Hey everyone! waves excitedly Your favorite sleep-deprived author here, coming to you from my writing cave surrounded by empty coffee cups and character sketches pinned to every available surface. First off - seven hundred and fifty powerstones? You beautiful humans are absolutely incredible!
Twirls in computer chair while hugging notebook
And since you wonderful readers have absolutely crushed that powerstone goal, it's time for your reward! As promised, here's an extra chapter fresh from my caffeine-fueled writing sessions.
Shuffles through mountain of notes
Oh! And to everyone on spring break right now - I hope you're having an amazing time! Whether you're traveling somewhere exciting or just catching up on much-needed rest (and maybe some reading? winks), you deserve this break! Take care of yourselves, stay hydrated, and don't forget sunscreen if you're heading somewhere sunny!
Adjusts glasses that have slipped down nose
Quick reminder that there's still a max of five bonus chapters per week - my poor boyfriend already threatens to hide my white monster if I send too many drafts their way. But keep those powerstones coming! Your support means everything, and I promise to keep working hard to make this story worthy of such amazing readers.
Without further ado, let's dive back into the world of "My Hero Academia: Izuku Reloaded"! As always, I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Plus Ultra, everyone! 💜
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Camie practically collapsed against me the moment we were out of sight from the cameras. The confident swagger she'd maintained through her victory celebration evaporated like her illusions, leaving behind exhaustion in its wake.
"You okay?" I asked, steadying her with an arm around her waist.
"Just peachy," she mumbled, but her body told a different story. She leaned heavily into me, her normally bright eyes heavy-lidded.
I'd seen this before during our training sessions. Creating and maintaining complex illusions drained her stamina rapidly. She'd pushed herself to her limits against Kendo—multiple simultaneous illusions while executing the combat techniques we'd practiced. The combination had clearly taken its toll.
"No shame in admitting when you're tired," I said, recalling Gramps' lessons about knowing your limitations.
Camie's lips quirked upward. "Fine. I'm absolutely wrecked, fam. Happy now?"
Without hesitation, I scooped her into my arms, one arm supporting her back, the other beneath her knees.
"Izuuu," she protested weakly, though her head immediately found its way to my shoulder. "People will talk."
"Let them," I replied, starting down the corridor toward Recovery Girl's office. "You just won your match. You're allowed to be tired."
She sighed against my neck, her breath warm on my skin. "My hero," she murmured, the words slurring slightly. "Carrying his damsel to safety."
I snorted. "You're about as much a damsel as Bakugo."
"Take that back," she mumbled indignantly. "I'm way prettier than Explosion Boy."
"No argument there."
"So tired," Camie said, her voice barely audible. "Didn't think... illusions would take so much..."
"You maintained multiple complex illusions while executing advanced combat techniques," I reminded her. "That's not easy."
She hummed in agreement, her eyes fluttering closed. I could feel her body growing heavier in my arms as the last of her adrenaline faded.
"Stay awake," I said, adjusting my grip slightly. "We're almost there."
"Can't," she mumbled. "Too comfy. You're warm."
I smiled despite myself. Even half-asleep, Camie maintained her ability to make me feel things. Warmth. Protectiveness. A strange, fierce pride that had nothing to do with my own accomplishments and everything to do with hers.
"Did you see me win?" she asked suddenly, her eyes opening just enough to reveal slivers of brown.
"Of course I did," I assured her. "You were incredible."
"Better than Yaomomo?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Different styles, different quirks. Not comparable."
"Diplomatic," she muttered. "But I was still better."
I chuckled. "You certainly surprised everyone with those pressure point techniques."
"Learned from the best," she said, her hand weakly patting my chest before falling limply back into her lap. "You're a good teacher, Izu."
"And you're a good student… when you want to be."
She smiled faintly, her eyes closed again. "Only for subjects I care about."
We reached Recovery Girl's office, and I shifted Camie's weight to free one hand for knocking. Before my knuckles could connect with the door, it swung open.
Queen stood in the doorway, one perfectly shaped eyebrow arched as she took in the sight of us. Today she wore her usual nurse's uniform, though as always, it seemed designed to emphasize rather than conceal her figure.
"Well, well," she drawled, stepping aside to let us enter. "What have we here?"
"Camie overexerted herself during her match," I explained, carrying her past Queen into the infirmary.
"I can see that." Queen closed the door behind us, her heels clicking sharply on the tile floor as she followed us. "Put her on the bed."
I gently laid Camie down on the nearest examination bed. She made a small noise of protest as I pulled away, her hand reflexively catching the sleeve of my gym uniform.
"Don't go," she mumbled.
"I'm not going anywhere," I promised, pulling up a chair beside the bed.
Queen approached, her blue eyes assessing Camie's condition with professional detachment. "Recovery Girl's handling Sero still. I'll take care of her." She glanced at me. "What happened exactly?"
"Quirk exhaustion, primarily," I explained.
"And got hit by a giant fist," Camie added weakly, her eyes still closed.
Queen nodded, pulling a penlight from her pocket. "Open your eyes, please."
Camie complied reluctantly. Queen checked her pupils, then proceeded with a standard assessment—pulse, blood pressure, temperature.
"Physical injuries?" Queen asked, her fingers probing gently along Camie's ribcage.
Camie winced. "Right side. Kendo got me good."
"Hmm." Queen's brow furrowed slightly as she examined the area. "Bruised, possibly cracked ribs. Recovery Girl will need to see this." She straightened up, making notes on a clipboard. "Anything else?"
"Just tired," Camie mumbled. "So tired."
Queen nodded. "Classic quirk overexertion. You pushed yourself too hard." She turned to me. "She needs rest, fluids, and a glucose boost. Recovery Girl can handle the ribs when she returns."
As if summoned by her name, the door opened, and Recovery Girl entered, leaning on her syringe-shaped cane. She took in the scene with a quick, professional glance.
"Another one?" she asked, approaching the bed.
"Utsushimi," Queen confirmed. "Quirk exhaustion and possible cracked ribs from her match."
Recovery Girl nodded, examining Camie with practiced efficiency. "Nothing too serious, dearie. Just pushed yourself a bit hard, hmm?" She leaned forward, extending her lips to plant a kiss on Camie's forehead.
The familiar glow of Recovery Girl's quirk enveloped Camie briefly. When it faded, some color had returned to her cheeks, though she still looked exhausted.
"There," Recovery Girl said, stepping back. "The ribs are healed, but you'll still need rest to recover from the quirk exhaustion. Your body was already depleted, so my quirk could only do so much."
"Thanks," Camie murmured, her eyes fluttering open. She looked marginally better, though fatigue still lined her face.
"She needs to stay here for observation," Recovery Girl declared, turning to me. "At least until after the next match."
I nodded. "I'll stay with her."
Queen smirked slightly. "How gallant."
Recovery Girl shot Queen a look before turning back to me. "That's fine, young man, but no excitement. She needs rest." Her pointed gaze left no doubt about what kind of 'excitement' she meant.
"Of course not. What kind of man do you take me for?"
Recovery Girl nodded, satisfied. "Queen and I have other patients to check on. The monitor there will show the tournament matches if you're interested." She gestured to a small screen mounted on the wall. "I'll be back to check on her later."
"Thank you," I said, bowing slightly.
After they left, I settled into the chair beside Camie's bed, reaching for her hand. Her fingers intertwined with mine automatically.
"You should go watch the matches," she said, though her grip on my hand tightened contradictorily.
"I can see them from here," I replied, nodding toward the monitor where they were showing highlights from her match with Kendo. "Besides, I promised I'd stay."
Camie's lips curved into a tired smile. "My hero," she repeated, but this time without the teasing tone. Just simple acknowledgment.
We sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, watching the replay of her match. The camera angles captured moments I'd missed from my position in the hallway—the precise execution of her pressure point strikes, the subtle tells in her body language that distinguished the real Camie from her illusions.
"You really were amazing," I said quietly.
"Mmm." Her eyes drifted to the monitor. "Looks better on screen than it felt. That hit to the ribs hurt like hell."
"You didn't show it."
"Course not." She squeezed my hand weakly. "Never let 'em see you sweat, right?"
The monitor switched to show the tournament bracket, highlighting the upcoming match between Tokoyami and Shiozaki.
"This should be interesting," I noted. "Tokoyami's Dark Shadow against Shiozaki's vines."
Camie made an effort to focus on the screen. "Plant girl's gonna lose."
"Why do you say that?"
"Tokoyami's shadow thing is too versatile. Unless she can create vines faster than he can move that shadow..."
I nodded, impressed by her analysis. "You're right. It comes down to speed and control. But Shiozaki has shown remarkable precision with her quirk."
"Still betting on Tokoyami," Camie mumbled, her eyelids drooping again.
"You should sleep," I said, noting her struggle to stay awake. "I'll wake you for the next match."
"Not tired," she protested, even as her eyes closed completely.
I smiled, gently brushing a strand of blonde hair from her forehead. "Sure you're not."
"Just... resting my eyes..." Her voice trailed off as sleep claimed her.
I watched her for a moment, struck by how peaceful she looked. In sleep, the performative aspects of Camie—the constant smirks, the deliberate poses, the carefully maintained façade—fell away, leaving something rare and vulnerable. Few people got to see this version of her. I counted myself lucky to be among them.
The monitor switched to a live feed of the arena, where Midnight was introducing the next competitors.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" Present Mic's enthusiastic voice blared from the speakers, causing me to hastily lower the volume to avoid waking Camie. "OUR NEXT MATCH PITS CLASS 1-A'S SHADOW MASTER AGAINST CLASS 1-B'S THORN QUEEN!"
On screen, Tokoyami and Shiozaki took their positions on opposite sides of the concrete platform. Tokoyami stood with his arms crossed, cape billowing slightly in the breeze, while Shiozaki clasped her hands in what appeared to be prayer, her vine-like hair waving gently around her face.
"BEGIN!" Midnight's voice rang out.
Tokoyami wasted no time. Dark Shadow erupted from his body, charging toward Shiozaki with impressive speed. Just as the shadowy entity was about to reach her, vines shot from Shiozaki's head, forming a dense barrier that Dark Shadow crashed into.
"An impressive defense," I murmured to myself, analyzing the technique. Shiozaki had clearly anticipated Tokoyami's opening move and prepared accordingly.
The battle continued, Dark Shadow repeatedly attacking the barrier of vines only to be repelled. Shiozaki remained in her position, eyes closed in concentration as she directed her quirk. Tokoyami, realizing direct assault wasn't working, recalled Dark Shadow and appeared to be formulating a new strategy.
A soft knock on the door interrupted my viewing. Queen stepped back into the room, carrying a tray with a water pitcher and glasses.
"How is she?" she asked quietly, setting the tray on the bedside table.
"Sleeping," I replied, keeping my voice low. "Recovery Girl's quirk helped, but she's still exhausted."
Queen nodded, pouring a glass of water and placing it within easy reach.
I turned my attention back to the monitor, where Tokoyami had changed tactics. Dark Shadow now darted around Shiozaki's vine barrier, probing for weaknesses rather than attacking head-on.
"Smart," Queen commented, following my gaze to the screen. "Bird-Head's learning."
On screen, Dark Shadow finally found an opening in Shiozaki's defenses. The shadowy entity slipped through a gap between vines and surged toward Shiozaki herself. In response, she opened her eyes, and a fresh wave of vines erupted from her head, these aimed directly at Tokoyami rather than Dark Shadow.
"Interesting counter," I noted. "She's targeting the source rather than the manifestation."
"Basic strategy," Queen replied, though her tone held no dismissal. "Cut off the head, and the body dies."
The match continued, both competitors showing impressive quirk control. Dark Shadow repeatedly attacked while dodging Shiozaki's counter-strikes, and Shiozaki maintained both her defensive barrier and offensive vine projections simultaneously.
"She's good," Queen admitted as Shiozaki's vines nearly ensnared Tokoyami. "But she can't keep this up forever. Two-front quirk usage is taxing."
I nodded in agreement. "Tokoyami has the advantage there. Dark Shadow is a sentient quirk that can act independently. He doesn't need to consciously control every movement."
As if proving my point, Dark Shadow executed a feint—darting toward Shiozaki's left side before abruptly changing direction and attacking from the right. The maneuver caught her by surprise, and Dark Shadow managed to grab several of her vines, yanking hard enough to unbalance her.
Tokoyami pressed the advantage. Dark Shadow surged forward, slipping past Shiozaki's disrupted defenses and wrapping around her torso. With a powerful heave, the shadowy entity lifted her off the ground and flung her toward the boundary line.
Shiozaki, displaying remarkable control even in mid-air, shot vines from her head that embedded in the concrete, arresting her momentum just inches from the boundary. She pulled herself back to safety using the vines as anchors, then immediately launched a counter-attack, sending a wave of thorny tendrils directly at Tokoyami.
"WHAT A SAVE!" Present Mic's commentary blared from the speakers. "SHIOZAKI REFUSES TO GO OUT WITHOUT A FIGHT!"
"They're well-matched," I observed. "But Tokoyami has the edge in raw power."
Queen nodded, her eyes still on the screen. "Plant Girl's getting tired. Look at her vines—they're moving slower."
She was right. Shiozaki's attacks, while still precise, had lost some of their initial speed and force. Tokoyami, sensing weakness, commanded Dark Shadow to press harder, the shadowy entity growing larger and more aggressive with each passing second.
The end came suddenly. Dark Shadow feinted again, and when Shiozaki committed her defense to blocking the perceived attack, the entity changed direction mid-lunge, circling around to her unprotected back. Before she could redirect her vines, Dark Shadow wrapped around her completely, pinning her arms to her sides and lifting her off the ground.
Midnight approached, assessing the situation. "Shiozaki, can you continue?"
Shiozaki struggled briefly against Dark Shadow's grip before shaking her head. "I yield," she said, her voice calm despite her defeat.
"SHIOZAKI SURRENDERS!" Midnight declared, raising her whip. "TOKOYAMI ADVANCES TO THE NEXT ROUND!"
The crowd erupted in cheers as Dark Shadow gently set Shiozaki down. The two competitors exchanged respectful nods before heading toward their respective exit tunnels.
"Called it," Camie's sleepy voice startled me. I turned to find her awake, watching the monitor through half-lidded eyes.
"How long have you been awake?" I asked, squeezing her hand gently.
"Few minutes," she mumbled, struggling to sit up. "Enough to see Tokoyami win."
Queen stepped forward, adjusting the bed to help Camie into a seated position. "Feeling better?"
Camie took stock of herself for a moment before nodding. "Less like death, more like severe hangover. Progress."
Queen snorted, picking up the water glass and handing it to Camie. "Drink this. All of it."
Camie accepted the glass and took a sip, then made a face. "Water? No offense, but I need something stronger. Like an IV of caffeine."
"Water first," Queen insisted, her tone brooking no argument. "Then we'll talk about getting you something with electrolytes."
Camie sighed dramatically but continued drinking. "So bossy."
Queen rolled her eyes. "It's called medical care, brat. Deal with it."
Their banter continued as Camie finished the water and Queen checked her vitals again. I turned my attention back to the monitor, where they were showing the tournament bracket updated with Tokoyami's victory. The next match would pit Bakugo against Uraraka.
Bakugo wouldn't hold back, regardless of his opponent. And while Uraraka had proven herself capable and determined, her quirk wasn't well-suited for direct combat against Bakugo's explosions. It would be a challenging match for her, to say the least.
"You're worried," Camie observed, her eyes now fully open and fixed on my face. "About Uraraka versus Explosion Boy."
I nodded, not bothering to correct her nicknames. "It's a tough matchup for Uraraka."
"She might surprise you," Camie said, handing her empty glass back to Queen. "Girl's got heart."
"Heart doesn't stop explosions."
"No," she agreed, "but it might make Explosion Boy think twice about going full blast."
I shook my head. "You don't know Bakugo like I do."
For all his faults, Bakugo approached hero work with absolute seriousness. In his mind, going easy against an opponent—any opponent—was disrespectful.
"She'll be fine," Camie insisted, reaching for my hand again. "You worry too much, Izu."
"Occupational hazard of caring about people," I replied, letting her fingers intertwine with mine.
Her expression softened. "Yeah, well... some of us are worth the worry. Others..." She trailed off, her eyes drifting to the monitor where they were showing Uraraka entering the arena.
"Others what?" I prompted when she didn't continue.
Camie shook her head. "Nothing. Just thinking out loud."
Before I could question it, Present Mic's voice boomed from the speakers again.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! OUR NEXT MATCH FEATURES CLASS 1-A'S EXPLOSIVE PRODIGY AGAINST THE GRAVITY-DEFYING WONDER!"
"This'll be quick," Queen predicted, moving toward the door. "I should get back to Recovery Girl. She'll want help after this match." She paused, turning back to Camie. "You. Stay put until you're officially released. And finish another glass of water."
"Yes, ma'am," Camie replied with exaggerated submission. "Whatever you say, ma'am."
Queen rolled her eyes again before leaving, closing the door behind her.