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t’s time when Izuku can finally get Shinsou to agree to hang out outside of school hours. It takes an atrocious amount of persuasion techniques, including the famous Midoriya puppy eyes, but ultimately, what got Shinsou to agree was the promise of visiting a cat cafe and coffee: things that Izuku knew his friend enjoyed.
They set a date to go, Izuku getting Iida to tag along so Shinsou could further bond with fellow Class 1-A members. Izuku thought that because Iida was close to him, it would be easier for Shinsou to connect with another because Izuku was already familiar with him.
He wasn’t wrong in that sense. Even though Iida can be seen as brash and loud and maybe a bit overbearing, after the initial weariness from Shinsou, Iida began to warm up to the boy. It was the same way with Izuku. It just took a bit of extra time to warm up to Iida, and now Izuku was happy to say the boy was one of his best friends.
So, their outing begins well, very well. It’s a place where everyone can relax and even play with some cats. It’s a wonderful time, and it’s nice to see his friends outside of a tight environment that pressures them to succeed. It’s much appreciated, and Izuku’s enjoying every second of it.
Of course, somehow, all things must come to an end, but this time, it’s not in a way Izuku could’ve ever imagined. He wasn’t expecting to run into a villain. He was even less expectant of running into Shiagraki Tomura.
His class has dubbed him as a trouble magnet, and no matter how many times Izuku refutes, they always manage to bring up yet another point of why Izuku is a villain magnet. Darkly, Izuku thinks they now have more ammunition against him.
The three boys sit at their little booth while both Iida and Izuku watch Shinsou stare down at a cat, trying to get the cat to slow blink at him. It’s intense but lovely all the same. It’s a calm ambiance, and it’s no different when they hear the soft chime of bells at the front door, signaling that another customer entered the cafe.
They don’t notice the pale, crusty skin with wavy, pale blue tips of hair peeking out of the dark hoodie. They don’t realize it’s the man who has repeatedly set out to kill their class. They don’t realize what danger they’re about to face.
It’s not until Shigaraki spots Izuku’s messy green hair and begins to approach the group. The man’s brain instantly churns with the desire to capture and kill. It’s quick and doesn’t even let the boys sitting at the booth look up at him before he’s already standing in front of them.
It’s the look of horror from his classmates that strikes Izuku the most. Here, they were supposed to be safe and happy, not encountering one of the most dangerous villains of this era.
“Well, well, well,” Shigaraki says, pressing his hands against the table they all congregated at. “Looks like I’ve stumbled across some heroes.”
He locks eyes with Izuku. Like with Stain, Izuku feels the paralyzing pressure of bloodlust and conviction. Izuku’s barely able to swallow the spit that floods his mouth before Shigaraki leans forward.
“How lucky am I?” Shigaraki asks himself, almost laughing at the coincidence.
Izuku wants to run. He wants his friends to run. They shouldn’t be in this fight. If it was going to be about the brothel between One For All and All For One, then Izuku knew that Shinsou and Iida had no business getting killed in this battle.
A devious smirk is bestowed on Shigaraki’s lips, curving upwards that sending a shiver down Izuku’s spine. Run, he wants to tell his friends.
The three boys have frozen as Shigaraki monologues aloud. He’s deciding whether to kill Shinsou and Iida now and save Izuku for last or to take all three to Sensei. Phantom hands curl around Izuku’s throat sending him back to that time at the mall when he was cornered by Shigaraki after his classmates left him alone.
“No,” he musters under his breath.
“Oh, what’s this?” Shigaraki teases. “A little hero wants to stand up to me?” His demeanor changes and suddenly has his hands wrapped in Izuku’s curls, a fifth finger seconds away from touching their target. “I wasn’t planning on killing you quite yet, Midoriya Izuku. I sense my sensei has a few words to share with you. But then again, offing you in front of your little friends would send a good message, wouldn’t it?”
“No!” Izuku activates his quirk, shoots himself out of the booth, and gets behind Shigaraki. “Run!” he yells to his friends. He wants everyone in the cafe to evacuate. They’re not safe here. He looks at the other customers and workers, “Run,” he screams again.
Shigaraki whips around, facing Izuku, reaching out toward the boy.
“Why, you little brat- I oughtta get your friends -huh? Is that what you want, hero?” he spits.
“No! Don’t take them!”
Izuku sees Shinsou and Iida evacuate the crowd, directing them far away from what Izuku thought was a happy place. He had no idea how badly today would turn out at the bat of an eye. “Midoriya!” He sees Iida scream. Izuku could tell that Iida wasn’t going to let Izuku fight alone. Izuku could see it in his eyes, the will to fight, the will to fight alongside Izuku. But, Izuku couldn’t allow that. He couldn’t put Iida nor Shinsou in that type of danger.
He focuses his gaze on Shigaraki’s rapidly approaching figure. “Take me instead. You don’t need them. It’s me you want.”
Shigaraki’s face morphs into a delightfully treacherous smile. “You would make a wonderful present, Midoriya Izuku.”
His name makes Izuku uneasy, but he couldn’t back down now. He had people to save, people to protect from Shigaraki. He wouldn’t put them in danger when Izuku’s all the villain needs to be sacrificed. He sends a small, final smile toward his friends' despairing faces as Shigaraki disintegrates the walls around them, blocking any interventions.
“Take me instead,” Izuku whispers, knowing of his fate.