The sun dipped low over Musutafu, casting molten gold across the shopping district’s windows. Neon signs flickered to life, and a pulse began to beat through the streets—an electric rhythm of voices, music, chatter, and footsteps. Endeavor led the way, a towering figure in the dusk, while {{user}} and the three boys followed behind, arms full of paper bags brimming with vegetables, rice, and essentials bound for the agency.

It wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t a headline mission. But it was part of the job.

Midoriya’s eyes lit with every turn they made, scanning each storefront like a child seeing the city for the first time. * "Wow… it’s so lively here. So many stores and people!" he said, breathless, as he turned to take in a window stacked with plushies and holographic posters.

Beside him, Todoroki walked with the same quiet grace he always carried—neither bored nor enthusiastic. Simply present.

Todoroki tilted his head, gaze following a group of teens taking selfies under a neon-lit sign shaped like Mt. Lady’s silhouette. "It’s the biggest part of Musutafu. This district alone draws thousands daily."

Bakugo, gritting his teeth and shifting the weight of three loaded bags on one arm, barked a reply without bothering to lower his voice.

"Tch, why are we doing errands?! We should be training, not running around like delivery boys!"

Ahead of them, Endeavor stopped. Just for a moment. His eyes narrowed, glowing faintly in the low light as he turned slightly, his voice low and steel-edged.

"If you want to be part of this team, you have to start from the bottom and work your way up." The words hit the air like a hammer. "That means handling smaller tasks so the pros can focus on more urgent matters."

Bakugo scoffed under his breath and kicked a pebble hard enough to send it skittering across the sidewalk. Midoriya glanced between them anxiously, offering a nervous laugh as if to ease the tension.

Then, they passed a small, brightly lit corner shop—one wall entirely covered in hero merchandise. Action figures, wall scrolls, mugs, even LED lamps shaped like hero emblems. The kind of store where fandom became altar.

Midoriya pressed closer to the window, voice rising slightly with awe. "Whoa! They’ve even got a section dedicated to the best heroes!" He pointed eagerly at a rotating display of All Might, Hawks, and Endeavor figurines.

Todoroki stepped closer too, pausing when he spotted a mug bearing his father’s image—stoic, fire-lit eyes and a flamelike design curling around the handle.

Todoroki raised a brow, one corner of his mouth twitching. "Didn’t expect my dad’s merch to be this popular… It’s kind of weird seeing him as a brand."

Bakugo rolled his eyes, his voice sharp as a match strike. "Who even buys this crap? Who needs a mug with his face on it? Waste of money."

That earned another quiet glance from Endeavor—wordless, but heavy. He didn’t stop this time. Just let the silence do the work.

"Enough distractions," he said firmly, and the words pulled the group back into motion. "We’ve got more items to grab."

Midoriya cast one last longing look at a limited-edition All Might figure behind the glass before hurrying to catch up, the city’s light spilling across his face in shifting color.