(A/N: This chapter was orignally released at Christmas over on Wattpad, but it is a part of the story, so I'll put it her as well)
Deku made sure he locked the door behind him as he entered his room. He then walked to the door connecting his and Eri's room and made sure that door was locked as well. Deku took a look around the room, making sure there was no one observing him. He walked up to a wall and placed his palm against it. The wall beneath his palm glowed in a blue light before a secret panel opened next to him, revealing safe with a keypad and a retina scanner. Deku entered a long string of numbers into the keypad before holding his eye in front of the retina scanner. After a few seconds the door of the safe opened with a click, revealing three journals stacked upon each other. Deku grabbed the top one before closing the safe and the secret panel. He walked over to his desk and laid the journal open on it. He grabbed a pen and began writing a new entry in his journal. "Entry 24. Christmas happened" Deku quietly said as he wrote. "It was…" he said before stopping and leaning back in his chair, letting out a deep sigh. "How was it really?" Deku asked himself as he began looking back on the day so far.
The day started as most others with Deku waking up as his alarm played whatever Christmas song was on the radio. He got himself dressed and got ready to wake up Eri. Instead Eri herself opened the door to his room and ran straight into Deku, almost knocking him back onto his bed. "Dad, it's Christmas!" She said excitedly as she hugged Deku. "I know sweetie. There's no need to crush your dad over it" He said jokingly. "Sorry" Eri said and let go with a bright smile. Deku couldn't help but chuckle as he ruffled his daughter's hair. "Why don't we go and get you some breakfast?" He suggested and picked Eri up. "Yes!" She cheered in agreement.
After Deku and Eri had eaten breakfast with the others, they prepared to go out for a little walk. "Where are you two going, and what's the deal with the present?" Todoroki asked and pointed towards the gift Eri was holding. "Oh, we're just going for a little walk, maybe we'll get some hot chocolate. The present is for a friend of Eri" Deku explained. "So you've got a friend Eri? I she nice?" Todoroki wondered "Yes, she's super nice. Why else would I give her a gift?" Eri replied. "You're right" Todoroki said with a chuckle. "You two go and have fun. Me and Dabi will take care of the dinner" He said. "We will. See you around" Deku replied as he and Eri walked through a portal.
Deku and Eri walked out of the portal and into a small apartment. Eri immediately sat down on the couch in front of the TV and put on Home Alone. "Don't forget to place your present under the tree" Deku said and motioned towards the Christmas tree standing in the corner of the living room. "Oh, right" Eri said. She walked over to the tree and carefully placed a small gift-wrapped box under it. "You think she'll like it?" Eri asked. "I think she'll love it" Deku answered with a smile. "Now watch the movie while I prepare the snacks and some hot chocolate" He ordered.
Once Eri had turned her attention towards the TV again, Deku grabbed something from his pocket. A small gift-wrapped box, slightly bigger than Eri's gift. He took a long thoughtful look at it as he traced his fingers along the edges. "No, not now" He mumbled to himself before he put the gift back in his pocket. Afterwards, Deku finished the hot chocolate and found the snacks. He brought t out into the living room and sat down next to Eri. The father and daughter then had a great time watching as two bandits were cruelly tortured by a kid.
When the movie finished Deku stood up and prepared to leave. "Dad, why can't you and Uraraka be with me together?" Eri asked, stopping Deku. "Eri, trust me, I wish it could be so simple. But I've told you many times why. Uraraka is a hero and I'm a villain. Even this agreement is pushing the boundaries" Deku replied as he walked to the door. "Don't worry, Uraraka will be here soon and you'll watch home alone 2 together and have fun. Then I'll come pick you up once she has left. And when we get back home, you can have as many candy apples as you want" He said. "Okay dad. See you later" Eri said, slightly saddened. "See you later too" Deku said before walking out of the apartment, picking up a paper bag standing next to the door before closing it.
Outside of the apartment Deku grabbed a thick envelope from the bag and put it down in front of the door. He then opened a portal and walked through. Deku exited the portal on top of a building looking over the apartment complex he just left. He waited for a few minutes until he saw Uraraka walk up the stairs of the apartment complex. She stopped in front of the apartment Eri was in and picked up the envelope Deku left, before entering. "I think she'll appreciate it" Deku muttered to himself. He then prepared to open a portal, but stopped himself. "I can walk, it's not that far" he reasoned and began walking down the building he had teleported on.
After walking a fair distance Deku reached the edge of a cemetery. Deku stopped for a moment, taking a deep breath before walking into the cemetery. Eventually, Izuku reached a relatively unused part of the cemetery with few graves and a few snow-covered trees. he walked up to one of the tombstones and sat down on his knees in front of it. The grave had two names. One name had missing chunks of stone and was covered in scorch marks as well as snow, making it unreadable. The other name was in only covered in snow which Izuku brushed aside revealing the name "Inko Midoriya" Izuku reached into his paper bag an grabbed a bouquet of flowers as well as a candle. He put down the flowers, lit the candle and placed it down as well. "Hi mom" Izuku said with saddened tone.
Bakugo was in a bit of a hurry. His class had decided to have a party to celebrate the holydays. Not that he really cared, he only decided to participate because Kirishima convinced him, but first he had one important thing to do. Bakugo quickly walked through the cemetery, paying no mind to all the graves around him. He began slowing down when he approached a more remote part of the cemetery. As he got closer to the grave he was planning to visit he noticed that someone was sitting in front of it. He couldn't make out who it was since their face was facing away and their hair was covered by a cap. 'How didn't I notice him earlier?' Bakugo wondered to himself as he got closer. As he got closer, he could hear that the person was speaking quietly to the tombstone, quietly crying actually.
'Who the fuck is visiting Inko's grave? The only other living person who would is…' Bakugo thought as a bang of realisation hit him "Deku?" He called out carefully. The person suddenly jumped back revealing the person face. "Ka-Kacchan?" Izuku stuttered in surprise as he tried to wipe away his tears. "What are you doing here Deku?" Bakugo asked. Izuku didn't answer and began opening a portal, preparing to leave. "Deku, wait! I just want to…" Bakugo yelled, but Izuku went through the portal and closed it before he could finish "…talk" Bakugo said quietly as his hand reached for the empty air were Deku had just stood.
Meanwhile not far from where Bakugo stood, Izuku had emerged from his portal and observed as Bakugo looked around. "Why is Kacchan here? Why would he even bother visiting mom's grave after all he did to me?" Izuku wondered. "Is he feeling regret?" he asked himself. "No, he never regrets anything. His mom is probably forcing him" Deku reasoned and turned the other way. "Uraraka should be done with Eri by now" He said and walked into a portal.
After Deku had picked up Eri and brought her back home the celebrations continued as expected. They had dinner with Todoroki, Dabi and Spinner, played Christmas music and opened their gifts. All in all it was a good ending to the day.
Deku looked back on the entry he needed to finish. After thinking about the events of the day, he knew what he wanted to write. But just as he was about to finish the entry his phone started ringing. Deku reached into one of his pouches and grabbed the ringing phone. It was one of his secure non-traceable phones, specifically the one that goes to Uraraka. He pressed the call button and began talking.
"Uraraka, what makes you call me at this time?" Deku asked. "I was wondering if we could meet up and take a walk together? You know, like in our dreams" Uraraka replied. "Is this a bad attempt at capturing me or something?" Deku asked suspiciously. "No! I just need some fresh air and someone to talk with and you're the only one I could think of at the moment" Uraraka said. "Fine. Our first dream encounter 30 minutes from now. See you there." Deku said and hung up. He got up from his chair and walked over to his closet. "Seems like the day is still not over" He muttered as he put on his winter clothes. He then opened a portal and walked into it.
Uraraka stood on a street corner, in the snow, waiting for Deku. This was the same place in Musutafu that they had met each other in their dream world. "Where is he?" Uraraka asked herself as she rubbed her hands together trying to keep the warmth. "Right here" Deku said from behind Uraraka, making her jump in surprise. "Where did you come from? Oh right, quirk that makes you unnoticeable" She said. "Yep. Just needed to make sure that there were no one else here" Deku explained. "So you don't trust me after a year with shared dreams?" Uraraka asked. "I do when it comes to these things. I just like to be careful. And you suddenly asking for a walk at this time of day was a bit suspicious" Deku replied. "I guess it is. Now, shall we go or what?" Uraraka said and the duo began walking through the almost empty streets.
"So, is there any reason for suddenly wanting to take a walk with me of all people?" Deku asked. "Did something go wrong at the Christmas party maybe?" He added. "No, not at all. We had fun. Even Aizawa seemed somewhat happy. Although Bakugo behaved a bit strange" Uraraka replied. "Strange you say?" Deku inquired. "Yes, he was quiet, like he was in deep thought. Not even Kirishima could get any information from him" Uraraka explained "He finally returned his normal self when someone decided to play All I want for Christmas is you and he nearly blew up the speakers and almost killed Kaminari" She said with a little chuckle. "That sounds like Kacchan. He always hated that song. As for why he was behaving strange. I might have an idea" Deku said. "And that is?" Uraraka wondered. "I think it'll be better if I show you" Deku replied and suddenly began walking in a different direction.
After a relatively short walk in silence Deku and Uraraka arrived at a cemetery. "A cemetery? What does that have to do with Bakugo?" Uraraka asked. "You'll see" Deku replied as he kept heading towards a more remote part of the cemetery, eventually arriving at a certain grave. "Whose grave is this?" Uraraka asked. "Read the bottom name" Deku replied. Uraraka complied and crouched down. The top name was unreadable, but the bottom name was only covered in light snow. She gently brushed the snow away and read the name.
"Your mother?" Uraraka asked. "Yes, my mom" Izuku replied. "I come here every now and again, even if I have a different place I can talk with her" He said and sat down "That big tube I saw in your memories?" Uraraka wondered. "That one yes. Usually I talk to her there, but sometimes I like coming here and today is a special occasion. But as I sat here Kacchan came up behind me, to pay his respect as well, I guess. That's probably why he seemed strange" Izuku explained. "I see" Uraraka said.
After a moment of silence Uraraka turned her attention towards the top name. "Who's this?" She asked as she traced her fingers across the charred stone. "You've seen my memories, I think you can guess who" Deku replied. "Your father?" Uraraka wondered. "That man isn't my father. He the coward who left my mother and forgot his son's name" Deku said with anger in his voice. Uraraka chose not to push the subject further and they continued to sit in silence.
After a while Deku and Uraraka left the cemetery, slightly more sombre than when they entered. Eventually Uraraka decided to break the silence. "Eri's gift was cute" She said with a smile. "What did she give you? She refused to tell me" Deku asked. "This bracelet" Uraraka replied and showed a bracelet on her right arm made from the same colours as her hero suit. "She gave the same to me as well" Deku said with a little chuckle and showed a bracelet with greens, blacks and greys. "That's super cute" Uraraka said with a small squeal.
"By the way, Deku?" Uraraka said quietly. "What?" Deku asked. "Thank you" She replied. "For what?" he wondered. "The money you idiot" Uraraka said. "What money?" Deku asked, pretending to not know what she was talking about. "Don't act stupid, I know you left the envelope in front of the apartment we have for Eri" Uraraka said pouting "Thank you, my parents won't need to worry about their debts any more" she added with a genuine smile. "No problem" Deku said. "What made you decide to give me that money?" Uraraka asked. "Simple, your parents don't deserve the hardships they are being put through. As someone who has grown up under other people's boots, I know what it feels like. That's why I try to help when I can" Deku explained.
"Speaking of gifts" Deku said and pulled out a small gift from his pocket. "I forgot to place this under the Christmas tree earlier today" He said and handed the gift to Uraraka. She took the gift and gently opened it. Her eyes lit up as she saw the gift. "You're kidding me" she whispered. "Don't worry, it didn't cost me anything. Just some clever usage of quirk" Deku said reassuringly. "No, it's not that" Uraraka said as she examined the necklace Deku had given her. A golden necklace with a small, pink gemstone which had UA's motto made out of white marble around the edge. "It's just that I got you something similar" Uraraka said and pulled out a small gift from her pocket and gave it to Deku. "Is this why you wanted to take a walk with me?" He asked as he looked at the box. Uraraka gave a short nod in response. Deku quickly opened it and examined the gift. It was a golden necklace, similar to the one he gave Uraraka, only this one had a small green gemstone which had a fire pattern on it.
Izuku kept looked at the gemstone in silence, making Uraraka worried. "Do you like it?" She asked carefully. "Like it? I love it! It's beautiful" Izuku replied "How did you even get this? Did Yaoyorozu make it for you?" He asked "No, I used some of the money you gave me to buy it" Uraraka replied. "I see" Izuku said an put the necklace back in its box. He then suddenly embraced Uraraka. "Thank you" Izuku said softly with a smile. "Your welcome" Uraraka said and returned the favour.
After standing silent for a while and just embracing each other, they eventually let go. "It's getting late, we should probably get back" Izuku said. "I guess you're right" Uraraka agreed. "I could open a portal for you if you want" Izuku offered. "No thanks. I can get back on my own" Uraraka replied. "Alright" Izuku said and opened a portal. "Merry Christmas Izuku" Uraraka said. Izuku turned around and gave Uraraka a smile. "Merry Christmas Ochako" He said before turning back and entering the portal.
Izuku emerged from his portal and into his room. He immediately sat down next to his desk with a fond smile and placed the gift from Uraraka on the desk before finishing the entry in his journal.
Phoenix journal: No. 3
Entry 24:
Christmas happened.
It was good.
I'm happy.
Izuku closed the journal and quickly placed it back in its safe. He then picked up the necklace Uraraka gave him and put it on. "Thank you" he quietly whispered before going to bed, smiling after a good Christmas.