No Memes Today but Images Are In The Chapter Today, Still Drop Yours though!
-----
The ramen finally arrived, steam rising from the bowls. We picked up our chopsticks, and Mirko shot me a look.
"Eat fast. If Ryukyu finds out we dipped, she's gonna drag us back."
I shuddered. "Mama Dragon is scary."
Mirko scoffed, shoving noodles into her mouth. "Tch, you're the one giving her gray hairs. You're lucky she hasn't drop-kicked you into next week."
"Give it time." I picked up my chopsticks. "She probably wants to wait until I'm in a confined space with no escape routes."
Mirko grinned. "Smart woman."
I started eating, keeping an eye on the door. If Ryukyu found us here, she would make me pay for my own food, and that was just cruel.
Mirko scrolled through her phone between bites. "News is still going crazy over you. Comments are wild."
I leaned over. "Anything good?"
She held up the screen. "'Why is he kinda fine, though?'"
I smirked. "Finally, some recognition."
She scrolled again. "'This dude really beat philosophy into Stain like it was a therapy session. My guy did a TED Talk with a baseball bat.'"
I pointed my chopsticks at the screen. "That one gets it."
Mirko kept reading. "'Bro made Stain realize capitalism is mid and then knocked him the fuck out. That's poetic.'"
I grinned. "I should charge for life lessons."
"Yeah, if you start billing villains for the ass-beatings, you might finally get that sponsorship."
"'Finally?' I deserve at least three by now."
She stopped. "Oh, someone got your information. Your hero name, some of your cool photos are all leaked. Wait, why do these photos look like they were taken in Ryukyu's agency supply closet?"
I dipped my head into my food. "Dunno."
Mirko turned her phone to me. "Then why are you in three different angles, in the same hoodie you wore yesterday, holding a bat like you're about to mug someone?" (Here)
I kept eating.
She zoomed in. "Wait, why is there a cardboard sign behind you that says 'Training Room This Way'? That's the office hallway." (Here)
She scrolled down to my topless pictures. "You leaked your hero name and cool photos, really?"
I slurped my noodles. "'Leaked' is a strong word. I prefer 'strategically placed in the public domain.'"
She held up the phone. "Why are you flexing in a supply closet?" (Here)
"That's not a flex, that's me stretching."
Mirko zoomed in. "You've got your fist under your chin like a dollar store calendar model." (Here)
I swiped at her phone. "Okay, first of all, rude. Second, I was going for a 'mysterious but approachable' vibe."
She scrolled further. "Who took these?"
"Classified."
She snorted. "Yeah, classified my ass. Bet it was Hana."
I said nothing.
"Called it," she grinned. "What, you paid her in royalties?"
"Friendship."
"Bullshit. You bribed her."
"Technically, an exchange of mutual benefit isn't bribery."
Mirko grinned. "You spend time half-naked with Hana in the supply closet? Ryukyu will love this. If this leaks to the media, then we are all cooked."
I snorted my ramen. "Hopefully, it will not. I am pure."
She flicked my forehead. "Yeah, pure fucking trouble. What, were you posing for a new hero calendar?" (Here)
I put my chopsticks down. "Look, I spend half of my brain cells—so about five—coming up with a hero name. I do not want them slapping some lame-ass name on me. So I figured, why not leak it first before they decide to call me something stupid? And while I was at it, might as well drop some dope pictures. Makes sense, right?"
Mirko leaned on the table, looking at her phone. "And the supply closet?"
"Best lighting in the building," I said. "You ever tried taking a picture under those agency office lights? Makes you look like a dead fish. The supply closet had this nice, even glow. Real professional shit."
She shook her head. "Yeah, nothing says 'professional' like flexing in front of a mop bucket." (Here)
"First off, the mop bucket was out of frame. Second, you are acting like I was in there thirst-trapping."
She scrolled again. "You're literally standing with your arms crossed, staring into the distance like you just dropped the hardest album of the year." (Here)
"Exactly. Cool, mysterious, slightly unapproachable but in an intriguing way."
She turned the screen. "Bro, this one has dramatic lighting and a shadow across your face. You look like you are about to drop a villain backstory." (Here)
I grabbed my phone back. "Man, you just do not get artistic vision."
A voice called behind. "I get it. You are trying to control the narrative."
I pointed at her. "See, she gets it."
Ryukyu walked up. "What exactly am I supposed to be 'getting'?"
Mirko kicked back in her seat. "Kid leaked his own hero name and some dramatic-ass pictures before the media could screw him over."
Ryukyu exhaled, sitting down across from me. "You are giving me a headache."
I gestured at the TV in the corner. "Would you rather they call me 'something something menace' again?"
Mirko snorted. "I mean, it fits."
Ryukyu ignored her. "You really could not wait? You had to go and make this a whole thing?"
I shrugged. "If I let them pick, I would probably end up with something dumb like 'Midoriya Jr.' or 'Rebel Hero.' or god forbid, "Number 2." Gotta take control before they start branding me as a problem child."
"You are a problem child," she said.
I chuckled. "Well, that was my first name idea, but Midnight shut it down."
Mirko snorted. Ryukyu shook her head. "Do not think for a second I will not punish you two for sneaking out of the agency. I am sitting calmly because I am hungry. When we get back, you both are punished."
Mirko sulked. "You cannot punish me."
Ryukyu smiled. "Are you sure?"
Mirko sulked harder.
--
Two days later, I stood at the train station with Ryukyu and Mirko seeing me off. I bowed. "Sorry for causing trouble for you two. I enjoyed my time with you."
Mirko grabbed my collar and pulled me into a hug. "Stop acting like a dumbass goody two-shoes and speak normal, bastard."
I sighed in relief. "Oof, I promised Mom I would be polite, but since you give permission—"
"Yeah, yeah, shut up," she said, letting go.
Ryukyu crossed her arms. "You're going straight to U.A. No detours. If I hear you got distracted by some dumb shit, I'm flying over there myself."
"Why do you say it like I get into trouble on my own?" I asked.
Mirko laughed. "Because you do. And if you don't, trouble finds you."
"That's victim-blaming," I said.
"That's pattern recognition," Ryukyu corrected. "Just get on the train."
"Geez, alright, Mom," I said, stepping back. "I'll text you if I get kidnapped."
Ryukyu sighed. "Just go."
I turned and walked toward the train. Mirko called out. "Don't forget! If you ever get bored at school, you know where to find us."
"Yeah, because U.A. totally lets students take field trips to illegal street fights."
"Then be sneaky, dumbass."
The train doors closed behind me, cutting off whatever comeback I was about to throw. I shook my head, finding a seat by the window. They were still standing there, watching until the train pulled out of the station.
When I arrived home, Mom pulled me into one of those hugs that were less about affection and more about making sure I was still in one piece. Her hands patted down my back, my arms, like she was checking for missing parts.
Then, before I could escape, pain.
A chop to the head.
"You—!"
I barely dodged the second one, ducking behind the couch. "Mom, I just got here! Give me a second to appreciate my survival!"
She pointed a wooden spoon at me. "You fought the Hero Killer."
"I defended myself."
"You were on every news channel."
"Okay, but in my defense—"
She chucked the spoon. I dodged. Barely.
"Do you have any idea how many people called me?" she said, hands on her hips. "Aizawa. Nezu. The police. The news! Even the neighborhood aunties!"
The last one made me wince. "...What did they want?"
"To know if my son had lost his damn mind!"
"That's fair."
She then added with a groan, "And if you have a girlfriend."
I blinked. "What?"
Mom waved a hand. "Those neighborhood women keep calling, asking if you're single! Talking about how their daughters would just love to meet you now that you're on TV!"
I rubbed my temples. "Please tell me you didn't answer them."
"Oh, I answered."
I stared. "Mom."
She crossed her arms. "I told them my son is too busy getting into trouble and giving me gray hairs to date anyone."
"Good," I said. "Wait, no, that makes me sound lame."
She huffed. "Would you rather I tell them you're available?"
"Absolutely not."
She picked up the spoon she threw at me earlier and pointed it again. "Then stop causing trouble, so I don't have to keep deflecting marriage proposals for a fifteen-year-old!"
I groaned, flopping onto the couch. "You're making it sound worse than it is."
"Worse? Worse? You made national news beating up a serial killer! Do you think this is normal? Do you think U.A. is normal?"
I glanced at the TV, which was still looping clips of my fight. "I mean, compared to the rest of my class, this is kind of standard."
Mom threw her hands up. "Oh, wonderful. My son's standard is 'fighting a mass murderer on live television.'"
Before I could defend myself, the front door opened. Izuku stepped in, looking like he just walked into an active crime scene. "Uh… am I interrupting?"
Mom turned to him immediately. "Izuku, tell me something."
He flinched. "Y-Yes?"
"Does U.A. teach common sense, or do they beat it out of you?"
Izuku made a sound that was probably supposed to be words but came out as panic. I stretched out on the couch. "Mom, I think you're scaring him."
She sighed and sat down. "I'm scaring myself."
Izuku shifted awkwardly. "I just arrived, Mom. Can I at least get a hug and shower before... all this?"
Inko softened, walking up to him. "Sorry, honey. Your brother is killing me." She wrapped him in a hug.
Izuku glanced at me. "Why didn't you wait for the train ride? We could've come back together."
I shrugged. "You are lame."
Mom smacked the back of my head. "Enough. And sit up straight."
Izuku sighed and stepped toward the bathroom. "Every time I leave you alone, something insane happens."
I leaned back. "Not my fault. Insanity follows me."
Mom muttered something under her breath and went back to the kitchen.
---
Mob: [0%]
Ryuu: "Still no votes…"
Mob: [30%]Mob: [60%]Mob: [99%]
Reader: "Maybe I'll vote next chapt—"
Mob: [100% VOTER RAGE EXPLOSION]
Ryuu: shaking hands, glowing with raw energy
"You did this. YOU MADE HIM CARE."
-----
To Read up to 75 advance Chapters (25 for each novel) and support me...
patreon.com/thefanficgod1
Please drop a comment and like the chapter!