I think we've all seen the lead in to the sports festival enough times from the view of 1-A… so enjoy the first part of it from the view of a particular 1-C student!

Also, All Might has 10 minutes extra than in Canon, lol. Will it make a difference? WHO KNOWS!

Hitoshi tends to get to school early. It's not really by choice or anything, he just gets tired of lying awake in bed and instead begins to get ready. The two days they'd had off of school because some villains attacked Class 1-A-the hero course, naturally-and the school felt the need to give everyone time to recuperate, had sucked. He'd spent hours scrolling through memes until he suddenly realized how useless he was being and decided to mope instead.

Gen Ed sucked as much as he'd assumed it would, and he still faced complete silence from his peers. Nothing to do at home, and UA was hardly shaping up to be the dream school Hitoshi had looked forward to. The only good thing about the school was the courtyard, filled with blooming flowers and large trees. It was one of the few places Shinsou could sleep, so in the earlier mornings, he liked going there to get a quick nap in the dappled sunlight.

It was a well-kept secret of a place, and Hitoshi had as yet not failed to avoid people by going there.

Obviously that day would be different. Hitoshi almost spun on his heel to stomp away the moment he saw another boy sitting under his favorite tree, but he was distracted by the cat dancing around his feet and batting at small green leaves. He was a sucker for cats.

So the only thing to do was stand there like a creep, squealing internally at the little calico's clumsiness. All he had to do was stay unnoticed-

"Hello!" A high, friendly voice called out, and Hitoshi groaned aloud as the boy waved enthusiastically at him. "Don't be a stranger! Koko-chan doesn't bite!"

Although he internally cooed over the cute name, Hitoshi's face remained studiously bland as he stepped closer. "I am a stranger though?"

"Ah?" The boy blinked. "I suppose you're right!" He held out the hand that didn't keep Koko close to him, offering a shake. "I'm Midoriya Izuku, and you are?"

"Shinsou," he replied, not taking the hand and studying the boy's face to see if he'd heard the rumours already spreading about Hitoshi's quirk. There was no answer other than that bright smile-which seemed maybe familiar? It was on the edge of his memory…

"You seem tired Shinsou-kun!" That was rather blunt, and maybe a little rude, but the small teenager hadn't stopped beaming. "I understand! Sleep is for the weak, right?" Uh… the boy had less than the slightest amount of dark below his eyes, which Hitoshi took as an affront to the literal black smudged beneath his own. Insomnia was a bitch and it felt kinda like Midoriya was making fun of him. The boy laughed, and Hitoshi almost winced at the near maniacal edge.

On second examination, maybe the boy really hadn't been getting any sleep. There was that glossy, distant look in his bright green eyes that practically screamed "I haven't slept in almost a year and I'm dying". Maybe he was a support course student then? He'd heard they could be intense.

"I-oh, please sit Shinsou-kun!" And he also couldn't keep track of a situation, though the amount of energy still seemed high. Maybe stress then? Hitoshi sat cautiously, placing his backpack strategically in the middle.

"Oh! Is that a Wild, Wild Pussycat's Keychain?" Instinctively tugging the bag slightly closer, Hitoshi nodded. The boy was gonna mock him, wasn't he? Everyone always said it was so childish to like them and- "They're awesome! Definitely one of my favorites!" Then again, Hitoshi reconsidered, the bubbly green teenager wasn't exactly the definition of mature himself, was he?

"Yeah," Hitoshi rubbed his neck awkwardly-eyes catching on the way the motion seemed to make Midoriya distantly uncomfortable. "They're pretty cool."

"Aren't they!" Midoriya enthused. "Their quirks are so great and they work amazingly as a team! I think my favorite is Ragdoll? Her quirk is amazing for rescues and paying attention to the health of the civilians! A lot of heros focus on rescue, but most of the time that means disaster relief more than it means healing! That's one of the reasons Recovery Girl's debut was such a major change in the hero industry- a whole new type of hero! It was-"

"I think Mandalay is my favorite," Hitoshi interrupted before Midoriya could go off on the rant he had a feel was coming. Too late, he wondered if that would be seen as rude.

He shouldn't have worried, as Midoriya nodded vehemently. "Her quirk is amazing too! It must be difficult pinpointing the people she sends messages to, but she's really great at it! Imagine if she turned it on without meaning to though-Oh! I saw this meme a few days ago and-" He began rummaging around his bag and pulling out a- a printed photo? What? Didn't most people look at memes on their phone? How weird was this guy?

Nonetheless, Hitoshi had a pretty good time shuffling through the boys' stack of memes-Really, why?-until the bell rang and they parted ways. It was good while it lasted. And maybe, just maybe, if he was in the support course he'd be understanding about Hitoshi's quirk? He doubted it though. Midoriya would clam up just like everyone else once they realized his ability.

• • •

It's not until later that Hitoshi allows his minimal amount of hope remaining to fully drop. Instead he just feels angry, and it's not as if Midoriya had actually lied or done anything-but somehow seeing him standing in the midst of the hero course students feels like a betrayal.

He's practically draped himself over the angry blond bombshell-used in a very literal since, at the fireworks popping at the teenager's hands-hugging onto his arm as he uselessly tries to get the boy to stop antagonizing the crowd watching, which is mostly 1-B and 1-C. Hitoshi is not impressed by the cussing boy or the way Midoriya is the only one trying to stop him from insulting all the 'extras.'

He says as much, stepping forward, internally growling at how the crowds part like the red sea-like he's some sort of plague. "It's true we came to get a look, but you sure aren't modest. Are all hero-course kids like this?" He shoots a small sneer over at Midoriya, finally recognizing the name, and where that smile was familiar from. "I hadn't realized earlier, but you won first at the Entrance Exams, huh? I'm a little jealous, but you must be so proud of yourself. And a little over-confident too, judging by your behavior at USJ." Hitoshi pretends Midoriya's little flinch doesn't make him feel bad. "Hero kids must think they're all that-that they can do whatever they want. That people must always need their help." The blond snarls viscerally at that, and Hitoshi remembers how the boy had smiled after shoving him out of the way of the truck. At the time, it had left him warm and feelings as though he was cared for, now it just seemed like another case of people blessed with perfect quirks looking down on him. He swallowed past the lump in his throat. "I'm a little disillusioned, actually. Is this all you have to offer?" He didn't wait for a response. "There's quite a lot of us in General Studies that didn't make it to the hero courses. Depending on the results of the Sports Festival, we might be able to transfer in. This will be the perfect chance to knock you off your pedestals. Consider this a declaration of war."

After Shinsou declared his fight, Izuku barely had time to admire Kacchan's back as he declared 'it doesn't matter, I'm heading for the top'-so bold, amazing Kacchan!-before a crushing and familiar wave of sadness washed over him. That was right. What exactly was Izuku doing anyway? He wanted to save people, right? But he hadn't even been able to save himself-he'd chosen selfish cowardliness over the ability to help people-and maybe that had turned out for the best, but he'd been willing to give it up nonetheless when he committed.

It was shameful. Izuku sulked his way out the door, vaguely listening as Uraraka explained sheepishly that she wanted to be a hero so she could earn money for her parents-Don't be ashamed, Uraraka-kun, that's an admirable goal-as they headed to lunch before he had to jerk back as All Might skidded to a halt in front of them.

"MIDORIYA SHOUNEN!"

"A-ALL MIGHT?" Izuku shrieked as All Might posed in front of them, Ochako and Iida sending him odd looks. He distinctly felt the icy stare of Todoroki on him too…

"WANNA EAT LUNCH WITH ME?" Izuku choked as Ochako snorted beside him ("Like a schoolgirl!" she wheezed out). He had a pretty bad feeling as to what this was about.

"No." He decided.

"BUT MIDORIYA-SHOUNEN!" All Might protested

"No." Izuku responded more forcefully, only to be met with All Might's boisterous laugh and strong grip around his forearm.

"HAHAHA! HEROES DON'T TAKE NO FOR ANSWER!"

That's a really poor philosophy for a hero , was all Izuku had time to think before he was dragged down the hallway in a zoom.

• • •

"SIXTY MINUTES!" Izuku gasped, as Toshinori sipped on the tea in front of him.

"Yes, my time grows shorter everyday," Toshinori admitted, setting his cup down.

"Sorr-"

"Don't apologize, my boy! In fact, you could do me a great favor!"

Izuku tensed, suspicious suddenly. Once he would have enthusiastically agreed to anything. "...Yes?"

"Take One Fo-"

"NO."

Toshinori began hacking up some blood into a handkerchief as he laughed. "I figured that would be your answer! I still can't help but find myself disappointed though!"

Izuku fiddled with the rim of his cup. "Was that all…?"

"No, my boy." Toshinori shook his head, broad smile growing softer. "You and I are a lot alike, you know?"

He didn't actually. Izuku was cowardly and weak and a failure and All Might was anything but all of those things. Izuku shook his head, the movement just barely susceptible.

Somehow, Toshinori's expression grew even softer. "We are though. I recognize that look in your eyes, Midoriya, when you jump into battle. It's a pure, strong desire to protect and save. I call it a heroic instinct!" Izuku flinched, and didn't say anything, eyes locked on the swirling green of his tea. Toshinori sighed. "I think, if I don't pass my quirk on, I'd like you to take on my mantle as the Symbol of Peace."

That drew Izuku's attention, eyes darting up from match foam and heart in his throat.

More blood sprayed from Toshinori. "Don't look so surprised, my boy! You already knew how highly I thought of you, didn't you?"

And, well, no he hadn't. Sure, All Might had spent months training Izuku and offering him One for All a few too many times to be called normal but-Izuku wanted to cry. That had been his dream much, but imagine if he somehow succeeded and people found out that their symbol of peace had committed suicide. If it normalized something like that, or it encouraged others to do the same. If they lost all faith-

"Sorry, All Might-sensei." Izuku allowed his eyes to fall back to the ground. "I can't be what you want me to be." He swallowed, blinking away the unbidden tears. "Th-there's too much, too many secrets. I just can't." He allowed his hair to fall over his eyes before he quickly excused himself out, missing the sad frown that sat uncomfortably on Toshinori's gaunt face.