Chapter Text
“It’s such a powerful quirk!”
Inko Midoriya watched as four-year old Katsuki Bakugo sparked small explosions from the palms of his hands. Izuku Midoriya gazed in awe at his “friend’s” newly manifested quirk. Bakugo had a prideful grin stuck to his face.
“That’s right. That god damned stinker got a quirk that matches his attitude.” Mitsuki Bakugo said, watching the two children play. “He won’t shut the hell up about it.” Her face was oddly enthusiastic compared to the harshness in the tone of her voice, causing Inko to chuckle a bit uncomfortably.
“It’s a quirk with a lot of potential, but it could be very loud as well. Did you ever think that it could damage his hearing?”
Mitsuki was silent for a few seconds before responding. “Of course. But there’s nothing I can do about it. Katsuki wants to be a hero, I can’t stop him from going after what he wants. If it even happens, I have no doubt his hearing is gonna go to shit. Our best option is to learn sign language for when the time comes.”
While most of his attention was on Katsuki, Izuku was also focused on the conversation going on behind him. He didn’t quite understand it, but he knew it wasn’t good. He brought his full focus back to Bakugou and grinned. “I hope I can get a quirk as strong as yours Kacchan! It’s so cool!”
“Heh, there’s no way Deku. Whatever quirk you get is never gonna match up to mine. I can’t wait to show everyone in school. They’ll all be super jealous!”
Midoriya nodded happily. “It’s so cool! I wanna go outside and play heroes.”
“Fine, I get to be the hero though. The villains are weak so you have to do it.” The young Bakugo was already walking away towards the back door. Midoriya followed behind him, saying nothing and unwillingly agreeing.
―
Later that day, young Midoriya sat in front of his desktop excitedly as his mother put on his favorite video of All Might. Almost as if it was planned, Midoriya’s mind drifted to Kacchan and the conversation he overheard between his mom and Mitsuki. He looked up to Inko’s face from his chair. The one thing that bugged him was that something bad may happen to his “friend.”
“Mom? What’s gonna happen to Kacchan?”
Inko looked down at him, surprised at the sudden question, and the worried look on his face. “What do you mean?”
“When we were at Kacchan’s house,” the boy lowered his head, “You and Kacchan’s mom said that something might happen to him..”
Inko paused. She had no idea he was listening. She kneeled down to Midoriya’s level with one hand on his lap. She was still undecided on whether to tell her son the truth, or tell him not to worry about it. “Izuku, look at me.”
Midoriya raised his head, face to face with his mother.
Inko chose what she believed was the right thing to do. She explained as much as she knew in a way the boy would understand. She told him how Bakugou’s destructive quirk could affect his hearing. She explained how if his hearing is damaged, he would have to communicate through his hands. Midoriya listened carefully to everything. The more he knew, the greater his determination grew to do something about it.
“I’m going to learn how to talk with my hands, mom!” Midoriya stood up in his chair. “That way, when Kacchan can’t hear, I can help him!”
Inko’s face turned from gloomy and pitiful to hopeful and proud. She instantly pulled her son into a tight embrace. There was a hint of tears coming from her eyes.
“Oh, Izuku!” She cried. “You can do it Izuku...I’m so proud of you..”
Midoriya leaned into his mother’s warm chest. “I want to be Kacchan’s hero too.”