Eventually it was time to head back to U.A.
The night before he flew back, Carter and Rumi broke the bed and several walls as they squeezed in a few more memories before he flew back to Musutafu. Even though he could slip her in half, Carter still felt exhausted by the time he got back to the dorms, and slept until Monday, waking up just in time for class.
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"I trust that you have all have made good use of your work studies, later on you'll get to show off what you learned but for now turn to page 356." Aizawa wasted no time putting them to work as Carter, Momo and Shoto breezed through the work, with Momo only slowing down to help others.
Once they were done with Aizawa's circle of hell, Toshinori took the outside so they could show how much they'd improved.
Aoyama, Toru and Mina showed great teamwork, with Toru even using her quirk to bend the light from Aoyama's laser to hit more robots, with Mina using her quirk to melt the last ones remaining.
Ochako and Tsuyu went up next, showing off several new moves they picked up. Ochako also added a few things to her costume, which Izuku seemed to appreciate a bit too much. "You keep looking at her like that, your face might get stuck." He teased as Izuku tried to play it off, only to dissolve into a stuttering mess once Ochako bounced over and got in his face asking how she did.
Izuku, Shoto and Katsumi were some of the last ones to go. Shoto has gotten much faster, and is more liberal with his use of fire as he engulfs several robots in flames. Katsumi shows an increase in control as she is able to blast more bots for a longer period of time as she paces herself instead of going all out. Izuku shows the most growth however as he uses his Blackwip to smash dozens of bots to pieces, while picking off any stragglers with his shoot-style.
"Your turn young Carter, show us what you can do!" Toshinori yells as a swarm of robots charges at him. He gives them a once over before using his fire quirk to make the blaster piece. "Inferno Shot." The fire builds up for a spilt second before a barrage of fire bolts turn the robots to ash.
Seeing him use fire in such a way Shoto is somewhat intrigued, but also wonders how long he has been able to control fire for, and to show such control over it as well.
"What a fine display! You have all learned many valuable things from your work studies, remember them well, they may be life-saving in the future!" He went on a rant for about five minutes before he let them go to lunch, they were having a meeting later on that day since Aizawa and Mic brought news that the teachers needed to hear, so the students would be getting the day off.
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Reaching the dorms they were met with the Big Three watching T.V with Nejire playing with Eri. "Hey guys! How was class today, did you learn anything during your work studies?!" Mirio shouted as Izuku went over and said hi to Eri.
As usual Nejire bounced over to Carter who looked less than thrilled as she launched a barrage or questions his way.
"How was your work study? I heard you were put with Mirko, was she fun or strict? Why do you smell funny? Wanna say hi to Eri? She's being brave and exploring the dorms with me today!" She proclaimed as she ran over and snatched Eri from Izuku and Ochako to bring her over to Carter, holding her up like a prize she was showing off.
"Piss off Bluey!" Katsumi hissed but Momo elbowed her since such language wasn't going to fly with Eri among them. "Hi Carter!" She waved shyly as Nejire set her down only for Carter to pick her up and go to the kitchen.
"How have you been little one, has Aizawa been feeding you well?" Eri nodded and excitedly told him about all the things Shota would and would not let her eat. Seeing him show a gently side to Eri that none of them ever got to see, Katsumi and Momo were a little jealous, but couldn't help but smile seeing how Eri lit up around him. Nejire eyed them with a smile as she snuck up behind them.
"I wonder if he would be good with children, maybe two or three~" She purred as Momo went beet red while Katsumi looked ready to jump Nejire, and Carter.
Fully aware of what they were doing but paying them no mind, Carter showed Eri how to cook sweet treats that didn't require an oven or other appliance, she was extra careful to not spill anything but he showed her how it was ok to make a mess if it was made doing something you liked. She was much more carefree after that as she helped him make cupcakes that she covered in frosting.
As they took the fresh cupcakes out of the oven, the guys came back into the dorms sweating after Mirio took them out to spar, smelling more that seeing they rushed to the kitchen ready to eat only to find Eri wielding a wooden spoon as she kept the girls away from the cupcakes and other treats her and Carter had made.
"They're not ready yet! Be patient!!" She yelled with righteous indignation as a few girls nursed stinging hands from where they had tried to sneak treats from under her nose, only to get half frozen by Carter who let Eri punish the heretics.
Eventually the food and treats were ready, Eri was more than happy to help serve everyone and loved the happy looks on their faces once they started eating. Spotting Shoto trying to sneak away Eri grabbed a cupcake that she had decorated with bright pink frosting and ran after him.
"Here you go, enjoy!" She said holding it up for him. Shoto wanted to refuse but he glanced up to see half the girls and Carter glaring at him so he forced a smile and thanked Eri for the cupcake as she beamed up at him before scampering back.
"It's really nice to see her out of her shell like this, she almost never wants to leave Aizawa's apartment." Mirio said as he dug into a cupcake with red frosting. "How did you get her out then, she seems to be doing just fine." Tsuyu asked as Eri and Carter cleaned things up. "I mentioned that we were going to see Carter. She seemed a lot more eager."
Momo and Katsumi glanced at each other then at Carter who was showing Eri the right way to clean the kitchen, and they wondered if maybe their parents where onto something.
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Aizawa and Mic came to pick Eri at one point but she didn't want to leave. "Can I have a sleep over? Pretty please?" She begged while giving Aizawa puppy dog eyes that melted the hearts of everyone who saw them, Kirishima shed a tear he claimed was 'manly' as Aizawa sighed.
"I guess, Nejire can you stick around just in case?" She nodded and he turned his attention to Carter. "I don't care what you and Rumi are doing, but leave it at that. You two are adults so Nezu told us to leave it, but I won't tolerate anything with your peers." He said glaring at Carter who just nodded already knowing what he was talking about.
The others did NOT know however as Katsumi, Momo and Nejire snapped their heads at him with eyes that DEMANDED answers. "What happened?" Denki asked as Mineta looked at Carter like he was the second coming of Christ.
Mic grinned as he opened his mouth, "Oh Carter and Mirko got a 'bit involved' these past few months, nothing too major though since they're both consenting adults." Aizawa glared at him for making things worse as the class went crazy demanding more information as Carter looked sharply at them.
Adult, only Nezu, Rumi and Cathleen have seen my real apearance after I returned. How do they, I should still only be 17. . .
He turned that thoughts over before shelving it as Eri ran over happy and ready for the sleep over. "What are we going to do first?" She asked as he decided to have fun before dealing about anything Nezu might be up too.
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After a few hours of movies, snacks, and games, Eri finally fell asleep in a massive pillow fort they had made as some of the class went back to their dorms with two or three staying asleep in the living room, since thanks to magic the pillow fort was much larger than usual.
Seeing Eri curled up asleep under a pillow and blanket, Carter allowed a small smile before schooling his features as he opened the system. He glanced at his stats and saw nothing had changed and browed the store for a bit but didn't find anything he absolutely needed so he asked the system.
What happened to that reward that was promised, the buff?
[The buff 'Mark of Red Mercy' has been slowly growing, it manifests as various tattoo like marking on your body, one has already formed over your heart, it keeps you alive should you venture into new realities, adjusting your body to survive in what ever biosphere you find yourself in]
So it's something that will keep me alive?
[In layman terms yes, but be warned: The Mark of Red Mercy does NOT grant protection from death, nor does it guarantee that you will succeed, it only keeps you alive in the cosmic sense, a mark of a survivor.]
So I can still die, just not permanently?
[Correct, you can and will still die, but you should always end up in Dave's liminal space unless the Scarlet King himself intervenes. It also keeps multiverse power and higher entities from perceiving or destroying you.]
Great, he at least had something that guarantee's he won't be smitten because some random overpowered monster sneezed to hard.
He thought some more while trying to drift off when he felt several bodies slowly scooch closer. seriously, NOW!!
"Hey Carter, are you awake?" A voice unmistakably Nejire's whispered "The hell kind of question is that?!" A voice hissed as a timid one spoke up "Be quiet, you might wake Eri."
They froze at that, both unable to bear waking Eri from her peaceful sleep and also not knowing how they would explain being so close to Carter at night.
Turning to face them he mouthed silently, 'If she wakes up, you're all dead' and glared at them until the gave up and slowly backed up, leaving the unlikely duo of Carter and Eri sleeping soundly for the rest of the night.