[ When Shouto was a kid, he had one friend that his mother essentially helped him smuggle into his life. His father didn't allow him to socialize with other kids, even his own siblings, when there was training that took precedent. But going to school allowed him to interact with Izuku, who he'd bonded with over their love of All Might, and had been his partner in... well, everything. Where Izuku went, Shouto wasn't far behind, his bodyguard against harassment.
But then, the Midoriyas were gone, and so was his best friend. It... certainly made things hard, afterwards. He had no one to go to when his mother snapped under all the stress, and a little boy couldn't fight a bully of Endeavor's merit.
Years later, though, the nickname still puts him on point. The voice doesn't match what it was, what, almost a decade ago? But he still turns, surprise visible on his marred face. ]
[He remembers Shouto well- missed him intensely whenever Kacchan took to bullying him for his quirklessness. Shouto was always the person he'd go to on the playground to chat and talk superheroes with. Izuku adored him.
It was hard, when they moved away. His writing wasn't very good, and he suspected that they weren't even getting through to his friend after the third one failed to yield a reply. Though as a child, he figured that maybe they were just getting lost in the mail.
He notes the scar- wonders how that happened, but mostly he's just amazed to see his childhood friend again. They can talk about it later, if Shoucchan's willing to talk about it.]
Ah- it really is you! You remember me.
[He feels like he's three seconds away from crying in joy, as he approaches Shouto's desk.]
[ Truthfully, without his mother there to intercept the letters? Endeavor burnt every one that had been sent to him. Shouto never even knew he was getting them, just thought that the Midoriyas had gone so far away that they lost touch.
He tried not to think about it that often, especially when he had to build up his defenses and control in the face of his training. Things certainly had changed for the worst when Izuku moved away.
But apparently he's here, at Yuuei? His confusion is just as evident as his surprise, because Izuku had been quirkless. There's no way he'd ever forget that - did he finally develop one, after he'd moved away? That feels like something they should have discovered together, and it's a little unfair to the childish part of his mind that hides deep beneath tons and tons of issues and defenses. ]
I wouldn't forget you. [ Honest to a fault, as always. ]
[He offers a small smile as he takes the desk right next to him.
They both know exactly how quirkless he was, back when they were children. But sometimes you're in the right place at the right time, and fortune smiles upon you- and All Might decides that somehow, in someway, you're fit to be his successor.
Hearing that Shouto still remembered him- it's reassuring.]
I would never forget you either, Shoucchan. I just... I thought you might have forgotten, because you never wrote back.
[ He twists in his seat to face him better, assessing. Not much has changed, really, save for their ages. There's still a lot of the Izuku he knew as a kid there, and it makes him wonder if there's the kid that Izuku knew still in him. He doesn't know.
But the admission confuses him even more than his old best friend being at a school for heroes with quirks, and he can only stare for a beat, two - and then the realization strikes. ]
I didn't know you wrote me. [ Agitation makes its way to the surface, and his lip curls in a tsk. ] My old man probably took the letters.
[No matter what Izuku still believes in him, and his capacity to become a great hero, just like All Might. He was always a kind child, and he just can't see that changing.
He wasn't fond of Endeavor, whatever brief glimpses he saw of the man. He was huge, imposing and scary to a young child. He's certainly good at his job, but even young Izuku had reservations about him as a person.
And hearing this just confirms it farther.]
So that's what happened... I thought I didn't remember your address right, and my mail was just going to the wrong place. [And thus he stopped when he didn't get any response.]
W-well... even if we missed out a lot in each other's lives, we're back together now, right?
[ A part of him wants to ask his father about the letters, to see if he'll just dismiss it or tell him outright that he'd taken them. He can't imagine Izuku misremembering something, not when he was brilliant as a kid, able to recite facts like he breathed air. Shouto doubts that's changed, either. Especially if he got into Yuuei, quirk or not.
He takes a deep breath, before exhaling a faint puff of steam. His left side is heated up, and he has to will it to calm before the temperature change becomes noticeable to anyone around them.
It's none of their business. ]
Right. [ Even he can easily admit that. ] And your quirk finally manifested, so we're here together.
[He notes the small signs of Todoroki getting frustrated. It might be years since he's seen him- but he still remembers his best friends' tells. It seems like he's got a better grasp on his temper these days.
... It's something they can discuss later, if Todoroki wants to.]
Right. [He gives what he hopes is a reassuring smile.]
I'm looking forward to being classmates with you again, Shoucchan. I never thought I'd run into you here.
[Because before he ran into All Might, he was aware that going to UA was a pipe dream at best.]
[ Few people have managed to figure out Shouto the way that Midoriya Izuku has, but he doesn't linger on that thought for very long. They'll have a lot to catch up on, and plenty of time for it later, so he focuses on the one thing that has him the most curious.
Izuku's quirk.
After all, he's right. They're classmates again, and this is a school primarily for heroes with quirks and their support teams. 1-A is specifically a class for those with quirks, though. He can figure that much out. ]
I didn't think I'd ever see you again, to be honest. [ His head tilts, almost curious. ] So it's nice to be wrong for once.
Izuku gives Shouto a long look- it certainly seems that way.
But before he can actually say anything Aizawa arrives and starts herding them out to test their quirks. Whoever is the lowest will be expelled?
And Izuku's panicking. He can barely control his quirk, it's either 0 or 100%, and 100% means breaking limbs.
When it comes to the ball toss, things go as usual. He only breaks one finger- and then Kacchan's mad as hell and stalking towards him like he's about to start a fight.]
[ Class is easy enough, even when they get to the demonstrations and tests. Shouto got in on recommendation, so it's nothing to him - he does it, he passes, he observes what little sneak peeks of the other quirks he gets in these.
And he watches Izuku, shocked by the display - for a myriad of reasons.
He breaks a finger as he sends the ball soaring, and Shouto's mind works through all of his memories of their childhood. A quirkless Izukkun, his mother levitating things over to them, the brief moment where he met his father before he left for whatever trip it was he was going on.
But he pushes those thoughts aside when he sees Bakugou advancing on Izuku, and - and it's instinct, from the playground, even years later. No one expect the aloof Todoroki to intervene, but rather than being face-to-face with Bakugou, Izuku gets to see Shouto's back as he steps between them without batting an eye. ]
[Izuku's never had a quirk. He's always been quirkless, and it's hard for him to lie. Especially when he's going to be around Bakugou and Shouto both. There are two people who know for certain that Izuku has no quirk and this is a weird development.
He's not sure if he's going to be able to keep it underwraps.
For now though, he's looking at Todoroki's back while he's trying to protect him. It seems some things never change.]
Shoucchan...? It's okay.
[It isn't and Aizawa's wrapping Bakugou up in his capture weapon. Heroes do not attack each other for some perceived slight.]
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this one makes me upset
But then, the Midoriyas were gone, and so was his best friend. It... certainly made things hard, afterwards. He had no one to go to when his mother snapped under all the stress, and a little boy couldn't fight a bully of Endeavor's merit.
Years later, though, the nickname still puts him on point. The voice doesn't match what it was, what, almost a decade ago? But he still turns, surprise visible on his marred face. ]
Izuku?
its upsetting, only a monster wouldn't be
It was hard, when they moved away. His writing wasn't very good, and he suspected that they weren't even getting through to his friend after the third one failed to yield a reply. Though as a child, he figured that maybe they were just getting lost in the mail.
He notes the scar- wonders how that happened, but mostly he's just amazed to see his childhood friend again. They can talk about it later, if Shoucchan's willing to talk about it.]
Ah- it really is you! You remember me.
[He feels like he's three seconds away from crying in joy, as he approaches Shouto's desk.]
so, Endeavor
He tried not to think about it that often, especially when he had to build up his defenses and control in the face of his training. Things certainly had changed for the worst when Izuku moved away.
But apparently he's here, at Yuuei? His confusion is just as evident as his surprise, because Izuku had been quirkless. There's no way he'd ever forget that - did he finally develop one, after he'd moved away? That feels like something they should have discovered together, and it's a little unfair to the childish part of his mind that hides deep beneath tons and tons of issues and defenses. ]
I wouldn't forget you. [ Honest to a fault, as always. ]
absolutely
They both know exactly how quirkless he was, back when they were children. But sometimes you're in the right place at the right time, and fortune smiles upon you- and All Might decides that somehow, in someway, you're fit to be his successor.
Hearing that Shouto still remembered him- it's reassuring.]
I would never forget you either, Shoucchan. I just... I thought you might have forgotten, because you never wrote back.
no subject
But the admission confuses him even more than his old best friend being at a school for heroes with quirks, and he can only stare for a beat, two - and then the realization strikes. ]
I didn't know you wrote me. [ Agitation makes its way to the surface, and his lip curls in a tsk. ] My old man probably took the letters.
no subject
He wasn't fond of Endeavor, whatever brief glimpses he saw of the man. He was huge, imposing and scary to a young child. He's certainly good at his job, but even young Izuku had reservations about him as a person.
And hearing this just confirms it farther.]
So that's what happened... I thought I didn't remember your address right, and my mail was just going to the wrong place. [And thus he stopped when he didn't get any response.]
W-well... even if we missed out a lot in each other's lives, we're back together now, right?
no subject
He takes a deep breath, before exhaling a faint puff of steam. His left side is heated up, and he has to will it to calm before the temperature change becomes noticeable to anyone around them.
It's none of their business. ]
Right. [ Even he can easily admit that. ] And your quirk finally manifested, so we're here together.
no subject
... It's something they can discuss later, if Todoroki wants to.]
Right. [He gives what he hopes is a reassuring smile.]
I'm looking forward to being classmates with you again, Shoucchan. I never thought I'd run into you here.
[Because before he ran into All Might, he was aware that going to UA was a pipe dream at best.]
no subject
Izuku's quirk.
After all, he's right. They're classmates again, and this is a school primarily for heroes with quirks and their support teams. 1-A is specifically a class for those with quirks, though. He can figure that much out. ]
I didn't think I'd ever see you again, to be honest. [ His head tilts, almost curious. ] So it's nice to be wrong for once.
no subject
... Yeah. I thought for sure that moving away and not getting anything back... I missed you.
[Shouto was a much kinder friend than Kacchan was. Both of them were amazing in their own ways, but if he had to chose, he'd pick Shouto every time.]
Looks like we got lucky, finding each other again.
no subject
But right now, Shouto just nods in agreement. ]
I missed you, too. [ Easy to admit, despite Izuku's nervousness and his own social awkwardness. ] It was weird, after you were gone.
no subject
Izuku gives Shouto a long look- it certainly seems that way.
But before he can actually say anything Aizawa arrives and starts herding them out to test their quirks. Whoever is the lowest will be expelled?
And Izuku's panicking. He can barely control his quirk, it's either 0 or 100%, and 100% means breaking limbs.
When it comes to the ball toss, things go as usual. He only breaks one finger- and then Kacchan's mad as hell and stalking towards him like he's about to start a fight.]
no subject
And he watches Izuku, shocked by the display - for a myriad of reasons.
He breaks a finger as he sends the ball soaring, and Shouto's mind works through all of his memories of their childhood. A quirkless Izukkun, his mother levitating things over to them, the brief moment where he met his father before he left for whatever trip it was he was going on.
But he pushes those thoughts aside when he sees Bakugou advancing on Izuku, and - and it's instinct, from the playground, even years later. No one expect the aloof Todoroki to intervene, but rather than being face-to-face with Bakugou, Izuku gets to see Shouto's back as he steps between them without batting an eye. ]
no subject
He's not sure if he's going to be able to keep it underwraps.
For now though, he's looking at Todoroki's back while he's trying to protect him. It seems some things never change.]
Shoucchan...? It's okay.
[It isn't and Aizawa's wrapping Bakugou up in his capture weapon. Heroes do not attack each other for some perceived slight.]