The day after their session Izuku got up early and instead of cooking breakfast, he decided that he and Hinako should go out for breakfast. If he was going to do this he needed to make sure the two of them weren't interrupted and in pursuit of that goal he turned his phone off. He scratched his cheek as he got dressed hearing Hinako rushing down the hall to the front door. She seemed really excited about this little outing. Izuku stepped out of his bedroom dressed in an ocean blue button-up shirt and jeans. He walked to the front door seeing Hinako dressed in black jeans with the knees torn out and a pink t-shirt.
Hinako had just finished putting on her sandals as her father walked up she smiled brightly at his entrance. The sight really showed how far the two of them had come this time last year Hinako would hardly acknowledge him entering the room let alone smile at him as if she was glad to see him. He returned her smile that his mother said was just like his. "Are you ready to go Hinako?" Izuku asked tying his sneakers before reaching for the doorknob.
"Yep, what's for breakfast?" She asked as Izuku opened the door and walked outside. At that moment Izuku realized the giant hole in his plan. "Uhh I-I don't know." He said scratching his head and giving an awkward chuckle. With all the planning he'd done for this outing he'd forgotten what they would eat. Hinako looked at her dad and just burst into laughter.
"Of course you did dad." She said clutching her stomach as she stood up straight. "I love you, dad." She said before her eyes widened and looked at her father whose eyes were just as wide. That had been the first time in a very long time that Hinako had said I love you. Izuku couldn't help but chuckle.
"Sorry, I'm such a goof." He said before snapping his fingers. "I know what we're going to eat." He said jogging down the path to the sidewalk and waved back at Hinako. "Come on Hinako keep up." He said as Hinako looked at him like he was speaking another language before realizing what he wanted.
"What, we're going to run there?!" She shouted after her father completely dumbfounded by this turn of events as she slowly caught up to him.
"What of course not we're just going to jog there. It's a nice cool morning and well I could use the exercise I think I'm starting to grow into my dad bod." He said as Hinako went back into the house to swap out her sandals for sneakers before the two jogged down the road. Hinako looked at her dad as his powerful arms moved back and forth and his legs practically rippled with strength as he ran.
"Dad I don't know who told you that, but they're lying through their teeth. I can see your six-pack through your shirt come on. If that's a dad bod then every dad should aspire to that." She said shaking her head. "But more importantly you do realize that I'm going to be dead before we reach the town." She said feeling sweat prickle her brow. Izuku just shook his head.
"Oh come on Hinako you can do it. I know you can." Izuku said with a smile.
Izuku was wrong Hinako made it halfway before nearly passing out. Hinako was covered in sweat her pink shirt having grown darker from it as she drew in ragged breaths with her hands on her knees. "You're…going to… kill… me dad." She said through labored breaths before standing up and holding her hands over her head and looked at her dad who wasn't even winded.
"You're unbelievable." She said shaking her head and marveling at her dad's stamina. Izuku looked at his daughter.
"I'm sorry Hinako I thought this would be easy for a young girl like you." He said though the smirk on his face took out a lot of sincerity.
"Oh please, dad I don't exercise like that. I do some Yoga but that's about it, I'm not trying to go cross country." She said closing her eyes and shaking her head. As much as it pained her to admit it her dad was in amazing shape. She opened her eyes and saw her dad kneeling with his back to her. "Uh, what are you doing?" She asked as Izuku looked over his shoulder at her.
"We're barely halfway to town and it'll take forever for a taxi to make it out here so come on I'll carry you the rest of the way," Izuku said and as Hinako opened her mouth he continued. "I won't fly alright I could use the exercise anyway so hop on." He said as Hinako blushed wanting to reject his offer, but it was obvious that she was stuck. It was either walk back home and miss breakfast or let her dad carry her forward. Well, she wasn't about to give up on breakfast after sweating this much so she hopped on her father's back feeling him grab her legs and stand up straight as if she wasn't even there.
"Hold on tight," Izuku said as a warning before taking off. Wind blasted Hinako in the face as her dad pounded the road. This display let Hinako know that her dad had been seriously holding back. Of course, she knew her dad was a hell of a lot faster, but this far exceeded what she thought she knew. Hinako buried her face in the crook of her dad's neck to keep the wind from shearing her face or snatching her eyeballs out of their sockets.
Before she knew it they were had arrived and Hinako's once sweat-soaked shirt was now dry. Hinako stiffly let go of her father's body as Izuku rolled his shoulders and finally seeming slightly out of breath as if he'd just did a couple of laps around the house not run a mile with another person on his back. "Like I said you are UNBELIEVABLE!" She shouted though it wasn't out of anger more of just annoyance that she'd severely underestimated her father these last few years. Izuku just chuckled.
"Sorry I guess, but here we are." He said waving towards a bakery. She looked at it and cocked her head. "I didn't know what to expect, but this wasn't it." She said with a shrug. "I guess that's my fault I really don't know what you're into dad." She said as Izuku held the door open for her.
"I guess I haven't taken you here before have I?" He asked as she looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Um, that would be a no." She said as footsteps could be heard as an older woman stepped from the back of the shop. Her eyes widened as she smiled at Izuku.
"Oh, Mr. Deku it's so good to see you. Shall I get your usual?" She asked before looking to Hinako and smiling gently. "Oh is this the daughter you always mention. She looks lovely." The older woman said giving Hinako a look over like a grandmother inspecting their granddaughter for any stains. "She looks like you." The woman said with a smile as Izuku blushed.
"Uh, thanks." He said with a grin as he looked at Hinako. "Uh, Hinako introduce yourself this is Ms. Wakaba. She has the best donuts in town." He said as Hinako gave a slight bow.
"Um Hello, Ms. Wakaba my name is Hinako Midoriya nice to meet you." Ms. Wakaba gave another gentle smile.
"Oh, how polite you raised her well Mr. Deku." She said as she grabbed a box and began filling it with an assortment of donuts from glazed to jelly-filled and set it on the counter. "I put a few extra jelly-filled ones in there since they're your favorite." Ms. Wakaba said with a wink as Izuku chuckled.
"They're only my favorite because you make them Ms. Wakaba," Izuku said placing some money on the counter. "Keep the change." He said as Ms. Wakaba shook her head.
"One of these days you're going to stop saying that." She said before looking at Hinako. "You're dad here always pays too much and just lets me keep it. He's a generous man." She said as she patted Izuku's scarred hand. "You be careful out there Mr. Deku without you who would I sell all these jelly donuts to?" She asked as the two shared a chuckle before Izuku headed for the door opening it for Hinako.
"Have a nice day you two!" Ms. Wakaba called out as Izuku raised his hand in a wave. Hinako looked at her dad for a moment just staring at him which caught Izuku's attention.
"What is it?" He asked fishing out a jelly donut and opening the box to Hinako who took out a plain glazed donut.
"It's nothing really just that whenever I think of you I always imagine you saving lives or well with me. It's surprising that up until just then I didn't even think you had a "normal" life. Going to get donuts and chatting it up with the owner. Having a regular conversation like everyone else, it's just kind of jarring I guess." She said with a shrug before biting into the donut and giving off a very unladylike moan. "Oh god, this is the best donut ever!" She shouted quickly taking another bite letting the sweet pastry consume her taste buds. Izuku chuckled at his daughter's exclamation.
"See, I told you. Best donuts in town. I can't keep myself from coming here at least once a week." At that admission, Hinako stared at her father.
"Wait, wait, wait you come here once a week and yet you look like this?!" She asked flabbergasted. "I call shenanigans!" She shouted as Izuku looked at her.
"Yeah I know I've put on some weight is it really that noticeable?" He asked and as Hinako took him seriously she saw her dad give a small smirk. She couldn't help, but punch him in the arm.
"Dad you're such a liar!" She shouted pretending to be angry but the sporadic giggling made her ploy useless. "Gained weight, yeah right." She said shaking her head as Izuku gave one last chuckle.
"Yeah, I know." He said before looking up and spotting the town's water tower. He smiled before grabbing Hinako and leaping atop the water tower and sitting down looking at the morning sky as he grabbed another donut. Hinako quickly righted herself and shook her head at her dad's antics.
"You're getting too used to just manhandling me dad and I don't know how I feel about it." She said but on the inside, she didn't mind so much. Not so long ago she and her dad were hardly within six feet of each other let alone making physical contact, so this was a good change of pace.
"Sorry, Hinako I just wanted to show you this view. You know when I was training under Endeavor this was how I spent most of my mornings. On a rooftop hastily scarfing down whatever I could hold in one hand as the sun crested the skyline. I'm sure from an outside perspective that must seem awful, but back then all I could see was that beautiful sunrise and hope that on this morning I was better than I was yesterday." He said with a shrug. Once again Hinako was kind of floored by how different her dad was from the mental image she'd constructed over the years.
To her, Izuku had always been Deku she never thought that he actually had to work for it or struggle through obstacles. He made being a hero seem so easy, but now she realized her dad was just human and he had to work for things just as if not harder than everyone else to get where he was today.
"Yeah, it is a nice sunrise." She said cringing at how lame that sounded compared to her dad's reminiscence. At this point, Hinako cleared her throat and looked to her dad. "Um dad not to ruin the moment or anything, but I wanted to ask you something and I totally get it if you say no I won't be mad or anything so you don't have to feel bad if you say no hell I'd say no to what I'm going to ask if our positions were reversed!" Hinako nearly bit her tongue at the massive stream of word vomit she was spitting out right now.
"Hinako calm down and take a breath. Don't worry whatever it is I'll listen. Here have a donut!" He said pushing one into her mouth to stem the flow of words. Hinako huffed through the pastry, but couldn't deny its effectiveness. After eating half the donut she felt composed enough to ask her question.
"Dad I want to go back to school like real school." She said bluntly and slowly moved her eyes over to her dad who was still looking at the morning sun, and just when she was about to devolve into sputtering her father spoke.
"Are you sure Hinako?" He asked turning his eyes away from the sun to look her in the eye her golden ones staring into his green ones. Hinako took a moment to think before responding.
"Do you think it's a bad idea?" She asked feeling vulnerable. Had her dad instantly seen a problem in her returning to school that she hadn't? Izuku looked at her for another moment.
"I think it's a wonderful idea, and I'm happy to do that, but I just want to know if you think you're ready for that. If you say you are I trust your judgment after all Hinako no one knows you better than you." He said drawing a knee up and resting his arm on it. Hinako felt a deep rush of relief after hearing her dad explain what it exactly was he was asking her.
"To be honest, dad I don't know. Part of me wants to say I am, but if I'm being honest I don't know. I just know that I want to at least try. What we're doing, this whole therapy thing is so we can get better, and I know I won't get better without facing what I did wrong and trying to move forward. I messed up in school. I deserved to be pulled out, but I'm working on myself and I think both of us are in a better place so that if something does go wrong we can work through it."
Izuku looked at his daughter for a moment longer before nodding. "Aright Hinako I'll fill out the paperwork and you'll start the next semester." He said before scratching his chin. "Guess I'll get a list of schools and we can go over them and then we'll need to go buy school supplies." At this Izuku laughed. "Believe it or not I'm maybe even more excited about you going back to school than you are." Izuku chuckled. Hinako looked at her dad in confusion. Noticing this Izuku elaborated.
"High school was some of the best years of my life Hinako. I made so many friends people I would give my life for, and trust to protect it. I fell in love during that time, and sure things were scary even life-threatening at times, but It was all so much fun. I want you to have that Hinako I know you probably won't go to UA like I did, but that doesn't mean you'll have any less fun. Sure I had action-packed days one after the other, but that meant I didn't get to enjoy normal high school life, going to a prom, meeting up with classmates, and going to karaoke, just doing something spontaneous and stupid because I could. I want all that for you and more Hinako." Izuku stated as Hinako just shook her head.
"Gee dad your setting the bar kind of high aren't you what if I can't make friends. What if people don't like me?" She asked before feeling her dad throw his arm around her shoulder.
"Well even if that happens I'll still go to karaoke with you," Izuku said as Hinako rolled her eyes and laughed.
Izuku and Hinako came down off the water tower after finishing their last donut and as they did a voice called out to them. "Izuku, Hinako?" Izuku turned around having recognized the voice and turned around to see Tsu standing there in a deep green t-shirt and jeans with black sandals.
"Tsu what are you doing here?" He asked walking up to her as Hinako looked at the familiar green-haired heroine and giving a small wave. Tsu looked at Hinako and gave a wave back before looking to Izuku and smiling.
"Well, kero I was thinking about our accidental meeting and thought maybe we could do it again just on purpose this time," Tsu said as Izuku gave her a curious look before smiling.
"Oh well, it has been a while since we got together or well since I've seen any of the old class besides Shoto. That sounds great come on Hinako." Izuku said looking at his daughter who was clutching her stomach.
"Ugh sorry, dad I-I think I ate too many donuts I'm not feeling up for anything else. I-is that alright?" She asked looking up through her bangs at him. Instantly Izuku moved to fuss over her.
"Oh, should I take you home, maybe I should take your temperature. I can make you something for your stomach." He said before Hinako just put her hand up to his face.
"Dad! Just calm down all I need to do is just chill out for a little bit. You go ahead and catch up with your friend I'll head home and lay down." She said as Izuku fished out some money for the cab fare and kissed her forehead.
"Are you sure Hinako?" He asked still not quite ready to let the matter be done. Hinako sighed.
"Yes, dad I think I'll survive a sugar rush and cab ride home." She said walking past him after giving him a quick hug. As she walked past Tsu she shot the older woman a quick wink before hurrying and rounding the corner. Tsu looked back at Izuku trying to keep a blush from her face as the two were left alone.
"Well, Tsu I can show you a nice café where we can catch up. They make a really nice Green Tea and to be honest I've been hearing good things about this Boba tea and I want to try it." Izuku said as Tsu looked at him registering what was happening and kicking her brain to respond.
"Oh, that sounds great." She said as Izuku smiled and began heading in the direction of the Café. Tsu took a deep breath now that she wasn't being sucked into those emerald eyes of his. "This is going to be harder than I thought." She said moving to catch up with Izuku.
Dr. Nabe slowly got out of her car as she approached the massive walls of Tartarus prison. She cautiously approached the man standing there waiting for her. If not for her prior knowledge Dr. Nabe might mistake him for a statue with how motionless he stood. She could barely see the rise and fall of his chest with each breath. "Dr. Nabe I'm glad you could make it." Said Shoto Todoroki Japan's number two hero. Shoto stood an imposing man with his face was unreadable as his mismatched eyes stared down at Dr. Nabe.
Shoto's hero suit was predominantly white with lines of red running through. To Dr. Nabe, it evoked thoughts of an iceberg with cracks of flame running through it. "Don't be so worried Shoto I'm just here to speak with her and learn about the circumstances of her and Midoriya's past." Dr. Nabe explained to most people Shoto was inscrutable, but to her, she could tell the man was worried. She was grateful for his concern, but she found it unnecessary.
"You shouldn't underestimate her Dr. Nabe or this place," Shoto said as he began to lead her inside. Shoto placed his hand on a keypad and after a short moment the giant doors spread open revealing the interior of Tartarus. Shoto began walking and Dr. Nabe gripped her bag tighter before hurrying after the pro hero. She noticed the plethora of cameras and the periodically stationed guards.
Shoto came to yet another door once more placing his hand on a scanner in addition to pressing his eye to a retinal scan. After a moment the doors opened to a heavily guarded hallway. As the two walked past Dr. Nabe heard vicious insults and taunts being hurled by various villains, which reminded Dr. Nabe of something. "Shoto isn't your bro-." Before she could finish a husky voice spoke from a nearby cell.
"Well if it isn't my little brother. How are you Shoto Todoroki?" Said none other than the flame villain Dabi true name Toya Todoroki." Shoto turned his impassive eyes to Dabi.
"I'm fine Toya it's nice to see you too," Shoto said as he began walking again followed by Dabi's husky laughter. Seeing this Dr. Nabe felt compelled to speak.
"You handled that very well Shoto I'm proud of you." She praised him as Shoto gave a short nod.
"Thank you. We're here." He said as they stopped in front of the visitation chamber. "I'd like to go in with you, but I know you're going to say no, so I'll wait out here. You will be recorded by the cameras in there, but the audio has been cut. That's as much of a consideration as Tartarus is willing to give." Shoto explained to her as Dr. Nabe nodded.
"Thank you, Shoto, really. This is more than I expected and I want to assure you that what I'm doing is in my opinion the best way to help your friend." She said as Shoto gave a short nod before signaling to the guards to open the door. There was a hiss and a loud clang as the massive lock was removed. Shoto opened the door for Dr. Nabe who stepped inside. As she did so her eyes scanned the room noting the half a dozen cameras in the room before settling on the only other person in the room. Well in the room was kind of misleading. Himiko Toga sat on the other side of the massive wall of bulletproof Plexiglas.
The woman who sat before her had long blond hair trailing nearly to her butt. It was swept back from her face revealing her practically glowing yellow eyes which were zeroed in on Dr. Nabe. "Hmm that's strange my next psych eval isn't for another six months," Toga said looking over Dr. Nabe taking in every inch of the woman. "Well whatever company is company and I get so little of that lately." She said as Dr. Nabe took a seat.
"Ms. Toga I'm here to talk to you about your relationship with Izuku Midoriya." Dr. Nabe stated. At the mention of the man's name Toga lunged in her chair, but having been strapped to it she didn't get far. It took all of Dr. Nabe's discipline to not react to the action.
"What do you know about my Izukun did he send you here?" She asked clearly eager to speak of the man.
"No he did not; in fact, he has no idea I'm here." Dr. Nabe said as Toga's yellow eyes stared into her own before settling down into her chair.
"I see, so what do you want to know and please call me Toga." The blonde said with a wide grin showcasing her fanged teeth.