Chapter Text
The alarm blared for the third time, even angrier after being put on snooze again. Izuku sat up, not one to oversleep, even in July, but he’d stayed out a bit later than he'd meant to. He rolled over, already on top of the blanket because of how hot it was last night, and stumbled toward the window. Yanking the curtains open, sunlight came in warm. He opened the window to let out the stuffy air of his bedroom.
“Izuku!” his mom called. “Are you up?”
“I’m up!”
He yanked open drawers, looking for the swim trunks he promised himself he'd find last night. Right before passing out. He found them at the bottom of a drawer and shoved them in his suitcase. He only had one suitcase and an overfilled backpack, but that was probably enough to last him two weeks. His mom offered to help organize, but she didn't understand his organized chaos.
Whoops. He shouldn't have packed his toothbrush until this morning. He pulled it out and brushed his teeth quickly, pulling shorts over his pantless legs and putting on his old U.A. festival shirt. He'd change his underwear later, he wasn't messing up all his folded clothes. Maybe he could be a little more organized.
“Okay, clothes, underwear, toothbrush, toothpaste,” he muttered to himself, double-checking mentally. “Portable charger, sunscreen, travel documents, notebooks. Oh, flip-flops, where are my flip-flops?”
They were by the front door, still sandy from walking on the beach with Kacchan last night. He shook them off and slid them on instead of trying to cram them into his backpack. Flip-flops to the airport were probably fine. He grabbed his water bottle from the fridge, slipping it into the side pocket. He hoped it didn't get too warm.
“You still have time for breakfast,” his mom called.
He looked anxiously at his wristwatch. His friends would be there any minute, unless they were also running late. “Not really.”
“You need to eat something.”
“I have snacks.”
She handed him a napkin wrapped around two plums. He grabbed his stuff, heading downstairs. She saw him out with well wishes and reminders like she did every time he left the house, even if he was just running to the store. He waited on the curb, biting into a soft, sweet plum. He hoped they were there soon, he didn't want to wait in this heat. He should’ve worn a tank top. The pavement shimmered and he slid his heel back to feel how hot it was. Ouch! Very.
He spotted the minivan, Ojiro in the driver’s seat. They were all learning to drive, but he was the first one to get a learner’s permit. Kacchan was meant to get his, too, but he hadn’t passed the first time and would have to wait until September to try again. They didn't talk about that. Ojiro was in his mom’s car, her face peering out the passenger window.
The door slid open, Kirishima calling for him. “Get in, bro! We’re already twenty minutes late.”
“Our flight doesn't leave for another two hours,” Izuku said, climbing over bags and a case of water bottles.
Everything that couldn't fit in the piled-high trunk stack was shoved under the seats. Sitting between the two of them was an umbrella poking Izuku’s thigh, a tropically printed towel, and two shopping bags full of snacks. Izuku’s own stuff disappeared in the mountain of luggage.
“Sorry, that's mine. I’ll pack that stuff when we get there,” Kirishima said. “We were in a hurry.”
From behind them, Momo leaned forward. She held a printed itinerary open in her lap. “Good morning, Izuku.”
“Morning, Yaomomo. Hi, Ochaco, Shoto. You okay?”
Shoto looked surprisingly comfortable despite the two duffel bags he was wedged between. “Fine.”
Ochaco smiled, already halfway through a bag of gummy sharks. “Hi, Deku!”
Warm air that smelled like cut grass and car exhaust rushed through the rolled-down windows as they pulled away, a catchy chorus and bright acoustic guitar drifting along with them. Their hair whipped in the wind, singing voices lost in it. They stopped in front of Kacchan’s house where he was already waiting at the end of the drive. Kirishima helped him stuff his things in, extra stuff on his lap. Kacchan grumbled, legs spread to make room, draping over Izuku and Kirishima’s thighs.
“Dude, move over a little.”
“Move over where, dumbass?”
Kacchan’s foot rested on Izuku’s backpack, but he didn't tell him to move. He'd probably be thrown out of the car.
Every bump in the road had elbows knocking, cries of irritation and shoving accompanying the ride. That and the constant popping of opening chip bags. Sports drinks sat by their feet and pretzels, granola bars, and jerky passed around. Kacchan had a bag of sour gummies in his lap, eating all the lime and cherry ones. They had enough snacks to last them the car ride and plane trip, but several packages were already gone halfway there. It seemed no one had time for breakfast that morning.
They drove along the highway, music, laughter, and the smell of sunscreen filling the car. Izuku shifted, no room to stretch even a little. The airport wasn't very far away, so they wouldn't likely be making any stops until they arrived. He squeezed Kacchan’s thigh. Kacchan stole a sip of Izuku’s drink. Izuku watched him for a moment, the glistening sweat on his arms, the mouthful of candy he took. It got him a questioning glare.
“Why’re you staring at me?”
“I like looking at you.”
Kacchan glanced around the car, face flushed from something other than the heat, but no one heard. The wind and music were too loud, Kirishima chatting with Ojiro and his mom, Ochaco and Shoto disagreeing on lyrics, Momo absorbed in her schedule. Izuku leaned in, foreheads knocking.
“Did you pack sunscreen?”
“Seriously?”
“You need extra protection, Kacchan, and you're too pale to share mine.”
Kacchan scowled, but he knew Izuku was right.
“Do you guys want food?” Kirishima asked, prying open a plastic container of gas station fried chicken bites.
Kacchan eyed it. “Thought you said food.”
“Something edible besides candy.”
Izuku reached over for one. They shared them over Kacchan.
When they finally arrived at the airport, hurrying to pack all the loose stuff, the rest of their class was already there. It buzzed with early morning energy, suitcases rolling over the floor, announcements echoing. Dressed-up tourists wandered with large iced coffees, business travelers striding past them. After a long wait in uncomfy chairs and a flight south, they'd get nothing but bright beaches, clear water, two entire weeks in Okinawa.
“There you are!” Mina waved her arms. “Come on, we've gotta get through terminal.”
Mr. Aizawa was there to send them off, but he wouldn't be able to come with them. He'd be checking in, but this wasn't the first time they'd gone on a school trip without him. He took a long sip of his airport coffee and sighed.
“Attendance.”
Everyone answered with all their pent-up excitement as he called their names one by one. He also made them all double-check that they had their passports. They did, but Izuku didn't find Aizawa’s distrust all that hard to understand.
Going through security went by easily. Izuku took his tablet out and his shoes off. He should’ve opted for sneakers because now he had to stand barefoot on the airport floor. He wasn't the only one, plenty in their group having chosen slides and sandals. Kirishima padded through the checkpoint beside him, feet bare.
“This feels illegal.”
“I hope we don't get ringworm,” Jiro said.
“I thought that came from wet floors.”
“It increases the risk,” Izuku said. “You can get it anywhere dirty, but you probably won't get ringworm at the airport.”
They didn't have that long to wait, since the drive turned out to be an hour, and getting situated took about thirty minutes. Izuku was glad to finally be on the plane, pumped up and ready for their journey. And their destination, of course. Their seats were in groups of three and they tried to swiftly decide who would sit where. Mina, Aoyama, and Hagakure sat together, Tsu, Ochaco, and Momo behind them. Sero, Tokoyami, and Shoto sat near the front, Mineta, Denki, and Shoji at the back. Kirishima, Jiro, and Ojiro. Koda, Sato, and Tenya.
That left Izuku, Kacchan…and some random man with a parrot-covered button-up and enormous neck pillow. He was already getting comfy for a nap. They'd barely taken off and he was fast asleep in the aisle seat.
Izuku leaned in to whisper. “Kacchan. That guy could be your airport crush.”
“My what?”
“You ever see people online talking about their airport crush? He’s mysterious, laid back, unconscious.”
“Weird standards.”
“Unavaible.”
“Aren’t most strangers at the airport unavailable?”
“Exactly. I think his fit ties the whole vibe together.”
Kacchan glanced over. “Yeah, it does.”
“I bet you’re someone’s airport crush.”
“You’re so weird.”
He dropped his head on Kacchan’s shoulder. “You’re my crush.”
“You’re not mine.”
“Well, yeah, cause yours is that guy.”
Kacchan lightly smacked Izuku’s forehead.
They sat mostly quiet, entertaining themselves in the group chat.
Mina: it’d be so cool if we could fly first class, that's the kind of treatment I deserve
Momo: My parents fly first class when they travel.
Mina: okay, are you trying to make me jealous?
Deku: I flew private once with All Might
Mina: WHAT?! oh yeah, I forgot about that
Deku: It was really nice, it had a couch and everything
Ochaco: a couch? my first time on a plane at all was for a school trip
Denki: I flew business class once when I was younger, my mom took a trip for some work thing and I got to go with
Deku: First class is different, you don't have to wait to board, no strangers, you can look out the window whenever you want. And the bathroom’s not tiny!
Izuku noticed Kacchan had closed his phone, face turned. It had been some time since Kacchan yelled at him to shut up, leaving Izuku hurt and wondering what he'd done. But getting quiet meant something was bothering him. Izuku suspected it was a lingering jealousy, that feeling of favoritism between All Might and Izuku even though Kacchan spent lots of time with him now.
“One day, when we’re super rich heroes, we can fly private whenever we want,” Izuku whispered. “We’d have privacy, our own room. We could do anything we wanted. Like-”
A flight attendant rolled by with the snack cart. Izuku giggled in Kacchan’s ear. It was good they'd packed their own snacks because it was absurdly expensive for a package of seven crackers and a sip of water.
The flight was meant to take three hours, and by the second one, everyone had gotten comfortable. Izuku spent much of the trip staring out his window, he loved seeing the earth and clouds from all the way up there. He and Kacchan shared earbuds and caught up on a series they'd been watching.
Finally, the plane landed, wheels bumping on the runway. Applause came from a row farther back. Izuku forgot people actually did that for real. The click of several seatbelts sounded at the same time, the sound quite satisfying to Izuku’s ears. People stood, pulling out their overhead bags, but Izuku waited until all the people in front of him had gone.
The airport was open, sunshine coming through. When they stepped outside, Izuku was immediately hit by the heavy, sticky heat of an island summer. The air felt different, smelled better, salty and warm. Izuku took a deep breath. Vacation air.
They crowded around the enormous conveyor belt to claim their things, waiting for what must've been another hour to collect everything.
“These things always take forever,” Sero complained.
“Patience builds character,” Iida said. “It’s good to teach yourself to wait. It doesn't need to be go, go, go all the time.”
“Really? Cause all I feel building is impatience.”
“Did you hear a word I just said?!”
While his friends watched for their things, Izuku wandered over toward where an aquarium stood. Small fish in bright yellows, blues, and coral drifted leisurely through blue blue water. He wondered why fish tank water always looked like that. He remembered when he was little accompanying his mom to the store and watching tiny fish swim around in their tanks. He'd never thought about wanting some for himself until he found out there were fish that could glow. He hadn't gotten them.
Ochaco came over, pink suitcase in tow. She bent forward, nose nearly touching the glass, to peer inside the tank. “They’re so cute. Hi, cutie fish.”
Koda marveled at the aquarium like he did with all animals. Izuku liked seeing that happy, mesmerized look on his face.
“They're so pretty.”
Shoto pointed to a yellow-striped fish. “I like this one. What kind of fish is it?”
“A butterfly fish,” Koda answered.
“That’s a pretty name.”
“They were named for the way that it looks like they're fluttering, and their patterns resemble a butterfly's wings, don't they?”
“Izuku.”
He turned around to see Kacchan carrying both his own and Izuku’s belongings.
“Oh, thanks, Kacchan. Sorry, I wasn't paying attention.”
Kacchan glanced at the aquarium. “You got that distracted by fish?”
“They’re vacation fish.”
“Airport fish. You know we’re going to the ocean, right?”
They'd been to the ocean before, used to go all the time as kids, but they'd never been inside an Okinawan airport. So these fish were special. Izuku would only see them now. But by that logic, he'd also never been to an Okinawan beach before, so he should be extra excited about that, too.
Once they finally had all their things, they stepped out into the sun-soaked streets, the heat of island sun and scent of ocean air surrounding them. Humidity dripped down their skin and reddened their cheeks, but they could hardly mind it. The air smelled like saltwater, sweet flowers, sunscreen, and the perfume of passing people.
“It smells like summer,” Ochaco breathed.
Jiro laughed. “It is summer.”
“But, like, summer summer.”
Palm trees stood tall toward the impossibly blue sky, colorful buildings lined the streets, and shop signs seemed to call out to them to explore. Everything had become brighter, the way a vacation was supposed to feel. Not that they weren’t there to work, but that didn't mean it couldn't also feel like a vacation.
They were picked up by a rental van, winding them through neighborhoods lined with hot pink flowers, little cafés, and souvenir shops. They could see the vast blue ocean in glimpses between buildings. They all had their eyes glued to the windows, pointing out every little thing in awe and adding new must-sees to Momo’s list.
The road narrowed onto a quiet coastal neighborhood, brimming with elderly folks and houses just as old. Their rental was at the end of a palm tree-covered lane, weathered wood and chipping paint waiting. They poured out of the van, rushing inside. Izuku climbed the creaky porch steps, wondering how sturdy this old wood was. He wouldn't be hurt falling through two steps, but he wouldn't be walking out on that balcony. Wind chimes clinked, orange petals in flower boxes overflowed, beyond the backyard the shimmering sea could be seen.
Their shoes were kicked off at the front door, landing sloppily in a pile. Even Iida’s, who had been the only one not to chuck them off and bolt.
“Don’t leave your shoes in the doorway,” he tried to correct them, but they were gone.
Izuku ran a hand through his hair, already frizzy from the humidity. He explored the house with the others. The kitchen opened into a dining space with low wooden tables surrounded by patterned floor cushions. A large sectional stuffed with throw pillows curved around the sitting area. Denki flopped down onto it, stretching out and knocking pillows to the floor. Sliding glass doors opened to a spacious patio with a beautiful view of the ocean. Izuku stepped out, watching waves roll over pale sand, spotting a few surfers.
“Wow.”
Someone stepped onto the patio behind him, a hand sliding around his waist.
“Look at the ocean, Kacchan. Isn't it pretty?”
Kacchan wasn't even looking, just staring at Izuku. “Yeah, real pretty.”
From inside, they heard shouting, Hagkure’s voice.
“We have a laundry room! That means we don't have to find a laundromat.”
Said laundry got more excitement than most of the house. Not as much as the bedrooms. They ran around picking sleeping spots, Izuku and Kacchan joining so they could snag a good one. They called dibs and threw themselves onto beds while Momo and Iida tried to come up with an organized sleep plan.
They ended up with Iida, Aoyama, Ojiro, and Sato in the bunk beds, Kirishima, Sero, Denki, and Mineta taking the doubles in the same room.
“Aw, I wanted top bunk,” Sato whined.
“I got up here first,” Ojiro said, shrugging as if it were an outcome he couldn't help. “Besides, there's a three hundred pound weight limit.”
“I am not three hundred pounds.”
The next room had two double beds, so Mina, Tsu, Momo, and Jiro took them. Kacchan and Izuku were already sitting on the only queen-sized bed, nothing else in the room. Perfect privacy, perfect for two. But, alas.
“If we steal this room,” Izuku said, “Hagakure and Ochaco will have to sleep with the boys.”
Kacchan looked annoyed, but he also knew he couldn't complain about that, so he stepped out of the room, giving it to the girls.
“Sorry,” Ochaco apologized. “We know why you wanted that room.”
“Ochaco!” Izuku’s face went red.
The last sleeping arrangement was a room with six futon mattresses laid out. Everyone left, that being Izuku, Kacchan, Tokoyami, Shoji, Koda, and Shoto, took one.
Tokoyami laid his mat by the wall. “I’ve never slept in a traditional manner like this.”
Shoji patted his mattress, fluffing it up and lying down to test it. “This is comfy.”
He rolled his head over, looking at Tokoyami who had laid down beside him. They both smiled once, small, then turned around.
Shoto set his up by the door. “I’ve always slept like this. I find it more comfortable.”
“I hear it’s good for your back,” Izuku said, placing his mat right next to Kacchan’s. “I need that.”
Kacchan not so subtly nudged his own mattress an inch closer to Izuku’s.
They heard Iida yelling again, followed by collective groans.
“We’re unpacking before anyone disappears to the beach!”
“But the ocean’s right there!”
“It will still be there in thirty minutes. And we’ll be there all day tomorrow.”
“Yeah, for work,” Denki whined.
Izuku grabbed his and Kacchan’s suitcases from where they'd been abandoned at the front door. He cast another glance at the ocean through the window, waves rolling onto the shore, glittering in the sunlight.
“Does anyone know the wi-fi password?” Sero called out. He started moving stuff around, searching for some left behind paper or something they'd missed.
“Don’t break anything,” Momo said nervously.
“It’s on the wall, doofus,” Jiro said, tapping a framed list of rules and guidelines. The password was on the top.
Once Izuku finished unpacking, which took about thirty minutes, most of the others were still going through their things. He sat on the sofa with everyone who had just given up, saying they'd do it “later.” Balancing his tablet on his knees, he video called him mom like he'd promised to do once they got there.
“Hi, sweetheart. Are you at the house?”
“Hi, Mom. I just finished unpacking.”
Mina leaned over to wave. “Hi, Midoriya’s mom!”
“Hello,” she laughed. “The flight was good, honey?”
“It was.” He’d texted her that when they landed. “There’s a really nice view of the ocean, you wanna see it?”
He brought her to the window, flipping the camera. Her awe was similar to his. When he sat back down, she went right back to worried mom mode.
“You didn't forget anything, did you? Did you eat yet? You're drinking water?”
“Mom, I'm fine.”
Behind him, Kacchan was plugging his phone in. “I’m stealing this outlet, I don't wanna see any of your chargers in it.”
“Hello, Katsuki!”
Kacchan looked up, and came over to settle against the back of the couch. “Hey, Auntie.”
“Did you remember your sunscreen? You burn more easily than you think.”
Kacchan eyed Izuku. “Yes, I did.”
Izuku giggled. Katsuki ruffled his hair and walked off, Izuku’s smile following him. When he looked back at his mom, she was giving him that knowing smile.
“Well, you boys have fun. Make sure Katsuki takes care of himself. You, too, young man.”
“I will,” he promised, more for her sake than an actual plan to do so.
“I love you, baby.”
“Love you, too, Mom.”
As evening settled, everyone decided they were too tired for the beach and would rather lie around and find movies to watch. Most of the others gave their own parents a call. Tsu sat on the porch chatting with her younger siblings, Kirishima and his mom spoke loudly from the other room, and Ochaco showed her dad around the house. Mina’s mom wanted to see the ocean and Jiro’s parents said hi to everyone. Conversation drifted around the house, safe rides and comfort confirmed, hellos and have fun’s given.
Izuku saw Kacchan sitting in the corner, staring at his phone. He'd texted his parents when they landed, Izuku had been looking over his shoulder, but he wasn't sure they'd spoken since. Was he upset about that? Izuku leapt over the back of the couch and slid down the wall beside him. Kacchan closed his phone immediately. So he either didn't want Izuku to know he was upset or there was something else he didn't want him to see. Maybe he and his parents were fighting. That was probably it, he and his mom fought a lot.
From the kitchen area, Hagakure laughed. “My dad made me promise to text every morning.”
“My parents, too,” Sero said with light-hearted annoyance.
“My mom wants pictures of all the food,” Koda said. “She loves that stuff. My dad wants to see the sea creatures.”
“My parents just asked if I had enough socks,” Jiro said. “They’re always like that.”
There was a chorus of agreeing, understanding, laughter. Izuku understood, too. But he noticed the few of his friends who didn't.
“My parents usually only text,” Momo said, playing with her fingers. “They’re quite busy, so I expect it. They're not as, well, persistent as yours seem.”
Persistent. Caring.
Iida adjusted his glasses, pulling them off and sliding them back on twice. “My parents are often occupied as well. We spoke briefly before my departure and after our arrival.”
“I talked to my sister,” Shoto said, no explanation needed as to why he didn't talk with his parents.
Izuku curled a hand in Kacchan’s hair, lightly scratching his head, silently asking if he was okay. Kacchan tucked his phone into his pocket and leaned in, saying yes.
They had a late dinner, arriving just after the sun set at seven. For the rest of the trip, they'd be cooking their own food, but tonight the school hired catering for them. Food they'd never tried spread over the dining table. Bowls of soba in rich broth, topped with pork, fish, and pickled ginger, how they made it there in Okinawa. Shoto went straight for that. Soft, sweet pork and bitter goya with tofu and eggs. They had fresh sea grapes, something they all wanted to try.
“They look like bubbles,” Ochaco said. “They’re kinda cute.”
Mineta and Denki shoved several into their mouths.
“Woah, they pop.”
“They taste like the ocean,” Aoyama said, frowning and pushing the plate away.
“That’s because they're from the ocean, genius,” Jiro said. “And you eat weird things all the time, I thought you'd like it.”
“I do not eat weird things, you simply have an unrefined palate.”
Sometime during their dessert of citrusy kippan, it began to rain. Soft summer rain sliding down the glass, palm trees swaying outside. They had the windows open, but it wasn't the kind of rain that came with a refreshing cool breeze. It was as hot and muggy as before.
“Man, I hope it doesn't rain the whole trip,” Kirishima groaned.
“It should clear up,” Momo said hopefully. “I checked the forecast, it’s supposed to be all sunny.”
The rest of the night was spent piled on the spacious sofa, nobody curled too closely together because it was much too hot for that. Izuku sat wedged into one end of the couch, Kacchan on the floor beside him, head against Izuku’s knees. Rain tapped softly against the windows. Halfway through the movie they were watching, Izuku noticed Kacchan’s head loll. He'd fallen asleep. He wouldn't like it if he were awake, shy about pda around their friends, but Izuku leaned over and kissed the top of his head.