Her voice came out softer than expected.
But she didn't take it back.
Aoyama's grin widened slightly.
"Then it's settled."
He stood, stretching as if they hadn't just survived chaos moments ago.
"Tomorrow. Between ten and three."
He glanced down at her one more time.
"Don't keep me waiting, Uraraka-chan."
Thud-dump.
Her heart jumped again.
"…I won't."
…
…
…
The world kept moving.
The chaos from the Zero Pointer slowly died down, dust settling over shattered streets and broken machines.
My quirk really came in handy…
He could flirt with both Ochaco and Izumi Midoriya, taking the time to get to know them while waiting for this world's Recovery Girl to arrive.
To be honest… the reason I didn't heal Izumi—partly because I wasn't sure I could fix broken bones—was because I hoped to meet U.A.'s head nurse.
This was an AU. Maybe she'd be younger here.
Maybe—
"Bye-bye, kiddos… I'm off to watch my mid-afternoon show."
A small elderly granny shuffled away, cane tapping against the pavement—dragging his hopes with her.
…Yeah. That dream's dead.
Guess I got a little too greedy, huh…
"Aoyama-kun… a-are you listening?"
Izumi's voice pulled him back.
She stood there, fidgeting with her fingers.
"Sorry—I spaced out. What were you saying?" he asked, rubbing the back of his neck.
She took a breath—then bowed.
"I was saying thank you… for letting me take down that last one-pointer. I know you probably needed the points too."
Her twin tails rested over her collar.
Her tracksuit—blue, worn, and stained with sweat—was torn in multiple places.
"It's fine," Aoyama said casually. "If I really needed it, I wouldn't have given it up so easily. So relax."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Besides… don't you have something more important to worry about?"
She straightened.
"Something more important…?"
She blinked, confused.
Aoyama sighed internally.
Even with him standing in front of her, a few nearby students were still sneaking glances.
That annoyed him.
"I don't know what that attack you used on the Zero Pointer was—"
He paused.
Then pulled off his shirt.
Izumi immediately panicked.
"H-hey! What are you doing?! You can't just take your clothes off—people are watching!"
"That's exactly why I'm doing it."
He tossed the shirt over his shoulder.
"Lift your arms."
"W-what?! Why?!"
"Just do it."
She hesitated—
But complied.
He stepped forward and gently slipped the shirt over her shoulders.
"Why are you giving me your shirt…?"
"Pull the collar a bit and look."
Confused, she did as he said.
Her gaze flicked around first—
Then down.
And everything clicked.
Below her outfit was completely damaged from the impact of her smash.
Ripping not only her sleeve but also exposing her pink bra and half her chest.
Her face flushed instantly.
Aoyama sighed lightly.
Finally noticed…
Izumi quickly fixed the shirt, pulling it closer around herself.
She looked up at him.
"Aoyama-kun… you've saved me again."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"If you weren't here… I probably would've embarrassed myself in front of everyone…"
She clutched the fabric tighter.
"I might've become the laughingstock of the whole exam…"
Aoyama shrugged.
"You're overthinking it."
He turned slightly, hands in his pockets.
"You can wear my shirt for now. The test's already over."
He glanced back at her.
"And if you're not comfortable… you can just head home early."
Izumi hesitated.
"Then… um…"
She looked down, gathering courage.
"Would you… like to come with me?"
Aoyama blinked.
She rushed her words.
"I mean—I need to change! And I should return your shirt properly! So I thought—maybe—you could come with me, and I'll give it back after—!"
She froze.
Realizing what she just said.
Her face turned red.
"W-wait—!"
Her thoughts spiraled.
I'm bringing a boy home.
Right after the exam.
While wearing his shirt.
And my clothes are still torn underneath—
Her brain short-circuited.
What is Mom going to think?!
... I still have my school uniform back in the girls changing room
She thought she found a way to give him back his shirt without going to her house.
Aoyama, meanwhile, just smiled slightly.
"Sure."
He didn't even hesitate.
"Lead the way."
Izumi froze again.
She could tell him.
She could explain she didn't actually need to go home—
That she could just change and return his shirt—
But…
What if he wanted to come over?
What if he had already decided?
For someone else, it would've been simple.
For Izumi—
A girl with almost no experience talking to boys—
Especially one who had just saved her… twice—
It wasn't simple at all.
It felt like the least she could do… was offer something more.
Tea.
Snacks.
Something.
Anything.
Her system finally rebooted.
"O-okay…"
And just like that—
She started walking.
Mid-way after a long mental rant, and planing, —she stiffly turned back, smile awkward and forced.
"Oh… silly me, I just realized…"
Her movements were almost robotic.
"I came here in my uniform, so… if you don't mind, can we take the bus back to U.A. first?"
"I can change… and give your shirt back."
Aoyama watched her carefully.
She gulped.
"After that…" her eyes shifted, "we can still go to my place! I can wash your shirt properly since I wore it over my sweaty tracksuit…"
Aoyama hummed.
"If you've got a spare uniform, there's no reason to go to your house."
"You can just give it back after you change."
Izumi's steps slowed.
Her stomach dropped.
"Y-you don't want to come to my place…?"
Aoyama didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
He lifted his hand.
And behind them—
Silver light began to rise.
One.
Three.
Five.
Ten.
Streams of light arched across the battlefield like reversed shooting stars, converging toward him.
Izumi slowed, eyes widening as they passed.
Each one slipped into his fingertips.
Silent.
Seamless.
Gone.
He flexed his hand.
"…Not really."
The answer landed.
Izumi blinked.
Her chest tightened unexpectedly.
Why… does that feel… disappointing?
She didn't understand it.
Not at all.
Aoyama stretched, arms lifting behind his head.
"Because—"
Izumi instinctively leaned in.
Their eyes met.
That same spark.
Her breath hitched.
"Huff… huff…"
"—I don't want to get into trouble with your parents."
Izumi froze.
"If their quirks combined into someone who can destroy a fifteen-story robot with one punch…"
He glanced at her.
"I don't want to find out what they'd do to the guy hitting on their daughter."
The world went silence.
Then—
"Pfft—!"
Izumi burst out laughing.
"Hahaha—!"
"That's why?!"
Aoyama nodded seriously.
"I can make clones, sure. But I don't have extra lives."
"If the original dies, it's game over."
Izumi wiped a tear from her eye, still smiling.
"Then why were you okay with coming earlier?"
"Simple."
He shrugged.
"My mom would kill me if I didn't come home with my shirt."
They kept walking toward the buses.
"You know…" Izumi said, softer now, "if you actually came over… my mom wouldn't be mad."
"Really?"
"Yeah. If I tell her what you did for me… she'd probably insist you stay for tea."
She spun slightly, gathering courage.
Then faced him properly.
"So let me ask you again—"
"Aoyama-kun… will you come home with me so I can thank you properly?"
He looked at her.
Then smiled.
"Will there be snacks?"
"The best cookies I have!"
"Drinks?"
"Tea, coffee, soda—anything!"
"Hmm…"
He stepped closer.
"Will I be able to cash in my favor~?"
"For anything you want!!"
She said it instantly.
Bright.
Earnest.
Completely unaware.
Aoyama paused.
…This girl…
She has no idea what she just said.
He stepped forward.
Hands gently resting on her shoulders.
Izumi's breath hitched.
She could feel it now—the space between them shrinking.
Her heart started pounding harder, louder, like it was trying to escape her chest.
She should step back.
She knew she should.
But—
She didn't.
Her fingers twitched at her sides.
Her body tensed—
Then stilled.
Waiting.
Unsure.
Her eyes flickered up to his—
—and stayed there.
Her lips parted slightly.
A breath caught in her throat.
He was close enough now that she could feel it—
That pull.
That strange, unfamiliar tension tightening in her chest.
Her mind whispered something.
Move.
Say something.
Do anything.
But her body didn't listen.
She hesitated—
But she didn't resist.
—smouch—
!!!
The kiss was to warm and sudden,
Her mind went blank.
Her body locked up completely.
One second.
Two.
Three.
He pulled back.
"I don't know if we'll meet again after this," he said lightly.
"So I want to use my favor… to practice kissing you."
Silence.
Izumi stood there—
Completely frozen.
Her face burning.
Her heart racing so loud it drowned everything else.
He… kissed me…
Her fingers twitched.
Her thoughts scrambled.
That was… my first…
She looked at him.
Then away.
Then back again.
Her lips parted slightly—
"I…"
She swallowed.
Hard.
Her chest rising and falling unevenly.
"…Okay."