What Could Have Been (vigilante deku)

62

The next morning was similar to their first morning at camp. Izuku ate with the pros and then was pushed aside until he was needed.

Shinsou was working on something else today, so Izuku had no one to train with. He just sat reading until the occasional times Aizawa sent a classmate or student to him to give a tip on their training.

It was frustrating him and he was tired of it. He couldn't even do what he came to do.

He looked up for the millionth time, eyes watching his friends all getting stronger as he stared helplessly at a book.

Then he saw a little boy walking into the woods. Kota?

He watched as the small 5 year old stomped into the trees, looking over his shoulder once before disappearing.

Izuku knew that this was the pussycat's private property and that it was most likely that no one knew about it or could get access to it, but he felt wrong leaving him alone.

He ignored Aizawa's demands and stood up, following after the boy.

He wasn't there anymore so Izuku spun around, trying to find him but he wasn't anywhere.

Izuku did something he knew he shouldn't have. He used his quirk to find him. It was fairly easy to find him. Even though Izuku was sick, he still made it to the woods faster than the boy was tracking through them so he hadn't gotten very far.

Izuku started towards his direction, finding him pretty quickly. He was sitting on the edge of a cliff, tears streaming down his face in heavy sobs.

Izuku stood there for a second, not wanting to intrude, but before he could leave his presence was made aware of.

He stepped on a branch accidentally, the crack echoing around the trees. Kota's head snapped up quickly, his glare being focused strongly at Izuku. He aggressively rubbed at his eyes. "What are you doing here?" He asked sharply.

Izuku sighed. No escaping now. He stepped onto the cliff and slowly made his way to the boy, looking around curiously to see if this place was actually safe for him.

"I saw you." Izuku admitted, letting his eyes fall back on the boy as he sat down. "So I followed you."

"Congratulations." Kota snipped sarcastically. "You're a stalker."

"I'm not a stalker." Izuku denied with a laugh.

"Yeah-huh." Kota nodded, still glaring at him. But even with his glare, his cheeks were colored red because of how angry and embarrassed he was that someone had witnessed him crying. He couldn't show people that he was sad. "A stalker watches people and follows them."

Izuku just laughed again. "I'm really not a stalker. I just got worried seeing you heading into the woods alone."

"So what?" The child asked, crossing his arms stubbornly. "You think I have a 'help me' sign taped to my back or something? I don't need help or sympathy."

Izuku recognized that right there. The annoyance you get when someone is always budding into your business, trying to "help" but really it just makes it worse.

But then he remembered Aizawa. Aizawa never stopped trying to help, no matter how mad Izuku got. And now look, he was doing better. Maybe that was what Kota needed? Someone who would be willing to do anything to help him.