Izuku watches as the snowflakes fall in a blinding rush, adding onto the already white world.
Nose scrunching in distaste, the boy has to admit the leaf-bare season was officially here in full throttle. Or as humans called it 'winter'. The name was too cute than what the horrid season deserves.
Thank the stars I don't need to be out in it anymore.
Izuku hated winter.
It's too cold, prey is scarce most of the time, and he gets weird sleepy spells that makes him sluggish.
He was in a warm home now, and didn't have to worry about the cold anymore, other than the trips to the school and back.
Last winter he had put his foot down and refused to take the walk to the school when he had first seen the snow, a weird sense of dread stirring in his chest despite having to deal with the cold white powder hundreds of times. He must have grown too spoiled, living with Shouta.
In response, instead of walking Shouta somehow got a car (with a stranger!) And had them drive them to school instead, which he greatly preferred. Maybe Shouta will do that again?
Thinking about his dad sends a flash of worry through him. The man was currently out in the snow. Izuku hopes he isn't too cold.
Or, oh no, what if he slipped and fell on the ice? What if he collapsed on the side of the street knocked out unconscious with no one nearby as he slowly freezes to death? Or-
The sound of the front door opening halts Izuku's ceaseless worrying. Vaulting himself from his bed and over the sleeping form of Hitoshi, Izuku all but barrels into the front room and knocks down the shadowed, but familiar form.
The body below him lets out an oof as the breath is knocked out of his lungs.
" Izuku. What- "
Shouta was absolutely freezing to the touch! Izuku almost jumped away, wanting to shy from the cold. But his overprotectiveness trumped down as his brain supplies that he needs to get his family warm . Cold is bad, bad.
Two hands were trying to lift him off of his kin, but he couldn't have that. His body shifts, and carefully situated himself not to crush the man below and taking care that the fur around his neck was completely covered Shouta for maximum warmth.
The man attempts to free himself once more, but gives up after several moments, his arms falling limp over Izuku's forelegs.
"What's gotten into you today?" His groan was muffled by the copious amount of fur.
Izuku could hear Hizashi cracking up from somewhere behind him, but he paid him no mind as he snuggled closer to his dad.
He must have dozed off for a few minutes because next thing he knows, he can smell coffee from the kitchen. Seeing as Shouta hadn't (couldn't) move, Hizashi must have traveled at some point from his spot near his own room. Which was fine, as Izuku loved the homely smell anyways.
Green eyes slipped shut once more, wanting nothing more than to lay here all day and lazily snooze away.
But alas, not fifteen minutes later Shouta spoke up again.
"Ok problem child, this was a nice nap, but we need to get ready for school. Nezu will be upset if you miss another day."
Izuku whines long and suffering. He doesn't want to go outside. And he doesn't want to see Nezu.
Shouta pats his neck with reassuring strokes, slow and comforting. Izuku knows the man can just force him to shift back, but trusts Izuku that he would let up on his coddling act.
"I cannot wait until winter break." Oh, that was Hitoshi. Izuku lifted his head and watched as his friend stumbled blearily out into the living room. His movements were fumbled and he all but collapsed onto the couch, eyes slipping shut.
"Win-ter break?" Izuku garbled, his voice thicker in his rabbit form. "That's when no school?"
Hitoshi sleepily hummed a confirmation.
Izuku's attention whirls down to the now escaping man. As Shouta was now toasty warm, he allows this and moves his forelegs to the side so his attempt could go smoother. "W-hen?"
"In a few weeks. Students are let out for the holidays." Shouta's voice was gruff as he steps away, removing his weird lumpy belt and scarf. Hizashi offers him a cup of coffee, and he graciously takes it. Izuku lets go of his transformation to accept his drink right after, copying his dad's careful sips. During the cold season, his morning milk was replaced with 'hot chocolate'. The drink was rich and creamy and sweet, and Izuku enjoyed it immensely and its warming effects it has when settling in his chest.
Hizashi offers a cup to Hitoshi and tells the sleepy boy to get readied up himself so the blond man could drop him off at school before meeting up with the Aizawas.
Taking the offered cup with a nod, Hitoshi's eyes remained shut as he slipped off the couch and entered Izuku's room once again to gather his things. The green haired boy watched him, wondering what Hitoshi's school was like. Apparently, schools don't usually supply their students with a full blown fake forest to run around for the better half of the day. Another point to how weird Nezu was.
Izuku took another small sip.
"You too, problem child. We're running a bit behind schedule after that little nap."
"Can we take car?" Green eyes blink up at dark ones.
"I suppose," came the reply after side eyeing the window.
Izuku let out a pleased chirp and downed the rest of his drink in one massive gulp. Hizashi winced with a hiss.
"You really should have let that cool first, little listener…"
He was ignored. Izuku felt fine, after all.
[ "I'm just saying, things wouldn't be as boring." ]
[ "I am not going to sneak out when there is several feet of snow on the ground!" ] Izuku hissed at his feline friend. White rolled his eyes.
[ "And why not? It's only snow. We've both been out in it more than enough." ]
[ "Exactly," ] the boy grumbled, [ "why go in it when we don't need to? Besides, the snow would show our footprints and the humans still don't know about the window." ]
White lifted his head and cast the windows above a long look. [ "It's snowing pretty hard outside; the prints would be covered up before they even caught wind of our little outing." ]
[ "I could just let you out on your own." ]
[ "Where's the fun in that?" ]
Izuku gave his friend a scorching glare. But equipped against those big round eyes, he eventually deflated after a few moments. [ "I suppose it's only for a few minutes," ] he reluctantly agreed.
[ "Exactly!" ] White brightened.
That was how Izuku found himself in front of the mostly hidden window with three layers of jackets highly wrapped around his torso as soon as Nezu had left his sight. He makes quick work of the window, having been an expert at dealing with it after a year, but he still finds himself pausing slightly once it was propped open.
White had no such hesitance, and jumped through the threshold right away, shooting an expectant glance over his shoulder.
Izuku's mouth tipped down into a frown. Maybe he was overreacting, it's just snow- frozen water! It can't even hurt him!
But it can kill you, a voice hissed in his ear. It will freeze you and leave you weak until you are unable to even gasp for breath.
The boy shook it off. He was better equipped to deal with the cold now and will even have a nice toasty place to return to.
With that in mind, he jumped out the window with slight haste.
Altogether, besides the cold wind slapping at his face, it wasn't so bad as his winter clothing held firm. The thought of being immune to cold sent a giddy feeling bubbling in his stomach. If I had this when I was in the forest- he stopped that train of thought, not wishing to think of the time he nearly froze to death to the harsh conditions.
He gave his head a shake and squinted his eyes against the flurry of flakes to spot his feline friend, a feat that was a bit difficult when his pelt shared the same color as the landscape.
Blue and green eyes glinted in amusement a few yards away. The cat turned on his paws and leaped through the snow, his body light enough to not sink his paws too far into the powdery substance.
Izuku followed after, and soon the two were playing a game of tag, chasing one another with vigor.
White seemed particularly energetic, and often used the boy to vault himself from his body to jump further distances to escape Izuku's sluggish feline landed lightly a ways off.
[ "How do you expect to catch me when you're as slow as a slug?" ] White yowled from over his shoulder. Izuku huffed.
Not wanting to be outdone, Izuku took a few small steps backwards before running forward in pursuit. White grinned with a ferocity, and twisted his body in preparation to bolt.
Expecting this, Izuku gave an enormous leap, aiming directly for his friend. White sidestepped him and twisted his lithe body, springboarding off of Izuku once again. The boy shot a hand forward, hoping to snatch at the cat, but his white tail flits out of reach by just a hair.
Izuku growled, his blood running hot with the chase and frustrations of being outmatched.
He quickly dropped to all fours as he allowed his arms and legs to half shift. Izuku could already feel the sharp throb of the cold biting at his scaly legs, but with the shift he could move faster, more precise.
The wind was howling and Izuku could just barely hear his friend's taunting tone, mocking him for still failing to catch a single small cat. Snow flew as the boy ran, becoming a green blur as he shot forward with a sudden burst of speed. White yelped at the bullet of color and scrambled to get his legs moving.
The cat managed to maneuver out of the way in time just as Izuku crashed into the snow, sinking deep into the powdery depths as he hit a drift.
His vision was bombarded with muted white as Izuku struggled to get his footing under him. But his feet only kept falling under him before he could form a proper hold. Worse, his struggles only sank him farther into the drift, engulfing almost his entire body.
I'm stuck! His mind surged in panic, fear icing his limbs and making the hairs on the back of his neck rise. An image of a stony cave flashes through his mind, a mountain of ice and baleful malevolence blocks his only way out as the ice saps his strength, his energy, his very life .
He is dying and his captor laughs, laughs, laughs-
Izuku burst out of the encasement of snow, white powder scattering in all directions in a flurry of movement. His pelt stands on end as he pants, wide eyed and not even aware that he had shifted completely in his panic. The memory that had sat vividly at the forefront of his mind faded rapidly along with his fear.
Not that it made sense to the boy. Never had he been in a stone cave, and certainly none with ice as frightening as the one in his vision. Izuku swallowed, wetting his dry throat.
[ "-ku? Izuku!" ]
Izuku startled. To his right, White was staring at him with wariness and concern.
[ "Finally! A reaction!" ] The cat had meowed with a touch of exasperation. [ "You had me worried when you weren't responding, you big oaf! Now are you alright or do you want me to shove you into the snow again? It's your choice and I suggest choosing wisely." ]
[ "I'm- fine." ] Izuku blinked. [ "But I think I want to go back now. It's probably getting close to time, anyway." ] While teachers still watched Izuku closely from that hidden room, they let up a bit between the time they arrived after the rodent's daily teaching, showing up later and later and giving him more freedom without being under a constant watch. Izuku didn't know why they were growing lazy, or why they still insisted on watching him, but Izuku was used to it by now.
White shrugged, allowing their playtime outside to be cut short without complaint. Izuku was silently thankful as they both slipped back into the warm building.
"Problem child. Care to explain how on earth you managed to get both of your jackets soaking wet? Especially when, to my knowledge, there isn't anything that resembles a lake in this building?"
Shouta questioned with disbelief as he looked down at the boy in front of him, visibly shivering as wet clothes hung from his small frame.
The man received no answer. He sighed, and retrieved spare clothing, lest he caught a cold.
"Are you ready for Christmas coming up?" Hitoshi had asked him a few weeks later. When met with a look of confusion, the purple haired boy went on. "You know, the holiday during the winter—right before New Years. It's not a huge holiday here, but it's basically an excuse to exchange presents." And oh , Izuku remembers that.
It was confusing at the time, but Hitoshi, Shouta, and his friends had given the boy a lot of new things all on the same day. When it was explained that humans did this and exchanged presents with one another, Izuku had rushed into his room and given the four people items he had picked up that he thought were pretty neat. Like a shiny rock, or the skull of a small bird. Stuff like that. It was a rather small thing, and Izuku forgot about that day pretty quickly.
"We're doing that again?" The green eyed boy had asked.
"May as well, right? Doesn't hurt to get cool stuff from other people."
Izuku hummed, turning his attention back to the item in his hands. Hitoshi was showing him some games on his phone—a weird device that lets humans talk to each other from far away. The concept was pretty neat, but Izuku would rather talk to someone face to face.
Well, he could probably make an exception for those humans that tried to hurt him last leaf-fall. He would very much not like to be near them .
A musical tune plays on the screen and Izuku's ears shoot upwards as he realizes something has finally happened.
"It showed up! What now?" He asked excitedly to his friend, his green cat-like eyes not leaving the weird yellow creature on the screen.
"Oh good. Now you throw it."
Izuku chucked the phone.
It hit the wall with a loud crack , before falling limply onto the soft carpet below.
Izuku looked back at Hitoshi expectantly. His friend was staring blank faced at the phone, his smile frozen in place as the silence stretched a second. Then two.
Finally, with his smile still frozen strangely on his face, purple eyes meet his own.
He took a breath.
"Ok, allow me to elaborate,"
Izuku grinned.
Cold air nips at his face as his breath shows up as white puffs just in front of him. His body yearned to be away from the chill and back in his warm bed and snuggled comfortably next to Hitoshi. Not much longer now, he stated within his mind.
His fingers ached with cold and felt stiff and numb. To his luck, there was only a thin layer of snow on the forest floor. Izuku doubts he would have chanced leaping from his window to make a journey in the middle of the night had the snow been more plentiful.
He shifted the small sack on his shoulder and looked to the west. The sky was starting to show a very slight hint of light blue in the distance. Sunrise was on its way, preparing to wake everyone it touched.
A sad note sounded in the back of the boy's throat. He ended up spending more time outside than he had planned.
I forgot how hard it was to find them during the winter! He groaned inwardly. It probably would've been better to grab them yesterday when the sun was still up, but he wanted them to be fresh.
Turning on his heel, Izuku made the trip back home. The tall fencing had just reached his sights, when the boy heard something that caught his attention.
Someone was speaking in an animal language, but it was—strange.
It didn't sound like cat, fox, or the quieted whisper of a rabbit and yet, it sounded like each and every one, all convoluted into a single language that somehow made sense . Izuku could understand it but he could also not.
An urge to hunt down the source ticked in the back of his head, his ears already straining to track down the noises.
It didn't take him long to come up upon a tiny clearing filled with small woodland animals, chittering and conversing among themselves around a big, tall rock.
No, not a rock , Izuku realizes, a human!
Given the human's size, they were most likely a kid like himself. But the human had a craggy look about them that Izuku had to blink and double check it really wasn't a boulder he was staring at. But in the end, the scent gave them away.
[ "I'm sorry I couldn't bring you more than this. I didn't manage to reach the store in time before it closed up." ] The not-boulder whispered. Despite how soft the words were, they still echoed in the crevices of his ears, loud and clear as if they had been said directly beside him instead of a few yards away.
Feeling bold, Izuku bounded over to the not-boulder boy. "Hey!" He said rather loudly. Several animals startled and scurried a good distance away from the green-haired boy.
Not-boulder startled as well. In fact, he had startled more than the jittery squirrels. Whatever was in his hands dropped to the cold ground and scattered. Big eyes whip around and stare directly at Izuku, who continued to approach the scene.
Izuku smiled, his sharp fangs on display. "You're talking to them? You can speak?"
The other boy didn't seem to be calming down, in fact he looked very close to tears as near panic and the stench of sour fear emitted from his stocky body. Izuku's smile falters, was he doing something wrong?
Then he brightened. Maybe the boy was like him and had trouble with human speech?
[ "Hello!" ] Izuku tried again. [ "I'm Izuku! Can you understand them? The animals over there?" ]
The not-boulder boy relaxed, but only slightly as he gave Izuku a small, shy nod.
[ "Can you understand them naturally, or is it your—uh- quirk?" ]
He was given a cautious, evaluating look. After a minute of silence, the boy quietly responded. [ "My quirk." ]
[ "It is your quirk? Can you understand all animals or only certain kinds? I can only understand cats, foxes, and rabbits for some reason—I didn't think other animals had their own language as well. Then again, rabbits are tricky, I can only vaguely understand what they're feeling than hold a conversation with them. Is that how it is for you too? How much can you understand? Oh, oh, and what's your name? My dad said it is good manners to give out your name if someone says theirs, otherwise it could be rude. If your quirk is talking to animals, why do you look like a rock? It's pretty cool, actually. Not many humans have your shape, that's pretty unique! At least I think so." ]
Not-boulder kid looked like he was about to cry and whoops, Izuku probably went a bit overboard in his rambling—but he couldn't help it! This was the first time he encountered a human who could understand his first language! He could have an actual conversation without having to ponder and wonder what words were correct to use or feel like his tongue is made out of molten lead and stumble over proper pronunciations.
Izuku waited a few moments, but when the other boy continued to look overwhelmed, he decided to cut him some slack and backtrack a question or two. [ "What's your name?" ]
[ "K—Koda," ] the boy whispered oh so softly.
A name! perfect! He wouldn't have to refer to him as the boulder boy anymore!
[ "Koda… that's a good name! I like it!" ] Izuku declared. [ "I'm Izuku, but I already told you that… um…" ]
Koda shifted nervously, his scent changing from fearful to anxious. That was a step in the right direction. Er, he thinks so, anyway.
The silence stretches on longer, so Izuku continues on, figuring Koda wasn't much of a talker. [ "What are you doing?" ] He tries to prompt.
Koda jolts, casting a guilty look at the animals gathered farther away and back at the small bag in his hand. [ "I…I'm feeding the animals. For Christmas. And wishing them well." ]
Izuku perks. [ "Can I try?" ]
An unsure look was shot at Izuku, but Koda hesitantly handed the boy a handful of small, round pellets. To Izuku, they reminded him of droppings, not food.
Settling into a crouch, Izuku tossed a few of the pellets towards the animals. They dodge them, and circle away, casting warily glances at the rabbit eared boy.
Well that wouldn't do.
Spotting a few rabbits at the edge of the crowd, Izuku coaxed his mind into theirs, implanting the feelings of safe, food, and finally, come.
It worked like a charm, as always. The two rabbits relaxed and hopped forward to nibble at the tossed treats, then up to Izuku who popped a few more into his other hand and offered it out, satisfied. Usually he would use that trick to fool rabbits into coming forward so he could kill them with a swift blow to the neck. Easy prey. But he supposes he can keep Koda's friends alive. It wasn't like Izuku was starving.
Koda shifted beside him, relief mixing into his scent as he called out softly to the others. [ "It's safe, you can come." ]
Izuku blinked, a bit shocked when all of them came near to two. Oh, what he wouldn't give to have Koda's ability seasons ago. I would've been able to catch all kinds of prey easier, not just rabbits!
The jealousy soon faded as a doe nosed at Izuku's hand, eager for the pellets clenched within. He happily opens his palm and watches with shining eyes as the animal nibbles and licks at his fur.
When a bird lands on his arm and pecks at a pellet far too big for its little beak, Izuku had to forcibly stop himself from lashing out and killing it on the spot. Birds are one of his favorite types of meat, and one had just landed right on him. The base of his spine tingles as he suppresses his instincts. He is trying to make a friend, dang it!
Still… I wonder if I can get some of this stuff for later? If he could bribe animals with food, would it make hunting easier? He files the information away for another time.
[ "They've been happier this year," ] Koda murmured without any prompting. Izuku felt a rush of success. [ "There used to be a terrible monster that lived here, chasing, and killing all of the woodland creatures and driving them to fear. But it has been gone for a while, now." ]
Izuku could feel his eyebrows shooting up. A terrible monster? In this forest? In all of his time living there, he's never seen anything like that before! Green eyes dart to the bare forest, trying to pierce deep into the wooded deluge.
He frowned. If there was a monster it must have lived outside of his own territory.
[ "I've never seen anything like that," ] he made sure to tell the boy.
Koda shrugs, still jittery, but much calmer than before. Maybe the boy is naturally nervous? [ "I haven't, either. And me and my mom lived here for a long time. But the animals are nervous and have always warned me of it and to stay away." ]
A hum thrummed deep in Izuku's throat as he took in the information. He wasn't really afraid of any 'monster', but he was curious about it. Maybe if it's big, I could play with it? Wrestling with Hitoshi in his human form was fun, but he has always wished to wrestle and play rough with his bigger body, it always felt like he had to constantly hold back.
A ray of light shines in Izuku's eye and he hisses sharply, rubbing at it. Dang was that the sun? Oh no, it was getting even higher, wasn't it?
[ "I need to get home, or my dad will be disappointed at me." ]
[ "You're… from that house that redid its fencing—right?" ] When Izuku nodded, Koda continued on. [ "I thought so. I've seen you around a few times. Um… I'm your neighbor. I live next door with my mother." ]
Izuku perked at the news. That was great! He could find the animal-speaking boy again!
[ "I guess I'll be seeing you around then!" ] The green haired boy grinned, dusting off his hands as he stood. Koda fidgeted, his large hands playing with the hem of his tiny bag.
[ "I suppose so," ] he said at an almost whisper.
Izuku bidded the other boy a final farewell, then made haste to his own home—a time limit set to crawl through his window before Hitoshi woke up (as if he would ever) or Shouta arrived home (a much more likely possibility)
With practiced movements, Izuku entered his bedroom through the side facing the forest, being quiet so as to not disturb Hitoshi. He silently shut his window and pulled off the bag he had been carrying off of his shoulders and tossed it to the side.
Sighing, he stripped his winter clothing and shifted into his rabbit form, snuggling close to his purple haired friend. He heard Hitoshi sigh softly and then he slipped into blissful sleep.
Despite it being Christmas, Shouta arrived back home a bit later than normal. Shinsou's parents were right behind the man as he jammed his key into the knob and entered inside, leaving the door wide open for the duo to follow in behind.
Strangely, Izuku didn't come rushing out of his room the moment Shouta opened the front door like he is used to. Huh.
"Problem children! Come out here." His loud voice carried through the house, and soon enough he heard a soft thud from Izuku's room, followed by a head of green hair poking through the door. The boy rubbed at his eyes, yawning like a cat with his needle pointed teeth and pink little tongue on full display.
His movements paused; a green eye cracked open as he lazily surveyed the two adults entering through the doorway, recognition flashed across his face. Once he discerned they were not a threat, his attention was on Shouta.
"Izuku, could you go fetch Shinsou?"
The boy nods, flashing another glance at the parents before dodging back into his room.
Almost immediately, a loud yelp sounds off from behind the door, along with a lot of other indignant shouts and curses as Izuku drags the purple haired insomniac through the threshold and drops him near Shouta's feet with a smug look.
From the ground, Shinsou groaned like a man being raised from the dead.
It was the laughter of his own parents that roused the boy, his head lifting and looking at them blearily.
"Wha're you do'in 'ere?" The boy slurred.
Mrs. Shinsou grinned. "We're saving Aizawa a trip by picking you up ourselves," she explained. "Plus, it is a great excuse to deliver these in person."
Then she pulled out a round tin from her bag and offered them to Izuku, who wasted no time in taking the item.
"Cookies, I'm guessing?" Shouta asks, eyeing the tin and his son. Sugar was a no-go in the mornings before the boy had breakfast.
"Brownies, actually. I've made them myself," Mr. Shinsou said with a touch of pride.
"Lucky you, Izuku," the younger Shinsou said from his spot on the floor, his voice slightly muffled by the carpet. "Dad makes killer brownies."
"And you'll have some later, " Shouta stressed. Izuku smiles sheepishly at his tone and silently closes the lid shut. "Now, what do you say to the Shinsous for the gift?"
Straightening, the boy focused his bright green eyes on the two older Shinsous with a radiant smile. "Thank you!" Then looking back to the dark haired man, he asked, "are we doing gifts now?"
"We could. While your friend is here."
Izuku bounces in place. Shoving the tin into Shouta's own hands, he runs off back to his room.
He returns back a minute after, carrying a variety of items in his arms.
First, he steps up to the younger Shinsou, a beaten up book in his hand. The purple haired boy looks at the title and snorts.
"Y'know, that's kinda funny because I literally got you the same gift," he chuckled, "but in way better condition. It's in my bag, I'll give it to ya later." Then he accepted the book and tucked it under his arm.
Shouta was a bit surprised that Izuku had given away that book, as it seemed to be the boy's absolute favorite, even after being introduced to a whole new world of them. A new one might be good for him, though. At least now they could actually read the words properly.
Izuku bounded over to him next, brandishing a black, scowling cat plushie with a tattered white scarf resembling Shouta's own. The cloth looked as if it had been cut by a child's unstable hand. Knowing Izuku, it probably was.
"Aw, Shouta, it has your grumpy look," Hizashi cooed, staring at the plushie from over his shoulder. "The little listener really nailed you spot on!"
Shouta elbowed him in the gut. But he couldn't help the small smile that made itself known.
"I got you that—" he pointed to the coffee table and the emerald green laptop sitting on its surface. The man didn't like to mess with wrapping paper, there was no point to it, really. "But. There are rules and restrictions about using it. We'll have to go over them."
Izuku eyed the laptop curiously. Really, Shouta should have gotten the boy a simpler gift. Izuku hardly has any concept of technology, let alone internet access. But Nezu had suggested it, saying there were some programs online that could help speed up the boy's thirst of knowledge and allow him to look into what would interest him specifically.
Shouta would just have to watch his son closely.
His mind wanders to the horrors of social media.
Very closely.
Hizashi sniffed. "Well, how are the rest of us supposed to compete with that? You've doomed us, Shouta."
"What are you mumbling about? You helped me pick it out."
"Just say to my face you want me to dive in a lake."
"No really, what the hell are you talking about?"
Izuku giggles at their antics and holds out his hand.
Taking the hint, Hizashi reaches out his own just as a perfectly polish rock falls onto his palm.
"This is wonderful, little listener! You even found one that matches my signature color—that's incredible!" His grin was blinding as the blond sat the stone down and dug through his jacket pocket. He pulled out the gift, but unlike the others, this one was actually wrapped neatly in colorful paper. "I doubt I can compete with Shouta—but I hope you'll find my present acceptable!"
The kid tore at the paper and revealed—
Shouta groaned.
"Why did you get him those? No— how did you get him those?" He complained.
Hizashi grinned devilishly. "I had them custom made."
In Izuku's hands, was a much smaller replica of Shouta's very own yellow goggles.
The boy stared at them in confusion, his eyes darting to around Shouta's neck, then back to his gift as if wondering just how there came to be two of the same item.
"Try them on, little listener! Now you two can match! It'll be absolutely adorable," the grown ass man squealed.
Catching on, Izuku's eyes brighten to astronomical levels, threatening to outshine the very sun as he slips the goggles around his neck, looking like he was about to burst.
It was embarrassing to see the kid wear merch of his, but he had to admit that Hizashi was right. It was adorable.
He latched himself to Hizashi's leg, giving the man a quick hug before pulling back and running to the bag he had brought with him.
Izuku opened it, then paused.
"What about Nemuri?" He questioned, one hand rubbing against another smooth stone, blue this time.
"You'll be able to give her your present later," Shouta reassured.
Nodding, Izuku stood up, bag in his hand as he looked around the room. He must not have found what he was searching for, because not soon after, the boy was making a series of clicks and chitterings in rapid succession.
Several yowls answer him, and Shouta was met with the strange sight of Bastard prancing into the room with his black tail sticking straight up, his ice-chipped eyes lit with adoration. Then they flicked to Shouta and dulled down, forcing himself to look like a smug asshole as usual instead of a cat that actually likes where they live. The expression turned dark when White raced past the black feline and purposely bumped haunches and knocked him a few steps sideways.
Mocha and Juice Box eventually walked in at a much slower pace, in no particular rush.
Izuku spoke to them briefly, gestured to his bag, then started to dig through it.
Shouta couldn't help a small smile when he realized that the boy had gotten the cats presents as well.
But what do you give a cat as a gift?
Izuku pulled out a dead mouse.
Ah.
Several more small dead animals were presented, one for each cat. Each and every one snatched up their gift and scattered into different rooms.
Shouta makes a mental note to search the house later so he won't be stepping in a half-eaten bird carcass later down the line.
When did the kid even have the time to go and fetch those?
Hizashi must not be keeping as close of an eye as he should. He could feel a budding headache.
Turning his attention back to the Shinsous, he could see that they seemed a little pale.
"I apologize for the animal corpses."
Ms. Shinsou waved him off. "No, no, don't worry about it! You did say he grew up like that, it's normal behavior for him, I'm sure," she laughed, though it sounded a bit strained.
At that moment, the young Shinsou enters the room again with a much more pristine version of Izuku's book, and hands it off to the green-haired child.
Izuku nodded and made a show of opening the book right away.
The Shinsou family was at the door when Shouta stopped them. "Here, kid."
The older man tossed a bright yellow scarf through the air. It limply landed on the young Shinsou's head, who grabbed at it.
"It's cold as hell out there, don't cause your parents grief by getting sick." He grunted, then added, "see you next time."
The purple haired boy snorted, amused. He wrapped the scarf around his neck nonetheless, however, and even gave the hero a wave and mocking bow before leaving with his parents, the door clicking shut behind them.
"So, what are your plans now?" Hizashi asked after a moment of silence. "Maybe we can all play a fun holiday game, yeah ? "
"I am going to teach Izuku how to use a laptop," Shouta informed him. "But first. I need a drink."
"Breaking out the vodka at eight in the morning—I like your style!"
"It's coffee, dumbass."
"Not as fun!"
Izuku sits up with a gasp a few hours later.
"You alright, problem child?" Shouta asked, both of them lazing on the couch with at least two cats sprawled over them as they watched cartoons.
"Someone lives next to us," Izuku had said, wide eyed.
"Those would be called our neighbors, yes."
"Another boy lives over there, I want to be friends. How?"
Another kid? Hmm…
"I'm sure if you ask, he will say yes." They were kids. Kids made friends with each other faster than the drop of a hat.
Izuku perked, his rabbit ears standing straight. "Really?" He asked, then paused. "Should I get him a present?"
"You don't have to. Though I suppose given the day it wouldn't hurt." Hm, but what to give? This wasn't exactly planned. The kid could probably go back into his room and pull out another polished rock or the like if he wanted to.
His eyes eventually fell on the box of brownies the Shinsous left them with, and an idea swirled in his head.
"We could make them cookies," he said to his son, fairly certain there was still some raw dough in the fridge.
Children loved sweets, right? Can't go wrong with those.
And Izuku's eyes shone like sun touched emeralds. The boy loved to help Shouta in the kitchen, and despite it causing more work to the dark haired man, he enjoyed it as well.
Koji was currently restocking Yuwai's bowl of lettuce, broccoli, and cucumber—healthy greens for a still growing rabbit.
When Yuwai sniffed her food and turned her nose in the air to demand carrots, Koji had gently scolded the bunny, saying too many sweets isn't good for her.
[ "But, if you finish this—then I could sneak you one in later, if you want." ]
That seemed to satisfy the bunny enough, and she went straight to stuffing her face. It was quite cute to watch her cheeks puff outwards as she bites bigger than she can chew for her tiny, fluffy body.
A small trickle of pride welled up in his chest as he watched her. Yuwai is the first pet that was his responsibility to look after. His mother had finally deemed him old enough and gave way to his peppering requests of getting his own pet. Even though he had a quirk that allowed him to easily communicate with animals, taking care of them was still something of a whole new level and his mom wanted to be certain he was aware of that.
The little white bunny hadn't even finished half of her food when a small chime went off.
His eyes flicked to the wall where a series of tiny, finger-tip sized bulbs lined a panel wall, and right under the bulbs were labels in neat print. All of the bulbs were a dull grey except for a bright red one labelled 'Front Door'.
Neither he, nor his mother were very loudspeakers—so when either of them needed the other, this was how they communicated instead of walking across the house each and every time, saving effort on both of their parts. From the look of this request, his mother needed him at the door.
Maybe they were going somewhere?
Or maybe… someone is here?
Anxiously, he hurried out of his room and made his way to the front of the house.
A familiar face caught his eye.
"There you are," his mother said quietly, a smile on her craggy face. "Someone wanted to meet you."
The boy he saw from the little clearing near his house was in the doorway, a bright grin stretching across his face and showing off brilliant sharp fangs and teeth. Koji noticed that the very green boy was now sporting long rabbit ears—a transformation quirk Koji was sure, given the askew earmuffs that were now near useless—and his hands were thick with green fur. Though, now that he thought about it, the other boy might have already had those when he first saw him, and he just didn't notice.
Koji gave a nervous little nod and waved at the other boy. When he said that he'll be seeing Koji around, he didn't quite think it would be so soon.
He watched as Izuku lit up and lunged forward, only to fall short when a hand prevented him from doing so. Behind the bright, cheery boy, was a tall, darkly dressed man with a face that seemed to be fixed in a permanent scowl. The stark difference in the duo could've been laughable if Koji's anxiety hadn't shot up at seeing the adult. He had seen him a few times—being neighbors and all—but the man looked a lot scarier up close.
"You can't barge in other people's houses, it's not polite. You wouldn't like it if they did that to you, would you?" The man said quietly, but firmly, down at the rabbit-eared boy.
Izuku tilted his head, considering the words for a moment, then shook his head, abashed. His green eyes darted from Koji to his mother rapidly, as if he couldn't figure out who he should be addressing.
Eventually, his eyes landed on him. "Can I come in?" He asked Koji, his voice was rough with butchered Japanese. Izuku clicked his tongue and tried again. [ "I brought cookies! My dad made them, and I got to help! Shouta said you'll like them," ] he finished, his chest puffing out in pride.
Koji shot a glance at his mom, who quickly got over her brief shock over hearing someone else speaking in animal tongue before giving her son a nod, confirming that it was in fact, ok.
So, he gave a nod to Izuku and backed away a little, inviting the rabbit boy in.
The hand on Izuku's shoulder lifted and he bounced right in next to Koji, extending out a small plastic book with vague cookie shapes inside.
[ "Thank you," ] Koji whispered politely. [ "But why give them to me?" ]
A tail swished behind the boy—oh Koji didn't notice that before, either. Was the quirk not entirely a rabbit one?
[ "Shouta said it was the best way to make a friend—so that means you're my friend now!" ]
He had said it with such strong certainty and conviction that it left Koji blinking. Then the words sank in and a deep blush settled over his cheeks, completely flustering the boy.
[ "Oh, ok," ] he said faintly.