THE SINS OF THE FATHER (BnHA Dad for One AU)

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX: Meddlesome

It's now the third day of camp and both classes are eating their breakfast before another day of vigorous training, although five students were very visibly fighting the urge to let their faces fall flat onto their food: the four failed students from class A and Neito, the only one who failed from class B.

"The five of you," Shota's voice made them flinch. "I expect none of you to be taking any more rest this morning. No matter how tired you all still are, I expect the same level of enthusiasm in training you had as yesterday."

"Y-yes, sir." The five students answered in unison while thinking Tartarus is probably better than this place.

However, while sitting together with Izuku, Shouto, and Shinso, Tenya couldn't help but notice that the greenette had barely even touched his food, and that it was like he was in a daze.

"Izuku," Tenya called him out with an air chop, snapping the greenette out of his daze, "You should eat! We have a whole other day of vigorous training! We wouldn't want you passing out from hunger."

Izuku simply chuckled.

"Is something wrong, Izuku? You've been staring blankly since last night." Shouto asked while giving Shinso the side eye.

The purplette noticed this and immediately defended himself, "I haven't used my Quirk on him at all! As if I would do something so stupid."

Shouto simply gave him a look that said, I'm watching you.

His two friends' interactions made Izuku laugh, but his thoughts immediately went back to what it was before.

"Izuku?" Shouto pressed on. Izuku gulped.

He gave a weak smile and tried to answer, "Don't worry, it's..." But immediately backtracked and said the truth.

"I tried talking to Kota last night."

"For what?" Shinso asked.

Izuku sighed, "You know how he hates heroes? I tried talking him out of it."

"For someone so young to have such a bad view on heroes, even though his parents were one, it just shouldn't be the case." Izuku stated his thoughts.

"I've seen that kind of hatred in my brother, how that hatred grew as years went by. I don't want to see it happen again." Izuku said, clenching his fist.

The mention of Izuku's brother made Shinso look away and simply continue to eat.

"From the way your acting, I assume it had no effect?" Tenya asked. Izuku nodded and voiced his frustration, "I don't get how it didn't work."

Shouto hummed as he thought. "Well..."

Izuku looked at his friend, curious as to what he had to say, "Well?"

"Maybe it's because you're just a stranger to him." Shouto answered but it didn't seem like Izuku got the hint.

Shouto sighed, "To him, you were probably just a stranger that decided to take it upon yourself to talk him out of his belief. No one in their right mind would take the word of a stranger. You need to show him."

"I agree with Todoroki. Actions speak louder than words, as they say." Shinso stated.

"Yeah but..." Izuku pointed at the purplette, "We never talked before the finals. We were practically strangers, but you believed in my words, didn't you?"

Shinso almost choked on his food. "Well, that was different! You spoke to me, didn't you? That was enough to show me that your words were sincere. Even though you were terrified, you still gathered the strength to speak to me, and when you did..."

Shinso almost said, You were the exact opposite of your brother. But he caught himself.

Shinso paused for a bit then continued, "There was no ounce of fear in your voice."

Shinso's words made Izuku smile, "I'm glad they actually reached you."

Shinso snickered at the greenette's cheesy line.

"But now that you mention it, he did something similar to me at the Sports Festival." Shouto said while looking up in a thinking pose, capturing the attention of the three other teenagers.

"He also did something of the sort during that time Tensei and I wound up facing Stain." Tenya added.

"Oh?" Shinso said in an amused tone and with a smirk. "Seems like someone has a habit of poking his nose wherever he smells trouble."

"Poking... his nose?" Shouto asked under his breath.

"It means he likes to meddle." Tenya clarified to the bichromatic.

Izuku chuckled nervously, "I can't help it! It stuck to me after Tenko said a quality of heroes is being meddlesome."

Shinso almost spit the food in his mouth but he stopped himself making him choke and cough a bit instead.

"Shinso, a-are you okay?" The greenette asked in concern. Shinso simply chuckled it off, "N-no, I'm fine."

Shinso told the greenette that to not make him worry, but his words had actually reminded him of that man's threat.

Shinso gulped.

He felt the phantom of those hands on his neck and on his face again.

Shut up. I need to shut up. Shinso thought repeatedly.

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