It was Sunday again, and Izuku sat in his room, surrounded by books and notes, diligently preparing for the upcoming First Term Final Exams. Despite his efforts, his mind continuously wandered to the other pressing matter about the battler that he and his friends had to resolve—and the clock was ticking with just a week left.
He leaned back in his chair, sighing as his pencil rolled to a stop against the edge of his desk. "At least I've got the basic outline of the plan ready," he muttered, absently spinning a pen between his fingers. "Now I just have to hope everyone else agrees with it."
'Izuku, if I'm being honest, there's a slim chance they won't go for it,' Nana chimed in. 'Knowing your friends, I'd bet not one of them has come up with anything better.'
Izuku considered her words, finding them hard to argue against. "I hope you're right," he mumbled, though doubt still lingered in his voice. Before he could dwell on his unease further, the sharp buzz of his phone jolted him back to reality. The screen lit up with a new email notification. He leaned forward, squinting at the sender's name, and his eyes widened slightly.
"Oh..." he said quietly, recognizing the name on the screen.
'Looks like Yelan finally came through with the intel you asked for,' Nana remarked, a hint of intrigue in her voice. 'Let's see if she's as good as she claims to be.'
Nodding, Izuku opened the email and quickly began scanning the attached file
"Leila Ovinelore," Izuku began, scanning the details on his screen. "A third-year student from Bablys, rank He (5), part of the Sheep-Horned Demon Tribe which is renowned for producing brilliant researchers.
She hasn't joined any Battler. That's a good start.
She's described as having a blunt personality that can come across as rude... but she's curious to a fault, just like the rest of her tribe.
The known family includes a sister and a grandmother, but no close friends on record." He paused, flipping to the next page of information. "And here's a list of various projects and research she's been involved with over the past two years. Impressive work, too. she's leagues ahead of most students her age."
'So, Izuku, what do you think?' Nana asked as they reviewed the information once more.
"I think this could work," Izuku replied, biting his nails thoughtfully. After a moment of contemplation, he grabbed his phone and dialed a familiar number. "Eiko? Hey, it's Izuku. Your family runs a restaurant, right?" He waited as Eiko confirmed. "Perfect. Can you reserve a table for seven this evening? Yeah, tonight. Thanks! No, it's not a big deal—don't worry, I'll explain later. Bye!"
Hanging up, Izuku set the phone down and exhaled. "Well, that's one thing sorted. Now I just need to make a few more calls." A spark of anticipation lit his eyes as he prepared for the evening ahead.
******
Later that evening, Izuku stood outside a modest yet charming building nestled in a quieter section of the magical street. The sign above the door, crafted in elegant ironwork, read "The Infernal Diner." He read it aloud to himself before stepping inside. Upon entering he noticed a cozy, warm, and inviting decor with a serene ambiance. A handful of patrons occupied scattered tables, their quiet conversations blending into a soothing murmur.
As he lingered near the entrance, a demoness approached him. She had long, sleek blonde hair cascading down her back and short, polished black horns. Her sharp, professional attire matched the practiced smile on her lips.
"Good evening," she greeted politely. "May I guide you to a table?"
"Good evening, ma'am," Izuku replied with equal courtesy. "Actually, I already have a reservation, but right now, I'm looking for—"
Before he could finish, an enthusiastic voice called out from the direction of the kitchen.
"Izuku!"
He turned just in time to see Eiko rushing toward him, her vibrant blonde hair swaying behind her and her bright smile lighting up the room. She hurried over, barely giving him time to respond before she grabbed his hand.
"Hey, Izuku! Glad you finally made it," she said cheerfully, practically dragging him toward the back of the restaurant. "Come on, your table's ready. I picked the perfect spot for you!"
Eiko led him to a quiet corner tucked away from the main dining area, a table surrounded by high-backed chairs and faintly glowing privacy wards. It was discreet and isolated—just as he had requested.
"Quiet and private, just like you wanted," Eiko said, folding her arms proudly.
Izuku smiled as he took his seat. "This is perfect. Thanks, Eiko."
However, their exchange was interrupted by the presence of the blonde demoness from earlier. She stood behind them, her expression calm yet inquisitive, watching their interaction quietly while scrutinizing Izuku closely.
"Oh, sorry! I completely forgot to introduce you two," Eiko said, gesturing toward the blonde-haired woman standing before them. "Izuku, this is my mom." She then turned to her mother. "And Mom, this is Izuku, my classmate."
The woman's expression softened just slightly, though her eyes remained sharp. "My name is Anya Oni," she said with polite formality, dipping her head in greeting. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Izuku returned the gesture with a respectful nod. "Likewise, ma'am."
Anya's lips twitched into a faint smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Eiko," she said smoothly, "since your classmate is visiting our restaurant for the first time, why don't you bring out some appetizers for him while I have a quick word with him?"
"Actually, I was thinking—" Eiko began, but her mother cut her off swiftly.
"Eiko, go inside," Anya said firmly, her tone brooking no argument.
Eiko glanced hesitantly between her mother and Izuku before sighing. "Fine. But don't scare him off, okay?" she said half-jokingly before retreating to the kitchen. Once she was out of sight, Anya took the seat across from Izuku. Her serene demeanor was gone, replaced by a sharp, scrutinizing gaze.
"So, young man," she began with a no-nonsense tone, "what are your intentions with my daughter?"
Izuku blinked, clearly caught off guard. "I'm sorry?" he asked, his brow furrowing. "I don't understand. What are you talking about?"
Anya leaned forward slightly, narrowing her eyes. "Don't play coy. You know exactly what I'm talking about," she accused him. "Why would someone of your status keep someone like my daughter around? Unlike you or your usual companions, Eiko isn't special. She doesn't have powerful bloodline magic like that Valac girl, nor does she possess political influence like the heir of Asmodeus. So why her?"
Izuku's expression shifted, his confusion giving way to a faint anger. "I think there's been a misunderstanding, ma'am," he said, his voice calm but firm. "First of all, I don't know where you're getting your information, but none of the demons in my inner circle are there because of bloodlines or political connections. We came together through fortunate coincidences or shared interests, not status."
He leaned forward slightly, his emerald eyes meeting hers with unwavering conviction. "And as for Eiko? I'm deeply offended that you would undervalue your own daughter like that."
For the first time, Anya's composed exterior cracked ever so slightly—a flicker of surprise crossing her face.
"Eiko is far more special than you realize," Izuku continued. "No, she doesn't have powerful magic or political influence. But what she does have is courage. When it matters most, she steps up. That's something rare and invaluable. And to answer your question, I keep her around because to me my friends, she is a valuable member of our circle."
Anya stared at him, her sharp expression faltering as a swirl of emotions crossed her features. Doubt, reflection, and a faint trace of guilt replaced her earlier composure.
Before she could respond, Izuku's attention shifted to the entrance, where Alice and Clara had just walked in. "Now, if you'll excuse me," he said, rising from his seat, "my guests are here."
Anya said nothing as she stood and made her way back to the kitchen, her head bowed and her mind awash with conflicting thoughts.
******
"Wow, the food here is actually pretty good," Izuku said, taking another bite and savoring the flavor.
Across the table, Alice sat stiffly, his sharp crimson eyes narrowing as he watched Izuku with barely contained irritation. It had been twenty minutes of non-stop dining, and his patience was wearing thin. Adding to his frustration, Clara was equally engrossed in her meal, humming cheerfully as she shoveled food into her mouth with childlike enthusiasm. Beside her, Daki seemed more subdued, though she too was nibbling at the appetizers, clearly enjoying herself.
Alice's eyebrow twitched. "Izuku, are you going to tell me why we're here?" he finally snapped, his tone sharp with impatience.
"I will," Izuku replied casually, dabbing his mouth with a napkin. "But not yet. We're still waiting for a few more people," he said while Alice groaned, sinking back in his chair.
As if on cue, the bell above the restaurant's door chimed, and two girls stepped inside. Izuku immediately perked up and waved toward Eiko, who was serving a nearby table. Catching his signal, Eiko nodded and moved to greet the newcomers, guiding them to the group.
"Dehya? Yelan?" Daki asked, her eyebrows shooting up in surprise.
"Daki-senpai, you know these two?" Alice asked, glancing between the brown-haired Dehya and the blue-haired Yelan.
Daki's eyes narrowed slightly. "Yeah, they're my classmates," she said, crossing her arms. "But I have no idea why they're here."
"Well, Daki, we're here because Izuku invited us," Yelan said smoothly, her voice carrying a polished, almost businesslike tone. Her gaze shifted to Alice, and her lips curled into a charming smile. "And you must be the heir of the Asmodeus family. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
Alice blinked, taken aback by her sudden change in tone. "Uh... likewise?" he replied, clearly weirded out.
"Yelan senpai, you can use your sales tactics later," Izuku interrupted with a light chuckle. "For now, why don't you and Dehya join us at the table?" He gestured toward the empty seats.
"Fine," Yelan raised an eyebrow but complied, taking her seat with a graceful motion. Dehya, on the other hand, plopped into her chair without ceremony and immediately reached for the appetizers, munching away without a word.
"So, Izuku, now that they're here," Alice said, his patience thinning further, "are you finally going to tell us why we're here?"
"Sorry," Izuku said with an apologetic smile, ruffling Clara's hair playfully. "But there's just one more person I'm waiting for." He gestured to the seventh, still-empty seat at the table.
"Another one of my classmates?" Daki asked with a grimace.
"No, not this time," Izuku replied. "But if she agrees to go along with my plan, she'll help us solve our biggest problem."
Alice's annoyance shifted to intrigue as he mulled over Izuku's words. "A third-year student, then," he murmured, realization dawning.
Just then, the door to the restaurant opened again. A white-haired demoness with sheep-like horns stepped inside. Unlike the two girls before her, Leila immediately locked eyes with Izuku and made her way over to the table.
"Damn, he's acquainted with another target of interest," Izuku heard Yelan mutter behind him, but he ignored her, focusing instead on the approaching demoness.
"Hello, Leila senpai," Izuku greeted her with a polite smile. "Please, have a seat." He gestured toward the final empty chair.
"Hello, Midoriya," Leila replied with her usual stoic grace and took a seat.
"Izuku is fine," he corrected, taking his own seat. "And thank you for coming on such short notice."
"It's no problem," Leila said with a slight shrug. "I figured it must be something important if you went out of your way to contact me, despite the risk of looking like a creep since we never exchanged numbers."
Izuku winced, visibly embarrassed at her bluntness, as laughter erupted around the table. Even Alice cracked a small grin at the jab.
"You're right," Izuku admitted, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "I probably should've handled that better. But with the finals looming, I wanted to get this sorted out as soon as possible."
"Understandable," Leila said with a nod. "In that case, let's not waste any more time. Tell us—why have you gathered all of us here?"
******
Izuku scanned the table, his gaze lingering briefly on each face. He took a deep breath to steady himself before diving into his explanation. He began by recounting the circumstances that had led to the disbanding of their previous Battler and explained the stringent conditions set by the school for forming a new one.
"I understand the situation," Dehya said, leaning back in her chair, "but what does any of this have to do with us?"
"Let me guess," Yelan interjected, her lips curling into a sly smirk. "You want us to join this new Battler of yours."
Izuku nodded.
"And continuing that logic, you've invited me specifically to lead this Battler, haven't you? That's one of the conditions for forming a new one, after all," Leila said with a raised brow and Izuku nodded once. "Interesting," Leila said, folding her arms. "While I understand your reasoning, I'm struggling to see the logic in inviting us. You barely know us. Our only interaction was a brief conversation a few days ago."
"She's right," Dehya added, resting her chin on her fist. "I have a decent opinion of you, Izuku, but we've only met during that one sparring session. That's not enough to justify this," she said and Yelna nodded along with her.
Despite their words, Izuku's grin widened. "And yet, when I called, all of you showed up," he said as the three girls froze, momentarily caught off guard. They exchanged glances, blinking as they processed his words.
"You're not wrong," Yelan admitted after a pause. "But that doesn't mean we're sold on your idea. Showing up out of curiosity doesn't mean anything since we don't know you well enough to commit to something like this. And you didn't even ask if we're already part of another Battler."
"Yeah, that was an oversight on my part," Izuku said, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "But I hoped that you weren't, and even if you were, you'd consider joining once you heard my pitch."
"That's quite the confidence you have," Leila said with a faint smile. "But it still doesn't explain why I would join. I've avoided Battlers for three years. What makes yours so special? What can you offer that others can't?"
"That's the thing," Izuku said, leaning forward slightly. "Most Battlers only offer one specific benefit to their members, and that's it," he said. "I've spent the last week researching Battlers, and I've realized something: most of them don't do justice to their members. They limit themselves to one niche."
He gestured animatedly. "Take the Game Battler, for example—they only focus on completing and cracking games. That's their sole purpose. Don't you think that's a little underwhelming?" Izuku continued. "In my opinion, a Battler should do more than that. If we're spending half our school lives with our Battlers, they should help us grow in every way possible—not just academically or in combat, but as individuals."
He let his words hang in the air for a moment before continuing. "That's why the Battler I want to create will focus on all-around growth. Every member will contribute by teaching each other the skills we lack. We'll support each other in combat, academics, research, or inventing—whatever it takes to grow together."
He glanced around the table, noting the growing interest in their eyes. "And when I say support, I mean real support. Even outside of school, we'd have each other's backs. As long as it's a valid and reasonable need, we'll help each other."
"For example," he said, his voice steady but passionate, "Alice and I could use our status to open doors for all of you that you normally can't. Dehya senpai, Alice, and I could lend our strength when someone needs to get out of the sticky situation. Clara could use her bloodline magic to provide rare materials for Daki senpai's inventions or Leila senpai's research. In return, they could create support items or tools to help us during events."
"Yelan senpai could share her intelligence with us," he added, nodding toward her. "Meanwhile, we'd act as her network, spreading her name to potential customers and also act as her ears to bring information back to her."
Izuku leaned back slightly, his gaze steady as he addressed the group. "These are just examples I came up with on the spot. There's so much more we could accomplish together—mundane things like studying or sparring, but also big-picture goals. With enough time and effort, we could rival even the Student Council in terms of status and influence."
The room was silent as his words hung in the air. The others exchanged thoughtful glances, their initial skepticism replaced with intrigue.
"So," Izuku said, his voice steady as he looked around the table, "what do you think?"
"Impressive. You've really put a lot of thought into this," Leila said, her tone carrying a hint of genuine admiration. She tilted her head slightly, as if testing him a little more. "Let's say I agree to join—what would you even call this Battler of yours?"
Izuku smirked, his emerald eyes gleaming with determination as he leaned forward. "The name of our Battler will be..."
******
"Bablys Extra Curriculum Society…" Ameri read the name on the submitted form aloud, her sharp eyes scanning the seven students standing before her. Her gaze briefly lingered on Izuku, who stood slightly behind the group with his usual calm demeanor, before returning to Leila, who stood confidently at the front.
"So, Leila Ovinelore," Ameri said, her tone formal as she slid the completed documents across the desk, "are you absolutely certain you're willing to take on the responsibility of leading B.E.C.S.?"
"Yes, I am," Leila replied without hesitation. She stepped forward, and signed the documents with a fluid motion.
Satisfied, Ameri turned her attention to Dehya and Yelan. "And the two of you—are you sure you want to leave your previous Battlers to join this one?"
Both girls exchanged a glance before nodding firmly.
"Very well," Ameri said, her voice steady as she stamped the official seal onto the form. "In that case, I hereby declare the Bablys Extra Curriculum Society battler officially established. Congratulations."
The declaration was met with a chorus of cheers as the group celebrated. then one by one, the students began to file out of the student council office, their chatter and laughter echoing down the hall. Izuku, however, lingered behind, quietly observing the red-haired girl in front of him.
Ameri noticed his hesitation and addressed him directly, trying to keep her voice steady despite a faint unease she couldn't quite hide. "Izuku, is there something else you need?"
Izuku's expression shifted slightly as he met her gaze, his green eyes filled with quiet determination. "Ameri," he said, his tone low but firm, "I think we really need to talk."
To be continued...
******
A/N: The name and idea of Bablys Extra Curriculum Society! was inspired from another fanfic named Motivations by Jeconais.