The Next Generation

C32: Friendly Ambush

"Your stew didn't turn out that bad, Optimus," Todoroki noted. "You're a good cook."

"Mr. Aizawa taught me," Optimus admitted before he could think twice.

More than a few heads turned his way, eyes wide and mouths hanging open. Optimus winced and took another bite.

"You guys didn't know?" Momo laughed. "Do you people notice anything?"

Kaminari pointed his spoon at Optimus, effectively sending some unrecognizable and brown meat flying across the table. "We knew you were an orphan, we just didn't realize Aizawa adopted you!"

"Optimus is an orphan!?" Uraraka gasped.

"Someone doesn't watch the news," Bakugo muttered.

"It isn't a big deal," Optimus told them. "It's just legal stuff. He would do the same for any of you. I'm sure he'll renounce me once I've left UA, anyway."

"He would not!" Uraraka exclaimed.

"Aw," Todoroki looked down at his stew in disappointment.

Bakugo scoffed. "She was talking about Aizawa abandoning him, you idiot."

"So there's still a chance," Todoroki whispered.

Momo wiped her mouth daintily. "It's no wonder he likes you, Optimus. You're naturally talented at everything. Not to mention charismatic and kind-hearted."

Bakugo stabbed a chunk of meat aggressively. "You should hear what Midoriya knows about him. He isn't so perfect."

Optimus looked over the table, expecting to see Midoriya happily chatting with someone, but the green-haired boy was nowhere in sight. He frowned and checked the other tables.

"Midoriya's knowledge is terrifying," Kaminari objected. "I think it's safe to say nobody wants to get a look inside his brain."

"I really want to read his notebooks," Momo admitted. "Can you imagine all of the things he's observed? He's so smart, it's no wonder he's improved so much."

"He doesn't get hurt when using his quirk anymore. He can keep it going all over his body now," Uraraka said. "He calls it Full Cowling."

Optimus stood up, taking his bowl with him. "Speaking of which, I should go find him. I learned some things about class 1B today that he'd like to know."

"Mkay," Momo crossed her hands together.

After he put his paper bowl in the trash can, Optimus headed for the compound they were staying in. Maybe Midoriya left early to get to sleep more. Did using full cowling take a different kind of toll on him?

Todoroki ran up to him. "Hey. Want company?"

"Sure," Optimus opened the door for him. "You didn't want to hang out with the others?"

"I..." Todoroki shrugged, but looked away. He reached up and lightly touched the scar around his eye. "I was just thinking about how you fell through that window."

Optimus frowned and thought back. "I fell through a window? You mean during the entrance exam? How did you know about that?"

"You told us."

Optimus hummed. "Oh, well, it wasn't that important. What about it?"

"You don't really have asthma," Todoroki said. "You have panic attacks."

Optimus stopped walking. That was sudden and unexpected. "Um, no. I have asthma."

"That guy Iida did his presentation on, the one who looks like you? Is he your brother?" Todoroki finally looked Optimus in the eye. "It's okay to tell us if you were abused... I understand."