It's a huddle as indiscriminately organized as the droplets descending from a lightless sky. Everyone adorns black attire, the dim day reflecting on their faces despite the lack of sun beams. Rain rolls off headstones while simultaneously pelting umbrellas. Slick grass sways with a boy's mutually green curls. A breeze stirs something up in him. The tremble of his hand that slides through his umbrella's handle is as loose as his posture. His breath shakes. Everything does. His whole world is shaken. Still shaking. Izuku had gotten so used to the warmth of Pochita's presence in his heart, that the bitter bite of his mother's cold absence leaves him in an ever constant agony.

The Bakugos are present. Kacchan, Katsuki; he catches his childhood frenemy's gaze every so often. A few of his mother's co-workers bow their heads to show their sympathy. Everyone at Inko Midoriya's grave has some degree of condolences to give. Izuku takes none of them. He shudders when his mother's warm embrace is replaced by another chilling breeze. The air hugs him until he suffocates. It's difficult to breathe life into his lungs while standing in a place so devoid of any. Death occupies every headstone as far as the eye can see. Heaven or hell, he feels like the devil to have cheated what should have eventually been his fate too.

He'd had time to cry. He'd had time to process her passing. Yet, he still wasn't prepared to see his mother lowered into the ground. Only after dirt covered her casket did her death seem permanent. Pochita never received a proper burial. To an extent, it is almost as though Pochita never left. Izuku raises a hand to his chest, feeling his heartbeat that's only possible because of the wonder dog. This is a funeral. This is someone leaving for good. Izuku realizes he'll never see his mom ever again. They'll never speak to one another in a fated reunion like he had with Pochita. She's gone. Forever.

Izuku stays there despite that fact. Even after all the other attendees have left, he remains rooted to the ground akin to the tree that shadows him with darkened leaves. His eyes lift past the cemetery and take to the sky. Clouds blend with the moisture in the air, creating a sheet that covers any speck of light a star might make. The hand covering his heart stretches out towards it, reaching for a doorknob to heaven's door. Just when he feels like he might be able to open it by some chance or miracle, he hears the wet squelch of someone's shoes sinking into the mud of damp pastures.

The boy settles his sights back down on the land. Across from him, he's shocked to see a familiar face from his class. Though the fellow hero in training's glasses are fogged, equally square shaped eyes meet Izuku's. "Iida.. ?", Izuku breathes out a gust of condensation that seemingly takes the rest of his breath away as he chokes on his next words, "What are you doing here?"

Iida's lips stay set in a solid straight line as grim as his posture and demeanor. Instead of speaking, he slowly gestures with a thumb over his shoulder at another burial taking place. When Izuku notices a resemblance in the features of the attendants there with Iida's, he understands. Iida glances down at the headstone in between them, the comprehension of the other boy's presence mutual.

Izuku's grip on his umbrella handle tightens. Then loosens. He closes the distance between them by taking the first steps. Away from his mother's resting place. "Mind if I join you?", Izuku meets his classmate's gaze again. Any light in their eyes have been dimmed, each stare reduced to a vacant expression. Yet, there's an unspoken communication.

Iida gives his peer a solemn nod before gesturing in the direction of the funeral. Izuku joins his classmate for a second eulogy. This one is for the pro hero Ingenium, Tensei Iida, Tenya's older brother. Tenya's sibling had been murdered during the Sports Festival, hence Tenya's strange behavior. Izuku had been so preoccupied with his own mess of issues that he failed to notice anything was wrong until now. The storm overhead continues to brew. Rain pours harder. It's a sad sendoff.

"Can we not speak of this to the others? I'd rather my personal matters stay private", Iida fixes Izuku with a sidelong stare. Wind whips a spray of particles between them. Izuku returns the other boy's look.

He holds the gaze before nodding. "It's not something you really wanna talk about with anybody", his eyelids lull and he has to close them despite their eye contact breaking by doing so, "I understand."

Iida's stiff posture softens. "Yes.. I suppose you would", he takes that as an opportunity to remove and defog his glasses before putting them back on to look at Izuku more clearly, "Thank you" Izuku hums in response before the horn of a waiting limo beckons for Iida. The boy turns, signaling to them to wait a while longer. Iida sighs as he gives pause to his parting words, "And Midoriya.. I'm sorry for your loss."

Izuku shifts so that he's turned too, prepared to go the other way, back in the direction of his mother's headstone. "Take care, Iida"

Rain falls in a collective cascading flow that transfers into the movement of running water in the flooded terrain. It's become such a monsoon that Izuku doesn't bother with his umbrella anymore. Drenched head to toe as his shoes sink into the slush of muddy land, he moves forward. This way, nobody can tell the difference between the storm and his eyes; flashes of anger illuminated by sparks of lightning within the well of tears stare ahead. He sways and stumbles but carries himself home.

When Izuku reaches his house, he finds the front door already unlocked. He stands in the middle of the frame. A blue luminesce of the downpour behind him dimly lights the dark hallway that leads inside. There's a waft of something scented. A billow of steam warmer than the fog of the air outside. The tea that his mother keeps in the cabinets above the oven has been brewed. Izuku steps into the house and rounds the corner, not caring that he tracks filth along the carpeted floor.

"I let myself in", a woman sits with one leg crossed over the other while clasping a cup of tea with each of her hands. She's not his mother. Her crimson colored hair is braided and long unlike his mom's emerald bun that she kept short. "I hope you don't mind", the mysterious lady takes a sip from her drink as she gauges Izuku in response to his staring.

After overcoming his initial stupor and surprise, Izuku instinctually reaches for the string attached to his sternum. "Maybe I do", he growls as a warning to the stranger while narrowing his eyes to glare.

"Relax, Mister Midoriya, I'm from the Hero Public Safety Commission", the woman sets her cup down in order to procure a badge of proof. Izuku's already squinted eyes read the license and identify her as Director Makima, making them widen when he's finished. "I'm not here to harm you. Though it is a good sign to see you're the type of person who's prepared to take action if need be."

Izuku lets his hand fall away from the ripcord on his chest. Exasperated, his whole body slouches and he can't help but sigh. "Sorry. You just happened to catch me on a bad day", the apology is just short of coming out as a groan but he sees that the HPSC Director is already nodding along as though she understands.

"Your mother", Makima has a stoic tone and expression more devoid of emotion than Iida had acted but she still says what Izuku has come to expect from people lately, "I'm sorry for your loss."

"Everybody is", he tries not to sound bitter about it by telling himself it's not her fault, "Not like you were the one that made me her sick."

Makima tilts her head down, chin aimed towards the ground. From this angle, the subtle twitch of her mouth is lesser noticed. It's a small smile that doesn't involve much movement of the lips, but the uplift still contains the telltale facial shifts that indicate a similar expression. Then there's the look in her eyes that bore into Izuku's. Her stare throws the boy off balance, her gaze an optical illusion composed of glowing rings tunneling towards him like a hypnotic spiral. It's a straight drop into hell through every ring.

"Um", Izuku breaks her hold by blinking before swallowing to find his voice within the dazed demeanor he's unfamiliar with, "Care to tell me why you broke into my house unannounced?"

Makima gestures for him to sit and he does. "After your performance at the Sports Festival, the HPSC thought it best to make a proposition", she reclaims her tea to resume taking small sips from it.

"An internship?", Izuku asks.

"Not quite", Makima's smile is a tad more defined this time but vanishes just as quickly, "This is a long term trainee program under similar pretenses though" Her index finger taps the rim of her tea cup as she thinks of a better way to phrase it, "Think of it as job security."

Izuku runs a hand through his hair, feeling how slick it's become from the rain. "I'm sorry, it might just be because I've had a long day, but I don't really follow" His hand slides down to pinch some of his forehead. He's thinking.

"After the unfortunate passing of your mother, your place of residence and other provisions such as payment for your curriculum fall into question. The HPSC is fully prepared to provide you with the hospitality you require to continue your academic studies while pursuing an alternative path to your future as a hero", Makima elaborates further when she sees him having trouble with his thoughts on the matter.

"Oh, I don't know" But Izuku still stays skeptical. "If I'm gonna graduate from U.A, I don't think I'll have any troubles", he scratches his head as though any other idea to consider is just an annoying itch. "Besides, my father has been providing financially despite working overseas."

When Izuku looks back in the direction of Makima, he sees that she's not stopped staring at him. "I see", she finishes her cup of tea while still maintaining the hold. It's like the woman swallowed all of the room's warmth when a shiver runs up the boy's spine. Then, Makima leans forward. Her tone becomes hushed as she asks, "Have you considered a course of action should something happen to him?"

Precipitation excretes fog from Izuku's mouth as he breathes out. "Huh?" The boy's blood runs cold.

"You've already lost one parent", Makima says it matter of factly. She may as well. It is a fact. What she says next, however, is spoken just as casually. "It's not out of the realm of possibility to lose another."

Izuku's teeth clack together, he stops them from chattering as his skin is nipped by a chilling sensation. His hair prickles, standing on end. "What are you trying to say?", he leans forward to match Makima's position but his height keeps him bent lower than her.

Looking up at her, he can imagine a false halo above her angelic face, the sinister stare he can't help but be drawn into belonging to that of a true devil's nature. "As I stated earlier, my organization can provide you with all your needs, including medical compensation for your remaining family", she props her elbows on her knees to make a sturdy hand table for her chin to rest on while presenting him with the same deal that she tried to strike before. He half expects the woman to hand him a pen to sign a contract with.

"Medical compensation?", Izuku leans back enough to straighten his posture as he blinks back his disbelief. The attempt at blackmail aside, he feels rage well up inside of him. "Where was your 'medical compensation' when I needed you for my mother's treatment?!", he forces himself to his feet so that he stands over her. "My father's fine", Izuku snaps at the woman so angrily that his teeth gnash together and saliva flies out of his mouth, "My mom's not!"

Had she come to him sooner with this proposition, it just may have worked. He'd have jumped at the opportunity to provide for his mom. To save her. "You're too late", but that chance is gone and so the offer isn't worth considering to him. His frown flinches as his fury fades into sorrow. It really was a bad day for the HPSC Director to approach him with this.

Makima raises her head with a hum, bringing Izuku's attention back to her. She unfolds her arms first. Then uncrosses her legs. "That's a shame", the boy takes a step back when she suddenly stands up. Even without heels, she's taller than him. A moment of silence passes. The only sound filling the room is the ambience of the harsh storm that pounds to be let in.

Izuku can't help but back away another step when Makima makes a move to reach behind her. When he sees that she's only grabbing her overcoat from the headrest of the couch, he allows himself to relax only the slightest bit. She slides her arms into the sleeves before pulling something out of the coat's left pocket. "The offer still stands should you change your mind", Izuku takes a second to realize she's offering him her business card.

The boy nods and takes it, at least as a sign of respect. His fingers brush against something attached to the back of the small white rectangle. Startled, Izuku nearly drops the card. When he flips it over, however, he sees that it's simply a Chupa Chups lollipop. It's a shade of red close to brown. Cola flavored.

Izuku glances back up to see Makima not trying to hide her smile this time. He swallows, somehow already tasting the soda flavor in his mouth despite how dry it is. "Appreciate the sentiment", he shoves the lollipop into his own pocket before stepping aside so that she can leave.

After the HPSC Director exits, Izuku returns to the couch where he collapses. He suddenly feels exhausted. A majority of the conversations he's had today have been draining, but that one had been the worst by far. He's about to close his eyes so that he can just sleep it off when he notices the collection of papers on the coffee table in front of him. U.A's logo is stamped at the top of each page. He forces back a yawn by turning it into a sigh. Even though Aizawa had given him the day off to mourn and tend to his mother's funeral, he's still got the day's worth of course work to do.

Izuku sifts through them, seeing that his assignment pertains to internship requests he received after his performance at the Sports Festival. Seeing some of the offers that he received from pro heroes he idolized during his childhood, he feels more content with his decision to deny Makima's offer. One of the names peaks his interest in particular. He digs his hand into his pocket, hoping to have a pencil on him. Instead, he finds the lollipop. He shrugs. May as well. The candy is a treat worth having to celebrate. Izuku slides the Chupa Chup into his mouth as he grabs a pen from his other pocket to circle his chosen internship offer.

A squiggly oval wraps around Izuku's selected agency, Keigo Takami, the number two hero known as Hawks.