The other three gasped at the revelation their green-haired friend had dropped on them. He had, at one point or another during their friendship, told all three the name of the school he had attended before moving to the same school Mina and Kirishima attended. He had told him the history, the pain, that came from this place.

"Izuku," Momo addressed him, "I'm so sorry I lead us this way. I had no idea this was your former school, otherwise, I wouldn't have..." she was stopped as Izuku looked at her, and gave a reassuring smile.

"It's okay, Momo," he replied. "You didn't know. Plus, it doesn't hold the same weight against me as it used to." He stood for a moment, contemplating, before smiling. "And do you know why?" He looked at his three friends, who, though having their guesses, couldn't 100% answer his question.

"It's because of you guys," Izuku continued. "You believed in me right away. And that meant so much. But, there is something I want to share with all of you. The reason for me no longer going to this school." He inhaled. "Before I moved, I met someone. Actually, it's kind of a big deal for me. I met All Might." He couldn't help but smile when he saw their reactions.

They knew Izuku wouldn't lie to them, especially not about something like that. He could see on their faces that they had a thousand questions about the Number One Hero, but stayed silent so Izuku could continue with his story.

"I was able to talk to him," he went on. "I asked him, if someone like me, someone Quirkless, could be a Hero. And he said yes. But he also saw how I was then. How Mina and Kirishima first met me. More timid, scrawny. He saw the pain. He never said it, but I knew he could see that he was my last straw of hope. I didn't know why then, but I broke down in front of him. Told him everything. And he helped me realize that, in order to be the Hero I wanted to be, I had to change things.

"It gave me the courage to tell my mom everything that was going on. She pulled me out of the school. And then, the reports about the school came out. The only thing I ever learned to come out of it was a major shift in administration, a lot of teachers got sacked, and I think there was disciplinary action for people like Bakugo, though I don't really know to what extent, or if the punishment fit the crime, so to speak."

His friends listened intently. Though it was something he had overcome, the memories still brought a few tears to his eyes. He was quickly engulfed in a warm embrace from the three of them. They stayed there for a few moments before parting ways. Izuku and Momo were the last to end the embrace, much to their respective embarrassment (and Mina's enjoyment).

"That's so manly!" Kirishima said, being the first to speak after. "Just what you'd expect from the Number One Hero!" Everyone enjoyed a little chuckle before they were interrupted.

"What the Hell is this shit show?" A growling voice broke them from their fellowship. A voice Izuku instantly recognized, which made his eyebrows furrow. The group of friends looked in the direction of the voice. A look of surprise crossed the spiky-haired blondes face, before it turned into a scowl. "Deku? You got a lot of nerve to show up around here!"

Izuku, to Bakugo's great surprise, didn't cower like he was used to seeing. Instead, the greenette merely returned his scowl, looking him dead in the eye.

"We were just passing by, Bakugo," he said, calmly, yet confidently. Bakugo didn't know what shocked him more: Izuku being so confident, the fact that he was around as tall as Bakugo (and more built than the ash-blonde), or the fact that he wasn't using that annoying childhood nickname 'Kacchan'. His two lackeys were also clearly shocked by the development. Bakugo quickly regained his composure before turning his attention to Izuku's friends, snickering.

"If you know what's good for you three," he began, "you'll ditch this loser Deku here. I don't know if he's told you, but he's Quirkless, and won't amount to anything. If it weren't for the fact that I've now got a close eye on me because of him, I'd put him back in his place. He'll never be a Hero, and he'll only drag you down." He seemed overall satisfied with his response...until the other three took a step forward. They all had scowls to match, and Mina looked ready to melt Bakugo's face off. However, it was Momo that spoke next.

"We do know he's Quirkless," she said, matter-of-factly. "We also know, however, that he is anything but close to, how did you phrase it, a loser. And he'll make an amazing Hero. And I will never worry about him dragging me down." Bakugo clenched his teeth, as Mina was the next to speak up.

"If anything, he's lifted us up," she said, smiling broadly. "He's made us better than what we were. Given us a real drive. I know we'll all be better Heroes because of him." Bakugo's two lackeys felt their jaw drop, as Kirishima was the last to speak up.

"With his manly training, and the confidence and support he exudes to us, we've made leaps and bounds in getting ready for UA." The fact that UA had been mentioned seemed to be the last straw for Bakugo. He growled, and small explosions began to pop around his hands. He looked ready to attack. Until another voice sounded.

"Is everything alright here?" the voice was that of what looked like a member of the school staff. He was someone Izuku didn't recognize from his time at Aldera. Whoever it was, though, seemed to have enough of an air about him that caused Bakugo to (begrudgingly) back off and deactivate his explosions.

"Everything's fine here, Principal Yamoto," he said, holding back his anger. "Just an initial misunderstanding. Everything's cleared up." The man, now known as Yamoto, looked to Izuku and his friends, seeming doubtful of Bakugo's words. Izuku merely nodded.

"Yes," Izuku responded. "A misunderstanding. We were just on our way." Yamoto nodded, and smiled at the group.

"Very well," he said. "Have a good day." He then turned to Bakugo and his lackeys. "School has ended, you should better head out. Wouldn't want anyone to accuse you all of loitering or being up to something."

*****

"That guy is some kind of intense," Kirishima said, after a while. They had since found something to do, as Momo's initial plans had been ruined by reports of a Villain near where she had wanted to take them. It had put a damper on her mood, but Izuku and the others were quick to bring her spirits back up. Izuku sighed.

"In Bakugo's mind, what he's doing is right," Izuku said. "I used to think he meant well. I want to assure you guys I don't think that anymore. He's a jerk, and that attitude is going to bite him if he really wants to be a Hero. We already have one Endeavor. I really don't think we need another."

Everyone nodded. Izuku took the moment to give Mina and Kirishima a look. Knowing the meaning, they made some distance between themselves and Izuku and Momo. Momo looked confused before Izuku spoke once more.

"Hey, Momo," he said, getting her attention. "First, I want to thank you for what you said back there at Aldera. It really means a lot to me." She smiled to him.

"Of course, Izuku," she replied. "And I truly believe everything I said." This made Izuku smile more as he breathed in deeply. Now or never.

"Um, Momo," he began to nervously play with his hands. "Would you be interested in...."

An explosion nearby stopped Izuku from continuing his question, much to his annoyance. Then, his thoughts went on auto. He looked to his friends, and they all shared the silent agreement to go check whatever it was out. Izuku asking Momo out would have to wait. At least for now.