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Lonely lunch periods were not new to Shinsou Hitoshi. When your quirk's strength came entirely in conversations, not even the pride of duking it out with a student from 1-A could do much for the aversion ingrained into his classmates' minds. It was basic survival, 'don't talk to that guy, he'll take over your mind and make you hurt yourself!' or something. He'd stopped listening to the gossip, for his own sake, as the skin at the base of his head was already a nasty red from constant scratching. He didn't need a reason to prove them right.
Halfway through the quiet lunch period though, the soft hum of voices very quickly turned into a noisy stage-whisper. The sound of chairs scraping against the floor set his teeth on edge but he didn't look up from his food, only listened.
"Is that him? From 1-A?"
"It definitely is! The one from the tournament!"
"The one that he fought!"
The weight on one word was enough to cast Shinsou's eyes to the door almost instantly. Midoriya Izuku, tiny ball of sweat and nerves, stood there looking as lost as he possibly could in his own school. But as their eyes met he brightened instantly, and Shinsou felt his fist tighten in his lap for a moment as he saw the friendly wave accompanied by the guy awkwardly nudging through the students who couldn't mind their own damn business for two seconds if a student from the Department of Heroics was concerned. What was this guy doing here of all places?
"Uh...hi Shinsou-san!" Midoriya's voice wavered just a bit when he noticed the other boy's eye twitch slightly. But he didn't slow, notebook clutched to his chest tight. "This is...ah this is probably weird, I mean I just showed up out of the blue like this and you're probably eating and I mean we hardly know each other and-"
"Midoriya."
"Yes?!" The poor boy went silent immediately as Shinsou's quirk froze him. He still hadn't learned better.
"...Get to the point."
It felt sour to use his quirk on someone like this, but Midoriya's rambling was wearing him thin.
The words tumbled out of said boy's mouth before he could stop them, clumsy and earnest. "Can I study your quirk? ...P-please?"
"....What?"
Midoriya's cheeks flushed slightly as he flipped through the pages in his notebook. "I'm studying as many quirks as I can to better understand them! I've always loved studying them and I've never known someone with yours, so...!" Sweat beaded on his forehead far too tellingly as he turned the notebook around for Shinsou to see. He'd already begun making notes it seemed, mentioning the sensation of being under control as well as that frustrating method he'd used to escape it.
Shinsou slowly looked up from the page, expression as blank as ever despite how his hand moved behind his head as it always did in moments of stress, blunt fingernails digging into his neck. "You want to study my quirk. The quirk that you experienced firsthand. That quirk." The room was nearly silent, everyone's eyes on the hero and villain-to-be. Waiting to see if he'd snap. Like vultures, practically.
Midoriya's nod was quick and without hesitation though, the slightest smile even showing despite the oppressive atmosphere. "Yeah! I mean...if that's alright with you, I wouldn't want to put you out or--"
He cut himself off before Shinsou had to say a word, which was appreciated. But his eyes still sparkled with genuine excitement that twisted the other boy's stomach into several knots.
It was almost embarrassing how quickly 'sure' crawled into his mouth. Something about those eyes perhaps, and how he had stood there talking to him without fear, even after knowing firsthand what danger he was in. If anyone had the right to be afraid, it was this boy here with his freckles, notebook, and bandaged hands. He should never have come here.
"...Tomorrow. In the courtyard at lunch."
Staring directly into sunlight felt a lot like this, and his eyes stung even as the boy excused himself with a big thank you and smile. Tomorrow it would be, if this wasn't some far-fetched dream.
---
The skies were blue, birds were singing, and Shinsou was sitting on a bench in the courtyard biting his nails. A delightful activity to accompany a delightful day. The courtyard was nearly empty, as most people preferred eating in their classrooms. The few students and teacher that did linger of course gave wary glances to him when he arrived, quickly moving a few paces away in preparation. Nothing new there.
But Midoriya arrived and it was new, at least in one sense. Notebook tucked under his arm and a bit breathless, he must've ran here as soon as he was able. The epitome of earnestness even as he bowed his head apologetically.
"I'm sorry if you had to wait, I got stopped in the hall by All Might and...uh..." He flushed faintly as he lost his train of thought, the other boy's eyebrow raising slowly as he did. But he didn't press, despite the mentions of the idealistic hero. It would be too easy to get the truth about him at this point.
"So are we gonna do this? Or what?" His voice stayed even and almost disinterested, despite the fidgeting of his hands. Don't screw this up. Don't terrify him. Don't make him think like all the rest do.
No pressure.
The other boy quickly took a seat next to him though, startling him from the quickly descending spiral of anxiety forming within him. His expression was sunny but newly determined as he opened the familiar notebook again, finding the page that had since yesterday doubled in length. "Okay, I've got a few questions to start! If you're ready, I mean." He glanced up at Shinsou and swallowed dryly, hyper-aware of the difference in stature even when sitting. Said boy tilted his head slowly, leaning back against the bench.
"...Ask away."
That tiny grin flashed for a second again, and Shinsou blinked at the brightness.
"Your quirk is all vocal-based, right? You say something, I say something, and you get me."
"Yeah."
"Does the response have to be loud enough for you to hear? Like say it were in a crowd."
"Still works. A bear trap can still snare a beast even if the hunter isn't there."
There was a pause as Midoriya scribbled down several notes, brow furrowed thoughtfully as he added his own theories. With him being far shorter, Shinsou could read his notes almost too easily over his shoulder.
"..It's gotta be vocal though. Nods aren't enough."
"I see! Interesting!!"
It was peaceful, surprisingly. He didn't recall the last time he'd spoken with someone for this long without his quirk coming into play. People didn't trust him so easily...not like Midoriya did, apparently. Sitting there beside him, rattling one obtuse question after the other, wondering if the power of suggestion alone could cause someone to do the impossible.
"Shinsou-san, have you ever used your quirk for....positive things?"
"What constitutes as positive?"
"Like...could you make someone having a panic attack calm down? Or get an insomniac to sleep? O-or maybe encourage someone before a big event by telling them they will do their best!" His eyes practically shone with ideas as he considered the possibilities, each one jabbing Shinsou in the gut as he realized he'd never so much as even considered it. Him, the one striving to be a hero with his villainous quirk.
"....No, I've never tried that."
"Huh. Well maybe you should-"
The sharp ring of the school bell cut him off, much to both their disappointments. Shinsou's fists tightened in his lap as he grimaced, wondering just how selfish he'd be to make the other boy stay a bit longer instead of watching him pack his things and tuck a pencil away into the mess of hair that rivaled his own. Surely he could miss just one class, just a few minutes more here in the quiet where he talked, and someone listened.
"Oh, by the way Shinsou-san, here!"
Their hands brushed slightly as Midoriya handed over a faded news article, a hero's bright smile sparkling from the photo attached. Sweet Siren, one of the first heroines to break out at the birth of quirks. With a voice like honey she'll put a spell on you, and set you on the right path to goodness!
"I couldn't find someone with your exact quirk...but she seemed pretty similar. Maybe that'll help?"
Those knots twisted in his gut as he stared up at the boy, squinting at his brightness again. "...Maybe." was all he could muster, feeling his cheeks betray him and go hot under Midoriya's smile and stare. He folded the article careful and slipped it into his pocket as he stood, knots turning into butterflies against his better judgement.
--
They walked as far as Midoriya's classroom, Shinsou's own a few halls farther still. The smaller of the two of them smiled with a "seeya later", turning on his heel to leave.
"...Midoriya."
"Huh?"
"...Have a...good day."
They both went quiet as Shinsou's quirk awkwardly applied the suggestion. Midoriya blinked, then smiled again and nodded. "You too, Shinsou-san."
The butterflies didn't subside, but he supposed they were better than knots.