Izuku's phone alarm blared at 8am as sunlight seeped into his eyes. The Sunday morning greeted him with a fresh temperature when he slipped out of bed.
New days, new beginnings, new memories...
Izuku had taken a liking to that saying, though he could never quite remember where he'd heard it from. There was no rhyme or gimmick, but it seemed appropriate for some reason.
As soon as he grabbed his phone to turn off the alarm, last night crept into his mind.
Oh god, that's right….
He tentatively glanced at the screen.
Tokoyami (2:15am)
Those are kind words, Midoriya.
I too am starting to feel slumberous.
But I enjoyed this talk, so thank you. Perhaps we could continue our discussion at a later time?
Regardless, I hope sleep finds you well tonight.
Izuku nearly dropped his phone.
Tokoyami-kun replied! And he's not upset!? Well, of course he wouldn't be, he's so stoic and cool and calm and-
….
And he wants to "continue our discussion"?! So, he actually enjoyed it! Well, maybe he's just incredibly patient and wants to humour me...but either way, that's pretty good, right?
Izuku had changed into his clothes by this point, and began tying his shoes.
I wonder if Tokoyami-kun's free today...What does he even do on weekends? Is it bad that I don't know that? I guess not, that would be kinda weird if I did...Ah, whatever!
Shaking his head, he did a quick set of pushups to get his blood pumping, then headed out his room.
What to do, what to do, what to-argh, I've been saying that a lot too! I gotta be more decisive!
On his free days, Izuku usually kept himself busy with training, studying, and maybe a bit of shopping, if he needed something. It was rare for Izuku to spend his time leisurely, but that never bothered him. It's a hero's burden to remain diligent, at least that's what Aizawa-sensei-or Iida-would say.
But this Sunday felt different to Izuku. Standing in the hallway, he found himself facing the direction of Tokoyami's room.
I wonder if he's...oh what am I doing? I should grab some breakfast. Yeah, that's a good idea!
Izuku didn't like the idea of loitering outside of his classmate's room, so he made for the stairs leading down to the main living room.
Everything in the living room was the same as it had been the day before, and Izuku welcomed the smell of milk and cereal. It gave a home-like feel to the place.
The same early-risers were there, Iida dutifully ate toast, Mina seemed to be doing cardio stretches, Shoji calmly brewed coffee, and Yaoyorozu was enjoying a book. Izuku absentmindedly noted that Tokoyami wasn't there.
He must be sleeping in after all. I did keep him up rather late…
"Midoriya!" Tenya Iida's voice snapped across the room. "Don't tell me you're dozing off again! Did you follow my sleeping advice? More importantly, get some food into you!"
Izuku smiled at the class representative's concern. "Ah, will do!"
A moment later, Izuku sat across from his spectacled classmate with a bowl of cornflakes and orange juice.
"I'm surprised to see you up, Midoriya." Iida started. "Did you manage to get some sleep, after all?"
"Ah well, I guess a little…" Izuku straightened himself, hoping to look more alert. "Getting up early isn't too hard, as long as I have an alarm…"
Iida gave a pointed stare. "Alarms are useful, yes. But having a proper sleep cycle is important too! You must not be negligent with your physical health!"
"Yeah, I know…" Izuku nodded, knowing better than to argue at this point. "I guess I just haven't figured that part out yet…"
His classmate opened his mouth, stopped himself, then spoke up. "Forgive me, you don't need a lecture this early in the morning…"
"No, it's totally okay!" Izuku held up his hands. "It's something I need to work on, so I appreciate any help I can get!"
Iida looked him up and down, then nodded. "I'm sure you'll figure it out. Don't work yourself up about it!"
That sounds a little strange coming from you, Iida-kun…
Breakfast went by nicely, and by the time Izuku finished his bowl more of his classmates filled the room with the usual banter. The green haired boy looked around, it appeared Tokoyami hadn't come down yet.
Izuku brought up his phone, and looked at last night's messages again.
I should send a reply to Tokoyami. It's the least I should do!
…
But what do I say?
Well of COURSE I'll say yes to talking with him more!
But how can I do that without coming off too...fervent? That was what he said, right?
I guess I do need to chill out more in class…
(can you blame me, though? It's UA!)
Dammit Izuku, focus! What should I say?
With nothing much to lose, save his dignity, Izuku made a move.
Midoriya (8:49am)
Hey again, Tokoyami-kun!
Sorry I didn't respond to those messages, but I finally fell asleep!
Thanks for dealing with me ahaha
But it was fun! We should definitely do it again!
I was actually wondering, since it's a Sunday, maybe you're free today?
Izuku shook his head the second he sent the last message.
Crap, that's way too forward! I gotta backpedal...
Midoriya (8:50am)
I mean, it's totally fine if you're not!
It's pretty sudden of me to ask, so I wouldn't blame you.
I've got nothing serious planned, so that's why I asked!
No big deal!
Izuku swiftly put his phone back in his pocket, before he could overload his classmate with a greater wall of text.
Well, that could've been said better…
Sighing at his own (imagined) social ineptitude, Izuku rolled his shoulders, looking outside.
Maybe some exercise will take my mind off of things! Yeah, the weather's good and I'm falling behind my weekly kilometer count, so why not?
With the determination to ignore any embarrassing thoughts, Izuku tied his shoes again and took off outside, waving goodbye to his classmates.
It was perfect weather for running. A blue sky ceiling welcomed him with the warmth of a calm morning. The wind was low, but it had enough presence to cool him down slightly.
Izuku went by his regular route, taking him bayside with a straightforward pavement. The only deviation he made was at the market stalls.
Tokoyami (9:35am)
Forgive me for the tardy reply, I have only just arisen from sleeping.
I would certainly like to accept your proposal, but I'm afraid I cannot be free for long…
Training and studies avail me, as they do for us all…
What time would suit you?
Izuku was tapping a reply before he even realised he was grinning.
Midoriya (9:36am)
Anytime is fine with me! But I totally understand if you're already busy...
I'm actually doing some training right now haha
Nothing amazing though, just a bit of running.
Tokoyami (9:36am)
I see.
It pains me to admit, but I've been negligent with my training as of late.
Aizawa-sensei's physical exam last week made that tragically clear.
Midoriya (9:37am)
To be fair, that was pretty tough!
U.A's been getting harder on us since the villain attacks, after all.
...
Hey, maybe we could train together!
(We could even spar, if you want!
My quirk's pretty relient on close combat, so it'd be good to train against an agile quirk like yours!)
Ah, but if you have plans of your own that's fine!
Tokoyami (9:39am)
An interesting idea….
I don't currently have any plans of my own, and I see no reason to reject your suggestion at all.
Would you like to meet up today?
I wouldn't mind practicing my combat skills.
Midoriya (9:41am)
Yeah, sure! If that's alright with you, definitely!
When do you wanna meet up?
Tokoyami (9:42am)
I can make any time you please.
Perhaps, as you're already training, I should come sooner rather than later?
Would half an hour from now work for you?
Midoriya (9:43am)
That works for me!
You wanna meet at the upper field? I can ask Aizawa-sensei if anyone is using the space...
Tokoyami (9:44am)
Very well. I'll make sure I'm prepared by then.
I look forward to it.
Izuku put his phone away and looked to the clear sky. An aroma of fresh fruit captured the peaceful atmosphere of the marketplace well.
...Why do I feel like apples all of a sudden?
It was quarter past ten exactly when his raven-headed classmate arrived.
"Ah, Tokoyami-kun!" Izuku waved, perhaps a little too excitingly.
Tokoyami held up his hand calmly as a wave back. As he walked closer, Izuku noticed his calm expression. "Good to see you, Midoriya. How are things?"
Izuku smiled. "Can't complain! How about yourself?"
"I'm in fair spirits." Tokoyami replied, looking off towards nowhere in particular. "This is fine weather for training, I'm glad you invited me."
Izuku shook his head. "Oh no, it's nothing...Thank you for coming! I'm sure this will help both of us out!"
Besides, It's my fault we haven't done this sort of thing before…When was the last time we even hung out? Let alone just the two of us...
"AHHH! THE SUN! IT BURNS!" A shrill voice bursted, startling Izuku out of his thoughts. The shadowy entity that came out of his classmate continued moaning. "WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO ME, FUMIKAGE?!"
"You know well why, cut the theatrics." Tokoyami rolled his eyes, then looked at Izuku. "Ignore him, he has a flair for the unnecessarily dramatic."
"HEY!"
"It's nice meeting you again, Dark Shadow." Izuku couldn't stop staring at the quirk. "Ah, that's right! The sun makes him physically weaker, doesn't it? I hope it's not too much of a strain!"
Tokoyami nodded. "It is rather bright, but it's good for training Dark Shadow's stamina. At the very least, it makes him easier to control. Not that I really need to use him, if we're just doing physical exercise...Either way, I wouldn't mind a break from him."
"I AM RIGHT HERE!"
Tokoyami ignored him. "Regardless, shall we begin?"
Izuku gave a swift nod. "Yeah, let's get started!"
The first few minutes involved simple workouts, but later evolved into the fighting techniques Aizawa-sensei drilled into them. After having exhausted their upper bodies, they moved onto running, then more techniques, then stretches, then back to running again.
After the fifth repetition of this pattern, both students were practically laying on the grass.
"Light, blind me…" Tokoyami huffed. "I am...more out of shape...than I thought…"
"That's okay…" Izuku breathed deeply. "We went pretty hard that last time...Wanna take a break?"
"Gladly."
Izuku checked the time. "Woah, its nearly eleven thirty. I didn't realise how quickly time went by."
Tokoyami hummed. "I suppose it is nearly time for lunch. Perhaps you'd-"
"WE SHOULD GO TO TOWN AND GET SOME GRUB. I'M STARVING!" Dark Shadow interrupted.
"I was about to get to that, you heathen." Tokoyami dryly replied. "Not that you did any work to deserve food..."
"EXCUSE YOU, I HAD TO STAY INSIDE YOUR SWEATY BODY THE WHOLE TIME. I DESERVE IT."
"Lunch sounds good to me." Izuku smiled. "We could find a place in town and walk there. It's a perfect cooldown exercise, don't you think?"
Tokoyami nodded. "Very well. As it happens, I know a good place for coffee…"
By the strike of 11:30 the two classmates were on their way into the bustling coastal city. Izuku let himself relax in the comfortable silence of their walk, and appreciated just how nice everything was in the moment.
But of course, whenever his mind wandered, his brain started working.
"Hey, do you and Dark Shadow share the same appetite?" Izuku found himself asking, almost suddenly. "I mean, does he get hungry when you get hungry? It would make sense if he was a biological entity that was a part of your body, but I'm not even sure what Dark Shadow is made of-"
"Midoriya." Tokoyami politely stopped his rambling with that one word. "I am happy to discuss my quirk, but I can only answer one question at a time."
Stupid, stupid, stupid!
Izuku held up his hands. "Ah, sorry. Bad habit…"
"Not a problem." Tokoyami looked up to the sky, thinking for a moment. "To answer your question; yes, I suppose we do share the same appetite. But it has nothing to do with biology but more...emotion, I suppose."
"Really?" Izuku tried to suppress his curiosity. "So, does that mean Dark Shadow acts based on...how you feel?"
"I...guess?" Tokoyami shook his head. "Forgive me, people have been trying to figure out Dark Shadow's temperament for years. There's a lot I still haven't figured out, myself…"
"That's okay! It's my fault for asking so many questions…" Izuku sighed. "Quirks can sure be complicated, huh?"
Tokoyami made a quiet laugh, which resonated in a low baritone. "I'm not even sure he knows why he acts the way he does…"
Dark Shadow emerged, as if on cue. "WELL SOOORY! I CAN'T HELP BEING COMPLEX AND INTERESTING. IT'S YOUR FAULT FOR HAVING EMOTIONS, ISN'T IT?"
"Quiet, you." Tokoyami quietly snapped. "You're only allowed out in public during emergencies, need I remind you?"
"YEAH YEAH, I'VE HEARD IT A MILLION TIMES. SEE YA MIDORIYA!"
Before Izuku could even respond, Dark Shadow had retreat back into his classmate.
"Honestly…" Tokoyami muttered to himself, before turning to Izuku. "Most of the time I can control him during the day, but he gets incredibly...chatty, whenever I talk to people. Especially people I'm close to..."
People you're close to…? No, don't overthink it...
"Heh, that makes sense." Izuku replied. "I guess Dark Shadow enjoys being let out a lot more than being kept inside. I would be too, if I was a quirk..."
There was an offbeat pause.
….
Why the HELL did I say that?!
If I was a quirk? What kind of person says that?!
AHHHHHHHH!
Stupid, stupid, STUPID!
"I suppose…" Tokoyami nodded. By some miracle, Tokoyami hadn't noticed how crazy Izuku sounded. Or, perhaps he chose to ignore it, to spare both of them the awkwardness. Izuku was eternally thankful either way.
By the time they reached the cafe, Izuku managed to calm himself down.
"Wow…" Izuku exclaimed. "This is your regular cafe?"
The interior had a vintage feel to it all, breathing a cozy vibe. Record covers hung around the rustic fireplace like framed paintings, and of course there was a breezy jazz tune to add to it all. The smell of coffee beans especially captivated Izuku, and even though he knew nothing about making coffee, he could tell they were high quality.
"Is it to your liking?" Tokoyami asked, almost tentatively. "I understand if you find it...unusual."
"Are you kidding? This is awesome!" Izuku stepped forward to look around some more. "It's got such an authentic Western aesthetic...I'm surprised it isn't completely packed at this time!"
Tokoyami nodded, with a small smile. "It's a nice little spot. Small, quiet, and well hidden from crowds. I come here to relax, sometimes..."
Now that I think about it, I can totally see Tokoyami being into this kinda thing. It suits him!
"Shall we order?" Tokoyami motioned to the counter. "No need to worry about the price, it's my treat."
At that exact moment Izuku noticed the prices listed on the chalkboard menu. He almost choked on thin air, no wonder the coffee smelled so good. "N-no way! I can't let you do that, Tokoyami-kun! I can pay for myself! It's fine!"
Tokoyami shook his head. "That cannot be allowed. I invited you here, so I really must insist-"
"But I invited you out to train with me in the first place! It's my fault we're even here in the first pla-"
"Midoriya." Tokoyami's gaze bore a hole through Izuku. "You have won many battles, but this won't be one of them. Your company is more than enough, and I know this place well. So please….Allow me."
But...But...
But when Tokoyami spoke like that, his voice equally domineering as it was pleading, Izuku couldn't say anything, except a small "okay..."
Next time I'll pay, that's for sure! Wait, I shouldn't just assume there'll be a next time! But maybe…
A moment later, two orders of coffee and a tray of pastries stood on the table between them. They sat in a secluded corner, the furthest from the exit, and it felt cozy.
Tokoyami had a sip of his coffee, a mochaccino on the dark side. He let out a small breath. "It's been a while, but this is exactly as I remember it."
Izuku gave his own cup a try, a vanilla latte that Tokoyami recommended. The blend of warmth and sweetness was almost therapeutic.
"Ah, I really needed this." Izuku gave an appreciative smile as the taste flourished. "I've really been missing out!"
"I'm glad you like it." Tokoyami replied, his stoic expression relaxed slightly.
For a small time, neither spoke a word to each other. Izuku easily leaned back into his seat, letting himself relax into the smooth vibes of the cafe.
"You know, this is the first time I've shown somebody this place." Tokoyami softly spoke, looking out of a nearby window.
Izuku snapped out of his daze. "Oh, really?"
Tokoyami nodded. "It's not that I've meant to hide it, but...it's has a rather niche theme, doesn't it?"
Izuku gave the place another look. "I guess, but that's not a bad thing, I think! It has...character!"
The avian shrugged, looking away again. "I suppose, but...many may call it a tad...pretentious."
Izuku stared at his classmate, who now quickly took to drinking his coffee.
Is Tokoyami...embarrassed? Is he embarrassed about his own tastes? I would never have guessed, he's usually so confident and cool about everything! I guess even he has insecurities about things, but that's okay! It's kind of...cute, actually. Why is that so cute? And WHY AM I THINKING ABOUT THIS?!
Tokoyami's eyes flicked back to Izuku, noticing his strange expression. "Ah, forgive me, it is unbecoming to worry about such things. I know-"
"I think it's cool!" Izuku almost shouted. Thankfully the cafe had little customers as it was. "I mean, it's pretty elegant right? Not many people can fully enjoy that sort of thing, but you do, so who cares? And I think it's awesome, so there's that too!"
Tokoyami blinked, before leaning back in his seat. "Well, if it's to your liking…"
"It is!" Izuku leaned forward, determined to show interest. "How did you even find it?"
The avain student glanced towards the counter. "Well actually, I used to do part time work here, in middle school…"
Izuku's interest peaked. "Woah, really? What kind of work did you do?"
"Ah, well…" Tokoyami paused to take a sip, then let out a deep breath. "I worked as a waiter."
Izuku blinked. Tokoyami blinked back at him. The second offbeat pause of the day followed.
"Ah I'm sorry, I totally spaced out!" Izuku shook his head. "There's nothing wrong with being a waiter or anything, it's just that I was having trouble picturing you doing that kind of work. Not because it's strange, but more like a middle-schooler getting such a refined job that involves a lot of skills, especially inthis economy-"
"You're muttering again, Midoriya." Tokoyami sighed, his tone slightly embarrassed. "I only worked there for about a year, and it's not like I was always a waiter either."
Honestly, how many times have I mumbled today? This must be a new record…
Izuku pulled himself together. "Ah, right. What did you do before that?"
"Kitchen hand." Tokoyami replied. "I had to wash and dry dishes faster than what was reasonable, and then remembering where everything went...Dreadful business."
"I can imagine…" Izuku turned his head towards where he guessed the kitchen was. "Well, at least you became a waiter afterwards! Were you promoted?"
"Not exactly…" Tokoyami took another sip, a much longer one. "After a few weeks I was moved to being a waiter, and kept away from the kitchen. That was certainly a good decision on their part…"
"Why's that?" Izuku asked.
Tokoyami paused, then let out a sigh. "My feathers...when they molt, they get everywhere . Even as a waiter I had to avoid getting it on the tables..."
"Ah, I see..." Izuku felt conflicted. Part of him wanted to laugh, but the other half… "Sorry, that must be embarrassing to remember…"
"I suppose, but it is a fact of life." Tokoyami returned to his calm nature quickly. "Looking back, working here was a good experience, but it made me realise something important."
"What was that?"
"The fact that I never wanted to work in hospitality ever again." Tokoyami let out a small chuckle, as his face brightened for a second. It was an uncommon sight, but what felt even rarer was that laugh , coated in a soft baritone which might as well have been made of gold.
It didn't last, however, and Tokoyami continued with a serious expression. "More importantly, it made me think about becoming a Pro Hero, if you could believe it."
Izuku blinked. "Woah, seriously?"
"Quite so." Tokoyami glanced off towards the other tables. "I wasn't great at serving customers, but I still enjoyed...fulfilling a role. A purpose, I suppose, in feeling responsible..."
Tokoyami-kun...that's so cool!
Tokoyami turned his head, and noticed Izuku staring like an idiot. "Ah, but I have talked about myself a fair bit, haven't I? Forgive me, I forget myself…"
"No, it was really interesting!" Izuku spluttered, finally finding his voice. "A lot of people, even the best heroes sometimes, becomes heroes for fame, or status. I mean, it's not wrong to want that sort of thing, but I think wanting to feel responsible...is really admirable, Tokoyami-kun."
"...If you say so." Tokoyami replied in a much quieter voice, looking down to his coffee. "I am just happy to be here, among our class…"
As Tokoyami trailed off, Izuku couldn't help but feel even more impressed.
Izuku let out an excited grin. "Me too! Even now, I sometimes can't believe I get to be here..."
Tokoyami regarded Izuku with an interested look. "I am curious, what made you want to become a Hero, Midoriya? I can guess All Might was an influence..."
"Oh yeah, absolutely!" Izuku laughed a little. "You could probably tell, but ever since I was a kid he was my favourite Hero to follow. Without him...I don't think I'd be here, trying to become a hero."
No, I definitely wouldn't be here. I wouldn't even have a quirk, would I?
"He was certainly an inspiration to many, myself included." Tokoyami nodded. "I believe it will be some time before anybody reaches the level he did again…"
"That's for sure…" Izuku smiled. "Even now, having him as a teacher is just...surreal."
Tokoyami nodded to that, pausing in thought. "Strangely, the more I think about it, you two are quite similar. But it makes sense, considering your quirks…"
"Yeah…" Izuku replied, perhaps too quietly. Talking about his quirk-All Might's quirk too-had the danger of accidentally exposing a long kept secret. Izuku liked Tokoyami, and if he was forced to say anything he would trust the raven headed boy enough to stay silent, but it wasn't worth the risk otherwise.
"Midoriya?"
Izuku reflexively snapped back into reality. "Y-Yeah?"
"...You're not going to have that apple tart, are you?" Tokoyami had the same expression he always had, but a tinge of hope colored his voice.
Izuku smiled. "Sure, it's all yours."
Before either of them knew it, it was well past noon. Tokoyami gave thanks to the cashier, and after exchanging some words in private, the two students left the cafe.
They walked the rest of the way back in silence, but it wasn't nearly as awkward as Izuku thought it would be. In fact, something about the silence felt right . Maybe it was the weather, it's inviting warmth allowing it to be quietly appreciated. Maybe it was the rich coffee, giving him a much needed energy boost that only caffeine could create.
Or maybe it was the calming presence that surrounded his classmate.
Tokoyami, ever the silent type, never looked uncomfortable in quietness. They walked side by side a few feet apart, but nothing about that felt distant. Izuku glanced at him a few times, but he could never read into the boy's expression. What was he thinking right now? What was he feeling right now?
Before Izuku knew it, they had made it back to the school.
Tokoyami sighed beside him. "Well, as much as I'd like to do otherwise, I'm afraid I must leave you. Studies await on a wretched path…"
I could help you study! Maybe we can hang out some more?
"Ah, that's right. I guess I should get back to training, myself..." Izuku smiled, but it felt bittersweet. "I hope I didn't take too much of your time, but I'm glad we could train together!"
"Likewise." Tokoyami gave a polite nod. "In any case, I must bid you farewell."
Izuku smiled the best he could as he watched Tokoyami turn to leave. Parting ways after having such a enjoyable time was never easy, but his classmate had things to do.
He's done so much for me already-oh crap, I totally forgot! How could I forget? What should I do? I can't just let it end like this! I gotta say something! SAY SOMETHING YOU IDIOT!
"Ah, Tokoyami-kun!" Izuku spoke before he even realised it himself.
Tokoyami stopped and turned around. He didn't say a word, opting instead to let Izuku speak.
"Well, uh…" Izuku let out a breath, and fiddled with his hands. "I never thanked you...you know, for last night…"
Tokoyami raised a brow, then shook his head. "Ah, well...There is no need to thank me, Midoriya. It certainly cost no effort on my-"
"I mean it!" Izuku cut him off, stepping a little closer to his classmate. "I kept you up late with my rambling and it probably didn't make any sense at all but that didn't stop me from saying all that stuff anyway because I just couldn't stop-"
"Midoriya, it's fine." Now it was Tokoyami's turn to interrupt. The boy held a mysterious expression, but kept his voice warm. "If you'd like, I'd be more than happy to talk to you about it again sometime."
That'd be nice…Why is he being so nice?
"Uh, s-sure!" Izuku mentally tried to get himself together, but his thoughts were failing him. "If it's not a bother, then definitely!"
Tokoyami nodded. "Very well. If you ever feel the need to talk, then please, send me a message online. I will reply post-haste."
Izuku smiled, trying to match Tokoyami's calm expression. "Yeah! W-will do!"
Tokoyami gave a small bow, and gave Izuku one last smile. "Until then, I'll be seeing you."
"Ah, see you around, then!" Izuku waved. "Good luck with your studying!"
"Thank you, Midoriya. I hope the rest of your training goes well."
With those last words, surprisingly warm, Tokoyami left in the direction of the dormitory.
So cool...
Izuku shook his head after a minute of standing there. There was more training to do today, and it was time to get his head out of the clouds.
Nighttime curfew arrived at 10pm, as it always had, but Izuku had returned to his room long before that. These days, being out alone at night caused more trouble than it was worth, especially on a school night.
Izuku stared at the ceiling as he lay down. This was his least favourite part of the day.
I wonder long will it'll take me to fall asleep tonight?
If I have to wake up at 7am for class tomorrow, then at the worst case scenario, I could get maybe….six hours of sleep?
God, I feel tired…
I can't keep doing this every night.
To distract himself from his self-degrading introspection, Izuku grabbed his phone and stared at the lock screen. Somehow, it was already 11:30pm.
Why am I like this….
There was no point fussing over sleep now, so he unlocked his phone.
I shouldn't be doing this. But I guess it's better than doing nothing and going insane…
Yeah, that doesn't justify it, does it?
Oh well…
Izuku flicked into social media. His profile, his classmates' profiles, his newsfeed, pictures, pointless videos, overused memes. He scrolled through everything, until even that drove him to boredom.
His thoughts wondered again.
I'm glad I could hang out with Tokoyami-kun today. He's a really nice guy, huh?
I don't think I've heard him talk so much, either! I mean, maybe that was because I talked a lot, so he felt obligated to reply. God, I hope I didn't make him feel uncomfortable…
But...he didn't seem uncomfortable, right?
Either way, I had a really good time…
Izuku finger automatically tapped into his messages, until he found his conversation with Tokoyami.
Oh hey, it looks like he's active again tonight!
Should I…?
No, I shouldn't.
What else am I going to do, though?
...
Ah, screw it!
Izuku started typing.
Midoriya (11:37pm):
Hey Tokoyami-kun.
Sorry if this is a bit random, but I just wanted to thank you for training with me today!
And for taking me to that cafe! I've never had anything so amazing before!
Well anyway, I was thinking about what you said before.
About wanting to talk, I mean...
Are you free tonight?
Ah, but if you can't that's okay! This is pretty short notice haha.
Tokoyami's reply couldn't have arrived faster.
Tokoyami (11:38pm):
Of course.
Would you like to come over to my room, then? We are on the same floor, after all.
Izuku dropped his phone with a surprised yelp, immediately picking it up again in anxious excitement.
Midoriya (11:38pm):
Your room? Are you sure that's alright?
We can just go downstairs and chat in the mess hall! That's way less invasive, isn't it?
Tokoyami (11:38pm):
If we did that, we'd risk being caught by Aizawa-sensei. I heard from Kaminari that he sometimes lies await, hoping to catch anyone off guard.
I don't know about you, but that is a fate I would rather avoid.
And I do not mind at all. I trust you, Midoriya.
Izuku's chest tightened, but his shoulders began to relax.
Midoriya (11:39pm):
Alright, I'll come over.
The hallway was empty when Izuku walked out of his room.
Am I really doing this?
By the time Izuku knocked on his classmate's bedroom door, he realised that this was really happening.
I mean, it's not a big deal or anything. It's just...he INVITED me to HIS ROOM!
AT NIGHT!
Before Izuku could reconsider anything, the door opened.
"Hello again, Midoriya." Tokoyami, wearing black nightwear which suited him surprisingly well, stepped aside elegantly and held out a hand. "Please, come in."
Tokoyami's room was just as Izuku had last seen it. A dark theme for a dark student, but not in a bad way-Izuku added to himself. In fact, it was oddly calming stepping into such a room at night. Candlelight set a somber, yet mellow tone. It all made sense, somehow.
"Thanks." Izuku stepped inside, taking in the room once more. "Wow, this is all so cool…"
The green haired boy had muttered that to himself, but Tokoyami had heard him. "Do you mean the room? You...like it?"
Izuku looked at his classmate. "Well yeah, of course! Why wouldn't I?"
"It's just...ah nevermind. I'm glad you approve."
"I do." Izuku smiled. "In fact...You remember the dorm presentation contest we all had a while back? I...actually voted for you as Dorm King."
Tokoyami stared at him. "Y-You can't be serious...why?"
"I just...really liked it." Izuku replied, embarrassed. "Maybe it's not my usual taste, but it suits you so well! Also, you have a sword . That's awesome!"
"Ah, well…It's only a replica." Tokoyami modestly looked away. It seemed the raven-headed boy wasn't used to receiving compliments. No, that wasn't quite it. Tokoyami simply wasn't the type to boast about himself, and Izuku respected that.
Either way, it's still cool!
The raven faced boy moved to his bed and sat down, motioning for Izuku to take a seat on the nearby chair. Izuku felt the velvet leather in the cushion, and wondered if it belonged in an old gothic mansion, once.
"So, Midoriya…" Tokoyami began, sitting upright in his bed. "If you don't mind me asking, what did you want to talk about? Is there...something on your mind?"
Oh right, I came here for a reason. Crap, I totally didn't think this through!
"Uh well…" Izuku fidgeted. "I don't know, nothing in particular. I just..need to take my mind away from trying to sleep, if that makes sense…"
Argh, that didn't make sense at all!
"I see." Tokoyami glanced to the ceiling. "Sleep can be a difficult thing, can't it? At times, I too have trouble falling into slumber…"
Izuku looked Tokoyami over, thought for a second, then carefully spoke. "Because of Dark Shadow, right?"
Tokoyami said nothing for a bit, but then sighed. "In a sense, yes. I may have said this before, but it's complicated. I have trouble explaining it…"
Izuku straightened himself up, suddenly feeling focussed. "Ah, I'm sorry! I don't want to force you or anything. It must be really personal and complicated, and even though sometimes it's important to talk about not everyone wants to open up like that so I understand-"
"I don't mind talking about it." Tokoyami interjected, then let out a calm smile. "But perhaps I am not one that needs concern tonight. Are you sure you don't want to...talk about anything yourself?"
Dammit! I rambled on too much again!
Why do I keep doing that? Why can't I have a normal conversation without doing that?
Keep it together.
"Ah, well…" Izuku looked at the floor, hoping to cover his uncertainty. "You know me, my mind and mouth runs a mile a minute. Whenever I talk about something, I can't really stop, you know?"
That sounded weird.
Of course it did! I need to think more about what I say.
But I can't stop thinking!
Why am I like this?
Tokoyami spoke up in a noticeably softer voice. "Midoriya, are you feeling alright?"
"I'm fine ." Izuku replied, putting a bit too much weight on the word. "Just a little tired I suppose…"
His classmate didn't say anything in reply. Izuku didn't know what else to say, either. Not without going on a rampage of run-on sentences. He had embarrassed himself enough tonight.
A painful minute passed in silence. Izuku wanted to scream at himself, scream out every single grime of thought that plagued his brain, as his eyes began to leak.
"OH COME ON!" Dark Shadow burst, ripping himself out of Tokoyami. "THIS IS KILLING ME. SAY SOMETHING ALREADY!"
Izuku looked up to stare at Dark Shadow, Tokoyami looking equally startled by his quirk's appearance.
"You-! What do you think you're-"
"OH NO NO, YOU DON'T GET TO COMPLAIN NOW." Dark Shadow pointed an accusing talon at his user. "YOU TOLD ME TO BE SILENT SO YOU COULD HAVE A LOVEY-DOVEY HEART TO HEART WITH IZUKU, BUT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED EXCEPT AWKWARD SILENCE. YOU CLEARLY NEED ME, SO LET ME DO THE TALKING!"
Did he just call me Izuku? Why? Do quirks not follow honorific naming conventions? I mean, there's no real reason why they should, in theory, but…
Wait! Heart to heart? Lovey-dovey?! What the hell?!
The otherwise intimidating quirk turned to Izuku, eyes alit with childish excitement. "HEY IZUKU-OH WAIT, YOU PREFER LAST NAME DON'T YOU? HEY MIDORIYA, WHAT'S BOTHERING YOU? CAN I HELP?"
"You utter fool!" Tokoyami, almost beyond words at this point, spoke up in a soft growl. "It is no business of yours, no business of ours , to force Midoriya to talk-"
"YEAH YEAH, I KNOW." Dark Shadow rolled his eyes. "BUT MAYBE HE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT IT, BUT HE'S WORRIED HOW YOU'LL REACT, OR YOU WON'T UNDERSTAND, OR WHATEVER! AM I WRONG?"
Tokoyami didn't say a word, but he glanced at Izuku, looking for an answer he didn't ask for.
Izuku shook his head, unsure whether to feel happy or ashamed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you guys so much! I..."
I don't know what to say. What can I say to make everything better? I don't know!
"Midoriya." Tokoyami spoke quietly, his eyes shifted to the floor beside Izuku. "I have no right to intrude...but as a classmate-no-as a friend …"
"WHAT HE'S TRYING TO SAY IS, WE WANT TO HELP!" Dark Shadow said, with less boisterousness than before. "I TALK A LOT TOO, YOU KNOW! AND SINCE THIS BIRD-BRAIN ISN'T MUCH CONVERSATION, IT'S NICE TO TALK TO SOMEONE...TALKATIVE!"
Izuku took turns looking at Tokoyami and Dark Shadow. "You...you don't mind my rambling?"
Tokoyami shook his head, lifting his gaze up slightly. "You are a man of many words, Midoriya. It is simply an element of your intelligence...I would never fault you for it."
"THAT'S HIS WAY OF SAYING HE LIKES HEARING YOU TA-"
"That's enough out of you." Tokoyami glared hard at his quirk, retracting him forcefully into his being. "Honestly, the things he says…"
Despite himself, Izuku laughed. Despite his laughter, Izuku cried. "I...I'm glad…I was worried...I didn't want to be a bother, with everything I say. I mean, even I drive myself crazy, sometimes..."
"Midoriya..." Tokoyami's eyes slowly meet Izuku's. "If it ever seemed like it was a bother to me, that is my fault only. I...have always had trouble expressing myself. Forgive me."
"No, no…" Izuku wiped his face with an arm. "You didn't do anything wrong. It's just...you're so patient and it seems like I'm taking advantage of that, in a way…"
"Absolutely not." Tokoyami answered immediately. "Truth be told, I may have been taking advantage of you. I...don't talk to others often enough. But you make conversation easy, especially for Dark Shadow…"
"Really?" Izuku shuffled his chair a little closer to his classmate. "You really mean that? You're not...you're not just saying that to be nice? Not that I think you're the type to be dishonest, but-ah, there I go again! Are you sure it's okay?"
"If I have to keep saying that, I will." Tokoyami replied. "You do not need to hold yourself back, not here, not tonight…"
The way Tokoyami trailed off softly made Izuku go crazy. In fact, every word the boy spoke in that dark, mystifyingly kind manner made Izuku lose sense of everything else.
Izuku made himself take a deep breath, before he faced Tokoyami with a genuine smile. "Thank you, Tokoyami-kun."
Tokoyami coughed and hurriedly looked away. "D-Don't mention it. I was just simply...I mean to say...Ah, would you look at the time? The night has certainly escaped us, has it not?"
Izuku blinked, checking the time on his phone. It was fair past midnight.
"Oh gosh, you're right!" Izuku got up from his chair, suddenly yawning as tiredness made its debut. "I should get back to my room, and try to actually get some sleep, huh?"
"Mmm." Tokoyami replied, still facing the wall beside him. "Pleasant as this was, we will have to be up early for class. I would rather not have Iida talk our ears off about tardiness…"
That made Izuku chuckle. "Yeah, same here. But anyway...thanks for letting me come over. I know it was super sudden and unexpected but-"
"Anytime, Midoriya" Tokoyami was already lying down at this point. "Until tomorrow, may peaceful rest find you."
"LATER, MIDORIYA!" The familiar voice of the quirk added. "GET SOME REST SO WE CAN TALK MORE TOMORROW, OKAY?"
"Will do, Dark Shadow!" Izuku made a wave. "I'll see you tomorrow, Tokoyami-kun!"
"Goodnight, Midoriya."
Izuku closed the door to Tokoyami's room behind him quietly, not wanting to disturb anything. He hurried back to his own bedroom, rebellious excitement combatting his nightly fatigue. When he crashed onto his bed, happiness carried him into the night.