#icba

First, I was going to have Minute Maid go on training runs with Endeavor. Getting to see what it was like being out-and-about in a different way.

By the end of the week with him, Endeavor was going to ask about how Izuku got his magic. He'd perhaps verbally corner him a bit, but he wouldn't say anything. I juggled around with the idea of whether or not Handyman would cause Endeavor to see something, but I never quite decided.

What ended up stopping me from completing this chapter was that, really, I was kinda getting tired of setting things up. I wanted to jump straight into what was next, and I still sometimes have a problem being patient with my own writing.

But yeah, Izuku would get outta there when it was time for him to be picked up, and he'd go home and kinda panic about it. Shimizu was going to be helping his mom with the taxes, so she was going to be there to help him calm down.

He never told Shimizu that he'd died, and he still feels substantial stress about it, so being asked how he got his magic so much just makes him remember dying. I'm not sure if he tells her here, but he does end up being comforted, and Endeavor is given a warning by Inspector Yayoi.

Izuku's given a break from training for a week, and during that time is when he meets Ochako. They quite easily become friendly. They start hanging out over the weekend, and before she leaves, they exchange phone numbers. He finally gets a new friend around his age, though he doesn't tell her who she is yet. That doesn't come for a little while longer.

During the week, he does homework in Aizawa and Yamada's apartment. He still feels a bit down despite having met Ochako, so Yamada tries cheering him up. During his efforts, Izuku asks about learning capoeira or something of the like. Yamada says that Kayama (Midnight) would be better to ask, so he calls her up for a get-together to talk about it.

Meanwhile, Tsukauchi convinces All Might to sign up for the opportunity to train Minute Maid. All Might was reluctant because he felt he'd traumatized him enough, but Tsukauchi assures him that the kid's still very much a fan and doesn't hold a grudge against him. He also hints that he's been kind of down and could use a pick-me-up (he wasn't told exactly what happened, but the institute alluded to how it might be a good idea for Izuku and All Might to meet up). So, All Might considers it.

When Kayama comes over, Izuku talks with her about fighting styles that use legs more than arms, and she tells him a few methods. He asks about being shown how to do it, but pauses, and also asks if Shimizu could be given a pass to let her practice like she used to before her quirk increased her weight beyond the allowable limit. Kayama isn't sure how to do it at first, but then considers that Shimizu is currently one of his trainers. As long as she has someone in a similar weight class to practice against, it's possible she could do those exercises again.

Feeling better and happy that he could maybe help Shimizu, they go out and do some leg exercises to prepare for training. When he gets home, Shimizu is there, finishing up with the help she was giving on their taxes. They playfully quip with each other, and Izuku feels like he has Shimizu there as a friend, too, feeling less alone and very blessed.

Meanwhile, Magakuro, Shimizu's former coworker, goes to a karaoke bar with some folks from work. She considers calling Shimizu, but decides against it.

...