Guess who just started vacation and has first draft for the rest of the year of this story almost done. Also this chapter while on the slower end is one of my absolute favorites. It is also the longest so far. This story has really helped me understand what kind of stories/story elements I like and find easy to write.

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Proofread by 3Dphantom

Chapter 14: Friends

Izuku barely had the strength to lift his foot over the doorstep as he dragged himself and Shinso into his house with Shinso being in an even less functional state. At least Ida got all the way back on his own two feet. Even the speedster was too tired to walk without dragging his feet.

"You know Midoriya," Shinso started. "I'm starting to suspect you don't want me to go to UA."

Izuku froze and stared at his friend only to witness a devious, though tired, grin.

"Why else would you try to kill me with training before the entrance exams."

"Hey, if you survive, the exam will feel like a vacation."

"If?"

Both of them chuckled, Shinso a bit more nervously than Izuku. As all of them were practically dripping sweat they headed down to the spa, dropping their bags and clothes at the dressing room. There was a whole Japanese bath and a heated pool that was like a hot spring, just what they needed. Izuku spread his arms and unceremoniously fell in the pool.

"Careful. Even if we're tired, we cannot forget basic pool safety," Ida said in his usual lecturing voice, though even that had lost steam. Still laying on the water, Izuku turned around so he could breathe and respond.

"My pool my rules."

Shinso chuckled and slid down to the water nearby. He went completely lax as soon as the water reached his neck and there was no need to go anywhere anymore.

"I won't leave here before tomorrow."

"I would agree, but we were supposed to have a movie night," Izuku responded.

"Oh right. I may not have a choice though. I'm not sure I'm even able to get up anymore. Somehow you manage to help me find new muscles to hurt every weekend."

Izuku hummed in recognition of Shinso's words, remembering entire schooldays of pain before regeneration. Now he was just exhausted and recovering faster from that too but could still sympathise.

"It is unavoidable," he lied and settled to a half sitting position near Shinso. "That is how you know the training works."

"You would know," Shinso poked at Izuku's arm that showed the results from over eight months of training several of those without needing to worry about injury or recovery time. "I still got a long way to catch up."

Izuku jolted at the poke but relaxed again quickly.

"You have no idea."

"At least you got this place. I already feel a lot better. Who do I need to brainwash to get a pool like this?"

Ida opened his mouth to say something, but Izuku was faster and laughed at the comment. Soon Ida too started smiling. Shinso looked at him and his grin turned into a softer smile.

"Usually, I can't make jokes like that around people."

"Maybe I should take their quirks," Izuku said, his expression completely serious. Shinso stared at him and blinked. Izuku returned a smile to his face and continued. "I can't make those jokes either. You should have seen your face."

Shinso splashed water in Izuku's face. Izuku responded in kind. Soon both were splashing like little kids, like they never got the chance to do enough of before. Surprisingly, Ida didn't reproach them for such childish behaviour. Their stamina didn't last long anyway as both remembered how exhausted they were. Izuku leaned back, breathing a bit harder than before but with a content smile on his face.

"Glad to see you are enjoying the pool," he told Shinso.

"I do a lot, though it makes me feel sorrier that I don't have any way to pay back everything you have done. The pool time is the least of it."

"Honestly, you already have," Izuku said. "This house is way too big for me. Usually it just feels empty and cold, hot pool or not, but at times like this I love it. No one ever told me how fun it is to have friends over…" Mumbling under his breath he muttered "or to have friends at all, for that matter."

"You…haven't had friends before?" Ida asked.

"You didn't realize that before?" Izuku asked and turned to look at the ceiling. "I haven't had a real friend, at least not anyone my age, since I was four or five. There was this one teacher in my old school who was the closest friend I had. He is the one I could talk to when the bullying got too bad. We still keep in touch. Other than him and family I've been alone for a decade."

"That sounds like an excellent teacher truly worthy of being called sensei," Ida said and paused for a moment before continuing in a more serious tone. "How are you feeling now, about being lonely that is."

"Right now, I can barely remember how it felt," he said with a content smile and tilted his head to look at Shinso. "So don't worry about being trouble and instead go check the minifridge."

He nodded to the small fridge next to the pool. Shinso waddled to it to check the contents.

"Nice, you want anything?" He asked.

"Just sparkling water," Izuku said.

"I'll have the same please," Ida requested politely. "We should avoid unhealthy drinks so as to be at our best during the entrance exams."

"Good idea," Shinso agreed as he came back with drinks and looked at Izuku. "Is there anything else you need?"

"You two in same school when people find out about my quirk."

"I could say the same," Shinso responded.

They were all quiet for a moment.

"I am sure if we continue training this intensely, it will happen."

"If the exams are worth anything," Izuku said, his smile threatening to slip back to a straight line. His line of thought was cut off as Shinso splashed water on his face again. Once Izuku brushed the water off his eyes he could see the other's blank expression.

"We should leave that discussion for training time."

"Sure," Izuku agreed. "Wake me up when you get hungry."

"Truth to be told, I have felt increasingly hungry for the past hour," Ida said. "We shouldn't leave dinner for too late. You don't want to eat heavily just before going to sleep."

"That is probably for the best," Izuku said. "I got a personal goal to make Shinso sleep for at least eight hours."

"Good luck with that," Shinso muttered.

"I won't give up until I do it," Izuku promised, determination in his eyes. "Don't even think about touching the coffee before morning."

They stared for a moment until their self-control failed and both started chuckling. Eventually Izuku pulled himself to the edge of the pool.

"I'll go order the food. There's a nice sushi place I get food from often."

He went back to where he had dropped his clothes. Getting out of the warm pool was not pleasant, but at least the house felt warmer than usually. He dug his phone from his bag, opened one of the several food ordering apps and ordered a giant sushi collection meant for ten. Smiling he went back to sit in the pool.

"It's going to be at least half an hour, probably more. Make sure to wash before then."

They finished bathing just in time and were just coming out of the spa area in bathrobes when the food was delivered. Shinso sometimes jolted from sudden pains as he walked, but other than that they were enjoying themselves. Both Ida's and Shinso's jaws dropped as Izuku placed the literal piles of high-quality sushi on the large table.

"I doubt we can eat all of this," Ida said.

"At least there isn't a risk of going to bed hungry," Izuku shrugged.

"You can say that again. I have never seen this much sushi in one place. That must have cost a small fortune."

"Worth every yen," Izuku declared smiling, "to see your faces. Have to do this again with a camera."

Izuku sat down and despite the size of the table Shinso and Ida picked the seats right next to him. Izuku leaned back on his chair as the two started picking sushi, talking about which were their favourites.

"Totally worth it," he muttered.

Eventually he too started eating, but they all started getting full with almost half of the food still left. Izuku looked at the entire plates of uneaten food

"I guess you were right Ida. We couldn't finish it. I usually only order single portions."

"Midoriya, I don't want to intrude with your private life, but how much of the food you eat is delivery?"

"A lot," Izuku said. "I cook sometimes, but I'm not really good at it. Mom used to make all our food... She loved cooking. I have never found anything as good as her katsudon."

Izuku quieted to swallow and hold back tears.

"So, your father doesn't cook for you."

"You should have noticed by now. He doesn't spend that much time here, usually just quick visits anytime his work permits."

"Does he have a problem with your quirk too?" Shinso asked.

"What?" Izuku spun to face Shinso. "No! Dad has been the most supportive person with my quirk and… after the kidnapping attempt, he helped me get past it and control the Dragon Blade I got then. He never even questioned me for taking it."

"That's good," Shinso said and turned to pick one more piece of sushi.

"Still seems wrong he leaves you to live so alone. All the times we have already been here we have never even seen the man," Ida said.

"He has done everything he can for me," Izuku said in a barely controlled tone, while recalling the correct lies to say, as much as he hated doing that to these two. "Sure he can't stay home much, but that's how we have a home at all, and he gets back whenever he can. Sometimes I go to Tokyo because he flies all the way back for such short amount of time it doesn't make sense to come from the airport all the way here. You should understand Ida. Aren't most people in your family pro-heroes? They are probably busy and have to go with the demands of their jobs first. Some jobs don't fit well with a family."

As expected, pointing to Ida's own family stopped the taller teen from responding despite looking like he really wanted to. Izuku turned to face the food, sombre expression on his face.

"My family situation might not be perfect, but it isn't something you should worry about. My real problems have always come from people outside my family."

"Look at what you did Ida. Now he is sad again," Shinso commented.

"Oh no, I apologise. It was not my intention. I merely wanted to express the same concern for your wellbeing you regularly show us…"

Even without looking Izuku could feel Ida swinging his arm like a robot next to his head. With Ida's words he got some of his smile back. He gestured at the food.

"How about we carry the rest of this to the living room and start the movie?"

They didn't make it to the large sofa before Izuku's phone started ringing where they had left their bags after the bath. Wordlessly Shinso took the plate Izuku was carrying so he could go get the phone. He froze, recognizing the caller number as his father. Had something happened? His father knew he was with Shinso and Ida right now. Hesitantly Izuku answered and brought the phone to his ear. He made sure to talk excitedly.

"Hey, dad!"

Izuku held back from wincing as both Ida's and Shinso's heads perked up.

"Good evening son, how was your training today?

"Good, we trained till we could barely walk back. I just finished having dinner with Shinso and Ida."

"Right. You know, as your father I should know them. If they are there you should let me talk with them."

"Are you sure?" Izuku asked quietly after turning his back to his two guests, not wanting them to hear his concern.

"Of course. I should be interested in who my son brings home, even if it is not girls yet."

"Dad-" Izuku said, making a good impression of a whiny teenager without even acting. He could hear a small chuckle from his father.

"Take the phone to them and put me on speaker or you don't get to spend time with Kurogiri for a week."

Izuku spun around and headed to the sofa.

"Guys! My father wants to talk with you."

He placed his phone on the table next to their remaining sushi and put it on the speaker.

"You're on speaker," Izuku said and stepped back from the phone so his hero-hopeful friends could talk with the most prominent villain since quirks appeared. If he showed any nervousness, he hoped Shinso and Ida just thought he was nervous at them talking with his father for the first time.

"Thank you Izuku. Good evening, Ida and Shinso I believe?"

"Yes sir. I am Tenya Ida, it is an honour to talk with you," Ida said with his usual formality and loudness.

"I'm Hitoshi Shinso," Shinso said in calmer, more neutral tone, though it was missing some of the tiredness that usually characterized him.

"Interesting," came from the other end of the line. "Even if you did not say your names, I would have known which was which from your voice and how Izuku described you."

"I'm sure it's because of how detailed descriptions he gave, or maybe he wrote full notebooks on us," Shinso said.

Izuku's father laughed at that.

"You are truly friends of Izuku, and for that you have my gratitude. He has always had a shine of positivity despite the difficulties of his life. I feared he lost it for good with his mother, but it returned brighter than ever as soon as he started talking about you two as his friends."

Ida brushed his chin, seemingly deep in thought.

"I fear I cannot claim the honour for that. I saw what you are talking about after he joined my class, but never could change that even after months. It was only after we met Shinso that I have seen him smiling regularly."

"Do not understate your importance. You were willing to stick around for months and try to be his friend even when he wasn't yet ready for it. Their similar experiences might have brought Izuku closer to Shinso faster, but you showed him that he can count on someone of his age at least. For that you are always welcome at my house. Well, I suppose it's Izuku's house mostly. And speaking of Shinso... and his quirk…"

Izuku tensed and stepped closer to his indigo haired friend, who had also tensed.

"Your quirk is amazing. So much potential. I wish I could observe it myself, but I would be happy if you could overcome other people's prejudices enough to show Izuku. I'm sure he would come up with even more ways to improve your use of it."

"Even more?" Shinso asked, emphasising the "even"-part. Izuku turned to face away and after a few seconds walked to his backpack. He pulled out a notebook and returned to the sofa. Shinso and Ida had settled to the ends of the sofa so Izuku sat in between them with the notebook on his lap. Shinso leaned over to take a closer look.

"Friend Analysis to Help Them Improve Part 1," he read out loud. "You've really been taking notes about us?"

"Of course he has," his father said from the phone. "He is also extremely protective of that notebook specifically. Hasn't even let his own father read it. Every child needs their private treasure I guess."

"Dad," Izuku begged as he seemed to shrink into the sofa.

"Fine, fine. It sounds like everything is fine there. Don't stay up too late and you two make sure Izuku goes to sleep smiling."

"We will do our best sir," Ida declared. Izuku quickly picked up the phone.

"Good morning dad."

"Sleep well son."

Izuku ended the call and sat in silence for a moment.

"So," Shinso said, "you have a whole notebook on us."

"Yes," Izuku admitted. "It is kind of a habit to take notes on people and their quirks. At first I just made small notes on my regular notebook. Then we started training together and I started taking notes about that and needed more space. Some of the notes are kind of personal so I haven't shown it to anyone else."

"Are you going to let us see what you have written?"

Izuku stared at the notebook for a moment, then held it in front of Shinso. Shinso raised his hand but hesitated.

"Take it. It is about you," Izuku said. He dropped the notebook on Shinso's lap and reached for the remote to get the movie night started. Shinso opened the notebook.

"Hmm… I didn't think of that, though that doesn't work," Shinso mumbled and skipped to another page. "Oh, hmm."

Both Izuku and Ida glanced at him as Izuku tried to remember everything he had written.

"Is something wrong?" Ida asked.

"Hmm," Shinso leaned his head from side to side in thought. "Nothing we haven't talked about today already. This is basically just a 'Midoriya is happy to have friends and not hide his quirk' page… next to the reasons to be friends with each of us pages. His father wasn't wrong about you: 'always there,' 'didn't turn on me because of group pressure,' 'lectures too much but only for things I do not how I am.' That part is underlined. Should I go on?"

"I don't think that is necessary," Ida responded as Izuku kept sinking into the sofa.

Shinso inched to sit a bit closer to Izuku and switched the notebook for the remote. Just as he was about to press play, he turned to stare at Izuku.

"We are going to talk about how my quirk works tomorrow."

Before Izuku could agree Shinso's focus returned to the screen, and he started the movie. A loud orchestral opening started playing from the sound system as text explaining the set-up of the movie flowed across space. Sometime later the hero left his destroyed home with an old mentor and arrived in a shady town with soldiers waiting. The mentor simply waved his hand and used his power to control the soldier's mind and they were allowed to pass despite having just what the soldiers were searching for.

"See, brainwashing can be really useful for doing good," Izuku said.

"Riight," Shinso muttered. "Did you pick the movie for this?"

"I also like it. It's a classic."

"So you did," Shinso said and looked away while holding one hand against the back of his neck.

"Just saying. I know who I want with me if I ever run into a roadblock," Izuku said and looked at the screen again. "I wonder how it feels to them."

"Huh?"

"To be brainwashed like that… or by your quirk. You know you'll need to use it on me if you want me to figure how to properly help you."

"Maybe, but…" Shinso muttered, staring at Izuku, stunned and maybe a little afraid. "Are you sure? You'd be at my quirk's mercy."

"Shinso," Izuku looked up at his friend, "I let you stay overnight in my house with a kitchen full of knives and will probably fall asleep before you do. I'm not worried that you would abuse your quirk while we are all awake and together. Forget anything anyone else has said about it. You'll never become a hero if you let people like that hold you back."

Shinso still hesitated but Izuku was already subjecting the brainwasher to his "pleading friend eyes" so Shinso had no chance to refuse.

"Yeah, you're right," Shinso admitted and drew a deep breath. "Do you really want me to brainwash you?"

"Yes, I…" Izuku fell silent mid-sentence. He was still conscious, sort of, but everything was foggy and unclear like his very mind was full of fog. Someone's head leaned in front of him and then something moved back and forth in front of his eyes. People were talking but he couldn't quite make out the words.

Suddenly his hand moved and flicked his forehead with a finger. The world cleared in an instant. Izuku blinked.

"That," he gasped, "was really strange."

"Sorry," Shinso said, "but you…"

"Don't apologise," Izuku intervened, "I didn't say it was bad, and yes I asked for it."

The next moment the friend-notebook was open and a pen appeared in Izuku's hand. The movie forgotten, he started scribbling notes to record the experience while it was still fresh in his mind. Everything else around him hardly existed.

"For the record, I didn't make him do this," Shinso's voice said somewhere.

"Don't worry. This happened occasionally before we even met you."

Both of them leaned over Izuku to read see what he was writing closing Izuku between them as their bodies brushed against him. For someone that most people had either dismissed or avoided aggressively for most of his life the sensation was new and welcome one.

Eventually he stopped writing and they finished watching the movie.

"We should go to sleep now so we are sharp tomorrow," Ida declared. Izuku collected the plates, still some sushi on them, and headed for the kitchen. Ida and Shinso leaned down to open the sofa as a bed. Izuku turned around.

"You don't need to do that. I've gotten something better since last week."

"Because of course you did," Shinso said and the two followed Izuku after taking away the plates. He led them upstairs to one of the formerly empty large bedrooms. What had his father even been thinking when he picked the house? There was just too much of nothing with only echoes to keep Izuku company, usually. As he pulled open the door, he was thankful for one more room to fill with three more beds, not just beds but wide high-quality beds arranged with their head ends spreading out from a low triangular table in the middle of it all. Izuku turned around and gestured the duo to enter.

"Welcome to the sleepover room. No sofas or floors for my friends."

"You never cease to surprise me," Shinso said as he stepped in and held the back of his neck in a familiar gesture. "So we are all going to sleep in here?"

"If you are okay with it," Izuku responded. "You can use my room if you want to be alone."

"No, no, I'll be okay as long as you don't snore."

Izuku nodded with a smile on his face and turned to Ida.

"How about you."

"Of course I will not refuse your generous effort to make us comfortable and strengthen the bonds of our friendship. Though I have to say your efforts are more than anyone could reasonably expect from you. You should not feel pressured to put such effort into our friendships."

"True," Shinso said, "we aren't your friends to get sushi or a good night sleep. Well, the latter would be nice if you manage to pull it off."

"Shinso," Ida remarked, but the indigo-haired teen just shrugged.

"I'm just telling the truth. Friends shouldn't lie to each other."

Izuku froze in place, suddenly feeling terrible. Friends didn't lie to each other, so could Izuku ever be a true friend to them? Tears glinted in his eyes, about to burst out. Both Ida and Shinso stared at him.

"I swear it's not me," Shinso said. Ida didn't have time to comment as Izuku moved forward between them and brought his arms around them.

"Oh," they said in unison, misunderstanding Izuku's reaction at least partially. Nevertheless they accepted the gesture. Slowly Izuku's breathing calmed. He stood back and turned away from the two.

"Sorry. That was embarrassing."

"I don't know," Shinso said. "It was kind of nice."

"Anyway, we should get ready to sleep so I can keep my promise to you," Izuku said, still facing away. "I won't hesitate to withhold morning coffee if you take too long."

Quick footsteps moved to the adjacent bathroom. A few seconds later they came back and Shinso pulled his Toothbrush and pyjamas from his backpack before leaving again just as fast. Izuku and Ida chuckled.

"I don't usually support blackmail, but…" Ida started.

"It is for a good cause," Izuku finished still lacking the cheerfulness he should have had.

They followed Shinso together to the bathroom and soon got to the beds. Izuku loved going to sleep with fresh clean sheets after bathing. With friends it was infinitely better. He turned off the lights and got onto the last free bed. He turned on his side to face Shinso.

"Feeling like sleeping yet?"

"No," Shinso sighed. "I feel more awake than when we left the bath."

"Sleeping difficulties are truly a nuisance," Ida commented. "My brother often misses sleep, though that is just because of his work. Unfortunately humans cannot simply order themselves to sleep."

Izuku's head perked up as Ida's words sunk in.

"Maybe we can," he said. "Shinso, can you use your brainwashing to order someone to sleep?"

"Well, maybe. I have not tried to use it like that. It might not since people can't normally choose to fall asleep, but I don't completely understand all of the limits of my quirk."

"Don't worry," Izuku assured got back to sitting position. "We are going to figure them out starting with this, but for that…"

Izuku fell silent and looked down, rubbing his hands together.

"Can I borrow your quirk?"

"What?" Shinso and Ida asked at the same time.

"I understand if you don't want to. I just thought if it can make people fall asleep I could borrow it and use it on you. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked just like that."

"Do it," Shinso said. Izuku blinked.

"Are you sure?"

"You trusted me enough to let me in your house and willingly let me brainwash you before. I think I can trust you with my quirk," Shinso said. "Full night sleep would be nice too."

"Okay," Izuku said and breathed in deep. "I have only done this a few times, but it shouldn't hurt. Probably better if you stay relaxed."

Izuku reached out with his hand and put it on Shinso's head, amazed as he just lied down relaxed, head on his pillow. He didn't even flinch as Izuku's quirk-taking hand pressed against his head. Izuku focused on his All For One, seeking out the quirk within his friend and pulling it away, as gently as he could. A moment later he pulled his hand away, feeling the new sensation deep within himself, but ignored it in favour of his friend.

"How are you feeling?" Izuku asked.

"Strange. I want to say I don't feel anything different, but there is this vague sensation that everything isn't right. Can you respond to me?"

"Of course," Izuku said. Shinso stared him for a long moment before turning his head to look at the ceiling again.

"You really took it away. It's strange. For most of my life I wished I could get rid of my quirk. Now I actually feel like I've lost something."

"Not lost," Izuku assured and brought a hand to his chest. "Just loaned to a friend. It is still right here. Want to tell me how to use it?"

"It's simple. You have to focus on the person you want to brainwash while you are talking to them. If you get a response there is this feeling and you only need to… pull on it. You have to be quick. The moment only lasts for an instant when the target starts responding."

"Okay," Izuku responded and focused on Shinso with all the effort his tired brain could muster. "Can I make you sleep?"

"Yes," Shinso responded. They were quiet for a moment before he turned his head to look at Izuku again. "You missed it."

"I felt it, but couldn't grasp it in time," Izuku said. "Can I try again?"

"Sure."

It took many more tries, but then on one try Izuku could feel something snap the instant his mind reached for the strange feeling.

"Shinso?" He asked quietly. There was no response. He reached over and in the dark barely saw Shinso staring at the ceiling with empty eyes. Ida joined Izuku with a stunned look.

"I have to admit, part of me has always doubted if your quirk could actually do what you said. Not anymore."

Izuku didn't respond, having to focus on the brainwashing.

"Shinso, go to sleep."

For a few seconds nothing happened. Then Shinso's eyes closed and his breathing calmed. Neither Izuku or Ida said anything, not wanting to wake up their friend. Izuku placed his hand on Shinso's forehead and returned the quirk before laying back down. He was holding back tears, this time tears of happiness for being able to help someone with his quirk, and that someone allowing him to. The only one to ever do that before was… his mom.

Izuku wiped his eyes on the edge of his blanket, hoping Ida didn't notice. He laid still, the silence of the large house only broken by the calm breathing of people who stayed there with him willingly. Izuku wished he could have told them everything, but had to settle with doing his best to help them pursue their dreams. After a tiring day he soon fell asleep, almost as fast as if he got brainwashed.

…

Izuku stood in the middle of a street alone, his field of view filled by flames and a large green blob of sludge. His mother's head hung out of the sludge, struggling to breath as the villain squeezed her from outside and inside. There were heroes around. Izuku screamed at them to help but they only saved people that were nowhere near the villain in the first place. Death Arms tried a single punch just for show, then went to pick up people who were already out of danger, able to just walk away on their own if they wanted, and carried them to a further distance, passing in front of the cameras to be sure they saw him acting "heroically". Izuku turned to face the villain and desperately clawed against the sludge to get to his mom, but it was futile. His mom suddenly snapped upwards and there was a loud crack. The world froze still, literary. Nothing moved except Izuku as he fell on his knees. Then the sludge was gone and he could really see his mother with All Might standing right on top of him, arm raised as if he had achieved some great victory. Neither he nor the flashing cameras cared about the corpse or her son who was flooding the street.

"Midoriya. Midoriya!... Izuku!"

Izuku's eyes jolted open. The towering rage inducing form of All Might was replaced by two concerned faces hovering over Izuku's. His rapid breathing slowly calmed back to normal as the two gave him space without leaving the side of his bed. Izuku brought his hand to his forehead, biting his teeth together.

"Don't tell me I had the nightmare and woke you up."

"I could, but I already said friends shouldn't lie so it would be hypocritical," Shinso said.

"You were shouting about your mom and telling someone to help her, something about people supposing to be heroes, and you were just about to say something about All Might when Shinso woke you up," Ida added.

"I saw her death," Izuku admitted. "I wasn't even there but I keep getting dreams several times a week witnessing it."

"What h…" Shinso started but fell silent as Ida raised his hand and shook his head. He looked at Izuku.

"I know your mother's death is a difficult topic and you don't want to talk about it. We won't make you."

Izuku lowered his hand and stared at the two. After a long silence he sniffed and reached over his head to get his phone. His hands began shaking as he pulled up the video saved in the phone. The screen was still cracked as reminder from when he first saw the video.

He handed the phone to Ida and pulled a pillow over his face, covering his ears with his hands. He could still hear the muffled sounds of the video and his friends talking. He stayed like that until the pillow, already soaked, was pulled from his face and a dry one was put under his head. Shinso leaned over him.

"Izuku," he whispered.

"Yes Sh… Hitoshi."

Izuku's thoughts became foggy as the brainwashing took over.

"Go back to sleep Izuku," Hitoshi commanded and there was nothing Izuku could have done to resist even if he wanted to.

At the last second, he realized he had wanted to make Hitoshi fall asleep again after waking him up, but it was already too late as sleep took over.

At least Hitoshi had used his power without needing to be convinced to. Despite the brainwashing Izuku's lips briefly twitched upwards.