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“Oh, you’re still so pretty.”
Midoriya knew the saying all too well. After all, it was said to him whenever his haircut came out too short or didn’t look right. He knew it didn’t make anything better, yet people constantly said it.
“Oh, you’re still so pretty.”
In junior high, his bullies decided it would be hilarious to drench Midoriya head to toe during lunch. They carelessly picked up a bucket of what they assumed was water and threw it on Midoriya. The whole lunchroom was laughing or ignoring the show when things went south.
Midoriya started screaming, wiping his eyes, and struggling to stand.
“It burns! It burns!”
Soon everyone realized that what Midoriya was been splashed with was not water. While the dumb bullies that pulled the prank were freaking out, others jumped into action. Bakugo had been in the lunch line and getting his food when Midoriya started screaming. Despite everyone assuming he couldn’t care less, he was the one to scoop Midoriya up.
While one of the students called 119 out of fear, a couple others had been trying to get handkerchiefs and napkins to help. Bakugo forced them away and rushed Midoriya to the nurse, freaking out that Midoriya was still wailing and struggling to keep his breathing calm. The nurse explained if the chemicals were harmful enough, Midoriya needed to be stripped down and thoroughly rinsed.
The curtain was drawn and Bakugo had to help Midoriya undress and get under the shower. Midoriya tilted his head upwards, more concerned with flushing his eyes. Bakugo was huffing and puffing. He was a bully, but this kind of physical violence was horrible. Whatever chemical that was been poured on Midoriya was already showing clear effects. His skin was enflamed and bright red.
Midoriya could barely stand, getting a bit wobbly. Bakugo was doing everything in his power to support Midoriya’s body weight and keep him stable. Bakugo also tried to help Midoriya control his breathing.
Once the ambulance arrived, Midoriya was taken off to the hospital as well as Bakugo. Bakugo only had mild pain in his arms and hands from where he’d been touching Midoriya and his clothes. He was still treated considering how bad Midoirya’s condition was.
Midoriya left Aldrea Junior High after the incident. Aldera Junior High in return got a bad reputation after the event occurred. Many students uploaded the video causing news stations to report the crime. The Midoriya family refused to respond to the reporters trying to get details on what went down or Midoriya’s current status.
The Bakugo family had visited Izuku many times. Inko was devastated, but beyond happy her pride and joy was alive and safe. Katsuki was still beyond pissed that his peers were so stupid and reckless. Mitsuki and Masaru kept bringing him really amazing meals in secret since the hospital food didn’t really have much he liked.
Izuku had permanent scarring from the intense 2nd-degree chemical burns. While most of his body had the bucket of strong chemicals splashed on him, there were some miracle spots where there was close to no damage. Of course, there still was a lot. The majority of his body was affected due to the chemicals seeping into his clothes.
Izuku was grateful for Katsuki. If he hadn’t stepped in, who knows what would’ve happened. Everyone in that school was a coward so they probably would’ve ran away out of the fear of being burned. Mitsuki and Inko both transferred their sons to a new school, giving them a fresh start.
Everyone left Izuku alone at the new school when people found out he was quirkless. That meant no bullies. He even made a could of “friends” but he saw them more as acquaintances. Bakugo of course rose to the top for his powerful quirk and being a new kid. Midoriya hid in the crowd, doing what he had to do.
Through the rest of Junior High and into his first year at U.A. High, the phrase that once didn’t hold any weight now felt like a punch to the gut.
“Don’t worry, I think you're handsome.”
“Your scars look so cool!”
“They are your battle scars!”
“They show you survived!”
“Oh, you’re still so pretty.”
Izuku hated people bringing up his scars just to tell him that it wasn’t too bad. It didn’t change anything. It didn't make his scars magically disappear. It didn’t change how he felt about his scars or what happened to him. It didn’t make him feel any better. If anything it made him feel worse.
The constant reminder of what Midoriya now had to deal with and that he was considered "flawed" to a certain extent was counterproductive. Why would a person point out what makes Midoriya different only to try and explain how he wasn't different? It was unnecessary and cruel to a degree. Constantly bringing up a topic and memory he didn’t want to always think about soon made Midoriya turn cold the moment people even started talking about appearance or whenever someone started their usual ramble.
Midoriya's arms were now littered with scars from using his quirk and he found some comfort in them. He may not have wanted them, but they stemmed from a place he could look back at fondly. His fingers were bent and scared from the sports festival when he helped Todoroki. His large and bright purple scar from fighting Muscular and saving Koota. Still, someone always found a way to bring up his chemical burns.
Whenever the dorms were built and the interviewer came to write a report, he took an interest in Midoriya. Not only because of his close relationship with All Might, but because of his past. After talking to the boy about it, Midoriya agreed to do a really small interview.
Soon after the man left and the article came to life, many were surprised to find out about Midoriya getting a personal interview. When the class all read through his experience and recovery journey, they stilled at one small section.
“I get so frustrated because rather than having a normal conversation with me, everyone brings up my scars. They point them out or make a comment only to immediately tell me something to try and make me feel better about a topic they brought up.”
“Oh? So it’s bugging you that people only see you for your scars. I understand how that may be frustrating, especially if they are one bringing up something you’d prefer to keep in the past,” agreed the reporter.
“Yes. It doesn’t do anything for me. It doesn’t make me feel better. It doesn’t erase what happened to me. It doesn’t change the fact I’d rather not have these burns all over my body. People don’t understand that “oh you're still so pretty” is a meaningless consolation. Just don’t mention my scars and I’ll be satisfied. They don't realize their "validation" is just them letting me know that all they see when they look at me is my scars.”
“Preach kid. I hope that your message will help remind people to be conscious of what they say to others who are experiencing something similar to you. Also, I’m sure everyone will be happy to hear you’re safe and healthy; Even though I’m sure everyone already knows you are doing well after seeing your performance at the sports festival.”
“I’m honestly doubtful. The sports festival is such a thrilling event! Everyone that participated was so hardworking to show their worth and had such amazing quirks! Something that happened years in the past wasn’t the focus,” rambled Midoriya, trying to deny his importance.
“You got me there kid. You and your classmates sure have gone through a lot since then,” noted the reporter.
“We sure have. I’m very proud of them and I’m so grateful for the friends I’ve made. They’re incredible and I hope that the world can see that,” declared Midoriya, clearly passionate about lifting up his classmates.
U.A. staff and students found themselves reading the article and being surprised. They didn't know Midoriya’s injury had been a big topic in the past. While they didn’t recall hearing about it, they probably had seen something about it before. It was easy to find. All you had to do was search up Midoriya’s name and it was all you saw.
News article after news article. News reports after news reports. Gossip channels posted video after video. The clip of Midoriya being assaulted was easy to find as well. So almost everyone watched as their close friend, student, or peer was drenched in chemicals. His screams would haunt them. Fortunately, some of the videos showed Bakugo running over revealing he had been the one to help.
Nonetheless, Midoriya made it very clear he did want people to form an opinion of him based on his appearance. He didn’t want pity. He made it very clear he didn’t want it brought up at all. They had all been meaninglessly consoling him on something he didn’t need to be consoled for. If anything it was a backhanded compliment at best.
They had been bringing up a topic that made Midoriya feel uncomfortable. They did all of that just to try and make him feel better about something he didn’t need to feel better about. Not once had they thought of how it would affect Midoriya. They had good intentions, but they should’ve minded their business unless he brought it up. They overstepped his boundaries and they felt beyond guilty about it.
Uraraka, Kirishima, Iida, Mina, Sato, Kaminari, Sero, and Ojiro were most guilty. Shoji, Tokoyami, and Kota knew better than to bring it up. Their situations were completely different considering their body alterations were from their quirk, but they still were very aware of how they felt when their mutations were brought up. They knew how painful hearing that mindless consolation was.
Aoyama, Tsuyu, Jiro, Hagakure, and Mineta had only ever consoled Midoriya when someone else around them had brought attention to it. They didn’t see where it was their business to bring it up, but then they felt obligated to say something when it was brought up. Momo on the other hand never once discussed it. She had noticed the scars, but just like how she was with Todoroki, she just kinda ignored them afterward. It was just how Midoriya looked. It didn’t warrant her input.
Todoroki and Midoriya had actually talked about their scars in private. Todoroki’s came from abuse. Midoriya’s came from bullying. They found a lot of peace from talking to someone else who'd gotten their scar in a similar situation. While the situation wasn’t able to be compared, not like it should be, they were still violent in nature. Todoroki’s mom gave him a freeze burn in an attempt to fix her pouring boiling water on his face. Midoriya’s bullies were stupid and didn’t think to make sure the bucket they grabbed was filled with water. No matter what lead to them being hurt, they still came out with scars.
Bakugo came to Midoriya’s dorm later to discuss what he said in the newspaper. He was irritated to find out that no one saw an issue in pointing out something that could possibly trigger Midoriya. After all, the scars clearly came from a traumatic experience and even the mention of the scars could make him relieve it.
Midoriya ranted a bit, getting worked up once thinking about it critically. The way Bakugo phrased things really put everyone’s behavior at face value. Bakugo enjoyed watching Midoriya get angry. Midoriya finally was doing something for himself; which was getting angry on his own behalf.
Midoriya received a lot of apologies. He wasn’t petty like Bakugo, so he accepted everyone’s apologies. All that mattered to him was that they learned their lesson and he wouldn’t have to hear them bring up his scars again.
Besides, he didn't need their pity or words of affirmation to know he was still beautiful. His scars had him look badass.
Jade never expected Azul to be so upset about his meetings with the Ramshackle Prefect. He certainly never expected how adorable Azul's obstinacy could be.
Notes: Based off of my yuufic but can be read without context, but here's the full(azul-centric) thing if you're interested, just Azul being pouty and jealous and Jade being more endeared than he'd like
Jade had always found Azul fascinating - since the very moment he'd seen the little octopus in his pot with books in his hands and a fire in his eyes.
Over the years, Jade had become intimately familiar with his mannerisms. He'd even been able to recognize him in a completely different body!
Still, some things about Azul confused him even to this day.
Like how the man was currently glaring at the wall like it had killed his mother. The reason? Jade had decided to talk to the Ramshackle Prefect. Who was also Azul, but that was irrelevant for now. Azul's anger still made no sense.
"Azul?" He asked. "What seems to be troubling you?"
Azul scowled, planting his gaze stubbornly upon his paperwork.
"Nothing."
"Please, do tell me the truth," Jade said, attempting to keep his tone light.
Silence. After a while, Azul finally spoke.
"How did you befriend the Ramshackle Prefect so quickly?" He asked. "Up until this point, you've never even had any friends."
So that was the root of Azul's ire. The actual situation was incredibly complicated and confusing to explain, and highly risky, too.
Still, Jade couldn't help but prod further.
"May I ask how that troubles you?" He said, but the way Azul's lips jut out into a pout told him everything he needed to know.
It couldn't be.
Jade felt his lips stretch out into a grin.
"You're jealous," he said with a snicker, and Azul's face flushed bright red.
"W-What sort of assumption is that?" He squawked. "I'm not- not-"
Azul's sputtered incoherently for a bit, before settling down with a huff.
"Insufferable."
"How rude. I'm hurt."
"Hmph," Azul said, finally calmed down entirely. "Besides, jealousy implies your friendship is something I have."
He wasn't friends with the Prefect, but that misunderstanding didn't really matter. Azul had no reason to care in the first place.
"Yes, we aren't friends," Jade said, and he really couldn't understand why Azul seemed upset at that. "We'll never be anything more than business partners. You've known that for quite a while."
Jade cursed the small part of himself that didn't believe his own words. And he cursed the part of himself that felt a pang of guilt at Azul's hastily covered expression of hurt.
"You're right."
At Jade's silence, Azul continued.
"Really, I ought to be thankful we're business partners at all," he said with a self-deprecating laugh. "I'm merely... Curious, I suppose. Three days was all it took for you to befriend her."
Now, Jade couldn't help the guilt he felt. Seven, this was infuriating.
"We aren't friends, I assure you," he said in an attempt at placation. Azul just sighed.
"No need to placate your temperamental boss," he said with an air of self-deprecation rather than bitterness. Jade honestly would've preferred the bitterness; it would've left him feeling much less guilty. "I'm not going to throw a tantrum just because you find others to be better company."
Jade couldn't really find the right words to say.
"You may take your leave," Azul said, looking entirely defeated. It was a sight Jade couldn't stand.
Azul was more interesting when energized, at least, that was what Jade told himself to justify his next actions.
"I'm afraid I can't go to bed without satiating my hunger," he said. "I'll be making some karaage. Would you care for some?"
At the mention of his favorite food, Azul's face instantly brightened, before it settled into a pout.
"I'm on a diet," he said simply.
Jade made a show out of sighing in irritation.
"Ah, but I'm afraid I can't take no for an answer."
Azul huffed, though he seemed less upset than before.
"...Fine," he said after a while. "I'll have some too."
"Lovely."
"Just go," Azul said, and Jade obliged.
As he left, though, he couldn't help but notice the fond smile stretched across Azul's face.
How adorable.