Chapter Text
“We did nothing wrong.” A man scoffed with so much disdain. “That boy is a villain in the making, he-”
“ Oh fuck you,” Kanno hissed as she tore off her earpiece, tossing it to the couch as she paced in her living room. Eliza let out a soft hum from her being’s shoulder and let her eyes glow as a live transcript of Shinso Raizo appeared in Alvina’s peripheral.
Kanno crossed and clenched her arms as she took a deep breath. “I know, I know I have to know I just…” she murmured over the lump in her throat. The soft trill from her Palisman made her smile a little. “Thank you…have I told you I’m lucky to have you with me?” she whispered as she scratched Eliza’s head.
The Palisman purred at her scratches, nuzzling her neck as the witch angrily continued to read the transcript. Kanno lifted the earpiece again, only catching the tail end as Naomasa ordered for Raizo to be taken back to his cell.
“We still have other teachers from his current school,” Naomasa murmured. “Kaniko is still looking into his past schools, figuring out and recording what she can. Others are looking into his classmates and their parents.”
“Thank you,” Kanno sighed as she rubbed her ear cuff. Her eyes flickered to the growing file on her living room table. “How’s her investigation going?”
“It’s a little, but it’s a lot,” Naomasa hummed. “There’s little reports of Shinso, but what’s there is obviously prejudiced against him.”
“I see,” Kanno hummed as she scanned Shinso’s school file. “...How is he doing? Is he, okay?”
Naomasa let out a heavy sigh. “He’s what we expect. Quiet, wary, isolates himself when and if he can, polite, closed off,” he listed with nothing but sympathy and understanding. “We offered to take him to see you and your apprentice, but he says he doesn’t want to bother.”
“You can call me the next time that happens,” Kanno hummed, knowing that the detective was already assuring Shinso but she knew it would help if they said it. “I’d have to ask to make sure, but I’m sure Midoriya would want to see him again too,” her eyes flickered at the faint glow coming from her table underneath some of the papers. “Speaking of,” she murmured.
Good morning Kanno-san. I’m sorry, I wanted to ask if it’s okay if we postpone training for tomorrow or the day after? I don’t feel good today.
Her eyes scanned the text once more. She was about to reply when another bubble appeared a second after.
If not it’s okay. I can get ready to train in ten minutes. Sorry.
“What’s wrong?” Naomasa asked at her sharp inhale.
“..Something has come up,” Kanno slowly said as she stared at the two texts and the bubble text that shows another text is being written. “We’re going to postpone training. Sorry Naomasa, I have to go. Please keep me updated, thank you,” she said.
“Course… and Io, good luck,” Naomasa said. The two hung up, letting Kanno think of her response. She glanced at Eliza who peered back before both turned to the phone.
Trembling fingers flew on the screen as Izuku kept rewriting text after text. He knew he should train. He was behind. He had to catch up. He needs to learn more so he can be ready.
“Or maybe because they remind us of something personal.”
But everything from yesterday was still on his mind. Shinso. Bakugou. The three classmates. His classmates and teachers. Spider lilies. Writing on his desk. Kanno’s concerned eyes. Words always in the back of his head whispering. New words doing their best to fight back.
“If I had to, why don’t you?”
He just didn’t want to make her concerned. He was scared fine. Just as he was about to send another text apologizing and taking his first text back, a text arrived.
Good morning Midoriya. It’s okay, don’t apologize. There’s nothing you need to apologize for. We can continue training the day after, consider it a free weekend to do what you want okay? Relax, spend time with your mom, watch hero videos, whatever you want. Take your time and if you or your mom need anything we’re here.
Izuku teared up at her text, sniffling as he felt guilty for skipping training. He deleted his text, ready to apologize when another came a second after.
And don’t feel guilty. There’s nothing wrong with relaxing. Feel better soon okay? Remember the ‘sorry’ jar.
He let out a soft laugh at the thought of the ‘sorry’ jar then typed a quick, ‘ Thank you ,’ and sent it to her. Izuku’s smile slowly fell as he opened his door and stepped out of his room. “Mom?” he called.
“Yes honey?” Inko calls as she peeks from the kitchen with a bright smile.
“I-I’m um....I’m was wondering if I could stay home,” Izuku rambled a little with a strained smile as he nervously avoided eye contact. “Just for today! I’m okay! I just- feel a little, um sick is all,” he quickly added when her brows furrowed.
Inko slowly dried her hands as she stepped out into the hallway. “Of course honey, you can stay,” she murmured as she gently touched his forehead. “Do you want something light for breakfast?”
“Mhm,” Izuku nodded while fidgeting with his fingers. “D-Do you need help with it?”
“Oh no sweetie. I’ve got it. Go sit down, relax,” Inko quickly assured as she urged him to sit on the couch. She gave him a small smile then walked back into the kitchen. “I’ll call the school, see if they can email you any homework so you can work on it during the weekend.”
“Thanks mom,” he murmured, watching as she walked into the kitchen before sighing then sat down. He felt his smile fall as he listened to her talking on the phone. He already knew what they were going to send him. A scathing email. Nothing attached. Another zero in his grades.
His eyes slowly lifted to the TV and sat up a little as they showed a baseball match. The batter had a metal manipulation quirk, one that allowed him to shift the metal object he was holding. The reporters described his previous home runs, many of which he was able to hit where he would change the lengths of the bat.
‘He uses his quirk a lot, like Kacchan,’ he hummed before jumping a little as a bowl of oatmeal with some honey was gently placed on the coffee table. Izuku nervously giggled up at his mom. “Thanks mom,” he quickly said.
Inko returned his smile and sat down next to him. “You’re welcome hon,” she said. “I’ve called the school, they said they would send you an email soon.”
Izuku tried his best to keep his smile up, and not let it get strained. “Th-thanks mom,” he murmured and silently ate his oatmeal as he watched the news. A couple minutes in, as the news talked of a court case of a couple trying to dine in a restaurant but were kicked out due to being quirkless, his phone buzzed and his mom changed the channel to one showing the Peanuts. He tried to keep a neutral face as he grabbed it and read the email:
Midoriya,
We would have appreciated a forewarning of you missing a day. Remember, you need to call days ahead when you want permission to take a vacation or break from school. We will be discussing this when you get back. You will not be getting your homework for this weekend, instead you will be receiving a zero for your poor planning and blatant disregard for school.
Kendai Kosuke
‘Yeah, thought so.’ His jaw clenched before he quickly gave his mom a big smile when he saw her look at him. “They said to not worry about it,” he lied. Half of him felt bad for doing so, but the other half knew it was better as she smiled at him.
“That’s nice of them,” she said as she gently patted his head.
Izuku said nothing, simply gave her another smile before he focused on the news again. He missed the concerned look she had as she watched him from the corner of her eye.
The rest of the day was calm. Inko urged for him to stay seated or at least, tried her best. He of course also did his best to help around the house, and continued to practice some spells. Small things like making light orbs or a flower for the dining table.
Saturday was mostly the same. He stayed in with her, watching the news, cartoons, or hero videos on his phone to analyze the fights. The only time they went out was to buy some groceries and pick up some dinner. Izuku of course helped his mom by carrying the bag and was pleasantly surprised to note that they didn’t feel as heavy as they previously would.
“Will things change?”
His mom would glance at him from time to time, giving him a small smile as she checked his forehead for fevers. Once she was sure he was still fine, she’d offer him snacks, the remote to put something he’d want to watch, or join him in walks around the neighborhood. He wished Shinso had someone like that.
“He’s spoken up before, and no one did anything.”
It felt- wrong to just stay inside and sit. Relax. He knew Kanno gave him the weekend to relax, but he didn’t want to sit still. Not for long. If he did, he remembered. He thought. Of Shinso. His classmates. Korusanto. Aldera.
“Does it even matter?”
But he was…nervous. Afraid. Did Tsukauchi actually try to help? Did the school work with them? Did Shinso’s parents cooperate? Deny everything? What of his classmates? Would anything have changed or would everything be the same?
“Izuku?”
He jumped in his seat, flushing as he looked up at his mom with a sheepish smile. “S-Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention, just um thinking about what we’re going to learn at school tomorrow and training with Kanno-san,” he quickly explained.
Inko wringed her hands a little before she hesitantly nodded. “R-Right,” she said as she cleared her throat and gave him a small smile. “I asked if you wanted some lunch.”
“Yeah, thanks mom,” he quickly answered this time and gave her another smile. “I-I’m just going to flip through and see if Super Sentai is on.”
The older Midoriya scanned him before she nodded and went into the kitchen. Izuku sighed as he turned back to the TV and started flipping through the channels. He knows what’s going to happen when he goes back to school. He’s going to find more writing on his desk, no one’s going to answer his questions about homework, and Kacchan will try to ‘talk’ to him again and explode his stuff if he doesn’t rush after school to get to training.
‘Training,’ he nervously thought, feeling his stomach tighten as he wondered what was going to happen. He just didn’t know what would happen with Kanno, he missed three days of training. He’s never skipped training. ‘She won’t be angry, I think… Would she? No. She wouldn’t. What will she say? Would Kanno ask me about the case? Would we not talk about the case? If I asked about Shinso, would she answer?’ His mind raced as he flipped faster through the channels.
“-can we know they’re telling-” “-the details of why those charges-” “-has there been other-”
Izuku’s thumb froze before it quickly went on the back button. His eyes widened as he stared at the screen.
Tsukauchi stood in front of a group of reporters with a calm, stoic demeanor as many talked over one another trying to ask him questions. In front of a school’s plaque. In front of Korusanto’s plaque.
In a quiet but warm living room, Shinso sat up with wide eyes at the sight of his old school and the detective he was currently living with.
“I will answer these questions if you ask one at a time,” Tsukauchi loudly, firmly stated as he scanned the group. “We will answer as many, and as much as we are able but will not disclose any confidential information. You, your question first,” he said as he pointed at the closest reporter.
“What are the details of the so-called charges against Korusanto?” she immediately asked.
Tsukauchi paused for a second before he sighed. “Quirk discrimination, illegal quirk usage, and harassment are some of the confirmed charges against Korusanto. Everything cannot be disclosed, not yet at least as the investigation is still ongoing,” he answered. “ You.”
“Is the school going to be temporarily closed or completely closed? What will the students and teachers do in the meantime?” the next reporter asked.
“It will be temporarily closed during our investigation. That I cannot disclose,” he hummed then nodded to the next person. “ You.”
“How do we know that whoever filed these charges were telling the truth? What if they deserved-”
“Look, it’s Io-san!” “It’s Io!” “Pro-Hero Io?” “What is she doing here?” “Is she a part of this investigation?” “Is she here to help Korusanto?” “Is she here to help the people?” Everyone’s attention shifted to the left as Io walked out from the school gates towards the group. The cameras flashed more, others zooming in closer to the pro-hero as she stood tall next to the detective.
Izuku tensed as he saw that her horns were sharper than normal, her hands clasped behind her back as she stood in an authoritative stance, and her eyes were glowing a bright amber through the mask.
The pro-hero silenced everyone as she raised her hand before pointing to the last reporter. “Can you repeat your question please?” she calmly asked.
Tsukauchi glanced at her from the corner of his eye, and let out another sigh as the reporter stood taller. He gestured for some officers to get closer as the crowd of reporters murmured.
“I was asking how we know that whoever filed these charges were telling the truth? What if they were crying for quirk discrimination, but in reality the school was doing what was right?” the reporter asked with much swagger.
Everyone tensed as the mask’s eyes became slits after his question. Tendrils of light floated up from the corner of her eyes as her head moved to meet his gaze. “This isn’t someone who cried wolf. This is someone who, in a place where they are supposed to feel safe, have felt nothing but prejudice,” she coolly answered. “Even if they were, is it not our duty as police, administration, and heroes to look into it to make sure everyone is safe?”
“As for your first question,” she said before the reporter could speak again. “ We know it is the truth as a trusted colleague and I have looked into Korusanto. We double checked, cross referenced, made sure the evidence was solid and the truth. What we found proves that it is quirk discrimination. I stand by the people, and will not allow their experiences to be diminished to ‘lies.’” She paused before she looked into the center camera. “I also want to make it clear and known that I, Io, the Circle Pro-Hero, am against any sort of quirk discrimination of any kind,” she firmly stated. “I have said it before, but I want to make sure everyone understands what I mean.”
“It shouldn't be everything there is about a person.”
“Emitter, transformation, mutant quirks, those with quirks that are only pushed to certain careers, quirks that are deemed so-called ‘villainous,’ those who are quirkless , no being should be discrimination against,” her voice hissed loud, clear, and strong over the roaring noise after her proclamation.
“We’re here for you.”
“Anyone can be great,” she firmly declared. “We just need to let them grow. To do that, we should be moving forward to making the world a safer, more empathetic place for everyone , not just some. We need to move up together .”
“I'll be cheering you on from this moment with everything I've got!”
Io stood tall, her mask scanning the crowd; half were silent, the others shouted her name. She gave them a deep bow. “Thank you for your time,” she simply stated then walked away.
“That’s all for today, ” Tsukauchi said as he and other officers urged the reporters to leave. In the background Io flew away as the camera shakily moved to the news reporter who was watching the pro-hero fly away.
“If I had to, why don’t you?”
Izuku didn’t even realize his breathing had changed as he felt his chest both become lighter and tighter, his mind racing as he stared at the TV. He wasn’t paying attention to it anymore.
“If I had to, why don’t you?”
‘They’re doing it. They’re actually doing it,’ he thought as he tried his best to take deep breaths. Korusanto’s gates closed on the screen. ‘Things can change.’
“If I had to, why don’t you?”
His vision blurred as he thought of Aldera. ‘Why don’t I? ’ he wondered. ‘Why?’ He knew why. He was scared. Scared of so much, of being ignored, of being called a liar, of his mom finding out, of Kanno not helping like the other adults…. Of being let down again.
‘But things can change,’ his eyes flew up when he felt hands gently hold his. “Mom.”
“Oh Izuku, honey,” Inko whispered as she gently squeezed his hands, her own tears flowing at the sight of his. “What’s wrong?”
“M-Mom,” he barely managed out and gripped her hands as if they were a lifeline. ‘Why don’t I?’
“What happened honey? What’s wrong?” she pleaded as she raised her hand to wipe some of his tears. “Talk to me, please.”
“We’re here for you.”
“I-I’m sorry mom!” Izuku cried out as the dam broke. “I-I need help!” he hiccupped, and he told her everything about Aldera, the teachers, his classmates. Kacchan. He told her everything.
Throughout everything, Inko hugged Izuku tightly, curling around him as if she was trying to protect him from the harshness of the world. But she knew she couldn’t. Not the way that she wanted. “I’m here honey, I’m here,” she assured the best she could. “I’m listening. I’m here.”
By the end, Izuku’s voice was hoarse. He clutched his mom’s cardigan as she soothingly rubbed circles on his back. “I’m going to pull you out of Aldera,” she murmured. “I’ll look for another school, o-or if you want, we can homeschool, online school, whatever you want. But you’re not going there anymore.”
“....O-Online please,” he murmured. The year was almost done, he could finish the rest online. And if he needed help, he could ask-
“Okay, online then. I’ll pull you out tomorrow,” she promised.
“C-Can… can you call Kanno-san?” Izuku whispered. “....I want to tell her.”
Inko felt herself tear up again, inhaling a shuddery breath as she nodded. “Yeah, yeah, of course sweetie, here let me,” she murmured as she took out her phone. It didn’t take more than a second before she sat up a little straighter. “Kanno-san, I need you to come to the house please, it is important,” she said. “Thank you, see you soon,” she murmured. “She’ll be here in a few minutes,” she murmured. “Want some tea? Water?” she gently offered.
“Yes please,” Izuku murmured, clutching his hands together as he watched her rush to get them cups of water. His head turned when the doorbell rang. “I got it,” he called and got up to open the door.
Kanno stood in her civilian clothes on the other side, tugging on her ear cuff before she froze as she met his eyes. Her eyes and horns sharpened for a quick second before they quickly softened despite her standing a little more tense than before. Eliza uncurled from her wrist to anxiously croak up at him. “Are you okay?” she gently asked.
Izuku automatically nodded then hesitated before ultimately shaking his head. “I-I saw what happened, w-with Korusanto,” he murmured as he fiddled with his fingers. “A-And… I-I want to talk. I-I want to talk about everything.”
The pro-hero tensed before she slowly nodded. “I’m here to listen,” she promised. “I’ll do my best to help.”
Izuku felt the lump grow in his throat and looked up at her as he felt himself tear up again. “I-I know.”