"So I hear you've been annoying Eraserhead lately. Well, more so than usual." Dabi took a sip of his drink. "He really gave you detention?"

(everyone snorted. They'd been expecting it)

Katsuki shrugged, "I needed to cross it off my bucket list eventually. I mean, I would have lived in detention in middle school ifthose poor excuses for teachers actually did their jobs."

Mitsuki: Yeah, fair point.

Toga: That school needs to burn.

"Hmm." Dabi gave a small smile. "So what did you do this time?"

"I broke into a hospital and might have helped a vigilante escape." Katsuki answered. "So you know, a normal Tuesday."

(everyone laughed. Some people looked concerned and wondered when this was legitimately a normal Tuesday)

Dabi whistled, "Yeah, that would do it. I'm guessing he still hasn't forgiven you?"

Aizawa(dryly): Why would I?

"Nah, but he's got the sports festival to worry about, so he hasn't had time to do much more than brood about it." Katsuki said. "I'm still deciding whether I want to win or not."

"Careful, Kacchan." Dabi warned. "That ego might come back to bite you."

"Fine, whether I want to try to win." Katsuki rolled his eyes. "I'm going to be an underground hero, so it might be best to keep to the shadows and let the spotlight heroes steal the show."

Mitsuki(fake crying): Aw, my little boy has grown up. (shouting) Took you long enough!

Bakugo: Shut up you old hag!

"Hmm, that makes sense." Dabi said. "You could always take a sidekick role. Pick one of the popular kids and stick with them through the whole thing. The people who know what they're looking for'll see your talent, everybody else'll dismiss you as a non-entity. You get to show off and keep your cryptid status at the same time."

Midnight: Huh, that's a good tactic.

Dabi: What? I give good advice.

"Hmm. I guess it's true that nobody pays attention to the sidekick, isn't it?" " Katsuki tapped his fingers against the bar, "what about your plans for the sports festival, huh? You planning on coming to support your baby brother?"

(Dabi shot a double take at the screen)

Dabi had made the mistake of taking a drink right at that moment and Katsuki smirked as he choked and spat it all over himself. Even Dabi grabbing him by the collar and dragging him out into the alley couldn't completely wipe the smile off his face.

(the LOV laughed while the heroes looked concerned)

Inko: Katsuki don't die!

Bakugo: Course I won't, Auntie Inko. I wouldn't say something like that if I thought I was going to die.

Shigaraki(thinking back to when he kidnapped him): Really?

Dabi snarled and slammed him against the wall, "How the hell do you know that?"

Nezu: In retrospect Dabi being Touya Todoroki was rather obvious.

Tsukauchi: Honestly I'm wondering why we didn't figure it out sooner.

"I think you're forgetting that I'm an informant, Dabi. It wasn't too hard to connect the dots." Katsuki rolled his eyes and shoved Dabi's hand away, "And if you're trying to intimidate me by making yourself run hotter like that, I should remind you that I have better natural fire resistance than you do, Touya."

Toga(laughing): Ooh, burn!

"That won't matter at incineration temperatures." Dabi hissed. "Who have you told?"

"If I'd told anyone, dumbass, Icyhot would have shown up on your doorstep weeks ago." Katsuki said. "And I don't really get why it's such a big secret. It's not like your old man is gonna come back from the dead and make a stink about you faking your own death or anything. At least drop by and say 'hi' to your siblings."

(Endeavor looked slightly insulted but it was true, after all)

"Shut up." Dabi snarled. "You don't know anything."

Katsuki raised one eyebrow, "I know those three have spent the last ten years thinking they'd never see you again and from where I'm standing, that's kinda a @#$&* move. I get keeping your distance while the old man was still alive, but you should have at least reached out after the funeral."

Todoroki: Yes, you could've, Touya.

Dabi: Oh shut up, masterpiece.

Twice: Hey, that's mean, Dabi. Heh, masterpiece.

"You don't know what it was like." Dabi glared at him. "Endeavor made Shoto. He was the favorite. The rest of us were nothing to him but useless failures that were only good for getting in the way of his masterpiece."

(everyone glared at Endeavor)

Katsuki was quiet for a long moment, "That's not an excuse."

Mei: Yeah I know I don't understand human interaction but I'm pretty sure that's not a reason to avoid estranged siblings.

"Listen here, Kacchan..." Dabi growled.

"No. You listen." Katsuki interrupted sternly. "You don't think I know what it was like? I was the masterpiece. I've spent my entire life thinking I was better than everyone else just because I had a bomb quirk. Everybody else was just extras on my path to greatness and I treated them like *$#@, especially my best friend, but you know what? We started talking again and we're moving past it. Yeah, it definitely still sucks, but we've both changed since then, so do you really think we should miss out on that relationship just because of something that happened when we were kids? If I still want Izuku in my life, then I'm absolutely certain that Todoroki still wants you in his."

Todoroki: I mean I wouldn't mind having my big brother back but I think he's going to have to go to jail first before that can happen.

Dabi: Oh shut up, I'm not going back to that house. Or him.

Dabi didn't look happy, but he also wasn't making any moves to kill him, so Katsuki was gonna count that as a win. After a long moment Dabi huffed and ran a hand through his hair, "What makes you think I want him in mine?"

Kurogiri: Do you?

Dabi(sputtering): W-what makes you think that?!

Spinner: You're acting kinda sus, Dabi.

Dabi: Shut up!

"Meh, it's not like you have any other friends." Katsuki grinned and ducked the half-hearted stream of fire that Dabi sent his way. "So? You gonna show up?"

"I'll..." Dabi hesitated. "I'll consider it. You won't tell him?"

Toga: Hey, he's considering it!

Monoma: We know; we're not blind.

Katsuki looked at him in disgust, "I don't wanna get involved in your stupid family drama, are you stupid?"

Dabi glared at him, "You just..."

(everyone burst out laughing)

"I gotta go find myself a hero to sidekick for." Katsuki gave him a short wave and started walking away, "See ya later, scarface!"

Dabi: What did you just call me explodo-boy?!

Bakugo: What did you just call me scar freak?!

Jana(tiredly running her hands through her black hair): Oh just stop already.

Denki was kinda freaking out. Aizawa had given him and Bakugo the option of doing the welcome speech together, but Bakugo had done the same thing as he'd done with the class president issue and shoved the responsibility onto Denki. It also didn't help that everyone was acting so high strung about the whole festival.

Jirou: Well, whatever Kaminari says will at least be better than Bakugo's 'speech'.

For example, Inasa walking straight up to Todoroki and, without any preamble, saying, "I hated you the first time we met."

Setsuna: ...Does that really count as high strung?

Kamakiri: No idea.

"Whoa, Inasa, dude!" Sero chuckled awkwardly. "You can't just say things like that!"

"I see no problem with it." Todoroki said calmly. "Why did you hate me? And, if I understand you correctly, why don't you hate me now?"

Inasa grinned, "You see, that's what I like about you. Willing to roll with the punches! It's a quiet kind of passion, but it's better than nothing!"

Momo: What's with him and passion again?

Uraraka: I'm not really sure...

"Thank you." Todoroki nodded. "But you still haven't answered my question."

"Well..." Inasa grimaced and rubbed the back of his neck. "When we first met at the recommendation exam, I was kinda comparing you to your dad..."

Todorki's expression turned even more stony, "Ah. Nevermind. I do have a problem."

(a few people chuckled)

"No, I mean, I get that I was wrong!" Inasa insisted. "I'd met your dad once, and he was an asshole, obviously. But then at the exam, I saw this burning hatred in your eyes and I thought that hate was directed at the whole world, just like his was. I, uh, I actually ended up rejecting my recommendation acceptance and was planning to go to Shiketsu, even though UA was my dream, when everything finally came out and I realized how wrong I was. That's why I had to take the normal entrance exam just like everyone else."

Midoriya: Oh, so that's why he's in UA in this world.

Kendo: Is this supposed to be an apology?

Todoroki raised an eyebrow at him, "Is this supposed to be an apology?"

Tsu: It's not a very good one, ribbit.

"Kinda, yeah!" Inasa laughed. "But it's also a declaration of war. You're a powerful hero in your own right, Todoroki, probably way stronger than your dad was, but that quiet passion you've got isn't gonna be enough. I'm gonna beat you and win this thing!"

Todoroki was silent for a moment, "You can try."

Denki gulped. How was he supposed to compete when everyone was legit declaring war? He didn't want to disappoint All Might or the vestiges or Izuku by losing, but what made him think he even stood a chance? He was just a dumb...

Mineta: Kaminari, stop. You are not dumb. You just have the worst grades out of everyone in class. You're smarter in other ways.

Kaminari: Mineta, dude, I can see where you're coming from, but after hearing you talk, I have no idea whether to feel gratified or insulted.

He shook his head. No. he wasn't dumb. Izuku had said that enough times now that it was actually starting to wear down at the massive mental wall he'd built from all the times he'd been called stupid in the past. He just had to trust that his kinda-boyfriend was smart enough to know what he was talking about.

Denki felt his phone buzz in his pocket and grinned when he saw it was actually Izuku, almost as if he knew exactly how much Denki needed him at that moment. Actually, with how well Izuku knew him, he probably did know. He was so lucky that some grumpy uncle had challenged Izuku to go make some friends. He didn't know where he'd be without him.

(everyone giggled at the mention of a grumpy old uncle. Said grumpy old uncle scowled even more than normal at the reminder of the sort of nickname)

Denki picked up the phone and huddled in the corner for some semblance of privacy, "Hey babe. How are you?"

Mina(cooing while Kaminari and Midoriya went red): Aw, you're calling him 'babe', that's so cute!

"I'm fine, just sitting on the couch and watching all the opening commercials with Mom!" Izuku's voice washed over him like a calming blanket. "What about you? How are you holding up?"

"Izuku, I don't think I've ever been this nervous." Denki confessed. "And that includes... ofa... you know? Everyone's so strong! I'm kinda freaking out."

Hagakure: Weren't we all?

"You've got this." Izuku encouraged. "And I know you said All Might wants you to win and make this your debut, but you don't have to win to show the world what you're capable of! And even if you somehow completely bomb this and get eliminated in the first round, then that's just an excuse for us to get ice cream and cuddle on the couch, right?"

(the girls squealed. This was so adorable)

Denki chuckled, "Is that a promise?"

"Yeah." Izuku sounded like he was smiling. "Are you gonna be okay?"

Kaminari: Well I made it to the third section even without Midoriya's awesome quirk help so I guess I can get even further this time!

Denki took a deep breath and nodded, "I'll do my best."

"Good!" Izuku said. "I'm proud of you!"

Denki smiled brightly as he hung up, and a tingle up his spine the only reason that he was able to keep Mina from stealing his phone, "Who was that?"

Mirko: Midoriya.

"Who?" Denki said uselessly. "No one! What are you even talking about? There's no one, this is nothing. Nothing at all!"

"Hmm, you're acting kinda sus dude." Sero pointed out. "So? Not just anyone can make you smile like that, so it was a cute girl, right?"

Hawks: Not necessarily a girl.

"Oh! A cute girl!" Mineta instantly butt into the conversation. "What's she look like? Does she have huge..."

Everyone: Mineta!

Rin: Is that literally all you think about? (everyone looked at Rin. Hadn't he been watching the same things as the rest of them this whole time?)

Kirishima cuffed Mineta upside the head, "It can be a boy too. We're not gonna judge."

"Come on, guys." Denki chuckled awkwardly. "We've been on, like, one date. It's nothing!"

Midnight: No no, it's definitely not nothing.

He saw Bakugo give him an odd look, but he was distracted by how loudly Mina gasped, "What?! You've been holding out on us Pikachu! So? What's their name?"

"Come on, you idiots." Bakugo growled. "It's time to fight, not gossip. The other classes are already lining up."

"But Kacchan!" Mina whined.

(it still sounded weird to Bakugo and Midoriya that other people were casually calling Bakugo that nickname)

"Later." Bakugo rolled his eyes and turned to Uraraka. "You coming, Cheeks?"

"Yeah!" Uraraka finished tying her shoes and an air of determination surrounded her. "Come on, guys! Let's show them what we're made of!"

Uraraka: Wait, did we team up?

Iida: I suppose so.

Izuku's cheeks were hurting from how much he was grinning and Mom was sitting beside him with a knowing smile as they watched Denki climb the podium. He looked so good in his gym uniform and Izuku couldn't wait until everyone got to see him all lit up in electricity. He was gonna do amazing!

"Um... hey everybody!" Denki waved and gave the audience a lopsided grin that Izuku knew would make the marketing teams go crazy. "This is our first sports festival and I've heard, like, three declarations of war just this morning, so welcome to UA, I guess! This is gonna be super intense, so I hope everyone's ready, because we are. Plus ultra!"

Kaminari: Wow, that was better than I expected it was going to be.

Izuku couldn't help joining in the cheer and the following applause, even if he wasn't actually there. He had a handful of different notebooks beside him at the ready to fully analyze everyone's quirks and the matchups he saw and he'd been so excited that he'd almost slipped up and rambled about civilian stuff to Eraserhead. This was gonna be so cool!

(everyone giggled watching him fanboy)

"An obstacle course?" Mom frowned. "Like running around tires or something like that?"

Ojiro: Nope, much harder than that.

Izuku shook his head, "UA isn't gonna put anything that simple. Look at the setup. You can already see the first obstacle."

"Really?" Mom squinted her eyes. "Where?"

Mic: The door.

Izuku grinned, "It's a bottleneck. Everyone is gonna try and get through the door at the same time, but..."

"Oh!" Mom's eyes widened. "Oh my, that really favors the kids that can fly, doesn't it?"

Kuroiro: Or those who are not bound to earth by unconventional methods.

Izuku nodded, "Yeah, so Kacchan isn't gonna have any issues. Neither will Denki, if he's willing to think outside the box, but he's good at that, so I'm not worried."

Kaminari: Huh? Oh, I can use my magnetism to get to the top!

Midoriya: See? I told you you were smart!

Midnight gave the signal to begin and just as Izuku thought, everyone pushed against each other and fought to get through the too-small door. He'd been expecting Kacchan to take the lead first off, but a kid with an ice quirk froze everyone else and skated ahead. Denki had been at the back of the pack, but he managed to use his magnetism to pull himself to the top of the doorway, which meant that his only problem after that was just getting down.

Kaminari(freezing): Uh... that's a long way down...

Iida(remembering how Kaminari repelled him at the USJ): I believe you need to start thinking beyond just whether your plan will succeed.

"What's this?!" Present Mic's commentary made Izuku look at the mass of students a little closer. "Well folks, it looks like we already have a team-up! Bakugo and Uraraka from 1A steal the lead from Todoroki!"

"Their quirks are both very effective for mobility, especially when combined." Eraserhead sounded so tired, even while praising his students and it made Izuku giggle. "Bakugo might look like he's doing all the work at the moment, but Uraraka's quirk allows them to move twice as fast. Similarly, a lack of gravity wouldn't do her much good without Bakugo providing forward momentum."

Uraraka(gasping): Oh! We're in the lead, Bakugo!

Bakugo: Yeah, I can see that!

"Top key analysis, Eraser!" Mic yelled. "But is that gonna do them any good against the Robo Inferno?!"

Izuku gasped. Denki had described UA's robots to him, but seeing them was something else, especially the zero pointer. Denki had taken down one of those?! And before he'd even gotten One for All?! No wonder All Might had been impressed, he was so cool!

Todoroki froze a few of them, off balance, and Mom gasped as the robots crushed a few of the students, only for them to burst from the metal seconds later. Izuku grabbed one of his notebooks. Invulnerability quirks were common and considered relatively boring, but they were so useful in hero work. And having two in the hero course during the same year could lead to some interesting team-ups, not to mention how the metal one could interact with Denki's quirk.

Tetsutetsu(pausing): Huh. That's a good question. Hey, Power Loader, do you have any giant magnets?

Power Loader: Are you asking me to stick you to a magnet to see if you're magnetic or not?

Tetsutetsu: Yeah!

Power Loader: ...I mean, I don't think it's particularly dangerous...

Mei: I can make a magnetic baby for you if you want!

A lot of people: That's not necessary Hatsume!

The students made quick work of the robots, but Izuku froze as something caught his eye. One of the smaller robots had been electrocuted, but it was after Denki had already passed. Izuku's first thought was that it might be that support student with all the crazy gear that he'd seen in the crowd, but she was on the other side fighting a three pointer. It wasn't until the camera did a close up and he saw the black dots silhouetted against the mist from Todoroki's ice that he dropped his pencil.

"Bees." Izuku breathed. "She's using a student."

(the mood immediately dimmed)

Hagakure: Queen Bee...

"Hmm?" Mom tore her eyes away from the screen. "What was that sweetie?"

"Nothing." Izuku said quickly. "I, uh, I need to check something. I'll be in my room, let me know if anything happens."

He didn't wait for Mom to nod before he ran to his room and opened a stream of the sports festival so he could watch that close-up again. He'd been hoping it was a trick of the light, but he knew how Queen Bee's swarm behaved and this... this was bad. If her host was a UA student, that meant that she could hurt the students at any time. It was probably how they'd gotten the info to attack the USJ as well. He needed to figure out who she was possessing.

Tsu: Toru...

He watched the dots carefully, hardly even noticing what the