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He had one of his boots on and was struggling with the second when a pair of arms wrapped around his waist and he squealed.
"Where do you think you're going?" his mother asked.
"It's raining!"
"I can see that."
"Can I go play outside?"
"Izuku, you'll catch a cold."
"Pleeeaaaase?"
She couldn't say no to those pleading eyes of his. "Just a few minutes. And you'd better come back when I call you in this time!"
He beamed and dragged his umbrella outside.
"And don't go down to Katsuki's house!"
He gave no sign that he'd heard and she sighed.
He saw a giant puddle up ahead and broke into a run, jumping with all his might. The water soaked into his boots but he didn't care. He wondered if Kacchan wanted to play with him but hesitated. His friend hadn't been very nice to him since he got his quirk.
He started towards the boy's street anyway and had almost made it when he heard something. It almost sounded like crying and he looked around.
"Hello?"
Someone gasped and he whipped around. He could see a pair of eyes in the bushes behind him.
"Hey, are you alright? You're not hurt, are you?"
The stranger shook his head and Izuku crouched down.
"Why are you hiding in here? Did you get lost or something? I can help you find your Mom!"
He began to cry again and Izuku drew back.
"I didn't mean to upset you! C'mon, I'll take you back to my house."
He shook his head rapidly.
"Well you can't stay out here in the rain. You don't even have an umbrella!"
He made no effort to move and Izuku sighed, crawling and sitting next to him. "My name's Izuku."
"Shouto," he said quietly.
"I live right down the street. What about you?"
He clamped his mouth shut and Izuku frowned.
"Do you like heroes?"
Shouto perked up and he continued. "My favorite is All Might! He's on my umbrella. I don't have my quirk yet but when I get it I wanna be just like him! Who's your favorite?"
"...All Might. But my quirk is fire an' ice."
"That's amazing! Can you show me?"
His face crumpled again and Izuku threw his hands up. "You don't have to!"
"Thanks..."
He got his first good look at the boy and his breath caught. "Hey, that's a really bad burn around your eye. You should get that looked at!"
Shouto gently touched it as though he didn't know it was there. "It doesn't hurt. Not today."
"Does... something else hurt? My mom has to clean up my scratches all the time so I might be able to help."
He didn't say anything but rolled up his sleeves to reveal all kinds of scrapes and burns.
"Are those from your quirk?" he whispered.
Shouto shook his head again.
"Izuku!" someone yelled. "Time to come in!"
"That's my mom. Please come back with me. I don't want to leave you out here."
"I... I can't."
"Then just come with me so I can talk to her. I want to walk you back."
"I can't," he repeated.
"Why not?"
"I just can't."
"Izuku! If you're not back here in a minute–!"
"I... I have to go. You should hurry home before the rain gets worse."
He nodded slowly.
He crawled out of the bushes and shook the water from his hair. The boy did the same before starting down the street.
He watched for a moment. "Shouto!" he called. "Be careful, okay? Maybe we can play together later!"
"Izuku Midoriya, I'm going to count to three!"
He didn't answer and Izuku took off, slipping a few times but making it to his street right as his mother reached three.
"There you are! You're absolutely soaked!"
He hadn't realized how cold he was until that moment and his teeth chattered. "I made a friend."
"I'll draw a bath and you can tell me all about them."
"He's got a super cool quirk. He's really quiet though."
"Or maybe you just talk enough for the two of you. C'mon, boots off."
"He didn't want to go home. But he didn't want to come here either."
Inko paused in filling the tub. "Where'd you find him?"
"In the bushes at the end of Kacchan's street."
"In the bushes?"
"Yeah, he was hiding."
"And were his parents around?"
"No. I said I'd help him find his mom and he started crying."
"...I don't think you should play with him, Izuku."
"Why not? I want to help him! His arms were all scratched up and he had a really bad burn around his eye!"
"I said no," she snapped. "Turn around and let me wash your back."
"But Mom–!"
"That's my final answer!"
He grew silent and she sighed. "I'm sorry."
"I'm scared," he whispered. "What if he gets hurt more?"
"It sounds like he will but there's nothing we can do about it. Just don't go looking for him."
"Why not? Aren't heroes supposed to help people?"
"Izuku, I'm being serious. Stay away from that boy. You're not a hero yet and you can't help him."
"...Okay."
"Thank you. Now come on, go get dressed and we can watch some TV together."
He put on his favorite All Might pajamas and joined her in the living room. He swore he'd find a way to help Shouto without disobeying his mother.
Ten years later he met a strange, quiet boy with a familiar scar. It was his turn to be a hero.