It's in the Eye of the Beholder
Part 2:
The Midoriya Residence, Musutafu- Izuku Midoriya heads out of his apartment door and onto the nearby street.
Although it is midday, the surrounding neighbourhood is quiet as a gentle breeze blows by. The green haired boy takes a moment to take in the atmosphere, smiling contently to himself. He continues to walk at a leisurely pace.
He soon comes across a trio of boys about his age. They are loitering against a wall, checking their phones.
Intimidated, Izuku puts his head down and attempts to walk past them.
Unfortunately, one of the teens recognises him.
Boy 1: Oh my God! Is that Deku!?
Izuku stops in his tracks. He slowly turns around to see the surprised look of the boys. Upon closer inspection, one of them has rows of shark-like teeth, the other has feet similar to an ape's and the boy who called out to him has large bumps on the knuckles of his hands.
Boy 1: It is! Hey Deku!
Izuku smiles nervously.
Izuku: H-hey guys...
They stare him down, making him uncomfortable.
Boy 3: Something wrong Deku? Don't tell us you don't remember us!
The group usher him over.
Boy 2: Well don't just stand there man. Get over here!
Boy 3: Yeah. We don't bite.
The boy with the teeth smirks.
Boy 2: Not if we don't feel like it anyway!
The trio laugh as Izuku frets.
Izuku: I-I'd like to b-but I-
One of the boys grabs Izuku and puts him in a headlock before giving Izuku a noogie with his enhanced knuckles.
Boy 1: Still stuttering huh? You haven't changed a bit!
He yelps in pain as the boys laugh.
Izuku: Ahh!
Izuku manages to push the boy away.
Izuku; P-please, don't do that!
The boy gets defensive as the others back him up.
Boy 1: Woah, what's wrong with you? We're only messing around!
Boy 2: Yeah Deku, can't take a joke?
As tensions seem to reach a boiling point, they are interrupted by someone approaching them.
That person turns out to be Mina Ashido.
Mina: There you are Midoriya! I was looking all over for you!
Izuku is surprised to see her, as is everyone else.
Izuku: A-Ashido? W-what are you doing here?
The pink-skinned girl smiles brightly.
Mina: Looking for you, duh!
He continues to be confused.
Izuku: You were?
She winks at him.
Mina: Of course! Weren't we gonna hang out today?
Izuku catches on and nods.
Izuku: Oh yeah! S-sorry, I got c-caught up with some things.
Mina turns to look at the other three boys and smiles at them.
Mina: I can see that. Hey guys! How's it going?
The three look at her curiously.
Boy 1: Wait you know him?
Mina: Yeah?
Boy 2: But you look so cool! And Deku, well…
Boy 3: Well look at him.
Mina looks back at Izuku and back to the boys.
Mina: I don't get it. What's your point?
Boy 1: What's a girl with a super cool quirk like you, doing with a quirkless guy like him!?
Mina's eyes widen in surprise while Izuku lowers his head in shame.
She starts laughing.
Mina: Quirkless!? Ha! Ha! That's a good one!
Izuku looks up in shock.
Mina continues laughing.
Mina: Midoriya has a quirk. He's like, super-strong! Crazy strong! He's the coolest guy I've ever met!
The boys are taken aback.
Boy 3: Deku… has a quirk?
Boy 2: All these years!? Why didn't you say anything?!
Boy 1: What's the big idea Deku? We thought you were Quirkless!
Izuku timidly smiles at them.
Izuku: I-I was a late bloomer. I-It only took so long b-because my body couldn't handle it until I got older.
The three teens smile.
Boy 1: Well, what do you know? That's cool De- Midoriya! Maybe instead of idolising heroes, you can be one after all, just like you said you would!
Mina interrupts them.
Mina: Damn straight! He'll be the greatest hero ever!
She continues to smile but something about her demeanour has changed.
Mina: Now, apologise.
The three look at her in confusion.
Boy 1: I-I'm sorry… What was that?
Mina: Apologise to Midoriya.
Boy 2: What for?
Boy 3: Yeah! We didn't do anything!
Mina folds her arms.
Mina: And that's where you're wrong! You've been treating him horribly because he's quirkless!
Boy 2: Huh? But you just said he has one!
Mina: That doesn't matter. You treated him differently because you thought he was.
The lead boy shrugs his shoulders.
Boy 1: So what? It's not like it's our fault his quirk didn't develop earlier.
Mina shakes her head.
Mina: And it isn't Midoriya's fault either. And it still doesn't excuse you from looking down on him. How would you like it if someone treated you differently because of the way you looked or because of the quirks you have?
Boy 3: But who said we were treating him badly? He never complained about it or anything!
Mina: And how would you know? Did you ever ask Midoriya? Did you ever talk to him?
They look at Izuku; his eyes are wide with a mix of emotions.
The boys go silent with realisation.
Mina: I thought so. How could you know? You don't even know him.
They bow their heads in shame.
Boy 1: Sorry Midoriya.
Boy 2: I'm sorry too.
Boy 3: Sorry.
Mina claps her hands and smiles.
Mina: Okay then! I hope you guys learned your lesson and from now on, will be nicer to people who seem a little different. It was nice meeting you!
She takes a still awe-struck Izuku by the arm and leads him away.
Mina: Midoriya and I gotta bounce now, but it was nice meeting you!
As the pair walk away, Izuku turns to Mina and smiles at her with gratitude.
Izuku: N-no one's ever stood up for me like that before Ashido. T-thank you.
Mina: It's no problem Midoriya.
She looks at him.
Mina: Say… Do you wanna get some ice cream?
Izuku and Mina soon find themselves sat at a table at an ice cream parlour. While Mina has a large sundae with various flavours, sauces, and sprinkles, Izuku has a small pot of vanilla.
Mina quizzically looks at Izuku.
Mina: So, who were those guys? I don't think they told me their names.
Izuku is glum for a moment.
Izuku: I-I don't actually know.
Mina looks at him with confusion.
Mina: You don't?
He sighs.
Izuku: We were at school together for years but I never spent time with them. Everyone knew me as Deku, the quirkless kid. I only knew them as my classmates but they never told me who they were. They were just there I suppose.
Izuku is then hesitant.
Izuku: I think about them though. I never really had a chance to know anyone my age. I sometimes wonder if I had gotten… I-If my quirk had developed earlier, whether things could have been different. Maybe people would've been more willing to get to know me then. Maybe I could've gotten to know them too.
Mina takes a moment before cupping Izuku's cheeks with her hands, much to his surprise.
Mina: Look at me Midoriya. Look at me and listen.
Izuku: O-okay.
Izuku blushes as she stares intently at him.
Mina: If those jerks didn't want to know you back then, then they don't deserve to get to know you now. And you don't have to know them either. All you need to know is that you're awesome, just the way you are! Quirk or no quirk, nothing changes that!
She removes her hands leaving Izuku dumbfounded.
Izuku: Y-you really think so?
Mina: Yep! You're strong, smart; you're the best in the class!
Izuku: W-well I don't think I'm as good as Iida or Todoroki-
Mina: And you're always putting others before yourself! I don't think any of our classmates would be where they were if you weren't there with us.
Cradling the back of his head, Mina pulls Izuku forward and presses her lips on Izuku's forehead.
Mina: I'm glad to know you Izuku Midoriya.
He smiles.
Izuku: I'm glad to know you too.
End.
Thanks to everyone for their support of the previous chapter. I decided to do an inverse of the original premise so I hope you enjoy this one too. Feel free to leave a review and thanks for reading!