Chapter 24: "HoW dO yOu KnOw WhAt'S gOoD fOr mE?" "THAT'S MY OPINION!!!"

Katsuki walked back into class for the first time since the villain attack at the USJ. The school cancelled classes for the rest of the week and today was everyone's first day back. It was weird.

He had heard some of what happened to their homeroom teacher and some of the other injuries that happened, and he was worried, he'd admit, but he wondered what today would look like. It would be a given that everyone would be a bit nervous considering what they had just gone through, but he didn't know if Mr. Aizawa would be coming back so soon as well. From what he had heard, he had been injured pretty badly by that creature that was there.

However, when Katsuki watched as their teacher walked into the classroom with nothing to show from the attack other than some scratches and bruises that were still healing on his face and a small scar just under his right eye, he somehow wasn't surprised at all. It seemed just like something the hero would do.

"Good morning class. I hope that you all took the time that you had off to rest and recover both physically and mentally, but it's time to get back into things. Before any of you ask, I am fine, so I don't want to hear any of you worrying because I am perfectly capable of teaching. Now that that is over with it's time that we got on with it."

Everyone tensed in anticipation of what he was going to say and when the words sports festival left his mouth the class exploded into chaos.

Katsuki found himself smirking in excitement at the thought of the event. The sports festival was something that he had watched and obsessed over ever since he was a kid dreaming of going to UA. He thought that it was so cool to see all of the students compete and watch the winner rise to the top.

That's what Katsuki wanted to be like. The best. The winner. That part hadn't left him, he was still way too competitive for his own good and he strived with everything in him to do and be the best he could, he just went about it a better way now. Something that he was very happy about.

Shouts of excitement sounded all around until a stiff hand went up and Mr. Aizawa flashed his red eyes shutting everyone up. "Yes Iida."

"Excuse me for saying sir, but don't you think that it might not be the best idea to host the sports festival considering what just happened?" The class representative's stern voice questioned.

It was clear that a lot of the other students also felt the same way but were too scared to say anything.

"If I'm being honest with you, I voted against moving forward with the festival at all, but Nezu believes that we must showcase our strength by pursuing as normal and proving that a villain attack is not enough to bring us down. I did, however, succeed with getting it pushed back a bit so that you have more time to recover and prepare." He sighed, "I know that it's a lot, but you guys just survived an actual villain attack. You have the upper hand of experience, so when you go out there, I expect all of you to do your best and show everyone that class 1-A is strong."

"Right!" Yaoyorozu stood up and pumped her fist in the air. "It's time for us to prove beyond a doubt just how powerful and resilient we are!"

Choruses of yeah's and shouts in agreement broke out and instantly everyone was pumped up about the festival.

In the past, Katsuki would've been excited to prove his power and superiority over everyone, but that just wasn't his goal anymore. He didn't have to be the best, no matter how much his mother disagreed and how much he wanted to be. When he had that mindset, he hurt a lot of people. It didn't matter who they were or how he felt about them, they were in his way and someone that he had to conquer to get to the top.

But that just wasn't Katsuki. He didn't want to hurt anyone anymore.

Didn't mean he was going to go easy on his classmates. They were all going to bring their a-game and so Katsuki would too.

"Hey Bakugou!" Katsuki turned at the call of his name. The class was currently doing any extra warming up they needed to individually and were about to come back together to begin the day's training. He had just been stretching out his shoulders when he saw Uraraka walking towards him.

It took him a minute to remember that she actually talked to him sometimes and he just kinda stared at her walking up for a second before finally answering back. "What's up?"

"Nothing much, just wanted to talk to you. I feel like we haven't spoken in forever, especially with what happened at the USJ and everything."

Why would Uraraka want to talk to Katsuki? Sure, he had saved her during the entrance exam, but that didn't dictate a friendship.

"Uh," he paused. What were they even supposed to talk about? "Yeah. How are you um, doing…after everything?"

She joined Katsuki in doing some extra stretches as she answered, "I'm okay, I guess. Still a little shaken, I saw Thirteen down themselves with their own quirk. It was…?

Uraraka looked sad as she spoke, and something twisted inside Katsuki. He didn't know why, but her being anything but her usual bubbly self just felt…wrong.

"Yeah…" Katsuki finished for her. He had seen a fair amount of action himself and he knew that what they went through that day would stick with them, no matter how much time passed. "I'm sorry you had to see that. But I just wanted to say that-uh, you did good. Fighting I mean. I heard from some of the other students talking how you took out some villains at the rockslide zone."

The compliment felt foreign in Katsuki's mouth, but the way that her expression immediately changed from his words made him shake off the feeling.

"Oh," Her face slowly began to redden, "You heard about that?"

Was she getting hot already? They were in pants, and it wasn't the coolest day, maybe she needed some water. "Oi, do ya need some water or something? I can go grab you a bottle." This seemed to redden her face even more and Katsuki told her to hold on as he went to the cooler that was on the edge of where they were training that day.

He came back and her face looked a little less red which was good. It would be bad if she overheated during training.

"Uh, thanks."

"Yeah, yeah. Wouldn't want you passing out on me or anything." They sat in silence as she took some gulps of water and Katsuki finished stretching out his shoulders and wrists. "So, are you excited about the sports festival?"

He had seen her talking with some other students about the event and she always looked so happy and determined every time she did.

This time was no exception. Her eyes hardened and her grin widened as she pumped her fist in the air, "Oh heck yeah! I'm so pumped, I'm going to do my best and win this thing!"

Katsuki accidentally let out a snort and clapped his hand over his mouth as he tried to hide his face that wouldn't stop smiling. "Sorry-" It was just like at the entrance exam. Uraraka was nice, but competitive and when she set her mind to something, nothing could stop her. That much had been clear by her getting second during the entrance exam just behind Katsuki.

"Why are you laughing? I'm gonna win, and I'm gonna take down your little punk butt while I'm at it. You'll see."

If anyone else deserved to win, it was her. Katsuki had seen how hard she worked, just in the few days that they've been here and that much was clear.

He finally got his laughing under control and met her determined stare smiling, "I'll believe it when I see it."

Izuku woke up in Eraser's apartment alone. Well, as alone as someone with two cats laying across their chest could be.

He picked up his phone off the dresser and looked at the time. It was just past one in the afternoon. He wasn't sure exactly when he fell asleep, but he must've at some point. Of course, he didn't feel any less tired and probably didn't look too great either, but that was just a given at this point.

Maybe he should start walking around calling his eye bags Gucci. Get tattoos or something so that people know. Eraser would kill him, but it might just be worth it to see the look on his face.

Izuku got up, regretting that he had to make the cats move when he did, and went to the kitchen to try to scrounge up something to eat.

When he got there, he found a note on the bar.

Good morning-or afternoon if my hunch is correct. I won't be home until about four, feel free to help yourself to anything in the fridge and pantry, and try to not get in any trouble while I'm gone. -Eraserhead

Cute.

After taking inventory of what he had, Izuku settled for a bowl of cereal. To be honest, he really wasn't too hungry, but he knew that he should eat. Especially for what he was about to go do, he would need the energy.

He tried to drag eating that cereal out as long as he could, but eventually he finished and knew that it was time to face this. Maybe Hisashi wouldn't be there and Izuku would be able to get his stuff without any hassle.

It was unlikely considering his luck, but he would hold on to that hope.

Surprisingly, when Izuku poked his head through the apartment window, no one was there. The place was cleaner than when he left. Hisashi had probably cleaned or had someone else clean for him.

He slipped is way into the apartment and began to search for his things. As much as he could find and carry, preferably before Hisashi returned. Of course, that was exactly when the front door lock clicked.

Izuku was in the middle of stuffing a trash bag with clothes when Hisashi met his eyes. He was like a deer in the headlights, freezing at the sight of his father who looked just as surprised as he did, but not nearly as annoyed as he felt.

Kill me now-

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing."

"It doesn't look like nothing."

"You know what, I don't think it's really any of your business what I do. So, let me just finish up here and I'll be on my way-"

"Now hold on a minute-" Izuku flinched and froze when Hisashi grabbed his wrist.

"Let go."

Hisashi scoffed, "Izuku honestly, I am your father!"

Something must've broken through because suddenly Izuku could feel his body again and he snatched his wrist out of the man's grip and took a few steps back.

"Can we please just stop with this childish behavior? It's beneath you."

Hasashi made no other move towards Izuku and Izuku refused to acknowledge him. So, without looking or speaking to him, he continued gathering his things into his trash bag pretending that the man wasn't there gawking at him.

"Oh honestly-This is ridiculous, I am your father, I deserve more respect than this!"

A scoff was the only reply Izuku gave, and it was clear that Hisashi was quickly losing his temper at his son's nonchalant reaction to his presence.

He must've imagined it, but he could've sworn that he felt the room become just the tiniest bit warmer and that he smelled the faint smell of smoke wafting through the air.

"Izuku. I refuse to allow you to act this way. You are to respect and obey me-"

It was a mistake, it really was, but Izuku couldn't hold back the laugh that escaped him. "Yeah, no."

"Excuse me?"

"No." He whipped around, glaring at his father who instinctively took a step back at his son's gaze. "You don't get to do that. You don't get to just walk back into my life and try to be a parent."

"I am your father and-"

"Fathers are here!" He couldn't help it. All of the pent-up feelings from when he was little watching his mom try to be brave and strong for Izuku even though she was breaking inside from the loss of her husband so suddenly. All of the anger of him not being there for either of them. All of the rage and disappointment when he didn't show up to either of their funerals and only came back to claim whatever they had left behind. "Fathers love their children and protect them. They provide for them and support them. They raise them. You weren't here and you do not get to just show up now."

"I understand your frustration, but I will not tolerate this behavior. I am your father regardless and as such I deserve to be respected-"

"Stop."

"What?"

"Just stop…" He hated himself. He hated that he came back here and put himself in this situation. He hated that even though he hated the guy, he still deep down wanted that presence of a father. And he hated that the man who hadn't loved him enough to stay was dragging his tears out of him no matter how much he tried to push them down.

"Izuku I-"

"You left!" His voice cracked at the outburst. "You left me! You left mom! And you sure as hell do not get to come waltzing back now as if nothing happened."

"That is no way to speak to your father."

"Oh my god shut up; you are not my father!" Hisashi took another step back as he watched his son break down and lash out in front of him. "You left me! You left us alone, you walked away, HOW COULD YOU DO THAT? HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO YOUR OWN FAMILY?"

Izuku took in a shaky breath as the tears spilled down his cheeks and Hisashi stared at him wide-eyed.

He steadied himself. "You left…all we-all I ever wanted was for someone to stay. For someone to love me despite something that I had absolutely zero control over. Do you have any idea what it was like? Growing up hated and mocked for being different? Having a constant reminder that not even my father loved me enough to stay? You're just like everyone else. Well guess what? I don't need you anymore-actually, I never did."

Hasashi didn't say anything else and neither did Izuku. He wanted nothing to do with this man anymore, he never wanted to see him ever again and he would make sure that he didn't. He finished grabbing his things and then walked out of the front door without a word.

He didn't care if anyone recognized him. None of it mattered anymore. All that mattered was getting home to Eraser before he did something he regretted.

Izuku didn't know what time it was when he got back. His phone had died halfway to his apartment, so he made sure to grab his charger so that he would be able to charge it when he got back. As he approached the door he heard muffled voices behind it, which probably meant that Mic was over again. When he entered the apartment, like always, he was greeted by two cats that were very excited to see him and two heads whipped around to where he was standing in the doorway.

"Kid!" Eraser rushed over and took in Izuku's probably atrocious appearance. "What happened-are you okay?"

Mic wasn't far behind him and started to check Izuku over for any kind of visible injury that he might have.

Izuku stepped forward to close the door and shook off Mic, "I'm not hurt, and it was nothing. Don't worry about it." He tried to head to the guest room, but the two pro heroes blocked his path, both wearing very different expressions of worry.

"Absolutely not. You've been crying, tell me what happened."

"It's not important, just leave me alone, okay?"

"Izuku…" Eraser took a step forward and grabbed both of his shoulders staring into his eyes. "Kid, you're shaking. Please, just tell me what's going on."

He decided to ignore the surprise of Eraser using his first name in favor of focusing all of his energy on trying to not cry again.

Another hand fell on his shoulder, and he met Present Mic's concerned eyes, "Please…we care about you and just want to help."

Looking between the two pros standing in front of him, Izuku wanted nothing more than to spill everything to them, but could he do that? What if they left just like everybody else? What if-

He looked at them again. No. They were here, and they would remain here no matter what. He was sure of it.

Without warning, Izuku's legs gave out and the two heroes followed him to the floor, two sets of arms wrapping around him as he sobbed and sobbed, letting out everything. All of the sorrow, and rage, and regret, and betrayal that he had been holding onto for so long. He sat there in between the two of them blubbering and wailing as they held onto him firmly, reassuring him that they weren't going anywhere.

It was strange. Somehow, Izuku didn't feel uncomfortable wrapped in their arms. He didn't freeze or flinch at their touch, but rather he leaned into it and clung to the comfort that it brought for dear life.

And they just sat like that. He wasn't sure exactly how long they let him sob between them, it could've been hours, but he was exhausted by the time that he finally calmed down and leaned into Eraser's chest sniffling as Mic rubbed his back.

It was another few minutes before anyone said anything. "Do you want to talk about it?" Mic asked softly beside him.

Izuku sniffled again and rubbed at the moister in his eyes. "Um-"

"You don't have to, but we're here." Eraser quickly added on when Izuku hesitated.

"N-no, it's fine." His voice was hoarse from how hard he sobbed, but he knew that he needed to tell them. He couldn't keep doing this alone, he would unravel at the seams if he continued to try. "Um, I went back to my apartment to get all of my stuff that I left behind."

"Your stuff?"

Izuku raised a shaky hand to point at the trash bag that sat beside the door. He must've dropped it at some point, but he honestly didn't remember.

"When I was gathering everything h-he showed up."

"He as in…you father." It wasn't a question.

Izuku flinched at the word. Both heroes decided to ignore the reaction. It was weird, Eraser somehow always seemed to know exactly how to read him.

"We got in an argument. I think that I made my point, and-and I don't think that he'll be trying to reach out to me again."

"Wow-" Mic breathed beside him and the two heroes glanced at each other before looking back at Izuku.

"That must've been hard, I'm sorry that you had to go through that."

Izuku shrugged, "It was bound to happen at some point, I mean he is my-" He dropped out mid-sentence and no one questioned him on it. They both seemed to have picked up on the sensitivity of the topic. "I'm just glad that I got it over with and got my stuff back. It was embarrassing having to wear your hobo clothes." He chanced a smirk at Eraser who looked scandalized.

"You are literally in my house right now!"

"It's actually an apartment Shouta." Mic corrected and winked at Izuku as Eraser seethed at the two of them.

Izuku let out a weak laugh before his expression turned serious again. "In all seriousness, I'm pretty sure that I needed that. I didn't realize how many pent-up emotions I had towards him, and it felt good to finally let all of it out."

"Yeah…dads can be like that." Mic shot a pointed look at Eraser who just shrugged, "My dad walked out on my mom and I too. It was rough, but we managed."

Izuku's head shot up as he looked at Eraser in shock, "I…I didn't know that."

"You never asked."

"Gotta love daddy issues I guess," Izuku joked with a snicker making both of the heroes break down in laughter.

"Oh, but Shouta's a dad too, so does that still count?"

"Hizashi!" Eraser cried out as Izuku and Mic high-fived.

Things weren't perfect. He doubted that they ever would be. Pain like that doesn't just go away, but maybe…maybe he would be able to start to heal now. He looked at the two heroes still by his side and couldn't help but smile. Yeah, healing would be nice.