Six Of Hearts - breadsticks_in_coffee - 僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia (2023)

Chapter 1: Chapter One: And So, It Starts.

Chapter Text

The bell rang to signal the end of another day at Aldera middle school and the clamour reached a crescendo as students scrambled to go home for the day. Except for two boys. One was a small green haired boy mumbling to himself and the other was a loud blond who turned to the former with malicious intent clear on his face. The teacher, an obese middle aged man with small piggy eyes and no neck, waddled out while calling something out to the two like “just don’t be here too long, boys.”

The latter of the two aforementioned boys stood and slammed his hands on the desk of the green hair boy and let off a loud explosion, startling the mumbling boy from his state.

Izuku Midoriya let out a squeak as he covered his face, cowering in the corner of the almost empty classroom,
“STUPID DEKU, DO WHAT’S GOOD FOR YOU AND TAKE A SWAN DIVE OFF A BUILDING” screamed Bakugo Katsuki, the loud blonde in the room. The petite green haired boy whimpered as the smell of nitroglycerin filled his nostrils and the sound of explosions snapped, crackled and popped in his already damaged ears,
“Kacchan! Kacchan please! Please leave me alone!” Izuku whimpered as his hearing aids broke in his ears. The other boy let out a manic laugh which was not heard by the blubbering boy before him. Bakugo then proceeded to punch, kick and use his quirk on the defenceless boy before him. Eventually Izuku passed out against the damaged wall plaster and that was the end to the blond menace’s fun. Grabbing Izuku’s shoulder, he used his explosive quirk to brand a handprint on the boy.

Izuku awoke half an hour later and with a gasp he realised he would be late home- his mother would be furious! He really didnt want to deal with an angry Inko: an angry Inko means his hair gets pulled, and also new bruises everywhere. Not to mention the fact she can literally kill him- her nursing skills meant that she knew all the effective ways to do it.

He gathered his tattered things and put in his spare hearing aids before he began running home, running the normal way instead of taking a shortcut and possibly getting attacked by a sludgy villain like last week. Izuku shivered and whimpered at the thought of the disgusting near death experience. His lungs and legs burnt as he ran and ran to the apartment, skipping steps and stumbling in a race to make it home. Faces and buildings passed and his tattered clothes whipped in the wind and attracted the looks of concerned passers by as a basically 3/4 clothed bush on a human like stick whizzed past with occasional stumbles

He got through the door after fumbling with the keys for a painful minute and as he slipped off his shoes, heaving for breath, he took off his battered banana yellow backpack and hung it on the hook before speed walking to his bedroom.

As the door slid shut behind him, the front door slammed open with a bang and a feminine voice rung throughout the apartment,

“Son, I’m home!” and with those 3 words the She-Demon had returned to burn the world of the son she had made deaf (surprisingly it WASN’T Bakugo’s fault). Now, one thing to note about this woman is that she was a pathological liar. She had lied about her quirk- it was much more powerful than just being able to pull small objects. She could move things up to the size of a cottage. Which includes her son and his internal organs.

Case in point being her slamming his door open with a venomous glare and tugging at her son's lungs painfully, making him gasp and fall forward onto his knees at the shock,
“WHY did I get a call from your school saying you skipped class today?” The emerald haired demoness fumed, tugging at her son's hair before grabbing an All Might figurine and launching it across the room at the wall. Izuku whimpered out an apology saying it would never happen again. Probably because he would take Bakugo’s advice before he went back to that hellhole. Inko huffed and left and as she slammed the door behind her, Izuku’s face was set determinedly.

He packed a small bag of clothes and set off on his journey, out the window and down the street of the residential area

He would get out of here or die trying.

Chapter 2: Chapter 2: In my Heart

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Everyone thought Izuku was quirkless, his mother was supposedly a fourth generation quirk user- it wouldn’t be that surprising if it weren’t for the fact that quirkless people are extremely rare. And that's why within their community, they had safe houses in case someone was in trouble. Izuku wasn’t quirkless, like they thought.

He had 2 quirks: immortality, and the ability to see, communicate with and (unbeknownst to him) pull them from the endless void of spirits and deities. No one believed him. But he knew, he knew no one else saw the unnaturally green and scaly and absolutely HUGE spider that was in the corner of every room he was in, no one else saw the hooded figure that stood in his kitchen, the children covered in blood screaming in terror running through the halls of Aldera. He however, didn’t know he was immortal. Yet.

He walked solemnly down the nearly empty street- kids were either home already at the park and most adults were still working. He slipped through several back alleys, guided by pure muscle memory as his thoughts swirled meaninglessly

Mum is going to be worried sick/NO!/She’ll just be mad/ Oh no now I can’t go- OOH A CAT/ Awww lemme try pet it/ I love cats/ Wait where am I??/ Oh no I really ran away/ Oooh some scrap car parts/ That gives me an idea: an electric skateboard!/ Oh, I’m here!

Izuku blinked rapidly as a hand waved in front of his face. He hoisted the metal scraps higher in his arms as he made eye contact with the person in front of him,

“Hey, Little Green, whatcha doing here?” the soft voice of the older man Izuku knew as Maeda Hinata crouched down to his height,
“H-hey, Nata, c-can I crash here f-for a few d-days?” Izuku mumbled, looking down with a flushed face,

“Of course, Greenie. Come in. Koharu is here today. Are you hungry? She’s making Soba and Yakitori.” Hinata smiled at the boy in front of him, the boy he saw like a son. Hinata’s heart warmed drastically as Izuku looked up with a massive smile,

“Ru is here? Really?!” at the nod of the older man his smile brightened and got wider, something that probably shouldn't have been possible, “Yes!!”

Hinata laughed and gestured to the open trapdoor that would otherwise be concealed and undetectable to everyone else, “After you.”

Izuku and his constant spider companion that he has learnt was named Greg scampered down the ladder and into the underground base. Even though most quirkless people knew Izuku did actually have a quirk (they believed him, thank goodness) they still accepted him as one of their own because at the end of the day, nothing can get rid of years of scars and abuse. They still extended him invites to the quirkless funerals and parties.

Parties were held at birthdays and holidays and funerals were like a massive party with drinks and food to celebrate the life of their metaphorical sibling. That's what quirkless people are to each other- family. Because if they didn’t celebrate and look out for each other then who would.

Certainly not society.

“Izu! Hey!” a sweet voice, like honey, rang through the homey underground house. The voice belonged to a fairly short,brown-haired person with blue-green eyes and round, gold wireframe glasses. Her hair was in a messy bun as she waved a big spoon at the newcomer. Izuku waved back and ran over to the person and hugged her,

“Pronouns, Ru?”

“She/Her” the genderfluid (currently) woman grinned at the five foot ball of genius clinging to her as she hugged back briefly before separating the two of them, “Food will be done soon!”

Izuku nodded before skipping to sit next to Hinata on the sofa. Knowing Ru, while no one knew Izuku would’ve been there she just cooked a load of extras to hand out to other people later in the evening.

“Hey Squirt, pass me the remote?” Hinata asked, pointing to the remote next to Izuku. The greenette passed it over and Nata proceeded to put on some random movie. Ghostbusters, how ironic.

As the iconic music played, the three quirkless people sang along and as the movie played Koharu bought over plates of food and sat to Izuku’s left. They sat like that for hours into the night, watching TV and revelling in each other's company. A mismatched family, but family nonetheless. It was midnight when Izuku was carried to bed and late into the morning when he woke with a note on the bedside table telling him there was food for him in the fridge.

This routine continued for a week, with added board games and impromptu karaoke and other people stopping by to crash in guest rooms that made up the underground labyrinth that was Maeda Hinata’s home.

The only notable thing that happened was that a new spirit began to wander the halls. Katou Akihiko, one of the older quirkless people, had passed away in his sleep here. The funeral was next week and there was no way Izuku wouldn’t be there. Akihiko was the one who had taught Izuku and Koharu to weld and cook. His ghost was just as kind as the man who came before. He still had the same calloused hands and long grey hair always in a low bun, the same twinkling blue eyes and soft smile. And he still was one of the best advice givers ever. Although no one else in the house could see him, they all knew he was there and that eased their grief ever so slightly. When messages from the dead man needed to be passed, Izuku was happy to oblige.

Eventually though, it would be time for him to leave.

Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Despair Wells.

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Izuku sighed, trudging through the maze home he was staying in. It was late at night and he had just returned home with Maeda from the funeral for Akihiko. Izuku was exhausted, but before he crashed into the hammock filled with blankets in his room, he packed his bag. Tomorrow he would leave. But he would have to say goodbye first

The next morning, the tired greenette trudged into the kitchen, rubbing at his eyes as he grabbed the coffee offered to him by Koharu. Izuku grunted a quiet thanks before he steadily sipped the steaming beverage.

A few hours later and some goodbyes later, Izuku was strolling through the back-alleys of Japan. He was accompanied by a few ghosts who had gone to scope out some abandoned buildings and derelict warehouses.
__

A few weeks later, Izuku had been roof hopping to get to his new home when he slipped and tumbled down into an alleyway.
Izuku groaned in pain as he clutched his injured arm, his eyes still adjusting to the sudden darkness of the alleyway. He could hear the sound of fists hitting flesh and the dull thuds of bodies hitting the ground. It was a fight, and he had stumbled (fell) right into the middle of it.

He tried to get up, but his injured arm gave out, sending him back to the ground with a hiss of pain. It was then that he saw him, standing in the shadows like a dark sentinel, his hair and scarf blowing in the breeze. Eraserhead.
Izuku's heart pounded in his chest as he realised who it was. Eraserhead was a hero, one of the best in the business. He had always admired the hero from afar, but now he was face to face with him.
"Stay down," Eraserhead growled, his voice low and menacing. "This isn't a place for civilians."

Izuku nodded, too scared to even speak. He watched as Eraserhead effortlessly took down the group of villains, his movements fluid and precise. It was like watching a dance, but a deadly one.
When the last villain had been taken down, Eraserhead approached Izuku cautiously. "Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice softer now.
Izuku nodded again, still too shaken to speak. Eraserhead examined his arm, wincing at the sight of the deep gash on it.

"We need to get you to a hospital," he said, looking around the alleyway for any sign of danger.
"No!" Izuku protested, finally finding his voice. "I can't go to the hospital."
Eraserhead raised an eyebrow, clearly confused. "Why not?"
"I can't tell you," Izuku said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Eraserhead sighed. "Look kid, I'm not going to hurt you. I'm a hero, remember?"
"I know," Izuku said, his voice trembling. "But I can't go to a hospital. They'll ask questions. They'll want to know why I'm on the streets. I can't tell them."
Eraserhead hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Okay, I understand. But we need to get you some help. My apartment is close by, we can go there and I can patch you up."
Izuku was hesitant, but he knew he couldn't stay in the alleyway. He nodded, and Eraserhead picked him up, supporting his arm as they walked out of the alleyway and onto the main street.

The walk to Eraserheads apartment was quiet, the only sound was the shuffling of Eraser’s feet and the occasional car passing by. When they arrived, Eraserhead led Izuku into the living room and sat him down on the couch.
"I'll be right back," he said, disappearing into another room.
Izuku took the opportunity to look around the living room. It was sparsely decorated, with only a few pieces of furniture and some scattered books. It was a stark contrast to the cluttered mess of his own room, but there was a certain calmness to it.
Eraserhead returned a few minutes later, holding a first aid kit. He sat down next to Izuku and began to clean and stitch up his wound.
"Why are you doing this?" Izuku asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Eraserhead didn't answer right away, instead focusing on his task. "Because it's my job," he finally said. "I'm a hero, and heroes help people."

Izuku was quiet for a moment, mulling over Eraserheads words.
After a minute he tried to move, but the pain in his leg shot up and he winced, realising it was most likely broken.
Eraserhead crouched down next to him and examined the injury. "It's definitely broken," he confirmed, "We need to get you to a hospital."
Izuku shook his head. "No, no hospitals. Please," he begged, "I can't go to a hospital."
Eraserhead looked at him quizzically. "Why not?" he asked.
"I just can't," Izuku replied, his voice barely above a whisper, "Please don't make me go."
Eraserhead hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright," he said, "But I need to take care of that leg first."

Izuku watched as Eraserhead wrapped his leg with a makeshift splint, his eyes filling with tears from the pain.
"Where do you live?" Eraserhead asked him, "I'll take you there."
"I don't have a place to live," Izuku admitted, "Well. Actually. Um… I live in an old warehouse."
Eraserheads eyes widened in surprise and. "I see," he said, "Well, you can stay with me until your leg heals."
Izuku looked at him in shock. "What? No, I couldn't possibly impose on you like that," he protested.
"It's not an imposition," Eraserhead said, "I'm just doing my job as a hero. And besides, it's not safe for you to be out on the streets with a broken leg."

Izuku opened his mouth to argue, but the pain in his leg flared up again and he winced, biting back a cry. Eraserheads expression softened and he placed a hand on Izuku's shoulder. "Trust me," he said, "I'll take care of you."
Izuku hesitated for a moment before nodding, his eyes filling with gratitude. "Thank you," he said softly.
He helped Izuku lie back on the couch and disappeared into the kitchen, returning with a glass of water and a bottle of painkillers.
"Here," he said, handing Izuku the glass and the pills, "Take these. They'll help with the pain."
Izuku swallowed the pills and sipped the water gratefully, feeling the pain begin to ease. Eraserhead disappeared again, returning with a blanket which he draped over Izuku.
"You should rest," he said, "I'll be in the other room if you need me."
Izuku nodded, feeling the exhaustion from the past few days catch up to him. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, feeling safe and protected for the first time in weeks. But even in his sleep, he couldn't shake the feeling of guilt and shame that had been gnawing at him since he ran away from his mother. He couldn't tell Eraserhead the truth. He couldn't tell anyone.

Chapter 4

Chapter Text

Over the next few days, Eraserhead watched Izuku carefully, taking in his words and the pained expressions on his face. He could tell that there was something deeper going on with him, something that he wasn't ready to reveal just yet. But he wasn't going to pressure the kid. He was determined to help him in any way he could.

"I understand," he had said softly, "You don't have to tell me if you're not ready. But I want you to know that I'm here for you, and I'll do whatever it takes to help you."

Izuku had nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. He was grateful for Eraserhead's understanding and support, but he still couldn't bring himself to reveal his quirk.

A few days had passed when Eraserhead stood up, his expression determined. "I'm going to bring in Recovery Girl," he said, "She's one of the best healers in the business. She can help with your leg."
Izuku felt a sense of nervousness at the thought of meeting another hero, but he knew he needed the help. He nodded, and Eraserhead left the room to make the call.

As he waited, Izuku closed his eyes and focused on his quirk. He had always been able to communicate with ghosts, a quirk that he had inherited from God Knows Where. It was a strange and sometimes scary ability, but it was also comforting. He could talk to the spirits of his ancestors and seek their guidance when he was feeling lost or alone.

He called out to them now, feeling their presence around him. They whispered words of comfort and encouragement, telling him to be strong and have faith (as well as some negative ones but oh well). He felt a sense of peace wash over him, and he knew that he would get through this.

Half an hour later, Eraserhead returned with a small, elderly woman with a kind face and a no-nonsense demeanour. "This is Recovery Girl," he said, introducing them.
She approached him, examining his leg closely. "Hmm, it's a bad break," she said, "But I can heal it. It'll take a few days of rest, but you should be back on your feet in no time."

Izuku felt a surge of relief at her words. He had been worried that his leg would need more time- which would mean he’d have to stay with the Underground hero.

Recovery Girl applied some ointment to his leg and wrapped it in a bandage. She gave him some instructions for caring for it and left him with a warning to take it easy for a few days.

Eraserhead sat down next to him, watching as Izuku adjusted to the new bandage on his leg before he started to tinker with his hearing aids on the table. "How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Better," Izuku replied, "Thank you for bringing her. Um, my name is Izuku by the way."
Eraserhead nodded, seemingly unfazed by the hearing aids- he had probably already seen them, "I'm glad she could help. It’s nice to formally meet you, Izuku."

They sat in silence for a few minutes, and Izuku felt a sense of calm settle over him. He was grateful for Eraserhead's help and support.

He closed his eyes and called out to the spirits once more. They appeared to him, their ghostly forms flickering in and out of existence. He talked to them in his mind, telling them about his situation and his fears. They listened patiently, offering words of comfort and wisdom.

As he talked to them, he felt a sense of clarity and purpose. He knew that he couldn't give up on his dream of becoming a hero, no matter how difficult it seemed. He would find a way to make it happen, even if it meant working harder than anyone else.

Eraserhead watched him, his expression softening. He had never seen someone like Izuku before, and would do his best to help the kid.

Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Pineapple On Pizza????

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Izuku had spent just over a wek recovering in Eraserhead's apartment. With each passing day, his leg grew stronger, and his spirits began to lift. He was grateful for the care and support he had received, but he was also itching to get back on his feet and start working towards his dream once again.

One sunny morning, as the scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the apartment, Izuku found himself sitting at the kitchen table, watching Eraserhead sip his own cup.
"Izuku," Eraserhead said, breaking the comfortable silence, "I think it's time we start focusing on your self-defence skills. It's important for any aspiring hero to be able to protect themselves."
Izuku's eyes lit up with excitement. He had always admired Aizawa's skill as a hero and a teacher. He nodded eagerly, eager to learn.

Eraserhead stood up and motioned for Izuku to follow him. They made their way to the training room, where Aizawa had set up a small training area. Mats lined the floor, and a variety of training equipment stood ready for use.
Aizawa picked up a pair of padded gloves and tossed another pair to Izuku. "Let's start with some basic hand-to-hand combat techniques," he said, his voice calm and focused.

For the next few hours, Aizawa patiently guided Izuku through various drills and exercises. Izuku quickly realised that self-defence wasn't just about physical strength but also about strategy, reflexes, and control. With each punch and kick, he could feel himself growing more confident and capable.

After a particularly intense training session a few days later, Izuku found himself sitting on the floor, catching his breath. Aizawa watched him, his eyes filled with a mixture of pride and satisfaction.
"You're improving," Aizawa said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, "Keep up the hard work, and you'll be a force to be reckoned with."
Izuku nodded, feeling a renewed sense of determination. He was grateful for Aizawa's guidance and knew that he had a long way to go, but he was ready to put in the effort.

As the days wore on, Izuku's mind started to wander. He found himself thinking about the ghosts he had spoken to during his time in the apartment. Curiosity got the better of him, and he decided to seek them out.
He closed his eyes, reaching out to the spirit world. It didn't take long before two familiar figures appeared before him—his great-grandparents, Kazuo and Michiko.

"Hello, Izuku," Kazuo greeted with a warm smile, "We heard you were looking for us."
Izuku nodded, a mixture of excitement and nervousness bubbling inside him. "I wanted to thank you for your guidance and support. You've helped me find strength in difficult times."
Michiko's ghostly form reached out and gently touched Izuku's cheek. "You're a remarkable young man, Izuku. We're proud of the person you've become."

Tears welled up in Izuku's eyes as he felt their love and encouragement wash over him. It was a bittersweet moment, knowing that they were gone but still feeling their presence.
After his heartfelt conversation with his great-grandparents, Izuku decided it was time for a well-deserved break. He returned to the living room to find Eraserhead, who had brought home a pizza as a treat.

Present Mic (who Izuku had met in the last week) burst through the door, wearing his usual exuberant smile and carrying a stack of games. "Pizza party!" he exclaimed, dancing around the room.

Izuku couldn't help but laugh at the infectious energy. Izuku had quickly become comfortable around Eraserheads friend. He seemed to have this calming aura that also helped cheer people up. When he was excited, anyone around him tended to be too. Izuku wondered if this was perhaps a latent quirk.

"Hey, Midoriya!" Present Mic exclaimed, holding up a Game case, "I've got the new Pokémon Scarlet and Violet game, and thought you might like to play it!"
Izuku's eyes widened with excitement. "Thank you so much, Mic! I’ve heard great things, and that the homeroom teacher is awesome."
Present Mic grinned. "I'm glad I picked right! We'll have to play them later.

As they sat around the coffee table, enjoying their pizza and chatting about hero-related topics, Izuku couldn't help but feel a deep sense of gratitude. These people hadn’t asked questions, and let him be himself and that made him happy.
As the evening turned to night, Izuku found himself reflecting on his journey and how he was discovering his own strength and resilience. He knew that the path to becoming a hero would be long and arduous, but with the support of those around him, he was ready to face whatever lay ahead.

With the taste of pizza still lingering on his lips, Izuku made a silent promise to himself—to never give up, to continue pushing forward, and to become the hero he had always dreamed of being.
And with his newfound determination, Izuku knew that nothing could stand in his way.