Compulsion

Chapter 62: Another Kind of Memory

"Hey, Midoriya!"

Izuku turned away from the lunch line, spotting, "Tsuburaba." The Hero Course student jogged around him before coming to a stop at his side. "How're you doing?" was asked as they started to make their way towards the lunch tables.

"You're asking me?" He joked, "If anything I should be asking you."

"Oh..." Izuku nodded before silently blinking. "Wait, was that you asking?"

Tsuburaba laughed, "Yeah."

"Ah, uh... I'm fine."

He looked Izuku up and down. "Being all wrapped up doesn't bother you?"

"I've gotten used to it," was the answer with a shrug.

"If you say so." Tsuburaba patted Izuku's shoulder. "But, uh, really I wanted to thank you."

"For what?"

"Remember when you suggested getting a ranged weapon?" Izuku nodded. "I talked with Mr. Haimawari and he put in a request with the company that makes those GOOP guns."

"For the sparring bots?"

"Yeah." He shrugged, "I still gotta get certified to use them, but I'm feeling really good about it."

Izuku smiled, "That's great."

"Yeah, I even put in a request to update my costume with a third-year." Tsuburaba deepened his voice for a moment. "I'm going tactical and armored – like you. Figured I won't be that scared next time you come running at me with a bat."

Izuku scratched at his cheek. "I'm... sorry about that."

"Hey, it's fine." He joked, "If I couldn't be friends with people who've kicked my ass, I wouldn't have any friends in this class." He jerked his thumb towards the table he once sat at. "Shishida threw me like a baseball one time. It was crazy."

"Oh, wow..."

Tsuburaba put his hand on Izuku's shoulder. "Seriously, thanks."

"I'm happy to help," he replied.

As they parted, Tsuburaba saluted, "See you around, dude."

"See you." As he neared the table he usually sits at, he frowned, "Shinso's not here again?"

Kaminari pulled open the cap to his energy drink, shrugging, "Dude's getting yolked..."

"Another energy drink?" asked Izuku as he sat. "Weren't you drinking one this morning?"

"Nah, that was a soda."

Ashido raised a brow. "Soda in the morning?"

"I don't like coffee," murmured Kaminari, shrugging.

"You're gonna rot your teeth," she countered.

"YoU'rE gOnNa RoT yOuR tEeTh," he mocked. "Ah!" he cried as she kicked his shin underneath the table.

Ashido jumped in her seat, "Oh!", surprised by her own actions, apparently. "Sorry, reflex."

Kaminari jabbed a finger at her. "Hey, Midoriya! She hit me!"

"I said I was sorry!" she cried.

"She did apologize, Kaminari," Izuku reasoned. "I mean, if anything, you still haven't apologized for mocking her."

Ashido's eyes widened as she snapped her head between the boys. She then dramatically gasped before grinning, "Ooh! Tell 'em!" She started beckoning with the wave of her hand. "Come on! Come on, come on~." Her cheeks puffed. "I wanna hear it, lightning butt."