Chapter 4
It was a lovely morning in Musutafu. The birds were chirping, the sun was beginning to rise and banish the darkness of the night, the Green Devil was holding a criminal by the neck and dousing him in freezing heat. A usual morning. When he dropped the criminal, he noticed that the sun was rising to tell him the night shift was over. 'Damn, already? Oh well.'
Putting on a black compression shirt, black shorts, a face mask and short-sleeve hoodie, Izuku was dressed to walk casually among the civilians. Before leaving, he reached into his backpack for three things: his journal, and his pictures of his family.
Day 15
I continue to fight whatever bad guy comes my way, doing what I can to help people sleep at night. Recently, I helped Yagi and Bakugo, and I've had a bothering burning sensation in my chest ever since. I hope that isn't any indication.
He put his notebook in his backpack and prayed to his deceased family members. Time to survive another day.
...
Izuku walked through the streets, not interacting with anyone. He thought about how different things were compared to two weeks ago. He may sleep on rooftops, but at least he doesn't cry himself to sleep anymore. He may be a target of heroes, but the need to run away from people is hardly anything new to him. And thanks to the money he takes from the criminals he beats, he can afford to feed himself better than the Yagi's did. Best of all, theyaren't here to hurt him. His walk took him to a local library, where he saw another missing person poster.
'So why does it burn when I think about them?'
He decided to do some light reading to hopefully clear his head. The library always brought him a sense of comfort during his middle school days. Many days, it was a safe haven from any bullies trying to ruin his life. The librarian was probably the only person in the entire school he built a somewhat positive relationship with. Some afternoons, he helped her put the books back on the shelves. Thick, heavy books. It was an exercise that made him not completely frail, and have a small bit of muscle. Definitely nothing on Katsuki, at least not back then. But what about now?
'Damn, there's that burning again.' He shook it off and looked for a good book to read. Perhaps he could brush up on treating wounds, although it's been a while since he needed to. As he was browsing, he heard a voice groan too loud for a library.
"This is heeeeellll!" she moaned. "Just kill me, it'd be easier at this point." Izuku went to investigate. It's become a habit of his to look into situations that grab his attention. He found a pink-skinned girl looking at a pile of textbooks. 'Studying when it's Summer break?'
"Uh, c-can I ask what you're doing?" Izuku walked up to the pair and asked. The pink girl had bushy hair like him, and black sclera with golden pupils. A mutation quirk. She looked at him with tired body language and eyes. "Writing my will..." Pinky answered. Izuku smiled just a little bit beneath the mask. "Studying." she answered for real this time. Izuku tilted his head. "During the Summer? Am I missing something?"
The girl explained that she had faked being sick during finals three weeks ago to miss being tested on her worst subjects. Eventually, the school and her parents found out the truth, and she had to write the papers during Summer break. "My parents left me here to study the whole day!" Pinky whined. "This is cruel and unusual punishment! I want a lawyer!" she shouted, only for a librarian to shush her. Izuku's smile widened slightly. He looked at the textbooks and saw she was covering Math, History and English.
"I do well in all of these." he muttered aloud. "Really!?" she asked in surprise. "Could you tutor me? Please! I've only got three days to get through all this!" Izuku was taken aback by the pink girl's request. "T-Tutor you?" No one ever asked him to help them study, despite him consistently being at the top of his academics. Even the lowest of the class turned their back on him when he offered. They'd rather fail than get help from Deku. The worst was when his notes got stolen. He was brought out of his bitter thoughts when the pink-skinned girl was on her knees in front of him. "Please help me, I'm begging you! There's no one else. You're my only hope!"
Izuku held out his hands to get her to stop. "Alright, alright, I'll help you! You don't have to beg, now please get up. People are staring." Pinky jumped back on her feet and grabbed his hands and shook them energetically. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! You're a lifesaver!" Izuku chuckled lightly, and went to find a chair.
"I'm Mina Ashido, by the way!" Izuku smiled. "Nice to meet you." he left to go find a chair, but he was stopped. "What's your name?"
Izuku's eyes filled with nervousness for a second. "I-I'm Zu." he said before speed-walking to find a chair. He didn't know it, but the girl was gushing over how cute that name was. A hole in his heart had formed from lying to those nice girl. He couldn't risk being turned in to the police, go back home and suffer neglect and abuse again. He was also reminded of another reason he left. No one ever wanted to be around Izuku.
"Okay, you said you've got three days to prepare. We can do one subject each day, and draw up notes to revise each night. How about we start with your worst subject?" Mina didn't wait a second before answering. "Math." They spent a few hours studying, and getting notes down. They decided to take a lunch break in between. They walked to the food court of a nearby mall.
"I still can't believe exams during vacation is even legal!" Mina groaned. "Well, you wouldn't know if you didn't come up with faking sick." Zu said. "How was I supposed to know this would happen!?" Izuku smiled talking to her, enjoying a bowl of katsudon with his mask down. He can't remember the last time he had a real conversation with... anyone. "Thanks for agreeing to tutor me, Zu. I owe you big time!" Mina said. Zu swallowed his food before talking. "It's okay, I'm actually getting more out of it than you know." "Like what, having a hottie as arm candy?" Mina teased, eliciting a blush from the boy.
"A-Actually, a normal school experience," Mina looked at him curiously. "I've never studied with other people before, so this is a nice change of scene." He had the smallest smile on his face which was more sad than anything. "Who wouldn't want to study with you? You're smart and you make studying not so horrific!" His pink friend said. Izuku looked down at his food. "Let's just say I'm not the most popular." The mood around the table was very gloomy. "Screw them!" Mina suddenly said, surprising the black and white haired boy.
"They don't know what they're missing! Besides, this just means I have you all to myself, so I ain't complaining." Zu looked at the energetic girl in surprise who seemed completely sure about enjoying his company. He was touched, and his green eyes reflected a light he hadn't felt in so long. But before it could grow, he remembered she was talking to Zu, not Izuku. He has no reason to believe she would feel the same if she knew who he really was. He closed his eyes and put on a smile. "Thanks, I like you too."
When they finished their meal and paid, they walked back to the library to finish their studying for the day. Come dusk, they were bidding each other farewell. Izuku went to sleep that night feeling lighter.
...
The next day, they focused on History. Their study sessions were also nice bonding sessions, although Zu didn't talk much about himself after opening up about his own school life. He was careful to keep her at a safe distance while staying friendly and accommodating.
On the final day, they touched on English. "You're coming along pretty well. Studying isn't so bad, right?" Zu asked. "Not when you have a great teacher!" Mina winked. Zu was thankful his mask hid his blush. "I'm almost upset, this has been fun." she pouted cutely. "But it was thanks to my great idea that we came together, and I'm probably going to get better grades than I would without you. Thanks, Zu!" Mina exclaimed. Izuku felt himself warming up comfortably. "It's been a pleasure, really."
...
They decided to finish studying at the food court to save time, and walk around the mall. Window shopping for the teens was a relaxing bit of fun. These are the experiences Izuku was missing out on as a normal kid. Even before the vigilante act, he never had this. Perhaps, if he left that behind and returned home, he could spend more time with Mina. He would have real a friend. Things could be... better.
"Hey look, it's Teleki!" Mina exclaimed.
Izuku felt his stomach flip and his heart stop beating. He turned around and saw Mina was looking at TVs on display. He sighed in relief when it was just his mother on the screen. She looked distraught. The headline said it was about her missing son. She was weeping on camera for her quirkless son to come home. Izuku hadn't seen her so miserable since Hisashi died. It made the boy feel a surge of guilt. But still, a couple days of suffering isn't a fraction of what they've made him endure.
"Ohh, I've read about this online!" a passerby said. "Teleki's missing kid, rumors say he's quirkless." Izuku bristled at that part. "That pisses me off." Mina said, making Izuku's heart crack. "She's a pro hero, but lost her own son? Come on!" Izuku looked at her in surprise that she didn't comment on the quirkless part. "Poor kid must be starving! His parents better feel guilty about it." Izuku felt extremely happy. Instead of mocking the quirkless boy, she scolded his mother and sympathized for him. It took a good deal of strength to hold back his tears.
Although, looking at his mother's face, he felt bad all over again. "Maybe it's not completely her fault," Mina looked at him in confusion. It stung Izuku to say this, but just this once, he could give his mother the benefit of the doubt. "Pros don't have it easy, and someone in the top 30's must have a lot of responsibilities. You know that vigilante with green flames? Out of all the heroes trying to catch him, I hear Teleki is working the hardest."
The girls took his words into consideration. "Yeah, that's fair." Mina said. "But still, there's gotta be something seriously wrong for a kid to go missing." she argued, to which Izuku agreed completely. They watched the interview for a little while longer. When asked if the boy was kidnapped, Teleki said there wasn't a break-in, so that's not the most likely. When asked about the boy's home life, she barely had anything to say. This raised the question if maybe her son was a runaway, but nobody asked and she didn't say so. Izuku felt his heart pounding and burning at the same time.
...
"My head's gonna explode..." Mina said as she rubbed her aching noggin. "Congratulations. I think you earned the night off." Zu said, walking her out of the library. Mina had somehow survived a full three days of Zu's thorough tutelage. "I know I've said this a lot, but thanks for your help, Zu!" Mina said. "If I didn't have you, I might have to do Summer school! Ughh...!" Her pink skin crawled at the thought. They waited outside the library for their parents. Well, one of them.
"Hey Zu, what's your opinion on the Green Devil?" Mina suddenly asked. "The vigilante? Why are you asking?" Zu asked back. "Well, we got your opinion on Teleki, but this guy is something else. Just curious what you think." Izuku brought his hand up to his chin. He was asked about his opinion of himself. "Well, he's breaking the law by doing hero work without a license, but nothing seriously bad has happened. In fact, he's doing more good than harm. His non-lethal flames are good for intimidating without doing damage, and half a dozen criminals have been arrested thanks to him."
Mina put on a quizzical faces. "Yeah, he is pretty good at what he does." Mina agreed. "Do you think he could be our age? If he is, then he better not get caught! When I become a hero, I'm working with this guy!" Izuku was shocked by what he just heard. "You wanna be a hero?" he asked. She nodded enthusiastically. "Uh huh! Going to U.A. in a year and a half!" Izuku looked stunned for a moment, but smiled at her with warm eyes. "I'm sure you'll be a great hero."
His eyes were happier than she'd ever seen, and Mina returned it with a wide grin. They talked about the Green Devil for a while longer. Apparently, Mina wanted to go pro to catch the vigilante herself and make him her sidekick. Zu laughed at that, but he secretly wouldn't mind that. The girl turned her head when she noticed her parents car approaching. "Hey Zu, come meet my folks... Zu?" Her friend had disappeared. He had something important to think about.
Hopping from rooftop to rooftop, Izuku sat down and looked at the sunset. He pulled down his mask and hoodie, and wiped a tear from his eye. "Ashido, thank you. You've helped me more than you know, more than I imagined you would. I'm sorry for leaving without a goodbye, but I meant what I said. You will be great a hero."
...
"FREEDOM!" Mina cheered as she paraded in the streets with test results in hand. "VICTORY!" she cheered as she held her test results. "This is my diploma from graduating the University of Zu!" Mina got straight Bs on her exams, shocking her parents and her teachers. She wanted to thank her friend for the help, but she couldn't find him anywhere. But it's okay, he knew how ecstatic she was. Standing on the roof of their library, Izuku watched his friend celebrating a couple meters away. He smiled at seeing them so happy. With a solemn smile, he said goodbye as he flew away. On his way to his destination, he passed another missing person poster and left it alone.
Yagi Residence
Izuku wanted to throw up. The large house in front of him was never his home, but one of his hells. Still, he had been missing for 18 days, and it must have affected his family. He walked to the front door and stared at the doorknob, only one inch away from returning to his life as Izuku Yagi.
'Am I really ready for this? If I go back, it's likely they'll be furious with me, and I'll be worse off than in the streets. Nothing will change. But, things have to have changed. Maybe my absence made them change, and I can have a family. No more bullying, being able to talk to Izumi again, Toshinori and Inko looking at me again. Maybe I'll be able to talk to Ashido too. I can... have a normal life.'
With his hopes up higher than logic, Izuku was about to open the door, but did one thing first. He took out a bottle of water and doused his hair with it. The white hair dye washed off his green tips and highlights. "Please don't make me regret this." Izuku muttered to himself as he opened the door slowly. No one was on the ground floor, which is good. Now that he's actually inside, he needed a bit more time to ready himself. He left his large backpack by the open door next to his shoes.
He went through the familiar passage. He's spent so many hours there, looking at the table that had the pictures of Nana Shimura and Hisashi Midoriya. The pictures had a small vase of flowers next to them. Izuku felt something was wrong, but he barely gave it a passing glance. If he saw his grandmother and biological father, he might get too emotional. He only noticed wilting flowers next to where Hisashi's portrait was.
He treaded softly through the house, trying to be as quiet as possible. It didn't seem like anyone was home. He went upstairs, the area he dreaded most. His parents' and sister's rooms were on that floor. He heard voices coming from Izumi's room. They sounded delighted, and horribly familiar as he listened.
"He's been showing up in this area the most. We can do a stake out and catch him in the act!" He knew that gruff voice anywhere. 'Bakugo.' he mentally groaned. He heard Izumi's voice as well. "He wins by catching people off guard and intimidating them, but we'll get the jump on him! That'll give us a shot at taking him down!" Izuku's heart started beating harder as he realized who they were talking about.
"We'll take down that arrogant bastard who thinks he can do whatever he wants!" Katsuki said with gusto. "We'll make him talk! He'll tell us where Izuku is!" "Best of all, taking down the Green Devil will make a killer debut for the next top heroes!"
Every word they said made Izuku want to throw up, run away, and, to his surprise, beat the crap out of them. 'Glad to see my favorite people haven't changed... Was that sarcasm?' He walked away, thankful that he wasn't noticed. He went back downstairs. Maybe, his parents would give him a better response. He sat down and waited for a bit in the living room. 'They're still so self-centered. Even when I'm missing, they're prioritizing their own glory! What was I thinking rescuing them!?' Izuku surprised himself with that stray thought. He scolded himself for it, and remembered he was here to try and rejoin his family, but only if he was granted a better life.
He noticed that he left the door open, and went to close it. That's when he saw it. On the table that had his late family members' portraits, Hisashi's was nowhere to be seen. Nana's was still well-kept, but his father was gone, and his flowers were wilted. Izuku's heart started thumping harder and faster. A thought came to him, and it made him feel like lead. 'No... don't tell me...' He ran back up the stairs and into his parents room. He went to Inko's nightstand, and saw there was nothing on top. 'Mom... please...!' Tears filled his eyes.
He looked in the dresser, and no Hisashi. Izuku went back to the nightstand and opened the drawer with a shaky hand. What he saw filled him with dread, misery, anguish, so many awful feelings. He saw the framed pictures of his father that once decorated various parts of the house and her old wedding ring. Izuku realized what this was. Inko was trying to ignore Hisashi, forget about him. Worse yet, Izuku also found the singed runaway letter he left behind along with the Hisashi memorabilia. He suddenly remembered the night he ran away, when he tried to get everyone's answer, when his final desperate cry for affection was ignored.
But it wasn't ignored. Inko gave her response. The answer Izuku wanted so desperately as to why his own mother wouldn't look at him. Because he was born looking like him. Izuku was practically a miniature version of Hisashi. A constant reminder of her failure to save her husband. 'So that's it...? I'm not her son to her... just her failure incarnate...?' Izuku found a picture of him and Hisashi playing in the yard. He dropped to his knees and cried silently. 'That's why you won't look at me? Because I remind you of how you failed to protect your husband? I've been neglected because you failed as a hero!? Well, Teleki, I guess we can add parenting to your list of failures!'
Izuku stood up with a dark glare and tears running down his face. He wiped them away before they could leave evidence. He took a picture of the picture of him and his father in the yard before putting everything back the way he left it. He walked back out the door, more desperate than ever to leave the household that abandoned him. Tried to forget him and Hisashi. 'If they don't care, why should I? All I've ever known from them is pain. Well, no more. Rot in hell, Yagi's.' Izuku flew away, his heart burning and bleeding horribly.
He saw yet another missing person poster. He placed his palm on it, and ignited his viridescent flames. He didn't notice it, but there was a smoking dark grey scorch mark in the shape of his hand.