Chapter Text
10 years old~
Midoriya Inko knows that being quirkless was like a death sentence in this time and era. Ever since Izuku's quirkless diagnosis she knew the world would be cruel to her son, so Inko swore to herself that she’ll always protect and support him.
Of course she’ll do that no matter what his quirk state is but if no one else will give her baby support, she’ll just have to take extra good care of him. She will keep him safe to her best abilities and help Izuku to achieve his dreams.
That said, it’s safe to say she was about to commit a murder when her boy came home that afternoon covered with wounds. Seeing the sad look on his face, she waited with letting her anger loose. Instead she took him to the bathroom to treat his wounds. Nothing was too bad but there was a lot. He had several bruises, the one on his side looking the worst, and a few swallow cuts.
“Izuku, baby, is there something that hurts especially bad?” She needed to know if he was hurt badly somewhere so she could look at that first. Keep calm. Helping Izuku first, then she can freak out.
“Ankle.” After a second. “Th-the left-t-t one.”
“Okay, everything is going to be okay. Sit down and give me your foot, okay?” She dragged a stool to the middle of the bedroom floor and Izuku did as she asked. It looked like he had sprained his ankle. It’s moments like this that Inko was thankful she became a nurse. The ankle should be able to heal fine at home, so she won’t take him to the hospital. She had seen how quirkless people were treated there (if not denied treatment at all) and she won’t put Izuku through that unless it’s absolutely necessary.
“Oh, sweetie. Who did this to you?” After finishing with his ankle, she swiped an alcohol pad on his cuts before putting a bandaid on each one.
Izuku hissed at the sting from the alcohol. “T-the other kid-kids at s-s-school.” he said quietly. Inko moved on to the bruises, while thinking of what Izuku just said.
Why would they do this? No, Inko knows why. Because of Quirkless discrimination. But, why are kids so cruel? How can those little kids just hurt their classmate? How far has society fallen, if kids aren't even safe anymore at school? If the reason that said kids aren't safe is not because of villains but because of the other kids? Can she send Izuku back to that school Monday morning, as if she doesn't already know that the kids will hurt her baby again just because they can?
No, she decided. No, she will not send her child back to that school. No, she won’t let him get hurt again that easily. Not when she could stop it. Inko and Izuku will figure something out. She knows they will. No way in hell was she letting them hurt her Izuku again.
After taking care of Izuku's wounds and a lot of hugs and tears later, they settled on the couch. Inko had ordered take away since she didn't feel like she could cook something edible. She put on an old spy movie on the tv. One from the beginning of Quirks. Izuku loves films from that time since they have both Quirks for him to analyse and strong Quirkless people like him.
Izuku needed the distraction while Inko needed some time to think about how she’ll tell Izuku that he can't go to school anymore and about what they can do.
Maybe online school would be a good idea. But she didn't want Izuku to get isolated with no kids to play with. Maybe he would want to do a sport where they don’t use quirks. That way no one will immediately know about his quirklessness and he might make some friends!
-~-
“R-really, you would let me take online classes?” At least he seemed to have calmed down a bit. And he was smiling again.
“Of course, I won’t just stand by and let them hurt you, not if I can do something to protect you. However, if you are going to do all your school work at home, you should still go out and talk to people.”
“Like join a club or something?"
“Yes. You can go to a book club or take art classes. Maybe a sport or a study groep.”
“Those don’t sound too bad I guess. Might even be fun.” Izuku started to mutter about the options.
After a few minutes, when Izuku started to slow down again, she interrupted. “Since it’s Friday we have an entire weekend to look for online courses. I’ll see if I can take Sunday off so you can apply to whichever new school we find.”
-~-
Izuku actually applied to an online school! He was so happy. No more bullies or mean teachers. It was great.
He only had to take a few tests and if he scored high enough he would be allowed to attend the online school. The results should be mailed somewhere in the next week, which meant he had a few days to heal up and do research on clubs he can join.
Some form of self-defence could come in handy. All though, art lessons seemed like fun too. Izuku will probably have more time anyway because the school work itself never takes long, the sitting in class part is the most time consuming thing of school. Maybe he could try both?
After looking online for a bit, Izuku found a place. It is a dojo only 20 minutes by train from his house. The best part about this dojo is that they give lessons in multiple styles of martial arts. He could follow a mix of different things at the same time.
They have kendo, judo, karate, and muay thai. With kendo they use swords made of bamboo, so he will learn how to do sword fighting and how to do it with a (long) staff. Judo is for up close combat. Karate and muay thai will be good for speed, hand-to-hand, blocking, and kicks. The dojo also works with a variety of weapons. It was perfect!
-~-
Izuku left at ten in the morning to borrow some books at the library. He had finished all the books he had gotten last time so he figured he could use the extra time he got from not having to go to school to look around for new books.
It was Monday and almost everyone was either at school or at work. The streets were quiet except for a few passing cars. It's a 15 minute walk. He managed to get there without any problems, if a bit out of breath from running the last bit. Maybe he should build up some stamina.
First to return the books. He put the books one for one in a machine and scanned his library card. The machine scanned all the books. Now that that was done Izuku could get more books!
Izuku reads a lot, because, well, he didn't have many friends. Only Kachan really, and he started to be more mean towards him lately. Saying they can’t be a hero duo anymore and that he should give up before he gets hurt. Kachan was mean to everyone but usually didn't straight up tell them to give up.
In the end he found quite a few books. He got six school related books, three fiction books for fun, and he found a recipe book. He couldn't wait to try making a new type of cake. His cooking skills may be nonexistent but he was surprisingly good at baking.
It was getting a bit late. Izuku took out his phone to check the time. Two pm already? He missed lunch, no wonder that he was hungry. There should be a grocery store nearby.
After a few minutes of looking around, he found it. He went inside. It was a small store with only a few other people inside. He got to the fresh food section. They had wraps! He took two with chicken. One for now and one for later if his mom wasn't home yet. He paid for the food and left the store.
Izuku laid a wrap in his bag. He was careful to make sure the books wouldn’t squash his food. Then he started on his walk home while eating his wrap.
He was walking through the streets, when someone bumped into him from behind. Izuku almost lost his balance but didn't let it bother him as he spun around quickly. Most schools shouldn't have ended yet but he leant it the hard way to always be on his guard.
It was a boy a few years older than him. Somewhere around 16 or 17. he was skinny, like he didn't eat enough. Or not the right stuff, it looked like he had some kind of animal quirk. Even though he was skinny, he also looked strong. Not the neutral it’s-good-gens type or even the it’s-part-of-my-quirk type of strong. He must have trained. Trained a lot.
“I’m so sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going. Sorry!” The boy was terrified. He bowed his head and put his shoulders up as if he was about to get hit.
“D-don’t worry about it. It's fine. A-are you okay though, hm…”
“Yeah, I’m fine. And call me Keigo.”
“All right, Keigo! I’m Izuku.” Keigo was nice but Izuku knew not to share his full name with strangers. Keigo smiled in response.
“Izu–” Keigo fell over. Izuku barely catched him. He was surprisingly light, even Izuku could hold him up with his noodle arms.
“Are you sure you're okay?” Izuku asked, worried. He slowly let go of him as he looked for any signs he might fall again. Keigo was a bit shaky. That couldn't be healthy.
“Yes, I told you, I'm fine. I just haven't eaten. I was on my way back home now anyway.”
“I have extra food. You can have some! Do you like chicken?” Izuku offered. He missed the look of surprise on Keigo’s face as he got the wrap from his bag.
“Really? Chicken is my favorite.” His eyes zoned in on the wrap. He couldn't remember when the last time he ate meat was. His handlers never let him have any, because apparently his bird traits were ‘discasting’ and ‘unhuman’. They have been even stricter lately. They want him to have his debut next year. This is the first time in weeks that he has some free time. “Thank you so much! It means more to me than you think.”
“You're welcome.” Keigo got blinded by Izuku’s signature sunshine smile. Izuku left after giving a wave. “Get home safe.”
“You too!” Keigo watched until his friend? helper? walked around a corner. Then Keigo left. He walked slowly to assure he would finish eating before he got back.
That night when Izuku laid in his bed he couldn’t stop thinking about the boy he helped that afternoon. He helped someone. He helped someone without using a quirk. He helped someone without getting hurt himself. He helped someone who the heroes didn't help.
Sure, he didn't do much. He only shared some of his food. But still, he could help people that would be overlooked otherwise. He can help people his way. No need to wait if he could get in U.A. No need to wait for approval that he secretly knew he would never completely get. No need to get hurt over and over again just to go to a Hero school.
Okay, he still wanted to do the last one but who could blame him. The point was that he could make a difference himself right now.
He should do some research tomorrow to see what he could do.
And so Izuku drifted off to sleep.