AWOL

The days passed by quickly and without noticing it, it was already Izuku's middle school graduation. There wasn't much hitch aside from the confrontation with Bakugo Katsuki and honestly speaking, Izuku felt a little unnerved with the other teen's obsession with accusing him of cheating in the exams.

Izuku didn't even make it to the Top 10 list.

But that was all a few weeks ago. Right now, Izuku is facing off against his sensei. It's worrying how Chizuru-sensei seems to get more injured as the weeks go by. She's more bruised than last week and even the week before that.

He ducked under a rear leg roundhouse kick and for a moment, Izuku smelled blood. Backing away immediately, he studied his sensei closely, all the while frantically avoiding the series of attacks she dished.

Izuku noticed that she was slower than when they started. She currently favors her left side even though she's right-handed. That nasty bruise on her left collarbone and right lower ribcage probably stop her from swinging with too much force.

"FOCUS!" Chizuru shouted as she delivered an axe kick to his left shoulder blade.

ACK! Izuku winced at the force when it connected and when she was going to follow up on it, Gin-san stepped in.

"That's enough" The older male cut in, effectively stopping Chizuru-sensei's forward elbow strike in his hand. He slightly turned to the kid and gestured him outside. "Take a 3-minute break and then start your cooldowns. Your mother has already hit the showers."

Nodding, Izuku followed the instructions and headed for the refilled water bottles by the benches. He didn't know what the two adults talked about inside but he became worried when he saw his sensei leave the gym in a hurry.

Pausing on his stretches, Izuku looked at the only adult in the room and Gin-san was quick to answer. But Izuku could easily detect the worry in the other male's voice.

"It's alright," He said. "She'll be back soon"

But she didn't. Two weeks had passed and Chizuru-sensei was nowhere to be found. It was only a few days away from the start of classes but there was still no word from her. Usually, she would've called or dropped by to hand him his new regime for school... But there was none.

For two weeks, the Midoriya household was tensely quiet. Both mother and son waiting for a call or a knock on the door. And every time, they lose a bit of confidence with every ring of the phone that wasn't the female trainer.

Just like now... There was a knock on the front door and Midoriya Inko scrambled to open it, only to inwardly deflate when the person outside turned out to be their male trainer. Gin has a tight smile on his face, knowing that he wasn't the one they were waiting for.

"Sorry" He could only say. He was invited inside but he refused and merely handed the folder in his hand. "This is for Izuku-kun"

It was a training schedule.

"Did Chizuru-sensei make this?" Izuku asked as he came to check what was wrong.

"She did" Gin replied, but Izuku knew otherwise. There was something in the new regime that was poking in Izuku's mind that it wasn't made by the female trainer. That was all Gin said before taking his leave.

Both Midoriya watched him leave sadly.

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[A few days later]

"Did you pack your bento?" Inko fussed over the scrambling green-haired kid. Like her son, she had woken up late and was barely able to cook a simple small meal for breakfast and Izuku's bento.

"Yes" He replied as he scrambled to put on his socks.

"How about an additional granola bar?" She asked as she scrambled to take said staple from a snack basket nearby. Without waiting for an answer, she stuck it inside the side pocket of her son's bag. "How about an energy drink?"

She was about to leave to retrieve it when her son stopped her with a grateful smile.

"I'm all good, mom" He said and he let go of her to fix his shoes. "I packed everything last night"

She watched him proudly.

"I'm all good" Her son whispered to himself as he finished checking himself over.

"Izuku..." She called, voice low and contemplating. He looked at her in wonder of what she's going to say..

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"I'm proud of you"

Izuku could only smile genuinely in return.

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"See you soon, mom"

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[UA]

"GOOD MORNING, LISTENERS!"

It was just his luck that his homeroom teacher is the loudest of them all.

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"Is this seat taken?" Izuku asked. It was already lunch and the school cafeteria is bursting with students. And honestly speaking, he still doesn't know anyone. Well, he does. But they're on the Hero Course and he's not. So he's avoiding their area.

Anyone else he knew (in his class at least) is only based on what he heard from the introductions part of homeroom.

"No" was the curt reply.

"Thanks," He said as he put down his bento. Sighing his prayer, he began to dig in.

Lunch was a quiet affair but not less than awkward. Some students had recognized him from the exams and though it would be a good time to socialize, he's not in the mood to make friends. So as quick as he can, without looking like a savage glutton, Izuku finished his packed lunch in record time and left the cafeteria in a hurry; ignoring the eyes that watched his every move.

When the Acceptance Letter came, he knew he would be closely observed. It was also blatantly said by the principal himself through a hologram message. It was unnerving, being closely scrutinized by the whole school.

But Chizuru-sensei said that it was to be expected. He's the first-ever recorded Quirkless student to be accepted into a Hero School. She wasn't even surprised when he told her that he was placed into the General Education class.

["It doesn't matter what class you are in," She said. "What matters is the goal in front of you"

"To be a Hero" He nodded in determination.

"That's right" Chizuru-sensei agreed. "Your first target would be the Sports Festival"]

Thinking about it, Izuku could only sigh in defeat. He watched the UA Sports Festival every year and every one of them is crazy and chaotic. It is a publicly broadcasted major event where students are allowed to use their quirks to the fullest to appeal to future employers. And being the single quirkless kid enrolled this year, he'd be closely watched by not only his schoolmates and teachers but also by the world.

"Midoriya-kun" A slightly familiar voice called. Turning to the source, Izuku came face-to-face with All Might in his deflated form and baggy formal outfit.

"Hai?" He asked as he approached. He's not really sure if he should call All Might by his hero name when he's like this.

"If you have a moment, I'd like to speak with you privately," the number 1 Pro-Hero said as he looked pointedly behind the kid in question.

Confused, Izuku looked back and had just noticed that his classmate (and recent lunchmate) was a few steps behind him and looking between All Might and him in wonder. It's not like they're friends and he had only talked to the other once, and that was when asking if he could share the table.

Turning back to the tall man, he nodded his head. "I have time, sensei"

"Then follow me"

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A freshly brewed cup of tea was placed in front of him. Gingerly, he took a small sip.

"How's your training going?" All Might finally asked after sipping on his own tea.

"It's doing great" Izuku forced a smile. And although it's true, without Chizuru-sensei, training doesn't feel right.

It was quiet for a moment, All Might has his lips pressed in a thin line as he studied the kid in front of him.

"Is that so?" He finally asked, obviously not believing but willing to play along.

"Yes," Izuku nodded. Ignored the scrutinizing look the older man is giving him as he turned his eyes to his cup of tea. "Chizuru-sensei made sure that every hour of the day is accounted for. Nothing too serious."

All Might remained silent, only letting the kid talk.

"... She makes me study theories and law too..."

"... She told me to get a hobby, but with my schedule, I don't think I have time for one..."

"... She's making me do community service on weekends. She said keeping my ears on the ground is one of the foundations of every Hero... "

"... We're preparing in advance for the Sports Festival because I have to prepare ahead of everyone because of my situation..."

"... Sensei said I'd be the center of attention at the Sports Festival, so I have to do my best and give it my all..."

All Might put down his cup on the saucer when the kid finally ran out of stories to share. But instead of the happy and proud kid he should be, Midoriya Izuku looked like everything was taken from him.

"What's wrong?" He asked. He's concerned for the kid.

But instead of answering, Izuku only shook his head. All Might was just about to ask another thing when the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch break. With a sigh, All Might dismissed the young green-haired kid.

Not a moment later, he fished his phone in his pocket and speed-dialed a familiar number. The phone on the other end picked up and after the customary greetings, he finally said his reason for calling.

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"I don't think Midoriya-kun also know where Abe Chizuru is"