Chapter 6

Between school, internship and tutoring Izuku, Ichika found time was passing by quickly. June had passed even quicker than May, because every other weekend she had used to study for a test, which meant she had been from home almost every Saturday. She used the Saturdays she wasn't at Endeavor Agency to study, with or without her friends - though mostly with - and doing patrol walks and training with either Endeavor or one of the sidekicks during the other weekends. Arriving on Friday afternoon and leaving Endeavor Agency on Sunday afternoon.

Surprisingly she was able to combine everything well. Even if it meant she had little time for herself. But she was glad she still had time for her friends. Especially with Mirio's birthday coming up, which coincidentally fell on the same day as Izuku's. With her brother turning 15 and Mirio 17 next week. And she still hadn't found them a gift! She would probably get Izuku the newest merchandise of the number one hero. But what should she get for Mirio? And most importantly, how was she going to ask him out, without actually asking him out? For Nejire was beginning to urge her more and more with each day.

As she tried to think when to ask the blond teen out for a movie, her eyes travelled over the desk. Endeavor had yet to return from his rescue, so she was told to wait at his office. While she had been here multiple times, she had never been here all alone. And now that she was, she decided to have a good look at what the flame hero kept in his office. For there was so little in such a spacious room.

Standing up from her chair, she walked around the desk to his chair. A much comfier looking one than the one she had occupied. And much bigger too! As she sat down, she almost fell back, only to catch herself just in time. Then she tried to get comfortable. But no matter how she twisted and turned, she couldn't find a way to sit pleasantly. The chair was just too big for her. Her feet dangled a bit and the back of the chair offered her no support if she sat up straight. And the armrests were too far apart.

So instead, Ichika decided to just sit at the tip of the chair and studied the desk.

The dark brown polished wood was neatly kept, not a trace of dust to be found. And she had long figured out Endeavor was a well organised man. His desk was no different. All his files he had kept in the drawers, no doubt he even had them all on alphabetical order. And the few files he had placed on his desk, were nesthly stacked between two lamps. Nothing interesting about that.

What she did find interesting though, was the photograph. A boy looked at her with familiar turquoise eyes. Even with his messy white hair, there was no mistaking that this was Endeavor's son.

She leaned forward a bit to get a better look of the boy in the picture. He was handsome, that was for sure. His eyes had the same piercing colour as Endeavor, yet they held a kindness the hero rarely showed. His face though a bit rounded, still showed the beginning of a jawline. If he had shared Endeavor's red hair, he could have been just a younger Endeavor. Unless the man actually dyed his hair of course.

She chuckled at the thought, while her eyes remained at the photo. So this was Shoto then? The son Endeavor complained about for not listening? She had thought him to be younger with the way Endeavor described him. Then again, the man did not often spoke of his family.

'Getting comfortable already, eh, girl?'

Upon hearing the deep voice of Endeavor, Ichika let out a surprised yell, her head shooting up in surprise. The sudden movement almost made her fall. Standing before her was Endeavor. His arms crossed and his brows in his usual frown. Yet instead of a scowl, he had a smirk as he stared down at her.

'You know you'll get frown lines if you continue frowning like that,' Ichika stated boldly as she crossed her arms as well. Though she couldn't hide the flustered look from feeling busted.

'I'll take that risk,' the man hummed in amusement. 'Now what got you so distracted that you didn't even hear me coming in?'

'Him,' Ichika told him truthfully as she pointed at the said picture. 'He's handsome, you should introduce me to him. He seems my age.'

Though she had said it jokingly, Endeavor's whole demeanour changed. A moment ago he was smirking at her and suddenly he looked grim. His arms dropped to his side as he walked around his desk, stopping next to Ichika. But he didn't look at her. Instead he looked at the picture in sorrow. A trembling hand reached for the frame, before he finally picked it up.

'He was, wasn't he,' the man stated more than asked in a voice so unlike him. So soft, so quiet. Yet Ichika heard him and she immediately noticed her mistake. 'Touya used to be such a handsome boy. Out of all my children, he took after me the most.'

With a soft expression in his eyes, Endeavor put the picture down again. His eyes not leaving the boy in the picture. And when they did, the sorrow did not leave them. Even as he looked at Ichika.

'Though I doubt he would be interested in you,' he joked grimly. 'He would have been 22 now, if he was still alive.'

'I'm sorry,' Ichika murmured quietly as she looked at her hands. 'I didn't know.'

The man stayed silent as he looked back to the picture. The strong, stoic hero that never backed away from a fight, now stood small and fragile. A sight Ichika had never seen before and never thought she would see. She never thought Endeavor was even capable of looking this vulnerable and now she wished she'd never seen him like this. It made him look human.

Ichika watched in silence as she waited, though she didn't know what she was waiting for. For him to say something? For him to do something? Or perhaps it was because she didn't know what to say or do herself. Where there even words she could use to help ease the pain this man felt? The number two hero, who had saved thousands of lives, had a secret he had managed to keep from the world. That he had lost a child himself.

No wonder he was always the stoic hero, Ichika realised. He had to keep up that facade to protect himself. If villains were to find out he had a weakness, they would exploit it!

'So much for your unbreakable hero, am I right.' Endeavor scoffed at his own humourless joke.

'You are still Endeavor,' Ichika replied quietly, not looking up. 'You are still the hero I've always looked up to.' Then she looked up to meet his sad gaze. 'If anything, it makes me respect you more.'

He only scoffed at this. Then he looked at the clock, stating that she had missed her train. Ichika needed a moment to register the sudden change of subject, but then noticed the time as well. She hadn't realised she had waited for Endeavor for over an hour! Well, she'd just have to call her mom that she wasn't going make it before dinner.

'I'll just take the next one,' she reassured him as she stood up. 'It's no problem at all. I'll just call my mom and tell her I'll be late.'

She was about to reach for her bag, when Endeavor stopped her. Telling her that wouldn't be necessary.

'It is my fault you missed your train,' he said matter of factly, appearing to be back to his usual self. 'I had told Kido to send you home, but I guess he failed to tell you so. You have everything packed?' Ichika nodded. 'Good, go wait downstairs, I'll be there in a moment.'

'Yes sir.'

Ichika made her way over to her room to grab her suitcase, before waiting for Endeavor down at the lobby. When he arrived he had changed into his civilian clothes and a suitcase in his right hand. It seemed he was done for the day as well.

'Kurumada is waiting for us outside,' the man said as soon as he noticed the girl. 'He'll give you a ride home.'

As Ichika followed the hero outside, she was met with a middle aged man with a rectangular face. His black hair matched his dark suit, while his beard and mustache was the same light colour as his tie. Behind him was a jet black car, which strangely enough was a sedan model instead of a limousine. Ichika had always thought the number 2 hero would drive around in a limousine, not an average car. It seemed there were even more layers to this man than she had already discovered, if he drove a modest car. Or at least had himself drive around in a modest car. Or perhaps this was only for the sidekicks? For she doubted the giant of a man could actually fit in it, after she had given it a better inspection.

'You've never seen a car before, girl?'

Immediately her attention was turned to the man who was standing next to the car. The door already opened for her to get in as the man glared down at her.

'Oh, ah... No... I mean yes,' she stammered as she flushed red. 'I was just surprised to see such an average car.'

The man only mocked her. Asking if the car wasn't good enough for her, which she quickly denied. Stating that she actually appreciated the simplicity, before apologizing for appearing to be ungrateful.

'Quit embarrassing the girl, Kurumada,' Endeavor grumbled gruffly as he sat down in the passenger's seat. 'Just close the door and drive.'

The man gave Ichika one last glare, before he did what his boss had said. Closing the door behind Ichika as she put on her seat belt and took his place behind the wheel. And after she had given him the address, they were off.

'I know, I know, alright!' Ichika sighed in frustration as she threw herself backwards on her bed. One hand holding her phone to her ear as she used the other to pinch the bridge of her nose. 'I got home just an hour ago, right on time for dinner. Geez! I promise, I will give him a call. Yes tonight.'

Ichika rolled her eyes as the voice continued to scowl at her for delaying her plan. Accusing the teen to have chickened out, to which Ichika growled out in frustration.

'I'm no coward! I just don't want to put our friendship on the line, so I need to think things through.'

'Like I said; chicken,' Nejire said from the other side of the line. 'Don't think, just do it! For goodness sake, you're usually so passionate and full of fire. Yet when it comes to Mirio, you're nothing more than a small ember.'

Ichika remained silent after that. For the passed ten minutes, Nejire had tried to convince her friend to call Mirio. Though the girl had initially called to asked how it went, Ichika was soon to confess that she had failed to do so.

'Look, I promised Izuku to help him with his homework tonight,' Ichika interrupted Nejire's rambling. 'And after that, I'm going to ask him out.'

'You're dating someone?'

Upon hearing the sudden voice, Ichika looked up from her laying position, to see Izuku stare at her with wide eyes. His freckled face slightly tinted as he stood in the doorway.

'I-I'm sorry. I just overheard what you were saying. I wasn't eavesdropping, I swear!'

'Is that your brother? He sounds so deliciously sweet!'

Ichika chuckled as she watched Izuku's face turn even more red upon hearing the not to quiet squeal from Nejire Hado.

'He does, doesn't he?' Ichika grinned at her younger brother as he stood frozen, not knowing what to say or do with the compliment or if it was even a compliment at all. 'He's my lovable little sidekick.'

She winked at the younger teen, who immediately smiled at the hero reference. Especially seeing that she was a hero to him and every hero needed a good sidekick. So if she was his hero, then Izuku was her sidekick.

'Hey Nej, I'll talk to you later, okay?'

'Okay. But only after you talked to Mirio,' she added in a singsong voice.

Bidding her friend goodbye, Ichika hung up. A gentle smile on her lips as she stood up. The persistent pesk, though she loved her. As she walked over to her desk, she beckoned Izuku to do so as well.

'You're done thing the dishes?' He nodded, his big green eyes full of curiousity as he looked at her. 'Good. So what do you need help with? Or is it for the entrance exam? That's in six months already, you know?'

The thought alone was exciting for her, yet frightening too. She had done nothing to help prepare him for the physical exam and he had yet to tell her who he was training with. If it was Katsuki Bakugo, then why did he feel the need to keep it a secret? It was a good thing, right? Bakugo was a strong and talented boy. And smart too. If someone could help Izuku, it was the ashen haired boy. Even if he was a bit explosive.

'So are you really dating,' Izuku pressed as he stood next to her. His book still in his hand as he waited for her reply.

'Wha-? No! We're friends, Izuku! Just friends. It just so happens that his birthday is coming soon and we plan to take him to a movie.'

With 'we' meaning Nejire pushing her to ask him out on a friendly yet romantic date. But Izuku didn't need to know! Not that it seemed he believed her, for he started smiling brightly at the sight of her reddened cheeks - damn her cheeks and their inability to remain their natural colour!

'Is he from the hero course,' he wanted to know, to which she nodded. 'That's good. If you start dating someone, he should be able to protect you. And nice to you! He-he needs to treat you well, or else he has to answer to me.'

Though her face was about the same colour as her hair, Ichika couldn't help but smile. The lovable munchkin. Even if he was her younger brother, he still felt the need to watch over her. And their mother. If anyone was worthy of the title 'hero', it was Izuku. So destiny played some kind of cruel joke to make him quirkless of all people.

'If I ever start dating someone, I'll be sure to warn them in advance,' she told him with a smile. 'Though I doubt it will be any time soon, so sit down and give me your book.'

The boy did as told, showing her the part he was struggling with, along with the paper he had written already. Yet he did not seem interested in his homework as he looked at his older sibling with a frown.

'Why not,' he wanted to know, as Ichika started reading through the assignment.

'Why not what?'

'Why wouldn't you? Weren't you planning on asking out someone called Mirio? Aren't the two of you dating already? Mom says you talk about him all the time and that he seemed like a nice guy. And that it's cute that you have a crush, she finds it endearing. So I think that if you like him and you two aren't dating already, then you should tell him. Isn't that-'

'-I swear, Izuku. If you don't quit your rambling right now and get your nose out of my personal life, I will kick you out of my room. No mercy!'

The redhead glared at the younger boy, who immediately sat up straight and shut his mouth tightly. It wasn't often that Izuku angered his sister and while he knew deep down that his sister would never harm him, he still didn't want to be on the receiving end of her fury. So instead he muttered a 'sorry' as he lowered his eyes to his hands as they clenched his knees. Though it didn't stop him from muttering one last thing as he looked at the person he looked up to.

'Any guy would be a fool to reject though.'

And that was the final word that was exchanged between the siblings concerning Ichika's love life and instead they started focusing on Izuku's English assignment. Though by the looks of it, it didn't seem like Izuku actually needed her help. It wasn't that difficult and she knew he had done something similar before. Yet she didn't question him.

Instead she enjoyed just spending time with the boy. She really hadn't been able to spend that much time with Izuku, she realised as she glanced over to her brother. Only seeing eachoter during dinner and at times during the evenings. If Ichika wasn't holed up in her room to study or away. Seeing as Izuku only came to her once a week for her help, if he came at all.

But as he sat next to her, she realised something. And how she hadn't realised is before, was beyond her. It was so obvious! How had she failed to notice the change? Was she such a negligent sister, that she had failed to notice Izuku had started to bulk up? Where he had such thin arm and could barely lift Ichika up, he now looked like he could lift her weight, while jogging.

And he help himself with much more confidence than before too. He used to be such an timid boy, which she mostly blamed on him being quirkless. Because she knew he got bullied for being who he was. The bullying getting worse after she went to junior high and then U.A. Though he never spoke of whom bullied him.

She frowned for a moment. If only he had told her whom his bully was. She would gladly give that brat a good pummel for even looking at Izuku the wrong way. But then she once again looked at his broadened shoulders as she hummed quietly. It would seem her baby brother could give his bully a good pummelling himself now though.

'What is it? Did I mess it up?'

Ichika chortled at the sight of his distressed appearance. His hands quickly grabbing the paper the had been working on and re-reading everything he had already written. Mumbling to himself of all the possible things he could have gotten wrong, like the little nerd he was. He was her cute little nerd though.

'Sorta,' she replied, her voice still filled with mirth. The kid was so easily distressed, even over the littlest of things. 'You failed to mention this.'

She lifted up her finger, making Izuku lean in closer to see what she was about to tell him. But instead of pointing at his paper, she poked his bicep.

'Huh?'

'You failed to mention who's training you,' Ichika clarified upon seeing his confused look. 'My baby brother is bulling up and you think I wouldn't notice? Though I must admit, you've kept those muscles hidden quite well.'

She hummed as Izuku started rambling, about how he started lifting weights every now and then. Trying to draw her attention away from her sudden interest in his changing physique. His face flustered and he was looking everywhere but her, which told Ichika her brother was lying.

'You can stop lying, you know,' she said as she crossed her arms. 'I know for a fact that muscles like those don't come from training every now and then. You're doing some intensive training on a regular base, no doubt under the watchful eyes of a skilled trainer. Leaving early in the morning and coming home late, you really thought I wouldn't notice?'

Izuku didn't reply as he looked at his knees. He had a frown on his face as he bit his lower lip. Ichika knew her brother well enough to recognise those signs. A telltale sign that he was torn between telling her the truth and wanting to keep whatever it was a secret. Or, she suddenly realised, he needed to keep it a secret?!

With a sigh, she laid her hand on his shoulder. A gentle smile gracing her face as Izuku looked up and their green eyes met.

'You don't have to tell me, if you don't want to,' she reassured him softly. 'But don't lie to me either, okay? I'm your sister, I only want what's best for you.'

'I know,' was his quiet reply. 'And I wish I could tell you. But I can't.'

'That's okay, Izu, I understand. Just, no more lying, alright?'

The boy nodded at this. Once again avoiding eye contact as they filled with tears. Whatever he was hiding, it was eating him up inside and that didn't sit right with the older sibling. Yet she wouldn't press him on the matter anymore. But if he was ready to talk, she would be there for him.Even if she didn't know why he would need to keep the identity of his trainer a secret, she wouldn't press him.

Though she made a silent promise to herself, that she would intervere if Izuku would suffer for keeping this secret. And she would give them a piece of her mind too, if she had to.

But until then, she would be there for Izuku. Supporting him in whichever way she could.

And with that in mind Ichika petted his messy green curls, before placing a kiss on his head. Telling him that he could tell her everything, should he ever had the need to talk to someone. She would never judge him, nor would she betray his trust.

'And now that we've got that out of the way, let's just watch a movie or something. Does that sound good? Because I don't think you actually needed my help on this.'

Izuku smiled sheepishly as she help up his paper. Then he nodded. Yes, a movie night with his big sister did sound good. But then a cheeky grin appeared on his face as he stood up, preparing to get as much distance between him and Ichika as he spoke.

'I'll go ahead and choose a movie. You still need to call this Mirio guy.'

And with that, he dashed out of her room. Not even giving Ichika time to react. Only when he was already in the hallway, did he hear the teen shout out his name in both shock and embarrassment.

A/NThank you all for your kind reviews, adding this story to your follow/favorite list. I really appreciate it.