Work Text:
The next day was really no better, for Izuku Midoriya.
Worn down, and exhausted from the night before, the boy had dragged himself from his comfortable bed, green eyes avoiding his calendar at all costs as he almost robotically began to get himself ready for the day.
No matter how beat down and lonely he felt, he still had school...Izuku had been given the opportunity to learn at UA, and he wasn't about to cast that aside just before he felt sad, just because his chest felt tight and his brain hoarsely whispered that it wasn't worth being sad over.
It was the day after, July sixteenth...his birthday didn't matter anymore, and he'd need to act like it was just like any other day. He'd just need to act...normal.
It was easier said than done.
Quietly padding out from his bedroom, the boy couldn't help but feel relieved at seeing his mothers' bedroom door slightly ajar, signalling that she had probably left for work earlier that same morning...which meant he wouldn't see her until he arrived home tonight - and that was fine. Izuku could look after himself.
Moving into the kitchen, he made himself a simple breakfast, mentally berating himself quietly when he noticed the time, and the fact he'd overslept; he'd gone and missed his morning run. He wouldn't have the time after he got himself ready for the school day...
Well...things surely couldn't get any worse, right?
Sliding himself into his seat, the current holder of One For All really shouldn't have assumed that everything would get better. He'd managed to get in just before the bell rang for the beginning of homeroom, his uniform and hair disheveled due to the distance he'd had to run. His classmates had all eyed him in surprised as he hurried inside the classroom, managing to beat Mr. Aizawa by only a few moments before their first class began.
Out of breath, the greenette rested his forehead on his table, fidgeting under the stares that no doubt came from Uraraka, Iida or Todoroki. He'd have to apologize, later, for worrying them the previous day.
But for now, he chose to focus as their homeroom teacher began to take the roll call, and he made sure he didn't miss his name.
"Midoriya." his teacher began, and the boy shot his head up, eyes wide and hoping he wasn't in trouble for not having his head up and paying attention; but it appeared that the erasure hero wasn't really looking at him, glancing down at a paper in his hand.
"Y-yes, Mr. Aizawa?"
"I'd appreciate if I didn't get a complaint about you almost barreling into another student yesterday after class," the man starts, and Izuku feels a sense of dread build, for some reason. "I'm aware it was your birthday yesterday, but try not to harm yourself or others, yeah?"
Oh.
Izuku swallowed, feeling his classmates gazes all snap to his form. He wanted to curl up, wanted the floor to swallow him whole. Averting his gaze, he stared down at his desk as tears budded in his eyes. "Oh. S-sorry, sir."
Oh no.
"I suppose a belated happy birthday is in order," if Izuku wasn't wallowing in his own despair, perhaps he would've heard the slightly softer tone his teachers voice took, before it became firm once more to address the rest of the class. "Right. You have English next, and if I'm not mistaken you're suppose to hand in an essay. You can use the rest of homeroom to get yourselves in order."
Guilt curled up in Izuku's gut as his friends gazes burned into his back, but he refused to raise his head and look, absentmindedly rubbing his face with a sleeve as he quickly sorted his English work, hands shaking.
They knew.
Izuku really wished he hadn't crawled out of bed that day. A low buzz settled in his ears as his throat closed, vision turning blurry with tears that he desperately tried to get back under control. He couldn't break out crying, not here.
He heard a growl under Bakugou's breath from in front of him, "shitty Deku."
"You can't really do anything, can you Deku?"
The six-year-old stared up at his childhood friend with teary eyes, the blonde sneering down at him with a malicious gaze, small explosions popping in the palms of his hands.
"Just a shitty, useless nerd." The aggressive boy taunts, the other children of the neighborhood cackling behind his form. "You want to be a hero? What a joke!"
Izuku's knuckles turned white, and the boy looked to see himself grasping the edge of his desk in a tight grip, sparks of his quirk flaring off his skin. He hadn't even noticed he'd activated it...
Releasing One For All, he pried his fingertips from his desk, staring at the indents his fingers had left behind, the wood having splintered slightly and given way under the power of his shared quirk. He released a hard breath, willing his heartbeat to slow down.
He knew Kacchan was right wasn't the same old Deku, he told himself. His Deku didn't mean useless, worthless, it wasn't the nickname of some pathetic quirkless child despite being who he was.
His Deku meant 'you could do it'...Uraraka himself had changed his name for the better, given it a new meaning...
Given his hero name a new meaning.
Is...is she going to be mad at me?
Would all of his friends be mad at him? The student didn't want to turn his head and find their gazes, didn't want to see the possible judgement blooming across their expressions...
Get it together, Izuku. He told himself, focusing on the work he had laid in front of him, wiping his teary eyes once more as he forcibly calmed himself down, awaiting the first period to start. It can't be that bad. They...they'll understand...
...right?
"Dekuuuuuuu!"
Izuku was jolted out of his thoughts when the lunch bell finally rang, several periods later, and a familiar bubbly voice called out his nickname. Like a deer in headlights, he looked up with wide eyes to see Uraraka had already scrambled up from her desk, and rushed to his side. Her wide, brown eyes filled with concern for her friend.
"Deku!" Her voice sounded sad, and Izuku swallowed back the anger at himself that churned in his stomach. "You didn't tell us it was your birthday!"
"Ah! I, uh..." his face flushed at the closeness of his friend, leaning away slightly as he turned red. "It wasn't...really...important?"
"Not important?!" Uraraka gasped, and Izuku could see out of the corner of his eye that Iida was heading over at a more acceptable pace. "Of course it's important! You're our friend!"
"She is quite right, Midoriya!" Iida speaks up from where he stops besides the pair, glasses glinting as his red-blue eyes stare at Midoriya's smaller form. "We're your friends, and I can assure you that you should have no need to hide anything from us."
"I-it's not-I wasn't doing it on purpose, honest!" Izuku yelps, his hands flittered around nervously as he searches for what to say. "I-I just...it never came up!" He explains, hunching his shoulders as he feels the gazes of the rest of their class, not all of them having left the classroom yet. "You both know I didn't exactly have...good friends before..."
Whilst Uraraka seemed clueless to their friends posture, Iida, at the very least, seemed to notice. He quickly adjusted his classes, before resting a hand on the greenette's shoulder with a small, but genuine smile. "How about we just head to lunch now? I'm sure Todoroki has saved us a table!"
Midoriya seemed to become less wound at that, and he looked up, a wobbly smile taking place. "Yeah...sure."
None of them noticed as Uraraka took out her flip phone in a hurry, sending off a text with a wobbly, but confident smile on her face before she joined her two friends, cheerfully asking how they figured they had done on the English essay they had all handed in earlier that day.
They might have missed it - but the brunette was going to be sure to make it up to him. She had to, she had to. Because Deku deserved it, out of all people.
He didn't deserve to be sad, to be alone, to have no one--
She just hoped that the others would all agree.
Honestly, Izuku was amazed that he kept himself together as well as he had managed - if you could count 'almost bursting into tears every hour' as good enough - hey, at least he hadn't actually cried or anything. Especially not during a lesson.
He didn't want to try and explain that to any teacher.
Even Hero Training at the end of the day, around All Might, the boy had managed to hold off his tears and feeling of hopelessness. Even if his idol had questioned if the boy was feeling all right - Izuku had only grinned and assured him he was fine.
His friends hadn't taken it as terribly as he had expected...so that probably accounted for part of his better mood. Although he still felt bad for keeping it from them - Iida had reassured him it was completely fine, and at lunch even Todoroki had chimed in that they weren't mad, just confused; they felt bad for missing out on an important day for their friend.
Izuku, safe to say, felt slightly better when it came to thinking about heading home. He could enjoy a nice, friendly dinner with his mother, and finish off his homework before going to bed for the night. Now that his classmates knew - and sure, were disappointed in themselves for not knowing - he didn't have the crushing weight of lying to them on his shoulders. He could put this day behind him, and go back to the way things were before they had found out.
It wasn't like he was really expecting anything else to come out of today, now that all their misunderstandings had been brushed aside.
But then All Might, of all people, had called the greenette to his office before he had a chance to leave the school.
"All Might, sir?" Izuku called, peeking his head into the office to see his idol and mentor seated at his desk, the older man currently in his smaller form. The Symbol of Peace only grinned at his protege, gesturing for the student to come closer and take a seat.
"Young Midoriya! I'm glad I could catch you before you headed out!"
"Of course!" he brightened at the mans happy tone, taking a seat in front of his desk. "But I don't want to keep Uraraka and Iida waiting too long..." he often walked with them both to the train station, after all.
"Nonsense, my boy! I already told them that you would likely miss the train," Izuku looked confused at that, tilting his head slightly at the others words. "And they agreed to go ahead - that is, if you don't mind helping an old man like me out?"
"I-I don't mind! And you're not old, All Might!"
The number one hero only gave a hearty laugh at the others words, blood spilling between his teeth. "Of course not, kiddo! Now, these files won't move themselves. Let's go!"
"Yes, sir!"
'Helping' his idol had turned out to be almost three hours of moving papers and files from classrooms no longer used that semester, taking them to the teachers lounge and sorting them out by class, year level and even homeroom teacher...it made Izuku wonder, why did All Might even have him do this...
Surely this wouldn't he his job, right?
"Uh...All Might? I've got all these ones sorted..."
"Good job, young Midoriya!" the blonde hero in his skeletal form came to stand besides Izuku's work, nodding as he surveyed it all. "Nezu said it needed to be cleared out, and we got a good chunk of it done!"
Izuku had noticed that his mentor had spent more time on his phone, rather than actually helping - like he was waiting for a message to come through. The boy stood up, stretched as his back throbbed slightly, sore. His green gaze wandered to the window, and they widened as he saw how dark it was.
"Oh no, Mum's going to be worried!"
That started the pro hero, who turned and nearly coughed up a lung at how dark the sky was. "Ah, it's already gotten so late!" the blonde man quickly turned to his protege, who was in the midst of freaking out. "Not to worry, young man! I'll drive you home myself!"
"Oh, no, All Might you don't need-!" Izuku tried to intervene, but the man held up a hand.
"I insist! What good mentor would I be if I didn't make sure you got home safely? We have to hurry, however - the school will be closed down and its alarms activated in a few minutes!"
Izuku scrambled to his feet properly at that, scooping up his yellow backpack before sprinting out the office - he still had to go change his shoes! "I'll meet you outside, All Might!"
Seeing the greenette speeding off to get himself out before the school shut down for the night, the hero watched after him with a wistful expression on his face, his cellphone buzzing with a new message directly from the boys mother.
Everything was going according to plan.
Hopefully you will enjoy how much effort we've put into this, young Midoriya.
The travel home was one filled with silent, but calm energy. Midoriya was situated in the passengers front seat, dozing off as Yagi drove the car towards the Midoriya's apartment, a soft, fond smile present on his face. The boy had conked off not even five minutes after they'd climbed into the vehicle, and the hero decided to let him nap until they got to their destination - not for another thirty minutes, at least.
It gave Toshinori time to reflect on his relationship with the boy. He hadn't admitted or shown it to his apprentice...but he felt guilty, a weight eating away at his non-existent stomach when he'd found out why the boy had acted so distantly the previous day.
It had been young Midoriya's birthday, and he hadn't even known.
What type of mentor didn't know when it was their personal protege's birthday, of all things? He'd known the boy for over a year--
His grip loosened on the steering wheel, blue eyes watching as they sped past the overhanging street lamps, and other, slower-moving cars. He mustn't have wanted to tell me, for one reason or another...but I wish he had.
Now, Toshinori did have an inkling of Izuku's...reluctance, if that made sense. He knew the greenette didn't really share a lot of things about himself - the boy would much prefer to have all the attention on his friends or other people, like he wanted himself to be forgotten. The boy didn't have a good time in school before U.A, he knew that much...but surely it hadn't been too bad, right?
...perhaps he was wrong.
Glancing at the resting student in the corner of his eye, he couldn't help the swell of pride that rose within him, regardless of everything his boy may have gone through. He'd sure come so, so far from when the hero had first met him, on that fateful day with the sludge villain. In all honesty, Toshinori couldn't help but think of how much better his life may have been, if he had encountered the boy earlier.
If he'd seen his potential earlier than at the age of fourteen.
Toshinori truly considered himself blessed, to have Izuku in his life - a bright beacon, pulling him away from a death he was surely running towards.
Izuku saw him much more than just being All Might - one of the only people, the man could safely say, saw him as more. Saw him beyond being just a hero, despite having an undying adoration for him...
The boy also saw him as Toshinori Yagi. As a mentor...as someone to look up to, to take example of, and not just for being a hero.
If only his successor could stop breaking all his bones...Ah, but that would be the dream, wouldn't it?
Toshinori, if not holding the steering wheel, would've risked leaning over and carding his fingers through the boys curly hair in an expression on fondness for the boy. He was, without a doubt, one of the best things to have happened to the man.
And he wouldn't change that.
He just hoped Izuku knew how much he really meant to him - and not only him, either.
So many others cared for the boy...and if he didn't know?
Well, he was surely about to find out.
"My boy, we're here."
Izuku whined softly as a warm hand rested on his shoulder, shaking the boy gently. He didn't want to get up.
"Gimme....'ive more minutes, mum." he grumbles, trying to curl up tighter into the warmth of his resting spot. The oddly familiar voice chuckles softly overhead, a hand resting gently in his hair. The boy can't help but lean into the warm touch happily, wanting to doze off once more.
"I'm not sure you mother would take too kindly if I were to take her spot, Midoriya."
His consciousness trickled back into his brain, which began to desperately scream at him to wake up and stop making a fool of himself, despite the warmth and soft, cotton-like feeling he was experiencing. He really didn't want to get up, but the student pried his eyes open all the same, another whine ready on his lips.
All Might's grinning face beamed down at the boy, and Izuku stammered, his face turning red. "A-All Might!" he cried, rocketing upwards and nearly smacking his head into the teachers chin. "I'm so sorry-"
"Calm down, my boy!"
"I can't believe I calledyoumumohgodI'msuchanidiot-" Izuku's voice tapered off into incoherent, unheard mumbling as he covered his face with his arms in embarrassment, Toshinori laughing at the boys reaction.
"Take a breath, prince of nonsense! I've got you home, safe and sound - I'm sure you don't want to keep your mother waiting, now do you?"
All that left Izuku was a flustered, high-pitched squeak as he grabbed his bag and all but hurled himself from the care, ears burning. "Thank you, All Might." he mumbled with a bright red face, and he shuffled his backpack onto his back.
"I'll take you up," the hero started, and Izuku stared at him with acidulous eyes, going to speak, his mentor beating him to the punch. "Just to make sure you don't break anything on the way up, hm?"
"I don't break my bones anymore!"
The journey upwards to his apartment door was quiet, Izuku still trying to fight off his exhaustion until he got upstairs and into his room, although it was made difficult with his hero holding a warm hand on his shoulder.
The greenette found it suspicious when they came to the Midoriya apartment door, only for there to be no light...surely his mother was home, right?
Fishing out his keys, the boy quickly slot it into the lock, fiddling with it for a moment before the door unlocked, and he swung it open, his eyes adjusting to the new darkness ahead of him. All Might still hadn't left.
"...hello? Mum, I'm home?" he called quietly, taking a step into the house. All Might urged him on quietly with a little nudge to his shoulders. Izuku felt something coil in his gut. What if someone had--
He flung himself down the dark hall, feeling along the wall until he came to where the hallway ended, leading into the joint kitchen and living room. His hands skimmed across the wall for a few moments, the green-haired boy taking a while to find the light switch before he quickly flicked it on, One For All already flickering across his skin, ready to go at a moments notice as light overwhelmed the room--
"Surprise!"
Izuku stumbled back, eyes wide as he took in the sight of his classmates - all nineteen of them, plus some more, jumping out from behind their hiding spots with big grins on most of their faces.
"W...what?" he murmured, stunned as he looked around. The dining table and kitchen counter was covered in what could be called a feast, with a tall cake planted in the middle of it all. Party streamers hung from the ceiling, and a large banner was hung up, surrounding the room.
'Happy Birthday Midoriya!'
Izuku's mind blanked, and he could only watch as his mother surged forward from the crowd of students, wrapping her son in a vice grip as tears dripped down her face. "I'm so sorry, sweetie! I didn't mean to forget!"
Izuku felt his own tears start to rise, and turned his head slightly as All Might - now buffed up into his hero form - placed a party hat on the young boys head. "Happy Birthday, Young Midoriya!"
He could only wrap his arms around his mother and cling back as the onslaught of tears made itself known, a watery grin fighting its way onto his face. "Y-you didn't h-have to..."
"Of course we did, Deku!" Uraraka cheers, throwing her fist upwards - and nearly clocking Iida in the chin by accident. "You're our friend. We told you this before, didn't we?"
"I wish we could've known earlier...totally not manly to not get any gifts..." Kirishima clenched his shirt over his heard at the sight of Izuku embracing his mother, a tear in the corner of his eye. "So damn manly..."
"It's a bit small...but we're gonna make this work, Midori!" Ashido spoke up, her eyes glittering in mirth. "You can't hide away your birthday so easily now!"
"Satou and Bakugou helped Ms. Midoriya prepare all the food - and even Mr. Aizawa helped out!" Hagakure's disembodied voice floated through Izuku's ears.
A grumble came from the couch at that, and Bakugou stood off to the side, his scowl softened by the image that he, along with the rest of their classmates, were also wearing hats for the occasion. The student could only tear up more, and his mother moved out of the way so his friends could embrace him.
"We know you didn't have the best of friends before, Midoriya," It's Todoroki who speaks up - and Izuku knows, he had never told them the gritty details of everything he had gone through, of everything the other children had ever done...too terrified they would leave him, too terrified they would see him as different. "But it's different now...you let me see that, after the Sports Festival. Now let us show you how its very much the same, in your case."
"Happy Birthday, Midoriya!" his classmates...no, family cheered, and the boy could only give a wet laugh between his sobs, more tears pouring down his face in vigor.
"Thank you...!"
For once, Izuku could finally say for once, on his birthday...that his heart felt light, his chest full of cotton as he surveyed his friends with happy tears.
This...he could get used to, if having friends - family - always felt like this.
It made everything else - every broken bone, every insult, every bruise - worth it.