Blazing Memories

5

IZUKU'S POV

I looked at the tv and saw me saving Kacchan being broadcast on the news. *oh no.. I didn't want them to find out about my quirk. What if they think I was hiding it from them this whole time. Crap, crap, crap nooo...* I was having a mental breakdown thinking of what might happen next. My legs began shaking and my breathing became unsteady. I could feel the tears coming but then my breathing was suddenly cut short when my new father suddenly shouted my name. I stiffened at the tone of his voice and stopped breathing completely. "HOW COULD YOU HIDE THIS FROM US YOU UNGRATEFUL BRAT". *oh no..* "I-I-I haven't! I haven't..I didn't know I had a quirk until today." I managed to mutter out those words. They glanced at each other then turned their attention back to me. "If that's the case then why didn't you tell us after dinner?" "...." I only stayed silent. I didn't know what to say. I was absolutely petrified and I couldn't tell them the truth, If they knew I tried to hide it intentionally I'd be done for. "ANSWER ME BRAT" she snapped at me, causing me to yelp quietly in response. "I..was confused and didn't know what to do..". They whispered amongst themselves for a minute or so but it felt like an eternity to me, then turned back to me. My 'father' walked up to me, bent down to look me straight in the eye then slapped me right across the face. I was in absolute shock, that was the first time they even hit me. I couldn't hold the tears in anymore after that and just let them fall. I placed my hand on my cheek and sniffled quietly. "Never keep a secret like that from us again, are we clear?" he said to me in a cold voice. "Y-yes sir.." I managed to whisper out. He then told me to go to sleep and that we would continue the conversation tomorrow morning. I simply nodded then scurried my way to my room, on the way I saw my now little sister look at me confused and with what I think was pity. It absolutely disgusted me, I don't need anyone's pity let alone from one of them.. so I looked back down at the floor and ran to my bedroom. I cried myself to sleep that night.

The next morning I woke up early and just laid in bed for awhile recalling the events of last night. I hugged my blanket for comfort. I went onto my phone and look at the call button by the called ID Kacchan, *ughhhh I don't know if I should..what if he's still sleeping I don't want to wake him up*. I sat up and leaned against wall in an attempt to make myself stand up. *oh wait he has school so he should be up but I don't want to make him late so I guess I can always just try later*. So with nothing left to do I grabbed my towel and went to get ready. I brushed my teeth, washed my face then had a shower and got dressed. I wasn't very hungry so I decided to skip the meal after all I should probably lose a pound or two. I haven't been enrolled in school yet since we just got here so i'm not sure how long i'll have to wait till I get a break from this place, I just hope there aren't any bullies in this school. You can imagine being quirkless for my whole childhood only had downsides. I was called horrible things, I was tripped and pushed and of course beaten up alot for my lunch money which most of the time I didn't even have which made them believe I was poor just adding more labels to the pile of name they already had for me. I of course have a quirk now but not talking also seems to be something people don't tend to like, but I don't trust anyone enough to talk to them, well of course Kacchan, auntie and uncle are an exception. I haven't talked much to uncle but he seems really nice also quiet so i'm not really sure how that works because auntie and Kacchan are so loud and reckless, but I guess they do say opposites attract. 

I decided to update my quirk analysis notebook while I waited for them to come down after all they said they wanted to talk more today. I was slightly anxious about what may happen but I knew there was no getting away from it. So I just waited silently while adding Kacchan to my notebook, *I'll ask him more about his quirk next time I see him.* I thought to myself. 

I heard my parents walking down the stairs so I quickly swapped out my notebook for a novel and continued reading from where I stopped off. "So you're up early brat", I just nodded in response, slid my book mark onto the page and placed it on the small table before me. They sat down across from me and told me that from now on I was going to be trained to use my quirks properly. I didn't mind using my telekinesis however my flames were another story. They reminded me of what happened that day and I didn't want to remember it. I just nodded my head obediently while they explained how this would work, I have one month until I will be going to school and in that time every Monday to Friday I will be training. After that they told me to go and change into something I could move around easily in and they brought me to a warehouse just outside of town. Inside waiting for me was a tall muscular looking man, I'd say he was in about his his early 40s maybe. He just had this weird vibe to him I didn't quite understand, he just seemed really off. My parents introduced me and explained my quirks while I just stood there silently. His name was Daichi. He had dark brown hair with a few visible grey ones here and there. He also had grey eyes and a long scar running down the right side of his face. After about a minute or so my parents left leaving me all alone with the man. He just stared at me for a minute before explaining to me how this is gonna work "and if you slack off there will be consequences." I didn't say anything but I understood life can only go south from this point. *yay someone else to make my life hell, I'm not going to enjoy this.* "when I talk to you, respond with Yes sir are we clear?", I didn't want to talk but the sternness of his voice told me I'd regret doing otherwise and so i muttered out, "Y-Yes Sir!". "say that clearer next time, and straighten out your back when you address me next time, you have no manners and that's something that needs to change" he said with a small smile on his face, but his tone and eyes told another story completely. "YES SIR!" I yelled out the best I could. * maybe if I just cooperate and do as i'm told he won't hurt me.* 

He started off by making me jog 50 laps around the warehouse. *50?! this place is massive I'll die* "YES SIR" I yelled and began jogging, after 20 I already felt like I was dying but I kept going now wanting to know the consequences for 'slacking off'. After 35 I couldn't anymore and collapsed on the floor. "GET UP KID AND CONTINUE OR I'LL MAKE YOU START AGAIN" he yelled out to me. I was absolutely drenched in sweat and I felt like I was suffocating, gasping for air but I got back up yelled, "YES SIR" and continued on my jog. Five more laps felt like the 35 all over again but I just continued going, trying to steady my breathing but ultimately failing. I finally made it to 50 after what felt like an eternity and collapsed onto the floor creating a pool of sweat along with me. "Stand up" he said while staring straight into my eyes. I slowly staggered my way to my feet and straightened up my back still breathing heavily and responded "SORRY SIR". I felt light headed after that and my body was so incredibly tired but I tried to ignore it. "Your body is incredibly weak it's absolutely pathetic" he spat at me. "For this first month you will do nothing but exercise to build your muscle and increase your endurance and everyday you will do fifty laps around here as a warm up is that clear?" he explained to me. "YES SIR". *This is going to be hell* I thought to myself. After that I went through absolute hell, push ups, sit ups, planks all the basic forms of hell packed into one, I did everything to the best of my ability but the pull ups on the bar were my nightmare, I couldn't even do one and this resulted in me getting kicked in the gut. He said by the end of the month I should be able to do at least 30 without stopping once and if I did I would face the consequences. *If this is what I get from failing on the first day, I don't want to know what will happen if he thinks I've wasted his time.* When I was done for the day he left me collapsed on the floor in a pool of sweat and an aching gut from before along side my back from the day I helped out Kacchan, I would go get it checked but I can't do that without an adult, maybe Auntie can take me but I wouldn't want to be a burden. I finally lifted myself up to me feet and dragged my self to the wall leaning against the cold walls for support. 

I walked out of the building a few minutes later letting the cold breeze hit my face, I glanced down at my phone to check the time, *four huh.. I guess I should figure out my way home* It was approaching spring meaning it would still get dark soon and seeing as I was so exhausted I was in no state to defend myself if something happens. I however decided to stay at lest another thirty minutes and just look at the sky, it was beautiful. About ten minutes of just staring later, I decided to call Kacchan. I did want to talk to him and he should be home by now so I gave him a call, It only rang once before he picked up putting an instant smile on my face. 

"Hey Kacchan.." I muttered out, I had absolutely no energy left to be my chirpy self so I didn't bother try. "What's up with you, you sound dead, are you alright?" he responded noticing my flat tone, "im fine, just tired is all, really tired" I said slowly letting my eye lids close and leaning my head against the tree behind me. "Go to sleep then Deku, are you outside?" He asked confused. "Yep by the outskirts of town, my body dosen't want to move anymore and since I have no idea how to get back I don't want to waste what little energy I have left wandering around like a lost puppy." I explained to him. *That's probably the longest sentence I've said in a really long time* "Okay then I'll come find you." *crap I didn't think he'd say that, he'll start questioning me when he sees the state i'm in and if he notices i'm in pain i'm done for and what if he forces me to tell him what happened then i'd get them in trouble, i'll be done for oh no no no no no no what do I do??? If I say no will he even listen to me craaaappp-* "DEKU" I suddenly heard him yell snapping me back to reality. "S-sorry i'm here my bad..just got distracted sorry Kacchan" I quickly let out. "It's cool, anyway do you know what direction from my place you're at?" he asked me patiently. *crap I almost forgot* "Don't worry about it Kacchan i'm just fine on my own, It's not like i'm carrying anything I'll just ask for directions once I make it back to civilisation." I let out a small chuckle at the end of my plead. *Please let it go Kacchan* I internally begged. He of course wouldn't back down and kept pushing for me to tell him where I was, so it resulted in him finding me and him carrying me on his back since I was so tired. When we were near the house I thanked him a million times and told him i'd be fine from there, he kept on insisting but I wouldn't back down on this not wanting to be a bigger burden and also the fear of my parents finding out didn't settle well with me, they could stop me from seeing him and I didn't want that. I waved goodbye to Kacchan and we went out separate ways, I took another glance down at my phone noticing it was only five but I needed to clean myself up before dinner and so continued my way back home.