Chapter Text
On Monday, Shouta noticed his class in... tensed silence, at least with him.
Homeroom was quiet, and he found the kids were glaring at him, looking away when he glazes at them.
He brushed it off, he was focusing on what he will do with Midoriya and Inko. First, he has to inform the kid he'll be going home on Saturday. He has to approach the kid when he stays alone and just has to confirm with him.
He tried at lunchtime.
“Midoriya,” he called the kid, who flinched. “I need to-”
“Hey, Deku-kun!” Uraraka called in the door. “You are taking so long, we will not have chairs!” She smiled, tangling her arm into Midoriya's and walking away. “Bye sensei!”
Shouta blinked at the now empty class.
Everybody is supposed to have a chair, why was Uraraka so worried?
He shakes his head. “Kids,” he mutters, taking his jelly bag and walking out the room.
Shouta does some of his tasks. Looked for his schedule, talked with Nemuri and Hizashi, gave Shinsou a back pat, and ended in the Cafeteria.
He glanced at every corner, maybe he could tell Midoriya about his home visit and maybe would give the kid some peace.
He walks by, cringing at all the shots and curses he hears. He goes towards Midoriya's sit, he usually sits in the same spot next to some brushes, so Shouta went there easily, expecting him to be there with his friends and-
He isn't there.
The side of the table where Midoriya is supposed to be is empty.
He blinks slowly, turning to the other extreme, where Bakugou's friends, the girls, and the rest are.
“Kids, have you seen Midoriya?”
He expected Bakugou to shout 'What do you want me to know about the nerd?!' or Kaminari 'Haha, someone is in trouble!'. Anything.
They just stared at him and looked away, Bakugou tsking.
“Uh, we don't know, sensei,” says Sero, smiling sheepishly, scratching his cheek.
He was lying.
He gazes at Kaminari, who starts to eat his food and had his mouth full. “I do't 'now,” he said, with food in his mouth still.
He turns to Ashido. “Ah! Maybe he is with 'Raraka!” she smiled. “Maybe they are under a tree kissing each other!” She exclaimed, giggling nervously.
Shouta is about to face Kirishima when the rock kid stood up and walks away. “Hey, Tetsu, anything new, bro?”
Shouta shakes his head, it was clear they were ignoring him.
“Bakugou,” He tries.
The kid shrugged. “What the hell do you want with him?” he asked, glaring at him while drinking a bottle of water.
“There is something I need to talk about with him,” Shouta explained.
Bakugou's glare got deeper, squeezing sightly the bottle.
It was the last clue for the confirmation to smack in Shouta.
They know. It was as clear as water, but it surprised him the fact they knew and were hiding it.
Hiding Midoriya.
Oh, shit. His problem child was upset as hell.
“Right, thank you,” he says at the end. It was just Monday, he has all the week to try and speak with the kid. “When you see him, let him know I have something to tell him”
×——∞——×
He couldn't catch the kid.
It was Thursday, and he hasn't had a moment alone with Midoriya.
All of his students were also avoiding him.
“Midoriya? Oh, he likes to train before bed, maybe he is at the Gym!”
He wasn't there.
“He said he'll be here, he is going to help us with the homework,” Shouta waited for half an hour when. “He fell asleep,” they told him.
And there it went.
“Alright, brats,” he want to them while they were in lunch. “Who directed me to Midoriya will have a free week without homework”
It didn't work.
They were quiet, silently shaking their head for them to be in silence.
They were... So damn devoted to their friend, goddamit.
“Fine, I give up with you.” He needs coffee. “I'll admit it, okay? I'm proud of all of you, for your worries and for taking care of Midoriya and all of this, it's... warming and all.”
Because it was true. He thought about how Midoriya's close friends would be the only ones on the boat, but all the nineteen kids? Damn if they weren't a family already.
×——∞——×
Friday.
It was Friday and at the night they were supposed to be at Inko's place.
Damnit.
He rubs his forehead, for what Inko told him Midoriya hasn't responded to her either.
He curses quietly, walking to 1-A class to take all the lost things they surely left behind.
Nobody left him even look at the boy when he did it someone shouted louder Midoriya's name and dragged him away, at this moment he started to think it wasn't Midoriya the one avoiding him, he looked confused.
He sighed, the next time he spots the boy he will tangle him and destroy his escape... Yeah, once he lays a foot on the floor of the dorm, he'll catch him.
“I had never been so tired,” he mumbles, rubbing his eyes.
“So we are two”
He almost jumps.
“Midoriya,” Shouta frowns at him. “Why are you still here? I thought all of you run back to the dorms once the class ends.” he wasn't sure how to treat the kid now.
Midoriya shrugged. “I'm sorry for avoiding, I just needed time to... analyze what to do with this,” he was sitting on his chair. “Why did you chase me?”
Shouta steps close. “Do you know your mother called you to go back home?”
Midoriya's eyes widen a bit. “She did?” Shouta nods. “Oh, mom just keeps calling me but... I have been ignoring her... I must look like a jerk,” he blushes.
“Yeah, a bit,” Shouta brushes it off, waving his hand. “But I guess it is okay, for this time. We didn't talk with you for almost a month or more,” he says, warily.
“Ah, that is why I was angry,” Midoriya stand up. “What is going to happen once I go home?” he asked, crossing his arms, “Because there must be a reason for me to go now home, isn't it?”
He is walking slowly and moving his hands again, and it could have been funny, but Shouta was already irritated and Midoriya was right, in a part.
“Your mother and I are going to tell you what we had kept secrets,” Shouta said. “We are sorry for keeping it for so long, but tomorrow, with Ms. Midoriya, you will know,” He takes some papers and pens that were on the floor. “And I ask you for some more patience,” he is near to Midoriya now. “I know you are angry, and I know what your mind is probably doing, and I'm sorry, for taking too long to notice it.” he kneeled in front of the kid. “Let us explain to you tomorrow, Midoriya”
He doesn't touch him this time, holding his gaze in Midoriya's and waiting for the kid to trust him.
They spend some minutes there, Midoriya looking for something to maybe slap Shouta's face and run.
He didn't find it, it seems because a small tongue snap popped out of him and he grabs his backpack.
“I guess I'll wait another day,” he mumbles. He has one of his notebooks in his hands, it is open and Shouta can see a picture of him. “You're safe for now, Eraser,” he whispered, scribbling something. “Just for now”
Shouta is scared to ask.
×——∞——×
“You don't have to do it, All Might”
How did the old man convince him to let him drive them? Damn.
The man stubbled, saying he was relieved he finally got to speak with Midoriya and suggested he drive both of them to Midoriya's house.
When Shouta asked? The hero laughed, “I want to go to the beach near the place!”
Yagi is another big liar.
“All Might!” Midoriya came running, greeting the former hero with a smile- and it hurts Shouta, in retrospect, he hasn't seen the kid smiling since... since Inko and he started to talk.
“Are you ready, Young Midoriya?” he pats Midoriya's head.
“I have no choice,” he said.
Shouta sighed. “Okay, let's just go”
The drive was quiet, with Shouta feeling Midoriya's boiling glare on his neck.
Shouta sighed, resting his head back on the seat and risking himself to close his eyes, he will trust that with Yagi there, Midoriya wouldn't do something crazy...
Who is he lying to? If the kid in the future wants to be a serial killer, Yagi will help him with it without a second thought! And it could also be the other way. It would work.
“Stop in that café, All Might,” he said with hoarse. “I need coffee-”
“Oh, haven't you been drinking? I put some cups on your table and at the end of the day I find them still full,”
Those cups... Yeah, chasing Midoriya has deprived him of his coffee.
“Just do it,”
×——∞——×
“Thanks, All Might!” Midoriya waved back while they were getting into the apartment.
They walked in silence, the underground hero allowing the teen to lead him to his door. Midoriya was surely forcing himself not to mumble, his face had a frown, lips straight, and hands tightly holding the straps of his backpack, his index finger twitching, remembering Shouta about the moment he found Midoriya taking invisible notes, his peers laughing and affirming it was something so-Midoriya.
And for what Inko told him —and what he saw— Hisashi was so used to doing all how those forced habits, everything seem so natural on Hisashi, and Shouta could just look back at their first call, when, after crying, the older man had started to rambling about how cool was that his lost son was the underground hero he has liked for years.
The man, full of freckles and short black hair, had listed a series of reasons explaining why Eraserhead was the best hero, between these was once more time his parallel with what could be a quirkless hero.
It was heartening, Shouta has to admit it.
Looking at Midoriya while they reach Inko's house only made him think... They have to fix it. Shouta's parents were always honest with him, they never hid it. So why hide it now with Midoriya, when he was smart enough to find when he was being lied to?
“We're here,” Midoriya said, knocking on the door.
Inko opened the door, a soft smile setting on her face and she launched to hug her son.
“Izuku! I'm glad you're here, sweety,” he hugged and rocked him.
Midoriya... Accepted the affection, eyes sliding close and arms softly embracing Inko. He smiled into Inko's neck, shoulders shuddering slightly.
He did miss her.
The touching moment ended when Midoriya, after taking a deep breath, pulled away from Inko, stepping back, wiping with his arms his face.
“I missed you too, mom,” he whispered. “But please, can you tell me what is happening? Like, now”
Inko smiles stutters for a beat. “O-of course, Izuku,” she clasps her hands together. “Come in first”
Shouts steps forward.
“No, mom. Now,” he didn't move. “What is Aizawa-sensei for you? You haven't told me and I'm here just to know the truth, sensei promised it so I will not get in until you two talk,”
What a childish-
“Alright, I'll tell you,” Inko moves towards Shouta, hands coming to his arms. “We-”
“Please don't tell me you've fallen in love,” Midoriya covers his face.
“-are mother and son,” Inko ended. “That... is. I had Shouta when I was young, so he is my and Hisashi's son, also your older brother,” she said so easily.
“What?”
Ah, he was expecting crazier stuff.
“Yeah, Midoriya. That is a short version of what had happened,” he shakes his head. “Can we go in?”
“What? No, why did you hide? Since when did you know?”
“Izuku-”
“You didn't even answer me for a while, mom. I was worried it was something worse- and maybe this is worse, but still, you could have at least told me something,”
“I know, baby. It's just, knowing this shocked me so I-”
Midoriya's eyes got glassy. “You... Forgot me?”
Yes, she did. And he was probably feeling abandoned now... or realizing he was abandoned. Being the only child for all his life and then having his mom stolen?
“Midoriya-”
He inhaled loudly. “My teacher is my secret lost brother- my mom had a child before me. She found it and she hid it- yeah, that is the summary of this,” he turns around. “I'll head back to the dorms, thanks for being, finally, honest with me”
He walks away.
“Wait, Izuku”
“You can't go alone, Midoriya,” a lie, yes, but he shouldn't leave the kid-
“All Might is waiting for me,” he whispered, phone in hand. “I'm happy to have seen you again, mom. See you soon”
×——∞——×
“Inko, relax. He needs to process it,” he was reassuring her, who has been crying since Midoriya left.
“My baby is so upset,” she sobbed.
“And dumb,” he murmurs. “Inko, come on, he'll be back next week,”
“He is not used to running away from me,”
“Alright, okay.” Shouta clasps, gently, his hands on Inko's cheeks. “Look at me, mom, talk to me about this quirked cat Midoriya mentioned,”
“Wha-” She sniffles. “Mr. Kiba?” Into asked, tilting her head.
“I guess,” he whispered, “Midoriya said that even this cat had seen me coming to your house”
“W-well, it is a... a stray kitten. It is... always disappearing and appearing, uh, but we are not sure if its quirk is teleporting or if is something of empathy?”
“Empathy?” Shouta brushes her tears. “How so?”
“The cat has almost always been there when someone is feeling down and then people feel better? Oh, Izuku has to have something about it,” she looks down, a hand was grabbing Shouta's wrist. “The cat is smart, also. I mean, Izuku had asked about things and the cat respond- like when we went to the park and Izuku had lost his All Might doll. The cat gained Izuku's attention and dragged him to the doll- oh, and it surely knows how to write, I haven't seen it, but I'm sure,” she smiles nostalgic, n Shouta can't stop his lips to twist.
“It sure can,” he whispered, not taking back his hands.
“Yeah,” she runs her thumb on Shouta's wrist. “Once... Once Izuku- once we get to solve all of this, maybe Izuku would like to talk to you about it,” she giggles. “And maybe you could meet the cat.”
“I don't think so, the cat has to hate me, don't you think?”
“No, it doesn't. ” she leans her forehead on Shouta's, and the idea that maybe all the mothers are like Inko rises inside of him —and he brushes, he has known awful mothers— or maybe his mothers are supposed to be like this? He can't stop thinking about how similar —yet different— his mamma and Inko are-
Maybe that was the reason it was easier to look at Inko as a mom.
“Okay... We will fix it,”
×——∞——×
If the kids were already drawing him away from Midoriya, now they were doing it harder.
And they confronted him.
“Todoroki, stop with it. I'm not Midoriya's dad- and no, I'm not dating Ms. Midoriya- and she isn't my love child either!”
“Mm, that leaves me with...” he looks at his notebook. “Are you Ms. Midoriya, or maybe Mr. Midoriya, secret love children?”
Shouta's eyes twitches.
“I- God, go to... Damn, go to lunch, Todoroki,” he slumps onto his chair, head tilted back and both hands covering his face.
“Oh. I'm putting all Endeavour's money on this one,” he heard the kid walks away. “This'll be funny”
×——∞——×
Does... Mom Inko is all for Shouta?
He is starting to love Inko, and Hisashi is a good man, but, who is more important? For Shouta, who had his own family already, or for Midoriya, who is young and maybe is looking at his parents were being stolen?
He... Doesn't want Inko to be hurt.