The bell rings and the students of class 1-A stop chattering and stand up bowing to the teacher, ready to begin the first period; maths.
"Good morning students, today a transfer student will join us." Announces the teacher.
"Please, come in." Says to the boy who was waiting outside the classroom.
A thin blond kid walks in and stops beside the teacher desk, in front of the class.
He seems quite nervous. His hands are fidgeting and his eyes are pointed to the floor.
"His name," Says the teacher writing the kanjis on the blackboard, "Is Kaminari Denki-kun."
"Please, Kaminari-kun, introduce yourself to the class."
The boy gulped and breathed heavily.
"He... hello, m-my nuh... nuh... uh... name is Kuh... Kuh... ami-n-n-nari De... Denki."
Stutters the boy squinting his eyes, struggling for speaking clearly.
"Nuh...nuh... nice to m... meet you."
The boy was prepared to the giggles and to the mean comments he usually got because of his stutter but, strangely enough, nothing of that happens.
He would say that the class was surprised, but not hostile.
"Kaminari-kun." Calls the teacher.
"You can sit there, next Kirishima-kun."
Kaminari eyes looks for the desk pointed by the teacher and found it, beside a boy with flaming spiky hairs who is cheerfully waving at him.
He walked down the classroom, his eyes still avoiding to meet the the other student's, and sits at the empty desk the teacher assigned him, hanging his backpack to the hook on the side.
"Hi!" Whispers his new neighbor.
"I'm Kirishima, Kirishima Eijirou. Nice to meet you!"
"H... h... hi..." Says Kaminari struggling for not stuttering at least that single syllable.
Kirishima is widely grinning and Kaminari couldn't help staring at the strange teeth the boy next him got.
Kirishima notices the stare.
"Oh, yeah... I've got weird teeth, Don't I?" He whispers playfully.
"Don't worry, I don't bite.." He adds, giggling.
"Kirishima-kun! You'll have plenty of time to get acquainted with your new classmate but now shut up!"
"I'm sorry Sensei...My bad..." Says Kirishima deliberately bumping his knee on Kaminari's and winking to him.
The matter of the lesson was quite hard and the students really welcome the bell that announces the end of the period.
The teacher tested some students and Kaminari did really well, although painfully stuttering the answers in front of the whole class was very frustrating for him.
Luckily enough, in the next period, talking is not required.
Flooding out the classroom, the students quickly head to the gym. They got only 15 minutes to change and get ready to attend P.E. lessons.
Midoriya, because of his legs, is dispensed and takes the opportunity to reviewing his homeworks.
After a few minutes he hears some noises and voices coming from the corridors.
Something is wrong.
A fight?
Midoriya hesitates. Should he go check what's going on? Should he call a teacher?
He stands up and gets out of the classroom, following the voices.
Behind a corner, he sees three older student surrounding a younger kid.
Midoriya immediately recognizes him. Kaminari-kun, the new student.
The three bullies have cornered Kaminari and got his gym bag.
"So newbie nerd," Says mockingly a stocky boy who seems to be the leader.
"What should we do with this bag?"
"Mmm... I think that a fly out of the window could be a good idea... What do you think, nerd?!"
Kaminari looks scared and is breathing fast.
"What?... Has the cat got your tongue?!" Shouts another boy, tugging Kaminari against the wall.
"Say something!"
"P- p- pl... ease, le...let... muh...muh... me go!" Stutters Kaminari, shaking by fear and frustration.
After a moment of silence the three bullies burst in coarse laughs.
"Cool! The nerd has a nerdy s-s-s-stutter!" Roared the leader laughing loudly.
Kaminari feels helpless, he can feel tears raising on his eyes.
"Le... let muh... muh... ngh... " He gasps.
"Oooh... The nerd is crying! He wa-wants his mo-mommy." The laughs get even ruder while the three keep tugging Kaminari back and forth.
"Stop! Leave him alone!" A voice burst over the vulgar laughs.
The bullies suddenly go silent.
Who dares give'em orders...
The three turns toward the voice to see a skinny boy with green eyes standing awkwardly in front of them.
Midoriya.
"And you? Who are you?" Snarls the leader, menacing.
"I am Kaminari-kun's classmate. Let him go!"
Midoriya tries to act cool but his legs have already begun to shake.
"I see..." Says the leader, mockingly staring at Midoriya's legs.
"You are from the gimpy rescue squad, right?"
The laughter bursts again while the bullies leader gets closer to Midoriya.
"So, mighty hero, what are you going to do?" Says the boy, close to Midoriya's face.
"Are you going to kick us to death with you lame feet? Mmm?!..."
Midoriya is scared but keeps on acting.
"Leave him alone!" He said again.
"Mmm... Sure...As you wish..." Says the thug laying a hand on Midoriya's shoulder faking a friendly gesture.
"But first..." Says sharply, violently pushing Midoriya.
The kid wobbles backward struggling to keep his balance.
He is trying hard but his feet keep bumping into each other making him trip and fall on the floor.
Midoriya yelps in pain and frustration. He hit hard his shoulder and a acute twinge of pain is running down his arm.
The thugs keep laughing coarsely, enjoying to watch Midoriya struggling to get up.
"Need some help, hero?" Shouts one of the boys mockingly kicking Midoriya's feet that are helplessly jeking and slipping on the ground.
Midoriya is still struggling on the floor when a pair of light blue canvas shoes appears in front of him.
He knows these shoes.
Midoriya raises his head and sees Todoroki standing in front of him.
Todoroki squats down and gently helps Midoriya to get up, without saying a word.
Then gets close to the thugs leader.
"I think this is over."
Todoroki voice is plain and expressionless but his eyes, cold as ice, are raging.
"And you... Who are you? Another freak who wanna join the party?"
Shouts the thug boastfully.
"Are you trying to scare us with you freaky eyes, Scarface?!"
The other bullies are nervously staring at that weird menacing kid without moving a muscle, letting Kaminari free.
In a fraction of a second, Todoroki grabs the bullys leader's wrist and violently twists his arm onto his back making the shoulder dislocate with a sharp snap.
The thug screams in pain.
"Let me go!" Yelps the boy "You broke my arm!"
He struggles to get free but Todoroki's grip won't ease.
"I think you all are required at the field for your baseball training."
Says Todoroki plainly, offering the bullies an exit route.
"You don't wanna be late, I suppose." He adds.
"Yeah, we don't." Panted the thug while Todoroki looses his grip.
"You're lucky we gotta go, Scarface! Next time we'll teach you a proper lesson!" Yells the bully, holding his dislocated shoulder while crossing the exit door followed by his sidekicks.
"Are you both ok?" Asks Todoroki quietely.
Kaminari is paralized by fear but manages to stutter an answer.
"Y- yes, th-th-th-thank you."
"Izuku... Are you ok?" Insists Todoroki gently laying a hand on Midoriya shoulder, meaningful staring at his legs.
"I'm fine. Thanks Shouto-kun. Don't worry."
"Well then, see you later Izuku." Plainly say Todoroki while leaving.
"Yeah, see you later, Shouto-kun. Thanks..."
"Kaminari-kun?..."
Calls Midoriya.
Kaminari is still leaning against the wall, where the bullies cornered him.
"Kaminari-kun?..." Calls again Midoriya, lightly shaking Kaminari's shoulder.
The boy startled.
"Oh, Um... Y-yes... suh... sorry. W-w-what is it?"
"Are you ok, Kaminari-kun?" Asks Midoriya.
"Um... Yes, I'm fuh... fine. Th-thanks."
"Oh, Sorry!..." Says then Midoriya, realizing he didn't introduce himself.
"I'm Midoriya, Midoriya Izuku. We are in the same class."
"I kn-know, I s-aw you in cl-class this muh... muh... mor...ngh... mor...nngh..."
"...I s- aw you in c-class..."
Midoriya is smiling in Midoriya's style and Kaminari starts to calm down, a little eased.
"Mi... Mi... idoriya-kuh... kun, th-thanks fuh...for w-what you did for m-me..."
"I did nothing, it was Shouto-kun who saved the day." Says Midoriya grinning.
"Um... May I a-ask you suh...suh...something?..."
"Sure! What it is?" Answer Midoriya, cheerfully.
"Umm... Are you fuh... fuh... frie... frie.. nng... frie...uh..."
Kaminari gasps attempting to let his words out.
"...c-close to th-that gu-guy?"
"You mean Shouto-kun?"
Kaminari nods.
"Well, yes. I guess we're friends."
"H-he's sca-scary. His e-eyes... So c-cold and me-me-menacing..."
"... And that sca...sca... sca... ngh... th-that sca... sca... uh...ngh..."
"...th-that w-wound on his f- face..."
"...Well, I know. Shouto-kun may look a bit scary but he is very nice instead, he is kind and caring."
"Um... Y-yeah, I-I guh... guess so..." Mutters Kaminari, unconvinced.
The two are suddenly interrupted by a kid with spiky hairs who his speeding toward them, calling loudly for Kaminari.
"Oi! Kaminari! Where have you been! We have to hurry, wanna be late on your first day?!"
Shouts the kid.
"Oh, Kuh... Kuh... uh... Kuh...ngh... uh... " Stutters Kaminari trying to say Kirishima's name.
"W-were you l-looking f-for me?" He says, surprised.
"Of course I was looking for you! I thought you got lost!"
"Oh... thanks, Kuh... Kuh... uh... nngh... Kuh... uh..."
"...I m-mean, Thanks..."
"You're welcome." Says kirishima swiftly. "Let's go!"
"See you later guys." Greets Midoriya.
"A-are y...you not c-cuh... coming, M... Midoriya-kuh...hun?"
"I think you missed something, Kaminari-kun..."
Says Midoriya friendly smiling to his new schoolmate before heading back to their classoroom.
Kaminari freezes at the sight of Midoriya walking back to their classroom.
The kid is walking awkwardly, dragging his feet, rubbing his knees and crossing his legs.
-Now it makes sense!- Thought Kaminari.
-...The bullies mocking words, the way Midoriya fell so clumsily and needed the help of that scary guy to get up...-
-I was so scared I didn't notice...-
It takes a while before Kaminari dares to speak.
"Wuh...what... Wh-Why is he wa-wa-walking like that?!"
"Didn't notice before?" Says Kirishima a little surprised.
"Midoriya has cerebral palsy. For that he walks like that."
"Oh... He suh... suh... seems to st-st-struggle a lot t-to wuh... uh... walk..."
Says Kaminari uneasily.
"Yeah, he does. But don't feel uneasy with him. He's a funny and cheerful guy, always positive and caring . You're going to like him. Everyone does in our class."
"Y-yeah, I th-think I will..."
"Now we'd better to go, Kaminari, or we gonna be really late." urges Kirishima.
"Y-yeah, l-let's go..."
"Um... Kaminari?" Asks Kirishima while the two are walking fast heading to the gym.
"Mmm?"
"Um, I was wondering... Uh... May you consider to join me for the group assignement? I mean the maths one... You are quite good at maths... "
Kaminari hesitates. He had never been asked to join a study group before.
Kirishima sighed, feeling the hesitation of his classmate.
"Yeah, I dont blame you... I really suck at maths. You deserve a better partner..."
"Never mind..."
"N-no... It's- it's not th-th-that!" Urgently says Kaminari.
I- I ju-just didn't ex-ex-pect that so-someone wou-would aks m-me to juh... join a school puh...project."
"Why not?..." Asks Kirishima quizzically.
"Buh... because I'm wuh... weird..."
"Weird?"
"Yeah, buh...buh...because I st-st- stuh...stuh... ng... st-stuh...stuh... St- uh...uh..."
"B-because I t- talk w-weird."
"Really?!" Asks Kirishima raising an eyebrow.
"Well, I don't care. Actually I find your stuttering really cute."
"Wuh-wuh-wuh... ngh... wuh-wuh-what?!"
Shouted Kirishima who'd never imagined that someone could find his stutter cute.
"B-but I- I can't e-even s-s-say your n-name puh... properly.
"Really? Is my name so hard to say for you?" Asks Kirishima curiously.
"The wo-words wuh... with the kuh... kuh... ngh... kuh... uh..."
"... with that sound a-are the muh-most dif-ficult for me to suh... say..."
"Would you try?"
"Y-you go-gonna be dis... dis... disappointed..."
"Try me!"
"Ok, th-then. I wuh... wuh... warned you..."
Kaminari stops walking and breathes deeply.
"H-here it go-goes..."
"Um... Kuh... kuh... uh...kuh...ngh..."
"Kuh... uh... kuh... nngh... rishi... ima..."
"Ok. You're right. That's not your best line." Says Kirishima, scratching his head.
"But it was cute, anyway." Adds winking.
"Try to say Eijirou."
Kaminari breathes.
"E-Eijirou-kuh... kuh... kuh...ngh... k-kun"
"See?! Problem solved!" Happily shouts Kirishima, slapping Kaminari's back.
"You can drop the 'kun'. I don't care honorifics." He adds.
"Fuh...fine... Eijirou..." Says kaminari shyly.
"S-so, pl-please c-call muh... uh... me De... Denki."
"Sure! With pleasure, Denki."
"So, um... May I now assume I can join you for the maths group assignement?"
Asks Kirishima widely grinning .
Kaminari smiles.
The kids have already gotten to the gym entrance when Kaminari resolves to ask something he really wants to know.
"Um... E-Eijirou..."
"Yes...?"
"Um... You- you real-really thi-think my stuh... uh...stuh... stuh... nngh... stuh...stuh...uh..."
"...th-the w-way I tuh... talk is c-cute?"
"Yeah, sure! It's cute when you stumble on the words and got stuck repeating a sound over and over!"
Kaminari is a little perplexed but Kirishima is so friendly and cheerful he actually doesn't care.
The kids are getting in the gym, ready to be scolded for being late, when Kirishima suddenly turns to Kaminari with his wide sharky grin.
"Do you think I'm weird?" He asks.