It took Izuku several days to earn enough money to pay back Sakura-san for his kindness (and to buy another meal, because while katsudon might be his favorite food, Sakura-san's curry quickly became a close second). His mom let him do chores around the house for pocket money, so once he made enough, he walked back to Yongen-Jaya. He'd considered taking the train—after all, it would take less time—but high school was only a year away! He had to start exercising on a more regular basis. If he could run to Yongen-Jaya, he could certainly walk there… as long as he used his GPS. Sakura-san didn't want to accept the money, but Izuku insisted until he did… and then ordered another plate of curry.

Izuku really liked LeBlanc. Mostly because no one else knew about it, not even his mom; it felt like he had a hidden treasure to protect. Sakura-san didn't let anyone mess with him while he was there, though that had more to do with a lack of people than anything else. It was rare that Izuku would see another person in LeBlanc, so he came back again and again, until it was a bi-weekly ritual. Sakura-san—"Just call me Boss, kid"—would even turn the tv over to the Hero channel for him.

One day after school started back up again, as it was getting late in the afternoon and Izuku was writing in his hero journal, muttering to himself, Boss said, "You sure spend a lot of time here. Wouldn't you rather be hanging out with your friends?"

"Ah…" Izuku looked away. "I don't… really have a lot of friends. People at my school think I'm weird."

Boss frowned. "You doing okay there? If you're being bullied…"

"O-Oh, I wouldn't call it bullying!" Izuku laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head where Kaachan had landed a nasty slap early that day. "It's not their fault they don't like me. It's just… how things are."

"Mm-hmm." Boss didn't sound like he believed him but let it be, focusing back on his newspaper. Izuku was about to take another bite of his curry when his phone buzzed. It was from an unknown number.

Unknown: Why?

"Why…?" Izuku muttered, staring puzzled at the phone. It buzzed again.

Unknown: Why does no one like you?

"Can you…" he whispered. "Can you hear me?"

Unknown: Yup. Answer the question.

Izuku glanced around the café. Sakura wasn't paying any attention to him and besides, he didn't have his phone out. There was no one else here. So where…? Hesitantly, Izuku typed back:

Izuku: Where are you?

Unknown: My house. Are you being bullied?

Izuku: What? No!

Unknown: But you were hurt the first time you came to LeBlanc.
So someone is hurting you.

Izuku: How do you even know that!?

Unknown: Sojiro told me.

Izuku eyed the man. He still wasn't doing anything more than reading the newspaper, so how…

Izuku: What do you want?

Unknown: I…
I don't know.
This was a bad idea.
I'm sorry.

Izuku: Wait!

Unknown: What?

He paused. Really, he didn't know why he had tried to continue the conversation with the mysterious person, but something… something in his gut told him that he needed to.

Izuku: Do you usually listen to me?
When I'm at LeBlanc.

Unknown: …Yeah.
I like your muttering.
It's really interesting.

Izuku: You like it?
Most people tell me it's annoying…

Unknown: You're into quirk analysis, right?
You're really good at it.

Izuku: Thanks.
You're the first person to ever say that.

Izuku's fingers paused on the keyboard. No risk, no gain.

Izuku: My name is Izuku.

Unknown: You may call me…
Alibaba.

Izuku: Did you…want to be friends?

Alibaba: I…
I'm thinking.

…

…sure, why not.
Just don't ask to meet in person!

Izuku laughed under his breath.

Izuku: What, are you actually a pedophile?

Alibaba: No! I just have issues going out.
I'm only a year older than you!

Izuku: Prove it.

Alibaba: Grr… Fine!

Alibaba sent a picture and, while it was hard to tell, Izuku could definitely see a quarter of a young-looking face with a hand doing a peace sign. But what really tipped him off was the Featherman action figures in the background.

Izuku: Cool Featherman.

Alibaba: Shuddup!
Do you want to be friends or not!?

Izuku: I do, I do. Sorry.
Wait, how did you get my number to begin with?

Alibaba: Um…
*Alibaba has left the chat*

Izuku: Don't just type that!
Answer the question!

Alibaba: :3c