Here they stand, on the rooftop across from one another. Izuku and Kaoru were in their hero costumes, ready for the battle at hand. But unlike Izuku’s armor, Kaoru’s costume looks like the school uniform if it were stylish and had a medium-sized cape.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAVMPu2s8Ovd
Fubuki: “Please don’t damage the roof. That’s not an expense I want to pay right now.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANA69YVGHdEBF
Izuku glances up at his sisters, who are observing in the sky.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAwN28PZ3kzN
Tatsumaki: “A nice additional challenge.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANA9cIEyXwzdW
Izuku: ‘Right, because we won’t be able to throw rubble at each other. Have to be creative.’
227Please respect copyright.PENANA16czmpk5SM
Kaoru: “No problem. So, are you ready?”
227Please respect copyright.PENANA2igtJLVAZH
Izuku: “Yes.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANACqFn6JO8lm
Tatsumaki: “Tournament rules. If you are knocked off the roof, you lose.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAhxECvoZOOv
Fubuki: “Start.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAkhSKMWOel9
Immediately, Izuku felt a pulse in his mind. A gentle knock showing him that Fubuki will be bugging him throughout this whole fight.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAKuKHCe9wN9
Thanks to that, he only barely prevented himself from being blown off the roof by a psychic push.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAgTOQy1Zz1n
Fubuki: “While I occasionally poke your mind, try to do the same with Kaoru. This will help with your focus and your ability to mentally affect others during a fight without… you know.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAdkTiyANwoe
Izuku: “R-Right!”
227Please respect copyright.PENANA2KHAKWT0dK
Izuku: ‘Easier said than done, though.’
227Please respect copyright.PENANA7kJbWfJKi1
Due to the circumstances, Izuku had little choice but to play defensively. Kaoru was throwing air bullets and trying her best to literally trip Izuku up.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAYn7S85nPYz
But he dodged the bullets and righted himself before he face-planted. All the while, he kept eye contact with Kaoru, who was smiling at her apparent domination of the fight. That’s until-
227Please respect copyright.PENANAd3GypLHiZ0
Izuku: “Behind you.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAskiweglL70
Hearing Izuku’s voice in her head, Kaoru stopped her assault for a moment, enough for the emerald esper to-
227Please respect copyright.PENANA2MUK2yHLNV
Pulse.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAyeXxJZaGAV
Teleport to the wrong location, above Kaoru.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAhYBGDfc1Ke
Kaoru: “What the-”
227Please respect copyright.PENANA20YZHNZtR3
Izuku collapses on her, causing them to both fall to the ground in a… somewhat scandalous position.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAE0IU4VDF9D
Kaoru: “W-What are you… g-get off!”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAiLzTUfeboU
Izuku: “S-Sor-”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAPr8TR6sGti
Unable to finish, he was blasted into the air and again-
227Please respect copyright.PENANA0C4pr9zLEj
Pulse.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAx6iLcZH8lN
His mind is assaulted with a familiar knock. Focus broken, he was unable to stop Kaoru from binding his body with a telekinetic hold.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAB42YEfdHOe
Sensing an immediate ring out, Izuku tried to gather enough to break the binding. But he couldn’t focus because of the pulse.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAh0Bd7Uj4AF
No… it was strangely weak before that. Deep down, he knows why but refuses to acknowledge the cause. So instead, he shifts tactics.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAfJAWVI4Nii
He waits for Kaoru to fling him towards a ring out, that one moment when her psychic hold disappears, letting gravity do the rest.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAPBQR0peGF4
When the moment came, he forced himself to teleport back to the starting position. But when he reemerged, he felt nauseous.
227Please respect copyright.PENANA5QU803zlmF
Holding his mouth, he pushed the sensation down-
227Please respect copyright.PENANA0msgtG3iLI
Pulse.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAnaqwpzeYkq
Izuku: “Ugh.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAqLALYYpMNj
He placed a weak psychic barrier up to protect himself from Kaoru’s telekinetic push. But the effort was enough to force him to one knee. Seeing his weakened state, Kaoru only pushed harder while walking towards him.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAt0iOyoWuQv
Karou: “Wow, this is easier than I thought. What’s wrong? Do you think you can beat me without trying or something? Or is the handicap that bad?”
227Please respect copyright.PENANArPThQM18gd
Fubuki: “Maybe she’s right, I’ll sto-”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAQIOKVOYaZr
Izuku: “No!”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAg6MHYV9uyk
His sister’s eyes widen as her brother’s voice come through a bit distorted.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAYsfspfxA02
Izuku: “Don’t hold back, I can keep going. I will overcome this.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAmCsbOZ5RP0
The middle child takes a look at Tatsumaki before making a decision. Her face was blank but focused on the match. She couldn’t help but wonder how Tatsumaki would feel if Izuku lost.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAEIOOoYMKrg
Fubuki: ‘Would she be disappointed with him too?’
227Please respect copyright.PENANAKqM34ZuCyw
Not wanting to test that out, she decided to lie. This will be the last one.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAYdrbxcVPBD
Fubuki: “… Very well.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAKoKYQRokjS
Pulse.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAvpxXCGDxxE
And the shield buckles further.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAN3R4ghtZGA
Izuku: “T-Thank you.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAacQ23I4JqR
His mind is a mess, confused and unfocused, making the use of his quirk overwhelmingly difficult.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAg26ZVkTQaR
But that doesn’t mean he can’t use it. He just has to be a bit reckless. He breathes in and reverses his psychic shield’s properties.
227Please respect copyright.PENANA9PppwYsLKO
Screw finesse, that takes too much focus. So even if it causes veins to pop on his head and blood to flow out his nose, he will go full force. Just in the opposite direction.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAvImRVeoh5C
Instead of repelling, the shield draws everything in. Combined with Kaoru’s pushing, it produced enough force to pull the girl towards Izuku.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAknJ8jzfvRA
Drawn in by her and Izuku’s psychic power, Kaoru was yanked forward with a bewildered face. Right into Izuku’s waiting arms.
227Please respect copyright.PENANA70MJviJLG8
Within range, Izuku bear-hugged her. It doesn’t take much thought to squeeze with his enhanced strength.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAVcIlm9dsDE
Kaoru: “Gugh!”
227Please respect copyright.PENANA1z1Q0ABQcT
Izuku: “Give… up!”
227Please respect copyright.PENANA79TslfKXGq
Oh, she wants to. The combined pressure of the psychic compression and super bear hug would break the spine of a normal human. But this is Kaoru, the one who will someday surpass Tatsumaki. This is only the first step!
227Please respect copyright.PENANAee8dWVEz22
So she uses all her strength to push outward, against the crushing force. Her body lights up pinkish red, and Izuku is forced to close his eyes, but he doesn’t let go.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAHjBT0zqsid
Instead, his focus is improving over time without being assaulted by the pulses. But his psychic strength is still not on Kaoru’s level right now; his grip is slowly being loosened.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAtV1iJfrKoY
And if she gets loose or another pulse comes in, Izuku fears that he’ll lose.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAQH6NGeusZS
But he has to win to prove to himself that he can succeed without relying on that part of himself. But despite that desire, he is forced to use a tactic dangerously close to The First.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAEvNwPmM7HQ
He slams his head into Kaoru and sacrifices some of the psychic power behind the crushing force. All to use a mental attack, a command.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAjlLijfAC8U
Izuku: “Sleep!”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAcMZruIRVEn
A second later, Kaoru’s eyes roll back as she falls unconscious. But her psychic power doesn’t just disappear, no, it explodes outwards as the crushing force was now weak enough to overpower.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAKlT6mkp2z6
Kaoru falls to the ground, while Izuku is pushed off the roof. Exhausted, the boy was unable to properly fly up or teleport back to safety.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAyWNEnHVvpL
Before he can panic, green energy caught him and gently brought him back to the roof.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAsFV1mdUXPI
Tatsumaki and Fubuki descend to the ground, worry etched on their faces. Fubuki gets out some tissues and wipes the blood off of Izuku.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAYr2PLm0oST
Tatsumaki: “Are you alright?”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAPa39l9bLQH
Izuku: “I-I’m fine. You don’t have to worry.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAJ05mxCxEPx
The eldest looks at her brother and then at the sleeping Kaoru.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAmE1v2tiXBE
Tatsumaki: “You were knocked off the roof, but you knocked Kaoru out before that. I guess we can count it as a tie.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANASST1yz8uaQ
Fubuki: “And that’s fine.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAcf0svtpWvd
The eldest couldn’t help but glance at Izuku and narrow her eyes ever so slightly.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAsWpPsVr4ZJ
Tatsumaki: “… I suppose.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANASJy2ozUKE1
Again, she looks back toward Kaoru and replays the fight in her mind. Then she recounts all the battles Izuku has had up until this point and the abilities he has learned. Sighing, she goes to her sitting brother and kneels before him.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAksK49b26UK
She looks deep into his eyes, trying to figure out the puzzle behind them.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAikJIDBT6VK
Izuku: “T-Tatsu?”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAQYNJa0IQiR
Fubuki: “What is it? Is something wrong with Izu?”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAMtW0uWkWzR
Tatsumaki: “That’s what I want to know.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAV71zVTVBoU
Izuku: “W-What are you t-talking about?”
227Please respect copyright.PENANADjSVqKjfpP
Tatsumaki: “I know Fubuki was messing with your head, but… I know you’re stronger than this. You weren’t holding back, right?”
227Please respect copyright.PENANA7TUsl68UIU
Izuku: “N-No, of course not!”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAgxucxjByXw
Tatsumaki: “Then what’s wrong?
227Please respect copyright.PENANAoIaM4HmAU9
Before Izuku could even think of revealing everything, Fubuki got up and glared at her big sister.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAY60HoPmQsn
Fubuki: “There’s nothing wrong with Izu. He was distracted with my mental probing, nothing more.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAM0ApcUWyfE
Tatsumaki: “And? I know he can handle that. Besides, he didn’t use his psi sword or transmutation. He shouldn’t have struggled this much.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAUVY8RJqNK5
Fubuki: “That’s unreasonable; you expect too much.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAKqRyDpO1E3
Tatsumaki: “And you expect too little.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANADdjVQDkzyh
A slip of mixed frustration escapes from the building chamber within the younger.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAnwmtcmi8FR
Fubuki: “Stop trying to push your high expectations on Izu!”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAaqxVR9K7Ch
Matching the energy given, Tatsumaki gets up and floats above Fubuki.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAbyPJGsii0h
Tatsumaki: “My expectations are not high! You’re the one who doesn’t seem to have faith in our brother! He has to become stronger!”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAzAHdj6TCxV
As things took an unexpected and heated turn, Izuku went from confused to worried and finally landed on upset.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAnHc2dCoghp
Izuku: “Enough!”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAyT2JdCz0D8
The sisters stop, and their glares soften for a moment before turning to their precious little brother.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAQc1d6PIFlW
Izuku: “Please, don’t argue over me. Fubuki is right. I-I was just distracted by the mental pulses. Nothing to worry about; I am going to get stronger. Trust me. Now, apologize.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAzMrnmxZFs4
The two sisters turn to each other, an apology on their lips. But whether due to pride or insecurity, they are unable to say it.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAbHMXsD9q6C
Tatsumaki & Fubuki: “Hmph!”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAeSUamXGvfY
Izuku: ‘I’ve never seen them argue like this. And of course, it’s because of me… ’
227Please respect copyright.PENANAG0rebOtveU
Again, he thinks about telling them everything he told Kiri. She accepted him; they will too, surely. The question is timing.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAo3HJ7HhLMp
As the trio cools down, they hear some shuffling behind them.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAzBC0pipsZc
Kaoru: “Ugh, what happened? Did I lose?”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAlGOLqn2PDH
Tatsumaki: “Tie.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAFXL4kYYDCX
Fubuki: “You knocked Izuku off the roof while he knocked you out.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAZQ1XOI9AN7
Kaoru: “But how? The last thing I remember was the bear hug, and then… I felt sleepy.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANALfthgwvoCs
Izuku: “I-I-I’m sorry! I didn’t want to lose, so I tried something invasive a-and… mentally told your body it was time to sleep.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANA41QnSPph86
Fubuki: ‘A mental command? Something else to try.’
227Please respect copyright.PENANABxEDRlw7bn
Kaoru: “Whoa, that’s kind of… scary.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANA2wAimzNk1Z
Tatsumaki: “Relax, Izu would never abuse it. Besides, you have a psychic quirk; you should be able to build defenses against it over time.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANANqT2cSuHFv
Kaoru: “Great! When do we start?”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAKc75Mtdozo
Fubuki: “Later, that’s enough psychic training for one day.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANA5xWxNZdh8N
Tatsumaki: “Of course you’d say that.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANANfuHNOWYuK
Fubuki ignored that whispered comment and walked towards the exit.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAlX1e2LOYfV
Fubuki: “Right now, we should go inside and see if Emory is awake too. I don’t want to neglect her.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAHEFPAR7GyA
Kaoru and Tatsumaki follow Fubuki while Izuku pulls himself up.
227Please respect copyright.PENANA0CeWPSITHF
Izuku: “Fubuki, I have a favor to ask.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAW7JEAUlrd5
The middle child turns back, letting Tatsu and Kaoru enter the building first.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAVgc7ymTpd3
Fubuki: “Yes?”
227Please respect copyright.PENANABqDDN4lUNq
Izuku: “I-I might be wrong, but don’t internships allow for students to spend the night at the agency? I would like to do that so I can start training as soon as possible.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANA2AKug3JPDc
Fubuki: “… Alright, just don’t work yourself too hard. You’re still young, Izu; don’t beat yourself up if you don’t meet expectations right away.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANALVzDR9xJOf
Izuku: “I won’t, but the villains-”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAqyh2c8R70m
Fubuki: “Me and Tatsu will deal with them. You don’t have to worry about them. Okay?”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAVOOrusiFBP
Izuku: “… I understand.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANA7wjSg7OdPW
Fubuki: “Good, now call Mom and tell her you’re staying over.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAA5FeCd4a0n
After nodding, the boy takes out his phone and calls Inko. She quickly picks it up.
227Please respect copyright.PENANARA0wmDLoLe
Inko: “Hello, Izu! How are you and Fubuki?”
227Please respect copyright.PENANARD3rCn5ge4
Fubuki: “Tell her I said hi.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANATNhwYi48i8
Izuku: “We’re fine, and Fubuki says hi.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANARuCJlGTmnY
Inko: “Aww, tell her I said hi too. So, why are you calling?”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAH9Re4b17BM
Izuku: “I’m planning on staying the night with Fubuki’s agency. I wanted to let you know.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAbUWNeQJ9re
Inko: “Oh, that? Toshi told me that was a possibility. Have fun!”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAYRGA9dFPer
A blink.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAKeoFjKvRWn
Another blink?
227Please respect copyright.PENANAZGcQcZk7zl
Inko: “Izuku?”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAyUzFHt67vO
Izuku: “T-Toshi?”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAJEjnb6VweC
Inko: “O-Oh, d-did I say that?”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAz3JfDcQkXY
Izuku: “Yes.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANA48HeRfFIr4
Inko: “W-Well, I-I guess I forgot to tell you that Toshinori and I h-have been meeting up. F-For progress reports! On you. That is.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAvlBeEuKv8M
…
227Please respect copyright.PENANAHeLvam80F0
Inko: “H-Honey?”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAXBNB1H4Hi5
Izuku: “Speak to you soon.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAt1RLfBfuzU
Fubuki could tell something was wrong when Izuku hung up so coldly.
227Please respect copyright.PENANANLv1E1QrCt
Fubuki: “Izu, what’s wrong?”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAxnudlhwB3o
He looks to his sister with steel in his eyes.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAfsgYPreN6D
Izuku: “Assemble the family.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAeR8FoxF3Wu
227Please respect copyright.PENANAMbEoY3LThE
Kiri’s face turns cold as she gets up from her position. Compromised, she didn’t see a point in hiding and transformed into her Valkyrie persona.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAoNYzSBLSyF
Edgeshot: “Nice to meet you again.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAiMCi0gtH3I
Valkyrie: “Now what? Will you try to take me in for being a hero?”
227Please respect copyright.PENANACQejeWaUdA
Edgeshot: “You are a vigilante.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAUJ3TGCYyeo
Valkyrie: “I help people.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAAl0QUEylhd
Edgeshot: “Scared them more like. What you did to those quirk beasts-”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAcnGC5ssHlD
Valkyrie: “Was angry, and I wouldn’t do that to humans.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANA8fN62Xr3IY
Edgeshot: “… Based on your past work, I believe that. If it weren’t for Nezu, I would attempt to bring you in.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAoyppOMw2o3
Valkyrie: “You won’t… fight me?”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAaj9JoKbGjP
Her guard lowers ever so slightly; it would be enough for Edgeshot to quickly subdue her. In her Valkyrie form, she’s likely stronger and has a greater reach, but that’s something the pro hero can overcome if needed.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAywMBm39ze8
Good thing it’s not.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAY83DQZX9dF
Edgeshot: “No. I was one of the few who noticed the camera footage and would have tried to take you in. It did seem like you infiltrated U.A, but the principal explained things.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAphGjLfYkTT
Valkyrie: “Then why bring it up?”
227Please respect copyright.PENANArjTXgh1WBW
Edgeshot: “To warn you to be more careful. Not everyone will know the principal or be as understanding as me. But more than that… ”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAucWf7Q3xfr
Kiri could hear it: changes in the environment.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAEkKuF447Jt
Valkyrie: ‘Traps? All over?’
227Please respect copyright.PENANAuXVJJjLnI0
Edgeshot: “I understand what you are, but it is hard to believe. On the off chance you managed to trick everyone, I’ll make sure to keep a close eye on you.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAJlfpaKabFp
Valkyrie: “… Nh. Can I go now?”
227Please respect copyright.PENANA7IOKDFpjuH
Edgeshot: “Yes.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANA1gPRkFtIvB
Transforming back to her normal form, Kiri walks past Edgeshot and enters the elevator. When she pressed the button for the bottom floor, she released the breath she was holding.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAlSdo0VUIv1
Kiri: “Dangerous. As expected.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANA7Ksns0HbE9
Besides her sisters, Edgeshot was one of the heroes she tried to avoid when she was just Valkyrie. It seems like that was the right choice.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAKxF9dI1kXL
As Kiri regained her footing, her phone rang. After a moment trying to remember how those things work, she answered with a smile. Izuku was calling after all.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAVCoRg9TBog
Kiri: “Yes, Izu.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAjiuavdG3PG
After a moment, she nodded her head. This is some serious business, but despite that, she smiled. For now, she could be with her family for a while.
227Please respect copyright.PENANARDL5iDtCsX
Kiri: “Okay, I’m coming.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAqgunnJH2fk
227Please respect copyright.PENANAkbXeDKqDKY
An Hour Later
227Please respect copyright.PENANA37j918xJNH
Toshinori was just leaving the grocery store and walking out to his car. Once he entered the car, he drove off into the street. He stopped at a red light that illuminated the inside of his car. He looked up into the rearview mirror…
227Please respect copyright.PENANAoGFfXzPvAK
… and saw the Midoriya children in the backseat.
227Please respect copyright.PENANA9NWEmt58fP
Izuku: “Good evening, All Might.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAF8wQHcJrsD
All Might: “AAAAAHHH!”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAejn3QDbMmU
The hero panicked and swerved off the road into a nearby lot. He stomped on the brakes and sat there trying to catch his breath.
227Please respect copyright.PENANAfiqsk1SPiB
Fubuki: “Or should we say-”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAmQKJHMePWA
Tatsumaki: “Toshi.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANAolAKUKePa2
Kiri: “Bad man.”
227Please respect copyright.PENANANNT3bURLRG
All Might: “… I can explain.”
ns216.73.217.128da2

