Chapter Text
24th of December (today)
12:34 Katsumi
IZUKU
u busy tmw?
i wanna go and look at the christmas decs in the shopping streets
ooo and get food
and buy shit
cmon u know i got no other friends man
12:35 Izuku
Of course! When do you want to meet? Normal place at the station?
Izuku had already sent his reply when he realised what day it was tomorrow. Immediately, the carefree smile on his face dropped, and an anxious pit began to grow inside of him.
She wanted to hang out…
On Christmas Eve?
His heart began to beat unhelpfully fast in his chest.
By the time the next day had come around, Izuku had mostly calmed down. Katsumi hadn’t said anything else to him, except confirming where and when they were going to meet. He realised not long after he had started to panic that maybe Katsumi, seeing as she spent so much time in America, didn’t know the implications of Christmas Eve. That let him relax a little.
The shopping streets seemed more decked out than usual. Izuku supposed he might only think that because he was paying more attention to them than usual. How could he not pay more attention to them? Especially when Katsumi was oohing and ahhing at it all.
“You really like the decorations,” Izuku said, smiling as Katsumi took a photo of a tree in the middle of the street.
“Yeah,” Katsumi nodded, zooming into a tree in the middle of the street. “I mean, they’re totally lame compared to the stuff in America, but they’re still neat.”
Izuku blinked. Katsumi turned and grinned at him, putting her phone away.
“Anyway,” she drawled out, grabbing his arm and tugging him along. “I wanna get my dad something-”
The expression on Izuku’s face was one of fear, brought on by the heavy thudding in his chest as she locked her arm around his. Katsumi let go, and he felt his heart be released.
“Ugh, don’t look at me like that,” she frowned, pouting. “I know it’s bad, I left it this late.”
Blood was rushing through his head. Izuku had to take a deep breath.
C’mon! What was wrong with him?
“Y-you’re getting All Might a gift?” He stammered, trying to avoid Katsumi's confused gaze.” Oh wow, I didn’t think about that. I should get him something, too. I really should repay him for everything he’s done for me. But what would he want..?!”
Trying his best to move on, Izuku went to skim back through his memories for past All Might interviews to see if he could remember anything the man had mentioned liking. He was only able to for a second before Katsumi nudged his arm.
“Don’t bother,” Katsumi said, and Izuku almost jumped when she nudged him. “He’d only reject it.”
“You think so?” Izuku cleared his throat. This was so nerve-racking. But even ignoring how nervous he was at that moment, he felt he really should get something to repay All Might anyway, even if it was something small.
Katsumi nodded, “If you really want to, bring him some fancy coffee grounds or something, he’ll get excited about that.”
“Coffee?” Izuku blinked. “Really? No, that makes sense. All Might is a very busy man, and I’m sure he would need the extra energy-”
“Yes, yes, yes,” Katsumi nodded, grabbing Izuku’s arm again to a yelp of shock and yanking him along. “Now I wanna find him something, so shaddup.”
Izuku felt his face go warm against the biting air. Was Katsumi acting normal? Did she normally grab him this much? Was he just noticing it because of what day it was? Izuku didn’t know, and all the couples around them were making him nervous. He wondered if anyone around them thought they were actually on a date?
“I wanna go here,” Katsumi said, pointing to a store with wide, tall windows.
Izuku had been so in his head about it being Christmas Eve that he hadn’t noticed that they had ended up in the expensive part of the shopping district. The shop Katsumi ushered him into was blindingly white, with pristine marble floors and a sea of the most perfectly polished, shiny shoes he’d ever seen.
“I was looking at these online,” Katsumi had made her way to a pair of boots after a brief look around the shop. Everyone in the shop was well-dressed and had an air of importance around them that made Izuku feel a little out of place.
“Oh, they look nice!” Izuku said he couldn’t really contribute more than that. Katsumi had pointed out and made fun of his lack of fashion sense many times. She glanced around the white platform where the shoes were displayed, but he couldn’t see a price tag. That was weird.
“Excuse me, Miss. Are you looking for something in particular?”
Izuku managed to catch the annoyed look on Katsumi’s face before she turned to the primly dressed worker who had just approached them.
“Yeah, do you have these in cherry? Size twenty-four point five.”
The worker smiled politely, “I will go check, please, wait a moment.”
Katsumi thanked the woman, and as soon as she was out of earshot, turned around and rolled her eyes.
“We’ve been in here like two seconds, man,” she sighed, crossing her arms and glancing around, annoyed.
“Did you want to look around a little more first?”
Katsumi shook her head, brow furrowed. Izuku felt he wasn’t getting something.
“No, it’s not that. Ugh, places like this always do this to me when I don’t come in with an adult. Okay, fine, maybe I look like a delinquent, but you’re so obviously a goody-two-shoes it should even it out.”
“...Thank you?” Izuku said hesitantly.
“Aw,” Katsumi grinned, patting him on the head, “you’re welcome.”
Izuku stared at her, unimpressed. He hoped that the little warmth that crept up his face as he felt her hand on his head didn’t show.
The worker returned soon enough and brought with her a large shoebox and a pair of socks.
Not sure what to occupy himself with, Izuku watched as Katsumi took a seat on a nearby bench and tried on the boots.
“Izuku? What do you think?”
“Me?” Izuku hesitated, looking as Katsumi stood up and walked around a little.
“They fit fine,” Katsumi noted to herself. The worker smiled.
“They look great on you!”
Invited to look at Katsumi’s legs, Izuku felt quite awkward.
“Ye-yeah. I agree.”
“Hm, okay! How much for them?” Katsumi twirled around to the worker, whose smile widened.
“Well, they are three hundred thousand yen.”
Izuku’s jaw might as well have fallen off onto the floor.
The worker waited expectantly. Katsumi sighed.
“Hm, I was supposed to be getting my dad something.” After stroking her hair, Katsumi huffed, “Oh well, it’s Christmas! I’ll be able to replenish my savings tomorrow”
The worker blinked, and she looked Katsumi up and down.
“Oh-!” She coughed. “That skirt, that’s Burberry, the new trench one? I saw it in a Noa magazine.”
“Oh, did you…” Katsumi snorted. She shook her head and waved off the flash of confusion on the woman's face.
Katsumi had the woman pack up the boots and take them to the counter before she had her help look for shoes for All Might.
Izuku did notice a change in the worker when she realised Katsumi was actually buying, and they weren’t just two teenagers looking around. They certainly stood out from the other customers; Izuku supposed he couldn’t blame them for thinking they were out of place.
Well, now she knew she had money, the worker was really trying to sell to Katsumi. Katsumi had informed Izuku under her breath after he asked her that the skirt she was wearing was worth four hundred dollars. While the worker and Katsumi were talking, he searched for the conversion into yen on his phone. It was almost eighty thousand yen. That made Izuku’s mind short-circuit.
The worker, obviously, knew the value of that skirt too, and therefore that Katsumi had money to throw around. She didn’t just show her possible shoes for her dad, going on about their inclusivity for all different sizes and their customizable models for different Heteromorphs; she showed the other things Katsumi could treat herself with. Belts, hats, bracelets, stuff Izuku didn’t think a shoe shop would even sell. Katsumi didn’t seem all that interested, brushing them away and laser-focusing on the shoes.
“These ones.”
It didn’t take all that long for Katsumi to find a couple of pairs of shoes she liked. From that, she narrowed it down until she was left with one pair. Izuku was asked a couple of times for his opinion, though he struggled to give one.
“They’re plain, perfect for dad,” Katsumi said, looking the winning pair over, “and the sole seems like it would be comfortable. This leather is sturdy, too, right? Shouldn’t wear easily.”
“Yes,” the worker agreed. “All the pieces we stock are long-lasting. The sort of items you can pass down.”
Katsumi smiled and glanced at Izuku, “When you get too muscle-y and end up looking like dad, you can wear them.”
Izuku laughed, rubbing his neck. It was warm in the store, and he wanted to take his coat off.
“Oh, are you two siblings?” The workers asked, making a note of the shoes Katsumi had picked. “I’m so sorry, I assumed you were a couple.”
And with that, Izuku didn’t feel warm anymore.
The seconds that Katsumi didn’t say anything stood between the worker and Izuku, looking at the shoe in front of her, stretched on longer than Izuku could bear.
It was Christmas Eve. Katsumi had invited him out. No way… Right?
“Nah, we’re friends,” she laughed. “Though my dad might as well adopt him by now.”
The feeling in Izuku didn’t settle as Katsumi turned to him.
“Or we could hook my dad up with your mum?” She said, grinning widely as she snickered.
Izuku was too focused on how little that answer helped him decipher her feelings; it took him a moment to hear what she had even said.
“Huh?! My mum is married!”
The shoes Katsumi bought for her dad were only half the price of her boots. ‘Only’. It was still enough money to live off for a month… On one pair of shoes! Izuku logically knew that Katsumi would have a lot of money, but seeing it first-hand was another thing. No wonder she insisted on buying snacks and drinks when they went out. She probably felt bad for him; he didn’t want to know what she thought when she saw the flat he and his mum lived in.
“You okay?”
Izuku’s hands were cold. He had forgotten to wear gloves, and his coat pockets didn’t help all that much. His fingers felt stiff as he clenched his fists to trap some warmth.
“Uh, yeah. My hands are just cold.”
Katsumi’s lip twitched up as she looked at him. They were walking around aimlessly, but now Katsumi had nabbed the gift she wanted.
“Want me to get you some gloves?”
Her face lit up as she said it, the white hanging lights reflecting brightly over her blue eyes. Izuku felt his heart jump, as it did a lot around Katsumi.
“Uh, I have some at home. I just forgot them.”
Izuku didn’t really know what it looked like when someone liked another person. He imagined it looked similar to the way Katsumi was looking at him at that moment.
But he felt that it wasn’t exactly that.
“Let’s go find a pair!” She said, bouncing a little as she walked. “C’mon, I might have forgotten to get you something too… so I’m more than happy to get you something! If there’s anything else you want to-”
“Katsumi.”
Izuku stopped walking. Turning back, Katsumi looked at him, lips parted in confusion. His chest felt a little tight. He cleared his throat.
“Please don’t feel like you have to get me anything!” He exclaimed, clasping his cold hands together. “Especially just because my mum and I don’t have as much money as you and your family do, it doesn’t mean that you need to do anything like that.”
Katsumi’s face scrunched up.
“Like… get you a Christmas gift?”
“Uh-”
“Dude!” Katsumi leaned back, groaning. “Don’t be so difficult! I wanna buy you a gift for literal Christmas, let me! I’m not looking down on you, or whatever-”
“Oh! No,” he said quickly, “I didn’t think that was it at all, I just-”
Katsumi put her hand in front of Izuku’s face.
“Stop,” she lowered her hand, looking at him seriously. “You’re my friend. I would get you something anyway, even if it wasn’t today.”
My friend.
Something in Katsumi’s eyes, the solid way she looked at him… He knew she had invited him out to spend time with him. To be around him. To speak to him.
She wanted to get him a gift because they were friends.
With that thought, Izuku felt a little guilty.
“I, uh, well, I actually haven’t got you anything, so…” he mumbled, averting his gaze.
“Boo!” There was a thump on his shoulder as Katsumi slapped the puffy material of his coat. Katsumi shook her head, though she was smiling.
“Stupid,” she smirked. “I don’t care, I’m still riding the high from that notebook. And even getting to spend Christmas Eve with someone instead of in my room while all my friends hang out with their families is a gift enough.”
Katsumi shoved her hands into her coat pockets and started walking again, clearly expecting him to follow. Izuku hesitated for half a second before he did.
They walked in silence for a little while. The street was loud enough that it didn’t feel awkward– music spilling from stores, laughter, the clatter of people brushing past with bags and scarves. Normal Christmas noise.
Izuku watched Katsumi from the corner of his eye. He felt he should maybe ask about her comment about spending Christmas Eve alone. But maybe another time would be better, because she looked like she was fine. Normal, relaxed, comfortable. And as she commented on some clothes shop they were about to pass and asked if he wanted to look in there, and they did go in, and they looked around, Izuku realised something.
He realised something in the way she was herself. In the way, she invited him out to do exactly what they were doing. Not because she wanted something else from him.
“This is fun!” Izuku said suddenly.
Katsumi glanced at him, surprised. Izuku couldn’t blame her, he said it out of nowhere as they left the shop, a pair of gloves warming his hands.
“Yeah,” she smiled, lips together, cheeks rosy from the cold. “It is.”
That was it. No double meaning. No pause.
Izuku felt his chest loosen.
It wasn’t anywhere as complicated as he was making it, and he was glad. The way he relaxed at the realisation told him that plainly.
“We should hang out more often,” he said, with nothing hidden behind his smile. Katsumi nodded.
“You mean outside the training we do like every day together?”
Izuku’s mouth opened and shut. Katsumi laughed loudly. The sound of her laughter made him smile.
They stopped near the station entrance. Katsumi’s train was coming before his. Izuku was a little worried about someone stealing her bags full of an insane amount of money in the form of shoes, but Katsumi reminded him that she wasn’t exactly helpless. Still, Izuku had been a little nervous the whole time they had been walking around with those bags.
After a quick exchange of wishing each other a Merry Christmas, a talk about when her dad wanted to train next, and a hug that sucked the air out of Izuku’s lungs, Izuku waved Katsumi off while the train slid away from the platform.
Left alone, in the cold of the underground passage, Izuku was left with his thoughts.
Izuku… wasn’t used that he liked Katsumi. Not in the way he had been thinking of when she had asked him out for Christmas Eve. Or at least not yet. How was he supposed to know, though? He had nothing to compare their relationship to. The only real friend he had ever had was Kacchan when they were younger, and, well…
Was it just because Katsumi was a pretty girl? He got nervous around basically every girl, which wasn’t much. Was it because for a second he thought she might like him? Maybe… It was definitely not because she’s related to All Might. He hoped.
Rocking back and forth on his feet, waiting for his train, Izuku wasn’t really bothered by the unanswered questions. His hands were warm in his pockets, from the gloves she had got him, to show she was thankful that he was he friend. And after so long with no friends to speak with, to go out with, to share things with, it was more than enough.
It would be selfish to put those unanswered questions on Katsumi, and he didn’t need to anyway.
He was glad that he spent Christmas Eve with his friend.
Winter nights are cold and dark. No matter how many lights are used to light up the night, it would always still be dark somewhere.
“You’re late.”
Kurogiri had returned to the bar once he had watched the teenagers split ways at the train station. He had one mind to follow Miss Katsumi Yagi back to her home, as he was made to do oh so often, but he felt that he had been out enough for one night.
He understood this was Tomura Shigaraki’s will, though he could not believe following a teenage girl and her friend through a shopping district to be the most productive use of anyone’s time. But if Master was certain that it was beneficial for the boy…
“All Might’s daughter is only just returning home,” Kurogiri replied, taking his place behind the bar.
After the years on years Kurogiri had looked after the boy, he was able to discern Tomura’s emotions at a glance. The moment he had stepped back into the bar, he was aware that Tomura was irate from the rhythm he tapped his fingers on the bar. Thankfully, the boy was not yet so frustrated that he had reached the point of ripping at his own skin. Kurogiri felt that might not last much longer, however.
“Only?” He hissed, and his hand instinctively moved to his father’s hand that was placed at his side. “What the hell was she doing this late?”
It was not yet even midnight. Tomura often did not fall asleep until the early hours of the morning. If he slept at all. Kurogiri knew that what he was about to relay to his young ward would already dower his mood more than enough without his hypocrisy being mentioned.
“She was with her friend.”
He was already moving to top up the drink in front of Tomura. He hoped the alcohol would lighten the boy’s tension in a way.
“Of course,” he muttered, a humourless laugh slipping from his lips. “Of course.”
Tomura picked the glass up almost instantly, taking a sip and grimacing. He was still not accustomed to drinking, and the boy had no idea how to pace himself. Master assured Kurogiri that Tomura would be able to learn to regulate himself. He was not so sure.
“That friend?” He hissed after swallowing down a bigger gulp than he should have taken.
“Izuku Midoriya, yes.”
Tomura laughed sharply.
Away from Tomura’s view, Kurogiri had slipped the phone into his back pocket. Though unlikely, he thought Tomura might forget about the photos.
Kurogiri wished the boy would not seek out something he knew would only hurt him.
“Christmas Eve…” Tomura grumbled it under his breath, his knuckles turning white around the glass. Kurogiri watched him silently.
The boy’s crimson eyes flicked up to glare at him.
“Kurogiri,” he rasped. “Show me the photos.”
For a moment, Kurogiri wished to tell him that there were none. But he did not.
He slowly removed the phone from his pocket to place it in front of Tomura, who snatched it as soon as it was in his reach, opening it and going right for the photo folder.
A while ago, Kurogiri had made the decision to be selective of the photos he took of the girl and the boy. A decision he had continued to honour, yet he still had to photograph what the girl was doing, and there was only so much he was able to hide.
Kurogiri watched as Tomura flicked through them, and by his reaction, Kurogiri was glad he had not taken a photo of the moment at the train station when the girl had hugged the boy.
“Fucking hell,” he spat, “why is she so happy?”
He was full of venom, that boy, and it spat from his mouth every time the topic of that girl was brought up.
“You see how she’s blushing?” He hissed. “Not a single photo without a smile. The hell does she like about that fucking-! That short, nerdy fucking kid?”
Kurogiri said nothing. He was not sure how this was helping Tomura. He had reported Tomura’s request for him to follow the girl. Master had believed it to be a good idea and had given him his consent to do so, despite it being something that could so easily endanger their operation’s secrecy.
But he had even informed him of this… preoccupation of Tomura’s about the girl, one that was quite clearly irrelevant to her status as All Might’s child. And yet, despite how unproductive and distracting Tomura’s behaviour was, Master did not seem to care. In fact, he had smiled when Kurogiri had brought his concerns to him.
Even if Master believed Tomura’s behaviour to be acceptable, Kurogiri felt that he should be giving the boy a little more guidance. Tomura was currently aimlessly stewing in his anger. There surely could be a productive avenue to put this energy to use.
Kurogiri took out his other phone and sent a message to one of its very few contacts.
“Tomura Shigaraki,” he asked for the boy's attention, but he did not move his eyes from the photographs he flicked through.
“I would advise you not to focus your energy on this matter. When the time comes, we shall involve All Might’s daughter in your operations. Until then, I see little point in investigating her so thoroughly.”
Tomura’s eyes snapped up at him, jaw tight.
“Kuro-”
“Tomura.”
The screen on the wall lit up, and Master’s voice filled the room. Tomura went still, and his brow furrowed together tighter at his name being called. He still held the phone tight in his hand. Kurogiri turned to the screen, while Tomura stayed still.
“Tomura,” Master’s voice called to him. “Would you put that phone down? I’d like to speak with you, with your full attention.”
Kurogiri watched as Tomura gritted his teeth, reluctantly dropping the phone carelessly onto the countertop.
“Go on then,” he huffed, crossing his arms as he turned to the screen. “No one’s stopping you.”
“Now there, Tomura,” Master tutted. “No need to be abrasive. What is it that has you distressed?”
“Distressed?” Tomura scoffed, “I’m not distressed. I’m pissed off.”
Kurogiri stood silently behind the bar, listening to what Master said to the boy.
“Of course. Of course,” Master agreed. “You know, anger is not a bad emotion, contrary to what many would like you to believe. You do not have to squash it, nor do you have to turn from it. Though it is important you know where the feeling stems from. Please, Tomura, discuss this with me. Why are you angry?”
Master knew, of course. But Tomura had to say it himself.
“Because-”
Tomura’s words seemed to catch in his throat, and his face scrunched, as if he was pained. Kurogiri watched his twitching fingers carefully.
“Do not fret, Tomura. I understand how you must be feeling,” Master reassured him. “It may have been a long time since Miss Yagi abandoned you, but old wounds can be torn open easily if not healed properly.”
“I don’t give a shit about that,” Tomura scoffed, voice raw as he glared at nothing in particular. “That means nothing to me. I just hate how she seems to have forgotten everything, smiling as if everything’s alright. Living with her father after everything he did to her.”
Tomura was scratching now.
“Of course. Of course, Tomura. I understand. She seems to have completely forgotten about your time together. And, I understand how her friendliness with that boy must make you feel. But you must understand, there are different types of people, some remember their pasts, some, unfortunately, are quick to move on.”
Tomura was silent, still scratching away. The hand he was gripping his father with twitched.
“You, my boy, are one who remembers, who carries his past and holds its lessons close to heart. That is not a weakness. We must learn from the past if we wish to succeed in the future. You were once… close with Miss Yagi; it is understandable, seeing her give her attention so freely, her warmth, that you would feel anger. It does feel misdirected, does it not?”
Kurogiri looked at Tomura’s face. His expression did not change; he had not stopped the attack on his neck, red splotches rising up.
“When someone possesses something of value to you,” Master continued, “it can be much more than frustrating to see it wasted. You believe that she is wasted, correct? Unappreciated, unused.”
Tomura’s scratching slowed, and Kurogiri stayed still.
“Please know, when the time comes that she returns to you, she will be under your care. Your discretion.”
Tomura had gone very still.
“You may decide how she is kept,” Master continued. “I’m sure she will be disagreeable at the beginning. I am happy to leave it to you to correct her.”
He paused. Kurogiri found himself taking the phone from in front of Tomura. He did not react.
“If it is what you wish,” Master said, a certain lightness in his tone, as if he had only just come up with the idea.
“You may have her repay you for the pain she has caused you.”
The empty bar was very quiet, with only the background static from the screen speakers in the air.
Kurogiri hesitated to look at Tomura’s face.
“...When?” Tomura asked, voice low.
“Well, if everything goes to plan, I think we should wait until just before your first attack on UA,” Master said. “That way, we can ensure she does not let any information leak to the heroes once she becomes aware of our presence. I’m sure she will put up a fight once we disclose our plans, but I’m sure we can ensure she knows her place. I’m more than certain you are capable of that, Tomura. Confusion and fear can often appear as defiance. I trust you to be firm with her. You may handle her however you see fit. As long as that is, she remains useful.”
And with that, Master and Tomura’s contestation was soon done, and the screen went dark.
For a long moment, Kurogiri found Tomura did not move, one hand still placed on his father's, the other tapping the bar. When Kurogiri finally turned his gaze to his face, he saw his hand return to his neck, as he stared at the now dark screen, eyes severe.
Kurogiri poured him more drink.
Christmas Day wasn’t all that eventful. Katsumi was used to that. Her dad had got her some things, but mainly gave her a nice, fat wad of cash. She gave him the pair of shoes she’d bought him yesterday. Katsumi was happy with his reaction; they fit perfectly, and he had called them ‘fashionable’. Obviously, Katsumi was the one who chose them.
Her dad ordered KFC for dinner, something she hadn’t had on Christmas in years, as her mum preferred to follow the American tradition of turkey, cooked by their personal chef, of course. They’d be eating charcoal if her mum went anywhere near the oven.
Sitting at the table, eating greasy chicken and cake for dessert, laughing with her dad as they watched some game show Christmas special… riding on the high of a great evening out with her friend. It was probably the warmest Christmas Katsumi had had in a long time.
“Alright!” Her dad stood up dramatically. “I’ll tidy up the kitchen, you can go off to bed.”
Katsumi shook her head, following him up.
“No, dad, you should go.”
Her dad raised an eyebrow, “You’ll do the kitchen?” He asked, unconvinced.
“Huh? Of course not. I mean, just leave it to tomorrow.”
Katsumi giggled as her dad sighed and shook his head. She headed upstairs, washing her face, rinsing off, changing into her pyjamas…
She took her pills and lay in her bed.
She had that feeling again yesterday, and for a few moments she let herself think a moment about that foreboding sense. That feeling of eyes on her. She was being paranoid, she knew. Or could it even be paranoia, when there was something real?
The door was closed. And it was for a reason. There was nothing there.
Before her brain’s thoughts could infest her body, she moved her mind away from that door and the nothing behind it. Soon, the pills let her fall into that meaningless, restless sleep until another day came.