-x- Izuku -x-

Shoto had been missing three days by now, and everyone was frantic. Touya had seen him run past his door, and there had been a note on the counter in his handwriting, saying he was on a walk. Envy was gone, too. Both were not seen anywhere. And the cameras on the neighbor's porches didn't show him even walk down the side walk. He just disappeared.

It was only Izuku and Touya that had wild conspiracies about where the hell he'd gone. He wasn't there. Many of his things weren't there either. Only a few outfits, so he couldn't be gone long.

Izuku was pacing back and forth in the yard. The police were searching for him, but Izuku could only think a portal had come, or he flew away, from the backyard, since he had not been in the house and had not gone out the front door.

He was halfway across the yard when a portal showed up, and Izuku saw Arceus there, accompanied by the monsters that nearly tore Shoto apart. Then he came out, jumping down. He waved to the portal, which closed, nothing to show it had ever been there. Shoto's eyes were a yellow color, gold looking.

When he saw Izuku, he beamed and ran forward hugging him tightly. Envy ran over and reunited with the other eeveelutions in the backyard. "Shoto… where did you go? What happened to your eyes? Why were they there?"

"How long has it been since I left?"

"Uh, three days." Shoto let out a small sigh of relief. "What were you doing?" He put his backpack down, and there were gold rings stuffed inside, looking like those that were around Arceus' waist. Something happened, he did something somewhere. With the god and his direct underlings. And those two hadn't been trying to kill him.

"I was training," he said simply.

"For how long?"

"A year. I'm glad not much time passed here." Izuku looked shocked, but really shouldn't be. "Arceus was training me, with help from Palkia and Dialga. They apologize about attacking you." Izuku's eyes were wide. Shoto was literally trained by the god pokemon directly. Shoto dug through his backpack, and looked in the book. Izuku noticed it was quite thicker than before.

Shoto also took out the gold rings, and clipped them around his wrists like bracelets before they shrunk and shrunk, squeezing his wrists before they melded into his skin, the gold looking like tattoos. "What's that?" Shoto hugged him again. It had only been a few days for Izuku, but a year for Shoto. Was he lonely? He had Envy, at least. And Arceus.

"They keep me from being like a pokemon. It was kind of hard not to. I got really strong there."

"Wait, you need help not being a pokemon?" Izuku demanded. Shoto nodded simply. He looked down at the bands on his wrists with a soft, soft smile.

"I'm really wanting food, I haven't had anything in a year," he said, and rushed inside. Rei was on the couch, looking frantic. She looked up when Shoto ran to hug her.

"Shoto! Where were you?!"

"I got lost on my walk." It was a complete lie, but Izuku saw her eyes go a bit distant. Then she was fine, and was just happy to see him. Izuku was positive Shoto just used a psychic ability to calm her or force her worry away. He used it so easily, and didn't even make a face. When he turned back around to run to the kitchen, his eyes were back to their gray and blue, no longer gold.

He got out the desserts in the fridge and then the food he'd missed for the last three days. Well, a year for him. He stuffed his face, eating it all, looking so happy to have food. Izuku was still disturbed by the fact his friend had been missing a year and it was only three days for him. He sat down next to him at the bar counter.

When he was done, he hurried upstairs and jumped onto his bed, spread eagle. "What happened while you were there?"

"A lot. It's too much to ever explain, but I can use all those moves from before and more, now. I wish I could have mastered time and space, but there wasn't enough time for that, so we focused on everything else."

"So, you were able to learn more from having those bands?"

"Yeah. If they're gone, I'll be a pokemon, but only inside. I'd still look human. Like a ditto but more normal," Shoto explained. "Palkia fast forwarded me to I could see what it was like to be a human pokemon. I didn't really like it, so the bands are here to stay. Also," I can do this. But it doesn't work back, so you can't think back to me.

Izuku grabbed his head, Shoto's voice echoing inside. Arceus, Palkia and Dialga can't speak aloud, so they were good at teaching me proper telepathy. "Shoto…" seeing him looking content and proud, Izuku changed his words. "I'm happy for you."

"Now we just need to work on you."

"So, you're like, god powerful now?"

"Not quite. I can't control what they can. Only regular pokemon powers. Those I collected. I can branch off from hose original ones, but I didn't really collect any more powers while I was there. There's restraints put on me. If I fail to stop or at least heavily slow the shadow pokemon, the powers are gone. But that doesn't really matter because if I fail, I'll be dead." Izuku didn't like this. He was talking so lightly about this. Did he miss them?

He didn't want to dell on that unpleasant thought. "Did you come up with a plan while you were gone?" 'Gone' sounded strained when he said it.

"Yeah." He didn't elaborate. "I can't talk about it."

"Why not?" Izuku hated the secrets and thought they'd moved passed them. Though he didn't even tell Izuku he'd be gone for any amount of time. It was hurtful to see that. Shoto shrugged, and he got no further answer. Izuku gave up on that, knowing Shoto shut down over that topic. The taller's eye welled up with tears, and Izuku went to hug him.

He said, "I missed everyone so much." Izuku felt awful for thinking he didn't miss them at all. Then Touya barged in, looking furious. "Hi, Touya."

"Where the fuck were you?"

"I was training… in another world. With Arceus and two others. Sorry to worry you. But it's only been three days for you."

"Only?! We had no idea where the fuck you went! You said jack shit!" Shoto didn't say anything, didn't look ashamed. "I thought you'd gotten lost in some portal and died somewhere and we'd never find your fucking body!" Shoto looked sad, but didn't apologize. "You'd better have gotten a lot of shit done while you were there!"

The youngest brother nodded, and didn't elaborate. Touya walked up to him and took his face in his hands, turning him back and forth. "The fuck happened to you?" Izuku knew what he meant, but hadn't said it. Something was different.

"Stuff."

"In three days?" Touya growled. Shoto nodded, and stated that for him, it had been an entire year.

"Palkia suspended time for me. This world may have been moving for you, but it was going really slowly. Nobody had to have noticed."

"Sho… you seem so different."

"How?" Shoto asked in surprise. "Oh… I know why. Cause I wasn't confident before. But I know I can do better this time! I'll do my best, but now we have to focus on Izuku's training."

"It's different than just confidence. Your eyes are distant, looking foggy. Did you actually hit your head and are delusional."

"I saw him come out of the portal with Arceus and two other pokemon in the back yard. He didn't hit his head," Izuku stated. Shoto nodded.

"I'm still Shoto," he said quietly, looking concerned at them. "I can try to be how I was before-"

"No, don't bother," Touya said. "Just glad to not have you dead in a ditch or some fucking forest or mountain in Norway." Shoto nodded, relieved. "I have homework now that you're not fucking missing." And he left, slamming the door shut. Shoto sighed sadly, and unpacked his things. The gold lines around his wrist sparkled like real jewelry, only they were in his skin. Izuku reached forward and ran a thumb over it. It really was just a shiny tattoo.

Izuku gave him a small, reassuring smile. Then he continue to unpack. Izuku saw him reach to pull something out, but it was only his hand gripping the air. No, it was probably something Izuku couldn't see. "Is that something I'm not allowed to see?"

"Yeah," Shoto said. He pulled out another invisible item and stashed them in the vents again. He took the pokeball out and destroyed it to nothing more than a melted lump, using his electricity to fry it to something unidentifiable. "Let's get to training you tomorrow."

Izuku nodded, still sad about it all. Still hurt he wasn't told. Though he knew that was irrational. He would have worried, been upset. And Shoto didn't know how long he'd be gone. But up and disappearing had been bad. They couldn't tell anyone what they thought could be possible without ratting him out in some way. But he was back, now.

-x- Shoto -x-

Arceus said it might happen. With how much skill and effort was poured into him over a short single year, there would be some side effects as long as he stayed fully human with the bands on. It appeared he couldn't sleep. He was wide awake all through the night. Not the kind of wide awake where everything is zinging, and he knew he was tired but couldn't shut his brain off.

He just felt how he did the rest of the day. He closed his eyes but sleep didn't come. He took sleeping pills, but sleep didn't come. If that was the price to pay, it was fine. It was nothing. He was fine laying in bed or watching a movie while resting on the soft mattress. He could read more books this way, too. Do productive things.

Nobody would know he couldn't sleep anymore. It wasn't worth it. Once it was all over, and he could take the bands off, sleep could come again. The gold bands were there to keep him contained in his body. It was like a limiter. With those one he couldn't go too far and end up killing himself with too much pressure and power.

But he felt prepared for the shadow pokemon apocalypse. It was all worth it, and the amount of little beads that were special master balls in his invisible box were enough to try and send around. He wasn't sucked into them as long as he wore the bands. It was his idea, with the testing ran by Palkia, who was able to use them without destroying them as long as he could dial them back to when they were fully functional.

Despite them trying to rip him apart once, he'd miss them. They both had bad attitudes, but they grew to be nicer with Shoto. Still harsh, but not cruel. Shoto would miss Arceus so much once his role with him was over. He would leave when that happened, telling Shoto that outright. If he survived the shadow pokemon, his powers would remain, but Arceus would cease to exist in his life.

When the sun rose, he realized it was time for school. He still had school. Had he finished his homework? What were they learning right now? Crap. He got into his uniform, finding his body had not changed at all. No new muscle, nothing. Oh well. He didn't use super strength. His powers were much more complicated. Well, there were the small spots, but he'd gotten used tp them.

He met Izuku at his apartment, enjoying floating around waiting for him to come down. Levitate had become a go to thing for him to use. Since the sleeping bag and hard ground weren't comfortable, he slept right above the ground, the air more cushiony than any expensive mattress.

Looking around, it was kind of a shock to go from the vibrant, creative and weird world to one of dull colors and shapes. It was hard being back already, and he had no idea how he'd act around other people. He barely spoke to Fuyumi and Natsuo when he got back, not knowing how to act. Lying was shitty, and he didn't like manipulating their minds, but he had to so they weren't making a big deal out of his missing days.

When Izuku came over, Shoto gracefully dropped back down to his feet, Envy at the house to spend time with the others and lounge around on soft surfaces all day. She was very happy to be back. The two walked to school, Shoto glad to see more pokemon when they'd been sorely lacking in the other world.

"How are you?" Shoto asked Izuku. "Oh right, it's only been three days," he sighed.

"Do you not like that?" Izuku asked curiously.

"I don't know… I don't know," he repeated more firmly. "It all feels so weird. I got used to it there, it was nothing like here. There were only six beings that I interacted with. Now there's people everywhere, and pokemon. And the environment is so different. I took photos, if you want to see."

"Of course I want to see!" They stopped walking, and Shoto pulled up his phone, and opened the photos. They were password protected. It wouldn't do for random people to find them. He showed all the pokemon and the surroundings. Izuku looked to be in awe while he scrolled through. Shoto wasn't the kind of person to take selfies, and the photos were all taken when none of them were fully aware of it.

Izuku said, "It's beautiful. No wonder you're feeling out of place, it was so different." Shoto nodded. He was glad it seemed like he wasn't so upset anymore. He'd cooled down. "Do you have any photos of yourself?" Shoto nodded. "Lemme see."

"They were only taken to see my face, there were no mirrors." He showed him the photos. It was always of him looking exhausted or delirious.

"You look like shit."

"It's not like the training was fun or easy."

"You also look older… your hair was longer." Shoto nodded. He'd aged there, but was reverted back to the normal timeline when coming back. It wasn't like he was struck by the difference. It was true that there was no mirrors, and after he purified the lake they usually were near, reflections were hard to see in the crystal clear water.

He explained, "Time moved for me there. But coming back here reverted the appearance." Izuku looked at him with pain. "It was a last resort method to help me. It had nothing to do with running away from others or my problems. Arceus offered me to stay and train mind and abilities cause he found out I had cut. I only did it once."

Izuku looked sick at the information. "My panic attacks are gone, I'm not terrified of failure. I mean, it's still scary, but I feel prepared, and Palkia and Dialga helped me craft a plan." His original plan but more refined and general. The tools they used were able to work against the three lake guardians, so it would work against shadow pokemon no doubt.

But Shoto had a job that the tools could only help with. He still needed to be smart and use the skills he'd gained there and from home. Izuku said, "Let's not talk about it anymore. You're finally back!" Shoto nodded.

"By the way, what were we learning? It's been a year for me." Izuku snickered, and explained about what they'd focused on in class, and his memory was jogged quickly. He remembered, thankfully. When they got to class, it seemed others noticed something off about Shoto, too. He got a lot of odd looks and people gave him a wide margin. "What's wrong with everyone?" Shoto asked in confusion.

Izuku said, "You have this intimidating aura around you." Shoto's brows shot up, not expecting that. "Maybe cause you've been in the presence of a freaking god for a year."

"Oh, maybe." They brought their lunches to the field behind the school. Shoto was levitating a few inches off the ground, laying on his stomach, propped up by his elbows. "Sorry about this. It's hard to stop, there wasn't really anything soft there, the air was best." Shoto turned it off and lowered.

"You have so much to show me." Shoto nodded, more than glad to show it off. But at home in the back yard. He wasn't going to use his powers in public now. He wasn't desperate for learning. The skilled had pretty much been imprinted in his head. The training was rough and demanding. He hated it, but it was helpful and he got to see his progress by the end. He was so much better at handling stress after all that, and was more confident in what he'd learned.

-x- Izuku -x-

All Might looked surprised when Izuku showed up at the junkyard with Shoto and Envy, who sat on the railing looking down on the junk yard. Izuku didn't really want to look weak in front of his super powerful best friend, but he was already looking weak to the number one hero, who wanted to give him the quirk. The power he'd use to help Shoto in his endgame plan, whatever it was. He'd been trusted for what would be a decade in one year in the secrets of Shoto's power. The least he could do was be truthful about a much less crazy-sounding situation.

"I see you broke your promise," All Might said casually.

"His secret is way crazier than ours. I had to tell him, I trust him."

"Hi, All Might," Shoto said.

"Hello, Young Shoto. It seems much has changed since last time we saw one another." Ember wasn't there this time. It was early and he liked to sleep in late. Shoto just nodded in agreement. He didn't go further, and so Izuku's training continued. He didn't feel so bad for being a panting, sweaty and red faced mess after seeing the state Shoto had been in those photos.

He was reading most of the time, catching up on a series that had finished while he was gone. Like a kid again, he brought chalk and was drawing all over the sidewalk above the beach where everything was shoved around. Shoto stayed quiet, unobtrusive and every time Izuku looked up, he was not staring or watching. Which was nice. One person watching was already bad enough.

You'll get it done before heading to UA before the shadow pokemon begins. You'll get there. Shoto's voice in his head sounded much different than when Izuku had heard Arceus speak to them. His voice wasn't intimidating and foreign, but kind and familiar. Izuku wished he could have been there for him, helped heal his mind, but what happened was the best thing to happen to him. He seemed fine, more confident in himself and his mission, happier. He seemed more calm, he didn't look so doubtful.

Much of what made him him seemed to be gone, but Shoto would always be Shoto in his heart. Once the sun was setting, and he'd only moved a few things, Shoto dropped down, landing light by activating levitation right before hitting the sand. He walked over, and Izuku dragged himself over.

Shoto touched his forehead and the pain was gone. He still was sore, but not hurting anymore. All Might had his brows raised, the only part of his face to show surprise. He asked, "I thought your quirk was to understand pokemon?" Izuku wasn't sure if Shoto would say the truth, but he did.

"I can take some pokemon abilities. I can't collect them anymore, though, it made me sick," Shoto explained. He poured water from his finger into Izuku's empty water bottle and purified it. Izuku guzzled it down. It honesty tasted better than any drink he'd ever had, even the chocolate ones.

All Might looked quite interested. "Are you planning on being a hero, too, Young Todoroki?"

"Yeah," Shoto said simply. He didn't go into more detail about his "quirk" or his intention to also be a hero. This was the first of many times Shoto accompanied him to the training. He wasn't noisy, but the nice encouragements in his head were very helpful. And alleviating the pain as well as giving the water, he was just an overall supportive friend, like they always had been for one another.

Izuku was having a sleepover and woke up to see Shoto sitting up in bed, reading with a small book light attached to the cover of it, lighting up just enough to read. "What are you doing up?" Izuku asked sleepily.

"I can't sleep anymore," Shoto said, flipping the page. He'd not brought it up before, and it had been two weeks since he returned from training. "Its okay, I was already warned of side effects."

"Why didn't you tell me?" He was upset whenever Shoto withheld information, which maybe was being too clingy. But him being gone, leaving without a word for an entire year for him, still upset him. He hadn't brought it up, as he felt it was his own problem. Though Touya seemed sour over it, too, but had seemed to mostly gotten over it, thankfully. Izuku tried to do the same, he really did.

Shoto said, "It would just upset you. It's not like not having the rest impacts me or what I do."

"How do you meet with Arceus?" Shoto held up his wrist, the gold skin reflecting the book light.

"It's when I have the time. I can't sleep anymore, but we have meetings at night sometimes. I'm just awake when they happen." Izuku was confused. "It's like… an illusion. That he's here. And with my telepathy that can be back, nobody needs to know he's here. I do have to keep my room cleaner now, though." The room was extremely clean, he hadn't noticed.

Izuku laid back down. "Why didn't you tell me any of this?"

"I don't know. I didn't really think about it. I can tell you're still angry at me, I guess I don't want to bring more things up for you to get angry over." Izuku felt a pang in his chest in shame.

"I'm not… angry at you. I'm just sad you left without telling me… I understand why, I do, but it still hurt."

"I had to," Shoto insisted, now feeling like the hurt one. "I'm trying. To be how I was before. You and Touya don't like me how I am now, I'm not great at faking-"

"I still like you! You're my best friend, you're like my brother. It's just hard. For you, the adjustment was a year, but for us, you completely changed, switch flipped out of nowhere, so suddenly." Shoto nodded, but didn't say anything more, shutting down. But Izuku wouldn't let him. "I don't like you any less than before, I promise. I'm glad you in a mentally better place, really."

"Okay." He didn't want to talk about it anymore, so Izuku stopped and didn't press his boundaries. Izuku ended up falling asleep, and when he woke up, the bed was made but Shoto wasn't there. He stood up and walked out, finding Shoto not at the house. Fear and panic gripped his chest, that Shoto had disappeared again.

But then he entered the house with a paper bag and a donut in his mouth. Izuku got onto the couch and started to cry. Shoto hurried over in confusion and worry. "What's wrong?" he asked with chocolate sprinkles in the corners of his mouth.

"I thought you went missing again," he cried. Shoto looked guilty, and that wasn't what Izuku wanted.

"I won't leave without telling anyone again. I just thought, since I wouldn't be gone long, it would be easier to say nothing and then come back… I'm sorry. I'm sorry it hurt you, and everyone else."

"You don't even need to apologize to the others since you just mess with their minds," Izuku mumbled. Shoto balled his fists, and Izuku realized he said something wholly unnecessary.

"What am I supposed to do with them? They'll ask questions. How am I supposed to answer them without doing anything else?I have to lie anyways. What's worse?" he asked quietly, glaring at the floor. "I've been keeping this secret from my family for as long as I can remember. Did you think it's easy? You can have the donuts, I'm gonna go back on another walk. You can track my phone if you're concerned." His words had bite, but his voice was just… sad. Resigned.

When he left out the front door, Izuku swore under his breath. He kept the secret from his mother, from their outings that she would not approve of, but Shoto was literally needing fucking assistance staying human. Of course it was hard for him. He was used to lying, but just making them move onto other thoughts… was it better to do that than outright lie?

What Izuku had said was unnecessary and unfair. He didn't touch the donuts, consumed with guilt and worry.

-x- Shoto -x-

Shoto was high in the air, laying on his back, looking at the cloudy sky. He hoped it would rain. He hadn't seen rain in a year. He took a deep breath in and let it out. Shoto knew he was over powered. He knew that, but he had a good reason to. He earned this power with his blood, sweat and tears. It wasn't easy training. It was easier than Izuku's simply physical.

He didn't have access to a god who could put him in simulations to learn to adapt. Shoto didn't just learn how to use his powers effectively, he also changed as a person, he got better, more confident and secure. It wasn't brainwashing, he knew that, and he wasn't lied to to think it wasn't.

It was hard, he didn't enjoy the last two years. He didn't tell Izuku or Touya about the mental training because he felt they'd assume he was brainwashed in some way, and it would just cause more drama. He didn't like drama, never had.

He wished they could have seen how hard he worked and the toll it took. It wasn't just some fun trip to a scenic other world. It wasn't like his outings to meet the legendaries. It was completely different. Touya was more flexible this time, but he also didn't know the whole truth. He was more understanding than Izuku was on this.

While he was floating, he drifted a bit from the wind, allowing it to take him around. Some flying pokemon came to hang out with him, but eventually left, him giving a smile. Pokemon were easier than people. He looked at his wrists, and then sighed. He couldn't undress in front of anyone anymore.

They'd see the weird markings that developed over the training. And his friend and brother would think badly of the training again. It had been unavoidable. They were just patches of skin that did not feel or look like human skin. They had an odd texture. The bands kept him from turning into some sort of human looking pokemon, but that was only concocted after they started to notice the changes.

He was knocked out of his thoughts when he heard sobbing from below. A girl with long black hair in a pony tail was running, an injured pokemon in her arms. Shoto dropped down and landed lightly, an expert at his levitation ability. "Hey," he called, running after her. "What's wrong with your pokemon?"

"I think she swallowed pieris!" It was a jigglypuff. Shoto reached out a hand.

"Can I help?" He would help even without her permission, but she nodded. He pressed a finger to the fluffy pink pokemon, who coughed and ended up throwing up some leaves. Poisonous leaves. Then she was okay, wriggling to be let down.

Thank you! Thank you!

You're very welcome. He reached down and pet her with a soft smile. Yeah, pokemon were easier to be around than humans. "Thank you! What is your name? I have money, I can pay you-!"

"I don't need pay. I'm Todoroki Shoto," he said. "I'm just glad she's okay." The jigglypuff hurried to the girl and hugged her legs. He didn't need to ask her name, but she gave it anyways. Yaoyorozu Momo. She bowed in thanks, tears dripping down her face. He didn't really know how to react to a stranger's crying. He walked up to her and gave an awkward pat on the shoulder.

Bye bye, he said to the jigglypuff, and walked away, hands in his pockets, falling back into his mess of jumbled thoughts over his relationship with Izuku and the training. He wished he'd just pretended to sleep while Izuku was there, but laying in bed doing nothing for hours and hours just sounded awful.

He would be going out on expeditions during the night to stop him from being bored. Too bad he had no duplication power to make a double. He wasn't that powerful. But it would be very useful. Many pokemon joined his walk, and he gladly talked to them, listening to their little complaints and thoughts about things.

Hours passed, and he hadn't meant for them to, he just got wrapped up in conversation and being asked to do things by the little creatures. It was a nice time. He headed back when he got a text from Touya.

Bro Izuku is freaking out. Wtf happened?

Be there soon.

He walked back at a reasonable pace, using Suicune's tracking skills to find his way back, since he'd been paying no attention to where he'd been going. He realized he could have used his phone, but after a year of disuse, it was hard to remember it did more than tell the time. When he got back, he opened the front door and saw Izuku with his backpack of things.

"Sorry… I got distracted and wandered pretty far," he said awkwardly. Looking at Izuku's complicated human face, he wished everyone were as simple as the pokemon were. But he also was uncomfortable with that thought. He wouldn't voice it to anybody. He had to hide things from both of them now. His brother and friend. Best friend who hurt his feelings. Again. But Shoto did it first by disappearing. Things had just gotten great and all. And now it was awkward again.

Touya asked, "Alright, what's the issue?"

"Izuku doesn't like the changes. Or me leaving," Shoto said, taking his shoes off and lining them against the wall by the door. He got some water from the kitchen.

"Izuku, what's your issue?"

"I don't want more secrets…"

"Dude, do you realize you are the single person Shoto actually tells everything to? I don't know jack shit anymore. Do you want to jeopardize that trust by getting angry about Shoto doing something that helped him, not us, him. Not everyone else, faceless and unidentifiable. Him. You're his fucking best frined, get over it."

"Touya," Shoto scolded. "You're just making it worse," he said in deep annoyance. Izuku was silent, hands gripping his pants harshly. Then he left. "Thanks a lot, big brother," Shoto snapped, and put his shoes on and grabbed Izuku's backpack full of things for the sleep over. He easily caught up to Izuku quickly walking away.

Shoto had no idea what to say. Touya was right, but he wouldn't have said them in that fashion. But he also wouldn't have said that anyways and risk upsetting him more. "You left your things," Shoto said.

"I think we should make some space." Shoto was hurt. He just got back, and he was already fucking things up.

"Okay," he said quietly. "What do you mean?"

"Friends of course, but not sharing every little thing." It was a complete 180 from a few minutes ago where he was upset with the secrets. But maybe not sharing everything all the time could lessen the sense of entitlement Izuku had. Entitlement wasn't the right word, but it described it that way.

"Okay," Shoto agreed, voice sad and soft. "Take your backpack," and he handed it to him. Izuku gave him a guilty look, with this conversation having zero ounce of closure. But Shoto didn't want to argue more, and Izuku walked away. Shoto stood on the sidewalk, staring after him before sighing and going back home.

When he got inside, Envy was there, waiting for him. Why are pokemon easier than humans? And he picked her up, snuggling her. She made little yips to be let down, and he did. She ran off and brought back a toy, asking to play with her. So he did, and it got his mind off of things. Once she was tired of playing and went to hang out with Bow, Shoto went upstairs to Touya's room, which was blaring with obnoxious music.

He banged on the door since there was no way he'd hear a knock with his music that loud. Touya opened the door, and turned the music off. "You made things worse," Shoto accused.

"He needed to hear it. He's become entitled by you telling him every little thing." Shoto relaxed at his opinion being seconded. "Get some boundaries set." The younger brother nodded. "I am here to talk to, too. I'm glad you haven't told me everything."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I know I would get insufferabley clingy if I knew whatever fucked up thing Arcues was preparing you for." Shoto thanked him. Maybe him keeping some things to himself would be better. But he knew it would only isolate him further. All he had were Izuku, Touya and then his family to lie to and manipulate. "Anytime. People should have at least some boundaries set. Try to make more friends, friends that don't know about the pokemon shit. Make friends who just like you as a person and not someone who is very 'interesting'."

Shoto nodded, and left. He decided to go… look for friends. He walked out and walked in the opposite direction of Izuku. Boundaries… yeah, he'd try that. Izuku didn't need to know everything. He wanted to keep secrets to himself. He was used to not telling his family, but not telling Izuku could be odd. He tried not to think about him, and found himself in a shopping center. He had no wallet on him, and Envy was at home.

He needed to get more used to people. He needed to mingle with them. But mingling just turned into him walking through the crowd with no real destination. It was awkward until he heard a pokemon shouting his name. Other pokemon had to keep up with their shopping humans, and Shoto was only passing by. He wasn't swarmed by them, which was for the best right now.

Hey! Hey mister! Shoto followed it to find the jigglypuff from before. He crouched down, and wondered where Yaoyorozu - was that her name? - was.

Nice to see you again. Are you here alone?

Momo is in there! I'm not allowed cause I steal things. Shoto snickered. While he was interacting with the jigglypuff named Goldie, Yaoyorozu came out.

"Oh! Todoroki-san, you're here, too?"

"I promise I wasn't following you," he said. "I got in a fight with my friend, and I ended up here."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," she said sincerely. "I'm going to get a new dress."

"Oh. Good luck." He was confused.

"Would you like to come?" Shoto was pulled on by the jigglypuff.

"If I can hold her," Shoto said.

"Of course!" Shoto held the round pokemon, who moved to sit on his shoulder. So they went to a fancy place, where everything had to cost a fortune. Why would you pay so much for clothes?

Momo doesn't like making things with her quirk. She can create things out of her fat!

She doesn't look very fat…

I don't think it works that way! But it's super cool!

Sounds cool. She came out with a red dress. Shoto was looking at the tuxes. "How do I look?"

Shoto had no idea how to answer. "Am I supposed to clap? I don't know how to talk to women," he said honestly. She laughed.

"You don't need to clap, no. Well, I like it so I'll buy it," she said, and bought it. Does she buy a lot of fancy things?

Momo is very wealthy.

Oh, that explains it.

"Goldie really likes you! Well, you did heal her and all."

"I can speak to pokemon. In my head." Yaoyorozu blinked and Shoto assumed she thought he was crazy. "Hmmm. How can you prove it?" she asked, though she didn't sound too serious. "Alright, Goldie, tell him something about me that I haven't said." She hadn't said anything about herself yet, though,

She keeps burning herself with the flat iron.

"She says you keep burning yourself with a flat iron."

"That's true! Wow! But you healed her before!" Yaoyorozu was talking while buying her clothing. She had quite a few bags, but Goldie had said she was rich, so it wasn't that odd.

"Um, my quirk is complicated," he said stiffly. She dropped it at that, which was nice of her to not be nosy. He found himself walking next to her through the mall, her jigglypuff balanced on his shoulder. He slowed next to a very vibrant store. It had a lot of pokemon and super hero merchandise.

She stopped too. "Would you like to look inside?" Shoto nodded, and they walked into the nerdy shop. However, she seemed much more excited to be inside than him. He looked at all the pokemon merchandise, and wished he could have an Arceus stuffed figure. Or figurine. Of course he couldn't.

"Are you a nerd?" Shoto asked when she was gaping at different colored wigs.

"Of course not! No, no," she said in a hurry. Shoto didn't really see anything wrong with being one. He was, too. He didn't say anything of her weird behavior about it. He wished he had some money to buy things, but he had no wallet, and wasn't allowed to have any money after he stole the thousand to buy the illegal pokeballs. He had plenty of them now, hidden in his bedroom vent.

Shoto looked away from her floundering face. Keep look out for a Celebi pin, please.

Okay! There! Goldie said and gestured to the wall. He saw the small Celebi pin, which was next to a Suicune and various other legendaries. His face lit up at seeing them. He would definitely come get some. "Oh, you like legendaries?"

"Yeah," Shoto said. "They have all of them here but Kyogre." Poor thing, trapped at the bottom of the ocean, turning evil against his own will.

"Are you going to buy anything?"

"I didn't bring my wallet. Or keys," Shoto stated.

"I'll buy some for you. After all, you saved Goldie from some poisonous leaves." This seemed fair enough, he thanked her, and picked out three. Celebi, Suicune and Lugia. She had no idea he'd come into close contact with all of them. Maybe that was nice in a way. She didn't know it all, he just seemed like a pokemon nerd to her.

So he took the little pins in the plastic bag and put them in his pocket. "Thanks," Shoto said, happy he got the pins, and he was making alright talk with a stranger. And a very sweet jigglypuff. So that was nice. When they left the mall, she asked for his phone, and exchanged numbers. It didn't feel anything but friendly, and it didn't make him uncomfortable. "My dad is here. It was nice meeting you! Maybe we can hang out again. I really hope you make up with your friend," Yaoyorozu said sincerely. Goldie hugged his legs before jumping back into his human's arms.

Once she drove away, Shoto headed home, admiring his very nice pins. That was really nice. Maybe he made a friend already. He hoped Izuku could, too. He decided not to go to his apartment and try to mend things. Touya was right, boundaries.

When he got home, he put the pins on his bookshelf. They were a nice size and vibrantly colored. They reflected the light nicely. He left his room to go to Touya in the kitchen, who was microwaving frozen chicken nuggets. Shoto missed him for the last year. He was supporting him more than Izuku was. By now demanding every secret, and accepting he won't know it all and being okay with being there for Shoto anyways.

"I did what you said and made a friend. We went to the mall and she bought me some pokemon pins." Touya sputtered before breaking into laughter, confusing Shoto.

"I didn't expect you to go find a friend that fast!"

"When I was out this morning before Izuku left, I saved her jigglypuff from a poisonous plant. I wandered to the mall and she was there. She was nice," Shoto explained.

"How'd it feel being with someone who knew jackshit?"

Shoto shrugged one shoulder. "Kind of weird, but also nice. She didn't press me about my power when she realized I had more than just talking to them, or healing. She also saw me using levitate. Her jigglypuff said she can create objects from her fat. But she wasn't very fat."

"Maybe she stays not fat by using it to make shit," Touya said with an amused smile. "Way cooler than a fire quirk, huh."

"Why doesn't she just make her own clothes, and goes shopping instead?" Shoto wondered. "Maybe I could ask her some day. We exchanged numbers."

"Proud of you, Sho. Good job," Touya praised, making Shoto smile. He went into his room to cry over the argument with Izuku, and then watch a movie.