"What's with all these messages?"
Izuku exited the food delivery app and opened his messages. A long block of text filled the screen.
That's way too much to read…
He skipped it and moved to the next message.
Izuku, I'll be traveling abroad with your father for a while. I'll be gone for about half a month. I've already transferred money to your card, so take care of yourself and don't forget to eat properly. —Mom (sent from the plane)
"…Seriously?"
Izuku kicked at his blanket.
She left again without telling me.
He deleted the message and reopened the delivery app.
I'm getting pork cutlet rice.
—
About ten minutes later, Izuku was halfway through his meal when the door opened. Todoroki and Iida walked in.
"You're back," Izuku said. "What took so long?"
"We went to get Iida's medical report," Todoroki replied.
"My left arm may have lasting damage," Iida added.
"…Permanent damage?" Izuku looked up.
"Possibly," Iida said calmly. "I've decided not to treat it."
Izuku frowned. "You're not going to treat it?"
"I won't," Iida said. "This is a consequence of my actions. I need to remember it, so I don't repeat the same mistake. Until I become a full-fledged hero, I'll leave it as it is."
"I see."
Izuku nodded and went back to eating.
A chill ran down his spine.
He turned his head.
Todoroki was watching him.
"The doctor said you should only be eating soft foods for the next few days."
"…Did they?"
Izuku swallowed quickly, already sensing where this was going.
"They did," Todoroki said. "Put that down."
"No."
Izuku scooped another bite into his mouth and slid off the bed, trying to make a break for the door.
"Not listening?"
An ice spike shot out and pinned the container to the wall.
Izuku froze.
"…Tch."
He climbed back onto the bed, pulled the blanket over himself, and curled up.
Todoroki is annoying.
Todoroki, for his part, hesitated.
Now what? I don't know how to deal with this.
—
That evening, Iida's family came to take him home. He paused at the door and gave a small nod to Izuku and Todoroki.
Izuku smiled and waved him off.
The next morning, Todoroki also left to continue his work study.
That left Izuku alone in the hospital room, still unable to move much because of his leg injury. The doctors said he should recover enough to walk by the next day.
Lying in bed with nothing to do, Izuku scrolled through his phone. It had been a few days since he'd checked the class group chat.
He opened it and typed a message.
Midoriya Izuku: Long time no see, everyone.
Kaminari Denki: Whoa—Midoriya?! You're alive?!
Mineta Minoru: I thought you were dead. I was about to send flowers.
Midoriya Izuku: …
Jiro Kyoka: Don't even joke about that. You've been gone for days. What happened?
Todoroki Shoto: Midoriya defeated the Hero Killer. He's been recovering from his injuries.
Kirishima Eijiro: Wait, wasn't it reported that Endeavor took down the Hero Killer?
Todoroki Shoto: We weren't allowed to appear in the report or receive credit. My father just happened to take it.
Midoriya Izuku: I just did what I could. Todoroki helped limit his movement. I wouldn't have won alone.Also… if you actually sent anything to my house, no one would be there. My mom's away for half a month. It's kind of a pain.
Iida Tenya: You'll be living alone during that time?
That message caught the attention of two silent readers in the chat.