Can We Be Heroes?

Chapter 16. A Regular Day in School.

Shinso practically sputtered, choking on his carton of milk as it sprayed from his nose, leaving him coughing and laughing at the same time while Izuku frantically patted him on the back, trying to help while also stifling his own giggles. "Monoma!" Shinso wheezed between coughs. "What the hell, man?!"

Monoma rolled his eyes dramatically, leaning back in his chair with an exasperated expression. "What? I wasn’t joking. I’m being completely serious here." he said, his voice perfectly deadpan. "Think about it—Kamui Woods is literally made out of wood right. So wouldn’t that mean his... you know... is wood too?"

Izuku turned red instantly, his hands flying up to cover his face as he let out a nervous laugh. "Monoma! You can’t just say stuff like that!"

Shinso, still trying to recover, shook his head in disbelief. "You’re insane," he said, his voice hoarse but still full of amusement.

Monoma smirked, clearly pleased with himself as he picked at his food. "Insane? No. Curious? Absolutely. Someone has to ask the important questions around here."

Izuku groaned, burying his face in his hands. "We’re going to get kicked out of the cafeteria if you keep this up."

"Please," Monoma scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. "No one’s paying attention to us. That’s the whole point of sitting at this table, isn’t it? We're the outcasts remember"

Shinso nodded in agreement, though a mischievous grin played on his lips. "You’re right about one thing—no one’s paying attention to us. But if they were, they’d think you’re completely unhinged."

Monoma shrugged, unfazed. "Let them think what they want. It’s not my fault everyone else is too boring to consider the deeper implications of quirks like Kamui Woods’. I mean, we’re talking about the man’s anatomy here. It’s science, Shinso. Science."

Shinso snorted, shaking his head as he finally managed to stop laughing. "You’re impossible."

Izuku sighed, though he couldn’t help but smile at the absurdity of it all. Sitting at their usual outcast table, away from the rest of the school, he realized just how much he appreciated moments like this. Sure, Monoma’s humor was questionable, and Shinso had a talent for egging him on, but it was… nice. Comfortable even.

"Okay, but seriously," Monoma said, leaning forward with a conspiratorial look in his eyes. "What do you think happens if Kamui Woods gets termites?"

Shinso burst into laughter all over again, and even Izuku couldn’t help but chuckle despite himself.

"Monoma!" Izuku said, his voice caught between exasperation and amusement. "Stop!"

"Never," Monoma simply replied as his eyes gleamed with mischief.

Meanwhile from across the cafeteria, Bakugo’s crimson eyes burned with a mixture of anger and disbelief as he watched the trio at the outcast table. Laughter spilled from their corner, genuine and carefree, and every sound of it felt like a slap to his face.

Midoriya has friends now? Real friends? The thought twisted in the ash blonde's mind like a knife. He gritted his teeth, his hands clenching into fists beneath the table. His usual group of lackeys sat around him, oblivious to his growing frustration as he stared daggers at the three boys.

Izuku—his old punching bag, his shadow—was laughing, his eyes bright as if he had finally found a place where he belonged. Having the time of his life it would seem.

And then there was Monoma, the blonde transfer student who had walked into their lives and turned everything upside down. From the moment Monoma arrived, things started changing. The fights, the challenges, the fact that someone dared to stand up to him—it all led back to the presence of the sarcastic bitch.