ii. iida
He coughs cyclamens.
He's never the kind to be clouded in such a way. He has a family name and reputation to uphold. He is a shame, an utter disgrace for letting such personal feelings inhibit his training to become a worthy hero of carrying on his family's legacy.
How could such a thing happen to him?
It's almost ironic, the night hanahaki grasped his lungs. He had plunged wildly and recklessly into supposedly catching his brother's fallen torch, only to drop it that same night.
The night when Midoriya Izuka saved his life from the Hero Killer Stain.
Memories of that night would always be accompanied by emerald-laced punches, of white teeth gritted in a tight wince of pain, of repeated and desperate shouts for him to get up and fight!
This is something undefeatable.
Iida stares at the white, blank tiles of the hospital room's ceiling. The surgeons will be coming in soon, to operate on the cyclamen roots wrapped around his lungs. It'll all be over in a matter of hours. He'll hold no more affection for Midoriya, and he will be spared an excruciating death like what Uraraka had succumbed to.
Somehow the thought makes him cough again, dropping red cyclamens over his hospital threads.
You'll be cured completely, Tenya. His mother had told him, clutching the bed rails with whitened knuckles. You won't die a premature death! You'll live to be a healthy, honorable hero!
His mother has almost lost one son to an early death. He cannot burden her with that pain that they were almost forced to bear because of that despicable Hero Killer.
I'm sorry for disgracing you in this way.
His phone buzzes. He reaches wearily for it, his heart clenching as he sees the cheery text message lighting his screen.
Allmight#1Fan: I hope your operation goes okay! Class 1-A is praying for the safe return of our class prez!
He clutches the phone to his chest, the sudden violent clenching of his chest forcing him to cough again, his pained sobs eclipsed by the fit of coughing that brings up more and more cyclamens, whole stems of the cursed plant instead of the small petals months ago…
The nurses burst in, a flock of worried white birds that swarm around his bed clucking in dismay. The tallest of them briskly sticks a needle of some kind into his arm, and his world goes hazy.
Hey, Iida-kun, you did really well in practice today!
I'm honored you think so, Midoriya! It was quite taxing to run for so long, but my calves have become more resilient to wear because of your advice! Thank you again for your discerning guidance!
A-ah…it wasn't much…
…Er, Midoriya, would it be too much to ask if I were to seek your advice again in the future? I could really use the help!
Oh…I don't think I should do that so often.
Nonsense! A true hero relies on others to become strong! You have taught me so, during the fight that night…
But, Iida-kun- Green eyes lock onto his, rigidly bright with something Iida could not name, I can't provide the "guidance" you seek.
It was Iida Tenya who was drugged, but it's Ingenium who awakes.
Because Midoriya would always be moving at a speed of heroic growth too fast for even a boy with engines in his calves to catch up to.
