Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

I took a deep breath. I could do this. I could convince her it was a good idea. I hadn’t been to the hospital in months, I was good at inserting my own IVs, not to mention I never missed taking my meds. Plus, I’d be with Dad. There was no way she could say no.

Ok, that was a lie, she could say no before I could even finish, but I needed to try. Being safe was making it hard to breathe. It was becoming claustrophobic and I didn’t want my life to be forced with me stuck inside the bubble I grew up in. if I wanted to not hate my life, I needed to burst out, escape and live a little. even if it meant terrifying my mother.

“Hey mom?” I slowly stepped closer to the couch, where she was reading a book and thankfully not the newest study on haemophilia. “I need to talk to you.”

The closest train station to Musutafu proper wasn’t insanely massive like the ones in Tokyo I’m used to seeing. Fukuoka had a lot of nature and greenery, which I love, and Tokyo was the multiplex of technology it boasted about. Musutafu seemed to be in the middle. It was near the sea and had mountains and forests nearby. When I’d come visit my dad, there was always something to do, even if the list of approved activates by mom was small.

“It’s a great place to set yourself in. trains head into Tokyo easily and it’s located well enough to do bullet trains to all the other different parts as well. personally, I like our beaches the best compared to Osaka. Okinawa is a whole different breed though. If you do well in school, we always have our company retreat there.”

I hadn’t heard all this just from dad, though I knew it had to be half the reason he enjoyed working out here. I heard it from Tokuda Taneo, a freelance journalist, and the final pushing point for me talking to mom. He mainly worked on newspapers, occasionally the well-known magazine Juzo News. His nephew was head of the paper at my last university and had seen one of my articles. He admired how I was able to get the story, finding and revealing the identity of the campus peeping tom. Everyone thought it had been a teacher, maybe even a student, but I managed to figure out it was actually a staff member from one of the food trucks that would park outside the campus gates. He was easy going and friendly, making it easy for him to actually get on and off campus without anyone suspecting him. I was able to do it in a way where the food truck wasn’t heavily judged, and also shared proof the rest of the staff weren’t in on it or in any way involved.

Getting the story did involve a bit of snooping and an insane idea of climbing on top of the food truck when peeping tom was alone inside – I still haven’t heard the end of it from mom – but Tokuda was impressed. He said if I was interested, he’d have a job available for me after university. I’m in my second year, only a few months in, when he approached me with the offer. I accepted without much thought, mainly because I knew it was my last straw.

I’m a haemophiliac, which means my blood can’t clot. It also doesn’t help that I’m born with the rarest blood in the world, less than 1,000,000 people have this blood type, Type OA. The only good thing about it, is that it’s a type shared by family, so if I ever needed a transfusion, my dad was able to donate. I don’t love it, him being responsible for keeping me alive, like he’s nothing but a walking blood bank. O positive is the only other blood I can accept and even that’s hard to find. Dad would just say he’d give me all his blood if he could, but I know most of his thinking is because he was away a lot of the time. Yagi Toshinori is one of Musutafu’s prominent detectives. It being smaller than Fukuoka, dad’s pay is much higher, which was the main reason he agreed to live separate from his wife. Mom didn’t think much of it, dad would visit as often as possible, bring her down to Musutafu whenever he could and the pay made life comfortable. She also had her own job that involved traveling, one she had from when she was dating her husband, so they were used to going days or weeks without seeing each other.

Then she got pregnant and everything changed. Dad becoming a high enough detective meant he was able to come home more and for the last trimester, mom moved to Musutafu to be close to him and had help in her childhood friend. Dad was thankfully just getting off work when Aunt Mitsuki called him, telling him mom’s water broke. He was there to hold mom’s hand while I was born into the world. I did come with a bruise on my head, hazard of needing to be pulled a little, but I was loud, seemingly healthy and my parents loved me. It’s when the bruise didn’t fade that they were worried. Mom was recovering in one of the recovery centres and she was fretting over the bruise and dad told me that his gut was telling him it was something more than just a simple birthmark or bruise from birth. Dad’s gut is rarely wrong, something he passed to me.

With enough prodding, the doctors did tests and gave the news to my parents. Explanations of shortened life expectancy, uncontrollable bleeding, the dangers of just living were what my parents listened to for the first few months. Dad got out of work for as long as he could as they attempted to make sense of what it would be like raising me, but he couldn’t be away from work forever. Mom’s own job was calling her back and with an onsite daycare, she couldn’t say no. but her worry over me made her nearly lose her job, not to mention feeling alone with dad and her best friend in a different prefecture. Understanding IVs for my Factor VII and medicines I was given, trying to wrap me in bubble wrap, the constant trips to the hospital. It drained on mom to the point that I learned pretty quick that sitting inside and doing nothing was the safest I could be. The fact that mom and dad survived that and are still as in love today, that’s how I know love is real.

It did make growing up pretty lonely. Dad was out of town most of the time and while he didn’t worry as much as mom, he would follow her lead on what I could do. Because of all the restrictions, it made me a target pretty easily, though a lot of the sports clubs at my school became my barrier to that once they realised I was good at strategizing and noticing a person’s play style and how it could get better. To be honest, when I wasn’t being hounded for help or being left off to the side by others, the newspapers were my friends, getting lost in stories of people around the country and the world.

The only temporary bright spot had been Kacchan, Katsuki. Whenever we could see dad in Musutafu, Kacchan was there. Like his mom, he was loud and volatile but for a good while, he protected me from getting hurt. He was blunt and mean, making Deku my nickname after figuring out the kanji, but he’d protest like I would when I called him Kacchan. He’s smart and a quick learner, not to mention everyone likes him, so that got to his head easily. His parents would call it an inferiority complex, I wouldn’t, not really, but it was like he hit a switch one day. He was better than everyone and anyone who thought different had to be put into their place. One question about if he was ok after he got hurt and I was shoved to the ground. I didn’t hit my head or anything, falling back on my hands, but once it started bleeding, it wouldn’t stop. Kacchan panicked and got his mom and I was taken to the hospital.

We didn’t hang out after that, not for lack of trying on my part.

In high school though, that’s when things started to change. While I spent my elementary and middle school years giving advice to any sports club member who’d come demand it, I ended up joining the track team as a manager. I was already feeling confined with my life but with how often we travelled to different schools or different areas in Japan for races and competitions, I started to want more. my team was amazing in keeping me safe but the time away from mom’s protective bubble made me realised that if I didn’t push myself, I was going to be stuck in that bubble forever. Mom only agreed to the journalism major because she’d assume I’d be behind a desk all day, not that I wanted to type of job that would have me out on the field. I was looking for that last push when Tokuda dropped the opportunity on my lap. I also wanted mom to have a chance to not helicopter around me and live her life again.

“Izu, I’m always going to worry about you. do you think I didn’t whenever you’d visit your dad alone? I just don’t want you getting hurt. I’m already scared you won’t make it past 30.” She confessed, once she listened to my whole speech about why I wanted to switch universities and live with dad full time.

“I am too, but I also know I can’t live inside a bubble. I’m almost always alone, I don’t do anything with anyone for fear it will involve a chance of me getting hurt, and trust me, that is always on my mind. I just, I want to take the chance to just break the bubble a little. and I want you to have a chance to breathe without worrying about me every two seconds. It’s not healthy for you mom.”

It took a lot more convincing, but in the end she agreed. Luckily, UA had been a university I applied and got the grades for and once I talked to them about transferring, they were happy to accept me, even after such a late start into their second semester. Dad swore up and down he’d keep me safe, that mom could drop by whenever she wanted without warning to check in – not that she ever would come over without telling him in case he was going to be in the office for the next week. With a farewell to the newspaper club and classmates that were almost friends, I stuffed my suitcases, got onto the bullet train and arrived at Tatooin Station in Musutafu 4 hours later. the fall weather meant it was cold and the ground was covered in leaves, but it was home. It was always one of my homes, a good chunk of vacations and long weekends being spent here whenever Dad couldn’t come down, but it had a different feeling. This felt permanent, like after university, I wouldn’t go rushing off into the city to continue my need to be free. Oddly enough, unless I needed more space, I was sure this was about as far as I would spread. One less thing for mom to worry about then.

Dad met me outside, scooping me up into a hug. He was always so careful when he hugged me, all muscled and tall but even then, they’re still the best hugs. He didn’t look any different from the last month, though his dark circles seemed more pronounced. His blonde hair was wild as usual, his long bangs pinned back with hairclips I remembered getting for him as a gag gift. If nothing else, I knew my parents loved me with how they showed off all the things I did and bought for them.

“How was the train ride? Any issues during your transfer?” he asked me, taking my heavy suitcases and leaving me with my bookbag. “before I forget, we’ll be eating out for dinner, too long of a day at the precinct.”

“Cool and no, no issues. Mom made sure to notify the station about my medical issues, so they let me off first at both stations. Never mind I was in no need for it because I wasn’t bleeding anywhere.”

“Hey,” he chastised. I’d been complaining about how my diagnoses was controlling my life a lot more recently and he was usually the first to remind me not to do it in front of mom. She had the worst of it but my need to being more than my diagnosis had my mouth opening more than I could keep my thoughts to myself. “No one knows what could have happened. but you’re here now and that’s all that matters. Did you text your mother already?”

“Called her as I was getting off, but she wants you to call her too.”

We reached Dad’s car and I rose an eyebrow at the SUV, paint shining in the weak sun. dad looked embarrassed, and rushed to get the trunk open so he could lift the suitcases in. it wasn’t anything like the police cars, but if you looked at the car and then my dad, your gut would tell you that he was a cop.

“The precinct insisted I use this car after my own finally tanked. Said it made a better impression.”

Dad used to drive this old school convertible. I loved it so much, it had been a reason during the summer of my first year, I did one of those driving school camps. Another thing mom wouldn’t let me forget. I wasn’t sure if he was serious, but when I visited dad after the whole debacle, mainly because mom wanted to know if he could revoke my license before I got behind the wheel of a car, he said I could have it. unfortunately, it finally died after years of my dad keeping it going, just around the time mom was finally accepting I had a license, even if I didn’t have access to a car.

“It’s not bad, it’s just…”

“Not me?” he replied, the embarrassment not leaving his face. “I know. Mirai and Naomasa both say it’s for the best.”

I thought about the two detectives, though Mirai was usually bound to the desks working through the puzzles of their cases, while Naomasa and my dad would be the ones out on the field. Mirai was always so serious and took the title of looking after me when I was left in his care to a degree that made him my mom’s favourite. As much as we butted heads, I respected him. He’d gone into a massive rant about the article that brought me here, but not so much about the article itself and the things I did to get the information, just how there were easier and safer ways. Mainly involving how to get information from others. I’d never gotten too interested in dad’s job, other than he could be overprotective as a result, but solving puzzles, looking for answers, there was a reason I was always looked for by the sports club members. I was good at finding things, latching on, looking for answers. Crime reporting would be the same.

The drive to dad’s was filled with easy silence and talking about the upcoming school year.

“Closest station is a five-minute walk and UA would be at the end of the line. They’ve got a bus that will take you there.”

“What about cars?”

Dad looked uncomfortable with my question. “I don’t know.”

“Dad, they knew about my diagnosis at the camp. They taught me how to be careful. Remember what we discussed?”

After telling mom, I had to have the same conversation with dad the minute he was able to come visit. Not the best ‘welcome back’ but I needed them both on my side for this.

“I also promised your mother I wouldn’t let you drive.”

“Dad!” I whined.

“But…Mitsuki may have mentioned needing to sell her car the other day.”

“Bakugo Mitsuki? Kacchan’s mom? I didn’t realise you still spoke to her.” After the whole incident, the family pulled back a little. mom would still talk to her, but dad had been upset that Kacchan even touched me. He could hold a grudge like it was nobody’s business. It was insane he was so impartial when dealing with victims and suspects.

“Well, you know how I’m constantly getting into trouble. I bumped into her at the hospital. Turns out she knows the nurse who I’m always saddled with.”

“Ah, grumpy cat?”

That’s what dad called the nurse who would have to patch him up after whatever disaster he got himself into. I’d say he was like this after my diagnosis, but no. before me, mom was worried about dad getting into scrapes. He just didn’t like leaving people alone to fend for themselves. I could only be thankful his mentor taught him how to defend himself. He’d been at the hospital so many times, with the same nurse, dad talked about how they’d huff and glare at him whenever he showed up.

“Thankfully, I’m not the only one who can upset him. He seemed annoyed with whatever they were talking about. Made the 20 minutes I had with him much easier to deal with.”

I smiled, thinking of my 7-foot brick house of a dad cowering from a no doubt much shorter and slighter frame male nurse threatening my dad with an IV or something. I’d pay so much to see that.

Poking my in my side like he knew what I was thinking, dad continued despite my yelp. “Anyway, her husband bought her a new car so she has her truck to sell. She still feels bad about the incident-”

“I was 5 when that happened.” I reminded.

“Yes, well, you know me and holding a grudge. She’s offering a very good price and there isn’t that many miles on it. it’s pretty much new and it’s a truck. Those things are built to take a beating.” No need to ask why that was a selling point. “I asked if she’d bring it by tomorrow.”

It was Friday and in the next two days, I’d be starting my whole university era all over again. I was already guaranteed a place within the school’s paper after emailing the editor but other than that I had no clue what the new school was going to bring me. I had no clue what this new life was going to bring me. I did know it would be fine. I just had to keep from bleeding and after all the practise I had over the years, that couldn’t be too hard.

Chapter Text

My dad lives in a 2-story house, massive just for him but whenever mom and I are in town, it’s just enough space. Downstairs past the genkan – and utterly massive closet which my mom cried actual tears of joy over – was the living room and a patio deck. The living room leads into the kitchen where the dining table also lived. During the summers, dad would pull out his grill and cook out on the deck, since there was access from the kitchen as well. It’s one of my fondest memories, watching dad move back and forth, all while mom curled up on the couch outside and watched my dad cook. The green space was small but laying on it and smelling dinner cook and listening to my parents talk has always been my favourite thing.

My dad had proofed the house for me when he bought it, but the stairs had to be the most ‘dangerous’ part of the house, with the open railing, somehow even more than the ledge that looked over into the living room from the second floor. Walking into my room, I immediately open the balcony door, letting the sounds of the area wash in. Back in Fukuoka, my room’s balcony was permanently locked by mom, had been since I was a kid. Already this was a change, since dad took the lock off here when I was in middle school.

“Is the low bed still ok?” dad asked, rolling my suitcases in.

While I was at school during high school, my dad had changed my normal bed for one of those lower ones that were attached to the wall. As I got taller, he noticed I’d bang my knee against the frame of the bed, which would have been bad had it not been for the edge protector on it. The new frame held the bed from the bottom so I didn’t crash into any sharp objects.

“Yeah, of course.” I said, opening the closet, taking in the clothes I had left. I normally lived out of my suitcase when I visited so the closet held a mix of clothes throughout the years. “Guess I’m gonna have to donate a lot of these stuff.”

“It never has been properly filled, has it?” Dad mused. “I know you came here to spread your wings, but I am really glad you decided to stay here.”

“I am to. Food?”

“Yes. I’m going to order from our usual place. Katsudon?”

“With extra rice.” I reminded, pulling one suitcase onto the bed.

Dad left me, the sounds of him placing the order then heading to his office echoing up through the living space. Clothes were replaced, books and stationary set up on my desk in old superhero cups from my childhood, my laptop case fitting right in covered in old school comics. The few pictures I brought went up on the wall with putty and Command Hooks, the family photo of me and my parents on my bedside, along with a group photo of my old newspaper club. Looking at all the free space my walls had, I hope that it would get to the point of being covered with pictures of friends.

Who knew what the rest of the year would bring?

Dinner was interrupted by the sound of a car pulling up into the driveway. We only heard it over the New York fight scene in the Avengers because dad had opened the patio door slightly.

“Are Mirai and Naomasa coming over?” the two were one of the reasons my dad hasn’t gone insane while out here, normally coming over in the eveing, but the visits tened to petter out when mom and I were here.

“No. They said they’d let you rest and come by tomorrow. Wait here.”

Byproduct of his job, dad would check the door by himself, even with a camera feed on the outside to make his life easier. To be honest though, dad was so old about so many things, he forgot it existed half the time. I continued to eat, chewing slowly so I could hear dad open the door and a very familiar voice.

“The old hag told me to drop this off. This is shitty hair.”

There was only one person that could be. Putting my food down, I went to the door and ducked under dad’s arm to see Bakugo Katsuki standing in front of me. His ‘I’m so great’ look had evolved into a scowl in the years, a direct opposite to the person standing behind him. It was like a red haired golden retriever with his bright smile and pointy teeth.

“Kirishima Eijirou, nice to meet you. And you must be Midoriya!”

“Yes, this is my son. I hadn’t told your mother we’d be buying the car yet. I still don’t know if Izuku should-” dad started.

“Dad, come on.” I begged again. Normally, I’d want to keep from giving Kacchan more fuel to bug me with, but I was not above begging. “I have a license and I passed my exam on the first try in a short amount of time to learn. And that’s with all the knowledge of what to do in an accident because of my illness.”

“Illness?” I heard Kirishima ask but Kacchan shushed him.

“How about I don’t drive it until your say so?”  I suggest, hoping he’ll agree.

Dad looked unsure but he sighed and nodded. Turning to Kacchan, he waved and said, “Let’s see it then.”

Like dad had mentioned, the truck was pretty new. It was red, which wasn’t my colour but I’d live. It was classic in only having space for the driver and passenger and it wasn’t insanely high off the ground, but still had upgrades inside like charging ports, navigation screen and safety features also according to Kacchan. But all the fancy stuff was the most basic of basic. Aunt Mitsuki never got into an accident and perfered to drive in silence or talking to whoever else was in the car. The odd thing was that the whole time I checked the car out, Kacchan followed me like a car salesmen while Kirishima stood with my dad talking. Kacchan didn’t say a word other than answering my questions, let alone look at me unless he had too. We hadn’t spoken since the time he shoved me to the ground. Mom and Aunt Mitsuki made up, though dad kept his distance, but with us kids, we never made the effort to be around each other. I’d wanted to make up but Kacchan stayed away, leaving the room whenever I walked in. After a while, I learned to read between the lines. So him following me around now felt, weird.

We’d reached the back and I opened the door to the bed of the truck. It was empty and the car didn’t shake much as I pulled myself up to sit on the end of it. I swung my legs and glanced at Kacchan, who stared at me with furious intent.

“Ok, what is it?”

“I…” he trailed off, brow furrowing more and his jaw clenching like he was trying to hold back. “Mom wants you to have the fucking car, so here are the keys and fucking sorry.”

“What?”

Kacchan shoved the keys at me and turned around. “Sorry!” he yelled over his shoulder as he stomped off. “Shitty hair, let’s go!” he hadn’t even gone to get Kirishima, he just stomped to the other car, the same red as the truck and climbed into the driver’s seat, slamming the door.

Kirishima said something to my dad, bowed at me with an apologetic look and ran to the car as it started up. I didn’t quite catch what he was saying to Kacchan as he climbed in, just saw the blonde glaring at him as they backed out.

“What just happened?” my dad asked, walking up to where I sat, in stunned silence.

“I think…he just apologized for what happened. Back when we were kids. I think.”

It wasn’t a full apology and honestly, after the switch he made and how he reacted, I needed more than that. But the chances of us seeing each other were kinda low, since Kacchan and his family lived in some sort of community. It was farther from where we lived so unless he was also attending UA, we weren’t going to see each other.

“Excuse me, is this the bus for UA?” I asked a stranger standing in line for a bus. Her long bangs stick out slightly being tucked under her hat and she nods.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you before. Did you switch departments?”

“Oh, no. I’m new. Midoriya Izuku.” I say, holding my hand out.

“Uraraka Ochako. Nice to meet you. I’m a astrophysics major.” She replied, shaking my hand.

I feel my eyes widen. UA was pretty amazing, the amount of majors offered and connects for internships and the like. But astrophysics?

“Wow. That’s amazing. That must be so hard.”

The red on her cheeks gets darker as she ducks her head, her hand leaving mine to rub the back of her head. “I mean, it was a jump from my law major. The stars always interested me more. I had space in my first semester for an extra class, took it and managed to get into the science department the next semester. Even acing my law midterms before then too.”

“Whoa.” I breath. “Never complaining about my journalism major again.”

“You should meet my friend who’s majoring in aeronautical science.” Uraraka said with a smile. “Let me be the first to welcome you to UA then. Are you going to be taking the train everyday?”

“Yeah.”

“We’ll sit together then. I’ll introduce you to my friends. Most of us are science majors, but Rody is also in the photography club. They work closely with the school newspaper. I’m gonna warn you about Mei now. She’s an engineering major. If she asks you to test something for her, say no.”

That sentence shouldn’t of scared me, but for some reason it did.

Uraraka gave me the low down of the school the ride over, since I never took the chance to visit or see it before transferring. Most of my classes would be in the communications building, the gym was free for students and unlike other cafeterias where there was a set menu everyday, the head chef made everyone’s requests from scratch.

“And really quick too. Plus it tastes amazing and bonus, it’s all the same price.”

The school boasted a student run café and 2 different combinis, not to mention, the school store had gotten it’s own building and was 2 stories high, all thanks to a scandle involving the Japanese government and one of the teachers.

“It’s a small sector of the government but no one really knows the full story.”

If politics didn’t interest me, I’d be curious as to what happened.

Getting off the bus, I took in the sprawling campus behind the stone and metal gate, students entering by scanning their IDs. All the buildings had similar styles but were different colours, all the help students know where they needed to go. Uraraka talked to the security guard for me so I could be let in and then led me to the administration building to get my ID. All this was familiar for my first day at my last university, without the stress of the large amounts of students all trying to do the same thing before splitting off into more groups.

“The ID holds dinning dollars, currency the school gives you to spend. You can add more but you start out at $100 each semester. When you paid fees, it included food, so you get your first sets of meals of the day for free but if you want seconds, you have to pay for that, either with dinning dollars or on your own. You can use the card in the café and the combinis. The money gets sent to them by the school at the end of each month, so if you end up creating a tab, you need to pay it off before the end of the month. Come on, I’m meeting the others in 7-11.”

The famed combini was smaller than the ones that lived on the streets of Japan, but like everything else in Japan, the made good use of their space. The back wall held the warming stations and drink despensiers, the fridges with food and drink on one side near the entrance, cashier on the other and aisles of food in the middle.

A guy our age with brown hair tied into a ponytail yawned as he dumped what looked like the entire container of sugar into his coffee. It wasn’t quite so sunny outside due to the clouds, but sunglasses sat on top of the red bandana he wore.

“Rody!” Uraraka called.

Bleary grey eyes blinked at us. “Sup ‘Chako.” I noticed his Japanese was accented, like how my dad’s would get when he’d be speaking in English for hours and then switch back. “Who’s this? You got a project already?”

“No, this is Midoriya Izuku, he’s new. He’s a transfer, kinda like you.”

“Not a transfer if you live here.” Rody said, sounding like he was reminding her. He put a top on is coffee and picked it up, sticking his other hand out. “Rody Soul, nice to meet you. You a science major too?”

“No, journalism.”

“I guess you’re the new member they were talking about in the newsroom.” With my nod, Rody took me in. “I think you could survive them. Feel free to come bug us in the photography dark room if they get too much.”

Somehow, that scared me just as much as Uraraka’s comment about her engineer friend.

I wasn’t hungry so, I waited with Rody, who downed the coffee hoping to wake up while Uraraka meticulously picked her breakfast.

“So how come your coming here now? Tranfsers usually happen at the start of the year, not the middle.”

“I got offered a spot here and it has a better journalism program.” Was all I said, not wanting to give my whole health history to a guy I didn’t know.

Rody didn’t look like he believed me. “Looking forward to seeing your stuff then. You got your schedule then?” he asked, thankfully changing the subject.

“Yes. It’s mostly journalism, one psych and a science.”

“Science?”

I smile to myself, remembering I still haven’t told my parents, mostly cause I know they’d try to talk me out of it. But with what dad did, the investigating I did for the article that got me here at UA and the urge to break out a little had made up my mind.

“I want to go into crime journalism, more specifically be a crime reporter.”

Rody let out a whistle. “Must be pretty brave.”

“More like I get into trouble and somehow end up being way more careful than people expect.”

Uraraka interrupted any questions by coming with her purchased breakfast and asking Rody where the others were.

“We’ve got 10 minutes before most classes start.” Rody answered, which clued me in that I needed to find the communication building to get to my first class. “We’ll point you in the direction of the communication building. Are you free at 1 pm? That’s when we get lunch.”

1 pm felt like it took forever. I quickly realised that the classes I was put into I had already done for the most part, if the only the name being different. Being so late into starting in the semester had gotten people’s attention into wanting to talk to me, but not enough to actually make friends. I did get to meet at least 2 of my club members in the newspaper club, Kendo and Awese, in my Psycology of Crime class. They were nice, but I could tell that other than working together, we wouldn’t interact much. Not that we didn’t try, it just took too long for anything to click since the two have know each other since high school. I’ll admit, it made me nervous for meeting Rody and Uraraka’s other friends. If I didn’t fit in there, it would just be 10 times harder to make friends with anyone on campus, unless there were first years still looking to fit in.

Uraraka was waiting outside the gakushoku, jumping up and waving when she spotted me. Kendo, who’d been walking me over, waved me off, waving to Uraraka herself as she went inside.

“How was class? Any issues?”

“No, it went pretty ok I think. Kinda did most of what they’re teaching, so I guess I’ll talk with my advisor to see if I can move around, but we’re already halfway through, so probably not.”

“Why don’t you tell us who you’re advisor is? Mei’s gone through so many of them, she might know what to do to help you get your way.” Uraraka suggested as we walked inside.

She helped me place my order – katsudon again – and led me to a table with our spoils. Rody was there, looking more awake and clicking away on an older looking laptop. There were also two girls sitting with him. One had long hair, tied back in a bow at the end, jacket covered in frog pins and patches. Uraraka pressed a kiss onto her cheek, before motioning to take a seat next to the other girl. Her gold eyes were focused on the mess of wires and metal sitting in front of her, a full tray of food pushed to the side.

“This is Tsuyu and that’s Mei. Mei! That’s Midoriya Izuku.”

“Oh, hi!” I backed away as she shot up, sticking her face near mine. “I’m Hatsume Mei. I’ve never seen you before.”

“This time she’s actually telling the truth.” Rody commented. “Remember how she didn’t remember her lab partner, even though she’d been working with him all year? Not to mention his popularity.”

“But I never met him before.” Mei replied, giving me a chance to sit down, moving my chair slightly away from her. Uraraka smiled apologeticly at me at that.

“Can I call you Izuku? You can call me Tsu. Ocha mentioned you’re a journalism major.”

“I am and of course.” I didn’t know Tsuyu’s last name, so I decided to just keep with what she suggested. “You’re also a science major?”

“Zoology, with a focus in Batrachology. Frogs. What made you decided journalism?”

Conversation flowed easily. I still didn’t bring up being a haemophiliac, not wanting to ruin things before I had a chance to see where they’d go, but I talked about my time on the paper, the case I helped break, life in Fukuoka. I told them about my dad and it turned out that when Uraraka had done a small internship when she was still a law major, she worked at my dad’s station. I listen to Rody’s stories about  Otheon, where he lived most of his life before he moved to Japan for college, bringing his family of his younger siblings and pet bird with him. Tsu’s job at the local zoo is full of funny stories of the animals she’d be assigned for the day. Mei had just started her story into a lab explosion on campus – “It was completely minor, I swear!” –  when the whole cafeteria exploded in high shrieking.

Uraraka had pointed out the upstairs entrance for the gakushoku, mentioning that it wasn’t used often since you had to make a full circle to get to the line. I’d still spot students walking down the stairs, but none had gaunered this type of reaction. Walking down the steps were 5 students, all different.

“And this Mei, is why you shouldn’t forget who Yoarashi is.” Rody said, the rest of the group already turning away from the forming crowd. I couldn’t pull my eyes away though, watching the group of students move closer together as they got further down the stairs.

“Who?” Mei asked, looking lost.

“Who are they?” I couldn’t help but ask.

“Those are the Aizawas, well Aizawas and Momo’s partners. They’re siblings, adopted and all kings and queens of the school, even if they’d rather be anything but.” Uraraka started.

“Yoarashi is the tall one.” Rody pointed out. Yoarashi stood at the back of the group, towering over the others, the fur on the hood of his coat somehow adding to his height. “He’s working on building a better wind turbine, which is how he got to work with Mei. He’s well known for somehow gaining the affection of two girls. Yaoyorozu is his in into the family, bringing him and Jirou.” Yaoyorozu was the girl with a ponytail, arms linked with the other girl dressed in leather with long dangling earrings.

“Todoroki and Shinsou are Yaoyorozu’s adopted brothers. Shinsou is pretty nice, even if it looks like he never sleeps.” Tsu had picked up. “He’s really sarcastic but it hides how awkward he can be. Todoroki is pretty similar, not that you could tell.”

“His ‘ethereal looks’ makes him campus pretty boy. But don’t call him that to his face, not unless you want to be glared into next week.” Rody said.

Since the other two stood out with purple and split coloured hair, I guessed Todoroki was the one with red and white hair. Tsu wasn’t wrong, Shinsou’s eyebags were visible from this distance and how annoyed he looked being surrounded by the still screaming girls, you’d think he’d do whatever possible to get away.

Todoroki stood out the most, not just because of his looks. Even though people were screaming in is ear, he was focused on the book in his hand, easily dodging anyone who tried to get in his way. It was when the group finally reached the edge of the crowd that he looked up, the lights casting off his grey and blue eyes, a scar around his blue eye. I was sure our eyes only locked for a moment before he looked back down and led the others towards the food line.

“He’s not even phased.” I pointed out, watching the crowd of people follow them, only for a voice to tell them off. It’s male, but I can’t picture Todoroki being the one to yell, not with how unbothered he was.

“Nothing really bothers him. You’re more likely to get something out of his siblings more than him.” Rody said. “He’s a bit like his dad. Everyone knows he’s a nurse at the hospital, insanely good at his job but he’ll read you a riot act while patching you up.”

“Present Mic is who you should really listen to.” Mei yelled, suddenly finding the rest of the conversation interesting, since she’d gone back to her mess of wires when the Aizawas caused the noise explosion. “Their other dad, pretty cool communications teacher when he does a class here and runs the coolest radio show, not to mention he’s a private detective!”

I lean back in my seat to try and catch another glimpse of the Aizawa siblings and their additions. I don’t know why, but I started getting this feeling in my stomach. Last time I got it was when I knew I had to climb the roof of that food truck to get answers.

Chapter Text

It’s such an odd scent to love, even decades later, but libraries and their smells of their books reminded me of the few safe moments in my previous life. The smells were different, the computers and constant scents wafting from a person’s perfumes, hair products and the items they stuffed in their bags. But books, pages old and new, those scents stayed the same. It was a good distraction from the ever-present scent of blood. The ever-present pulsing of hearts and the constant breaths of a person. It was easy to ignore them now, but the smell of books helped.

“There you are.” Kyoka called, low enough to not bother the others within ear shot of my desk in the library. I didn’t bother giving my normal reply of her always knowing where I’d be. The amount of odd rumours that came up the first time someone heard that made it part of the many things we didn’t say around listening ears. “Come on Shouto, lunch.”

I easily could have stayed in the library for hours more, easily ignoring my classes but I still had to play human. I’d already spent the time from when I arrived this morning with my siblings to study, never leaving. There’d already been a few people who came back between classes who knew I hadn’t moved. Any longer and they’d get concerned and come asking questions or worse, create rumours. So, I stood up, closing all my books, letting Kyoka pack up my pencils and highlighters into their correct place in my case, dropping it into my bag as my books were stuffed inside. I spotted Hitoshi’s purple hair and hunched shoulders. With how Kyoka flinched as she got closer, I didn’t doubt his mind was a whirlwind of annoyances. Hitoshi majored in literature and the department were full of overly happy and gossipy people, something Hitoshi couldn’t stand. With no shared classes for our general classes, he was forced to spend his whole day with them, all while dealing with the standard screaming fans we got for just walking outside.

I didn’t need to read minds like Kyoka to know Hitoshi was calling for blood. Thankfully it wasn’t because he was hungry. This time.

Momo and Inasa were waiting for us at the end of the pathway of the library before it turned off towards the gakushoku. Unfortunately, like clockwork, a group of fans had already started attempting to take pictures of us. It took years of practise spotting and turning a head to avoid our faces being captured. The internet was forever and it wouldn’t do us any good to be immortalized online and make creating new lives impossible. Hiding out in the outskirts of the world only worked for so long with the bucket list of wanting to go there getting bigger. With pictures, came screaming our names and then:

“Ok, can you stop yelling? I actually think your giving me a headache.” Kyoka scolded Hitoshi.

“Oh, so my thoughts give you a headache, but not this one’s mouth?” Hitoshi complained, pointing to Inasa.

Already tired of the same argument, complete with Inasa complaining about the insult, I pulled out one of the books I was rereading. It was a YA book from within the past decade. In a world of granted abilities shown by twin-coloured eyes like mine, a girl’s powers are misunderstood, but it shaped her whole life. Not until she meets someone who’s own misunderstood powers help her make sense of them. I stopped after the third book, not in love with how the fourth went, just in terms of couples. Never really being in love and surrounded by couples, I liked reading about the ones that clicked with some sort of chemistry. Something that pulled them together. I’d probably never have that and watching it with my family got old very quick, even with Hitoshi and Yuga’s newest additions, so it was easy to slip into my books.

“Are you reading again?” Hitoshi asked.

“Yes.”

“The same book? Again?”

“Yes. You’re two for two, want to try for a third?” I ask sarcastically.

As vampires, we don’t need sleep, though resting helps. Hitoshi’s insomnia was one of the worst cases within a vampire, even more than Shouta, so it tended to leave him more sarcastic than normal. Thankfully, Touya was my brother or I wouldn’t be able to keep up.

“You ever gonna read anything different?”

“Maybe when there’s something interesting.” I got lost in Kasta and Po’s journey into getting to know each other as we entered the gakushoku and the screaming got louder.

We bunched together to avoid getting jostled. It was like those in Asian countries had no sense of self-preservation with how close they pressed towards us. Those with the sense to listen to their instincts avoided us, but everyone else? They made it their mission to try and get as close to us as possible.

“We have a newbie.” Kyoka said, low enough for those with our ears to hear.

“Exchange student now?” Inasa asked, hovering over us.

“Nope. Transfer. Midoriya Izuku. He’s got a fair few people interested. Seems interested in us.”

“We’re in a group of screaming fans. Of course he is.” Momo pointed out as we finally reached the main floor.

I glanced up, quickly spotting him. Dark hair that was tinted green, bright green eyes and freckles like constellations on his cheeks. He seemed as normal as everyone else, interested, but only time would tell if he followed his instincts and left us alone.

“For the love of god, fucking back off!” Hitoshi screamed to those starting to jostle us. While their flight or flee response was broken seeing how they were attached to us, the people around us obviously weren’t completely broken as they started to back away. Maybe they could tell that if this had been weeks ago, before we went to feed, Hitoshi’s fangs could have flashed and his eyes gone dark.

Just a normal day as a vampire pretending to be a college student, I suppose.

“Aizawa!” Tamakawa-sensei poked his head out of the teacher’s lounge of the sciences building. He was also my forensic science teacher.

Momo also had a science class within the building, so we both turned when our shared name was called. Realising his mistake, the teacher pointed at me.

“Todoroki.”

Momo turned to me. “I’ll see you at the car?” it was my semester to play driver, so whenever we had class, my car was the one to come onto campus.

I walked up to my teacher as Momo continued to her classroom, wondering what was so important. I was smart, regardless of 100 years alive and I answered questions, participating enough that I wasn’t targeted.

“I wanted to give you a warning, we have a new student joining our class today.” Midoriya. “He’s a transfer. Can’t figure out why he’d be taking my class as a journalism major though.” Kyoka had read Midoriya’s mind, figured out he was interested in investigative journalism. The class choice wasn’t much of a jump. “I know you work well alone,” he trailed off. I was the only one in the class without a partner and doing labs by myself had gone well, so sensei never pushed me to work in a group of three.

“I don’t ‘work well alone’. People just don’t like me.” Because they were smart, but I wouldn’t tell him that.

“Still. I just wanted to ask that you be nice. I have notes given to me about this student and I rather not have him ask to be transferred if I can help it. So…be nice.”

Right. Nice. Even without a human’s natural instinct to just avoid us, being around people has never been something I’m good at, even when I was human. Could have been my upbringing, but I had 100 years to straighten out from it and it hadn’t gotten any better. Much like being alone in love, I was probably destined to have no close ties except with my family. The loneliness only bothered me when my family was occupied with something and nothing in the books could distract me.

It was easy to be sucked back into the world of Gracelings and their stories while my classmates talked around me. Discussing homework and past lectures, few even gossiped about Midoriya. Kyoka was right, people were interested, wondering why he came in the middle of the semester, where he came from. A few all seemed to mention Yagi Toshinori, local detective. Mustafa was small compared to surrounding areas and if you poked hard enough, you could find information on the more popular residences. My family was one, but unlike everyone else who was considered interesting, information about us is hard to find. Yagi Toshinori I knew from Shouta’s constant complaints about him getting hurt. Something about Yagi looking like a scolded child when Shouta went in on him and how he never seemed scared from what Shouta saw. It made me wonder if Midoriya was like his dad, ignoring instincts.

When I had first walked into the lab that held our forensics class, I immediately noticed it felt hotter than normal. My body was already cooler than normal and my added ability to control ice and fire made it so my body adjusted to the change in temperature instantly. I still took off my jacket to blend in as others were fanning themselves and a few students were standing by the heater, grumbling about it. listening in, it seemed that they were ‘on the fritz’, again. It constantly happened, which made for irregular lab days since we needed a temperature-controlled room to do our tests to not mess with the samples. We were ahead in the reading and lectures, but poorly prepared for labs. Tamakawa-sensei complained constantly, annoyed that the medical department and their buildings would immediately get fixed but the science buildings took time. I was expecting another rant when Tamakawa-sensei realised what was happening again.

As this happened enough times, fans had already been pulled out from the supply closet and placed around the room for air flow, the windows as open as they could be, even right under the uncooperative heaters.

Eventually our teacher came in, already frowning as he felt the heat difference. Midoriya followed him and listened to Tamakawa-sensei explain our perils with the classroom. I’ll admit, I stared. New students coming in at such a time didn’t happen, not since my siblings and I had arrived in what was our ‘last year’ of high school right during exam prep. He didn’t seem any shyer or at a loss than the standard incoming student. My hearing clued me into gossip that he’d written an article exposing a peeping tom at his former school. He was curious, or at least believed in justice. Tamakawa-sensei gestured him closer to show him something on the clipboard that normally came with sensei, when it happened. The fan on sensei’s desk turned, glancing me with a slightly cooler breeze then to sensei and Midoriya. I knew sensei’s scent, clean, a bit antiseptically and faintly of cats. But something burst over it like a wave. Just the smell of it made my mouth water. I couldn’t find the words to describe it, not even after spending 100 years describing scents. It was, in so few words, perfect.

And I wanted to sink my teeth into it and bleed it dry.

I watched as Midoriya looked towards me and flinched, the fan following him as he walked towards his new seat. He lowly greeted me, doing his best not to meet my eyes.

My eyes. Of course, how could I forget? When first changed, a vampire’s eyes would stay red before resettling into their original colour. I was born with heterochromia, with one grey and one blue eye. When we got mad, like enough to lose control, our eyes went gold. It also happened when we were starting to get hungry for blood. They’d stay red for a while if we overfilled on blood, usually humans.

When were insatiably hungry, our eyes went black, like a demon’s. They were unsightly and terrifying to anyone who saw them. Mine hadn’t turned that colour for nearly 50 years. Somehow in the span of a few minutes, Midoriya broke my careful control just with his scent.

When he sat down next to me, I turned my head, refusing to breathe. From the corner of my eye, I can see him frowning and lifting his jacket to sniff it. He ran his hand through his hair and I closed my eyes. I might not have smelt the new wave, but I knew it was still there, it was implanted within my nose and mouth. I heard him huff and heard his chair move away from me.

Good, stay away from me. The further away from me he was, the better it would be. This didn’t happen, I didn’t lose control. What if I took another breath? Inhaled the scent a bit more? Would I be able to ignore it? No, even I knew that. I wondered how easy to would be to drain him? I’d have to deal with the class first, not leave any witnesses. Or maybe it would be safer to drag him away from everyone, take him to a secluded part of campus. But he was a new student, with new friends. They’d notice him missing, bring his father in, a detective who constantly got in trouble with Shouta for pushing himself physically so he could solve a crime. His son’s disappearance would never stop him.

God, what is wrong with me? I didn’t do this, want to devour humans like they were just walking pieces of food. I learned better, I wasn’t a mindless monster. Shouta and Hizashi made sure I never forgot that. If I let the monstrous part of me win, I’d be letting them down. I’d be causing my family nothing but trouble. I had to get out of there.

Time tended to go way too slow when I paid attention but thankfully it had swept by when I was forcing myself to be a statue. The minute Tamakawa-sensei let us go, I scooped up my stuff, grabbed my bag and let my vampire side get me out of the classroom, out of the building and over to parking lot. My sudden appearance caught the attention of a few others but they seemed to brush it off when they saw me dash inside my car. I dropped everything on the passenger seat, breathing in and out. Ignoring Midoriya should have been easy. Not anymore, it couldn’t be. I knew what scent was waiting for me. There was no guarantee I could control myself a second time.

Knocking on the window, Hitoshi looked worried. He pointed to the lock and after I hit the switch on the screen, he climbed in, shoving my things to the floor.

“What’s wrong? I kept seeing you and that new kid, but it was going way too fast? Shouto, what’s wrong?”

Hitoshi had the ability to see the future. It was easy to forget it, since he used his minor power of mind control more but it was important when visions came to him. If he had so many of me, all involving Midoriya, then my ability to ignore him said a lot.

“I, I almost…”

“I know what you almost did. None of the visions finished but it wasn’t hard to guess what was going on. Talk to me. What happened there?”

“His scent. The heaters in the classroom where messed up again so we had the fans. Toshi, you know me, you know I don’t get affected but one blast off of him and… I almost did it. I almost bit into him.”

“But you didn’t. Ok, remember that you didn’t. Maybe it was something he was wearing?” Hitoshi didn’t believe that even as it came out of his mouth. The only scent that would bother us was the scent of blood and we’d been taught to resist it. All those claims of holy water, garlic and the like didn’t work on us. Certain smells irritated us, but blood was the real thing to mess with us.

“I can’t be around him.” I stated.

“I don’t think they’re gonna let you change your department now.”

“No.” Hitoshi wasn’t stupid. He knew what I meant. “I, I can’t be here.”

I should have been annoyed, letting a human run me out of my school, the one I got to choose this round, but I cared too much about not causing a panic that would affect my family to get upset.

“Are you going to stay with Tenko?”

“It’s as far away from here as I can get.”

“But you are coming back, right?”

I didn’t answer and I didn’t ask Hitoshi what he saw, because I didn’t know. He didn’t even know this day would have ended with me nearly losing control until it happened.

I was worried going to the hospital. I wanted to ask the others to come with me, when I was driving them all home, but shame filled me. I was running away to keep someone safe, because I nearly lost control. If I needed to be put down, I couldn’t ask the people who’d become my family to do it. Making Shouta do it wasn’t any better, but before most of us came into his life, it’s what he did, tracking down vampires who couldn’t follow the rules given by the eldest coven in the world to keep us all safe. It would hurt for him to do it, but I know he would.

I pull into a visitor spot and stalled. When I bought my car, Dabi made jokes about how the screen would keep me entertained when I finally pulled myself out of whatever book I was reading. It would be simple to stay on it, wait until Shouta figured out I was here but it was a day ending in -day and as an emergency room nurse, there was no telling how busy he would be and sitting out here all night wouldn’t solve my issues. I climbed out the car and walked into the hospital. Luck seemed to be on my side, if only a reprieve from the past nearly hour and half I had to deal with, as Shouta was walking with a doctor, but turned when he sensed me.

“Excuse me. Shouto, what are you doing here?” he asked, immediately abandoning the doctor. The doctor looked annoyed and I’d seen enough spoiled flirtations to know that had been another one. “Sho?” I look away from the doctor to the man who’d been more of a father to me that the one I shared DNA with. He’d saved me and Dabi and I tried to repay him by not disappointing him badly. This would destroy all the effort. “You’re paler than normal. Come here.”

I follow Shouta into a stairwell, silently climbing the stairs as he did. We only get a few flights before he turns to me again.

“Is it ok?” he asks, hands out in hopes to touch me. I nod, and he puts his hands just below my shoulders. “Talk to me. What’s going on?”

“At class, I…” I’m so rarely at a loss for words, but how did I explain this? “We have a new student in school. He’s in my forensic science class and he was sat next to me. The lab, the heaters…so the fans were on. it blew on us and…”

“Was he bleeding?” I shake my head. Shouta looks lost. “You can’t be hungry.”

“I don’t know what triggered it. I smelt him and all I wanted to do was sink my teeth into him. I was thinking of ways to drag him away, whether to kill all my classmates just so I could kill him. I think my eyes even changed colour.”

I feel Shouta stiffen, even with feelings his fingers dig into my arms. “Did he see?”

“I don’t know. I got out of there as soon as could. Shouta, what’s happening? How did that happen?”

“I don’t know.” Shouta said. “I don’t know, but I’ll find out, ok? You should stay home, go hunting. I’ll call Mitsuki to escort you.” Shouta let go of me, digging into his pocket for his phone when the pager around his neck buzzed. “Damn it.”

“You have to get back to the ED.” I said. “I’m not going back home. I’ll go to get my things, but I can’t stay here. Not when Midoriya is only a few minutes away. I could probably track him like a dog.”

“Don’t let Bakugo hear you say that. You, however, don’t get to just disappear into the ether because of one human, do you understand?”

“I’m a danger if I stay here!” I tried reasoning.

“Which is why you’ll stay with the others. I’m calling Kurogiri and he’ll be expecting you and if you don’t show up, he’ll have Tomura drag you to them.”

“But-”

Shouta narrowed his eyes and I felt my body react weirdly. Shouta had this ability; he could erase the extra abilities of other vampires. He was a hunter for rouge vampires while being a person of medicine and it was his greatest skill; now he used it on those of us who had powers to get us to realise he was serious. Since my ability tended to also react with my body temperature, erasing it made me feel weird. It was also my sign to shut up and nod, which was what I did.

“You’d better be in Nabu Island with the family by the end of the day, got it?”

Arguing wasn’t going to get me anywhere, so I nodded, but I couldn’t help but think of what happened. I lost control. Shouta seemed sure I’d be back but maybe it was better if I just stayed away.

I never understood why our family lived here. Sun didn’t kill vampires but it made us sick if we weren’t careful. We got resistant with age but living in an area that was almost always sunny was asking for a death wish. Shouta had put me on the last ferry to the island and amongst the crowd, I spotted Tensei leaning against his car.

“Hey. Glad you’re here. I was worried we were actually gonna have to send Tenko after you.”

I frowned at him, annoyed that it seemed my family seems to think I’m incapable of following instructions. I had proof I didn’t listen but most of the time, the instructions were stupid and made no sense. Tensei, the big brother he was, seemed to understand what I thought with a glance and just smiled.

“Come on. Oboro is making soba for you.”

The only part that made sense was living on Mount Shiroyama. Most of the island inhabitants tended to avoid it thanks to rumours of monsters haunting the castle. They didn’t realise those noises were the others hunting the animals when they got hungry and as a result, wouldn’t go searching to find the house Kurogiri built close to the castle ruins. The trees and lush jungle made it the perfect place to hide, especially since Tomura was younger than the rest of us and still susceptible to getting ill from being in the sun. Not that he ever left his lair of a gaming den. He might not have loved being turned into a vampire by the same man who killed his grandmother, but Tomura dominated most gaming servers before he was dragged away from the TV since he never slept.

Kurogiri, or Oboro as most of the adults still called him, was waiting by the front door of the house. While home was a house of a frightening amount of windows for a house full of vampires, Nabu House was darker and dimmer, but still inviting. Kurogiri’s hair was tied up in a bun, similar to how Shouta would tie his for work sometimes, allowing his gold eyes to be seen clearly. Kurogiri was as old as Shouta was, but when he was changed, he forgot his whole life, forgot he used to be Oboro. When he and Shouta met again - him, Hizashi and Kurogiri old friends before turning - something started to click back into place. Oboro came back to life bit by bit, but he would forget at times. No one could really figure out why his eyes never shifted back to his original blue or why his pale blue hair was tinged with dark purple but considering why I was here, maybe the unanswered questions wouldn’t feel so out of place now.

“Food or did you want to pout in your room for a while?” Kurogiri asked, smiling like Tensei at my frown.

“I almost kill a person after smelling them today after 50 years of control and we’re making jokes.” I remind them. I’m not quite glaring, but I’m getting close.

“I’m still half a person merged with a new identity. I know about struggling to find answers for things that don’t happen.” Kurogiri reminded. “I know this is confusing and you want answers but panicking about it every moment is just going to do nothing but case you stress. Only with a calm mind can you start to figure things out.”

“Yeah,” Tomura calls from deeper inside the house, “or you sound like a fucking fortune cookie! He lost control, he’s allowed to panic. Get in here. You’re letting the heat out.”

Kurogiri sighed and gestured inside. I know he thought the youngest vampire was being a brat, but I need permission to panic. I’m usually in the habit of keeping things bottled up, that it’s inevitable that things will explode. At least when I eventually did it here, they’d just pat me on the shoulder or just flash their own fangs at me.

Tomura was sat in the living room, red eyes focused on the TV screen as he hit buttons on his controller. Much like Kurogiri, his hair had changed from black to white after he was changed but his eyes would never fade from the red they were, since those were his original eye colour. It did mean he was subjected to questions of if he was hungry constantly, but we were lucky it would only get us an annoyed look before he answered in the negative.

“Shouto.” I look away from the youngest member of our odd extended family to see Tenya walking up the stairs from the basement. He was without his glasses, making him look near identical to Tensei. “I was about to go for a run, come with me?”

“He just got here.” Tensei reminded, but I drop my bag on the couch and turn to the door.

Tenya’s such a strict rule follower and could be a lot for those who didn’t know him, but he was smart and observant of a person’s emotions. He was the same person who went after the vampire who turned his brother and would of won had it not been for a vampire’s strength and the extra ability. He could tell I’d been wanting to explode with, well everything. We ran deep into the woods behind the house, moving around the castle ruins and no doubt making enough noise that the island would come up with new rumours. When my anger and frustration from earlier finally exploded in the form of ice, Tenya skid up the tower I created and stayed there until I calmed down.

“I’ve never lost control, not once after all these years. I’ve been alive for 100 years, had perfect control for 50 and then it just…how could this happen?” I demand to know, staring up at Tenya.

He lets himself slid down the tower, nodding to it for me to get rid of. As I put my hand on the ice, he starts talking. “we like to act that since we’ve been around for so long, vampires have all the answers. I don’t know how the vampire that changed me could justify creating new vampires because he felt like it or why Oboro’s memory is so fractured or even why for creatures who don’t need rest, Shouta and Hitoshi look and feel like they’ve never slept. Not even our famed council has the answers. Oboro is right, panicking about it won’t solve issues, so we need to think clearly about this. you do have control, even able to ignore your hunger. So, what is about this person that made it different?”

I thought he was just asking out loud when he gave me a look and I thought. “He’s new. Just started…today?” time was always disappearing when I wasn’t paying attention so I couldn’t even remember if it was the same day or the next. “He’s a transfer.”

“So late in the year?” Tenya asked, brow raised. He didn’t attend school like the rest of us, instead just heading to the mainland to work at their police station. I knew he was going to have to ‘transfer’ in a few years, but he enjoyed hearing us talk about our trips to school, both high school and university.

“He moved in with his dad. From Fukuoka. I don’t know why. He’s in the journalism department with a focus in criminal investigation.” I regurgitated from what everyone had gossiped and what Kyoka had picked up. “He looks normal. He’s not a werewolf, he didn’t smell like a wet dog, just…I don’t know how to describe it.” I pulled my hand away from the tower – now more of a height marker – and pulled my feet out of the massive puddle I created. “Do you remember the first time you drank blood?”

“I was a little out of mind to be fair.” Tenya reminded. “It was an officer though, friends called him Native.”

Ok, not the best example. “the first time you were in control, got hungry and drank blood then.”

Tenya looked up, thinking. “that was from a dog. Remember, Oboro found us pretty quickly.”

I sighed. “It was like the most perfect smell, like the one thing that could always make my mouth water no matter if I was hungry or not. I can’t describe what it is, just that I wanted it, badly. I’ve never felt like that before, not even when I was learning to control myself.”

Tenya hummed. “Legends talks about so many things setting a vampire off, like garlic or hunger, but you weren’t hungry. There has to be something more about him that caused a trigger, something that’s so rare amongst vampires that we haven’t thought of. We’ll figure this out.”

Tenya sounded so sure, I didn’t have the heart to tell him I doubted we ever would.

Chapter Text

The sounds of Tomura’s game was the only noise in the whole house. Kurogiri was in his office, going over all the books he’d been gifted by the vampire council. He was such a mystery of a vampire that the council practically doted on him, more so since he was considered family to their best former rouge vampire hunter. Tensei was running off energy before his night shift at the docks and Tenya had already gone to his shift at the police station. Food hadn’t been appealing and my mind was still a worried mess. Eri must have gotten a hold of someone’s phone because she was asking if I was ok in the family Discord. How she remember how to sign in to her account but could barely remember to keep her fangs inside her mouth was as always, astounding. I felt as unsteady as I did when I was turned, still trying not to react the smell of blood every second.

“I can hear you moping.” Tomura said, eyes still focused on the screen.

“I think I’m allowed.”

I could practically hear him rolling his eyes. “I have a half a mind to just meet this kid, threaten him and make him leave. You’re depressing my house.”

If I didn’t know hitting Tomura would end badly – his extra ability allowed him to disintegrate things with one touch, hence his need for drawing gloves – I would do it immediately, letting him die on his game. Even if we were human, he wasn’t shy about attack with his teeth and vampire bites from fledglings tended to leave scars, since their body still tried adjusting to the venom we had.

“You’re an ass.”

“Shimura Tenko, nice to meet you. I grew up with a monster of a sire who killed my grandmother because she got too close to finding out he was hundreds of years old and screwing the system and he wanted her to suffer a little.” he drawls. I roll my eyes and turn to face the couch.

“Leave Midoriya alone. His father is a detective who gets into scrapes all the time in trying to solve cases. He won’t rest if he knows his son was being bullied.”

I lifted my head when the noise of Tomura’s game stopped and turned to see him staring at me.

“What did you say?” he actually dropped the controller and turned towards me. “What is this kid’s name?”

Confused, I answer. “Midoriya Izuku? There’s no way you know him. He wouldn’t have been born when you were turned.”

“Yeah, but I know his dad. Yagi Toshinori was practically my grandmother’s other son.”

I sit up, staring at the closet thing I have to a cousin, along with the Iida brothers. “You know Midoriya?”

Tomura crossed his legs, hunching over as he started to crack his knuckles. “I know my grandmother gave up my dad because she wasn’t ready for kids originally. It messed him up being in the foster system and as a result, he took it out on us.”

I knew this already. “All for One killed them when hunting.”

“I thought it had been random but when I found out during his attempts to turn me against humans that he knew exactly who my grandmother was, that’s when I knew it was deliberate. I managed to avoid his first attack because my father locked me in the closet as punishment. Since there was no body for me, I guess Yagi knew I was still alive. I didn’t even know my grandmother had been keeping tabs on me. Before Aizawa sent the council after All for One, I found Yagi at my grave, swearing he’d either bring me home or lay me to rest properly. He’d bring his son by, small kid with wild curls and tell him I was his cousin. That I was somewhere, hopefully safe and with the dogs I loved. That was the one fact he knew, guess he heard from the neighbours, but he held onto it. When he got older, Midoriya would come by, tell me about his life and how lonely it was with haemophilia.”

“Haemophilia? The blood disorder?”

Tomura nods. “I think he mentioned having a rare blood type too, so he felt lonely and guilty for using his dad like a blood bank. Kept mentioning how his dad would do his best to make sure he was happy when he came to visit. I think his parents are either separated or live apart.”

“Live apart.” I clarify. “he wouldn’t stop talking to Shouta during stiches one time about how he hated that he lived apart from his wife and son but it just worked out better for their careers.”

“Well, except now Midoriya’s here. maybe that’s why he triggered you.” Tomura suggested, his red eyes looking weirdly bright at the suggestion.

“Because of his disorder?”

Tomura shrugs and turned back to his game. “It’s rare. As long as we’ve lived, there’s a chance you’ve fully missed a person with it.”

I stare at him as noise of his game starts back up. “That’s it? It’s that easy?”

“I never said it was because of his haemophilia but you’re not gonna figure it out moping around here. Seriously,” he waved a hand like he was trying to shoo me, “you’re really depressing the room.”

At that moment I decided I didn’t care about the scars from fledgling bites. I was gonna kick his ass.

“Text me when your about to get off the train so we can wait for the bus together.” Uraraka practically ordered, typing both hers and the other’s numbers into my phone.

“Yeah.” I listlessly say, staring at the roof of the bus.

“You can not still be upset about what Todoroki did. You don’t smell. He was probably just being rude. You can call him out on it tomorrow. Just, maybe not in front of others. His family’s fangirls are kinda scary.”

I pouted at her but I was still annoyed. Todoroki couldn’t leave fast enough and I had never felt more insulted. I had two more classes plus my meeting with the newspaper club and it still refused to leave my mind. Rody had Hatsume tell me I didn’t smell, because apparently, ‘Hatsume doesn’t have the filter to lie’. I was still annoyed, regardless. I didn’t come all the way to a new area of Japan to be called smelly.

“I have to spend the rest of the semester with him. I think I’m allowed to be annoyed.”

“Of course.” Uraraka said, patting my arm, “but he ignores most people, so, just say how you feel, get through the class and you won’t have to deal with him. He’s in the medical department studying biomedical science, this is probably your only shared class.”

That did little to make me feel better. I tried putting on a smile to reassure Uraraka down but it didn’t last long. It took a bit to figure the bus home, since my dad had dropped me off at the station, but my dad’s car was already parked when I got there.

“Welcome back! How was school? Why do you look so pouty?”

“This that Izuku?” My dad’s co-workers, Mirai and Naomasa poked their heads around the corner. As usual, Naomasa had a large grin on his face, his hair slightly shaggy with a growing beard and Mirai looking like he didn’t know what smiling was. “Hey kid! Welcome to Mustafa!”

“Hi.” I listily greeted, making my father frown more.

“What happened? did something happen? Were people mean? I know it wasn’t a medical thing; the school has to call.”

I sigh, feeling even more like a spoiled child. I was lucky Uraraka put up with my pouting. “No, just…does the name Aizawa ring a bell?”

Mirai and Naomasa looked at my dad with matching looks. “What did you do?” the detective asked.

“Nothing! I haven’t seen Aizawa in days, nearly two weeks at this point. I was kinda busy making sure my son could move down here without issue.” My dad reminded, though it still didn’t answer my question.

“We know you. You’d end up in the emergency room for a papercut.”

“No, I – would you two stop exaggerating everything? I’m not that bad!”

I knew my dad was that bad which is why it clicked a second later. “Grumpy cat is Aizawa? Is he related to Todoroki Shouto?”

“Grumpy cat? That’s what you call him? Can I tell him that the next time you land yourself in the hospital?” Naomasa joked, unphased by the glare my father gave him. Mirai didn’t look amused, staring at the detective like he was a child, which all things considered, wasn’t the wrong idea.

Dad approached me, since I was still standing in the genkan. “Aizawa Shouta, a nurse at Musutafa Hospital. He and his husband adopt a lot of kids. Todoroki Shouto, or, Aizawa-Todoroki Shouto is one of them. What happened? Did he bully you?”

“If saying I smell counts.” I complained.

I explained the whole incident as I took off my shoes and went to the living room. I avoided the stacks of files that made its way home from the precinct. All I knew was that my dad was working on the disappearance of some yukuza leader after the whole group was caught and arrested. They swore there was also a little girl their leader kept but no one had any other information other than her age and description.

“I’m surprised he reacted like that. I’ve only seen him once or twice, but he’s quite polite.” His father said, moving around the table to close the files and hand them off to Mirai.

“Not to me. I’ve never met someone so rude. He didn’t even say anything to me.”

My dad raised an eyebrow. “Bit overboard don’t you think? Young Bakugo is quite rude to you.”

But I didn’t go out of my way to talk to Bakugo, though; he avoided me.

“I’d give him a bit of grace. If how people treat his dad is any indication, Todoroki probably has a lot of fans who don’t respect his space. He’s got that pretty boy look about him. Different than his dad’s ‘don’t care’ look.” Naomasa said.

“Is that why you have that animal growing on your face?” Mirai commented. “How you wife hasn’t divorced you yet, I’ll never know.”

“Excuse me? At least I talked to my wife. You just stare longingly at your crush.” Naomasa snapped back.

The two descended into their famous petty arguments while my father looked at me. “If he does it again, just tell him off. He doesn’t have to like you, but he could just as easily ignore you. just interact with him for class and leave it like that.”

I knew he and Uraraka were right but it was still annoying to think about. Of course, the next day, I didn’t even get to be the bigger person.

“He’s not here?” I asked Rody, who still poured half the sugar container into his coffee.

“It’s all anyone would talk about when I went to go drop off my pictures at the newspaper club room. Yoarashi drove them over. I think they said each person takes turns being the driver for the semester. Yoarashi did it last year, so logically, he shouldn’t be driving his car. I guess he’s sick.”

I thought about how Todoroki reacted, how I was so sure I saw his eyes turn black, but that could have been shadows. If the smell of my cologne made him ill, maybe it was less he thought I smelt bad and more of he was feeling sick as it was. I didn’t know which part to believe and instead just decided to focus on seeing him the next day. Except he didn’t show up for the rest of the week.

It was so odd. Todoroki’s siblings kept glancing at me – I wasn’t blind – and the fangirls were all lamenting at their favourite person was missing. The only thing I heard from the others was that Aizawa kids would sometimes go camping on random days, or so the rumour went.

“They pass their classes on the top and turn in their assignments and they never missed exams or quizzes.” Tsuyu had commented as I followed her through campus on my lower-class days. I know my questions must have seemed odd but since it was all anyone wanted to talk about, I guess they couldn’t assume I had a crush or something. Honestly, it was the part of me that had cause me to climb on top of the food truck that was making me question why this seemingly normal student was acting so weird. I never had anyone react that way to me, even just because of my smell, plus I was still kinda insulted. If he’d said something, I would have taken it, but nope, nothing.

I sighed. I was letting this get to me. I got over losing Kacchan easily and I didn’t even know Todoroki. Work normally kept me distracted and since the paper came out every month, I couldn’t participate in this month’s articles other than being an editor or more of a beta reader before handing everything over to the actual editor. Rody was one of the paper’s photographers and I asked if he had any ideas of what I could do to fill up my time.

“You could join the photography club too. We don’t meet often but you have permission to borrow one of the school’s cameras and can use the dark room and photo editing room whenever you want. We just get told if there are any competitions or events and they’ll sponsor us if we want to participate.”

I had picked up my camera and was testing it out when I saw something in the viewfinder. Red and white hair climbing out of a shiny Tesla.

Aizawa-Todoroki Shouto was back.

“Shouto!” Eri cried when I walked through the door. I caught her, easily hiking her up in my arms as she squeezed hers around my neck. “You’re back!”

“I told you he’d be back.” Hitoshi said, chucking his boots off behind me and shoving them into the pile Kyoka and Inasa left while Momo and I left ours neatly. “Whether he’d have any common sense was left up to the gods.”

He hadn’t exactly been thrilled when I came to campus and the first thing I smelt was Midoriya. I know he noticed me from behind his camera, staring me down when he pulled it away and started stuffing it back into its case before walking off. I didn’t go rushing after him, false apologies on my lips to get him alone and he didn’t ask questions of me. Our Forensic Science class was twice a week. I planned to test the theory of his haemophile affecting his smell and if it was true, then I’d know to just not breath for an hour and a half on those two days. Once the semester was over, then we’d never have to interact again.

Eri held onto me, nuzzling her nose into my cheek, seeming to ignore my warnings to not bite me. It was her way of showing affection but I just manged to avoid a whole week of bites from Tenko after 3 fights and would like to keep it up.

“You’re still in once piece.” Touya said, coming from the kitchen and drinking something from a bottle. It was one of the blood bottles Shouta made from blood he’d steal from the blood storage. Not often, so there were never many bottles and dibs were put on them the second we could. I had a feeling mine was already gone. “I was kinda expecting you to move there.”

I put Eri down, meeting Touya halfway on the stairs and stealing his bottle. “Oh, god. What is this? Mixed with alcohol?”

“Blame a certain bird. Seriously though, I was beginning to think I’d only see you every other year or on video calls.”

“You couldn’t get rid of me for 100 years, can’t start now.” I reminded.

I love my family, but it had been me and Touya against the world since birth. Life with our father was torture and getting sick was our saving grace since it brought Shouta. But even if he hadn’t come, I would have been so ready to just have it end, if it meant we were safe. Glancing over at the loud noise echoing in the living room below us where the rest of our family was, I could never blame Shouta for helping us escape. I just wished I had answers for what was happening to me so I could stop worrying them.

Until Shouta came home, I carried Eri around the house, answering her questions as I went over my homework, listened to Inasa complain about something Hitoshi did, to which he loudly complained wasn’t his fault, dealt with Yuga’s loud cries when he arrived home and saw I was there and even put up with more tight hugs from Hizashi.

“Soba?” he asked, hands on my shoulder.

“I think I’d take just about anything else.” Tensei and Kurogiri had cooked so much soba over the week I was there. I didn’t eat it every time, but I needed a break or I was going to go insane. We didn’t have to eat foods, most of us only stuck to the foods that were our favourites if we did, but even we needed breaks from them.

“Can we have apple pie?” Eri asked.

“That’s a dessert, but we’ll see what daddy can grab on his way home. I want burgers. It’s good to have your back, kid.”

Shouta said the same in little words, with a pat on my head. “You ok?”

“I think so. I don’t have many answers. I might have a theory.”

On our back deck dining table, I explained what I had found out. The others were surprised to find out Midoriya and Tomura’s relation. Eri and Tomura were found around the same time, almost 15 years ago, though when exactly they were changed was a bit up in the air. I could assume from Tomura’s story about Yagi, that it had to of been before Midoriya was born.

“Did Tenko have any reaction when Yagi brought his son to his grave?” Shouta asked, pushing his plate away.

“No, but he’s still a fledgling and had been with All for One. If he was, I don’t think he would have realised it.”

“But haemophilia? It really could have caused a reaction like that?” Momo asked, Eri on her lap and not squirming as she tied her white hair into braids to keep it out of her oozing apple pie slice.

“It’s rare, probably enough that we wouldn’t know or put it together.” Shouta said. “Any of your medical classes attending the hospital soon?”

“No, but our ethics class has an assignment to volunteer for a few hours. I planned on doing it before exams.”

“Let me check if there are any patients and I’ll have you come in. If you have any affect, then we’ll known what caused this.”

“And if it doesn’t?”

Shouta didn’t have an answer and no one else did.

Chapter Text

Todoroki was staring. It was easy to ignore, minus the burning I could feel in my back from his eyes. Every time I turned to try and catch him; I’d only just see him turning away. It had been two days and he still wouldn’t talk to me. Our next class together was today and I was dreading what that interaction would look like. It sounded like we’d have a lab today and if I had to work in tense silence, I was going to go insane. 

“I could probably do a whole series on spotting Todoroki in the background of photos with you.” Rody joked, laughing at my deadpan look. Since Todoroki hadn’t said anything, I hadn’t felt the need to call him out but I was getting worried. The girls on campus could tell something was bothering Todoroki and if I was good at not letting a problem go, these fangirls were worse. I wouldn’t put it past university girls to be physical in their punishments for upsetting their ‘precious Todoroki’.

It wasn’t even just him though. I had noticed I caught the attention of Todoroki’s siblings too. Not nearly as intense with their staring, but if we happened to be crossing paths, their gaze would always find me. If they were in pairs or a group, they’d always look at each other as if asking a question. Ignoring my desire for answers was getting a bit hard but with Todoroki ignoring my existence expect to stare and his siblings not saying a word to me, looking for answers was starting to feel like the only option.

“If he says anything, maybe tell your teacher. I know it sounds juvenile, but if it makes you that uncomfortable.” Uraraka suggested during lunch.

It was a bit hard to listen to her advice when the screams from fangirls were making me focus on Todoroki. I didn’t know why I was so interested in staring back at him – maybe just that, payback – but watching him collect soba while looking so unbothered by the screaming around him, compared to his brother Shinsou, who looked about ready to kill someone, was interesting. It sounded like Shinsou glaring or even yelling at the fans was a constant and yet they didn’t learn. Todoroki either had the blankest face or was incredibly good at hiding his emotions, which made me even more annoyed. How was it he wasn’t bothered by screaming but sitting next to me seemed to set him off?

The childish feeling hadn’t exactly left me, which made walking to the forensics lab daunting. Uraraka was right though, all I had to do was tell him off and if it still continued, I just had to let sensei know and hope we aren’t too far into the semester for us to switch partners.

I always noticed when Todoroki was trying not to stare, he’d be reading a book. I don’t think he was getting very far since it still looked like the same chunk left to finish, but he was focused on his book when I walked inside the classroom. As if knowing I was approaching the desk, he switched hands, so his head was turned away from me and the door. I felt my teeth grinding. Bakugo just ran when he saw me those few times we had to interact before our family didn’t allow us to be alone together but this was different.

I stomped over, ignoring everyone’s eyes. “Ok, look. I don’t know you and you really don’t know me. You don’t have to like me and the only time we ever have to interact is in this class. But if you keep acting like a smell, we’re going to have problems.”

Todoroki actually looked at me, looking confused. “What?”

“My first day, you actively avoided being close to me like I stink and you glared at me for no reason. I know my dad apparently gets on the wrong side of yours, but we don’t know each other. You don’t get to act like you’re above me because everyone in school likes you. You don’t want to talk to me, fine. Just don’t be an asshole unless you want to be called out.”

With that, I dropped my bag onto the table and ignored Todoroki, used to feeling his eyes on me. They were on for longer and the whispers weren’t helping. Normally, I’d get red in embarrassment, but I was annoyed and angry. When sensei came in, quieting all of us, I did take the slightest peak, catching Todoroki’s eyes. He was staring at me like he didn’t know what to do with what I just told him. Sensei’s call for attention finally turned him back to the front of the class, still looking confused. I got lucky, a promise of fixing the still busted heaters delayed our lab and we were given another lecture about blood types and splatter. Todoroki seemed to disappear into thin air as soon as we were dismissed and everyone wouldn’t stop staring. A few girls were glaring at me and I took that as my que.

But clearly, yelling at an Aizawa was news that couldn’t be held back. I’d only just met up with the others when Hatsume grabbed me by my shoulders, shaking me. I was lucky she wasn’t squeezing hard, my shirt had a low collar under my jacket and I still hadn’t mentioned my condition, so bruises would be hard to explain.

“You yelled at Aizawa Shouto?”

“Ok, I don’t need a reminder of that moment, thank you.” I begged, but she still rattled me. 

“You yelled, at an Aizawa. You have a death wish don’t you? I knew I liked you!”

I didn’t know what to do with that.

“Everyone’s talking about it.” Tsuyu said, finger on her chin. “If you’re not careful, they’re actually going to try something. There might even be rumours thrown around.”

“I spotted him on his way to the car park. He looked lost. What did you say to him?” Rody asked.

I opened my mouth to point out there was no way with his living situation, he hadn’t had something worse said to him because of his behaviour, when someone called my name. Pale skin, braided hair and the air of someone who took charge; Aizawa Momo was probably the most popular after Todoroki, if only based on my assumptions.

“Midoriya, my name is Aizawa-Yaoyorozu Momo. My brother, Shouto, he’s in class with you.” she greeted with a bow, hands resting on the strap to her purse. “I happened to hear what you talked to him about. I’d like to apologize for his behaviour.”

“Oh.” I was surprised. I’ll admit, I was sort of expecting her to be the first to defend her brother but it seemed like I was wrong. “Um, thanks. Though, I’d rather get an apology from him. One he actually means.”

“Of course. I’ll talk to him. Do tell your father our family says hello. Hopefully, you won’t have to meet our father in the hospital with your haemophilia.”

She didn’t. She actually didn’t.

“His what?” Rody asked, the group of people I’d been calling my friends all staring at the adopted female like she’d started speaking a completely different language.

Yaoyorozu looked confused herself, looking at the others. When she turned to me and no doubt saw the glare on my face, she went red and stuttered out. “You didn’t, oh I’m so sorry. I’m going to go!” she turned around, leaving me with my friends turning to me confused and demanding looks. None of them were pitying though, thank god.

Clearly the Aizawa family was doomed to annoy me for the rest of my university career. How was a popular family on campus such a mess in reality?

“I didn’t say he smelled though.”

Hitoshi sighed, giving me a blank stare. “That’s what he thought your attempt to not eat him was.”

I was expecting Midoriya to ask why I was so weird with him the last day we saw each other, not accuse me of thinking he smelled. Humans made no sense – case in point, our fans – but Midoriya was more confusing. The fact his scent broke my control was just a side factor.

“Why did,” Momo demanded, stomping over, “no one say he hadn’t told them?”

“What?” Yoarashi asked, confused, while Kyoka started to laugh. I could only guess she was reading Momo’s mind since she wasn’t going to be any clearer.

“It’s not funny! I thought Midoriya told his friends about his diagnosis already. I just outed him!” Momo complained, stamping her foot like Eri would when she was throwing a tantrum.

“That’s not what ‘outed’ – ok, you know what? Never mind. Trust me, they’ll be ok. If anything, it’s further proof Hatsume is the strangest person in the world.” Hitoshi reassured, heading to the passenger side door.

“Why were you talking to Midoriya?” I asked.

Momo looked at me like I was an idiot, a look I normally got from Hitoshi, Kyoka or Hawks. “I’m keeping him safe from your fans. Get in the car.” She ordered.

I was left still lost but I still listened regardless. I learned that arguing with the others on some things was a waste of time. Regardless of being lost, I got thrown under the bus when we got back home and Hizashi asked us how class was.

“Shouto called Midoriya smelly.” Hitoshi called as he headed upstairs.

“No, I didn’t!” I yelled after him, Kyoka still giggling as she followed Hitoshi.

“I’m not gonna ask.” Shouta said from the couch. “In other news, we seemed to have some luck.”

My heart doesn’t beat anymore but I’m sure it would have picked up at the thought that Kurogiri had figured out what caused me to lose control.

“Two patients with haemophilia were transferred to the hospital.”

“Oh.” I said, feeling my metaphorical heart drop. “I just thought Kurogiri called with answers.” I explained at Shouta’s confused look.

“I would have called. Hell, I would have come onto campus.” Shouta assured. “Tell your teacher you’re doing your hours and I’ll have you come in. Other than your…insult, any reactions?”

I shook my head. Midoriya going at me so suddenly had caused me to be in a daze for the rest of class and I was so focused on trying to figure out what had happened, that I didn’t even focus on pretending to be human and breathing.

“Ok. We’ll figure this out.” Shouta promised.

I nodded but I wasn’t sure how much I believed him. I went to my room, dropping my bag onto my bed and pulling the curtains closed, dimming the room. I turned to the baby grand that lived in the room, switching on the twinkle lights Dabi had attached to the base of it when I had been out hunting with the others. I’d been annoyed since there was now a sticky residue stuck to my very expensive piano, but the dim lighting made the room feel more secure. When I was turned and still sensitive to light, we’d been living near a music hall and the noise would spill out into the streets. Hizashi would take me with him to sit in the rafters, always choosing the hall mainly lit with lamps and candles and I’d listen to the sounds of singing and zithers, feeling the safest I ever felt. I know it had surprised Hizashi when I started leaning on him, feeling comfortable for the first time since Dabi had snuck into my room when we were kids. Since then, music had been a comfort in my life and with the week I had, scores had been writing themselves in my head. Midoriya was such a…confusing person. Not with how he yelled at me today, but with how he seemed so connected with my life. He was connected to Tomura and had an effect on me I could never imagine.

I hoped I could find out what was happening. Oddly enough, Midoriya was just interesting enough I’d want to make friends, if I wasn’t so worried about trying not to drain him dry.

This didn’t make any sense.

Two, two, patients came in with haemophilia, which was a record for the hospital for the first time in years. To be allowed on their care, Shouta and at least 3 doctors were hovering over my shoulder the whole time. I would have been fine with it, Shouta being close by to grab me if I did something but that was the thing.

Nothing happened. No sudden breaking of control from the smell of blood, not sudden desire to kill everyone to get to them. nothing.

Their scents were different, that much I could tell, but it was nothing like what Midoriya smelled like. I’d been placing all the hope that Midoriya’s medical condition had been the thing that set me off, thinking Tomura was right and my 100 years of life had caused me to miss people with the rare disorder but no. They had no bigger effect on me than a person who cut their finger after I was well fed. 

I stared at Midoriya talking with one of his friends, Asui, who had set frogs free from being dissected in the biology lab. I was sure he knew I was there, turning so his back faced me when I spotted him at the bottom of the steps. He was smart, avoiding me, but there was no way I could get through the rest of the semester like this. I could try playing nice, but being nice was still a mystery to me all the years later.

I should have stayed on Nabu Island like I wanted to.

I clumped up the stairs, narrowing my eyes at the drifts of flurries falling from the sky. I wasn’t used to snow; bitingly cold, sure, but not so much snow. Fukuoka has its share of snow, but ice was my parents’ main concern. Being so close to the sea, Mustafa had both snow and ice. I never stayed during winter months, mom liked Fukuoka better for me to be safe, so I didn’t know what to expect for the next few months. For one, I’d love to drive instead of still taking the train, especially if it meant avoiding Uraraka. After having to give a brief synopsis of my diagnoses, including my rare blood type, I managed to avoid questions and tell my friends – if they still wanted to be that – that I needed to go home. Uraraka and I had been taking the bus back to the station, sharing a subway car until she had to get off to transfer 2 stops later, but she begged off and I was still steaming from Yaoyorozu, that I didn’t even question it. As the night wore on and my dad tried calming me down, with the instructions to not fight the Aizawa kids, I felt like this was it. I had friends for a week. Now all I’d have were acquaintances and maybe that was the life I would have. I could blame the Aizawa siblings all I wanted for the effects they had on my life, but maybe this was where it was always headed.

I joined the line to the bus, saw Uraraka was nowhere to be found, and sighed, ducking into my scarf. Flakes every now and then, would land on my cheeks and face. If I wasn’t so good at keeping things inside, I’m sure I could have started to actually cry. I was in college; the stupid judgements were advertised to stop in high school. I didn’t choose this set of messed up genes, rare blood type and the added inability to be careful because I so needed to break out of a safety bubble.

I dropped down into a seat, messing with my phone so I could turn my volume up on my headphones when someone sat next to me and dropped something in my lap. It was Factor 8. Not mine, mine was in its bag inside my bookbag, but it was the same brand.

“Is that the right one?” Rody was seated next to me. Uraraka was leaning over the seat in front of me, Asui next to her. “If it’s not, we need to let Hatsume know before she gets her hands on more.”

“Where the fuck did you get this?”

“Hatsume.” Uraraka said, like it was the answer to everything.

“What?”

Rody poked at the IV bag. “Hatsume got it. Said it was the most common for those who need Factor 8. Did she get it right?”

“Yeah, but why do you have it? Did she raid a hospital or something?”

“Uh,” Asui said, sharing a look with the others, “we learn to not ask questions. Anyway, the plan is we’ll all carry one in case you don’t have yours and anything happens.”

I stared up at Asui and Uraraka, turning to Rody in disbelief. “What? You, you still want to be friends with me?”

“Why wouldn’t we?”

“I have haemophilia.” I answered.

“It’s a condition of your health, not whether or not we’ll talk with you.” Rody took the Factor 8 out of my hand and slipped it into a bag, similar to the one I carried. “Gonna have to try harder to get rid of us.”

The tears that had been building because I thought I lost everyone burst out with the knowledge that I hadn’t lost my friends after all. I made quite the spectacle, the others hovering over me, begging to stop crying to the point the bus driver had to come check on us. I started up again when we got to school and Hatsume announced she got enough to last the whole year. I decided to not ask how she got her hands on the Factor 8. I was just happy I still had people I could call my friends.

There were still a few stares left over from my explosion on Todoroki, who apparently had missed earlier classes for the day by the time lunch rolled around.

“I don’t think he left again.” Rody said, nursing a cup of coffee. He’d just done a presentation in his last class that had been haunting him all night, along with 2 siblings with colds. “He's a med major. They have to do time at the hospital for their classes. They seemed to not notice that a few of his other classmates are also missing.”

Todoroki’s sister had approached me at my last class to apologize again, her girlfriend with her, who kept giggling, but I don’t think it was at me. Not with how often Yaoyorozu glared at her with a furious blush on her face. It would have been easy to just focus on ignoring Todoroki, had he not talked to me first.

I’d beat him to class, actually glad to still be wearing my jacket. With how cold it was getting outside; the heat would have been preferred but we finally had working units. They just got a bit enthusiastic with the AC setting. I was writing out ideas for a photo series to work on in the photography club, since it would be a while until I could join the newspaper club, when Todoroki came in. He was in blue scrubs, somehow fine with the cold, seeing how spots of snow still stuck to his clothes. He brushed it off as he walked around me to get to his seat. I turned back to my paper when I noticed the room was getting quiet and I looked up to see Todoroki looking at me. Not staring, like he had been for the past few days, but looking at me, like he wanted to talk.

“About yesterday, I never meant for you to think that about me.”

“You mean I wasn’t supposed to think you thought I smelled.”

Todoroki didn’t get red, but he was still obviously embarrassed. “I’m sorry. I just…I was having a bad day but I shouldn’t have taken it out on you in that way. I’m sorry.”

I was dying to know why he disappeared right after for a week or why…his eyes turned dark. Todoroki was a chimera in every definition, with his hair and eyes. Anyone else would have to achieve his looks through contacts and hair dye but not him. So, when the grey and blue eyes looked black that first day I came to this class, I got scared. I didn’t look at him, kept my head down and let my annoyance at how he treated me cover the fact that suddenly changing eye colour wasn’t normal.

But Todoroki’s sister had outed my medical status to my friends and honestly, it was probably better to keep away from the Aizawa clan like people had been telling me. 

“I accept your apology.” I wasn’t so sure if I forgave him just yet but he thankfully didn’t seem to push that part.

Sensei came in, ready to start our long-awaited blood splatter lab. Each table was given a bottle of red dye that would act as blood, a tape measure and leaves of paper. Our sheets would have splatters on them and we’d have to figure out from what distance the splatter came from. Our next lab would be angles but this was to get us started.

“Did you want to write the observations down?” I asked, turning to Todoroki after we got our supplies.

“Sure, if dealing with the tape measure and bottle is ok.”

It took me actually trying to realise it wasn’t an insult of my abilities, he was warning me. When I noticed our drop starting to resemble the one on the sheet, it was becoming such a hassle to move to tape measure. I couldn’t step on the end while I pulled, not at the risk of having the whole thing shoot back or accidently stepping on the paper. I already heard groans from other students who had to deal with it.

“Here.” Todoroki pinched the tape measure to hold it in place and signaled me to unlock and pull. I guess I pulled either too hard or was going too far because then, I felt his hand on mine.

His hand was cold and then, warm. But it was the electric shock that startled me. He pulled away when I jolted, but thankfully we didn’t lose our spot.

“Sorry.” He said, seeming stiff. This was starting to feel like more than just a bad day making him act strange.

Thankfully, him stopping me from pulling too far got us right where we need to be to finally figure out our drop. After that, it was easy to figure out or for us to make assumptions based off our other attempts. Before we knew it, we’d finished, long before the other tables. I wondered if he’d go back to his book. I noticed he started opening the flap to his bag, so I decided to ask a question.

“Did you have contacts?” Ok, not at all what I wanted to ask.

“No?” He answered confused. “I have heterochromia.”

That wasn’t what I meant, but I decided to take the out. I watched him pull out his book, Graceling and felt sent back to middle school.

“Is that why you like that book?”

He looked down at the well-loved copy. The knife on the cover was the older version, with one of the main character’s eyes reflected. I hadn’t quite gotten into the series by the time I read them but clearly, Todoroki had devoured them.

“Kat goes through a lot, being told what she was and what her power meant. I relate to that.” He looked up at me. “Po doesn’t let his disability control his life either. I guess you’re the same. I heard that you climbed a food truck to break a case.”

I couldn’t help it, I blushed. It wasn’t just because he’d heard of it, but it sent me back to my mom in tears panicking when she had to come down to campus to come get me when police questioning was getting close to trains stopping and me not wanting to panic my mother further by having a cruiser drop me home. Everyone acted like climbing on the truck had been some feat I was accomplishing, not me being too nosy for my own good and not listening to my head tell me it was a bad idea.

“It wasn’t that big a deal.”

“I was working with two different haemophilia patients today. I don’t think either of them would do what you do.”

“Their mothers must have a tighter grip on them than my mom does, not for her lack of trying.”

Todoroki let out a quizzical sound. “Overprotective?”

I shrugged. “Not that she keeps me locked in but she worries. I have a habit of getting into scrapes and when I can’t stop bleeding, it terrifies her. It doesn’t help that I have the rarest blood type.”

That peaked Todoroki’s attention, but seemingly not in the same way it does for others, like it’s a cool fact or meeting someone with the rarest blood type is something they weren’t expecting. It was kinda like something clicked in his head. I decided to not ask, not wanting to poke.

“So, you came here to escape?”

“In a way. That article had been my final breaking point to realising I wanted to live outside of the bubble I lived in. It started when I became a team manager for one of the sports teams in high school, I got the chance to go out more often and when I helped different teams with strategies, it sort of spiralled from there. I have a habit of getting invested in things and not letting go.”

Todoroki looked slightly worried at that admonition. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Our conversation was interrupted by sensei coming up to figure out why we weren’t working, answering questions he threw at us to make sure we hadn’t cheated – the splatters were random from what I could tell, I don’t know how we would cheat – and then instructing us to stop talking and read the rest of the chapter on blood. It fully ended the conversation with Todoroki and I was left feeling a little confused at his sudden change from ignoring me to wanting to talk. I felt even more lost when he booked it out of the building when we were dismissed. I had a feeling we wouldn’t be talking again, but if kept his crazy fangirls from coming at me, I didn’t care.