One Hero For All People! (#1 Priority)

Chapter 20: Date & Secret

It was a rare day off for both of them, and Izuku Midoriya felt his heart race as he stood in front of Kyoka's apartment door, waiting for her to come out. He adjusted the collar of his jacket nervously, glancing at his reflection in a nearby window. He wanted everything to be perfect; after all, this was one of their first real dates, just the two of them, away from the chaos of training and school.

The door opened, and there she was—Kyoka Jiro, wearing a casual yet stylish outfit that somehow managed to be both edgy and cute. She had on a dark, cropped jacket over a band t-shirt, paired with ripped jeans and her usual earphone jacks hanging by her sides. Izuku couldn't help but blush a bit as he took in how cool she looked, while she flashed him a small, confident smile.

Kyoka, {smirking}: "Ready to go, hero boy?"

Izuku, {chuckling nervously}: "Yeah, yeah! Let's go."

They walked together down the streets of Musutafu, the city bustling around them, but in their little bubble, everything felt relaxed. Izuku's nervousness faded as they chatted, with Kyoka occasionally teasing him and making him laugh.

Their first stop was a small record store Kyoka had been dying to check out. As soon as they entered, Kyoka's eyes lit up, her fingers flipping through the vinyl records with a mix of excitement and focus. Izuku watched her, admiring the way she seemed so in her element, her love for music shining through.

Izuku, {smiling warmly}: "You really love this, huh?"

Kyoka looked up, a hint of embarrassment coloring her cheeks as she shrugged.

Kyoka, {grinning}: "Yeah... I guess I do. It's kinda my thing, you know?"

Izuku nodded, feeling a sense of admiration for her passion. She picked out a record she liked, and they moved on to the next part of their date—a nearby café with a cozy, laid-back atmosphere. They found a corner booth and ordered drinks, settling into the comfortable setting.

As they waited, Kyoka tapped her fingers on the table to an imaginary beat, glancing at Izuku with that playful spark in her eye.

Kyoka, {teasingly}: "So, hero boy, got any cool moves planned for our next heroics 101 class at school?"

Izuku, {laughing}: "Oh, come on! Can't we talk about something other than training? I mean, we're on a date, right?"

Kyoka raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by his response.

Kyoka, {playfully}: "Oh, so you're saying I'm distracting you from your training?"

Izuku, {blushing}: "N-No! I mean, yes—but, not in a bad way... you know what I mean!"

She laughed, enjoying the way he got flustered so easily. Their drinks arrived, and they continued chatting, talking about everything from their favorite bands to funny moments in class. Izuku found himself relaxing more and more, loving the way he could just be himself around Kyoka.

After the café, they strolled through a nearby park as the sun began to set, painting the sky in warm hues of orange and pink. They found a quiet spot by the lake, where they sat on a bench, watching the gentle ripples on the water.

Kyoka leaned against his shoulder, her head resting comfortably there. Izuku felt his heart thump a little harder but didn't dare move, enjoying the peaceful moment. They stayed like that for a while, not needing to say anything, just savoring each other's company.

Finally, as the streetlights flickered on and the stars began to appear, Kyoka looked up at him, her expression soft.

Kyoka, {whispering}: "Thanks for today, Izuku. I... really needed this."

Izuku, {smiling softly}: "Me too, Kyoka."

~~~~~~

Izuku and Kyoka sat on a quiet hilltop overlooking the city, the lights below twinkling like stars against the night sky. The cool evening breeze brushed through the grass, and Izuku took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. He had been thinking about this moment for a long time, but each time he'd felt ready, his courage had faltered. Tonight, though, he was determined to finally share his biggest secret with Kyoka—the truth about his Quirk.

Izuku, {hesitantly}: "Kyoka... there's something I need to tell you. It's about my Quirk."

Kyoka looked over at him, her expression curious yet calm, waiting for him to continue. She sensed his nervousness, reaching out to gently place her hand over his to reassure him.

Kyoka, {softly}: "You can tell me anything, Izuku. I'm here."

Her words and the warmth of her hand grounded him, giving him the strength he needed. Izuku took another deep breath before speaking, his voice steady but soft.

Izuku, {seriously}: "Power Stockpiling... that's the name everyone knows, but that's not what my Quirk is actually called. The real name is *One For All.*"

He paused, letting the words sink in. Kyoka listened intently, her brows furrowing slightly as she sensed the weight of what he was saying.

Izuku, {continuing}: "One For All is... it's a Quirk that's been passed down from person to person. It started with a man who didn't have a choice in receiving it, and over generations, it grew stronger as it was handed down. Each user left their own mark, their own abilities, and now... it's with me."

Kyoka's eyes widened as she processed his words, realization dawning on her.

Kyoka, {surprised}: "So... you're saying your Quirk has... past users?"

Izuku nodded, his gaze drifting to the city below as he continued.

Izuku, {quietly}: "Yeah. I... I can talk to them sometimes. They're like... echoes, but more. One For All is semi-sentient, in a way. The past users—they're still there, guiding me. It's how I learned so much about it so quickly. And they... they chose me."

Kyoka was silent, her expression a mix of awe and understanding. She squeezed his hand gently, urging him to go on.

Izuku, {hesitating slightly}: "There's more. I... I asked All Might once if a Quirkless person could be a hero. He... he rejected me, told me that it wasn't possible."

The memory still stung, but sharing it with Kyoka lightened the weight on his heart. He looked over at her, gauging her reaction. Kyoka's eyes softened, a flicker of anger flashing in them as she processed All Might's words.

Kyoka, {firmly}: "That was wrong of him. You've proven that already, Izuku."

Izuku gave her a small, grateful smile before continuing.

Izuku, {chuckling slightly}: "And... I even met someone I never thought I would. Her name's Nana Shimura. She's one of the past users, and... she's kind of my mentor now. Though, she insists I don't call her 'Grandma,' but I can't help it sometimes."

Suddenly, he could almost hear Nana's voice ringing in his head, as if she were shouting from the recesses of One For All.

Nana, {faintly, in Izuku's mind}: "Hey! I'm not *that* old!"

Izuku chuckled, causing Kyoka to raise an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Kyoka, {smirking}: "So you're basically guided by a group of past heroes... including a 'grandma' who's not really a grandma?"

Izuku laughed, nodding, feeling a sense of relief as he realized she was taking it all in stride.

Izuku, {smiling warmly}: "Yeah, I guess you could say that."

There was a pause as Kyoka absorbed everything he had told her, her gaze never leaving his. She took a deep breath, her hand still in his.

Kyoka, {softly}: "Izuku... thank you for trusting me with this. I can't imagine how hard it must've been to keep this to yourself."

Izuku felt a wave of gratitude wash over him, the warmth in her voice calming his nerves. He reached over, squeezing her hand back.

Izuku, {earnestly}: "It was hard, but... I wanted you to know. You mean a lot to me, Kyoka. I don't want any secrets between us."

She smiled, leaning her head against his shoulder as they watched the city lights together, the quiet settling comfortably between them. In that moment, he felt a weight lift from his heart, knowing he had shared his deepest truth with the person he trusted most.

Kyoka, {murmuring}: "You're something special, hero boy. And I'll be here to support you, no matter what."

As they sat together under the stars, Izuku knew he had made the right choice. For the first time, he felt a true sense of peace, knowing he wasn't alone in this journey.