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Everyone loved Midoriya Izuku.
This was, unfortunately, a problem.
Izuku learned this the hard way—by hearing it.
'He's so cute when he concentrates.'
I'f he smiled at me like that again I might actually combust.'
'Is it illegal to want to hold someone this badly?'
Izuku squeaked and vanished with a soft pop, reappearing in an empty stairwell three floors down.
"...I'm so sorry," he whispered to absolutely no one, hands flapping uselessly as his face burned. His teleportation quirk had always been a little... reactive. Strong emotion in, instant relocation out. Usually fear. Sometimes excitement.
And, mostly, embarrassment.
Because Izuku Midoriya had a secret.
Two secrets, actually.
Secret number one: his quirk wasn't just teleportation.
Secret number two: he didn't experience romantic feelings. At all.
The first secret was dangerous.
The second secret was... complicated.
Izuku had known for a while now. He liked people—loved them, even—but not in the fluttery, heart-pounding way everyone else seemed to. He didn't daydream about dates or kisses. The idea didn't disgust him, it just... didn't do anything. His feelings ran deep and warm and steady, not sparkly and swoopy.
Unfortunately, everyone else's feelings ran very loudly.
Izuku's hidden quirk—mind reading—had manifested years ago. At first it was a constant flood of noise, until he learned how to dampen it, like turning down the volume on the world. He never told anyone. A mind reading quirk was invasive, scary. He already felt guilty just having it.
Especially now.
Because everyone loved him.
Not just platonically. Not just admiration.
Romantically too.
'Wow, he remembered my favourite tea.'
'I'd marry him on the spot if he asked.'
'How is he real.'
'I bet his hand is so soft to hold, i wonder if he'll lt me hold it if i asked'
Izuku teleported into a supply closet.
"I'm going to pass away," he muttered, sliding down the wall.
It wasn't that the attention was unwelcome—he was honored, really. Touched. But knowing how people felt without them saying it made everything worse. He couldn't gently turn them down if they never asked. He couldn't explain something he barely had words for himself.
So he did what he always did.
He panicked.
And teleported.
Midoriya Izuku became a blur around U.A. A visible yet invisible myth.
Compliment him? Pop.
Smile warmly? Pop.
Think about how adorable he looked when he muttered to himself? Pop.
It got to the point where Aizawa squinted at empty air and said, "Midoriya, stop disappearing in the middle of roll call."
"I'M SORRY—!" came Izuku's distant voice from somewhere in the vents.
The class was... confused.
Shouji was suspicious. "Why does he keep vanishing every time someone looks at him too long?"
Uraraka tilted her head. "Do you think he's sick?"
Todoroki, quietly observant as ever, watched Izuku teleport away after Kaminari thought He'd be the best partner ever, and frowned. "I think he's overwhelmed. Maybe we shouldnt stare at him too long. I know i hated when people stare at me" and he ghostly hovered a hand over his burnt side of his face.
Bakugou, ever the helpful one scoffed "He's just a stupid nerd and no one looks at your ugly ass icyhot!"
That, at least, what Todorkoi said was correct. He was beyond overwhelmed and he dint know what to do with himself than poof away.
Things came to a head one afternoon when Izuku accidentally overheard everyone at once. A wave of affection, admiration, fondness—layered, loud, sincere.
He reappeared on the rooftop, knees wobbling.
"They're all so nice," he whispered, eyes stinging. "I don't want to hurt anyone."
"...Midoriya?"
Izuku jumped. Too late—Aizawa was already there, coffee in hand, eyes sharper than usual.
"I don't know why," Aizawa said calmly, "but you look ready to pass out "
Silence stretched.
Izuku swallowed.
"I... I don't do romantic feelings," he said finally, words tumbling out. "And everyone keeps being so nice — saying nice things, and I don't want to be unfair, and I don't want them to feel rejected, and I keep teleporting and I—"
Aizawa raised a hand.
"Breathe."
Izuku did.
Aizawa nodded. "You don't owe anyone romance. Or explanations, if you're not ready."
Izuku's shoulders shook. "Even if they like me?"
"Especially then. "
' learn from me kid, Hizashi does the romance for the both of us'
Izuku laughed weakly at his thought. "I still might teleport, though."
"That's fine," Aizawa said dryly. "Just try not to do it during combat training or class."
Izuku smiled—small, relieved, genuine.
Somewhere below the roof on the campus ground, several people that just happened to be within a distance thought 'There it is. That smile. That adorable smile.'
Izuku vanished instantly.
Aizawa sighed into his coffee, thinking his little pep talk caused the boy to feel a wave overwhelmingness and teleported.
"...We'll work on it."