AN: I don't own MHA

Friend?

Twice was a considered a coincidence. But 3 times there is a pattern, and Enji wasn't so sure how to feel about it.

His oldest son was currently out on a date. A girl in his class asked him out and he said yes. Enji questioned if Touya was too young to date. Which they bit back calling him a killjoy. Even his friends tried to stop him, but it was pointless given how excited he was. Meanwhile, Arata and Tenko were out fishing with their grandpas. They wanted to spend some quality time with their newly acquired grandson. Or great-grandson in Albert's case. It was an interesting call to say the least. Arata talked calmly as if nothing was wrong. The same can't be said about those in the background.

"Apologies, Enji, but I'm in the middle of a slight conundrum."

"Get back here! That patient not allowed to leave."

"Poppycock! I know my body! If being shot out of the air couldn't kill me. I doubt a fish could!"

"I knew I was going to like you."

"Mr Arata, Grandpa Al, Grandpa Torino. We're going to crash!"

"Excuse me, Enji. I must be going." He said calmly before ending the call.

Either way that left him alone with Izuku for the day. That in of itself isn't bad. Enji enjoys his time with his youngest. Only this time Izuku wanted to go outside. The child was very insisted on getting this limited-edition hoodie designed after his hero costume. It was a part of this collection set with each one of the current top 10 heroes getting their own design. Since he was technically a part of the top 10 one of the designs were made in his likeness. One problem, they were only being sold in a popular convention for a week and he was only free on one of those days. Enji offered to buy one from the manufacture, or get one of his sidekicks to get one, but Izuku was persistent. The child wanted it to be an outing with his father. Enji couldn't say no.

Then they got side-track.

Rain poured heavily forcing Izuku and Enji to take shelter under a nearby canopy. They wanted to wait out the storm before making the rest of the trip by foot. Then Izuku spotted a group of older boys walking about of an alleyway sniggering. The ringleader upfront of the group held some yen bills in his hand. The smirk on their face disturbed the child. As the boys walked further away, he spotted something moving in the alleyway they came out from. It twitched as if it was in pain. Izuku couldn't ignore it, so he bloated towards it despite his father's yells.

There they saw a small child huddled in a garbage bin. Their raincoat was well-loved with patches of different fabrics. Now ruined with newly formed rips. An umbrella laid snapped at their side. It's mental branches twisting in all directions. Little red wells protected their feet as they held their legs tightly.

Carefully, Izuku walked up to the child, "are you hurt?"

"Please don't hurt me." The child suddenly cried. It was a strange voice. Almost had a hiss to it. On closer inspection, the hands that covered their hooded head in protection weren't normal. They were green scaled with claws for nails. "I swear I don't have a disease."

Enji picked up what happened. He's seen these cases before where a call was wrongfully made. Ever since the age of quirks began, those with a mutant type of quirk always had a stigma against them due to their monstrous appearance. Many fake calls have been made on mutants and unprovoked attacks were unfortunately common. "You have parents, boy?" He asked as he knelt down to the child's level. Thankfully they nodded. "Then let's take you home."

"No!" They cried while lunging forward. The force was enough to drop the hood they wore. The child was a type of lizard mutant with a fizz of purple hair. They were wild as a lion's mane, but the child was anything but wild. Timid than anything and their red eyes were very human-like. They pleaded with the hero. "The groceries my ma needed. I can't go home without them." His claws searched his pockets. Their face become more disheartened as he flipped them inside out. Completely empty.

Given what he spotted earlier, it was a simple puzzle to solve what happened. Izuku didn't know if he should cry or be angry. Instead, he stepped forward and grabbed the child's hands. "Then let's go buy those groceries," he said.

Sadly, the lizard boy looked down. "I don't have any money left."

"Take mine," Izuku announced surprising the other child. "I was going to use it for this something else, but this is more important." He then turned to his father wanting approval. "Is that ok, father?"

With a little pride in his smile, Enji nodded. "If that's what you want."

It was late. A mutant woman with brown leather skin and paler underbelly found herself asleep on top of an open computer. Her snoot wedged between her arms while her tail swept behind her. She looked so peaceful. It wouldn't last for much longer. The woman felt someone poke at her side. Soon her eyes opened to show her golden ring eyes. She spotted the worried face of her son. "Shuichi, honey I'm sorry. Do you need something?" She asked with a yawn. Stretched out her stiff arms. How long had she been out? One look at the clock showed just how much time had passed.

"Ah! It's so late. You must be hungry. The groceries! If I rush downstairs and begged Mrs Lee to keep the store open a little longer…" her panic soon stopped when she licked her forked tongue in the air. It was mouth-watering good. "What's that smell?"

"Uh…pork cutlets?"

"Hello." Suddenly, green hair child popped into her room. They then trotted over to her with the brightest smile imaginable. "Shuichi said you were working really hard, and haven't slept. Lack of sleep is very bad, you know. It can cause a lot of problems." He scolded with a pout as he looked back at her disappointingly. That soon disappeared as the child smiled excitedly. Bouncing up and down at their tiptoes. "Anyway, my father made dinner."

"Who are you?" The mutant woman asked confused. Who was this green child scolding her? How did he get in here? Father?

"I'm Izuku." The boy happily introduced himself. Then he jumped the lizard boy, hugging them tightly at the waist. "I'm Shuichi new friend."

"Friend?" Shuichi asked with both confusion and hope in his eyes.

Izuku was clearly hurt by the question. His eyes started to well up in tears. "You don't want to?" He whimpered.

"No, I want to!" Shuichi hurriedly said making Izuku smile harder. The boy hugged their new lizard friend tighter making them blush red through their scales.

Meanwhile, the woman wasn't so sure what to make of the scene. A part of her thought it was still a dream. This had to be a dream. A random child coming out of nowhere calling her son a friend. It would be a good dream.

The dream continued as the two boys lead her to the kitchen. There another new person entered the dream. A man nearly twice her height. What an odd thing to dream about. They were even cooking for her. The food looked perfect: crispy brown texture, olden fluffy eggs, steamed rice with bright fine garnishes. It had to be a dream.

In the dream her son and this new boy sat her down. It felt real but that couldn't be true. She went through all the motions. Prayers, picking up some chopsticks and chomping down on a bite. The second it hit her tongue it suddenly came to her. This was no dream. Somehow this was real. An overwhelming feeling wash over her. Like a wave of relaxation finally crashing down on her stress shores.

Please let this not be a dream.

"Sorry about that I don't know what came over me," the woman whimpered while wiping away the extra tears she shed. Enji awkwardly comforted her by sliding down the third pack of tissues. She introduced herself as Kana Iguchi somewhere in her whimpers and nose blowing. With her feelings mellowed something new bubbled. Rage and shame. "To think my little Shuichi would sneak out to do my shopping. Without me knowing! And those punks got to him again," she growled while biting down on a tissue.

"Consider yourself lucky this time," Enji scolded. "And get some proper rest. Your eyes look terrible."

Kana blushed. She must truly look like a mess but there was a reason for that. Her husband was currently hospitalised after a hit and run. The doctors said he could recover but for now, he was bed-bound. As the only worker for her family, she had to work twice as hard. Keeping up with bills, feeding herself and her son and managing his education. That was the most difficult part. Her poor boy had been the only mutant in his old school. So, he was bullied often. The choice of education was limited since they were a poor family. When it came to the choice of making her boy go back to that horrid school or teaching him herself it was a no contest. It was quickly decided that Shuichi would be home-schooled which only added to her stress list. It was worth it if it meant his safety.

Unsurprisingly, Enji found himself sympathizing with the woman. His own son found himself in a similar situation. Being the odd one out in his school and was a target for many who seek to overpower the weak. He couldn't blame her for going down the route. Rather he'd praise her. Going through such lengths to protect her only child. Even if it would run her ragged.

Just then Izuku came trotted towards the adults with Shuichi at his side. Around his little body was an oversize hoodie. Its body reached his ankles while his arms swam in its armholes. It was way too big for him, but he didn't mind. He adored the colour of dark navy, embroidered with red flames highlighted touches of gold. It made it pop and shine like real flames. The fabric itself was conformable. Almost like he was being hugged. "Miss, did you really make this?"

Proudly, the lizard woman nodded, "Painful handstitched it myself."

"It's so much better than the one I wanted." Izuku prised while hugging the hoodie. Sure, it was big, but he could grow into it. He'll just need to drink more milk.

"If you like it that much it's yours," she offered. It was an easy offer to make considering how happy it made the child, but they pushed back. Claiming it didn't feel right to just take it. Even offering to pay her for it. It won her heart more. "Take it I insist," she said gleefully while gently pushing the hoodie on the boy. It made them so happy that they ran up and hugged her. Cheering thank you repeatedly.

Shuichi then squeezed between them with a little laptop in his hands. "Ma! Look," he demanded childishly while pushing the laptop on her.

Her hands quickly scrabbled to keep the device from slipping off her lap. Her eyes scanned the screen and she soon understood what got her son excited. "That's amazing, sweetie. That's the highest you've gotten yet," she exclaimed. Her son isn't the brightest child. Not that he's dumb. She's just not the best teacher. Her husband was the better when it came to that sort of thing, yet her son never got scores like these.

"Izuku helped me," Shuichi explained receiving a suspicious look from his mother. It was written in her eyes. Did you cheat? "No, no, no, look." He then tossed some paper at her. Written on it were scribbles of math equations. Some were wrong and others were correct. As messy as it seemed it was well structured. Making it easy to follow. "Izuku's really smart and he explains things so much better than those crummy teachers."

Kana's eyes landed on Izuku in disbelief. The boy couldn't be older than her son, yet he makes this look easy. "Are you a prodigy?"

The line made Enji chuckle. If she thought Izuku understanding these simple equations was impressive. She should see what the boy was really capable of. He's been ahead of the natural follow of children education for a while. That's not just because of natural smarts. "Calling him a prodigy would take away the credit from him working like a madman." It's true. While his son was bright it was his ridiculous work ethic that set him over the edge. They would have to physically take away his books just to get him to do anything else.

Shyly, Shuichi twiddled his claws as he politely asked: "I finished my homework. So, can I play with Izuku a little longer. Please."

Both boys looked up at their parents with begging eyes. Just a little longer. Pretty please. Both parents were weak to their puppy dog expression. Happily, they agreed, and the boys couldn't be happier. They jumped into each other's arms and hugged their parents before running off the play. They didn't go far since the apartment was small. That didn't stop them from bouncing around like little bunnies. Conversing between giggles on what they should do.

The parents watched in a distance their children play. It was good to see them so happy. Especially, for Enji. It's been a while since Izuku had a playmate his age. Now that he thought of it, ever since he took him out of kindergarten Izuku hasn't had any playmates his age. The boy never complained, but they looked so happy. They clearly needed it. Perhaps it was best to make this a frequent occurrence. The family seemed harmless enough, and if his son was happy what more could he ask for. He turned to the lizard lady to make a proposition but notice a concerned look in her eyes. "Something the matter?"

"Just a little baffled. I didn't think anyone would want that silly thing," she started her lizard-like eyes glued to the oversized hoodie Izuku was wearing. "I tried to sell it before. I had this an online shop you see, but no one wanted." The woman was quite crafty with her hands. Mainly with a needle and thread. It was a handy talent to have when you're always on a budget. New clothes would be altered from older ones and with some fresh fabric she could whip up some trendy items that made some well needed extra cash. Started small with cute pencil cases, wallets and gradually got bigger with accessories and clothes. Everything was going great for her little side business. Until she made that hoodie. "I suppose it's my fault for trying to sell it at the time of a scandal. I got a lot of hate because of it."

Enji choked on his drink. He see where this was going, but he wasn't sure how to feel about it.

With a huff in her breath, Kana hissed remembering the trouble she had to go through. "They were so rude. Calming that I was supporting that asshole."

Yup…Enji wasn't prepared for that.

"It's not my fault that he was such a bad person. I didn't even make it because I liked him. The fabric I had available just happened to match him and since heroes were big trends. I thought it would be an easy sell." It was a frustrating time. While juggling her day jobs, and taking care of her son, she had to battle online trolls. Willing to do anything to take her down. All because she tried to sell a hoodie of the flame hero. Unfortunately, she lost the battle. "No one trusted me and pretty much forced me to shut down. I had to start completely by scratch." Sighing, she laid an arm over her forehead. The growing headache from the memory didn't help either. "If I knew he was so horrible. I wouldn't have made."

"Well, I'm sorry the hit to my reputation inconvenienced you so much," Enji spat half sincere and half irritated. His eyes glazed back at her with his usual blazing resolve. "However, I'm not in control of the action of the masses."

It was then everything clicked for her. The identity of the man she was seated across from. His muscular frame and red hair perfectly matched that of a hero she was bad-mouthing just a second ago. She then looked to the child who was happily playing with her own. At first glance, there was nothing significant about them. A completely normal boy until you look at their hands. Covered by crusty purple skin. At first, she thought it was some kind of quirk, so she didn't think much of it. Now she knew better. That wasn't a quirk. They were burned scars. She remembered hearing the story. How the youngest son of that hero got burned and had striking green features. There was no doubt

Calmly, she rosed from her seat. Then she walked to face the fiery man. The two started at each other for a good minute. Then BAM! She dropped on her hands and knees and cried: "I beg for your forgiveness!"

Meanwhile, the children were off in their own little world having the time of their lives. After all this time they finally had a friend. A real breathing friend that won't blankly stare at them saying nothing. Shuichi was the most excited. If he had a tail to would be wagging rapidly. The lizard child guided his new friend back to his room showing off his small collection of cool looking things he owned. Like some ninja turtle figures, A rock that looked like a face, his first fang and a bunch of other miscellaneous items.

Izuku happily listened. Even joining as he pointed to some of the random items. The room was much smaller than his own, but it seemed cosy despite that. His father would never allow his room to get this messy. With clothes scattered about and other random items. That's what made the room fun. It's like stubbing on some hidden treasures. One after another. One such treasure was a photo of three people. Two of them were Shuichi and his mother. The last was a man most likely his father. He wasn't a mutant like his wife and son. They were human with short spikey purple hair and a plain clean face. He wasn't sure what was happening to them. All three of them appeared to be riding some kind of strange cartoon plane with a plastic cape fluttering in place behind them.

"This was when dad took us to Hero World. It was so much fun," Shuichi explained while pointing at the picture. "Dad promised to take us again when he's better. Have you ever been Izuku?" To his surprise the boy shook their head. "Really? Is it because it's expensive? I can understand that."

Once again Izuku shook his head. He had heard of this place before. There was an ad on TV, and it looked like so much fun. He asked his father if he could go, however. "Father says themes parks are dangerous. People can get really hurt and lost limbs," he said. His voice slightly low. "Father doesn't like it if I get hurt."

"But I didn't get hurt," Shuichi challenged showing off all his still attached limbs. Not a single scratch on him If you ignore the ones made by the bullies from earlier. "Plus, it's so much fun. You have to ask your dad to take you at least once."

Again, Izuku shook his head. "It's ok, Shuichi. I don't mind. Father always knows what's best for me," he tried to convince himself. But there was this little voice the echoed in his head. It was a quiet voice, but he could still hear it.

"Don't you have your own opinions? Or Are you just going to follow his words like law forever?"

He'll just ignore that voice for now. After all. He's a good boy.

AN: welcome spinner. You're officially the first member of this AU's dekusquad. Now I recently found out that his age doesn't match Izuku's so for this I've age him down.

Also for those who have seen D-Gary man I hear Miranda's voice actor coming from this woman and I don't know why. There will be a couple of OC parents. But they won't have the level of screen time as someone like Arata. They're more so background decoration that will a appear or be mentioned every once a while. Like Kai's boss event though he's not an OC.