Chapter 13: Study

The entrance exam was only a few months away, and Toji felt his body nearing its limit. The intense training routine was starting to pay off, and although he hadn't yet regained the level he once had, he knew he was on the right path. If he kept pushing himself this way, not only would he reach his former physical state, but he would surpass it. "Although I'll need weapons…" he thought, aware that something was missing to match his former self.

That morning, after finishing an exhausting morning run, he returned home with his shirt soaked in sweat and his muscles burning. He quickly showered, letting the cold water soothe his muscles, and then got dressed for school. He ate breakfast calmly, enjoying the rice and soup his grandmother had prepared for him. Before leaving, he bid her farewell with a slight gesture, to which she responded with a loving smile and a "don't cause trouble."

Upon arriving at school, Toji headed to his classroom and sat down to wait for class to begin. As soon as he settled into his seat, a classmate approached him with a smile. "Fushiguro-kun, I'm glad to see you," he said enthusiastically. Toji nodded, looking at the boy without much interest. "Hi... you," he replied vaguely.

The boy didn't seem to notice Toji's lack of enthusiasm and continued talking. "We'll be graduating soon. Have you thought about my offer?" he asked with a hopeful smile.

Toji looked at him, somewhat confused. "What offer?" he replied, frowning as he tried to recall what his classmate was referring to.

The boy laughed nervously, scratching the back of his neck. "Y-you know, the one about going to Ketsubutsu with me," he clarified, trying not to seem disappointed.

Toji scratched his head, remembering. "Ah... sorry. I've already decided where I'm going," he replied with calm indifference.

"I see," the boy murmured, though it was clear he was trying to hide his disappointment. "Which school are you going to, then?"

Toji adjusted himself in his seat and answered without any emotion in his tone, "U.A."

The boy blinked, surprised, almost incredulous. "Wow! Even I wouldn't dare to take the U.A. exam. You'll probably have to study a lot for the general courses..." Toji, already somewhat bored with the conversation, let out a yawn.

"I'm not studying for the general courses," he clarified, covering his mouth. "I'm applying for the hero course."

The surprise on his classmate's face was evident. "W-what? But you...?" he began, but before he could finish his question, a figure stood directly in front of Toji.

It was Momo, who looked at him with a smile and handed him a thick stack of papers. "Toji-kun, here are some notes you need to study. I also included some math exercises to work out your brain… I think it's the only one of your muscles that's a bit underdeveloped."

Toji frowned, annoyed by her comment. "Yeah, yeah, whatever," he muttered, taking the papers and giving them a glance. However, his expression quickly twisted into one of disgust as he saw the complex symbols and equations filling the pages. "What the hell are all these scribbles?" he asked, as if the papers were completely alien to him.

Momo rolled her eyes at his response. "They're equations… God, Toji, you'd better come to my house today. I'll help you with this," she said with a mix of resignation and determination.

Toji dropped the papers as if they were poison, pushing them aside with an expression of repulsion. "I'm not doing all that," he declared, as if the idea of studying math was the worst imaginable torture.

Momo sighed, amused but patient, already used to his complaints. Still, with her gaze fixed on the notes, she added more firmly: "If you really want to get into U.A. and join the hero course, you'll need much more than brute strength. You have to understand the concepts, Toji, or else you don't stand a chance. Do you really want to risk failing just because you won't study?"

Toji looked away, uncomfortable. He knew Momo was right, though he hated to admit it. Part of him rejected the idea of having to make any intellectual effort. But the other part, the one that had decided to become a hero, knew he had to overcome every obstacle. With a resigned sigh, he nodded slowly. "Fine... I'll come to your house today," he murmured.

A victorious smile lit up Momo's face. "I knew you'd agree, Toji-kun. See you after class," she said cheerfully, putting the notes into her bag so he couldn't throw them in the trash like last time.

As Momo walked away, Toji was left deep in thought. Being a hero wasn't just about strength, and he was beginning to understand that he would have to open himself up to learning much more. With a mix of determination and resignation, he mentally prepared himself for the arduous study session awaiting him that afternoon.

Toji was sitting in the garden of Momo's mansion, though calling it a "garden" seemed like an understatement; it was more like an endless meadow surrounded by meticulously trimmed bushes and trees that looked straight out of a fairy tale. He couldn't help but think about how obscenely rich his only friend's family was. As he tried to push that thought aside, he heard footsteps approaching, and when he turned his head, he saw Momo with a tray of freshly baked cookies and fresh juice. She placed it on the table between them with a radiant smile.

"Alright, Toji-kun. In the last general test, I helped you, and although you barely passed with the minimum grade, at least you did it," Momo commented as she sat beside him. "So today, we'll skip basic algebra. We'll review advanced calculus, exponential and logarithmic functions, and finally, we'll study English." Momo smiled, clearly excited to spend time with him, something Toji didn't share at all. Just hearing the list of topics was enough to make him want to run in the opposite direction.

When Momo gave him a smile full of affection that seemed to light up the entire garden, Toji suppressed the urge to flee and merely grunted, picking up the heavy math book with evident disgust. The formulas and equations looked like a storm of incomprehensible scribbles that made him nauseous. However, Momo, who had spent countless hours helping him over the years, sat patiently by his side and began guiding him through the topics.

With surprising skill, Momo managed to simplify complicated concepts, adapting the study to the way she knew Toji could understand. By now, she seemed like a personal tutor trained in the challenging task of deciphering the workings of Toji's mind. As they progressed through the material, Momo pointed out formulas and asked him questions, giving him hints when she saw him hesitate and celebrating each correct answer with a smile and feeding him a cookie. No matter how much he grumbled, she knew he enjoyed it.

From the mansion's window, Momo's mother, Reika, watched the scene with a warm, satisfied smile. "They look adorable together, don't you think?" she commented, glancing at the maid beside her. The maid, though with a bead of sweat on her forehead, nodded timidly. "Yes... if you say so, ma'am."

To Reika, the connection between her daughter and Toji was evident, even if he was reluctant to acknowledge it. Every time she saw Momo light up from spending time with him, she felt a mix of tenderness and pride. Watching Momo encourage and help Toji, Reika couldn't help but imagine a future where the two of them were together.

With a mischievous smile, she let out a soft whisper: "Hehe, I'd bet my entire fortune that those two will end up together as more than just friends." The maid, who was well aware of both young people's temperaments, couldn't help but let out a small nervous laugh as she thought that maybe Reika wasn't so wrong.