25

Chapter 25: I Shall Never Know at What Hour My Heart is to Be Ready to Greet YouNotes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Standing outside the staff room, the door closed and somehow ominous, Izuku's pulse flutters. As soon as he opens the door, he's sure he's going to initiate what can only be called a shitshow. Starring himself.

There is no decrease in his anxiety or impending dread that he'll be expelled, but he has gathered his thoughts somewhat. Izuku has no idea how things will go, but he does have an idea of what he'll say. Whether that is the right thing to say...well that's an entirely different matter.

In the end, Izuku can't lurk outside of the staff room forever. He wouldn't be surprised if Aizawa-sensei is already inside and knows he's stewing in his own stupidity just beyond the door. He needs to knock. He really needs to knock. But, considering he's still outside, it shows just how effective that thought is to him in actually doing it.

Entirely against his will, his fist lifts up and softly taps against the door. Izuku almost feels betrayed. But, as it is, it's so quiet, he'll have to do it again or-

"Come in." He hears Aizawa-sensei's voice, which just blows through any and all courage he was finally able to muster.

Izuku takes a few deep breaths. He needs to calm down. He's got this. He's only suspicious so far, not guilty of anything. And he intends to keep it that way.

The staff room is a place he's visited plenty of times in his own timeline. Mostly with All Might. And just like when he and All Might had snuck off to converse about the secrets they shared, the staff room is completely empty save for them two. The only differences this time are: Izuku is with Aizawa-sensei, and he is not about to divulge any secrets.

"H-hello sensei." Izuku greets warily. He shuffles into the room and hears the door click closed behind him. "Uh...what did you want to talk about?"

Whether Izuku is good at hiding things or not, no one can say he doesn't try. Innocent until proven guilty. Or something like that.

"Sit." Is all Aizawa-sensei says, abandoning whatever task he was working on and gesturing to the mini couch across from him.

Izuku takes the offered seat.

Aizawa-sensei sits on the opposing couch, appearing to lounge leisurely, but Izuku recognizes that the man is as alert as ever.

Does he think Izuku poses a threat?

"Now Midoriya,...do you go by Deku? Eri told me it was your 'hero' name." He has a stack of papers in front of him, attached to a clipboard. Izuku can't see what's on them.

He jerks a little at the mention of his hero name, remembering how inadvertently it had been revealed to his teacher. In hindsight though, he should've seen it coming. Kacchan could never keep his mouth shut. Izuku's more interested, however, in the mention of Eri.

"Is she doing alright?" He asks, a little guilty when he thinks of how he'd abandoned her. She had adjusted just fine in his old timeline, though he hadn't seen the extent of it. Is she doing fine here as well? Has she smiled yet? Does she eat enough? Does she get along with the UA staff? Does she-

"Eri is perfectly fine. She has all she'd ever need here at UA. We, on the other hand, are discussing you. "

Aizawa-sensei levels him with a glare and Izuku shrinks a little.

"Right."

His teacher let's his eyes roam, assessing Izuku in some unknown way. Izuku holds his breath and doesn't release it until the man's eyes are back on the clipboard.

"To be perfectly honest, Midoriya, you have a number of things in your file that I need…" He pauses, looking for the right word, "... clarification on."

Izuku doesn't like the sound of that. Aizawa-sensei looked into his file? That actually...is perfectly normal for a teacher to do, but Izuku doesn't like the insinuation that the pro has found fault in it. He thought this was about the night he rescued Eri, not his student file. What information did Aizawa-sensei latch onto? There couldn't possibly be anything incriminating in it...right?

At his lack of response, Aizawa-sensei narrows his eyes. "I am going to ask you a series of questions. You are going to answer me with the utmost honesty. Depending on your response, I will decide whether you are fit to stay in the hero course at UA. Are we clear?"

Izuku's mouth suddenly feels dry. He tries to swallow, but the motion doesn't bring relief. "Crystal."

His teacher nods. "First question:

For the five months you were kidnapped, were you in the care of the Eight Precepts of Death?"

Shouta notes Midoriya's shocked reaction and waits. Is he shocked that Shouta knows about his kidnapping? Or is he shocked because Shouta hit the nail on the head?

Amnesia is a funny thing. Hard to diagnose and ridiculously easy to fake. Perhaps Midoriya could've had amnesia initially, but Shouta doubts it stayed that way for long. How else would you explain the boy's knowledge of the inner machinations of the yakuza group, the scars, or his mission to 'rescue' Eri?

"I…" Midoriya starts, face carefully masking the boy's inner turmoil. "I don't remember who kidnapped me. It says so-"

"On your file?" Shouta finishes dryly. "Yes, it mentions amnesia, but I thought I told you I wouldn't tolerate being lied to."

Midoriya flinches.

"Unless, of course, you are implying that you are actually a member of aforementioned yakuza group, one sent to spy on UA and keep an eye on Eri after deceiving her into trusting you by staging her rescue."

Which, in all honesty, is also a possibility. Shouta knows, or strongly assumes, that it isn't the case, but he'd be a sorry hero if he so casually dismissed it. He remembers how Midoriya acted on the night they both showed up at his house, looking bedraggled and weary. If Shouta had held any doubts about his intentions then, the boy would have never stepped past his doorframe.

There are still things, though, that don't add up.

"Of course not!" Midoriya cries, rising to his feet. His voice is desperate, practically pleading for Shouta to believe him. He feels a twinge of sympathy for the teen, but squashes it down. He needs to address this rationally.

He does lower his voice a little though, and adopts a softer tone. "Midoriya. I know whatever you have been through surely couldn't have been easy. I am not trying to condemn you, I am only trying to understand."

He stares at the young boy, watching as Midoriya sits once again, his eyes shining with tears.

"I need you to also understand, however, that the circumstances surrounding you need to be cleared up. Not only did you use your quirk illegally to break into a building and fight with other people, you also knew who I was without having ever met me." Shouta continues as Midoriya wipes at his eyes, shielding his expression from view.

"What is most damning for you though, in my opinion, is your silence."

Indeed, Midoriya had determined that he should inform no one of his little escapade. He didn't trust the authorities, and only trusted him- a hero- after the deed had been done. Shouta remembers clearly from their first meeting how Midoriya was adverse to the police being called. He had believed it was because the boy was overly paranoid that the Precepts would find them if the police were involved. Now, it seems clear to him that Midoriya holds no trust for authority figures. That is a very dangerous mindset for a budding hero to have. Deadly even.

He needs an explanation. Without one, it is obvious Midoriya has no place in his class.

"I…" Midoriya hiccups. "I couldn't worry my mother." He says. "I don't want to tell her the truth."

"...that you were kidnapped by the Eight Precepts?"

Midoriya nods. "About anything pertaining to my 'disappearance'. She's gone through enough already."

Shouta frowns. "She's your mother, Midoriya."

"She's also the only family I have." He mutters sadly. "I'd do anything to keep her happy."

It's easy to tell that Shouta will not succeed if he argues this point now. No matter. "What about the police? Why tell them you didn't remember what happened to you? You could have informed them without your mother present."

Midoriya shakes his head. "It's more complicated than that. At first, I did have trouble with my memory. There were...things...I was remembering that never happened. Even now, I'm not entirely sure of what happened to me in those five months, but you're right, I do have memories of the Eight Precepts, and I knew I needed to do something." He looks Shouta in the eyes, tears threatening to spill again.

"They were hurting her. I didn't have time to wait."

And those words give him more insight into Midoriya's character than anything else that was said. Shouta intimately understands the processes a police force or a hero agency needs to complete to mobilize a mission. Although it would be time sensitive, with a group as large as the Eight Precepts, any raid or stealth mission into their dangerous organization would need a plan. A plan that undoubtedly would've taken time.

Shouta massages his eyebrows, suddenly so tired. "You could have died." He says flatly, although Midoriya doesn't even flinch.

"I had a plan." The teen tells him hesitantly, as if that will appease him. "It might not have been the best, but I didn't rush in blindly."

"That's not the point." Shouta snaps. "You should have gotten help. Told someone. Trusted someone. You are not licensed to use your quirk. You could be arrested for this."

A sobering look passes Midoriya's face, but he doesn't look all that chagrined. "I…" His green eyes lock with Shouta's. "I'm sorry. I really am...But I don't regret it."

And that's the problem, isn't it?

Shouta can admit that what the teen did, while being reckless and stupid and dangerous, was also heroic. He may be biased because of Eri, but he thinks that he might've done something similarly stupid in the same situation. This kid has potential and Shouta almost wishes he doesn't see it. Obeying the law could be learned, trust in others could be cultivated, and Shouta would be sure to drill them both into Midoriya's head. 

He rubs at his eyes again, blinking away the sudden image he has of Midoriya as a pro hero. Really. Kids like him were such a handful. Determined and stubborn in equal parts. Shouta should expel him right now, just to save himself the trouble. He sighs.

"How did you know who I was and where to find me?"

Midoriya fiddles with his fingers, drawing Shouta's eyes to the scars there. "I knew about you before, years ago." He says, making Shouta's eyebrows raise. "I'm a... big fan of heroes." He smiles wirily. "I know a bit about hacking and found your address through that."

Which is quite worrying if Shouta thinks about it. He didn't think his hero identity was tied to his address at all, so Midoriya must've somehow known his civilian name. Or, his information isn't as secure as he thought. He internally grimaces.

"You'll tell me how you did that later so I can remedy it. Now, there's one last thing we need to discuss."

"Okay…"

Shouta doesn't mince words. "Your quirk." He begins, "Was registered after you took the entrance exam." He looks at Midoriya, a little lost himself in how it's even possible to do such a thing. "Mind explaining?"

Midoriya bites his lip. "It developed late." He replies, as if that explains anything.

"You're fifteen." Shouta states, thoroughly unimpressed. Quirks don't manifest past a certain age. Definitely not when you are well into your teens.

"It is unbelievable, but my records should show that I was diagnosed quirkless and have been until...well, shortly before the entrance exam." Midoriya says. "It only took so long to register it because I wasn't sure of everything it was capable of."

Shouta narrows his eyes. But the aggravating part about his argument, is that it's sound. Shouta holds the damned file in his hand. Midoriya Izuku was quirkless up until his quirk was registered. It was impossible, and yet it was written right there. Shouta has to accept it, and maybe he would have, but...

It was so well utilized in the entrance exam. Whether Midoriya had practiced for a week or a month beforehand, however long, it looked like he'd had the quirk for his whole life. How was that level of skill achievable in the short amount of time Midoriya claimed he had his quirk?

Records of quirks developing late are rare, but not unheard of. Shouta is sure though, that most of the cases where someone quirkless suddenly wasn't anymore, were proved to actually be due to extremely minor, almost unnoticeable quirks, or quirks that required a very inconveniently specific activation. Midoriya's doesn't sound like either of those. The only other thing that could induce a quirk, though not proven, is by-

His eyes flit to the teen's hands and he sighs.

Trauma.

"I see." Shouta answers him. Whatever the Eight Precepts had done to this child, Shouta would ensure that they'd pay for it. He needs to have Shuuzenji analyze the extent of it, perhaps have Midoriya participate in a psychological evaluation as well, despite what he claims he doesn't remember.

"I-"

The door to the teacher's lounge flings open. Midoriya jumps and Shouta narrows his eyes. He specifically requested the office be emptied at this time. Who would-

"Deku? Is Deku here?"

Shouta knows the voice and sees the moment Midoriya recognizes it too. He feels a surge of anger. He told his colleagues to keep her away while he was "talking" with Midoriya. His eyes flick to the open door.

A bunch of heads duck back behind it to avoid his ire. Shouta will deal with them later. Ugh. He's so tired. Don't they have classes to teach?

"Eri…?" Midoriya wonders, turning around to locate the owner of the voice.

He doesn't have to search for long. Eri runs around the sofa and throws herself at him, a blur of white and green.

Shouta sighs but makes no move to stop it. He doesn't think he's seen Eri so willing to initiate contact like that. He notices his colleagues peak around the door once again. Hizashi and Nemuri are expected. Seeing Kan and Ishiyama interested as well though, that surprises him. It's to be expected though. Many of the staff have been eager to meet the boy known as 'Deku'.

Midoriya clutches the girl pressing her face into him gently. His eyes are wet again, but his mouth breaks out into a beautifully blinding smile.

"Eri," He says softly, sounding so relieved and goddamned happy. "Look at you."

He pulls the girl away from him, observing her quietly. The two have entered their own little world, definitely not aware of Shouta's coworkers cooing at the doorframe.

Midoriya raises a hand and wipes the tears that fall from Eri's eyes. "Don't cry." He tells her gently, "Reunions aren't a time for tears. They're a time to smile and be happy."

Shouta scoffs. As if the child himself isn't also shedding tears.

"I missed you." Eri murmurs.

Midoriya sniffles. "I missed you too. I'm really sorry I couldn't see you."

Eri pats his hand, tracing over the scars there. "It's okay. Deku-san is a hero, so he's busy."

Midoriya pulls Eri closer in a hug and presses a wet kiss upon her head. "You're so kind Eri. You've been so strong all on your own. Thank you."

Shouta looks away as Eri breaks into tears again. His heart bleeds for the girl, who he'd quickly become attached to. He can admit that Midoriya has succeeded in connecting with her and helping her open up to him where many have failed. It took awhile for Eri to trust Shouta fully, and even now, he doesn't think the girl would cry into his arms as she is doing with Midoriya.

He hears sniffling at the door and finds that Hizashi is in tears while the others have gentle looks on their faces and misty eyes. Shouta wishes he could get up and slam the door on them, if that wouldn't alert the children to their presence.

Nemuri catches his eye. Shouta can already tell this won't be good for his blood pressure. She winks and then waltzes in.

"Oh, is this 'Deku'?" She approaches the couch and leans over it, smiling softly at a startled Midoriya.

"Eri talks about you all the time."

"Yes." Shouta near-growls. "Which is why I had hoped to not have her involved in this."

Of course, he would've had them meet eventually, but Eri would hardly approve if Shouta had decided to expel Midoriya. He didn't need to create that kind of distress for her.

Nemuri just smirks at him unapologetically. "Eri found out you were talking to Deku and then there was just no stopping her."

Shouta snorts. He's well aware that one of them must have told Eri he was going to speak to Midoriya. And that they are all fully functioning adults who are capable of handling one child. Scratch that, it's his colleagues that are the children here. He knows they're too damn curious for their own good.

"Oh, your eyes really are such a pretty green! And your hair!" Nemuri crowds a perplexed Midoriya. Her casual attitude seems to give the go ahead for the others lurking at the door to walk in.

Hizashi joins Nemuri at the back of the couch. Usually, so many people around Eri makes her feel uncomfortable. Yet, Shouta can see, she has no such qualms while safe in the arms of Midoriya.

"Hey little listener! Remember me? I'm the one you gave the slip to at Shouta's house! I saw what you did to the zero pointer too! That was super cool!" He says, careful to keep his voice below a shout. That hadn't gone over too well with Eri before, though she had taken to him pretty quickly despite that.

Midoriya seems uncomfortable at all the attention. "Uh, right. Sorry about that."

Hizashi waves off the apology. "No worries! I'm just glad I got to meet Eri-chan's hero again!"

"She wears green all the time cause she wants to match your eyes." Nemuri adds with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. Shouta needs them all to leave.

Indeed, Eri loves the color green. She doesn't talk a lot, but one surefire way to get her to talk would be to mention Deku. For the small amount of time she had been with him, she had a surprising amount to praise.

Midoriya's cheeks grow pinker at the comment and he looks at the deep green dress currently adorning Eri's body. He smiles sweetly at her.

"I wear red shoes everyday."

Sure enough, all eyes are called to the teen's shoes and Shouta sees that they are red. Whether that is intentionally for Eri's sake, he doesn't know. Whatever the case, Eri certainly seems to love it.

"Like my eyes?" She asks in wonder.

"Yep." Midoriya replies with an easy smile. "Though I think your eyes are prettier."

Shouta wants to roll his eyes at how sappy that is, but the next moment ends up stealing his attention.

Eri, who has made vast improvements from the shy, stunted child she was when she first arrived, hears the stupid comment from the problem child, and smiles.

It's like the world holds its breath. Shouta certainly feels like the moment is suspended, as if time itself recognizes how precious it is. His heart clenches.

Midoriya looks shocked, but he recovers quickly. He smiles again, wider, so wide it must hurt his mouth, but it's also accompanied by body-wracking sobs.

"Deku?" Eri asks, concerned. "Why are you crying?"

Midoriya wipes at his tears fruitlessly. Shouta doesn't think he's ever seen a teenage boy, besides maybe Hizashi, cry so much.

"I'm j-just so, so h-happy!" He tells her.

Shouta sighs, his own emotions heightened at the display of... fondness. He can see Hizashi has started bawling again and Nemuri wipes none too discreetly at her eyes.

He clears his throat, waiting for Midoriya to compose himself.

"Midoriya," He starts, feeling weary at the future implications of what he's about to say. "You are not going to be expelled."

Shouta ignores the "You were gonna expel him?!" from the unwanted peanut gallery. He keeps his eyes on Midoriya, who seems surprised by his words.

"I'm...not?" He asks, the disbelief heavy in his tone.

"No. You are not." He agrees, watching as the teen deflates with relief. "There are a few things I will need you to do, however, which I will tell you about after school." Shouta pinches the bridge of his nose. "Now though, I know someone who has been dying to show you her room, as well as all the new things she's been doing. I expect you back in class by the end of the lunch hour."

Midoriya smiles at him then, and Shouta thinks that he made the right decision. He knows the problem child will still be, well, a problem child, but he can see that he'll be a great hero too.

Eri surprisingly smiles as well, turning the heartwarming expression to Shouta. He doesn't think he can ever get tired of it. His own lips curl up in response.

Yeah, he definitely made the right choice.

Notes:

This turned out a lot fluffier than I expected, but...I think I needed it.

Thanks so much for all the comments and encouragement. Hearing how highly anticipated this chapter was helped me have the motivation to finish it quicker.

In the meantime, for anyone interested, I posted the first chapter of a bnha Coraline AU. I'm really excited for it.

Thank you again for all the love, support, comments and kudos. I hope you all have a wonderful day/night and take on any obstacle in your path with the same determination Izuku does. (And anyone with finals/midterms approaching. Take a deep breath. You can do it. I believe in you.)

Plus Ultra!