Communication Is Important

"You must be Hitoshi Shinsou," All For One said as he walked into the room.

The purple haired boy jumped slightly at his voice and then turned in his seat. Quickly the boy stood and bowed slightly at him.

"Sit down," Hisashi said with a smile. "It's good to finally meet you," he said, offering his hand. "I'm Izuku's dad, Hisashi."

Hitoshi took it but All For One didn't miss the way his eyes were darting back and forth as he searched for Izuku. Or some distraction. "I'm Hitoshi," he confirmed what was already known.

"Izuku speaks a lot about you," Hisashi told the boy as he gestured at the table. "Sit, sit," he encouraged, taking his own seat.

Hitoshi sat back down. "Izuku was here," he said, thinking that All For One was looking for his son.

He wasn't. He knew exactly where Izuku was. He was up in his room, searching for the game save that he'd promised to give to Hitoshi. Hisashi knew that because he'd been waiting for an opening. He'd wanted to meet Hitoshi for a very long time.

"I know," Hisashi told the young boy. "But since Izuku brings home friends so rarely, I thought it a good opportunity to meet you," he explained with a grin.

Hitoshi looked a little uncomfortable at that. He obviously wanted to say something but wasn't sure how to say it, and wasn't quite impolite enough to just blurt out anything.

"I heard about the Sport's Festival," Hisashi continued.

The boy hung his head.

"It was very brave of you to offer to use your quirk to clear Izuku," Hisashi continued.

That wasn't what Hitoshi had been expecting if the way his head jerked up was any indication.

"What is your quirk?" All For One asked. He already knew the answer of course. Izuku had told him and it had been all he could do to not immediately meet Hitoshi and relieve him of it. With the events that had occurred, he knew he'd made the right decision, letting Hitoshi keep his quirk, since he was supporting Izuku but confirmation was going to be necessary.

Hitoshi looked uncomfortable at the question. "Mine is Fire Breath," Hisash continued, letting wisps of fire escape his mouth.

Purple eyes stared at the flame. "I'm not fireproof," Hisashi explained. "Izuku got that," he added.

There was a certain social expectation, even for eight year olds, that if someone told you what their quirk was, you reciprocated. "Mine is Brainwashing," Hitoshi whispered.

"I know."

The boy looked at him sharply. "Izuku does talk to me," Hisashi laughed gently.

From the way Hitoshi flinched at that, he knew that Shinsou's father didn't speak to his son.

"Has Izuku asked you about your quirk?" All For One ignored the evidence of Shinsou's home life. It wasn't his problem.

This time, Hitoshi looked fondly exasperated.

"I'll take that as a yes," Hisashi said, carrying the conversation. "Do you mind if I ask you some questions?" He pressed.

Again Hitoshi tensed, but as All For One watched, he saw the boy force himself to relax and to nod his permission.

"Excellent!' Hisashi cried happily. "Can you brainwash yourself? If you look at yourself in a mirror can you brainwash yourself?" he clarified his question.

All For One could tell that Hitoshi hadn't been expecting that question. He'd probably been braced for a question of how to avoid being brainwashed. The purple haired boy's face looked thoughtful when the surprise faded. "I…" he tried, carefully. "I don't know, Sir."

"No need to Sir me," Hisashi told him. "I'm just Izuku's dad." Hitoshi didn't know the answer to that question but All For One was willing to bet that Hitoshi could brainwash himself. In a way, and not in a mirror. Hitoshi's quirk could be used against him by someone who could take quirks. People usually couldn't protect themselves against their own quirk. After all, it was the one quirk in the world that couldn't be used against them.

"Let's try another question," All For One said brightly. "You can ask about my quirk too," he offered.

"Does it hurt?" Hitoshi immediately put in.

"Only if I burn myself," Hisashi replied. "Can you implant suggestions?" he asked.

Again Hitoshi's face became thoughtful. "Izuku asked the same," he murmured.

Hisashi gave a bright smile. His Little Dragon was getting to the heart of the matter, and before Hitoshi could do anything further, he reached out one hand, with All For One activated and touched the purple haired boy's forehead. He was careful this time. Hitoshi remained conscious.

"Talk to me," All For One commanded, ruffling his hair. Izuku had told him the rudimentary requirements of Hitoshi's quirk.

Purple eyes widened and while Hitoshi wasn't entirely sure what had happened, he couldn't resist asking. "What did-" He fell silent when Hisashi activated his newly acquired quirk.

All For One looked at the boy as he felt the quirk within him. It was purple toned, like its master. "Don't worry, you'll be getting it back," he reassured Izuku's friend.

The boy didn't say anything. He simply looked back at him with a blank gaze. Hisashi wondered how long the state would apply for before Hitoshi's brain naturally rebooted. There would be a limit but he had thought about this.

He had no idea where Hitoshi would go in his life. If All For One was honest, he had no particular care either but Hitoshi would support Izuku. He'd make sure of that. If Izuku was going to stand at his right hand, his son was going to need support. Hisashi smiled, and started speaking. Hitoshi listened. He had no choice but to listen. There weren't many instructions. Too many instructions could be misinterpreted or become too complicated. The last were easy though.

"You will forget this. You will always forget this, until such time as you can accept what it means and still fulfill the instructions. Then you can remember but with your memory, you will forgive Izuku and you will forgive me. We have done no wrong." Hisashi paused, briefly considering his words before he nodded to himself. "Do you understand?" He asked for the verbal confirmation.

"Yes."

Through Hitoshi's quirk, All For One felt the confirmation as well. He grinned. That was useful to know. People couldn't fake being under the boy's quirk. He reached out again, giving the purple quirk one last caress as he pulled up another of his quirks. He hit Hitoshi with Memory Change, and immediately slipped his quirk back to him.

The boy blinked, confused as the memory quirk took effect and Hisashi ruffled his hair some more as he drew back his hand. The motion distracted Hitoshi and he looked back towards All For One.

"You are a good friend, Hitoshi," he told the boy. It was the truth. Even without his instructions, Hitoshi was a good friend.

"Dad!" The wail came from the side. It sounded outraged in the way only an eight year old could be.

Hisashi laughed. "I have to take my chances to speak to your friends when I can, Little Dragon," he told his son. Hitoshi looked slightly embarrassed. "You bring them home so infrequently," he added with a laugh.

"Dad!" Izuku cried again as he came over. He was holding the game save.

Hisashi rose. "Oh, My Little Dragon," he said as he ruffled Izuku's hair this time. The gesture was calculated to calm them both and had the desired effect. "I'll leave you with your friend," he told his son, before shifting his glance to Hitoshi. "It was nice to finally meet you," he told the purple haired boy.

Hitoshi nodded at him, once again being rather shy.

"Hitoshi, no one here is afraid of your quirk. You can speak without concern," he added. He knew that wasn't the reason Hitoshi wasn't talking. He was probably still slightly disoriented from the memory quirk and the effects of his own quirk, but it was important to get that said. All For One turned away. "I'll have Kurogiri send you some snacks," he said by way of parting.

As he left he heard Izuku huff and that just made him laugh again.

-ted-

Ochaco,

Happy Birthday! Dad wouldn't let me get you a phone. He said that was something your parents had to get you, even if it would have meant we could have called! Though I don't know your number! And I know ours has changed since the one I gave you. At least we can still write.

I got you instead a voucher for that place that sells the gloves you like. I would have gotten you the gloves but I don't know your size now.

It's been way too long since I've seen you! I miss you still! I know I've got Hitoshi but I still miss you.

Ack, this isn't about me! Not today. It's about you!

Happy Birthday! I hope it was a great day!

Izuku

-ted-

Uraraka looked at the letter her friend had sent. She couldn't help but smile. Izuku was still writing to her. She was still writing to him as well but she didn't know how much longer she'd be able to. Her parents didn't want her to know. She knew though. She knew things were tight. That money was tight and that their construction business just wasn't going that well.

They had contracts. They were working but there just weren't enough contracts. Her parents didn't even bother to scold her now when she helped. They usually hated to see her using her quirk to lift things. They simply smiled at her and pushed the concrete or the wood to where it needed to be.

"Oh, that's sweet!" Her mother exclaimed looking down at the letter. Izuku's handwriting was, as usual, very good and the letter was decorated with little sketches.

Ochaco looked up at her mother. She gulped. "I won't write back," she said in a small voice.

Tamiko frowned. "Why won't you write back?" She asked. There was nothing in little Izuku's message that indicated he didn't want a reply.

"Because it will save money," Ochaco replied.

Tamiko could see the tears in her little girl's eyes and her heart clenched. They were struggling a bit but it wasn't that bad. And she and Sozonushi had thought they were keeping that from their daughter. Obviously not well enough. "Ochaco! There is no problem with writing a letter!"

"But it costs money to send it," Ochaco objected. They needed to save money.

Tamiko embraced her daughter. She couldn't think of anything else to do. "It doesn't cost that much," she told Ochaco. "And it's good for you to have a friend to write to."

"But-"

"Tell you what," Tamiko interrupted. Her daughter did not need to be worrying about money at this age! "Why don't you ask for Izuku's number when you write back and you can surprise him with a call?"

"You can use our phone, petal pumpkin," Sozonushi told his daughter. He and his wife would have to be more careful around their daughter.

"You promise it's not a problem?" Ochaco whispered the question.

"I promise!" Tamiko answered cheerfully. They may be having some problems, but they could afford stamps and a phone call.

Ochaco nodded. "Okay."

-ted-

Little Dragon!

My birthday was good! Thank you for the voucher. I got some winter gloves! They are so warm even though we haven't had any snow yet. It's still cold! Have you gotten any snow? I know you said Saitama doesn't usually get snow but have you?

Mum and Dad said I should ask you for your number. They said I can call you with their phone! I have been able to keep practicing using my quirk. Mum and Dad just tell me what to lift but they never really let me strain. I only threw up once! How was I to know that the concrete block was solid? Still I know I can't lift that much yet.

I'm afraid Little Dragon. My Parents tell me it's okay to write, and that it's okay to phone you, that we can afford it but, I hear them at night. They aren't getting enough contracts. The ones they are getting are small. They tell me not to worry but-

I want to help them somehow. They shouldn't have to worry about that. I don't know how though.

Oh, I shouldn't be worrying you. I just want to help them somehow, but I don't know how. Not really. They say I don't have to help out on the jobs, but I want to! And I know they need it. It helps things go faster and saves having to hire a forklift. I'm not sure what else I can do.

Minato's little sister, Ayame is going to begin school next year. He tells me she usually wears her hair long and bright hot pink. He likes it. Not the colour so much but that's mostly because his parents think it's too bright. She's apparently trying to work on getting colour stripes in there but that is requiring more practice for her.

Kazue is moving away at the moment. I think her dad got a new job somewhere but I don't know what company. She seemed happy but she hasn't given me a new address. I don't think she's even given Minato her phone number. Why would she do that?

Lots of love,

Ochaco!

-ted-

Himiko!

It's me! Izuku! You didn't have a phone when I left school and I forgot to ask for your address. I got Kurogiri to help me find it so that I can write to you at least. Dad gave me a phone! It's only for emergencies though - and yes, I spelt that by myself! The number is 123456789. Call me if you want.

I miss you. My new school is okay though they thought I cheated at the school sports festival. I came in first a lot. There's a girl. Her name is Setsuna and she is training to be a hero. She wasn't happy that I beat her. I didn't cheat though! She thought I was using a quirk~! It's just training with Kurogiri. We've moved on to some fighting technique now, though it's mostly dodging! It's good because I can avoid Tomura. He showed me a move too, but I can't do it yet. It throws someone over your head. It's so cool!

I do have a friend at school. His name is Hitoshi. I think you'd like him. I wish all my friends could meet each other. Maybe one day. Hitoshi has a quirk like yours. Nothing to do with blood. People don't like him using it. I don't get it. He doesn't use it for fun. He did use it on me once but that's because Gigantomachia startled him. He didn't mean it! His quirk is Brainwashing. If you answer him, he can make you do what he wants! It's so cool. The applications are amazing!

If you have a phone, text me, otherwise write back please. I miss you.

Izuku