Izuku woke up the next day feeling completely drained and exhausted. The last thing he remembered was talking to Aizawa. He must have fallen asleep, he made a mental note to apologize to his teacher later.

He groggily lifted himself into a seating position, today he would have to go home. At least his mother would be away for another day. He got up and stretched his legs. Recovery girl had done wonders in her healing, the only thing that still hurt was his throat.

The door to the infirmary opened, Recovery girl stepping in.

"OH, you're awake. How are feeling today dearie? Any pain?" She enquired as fussed over him. She hummed in satisfaction as she checked his blood pressure and his breathing. She then proceeded to remove his cast and change the wrapping around his now freshly healed hand. though he would have to refrain from any strenuous activities.

"J- Just my Thro- throat." His throat caught at his attempt to speak, he was promptly thrown into a coughing fit.

Recovery quickly handed him a glass of water, rubbing circles on his back as he tried to regain his composure.

"You shouldn't be speaking, the swelling in your throat, despite my healing, is still excessive. For the next three days, use this to communicate with your friends. "She handed him a small notebook, similar to the one he used last night and a pen. "If you don't give your vocal cords a rest, you'll end up aggravating the swelling. This is an order mister!" She scolded.

He took the notebook from her hands and began writing the question he was meaning to ask.

'Do I have to go home?'

She read the small and meek handwriting and frowned. Was the boy afraid to go home?

"Well, you can..." Recovery girl replied hesitantly. She watched as the boy's shoulders seemed to drop even further, he sighed and got up, seemingly resigned to his fate. "Still, some of your classmates volunteered to take you home. They wanted to come to check on you yesterday but I told them to give you some time to rest. They insisted they come today. They're outside waiting for you." The way his face lighted up made her heartache. Such a sweet boy.

Izuku practically ran out of the infirmary at the mention of his classmates waiting outside for him. He wanted to make sure they were all okay and apparently, they wanted to check on him too. This thought made his chest warm up.

He made his way towards the front gates, his notebook clenched tightly in his hand. Four figures were waiting patiently for his arrival. Uraraka, Iida, Tsuyu, and Kirishima waved at him. Uraraka met him halfway and instantly engulfed him in a light hug. The girl was afraid of aggravating his wounds. They looked him over, their eyes shining with worry as they took in his cuts and bruises. Recovery girl healed his arm but the bruises on his now bandage free throat were worrying. They were purple and in the shape of one massive hand. To say they looked bad was an understatement.

"Deku! You're okay!! I can't believe you! when we saw the medics take you out- You looked dead. Don't you ever do that again!" She had tears in her eyes, her usual bubbly demeanor gone. She hugged him once again and stepped away to let the rest of his friends have a turn in scolding him.

"Midoriya! We saw you running towards the hand villain and Tsuyu told us about how you fought him! I can't decide if what you did was the manliest or dumbest thing I've ever seen."

Izuku rubbed his neck sheepishly and mouthed his apology. He couldn't talk yet and his friends quickly realized that as they seemed content to just do the talking themselves.

After a rather long lecture from Iida about recklessness and a hug from Tsuyu, they finally decided to get going. They walked him all the way to his doorstep, telling him about the rest of their classmates and where everyone ended up at the USJ. Uraraka stayed with Ashido by the entrance with Thirteen and Kirishima got teleported with Bakugou to a wrecked building. Surprisingly, it turned out Iida was the student that escape and with his speed, he managed to alert All Might and the teachers about the attack. They owed him their lives.

They lingered by the doorway, Izuku looked back at them uncertainly. The last time he brought someone to his house, he ended up kicking them out to save them from his mother's wrath. Purple hair and tired eyes flashed in his memories. He quickly shoved these thoughts away, he wasn't going to dwell on that day. It was a mistake back then, to invite someone to his house. He didn't want to think of what would happen if his new friends found out. They'd probably realize he was just a coward. Just plain old worthless, useless Izuku.

Despite his self-deprecating thoughts, he still lingered by the doorway. His mind screamed at him to bid them goodbye and have them be one their way. Away from him and his useless life. However, his heart, the lonely, friendless child inside of him screamed at him to let them in. to let anyone in. to finally enjoy something for once in his miserable life.

Without realizing it, he'd stepped aside. Urging his friends to come in, despite the uncertainty and dread that filled his stomach.

Kirishima sat gingerly in Midoriya's living room, Izuku and Uraraka had gone to the kitchen. He didn't know what to think of Midoriya at first. The boy had come first in the entrance exam, his score and the buzz spread about his heroic act against the zero-pointer made him out to be a confident and bold person. He didn't expect the kid to be a stuttering mess, shying away from any and all attention he got and flinching at every sudden movement. Nevertheless, when he saw that same shy and timid boy, run headfirst towards a villain, the leader of the assault no less and attack him head-on. He found out just how much he had misjudged him. Midoriya may have been an anxious and nervous guy but the fire he saw in him that day, showed him how heroic and brave Midoriya truly was. Tsuyu had informed them about the fight between Izuku and the hand villain, she told them about the swift moves he'd pulled and the strengths he showed, how he stood up to the villain and defended their teacher. How'd he only been hurt when the Nomu intervened. The creature was designed to match All Might and even then, he didn't waver.

They all sat around a small coffee table in front of a television set. The apartment was small and quite simple. Pictures of a thin and small green haired woman were hung up on the walls, Kirishima assumed this was Izuku's mother. The resemblance was uncanny. However, the more he looked at the pictures the more one thing stood out. There weren't any pictures of Midoriya here. No childhood pictures, no middle schooler standing in front of the school gates for his first day. No first outing, no family photos. The house was empty of any evidence proving that another person lived here. It was strange, to say the least.

He didn't linger on that though, as Izuku stepped back into the living room followed by Uraraka. The girl had a tray with five teacups on it. Probably didn't want to let Midoriya do any of the work. He was supposed to be resting after all.

They sat in a circle, drinking their respective drinks and chatting. It was peaceful. A welcome change from the chaos they had lived through the day before. Soon enough they found themselves playing a game of Uno. Strangely it was Tsuyu who was the constant winner. She had played it countless times with her siblings before. Her parents were always out of town, she'd babysit them constantly.

Izuku looked around his living room, committing every detail to memory. This was the first time since the day he was diagnosed that he got to hang out with people his age. let alone his friends. Was this a dream? He was startled out of his revery by Kirishima screaming 'Uno!' with enthusiasm fit for a five-year-old as he set down his last two cards on the deck. If this was a dream, he'd gladly stay asleep.

The day passed in a flash. Soon enough, they were bidding the green haired boy goodbye and wishing him a fast recovery. Ordering him to take it easy and thanking him for his hospitality. The door clicked shut behind them and Izuku's shoulder dropped, a heavy weight lifted off his chest. For once, he'd been completely content and happy. He'd had a blast with his friends. Listening to their constant banter and enjoying a peaceful afternoon with them was refreshing. A welcome change from his lonely and dreadful afternoons. Yet, the never-ending paranoia and constant looking over his shoulder for any sign of his mother's arrival had made his afternoon quite stressful. It was all worth it though.

The next day, Izuku wakes up to find the door to his mother's room closed. She's back. At this revelation, he can't be quick enough to finish getting ready and practically runs out of the house.
He arrives at school just as the bell rings and quickly makes his way to his seat. Just as he sets his bag down, his classmates all swarm him.

"Midori! You're okay!" Ashido practically shouts. The nickname takes him off guard but he quickly regains his bearing and musters what he hopes is a smile despite his embarrassment.
Her exclamation is followed by a series of other questions and inquiries about his health and well-being. Despite the swelling has gone down exceedingly with the help of Recovery girl's quirk, the bruises are still visible. Izuku tugs at his collar subconsciously as he catches some of his classmates looking. He's saved from the overwhelming interactions by Aizawa's arrival.

The attention shifts off of Izuku and onto the new arrival. The questions now being directed at the newly recovered teacher, to everyone's relief he still has bandages on his hands but other than that he's okay.

Izuku couldn't help but notice how everyone seemed more comfortable around each other. The frightening and traumatic experience have, despite all the bad things that happened, brought them closer.

Soon enough, with the help of Aizawa's glare and constant assuring that yes, he was okay and no he's not going home to rest. The class settles back to their usual routine until Aizawa says he has an announcement to make.

"The school decided that they are going to go through with the sports festival this year."

"Even after the villain attack! Are you sure about this Sensei?" Shoji, the guy with the Dupli arms and tentacle quirk says.

"It's necessary to demonstrate that UA's crises management protocols are sound...That's the thinking apparently. Compared to past years, they'll be five times the police presence. Anyhow, the sports festival is... The greatest opportunity you'll get." Aizawa replied with a small huff.

"All this for a sports festival?" Mineta shouted in indignation, his hands thrown up to emphasize his point.

"Mineta, our sports festival is one of Japan's biggest events. The Olympics were once the worlds sports festival, the whole country would be whipped into a frenzy over them. But as you know that tradition has shrunk in scale to a shell of its former self. And as far as Japan's concerned, what's taken the place of the Olympics is... UA's sports festival." The teachers replied calmly, his voice neutral as he stated nothing but pure facts.

"The nation's top heroes will all be watching, they'll be there as scouts!" The creation quirk user, Yaoyorozu exclaimed, making Mineta shake in his seat in nervousness.

"They'll be looking to hire us as sidekicks after graduation!" Kaminari exclaimed, small electric charges running between his clenched fists. His determination reflected in each and every one of their classmate's expression, except Mineta who still looked scared.

"A lot of those sidekicks never manage to go solo. That'll be you Kaminari." Jiro, the girl with the earphone jacks on her ears teased Kaminari, their time in the landslide zone had brought them closer

"Naturally, you'll gain valuable experience and popularity if you're picked by a well-known hero." Aizawa continued, unaffected by his students exclaims and chit-chat. "But your time is limited, show the pros what you're made of here and you'll make futures for yourselves. This happens once a year, so you've got three chances. Make them count." His statement left the class in complete chaos and uproar, the excitement and determination palpable from a mile away.

Iida, Uraraka, Izuku, and Kirishima were walking to the cafeteria when All might's hulking figure stopped them, asking Izuku if they could have lunch together. Izuku waved off his classmates and promised to meet them later as he followed All Might to the teacher's lounge.

They sat there for a few minutes in silence. All Might clearly has something to tell Midoriya.

'What did you want to talk about All Might?' Izuku wrote on his notebook, shooting a questioning look at his mentor.

"My boy, back at the USJ I overexerted myself. My time limit is getting shorter by the day, I can barely maintain my muscle form for an hour."

'I'm sorry' Izuku looked down, tears glistening in his downcast eyes.

"Don't apologize, my boy, I'd be dead if it wasn't for you. Anyway, what I really wanted to talk about was the sports festival. Because in all honesty, my time as the symbol of peace is running out. Among those with villainous intent, there are some who have started to realize that. I granted you my power so that you could succeed me."

Izuku's breath caught in his throat as he heard the next words.

"This year at the sports festival, the whole world will be watching. This is your chance young Midoriya to go up there, You. the next symbol of peace, the next All Might and announce to the world that YOU ARE HERE"

Izuku spent the rest of the day with a new sense of determination burning in his eyes and a new kind of weight on his shoulders. He'd do his best to not let All Might down. He'd do his best to win.

They had just finished English with Present Mic when their path out of class was blocked by a massive group of students.

"What's going on?!" Uraraka shouts pointing at the group of students' blocking the door, they seem to be from different classes, some were from class 1-B and some from general studies 1-C.

"No way out! What they're here for?" Mineta's voice sounded through the class. His panic barely contained.

"Scoping out the competition because we're the kids who survived the villain attack. Makes sense they'd want a look before the sports festival." Kacchan says coolly as he walked towards the crowd, hands in his pocket and demeanor ever so careless. "No point though, move aside extras." He addressed the crowd. His statement urging Iida to step in and lecture him for calling the other students extras.

"It's true we came here to get a look, but you sure are modest." A tall figure called out from the crowd, people parting for him to pass. Izuku's breath caught in his throat at the familiar voice "Are all hero kids that arrogant? This sports festival is the perfect chance for us general education students to knock you off your pedestals, there's a rule here at UA that allows general education students to transfer into the hero course if we perform well enough at the sports festival. Consider this a declaration of war." The figure finally came fully into view, Izuku's eyes grow wide as he stares at the boy before him. His lavender hair hard to miss along with the bags under his eyes. He recognizes him immediately, eyes never straying from the tall boy as he made a declaration of war against his class.
And then purple eyes land on him and his heart stop. For a fleeting moment, he thinks he forgets to breathe. His heart hammers in his chest as he remembers the last time he saw the boy. Suddenly it feels like all the air in his lungs had been sucked out, the room was slowly closing in on him as he lost himself in another panic attack. He quickly runs out of the class, pushing and knocking people out of the way. Unaware of his classmate's shock and worried calls for him to come back, unaware of the frozen purple haired boy he'd left behind.