Thinking of childhood isn't something I'd usually do. Except when my brother goes through things I did.

~

I remember when it was my 6th birthday. I handed out invitations to everyone. I handmade them and wrote my classmates names on each one myself. Katsuki and Izuku of course got some too.

Katsuki was bragging about how he's a month older than me, so he got to boss me around while Izuku followed him and his posse like a puppy. At our age our group was Katsuki's posse and then Izuku trying to be their friend and me just hanging around.

Everyone I gave invitations too said that would go. I was so excited about it, to the point I helped my mom make the cake and sewed small bunny faces to put in the gift bags.

Well it turns out that kids are assholes, even when they're 6. No one but Izuku and Katsuki showed up. I stayed by the window waiting for everyone else to come until 8 pm, and then I cried for the rest of the night. The next day at school Katsuki yelled at our classmates louder than I had heard him yell at anyone at that point in time.

Izuku sat next to me that entire day. I remember since that day there was a period of time I had a slight crush on the green haired kid. That didn't late too long though.

I never figured out why no one came to my birthday that year. Maybe they only saw me as the quiet girl who bullied Katsuki. Maybe they just didn't like me. Either way, that party is probably part of the reason I'm so cynical now.

~

"I'm gonna beat their asses-"

"Kaachan-"

"Shut up, Deku! I'm gonna kill those kids-"

"Katsuki they're kids. You're not gonna murder children. Not very hero like." I say.

Kiro is unfortunately living through the same problem I did on my 6th birthday. He's turning the same age too..

I texted the group chat that Mina made for some of our classmates a bit ago, explaining that my cousin is about to commit a crime to children because no one showed up to Kiro's birthday. Usually someone would answer, but no one has.

Then there's a knock on the door. I open the door, hoping it's one of Kiro's classmates. Instead I'm faced with 5 high schoolers.

Uraraka, Mina, Kirishima, Kasai and Kaminari are here...with balloons?

"Happy birthday Kiro!" Mina comes in with everyone else, pushing me to the side. Kiro, who had been crying into Katsuki's shirt, looks up to see my classmates holding balloons and presents.

I've never seen my brother's eyes light up so much.

I'm not even close to these people but they showed up to my house because I was making fun of my cousin for being so violent.

"Ashido, why are you guys here?" I ask as Kiro opens Kirishima's 'manly' present of a lego set.

"You said no one showed up to your brother's party. You've mentioned him before and how he likes Minecraft, so we thought we might as well." Mina says. "I used to tell off bullies in my middle school ya know. I hate it when people do this to kids."

"...how did you get my address?" I ask.

"Ochako asked Midoriya."

"Ah. Well...thanks."

"Anything for a friend." She flashes her usual smile, but for some reason it makes my heart pound in my chest.

I guess I have more friends this year, considering they came to my house just to cheer up my little brother. Kiro's smile is so wide, he doesn't even notice our parents tearing up as they watch from the door to the kitchen.