The Flap of a Butterfly's Wings

Past to Present

   Slowly, the months begin to pass. All Might comes back from his mission and as the weeks pass, the training gets harder, the objects being lifted heavier. The trees form blossoms which then turn into lush green leaves as summer comes.

   Izuku tries to forget about his encounter with All For One, but it's like a scar, fading but never disappearing.

   His hands heal, leaving silver lines not unlike the ones he's had before. It makes him seem more full somehow, as if he was an empty canvas before and now he's finally getting painted on. That's probably not the most healthy outlook on his gaining collection of scars, but it's the only one he has.

   The dump is slowly diminishing, and after five months of working on it, they are now more than halfway done. All Might never fails to express his amazement, and Izuku never fails to get flustered. Even after all of this time, his heart swells at every compliment the hero gives him. Big or small. They talk outside of training, too. About life, memories, and dreams.

   "I know it's silly, but a part of me has always wanted to run a small book store. Featuring books from retired heroes that don't get heard anymore for the only reason being their retirement. Whether it was because of injury, age, or life. I think that the ones who fought before us are the ones you ought to listen to. Besides, sitting down with a good book and a cup of tea is great for the soul," Yagi had said one time while they were looking around in a crack in the wall bookstore.

   Izuku shook his head, "It's not silly. Someday, you should fulfill that dream. I'll be your first customer. Kacchan will be your second, of course."

   Yagi smiled, warm and deep in his scrawny form, "Thank you, Young Midoriya."

    Izuku was able to get a hang of managing training with the cafe as well, and he learned to relieve his stress through   experimenting with new foods and drinks. He still resulted into some of his not-so-healthy habits when things got too stressful, too dark, too sad, but those days were reaching far in between. Most days, he was too tired to do anything besides collapse in bed and fall into an empty sleep.

   He had, on multiple occasions, been yelled at by both Kacchan and All Might for overworking himself. Especially when they found out that he hadn't been taking rest days and instead was doing extra training instead. He was doing a pretty good job at hiding that fact, until he passed out in the middle of combat training with Kacchan. Neither had even gotten a hit in before Izuku started to feel light and dizzy, as if he were floating in the air. He knew he was going to pass out, but by time he had figured that out, his mind had turned to white static and his mouth refused to form words.

    In conclusion, All Might and Kacchan had not been happy.

   He and Kacchan hung out as often as time allowed them. It was difficult when they were both leading completely different lives. Katsuki still had to go to school and not be gone too long, thus his parents got suspicious, and Izuku had the bakery and vigilantism.

   Katsuki had tried to stop him from being Hato, but it was a futile argument and they both knew it. However, Katsuki hadn't given up as per usual and was not afraid to bring up his opinion whenever the topic came up.

   The thing is, Izuku knew Katsuki was worried about him. Being a vigilante was just as dangerous as being a pro, if not more so. But Izuku loved the danger. Each time he stepped out of the window, mask on, he knew he was risking his life. He made that decision. It was one of the few things he felt he had control over, and he was desperate to hold on to it. He needed to know that he could still help people- that he wasn't an entire waste of space.

   It was one of the only things he refused to listen to Kacchan about.

_________

   It was the end of summer, and a miserably hot day. Izuku was working the front while Ru went to buy more cat food and ingredients. He doesn't work the front often, preferring to be behind the scenes, but he doesn't mind it. He enjoys making conversation with friendly people and bringing smiles onto their faces when they take that first sip or bite. He finds that most people that come here aren't rude, and when he does get a grumpy customer he knows deeply that no one can be happy all of the time. Making those who can't seem to smile smile is one of the most rewarding things about working up front.