A pristine room, white hallways that felt like an endless maze, a myriad of nurses, and a chaotic bustling that kept Izuku from putting his heart or mind at ease. His mother's hand squeezed his as reassurance, but Izuku could tell she was just as nervous. The two sat hand in hand in the waiting room with a looming dread of what the tests taken from the earlier week.

Izuku never liked doctors' offices. The needles, the brightness, the rush and bustle, everything in this place was unsettling for everyone. Nerves bundled in Izuku's heart from the anxiety of the test results, the unfamiliar setting, the worry on his mother's face, and the busy environment.

"Midoriya, Izuku," A nurse called, pulling him from his thoughts, but making him even more anxious. His mother stood up, briefly greeting the nurse. Izuku followed suit before hiding behind his mother's legs. The nurse led the two down a few halls into a typical doctor's room. His mother took a seat in one of chairs next to the examination bed. Izuku crawled into his mother's lap and leaned into her for comfort. He curled up, feeling his mother's arms envelope him.

"Don't fall asleep, honey," Inko said as Izuku's eyes started fluttering closed. Her hand brushed his messy curls back, pushing his hair out of his face.

"You need a haircut soon," Inko said, mostly to herself. "I should be able to see your face," Inko said with a smile.

"No! You not see me," Izuku pulled his hair down over his eyes. Inko giggled and shook her head at his antics. Right as she was about to play along with him, a knock rang out and a short man with a mustache and doctor's coat walked.

"Hello, Mrs. Midoriya, Little… Little Midoriya," The doctor trailed off as Izuku "looked" at the doctor, still holding his hair over his eyes.

"He's just being goofy," Inko said, setting Izuku down.

"As young ones should," The doctor said. Izuku released his hair from his grasp, peeking out to see the doctor who was pulling up a chair.

"So, last week we did some blood tests, the x-ray and a CT scan and we just got the results back from the blood tests and x-ray," The doctor started. Inko and Izuku listened intently.

"The x-ray was the most revealing on why Little Midoryia hasn't developed a quirk yet," The doctor put up the x-ray of Izuku's foot and turned out the lights to see it better.

"As you can see, he has a secondary joint in his pinkie toe, which is an indicator of him being quirkless," The words rang through his head… Quirkless…. His heart dropped slowly as it sank in. Izuku's eyes were wide with shock, his entire face frozen.

The doctor continued his spiel about why Izuku was most likely quirkless. Izuku didn't hear any of what the doctor or his mother was saying. His mind was focused on his favorite hero and his dream. His little brain forced every delusion possible to keep his dream alive.

"There is one more thing Mrs. Midoriya, the CT scan is still being processed, but it will be in within a day or two, so you will get a call about that soon," The doctor said. Izuku was fully dissociated from the situation at hand. He was gone in a fantasy to relieve the ache settling in his heart.

Inko saw little Izuku's state, opting to distract from the painful topic. As she led Izuku out of the doctor's office, she smiled down at him and gained his attention with a gentle squeeze of his hand.

"Why don't we go see that new ice cream place on the way home? I bet your daddy would love some," Inko said, seeing Izuku's eyes brighten slightly, but not nearly as starry as when he thinks of Almight, or being a hero. Izuku nodded, letting his mother strap him into his car seat. Inko started up the car after buckling in herself and headed to the ice cream shop.

The only noises were the car's engine and the faint mumbling of the radio. Inko was unnerved by the silence. Her usual bubbly, energetic child was silent, staring into space and looking like a kicked puppy. Even the prospect of ice cream didn't cheer him up for long. The sadness and heartbreak she saw in her son's eyes tugged at her heartstrings.

As the two arrived at the ice cream shop, Izuku didn't even notice the car stopping. Still in deep thought, thoughts not meant for a five-year-old. He only snapped out of the trance when Inko got out of the car to get Izuku.

Izuku went in with his mom, putting on a brave face in the ice cream shop. She ordered him his favorite, mint chocolate chip in a chocolate dipped waffle cone. He took the cone gratefully, waiting for her and his father's ice cream to be made. She got herself a cup of pistachio ice cream, and his father, a cup of plain old chocolate.

She and Izuku headed home, reaching their destination quickly. The ice cream was more than sufficient to distract Izuku. As they headed into their apartment building, they entered an empty, quiet home. Izuku's father, Hisashi, was known to stay late after work occasionally, so this wasn't abnormal. Inko set the ice cream for her husband in the fridge for later.

Izuku's hands were sticky with melted ice cream once he finished his cone, but that was no problem for Izuku. He was simply bouncing, asking to watch his favorite video like he did every day. Inko smiled, happy that her son didn't lose all the light in his life yet. He's too young to be broken. He has so much potential.

"Let's clean you up first, then you can watch until dinner is ready," Inko said, wetting a rag with water to clean Izuku up. Izuku didn't make clean up easy with his excited bouncing and rambling about Allmight. Rambling off facts he knew, that Inko also knew well since Izuku rambled about everything he knew often, especially Allmight, "Kacchan", and his father Hisashi. Anyone he looked up to. Part of her hoped he rambled about her as well when she wasn't around.

She wiped the chocolate off of his face and set up his favorite video. She hit play and left Izuku to watch and rewatch the hero debut of Almight.

Izuku watched the video, forgetting the prior events of the day for a time, but as he rewatched the video, his situation became more and more tied into Izuku's reality. He can still be a hero. He will be a hero. He has to, right? Izuku's inner dialogue slowly became doubtful and scared his dream is truly unachievable. Inko finished with dinner, checking in on Izuku. She heard little sniffles as she approached the office.

"Izuku, honey? Are you alright?" Inko asked, tentatively stepping into the dark room. The only light came from the hallway and the computer.

"You see that, Mom?" Izuku turned to her with tears rolling down his face.

"There's always a smile on his face, no matter how bad things get," Izuku sniffed again.

"Even when things seem impossible, he never gives up," Inko listened to her son, knowing he didn't want to let go of his dream, his only dream. The guilt of not being able to give him that dream weighed on Inko's heart and tears started forming

"Do you think… I.. I can be a hero too?" Izuku's little voice cracked as he asked. He looked up at his mother with watery eyes holding so much hope. Inko couldn't take it, she collapsed, taking Izuku into her arms, sobbing.

"I'm so sorry Izuku. I wish things were different," Inko sobbed, holding her son.

"I wish I could change things for you, I'm sorry," Inko's guilt dripped from her words as she embraced her son.

"It's okay Mommy, I'll keep smiling," Izuku said, deciding. He would be a hero, even if it killed him.

"Oh sweetie, no, you-" Inko started, but Izuku interrupted her.

"Just like him," Izuku looked back at the computer, watching the video end with Almight's smile gleaming through the screen. He truly embodied the symbol of peace, as well as everything Izuku wanted to be. Inko didn't know what to say.

"Um, why don't we get you ready for dinner? Daddy will be home soon," Inko changed the subject, not knowing how to continue the prior conversation. Izuku nodded, bouncing away from the computer and washing his hands in the kitchen sink while Inko closed down the computer.

Izuku carried on, grabbing three sets of silverware and helping set the table, just like always. Like nothing changed. Once Inko set two bowls of spicy katsudon for her and Izuku, the front door opened.

"Hey hon," Hisashi said as he walked in the door. He was still in his suit for work, with his tie and briefcase in hand. Inko and Izuku smiled at Hizashi and Inko grabbed another bowl, setting a seat for her husband.

"Daddy!" Izuku exclaimed, running to hug his father. Hisashi's eyes were half lidded with bags under them. Hisashi picked up his son, giving him a hug and setting Izuku back down in his seat.

Inko set a bowl down of spicy katsudon down in front of him before sitting at her spot beside him. The family began eating, with little to say. Izuku ate happily, bouncing in his seat. Hisashi and Inko talked about their days, but Inko didn't mention the doctor's visit at the table. Inko was anxious about telling her husband of the news, and she didn't want to do so in front of Izuku. He has enough to deal with now.

The whole family finished their meals, leaving Inko to clean up as Hisashi disappeared into their room without a goodnight. Izuku helped his mother clean up the plates and table before heading to his room for the night. Inko followed to help him get ready for bed.

"Pick your pajamas," Inko said, turning on Izuku's Almight night light and moved his blankets back. From the corner of her eye, she saw Izuku trying to put on his pajama top.

"Izuku, honey, let me help you," Inko said, pulling the sleeve off of Izuku's head.

"Like this," Inko helped Izuku into his pajamas and tucked him into bed. Izuku never cared for bedtime stories, but Inko stayed with him, stroking his hair and lulling him to sleep with a gentle hum.

Izuku's eyes fluttered closed, drifting off into a peaceful sleep.