The next morning was fairly easy on Izuku as he woke up to his mom making breakfast for the two of them and after eating Izuku shooed his mom off to her job insisting he could clean everything up on his own, the heartwarming feeling hadn't fully left with his mom but she had taken a good chunk of it, the apartment just felt emptier without his mom there so he quickly cleaned up to get straight into his college work before heading off to Niigata.
Izuku was excited to return to the South Side and already lined up somewhere to stay with one of his students, he was really looking forward to seeing the kids there again and was expecting some kind of warm greeting given his relationship with them.
He decided to leave his car at the apartment since he could get around much easier with the public transit system and would be back in Shizuoka in two days, he also wouldn't need as much stuff so taking the car would only be more of a hassle, Izuku rode on the train to the South Side and admittedly the over looming danger of All For One had returned to the forefront of his mind.
He tried to think through a rational plan to do with this knowledge, the first was what he wanted to do with the information. Did he want this terrible person gone? Yes, but Izuku wasn't an idiot who would try to take on the quirk-era boogieman, so he'd just have to avoid him for now and figure out where he was more actively involved.
The more he thought of it the more it sunk in that there was nothing he could actually do with this information, even if he didn't say anything about what Yuri-San told him and just what he found independently he would be laughed out of any police station or hero agency he had the nerve to go to.
And regardless of whether or not anyone would take him seriously, Yuri-San warned him that All For One kept his many eyes and ears out for anyone that goes around throwing his name, so considering what Zuki said about quirkless people already disappeared around All For One Izuku didn't think it would be wise for him to poke the bear.
But he also didn't want to just let this go on even if he couldn't do anything about it right now. Once he had a way to deal with All For One that didn't involve probably never being seen or heard from again, he could address it. Until then he'd just have to tiptoe around him no matter how much he didn't like it.
All For One aside Izuku's thoughts trailed off as he got off the train and walked from the station to South Side, he was just about to enter the boundaries when he was tackled, he flailed almost falling over before his body went rigid "Deku-Sensei!" "Midoriya-Chan!" Two squealing cries came from his sides, and he understood what happened, Masao-San walked over shortly after, and he removed both Kiku-Kun and Kaori-Chan from his waist.
"I apologize Midoriya-San, they wanted to welcome you back personally." Masao-San told him, and Kaori-Chan pouted at him "Don't act like you didn't miss him Ani-Chan!" She said pointing an accusing finger at him, Masao-San side-eyed her "I didn't say I didn't, just that I don't lack the self-restraint to jump him." He corrected and Kiku-Kun had the decency to look ashamed.
"I'm sorry for using my quirk on you Deku-Sensei." He apologized letting his head hang "I-i-i- it's n-no p-p-probl-lem." Izuku told him through forced uncooperative vocal cords as most of his body was still locked up, Masao-San put both kids down and moved to pick Izuku up "Everyone is waiting to see you at the community center, Akiko-San made cake." He explained as he carried him off and Izuku would have beamed if he could move his lips, Akiko-San made great cakes.
Mezo was tired as he walked home from the station making sure to pull up his mask so that it still covered his face, he was also trying to ignore the looks he got from just about everyone, even if he always got looks like this... today was just worse than usual.
It seemed like everyone he would normally run into when he went to school would give him that look, his classmates hadn't bothered to pretend to be quiet when they were talking about him, the teachers didn't address what his classmates were saying either.
His history teacher gave them a pop quiz and Mezo could swear the school bells were getting louder by the day and that was starting to hurt his ears, and on the train back were two women all too happy to talk about him and everything they thought was wrong with his generation, or more specifically him.
Mezo was never happier to get off the train before and planned to get home to do his homework, honestly moving to the South Side hadn't been as much of a hassle he thought it would be, sure he had to be a bit more vigilant about stumbling into something dangerous because there were more gangs in the area, but at least he didn't get as openly gawked at.
Their new apartment was also much better than their old place, Mezo even had his own room, and the apartment's heating actually worked as it was supposed to. Mom also seemed much happier with her new job even if she was working more, he hadn't heard any complaints from anyone at least.
Mezo was a bit surprised that the people he'd normally see aren't there today, but he just tried to brush it off, he wasn't going to see the same people on the street every day and they clearly had lives of their own, so he just took advantage of the calm to get home in one piece hopefully without having to take a detour.
Mezo had just gotten to the complex and perhaps he wasn't as aware as he should've been because someone ran into him, not hard but the other person was carrying a box that would've hit the floor if he didn't catch it with a secondary pair of hands "Oh no! I'm so sorry I didn't mean to run into you. Are you okay!?" The person asked and Mezo turned to them only to freeze.
Mom had always made a point of telling him what their landlord looked like so that he didn't get them accidentally kicked out... or their rent doubled, so one could imagine the dread he felt when he realized that the person that ran into him was their landlord and his mom's boss.
Midoriya-San was exactly as she described and seemed more interested in apologizing to him than the fact Mezo was also holding him up in one of his secondary arms, Mezo quickly righted himself letting go of Midoriya-San and giving the box he was holding back "I'm fine, I apologize for bumping into you Midoriya-San." He told him mentally praying he hadn't just screwed up the best thing to have happened to them since ever.
Midoriya-San blinked taken aback "No, no. It's my fault really, I was the one that bumped into you, I should've been watching where I was going- " He assured then glanced at the secondary arm he used to form a mouth before he brightened up with a soft gasp.
"Oh my gosh! Is that your quirk? That's so cool! It must have taken you a lot of work to learn how to do that. Can you make other body parts? Like ears or eyes? Are you limited to replicating your own body parts or can you make the limbs of other animals? Can you make more limbs or are you limited to just the eight you have now?-" Midoriya-San began rambling, there were practically stars in his eyes as a torrent of questions spilled from his mouth.
Leaving Mezo to be shocked, was Midoriya-San actually... Interested in what he could do with his quirk? He wasn't creeped out by the mouth he made with his hand? Just when Mezo thought Midoriya-San would never run out of questions for him about his quirk the greenette slapped his hand over his mouth.
Midoriya-San had taken a one-eighty becoming very meek and slightly pale "I-I'm so, s-so sorry! That was so inappropriate of me! I shouldn't have s-said any of that! I-I know h-how c-c-creepy and invasive it is to ask a-about your q-quirk- " an apology springing forth from him, his hands flying everywhere as he did and Mezo had to catch the box again.
They were both silent for a second as Midoriya-San refused to meet his eyes covering his face with his arms "It's not creepy." Mezo tried to reassure him but honestly, he was still caught up in the whiplash of Midoriya-San's change in demeanor, Midoriya-San's eyes shot wide open "R- Really?" Midoriya-San asked, whispering so quietly Mezo only heard it because of his enhanced hearing.
And Mezo hesitated because the one question about "what would happen if one of his secondary limbs got cut off" was a tad bit creepy, but Midoriya-San's questions hadn't been offensive in any way he could think of, Mezo was more flustered by the attention than creeped out "Really." He confirmed with a nod, and he could see the second Midoriya-San was hit by relief.
"Thank God." The greenette muttered under his breath, a finger lightly scratching his cheek. "Here." Mezo said offering the box back and Midoriya-San's face turned a tad red as he took it back "R-right, thank you." He replied still very bashful "Um, y-your Shoji-San's son, Mezo-Kun right?" Midoriya-San asked sheepishly and Mezo nodded "Masao-San mentioned you, he said you both go to Shiritsu." The greenette explained having regained some confidence.
*Ah, yes Miyake-Senpai is hard to miss... reptile mutation aside Miyake-Senpai is the only person I've met my age that was taller than me.* Mezo mused in his head, meeting him had been rather surreal as he had become used to towering over most people at 5'9ft.
"This is embarrassing, I-I'm sorry for not introducing myself to you earlier. I've been kind of... busy." Midoriya-San apologized again "I've heard." Mezo commented recalling multiple times overhearing his neighbors talking about him leaving to travel "Y-yeah, but I still shouldn't have bombarded you with questions about your quirk." Midoriya-San added with an awkward chuckle.
Mezo frowned when he said that because while he hadn't expected it Midoriya's questions weren't fully unwelcome, He had honestly thought he knew what his quirk did pretty well, he could grow multiple limbs from his six arms and transform the ends into hands, facial features to enhance one of his senses, or even another head if he wanted... But he couldn't even answer half of Midoriya-San's questions if he wanted to.
"It's alright, I just... Don't know the answer to most of your questions." He admitted rubbing the back of his neck, his previous counselors certainly hadn't asked him to try much of anything after seeing him form other copies of his own features, his quirk had always just freaked them out too much and he admittedly... wasn't that invested in exploring his quirk's boundaries in retrospect.
Part of Mezo was disappointed that he didn't know as much as he previously believed about the quirk he's had since birth, a lot of the questions Midoriya-San had asked were kind of vital to know, like what would happen if a secondary arm got cut off? Mezo was now somewhat worried if such a loss would be permanent.
Midoriya-San didn't seem disappointed by his confession "Oh well it wouldn't be too difficult to test most of that, honestly I think you've figured out the most difficult parts if you can communicate so flawlessly with the mouths you made." He softly encouraged and Mezo felt touched by the greenette's acknowledgment of the work he put into making his secondary mouths functional, it had taken him years to perfect the temporary vocal cords.
"I'd probably suggest you start by seeing if you mimic someone's voice since you've had practice making vocal cords to mimic your own voice or seeing if you can push the boundaries of the features you replicate by trying to extend the tongue in your hand mouth by a few inches, it's a great starting point since it's a soft muscle instead of shifting hard bone matter." Midoriya-San recommended and Mezo had half a mind to try that.
Mimicking someone else's voice sounded like something that would be incredibly useful for a hero and there were a lot of people who could imitate other people's voices without any aid of a quirk, voice acting was a whole career and everything, but Mezo hadn't made the connection to building his temporary vocal cords to imitation at all.
"That sounds like a good idea Midoriya-San, I'll have to try that. You seem to know a lot about quirks, do you have an analysis quirk of some kind?" Mezo told him, finding himself a bit curious since he would have been sure mom would have mentioned that.
Midoriya-San's face got red, and he awkwardly chuckled again "W-what!? No, n-nothing like that. Quirk analysis is just a hobby I've had since I was young, I'm in college for it actually but I-I'm really flattered you think I'm anywhere near that smart." He bashfully explained trying to brush the compliment off, Mezo blinked surprised "You're in college?" He asked, he didn't know people without intelligence quirks were allowed to start college at their age.
Midoriya-San got more flustered "W-well its online courses so I don't have to go t-to a campus except f-for when I take my f-finals to finish the course and graduate." Midoriya-San elaborated, not that it put a dent in Mezo's awe because online or not that was very impressive to manage at their age on top of owning property.
"G-going back to your quirk, you don't have to tell me anything about your quirk Mezo-Kun or try anything I mention. W-we hardly know each other a-and I don't expect y-you to tell me anything private like t-that." Midoriya-San insisted shyly ducking his head, still a touch red-faced.
Mezo stood staring at Midoriya-San, he wasn't sure if he was the best judge of character but nothing about Midoriya-San had sent him any red-flags other than the brief dismemberment question, so after a moment of consideration he couldn't quite see a downside to talking about his quirk with Midoriya-San, he probably learned more about his quirk in the past few minutes with the greenette than years of counseling sessions.
"I don't mind talking about quirks with you Midoriya-San." Mezo told him, Midoriya-San's mouth fell open and he stared back Mezo blinking multiple times.
"Y-you don't?" He asked in a voice hardly above a whisper, Mezo nodded "Not at all Midoriya-San, you had some interesting ideas I want to try out." Mezo admitted and he regretted it for a second as tears built up in the corners of Midoriya-San's eyes.
The next the greenette was overwhelming him with his sheer joy and his positively was infectious as he thanked Mezo, he "ooh"d and "ah"d over everything Mezo told him about his quirk after he stopped and it was all completely sincere, Mezo had slipped near the end and had mentioned he had plans to become a hero making the boy gasp "Mezo-Kun you would be an amazing Hero!" Midoriya-San exclaimed.
Stars in his eyes as he went on to point out practically a hundred reasons why Mezo would be great in heroics, the greenette seemed to explode in his happiness and Mezo could hardly make out what he was saying because of how fast Midoriya-San was speaking, thankfully for Mezo Midoriya-San calmed down but was still incredibly excited to discuss ways to use his quirk as he walked Mezo to his unit.