Izuku shakily lifted himself from his bed, His face still red with sweat.

He slowly changed from his night clothes into his causal clothes.

His stomach grumbled in hunger.  Nothing sounded good to him at the moment.  Maybe a little cereal would calm him down.

He cracked open his door and looked around for any other people.  It was fairly early so he hoped no one would be up.

The coast was clear so he quietly exited his room and crept down the halls.

Once he entered the kitchen he flinched as another person stood there. It was Tokoyami. Of course he would be up this early. He glanced at Izuku before returning his eyes back to scanning the fridge. He pulled out an apple and walked past Izuku and back to his dorm room.

Izuku didn't know why he felt his heart beating a million times a second. It was unlike him, he thought he was used to being around classmates.

Once his heart rate returned to normal he grabbed his favorite cereal. He sat down at the table and calmly ate his food.

He liked the calm.  Being bothered by nothing.  No interactions.  No one to talk to.  Being alone.

He finished his cereal and saw others emerge from their room and he quickly sped back to his own room.

Don't let them see you like this.

After some time Izuku changed into his school uniform and made his way to class. He got there at his usually time. He hadent walked with Iida and Uraraka, he told them to go ahead. Usually everyone was already there and Izuku made an attempt to smile as usual. He had to smile, he had to let them know he was okay. That he was always okay.

The nightmare still fresh in his mind, he plastered a fake smile on his face and entered the room. Well it wasn't completely fake, he was happy that things weren't like the past.  He was glad he had friends to talk to and people to have fun with.

But today was different, he was on edge, and he felt... dejected, like he didn't have an confidence. He was confused, he didn't know why this was happening.  But he was strong, he could do this.

I am strong.

No I'm not.

Izuku slowly made his way to his desk.  He kept his eyes low, maybe he could avoid eye contact.  He picked up his eyes to smile at only his close friends.  When it came to Bakugo.. Izuku felt.. scared.

"H-hi K-Kacchan."  His voice was quiet, and could barely be heard over the chatter of his classmates.

Bakugo looked in anger at Izuku.  And he was a little shocked at the sight.  Izuku refused to make eye contact, his head was hung low, and his smile was weak.

The hell is wrong with him?

Bakugo didn't realize it.. but he had come to enjoy that nerdy smile.

~

Class was normal.  Nothing changed, nothing was new.

Uraraka and Iida noticed the sadness coming from their friend. They figured he was just tired and they didn't want to bother him.

As class ended they gathered together as they always did. Izuku had felt more normal as the day progressed. He met with his friends and they proceed to walk out of the classroom.

As they walked they neared a corner. Izuku felt his eyes grow wide and his heart begin to panic. It was not abnormal for bullies to jump him from around corners. Well, not abnormal in middle school. He stopped walking and tried to calm his breathing. Uraraka and Iida looked in surprise at him.

"Something wrong Midoriya?" Iida asked in concern.

"I-is there any-anyone around that corner" he asked quietly.

Uraraka and Iida both looked at each other in confusion.

"I.. guess I can check, if that's what you want..." Uraraka trailed off.

She walked over to the corner and peered around it.

"Nope, no one." She concluded, "what's wrong Deku, are you okay?"

"I'm," he swallowed hard, "I'm okay." He smiled.

"If you say so..."