Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Many years ago, Quirks started appearing in the world. Super Powers, that humans always dreamed about, had suddenly come to reality. At first, Quirked people were avoided, feared and considered weird and unnatural. But now, having quirks has become the norm. As those who have quirks in the human population increased to 80%.

However, something else also increased. People who used their quirks for evil, people who we call 'Villains'. Villains had started appearing quickly after quirks appeared, apparently having a confidence boost with the existence of their quirks. And so, in order to rebuttal against these villains, a new profession was created. Pro Heroes.

The profession was shortly created after the explosive increase in villains. Where individuals, who tried to use their quirks to stop them, Vigilantes, also started appearing. With overwhelming public support, these vigilantes found an official place as peacekeepers. The official place of Pro Heroes. Overseen by the government, those who worked the hardest and performed the best was rewarded with fame, glory, and a whole load of cash. Their careers having depended on their ability to stay in the limelight. 

As the profession got popular, it was the new number one 'I wanna be' profession for kids. Speaking of kids...

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The classroom buzzed with laughter as Bakugou Katsuki slammed Izuku  Midoriya's notebook shut. A crackle of sparks hissed along his palm, searing the edges of the analysis book before it was hurled out the open window.

"Pathetic Deku. Trying to compete with me by getting in UA? You can forget it. A quirkless like you could never be a hero. Much less enter the best hero school in Japan. I'll bet you would die before we even started the entrance exam!" The blonde said out loud with a smirk, approaching the slightly quivering greenette,

Bakugou walked in closer to Midoriya. Placing his right hand on Midoriya's shoulder. Another crackle of sparks came along his palm, burning through his uniform ever so slightly. "You know, maybe you should just take a swan dive off the roof. Maybe then you'll be more useful, don't you think?" He snickered. Midoriya's throat tightened, his hands clenched by his side. The words hit harder than the snickers that followed. 

But before he could force himself to speak, a voice cut through the noise. 

"As if being a jerk makes you any more of a hero, Bakugou."

Asuka Akazane stood near the back row, her silver hair catching the sunlight through the window, Her horns stuck out of her head while her tail swished behind her. She didn't raise her voice, but her tone was sharp enough to silence a few of the laughs. Having a mutant quirk, Akazane was also largely taunted, but also largely feared for what kind of mutant she is. A dragon. Even bakugou had to admit he respected her a little. Not seeing her as an extra, but as a supporting character, but still in his way.

Bakugou clicked his tongue, ignoring her. He shoved past Midoriya's desk, his little gang following up behind him as he stormed out. Asuka sighed at the sight as she approached Midoriya. "You good Midoriya?" Midoriya nodded his head, if he said no, it would trouble her and well, he's just a Quirkless. A Deku.

"Don't listen to him alright? He's all bark and explosions. You can be a hero. Despite being quirkless." She said, as Midoriya stared back at her crimson eyes. This wasn't the first time she told him that. And it wasn't the last. Akazane sighed, "There's been a lot of Villain sightings lately, do you want to walk home with me today?" Midoriya blanked out, personally, it wasn't because this was the first time she offered him this, but because despite having always walked home with Akazane, he really didn't feel like being around people today after hearing what Bakugou told him.

Midoriya shook his head "I-I'm sorry Akazane, I-i just want to be alone." And before she could argue, he rushed out of the classroom.

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By the time Midoriya reached the courtyard pond, his notebook was soaked, being nibbled at by the few koi in the pond. He picked up his notebook, shooing the fish away. "This is a notebook, it isn't fish food, dummies." The charred edges curled at the touch, but he pressed it against his chest anyway, clutching the ruined pages.

"Idiot... Stupid..jerk..how could he say that? That's suicide baiting. What if I really jump? What's he gonna do then?" He muttered to himself, dragging his feet along the empty route as he passed under the familiar bridge. "..What if..what if kacchan's right.." he continued.

The thought never finished.

A shadow slithered out of the manhole. A foul, slimy stench filled his nose as something wet and heavy slammed into him. "Perfect... Just the kind of body I need! I never expected him to show up. But you're the perfect body for me to hide in!" The sludge villain hissed, wrapping it's gooey mass around Midoriya's limbs, smothering his mouth, forcing it's way into his throat.

Midoriya struggled desperately, his hands clawing against the gooey sludge. "Hahaha..it's no use kid, my body's liquid. But be grateful, you just saved my life here! You're my hero haha..." His lungs were burning, screaming. Is this  where he dies? He hadn't even got the chance to go for the entrance exam yet. He doesn't want to die. Not right now. But his body was weak compared to the villain, the more he struggled the more it hurt. The more his surroundings seemed to darken. Just as the darkness was about to swallow him whole...

"I AM HERE"

A booming split the air. A golden figure came crashing out of the manhole. "I've finally found you villain! You've given me quite the chase but this ends now! TEXASSSSSSSS SMASHHHHHHHH!" Was the lasting thing midoriya heard before the sludge around him scattered from the wind power, causing him to fall to the ground.

His sight started to clear up after he dropped to the ground. Looking up again, standing face to face with him was....All Might! The number one hero! The symbol of peace! The best hero ever! And most importantly, His Idol! 

The hero's grin shone like sunlight as he scooped the villain into an empty coke bottle with incredible speed. "Worry not, young man! You are safe now!" Midoriya's eyes widened in awe, immediately he reached for his notebook, trying to get All Might to sign a page before realizing, All might had already signed in his notebook.  Leaving Midoriya absolutely speechless "I-i...You..signed...."

All Might laughed in a booming voice "HAHAHAH! You should go see a doctor young man! And don't worry! I take great pleasure in meeting fans like you! Well now, I better get this guy to the police station!" The Macho man said as he pointed to the villain in the bottle. He then crouched preparing to leap.

Panic surged in Midoriya's chest. He had something to ask him. If he left now, he might never get the chance again. "I- Wait!" He lunged, grabbing onto All Night's leg just as the hero launched into the sky. The world blurred around them as Midoriya clung for dear life, the wind whipping his face.

All Might's smile almost faltered when he saw him clinging onto his leg. Looking now, Midoriya notes that his face was a mixture of panic and shock. "Hey Hey Hey! What are you doing?! Let go! I love my fans, but this is a little too much!" He sorta shout-talked. 

Midoriya clung tighter, shouting back so his voice would reach the hero despite the speed and air pressure. "N-No way! I-if I let go now, I'll die!!" All Might almost paused mid-air. "...You make a good point.." Midoriya could hear the man sigh loudly before he spoke again. "Alright my boy, close your eyes and mouth."

_____________________________

They landed on a rooftop, after All might dropped him off, he turned, ready to leave. But stopped at the sound of someone speaking. "All Might! C-can...Can I still be a hero? Even without a quirk?" Midoriya spoke out loud, head low, trembling slightly as he clutched his ruined notebook.

When no answer came, Midoriya looked up, only for his mind to break. All Might's form rippled, steam hissing form his body. In mere seconds, the towering symbol's body had shrunk into a grunt hollow man, coughing up blood. Midoriya stumbled back in shock. "W-what happened to you?! W-where's All Might?? Are you an imposter?!"

The man wiped his wound, eyes heavy as the tension increases. "No young fanboy. I am All Might." Midoriya blinked."T-that's impossible!" The man then sighed." You know how guys at the pool are always suckin in and flexing trying to look buff? Yeah I'm like that." Midoriya's jaw dropped to the floor as the man..no...All Might? continued. "An injury I had sustained a few years ago caused this." Midoriya didn't hesitate when he spoke "A-a few years ago? Was..was it your fight with toxic chainsaw?"

All Might almost smiled, "You've done your research. Yes." He lifted up his shirt, and the sight made Midoriya want to vomit. A jagged scar tore across his left side, stretching from just beneath his ribs to his hip. The skin was sunken, mottled, the kind of wound that spoke of something having been ripped open and then stitched back together. His torso looked hollowed, almost as if something inside him had been scooped away. 

"Pretty gross right?" All might said with a slight smirk before frowning. "My respiratory systems was practically destroyed. And I lost my whole stomach. The multiple surgeries had worn me out. And it can't be fixed."  Before letting his shirt drop down, once again covering the scar.

Midoriya was stunned. He couldn't move. He was speechless. The number one hero...The symbol of peace in such a bad condition? How could he continue hero work? He really is a true hero- Halfway through his thoughts, All Might's words rang out. "Listen carefully, young fanboy. Heroes have to risk their lives every day. Every second. And some villains...they can't be beaten without a quirk. So..can you be a hero without a quirk? .... No you cannot." Midoriya's throat tightened. His heart clenched. The words cut deeper than Bakugou's ever had. 

All Might looked at Midoriya's disappointed face for a while before continuing while walking to the door. "If you really want to help people..become a police officer instead. It's much safer for you and despite getting crap because villains are mostly captured by heroes, it's a fine profession." Midoriya didn't look back. He heard the door click behind him. "It's not bad to dream young fanboy. But, make sure your dreams are attainable. ... Realistic.  Understood?"

Midoriya didn't look, he can't. He couldn't. He just gave a slight nod. Listening carefully as the who carried the world on his shoulders walked away. Leaving Midoriya alone on the rooftop with his broken dream.

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The rooftop was silent once All Might's footsteps faded down the stairwell. Midoriya started walking. His shoes scraped against the gravel as shuffled toward the edge. With shaking hands, he slipped off his bright red shoes one at a time. Bending down and lining them up neatly. Side by side, on the ledge. Then he climbed up, sitting on the cold concrete lip as his legs dangled in the empty space.

The city stretched below him. People were moving along the streets, cars were honking and driving through the street, life continued as if nothing had changed. But for Midoriya, everything had. He left his soaked, ruined notebook beside his shoes and lowered his head.

"No one..no one ever believed in me. Not my classmates, not my teacher, not even my mom think I can actually do it. She smiles, and pretends like it's okay I was born quirkless" He narrated to no one as his voice cracked, barely more than a whisper lost in the wind.

"I...I hate this. I hate how they treat me. I hate my quirk status, I hate how kacchan treats me and I hate how everyone sees me!" He said, as his words slowly turned into a shout. Then he paused. A shaky breath escaped him. "All Might...even he..I thought he might understand. But he said I couldn't do it. That it was impossible." He bit his lip until it bled. His throat was burning. His eyes felt puffy. 

"I want to- ....I wanted to save people. I wanted t-to smile like him. To be someone people can count on. But..." He sniffed, droplets of water rolling down his freckled face. "M-maybe Kacchan was right. I-I'm just a useless Deku. No one would care if I were dead. And maybe, everyone would just be happier if...if I was gone." 

The wind tugged at his uniform, cool against his tear-streaked face. For a long moment, Midoriya sat there, staring into the vast, 11 storey drop beneath him, teetering between the unbearable weight of living with crushed dreams and the pull of letting go. Midoriya tilted his head toward the sky, the clouds drifted slowly above as he took a deep breath. 

And pushed himself off the ledge.

Chapter Text

Aizawa Shouta's eyes were heavy. The weight of another impossible tiring day was pressing down on him. His students had been absolutely chaotic. Problem Children. All of them. Disrespectful, reckless, absolutely impossible and worse of all, fun-loving. By the end of it, he had expelled the entire class with Nedzu's approval. 

Now, he was running and leaping across rooftops, patrolling yet again on his usual route. His scarf was wrapped around his neck loosely and draped across his shoulders, the ends quietly fluttering in the wind. As he went on, he lets his thoughts drift away. Home. Warmth. His loud but wonderful husband, reading somewhere in the living room. His insomniac kid sitting cross-legged on the floor, their cats curled around him. Yeah. Maybe he could come back to that. And maybe he can make himself another coffee. His dad's secret recipe. It always hits the spot. 

But suddenly, a flash of green in the distance caught his eye.

A boy, hair the color of dark moss, sat perched on the edge of a rooftop. Bright red shoes lined neatly on the ledge. Shouta's stomach sank instantly. He didn't need to see the look on the boy's face to know what he was thinking.  And then the boy pushed off.

Time slowed, adrenaline sharpening every sense. Shouta's scarf extended out quickly in an attempt to catch the boy as Shouta prayed to Kami that he wasn't too late. Luckily for him, his wish came true. His scarf wrapped around the boy mid-fall. Snapping taut to half the boy's descent. He yanked him upward with a single fluid motion, catching the greenette effortlessly against his chest.

The boy coughed, trembling ever so slightly, eyes wide as he clung onto Shuota. "Easy now..take a moment to breathe" He told the kid. The rooftop seemed to stretch around them. The city sprawled below, oblivious. And in that moment, Shouta felt the full weight of responsibility settle back into his shoulders. He had arrived in time. The kid survived. The kid didn't end up like-

No. Stop Thinking about that. 

Shouta set the boy down carefully, keeping his scarf loosely coiled around him. "Tell me your name, kid." He said, staring right back at the green pupils of the boy. 

The boy hesitated, breaking eye contact and looking away. "M-my name is Izuku..Izuku Midoriya." Voice barely above a whisper. Midoriya huh? Fits him with how green he overly looks. "And why were you up here, Midoriya?"

The boy swallowed, shifting uncomfortably, his eyes flicked to the edge of the rooftop and then back at Shouta. "I...I don't want to talk about that." Aizawa's gaze narrowed. "It's fine. I understand. But you look young. You can't be any older than 14. I just want to know why someone as young as you would do this." 

The ki- no. Midoriya's lips parted, but then something caught him mid-sentence. His little green eyes widened. "A-are you Eraserhead? The underground hero?"

Shouta froze. Just slightly. A small almost imperceptible stiffening. "I- How do you know that?" Midoriya swallowed, his hands twisting together nervously. "I..I've seen reports online. Sometimes..in the Underground hero news. People talk a lot..about you. How you can erase quirks and fight quirkless."

For a moment Shouta's eyes darkened, processing the information. He was an underground hero. He's kept a low profile for many years now. Including Hitoshi, there was now another kid who heard of him and knew him almost in detail. In all his years of hero work, most civilians didn't even know his name, let alone his mere existence in the hero society. 

"You're not supposed to know that kid. That's not public information." Midoriya swallowed yet again, nodding. "I-I know...I just...wanted to know if..if heroes like you...if people who fought quirkless like you exist and...and maybe..." Midoriya's voice faltered, turning into a more murmur. "...maybe I could...be one too.."

Shouta let out a long, low sigh, his scarf loosening slightly around him as he ran a hand through his dark hair. So this was what it was about. The kid wants to be a hero but he probably didn't have the right quirk. What trivial matter, what should he-

"E-eraserhead..?" Midoriya stammered. "Do..Do you think...I can be a hero? ...without a quirk?" 

Shouta paused.

Oh. 

The boy was quirkless wasn't he?

Shouta's voice was quiet now, almost reflective. 

"Quirks, people said, defined you. Decided whether you were fit, or not, to stand as a hero. Being a hero without a quirk... It's hard. And dangerous." Midoriya frowned. "But it's not impossible." He noted to himself that midoriya perked up at that.

"People called my quirk 'Villainous'. But there is no such thing as a villainous quirk. No quirk existed to mark someone as good or evil. Nor does it exist to ridicule those without one and define them as useless. Quirks are tools. Nothing more, nothing less. Tools help you support others and fight for what's right."

"So, can you become a hero without a quirk? Yes. If you work, train and study hard enough. Yes. You can be a hero kid."

Midoriya blinked. Tears threatening to spill. His lips trembled, but there was a flicker of hope in his eyes now, fragile but there. Shouta's dark crimson eyes met Midoriya's emerald ones. "Quirks don't make people a hero. Hard work does. And if you're willing to put in the work, you can be one. But it won't be easy. Not for a single second. You must never, ever give up. Am I understood kid?"

Midoriya nodded slowly, swallowing hard. The corners of Shouta's mouth turned up for some time before going back to his usual expression. "You better get going, kid. Being up here and doing what you were earlier? It's not worth it." 

Midoriya nodded again, quickly slipping back on his shoes and picking up his belongings. And right as the kid headed for the door. He paused and turned around to face Shouta. "Thank you Eraserhead! I will remember every word you say!" The boy said before turning again to leave. Sounding more confident now. Shouta smiled internally. 

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Shouta didn't notice her at first. The wind carried only the faintest whisper of movement, even with his heightened senses. He'd been too focused on the kid.

"Quite the mess you've gotten yourself into, old man." A teasing voice called out from the shadows of the rooftop. Shouta had to fight the urge to roll his eyes. He didn't turn around immediately, but his scarf coiled lightly around his arm. "Hoshi."

A figure stepped out from the darkness, the moonlight glinting off the silver-white hair. A hood hid the sharp curve of horns at the top of her head, and the rest of the vigilante's outfit blended into the night. "You seemed ...concerned." She continued, hands tucked casually in her pockets "For a kid you barely know."

Aizawa's eyes didn't waver, "Concerned enough to prevent him from killing himself." Hoshi smirked. "You technically saved him. And now he's out there, on his way home, probably thinking about everything wrong with his life." 

Aizawa's eyes narrowed, "And why are you so interested?" Hoshi's voice dropped to a quiet, confidential tone. "Well, I'm just someone who walks the same streets he does. The world's rough on kids like him" Aizawa's eyes narrowed further. "You know him?" 

"Not...exactly." She replied "But anyway, forget about that, I can't believe you actually expelled your whole class! All of them! Not even one left standing" She laughed out. 

"It was necessary. And how would you know about that?" He said, rolling his eyes slightly. "Oh, I have my ways, old man. Can't say I'm surprised though" Aizawa's eyes darkened.

"I'm not old."

"Uhm. Yes you are."

"I'm not."

"You're probably in your 30s."

"Not even close, kid."

"It was close enough."

Aizawa sighed loudly. "Firstly, I'm only 28. Secondly, I'm starting to think you stalk me and follow me around." Hoshi laughed softly this time "Me?? Follow you?? Oh come on...we just patrol the same neighbourhood. Coincidence, surely. Or maybe I just like seeing the great yellow sleeping caterpillar at work."

"Coincidence?" Aizawa raised an eyebrow. "You always had that uncanny habit of showing up whenever and wherever I patrol." Hoshi shrugged. "That?? That's pure luck. But if I were stalking you, I'd let you know. You're far too scary for anyone to get close."

Aizawa took a deep breath, scarf tightening reflexively. For a moment, he actually considered the possibility. Stalker or not, the thought was...unsettling. Hoshi. Noticing the flicker of unease, smirked. "Don't worry old man. I only poke around if things get interesting. Like just now. It was quite the drama. A pity I didn't have popcorn."

Aizawa glared at her. "Keep your distance." He said firmly, scarf flicking slightly as if punctuating a warning. "I don't need your distractions today." And unsurprisingly the lad laughed again, fading into the shadows of the buildings behind and below as if she had never been there. "Of course, of course, Eraserhead. Whatever you say!"

And though Aizawa would never admit it, a small part of him wondered just how she traversed through the rooftops quietly, watching. Every minute, every second. 

Chapter Text

The front door creaked open slowly. Midoriya slipped inside his home, shoulders slumped, notebook still damp in his arms. His thoughts were still lost. Somewhere in the middle of happiness and sadness.The second part was probably from when his favourite hero, his idol for 14 years of his life, told him he couldn’t be a hero. But the first part completely changed the second part when his 2nd favourite hero, Eraserhead, told him he can.

“Izuku?” Inko’s voice drifted from the kitchen, distracting him from his thoughts. Oh. Mom’s home early. She appeared with a warm smile, drying her hands on a towel. “Welcome home, sweetie. You’re home quite late today.”

Midoriya froze for a fraction of a second before forcing a small smile. “Ah, uh, yeah. I…I stayed back! Yeah I stayed back to clean up after class. There was a small activity today and the class was absolutely trashed!” His mom’s brow furrowed briefly, then softened. “Oh Izuku, you always work so hard. You must be tired.”

“Yeah…” he mumbled. His chest tightening. He can’t tell her he tried to jump… But if he had…and if Eraserhead wasn’t there…What would she think? Would she…would she even be able to smile like that again? The thought clawed at him as he trudged down the hallway to his room. He pushed open to the door, absolutely ready to just flop in his bed, only to stop dead in his tracks.

Sitting comfortable at his desk, fiddling with one of his hero notebooks, specifically hero analysis for the future no.7 and page 32, special analysis about vigilantes, Hoshi, was a girl with white hair, dragon horns poking faintly through her strands and tail swishing around behind her.

“AKAZANE?!” Midoriya yelled, a bit too loudly. Akazane was in his room! She was looking through his notebook!! A GIRL WAS IN HIS ROOM AND IS LOOKING THROUGH HIS ANALYSIS?!

Akazane looked up, and put the notebook back on his desk. “Yo. About time you showed up.” Midoriya blinked, flustered, “Wha- what are you doing here?? How- How did you even-”

Before he could finish, his mother called from the hall. “Oh yes! Izuku, I forgot to mention! Akazane stopped by earlier! You left your favourite pen at school and she brought it back for you!” Midoriya’s cheeks burned red as he turned back to Akazane.

His pen. His precious limited edition All Might pen, sat neatly on the desk in front of her. “Y-you’re seriously here just to return my pen? You know you could've given it to me tomorrow…” Akazane chuckled, “Well yeah, but it’s still your pen. I know how much you love it, so I wasn’t going to let Bakugou get his grubby hands on it. Plus…” She turned, Red eyes met his own green ones. “You looked pretty out of it when you left. So I figured I’d check in with you.” 

Midoriya swallowed hard, caught somewhere between relief, mortification and “Oh shit, did she find out??” lingering in his chest. He shifted uncomfortably, his grip on his notebook impossibly tightening. “Thanks.” He muttered. 

“You really went out on these.” She responded. “..what?” “These notebooks.” Looking back up now, she’d taken another notebook, hero analysis for the future notebook 9, “You’ve got full combat breakdowns, quirk counters, efficiency ratings.. even movement pattern predictions. Not just anyone can do this.”

Midoriya rubbed the back of his neck, cheeks burning. “I-it’s just something I do for fun. You know, analyzing heroes, villains..and uh..vigilantes. Trying to understand how they work.” Akazane hummed thoughtfully, eyes flicking back down at his notebook. “You even wrote down weaknesses and advantages of different heroes in different environments..Like how Mount lady’s size quirk limits her in small areas or indoors, and how Eraserhead can’t blink for long if he’s using Erasure.” She raised an eyebrow, most likely impressed. “You’re scarily observant Midoriya.” 

Midoriya blinked in confusion. “I- uh- thanks I guess??” Akazane smiled back, but her expression shifted as she turned to another section. 3 whole pages, marked with careful notes and small doodles of a hooded figure with dragon-like features. “Huh.” She said as she tapped a finger on the page “You even wrote an analysis on her.”

Midoriya leaned forward to see what she was looking at “O-oh! Hoshi! Yeah, she's kind of my favourite vigilante.” He admitted. “I know what she’s doing is technically illegal, b-but she’s saved a lot of people! Her combat pattern is completely unpredictable and she adapts faster than most vigilantes I’ve seen, other than knuckleduster of course, She-” 

He stopped talking when he realized he was muttering. Akazane looked at him with an almost unreadable expression. Half amused, Half of something else. “It seems like you really like her huh?” She said lightly. Midoriya panicked, instantly fumbling, “W-well, yeah! Kinda?! I mean, she’s pretty clever! Despite having a lot of heroes chasing after her, she still strives to save people, and s-she really didn’t care about fame or recognition! Just like the crawler and I-i really admired that!”

Akazane’s lips curved into a small smile. “Admirer of a vigilante while planning to be a hero? That’s kind of risky Midoriya.” “I-I’m not like that..” Izuku stammered. Akazane responded by chuckling softly, leaning against the desk. “I’m kidding Midoriya. Don’t always take things to heart.” But her eyes lingered on the sketch of Hoshi’s silhouette in the corner of the page. 

______________________________________________

After a small chat, Akazane had to go. She slung her bag over her shoulder. But just as she was about to leave, Midoriya’s mother’s voice called from the kitchen. “Akazane-chan! Are you sure you don’t want to stay for dinner? I made katsudon!” Midoriya froze mid-step.

“M-mom!” He yelped, voice cracking every so slightly, “You can’t just-” Akazane smiled, cutting in before Midoriya could say anything else. “Katsudon huh? Sounds delicious.” She looked toward the kitchen doorway, where Inko stood with her usual warm grin. “Thank you Mrs. Midoriya, but I really shouldn’t . I still have some work to finish before it gets too late.”

“Oh, that’s such a shame!” Inko sighed loudly, hands clasped together. “It’s alright, I understand, you’re very hardworking! But you’re welcome to come anytime, dear. Izuku doesn’t bring over friends who are not Katsuki very often, you know!”

“M-Mom?!” Midoriya said, feeling his voice rising an octave higher, his face going crimson red yet again. Akazane and his mom’s laughter filled the hallway. “I’ll keep that in mind,” She said, glancing back at him with a grin. “See you at school next week, Midoriya.”

“Y-yeah..see you.” He mumbled, practically hiding his face in his hands. The front door clicked shut as Akazane waved goodbye, her footsteps fading down the hall. And for a moment, the apartment was quiet before..

“MOM!” Izuku turned, face bright red (as usual), voice cracking halfway through the word. “You know you can’t just say stuff like that! That’s like- the first girl who’s ever been in my room! And most likely the last?! What if she thinks I’m weird now?!” 

Inko blinked, a little startled by her son’s reaction. “Oh, Izuku, It wasn’t that bad..” Midoriya paced in frantic little circles. “W-what if she thinks I’m awkward?? Or- or- I don’t know, boring?! Or that I-”

“Sweetie..” Inko interrupted, trying not to laugh. “I think she likes you just fine. You two seemed to get along very well. She even found your notebook impressive. If she didn’t like you as a friend or not, would she be concerned enough to come check on you?”

Midoriya peeked at her through his fingers that were ‘taped’ onto his face, eyes wide and pink at the edges. “..I-i guess you’re right..” Inko smiled and nodded back. “Now, go take a deep breath and wash up for dinner. Katsudon's getting cold.”

Midoriya nodded slightly and shuffled toward his room, mumbling under his breath. “First girl who I (Technically) had over and mom just had to- aahhh…” but even as he mumbled, a small, shy smile crept onto his face. Akazane found his notes- no, him, interesting. Maybe…just maybe he can finally make a true friend.