-7- An unexpected visit

Midoriya gasps, heart racing as he stumbles forward on his crutches.

"Shouto-kun's... I mean Todoroki-kun's aunt?! Where is he?! How is he?! What happened to him?!

May I see him?! Please, tell me!"

His words tumble out in a rush, his heart pounding in his chest as he thrusts himself closer to the young lady, his crutches thudding heavily against the floor.

The young lady's gaze falls on that thin kid frantically getting closer, clumsily dragging his crippled legs, his bright green eyes wide open.

"You really seem to care about Shouto... Midoriya-kun..." she says softly.

"I do! I do!" Says midoriya. "Please ma'am, tell me how's he. Let me see him, please!"

"Midoriya-kun, please... calm down..." She says.

"Your teachers said you and Shouto were close so... I thought you could... help him..."

"Yes! yes! We're friends!" Midoriya says frantically. "But why are you talking like that?! What happened to Shou... to Todoroki-kun?!"

"Shouto is at my place now," she begins, her voice wavering. "After a long legal battle, I get a deal with his father. Shouto is under my custody now... he lives with me."

"Really?!" Midoriya's face lights up with a smile, hope flickering in his eyes.

"Yes, but... now Shouto is..." The young lady's voice trails off, the air growing thick while Midoriya's smile shatters.

"What is it? He's fine, right?" His heart sinks as the words leave his mouth.

"No, Midoriya-kun... He's not..."

The ground feels like it's slipping away beneath him. He wobbles, struggling to maintain his balance.

"What... what... happened to him?..."

The young woman's eyes meet Midoriya's scared ones. "The doctors said he is in a sort of self induced coma... He... He closed himself deep in his mind... He doesn't speak anymore... He doesn't move anymore... He has to be fed by a feeding tube... "

Midoriya's mouth opens, but no sound comes out. Dizziness washes over him as he grips his crutches tighter, trying to ground himself as his heart races.

"Are you ok, Midoriya-kun?" Asks the young lady worriedly.

"Oh... Yes... Sorry ma'am... I'm fine..." he manages, though the tremor in his voice betrays him.

"Midoriya-kun..." She hesitates, "I... I came to ask you to... to come see Shouto... Maybe you can help him to find himself again..."

"Please Midoriya-kun... Come to see Shouto... Please..." She pleads.

"I will!" Almost shouts Midoriya. "I want to see Shouto-kun! I want to help him! I'll do anything!"

Tears glimmer in the corners of the woman's eyes, touched by the sincerity radiating from this small, frail boy. Shouto has a friend—a real friend.

He never had... but now... this tiny disabled kid seems to really care about him.

"Thank you Midoriya-kun, Thank you..." she whispers, wiping her cheeks.

"Please ma'am, take me to him... now... please..." urges Midoriya.

"I... I have a a car waiting outside the school, would you come with me?" softly asks Todoroki's aunt.

"Sure, let's go!" Midoriya grips the handles of his crutches tighter, his muscles straining as he pushed forward. He wants to go, he wants to run...

But he can't.

He can just slowly, laboriously drag his feet on the floor, struggling to walk on, softly grunting for the strain and for the frustration.

If only his legs would move faster... If only his stupid feet wouldn't trip over each other...

Each stumble feels like a slap in the face, a stark reminder of how trapped he was in his own body.

Kirishima is watching him. He feels the weight of his friend's struggle as he fights his spastic legs, striving to move on as fast as he can.

Unable to stand by any longer, he gets closer, gently placing a hand on Midoriya's shoulder, stopping him. "Midoriya... I know you may feel uneasy... but... Would you... um... would you let me... carry you?... Just this once..."

Midoriya hesitates, avoiding eye contact. "Oh... Um... Thanks, Kirishima-kun, but I... I..."

"Midoriya... Please... I'm your friend... There's no reason to feel uneasy with me... Let me help you... just this time... please!"

Midoriya can see the concern on Kirishima's face and a genuine desire to support him. His usually funny expression his now worried, worried for him. He just wants to help. He's a friend...

With a hesitant nod, Midoriya relents. "Thanks, Kirishima-kun. Please... ...help me..."

Kirishima's worried face break in a wide grin. He feels relieved. Midoriya trusts him after all...

"Excellent decision, Sir." He says then cheerfully, back to his usual mode.

"You'll find my back really comfy! Much better than Denki's, with all that spiky bones!"

"Wuh... What?! My ba...ba...ba...back is j-just as cuh...cuh... uh... as cuh... onfortable as y-yours!" Sputters Kaminari, feigning indignation, slapping Kirishima on an arm with the back of his hand.

"A-ha! You smiled, Midoriya! says Kirishima, grinning and pointing at him. "I saw you!"

"Not one of your best, but..." he adds as his expression turns serious again. "Don't worry, Midoriya. Todoroki is going to get better. I feel it."

___________________________________________

"Please kids, get in." Todoroki's aunt says, opening the door of her apartment.

"Sorry for intruding..." the boys say getting into the genkan.

"Guys..." asks Midoriya uneasily.

"Um... could... could you help me to sit on the step? I have to take off my shoes..."

"Midoriya-kun," says gently the young lady, her gaze resting on his braced shoes. "Can you walk without your braces?"

"Uh... um... well... I... I can crawl... Don't worry..." Midoriya answers.

"Absolutely not!" she replies firmly. "Please keep your shoes on and use your crutches. I don't mind at all!"

"Oh... but... I... um..." Midoriya's cheeks flush. "Thank you, ma'am..." Ha says shyly. "I... I really can't walk without them now..."

"Remember..." Kirishima says, steadying Midoriya as he struggles with the genkan step, "You can count on us. Ever." His funny face is now serious. "Call us for anything you need. Promise!"

"Yes... I will. Thanks..."

"Midoriya, look at me!" Insists Kirishima "Promise!"

Midoriya meets his friend's eyes. "I will... I promise. Thank you, guys..."

Kirishima smiles, gently squeezing his arm. "See you, Midoriya... and remember, you promised..."

"Aren't you staying kids?" asks the young lady to Kirishima and Kaminari.

"We really would but Todoroki and... oh... Sorry... Todoroki-kun and Midoriya share a very special bond, intruding now wouldn't be a good idea..."

"Oh... I see... That's very considerate of you... Thank you kids..."

"Oh... um... you... you are welcome ma'am..." Says Kirishima, blushing.

"If we can do something for Todoroki we... I mean, for Todoroki-kun, we will. Just let's know!"

"Goodbye Ma'am, thank you for taking care of our friends." He then adds.

"Good...Good...uh... Goodbye, Ma...a...adam."

_______________________________________________

"Would you come in, Midoriya-kun?" Todoroki's aunt asks gently.

"Yes ma'am, please." Midoriya awkwardly follows her, dragging and stomping his feet along a narrow corridor, leaning heavily on his crutches.

"Do you need help, Midoriya-kun?" Asks the young lady, noticing his struggle.

"No, thank you ma'am." he pants, fighting to free the foot that just got stuck against the other one. "I can do it by myself."

At the end of the corridor, the woman opens a door. "Midoriya-kun..." she says softly. "Please, get in. Shouto is here."