A Slight Change

Pt. 3 The Three Users

All Might, Izuku and Mirio all did after school training, roughly a week in, without Mirio around as much anymore, training with them, Tamaki had to become quite close to Nejire. Possibly his only real friend outside Mirio.

Mirio had developed Full Cowl relatively quickly, understanding All Might's way of teaching. Izuku still had some trouble with it, but was learning fast.

Mirio: Try it again, let it do the work and run all the way through your body.

Izuku lights up, the red streaks of energy coursing across his body. The energy filling him up and spreading out.

He finally did it, his One For All was now going through his entire body.

Mirio: Alright. Now, let's go.

He let the power run through him, much quicker than who was technically his successor, rather than All Might's.

Mirio: Alright. Now you got the power, let's get you used to it.

He charges forward, covering himself in the energy, Izuku dodges the first blow, being able to now see his movements.

The punch misses by a few millimetres, Izuku having simply moved his head, Izuku went for a gut punch, but not before Mirio could land a kick to his chest.

Izuku was sent into the wall.

???: Oh hey, what's up? That theory of y-

Mirio: Huh?

He turned his head, hearing a female voice, sounding at least in her thirties.

He saw no one, the lapse in attention allowed Izuku to take the upper hand, he connected an uppercut, slamming Mirio into the roof, going through it but causing no damage.

He comes back through, charging some more power, he hadn't learned how to harness everything without breaking himself just yet, only being able to handle roughly 10%. He charged said ten percent into a punch, letting loose some distance from Izuku. It created a wind cannon that sent him back.

Izuku dealt with the force relatively easily, being able to then run under him, jumping up.

Mirio turned, starting to think about why he was basically floating, was it the wind cannon attack? A side thing in One For All?

The lapse in attention allowed Izuku to land a kick into his back, sending him into the ground. He flew through it, flying straight back out.

Mirio: I gotta say, you watch your opportunities and take them when you get em.

Izuku: Of course I do.

He threw a four piece combo, ending with a kick. He blocked the first punches and let the kick fly through him.

He pushed Izuku over as his back turned from the kick. He landed a kick to the ribs as Izuku fell.

Izuku: Damn it.

Meanwhile, over in the Big Three dorm-

Mirio, he, to put it blunt, he was never around anymore. Sure, he was still Tamaki's best friend, but... it was quite sad to see him away for so many long hours.

Not that he was complaining, it gave him much more time to get close with Nejire Hado.

Tamaki was confused to put it blunt, always ready to give him a cuddle when he needed it.

Nejire: You need another one?

She asked, almost seeming rather annoyed at his neediness.

Tamaki: Um, only if you're okay with it, I'm sorry, I just, really like the feeling of well, wait. No. Forget I said anything.

Nejire: Tamaki wait.

She said, running towards him as he turned.

Nejire: Tamaki. What is it?

Tamaki: I-I I can't, it's, you see um,

He felt that familiar feeling well up in his stomach and thoughts race through. All as tangible and real as Nejire being right behind him, asking what was wrong.

Nejire: Tamaki. Slow it down. Take a deep breath.

Tamaki: Well- well, I've been missing Mirio, a-and, you're a really big help. W-with your cuddles and all, I-I like em is all, and every time you break off I just get sad again. I don't know why.

Nejire: You wanna cuddle? I can do that for you, you know you can just get them whenever, right?

Tamaki: That's just not how I work, y'know? Like, I can't just-

She giggles at him, knowing his kindness.

Nejire: Tamaki. You wanna sit down?

Tamaki: Y-yeah.

He let his tired head take him over, resting on Nejire's shoulder, he tensed for a second, Nejire feeling it, as she held his forearms.

Nejire: It's okay.

Tamaki: I-it's just- I don't wanna hug you if you're not okay with it and you're just doing this for me.

Nejire: You're kind, you know that? C'mon, let's sit down.

Tamaki: No. You don't want to, I know that, you sounded pretty annoyed when I approached you like that the forth time today. I'm sorry, it's just, no one's hugs make me feel the way yours do.

Nejire: Aww. You're so sweet.

Tamaki: But if my hugs don't make you feel the same way, I'm not gonna force you to hug me.

Nejire: Tamaki.

She puts both her arms on his shoulders, her face the only thing in view.

Nejire: Look at me. Listen.

He nods, having accidentally looked at her waist with the intent to put your arms around it.

Nejire: It's okay if you want to hug me. I love hugs.

Tamaki: Doesn't mean you always want them.

Nejire: Okay. You kinda have me there, but most of the time, I can make room for your cuddles.

Tamaki: Still, the question, do you want them? I know you like them, but do you actually want them for as long as I do?

Nejire: Yes I do.

She pulls him in, Tamaki's head resting beside hers. He could feel the side of her mouth coming up on his cheek, she hugged him close as his head dipped down into the crook of her neck.

Nejire: You need it, don't ya?

He nodded weakly.

Tamaki: I'm not even sure what for, I've got nothing to be sad about. I just, always want hugs, and it has to be you for some reason.

He pulled her in closer.

Nejire: It's okay Tamaki.

She puts her face in front of his.

Nejire: We can cuddle for as long as you need, think of us as, well, cuddle buddies.

Tamaki: Um, okay. I- um, I like that.

He returned his mind to the hug, keeping Nejire close, still wondering why she kept doing it with no reason.

Maybe she loved him? No, that couldn't be, right?