My hero academia:Am I worthy?

Nejire found it difficult to come to terms with the idea of leaving the city, especially since it meant that Izuku would be left all alone, without any friends by his side. Although he was quirkless, Izuku truly exemplified the qualities of a compassionate and determined individual, always striving toward his dreams while extending his support to everyone around him. The painful thudding of her heart intensified as she realized that she would no longer get to witness the joy they shared during their adventures together. The cherished memories of their good times brought her warmth, but a growing sadness began to envelop her as she acknowledged that she wouldn't be able to help sustain their shared aspiration of becoming heroes. They had both made a heartfelt promise to each other to enroll in the prestigious UA school, renowned for training the best heroes in the nation, including the esteemed All Might, whom Izuku regarded as one of the greatest heroes of all time.

"Dad, when exactly are we leaving?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of hope and uncertainty.

"Tomorrow evening, my dear. I've packed all our belongings, and we're ready for the move," he reassured her, pulling her into a comforting embrace. His efforts to soothe her worked to some extent, but his daughter still sniffled, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of discomfort at her distress.

"Alright, my sweet girl, I will allow you some time to say goodbye to him, but afterward, we need to hit the road, okay?" As he noticed her mood begin to lift, Todo smiled warmly and gently patted her head before returning to his desk to sort through important documents.

The following day arrived, filled with anticipation.

Excitedly, Izuku walked alongside his mother to the toy store, eager to find a new addition to his collection featuring All Might. While Inko felt genuine happiness for her son's joyful spirit, the financial support sent by Hisashi was steadily dwindling, causing her to worry that one day they might run out of money. If that happened, she would need to find employment to support both herself and Izuku. Izuku believed that Hisashi had abandoned them due to his quirklessness, but Inko held a different perspective, thinking that her husband might have fallen into a precarious situation and was unable to reach out to them.

"Mom, look! I want that lady dragon figurine!" Izuku exclaimed, pointing excitedly at the display that showcased numerous figurines. However, he had his heart set on this particular one. Inko was unfazed by his enthusiasm and decided to buy him the dragon figurine, along with a heroine that was clearly a heteromorph.

"I thought you only admired All Might?" she inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, no, Mom, this one isn't for me. Tomorrow is Nejire's birthday, and I overheard her saying she wanted a figurine just like this, but her dad won't let her buy it." Inko felt a swell of pride knowing that her son cared deeply for his friends, especially for Nejire. She regarded Nejire almost like a daughter, as the girl frequently visited and sometimes stayed overnight in Izuku's room. Their innocent friendship was a testament to the pure joy and curiosity that comes with childhood. Izuku recounted how Nejire nearly broke into tears when he mentioned her mother and the current situation in her family, and he firmly resolved to support her no matter the circumstances.

"Oh, my boy has already developed feelings for his friend," Inko teased, a smile breaking across her face as she observed Izuku's cheeks flush with embarrassment. He waved his hands in protest, insisting it wasn't true, but the truth was evident in his bright red complexion.

"She's not my girlfriend; she's my best friend and the one who believed in my dream even though I'm quirkless." Hearing this, Inko felt a wave of shame wash over her for doubting her son's aspirations, as she only wanted him to remain safe and not jeopardize his future.

"Alright, I understand. But did you prepare a handmade gift for her in addition to these figurines?"

"A handmade gift?" he asked, intrigued.

"Yes, Izuku, a handmade gift. Such gifts last a lifetime and hold greater value than any store-bought item. If you want to surprise her and strengthen your bond, I can certainly help you with that." Excitement bubbled within Izuku at the thought, and he couldn't wait to return home to create something special for her.

"Then why are we walking so slowly? We need to make it to our meeting on time!" Holding her son's hand, Inko nearly dropped all her purchases on the ground due to his exuberance, but she understood perfectly that Izuku was eager to impress her.

"Alright, Izuku, but let's slow down a little. I'll call for a taxi right now." As she pulled out her phone and approached the road, to her surprise, a taxi arrived quickly, and Izuku hardly realized how they made it home so fast.

After unloading their belongings, Inko and Izuku sat at the kitchen table, ready to embark on their crafting project.

"Izuku, do you have any special item that connects you and Nejire?" As he glanced at his bag, an idea struck him, and he remembered the pearl Nejire had left in his bag.

"Here it is!" he exclaimed, presenting the shiny pearl, which had been tucked away for a month without exposure to air. The matriarch of the family didn't quite understand where he had acquired such a pearl but refrained from asking any unnecessary questions.

"Alright, Izuku, what do you plan to do with it? For example, we could create a bracelet or a necklace. Which one do you prefer?" Without much hesitation, Izuku chose the necklace, believing it would look much more beautiful on her lovely neck than on a wrist where it could easily be lost.

"Let's go with the necklace, Mom." The two Midoriyas set to work diligently, with Izuku sweating as he carefully inserted the pearl into the metal core of the necklace. The pearl and talisman were ready, but the chain that would hold everything together was not prepared, which caused Izuku to feel anxious.

"Uh, Mom, what will the pearl hang from?" Izuku inquired, looking at his mother, who had already devised a way to make it even more symbolic.

"Izuku, please head to your room and prepare the figurines. I'll take care of everything else, dear." Hearing her kind tone, he immediately dashed to his room, searching for a decorative ribbon for the gift hidden in his closet. Once he found the gift wrap and ribbon, he carefully placed the necessary toys inside and wrapped it up, loudly declaring:

"The gift is ready, Mom!" he shouted, rushing over to his mother, who smiled warmly at him, placing the gift into an improvised small box.

"I'm ready too. Take this and put it in your bag. Looking at the time, I can tell that Nejire has been waiting for you longer than she should." Izuku didn't quite grasp what his mother meant, but a glance at the wall clock filled him with dread as he realized he was running late for their meeting.

"I'm late!" Izuku cried out, snatching both gifts, placing them in his backpack, and kicking the door open to run faster than usual.

"Oh, kids," Inko sighed, shaking her head as she closed the door behind him.

***

Meanwhile, Nejire, anxiously waiting for her friend, felt tense and uncertain about how to tell him that she would be moving to another city for good. However, one thing was clear—they both had to meet again at UA as first-year students. As she contemplated her predicament, the bushes nearby began to rustle, indicating that someone was hiding within them until Izuku burst forth, calling her name.

"Nejireeeee!" he bellowed, racing toward her like a torpedo and unintentionally knocking her off her feet.

"Freckles, is that really you?" Nejire noticed that her bag was larger than usual and couldn't help but ask.

"Freckles, why is your bag bigger than it was before? What's inside?"

"Ahahaha, don't pay attention to it; my mom just put a raincoat in there in case it rains," she replied, brushing it off.

"But it's so sunny right now," she added, casting a glance at the bright sky.

"Ehehehe, don't worry about it; it's just my mom. Anyway, let's go on adventures!" He flashed her his infectious smile, hoping to lift her spirits.

"Yeah! Adventure time!"

"ADVENTURE TIME!" they both shouted in unison, playfully hitting each other's fists before running deeper into the forest.

Engrossed in play, their escapades continued until the evening. During their time together, they encountered a variety of animals that delighted them. They started with birds, followed by squirrels, and finally beavers. The beavers particularly caught Nejire's attention, and she exclaimed to Izuku:

"Freckles, let's catch one! Look how cute it is! What's it called?" The pair waded into the water, removing their shoes to try and catch the beaver. Izuku wrapped his arms around her waist to show it to Nejire.

"Look at those sharp teeth! I want to keep it!" But Izuku shook his head disapprovingly.

"No, Nejire, they're wild animals. Remember what they taught us in school? You can't take wild animals home."

"Oh, yes, you're right, but it's as charming as you are! How can you not admire it, Izuku?" After releasing the beaver, they headed toward the shore, shaking off any remaining water. Nejire found herself at a loss for ideas, so she decided to share this with Izuku.

"I have no ideas; do you, Freckles?" Placing a finger on his chin, he began to mumble, which made Nejire smile as she listened, even though she didn't fully comprehend what he was saying.

"Oh, I remembered! Dagobah Beach! My mom said there's a beautiful sea there. Come on, Nejire, hop on! We need to go!" He bent over, pointing to his back. Nejire didn't let this opportunity slip away and jumped onto him without hesitation. Squealing with excitement, she declared:

"Onward, my brave steed! We must defeat the dragon at Dagobah Beach for the sake of the villagers!" She playfully exaggerated her voice while Izuku carried her on his back.

Upon arriving at the beach, they were greeted by the sight of the sun pouring its rays onto the sand, warming it thoroughly. The beach was deserted; it was just the two of them, with only the sounds of footsteps from distant passersby and the occasional passing car breaking the serene atmosphere. Izuku's attention was drawn to an ice cream truck, and he already had plans for it.

"Let's go to the beach, Izuku!" Grabbing his hand, she pulled him with such enthusiasm that she nearly yanked his arm off. That was the power of her quirk, after all.

They settled on the sand and observed the mesmerizing ebb and flow of the sea. While the lavender blueberry watched the waves, Izuku discreetly pulled out a wrapped gift, shouting out his congratulations.

"Happy birthday, Nejire!" he exclaimed, extending the box toward her.

Nejire's reaction was priceless. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and seeing Izuku's warm smile made her heart swell with joy, momentarily making her forget about everything else.

"This… is this for me?" she asked, taking the box with trembling hands. Nobody had ever given her a gift before. This was the first time someone had gone out of their way to give her something, aside from her father, who simply bought her clothes without much thought. The fact that her first friend was giving her a gift made Nejire's heart race with happiness.

"Yes, silly! It's for you! Why are you hesitating? Open it!"

"I… I will do it now," she replied, slowly unwrapping it and savoring the moment. Inside, she found the figurine of the hero Ryukyu, which left her momentarily speechless, struggling to express her admiration and delight.

"Izuku, this is the best gift in the world! Thank you so much! I've wanted this for so long!" Nejire exclaimed, clutching the box with the figurine tightly.

"It's nothing, Nejire. There's nothing more important than the smile on your face." His words resonated deeply within her, and she recalled the previous evening with her father, who had spoken to her about moving, causing her smile to fade into a look of sorrow.

"Nejire, what's wrong? Don't you like my gift? Did I say something wrong?" Izuku asked, his concern evident as he continued speaking until she dropped the box containing the figurine on the ground and stepped away from him.

"Nejire, what are you…" Before he could finish, she wrapped her arms around him tightly, tears streaming down her face as she struggled to contain her sorrow. She didn't want Izuku to see her distressed expression, so she lowered her head to hide it.

"What happened?" Izuku asked softly, his heart aching for her, and he was met with a voice that trembled, breaking under the weight of her tears.

"Izuku… I… I don't want to leave," she confessed, her voice quaking like a taut string ready to snap. "I want to stay with you, study at the same school, laugh and play beside you. You're my best friend…" The words were difficult to articulate, and the tears flowed freely. Izuku listened to her intently, his expression filled with empathy and concern.

"I want us to become heroes together, Izuku, don't you understand? A great and unbeatable duo. You've always been there for me, and your gift, which I've longed for, has now become a reality. I want to stay with you… but I have to go. To a city where you won't be," her voice finally broke, transforming into a silent scream of anguish. Izuku struggled to hold back his own tears as he looked at his friend, who was tormented by the impending separation. The decision made by her father felt final and unyielding, like a wall that seemed impenetrable.

She lifted her tear-streaked gaze and met his compassionate eyes.

"Nejire…" his voice was quiet, almost hesitant. "Forgive me…"

"For what?" she asked, confused, but the tears continued to flow down her cheeks.

"Promise me something, Izuku. Promise that you won't abandon your dream, that you will enroll in UA as soon as we finish school," her words were saturated with desperation, yet they held a glimmer of hope.

Izuku hesitated, feeling a wave of pain wash over him at her plea. How could he promise something that felt so unattainable? Enrolling in UA without a quirk… it seemed as impossible as reaching for the stars. But in her eyes, he saw anticipation, a vision of a shared future that kept her afloat.

"I promise I'll do everything I can to make that happen," Izuku said resolutely, locking eyes with her blue gaze.

"Then will you keep my promise, Nejire?" As he raised his gaze, he noticed her extending her hand, pulling out something resembling a gift box. She opened the box, revealing the necklace that he and Inko had crafted together, which shimmered in the warm sunlight. It was that very pearl, but it was attached to a special chain, half green and half blue, symbolizing their enduring friendship.

"This… it's beautiful," Nejire said, putting on the necklace with a beaming smile.

"Promise you'll never take it off, Nejire. As long as you wear it, you'll always know that I'm right there with you," Izuku said slowly, carefully placing the necklace around her neck. Nejire then revealed a similar necklace from her pocket, but it was completely different.

"You must promise to keep this on too, alright, Izuku?" It was an unassuming chain, but the round locket in the middle that could be opened added a special significance. When she opened it, Izuku saw a photograph captured on his first day in the hospital when he met Nejire, with her father taking a picture of them that day. He still vividly remembered that moment, and within the locket was that very photograph.

They embraced, savoring the moment until Nejire's father called out to them from near the beach.

"Nejire, come on! It's time to go, dear!" Nejire hesitated, clinging tightly to her friend until the very last moment, causing Izuku to blush deeply.

"Nejire, you're going to suffocate me!" Finally releasing her, she rushed to grab the figurine he had given her, and to Izuku's surprise, Nejire kissed him on the cheek before running away, leaving him alone on the beach.

In that profound silence between them, a promise was forged that would change everything.

Once they settled into the car, they drove in silence until the head of the Hado family decided to break the stillness.

"A good boy, and he even gave a figurine as a gift. That's a commendable act of a hero," Tōdō remarked while steering the vehicle. Nejire remained quiet, gazing at the necklace and the figurine of her heroine.

"I promise, Izuku, I will enroll in UA with all my strength, no matter what it takes, and I will cherish your smile in my heart," Nejire vowed to herself, pledging loyalty to both herself and Izuku.

---

The door to their modest apartment closed behind him with a hollow click. Izuku, his face still wet with tears, slipped off his shoes and dropped his backpack at the entrance as if they were weighing him down. Slowly, he walked into the living room, where his mother was sitting.

Inko looked up from her sewing, her face immediately clouded with worry.

"Izuku… what's wrong? Why do you look so down?"

Izuku didn't respond right away. He stood in the middle of the room, his head lowered, as if trying to fight back the lump in his throat.

"She's gone, Mom," he finally whispered, his voice trembling. "Nejire… she's gone."

Inko put down her things and walked over to him, gently wrapping him in her arms. He didn't resist, only clenched his fists tightly as tears began welling up in his eyes again.

"You knew this would happen," she reminded him softly, stroking his hair.

"I knew…" he replied bitterly. "But it doesn't make it any easier. We promised… we promised to be heroes together. She was my friend, my only friend. And now… I'm all alone."

Inko hugged him tighter, feeling his pain—pain that couldn't simply be comforted away.

"Izuku, being apart is hard, especially when you're so close to someone. But Nejire hasn't disappeared. You can still talk to her, support each other, even from a distance."

Izuku looked up at her, his eyes red and swollen from crying.

"It's not the same, Mom… I can't see her every day, tell her about my dreams, see her smile. I promised her I'd get into UA, but I don't know if I can… not without a quirk…"

Inko felt her heart ache at his despair.

"Izuku, you're stronger than you think. If you made her a promise, you'll find a way to keep it. You're so determined, and I believe you can overcome anything—even this."

He nodded, though hesitantly, leaning into her shoulder.

"Do you think she'll wait for me?"

Inko smiled, wiping the tears from his cheeks.

"If she's anything like how you describe her, then she will. And one day, you'll surprise her—strong, brave, just like she's always believed you could be."

Her words resonated with him, a quiet but warm hope kindling in his heart. He nodded again, silently vowing not to let Nejire—or her smile—down.

To be continued

[5 chapter's until venom apearance]