Wow, I did not expect this story to garner such a positive reaction. A lot of favorites and follows, and even some glowing reviews. I am glad you all liked this, and am determined to make this story as enjoyable as possible. I hope that you all enjoy this second chapter, writing this story has been fun thus far.

Childhood Frog

Chapter Two:

In the days following their initial meeting the two children continued their interactions. Izuku would sit with Tsuyu during lunch, and she would listen as he shared the notes he had of other heroes in his notebook. The frog-like girl had also expressed her own desire to become a pro hero. Izuku had smiled widely when his new friend told him that watching heroes like All Might had inspired her as well.

Thankfully in the week since they had met, Izuku seemed to have become a little less jittery with her. While he was still prone to stuttering a little, his face no longer resembled a bright red apple. "Ha-Have you decided on y-your he-hero name yet?" The kind boy asked her near the end of their lunch break on Thursday.

The frog-like girl nodded happily before revealing her desired Hero name. "The Rainy Season Hero, Froppy." Tsuyu paused to wait for her friend's reaction. Even though her facial expression did little to express her inner feelings of nervousness, she hoped that he liked it. Over the past week she had found that she valued his opinion, he was still the only friend she had at this school.

Izuku was blissfully unaware of the inner worry of his new friend. Thankfully her concerns were unfounded, as he thought her hero name sounded cool, he told her as such. "Th-That name really suits you, I-I like it." He told her honestly. On the inside Izuku felt a little sad, he couldn't even think of a hero name. 'Not like I can become one...' The green haired boy thought to himself, as he was reminded of his lack of powers.

Tsuyu became hopeful at his response. "You think so? Gero." Her question managed to pull him out of his less than pleasant thoughts.

Tsuyu's hopeful voice was enough to make Izuku momentarily abandoned the depressing train of thought he had nearly gotten on. "Uh huh. I-It sounds like a name that would be really p-popular with little kids, and it mat-matches your p-powers." He explained his reasoning for liking her hero name.

Smiling a large smile in response Tsuyu shot her long tongue out, and took the boy by surprise as she lightly tapped him on the cheek with it. Tsuyu felt the tips of her ears turn pink as she realized what she had just done. Retracting her tongue the green haired frog-themed girl did her best to look at anywhere besides him. "Sorry, Izuku. You just made me happy, I won't do that again." The teal haired girl promised, her voice conveying some embarrassment.

Stunned green eyes blinked at her as his once pale face turned bright scarlet and the freckles on his cheeks became more pronounced. "U-Uh..." The red face boy stuttered as his left hand went up to touch his cheek. "U-U-Uh, It's o-o-okay A-Tsuyu. I-I-I mind do-I mean do-don't mi-mind, uh..." Shaking his head he tried to assure her, jumbling his words in the process.

Even though he was highly embarrassed he honestly wasn't put off by her reaction to his compliment. Izuku wasn't mad or anything, far from it, he was just taken off guard. 'I-I've never had a gi-girl or anyone do that before...' His face became even redder as he tried and failed not to mentally recount what had just happened. 'Since s-she's l-like a fr-frog...does that co-count as a-a ki-kiss?' His face became even hotter as steam threatened to blow out of his ears.

Izuku shook his head and began muttering to himself. He really needed to get the sensation of feeling her tongue against his cheek out of his mind, or else he might spontaneously combust. "It didn't mea-mean anything like that. She was just happy, it's okay...No need to be embarrassed or overthink anything." He spoke quietly and quickly as the teal haired girl looked back at him.

Tsuyu smiled as her expression shifted ever so slightly to convey appreciation for her friend's acceptance. Even though her actions had made him uncomfortable he was still trying to accommodate her. 'Izuku is very kind.' Her opinion of the skittish boy was growing by the day. Sadly as Tsuyu opened her mouth to tell the muttering boy her honest thoughts of him she was interrupted.

Her words of praise died on her throat as the classroom door slammed open. "Hey, Deku!" Bakugo Katsuki called out as he sauntered in. His little group was standing behind him, watching their leader address the timid boy. Even if it did make him forget about his earlier discomfort, Tsuyu did not like the way her friend's shoulders stiffened. Silently she turned her dark gaze to the blond, her mouth curved downward. Katsuki, as if just noticing the frog girl, addressed her. "And Frogger's here too. I see you're still hanging around Deku."

Tsuyu's expression shifted ever so slightly, to convey her silent dislike. Izuku averted his gaze from the spiky haired blond as he greeted him. "K-Ka-Kaachan." The green haired boy couldn't help but stutter.

Katsuki scowled as he made his way over to the pair. "So, what were you two doing?" The blond inquired, his presence demanding an answer.

The green eyed boy tried to stutter a response, but was cut off as Tsuyu interjected. "Nothing that you need to worry about." Her usually flat voice held the slightest hint of defiance.

"What was that, Frog-face?" He asked, getting slightly riled up by her tone. To his annoyance Tsuyu refused to cower when he advanced upon her. "You know, you're a little too cocky to talk to me like that." Sparks started flaring as he held his hand up in a show of intimidation. Katsuki sneered even more when her expression remained unwavering. "Especially since the only friend ya got here is that stupid Deku." The blond boy's grin became savage as he saw her jaw tense ever so slightly, he had struck a nerve. "In fact, it's probably his fault that you haven't made any other friends."

Tsuyu's eyes narrowed as she gritted her teeth upon hearing his cruel words. "Gero..." The frog-like girl uttered as she felt her dislike for the blond growing. Hearing Katsuki badmouth her friend was enough to make her want to smack him. However before she could even make her body move to retaliate the warning bell, signaling the end of lunch, rang.

The frog-like girl watched as the scowling blond shoved his hands into his pockets and made for his desk. As far as Katsuki was concerned his job was done, Izuku's expression was quite defeated. All was right in the world, Deku was still a worthless pebble on the side of the road for him to kick.

Izuku kept his eyes fixated on desk, as usual Bakugo Katsuki was able to effortlessly damage what little self-worth he had. Against his better judgment a part of the Quirkless boy still couldn't help but admire the spiky haired boy's traits, he was strong and confident. Katsuki's very presence just screamed power, but his personality was too volatile. His childhood friend had no qualms with pushing those who he felt were beneath him, and he wasn't afraid to come to blows when someone dared to challenge him.

There was a point when they had been good friends, Izuku used to always follow Katsuki around. Despite the blond boy's penchant for looking down on others, he was a natural born leader. When the ashen haired youth obtained his Quirk and Izuku was revealed to be forever without one, the tormenting began. At first Izuku could take it, the teasing and display of power weren't anything new. But then Katsuki did something that the green haired youth could not stand for.

The skittish boy still remembered the first time he had tried to go against Katsuki. The boy curled his hands into tight fists as he recalled the moment he saw his old friend knock that small boy to the ground. Midoriya Izuku might have been afraid of Katsuki, but as someone who aspired to be like All Might he could not stand by. And standing up to his explosive friend had cost him their friendship.

When Tsuyu turned away from the retreated blond her heart sank at seeing her friend's crestfallen look. "Izuku?" The boy flinched and uncurled his hands before looking up at her. He was only able to hold her stare for a brief period before averting his gaze. He didn't like the way her lips trembled in the aftermath of Katsuki's verbal attack. 'It's because of me she doesn't have any friends.' He couldn't help but think.

Inwardly he could feel himself deflating as he started to doubt himself. 'Kaachan is right...' The green haired boy was observant, and had noticed that all week no one save for him had tried talking to Tsuyu. 'Maybe it is my fault.' If that was the case than he should stay away from Tsuyu, she should more make friends.

Tsuyu felt her shoulders slump forward a little as her friend refused to look at her. "Gero..." Hesitantly she placed one of her hands on his shoulder. "Are you okay?" Tsuyu asked, her voice becoming concerned.

The green haired boy couldn't even work up the nerve to look at her again. "I-I'm alright." He weakly assured her before gently shrugging her off.

The frog-like girl opened her mouth to contest his bald-faced lie, however the timely arrival of their teacher killed that plan. "Class, take your seats." The soft spoken woman ordered. When the class of fifth graders didn't immediately heed her instructions, and continued going on as they pleased she opened her mouth. Everyone flinched as a high pitched shriek filled the room, after a moment it died down and the teacher repeated her order.

Ears ringing Tsuyu spared one last look at her friend before doing as the teacher instructed. The rest of her classmates moved quickly to comply with their teacher's orders, for fear of her using her screeching Quirk again.

The rest of the school day seemed to go at a crawl, but after a few hours the students were released. Lively students like Katsuki and his friends were the first to rush out of the room, the blond knocking students out of his way as he left.

Tsuyu glanced over her shoulder to see Izuku slowly putting his things away. Over the week she had noticed that the green haired boy had about as many friends as she did. A part of her couldn't believe how mean the other children could be. Even if they didn't openly bully Izuku like Katsuki did, no one ever tried to help or interact with him.

The teal haired girl quickly came to a decision as she slid out of her seat and walked over to him. He must have heard her approach as he whipped his head up to see who was coming towards him. "Izuku, let's walk home together." She announced to him, not caring who was in hearing distance.

Looking surprised at her out of the blue declaration the boy started stuttering. "U-uh I-I don't kn-know a-about that A-Asui-san." The Quirkless boy responded, feeling that maybe it was a bad idea for them to associate with each other. If his presence really was making it hard for her to make friends then he didn't want to cause her any more trouble.

Tsuyu's face remained unchanged, but on the inside she was sad to see him like this. "Call me Tsuyu." She reminded him simply. "I want to walk home with you, because we're friends." She told him straightforwardly. "You shouldn't let Bakugo's words get to you." From the way he recoiled Tsuyu knew that she had struck the root of his current mood.

The Quirkless boy's expression deflated as he looked away from her. Frowning Tsuyu went for a more direct approach, grabbing the boy's wrist she got him to his feet. "Come on, Izuku, let's go." The dark haired boy's face became red at the unexpected action. Thankfully he still had enough of his mind to grab his bag before letting Tsuyu lead him away.

Once they were out of the school she had let go of his wrist and he had continued walking alongside her, albeit at a slower pace. The mood between them was slightly tense, and the silence was bothering Tsuyu. Even if she wasn't exactly a talkative person she didn't like this sort of quietness. "Um...A-Asui-san?" Surprisingly Izuku managed to break the silence just moments before she was about to.

Glancing over her shoulder Tsuyu saw that the boy had stopped walking and was currently looking down at his shows. Before she could correct him on the usage of her name, he was speaking again. "I-I think Kaachan is right..." Eyes still fixated on the ground he muttered, prompting the teal haired girl to frown.

"He's not." She was quick to argue, hoping to dissuade from listening to his childhood bully. "Bakugo is not right. It doesn't matter if I make any friends other than you." She told him resolutely. A couple of days ago she might have hesitated a little in that line of thought. However seeing the way that Izuku was treated by his classmates she didn't want to be friends with them. 'Not if it would mean having to ignore Izuku.'

The green haired boy snapped his now tear filled gaze up. "B-but A-Asui-sa-."

Not wanting to hear his argument she cut him off. "I told you, call me Tsuyu." The frog-like girl reminded him again before stepping forward. "I want people who I consider my friends calling me that, and you're my friend, Izuku." When he opened his mouth, most likely to protest, she covered it with one of her large hands. "Izuku, I'd rather have you as my only friend that not have you as a friend at all." She told him wholeheartedly.

After a moment Tsuyu slowly removed her hand from his mouth and lowered it to her side. The crestfallen boy looked at her for a little while before averting his forest colored gaze. "As-Tsuyu..." He corrected himself. "D-Do you think..." He spoke softly before trying again, this time a little more firmly. "Do you think it's p-possible for someone who doesn't have a Qu-Quirk to become a hero?"

The teal haired girl was slightly taken aback by his question, having not expected it. When she didn't immediately answer him he continued speaking. "E-ever since I was little, I-I wanted to be a hero. I looked up to All Might so m-much, I wanted to b-be just like him. saving people with a huge sm-smile." The tears from earlier had started streaming down his cheeks. "When I-I was four, I was told that I didn't ha-have a Qu-Quirk, and that I should give up." The powerless boy made a muffled sniffle. "Despite that I still want to be a hero, l-like All Might." His voice had a slight creak in it. Clenching his eyes shut he tried in vain to stop the flowing tears.

Tsuyu stared at him for a moment before looking away. Honestly she didn't have a proper answer for such a loaded question. Despite her young age the teal haired girl knew that being a professional hero was a dangerous job, many had their careers cut short due to lasting injuries or even died doing their job. 'And most of those heroes have amazing powers, Izuku doesn't have any...'

The responsible thing, for his own safety, would be to tell him no. That he should throw away his dream, and aspire to be something else. Yet Tsuyu couldn't do that, this was her friend and he shared the same dream as her. Her heart was telling her to encourage him, to support him. Just because he didn't have a Quirk didn't mean that he couldn't get somewhere, as long as he had the resolve.

At least that was what she believed. "I...I don't think it's impossible." She finally told him, his watery gaze snapped back up to her. "It'll be hard and dangerous. And you'd have to work a hundred times as hard as everybody else. But I don't think it's impossible for someone without a Quirk to be a hero." She told him honestly.

Tsuyu stood quietly, allowing her words to hang in the air, as Izuku stared back at her. The salty tears seeping out of his eyes only grew in volume as he fell to his knees. The teal haired girl watched as the boy cried out his repressed frustrations, throughout it all she heard him muttering through his broken sobs. "Thank you, thank you, thank you." The frog-like girl wordlessly sank down in front of him, to her surprise the boy leapt forward and captured her in a tight hug.

A startled noise escaped her mouth, but after a moment she returned the embrace. Tsuyu closed her eyes and held him even as her shirt became wet with tears. Without realizing it she would become an invaluable pillar of support for him, a role she would happily take.

A rather emotional ending for the second chapter. Hope you all enjoyed it.