Archive of Our Own ^beta

-4-

The Midoriya's had just moved next door, not that Hitoshi payed much mind to it, he was a four year old who's most pressing matter was coloring pictures for his fathers and making their cats love on him. He didn't think about the family until they introduced themselves the next day, a boy seemingly his age hiding behind his mother, chubby cheeks flushed a healthy pink and wide emerald eyes shining with hope as he flashed Hitoshi a shaky smile. 

Something about the other boy had drawn Hitoshi in, maybe it was his skittishness, or how he pushed through his obvious fear to extend an olive branch and smile at him, so in return he flashed his own smile, hiding behind his Papa's leg. The green haired toddlers eyes practically lit up, now seemingly unafraid as he darted between his mothers legs, outstretching his hand towards the other boy. 

"H-hi! I'm M-Midoriya Izu-Izuku!" The other boy had a stutter, but he powered through his words, grin positively lighting up the room as he vibrated in place. His papa laughed softly, gently pushing on Hitoshi's back so he'd introduce himself.

Hitoshi grumbled slightly at his papa, but stepped forward none the less, shaking the other boys hand. 

"I'm Shinsou Hitoshi." He replied, and somehow Izuku's smile got even brighter. 

"Toshi!" The greenette cheered loudly, cheeks puffing out as he vibrated in excitement.  

"If you call me Toshi I'm calling you Izu." The purple haired toddler replied, crossing his arms stubbornly, and the other boy just nodded enthusiastically; his grin never once faded from his face. Their parents were still talking above them, but it was an icky adult conversation, and neither were interested in paying attention to it. 

"Who's yo-your favorite hero Toshi?" Izu asked, hand coming up so he could chew on his fingers. Wide green eyes stared at Hitoshi like he was the very reason the sun rose in the morning, and it made the four year old feel important, feel needed. 

"Eraserhead, he's an underground hero! Who's yours Izu?" By this point Hitoshi had plopped himself down on the floor between his papa's legs, Izu doing the same in front of him. 

"All Might! But I love all he-heroes, I could watch them all d-day." The other boy got a dreamy look in his eyes, and Hitoshi hummed softly, leaning forward like he was going to tell the other boy a secret. Izu of course leaned forward in turn, eyes wide and still gnawing on his fingers eagerly. 

"My daddy and papa are both heroes, but you can't tell nobody!" Izu nodded with the seriousness of a four year old, his grin spreading wider. 

"Do you thi-think they'd let me an-analyze their quirks Toshi?" For some reason the other boy still whispered, but it was like the two boys were in their own little bubble, two adults above them long forgotten. 

"I'm sure they will Izu!" Just like that, the two four year old boys became best friends. 

-4-

The Midoriya's had been living next to the Yamazawa household for a little over a month before something happened. Izuku and Hitoshi hung out almost every other day, and if they didn't hang out, were constantly talking about one another. Shouta and Hizashi loved Izuku, he was a polite little thing, and he seemed to love their son with his whole being. They were amazing for each other. 

So when Izuku showed up at their door step, eyes red and puffy with tears and bottom lip wobbling, they couldn't just ignore the poor thing. His clothes were burnt on the sleeves and torso, small firework bursts of first degree burns going up the small boys arms along with scrapes and bruises. 

Hizashi had been the one to scoop the little one up, cooing and rubbing his back soothingly as a new round of tears ran down his face. The child buried his nose into the blondes neck, whimpering and whining all the while, breaking the adults hearts while Hitoshi worried over what was wrong with his friend. 

"Hey little listener, why don't we get you cleaned up and changed, yeah?" Hizashi questioned softly, using his 'traumatized victim' voice on the small boy, earning a pitiful sob and nod from the little boy. Hizashi shot his son and husband a look, still rubbing Izuku's back soothingly. 

"Shouta, why don't you keep an eye on Hitoshi and order some take out while I get the little one cleaned up?" His husband nodded, scooping up their own toddler and headed to their living room. 

The voice hero took Izuku to the bathroom, setting him on the counter before grabbing their very generous first aid kit, immediately working on cleaning and patching up the burns first, before he moved onto the scrapes and bruises that scattered all over his skin. 

"Do you wanna talk about what happened Izuku?" Hizashi asked softly as he worked, green eyes focused on the injuries, but occasionally glancing up to the Childs swollen face. Izuku sniffled, bottom lip wobbling dangerously, but he didn't have another round of tears. 

"Kacchan and his fr-friends don't like that I'm quirk-quirkless and don't think I can be a h-hero Mr. Hizashi, sir." Izuku replied meekly, bowing his head in shame, as if any of this was his fault. The blonde felt rage swell in his gut, but pushed it down. He didn't need to get angry in front of Izuku. 

"Izuku, kiddo could you look at me?" Hizashi gently tapped the boys knee, making the boy look at him from under his eyelashes. 

"There is nothing wrong with you being quirkless, you're still Izuku. If people don't like it, well they're buttheads." The child let out a scandalized giggle, covering his mouth, making Hizashi's lips curl. "And you could absolutely be a hero, you may have to work harder than others, but I think you'd be a great hero. You're already Hitoshi's."

This time instead of tears of pain or sadness Hizashi was tackled by a child crying tears of happiness and relief, one who was thankful for someone believing in him for the first time. 

Izuku stayed the night that evening, him and Hitoshi fell asleep on the couch cuddled up with their cats Outlet and Fork. Midoriya Inko never knocked on their door to ask if they knew where Izuku was. 

-5-

Izuku had been at their house for the last three days and Hitoshi was loving it! His best friend was always available to cuddle, and talk to him. Daddy and papa seemed a little worried and kept asking Izu about where his mama was, but Izu just said she was working a really long shift and should be home tomorrow, Hitoshi didn't want Izu to go home tomorrow! 

If Izu only had one more night to stay at their house then Hitoshi was gonna make sure it was the best night of their lives! He'd convinced daddy and papa to let him and Izu build a pillow fort in the living room, where they could have a sleep over and watch all kinds of movies. 

They'd made a legendary pillow fort, in Hitoshi's personal opinion. Daddy and papa didn't even have to help them, they'd kept an eye on them while doing work, watching as the two five year olds giggled and built their masterpiece. Outlet and Fork had curled up in their large nest of pillows and blankets as soon as they'd finished, the boys collapsing soon after them. 

Izu had his leg tossed over Hitoshi's own, making the indigo eye'd boy poke his side, earning an airy giggle in return. Hitoshi never knew friendship could feel this way until he met Izu. 

"You're my best friend Izu!" Hitoshi turned his head to face the other boy, a wide grin on his lips. Izu turned so he was facing Hitoshi, reaching forward to interlace their hands with another giggle. 

"You're my best friend too Toshi!" Unbeknownst to the boys Hizashi was recording the entire interaction, squealing silently over their combined cuteness. How a mother could 'forget' about a child this damn adorable was a mystery to him. 

The blonde backed away to go show his husband the adorable video of the boys, their giggles and incoherent whispers a background sound as they finished up what little work they had left. 

Hizashi and Shouta raided their pillow fort 10 minutes later, tickling the two boys until they were breathless and their eyes were teary. 

The two fathers each took a child and curled up with them, contently watching movies with the boys until they crashed from their long day of playing and their make believe adventures through the apartment. 

Midoriya Inko showed up the next day and took Izuku, brushing off the fact that she had left her five year old son with their neighbors for three days straight. Hitoshi and his fathers didn't see Izuku for a week after that. 

-6-

It had been a quiet night in the Yamazawa house hold, Izuku couldn't come over, something about being grounded. (Shouta and Hizashi knew it was bullshit, that little boy was an absolute angel.) And Hitoshi had laid down for a nap about an hour ago, so someone knocking on their door had immediately put the couple on edge. 

Shouta had been the one to open the door this time, finding a bruised and bloody Izuku with tears running down his face. 

"Jesus Christ- Zashi get Hitoshi we need to go the hospital." Shouta kneeled to scoop up the crying six year old, who clung to him like a life line, burying a bloody and snotty face into his shoulder, and for once Shouta honestly couldn't give a shit. 

The underground hero only cooed soothingly, pressing a delicate kiss to Izuku's rats nest of hair. 

Hizashi had poked his head around the corner, obvious concern on his features, eyes widening when he saw the state Izuku was in. The blonde hurried to go grab their son without a word. That left Shouta with a sobbing six year old who was shaking like a leaf and was absolutely covered in blood, presumably his own. 

"Izuku, kiddo can you follow my breathing?" Shouta asked, fingers running up and down Izuku's spine soothingly as he lightly bounced the boy. "Thats it, good job Izuku. In one two three four, hold one two three four." Shouta could've cried in relief when his husband rounded the corner with a bleary eyed Hitoshi and a to go bag over his shoulder, keys in hand. 

"Alright kiddo, we're gonna go get you checked out." Izuku still hadn't spoken a word, only nodding minutely into the dark haired mans shoulder, fingers curling even tighter into his shirt. The car ride had been a blur, and thankfully because Izuku was a child very obviously injured he'd been seen immediately, Shouta going back with him while Hizashi and Hitoshi stayed in the waiting room. 

The poor baby was covered head to toe in bruises, a laceration on his head that needed stitches and one on his tummy that needed stitches as well. When Shouta had asked him where Izuku had gotten the injuries the green eyed boy had clammed up and claimed that someone had done it when he was out throwing trash away. 

Shouta felt it in his soul that it was a false statement, Midoriya Inko had to be abusing her son, to a severe degree.

That night Shouta asked Tsukauchi to do a wellness check on the Midoriya household, because Shouta couldn't have Izuku taken away without solid proof. The most frustrating part? The wellness check had been completely clear. 

-7-

Izuku loved getting to stay the night at the Yamazawa household, he got to be around his best friend, he got to question Mr. Hizashi and Mr. Shouta on their quirks, and they had cats! Another really big plus for the seven year old was Toshi's dads would take them to the park all the time, mama didn't ever take him to the park anymore. 

Mr. Hizashi and Mr. Shouta took them to the park at least twice a week though, which is where they were currently headed, an adult on either side of the hyperactive boys. 

The two seven year old boys were practically vibrating beside one another as they walked beside Toshi's dads sides, their little fingers intertwined as they chattered away about anything and everything on their minds. 

When they arrived at the park the boys darted off before either parent could get a word in, Izuku squealing and giggling all the while. Immediately the pair headed for the swings, Toshi's personal favorite while chattering about a hero fight Izuku had seen the other day on the news. Hitoshi clambered onto the swing and Izuku got behind him, eagerly beginning to push his friend. 

"I can't wait till we're heroes Toshi! We could be a duo!" The seven year old squeaked, cheeks flushed happily. Hitoshi gasped, albeit it was dramatic (but not to a seven year old) and his head whipped around to look at the green haired boy. 

"Izu you're a genius!" The other boy cheered loudly, hopping off the swing without a care in the world. He rounded on his friend, a wide grin spread across his lips as he took Izuku's smaller hands in his own. 

"Izu promise me we're gonna be a hero duo together." The brainwasher's eyes shone with hope, his body vibrating with excitement at the prospect of being a duo with his best friend. 

"Of course we will Toshi! The best duo ever!" Izuku cheered loudly, his cheeks splitting into a wide grin which Hitoshi returned eagerly. 

"Pinky promise?" The other boy pulled his hand back to hold out his pinky, and Izuku hooked their pinkies together, his grin never once faltering. 

"I pinky promise we're gonna be the best hero duo ever Toshi." Hitoshi grinned widely, leaning down to press a kiss to Izuku's wide childish cheek, before tugging lightly on their interlocked pinkies. 

"C'mon we gotta go tell daddy and papa about us being a duo Izu!" Their pinkies stayed interlocked the rest of the afternoon. 

-8-

Izuku came over to their house a lot more nowadays, Hitoshi absently noticed. He didn't mind of course, he loved his best friend and wanted Izuku to always be around! But dad and pops seemed worried a lot of the time when it came to Izuku, so in turn it made Hitoshi worry about his best friend, who on days when he went home would show up the next time with bruises and cuts; always finding some excuse to give. 

Hitoshi may be eight, but he knew that not everyone had the best home life. He himself was adopted by his parents when he was three from a not so great home, so it hurt to see his best friend going through the same thing as he had. Hitoshi made a promise to himself that when Izuku was over he'd always make sure it was fun and that Izuku was happy, because he probably wasn't getting that at home. 

So that's what the eight year old would do, ranging from playing Izuku's favorite games to sitting through the news so Izuku could do analysis on a new heroes quirk. That was another thing he noticed, his best friend was really smart, dad said he could 'never meet the rat' whatever that meant. 

Izuku's mama didn't seem to appreciate how smart her son was, when Izuku came over again his notebook would be all torn up and ruined, so dad and pops got him notebooks to keep over at their house, Izuku had cried an ocean when they gave him the first notebook. 

It was one of the dreaded nights of Izuku going home, it had Hitoshi pacing around, tiny hands tugging at his shirt anxiously. Dad was out on patrol already, having been called out for a case he'd been working on for the last week, and pops was no better, even though he was trying to hide his anxiety from the eight year old. 

Hitoshi was about to ask his pops if they could watch a movie, maybe a distraction from his worry would be good, when a loud crash and scream came from the apartment next door. Izuku's apartment. 

His pops was on his feet and out the front door, telling Hitoshi to stay there before the eight year old could even react. Of course he was a child, and didn't listen to his father, running behind the blonde as the man kicked in the neighboring door. 

It was a sight Hitoshi would never forget, and for months after the encounter he would have nightmares about it, only being soothed when he could call his best friend and hear his voice, alive and okay. 

Izuku's mama was standing over the prone and unmoving form of the mentioned boy, a puddle of blood quickly growing under his tiny body. The Midoriya matriarch was screaming obscenities but they fell deaf on Hitoshi's ears, his eyes stuck on Izuku's form. 

Unthinking the child rushed forward, a scream of his best friends name leaving his lips as he dropped to his knees by the smaller boys side. Distantly he could hear pops arresting Izuku's mama and he thought he heard him on his phone, but all of his focus was on his best friend. 

Hitoshi reached his hand forward, a sob bubbling up in his throat as he shook Izuku's shoulder. 

"Izu you gotta wake up." Tears fell from indigo eyes as he continued to shake Izuku's shoulder, movement growing more violent by the second. 

"Izu wake up this isn't funny!" Pops fell to his knees beside him, hands coming to press down on a heavily bleeding wound on the eight year olds side. Pops eyes were red and his bottom lip was wobbling. 

"Hitoshi baby I don't want you to look anymore, I'm gonna take care of Izuku until help gets here, he's gonna be okay." He promised, swallowing past the lump in his throat when Izuku whimpered in pain when he applied more pressure. 

"Why isn't he waking up? This isn't funny anymore papa! We're have a promise!" Hitoshi replied angrily, tears stubbornly running down his cheeks. 

He was a child, he didn't understand it wasn't a game, that Izuku may never wake up again. That his mama had tried to kill her own son, in her own words to 'free him of a world that would only hurt him.' 

The ambulance had taken five minutes to arrive, it had been the longest five minutes of the father and sons lives. Midoriya Inko had been arrested, charges pending on if Izuku survived. 

Hitoshi stayed with Izuku the entire time he was asleep (as pops had put it), he refused to leave his best friend. Izuku had to be so scared, and well, Shouta and Hizashi didn't have the hearts to tear the two boys apart. 

Of course Midoriya Izuku was a fighter, and he pulled through, and when he woke up it was to the faces of the Yamazawa household and a rather chipper looking Rat, dog, thing. (Izuku proceeded to correct Nedzu and say he was a stoat, said stoat cackled for five minutes before he could compose himself.) 

-9-

Izuku really liked Mr. Nedzu, the stoat had taken guardianship of the nine year old after the accident with mama and he'd been really nice to him ever since. Mr. Nedzu let him ramble all he wanted about heroes and quirks, and seemed really interested in what he had to say, even giving his own input when Izuku took time to breathe! He also let Izuku and Hitoshi hang out all the time, going as far as to have the two boys enrolled in the same elementary school (One that was well known for having a very strict zero tolerance policy on quirk discrimination) and let them have sleep overs every weekend! 

Toshi liked Mr. Nedzu too, which was a relief to the nine year old, because Izuku wasn't sure if he could handle his best friend not liking his new guardian. Mr. Shouta and Mr. Hizashi were worried at first when Mr. Nedzu had taken Izuku in, something about not being good with emotions, but Izuku is pretty sure those concerns had died down, Izuku was really happy with Mr. Nedzu. 

One of the reasons Izuku really liked Mr. Nedzu was because he was really good at handling Izuku's nightmares. He dreamed about mama a lot, about the day she really hurt him and he took a really long nap. 

He'd wake up screaming and crying and Mr. Nedzu would climb into his bed, cooing softly and gently prying his hands from clawing at his arms as he spoke soothing words. 

The stoat would calm the nine year old down, allowing the child to brush through his fur and sink into his more animalistic instincts and purr soothingly for his pup, assuring him that he was alright, that he was at home safe and sound. 

Some nights if Izuku couldn't go back to sleep Mr. Nedzu would gently usher him out of bed and lead him to their kitchen where the stoat would make them some chamomile tea and allow Izuku to talk about anything and everything he wanted to. His fears, dreams, aspirations, and everything in his little brain that haunted him. Never once did the stoat interrupt him or shame the child, he was but a gentle soothing hand guiding the way. 

On really bad nights Mr. Nedzu would call Mr. Hizashi or Mr. Shouta so Izuku could talk to his best friend, even if it was only for a few minutes, it would do wonders to calm the child down. He'd sink back into his mattress, curled around the stoat still sniffling but his muscles relaxed as Hitoshi rambled sleepily about something random. 

If Izuku could fall back asleep after his nightmares Mr. Nedzu would stay curled up, cooing softly to his pup and keeping him safe and keeping the demons in his head away, things wren't perfect but they were enough for the odd duo. 

Mr. Nedzu, his papa may be a pro hero, but he was Izuku's personal hero. 

-10-

At the age of 10 the boys began training for the U.A entrance exam, after pestering all three of their fathers for 5 months straight about it. Hitoshi had a mental quirk and needed to be physically capable of taking down robots, and Izuku didn't have a quirk whatsoever. 

Of course their parents weren't going to jump right into combat, so they started small, making their boys start with going on runs, doing yoga, building an exercise routine. Unsurprisingly the boys adored working out, Hitoshi enjoyed gymnastics and yoga, and Izuku loved going on runs and doing the beginnings of muscle training with Shouta. 

Izuku had apparently made a fool proof plan if them training for four years before the entrance exam didn't work and they didn't get into the hero course (Which all adults thought was highly unlikely seeing the twos dedication to their training.) 

They'd be in General education, and then get in to the hero course through the sports festival, much like Shouta had his first year. They'd made the plan of being the top two, and whoever was the best would get first place. 

Nedzu had cackled at the plan like a mad man, proud of his pup for being so ambitious and smart to come up with a back up in case their training had failed. 

Of course them having a back up didn't mean they didn't train any less, the boys would be up at the crack of dawn doing their routines and would get home from school to do additional working out before homework and then hanging out. 

It went on that way for an additional 5 months before Shouta had caved into Izuku and Hitoshi's kitten eyes and began training them in self defense, nothing to crazy, just the basics. 

The onyx eyed man would never forget the smiles that spread across their faces in success the first time they successfully completed moves, or the first time Hitoshi successfully brought Izuku down to the mat. 

The training had done wonders for both boys confidence, and it filled Shouta with warmth to see them grow. 

Overall he was so proud of both the boys and how far they'd come, Hitoshi from being a terrified three year old, and Izuku from a terrified eight year old, they had a long way to go, but god the progress was beautiful to watch. 

Shouta was sure Nedzu and Hizashi would agree with him. 

-11-

At the age of eleven the boys had been permitted to go to the shops all on their own. They had been excited to go out and be big kids without their parents lingering behind them, watching their every move. 

The two boys, hands intertwined had wandered off to the mall of all places and spent hours there, primarily in the Hero merch store. By the time they'd left the mall it was already dark out and their phones had long since died. Hitoshi's hold on Izuku's hand tightened, an uncomfortable feeling swelling in his stomach as they made their way down the familiar streets. 

The indigo eyed boy decided they'd go to Izuku's house because it was closer and Hitoshi would call his parents and let them know when they got there, because the uncomfortable feeling just kept getting worse and worse the longer they were walking. Like someone was watching them, or worse, following them. 

The purple haired pre teens suspicion proved to be correct about ten minutes into their fast past walk when a hand from an alley way grabbed his arm, roughly dragging him inside and slamming him against the wall. 

"Toshi!" Izuku cried out, coming up behind their attacker, who had some kind of mutant variant quirk, having the head of a panther and large claws they were absolutely terrifying. 

Said claws came up to rest on Hitoshi's throat, making his eyes screw shut and a whimper leave his lips as tears slid down his cheeks, bottom lip wobbling dangerously. 

"Come any closer and I'll rip your friends throat out kid. Give me all your money, both of you." Izuku had paused in coming closer, viridian eyes wide in shock, his face white as a piece of paper as his eyes darted back and forth between the claws resting on Hitoshi's throat and his best friends face. 

"P-please, sir we spent all of our mo-money. We only have what we b-bought." Izuku stuttered over his words and absently Hitoshi noted that he hadn't heard Izuku stutter in years. The panther, man thing let out a low growl, claws digging in deeper into the sensitive flesh of Hitoshi's throat, droplets of blood leaking from his neck. 

"I should just kill you two kids and take your shit then." He replied, lips turning up in a sinister snarl. Hitoshi let out a sob, his eyes screwing up. Hitoshi tipped his head back to try and put some distance between himself and the claws, chest stuttering as he tried to breathe through his panic. 

All he knew is one second he had dangerously sharp claws slicing into the flesh of his throat and the next they were replaced by normal fingers and a confused cry. 

"What the fuck did you do?" Hitoshi's eyes shot open at the enraged snarl from the man when his fingers left his throat, and Hitoshi cried out in surprise when he saw Izuku now sporting a green panther head and the very same claws that were once at his throat. 

The small boy didn't reply, giving a wordless growl as he tackled the thug that had a good two feet and hundred pounds on him. Hitoshi could only watch with wide eyes as his best friend, who he previously thought to be quirkless used the mans quirk against him and mauled him like a wild animal, only stopping when the man was no longer moving, still breathing but was obviously not getting back up. 

Izuku's eyes turned to Hitoshi, a small concerned purr leaving his lips.

"Toshi okay?" 

"Uh, yeah I'm okay Izu, why don't you give him his quirk back?" At that he received a scowl, but none the less Izuku did as he was told and gave the man his quirk back, what the fuck. 

The walk to Izuku's house was silent, their fingers still intertwined. When they got to the large home the first thing they did was call the cops and let them know about the mugger, and then they turned to Nedzu and informed him that Izuku had just taken someone else's quirk. 

The stoat had stared at them with beady little eyes for a solid five minutes without saying anything, before calling Hitoshi's parents and having them come over. That night the close knit family learned the tale of All for One. 

-12-

At the age of twelve Izuku realized he had a crush on his best friend. 

It wasn't some life changing, world ending realization, he'd always loved Toshi and this was no different. He and Toshi had been laying in the other boys bed, Outlet and Fork curled up on the pillows while the boys played on their switches. Izuku was over at Toshi's animal crossing Island and was absolutely roasting his museum because apparently Toshi didn't think fishing and finding fossils was very important. 

Toshi was laughing loudly without a care in the world, his head thrown back and eyes screwed shut. Izuku had turned his head to look at the other boy and couldn't help but notice how breathtakingly beautiful his best friend was. 

Izuku realized he wanted to kiss his best friend in that moment, which caused his cheeks to flush bright pink. It shouldn't have surprised Izuku honestly, Hitoshi had been through everything with Izuku, from bullying, to being adopted, to finding out his dad was the most notorious super villain to ever live, and Toshi had never once strayed from his side. 

Izuku was lucky to have someone like the indigo eyed boy in his life, the thought alone made his chest feel a bit fuller than it was just a minute ago. His lips spread into a grin as he pushed his best friend, eyes crinkling as his cheeks pushed up into them. 

"Seriously Toshi, work on the museum, its a disaster!" He teased, viridian eyes shining with mirth as Hitoshi giggled once more. 

"Leave me alone! I like spending time with my villagers okay?" Hitoshi stuck his tongue out at Izuku, and well, that was a declaration of war. Izuku tossed his switch onto the bed before tackling his best friend into the pillows, fingers digging into the other boys sides, loud laughter echoing the room as Izuku tickled him. 

"You can't just talk to your villages Toshi! You're gonna make Blathers sad!" Hitoshi snorted loudly, kicking out his feet in a vain way to free himself from Izuku's tickle monster tendencies. 

Hitoshi wiggled violently, giggles airy and high pitched as he tapped on the bed in a show of giving up. 

"Mercy! Mercy! I'll go fishing I promise!" He breathed out, eyes watery but no less beautiful Izuku noted. The greenette grinned and clambered off his friend, grabbing his switch once more, before leaning against the purple haired boys side. 

"Good, because you gotta catch up to my museum." Izuku teased, earning a hair ruffle from the still breathless Hitoshi. 

Izuku realized that night that falling in love was something gentle, like falling sakura in the spring. Beautiful and colorful, filling you with a never ending warmth, he could only hope it never went away. 

-13-

At the age of 13 Hitoshi realized he was in love with his best friend. 

For him it was a world changing, life altering event. It was the summer festival, Dad, Pops and Nedzu had all taken the night off to taken him and Izuku after a week of begging the three adults. 

His and Izuku's fingers were intertwined, like they always were. Realizing he was in love with his best friend made him realize they were always touching, holding hands, kissing each others cheeks, they were physically affectionate since a young age and it'd continued into their teenage years. The thought alone made the stoic boys cheeks flush, but thankfully it was dark out and no one could call him out on it. 

Izuku had led him around the festival, going from game to game with never ending excitement that filled him with an indescribable warmth that made him feel like he was floating on cloud nine. The green eyed boy had won him a cat plushie, showing it off with pride, and in turn Hitoshi had won him a Nedzu plushie he saw Izuku eyeing. 

The games continued, they ate, laughed and had fun the entire night, but the realization didn't truly hit him until the fireworks show. They family had taken a comfortable spot by a pond, Izuku curled up next to Hitoshi's side as the sky exploded with colors above them. 

The other boys face glowed with excitement, eyes reflecting the light In the most stunning way that stole Hitoshi's breath straight from his lungs. Izuku's eyes never left the sky, an almost child like curiosity in those green globes as a smile spread across his lips.

"Its so beautiful.." Izuku breathed out, fingers twitching against his knee, as if he wanted to reach out and touch the light show going on above them. 

Hitoshi's eyes never strayed from Izuku's face, he wasn't sure if he could bring himself to look away from the captivating sight of his best friend right in front of him. 

"Yeah, it really is." Hitoshi replied quietly, fingers coming up to brush a stray curl behind Izuku's ear. Izuku leaned into the touch, eyes fluttering ever so slightly, and his heart fluttered with him. 

"I'm happy I got to experience this with you Toshi." Izuku finally tore his gaze from the sky to look into Hitoshi's very being, making him feel exposed in the best possible way. He gave his best friend a lazy grin, squeezing his hand. 

"I'm happy I got to experience it with you Izu." He replied smoothly, watching as the other boy turned his head back to the sky. Hitoshi rested his chin on Izuku's head, gaze finally coming to land on the fireworks. 

That night Hitoshi learned love could feel explosive and daunting. Much like the show they were watching, his love for Izuku had been a sudden realization, an explosion of feelings within his chest that he was unable to forget. 

He'd loved Izuku since the age of four, but this was a completely different ball park, and he had to make some plans. 

-14-

At the age of fourteen both Izuku and Hitoshi got into the U.A hero course. They'd been ecstatic, the three parents taking their children to dinner to celebrate, and when the first day of school came, they went together. 

When they were seven they made a promise to be a hero duo together, and they refused to let that promise die, this was the first step towards that promise. When they'd walked through the massive 1-A classroom door, they weren't expecting to come face to face with a robotic teen chopping the air while scolding a blonde, whom looked like he couldn't care less. 

Izuku took a step back, hand finding Hitoshi's as his eyes stayed locked on the blondes figure, of course Kacchan would get into U.A. 

Said blondes fiery gaze flicked over to the pair, and was immediately on his feet when he spotted Izuku, making the smaller boy squeak, hiding behind his best friend. Toshi was much more confrontational than he was. 

"DEKU!" The blonde growled, storming forward, but was stopped by a hand on his chest by a bored looking purple haired boy. 

"His name isn't Deku, It's Izuku you angry dandelion fuck. Address him correctly or don't address him at all." Hitoshi eye'd the blonde with distaste before turning to Izuku. The blonde was spewing some bullshit, but Hitoshi didn't pay him any mind. 

"Cmon Izu, we need to get to our seats before the demented caterpillar shows up." That earned a curve of Izuku's lips much to Hitoshi's relief, and the indigo eyed boy led his best friend past the blonde without so much as a glance back at him. 

They took their seats, which were thankfully right next to each other, unthankfully were also right behind the angry dandelion. He'd have to talk to dad about that later, we was pretty sure that was 'Kacchan' by the looks Izuku kept shooting him, and the blonde didn't need to be anywhere near his best friend. 

Other people came into the room, but Hitoshi mostly ignored them, his focus on his and Izuku's conversation on what dad was going to put them through, most likely some kind of quirk apprehension test, knowing the hobo. 

They were only interrupted by a brunette bounding up to Izuku, grinning widely.

"Hey its you! Thanks again for saving me from the zero pointer!" Hitoshi.Exe had stopped working. 

"I'm sorry, you what?" Hitoshi turned to his best friend who was sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. 

"I used a metal pipe and mayhaps climbed the zero pointer and took out its main computer." Hitoshi let out a long suffering sigh, rubbing his temples, feeling ten years of his life fo down the drain. 

"I'm gonna put you in bubble wrap one of these days."

"Thats fair Toshi!" 

Before they could continue the demented caterpillar showed up, and like Hitoshi predicted it was a quirk assessment test. Hitoshi brain washed classmates on tests that it would benefit him and Izuku borrowed their quirks on ones it would benefit him. This was the start of their promise, this was their Hero academia. 

-15-

The confession wasn't what Hitoshi wanted it to be at all. He had wanted the confession to be one filled with love, a good memory to look back on. Instead it had been when he and Izuku had gone separate ways while the summer camp was one fire. He'd cupped Izuku's cheeks, pressed his lips firmly against Izuku's own; indigo eyes welling up with tears. 

"I love you, come back to me Izuku." Izuku had given him a soft smile, brushing away a tear. 

"Pinky promise." He'd replied, and then Izuku was gone, disappearing into the smokey woods, going somewhere Hitoshi couldn't follow him. 

Not even thirty minutes later a group of teenagers stumbled out of the woods, sobbing and wailing loudly. Hitoshi was next to them in an instant, eyes running over the crowd to find a familiar nest of green hair, stomach turning when he didn't spot it. 

"Wheres Izuku?" His voice had held desperation, begging for his thoughts to not be true.

"The villains got him, they took him." Uraraka sobbed loudly, and Hitoshi had doubled over and puked out the dinner Izuku had made him. 

Time hadn't been real when Izuku was gone, he vaguely could recall some of their classmates making a plan to go rescue him and he'd refused to join. Izuku would be pissed and heart broken if any of them got hurt or in trouble because they decided to rescue him. So he sat at home and watched the news, waiting for anything about Izuku.

Then the show down between All Might and All for One happened, and fucking Izuku had shown up and presumably taken a fuck ton of his dads quirks, because before he was winning, and now he was losing by a long shot. 

Pops could barely contain him from marching down to the Kamino ward and kicking Izuku's ass and then hugging him like no tomorrow, but by the end of the fight All for One was down for the count and Small Might was revealed. Izuku was shown being led over to an ambulance and the father and son didn't waste any time rushing to the hospital when Nedzu called to inform them which hospital it was. 

Hitoshi was the first through the door, the wood splintering from how hard he'd slammed it open. His eyes welled up with tears as he finally saw his best friend, the boy he loved with his whole heart for the first time in days. 

"never do that again you fucking idiot!" Hitoshi sobbed as he threw himself against Izuku's chest, curling his arms around the smaller boys frame, burying his face into Izuku's shoulder. 

Izuku ran his fingers through Hitoshi's hair, letting out a wet snort. 

"Sorry Toshi, but I made a promise and  kept it, didn't I?" He offered, making the purple haired teen pull back and slap his shoulder softly. 

"You're lucky I love you or id kick your ass." He breathed out, before leaning forward to kiss Izuku, uncaring of the fact that both of their parents were in the room watching the entire interaction. 

Izuku laughed softly against his lips, fingers curling against Hitoshi's side. 

"I love you too Toshi."