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Izuku never really celebrated his birthday after finding out he was quirkless. Sure his mom always made him a cake and his favorite food but he never had a party or anything special. For him, it was just another day of the year and not something to make too much of a fuss about. After getting into UA, he made a bunch of new friends that actually enjoyed being around him and who genuinely liked him which was a strange but exciting concept. Yet still, he never told them when his birthday was and he didn’t expect to celebrate it with them since again it was never a big deal to him.
On July 15th, Izuku woke up to several people pouncing on him and excitedly giggling. With a groan, he groggily opened his eyes to see Todoroki, Uraraka, Iida, and Tsu-Chan all bouncing on his bed. “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!” They all cheered, each trying to hug him at the same time. Eyes blinked up at his friends for a moment before his brain processed everything.
Tears welled in his eyes and Izuku pulled his friends into a giant bone-crushing hug. “You guys!” He sniffled. “How did you know?”
Iida readjusted his glasses, “As class-rep, I have access to everyone’s files.”
“He asked Aizawa if he could look at them,” Uraraka smiled slyly, making Iida’s cheeks tinged red.
Tsu-Chan continued for Uraraka with a matching smile, “He said it was for academic reasons, so he could come up with a potential workout plan for everyone but it was really because none of us knew when your birthday was.”
Full-blown tears streamed down Izuku’s face and Todoroki, who was closest to him, smiled brightly at him while reaching down and gently wiping away the tears. “You’ve done so much for me…for all of us, that it’s only fair that we return the favor.”
“Todoroki is right,” chimed in a still blushing Iida. “You are our best friend and one of the bravest, kindest people we know. It’s only right that we celebrate you. Plus, your mom helped us plan everything.”
“Mom helped you?” a confused Izuku asked and all his friends nodded.
“It’s a surprise though!” Uraraka squealed, clasping her hands together, accidentally causing herself to float a bit. “Let’s go Deku-Kun!”
With a laugh, Izuku pushed himself up out of bed and they dragged him to the kitchen where his mom was making different flavored waffles. “Good morning, sweetheart,” she said, placing a kiss on his forehead. “Happy birthday!”
“Thanks, mom,” Izuku replied, pulling her into a hug and burying his face in her shoulder for a second. He still had the urge to cry but tried desperately to suppress it.
As if she knew his thoughts, she ran a hand through his sleep-mussed hair. “Go sit down with your friends, breakfast is almost ready. Todoroki brought over some tea.”
“It’s my mom’s favorite,” the boy in question replied, a hint of pink panting his cheeks. “She asked me to give you some as a present.”
“Tell your mom thanks,” Izuku beamed up at the boy, earning a deeper blush.
“I will,” Todoroki replied with a soft smile.
The group sat at the table and Inko presented them with the waffles while Todoroki finished pouring the tea for everyone. Breakfast was a quick affair since it was so delicious. Once the food was gone and everyone cleaned up, Izuku took a quick shower and changed ready for whatever his friends and mom had planned for him.
“We’re taking a quick drive,” Inko told her son with a smile and a ruffle of his hair.
The drive was short and they ended up at the mall. Izuku had little time to wonder why they were there before he spotted Kirishima dragging an annoyed Kacchan, who had his hands shoved deep into his pockets. Kirishima spotted the group and ran over Kacchan still dragging behind him. “Hey man! Happy birthday!” He elbowed Kacchan, who grunted a response that Izuku took to mean a birthday greeting.
“Thanks!” Izuku beamed at the pair.
With Inko’s coaxing, the group entered the side entrance of the mall next to the movie theater, which they walked right past. But stopped by the laser tag place across from the theater. Bouncing on the balls of his feet, Izuku could feel the excitement vibrating through him. He had never done laser tag before! As they walked in, tears welled in Izuku’s eyes as he noticed the rest of his class standing around gift bags and wrapped presents in hand. When they noticed him, they all started cheering and his face turned into a furious shade of red.
“Thanks, everyone!” Izuku said, a sunshine smile on his face.
Inko ruffled his hair and sent them all on their way to get ready to start playing with a smile, choosing to stay behind and watch.
A worker with brown scaly skin and yellow eyes on either side of their head introduced themselves as Ryuji. They had the class split into two teams, one with Izuku as the team leader and the other with Todoroki as the team leader. After they listened to the rules and got their packs on, they went to their bases. Izuku’s team at the green base and Todoroki’s team at the blue base. On Izuku’s team were Iida, Aoyama, Tsuyu, Jirou, Hagakure, Kirishima, Tokoyami, Koda, and Ojiro. While Todoroki had Uraraka, Momo, Mina, Kacchan, Satou, Shoji, Kaminari, Sero, and Mineta on his team.
With just a minute before the first signal bell rang, Izuku’s team got together and came up with a plan. Over the intercom came Ryuji’s reminder, “No quirks can be used here! You have to play the old-fashioned way!”
There was a collective groan but Izuku grinned. “This is fine though,” he told his team. “Some people on the other team are overly reliant on their quirks and don’t know how to fight without them.”
“Is that a dig at Todoroki,” Sero asked, sharing a look with Kirishima.
“No,” Izuku grinned. “It’s a dig at Kacchan. Without his explosions, he doesn’t know how to fight and he’ll get frustrated and attack erratically.”
“We can use that to our advantage,” Iida replied, rubbing his chin and the rest agreed.
“Good thing we’re on Midoriya’s team,” Kirishima whispered to Sero. “He’s got an encyclopedia knowledge of our classes quirks and fighting style.
“It’s a good strategy to have and something I’ve been trying,” Tokoyami said.
*BEEP*
“Let’s go!” Izuku called out to his team and they split up into smaller groups. Izuku, Aoyama, Tsuyu, and Ojirou all broke off together and headed around the right side. “We have to be careful because Kacchan and probably Todoroki will both be coming for me.”
Aoyama grimaced, “Oh goodie. A disgraceful monster and your future husband.”
“Be nice about Kacchan,” Izuku warned.
“He’s never nice to us,” Ojirou muttered.
“You notice how he didn’t deny Todoroki being his future husband,” Tsuyu mused.
Before Izuku had time to be embarrassed, he saw movement in the darkness and shoved everyone against the nearest wall. They all went quiet immediately and cocked their guns ready to fight. Izuku, who was in the front of his group, peaked his head around the corner and was met with two furiously glowing, red eyes and a snarl. “Fuck,” he found himself swearing. He knew Kacchan would come for him but didn’t think he would find him that easily.
“I’ve found you!!” Kacchan roared, jumping in front of them. A beep echoed and Izuku groaned thinking it was him. He looked down at his vest to see that it was still lit up ready to go.
“Too noisy,” Tsuyu huffed from her spot behind Izuku. Her gun was sitting next to his right ear. Kacchan’s vest was blinking as an indication that he had to go back to base to recharge. Growling he turned and stormed away allowing Izuku’s team a mini-celebration.
“Thanks, Tsu,” Izuku said holding up his fist which she bumped with her own.
The group made their way again slowly but surely. The idea was to pick people off so that Iida and his squad could attack the blue team’s base. They decided it was for the best to turn back around and retrace their steps to take a different route just in case. They did so and ran into Mina, Satou, and Shouji.
The two groups were at a standoff. Each hiding behind different barriers and taking turns aiming and firing at each other. Unfortunately, Aoyama was the first one out. He had jutted out from behind the barrier too much and allowed Mina a good shot at him. However, just as she got out, Izuku took aim and got her out. Mina stuck her tongue out playfully at Izuku but skipped back to her team’s base so she could recharge. With a little bit longer standoff Ojirou was able to get Satou out leaving only Shouji, who decided he would retreat and regroup with his team.
Izuku signaled to Ojirou and Tsuyu to follow him and they carefully pursued Shouji, who took them swerving in and out of barriers on his way back to base. They were about to turn another corner when something told Izuku to pause for a second. The three of them stopped behind the barrier.
It was a good thing too because just as they stopped Aoyama ran their way coming from the way to which Shouji had just disappeared. “Run! Todoroki’s coming and he’s leading a bunch of them! We’re outnumbered.”
A spark ignited in Izuku. “Leave Todoroki to me.”
“Mon ami, he’s all yours!” came Aoyama’s reply.
“I don’t feel like backing down either,” Tsuyu said with a smirk, clenching her fist.
“Yea man,” Ojirou agreed. “What’s the fun of it if we’re just going to run away?”
Seeing that he was defeated, Aoyama pouted but ducked behind them. “Fine. Since I’m outnumbered here too. I’ll stick with you. But only for Midoriya.”
They quickly made a plan to try to sneak from barrier to barrier carefully listening and on the lookout for the other team. Slowly, they made their way, encountering no one at first. Which was strange because it had been several minutes and no sign of Kacchan nor Todoroki nor anyone else on the team. Just as Izuku was thinking they could sneak to the blue base and capture it, thus winning the game, a soft voice called him from the side, “Midoriya, I didn’t think it would be this easy.”
On instinct, Izuku jumped before curling into a ball and rolling out of the way. In the process, he caught a glimpse of Todoroki, who had a glint in his eye and a smirk on his lips. The others in his team scattered and Todoroki aimed his weapon at Izuku but missed because Izuku rolled out of the way again. Ducking behind a barrier, Izuku knew he had to sneak out and shoot at Todoroki because there was no running away. They danced around barriers. As they went, Izuku caught glimpses of other blue team members, who he shot at and took out when he could. It seemed that most of them had agreed just like his own team had. Izuku and Todoroki were exclusively each other’s to get.
A growl echoed from beside Izuku which caused him to turn. Kacchan stood there pointing his gun at Izuku and took aim. He jumped sideways just in time for Todoroki to take aim as well. Kacchan’s shot missed both of them but Todoroki’s shot hit Kacchan. “WHAT THE FUCK ICY HOT WE’RE ON THE SAME TEAM?!” Kacchan proceeded to storm off.
Laughter bubbled out of Izuku before he could help it and he heard Todoroki laughing as well. Spinning around, he took aim at Todoroki who aimed at him as well. Neither of them fired but instead circled around each other waiting for the other to make a move to break the dance. Each of them had a playful smirk on their lips. Izuku even twirled his gun in his hand, earning a fond eye roll from Todoroki. At the same time, the two of them cocked their guns and fired. Only Izuku had shifted just enough while he fired to take Todoroki out.
“I won this round,” Izuku couldn’t help but gloat.
“I’ll get you next time,” Todoroki vowed, still not moving despite needing to go back to his base to recharge.
“Will you?” Izuku asked, taking a step closer to Todoroki.
In response, Todoroki merely hummed and ducked behind a barrier to the right. “I’ll get you!” Izuku cried, pursuing him closely. Todoroki took him weaving in and out of barriers on a wild goose chase, an attempt to lose him.
Behind the final barrier, there was the blue base. Quickly thinking on his feet, Izuku hid behind a barrier and took aim and shot Kaminari, Sero, and then Mineta. He dipped back behind the barrier and ran around the other side. Just as he did, he saw Jirou, Kirishima, and Koda creeping their way towards him. He signaled at them until he got their attention. Then he crept up to them.
“I just took out Kaminari, Sero, and Mineta after chasing Todoroki back here,” Izuku whispered. “The base is just around this side. We can either pair up and take them down that way or all come in from the same side. What do you all think?”
Quickly, they discussed their options. If they all came in from the same side, it provided the other team a good opportunity to take them all out at the same time. However, by splitting up and coming in from both sides, it gave them nowhere to run. Koda and Kirishima snuck around the other side of the barrier. Jirou’s headphone jack would’ve come in handy at that moment but they couldn’t use quirks. Luckily, her regular hearing was also enhanced as a result of her biological makeup. This allowed her to listen carefully for an opening. When she determined the right time she signaled for all of them to make a move.
On the count of three, they leaped into action from both sides. Jirou shot Mineta first, earning a whiney response from him. Koda shot Sero next but was taken out by Todoroki, who had finished recharging. Kirishima and Kaminari made shots at each other and ended up chasing each other around the barriers near the base. Kaminari doing his best to lead Kirishima away from the base. Still, it was three against one. The rest of them aimed their guns at Todoroki, who raised his hands up in defeat. Izuku took the winning shot at Todoroki, while Jirou and Koda took their turns at fully capturing the base.
Over the loudspeaker came, “GREEN TEAM WINS!”
Holstering his gun, Izuku ran over to Todoroki and picked him up in a bone-crushing hug. Then he proceeded to spin him around. Eventually, he put him down and Todoroki looked slightly shaken, a brilliant blush glowing on his cheeks visible on his cheeks even in the dark. “Good game, Todoroki!” Izuku beamed at him.
“Yea,” Todoroki responded breathlessly. “You fight good.” He put a hand on Izuku’s shoulder.
They made their way around the barriers and out of the room. Then they took off their packs and hung them back up. With everything hung up and put away, it was time for pizza and cake and then eventually presents. Izuku couldn’t believe that he was actually getting presents this year from friends! It was such an incredible concept to him.
Inko had been watching the entire game from the monitors with Ryuji. Upon seeing Izuku, she pulled him into a big hug and ruffled his hair. “Happy birthday Greenbean,” she whispered.
“Thanks, mom,” he replied with a soft smile.
There was a separate room for the pizza and cake. As they sat there, they talked about the highlights of the game and their favorite parts. How they’d do things differently next time. The cake that Izuku ended up getting was an ice cream cake that had both vanilla and chocolate ice cream on the inside with the chocolate crunchies in between them.
After the pizza and cake were finished, it was time for Izuku to open up his presents. It seemed that all his friends knew him pretty well because he got a bunch of All Might themed presents. He got action figures and shirts. Momo had managed to get him a limited-edition Silver Age poster that he couldn’t wait to put up in his room. Meanwhile, Todoroki had bought him tons of different types of All Might merchandise. In the card, which also happened to be All Might themed, he wished Izuku a happy birthday and told him that he had used Endeavor’s credit card. It was something that caused Izuku to laugh fondly at his friend.
There was also an arcade in the laser tag place, so Inko sent them off to play some games for a while. About two hours later, everyone started leaving and wishing Izuku a happy birthday again. He thanked them all as they made their way home. When it was just him, his mom, Todoroki, Iida, Tsuyu, and Uraraka they made their way back to the Midoriya household for some videogames and dinner.
The group ended up having a sleepover and ended up falling asleep in a giant cuddle pile around two in the morning after playing videogames half the night. The next morning, Izuku woke up with his head on Iida’s stomach and Todoroki curled up in his arms. Uraraka and Tsuyu were cuddled up on the opposite end of the couch. Stretching, Izuku hummed content. Yesterday was the best birthday I’ve ever had. My friends are the coolest in the world.