Chapter 9- So Sweet it Hurts

The rest of Monday passed in blur, Izuku insisted on sitting the new kitten owners down and having a 'good-bye' party together which consisted of all of them on the floor on pillows provided by Yaoyorozu while the kittens chased various bits of string and a few toys. Even Todoroki had been kid-handled into staying. Though he didn't talk much he seemed fascinated watching 'his' kitten run to play with the others only to run back to him long enough to rub its head on his hand and then repeat the actions again.

Izuku had found a kindred spirit in the upperclassmen that had come to claim a kitten. He spent some time writing down questions with the nice older girl who shared his curiosity, and equally nice time talking quietly with the shy dark-haired teen as they both played with their kittens. The third very boisterous teen gushed heroes with him, all-in-all it led to Izuku making new friends who promised to set up future play dates with the kittens.

The other year one students had been quite awkward after their rather standoffish introduction but found themselves pulled along into kitten talk by the small green haired child that insisted on getting to know his kittens new 'uncles'. The blond while very strange with his boasting was surprisingly gentle with his kitten, making Izuku smile when the teen finally left claiming how his kitten was already ten times better than any of the other kittens.

And Zombie-guy didn't look so zombie like when he was smiling softly down at the kitten that was napping in his lap. Eventually they all left with their new kittens, while Izuku's Whisper would be remaining in the kennel with Todoroki's kitten since neither of the boys could take them home yet.

Izuku spent the evening getting a check up with the nurse and filling his mother in on all his antics while trying to think of ways to get to know more people in his class.

-Page Break-

The next day started almost routine at this point, Inko taking Izuku down for breakfast, watching him fan boy over the various hero teachers that made appearances for their own. It was as they finished up and Izuku was zipping up his knapsack after receiving a special baggy from Lunch Rush, that they were approached by a rather tall skinny man. He was holding a neatly folded blanket and a floppy worn out All Might plush. Inko smiled as he approached.

"Ah, good morining-"The tall man stopped nervously in front of them, awkwardly shifting from foot to foot. "My name is Toshinori Yagi, your kind young man offered me the comfort of his things the other day when I was under the weather. I'm sorry it has taken me so long to return them to you, our schedules didn't seem to line up. "

Izuku danced up to the tall man, smiling happily that the man seemed more cheerful today. He held out his hands to accept Blankie Might and Plush Might.

"Mr. Stick man you look happier today, I told yous that they would make you betters!"

Toshinori hid a smile behind his hand before patting the young boy on the head. "That you did, my boy, that you did." The tall man turned his eyes to Inko and held out a now free hand in greeting, reminding himself that he had not yet met Mrs. Midoriya in this form yet. She smiled and reached out to shake his hand.

"Hello, I'm Inko Midoriya, it's a pleasure to meet you."

-Page Break-

Morning in the classroom started much like the one before, though with a little less excitement as everyone knew a little bit more what to expect from their smaller classmate. Some of the quieter classmates breathed a sigh of relief that hopefully things would be a bit less dramatic than yesterday. Young Izuku was making his rounds, trying to get to know the classmates that he hadn't really had the chance to talk to yesterday.

After running to greet Whisper and making sure her food and water bowl were filled with fresh food and water Izuku made his way towards the back of the room. He had wanted to greet this one classmate yesterday but had been a bit intimidated. Hesitantly he walked up to the last desk and its occupant.

-Page Break-

Tokoyami watched as his young classmate hesitantly approached while holding his knapsack. Stopping before his desk the young boy began to dig in his bag before depositing a small tied bundle upon his desk.

Tokoyami tilted his head as he took in the bundle before looking at the boy questioningly. "'S birdseed, cuz' you have a bird head I wasn't sure if you had a birdies tum-tum too. Mama said that it's bad to give bread to birds- n cookies are like bread right? 'Cuz I was wond'ren if I could pet your shadow bird thingy? And Mama says that if you wanna ask a favor it's plite' to bring a pweasant. 'S your quirk right? Does it talk, is it like having a pet? When didja get it? What's it's name? Does it go to the bathroom?

Dark Shadow peaked its head from behind Tokoyami and came forward to investigate the bundle, while Bakugou slapped a hand to his face as he sat down in his seat at the front. It was too early for this.

-Page Break-

The next bit of excitement happened just before lunch, Izuku was happily doodling away on the worksheets he had been given to practice his characters. He was seated at his desk next to the kennel that still held the two kittens that were currently napping together.

It started as a warm spot growing on his shoulder, then suddenly it was a sharp and painful burning sensation that covered his shoulder. Izuku cried out, one hand coming up to hover over his shoulder before settling lower down his arm to avoid the hurt area.

In an instant he was surrounded by Kacchan and Aizawa-sensei with other classmates hovering behind them.

"Shit Zu-chan what's wrong?" Kacchan hovered over him hands not quite touching since he couldn't see any injury through his clothes.

Izuku sniffed and shuffled himself closer to his best friend. "K-Kacchan! M-my shoulder h-hurts!" Tears were steadily falling from his eyes and he burrowed his head into Kacchans uniform shirt. In the next instant he had been scooped up and found himself burying his head in Kacchan's shoulder as the teen supported his back with his other arm.

"Bakugou take him to the nurses office-"

"I'll go with him!" Uraraka said from next to them, concern etched in her face. They made their way out of the classroom under the worried eyes of their classmates.

-Page Break-

Izuku kept his head buried in Kacchans shoulder as they made it to the nurses office. Uraraka was quick to let Recovery Girl know that his shoulder was the issue and that, no they hadn't looked at it yet.

The elderly nurse gestured for Bakugou to turn the boy around and set him down on one of the beds.

"Alright young Midoriya, can you tell me what hurts?"

"M-my shoulder!" The boy sniffed, still clutching his injured arm.

"Well I'm going to need to take off your shirt to be able to see your shoulder, do you think you can be brave and help out. It might hurt trying to take it off." She said kindly. "If you can though, you'll get a lolly-pop!"

The green haired boy sniffed again and nodded, moving his arms to help her get his shirt off. As soon as the shirt popped off his head Bakugou found himself stiffening up when the shoulder came into view. It was very red and blistered as if burned. Even though the shape itself was blotchy- to Katsuki it looked like a handprint. He found himself stepping back, his eyes darting between the tear-stained face of his young -young- friend and the burn on the boys shoulder that he knew the cause of.

His step back was noticed by round-face. Her brown eyes took in his guarded face before darting back and forth between them. Her eyes took on a stern look as if to say "really?!"

Recovery Girl gently probed the area around the burn. "Well this looks quite serious- did it come with any memories of how it may have happened?"

"N-no, jus' started hurt'n." Izuku rubbed his arm across his face, trying to wipe away his tears and his runny nose.

"Tut-tut, here's a tissue, we'll have this fixed up in no time." Recovery Girl helped him wipe his face and then handed him the promised sucker before puckering her lips and smacking a kiss to the boys cheek.

Izuku who had been turning to show off his sucker to Kacchan found his eyes drooping and a yawn overtaking his face. Before he knew it he had been laid back against the pillows with a blanket thrown over him, his sucker placed on a nearby table.

"Rest now, and when you wake up from your nap your shoulder will be all better!" The nurse said as she bustled around the bed.

Once the child had officially gone to sleep she turned to observe the other teens in the room. Young Bakugou had his hands clenched at his sides while young Uraraka stood firm before him with her hands on her hips and they seemed to be having a whole argument with their eyes alone. She could guess what the tension was about- it didn't take a genius to figure it out. Bakugou- long time friend/tormentor had an explosion quirk centered in his hands and Midoriya-chan shows up with a bad burn on his shoulder. But this had happened in the past and obviously Midoriya had moved on if the fact that his teenage self still called Bakugou his friend was any indication. So this unnecessary drama could make its way out of her office.

" Alright, that's enough you two. He will most likely be out for the rest of lunch so why don't you go eat and I'll have him sorted when he wakes up. You can come back after lunch and see if he's up to continuing on with you the rest of the day. "She made shooing motions with her hands while backing the teens to the door.

-Page Break-

"Tch, watch it round-face, just because you're friends with Deku doesn't mean that you can butt into my fucking business!"

"I can't believe that you used your quirk on him! I mean we all know you bullied him- that was obvious- but to use your quirk! It's illegal! When did it start? How often did you do it- I mean- you knew right off the bat that it was from you the second you saw it was a burn!" She was steadily backing Bakugou against a wall, poking him in the chest with one of her fingers. Normally she would never be so forward but the USJ incident had been an eye-opener on when you needed to be able to take action.

Bakugou scowled down at her, his hands clenching and unclenching as sparks began to gather. He straightened up to loom over her and opened his mouth to tell her off, but she beat him to the punch again. She pushed him- actually shoved his ass against the wall. What the hell!?

"No! No, excuses! Deku is the nicest person ever- always trying to be helpful. And after watching him yesterday he's been this way forever. What did he ever do to you that could warrant that kind of behavior! What?! Did he dare to offer to help the mighty Bakugou! Or did he gush too much about how awesome your quirk is!-"

"Enough! I know alright! I was a shitty fucking kid!"

"Was?! You have a crappy personality now! Always talking down to everyone- especially Deku! Calling us extras! That is not the behavior of someone wanting to be a hero! "Uraraka took a deep breath, her righteous fury winding down in the face of Bakugou's aggravated look. Normally- from what she had seen- she would have been blasted by now but there he stood reining in any explosion and just letting her yell at him.

If she had to guess she would say that he was actually feeling a bit guilty. Maybe having to spend time with little Izuku was reminding him about how close they really had been. She took another breath.

"Look- I'm just trying to understand for Deku's sake. He still really cares about you and considers you a friend even if you don't. And after seeing how you act around Midori-chan I just don't understand how you can go from that to…..whatever it is you have now."

Bakugou narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms while Uraraka did the same across from him.

"Deku told me some- he said that you got your quirk early and that you got really popular. He said that he was a very late bloomer- that they even thought he might be quirkless for a few years." Bakugou scoffed- a few years- try his whole fucking life until apparently a month ago!

"But I don't understand how him not having a quirk when he was little should matter enough to turn your friendship into…whatever it is now. What if the next time it happens it comes with memories that he won't have any way of explaining to himself? What are you going to tell him then? Sorry Zu-chan I sometimes liked to use you as a punching bag?"

Bakugou waited to see if she was going to spew out more word vomit. She obviously was spending too much time around Deku. He flinched at the thought. He didn't understand why he suddenly felt like shit. It was Deku's own fault- always pushing and pushing at him- always trying to compare with him when there was no fucking way. Katsuki shook his head violently before jamming his hands in his pockets and turning towards the cafeteria.

"Tch- I don't need this from some extra- if you're so worried about Deku why don't you play babysitter for a while."

Uraraka stood there watching him go, observing the tense like of his shoulders before glancing back towards the nurses door. Maybe this could be the push they needed to somehow fix their friendship for the future- or it could be the thing that drives them apart for good. She let out a weary sigh, hoping that she hadn't ruined anything.

-Page Break-

After grabbing her lunch and meeting up with a few of the others Uraraka found herself leading an excited Midori-chan outside to enjoy the sunshine. The teachers had given them a small 'study' time to act as a recess for the small boy. A chance for him to burn off some energy.

Izuku glanced around curiously wondering where Kacchan had gone off too. He brushed a hand over the shoulder that had gotten the random boo-boo before his attention was grabbed by Uraraka-san.

"Midori-chan you mentioned wanting to see our quirks yesterday so I thought this would be a great chance!" Uraraka gestured around herself to the others who had joined them. Iida was pushing up his glasses while reading through some of his notes- using the study time to actual study. Next to him was Tsuyu, Mineta, and Yaoyorozu who had come to supervise.

Before they knew it this had lead to Midori-chan connected to a rope- secured by Mineta's quirk flying through the air under the affects of Uraraka's quirk. He giggled as he spun slowly in place one hand holding the rope- not quite trusting it not to come undone. This was so exciting- he was flying- though it was kind of scary, he had never been so high up without some kind of support around him. He wished Kacchan was here- they often talked about how cool it would be if one of them got a flying quirk.

Looking down at the others he waved cheerily at them with his one free hand before he was distracted by a butterfly. Maybe he could catch it- he got ready to try and grab it with both hands so that he could cage it within his hands- he didn't want to hurt it after all. But when he went to move one of his hands he couldn't. Glancing down he saw that his hand had touched where the purple ball had secured the rope around his middle. He tugged again and found that not only was his hand stuck, but his shirt was as well, and this was his favorite new All Might shirt. He tugged a few more times, getting scared that his hand would never be free again and felt frustrated tears starting to form in his eyes.

-Page Break-

When Katsuki had rounded a corner away from the nurse's office he was surprised to see a sheepish Kirishima standing there. He scowled.

"You heard all that." He stated it as a fact and didn't wait for Kirishima to nod before he pushed past the redhead who stumbled a bit before turning to follow.

"Yo Baku-bro you seem a bit torn. Maybe it'll help to- you know- talk about whatever's on your mind? Sometimes just bouncing your ideas off of someone can clear things up." Kirishima trailed off and offered a shrug when Bakugou glared back at him.

"I'm not gonna lie bro- a lot of us are curious after seeing how you act with little man. We all saw how ya'll interacted in that first mock battle- bro- it's night and day! So like- what happened?"

Bakugou glared at the ground. Like he hadn't been thinking over that exact thing ever since Zu-chans accident. Ever since that fucking ray of sunshine had reappeared in his life he was struggling to remember why exactly he had started pushing the little shit away. But there had been a reason- it's not like it was a sudden thing, it had built up over time.

He tried to tell himself if was how weak Zu-chan was compared to all the others- and that the little quirkless green bean thinking he could be a hero too was like spitting on the whole system. If he was honest those thoughts did start some of the initial frustration. Though that didn't really cover all of it- after all everyone started at some low level and had to work themselves up. But over the years Zu-chan never seemed to actually think about putting the extra work in until here recently.

Katsuki on the other hand had begun asking his mom how to get stronger after he had turned six. He had found out about Zu-chan's dad's quirk and how he did nothing with it. It was then he realized that having a cool quirk didn't automatically make you a hero- you had to do something more. So his mother had explained healthy eating in order to build a strong body. She had then gone on to explain that while exercise was also needed he couldn't do the more strenuous ones until his body had matured.

He had watched what he ate- had done what exercises were acceptable for him whenever possible. And he had trained with his quirk- always looking for ways to improve it. He couldn't count the days where he had sat with his mother scolding him while she bandaged his hands. But he knew it was necessary to become the toughest- so that he could win no matter what once he became a hero.

Izuku's words from the other day- about a hero's job not being about the glory- the win- but about saving people. For the longest time he could not understand Deku's drive- he was a nerd who only seemed to focus on his analyzing rather than gaining any other type of skill or advantage. But the more he thought about it- Deku was always offering solutions to problems, always trying to save people with whatever he had available at the time. If he was honest with himself he knew that where he had the bronze for it, Deku had always had the heart.

Glancing at Kirishima who was waiting patiently to listen to whatever his side of the story was, he wondered if maybe he had finally found a friend that could measure up to what he and Deku used to have. After Deku had turned into Zu-chan he had found himself remembering how nice it was to have someone to talk with rather than just having people that talked at you and vis versa.

With a grunt he turned back toward the lunchroom. He wasn't discussing shit until he had a decent meal in him he was obviously delirious if he was thinking about talking about any of this shit.

"Come on shitty hair."

-Page Break-

"So you had a bunch of lackies and adults all singing your praises so you got like a crazy big ego about how awesome you were. That plus a resentment towards Midoriya for what you saw as him wanting the same glory as you without any of your hard work?" Kirishima tried to sum up the small bit he had managed to force out of Bakugou.

Bakugou blushed and looked away as they walked towards where they had been told the others had taken Zu-chan. Having all his resentment boiled down so simply embarrassed the hell out of him.

"Then the fact that you thought he was quirkless because his quirk came like crazy late compared to everyone else- and when it did arrive he didn't tell you so you have no idea how long he was keeping it from you? So you felt like he was laughing at you somehow?" Kirishima was ticking points off on his fingers as he spoke, Bakugou grunted somewhat in agreement. Kirishima paused a bit before glancing at Bakugou and getting ready to activate his quirk.

"How exactly was he supposed to tell you when you stopped talking to him when you were like 8? Did he ever come up to you wanting to talk quirks or hang out after you cut ties?"

Bakugou froze as a million instances popped into his head of Deku coming up to him holding one of his notebooks wanted to share some new quirk idea or another with him. The phrase 'Kacchan can I talk to you?' was something he heard quite often. But all of those instances ended the same with him chasing Deku off- most often with use of his fists and quirk. Well fuck. He turned to see Kirishima smiling his shark smile at him.

"Shut up Shitty-Hair!" He let off an explosion in his companion's face before stomping out of the doors that lead to one of the many courtyards.

Kirishima laughed it off, whipping soot from his face as he followed his friend outside only to bump into his back.

"What the fuck is going on here!" Glancing around his always angry friend Kirishima took in the scene. Little man was crying his eyes out, shirtless, while tugging hard on his hand which seemed to be stuck to a gunky pile of cloth. Mineta was hiding behind Tsuyu's legs while Uraraka and Yaoyorozu were attempting to detach the bundle from Midoriya's hand. Iida was trying to calm the boy by lecturing at him while chopping at the air. For once he agreed with Baku-bro- what the hell?

-End Chapter 9-

I am so sorry for the late update! Work has been really crazy lately and I've been studying to take a CDL test which I passed 2 out of 3 parts for so….almost yay! I tried to make this chapter a bit longer to make up for its lateness! *bows* please forgive me! *offers cookies and birdseed*

I will try very hard to have the next one out on time next week! Who knows maybe I'll manage to get it out sooner!