In what way did they break the laws of the universe?
And how could you use all of that?
As she considered that, Todoroki Shoto entered the room.
...
Strangely she recognized him now. That was good. It usually took more repeated exposure than this for that to happen.
The boy looked… More at ease than usual. Happier, though he didn't exactly glow with joy.
He opened his mouth to say something. Then closed it and looked her over.
"Are you… Okay?"
"Yeah, just fine."
"Do you… Need to sit down?"
"Nah. How did it go with your mom by the way?"
Shoto froze.
Bakugo, who had been twisting his arms in a motion, clearly trying to figure out how his gauntlet would work while wearing a segmented cuirass, turned his head to look, surprisingly curious.
"You know about that? How?"
"Well, I could say it was a guess, given how much happier you seem than last time we talked… Or how you canceled our appointment for yesterday… Or it could be because I was the one who encouraged her to reach out to you."
Shoto stared at her.
Then he nodded.
"That… Would make sense."
Then, he actually bowed toward her. Not an over-exaggerated bow, or a full-on submissive pose, just a polite, proper bow.
"You have my thanks."
"God that's lame."
Bakugo rolled his eyes at it, but as he stood up, Todoroki just looked confused.
"Why? This is how you properly thank someone. Why would that be lame?"
He actually looked kind of endearing, completely baffled by the very idea.
Then he actually looked Bakugou over.
"I must say though, that your current outfit does in fact look very lame."
The deadpan way he delivered that line without a hint of malice was even more endearing.
Mei for her part did not continue listening to their following, very loud conversation, instead turning her focus on the things she had done to improve his suit.
Also trying not to rip it's more delicate aspects apart with her shaking.
It had been a while since someone had thanked her like this for her work.
It felt… Nice.
Then again… It usually did. She liked getting both praise and gratitude for her brilliance.
...
Izuku woke to the sound of his phone alarm.
As he sat up, feeling groggy, he vaguely recalled what he'd been dreaming about.
It had been… Something with long tentacles and only one, enormous eye.
It hadn't been a good dream… But it hadn't been one of the truly bad ones either.
That was a good sign for the day.
He checked the phone and nodded. He had not overslept or anything like that. He still had more than enough time to prepare for the… Date.
The very thought made him feel nervous… But also remarkably happy.
It was a strange internal conflict of interests.
For once, the sense of impending happiness and joy won out over nervousness though, as he got up, and headed to the bathroom.
He wasn't usually one to take grooming himself to the next level, but today was a special day… However, as every time he had ever tried to tame his mop of mane, he eventually was forced to yield.
He was not taming it with a comb, regardless of how happy he felt.
Once he was done fixing himself up, he made his way to the main room to go catch something to eat and drink before heading out.
Being relatively early, he hadn't expected to find either of his parents there on a Sunday… On that, he was completely wrong, however, as both of them sat eating around the table.
"Oh, Izuku! You're up. I made breakfast, so you can have that instead of making something yourself."
"Thanks, Mom."
Had… had she known he was planning to head out?
He hadn't told her anything about it.
As he sat down, there was also of course the other elephant in the room. The third person at the table.
Izuku… Still didn't know how to feel about his dad.
It had been very awkward at home ever since he'd returned… At least for Izuku. If either of his parents felt awkward about the drastic change at home, they hid it very well.
Quite to the contrary, his mother was… Incredibly happy his dad was home again.
It was… Quite unlike her actually. He was so used to seeing her worrying or sad, but ever since his dad had come home, it was as if the stress of working again had vanished like dew before the sun.
He was glad for her… He just wished he himself felt more comfortable with it all.
As his mom finished her meal and headed out making sure to give Hisashi a big, long kiss goodbye, before leaving, Izuku was left at the most awkward point in the new home dynamic.
Alone with his dad.
He just could not find being alone with the man as a natural experience in his own home.
By contrast, Hisashi looked him over with a friendly smile.
Which was kinda undercut by how he looked. He was way bigger than Izuku remembered him as, but that was hardly where it ended.
In strong comparison to his mom or himself, Hisashi had a strong, powerfully built, handsome face, complimented by a mop of dashing blonde hair.
His most outstanding feature in Izuku's opinion, however, was his eyes.
His dad had some of the most intimidating eyes Izuku had ever seen. They were intense, even when he was being friendly. Two blue orbs of striking blue that just seemed to… Demand you take him seriously.
All in all, he was just a… Very striking figure. You wanted to pay attention to him. And it wasn't just Izuku's thoughts on the matter either. On the few times he'd been outside amongst people with him since his return, He'd noticed the way people would just… Look at him. Even while surrounded by far more striking quirk users, he effortlessly commanded attention from those around him.
It certainly was not something Izuku had inherited from him.
In fact, the only thing he'd inherited from him was a set of identical freckles that Mina found adorable, but in Izuku's opinion, when put on his dad, you almost completely missed them in favor of those electrical blue eyes.
They ate in silence for a while yet after that, Izuku trying not to let the nervousness of eating with his dad get to him.
"So… Plans for today?"
Izuku froze… But then nodded.
"A date with the pink girl, right?"
The older man chuckled at Izuku's rather predictable reaction.
"H-how did you-"
"Well… There is the way you went about grooming yourself, something you never do otherwise. You even put on cologne."
Izuku felt his face burn.
"It… Was that obvious?"
"Well, yes… Also, it's Sunday, and yet you went out of your way to get up early, something Highschoolers aren't known for on their free days unless they have a reason. Especially not in Japan, where you only have one free day a week."
Storms… Had he really been this transparent? So much even his dad had noticed despite not really knowing him.
"How… Did you know it was Mina..?"
His father laughed.
"You really are like your mother, you know. Just as adorable trying to keep secrets that are obvious. Your Mom figured out you two were dating after you told her you were going to go intern under her mama and spend a week together. And she told me, and here we are."