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Izuku is trying.
Whether it's his best or worse it still matters.
If you were to ask four-year old Izuku if he would try his best he would say "I'll work so hard I'll faint!" But 5 years later, at 9 years old, he would say he would choose the fastest, quieter way.
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"DAMN NERD!!" Baka-gou slammed deku, making him fall one more time before spitting to the side. "Let's go extras." Kachan stalks off, not waiting for his two minions to follow him.
Izuku winced as he picked himself up and dusted himself off. He then moved to pick up his latest analysis notebook laying a few feet away, putting it in his backpack and began limping home. It was around 4 and walking home, not counting the grocery stop, would take around 1 hour, so if he wanted to be home before dark he'd better scurry.
When Izuku got to the busy street he got more alert, in case any of his classmates decided to drag him into an alley. Not many people liked Deku- a name that was given by the one true pomeranian after he read Izuku as Deku. Only his mom, a neighbor or 2, and the occasional people he helps out sometimes tolerates him. If you asked him if he knew why, he'd say no.
Except he knew exactly why, it was the same as why his dad left, why his mom cries every night, working double shifts at the hospital, and why he came home everyday with more bruises than the last. It started at the exact moment he was labeled 'quirkless'- the day everything went to shit. The same day his mom apologized, the same day his dream was crushed.
Izuku halted, clenching his fists, but he shook his head and continued on. He had things to get, things to get done. Finally, he arrived at the one grocery store he goes to always, cheap, fast, clean and peaceful. 'Tanaka's Store', a family owned business run by a sweet elderly couple, who Izuku would help around every once a while.
As soon as he went in, making the doorbell jingle, he was hit with the smell of fresh baked bread. He exhaled with a smile, "Hi Mrs.Tanaka!" He waved to her, Hina Tanaka was a sweet lady, even though she was old she had lots of energy, she had a weak quirk called 'Spicer', and as it says, she could creat natural spices, as well as herbs!
"Midoriya! How many times do I have to say this? Call me Hina, child!" She sets down the tray of cooked bread and came over to the said Midoryia, giving him a bear hug. She was quite strong for a women her age, almost suffocating Izuku with the hug. She let go and then examined his face, which was covered in scratch marks and bruises, "kid, you getting in trouble again?!"
"It's not my fault," Izuku mumbles, looking at the ground with a frown. Mrs. Hina sighed and brought him over to a little table, "sit, I'll get the band aids." Izuku wasn't one to deny an elder, quickly sitting down.
A minute later of Izuku sitting awkwardly watching as people come and go, some giving him weird looks, Hina came out of the back, "I swear, he's always leaving things in different spots!" He as in her husband, Haru Tanaka, who had a knack of moving things. She rushes over to Izuku, "sorry hun, damn husband been moving stuff around"
Izuku rushes to the apology, saying it was no big deal. Hina cleans up the marks, despite he's hesitation, and puts bandaids on them. "There! Now I don't want you getting hurt more now, boy!" She shakes an accusing finger at him, before turning away, getting back to her cooled down bread. "But I didn't even try t-" he tried saying, but alas the old lady was to far away.
Izuku sighed, as much as Mrs.Tanaka was trying, she could be a lot sometimes. She is one in only a few that like him, accepting him for his quirklessness, though it would be ironic if she hated him for it, seeing as Mr.Tanaka is quirkless- one of the few in the area. Izuku sighed, resting his eyes for just a second.
'Shit! Groceries!' Izuku hopped out of the chair scaring the nearby shoppers, he throws them a sheep, apologetic smile before rushing to the vegetable section.
Whether he like it or not this is how it's always going to be, the quirkless being at the bottom on the people with quirks on top. He may not know for sure what will happen in the future, but he does know something.
He had some shopping to do.
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Izuku is trying, not his best, not his worst, but he's trying. And that's all he can do for now.