I do not own My Hero Academia, it is owned by Horikoshi


Chapter 20: Morning on I-Island


Hotel Conference Room: (I-Island)

"I caught the news about what happened so how're you doing?"

"Okay I guess," answered Hawks, "It will please you to know that Tokoyami confronted Wolfram, not Midoriya and the security feeds we've recovered back that up."

"I know, I've seen them, however..."

"The fact he froze up," Hawks sighed, "I know why he did, he was afraid of acting out of revenge like a villain would, that and that he would lose control."

"You think he needs therapy?"

"If this were a normal year, there would be talk of holding him back a year," Hawks shrugged, wincing as he moved the shoulder, "If he were a full on sidekick, he'd be benched and getting counselling, given that villains had murdered a family member."

"Keigo, you really shouldn't be moving around," the HPSC President scolded over the video call.

"I'm not going to be doing anything strenuous at the moment," he replied.

"Were they at I-Island to kill him?"

"No, based on the interrogations, they didn't know he was here till he showed up on security monitors," Hawks answered, "They didn't try to kill All Might initially, because you know who wanted to kill him personally. They just saw him in the security feeds and panicked trying to get the robots to use lethal force."

"I see, thank goodness for super villains with over-inflated egos," she sighed, "Just, so you know there is talk about who should have custody of both Midoriya and Mineta."

"I promised his mother as she was dying to look after him you know," pointed out Hawks rubbing the back of his neck, "So who are the people trying to get custody?"

"The Bakugo family has some claim on Midoriya, but I don't think they are the best candidates given the situation, Ryuku has been pushing to claim custody of Mineta, of course you've laid claim to custody of Midoriya, and All Might has stuck his foot into this as well trying to adopt him. Then as of this morning, we now have Sir Nighteye, Gran Torino, and Nezu..."

"I'd trust Gran Torino to watch them, scarily I'd even trust Nezu too, but hell no for Sir Nighteye," said Hawks, "He won't be a good influence for either of them."

"So you don't want the two of them separated?"

"From what I've seen, they view each other as brothers," Hawks sighed, "While his mother's murderer being caught gives some closure, Midoriya is still a wreck. To perfectly honest Mineta has been a big help when it comes to Izuku at the moment."

"Understandable, I'd be more concerned if he was doing okay. Getting back to the custody dispute, considering you don't really have a place of your own aside from your agency, makes it unlikely for you to get custody, except for two key points."

"Izuku Midoriya is my Apprentice and the other pro-heroes would find me an acceptable guardian?"

"You're getting better, however Nezu wanted to implement a dorm system given the students being targeted, he is waiting to break the news for after the summer break, but I think Midoriya and Mineta could move in early, don't you..."

"Sounds like a plan," Hawks grinned, "Of course that would benefit All Might's case as well."

"I don't think we'd be that concerned with All Might taking custody of Midoriya, but I think you would be the better choice personally. In other news, Tsukuyomi had an excellent debut," she commented, "Helping All Might take down that villain has actually allowed him to become ranked granted at the near bottom of the list, but still."

"I'll let Tokoyami know the good news."

"One more thing, about that device that Dr. Shield developed..."

"Regrettably it was destroyed and the thumb drive with the plans were lost in the helicopter crash."

"Good."

"Wha?"

"I saw the report of what that thing was capable of, if it wasn't for Wolfram getting taken by surprise due to Dark Shadow's unexpected intervention and blindsiding the fiend, there is a good chance All Might could have been killed," she stated, "Better that thing is destroyed than another villain getting its hands on it."

"Still..."

"The other concern is it could spark an arms race," she continued, "It appears he had a foreign backer."

"So what country was backing Wolfram?"

"Evidence points to the Russians, though it could be a false flag," she answered, "Anyways, the last thing we need is another arms race."


Public Park: I-Island

All Might was assisting Dr. Shield in cooking barbecue for most of Class 1-A on I-Island. Bakugo was resting his head on a picnic table, because he had been up most of the night before he'd finally got to go to bed. Some of the students were in a more celebratory mood, while others had been there for Midoriya's breakdown. Shoto Todoroki in particular, took note of two conspicuous absences. "All Might has no business leaving his love child alone and pretending like nothing happened."

Bakugo's head snapped up from the picnic table it was resting on, "You really are a complete idiot, you half and half dumb-ass! DEKU IS NOT ALL MIGHT'S SECRET LOVE CHILD!"

"It would be like you to deny the truth..."

"Guys you really shouldn't..."

"SHUT UP!"

Kirishima sighed trying to think of something to say in response, "Come on guys..."

"You can deny the truth all you want."

Bakugo sighed in response shaking his head, "Okay, I'll speak slowly so a even a complete idiot like you can follow. All Might's blood type is A, Deku's blood type is O negative, his mother did not have the same blood type as Deku's."

"It's still..."

All Might finally noticed the back and forth and walked over, "Young Bakugo speaks the truth, young Midoriya is not my biological son. In fact, before I left Japan I submitted papers to start the process to try to adopt him, it is the least I can do considering both his parents are dead over people jumping to conclusions."

"It would just be..."

"If he were really my son, I would be proud to admit it, even if it were out of wed-lock," All Might replied, "The truth is, he isn't my son. That said, if the adoption goes through then he will be from a legal standpoint, but it will not be by blood."

"I'm going to go get him," Tokoyami suddenly spoke up, until now he had been unnoticed by everyone, "Kaminari, if you could track down Mineta..."

"Uh sure, I have a few ideas where to look," Kaminari shrugged, "Not sure where you can find Midoriya though."

"I'll manage, I have an idea where to look," Tokoyami replied walking off.


Balcony overlooking artificial beach: (I-Island)

Minoru Mineta sighed, sitting on top of the railing overlooking the artificial beach that was used to study aquatic quirks (in practice it was also often used for people to use for recreation). He had thought coming here would let him take his mind off things it really wasn't working. 'Seriously, here I thought seeing girls running around in bikinis would at least help for a little while.' To be honest with himself, he really didn't feel like swimming even with quite a few pretty girls down there, Asui wasn't down there. 'Izuku is a total wreck, I was... well looking at things objectively I did what I could, but I should have been there for him.'

"Jackpot!" a voice said behind him.


Exterior Walkway outside the I-Island exterior wall:

Izuku Midoriya sat with his legs dangling over the side of the walkway watching the Pacific Ocean. While people were celebrating at the cookout, his heart wasn't in it, and he really didn't want to ruin it for everyone else, so he hadn't shown up.

"I would be foolish to ask you if everything were all right," came a familiar voice, "I must apologize for how I treated you yesterday evening..."

Midoriya heard the footsteps approach him even over the gentle waves, for it was a surprisingly calm day, but didn't look back. "Tokoyami, you don't have to apologize. I've been thinking on whether or not I should continue..."

"Midoriya, what happened to your mother is not your fault, you know that," Tokoyami admonished him, "If you give up they will have..."

"You of all people know it kinda is," Midoriya sighed not looking up, "However, if it wasn't me, they would have targeted whomever was chosen instead. I'm sorry you've been dragged into this."

"There is nothing to apologize for," Tokoyami replied, "You're my friend, I understand you've spent a good portion of your life without any friends..."

"They didn't just murder my mom, my dad is dead too," interrupted Midoriya, "I'm wondering if I should have friends, cause they'll just be..."

"Izuku, calm down if All Might had chosen one of us as his successor, we'd still be in danger, worse there likely would have been more casualties at USJ, I wouldn't have Abyssal Black Body without your insights..."

"You'd figure it out eventually," Midoriya sighed, "Look I'm spoiling the cookout for you, you s-should go h-have f-fun."

Instead of walking off, Tokoyami walked up and sat down next to him, "What kind of friend would I be if I abandoned you? What kind of fellow disciple of Hawks would I be?"

"I take it Mineta didn't show up either?"

"No, he did not, I asked one of the others to find him."

"It'd be Kaminari or Asui, though best bet would be Kaminari," Midoriya commented.

"How did you?"

"Minoru also didn't have many friends and still doesn't, well not close ones," Midoriya's voice had gone flat again, "His core group of friends consist of myself and Kaminari, he also has a crush on Asui judging his behavior."

Tokoyami sighed, "In any event, you isolating yourself is making everyone worried, it isn't healthy for you."

"I-I'm sorry..." Midoriya looked ready to break down.

Tokoyami sighed got to his feet and pulled the smaller boy up, "Please stop apologizing, you're not going to ruin the cookout by being there, now come on, please don't make me have Dark Shadow carry you back."

Midoriya grudgingly acquiesced.


Balcony overlooking artificial Beach: Same time

"Hey Kaminari, you here to look at the girls?" Mineta answered sounding downright depressed.

"Dude you really are in a funk, huh?"

"What was your first clue?" Mineta managed to pull himself around using just his arm strength and dropped off the top of the guard rail so he then had his feet back on the balcony.

"That was pretty smooth," Kaminari complimented.

"Just basic gymnastics," Mineta shrugged and walked over to a table to sit down, "so if you aren't here to look at girls, I take it you're looking for me, why?"

"Kinda worried about you..." Kaminari paused as Mineta shot him a look, "Okay it was Tokoyami's suggestion, but I am worried about you."

Both boys sat down across from each other, there was an awkward silence between the two for several seconds before Mineta finally sighed, "I'm kinda depressed and rather frustrated."

"Midoriya?"

"Yeah?"

"Man you sound like you got rejected..."

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Mineta looked confused then realization dawned on him as he realized what Kaminari thought was going on and facepalmed.

"Kaminari, if I have a crush on anyone it's Asui, not Midoriya..." the smaller boy put his chin on both hands, "This has more to do with what happened to Midoriya's mom, and he's been relying on me and I've let him..."

"Then why aren't you with him?"

"We got into an argument," Mineta answered, "We both said some things that we really need to cool off. I don't really blame Izuku though, he's trying to hide it, but I can tell that everything is not fine."

"Harsh, I lost my grandfather to a heart attack about a year or so ago, so I kinda get..."

"No you don't, you really don't," Mineta interrupted, "His mother was murdered, that's kinda different."

Kaminari sighed, "Dude, I know people think I'm a complete idiot, but I actually have a brain, I know there are differences, but I was kinda close to gramps. Also I was there when it happened, I often feel like if I had used my quirk, maybe I could have jump-started his heart, instead of just calling for help."

"I guess that's one way to look at it," Mineta shrugged, "On the other hand you could have been accused of murdering him if it didn't work."

"Mineta, what is going on, really?" Kaminari asked, "It's kinda ridiculous that someone would target Midoriya's mom over a rumor, All Might really has shown favoritism towards Midoriya from the start of the year. Was his mom having an affair with All Might? Or is he really..."

Mineta glared at him, "He's not All Might's love child!"

"Mineta, I'm only..."

Mineta calmed down, "I saw no signs of Mrs. Midoriya having an affair with All Might. I got a question were you raised by your Grandfather?"

"More or less, my parents were often busy with work so gramps ended up having to watch me, why?"

"Are you your grandpa's love child..." began Mineta.

"Dude don't ever insult my grandfather or mother like that again," electricity began to dance between Kaminari's fingers.

"Uh noted..." Mineta gulped, "In any event, from what I saw, it was more like All Might stepped in as kinda like a father figure, Izzy's dad's a real dead-beat."

"Where is Midoriya's real father?"

"He was in the States and got murdered too," Mineta answered causing Kaminari's jaw to drop open, "They targeted both his mom and dad. Not that Izzy was all that close to his dad, from what I understand Izzy hadn't seen him in years." Mineta paused for a moment deciding how best to explain. "Izzy's quirk manifested rather late compared to you or I, and he was misdiagnosed as quirkless. It caused his parents' marriage to kinda fall apart, though they didn't divorce."

"Dude that's..."

"Awful, yeah I know, though my home life wasn't any better, worse in some ways given my mother."

"That's harsh," Kaminari grimaced, "I kind of see what you mean, at least my parents had a legitimate reason, they also tried to spend time with me when they could, but with all the traveling they had to do."

"I get it," Mineta held up his hand, "Anyways you shouldn't listen to Todoroki's wild theories."

"No kidding, I really am spending to much time around 'Conspiroki'," Kaminari muttered, "He's obsessed with the idea that Midoriya is All Might's secret love child..."

"I know really..." Mineta started cracking up.

"Looks like you two boys are having fun..."

Kaminari's turned around and gulped, "Hey Jiro..."

"Having a relapse?" she asked Mineta.

"Not really," Mineta looked up at her, "So what're you doing here?"

"Tracking down spark-plug over here," Jiro sighed, "Come on you two..."

As they walked back to the park Mineta thought about what was possibly going to happen next. He knew there was going to be another shoe to drop soon, but what it would be he had no idea. He just hoped they could piece Midoriya back together.


A diminutive figure watched the video from I-Island of Midoriya freezing up again and again. 'This is bad,' he thought, 'I'm not an expert on child psychology, but this looks bad.' He sipped on some tea, trying to decide how to approach this latest dilemma.


Notes:

This chapter is kind of a wind down of the I-Island arc. I haven't quite figured out how prominent Fumikage's relationship with Melissa will end up being since it looks to be a long distance relationship, but I will likely address that in later chapters.

Sorry it took so long for this chapter, my Aunt died unexpectedly, she had been undergoing cancer treatments and successfully made it through the first round only to contract Sepsis and die.