Chapter Text
Epilogue
"Chinami has been moved into a foster home." Mr. Aizawa told Hitoshi. He specifically requested Hitoshi meet him in the classroom fifteen minutes before class starts to have this conversation. "As have Kai."
"So, Kai survived, huh." Hitoshi leaned against his desk with a grunt. "I guess it's for the best with both of them. Kai might run though."
"Yes, well we're going to have officers watching him." Mr. Aizawa's eyes glanced down before going right back up. Hitoshi smirked a little at this. "Also, I'm sorry about your uncle."
"Uncle Kenshin and I weren't close… but you should tell Monoma that Kenshin's passing wasn't his fault. Because it wasn't."
Aizawa's eyes trailed down again before he sighed in annoyance. "I would prefer you please not be wearing a skirt while we talk."
"It's not dress-code, old man." Hitoshi teased while poking Mr. Aizawa's nose. "It says nothing about boys wearing skirts."
"You hate shorts but you're okay with one of Izumi's skirts?"
"How do you know it's Izumi's?"
"Hitoshi. I'm not dumb. I know Izumi was more than willing to give you one of her skirts for this. That girl doesn't show it but she secretly lives for chaos- do you know how many times I found that stupid 'Rubberface' figurine somewhere around my desk- it was under my desk yesterday. I confiscated it like three times and she keeps finding it."
Hitoshi's mouth ticked up into a smile before he started to laugh. "Okay, yeah It was Izumi's. But it's not dress-code. It meets the required length and everything."
"I would at least request you shave your legs but you can't even do that."
"You're stuck with these glorious hairy legs until I get bored of this!" Hitoshi teased proudly.
Aizawa could only shake his head and mumble: "Fucking problem children."
"By the way, before I forget. What's going to be done about the quirkiest issue amongst the class?"
Aizawa gave a sigh as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "A lecture, most likely. I'm also going to have to have a one-on-one with Mina about the comment she made regarding Okami. While I understand she means well, it still gives the wrong impression."
Hitoshi gave a nod. "Yeah, I get it. I mean, it was still wrong of her to say, I'm pretty sure Izumi already had a talk with her about it, girl works fast, but still. It's like you said. The quirkless are people too."
"That they are." There was a comfortable silence between the two of them as Hitoshi sat on his desk, making sure to keep his legs closed as he did so. "How is Izumi?" Mr. Aizawa asked.
"Okay, I guess. Because neither of us has our bedding we can't bunk with each other anymore. So, we bunk with other people."
"Fair. You two are doing good from what I've gathered. You'll get your stuff back soon, I'm sure."
"Trust me, I want my pants back."
Everyone has their selfish moments. Whether it's not wanting to share something you got for yourself, or it's watching a movie in the common room that you specifically want to watch even if others didn't really want to watch it. Well, for Hitoshi his selfish moment came during the Sports Festival….
He was glad Izumi had a broken arm because it gave him, and the others in 2-A, a chance at winning this thing. He'd never ever tell her this to her face. Ever. He was being selfish, not a complete monster. Besides, from what he could tell she was having a blast in the stands with her mother, who managed to talk to her probation officer to go out today, still, he knew she felt awful about missing out as she's been distant the whole day.
The first part of the Sports Festival wasn't a race like last year's. No, it was a giant maze! Those with quirks that let them go airborne had a major advantage, but UA thought of them and had obstacles in the sky in order to knock them down like drones holding those harmless mines. Bakugo got a face full of the stuff when he ran directly into one. The ground wasn't much better as the maze was full of booby traps.
In the end, Hitoshi only just managed to make it to the end of the maze. His uniform was singed from all the mines he managed to detonate. Still, he made it and he was proud. When he crossed the finish line a familiar voice yelled amongst the crowd.
"Go Bestie!" Izumi roared over everyone making him blush.
'Bestie, I never thought I'd ever hear someone call me that and mean it.' He thought as he gave her a little wave.
Much like last year, they had to break off into groups of four at the max. Unlike last year they were actually reusing the maze and giving the kids paintball guns. The aim of the game was to work with your team to knock out the other teams and gain points. Everyone had a point imprinted on their back, so no stealing.
Hitoshi found himself in a team with Jiro and Hagakure. Why? Because this was how they were going to show Mr. Aizawa that their quirks all meshed well together. That's why. They were all armed with purple paintballs and paintball guns. "Remember, you guys. Stealth is absolutely key with the three of us." He told them. Hagakure started to strip out of her clothes.
"Got it!" She told Hitoshi.
"Yep, don't need to tell me twice." Jirou checked her gun to make sure everything was in working order. "Let's go rock people's shit." She grinned devilishly and Hitoshi had to agree.
In the end, Hitoshi wanted to say that they didn't do terribly. In fact, the three of them did mesh well with one another. Hitoshi was both a powerhouse (first time he's ever had to admit to that) with his strength gained from training with Mr. Aizawa, and stealth as the people they targeted didn't know his quirk.
Still, despite doing this for the project set by, Hitoshi still had something to prove. To prove that he belonged here. That he was smart and didn't get here by going for low-pointed people. "Okay, you two. This is it. There are five minutes left on the clock." He told them as he hid behind a maze wall.
Behind them, it sounded like an active warzone. Explosions and gunfire alike. No doubt Momo made some sort of turret for paintballs by the sounds of it. Behind them was Shoto Vs Bakugo. Both had the exact same teams as last year's cavalry battle. This was a battle to see who deserved to go on to the third round. To see who was the best of the best and Hitoshi was going to take both teams out with the help of Jiro and Hagakure. It was a big risk that could cost them everything they worked so hard to get. But they were willing to risk it all.
"Are you two ready?" He asked in a low hushed voice afraid that they would be caught.
"Y-Yes…" Hagakure whispered. "I know you can't see it, but I'm shaking. This is so exciting…"
"Let's do our best. Show that we're the best team to come out of Mr. Aizawa's assignment." Jiro looked at him with a smile. Hitoshi nodded to both of them.
"Let's do this." 'Izumi, this is the most strategy I ever put into a plan. I hope it makes you happy!'
The first part of the plan was simple. Stun both teams. That was simple. Hitoshi and Jiro grabbed Hagakure and helped her get up top of a maze wall. Once she was as high as she possibly could be. She turned and faced the sun. This would blind both teams when she let herself sparkle in the sunlight like she was from Twighlight…or a disco ball. Her body glitzed in every possible angle. Bright ultraviolet waves exploded out. This made her a human frag grenade.
The explosions and warfare stopped. Followed by groans of annoyence.
"Now!" Hagakure cried.
Jiro dropped towards the ground, plugged her earphones into it, and created a sound wave so violent it caused the earth below them to move into a shockwave towards both teams.
"Hagakure!" Hitoshi threw a paintball gun toward her before he rounded the corner with Jiro.
The three of them fired. Their goal was to get both teams while they were stunned. He shot for Todoroki first as he was the biggest threat. Hitoshi was cold as he got Todoroki directly in the forehead. 'Todo- down.' Kaminari was next on his list. Kaminari was a threat with his voltage quirk and he needed to be taken down. 'Kami- Down-' Hitoshi only got two before he had to dodge. Momo had in fact made a turret gun for paintballs. Red paintballs rained on him at an alarming rate. Hitoshi ducked and weaved. It was gruesome as red paintballs painted the wall behind him. It looked bloody. It felt like an actual warzone.
"Ah!" Momo gasped as a purple paintball got her directly in the leg. This was from Jiro. "Ah, man…" Momo slunk down in defeat. Once someone was out they couldn't fire. Not unless the team that got them out is defeated. However, if their entire team gets hit then the whole team is out.
"Iida…" Hitoshi whispered as he frantically looked around for the last member of Todoroki's team. He had to be quick because otherwise, Bakugo's team would get the drop on them before too long. He kept his gun close as he looked around.
"Found you!" Iida jumped out from behind the maze wall directly behind Hitoshi. Hitoshi saw the flash of a muzzle before he was promptly hit square in the chest by a ghoulish red paint.
"Hitoshi!" Purple paint flew from the sky as Hagakure jumped from the wall. She couldn't land a hit on Iida he was too fast as he started to turn. He was getting ready to aim-
"I got this!" Jiro slammed his hands into the ground as another shockwave sent the earth towards Iida.
Iida jumped into the air, using the earth to his advantage to get a higher vantage point- "Got ya." Jiro smirked and fired. The shot lined up perfectly and hit Iida in the chest.
"Alright!" Hagakure cheered when Iida went down. She threw her hands up and hugged Jiro. "This means we get their points! And not only that but we get their kills as well! And Hitoshi is back in the game!"
"Heads up! We still have another party!" Hitoshi cried as he grabbed his gun and started to fire the paintballs at an oncoming Bakugo. His explosions echoed through the sky as he rocketed towards them.
"Mindfuck! I figured you'd do something cheap to get ahead!" Bakugo managed to dodge Hitoshi's shots with ease. Hitoshi fired rapidly trying to hit Bakugo with all he had. Well, Hitoshi had spent too long standing still trying to hit the blonde and the next thing he knew Bakugo had barreled into him. This caused his gun to go flying out of his hands. The two of them did a violent summersault. It ended with Bakugo on top of Hitoshi. With a scream, Bakugo threw a punch, but thankfully Hitoshi's work with Aizawa was starting to pay off. He managed to move his head to dodge and Bakugo hit the ground instead.
Hitoshi then kicked Bakugo square in the chest. Bakugo grunted as he fell back. The move wasn't anything special, it was made only so Hitoshi could scramble to get his gun.
'Click.'
"Shit…" Hitoshi grumbled as he looked over at Bakugo. "So, it's like this?" Bakugo had his paintball gun trained directly at Hitoshi's forehead. Bakugo didn't respond. 'Smart man.' Hitoshi could only accept his fate, he was too far to try and push the gun away, and there was no way he can dodge fast enough. "Just let me say something before you do it!" Bakugo narrowed his eyes at Hitoshi. "I've been doing a lot of growing this last weak. and…I just gotta know… Did you ever fuck Kou? Because from what I gathered that boy wanted you to rail him!"
Bakugo sputtered in shock. "WHA-"
"Heh!" Hitoshi had Bakugo under in a second.
"HA!" Hitoshi was pretty sure that was Izumi's laugh echoing through the stadium.
"Wicked…" Jiro grinned devilishly at Hitoshi. "Just…absolutely brutal…"
"Now things are getting fun!" Hitoshi jumped up. He then fired and hit Bakugo right in the chest.
Mina screamed suddenly. "Not so fast!" The rest of Bakugo's team had Hitoshi and Jiro surrounded. Mina, Kirishima, and Sero were up on them. It was three to three… Hitoshi knew Hagakure had to be around somewhere, she just wasn't seen. Maybe that's why the Bakusquad hadn't made a move.
They were at a standstill. They held their guns tightly at their hips, but nobody fired. No, all of them were calculating. Hitoshi kept Bakugo under his control, honestly, he was fearful if he took the blonde out then Hitoshi would be on the blunt end of his ire. Something Izumi has told him was never fun.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
It had happened quickly with no mercy. Hagakure, who was behind the Bakusquad, had fired three swift rounds into each and every one of their backs. "Yooooou're out!" Hagakure was clearly grinning despite none of them seeing it.
"We did it…" Hitoshi whispered in awe.
And he wasn't alone. "Did you all SEE THAT!?" Present Mic roared over the microphone. "A complete two-team sweep done by Shinsou and his team! Amazing! Bakugo and Todoroki's team are out!"
"It just goes to show." Mr. Aizawa spoke next with a bit of a…proud (?) tone in his voice. "You can't underestimate someone by their quirk. Their team were almost entirely noncombative quirks that work great with stealth base combat and they came in first."
The buzzer sounded only a second after Present Mic's announcement. It made Hitoshi groan and let Bakugo go. Hitoshi reached over and put his hand out for Bakugo to shake. "You did good." He told Bakugo. Truthfully he didn't want any hard feelings between the two of them.
Bakugo scoffed and slapped Hitoshi's hand away. "You did a low blow back there. I want you to know that." He huffed. "But whatever. I'll get you next year." Bakugo grumbled. "C'mon you losers!" He then called his squad while walking away. He did his infamous walk with his hands in his pockets. "I'm hungry!"
"Yay!" Mina cheered while chasing after him. "I'm starved!"
"Me too! You guys did great!" Sero flashed them a thumbs up before joining his friends. Kirishima ran up and wrapped an arm around Bakugo's shoulders. They spoke but it couldn't be heard.
"Wait! I'm hungry too!" Kaminari nearly tripped over so debris as he scrambled to the others.
Hitoshi gave a happy sigh and looked at Jiro and Hagakure. "You guys were awesome. Seriously, I couldn't have done it without you."
Jiro gave a happy blush while twirling an earphone jack around her ears. "I told you we'd make a good team."
"Yeah, we did!" Hagakure cheered. "Now, let's go get some grub!"
Hitoshi did not win the Sports Festival. No, the win went to Monoma. The blonde got the best of Hitoshi during the battles. Oh well, Hitoshi was more than happy to have a third place. Third! That's better than last year! Ochako got second and she was so happy she would have floated away if they didn't tie her down to a pole.
But now the Sports Festival was coming to an end and Hitoshi was happy to just get something in his stomach while the vendors were still up. He was so nervous he never at lunch. that morning. It was when he was just finishing up his lunch did Izumi approach. "Hitoshi…" Izumi was quiet. Quieter than this morning when everyone went off to go to the Sports Festival. She pulled on his sleeve.
"Hey, Kitten! Look, I got you some Takoyaki!" He smiled as he presented the food to her. He was still riding the high from just thirty minutes ago. She smiled back and took the box from him. But she didn't open it. Instead, she put it off to the side.
"I…I got a bit of a surprise for you…in fact… it's a surprise from all of 2-A. We all chipped in for this. Even Mr. Aizawa."
"Oh?" He was confused. What was so important? He noticed that 2-A was now looking at him.
Izumi offered her hand to him. "Just…come with me." She whispered. Hitoshi tilted his head but did as asked. He took her hand. Izumi started to walk.
For a moment it was only silence between the two. Izumi's distant energy never faded. So, despite his selfish feelings, he was still going to be nice. "Hey, I'm sorry you couldn't join in this year. I know you were looking forward to it." He told her.
"Hm…it's nothing." They walk past crowds of people. "I'm not even that upset. Seeing you out there trying your best it was…" She looked over her shoulder at him. There was a bit of a glint in those big green eyes. She then looked forward again. "...You were awesome. You deserved everything you worked hard to get."
"Oh….so…what's this surprise about?" Hitoshi noted that they were going back toward the stadium.
"Uh…well…" She trailed off. "How do I word this?" She whispered to herself. "...Hitoshi… we…all of us in 2-A. Bakugo, Monoma, and Mr. Aizawa included… we…well… I'll just let you see… for yourself."
Izumi stopped and stepped to the side. This allowed Hitoshi to step forward. He looked at Izumi, not towards where she wanted him to look. So, when they locked eyes, she simply gestured towards where she wanted to him look. He did-
Hitoshi's breath got caught in his throat. It felt like he was punched directly in the chest.
He…
He took a step back in alarm. Izumi put a steady hand on his shoulder. "Is-...is it…"
"From what we all managed to gather… yes. Hitoshi…it's your mother. It Ai Shinsou." Izumi whispered to him. "We all got together and scrubbed the internet. We looked and looked for a Hanako Yamada with amnesia in every hospital six years ago. After we narrowed it down… we found her. She…she no longer goes by Ai. Instead, she's taken the name Hanako, but she's Hanako Matsumoto."
"So…"
"Yes." Izumi shut her eyes as they stared at Ai- or rather Hanako- from a distance.
She was exactly as Hitoshi remembered all those years ago. Her hair was white and long. Only now it was longer. It reached down her back, stopping directly at her butt. She had it down, out of a ponytail-
'She always hated ponytails.'
Her eyes shown a brilliant lilac, her skin pale, same as Hitoshi's. She smiled a brilliant smile that would make the sun dull in comparison.
Only…
She leaned against the arm of a man that wasn't Hitoshi's father. No, this man was someone Hitoshi didn't know. He was big and bold. A robust man who clearly wasn't shy about his love for food. Then again…now that he was thinking about his mom might have a type as Hitoshi's own father wasn't a twig either. Still, the two of them smiled at one another while Ai- Hanako- fed the man some Dango off of a stick.
"Does it taste, Yummy, Toshi?" His mother smiled while she fed him some Dango off of a stick.
"Ibs kwinda cheshy!" Little Hitoshi said, his cheeks full of the sweet treat. It made him feel like a chipmunk. His mother smiled while she moved some of his hair out of his face and shifted him on her hip.
"Be sure to chew, dear. We don't need you choking."
"Otay!"
She beamed at the man again as she fed him another piece of Dango. "You're hungry!" She teased and 'booped' his nose.
Hitoshi rarely remembered that smile. He always remembered fighting and tears.
"I'm leaving, Dai! I'm leaving and I'm never coming back! I mean it!" Little Hitoshi had heard one night. He tried to block the screaming out by turning the TV up, but it never worked-
"Where are you going to go?! You ain't got no family! We're all you have!"
Ai- Hanako- looked directly at him. Hitoshi's breath caught in his throat a second time. Izumi swallowed hard. She raised a hand up. "Hitoshi! Come back!" She cried.
Hitoshi's knees almost collapsed. She had said it so casually…
Does she…
Maybe…
He took a step forward his whole body absolutely quaking. "M-"
"Coming, Mommy!" A little boy rushed past Hitoshi.
The little boy couldn't be older than six. His hair was white and long. Unlike Hitoshi's- sixteen-year-old Hitoshi that is- it was down, not up like a troll doll with a mind of it's own. The boy bounced his way towards his mother-
Towards Hanako.
His bounces were big and wide. That was his quirk. He could bounce high and he used these high bounces to get from place to place. Hanako bent down and picked the boy up and held him on her hip. "Ah~" She offered him the last piece of Dango. The boy happily took the offering. He and Hitoshi had the exact same eyes. Color and shape.
The little Hitoshi chewed big profound chews. "Yes, chew Hitoshi, we can't have you choking." She smiled again. Then, when the child was done chewing. She brought him down.
"Ready?" She asked.
"Ready?" Ai grinned as she squatted down, Hitoshi in her hands, but she wasn't going to let go of him. Oh no.
"Ready!"
"Ready!" Both Hitoshi's would yell.
"Wee!" Using her quirk. Hanako/Ai tossed Hitoshi high, high into the air. Not too high to hurt him, but high enough for him to feel like he was touching the clouds. Down Hitoshi would go only to be quickly slowed down so the descent wouldn't hurt him.
'That's right- that's right! She could throw things high and slow the descent! I wanted her quirk growing up-' Hitoshi grabbed at his shirt. He felt like he was going to throw up his lunch. Tears burned behind his eyes as he bit his lip. He tasted blood on his tongue as he bit the end of his lip so hard it burst.
Hanako grabbed Hitoshi's hand and smiled down at her son. "C'mon. Let's go home."
"I…" He whispered… he should stop her!... Izumi hesitated to touch him, but when she was sure it was fine she rubbed circles against his back. Breathy dry sobs wracked his body. "She…she never forgot me…." He sobbed before hugging Izumi. "Right…on a subconscious level at least…naming another son Hitoshi…she…she never forgot me!" His voice was muffled as he rubbed into her shoulder for dear-life. What a sight to behold. A nearly six-foot teenage boy sobbing into a 5'5" girl's shoulder.
Izumi patted and rubbed small circles into his back. "Right…" She whispered to him while pulling him in closer. "That's right-" Her voice turned into a low whine, telling him that she was fighting off tears as well. "She never forgot you, Hitoshi."
His sobs turned loud. He didn't care how he looked anymore. That's all he's ever wanted to know. If his mother truly forgot about him, even before he knew about what his aunt did to her…he wished she never forgot about him. And on some level she never did.
"...Excuse me-"
Both teenagers gasped as Hanako was now right there beside them. Neither heard her approach. Now that she was even closer, Hitoshi could see that she had wrinkles in places she didn't before. Her age showing. She took a startled step back.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry…" She laughed a little awkwardly while scratching the back of her head. "I just…I was hoping I'd run into you…" She turned toward Hitoshi in question. "This is…this is kinda awkward…" she now tapped her fingers together nervously. "But…do I know you?" She took a step forward to look directly into his face. His watery, teary-eyed, snot covered face. "You just. You look so familiar. And your name- Shinsou…I swear I heard it before…"
'I'm your son…I'm your son…I'm-'
"Sorry…" He gasped out a sob before trying to wipe his face. "I'm sorry." He turned away from her to wipe at his eyes and nose in private. "No-"
"Hi-" Izumi almost seemed surprised as she tried to speak but he wouldn't let her.
"I don't know you." He stated a little more firmly to the lady, his fists clenched firmly at his sides, but he never once turned around to face her. "I…I'm sorry." He swallowed the lump down as he gasped out another sob. "So…please, go back to your family." his voice wobbled at the end.
"..." Hanako reached out to touch his shoulder- but she paused and pulled her hand back. "Okay…Uh…good job out there. You did really good. I-...Goodbye…" With those parting words Hanako Matsumoto turned and walked back to her family. To her husband and her adoring son, Hitoshi.
"Hitoshi…why?" Izumi inquired in a soft voice. Hitoshi turned back to face her. His sobs come out in rapid-fire motions.
"L-Look how happy she is! How co- I couldn't!" He cried as he hiccuped. "I couldn't- I couldn't!"
"But…you deserve happiness too." She told as she hugged him again. He clung to her again. "You deserve your mother."
"I have it! I have-" He swallowed. "I am! And…seeing her happy makes me happy! I-..." He sniffled. "I have you." He placed his forehead against Izumi's now. "And I have 2-A. I don't need her anymore, Izumi. She has her own-own life away from me…she has a Hitoshi…she doesn't need another one…I'm almost grown after all… there's no point." He told his friend softly. Izumi reached up and gently cupped his face in her good hand. She wiped his tears away on the left side of his face.
"There is a point…but…if this is what you want…then…okay. I'll support you to the very end." She whispered before she stood on her toes to kiss his forehead.
"That's all I'm asking for…" He whispered as he returned the kiss by kissing her forehead.
A hand patted his back suddenly. Before he knew it all of 2-A had crowded around him in a group hug. Some whispering words of encouragement, some saying that they would have done the same thing in his shoes, others just staying quiet. Hitoshi allowed himself to melt into 2-A's loving embrace.
Yeah, he had a long way to go in terms of recovery…but he was glad he wasn't alone anymore. That he had family to help him through this journey.