-6- Abduction

The doorbell rings, again.

"We got a lot of guests, today..." cheerfully says Midoriya, getting to the door but, as he opens it, his cheerful expression falters at the sight of three individuals standing outside.

One seems to be a police officer, while the other two look very formal and have a stone cold expression in their faces. Before Midoriya could even greet them, one of the men speaks up.

"Midoriya Izuku-kun?" he brusquely asks.

Midoriya's unease grows as he nods hesitantly. His mind races, trying to figure out what this could be about.

"We have received information that Todoroki Shouto-kun is here," continues the man, his piercing gaze fixed on Midoriya's face. "is that true?"

"Um... y-yes Shou... I mean, Todoroki-kun is here... but... um..." stutters Midoriya, feeling a knot form in his stomach. "but... why?..."

In the meantime Todoroki, hearing someone saying his name got closer to see who's looking for him.

As soon as he sees the two men in suits, a look of terror crosses his face and he stumbles backwards, falling onto the floor, his eyes wide open, terrorized. "No..." He mutters under his breath... "No..."

Midoriya mind is swirling in confusion -Who are them...-

"We are Todoroki-kun's caretakers." Coldly says one of the men, as catching Midoriya's thought. "After the recent problem at school, we got instruction by his father to take him into custody."

"No... please... no..." Todoroki whimpers, crouched on the floor, his voice barely above a whisper.

Alarmed by Todoroki's reaction, Kirishima boldly confronts the man who has spoken.

"You don't have any right to drag Todoroki out of here against his will!" He says defiantly.

"Yes kid, we have." Says the men coldly. "The officer here is granting that everything will be done according to the law."

Midoriya stands frozen in fear and confusion. What could possibly be going on? "What are you going to do to Shouto-kun?!" He blurts out.

"It's none of your concern kid," one of the men replied annoyedly.

"Anyways," the other man interjects, "as you can see, Todoroki-kun has a mental condition. He is going to be properly treated in a suitable facility."

"No... no..." pleaded Todoroki, desperately gazing at his friends. "They are going to lock me up... They'll drug me!... They'll hurt me!... Please... Not again..."

"Come on kid, " says the man standing in front of him in a dismissive tone, "let's make it easy. Come with us without making a fuss, it's for your own sake."

"No... please... no..." Todoroki clutches his arms around his chest, his voice just a whisper.

Midoriya manages to step in front of the men, arms spread wide "I... I... won't let you hurt my friend," He says trying to sound resolute, but his voice is shaking as his legs. "please leave this house." he adds.

"Kid..." Says the man in an irritated tone. "As the officer here can explain you, we have a mandate to take Todoroki-kun into custody. So please, stay out of this."

"No!" shouts Midoriya fiercely. "I won't let you harm my friend."

"Fine. Let's make it quick," replies the man and, with a nod to his partner, they barge into the house without even bothering to take off their shoes.

Midoriya clumsily positions himself in front of them, blocking their path.

"Move aside, kid," orders one of the men, rudely shoving Midoriya to the side.

The kid wobbles on his spastic legs, desperately trying to keep his balance before falling heavily onto the floor.

"Officer!" calls Kirishima loudly, pointing towards the man who pushed Midoriya.

"That man assaulted my friend! Do something!"

"Kid," says the policeman in a bored tone. "That boy is disabled; he simply tripped on his own feet..."

"What?! He slammed him down, you saw him!" Shouts Kirishima clenching his fists in anger and frustration.

The policeman just seems don't care the kid struggling on the floor and reaches the two men that are grabbing Todoroki under his arms, roughly pulling him up. Todoroki gasps and struggles against their hold while the two men forcibly drags him out the room.

A wash of fear, anger and frustration floods Midoriya, struggling on the floor, unable to get up. He can just helplessly watch his dearest friend desperately trying to get free from those men who are dragging him away.

He can see terror and despair in Todoroki's eyes as their gaze met for a brief moment. Todoroki reaches out a hand to him, his lips parting as if trying to speak, but no sound comes out. Then, suddenly, his body becomes limp, his eyes empty, dull, lifeless.

"Shouto-kun!" Midoriya shouts, but Todoroki does not answer. He just dangles between the two men, like a lifeless rag doll.

"What did you do to him!" desperately yells Midoriya.

"As I said before, and as you can see now," says with annoyance one of the men holding Todoroki, "Todoroki-kun has a mental condition and needs to be treated. His father knows what's best for him."

"Sorry for the inconvenience, kids." the officer says dismissively as two men are dragging Todoroki's limp body away, loading him into a car waiting on the roadside.

___________________________________________

The lessons have just ended and the students are bustling out of the classroom, chattering.

Midoriya is still slowly packing up his backpack as the room emptied. Only two kids remains, patiently waiting for him.

"Midoriya," Kirishima calls out gently, approaching him.

"Midoriya..." he repeats.

The boy blinked, suddenly realizing that someone was speaking to him. "Oh...sorry...I was lost in my thoughts," Midoriya replies tiredly.

Kirishima's concerned expression only intensifies as he looks at his friend.

"Midoriya... You are lost in your thoughts from months now..." he states. "Your grades are falling, you lost weight... Your gait has worsened, you even need legbraces and crutches to walk now... It's pointless to torture yourself like that. At this rate you'll end up in a wheelchair..."

"I don't care..." Midoriya plainly says as he grabs his legs and drag them out from under the desk making the steel rods of his legbraces clatter, hitting against the metal legs of his chair.

Leaning on his elbow crutches he laboriously manages to stand up, his knees bent, his feet strongly twisted inward. "See you tomorrow, guys..." he then says flatly.

His two friends watch in silence as Midoriya makes his way out of the room.

Each step seems an impossible challenge.

He's walking on his toes, slowly, heavily leaning on his crutches, rubbing his knees, crossing his legs; noisily dragging his feet on the floor.

His right foot bumps against the other one at every single step; every few steps, it gets tangled on the other one, forcing him to stop and struggle to clear it from the obstacle before being able to walk on.

Kaminari felt a knot tighten in his stomach. He can't bear to see his friend like this.

He steps in front of Midoriya stopping him, lightly placing his hands on his shoulders, making sure that wouldn't make him lose his balance.

He has to talk to him, no matter how. Midoriya wouldn't mind his stuttering.

"Muh...Muh... ngh...Mido... oh... oriya-kun,"

"We... we un...un...derstand your... fuh... uh... fee...eeling b-but pl...pl...ease, ta...ta...talk wuh... with us, do...don't re...re...re..ngh... re...re...re...re... nngh...re...re..."

He got stuck... Damn...He has to talk to him... He really wants... He wants Midoriya understand he and Eijirou are his friends... He wants he know he can count on them...

He clenches his fists and tries again..

"Duh... duh... duh... do...on't re...re...re... ngh...re...re... nngh... re... re...re...re...ject us!" he eventually splutters out, panting. "We a...are yo...your fuh...fuh...ngh...fuh...friends!"

Midoriya can see the genuine concern etched on Kaminari's face, scrunched in the strain of speaking to him. He can feel his heart sinking with guilt. He never wanted to make his friends feel rejected or unwanted.

"Guys...I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to be rude," he stammers out, tears welling in his eyes.

"We're your friends too, Midoriya," Kirishima says softly, moving closer to him. "remember that... We're here for you... we always will..."

Midoriya rises a hand to wipe away the tears brimming in his eyes. "I know... Thanks... Really..." He says attempting a smile.

"Midoriya Izuku-kun?" The kids turn their head at the voice of the woman who just got into the classroom.

"Midoriya Izuku-kun?" she calls out again in a gentle tone.

"Uh... um... it's me... What can I do for you, ma'am?" Says Midoriya, clumsily turning toward her, stomping his crutches on the floor.

He can't help but stare at the young lady standing before him. She appears to be in her thirties, but her hair are an ethereal shade of white.

He notices also her eyes. Their color is a bright shade of turquoise, the same shade of Shouto-kun's left eye.

"I'm Kawashima Nanako, Todoroki Shouto's aunt, his mother's younger sister. Nice to meet you."