Chapter 10

Lunch at the Midoriya residence had never before been this quiet. Especially when both teenagers were at home. But there could be heard more laughter at a funeral, then at the Midoriya's right now as Ichika looked from her bowl of rice, to Izuku. Her brows knitted in a frown. It had been a week since his entrance exam and Izuku was expecting his results any day now. Today or next Monday actually and the poor munchkin was a nervous wreck by now. His eyes were blank as he looked at his food, his hand trembling as he held up the fish, a vacant smile on his face. The rest of his body shaking.

Yet he wasn't the only one shaking. While she wasn't shaking on the outside, Ichika felt like she was trembling on the inside as she was overwhelmed by emotions.

'Izuku.' No reply, so Inko tried again. 'Izuku.'

Still no reply.

'Hey, Munchkin.' This time Ichika tried to get her brother's attention, elbowing him softly as she did so.

That seemed to do the trick, for Izuku slowly looked up from his food and blinked a couple times. As he turned his head to look at Ichika, she nudged her head towards their mother. Mouthing to him that he was starting to freak her out. So Izuku turned his eyes towards the woman opposite of them to see she was in fact restless.

'Are you alright? What's with that vacant smile?'

'Told you so,' Ichika whispered as she leant in a bit.

'Ah! I-I'm sorry,' Izuku stammered as he saw how worried Inko was. 'I'm okay, I promise.'

Not that either one of the women believed him. Inko continued to look at him in worry, Ichika just gave him a sceptical look before she continued eating. Of course they did not believe him. He had been like this eversince he had come home from his entrance exam. And Ichika hadn't made it any better by avoiding him whenever possible.

She felt betrayed.

There, she admitted it! Miss perfect Midoriya, who always did anything within her power to help her brother, who dotted on him, felt betrayed. She was angry and sad at the same time. And she felt horrified to even be mad at Izuku, when she should have been happy for him. And then there was this feeling of relief too, which only made the mixture of emotions worse. Of course this rollercoaster of emotions had hindered her to preform at school and work. Having had a hard time to concentrate on the lectures and snapping at the smallest of things. Even Endeavor had noticed her short temper.

And why was she feeling all these emotions? Why wasn't she nervous on whether or not her quirkless brother had passed his exam? Because that was just it...

Her brother was not quirkless! Izuku apparently had a quirk and he never even told her! She had paved the way for him at U.A. so quirkless students would be accepted and for what? Why had she gone to U.A. when she could have gone to a school of her own choosing? She never even looked into any other school, she had always had her mind set on making sure Izuku would make his dream come true. Even if she knew that he would never have made it as a quirkless hero, at least he would have had the chance to try and make it into the school of his dreams.

Why though? Why didn't he tell her that he wasn't quirkless? She had been there when he had ben diagnosed as quirkless, but she also knew people got misdiagnosed every now and then. But if had just told her, instead of keeping it a secret, then Ichika would have chosen a different school. One where she could focus all her energy on pursuing her own career, instead of doing multiple things at the same time. Balancing school, with workstudies and extra assignments like she had done last year. It had been tiring. And for what? For what exactly had she gone to such lengths? Wanting to please her mother by helping her brother. When Hound Dog had given her the rare opportunity to still chase after her own ambition, it had been the first time she had been egoistic. Which was absurd, because why would it be egoistic to choose a career that you really wanted?

Well, because Ichika had always lived to please others. To push aside her own desires and try to make others happy.

'Are you alright, sweetheart?'

'I'm fine,' she replied out of habit. She was always fine.

'Ichika...'

She looked up to give her mother a reassuring smile, while she continued cleaning the table. She had been functioning on autopilot, following the usual routine during lunch, without actually being aware of her surroundings. So it was only now that she noticed Izuku was no longer sitting at the table. Instead he sat at the couch in the living room, once again staring off into the distance with a glaced over expression.

'No, you're not,' Inko pushed as she flicked a wrist to move the now washed dishes to their rightful spots. 'You've been awfully quite today. For the past couple of days actually. So tell me, what is it thats bothering you?'

'It's nothing. Really.'

Now that she was done cleaning the table, Ichika was about to walk away. But her mother prevented her in doing do by blocking her way with crossed arms.

'You're going to tell me right now what is bothering you, young lady! I get why Izuku is the way is right now, but not you.'

The woman eyed her daughter with a stern eye, noticing the slumped shoulders and avoiding look. Then her eyes widened as she gasped. Before ichika could even progress what her mother was doing, Inko hands had reached out for hers, holding them tightly between them.

'Is it Mirio? Did the two of you have a fight?'

'What?' She had barely managing to keep herself from yelling. What gave her mother that idea? 'No! Mirio's perfect, as always. We're good mom. Really.'

'Are you sure? It's only natural to have a quarrel every once in a while.'

'Yeah, mom. I know. We're good.'

Inko sighed in relief, muttering a soft 'that's a relief' as she gently squeezed Ichika's hands before releasing them.

'What is it then, sweetie?'

But Ichika just shook her head. She really did not want to talk about it. She had already done so with Mirio earlier when he had caught her on the verge of tears. She did not need her mother pushing her now. So instead of giving an answer, Ichika just brushed past the woman. She just wanted to be alone right now.

But before she could walk away a hand reached out for her, grabbing her by her arm. Though the grip was strong, it wasn't hurting her. It was just enough to make sure she wouldn't walk away.

'I'm sorry,' she heard him say quietly as she stayed still. 'I'm sorry, Ichi. I didn't mean to hurt you.'

Upon hearing his words, Ichika clenched her fists. Those words stung more than she dared to admit. And why was he standing here anyway? He had been sitting on the couch just a moment before, lost in his own thoughts. Why was he now standing behind her, apologising to her. She bit down on her lip as she tried to keep the tears from falling. Tears from anger, tears from sadness. Heck even tears from frustration and guilt! But she couldn't turn to face Izuku as he apologised once again. Her head hanging low as she listened to his guilt stained voice.

'I'm sorry for not telling you about it sooner. I'm sorry I had clung too much on you. I'm sorry for keeping secrets from you.'

By now his voice was quavering as he tried to push back his own tears. Yet Ichika did not dare to face him. She was mad at him! She should be mad at him! But she wasn't, not really. She was just mad at the circumstances. At the way she had found out about it.

'I should have never wished for you to go to U.A. in my stead. I wished I had gotten my quirk sooner, but once I finally got mine I had forgotten all you have done for me.'

As she continued listening to Izuku's confessions, she brought her hand to her face, brushing away some tears that rolled over her cheeks. But she still stood tall! She wouldn't break! Not even the pleading voice of her mother would make her turn around. She was mad, damn it! She had every right to be mad! But why was she finding excuse after excuse on why she shouldn't be mad at Izuku. Because if she hadn't gone to U.A. for him, then she would have never met her friends. She would have never met Mirio. She would never have met Endeavor. And she wouldn't be where she was right now.

'I just want you back,' Izuku finally confessed, his voice brittle as he dared to close the distance. She could feel him move in a little closer, slowly, calculated. Probably waiting for her to push him away. 'You have every right to be mad at me.'

Another small step and now Izuku stood right behind her. The grip on her arm loosened, before he let go completely. Instead Izuku wrapped his arms around her, unknowingly trapping her as his arms wrapped around her arms and body. His tears soaking the back of her sweater as he cried.

'I understand why you have been avoiding me. And why you're mad at me, I do. But I miss you, Ichi! I miss my big sister!'

With a sigh of defeat, Ichika finally looked over her shoulder. She could never stay mad at him - which was probably the main reason why she had been avoiding Izuku. So she could hold on to her anger a little longer. But now she could feel her anger slipping away slowly, until only sadness remained. Yes, Izuku had kept his quirk a secret, but not even their mom knew about it. So it wasn't like she had been left out on a little secret. But it still stung the way she had found out about it. Hearing about it through others wasn't exactly the way to find out. A rumour about a student who had gotten hurt real bad during the entrance exam. The description matched Izuku, yet it hadn't made sense that he would have gotten hurt due to his own quirk. But after she got home that day, she had learned that Izuku had in fact had a quirk.

'If you weren't such an adorable munchkin, it would have been so much easier.' Izuku looked up in surprise as Ichika finally spoke to him again. His large green eyes filled with tears, his mouth a thin line. 'I want to stay mad at you,' she confessed with a frown. 'I really do. But as it turns out, I just can't.'

Feeling his grip on her loosen, Ichika turned around to face her brother. Her frown still present as she looked at him.

'You've hurt me, Izuku. You really have. Not only about not telling me about your quirk, but also not about telling me about the drawback.' He looked down in shame as he tightened his grip on her again. She could feel the material of her sweater being pulled slightly as he did so. 'But I do understand why you did it. At least, I think I do... To tell you the truth, I would have done the same. I wouldn't want to worry you if I was to get hurt. So, I guess I can forgive you.'

'Ichi..!'

As his eyes started to well up again, Ichika pulled him in for a hug. Holding him tightly with one arm, her other hand reaching up so she could gently pet his curly green hair. Her anger now completely disappearing as she did so. Instead she could feel the guilt building up. Guilt for not being there when he needed her. Guilt for even taking out her frustration out on him. It's like she said, she would have done the same if she were in his shoes. She knew Izuku idolised her, so of course he wouldn't want to concern her with something he had yet to learn to control.

Ichika had had her whole life to learn and control her quirk. Her body growing accustomed to quirk as it developed. It had always been in balance. But for Izuku to miraculously manifest a quirk at a later age, well, that probably meant that his body wasn't accustomed to it. Especially not it's drawbacks. And it also meant Izuku still had to learn how to cope with the drawbacks and how to find a way around it. And Ichika was certain that drinking a cold glass of water to keep his temperature down would do the trick. Whenever she felt like overheating, she would feel faint and dizzy. With her pulse increasing and her blood pressure dropping. But never before had it caused any damage to her body. Fire did not hurt her and those times when she had actually fainted due to overusing her quirk, she didn't break any bones either.

But Izuku did. From what she's heard, he had broken both of his legs and an arm. That was a serious drawback! So of course Izuku would not want to tell her about it. It made sense. But due to Ichika feeling betrayed, she hadn't been able to think straight.

'But now that your secret is out, Izuku,' she said after a moment of silence, 'I expect you to come and tell me if there is anything you think I could help you with. Obviously our quirks are very different - I think yours is a quirk mutation seeing as neither mom nor dad have a strength related quirk. But I could help with learning to controlling it, help with the drawbacks or whatever comes to mind. Whatever it is, just come to me, okay?'

Izuku managed to give her a small smile at this, stating she was rambling. But he nodded in agreement, promising to ask for her help if needed. And with the two siblings talking to one another again, Ichika went to her room to study. She still had homework to do afterall. Though she still couldn't shake off the guilt she had felt.

'Yeah, it felt good to get it off my chest.'

With her homework done, Ichika was on the phone. With her legs hanging over the edge of her bed and her hair spread pit over her bead like wildfire, she laid at her bed casually as she listened to what Mirio had to say about her confession.

'Well that's good to hear, Angel.' She could hear the relief in his voice as he chuckled. 'I was beginning to worry about you, you know? I know it must have been a shock to learn your brother was a late bloomer, but I've never seen you so upset.'

'Yeah, I guess I hadn't really thought about that,' Ichika replied, a sheepish smile on her face. 'I was just too mad at him for keeping such a bug thing a secret.'

Mirio laughed heartedly.

'Mad? You where furious. I don't think I've ever seen you that furious at anybody. You were unreasonable actually.'

'Hey!'

'But I still love you.'

She could hear the laughter in his voice, making her laugh as well. Yeah, perhaps she had been a bit unreasonable this week. But she was glad that was out of the way. And talking with Mirio had lifted the burning feeling of guilt at bit too. How she ever deserved such a kind and comforting boyfriend was beyond her. But Mirio always did know what to say or do to make her feel better.

'So, any news from U.A.?'

She shook her head, before answering.

'No, not yet,' she told him, as she lifted a hand in the air, reaching for nothing in particular. 'Though he should get a response any day now. The poor munchkin's a wreck though.'

Mirio chuckled at her nickname for Izuku. Stating she would need a new nickname for Izuku once he'd hit his growth spurt.

'But I can't say I was any better,' he then mused. 'I was so worried that I wouldn't make it to the hero course.'

'That would have been a real loss though. A world without the ever brightly shining Lemillion, can you imagine it? Because I can't.'

'Haha, what about you, Phoenix. Are you sure Endeavor is willing to let you go?'

Ichika grimaced. No, she wasn't so sure about that. That man knew what he wanted and made sure that he got whatever he had his eyes set on. Except for the number one spot and an obedient son. Not that she would ever dare say it in his face!

'He will eventually have to,' she mused with a chuckle. 'You know I don't plan on becoming a hero. Though I won't mind teaching future heroes.'

Mirio's reply was blocked by a shriek, followed by hurried stumbling of feet running through the hall. Telling Mirio to wait, Ichika stood up and peeked around her bedroom door just in time to see her mother storm by.

'It's here!' Inko cried as she knocked on Izuku's door - or actually, slammed her fist on his door, before bursting through. 'It came!'

'Mirio?'

'Yes?'

'I'll call you back later, okay? Izuku's letter just came in.'

'Ooh, how exciting! I'm keeping my fingers crossed!'

'Thanks, love you.'

'Love you too, Angel.'

With that she hung up and stepped out of her room, eager to hear the news. But instead of seeing an excited Izuku, she was met with a closed door and a pacing Inko. The woman only stopped to look at her eldest child, before continuing pacing back and forth. Her fingers fumbling as she muttered under her breath.

Ignoring her mother's nervous pacing, Ichika walked up to Izuku's room. She glanced up at the large letters spelling out his name, before she leaned in closer. Izuku had closed the door because he probably wanted to face whatever his results were alone. But she was just too curious to wait until he came out of his room.

Wait, was that All Might she heard? Why was All Might the one telling Izuku his results? Oh right, there had been a rumour that the number one hero would start teaching at U.A. next year. It that was true, then it would make sense. Who wouldn't want to get invited to the school the number one hero had once attended as well?

She tried to focus, hoping to hear anything through the closed door. But she couldn't make out any coherent sentences. And after hearing an annoyed Inko clearing her throat behind her, Ichika sighed in defeat and moved away from the door.

'Honestly, Ichika,' the woman scolded as she fixed her glare at her daughter, who was now leaning casually against the wall. 'First you're ignoring Izuku and now you're eavesdropping on him? Have you no shame?'

Ichika just shrugged, before crossing her arms over her chest. To be honest, she was more curious than anything at the moment. Unlike her mother and brother, she knew there were two ways of getting points during the practical exam and she had enough faith in Izuku to know he would pass the written one. The only real question was, had he earned enough points during his practical exam?

'I used to have some,' she answered, not even fazed by the stern look her mother was giving her. 'But I guess Endeavor has rubbed off his poor people skills on me.'

Inko just shook her head, rubbing a hand over her brow as she muttered under her breath about Ichika having changed. Which was true. Even Ichika couldn't deny the fact that she had changed over the year. Where she used to be timid and easily flustered, she had now learned to stand tall and even made sassy remarks. Though it wasn't all Endeavor's fault of course. Mirio had played a big part in her development as well, for she had grown less timid due to him and his straightforwardness. Public affection was something she had shied away from at first, but over the months Ichika had grown used to it. And with that, her shyness had grown less too. Sure, she would never be as straightforward as Nejire, but she would be a fool to think she could become a great teacher if she was 'a shy kitten' - to quote her periwinkle haired friend.

'Well, I suppose I'm glad to see you've found your confidence again,' Inko sighed in defeat after a short silence. 'I suppose the stress of going to U.A. had really taken a toll on you. But don't think that I approve off...'

But before she could finish her sentence, a crash came from Izuku's room, followed by a loud cry. Without even hesitating, Ichika pushed herself off the wall and burst through the door, worry in her eyes as she did so. She was prepared to find a distressed Izuku by the way he had cried out. Perhaps he didn't make it to U.A. afterall? She found that hard to believe though. From what she had heard, he had saved the life of another candidate. Surely that ment he had gained enough hero points, right?

But as she stood in the dooropening, looking at his tearstained eyes, she wondered if she had been wrong afterall.

'Izuku...'

His green eyes remained on the hologram of All Might as he answered Inko's silent question.

'I got in.' His voice was brittle as he spoke. Trembling in disbelief. But then he turned to look at his family with watery eyes. His voice loud and clear as he spoke again. 'I'm going to U.A.!'