Chapter 45: lida
The fluorescent lights of the University's lecture hall buzzed overhead, mirroring the nervous energy swirling within Tenya Iida. He adjusted his glasses, the familiar gesture failing to soothe the unease prickling at the back of his neck. Something felt…off.
He'd woken up that morning feeling slightly strange, attributing it to a late night of studying. But as the day wore on, the feeling intensified. His uniform felt constricting, his voice sounded…higher pitched. He dismissed it as a cold, until he caught his reflection in the polished doors of the library.
The face staring back wasn't his. Not entirely. It was still undeniably Iida, but softened, feminized. His jawline was less sharp, his eyes wider, and… he raised a trembling hand to his chest. Where there had been a flat expanse, now there were gentle curves straining against his uniform.
Panic clawed at his throat. He stumbled into the nearest restroom, locking himself in a stall. He ripped open the buttons of his shirt, his breath hitching as he confirmed his worst fear. He was… a girl.
His mind raced. How? Why? He hadn't noticed any signs of puberty coming back; there were no changes in his feelings. He was, for all intents and purposes, himself but as female. He spent the remaining classes in a daze, mechanically taking notes while battling a rising tide of hysteria. By the time he reached his dorm room, he was a mess of tangled emotions.
The following days were a nightmare of awkward navigation and frantic attempts at concealment. He bound his chest with bandages, a temporary and uncomfortable solution. He avoided showers, fearing discovery. He even attempted to lower his voice, resulting in a strained monotone that only drew more attention.
One evening, desperate for some normalcy, he ventured into the common room. He found Shoto Todoroki sitting on the sofa, reading a book. He hesitated, then forced himself to approach. "Todoroki, I require your assistance in…" he trailed off, his carefully constructed facade crumbling.
Todoroki looked up, his mismatched eyes widening almost imperceptibly. "Iida? What's wrong?"
He swallowed hard, his throat tight. "I… I don't know how to say this… but I've… changed." He gestured vaguely to himself.
Todoroki remained silent for a moment, then slowly closed his book. "So have I."
Iida stared at him, dumbfounded. He looked at his friend, a flicker of recognition passing and solidifying. Gone was the familiar stern stoicism, softened by delicate features. "You… you too?"
Todoroki nodded, a hint of what looked almost like relief flickering in his eyes. "It started about a week ago. I've been trying to keep it hidden."
The revelation brought a strange mix of relief and bewilderment. He wasn't alone. As they talked, hesitantly at first, then with increasing urgency, they discovered a shared experience. The sudden, unexplained transformation. The fear. The confusion.
And then, the bombshell.
"Bakugo and Kirishima have been acting weird lately," Todoroki said, his voice low. "They've been avoiding everyone. I think… I think they might be going through the same thing."
Iida clenched his fists. This couldn't be happening. Not to them. He and Todoroki decided to investigate. They found Kirishima in the training grounds, practicing kata with a ferocity that seemed almost desperate. His usually bright, open face was drawn and pale. And Bakugo... well, Bakugo was yelling at a vending machine that wouldn't dispense his spicy curry ramen.
The shock was palpable. The familiar aggressive aura of Bakugo was there, but the sharp edges were… softer. And Kirishima... His raw masculinity was replaced with an open softness.
The truth unraveled at a breathtaking pace. Izuku Midoriya, always prone to mumbling, had become even more withdrawn, his usual boundless energy replaced with a quiet apprehension. Denki Kaminari, the class clown, was uncharacteristically subdued, his jokes replaced with nervous fidgeting. They were all girls now.
The six of them formed a reluctant, bewildered support group. They shared tips on clothing, coping mechanisms, and the sheer absurdity of their situation. They practiced using feminine pronouns, stumbling over each other's names. They became, in their own strange way, closer than ever before.
The end of the month loomed. Iida, now somewhat adjusted to his temporary femininity, dreaded the prospect of returning to his previous self. He would have to explain everything to his family. The thought filled him with dread.
Returning home, Iida found his brother Tensei already there, catching up with their parents. The warmth of the reunion was immediately tempered by the weight of what he had to say. After dinner, he gathered his courage.
"Mother, Father, Tensei," he began, his voice trembling slightly. "I have something… important to tell you."
He explained everything, from the initial shock of the transformation to the camaraderie he found with his classmates. He recounted the fear, the confusion, and the slow acceptance that had blossomed from shared experience. He spared no detail, laying bare his vulnerability before his family.
His father, a man of stoicism and logic, listened intently, his brow furrowed. His mother, gentle and compassionate, reached out and took his hand, her eyes filled with concern. Tensei, ever the supportive older brother, remained silent, his expression unreadable.
When he finished, a heavy silence descended upon the room. Iida braced himself for disbelief, for judgment.
His father spoke first. "This is… unexpected," he said slowly. "However, I trust you are telling the truth. We will support you in any way we can."
His mother squeezed his hand. "Oh, Tenya," she said softly. "What a difficult thing to go through. We're here for you, always."
Tensei stood up, his face breaking into a wide, reassuring smile. "Well, this is certainly… interesting," he said, chuckling. "But you're still my little brother. And that's all that matters." He gave Tenya a tight hug. "If you need anything, anything at all, you come to me, okay?"
Relief washed over Iida, so potent it almost brought him to his knees. His family, despite the unbelievable nature of his story, accepted him. They believed him.
The month ended as suddenly as it began. One morning, Iida woke up to find himself back in his familiar male form. The clothes he had worn yesterday were now baggy and loose. He was himself again.
He returned to University, a little wiser, considerably more empathetic, and with a newfound appreciation for his friends – his female friends. The experience had forged a bond between them that transcended gender, a testament to the power of understanding and acceptance. They had faced the impossible together, and in doing so, they had discovered something profound about themselves, and about the true meaning of friendship. And though the experience was now over, the lessons he, Izuku, Shoto, Katsuki, Eijiro and Denki learned would stay with them for life.