Dagobah Beach glowed beneath the late afternoon sun when Izuku and Kirishima finally stepped off the sand, worn thin after Gran Torino's merciless drills. Their bodies ached, their clothes were damp with sweat, and sand clung stubbornly to every seam, but there was an easy, quiet satisfaction between them. The waves rolled in steady patterns beside the walking path, their rhythm blending with the tired laughter drifting from the two boys.
Kirishima stretched, wincing as his spine cracked. "Man… I swear that old guy isn't human. He's like a gremlin with a training vendetta."
Izuku laughed, rubbing a sore spot on his ribs. "A-ah… at least today he didn't throw the tire directly at your head…"
"He still tried," Kirishima pointed out. "You saw that curveball. He basically fastballed it."
Izuku shook his head. "Yeah… and then I dodged right into the refrigerator."
Kirishima snorted. "You flew into that fridge, dude. Like full-speed hoverboard slam."
"That was not part of the technique…" Izuku mumbled.
Their laughter traveled with the breeze as they walked, unhurried, letting the last of the day settle around them. For the first time in a long time, Izuku felt calm no fear of being mocked for walking with someone, no waiting for a cruel comment. Just quiet companionship.
Kirishima shot him a sidelong look. "Hey, Izuku… for real? You're insane. You come up with move after move. You're scary good."
Izuku flushed. "I-I'm not that good. I'm still messing up a lot."
"Dude," Kirishima insisted, "you control six metal balls at once, fly around on scraps of steel, and tie me up like a pretzel every other spar. You're awesome."
Izuku stared at the ground, his voice softening. "People at school never said that…"
Kirishima slowed a little. "Those people sucked," he said plainly. "You're tough, hardworking, and you don't quit. You're gonna make an amazing hero. And hey UA? We're doing that together."
Izuku looked up, smile warming his face. "Together."
They reached the Midoriya apartment soon after, and the door swung open before Izuku could even knock. Inko gasped when she saw their bruises. "Oh my goodness what happened this time?! Never mind come in, come in! I made katsudon!"
Kirishima lit up instantly. "Mrs. Midoriya, you are the greatest woman alive."
Dinner was lively, full of Kirishima's dramatic retellings of training disasters, sound effects included, and Inko's startled reactions ranging from horrified gasps to delighted laughter. Izuku tried to downplay every injury, every mishap, but Kirishima countered with bigger, louder descriptions until even Izuku couldn't stop laughing. For once, the apartment felt full warm, loud, alive.
Afterward, when Kirishima went to wash his hands, Inko leaned toward Izuku with a soft smile. "I'm happy for you. A friend like him… it suits you." Izuku's heart swelled. For the first time in years, he agreed.
THREE MONTHS OF TRAINING
The next morning marked the beginning of their final push the last three months before the UA entrance exam. The beach transformed into a personal battlefield, scarred by constant training.
Izuku spent hours honing his metal techniques. Iron Bind evolved from chaotic flinging strips into smooth, precise restraints that could coil around a limb or redirect momentum mid-fight. Metal Orbit grew sharper and more dangerous, the six spheres spinning in perfect rings before darting out at curved angles or ricocheting off old appliances. Rail Lariat turned from reckless crashing into controlled, explosive movement using planted metal rods to launch himself like a missile. Metal Surf became second nature, carrying him across rusted washers, piles of trash, and even shallow water with surprising agility. Magnetic Whip helped him swing around obstacles, control speed, hook debris, or pull himself into sharp turns.
Kirishima trained just as fiercely under Gran Torino's brutal eyes. He learned to distribute hardening evenly while channeling One For All's energy, stabilizing first 1%, then 3%, and finally a controlled 5%. Each day he punched reinforced steel blocks; each day his recoil lessened and his form strengthened. Where Izuku refined precision, Kirishima refined power and durability until sparks danced across hardened skin with effortless confidence.
Their evening spars became a ritual. Izuku zipped across the dunes on metal plates, spheres streaking around him like miniature comets. Kirishima charged forward with hardened fists, green lightning crackling faintly around his arms. Iron Bind wrapped limbs; Kirishima shattered the restraints. Metal Orbit hammered constantly; Kirishima tanked blow after blow. Rail Lariat carved trenches; Kirishima met it head-on with 5% strength. Dagobah Beach changed under their feet appliances crushed, dunes reshaped, new scars forming every night.
They learned each other's rhythms, each other's strengths. They grew together. Three months slipped away in sweat and grit.
THE DRIVE TO UA
A crisp morning dawned, signaling the end of their training stretch. Both boys stood outside the Midoriya apartment, bags over their shoulders, the weight of their hopes heavier than their luggage. Inko pulled up with a nervous but proud smile. "Ready, boys?" Kirishima straightened his shirt; Izuku adjusted his gloves. "Yeah," they said together.
The drive was filled with quiet anticipation. Kirishima tapped his knee nonstop. Izuku rolled a screw between his fingers without even realizing. Inko kept glancing at them through the mirror, eyes shimmering with pride and worry.
When the car rounded the final corner, the towering form of UA High rose before them glass gleaming, metal banners shining, the courtyard buzzing with students from all over the country. It felt unreal.
Inko parked carefully and turned to them. "No matter what happens today… I'm already proud of you both."
Izuku swallowed hard, emotion tightening his throat. Kirishima gave her a grateful nod.
They stepped out, bags slung over their shoulders. The morning wind swept through the courtyard, cool and crisp as the UA gates loomed above them, tall and majestic.
Kirishima exhaled shakily. "So… this is it."
Izuku nodded, eyes fixed on the massive school that represented their future. "Yeah. This is it."
Side by side, they walked toward the gates.
Their journey was just beginning.