This is one of the larger sections that was rewritten to expand on Itsuka's introduction and her interactions.

-Itsuka Kendo-

When Itsuka was 12, she was training in the family dojo when her father called for her, she quickly rushed over, and there she was introduced to this skinny boy with messy curly green hair and diamond-shaped freckles.

"Yes, Sensei." She said as she came to stand next to her father.

"Itsuka, this is Izuku Midoriya. He will be joining our dojo starting today; please get him situated and then get him working. He will be your responsibility, not only for combat training but weight training as well, for as long as he is with us."

Internally she scowled at the thought; why was her dad doing this? This kid wouldn't last, and to make him her responsibility would take her away from her training. Then her father's last sentence past through her mind, "As long as he is with us."

"YES, SENSEI!" she motioned for the kid to follow her; she led him to the locker room and told him to change. She noticed that when he responded to her, his voice was quiet, and yet he had a look of determination in his eyes. Dismissing any thoughts of sympathy from her mind, she ran him ragged when he emerged. She couldn't spar with them yet, so she had him lift weights, run, and start on the beginnings of his form and throw punches. Itsuka was not proud to say that she ran the boy ragged and was correcting him harshly. When she told him to be back tomorrow, she expected him not to show back up. Much to her surprise, he did.

He came back every day for training; whenever he got knocked down, she could see that determination in his eyes as he got back up. He never complained or whined about anything; in the second week, he threw a sidekick properly, and she praised him slightly. One would have thought she had bestowed a national medal; his smile was large and brilliant.

Itsuka admitted that he was tough, and the more she watched and trained him, the more he grew on her. She soon softened her methods as she noticed the signs of bullying; she could tell that it was still going on, as he would sometimes come in with bruises that did not result from training. As they talked more, she saw him smile, lighting up the room, and Itsuka liked it when he smiled. Over a few months, they started to become more friendly; he had helped her with a math test allowing them to spend some time outside of training. When he explained the problem, Itsuka stared at his face, absently twirling her hair; she realized she had a crush on him.

She was stunned; she didn't understand it, he was cute, yes, but she couldn't place her finger on it. Maybe he never gave up an attitude or the determination in his eyes whenever they trained, but the truth was in his smile.

She said she was shocked and jealous when she found out he had a girlfriend. She began to hope that she was no good for him secretly; it was mean and petty of her. She knew that, but her heart would flutter so much when he would smile or laugh that she couldn't help it. Then came the day his girlfriend was coming to the dojo to watch a sparring tournament. Itsuka watched them from the other side of the dojo, and even from that distance, she could tell the girl cared. During Izuku's match, she saw her cheer when Izuku landed a strike and fret when he took one. Izuku brought her over right after it concluded to introduce them before he ran off to get changed.

"Suijin Yamada, it is a pleasure to meet you. Izuku won't stop talking about you," the girl said, extending her hand. Itsuka didn't want to like her, but she seemed so genuine.

"Itsuka Kendo, nice to meet you as well. Does he talk about me?"

"Sensei this and sensei that, at first, I was kind of jealous, especially when I found out you were a girl."

"Do you still fill that way?"

"Truthfully, a little bit, yea," Suijin said, not breaking eye contact with Itsuka. "But I can tell you care about him and his training. You seem pretty cool."

"Thank you, he works hard. But tell me, is he being bullied?"

"You could tell?"

"I have my suspicions, bruises that should be there, his actions, things like that."

"Yea, he is, but he wants to get stronger to stand up for himself and me. I tell him I can care for myself, but you know how boys can be. But he doesn't want to do it because he feels I am weak. After all, he cares. Don't tell him I told you, though."

"It will be our secret," Itsuka said with a wink. "So, what are your guy's plans after?"

"We are going to that new pizza place that just opened."

"Oh, Joey's?"

"Yea, that's the place. Have you been?"

"No, not yet, but I want to try it one day."

"Why don't you come with us?"

"I wouldn't want to intrude on your guy's date or anything."

"Nonsense. Besides, I would like to get to know you better after all your training, Izuku, and you seem badass if I do say so; you kicked that guy but in the match."

Itsuka rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. She didn't want to intrude, but she wanted to get to know Izuku's girlfriend better to ensure she was good for him. "Well, if you are sure it won't bother me, I would love to go. Let me go get changed."

That was how it started, pizza and soda. Soon, Suijin would come around the dojo more, even taking some classes herself. As much as Itsuka had hoped the girl was no good, she was wrong. Suijin was funny and caring and had an air that livened things up. Itsuka and Suijin started to become friends, so Itsuka decided to push her feelings for Izuku down.

She rationalized it; It is just a crush that all, it will go away. I would rather have two friends than ruin everything.

By the end of the year, she could safely say they were both her best friends.

As the calendar turned and time marched on, they were inseparable, the three amigos. They did everything together: shrine visits, teasing Izuku, shopping trips, dinners, and even picnics. As much as Itsuka had tried to bury her feelings, they would resurface from time to time, like when Izuku would get flustered when the girls teased him or when he would start muttering about a quirk or a new hero. She did her best to ignore it, Suijin was her best friend, and Itsuka was not about to betray her best friend for a boy, even one as sweet as Izuku.

It was a beach trip that almost betrayed Itsuka; she had gone out to pick up a new swimsuit as she had outgrown her last one, which had turned into a 2-hour affair. After purchasing, she couldn't decide and went home to prepare for their trip. The train ride there was excellent as they chatted; she nervously went to get changed once they arrived. She happened to come out before Suijin saw Izuku standing there with his shirt off; her eyes wandered over his bare chest. He wasn't a toothpick anymore; the workouts were showing fruits. She walked up and asked how she looked, uncertain of his response but secretly hoping for a specific answer. Her heart skipped a beat when he complimented her appearance, describing her as pretty and cute.

She felt horrible; she had tried to push it down and not be that girl. Yet here she was, fretting over her swimsuit purchase, asking him what he thought and getting all fluttered when he said what she wanted. She felt sick; she felt like trash. Suijin was her friend, had been everything Itsuka could have asked for in a friend, and she was pinning for Izuku. She got up and went for a walk down the beach to buy a drink; when she stepped out of the little shop, she found Suijin waiting.

"Everything ok Itsuka?"

"Yea, Suijin, I just think I got a little overheated, so I grabbed a sports drink."

"Ok, wait for me. I wanted to grab something quick." Suijin said, disappearing into the store.

Itsuka had lied; she felt terrible; maybe she shouldn't hang out with them anymore. Just stick to training Izuku at the dojo. She knew Suijin might figure it out, but she could almost see Izuku's eyes confused and hurt. When Suijin emerged, she smiled, and the two girls started heading back; they had nearly made it back to where Izuku was when they heard it.

"Hey, ladies, what are you doing out here all alone,"

The girls glanced over and saw two guys a few years older than them looking at them, which made their skin crawl. They just kept walking when the other got in front of them. "Hey, we are just trying to be friendly."

"Yea, we are friendly. We want to talk," said Tweedle-dee.

"Yea, talk," added Tweedle-dumb.

Tweedle-dee went to grab Suijin by the shoulder when Izuku suddenly appeared and grabbed Dee's wrist. "Back off!" he said, putting himself between the girls and the two jerks.

"Who the fuck are you, little man?"

"This is my girlfriend and best friend, and they don't seem to want to talk to you, so why don't you combine your singular i.q. Points, take a hint, and leave."

"Oh, trying to act like a big man, huh? Let me show you what happens when you mess with us," Dumb said, throwing a clumsy punch which Izuku easily deflected, having the girls move back as he did.

It was Dee's turn to attack as he threw an overhand right that Izuku ducked under, driving his fist into Dee's stomach, then shoving him back. Dumb threw another punch that Izuku could avoid, then grabbed the extended limb; he did a perfect throw driving the guy into the sand. Unfortunately, Dee recovered and landed a punch to the side of Izuku's head, causing him to stumble.

Suijin was furious and about to jump in when Itsuka touched her shoulder, stopping her. Itsuka recognized the look in Izuku's eyes, the determination, the never give up attitude on his face. She knew this was him stepping up not only for them but for himself, that this was him standing up to bullying and finding the strength in himself to defend those he cared about. Itsuka didn't want to rob him of that; she knew Suijin could handle herself, and Itsuka had years of training, but this was from something more than driving off some jerks. This was Izuku confronting his past and standing up to it.

It wasn't some epic battle Tweetle-Dee and Tweetle-Dumb were not trained at all and didn't seem to know how to fight. More numbers caused them to land some shots on Izuku, but they stood their ground and eventually dropped Dee for the count; Dumb was bleeding before he called it quits.

Izuku blushed as Suijin overly fussed over him and told him she was proud of him for standing up for them. Itsuka smiled and said that he even managed to look cool at times; he smiled at her with a big grin, making her heart beat a little faster. They managed to enjoy a few more hours at the beach before they boarded the train; Itsuka gave the couple a little privacy; she caught a glimpse of Suijin and him wrapped in a passionate kiss.

The girls teased him as they rode the train home; Itsuka got off at her stop. As she exited, she looked back, clasping her hand in front of her and a voice dripping with fake sincerity. "I will be sure to tell Father how you defended my honor, Izuku."

"ITSUKA!" Izuku cried out at the doors close; he could hear her laughing, causing him to flush even more.

Her father, of course, ribbed Izuku for a few weeks after the incident, but it was all good fun. Eventually, Izuku would smile about it and laugh. Itsuka was doing her best to wage a battle with her heart that she had deluded herself into thinking she was winning a bit. It wasn't since they had gone to compete in a tournament that her delusions would come crashing down. Suijin wasn't there as it was a weekend event leaving the two of them to hang out when they weren't competing; for Itsuka, it was nice, but I began to feed into her fantasies and daydreams. He had made it to the semi-finals but was tired from the tournament and other activities; they may have stood up late watching some movies the night before. He was sitting in the locker room, his head dipping; she had sat next to him, noticing that he was about to fall over; she gently guided his head down to her lap.

He protested weakly as she shushed him and told him to take a quick nap and that she would wake him when it was his time to compete. He immediately began to drift off; she began to run her fingers through his hair lightly; she heard him mutter something about it feeling nice before his eyes closed and his breathing steadied.

As Itsuka gazed down at him, his eyes closed, his soft breath, she felt her heart thumping; she thought I would wake him because it was so loud. Then she found herself thinking of kissing him; she even found herself leaning down before she stopped herself. This wasn't just a crush; she was in love with Izuku.

Fuck, Fuck, Fuck, she thought to herself. How could this happen? It was supposed to go away, not become this. I can't do this to Suijin or Izuku. Her mind raced at how Izuku had always treated her like a girl, never telling her she was unattractive or making fun of her for her tomboyish attitude. He admired her quirk praising it and going into muttering storms about it. He wasn't put off by her dream of being a pro hero; he shared it. She knew it was terrible; she longed to kiss, confess, and tell him. It was wrong. She knew it, so she did nothing. She just sat there, and her only fault was giving in to the fantasy in her mind. Letting it play and dance the whole time was excellent; it was safe.

The guilt tore at her over the following weeks; whenever she saw Suijin, it was worse. She began to put up walls between them, trying to force distance. She could see this confused and hurt Izuku, but she had to do it. Teacher and Student, that was what Itsuka was trying to enforce.

Itsuka was sitting in the living room watching something she couldn't even remember when the doorbell rang; she walked over and opened it, curious about who it could be. Her heart dropped when standing there was Suijin.

"Look, we need to talk!" Suijin said, stepping inside and slipping off her shoes.

Itsuka tried to make excuses until Suijin grabbed her by the hand and led Itsuka up to her bedroom. Suijin closed the door before whirling around to face the still-stunned redhead.

"You will tell me what is happening, or I am not leaving," Suijin said.

"Suijin, just please leave," Itsuka begged; part of her wanted to blurt it out and get it over with.

"Nope, you are my best friend, and I will not leave this alone."

Those words tore at Itsuka's heart, "No, Suijin, I am a terrible person." Itsuka couldn't say anything else, not trusting her voice.

"You're in love with Izuku, aren't you?" Suijin said softly, breaking the silence.

There it was, her secret right in the open, Suijin knew. At last, Itsuka could admit it, lose her best friend, and probably never see Izuku again. "Yes, Suijin. Yes, I am. I thought it was just a stupid crush, but…" her voice broke from all the stress that only teenagers could put on themselves. Itsuka waited for Suijin to react or slap her or something. What she didn't expect was for Suijin to wrap her arms around Itsuka and say?

"I don't care, Itsuka; I trust you and Izuku. If you were a terrible person, you would have done something already. We can handle this together; you are our best friend. Izuku has been racking his brain, thinking he did something wrong."

"How can you not care? I just told you that I am in love with Izuku."

"Because you are my best friend, and you are his best friend. I am not willing to toss you aside just because of this. I know you aren't trying to steal him from me, and I know he isn't going to cheat, so this is less than ideal, but I am willing to deal with it to keep you in our lives. He needs you, and so do I."

Itsuka didn't know what to say or do. She didn't want to lose them either. So, she sucked it up, hugging Suijin, and cried. Itsuka knew that there were more important things, and this was one of them. It was hard that she valued Suijin enough to hold onto her feeling and be the friend she needed to be, but she would make it work.

Fortunately, they could make it work, though it still hurt Itsuka. So, when the opportunity came the following year for her to move with her grandfather to finish her training, she would have generally fought against it; instead, she took a chance to step away. She celebrates her 14th birthday with her best friends, as she will be leaving by the end of the school year. It was a tearful goodbye.

-Life on the mountain-

Itsuka hated the first three months; there was no cell reception, so there was no way to text, group chat, internet, or one phone. Her grandfather did not like letting her spend the night talking to her friends. It sucked, but it allowed Itsuka to put some distance between them; she focused more on training and mastering her craft.

The school was smaller than she had attended before but was still a decent size. She made a few friends, nothing like she had left, but it was lovely. Itsuka is trying to move beyond her feeling for Izuku. When Suijin also has to move, she does her best to be supportive. She is devastated when she learns of Inko's death and feels terrible that she can't support her best friend beyond random calls or being able to go to the funeral. She feels even more helpless when Izuku spirals into drinking.

Itsuka struggles to reconcile her past with the new life she's trying to establish. Upon learning of Izuku's sobriety, she decides to move forward and explore the possibility of dating. At a tournament, she meets a boy named Shen, who confesses his feelings for her. Itsuka accepts, and they go on a few dates, including her first kiss. Though the experience is pleasant, it fails to leave her feeling exhilarated. When discussing it with her mother, Itsuka struggles to come up with a more descriptive response than "nice enough." They continue dating and kissing, but still, nothing seems to click. Itsuka's grandmother offers some advice, suggesting that perhaps Shen isn't the right person for her. Itsuka realizes that describing a kiss should evoke more than a nonchalant shrug and a lackluster response.

It is easy to break it off with Shen making it even more apparent to Itsuka that it is the right choice. Also, the fact that he doesn't go to her school so they will not see each other daily, makes it more accessible. He is sad but thankful that she was honest about things and wants to remain friends.

Itsuka focuses on school and training; everything will sort itself out when proper. When the school year changes again, she is moved to a different class where she meets Ojiro Masahiro and his friend Jurota Shishida. Ojiro is from a rival Dojo. His quirk of the tail made any match they had more interesting, as she had to account for the extra appendage. Jurota has attended some classes at her grandfather's school. His intellectual nature seemed to class with his quirk of Beast, but he was kind. She is glad she knows someone and joins them at lunch. They introduce her to a shy girl named Kinoko Komori, who is fascinated with mushrooms. It makes much sense When Itsuka learns that her quirk is called Mushroom. The tentative friendship begins to solidify as they all wish to be heroes and attend U.A.

It isn't long before they are as thick as thieves, and Itsuka considers them all good friends; they may not be best friends yet, but it is nice to build her own life and expand her horizons. Itsuka is surprised when Ojiro confesses to her one day behind the school.

The girl takes a moment to think before answering. She notices that the guy shares her passion for martial arts and aspires to become a hero. She also realizes he has much in common with her best friend. Despite this, she decides to take a chance and explore if there could be something more than friendship between them. Their first kiss was pleasant, although not as exciting as she had hoped it would be. She understands her unrealistic expectations and tries not to compare them to her imagined kiss with Izuku. Despite this, they continue to date.

-Ojiro-

During a tournament, he was captivated by the appearance of Itsuka Kendo - her stunning orange-red hair, teal eyes, and figure. While they conversed briefly, he needed help to make any significant headway. When they encountered each other in school, the most he could manage was passing greetings in the corridors.

He saw a chance he couldn't miss when she entered the classroom. Jurota teased his friend relentlessly about his crush, and when the girl appeared, he took it up a notch. Kinoko was the sensible one telling him to try and be friends with her first to see if they had things in common. Thankfully for Ojiro, he listened to his mushroom-loving friend, finding that friendship incredibly important to her, Itsuka.

It was a topic of curiosity among them all regarding the person named Izuku, whom Itsuka often talked about through texts. Ojiro was anxious that Izuku might be Itsuka's boyfriend. Still, Kinoko cleared the air by revealing that Izuku was her best friend in a romantic relationship with Suijin, Itsuka's other closest friend. Jurota appeared skeptical about the specifics, but he chose to remain silent.

Ojiro experienced a moment of great fear when he confessed his feelings to Itsuka. The situation was further complicated when she asked for time to consider it. Over the next few days, he felt anxious and unhappy. However, it all turned around when she finally agreed to date him, making it the happiest day of his life.

Ojiro is concerned about finding the perfect birthday gift for his girlfriend, Itsuka. He overhears her mentioning that she needs new running shoes, which he believes would be an excellent present. However, Kinoko and Jurota advise him to choose a more romantic gift. Despite their advice, Ojiro remains determined to get her the shoes. After obtaining Itsuka's shoe size from Kinoko, he conducts thorough research to find the best possible pair. Despite his father's suggestions for alternative gifts, Ojiro sticks to his plan.

The group goes out after school to have a small celebration for Itsuka, who is touched and thankful for the gesture; Kinoko gifts her friend some new ribbons for her hair, Jurota gets her a book on the history of Martial arts in Japan, then Eijiro presented her with his gift.

-Itsuka-

It was nice to have a small birthday celebration with her friends; it made her feel like a real high school student, and her boyfriend's presence made it pleasant. She wished that Suijin and Izuku could be there, but that was impossible.

She had to admit that she was very curious about what Ojiro had gotten her. Their relationship was going well as far as she could tell, it still didn't move her into grand daydreams or flights of fantasies, but he had been in a few of her dreams which she took as a good sign. She constantly compared what she had seen from Suijin and Izuku, and her love life was not living up to. She would chastise herself for this and tell herself that she and Ojiro were moving at their own pace. The nagging thought was that she had said neither of them about Ojiro.

With a wide grin, Ojiro passed the box to her, resembling a content cat. Upon unwrapping it, she discovered a top-of-the-line pair of running shoes. Even though she required a new team, she had anticipated a more romantic or emotional present from her significant other on her birthday. Although slightly let down, she smiled to mask her perplexity. She yearned for a gift that demonstrated that he viewed her as a woman, not solely as an athlete.

"Thank you so much, Ojiro; I needed a new pair." She said, hugging him. She thanked the other two, and they enjoyed a small cake to cap the event. Itsuka excused herself afterward as she had to get home.

As she walked home, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being ungrateful for receiving such lovely shoes. Though she needed them, which was convenient, she knew it didn't justify acting like a child and pouting. After all, her friends weren't obligated to get her anything for her birthday, but they chose to do so out of kindness. As she entered her home, her grandmother called out from the kitchen, directing Itsuka's attention to two boxes on the counter.

Curious, she approached the two boxes, one sent by Suijin and the other by Izuku. She smiled as she swiftly took hold of the packages and darted to her room. Upon opening Suijin's gift, she discovered a delightful summer dress, black in color with elegant teal accents that perfectly complemented her mesmerizing eyes. The box from Izuku, however, stirred her curiosity even more. As she slowly lifted the lid, her breath caught in wonder at the sight of the two exquisite teal crystal earrings nestled within. Holding them up to the light, they glistened and sparkled beautifully. Her gaze then fell upon a folded note tucked beneath the box.

Itsuka,
I saw these and thought of you; I want you to know that I miss you every day and thank you for standing by me. It means more than you know. Happy Birthday!
Izuku

Itsuka quickly put them on and stood in front of the mirror admiring how beautiful they were, it made her heart race, and she felt like a girl. I can't wait to show them off tomorrow at school.

-Ojiro-

He was sitting in class when his girlfriend walked in, it took him a moment, but then he noticed them. Those were new earrings dangling, beautiful teal crystal teardrops. He heard Kinoko inquire about them.

"Oh, these were waiting for me when I got home; Izuku sent them for my birthday. Suijin sent me a cute dress as well."

Ojiro ground his teeth some, he knew this Izuku was her friend, but earrings like that were different. Jurota noticed and silently agreed with his friend; he didn't know what this Izuku was playing at but didn't like it.

There was a confident boy who bothered him because Itsuka would interrupt their interactions to answer a phone call or text message. He noticed she reacted similarly when Suijin called, so he realized his jealousy was unfounded. However, he couldn't help feeling irritated that someone else could make her happy and laugh.

Ojiro recognized his deep love for Itsuka, but their relationship seemed to be hitting a roadblock. Despite occasional kisses, he felt like he was always initiating them, and while her hugs were friendly, they lacked the intimacy he craved.

-Itsuka-

Life went on without any major shifts or epiphanies. Although she was still dating Ojiro, she sensed herself growing apart as he appeared more invested in the relationship than she was. She couldn't help but notice that whenever she brought up Izuku in conversation, both Ojiro and Jurota seemed irritated, with Ojiro either rolling his eyes or abruptly ending the discussion. Jurota appeared to object to an undisclosed matter, while Kinoko maintained a quiet demeanor.

As days passed without any message from Suijin, Kinoko began to feel uneasy. When Izuku called inquiring about any updates, her anxiety heightened. During their shopping trip for a birthday gift for Izuku and a new bookbag for Kinoko, the latter accidentally reveals that Ojiro is preparing for an important date. Itsuka had to persuade Kinoko to tell that Ojiro was planning to confess his love.

Itsuka knew she didn't feel the same way; she talked with her grandmother for a long time in the garden and knew she needed to end her relationship with Ojiro. She tried to find the words the next day but was having a hard time getting him alone; he was so deep in the planning for this magical night he had planned that he couldn't or wouldn't see the look on Itsuka's face. Also, Itsuka took her time to call and message Suijin whenever she could.

Kinoko did her best to support Itsuka as she could see the worry on her friend's face; Kinoko also tried to dissuade Ojiro, explaining that this might not be a good time as Itsuka was worried about her friend and that she had a bad feeling. Jurota, on the other hand, was commenting on how it was likely that Suijin and Izuku had probably broken up, and he was trying to spin the narrative.

Itsuka was walking into town to meet with Ojiro; she had to stop this before he confessed or did anything else; she was also watching her phone to see when it would connect so she could hopefully get an update on Suijin. She saw Ojiro waiting for her at the corner; her palms were sweaty, and she felt nervous and terrible about what she was about to do. As she was getting closer, she phoned and chimed as it connected. She looked down; no texts, one missed call, and one new voicemail. Putting her phone to her ear, she joined her voicemail: Izuku. His voice told her something wasn't right; call day or night, he said.

With a shaking hand, she hit the speed dial.

-Ojiro & Itsuka-

He saw her walking toward him; he was nervous, hoping everything would go right tonight. He pulled the flowers out from behind his back and was about to call out when he saw her holding her phone to her ear; she was close enough to hear her talking.

"Hi, Izuku…" Of course, she is talking to that bastard.

"Oh god, Izuku no, no, no. Please tell me everything is ok..." he stopped at that. What is going on?

"What's going on? Come on; I need you to answer me…" he saw Itsuka stop walking, and she suddenly began to sob; he immediately went to her. "A daughter? It's Inari, isn't it?". Ojiro stopped. He had heard Itsuka mention that name before, but about Suijin, he remembered Itsuka showing him some photos of the girl with a child.

"I know, Izu, I miss you too; I am coming home, I promise. I will stay this time; you won't be alone." He was entirely at those words. Just like that, she abandoned him and went back to Izuku. "I can transfer schools; some things are more important than a dojo like you and Inari. I will be there soon, I promise. I know this sucks, but I have to go. I need to…" Itsuka looked up and saw Ojiro standing near her.

"Same," Itsuka said and hung up the phone.

"What happened?" he managed to say.

Itsuka wiped at her tears, doing her best to compose herself, "Suijin was killed."

"I am sorry, Itsuka, she had a daughter?"

"Yea, it was that little girl she had been babysitting, Inari; it is her and Izuku's. She never said anything to either of us."

"Your leaving?"

"I have to, Ojiro,"

"What about us?"

Itsuka took a deep breath, "Kinoko told me what you had planned, and I had been trying to talk to you the last few days. I am sorry, Ojiro, I don't feel the same way you do. There was never the same spark for me that there was for you. We have much in common, and I thought it might develop, but…"

"So, you will abandon your friends and take over your family dojo for Izuku and some kid you never met?"

"You don't understand Ojiro; he has nothing left; now he has to raise a daughter. He needs help."

"How is that your problem? Why have you run back and thrown us all away for HIM!"

"He is my best friend, Ojiro; my other best friend just died. Friends support each other; if I asked him to, he would drop everything and be there for me; how can I not do the same? I am not trying to throw you all away; I am sorry I wasn't more truthful with you and how I felt about us. I care for you as a friend, and that is all; I should have said something sooner."

"Yea, I am sorry too." He spat out.

"I have to go, Ojiro; I am sorry," Itsuka said, breaking into a light jog as she headed home. She managed to get halfway home before she found herself sitting on a log and just started sobbing.

-Ojiro-

He didn't want to head home. Instead, he headed towards Jurota's house. His friend knew something was amiss when he opened the door and the devastated look on Ojiro's face.

Jurota ushered him into the house and to his room, "What happened, Ojiro?"

"She dumped me to run back to Izuku; he called her and told her he missed and needed her. Next thing I know, she is dumping me, saying she didn't feel the same way, that she just cared for me as a friend."

"How could she say that? You guys were together for a while; it was probably that asshole meddling this entire time?"

"Check this that girl Suijin was pregnant with his kid, said nothing, then she was in some accident. He calls her, crying that he has to raise his kid, and guilts her into running back. She will quit her training to take over the dojo to do this. He is manipulating the fuck out of her."

"What a total piece of shit!"

-Itsuka-

When she got home, she ran to her room to cry her eyes out; she didn't go to school the next day because she was too emotionally drained. She argued with her grandfather about leaving to return home; her grandmother interfered and settled things.

The following week was difficult as she had to arrange her transfer and tell her parents she was coming home. Her father surprisingly supported her decision; he did tell her that she could always finish whatever training her grandfather had later to inherit the dojo. Ojiro and Jurota had cut her off completely; Kinoko would still talk to her; the girl wanted to know what had happened. Not wanting to be completely alone, Itsuka told her that the mushroom girl was a true friend and offered Itsuka much-needed comfort. Once everything was in place, she reached back out to Izuku.

Itsuka: Hey Izuku, Sorry for the silence. I was getting some things sorted; I am coming home as promised. I will be there on Friday.

Izuku: I feel terrible that you are abandoning your life there for me and Inari. You don't have to. We will figure it out.

Itsuka: Some things are more critical, Izuku; you need someone to back you up.

Izuku: Not that I don't appreciate it, but what about your training?

Itsuka: If I'm being honest. I'm worried about you. I worried about Inari. And I can't be here anymore. My mind is too jumbled up now. I need to be around my friend. I know you are putting up a front. I am too.

Izuku: Thank you, Itsu. It would be a lie to say that I haven't missed you and couldn't use your help. But still…

Itsuka: This is my choice Izuku, my life. I chose to come home and be near you and Inari. I hate to say this, but you're not drinking again, are you?

Izuku: No, I haven't touched it. I want to. I do, but Mom and Suijin are watching; I have Inari and don't want her to get taken away.

Itsuka: Don't worry about it. I got your back. I see you soon.

Izuku: Thank you again, Itsu. I cannot even tell you how much I want to see you.

She ended the call and sighed heavily. She walked over to her favorite (well, only) coffee shop and grabbed a drink and pastry. I can do this. I can be the friend he needs. For you, Suijin.

-Izuku-

It will be nice to have her back. I feel bad she is giving up on her life there to come home for Inari and me. She is coming home for us. I need to ensure I am doing okay when she arrives. I could get Inari out of the house and take her on a run. The fresh air will be good for me.

Izuku got Inari into her running stroller and left the house. Finding a rhythm took him some time, but he soon got the hang of it. He had to stop a few times to deal with Inari, but his daughter seemed to enjoy the experience. He stopped and checked pricing at a few of the daycares he encountered. Shit, that is expensive. Also, I didn't like the teacher in the second place, the way she looked at me after I told her Inari was my daughter. Just from the cost of daycare alone, the job at U.A. looked more attractive to the young father.

He stopped at a café to get some breakfast and feed his daughter. The waitress had known him since he was young and sat and talked to him for a few minutes. They exchanged numbers as the woman was a mother of 3 girls and had offered to give him advice. When he noticed some extra bacon and potatoes when he said something, she just pointed to the cook, who gave him a thumbs up.

He saw the strange looks he was getting being so young, jogging with a stroller on a school day. On top of it, he heard the snarky comments as he made his way home from people judging him.

Once he arrived home, he cleaned up, started laundry, and cleaned before he got a message that Kobayashi was on his way. When the lawyer arrived looked around the house and seemed pleased; he asked to hold Inari, and Izuku chuckled when the little girl seemed to snuggle in and fall asleep. They moved to the girl's room to talk while Izuku finished preparing everything for the painters and movers.

"So, how is the contract?"

"Not bad, generous. I wouldn't say I liked a few things, so I returned it for revision. We managed to get it straightened out rather quickly. That's part of the reason I am here."

"Okay, go ahead, or did you want me to stop?"

"No, you are not so dumb that you cannot focus on two things simultaneously."

"Thanks, I guess."

"It is very generous, concerningly so if I am being honest. The wages are good, the medical is great, and dental, everything is top-notch. What concerns me is that the Principal is playing a different game. But he is crafty, so I must find out what it is. The term is three months. With automatic renewal, after that. Written in, you will have received a passing grade from Mrs. Asui and Hound Dog. Should you enter U.A., you must be in the top 5 of every class. Also, once enrolled, you must prepare dinner for your class twice weekly and handle simple repairs."

"In your personal opinion, should I take it?"

"As your legal counsel, Midoriya, I believe it's important to hear your opinion before expressing my own. I never want to influence your decision-making process unless you may be at a disadvantage or about to make a significant mistake."

"I agree with you. The pay and benefits offered are excellent, and it fulfills all my requirements. The therapy aspect is a bonus since I could use some help. However, I'm not entirely sure what my job responsibilities will be, and I feel the principal has other motives. Nevertheless, I can't afford to turn down this opportunity without considering the financial implications."

"Considering your recent completion of High School and lack of practical experience, it may be challenging to make it work with just a job. However, we could manage with some effort, albeit with some financial restrictions. The donation has significantly helped you progress quickly without taking it slow."

"So, your opinion then?"

Midoriya, this is the most viable option to ensure Inari's well-being in the long run. While it may only provide a temporary solution for the next year, it should provide stability for you and Inari during your time in U.A. Rest assured that Inari will be taken care of.

"Okay, I give you permission to accept the terms on my behalf."

"I have the papers in my briefcase," Kobayashi informed Izuku. As he gently passed the sleeping girl over. At first, she stirred and seemed to protest, but realizing it was her father holding her, she settled back into a peaceful slumber.

As the painters and movers arrived to transform the home, Izuku felt anxious as he watched some of his mother's belongings being taken away. The hardest part was when the clothing was taken away to be donated; he held on to some pieces as they had sentimental value, his mother's wedding dress being one of them, and some sweaters, the one he had awoken to clutching when he decided to get sober. It was hard to let go, and knowing he would sleep in that room also caused his emotions to flare.

It was strange to see his childhood furniture being removed as well. The day was busy as his new mattress had arrived, and Inari was not fond of the noise. Kobayashi provided them with the necessary details for the funeral and outfits for Izuku and Inari. After everyone had left, Izuku and Inari were put to bed in their room for the night. He stood in his daughter's newly painted room, admiring the light pink walls with gold trim and dolphins painted on the walls with aquamarine eyes. Izuku shed some tears but eventually composed himself. He then looked at a picture of himself, Inko, and Suijin on the wall.

Thursday was another blur. Inari was not happy with all the stuff being brought in and assembled. He managed to get in his run. Inari had been cranky all day. She had decided that today would be the day her daddy would have to experience all the fun. The furniture people had just left when Mrs. Asui showed up. The woman observed Izuku as he tended to his fussy daughter. Seeing him struggle after four days, she took compassion on him and offered guidance to soothe Inari. She explained that the changes, such as being away from her mother and adapting to a new environment, were causing distress. Following the woman's advice, they wrapped Inari in her blanket, and Mrs. Asui sang to her, which helped to pacify the baby.

After seating Izuku down, she shared with him her observations about Inari's preferences, the areas where he could improve, and the changes in her behavior. She also mentioned the types of food that Inari enjoyed, such as Cheerios. Based on her routine, he realized that sticking to her schedule was crucial. Izuku expressed his gratitude towards her, and she glanced at the peacefully sleeping Inari before returning her gaze to him.

Dear Mr. Midoriya, my top priority is the success of Inari, but I also want to see you succeed. Rest assured that I believe in you and will always strive to act in all parties' best interests.

"Thank you, Mrs. Asui."

Standing up, she returned his daughter to him and offered him a card. She quickly jotted something on it before handing it over. "Feel free to give me a call if you need any assistance. The system is currently overloaded with parentless children, and I'd be happy to help you avoid that outcome. I'll be conducting a surprise inspection on Saturday around 8 am, and don't worry - the first one is on me. You'll have to wait and see about the next one," she grins.

"Goodnight, Mrs. Asui, and thank you again."

After bidding farewell to the young father and daughter, Izuku picked up his little one and went to her bedroom. The room was beautifully decorated with white furniture, including a crib, dresser, changing table, and rocking chair. The floor was adorned with vibrant playmats and stuffed animals. A lovely portrait of Suijin was hung on the wall above the crib, so their daughter could always be under her watchful gaze. It was indeed a fantastic sight, a testament to the artistic skills of Kobayashi.

"All right, princess, let's see how you like macaroni and cheese."

The day before the funeral, Izuku received notice from Itsuka that she was arriving on the evening train and would be at his house by 6 am to help him prepare for the ceremony.

Izuku had a restless night, plagued by disturbing nightmares. At 2 am, they woke up and reached towards the ceiling, calling out for Suijin. At 4 am, they even cried out for their mother. In a particular dream, they saw Suijin cradling Inari while Izuku rested his head on her lap. The dream caused him to cry and wake up once again when his alarm went off at 5 am. After getting up, they ensured Inari was still asleep before showering. While staring at himself in the mirror, attempting to find any motivation, it was not to be found. His phone lit up as he sat at the table with a cup of coffee.

Itsuka: Outside

She rushed towards him as he opened the door, and they both broke down in tears. They collapsed to the ground, embracing each other tightly. She expressed her regret for not being there for him, while he reassured her that it was okay and shared how much he missed Suijin. Amidst the jumbled words, they tried to console each other. It was only when they heard a cry that they regained their composure.

"Itsu, would you like to meet your goddaughter?"

Itsuka whipped her eyes. "I would want nothing more, Izu."

-Itsuka-

As she trailed behind him in the hallway, she couldn't help but admire her goddaughter's room. Observing Izuku lift the baby from the crib, change her diaper, and dress her in a comfortable onesie, she couldn't resist watching in awe. Finally, he turned to her.

"Itsuka this is Inari. Inari, this is your godmother Itsuka."

She fell in love at first sight. The little girl was staring at her, those beautiful eyes, a perfect blend of Suijin and Izuku. Izuku smiled at her. That is not fucking fair. Slowly she extended her hands to Inari; the little girl looked at her hand and seemed to be thinking before she leaned forward into Itsuka's hands.

"She likes you."

"It is because she knows a sucker when she sees one."

They exited the room and made their way to the kitchen. Izuku made them some breakfast. Inari ate eggs and nibbled on toast. Itsuka ate a little and enjoyed a cup of coffee. She and Izuku talked. He filled her in on everything that happened when Inari showed up.

"Wow, that's a lot. Is there anything I can do, Izuku."

He sighed. "There is a half-bottle of boos in the second box in the closet right-hand side. Can you take it and dump it out."

"Of course." She went fished it out and got rid of it. "Do you have anything else hidden around?"

"No, I promise. I knew that the bottle was there, I managed to avoid temptation yesterday, but I don't think I will be able to do so tonight. Does that make me weak?"

"No, Izuku. You managed to stop on your own. The temptation to fall back is always going to be there. It's good you could recognize that you should have it around and asked someone for help."

"Thanks, Itsuka."

-Izuku-

The morning was much easier with Itsuka. Holy shit, two people are so much easier than one.

Itsuka got Inari dressed while he got into his suit. Her parents arrived with Itsuka's clothes. She went into the room to change while Izuku caught up with them. They made a big fuss over Inari. Inari did not like Itsuka's dad and cried when he held her.

"Dad quite scaring Inari," came a yell from the bedroom.

Nao looked like a deer in the headlights. His wife, Hina, just laughed and took Inari back. Inari immediately stopped crying.

Itsuka came walking out. "Hey Izuku, can you help with the zipper" zipper glowed green and zipped up. "What did you do, old man."

"Nothing. I just wanted to hold her, and she started crying."

Izuku laughed. It was his first laugh in days. It felt so good.

The ceremony was a quiet, somber affair; he was joined by Itsuka, her parents, and even her brothers showed up. Kobayashi, Mrs. Asui, Nezu, Hound Dog, and Toshi were there. Itsuka sometimes had to help hold him up while her mom held Inari. He knew this day was coming, but the reality was crashing into him hard. Eventually, he just had his arm around Itsuka's shoulders while she had an arm around his waist as they both cried. They returned to Izuku's house and ate. Inari was, of course, the center of attention. Having some lovely memories built on such a sad day was pleasant. Nezu and Hound Dog left first. Nezu informed him that he had the job, and they wanted him to start Tuesday. Itsuka's brothers followed, then Kobayashi and Mrs. Asui. Izuku pulled Itsuka aside.

"I know this is weird. Could you spend the night? I can sleep in the spare room…."

"Of course, Izuku."

When she informed her mom, her mom smiled and brought an overnight bag from the car. "I figured as much, sweety."

Toshi hugged him, allowing Izuku to get some tears out. "Do as best you can, Izuku; I will see you Tuesday."

"Thank you, Toshi."

Once they were alone and Inari was in bed. Itsuka held him on the couch as he cried himself to sleep. Itsuka gently laid him on the sofa before covering him with a blanket. She stood and made herself into Inari's room. She maneuvered the rocking chair near the crib. She leaned over and whispered.

"So, Angel, I'm standing in the family Dojo, and in walks the green string bean saying he wanted to learn to defend himself."