Chương 11: Hyper Beam!
After the Battler Selection and Rookie Hunt, the school had settled into a much quieter rhythm, and classes resumed as usual. Today, however, marked the beginning of something new—Familiar Class.
When Izuku stepped into the classroom, he was immediately struck by the unusually subdued atmosphere. His typically carefree, happy-go-lucky classmates were huddled in small groups, speaking in hushed, nervous tones. At the front of the room stood Kalego-sensei, watching them with his usual stern expression.
"You cretins, calm down," Kalego said, his tone sharp with irritation.
"We can't! Our families are going to be here to see us!" Shax shouted.
"Yeah, it's super stressful," Garp agreed with an exaggerated groan.
"I know, right?" Shax muttered, running a hand through his hair. "My sister's coming to the event."
"My brother's attending, too," Jazz added flatly, his expression suggesting he wasn't any more thrilled about the situation.
"Good morning, everyone," Izuku greeted cheerfully as he made his way to his seat. "What's going on?"
"Hey, Izuku!" Eiko smiled, waving him over. She handed him a piece of paper. "This showed up today."
"Battler's Party?" Izuku read aloud, tilting his head as he scanned the flyer.
"Well, it's kind of like a presentation event where various battlers showcase their work and compete for first place, which rewards them with a rank up," Eiko explained.
"But that's not all!" Shax leaned in, his grin returning. "There'll be food stalls, attractions, and—" he wiggled his eyebrows dramatically— "you can meet pretty girls from other classes!"
Izuku chuckled. "Sounds like fun. So, why were you all so gloomy earlier?"
The cheerful mood immediately soured, the atmosphere crashing like a poorly handled baby.
"During this event, the parents of first-year students are invited to observe how their kids are doing," Eiko admitted with a grimace. "And, well, most of us aren't exactly thrilled about that."
"Why not?" Izuku asked, his confusion evident. To him, the idea of his mom coming to see his progress sounded wonderful. However, his thoughts trailed off, and a shadow passed over his face as he remembered that such a reunion wasn't possible in this world.
"Of course, you don't get it," Shax muttered, shaking his head. "Your grandpa's always hanging around. For the rest of us, having our parents show up is just... embarrassing."
"Then work hard so you don't embarrass yourselves in front of your parents, you nitwits," Kalego said with an annoyed frown. "Now get back to your places. I'm going to take roll call before your next class."
'Is he really a teacher?' Nana's skeptical voice echoed in Izuku's mind. 'He doesn't look like one.'
'Stop judging people!' Izuku thought back, exasperated.
'What!?' Nana exclaimed in mock offense. 'That's the most fun part of being inside someone's head! I can judge people all I want without actually having to interact with them.'
'Good for you,' Izuku thought dryly, resisting the urge to roll his eyes as Robin continued his introduction.
"Alright, class," Robin said, clapping his hands. "Let's head to the schoolyard. Your first lesson is to interact with your familiars."
'Ooo~, this is going to be fun,' Nana cooed as Izuku sighed internally.
*****
On the school grounds, excitement buzzed in the air as Robin addressed the class with his trademark enthusiasm.
"Listen, your familiar is not just a pet but a true companion and partner," Robin explained. "Today, we'll focus on heart-to-heart communication with your familiar."
'Oh, so just another day for me,' Izuku thought, his inner voice dripping with dry humor.
"Asmodeus Alice, you're up first!" Robin announced, gesturing dramatically.
"Yes!" Alice responded, stepping forward with his usual confidence. With a quick chant, he summoned his familiar, a sleek, macaroon-cream-colored snake that coiled elegantly around him.
"A Gorgon Snake!" Robin gasped, his eyes sparkling with admiration. "Amazing! Such a rare and powerful familiar!"
Before the praise could settle, Sabnock stepped forward, his usual cocky grin plastered on his face.
"I am even more amazing!" he declared loudly, thrusting his hand forward to summon his familiar. A Kelple—a bizarre hybrid of a horse and a fish with two sturdy legs—materialized beside him, neighing and flicking its fin-like mane.
"Wow! A Kelple!" Robin exclaimed, clapping his hands in delight. "Both of these familiars are extraordinary!"
As their teacher was busy fawning over the familiars, Alice and Sabnock turned to face each other, their familiars mirroring their masters', engaged in a tense stare-down.
"It's starting!" Shax said, eyes wide with excitement.
"I can't wait to see who wins!" Garp added, practically vibrating with anticipation.
'Why is everyone here so obsessed with fighting?' Izuku wondered, shaking his head. 'Can't they just talk things out like civilized people?'
'Izuku, this is the demon world,' Nana interjected, her tone laced with amusement. 'Here, might makes right. Besides, a good fight does wonders for the soul.'
'Why do I get the distinct impression you were a delinquent back in the day?' Izuku shot back, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.
'Hey, look! Clara is summoning her familiar,' Nana interjected, successfully diverting the conversation. Izuku's attention quickly shifted to his friend.
"S-s-s-s-summon!" Clara yelled, her voice cracking with effort. A flash of green light revealed her familiar: a strange, abstract creature with an almost cartoonish appearance.
"Falfal!" Clara declared triumphantly, throwing her hands in the air.
******
Falfal- An almost-abstract, made demon beast comes with a familiar named Falfal. This green creature looks very eccentric, much like its owner.
******
"Oh, a Falfal! How rare!" Robin exclaimed, leaning closer to study the creature. "A demon beast that doesn't respond to language or commands… How did you manage to tame it?"
Instead of answering, Clara reached into her pocket and pulled out a bright red ball. She handed it to Falfal, who immediately tossed it across the field. Without hesitation, Clara darted after it, retrieved the ball, and returned it to Falfal, who gave her an approving pat on the head.
"I think it's Clara who's being tamed here," Izuku remarked, chuckling along with the rest of the class.
"Midoriya, you're up next!" Robin called, snapping Izuku out of his amusement as Alice and Sabnock continued their heated argument in the background.
Taking a deep breath, Izuku stepped forward, slapping a summoning sticker onto the back of his hand.
'Ready, Nana? I'm summoning you now.'
'You know it! Time to shine,' Nana replied confidently.
"Summon!" Izuku said firmly, and in an instant, Nana appeared. Her immense black serpentine form unfurled gracefully, golden tendrils glowing with radiant energy.
"Whoa!" came the collective gasp of his classmates as they stared, wide-eyed.
"Midoriya, your familiar is huge!" Robin exclaimed, his eyes practically sparkling with excitement.
"Please don't phrase it like that," Izuku groaned, feeling his cheeks flush as he ignored Nana's amused laughter echoing in his mind.
"It's just as majestic as it was during the flying race," Elizabetta said, smiling at the memory.
After everyone had summoned their familiars, Robin clapped his hands together and with a flourish, he produced several glowing flying disks out of thin air. "Now, to deepen the bond with your familiar,' Robin announced with a cheerful smile, 'you will be playing frisbee together!"
Izuku took one of the frisbees and moved to a spacious, open area, giving Nana ample room to maneuver. 'So, shall we?' he asked mentally, preparing to toss the disk. But just as he raised his arm, Nana interrupted him.
'Hold on a second!' she exclaimed. 'How exactly am I supposed to catch this thing?'
Izuku blinked, lowering the frisbee. That's when he realized the problem—Nana's massive serpentine form and comparatively small claws weren't exactly suited for catching anything.
He pondered for a moment before an idea struck him. "Why don't you try hitting it with your tail?" he suggested, tilting his head.
'My tail?' Nana considered this, her golden tendrils flickering as she mulled it over. 'Well, I guess it's worth a shot.'
The two positioned themselves far apart, giving Nana space to test her newfound role as a frisbee player.
"Ready?" Izuku asked.
"Ready," Nana confirmed, her tail swining back and forth.
Izuku launched the frisbee toward her with a firm toss. As it hurtled through the air, Nana reared back and swung her tail with precision. At the moment of impact, her tail glowed faintly. When she struck the disk, it shot back at Izuku with the force of a missile.
Izuku barely had time to react. His Danger Sense screamed at him, and he instinctively raised his hands, catching the frisbee—but the sheer force of the return sent him skidding several meters backward.
'What was that?' Nana asked, staring at her tail in astonishment.
'Dragon Tail...' Izuku murmured, his eyes wide.
'Huh?' Nana tilted her head.
'It's a dragon-type attack move,' Izuku explained, piecing it together. 'Do you think you can do it again, this time on purpose?'
'I can try,' Nana replied, her voice tinged with excitement as they assumed their previous possion.
"Here it comes!" Izuku shouted, hurling the frisbee with more force this time. Nana swung her tail deliberately, invoking Dragon Tail once again. The glowing disk zipped back toward Izuku at incredible speed. This time, Izuku activated One For All, bracing himself as he caught the frisbee without budging an inch.
"That was awesome!" Izuku exclaimed, his heart racing. "Your Dragon Tail is seriously strong!"
Nana smirked, her golden tendrils shimmering with pride. 'Want to see how far we can take this?'
"Absolutely!" Izuku grinned, excitement sparking in his green eyes.
And so, what was supposed to be a friendly bonding exercise between master and familiar turned into a fierce frisbee competition between Izuku and Nana. At some point, they even stopped catching the disk and began sending it back to each other with Dragon Tails and Shoot Style, each trying to push their limits while creating an exciting spectacle for the students who had gathered around them.
"What is going on here?" Robin asked with a dumbfounded expression on his face as he stared at Izuku and Nana throwing frisbees at each other at dangerous speeds. He then turned towards the rest of the class, who were preoccupied with their own activities and paying no mind to either Izuku or his familiar.
"Just ignore him, sensei. It's just a normal Monday for him," Shax shrugged and then went back to playing cards with Caim and Jazz, which he knew he should reprimand them for, but right now, he was more focused on trying to understand how these misfits could be so chill about the whole thing.
Robin felt a little relieved when he noticed that students from other classes had gathered around to watch the scene with the same dumbfounded expression as him. However, just as he was about to intervene and stop Izuku, something unexpected happened.
A huge sphere made up of fire and water rushed towards Izuku as he was too engrossed in their game and ignored the warning of his Danger Sense. He only noticed the giant ball when it was too late to move out of the way, so he braced for impact. Before the sphere could hit him, Nana sprang into action. Her tail glowed brilliantly as she obliterated the attack with a devastating Dragon Tail.
"Hey, thanks for the save—" Izuku began, but his words faltered as he noticed the fury blazing in Nana's eyes. Her gaze locked onto Alice and Sabnock, whose familiars cowered behind them.
"Nana, calm down," Izuku said nervously, but his plea was drowned out by her enraged roar. The air around her crackled with energy as a bright yellow sphere began forming in her mouth.
Izuku's heart sank. 'She's charging Hyper Beam,' he realized with a jolt.
"DUCK!" he shouted to Alice and Sabnock. Thankfully, they obeyed just in time. The Hyper Beam shot past them, obliterating a massive chunk of the school grounds.
"What the hell?!" Alice and Sabnock exclaimed in unison, staring in shock at the crater behind them.
"What was that?" Alice demanded, his voice trembling slightly as he pointed at Nana, who was now calm but still radiating power.
Izuku sighed, patting Nana's side. "I'd love to explain, but we've got bigger problems right now."
Alice and Sabnock followed his gaze as their homeroom teacher, Naberius Kalego, descended from the sky. His expression was a mixture of fury and exasperation.
"What the hell is going on here?" Kalego demanded, his eyes narrowing on Izuku.
Izuku rubbed the back of his neck, letting out a tired sigh. "It's… a long story," he muttered, bracing himself for the inevitable lecture with a tired sigh.
******
"And that's what happened," Robin explained sheepishly, sitting in a seiza position alongside Izuku, Alice, and Sabnock. They all stared at the ground while Naberius Kalego loomed over them, arms crossed, his glare sharp enough to pierce through steel.
Kalego let out a deep, exasperated sigh, his piercing eyes shifting to Robin. "Rookie," he began, his voice low and severe, "do you know why trust is the most important element between a demon and their familiar?"
Robin straightened up nervously, his voice trembling as he responded, "B-Because the familiar is a partner—"
"Wrong!" Kalego barked, leaning in so close that Robin flinched. The teacher's intense gaze bore into him like he was trying to unravel the very fabric of his soul. "The real reason," his tone cold and cutting, "is to avoid having your familiar eat you alive!"
Robin's eyes widened in shock. "E-Eat me?" he stammered, his voice cracking slightly. "But… if a familiar opposes its master, wouldn't they face punishment?"
Kalego's brow furrowed in disdain. "Who said anything about 'opposing the master'? I'm talking about the chaos caused by ignorance and incompetence—like the mess you all just created."
Robin tilted his head, confusion written all over his face.
"A familiar is neither a pet nor a mere partner," Kalego elaborated, his annoyance simmering beneath the surface. "It is a powerful force bound by contract. If the master fails to adapt or control it, that power can spiral out of control, endangering everyone around them."
An oppressive aura flared from Kalego, washing over the group like a tidal wave. Even Robin shrank under the weight of it. "Fear of the familiar," Kalego intoned, his voice a harsh growl. "That's the foundation of trust! Without it, you're just waiting for disaster!"
He shifted his fiery gaze to Alice and Sabnock, who immediately stiffened.
"And you two," Kalego snapped, his eyes narrowing. "Care to explain why you let your familiars fight like rabid beasts?"
"He started it!" they blurted in unison, immediately turning to glare at each other. "No, you did!"
A vein visibly pulsed on Kalego's forehead. "Shut up!" he thundered, silencing them instantly. His glare could have turned them to stone.
"Both of you will write a ten-page essay on the proper handling and safety protocols for familiars," Kalego commanded, his voice brooking no argument. "I expect them on my desk by tomorrow morning."
"Yes, sir," the pair muttered in defeated tones.
"And you," Kalego said, turning his ire back to Robin, "double paperwork for the next two weeks."
"Why…?" Robin whined, only to shrink back as Kalego's glare intensified.
"Now scram!" Kalego barked, gesturing for them to leave.
The group hastily scrambled to their feet, but as Izuku turned to follow, Kalego caught him by the collar.
"Not you," Kalego growled. "The rest of you, go."
Once the others had left, only Izuku and Kalego remained in the schoolyard, the remnants of Nana's destructive attack still evident in the scorched earth and debris.
Kalego released Izuku's collar, crossing his arms once more. His stern expression didn't falter. "After the stunt you pulled today, I hope you have a damn good explanation," he said.
"I'm sorry, sir," Izuku replied, his voice subdued. He offered a grimaced smile but avoided meeting Kalego's gaze. "I didn't mean for things to get out of hand."
"Intentions don't excuse recklessness, Midoriya," Kalego said sharply. He gestured toward the crater left by Nana's Hyper Beam. "Do you realize the magnitude of that attack? Someone could have died!"
Izuku swallowed hard, guilt evident in his slumped posture. "I know," he said quietly, his voice tinged with regret. "I'm really sorry."
"You're lucky no one was hurt this time," Kalego continued. "But luck won't always be on your side. You need to understand something, Midoriya—your familiar is far stronger than most. That power comes with responsibility, and it's your job to ensure it doesn't become a threat."
"Yes, sir," Izuku said, nodding earnestly.
"Good. I will let it slide this time since this was your first lesson on familiars, but I won't be this tolerant next time," he said and left the schoolyard, leaving very tired and exhausted Izuku behind.
******
"I am pooped," Izuku groaned, collapsing against the trunk of a nearby tree. He slid down until he was seated on the grass, his head tilted back as he caught his breath.
'Yeah, Kalego really doesn't hold back, huh,' Nana said, her tone tinged with both exhaustion and guilt.
Izuku shot her a sideways glance, his expression a mix of annoyance and exasperation. 'And whose fault is that, huh?' he muttered, crossing his arms.
Nana flinched at his words. 'I'm sorry,' she said softly. Her voice carried a weight that made Izuku's irritation falter. 'I shouldn't have let my anger get the best of me.' She paused for a moment before continuing, her tone hesitant. 'The truth is… I was scared. Scared that something might have happened to you. And I…' She hesitated again, searching for the right words. 'I just couldn't bear the thought of something hurting you.'
Izuku's frustration ebbed away completely as he heard the sincerity in her voice. As much as he wanted to stay angry at her, he knew he didn't have the heart to do so. He understood why Nana was so protective of him. After all, she'd endured so much—losing her son, seeing her grandson fall into darkness, all because of the manipulations of her greatest enemy. Her instinct to protect him wasn't just possessiveness; it was born from pain, love, and fear. And if he was being honest with himself, it felt kind of… nice having someone else get angry on his behalf, to care so deeply about his well-being.
'Don't worry about it,' Izuku said at last, his voice softer now. He offered Nana a small, reassuring smile. 'I get why you were so upset. But you have to trust me—something like that wouldn't have hurt me. I've taken far worse hits from people way stronger than them in the past.'
'Doesn't make me any less worried about you,' Nana retorted.
Izuku chuckled lightly, the tension between them finally dissipating. 'I know,' he replied, his smile growing warmer. 'And I'm grateful for it.'
******
"Hey, guys! Sorry for the wait," Izuku said, stepping into the room assigned to their battler.
"Perfect timing, Midoriya!" Daki greeted him with her usual cheerful smile. "We were just about to discuss what we're going to do for the Battler Party!"
Sure enough, just as she said, Alice, Clara, Kirio, and Daki were sitting in a circle, surrounded by a chaotic scatter of papers across the floor.
"So… has anyone come up with anything yet?" Izuku asked, settling into the circle.
"Not really," Daki admitted with a shrug, gesturing at a growing pile of crumpled papers beside her. "We've just been tossing out all the bad ideas… which is pretty much everything so far."
"Hmm…" Izuku thought for a moment, then offered, "Why don't we start by asking everyone what they want this project to be? That might help us narrow things down."
"Great idea! I'll go first!" Daki exclaimed, leaning forward eagerly. But then her face twisted into a thoughtful frown as she crossed her arms. "Let's see…" Suddenly, her eyes lit up with excitement, and she turned to Izuku with renewed enthusiasm. "Something grand—larger than life! Something that'll make us stand out from every other battler."
"For me, it has to be elegant," Alice said, her tone cool but thoughtful. "Maybe even… refined. Something that complements the grace of my family's flames."
"Something fun!" Clara shouted, throwing her arms into the air.
"Something we can all enjoy together," Kirio added, his smile calm and gentle.
"Wow, that's quite the range of expectations," Izuku said, laughing softly.
"What about you, Midoriya?" Daki asked, tilting her head curiously. "What do you want from this project?"
"What do I want?" Izuku paused, closing his eyes briefly. A memory flickered across his mind—a stage bathed in warm light, a little girl's joyous laughter ringing out over the applause.
("Midoriya! That was a great performance," Mirio Senpai said, his ever-present smile beaming. "Eri couldn't stop smiling as soon as you stepped onto the stage. I've never seen Eri so happy before," Mirio continued, his smile growing wider. "You really saved her, kohai.")
As the memory faded, Izuku opened his eyes and looked around the circle. His expression softened into a warm smile. "Something that brings smiles to everyone's faces," he said simply.
Daki beamed. "That's perfect!" she declared. "Now that we know what everyone's hoping for, let's start brainstorming in earnest!"
One Hour Later
"Argh!" Daki groaned, crumpling another piece of paper and throwing it into the growing mountain of rejected ideas. "Why is this so hard?!"
"Relax, Daki-senpai," Izuku said soothingly. "Great ideas don't just appear in an hour. Sometimes you need to step back and clear your head."
As if on cue, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out to see a message from Ameri and smiled.
[Ameri: Hey, Izuku, are you free right now? I was wondering if we could have another reading session if you're available.]
[Izuku: Sure! I'll be there in a minute.]
Sliding his phone back into his pocket, he stood up and dusted off his pants. "Hey, guys, I'm going to step out for a bit to meet a friend. I'll be back in an hour or so," he said, heading toward the door. The group nodded distractedly, too focused on their brainstorming to pay much attention. Daki, still grumbling about their lack of progress, waved him off.
As he left the room, he could hear Daki muttering to herself about their lack of progress, but he pushed the thought from his mind. For now, he was looking forward to losing himself in the pages of First Love Memories.
******
Ameri's Office
"Good evening, Ameri," Izuku greeted warmly as he stepped into her cozy office. The soft, golden glow of the setting sun streamed through the windows, giving the room a calm and inviting ambiance. However, as he approached, he noticed a distinct pout on her face. He walked over and took a seat in front of her desk.
"What's wrong? Did someone steal your tea or something?" Izuku teased, a playful grin tugging at his lips. Still, he couldn't help but think how cute she looked, even when she was pouting.
'Heh~,' Nana's teasing voice echoed in his mind, but Izuku resolutely ignored her.
Ameri rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the small smile that crept onto her lips. "No, it's not that," she said, leaning back in her chair. "Actually, I'm mad at you."
"Me?" Izuku blinked in surprise.
"Yes," she said, crossing her arms and looking away, her pout deepening. "You didn't visit the Student Council on Battler selection day. On top of that, you joined a different battler when you promised to join the Student Council."
Izuku winced. 'When did I promise that?' he thought, but wisely decided against saying it out loud.
"Yeah… sorry about that," he said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Everything happened so fast, and before I knew it, I'd already joined a battler that caught my interest."
Ameri sighed, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "It's alright. I wouldn't want to force you to join any battler against your will. I just thought it would be fun to work together, you know?" She rested her arms on the desk, her tone softer now.
"Yeah, it would have been," Izuku admitted with a chuckle. "But since that's settled… should we get started?"
"Of course. Just a second," Ameri said, standing up and walking over to a bookshelf. She retrieved First Love Memories, Vol. 5 before glancing at the other volumes lined up neatly on the shelf. "This series really has a lot of volumes. I wonder if we'll ever finish them all," she mused aloud.
"Don't worry," Izuku replied with a reassuring smile. "We'll find a way to get through them."
Ameri turned back to him, an amused smile gracing her lips. "Easy for you to say. Starting next year, our schedules are going to get a lot busier."
"Sure, we'll get busier, but I'll always make time for you," Izuku said, flashing a reassuring smile.
Her cheeks tinted slightly pink at his words, but she quickly handed him the book to distract herself. "Let's see how long you can keep that promise," she said, smirking.
And then, just like that, An hour passed as they read together, the quiet hum of the office broken only by the sound of pages turning and the occasional comment. Finally, Izuku closed the book, carefully placing a bookmark before setting it on Ameri's desk.
"The plot's really picking up," Ameri said, flipping through the pages he'd just read. "I'm curious to see where it'll go from here."
"Yeah," Izuku agreed, taking a sip of the tea she'd prepared earlier. "But I never expected Rin to end up joining the Mafia after the national sports team arc. I wonder how Kakeyo will react when he finds out Rin's working with his grandfather's killers."
"Speaking of which…" Ameri said, pointing to a vivid double-page spread in the book. The illustration depicted a breathtaking array of fireworks lighting up the night sky. "What are these?"
"Oh, those are fireworks," Izuku explained.
"Fireworks?" she repeated, tilting her head slightly.
He paused, thinking of the best way to describe them. "They're kind of like flowers made of light and color. They're created using different chemicals and explode in the night sky in beautiful patterns."
"I see," Ameri said, studying the illustration again. "It must be quite a spectacle in real life."
"They are," Izuku said softly, his mind suddenly piecing together an idea.
'Something grand… larger than life… something elegant… something fun… something that will bring smiles to everyone's faces.'
"Ameri," Izuku said, leaning forward slightly. The intensity in his gaze made her heart skip a beat. "Are you absolutely sure you've never seen fireworks before?"
"No," she replied, steadying her voice despite her quickening pulse. "I don't remember ever seeing anything like this."
"Great," Izuku said, snapping a quick picture of the double-page spread, careful to exclude any text. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he stood up. "Ameri, I promise you… at this upcoming Battler Party, I'll show you something incredible. Please look forward to it."
For a moment, Ameri's world stopped around her and Izuku. She was so enchanted with the excitement and the promise of something amazing in his eyes that she couldn't find words to respond to him
Then, composing herself, she smirked. "Is that so? Very well, Midoriya. If you really manage to impress me, I might consider it your apology for not joining the Student Council."
Izuku laughed, giving her a confident nod. "Don't worry. I won't disappoint." With a quick wave, he left the office, practically running back to his battler room.
As he burst through the door, the rest of the group looked up in surprise.
"Guys!" Izuku announced, his grin brighter than ever. "I've got an idea!"
To be continued...
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