Chapter Text
Samuel Abraham's day started off like normal: a cup of coffee, a meeting, his morning classes, and eventually, almost always, ending up in the workshop before lunch. Then, after the bell dismissed everyone to the cafeteria, a concern reared his head, Midoriya… Samuel swore to himself, "Mr. Midoriya is not the only student here…" He was just the only Field Support student. He was also the only one eyeing Samuel all day with clearly something he wanted to say.
"Mr. Abraham…" greeted Midoriya.
Samuel took in a breath. "Mr. Midoriya."
"Can we talk…" he hesitated, shifting, "-after classes today?"
"We can talk now…" was offered as the teacher slipped out from behind his desk, stepping around it.
"Uh…" Another breath slipped in before he held it tight and eventually, extended a folded piece of paper to Samuel. "Here…" Though, when he took it and pulled it, Midoriya didn't let go. After a quizzical look from Samuel and one of conflict crossed Midoriya's face, the paper was released.
When Samuel unfolded it, he found the signed Field Support permission slip. "What is this…?"
Midoriya started, "I–"
Then, someone pushed open the workshop's doors, silencing Midoriya, as they called out, "Mr. Abraham?"
Samuel looked away from Midoriya. "Yes?"
"S-Sorry, I wanted to… get some advice… on something…" Inoue trailed off. "Sorry, am I interrupting?"
"No!" proclaimed Midoriya before he turned to Samuel, bowing his head. "After school then." He held a smile and waved as he departed, "Talk to you later, Mr. Abraham."
"Of course, Mr. Midoriya…" he responded, nodding slowly. After a breath, he turned to his other student. "How can I help you, Ms. Inoue?"
The matter was rather simple: about an upcoming restriction to their future projects, the 'Budget' system. After some clarification, they both departed the workshop for their lunches. While Inoue joined her friends, Samuel joined his co-workers.
"Doctor," greeted Samuel as he took his seat.
"Bones," she returned.
He then offered, "How's your day going?"
"No complaints." She shrugged, "Your's?"
"Hm… Fine so far…" He cleared his throat. "I haven't had the chance to speak with Ms. Midoriya after, well, everything." He asked, "How was she?"
"Seemed fine," she answered. "Worried, but… she's a brave woman." She shook her head. "Can't believe she's even considering letting him back in that Field Support program." After a moment, she quickly added, "No offense."
"None taken." He gestured to a distant table. "How's he?"
Dr. Yaritezawa nodded, "Medically fine. Should be cleared soon for the program." She sighed, "There's not much else we can do now… Just monitor and, when need be, respond…" She frowned, "I don't completely like it, but…" She trailed off before sighing, "I can't get into it anymore than that, sorry."
"No, no, it's fine," said Samuel. "Thank you." Then, he asked, "How has he reacted to that news?"
"Hm…" She shrugged, "Pretty subdued, honestly." She turned to him. "Jitters?"
"Perhaps…" he responded.
From there, Samuel changed the topic to small talk and quieted his observations. After finishing his meal, he departed ahead of the students to occupy the workshop. And, the rest of the day passed without incident. Well, beyond one of the Support cards from Fujimori and Aoki's project almost blowing up.
The day came to an end and the workshop was emptied as students left for the day – apart from one. "Come, Mr. Midoriya." He beckoned the student to follow him into the testing range. "I'm sure you'd like some privacy for this conversation."
He nodded as he did so. "Thank you…"
Samuel tapped away on the console, tinting the window viewing into the range black, while the door slid shut. After a few more presses, the 'Occupied' sign outside activated, and the communication system was limited, preventing someone from listening in. "Okay, Mr. Midoriya…" He held up the folded paper. "Why did you hand this back to me?"
"The signature on it…" started Midoriya. "I… I forged it from… Ingenium's autograph."
His eyes widened, "W-What?" He shook his head. "When…?" He then collected himself before asking, "Why're you telling me this now?"
"I…" He swallowed, "I don't want to…" His jaw tightened before tried, "I… I started this all wrong and I just want to tell the truth now." He let out a breath. "I made a mistake. I shouldn't have done this, and… I'm sorry."
Samuel looked over the page. "Have you told anyone else about this?"
"No… No one…" said Midoriya, rubbing his arm.
"The first person you've told is me?" the teacher realized. "Why?" His mind pondered, "What do you expect out of this…?"
His jaw tightened for a moment before he replied, "I should've told my Mom a while ago, but I was worried…"
"That you'd get in trouble?"
Midoriya blinked before shaking his head. "What? No…"
"That you wouldn't?"
The student leaned against the main console, fidgeting with his hands. "Do you… Do you know what happened that day? That night?"
"No." Samuel crossed his arms. "I avoided it, to be honest…"
"I…" He took a moment to gather himself. "It was close. Both times, and… in spite of that, she's letting me stay in the program…" His head fell, "Because it's the closest I'll probably ever get to being a Hero… Because it's my dream…"
"You're worried she'll forgive you… That she'll let this slide?" The teacher chuckled, "I don't think you're giving your mother enough credit."
"I didn't want to force her hand!" he responded defensively. "She's already sacrificed her own comfort for me… Her peace of mind…" He started to deflate slightly. "I just… I don't want to ask anymore of her. I've already asked too much."
Samuel was taken aback by the outburst for a moment, but calmed as Midoriya did. He looked at his student truly considering everything he was hearing. And, of course, he had to consider the alternative. "Mr. Midoriya… Is this… true?"
"W-What?" Midoriya pushed off the console, standing up straight. "Yes, I forged Ingenium's signature."
"Right…" The teacher considered, "And, you're admitting to this due to the guilt you feel over the trouble you've caused your mother."
"Yes…?" The teenager's eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"It seems a bit obvious now…" he thought. "Mr. Midoriya… You've been through quite a lot."
"I'm not lying!"
"I didn't say you were," said Samuel, holding up his open hands in peace. He took the folded slip from his student's hands. "You understand the consequences of what you're admitted to, yes? Especially for someone in your position?" He gestured with the paper. "We're talking about things beyond suspension…"
"Yes," said Midoriya.
And the teacher was sure his face betrayed any confidence he may have had. Eventually, the man just sighed, "I'll need time to look into this and to figure out what the next steps will be."
"What does that mean?"
Samuel straightened, walking around his student and to the console. "It means, Mr. Midoriya, go home." He opened the doors and gestured with the folded permission slip. "Enjoy the rest of the day with friends…" However, before the boy could move, he placed a hand on his shoulder, regarding him. "And tonight, I want you to consider deeply what you've told me today, and what it'll mean for your future."
Midoriya's eyes met his, fixed, for a moment or two. Finally, they fell as he nodded, "Yes, sir…"
"Good." Samuel followed only into the workshop and saw Midoriya exit into the hall, disappearing behind the doorway's frame. Only once the footsteps had quieted into the distance did Samuel make his way to desk and fall into his seat. "Well, this is a fine mess…" He straightened his posture. "What a troubled boy… What a troublesome boy…" He muttered, "What'll I do with this problem child?"
He hummed to himself, staring at the ceiling. He had a responsibility to report this and to ensure it underwent the proper process. A forged document, alleged or not, was nothing to ignore. "Especially with a school as prestigious as Shiketsu…" He blinked, leaning forward in his chair. "There's even a possibility they might expel him for it…" He sighed, pushing himself onto his feet to pace back and forth. "I can't go out of my way to protect him… That's favoritism at its most obvious…" He pondered, "Though… is it favoritism if I would do it for any of my students…?"
"So much guilt…" he sighed, rubbing his chin. "How much of it is unfounded…?" He shook his head. "A guilty conscience is a powerful thing…"
Samuel slowly sat back down. "Perhaps, I should verify myself before proceeding with anything rash…" He picked up the phone from his desk. "Who better to tell me than the man himself?"
-XXX-
Halting after meaningless wander, Izuku's head conked against the wall of a bus stop. It had taken the better part of a day to build up the necessary courage to finally do what he thought was right. Yet, when he actually did, he lost his nerve – mainly due to the fact that he was almost certain that Mr. Abraham didn't believe him.
"Do I wait…? Do I just keep trying…?" he pondered. "Do I have to tell someone else…?" His eyes bore downward, digging into concrete at his feet. "Do I have to tell Principal Ikoma…?" He shivered as the mere thought increased the bubbling static into a broiling heat. "Ugh… there's no way I can do that…" His face contorted, "I'd probably vomit long before I can even think of admitting it to her…" A sigh escaped his lips as he sank slightly. "What am I going to do?"
"M… Midoriya?" called out a familiar voice.
Izuku didn't lift his head from the bus stop, but just twisted it to look to the side, causing a squeak between his head and the wall. "Oh… hey… Kaminari…"
"Uh… You okay?" he asked, a confused look on his face.
"Yeah…" His head turned downward again, sighing, "No…"
"Right…"
"Get off of work?"
Kaminari nodded, "Uh, yeah, my manager's been letting me go home early lately." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Think he might've caught wind about my internship…"
"Oh, yeah? That's nice…" His head turned again as his gaze caught the bag in one of the blond's hands. "What's that?"
"Oh, my dinner." He shrugged, "Just an egg-salad sandwich and some milk."
"Ah, I see…" Another squeak was followed by a brief moment of silence before another squeak cried out. "Do you want katsudon?"
Kaminari smirked, "You payin'?"
"No…"
"Oh…" he frowned.
Izuku's head finally parted from the bus stop as he stood up a little straighter. "I have the ingredients to make a bowl or two."
"You do?"
"Yeah."
The blond smiled, "Well, yeah, sure!" With that, the pair started—or rather, restarted their walk to the dorm. "I didn't know you could cook," said Kaminari.
The broccoli shrugged, "It's a recent thing." The trek upwards was fairly silent before Izuku opened his dorm-room's door, letting Kaminari enter first.
The apartment wasn't too different from the very first day of school. It had all the same furniture, bare walls, and a singular carpet in front of the sofa. There were no decorations: no pictures, no posters, no plants, no fake plants, and so on. The only visible addition from entering was the thin-framed desk and chair that stood against the fall wall with a laptop on it. However, while the laptop was a personal item, the desk and chair came from the 'guest' room which according to the school was supposed to be a study room. "Whatever that was…"
"Whoa, you keep this place clean…" After dropping off their school bags nearby, Kaminari took a seat on a stool in front of the kitchen counter.
Izuku looked around the living space for a moment. "Yeah, I guess…" he said as he rounded around the blond and the island beside his sink before sifting around for his cooking utensils. He ditched his blazer and gloves before rolling up his sleeves.
"It's almost like no one lives here," commented Kaminari as the green-haired boy picked out items from his cabinets and fridge.
He then set a cutting board down, and readied a knife to carve three packaged pork loins. When the blond asked what he was doing, he answered, "I have to trim it up a bit to fit in the pot." His scarred hand then reached for the knife to carve, and he felt his hand quake slightly. His gaze landed on his hand as he took in a breath, focusing. Next, his grip slowly firmed, turning rock solid, and finally, he started to trim the pork.
"Is that hard?" asked the blond.
"Hm…" Izuku shrugged, "It's getting easier." Paraphrasing, he explained how cooking was a form of physical therapy for him.
"And, here I coulda sworn the last thing your mom would let you do was cook."
The broccoli smiled, "It wasn't that bad." It didn't take him long. "We do a video call for lessons every other Thursday." Soon he was bouncing from cleaning to starting up the rice cooker to battering the pork.
"Neat," he said before following up. "So, what happened?"
"Hm…" His fingers tapped on the counter in front of him, sending small shocks of pain up his arm whenever he did it just a smidge too hard. His jaw tightened for a moment before he sighed. "Why did you sign up for Ingenium for your internship?"
"Ah, uh…" Kaminari lowered his head for a moment. "I thought maybe he… I thought he signed your permission slip for the Field Support thing… Wanted to ask what the hell he was thinking…"
"Well…" He smiled, "You were… half right?"
"Huh?"
Then, for the second time that day, Izuku spoke the truth. Though, this time he spared no detail. He spoke of how he took advantage of the Hero's sudden visit; how he used his blueprints as a method to transfer the autograph… It wasn't a very long story, but as he told it, he felt a bit of weight leave his shoulders.
Kaminari blinked, lowering his head. "Oh… shit…"
"Yeah…" nodded Izuku, solemnly.
The blond straightened, laughing, "I was kinda right!"
The broccoli. "Y-Yeah…" He couldn't help but smile slightly. "You were."
"Ha!" Kaminari's hands beat across the counter. "That was pretty clever of me, right?"
"That's your reaction…?" There was a bubbling noise before he returned to the stove. "Hang on." Their conversation fell into a lull as he continued to cook. After some breaded pork was fried and left on a wire rack, Izuku started to thinly cut up washed lettuce.
"So, that's all you did?" asked Kaminari.
Izuku turned, "You're treating it kinda casually, don't you think?"
"Come on, Midoriya." The blond elaborated, "You think you're the only person who's ever forged a signature? I've done it more than once for those school field trips."
"That is not the same thing."
"It kinda is." Another goddamn shrug followed.
Izuku flashed a scrutinizing look. "It really isn't."
They went back and forth for a while. Eventually, the katsudons were done; topped with homemade tonkatsu sauce courtesy of his Mom. The pair moved over to the dining table to eat. Between plating and eating, the serious topics at hand had slipped away.
At least, until Izuku opened his mouth to talk instead of eat. "It's technically a crime."
"Not a serious one," he countered. "And, it's only really a crime, if you get caught."
"I told Mr. Abraham an hour ago," deadpanned the broccoli.
"Oh…"
Izuku deflated slightly. "But… I don't think he believed me…"
"That's good?"
"That's bad." If Izuku was eating, he would've put his utensils down. "Why aren't you judging me for this?"
"I told you I'd have your back!" said Kaminari, defensively.
"I… I appreciate that, but…" A sigh came before pleading followed, "I just want you to be honest with me… I want to know what you genuinely think."
The blond leaned back, grumbling, "Fine, fine…" He took a moment, finding his words and letting them flow. "It was stupid of you to do it and even stupider for you to admit to it after so long."
"Thank you."
"And why did you even bother with the forgery?"
"I…" He sighed, "I told myself that I'd become a Hero, no matter what. That I'd take the closest thing I could get…" His face contorted, "I wasn't… I didn't plan on…" His jaw shifted and tightened before laxing, "I needed the signature in order to apply. I thought my Mom would say no, and I thought Ingenium would too…"
Kaminari thought for a moment before nodding, "Okay…" He tapped his chin."But, was that necessary? I mean, a part of me thought that you would've gotten the signature because you saved his life."
"Maybe…"
-XXX-
Denki wasn't sure what to think as his hand raked through his hair. One part of him was alleviated by the fact that he was right – that his suspicions and worries were proven true in the end. And, while he admittedly celebrated that fact, it painted a semi-clear picture of his friend's mindset - especially when he connected all of their interactions after the Sports Festival. The only question on his mind was, "Why'd you out yourself? After everything you did to get here, why give it all up now?" He shook his head. "I mean you haven't given up on being a Hero, right?"
"No…" Midoriya sighed, "It's just that… I was wrong. I'm not willing to do anything and everything to become a Hero. I… I wanted to earn it…" He shook his head. "How could I earn it if I only got the opportunity through a lie?"
The blond shook his head. "But, why admit to Mr. Abraham of all people? Why not your Mom or, hell, Ingenium? I'm pretty sure I still have Big-Shot's number."
"Because I…" His head lowered, "They know I died, Kaminari. I… bled out right before Ingenium's and my Mom… God, my Mom… Both times, she had to rush to the hospital without knowing if I was even alive…"
"Both…?" echoed Denki.
Midoriya blinked, "Ah…"
"Midoriya, did you die again!?"
With each word, the broccoli's voice rose just a smidge higher. "Did I not mention that…?"
The blond fell back in his seat, exasperated. "Shit, dude…"
"I thought I mentioned that…"
Denki gave an incredulous look, "Clearly not!"
"Hm…"
"Jeez…" The blond rubbed his brow before sitting up once again. "What actually happened?" He clarified, "I've never asked to try and give you space."
"Right, uh…" Midoriya took in a breath and then he recounted the day of the Sports Festival. He told her why he snuck off. He explained the route he took between the school and the dorms. Chills ran down Denki's arms when he described the Hero Killer standing over Ingenium. "And…" he sighed, "-my body just moved on its own…"
The blond stared at him intently as he skimmed over the fight and his injuries. It would be easy to think that he was skimming it over for his own sake. "But…" The glances he shot the blond's way and the way he corrected himself, rewording and simplifying what he was saying, said otherwise.
Then, came the tale of Kamui Woods and Dabi. Denki had heard plenty of what happened that night, but Ashido and Shinso weren't conscious for the end of the fight. There was a large portion still unknown amongst the Hero Course class that exclusively belonged to Midoriya…
His friend described the scene he and Mount-Lady had arrived at. He recalled the mad dash with three unconscious bodies, and his idea with Ashido's acid and the sprinklers. Then, came Dabi and his final act of cruelty.
"Right in front of Mount-Lady…"
"He wanted to distract her… Keep her from following…"
"And you…"
"On the way to the hospital."
"God…"
"Still think I'm just stubborn?"
"No… You're completely bonkers and stubborn." The blond shook his head. "So, that's why… You thought that they'd let you get away with it." Denki nodded, "Well, I can kinda get that…" He blew raspberries. "Man, your mom's a saint."
"No kidding, especially since she's letting me try the program still…"
"And, you think she's letting you because of what happened?"
"I think it plays a part," the freckled boy replied. "I think she wants me to be happy, and is willing to give me another chance in spite of how ever she might feel."
"Don't you think you're blowing that chance by confessing?" questioned Denki. "'Cause you told Abraham before her."
"Maybe…" He groaned, "Ugh, the guilt was just getting to me. I've been distracting myself with you guys and schoolwork, but…" His hand raked through his hair. "Every time someone mentioned me staying in the Field Support program; trying to become a Hero, it'd come back in full." He laughed sadly. "I was wrong. I thought I could be like…" Something in his words gave him pause, slipping into silence.
Until prompted, "Be like…?"
"I didn't even…" Midoriya slowly sat up. "…" His hand slowly rose to tap on his temple. "There's… someone who pops into my head when I think of… success—victory." He shook his head. "When I think about it, whenever I need to… win or just come out on top. He pops up in my mind…even before All-Might…
After the Hero Killer, I realized I wanted to be a Hero, but…" He sighed, "I guess a part of me wasn't sure if I could be one. That maybe… I needed to be someone else…"
"Who're we talking about?" asked Denki.
Midoriya slowly nodded, "Bakugo Katsuki."
"Bakugo?" The blond leaned forward. "Wait, you mean that ass that—"
"One and the same." His voice shifted a little higher than normal at the end of his sentence.
Denki turned his body fully to his friend, incredulousness on full display. "You admire that guy?"
"Strong Quirk, top of the class, and center of attention…" The freckled teen lowered his head. "I… looked up to him…"
"Didn't he attack you?"
Midoriya's head rose as his face contorted. "Nobody's perfect?" he offered, seemingly not even convinced himself.
Denki huffed, "You need better role models."
His friend seemed to take that in for a moment before finally nodding, "Agreed…"
"Take after Mount-Lady or something." The blond scoffed, "Or, hell, just your Mom."
"Yeah…" The corners of Midoriya's mouth rose. "I just might…" Though, his smile slowly faded and twisted as he fell back in his seat, staring at the ceiling. "Ugh…" His hands dragged across his face. "What am I gonna tell her…?"
"Who knows?" Denki chuckled, "You really gotta do something for her birthday. When all of this blows over."
"Yeah…" A quizzical look crossed his face before fishing out the calendar on his phone. "Oh, crap…"
The blond asked, "What?"
While Midoriya had told his tale of two deaths in complete solemn neutrality, this answer was where he truly paled. "Her birthday's two weeks out!"
"And her birthday present's gonna be a long talk with Mr. Abraham about forgeries and signatures…"
"Finish your food," said Midoriya as he picked up his utensils. "We're going shopping."
Denki laughed, checking the time. "Ah, eh… It's not that late, I guess."