Chapter Text
Some of us are born with everything while some of us aren’t so lucky.
I was born unextraordinary, orphaned at a young age but fortunate enough to be raised by my aunt and uncle. Life was good with the two of them. I never had a lot of money growing up but my aunt and uncle both worked hard to give me the life I had.
Then my uncle died and things had to shift a little.
Aunt Inko and I were left to pick up the pieces and move on when Uncle Hisashi died. She always told me not to but I felt responsible for his death and as a consequence, for her suffering.
But things inevitably shifted and we fell into a comfortable pattern, my aunt and I. Life was back to being stable. But I was older now and people started asking me big questions like what I wanted to do with my life. Teachers started talking about colleges and jobs and our future and I was left now having any direction. I was smart, or at least that’s what I had been told by my test scores and teachers (and Aunt Inko too but does it really count from a person who loves you?), but that could only take you so far. I needed to figure out who I wanted to be in life. Which was hard, because like I said, I was born unextraordinary and with little to no real direction in life.
“Izuku Midoriya.” Every head in the class turned to me.
“H-huh?” I said looking up from my notebook at Mr. Aizawa who was staring at me unimpressed. The tired looking man leaned up against his desk and sighed.
“I said do you have anything to add to the discussion, Izuku?” I groaned internally. I hated Japanese class. I had always been extremely good at math, science, and history. Ask me the answer to an equation or a random fact about the first Prime Minister of England and I’d be able to answer it but literature…it was the bane of my existence. I had a short attention span so long novels were my kryptonite.
“Um I really like…how the author…writes this part of the story?” I said tentatively. Giggles rippled through the class and I blushed.
“...Go on.” Mr. Aizawa said, still unmoved due to his shameful lack of detail.
“Um…the way he writes it is very author-like.” I finished confidently.
“Good lord, Izuku.” Mr. Aizawa said, facepalming. More light-hearted giggles and amused shakes of my classmates’ heads.
“Nice one, freckles.” My best friend, Eijiro Kirishima said, punching me lightly. How Eijiro and I had become friends was kind of a funny story and we made an even funnier duo. Eijiro was the top wrestler on our school’s team. He was tall, attractive, and as charming as a golden retriever. He was decent academically but whenever he did struggle I’d be more than willing to tutor him. First day of freshman year I had decided to join a couple of clubs/activities due to the nagging of Aunt Inko. So stupidly, I decided to try out for the wrestling team and of course Eijiro, who had done it throughout middle school, tried out too.
~
“Alright, freshies, line up single file, you can show us what you got by wrestling in randomly assigned pairs.” The head senior on the team called out. I looked at the two coaches sitting at a table in front of the mat on which I assumed we would be wrestling. Ok I’ve officially lost it . I thought as I looked around myself to see the freshman who had already finished puberty apparently. Some of the guys in line were far taller, muscular, and just bigger than I was.
“U-m excuse me.” I asked a senior who was overseeing us get into line.
“What’s up, kid?”
“Aren’t we going to be separated into weight categories or something?” The guy chuckled.
“Nah. I mean if you make it on the team, then yeah, but these are just tryouts and we want to see what you guys got. Don’t worry though, you look scrappy.” He said, patting me on my shoulder (and almost causing me to fall face first into the ground) and continuing on his way. I started to look for an exit. I really should have just joined Chess Club.
“Alright let’s get started.” The coach called out. Pairs were called from a list to wrestle one another. I winced as I watched a guy’s face be crushed into the mat below him.
“This sport is kind of…violent, huh?” I whispered to no one in particular nervously.
“Well it is wrestling so I’d sure hope so.” Someone responded. A guy with spiky red hair and striking red eyes turned around to face me. He was a few inches taller than me and looked to be pretty toned. He had a bright smile on his face that somehow instantly calmed even if just a little.
“Hey man, you look a little sick.” He said, peering into my face concerned.
“Oh…well…maybe I am a little.” I groaned. “I think I’m just now realizing the mistake I’ve made.” The guy laughed, red eyes crinkling with amusement and I couldn’t help but smile at being the one who caused it.
“I’m Eijiro Kirishima.” He said, putting his hand out in a fist bump.
“Oh! Izuku Midoriya.” I said, fist bumping him.
“You don’t wrestle, do you?” I shook my head.
“I was stupid to think it might be something I could pick up.” EIjiro chuckled and shook his head.
“Well I hope whoever you’re against goes easy on you then.”
“Me too.” I sighed.
“Izuku Midoriya and Eijiro Kirishima. You two are up.”
“Oh shit.” He said, we both turned around to look at the coach and stood at either side of the mat.
“You both know the rules due to the handbook you were required to read prior to this.” I gulped as I stared at the guy who had just been so sweet to me. “So just do your best. Remember, even if you don’t win, you could still get a spot on the team.” I gave Eijiro a weak smile and he returned it happily.
“Good look Midobro!”
“Th-thanks!” I squeaked out.
“Begin.” I had to think, I might not be stronger or taller than him but I still had a chance of beating him if I strategized.
“And you’re out!” The referee called out. I blinked and realized I had been securely wrestled to the ground and pinned for three seconds.
“WHAT?!” I exclaimed as I became aware of my face being squished into the ground.
“Sorry, Midobro.” Eijiro said, standing up and then reaching a hand out to help me up. I took it gratefully.
“It was to be expected.” I said with a sigh. Eijiro laughed and slung his arm around me as we walked off the mat. “But how the heck did you pin me so fast?!”
“It was like wrestling a ragdoll, dude. Seriously, put on some muscle.” We both laughed again. Eijiro obviously made the team whereas I, shockingly, did not. Either way we became fast and unlikely friends.
~
“Izuku, please pay attention and actually do the reading. You’re a junior now so I expect more.” Mr. Aizawa said in a monotone voice.
“Heh. Sorry sir.” I said sheepishly. Mr. Aizawa glanced up at the clock, the bell would ring in five minutes.
“Mhm. Does anyone happen to have anything to actually add to discussion?” The class was silent, everyone avoiding making eye contact with Mr. Aizawa and getting called on as a result. He scanned the room until he landed on a certain blonde who was staring out the window with an annoyed and bored expression on his face.
“Katsuki. Would you like to add anything?” Katsuki Bakugo let out a loud and overly-aggressive sigh. His friend group who sat around him, Denki Kaminari, Mina Ashido and Sero Hanta chuckled. Katsuki Bakugo was my childhood friend turned bully turned…someone who tolerated me but always wanted to uphold some invisible rivalry. He and Mina were on the football team. Now in our junior year, he had become captain (much to the disdain of seniors on the team). His assistant captain being Mina who was well-known for being the first and only female football player in our school’s history and also being very openly gay. Denki was a popular co-captain on the cheerleading squad and Sero was a skilled star player of the soccer team. They were all extremely popular, all being attractive and skilled at what they did.
“It doesn’t seem like I have a fucking choice.” He grumbled. “I think that this chapter really showed the importance of the color yellow as a motif. We see it in reference to the sickness that he suffers which has the double-meaning of both guilt (which he has been so desperately attempting to escape through lack of acknowledgement) and the crushing weight and toll of poverty that he undergoes.” He said. Mr. Aizawa smiled a little.
“Very good, Katsuki.”
“Yeah whatever.” He said, looking back out the window. “Anyways, that'll wrap up our discussion, class. Before I let you all go a little early, I have to remind you of the field trip to the public exhibition tomorrow. If you have yet to turn in your permission slip then please do so. We will not allow you to go without having turned in a slip due to you having to be around nuclear laboratory waste materials. You’re all dismissed.” The class began to gather their stuff and rush out, talking amongst themselves.
“Bakubro you always surprise me with your eloquence, I only ever hear it in Literature.” I heard Denki exclaim.
“Yeah well, some of us enjoy reading, Dunce Face.” Katsuki responded. Izuku grabbed his backpack and him and Eijiro began to walk out of the class together.
“Oi nerd!” I turned around with a bit of a nervous smile.
“Oh hi, Kacchan!”
“Are you doing your fucking reading, Deku? Because you sounded dumb as hell in class.” I gave him a sheepish look.
“Well if Crime and Punishment was a little more interesting, I’d do it.”
“That’s what I’m saying!” Denki said. Sero and Kirishima nodded solemnly in agreement.
“Ugh all of you idiots are going to fail. But you,” Katsuki pointed at me forcefully. ”I’m coming to your house after school, we’re studying, dumbass.” I blinked in surprise at him. Katsuki and I ran in completely different circles once we hit high school so we hadn’t hung out since we were kids. While he didn’t hate me anymore, we certainly weren’t friends so it surprised me that he offered to study with me.
“O-ok!” I stuttered. He rolled his eyes and shouldered his way past me, followed by his friends who waved goodbye at Eijiro and I.
“That was weird, right?” I asked Eijiro as soon as they left.
“Yup.”
“Ok, thanks for the confirmation, let’s go.” We both turned around and walked out.
…
“Aunt Inko!!!” I yelled as I bursted through the door of our small house, slightly out of breath.
“Izuku!” She exclaimed in surprise from where she was in the kitchen which had a clear view of the front door. She was cooking dinner. “Honey, didn’t I say to stop running? It doesn’t come naturally to you and I’m worried you’re going to faint or something.” I shot her with an annoyed expression.
“ Anyways. Kacchan is coming soon and I need to not be a complete disaster.” Aunt Inko gasped, a pleased expression on her face.
“Katsuki is coming?! Oh he hasn’t come over since you two were 10! I mean of course I see him all the time at his football games but I was worried you two would never become friends again.” She sighed with a sweet expression on her face.
“Crap!” I said, looking down at my clothes. “I-I need to change. This looks so lame.”
“Honey, you look fine! And hasn’t he already seen you? Why are you freaking out so much?” She called out the last part as I ran past her to my room. “And stop running, Izuku!” I rustled through my drawers frantically. Kacchan was coming to my house. Something he hadn’t done in a very long time. I threw on a dark red hoodie and baggy black shorts.
About fifteen minutes later, after throwing stuff under my bed and in my closet (because Kacchan was a judgmental neat freak), I heard the doorbell ring.
“Izuku! Katsuki is here.” Aunt Inko said as she opened the door.
“C-coming!” I called out as I checked myself one last time in the mirror. I came out into the hall and into the living room where my aunt was talking to Kacchan.
“I am so proud of you for getting Captain, honey, you deserve it.”
“Thanks. I appreciate you coming to my games.” He said, giving her a rare smile (Aunt Inko was one of the few people who Kacchan completely respected and liked). He looked over at me as I walked in. Immediately I was reminded, as I was every day, how attractive the football player was. He was tall and evidently muscular with blonde spiky hair, fiery red eyes, and an intimidating presence. He had always had a casual but good sense of style; he currently wore black joggers, an orange t-shirt, nice black tennis shoes and his signature black gauges and single black lip piercing. I immediately felt insecure under his unreasonably strong stare.
“‘Sup nerd.” He said casually.
“Hi Kacchan!” I glanced at the backpack he had casually slung over one shoulder. “Did you wanna get started?” I said, internally cursing myself for my squeaky voice that seemed to crack even more when I was nervous. Katsuki scoffed amusedly.
“Yeah.” He said, walking past me and to my room.
“Cool. This is cool. I’m cool. Everything is cool.” I whispered to myself as I turned around to follow him.
“Let me know if you guys get hungry, I’m making dinner as we speak though!” Aunt Inko called after us.
“Thanks Auntie.” Katsuki said over his shoulder.
When we got into my room, I anxiously watched Kacchan from my doorway. He set his backpack on my bed and started taking out his books and setting them down neatly.
“Do I need to invite you into your own room, Deku?” He said over his shoulder as his back was to the door.
“O-Oh! Right.” I said, scrambling to enter the room and sit on the bed with my legs dangling off. He glanced over at me with an amused look then looked around my room.
"Hasn't changed much, huh? Still an absurd amount of Mighty America merch." Kacchan teased lightly, looking at my posters and figurines. "Still building computers and doing little science projects and shit?" He asked, catching sight of my desk that was crowded with devices, wires, and spare tech parts.
"Heh. Yep."
“Ready?” He asked, sitting across from me at the foot of the bed. I mirrored him automatically, moving so that I was all the way on the bed too and facing him fully.
“Ah sure.” I grabbed my book from my nightstand and we began to read and take notes on the assigned passage. I routinely glanced up at Kacchan, almost as if not keeping him in my line of sight would cause him to disappear.
“See any new motifs?” He asked nonchalantly without looking up from his book.
“No, I don’t think so.” We continued reading, me still unable to keep my eyes from drifting up at him. Finally, he spoke.
“I can feel you staring at me.” He said as he looked up to catch me staring. “Why are you being so weird, dork?”
“I-I’m not being weird.”
“You’re watching me hard enough to cause spontaneous combustion, Deku.” I sighed in exasperation.
“Are we really just not talking about the fact that you are voluntarily hanging out with me?!” I exclaimed. “Which you have not done since freaking elementary school? I mean unless you count the bullying in middle school.” I muttered the last part but I hadn't really meant to say out loud and immediately regretted it as I saw him cringe a bit. “Sorry, Kacchan, I didn’t mean to say that.” I sighed.
“No, you’re right.” He sighed, placing his book down. “I’m…I really suck at this…I’m sorry, De- Izuku. What I did to you was shitty and inexcusable. I was a brat in middle school and I ruined our friendship for fucking nothing.” He said. I stared at him in surprise. I had never seen him so sincere before even if he did look like a mix of uncomfortable, nauseous, and constipated. “I am absolute shit with my words when it comes to this stuff, I’m not like you. So I asked to study with you because I wanna be…friends again.” As he said the last part, a tinge of blush rose at the edges of his cheeks.
“Ok who are you and where is Kacchan?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah, yeah, don’t get used to me saying sappy shit, dumbass.” He grumbled. I giggled, my heart feeling inexplicably lighter.
“Ok then.” I said. “Fresh start for us. From now on we’re friends.” I said, smiling at him. He looked at me and smiled a bit.
“Cool. Now stop staring at me and actually read . I know I’m hard to look away from but, try and focus.” He said arrogantly with a smirk. I scoffed and rolled my eyes.
“As if. You know, it’s gonna be really hard for me to have such a cocky friend again.” He gave me a small smile.
“It’s gonna be hard for me to have such a crybaby friend again.” I gasped indignantly.
…
The next day to my surprise, I stumbled out of my room half awake to find Kacchan sitting at my table and chatting to my aunt. He was dressed without a hair out of place looking annoyingly awake.
“Kacchan?” I asked sleepily, rubbing my eyes.
“‘Sup Deku. School starts in twenty five minutes and you just woke up? Slacker.” He said, looking me over and sighing.
“It’s my middle name.” I shrugged. “Why are you here?”
“I’m walking you to school, dumbass.”
“Language, Katsuki.” Aunt Inko chastised gently.
“I’m walking you to school, wonderful companion of mine.” He immediately self corrected.
“Really? Oh ok! Well let me hurry and get ready.” I said pleasantly surprised. I knew that he had said he wanted to be friends again but I didn’t realize it was effective immediately or whatever. I should have known though because Katsuki Bakugo is a guy who took everything very seriously. I hurriedly threw on an outfit and rushed out to find him waiting by the door.
“Finally ready, Deku?” He asked as my aunt stuffed a pack lunch into my unzipped backpack I was wearing. I nodded as my mouth was full of eggo waffle. He shook his head amusedly and opened the door for me to walk out first. We walked next to each other in silence for ten minutes.
“You ready for the field trip today?”
“Meh.” He shrugged. “I wasn’t going to go but then Aizawa said all people who didn’t go had to write a research paper on nuclear labrotatories and fuck that. I ended up just forging my parent’s signature because…well you know how they are.” I nodded. Kacchan’s parents were extremely successful in the fashion world. Masaru was a renowned designer and Mitsuki was a stunning, world-renowned model who never seemed to age. However, this meant that they were always extremely busy which left Katsuki to grow up mostly raised by dozens of nannies that only lasted for small amounts of time as Katsuki was somewhat of a difficult character.
“Isn’t it kind of random to be going on a field trip about the process of disposing of nuclear laboratory waste materials? Like who decided that makes any sense for a group of hyperactive teenagers.”
“Speaking of hyperactive teenagers.” Katsuki said, using his head to indicate his friend group who were waiting for him outside the school entrance.
“Hey Katsubro!” Denki called out with a wave.
“Ah…I see you have Midoriya with you. Hey.” Sero said with a small smirk as he made eye contact with me.
“Hi!” I said cheerfully as we approached them.
“You finally talked to him, eh?” Mina said to Kacchan. He flipped her off in response.
“Hi Ashido.” I said politely.
“Oh call me Mina, please.” I nodded, smiling. “You are absolutely adorable, like a fun sized, freckled sweetheart.” She said, patting his head. In reality, I wasn’t too short at about 5’4, always having been on the shorter and skinnier side my entire life. Around Kacchan and his friends though, I felt short. Denki, the shortest of them, was 5’9, Mina was 6’0, Kacchan was 6’2, and Sero was 6’5.
“He hasn’t been boring you with football talk, right Midoriya?” Sero asked, still watching me closely.
“Ah no…Kacchan knows I don’t care for that stuff.” I said.
“Yeah, I do. We did grow up together, Hanta.” Katsuki said, shooting him a look.
“We should go guys, the bell is gonna ring soon.” Denki said, glancing between the two of them.
As we got into our respective homeroom classes, we were led outside to get onto the buses by our teachers. Already having signed up for who we wanted to sit next to on the bus.
“Hi Eiji!” I said as Eijiro approached me. He gave me a smile and ruffled my hair.
“Hey! Did you hear that Shoto is back?”
“Shoto…?” I asked in shock. My mouth falling open as I thought about the calm, dualed-haired boy returning. He nodded.
“Yeah apparently he’s done studying abroad for now and he’s probably gonna finish high school out here.”
“Oh…wow.” I whispered. Shoto Todoroki was the son of his billionaire father, Enji Todoroki; he was the heir of the well known Rokinc Technologies.
“Yeah, he’ll be here sometime this week.” I nodded.
“That’s really…exciting.” I said finally. “I’m glad he’ll be back.” Shoto was another good friend of mine. We met in middle school and quickly became fast friends despite being opposites in a lot of ways. I helped him open up and make friends whereas he helped me with my self esteem. When he suddenly left in the middle of eighth grade due to his father deciding to enroll him in an English boarding school, I missed him. He wasn’t allowed to communicate with his friends back in Japan so I was left in the dark as to when he’d return. First Kacchan and now Shoto coming back? Junior year was starting out extremely well.
“Oi, nerd! Mind if Dunce face and I sit behind you guys on the bus?” Kacchan said as he approached me.
“Oh no, not at all.” I said.
“H-hi, I’m Denki Kaminari.” Denki said, waving shyly at Eijiro.
“I know who you are, Kaminari, we’re in the same english class.” Eijiro chuckled.
“Right, right. I know that. We also have math together, you sit in the second row from the back slightly off center.” Denki clapped a hand over his mouth as his eyes widened. “Not that I really pay attention creepily or not. Heh.” Eijiro laughed again.
“You’re really funny.”
“Isn’t he?!” I said with a grin.
“Thanks.” Denki said with a blush. I couldn’t help but notice the very obvious crush Denki had on Eijiro. I kind of felt bad for him though as Eijiro could be extremely dense and friendzone accidentally. I had already made up my mind that they’d be a cute couple though and I could definitely see that Denki was Eijiro’s type. He liked more feminine guys who were really high-energy and sweet. Denki was currently wearing a mesh crop top over a black tanktop paired with baggy black jeans, a simple black choker, black kitten heel boots and black studs. His shoulder-length blonde hair with a dyed lightning bolt was immaculately styled.
“Alright let’s get this shit over with.” Katsuki said and the group followed him onto one of the buses being filled.
….
“Alright students, if you’ll just follow me this way. Please remember to not touch anything, stay in a single-file line, and pay attention. There’s a reason we took your phones when you all arrived at the exhibit, we want you to absorb as much information as possible.
“And I want to go home.” I felt Kacchan whisper in my ear from behind. I giggled but covered my mouth when the guide gave me a dirty look.
“Kacchan, you’re going to get me in trouble.” I whispered.
“Maybe that’s my goal, dork.” I could hear the smirk in his voice and rolled my eyes.
“...And so if you look to your left the radiator is…” I tuned out the guide’s talking and looked around at the place. It was very clearly high tech, white and sleek in design. Huge machines and tubs of what was supposed to be nuclear material was displayed behind very thick, special glass.
“Wonder what would happen if someone fell into one of those.” Kacchan whispered pointing over to large vats that a group of scientists in anti-radiation gear were discussing something.
“You’d probably become the Hulk or something.” I whispered back. He chuckled.
“Or die.”
“Mm.”
“Heard that the Todoroki kid is coming back, the stupidly rich one from middle school. You two were friends, right?” I nodded.
“You act as though your parents aren’t loaded too.” I said amusedly.
“Yeah but not like the Todorokis. Enji Todoroki’s only rival would be Keigo Takami of Hawks Enterprises.” I nodded at hearing the household name.
“You know I wonder- ow!” A sudden sharp pain on my hand made me stop my sentence. I instinctively brushed it off roughly and to my horror saw a small green and black spider crawling away quickly. I winced and looked over my uncontrollably tremoring hand spotting two small blood red holes.
“Oi Deku, what happened?” Kacchan whispered, concern in his voice as he noticed me looking at my hand.
“Hm? O-oh nothing, I’m…I’m fine.” I said covering my hand with my other.
“You sure, you said-”
“Pay attention, please, gentlemen.” The guide said, looking at us with annoyance. Several people turned to look at us and I blushed under the attention.
“Sorry sir.”
“Asshole.” Kacchan grumbled under his breath. We continued walking as I hazarded another glance at my hand.
I hoped it wasn’t too serious.