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For future heroes, it was imperative that they be on constant alert and aware of their surroundings. The class of 1-A knew the risk and consequences of being caught unaware. After the villain attack at USJ and internships on the horizon, each class member was determined to never be caught unaware again. This increase in self-awareness and surroundings was lauded by professors and parents alike. After all, how many times had a hero met an untimely end because they hadn’t been paying attention?
However, the increase of awareness did more than prepare them for the professional hero life. Class 1-A started to notice more like how Aizawa smiled more when he was around Present Mic, or how Principal Nedzu preferred to climb on Aizawa or Thirteen, or the way that All Might took special attention to Izuku.
“I stand by my secret love child theory,” said Shouto.
“Izuku’s too much of a fanboy,” Uraraka said between bites at lunch. “Wouldn’t it be kind of weird to have your father’s face plastered everywhere?”
“I wouldn’t know,” he shrugged.
“Isn’t it obvious?” spoke Iida. “Remember what Tsu said? Izuku and All Might have similar Quirks. Given how many times Izuku has been sent to the school nurse or how he can’t use his Quirk without breaking a bone or a limb, it’s obvious that All Might would see that he needs help and therefore help him!”
“Or he’s his son and he’s worried for his well-being,” Uraraka pointed out.
“I thought you didn’t agree with Shoto’s theory?” gasped Iida.
“I’m neutral but it does make sense and yours does too! Izuku is having lunch with All Might again. He’s probably giving him tips on how to not break his bones.”
“Or he’s giving him a father-son pep talk,” Shoto said wistfully.
“We can settle this at once!” declared Iida. “Bakugou! What do you know of Izuku’s father?”
Bakugou, who sat a few chairs down, snarled at Iida. “How the hell should I know?!”
“You did grow up with Izuku, didn’t you? And attended the same school system as him?”
“Wrong! He grew up with ME and he went to the same school as ME. I don’t follow Izuku for shit.”
“So, what’s his dad like?” asked Kirishima, stealing a fry from Bakugou’s plate.
“I don’t know! I’ve never seen him!”
“You’ve NEVER seen Izuku’s dad?” asked Uraraka. “Like never?”
“Since when am I in charge of keeping track of Izuku’s family?” he fired back. “I’ve never seen the bastard before. Auntie doesn’t talk about him and neither does Izuku. It’s always been the two of them since forever. He didn’t even show up for Quirk Day at school. It was just Auntie.”
An uncomfortable silence swallowed the conversation whole. Bakugou scoffed, “Why are we even talking about this anyways? If Izuku doesn’t care about his old man then neither should we.”
His words had little effect on his classmates. Kirishima openly wept, “What kind of unmanly jerk wouldn’t be there for his kid?!”
“Poor Izuku!” Iida wiped away his tears. “I have once more underestimated him.”
“He…He could be dead,” Uraraka said softly. “Maybe that’s why…why Izuku doesn’t talk about him?”
“There aren’t any photos of him,” Bakugou said. “Auntie used to babysit me when mom and dad would go out for date nights. One day she showed me photos of my parents when they were our age. I saw my parents’ wedding photos, a lot of baby photos of me and Izuku but nothing with his dad. I asked her once and she dodged the question. The bastard is alive somewhere.”
“I wanna pound the bastard into dust! Why would anyone do that to their family?!”
“Hell if I know!” Bakugou shouted. “Look, Izuku’s dad isn’t there and that’s all. He doesn’t get pissy about it so why should we?”
“Because he’s our friend,” said Shoto, his tone as cold as ice. “He helped me with my issues and I could not call myself his friend if I were not willing to do the same.”
“What are you suggesting?” Iida asked.
“We find Izuku’s father and we beat him up.”
“I like this plan!” smiled Kirishima. “Let’s do this!”
“I’ll do it,” shrugged Bakugou. “As long as I get to blow something up.”
“Wait a minute! That’s assault on a fellow student’s parent! Not to mention illegal use of our Quirks! We cannot-“
Iida’s rage against insanity and crimes was interrupted as Izuku joined them for the last ten minutes of lunch. “Hi guys!”
All talk of his father ceased and things returned to normal for the moment but they wouldn’t last for long. At the end of the day, Iida, Uraraka, Shoto gathered at the front of the school to further discuss Izuku’s father.
“I implore you, Shoto to not track down Izuku’s father. Bakugou has a point. He doesn’t seem to be bothered by his lack of his father in his life. As much as I want to help, I do not think that we should interfere.”
“Aren’t you interested in helping Izuku?” he coolly replied.
“Admittedly, yes but…Uraraka! I am in need of your assistance in this matter!”
She didn’t respond to him. She was looking out past the gates. “Uraraka?”
“Who’s that man?” she asked, pointing beyond. There was a man, tall, thin, and sickly looking, waiting outside of the school. His clothes were baggy and he kept looking at his watch impatiently.
“I do not know,” Shoto said. “I did see him at the Sport’s Festival.”
“He looks really scary,” whispered Uraraka. “His eyes are intense. Kinda like a demon’s.”
“Maybe he’s a hero? Or perhaps a very stupid villain.”
“Whoever he is, I will have a stern talking with him. UA has a zero loitering policy!” He took off in a flash, leaving his classmates behind. “Excuse me, sir!”
“Hmm?”
Uraraka was absolutely right. The man’s eyes were intense. A stunning blue, Iida felt as though his entire being was being summed up with a single glance.
“Uh, sir! As class representative for class 1-A, it is my duty to inform you that UA does not allow loitering on campus.”
“It’s quite alright,” the man answered. “I’m waiting on someone. He should be coming out soon”
“Be that as it may, I feel as though –“
Iida never got a chance to finish for a few seconds later, the man began to cough and hacked up blood.
“Hey! Are you okay?” Uraraka worried.
She wasn’t the only who worried. Once more, Izuku showed up right on cue. “Hey! All…Alright? Hey! Is everything alright?”
“He’s coughing up blood,” informed Shoto. “He’s ill.”
“It’s okay! This happens all the time!” Izuku said, somewhat frantically as he offered the strange man a tissue. “Are you okay?”
“I am now. Thank you, my boy.”
It was a term of affection that Izuku had grown accustomed to but for his classmates, such words incited a different reaction.
“My boy?” Uraraka gasped.
“Izuku…is this man your father?!” Iida questioned.
All Might was frozen where he stood but Izuku leapt into action, albeit nervously. “Y-Yes! He’s my dad!”
“Wow…we didn’t know that your father was…” Shoto paused. Anyone could see that Izuku and the man with him bared little similarity. “Blonde.”
“I get most of my coloring from my mom but I got my freckles from my dad. He used to have them when he was younger.”
“You also got my messy hair.”
“Ah, yes! I can see it now,” nodded Iida. “It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Midoriya.” He bowed and Shoto and Uraraka followed suit.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Iida, Shoto, Ochako.”
“Eh, you know our names?” she asked.
“Izuku speaks of you all fondly. From what he’s told me, I know you’ll all become professional heroes in no time.”
“It’s true,” Izuku backed him up.
“Mr. Midoriya, I don’t mean to sound rude but we’ve never seen you and, no offense, Izuku but you never speak of him.”
“Ah, yeah well…you see, it’s complicated.”
“I’ve…I’ve been ill for some time,” spoke the new Mr. Midoriya. “Since Izuku was a small child. To my shame, I could not be there for my family as I wanted to. I had to seek medical treatment overseas and have spent most of my time in America. I’ve only now just returned to see my boy,” he gave Izuku a side-hug for good measure, “become a hero.”
“That’s beautiful!” Iida gasped, tears in his eyes.
“Wow, Deku! That’s pretty cool of your dad!”
“But sir, shouldn’t you be in a hospital? That was an alarming amount of blood,” said Shoto, eyeing the soaked tissue.
Mr. Midoriya shrugged. “Eh, at this point, my problems can be managed from home. Right now, my focus is on Izuku, my son.”
“Thanks, dad.”
At that time, it was enough and good cover for All Might. He was able to wander through the campus as his new form without raising too much suspicion under the guise of an ill-parent wanting to spend more time with his child. Was it cruel? Yes. But after All Might’s brutal fights, he was unable to keep his muscle form for long. Medically, it was necessary and was able to divert any sign of favoritism that All Might might have had for Izuku. It worked perfectly.
But then the Kamino Ward incident happened.
Televised for all to see, the world saw All Might retire and for the class 1-A, saw the true heritage of Izuku. Shock rippled through the class. Suddenly, everything made sense. The similar Quirks, why All Might spent so much time with Izuku both in and out of class, and how there were no photos of All Might in the Midoriya home. Out of Izuku’s classmates, only Shoto was calm and cool in victory.
“I was right.”