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Chapter - 22

Izuku woke up when the finishing buzzer went off signaling the end of the second group's race. His pop was busy recording all the times in his notes. From the small bit he could sneak a look at before his view was blocked he was still at the top.

He got up and headed out with the rest of the kids who had stayed to watch the second group. Izuku saw Tenya walking with two of his crushes and decided right there that he can't be like his dads. It was basically pure luck that those two ended up together.

He moved closer to them trying to find a natural point to join in on the conversation and hoping he'd be able to actually speak words this time around.

Luckily Tenya noticed he had come closer and gave him a way to work himself into their talk. Though like usual it was to perform his duties as the self designated rule enforcer. "Yamazawa-kun, you really need to fix your sleep schedule. You can't be bothering the teachers and napping at their desks."

Izuku stuck his tongue out at him then pouted with big eyes "I was tired Ten-chan, Lion shift takes a lot out of me still..."

It worked better than he thought it would, Tenya looked slightly guilty and looked ready to apologize plus Momo's interest had piqued with Izuku mentioning lion shift.

"You can turn into a lion too Yamazawa-san?"

Izuku managed to smile widely, he knew he'd be able to talk about his quirk with other people now that he'd be in a 'normal' school setting. He just never expected the first one to ask about it to be the pretty girl he's working the nerve up to ask out for drinks. That counts as a date right? Or should he ask about seeing a movie? Somehow that feels more like a later in the relationship type of date. Izuku's mind was spiraling and he almost didn't answer her when she flashed that pretty smile at him and Izuku wondered if it's weird that he thinks her smile is pretty.

With a nudge in his side from Tenya his brain started to function again and he managed to speak. "Yeah, my quirk is feline shift. Technically I could become any kind of feline. A regular cat is the easiest for me. Lion shift is just about two years in the making."

"Oh, is there any particular feline you want to try one day?"

Now here was a topic Izuku could talk about for hours but even he knew it can come across as overbearing so he tried his best to not go overboard.

"Definitely! You know sand cats? Smallest cats in the world, also the most successful hunters. Not to mention stinking cute. I'd love to shift into one of them."

Momo laughed at that and it was an awesome sound. It was definitely something he could listen to and never get tired of. Chuckling along with her, Izuku suddenly said what was on his mind without even thinking about it.

"You're really pretty Yaoyorozu-san."

She blushed slightly while izuku was so red you'd be forgiven for mistaking him for someone severely sunburnt. Before he knew what was happening Izuku was talking a mile a second.

"Sorry, I don't know why I said that. Well i know why i said it, i just don't know why i said it out loud. Not that I'd never say it out loud to you, I mean it's true you are really pretty. Not that i don't think you're smart, you have to be with how good you are with your quirk. Do you think maybe we can go get something to drink sometime? I'm sorry, I'm rambling, I just never liked someone before and why isn't anyone making me shut up... Ten-chan hit me over the head and bury my body under Nedzu's window ...."

She gave a full out belly laugh once Izuku had stopped talking and took a second to compose herself. She placed a hand on Izuku's shoulder and looked at him directly. "You're very sweet Yamazawa-san. I'm really flattered and if I wasn't currently dating Todoroki-kun I would have definitely gone on a date with you. I'd hate to not be able to talk to you though, friends?"

Wow that hit hard. A rejection and the knowledge that he doesn't even stand a chance with Todoroki either all in one. Hearing her being so kind took a lot of the sting out of it though. Bonus she wasn't creeped out by his word vomit and mess of a confession and she still wants to be friends. If he's honest he's just glad Todoroki had gone ahead to his interview with Nedzu already and Kaminari was nowhere to be seen.

They kept walking to wait their turns with Nezu and Tenya was comforting Izuku the best he could and congratulating him at taking the first step. If Izuku didn't know better he'd swear Tenya was also kind of teasing him for the way it all went down.

By the time they had reached the hallway outside Nedzu's office where they were to wait, Todoroki had just come out. Momo went over to her boyfriend and Izuku fully expected to be hit by Todoroki the next time they were alone. They didn't appear to be talking about Izuku though and while he's sure Momo will tell him he's very grateful that she didn't turn it into a whole spectacle. Though to be fair he has no basis to think she would even do that to begin with or that Todoroki would become toxically protective either.

Izuku let out a breath of relief only to nearly choke when he saw Kaminari approaching them.

"Don't blurt it out again yamazawa-san..." Tenya said just loud enough for Izuku to hear before Kaminari had reached them.

There was no way he was going to make that mistake again, well at least not on the same day. Tenya saved him before he even needed it though. "Kaminari-san, the last time I saw you the medical team were looking at you. Are you okay now?"

This is the first time Izuku is hearing about this, he could almost curse himself for taking that nap and missing the second group's race. Almost. It is a nap after all, nothing could be more important.

"Yeah I'm good. Just a bit of quirk exhaustion, at least I didn't fry out like I usually do. Don't think I'd be able to talk to the small, big man that isn't a man, you know?"

Izuku's brain felt foggy at that, though it might just be crush based delirium as the rest of the world sounded dull as Kaminari snickered at his own joke. Where Momo's laugh earlier was really pretty and pleasant to listen to, Kaminari's laugh filled Izuku with joy and fondness. He wasn't sure if a person could become addicted to a sound but he imagined if it was possible, surely it would be this? Even though nothing in his quirk would make it possible, Izuku felt like he had to grip the seat to stop himself floating away from delight.

Part of him wanted to risk it and ask him out right then and there but the memory of what happened with Yaoyorozu snapped him out of that notion. There's no guarantee he'd take it half a well if he's not interested either.

Selfish it might be Izuku really didn't want to have to screw it up just yet. He'd rather become friends with him and nothing ever happens than ask him out now and never interact with him again. He was already addicted to that laugh and wasn't willing to go cold turkey without it.

The three of them talked about nothing in particular while they waited for their names to be called. Kaminari was busy telling them how he wanted to take the regular entrance exam but his parents called in a favor with the commission. His family owns and runs several power stations across Japan apparently.

Izuku noted the tone of slight resentment at being forced to take the recommended exam and wanted to comfort him but the speaker buzzed with an all too familiar voice. Yamazawa Izuku

Kaminari smiled brightly at Izuku, almost melting him "Good luck in there dude."

Tenya had also wished him luck but he didn't properly hear it, Izuku was too busy not tripping over his own feet as he made his way to the office he used to spend time in daily. He still wasn't sure how it was unbiased for Nedzu to conduct his interview seeing as he is actually very biased about his personal student. He put the thought out of his head and entered, not at all surprised by the steaming teacup waiting for him.