Chapter 22: Izuku's Journey

Izuku returned to the town where he called home for three years. No one was at the entrance to the town that day so Izuku made his way to the area of town where he knew most people liked to take their lunches.

He was immediately greeted warmly by everyone he encountered.

"Welcome back, Izuku!"

"Deku! You're back! Where's Asta?"

"Thanks," said Izuku, cheerfully waving to everyone he passed by on his way to find All Might. Izuku knew that All Might often liked to eat his lunch at Miss Makoto's at least twice a week to give Master Nana a break from cooking all the meals for him. "I've missed everyone."

"Izuku my boy," said All Might, spotting Izuku instantly and getting out of his chair to give Izuku a big hug.

Izuku loved getting hugs from All Might. It still was like a dream come true. "Hey, All Might," he said softly.

"What brings you by? Sick of Asta yet," asked Fanzell Kruger, one of the people from Asta's world. Izuku knew that this man trained Asta with the sword before Asta joined the Magic Knights.

"Nope. Just doing some research and passing along letters and information," said Izuku, grinning. "Asta's great anyway."

"Says you," said Shinsou, who just so happened to be having lunch with All Might. "You collect friends like it's a hobby."

Izuku laughed. "I suppose."

Izuku joined All Might and Shinsou for lunch, though really the way that Miss Makoto's set up this week meant that Izuku ate lunch with everyone there as if it was a cafeteria at a school. Miss Makoto often changed things around to "keep it fresh." While he enjoyed Asta's cooking, Makoto had a certain something with her food that made it extra delicious. Izuku said as much while eating.

"It's deffo the salt," said Miss Usagi, grinning at her friend.

"Well, we can't die again, now can we," Miss Rei said, rolling her eyes.

"We should still take care of ourselves," said Tsuna, pointing out the obvious.

"Boring," said Gintoki and Usagi at the same time, as if no one noticed the pile of sweets in front of the samurai and the Moon Princess.

"Bring Asta next time," said Fanzell, between bites of his food. "I forgot to tell him that Noelle and Yuno got married."

Izuku nodded and wondered if Asta would take it well that the two people he had been so clearly in love with had married each other after he was dead and buried. "Perhaps, I should get some sweets to take back with me for Asta."

"I'll make you up a container," said Miss Makoto, from behind her counter. "Pick it up when you're finished in town."

"Thanks!"

After lunch, Izuku gave the letters Asta wrote to Fanzell to pass along to the others from Asta's world. Izuku joined Shinsou and All Might on a walk through town, where he discussed his latest theories.

"You're too much in your head again," said Shinsou. "I've already spoken to a bunch of people, like no one can figure this place out. You're barking up the wrong tree, Deku."

"I agree with young Shinsou," said All Might, solemnly. "Why I remember that Gintoki definitely tried to escape a dozen times when he arrived and he failed each time."

"Same with a bunch of others. Only Goku-sa knows the way out but he's not smart enough to know all your answers," said Shinsou.

Izuku sighed. "Yeah, I figured. But I can't help myself."

"Just be careful," said All Might and Shinsou, who were both privy to Izuku's own self-destructive behaviors in the past.

"I will be," said Izuku.

They left him in front of Ichigo's infirmary. His friend and his mentor walked off together, possibly to go find Nana at pachinko. She was just as bad at it as Gintoki. Izuku entered the infirmary and immediately received a warm, loving hug from Miss Orihime.

"Miss Orihime," said Izuku, yelping. His poor bisexual heart couldn't take it. Women still made him flush and nervous.

"Welcome back," she said, sweetly. "Ichigo is taking a nap."

"You mean I was taking a nap. You're loud, Orihime," said Ichigo, entering from the side room, scratching his head and yawning. "Hey, Izuku. What's up?"

"Asta and I ran into Morro. Has he been by lately?"

Ichigo scowled. "That kid hasn't been around in ages. So he's hanging up there by you and Asta, huh? Just keep an eye out for him. I don't think town life is for him, you know?"

"We will. I just hope that he's getting enough food," said Izuku, worriedly.

"He can't die," said Ichigo, "but I understand the urge to take care of him. Just be cautious with him."

"Morro is like a cat," said Orihime, somewhat helpfully.

Izuku laughed. "That's a great comparison." Gentle and slowly was the best way to approach a cat, but it can work for moody pre-teens or well, any moody, emotionally distant person. Orihime and Ichigo invited Izuku in to trade in the books he had brought back with him. It was nice. They were truly a sweet and on-the-same-wavelength couple, born out of years of friendship and marriage.

There was a slight pang in his heart at remembering that he never took a chance to be with the person he loved most. But after Kacchan proved time and again that he'd die for Izuku, it was Izuku who put distance between himself and his childhood friend. Shouto and Ochako warned him that it didn't matter what he did—Kacchan cared about him. Izuku had loved Kacchan for so long, it was like breathing. But he knew what happened to Master Nana and her family and then All Might never got married either. Staying childhood friends and hero partners and best friends with Kacchan was enough.

It had to be enough.

Izuku hoped that Kacchan was okay. Izuku sure he was doing well, even if Kacchan was mad at him.

After speaking for several hours with the Kurosaki couple, who cautioned him against looking too deep too, he picked up the sweet box from Miss Makoto's. He hadn't realized that he didn't want to stay too long here, even if he loved it. He just wanted to get back home to Asta. He missed his companion very much.

Hmm, maybe I do have a thing for loud blonds…