ShuraZero
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Chapter 95: The Road Home
🕑 Added 2025-07-24 19:34:59 +0000 UTCThe inside of the first-class bullet train car was a world of its own. The gentle hum and the landscape blurring past the window created a sense of tranquil motion, a smear of colors that contrasted with the calm inside the compartment.
"I still can't believe my first big hero mission involved selling burgers and trying on designer dresses," Toru said, lounging in her luxurious seat. "It's not exactly what they teach you at U.A."
Yu, her eyes closed and her bare feet elegantly propped up on the seat across from her, smiled without opening them.
"Honey, you just learned the most important lesson in professional heroism: ninety percent of the job is PR and smiling until your cheeks hurt. The other ten percent is just trying not to get killed. Consider this your advanced education."
"The burger part wasn't so bad," Ochako commented, flipping through a travel magazine. "They were free."
"Flawless logic, Uraraka-san," Momo said with a small smile. "Resource optimization is a fundamental heroic skill."
Izuku, sitting by the window, was smiling as he typed on his phone. Momo noticed the small curve of his lips.
"You look pleased, Izuku-kun," she said, her tone a mix of curiosity and analysis. "Reviewing the damage reports from Hosu?"
He looked up, a genuine smile lighting up his face.
"No. Talking to my mom. She's asking what time we get in. Says she's making katsudon to celebrate me still being alive."
Yu opened one eye, a flash of genuine longing in her gaze.
"Homemade katsudon… God, I'd give up half my cosmetics contract for a meal that wasn't prepared by some pretentious chef who garnishes it with edible flowers. Enjoy it, Izuku."
Izuku looked at her—the hero he had admired from a distance, now slumped in her seat with a vulnerability she rarely showed. An impulsive idea, born from gratitude and the new intimacy between them, formed in his mind.
"Well… you should come," he said, his sincerity overpowering his nervousness.
Yu sat up, opening both eyes, surprised and genuinely touched by the offer.
"Really? Izuku, I wouldn't want to impose…"
"Not at all! She loves having guests. Seriously, I think my mom is trying to adopt my entire class. Besides, after everything we went through, you're already… part of the team."
An authentic smile, with no trace of the celebrity, lit up Yu's face.
"In that case… I'd love to meet the woman who raised such a ridiculously brave and reckless kid."
Izuku laughed, turning back to his phone.
"Great! I'll let her know you're coming."
"Ooooh!"
Toru's dramatic gasp made everyone turn. She brought her hands to her cheeks, her unseen eyes sparkling with a theatrical revelation.
"Watch out, girls! The list is growing! It's official!"
"What's official, Toru-chan?" Ochako asked, confused.
Toru adopted an air of profound wisdom, her smile mischievous and triumphant.
"The unwritten rule! It seems only Izuku-kun's girlfriends get to go to his house for dinner!"
A dead silence fell over the compartment. Ochako and Momo blushed so violently they looked like they had fevers. Izuku choked and coughed, seized by panic and embarrassment.
Yu, for her part, didn't blush. Instead, a slow, predatory smile spread across her lips as she watched Izuku, who was still struggling to breathe.
"Well, well, Izuku. And here I thought you were only fast on the battlefield."
Ochako, still beet-red, tried to regain her composure.
"Toru, that's not—! It's not what it looks like!" she stammered, waving her hands frantically. "We're just going to eat, it's not… anything more!"
Momo, adjusting her glasses to hide her discomfort, cleared her throat.
"Toru-san, your deductions are premature and lack substantial evidence. It is merely a dinner. A show of hospitality."
Toru crossed her arms, her grin not fading in the slightest.
"Uh-huh, right. 'Hospitality.' Call it what you want, but the proof is in the katsudon."
Izuku, finally catching his breath, threw his hands up in surrender.
"I-it's not like that at all! I just want to share a meal with my friends! And with Yu-san, who helped us so much! There is no… no list!"
Yu, clearly enjoying the chaos, leaned back in her seat with a low laugh.
"Relax, little hero. Although…" she winked at him, "I have to admit, your mom must be an amazing cook if you're this flustered defending her katsudon."
The tension broke with laughter, though Ochako and Momo were still exchanging furtive glances. The train continued its journey as the conversation returned to a lighter rhythm, sharing stories from their internships, lessons learned, and the close calls they’d survived.
When the train finally glided to a smooth stop at Musutafu Station, the relief of being home was palpable. The evening light painted the sky in oranges and purples, and the familiar sounds of the city welcomed them like an old friend.
"Alright," Yu said, pulling out her phone with professional efficiency. "Kenji will be here in five minutes. He'll take us to your place, Izuku."
"Wait."
Izuku's voice was soft but firm. She lowered her phone, arching an eyebrow.
"Don't call him. Let's… let's walk."
"Walk?" she replied, incredulous. "Honey, my feet have been crammed into heels for three days straight. I think they've forgotten how to function as normal human appendages. Besides, it's half an hour from here."
Izuku's gaze drifted over the crowd, to the golden light bathing the faces of the people heading home.
"Please. The city is quiet. The sun is setting. After everything that happened in Hosu… the chaos, the explosions… I just want to enjoy this. This moment. All of us together. Just for a little while longer."
The girls looked at him, moved. Yu watched him for a long moment, completely disarmed. The facade of the cynical boss, of the untouchable celebrity, melted away. She sighed, a sound of surrender, not frustration, and put her phone away.
"Alright, Izuku. You win. But if my feet go on strike halfway there, you're carrying me piggyback."
"It's a deal," he answered with a smile.
The group of five walked through the streets of Musutafu at sunset. They were no longer a hero and her interns, but a group of friends, their conversation flowing easy, light, and punctuated by laughter.
"Hey!" Toru said suddenly, pointing to a small shop on a corner. "I'm craving mochi! They say the stuff from there is the best in the city!"
"Yes!" Ochako exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "And we could swing by that tea shop we saw the other day! The one with that cute sign with a cat on it!"
"That is a logistically inefficient route to get to Izuku-kun's house," Momo analyzed, though a smile played on her lips, "but… acceptable."
Yu walked beside Izuku, slightly apart from the girls' energetic debate over desserts.
"Look at them," she said quietly. "Already planning the next mission: 'Operation: Dessert.' Your team is relentless, Izuku."
He smiled, watching his friends laugh. The weight of Hosu seemed to vanish under the golden light.
"They're the best team in the world."
They stopped at the shop Toru had pointed out. The owner, a kind-faced old man, recognized Yu.
"Hey, it's Mount Lady!" he exclaimed, handing them a tray of fresh mochi. "This is on the house! Thanks for what you did in Hosu!"
Toru, invisible but clearly thrilled, took a mochi and raised it triumphantly.
"The power of heroism gets us free dessert!"
Everyone laughed. As they ate, they passed a park where several children were playing under the last rays of the sun. Ochako paused for a moment, watching them run after a ball.
"This is what we're protecting, right?" she said softly, almost to herself.
Izuku nodded, his gaze following hers.
"Exactly. This makes it all worth it."
Yu, who had been listening quietly, placed a hand on Ochako's shoulder.
"Good instincts, kid. Keep that in mind, and you'll be a great hero."
The group moved on, crossing familiar streets. Every step strengthened the bond between them. The laughter, the jokes, and the small moments of vulnerability were just as important as the battles they had fought.
