Chapter Text
In the coming months after the final war, recovery efforts were abound. Rubble clearing, recovery from physical injuries, and mandatory therapy for all involved. Everyone was able to move back to their homes, and classes would resume, with 1-A now being 2-A, and a new class taking their place. Izuku wanted to feel happy, Ochako had made a full recovery, and so had Kacchan. Everyone made it out alive and the world could heal, that's what he was training so hard with One for All to do, right? Izuku’s thoughts spiraled as he lay in his bed, pictures and figurines of All Might staring at him from every angle. He missed hearing the vestiges in his head, and he knew that his time with what was left of One for All was finite, he’d be lucky if he made it to graduation…if he was careful with how he used it. Izuku curled in on himself. All of that hard work, everything he did to make One for All his, gone. It was the right decision, he was sure of that. The memory of his classmates and the other heroes cheering him on as he rushed toward All for One would stay with him for years to come…but then why did it hurt so much? He had been feeling this for a while, and he had made sure to keep it from his classmates…they all had their own trauma to deal with.
“What….am I going to do once the embers fade?” Midoriya quietly asks himself, imagining his friends rushing out into the pro hero world to make names for themselves. They were all going to be such amazing heroes…and he really, truly wanted to stand with them, to fulfill the dream he’s had since he was four.
“Without power, should someone become a hero? No, I should think not.” All Might’s voice rang in his head, even though by all rights Izuku knew his mentor’s thoughts had changed since then.
“ Why don’t you try taking a swandive, and hope for a quirk in your next life?” Kacchan’s cruel taunt echoed, one that Izuku shook away. That wasn’t going to solve anything either. Besides, Bakugo apologized for that, he’s been doing better. Just as tears began pricking his eyes, his phone dinged. Izuku took the phone in his scarred hands, a feat only possible because Eri had rewound them back, and saw that it was the group chat. Kaminari had @’d him with a meme, a sagely looking goat in front of a serene background captioned “ Why do you grow distant, white boy?”, causing Izuku to chuckle lightly. It had been a while since he spoke much in the chat…or in class in general.
[UA Class 2-A Group Chat — “The Hero Union (no teachers allowed 😎)”]
2:03 AM
Kaminari:
@Midoriya
Why do you grow distant, white boy?
📸 [image: a sagely goat meditating in front of a sunset]
Kirishima:
Bro it’s 2AM 😭
Sero:
Why are you awake and sending cursed enlightenment memes
Kaminari:
It’s called caring about my friend, you uncultured tape roll
Mina:
Okay but legit though, where has Midoriya been? You’ve gone full ghost, my dude 👻
Jirou:
Last time he texted in the chat, he was yelling about structural load limits on rescue scaffolding 💀
Tokoyami:
A worthy topic.
Shoji:
I think he’s just been… resting. He deserves to.
Kaminari:
Nahhh my boy needs serotonin and memes.
Midoriya:
[gif: All Might landing heroically, dust kicking up]
I AM HERE!
Mina:
HE LIVESSSS
Kirishima:
YOOOO MIDORIYA’S ONLINE LET’S GOOOO 💪🔥
Uraraka:
Deku-kun! You should be asleep 😭
Midoriya:
Yeah… we all should be.
Something tells me there’s a reason none of us are, though.
Jirou:
…Yeah. Kind of hard to sleep lately.
Kaminari:
Okay who gave Midoriya the emotional sniper rifle 😭💔
Tokoyami:
Insomnia is a faithful companion to those who have seen the abyss.
Mina:
Bro not helping 💀
Iida:
Indeed! Proper rest is essential to one’s heroic efficiency. I shall be drafting a sleep rotation schedule at once!
Midoriya:
Wait, Iida—why are you awake? 😅
Iida:
...Monitoring! As class representative, I must ensure everyone is maintaining their nighttime discipline!
Kirishima:
Translation: he couldn’t sleep either.
Midoriya:
Haha… yeah. Thanks, everyone. I’ll… try to sleep soon. Promise.
Uraraka:
Good. We’re all here, okay? No more ghosting.
Midoriya:
Yeah. I’m here.
There was a faint smile on Izuku’s face, illuminated by the phone’s glow. At the very least…he had his friends.
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Despite the title of the group chat, Shouta Aizawa had access to it. He stared at the screen with a sigh. His students had been put through hell, it was only natural that sleep would be a struggle. Hell, any kind of normal would be a struggle. They were barely used to the concept of not being under attack every few months for once…and the war didn't exactly give them time to grieve those they couldn't save. Nemuri immediately came to mind.
He set the phone down, his good eye weary, and made a mental note to reduce their volunteer work time in rebuilding to make room for more one-on-one time with Hound Dog. Aizawa knew that there was only so much he could do ...but providing the space for them to properly process and heal was damn sure one of them.
============================================================================================================================
The class had been surprised to learn that their hours of volunteer work had been cut, making more room for their one-on-one sessions, or for some recreational time for those who already had scheduled appointments. Kirishima and Mina kept having nightmares centering on the moment they found Midnight’s body, sometimes it would be her, sometimes it would be their parents or their friends…or each other. Many of the students carried similar scars, the kind that time alone couldn’t heal. Hound Dog saw the pattern immediately. Beneath every story of sleepless nights or phantom aches, there was one recurring concern—Midoriya. They all knew how hard he had fought to master One for All, and that his embers were fading fast.
He couldn’t reveal anything from their sessions, of course. But he told the class one thing plainly:
For now, what Izuku needed most was their presence.
He would talk to them when he was ready to put those feelings into words.
Today was that day—or at least, the beginning of it.
Izuku sat in the cushioned chair in front of Hound Dog, his thoughts from last night continuing despite the brief distraction of school and the group chat last night. Hound Dog sat across from him, posture relaxed but attentive, claws tapping rhythmically against the armrest. His voice, even without a growl, carried that gravelly weight of someone who’d seen more than a few kids like this over the years.
“Still not sleeping much, huh?” he asked, not accusing—just acknowledging.
Izuku hesitated before answering. “A little. I… keep thinking.”
“Thinking’s good,” Hound Dog replied. “But there’s a difference between thinking and chewing yourself up.” He leaned back, muzzle tilting slightly. “You’ve been through more than anyone your age should’ve. It’s okay if it takes a while for your brain to catch up to the idea that you’re not in survival mode anymore.”
Izuku nodded slowly, gaze fixed on the floor. “I know. It’s just… it feels like if I stop thinking, I’ll miss something important. Like there’s something I should be fixing, or… someone I should be helping.”
Hound Dog’s ears flicked. “That ‘should’ word gets you in trouble a lot, doesn’t it?”
Izuku let out a weak laugh. “All the time.”
“Then let’s start there,” Hound Dog said, leaning forward slightly. “You don’t have to fix everything, Midoriya. You don’t even have to be everything. You just have to be honest about what you need—and that’s usually the hardest part for people like you.”
There was a pause. The quiet between them wasn’t uncomfortable, just heavy. Izuku took a breath.
“ It’s just…” Izuku starts, his mind trying to put together the words that struggle to come out.
“ I worked so hard on making One for All mine, you know? I don’t regret what I did…it NEEDED to be done, but now,” Izuku paused, tears pricking his eyes once again.
“ My embers, even if I use them sparingly, will only last until after third year. I’ll be able to graduate but…everyone else will go on to become pro heroes while I…..I’ll just be quirkless…again. After all of that hard work, so close to what I always wanted…and now it feels like once that third year ends, I’ll be left behind.” Izuku’s hands curled in his lap as he spoke, with Hound Dog listening, giving Izuku space to let it out.
Hound Dog nodded slowly. “Yeah. You will feel left behind. That’s real. And it’s okay to feel that. You poured so much of yourself into that power,into being something bigger than just Midoriya,that kind of loss doesn’t just vanish overnight.”
Tears continue to fall as Izuku admits shakily “ I just…don’t know where I fit in anymore. I fought so hard to belong here…” and that is where Hound Dog meets Izuku’s gaze.
“You do fit,” Hound Dog said firmly, softer now, as if that one word could somehow tether him. “Not because of One for All. Not because of quirks. Because of who you are. And it’s going to take some time for you to see it, but all that work… all that fire you gave to One for All—it doesn’t just disappear. It stays in you. It’s what’s going to let you carve your own path, even if it isn’t the one you planned. ” Izuku blinks, trying to imagine where he goes from here, only to fall short.
“ I…I don’t know what that even looks like.” he admits, Hound dog nods again, his tail swaying softly.
“ And that's ok, you don't need to have all the answers now. Have you considered talking to them? Your classmates?” he probed, to which Izuku shook his head.
“ No…I can’t do that. They all have so much going on already, the last thing they need is another burden to carry.”
Hound Dog tilted his head slightly, his gaze steady. “I get why you think that, Midoriya. You’ve always carried that weight—you remember last year, when One for All was revealed?”
Izuku’s shoulders tensed. “…Yeah.”
“You ran off on your own. Risked everything because you didn’t want anyone else to get hurt,” Hound Dog continued, voice low but calm. “You thought leaving them out of it was protecting them. But all it did was put yourself in danger.”
Izuku swallowed hard, recalling the nights he’d spent chasing All For One alone, every instinct screaming that he had to handle it himself. He’d believed protecting others meant isolating himself.
“That’s the thing,” Hound Dog said gently. “Being honest about what you need… letting people be there for you… that isn’t a burden. You learned that the hard way before. You don’t have to go through this alone.”
Izuku’s gaze dropped to his hands again, the memory still stinging, but something in Hound Dog’s tone made it feel safe to stay in that moment.
“ But…how do I even tell them? I don’t want them to feel guilty for chasing what they’ve all worked so hard for…that isn't fair to them. I just….I just feel very lost right now.” Hound Dog’s ears flicked, his gaze never leaving Izuku. “You don’t have to make it sound perfect. You don’t have to have the right words or fix anything. Just… be honest. That’s enough.”
Izuku’s throat tightened. “I’m… not sure I can. What if they see me differently? What if they feel guilty?”
“Then they’ll feel it together with you,” Hound Dog said softly. “You’re not putting a weight on them; you’re letting them share it. That’s what being part of a team really means. You’ve carried enough on your own for far too long, Midoriya.” Izuku sat there for a moment, absorbing Hound Dog’s words as the session came to an end. As he exited, he saw Iida and Ochako, standing down the hall as he rounded the corner from the office and wiped away the remaining tears. Neither of them pressed just yet, opting instead to talk about their classes, the volunteer work, and All Might’s worsening dad joke addiction, all in hopes of giving their friend some space to breathe and process whatever was discussed earlier. Izuku chuckled, commenting back with a genuine smile and for now at least, enjoying the time he does have with his friends.
That following night, Izuku considered how he would even talk about what has been weighing on him. School was hardly appropriate, and when the class did gather it was to watch movies and play videogames, or they were all on the clock as provisional heroes. Izuku pulls out his phone, typing into the group chat.
[UA Class 2-A Group Chat — “The Hero Union (no teachers allowed 😎)”]
11:47 PM
Midoriya: Hey… can I… talk to you guys about something?
He stared at the message, heart hammering, and hit send. The familiar group chat interface felt strangely comforting—like a small bridge back to the people who had been there through everything.
Moments later, the familiar ping sounded.
Kaminari: Of course,Midoriya! What’s up?
Ochako: You can tell us anything, Deku
Iida: Absolutely. We’re here for you.
Midoriya: …It’s kind of hard to explain. I guess… I just feel a little lost right now.
Mina: Lost? Like, lost-lost or… lost-ish?
Midoriya: Like… my embers, what’s left of One for All… they’re fading. I can only really use them enough to get through graduation, and after that… I don’t know.
Kaminari: Oh… 😳 That sounds rough, dude.
Ochako: …So you’re saying you’ll be quirkless again after graduation?
Midoriya: Yeah… I mean, it’s not just losing the power. It’s… losing that part of myself I built around it. It’s like… I’ve been running toward this thing for so long, and now it feels like the track ends before I can really reach the finish line.
Iida: …That does sound incredibly difficult, Midoriya. But even if the embers fade, your drive, your courage, your mind—those aren’t gone.
Midoriya: I know… I just… wish I could be sure that I’ll still belong somewhere once the fire’s gone.
Ochako: You will. You’re not alone in this, Deku-kun. You never have been.
Kirishima: Totally. You’ve always been part of this team. Power or no power, you’re still our Midoriya 💪
Mina: Yeah! You literally can’t escape us, even if you wanted to 👀
Tokoyami: Darkness fades, Midoriya, but the bonds you’ve built remain.
Sero: Bro, we’ve seen you pull through some insane stuff. One for All doesn’t define you—you do.
Jirou: You’ve always had the guts to stand up when it counted. That’s not going anywhere.
Shoji: Even if the embers fade, your presence is enough. Don’t forget that.
Kaminari: And seriously… we’re all here for you. Memes, hero advice, or just someone to talk to at 2AM 😎
Iida: Indeed. You are invaluable to this class, Midoriya. Please allow us to support you as you have supported others.
Midoriya: …Thanks, everyone. Really. I… I don’t know what to say, but it means a lot.
Ochako: You don’t have to say anything. Just… know we’re here 💖
Mina: Yeah, dude. We got you. Always.
What Izuku didn't know, however, was that right then, a separate group chat was made, with everyone but him, where Mina posted:
Mina: So like, we’re definitely not letting the story end there, right?
Kirishima: Hell no. He’s survived everything else; we’re not letting him go 💪
Kaminari: NO WAY are we letting bro peak in high school!
Todoroki: …Wait. What does “peak in high school” mean?
Kaminari: You know…Have his biggest moment happen in high school and then fade out, fall behind, sit on the sidelines while everyone else goes pro 😎
Ochako: Exactly. He’s not done yet. He just needs us to be there.
Jirou: Then we’ll be there. Keep him in the game, morale support style until he can shine again.
Sero: Yeah, for now it’s not like we can fund an Iron Deku suit like All Might’s… but we can make sure he never feels like he’s falling behind.
Shoji: …I agree. We’ll make sure he knows he belongs here, with us, every step of the way.
Iida: Coordination and accountability will be necessary. Midoriya will not be left behind.
Momo: Even if he doubts himself, we’ll remind him of all he’s accomplished.
Koda: He’s part of our class, no matter what!
Aoyama: The shining power of justice will see him through! ✨
Ojiro: He’s been our friend from the start. That doesn’t change.
Hagakure: Invisible hugs! He’ll feel them whether he knows it or not 💕
Bakugo: don’t think for a second I’m letting him quit that easy.
Shoto: I’ll… make sure he’s ready for the future, too.
Mina: And someday… when we’re all pro heroes, maybe we can help him get that suit he deserves. But for now, the mission is simple: keep our depressed cinnamon roll in the fight.
============================================================================================================================
Shouta scrolled through the class chat, a faint smile on his lips. He figured the class would pull Midoriya back in…but as for the problem child himself feeling lost, an idea came to him. One of Midoriya’s best grades was in Hero History, that, along with his extensive knowledge about heroes and quirks…and his love of analysis and information distribution…he had a very special logical ruse in mind. He’d just need to speak with Nezu in the morning, as well as All Might, now as vice-principle.
============================================================================================================================
The following school day was like most others, the class gathered in home room, Iida chided Bakugo over having his feet on the desk as per the class ritual, Mineta had his mouth taped shut, all in all a typical day. That changed when Aizawa began telling the class about a change to one of their classes today.
“ We are going to be changing something up in Hero History class. Midoriya, you will be leading the instruction for today’s lesson under supervision.” Izuku freezes
“ M-Me? Why?” Aizawa smirked
“ Nezu seems to believe that your scores and expertise in today’s subject make you uniquely qualified to speak on it. You’ll be discussing early quirks, their applications, and their lingering effects on hero society today. Here’s the lesson plan, I’d recommend going over it during lunch. If you have further questions, you’re welcome to stop by the faculty lounge.” The class stared wide-eyed.
“ Wait, Midoriya’s going to be teaching us?” Mina asked, followed by Kaminari asking
“ Does this mean we gotta call him Midoriya-sensei now?” Izuku turned and stammered out
“N-No No that is way too formal, I'm sure it’s just some exercise of some sort. Y-You know how principal Nezu is…”
Iida briefly rubbed his chin in thought “ Ah, I see what the intention is,” before standing up.
“ I wholeheartedly look forward to seeing how you will educate us, Midoriya!” he declared, his hand chopping the air swiftly.
“ Yeah! I’m sure you’ll do amazing!” Ochako cheered, earning a devilish grin from Mina
“ Oh I'm sure you’d look forward to calling him deku-sensei, wouldn't you, Ochako?” causing Uraraka’s face to redden. She waved her hands as she spoke, trying to find a way out of the teasing.
“I-I have no idea what you mean, i’m just trying to be supportive is all!”
“Enough.” Aizawa said with a tired glare, bringing the room back down to silence.
“ Midoriya, once you have read the outline and made any adjustments you wish to make, bring it to principal Nezu and I during lunch. The rest of you, just because it’s Midoriya, don’t go thinking you can just goof off. I expect the same attention and respect to be given that you would give to the rest of the staff, and the class work will be graded, so pay attention.”
The day would progress with Izuku going over the lesson plan meticulously, color-coding certain parts and adjusting others. From a distance, on his way to lunch, Aizawa watched with a faint smirk, seeing the spark return to Midoriya’s eyes just as they had all hoped for.
“By fifth period, Kaminari and Mina have a hard time focusing,” Izuku muttered, pencil tapping restlessly against the table. “Setting up a group work section for them to bounce off other classmates would be ideal, given their extroverted natures.”
He flipped another page, jotting quick notes in the margins, taking into account class attention span, material complexity, and even homework density.
“Iida and Yaoyorozu are brilliant at breaking down complex topics for others—they can anchor the groups whose focus tends to fade after lunch. Uraraka prefers seeing lessons applied…maybe I can ask Aizawa-sensei about setting up a hero-training exercise to make it stick. Todoroki still has trouble parsing idioms and metaphors, so a straightforward approach would likely yield better results. Fewer disruptions, more clarity.” The mutter storm continued until finally, Izuku leaned back, exhaling through a soft smile. He closed the planner with a small, satisfied nod. When he looked up, he caught Iida and Uraraka watching from across the room. They both gave him a thumbs-up, and for the first time in a while, Izuku felt a flicker of quiet confidence. He smiled back, nodding once before gathering his things and heading toward the faculty lounge—where Nezu, All Might, and Aizawa were already waiting. The faculty lounge was unusually calm when Midoriya entered, clutching his neatly tabbed lesson notes. Nezu sat on the coffee table beside a mug of tea, tail flicking lazily, while Aizawa and All Might occupied seats nearby — the former looking half-asleep, the latter wearing his ever-warm, slightly tired smile.
“Ah, Midoriya!” Nezu chirped, ears perked. “Right on time, as expected. I trust you’ve had a productive morning?”
“Y-Yes, sir,” Izuku replied, bowing slightly before holding out the papers. “I adjusted a few sections of the outline — pacing, examples, and I added a short group exercise to help reinforce engagement around the fifth period mark.”
Nezu’s whiskers twitched in approval. “Fascinating. And what prompted those particular adjustments?”
Izuku blinked. “Oh, well… by the fifth period, energy and focus tend to drop for most of the class. Kaminari and Ashido work best in group settings since it keeps them stimulated, while Yaoyorozu and Iida are excellent at guiding others through more complex material. It seemed logical to structure the lesson to match everyone’s strengths.”
All Might chuckled softly, a low, genuine sound. “Still thinking about everyone else, I see.”
Izuku scratched the back of his head. “Ah, well—it’s habit, I guess. They all helped me so much, it only makes sense to make something that helps them too.”
Nezu scribbled something into a small notepad, humming cheerfully. “Excellent. Excellent! Tell me, Midoriya, what do you feel is most essential when conveying knowledge to others?”
“Essential?” Izuku tilted his head. “Um… probably clarity. And empathy. If you don’t think about who you’re talking to—how they understand things—you can’t really teach them anything. The point isn’t just to tell people information; it’s to help them connect to it.”
That earned a rare, approving nod from Aizawa. All Might’s gaze softened, pride hidden behind a sip of his tea.
“Well said, young Midoriya,” he murmured, smiling faintly. “Being a hero doesn't just have to be what you hold—it’s what you can pass on.”
Izuku froze for a moment, the words landing deeper than he expected. “...Right,” he said quietly, then smiled. “I’ll do my best to make it a good lesson.”
“I have no doubt,” Nezu said brightly, tail swishing. “I think you’ll find today’s exercise… enlightening, for everyone involved.”
Aizawa’s knowing smirk was hidden under his scarf. Izuku tilted his head slightly, but nodded, offering a small bow before leaving.
Aizawa looked to Nezu “ So, what do you think?’
“ I think we’re going to have quite the teacher on our payroll, once Midoriya finds out just how qualified he is to be doing so. We’ll have him on the fast track to working here in no time after graduation!”
All Might smiled quietly. Between this and his classmates, young Midoriya’s dreams won’t be cast aside, not if they can help it...and they can.
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The bell rang, echoing through the hallways and signaling the start of fifth period. Izuku adjusted his neatly tabbed lesson plan, took a deep breath, and stepped into the classroom.
Immediately, a hush fell over Class 1-A. Mina whispered to Kaminari, “Is… is he actually going to teach us?”
Kaminari leaned back in his chair, eyes wide. “I mean… he knows a ton, but teaching?”
Izuku cleared his throat, standing at the front, trying to look confident. “Good afternoon, everyone,” he began, voice steady despite the slight tremor in his hands. “Today, I’ll be leading our Hero History lesson. We’ll be discussing early quirks, their applications, and how they influenced the development of hero society.”
A few students snickered quietly at the formality, but most stared, rapt with curiosity.
“Now,” Izuku continued, flipping open his planner, “I’ve structured today’s session with both individual analysis and group exercises. By mid-lesson, we’ll be doing a small activity to reinforce the concepts—so everyone, pay attention and participate fully.”
Bakugo rolled his eyes, arms crossed. “Hah. This is gonna be a joke.”
“I wouldn’t underestimate him,” Iida murmured to Yaoyorozu beside him, already leaning forward with interest.
“First,” Izuku said, moving to the whiteboard and writing clearly, “let’s start with the origins of quirk manifestation in the early 20th century. Quirk frequency was significantly lower, and….” He launched into his explanation, using analogies and visuals to help the class follow along.
Mina nudged Kaminari, whispering, “Okay… he’s actually good at this.”
Kaminari nodded, eyebrows raised. “Yeah… and he’s… kinda intense.”
As Izuku progressed, he circulated among the students during the group exercise, offering pointers and gently correcting misunderstandings. He noticed Todoroki furrowing his brow at one analogy, and quietly added a simpler explanation. He spotted Mina and Kaminari half-heartedly attempting the exercise, and steered them toward more interactive tasks, just as he had planned.
From the back of the room, Aizawa’s gaze was hidden, but the slight twitch of his scarf suggested amusement. All Might lingered just outside the door, watching with a proud, almost reverent smile.
The class itself was a success. Izuku’s planning had allowed Kaminari and Mina the stimulation they needed to re-focus and understand the material, and as nervous as he was, Midoriya had found his rhythm as the class continued. By the end everyone was excitedly talking about different notes on dates from Midoriya’s lesson, and as the bell rang, Iida stood.
“Midoriya! That lesson was phenomenal and quite illuminating! Aizawa-sensei has clearly seen a gift in you for teaching!” he commented, chopping the air as he did so, spelling out the ruse for his friend in case the lesson for him had not sunk in. The rest of the class cheered in response. Izuku blushed as the class cleared out, except for All Might who had been watching intently.
“ That wasn’t bad at all my boy, WAY better than I’ve ever done, that's for sure.” the former pro said with a chuckle, patting his teaching for dummies book. Midoriya rubbed the back of his head nervously.
“I-I don’t know about that, Sensei…but…it wasn’t bad. I…actually kinda liked it alot.” All Might nodded with a smile.
“ Even if those embers of yours fade, that heroic spirit isnt going anywhere. As a teacher, who knows how many young minds you could inspire with your story. With you teaching generations to come, i’d say the future would look pretty bright.”
“You think so? I….I have to admit…I was wondering what I would do once I lost what was left…” Izuku paused, thinking for a moment before determination returned to his gaze.
“ But you’re right. There IS a lot of good I could do as a teacher…even if it does mean I won’t be out there with the rest of my friends, they’ll know i'm with them anyway.” All might placed a hand on Izuku’s shoulder, and from that moment on, Midoriya would give his all to becoming the best teacher he could be. As admirable as his classmates found this…they were not quite ready to just let go of the possibility of their friend returning to their sides properly.