My Hero Academia: Adaptation

"For the last few days, one name has dominated the headlines in what is sure to be the beginning of a successful hero career. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Izuku Midoriya, the winner of the first-year U.A. Sports Festival!"

I wave to the camera, trying to project confidence. "Thanks for having me, Rin."

"Izuku, you've become quite the sensation. How does it feel to go from a quirkless kid to the top of your class at U.A.?"

I lean forward slightly. "It's been a wild ride. I won't lie, there were times I thought my dream was impossible. But I refused to give up. I kept pushing, kept training, and eventually my quirk manifested. It just goes to show that with enough hard work and determination, anything's possible."

Rin nods, clearly impressed. "That's quite inspiring. Now, your quirk - it's some kind of strength enhancement, correct? Can you tell us more about it?"

I've prepared for this. "It's a bit more complex than that. My quirk enhances my physical abilities across the board - strength, speed, durability. But it also has an electrical component that I'm still exploring."

"Fascinating! And we saw that electrical power on display during your final match with Katsuki Bakugo. That was quite the spectacle."

I rub the back of my neck, feigning embarrassment. "Yeah, that was intense. Kacchan - I mean, Bakugo - he's an incredible fighter. I had to give it my all just to keep up."

Rin leans in conspiratorially. "Speaking of keeping up, I hear you're currently interning with the Number Five Hero, Miruko. How's that going?"

"It's incredible," I say, letting genuine enthusiasm creep into my voice. "Miruko-san is an amazing mentor. She's pushing me to my limits every day, but I can already feel myself improving. Her combat skills are on another level."

"I'm sure our viewers would love to hear about a typical day in your internship. Can you walk us through it?"

I nod, settling into the conversation. "Sure. We usually start early with an intense training session. Miruko-san believes in learning through action, so there's a lot of sparring involved. Then we hit the streets for patrol. It's not all flashy fights - a big part of being a hero is community engagement and preventing problems before they start."

"That sounds like valuable experience. Now, Izuku, I have to ask - you've become quite popular with our female viewers. Is there a special someone in your life?"

I feel my cheeks heat up, and I'm not entirely faking it. "Ah, well... I'm flattered by the attention, but right now I'm focused on my hero training. There's still so much for me to learn."

Rin grins, clearly not satisfied. "Come on, Izuku. Surely a rising star like yourself has caught someone's eye at U.A.? Maybe that girl you were partnered with during the cavalry battle - Momo Yaoyorozu, wasn't it?"

I laugh, trying to deflect. "Momo's an incredible hero-in-training and a good friend. But really, my priority for now was to keep working hard if I want to live up to the expectations people have for me."

"Fair enough," Rin concedes. "Let's talk about those expectations. You've drawn comparisons to All Might, both in terms of your quirk and your impact on people. How do you feel about that?"

This is tricky territory. I choose my words carefully. "All Might is the greatest hero of our time. To even be mentioned in the same breath as him is an honor. But I'm not trying to be the next All Might. I want to forge my own path as a hero, to find my own way of bringing hope and safety to people."

"Well said," Rin nods approvingly. "Now, we've got some questions from viewers. First up is Nakumo, age 10. He asks: 'Deku, what's your favorite part about being a hero?'"

I smile, genuinely touched. "That's a great question, Nakumo. For me, the best part is knowing that I have the power to help people. Whether it's stopping villains or just helping someone cross the street safely, being able to make a positive difference in people's lives is an incredible feeling."

"Next question comes from Akira, 16. She wants to know: 'How do you balance school, hero training, and having a social life?'"

I chuckle. "It's not always easy, Akira. Time management is crucial. I try to stay organized and prioritize what's most important. Sometimes that means missing out on social events, but my friends are understanding. We all know what we're working towards."

Rin nods. "Speaking of working towards something, what are your goals for the future? Where do you see yourself in five years?"

I take a moment to consider. "In five years, I hope to be a fully-fledged pro hero, making a real difference in the world. But more than that, I want to help change the way people think about heroism. It's not just about flashy quirks or winning fights. It's about inspiring others, about standing up for what's right even when it's difficult."

"That's quite ambitious," Rin remarks. "Do you think the current hero system needs changing?"

This is dangerous ground, but also an opportunity. I tread carefully. "I think there's always room for improvement in any system. The world is constantly changing, and heroes need to adapt with it. We need to focus not just on fighting villains, but on addressing the root causes of villainy. Poverty, inequality, lack of opportunity - these are the real challenges we face as a society."

Rin looks impressed. "Those are some mature thoughts for someone your age. It's clear you've given this a lot of consideration. Now, we're almost out of time, but I have one last question. If you could say something to all the quirkless kids out there who might be watching, what would it be?"

I look directly into the camera, channeling all my sincerity. "Don't give up. Your worth isn't determined by whether you have a quirk or how powerful it is. What matters is your heart, your determination, and your willingness to work hard. Find what you're passionate about and pursue it with everything you've got. And remember, you're not alone. There are people out there who believe in you, even if you can't see them yet."

Rin smiles warmly. "Thank you, Izuku. I think that's a message a lot of people needed to hear. And that's all the time we have for today. Izuku Midoriya, everyone - remember that name, because I have a feeling we'll be hearing it for years to come."

As the cameras cut, I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. Rin reaches out to shake my hand. "That was fantastic, Izuku. You're a natural."

"Thanks, Rin. I appreciate the opportunity."

As I step out of the TV studio, the cool evening air hits my face. I pull out my phone and dial Ai's number. She picks up on the second ring.

"Hey, it's done," I say, walking towards the street to hail a cab. "They're airing it live tomorrow at noon."

"Perfect timing," Ai replies. "How do you think it went?"

I can't help but smirk. "Let's just say all your hard work is about to pay off."

Ai chuckles. "That good, huh? Can't wait to see it. Any surprises?"

"Nothing we didn't prepare for," I say, flagging down a taxi. "Though they did try to pry into my love life a bit."

"Of course they did," Ai sighs. "How'd you handle it?"

I slide into the back seat of the cab, giving the driver the address for the penthouse. "Deflected, just like we practiced. Kept the focus on hero work and my goals."

"Smart move. We'll need to discuss how to approach that topic long-term, though. Can't dodge it forever."

"Agreed," I say, watching the city lights blur past the window. "Let's talk strategy tomorrow after the interview airs. I want to see how it's received first."

"Sounds good. Oh, and heads up - I've got some intel on Stain's recent movements. We should discuss that too."

My interest piques. "Anything concrete?"

"Nothing definitive, but there are patterns emerging. I'll have a full report ready for you tomorrow."

"Perfect. Thanks, Ai. You're invaluable, you know that?"

I can almost hear her smile through the phone. "Just doing my job, boss. Get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be busy."

We say our goodbyes and I hang up, leaning back in the seat. The cab driver glances at me in the rearview mirror.

"You're that kid from U.A., right? The one who won the Sports Festival?"

I nod, putting on my best friendly smile. "That's me. Izuku Midoriya."

"My daughter's a big fan," he says, grinning. "Mind if I get an autograph for her?"

"Not at all," I reply. "Got something I can sign?"

He hands me a small notebook and a pen. I quickly scribble my hero name and a short message.

"There you go. What's your daughter's name?"

"Hana. She's ten."

I add a personal note to Hana, encouraging her to chase her dreams. The driver beams when I hand it back.

"She's going to flip when she sees this. Thanks, kid. You're alright."

We chat casually for the rest of the ride. I ask about his work, his family. People love talking about themselves, and you never know when a random connection might come in handy.

As we pull up to the penthouse, I tip him generously. "Thanks for the ride. Tell Hana I said hi."

He waves as I step out. "Will do. Good luck with your hero work!"

I enter the building, nodding to the doorman as I head for the elevator. My mind's already racing with plans for tomorrow. The interview, Ai's report on Stain, training with Miruko... it's going to be a full day.

The elevator dings and I step out onto our floor. As I unlock the door, I hear muffled laughter from inside. Looks like everyone's still up.

I push open the door to find Momo, Nejire, and Miruko sprawled across the living room couches, empty takeout containers scattered on the coffee table. They all look up as I enter.

"Look who's back," Miruko drawls, a hint of a smirk on her face. "How'd the interview go, superstar?"

I shrug, trying to play it cool. "Not bad. We'll see how it looks when it airs tomorrow."

Nejire bounces up. "I bet you crushed it! Did they ask about us?"

I laugh, dropping onto the couch next to her. "They tried. I kept things vague."

Momo leans forward, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Elaborate on what, exactly? What did you tell them about us?"

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. This isn't a conversation I wanted to have right now, but I guess there's no avoiding it. I reach out, gently pulling both Nejire and Momo closer to me on the couch.

"Look, I didn't say anything specific about either of you. When they asked about my love life, I told them I was focusing on hero training for now. I didn't want to answer anything about our relationships without talking to you both first."

Nejire tilts her head, curiosity sparking in her eyes. "But why not? We're not exactly a secret, are we?"

I shake my head. "It's not about keeping secrets. It's about protecting our privacy. Once we go public, everything changes. The media, the fans, even our classmates - they'll all have opinions. I wanted us to decide together how we handle that."

Momo nods slowly, her expression thoughtful. "That makes sense. But Izuku, don't you think people will find out eventually? We can't keep this under wraps forever."

"You're right," I admit. "We can't. But we can control how and when the information comes out. I just didn't want to make that decision unilaterally on live TV."

Miruko snorts from her spot on the other couch. "Smart move, kid. The media's like sharks - give 'em a drop of blood and they'll go into a feeding frenzy."

I glance at her, grateful for the support. "Exactly. Plus, there's the whole polyamory aspect. That's not exactly common in the hero world. We need to be prepared for how people might react."

Nejire's eyes light up. "Ooh, we could do a whole PR campaign! 'Love Beyond Boundaries' or something like that. It could be revolutionary!"

I can't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm. "Maybe someday. For now, I think we should keep things low-key. Focus on our hero work, build our reputations. Then, when we're ready, we can go public on our own terms."

Momo squeezes my hand. "I appreciate you thinking this through, Izuku. It's one of the things I love about you. Always planning ahead."

Her words warm me, but I push down the feeling. Now's not the time to get sappy. "Thanks. So, are we all on the same page here? Keep things private for now, but start planning for an eventual reveal?"

Nejire nods vigorously. "Sounds good to me! Ooh, we should come up with code names for when we're in public. Like, I could be 'Bluebird' and Momo could be 'Midnight Rose' and-"

"Let's not get carried away," I interrupt, laughing. "For now, let's just stick to being discreet. No code names necessary."

Miruko stands up, stretching. "Well, this has been fun and all, but some of us have early patrols tomorrow. Don't stay up too late, lovebirds."

As she heads to her room, I turn back to Momo and Nejire. "She's right. We should probably call it a night. But thanks for understanding about the interview. It means a lot."

Nejire stretches. "Well, I'm off to shower. Izuku, I expect you in my room when I'm done. It is Monday, after all."

Momo raises an eyebrow. "Don't forget, Izuku. You're all mine tomorrow night. And I plan to make you pay tenfold for whatever Nejire puts you through."

"Is that a threat or a promise?"

"Both," she replies, her voice low and sultry.

Nejire giggles, already heading for the bathroom. "Better rest up, Izuku!"

As the bathroom door clicks shut, I turn to Momo. "You want a preview of tomorrow night?"

Her breath catches. "I thought you'd never ask."

I close the distance between us, my hand cupping her cheek. Our lips meet, soft at first, then with growing intensity. I trail kisses down her throat, feeling her pulse race under my lips. My free hand traces the curve of her waist, then slides lower.

"Izuku," she gasps as my fingers find their target.

I pull back slightly, drinking in the sight of her flushed cheeks and dark eyes. "Just imagine what I'll do to you tomorrow when we have all night."

Momo tries to lean in for another kiss, but I hold her in place. "Ah ah," I chastise. "That's all you get for now. Wouldn't want to spoil the surprise."

She groans in frustration. "You're evil, you know that?"

"You love it."

"Maybe," she admits, straightening her clothes. "But don't think I won't get my revenge tomorrow."

"I'm counting on it," I reply.

As I turn to head to Nejire's room, Momo calls out, "Izuku?"

I look back. "Yeah?"

She smiles, a mix of affection and desire in her eyes. "I love you."

I falter for a second before nodding. "I love you too, Momo. Sweet dreams."