Chapter Text
Izuku Midoriya, Age 3
Izuku loves heroes.
He loved how strong they were, how unique they looked, how different they were, but what Izuku loved the most was how determined they were when saving people. That's why his favorite hero is All Might, Japan's Number 1 hero, who was able to save everyone and anyone, no matter how big or small, he would always save them with a big smile on his face. All Might is the strongest and coolest hero of them all!
Well, at least to Izuku that is.
"Izuku, sweetheart. Dinner's ready. Stop watching that ugly buffoon and come down!"
His father...not so much.
"Okay, dad! Coming!" Izuku jumped down from his chair and stopped the DVD player. He carefully discarded the disk from the player and gently placed it back into the cover. It was a limited edition, one he had begged his father to purchase for him (who begrudgingly did because he loves Izuku too much and would burn the world for him if he so asked); and he refused to leave even a single scratch on his precious disk.
"Izuku!"
"I know, I know!"
After returning the disk to its place, Izuku rushed down the stairs, where he then came face to face with his father, Midoriya Hisashi, who was in his apron that read 'Best Dad and Chef', with an unamused look as he sat at the table.
Izuku smiled bashfully and sat down beside his father. He used to sit at the opposite, but his father was upset at the distance between them. His father was always clingy, he often wanted Izuku at his arm's reach, claiming that he was worried that Izuku would leave him, which Izuku thought was ridiculous. He only had his dad left, his mother was a woman he never met before, why would he leave his only family behind?
"Honestly, how can you stand rewatching that All Might for so many times? I would have gouged my eyes out.” Hisashi sighed, but Izuku knew his father’s mood had slightly lightened up than before. Izuku guessed that his decision to sit beside Hisashi was the good choice.
Izuku shrugged, taking a bite of his father’s handmade katsudon, “He’s the coolest hero! I look up to him. One day, I’ll be a hero that’s stronger than All Might and save everyone in need!”. When it comes to Izuku’s dream, the young child had much enthusiasm. Izuku jumped on his chair, raising his fork up into the sky as if it were his little trident, mimicking the famous ‘All-might’ laughter.
Hisashi almost had a heart attack at his son’s foolish yet utterly endearing act. He gently held Izuku’s back as support, fearing the boy would fall down. After ensuring Izuku’s safety, Hisashi’s mind began processing Izuku’s statement, and he felt a dangerous crept of jealousy surging in his chest.
How dare that big oaf steal Izuku’s admiration? An imbecile like him is not worthy of his son’s adoring gaze! Just the thought of his son, who is the most precious, wonderful, amazing little boy, taking All Might’s hand and leaving him behind—
“Dad! Careful! The glass!”
Ah. Hisashi blinked, his spiraling thoughts pulled back because of his Izuku’s call. He followed the boy’s gaze and saw that his glass mug had cracked and broke into pieces. Thankfully, the coffee had cooled down, hence Hisashi did not burn his hand. However, the fact did not soothe Izuku’s worries as he continued fussing over Hisashi’s injured palm.
Yes. Now, this is how it should be. Hisashi’s eyes softened at Izuku’s little hands that were carefully cleaning the liquid on his palm, his cute mouth that was rambling away his worries for Hisashi , his adorable eyes who were focused on him, and only him. Just like how Hisashi loves Izuku the most, Izuku should love Hisashi the most. It was only natural, logical, the basic law of the universe.
“Dad! Dad! Are you listening?! What happened!?” Izuku called louder, after noticing that his father had not listened to a single word he said. He was upset and he expressed it with a frown.
In which, Hisashi thinks it’s the most adorable gesture in the whole world. His jealousy had died down and his temper was returning to normal. “Oh, just an accident. But I suppose I was a bit…unsatisfied when you said you looked up to that buffoon. Is your father not a good role model for you to look up?”
Izuku rolled his eyes, finally grasping the situation. His dad can sometimes be so childish. “Oh, come on dad! You know I love you! You’re not someone that All Might can replace!”
Hisashi felt immense happiness hearing that. “Oh I know, sweetheart. But surely you do look up to your own father hmm?”
Izuku sighed, knowing his father would not let it go unless he gave an answer. Both All Might and his dad are important people to him. But that’s not the answer his father is hoping to hear. Instead, Izuku smiled, “Of course I look up to you dad. You, uhhh, make the best katsudon! I’m sure All Might can’t top that.” Izuku smiled, hoping it would be enough to please his dad. His father was entirely different from his idol, so Izuku doesn't think it’s fair to choose one or the other.
Thankfully, Hisashi had accepted Izuku’s answer with a confident smirk. “ Why of course, that buffoon could not make even a simple dish like fried eggs.”
Huh. Sometimes Izuku wondered if his dad knew All Might. He talked as if he knew him…
Izuku Midoriya, Age 5
“Quirkless…? Are you…sure?”
Oh, Hisashi could feel his heart squeeze like someone had choked his neck. His poor little son, that he swore to protect with his life, had such a devastating look on his face. If it were any other situation, Hisashi would have slaughtered the person who dared to make his dear boy upset.
“Yes, Izuku. I’m truly sorry, but we had already gone through the most detailed and thorough checkup. There is no mistaking that…..you are quirkless.” Doctor Garaki, Izuku’s family doctor, repeated with sincere sadness.
If it were anything less than sincere, Garaki knew the monster behind the boy would make him regret his whole life choices.
“No…” Izuku gripped on his pants, unable to accept the truth.
Hisashi couldn’t hold back anymore. He scooped his poor son into his arms, aching to comfort him. “Shhh, shhh, my darling. It’s alright, Izuku. Everything’s ok. You’re still my precious baby even without a silly quirk, sweetheart.” Hisashi whispered sweet nothings into the younger boy’s ears, hoping to console the shaking bundle in his arms.
Izuku changed to grip on his father’s sleeve, hiding his tears from the doctor as his mind continued to process what had happened. His whole life he dreamt of becoming a hero with a cool quirk that is able to save thousands of lives just like All Might. He had worked so hard to achieve that dream. Every day after school, he had helped old ladies cross the street after school, he had fed the duckies at the pond, he had finished all his homework on time, just like a good hero would. And now that he’s officially quirkless, does that mean all of his effort went down the drain?
Would he never become a hero…?
“Well, if you don’t have anything more to say, doctor. We’ll be taking our leave.” Hisashi gave a kiss to Izuku’s forehead and left the office.
Back at home, Izuku locked himself in his room, refusing to talk to anyone. This led Hisashi to grow worried. While he knew that Izuku needed some personal space to process this outcome, he refused to let his precious son weep alone without his dear father to comfort and hug the pain away.
“Izuku…I brought you some cookies, I’m coming in okay?” Hisashi knocked on the door.
However, No response was given to Hisashi. As expected. It had been the same for the past 3 hours. But, this time Hisashi’s ears could pick out faint sounds of sniffles and hiccups, and his resolve immediately hardened as he forced open the doorknob.
“Izuku, darling. I’m coming in all right?” Hisashi said that, but didn’t wait for any answer as he entered the room.
Izuku’s room was dark. The only light source was the laptop screen that’s illuminating a faint glow from playing that wretched All Might’s video that his son loved to watch. His son didn’t turn to face Hisashi, instead locked his gaze at the video. Hisashi carefully placed the plate of cookies at Izuku’s table, and took slow steps to the silent boy.
“Hey dad…” Izuku suddenly called when Hisashi was a few steps behind him.
Hisashi had immediately brightened at his son’s voice. Is Izuku finally willing to talk to him? “Yes, my sweetheart?”
But the happy look on Hisashi’s face quickly dissipated into a heartbroken frown when he saw his son finally turned around. His baby, precious, darling, sweetheart was crying , as he pointed at the screen with a wobbly, forced, smile, “Can…can i become a hero…?”
Hisashi’s mind flew through a thousand different scenarios of his precious baby fighting against villains, getting hurt , taken hostage, even worse…killed. Oh, the mere thought filled Hisashi with so much rage, he was sure he could murder everyone in Japan.
Hisashi knelt down and embraced Izuku, into a tight and possessive hold, “Oh baby. Did you not hear what the doctor said? You’re….quirkless, as much as it pains me to say it, you must acknowledge the fact, sweetheart. How can one become a hero if they have no power to fight against villains?”
The more he continued to speak, the more Izuku’s crying became apparent as his whole body shook as he wep in Hisashi’s arms, “Oh no, I’m so sorry sweetie. I’m so, so sorry baby. You’re my sweet baby regardless of a quirk, Izuku. Shh, it’s alright.” The older man tried his best to hush his child’s sobbing by whispering sweet words into his ears.
However, none of the words were what Izuku had wanted, needed , to hear. And with so much sadness in his heart, the 5 year old could only continue to sob into his father’s expensive shirt. It was the only way he knew how to quell the squeeze of negative emotions.