Chapter Seven
Friendships Kindled
Momo had her share of flaws. She was all at once both prideful and riddled with self-doubt. She seemed to place herself above others often, and yet she often felt that she couldn't live up to her classmates. She was aware of her flaws, and was determined to work on them.
One flaw she never expected to have was impatience. That seemed destined to change today.
She sat in the waiting room of the hospital, clutching her head. If Mineta made one more comment about some nurse who passed by…
Luckily, the rest of her group consisted of people she liked and respected. The headstrong but friendly and outgoing Kirishima, his best friend, Ashido, and the nice and respectful Sero. It wasn't the worst group imaginable. Mineta was trying all of their patience, however.
They sat in the room, theirs being the first group Aizawa permitted to visit the green-haired savior of Class 1-A, their new classmate, Izuku Midoriya. He also told them that Uraraka would be there with him throughout the day, the two apparently having already become friends.
"Man, this sucks," Ashido complained, not for the first time. "How much longer are we gonna need to wait?"
"I dunno. I'm excited to meet the little guy, though," Kirishima responded. Momo smiled to herself.
"As am I. Though, to be frank, his situation does strike me as odd," she said. The others turned to her questioningly. "I just mean to say that it seems strange to bring him in a month late, rather than just waiting for the next year. I would think it would put him at a heavy disadvantage, no matter how powerful he may be."
"Then we just gotta help him catch up to the rest of us!" Kirishima said, a bright smile on his face. "He's definitely got the potential, if he can get a handle on that quirk of his."
"Have you guys seen the news?" Sero asked. "They've written tons of pieces on the story, and the kid specifically. He's… had a pretty rough go of it."
"What about the epitaph they gave him?" Ashido asked. "The Hero of Embers, tell me that isn't just the coolest!"
"Yeah, it's pretty manly," Kirishima smirked. "But man, it has to suck. He lost his mom, and his fa-"
"1-A?" A woman interjected. The group of five turned to find a nurse walking towards them. "He's ready, if you all are."
Momo knew next to nothing about Izuku Midoriya, so she had no real idea of what to expect. Something about him must have impressed Mr. Aizawa, though. Without realizing, she built up this image of a confident, charismatic genius, capable of using his sharp tongue to navigate any situation.
She was… off the mark in some regards.
It turned out that Midoriya was exceptionally awkward at first, and had some issues with self-worth. It stood out the most with Kirishima, the poor boy seemed rather put off by the red-head's verbose nature. Still, Momo thought, she could see why Aizawa was impressed. Beneath that awkward veneer, there was an intelligence that brimmed in his eyes, and he did have a charisma, though in his own way.
Her group had only just walked in, Kirishima and Ashido both anxiously running up to the bed, asking several questions faster than Midoriya could respond.
"Whoa guys, take it easy! You don't wanna overwhelm him," Uraraka called out, though her smile made known that she regarded the two very fondly.
"Oh, yeah… sorry…" Kirishima said, smiling sheepishly and backing up a bit. "Name's Eijiro Kirishima, glad to meet ya!"
"And I'm Mina! Mina Ashido!" The pink girl said. "It's so good to finally speak to you!"
"Oh, uh… hi, very nice to meet you…! My name is Izuku… Midoriya, but… I guess you already knew that, so... Yeah…" The duo stood still at his response, clearly not expecting him to be so awkward. The greenette had a slight blush to his cheeks already. A few seconds went by with no words, before Ashido chose to break the silence.
"Ohmygodthat'sadorable!" The girl practically squealed. Midoriya instantly started stuttering, face a deep red, as the rest eyed Ashido. "What? This ludicrously powerful dude is able to go toe to toe with an All Might level villain, but he seems to freeze up around strangers. Isn't that just the cutest thing?"
"I'm hurt, Ashido… I don't understand why you'd flock to him, while I've been here all along." Mineta said, clutching his chest, before narrowing his eyes. "Especially considering Uraraka has clearly claimed him as her own."
Suddenly, Midoriya's stuttering ceased. Uraraka stared at the little pervert. Neither said a word, as both their faces turned a dark crimson.
"It's not like that!" They shouted, perfectly in unison, before realizing that they'd been in perfect cease. The dark crimson became the shade of tomatoes.
"Sure, it isn't…" Mineta said, accusingly. "I'm sure that she's just been a great nurse to you, Midoriya… the best kind, eve- hurk!"
The small boy was cut off by tape, wrapping around his mouth. "I think it's time you be quiet, Mineta," Sero said.
"I'm sorry, Midoriya. I assure you that Mineta alone is this terrible, and that he in no way reflects the class you will be joining," Momo said. "My name is Momo Yaoyarozu, and I'm the class Vice Representative. I'm glad to have this chance to meet you, and formally welcome you to 1-A."
Midoriya gave her a kind smile, exhaling slowly and trying to get his cheeks to a normal shade.
"Thank you very much! I'm… I'm really glad to have the opportunity to join your class!" He said, smiling brightly. "I've always dreamed of being a hero, so the chance to actually become one means so much to me!"
Momo returned the boy's smile. "Well, I'm glad that we can do anything at all to return the favor, though I doubt the debt we owe you can ever truly be repaid."
"O-oh, there's no debt!" Midoriya said. "I-I didn't do what I did for compensation!"
Kirishima furrowed his brow. "So… if you don't mind me asking, why did you do it?" The boy turned his eyes to him. "I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm grateful. We're all grateful, I don't think any of us would be here if not for you. We've all just been wondering what caused you to do what you did."
Midoriya looked down for a moment, as though thinking about his answer. Suddenly, he shrugged, looking back up innocently.
"It's what a hero would do."
No one in the room (save Uraraka, Momo suspected) had expected this response. He had such an earnest look in his eyes as he said it.
"So, is it true?" Momo asked. "Did you really not know you had a quirk when you jumped in front of that thing?"
Midoriya shook his head. "I've lived my whole life believing that I'm quirkless. I think I'm just as surprised by my quirk as the rest of you. My mom could attract small objects, and my… my dad could breathe fire, but neither of them were exceptionally powerful. My dad's fire breath was strong enough to be a pro, but even then, he never really was that big of a deal. They think that my own quirk is really just an extreme mutation, a supercharged mix of the two of them."
"Pretty cool, Midoriya!" Kirishima said, ever optimistic.
"For what it's worth, you've got the showing of a legit Pro. You're all over the news. The Hero of Embers, they call ya," Sero informed.
"Mm… those flames of yours do mean that you'll be perfectly suited for both combat and rescue ops. Aizawa said you can use your telekinesis in a conscious state, how is the fire coming?" Momo asked. She realized that she'd struck a chord. His eyes told her that much.
"I've made… progress. The telekinesis is a lot further along than the fire. I can lift up to around four… five hundred pounds, I'd guess?"
"Whoah!" Uraraka exclaimed. "The other day it was around a hundred if you were straining yourself! Way to go, Midoriya!"
Midoriya smiled as he thanked her, and Momo couldn't help but grin herself. It was obvious that he held a certain trust for Uraraka, despite not having known each other for super long. Awkward as he was, he seemed notably more comfortable with her than anyone else.
"So the telekinesis is coming along well, what about the fire? What's different about it?" Momo asked, curious. Again, she realized, this wasn't a particularly happy area for the boy.
"I… uh… I have a pretty bad fear of fire."
Once again, he caught the entire room off guard, though Uraraka seemed equally surprised this time.
"I suppose that makes sense, considering…" Uraraka trailed off, before a realization seemed to dawn on her, like something clicked. She leaned in close, whispering something to Midoriya, which made the boy stiffen. As she leaned away, looking at him with a mix of curiosity and sympathy, he nodded.
"Wait, so… you're scared… of your own quirk?" Mineta asked. "Dude… why?"
"Don't be insensitive," Uraraka said defensively. "His reasons are his own, and he definitely doesn't owe you an answer."
It was probably the meanest Momo had seen the bubbly girl be. She couldn't help but wonder…
"It's okay, Uraraka, thank you," Midoriya said, a gentle smile on his face, before turning to address the rest of the room. "I just… haven't had the best experience with fire, historically. I-if it's okay, I'd like to just leave it at that." The others nodded, none of them being callous to the degree of Mineta.
"Well, in any case, we're glad to have ya, buddy," Kirishima said, patting Midoriya on the shoulder. "We're also more than happy to help ya unpack tomorrow, once you get to the dorms."
"Ah, uh, t-thank you, but that really isn't necessary. I don't have much anyways, they said that they'd supply the furniture and move it in before I got there!"
So, he's on the poor side? Low income?, Momo thought to herself, before she remembered
"No parents, no family, no friends." Homeless. He'd been homeless.
Momo looked up, trying to make eye contact with Uraraka, who was already looking at her. It seemed the boy's first friend had just connected the dots too. The two girls nodded, an unspoken agreement to keep the revelation to themselves, and let their new classmate disclose only what he wanted to.
Momo checked her watch, before getting the others' attention. "Hey, remember, Mr. Aizawa wants us back soon."
"Alright, Momo," Ashido said, before turning to Midoriya. "It was really great to meet you! I hope you like living with us!"
"Yeah, man!" Kirishima added. "1-A sticks together! I hope you enjoy being apart of our little… well, big family."
"F-family?" Midoriya asked, a look of surprise.
"Yeah, we look out for each other around here," Sero said with a smile.
"I truly hope you come to feel welcome with us, Midoriya," Momo said. "We'll all be here, should you need us."
"Th-thank you… really," The boy said, as though they'd been the ones who saved him.
"You got it!" Kirishima said.
"Bye, Midoriya!" Ashido called out, the rest following suit.
Now, with just Izuku and Ochako standing alone in the room, he could only stare at the open door.
He burst into tears.
Family…
Ochako sputtered, waving her arms about frantically. "Mi-Midoriya, are you okay? Did someone hurt you? Was it what Mineta said? Cause if it was, I swear, I'll grind that little perv down to-" She stopped when she saw his smile. Tears spilled over it, but it was as wide and genuine as possible.
"Ura- Ura-..." he stuttered, trying desperately to get the words out. "Uraraka, I have a… a f-family!"
Whatever Ochako was going to say died on her tongue. Suddenly, she found that she was holding back tears herself, as she pulled the green haired boy into a hug.
"Yes, Midoriya…" she said, a wide smile on her own face. "You have a home… with us. Assuming your waterworks don't put us on the streets."
The boy laughed, apologizing despite knowing that she didn't mind the tears. It was an odd feeling, swelling in Izuku's chest. A feeling of… peace.
Katsuki stared at nothing, though his eyes were trained on the ceiling. He sat in the Common Area on one of the couches. Today was the day, Deku was getting his visitors. The third group of the day was on their way back, and the last one would be leaving soon.
The Hero of Embers…
Katsuki lurched forward, staring at his hand as it began to sizzle. Hero… Deku had been called that so many times, by his classmates and the media. Katsuki hadn't been called that before. And the quirkless, powerless kid he once knew beat him to it. And now, they'd be classmates.
A fluke… it's a fluke. He's gonna get here, and fail, because it was all a fluke. A power means nothing if you can't control it.
"Hey, Bakugo!" An annoying voice called out to him. Annoying, but Katsuki found it was the one that irritated him the least. "Last groups leaving! You coming, or not?"
"No, Kirishima."
This seemed to take the spiky haired boy by surprise. "What? I thought you said you knew each other? I'm sure he'd like to see ya! He's such a friendly little guy anyways!"
"Trust me, visiting him would be the worst thing for either of us," Katsuki said, ignoring Kirishima's look as he headed for his room.
He's not better than me. He's not better than me. He's not better than me.
He can't be.
I can't lose to Deku.
"So, what do ya think of our class, De-... Midoriya?" Ochako asked. "The last group is Shoji, Todoroki, and Tokoyami, who are all pretty quiet, but they're nice!"
"I've liked everyone so far…" Izuku replied, his thoughts turning to the… energetic class rep. Kaminari and Jiro stood out to him as well, mainly for their friendly but antagonistic relationship.
"That's great! I'm so glad, De-..." Ochako trailed off, attempting to correct herself again before being interrupted.
"It's Deku, that you keep trying to call me, right?" Izuku asked, eyes cast downwards.
"Y-yeah…" Ochako answered sheepishly.
"I'm sorry, I know it fits me, I don't mean to be demanding by not liking it…" The boy rambled on for a time.
"Midoriya?" Ochako asked, gently. He stopped talking and looked up at her. "Can I tell you why I keep making that mistake?"
"S-sure," he said, uncertainly.
"Well, I think it does fit you really well, so I refer to you as that a lot, in my head."
"Oh," Izuku said, looking down again.
"No, no! Not because you're weak! It's the opposite," she said, smiling, getting the boy's attention once again. "It gives me this feeling of you can do it! I know that it means weak, or defenseless, but I dunno… knowing that a boy called those things his whole life could rise above those labels and accomplish something more heroic than most Pros… it… it gives me hope, y'know? It's like, if Deku can do it, so can I, that kinda thing."
Izuku stared at her, wide eyed.
"So yeah, I do think it's fitting. To me, it embodies your very best attributes. Hopeful, inspiring, cute, encouraging, it makes me feel like everything will be alright!" She said, grinning to the boy.
"C-c-c-cu-... cute?" Izuku asked, his face a deep crimson. Ochako's soon followed suit.
"W-w-w-we-well, y-yes, but, but… but no, but yes?! I-I-I… I do-don't… kn-know?" Ochako was sputtering now, desperately trying to hide her face and regain composure.
"If… i-if you call me Deku, I… I don't think I would mind," Izuku said, breaking her from her spell.
"Really?" She asked, face still red. "Are you sure? If it's going to upset you, I don't want to do it."
"I think… knowing what you mean by it, it helps. Like… like I'm the Deku who can, y'know?" He said, a slightly flushed smile crossing his features. "So… yeah. You can call me that all you want!"
Despite her embarrassment about a little secret influencing her words, she couldn't help but smile back at this boy.
"Okay… okay, Deku!"
She found that the buzz in her chest would linger much longer than she had expected.
Shoto watched as this 'Hero of Embers' stuttered his way through an introduction. He'd expected this, hearing from the groups before him that Midoriya was a rather awkward person, though everyone who'd met him seemed to like him. In truth, Shoto didn't have much interest in the boy on a personal level, but one thing was clear.
Izuku Midoriya could be a true rival.
With the Sports Festival coming soon, Shoto saw an opportunity. His father was still pressuring him to use his fire, to unleash his true power. But it wouldn't happen. He would win this festival, beat everyone who stood in his way, with only his ice. He didn't need the flames, and he would show Endeavor that in the way sure to outrage him the most.
This boy… Izuku Midoriya could prove a very symbolic point for Shoto. Many were sure to count the boy out, say that he would fail in the preliminary rounds due to a lack of experience, but Shoto knew better. He could see the spark of intelligence, the drive to succeed. Midoriya wouldn't fail so easily, no matter how inexperienced he was.
Good. Shoto wanted to beat him himself.
Anything to get one up on his dear old dad.
"So, here you go."
Aizawa spoke the words so easily, but Izuku couldn't help but be astonished.
His dorm was extremely spacious, several times larger than the room he had at his old house. It was a bit barren, but he had a bed, a couch, a desk, as well as a dresser and a television. The school had also provided him with a laptop, which he greatly appreciated.
What he appreciated a bit less was the stack of papers on his desk. It had to be at least more than half his height.
"Yeah, sorry kid," Shota said, seeing what Izuku was gaping at. "It sucks, but there is a lot you're gonna have to do. I told you it wouldn't be easy."
Izuku hesitated a moment, before nodding. "Right. I'm willing to do anything, I'm just wondering what all of this is?"
"At the top of the stack is the paperwork. In essence, the school will be taking over as your legal guardian, me and All Might in particular are going to be listed as your primary caretakers. The rest is… well, homework and classwork from the past month. I know it seems a little daunting, but it is crucial you shrink the gap between you and your classmates as much as possible. I'm sorry if this seems harsh, but don't rely on them. Not for this."
Izuku straightened, nodding again. "Right, I have to succeed on my own merits. That means catching up through my own diligence."
Shota repressed a smile. Kid gets it.
"Your first class will be tomorrow morning, eight-thirty. English, with Present Mic." Shota could see the boy trying not to get excited. "And I know I said not to rely on your classmates academically, but don't be afraid to let them show you around and get to know you. Camaraderie is important."
"Yes sir!"
Shota turned to leave, after explaining the dorm rules to him. He brushed by someone as he left. He could tell that they stopped in the open doorway of Midoriya's room.
He heard the person speak as he walked away.
"Deku…"
