Blazing Memories

10

IZUKU'S POV

After about fifteen minutes of being dragged by Kacchan we finally stopped near the warehouse. It couldn't be seen from where we were but it's where Kacchan found me after my first training. "Why are we here..?" I mutter out confused while taking a seat on the dirt floor. "What's going on Izuku?, you're covered in bandages and I want to know why." He said to me with a worried expression on his face as he crouched down before me. I sighed softly and shook my head, *I knew this would happen* I thought to myself. "I know you don't want to but I'm worried Izuku... everyday you come to school with a new bruise, I want to know what's going on, who's hurting you, please tell me..", he looked so helpless and desperate while he pleaded with me. *Don't look at me like that, don't make that face, not over me Dammit!", I bit my bottom lip but remained silent. " Izuku please tell me, I can help you, please..." he pleaded desperately. *That's what I'm worried about though, I don't need help, help will just get me into more trouble*, "you don't understand!" I accidentally blurted out. "S-s-sorry.." I immediately apologized and looked down at the ground. Tears were threatening to fall and I was trying my best to keep them in but I was failing, I started sniffling quietly but then I felt something warm wrap around me, Kacchan was hugging me. I gripped onto his school blazer like my life depended on it and sobbed into his shoulder. I was so scared of the consequences but he's my best friend, I should trust him.

"I'll tell you if you promise you won't do anything stupid." I managed to mutter out. He stayed silent for a moment before untangling himself from the hug and promising he wouldn't. He then sat down next to me, I wiped away the tears in my eyes and I told him everything, from start to finish just with less detail. At this point I was scrunched up into a ball on the ground with my head on Kacchan's lap while he leaned against the tree behind us and remained silent. "Deku" he suddenly said, I flinched at the tone of his voice, *he sounds mad* I thought to myself while dreading what he would say next. I turned around slowly onto my back and looked up at him. I sniffled then said "y-yeah?", "where do you live?" he asked me. *Why does he want to know that?* I questioned in my head. "W-why do you want t-to know?" I stuttered out quietly. "Just tell me!" he suddenly shouted out causing me to cower in fear and curl up into a ball once again. *It's just Kacchan calm down..* I told myself trying to fight my body's natural instinct.  "Crap.." I heard him mutter quietly. "I-I'm s-s-sorry Deku, don't be scared, I won't shout again." "He said to me in a soft tone.

KATSUKI'S POV

I accidentally shouted at Izuku right now causing him to curl up into a ball. His reaction scared me, he's normally jumpy but he never seems this scared and he's used to me shouting. *What have they done to you..* I thought to myself before letting out an apology. He slowly uncurled himself and looked up at me. It was like he knew it was me and I wouldn't do anything but he was still scared, I could tell from looking at his eyes, he was scared. This absolutely broke me, I was furious no livid, absolutely livid. *Mr and Mrs.Takahashi....  I'll kill you..* I thought to myself before once again apologizing to Deku and deciding against pushing any further, I can always do it later, I don't want to scare him again. "How about we go to my place, I'm sure mom would love to see you again and we can do our homework together." I said to him in an attempt to change the subject.  

IZUKU'S POV

"....we can do our homework together." Kacchan said to me. *It'd be nice to go there again* *But don't I have something to do right now....what could it be, I think it's important* Then it suddenly clicked in my mind *Training!!, Daichi!!* he'll kill me for being late, well not literally, he hasn't hurt me once since the day the day I checked my progress months ago, he's one of the only people I trust alongside the Bakugo's. "S-sorry Kacchan b-but I can't, I-i-i need to be-be somewhere" I managed to stutter out before making my way to my feet quickly. *I'm so late!!!* I yelled to myself while swinging my bag onto my shoulder. "Sorry Kacchan, b-but I-I really gotta g-go, I'll c-c-call you later" I once again stuttered out before turning to leave only to be stopped by Kacchan grabbing onto my wrist. *Please let me go!!* I pleaded in my head, I don't want to be any later then I already am. I turned around and look down at Kacchan who had fallen from his earlier position in order to grab me. "Where are you going Deku?" he questioned me. I've already told him everything I might as well add in the training part or he'll never let me go. "Follow me" I said back to him which in return I received a confused look before he got up and grabbed his bag. Once he'd picked up his bag I started running to the warehouse, it only took a few seconds since we were really close to it already, I slowed down then walked up to the door, I stopped for a moment and looked back at Kacchan who seemed confused by the warehouse being in the middle of the woods. *He's probably never seen it before* I thought to myself before walking in.

"Finally!" I heard Daichi yell from a chair in the middle of the warehouse. "Why are yo-" He began saying but stopped when he noticed Kacchan walk in behind me. He then looked over at me for an explanation, I bowed my head and apologized politely for being late, I then told him who Kacchan was and that he had followed me here because I wasn't gonna say the truth. Daichi didn't seem very happy with my explanation but remained silent. I turned back to Kacchan who looked extremely confused and then proceeded to explained that Daichi trained me, I didn't get into detail only telling him how long I've been training for and that I trusted Daichi so he wouldn't get mad or defensive. Kacchan didn't seem to mind it but he asked if he could stay and watch me train, I wasn't sure so I looked back at Daichi who refused but Kacchan being Kacchan wasn't happy with this answer and so he began yelling at Daichi who didn't say much in response. In the end I convinced Kacchan to go and then I finally got my training underway.

After training I walked up to Daichi and apologized for being late and for what had happened earlier. He said it was alright but told me not to be late again and I could bring Kacchan here again but I had to ask for permission the day before. I nodded happily in response and let out my usual "YES SIR!" then I walked over to my bag and put it on my back, I had my bottle in my bag then gulped down some before turning to leave. Daichi called my back over before I could make it to the door and told me to take a seat in front of him, I was a bit confused but placed my bag onto the floor then sat down on the chair. "So kid I was thinking about what you should do next since I believe you've been doing parkour enough now it's probably second nature to you. You're going to graduate from middle school this month so I think it's about time we finally focused on you're quirk, so far I've just been building up your strength and teaching you useful skills but now it's time for us to focus on combat and your quirks, where you excel and to learn and overcome your weaknesses." I was surprised by what he had said but excited for my next step in training. "What school are you applying for because I know you're aiming for the hero course correct?", I nodded in response and told him I wanted to go for UA. "The top school huh? You've got guts kid, to be honest in all aspects not involving quirks I think you could beat all the other applicants; reflex, endurance, planning, acting under pressure you can do them all but in hand to hand combat you'll fall behind a few and quirk experience you will have the lowest, you discovered your quirks less than a year ago which means even though they may be powerful you lack years of experience in understanding them, from tomorrow on we are going to focus on those two thing because you need to stand out to enter UA, I'm not sure what type of test they'll give you but considering it's the hero course it'll definitely include combat so we need to drill those skills into you." he explained to me. "You can go home now kid, just keep in mind what I told you and maybe try analyzing  your quirk and draw a sketch for your hero costume and what you think you'll need for it, you'll add and erase parts of it over time when you understand it more but it's always good to see your progression, see ya kid." He said to me before patting my head and walking out leaving me to my thoughts.