Chapter 5: Hell Week

Shinsou trudged out of the 'super-hip urban setting' in defeat. He had failed. He had failed the exam. He had failed Toshinori. He had failed his dad. He had failed Midoriya. He had failed himself. He had failed.

Ahead of him he could hear the nurse who healed him complaining about the exam and the number of prospective students injured. The girl who had propped him up lurched along beside him. Out of the corner of his eye he could see she was looking at him, hesitating to offer comfort. Bowing his head lower, he stared at the ground, blocking her out, venting his frustration on a bit of shattered concrete as he tried to tune everything out.

He almost missed the nurse beg off as she headed to the next test area. Shinsou forced himself to look up at the UA exam center ahead. He really didn't want to go back there. He just didn't have much of a choice.

"Are you okay?"

He finally looked at the girl again and it was all he could do to keep his shoulders from sagging. "Can you tell me something?"

She put a finger up to her mouth, her tongue hung out of the corner. With some reluctance she nodded. Shinsou returned to looking at the ground, "How many points did you get?"

"Twenty four, kero."

"Doesn't seem like much, does it?" He laughed without a trace of humor, "How long did you stay with me?" The girl was silent and he swallowed the knot in his throat as he looked back at her, unable to keep tears from rolling down his cheeks, "How long?"

"Kero." She croaked, glancing down, "Almost three minutes."

He let out a stuttering breath. Almost a third of the exam. How many others had spent those three minutes racking up points? "What will you do if it isn't enough?"

Her shoulders hitched, and she gently swayed in place. "There are other schools." She murmured, but he could hear the uncertainty in her voice. His mouth felt like it was stuffed with cotton.

"I'm sorry for taking up so much of your time." He sniveled and she became a blur as his eyes filled with tears. He dragged his sleeve across his eyes, clearing his view, "I don't know what type of hero you're trying to be, but you're already a great rescue hero." The words came out in a hoarse shout. He'd had to force them out, to make sure she heard them. She'd earned them.

She stared at him for a long moment. Her expression didn't change. He wondered if it could. But even as she lowered her gaze, she seemed to straighten up, standing taller than before he had spoken. "Thank you," She looked back up at him and nodded, "I'm glad you're okay."

"Yeah." He managed to laugh, "Thanks to you."

She looked back to the exam center, "I have to go home to watch my brother and sister. Are you ready to go back there?"

He nodded and sighed, "I should be fine now."

They walked back to the exam center in silence.

"Come on, pick up." Shinsou shifted his cell from one hear to the other, but Izuku wasn't answering. He wasn't responding to texts either. Neither of those boded well to Shinsou. He'd already been to the changing area. The locker Izuku had used, the one right next to the one he had used, had been emptied before he even arrived. The ringing stopped and he clicked disconnect as the phone directed him to voicemail. Unfortunately, that meant that he was looking for Izuku blind, without so much as a lead to follow.

Izuku certainly had a head start on him. He'd been out of it for at least ten minutes after the exam if what the nurse was said was true, and he hadn't exactly rushed back, nor had he changed in a hurry, pulling out his phone and shooting off a few texts before he even started changing. A part of him had slowed him down. It wasn't even the part that was beating himself up over his failure. That part had dashed itself over his emotional rocks already and was just waiting to swell back up again for another go. No, it was the part of him that had nagged and prodded and tugged at him until he had finally gotten Izuku to send out the general studies course application.

That same part of him was now trying to console him with the knowledge that he had sent one out as well.

Another part of him didn't want to find Izuku. Either he too had failed, and ten months of effort, ten months of blood, sweat and tears had come to nothing for either of them, or… or Izuku had succeeded where he had failed. That thought put his hair on end, and wasn't that an ugly realization? Izuku had spent seemingly countless hours working with him on his quirk, gushing at him about how useful it would be, strategizing with him on ways of catching tight lipped villains. And for him to fail when his friend, who didn't even have a quirk, went on to pass, how would he feel about that? He'd cheer for him, he knew he would. But how he'd feel… it sent an unpleasant shiver down his spine. For him to feel this way at even the chance that Izuku would move on without him, it felt like a base betrayal.

That feeling, the fear of Izuku somehow leaving him behind, died when he finally found him. Shinsou didn't even need to ask to know Izuku's test results. Everything about him was wrong, beaten down. He was hunched, staring at the floor, his shoulders hitching as he cried. He could see and hear the tears striking the floor. Shinsou was horrified and relieved and furious that he was relived. Are you happy now? He asked himself, as he nearly broke down in tears again.

"Izuku…" Words failed him. He ran to his friend and fell onto the bench next to him, pulling Izuku into a tight hug. Tears stained his shoulder as he cradled Izuku against him, trying to offer what comfort he could. Izuku didn't reciprocate, he didn't move, he simply sagged as Hitoshi wept alongside him. "I didn't pass either." He eventually managed to offer, but Izuku said nothing; the words weren't consolation to him. Hitoshi wasn't sure any words could console him right now. Hitoshi didn't know how long he sat there, but it was until he had cried out the remainder of his tears.

Izuku seemed to have an inexhaustible supply and they seemed to take every ounce of his strength. For the first time that day Hitoshi was relieved that he had all the training he had received. He doubted he would have been able to pull Izuku to his feet. His friend managed to stop weeping long enough to finally begin to walk, but it was still painfully slow going. It wasn't until they got to the main hall leading out that they stopped, and only then because Hitoshi saw Present Mic. He blinked and led Izuku to a bench. "I have to talk to him for a moment. Just-just stay here." The words fell on deaf ears; Izuku sat down heavily and was already looking at the floor again.

Hitoshi dashed after the hero who happened to turn and look at him, looking more than a little surprised, "There are still applicants here?"

Hitoshi brushed it off, "I was looking for a friend."

Present Mic leaned back, "Oh, you. I remember you. You're the kid that got blown up." He put a hand to his head, "Tough break kid, I'm sorry that happened to you. We can't give you any points for it, but the guy who did it won't be getting in after breaking the rules."

"I don't care about that." He shook his head, "I didn't pass. I get it. But the girl, the one who saved me. Give her my points." He wouldn't have believed it possible for him to shed more tears, but they filled his eyes once more, and he wiped them away to clear his vision, "Please. I know it might not be enough-"

Present Mic's laugh caught him off guard, "You know you're the second caller today to offer up your points to someone else." Hitoshi found Present Mic's finger pointed in his face, "I'll tell you what I told her. The girl who rescued you? There's no reason to give her your points, she's charting well on her own."

Hitoshi drew in a stuttering breath, "You mean she passed? Even though she gave up three minutes of her time?"

Present Mic held his hands up and shied back, "Ah, well, I can't answer that request at this time, but let's just say that she's one of the hit singles from today's performance."

Hitoshi's shoulders sagged, a weight lifted off his shoulders "Thank you."

Present Mic laughed, "No problem. Maybe you'll get another shot on stage to strut your stuff, ya dig?"

Hitoshi stared, watching as Present Mic pointed at him, "Um… I don't actually." He shook his head, ignoring Present Mic's crestfallen look, then glanced back at Izuku, "My friend, he's feeling out of it right now. I'm going to take him home. Thanks again."

The trek back to Izuku's home was miserable Hitoshi kept a guiding hand on his friend's shoulder as Izuku staggered back home in complete silence. Izuku, always talking, mumbling, arguing, or laughing was utterly silent. It was unnatural and worrying. Hitoshi barely watched where he was going, his eyes shooting back to Izuku every few seconds as his friend lurched one way or another. And then there were Izuku's eyes. He knew those eyes, pupils drawn into pinpoints and irises pulled so tight he couldn't see color. He recognized them all too easily; they were the eyes Izuku had whenever they practiced.

But he wasn't using his power. He wished he could, but Izuku wasn't talking. He was like a zombie, too lost in his own mind to think properly. Hitoshi wondered how long it would have taken him to go home if he hadn't been there to drag him back.

"We're almost back." He murmured, during the moment he looked back at the sidewalk. And then the silence returned. He'd tried to fill it before, but Izuku responded to nothing, and he couldn't keep up a one sided conversation like Izuku could. "Inko-san will be home, right?" It was a rhetorical question, he knew she would be, and he thanked the kami for it. Being around Izuku like this was terrible, but the thought of leaving him alone was simply unthinkable.

"We'll take the elevator, okay?" He looked back at the rapidly nearing apartment complex, "I know we're great at stairs, but I don't think I could carry you up right now." He smiled joylessly, hoping for something, anything but Izuku simply took another step and then another, softly jostling back towards Shinsou.

Blessedly the elevator opened the moment he pressed the button and he ushered Izuku in after him. "We'll get you home in just a moment. Inko will know what to do." He hoped.

"Inko?" He didn't care that he was shouting, didn't care that he was walking in with his shoes on, didn't care that he hadn't so much as knocked. He could hear the worry in his own voice, and he glanced back at Izuku who was robotically taking off his shoes. He must have been a sight for Izuku's mother because her eyes widened the moment she saw him, and then widened further when she saw her son.

"I found him like this after the exam." It was like he wasn't even there, Inko passed him without a word, her arms reaching out and grabbing Izuku, pulling him into a tight hug. "He isn't hurt." He added lamely, watching as she ran her fingers through Izuku's hair.

"I'm sorry Izuku. I'm so sorry." She was whispering the words over and over again. Izuku didn't resist as she leaned in and kissed his cheek, he didn't move at all. And then she was guiding him into their home and Hitoshi was alone.

The walk home had been interminable. He had been almost as bad as Izuku, barely able to put one foot in front of the other, he was just drained and overwhelmed and tired. But he couldn't stay at Izuku's. He couldn't stand to hear Inko crying and whispered apologies to her son, nor could he stand Izuku's silence. So he had left, sneaking out like a thief in the night, and wandered home because he had no other place to go.

He pushed his door open, stumbled inside and collapsed against the wall, sinking to the floor. He sat there, stewing, dwelling, ignoring the open door until he felt a rush of anger and slammed it shut. Eventually he pulled his knees up and pressed his face against them, just wanting to shut everything out for a while.

He succeeded better than he thought. He didn't see or hear his father come in; only returning to awareness as a hand gently shook him awake. He blinked, looking up and into his father's concerned eyes. "Hitoshi, are you okay?"

He opened his mouth, felt it move lamely, and then shook his head. His father frowned, then turned around and sank down beside him, "It's okay son, it's okay." His father wrapped an arm around his shoulder and pulled him into a sideways hug. He sat there, still pulled in on himself, and felt himself tearing up again. This just wasn't ending, it was too much. His father pulled him tighter and Hitoshi wrapped his arms around him, crying against his father's chest.

Yawaraki waited until his son had drained himself of tears, "Do you want to talk about it?"

What was there to talk about? He had failed. Izuku had failed too. And… he closed his eyes, "We both failed." Hitoshi bit his lip, "But before I found him, there was a chance he could have succeeded and I… I didn't want him to."

His father was silent for a long moment, "That's natural, I suppose."

"It shouldn't be!" Hitoshi snapped, "It's Izuku dad, he wanted this more than anything."

Yawaraki nodded slowly, "He did, but you did everything you could to get him ready. You tried to find other schools where he could apply to the hero course. You helped him train. You got him to apply to the general studies course just in case this happened."

"I shouldn't have been happy that my best friend failed!" Hitoshi bristled, "How could a good person feel like that?"

Yawaraki stared at him, his face softening, "Everyone has selfish desires son, even good people." His father placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently, "That doesn't make you a villain, it makes you human."

Hitoshi's mouth opened, worked to form words and failed. He closed it and looked at the floor. "Sorry dad."

Sleep didn't come quickly that night. He set his phone aside at midnight, then again at one thirty when staring at the darkness failed to compel him to close his eyes. He wasn't sure when he finally managed to fall asleep, but he woke to his dad shaking him awake. "It's time for you to go to school." His dad murmured, "Or time to tell me you're not up to it so I can let them know."

Hitoshi shook his head, wincing at the light, "I'll go." His father nodded, leaving him to get ready, and he instinctively reached for his phone. Nothing. He'd sent a handful of texts the night before, but there hadn't been any response so far. He frowned, shooting out a quick warning that he was running late and began getting dressed.

Thankfully the stiffness that had permeated his body after sitting hunched up against the wall for who knows how long had faded when his dad gave him a hug after dinner. He threw on his clothes, grabbed his bag and headed out, receiving a quick hug from his dad, as well as a bento and an onigiri for breakfast on the go. "Have a good day, son."

"Thanks dad." He squeezed his father's shoulders and took off.

He still hadn't received a text from Izuku. Not then, and not during the short trip to his apartment. He knocked, but it was Inko who opened the door. Hitoshi blinked. She did not look better than the day before, if anything she looked worse, bags under her eyes, her hair disheveled instead of its normally tight bun. He looked at her incredulously, but she didn't even seem to notice. "I'm sorry Shinsou, Izuku won't be going to school today. He's… not feeling well."

Hitoshi nodded, feeling numb as she went to close the door. "Uh…" She paused, looking at him with tired eyes and he licked his lips, "It's not…" He trailed off, hesitating himself, "Uh. Let me know if he feels better. Maybe we can train together."

She reached out and placed a hand on his cheek, looking weepy, "Thank you, you're a good friend. I'll let you know."

Hitoshi could only nod and watch as she closed the door. Coward. He should have said something. She needed something. Izuku needed time, he shouldn't have been surprised that Izuku wasn't ready to go back yet, but Inko needed something else and he wasn't sure there was anything he could do. The look in her eyes, downcast, depressed, he wasn't used to that, and it bothered him almost as much as how Izuku felt.

He dwelt on their misery the entire way to school. The route had long since become rote, but it felt different when Izuku wasn't with him. It had happened before, but never like this. He couldn't remember a time when Izuku and Inko looked so down. He grit his teeth as he stomped into Aldera. Out of long habit he was being ignored, and for once he was truly grateful because he had no clue what he was going to say or do.

It was only when he got to class he realized his error.

"How many points did you get?" Shinsou froze at the door as Bakugo stared at him with narrowed eyes. His mouth went dry and he glanced away, heading for his desk, but Bakugo intercepted him, stepping in front of him, "I asked you a question villain."

Shinsou balled his hands into fists. He wasn't ready to hear Bakugo crowing that he was the only one going to UA. Not now, not today. "Move." Bakugo let out a single mirthless laugh, but failed to actually talk. It made Shinsou hate him all the more. He finally looked up, his gaze meeting Bakugo's, "I'm not telling you anything. Now get out of my way." He could hear how rushed the words were, and that only served to entice Bakugo. He simply shook his head, a feral grin on his lips.

Shinsou's stomach dropped, "I just want to take my seat." He wasn't ready for this; he didn't want to deal with this. He slipped between the desks beside him, but Bakugo just followed suit. It was infuriating. "I am not telling you how many points I got Bakugo." He was raising his voice, and now everyone was staring at him. Bakugo had an insufferably smug look on his face as he stepped out of Shinsou's way and took his seat. Shinsou stood anger overwhelming his good sense as he watched him, wondering just why he'd given up. Behind him the teacher cleared his throat.

"I hope you're not intending to be that disruptive during class." Shinsou bit on his lip, forestalling a number of responses before he turned and shook his head, not trusting his voice. The teacher looked at him lazily, "Good, now take your seat." He was dismissed with a wave.

Shinsou could hear the rest of the class snickering at him, and it was all he could do to maintain his composure as he finally made his way to his desk.

Hitoshi let out a breath and looked around again. It had been a long time since he had stayed at school after the last class of the day, not since he had befriended Izuku in fact, but today hadn't been miserable enough apparently. Bakugo hadn't let up, every time he'd looked over he'd found Bakugo staring at him. It was unnerving to say the least. He'd booked it out of the class the moment class ended, doing his best to move into the crowd of students so Bakugo couldn't get him.

He'd run upstairs, pushing past the crush, then back down a different stairwell and eventually ducked into the library. It had more exits than a boy's room at least. Fortunately he was alone. He wasn't sure he trusted that, but it was quiet in here and Bakugo wasn't exactly stealthy. He had a few minutes before he moved again, just in case, before heading out. In the meantime he began texting Izuku.

'You feeling better?' He waited a few seconds before dashing off a follow-up, 'Bakugo's been a real pain today.' Minutes clicked by, but no response came.

He glanced into the empty hall and quickly but quietly made his way to a stairwell, going up the stairs easily and looking around again. Now he was alone. Even the students who had been cleaning after school had gone home. He sighed and called Inko. The phone rang three times before she finally answered, "Oh Hitoshi… I'm sorry, I should have called sooner."

"That's okay, how is Izuku doing?"

The line went silent for a moment, and she apologized again, "I'm sorry, I really don't think Izuku is ready to train with you today."

"Maybe tomorrow then?" He tried his best to sound hopeful, he really did.

"Maybe." She didn't sound at all confident, "Thank you for calling."

The line went dead and Shinsou swallowed a bitter taste in his mouth. At least, if Bakugo was waiting for him, he wouldn't expect him to head straight home…

Hitoshi cringed as Inko shook her head, shutting his question down before he could even ask it, "But if he's out today, he'll have missed more than half the week."

"I know Hitoshi, it's just, since the exam…" Inko trailed off. She still couldn't meet his eye as she tried to beg off once again. Her hands were dancing nervously, coming together and separating. She was forcing herself to smile and was doing a poor job of it.

"He needs to come back to school." Hitoshi could hear the worry in his own voice, and saw it stabbing her in the heart.

"I know. He just… needs a few more days." She did glance at him, barely, her eyes drifting over him, refusing to linger.

"C-can I at least talk to him?"

Inko bowed her head, "He really hasn't been talking much." Her voice choked, and she placed a hand to her mouth. "I'm sorry." The words were weak, and she turned away, hand on the door.

"Wait." She stopped, "Please?"

She glanced at him, with puffy eyes, "I'm sorry."

The door was closing. Another day of silence from Izuku, another day of Bakugo breathing down his neck, another day thinking about Izuku and Inko and their mutual misery, and trying to... he didn't even know. He just knew he couldn't take another day of it. "Please Inko-san, let me at least try? I know he's taking it hard, I am too."

Her shoulders sagged, "It's… different, Hitoshi. I know you feel bad for Izuku, but…"

The rest of her words trailed off. He blinked, she hadn't asked… she hadn't spoken to him, she might not have spoken to dad either. She didn't even know. "I didn't pass." He wasn't sure if he cut her off or not, but when he looked at her again she was staring at him wide-eyed.

"What?"

"I didn't pass either." She looked entirely incredulous and he shook his head, "The practical, it was against robots." He shrugged helplessly, "My quirk only works on people. I… I failed."

She stared at him, her mouth opening until she covered it, "I'm… sorry."

"It's not your fault. It's not your fault that Izuku didn't pass." Her eyes widened and he forced himself to look down, "Please stop blaming yourself." He shut his eyes, "I have a quirk and I still failed. It isn't your fault."

"I didn't realize." Her voice was soft, distant, "Izuku… he's always said your quirk was amazing. I just… I just assumed."

Hitoshi sagged, "Dad did too, I think." Inko placed a hand on his shoulder and he looked up at her. She looked saddened, but not in the same way. She didn't look on the verge of tears, and for that moment he felt just the slightest stirring of optimism. He hadn't expected his failure to brighten her mood, but at this point he was willing to take what he could get. "Can I talk to Izuku? Please?"

She hesitated, opening her mouth to shut him down once more, but stilled her tongue and nodded instead, stepping aside and letting him in. The Midoriya's had always been comfortable for him. He spent almost as much time here as he did at home. At that moment it felt different, off. Inko closed the door behind him, but didn't follow him as he walked to her son's room.

Here goes nothing, he thought, and knocked. There was a silence, then a slow shuffling. The door opened and Izuku was there, looking the worse for wear. Bags under his eyes, still in pajamas, he looked haggard, his hair even messier than usual. Izuku blinked at him ponderously. "Hitoshi?" He sounded confused, which Hitoshi couldn't really blame him for.

"Get ready, you're coming to school."

Izuku blinked, "Hitoshi, I don't-"

"You can't just hide in your room. You can't just… just give up."

Izuku winced, looking away, "I know. I…"

He trailed off and Hitoshi sighed, "I failed the exam too, Izuku. I know you were out of it when I told you, but we both need to figure out another way forward."

Izuku blanched, "You failed?" Hitoshi merely nodded, but Izuku seemed to withdraw once more. "I can't…" He almost began to mutter, but looked back, cutting himself off, "It wasn't a fair test for you, was it?"

Shinsou folded his arms over his chest, "Did any of those robots talk to you?" Izuku merely frowned and shook his head. "It sucked, and I hated it. But we can't just give up. You can't just sit here wallowing, get ready for class."

Izuku cringed, "I don't-"

"I'm not asking." Hitoshi said, cutting him off. "My quirk may not have gotten me into UA, but it can get you to school."

Izuku hesitated, but crumbled under Hitoshi's gaze, "Give me five minutes, okay?"

Toshinori Yagi stood at the principal's door, folder in hand. His non-existent stomach was roiling, but he couldn't avoid this any longer. He sighed and knocked, the door slipping open as he rapped against it a second time. "Come in All Might," Nedzu's soft voice slipped through the crack, "to what do I have the pleasure?"

Toshinori, feeling distinctly unlike All Might, steeled himself as he stepped inside. The principal was seated behind his desk; two cups of tea were on the table gently steaming. Vaguely he wondered if the principal had watched him on cameras or had he anticipated his arrival. "Hello Nedzu sir, I was hoping to speak to you."

"Please, sit down," Nedzu's face was unreadable as it always was. Human emotions didn't really convey on his face, "What can I do for you today?"

Toshinori took the offered seat and looked at the tea before him, "Sir, I don't know how to say this, but I am having an ethical dilemma."

"All Might having an ethical dilemma? And here I thought today would be a dull day." The principal's voice was deceptively soft but he spoke just a bit faster than normal, Toshinori wondered if that was because he was excited or not, "Is it because one of your students failed the entrance exam?"

Toshinori hesitated, but nodded, "Yes sir. One of the children I was training failed."

The principal's paws came together, "And now you're wondering if you should ask for them to be entered via recommendation."

Toshinori sagged in his seat, was he really that obvious? "Yes sir."

If anything, it almost made the principal more eager, "Is it that you think that you would be recommending a student because you trained them and that they received an unfair advantage? Or because the test didn't allow them a proper assessment of their abilities?"

The worst part of talking with his new boss was that he always felt like he was being led around by his nose, "A bit of both, sir."

"Ah, I see."

The principal merely reclined in his chair and took a sip from his cup. Toshinori had the distinct feeling that he was being toyed with, "What would you advise in this situation?"

"The recommendation exam has passed, as you might recall. And while you are correct in your assessment that the exam seemed almost tailor made to thwart his quirk, even though he managed to score more points than one might expect." Nedzu placed down his tea, "A shame, of course, but assessing with robots is the only way to safely run the tests. Humans are so full of biases and limitations that it would be impossible to run with human actors. Not in the group settings we have become accustomed to. Already we have potential students injured during exams, like your successor."

Toshinori blanched, those injuries hadn't gone unnoticed or uncommented upon, but he had still received the points for his action. "Yes sir."

"Tell me All Might, if the situation were reversed, if your protégé had failed and your other student had passed, what would you have done?"

"I'm not sure, sir. I…" He trailed off. Would he have pulled the strings necessary to get Midoriya in? Would he have recommended him to another school? A foul taste filled his mouth, "I would have gotten him in somewhere." He wasn't proud of the admission, but if he was being honest with himself, it was the truth. "It's too important not to."

"For you," Toshinori's mouth opened but Nedzu leaned back in his chair, "And society, of course. The symbol of peace's successor should be taken very seriously."

That feeling of being toyed with lingered, "Yes sir."

"Tell me, why do you think it's important that this other student be given a place within our classes when he failed his entrance exam?"

"I'm… not sure I should ask that sir. That's part of the dilemma."

Nedzu leaned forward, "Are you afraid that rejection might send him on a dark path?"

"No." The word came out instantly, but Nedzu's gaze remained, searching. Toshinori shook his head, "No. He's had it drilled into him that his quirk is evil, and because of that most people think he is evil, but I don't believe it. He wouldn't become a villain, if for no other reason than to spite the people who believe he would."

Nedzu shrugged, and Toshinori wondered if it was a natural gesture or an affectation, "Certainly a novel reason not to become a villain, but that wouldn't necessarily make him a hero. Are you upset that you didn't recommend him earlier?"

That twisted his gut. It was possible that his training would have given Shinsou a better shot at the recommendation exam rather than the general, but he would have had to put the boy on a higher pedestal than Midoriya and he couldn't do that. It wasn't that Shinsou didn't work hard, he did his best, but Midoriya worked so much harder. It would have created a rift between the two, and that ignored the difficulty he would have had in explaining how he, as All Might, knew the boy in the first place. Finally he shook his head, "I don't think I would have."

"Then why do you think he should be in the hero course?"

"Because he was able to take control of me."

For just a moment Nedzu seemed caught off guard, "He used his quirk on you?"

"I allowed…" Toshinori hesitated. This wasn't a normal conversation, the boy's quirk wasn't… normal. It would be all too easy to paint the boy with the wrong brush. He refocused and looked at Nedzu, words chosen with care, "No. I asked him to. Not as All Might, but as you see me. He had good reasons not to trust me, and I asked him to use his quirk so he could verify I was trustworthy."

Nedzu nodded slowly, "I see."

"He could have done it any number of times while I was instructing him, but he never did it again. Not even when I was pushing him beyond his limits."

"You have faith in him?"

"Yes." This time there was no follow up. None was needed.

Nedzu thought for a moment, "Before you came, I did check on this second student of yours. He has grades worthy of getting into general studies as well, you know."

Toshinori nodded, "I saw."

"There's still the sports festival." Nedzu offered breezily.

Toshinori nodded, already seeing where he was being led, not that it made him any happier, "Yes sir. There is the sports festival."

"And there's nothing preventing you from continuing to train him either."

Toshinori winced internally. Heroics, teaching, taking care of homework, and tutoring on top, he was going to be very busy. "No sir."

"Then I wish your student luck on his next chance." The principal leaned back in his chair, "Have a good day All Might."

One advantage to being late, Hitoshi reflected, was that Bakugo couldn't bother them before class started. The drawback was being held back after class as punishment, while Bakugo volunteered to clean just so he could stick around to watch them squirm until he could question them. There was no other reason for him to be so unbearably slow.

Their teacher spoke of propriety, their conduct and disrespect, and Izuku seemed to shrink while battered by it. Hitoshi hated it as well, considering how little respect they were shown, but held his tongue. Bakugo seemed to be positively glowing at the light reaming they were taking, and he found the blonde's eyes constantly tugging away from what he was doing just so he could grin at them. The teacher finished his lecture and departed, leaving the three alone. Hitoshi wanted nothing more than to book it, but Izuku seemed deflated, putting away his things with painful slowness.

And even if he had made a break for it, Bakugo had positioned himself at the door just as the teacher left. He was staring at them, "I shouldn't be surprised that both of you failed, you're both worthless, a villain and his loser accomplice." He shook his head, sneering, "With you being out, I thought one of those one pointers got you Deku."

Hitoshi's blood boiled as he watched Izuku wilt, and he shot a venomous glance at Bakugo, "Shut up!"

"What do you want?" Izuku's voice caught Hitoshi off guard, it was softer than normal, and he was looking at the bully with a sunken gaze.

Hitoshi thought he saw Bakugo look his way, but only out of the corner of his eye. He couldn't drag his eyes away from Izuku, "You don't-"

Izuku looked at him, and Hitoshi could scarcely stand to see him. He just seemed so drained, barely able to keep his head up. And he'd dragged him here, to this. Izuku shook his head, "It doesn't matter." The words were so defeated, they pulled at Hitoshi's heart. He had brought this on Izuku.

Bakugo hesitated a moment looking at Hitoshi warily, "I want to know how many points you scored."

Hitoshi hesitated, reluctantly looking at Bakugo. "I'm not-" He could hear his own voice, the hesitancy, and Bakugo seemed to seize on it, a grin forming on his lips.

"I didn't score any points." Izuku cut him off and Hitoshi felt his stomach clench. Bakugo had looked startled for a second, but then his smile was returning, widening even further than before. Izuku just looked tired, "Was that it? Was that all you wanted? Can we leave now?"

"I still need to know how many that villain took." Bakugo nodded towards him and Hitoshi cringed. Took? What did that mean?

Izuku sighed, "Need? You need to know? Why?" He waved at Hitoshi, "Isn't it enough to know he thinks he failed? Why do you need to know?" Bakugo scowled, but Izuku shook his head, "Do you really need to brag that badly?"

"Quiet, you're nothing but a quirkless loser. I knew you wouldn't get any points." He tore his gaze from Izuku and Hitoshi found the piercing gaze focused on him, "I want to know how many points you stole."

Hitoshi nearly choked on his breath. "Stole-"

"Stole." Bakugo drove over him, eyes narrowed, "Those robots didn't talk, and your quirk wouldn't destroy them; all you would have been able to do was have others do your dirty work for you." Bakugo leered at him, "So any points you did get were stolen. How many people had their chances ruined because of you?"

Words failed to form. It was true, wasn't it? He… he hadn't really earned those points himself. He'd used others to get them. Hitoshi's throat felt like it was sealing and he struggled to take a breath. What if the people he controlled hadn't gotten in? What if they were just shy? What if he had caused them to fail?

Izuku grabbed his shoulder, and Hitoshi looked over to see him hovering at his side, concern overwriting the despair that had filled him, "Breathe. Hitoshi, take a breath."

Bakugo snorted, "You should just let him go. If he's that guilty already the world would be better off without him."

Hitoshi shook his head. No. No. It wasn't fair! He didn't want to hurt anyone, he didn't want to ruin anyone's chances, he just wanted to have a chance. Was that too much to ask?

The desk ahead of his clattered sideways as Izuku got between him and Bakugo, Izuku's hands were on his shoulders, "Hitoshi! Breathe." He was so startled he did. His throat burned, but he managed to take a breath, dragging in a gulp of air.

"You should-"

Izuku whirled, "Go to hell Bakugo."

Bakugo growled, and the air filled with subtle pops and cracks of small explosions, "You don't get to talk to me like that you quirkless loser!" Hitoshi could hear him coming. He, he had to say something. He should have grabbed him when he had the chance. Why hadn't he spoken up sooner? He felt tears streaming down his face as Izuku blocked Bakugo's path.

"Leave him alone!"

Bakugo's barking laughter filled the air, "And what are you going to do to stop me Deku?" Hitoshi watched Izuku's hands ball into fists so tight the changed color. He began to wonder if he had merely deprived his brain of oxygen as Bakugo laughed again, "Don't make me laugh; you couldn't even destroy a one pointer during the exam and now you think you can take me on?"

"I did destroy one robot during the exam." Izuku growled, "Tell me Bakugo, did you run from the zero pointer like everyone else?"

Bakugo's arrogance faltered, "The hell?"

"Did you?" Hitoshi blinked, catching Bakugo take a step back. Izuku's back was to him, but something… he couldn't tell what, there was something different. "Or did you destroy it like I did?"

Hitoshi sucked in another breath, "Izuku?"

"You're lying." Bakugo's natural bravado seemed to reassert itself, but Izuku took a step toward him.

"Am I?"

"Stop it, just stop!" Hitoshi shouted, and both of them looked at him. "I got three points." He swallowed the knot at the back of his throat and looked down at his desk, "A one pointer and a two pointer. I… I controlled three people, that's it." He forced himself to look at Bakugo, to see that smug look of superiority, "Are you happy now? Is that good enough for you?"

Bakugo's face remained thunderous for a moment, his entire body tensed, but somehow he reined himself in, "Tch. I knew it." He took a step back, eyes fixed on Izuku, "He's still just a villain."

Izuku stayed between Hitoshi and Bakugo until they left the room, then slumped. "Are you okay?" They spoke in unison. It managed to drag a laugh out of both of them.

Izuku recovered just a bit quicker, "Yeah. I'm fine." Hitoshi nodded, and lied through his teeth when he said the same thing. Izuku probably spotted it, but brushed it off, "Let's get out of here."

The walk back to Izuku's didn't put Hitoshi at ease. He couldn't help but dwell on Bakugo's words and Izuku, while no longer completely silent, didn't start any conversations. "Today was a mistake." Hitoshi couldn't help but blame himself, "I shouldn't have forced you to come."

"It's fine." Izuku replied, but Hitoshi couldn't help but cringe.

"I threatened you."

"You didn't-"

"I did." Hitoshi ground out, "And it was wrong, and I'm sorry."

Izuku shrugged helplessly, "I think I needed it. I… Hitoshi, thank you for getting me to go back to school."

Hitoshi couldn't help but laugh, "Today sucked."

Izuku laughed, readily agreeing, "Yeah, it totally did."

Hitoshi scratched the back of his head, "I hope you don't mind if I take the rest of the week off. I don't think I can handle seeing Bakugo again."

"You can always hang out at my place."

Hitoshi blew out a breath, "After I finally get you to go back to school? You think your mom will be okay with it?"

Izuku looked positively incredulous, "After today? Positive."

"Heh." Hitoshi walked Izuku to his door, "Hey… before I go. There's still something bugging me." Izuku blinked and looked at him, "How did you get Bakugo to back off? You mentioned the zero pointer-"

Izuku froze for an instant, then began stammering, "Oh that! That was nothing! I just… um… I was bluffing! It was nothing really, don't. I… uh… the zero pointer…" He broke off into a nervous chuckle.

Hitoshi simply stared at him, "Uh…"

Izuku turned, "Oh look, there's mom!" He threw open the door and dashed inside, "See you tomorrow!" The solid wood door slammed shut behind him.

Hitoshi's door had scarcely opened when his father's hand brushed against his forehead, "Hmm. Seems like you have a fever." His father smiled blandly, "Looks like you'll have to stay home."

"Dad."

His father tapped a finger against his chin, "Actually, I'll be out all day, perhaps I should drop you off at the Midoriya's."

"Dad." Hitoshi felt a grin forming, but did his best to suppress it.

"I mean, you obviously caught it from Izuku, he can't possibly make you sicker at this point." His father shrugged, looking anywhere but at him.

"Dad." He couldn't help it, he smiled.

His father smirked, "Yes son?"

Hitoshi took a step forward and wrapped his arms around his father, "Thanks dad."

The next few days were blessedly free of Bakugo and Aldera. They took the time to recover, finally, eschewing training for video games and hero studies. Izuku seemed to be on an even bigger All Might kick than normal, if such a thing was possible, though he refrained from watching his favorite video more than once a day for Hitoshi's sake.

It was well-worn territory for the both of them, more than just well-worn if either of them were being honest about it. Izuku still tried to figure out what All Might's quirk was and how it worked, while Hitoshi had long since exhausted his theories. Izuku still took notes on All Might and the others that popped up, his murmuring and the scritch-scratch of pencil on paper a balm on Hitoshi's nerves. Of course they took turns trying to mimic All Might during clips where he spoke, only speaking "Plus Ultra!" together. It was the one voice Hitoshi granted that Midoriya mimicked better than him.

Inko seemed relieved as well, which was a relief to both of them. Hitoshi didn't know how much he had helped, but she favored him with a kind smile every time she saw him. His father visited in the evenings for a shared dinner before bringing Hitoshi home, and, with some reluctance, mentioned he had picked up their homework before school had closed on Friday, though he didn't even mention it until Saturday evening.

Hitoshi was still working on his after dinner on Sunday. His father had brought him home after he'd spent most of the day helping Izuku with what he'd missed, in between taking the last bit of time to goof off. He was just finishing his English work when he heard the doorbell. He heard his father going for it when his phone rang, Izuku was calling. He smiled and swiped to answer, "Hey-"

"I GOT IN! I GOT IN!" Izuku's voice was almost shrill, and Hitoshi pulled the phone away from his ear. Izuku sounded like he was jumping around his room in sheer jubilation.

He continued shouting it as Hitoshi's jaw dropped, "Wait, are you serious?!"

"YES! I JUST GOT THE MESSAGE!"

Hitoshi's eyes widened, "Wait, someone just rang the doorbell! I'll call you back!" He ended the call as he jumped up, dashing from his room, "Dad! Izuku got in! He got in!" He turned the corner and found himself looking at his father and Toshinori. "Dad-" The word died on his lips as he looked between them. He didn't need them to say a word.

All at once he felt his world falling apart.

"I didn't."

Notes: Well that took longer than expected! I hope you all enjoyed that! I'd like to thank littlemissoyashirou for editing, offering support advice and some text in this chapter.

So Bakugo's still a jerkass. I couldn't help but think of The Quick and the Dead while writing Izuku confronting him. Bakugo: "You're not fast enough for me!" Izuku: "Today I am."

In retrospect, I REALLY wish I had him control someone who didn't wind up passing. It would have added significant pathos, and I'm not sure if it would have been worse if it turned out that that theoretical character failed by a point and he knew, or he could never find out if they failed because of him.

Also, I wish I could reply to guests, but I can't. Thank you for commenting!