The next day, Izuku awoke with the feeling of something warm and alive on top of him. His sleepy eyes fluttered open to find Kiri lying on his chest, her smaller body rising and falling gently alongside each breath he took. They resembled an otter parent and child pair lazing atop each other, her little fists clutching his pajama shirt tight while she dozed peacefully. A lock of his dark hair drifted near her mouth, and she began to chew on it, even drooling a little.
497Please respect copyright.PENANA2Siw8pVy0s
However, there’s a problem.
497Please respect copyright.PENANA2XiiabILoZ
Kiri: “Nmu… ”
497Please respect copyright.PENANA7hgjjJEsNm
This is his room, and she shouldn’t be here. Izuku fought down his blush and sucked in his panic.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAaBMtY6pIRO
Izuku: ‘Did she sleepwalk?’
497Please respect copyright.PENANAon9H2NMpCA
Glancing at his bedside clock, he noticed it was almost time to get up and get ready for school. The boy tried to gently slide her off without waking her up. Ironically, his actions had the opposite effect when she held on tighter the moment she felt her 'bed' shifting.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAeocNAUSm88
With no choice, Izuku prodded at her cheek tenderly, careful not to startle her.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAAWZjj6oIsh
Izuku: "Kiri?"
497Please respect copyright.PENANAzGUUvOngTT
Kiri: "Nn?"
497Please respect copyright.PENANA6Z0j1yOvRQ
The little girl let out a small yawn.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAFVhQCXPbaS
Kiri: "Nii-chan… ”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAfWjLb4o5U0
Izuku: "Y-Yeah, it's me. W-What are you doing here?"
497Please respect copyright.PENANAEWUeFcaw27
Kiri: “Wanted… to be close to you.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAqbQoDIS9EN
Izuku: “But… we can’t sleep in the same bed. You should’ve stayed in your room. Did you sleepwalk?”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAY5ZtN7bHzW
Kiri: “No, I couldn’t sleep… until I was with you.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAUR9hkEXbMX
She looked at him with such innocent eyes, dispelling any worries of other thoughts. But still, this can’t go on. Izuku shifted their positions so they were sitting cross-legged across from each other.
497Please respect copyright.PENANA5DfKQqY9xk
Izuku: “Kiri, we have to clear up the misunderstanding at school.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAj0x8WB0EjO
Kiri: “What misunderstanding?”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAkaL8n0JPSJ
Izuku: “That you’re my… girlfriend.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANADcctfsM9ej
Kiri: “But I’m a girl, and you’re my friend.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAkMyDCf1m96
Izuku: “Yes, but a girlfriend is something different. It’s… only for couples.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAfysYatdgvg
Kiri: “Couples?”
497Please respect copyright.PENANArvb6XmgzVa
Izuku: “Y-Yes, those who love each other.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAImM09pHJ29
Kiri: “But… I do love you.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANABM3ZjEeb97
Izuku couldn’t help but blush a bit from that. Sure, he sees Kiri as a little sister, but she’s still a cute girl. Hearing that from a cute girl would of course get a reaction.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAzM7HCsB4f0
A reaction that made Kiri feel… strange again. More good this time.
497Please respect copyright.PENANA9KTj9LfdGV
Izuku: “I-I-I know you do, b-but that’s familial love, not romantic.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANACtcHFem65e
Kiri: “What’s… the difference?”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAVxjFFoqWbn
Izuku: “Um, one is for your family, and the other is for someone you… intend to marry.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAxkYDWVAwJL
Kiri: “Mmmmmm, can’t we get married?”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAqvpvjdOqKU
Izuku: “W-What!? No!”
497Please respect copyright.PENANApIrKedWLUn
Kiri: “Why?”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAskkVB8kNlB
Izuku: “Because you’re like my sister! Siblings can’t get married!”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAFqKrOgB7De
Kiri: “Why not?”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAG2IIHk0lNh
Izuku: “Because… because… ”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAs2P60GlMCG
The more he thought on it, the more the reasons don’t work in this case. Kiri is a mental construct, so the genetic argument doesn’t work.
497Please respect copyright.PENANA6BT6kEW0w4
But still, he shouldn’t see her that way. If Kiri is okay, then maybe-
497Please respect copyright.PENANAlO4Q9iZKm0
Izuku shakes his head violently, banishing those bad thoughts.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAWbnRaffLZR
Izuku: “Look, Kiri, we just can’t. Please, just tell everyone we’re just friends. Not girlfriend and boyfriend. Can you do that for me?”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAYzRP22I5Xn
Kiri: “… Okay.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANA2rfgRLy5nj
He can tell she still doesn’t really get it, but this will have to do for now.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAOZkYBVdf6G
Izuku: “Good, now we have to get ready for school. We can’t be late.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAJF71SAnBNU
Kiri: “Nh.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAJyvQMdp1Cn
497Please respect copyright.PENANA6aQqp7WEun
After running to school, because they were almost late and for exercise, the duo got breakfast and then attended their first class.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAveHjRwc5T3
497Please respect copyright.PENANAPAolrQ3F8s
Present Mic: “All right, class. Tell me where the mistake is in the English sentence. Who knows the answer? Everybody, hands up and raise them high!”
497Please respect copyright.PENANA84HEnoADJe
‘So normal!’
497Please respect copyright.PENANAuk2zT3EKTL
The whole class shared the same sentiment. Some students were dozing off, like Mina, or even sleeping, like Kiri. She didn’t see much reason to learn this stuff after all.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAptW27HwFV0
The only one who seemed to be enjoying himself was Izuku. After that though, the class was allowed to gather at the grand mess hall.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAe4PbUznuBF
The group was pretty big; nearly the whole class was together. Much to Izuku’s delight, he was welcomed with open arms.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAmoUbAbpBCT
Izuku: ‘I never expected to get this many friends, all at once.’
497Please respect copyright.PENANAXWPxIOGSjD
They group shared their names, the basics of their quirks, and complaints about schoolwork. You know, normal school life.
497Please respect copyright.PENANA4AnyS8GKrs
That did, however, leave little time to clear up the Kiri misunderstanding.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAlmQoMYw3YL
Regardless, that normalcy was coming to an end, for a special teacher was coming in for their next class.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAbIZOSXj89O
All Might: "I AM HERE…"
497Please respect copyright.PENANAzmrYTl2GRq
Everyone's heads perked, and wide grins split their faces at the welcomed surprise.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAaddycAyKzw
All Might: "COMING THROUGH THE DOOR LIKE A NORMAL PERSON!"
497Please respect copyright.PENANA98XOAiuQt9
"We have All Might as a teacher?!"
497Please respect copyright.PENANACi8C7GIvH4
The class erupted in excitement as All Might walked in, resplendent in his Silver Age costume.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAW0iHJHb0VQ
Mina: "Whoa, his style is so different! I swear I'm hearing a theme song right now!"
497Please respect copyright.PENANA2mxX1ZnGis
Jiro: "You're not the only one."
497Please respect copyright.PENANAvQ37jIGRjv
All Might proceeded to chew the scenery right up as he heroically made his way to the podium and put his fists on his hips.
497Please respect copyright.PENANACDwklEbQaq
All Might: "I will be teaching Fundamental Heroics! In this subject, we will be putting all of you through your paces so that you can learn the basics of being a Hero. We'll be here quite often. This class and its subsequent advanced versions will have the most units per semester."
497Please respect copyright.PENANAsue91BIrH4
He seemed to flex, and somehow managed to make a card appear in his hand.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAPnBq0gCoCd
All Might: "So let's get right into it! Your first class shall be… Combat Training!"
497Please respect copyright.PENANAzUGOFRgsW5
The card had the word 'Battle' written on it.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAzoAiFJjiPs
Bakugo: "Combat?!"
497Please respect copyright.PENANA6cPubFqPka
He was grinning broadly, beyond excited. With this, he could prove once and for all who’s on top.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAGYXhfYUTY2
All Might: "And for that you need these!"
497Please respect copyright.PENANABcGIUOboSV
All Might clicked a button and several panels popped out of the wall to the far side of the room. Each of them had five containers labeled from 1 to 15.497Please respect copyright.PENANAYgpOkdEukq
497Please respect copyright.PENANA9kWQ9Vwn9i
All Might: "In accordance with the Quirk Registry as well as your own written requests... here are your-”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAMMFHO3H5kI
"COSTUMES!"
497Please respect copyright.PENANAlxGWFWv36t
Nearly the whole class shouted in glee. They couldn't wait to see how all of them had turned out.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAvCsZvRba2A
All Might: "That's right! After you change, meet me at Ground Beta!"
497Please respect copyright.PENANA1ie4pPerSK
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
497Please respect copyright.PENANAdSfjyLHUd6
All Might stood alone now, fists again on his hips as he waited for his students to start coming through the tunnel into Ground Beta. His grin widened as he started picking up on faint footsteps before the first of them broke into the light.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAotYiaB8c4L
All Might: "They say the costume makes the hero, young ladies and gentlemen."
497Please respect copyright.PENANAL6eh4LAsXf
He eyed each of them and liked what he saw with most of the costumes.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAxf4g2DBdNL
All Might: "Be proud. From this moment on, you are HEROES!”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAUI7fjVPmSA
Behind the rest of the class, Izuku and Kiri were the last ones walking out of the tunnel. He had gotten a little lost in a memory when he and Kiri first put on their costume.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAxPmFSdaxYL
497Please respect copyright.PENANAbBip10Jekc
It was the night before his first day at UA, and the family had just finished dinner. After cleaning up, Inko pulled him and Kiri aside with a brilliant smile on her face.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAhEUMP5aDtG
Inko: “Me and Fubuki have a surprise for you! Right, Fubuki?”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAYhNE3tJo3Q
Fubuki was pretty silent throughout dinner, but hearing her name finally brought her back to reality.
497Please respect copyright.PENANA7tuNdNC6SS
Fubuki: “O-Oh, yes! I almost forgot, stay here, Izu!”
497Please respect copyright.PENANA7i6Y9aGCOw
Fubuki nearly ran out the door.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAzXTx0IBrlv
Izuku: “What is it?”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAQwJepMv8I6
Tatsumaki: “Something we made for when you were accepted into UA.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAHf9D6QmvXw
Inko: “Fubuki was the one who came up with the idea and even paid for it. Tatsu and I helped design it. But we did take a peek into your hero journals for inspirations.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAufOGwajo6r
Before Izuku could wonder what they made, Fubuki came back with two large metal suitcases. She floated them in with her quirk and laid them on the couch.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAlxo0yiex30
Fubuki: “I really hope you too like it. I spared no expense.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAmuO3cPADet
Izuku and Kiri got on their knees and opened the suitcases. Their eyes widen at the gift.
497Please respect copyright.PENANABjGbpskkLJ
Tatsumaki: “You’re heroes now; you have to look the part.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANARWAfKMEY1l
Izuku beamed a brilliant grin, which brought joy to those that saw it.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAHzie0Hrc5K
Izuku: “Thank you, for everything!”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAjpauRRU6hO
497Please respect copyright.PENANAGands1kAZ1
Uraraka: "Woah! You two look amazing!"
497Please respect copyright.PENANAMPblLKfJIZ
The gleeful cry from Ochaco drew all of their attention, and several more exclamations rang out.
497Please respect copyright.PENANA77ZXI5dZke
Mina: "Wow, matching outfits!? So cute!"
497Please respect copyright.PENANAMjQNUarRna
Mina's voice rang out as she started excitedly running around them, checking out every angle.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAHHvzSeLgjb
Momo: "Quite cool. I like it a lot."
497Please respect copyright.PENANAddzC8e5TU3
Momo smiled at him specifically, getting another luminescent blush from the shy boy.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAmZMBeIZ12z
Izuku: “T-Thank you.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAdeKD2MxATi
Denki: "Jeez, looking at him makes my costume look like a crappy cosplay. I'm a bit intimidated."
497Please respect copyright.PENANAe4HuaZq9Ej
Kaminari complained in good humor. He was wearing clothes that wouldn't have looked out of place at a rock concert. They looked like regular clothes.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAvMdbdps6WN
Bakugo: “Tch.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAYmY3jXyzRW
Izuku's full costume looked to be in a similar style to the one All Might was wearing. It was a full bodysuit and had a green cape, but that was where the similarities ended.
497Please respect copyright.PENANA8yae2cp8Kq
Rather than spandex, it was a combat bodysuit similar to those really old space-themed video games from the previous century like Crysis or Mass Effect.
497Please respect copyright.PENANA9tUbLuDZVB
It was primarily black, but there were some green accents woven in through the suit. The gloves and boots were bright green, as was the cape and the shoulders, running down to his arms. A bright green bird of prey was emblazoned on his chest.
497Please respect copyright.PENANA3npvKS17wH
Finally, an emerald sash rested on his hips for his Psi blade.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAQwKYWIuqZm
As for Kiri, her outfit was much the same, except her primary color was white with light green accents. She had no cape but instead had a gladiator helmet with silver wings. A helmet worthy of a Valkyrie.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAYzHyFsE8Ov
Together, they contrast but somehow still complement each other well.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAOnPYhvwj5g
Mina: “Aw, I’m so jealous. I wish I had a boyfriend I could have matching costumes with.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAqY9p6Q5NtM
Kiri: “Nh.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAR7mQHxSJi6
Izuku: “But-”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAoEo0jZlbSL
All Might: "Alright, my young heroes, it is time to get started."
497Please respect copyright.PENANAmQ28yf1PPN
All Might interrupted the socializing since he couldn't stay in his hero form for too long.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAz4heZP0HUP
Ida: "Sensei, this is the same site we used for our entrance exams. Will we be doing cityscape maneuvers again?"
497Please respect copyright.PENANAmqt5e4gKPG
All Might: "Close! What we’ll be doing will involve indoor combat scenarios and outdoor survival."
497Please respect copyright.PENANAj3bsoOvZEF
All Might: “You must be able to adapt to both scenarios as they come up. To that end, we have come up with a new combat exercise that suits the number of students.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAcZRTyvjzTO
Tsuyu: "So no basic training?"
497Please respect copyright.PENANAlfUCTlOxQi
All Might: "Practical experience will teach you that! The distinction here is that you won't be fighting disposable robots but each other!"
497Please respect copyright.PENANA4uSVfpMg9i
Some were surprised by the news while others were thrilled. Izuku could feel the burning glare aimed at him. He dared to send one back at his longtime bully and former friend.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAu5XUrMNjjm
They stared at each other as the fire of their past itches to ignite into a frenzy. But All Might cuts in first.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAqQlIPHq5P1
All Might: “My Young Heroes, prepare for the 5v5v5 Combat and Survival Trial! Pick a card out of here to determine your teams.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAGLfSUkkvO2
One by one, everyone picked a card from the black box All Might had. In the end, everyone had either a green, red, or white card. Before the questions could bombard him, All Might explained.
497Please respect copyright.PENANA3QFGsyWrb0
All Might: “Reds will be the Villains, Greens the Heroes and Whites the Civilians.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANA1EVJGfQv40
All Might: “Villains need to capture all Civilians while protecting their bomb at base camp.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAg0HqwrCddc
All Might: “Heroes need to save all Civilians and bring them back to base camp while capturing the enemy bomb. You can ignore the Villains and focus on those objectives, but that will lose you points. The Villains will still be at large in this case.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAMBbVO0uxdF
Momo: “That means in order to get high marks-”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAkwVgqAYcuW
Uraraka: “We have to save the Civilians, bring them back to base safe, capture the bombs and beat the Villains!?”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAeYV19n2Jfk
All Might: “Yes, hero work is rarely easy, and the odds are often stacked against you. This is a lesson you must learn early.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAHi5WMcVUh1
That’s putting it lightly. The Villain team is… stacked.
497Please respect copyright.PENANA3q1jWp9Ffn
Villains: Bakugo, Ida, Shoto, Mina, and… Kiri.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAsiBGpSNAuZ
Izuku looked at his little sister, and she at him.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAoBFIBwZ05g
Hero: Izuku, Uraraka, Sero, Kirishima, and Momo.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAQVkDAl0gsr
Kiri: “Onii… ”
497Please respect copyright.PENANA0lWWhIWS53
Izuku: “It’s alright, Kiri. It’s just training.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANABNYkXPkkFi
Kiri: “But I don’t… want to fight you.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAfPDknZoE2Q
Izuku: “You have to.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANATJ0tUTk4XS
Kiri: “But-”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAA5TMt8jvHf
Izuku: “Don’t go easy on Kiri. Think of it like how Fubuki fought me. This will help us become even better heroes.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAfFCfnJlN2x
Kiri: “Are you… sure?”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAaYFhzjnA04
Izuku: “Yes! Even if we’re on opposite sides now, we’ll still be together, improving as heroes.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANA8EIDHFs0Oi
Kiri: “… Nh.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAGXM7uhbv8e
Kiri nods, and her worry dissipates. But Izuku can still feel she’ll try to avoid him. It’s probably for the best, because he knows who he’ll face during this.
497Please respect copyright.PENANANyhg0uoMH0
If Bakugo’s maddening grin was anything to go by.
497Please respect copyright.PENANA0V8qVwtaaJ
Jiro: “Okay, that’s all good and all. But what should the Civilians be doing?”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAiJMQVW4qRL
Civilians: Jiro, Shoji, Denki, Tokoyami, and Tsuyu
497Please respect copyright.PENANAmJrXgUS94O
All Might: “Survival is a skill every hero must know. Your task is to evade the Villains as long as possible until the Heroes arrive.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAiCQYlzbqv7
Denki looks to Ida and Kiri before sighing.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAQPKrCWmhAm
Denki: “We’re doomed.”
497Please respect copyright.PENANA8pxXlTqk3J
All Might: “Go to your assigned areas in the city my young heroes! When you see the flare, the trial will begin!”
497Please respect copyright.PENANAA42gF4aF5r
Izuku takes a deep breath before taking a step towards his first major battle.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAVC0oPfwnEw
497Please respect copyright.PENANAP1CmwSPFAj
I want to say thank you for reading, following, and reviewing this story. It motivated me to use my holiday time to bring you another batch of chapters. Sad about my other story, it seems to be falling into obscurity.
497Please respect copyright.PENANArPZ0ScZYaB
I’ll focus on this since it’s what the people want.
497Please respect copyright.PENANATbEaBkHSwX
Now, I want to say that I don’t plan to have Kiri x Izuku happen. I’m tempted, but I don’t think Izuku would go for it. Still, I think I played with the idea too much. Even I’m starting to get annoyed by the misunderstanding.
497Please respect copyright.PENANA9Cd91TuuxC
I will break the it after this battle so the real ship can begin. As for Kiri’s feelings on the matter, we’ll see.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAAoZrVr21yJ
On another note, after doing more detailed outlines for later arcs, I’m starting to regret including the Phoenix. The more I write and plan, the more I want to focus on the ground level of the hero society.
497Please respect copyright.PENANALhV7Ain1DT
Much of it will expand and explore the themes that the original story covered. But that means the Phoenix has been bent to fit that, which is difficult. Primordial Vortex, you had the right idea not involving the actual Cosmic Entity.
497Please respect copyright.PENANAT4TRHciNcR
But that’s life; I’ll figure it out and give you a story that can stand proudly next to the original. That’s if life doesn’t decide to bend me over a counter again.
497Please respect copyright.PENANA3zAOXz2VYd
Until next time.
ns216.73.216.175da2

