27/11/2021

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The Emperor's Dragon
Fledgling 23

"You've made remarkable improvements to the respirator functions," All For One complimented the Doctor as he took off the helmet and allowed Kyudai to reconnect the tubing to the implants.

"Thank you," Garaki said as he carried the helmet away. "I tried an updated design," he said. Whoever Izuku's friend was, they knew what they were doing. It had been difficult building it. The designer assumed a lot of knowledge and it was only because Garaki was familiar with how a respirator was meant to work that he was able to work out how they wanted things put together. The effects were apparently good enough that Hisashi had noticed the improvement.

"I am still feeling side effects from the drugs," Hisashi added.

"Which effect is the most prominent?" Kyudai asked. If he could isolate what Sensei was feeling then he could potentially adjust the drugs better.

"Light nausea, and a tingling on the left side."

If All For One was complaining about it, Garaki could safely assume the symptoms were worse than mild. It was probably one of the eugeroic drugs. "I'll see what adjustment I can do," he promised.

"Good," All For One said. "Now, I understand that Izuku met one of your assistants."

He had been hoping to avoid this conversation but he should have known that Sensei would only allow that for so long.

"One of them came in at a time they weren't meant to," he explained.

Sensei gave him a look. It was an instruction to explain further.

"He knows Izuku is your son but he does not know who you are, or Izuku's name," Kyudai started. That was a good thing.

"Why did he wish to see you?"

"He had a suggestion for copying quirks faster," Garaki said.

That seemed to get Sensei's attention. Even without eyes the man could give an impressive stare.

"Currently we are growing clones at a natural speed. When they are about four, the quirk will develop. You can't accelerate growth, or the quirk won't form properly. However, it may be possible to accelerate the early years of growth and then return to natural speed before the quirk comes in, allowing it to develop and present without stress."

The ancient man was definitely interested. "This is the child who suggested cloning?"

"Yes, Sensei."

All For One was silent for a few moments. Kyudai was aware that the man was determining Yakuni's fate in those moments. He stroked his chin. "He has not resisted my suggestions," he murmured before nodding. "Very well. Accelerate one to see if the idea works, and then if it does, bring him to me."

Garaki nodded. That was something. He kind of liked Yakuni. The boy was intelligent, curious and knew exactly what he was doing but didn't care that it was other humans. He was a good assistant. And hopefully, All For One would see that.

Only time would tell.

-ted-

Izuku tugged at his gakuran as he walked down the street. He was excited. It was the first day of Middle School. And he was going to school in Mie! That was fantastic.

Except for the commute. He still lived in Yokohama. That meant he had to commute via Kurogiri's warp gate. To ensure that he wasn't caught coming and going, his dad had hired a small office space and Kurogiri left him there. When he came home each night, he'd go there and message the misty man. If Kurogiri couldn't pick him up immediately, then he'd let him know and Izuku could do some homework there.

That was the plan, anyway.

And each time he left, or entered the office space, he had to have different hair and eye colour. That was one of the conditions his Dad had put on him returning to school in Mie. They'd also discussed how he could talk to his friends about why he went missing.

Tomura was going to get the blame for destroying his phone. His friends didn't know exactly what the older teen's quirk was so Izuku would tell the truth about Tomura's quirk. His phone was disintegrated at the same time that his dad had a relapse. That had required isolation and with his phone gone, he couldn't contact them.

Dad had gotten him a new phone with a new number and hadn't allowed him to put Ochaco's or Hitoshi's numbers on it. He had to keep the illusion that Tomura had destroyed them. He didn't like that bit. It added an extra step to finding Himiko again but he remembered he was getting two friends back, so that was something.

He had brilliant red hair at the moment with red eyes to match. As he walked along over the next two blocks, he softened the tone to auburn before slowly shifting it to a dark blond. His eyes changed to black to go with them. He liked to try non-traditional combinations.

Focusing on his hair and eye colour meant he didn't have to focus on his nerves. He knew the way to Yakorki Middle School and he had passed the test easily so he wasn't worried about the year to come. He worried that his friends wouldn't forgive him. Giran had confirmed they were going to that school.

Izuku paused at the last corner. Once he turned down here, there were another three blocks and then he'd be at the school gate. He could see it if he looked. Izuku took a deep breath and settled on his hair colour. He'd go with Giran's colours today. Picking someone to model his hair and eye colour on made it easier for him to hold it. He took a deep breath and turned the last corner, striding towards the school.

He had to find his homeroom and then he could find his friends… and hope that they were still his friends.

-ted-

Izuku paused at the door to his classroom. He recognised the voice. Ochaco. There was an answering murmur, which he thought was Hitoshi. Tears formed in the corners of his eyes. He'd missed them. He'd missed them so much.

"I didn't hear from him," Hitoshi was saying.

"Where is he?" Ochaco asked.

Izuku bit his lip as he realised who they were talking about. Him. He didn't want to go in there. How was he going to explain? He suddenly felt sick. They still missed him.

He slipped into the room, deliberately not looking at them. With his grey hair and pink eyes, he knew that he didn't look much like they knew. He had been changing his hair and eye colour when he left them but they both knew he had green hair and green eyes. He couldn't expect them to recognise him now. He was student 14 and he took a seat at his desk. He didn't look around but kept his attention on his friends.

Thankfully their new teacher came in on time.

"My name is Miss Watasu, welcome to Class 1B of Yakorki Middle School," she introduced herself. "Some of you come from the same Elementary Schools, some of you don't, so to start, we will introduce ourselves before I go over the curriculum. Student Number One."

Izuku had gone through this before, several times and he listened to the names idly. Ochaco was student number 10, and then he was called upon. As usual, the introduction included your name and quirk. He still didn't understand that and resolved not to say what his quirk was.

He rose to stand at his desk. "My name is Izuku Chui," he said, biting his lip as he saw Ochaco jerk when he said his name. Hitoshi was sitting behind him but he could feel purple eyes boring into him. Ochaco turned to him, her eyes wide. Izuku gave her a soft smile as he nodded to her.

"I like science," he completed his introduction and sat down again.

"What's your quirk?" Miss Watasu asked.

"My quirk?" Izuku asked.

"Yes, your quirk," she insisted.

He tapped his fingers on his desk. He knew she was insisting because Yakorki Middle School segregated the quirkless students, much like the Elementary school did. This time they all went into one huge composite class. "I'm uncertain how providing information about my quirk impacts on my introduction as it is simply a part of me, and as I am not licensed to use it, I cannot display it."

It was somewhat pleasing to see the way Ochaco's shoulders shook with laughter at his words. She was silent but she was amused.

Their teacher glared but moved on. "Student fifteen," she called.

The girl behind him rose and introduced herself. She included details about her quirk. Izuku just sighed and shook his head as he waited for Hitoshi's introduction.

His friend was number nineteen, and when Hitoshi rose Izuku turned slightly to look at him.

"My name is Hitoshi Shinsou," he said, his purple eyes sparkling. "I like playing mind games."

Izuku almost burst out laughing at that and grinned at his friend when he sat down after that announcement.

Miss Watasu sighed but didn't bother to ask him about his quirk. She simply called the next student.

The introductions were over quickly. Izuku recognised some from his Elementary School but no one he was particularly close to except for Ochaco and Hitoshi. Despite his nerves he felt excited that they were in the same class.

Miss Watasu moved on to the curriculum after the introductions and Izuku, like everyone else, took out his notebook and began taking notes.

At lunchtime Izuku had barely gotten his notebook away before there was a squeal.

"Izuku!" That was Ochaco. She bounded up from her seat and gave him a super wide smile.

He remained seated as she threw her arms around his neck. "You're here!" She cheered.

"I am," he replied.

Hitoshi came over, carrying a bag that had his lunch.

"I'm sorry," Izuku got the apology out first.

"Where were you? Are you okay? Is everything okay?" Ochaco gushed the questions but Hitoshi nodded his support of them.

Ochaco grabbed her bento as Izuku got his out and Hitoshi snagged two chairs for them.

"I'm sorry," Izuku said again. "Tomura broke my phone."

"How?" Hitoshi asked.

"Do you know what his quirk is?" Izuku asked.

The two of them shook their heads as they unwrapped the furoshiki from their lunches. Izuku smoothed his out to be the table cloth as Ochaco and Hitoshi lifted their lunches before putting them down on his desk.

"It's disintegration," he told them. "Five finger touch, like yours Ochaco," he nodded to her. "And poof, my phone was gone." He sighed. "And dad had a relapse," he added, tears in his eyes.

"Oh no!" Ochaco gasped. "Is he okay?"

Izuku took a deep breath. "He's okay," he confirmed. "But it took a while," he added. "I'm really sorry I couldn't contact you," he repeated. "But with Dad sick I couldn't get a new phone and with the phone disintegrated I couldn't remember your numbers!" A tear ran down his face.

He might be crying but he was happy that they were even sitting here. It told him without words that he was forgiven. He might get teased about it but he was forgiven.

"Izuku, it's okay. It's not your fault. Your family comes first," Hitoshi tried to comfort him.

"I wanted to contact you," Izuku reinforced it.

"Well, we are here now! And your dad is on the mend, so everything has worked out," Ochaco said.

Izuku smiled at her.

"And you still have weird hair colour!" she added.

He laughed at that. "I like changing it," Izuku said. "What happened last year? Were you two okay? Did you have any spider issues?"

Hitoshi sighed. That told Izuku enough.

"You're okay?" Izuku asked urgently.

"We're fine," Hitoshi told him. "It's not like he could do much. Neither of us were dumb enough to show up to his challenges."

Ochaco laughed. "That's even if he got to issue a challenge," she managed to get out.

"Hitoshi!" Izuku chided, feeling like he had never left.

It felt good. The nausea that had been bothering him disappeared. He felt relaxed.

"He knows what my quirk is! It's not my fault," Hitoshi defended himself.

Izuku grinned. "True, true," he said. "Did he come here?"

Ochaco huffed. "Unfortunately."

"But at least a different class," Hitoshi said. "Though-" He stopped and deliberately took a bite of his lunch to delay continuing his sentence.

"Though?" Izuku prompted.

"He's probably still after a fight with you," Hitoshi warned him.

At that, Izuku laughed as he recalled what he'd done most days over the last year and a bit. Gigantomachia was a challenge. Gatarui was barely worth mentioning. "I didn't sit at dad's side each day last year," he told them. "I kept up my studies and, do you remember Gigantomachia?" He asked them.

Hitoshi nodded while Ochaco frowned. "He was at my birthday party," Izuku reminded her.

"Oh, yes!" Ochaco said.

"He's my dad's bodyguard," Izuku reminded them. "He taught me to fight."

Two sets of wide eyes regarded him at that information.

Izuku smirked. "Don't tell Gatarui?" He asked.

Hitoshi laughed. "You want a fight?"

"Not really," Izuku disagreed. "But if that's what it takes to make him be tolerable, then I'm game," he said before taking a bite from his bento. Kurogiri had packed him a tonkatsu. It was good. The rice was fluffy and the sauce had just the right amount of tang.

"He wasn't that bad," Ochaco said. "Besides, this is a new school, and you've already managed to upset the teacher," she commented.

Izuku huffed. "My quirk is a part of me, therefore my name is really all you need to know," he explained.

Ochaco held up her hands. "I know, I know! And by not saying it, you made it easier for HItoshi," she added.

"People aren't still-" Izuku didn't get to finish .

"Yeah, they are."

"That's stupid," Izuku declared. "Actually it's a reflection of them," he corrected his statement.

"What do you mean?" Hitoshi asked. He knew what Izuku was asking about. Had people been cautious around him once they knew what his quirk was? Unfortunately, the answer was yes. Gatarui had been cautious, but not cautious enough and that was understandable. He did use his quirk on Gatarui. But he didn't use it on other people. No one seemed to remember that.

"Why are they so afraid you are going to use your quirk on them? To me, that says that they would use their quirk on you if they could! You are only afraid of something you envisage, or something you think you could do yourself. They are afraid because they will use their quirk if they can," he concluded.

Ochaco blinked at the information before she nodded slowly. That actually made sense. "So anyone who is worried about Hitoshi using his quirk is someone who will use their quirk if they think they can get away with it?" she asked the summarising question.

Izuku nodded. "That sounds about right," he agreed before he turned to look Hitoshi in the eye. "So basically, they are morons," he said, deadpan.

That got another laugh out of Hitoshi.

Izuku smiled and relaxed fully as he continued to eat his lunch with his friends.

He'd missed this and just being here made him happy and he pulled out the green charm he'd put on this morning. He held it out to his friends.

Ochaco laughed and pulled out her own.

"Mine is at home," Hitoshi admitted.

Izuku touched his pendant to Ochaco's. It felt like the beginning of a ritual but it felt good.

"Bring it tomorrow," Izuku said as he smiled.

Right at the moment, he didn't mind the restrictions his dad had put on him to come to school here.

His friends were worth it.

-ted-

So there we are, Izuku is reunited with his friends! In Middle School though but some pests have also come along for the ride. Still Izuku's back to being friends with Ochaco and Hitoshi, so that much is at least right with the world. However, Yakuni is going to have to meet Dragon's Daddy again for his indiscretion and while it might not look like it, the Doctor upsold his potential well! AFO will remember that bit. He likes useful people after all.

My discord is on this code: ZX2R5h2cEm FFN will remove links but you should be able to figure that out.

-ted-

Loved it? Hated it? Found a spelling mistake? Let me know please!