Chapter 17: Subverting Expectations

When Toshinori finished explaining One for All to Midoriya, he expected him to freak out. He expected him to get on his knees and cry or pass out. What he didn't expect was for him to say no.

"What?" Toshinori blinked.

Izuku shook his head. "I'm sorry. But I can't. Don't worry about your secret though, I won't tell anyone," he mumbled, kicking at a rock with his foot.

"Wait, forget the secret, you don't want my power?"

Izuku turned bright red and he quickly shook his head. "I didn't mean it like that! It's just… it wouldn't be right."

Toshinori opened and closed his mouth a couple times before deciding how to answer. He was confused. This was not the reaction he had expected. "But this is the only way you're going to get to work with Mirai. If you were to stick with just Superhero, it would be too dangerous for you and everyone else involved. Plus, it would take too long for you to get used to it and train your body."

"Then I'll just work harder," Izuku frowned.

Toshinori pursed his lips. He understood how the boy was feeling, but this was not the time to be acting this way. "Midoriya, this has nothing to do with your pride–" Toshinori reached out and tried to grab his shoulder but Izuku quickly pulled away.

"Pride?" The younger boy asked quietly. "What would you know about pride? Everybody loves you, All Might. You were the number one hero, society accepted you with open arms because of the image you built for yourself. The symbol of peace. Regardless of whether or not the quirk was yours to begin with. You made it your own and now that I know I have one… I want to do that with mine too."

Toshinori shook his head. "But I don't understand why you can't just use One for All? It's not like I'm giving you some cheat code. Young man, this is real life. That little girl–"

"I know. I know. I'm being stupid and every second I waste overthinking, Eri is probably being tortured as we speak. But I just can't do it. I let her go, so I have to be the one to bring her back. It has to be me."

Toshinori sighed and rubbed at his throbbing temples. Well, this was a problem he hadn't anticipated.

"Look, why don't you think about it? I realize it may have been the wrong time to bring it up, but I still really think it should be you. One for All is meant to enhance the successor's quirk, think about what this could mean for Eri. You wouldn't have to worry about hurting yourself and focus all your attention on finding that little girl."

When Izuku didn't answer him, Toshi let out another sigh. "At least promise me you'll think about it?"

"Fine, but my answer won't change," Izuku mumbled. "I want to save Eri with my own power."

As Toshinori watched him, he found himself looking at a mirror image of himself. Yes, Mirai had been right. The boy was just as stubborn as he had once been, if not more. But if they were so similar, that also meant he knew how to get him to change his mind. Well, it was worth a shot anyway.

"What if I told you I could temporarily give you my power?"

Izuku lifted up his head. "You can do that?"

Toshinori bit his bottom lip. He still wasn't sure about it and would have to talk to David again, but it was the only thing he could think of saying to get Izuku to agree. "Yes. It's possible."

"I still don't want it," Izuku mumbled but Toshi could tell he was interested.

"What if I were to give you my power just so you could save that little girl?"

"And then?" Izuku raised an eyebrow.

Toshi chuckled quietly. "Well, I'm kind of hoping you'd want to keep it after that. But I would respect your decision and take it back if that's what you wanted."

He could see the gears turning in Izuku's head as Toshi watched him.

"We don't have a lot of time, Midoriya. This would just speed things up a little. You would still train hard, I would help you, of course."

"I still need to think about it."

Toshi frowned. "But the little girl–"

"Don't think I'm just going to sit back and wait while I figure things out though. I plan on doing what I can right now to help her. With or without Sir Nighteye's approval. And until then my answer is no."

Toshi closed his eyes and exhaled. "Alright. I won't push you. But I'm also not going to wait either."

Izuku raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"I've been trying to find a successor for years, Midoriya. But my time is running out. One day I won't be able to pass on my quirk, so it is up to me to find someone who is worthy before then. If you refuse my offer, I will have to keep looking."

Maybe if he presented him with the reality of the situation, Izuku would agree?

The boy continued staring at the floor, flexing his hands now and then. "I understand. If that's the case then you should just stick with someone else."

Toshi blinked and felt like smacking himself in the face. Well, that had backfired. "Ugh, young Midoriya, please. You have to understand I've been looking and no one ever seemed to really fit until you."

"You said Sir Nighteye told you to give it to me?" Izuku asked quietly.

Toshinori nodded. "Yes."

"Alright," the boy nodded.

Toshinori tilted his head. "Alright, you want to take my quirk, or..?"

Izuku shook his head. "Alright, I've decided I won't give you an answer until I talk to Sir Nighteye himself."

Toshinori ran a hand through his scraggly blonde hair and shrugged. "If that's what you want, then I'm all for it."

Maybe it was for the best though. Mirai had been the one who suggested it. Toshinori figured it would do the boy some good to hear it from somebody else, especially someone he seemed to already have a history with.

"I'll give you until Friday to talk to him," Toshinori said.

Izuku only nodded.

—

Despite everything he had told All Might yesterday, Izuku felt regret running through his entire body the rest of the week. Had he been too disrespectful? Should he have just agreed to take his quirk and end the conversation to avoid disappointing his idol?

Izuku stared up at the empty desks in the classroom. All the kids had just gone home for the day and once again he hadn't been fully present with them.

Gah, what am I doing? Izuku rubbed his throbbing temples and placed his forehead on the desk. Ever since the fire, his life had changed and now he wasn't sure if it was for the better. It seemed like all the wishing and hoping to be someone else had finally arrived but he didn't know if he wanted it anymore.

He also couldn't stop thinking about what All Might had told him. About his quirk. How he had once been quirkless too. Maybe if he would've met him at a different time, Izuku would feel different. But right now he was even more confused. The more he immersed himself into hero affairs, the farther he seemed to get away from the things he had told himself that always mattered more.

Izuku picked up the picture Ezumi had drawn for him and sighed.

Isn't this what he wanted? To be a hero and save people? All Might's words made his heartbeat even faster, especially at the thought of Eri suffering while he waited.

He put the picture down and then stared at his phone at the corner of the desk. Izuku was about o pick it up when a girl's voice made him stop.

Izuku looked up and noticed a red-headed girl had poked her head through the door and was staring at him. He thought it was Kiho at first until he realized he had seen this girl on TV a few years ago. Then, it all clicked and Izuku's eyes widened. It was Itsuka Kendo, who was always battling it out for a spot in the top three!

When they locked eyes, she gave him a wide smile and waved. Izuku gulped and waved back, although he didn't understand why she was here.

"Um, can I help you?" he asked quietly as she skipped over to where he was sitting.

"Hey, I didn't know there were other students on campus aside from 1-A. I'm Kendo, I don't think we've met before," she extended out her hand and Izuku shook it. "Are you in a lower grade or something?"

Izuku quickly shook his head. "No, I don't go to U.A. I'm just temporarily teaching my elementary students here."

Kendo hummed as she rummaged through her backpack for something. "But you're a recent graduate, right?"

Izuku nodded and she handed him a small envelope. He stared at it for a while until he realized it was for him.

"Oh, what's this?" Izuku took it from her and opened the card. A smooth black card was inside splattered with neon blotches of green and pink paint.

You are invited…

To Class 3-A and B's SUPER SECRET Graduation Party!

To celebrate the end of 3 amazing years.

Contact Momo Yaoyorozu for address and directions.

BYOD and BYOB

Get ready to go crazy, but shhh, don't tell the teachers.

Izuku blinked. "Bring your own..?" He scrunched up his eyebrows and looked up. Kendo's smile widened as she leaned over.

"Bring your own drinks and bring your own bathing suit," she winked as her phone started going off. "Sorry, I gotta take this, or I won't hear the end of it– Yes, hello?" Kendo turned to the side as Izuku continued staring at the invitation in surprise.

He had never been invited to a party in his life.

"WHAT THE HELL, KENDO?! WHY IS CLASS 1-A's NAME ON THE INVITES BIGGER THAN OURS?"

Izuku blinked. He could hear the boy's screams from where he was standing. Kendo rolled her eyes and hung up the phone. "Sorry about that. Just a minor inconvenience I'll have to take care of later. But anyway, hope to see you there!"

Izuku quickly shook his head, snapping out of his shock. "W-wait. But I already told you I didn't go to U.A."

Kendo shrugged. "It's okay, we never got a chance to have a graduation party last term, so it's nothing serious! And anyway, haven't you ever heard the expression, 'the more the merrier'?" she tossed her ponytail to the side and grinned.

Izuku returned the smile but quickly looked away. "I- I guess…"

"Hmm, but I also understand you might be hesitant to come since you might not know anyone. So, feel free to bring a friend with you!" She clapped her hands together as her phone started vibrating again. "Monoma, I swear to god if– Oh, hey Testu, what's up? HE DID WHAT?!"

Kendo's eyes widened suddenly and she started rushing over to the door. Izuku opened his mouth to speak but she was already halfway outside. "Sorry, but I have to go. Hope to see you at the party, and don't forget your plus one!" Kendo turned and waved before she disappeared and Izuku was left in silence once again.

He let out a long breath and sat down, the card still in his hand. Izuku stared down at it again and scratched at his head. The party was two weeks from now, he still had time to decide if he even wanted to show up or not. And while the interaction with Kendo had been a nice distraction, he couldn't forget about the situation with All Might.

One thing at a time, Izuku mumbled and started packing his things. He would've killed to have been invited to a party during his time at high school. But right now, while all these things were going on? Part of him thought it would be a nice distraction, but another part of him wanted to work on finding Eri as soon as possible.

"If I make progress this week, I'll go," he decided out loud, slinging his backpack across his back and quickly exiting the building. He was glad he hadn't run into Aizawa ever since that day, but he still tensed whenever a pro-hero rounded the corner. It was only a matter of time until one of them called him out too.

For now, though, Izuku headed over to Hiroo hospital. He was finally going to meet up with Nighteye.

—

"Come in, Midoriya."

Izuku slowly pushed open the door to Nighteye's room and held his breath when he entered. Nighteye's leg was exposed and it was covered in bloody bandages, along with the cast running up and down his left shoulder. Izuku felt his whole body shudder when he remembered the way he had seen Nighteye being wheeled out into an ambulance. Who could've done this to him? And what kind of power did they have?

"It's okay, the nurses will change them later," Nighteye gave him a smile as Izuku closed the door as gently as possible.

"Okay," he mumbled quietly, scurrying over to the chair by Nighteye's bed. He noticed there was a giant bear and some balloons by his bed, just like the ones he had been given when he had woken up in the U.A. hospitals.

Nighteye noticed he was looking at them and gave Izuku a low chuckle. "Mirio," he explained. "You know how he is. Hasn't stopped coming to see me since they opened my room to the public."

Izuku could only nod, unsure of what to say. All the confidence he had had before coming here disappeared and now he wasn't sure if this had been such a good idea. All Might had claimed Nighteye spoke highly of him, but whenever Izuku saw his face, he just remembered all the words of discouragement he had told him that day.

Nighteye must have noticed his hesitation, so he sat up in his bed and spoke up first. "I'm sure you spoke with Toshinori?"

Izuku looked up and nodded.

"And he told you about…" His voice trailed off as if trying to make sure that Izuku knew what he was talking about without giving it away.

"His quirk, yes," Izuku said.

"And I assume you said no, right?"

Izuku was about to nod his head when he realized what Nighteye had just asked him. "What?"

Nighteye chuckled and then let out a few coughs. Izuku stood up and reached out his hand but Nighteye waved him away. "It's alright. It happens a lot. Anyway, you might be wondering how I know what your answer was, even without my Foresight, correct?" He raised an eyebrow at Izuku who was staring at him with his mouth partly open.

"Yes," Izuku mumbled. Had Nighteye had a chance to speak with All Might before today?

Nighteye nodded, a small smile on his lips as he looked out the window. "I assure you, I no longer have my quirk, young man. But that was just a lucky guess, based on the conversations I've had with you."

Izuku shifted uncomfortably in his chair. Nighteye's eyes flickered back over to him and then he looked outside again. "And well, this is just another lucky guess, but I'm assuming you're here to ask me why I told All Might he should give One for All to you. Is that also correct?"

"Y-yeah," Izuku bit his bottom lip.

"Well, Midoriya, I'm afraid I don't have an answer that you're going to like," Nighteye confessed.

Izuku frowned. "What do you mean?"

"You see, aside from what All Might told you, there isn't really a bigger reason. If you want to be a part of my team and help me resume the investigation for the child, then you must learn how to control your quirk."

Izuku's frown deepened as he focused on the laces of his shoes. He waited for Nighteye to continue, to scold him as Aizawa had, and call him a liability, but when he looked back up, Nighteye wasn't looking at him anymore.

"What?" The quirkless hero turned towards him. "You look disappointed. Were you expecting a lecture or something? Did Toshinori tell you I would be mean?" There was a flash of something in his eyes Izuku didn't recognize. But Izuku quickly looked away and shrugged.

"I dunno. Everyone's been telling me how dangerous I am, I guess I kind of expected you to do the same."

"Exactly. So why would I repeat something you already know? I abhor redundancy unless it serves as comedic relief, Midoriya."

Izuku got the feeling Nighteye wasn't only talking about one thing. That he was also referring to One for All.

"Do you really think I should take it?" Izuku whispered.

"Well," Nighteye wiped his glasses on his hospital gown, "if you're asking me if I think you'd make a fine candidate for Toshinor's quirk, I won't lie to you about it. You're an inexperienced 18-year-old who is reckless and has a tendency to play 'hero'. But I'd also like to think you're the reason why I'm alive. And you remind me a lot of Toshi when he was younger."

"What?" Izuku blinked.

"I won't get into the details of what happened to me because there's still a lot of things I don't understand, but I owe you an apology, Izuku Midoriya. I misjudged you. You may be an inexperienced 18-year-old who's reckless and has a tendency to–"

Izuku rolled his eyes, trying to hide the smile on his lips. "Okay, okay. I get it. You can stop now."

Nighteye grinned. "As I said, you might be all those things, but you have potential. Even without a quirk, you showed promise. But that being said, I still won't change my mind. You might be an amazing asset for my investigative team, but I don't want to risk losing you either. I may not have a quirk anymore, Midoriya, but it's still my job to protect people. I didn't tell you about your future with my Foresight that day, but let me help keep you safe in return for the way I treated you."

Izuku gripped the edge of the seat tightly. He had expected Aizawa Round II, but Nighteye was completely different, minus the annoying bits of humor he sprinkled in here and there. Everything he had said was actually nice.

"So?" Nighteye crossed his arms over his chest and gave Izuku an eyebrow raise. "What's it gonna be?"

—

As Izuku exited the hospital building, he felt much better about everything. He still had yet to fully decide about whether or not he would accept All Might's offer, but at least he knew Nighteye was on his side and not against him.

He still had some time before All Might's deadline to think, but his thoughts were cut short when his phone began to ring. Izuku stopped and picked up the phone, Kiho's name and number popping up on the front screen. His heart did a tiny leap and he licked his bottom lip nervously before picking up.

"H-hello?"

"What the hell, Midoriya. When a girl gives you her phone number, it's rude not to call." Her familiar snappy tone made him sigh in relief as he finished crossing the street. He never thought he'd be grateful to hear her yell at him, but he realized he needed a distraction after everything going on. Maybe he would show up to that party.

Izuku's eyes widened suddenly as he thought about Kendo's words. "Kiho! I have something important I need to ask you." This was the perfect time to ask her about the party! Based on her answer, he would then decide whether or not there was a point in going.

He heard her gasp on the other end. "What is it?"

"Are you busy next week?"

Another pause. "Depends. What's up?" Her voice was significantly higher that time.

"Itsuka Kendo, you know, Big Fist, invited me to a graduation party, and um, well, I was wondering if you wanted to be my plus one?" He held the phone tightly, gnawing on his bottom lip as he waited for her answer.

"Hmm, her hair's the same color as mine. I don't like her, so no. Can't. Sorry."

And then she hung up. Izuku blinked and stared at the screen in shock. "Kiho? Hello?" He asked but no one answered. He looked up her contact number and dialed it again. The first two times, she didn't answer, but finally, when she did, Izuku spoke before she could hang up again.

"Kiho, that was a joke, right?"

He could hear her rolling her eyes as she spoke. "I'm not going, Midoriya."

Izuku scrunched up his eyebrows. There was no way he was going alone, but he secretly really wanted to show up. When else would he ever get invited to anything?

"Your hair isn't even like hers at all though!" Izuku protested as he tried to picture Kiho standing in front of him. For some reason, he found himself thinking back to that night when she had been wearing the revealing nightgown. He felt his cheeks flush and his words became rambly. "It's slightly darker, and when it catches the light a certain way, it looks like you have pretty red streaks in it too." He thought about the way the moon had made her hair look.

When she didn't answer him, Izuku realized what he had just said and quickly corrected himself. "Uh, not that I think your hair is pretty, I was just–"

"Thanks," she said quietly. "I can tell you struggled a lot with trying to figure out what to say. But I'm still not going."

Izuku let out a groan. "Kiho…! Come on. It would be rude if I didn't go and I don't want to be alone." He left out the part about never having been invited to anything though. She could put two and two together.

"Ask me out on a real date first and then I'll go with you," she said after a while.

"What?" Izuku blinked.

"I said, ask me out on a real date and then I'll go with you to the party," Kiho giggled.

"A real date?" Izuku repeated, but it came out as a squeak.

"Do you still think I was joking when I said I liked you that one time?"

Izuku shook his head and sat down on the floor, a wave of nausea overcoming his body. Kiho wanted him to take her out on a date? "Uh... um, I..."

He imagined walking up to her door with a bouquet of flowers, her walking out in a flowy dress, hair in ringlets around her bare shoulders. And oh god this couldn't be good. Izuku felt his palms turning sweaty and he nearly dropped the phone.

"Hmm? I didn't catch that?" she asked.

"I guess we could go out or something," Izuku mumbled quietly, his cheeks turning pink.

"Great! I'll text you my address right now. Pick me up at 2, say… this Saturday?" Her question lingered in the air and Izuku almost forgot she wasn't standing in front of him.

He stopped nodding like an idiot and stuttered out a response. "Uh, y-yeah. That works, I guess."

He could hear her smiling again. It made him smile too. "See you then. And don't be late, okay? Bye!"

"Bye…" Izuku mumbled as Kiho hung up. As if he didn't have enough things to worry about already. Izuku couldn't stop smiling though as he stumbled home though. Maybe things wouldn't turn out so bad. All he needed to do now was decide what to do about All Might's proposition and figure out what the hell he was going to wear.

Kiho x Izuku shippers prepare for a cute chapter next week! We will also be meeting the entirety of Class 1-A and B soon at the party, which will obviously be a disaster.

Also, if you haven't already seen it, I started a new fic called 'Broken Rewind', go check it out! It follows Eri who grows up with the League of Villains instead of the heroes after she runs away. Izuku doesn't have OFA anymore and it's up to her to find out who has it while she goes to U.A. as a traitor. I'm really excited about it. And if you're into Haikyu! I also started an 'if MHA played volleyball' fic too for some more lighthearted stuff.

Thanks for tuning in, see you next week! Hope you like the new cover photo I made :D