He couldn't help but be in a good mood, how could he not be? There was a skip to his step as he headed home, unable to contain his excitement. UA! He was going to UA! All that work, everything All Might and his mom had done to help him, he was finally going to pursue the one thing he wanted more than anything. It was like a dream, he was still having a hard time believing it. The whole situation was just so surreal, maybe he could use a good relaxing night at home-

"CONGRATULATIONS, IZUKU!" The boy nearly fell over as soon as he entered his home, the small apartment now crammed with several guests, a banner, a table full of goodies and various balloons. His mother was beaming at him, holding out a cake, but if anything he was more surprised by the visitors.

"Grandpa-?! Tomura?! Mister Kurogiri?!"

"Nice to see you again too," the pale young man grumbled, scratching at the side of his neck. "Geez, we show up and put up with all this for you and that's how you say hi?"

"Now Tomura, don't be rude," Kurogiri stated calmly, then addressed Izuku. "Your mother informed us you got into your first-choice of school, we came to congratulate you. I heard you worked very hard, well done."

"O- oh!" Deku bowed politely. "Thanks Mister Kurogiri! Mom- everyone!"

"Well whatever," Tomura shrugged. "You're here so let's do this whole party thing already."

Izuku nodded in response, smiling despite the slight loss of color in his face. Grandpa hadn't said anything yet, but he was quieter these days. It had to be hard to talk, after all, with that life-support system, it looked so uncomfortable. He just sat there at the table, silent.

"Uhm- thank you for coming," Izuku said, approaching the man. "I know it's hard for you to travel around a lot since the accident. I-…I'm glad you're here."

There was a moment of silence, just a moment, but it felt like all sound had muted, like existence itself had been put into a dull haze, dragging out the seconds-

"You did well," came the voice, distorted and muffled by the machinery. "You had a goal and you did what was necessary to reach it, that is the only way anyone accomplishes anything."

A scarred, wrinkled hand lifted, ruffling the boy's green hair.

"Only the strong and willful achieve, I respect that, well done."

Izuku felt a swell of joy at the praise, grandpa was never very liberal with compliments. It wasn't that he never gave them or that he was unaffectionate, no, it was just...well, he wasn't sure, but he was going to enjoy this moment for what it was.

"Thank you so much!"

The boy flung himself at the crippled man in a hug, sobbing in his usual over-the-top manner.

"Izuku! Careful! Don't hurt him!" Inko cried, flailing her hands around in her panic.

"Now now, dear, it's quite all right," he chuckled. "He's just excited."

"But, Dad-"

"S- Sorry," Izuku pulled back, wiping his eyes. "I just- um- sorry."

"Nonsense, never apologize for doing what you must, now why don't you go enjoy the cake your mother made?"

The boy beamed, turning his attention to the table and the other guests. Tomura was sitting at the table, scratching at his arm, his other hand tapping the tabletop; he had a lot of nervous twitches like that, he wasn't very social much, either…but he had still come, right? He had to appreciate that he showed up despite his condition, it couldn't be easy.

"I haven't seen you in a while, Tomura," Izuku chirped, pulling up a chair by him. "How's your training going?"

"Same as usual," he replied gruffly, glancing at him. "Nothing very…interesting, lately. Unlike you, apparently you have a quirk now?"

The boy tensed just a second, then haphazardly jumped into the lie he had told his mother.

"Y- Yeah! Apparently I'm just a late bloomer! I know it's super unlikely but it's not unheard of, heheh, I was really surprised too, it's kinda surreal!"

"Right, well, anyway…nice to see you're happy, I guess."

Tomura had a lot of …'issues', but he always tried to be nice to him; he was much nicer to him than anyone at school, anyway. He had known the young man for a few years now, after Grandpa had taken him in and made him his apprentice. Mister Kurogiri had come and gone with his grandfather's visits for as long as he could remember, he was much better with people, but always very professional.

"I guess you can kick Bakugo's ass now, hey?" Tomura's face split into an eerie grin. "That piece of shit's had it coming for a while now, you should tell me when you do it so I can watch."

"Tomura…"

"Okay, okay, enough of that," Inko tsked, lightly slapping the pale man's arm, "Izuku! I know you're on a diet and all but I got your favorite ice cream! Just consider it a cheat day, okay?"

It was always a bit tense with the rest of his family over, but they still made the effort to show up now and then, unlike some people- no, no he wasn't going to think about that, he was just going to enjoy the party they had thrown for him.

Time flew by and Izuku found himself sleeping off a full stomach, curled up in his room. It had been a while since he had eaten anything sugary like that, it was kind of nice now and then. Well, except for the problems it caused his stomach. He slipped out to answer the call of nature, making his way to the bathroom. Tomura was snoring, sprawled on the sofa with the blanket thrown to the floor, but other than that it was pretty quiet. He tended to his business and was making his way back to his room when caught the hushed conversation.

"I told you I didn't, Inko."

"Dad, this is serious!" his mother's voice hissed. "Did you give him one or not? Did he ask you? Did you tell him?"

"I didn't give him one." His grandfather reiterated. "I didn't even speak to him about it, as you asked."

"Then why does he have one now? Did he really just- it's just so unlikely-"

"Inko, dear, even if I did give him one, what would you have me do now? Take it back?"

"I…" she sighed. "No, but I just-"

"I've respected your wishes to minimize my…influence in his life, have I not kept to it? Why would I suddenly go against that without consulting you? I made it very clear long ago that I would be willing to give him one, but you were adamant about keeping me 'secret' as possible."

"It's dangerous, Dad, I know it's what he wants but you know better than I do how dangerous it is to be a hero. What if he- I mean- you won't…will you?"

"We've been over this, if this is what he wants then there is no reason he shouldn't pursue it, just as I pursue what I want, simply because I want it. If you worry about 'conflict' then don't, I have my resources, he'll be kept in the dark about me, just as he has been, just as you wanted."

Izuku frowned, still and silent in the hall, listening to the exchange through his mother's door. What were they talking about? Keeping him in the dark about what? His stomach twisted into a knot, a cold chill running up his spine. He didn't like this, not at all, it was sketchy, it gave him a bad feeling- was this about his grandfather's 'work'? Tomura's 'work'? They never really talked to him about it, in fact, he didn't know much about it at all- that couldn't be good, could it? But-…no, no they were good people, they were his family, he had to be overthinking this.

"Dad…I-"

"You should go to bed, Inko, it's late. I'm rather tired as well, we can discuss this more tomorrow if you wish, when Izuku is at school."

He heard movement and quickly, but quietly, slipped back into his room, closing the door shut with as little noise as possible. What was all that about? Should he ask- no, it didn't sound like they were going to just tell him about anything. He slipped into his bed, staring at the wall. Would All-Might have any advice about this? Maybe he should ask him next time….