idraax | The Thaw of Spring: Prologue

Izuku fished his notebook out of the pond, Kachan's words still ringing in his head.

How can I be a hero if I couldn't save myself?

His lower back still ached. Though the wounds had healed. So did his jaw. Water dripped through his fingers.

Fluid running down his legs. The burn in his throat. A flash.

He shook his head. Shook the notebook. What was stopping him from following Kachan's advice? He tilted his head back, looked up at the roof.

I could ruin him

A hot mouth whispering words in his ear. "No one's going to believe a quirkless kid like you."

He looked at the ground. Started the walk home.

Then, he ran into a villain. Caught a ride with All Might. Wound up saving Kachan. Said yes to All Might's offer. Went home, lay in bed and thought.

With his power, I can save people.

A whisper of a thought. Of the dark memory that haunted his every waking hour. He swallowed.

"Who's going to believe you?" Cold laughter. "No one, that's who."

He could never tell All Might. He'd lose the chance. Izuku stared into the dark, felt the shattered pieces of himself throb. All Might's words had patched them up. He could never know what he had done, how much his words had meant. Right now, they were the only things keeping Izuku here.

"You can be a hero!"

Time passed. Eventually, Izuku was able to put away the memories, to focus on becoming a hero. He'd gotten in to UA, was learning from the best. He was still stuck with Bakugo, but it was okay. Things were becoming better.

Then, in their last year of school, he noticed the signs. Of shaky kanji being written on the blackboard. Subtle flinches whenever someone got too close. The grey capture scarf always slightly risen above his teacher's neck. Izuku didn't like them, didn't like the picture they were painting.

He resigned himself to staying after school. He had to know.