Chapter Text
“Stepping out at the lights
All alone, stuck inside
The only way you need to find
Is the only one you've never tried
Leave it all behind until you can't remember
Come along, I'll show you how” [1]
It began in an almost-empty Manhattan apartment unit. The sights and sounds of New York City bustled below. Outside, the world marched relentlessly forward, but this small studio unit was going back in time. Walls and shelves that were once tastelessly decorated with hero merchandise returned to bare masonry and wood paneling. Photos of friendly smiles previously displayed so prominently were now stacked neatly on top of each other in one of these boxes. Seated on the floor was Izuku Midoriya, age 25, boxes in stacks of varying heights surrounding him.
“Yep, I’m coming back, and for good this time, haha,” Izuku spoke toward his phone laying flat on the ground. He lifted up an All Might figurine to examine it, turning it in the air, attempting to find the best position for it in his box of similar trinkets. Kirishima was on the other end. “When I heard you were coming back to Japan, I was kinda surprised, man. I thought you had a good gig in America. Is everything alright?”
Izuku paused for a second. He leaned back on his palms, and, letting out a sigh, he looked around himself. His apartment was traveling back in time, but in a way, so was he. Most of his adult life so far had been spent overseas, and although he was moving back to Japan to start a new chapter in his life, he was also returning to his childhood home to continue living out his childhood dreams.
Izuku Midoriya completed his university education in America last year. While he was going to school, he was also working part-time as a pro hero in the city. After earning his B.A. in Hero Administration, he continued to work as a full-time pro hero, and now he was leaving. He wasn’t dissatisfied with his job or with living in America. He met some great friends there, but something was drawing him back to Japan. If you had asked the hero what it was, he wouldn’t have been able to put it into words. It just felt like something he had to do. “Yeah, it seemed like the right time to come back. I was a little home-sick and--”
“And you missed your old partner Red Riot, didn’t you?” Eijirou playfully interjected.
Izuku giggled. “You know, you’re still the best hero partner I’ve ever had, and I’ve had a few partners.” Happy memories of their short time as a hero duo lifted his freckled cheeks. Deku and Red Riot, the Sword and Shield Heroes, took Tokyo by storm after graduating from UA. They were the perfect combination of offense and defense and were quickly named Rookie Duo of the Year on the Hero Billboard JP.
“Aww, you flatter me, man!” Eijirou beamed through the speakers. Even over the phone, his voice always seemed to put Izuku at ease. Perhaps it was the familiarity. They had to learn to rely on each other in the most desperate of situations, having faced the USJ incident, Kamino, the Hassaikai Raid together.
Deku would not have hesitated to say that it was his time as the “Sword” of the Sword and Shield Heroes: Deku and Red Riot that he remembers most fondly, so his decision to end their hero partnership after less than two years and move to America to study in university came as a shock to their fans. He certainly hadn’t been unhappy living out his dream of being a hero and saving people with the best partner he ever had, but there had been something calling out to him from a distance. He had never quite been able to make out what it was, but in his heart there had grown a desire to go further beyond, “Plus Ultra” style.
The opportunity presented itself to study in America and learn hero dynamics in a completely different context. U.A. had given him a path straight to the top in Japan, but in America, he would be able to see hero society as an outsider. All of this was to make him a better hero overall, so he had to make the difficult decision to leave Japan for a little while, and start from scratch in America.
Eijirou’s voice interrupted the silent glow of fond memories for Izuku, pulling him back to reality, “Anyway, I know you’ll be busy when you first come back, so we won’t kidnap you right away when you land in Tokyo, but, the gang is excited to see you, and we will be forcing you on a night out soon after you get back here.”
The zip and crack of packing tape on a newly completed moving box preceded a well-deserved sigh from Deku. “As long as I can get beer that isn’t bad and real tonkatsu, you guys can do whatever else you want to me.”
They hashed out the details and ended their call. It was always a joy to talk to Eijirou, even if it wasn’t often.
Over the next few days, Izuku worked his last few patrol shifts during the daylight and continued to pack during the nights, once again removing himself from the life he had built up to start over again in a different place. One last appearance on the local news and an emotional airport farewell with his American colleagues saw him off back to Japan.
Eijirou followed through with his threat to kidnap Izuku after waiting an appropriate amount of time after he landed. He had rounded up as many of their classmates as he could, considering their busy schedules.
The redhead was the first to arrive at Shinjuku station, shortly followed by Iida. Uraraka and Tsuyu arrived soon after. Todoroki and Bakugou promised to come as well, but delays forced them to miss the station greeting and instead convene at the destination later.
Izuku disembarked from his train at Shinjuku station and found himself surrounded by his former classmates. Hugs and greetings were exchanged to the satisfaction of the group, and they were on the move, a roving band of smiles and exclamations led by the glowing personification of sunshine that was Kirishima. Emerging from underground, they slowly made their way into a shopping arcade, and after rounding a few corners, found themselves at a mom-and-pop restaurant.
The group was confused at the venue for tonight’s shenanigans. Nakamura Restaurant was a traditional eatery squeezed between two retail spaces in an unremarkable shopping district; it was really nothing special. Chattering with his friends and learning about their accomplishments had distracted Izuku while they were in motion, but when they stopped and he saw where they were, his eyes grew, excitement immediately emanated from his entire being.
Deku had only ever come here a few times before on his lunch break, but Nakamura’s made the best tonkatsu he had ever tasted. “Oh my god, Kirishima, did you know that this place makes the best tonkatsu in Tokyo?”
The redhead chuckled. “There’s a nice restaurant near the royal palace that actually has the best tonkatsu in Tokyo according to Yalp, but I also know that this place makes tonkatsu the way you like it.” Kirishima grinned, holding the door and gesturing the group into the establishment.
They were seated quickly and started picking out their meals and drinks for the night.
As they waited for their orders, the group got caught up with each other, exchanging anecdotes and memories, smiles and laughter all around the table.
Before long, Todoroki and Bakugou joined the group. Eijirou signaled them over from the front door, and Izuku greeted them with hugs, “Kacchan! Todoroki! It’s good to see you two again!”
“Hey Nerd, welcome back to Japan. Sorry we’re late.” Bakugou gestured over to Todoroki, trailing him with his signature stoic demeanor. “Half ‘n’ Half and I were discussing this year’s class of interns from UA. We’re thinking of doing a team-up with our recruits.” Todoroki waved at the group, “Remember Kota and Katsuma? We’ll be taking them on as interns this year. Their hero names--” Katsuki interrupted “Okay, I wanted to surprise Deku with that. Their hero names are Hydro Pump and Mito, short for ‘mitochondria’. You know, like the powerhouse of the cell? Their level of nerdiness reminds me of you, haha!” Todoroki rolled his eyes at his boyfriend. Turning back to Izuku, he continued, “Anyway, Midoriya, it’s good to see you again. Welcome back.”
The night carried on as the heroes enjoyed their time with each other. It was definitely a rare occurrence for this many of them to get the chance to hang out at the same time. Like a true guest of honor, Izuku was bombarded with questions from every end of the table.
“What was your hero name in America?”
“Deku doesn’t translate very well into English, so I went by Grasshopper.”
“Which agency did you sign with now that you’re back?”
“Oh, I’m going back to Might Tower where I was before. Eijirou is still there too, so maybe we can team up again!”
“Where are you living now?”
“Uh… I’m actually in a hotel right now until I find a place. It’s hard to find an apartment for one in Tokyo these days…”
Did you date any cute Americans?”
“Well, actually I--”
“HOLD ON,” Izuku’s answer was interrupted by Eijirou, “Izuku, you didn’t feel like telling any of us that you needed a place to stay?” The table turned to Eijirou who was visibly frustrated at Izuku for not mentioning this earlier, some nodding in agreement.
“C’mon man, why didn’t you say anything? I have a whole spare room in my condo.”
“Well, I didn’t want to be a burden to anyone or...” Izuku paused. Eijirou’s intense gaze stopped him mid-sentence, ruby eyes painted with genuine concern and eyebrows pressed in. Eijirou was annoyed with him.
He was jolted back into reality from Eijirou’s eyes by a solid grip on his shoulder. Eijirou pulled him into a side hug, playfully jabbing him with his other hand, “Alright bro, you can help me with rent, my condo happens to be walking distance from this place, and I bet that hotel doesn’t make katsudon like they do here. You can stay as long as you need to until you find your own place, and it will be way cheaper than having a hotel room in Tokyo. Whaddya say?”
Izuku tried to refuse, but his friend was persistent. A real man always looks out for his bros. That’s just how it worked according to Eijirou’s code of chivalry. Eventually, the green-haired man relented, thanking his old friend for his hospitality.
The night continued for another hour or so, and after saying their goodbyes, the group parted ways, leaving Eijirou and Izuku to work out the details of their agreement. They discussed their plans on the way back to the train station and said goodbye as well. Izuku waved out the window as his train departed taking him back to his hotel.