Sometimes All You Need Is A Cheerleader

Chapter 1: The Nail

School was finished for the day, but still Shinsou lingered. He usually waited now, at least until his classmates were gone. He didn't like walking home with them on the same path; they talked about him if they knew he was around. They wouldn't speak if he spoke, and he saw them tug the sleeve of any adult he approached, warning them that he was a villain.

He hated that more than anything. He hated the look they gave him. Hated the silence that surrounded them when he opened his mouth, as if they expected him to take control the moment he could. Even the teachers were hesitant to answer his questions, no matter that he'd never brainwashed them. At least, if he left late, they couldn't spread rumors about him.

Sullenly he packed his bag and finally left the room. His dad would be worried if he got home too late, but he knew that he didn't like going home at the same time. The school itself was empty. The janitor was working, but paid him no mind. He knew better than to speak to the boy.

Shinsou pushed the door open and almost sagged as he saw some of his classmates ahead of him in the playground. He groaned internally, catching sight of Bakugo's unmistakable hair. That was the last person he wanted to deal with. He was more likely to make an explosion in his face than not. But he was focused on the some of his other classmates. Midoriya and, well, he couldn't remember the kid's name. It was a perfect opportunity to just back away. He doubted even Midoriya had seen him.

But.

Midoriya was trembling, standing in front of their crying classmate, "Why do you have to be so mean? You're making him cry Kacchan!" Midoriya lifted his fists uncertainly; Shinsou could already see him faltering. "If you keep on hurting him, uh" He was shaking like a leaf and Shinsou knew that Midoriya realized how hopeless it was, "I'll, uh, I'll stop you myself."

"Hmph, you want to pretend to be a hero?" Bakugo's fist hit his palm, creating a small explosion. "You don't stand a chance without a quirk. Deku." That broke Midoriya's resolve. He faltered, even as Bakugo and the two bullies with him revealed their quirk.

"But I do!" Four faces turned to look at him, and he faltered, realizing that he had spoken. "Uh. I mean… um…" Shinsou swallowed as Bakugo and the other bullies attention focused on him, "You-you shouldn't be doing this."

Bakugo sneered, "I'm not going to do anything you say, villain."

And just like that Shinsou snared him. He didn't want to use his quirk. He hadn't. But Bakugo, bullying two of his classmates, threatening Midoriya and calling him the villain? It was too much. Shinsou's hands balled into fists, "Leave! Go home!"

Bakugo had stiffened when he activated his quirk, but seemed to relax as he turned and left without a word. The two kids with him faltered as they looked first at Bakugo, then at Shinsou, then each other. Their resolve shattered and they ran, shouting that Bakugo was mind controlled.

Shinsou grimaced. They would be talking about it tomorrow. Bakugo would be furious. Even more people would hate him. He couldn't… he couldn't win. He just couldn't win. It wasn't fair.

"Are you okay?"

Shinsou looked at Midoriya, watching him help their other classmate up, but his classmate was looking at him. The words could have been directed at their classmate but Midoriya still hadn't looked away. Shinsou blinked, "I, I'm fine." He looked at their classmate, once again on their feet. He was clutching his arm, "How is he?"

The student opened his mouth, but then looked up at him and closed it. Shinsou's heart sank in his chest as he shook his head and dashed off. Shinsou closed his eyes and bowed his head. Great. Even protecting people wasn't enough. It would never be enough. He had a villain's quirk.

"That was really cool how you did that."

The voice was softer, calmer than before. Shinsou opened tear filled eyes and blearily saw Midoriya approaching him, "Is that how you're going to be a hero?"

Shinsou breathed, rubbing his sleeve across his eyes, "Wh-what?"

"You stopped him. You used your quirk, right? I could never get Bakugo to stop like that." Midoriya's voice was steady now. "You didn't even have to fight him. You'll be able to stop villains that way, right?"

Shinsou stared at him. Midoriya wasn't afraid even though he'd activated his quirk in front of him. A small smile formed on his lips, "Yeah. That's, that's what I want to do."

"That's so cool!" Midoriya pumped a fist, "If one of the bad guys comes around you'll be able to stop him before he does anything!"

"I, I uh, I have to get them to speak back to me first." Shinsou murmured.

"All you need to do is to get them to talk back to you?" Midoriya blinked, "So when Bakugo said he wasn't going to listen to you that's what let you make him listen to you?" Midoriya was smiling now, "Villains love to talk. You won't have any problems at all. You'll be a great hero!"

He was so eager, and he was right in front of Shinsou, picking up Shinsou's backpack that he hadn't even remembered dropping. "Do you want to walk home with me?"

Even if they had lived on the opposite sides of town Shinsou's answer would have been yes.

Yawarakai glanced at the clock again and tried to suppress the combination of worry and frustration. Hitoshi had been coming home late since the second week of school, but he seemed even later than normal today. School itself was increasingly rough for his son, and the reason was all too obvious. His quirk was unsettling, even to him, having been under its influence several times before realizing what was happening. The clean diagnosis he had received had led directly to Hitoshi's quirk being revealed as well as a sudden guardedness on the part of the hospital staff. Nobody wanted to lose minutes of time because of an errant word to a child. Sometimes he hated himself for visiting the hospital, but if he never would have forgiven himself for leaving Hitoshi alone.

He was finishing dinner when he heard the door open. "Hitoshi," He set aside the spoon he'd been stirring curry with and walked out to see his son putting his shoes away, "You're late today, is everything alright?"

Hitoshi's face broke into a wide smile, "I made a friend!" Yawarakai opened his mouth, but Hitoshi's mouth got ahead of him, "His name is Midoriya Izuku and he even knows about my quirk and still wants to be my friend!"

Yawarakai's eyes widened as he drank in his son's eager explanation, "Wow, that's great son, you'll have to tell me more about him over dinner. It'll be ready in a few minutes. Put your bag in your room, and I'll set your plate."

Hitoshi nodded eagerly, racing down their hall, and for the first moment in weeks Yawarakai let out a deep sigh of relief as he retreated to the kitchen to plate their curry. Someone who knew about Hitoshi's power was willing to be friends with him. He hoped that child knew the implications, having them back away would be terrible for Hitoshi. Still, he couldn't help but hope that his son would have someone beside him.

Hitoshi was back to the kitchen when he was setting them down, crawling onto a chair and digging in. Yawarakai ate slowly, while Hitoshi gobbled it all down, eager to start talking. "So, tell me about him. Where did you meet?" Yawarakai asked between bites.

"He's in my class, but he hadn't talked to me before. He was in the playground standing up for someone else in our class who was being bullied. Bakugo was about to explode him when I shouted and got their attention." Hitoshi hesitated, his enthusiasm dimmed precipitously, "Then I got Bakugo to go home."

Yawarakai frowned at that, for a few reasons. With an initial introduction like that he hoped Hitoshi's friend wouldn't use him to get people to do things for them. Kids could be so unthinking sometimes that it could start all too innocently, a simple request moving in a slippery slope. Standing up to bullies on the other hand, which this Bakugo character had sounded like since the second day of school, was a plus in Yawarakai's book.

His son wasn't supposed to be using his quirk. It wasn't illegal per se, but his quirk, well… it was making people uncomfortable even when he wasn't using it. Hitoshi didn't exactly advertise it, but word got around. Yawarakai blew on his curry, even if it wasn't quite hot at this point, "And then what happened?"

"The other bullies ran screaming that I mind controlled him." Hitoshi pouted, "Then the boy Midoriya had been protecting ran off."

Yawarakai nodded cautiously, a pit forming in his stomach. He could just imagine the rumors that would start spreading once those children got back to school. The school couldn't punish Hitoshi for it, but it wouldn't make it easier. "So what did Midoriya do?"

Hitoshi's face brightened like a light switch had been flipped, "He started talking to me. He asked if I was okay, and then he said that my quirk was cool." His son was practically shivering with excitement, "Then he asked me if that was how I was going to be a hero! A hero! He thought I was going to be a hero!"

"Wow! That's great son." His father laughed and patted his son on the shoulder.

"He told me my quirk would be great because I don't even have to fight anyone and villains love talking. I believe him; he talked all about heroes and villains on our way home."

"Well that explains where you've been. Is he far from here?"

"No dad," His son was all smiles again, "He's only two blocks away. I met his mom and she offered me some water before making sure I knew how to get home. We're going to walk to school tomorrow."

"Well that's great Hitoshi, I'm happy for you. Did he tell you his quirk?"

Hitoshi's mouth opened and he paused, "Uh," He closed it, scratching his head, "He didn't. But Bakugo said…" He trailed off frowning, "Bakugo said he was quirkless."

"Quirkless?" Yawarakai blinked. That was becoming increasingly rare. Kids without quirks were having a lot of trouble in schools. But Hitoshi needed friends, and this Midoriya, quirkless or not, was fitting the bill. "Well, I guess that's not so bad. As long as he's a good friend, right HItoshi?" His son nodded quickly and Yawarakai smiled, "Alright then. Hopefully I'll get to meet him soon. But right now you need to start working on your homework."

And just like that all the enthusiasm drained out of Hitoshi. His son's pouting only made Yawarakai laugh.

The walk to school was mostly dominated by Midoriya talking about different heroes and what they did. He seemed utterly inexhaustible when it came to the subject, but Shinsou couldn't help but feel an increasing sense of dread as they approached school. Bakugo would be there, and unlike yesterday he wouldn't be able to just send him home again.

"Do you think I'll get in trouble?" He asked when the school finally came into view.

"Huh?"

"For yesterday, with Bakugo? Do you think I'll get in trouble?" Shinsou squirmed as Midoriya's happy yammering ceased, an odd look coming across his face, his eyebrows pulling together and he was looking ahead without really seeing.

"We aren't really supposed to use our quirks on other students," He mumbled, "But Bakugo uses his all the time and he doesn't get in trouble. And you were protecting me and Shingen. But Shingen was scared. But I know why you used your quirk, but Bakugo and the others may lie just to get you and me in trouble." He continued to mumble as they approached class as Shinsou watched, making sure he didn't walk into anyone else or into traffic. Finally, unhappily, he looked up just as they approached the gate to the school. "Maybe?"

It was immediately clear that Midoriya's mental calculations were off. There was no immediate reprimand, beyond the teacher coldly asking to see him after home room, but the other students, even the ones who hadn't looked at him before, were looking at him. His seat had been in the left rear corner of the room, and while it was empty, so were the seats in front of him and beside him. Shinsou cringed, looking around and find the students elsewhere.

Midoriya, standing beside him, was blinking in confusion at another student, "Aren't you in my seat?"

"I've rearranged seats due to…" The teacher said, and Shinsou could feel the teacher looking at him, "concerns." The teacher's gaze drifted back to Midoriya, "For the time being you can sit in the back, next to Shinsou."

If it had been intended as a form of punishment for an alleged slight it didn't phase Midoriya in the least. If anything he looked pleased at the development, "You mean I don't have to sit in front of Bakugo?" Shinsou blinked, correction, Midoriya seemed positively thrilled by the development.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Bakugo shouted, and Midoriya took half a step back.

Bakugo's outburst didn't drive the teacher's gaze from them, "Just take your seats."

Midoriya was waiting outside the door when Shinsou exited. "Sorry."

"It's okay." Midoriya seemed completely fine, "It wasn't long."

"We missed most of recess." Shinsou couldn't quite help but frown, "You shouldn't have waited for me."

"I don't miss it." Midoria shook his head, "Going to recess would have meant going to Bakugo."

Shinsou's frown deepened, "Why is he like that?"

"I don't know. But he doesn't like that I don't have a quirk." Midoriya looked smaller than before, "He keeps calling me deku."

"That isn't right. He shouldn't call you that."

Midoriya managed a meek smile as he caught the look on Shinsou's face, "We can still head outside if you want."

Shinsou shook his head, "We can do something tomorrow, or after I'm done helping with cleaning today."

Midoriya bit his lip, "Mom will worry if I'm too late coming home, but I don't think she'd mind if I stayed to help you for a bit."

Shinsou smiled, and infectiously it spread to Midoriya, "Thanks Izuku." His friend practically beamed.

The change was visible in his son. Yawarakai had no clue exactly how much Hitoshi had needed a friend, though he had guessed it. But he hadn't expected one having so much effect on him. Hitoshi and Midoriya were growing inseparable. If Hitoshi wasn't at school or at home he was with Midoriya. Sometimes the boy came over to visit. Seeing his son drag his friend to his room to play video games was a salve that Yawarakai hadn't realized he needed.

Everything seemed to be going so well. His son had friends, well, a friend anyway, and he was happy. He was happy to go to school. His grades actually improved a little, though they had been good to begin with. And he didn't seem as angry or resentful either. The beginning of term had been so hard on him, when news spread about his power, and the stigma they had attached to it. The tears Hitoshi had shed when everyone stopped talking to him at the beginning of the year seemed to have been forgotten, much to Yawarakai's relief.

He wasn't sure if his son was having the same influence on Midoriya, but he certainly hoped so. The boy seemed, to Yawarakai's eye, to be coming out of his shell a little. The first time he had met the boy he had seemed panicky, but that had long since disappeared. Now he could easily draw Midoriya into conversations with him and his son, usually, if unintentionally, about heroes at which the boy seemed to know everything in exhaustive detail, or about school. According to Inko her son's grades were top notch as well now, though, like Hitoshi they hadn't been trouble before. The only problem that Yawarakai could see was that Midoriya wasn't just Hitoshi's only friend; Hitoshi was also Midoriya's only friend.

He supposed it couldn't be helped. His son's power made him a pariah, and anyone who stood with him was likely to be ostracized as a consequence. That just made Yawarakai appreciate the boy and his good influence on Hitoshi all the more. He quietly thanked the kami that Inko was as receptive to Hitoshi as he was to Midoriya.

Of course, there were some… unexpected developments.

He surprised the boys with snacks. They'd been in Hitoshi's room for almost two hours and he'd be bringing Midoriya home in a bit so he could eat dinner with his mother, but the moment the door opened Hitoshi turned with a look that just screamed he had just been caught. "I brought snacks…" Yawarakai trailed off, not quite able to read Hitoshi's expression, but Midoriya didn't even turn. That was odd. Hitoshi was getting to his feet, looking all but frantic, but Midoriya still hadn't moved.

"Father, I can explain-" The platter of food clattered on the floor and Yawarakai was at Midoriya's side in an instant. The glassy eyed look the boy was giving was unmistakable. Even as Midoriya tried to move his head so he could still look at the screen Yawarakai was looking at his son in growing horror.

"Stop this. Let him go now." His voice was harsh, and it was all he could do to ball his fists. He was controlling his friend? It didn't make any sense. Why? Hitoshi was cringing, backing up against his bed when Midoriya's phone began to beep an alarm.

"Uh-uh." Hitoshi glanced between his father and Midoriya and closed his eyes.

Midoriya sagged for a second and Yawarakai lifted the boy up, "Hitoshi, I can't believe you did that." What was he going to say to Midoriya? What was he going to tell Inko?

"Did we make the alarm?" Midoriya seemed confused for a second, realizing he wasn't on the floor. "Huh?"

Yawarakai headed for the door, "I apologize Midoriya-san. I need to take you home now."

Midoriya just seemed more confused, glancing between him and Hitoshi, "Huh? Wait, we need to get my book." He strained, trying to get out of Yawarakai's arms as he pulled open the door, "Wait."

"Hitoshi, stay here. We will talk when I return." He saw his son cringe and Midoriya's wriggling only increased.

"Wait," Midoriya seemed to understand, "No. Don't be angry at him."

"Midoriya-san, I am very sorry that my son has betrayed your trust. I need to take you home and talk with your mother." Hitoshi gasped, and Midoriya was stunned for a second. Then his struggled redoubled. Hitoshi had never struggled to get out of Yawarakai's grasp, but Midoriya seemed to be struggling like a madman to do just that.

"No. It was my idea! It was my idea! I wanted him to test his quirk!" Midoriya was in tears, "Don't be mad at him! He didn't do anything wrong. I asked him to!"

"What?" Yawarakai almost stumbled, lifting the boy out in front of him to check his eyes. They were filled with tears, "I need to see that you're not still under his control."

"Dad-" Shinsou's voice warbled as he sniffled, also tearing up. Yawarakai was having none of it. He knelt down and watched as Midoriya wiped the tears from his eyes.

The boy was still a sniffling teary eyed wreck, but he could see the color of his eyes at least. "I think," Yawarakai hesitated, glancing at his son, "I think you both need to explain this to me."

Both boys began babbling at once. Midoriya's reedy voice was winning out by dint of proximity but it was still a mess. Yawarakai closed his eyes, "Stop, both of you." He opened them again and looked at Midoriya, "Tell me what happened."

Midoriya's mouth moved up and down for a second and he wiped his eyes again, "I was just trying to help him with his quirk! He doesn't get to practice it and, and, and it isn't fair. If he can't practice it, how can he get better at it? He needs to use it to become a hero."

Midoriya was crying again in earnest. Yawarakai laid a hand on his shoulder and looked back at his son. "Is this true?" Shinsou couldn't even form words, nodding quickly instead. Yawarakai let out a breath, "How long have you been doing this?"

"T-three weeks." Midoriya fumbled between words, "We've been keeping track in my Hero Analysis for the Future journal. He can keep it going for twelve minutes now."

Yawarakai pulled Midoriya into a hug and motioned for Hitoshi to join him. His son barely got in reach when he was pulled in as well. The boys were crying and holding each other as much as him, and it was all Yawarakai could do to hold back his own tears. He'd never thought, never imagined, that someone would be willing to go so far to help his son, and then Midoriya stood up and said it. The boy wanted his son to be able to use his quirk; he truly didn't believe it was evil. In the back of his mind Yawarakai had worried that Midoriya would grow to fear Shinsou's quirk, that he might eventually listen to those who said it was evil. To find the boy so sure of his son, and trust him so much that he would let him test his quirk on him, to help him get better at it; he silently thanked the kami for the friend they had given his son.

Yawarakai felt tears rolling down his cheeks and he hugged them tighter, and waited until they had both cried themselves out. He recovered only moments before them. "Midoriya-san, I want to thank you for helping my son with his quirk. It is very kind of you, and many would consider it very brave." Both boys nodded, "Hitoshi, I think you should thank your friend for letting you do this. It is a rare gift, and I want you to let him know how much you appreciate it."

Shinsou was lost for words for a second, but turned to Midoriya and bowed very deeply, "Thank you Izuku-kun." The boy grew teary eyed once more, but managed to nod when Hitoshi lifted himself back up.

"I think we should discuss what you've been doing more, but…" Yawarakai hesitated, but put on a brave face, "Midoriya-san, I think we need to tell your mother."

"W-what?" Midoriya dribbled out. Hitoshi was shaking like a leaf.

"She is your mother Midoriya-san." Yawarakai shook his head, "It is her right to know. She needs to know. I have no right keeping this from her."

"B-but, but what if she tells us to stop? What if she doesn't want me to come over anymore?" Midoriya was panicking and Hitoshi was pale faced, but Yawarakai placed hands on their shoulders.

Yawarakai had asked himself those same questions, "I will be taking you home, we can all talk there. I will explain everything that I can. Your mother is a wonderful woman, hopefully she can understand." He let out a breath, "Hitoshi, please get Midoriya's things so we can take him home."

The drive home from Midoriya's wasn't long, but halfway there Hitoshi was sagging in his seat, and head bowed forward, likely from exhaustion, mental, physical and emotional. Yawarakai had been as calm as he could be as he laid out what her son and his had been doing. Hitoshi had been quiet and fearful the entire time, but Midoriya was as forceful as he had ever seen him in defending Hitoshi, telling his mother again and again that it was his idea, and that he was helping, and that it was working. The journal seemed to be the point that drove it home. Midoriya's journal logged days and times showing how long Hitoshi could hold Midoriya under his sway.

Twelve minutes as of this evening. When they had started he couldn't hold Midoriya for more than ten. Midoriya was just so vehement, so eager, so sure that he was helping, and he didn't want to give up. He wanted to help Hitoshi become the hero that he knew Hitoshi could be. It made Yawarakai want to pull the boy into a hug all over again.

Inko had reservations, strong, severe reservations, but she seemed incapable of saying no to her son. Yawarakai agreed with her in principle. Moving forward there would be rules, he and Inko would work those out in the coming days, but, blessedly, neither parent wanted to separate the boys from each other. It would be a few days before they could practice again though.

Behind him Hitoshi was all but asleep. No matter that it had only been a few blocks from Inko's to their home. He parked their car and turned in his seat, "Son, wake up. We're home."

Hitoshi sniffled, looking up with teary eyes, "S'not fair." Yawarakai was fairly surprised at the sentiment, realizing his son hadn't been asleep at all. Although Midoriya and Hitoshi wouldn't be able to… train… for a few days, it seemed to work out well for everyone overall. They would even be walking to school together the next day.

"What isn't son?"

"Izuku doesn't have a quirk." His son's lips quivered, "And he's helping me with mine, and I can't help him with his." His son's mouth opened and closed for a moment and he shook his head, "It's not fair! He should have one too! I asked him to use his when I controlled him and he couldn't and it isn't fair!"

Yawarakai faltered, just a little. He was proud that his son felt this way, but there wasn't anything he or anyone else could do about it. He got out of the car and pulled his son out, hugging him as he brought him inside. "Hitoshi, I know it isn't fair, but it was nice of you to try. I'm sure Midoriya appreciates it. And I'm sorry for getting angry at you earlier. I just… Your friend is very special, to let you do that."

"I know dad."

"I don't know what's worse," Bakugo sneered, "Having a villain in class, or that there's someone willing to serve him?"

Midoriya bristled, "He's not a villain."

"And he doesn't serve me." Shinsou said stiffly.

Bakugo still seemed eager to tussle, grinning and spreading his hands out, "I guess not. How could someone as useless as Deku serve anyone?"

"Don't call him that." Now Shinsou was bristling. His hand balled into a fist at Bakugo's nickname, as Midoriya laid a restraining hand on his shoulder. Bakugo just laughed.

"Don't let him goad you." Midoriya murmured, "He knows the teacher is watching."

Shinsou shook with anger, but refrained from lashing out or worse activating his quirk. It would have been so easy taking control. It wasn't fair that Bakugo could activate his quirk with impunity, even to use it on them, but he wasn't allowed to use his. His quirk didn't even hurt people, unlike Bakugo's.

Bakugo struck his open palm with his fist, creating a little explosion and causing both of them to jump. He took great joy in activating his quirk around people. Or on them, as Midoriya and Shinsou could attest. Not that it mattered. Anything Bakugo did seemed to slip beneath notice. Shinsou sometimes got cleanup duty after school just for opening his mouth.

Bakugo sneered at them for a moment longer, before chuckling darkly and turning away, his coterie following along behind him, "See ya, losers."

Both of them relaxed as they marched off. Their daily confrontation seemed to be over. "You'd think he'd find better things to do." Midoriya muttered, kicking at the pavement.

"Mmm." Shinsou nodded, then shook his head, "I hate when he calls you that."

"He's been calling me that since I was four." Midoriya just laughed, "I can't believe I used to hang out with him."

"Well you're in better company now." Shinsou stood up proudly.

"Stop undercutting yourself." Midoriya mumbled and Shinsou laughed. Midoriya shook his head drew his latest Hero Analysis for the Future journal out of his bag, "So, I saw another video about Kamui Wood yesterday. He was talking about his finishing move."

Shinsou smiled, lapsing into silence as Midoriya began his latest speech about heroes and how they used their powers. At least he was talking out load instead of mumbling about them.

Yawarakai smiled as he opened the door. Midoriya and Inko were there, a couple of wrapped gifts in the young boy's hands. "Come in, come in." He laughed a little, waving them inside as he thought about how it seemed so much more formal today, "The party is in the living room." It wasn't much of a party really. Neither were Midoriya's for the most part, but both parents had agreed to show some solidarity for each other's child. It was a nice feature of their friendship, not just their children's.

There was a small cake waiting for them and Shinsou looked up from their TV before bounding over and grabbing the presents Midoriya was offering. The smile on Midoriya's face was almost a smirk, but not quite. Hitoshi seemed inordinately distracted by the simple packages, only very reluctantly refraining from tearing them open. Yawarakai wondered what that meant as they sat down for a light lunch before cake.

"I think Hitoshi might have an inkling about his presents." Yawarakai jested.

"I'm beginning to wonder what they are as well." Inko confessed and smiled at Yawarakai's surprise. "Izuku said he had a few ideas, but wanted to keep it secret. I just gave him some money and let him pick them out at the bookstore."

Yawarakai turned to the boy, who was concentrating on the last of his sandwich. Hitoshi was practically vibrating in his chair. Midoriya must have gotten something very special and let it slip, but he was tight lipped to everyone else. No surprise there he supposed.

The cake was either wolfed down or barely touched when Yawarakai finally relented and passed the gifts to his son. There was almost a flurry of paper as the first book was revealed. The moment Hitoshi revealed it Yawarakai whistled, that was a gift from Midoriya alright. "Beginner's Ventriloquism? I can see why my son was so eager. Being able to speak without people realizing who is speaking would be very helpful for Hitoshi's power."

Hitoshi was practically cradling the book while Midoriya had an almost comically smug look on his face. He pushed the other one towards his friend, "If you think the first book is good, wait until you see the second."

Hitoshi very reluctantly put down the first book to pull apart the wrapping on the second. That time Yawarakai couldn't contain his laughter, and Inko joined in. "A Beginner's Guide to Voice Acting! Oh no. I'm not going to be able to understand anything you say for days, will I?"

Hitoshi had left his seat, books still in hand as he wrapped his arms around Midoriya. Midoriya was laughing along with them, "Now we'll be able to do hero training every day. It just won't always be with powers."

'I'm not coming in again today.' Hitoshi's head was pounding, his throat was raw, and his fever hadn't broken. The flu, he decided, was not worth the days off.

He saw Izuku typing back, stop, then resume again. 'Feel better soon.'

'That's what I'm hoping. How's class?'

'Bakugo hasn't been letting up.' The typing message popped back up before Hitoshi could respond so he waited, 'It sucks, because I can't avoid him. The teachers are looking the other way as usual. He won't leave me alone. Everyone is calling me deku now…'

'I'll be back to school in a couple of days'

'If I'm going to be a hero myself I should be able to defend myself'

'Yeah, but you said it yourself, two heroes are more likely to defeat a villain'

A typing message popped up, dropped, and popped up again. 'Almost there. Will talk to you after school' Hitoshi sighed and went back to bed.

'He blew up my hero book!'

Hitoshi blinked and looked at the message again, 'What? Your journal?'

'Yes! He took it off my desk and used his quirk! Then he threw it out the window! It landed in a coy pond'

'Aw man. Was that a new one?'

The typing message popped up, but sat there, lingering. Shinsou blinked at it owlishly. His head throbbed, but after a few minutes he gave up and called. It rang until it went to voicemail, no answer. Shinsou groaned, if Bakugo was hassling him Izuku may not be able to respond at all. He lay back in bed, 'Text me when you get the chance. Stay away from Bakugo.'

It wasn't until much later that night that Shinzo found out that if Izuku had received his message, he certainly hadn't listened to it.

Notes:

Many thanks to my editor: littlemissoyashirou

Man am I rusty. I decided to start writing this, and I do so hope you enjoy it! It has proven fun to write so far. I at least have an outline of major events, and where things move and change (and what doesn't) for a while. I apologize for any missing honorifics. There will be OCs in this. It felt awkward not having a parent for Shinsou, especially in childhood, so I created one. There will be others, but they won't be the point of this story. This is meant more to focus on Midoriya and Shinsou.

Special thanks to Mother's Basement for getting me into this series and PitViperOfDoom whose amazing fanfic Yesterday Upon the Stair inspired the hell out of me.

Also a special shout out to MysticMartyr who pointed out that the scene breaks I usually use weren't showing up! You can thank them for the lines between scenes!