Being a grad student isn't at all what Izuku expected it to be. When you do as well as he has in his time at AMU, it turns out that you can get funding to better yourself and your studies. At the start of his first grad semester, Izuku finds himself standing in the middle of his studio apartment and surrounded by his few belongings.
AMU will be paying for his graduate housing, art supplies, and giving him a decent stipend so he doesn't have to work three jobs. That was a conversation with Toshinori that he couldn't really put off much longer.
Moving out of the house he had shared with his friends was a depressing affair. No sooner that he had his last box out the front door was Inasa moving in to take his place. It made him feel as if he was being replaced and unfriended. The same day that he put his boxes in his new residence, he went back to his hometown to his mom's house.
After sending texts to Kirishima and Bakugou explaining that he would be unreachable for a few days, Izuku packed up for three days of camping and went to the overlook, his safe place.
Those three days were spent sketching and playing his guitar while the nights were spent with him counting stars in the clearest night sky he had seen in a long time. Something about his time away helped him remember who he is and what he wants in his life.
Izuku hasn't turned on his phone yet and he tosses it to the side as he starts unpacking everything in the mismatch moving boxes. Books of all kinds litter the two bookcases at the end of his bed which has been tucked into a corner of the apartment. Many of his paintings are hung and those that aren't get tucked away into the coat closet by the door which is used to hold his limited wardrobe.
A small table and four chairs is placed next to his kitchenette and his few dishes are placed in a cabinet followed by his food. The small island counter that separates his "kitchen" and "living room" hosts his laptop and DJ equipment.
As for the rest of the empty apartment, Izuku puts down a thick drop cloth that he tapes down every so often around the entire perimeter. A set of cubicle shelves gets put against the wall under the window and holds all of his art supplies. Canvas and easel are set up beside it.
By the time he is done the sun is setting and his stomach lets out a loud growl. He is going through his food options when there is a knock on his door.
"Hey Dad," he says with a relieved smile when he opens the door and finds Toshinori standing there. "Would you like to come in?"
"Thank you Izuku, m'boy." Toshi looks around the abode before nodding his approval. "It looks like artistic organized chaos."
Izuku laughs and replies, "you got exactly what I'm going for here. What brings you to my part of town?"
"Ah, your mom said you weren't answering your phone and she was frantic when she called me."
"Damn, I forgot to let her know I made it back. I've been avoiding my phone honestly," Izuku admits as he picks up the device from his dining table.
"Would you like to come with me to dinner and we can talk about it?" Toshinori asks softly.
"Yes, definitely."
"You should have seen all the stars! I swear I could almost touch them," Izuku explains excitedly as he takes another bite of his sandwich.
"Is there anything else you want to tell me about?" Toshi hedges gently.
"Mmm yeah, I was putting it off a little bit but uh, I think my availability at Quirffee, and One for All may need to go down to "as needed". I've really got to work on my grad stuff more. It kills me to do it, but it's necessary. I hope you understand," he trails off, staring at his half empty plate.
"You know I do, Izuku. I've been waiting for you to tell me that. You may come and go as you please at our shops. Yes, I said 'ours' because they will be your businesses one day. Now that you got that off of your chest, how about you tell me why you're ignoring that cell phone in your pocket." Toshi sets him with a steady gaze and very slight smile.
Pulling the device from his jeans, it feels like a brick. "I put my friends and boyfriends on hold with no explanation other than 'I'll be unreachable for a few days' and I don't want to deal with the flood of messages and missed calls."
"It just shows they care about you," Toshi tries to reason, but Izuku shakes his head.
"They replaced me before I even moved out. That actually hurt a lot. Soon enough I won't matter to them and I'll be left alone all over again." He doesn't mean for the tears to spill from his eyes, but they do, and he doesn't bother trying to stop the flow.
"Do you want that?" Izuku shakes his head. "They are trying to keep you and you're pushing them away. It appears the only person who thinks they won't matter is you. Ignore everything they've sent and send a group message that you're back and you're okay. Include your mother too please. Put everyone's heart at ease like you did for me. Then deal with all of it another day."
He powers the phone on and lets all of the notifications flood in before doing as he is advised.
[To All Contacts]: I'm safe and on my way back home. Have a goodnight.
"All done," he says with a smile that Toshinori returns warmly.
"Can you make it home safely in one piece?"
"I can do that. Thanks for dinner Dad. And the advice. I feel so much better."
"Any time, M'boy."
Twenty minutes and three flights of stairs later, Izuku finds himself outside of his apartment's front door. He wasn't lying when he told Toshi that he felt better but doubt was still nagging at him in the back of his mind.
Door safely closed and locked behind him, Izuku is about to strip down and head for the shower when he realizes he isn't alone. Every single one of his friends is taking up space on every available surface in his home all the way down to Tokoyami the Pizza Guy and Mirio, who has the spare key to his studio.
"Hi," is all he manages.
A chorus of 'Deku', 'Midoriya', and 'Izuku' are yelled back to him before bodies pile on top of him.
