Opening the door once again to the principal's office. Izuku was greeted by three figures waiting for him.
"Afternoon Midoriya. I hope I didn't take you away from any important matters."
Izuku shook his head as he opened the doors for the two children that came after him. Eri and Kota were offered a seat on the sofa which they took as Izuku walked towards the trio.
It was a couple of days from the last meeting Izuku had with Nezu. He just got the call an hour ago at the hospital while visiting Shino to meet Nezu on short notice.
The teen walked towards the two men that he realized that was there.
"All Might, Aizawa-Sensei. Did Nezu call you here as well?"
"Yes, young man. Me and Aizawa here were summoned to discuss your recent request for a part-time job." The former number one hero explains as the underground hero next too him merely nods before looking at the kids, specifically Eri. "Midoriya, is she doing well under your care. We have surveillance but want to hear it from you."
"Yes, she is well Sensei. The past couple of days I have just been helping her get adjusted to living with me and Kota."
"That's good to know. Thank you for looking after her. If you need assistance in the future just contact us. She may have been distant and fearful of us but we can look after her."
"Thank you Sensei." Izuku bows.
"Well that's enough greetings, shall we talk business then?" A third voice chimed in. All heads faced that office chair and the hybrid animal seating in it.
"Midoriya, Izuku. You requested a part-time occupation and you will be accepted. However, some things need to be addressed." Izuku listens with anticipation as Nezu speaks. "Given your circumstances as a guardian that is a full-time student, we need to make sure you are aware and capable of handling a job of any kind on campus. Like I told you before, it is uncommon for full-time students here to have a part-time job. Especially in those of the Department of Management, Department of Support, and you especially, Department of Heroes. So we want to interview you to give us an estimate of how well can you perform with so many tasks currently."
"Okay? How personal are you going to ask the questions?" Izuku wonders as Nezu quickly responds with. "As personal as you allow it to be Midoriya. Shall we begin?"
"Yes."
Izuku saw his mentor and classroom teacher take their seats. Both of them sitting on adjacent sides of the principal while facing the teen.
"The first question, have you ever had any prior experiences with part-time jobs?"
"No."
Nezu nods before asking another question. "With your guardianship over Kota Izumi and Eri, do you believe that you can handle not just academics, but independent responsibilities and this part-time occupation?"
"I can handle it."
"Okay, next. What are your strengths and your weaknesses?"
"My strengths are that I can learn quickly and can manage a high work ethic," Izuku says with humbleness. "My weakness lies in my capability to handle situations that are unexpected quickly enough before something goes wrong." A shadow casts over Izuku's eyes. Admitting his faults.
"Hmm. I see, let's continue. Aizawa?"
The underground hero nods as he stares his student down just before giving the first question. "In the coming weeks or months, you plan on working part-time. You are still required to study, learn, and do assignments given to you and will not fall beneath your current test rank to the tenth rank in class. Otherwise, I will see to it that you are withdrawn from your part-time occupation. Are we clear?"
"Yes sir."
"Next, in an event that something goes wrong, you are still held accountable for yourself. Do you plan to bring the two children into the work situation? If yes, you are not only accountable for yourself but their actions if something goes wrong."
"I plan to bring them with me. I will take accountability and responsibility for them."
Shota nods before turning to All Might. The bony figure in a yellow suit coughed into his hand before starting.
"Young man. In recent weeks, we have looked over the security footage of the incident with Kai Chisaki. We know about what was done to you and attempted multiple times to talk to you and address what happened that day. How come you didn't respond to us?"
Izuku paused at that question. Now that he thought about it. He never contacted All Might after that day. His world narrowed down to just Eri, Kota, and Shino. Thousands of thoughts ran through his head, nightmares, hopes, and dreams of everything surrounding that day. Izuku couldn't make the effort anymore to contact his mentor. The one who bestowed him his quirk. The one who was the first to give him hope.
"I... had a lot of things occupying my mind recently. So I only focused on classes and the children." Izuku answers unsure.
"Well, starting this weekend and every weekend after that. We want you to attend therapy with Midnight. Until we know that you are well enough."
"Then why let me work part-time then?"
"Young man, you have an intense work ethic. Most students wouldn't want to add any more load on their daily lives. But you still take it willingly and do so with completion. I doubt that you will have trouble it's just that, you are adding this workload after a traumatic incident." All Might explains with a few coughs.
Izuku nods at his explanation and waits for the next set of questions to be given to him if there were any left at all.
Nezu spoke up. "Well then, I assume your more and ready to get started on your new job?" Another nod from Izuku. "Great, you will be starting tomorrow. Just go to the cafeteria during lunch and Lunch Rush will tell you all the details about the job. Don't forget, if your academics are declining, Aizawa here will pull you out."
"I understand." Izuku bows.
"Good, also if All Might or any other staff are asking about your well-being, don't ignore them. They are your teachers, they will look after you."
"Yes."
"Well so far, we don't have any hard conclusions but aside to let you pursue your job. All I can ask for your dedication to your responsibilities but don't be hesitant to request assistance from us."
"Thank you, sir."
The following day...
Upon entering the cafeteria, Izuku went behind the counter to meet his new boss.
"Midoriya nice to meet you. I am Lunch Rush, we met back at the beginning of the semester very briefly." The hero in a cooking outfit greeted Izuku with a welcoming hand-shake before leading him inside the kitchen and to another lounge area. Taking a seat at a table, Lunch Rush gave Izuku the rundown of the job.
"You see, we must remember the diets of students who require certain circumstances due to their quirks. Not everyone can eat the same food, some are harmful to others, it is our duty that we serve the students with the right nutrients and ingredients. That's where you come in, we want you to stock up on certain ingredients and make sure they are ready to be cooked. We have a storage unit just inside the kitchen-you can't miss it- and we have a freezer room. Those need to be checked out every few minutes. The lunch period lasts for about thirty minutes so you will need to go back and forth. Another job as a stocker is that in the afternoon, we have delivery trucks that drop off the food, you will take said food up to the kitchen and restock it. Any questions so far?"
"Will I need an I.D. to show anyone that I work in the kitchen? I heard U.A. is secure when it comes to its delivery from the outside."
"Not at all, in every student and staff I.D there is a facial recognition and bar code to be scanned by any personnel for verification. The principal has already updated your I.D. So there shouldn't be any trouble."
"Okay. Thanks."
"I should be thanking you, but we are still not done. Twice a week-Monday and Friday-we are also responsible for restocking the fridge in the dorms. We start with General Education, Management, Support, and end with Heroes. And we do this for all students. Today and the next few days will be your training and we will get you started next week."
"Great! Thanks for the opportunity." Izuku bows to the hero.
"I like your humbleness, shall we teach you now? I can hear students coming through the doors and they are lining up."
With a nod, Lunch Rush had Izuku join him in the kitchen, Eri and Kota remained in the lounge area from before as Kota didn't want to distract Izuku from his work. Eri on the other hand was reluctant but Izuku convinced her that he wasn't going anywhere far.
Entering the kitchen, Izuku saw the other employees either working the cashier or the cooking area. Lunch Rush showed him the freezer room and the storage room.
"Delivery should downstairs. Let me show you where to go." Taking the elevator down that was in the kitchen for convenience. Izuku came out to a parking garage with a pick-up truck backed up towards him. It's the back door opened with many boxes of various labelings of food.
Knowing what to do, Izuku hopped on and carried every single box outside and started stacking them on a cart to take up with. Lunch Rush oversaw the process and gave pointers to Izuku on which box needs to be carefully stacked and which ones shouldn't be outside so often. Taking the first set up of the elevator, he put the boxes in their assigned rooms.
"Now, when you finish bringing all the boxes up. Give me a call, I will show you how to do the rest."
Izuku nods at the hero before resuming his tasks. About ten minutes later he finished the first portion of the job. Lunch Rush taught him how to do the next portion.
"With each box, they have a certain ingredient or food in there. Your next step is the fill up the room in the assigned spots. This will take the majority of the time during the lunch hour. Remember, if you have any questions just let me know. I will help you as best as I can. Have fun." Lunch Rush left the teenager to organize and stock the shelves.
The rest of the lunch period was simple for the teen. This wasn't what he was expecting. Izuku expected to do more but maybe it was because of him being new to the job.
Once the lunch period, Izuku said his thanks to the hero before going to retrieve the children. In the lounge, Izuku saw Kota talking to Eri. The boy going on his tangents of enthusiasm. Eri was listening closely to the young boy.
"Kota. Eri. It's time to go." Izuku said, getting the children's attention and having them leave the sofa.
The rest of the day went on as usual. Until it was time to visit Shino.
In the hospital, he went in towards the holder of his affections to find that the room was occupied by the hero team. Pussycats.
"Ah, kitten. Nice to see you after so long." Pixie-Bob greets in her civilian outfit. Kota rushes from Izuku's side and jumps to hug his other auntie-figure.
"It's nice to see you, Kota. How have you been?"
"I am good. Izuku has been taking care of me."
"As expected, thank you Izuku." Pixie-Bob nods her head at the teen. She was the only one on the hero team, minus the bedridden Shino to show up.
Izuku grabbed a couple of chairs for the children to sit down and then some extra ones for him and Pixie-Bob. Soon sitting down and looking at Shino, before the blonde woman spoke to him.
"Just wanted to see her one last time before we go on this next operation."
"What is your next operation?" Izuku asks as he sees Kota and Eri making themselves comfortable on the chairs.
"The Eight Percepts of Death."
Izuku's stoic face flashed to his battle with Kai, their leader if any of his followers were as ruthless and cutthroat as he. Then Izuku was scared for Pixie-Bob.
"We are leading an attack on their base. Presumably, they are major Trigger dealers and smugglers. We got the information on where their hideout is because of the man you arrested."
"How many of you will go?"
"So far, it's just me and Tiger, Eraserhead, some other solo heroes, and Ryuko. We were going to bring internships but due to what happened in your case with Mirio, we decide against it."
Izuku nods. That was good, no internships need to face potential severe trauma liked he had but this was heroism. There was bound to be trauma one way or another.
"Be careful Pixie-Bob. Shino-San and Ragdoll-San will want you to come back alive."
"Don't worry so much kitten. Just look after Kota and Shino-chan for me. I will be away this week for the preparation."
"Sure. You can count on me." Izuku says with determining eyes.
"Oh don't give me such a look, you will make me feel seventeen again~" Ryuko teases causing Izuku to blush for the first time since before the incident. A chuckle left his lips, finding the flirt humorous.
The pair just chatted away the afternoon with Kota occasionally coming in but Eri was still not comfortable with the older woman. Izuku had made his best attempts to include her in the conversation but he didn't want to push the little girl.
Eventually, they had to say their goodbyes, not knowing that this will be the last time Izuku sees Ryuko.
It was Friday come the next day, things operated the same. Doing classes, learning the job during lunch hour, and visiting Shino again for a couple of hours. However, after the visit, he did his second portion as a stocker. Going to the dorms with a cartful of ingredients. He had to make several trips back to the kitchen at U.A. as that was where the food was stored. He was accompanied by Lunch Rush the whole time, having him learn how to efficiently re-stock the fridge.
Izuku didn't want Eri and Kota to come along, it was a lot of walking by that point and he was sure that they would get hungry during the middle of the work hours. Izuku had asked Aizawa to look after them for the time being at the dorms.
Eventually, he was done with Friday. Izuku got the kids ready for bed and he tried to sleep as well. Tomorrow he was going to start his therapy with Midnight.
The next day...
"Midoriya, so glad you agreed to take these sessions. Please take a seat." The R-Rated Heroine sat across from him, closing the door behind him, he took his spot on a couch, looking at her.
"Relax, it will help you." Midnight guides, Izuku leans back a bit to relax his body, letting his weight sink into the couch.
"I am going to ask you one thing. Please be honest with yourself, it doesn't matter if you lie to me but we are here to help you get by the recent events."
Izuku nods, this was his first time using therapy in his life. It was different.
"Let's start the main question, how do you feel right now Midoriya?"
"Fine. Nothing is wrong." Izuku says right away through his tension had risen again. The woman wrote something on her clipboard, the sound of a pen hitting it made him tenser.
"Are you sure? Nothing stressing you out?"
"I don't think so- no. I know so." Izuku reaffirms himself, shaking his head. This whole situation was new to him. He never talked one on one with his teachers say for All Might and Eraserhead. This time, Midnight was meant to be his therapist.
"Well, if anything new happens please let me know. How are the children? Giving you any trouble?"
Izuku smiles at the thought of Eri and Kota. "They're fine, on their best behavior, sure they are a bit awkward with each other but nothing even worth calling it trouble."
"That's good to hear. It's nice to know that you are well with children, but you already spent a lot of time with Kota. Anything that is on your mind?"
"Nothing. I don't think there is anything to say."
"If that's the case, let me start. Regarding your detaining of Overhaul, or you know him to ask Kai Chisaki, how much can you tell me about the battle?"
"If you have cameras don't you? You have seen what he did to Mirio-Senpai and Eri-Chan." Izuku felt his frustration come out quickly, due to his tiresome mood and the stress of things he has to as of late. He rises from the cushion and glares at Midnight. The woman was a bit taken back but she put on her neutral gaze at him. "I fucking made the call to save her. Look where that got Mirio-Senpai. It's because of me, he is dead. It is because of me, Shino-San is at the hospital in a coma. It is because of me, that I almost didn't save Eri-Chan."
Noticing his outburst, Izuku slouched back onto the couch, hands on his face.
"Sorry. Sorry. I didn't mean to shout at you Sensei."
"You have every right to be angry with yourself, but holding it in is not a healthy thing. It has been a while now since that incident. Have you at least talked to anyone else about this, I know you avoided the teachers but what about your classmates?"
"No... I did not try to talk to them."
"And why not? Some of them are concerned about you."
"They shouldn't be, this is my responsibility I will deal with it on my own." Izuku declares with a tired expression.
Nemuri sighs at the young man before writing down her notes. "Midoriya, have you tried to deal with the situation at all? Or have you just focus your time on the children."
"I have been studying, training, but besides that nothing much aside from attending to Kota and Eri."
"Why not relax more? Go to the pool, I can authorize you to use it. Have some fun. Maybe even let the kids have some time to get used to each other."
"Sure, if I can make time for it. But is it not fall now? It's getting cooler, so the pool wouldn't be a good idea."
"I suppose so. But let's get back on topic. Have you had any sexual thoughts and needs?"
"What? That came out of nowhere."
"It is important to know where you are right now. It is already clear that you are troubled but I need to know if it's affecting you in different ways."
Izuku had a thoughtful look on his face, he focused out to see all of Midnight's figure. Still, in her hero costume, Izuku absentmindedly fantasizes that Shino would be the woman's place, her red hero costume. The way Shino's legs would be crossed and exposing skin, her long skirt was falling slightly down from the position. The look of neutrality on her face with those brown eyes.
"Midoriya." Oh, how her voice would be like music to his ears. Izuku closes his eyes as he daydreams about the day he would see her awake and alive. It gave him hope but also pain.
"Midoriya." Kota will be so happy. Having his only family member left to come back to him will be a joyous day.
"Midoriya." Eri can get along with her and Shino can help bring Eri to come out of her shell naturally.
He sees her figure stand up from the chair, a small smile grew on his frown. He felt at peace, she was there right in front of him, standing then taking a seat next to him. "Shino-San." His mind wandered, he had missed hearing her voice he couldn't wait to tell her about the kids, Kota and Eri. She would be happy that nothing had befallen them.
Her gloved paw made it's way to his cheek before he was brought back to reality with a slight pinch. The gentle expression of Shino faded away into Midnight's slightly concerned frown.
"Midoriya, how often do you sleep?" Midnight was worried for her student, she had seen what sleep depravity does to people, Aizawa was a continual example. But compared to the teacher, Izuku never had that way about himself. As far as she is concerned, this was a recent development that needed to be addressed.
"Not much... not since the incident with Eri's rescue."
"Would you like to rest? Even for just an hour?"
That question alone broke something in Izuku. Rest? Was he tired, no he was just stressed? He got enough rest with the naps he would take throughout the day. "I'm fine...I don't need rest."
Midnight gave him a disappointing expression before shifting to concern. "Well if you need anything just ask me. This will not be the last time we will see each other through these sessions."
"Right, tomorrow." Izuku lack of enthusiasm rang the whole room before the woman shakes her head.
"No, once a week is good enough. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable on your weekends. You have a lot already on your mind. But in case you need to talk to someone, here..." Midnight gestures to Izuku's phone which the boy gives. She taps swiftly before returning the device to him.
"Nemuri Kayama." Izuku read the new contact on his phone.
"That's my cell, not the hero one that we give to the students. If you need to talk to me, don't be hesitant to call. We will help you get through this Izuku."
Get through what exactly? Was he sick? Was he seen as someone unstable to keep his responsibilities together, sure there were doubts but a majority of the time he did his best?
"Thanks, Sensei," Izuku says getting up and walking towards the door, one hand in his pant pocket and the other reaching for the door handle.
"It's nothing Midoriya. Please take care." Midnight had such a motherly tone that reminded him of his mom. Which only means that Izuku shouldn't trust Midnight at all with his problems. Cause if you can't trust loved ones with your darkest insecurities and secrets, then who can you trust?
The weekend had nothing particularly eventful. His same routine with spending time with the kids and visiting Shino-San. Nothing changed.
Then came Monday.
"You are fired from the dance team," Mina says patting Izuku on his shoulder. Her business skirt outfit made it all the more formal. The shades that covered her already dark eyes staring back into Izuku's.
"I see. Did I do something wrong?" He asks wondering.
"Nothing worth meriting. But I have seen your vibe. You are not enjoying it, so why not put you somewhere else?" Mina, leading coordinator and head of the dance team. She saw Izuku's performance and must she say, she was genuinely impressed with his worth ethic if anything had he just shown a smile or an expression of enjoyment she would have kept him in the team against Uraraka's requests to put him somewhere else. Honestly, Izuku was rough around the edges into the world of dancing but he took learning seriously, but alas, if his presence was making any of her best friends uncomfortable, it was her duty as head of the team to due her part and resolve this issue.
"Special effects needs an extra hand right now. So we are putting you there." Mina states as Izuku nods. Izuku just saw it as he wasn't useful to them anymore. On the next team, he was sure to put in more effort.
"Understood. Thank you for the opportunity Ashido-San."
"Don't sweat it and if it's any consolation, I would have kept you in the team. A few more weeks and we could have made a fine dancer out for you."
Izuku nods before returning to his school work. The two children saw the exchange. Kota wanted to speak his mind but if Izuku was okay with it then there was nothing to say. Eri was too confused about what was the topic.
Classes came and went. Izuku did his shift in the cafeteria and because it was Monday, he would have to refill the refrigerators in each dorm.
He was in the last hero class, 3-A, when some events unfolded.
Upon finishing putting in any food into the fridge, which was considerably larger than the one in his dorm. Izuku took a small break. Classes were already over and some of the third-years were passed by the lobby. Some even came by and recognized Izuku from the news the weeks prior.
It was clear that they too had some mixed feelings about the whole situation. They lost someone close, someone, well recognized, and respected. Some even disliked Izuku right off the bat. The teen didn't try to fight their feelings towards him, they were justified in hating him.
Then she came. At first, she was drawn to the small commotion but then her eyes met. Izuku saw his Senpai went from curious to silent. They saw each other, the rest went about their day. Izuku felt his throat dry, his lips cracked. He couldn't mouth a word.
"Midoriya-san."
"H-Hado-Senpai. Hello, how are you?"
"I have been better." She says solemnly. Her eyes breaking contact from his. "So you working part-time?"
"Yes. To make some money for the kids."
"Ah, how are they. The girl especially, Eri was it?"
"Oh their well. Eri has been adjusting, still can't talk to anyone else besides me and Kota."
"That's good, I suppose."
Izuku felt nervous, he felt like he needed to change the topic.
"So are you going to do anything for the festival?"
"A beauty pageant, but I might have second thoughts on it."
"Oh?" Izuku didn't bother asking, fearing that the answer would hit him in the face.
"Yes, I might not contend this year. Maybe one of my classmates is willing to go. But anyway, how is Mandalay, I heard she was admitted into the hospital right after the incident."
"She is still in a coma. I make sure to visit her every day. Just so I can see her wake up."
"That's nice of you. I haven't had the time to visit Mirio, well...after everything." Izuku heard her sniffle, his guilt building up. Seeing his upperclassman slowly breaking down in front of him he had to say it.
"I am so sorry Senpai. I didn't mean for this to happen."
"It's not your fault, I am sure Mirio made the right call when it came to Eri."
Izuku felt his world shake in those words. His sweat trailing down his skin. He clenched his fist to help him steel his nerves.
"It wasn't him."
"Huh?" She looked at him with confusion.
"I made the call to get Eri out of there. But then things got outta hand after we apprehended the criminal. He...attacked Mirio and I was going to help him. But he ordered me to get back up. By then when I left to get help, it was too late. I am sorry."
Izuku got himself together looking at the girl who saw her life crash before her eyes again...
Sometime later...
Izuku walked back from the cafeteria, already finished with his shift, and returned the food cart. He looked up at the cloudy sky to still the lingering feeling on his cheek. He winces every few moments of the sting of the slap.
He deserved it. It was wrong of him to confess like that to someone still hurting. He needed to be better about this but it seems that all he ever did nowadays was focus on the things that mattered to him personally.
When he got inside his dorms, he was greeted by Eri quickly, still nervous about her surroundings. Most of his classmates were in the lobby which explains why.
"Izuku, what happened to your cheek?" Eri asks, reaching for the red mark on his freckled face. Izuku felt her smaller hand touch him, it hurt but he didn't flinch, instead, he smiled.
"Are you hungry?" Izuku asks while picking the girl up. She squeals in joy.
"Yes."
"Let me get you and Kota something then." Izuku carries her before setting her down on the countertop to being in his peripheral as to make sure nothing happens. Some of his classmates gave him concern looks by mark on his face.
Upon finishing, Izuku called over Kota, who was promptly beating some of the guys at a couple of video games. The child came over eagerly wanting to have something in his stomach.
As the two children ate next to each other. Izuku hummed as he cleaned the cooking pans. His efforts to ignore the stinging pain on his cheek had warranted some sudden.
"That looks bad. What happened?" Her voice didn't draw him away from the sink.
"I saw Hado-Senpai. We talked, I told her the whole truth about how Mirio-Senpai died. That's what happened."
"I see, I think you spoke too soon. She is still hurt, so are you. But I don't it's right for her to hit you."
"It doesn't bother me. She has the right to feel the way she does. Besides, I decided to tell her everything." Just like it was his decision that day to save Eri.
"Still... you need to take better care of yourself. Everyone is starting to worry."
"They have nothing to worry about. I am alive aren't I?"
"That doesn't change the fact that you are distancing yourself."
"And what's wrong with that?" Izuku glares at the sink, his wet hands clench the stainless steel edges.
"N-nothing. But you shouldn't ignore your friends."
"I am not ignoring anyone. You hear me responding to you."
"P-Please don't shout me."
"I am not shouting!" Izuku turns to her, those brown eyes. The pair that he admired in the beginning. Her brown bob-hairstyle. She retreated from him the moment he turned to her. Izuku let some of his anger out, the frustration was bearing at him to escape.
"Deku. Please just calm down."
"Useless."
"What...?"
"Useless, your right. Bakugo was right. Everyone was right. I shouldn't have become a hero. Fuck!" Izuku leaned over the sink. He felt the guilt and regret that came with the responsibility of protecting and looking after people's lives. He was striving to achieve his dreams, but at what price?
"Deku. It's alright, your just tired. I can look after the kids, you get some sleep."
"Shut up, Uraraka. Stop calling me that, I don't want to be called that by you of all people." Izuku felt his soaked hand over his face.
"And the kids are fine, there is no need to get involved, you and everyone look after them as I work so that's enough." Izuku states.
"B-But that doesn't mean you can't take breaks."
"Kota is fine with everyone, Eri is still too nervous and paranoid around everyone else. Either way, I need to look after them."
"Just listen to me. Take the evening off." Ochako felt emboldened by her drive to make sure Izuku got his rest. Not that she had anything against the children but it was clear Izuku was stressed out in her eyes. That, this current part-time job that he was doing, getting ready for the festival, it seems that there was no peace arriving.
The girl saw her crush, yes her crush, now looking like the shell of the person who was only a month ago. As much it was an exaggeration, it worried her.
It was the reason why she pleaded with Mina to take Izuku off the dance team. Figuring she can lessen his stress. She wanted to know what she can do for him,
"Just leave me alone. Do this some other time." Izuku almost pleads, he didn't need them to him he wasn't capable of handling his responsibilities.
"What's going here?" Both teens look at Momo. The vice-president looked at the pair with a concerned expression.
"Nothing, just a disagreement between me and Uraraka-San." Izuku quickly answers, not wanting to cause any more unwanted attention.
"That's not true!" Ochako refutes slamming her hand on the countertop causing the kids in the background to stop their already nervous eating.
"You can't keep doing this Izuku. You need help!"
"Back off! You don't know anything!" Izuku glares at her.
"Both of you just stop. You are causing a scene." Momo states causing Izuku to lose his glare upon seeing the multiple glances of his classmates.
"Hey what's going on?" Kirishima was the first to walk forward.
"Yea, you guys having a lover's quarrel?" Kaminari came next, which caused Ochako's face to flush while Izuku's eyes narrowed.
"Can't you guys do this somewhere else?" Kyoka came from behind Momo.
"Ya, also don't do this in front of the kids," Mina says as she comes from Izuku's side. That last statement made him lose the heat he had built up. He looked at the children. Eri was leaning towards Kota, shying away from his gaze. Kota, while having seen Izuku's rage before, was still shaken to his core from it being unleashed upon another that he considered a friend.
Izuku felt defeated and shamed. He continues to let his frustrations getting the better of him.
Those around him saw him deflate to a tired and guilty expression. "Just leave me alone. That's all I ask of you, please." Practically pleading with them, he couldn't maintain eye contact with his classmates.
"Deku..." Ochako tries to touch his shoulder but was stopped when Mina came around and stopped her, shaking her head. Taking the brown-haired girl away from the kitchen. Learning her lesson that she should have given him some space and time to his thoughts.
"Sorry for the disturbance..." Izuku apologizes, hearing his classmates starting going back to what they were doing.
From the Kota's perspective, Izuku was in the right. He should have his space and privacy. While his classmates were mirrored Izuku's actions towards Kota himself back then. They didn't listen until it fell off the edge. Looking to his side, he saw Eri slightly nervous.
"Are you okay?"
She shakes her head. "He looks like it was when he saved me."
Surprised by the girl's answer, normally Kota would just get declination or inclination with Eri's head as an answer but to hear her voice. It was indeed surprising, at least to him.
The children saw their caretaker turned his attention towards the sink with a heavy sigh. Finishing the task he was doing before all of this commotion started.
That night, there were little words exchanged but a lot of gossip around the lobby. Kota could hear them as he at his food, all talking about Izuku one way or another. It seriously irked him as well. He was holding back that irritating feeling in his neck to leave his chair and start shouting at everyone to shut up but Izuku wouldn't like that. So instead, he ate and waited, holding his anger together.
When going to sleep, Eri caught the eye of Izuku awake. Just laying down on the floor in his futon. Staring at the ceiling as if trying to find something. Eri looked up to see nothing, she wanted to call out to him but she was still afraid of his anger from dinner. Even if it wasn't towards her.
The next few days were tense.
Izuku did his part in making sure the kids were fed, clean, and ready to go about the day. He did his part in the classroom making sure to study and take accurate notes. The part-time job was going well. His participation in their classroom's performance was not slacked upon. Overall he took everything seriously. The only thing was that the distance between him and his classmates became a bad wedge. Some were worried, others were frustrated, and few were hopeful of said distance.
Kota and Eri were still happy, things died down in their perspective as Izuku was paying more attention to them.
In recent days, on Wednesday particularly, Izuku got his first paycheck and decided that in the weekend he would take the kids out to eat as some form of celebration.
However, a celebration was to be put on hold...
Friday, morning. Izuku made his way to the television where Kota and Eri were channel surfing. Luckily, Izuku made sure to have the channels be kid-friendly with the news broadcast.
"Just in, on Chibi News. The hero association strikes a Yakuza group known as the "The Eight Percepts of Death". All of its members have been captured and arrested. However, the Hero Association has suffered casualties. The remaining members of Pussycats: Tiger and Pixie-Bob, and unfortunately this young upstart Suneater, and sidekick: Sir Nighteye have died in service to protect society. Many individual heroes were injured in the battle, Dragon Hero: Ryukyu, Eraser Hero: Eraserhead, and Lock Hero: Rock Lock, and many more heroes. We will get back to you with more details after this short break..."
Izuku felt slack-jawed in shock. For a second it felt like an eternity until a small body hugged his side. Unconsciously, he brought him into a hug. His uniform top starting to get wet spots from the child's tears. Izuku could do nothing but bring Kota up and hugged him. Kota's head resting on his neck. The boy wailed like never before, sad that his second family was killed in an act of heroism.
That day, Izuku didn't go to class, he called Lunch Rush and the man understood his circumstances. The day was left to process this mess. Kota couldn't move without Izuku carrying him or pushing him to walk.
Many of my classmates gave their condolences to Kota about the Pussycats but Izuku knew that Kota didn't want to remember them as heroes but the people who looked after him. He saw the child held angry tears against Izuku's classmates, but the teen told him that they didn't mean anything wrong by their condolence.
Eri was silent, still nervous to speak to Izuku but was aware enough that Kota was hurting. She didn't want to bother the boy.
Izuku decided that maybe they should go see Shino, he wasn't sure if it was the right choice at the time but, he needed Kota to be around family. That, and the fact that Izuku didn't have Ragdoll's number.
At the hospital, things were silent. Grief had overcome the pair of boys. The teen felt guilty for both being able to help Kota get through this easier while the child remained anguished. Kota never stopped drawing tears, it even goes to a point where his eyes were puffy red. Constantly wiping the tears and snot, Izuku never let Kota go from his embrace until they sat in front of an unconscious Shino.
Izuku didn't know what to do. He lost someone sure but not as personal as this.
"Please auntie wake up. Wake up. Everything is going bad, I don't know what to do." Kota nudges her arm begging for a response. Izuku stares at the scene in front of him. It reminds him of those times when his mother got sick with the common cold, how he would always be by her side for anything she will or might need.
The child's fears of a parent not responding is something that he didn't have to experience yet but he couldn't imagine what did it do to Kota.
Looking over to Eri, the little girl was sad. Patting his lap, Izuku saw the girl's expression look up at him. Almost wanting to be accepted. Nodding, Izuku brings his arm over slowly. He waits for Eri to lean in and reach for him. The teen hugging the little girl felt so warm. He felt the child relax in their hug and brought her to sit on his lap. As Eri does off, Izuku reaches his other arm for Kota. The hand resting on the child's shoulder, getting his attention.
"Rest, she will wake up," Izuku says in a sad tone.
"When?"
"I don't know, but soon I hope."
Izuku saw the defeat in the boy which made said the boy go into the teenager's arms.
The two children took their place on his lap. Izuku hugged them. He didn't want this to destroy their hope.
For the remainder of the day. Nothing happened, Izuku and the children returned to the dorms and ate and slept. Kota was too reluctant to sleep by himself on the top bunk so he shared the futon with Izuku.
Things didn't go so well... it was only beginning.
On Saturday, Izuku went to his session with Midnight.
"Midoriya, how have you been?"
"Managing, I guess. Things were so bright a couple of days ago."
"Yes, well at least that's one least drug dealing gang to harm society."
"I suppose so."
"Please take a seat." Midnight gestures him to the sofa again. Then the session began.
"How are the children?"
"Relatively speaking? They are looked after, but the news on Thursday caused Kota a lot of grief." Izuku admits.
"What about you? How are you dealing with this?"
"As I said, I will manage. I didn't know them as well as Kota. But that doesn't mean I won't make sure Kota can heal from this."
"I see. Have you been contacted by Ragdoll?"
"Yes, she wants me to take Kota over to their private camp, tomorrow," Izuku says his eyes showing tiredness.
"Understood, changing topics, how are you dealing with everything so far."
"I already told you. I am okay." Izuku lifted his eyebrow in questioning.
"Very well then, "okay" will do."
"Does okay mean you are getting sleep? Looking after yourself in your academic life and private life?"
"Sensei, you have seen my performance in class and I am pretty sure your teachers talked to each other about grading. I am doing my part to uphold Aizawa-Sensei's expectations. As for my private life, that's not any of your concern."
"Yes, that is the case, isn't it? Then why are we here?"
"So you can report something back to Principal Nezu," Izuku answered to which caused Midnight to sigh.
"That's your first thought? Well, I can't blame you, you have proved to be more paranoid since the last week."
"What are you talking about?"
"Some of your classmates have reported you..."
Izuku's mind went blank at that statement. The hell? Why would his classmates report him, he didn't do anything wrong to them. Aside from that argument with Ochako, that was about it.
"In which, each person discusses their concern for you. They seemed to think that you are exhausting yourself too much with the responsibilities of work, school, and caretaking."
"They don't know anything." Izuku states with a heavy sigh.
"If you say so. However, as your teacher, I still have to address this issue. So if there are any more concerns regarding you, I will make sure that your custody is revoked."
"What?! Kota and Eri have nothing to do with this!" Izuku exclaims.
"But they are the reason you have decided to take work in U.A. They are also the reason why you don't spend much time consoling in others. You focus most of your time on training, academics, and the children. But ignoring your mental health and emotional recovery. I know you are still affected by the death of Lemillion." Midnight stares Izuku down with a stern gaze that turns into a concerned frown. "I get that Aizawa, All Might, and even Nezu agreed to this but they didn't console me or any of the other teachers. Mostly because you are a good student that takes everything seriously. But it doesn't mean I have less say than those three idiots. If I can help my student get the proper time to heal then I will. Even if that means removing the guardian role from Eri and Kota."
"But I can do it! I don't need to be removed Sensei!"
"It's only a matter of time before it starts to overwhelm you Midoriya and by that point, I won't sit by and watch. I have seen it too many times in my career to let it happen to someone as young as you."
"Oh, so just because I am young, doesn't mean I am qualified?!"
"You're not listening. I didn't say that was the problem, the problem is that you went through something tragic and are still being affected by it. That's the problem."
"Just so you know, I can handle it Kayama-Sensei."
Nodding, Nemuri didn't argue anymore. She couldn't, right now, she needed to return to being his therapist rather than a teacher. Things were getting too heated between her and Izuku that it won't help him.
"Let's take a break yea? Any thoughts or topics you like to discuss?" Nemuri put on a professional smile as it was met by Izuku's cold stare.
"Yes, have you ever died on the job before Midnight?"
Nemuri paused at that. She read the reports, she didn't want to see the footage. The idea of the fact that one of her students was killed on the job but miraculously saved within the same hour made her wonder.
"No, I can't say I have. Many close-calls yes, but never reached past the line yet." She speaks awaiting his reaction, instead, he talks as if she wasn't in the room.
"Cold. Empty. Alone... That's what it feels like. There was nothing. Then eventually a dream starts, then ends. Finally waking up again with a vengeance against the one who ended your life. That's what I felt."
Midnight takes her pen and clipboard and starts writing. The true session beginning.
"It's hard to talk to anyone who has reached that point. Because no matter what I say, I will sound like a crazy person. How many people can relate to that? Being aware that they are dying, then died, and suddenly resuscitation. I have no one to talk to. You ask me how am I doing? But I all can say is that I am alive. Not necessarily happy or displeased. Stressed yes but those were the decisions and responsibilities I willingly took."
Izuku takes another deep breath.
"Part of me wished I died that day. In exchange for Mirio-Senpai. Maybe things would have possibly turned out for the better. Kota and Shino-San would have returned. The Pussycats wouldn't be killed off and Eri would have been saved."
"You can't possibly know that for sure."
"No, but I believed it was better than me being alive."
"And how would your family take your death? If I am correct you live in a single-parent household with your mother as the primary guardian."
Izuku paused and stopped. His mother would be devastated to hear him right now. She would do anything in her power to stop him from being a fully-fledged hero if it meant that it didn't cost his life. Izuku knew how emotionally sensitive she was, so consoling her was not the right way to go.
"I...I..." Izuku collapses further into the sofa. Finding himself at a loss. His mind was all over the place. He was so tired and paranoid that it was starting to affect him on a psychological level.
For the remainder of the session, Midnight didn't speak a word, instead, she attentively examined a disheveled and disheartened Izuku...