The walk home from UA was a blur. A moving wave of colors rushing past in a dizzying frenzy that his brain could not seem to comprehend. He remembers meeting up with Kendo again, she most likely said something snarky to him but honestly nothing she said or did registered in his tired brain. He certainly did not remember taking a seat on a packed train and slumping against her shoulder nor did he remember drooling on her shoulder the entire way home, thankfully.

Recovery girl's quirk was a hell of a thing.

Shuffling down the street he was not aware of any goodbyes that were said. His larger frame shifting as he walked, finding it too hard to even lift his feet, instead going for the classic zombie stagger. Probably looking like he just crawled out of a grave to wander the streets at night.

Stumbling into his mother's apartment, he let the bag with his normal clothes in it slide off of his shoulder and down to his hand. Lazily tossing it aside it smacked against the ground as he wandered into the living room. He could hear the sound of running tap water, his mothers voice calling out to him.

"Izuku? Sweetheart where have you been? I was expecting you back hours ago?"

Wandering past, he gave her a tired half wave as he made his way to his room, anything else she said disappearing into the void. Falling down against the bed face first it sagged under his weight, a small groan escaping his lips.

I'm never going to complain about this old bed ever again.

Closing his eyes sleep immediately took him, plunging him into a deep dreamless sleep.

Blinking his eyes open he squinted against the morning light. His body still slumped face first against the bed the same way he left it the night before.

Sitting up he let out another groan, his back letting out a small pop as he stretched. His mouth dry and uncomfortable...slapping his lips together he squinted in disgust, pulling some of his loose hair out of his mouth.

He felt. Gross.

Izuku so desperately wanted to take a shower yet...why must it be so far away?

Why didn't they just build a shower in his bedroom right above his bed? That way he could shower without needing to get up, so he wouldn't have to take the long walk down the hall. Maybe he could convince his mom to come into his bedroom and chuck a bucket of cold water at him.

...

On second thought let's not. It would be just his luck for Kendo to hear about it and start coming to his house to do it herself.

I'm unsure if she would do it for my sake or for hers.

Laughing a little at the thought he propped himself up on his arms before slowly sliding out of the bed.

What's that saying...no rest for the wicked?

Welcoming the warm embrace of a shower he came out of the bathroom thirty minutes later almost feeling like a real person again. Following the smell of food he wandered into the kitchen, pausing to blink at the sight of his mother cooking. Slowly turning his head he stared at the clock hanging in the living room.

11am...

"Mom? Aren't you supposed to be at work?"

The faint smell of bacon wafted through the air as she shifted the pan, the sizzle of grease filling the air. Turning her head towards him she sent him a carrying smile. "Oh I took the day off, no need to worry."

"You...you what? Why?"

Turning to face him completely now she ran her hands along a wash clothe, raised an eyebrow at him. Giving him that motherly look. "Why? You come home looking like death warmed over last night and you ask me why?"

Uh oh. He said something wrong. Abort!

"Well I mean...I'm ok now."

The eyebrow went even higher, her eyes going wider.

"I well...I mean..."

She just stared at him, her wide green eyes unblinking. He could see the faint traces of tears starting to form.

...

Letting out a sigh he ran a hand along his neck. "Thank you for looking out for me."

Giving him a gentle smile she nodded before scooting over to make room next to her. "Of course sweetheart. Now be a deer and grab some ingredients from the top shelf, you know I could never reach up there!"

Nodding he walked over to slide next to her near the small counter. Reaching up to the top shelf he started to pull things down when he felt his mother lean against him, pressing her shoulder against him. It was faint and the action went unsaid but sometimes words didn't need to be shared. Wrapping an arm around him she hummed, pulling him into a warm caring hug. Exhaustion gave way to a small genuine smile as he wrapped his larger arms around her, returning the embrace.

His mom always knew how to cheer him up.

The rest of the week went by just as fast. Anxiety nipping at his heels every time he stopped to think for long, instead deciding to help his mother around the house. Anything she needed to do he did. He took out the trash, did the dishes, did the laundry, swept any loose dirt.

Staring at their couch he lifted a corner, shifting it slightly before staring at it again only to move it a few minutes later.

Watching him his mother rolled her eyes. "Izuku. Sweetheart. You're hovering. You need to relax."

Letting out a huff he nodded, laying back against the couch. He must really be freaking out if his own mother is calmer then him.

"I know..."

"Don't start freaking out now cause then you'll get me going!" Shaking her head she tried to stop her hands from shaking, turning to head into her room and away from sight.

A small breath escaped his mouth as he closed his eyes, trying to remember the breathing exercises he learned so long ago.

WHERE DOES YOUR STRENGTH TRULY COME FROM?

Opening his eyes he blinked a few times, his mind drifting to that weird dream he had. It felt so real at the moment but the longer it's been since he had it the more he's starting to forget.

What even happened in the dream?

Tilted his head he stared at the tan walls of their small apartment. The memory of it had started to become bizarre and distorted. Like looking through faded glass. Was any of that even real or did he imagine it? He heard stress dreams were a thing.

Jolting upright he heard a knocking at the door, his head jerking towards it. The faint sound of rustling could be heard before footsteps walking farther away. Getting up he went to the door, swinging it open to find a parchment laying at the apartments doorstep.

Eyes widening he yanked it inside, shouting over his shoulder.

"Mom its here!"

The speed he watched his mother rushed out of her room was almost startling. Waving her hands to and fro she fanned herself, her breath hard like she just ran a marathon.

"I-its here? I-its here! You should open it! O-oh or maybe not! I-I heard that sometimes knowing is w-worse then not! L-lets burn it! T-then we'll never be d-disappointed!"

Watching her walking back and forth she rung her hands together.

Yeah that's more what I was expecting...

Walking over to the counter he stared at the yellow parchment in his hands, the big UA college logo stamped onto the front of it. Fingers hovering he couldn't help but gulp. Looking down he felt his mother clinging to his side, peeking around to stare down at it with big nervous eyes.

Here goes nothing...

Ripping open the side he tilted it, a small metal disc sliding into his palm. Blinking he ran a thumb over it, the flat cylinder smooth to the touch.

It blinked a few times before shooting a beam of light straight up. Startled they both yelped in sync, Izuku dropping it onto the counter, the small disc rattling around before facing upright.

From the light came an image of a room. Rustling could be heard from it, the face of Recovery girl appearing on it a few seconds later. Her face was...way too close, one eye squinted as she looked it over with a grimace.

"Is this thing on!? Blast these cursed things! What's wrong with just a piece of pen and paper!? People now days with their fancy doosits and whatsits... "

Turning his head to his mom she looked just as confused, her head tilting slightly as more rustling could heard. Recovery girls rambling voice petering out. In a flash her face was before them again, this time wearing reading glasses.

Clearing her throat she started to speak, her face tilted down towards something. She was clearly reading off of a paper. "Yes hello...I, am here in a holographic form."

More rustling.

"It says here that you did very well on the written test, getting top marks in all categories. Which I must say is very impressive young man." His mother took hold of his shoulder, shaking it encouragingly. "Now show clip two of girl on screen...where's clip two? They never showed me how to show clips!?"

Frustrated ripping and curses that would make a sailor blush filled the air. All Izuku could do was stare, blinking slowly at the display while his mother blushed with a hand to her mouth next to him. "Oh my..."

"Bah! Enough of this!" The camera shifted so Recovery girl was facing them again. "Look, if I had a say in all of this that alone would get you into the hero course. We need more bright children leading the newer generation, but sadly that is not the case. The way that UA is built and because the HSPC funds many parts of UA they want us to prioritize power over everything else. They say its 'optional' but we all knows that's a bunch of hog wash!"

The screen changed, revealing the scoreboard. Izuku blinked, his wide green eyes looking down the names, past Kirishima, past Kendo, past Bakugo...and past Jirou. All the way down past many names he did not know and many he may never know. His eyes drifted down until it stopped all of the way at the bottom. Staring at the last name on the list he could feel tears starting to form in his eyes, making his vision wavy and blurry.

He...he didn't get in.

"I'm sorry to say that you did not get into the hero course..."

Looking over to his mother she stared back at him, tears running down her face. Lunging forward she wrapped her small arms around him. A shudder escaped his lips as he felt his knees go out, trying to fight down the tears. Crumbling him and his mother sat on the kitchen floor.

"But."

They stilled, slowly turning to look back at the hologram. Recovery girl took some steps back from the monitor, now showing her full body for the first time. Shifting her weight she coughed into her hand before speaking.

"I would like to offer you, Izuku Midoriya, a scholarship."

A scholarship?

Almost as if she heard him she responded. "That's right, a scholarship. I'm offering you a chance to live on campus and go to general studies free of charge so long as you become my assistant."

Shocked he turned towards his mom and then back to the display.

"Think of it as a part time job for the moment. Several times a week you will meet me in my office and help however you can during a set time. Paperwork and tending to the injured for the most part. You've shown an above average knowledge or first aid so we'll skip the beginner stuff and go into more detail about medicine and proper medical procedure. If you do well there is a chance for more hours and even the option of being paid for your time in the future." Pulling her cane back she tapped it against the ground getting his undivided attention. Recovery girls face shifting to something more gentle. "Life...is not fair, it comes at you fast and you can't predict it until it's already hitting you into the dirt. I know all too well that even when you do all that you can sometimes it's never enough...but, that does not mean you should stay on the ground forever."

Tears dried, hand clenching he frowned, a burning fire spreading through his body. Meeting the eyes of Recovery girl his eyes shined a brilliant green.

"I've learned that sometimes all someone needs is a hand to pull them back to their feet. This is my hand, Izuku Midoriya. The only question now is will you take it?"

Walking through the halls of UA Izuku Midoriya was dressed in his UA uniform, his hands rubbing at his sleeves as he made a turn around yet another corner only to make a frustrated sound as he found a dead end. This was his first time walking through the massive H shaped building and it was just as big on the inside as it looked on the outside.

What the hell was with this place!? It was like a maze! He just wanted to find orientation!?

Opened a door to his right he swung it open, surprised to find that it lead outside of the building. A long line of trees and grass span out in front of him, going outward and away from sight. The amount of trees so dense that it made it hard to see the sky. His shoes crunched against the grass as he looked around.

Was he actually outside right now or was this a UA indoor thing?

Lowering a hand he ran it along the grass.

The grass was real at least.

An explosion echoed through the air. The tree leaves swaying from the force of it. A faint glow in the distance. Taking a hard breath he slowly unclenched his hand, looking down to stare at it...he wasn't even aware he clenched it.

Walking closer to the sound a low whistling filled the air, the sound getting closer and closer. Jumping back he yelped as a singed ball landed at his feet, rolling a little before hitting a rock on the ground and stopping.

Chastising himself for freaking out like that he bent down to pick up the beat up ball, his thumb running against the burnt leather as he turned it in his hand.

He knows these burn marks...

Turning toward where he believed the noise came from he hopped up, taking hold of one of the branches to pull himself up. It's been a long time since he'd tried to climb a tree but he was much stronger now, grabbing hold of one branch after another, pulling his large body up to sit on one of the tree's thicker branches. Staring out he saw a bunch of students standing in an outside gym.

They looked like they were doing drills? That's weird, didn't they have orientation?

Reaching into his bag he pulled out one of his secret notebooks, facing the group of students to take notes.

Watching them for a while he couldn't help but smile, feeling like himself after such a long time. Izuku's body relaxed as he wrote.

He always enjoyed doing this, free from judging eyes or harsh critique he was allowed to analyze quirks in peace. From what he could see there were a whole bunch of interesting quirks, each more fascinating then the next!

There was a woman who could shoot acid! A frog girl! Someone who could use electricity!

As Izuku wrote them down he moved on to the next people, recognized a handful of them. He saw Kirishima dashing across a relay field. He didn't know their names but he saw the blue haired boy and the brunette from before talking to each other.

They both looked to be doing well, a lot healthier then last he saw them.

As he looked across the students there were two others that he recognized, Bakugo and Kyouka stood amongst the other students, waiting their turn to go. Frowning a little at the sight of them he ripped out their pages and tossed them aside.

The less he knew about them the better...

He was so busy writing down quirks he hardly even noticed the long haired man standing under the tree. Letting out a cough below him Midoriya let out gasp, his weight shifting before falling backwards out of the tree with a thud. Slamming his back against the ground he groaned, leaves shooting into the air and parting before falling slowly back down on top of him. Blowing out some air a leaf laying on his face slide off, drifting back to the ground.

Why am I always the one who gets hurt?

In the corner of his eye he saw him, a slender pale looking man with messy black hair, a long grey scarf wrapped around his neck multiple times. Stubby unkempt facial hair danced along his frowning face. The man stood over him, his tired and flat looking eyes glaring down. He could tell the man was analyzing everything about him in a few seconds, judging him for every flaw and mistake...which would bother him if the man wasn't holding his notebook.

He watched horrified as the man raised a hand and turned the page, his eyes going from him to his notebook.

Quickly standing back up he wrenched his notes from the man's hands, taking a quick step back. The tired man was just looking at him without saying a word, a small spike of anxiety running through Midoriya. He suddenly felt the need to apologize. Giving him his best smile he chuckled, raising a hand to rub at his neck.

"Sorry! It's just a little embarrassing for people to read my stuff!"

He still hadn't said anything, simply looking him over with his cold calculating eyes. The air around them tense as they stared at each other but just like a knife it was cut with the sound of a voice.

"Midoriya! There you are!" The door swung open and in walked Recovery girl with her cane. "Your class has been looking for you."

Waddling over slowly she looked towards the tired man letting out a huff, shaking her head at him. "Aizawa, don't tell me you've been bothering the students?"

For the first time 'Aizawa' said something, his voice cold and monotone. "I have not, I found this student spying on my class."

"That's not what happened!" I cried, trying to defend myself.

Wincing Izuku felt his knee being smacked by recovery girl, her hand placing onto his back and shooing him out the door. "No back talk Mr! Go back to class!"

"But I don't even know where..."

"Make a left up here, then it's on your right. If you come across the cafeteria you've gone too far!"

The door slammed behind him, leaving the two of them alone, the only sound the faint rustling of the wind. Silently, the both of them stared at the door that he just left out of, a hanging quiet in the air. Neither of them wishing to make the first move.

The first to speak was Eraser head, his eyes still drawn to the door as he spoke. "So...that's the kid."

Letting out a laugh she smiled more. "Yes. That is 'the kid.' What did you think of him?"

"He's smart based off of what I read, he managed to figure out a good chunk of my student's quirks just by watching them from a distance, though I suppose he'd have to be to be your apprentice..." Pausing for a second he tilted his head in thought before finally turning to look at her. "What is your plan here Chiyo?"

"Oh? What makes you think I have a plan?"

"You know what I mean." Frowning at her he huffed quietly. "You've never stuck your neck out for a student before...why now?"

Turning she stared at the tree line in thought, her cane lightly tapping the grass covered ground. Frowning she hummed before speaking. "You know as well as I do that the entrance exam is bullshit. Half the reason that hero culture has turned out the way it has was because of the obsession that the HPSC has with power. Too many people obsessed with power and status over heart...the boy desperately wants to save as many people as he can. He has a good head on his shoulders."

Facing Eraser head she looked him over, their eyes meeting to have a separate conversation.

"I've been talking with Principle Nezu. I want to create a program that helps children that slip through the cracks. A way to help children catch up and be the best heroes they can."

"They already have the rule at the Sports Festival. He can simply train and do well then to get in."

"Now don't pull that shit." Pointing her cane at him threateningly his ridged body got a little tense, expecting a smack from that dreaded cane that never came. Instead she lowered it again slowly. "The sports festival is months away. That's months of the hero course taking specialized classes while the general study students only take gym. The gap will only get wider. Just because you managed to pull yourself out of the shit doesn't mean others can be so lucky...with this program we can ease promising students into the hero course."

Turning away she watched the trees move in the wind, her purple goggles shining against the sun. "Here's the deal. You and I will pick potential candidates and train them after school, think of it as an extra class. If our pics do well during the sports festival we can show the HPSC results, opening the door for many more potential heroes."

Eraser head seemed to think on that for a long while, his eyes meeting the same point in the horizon as her. Giving her a nod Eraser head went for the door. Recovery girl's voice calling after him.

"You know...if we focused on more rescue heroes in the past maybe Shirakumo would not have met the fate he did."

His feet stopped in the entrance, Eraser heads shoulders growing tense, his face unseen and unreadable within the doorway to the building. Slowly his shoulders sagged before turning to look at her one last time.

"No matter how hard you try not even you can heal the dead Chiyo, I've thought a lot about what I could have done differently..."

Turning back around he went back inside, his final words could be heard as he walked farther and farther away.

"I'll think on it."

Taking the long train ride home Izuku Midoriya sighed, a hand raising to rub at his sore shoulder. The sun had recently set, the lights of the night life slowly starting to come alive within the buildings as he zoomed past, leaving the bright sparkling city to go farther into the mountains and towards the apartment he called home.

Well...the apartment he soon won't call home.

Looking down he stared at the pamphlet handed to him when he left.

He had a week to move into the general study dorms...he still had so much he needed to plan, so many things to do. He had paperwork to sign, many many pages and rules to read. He had to spend time with his mom to make sure she would be ok having him out of the house and he had to hire a moving company to help move the stuff he couldn't move all by himself.

It would be fine if he asked Kendo to help but...

Almost like she read his mind his phone dinged in his pocket...another text.

Slowly he slide the phone out like it was going to explode any second, the normally comforting sound now causing a whole new fear to rush over him. Staring at the screen he couldn't help but frown at his screensaver. It was...an image of them from years ago, arm in arm, both of them bruised and injured. Yet, they were both smiling like they just won the lottery.

The day where they became rivals. He used to look back on that day happily but now...

Staring at his phone he could see multiple unread messages from Kendo. He so desperately wanted to open them and read what they said but another part of himself, the more anxious and afraid apart, told him not to.

What would she say if she knew he didn't get into the hero course?

Would she try to comfort him?

Would she act like it was no big deal?

Would she get mad and not want to hang out anymore?

Would she leave him like all the rest?

Hovering a shaking thumb open the unread messages he took a breath, slowly getting closer and closer to pressing it before jerking it away.

Why was he always such a coward?

The train pulled to a stop, a small message telling him it was time to get off. Slowly sliding the phone back into his pocket he swallowed the shame as best as he could and started on the walk back home.

He'll...he'll message her tomorrow. Yeah tomorrow. It's late, she must have a lot going on. Tomorrow is good.

Pushing the door to his mom's apartment open he slunk inside, his head a little lower then usually. Pausing his step he looked up to see his mother in the kitchen, a hand raised to her mouth and the other holding her phone. Even from here he could see the faint traces of tears in her eyes.

"Mom? Is everything alright?"

Turning towards him with wide eyes, small streams trickled down her chubby cheeks.

"O-oh Izuku...you're home."

Setting her phone down she shuffled over to him slowly, her hands outstretched towards him. Getting the hint he pulled her in for a hug, wrapping her in a warm embrace.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

She let out a small hiccup before speaking, tears already starting to get his shoulder wet.

"O-oh Izuku. Its...its your father. He's sick."

His...his father? Izuku had not heard from him in a long long time. Hell, he never even got the full story from his mom about what actually happened to him. All he really knows about the man is that him and his mother are still married, only seperated. That he lives in America, doing god knows what and that he still sends them money every month...

Everytime he tried to ask about it she would say "He was always a business man first."

Now apparently he's sick? His mom clearly still loves him.

Running her hand along his she pulled away a little to speak.

"I-I know that you and he never really had a relationship, but it sounds bad Izuku. He probably only has a few months left to live..."

She looked so sad in that moment, her face stained with tears. He always hated when she cried.

"Are, are you going to see him?"

"O-oh no, I, I couldn't. Going to America is going to cost a pretty penny and who knows how long I'll be gone." Wringing her hands together his mom stared at the ground. "I don't have money for such a thing, plus y-you need help here! You're going to be moving soon and starting such an important part of your life, I cant just...just leave you."

"What if...you used the money you had saved up for UA before I got the scholarship?"

"W-would that be alright? I was saving it for you!"

Nodding he gave her an encouraging smile. "Yeah. I wouldn't even have that money to begin with if it wasn't for you. I cant go see him because I have college soon but just because I cant that doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to. Go, I'll be ok here. I promise."

Staring up at him with a quivering lip, fresh tears ran down her face, almost making him think that he said something wrong before she leaned up to kiss his cheek.

"Thank you Izuku. I love you so much."

"I love you too mom."

Getting up he watched his mother slap both of her cheeks to stop the crying before puffing out her chest. A look of determination crossing her face.

"Alright! I have so much I need to do! I got to go sweetheart, I have to make some calls!"

Picking up her phone she started to head outside, her fingers pressing numbers at a speed he had never seen before. Her short plump frame disappearing out the front door. Yet again leaving him to the quiet of the small apartment.

Notes:

I'm going to be honest, I don't remember if it was ever talked about the relationship between UA and the HSPC. If they influence each other or not but in this story they have a bizarre relationship that's a mix of rivals but also funding each other. It's a weird passive aggressive dance full of red tape and stepped toes. I'm unsure if I'm ever going to go into full detail about it, might be a bit on the boring side, but I wanted an excuse on why UA is so combat oriented. I mean, they make the kids start fighting each other not even a few classes in. That's wild.

So I figure, who else would want that then the group that pushed a pro hero so far that she snapped like a twig under the pressure. Never forget Lady Nagant, her arc was a missed opportunity...

On a lighter note I love the idea of Recovery girl being a sassy grandma to Izuku. She took one look at Izuku's plight, saw something familiar in him and thought
"Welp, guess I'm adopting this child."