Hello everyone! Thank you all for your patience, I have been receiving comments and reviews from the past … two months? It left me guilty for not posting anything yet. Please forgive me |ω・｀). It started with three reports, it escalated into 7+ reports and three projects … and then into final test weeks.
Chapter 11
Izuku watched as the whole class got excited over the news. They were all very enthusiastic over the fact that the sport's festival is going to happen, even after the villains attacked them.
Aizawa-sensei waited for the class to be silent.
"Remember, this festival isn't just for fun. There will be hero agencies looking around for new sidekicks or interns to join them. While you are all first years, it wouldn't be unimaginable for them to sign you up if your performance is far beyond than what they expect from the students."
"So cool! You mean we get to work aside real heroes!" Ashido asks, her hands on her cheeks and unable to contain her excitement. Everyone started chattering right after she finishes, but Izuku's mind wasn't into it.
"It's just a stupid sport's festival."
That was … until he heard Mineta's comment.
He immediately turns to give him a wide berthed look.
"UA's sport's festival took place of the Olympics, and you're saying it's a stupid sport's festival?" He said, aghast. Mineta's eyes bulged in place.
"That isn't what I meant Midoriya!"
"It's as Midoriya-Kun said," This attracted everyone's attention to the teacher. "This festival has taken the place of the Olympics in Japans heart."
"Not to mention, that all the top agencies are watching, not just a few." Yoayorozu said, Mineta's attention though was obviously not her words.
"Can you imagine getting a gig as a sidekick after we graduate though?" Kaminari told Jirou, who in turn gave him an unimpressed look.
"Most sidekicks stay as sidekicks forever. That's you, by the way, Denki, you're a big goof too, fits the sidekick portfolio perfectly."
"Can you stop calling me that!"
The two were stopped from fighting by their teacher.
"As you know, this festival only happens once a year, you only have three chances. Words of wisdom, take this opportunity." Everyone's showed a newly determined gleam in them, every one of them ready to join. Aizawa-sensei seemed satisfied by it and was about to move away before spotting him.
He pauses.
"Oh right, Midoriya-Kun, both your mother denied your participation for the festival."
…
A sudden silence fell in class as they watch horror trickle in the green haired boy's face.
"Wh-What?!"
"As I said, we always send first years' parents a paper to sign for agreement. She has, understandably refused."
"B-B-Bu-"
"You don't need to worry, you only need one signature from either parent, since your father hasn't sent anything yet, it means that he's in agreement with your mother. He probably hasn't seen the letter, talk to him." With that, Aizawa-sensei left.
Izuku did not miss a second by turning around and give his childhood friend a frenzied look.
"I don't understand, why mom?!"
"Well … I'm not that surprised." Kacchan replies, Izuku sent him a betrayed look. "No, listen. Your-"
He didn't get to say anything as Cementos enters the class for the start of the new lesson.
0o0o0
Tenya was enthusiastic. He truly was. The festival was not just a scouting event for him, but a way to show his family the fruits of his hard work.
His family has been interconnected with heroism for many generations now, it has become an expectation to become heroes. However, it left a problem.
Because of his family history, they were well known and considered average. With every member being entered and most of them showing the same capability and technique.
That is until his brother has become a hero himself, and set up a new higher standard for the family. Exceeding every expectation everyone had of him, turning into the figure that he has looked up to since childhood.
But his brother wasn't just a top tier hero, one who only shows for the big villains and then leaves. Like All Might, his brother would try to help every possible person in every situation, it was the only reason he has decided to take the reins of their family's agency.
His brother was also kind, caring and very considerate. Always trying to help him with his problems, no matter how insignificant.
He remembers as a child how everyone acted around him, growing up being despised by most of his classmates for his heritage. However, his brother was there and told him that it will pass, that he will gain new friends that he could always rely on in the future.
And until then, his brother will be his best friend.
So Tenya resolved himself to become the best hero he could for his brother, make him satisfied with him and be able to tell anyone else that they were related without shame.
True to what Tensei has told him so long ago, he did gain new friends. One he has misjudged severely at first, but the green-haired boy had a kind heart and readily forgave him. The other was a very preppy girl, with a lovable bubbly personality that has taken a shine to him.
He has taken a shine to her as well but will not admit so.
Nevertheless, this very same bubbly girl wasn't acting as preppy as she usually does. Rather, she was pulling them out of class to try and catch up on Izuku's father and convince him to let their friend join.
"We are not leaving you behind! We have to get to Midoriya-San immediately!"
"Yagi-san." Izuku mumbles, letting her push his wheelchair in the hallway. Tenya himself had his arm snatched by her, his gravity disrupted, and his feet off the ground as if he was a mockery of a balloon, a balloon which Ochaka is handling roughly.
"What?"
"It's Yagi-san, we have different last names."
"Why's that?" Ochaka looked a bit confused, but Izuku sighs.
"To keep us safe, he has a lot of enemies so he makes sure his civilian identity is well hidden and unconnected to me and mom."
"Wha- I can't ever think of doing that to my own family." She wails, resulting into his body being shaken in mid-air.
"It just is Ochaka, wouldn't you do it too? If you become famous and very well known, you either hide or separate your civilian identity with your hero one or disconnect yourself from any loved ones."
"But that's horrible, the only reason I'm trying to be a hero is to help my family, why would I leave them?" She said, obviously frustrated.
"That is very admirable of you Uraraka."
"Huh?"
"To be a hero for your family."
Just like himself, truly an admirable reason.
"Er- Well you see … it's more selfish than you make it sound Tenya. I'm really only …" Her face turns into a shade of red. "for the money, I'm here for the money."
"…" That was rather surprising. He couldn't imagine Ochaka as a selfish greedy person at all, but she did say she's also here for her family.
"Is the money for your family?"
"Y-Yeah." She seemed to be ashamed, which was not the intention. He only wanted the clarification to know her true noble purposes.
"Then you're not selfish, you're still very admirable Uraraka-San, the idea of working to make sure your family is living a happy comfortable life is a goal not to scoff at."
"Yeah, Ochaka! They must be very proud of you too. They even agreed to the festival, so they totally support your choices."
Ochaka smiles brightly after hearing them, not knowing how to answer.
Tenya found himself wanting to see her smile like that more, it was a rather lovely picture.
They were stopped from proceeding when a very familiar and known figure has walked the corner. They look up at the massive man and all immediately shout.
"All Might!"
"My students!" He yells back, but with a humorous mirth underneath his voice.
It's always overwhelming meeting the number one hero, no matter the circumstances. The first time was at their first hero battle class, and he managed to get the MVP title in it. Something he has ashamedly gushed about to his older brother that day, he was rather happy with that achievement. Added with the fact that he has placed first on the quirk assessment test, he was on the right track to reach his goals.
Still, seeing All Might enter the class in a manner befitting around children – which they were – and wearing his old hero age suit.
It was overwhelming.
It took all he got not to react. His hands were reactive, a habit he has formed since childhood, he has seen children express themselves like that and learned to do so as well, thinking that he would make others like him. The habit never changed, unfortunately.
Ochaka did say that she liked how he expressed himself …
The second time he has seen All Might, it was two days ago. When the villains attacked and all his classmates depended on him to reach for help and get them on time. He never ran faster in his life. A desperate and urgent situation where your reaction could mean the life or death of the first friends he has ever made that were his age, or rather, who made friends with him.
Seeing All Might running in the opposite direction was like seeing a light beam shining from the gloomy dark clouded skies and pointing at one place.
That was overwhelming as well.
Now, meeting him for the third time, acting nonchalant and without a care in the world, and humoring them none the less?
Also overwhelming.
Does he not have any work outside, someone to save?
Frowning, he has realized something important. All Might has been taking his job seriously, hasn't he? Since he has been limiting his heroic time outside.
"A-All Might sir! We're looking for Deku's dad." Ochaka boldly says, breaking the silence. All Might looks surprised before looking down at Izuku-
How did he know that Izuku is nicknamed Deku?
Was Izuku's father the type to blabber about his children constantly?
"Well, most of us came out of a meeting just now, he looked very famished. He might be in the teacher's lounge." He answered after a pause, Izuku nods and thanks him before the man takes two steps away from them and then promptly ran away, leaving a trail of dust behind.
That was … rather strange.
Did he forget something? He did realize that All Might is new to the teaching profession, but he seems to forget things constantly.
Is it old age?
Too many questions, yet not a person he could ask. A shame.
"You guys go eat lunch, I'll go to the teacher's lounge, maybe I'll eat something there."
"You mean," Ochaka gasps. "Leave you alone, in the merciless hands of the student body and gossip mongers? Nope. Together!" She yells, pushing his chair effortlessly, Izuku starts laughing while Tenya had to ready himself not to get dizzy at the sudden change of momentum.
A ridiculous notion, his quirk requires his body to experience a change of momentum as his acceleration escalates in nanoseconds, nothing Ochaka does could affect him.
The manhandling finally ended as they reached the infamous room. Ochaka knocks loudly, and a second later, they hear shuffling from behind the door.
The person who stepped out of the room wasn't a teacher they have met yet. He had a wild mane of blond hair which reminded him of a lion for some reason. It was obvious that the blond hair didn't come from a quirk, but rather a heritage that could clue in the western direction.
He also had bright glowing blue eyes …
The intensity of the glow reminded him of … Izuku's eyes, glowing green at the initiation exam.
Ah!
"Midoriya-San, Izuku-Kun has been searching for you since morning to speak about important manners." He said bowing down as a greeting. He could tell that Ochaka and Izuku along with the man blinked in surprise.
"What a straightforward man. You must be Iida," He said before turning at Ochaka. "And you must be Uraraka. Izuku talks about you two constantly."
"H-Hai! Nice meeting you Midoriya-san!" She sounded nervous, but he couldn't tell why.
It's fortunate that none of them had a mind reading quirk, or they would have found out that Ochaka was freaking out because she was sure that this guy wasn't All Might, yet still acts like Deku's dad.
Since that wasn't the case, her turmoil was ignored.
"Uh … dad, can I talk to you about something."
Tenya was correct in his assumption.
"You haven't eaten lunch yet, haven't you?" He asked, not looking surprised at all. Izuku nods sheepishly, making the man grin.
"Well, come in, do you two want to join us?"
"A-Ah- No thank you Midoriya-San, we'll go eat at the cafeteria. Come on Tenya!" Ochaka says boisterously, yanking him away from the father and son due. They both sent him similar pitying looks. He only sighs and pushes his glasses upwards.
He has gotten used to this, unfortunately.
0o0o0
"I have been so busy with school and hero work, not to mention the villain attack, I forgot about the festival." Izuku felt like dropping his head on his knees.
"However, are you sure you want to join the festival?" Looking at his father, he found concern tinting his face by the crease of his brows. Izuku nods with determination.
"You do know that you aren't allowed to enter without any equipment? Even your braces. Unless you want to write a formal petition for the school board?" Izuku blinks, he forgot about that.
"Ugh … I'll write the petition then."
"I could write it for you, however … Your mother is worried after what happened lately. She doesn't want you out of her sight any longer than possible. She has called at least three times today asking about you."
"… T-Then … I guess I should have figured that out." Sighing, the older man points at the space next to him. Understanding what he wants, Izuku floats off his chair and sits next to him.
He was surprised to receive a one-armed hug.
"Izuku, it's not your fault. We've been through a lot lately, and your mother is receiving the burden from both sides … I haven't told you yet, but your mother found out immediately."
"How come?"
"Your uncle is a snitch." He told him, Izuku couldn't help but grin. "Because of the attack, I can only use my hero form for two hours a day."
Something cold has settled into Izuku's stomach, wide fearful eyes turned up to look straight at the man's own blue one.
"Wh-What?"
"I think that might have influenced your mother's decision a bit."
"Why didn't you tell me!"
"I found out this morning!" Not a second later and he started gushing out blood. Thankfully, he managed to turn away so that it wouldn't spill on him. Unfortunately, he managed to drop on the ground, causing a fountain like affect with his blood, and his back firmly on the ground.
Izuku found himself floating above the man with a handkerchief in tow once the gushing stopped.
"Thank you, mine's gotten wet after this morning."
"You mean this isn't the first time today?!"
0o0o0
It might have been amazing to have such a caring family, both Inko and Izuku showed a level of concern and worry that shouldn't be healthy for either. However, this very same trait will end up suffocating him. Luckily, his son will be suffocated along with him.
"I'll talk to her, my boy. But you must promise her to be extra careful. She'll probably tell you to fly as far away as possible from every other contestant." He said, giving him a pitying look. Izuku sighs in defeat. "Knowing how civilians act, they'll probably shout at you for being cowardly."
"… But I thought it's mandatory for every hero department student to join the sport's festival?"
"There are exceptions, Izuku. You're handicapped, it's like when you were in elementary and middle school. They could excuse you for most activities. Not to mention, your class specifically was attacked this week by villains. It wouldn't be a stretch to think at least one parent was scared for your lives. You guys are also first years, so your class specifically has a choice of joining or not."
"But no one else got denied from joining?!"
"That's because at least one of their parent agreed."
"… I guess … since mom is very worried-"
"Don't be hasty my boy. You should not miss an opportunity with this."
"Huh?"
"Tell me, didn't you want to take my mantle as the number one hero? Become the smiling face of hope for the world?"
"Y-Yes."
"How are you going to introduce yourself? You aren't the only one in your age level that has that dream. So, you have to assert yourself in the world as soon as possible with the best first impression manageable." Here, the man stood up to walk towards the window. Izuku stares dully at the teacup in front of him, thinking.
"Your friends will probably gain work placements before you, just for the exposure."
"…"
"You'll be left behind."
"I'll do it! Just agree to it, and I'll do it! Kacchan is already doing it, and I know he'll do his best, and Hitoshi wants to do it as well, he wants to get into the hero department! I can't let them advance without me. So, I'll do it, no matter what."
Izuku lifts up his head to stare at the blond. His eyes were glowing an intense green that rivaled the blonde's own blue ones.
"I will become the number one hero."
Toshinori found himself smiling proudly.
0o0o0
Katsuki glares at the round faced girl as she cheered happily at Izuchan's desk. Robot freak was loudly congratulating him.
His ears twitched, and his hand clenched.
Of course, shitty Deku would puppy dog his way in the festival.
It wasn't that he was angry, no … he was frustrated.
Deku must be still reeling from finally coming clean to the whole class and he still wants to join? What if he accidentally exposed himself to the crowd? On national television?
Even worse, what if he accidentally got hurt?
How would he be able to save and protect him then?!
But …
Katsuki steals a glance at his green-haired friend, as he found a smile blooming on his face, bashfully thanking his friends for the congratulation. Katsuki needed a moment to cover up his face with his hand, resting his elbow on the desk and pretending to be bored.
In reality, he felt his heart beating loudly.
Fuck you, Deku. You and your stupid-
"You look really tense man, something wrong?" He only moves his eyes to find that annoying redhead, also resting his head in his seat in front of him.
"Yes. Talking trash sitting in front of me." The redhead winced at his insult.
"Ne, that's mean Bakugou. How do you think Midoriya will act if he knew you still act like that with close friends?"
The world felt like freezing as he took a moment to comprehend what the red head said.
"What did you say?" He growls darkly, the red head only grins.
"Midoriya, or that cute nickname you gave him, Izuchan. He calls you with a nickname too. You might insult everyone else around here but it's mild when you call him names. I don't know how no one noticed, but you've got it bad." He said, humming to the side in contemplation.
"Shut up." He growls, but the idiot grins. Katsuki felt his hands twitching, smoke slowly rising from underneath his desk.
"It's cool though. I think he likes you too."
He freezes, an impossible feat since he's a pyromancer.
At least, that's what he thought.
"What?"
"Hmm, he looks up to you the same way he looks up to All Might in class. It was creepy at first, but then I saw how he looks at you as well and I thought, Oh, that mean's Midoriya admires them." That's when Kirishima gained a glint in his eyes, something that Katsuki believed he'll never be able to stop, whatever the redhead had in mind, the teen will do his best to achieve it.
"That's why, my new goal is … to be so powerful and amazing, that Midoriya-Kun will look at me the same way!"
"… What?"
"Midoriya only shows that face of admiration to people who deserve it! All Might, Eraserhead, you, and Todoroki-san."
"Todoroki." Katsuki spat out without even realizing it, but Kirishima ignores it completely.
"If Midoriya ever looks at me the same way he looks at you guys, that means I have become strong." He seems happy with his conclusion. Katsuki however, was not happy with it.
'Why the fuck would he look at half and half anyways?!' the thought ran in his mind, subconsciously turning around to glare at the bi-coloured haired teen at the sight. His glare picks up the little details that make Todoroki, at the same time ignoring the annoying redhead by his side.
WHAT WAS SO SPECIAL ABOUT HIM?!
The guy is a stone-hearted bastard. He doesn't interact with anyone, and if he does, it's always condescending and harsh. At least when he talks to people, he tells the honest truth and gives praise when praise is well earned. But Scarface? He doesn't even admit that anyone else is present.
Katsuki hates him.
And if Izuku admires him, then he'll try to befriend.
A big fucking no.
Katsuki looks back at the front of the class. He remembers his goals, how and why he has them. He will protect Izuku. Make sure he never got hurt the same way he hurt them as children, and that means stopping anyone else from hurting him. He will not let Scar Face get close to Izuchan, that he will make sure of.
At the same time, across the same room, Todoroki sneezes.
The bell rang, prompting the blond to stand up and walking to his friend.
"Come on, your dad isn't driving us today."
"Oh, I forgot about that. Sorry guys, I'll see you tomorrow." He told them, moving away from the desk. Angel face smiles as she jumps to her desk and picks up her bag.
"Then let's walk out together, come on Tenya!" Robot Freak looked resigned as he went for his backpack. He himself grabbed wanted to curse as he grabs Deku's bag and walking toward him, throwing the two packs on his lap.
"Pack mule."
"It's nice to be appreciated Kacchan." Izuku mumbles but hugs the packs to himself.
"Come on, maybe I can show you guys this cute ice-cream shop that I-" Angel face goes up to the classroom door and opens it, only to back away slowly from it, watching with wide horrified eyes.
The rest of the class looks up to see what made the bubble girl shut up, only for everyone else to fall silent.
"Wh-What's going on?" She yells out, still frozen in place. Tenya stood beside them.
"What business do you have with class A?" He immediately went into class-rep mode. For right in front of a class was a mass of student blocking the way out.
Then grape hair started wailing, demanding the reason they were here. Katsuki wanted to punch him so that he could just shut up, his voice was too high pitched for his ears.
"They're scouting out the enemy, small fry." He growls, pushing Izuku out to the door without care. Izuku turns and gives grape hair an apologetic expression. "We're the ones who got out of a villain's attack, so they probably want to check us out."
He forced his voice to take a deeper tune, planning to scare everyone in sight into leaving him and Izuchan alone.
He stops, Izuku bops in his seat a bit, snapping his sight back at the front.
"There's no point in doing any of this. Out of my way, extras." He growls.
0o0o0
He was panicking.
He tried his best not to show it as he ignores the yells coming from his friends behind them, but after spending the whole day ignoring the whole student body, he couldn't help but feel afraid of them. Of how they'll look at him, and how they'll pity him … how they'll probably talk about him from behind his back.
People already knew about him being in a wheelchair, he did come to school with Kacchan after all.
They all probably think it's from the villain attack. If they do, would they think that he was a weakling?
He clams up, and looks down at his and Kacchan's bag, ignoring all their stairs. Kacchan will take care of it, he always pushes bullies away, he's always there when someone was annoying him. He'll take care of them.
He tries his best to ignore the slight shivers he was feeling.
"You seem as arrogant as ever, McXplody." A familiar voice was heard. He looks up to see Hitoshi's familiar blue hair and eyes, looking unimpressed at Kacchan. "It's really disappointing, how you don't represent the hero course as it should. I guess it's true, the rotten apple does ruin the bunch."
"Fuck off Neko Junkie." Kacchan says under his breath, Hitoshi smirks.
Oh no … oh no.
"As you know, many students who haven't entered the hero course had gone into the general department. They left us a chance, however. Depending on those results, we can be chosen to enter the Hero course."
Something in Hitoshi's speech has set off Kacchan as he growls at him. But Hitoshi doesn't stop.
"And depending on the results, they could kick off anyone." Everyone in class took a moment to understand the implication of what has been said. "To be honest, I already knew how everyone's quirk works here,"
His eyes lie on him, making him blush in embarrassment, cheeks turning red. Aside from Kacchan, Hitoshi's the only one who ever listens to him ramble as he gets excited about heroes and quirks. He hasn't realized he was releasing information about his classmates until now.
"I came to see if you guys really are as formidable as I heard. You do not impress." He plainly said, making him choke a laugh back. "Just know that even if you were in the hero course, we can also sweep you off your feet. This has been a declaration of war."
…
'Bold.' Everyone present thought.
"HEY! HEY!" That made everyone flinch, turning to see a silver haired teen barging.
"I'm your neighbor from class B, we heard you fought villains and wanted to hear about it," He yells, and Izuku wasn't sure if he was asking or demanding. "Don't get full of yourself!"
'Another bold one.' Everyone thought. Izuku, on the other hand, wondered what his last sentence had to do with anything. He then felt being pushed away from the sight of the silver-haired teen as he continued yelling at Kacchan. Kacchan himself looked like he was fed up and wanted to leave.
"Wait a second Bakugou! What're you going to do about this?" Kirishima's voice was heard, Izuku couldn't turn to see him, and Kacchan didn't turn either. "It's because of you that everyone's hating on us!"
"He is kind of telling the truth." He mumbled to his friend, Kacchan clicks his tongue.
"It doesn't matter."
"Huh?!"
"As long as you're in the top, it doesn't matter." They finally got out of the crowd, leaving them behind.
They stayed silent half way home, Izuku partly because he didn't know what to tell his friend, and Kacchan probably didn't want to talk today. After gathering up some courage, he tugs onto his friend's sleeve.
"Is it true, what you said?"
"What did I say?"
"It doesn't matter if everyone hated you, as long as you're in the top?" Izuku asks, feeling tears ready to drop. He didn't want to cry, and was trying to hold himself from doing so, but what if Kacchan meant it? Does that mean he wouldn't care about him if he became a top hero?
Then he felt a fist on his head.
"Ouch!"
"You're a damn idiot, shitty Deku." Kacchan says in disdain, but he stops walking and then kneels down into his eye level. "What I said there, I said it didn't matter if they hated me because I didn't care about them. I don't know them, they don't know me, why should I care about their opinion?"
"…"
"But you're not one of them, those extras, they're just maggots trying to survive."
"That's harsh Kacchan, but continue." He giggles, always amused by whatever insult his friend deigned on someone. It might not have been polite, but after years of trying to stop him, he has gotten used to it and even find it funny most of the time.
"Maggots eat flesh."
…
That was … a gruesome mental image.
"If I let myself drop even for a moment, they won't hesitate to attack. That's why I'm planning to always stay on top. In this world, the heroes we see on TV aren't real heroes. They're just people flaunting their quirks, drunk on fame."
"K-Kacchan-" He tries to shut him up, worried that someone else will listen.
"I'm going to be a real fucking hero. Not just for me, but for you."
"F-For me, Kacchan?" He sighs, it's always down to this, always back to Kacchan's obsession with protecting him, blaming himself for everything when he wasn't at fault. Years upon years of ignoring everyone else just to stay by his side, years of training to protect him, years of doing everything just for him, and not himself.
Izuku felt guilt crawling into his consciousness.
"No. Stop it." Kacchan demands, forcing him to look up at him.
"Listen, Izuchan. I want to be a hero. You might have sparked it, started the whole idea, but now I want to be a hero by my own. So …" He stood up, giving him a small smile as he blocks the sun from his eyes. "Let's both do our best, becoming heroes."
Izuku blinks, and a moment later, he laughs loudly as he pulls his friend using his quirk, giving him a tight hug.
"DEKU, YOU'RE SQUEEZING ME, AND HOW MANY FUCKING TIMES DID I TELL YOU TO KNOCK IT OFF WITH YOU GRABBING ME?!"
"You're the best friend I could ever have, Kacchan." He tells him, not seeing the blush appearing on his friend's face. He did hear him grumble as he reluctantly returns the hug, burying his face in his shoulder.
"Whatever. Just don't lose before the semi-finals or something." He mumbles.
0o0o0
One week later, and no one was hanging out with him.
Understandable, seeing as everyone is training for the festival. It seems being on national television would fire up anyone into training. Izuku however, does not need to train as much. He doesn't exactly know what his quirk relies on, he just knows it instinctual and powerful.
His father did try to train him, by bringing him to an abandoned beach that was polluted by constant years of garbage dumping.
"Try to experiment with your quirk here, Izuku. I'll help if you need anything."
"What If anyone saw?" He asks worriedly, looking away at where the street meets the sand, but his father waves his hands with no worries.
"This beach hasn't gotten any visitor for years. I doubt anyone will think of coming here now."
"Oh … Okay. Umm, what should I do first?" He was confused since he never trained in his life. Toshinori slaps himself on the face before mumbling to himself.
"So, we know that you can fly, blast and pull. Have you ever tried a different sort of attack? Anything from your childhood you wanted to try?" He asks, getting a metal stick from the pile and started to list his known moves.
Trying to think of anything, he shook his head.
"I already did the move that I wanted." Toshinori looks up in surprise.
"Really? What is it?" He asks. Izuku shyly looks down.
"Blasting, I always wanted to blast things because … because when you punch something but don't make any contact, the force somehow still hits your target, I wanted to do that too. I can also create a barrier around me, but when I use it, it takes up most of my attention."
"… Will, I can see why Aizawa thinks I'm a bad influence on you." Aizawa-sensei thinks his dad is a bad influence?
"Will, since you're more of an 'in the moment' kind of fighter," He said with hand quotes. "Let's try to see how much weight you can carry with your quirk. After that, we'll make you do that barrier of yours and multi-task, how about that?"
His dad also got the confirmation for the petition they wrote, and the board accepted his request for his use of braces. A week has passed where they thought they trained his technique as much as they could. Toshinori did promise to help him practice his movement and make it look more natural later on, but today was a relaxing day.
A day forced by his mom after realizing that they have been training for two weeks.
He promised his mom to relax today, and they didn't exactly know where to go. They always played baseball, chess, or read books when they relaxed. Baseball was out of the question since it felt wrong playing without Uncle Naomasa has gotten busier recently. He accidentally broke the chess board not long ago, and they have already read all the books at home.
"How about we go to the library and then go eat? Are you reading manga now?" Toshinori conceded.
"Not really, I was too busy lately." He answers. His father smiles widely, a glint coming forming in his eyes.
"Then we shall buy manga! There's a sale going on in my favorite street. Not to mention, there's also a new café that just opened. I could buy you a bulk and it wouldn't really matter." He started rambling. Izuku smiling at his enthusiasm.
It was weird when the father is the manga enthusiast, not the child. But it was more fun. Even as a kid, he used to ask money from him to buy books, and he wouldn't care.
"To help a fellow avid reader." He would say and then wink. It wasn't that his mother didn't want him to read, she encouraged it really. However, there's usually a limit to how much he could spend.
After splurging in the library – where it was confirmed that yes, there is a massive sale – they went to the café.
"Why is Uncle Naomasa busy these days? He hasn't visited or called recently." It has started even before the villain attack too, so it wasn't just the case. After a moment of contemplation, the blonde finally answers.
"Your uncle has been overseeing two cases, my boy. I can't talk about the first one, it has been a big problem for a while and the last detective has been … decimated."
"Wh-What?!" Izuku asks horrified. Toshinori was about to calm him down but he hears a cough on the side, catching their attention.
"Your order please?" The barista asks, looking very antagonistic. Izuku gulps and tried to hide behind the blonde.
"Sorry. Can I have green tea latte, with soy milk?" The barista grumbles as she wrote it down. She then looks at him.
Not seeing the menu first hand, he looks up trying to find something he would like. He must have taken longer than usual since he hears the barista coughs again.
"There's a line behind you." She told him, gulping, he looks up at his father before mumbling his order.
"Can I have a chocolate smoothie?" She writes it down, and started ringing it in the register, looking around, he saw cupcakes in the stand. "A-And the blueberry cupcake." She huffs but also rings it.
They walk away for the next in line to order and sat down near the front.
"What do you mean decimated?"
"It's a complicated case. The last detective got close but wasn't cautious doing so. The suspect noticed him, killed him and then ran away, now it's in your uncle's hands."
"Can they do that? Give him two cases to work on?"
"They shouldn't, but both cases are of equal importance, and they needed him on both sides because of his quirk. The villain attack was sudden, yes, but he could process it faster than the older case. He's going through all the villains for interrogation and lets the others file everything as he works on the other case."
"That's still a lot of workload." Izuku says worriedly, but his father smiles and ruffles his hair.
"Don't worry my boy, your uncle is a tough guy. This isn't the first time he got two cases at once. Like I said, his quirk is very well sought off."
"Do you think the same thing have happened to Uncle Masaru if he decided to go into police work instead of insurance?"
"No." Toshinori answers bluntly before standing up to get their order and returning with two cups and a blueberry cupcake. Izuku frowns, sending him a questioning look. "Young Katsuki's father would have had the same possession as your uncle, yes, but his attitude would have brought him down."
"To be fair, mama said he wasn't always like that."
"Unfortunately, he is right now. But I guess I should give him credit, he's milder than his wife and son." He said blandly, sipping his drink. Izuku giggles and started to eat his cupcake. "However, I do think that his quirk is also valued in his work. Not every hero who files for insurance are honest, so they send him to demand the real answer."
"You've seen him do work before?" He asks while his father takes another sip.
"Yes. A few years back, a hero burned their office building so that he could claim insurance money. I was there saving the civilian caught up in the building next door. They told me what really happened later and that Bakugou-San was brought in to question the heroes until the real culprit cracked."
"That's really … underhanded." He frowns, remembering Kacchan's speech not long ago. About how there aren't real heroes anymore, but looking up at his father, he knew that not all the heroes are like that. His father was a real one, not a person who only cared about fame and money.
He looks down on his cupcake and takes another bite, not noticing the man rubbing his face with a handkerchief, frowning.
0o0o0
"Is it just me, or is it hot in here?"
"No, it's just you." Izuku replies to him. Shrugging, the man continues drinking.
"When do you think he'll finish? I mean, it's really weird without him." Izuku questions, the man blinks a few times before realizing that his son has talked to him.
"Sorry, Izuku, I didn't hear you at first."
"I asked, when do you think Uncle Naomasa will finish, it's really weird without him."
"That case could stay open months, honestly. The culprit has been on the loose for over a-" He stops, bringing his fist close to his mouth as he starts coughing. He grimaced, noticing the blood. He felt Izuku looking at him with worriedly.
"I-It's getting worse." He said, taking out his handkerchief and giving it to him. He mentally sighs, now Inko will hear about this, he was sure, and he'll receive an extra dose of fussing tonight.
He accepts the garment from his son in gratitude.
"Don't worry, it's actually a lot milder than before. I remember getting them daily."
"What stopped it then?" It took a moment to remember the answer.
"Your mother's cooking, actually. I remember her demanding all my medical ailments so she could cook something for me when I started visiting. If anything, that proves a good diet is key for good health."
He then felt it, another cough. This time, a lot stronger than usual, where he felt his lung getting torn from it. Blinking, he looks down at the handkerchief to find more blood.
Now that he thought about it, his chest felt like burning.
"I'm probably getting something, must be from all the work recently." Izuku gives him a guilty look, thinking about what he said, he groans. "No, Izuku, it's not your training. There are some protocols the school is going through. I just needed to work with the rest of the staff to get it down. Your training was actually relaxing compared to that."
"Oh, I'm sorry if I'm making you busier."
"It doesn't matter. You're my son after all." His son sent him a small smile.
It's always amazing, looking at both him or Inko laugh or smile. He spent a long time living on his own, that he forgot what it felt to have company. Years of hazy darkness, where his apartment didn't look familiar or comfy, only spending the night and then immediately jumping into action as soon as he wakes up. Although Naomasa did try to make him take better care of himself, he wasn't enough to completely change his lifestyle.
Not until he met them, these two wonderful people.
The chest burn intensifies, and nausea hits him. Bending down, he felt bile rising up his throats. He wretches, and couldn't focus as it happens, a sharp shearing wracks his body.
When he finally stops, he could hear Izuku screaming.
Blinking, letting his vision clear, he watches in horror at the puddle of blood that has formed underneath him.
When did he fall on his knees?
"-ad! Dad! Are you okay? What's happening?" Izuku looks anxious, not sure of what to do. He couldn't blame the teen since he himself didn't know what to do as well. He felt another bile coming up and readies himself for another haze, and probably unconsciousness.
Not until the other customers were surrounding him and his son did he finally get an idea of what was happening to him. He slowly, forcing himself to do so, looks up at the table and at the glass.
"Fuck." He breaths under his breath, and reached out to his pocket, but couldn't as another flair of pain hits his chest. His hands immediately went to grab it, tightening his hands and trying to suffocate the pain away.
"Izuku, calm down. It's alright, just call an ambulance."
"Don't worry sir, we already called the hospital. Do you need us to call someone else?" one of the patrons asked, getting off her phone. Another one was trying to calm Izuku down. But they didn't understand, they didn't know what's going to happen if-
"No, just- Izuku- I need to calm Izuku."
"It's alright sir, we're already calming him down. Do you know what's happening? What's the cause?" Before he could answer, he felt blood rushing up his lung, but he was ready this time and turned to the side, more blood gushing out of his mouth.
But it was getting worse, every time he pukes out, instead of the usual stomach content you'd expect, or stomach acid, only blood came out. This hasn't happened to him in years, not with the strict diet that the hospital used to give him, and later on with the food Inko used to make.
This time, it was far more intense than when he was a child, and he felt himself slipping, consciousness dropping gradually.
He looks up at his son, and the floating items on the edge of his vision. He realized that the café might not survive if he didn't intervene.
"Izuku, please listen to me. Don't fret, I have Stomach Ulcers. I'll need to stay at the hospital but that wouldn't happen if there's a mess, right?" The floating items slowly hover down, sniffles were heard coming from the green-heard coming from him.
"It's alright, you need to be strong for you mom, okay?" Izuku nods.
Sighing in relief, Toshinori did what he never thought he'd do today.
He faints.