Chapter Text
Iida stared at his report card, the paper slowly crumbling at the bottom from where his fist was tightening around it. He couldn’t bear to see those numbers, but he also couldn’t look away.
D.
D minus, to be exact. When was the last time he got a D? When had he ever failed? Being the top of the class for so long, his classmates relied on him to do his best. How was he supposed to face them now? As a failure?
Deku walked up to him, bouncy and happy, as usual, and Iida made quick movements to shove his report card in his bag. Deku smiled big as he showed Iida his own report card. A big A right at the top. Mocking him.
“Look, Iida! I passed! Thank you so much, I couldn’t do it without your help!”
Iida felt the guilt eat away at his heart, as he put on a smile for his friend. He was happy for him, right? Isn’t he supposed to be happy for him? Why doesn’t he feel happy for him?
“That’s great, Midoriya! Good work.” Iida doles out the empty praise, and quickly grabs his bag, hoping to escape to his dorm, or maybe the school grounds so he could air out his frustrations. But Midoriya, it seems, has other plans.
“Wait, Iida! What’d you get?” His smile was so curious, so genuine, and it was an utter slap in the face for Iida. But Midoriya is his friend. He knows him so well, and maybe, he’d be good to talk to.
Maybe he would understand? Maybe he could help him not feel so bad...
“Well, actually Midoriya, I-”
But he was interrupted by Bakugo, who came over yelling and screaming to Deku about his grades, and demanding he share his class rank. And while Iida had a strong feeling that maybe he should talk to Midorya, he found himself speeding out the door instead.
-
Iida goes back to the dorm, heart heavy and chest tight with guilty feelings as he ignores the calls of his fellow students to play a game. He couldn’t bear to smile and pretend to be happy with all of his friends with everything that was going on.
Ochaco looked up from where she was sitting, smiling softly at Iida as he walked past her.
“Hey, Iida! Are you sure you don’t want to play Mahjong? It’s your favorite game!” She says, giggling slightly at something Tsu says. He sometimes wishes his feelings were small, so he could just tuck them away and be happy. If he could, then maybe his life would be better. Easier.
He looks at her and shakes his head.
“It’s okay, I’m actually really tired, so I’m going to bed. Good luck to you all.” He says as monotone as usual, with a slight tremor in his voice that no one really seemed to pick up on.
He goes upstairs into his room, sitting in his desk chair, letting silent hot tears fall into his lap. He didn’t bother wiping them away. He let the liquid seep into his pants, nothing more than a cruel reminder of his crumbling life.
How did I get a D for the semester? How low am I now in the class rank? Lower than Mineta?
He sighs angrily and attempts to do the assignments in front of him, listening as his friends cheer and laugh as they have a good time playing their game. It made him feel inadequate, but at the same time, it was like a mocking reminder of what he desperately wanted but couldn’t have.
I’ll just do better next time. I’ll work harder and train harder and push out better results than what I have now. It’ll be okay… right?
-
Iida stepped into class, his bag on his back, his mind replaying his D over and over again on repeat. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t notice walking right into the sleeping bag on the floor.
He stood, flustered and shocked, as his foot was right on top of Aizawa’s face. His homeroom teacher stared silent and stoic at him as Iida didn’t move. Everything was tense and silent before,
“Ah! Sorry, Aizawa-sensei!”
His homeroom teacher moved to sit up in his yellow sleeping bag, a big footprint branded on his face.
“It’s fine. Principal Nezu wants you in his office.” Aizawa said, monotone and tired, before falling back over on the floor, small snores emitting from his being. Iida stared at his teacher, a little confused, before following his instructions and making his way out of the classroom.
Iida could faintly hear the reminisce of Deku’s voice, but after his interaction, everything seemed to pass by in a blur as he walked to Principal Nezu’s office. He wondered what he could possibly want from him.
-
Deku watched as Iida walked away from him, mumbling something under his breath. He cocked his head in confusion as he went inside the classroom, seeing Aizawa-sensei on the floor, lightly snoring. He smiled softly and went to sit in his chair. He was worried about Iida but didn’t know if he was overreacting or not.
The rest of the class trickles in slowly and they all are talking about the upcoming weekend and whatnot. Deku drops his bag by his seat, and approaches Kacchan, Kirishima, and Todoroki, silently inserting himself into their conversation.
“Hey guys,” He says, looking down and messing with his fingers.
“Have any of you noticed Iida acting more off than usual? He seems quieter and more reserved like he was when his brother got hurt.”
Kirishima was the first to nod. “Yeah, I’ve noticed, but I thought I was losing my mind. I could have sworn he was frowning at his report card. Any other time he’s happy to see his grades.”
“Yeah I tried to stop him in the hallway one day this week, but he completely ignored me. We would usually talk about something going on in the class and try to study together, but he turned me down saying he was ‘really tired.’ It was odd but I didn’t think anything of it at the time.” Todoroki spoke, his eyes trained on Deku’s face.
Even Bakugo was agreeing. “Yeah, Glasses definitely seemed off. He’s usually so adamant in making sure I’m not sitting on the desks or something but he didn’t say anything. I actually got off myself. You tell anyone that and I’ll blast you into a new dimension!” He threatened.
Deku sighed. Iida wasn’t one he’d usually worry about after everything that happened with Stain, but he just seemed different somehow.
Maybe I can talk to him later one-on-one. Maybe it’s not as bad as I’m thinking it is.
-
Iida walked into the spacious office, Principal Nezu sitting in his chair ominous and stoic and it made him very distant and very big, despite being two feet tall.
“Iida, come in. Take a seat.”
“Yes, sir.”
Iida’s heart pounded in his chest as he took a seat, and hoped that whatever it is, it had nothing to do with his bad grades or the fact that he’s slipping behind, or maybe that he is failing as Class Rep. and no one can depend on him anymore. Not in the way they used to.
“How are you, my boy?” He smiled, soft and caring, and Iida felt like he didn’t deserve this smile. He didn’t deserve this kindness.
“I am okay.”
“Are you?” Iida cocked an eyebrow. What was that supposed to mean? Of course, he is okay. As far as Principal Nezu is concerned, at least.
“I am. I assure you.”
Principal Nezu nodded before jumping down off his chair and pouring a cup of tea.
“Tea, my boy?”
“No, thank you.”
Nezu invited Iida to sit across from him, on the comfy couches as he flipped open a white file folder and slid it across the table to Iida.
“Iida, you are aware of your grades this semester, yes?”
No.
Please. Don’t.
A fresh copy of the D minus that he had crumpled up in his bag is sitting in front of him. And it feels almost as bad as when he was first handed the paper. Actually- scratch that. It feels worse. Way, way worse.
“I-”
“Iida, I have seen great work from you. I know that you usually produce better work than this. However,”
Stop. Don’t say it.
“We have to…”
Shut- up.
“Support… Class…”
But the words aren’t anything but a faint soft voice in the background. All Iida can hear is his pounding heart and his screaming. His screaming to stop speaking, to shut up, to stop reminding him of what a failure he is.
And reality seems like worlds away and he can’t differentiate the screaming in his head from the screaming outside and everything is hazy and slow and Principal Nezu is coming towards him. Only Iida doesn’t want Principal Nezu to come towards him. He doesn’t want comfort.
He doesn’t deserve comfort.
The world passes by in a blur. The door flings open and Iida is running. He is running and running and he doesn’t know where, but all he knows is that he has to leave. He has to get away from the Villian inside.
But how do you escape yourself?