Chapter Text
Izuku Chisaki, formerly Midoriya, hadn’t expected his life to turn out like this.
A few months ago, everything had been uncertain. School had felt pointless, the future even more so, and being quirkless made it clear how little space there was for him in the world. Now he was living with the Shie Hassaikai, taken in by Chisaki Kai as his son.
It felt strange to think about.
And now, somehow, he had something else too.
U.A.
Even thinking about it still felt strange, like it belonged to someone else more than it did to him. But for the first time in a long while, the future didn’t feel like a dead end he was just slowly walking toward.
The workshop was quiet when he stepped inside, like it usually was at this time of day, since most people didn’t have a reason to come down unless something had gone wrong.
Izuku dropped his bag beside the main table and switched the light on, the familiar setup coming into view exactly the way he had left it. Tools were laid out where he expected them to be, parts were sorted into containers, and the half-finished pieces from the night before was still sitting in the same place.
His hands worked steadily while his thoughts drifted.
U.A. wouldn't be like Aldera, and he knew that much without needing to be told. For better or for worse, he would have to find out. If he got in of course.
The door clicked open behind him.
“Izuku.”
He didn’t turn right away, recognizing the voice. “Morning.”
Footsteps moved further into the room, unhurried. “You’ve been down here since earlier, haven’t you?”
Izuku glanced over his shoulder, a small smile forming despite himself. “Maybe.”
Rappa leaned against one of the tables, watching him with a look that was somewhere between amused and unimpressed.
“That’s not an answer you brat.”
“So?”
He had been one of the bullets who warmed up to Izuku fastest, said he liked his 'spunk'? He shook his head. They were all friendly, if a bit rough around the edges.
Rappa let out a heavy breath through his nose. “You’re gonna burn yourself out before you get there. You don't do too much shit before a big fight, even I know that.”
They nag like mother hens too.
“I’m fine,” Izuku said, turning back to what he was doing.
“Yeah, and I haven't beaten anyone up today.”
Another voice came from the doorway before Izuku could respond.
“Did you convince him to leave yet?”
Nemoto stood there with his arms crossed, though it was likely he had been listening for longer.
“I'm not even tired,” Izuku said.
“You stayed down here past midnight yesterday.”
“That was one time.”
“...”
Izuku hesitated, then sighed slightly. “…okay, maybe twice.”
Rappa snorted quietly at that.
Nemoto pushed himself off the doorway. “Oyaji wants you.”
That was enough to shift Izuku’s attention immediately. “Now?”
“Yes.”
Izuku set his tools down and wiped his hands quickly, mentally switching tracks.
“Did he say why?”
“No.”
Izuku hesitated for just a second, glancing at the gauntlet before leaving it where it was. “I’ll finish this later.”
“You’d better,” Rappa said. “I want to see if it actually works this time.”
“It worked last time.”
“It blew up.”
Izuku scoffed, “That means it's going right.”
Nemoto didn’t comment, he just waited, and that was enough to get Izuku moving.
“Don’t start anything without me,” Izuku added as he passed.
Rappa waved him off. “No promises.”
In the end, it turned out that he was only there to tell IZuku to rest more, and stress less about the exam, for he would always have a place here at the compound. He also added that they would be fools to deny him.
Nezu sat behind his desk with his paws folded neatly in front of him, looking over the file displayed on his screen with an expression that was, at a glance, pleasant and composed.
That didn’t mean he wasn’t paying attention.
Chisaki Izuku.
The application itself was good. More than good, actually. But there were details that didn’t quite make sense.
Nezu tilted his head slightly as he reread part of the background section, taking his time with it rather than rushing to a conclusion.
His gaze shifted to the contact information attached to the file, settling briefly on the email address listed there.
Nezu’s smile sharpened just slightly, more thoughtful than anything else.
“Well,” he said quietly to himself, “that gives me a reason to ask.”
Izuku hadn’t meant to check his email again so soon, but once he noticed it, it was hard to ignore.
Regarding Your Application:
Hello Izuku-kun,
I hope this message finds you well.
There are a few details within your application that I would like to discuss further, particularly regarding your background and secondary area application.
At your convenience, please respond to this email so we may arrange a time to speak.
I look forward to your reply.
Principal Nezu
Izuku read through it once, then again a little more slowly instead of skimming it.
It didn’t feel negative, and it wasn’t written like a rejection or anything close to it, but it still stood apart from everything else he had received so far.
“Izuku?” Setsuno glanced up from where he was sitting, expression shifting slightly as he took in Izuku’s posture. “You look like you’re thinking too hard about something.”
“I’m just checking something,” Izuku said, which didn’t really deny it. “I got an email.”
““What kind of email?”
“From U.A.”
That was enough to get his full attention.
“Alright, that’s worth looking at,” Setsuno said. “Let me see.”
Izuku handed over his phone, watching as he read through the message without rushing.
After a few seconds, Setsuno handed it back.
“It’s not standard,” he said, though his tone wasn’t particularly concerned.
“I figured.”
“It’s not a bad thing, though,” Setsuno added. “If anything, it just means they noticed something worth asking about. It looks as if it's likely about your residence here.”
Izuku nodded slightly. “You think so?”
He leaned back a little, considering it. “You should show Oy- Chisaki before you reply, just to be sure you don’t say anything unnecessary.”
“I was planning to.”
“Good,” Nemoto said. “No need to rush an answer if you don’t have to.”
Izuku hesitated briefly before asking, “Do you think they already know anything?”
“I think they’re curious,” he said. “And that’s not the same thing as knowing.”
Kai didn’t look particularly surprised when Izuku showed him the email.
He read through it once, taking his time, before handing the phone back.
“As expected,” Chisaki said.
Izuku blinked slightly. “You expected something like this?”
“They would've asked eventually,” Kai replied simply.
Izuku considered that for a moment. “Is that going to be a problem?”
“It depends on how you respond,” Kai said.
Izuku glanced down at the email again. “He wants to ask about my background.”
“Yes.”
“…what should I tell him?”
Kai’s gaze settled on him, steady but not harsh.
“There’s no reason to offer more than what’s necessary,” he said.
Izuku nodded slowly. “So I just… keep it simple?”
“Be cooperative,” Kai said, “but perhaps ask to speak in person. We do not wish for your safety to be compromised.”
That made sense.
“Your time in Aldera is already known,” he continued. “Your interest in support design is consistent with your application. Your skill level can reasonably be explained by independent study.”
Izuku hesitated slightly. “And the rest?”
“We leave it out,” Kai said. “If it isn’t relevant, it isn’t needed.”
Izuku let out a quiet breath. “Okay.”
There was a brief pause before he asked, “What if he asks about my name?”
Kai considered that for a moment.
“It’s possible,” he said, “but not something you need to assume.”
“If he asks questions,” Kai added, “you answer what’s asked, and nothing beyond that.”
“Right.”
The conversation settled into something quieter after that, less about avoiding a problem and more about handling something properly.
“I’ll write a reply,” Izuku said.
“Let me see it first,” Kai said.
“I will.”
Izuku turned toward the door, already thinking through how he wanted to word it.
“Izuku.”
He paused and looked back.“Make sure you rest, the Bullets do talk to me, you know.”
Izuku winced and looked away.
“…yeah,” he said, “I will.”