"Good morning class." Says Aizawa sensei getting into the classroom.
The students stand and bow to him.
"Sit down students. Before starting the lessons I have a disagreable duty to attend."
"Todoroki-kun, I'm sorry to tell you you are suspended from this school until further notice."
All the students mutters and chatters, surprised by the new.
"What?!..." Mutters Midoriya anxiously turning to Todoroki whose expressionless face doesn't show any feeling.
"Silence, students!"
The class got silent.
"Sensei." Says Todoroki plainly.
"May I know the reason for that?" He asks.
"You have been accused by a student to have assaulted him, even dislocating his shoulder."
What?! That's not true! It was that kid who bullied Kaminari-kun and me...
Midoriya is managing to stand up to say that to the teacher when a voice spoke.
"Suh... suh... sen... sei. Th-th-that's un... un... uh... ngh... uh... unfair..."
Kaminari is standing, his fist clenched in the effort of not stuttering.
"It... it... it wuh... was that kuh... kid who buh... buh... bullied muh... me and Muh... muh... uh... Mido.. uh... muh... ngh... me and muh... muh... uh...
"...muh... me and h-him..."
Says Kaminari panting, pointing Midoriya.
He was shaking and sweating in the strain of speaking in front of the whole class but he has to do it.
Todoroki defended him from that bully, he can't let him be accused unfairly.
The teacher rises an eyebrow.
"Go on, Kaminari-kun."
The kid gasps.
Everyone is staring at him. What if he can't speak clearly. He has to do it but... what if he can't...
Kirishima, unseen, reaches Kaminari's leg under the desk and gently squeezes it nodding encouragingly.
Kaminari breathes deeply.
"Th-that kuh... kid and his two... two f... f...riends cuh... cuh... cornered me a-and be...began to buh... buh... bully me be... be...because I... was n-new and be... be... cause I stuh... stuh... stuh... ngh... be...because I stuh...stuh... stuh... uh... ngh... uh... stuh...
"...be...cause th-the way I... ta... talk..."
He breathes again, gasping.
"Then Muh... Mido... uh... Muh... Mi... Mi... nngh... uh..."
"...Then he c-came a-and tho... those kids buh... uh... began to bu...bully h... him too... the...ey tug him ma...ma...aking him ba...badly f...all..."
"Then Todo... Todo... ngh... Todo...oroki-kuh...hun sho...sho... showed up a... and uh... a-and... nng...uh..."
Kaminari is breathing heavily, he can't go on. He just can't...
"Thank you Kaminari-kun, sit down." Says the teacher.
"Please, you and Midoriya-kun report to my office after the lessons."
Kaminari sits down panting.
"You did great." Whispers Kirishima, gently slinging an arm around Kaminari's shoulders.
"I'm proud of you."
"For now, I have to ask you to collect your stuff and get out, Todoroki-kun." Says Aizawa sensei.
"Yes, sensei." Says Todoroki in his usual expressionless tone.
Midoriya stares at his friend anxiously.
"Shouto-kun..." He says worriedly while Todoroki passes next to him, getting out of the classroom.
Todoroki lingers a second next his friend and gently lays a hand on his shoulder.
Then gets out, without saying a word.
Kaminari and Midoriya get out the professors room to find Kirishima nervously stepping up and down in front of the door.
"What did he say?" He asks anxiously.
"Aizawa sensei is a good guy." Says Midoriya.
"He said he and the other teacher know about that bully but for reasons he is not allowed to discuss with us it is difficult to manage the situation."
"He said he need more people willing to witness that guy habit of bullying other students."
"He said also that if Kaminari and me officially reports our accident and other students are confirming that guy attitude, Shouto-kun will likely be reintegrated." Adds Midoriya.
"That's good!" Says Kirishima.
"What we gonna do now?"
"First I need to see Shouto-kun." Says Midoriya.
"I texted him, he's still here outside the school."
Todoroki is sitting on a bench outside the school gate facing the park in front of the school.
He can hear the sound of Izuku's feet dragging on the courtyard gravel but there are other steps getting closer...
He's not alone... He thinks tensely.
"Kaminari-kun, Kirishima-kun..." Says quietely Midoriya.
"Um... will you... um... will you let me talk with Shouto-kun alone?..."
"Yeah, sure!" Says Kirishima, well'wait inside. If you need us just call.
"Thanks guys... Thanks..."
Todoroki relaxes. Now only the scraping noises of Izuku's gait are getting closer.
"Shouto-kun?... What are you doing still here." Asks Midoriya sitting next his friend.
"I... I... I'm scared Izuku..."
"Scared?"
"If my father has been informed about all this, he surely gave orders to my keepers at the institute to lock me up."
"I cant bear it anymore... I got some money from my credit card. My father didn't lock it yet."
"I'll rent a room somewhere. I don't wanna be locked up again... Not now..."
Todoroki is slightly shaking and breathes rapidly.
"What?! No way! You're staying at my place, with me!" Says Midoriya urgently.
"Thanks Izuku, I'd really like to but I don't want to be a burden to you and your parents..."
"You will not! My parents are abroad for their job, I live alone!"
"There's just a lady who came twice at week for cleaning the house."
"Please Shouto-kun, stay with me. I am pretty good at cooking, I swear. You 'll not be disappointed."
Says Midoriya staring Todoroki with his bright green eyes.
"Thanks Izuku but..."
"Please Shouto-kun... Stay with me... Please..." Insists Midoriya.
"Are you sure it wouldn't be a burden to you?..."
"Yes! I am more than sure!" Says Midoriya resolutely.
"Well... um... thanks Izuku, I owe you one..."
Midoriya lips open in one of his wide, beaming smile.
Midoriya smiles are always making Todoroki feel good, there's something that radiates from that smile. Something calming, reassuring, healing...
"Shall we go?" Asks Midoriya happily.
"Uh... Um... Sure, let's go."
"May... May I lean on you, Shouto-kun?" Asks Midoriya timidly.
"Sure, of course."
"Sorry for intruding..." Says Todoroki.
"Come in Shouto-kun. There's just the two of us, no need to be so formal!"
"Oh... Thanks..."
Midoriya sits on a chair to take off his shoes before getting in.
"Sorry Shouto-kun, I don't have any slippers. I can't use them so... um.. sorry..."
"No problem Izuku I'll just stay in my socks." Says Todoroki slipping off his shoes.
Midoriya leans against the wall to overcome the genkan step and gets in.
"Come on Shouto-kun, come in."
"Yes, thanks..."
Todoroki follows Midoriya inside the house.
Midoriya is moving fast leaning here and there on the walls and furnitures to keep his balance.
They reach a small living room with a big couch in the middle.
"Please Shouto -kun, make yourself at home." Says Midoriya with a wide grin.
"You can use the bedroom upstairs."
"I'm gonna have a shower, would you get one too?"
"With you?" Asks Todoroki jokingly.
"What?! No!" Says Midoriya blushing.
"There's another bathroom upstairs you can use that one. I always use the smaller one here, to avoid the stairs, you know..."
"Thanks Izuku but I haven't any change with me..."
"I'll lend you some underware and my gym uniform, I never used it. It is smaller than your size but it should be fine until we manage to get some clothes that fits you."
"In this case... Thanks Izuku..."
"Stop thanking me! You are very welcome, Shouto-kun."
Midoriya gets out of the room and gets back with some underware and a school gym uniform.
"Here it is, you can find towels, soap and shampoo in the bathroom closet."
"If you need something call me but you need to be patient, it takes a while to me getting up the stairs."
"Ok. I'm sure I'll find everything. Thanks..."
"Well then, see you in a while." Says Midoriya smiling.
Todoroki relaxes under the warm stream of water. He found all he needed in the closet as Midoriya said.
He dries himself carefully and gets dressed. As expected Midoriya's gym uniform is a little small for him but quite confortable anyway. Just the sleeves and the pants are a little short, but just a little.
Todoroki gets downstairs to find Midoriya wearing a T-shirt a pair of shorts and his usual thick white socks.
Midoriya's legs are so thin, just a little thicker than his arms.
He is standing in his typical awkward way, knee slightly bent , feet turned inward, the flat soles tightly pressed on the floor.
"Well, my gym uniform is not so small after all." Says Midoriya, grinning.
"Yeah, it is quite comfortable actually." Agrees Todoroki smiling back at his friend.
"I'm sorry for the socks." Says Midoriya.
"I drag my feet and, without my shoes, I'd bruise my toes if I don't wear thick socks... Sorry..."
"Your socks are really cool, Izuku. I like them."
Midoriya smiles.
"I'm making some tea, Shouto-kun."
"I also made some cookies yesterday, I hope you like them."
"I gonna get them. They are still in the...Owww!"
MIdoriya lost his balance and bumps against the wall.
"What's up Izuku?" Says Todoroki, worried.
"My leg... A cramp... Ow..."
"Please Shouto-kun, would you help me to the couch?...Please... Ow..."
Todoroki swings Midoriya's arm onto his shoulder so he can lean on him.
Midoriya tries to hop his way on his weaker leg but he can't.
"I can't move, Shouto-kun..."
"Don't worry Izuku, I'll carry you."
Todoroki then gently rises Midoriya and let him sit on the couch.
"What happens?" Asks.
"It's a cramp Shouto-kun, sometimes my left leg cramps and I can't move it anymore... It hurts...a lot..."
"It can last hours... I got some painkiller... Would you bring me them, please... They are in that closet over there..."
"You can't stay like that for hours!" Says Todoroki urgently.
"I can help but you have to trust me. Will you?"
"Of course I trust you Shouto-kun, what should I do?..."
"Lay on your belly Izuku, I'll help you."
Todoroki helps Midoriya to lay prone, carefully driving and supporting his cramped leg.
Now Midoriya is laying on his belly, his cramped leg bent upward.
Todoroki supports the foot by lightly grabbing the ankle and, with his other hand's fingers, sweeps the flat sole, trying to feel the tighter spots of Midoriya's foot.
He found the knot of tight muscles and tendons on Midoriya's sole and set his fingers on them.
"Izuku, it's gonna hurt.. But I promise, it will be matter of a few seconds. Will you trust me?"
"Yes, I trust you, Shouto-kun. Go on."
"Ok. Here it goes."
Todoroki suddenly digs his finger in to the tight muscles of Midoriya's flat sole, pressing hard.
"OWWWW! Shouto-kun! It hurts! OWWW!"
Midoriya's other leg jolts randomly up and down slapping floppily the foot on todorokis'arm.
"OWWW!"
"Hold on, Izuku. Just a few seconds more!"
"OWWW!... ...Oh..."
Suddenly the tight muscles and tendons of Midoriya's foot releases under Todoroki's fingers.
"Wow, Shouto-kun, I feel a lot better now..." Says Midoriya, panting.
"Your leg is very tight too." Says Todoroki.
"You should let me release also those muscles. It wouldn't hurt now."
"Would you let me go on?"
"Yes... sure Shouto-kun... thanks..." Says Midoriya timidly.
Todoroki gently begins to rub his thumbs on Midoriya's thin calf.
So thin... No more than his forearm.
Working the tight muscles he can feel them twitching, making the foot jolt up and down.
Suddenly also these muscles releases letting the foot rest.
Todoroki then goes up, working the tight hamstring of Midoriya's thigh, hard as ropes.
He gently but firmly digs his thumbs on Midoriya's muscles, patiently and steadily, until even these last muscle releases.
Midoriya sighs in reliev. He can almost straighten his leg now. A lot more than usual.
"How are you feeling, Izuku?"
"Better than ever, Shouto-kun, I have no more pain and my leg seems to move better than ever!" Says Midoriya, moving his leg.
The movement is still clumsy but it seems he can move it easier than usual.
"Thanks Shouto-kun, I feel really better. How did you do it?"
"The weird scarred kid has his secrets, Midoriya-kun" Says Todoroki granting Midoriya with one of his gentle and rare smiles.
Midoriya smiles back with one of his beaming grins, he is always happy to see Shouto-kun smiling.
"Um... Shouto-kun..."
"Yes, what it is?"
"Um... could you... Um... could you do it on my other foot too?..."
Timidly asks Midoriya.
"If it doesn't bother you... I mean... Um..." then quickly adds blushing.
"Izuku... Why are you so uneasy?... I like rubbing your feet. They are so cute..."
"Ah... Um... well I... I actually... Um.. never imagined that someone would find my flat feet cute...So... I'm still a little... Um... You know..."
"But they are. And they are so cute because they are so flat."
"it is something unique to you, Izuku, like the way you walk. It's cute because it's your way to walk. It is something that makes you unique. Something that contributes to your... Um... Izukuness." Says Todoroki gently smirking.
"Izukuness?..." Asks Midoriya rising an eyebrow.
"Yes, Izukuness." Says then Todoroki, with a jokingly smug tone.
Midoriya chuckles, he is really happy when Todoroki jokes with him like that.
"Rise your foot, Izuku." Asks Todoroki.
Midoriya, still laying on his belly, bends his knee rising his weaker foot.
Todoroki lightly grabs Midoriya's thin ankle and, with his other hand, begins to lightly sweep the wide flat sole.
The sole is soft an the weak muscle relaxed.
He pushes lightly his thumb on the whole sole moving it in small circles.
Midoriya feels the warmth of Todoroki's hand on the bottom of his foot. It feels so good, soothing, relaxing. He tries to move his foot to follow Todoroki's hands movement but he just can't.
He sighs.
Todoroki immediately ease the pressure of his fingers.
"Sorry". He says. "Does it hurt?"
"No, No... It feels so good I just... Um... I..."
Todoroki similes and lightly slaps Midoriya's flat sole making the foot dangling floppily.
Then he grabs the whole foot bending it up and down to loosen the tight muscle of Midoriya calf.
Losened the calf muscles, Todoroki begins to rub Midoriya's leg pushing his thumbs on the tight muscles of his thigh.
That thigh is very thin too, a little more than Todoroki's arm.
Midoriya really enjoys the feeling of Todoroki's hands touching him and also he can feel his legs muscles really relax under his friend's touch.
"How do you feel now?" Aks Todoroki.
"Never been better." Says Midoriya standing up.
"I have no more pain and I feel my legs stronger and straighter. I can almost stand with my knee straight. They feel a la lot less stiff now..."
"Thanks Shouto-kun. Really..."
Todoroki similes.
"I'm afraid It won't last long, Izuku. Sorry... But I can do that any time you need, just ask. Will you?"
"Oh... um... thanks. I... I will..." Says Midoriya shyly smiling.
Midoriya was just enjoying the new feeling in his legs when a loud whistle came from the kitchen, the water for the tea is boiling.
Hearing that sound, Todoroki scrambled back stumbling on the floor, screaming.
He frantically scoots back, against the wall, covering his face with his arms.
"Please, please, Don't hurt me! Don't hurt me! I'll be good!" His voice is terrorized.
It takes a moment to Midoriya to realize. The tea boiler... He scrambled to the kitchen as fast as he could, to stop that damned whistle.
Getting back he finds Todoroki on the floor, crouched against the wall, whining, covering his face with his arms.
Midoriya gets closer and manages to awkwardly squat near him.
"Shouto-kun?..."
He reaches a hand and touches lightly his friend's shoulder.
Todoroki screams in terror and violently pulls apart Midoriya, making him fall.
"It hurts! It hurts ! What did I do mommy... why... It burns mommy!...It burns!"
Midoriya tries to crawl closer but Todoroki retreats from him.
"It hurts, I can't breathe! I can't breathe, help me Mommy!"
Midoriya tries aganin to get closer but Todoroki keeps rejecting him.
Then he stands on his knees and throws himself over Todoroki in a semi controlled fall.
Todoroki struggles to get free but Midoriya manages to hug him tightly.
Suddenly Todoroki body became limp in Midoriya's hug. He stops moving. He stops screaming.
Silence...
A voice...
Is that a voice?...
"...outo... un..."
So far away...
"...Shou... nnn..."
Do I know that voice?... What is that voice saying?...
And... A smell... Soap... What's soap?... He doesn't remember.
It smells good anyway... Calming... Reassuring...
That voice too... it's good to hear that voice... Why...
"...Shou... ...o... ...kun..."
The voice is calling a name... I know that name...
I can't breathe...
Then a sound burst in his mind.
Izuku...
It sounds good... What is it?... A name?...
He likes that sound, he tries to say it.
A slurred sound comes out of his mouth...
"Iiii...zuu?..."
"Yes! Yes! It's me! Look at me, Shouto-kun!"
Todoroki's eyes are randomly wandering without being able to focus on anything.
He is breathing fast, gasping.
"Shouto-kun! Shouto-kun! breath with me!"
Midoriya puts his right hand on Todoroki's left shouder.
"Shouto-kun, put your hand on my shouder too!"
That voice... Seems worried... Why... I don't want the voice to be worried...
Todoroki doesn't move so Midoriya grabs Todoroki's right forearm and put the hand on his shoulder.
"Breath with me, Shouto-kun! One two three and breath! One two three and out! Good! Once more!"
At each count he taps his hand on Todoroki shoulder and drives his friend's limp one to do the same on his.
"One, two, three... One, two, three. Good!"
The voice is saying I'm good... Am I good?...
Slowly, painfully, Todoroki is regaining consciousness. One, Two, Three...
He likes that voice, he likes that smell... And that name... Izuku?
His wandering eyes focus for a moment on something.
Something bright green. Eyes! That are eyes. Izuku's?
He can't focus...
"... are you... Izuku..." His voice is feeble, dreamy...
"Yes! It's me! We're friends!"
"Friends?..." Todoroki's eyes are still wandering around.
"Yes, friends!"
...Friends?... How could it be... Everyone hates me... fears me...
"You hate me?... You fear Me?..."
"Of course not! We are friends Shouto-kun, please, please try to remember!"
Todoroki'e stare lingers a moment on the green eyes he saw before.
"...are you... crying?... Why?..."
Midoriya hugs Todoroki tightly.
"Please, please! Shouto-kun, remember!... Remember youself!... Remember... me..."
It was like an electric charge running though Todoroki's whole body.
He begins to shake but Midoriya hugs him tighter. Suddenly the jerking stops.
A few moment of silence passes before Todoroki's arm wrapped around Midoriya.
"It's ok to cry, Shouto-kun, It's ok..." Says softly Midoriya.
Todoroki sunk his head on Midoriya shoulder, weeping softly.
Soap... It smells good... It smells friend... It smells safe...
Todoroki is now sitting on the couch, pale, exausted.
"Thanks Izuku... Thanks... How did you know that thing about breathing?"
"Even the crippled kid has his own secrets..." Says Midoriya grinning.
Todoroki smiles back to his friend. "Thanks... really..."
The doorbell rings.
Who could it be... He wasn't waiting anyone...
While Midoriya is getting to the door a voice comes from outside.
"It's us, Midoriya. Kaminari and Kirishima, sorry for coming without notice."
Midoriya opens the door to see the two kids standing outside.
"Hi guys" Says Midoriya smiling. "Please come in."
"Sorry for intruding." Politely says Kirishima getting in to the genkan followed by Kaminari.
"Suh... suh... uh... ng...suh..." Kaminari tries to say the same but the words won't come out.
Midoriya smiles widely.
"You're welcome! Come on, get in!"
"Sorry... I don't have any slippers. Sorry. I'll get some tomorrow..."
"No problem!" Say Kirishima slipping his white socked feet out his big red canvas shoes.
Kaminari does the same and the two kids get in.
"Whoa, Todoroki... What happened?! You're pale like a ghost!" Says Kaminari.
"What did you do to him, Midoriya?"
"Have you beaten him?!" Adds, rising an eyebrow.
"What?! Of course not!" Says Midoriya defensively.
"Ok, ok... I was kidding... but... did something happened?"
"You seem very tired Todoroki..."
"Sorry." Says Todoroki.
"I... I am not ready to talk about it... not yet. Please forgive me..."
"Yeah, sure. We are not forcing you. You'll tell us just if and when you feel ready."
"Sorry for asking" Says Kirishima.
"Thanks, I really appreciate that..."
"You're welcome Todoroki. We're your friends too, remember that."
"Yeah. Ei-Eijirou wuh... was so wo...worried he d...drag m-me here tuh...tuh... uh.. to see if you a... a... ngh... if you a... are ok..."
"Shut up Denki! You are ruining my image of tough man!" Shouts Kirishima blushing.
"A... are you bluh... bluh...ushing?" Says Kaminari gently smirking.
"Y-you a... are suh... suh... such a s...weet... sweet...h-hearth..."
"Stop it!" Shouts Kirishima stomping Kaminari's foot.
"Ouch! Kuh... keep yuh...your buh... big fla..flat feet away fuh.. from muh... muh... mine!"
"Stop teasing me! It's me the one who teases you, not the contrary!"
Shouts Kirishima, his face red as his hairs.
"Oh... ruh... really?... I... I duh... didn't re-read that pa.. part of o...our cuh...cuh...contract..."
Says Kaminari chucking.
"What?!" Yells Kirishima.
A sound makes them suddenly stop quarreling.
"He's laughing!" Shouts Kirishima pointing Todoroki.
"He's laughing and is face is not shattering!"
"Denki, Midoriya, get your phone! We are witnessing an event! Photo! Photo!"
Todoroki looks a lot better now.
"Thanks guys, really... I never had friends before meeting Izuku... People always avoided me because my weird look... and this nasty scar..."
"You too were scared of me, Kaminari, when we first met..."
"Uh... Um... I... I... I'm suh... suh... so...orry... Y-you uh... ngh... looked s-so co...cold and me...me...enacing..." Says Kaminari uneasily.
"I'm sorry. I was very angry back then, I know I looked quite scary... But I swear, I never hurt anyone on purpose in all my life. Even with that bully... It was an accident, I didn't intend to hurt him, I just wanted to stop him hurting Izuku and you..."
"Please... don't be afraid of me..."
"I... I am not. Nuh... nuh...not any...any... uh...any...more..."
"Thanks..."
"Anyway," Says Kirishima, changing matter.
"We came also to tell you I got another talk with Aizawa sensei. It seems that other kids are going to witness about that bully. He says that you can prolly get back to school in a few days."
"Really?!" Says Midoriya loudly, smiling widely.
"It seems so..."
"To sa...ay the truth, Ei...Ei... ngh... Ei...jirou pe-pestered all the k-kids of the s... s... school to fuh... uh... to find suh...someone be-besides me and Muh... Muh... Mido... uh... oriya-kun who will wi...witness about th-that thug's habits..."
"Really you did that for me?" Asks Todoroki, his usually plain voice fading in a warmer tone.
"Um... ah... well... I... I guess I did..." Says Kirishima blushing.
"Suh... suh... see?!"
"I... tuh... told you. He's such...such a swee-swee... swee...sweetheart!"
Says Kaminari slinging an arm around Kirishima's shoulder.
"No, I'm not!... I mean... I... Crap! I'm not made of stone you know?!"
Shouts Kirishima blushing again.
"E...ex... ex...actly..." Says Kaminari, smirking.
"Stop teasing me!" Yells Kirishima stomping again Kaminari's foot.
"Ouch! I tuh... told you! Keep y-your pa...pa...ancake feet away f... from muh...muh... mine!"
"Stop, I said!" Shouts Kirishima, louder.
"Besides, my feet are just right. I already told you, arched feet are greatly overrated! Not trendy at all!"
"I just read an authoritative article about it on 'Flowers and Gardens' !" Says Kirishima, laughing and stomping once more Kaminari's foot.
A snort comes from behind.
"Ah!" Shouts Kirishima.
"He's laughing! Camera! Camera!"