Chapter Text
Aya Fukikoshi loves her job. She gets fulfilment, joy, realization, triumph, whenever she is able to do her job well. Even right now, as she wipes the tears of a little girl who is maybe 10 years old, she loves her job. The little girl tries to swallow back her sobs as much as she can, her quiet demeanor showing even as she sniffles.
"Honey, listen to me," Aya keeps her voice soft and quiet, the little girl has a strong hearing quirk which can be quite painful around loud noises, "You should stop feeling so guilty for speaking up about the things that are hurting or bothering you."
The little girl lets out a long breath, looking up at Aya with wet eyes. She has been coming to Aya as a patient for a while now, and has made significant progress. Her ears ring when cars honk or dogs bark, so Aya had her parents invest in good quality headphones the first week they started meeting.
Now, the little girl is getting better as increasing and decreasing her hearing. They focused on decreasing first, so that she wouldn't suffer from migraines and ringing so much. Progress was slow, but steady. Unfortunately, the little girl has a new teacher this year, one that has a voice enhancing quirk. Not to the level of someone like pro hero Present Mic, but enough to give this little girl headaches while she is trying to do schoolwork.
The child didn't say anything about it. She didn't complain, she didn't whine to her parents, and only when Aya gently pushed and nudged did she break down in tears. "I can't read the packets at school because my head hurts after morning instruction!"
Her quiet little voice broke Aya's heart. "I will talk to your teacher and your mom, and we'll figure this out, okay? Can you tell me what we do when we are feeling overwhelmed?"
"T-turn on my white noise in my headphones, take deep breaths, squish my stress ball.." Aya nods with a gentle smile.
"Why don't we take some deep breaths, and I can get your slime from the shelf?" Aya and the little girl take big exaggerated breaths, the little girl smiling at the rainbow lights, glitter, and shapes that expel from her mouth.
Aya grabs the slime from the fidget toy shelf, and the little girl focuses on squeezing it between her fingers.
"So when we're in class, any people are being a bit noisy, what should we remember?" Aya prompts, writing down the small panic attack the little girl had in her records.
"That they might not know that I'm hurting, and I'm allowed to ask if they could quiet down, a-and that everything will seem louder if I start to panic." The girl doesn't flinch at the popping the slime makes, something that is a huge improvement from their first meeting.
"Nice job! You're so right, good job for remembering."
The rest of the session goes well, they mostly talk for the day since she didn't want to do any quirk training after the girls panic attack. After talking with the girls parents and emailing the principle of her school, Aya takes the time to clean up her office.
She counsels a wide range of children, from kids who just manifested their quirk to teenagers who still needed help managing, so her room has a lot of different spaces. It is designed to make children and teens of all ages feel comfortable and at ease. The walls are painted in a soothing pastel blue with a sunny yellow accent wall. Bright, colorful motivational posters are placed around the room as well. Messages like 'You are Enough,' 'It's okay to ask for help,' and 'Start Believing in Your Own Potential!'
There is a cozy seating area, with bean nags, soft chairs, and a small couch. There's a low round table for drawing, playing games, and casual conversations. Her quirk might have festered into this, but there is a running theme of rainbows in her life.
Ever since she was four years old and breathed out a stream of rainbow, there hasn't been a Christmas or birthday that hasn't come with a colorful gift. Her office is no different. Pillows and blankets on the couch, a rainbow rug for group sessions, and even sensory toys are all rainbow colored.
To the right of the seating area is a large bookshelf with an array of books ranging from picture books for the younger kids to self-help and fiction for older teens. The bottom shelf holds her impressive collection of fidget and stim toys: everything from squishy stress balls and stretchy noodles to sensory rings, pop-its, and calming glitter jars. There are also baskets filled with kinetic sand and textured fabrics, as well as Legos that are popular with the older kids.
A wooden desk sits near the window, letting in plenty of natural light, streaming through sun-catchers and sheer, rainbow-colored curtains. The desk has a colorful calendar, complete with sticky notes, highlighters, and cute little stickers. There is a framed photo of Aya and a green haired boy with freckles, both laughing in what looks like a photo booth at a fair.\
Another wall has a poster that says 'Feelings Corner' with a large, magnetic emotion board where kids can place magnets to express how they're feeling. Different sets of emotion flashcards and plush emotion characters are nearby to help guide conversations about feelings.
On the opposite corned there is a 'Calm Down Zone' with a tent-like canopy, filled with pillows, a weighted blanket, and noise-canceling headphones for those needed a quiet break.
Aya quickly tidies up, and as she moves around bits of glitter fly off her hair and shoulders. Her quirk is pretty. She can't move things with her mind, or hit villains with it, but she can make pretty lights. She can also make a big mess.
She gave up long ago on trying to keep an area of hers free of glitter, it's impossible. No amount of sweeping, dusting, or mopping is able to combat the sparkles.
The only thing that really keeps it at bay is a few robot vacuums. She sometimes gets the feeling that they despise her, but that's ridiculous because they are machines... haha.
She sighs, which dispels a rainbow and some glitter, and turns on her vacuum that she sometimes thinks will smother her in her sleep. Her family has a long line of breathing related quirks. They joke about which came first, their last name which means 'breath', or their quirks. A wide range of quirks sprouted up in their family, from enhanced lung capacity, to laser breath, to her rainbow breath. Her brother reminded her of a dragon growing up, breathing out large puffs of fire at will. Her father breathed out smoke, and her mother could light her hands like little flashlights.
Safe to say that they were relieved when their second born had rainbows in her lungs, and they didn't have two fire-breathing children.
One of the happiest days of Aya's life was when her older brother had a child. Little Izuku was a bundle of joy, and Aya fell in love immediately. While she didn't know much about Inko, considering Izuku was the product of a very short relationship to marriage of convenience, but she seemed like a nice enough person.
One of the saddest days of her life was when her brother Hisashi passed. It was sudden, and very tragic for the family, especially since his son was only three.
The funeral was large, different breathing quirks accidentally being activated from all the crying, but they managed to get together for a celebration of life afterwards. They listened to music, ate Hisashi's favorite foods, and everyone passed around little Izuku to give him a big hug. He loved all the attention, but didn't really understand what was going on at the time.
After the funeral Inko seemed to distance herself from the family. The playdates with the grandparents stopped, and Aya watched as her father tried to hold his tears in after another declined call, and her mother stressed baked in the family kitchen. Aya was suffering from the distance between her and her nephew, who she loved.
When Hisashi was alive there wasn't a week she didn't get to see him, and now she was lucky to get a phonecall.
A few months went by and she had enough. Her family had decided to give Inko some space, let her grieve how she needed to, but Aya could see that if they let it go on then she would never come back.
So Aya marched to their apartment and forcefully inserted herself into the life of her sister-in-law and her nephew. Izuku grew up with a distant mother, who was always treating him like he was going to shatter at any moment, especially after he was diagnosed quirkless.
But he also grew up with a loving aunt, who said it didn't matter if he was quirkless, it didn't make him any less important or amazing.
Aya sent a text to her nephew as she walked out of her office building.
Auntie Aya
> hey kiddo, you ready?? i got some food at home calling our names
Izuzu
> yup! im starvinggggg
Auntie Aya
> im on my way to save the day ᕕ༼⌐■-■༽ᕗ
Aya pulled up to the side of his middle school, her little Skoda Fabia Scout with a bumper sticker that says 'This Car Survived Rainbow Road' softly pulled to a halt.
Izuku looked up from his phone immediately and smiled brightly as he jogged up to get into the passenger seat.
"What's up, fucker?"
Izuku gasped dramatically, clutching his fake pearls, "What have I ever done to deserve that?"
"Just that I had to find out that you got your Nike High Dunks x Miruko shoes from your Instagram story!" Aya exclaimed, looking at her nephew with an offended expression, pulling into the street swiftly. Her hands gripped the steering wheel, eyes darting between him and the road with a playful expression.
Izuku leaned back in the passenger seat, holding his hands up defensively, a playful grin on his face. "Whoa, whoa, Auntie! It's not like I was trying to keep it a secret. I just... totally forgot to text you," he said, shrugging sheepishly.
"Oh so you remembered to take the pictures, find the perfect background, pick the best filter, and post it, but you forgot to tell your favorite aunt? The one who got you the money to get them?" Aya shot back, pretending to be hurt.
Izuku laughed, shaking his head. "Okay I get it, I should've told you first. I just got too excited, you know how long I've been waiting for those to drop."
Aya huffed but couldn't hide her smile. "I swear, you and those shoes. Who would've thought my own nephew would be a sneakerhead. I bet if you could marry them, you would."
"Hey, they are limited edition! It's basically a relationship at this point," Izuku quipped, causing them both to burst into laughter. The rest of the car ride was filled with their usual banter.
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Back at Aya's apartment they settled onto the couch, their fried chicken and fries sitting in front of them. The TV was playing a random Adam Sandler movie they threw on as background noise.
"Okay, spill. You're hiding something, I can feel it in my nuggets. Secret sneaker purchases, girlfriend, boyfriend?" Aya waggled her eyebrows teasingly as she sipped her lemonade.
Izuku huffed and rolled his eyes, "No none of that. But.. there is something," he said, his tone suddenly shifting to something more serious.
Aya paused mid-chew, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? Now you've got me curious. What's up, kiddo?"
Izuku took a deep breath, staring at his half-eaten chicken sandwich, "So... I might be a bit busy before the next school year."
Aya narrowed her eyes, setting her plate aside. "Busy with what, exactly? Are you upping your UA training? You've never been too busy for our movie marathons and weekend hangouts."
When Izuku confided in her that he wanted to be a hero, even though everyone else in his life said it would be impossible to do while quirkless, Aya didn't hesitate to help. Taking extra hours so that he could get tutors, martial arts training, UA prep courses was the bare minimum. The thing that meant the most to him was that she actually believed that he could do it.
He shrugged, avoiding her gaze. "Just stuff.. I've got a lot going on."
Aya's brows furrow. "Stuff? That's not an answer, Izu. Since when do you get all mysterious on me?"
He shifted uncomfortably, fidgeting with the hem of his All Might hoodie. "It's not a big deal, really. Just trying to stay ahead, you know? Do some more training, some extra projects."
She leaned forward, searching his face. "You can tell me anything, you know that right? If something's up, I'm here. You know I won't judge. And if you're in trouble... let me help, yeah?"
He hesitated, "It's really nothing bad, auntie. I just need to figure some things out before the end of this school year."
Aya didn't look convinced, but she knew when to push and when to give him some space. She nods slowly, her eyes still sharp. "Alright. But you have to promise you'll let me know if you need help with any of these projects. I'm not buying this whole 'busy summer' excuse without some proof."
Izuku gave a relieved smile, leaning back into the cushions. "I promise. But for now, let's just focus on these wings. I'm pretty sure you ordered the spiciest ones on purpose."
Aya chuckled, grabbing the remote to turn up the volume, Adam Sandler's laugh breaking the tension. "Okay, but don't think I'm done grilling you kiddo. We'll revisit this conversation soon."
He smiled, turning back to the movie, but Aya couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his story than he was letting on.
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Aya always thought that she was the cool aunt. Y'know, 'Don't drink unless you're doing it responsibly, call me instead of driving' and 'I won't tell your mom if you won't'
But now, as she follows her nephew one afternoon, she has a horrifying thought. Is she the overbearing aunt? Is she making a big deal out of this?
She takes a deep breath, some sparkles getting stuck to her lip gloss that she pays no mind to. No, he could be in trouble. Doing something dangerous, in trouble with some gangs, getting bullied... those were some of the worst things she could think of. She honestly hoped it was just a friend he wanted to keep secret, going on little dates. If that was the case then she would walk away and pretend she didn't see a thing.
But the uncomfortable feeling only got worse when he ended his journey at a desolate and dirty dump, a place that used to be a beautiful beach when Aya was a kid. She honestly felt ready to throw up rainbows all over the sidewalk when a tall ADULT man, with a sickly skinny figure and blonde hair, came up and gave her CHILD nephew a hug.
Okay, so the universe wanted to play with her. Aya clenched her fists tightly, walking up to the two figures, making sure her footsteps were heard.
Izuku did a double take when he saw her. First shock, then confusion, then terror once he saw the anger on her face. His face went pale, and his freckles stood out even more on his skin.
"A-A-Auntie.. what are you doing here?!" He choked on his words, arms waving in front of him as he resisted the urge to back away from his angry relative.
"No no no, I should be asking you that. What the hell are you doing here, mister? And who are you? A grown man meeting my nephew in the park." She crossed her arms, turning her full attention on the man whose eyes had widened to show a bright blue.
"Oh! Um, forgive me, my name is Toshinori. I am training Young Midoriya to get into UA!" The man nervously smiled, not used to such menacing glares from people that weren't villains.
"What are your qualifications? Where can I look you up? You got reviews? You better hope every answer is crystal clear or I will beat your face in." Yagi cleared his throat, blinking at the hostile words coming from a lady with pretty glitter on her teeth and mouth.
He certainly never expected that a family member of Midoriya's would be like this!
"Auntie, he went to UA! A-and, he knows a lot. We're cleaning this beach!" Izuku worriedly tried to calm his aunt down without spilling All Mights secret.
"Then why did you feel the need to keep this a secret? If everything is normal, fine, and dandy, then why were you so reluctant to tell me?"
Toshinori sighed, coughing some blood that made Aya back up a bit in disgust. "I can answer that one... You see, I met Young Midoriya when I saved him from the Slime Villain."
Aya furrowed her brows, to her knowledge All Might was the one who saved Izuku and later another middle schooler from his school. But she let the man continue, something in his voice captivated her.
"...and I got this injury, causing me to be on a time limit. But when I saw Young Midoriya try to save that boy with nothing but his own backpack, and he told me that he was moving before he could think.. well, he inspired me." Toshinori then seemed to buff up, and the instantly recognizable figure of the Number One hero was standing in front of her.
Aya was frozen, his blinding smile so familiar and yet this was the closest she had ever seen it. "All Might..."
"YES! I want to train Young Midoriya to wield my quirk, and be my successor!" The man struck his iconic pose, and Aya leaned on her nephew so that she could stay upright.
She took a deep breath, rainbow lights shining from her mouth as glitter mixed with the sand floor, "Okay, what do we do?"
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Aya was kind of appalled at the plan All Might had done. The nutritional and training aspect was spot on, and he told her that he actually went to school for it. But at the end it said that Izuku will receive the quirk the day of the Entrance Exam.
"That won't work. He is quirkless, he won't know how to control it, he will get hurt. Trust me, I am a quirk counselor, this is my job."
All Might nodded along at her dinner table, where the three sat with some takeout. "What do you suppose we do?"
"Well first, you're going to do some quirk counseling with me. What does your schedule look like, big guy?"
All Might sweatdropped, taking a long gulp of sweet tea.
For the next month Aya had an appointment spot reserved for one 'Yagi Toshinori', where they talked an analyzed his quirk that would eventually be passed onto her nephew.
Lot's of questions were answered and many concerns were addressed. They came up with a plan that would allow Izuku enough time to adjust to his new power by gradually increasing the percentage slowly, so his body could get used to it. Instead of pushing him to go all-out from the start, the plan emphasized gradual mastery, preventing injuries.
All Might also disclosed that his own mentor, Nana, meditated and had visualization techniques that helped her map out the power distribution in her body. This was great information, and Aya introduced Izuku to Tai Chi so that he could get a head start on meditation and being more in tune with his body.
Aya also added on sparring to his training, instead of just simply muscle training. She commented saying, what good were muscles if you didn't know how to use them?
Something that seemed to be helping Izuku a lot was analyzing the quirk himself. Since a young age he has been interested in quirk analyzation, and with his aunt working as a quirk counselor it was cultivated into a very useful tool instead of just a side hobby.
He thought of creative ways he could apply the quirk, support items he might need, how it could be used for rescue. A notebook was already filled to the brim, though All Might had him write it all out in code for security purposes.
Although the most important thing that they went over was what to tell people when they asked how a quirkless kid got such a powerful quirk so many years late.
Aya sat down with the two, looking at a clean beach around two months before the UA Entrance Exam. "The best lies are based on the truth, remember that. What do you say if someone asks?"
"I was presumed quirkless growing up, but I found out that my body just wasn't ready for my quirk yet. I'm a little behind when it comes to quirk usage, so I have to work many times harder to catch up to everyone else!"
Yagi patted the young kid on the head and smiled. "Nicely done, Young Midoriya. Nicely done."