Chapter Text
It was simply a new day at Aldera Middle School. It’s about 2 months into the school year when the cultural festival was planned. It is supposed to be the first year that it’s happening; with the new principal changing things.
Midoriya waited in his seat for the teacher to walk in. Paying as much attention to everything around him while still focusing on the paper in front of him.
‘Don’t let your guard down’ Midoriya told himself, writing math formulas. The chatter of the class around him made him invisible, with no one even sparing a glance his way.
‘Perfect. Let me pretend I don’t exist’ Midoriya thought depressingly. He did focus on not muttering so he didn’t draw attention to himself.
The teacher walked into the room, everyone quieting down and rushing to their seats. The teacher walked up to the board and silently wrote 2 words on the board. Shocking everyone.
‘CULTURAL FESTIVAL’
“I’m sure you’ve heard that we got a new principal this year, and that things will be changing here; starting with more festivals that schools tend to do.” The teacher said, blankly.
The class was so stunned no one spoke.
“Each class was given something for us to do during it. They were based on what most schools do during festivals. Cafes, performances, art shows, things like that.” The teacher continued.
He turned around, a huge smile on his face.
"Our class is performing a musical!" The teacher exclaimed.
1..2..3.. the class erupted into chaos.
"Everyone will be participating, and we will choose which musical tomorrow. Think about this and have at least 2 for tomorrow." The teacher drawled, not waiting for it to get quiet. Smile dropping.
Midoriya was frozen in his seat. Lets hope I don't get chosen. That’s more attention.
“Since this is the last class of the day, I’ll let you have a free period to think about this assignment. All I ask is that it’s quiet.” The teacher said, walking to his desk and pulling out a book and tuning out the class.
Midoriya silently put his books away, getting ready to leave. The bell rang and Midoriya was the first out of the classroom. As soon as he was out of the school, Midoriya ran as fast as he could, not stopping once until he was home.
He heard the screaming of Bakugou behind him as he was running, which made him run even faster.
Soon he stopped in front of his door. He took a deep breath to not look like he was running and walked into the apartment, a smile on his face like usual.
His mother smiled at him as he walked into his room. Quickly setting down his backpack, he grabbed a small drawstring bag under his bed. Grabbing fresh clothes from his closet, he walked into the bathroom with the bag and clothes.
“Mom! I’m gonna take a shower before dinner!” He shouted to his mother.
“Okay sweetie, don’t take too long! Dinner’s almost ready!” She shouted back. Midoriya smiled at the thought of his mom.
Closing the door to the bathroom, Midoriya started the shower, but did not step into it, letting it run in the background.
“Let’s see what today’s score is.” Midoriya murmured. He took out the drawstring bag, which had a small pocket sized notebook, a razor, and an ink pen in red. Looking at the numbers on his arm, Midoriya did quick math and in the notebook, wrote down: MONDAY: 27+2 from yesterday
“Okay, less than thirty. I guess it's pen today”
Midoriya pulled his leg onto the counter and started drawing small, thin lines on his outer thigh with the red ink pen. He could feel the pressure and scrape of the dull edge of the pen. He counted all of the lines until 27. He added 2 more lines.
“For having to do this to begin with..” Midoriya said to himself. He felt tears push toward the front of his eyes, but not one actually fell.
Taking a breath, Midoriya turned and stepped under the shower head. Looking down, the swirls of red pouring off the skin in rivers enticed him as the color dissipated into the drain.
If tears fell then, well, it’s not like anyone could see it.
The rest of the day went as normal, eating dinner and finishing homework, Midoriya went to bed around 10pm.
THE NEXT DAY
Midoriya walked into class later than most students did but blended into a crowd of students, trying not to get seen by Bakugou.
The teacher walked in and started the day. Lunch was fine, though it ended with Midoriya hiding on the roof to eat food in peace and getting glared at by Bakugou during afternoon classes.
The final class finally came, with all students excited.
The teacher walked in with a small shoe box with a slit in the top.
“I want you all to write the musicals you chose and put them in the box.” The teacher explained. “I’ll choose 2 out of the box and we’ll vote on which one.”
The students pulled out papers, the class silent as everyone wrote, with a few people getting up to put them in the box.
Midoriya wrote down his choices. He just looked through his playlists and chose the first 2 musicals to show up.
‘Heathers’ and ‘Hamilton’ .
Midoriya walked up and dropped his papers into the box, silently walking back.
Soon everyone had put their choices in the box.
The teacher pulled 2 out and wrote them on the board.
‘Grease’ and ‘Six’ .
Midoriya had heard of Six, but knew that not a lot of people did, so he voted for Grease, since he had liked the movie.
Apparently, no one else heard of Six, so everyone voted Grease with the exception of 3 people.
The teacher pulled out another box (???) and set it down next to the first one.
“This has the class’ names in it. I’ll select some to play the characters. If your name is called, I want you to stay after-school so we can set up practice days.” The teacher explained, writing the character’s names on the board with a blank spot next to it.
“Okay, for Danny Zuko, we have… Katsuki Bakugou!” The teacher said, excited.
The class clapped and congratulated Bakugou, who smirked.
“Of course I would play the main role! None of you extras can think of playing the part!” Bakugou yelled over the class.
The teacher ignored him and pulled out another name.
“For Sandy Olsson we have….” The teacher paused reading the name again. “Izuku Midoriya.” He said in shock.
The class was silent. Midoriya was frozen before slowly moving to grab a black pen off his desk and wrote something on his forearm.
That got the class moving. Everyone yelled at the teacher, telling him to pull a different name.
“Sorry. The rules are rules. Midoriya? Can you stay after school?”
“I-Y-yeah I can.” Midoriya stuttered out resolutely, staring at the table in front of him. Everyone turned to glare at him. Like it’s his fault for getting chosen.
Midoriya was in a daze as other names were called.
‘I got caught today. I can’t outrun Kacchan if I don’t get a head-start.’ Midoriya thought. ‘That's 4 more. 6 for getting attention. My tally went into 35 so it’s razor today.’
What Midoriya didn’t realize was that he was mumbling. No one was really paying attention to him. Except for one person. Katsuki Bakugou.
‘The fuck does the nerd mean 35? A razor?’ Bakugou thought until it clicked in his mind. ‘The nerd is cutting himself. What the fuck? Why would he need to do th-’
He was shaken out of his thoughts by the bell ringing, signaling the end of the day.
‘Let’s get this over with.’ The boys thought.