[30] Roots and Branches

3 days before the Sports Festival.

I knocked on Aizawa's office door, waiting for his gruff "Come in" before entering.

"Mr. Aizawa, I'm going off campus this weekend to visit my mother," I said, standing straight.

He glanced up from his paperwork, eyebrow raised. "Alright. Be back by Sunday night."

I nodded, turning to leave when he spoke again. "Midoriya. Don't overdo it."

I paused, unsure if he meant the visit or my training. "Yes, sir."

Saturday morning, I found myself on a familiar train, the scenery blurring past.

Mom opened the door, her smile wide. "Izuku! Come in, come in!"

As I stepped inside, the scent of home hit me – a mix of laundry detergent and mom's cooking. For a moment, my carefully constructed persona wavered.

"I made your favorite for breakfast," Mom said, ushering me to the table.

I sat, eyeing the spread. "Thanks, Mom. You didn't have to go all out."

She waved off my comment, sitting across from me. "So, tell me everything. How's school? Are you eating well?"

I launched into a sanitized version of recent events, watching her reactions. Her eyes shone with pride, worry creasing her brow at mentions of training.

"Oh!" she exclaimed suddenly. "I've been meaning to ask. Do you have any tips for, well, getting in shape? Seeing you work so hard, it's inspired me to try."

"Sure, I can give you some pointers. What did you have in mind?"

As we discussed basic exercises and diet changes, I found myself genuinely invested in helping her. It was... an odd feeling.

"And how's that nice girl, Nejire?" Mom asked, a sly smile on her face.

I kept my expression neutral. "She's fine. We train together sometimes."

Mom nodded, her smile growing. "That's wonderful. You know, I was thinking the other day about–"

"Mom," I cut her off, knowing where this was going. "We're just friends."

She held up her hands in surrender, but her eyes twinkled mischievously.

We spent the day revisiting old haunts – the beach I cleaned up, my favorite ramen shop, the hero merchandise store I'd frequented as a kid.

At each stop, memories surfaced. Not just of this life, but flashes of my past one. The stark differences were... unsettling.

As evening approached, we sat on the couch, some hero documentary playing in the background.

"Izuku," Mom said softly. "I know things are different now, with U.A. and everything. But I want you to know, I'm always here if you need anything. Anything at all."

I turned to her, seeing the sincerity in her eyes. Something in my chest tightened. "I know, Mom. Thanks."

On the train ride back, I tried to categorize the day's events, to file away useful information. But my thoughts kept drifting to the warmth of Mom's hugs, the pride in her voice.

I shook my head. This sentimentality was a weakness I couldn't afford.

And yet...

As I entered the dorm, Kirishima called out, "Welcome back, Midoriya! How was it?"

I paused, considering my response. "It was great," I said finally, heading to my room.

The door closed behind me with a soft click. I leaned against it, letting out a slow breath.

The day had thrown me off balance in a way I hadn't expected. Seeing Mom, being in that house, it had stirred up feelings I thought I'd long since buried.

I walked over to my desk, my hand hovering over the notebook where I kept all my plans and observations. I flipped it open to a blank page, pen at the ready...

And stopped.

I snapped the notebook shut, tossing the pen aside. Maybe some things weren't meant to be dissected and strategized. Maybe some connections were more than just means to an end.

I laid back on my bed, staring at the ceiling. I couldn't afford to go soft, to lose sight of my goals. But maybe, just maybe, I didn't have to sacrifice every shred of genuine connection along the way.

Balance. That's what I needed to find. A way to pursue my ambitions without losing myself entirely.

It wouldn't be easy. But then, nothing worth doing ever was.

2 days before the sports festival

The sun had barely risen when I met Momo outside Gym Gamma. Her hair was pulled back in a practical ponytail, workout clothes hugging her athletic frame.

"Morning, Midoriya," she said, stifling a yawn. "Ready for some last-minute training?"

I nodded, holding the door open for her. "Always. Let's make these last two days count."

We warmed up in comfortable silence, the routine familiar after weeks of joint training sessions. As we stretched, I caught Momo watching me from the corner of her eye.

"Something on your mind, Yaoyorozu?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

She blushed slightly, caught out. "I was just thinking... you've changed a lot since the start of the year."

I paused mid-stretch. "Oh? How so?"

Momo stood, brushing imaginary dust from her legs. "You're more... confident. Focused. It's like you've found your purpose."

I considered her words, a small smile tugging at my lips. "I suppose I have. You've changed too, you know."

She tilted her head. "Really?"

I nodded, moving to the center of the gym. "You're more assertive. You trust your instincts more."

A pleased smile spread across her face. "I hadn't realized. I guess we've been good influences on each other."

"I guess so," I agreed, settling into a fighting stance. "Now, shall we see how much we've improved?"

"You're on, Midoriya."

Momo created a staff, wielding it with growing skill. I dodged and weaved, using minimal amounts of One For All to enhance my speed.

"Your footwork's improved," I commented, ducking under a swing of her staff.

She grinned, twirling the weapon with a flourish. "I've been practicing. Your advice about weight distribution really helped."

I smiled back, genuine pride filling me. "Glad I could help. Now, let's see how you handle this!"

I charged forward, feinting left before dropping low for a sweep. Momo jumped, avoiding my leg, but I was counting on that. I surged upward, my hand grazing her side.

"Tag," I said, grinning. "You're it."

Momo laughed, the sound echoing through the gym. "Clever. But don't think you've won yet!"

We continued like this for another hour, trading blows and banter. By the end, we were both panting, sweat glistening on our skin.

"Water break?" Momo suggested.

I accepted, collapsing onto a nearby bench to look tired. Momo sat beside me, our shoulders touching.

"So," she said after a moment, "are you nervous about the festival?"

I took a long drink, considering my answer. "Not nervous, exactly. More... excited. It's a chance to show everyone what we can do."

Momo nodded, her expression thoughtful. "I feel the same way. Though... I am a bit worried about the speech you have to give."

I turned to her, surprised. "You are? Why?"

She bit her lip, a habit I'd noticed she had when she was uncertain. "It's a lot of pressure. The whole country will be watching."

I shrugged. "I'll manage. Besides, I have a pretty good idea of what I want to say."

Momo's eyes lit up. "Oh? Care to share?"

I smirked. "Now where's the fun in that? You'll just have to wait and see like everyone else."

She pouted, the expression oddly endearing on her usually composed face. "Fine, keep your secrets. But if you need any last-minute advice, you know where to find me."

"Thanks, Yaoyorozu. I appreciate it."

We lapsed into comfortable silence, sipping our water and catching our breath. After a few minutes, Momo spoke again.

"Midoriya... can I ask you something personal?"

I tensed slightly but nodded. "Sure."

She turned to face me, her dark eyes searching mine. "What drives you? I mean, I know we all want to be heroes, but with you... it's different. More intense."

I paused, caught off guard by the perceptiveness of her question. For a moment, I considered deflecting, giving her some platitude about wanting to help people.

But something in her gaze, the genuine curiosity and... care? It made me want to be honest. Or at least, as honest as I could be.

"I want to change things," I said finally. "I think we can do better, be better. And I want to be at the forefront of that change."

Momo's eyes widened slightly, but she didn't look shocked. If anything, she looked... intrigued.

"That's... ambitious," she said slowly. "But I can see it. You making a real difference in the world."

I studied her face, looking for any sign of judgment or disbelief. Instead, I saw understanding, maybe even a hint of admiration.

"What about you?" I asked, genuinely curious. "What drives Momo Yaoyorozu?"

She looked away, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "It's not as grand as your goal. I just... I want to prove that I deserve to be here. That I'm more than just my family name or my quirk."

I reached out, hesitating for a moment before placing my hand on hers. "Yaoyorozu, trust me. You've already proven that a hundred times over."

She looked back at me, surprise and gratitude shining in her eyes. For a moment, we just sat there, the air between us charged...

Then the gym door burst open, shattering the moment.

"Young Midoriya!" All Might's booming voice filled the space. "I've been meaning to talk to you abou-." All Might's eyes widened as he took in the scene. "Oh! My apologies, I didn't mean to interrupt."

Momo stood up quickly, smoothing down her workout clothes. "No worries, All Might. We were just finishing up our training session."

All Might nodded, then turned to me. "Young Midoriya, could I borrow you for a moment? There's something I'd like to discuss."

I glanced at Momo, who gave me a small smile. "It's fine, Midoriya. I should hit the showers anyway. Thanks for the training session."

As Momo gathered her things and left, I followed All Might out of the gym. We walked in silence to his office, my mind replaying the moment with Momo that had been so abruptly cut short.

Once inside, All Might closed the door and deflated into his true form. I let a hint of irritation slip into my voice as I asked, "What's this about, All Might?"

He sank into his chair, looking more tired than usual. "I wanted to talk to you about the Sports Festival, young Midoriya. Specifically, about how much of One For All you should use."

I raised an eyebrow. "I thought we'd already discussed this. I was planning to keep it under 4% to avoid suspicion."

All Might nodded, his sunken eyes serious. "Yes, but I've been thinking. Perhaps it would be better if you didn't use it at all."

"What?" I couldn't keep the surprise out of my voice. "But All Might, the whole point of the festival is to show what we can do. How am I supposed to compete without using One For All?"

He leaned forward, his bony hands clasped on the desk. "I know it seems counterintuitive, but hear me out. The League of Villains has already shown interest in U.A. If they see you displaying power similar to mine, it could put a target on your back."

I studied All Might's face. Something didn't add up. All Might was the strongest hero alive. No villain or villain group should be able to shake him like this, unless...

"All Might," I said, my voice carefully neutral, "what's this really about? What villain could have you this concerned?"

All Might's head snapped up, his sunken eyes widening for a fraction of a second. He opened his mouth, then closed it, seeming to wrestle with himself.

"It's..." he began, then shook his head. "Nevermind, young Midoriya. Just an old man's paranoia."

I leaned forward, pressing the advantage. "With all due respect, sir, I don't think it is. You're the Symbol of Peace. If there's a threat out there that has you this worried, I need to know about it."

All Might's shoulders sagged, the weight of his secret visibly bearing down on him. For a moment, I thought he might actually tell me.

Then he straightened, his familiar smile plastering itself across his gaunt face. "You're perceptive as always, my boy. But trust me when I say, this is a burden I must bear alone. For now, focus on the Sports Festival. Show the world what you're capable of - safely."

I nodded, recognizing the dismissal for what it was. "Of course, All Might. I'll be careful."

As I stood to leave, All Might called out, "And Midoriya? Remember, a true hero's strength lies not just in his quirk, but in his heart and mind as well."

I paused at the door, turning back to him. "I'll keep that in mind, sir."