chinanigans | "Growing pains, good times"

"Growing pains, good times"

[It'd been about a week and a half since Nighteye's funeral. About a week and a half of the students returning to normal school life after their internships, and with the new addition of Eri to look after.

Things had been particularly hard on Izuku lately, Toshinori had noticed. He was smiling and acting like his normal self, keeping face so his friends wouldn't be worried for him like any other good Hero would do and for that, Toshinori was proud of him. But he knew the kid had to be suffering from all that had happened. All he had witnessed, all he had to fight, and from losing someone he was just starting to get close to. It was part of the job of being a Hero of course and he handled it all extremely well but... well. Toshinori wondered, a little. He wondered about his mental health, and how he was really fairing after all of that.

He was put in charge of his well being from his mother, Inko and he knew that meant more than just teaching him how to use One For All. But he'd never been good at the whole "guardian" thing. He's not a very good teacher, and he's even worse at trying to understand kids on a personal level more-so than on the level of a Hero and his Sidekick. Of course he'd been getting better, and had been becoming more mindful of their feelings over their priorities but still he felt like he'd been.. lacking. He felt like he needed to do something to take care of Izuku more than just giving him advice, for once.

That's why at around ten in the morning, on a Sunday, there's a text that buzzes Izuku's phone.]

Meet me by the front of your dorm, Midoriya-shounen! I have something urgent to speak to you about!!

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[Izuku had been trying not to let recent events get to him. He wasn't the only student suffering from a lot being on his mind, after all, and if he wanted to become a true hero he'd have to learn to properly process and deal with this sort of thing. From the loss, trauma, and exhaustion to the sense of victory and accomplishment he felt at rescuing Eri once and for all. Everything was a mixed bag, and Izuku had alarmed even himself when he slept a full day without even trying after returning from the mission. He wasn't sure if it was just exhaustion, or something else that spurred the episode.

Either way, he's alert now as he sits in his room and lifts a weight in one hand while he checks his phone with the other, shocked to see the text from All Might suddenly. Without considering what the urgency could mean, he puts the weight aside and quickly rushes to the door to lace up his shoes and sprint...

...wait. He said, front of his dorm? So where...]

[Outside, dummy!! The tall retired Hero stands waiting outside, the sun beating down on his tanned skin with his back turned towards the building as he waits to hear those hurried footsteps rush out.]

[Listen, he's tired...his brain isn't exactly firing on all cylinders at the moment. He eventually does make it outside though, definitely in a rush until his eyes finally catch sight of his mentor waiting outside for him.]

All Might!

[He practically skids over, his shoes screeching with protest as he comes to a heaving halt a foot or two away.]

Y-you said there was something urgent?

[Ah, there he is. He surely doesn't disappoint, getting there barely five minutes after Toshinori sent that text.]

I did, yes.

[Toshinori turns around and sees that tired child, looking up at him with wide, frightened eyes as if he was expecting horrible news to arrive and he meets that gaze with a serious one of his own, walking over and placing a hand on Izuku's shoulder as he speaks to him.]

You must come with me, Midoriya-shounen. There's a place that you and I have to be, and it is of the upmost importance that we make haste and arrive there as quickly as possible.

Only then can I elaborate fully on what this is about.

[What ever could the issue be...]

Okay.

[There's no hesitation in his tone, fully accepting the gravity of whatever it is he's going to need to talk to him about pretty much on sight. With how crazy things have been, he can only imagine what else has happened...and he knows better than to grill him about it until they're to what he assumes to be a more secure location.

So he'll just...wait, and try to be patient until Toshinori leads him to where they need to be.]

[Toshinori nods, pulling back from his shoulder so he can turn around and lead the way. There actually is a taxi parked right out front for the two of them and he opens Izuku's door for him and gets in on the other side.

The ride for the most part is dead silent. Toshinori keeping his gaze out the window, watching the scenery fly by as they drive down the streets, the world otherwise peaceful compared to the hectic fight that happened not too long ago.

It's about thirty minutes, before the taxi finally stops and Toshinori thanks him and hands him the money for their fare before he turns to Izuku, expression as dark and serious as can be.]

We're here.

[It's a little hard to tell where they are exactly, as they're parked in a parking lot in front of an old looking storefront and currently there's not much for them to look at. But as Izuku steps out of the taxi he'll notice immediately where they are.

.....they're right next to a small amusement park that sits on the seaside.]

[The entire ride here had been absolutely harrowing for Izuku, his mind racing as he tried to work out what on earth the matter could be. Why were they driving so far away? Where could he possibly be taking him?

Every part of him is on edge as he stiffly gets out of the taxi, opening his mouth to ask why he hadn't needed to go back to get his hero costume first...only to look over and realize they're at the pier.]

....I...I don't understand...

[Toshinori steps out of the vehicle seconds after Izuku, and his serious expression is replaced with a wide grin. He lets out a boisterous laugh as he slams the taxi door shut, happy that he got the exact reaction he was looking for.]

Surprised?

[He carefully moves around the back of the taxi, joining Izuku's side and he clasps a hand on his shoulder again as the car revs up it's engine and backs out behind the two of them.]

An important part of being a Hero is getting in the R&R you need to be able to face scary situations day by day, and you've been certainly lacking in that department Midorya-shounen.

[He'd feel bad for getting him worked up but sometimes... sometimes playing little tricks like that can be fun okay.]

And so! The "urgent matter" wasn't one of danger, my boy, but it was one of excitement instead!

[Izuku lets all the breath leave him in one huge, wheezing sort of exhale as he just...deflates a little beneath Toshinori's hand.]

W-with all due respect...I really thought something was wrong just then, you know?

[In laymans terms: you scared the shit out of him.]

[That gets another, softer chuckle out of Toshinori and he pats Izuku's shoulder down a couple of times, an apologetic look to his smile.]

Sorry, sorry! I didn't mean to scare you, kid.

[he totally did]

But a surprise wouldn't be a surprise without some suspense before hand would it? I might be retired from being a Hero, but I'm still an entertainer you know!

[He guesses...at least he can calm the heck down knowing that nothing is actually wrong. Toshinori just wanted to take him somewhere.

To the pier...to the...

...amusement...park...]

U-wah- w-wait a minute!!

[He's suddenly upright again as he turns his attention back to Toshinori, practically vibrating in place with his hands balled into fists near his chest.]

You...you brought me to an amusement park? With you?

[TO THE PARK...WITH ALL MIGHT...]

That's right!

[He looks proud, happy that Izuku was starting to become excited now that the initial scare was over.]

I thought it might be something you would enjoy.

You...

[He looks a little sheepish. Excited, but sheepish nonetheless.]

You really didn't have to...I mean, I'm sure you're probably really busy, especially right now.

You would be correct in assuming so!

[Said with a dramatic point of his finger.]

I'm currently swamped in paperwork and emails from concerned parents after that mission you and your classmates just got through with!

[Despite saying that, though, he relaxes his stance and gives Izuku a warm looking smile that doesn't look even a little stressed or worried.]

But even so, as your teacher I can't just sit by while I know that your mental health must be suffering from such a harrowing experience. And I could use the break, myself.

[Izuku sighs, his features softening.]

I-I'm okay though, really...it was bad, but. I knew it was going to be, going into it.

But thank you for bringing me here, anyway! It's been a long time since I've been to this park...since I was really little.

[Toshinori's own features soften as Izuku tries to reassure him that he's alright. He's already getting better at smiling in the face of danger, isn't he? There's no way he can be perfectly fine after all of that, but he decides not to press it and instead change the subject.]

Would you believe me if I told you I have never been to a park like this before?

You never have? Not even once?

[He knows that he's a super famous hero and all, but...he was also a kid, at least at one point in his life.]

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"Growing pains, good times"

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