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It's rare for a student to fall asleep in Hizashi's class.
In fact, it hardly ever happens. It’s not like he intends for it to be that way, because he knows that sometimes students are just going to sleep in a class due to a multitude of different reasons — yet, still, Hizashi’s class has a surprisingly low rate of students falling asleep.
All of the other teachers seem to have over double the amount of stories about students falling asleep that Hizashi does. When he reveals the number of students that have fallen asleep in his class, they’re surprised, almost disbelieving.
They understand, though, when Hizashi explains it. He does his best to keep it engaging, usually by being loud and entertaining. He knows that it can be easy for his students’ minds to switch off the second they start really struggling to keep up with the English being spoken in the class. Once they feel like they lose grasp on one of their senses, usually the rest follow pretty quickly, and it can be a challenge to actually get them to take anything in.
So he does his best to make sure that his students keep up with all of the material, and that their hearing doesn't start to just drone out into a buzz in their ear which they decide to ignore. Generally, he tries to make sure the students are excited when his lesson comes around, and he thinks he does a decent job of it.
So it's rare to see a student doze off. Maybe once a year there’s a student or two, and it's usually just because they've overdone it and it's no slight against Hizashi's class being boring, it's just that their bodies have literally had enough and crashed out on them. He lets them sleep, and then he sends them to the infirmary to get some more after his class ends, because they’re obviously well past the point of needing it.
The thing is that Shouta’s so-called hell class (he’s not fooling anyone, they’re his favourite), 2-A, almost 3-A now, seem to not have physical limits. They push past them despite everything, and they're currently on a streak of no one falling asleep in Hizashi's class. It's not like he'd mind if someone would, but none of them just seem to take note of their bodies crashing out. He's sent one or two to the infirmary over the two years, but still, none of them actually fall asleep.
It's just as he's musing on this, letting the class finish some worksheets, that he notices something in the corner of his eye. Or, rather, the lack of it.
Usually, Midoriya is creating some kind of movement — it's like the kid can never sit still, and there's always something bouncing or twitching when he’s sitting down. Now, though, he notices that there's nothing of that kind.
He looks properly now, and his eyes widen in surprise as he sees that Midoriya's head is down on the desk, forehead resting on his elbows. He watches for a moment, making sure that he isn't just putting it down in frustration or in thought or something akin to that, but Midoriya’s knee isn't bouncing or his fingers twitching like they usually do when he's stuck on a question.
Midoriya’s breathing is even, or maybe a bit fast for that, but he's doing it in a rhythmic matter. He’s asleep, or close enough to it.
Hizashi feels his eyebrows raise, and then the concern is quick to flutter inside of him. Midoriya is a kid that's always engaged in his class, happy to be present and participating, so it's likely that his physical need for sleep has outweighed his mentality.
That’s concerning. Midoriya has always shattered his physical limits whenever it comes to his mentality. Granted, it’s been a long time since Midoriya has drastically shattered any bones, but he’s always kept that same scary amount of mental resolve to surpass his limits.
If Midoriya’s mind and his body were placed in a ring, Hizashi would bet on Midoriya’s mind every single time. So it’s a little alarming that it seems like his physical well-being has actually won out for once.
Hizashi's mind cycles back, trying to think back to how the kid had looked at the start of class. He'd been okay, smiling and talking to the people around him, but — that’s right, he'd been lethargic, hadn’t he? His smile hadn’t been as wide, and his laughter had been as joyous.
The shadows around his eyes have been deep for a while, Hizashi thinks. It's probably about time it caught up with him.
Midoriya's senses are more acute than most, so he'll likely wake up the moment Hizashi calls the class back to attention. Usually, Hizashi waits until the end of class to send a kid to the infirmary to get some more rest just to make sure it isn't called out in front of everyone, but this class have the knack to go beyond physical demands. If Midoriya has fallen asleep in his class, it's because he's very well beyond the point of needing it.
It’s probably going to be best to send him to the infirmary now. If Midoriya’s asleep, if his physical state has won over his mental one for the first ever time that Hizashi has seen, then there is probably more to this than Midoriya just being tired.
"Alright," he says brightly, signalling the end of the time to work on their sheets, gaze quickly going over the rest of the class even as he keeps Midoriya in his view. Surprisingly, Midoriya doesn't stir. Hizashi’s stomach sinks, but he keeps his voice cheery. "Let's discuss our answers together!"
Midoriya's starting to draw the attention of his classmates, but when someone goes to poke his arm, Hizashi gets their attention and subtly shakes his head. They shrink back with a nod, focusing their attention forward and trusting Hizashi to take over the situation.
"So, I've got one of the problems up on the board. Who wants to fill out the blanks?" He asks, holding up the piece of chalk like it's a prize. A couple of the kids look around, not too sure who should get the chance to go for it. "How about each of you takes a turn to fill in one?"
Yaoyorozou goes to stand after a couple of moments, but when Kaminari hesitantly raises his hand, she quickly sits back down and acts like she has no interest in it at all. It is rare to see Kaminari take the opportunity himself, but he's sure Yaoyorozou will have the chance to answer something.
"Yeah!" He cries out excitedly, beckoning Kaminari up. "Come on kiddo, let's light it up!"
Kaminari groans at the pun, but he still gives Hizashi finger guns as he walks up for the piece of chalk. Hizashi hands it over and beckons Kaminari over to the board.
No matter what action Hizashi takes, he's going to draw attention. He just hopes to divert some of it.
"Alright kiddo, make sure you pass the chalk to someone else when you're done!" He instructs, and Kaminari nods, half-distracted as he mumbles the sentence aloud to himself. The word he's mumbling in the empty space is correct, but it's the spelling that will sometimes trip up Kaminari here.
Most of the class is watching the board, but a few of their eyes follow Hizashi as he walks down the aisle between desks. Thankfully, Midoriya is on the end of one of the rows, and he purposely gets his side that's facing the rest of the class, blocking him from some of their views as he crouches down.
Midoriya's leg is starting to twitch, an involuntary action making him close to kicking out. Even when he jerks, he doesn't wake up.
Shit, Hizashi thinks, able to see more of Midoriya’s expression now, recognising the way he’s twisting his features.
He's definitely in the throes of a nightmare, and it'll likely only get worse.
He reaches out a hand, gently poking it into Midoriya's arm. He wouldn’t usually touch a hero or hero-in-training to wake them up, not when there are so many involuntary responses that can be violent, but Midoriya hasn’t stirred once with any of the sounds so far, and Hizashi doesn’t want to raise his volume any higher when dealing directly with Midoriya now.
"Hey there kiddo," he says, just loud enough to try and reach Midoriya through his sleep, but not loud enough to invite the whole class to listen. It doesn’t quite work, because all these students are so attuned to each other. They're definitely looking at him now, but Iida is doing his best to try and follow Hizashi's instructions regarding the problem on the board, getting more students to answer the questions.
Midoriya jerks again. The seat is loud as it scrapes back against the floor. In a flash, Midoriya has moved, crouched in a half-stand, fists clenched and ready to fight as he looks at something just over Hizashi's head.
Blackwhip is curled around him protectively, but there are a few tendrils pointing sharp daggers around him — similar to the rumours of how he used it when he was trying to find All for One and Shigaraki, all the back at the end of his first year,
His eyes are open, and he’s standing now, but he's definitely not out of the nightmare yet.
The other students have all moved too, and Hizashi can hear their worried tones starting to clamour over each other, so he raises an arm behind himself and gestures for them to be silent. He doesn't think Midoriya will hurt his friends, but he's also pretty out of it, and he isn’t going to wager the safety of the students on it.
"Woah-ho, hey kiddo. Hey Midoriya. You just fell asleep in class, you're alright," he soothes, voice rising now to try and get through to Midoriya.
Midoriya's fists clench, and his weight shifts. One for All reacts, the tendrils of Blackwhip sharpening around him. Hizashi shifts as well on his feet, mind racing as he tries to focus on de-escalation.
He’s going to have to fight if it doesn't work. No one except Shouta really has any hope of contesting against Midoriya, but hell if he isn't going to try. He’s not going to let these kids suffer any more than they already have. He’s not going to let them hurt each other.
"Easy, Midoriya. You're in class," he says. The rest of the students are thankfully silent, all of them watching and waiting to deal with the situation in front of them.
"No," Midoriya says, head shaking. His voice sounds like it's echoing with ten other powerful voices behind it. "I don't know where I am."
Hizashi blinks.
Well, he thinks, that’s strange.
But he’s heard of this happening. Shouta and Yagi have talked about it before. Or, to something of this extent. How the vestiges of One for All, the previous eight users, speak to Midoriya sometimes.
He hasn’t quite heard of them speaking through Midoriya, though. He’s going to have to talk to Shouta and Yagi about this once it’s all handled.
Jeez, if only either of them were here right now, he wishes, somewhere in the back of his mind. They know a whole lot more about Midoriya and his Quirk, and Hizashi feels a little underprepared for this entire situation.
He takes a deep breath and reminds himself that Midoriya is a student. He’s Hizashi’s student. He can help.
"Okay, well, kiddo, your physical body is just in English class with the rest of 2-A. How about you try and wake up a little bit for me so you can make sure?" Hizashi suggests, keeping his voice calm and steady. Midoriya shifts again, a move that’s almost portraying the feeling of uncertainty, but the tendrils just curl tighter around him protectively as he does so.
Hizashi wants to reach out to him, but he doesn't know how Midoriya is going to respond to the physical contact, so he curls his fingers and tries to abate the urge.
"It's not safe," Midoriya tells him, shaking his head, curling further into himself. Now, his voice sounds a little less layered, a little more like his usual self.
Hizashi has an idea of where Midoriya is — almost a year ago now, prowling the streets, cut off and alone and so, so young.
"It's safe," Hizashi reassures. "It's alright kiddo. Class 2-A is right behind me answering some English questions. You fell asleep at your desk, that's all."
"Are... are you sure?" Midoriya whispers.
Oh, how Hizashi's heart aches for these kids.
"I'm sure, Midoriya," he promises. "You're alright, kiddo. You're alright. Everyone's alright. How about you come back to us?"
The tendrils curl around him, like in some type of hug, before they recede.
Izuku blinks, and awareness creeps back into his eyes slowly. As he starts to look around, as he starts to take in everyone's reactions as they all stare back at him, he takes a step back. Hizashi stands, quickly getting into his line of vision.
"Hey kiddo," he says as kindly as he can, hoping to take Midoriya's focus before he starts to freak out. "Let's go outside for a sec, alright?"
Midoriya's eyes are wide, his fingers are twitching and he's definitely panicking, but he gives a jerky nod.
"Everyone sit sight for a sec!" He calls out to the rest of the class, and then he glances at the board. "Actually, don't sit tight, make sure that board is filled out before I get back in!"
It spurs Yaoyorozou and Iida back into action, and they are quick to try and soak up the attention of their classmates. Most of them listen, though it's likely due to the fact they know Midoriya isn't reacting well to all the staring happening right now. A few of the students watch them, like Todoroki and Ochako and Bakugou, but they're at least trying to do it subtly.
He gets Midoriya out of the class, shutting the door behind him once they’re out in the hall. Midoriya sags against the wall, but straightens up in a second when Hizahsi looks over at him.
Hizashi waves a hand at him. "It's alright kiddo. Just got you out of there because you were lookin' a little overwhelmed. How’re you feeling?"
"Um," Midoriya replies, blinking like he's still trying to come to terms with the sight in front of him. Then, suddenly, he ducks his head down, his ears going red with embarrassment. It’s easy to forget the kind of power that had layered his voice just a few moments before. "Oh, god. I'm sorry for falling asleep in your class!"
"Hey hey, none of that," Hizashi refuses. "I'm not the kind of guy to get mad about that, because I know you're all not the type of kids to fall asleep unless you need it. And in your case, I think it's a little beyond that."
Midoriya is kind of the embodiment of plus ultra. Sometimes, it's not such a good thing.
Midoriya looks like he's just been scolded, curling into himself again and averting his eyes down.
Hizashi sighs. "Yo, lil' listener. Listen really well, alright? I'm not mad at you at all. I'm just a little worried, but it's because I know what it's like to be having problems with sleep. A lot of Pro Heroes do. It's why we try and stress the importance of it. Have you been seeing anyone about this?"
Midoriya hesitates before he shakes his head. "I haven't— I haven't had the time. Everything just... keeps happening."
"Yeah," Hizashi breathes out, sympathetic. For a kid like Midoriya, he's sure the world moves at an incredibly fast pace. "We'll work on that, and make sure we rectify that issue with all of you. I don't think you're the only one, and that's an oversight on our behalf. I’ll make sure to talk to your other teachers about this."
Midoriya's eyebrows furrow, and this time he raises his head to look at Hizashi. "It's not your fault!"
Hizashi shrugs. "We know what it's like. We know we should be doing better because we can be. We'll work on it. For now, have the rest of the day off, alright? Go see Recovery Girl, and then head back to the dorms to get some sleep. Do you need me to write you a pass?"
Midoriya shakes his head. Shouta wrote him so many slips that he just stopped writing them altogether, the hall monitors and robots giving up on asking him after a few months, and it seems like maybe that's stuck despite the fact Midoriya hardly injures himself anymore.
"Alright kiddo. Make sure you get there safe, I'll be checking in at lunch," Hizashi says.
Midoriya still looks guilty, but he nods. He's dropped his eyes back down, so Hizashi crouches down a little to get his attention.
"You're alright kiddo. The rest of your class will look after any work you need. Just focus on getting some rest, yeah?"
"Okay," Midoriya replies. "Thank you, Present Mic. I'm sorry again."
Hizashi tuts. "No need for apologies unless you don't hurry up to go get some sleep. So go on, get going!"
He's glad that even he does, it seems, have some power over Midoriya. Because the kid squeaks and then nods frantically before he hurries off, legs working comically fast.
Hizashi watches just long enough to make sure he doesn't trip over his own feet, and then shakes his head fondly.
These kids really do things to his heart some days.
He stretches up his arms, and then walks back into the class, knowing he's about to be jumped on with a whole classroom of concerned friends.
Yeah, he muses. He really loves these kids.