Redemption From a Father

[ REVISE ] Call From Him

Izuku Midoriya's been restless all day, and weirdly enough, it's not because of training or Kacchan, which is a miracle on its own.

After their "talk" (which Aizawa insisted on calling "a fight"), things between them have been... surprisingly okay.

They're not suddenly best friends or anything, but the air isn't as hostile like before anymore. They somehow even talk like two completely normal human beings during house arrest. And now that Katsuki even knows about his secret, Izuku should feel relieved.

He should be fine.

Except he's not.

There's this strange weight sitting in his chest since morning. Not heavy enough to hurt, just there. Nagging, stubborn, and very annoying. It doesn't make sense. Nothing's wrong. Classes went smoothly, training's over, everyone's fine, and All Might didn't drop another life changing bomb on him today.

Still, he keeps zoning out, missing Aizawa's questions, and catching concerned looks from his classmates.

Even Katsuki glanced at him once, frowning. That's how bad it was.

By the time class ends, he's overthinking it so hard his brain might just quit on him. As they walk back to the dorms, Uraraka catches up beside him.

"Deku, you okay? You've looked kinda... distracted since morning," she says, worry all over her face.

He gives her a weak laugh. "Ah, I'm fine, really. Just this weird feeling I can't shake off. Probably nothing. My brain's just doing its thing again."

Some of their classmates overheard. There are a few knowing looks, a few sighs. Everyone's used to "overthinking Deku" by now.

Once they're back in the dorms, the tension disappears fast. The weekend's coming, so everyone's in a good mood. Laughter fills the common room. Even Bakugou hanging around, grumpy as ever but still there and Tokoyami's pretending not to enjoy the noise.

Izuku sits on the sofa, half listening to his friends talk about what to eat for dinner, when his phone starts ringing.

Incoming Call: Unknown number

He frowns. Weird. I usually save everyone's contact... did I forget someone?

He quiets his friends with a quick gesture and picks up.

"Hello? Who is this?"

Nothing. Just silence. He's about to hang up when a soft voice finally answers. "...Izuku."

The way the person says his name, it's too familiar... Low. Careful. Almost guilty.

"Who are you? How did you get my number?" Izuku asks, trying to sound calm even though something inside him twists.

"I... got it from Inko."

His mom's name makes him pause. "From Mom? Who are you?"

A long breath. Then, "This is Hisashi."

The world stops for a second. His blood runs cold. His mouth opens, but nothing comes out.

Across the room, Katsuki eyes snap up immediately. Something's wrong. Everyone can tell by the way Izuku's sitting. He looks stiff, pale and frozen.

"...How..." Izuku whispers, his throat tightening. "Why now?"

No one dares to speak, but the tension in the room sharpens.

"Why now, after years?" His voice cracks. "Is it because I'm not quirkless anymore? Because your weak, pathetic son finally turned out to be useful?!"

The words tumble out faster, louder. His voice shakes with anger and pain. Tears sting his eyes, but he doesn't stop. "You don't get to call me, not after what you did to Mom! Do you even know how many nights she cried because of you? How many times I caught her whispering I'm sorry while she thought I was asleep? You left her! You left us! For what?!"

His classmates stare, frozen. None of them have ever seen Midoriya angry like this. He's shaking, breathing too fast, eyes glossy and red.

On the other side of the line, Hisashi's voice trembles. "Izuku... I know. I know I was wrong. You have every right to hate me. I just—"

"Don't you dare—"

"I'm not asking you to forgive me," Hisashi said quietly. His voice was rough, the kind that came from too many words swallowed over the years.

There was a small pause, just long enough for Izuku to hear him breathe in, like he was trying to steady himself.

"I'm coming to Japan next week," he continued, softer this time. "I... I want to see you. Just once. To apologize...for everything. I know how badly I hurt you and your mother. I ran away when I should've stayed. I thought keeping my distance would spare you both, but I see now it only made things worse."

His voice wavered, but he didn't stop. "I've spent years telling myself it was too late, that I'd only make things worse if I showed up. But I can't keep hiding. I don't want to be that coward anymore. I don't expect you to welcome me, or even to listen. But, I really want to try to make things right, even if it takes the rest of my life."

There was a long silence on the line. Izuku could almost hear him swallow before he spoke again, quieter now, almost like a prayer.

"You don't have to meet me if you don't want to," he said. "I'll understand. I just... I want you both to know I'm trying. And I'll wait, for however long it takes."

And then the line goes dead.

Izuku stays frozen for a few seconds, his breath caught halfway in his throat. Then his head drops. The first tear falls, then another, and suddenly it's like a dam breaking. His shoulders start to shake, his hands tremble, and before he knows it, he's gasping for air that just won't come.

Katsuki is the first to move. No hesitation. He crouches down in front of him, grabs him by the shoulders, and pulls him tight. No words, no yelling, just quiet. The kind of quiet that says I've got you.

Izuku clutches the front of Katsuki's shirt like he's drowning, fingers twisting the fabric until his knuckles turn white. His sobs come raw and ugly, full of years of swallowed pain spilling out all at once.

"Kacchan..." he manages to choke out between shaky breaths. His voice cracks, small and desperate.

Katsuki tightens his arms around him, his jaw clenched but his voice steady. "It's okay, I'm here." he mutters, low enough only Izuku can hear.

Izuku's face is buried against his shoulder now, bangs sticking to his damp cheeks, his whole body trembling. Katsuki doesn't move, doesn't let go. He just stays there grounded and solid, letting Izuku cry it all out until the sobs fade into tired, uneven breaths.

"I know," Kacchan mutters softly. "Just let it out, you nerd."

The room stays silent. Nobody laughs, nobody moves. Even Aizawa, who just walked in after being dragged by Kirishima stops dead at the doorway.

Later, when Bakugou carries the now unconscious Izuku back to his room, everyone's still sitting there, stunned.

"So..." Aizawa starts, breaking the silence. "Bakugou. What happened?"

Bakugou sighs, dropping onto the sofa. "Not my story to tell. But I guess, that bastard finally come back."

"The bastard... you mean his dad?" Kaminari asks carefully.

"OF COURSE I MEAN HIS DAD, DUNCE FACE!" Bakugou snaps, then groans, rubbing his temples. "That guy left Auntie and Deku when he found out Deku was quirkless. Don't know the details, but... yeah. He's the reason both of them went through hell." 

The room goes quiet again.

No one knows what to say. The image of Izuku as their sunshine, their cinnamon roll, screaming in pain like that is burned into their minds.

For the first time, every single person in Class 1A is thinking the same thing.

We have to protect him.