All For Some

Chapter 78: From Smoothing Rock to Even Harder Place

Izuku rotated his shoulders as he walked towards school gates in the middle of his training group, minus one. For someone that spent years alone and had more people around him than ever before it was strange to feel that hole of one, but he did.

Also Eijiro had turned out to be quite competent with shoulder massages. Strong-as-stone fingers were not only good for punching people or steel monoliths. Izuku did not need it quite like the others, but he couldn't refuse on that basis.

Izuku jolted as something else, something colder, squeezed his shoulders until he noticed black mass at the edge of his vision.

"Fumi says this helps you when you are, what was it called, sore," Dark Shadow said.

"Sure does, but I think Hitoshi needs it more. I might have twisted something not meant to be twisted."

"When wouldn't you," Hitoshi said. He reached one hand behind his head but stopped before reaching all the way. A small jolt made pain visible. "You know you are supposed to hold down the villain not pull their arm off. I sure hope you aren't imagining people pointing knives at us while training."

"Only when training with Eijiro or Dark Shadow," Izuku responded while the quirk in question moved behind Hitoshi.

"Are you sure about that?"

"You would know if I wasn't."

"Fair. Ouch," Hitoshi yelped as Dark Shadow squeezed his shoulder. "Oh yes, right there."

Izuku smiled.

"You'll be happy to know I'm not planning anything painful for rest of the evening, at least not new pain."

"I'll believe when I see it."

"I think we can trust his word," Shoto interrupted. "He is usually serious about these things. Not like he'd lie to us."

It wasn't the first time Shoto had shoved a giant icicle into Izuku's heart, but it was just as difficult to keep his face straight as before. And quilt trips did not end there as they arrived outside the gate where Izuku's car waited. Tenya stopped before they got in.

"I will see you later. I got to go to..."

"Get in," Izuku said with a soft smile. "We'll stop at the hospital."

"Are you sure! I don't want to waste everyone's time."

Izuku only responded with an unyielding 'you won't change my mind' -stare and nodded towards the car. Tenya yielded and entered first.

"And people complain about my mind control," Hitoshi whispered to Tokoyami just loud enough.

"There are benefits of not being a shadow in others' lives."

"And what is wrong with being a shadow?" Dark Shadow asked.

That was one trouble Izuku was happy to leave Tokoyami to sort out himself. Unusually he did not wait for others to get in the car before entering himself and settling between Tenya and the door.

Izuku tried to relax during the drive but was too excited and nervous. His head tilted towards Tenya wanting to spill the beans but Hitoshi kicked his foot.

At the hospital Izuku stepped out first then Tenya who turned towards Izuku.

"You don't need to wait for me, I can get my own ride back."

"Maybe, but they'll still need to wait for me," Izuku responded not making any moves to get back in the car. He took a few steps towards the hospital building and glanced back.

"You coming?"

"Izuku," Tenya's eyes got more serious but Izuku only responded with a smile, "what are you planning?"