The Family We Choose

Chapter 8

Izuku looks up at the massive lettering above the stairway leading into the dorms. 'Heights Alliance 1-A'. Move in weekend officially kicked off tomorrow, with classes starting on Monday, but since they already pretty much lived on campus anyways, he and Shinsou had gotten permission to move their stuff in a day early.

"They grow up so fast," Keigo fake cries as he comes to stand beside him, carrying a box in his hands.

Izuku rolls his eyes at his dramatics. "Stop being so embarrassing, Kei." He knows they're both putting on a brave face in a way. It's why he stares straight forward and has to swallow down the sudden lump in his throat, refusing to face Keigo, and why Keigo is acting even more cheerful as normal, putting on a face.

If he was being honest, Izuku was terrified to lose the security of having Keigo around. He was terrified of putting himself out there and meeting a bunch of people he knows nothing about. He hoped his classmates were friendly, since they were in a hero course, but Kacchan wanted to be a hero too, and had bullied him relentlessly for years, so who knows. Stuck here on campus, he couldn't just run to Keigo's room when he had a bad nightmare or a panic attack. He'd be hours away, unreachable except by phone, and that just wasn't the same.

He tried to think positively. At least he was in Class 1-A and not 1-B. That one may have been his doing. It wasn't his fault, not really anyways. If Nezu didn't want him hacking into the school system and changing classes around, he shouldn't have taught him hacking in the first place. Sorry to whoever Neito Monoma was, but sacrifices had to be made. He didn't want to go through three years without Shinsou and Aizawa at his side. It clearly wasn't that big of an issue because, when Nezu walked in and Izuku slammed the computer shut guiltily, he had just given him a knowing grin and chuckled in that maniacal way he always does when he finds something particularly funny. Besides, he could've changed it back before their places were confirmed but didn't, so, oh well.

Izuku hears Keigo sigh beside him as he hands off the box to some of his feathers. He wraps an arm around his shoulder. "Ready, punk?" Izuku takes a deep breath before nodding, allowing himself to be led up the stairs and into the building.

The massive front doors open up into a large common area with a small courtyard in the middle, encased in tall glass windows and sliding glass doors. On the right side was an area with tables and chairs set up for studying and eating. Further in was a lounge area with couches, bean bag chairs, and a flat screen TV mounted to the wall. On the left side was an archway that led into a kitchen space. The entire back wall was lined with cabinets and countertops for preparing food, with an industrial-sized cooktop and two large ovens. There were two refrigerators, one on each end. The massive island in the middle held two double sinks and two standard dishwashers. The other side of the island had an elevated countertop with barstools lined up underneath. Next to the kitchen was a laundry room with two washers and dryers and a large table in the middle for folding clothes. At the back end were the restrooms and shower areas, split by gender.

Back behind the courtyard, splitting up the two sides of the common area, were the stairwells and elevators. Keigo whistles as they walk through the area, following Izuku to the stairs. "Pretty fancy place they've got you in. I'm kinda jealous."

"I like the apartment better," Izuku says quietly.

Once on the second floor, they quickly find his room just across from the stairwell. A small placard with 'Izuku Midoriya' is hung to the left of the door. He sighs in relief when he sees Shinsou's name on the placard next door. Izuku turns the handle and opens it slowly to reveal a small bedroom with an attached bathroom. There's a twin sized bed pushed up against the wall with a small nightstand, and a desk with a rolling chair against the opposite wall. On the far wall, between the bed and desk, is a sliding glass door leading out to a concrete balcony overlooking the rest of the campus. A dresser sits next to the desk and there's a small closet with a hanging rack next to the bathroom door.