Started re-writing on December 9th 2021

Sorry for posting this a little later than usual. I have an announcement so check that out in the end notes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Seeing Iruka spend the next few days made Hizashi realise that, although shy, she was incredibly friendly and sociable. She managed to see Nanami again and by day three the older had become a constant thing in her life. Sometimes Shouta or Hizashi himself would bring Iruka to watch Nanami's class do their practicals or have lunch with them whether that be outside or in the teachers' break room.

Near the end of the week, Shouta had brought up his own education as well as Iruka's. His fiance decided online classes would be the way to go allowing for some kind of flexibility between their other jobs. Iruka's education wouldn't be able to be as flexible.

As much as Hizashi would love to, neither he nor Shouta would realistically be able to homeschool Iruka. It would also be best for her if she could socialise with kids her age instead of hanging around adults and teenagers.

Deciding where Iruka would go to pre-school was harder than it should've been. On one hand, she could go to pre-school with Tensei's little brother but that required tons of transportation between prefectures. On the other, she could go to the nearby pre-school and logically that would be the best choice but Hizashi didn't want her to go to school without a singular familiar face,

Unfortunately, they couldn't delay the decision much longer. Iruka's recovery had been going so well and it was pretty obvious that after getting the green light from her doctor Iruka would eventually need to go to school. The school year had started 2 months ago making her a little late to the party. Not just that but her general knowledge was that of a 3-year-old. Of course, that wasn't something Hizashi worried about too much, not when she soaked up everything like a sponge. Especially when that knowledge came from Nezu or Ryo.

The family (Hizashi doubts Iruka wouldn't be a permanent fixture in their lives) of three went to the local pre-school to scout it out. Like many pre-schools in Japan, this one also doubled as a daycare. Not that Hizashi wanted to leave Iruka here for the entire day but it was a good option in emergencies. The headteacher Ms Osu was as welcoming as Hizashi had expected. After the tour around the school, Iruka got even more excited and really that's all Hizashi needed for him to cave and allow Iruka to go to school.

==========

Iruka was practically vibrating with excitement. She woke up to no scary dreams, instead she woke up to the smell of freshly made pancakes and fluffy cats in her bed. She'd been excited about school since the day she first heard about it. She's also loved all the stories she's heard from her Aunt Nem and Nami-chan.

Hizashi, unfortunately, had to head into the agency before he went to UA so he couldn't follow along and send Iruka off. So with goodbyes and many promises of listening to her stories they went their separate ways.

Iruka has walked around the neighbourhood, whenever Shouta goes on his jogs or when Hizashi goes to get groceries, the route they used was different and that made it all the more exciting.

The excitement merged into nervousness upon seeing all the other people walking toward the school. All the other kids that weren't Nami-chan's size instead were just about her size. Each being a different kind of loud. Their voices and laughter were bouncing around everywhere making Iruka grimace.

"You doing ok there kiddo?"

"Is l-loud."

"You have your earplugs in your bag right?" Thankfully Iruka nodded allowing Shouta to help her put them on.

"Ready?" The buzzing stopped to a light hum and maybe her excitement came full swing.

==========

"Everyone we have a new student. Her name is Iruka and hope you treat her nicely," Miss Mia turned towards Iruka and Shouta to wave the younger one inside. "Iruka you can sit next to Izuku, he's the one with green hair."

Iruka turned back to look at Shouta and gave him a nervous smile. He gestured to her to go and with one last nod, she traversed to the green-haired boy.

"Hi my name is Midoriya Izuku, you can call me Izuku." The boy with green hair had matching green eyes and freckles under them.

"Um I'm Iru-Iruka."

"Alright everyone take out your storybooks, we'll be reading page 20. Iruka you can share with Midoriya in the meantime." The little girl nodded and looked towards the book Izuku had pulled from his bag.

One by one the kids took turns reading, some stuttered out words, and others messed up the pronunciation. But there was one boy in particular that could read his paragraph perfectly. He sat 2 seats away from Iruka and she could see he had blonde spiky hair and red eyes.

"That's Kacchan, he's really good at a lot of things. He's my best friend."

"Midoriya it's your turn." Ms Mia spoke out.

Izuku stood up and started to read his part, he stumbled here and there but for the most part, he was perfectly fine. Iruka started to get nervous. She could barely read, only capable of reading basic words likes cat, dog, me and the (not sure what the Japanese equivalent so just use your imagination).

"That was good Midoriya, Iruka why don't you try." Izuku passed the book to her for her to read.

"Um O-ok." Iruka looked at the text. She knew just a few. "Uh This umm d-dog uhh go-go." she sputtered out. She didn't know what she was reading and all she wanted to do was cry.

"It's alright if you can't read Iruka. Midoriya please help Iruka and see me after class."

"O-ok," she sat down her head hanging so low you would think she was bowing to her desk. Tears filled her eyes but she didn't want them to fall.

"It's ok if you can't read. I only started reading recently. My mom can teach you, she's a really good teacher." Izuku tried to cheer his new friend up. He knew how it felt to be different and he didn't want Iruka to feel that way.

"Real-really? She-she can teach me?"

"Of course, she can. You can come over and she'll teach you."

==========

A few hours later it was lunch. All the kids in her class crowded around her asking questions.

"So whats your quirk Iruka?"

"Oh um it's Ani-transform. I can-can turn in-into animals."

"Woah that's so cool!" A few others cooed, including Izuku.

"You should play heroes and villains with us!" A few of her other classmates cheered on in agreement.

"Oh- uh o-ok." Again the class cheered as they filtered out of the class. '

Their kindergarten had an open space n the front where Iruka and Izuku followed the others hand in hand.

"Eww, what's Deku doing here?" Some said.

"He's going to stink up Iruka." Said another.

"But-but Zuku is-is gonna pl-play wi-with us," Iruka stuttered out.

"Nu-uh. He's quirkless he can't play with us."

"Quirkless?"

"It means he doesn't have a quirk!" Kacchan yelled and Iruka couldn't help but flinch back a little and squeeze Izuku's hand tighter.

"But-but why can't he pl-play?"

"Because it's weird."

"And he'll get hurt."

"Than I-I don't want to-to pl-play. I don't-don't want t-to get hurt."

"That's not the same!"

"Stop it!" Izuku yelled, catching everyone's attention and making Iruka jump out of her skin. "You don't have to-to argue about this."

"We don't want to listen to you Deku." Kacchan huffed.

"I do." Iruka retorted putting the attention back on her. "I-I want to l-listen to-to Izuku." Katsuki's face scrunched up confused.

"Fine whatever Deku can play with us," Katsuki mumbled and gestured for everyone to follow him so they could play.

Iruka couldn't be more content about it.

==========

"How did your first day of school go kid?"

"It was-was real-really good. Izuku is-is my friend n-now." Shouta hummed as Iruka told him about her day. About the green-haired boy, she had waved goodbye to. About her classmate Kacchan.

"Mr Zawa," A hum and a light squeeze of her hand, "What's quirkless?" For a moment Shouta's brain halted. Quirkless. That wasn't usually a word a 5-year-old knew unless they knew someone quirkless.

"You know how you have the power to change into animals and how Zashi can make his voice loud?"

"Ya?"

"Being quirkless means someone doesn't have powers like those." Shouta could see the concerned glances of the people who passed them as they walked.

"What k-kind of pow-powers do they h-have?"

"They have none kid. The word quirkless is to mean you don't have a quirk. Does that make sense?" Iruka looked confused before nodding.

"Izuku is quirkl-less. The othe-other kids not wanna pl-play with him cause Izuku is quirk-quirkless." Shouta let out a low sigh. He never would've thought quirk discrimination started this young.

"Do you still want to play with him even if he is quirkless?"

"Ya? Izuku's nice and-and smart l-like Nezu."

"That's good. Iruka can I tell you something?" An eager nod was his reply. "No matter what anyone says, a quirk doesn't define a person. A quirk is nothing more but a tool to help us. If someone doesn't have that tool all they need is a different kind."

"Like this?" Iruka held up her scarf.

"Exactly like this kiddo. Everyone is unique and important whether they have a quirk or not. I want you to remember that, alright?"

"Ok!"

"Good, now I'm sure Hizashi will want to hear all about your day and about Izuku so let's get home."

Quirk discrimination ran deep through society. Shouta has been on the receiving end of it and it isn't pretty. If he can help steer the kid in front of him from that mindset then it's one step forward towards the long journey of change. And if he becomes some kind of support to Izuku through it all then that makes it all the better.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Due to the fact that Eid Mubarak lands on the week the next chapters will be posted I will either be posting it nexk Friday (April 29) or on Monday (May 10th) because I will be going to my parent's home town and there will be no guarantee I'll have internet or even the time to post.

If I do end up posting late, Happy Eid Mubarak to Muslims everywhere around the world!

Thank you so so so sooooo much for continuing to read. If you enjoyed it consider leaving a kudos and/or comment.

Have a lovely day, night, weekend, whenever, wherever you are.

Stay safe,
Bye Lovies~