Chapter 8: Parallel Feelings
Izuku
"The thing about people like us is we have to try twice as hard as a person with a regular quirk to prove we're on the Heroes side." Shinso relates.
"So how have you dealt with it?" Izuku asks.
This is a chance to gain insight from someone who knows what's it like to be in his position (for even longer than he has), he's surely felt the weight of a dozen stares looking at him in fright too down to murmurs that believe they'll one day become villains.
Excitement courses through him, whatever tips he can give him he's all ears for!
But Shinso only gazes at him as if he just asked what color is the sky.
"Dealt with it? I've never gotten used to the knowing people think I'm about to harm them just from looking in their direction. My brainwashing quirk doesn't even work that way, unlike yours." He remarks.
Energy and hope that was bubbling up in his chest vanishes, Shinso is just as dry and stern as Aizawa, perhaps even more so comparing their flat expressions.
"I suppose you're doing a better job of changing people's opinions though, so that's something." He considers at observing his downcast look, chuckling at his renewed smile.
Midoriya is luckier than him, having the benefit of a dual quirk while he just has this quirk alone that can't even properly destroy a robot.
'I won't be in the top Hero classes.' Shinso knows.
It is a painful, but true fact he's realized without even getting his final results back yet of which classroom he'll be assigned to.
"Your quirk has many positive uses though! I mean it can be used to incapacitate a villain or could even be used for gathering intel on how much a villain knows or whatever plans they have for attacking or scouting out an area." Izuku considers, Shinso turning to look at him again only to see him mumbling off a variety of scenarios in which his quirk could somehow save the day.
Must be nice to live in whatever fantasy world Izuku is in.
He gestures to the closest bench, sighing as his gaze drifts to the roaming clouds overhead. The air smells of rain, wind scattering up leaves into mini swirls along the pavements.
Inanimate objects.
The one thing he can't control or manipulate to do his bidding.
"And really since the object of your attack has to listen to your commands you can-" Izuku's tangent is becoming too much now, reminding this knot in his chest the path to being seen as a Hero isn't as long for others compared to him...
"Those are all nice ideas and all really, however it won't matter to the faculty here at U.A. or to the public." Shinso points out, cutting off his rambling.
Confusion passes over his features, silently questioning what he means.
"The one major weakness of my quirk is it isn't physical, I'm defenseless against a group of villains unless I had backup with me. It isn't like that other ability of yours that powers up then shatters your muscles, at least you can fight them off. That's what I need to learn how to do at least maybe with some specialty equipment." Shinso emphasizes.
Izuku flinches, keeping quiet. 'One For All actually isn't meant to actually 'shatter' me as he describes!'
But Shinso takes the rest of his advice in stride without complaining, trading off stories of people's reactions to the first times they used Infliction and Brainwashing respectively. For a moment Shinso forgets this is the same kid rumored to have damaged an actual villain's brain, that had no problems choosing the harshest way to cause pain.
And yet here he is actively trying to think up ways to make him not feel so pathetic.
They talk until the sky is a blanket of gray, thunder booming in the distance as raindrops begin to scatter along the path. He should've told Mom he would be late, but then again he hadn't expected his afternoon to be composed of a spar with Aizawa to talking to someone who knows what these stares and rumors feel like.
"Well, guess I'll see you around campus. I should get heading home before my parents go out in search of me in this weather. Let's exchange numbers if you ever need any advice." Shinso notes having the same line of thinking as he moves to stand and get his contact quickly.
Izuku nods, though he can't shake the tiny thought Shinso isn't telling him everything...
He already knew Aizawa-sensei after all and more so than that it feels as if he is holding back on the darker stories of his childhood, the ones that will shake and make him question the true intentions of others Hero.
"Perhaps we may end up in the same class together!" Izuku mentions trying to bring up his mood before their paths diverge.
Violet eyes cloud over though like this very storm above them, dark and tinged with just the faintest upset.
Shinso pushes on a smile however that doesn't quite reach his eyes, laugh hollow in his ears as he turns to go.
"You and I both know that isn't going to happen."
'This drizzling is going to become a downpour.' Izuku sighs, twisting himself to head for home. He could use One For All to boost his legs perhaps, weighing the idea until he sees blond hair from the corner of his eye approaching. In his footsteps he leaves a trail of smoke and instantly he knows Katsuki wants to question him fully now that he is awake and alone over the Entrance Exams, over this second new ability he has...
Over All Might.
-X-
Ochako
"You're distracted. What's going on?" Nishimura questions, tornado kick fizzling out just in time.
The force of the air dissipating still pushes her back outside the mat, gritting her teeth at how much she's been knocked over already since this hour of sparring sessions have begun.
"Must be thinking of the 'bad influence' they let into U.A." Akemi whispers with a giggle none to softly from somewhere on her right side, teal eyes daring her to challenge her in front of sensei and the rest of the class when she looks her way. Not everyone in this class wants to go down the path of being a Hero with Akemi Okamura being one such example who'd rather use these lessons to go into the field of private investigation or being a bodyguard for a high class dignitary rather than a becoming 'silly' Hero who goes hopping about the place.
'Like I'd ever want someone like her to be protecting me.' She sourly recalled thinking during the first days of introducing themselves.
Ochako scoffs in her direction as soon as her back is turned, wishing she had a quirk that could at least zap that smirk off her face temporarily.
Because worse than this gossip of being associated with Deku is that she's right.
She's thinking about him...
Again.
It's only because she witnessed his skirmish with Bakugo just yesterday, saw a rare moment of his anger flaring to life once more by the boy who is somehow both his friend and bully at once.
"Kacchan, why are you cornering me like this again? I heard from Recovery Girl you talked to the police and even the principal, thank you for that." Izuku asks.
Katsuki growls, bursts of his flames crackling and turning to steam under the pattering of rain.
"Don't give me this innocent shit Deku, you know exactly why I'm calling you out again! Your Infliction or whatever the hell you're calling it can't do what I witnessed against those robots. What did All Might do to you? I know you two still communicate outside of U.A." Katsuki relates.
Ochako frowns, stepping back out of sight behind the nearest tree. She came here with the goal in mind of checking if Deku had already been discharged when she hadn't heard any updates from him in awhile, worry abated when she saw his familiar green hair in the distance.
She could interrupt them, but Bakugo isn't going to listen to her nor step down especially when he looks heated like this.
"...Is it really that hard to believe?" Izuku questions him abruptly, pointedly ignoring his questions. Will this be their vicious cycle? Not even All Might speaking with him has truly cooled this rage settled within him, no it's only reminded him of kept secrets and that he can no longer push or break down his dreams.
Katsuki snorts, eyes narrowing. "Believe what?"
Even though she's a good few feet away she can see Deku's expression shifting, fury trickling in.
"That I'm getting just as strong as you!" He snaps, jade eyes darkening with equal annoyance.
And she doesn't have to guess then at Katsuki's sudden wincing as his gaze drops to his now cracked fingers that Izuku has used Infliction repeating the action to his right knee as it gains a telltale purplish-red hue of swelling kicking in. Her breathing halts for just a second watching Katsuki tumble down to the pavement, throat constricting watching Izuku hover over him.
His gaze is smoldering, as if he'll bury him into the cement here and now before he decides to respond to his earlier question regarding his connection to All Might.
"It's none of your business."
Deku left quickly shortly thereafter, just as fast as his anger had come it had vanished in quickly realizing how much harm he was doing.
He didn't heal him of his injuries, maybe too much in shock at how easy it was becoming to harm Katsuki when he wasn't acting any different to how he typically behaved around him.
'I'm pretty sure I was the only one to witness their fight.' Ochako muses.
She hopes.
Deku as kind as he is finally letting loose a bit of that bottled resentment, this frustration that Katsuki refuses to take him seriously as a Hero let alone a rival in his goal of being Number 1.
Perhaps most of U.A.'s faculty already knows this about Deku, but certainly a good majority of the students don't.
"Take a 10 minute water break, get some fresh air." Nishimura orders before she can object breaking her out of the memory.
Splashing cold water against her flushed cheeks does little to calm her thoughts leaning back against the side of the Dojo's brick walls, especially not when midway in guzzling down said water does she hear her name being called out again.
'Ugh, I swear if that's Akemi or one of her little entourage goons is coming to bother me-' Ochako scowls, twisting in the direction of the voice before freezing.
'Deku?'
Her anger must still be showing on her face as his smile vanishes into one of alarm, stepping back from her. "Ah, sorry! I was trying to call out to you, but it didn't seem like you heard me."
Ochako blinks, shaking her head quickly before she can feel any signs of her blush returning. "You don't need to apologize! It's just...training hasn't been going as well for me today. I can't get my mind to focus on the lessons and it doesn't help some of my peers keep critiquing every little thing that I do! That's actually why I'm out here on a forced break."
She can feel herself beginning to ramble despite Izuku's patient listening, pursing her lips to be quiet before she embarrasses herself any further.
"Ah, so what brings you by this area?" Ochako asks to change the topic.
The Dojo isn't in the same direction of his house.
Izuku doesn't answer for a long minute, growing as equally red as she must've looked as well.
'Did he come to check on me?'
The question rests at the back of her mouth, swallowing it back down into a growing swarm of rising butterflies that is making her stomach lurch.
"Err well I was on a grocery run for Mom and was nearby is all!" He explains away quickly.
Never mind that he is missing said groceries!
He had wanted to check on her, Mr. Kimura even presenting him with an excuse to go to the Dojo.
But he hadn't wanted to annoy her, make her feel as if she was fragile or weak needing to be looked out for...
"If you're worried about her too then maybe you can go under the pretense that you're doing this old man a favor? She'll throw a fit if honey and I go wandering over to that Dojo!" Mr. Kimura repeats the same question over, side-stepping and blocking his path out of the aisle until he properly responds. His quirk is either one of speed or stretching with the way he continues to obstruct him like this.
"I mean, I'm sure Uraraka is okay! How do you know we're friends anyways and even who I am?" Izuku questions, fidgeting under his stare as the loudness of his voice seems to echo through the store. It elicits more uncomfortable looks, a blend of confused, annoyed, and even fearful shoppers when all he came in here for was to just to get some milk.
He's sure this is his first time meeting this man in person despite Uraraka showing him a mix of photos of this man and his wife back when they still lived in Mie.
Mr. Kimura scoffs, waving off his question. "I didn't walk all the way into this district of the city just to hear 'No' young man! I want to bring positive news home to the missus!"
He pauses for a minute then at how out of breath he is, wiping at sweat beading across his forehead until he feels something cool being pressed up to his neck.
"Here, take this water. You need it more than me especially if you walked such a long way in this heat. I can go check on her if you just give me instructions on the fastest route to get there." Izuku advises.
A warm grin crosses Kimura's face, not even his attitude confronting him in this manner has stopped this boy from wanting to help him.
"To answer your earlier question everyone knows who you are, whether you like it or not. Don't worry though, I ain't one of the ones freaked out by you! Ochako mentions all the great things you've done around the city all the time so you have the missus and I's approval!"
His voice is in knots now to explain such a situation, glancing back to Uraraka to see her attention focused back into the Dojo.
Akemi was up next now, having replaced her spot in the center against Nishimura.
"That girl may trip soon with the way she's moving." Izuku analyzes. Her feet weren't going to be able to keep up for long to match the speed of her zigzag punches while continuing to slide out of the way of Nishimura's kicks.
"How do you know, going to use Infliction or something?" Ochako teases, snickering at his brief look of shock before he laughs in return.
"She was one of the ones giving you a bit of trouble earlier, right? Infliction isn't needed in this case, trust me on this." He explains.
A loud thump echoes out gaining their focus once more, Akemi sure enough on the mat rubbing at her now sore ankles.
And Ochako feels a snicker escape before she can bite her lip in knowing it's rude to laugh, but it's hard to contain the spark of happiness that Akemi isn't as perfect as she claims either.
"Thank you for checking in on me, you can let Gamps and Gamma know I'm okay too." Ochako points out, grin widening at his wince. She had already gained an inkling of why he had truly came here after all...
Izuku nods in return, glad anyways to see her typical smile return. 'Ochako mentions all the great things you've done...you have our approval!'
He shouldn't be thinking about this, averting his gaze from her soft grin. His phone buzzes through within his pocket, surely Mom wondering why it took over an hour just to supposedly get some milk.
Milk he completely forgot about to go see Uraraka.
"Try not to overdo it!" Izuku sputters when he manages to find his voice, twisting to go.
The whispers are even stronger as Ochako returns back to her spot along the mats, but her thoughts are clear of Deku for now, of the sensation of knots and coils wrapped all around her stomach.
'Train. Train until it's at the back of your mind again.' She repeats the mantra over.
If only her heart would properly listen.
-X-
All Might
"What made you think that was a good idea Young Bakugo?" He asks again.
By now he should expect he's not going to get a proper answer, not when he refuses to meet his gaze. He purposefully made sure this back section of U.A.'s library was empty. Dust and intricate silver webs are their only company amongst these selves of information from generations ago. It's still early in the morning before classes even begin, orange and fuchsia dotting the horizon.
He has 30 minutes though until the Third Years' arrive.
'Think Toshinori; you're running out of time.' He warns himself.
"Is this why you called me out here so early to be amongst this moldy area of books? Another lecture?" Katsuki remarks instead.
There's less bite in his tone than the last time they talked One on One back when he was still at Aldera, reminded him of the impact of his behavior on others.
An uneasy silence falls over them, Toshinori still wracking his mind for another way to connect to him. He couldn't tell him the secret of Young Midoriya's secondary quirk, not when he was already so hostile towards him enough to keep picking fights.
Fights that are becoming more dangerous each and every time.
"I'm not here to lecture you again Young Bakugo, I just want to gain a better idea of what's running through your mind. Young Midoriya seriously harmed you during your most recent altercation and I would prefer you stop this before U.A. takes action against you or him that I won't be able to prevent."
As he expects Katsuki stiffens, gritting his teeth.
"Why him?" He mutters out.
The tips of his fingers spark, tightening them into fists to avoid burning this oak wood table down.
"What do you see in that damn nerd? He has your attention of all people and I still haven't figured out why." He continues with a sneer.
"There was nothing particularly special about him when I first met him, true. However, it is that very reason why he peaked my interest. He hasn't let you or anyone stop him from his dreams and admittedly I saw a bit of myself at you two's age." Toshinori answers honestly.
A cough itches then at the back of his throat, too late for him to cover up as it turns into a blistering fire in his lungs.
And it's this that unfortunately too cracks Katsuki's facade, anger shifting into worry.
"Are...Are you okay?" His voice drops an octave as if any louder will somehow harm him.
Crimson eyes fall to his fingers, equally scarlet in color.
His blood.
The first bell of the day rings out, Toshinori moving to stand despite Katsuki's clear questioning look. It's strange for this to be happening so early in the day, clenching his teeth together to stay calm. He was going to have to make a detour over to Chiyo before she left for a 7:00 am lecture she had planned.
Toshinori keeps a grin on for him despite this soreness still lingering in his chest, nodding. "This is nothing for you to worry about!"
"But-" Katsuki starts, Toshinori holding up a hand to stop him.
"Don't concern yourself with me, really! It's the result of an old injury is all."
He turns to face him fully again, pointing directly at his heart startling him.
"More importantly, I want you to think seriously Young Bakugo on this new question I have for you. It is inevitable since you're both on the path to becoming Heroes that you'll have more future encounters with Young Midoriya requiring you to work together." He begins.
"So ask yourself this: How much farther should I continue down this road when it's me everyone sees as a villain?"
'Villain?' Katsuki frowns, clicking his tongue to find an answer that will retort his claim before cursing under his breathe when nothing immediately comes to mind.
"Damn it..."
-X-
Izuku
'I'm glad Uraraka is making friends easily.' He notes at watching her avidly talk about various things she did over the summer break with their peers.
That made one of them at least!
Because for him these first few weeks of school has consisted of him threading on icy waters, unsure who trusts him and who wishes he were gone.
"Today's lesson I'm sure will be testing our durability! I look forward to seeing the scenarios Aizawa-sensei has in store for us!" Iida announces by his side patting his shoulder and he can't help but return his grin despite how serious he is. (Yesterday they had spent half of class picking hero names).
Well, he was able to change one person's mind about him.
It's a start.
"So can your quirk really like snap people's bones in half or melt their skin off from just one look? A lot of us have been thinking about it, but couldn't figure out how to ask! Bakugo wouldn't give me an answer during lunch yesterday either and I'm tired of wondering." Kirishima interrupts sliding into the vacant chair beside them, staring at him so intently as if he were a puzzle.
He can't blame his curiosity, though the boldness of his comment throws him off.
"I, err well Infliction doesn't work that way." Izuku answers.
As soon as the words leave his lips he knows that response won't be good enough, it doesn't sound impressive even to his own ears.
Kirishima only blinks, eyes narrowing as he tilts his head. "Oh, well how does it work then? Give us a demonstration!"
Iida gives him a pointed glare, frowning. "There's no need for us to cause a disruption when homeroom is about to start!"
Kirishima ignores him though, sharp red eyes studying him as if he can will his quirk to activate.
"It doesn't have to be anything big, the teachers may know you're not a threat but we don't." He pushes at his silence.
The whole class has gone painfully quiet now, all eyes turning in his direction. He can either make up an excuse his quirk has some random specifications on being used or show him honestly how Infliction works.
Ochako gives him a reassuring grin in spite of her eyes showing concern this could end badly...
'Cut his left thumb.'
It's the same type of injury he gave Mom, simple and non-life threatening.
However Kirishima hardly felt that, not even peering to the thin droplet of blood forming that slides down his palm.
'His quirk is Hardening if I remember correctly. I guess I have to do something more painful.'
"Are you going to do something or not?" He challenges, fingers drumming impatiently on the ends of his desk.
'Break his index fingers.'
And then he stiffens after a few seconds, tapping halting midway in air as his attention becomes fixed on these new bruises forming.
Kirishima looks between his fingers to him no less than 3 times before the biggest grin forms across his face. "Wow, so you really are the real deal, but why my fingers? I won't be able to take notes properly!"
"You hardly take notes to begin with!" Mina pipes up from the front of the class.
"I didn't want to really hurt you; you didn't even notice the paper cut I gave either!" Izuku remarks quickly, equal parts relieved he isn't mad and nervous from the rest of their classmates looks stepping back in just as much surprise.
'Most everyone is still afraid, what can I say now to smooth things over?' Izuku considers.
"Deku wouldn't hurt any of you guys on purpose, he came to U.A. to be a Hero like all of us!" Ochako points out.
"Yes, I agree! Midoriya has proven he isn't trying to cause any of us harm!" Iida adds in proudly.
"Would you all quiet down? I don't know how you all can be this noisy so early in the day." Aizawa remarks from the front of the class.
He whispers a thank you to both Iida and Uraraka, Uraraka mouthing a 'you're welcome' before twisting back around.
-X-
Elsewhere-Mie Prefecture
"How are the latest balances looking Pa?"
It's approaching midnight now, frowning at seeing her husband's slouched figure in the dim light of their kitchen.
Telling by his grim expression it isn't good, eyes bloodshot and teary. They've been in this downward spiral for weeks now, this construction business they created together years ago now crumpling right before their eyes...
And there is nothing they can do.
"Not good Ma. The investors at that Takeuchi firm that we had been counting on pulled out yesterday. We're bleeding money Ma and I'd hate to say it, but it looks like we may need to truly dip into our retirement funds to avoid another loan from the bank." He explains, voice dropping to a whisper.
Ma simply nods in resignation brushing away a mix of matted hair and tears out of her face, pausing at hearing her phone abruptly ping with a new text.
From their little Ochako.
"Ochako says school is going well, Gamps and Gamma are feeding her well on the weekends occasionally." She remarks, scrolling through photos their daughter has taken of the city, her new friends, and around U.A.'s campus.
Pa leans back to look as well, taking in her smile captured perfectly in the sun by what looks to be a park in the background.
"We should tell her, you know how anxious she gets when we hide money issues from her or-" Ma begins.
"No, No we can't add this to her plate. She has that big sports festival coming up that U.A. holds annually; remember! We'll be better by the time it's all over. For us; For Ochako." He interrupts promising each other to not let her know just yet, tacking on forced smiles.
They have to be better by then, there are no other alternatives left...
-x-
Hooray for 300+ follows and 170+ favorites!
I want to change up the activities that will happen in the sports festival along with who will be facing who. Already have in mind one to two thing I'm planning to do but still working on typing up each section to make sure it all flows. I'm always open to ideas too if you want to throw out any tips!
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