AN: Remember, I do not own any of the songs!

"I really don't think this is a good idea," Izuku admitted as he surveyed the song lineup for the festival. He didn't have a problem with the majority of it. Jiro, along with Kaminari and Yaoyorozu as background vocals for a couple of the songs, were going to be singing the shorter songs he'd written throughout the festival. The plan was to have basic instrumentals recorded in for in between the songs for students and guests to dance to as they pleased while also leaving plenty of time for their classmates to rest in between shows.

The shows consisted of class 1-A performing a couple songs at three points during the festival. There were also three main songs being used to highlight each show: 'Because He is My Hero' was the one going to be used for the very beginning of festival morning, 'Peace Sign' would be the one for noon, and the last one towards the evening to be used as the finale piece would be 'Singing to the Sky'. Overall the lineup for the festival was amazing. He was sure it would be a huge success for their class if not for one tiny detail.

"I've never sang in front of anybody before yesterday." Izuku stressed, fingers tapping against the top of his laptop nervously. "Besides my mom, I guess, when I was younger. Either way, having me sing the final versions of 'Peace Sign' and 'Singing to the Sky' might not go as well as they have in practice. How can you be so sure I won't make our class the laughing stock of the festival?"

Jiro rolled her eyes. As she got up to grab the folders she'd brought from her room in order to divide the sheet music and lyrics between each band team member, she made a point to pat Izuku's head jokingly.

"Midoriya, we've been over this. You've got a nice voice. You can sing. There's nothing for you to be worried about. If you could perform solo for thousands of strangers at the Sports Festival, then singing in front of at most a few hundred with your friends backing you up shouldn't be too different. It's only two songs, anyway. I can give you a few crash course singing lessons if it'll make you feel better though. Yaoyorozu and Kaminari are getting some."

"They're only singing backup, accents, and overlapping lines though. I'm going to have to sing the lead for two full songs as well as figure out how to act up on stage while performing," he sighed. "It's just a bit much. I don't want to let anyone down."

A comforting hand on his shoulder made him look up, and green eyes met deep purple.

"You won't let anyone down," Jiro smiled at him encouragingly. "I'm just as nervous about this as you are. Thinking about singing all day in front of a bunch of other students, staff, and strangers turns my insides to jelly; trust me."

"Really?"

"Yep. But you know what? When I see everyone else getting so pumped up for this and practicing as hard as they are, I know I'll be able to do it. You'll definitely be able to do it too. We both want to make others happy by putting on this show, right?"

Izuku thought of Eri. She'd never gotten a chance to have fun as a kid her age should. The Cultural Festival would be her first experience where she could be carefree and take part in things she enjoyed. It was a chance for her to unwind while seeing what determination even heroes in training displayed. Mirio and Aizawa would be her escorts that day, and they knew how important this was for her just like he did.

"I thought dancing would be enough," he muttered under his breath as he tried to figure out what to do. "Eri-chan is already so excited to see me on stage dancing alongside of the others who helped rescue her. If I sing too, she'll probably be even happier. Maybe I could…"

Jiro smiled as Izuku met her eyes with a look of determination that could only belong to him.

"I'll do it."

"Great! That means we need to get on to practicing, and then recording! Then we'll be able to give the band and dance teams the recordings and sheet music they need."

Izuku winced, suddenly feeling much less sure of himself. "R-record?"

"Of course. We can give the band team their sheet music with the lyrics for now, but we can't just give the dance team only the instrumental. Mina might want to work in some imagery with the songs, so having the words added to the music will be better."

"That makes sense, but whenever I know I'm being recording I sort of choke. Can we send everyone what we have now? We've already gotten so much done today as it is. Maybe after some lessons I'll be able to record myself tomorrow, but right now…"

Jiro hummed in thought.

"The problem is you lack confidence in your abilities."

"I guess? I don't really sing all that often. I can start practicing in my room later tonight if you—"

"I have an idea," she cut him off while moving from her bed in favor for going to her closet. When she sat back down a moment later she was holding a compact black box along with a cable and a couple of microphones.

Izuku gazed at her anxiously.

"And what is that?"

"Karaoke, duh. We just need to get you to loosen up! I'll set it up in the lounge so the rest of our classmates can watch or join in if they want to."

"Isn't it kind of late for that? Others might be trying to sleep."

"It's barely nine o'clock. We still have an hour before quiet hours when we're supposed to be in bed, which gives us plenty of time for you to practice. That way you'll get used to performing in front of more people too. Heck, I might have Kaminari and Yaoyorozu join you at some point. They may be singing backup only as needed, but we want them to be prepared as well, and that means they need to sing. The only way to get better at singing is to sing after all," she explained with a grin.

The greenette felt like he was going to be sick.

"You're right, Jiro, but wouldn't it be better for me to just practice the two songs I'm singing?"

"Nope! I'm going to have you sing all sorts of stuff so you can let go of your inhibitions, which will help when you sing your songs in the long run. All we're going to do tonight is get you to ignore those watching and listening to you sing so you won't be as nervous during the festival. Sure you were a nervous wreck when you tried talking in front of everyone during your short time as class rep, but after last night you're already coming a long way. Singing in front of all of our classmates is the next step. Speaking of, I'll go gather your audience right now. Meet you in the lounge in five, Midoriya."

It was at the moment Izuku promptly fell off the bed that she left the room.

"W-wait a second! Jiro?"

She was already out the door, but Izuku knew she could still hear his pleas with that quirk of hers. Jiro simply chose to ignore him.

Five minutes later.

"This is going to be so much fun!" Hagakure exclaimed, Ojiro nodding in agreement from the floor beside her while smiling at her enthusiasm. "Are you going to sing, Ojiro-kun?"

"I'll pass. Singing isn't really my thing, although I am happy to watch. I assume you'll be joining in on a few songs though, huh?"

"Yep! I love singing. Although," she said with what Ojiro presumed to be a thoughtful hand on her chin (her long-sleeved pajamas made it a bit easier to tell what she was doing), "I had no idea Midori could sing. He can be so shy sometimes."

The tailed-blond nodded. Around them other students were chatting while Jiro and Kaminari worked to get the television, karaoke device, and wireless microphones configured.

"It's true we didn't know about his apparent musical talents. It was only this morning we found out we would be dancing to his songs," he said. "And for Jiro to tell us out of nowhere that we were all needed so Midoriya can practice singing for the festival is even more shocking. I have confidence in him though. He gives it his all in everything he does, which means we have nothing to worry about."

Just as he finished his statement a grinning Kirishima and Mina could be seen dragging a pouting Izuku into the room. They plopped him down onto the couch next to Yaoyorozu, who merely smiled at the boy sympathetically.

"No need to look so down, Midoriya. Unlike Kaminari I'm nervous too. We'll both do fine though I'm sure, okay?"

He hid his face in his hands with a groan. Surely this would only lead to disaster or embarrassment.

"C'mon, man. Loosen up! You did great last night." Kirishima assured from where he sat on the couch across from them. Beside the redhead Bakugo ignored their conversation completely as if he was deep in thought.

Izuku felt himself pulling at his green curls with a whine.

"This is different! I didn't write the songs I'll have to choose from, and I feel really self-conscious singing songs that are out of character for me. I know Jiro going to have me sing things out of my comfort zone too because despite wanting to boost my confidence she also wants me to work on trying new, different things with my voice. Since I don't sing all too often I feel like I'm going to sound silly."

"Oh you'll be fine! If you're really that scared though, I could join you for a couple songs, Midori." Mina volunteered.

The greenette could've hugged her. "Really? Thank you!"

"But," she added with a grin, "I get to choose the songs."

"Oh, uh, okay. That's fine with me."

Somehow he felt as if he'd made a mistake.

Just then Jiro sat down on the other side of him, handing him a microphone at the same time. He looked at it with a mixture of fear and hidden excitement. As terrified as he was he knew Bakugo would be listening. Some part of him wanted to impress his childhood friend similar to how he had last night, and this would be a perfect opportunity.

Unfortunately for him the hearing hero had no room for mercy tonight.

"I'm sorry you're uncomfortable," she started sincerely, "but this is the only way to work you up into singing for a large crowd. Trust me on this. Try to relax though, okay? This whole thing is supposed to be a low-stress, fun way for you, Kaminari, and Yaoyorozu to practice for the festival. A few others just want to join in for fun, so you won't be alone, alright? You're a brave guy, Midoriya. I know you can do this."

Izuku couldn't help but smile at her words. "Thanks for your confidence in me."

"You're welcome. However, you might not want to thank me after I tell you what I have in mind to make karaoke interesting."

"Um…"

"Okay everybody," she announced in order to get everyone's attention, "we're going to play a game!"

The entirety of class 1-A had gathered in the middle of the common room at this point, splaying over the couches, armrests, and floors in rapt interest. Jiro pulled up a song search database while the rest of the class waited curiously for her to finish. Those who had not been there to listen to Izuku sing the night before had all been informed of his apparent song-writing and singing skills beforehand, which meant they were just as curious to hear him sing as they were to find out what this game was.

"I'm sure you all know how to do karaoke, but in the Kyoka household we like to play a game from time to time called musical songs."

Musical songs? The entire class echoed in their heads. Like musical chairs?

"What happens is the first singer, who will be Midoriya and anyone who wants to join him, picks any song from the database they want. The downside is that once a song from that artist has been chosen no other song by that artist can be sang. On top of that, another song has to be chosen by those not singing before the song being sung is over. You can actually start playing another song after the one currently being sung has been done for at least one minute. Since this is for practice and not a competition between anyone though I'll just say to just make sure to vary artists and pick another song before the other finishes. The more random genre changes the better. You guys got all that?"

After seeing mostly nods, Jiro checked the configurations on the television, karaoke machine, and each microphone over once more. Once she was satisfied she made her way back to her seat.

"Ready to begin?" Jiro asked Midoriya when she sat back down. She had adjusted the sound system to play the instrumental a bit louder than the microphone volume, which meant to be heard over the music those singing would have to sing strong. It also meant if they became self-conscious they could lower their voices to hide under the music or the others singing.

The greenette gulped in spite of the small kindness.

"I guess so. Someone else will be singing with me, at least for the beginning, right?"

"Hagakure and I will!" Mina shouted, another microphone already being twirled around in her hand. A third microphone had found its home seemingly floating in the air next to Ojiro. "And I know exactly what song we're going to start this party off with," she grinned frighteningly.

Jiro frowned. "This isn't really a party…"

She was ignored.

A moment later Mina was using Jiro's phone, which was connected via Bluetooth to the karaoke system, to look up what songs were available. It was with a downright evil-sounding cackle that she found what she was looking for. She barely even spared a moment to show Hagakure, who said she was fine with that choice, before picking it and grinning at Izuku.

"You should be happy I went with this one and not something really wild. You're welcome, Midori."

The music began, the familiar tune instantly making a few of the other students groan.

"Really, Pinky? You picked a song by P!nk?" Sero laughed. He figured she'd pick something like that. "This one is kind of outdated, isn't it?"

"Shut up, tape dispenser. We grew up in the nineties and I will represent!"

With that she took the lead singing, Hagakure quickly joining in while Izuku merely watched them.

"I'm comin' up, so you better you better get this party started," they sang. "I'm comin' up, so you better you better get this party started."

"Get this party started on a Saturday night. Everybody's waitin' for me to arrive." Mina pointed at herself, voice smooth as she bounced around the living room. Hagakure moved around a bit as well, but seemed to be staying relatively in place so she could read the lyrics from the screen. "Sendin' out the message to all of my friends," Mina gestures to everyone gathered, and sends a wink towards the Bakusquad. "We'll be lookin' flashy in my Mercedes Benz."

"Yeah right," Bakugo muttered under his breath.

All Kirishima could say beside him was "Dude, Mina can sing!"

"I got lotsa style, got my gold diamond rings," she swept a hand out exaggeratedly, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively as she sang the next line, "I can go for miles if you know what I mean."

"God is real," Mineta whispered.

"I'm comin' up so you better you better get this party started. I'm comin' up so you better you better get this party started." Her jumping brought her in front of Izuku, and she pulled him by the arms off of the couch before he could protest. "C'mon, Midori! You're supposed to be singing too!"

It was now or never it seemed. Uraraka was already in the midst of finding another song to play before this one ended.

"Pumpin up the volume, breakin down' to the beat," Izuku joined in quietly as Mina and Hagakure dominated, "cruisin' through the west side, we'll be checkin' the scene. Boulevard is freakin' as I'm comin' up fast." Izuku sputtered as he began singing the next line, which Mina accented by grinning wickedly. "I'll be burnin' rubber, you'll be kissin' my ass."

"And here comes the first song change! Uraraka's choice." Jiro said loudly. "Those who want to sing raise your hand and someone with a microphone will give you theirs if they're done."

"Aw man, we were just getting Midori into it!" Mina complained before relenting. As the next song began Hagakure passed off her microphone to Uraraka, who decided to stay seated next to Iida on the couch during the song. "Ura-kun, sweetie, is this old Taylor Swift? Girl!"

The brunette blushed, ignoring the pointed look she was getting in favor of looking at Izuku. To her surprise, and everyone else's, Izuku was tapping out the song's beat on his knee from where he sat back down on the couch.

"What?" He questioned before the lyrics appeared on the screen. "I like this album."

"I used to think one day we'd tell the story of us, how we met and the sparks flew instantly." He sang with his eyes closed since he already knew the lyrics by heart. "People would say, 'they're the lucky ones'. I used to know my place was a spot next to you, now I'm searching the room for an empty seat 'cause lately I don't even know what page you're on."

Uraraka, Mina, and Izuku's voices blended together as they went on. They mixed well together all things considered. Jiro was happy because she could actually hear Izuku this time, since he kept so quiet for the short time he'd sang the last song she hadn't even heard him.

" Oh, a simple complication, miscommunications lead to fall out. So many things that I wish you knew, so many walls up I can't break through."

Izuku couldn't help but think of Bakugo. This song had always reminded him of his explosive friend, which flustered him to no end, yet he couldn't shake the connection. The lyrics more or less explained what kind of relationship he'd had with the blond ever since he'd been deemed quirkless as a kid. Sure things were different now, but the song still held the meaning of a more strained time between the two.

"Now I'm standing alone in a crowded room and we're not speaking," they belted collectively, Mina's free arm waving about as she acted out something akin to a tragic scene, "and I'm dying to know is it killing you like it's killing me? Yeah. I don't know what to say, since the twist of fate when it all broke down, and the story of us looks a lot like a tragedy now—"

"Next chapter," Uraraka sang, getting a thumbs up from Tsuyu.

"How'd we end up this way? See me nervously pulling at my clothes and trying to look busy." It really felt like Izuku could just turn towards Bakugo and sing these words directly to him. "And you're doing your best to avoid me. I'm starting to think one day I'll tell the story of us how I was losing my mind," Izuku's brows furrowed as if he were troubled, "when I saw you here, but you held your pride like you should have held me." It took everything for Izuku not to look at Bakugo. He could have sworn he felt red eyes on him. Was he getting too into the song again? That was too bad; that's why Jiro was having him do this anyway. "Oh, I'm scared to see the ending. Why are we pretending this is nothing? I'd tell you I miss you but I don't know how; I've never heard silence quite this loud."

They were positively jamming now, with Mina singing into the microphone like her life depended on it, Uraraka singing louder than she'd planned to, and Izuku sitting up in his seat trying to get access to more air as he let himself sing freely.

"Now I'm standing alone in a crowded room and we're not speaking, and I'm dying to know is it killing you like it's killing me? Yeah. I don't know what to say, since the twist of fate when it all broke down, and the story of us looks a lot like a tragedy now."

Suddenly Mina was gesturing for Uraraka to stop, and Izuku got the hint when he noticed the girls drop their microphones.

"This is looking like a contest," he sang by himself quietly, "of who can act like they care less, but I liked it better when you were on my side." His eyes drifted to Bakugo without his consent, and to his surprise the blond met his eyes only to hold them until Izuku looked away. "The battle's in your hands now, but I would lay my armor down if you'd say you'd rather love than fight. So many things that you wish I knew," his volume grew, "but the story of us might be ending soon."

"Song change! Tokoyami's pick."

Izuku became nervous as both Uraraka and Mina set their microphones down, no one else moving to grab them. When he heard the guitar instrumental of the song start, on the other hand, his heart rate settled slightly. He knew his one too.

"Fall asleep to dreams of home, where the waves are crashing." He thought of the waves at Dagobah Municipal Beach Park. "The only place I've ever known, now the future has me." His voice was smooth like honey, filling the air with pleasant sound as he emulated the original singer perfectly in pitch and emotion. "I see the fire in the sky, see it all around me. I said the past is dead, the life I had is gone. Said I won't give up until I see the sun."

His classmates listened in awe, some of them really hearing Izuku sing by himself for the first time.

"Hold me now," he held the note, "'til the fear is leaving. I am barely breathing."

Izuku bobbed his head slightly as he waited for the next verse, oblivious to the looks of his classmates. It actually physically hurt Kaminari to look up the next song for the game.

"Waking up and letting go to the sound of angels. Am I alive or just a ghost haunted by my sorrows? Hope is slipping through my hands, gravity is taking hold. I said I'm not afraid that I am brave enough. I will not give up until I see the sun."

The hand not holding the microphone rose into the air in front of him, starting out flat as if patting something before slowly turning into a fist as he continued.

"Hold me now 'til the fear is leaving. I am barely breathing. Crying out," his eyes squeezed themselves shut tighter despite already being shut, voice becoming more strained and fluctuating as he went on. "These tired wings are falling. I need you to catch me. As I burn, as I break. I can't take it anymore. I return to the place where the water covers over everything. Rescue me somehow..."

"Next song," Jiro said sadly once he'd tapered off. "Chosen by Kaminari."

Izuk snapped out of it immidately, becoming flustered as he noticed one dropped jaw from a classmate in the midst of several thumbs up. What mattered the most to him was the slight nod he could have sworn Bakugo gave him.

Electronic music began playing as Kaminari got up and grabbed a microphone.

"Do you know this one, Midoriya? I freaking love Owl City."

His statement was met with a smile and nod.

"I do! I like a lot of their songs, this one included."

With that they launched into the song together, each of them grinning at eachother when their voiced mixed extremely well.

"Close your tired eyes, relax, and then count from one to ten, and open them. All these heavy thoughts will try to weigh you down, but not this time. Way up in the air you're finally free, and you can stay up there, right next to me." Kaminari stole a look at Jiro, who smiled at him fondly. "All this gravity will try to pull you down, but not this time."

"When the sun goes down and the lights burn out then it's time for you to shine," they harmonized, Kaminari going lower as Izuku went higher at the last word, "brighter than a shooting star, so shine no matter where you are. Fill the darkest night with a brilliant light 'cause it's time for you to shine," Izuku smiled as Yaoyorozu tentatively took the microphone that had been passed to her before joining in quietly. "Brighter than a shooting star, so shine no matter where you are... tonight. Whoa, whoa, whoa," the girl's voice was pleasant underneath the boys' voices, and she found herself singing a bit louder. "Brighter than a shooting star, shine no matter where you are... tonight."

"Gaze into my eyes when the fire starts," the trio sang, "and fan the flame so hot it melts our hearts. Oh, the pouring rain will try to put it out, but not this time. Let your colors burn and brightly burst into a million sparks that all disperse," Izuku kicked himself for thinking of Bakugo yet again, blatantly ignoring the fluttering in his chest that he attributed to thinking about his childhood friend, "and illuminate a world that will try to bring you down, but not this time."

"Switcheroo time! Hagakure's pick."

Upon hearing the next instrumental into the sung, Kaminari put his microphone down. Izuku was happy to see Yaoyozoru's eyes brighten as she heard the familiar song and continued holding onto her own microphone. They gave each other shakey smiles of encouragement as they started the song off quietly.

"I can hold my breath. I can bite my tongue. I can stay awake for days if that's what you want. Be your number one. I can fake a smile," Izuku was good at that. "I can force a laugh." That too. "I can dance and play the part if that's what you ask. Give you all I am." What was wrong with him? Why can't he sing without thinking of his friend? Maybe he'd need to write something later to get it out of his system. "I can do it, I can do it, I can do it..."

"But I'm only human," the two singing raised their voices, becoming more powerful as they kept on, "and I bleed when I fall down. I'm only human, and I crash and I break down."

"Your words in my head," Izuku sang by himself as Yaoyorozu took a breather, "knives in my heart."

"You build me up and then I fall apart," the girl finished by herself.

They came back together."Cause I'm only human…"

"Kirishima's choice— sorry guys."

At the countryesque instrumental Yaoyozoru put her microphone down only for Aoyama to pick it up with a sparkle.

"I don't sing too loud, Midoriya-kun, so I'll allow you to have the lead."

Izuku nodded at his friend, one of which he'd just begun coming closer to after some strange and cheese-related events.

"All day, staring at the ceiling making friends with shadows on my wall. All night, hearing voices telling me that I should get some sleep, because tomorrow might be good for something." This was reminding Izuku of his elementary and middle school days, which caused a frown to grace his face as he continued. It didn't help that he'd never heard this song before. "Hold on— feeling like I'm headed for a breakdown, and I don't know why."

"But I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell. I know right now you can't tell, but stay awhile and maybe then you'll see a different side of me." Aoyama was doing well, voice carrying both of theirs from the bottom. "I'm not crazy, I'm just a little impaired. I know right now you don't care, but soon enough you're gonna think of me, and how I used to be, me."

"I'm talking to myself in public,"Izuku fought off a blush at the lyrics. They fit him rather well what with his mumbling habit. "Dodging glances on the train. And I know, I know they've all been talking about me; I can hear them whisper," it was his old classmates' whispers and taunts in his ears, "and it makes me think there must be something wrong with me." They were never kind to him after they found out he was quirkless and Bakugo turned on him. "Out of all the hours thinking somehow I've lost my mind."

There was a knock at the entrance to their dorm, which startled class 1-A more than they'd like to admit. Izuku was grateful for the interruption since it caused Jiro to pause the song.

"Who would be here at this hour?" Sero questioned, turning to Iida.

The class representative glanced at the door in confusion, getting off of the couch he'd been sitting on cautiously. "I'm honestly not sure, but it is my duty to represent us so I shall see who it is."

Before he could reach the door, however, whoever was outside seemed to have used up all of his or her patience. The doorknob wiggled as a key was inserted into it. A moment later it was to the students' relief that it was their teacher visiting them, although they immediately switched to concerned upon noticing the small figure next to him.

"Um, Aizawa-sensei, why is Eri-chan here?" Uraraka asked worriedly. Beside her Tsuyu seconded her question with a soft "ribbit".

The tired hero sighed, the girl holding his hand looking across the room until she noticed Izuku. As soon as she saw him she let go of her escort's hand and rushed towards the greenette.

"Deku-san!"

"Eri-chan?" He gasped as the little girl jumped into his arms, his protectiveness for her spiking when he noticed the dried tears on her face. "Did something happen to Mirio-kun? What's wrong?"

When she didn't say anything, instead deciding to hide her face in his shirt, Izuku looked to Aizawa for an answer.

"Mirio is just fine, though maybe a bit worried about Eri. He informed me not too long ago that she had a nightmare and woke up insisting that she see you. We tried to avoid it," he sighed with arms crossed. "I would have rather not had to open school gates after curfew, but it seems you lot were up anyway."

At the accusatory tone Iida bowed deeply.

"My apologies, Aizawa-sensei. We were only doing karaoke in order to help our friends who will be singing in the festival more comfortable. We were planning on turning in for the night soon, I promise."

Their teacher seemed unimpressed.

"I'll take your word for it. Be that as it may, I don't want to be here all night long," he gestured towards Eri.

Izuku looked up at the underground hero after catching the hint. As he let his fingers run through the girl's hair reassuringly, he met his teacher's eyes with determined green ones.

"She can stay here tonight, if you'll allow it. You or Mirio-kun could come get her in the morning? I'm sure she'd be more comfortable here tonight anyway, and I don't think anyone else has a problem with it. Right?" He looked around for support, and nearly everyone nodded in approval.

"She cannot sleep on the boy's side of the dormitory," Aizawa warned.

"Eri-chan could room with either me or Tsuyu-kun?" Uraraka offered. "That way she'd be on the girl's side."

Kirishima cleared his throat. "Not to rain on your parade, Uraraka, but I think she wants to stay with Midoriya."

"But she can't stay on the boy's side. Especially with Mineta being in the room next to Deku's..."

"How about a sleepover in the lounge?" Shoji suggested.

"Sleepover!" Mina cheered excitedly. "Aizawa-sensei, can we please?"

The adult in the room stood there for a moment in thought. "I suppose you won't be breaking any rules, and there isn't school tomorrow. I also trust Iida and Yaoyorozu to keep you all in line; however, Mineta." The grape-haired hero froze in fear. "If you so much as leer at one of your classmates, especially while Eri is here, you will be expelled. Do I make myself clear?"

"Y-yes, sir!"

He turned to Izuku. "I trust you to take good care of her tonight then, Midoriya. If something troubling happens you have the number to call. I'll be back with Mirio around noon tomorrow to pick her up."

Izuku nodded. In his lap Eri finally looked up, a relieved smile on her face as she heard she wouldn't have to leave just yet.

"You can count on me, sensei."

"Good. Now, do you brats have any coffee in the kitchen?"

With that they watched their teacher make his way to the kitchen to prepare some coffee before heading out. Most of the student's had their attention on Izuku and Eri anyway, none of them sure if they should put an end to karaoke in favor of doing something more kid-friendly or not. Their question was answered a minute later for them though when Eri looked up at Izuku with wide, curious eyes.

"Deku-san, what is karaoke?"

"Oh, it's singing. There's a device hooked up to the television that allows you to select any song available on the internet. It plays the music without the words and displays the lyrics on the screen so whoever has a microphone can sing-along instead. We have three microphones," he explained as he held the one that had been at his side up to show her. She took it hesitantly, looking at it in awe.

"Singing? That's what you all were doing?"

"Yep!"

"So... were you singing, Deku-san?"

A sheepish look swept over his face as if embarrassed. "Um, yeah, I was. You remember how I told you I would be dancing at the festival, right? I just learned that I'll be singing two songs as well. We were all doing karaoke so I could get used to singing in front of people since I'm pretty shy."

To his surprise Eri looked at him in awe, causing a few of his classmates to coo at how cute she was.

"You're so brave." She said, voice soft. "I don't know much music though even if I wasn't too shy to sing in front of people. But you... can... can you sing me a song? Please?"

Izuku smiled down at her lovingly. It was as if he'd gained a little sister for how much he wanted to protect her and make her happy.

"Of course, Eri-chan. We can do karaoke for a little while longer. Jiro, can you pick Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift?" He asked while taking the microphone back from Eri. "I know we already picked one of her songs, but—"

"I've got you covered, Midoriya."

She selected the song relatively fast, barely giving everyone else time to be surprised at Izuku's sudden eagerness to sing.

"I guess having a cute young girl asking him to sing was all the motivation he needed," Kaminari stage-whispered to Jiro jokingly.

"Oh shut up, Sparky."

A moment later the music began to play, the soft notes of string instruments and percussion filling the air with a light, lullaby-like Izuku finally came in his voice was just as light; the soft emotion he poured into his words as he held Eri tugged at the heartstrings of many listening.

"I remember tears streaming down your face when I said I'll never let you go," he breathed, looking down at Eri. "When all those shadows almost killed your light." He thought of Chisaki and Eri's rescue, but pushed it from his mind. "I remember you said 'don't leave me here alone'," their first meeting in the alleyway sparked into his mind, "but all that's dead and gone and passed tonight."

He let his eyes slip shut as he continued, voice fluctuating with almost masterful control as he serenaded the girl. Said child stared at him with eyes filled with surprise.

"Just close your eyes, the sun is going down. You'll be alright," he placed a hand on her head and smiled, "no one can hurt you now. Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound."

A small sniffle escaped Eri at the words, and she found herself hiding in the boy's chest as he continued.

"Don't you dare look out your window, darling, everything's on fire. The war outside our door keeps raging on."

"He's amazing," Uraraka found herself whispering. "How he can pull of this song better than the original is just... wow."

Tsuyu shrugged. "I'm not much a Taylor Swift fan anyway, ribbit. Midoriya is just great at singing overall. I can't believe he's still self-conscious about himself when he sounds as good as he does. My voice is too nasally to sound that good, unfortunately."

"Hey, I'm sure you sound fine! I always get off key when I sing."

"Hold onto this lullaby," he continued, "even when the music's gone, gone. Just close your eyes, the sun is going down. You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now." That was a promise." Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound."

There was a long string of instrumental where Izuku sang the sounds since there were no words. As he did so Eri listened happily, enjoying every moment. She couldn't remember feeling this safe and content in her life.

"Just close your eyes," he sang as he stroked her hair lazily, "you'll be alright. Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound."

None of his students knew this, but Aizawa was mildly impressed from where he stood in the kitchen nursing his coffee tiredly.

"The boy has potential when it comes to singing, it seems." He hummed under his breath. As interesting a development as the discovery was, however, he had a lot of things that had to be done. He slipped out one of the back doors that lock automatically without another thought.

In the lounge, Eri was squeezing Izuku for everything he had.

"That was really good, Deku-san. Can you sing more?"

Izuku chuckled, attention too focused on the little girl before him to notice the soft look his crush was sending him.

"Sure! Jiro, can you pick Gift of a Friend by Demi Lovato?"

She answered with a "sure thing" the same moment Kirishima reached his hand out and begged for a microphone.

"Dude, this was in a Tinkerbell movie! My little cousin loves this song."

Izuku tilted his head in confusion. "Huh, I didn't know that. You're going to sing it with me though?"

"Yep! We can switch off every now and then too. We gotta impress Eri-chan somehow," he said with a friendly wink at the girl in question. She offered him a miniscule smile back. It was all she was capable of as smiling was still a bit new to her.

The music started with a light, carefree feel to it.

"Sometimes you think you'll be fine by yourself, 'cause a dream is a wish you make all alone." Kirishima sang by himself, normally this time which was vastly different when compared to the screaming he demonstrated during the band team auditions.

"It's easy to feel like you don't need help," Izuku finished, "but its harder to walk on your own." Izuku knew this well.

"You'll change inside when you realize..." They came back together. "The world comes to life," Izuku swayed in his seat, taking Eri with him, "and everything's bright. From beginning to end when you have a friend by your side that helps you to find the beauty of all when you'll open your heart and believe in," they both took in a quick breath, "the gift of a friend. The gift of a friend."

Neither of them could stop themselves from picturing their respective friend groups as they went on. Izuku thought of Uraraka, Iida, Todoroki, and even All Might before picturing his entire class while Kirishima glanced at Mina, Sero, Kaminari, and Bakugo. Singing really reminded them how thankful they were for everyone.

"Someone who knows when your lost and your scared," Kirishima soloed again, "there through the highs and the lows."

"Someone you can count on," Izuku resumed, "someone who cares, beside you where ever you go."

"You'll change inside when you realize... The world comes to life, and everything's bright," a few of the students began clapping with the music, making the room feel even lighter. "From beginning to end when you have a friend by your side that helps you to find the beauty of all when you'll open your heart and believe in the gift of a friend. The gift of a friend," the boys raised their voices, emotion permiating the air.

"And when your hope crashes down shattering to the ground, you'll, you'll feel all alone." Izuku and Kirishima both thought of time when they were down, Izuku remembering being told time and time again that he could be a hero and Kirishima remembering his middle school days. "When you don't know which way to go and there's no signs leading you home, you're not alone."

"The world comes to life," Kirishima began before they alternated.

"And everything's bright."

"From beginning to end,"

"when you have a friend by your side," Izuku held the note strongly,

"that helps you to find,"

"the beauty of all when you'll open your heart and believe in…"

Kirishima joined Izuku once more, "when you believe in, you can believe in... the gift of a friend."

As the song ended a few classmates broke into cheers, Mina and Sero whooping loudly at Kirishima for ripping "Demi" to shreds as they called it. Eri looked up at Izuku again, mouth opening and closing a few times as if unsure if she should ask the question she was preparing to.

"Did you like the song?" Izuku asked gently.

Eri nodded. "Yes, you both were amazing. I wish I could sing like that."

"You can join me in another song if you want," he offered while placing a hand over one of hers reassuringly. "No one will judge you, I promise. Do you have any songs in mind?"

The question seemed to make her sad, and Izuku had the itch to punch himself in the face. "I don't really know very many. I, um, watched Frozen with Mirio-san a few days ago though. I really liked it. Do you know any songs that were in the movie?"

He thought about it for a moment, a hand coming to rub the back of his neck self-consciously.

"Everybody knows Let It Go. Is that one okay?"

"Yes. I don't want a microphone though, if that's okay." She averted her eyes. "I'm not comfortable with everyone hearing me right now."

"That's fine! You can sing along as quietly as you like."

Preparing himself mentally, Izuku almost didn't notice Todoroki of all people carefully pick up one of the microphones while Jiro searched for the song. Green eyes met heterochromatic in mild surprise.

"My siblings and I watch all of the Disney films together, because Fuyumi loves them and father hates them. I quite like the music in the movie." He thought for a moment. "Honestly, Elsa is my favorite character. It's not because half of my quirk is similar to her powers either," he sent a withering look at most of the Bakusquad, who started laughing at his admission.

Eri tilted her head as she gazed at Todoroki.

"I… Elsa is my favorite character too. The way she didn't know how to control her powers reminds me of… myself." The way she feared them reminds me of myself too.

"That makes sense. Want to know why she's my favorite?"

"Why?"

Todoroki sat down in front of where Midoriya sat making it so he was closer to the young girl.

"She didn't use her power because she was afraid of becoming a monster, and out of fear from hurting people. I used to be like her too. And like how Anna reached out to reassure her she was capable of controlling her powers, I had someone that knocked some sense into my head about my own capabilities," he explained with a subtle gesture at the boy holding her. "One day you'll be able to control your powers just as well as she does."

The two gazed at each other for a long moment, only breaking eye contact when Jiro began the song. Todoroki needed to see the lyrics. As the instrumental finished up and readied to jump into the lyrics he and Izuku took a breath before launching in.

"The snow glows white on the mountain tonight, not a footprint to be seen. A kingdom of isolation," Todoroki allowed his volume to gradually get louder as he sang, "and it looks like I'm the queen. The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside. Couldn't keep it in, heaven knows I've tried..." Izuku already had his eyes closed at this point, the song having been burned into his brain long before. It was catchy and sung by an amazing singer after all. "Don't let them in, don't let them see; be the good girl you always have to be." Izuku smiled when he heard Eri's small voice. "Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know... well, now they know," they sang in harmony.

"Let it go," several others joined in at the chorus. Kirishima, Sero, Koda, and the girls save Jiro were the most noticeable. "Let it go, can't hold it back anymore. Let it go, let it go, turn away and slam the door." Mina and Kirishima were now standing, acting out the lyrics while Eri watched in shock. "I don't care what they're going to say. Let the storm rage on; the cold never bothered me anyway."

"It's funny how some distance makes everything seem small," Izuku sang with a brillaint smile when he noticed Eri genuinely smiling at his friends' antics. The fact a couple more had joined them in song made him happy too. "And the fears that once controlled me can't get to me at all. It's time to see what I can do to test the limits and break through. No right, no wrong, no rules for me— I'm free."

"Let it go, let it go, I am one with the wind and sky." Nearly the entire class belted, no longer trying to sing seriously. There were too many voices for that. Kirishima and Mina were probably trying to out-obxonious each other anyway with the way they were spinning around and nearly yelling. "Let it go, let it go, you'll never see me cry. Here I stand and here I stay. Let the storm rage on..."

"Todoroki," Mina laughed during the small instrumental, "use your ice like Elsa!"

The boy in question merely stared at her, not giving her request an answer.

"My power flurries through the air into the ground," a few of them threw their arms into the air dramatically, "my soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around, and one thought crystallizes like an icy blast. I'm never going back," Izuku nearly stopped singing in favor of laughing as he noticed Mina and Kirishima throwing their arms around a silent Bakugo, singing loudly in their friend's ears depsite the murderous look on his face, "the past is in the past."

Eri watched as Todoroki produced a spray of ice from his right hand, the boy rolling his eyes when Mina had to stop singing because she was laughing so hard. He did give Eri a soft smile when she positively lit up at his display. Izuku thought he could hear her say something along the lines of Todoroki being a Disney prince, but he couldn't hear her clearly over the sound of class 1-A "singing".

"Let it go, let it go, and I'll rise like the break of dawn." Kirishima jumped up on the couch only for Iida to stop singing so he could tell him to stop disrespecting the furniture. "Let it go, let it go, that perfect girl is gone." Mina posed dramatically. "Here I stand in the light of day. Let the storm rage on. The cold never bothered me anyway..."

The song ended with bouts of laughter. Even Bakugo didn't look like he was going to immediately kill somebody. As his classmates chatted about getting their pajamas on, grabbing some snacks along with their blankets and pillows, the talk of building a fort in the midst, Izuku turned to Jiro with grateful eyes.

"Thanks for this, Jiro-kun. After I got over my nervousness it was actually a lot of fun. I think maybe we can work on the recordings tomorrow afternoon," he said sheepishly, "if that's all right with you, that is."

"Sounds like a plan to me, Midoriya-kun. You're going to do great."

He lit up at her praise, almost missing the red-eyed gaze of Bakugo on him from several feet away. His heart almost stopped when, despite the unimpressed look on the blond's face, he noticed him causally giving him a thumbs up before looking away.

Kacchan gave me a thumbs up. Oh my gosh, he squealed internally.

It took Eri a couple of tries to snap him out of his daze after that.

In order of appearance:

Get the Party Started by P!nk

Story of Us by Taylor Swift

Hold Me Now by Red

Shooting Stars by Owl City

Human by Christina Perri

Unwell by Matchbox Twenty

Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift

The Gift of a Friend by Demi Lovato

Let It Go by Idina Menzel

Songs that almost made it:

Haunted by Taylor Swift

Show Me What I'm Looking For by Carolina Liar

Embers by Owl City

I See the Light by Mandy Moore