It was Wednesday. The specialized training began on Monday, and Izu had been discharged from Recovery Girl's office the day after her injury. She'd, naturally, missed the second day of training with Pros, and was told not to attend the other days scheduled the entire rest of this week.
She was encouraged to rest, and was forbidden from using her Quirk until she could prove she was fit to do so. They even gave me permission to miss regular class… She laid in her dorm room bed, sulking about all manner of things. This entire situation… sucks.
I refused to meet with All Might and Rumi while in Recovery Girls office. It was… too embarrassing. Recov… Chiyo… undoubtedly knows what happened. She has to. She's the one who wrapped my bandages. Izu turned constantly in her bed; she'd awoken in the middle of the night and hadn't been able to fall back asleep. She didn't even know what time it was, though the small amount of light creeping in through the curtains suggested it was still early. Was there anything I could have done differently? Should I have defended my abdomen more? That… goes against the point of training though, right? W-Well I guess I kind of defeated that purpose either way, due to how much I'm missing as a result of my actions.
What worried her the most, however, was the required meeting she now had to have with Nezu. She'd already debated with herself on what Nezu could possibly want to meet with her about; every time she came to the same conclusion. Chiyo had told Nezu about her injuries. There's no way he's calling me to meet about something One For All related, is there? I haven't met with Nezu for quite some time. I used to… meet with him once a week to practice strategy and whatnot. But he wouldn't use an official summons like this, if that's what he wanted to talk about.
Izu ran her hands anxiously through her hair. It was clumping slightly; she hadn't showered since monday. She was starting to smell. Not exactly a bad smell… just… a smell. She was still wearing her dirty uniform from monday. The only thing Izu was accomplishing right now was riling herself up over immovable meetings. She'd have to go meet with Nezu. Today. No avoiding that. She… wanted to go speak with All Might. N-No avoiding that? That was a meeting she wanted to have, rather than one she was required to attend. With a shake of her head, she started to list what she would hopefully get herself to do today.
I have to change my sheets. I need to shower. I haven't eaten today. I need to call All Might eventually. Uhh. I missed my daily training routine for… two days so far. Will I be able to train on my own tomorrow? Even a little bit…? With a roll of her eyes, she sat up in bed, looking around the dark room. What else am I forgetting? Well… I have to make up class work. I should talk to Aizawa about hands-on rescue related things I'll have missed. Should I also mention the group discussion I missed? That was… a little while ago but I'm still curious what my classmates had to say, even if their feedback was… harsh. I wasn't exactly the most cooperative. Though I did hear what one of them had to say.
Asui. She said my performance was good, right? That I did well 'adhering to standard group roles'. That sounds… smart? Was she just being nice? She said others from the group said the same thing. That… gives her some more credibility if she's willing to use others names. Izu turned suddenly, agitating her stomach in the process. Pain flashed across her eyes as they drooped low; her newest realization weighed down on her. Her chest felt heavy… breathing was harder, more labored. I promised… I'd meet Asui for lunch yesterday… She brought her legs inwards, wrapping her arms around them and resting her head on her knees. I was… really looking forward to that.
Whats wrong with me, though? I'm always making things harder for myself. I can't make friends, even when I try. Something always comes up. Or… It feels like I always make something come up. At every turn. Every day. Izu rubbed her face with her hands, letting out a groan. I can't interact with people. I can't stick to my training regiment. I'm slacking on my One For All training. I'm… letting people down. Letting All Might down. Do any of my classmates have these problems? I would… notice. Right? Others have certainly noticed these things about ME. Right?! Asui pointed it out on monday at lunch. Bakugo's mentioned it twice. I've barely said two words about myself to Kirishima, and it feels like he can read my mind for christs sake!
She looked forward, though her room was too dark to focus on anything in particular. It must be late… Her stomach grumbled. Am I… easy to read? I must be. Everyone even remotely close to me give me looks of... pity! Low eyebrows and sunken eyes. Whenever I talk to people they get this sad look on their face. Everyone must be… walking on eggshells. And those who don't… know me… fear me. They're... jealous. Ojiro gives me harsh glances. Sato won't interact with me at all. All the girls besides Asui have kept their distance since that first time I talked to them on the first floor. Did I… did I really make that bad of a first impression?
Idiot. You're ruining your life at this rate. What would mom think if she saw all the stupid stuff you've done? Saw you alienating yourself? What would All Might say to you... if he knew how much you're slipping. 'I picked the wrong successor'. I bet. I can see his expression. The disappointment. It's like when mom would look at me all throughout middle school. I'd say my goodbye for the day and walk out the door. I'd turn back to look at her as she was closing the door… she always had such a sad expression. What was it, Mom? Were you disappointed in me? Were you… sad for me? But… I can never ask her these things. I… don't have the strength to bring up such sad things in front of her.
Idiot! You fucking IMBECILE! WHY ARE YOU SABOTAGING YOURSELF! She gripped clumps of her hair as she thrashed around in frustration. Her scalp hurt. She was pulling some hairs out. YOU WANTED TO BE A HERO. RIGHT?! Thats… thats why you said yes to All Might. That's why you… worked so hard. For so long… right? But… you know the truth. You've always known it. You're not meant to be a hero. You never were. You were born a worthless, Quirkless, weak little girl who constantly day dreamed of… this fantasy! This imaginary future where you were something more. Where you MATTERED. And look at you now. You have it. You have everything. You have… NO REASON TO COMPLAIN. Look what you've done with it. And now… and now you've ruined someone else's ambition. Why… why did I say yes... All Might chose the wrong person.
She whipped her head upright. No. Who are you to judge his decision making. He… couldn't have made the WRONG choice. He's… All Might. So what does that make me? Am I just some harlequin who tricked the Symbol of Peace into thinking I was heroic? Could… I have done that? Tricked him? All… all I did was make things worse. That sludge villain would've been dealt with either way. The other pro's who were there rightfully scolded me. I got in the way. I put myself in danger for no reason. Why… why did you see that situation differently, All Might? Why… All Might? What did you see in me that… I can't even see in myself?
She didn't know when she started crying. She rarely did realize. It just… happened. Izu sat like this for a number of minutes, sniffling quietly. Eventually her inaction for the past two days caught up to her. Bathroom. She wiped her eyes as she threw her legs over the side of her bed with a measured slowness.
The sound of the toilet flushing was… oddly satisfying.
I should shower while I'm up. Right? Well… if I do then I'll have to change my sheets also. There's no point in showering if I'm going to sleep on dirty sheets tonight. She juggled each option in her mind as she washed her hands. She glanced down at the sink and was reminded of something important. With an expression of self loath, Izu cupped her hands to fill them with water. She drank a few gulps, feeling sorry for herself all the while. With a quiet sigh, she exited the bathroom, not bothering to dry her hands.
Izu stood in the center of her dark room, back slumped in defeat, as she simply looked around. The tiniest ray of moonlight peeked through the gap in her curtains. Something drew her attention. I should go out on the balcony. With quick, silent steps she was in front of the glass sliding door. She brushed the curtains out of the way and peered outside. It was a clear night. She couldn't see any clouds from where she was standing.
Her fingers found the lock; she flipped it open without a second thought. Sliding the door to the side, she stepped out into the cool night time air. The concrete floor was cold under her bare feet. The fresh air is nice… Izu approached the railing, gripping it with both hands. A twinge of worry rose within her. She looked to her left, and let out a small sigh of relief. Thankfully Kirishima wasn't out on his balcony. I don't know what I would have done if he was. Probably… probably just retreated back inside as fast as possible.
Izu looked up at the moon. It's full tonight. Being outside made it easier to think. It just felt… nice. The air inside her dorm was… stale. This air felt crisp, and colder. The light was comforting. Not bright enough that you had to shield your eyes, not too intrusive. The sun… feels harsh at times. It… I get the feeling that it judges people. Some people are okay... being in the sunlight. They can stand tall under its warm glow. Be confident with it at their side. Being able to stand in the Sun's limelight is… a blessing. Most people enjoy sunlight, it seems. So why do I… always prefer night time instead?
The moon is… gentler. It feels patient. It won't rush you. Judge you. After all, the moon only comes out when most of society leaves. They check in for the day, finding comfort in sleeping the night away. Waiting till the sun is ready to show itself again. I don't blame them. The moon doesn't judge… it's impartial to life down here on earth. Is the sun the same way? It… sure doesn't feel like it. But what do I know?
Night time bears witness to the worst of the world. Abductions. Murder. Theft. Rape. All kinds of things across the endless spectrum of villainy. The moon provides cover for all these things. And yet… no one can bring themselves to say 'The moon is terrible'! You just... are the way you are. No one blames you.
...Why is that, I wonder? Does no one question you because they've all come to the same realization? Or do they just ignore you? Your counterpart is… certainly more flashy. But why... does the sun feel different? Am I… an outlier… to feel more comfortable under moonlight? Others must feel the same way. I'm… not unique. At least, I don't think I am. Part of me realizes that I can't determine my own level of 'uniqueness'... if such a thing even had 'levels'. I've only lived one life. Izu gazed up at the moon with a deep longing. She'd stopped crying some time ago; the tears had dried on her cheeks, leaving odd trails down from her eyes. So I'll ask you… moon… You've seen countless living things at their worst. You can judge us… but choose not to.
Then… is it wrong to find comfort under your light, rather than stand under the sun with the rest of… the rest of… Her face became more and more dejected as she struggled to think. She didn't know how to finish the thought that seemed to be the culmination of all this… introspection. Society? 'People'? Heroes? Which group was I going to refer to? Is there even a right choice? If I had finished that thought, how would that have changed the sentiment? I… I'm rambling. I'm not making any sense. You can't understand me. You can't read minds. You're… not even real. But if you could respond… what would you say? Her eyes bored into the huge white circle high in the sky, silently pleading the celestial object would answer her pleas. Would you be like everyone else… by telling me to look towards the sun for guidance? To just… get over myself and be like… those three groups? Like all the 'normal' people in the world?
Her mood sank further. I like to imagine you're kind because of your impartiality. It's… hard to have that quality. No human does, I feel. Not from what I've seen, at least. That's just my cynicism talking, though. So if you could respond… I like to think you'd impart some great wisdom upon me. Thats… certainly something I could use right now.
She waited a few minutes. Part of her debated if she was… waiting for a response, or if she was just enjoying the fresh air. Her stomach grumbled again, and she chuckled softly. I should find something to eat. I need to… make sure tomorrow is better... Turning back towards her room she took a step forward, then paused. She looked back over her shoulder, laying eyes on the Moon one last time for tonight. That was… stupid of me. I wonder what I was expecting. Or if I was even expecting anything…
Whatever. At least I managed to cheer myself up. Kind of.
Same day - A few hours earlier…
The third day of personalized training had just finished and Bakugo was, for once, too tired to be outwardly pissed. He'd spent the entire second half of the day exhausting himself with Endeavors training. The first day Endeavor spent almost the entire sessions worth of time questioning him. The fucking idiot wanted to know how my explosions "feel". Like, dude, I get you're the number 2 Hero, but you're not my fucking therapist! I don't need a therapist, or anything, to delve into the inner workings of my mind. Explosions aren't something so graceful that you can "figure them out" and make them stronger with some wise fucking words of wisdom!
The second and third days for Bakugo both focused on technique. Endeavor was bugging him about the most minute details of his movements when he would create his explosions. I never knew… it would be so taxing to try and aim my explosions in such a way. Learning to angle the force of my explosions without having to directly move my hands… I'd never considered something like that. The first day I was just pissed at him, but went along with it because he's the number two hero. That was the only reason.
But now… I have to admit that I'm seeing the benefit. If… WHEN I master this… I'll be able to propel myself in all kinds of different angles and directions, while still keeping my hands in position to land direct hits on whatever's in front of me. The guy's smart, no denying that. It just… IT JUST SUCKS I HAVE TO DO THESE KINDS OF THINGS ALONGSIDE THAT HALF AND HALF BASTARD! He must be practicing his fire in secret. The only reason he's not using it in front of the rest of us— it's for the sports festival! That HAS to be the reason. Endeavor mentioned his fire on more than one occasion, so it's not like he doesn't have the goddamned Quirk.
He shoved his hands into his short pockets and continued to grumble to himself. Kirishima walked beside him as they followed the path towards their dorms. It would be dinner time soon, and they'd planned to eat together. Bakugo had, however begrudgingly, accepted Kirishima's request for help with studying. There was a test next monday that he didn't feel at all prepared for. All the more proof that you do actually care about people besides yourself, Bakugo. Kirishima thought with an inward smirk.
"Hey, Red Hair…"
Kirishima looked up, surprised that Bakugo was the one to initiate a conversation. He usually preferred to walk in silence. "Sup?"
"Since Midoriya's been gone, you've gotten a chance to train under All Might. Tell me about it."
Kirishima thought for a moment, then shrugged. "Oh. My answers pretty unimpressive. I dunno. He doesn't actually spar with any of us. He just critiques our form and gives us… lectures on strategy I guess. Its… It's actually a little annoying. You know, that he won't…" He searched for the right word. He wore a perplexed expression, but answered; "It doesn't feel like he's taking us seriously during these training sessions? Not that I can blame him. We're certainly a downgrade from Midoriya."
Bakugo gave him a harsh side eye. "Thought I told you to stop that shit. Insulting yourself."
Kirishima snorted. "Yeah you did. Sorry for not listening to you, oh great one." He taunted.
Bakugo just rolled his eyes in response. "I mean it."
They were silent for a moment, before Kirishima spoke up again. "Do you think… she's okay?" He asked.
"She's fine."
No hesitation in his response. Kirishima noted.
"How can you be sure? She… looked pretty beat up on monday, ya know?"
"Nothing she can't handle." Bakugo answered as quick as before.
Kirishima bristled slightly. "But why do you think that? Seriously?" He bumped Bakugo's shoulder with his own as they walked.
Bakugo turned to look at him for the first time since they started talking. He wore a scowl, but for a split second his expression softened as he looked at Kirishima. Kirishima had furrowed his eyebrows, and his lips were curled downwards.
He's upset? What? He wants a more detailed answer from me? Bakugo thought, surprised.
Bakugo turned, looking forwards again. After a few moments of pause, he spoke. "She's too strong to let something like a few bruises stop her. Even if those bruises came from All Might and the Rabbit bitch."
Kirishima cringed. "Isn't that a little harsh?" He shook his head. Stay on topic. "Nevermind. Either way, I don't feel like either of us know her well enough to… say that with confidence. That she'll be okay, I mean."
"So? Based on that logic, how can you…" Bakugo paused, realizing what Kirishima was getting at. "You're insinuating that she isn't okay, right? See how that doesn't line up? My point? How can you say that about someone else who you've only known for two weeks?" Bakugo countered.
Kirishima had to bite his tongue, which hurt more than it should have because of his spiked teeth. It's because I've only known her for two weeks... and I've already had her crying in my lap! That's a clear sign! He sighed. But I can't tell you that. Midoriya would… hate if I did that. Plus, you're too self centered and dense; I can't ask you for advice on something like this. Sorry, but that's what I think. A new idea popped into Kirishima's head.
"How many kinds of 'strength' do you think there are, Bakugo?" Kirishima asked, his tone neutral.
Bakugo stopped walking, hands still in his pockets. Kirishima followed suit, stopping a few steps ahead of him and looking back. Bakugo looked up towards the clear blue sky. His scowl had vanished. He waited a few seconds, seemingly lost in thought over Kirishima's question.
"That's... a dumb question." Bakugo answered, still expressionless. He started walking again, passing Kirishima. "My answer shouldn't matter to you. Only you can answer that question."
Kirishima looked down at the path they walked across. Is that… really what you think? Or did you just say what I wanted to hear?
Bakugo stopped a second time, his shoes scraping against the dirt path. He tapped his foot on the ground in annoyance. Kirishima raised his head to look at him, surprised he had more to say. Bakugo turned back, his scowl returned full force. "Actually, I take that back. I think there's only one type of strength that matters. The one I need to work on. But that's because I know I'm strong enough in the other kinds of strength that I think exist. Or matter. Whatever."
"So you do think there's more to… being a Hero? More to it than just being powerful?" Kirishima wondered.
Bakugo turned to face him completely. "Did you hear what I said? Let me ask you this: What's the difference, in your mind, between All Might and Endeavor?"
Kirishima opened his mouth to speak, then closed it. That's… a good question. I felt like I'd always subconsciously had an answer to it. But now that I actually have to voice it… He looked down at his fists, briefly hardening them. "I… don't know really. I feel like I'm here at UA to get an answer to that question. To learn what makes a Hero great, and to train. Train to attain all the kinds of strength I'll need apply the answer to that question to myself."
"You don't know…" Bakugo repeated. "Must be nice, to not know. I'm jealous."
"You're jealous? You? Why?" Kirishima asked, mouth open in disbelief.
"Who knows. Now come on." He turned, gesturing in the direction of their dormitory. "Save these deep referential conversations for someone who has the kind of 'strength' needed to answer them. Not me." Bakugo started walking again, a bit faster than before. His hands rested by his sides, clenched into fists. His knuckles were white, and his nails dug into his palms. He was glad Kirishima couldn't see his face.
Did Bakugo… He shook his head. No. I need to think on this more. Plus he doesn't seem like he wants to continue the conversation. He… didn't seem mad at me though. Kirishima smirked, crossing his arms in thought as he followed after Bakugo. Bakugo— I wish I could tell you plainly how much I look up to you. You're… how I imagined the best version of myself. Well maybe with a little less hostility. Are you self centered? Yeah, I still think so. But that's not something I can fault anyone for. We're all a little self centered. Is he dense though…?
I don't think so.
Izu quickly made her way through the pristine white halls of UA. She was on the fourth floor - the administrative level - so most things were unfamiliar. Izu was relieved that there didn't seem to be many people on this floor. Even walking by people she didn't know was… taxing. The odd glance here and there was totally harmless, but she couldn't help imagining what others would think when they saw her. Izu, unknowingly, had a habit of projecting her own opinions onto the thoughts of others. She'd always assumed everyone assumed the worst of her, as she did.
Arriving in front of Nezu's office, she paused to look quizzically at the door. It was a regular door. Well not normal. It was one of the nicer doors she'd seen in UA. It was made of a fancy looking dark wood, while remaining tall and wide enough to fit a variety of mutations comfortably. What surprised her was the handle. It was at a standard height. That of a… regular person. How did Nezu open this door on his own? She wondered.
She paused outside his office, mentally pacing back and forth, hoping to build up… something. Courage? Bravery? Come on! Just open the door! You're just making it worse by standing awkwardly outside. What if someone sees you? She turned to look behind her. The hallway was empty. She checked the time on her phone. She was a minute early. She took a deep breath and rapped her knuckles against the hardwood door.
After a few moments of silence, Izu heard a muffled high pitch voice come from within the office. The voice distinctly belonged to Nezu - She'd yet to meet someone else who could sound that cheery and serious at the same time.
"The door is open! Please do come in."
Forgoing a reply, she waited a beat before testing the handle. Izu pushed lightly, and it swung open with surprisingly little effort considering the doors grand appearance and size. It had an almost unnatural glide to it. Ah. I see how he can open it…
Izu slipped inside, closing the door behind her. She kept her back to the door as her eyes locked onto Nezu's desk. He… wasn't there. Izu scanned the room, finding the principal sitting in one of the padded chairs. His eyes found hers, and she quickly averted her gaze, looking elsewhere. She clasped her hands behind her back and began to aggressively wring them. Nezu had always looked at this habit of hers with sad eyes, so she always tried to lamely hide it. She could never bring herself to stop. Though she certainly couldn't claim to have tried all that hard to stop.
She saw him gesture to the chair that sat opposite his. "You're welcome to sit." He assured.
There was a tea set on the small table between the pair of chairs. A cup sat in front of the chair meant for her. Steam rose calmly from the decorative cup. Tea? Nezu was holding his cup, having already taken a few sips. He set his down, leaning far forward to reach the table. He clasped his hands, letting them rest on his lap, then turned to look at her with a reassuring smile.
Izu closed her eyes, inhaling deeply as she relaxed against the door. Part of her wanted to stay standing, while another recognized the extra care behind Nezu's statement. 'You're welcome to sit' is what he said. Not 'please take a seat' like he'd say to anyone else. She sighed. Nezu knew her too well. They'd had a bit of a therapist-patient relationship before UA, despite him not being officially licensed. There was never any expectations behind those meetings - no 'results' had to be met. Izu had progressively gotten comfortable enough with Nezu to request meetings with him herself. He always seems to know what to say.
But that wasn't why she was here today. Nor was she here to receive a lesson on strategy or morals. She was, essentially, in trouble. And yet he still maintains his patience with me.
"Aren't you supposed to be my principal now?" Izu asked, her face inquisitive.
Nezu responded with a confused look, eventually returning to that small smile he seemed to always wear. Nezu was debating with himself. Was that her trying to be humorous? He didn't reply immediately, instead opting for another sip of tea. Izu sighed as she pushed off the door, transitioning into a slow walk towards the open chair.
"Being your principal doesn't mean I can't be friendly and understanding. You of all people would know I can remain impartial when it counts." He said with a nod, referring to her dual acceptance to UA.
Izu sat in the chair, pulling her legs up to wrap her hands around them, then resting her head on her knees. This was how she always sat when alone Nezu. It felt… right, considering his size. She'd asked, once, if Nezu felt like she was mocking him. He'd brushed off her concern, simply affirming that if that's how she wanted to sit, then that's how she should sit.
She looked around his office with practiced stealth. It was quite unassuming. Not as decorated as Izu had expected, considering the position Nezu held. Being the principal of UA certainly gave him a good amount of leverage, power, influence - however you want to refer to it. It was odd, Izu thought, that she was no longer intimidated by these people. All Might, Nezu, UA Teachers, Pro Heroes. Each worthy of praise and commanding a great deal of individual power. None of them seemed intimidating to her anymore. Is it because I received One For All? Do I… have an ego now? Even unknowingly?
"That sounded rude. I didn't mean it like that." She said, still not looking at him.
"Of course. No offence was taken, I assure you." He was still smiling at her. Slowly his mouth transitioned into a thin line. He did have an agenda he needed to cover in this meeting. He began, "Midoriya, do you know why I've called here today?"
Izu tried to look down into her knees more to hide her face. She couldn't help but cringe at the question. Of course I know why. After some internal debate on how she should respond, she eventually settled with, "Because of what happened during Mondays training?"
Nezu raised an eyebrow. That was quite the non-answer. Well, there's no point in being cruel and making her address what happened. I can probe her for answers indirectly. "I heard you took quite the beating. Not that anyone would blame you of course!" He chuckled, trying to be reassuring. "You were up against quite the fearsome pair. I hope you were able to learn something from your brief time spent with them?" Nezu questioned.
"I haven't been able to sit down and think about my time with them yet. Plus I can't use my Quirk. I'm still recovering." Izu answered with a shrug. Her voice was eerily monotonous.
"I've heard that's what Recovery Girl recommended. Next training session I th—"
"Next time I won't make the same mistakes. I wont get hit again." She was looking at him now, her eyes alight with determination.
Nezu's smiled remained, ever present. "That's a good attitude to have." He paused briefly, then continued. "Allow me to go on a small tangent?" He nodded towards her for confirmation.
She shrugged again, then returned the nod.
"Please don't think of this as an interrogation. You aren't required to answer any question. These are all fueled by my own curiosity…" He watched her for a reaction. Izu remained stoic, giving him nothing to work with. She was hard to read, considering her mouth was hidden behind her knees still. Nezu narrowed his eyes, asking "You acknowledge the strength within you now, yes? There are few, if any, in your class who can hope to match you in combat."
Her expression faltered slightly, her eyes betraying her as they widened ever so slightly. She didn't respond, though.
Nezu continued. "And you're very critical of yourself." This was more a statement, instead of a question. Again Izu gave no reaction. Nezu pressed on, wanting to get some reaction out of her. "Tell me, Midoriya, do you have a 'zone' that you go into, as far as you're aware? The phenomenon is not just non-scientific wild speculation. You intensely focus on something- so much so that everything else on your mind, anything remotely distracting, fades away."
He watched her, hoping for a response. After a few seconds of waiting, he heard a quiet "-No."
Really now? So she's unaware of the change in her demeanor? But she retains memories of her own actions during this change… Was that the truth, I wonder. Did she answer honestly... Nezu quickly glanced up at one of the corners of his office, feeling a tad guilty. "Do you think you're too critical, too harsh on yourself? I know you think a lot. Too much introspection can be… dangerous, as I'm sure you're aware."
This time she responded more quickly, raising her head slightly. "Thats a lot of assumptions."
"'But would you agree with the first part of my statement?"
Statement? That's… a generous way to phrase it. Izu thought, a bit ticked off. "Maybe? Didn't you say this wasn't going to be an interrogation? Aren't I here because I'm in trouble?" She wore a questioning expression, not entirely sure what the point of their conversation up till this point was.
Nezu raised his eyebrows. She's insinuating I should get to the point of this meeting. She won't bring it up herself, but also wants this meeting to be over. At the same time - she doesn't want to offend me, her principal, or take advantage of our shared history. "I was beating around the bush, as you were." He challenged her, gesturing towards her. I want to push her in the right direction though.
Izu sat up straighter, letting one leg fall down to rest on the floor. She glanced at the door once, then a second time. Nezu watched her intently, absorbing everything she was unknowingly telling him with her body language. That made her uncomfortable. Hmm.
Izu simply stared at him, looking mildly offended. Nezu waited, letting silence descend upon them both. She began to fidget with her hands as he reached for another sip of tea. Her cup remained untouched, still steaming. She watched his careful, calculated motions, as he set his cup down. Nearly a minute had passed with neither of them saying a word. Nezu's previous statement… accusation? Still hung in the air.
Finally Nezu broke the silence. He stared at her, his expression hard to read. Was he angry? Nervous? Guilty? "So then, if you and I both know why you are here, will you be the one to voice it?"
Izu, surprisingly, held his gaze. Nezu swore he could see the gears in her head turning in thought. "Why won't you say it?" She asked.
He didn't miss a beat. "I am willing to. But hearing it from you— You being the one to address it could be viewed as a first step toward remedying the situation. Plus it is a rather… touchy subject. If my staff and I were, somehow, incorrect in our conclusion, it would be extremely offensive. I am confident, however." Again he threw the metaphorical ball back to her.
Izu, once more, remained silent for some time. She slowly raised her leg back up, returning to her previous position, resting her head on her knees. "When Rumi… kicked me it—" She stopped abruptly, letting out a choked sound.
Nezu sat up a little straighter, a blithe look rested on his mammalian face. He motioned for her to continue. She's so close.
"Because I… uh. What she did didn't cause… that?" She glowered, curling in on herself slightly as she finished her choppy sentence.
We're on the same page, then. She's done enough for today. Nezu clapped his small hands (paws?) together, causing Izu to look up. "Then we're done."
"We are?" She asked, unable to mask her surprise.
"For the most part. I do have some… parting requests of you." He admitted.
Izu looked around, trying to process the last minute. She didn't quite know how to feel. She shrugged at him, which he took as a sign to continue.
"I'm not going to tell you how to live your life, Midoriya. But I will put forward some… recommendations. I know you trust me, and I want to take advantage of that fact in a unique way."
She raised an eyebrow at him.
He continued. "I know firsthand that being told the solution to a problem only constitutes, at most, half of what you need to actually see it through. Having the knowledge on how to solve an issue is not that same as having the understanding of its implementation. Does that make sense?"
Izu closed her eyes to think. I think I get it? He's going to tell me the solution to my problem, but is going to leave me to figure out how to… apply that solution to myself? She frowned, not entirely confident in her thinking. "I think so?"
"Knowledge is not the same as understanding. That being, you are aware of how your actions make you feel. I want you to spend time, in a clear state of mind, debating with yourself. Did you end the day worse than when you started? If so, what actions were the cause? What did you gain from them, and what did you lose?"
Izu wasn't sure how to react, but she was listening intently. Every word Nezu said was carefully memorized; saved for a later date when she could properly analyze his meaning.
"Even self harm seems like a good idea in the moment. Those feelings are legitimate. Do not discredit them after the fact simply because you are ashamed of them. Work with them to better yourself, as I'm sure that's what you want." Nezu said with a low voice. For once, his eyes were downcast, unable to meet hers.
Izu, to her credit, didn't have the knee jerk reaction she'd expected upon hearing Nezu's concession. He did know what she'd done. Yes, her blood ran cold, and she felt like freaking out. But… a different part of her recognized the gentle care behind Nezu's words. The sincerity of it all caused a soft bloom of warmth somewhere within her.
Nezu, fearing he'd said too much, reacted quickly to wrap up their conversation. He'd accomplished his goal. He stood up, intentionally making more noise than usual to snap Izu out of her train of thought. Izu blinked once, then twice, watching him start to clean up the tea set. She straightened herself out, grabbing her cup and pushing it towards him, her expression was completely impassive.
"You can, when you feel ready to use your Quirk, return to classes. Please take as much time as you feel comfortable with. I've made Aizawa aware of your absence. So long as you make up all missed work, you will not suffer any penalties." He told her.
Izu nodded at him, still unsure on how she should react. Nezu caught her looking at the door again. "Ah!—" He began. "You're free to go, Midoriya. Please do think on what we discussed."
Izu absentmindedly nodded at him as she turned towards the door. She pulled open the door, pausing as she stood halfway out. She turned back to look at Nezu, coughing quietly to get his attention. "T-Thank you, Nezu." She saw him smile, but she didn't wait for a reply. The door swished shut in her wake, and she walked down UA's halls with a confused disposition.
She had a lot of thinking to do, for better or for worse.
Nezu watched her leave out of the corner of his eye. After the door shut, he waited a minute to ensure she wouldn't return. He reached up to rub his face and eyes, letting out a loud sigh he'd been holding in. I'm sorry for doing this, Midoriya. But there are things we must figure out, even if we have to mislead you.
He fiddled with his pocket, pulling out a small phone. The phone rang once before the person on the other end picked up.
Nezu spoke first. "Well, Tsukauchi?"
"I wasn't able to get much from her. She rarely answers with definitive statements. She managed to dance around me pretty well. But—"
"But there was one time" Nezu finished for him.
Tsukauchi continued. "Yes. She lied once, when you got her to answer plainly about the 'zone' you mentioned. That was a lie. I'm sure of it." The man on the other end sounded guilty. "I won't be doing this again, Nezu. You've cashed in on your favor. I'm not comfortable using my Quirk on unknowing students like this. Though, she's such a bad liar you could probably tell without my help. No wonder she dodges answering like the plague."
Nezu was unperturbed by his friends comments. "Chastise me all you like. I have good intentions. You know I wouldn't ask this of you without a reason."
"Then remove that camera and mic like you said you would. Next time I'm in your office, if it's still there…" Tsukauchi warned, his tone clear even over the phone.
Nezu clicked his teeth. "I will." He conceded. Nezu hung up before Tsukauchi could lecture him further. He set his phone down, clasping his hands in thought.
So she is aware of the change. Is she… ashamed of it? In denial? How does this all play into what was done to her? Are they even related? Aizawa has noted that she almost seems like a different person...
Thursday rolled around and Izu knew right upon waking up that she was still in no shape to go to training today. She wouldn't be able to accomplish anything. All I'd do is steal attention from some of the teachers. It's not worth going. Not today. They might even send me back if I tried. Next… next week will be better.
Her stomach was enough of a motivator to get her to shower and, by extension, change her sheets (and do laundry!). Izu knew she couldn't go downstairs to the communal area… looking as she did. It felt good to change into clean clothes… and be clean herself. She wore a variance of her regular outfit. This time she wore a black T-shirt and black sweatpants; as opposed to a black tanktop and black shorts. One set held a tactical advantage over the other, so when she didn't plan on doing any... overly serious movement with Full-Cowling, she generally covered up more. Hence the T-Shirt and sweats.
No point in being more revealing than required. Everything felt softer. It felt… easier to breath. One burden lifted. Only… too many more to count to go. Yay. She rolled her eyes at her lame joke. Thankfully, when she did go downstairs to pick at various foods available in the kitchen, no one was present. Everyone was, naturally, in class in some form or another. Even Aizawa.
Having the entire communal space to herself was… actually quite nice. The only reason she didn't spend more time down here was because of the extreme likelihood other people would be here. And that meant risking getting roped into a conversation! Getting a change of scenery from her room was… always nice. The sky was overcast today, meaning the large communal room was quite cool despite the absurdly large windows present all around the space.
Izu took a seat on one of the workout mats that laid in the corner of the room. She sat cross legged, and after a moment adjusting herself to get comfortable, she channeled her Full-Cowling. Her regular Quirk training exercises consisted of mostly endurance training with Full-Cowling, and getting more adept with switching the percentage of power in different body parts on the fly.
She began low, with only 25%, and immediately regretted it. She instantly felt lightheaded, and she nearly fell backwards. Wow. That was… significantly more backlash than I expected. Sure I didn't think I'd be able to jump right back into using One For All at the same level I did on Monday… but come on, not even 25%? Chiyo did forbid me from using my Quirk until I felt ready to use it again. Am I breaking any rules right now? She pondered for a bit, eventually deciding: No. This is me checking to see if I'm comfortable enough to use my power. Plus Nezu recommended I check to see how I feel.
Izu practiced with far lower percentages of One For All for a few hours. Her main focus, since she couldn't expect any improvement in endurance while using such low percentages, was rapidly changing the percent of power she channeled at any given moment. She practiced alternating, suddenly flaring, and suddenly dropping her power in one part and lowering it in another. After a while she moved the mat she was sitting on to be in front of a full-body mirror that had been installed on a wall nearby. She had a hunch.
She paid particular attention to the electricity surrounding her body while doing this. Somethings been bugging me. Yesterday was the first time in a while I got to see All Might use One For All. Initially I'd thought of my electricity as no more than a byproduct of using Full-Cowling… but All Might doesn't have any visual indicator for his usage of One For All? Right?
Is he hiding it? Can I do that, or are we just different? She experimented briefly, trying to gauge if she had any sense of control over the electricity that surrounded her. No luck. The electricity is totally foreign feeling. But… I can feel something. Something is there, an inkling. All Might… did mention that One For All manifests itself differently in each holder. I don't… have a 'Muscle Form' for example. She shivered, trying to imagine herself in such a form. The imagine that popped into her head… wasn't a pretty sight. Too many shadows. Too macho.
After a while of continuing her regular practice, and watching herself carefully in the mirror, she made a bit of a revelation. The electricity condenses when I actually move my body, especially when I use higher percents. If I'm standing still it just goes wild, sometimes extending multiple feet away from me. She tried briefly increasing one of her arms to 40%. It ached, but it was nowhere near as bad as using One For All on her head. She flailed her arm about randomly. Sure enough, it's as I thought. The electricity condenses to surround my arm when that part of me is in motion. What… what can I do with this information? More importantly, what can my opponents do with this information? Hmm.
She stood up suddenly, speaking out loud. "Of course... That must be it!"
Standing in front of the mirror, she enveloped one leg in a 35% Full-Cowling, increasing the other to 40%. She wobbled slightly from the mismatched levels of power, but remained stalwart. She jogged in place to make sure her legs were moving. The electricities… are noticeably different. You can tell which of my legs are holding more power. Her mind flashed back to her battle with All Might. It felt like he was reading my mind during that fight. On so many occasions he was able to predict which way I was going to jump… and it makes perfect sense! She plopped back down onto the mat, conducting the same experiment with her arms.
It's only natural that I would, for a brief moment, increase the power in one of my limbs during Full-Cowling, to give myself that extra little bit of 'Oomph' when moving or attacking. That's basic fighting procedure with One For All, as All Might taught me. This… this is how All Might and Rumi were able to read my movements, detect my feints, all of that! I'm sure of it. How could I have not noticed this earlier?! I guess that was my first time really going all out since coming to UA.
Izu stood up, a delighted smile plastered across her face. She needed to go shopping. Her mind immediately got to work forming a shopping list. It mainly consisted of various groceries she wanted to have in her room, and some school supplies. But the real reason for her sudden need to shop…
I need a mirror in my room. One outside of the bathroom. I guess… I guess that is another reason why I wouldn't have noticed this electricity thing. I don't exactly like looking at myself.
She shrugged. Another burden lifted. And the days not over.
Izu returned later than she'd expected. She went to a basic home furnishing store to look for a mirror. She wasn't looking for anything fancy, but knew the one she selected had to be easy to move, should the need arise. She did call her mother however, just to let her know about the spending of money. Izu… never really spent money on anything besides the basic necessities for living. Food. Water. Clothing? Most of her entertainment came from studying (fawning over) Heroes or reading books from the local library. Right as she was about to press the button to make the call, she hesitated.
Will she be angry that I'm calling her now? For a reason like this? I… I do feel bad that I waited until I had a reason like this to call her. I should have… called her earlier. Yeah. I don't need a reason.
The call went smoothly. It was nice to talk to her mother. Exchange the typical formalities and talk about school. Izu purposefully kept most things… rather superficial. Not because she wanted to deceive her mother… but… It's just easier this way. She doesn't need to know about all these things I'm going through. That will just worry her. I know that she already worries about me enough. Part of her knew that she was trying to convince herself that she made the right choice. Though she always felt like she was doing that, in some sense. Does everybody feel like that?
She tapped her ID card against the reader on the front of the dorm and pulled the door open. There were a few of her classmates milling about in the common area. A small group of girls whose names she forgot saw her and waved. She had a hard time waving back due to all the things she was carrying; one hand held multiple bags of groceries, and she had a long box held beside her hip. She returned the greetings with an awkward nod of her head. It felt… so foreign to be welcomed in such a way. She still didn't truly know any of her classmates all that well. She was silently thankful that the ones she did semi-regularly converse with weren't present. Kirishima, Bakugo, and… Asui.
She couldn't stop frowning while she walked to her dorm. Unintentionally breaking the promise she made with Asui had been hanging over Izu's head for the entire day. She was trying to not let it bother her. Keyword: trying. I… know I should apologize as soon as I see her. I feel… really bad. I was looking forward to it. Should I seek her out? The elevator let her off on the top floor. No… No. I don't even know her room number. Let alone if she's even at the dorms right now.
Izu turned left to walk towards her room, but froze as she saw what was ahead. Kirishima and Asui were down the hall, talking to one another outside of Kirishima's room.
Uhh. What do I do? Any ideas? Can I go back downstairs? No, people saw me down there. 'Why are you back downstairs, Midoriya?' Aaah! I don't want to talk to them right now. There's so much I have to explain but I haven't had time to go over it in my head yet!
Kirishima spotted her at the other end of the hall. He was wearing basic workout clothes, and had a sheen covering his head. Asui was wearing a long green skirt and white shirt. Kirishima waved at her with a smile, causing Asui to turn as well. Izu's eyes met hers and she couldn't stop her face from flushing. Izu looked down at the floor, nearly dropping her bags and boxed mirror in her brief confusion. Kirishima quickly approached. Asui followed suit, walking over slowly with her hands out in front of her.
Kirishima spoke as he approached "Hi Midoriya! Me and Asui-san were actually just talking about you—"
Asui interrupted him, speaking a bit louder than usual because of the distance between them. "We were… uh. Yes we were, Gero. I was looking for you, actually, when I ran into Kirishima."
I have to say something. Izu thought, a bit panicked.
Kirishima arrived in front of her with one of his hands extended. "Can I help you with some of that stuff?"
She glanced down at her occupied hands. I don't want to touch his hand…
"I- I'm fi- I'm just going to my room, right there." She gestured in Asui's direction, who would soon be in front of her as well.
Kirishima looked a bit taken aback, but didn't press the issue any further. "Well I won't get in your way then. Do—"
"Would you like to join us for some food, Midoriya?" Asui interrupted Kirishima again, raising her voice slightly.
Kirishima turned to look at her, a bit peeved, but nodded to confirm Asui's statement. Not wanting to block Midoriya's path, he turned and gestured towards Midoriya's dorm room. He began walking, hoping she would follow.
Izu argued with herself for a few moments as she watched Kirishima get further and further away. Asui stopped a few feet away, electing to watch her with a calm gaze.
"S-Sure." Was all Izu could think to say.
Asui smiled, some tension leaving her shoulders.
Kirishima ended up volunteering his room, considering they were already standing right outside of it.
This is awkward. This really… REALLY awkward. Why is everyone so silent. Why am I silent? They were talking earlier, weren't they? Do Kirishima and Asui not like each other? Is the food bad? I like it…
Kirishima coughed into his hand, causing both girls to look over at him. He was, however, just coughing. He had nothing to say. "Oh no sorry. I was just coughing, ya know?" Kirishima was starting to sweat. The trio had only really exchanged basic pleasantries about the food and stuff like who would sit where. The kotatsu that came in each dorm room was designed to seat two people sitting across from one another. Kirishima volunteered to sit on the side as an act of courtesy, but it was still awkward. Sitting on the side meant he was in close proximity to both girls. He also had to sit cross legged, since he couldn't slide his legs under the table.
One of which I've barely spoken to— He glanced at Asui. And the other one is… He glanced at Midoriya. ...a huge mystery!
Asui would have agreed with Kirishima; this was indeed an uncomfortable dinner for all parties involved. She had originally knocked on his door to ask about Midoriya, after she didn't respond to her knock. She'd seen Midoriya 'hang out', if you could call it that, with Kirishima and Bakugo on more than one occasion. Bakugo was unavailable as usual, so she knocked on Kirishima's door.
To the surprise of them both, Midoriya was the one to break the metaphorical ice. "What has training with the Pros been like? I missed a lot of class, so im curious." She ended with a sigh.
Asui glanced at Kirishima, who made a motion as if to say 'you first'. Asui waited a moment, planning out her sentence. "First, can I ask if you're feeling alright? As you said you missed class and I'm worried? Gero."
Why ask if you can ask me when you already… nevermind. Izu planted her head on her arm, brushing her hair out of her face with her other hand. "I'm fine. I just went too far against All Might and… Mirko." She answered.
"I'm glad to hear that. Really." Was Asui's response.
"Me too. You looked pretty beat up on Monday. I knew you'd be fine though." Kirishima added.
"As for what we've been doing; I'm pretty sure it varies quite heavily from group to group." Asui looked at Kirishima for confirmation. He nodded. "I've spent almost all my time training in an aquatic environment. Though I've had a few lessons on subduing people on land. Gero. Though I didn't do very well with those."
Asui had Izu's full attention now. "What kind of training? I'm not too familiar with aquatic heroes regiments or practices." She lifted her head and started fidgeting with her hands, wishing she had a notebook to write in. Why do I always forget to bring one? I need to start carrying something to write in again.
She's so interested… Asui gulped, her expression deadpan. She wasn't expecting to have to delve deeper. "Uh, some techniques for swimming faster. How to escape rip-currents. Dealing with frantic or drowning people in water." She tapped her lip with a large finger as she went over her memories of the last 3 days. "All that alongside a basic full body workout routine, and breathing exercises. Though I'm pretty good at that already, Gero. There are a few Quirk related techniques I'm working on, but they're kind of hard to practice. Seals and Frogs don't have all that much in common, so Selki is kind of just encouraging me to... 'feel' my power more, Gero." Asui ended with a shrug. "It's vague."
Izu was transfixed. "Sounds fascinating. Who are you studying under? You mentioned a seal."
"Selkie. He's a Sea Rescue Hero, which is what I want to be, Gero. His quirk is just like mine, except he's a spotted seal. But, since we're both mutation types, he's been able to give me lots of good pointers on how to improve different aspects of my Quirk." Asui turned towards Kirishima. "What has your experience been like, Kirishima?"
Kirishima crossed his arms and closed his eyes to think. "Hmm. Mines been, pretty boring honestly." He looked over at Midoriya, looking rather sullen. "It feels like a slightly more focused version of the sparring we did with Bakugo. Just… a lot of fighting?" He waved his hands around. "I was hoping for something a little more… Quirk related?" He looked between Midoriya and Asui.
Izu looked warily at Kirishima. "You mentioned that before to me and Bakugo. Was your Quirk always as it is now?"
His downtrodden expression vanished, replaced with an oddly prideful one. "Well, no. When my Quirk first appeared the hardening was barely noticeable. At first I didn't even consider it 'hardening'".
"So you've improved it then? How did you do that?" Asui asked.
He looked away and scratched the side of his head. He spoke softer, sounding a bit embarrassed. "I uh… hit myself with stuff. Over and over."
That sounds ridiculous. But if it's actually what he did... has he reached some kind of limit? Kirishima doesn't seem too enthusiastic about his Quirk progression or current standing. Not as much as I would've expected from someone with his personality. I should… ask him. He'd like that, right? Izu REALLY wished she had a notebook. "You're not doing that with Pros? Is there a reason?" Izu questioned. Asui nodded in agreement, seemingly having the same question.
"Well it's... hard to push myself further? I've reached an odd point where even falling from a building into concrete doesn't phase me while hardened. Training my Quirk on my own is kind of out of my control at this point."
"But the same principle can still be applied, right, Gero? Pushing yourself by… taking hits?"
"Probably? As I said, it's kind of hard to check."
A question popped into Izu's mind. "Does it hurt?"
Kirishima looked over at her. "Hmm? Well it used to, when I was first starting. It's not obvious, but my hardening isn't just surface level. I harden all the way through. So when I'd knock myself with a metal pipe it would always hurt. But nowadays no. Not unless I take some serious punishment."
"That does sound… hard to train. The Pros aren't… willing to hit you? As odd as that sounds." Izu wondered aloud.
Kirishima shrugged while shifting his gaze between Asui and Midoriya. "Most of the Pros in the 'melee' group agreed that my Quirk seemed to have reached a soft limit. For now at least."
Izu frowned. Sure some Quirks have limits… but Kirishima said he's already seen massive improvement. Why would his current level be the max? Is there some arbitrary 'hardness' scale that he's reached the top of?
Kirishima's eyes rested on Midoriya, then they opened a bit wider. I just… got a strange idea. How can I ask her this? Kirishima wondered. Seeing how they were nearing the end of their food, he figured now was as appropriate a time to ask as ever. "Midoriya—" She'd lost herself in thought; snapping out of it suddenly, she looked over at him. She couldn't maintain eye contact, however, so she opted to look down in front of him. "—you have pretty good control over your power output, right?"
Asui shifted in place as she watched Izu answer. She sounded a bit unsure. "Yes?"
"I figured so. After seeing you really amp up against All Might…" He paused, trying to choose the right words in his mind. "Next time we spar with Quirks, I want to experiment with tanking different levels of your hits. Would you be… comfortable doing that?"
Asui lurched her head back slightly. She certainly wasn't expecting that. Izu was, likewise, unsure how to respond to such a question. He wants me to hit him? That… sounds like a bad idea. But at the same time, he just explained that it's how he improves his Quirk. And that… he's been struggling to do so.
Before Izu could answer, Asui chimed in. "Does your Quirk offer you any protection, Midoriya? I also saw you demonstrate some impressive power."
She squirmed, not liking the attention One For All drew. Yes it was an incredibly impressive Quirk, but still. It almost felt like cheating to use it. Almost unfair. "Y-Yes it does. I can strike things without injuring myself."
Kirishima sighed quietly. Wow. She really is just me but better. He thought rather dejectedly. As if to demonstrate, her hands briefly lit up, surrounded by a calm aura of green electricity. The glow faded quickly, and Asui saw her face flush.
Did she not mean to do that, Gero?
The seconds ticked by and Kirishima's question hung in the air. Finally, in an attempt to break the suffocating silence, Izu answered. "I'd want to make sure it's okay with our teachers first? The Pros do have… valid concerns. Not wanting to injure you. I… don't either, obviously." She tried to hide her face, unable to stop it from flushing.
Kirishima's face brightened with optimism. She didn't say no!
"Speaking of, Midoriya, can I ask about your power as well? You've certainly been nothing but impressive since the start of class, Gero." Asui requested.
I want to say no, but that's unfair. They've both told me about their Quirks. Izu took a moment to calm herself, then feigned indifference. She nodded at Asui, wearing a brave face. Kirishima narrowed his eyes, studying her expression carefully.
She didn't like the question. Kirishima guessed. Nevertheless, if she does answer Asui... I'd be lying if I said I wasn't just as curious about the details of Midoriya's Quirk.
"Your power has a lot of similarities to All Mights, right? What's your Quirk called, Gero?"
Izu had a response ready for this question. She knew it would undoubtedly come up during her time at UA. She channeled a small amount of One For All into her arm, moving it in circles to condense the electricity as a demonstration. "I call it 'Energy Augmentation', because of the electricity that surrounds me when I use it. It gives me a lot of speed, power, and durability."
"A lot? I'll say. You kept up with All Might!" Kirishima exclaimed, raising an arm to accentuate his point.
"...He was going easy on me." Izu responded quickly.
"It's a very impressive power. Your usage of it is stellar as well." Asui noted. Kirishima nodded in agreement. Izu just grumbled in response, unsure how to respond to the blatant praise from her classmates.
Kirishima lost himself in thought for a moment. Somethings missing… "Is… is there a downside to using your power?" He questioned. Having such a powerful Quirk with no downside is… unheard of. Right? Even Todoroki has an exploitable weakness. I've seen him nearly freeze himself solid a few times these past two days.
Izu quickly debated with herself, looking down at her lap. Is it suspicious if I answer honestly? One For All… doesn't really have a downside? I suppose being able to injure myself with higher percentages could be considered a downside, but that will go away with time as I master it. Kirishima and Asui exchanged a glance, both noting Midoriya's hesitation.
"Um. Not really? Though if I use too much power I risk injuring myself pretty… badly. Though that's just because of my control not being good enough. That and… I guess the aftereffects of my movements? I'm not practiced enough fighting with high levels of my power, so any big or wide motions I make have some pretty intense wind backlash." Izu shrugged, hoping that explanation was satisfactory.
Asui leaned forward slightly. "That's incredible, Midoriya. Both of your downsides will go away with time, it sounds like, Gero. It makes sense why you're training under All Might. Your Quirk and his seem to share many similarities in form and function."
"Y-Yeah I guess?" Izu chuckled nervously. Being compared to All Might made her giddy with excitement, but worried her at the same time. It was very easy to draw a connection between her and All Might already. What if someone… looked into it further. Should I be worried? Should I let All Might know? She glanced at Kirishima, hoping to discern if he thought the same way as Asui. She was taken aback by his expression. He looked quite sullen. Something was definitely bothering him.
Worried, she reached out to poke his arm. "Kirishima?"
He twitched, looking embarrassed that he'd been so caught up in thought. "Huh?" Was all he could think to say.
"Everything okay, Kirishima? You looked upset." Asui followed up.
He swallowed, swishing his head from left to right as he thought about what to say. "I uh… was just really impressed by the people UA attracted." He gestured towards Midoriya and Asui. "You guys, Todoroki, Bakugo, and so many others. Everyones… really impressive. I kind of feel out of place, considering I'm already facing a barrier to my improvement in my first year. It… feels shitty think about." He admit.
Asui reached out, placing a large hand on his shoulder. "You aren't alone, Kirishima. Everyone… has feelings like that. We're all here at UA to help each other improve. Being heroes is a team effort."
Asui looked to Midoriya for confirmation. Izu, startled, nodded in an exaggerated manner. That caught me off guard. Should I be offended she looked to me to back up that statement? Wait no, of course she'd look to me. She's comforting Kirishima and I'm the only other one here. Stop… thinking so negatively. I… should say something reassuring to Kirishima. We're friends!
Before Izu could think of something, Kirishima spoke up. "Yeah. Yeah I get that, thanks Asui. I need more than words though. Both others words and my own. I need to prove it to myself with actions. I'm looking forward to the sports festival. I hope I can prove myself there to get at least some offers for internships. Being able to train one-on-one with a Pro who specifically requested me will help a lot. At least… I think it will."
"That's a good goal." Was all Izu could think to say. Couldn't I have thought of something better to say? I sounded... so lame. Of course it's a good goal. I'm sure everyone feels like that.
Asui glanced down at their plates of food. They'd all long since finished. Deciding now was a good time to wrap up, she threw caution to the wind and went for a hail mary. "Can we exchange numbers?" She blurted out with wide eyes.
A/N: Please let me know what you think! All feedback is greatly appreciated.
I'm interested in finding a beta reader. If you're this far into the story, and want to give it a shot, send me a message here or add me on Discord (see my profile for my tag).