Chapter 18

All Might POV

"Honey, I'm pissed." I said to my wife over the phone. "As a hero, I can't believe I've fought alongside such a terrible man, but as a father… I just…" I held my head as I slumped in my hospital bed in Recovery Girl's office.

"I know dear. But she's not with them anymore. She's safe with Izuku and Katsumi."

I nodded, hearing her. "I know I know." I ran my hand down my face. "I just… feel like she deserves something more. Not just a brother, you know?"

"Hm, if I didn't know better, I'd say you're sounding like you want to adopt her."

I shook my head with a light chuckle. "No. She's already eighteen, there wouldn't be much point. I just wish she knew what a real father was like."

——

Everyone from class 1-A was sitting in their classroom, talking to each other as they waited for Aizawa. Izumi was talking with Shoji while Izuku was talking with Katsumi and Kyoka.

Aizawa walked in, looking tired and holding a cup of coffee. The class quieted down and went to their seats. "Alright, to start off, in two weeks, you will all be participating in the sports festival. During this time, school will be closed. Use that time to train."

Izuku looked over at Katsumi, who looked back at him with a smirk. Izumi had a nervous look on her face. 'What am I supposed to do? I don't know how to train.' She looked over at Izuku. 'Would he want to help?'

——

After class, Izumi watched as Izuku and Katsumi walked out together, chatting about their training. "Are you going to talk to them?" Izumi heard Shoji next to her.

She shrugged. "I don't know. I don't really want to be a burden to them." Sighing, she then looked over at him then putting her head on the desk. "I guess I'm just scared."

Shoji thought to himself for a second. "What if we train together?"

Izumi looked up at him, confused. "What do you mean?"

Shoji shrugged his shoulders. "We train together and you show Izuku how much you improved."

Izumi thought about it and smiled with a faint blush. "Yeah. I'd like that."

——

Izuku and Katsumi were sparring in the school gym, using their quirks against each other as they tried figuring out new moves. Lightning coarsed around Izuku as he ran around Katsumi while she tried to keep track of him.

Suddenly, Izuku turned, headed straight towards Katsumi. She reacted in an instant, sending an explosion towards him. Izuku ducked under the fiery blast, sliding along the ground.

He quickly got back to his feet, inches away from Katsumi. Izuku held a fist back as Katsumi held an open palm against Izuku's stomach. They both had the other at a stalemate. They were panting, and their bodies began to relax. "A draw huh?" Izuku said as he walked over to his water bottle.

Katsumi groaned. "Damn it. I was hoping to win."

Izuku chuckled. "Too bad Kyo didn't want to train with us."

"Yeah. But she wanted to train with her new friends, and that Yaoyorozu girl seems really nice so I think she'll be fine."

Izuku nodded in agreement. "I'm surprised Izumi never asked to train with us. She usually wants to do stuff with us. I mean, we've only got a few days left of training and she's been pretty distant."

"Maybe she's been too busy with that boyfriend of hers."

"They're not dating. They're just friends." Izuku corrected.

Katsumi chuckled and rolled her eyes. "Sure. Friends. Anyways, she seems like she's been doing pretty good."

Izuku nodded. "Yeah. Makes me a bit excited for the sports festival, and seeing what she'll be capable of."

Katsumi shrugged. "Yeah, I guess."

"You two still not getting along well?" Izuku asked.

"Kinda." Katsumi said, looking away.

Izuku wrapped his arm around his girlfriend. "It's okay. I don't want to rush you."

Katsumi grabbed his hand he had wrapped around her. "I know. It's just that, every time I'm with her, I can't stop myself from thinking about what happened. All those times she made me watch what happened to you."

Izuku watched her with worried eyes. He pulled her in closer.

——

A man walked into his house, slamming the door behind him. He walked into his living room, and tossed a duffel bag onto the couch before collapsing onto his recliner. He groaned as he massaged his neck.

He grabbed the remote off the small table next to him and turned on the tv to the news. "In other news, the UA sports festival is tomorrow. Many heroes are planning to come in attendance with many more civilians hoping to get seats." A man with a horn said.

A woman with antennae next to him nodded. "Indeed. In fact, a lot of eyes are on class 1-A after a fateful encounter with a group of villains who broke into one of their facilities."

The man sat in his chair as he thought about it. "The UA sports festival." He tapped a finger on his armrest. "I've wondered what my useless daughter did. Maybe she actually made it in." He smirked as he picked up his phone and dialed to UA for a couple seats at the festival.

——

Izumi was running next to Shoji as they approached a bench. She sat down on it, panting as she was out of breath. Shoji sat down next to her, equally out of breath. She looked over at him. "Wouldn't it be easier to catch your breath without that mask?" Izumi asked curiously.

Shoji shrugged his shoulders. "Probably, but I prefer keeping it on. Years ago, a little girl saw my face and got scared so since then, I've kept it hidden." Izumi was about to ask him about that when a shiver ran down her spine. "What's wrong?" Shoji asked.

Izumi looked around the park they were at but shrugged. "I don't know. It was almost like… no never mind. It was nothing."

Shoji nodded but kept an eye on her, not fully believing her. They both got up after they caught their breath and went back to running.