After a morning spent eating breakfast with his mom and a quiet commute to school, Izuku found himself heading to class with Mei and Hitoshi. Once the taller boy bid them goodbye and left for 1-C, Mei turned her attention to her friend and classmate.

"So, did you figure it out yet?" Mei suddenly asked. "Do you like him?"

"N-no, I d-didn't," Izuku replied, nervously rubbing the back of his head. "But I talked w-with my mom about it a-and she said it was ok if I-I didn't know and to take my time. To focus on b-being his friend for now."

"Auntie is a wise woman," Mei stated, nodding her head in approval.

"Sure does sounds like it," a voice from behind them interjected. The two Support students spun around to find Midnight, or Kayama Nemuri, behind them. "When it comes to feelings and the workings of the heart, one should always take their time. So, who is it that you think you like?"

"Oh, it's T-," Mei started to say but Izuku quickly slapped his hand over his friend's mouth.

"It's no one!" Izuku exclaimed, voice coming out a high pitch than normal.

"Hmm…keeping it a secret, eh~?" Kayama drawled, a mischievous look on her face. "I do love a challenge. I'll figure out who it is eventually, Midoriya. Better keep on your toes~." With a devilish smile and playful wink, the 18+ Only Hero walked past the students.

"…she's not going to leave it alone, is she?" Izuku said as he watched the woman head down the hall with a skip in her step.

"I'd say no," Mei replied frankly, slinging an arm across his shoulders. The greenette let out a sigh and slumped said shoulders, already exhausted. Taking pity on her friend, she gave him a comforting squeeze and steered them both to 1-H. "Come on, Izuku. Let's get to class."

The rest of the morning classes passed by in a blur and before they knew it, the lunch bell rang. After meeting up with Hitoshi, the trio made their way to the cafeteria. When they got there, green eyes immediately zeroed in on a familiar head of perfectly split red and white hair. As if sensing his gaze, grey and blue eyes met green ones and Todoroki pushed off the wall walking towards them.

"Midoriya," Todoroki called out as he approached. "Would it be alright if I joined you for lunch?"

"Oh, h-hey Todoroki-kun!" Izuku greeted shyly, a light blush dusting his cheeks. "Sure, you c-can join us if you'd like."

The bi-color teen seemed to notice the other two for the first time, titling his head slightly in question. Sensing his confusion, Izuku was quick to introduce everyone. Hitoshi simply nodded in greeting while Mei offered him a handshake which he first looked at perplexed until she grabbed his hand herself and gave it a firm shake. Giving Izuku a knowing smirk, Mei walked ahead with Hitoshi in the lunch line while Izuku stood next to Todoroki.

As they waited in line, Izuku took his mom's advice and used the time to get to know his new friend. Between the time they entered the line and got their food, Izuku learn that the cute boy next to him liked reading books, listening to classical music, and his favorite food was cold soba. Which he just so happened to get for lunch. Once they had their food, the group of four found a table and were joined by Uraraka, Iida, and Tsuyu.

"Hey, Mido and Co!" Uraraka called out as the three additional Hero students sat down. "Oh, is Todoroki joining us today?"

"Yes," Todoroki answered simply before taking a slurping bite of soba.

"Does he know, Izuku-chan?" Tsuyu asked bluntly. Izuku made a mental note to include lessons in discretion in her notes.

"Yes, he does, Tsu-chan," Izuku replied. When he saw Todoroki's questioning quirked eyebrow, he added. "They also know that I'm Hiro."

"Isn't that supposed to be a secret, Izuku?" Hitoshi chimed in with a teasing smirk. "At this rate, they're all going to find out before the Sports Festival."

"Isn't the main point to not have Bakugou know though?" Todoroki asked upon slurping down another mouth full. "As long as he doesn't, then Midoriya's plan would be a success."

Izuku beamed at his friend and turned smugly toward Hitoshi. "See? He gets it."

"Would you kindly shut your yap, Izuku?" Hitoshi playfully jeered, his tone enough to reveal to Izuku that his Quirk was active.

The brainwasher had used his Quirk during lunch before and he wasn't advertising what his Quirk is exactly, but also not keeping it a secret. Izuku figured that Hitoshi would have to deal with the situation of having people find out his Quirk eventually and needed practice to work around that. Which Aizawa had agreed with as well since he had to work around a similar issue with his own Quirk.

Knowing that his friend was trying to brainwash him, Izuku pointedly did not respond verbally. Instead he stuck out his tongue and turned back to Todoroki, smiling brightly. The ice user smiled softly back at him and reached under the table to take the shorter teen's hand. This time with his left hand.

So, his left side is warmer than his right, Izuku thought as a blush blossomed across his face.

"Are you ok, Mido?" Uraraka asked in concern at the sudden redness.

"I-I'm fine!" he squeaked, turning back to his food. Mei snorted with a knowing smirk while he shot her a glare.

Izuku side-glanced at Todoroki who was eyeing him as well. The ice user had the smallest of smiles on his face, but it was one of the warmest smiles Izuku had ever seen. Todoroki gave his hand a comforting squeeze before letting go and going back to his soba.

Oh boy, Izuku thought, unsure what to make of the situation exactly. But he still liked it. With a reserved smile, he turned back to his own food.

...

The next few weeks passed by relatively quickly. The mornings were spent being taught normal school subjects by not-so-normal teachers. They were all Heroes, after all. For instance, Ectoplasm taught Mathematics, Midnight taught Modern Hero Art History, and Cementoss taught Modern Literature. And, of course, Present Mic was in charge of English. Or, for Izuku, sign language.

The Voice Hero expertly managed to teach both JSL to him and English to the rest of the class. All at the same time. The multitasking skills of the man who was a Hero, teacher, and radio host were scary good. Every new word sign or phrase Yamada taught him was soaked up by the greenette's brain like a dry sponge in water. With each passing class, the student found he could hold longer conversations with his teacher and would sign at the man whenever he saw him.

Some of the other teachers caught on and would sign to him as well. Having these silent, and kind of private, conversations with his teachers made him brave enough to ask the Heroes some of the questions he had burning in his brain and notebooks. He learned that Ectoplasm liked karaoke a lot. He also learned the solemn fact that the Hero had lost his legs to a Villain when he asked why he wore prosthetics.

Kayama liked as she put it 'vibrant youth' and 'thrills.' Izuku didn't know exactly what she meant by that, but he did know she liked to make him flustered. Since finding out he might like someone, she would constantly ask him embarrassing questions about who the person was that he liked. Every time, gray and blue eyes under white and red hair came to mind. But remembering his mom saying it was ok to take his time, he would sidestep her questions with vague answers much to the Hero's curious annoyance. She would sign that she swore to find out who he liked eventually with a determined smirk on her face.

As for the other teachers, Cementoss, or Ishiyama Ken, liked round things and his favorite food was manju. Maijima, being a Support Hero and teacher, unsurprisingly liked cars. Yamada liked radio and TV. No surprise there since he hosted a radio show called 'Put Your Hands Up Radio' on Friday nights. Which Izuku listened to every week. The Voice Hero also told him his favorite food was fried chicken. Even Aizawa joined in and admitted that he liked cats. Like a lot.

Hitoshi-kun and Aizawa-sensei can so relate on that. I've already lost count the number of times we've hung out at cat cafes.

All this new information about Heroes went straight into Izuku's notebooks, of course. Speaking of notebooks, mid-way through the second week Nezu called Izuku to his office and announced he had finished the code for the notebooks. It was a symbol-based code and the language used behind the symbols was an interesting mixture of Japanese, English, and also Navajo. Izuku had gone on a research tangent when he got back home that day to learn all he could about the Navajo Code Talkers from World War 2.

A number of English periods were spent with Nezu explaining the code to Izuku and having him practice writing in it before moving on to coding the notebooks. Once the chimera was satisfied with his proficiency with the code, the principal gifted Izuku a tablet with an attachable keyboard case and stylus. After the student gave a questioning look, Nezu explained that he had thought having the notes in a digital form would be beneficial. It would allow Izuku to edit, condense, and organize his notes more easily than in his notebook. Plus, the tablet was programmed with a security system designed by Nezu himself including numerous firewalls, biometric security, and had its own closed network among other features. The tablet was to remain on UA campus, of course.

From then on, English classes were spent switching between learning JSL and coding his notebooks. Izuku felt a wave of nostalgia when he opened up his earlier ones. He couldn't help but giggle as he read through his early analysis. Some of his original theorizes were…interesting to say the least. Reading through his notes again, Izuku realized he had some redundant or incorrect questions and information which he was able to reduce or correct. He also made separate files for each Hero which were labeled so they could be searched by Hero designation, Quirk, Hero type, or Hero Agency with ease. All encoded, of course.

Lunch was spent eating and talking with his friends. Todoroki became a regular at their table after he first joined them, taking the opportunity to hold Izuku's hand under the table whenever one arose. The greenette couldn't help but blush every time. But when Todoroki sent him a questioning look to see if it was still ok, Izuku would squeeze his hand and give him a reassuring smile that it was.

Every time that would happen, Mei sent him a knowing look and he would pointedly ignore her. It wasn't long before Hitoshi figured it out and would send teasing looks at his friend. Uraraka sent him questioning looks whenever he would seem to randomly blush but he waved her concerns off. Iida seemed oblivious to it all while Tsuyu, having seen them holding hands a few times, respected her friends' privacy and said nothing.

When it came to holding hands, Todoroki seemed rather private about it. Which Izuku could understand and was fine with. Holding the other boy's hand was something special just between the two. A secret comfort just for them. Though Izuku found himself wanting to do so even in a crowd at times. Which had prompted him to start a new tradition of linking their pinkies together while waiting in line for food. Todoroki had been surprised at first but gladly embraced this new addition to their friendly gestures.

Time after lunch was spent in the Support studio. Mei and Izuku worked diligently building, testing, and refining their designs. There were some…mishaps here and there when one of Mei's experiments got out of hand and Maijima had to scold her. But they continued to work hard to finish making as many Support Items as they could before the Sports Festival.

After the last period of the day, Izuku would either stay in the studio to continue working or go to one of the spare gyms to train with Hitoshi as well as test his gear. When he had first met up to train and finally saw Aizawa for the first time since the USJ, he couldn't help but cringe at the sight of one of his favorite Heroes covered in so many bandages.

Uraraka-san wasn't exaggerating. He does look like a mummy.

Since Aizawa obviously wouldn't be able to actually spar with them, he recruited the help of Yamada. Who, it turned out, was the homeroom teacher for 1-C and so was already acquainted with Hitoshi. The purple haired teen had to suffer through his Hero fanboy friend complain about how he hadn't told him this fact before then. To which the taller boy promised to buy the other a snack as an apology just to shut his friend up so they could train and the greenette happily agreed. Their antics received a chuckle from the loud man while the tired one rolled his eyes.

Despite the Voice Hero's slim appearance, he was also quite deft at hand-to-hand combat. The blonde claimed it was all thanks to the Erasure Hero, who somehow visibly grimaced through his wrappings as the other man praised him loudly while slinging an arm around his bandaged shoulders. The two Hero-hopefuls trained vigorously and stuck to the diet and exercise plan Aizawa had written up for them.

Sprinkled throughout all this, Izuku had a handful of counseling sessions with Inui. They discussed what happened at the USJ and how Izuku had been fairing since then. He admitted he sometimes had nightmares about it but they had been less and less frequent as time passed. The Hero suggested some meditation techniques to help calm him. After trying them and getting some good results, Izuku added meditation to his regular training routine.

As for after school, the days were spent resting from each day's training for the body and the mind while conversing with friends over the phone. Izuku and Hitoshi would trade memes and cat pictures back and forth. Mei would text him whenever a new baby idea came up. Uraraka, Tsuyu, and Kirishima would message him from time to time if they had Quirk questions or had something they wanted to share. Iida would occasionally ask for his opinion on something in the news or any question he had about homework.

The number of friends texting him was a bit overwhelming at times. Growing up with no friends for years then to suddenly have regular correspondence would do that to you. Izuku had even gone so far as to not tell anyone in his past schools that he even had a phone. Fearing that if he did, the other students would demand his number and extend their verbal taunts further through technology.

But with this new group of friends, Izuku wasn't afraid to share his number anymore. He cherished each new message he received, smiling every time a new notification came in. Though, to be honest with himself, the ones he looked forward to the most were from Todoroki.

I'm still not sure if I 'like' him, but I do like talking to him.

The bi-color teen was just as inexperienced with texting as Izuku had been until he had befriended Mei and Hitoshi. Though most of his experience of what he guessed was 'normal teenage texting' was with his insomniac meme-lord friend. As well as with his new friends he made in UA. But the longest with Hitoshi. And the greenette was pretty sure Mei's tendency to primarily talk only about current and future babies wasn't usual. So, with mostly Hitoshi's influence and a sprinkling of the others, Izuku would share pictures of cats or other things he thought Todoroki would enjoy and the other would respond just as bluntly as he did in person. The greenette found his bluntness endearing.

Though I learned to not send him as many memes as Hitoshi does to me.

Izuku had realized early on to only do so if he intended to explain why the meme was funny. Todoroki, having grown up so isolated, didn't have much experience with that version of internet comedy. An ignorance that Hitoshi took advantage of as soon as he learned about it during lunch. Leading to many a situation that left the majority of the table laughing while the ice user sat there confused and looking to Izuku for answers. Leaving him the task of explaining the joke to his internet-innocent friend while his jerk of a friend cackled.

With all of that going on, before they knew it there was only a few days left before the Sports Festival. Teachers and students alike were busy preparing for the televised event. As the days passed, something dawned on Izuku about the Sports Festival. During the commentary of the festival, the Quirks of the students were usually announced as the events played out. Which means they would announce that he was Quirkless before he was ready for it.

Finally building up the courage, the day before the Sports Festival, Izuku signed to Yamada that he'd like to ask him something after class. Getting an affirmative sign back, Izuku went back to coding his notes. English class passed by and soon the bell rang for lunch. Waving Mei off to go on ahead to the cafeteria, he grabbed his bag and waited for the other students to leave. Once the last student left, Izuku took a seat at one of the front desks and Yamada dragged over a chair like he had a few weeks ago.

...

"So, what's on your mind, little listener?" Hizashi asked, straddling the chair casually.

"Yamada-sensei, you're g-going to be announcing the Sports Festival, r-right?" Midoriya asked.

"That I am!" the blonde grinned. "I even managed to get Shouta to agree to join me! Since he's still recovering. Why do you ask?"

"During the festival, you'll be a-announcing student's Quirks, right?" the student inquired and received a nod. "W-well, ever since Aizawa-sensei and Nezu-sensei brought up th-that my analysis could be dangerous, I thought m-maybe giving too much information at the festival w-would be too?"

"Huh, guess I never thought about it that way before," Hizashi stated, a hand on his chin in thought. "But you do have a point. It is important to showcase their Quirks for the scouts in the crowd, but revealing too much about them could have negative consequences. I could modify my commentating to not give out certain details."

"O-or, um, you c-could do puns?" Midoirya offered with a hesitant smile.

Oh, Shouta is going to hate that. I'mma do it.

"Sure thing, little listener," Hizashi replied, grinning at the thought of his future exasperated husband who he loved to mess with. "So, what brought this on?"

"I-I want to make sure everyone is safe," Midoriya replied, wringing his hands nervously. "But I also want everyone t-to have a fair chance to prove themselves. N-not everyone is seen as having the 'right' Quirk a-and are judged by them."

He's probably referring to Shinsou, Hizashi thought, already having bonded enough with the purple teen in his homeroom to work him through some of his learned self-deprecation in regards to his Quirk. On top of stressing to his homeroom from the beginning that any Quirk discrimination would receive harsh punishment. He may be known for his easy going and friendly demeanor, but the Voice Hero could channel a glare to rival his husband's when he needed to.

"And you kn-know I'm…," the Support student continued but struggled to get what he wanted to say out. "That I d-don't…"

Have a Quirk, Hizashi finished in his mind.

"I'll stop you right there, little listener," Hizashi interrupted, hand held up in a 'stop' gesture. The boy stopped fussing with his hands, placing them on the desk instead and looked nervously at his teacher. "Your Quirk status is nothing to be ashamed of."

"I-I'm not ashamed, Yamada-sensei," Midoriya said, fingers nervously scratching at the desk. "I've worked h-hard to be where I am, a-and I will work even harder t-to get to where I want to be. But I know that a-as soon as people find out, they're g-going to write me off a-as a fluke."

"Midoriya, you are anything but a fluke," Hizashi said, looking at his student with concern. "These past few weeks, you have trained your ass off and have made some incredible Support Items to help you."

"I know that a-and you know that," Midoriya muttered.

"And Shouta and Shinsou know that," Hizashi interjected. "Plus, Nezu and your other friends."

"Y-yeah, that's true," the student relented. "But growing up…" He grimaced. "…it's difficult for people l-like me. I've always wanted to be a Hero, b-but because I don't have a 'heroic' Quirk p-practically everyone thought my dream w-was impossible. I want the chance to prove myself before people j-judge me on something I can't control."

The student continued to nervously scratch at the desk while the man silently fumed upon learning his student had been discriminated against. Something the Hero had experienced himself growing up. Hizashi had been born with his Voice Quirk and managed to damaged his parents', and the attending doctor's and nurse's, hearing on his first day living in the big bright world. Their hearing only got worse during his first years of life as he was a baby and had little to no control of his Quirk. It was the reason why Hizashi learned sign language in the first place. He also started Quirk Counseling as soon as was feasible.

Children can be cruel and when they learned what Hizashi's Quirk had done right out of the womb, they would avoid and not talk to him. They were afraid that if they did and he spoke, he would deafen them too. That, and he himself being afraid of doing just that, led to Hizashi becoming selectively mute for a period of time.

It took him a while to begin speaking again with the help of his parents and Quirk Counselor. Progress was slow but he managed to gain control over his Quirk and was able to live out his dream of attending UA and becoming a Hero. He even made the best friends he ever had and found a husband he loved with all his heart. Even if said husband could be a grumpy cat a majority of the time. In a way, UA was a magical place that helped you move on from your past. Something Hizashi was sure Izuku had already begun to notice.

"What would you like me to do, Mid…Izuku?" Hizashi finally asked, choosing to use his cough favorite cough student's first name for the moment.

Midoriya blushed at the use of his first name by the Hero. Looking at the man cautiously, he said, "W-would it be possible to keep m-my Quirk status a secret until the r-right time?"

"I could do that," Hizashi offered with a reassuring smile. "Maybe focus on your use of Support Items until then. But when is the right time?"

"Whenever I get b-beaten," Midoriya answered, lowering his gaze. Then he took a deep breath and looked back up at the man with hesitant determination. "Or…when I win first place."

The Voice Hero beamed at the aspiring student sitting in front of him. "That, little listener, I can do."

...

Blog name: ja0-s-blank-canvas-fic

Notes extension: post/632528321852391424/chapter-34-training-the-body-and-the-mind