Chapter 4- Who can resist?
Toshinori made sure to remain quiet in his corner of the nurse's office, his beds privacy secured only by the thin sheet that was pulled closed. He listened intently as Recovery Girl explained the situation to Mrs. Midoriya, he had already had the run down earlier, but it was still hard to believe that young Midoriya was now even younger. That the boy would not know him in this form, that he did not know about One for All. Though that was a blessing that the child did not seem to have the quirk right now- it would surly kill him in this state.
"Izuku-chan, ALL Might is HERE!" Toshinori spat blood and jumped from his bed to hide behind the farthest corner, only calming down when he realized that- no he hadn't been outted in some way. Looking beside him, he saw Recovery Girl still standing by her office door watching the reunion with a smile before cutting her eyes to him sternly and glaring back the bed. He sheepishly laid back down, still trying his best to be quiet and tuned back into the nearby conversation.
"You mentioned dinner?" That was young Bakugou's voice.
"Yes, Bakugou-kun I was told that the cafeteria caters to evening classes for dinner time, could you do me a favor and take Izuku-chan down. I need to run home and pack a few things for Izuku if he's going to be staying here and I would feel so much better knowing that you were with him." With much bashful grumbling Toshinori heard the two boys exit the room young Midoriya already popping off questions. Mrs. Midoriya made her way back over to Recovery Girl.
'Ma'am I don't mean to intrude- but you wouldn't happen to know if the school might be able to supply clothing that may fit Izuku? While I have a few of his childhood keepsakes to help ground him- I'm afraid that I don't have the means to purchase any clothing to suit him at this time. "Toshinori could hear the slight shame in her voice and he understood her plight. Through the months working with Midoriya it had become abundantly clear in his strict budgeting that while his family managed just fine at the time- UA would not be cheap and they soon would not have much left over for things outside of necessity.
He had questioned once when he had caught Midoriya out helping his neighbors with chores and found that the boy had begun taking odd jobs to help where he could though his mother often scolded him for it. He had struggled with how to help them without making them feel indebted, but in order to keep their relationship secret there wasn't much he could do. Money always left too much of a trail that could be followed.
Toshinori peaked out from his curtained bed and locked eyes with Recovery girl- even if the school couldn't supply the need he certainly would. His office always had extra merch that he could ask for- mostly it was for charity cases like visiting sick kids- which technically this was. Understanding lit the woman's eye and she smiled back at the younger woman in front of her.
"Of course, we can supply a few things, I had already commissioned our support department with creating size altering underthings for him- seeing as we don't know when he might change back I figured it would be best if he did not rip though all of his clothing in the process." She laughed a bit with Inko at the imaged mortification that would no doubt be on the boy's face in that situation.
"He will have to make due with Bakugou's shirt for now, but by the morning we should have clothing ready for him- also know that any meals for your family during this time will be comped by the school as this is completely outside of your control and the incident happened on school grounds. The dorm room I spoke to you about is equipped with basic toiletries so outside of any personal touches you may want to bring, please know that we are happy to meet most needs you may think of."
Inko wiped away a few tears, bowing to the older woman briefly and flashing her a smile.
"Thank you so much, I'll make a quick trip home for a few things and should be back within the hour- should either of the boys be worrying." With that she turned and made her way out. Toshinori pulled the curtain back, already reaching for his phone where it lay next to his ruined shirt from earlier.
"Now don't go overboard, we don't know when the boy will change back- but here are the measurements I took of him. "Recovery Girl rolled her eyes, already anticipating the spoiling the young boy was going to receive- probably without even knowing why.
"Now, you need to go get cleaned up and make your own way down to the cafeteria- Lunch Rush has your meal shake ready and you need to try and drink at least two to make up for all the energy you've burned though today. Try not to make it back into my office for at least a week?" The exasperation in her voice was telling as she eyed him like a misbehaving toddler.
Toshinori quickly nodded his agreement as he shuffled his way out, already dialing up his offices secretary to secure the delivery of merch for the young boy. He couldn't help but smile, knowing how much of a fanboy the boy he was knew that he would enjoy these things. Maybe he could have a few other items added- he would admit to being uncomfortable with the idea of an ALL Might plush, but surly young children enjoyed any kind of stuffed animal for comfort? He would have to think on it.
-Page Break- Lunch Rush POV-
"You dare claim to be healthy, I Kacchan will defeat you! Die! Die! Die! Pew, pew, pew. BoOM! Ahhh no, you too strong, aaaaahhhhhh!" The small voice echoed in the sparcley populated cafeteria as the boy in question stabbed at his plate using his chop sticks more like knives to skewer the innocent vegetables on his plate. Occasionally he picked up various pieces just to dive them down with epic crashing sounds.
It was all Lunch Rush could do to contain his laughter as he quietly dropped off All Might's meal shakes to the quiet table in the corner that he had taken as soon as he entered the cafeteria. Across the room at one of the more open booths Bakugou was smirking with pride while watching the young boy with him act out vicious battle in his name against his vegetables.
"Psh, alright come on already Zu-chan, eat your freaking food so we can go." The greenett took on a stubborn pout at the explosive boy. Who eyed him back unimpressed.
"No wonder you're so damn puny if you never eat healthy- never gonna catch up to me at this rate." Seeing the stubborn look continue, Bakugou used his secret weapon.
"Poor Zu-chan, afraid of eating a few damn vegetables, what kind of hero can't handle that?" Bakugou taunted while taking a bite of one of the greens on his own plate to prove his own worthiness.
"'m not 'fraid! I'll eat the stupid veggies!" As if to prove just how brave he was the boy proceeded to stuff an entire handful in his mouth, naturally after a few attempts to chew he began to choke.
Bakugou immediately panicked, jumping up and clapping the boy on the back, cursing all the while. When that didn't seem to work the explosive teen tried flipping him over by his ankles to shake him. Lunch Rush quickly made his way over to handle the situation. Sorting the boy out before scolding Bakugou on proper responses to people choking.
"Maybe we should try smaller bites, yea?" Lunch Rush cautioned, patting the younger boy on the head as he wiped his hands against the tearstains on his face. Choking was scary. He turned to reassure the older boy and found him glaring hard at the vegetables on the plate like it was somehow their fault. Holding in his laughter, Lunch Rush picked up the plate promising to bring back some dessert as he turned back towards the kitchen.
-Page Break-
Katsuki fumed a bit as they made their way around campus to kill time after the 'attack of the veggies' as Zu-chan so angrily put it. He had been informed that Mrs. Midoriya would be back soon and then he could head home- although he was expected to come back the next morning to provide Izuku watch so that Auntie Inko could go to work, she hadn't had enough notice of them canceling Friday classes for her to switch shifts with someone, and frankly they needed the money a bit too much for her to be calling in sick with Izuku was technically ok. Katsuki wasn't that much of an ass to give her a hard time about it when she was still stressed over the whole ordeal.
It sucked that they had canceled school because of the USJ incident quoting the reasons as granting the students time to recover from the incident and a chance for teachers to revamp the security. The security issue made sense, but who really needed to recover from the incident? They had kicked ass and the only draw back had been Deku's backwards transformation and Aizawa-sensei's unfortunate injuries. Katsuki would much rather being class over babysitting Zu-chan. This was going to be a long weekend, he was actually counting on classmate's curiosity bringing them to the school to investigate so that he could catch a break from the questions that just would not stop pouring from the brat's mouth.
"So, is everybody in our class 15 or do they allow older students to apply as first years if they want?"
"I don't know Zu, I don't keep tabs on extras. Ask 'em if you see 'em."
"Kacchan is handsome, do you have a girlfriend?"
"What the fuck kind of question is that?!"
"Kacchan is super tough looking! Mama said boys show off their toughness to find girlfriends." Izuku pointed out the tank top the revealed Katsuki's well-built arms and shoulders, a look that was mirrored in the Hero gear that the explosive teen wore.
"Tch, shut up nerd, I'm not answering that!"
"Hmm, s' no then? Do I have a girlfriend? Am I super tough looking too with man boobs like yours?"
Katsuki faceplanted hard, before jumping up and rounding on the small boy.
"What the fuck? Man boobs? You little shit!" Sparks crackled in his palms as he stared down the boy only to sputter out as he was poked in the chest by a curious finger.
"See? They're right here, Kacchan's got boy boobs, though they shaped different then girl boobs? N' they're hard, are girl boobs hard?" Izuku seems deep in thought as he continues to poke at Katsuki's chest.
Katsuki pushed away the annoying poking hand and slapped a hand across his face. He had never been a teen to indulge in drinking like some delinquents liked to, but this might just be the straw that pushed him over.
"They're not fucking boobs, they're what happens when you build up muscle on your chest. Shit Zu, have you thought that All Might had giant boobs this whole time? No, you know what, I don't want to know. Come on, Auntie Inko should be back, lets go find that dorm room you're staying in."
-Page Break-
The next morning a package was delivered to the Midoriya's at the school revealing itself to be filled with a few different sets of All Might themed shirts with matching shorts and even a small red set of tennis shoes sporting little All Might grins over the toes.
Izuku squealed when he saw it all and was quick to pick a favorite shirt/short combo of the three outfits. He was quick to change into the new clothing before hopping by the door waiting on his mom to be ready to head down for breakfast. He clutched to his chest his favorite All Might plushy, it was much more worn out than he when he last saw it but he was grateful that his mother still had it. It was his piece of home in all this strangeness and he found it brought him comfort the second his mother had pulled it from her bag last night along with his favorite ALL Might blankie.
Once they reached the cafeteria Lunch Rush came over to greet them, quickly bringing over the meals he had prepared for them as they sat in a quiet corner. Izuku noticed that the skinny sick man from the night before was also there again, sitting farther in the same corner as them. He was still coughing every few minutes and kept glancing at them only to quickly look away again.
Maybe he was lonely, Mama said that sometimes sick people had to be separate from others so that they don't spread germs, but that sounded extra lonely. How were you supposed to get better if you were lonely, Mama never left him by himself if he didn't feel good- he got to cuddle with his favorite blankie and sit next to her all day for snuggles.
Quietly Izuku got up, his mom watching him curiously to see what he was up to. He took his plushy and his blankie that had come down to breakfast with him and walked over to the skinny man. He was amazed as he got closer and saw just how tall the skinny man was! Taking a deep breath, he slowly brought up his plushy.
-Page Break-
Of all the things Toshinori was expecting today, watching a plush version of his hero face slowly peak its way over the edge of the table was not one of them.
"Mr. Stick man is you sick?" Big green eyes popped up next to the plush as Young Midoriya glanced over the table on his tip toes.
"Ah- well "He paused to cough again, making sure to cover his mouth and quickly hide his hand in his lap to wipe the blood in his napkin before the young boy could see it.
"I suppose I am sick, yes." It was the easiest story to go along with. He let a smile cross his face as he looked down at the small boy. "But don't worry, I'm sure I'll be better in no time." Those big green eyes watched him in sympathy as another cough escaped him. Suddenly the plush toy was being pressed into his hands and the small boy was trying to put his blanket over the man's shoulder, which even sitting was well beyond his reach. But the boy was determined and Toshinori obliged him by leaning forward to see what exactly the young boy was up to.
Once the small blanket was draped over his shoulders the boy nodded and looked at him, one hand on his hip while the other pushed Toshinori's hands- now holding the plush toy- back towards his chest.
"Plush Might always makes me feel better when I'm sick, and Mama says you have to stay warm to get better, so you can borrow Mr. Blankie Might too ok? "The small hands patted against his own before the boy backed up a step, a stern look crossing his face for a moment. "Now no going outside or running around. Mama says you gotta rest so your body can gets better! Okay Mr. Stick man?"
Toshinori found himself nodding before he snapped back into reality and tried to hand the doll back- it was clearly well cared for, meaning it was one that young Midoriya had had for a long while- he couldn't take the boys toy!
"Nu-uh Mr. Stick man, no gives backsies! Plush Might will make you better, promise!" With that the boy trotted back to his mother who was holding back tears at how selfless her child was being. Locking eyes with her he nodded while holding a school badge up. They both would be returned to her, once the boy was ready to accept that they had done their job 'healing' Mr. Stick man. She smiled at him before taking Izuku's hand and leading him from the cafeteria.
Toshinori glanced back down at the well-worn toy, while his other hand reached up to touch the blanket, a smile forming on his face. He really had chosen the best successor. He reached for his phone, hitting the button to call his secretary for the second time in as many days. Surly such kindness should be rewarded…. greatly rewarded.
"Sir?"
"How many limited edition All Might Plushes do you currently have?"
"Quite a few sir, we have a contest coming up where they're to be handed out- we have about twenty different variations- did you need one for that special case from yesterday?"
"I'm going to need one of each, with a matching blanket! And I need them delivered to UA today!"
"Each?! But sir, the contest?! We only made so many! And you want blankets, they don't all have a matching blanket!"
"Ha-ha! I'm sure you can do it, PLUS ULTRA, I'M HANGING UP NOW!"
Toshinori smiled as he carefully set the Plush in the crook of his arm, so he could finish his meal shake without the chance of getting anything on it. He couldn't wait to see young Midoriya's face.
-End Chapter 4-
Hope ya'll enjoyed the first of many Zu-Chan shenanigans! I have many planned out for each of the various students of Class A and the various teachers. Shout out to INerdMuch and others who gave suggestions for some of Zu-chan's questions. Keep them coming and I will try to squeeze in a few where I can!
Till next time. :P