an ODST among Heroes.

S3-1

Izuku arrived back at U.A. with the others, but the atmosphere felt surreal. The world he had left behind was still spinning, moving forward as if nothing had changed. He learned about the Sports Festival, the media coverage, and the lives of his classmates continuing without interruption. For Izuku, the transition back to normalcy felt anything but normal. The weight of everything that had happened off-planet hung over him like a storm cloud.

Mina, always energetic and curious, approached with a hopeful smile. "Hey, Izuku! You guys have been gone for so long. What was it like? Off-planet, I mean. Did you see aliens? Fight in space battles? Come on, spill the details!"

The others gathered around, curious and eager to hear stories of the unimaginable adventure Izuku and his squad had been part of. But Izuku’s expression darkened. He exchanged brief glances with his team, each of them silently agreeing to stay silent. The memories were too raw, too painful to share.

Mina’s smile faltered. “What? No stories? Not even one?” She tried to keep her tone light, but the silence unsettled her. “Okay, then… where’s Daisy? She’s not back with you?”

Izuku froze. The question hit him like a freight train. His jaw clenched, and for a moment, he didn’t respond. Mina leaned closer, concern replacing her curiosity. “Izuku?”

“She’s gone,” Izuku said finally, his voice heavy with a mixture of sorrow and bitterness.

“Gone?” Mina asked, confusion flickering in her wide eyes. “What do you mean, gone?”

Izuku stared at the floor, his hands gripping the edge of his desk as if it were the only thing grounding him. “She sacrificed herself for the mission,” he said, his voice cracking slightly despite his efforts to stay composed. “She… she died so I’d have a chance to live.”

The room went silent. Mina’s eyes filled with shock as she instinctively cupped her mouth, tears threatening to spill. The others exchanged uncertain looks, unsure of what to say or how to respond.

“If you’ll excuse me,” Izuku muttered, standing abruptly. His voice was hollow now, a shell of the warmth it usually carried. “We’re done here.”

Without waiting for a reply, he walked to his seat and sat down, isolating himself from the stunned group. The weight of his grief was palpable, and though his classmates wanted to reach out, they could tell this was not the moment. Mina lingered, her heart aching for her friend, but even she knew there were no words to mend the wound Daisy’s loss had left behind.

----

During class, Aizawa handed out agency recommendations, his tone as monotone as ever. The students eagerly flipped through their lists, buzzing with excitement over invitations from prestigious heroes and agencies. Izuku, however, stared at his sheet with a sinking feeling. Hardly any recommendations. His classmates chattered around him, their enthusiasm a stark contrast to the quiet dread pooling in his chest.

It stung.

For everything he had endured, for everything he had sacrificed, was this all he was worth? The doubt gnawed at him, a cruel whisper that reminded him how out of place he often felt among his peers. But then, as he scanned the list again, something caught his eye.

One name. One recommendation.

It wasn’t from a hero agency. It was from the police—Detective Naomasa Tsukauchi, to be specific.

Izuku’s breath caught as he noticed an accompanying letter tucked neatly with the invitation. Carefully unfolding it, he began to read:

"Midoriya Izuku,
Your service and dedication have not gone unnoticed. Though your path has been unconventional, your actions have demonstrated the kind of courage, determination, and selflessness that make a true hero. I would be honored to have you spend time with us at the station, to see how we protect and serve in our own way. You have my deepest respect and gratitude.

Thank you for your service."

Izuku blinked as the words sank in. It wasn’t the glitz of a famous hero agency, but it was something he never expected: recognition for who he was and what he had endured.

He felt a spark of pride stir within him, breaking through the haze of doubt. His lips curved into a small, genuine smile as he clutched the letter tightly.

"Midoriya," Aizawa called, noticing the shift in his expression. "You’ve got your invitation. Focus on the opportunity, not the number."

Izuku nodded, his resolve steadying. For the first time in a while, he felt a sense of purpose—one that wasn’t tied to flashy heroics but to something deeper. The chance to work with the police, with Detective Naomasa, wasn’t just an invitation.

It was a chance to keep fighting the good fight.

---