Chapter Text
In earnest, so much had occurred in the past twenty-one or so months that Izuku Aizawa had hardly realized how exhausted he felt. And, yet instead of being in bed, he was in a grocery store buying popcorn. Stepping through the automatic doors, he clutched the box to his chest and marched forward back to U.A. against a cool gust of wind. Even for early December, the temperature still matched that of Autumn. Today, Channel Rekishi was airing the first episode in a special program called “All Might: Throughout the Ages” in less than an hour. He would be damned if he missed it. This was the one thing he had been looking forward to since its announcement in late August. He and Mom swore they would watch it together. The hospital even assured them they would have the channel available in her room. Izuku wonders if his new parents would watch it with him if he begged hard enough.
A buzz broke him out of his mumbling trance, and he shifted the box of bulk popcorn to his left hip while using his arm to keep it steady. Stopping at the crossword, Izuku’s right hand pulled out his phone from where it lived in his pant’s pocket. His lock screen illuminated a crowded selfie with Class 1-A that they had taken about a week after moving into dorms. Their homeroom teacher, partially in the back of the photo with a scowl on his face. Izuku pursed his lips and unlocked his phone. His home screen was a photo of himself and Chaos—Shota’s Bombay cat—while wearing his old All Might hoodie. Smiling, he opened his messaging app and read the notification, typing a response quickly after.
5:02PM
Dad: Where have you run off to, problem child?
5:04PM
Izuku: I went to store to buy some popcorn, we ran out
Dad: For that program you’ve been insisting on seeing?
Izuku: Yep. Also I’m heading back now
Dad: Good. There’s something Zashi and I need to discuss with you.
Izuku yelped out loud and immediately shut off his phone, shoving it afterward into his pocket. Oh no, what had he done now? Squeezing his eyes shut, Izuku replayed the events of November in his mind considering they were only on the first day of December. The school festival had gone so well—though he did have that fight with Gentle—and before that in October remedials could have gone better. And before that was… his Mom… then the fight with Kacchan... Overhaul. Izuku flinched at the thought, memories of injuries slick with blood and Eri clutching to his back, her quirk uncontrolled and coursing across his skin. And Sir Nighteye. No, this isn’t the right place to think about that. Eyes back open, Izuku found himself standing in the same place at the end of the street, unsure of how long he had remained in place. Probably just a few seconds.
The crosswalk sign signaled safe passage, and Izuku walked over towards the direction of Musutafu Train Station. While he hadn’t gone far, U.A. was large, and it took some distance to re-enter market territory. He’d have to hurry soon, however. The sun would set in less than half an hour, and ever since camp, students were under a strictly enforced curfew from 5am to 6pm. Glancing at his phone, it appeared he had about forty-two minutes to get back to the dorms. Izuku dragged his eyes away from his battered red shoes and took notice of the street name he had just passed. It would take less than five minutes to get to the train station and only three stops to get back to U.A. There was no way he would miss the program.
“It’ll be fine,” Izuku mumbled to the sky. “I’m watching this for you.”
Izuku walked on, and his mind went back to the message he received minutes ago. There’s something Zashi and I need to discuss with you. He couldn’t mean anything that’s happened recently, could he? Izuku already got scolded for fighting Gentle by Hound Dog and the last time Shota had tried to discuss the raid of the Shie Hassaikai Headquarters he, well, didn’t react well. The subject was dropped for the meantime. Mindlessly, Izuku swiped his train pass and walked to his platform, the muscle memory well ingrained into him. Maybe they wanted to try talking about it again? No, that’s not it. Zashi said they wouldn’t until he felt comfortable.
Oh. Oh no.
Izuku froze by the train tracks, his eyes darting around the floor as a flooding feeling of nausea crawled over him. Maybe they wanted to discuss One For All. The only thing Izuku had told them when asked was that he was a ‘late bloomer’ and had gotten his quirk close to the entrance exam. Without hesitation, Shota had gotten frustrated and argued that Izuku should have told him earlier. He could have altered his class training plan in respect of this information. Izuku closed his eyes, remembering the discussion that had taken place not long after his official adoption.
“You should have said something!” Shota had practically shouted, pacing up and down the living room floor. “You broke bones, Izuku!” Hizahi almost had to pin Shota back down on the couch, and he slumped over into his hands. Black strands of hair and fingers shielding his face. “I…” Izuku muttered, eyes red and fresh tears dripping down his cheeks. “I’m sorry.”
A gust of wind forced Izuku to leave his trance. His train was arriving.
Izuku stepped inside and took the closest seat by the doors after waiting for the other passengers to exit. He took a deep breath and leaned back, letting his head hit the wall behind him. Why couldn't he be less tired? Izuku shook his head slightly and crafted a response.
5:13PM
Izuku: Is it alright we have this discussion after the program?
It’s just, well you know
He sighed and looked down at the box on his lap. There should be enough popcorn to last the whole dorm for a few weeks. Movie nights were a recurrence, and the microwave had begun to take on a permanent buttery smell. No one had replaced their stash after last weekend’s marathon, so he decided to buy more himself. Sure, he could keep it in his room, but that just felt mean. Moving his body with the motion of the train, Izuku’s eyes shifted left as the doors slid open and a batch of passengers left only to be replaced by more. Two more stops. His phone buzzed.
5:14PM
Dad: Yes.
Izuku chewed on his lip. “Just ask him,” he mumbled. “What’s the worst he can say? Well, probably ‘no,’ but he won’t say that.” He shook his head, green curls hitting the sides of his face, and frowned. Okay, maybe he would.
Rolling his shoulders and opening the app, he typed a large paragraph block message.
Izuku: Um, I’m not sure how to ask this but do you think that maybe Zashi or you would be okay watching it with me. I mean, only if you want. I just would appreciate it a lot since I was planning on watching it with my Mom and it kind of kept us going, but since that can’t happen anymore I’m not sure how to feel about it all.. Anyway I just thought it might be nice to watch it with one of you, or both, but I’m sure someone has to watch Eri but anyway I thought I would just ask since mostly everyone is doing their own thing today so the common room will be clear
His thumb hesitated over the send button. Nevermind, the risk is not worth it.
As the train grinded to its’ second halt, Izuku’s body once again leaned to the side and his hand gripped onto his phone for a sense of balance.
Whoosh.
Oh, you have got to be kidding me. Izuku looked down at his message, now with the small word ‘delivered’ underneath it. “I am so done,” he groaned. Screw this train and physics. His eyes widened with horror as three dots appeared underneath his word vomit of a speech. Shota was writing a response. His eyes widened in horror. Quickly, Izuku shut off his phone as it buzzed, unwilling to see what he had responded. Is he curious? Sure. Is he also incredibly embarrassed? Most definitely.
Running his free hand over his face, Izuku let out a small whimper and slowly brought his phone back into his eyesight. With a small tap, the message appeared on his lock screen.
5:16PM
Dad: Eri is with Togata today and Zashi has a six o’clock shift at the radio station, but I should be able to watch it with you, problem child. No need to get all tangled up with a simple request, all you have to do is ask.
Izuku could not help grow a wide grin as a warm feeling erupted in his chest. Okay, maybe Auntie Nemuri was correct when she told him Shota is a softie. As much as a softie a hardcore underground pro hero can be, he supposes.
For the final time, Izuku leaned to the left as the train grinded to a halt. Smiling, he stuffed his phone back into his pant’s pocket and hugged the popcorn box to his chest. It felt like flowers were blooming under his skin but in a good way. The doors slid open, and he stood, waiting behind a line of businesspeople and civilians. As Izuku stepped onto the platform, he bumped into a tall blue-haired man wearing a shimmering silver coat. His world went dark.
“Izu!”
He does not know who that is. He does not know where he is. There’s something around him, and it’s soft. There’s something under him… a pillow? Rubbing his face with his palm, Izuku opened his eyes and blinked. He’s … home? No, this isn’t his room. This is his old room. Sitting up, Izuku glanced at the All Might memorabilia around him and pulled his legs out from under his covers. Feet planted on the floor, he stood and took in his surroundings. Most of this stuff was either in his dorm or in Aizawa’s storage room. A majority of the items had been gifted to him by his Mom and had become too painful for him to look at. This all appeared so familiar and distant at the same time. Wait… who was that earlier?
Izuku’s head shot up and he scrambled outside of his room and down the hall to the kitchen. A deep green-haired woman stood over the stove, cooking eggs.
“Oh, Izuku! You need to get dressed, it’s your first day at U.A.!”
Tears started to drip down Izuku’s cheeks, utterly uncontrolled, and he grabbed the wall beside him for support.
“… Mom?”