Warm laughter filled the small Midoriya apartment. The living room had been decorated with colorful streamers, balloons, and handmade paper flowers. It wasn't an extravagant celebration, but the cozy atmosphere made it feel far warmer than any luxurious party could.
Standing around the table were Toshinori Yagi in his skinny form, Sir Nighteye, Akira, Inko Midoriya, Katsuki Bakugo, Masaru Bakugo, and Mitsuki Bakugo.
At the center of the table rested a beautifully decorated strawberry cake. On top of it stood a candle shaped like the number 10.
Izumi sat in front of the cake, her green eyes sparkling with happiness. Everyone smiled as they began singing together.
"♪ Happy birthday to you..."
"♪ Happy birthday to you..."
"♪ Happy birthday dear Izumi..."
"♪ Happy birthday to you..."
A faint blush appeared on Izumi's cheeks. When the song ended, she clasped her hands together.
'My previous wish of wanting a friend came true...' She thought while giving a glance at Akira.
'All i wish for is that we stay together forever.' She smiled brightly before taking a deep breath.
Fwoosh!
The candle went out as everyone clapped.
"Happy birthday!"
Izumi giggled happily before carefully cutting the first slice of cake.
The celebration continued with cheerful conversations, laughter, and stories from everyone around the table.
Afterward, Inko served the dinner she had spent all morning preparing.
The delicious aroma filled the apartment. Everyone complimented her cooking repeatedly, making Inko blush with embarrassment while thanking them over and over.
By the time dinner ended, the atmosphere had become even livelier.
Soon...It was finally time for the birthday presents.
Katsuki walked forward first. He shoved a neatly wrapped box toward Izumi without even looking at her.
"Tch. Don't you dare lose it, Deku."
BONK!
A fist immediately landed on his head. A large comedic bump appeared almost instantly.
"Oww!!"
"The hell was that for, old hag?!"
Mitsuki glared at him. "Watch your mouth!"
"And stop calling the birthday girl 'Deku!'"
"It was her birthday present!"
"I don't care!"
"You still apologize properly!"
"I'm not apologizing!"
"You little brat!"
Mother and son immediately started arguing in the middle of the living room.
Masaru sighed helplessly before walking between them. "Now, now...Let's calm down..."
"You calm down!" Both mother and son shouted simultaneously.
"..." Masaru silently accepted his fate.
Izumi couldn't help letting out a small laugh. "Thank you, Kacchan."
Katsuki looked away with a red face. "Tch..."
The Bakugo family eventually left the apartment...Still arguing all the way down the hallway while poor Masaru desperately attempted to mediate.
Watching them disappear, everyone inside the apartment laughed. "They're always like that," Inko said with an awkward smile.
Next...Sir Nighteye stepped forward. From a carefully protected case, he produced a beautifully crafted glass display box.
Inside stood an incredibly detailed All Might action figure. The craftsmanship was flawless. Every muscle. Every wrinkle in the costume. Every strand of hair. It looked less like a toy and more like a museum masterpiece.
Sir Nighteye gently handed it to Izumi. "I own three of these. So I'd like you to have one."
Izumi carefully accepted it. Then...Her brain completely stopped working. "T-This...I-Is this...The Limited Golden Age All Might Figure...?"
Sir Nighteye nodded. "Only eight of them were ever produced. So please take good care of it."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Izumi's eyes transformed into stars.
"T-THANK YOU!!"
"I-I'll treasure it forever!"
"I'll clean the glass every single day!"
"I'll never let dust touch it!"
"I'll preserve it with my life!"
She hugged the display case like it contained the greatest treasure in existence.
After all...It was worth nearly ¥100,000,000.
Inko's smile instantly froze. "Isn't this that...One hundred million yen figurine you always wanted?"
She stared at the tiny figure.
Then stared again.
Then one more time.
'This...This little doll costs one hundred million...?'
Part of her wanted to politely refuse such an expensive gift. The other part...Could practically hear auctioneers shouting numbers in her head.
'If...If Izumi ever loses interest in collecting...Maybe...We could auction—' She immediately shook her head.
'No!'
'Bad thoughts!'
Little did poor Inko know...Her daughter's innocent collecting hobby would one day evolve into a full-fledged obsession.
Years later...Izumi Midoriya would earn two Guinness World Records.
One...For owning the largest collection of hero merchandise in the world.
The other...For possessing the rarest piece of hero merchandise ever documented.
Meanwhile...Toshinori smiled before reaching into his shoulder bag.
"I have something for you as well."
He handed over a flat package protected inside several transparent plastic sleeves.
Izumi carefully opened it. The moment she saw what was inside...Her soul nearly left her body.
"A-All Might's...Autograph..."
It was an authentic signature. Protected inside multiple plastic coverings to preserve it forever. Her hands trembled violently.
"T-Thank you..."
"Thank you so much, Uncle..."
"This...This will become a family heirloom!"
She suddenly clenched both fists excitedly.
"I can't wait to tell Kacchan!"
"I beat him!"
"I got All Might's autograph before he did!"
Toshinori chuckled warmly. "I managed to obtain it because of my work as a secretary at Might Tower."
Izumi nodded repeatedly, completely believing the explanation. Akira watched the entire scene before sweatdropping. 'Dad's skinny form really is the perfect disguise. No one would ever suspect that this skeleton-looking man is actually the Number One Hero.'
He cleared his throat. "Ahem."
"I have a present too."
Izumi instantly turned toward him. "But..." Akira scratched his cheek awkwardly. "It isn't something I could bring here."
"So...You'll have to come with me."
Izumi tilted her head. "...Eh?"
Her curiosity immediately exploded. She gently placed the All Might autograph and the action figure onto the table.
Then...She carefully covered both of them with a mosquito net.
Everyone in the room blinked.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Izumi nodded seriously. "There."
"Maximum protection."
Akira couldn't stop himself from laughing. 'She's treating them like sacred national treasures...'
Izumi hurried over to her mother. "Mama! Can I go? Please?"
Inko laughed softly. "Of course. But make sure you're back before seven."
Akira nodded immediately. "I'll bring her home myself."
"Good."
The two children quickly put on their shoes before rushing outside.
The apartment door had barely closed when Izumi began bombarding Akira with questions.
"What is it?"
"Is it big?"
"Can I guess?"
"Is it hero-related?"
"Is it another All Might collectible?"
"Tell me!"
Akira simply smiled mysteriously. "It's a surprise."
"Aww!"
"No fair!"
The two of them ran down the street together, their laughter gradually fading into the distance.
Back inside the apartment...Toshinori, Sir Nighteye, and Inko watched them leave through the window.
A warm smile appeared on all three of their faces. "They really have become good friends," Inko said gently.
"They have," Toshinori replied with a smile.