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Hitoshi had never cared much about the red string of fate. Despite being part of the very small percentage of people who could actually see them, he didn't get the point in caring. The only thing he ever used this gift for was pissing off people in middle school by telling them they didn't have a string.
Which, hey, Hitoshi never lied about it. There was also no reason people without a string couldn't be together. Yet, for some reason, people were constantly breaking up when Hitoshi said this and then would blame him for their relationships ending.
Between that and his quirk, Hitoshi was easily the least popular kid in his middle school, among students and teachers alike.
But whatever. It wasn't like he cared. He was fine with people hating him.
Honestly, Hitoshi didn't expect to ever meet the person at the other end of his string. Even if they did meet, it didn't mean that person would like Hitoshi. It'd probably be the opposite. The person at the other end would be miserable at being tied to someone like Hitoshi.
Hitoshi was mostly just hoping the person he was tied to wouldn't be able to see strings. That way, they'd have no way of knowing to be mad at him.
Hitoshi definitely hadn't expected his string to grow more visible while standing in front of the 1-A classroom. He was here to complain about them to their faces, not to meet anyone.
Hitoshi shoved his hand in his pocket as he stepped forward to speak. As he spoke, a boy with green hair stepped forward, one hand held up. At this distance, Hitoshi could clearly see a bright red string between that hand and the one in Hitoshi's pocket.
Hitoshi cut himself off mid word and ran, dodging between the gathered crowd.
He heard loud footsteps from behind and sped up, lungs burning.
"Wait!" Someone called from behind.
Hitoshi did not wait. He didn't even slow down.
Unfortunately, not slowing down proved to be his downfall.
Literally.
Hitoshi began to fall down the stairs, but was caught by someone with firm hands and strong arms.
Hitoshi turned around to see the green-haired boy.
"What do you want?" He said, feigning disinterest. "Let go of me."
The boy immediately let go, leaving Hitoshi to steady himself. "Sorry," the green-haired boy said. "I just… we…" He held up his hand again, showing the red loop tied around his finger. "Can you see strings?"
"Yeah," Hitoshi said. He gave no explanation for running off.
Green-haired boy smiled shyly at him. "My name is Midoriya Izuku," he said. "I'm glad to meet you."
Hitoshi scoffed but, after a moment, offered up his own name. "I'm Shinsou Hitoshi."
"Shinsou Hitoshi," Midoriya repeated. Hitoshi's name, spoken so thoughtfully, sent a shiver through his spine. "I'm glad you also want to be a hero. We have something in common."
Hitoshi huffed. "Why are you glad? I was just making fun of you and your class. Shouldn't you be wishing you were tied to someone else already in the hero course?"
For some reason, Midoriya looked surprised at the idea. "You're trying to get in to the hero course, right?" He said. "I'm sure you'll manage. You seem smart."
Hitoshi had no idea where he could have possibly gotten that impression from, but whatever. It felt… nice to have someone think highly of him. It didn't happen often.
"What's your quirk?" Midoriya asked eagerly.
The hope beginning to build in Hitoshi's heart withered. "None of your business," he said coldly, looking away.
"Sorry!" Midoriya said. "I didn't mean to pry! I… do you want to train with me for the sports festival? I'd love to help you get into my class."
Hitoshi corssed his arms and forced himself to calm down. "What kind of training?"
"Strength training?" Midoriya said. "Regardless of your quirk, it's an important thing to learn. If not, that's totally fine too, I don't mind, I'm sure you've already got things figured out, I just—"
"I'm fine to train," Hitoshi interrupted. "With you, I mean. I don't have a plan right now."
"Okay," Midoriya said, a smile back on his face. "Great! I'll show you my training plan for the entrance exam and then we can work from there?"
"Sure," Hitoshi said.
Midoriya nodded and pulled out his phone. He tapped on the screen a few times before holding the phone out to Hitoshi, a 'new contact' page open on the screen. "Give me your number," Midoriya said. "I need to go get my bag from the classroom and then I'll find you in the cafeteria."
Hitoshi put in his name and number before handing the phone back. Midoriya smiled and ran off in the direction the two of them had come from.
Hitoshi looked at the hall around him, trying to figure out where he was in the building. Once he had managed to do so, he set off for the lunch room.
He sat alone at the same table he'd sat at since the start of the year. But, as promised, Midoriya reappeared quickly with two other students behind him. Both hero course.
"Do you mind if they sit with us?" Midoriya asked.
"It's fine if you don't want us here," one of them, a brown-haired girl, said earnestly. "If you'd rather just be with Deku-kun, we'll go somewhere else."
"I don't care," Hitoshi said.
The girl smiled and sat down, introducing herself as Uraraka Ochako and the boy with her as Iida Tenya.
Hitoshi hadn't sat with this many people at school in years. But Uraraka and Iida were quickly wrapped up in their own conversation.
Midoriya pulled out a notebook.
"This was my training plan," Midoriya said, flipping to a page and handing it over to Hitoshi. Slowly, Hitoshi began reading.
"What the hell," he said, looking up halfway through. "No wonder you're in the hero course. There's no way I can manage this."
"I'm sure you could," Midoriya said encouragingly. "But, like I said, we'll make some changes. And I'll help you."
"Don't feel obligated just because we…" Hitoshi gestured vaguely with the hand with the string.
"It's not obligation," Midoriya said. "I want to help. You'll make a great hero."
"You don't know me enough to know that."
"I don't need to." Midoriya smiled at him.
And Hitoshi… let himself believe it.
Written by a human in Ellipsus.