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Izuku was avoiding social interactions. He had stopped going out with his friends. He stopped talking during class. He had stopped asking to go places with the others, and visiting other departments to talk to the people he had met through them. He no longer sat in the common space hoping someone would start a conversation with him or invite him to do something with them. He hardly came for the required group meals or the small celebrations that people would hold for little to no reason.
Instead, he would get up early and run in the woods. He would shower before anyone got up. He would skip meals if anyone was already in the kitchen. He went to class and tried his best not to mutter. He would let others lead in team events. When school was done, he would change and head to one of the rarely used training facilities. After he would slip in and head to his room, where he would stay for the rest of the night.
Why the sudden change? He had overheard a few Gen Ed students talking about him when he was going to meet Shinsou. He was just about to round the corner when he caught their loud conversation.
"You hear that green kid is coming over today?" A boy asked.
"Yeah. He is so annoying. I mean seriously doesn't he get enough attention being in the hero course. Does he really need someone else to grovel at his feet so bad that he has to bug us in Gen Ed?" They laughed at the reply.
"I heard he was the weakest link. That even their class doesn't like him. He is always doing that creepy mumbling thing about everyone's quirks and such. I was even told that he constantly inserts himself into activities just to feel included. I'd be annoyed with him too." one of the girls all but sneered out.
Is this really what they thought of him? Does he do any of those things? Why hadn't anyone told him, or asked him to stop? Who was he kidding, of course, they wouldn't point it out. They are all trying to be heroes, none of them would go so far as to outright tell him. They had probably been dropping hints and he never picked up on them because he never had friends before and couldn't read the social cues. Now that he thought about it, it always seemed like he was initiating everything. He started the conversations. He asked to join or invited people to go places. He was the one to ask for spars or hangouts or studying. It was never others coming to him. They were right. It was fine he would just cut how much he asked down. He didn't want to be a bother. He could do that, but then another voice rang out.
"Hey Shinsou, aren't you one of the ones he bothers?"
He waited for the answers hoping against hope that it wouldn't be what he thought it would be.
"Yeah," Shinsou's quiet voice rang out with as much exhaustion as usual. "He actually comes here to bug me about my quirk. Asking invasive questions and writing them in a notebook. He likes keeping tabs on people, I think. He also keeps going on about how we are friends even when I keep telling him we aren't. It's draining to be around him." That sent the group into more laughter and words of sympathy.
He left before he could cause any more problems. He never even received a message as to why he didn't show up.
It had been a little over a month since he started his new avoidance, and no one seemed to notice. No one asked where he was or why he wasn't there anymore. No one talked to him between classes or asked why they never saw him at lunch anymore. It seemed like no one was affected by his absence. His only social interaction was during joint and group training and even that was simply people telling him what they wanted him to do. No one cared that he wasn't actively taking part in the planning, that he wasn't spouting quirk theories to help, or even make suggestions. He just did his part quietly and that was it. No one even batted an eye at it.
On patrols, he would still act like his normal self with civilians, but he wouldn't actively talk to the other heroes. He was efficient and kind to other people but mostly stayed out of the way of the other heroes and avoided the press as well. This was his new norm and no one brought attention to it or him.
At night he would cry softly to himself, not wanting to disturb his classmates with hearing abilities. He would lie to his mom and tell her that he was having fun in the dorms with all his friends. He would tell her about an outing that never happened, about funny things he was on the sidelines to witness, or about a few disasters he had overheard others talking about. He really didn't want to worry her any more than he already had. She was the only good thing he had left. Even All Might was too busy with helping Mirio adapt to a Quirkless life to spend any time with him.
Then, a month before the final exams, he received devastating news. His mother, his only joy left, was killed in a villain attack. She had been getting groceries when it happened and the building collapsed. She along with five others was killed and a few dozen were injured. All he could do was stare blankly in Nedzu's office as the officers gave him his condolences.
"What happens to me now?" His voice was hollow even to his own ears.
Nedzu either didn't notice or didn't mind as he cheerily told him what his next steps would be.
"Normally you would stay here and become a ward of the school. However, it was brought to our attention that you have a father in America right now. He has contacted us and will be taking you back with him after the funeral. Seeing as we are close to the end of our semester, he has opted to let you take your test early in order to get credit for this year. You will be taking those tests for the remainder of the week and also taking the time to pack up your dorm. I'll have your transcript ready as soon as the tests are graded. I have also included the forms for transferring your provisional license, so at least you won't be losing your progress.
"o" Was all he was able to muster out.
"Well now, I am sure you have a lot to study for and to pack so I will let you get to it. You don't have to go to your classes tomorrow or for the rest of the week. Just come straight here and once you finish your tests you'll be escorted to your mother's home. Your father will be here on Friday for the service. If you have no further questions, you are free to go."
It only took him two days to finish his test. By Wednesday he had moved out of the dorms and was packing up his mother's home. On Friday his father showed up to pay his respects. By Sunday he was on a flight to America, all the while not a single classmate noticed.
-
Shinsou was notified that he would be part of the hero course this new semester. He couldn't wait to finally start training towards his dream. As he entered the classroom, he noticed there was only one seat available. This, apparently, pissed off the blonde in front of said seat.
"Oay what are you doing sitting in the nerd's seat?"
"It is the only empty seat and he isn't here. I was transferred into this class. Seeing as the class is full I am guessing that the 'nerd' isn't in this class anymore." he stated it bluntly not wanting to continue talking to the walking bomb in front of him.
Said blonde was seething. "Why the fuck would Deku not still be in this class? You probably have your information wrong and when the hobo gets here I'll get it to straighten out." Just then the class door opened to reveal the teacher. Mr. Aizawa stood in front of the class mentally taking roll.
"Alright. I am sure you have noticed by now that we have a new student. Shinsou Hitoshi has transferred from Gen Ed. He will be filling in our empty seats. If you have any questions for him you can ask after class."
"But sir, where is Midoriya?" Iida shouted.
Aizawa was quiet for a moment. He looked around the room and seeing the confusion in the eyes of all his students cleared his throat.
"Midoriya hasn't been a part of this class since a few months before the end of last semester. He had a death in the family and was moved to be with his only living relative. I would have thought by now you all would have noticed him missing or even his week of grieving he had before leaving."
The class was silent. No one had noticed. They hadn't noticed the empty seat, or how quiet the classroom was. They hadn't noticed that he wasn't at parties, hangouts, or in the common area interacting with people. Now they were trying to wrack their brains to think of the last time they had interacted with him. The last time they hung out with him or invited him to do something. No one could come up with anything. A few classmates were crying now. How could they not notice? How could they forget one of their own? How long was he alone? None of them had noticed before but now it's all they could see.
"I see that no one had noticed. I can't say that I am not disappointed in your situational awareness. It will have to be something we work on alongside teamwork, seeing as your missing a whole member that no one realized. To start I want an essay on how you could have improved your awareness and its future applications. Now we have a class to get to."
None of them would see Midoriya again. Not until he broke the charts as the youngest hero to break into the top 10 heroes in North America just two years after graduation. Not until he was proclaimed the world's sweetheart. Not until charities, help centers, and programs against discrimination and bullying started popping up all over the world all sporting his name and funding. After his marriage was announced to a national ranking hero, and their firstborn was announced. Not till it was too late