promises."
— Two Days Later —
Takatsuki Household
Warm afternoon sunlight poured into the living room, where Ryo stretched lazily on the sofa. His little brother, Ren, peeked from behind the hallway corner.
He wasn't sneaky.
He also wasn't subtle.
Ren's eyes locked onto Ryo's phone, specifically the way Ryo kept smiling at the screen.
Ren pointed dramatically.
"BIG BROTHER HAS A GIRLFRIEND!!"
Ryo nearly threw up his phone.
"SHE IS JUST A FRIEND!" he snapped, scrambling to his feet.
Ren darted away instantly.
"Ohhh~ 'just a friend,' huh?!" he teased while sprinting around the house. "So THAT'S why you were grinning like an idiot! You went to UA exams looking for 'friends' hahaha!"
"You brat— GET BACK HERE!"
The chase thundered through the hallway, around the kitchen, up the stairs, down the stairs, until both collapsed on the floor, gasping for air.
Ren wiped sweat from his forehead.
"Still… Big bro… how do you think you did in the exam?"
Ryo smirked.
"I think I did the greatest in the exam."
Ren groaned.
"Don't boast too much. High expectations lead to ruin young man."
Ryo squinted.
"Why are YOU talking like an old man? You used to be way cuter before. You'd go 'Big bwother, can you cawwy me awound?' and we'd play all day—"
"AKHHHHH! DON'T REMIND ME OF MY SHAMEFUL PAST!!" Ren shrieked, burying his face in a pillow.
Ryo laughed.
"Anyway, I told you my quirk evolved, right?"
"Yeah, yeah. You already showed me." Ren waved lazily.
"So, wanna practice? Work our quirks together?"
Ren's soul visibly left his body.
"...You know I don't want to, right? I just want to lie down all day."
"You'll become a lazy bum at this rate."
"FINE! Let me be a lazy bum!"
Ryo snorted.
"Don't you wanna be a hero? Save people?"
Ren yawned.
"Nah. That's you, big bro. Save people on my behalf."
Ryo blinked.
"…Then what do you wanna be when you grow up?"
Ren perked up immediately, stars in his eyes.
"Oh! I'm glad you asked, big bro! I want to be a stay-at-home husband!"
Ryo stared.
Ren stared back.
"…"
"…"
Finally, Ryo dragged a hand down his face.
"…I don't know what to do with you."
Ren puffed his cheeks.
"Hey! It's a legitimate dream!"
"Even stay-at-home husbands need to cook, clean, and take care of a house," Ryo lectured.
Ren recoiled.
"Ehhhh?! Can I not?!"
"You dumbass," Ryo said bluntly. "You need to contribute something to keep your relationship lasting."
Ren crossed his arms with newfound determination.
"Fine! I'll hone all those skills! I'll become the perfect stay-at-home husband!"
"That's a weird thing to get motivated about!!" Ryo shouted.
Ren waved him off.
"And I really don't wanna be a hero. That's you. Don't project it onto me, big bro."
Ryo softened.
"Sorry, Ren."
"It's fine. I know you mean well."
Ren then leaned back and smirked.
"Now that I won't become a hero, you need to double the people you save. To cover for me because i didnt become a hero ."
"DOUBLE?! No way! With how lazy you'll be, I only need to increase it by 0.5%."
"I'll be the LAZY HERO OF LEGENDS!" Ren declared.
"That's exactly why it won't work for you!"
Ryo stretched, standing up.
"Fine, enough nonsense. Cook us dinner. It's getting dark. At least practice if you wanna achieve your dream."
Ren saluted dramatically.
"Aye aye, sir!"
He marched to the kitchen like a soldier heading toward battle.
Ryo chuckled as he watched him go.
"...What a strange kid."
And despite all his teasing, Ryo smiled softly.
It was good to be home.