Chapter Text
Izuku hated how he flinched when the imposing shadow of All Might towered over him, but reflexes were reflexes, he guessed. Especially now.
“-You can become a hero.” Toshinori filled his voice with as much conviction as he could, pride swelling in his heart at the thought of mentoring the boy before him. How hadn’t he seen it before? This boy would be the perfect protegé. Toshinori could nearly see it before him- His thoughts came to an end when the boy before him lowered his head low, long, green curls falling over his face. The young boy’s knuckles were turning white as they clutched his uniform just over his heart, sobs wrecking his tiny body. Toshinori felt his heart clench at the sudden reaction over such a small gesture. Without thinking, he was reaching forward to comfort the crying boy, but-
but his heart jumped when he realised the boy wasn’t crying, he was -
he was laughing.
“Are you serious ?” the boy barked out, letting out another bitter chuckle. “Oh man, this is just laughable . You would have thought that the number 1 hero, my former idol, would have some decency .”
The words that came out of the young boy so naturally shook Toshinori to his roots, just the one word in there was enough to make him freeze-
“Former?” he heard himself echo, his gaze all but locked on the petite boy who had confided his story in Toshinori less than an hour ago.
This was not the reaction he’d been expecting. Shock, a stuttering mess, maybe even tears, but not this. Definitely not this. Definitely not how the boy slapped away Toshinori’s outstretched hand as if the mere touch would burn him. Definitely not how the optimistic, emerald eyes had turned toxic. Actually, maybe that was wrong. They were toxic, toxicity directed at Toshinori.
What has gone through his head in this short period of time, for him to change so much? Toshinori clasped his jaw shut, The quick glance he caught when the boy’s eyes flickered in surprise conveyed more than any words could.
“You really can’t see?” The boy huffed in disbelief at Toshinori’s silence.
The boy paced around in a circle where he stood, his mouth losing himself to what Toshinori felt was an urge that had been since long coming. “You were ready to break me,” he began. When he had begun, there was no stopping the stream of frustrated words spilling out.
“You were ready to break me, and throw me away. You tore apart my dreams simply because you were running out of time.”
“Yet, when my actions seems to validate my worth to you, you change our mind. That’s not how you treat another human being.” The boy only paused long enough for an exasperated sigh to slip out.
“The thing is, under the right circumstances, I might’ve even accepted your offer.” Toshinori swore his heart made an additional beat for a second. “What’s the difference, then? Well, while my skittish nature is no act, I’ve found support along the way of my hardships in my friends. The friends, who I called just after you left.”
“What’s the matter? Surprised that someone actually judged me for my merit instead of a quirk? Believe it or not, those people exist, and they reminded me of my self-respect that I’ve grown since I’ve met them. That my worth isn’t dictated by the regard of others.”
Toshinori would never forget those eyes. Oh god, what had he done.
“Others like you.” A low chuckle escaped his lips, but with the weight it brought there was no way to view it as one of actual amusement.
Toshinori opened his mouth, but the boy continued, and his words of apology laid forgotten in his mouth.
“Don’t worry. Your secret lies safe with me.” The way he said it was almost sarcastic.
“It does not, however, oblige me to act upon your offer,” he said, his words returning to steel and his eyes glaring daggers with his last words. “Think before you speak next time. I decline your offer. Goodnight.”
The finality gave no room for discussion, even if Toshinori would have been able to form another coherent sentence.
Instead he just stood there.
For a long while.
Until he could process the words.
Toshinori had no idea how simple words could hurt him so much, and then hurt some more when he realized what he must have done to the boy. The child. He had broken a child.
The first time Midoriya, Todoroki and Shinsou met was on a playground, and they were 3 years old. Their quirks had yet to surface, and albeit they all lived under different circumstances with different challenges, they each had confidence in their future. They would still say that they were happy.
A few years later, with them being six years old, they meet again by coincidence.
Sunshine filters through the leaves laying overhead as a protective shield for the playground. A large oak has its branches extended high above, resulting in a refreshing shadow for two green colored heads to cool themselves in. The smaller one is clutching an All Might figure, happily chattering away about heroes and whatnot while the woman contently keeps working through the smaller one’s wild curls and hums at appropriate places. The scene continues at the same peaceful pace until a phone ringing cuts them off. The caller ID is simply “Work”, and the woman excuses herself to take the call, keeping an eye on her son as she talks.
Izuku huffs. He was in the middle of telling his mother about the new All Might video! The villain hadn’t even had the time to blink before the number one hero had cuffed him to a streetlight. It was just so amazing when-
“San-san?” a surprised voice called from above.
“God?” Izuku yelped, his surprised squeal piercing through the air. He spun around as fast as he could manage, searching the sky for something- and finds a boy with purple hair laying sprawled over one of the tree branches. Hold on, wait a minute? San-san? Who was San- “Hoshi?” The words escaped his lips before he had finished his own thought. A glitter of recognition started to slowly but surely make way into his eyes.
“Hoshi-chan, is that you?” Izuku nearly whispered, recalling their meeting no less than three years ago. Frozen to the ground, he stared at the boy who had remained silent.
He waited for any indication of response, but the boy kept any further words to himself. Actually, he had positioned a hand over his mouth, with a weird look on his face. Shock? Hesitation? Regret?
Izuku sniffed, his arm wiping at his stinging eyes that were bound to release the tears that Kacchan said were childish. Just like the way he said I was irritating, that no one wanted to be friends with me . Cheeks reddening, he realised how informal he had been calling the other boy. He should have known. I should have known.
--
Meanwhile, Shinsou Hitoshi was in mild panic, not even noticing how the twigs scraped at the arms covering his mouth.
He had called San’s name out of reflex- or shock, mostly shock, seeing as he didn’t talk much these days. But he wasn’t allowed to talk, or so the teachers said. That was what his parents had ordered. He didn’t want to go against that a second time.
He first thought he could say something, this wasn’t school, and his parents had left him here again, but then San started crying, and Hitoshi tossed that idea out of the window. If he hurt someone when he was silent, imagine what he’d do when he talked. He wanted to talk! He wanted to ask his classmates what their favourite ice cream flavour was, and he wanted to comfort San. But he couldn’t say anything. He wouldn’t.
But, he couldn’t ignore San either. San was sad. His mind supplied that he had only met this person once, but San was still his closest friend. Don’t you mean ‘was’? A real friend wouldn’t just sit here.
Hitoshi just wanted to take a nap, which was evident on the growing bags under his eyes, but he couldn’t relax at his house. The universe seemed to be against him.
He threw another look at San. The nap could wait until later, he decided, beginning to make the climb down from the tree that was many times his size. The sniffing didn’t disappear when he stood in front of San.
What should he do? He had never comforted anyone, and no one had comforted him.
His mind swirled, his increasing panic not helping his usually disarranged mind. He picked out an idea at random, trying to think of what he would have wanted from his parents, and didn’t understand what he was doing until he was patting San’s head gently.
He nearly retracted his head in that instant, but to his surprise there was no sobbing heard from the boy now. He merely looked at Hitoshi with big eyes.
Hitoshi froze.
San had suddenly shined up, emerald eyes happily sparkling at Hitoshi like he was some great being, despite there still being tears in the corner of his eyes. Hitoshi felt his cheeks redden. Had he done something wrong again?
Then, giggling, San stepped forward and hugged Hitoshi, patting Hitoshi like had done to san. Neither of them said anything, except for San’s happy giggles, and no one could prove that Hitoshi hugged back.
Except for the green-haired woman standing behind San, whose phone had just let out a loud click. Then another.
The woman had the same green hair and eyes as San, just not the freckles. It was his mother, without doubt.
...Had he gotten San in trouble? Had he broken some rule?
Those thoughts melted away when San turned around, and the moment he he saw her his smile grew even happier (How was that even possible? He looked like a ball of sunshine.)
“So cute!” she exclaimed, sharing his opinion, with a shrill voice, putting one hand over her mouth as she smiled widely.
“Mom! Hi! Lookwho’sheremom,can you see him? It’s Hoshi-chan!” San hurried to tell her, most of the sentence morphing into one word. His mother seemed to think it made perfect sense, because she just nodded and turned her attention to Hitoshi once San had introduced him.
“Hello there! I’m Midoriya Inko, but you can call me Inko,” she warmly greeted, crouching down to his level. “We were just about to get some Ice Cream, you could come too, if it’s okay for your parents.” His smile was wiped away.
He didn’t want to talk. Especially not about his parents. Should he just leave?
…
He didn’t want to leave San…. That was strictly for San’s sake, of course, he could still be sad. Even if he was smiling for the moment.
He opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
He couldn’t do it.
He was tired.
Instead, he made the gesture of locking his mouth as a zipper, and throwing away the key. He hoped some kind of message came across.
Mrs. Midoriya blinked at him. Apparently, the whole Midoriya family hid surprises, because then she gestured something to him. No, she signed. Hitoshi understood.
“Are you mute?”
He blinked. Then he nodded.
“Yes.” he signed, for extra measure. He was glad he had taken the time to learn sign language when he went on the lesson required by the school. Required for him, that was.
“Oh, well, I know some sign language, my teacher in high school was deaf, you see, so that’s not a problem. Would you like to get an Ice Cream?” she asked, out loud this time.
San was behind her, concentrated on their conversation with a confused expression on his face, muttering something that couldn’t be made out. Right. He had heard him talk several times. Well, Hitoshi guessed he’d enjoyed it while it lasted. Except, San just shrugged and his smile flew back before he could blink. Well, this was going better than… Ever, really.
Without thinking, he returned the smile. San’s smile brightened yet again.
“Yes please,” he signed, turning back to Mrs. Midoriya. She clasped her hands contently, before asking the inevitable question. “ Where are your parents then?”
Hitoshi lifted his hands to sign an answer, but hesitated on how he could form a good sentence, a lie , possibly, with the few words he knew. At last, he settled for the truth.
“Hide and seek.” The simple but bitter word had another meaning for him.
“Hide and seek? And you’re the seeker?” Hitoshi could only sigh. (Or was that a yawn?)
He shook his head.
Mrs. Midoriya regarded him with confusion. “But you’re not even hiding?”
“They’re just bad.” She watched him sign, then got a thoughtful look on her face. She was without doubt thinking the obvious. The park was not small, but there wasn’t anywhere to properly hide. “They’re not even in the park.” he signed truthfully.
Mrs. Midoriya sighed. “Well, then they wouldn’t mind one Ice Cream, now would they?”
He met her look. It was inviting. Safe. He smiled.
“Let’s go then!” she decided, San applauded behind her. Hitoshi felt like he could laugh out loud right then and there. Of course, he wouldn't, but still.
Todoroki Fuyumi was getting more worried by the minute. This was the first time they had been allowed to leave the hospital since Shouto had gotten… admitted.
He hadn’t said any other word than ‘Mama’ all week. She’d thought this might cheer him up., but…
“Shouto, do you want peppermint or strawberry?” she tried, getting no answer. As usual.
He wouldn’t respond to anything. “Maybe some topping?” Nothing.
The restlessness was clawing at her arms and her chest, telling her to help, to do something.
But she couldn’t. She wasn’t Mom, and she wasn’t Touya either. They would have known what to do. It didn’t matter anyways, since they were both gone now, leaving the responsibility with her. Why can’t we all get along?
Fuyumi knew she couldn’t do anything to stop Shouto from going back home to ‘train’ the moment the hospital saw it fit for him to be released. Actually, scratch that, Father would make sure it was sooner than that.
She just wanted her little brother to have a good memory before returning to that hell.
God knows Touya would have needed it. But now he’s gone.
God knows Fuyumi would need it. I don’t know how long I can hold on.
Okay, okay. Deep breaths. She needed to be collected, for Shouto at least. “Do you want a spoon with that?” Her voice cracks, and it’s hopeless, but if she tries really hard maybe everything will go back to normal-
“You probably should ask for some napkins along with that, dear, ice cream tends to leave such a mess otherwise,” a woman suddenly advises her. She’s behind her in line and has two children standing at her side. She probably knows what she’s doing.
“Err, right. Extra napkins please,” Fuyumi adds.
While her order is being prepared, she glances at the woman behind her. The two children were playing rock, paper, scissors, the purple-haired one winning each and every time. The smug smile was visible.
“Oh, euhm, thank you for that. I can be a tad forgetful at times,” Fuyumi excuses herself, hoping she didn’t come across as arrogant.
“Oh not at all, it’s heartwarming to see you taking such good care of your sibling,” she cheerfully replies. It’s not like I had much of a choice, she stops herself from saying out loud.
The woman was kind, and really, Fuyumi needed all the advice she could get.
The silence stretched out awkwardly, until it came to her that this was a conversation. Not just her father’s instructions, but something she was supposed to respond to.
She wasn’t much better than Shouto at this point, she mused. She should say something.
“Well, I do what I can. I’m just not sure what to do, to be honest.” Good job Fuyumi, opening yourself up for a random stranger. What will she think now?
Fear gnawed at her, judgemental gazes filling her vision, telling her she was in the way, she wasn’t good enough- “That is perfectly normal, dearie, I don’t know what I’m doing half the time. Just take a deep breath, and remember that it’s not all on you, okay?”
Huh.
She absent-mindedly grabbed the ice cream, turning around to face the woman again before finding herself a seat. “Say, could I possibly ask you a few things? If you wouldn’t mind, that is.” The smile Fuyumi got in response melted away her worries.
“Anytime.”
“You’re the broccoli boy.” Shocchan declared confidently.
So that is how Izuku ended up reunitet with the friends he’d made years ago.
Even though they were both shy, Izuku found them to be the kindest people he’d met his own age. They let him talk, didn’t make fun of him, and they even talked about heroes together! When it came to Endeavor, Izuku noted that his demeanor very much resembled the one of his, uh, friend, Kacchan.
“Then he can’t be a very good friend.” Shoucchan commented coldly, Izuku blinked.
Even when Shoucchan had to go, he had a warm feeling in his heart and a promise of ‘I’ll see you again, sometime’.
The feeling stayed until they sat at the outdoor table, waiting for Hoshi’s parents until darkness arrived.They didn’t come. Mom took his hand. “Hitoshi-kun, you said that your parents weren’t here. Are they looking for you?”
A small pause, then Hoshi shook his head.
“Will they come back?”
Hoshi gestured something that Izuku couldn’t really understand again, but Mom apparently did. He’d have to ask them to teach him later!
“What do you mean by ‘sometimes?”