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Izuku Midoriya is the cinnamon roll of class 1-A. According to everyone else, that is. Not that his jokes were super edgy, but still, they’re sure many of their classmates would have a heart attack if they were to realise that he has a sense of humor. He’d never meant to intentionally hide it from his class, it was just more comfortable.
See, what most of the class has yet to see, Izuku likes funny shirts. They’d seen some of the more basic ones, like the one that just said t-shirt, which, he can’t believe nobody else found funny. Does his class not have a sense of humor? They had really expected at least a few chuckles, but apparently not.
It’s not like Izuku’s intentionally hiding them, it’s just that hoodies are much more comfortable. Comfort over style, a mantra they live by. Hoodies are warm, they’re cozy, and best of all- they’re baggy. Binders aren’t the best idea for a hero in training who might have to run into a fight at any given moment, so they save their binder for really dysphoric days. But baggy clothes make his chest less visible, and they’re comfy anyway, so Izuku wears them pretty much all the time.
Unfortunately, that means that the world is rarely graced with the sight of his shirts. (Although, for Aizawa’s sanity, maybe that’s a good thing) Still, Izuku needs to wash their sweaters occasionally, which gives his shirts a chance to be seen.
1
The first time someone sees one of Izuku’s shirts, it’s almost three in the morning, and Izuku is hungry. Their hoodies are currently in the wash, so, with slight reluctance, Izuku exits his room without one.
The kitchen is dark, illuminated only by the dim light of the fridge as Izuku rummages through, eventually settling on an apple and rinsing it before heading over to the couch.
“Hitoshi?”
“Couldn’t sleep. What’re you doing here, Izuku?”
“Got hungry.” Izuku collapses on the couch half-asleep, head in the purple-haired boy’s lap.
Izuku hears Hitoshi chuckle as the hands start carding softly through his hair. Izuku’s grateful, they know Hitoshi isn’t the best with physical touch, but it always helps them sleep after.
“‘Pronouns? Yeah I break those too.’?”
He huffs. “Of anyone, you should be the least surprised. My sense of humor comes out when I’m sleep deprived. I mean… I never explicitly told you I wasn’t straight I guess, but I assumed you wouldn’t mind, but if it makes you uncomfortable-”
“I’m trans.”
“Oh. Um, I’m Agender. He/They”
“…Guess I’m not the only hero student who isn’t cis. Where’d you get the shirt?”
“What? Oh, I made it myself. I have a whole bunch of them, but I mean, if you wanted, I could probably make you one, it just might take a while- if you want one, I mean. Obviously, you might not want me to make you one, but-”
“Thanks.”
“Oh, yeah sure. Okay. I’ll make you one.”
The room is enveloped by a comforting silence, the only sound is the breathing of the two hero students.
“You should try to get some sleep.”
“I will, but promise me you’ll at least try to get some soon.”
“…Sure. Goodnight, Izuku.”
“‘Night, Hitoshi.”
2
The second time someone discovers one of Izuku’s shirts, the confrontation goes much differently. Izuku had been going to buy some new notebooks, he had almost finished his current one and was out of extras, when he’d run into Monoma. The day was extremely hot, and Izuku was sweating bullets, so he’d given in and left his sweater tied around his waist. Of course, it was Monoma, so Izuku had been promptly teased about the shirt. (He seemed nicer this time around, or was that Izuku’s imagination?) This time, Izuku’s shirt read “‘Don’t worry!’ Thanks, that totally fixes all my anxiety.”
“Oh, what’s this? The golden boy of class 1-A has a sense of humor? Who knew?”
“Says the one with a god complex.”
“God complex? No, I’m just the best.”
“You know, you should try being more humble sometimes. Being confident is good, but you have to be likeable to be a hero, and… ohmygod I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to say any of that-”
Luckily for Izuku, Monoma simply chuckles, appearing to find humor in the situation.
“Why were you asking about the shirt anyway? I would’ve thought that you’d be too wrapped up in your shopping.”
“And miss the chance to tease you about it? I’ll pass.”
“But… you seemed to like it. Maybe I misinterpreted it, but…”
“Did you really think I would want to copy you?”
Izuku frowns, noticing what sounds like a hint of jealousy in Monoma’s voice. They wonder briefly if Monoma would want a shirt? He already had to make one for Hitoshi, so might as well. Plus, maybe he could tease the blond boy back. With that thought in mind, Izuku grins, and if Izuku spends his walk through the mall coming up with what he wants to put on Monoma’s shirt, well, nobody has to know.
3
The third time it happens, it’s because Shouto barges into his room without warning. To be fair, Izuku usually didn’t mind, although this time, he wasn’t wearing a hoodie, and Todoroki saw his shirt. He’d been updating his analysis for Monoma’s quirk, having recently gotten him to share more information. The blond had even begun to occasionally join them on their hangouts with Hitoshi. He’d been just as interested in quirks as Izuku, and they’d had many discussions over different facets of others’ quirks. Izuku had finally gotten him to give them more details about his quirk, and had just begun a new page when they’re startled by a loud knock on the door as it abruptly swings open.
“Wha- Shouto? What are you doing here?”
“I have a theory.”
“Another one?”
“The villain Dabi is actually my brother Touya.” Izuku had been suspecting that that was a possibility, but he hadn’t mentioned it to Shouto so he wouldn’t get his hopes up. Izuku hoped that, for Shouto’s sake, he was right.
“‘I put the fun in dysfunctional?’ But being dysfunctional is not fun? Why does your shirt say that?”
“It’s a joke, Shouto.”
“Oh. I don’t get it.”
“It’s- nevermind. What were you saying about your theory? You think Dabi is your brother?”
Shouto rapidly begins explaining his newest theory, and Izuku is grateful. His shirts are fun, but he’s not really sure how to explain it to the boy in a way that he would understand. Plus, having arrived at the same conclusion as Shouto, albeit much sooner, he wants to hear the boy’s thought process. If he’d missed anything that Shouto had picked up on. Analysis forgotten, the pair are quickly wrapped up in a heated debate about Dabi’s quirk and Izuku’s shirt is all but forgotten about. (In the back of his head, Izuku can’t help but think giving Shouto a shirt would be very amusing)
4
The fourth time someone finds out, it’s not even a student. It was a teacher. At least his teacher had found it funny. He’d gone over to Hitoshi’s house, and he had pulled off his sweater to show Hitoshi his shirt. ‘I’m here, I’m queer, and I want to fucking disappear.’ Hitoshi had found it funny, and Izuku hadn’t bothered to put his hoodie back on. Which was how he’d ended up here, Aizawa staring at him, trying for exasperated but clearly smiling into his capture weapon.
“Problem child…”
“Aizawa-Sensei.”
Aizawa pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. (Izuku could see his eyes twitching)
“I give up. Just keep your shirts appropriate.”
“Sure.”
As Izuku walks away, he can hear Aizawa’s laughter. He wonders if his teacher would want a shirt.
5
The fifth time is even stupider than all the last ones combined. He’d been kidnapped by the league, big whoop there, and Shigaraki, the idiot, had decayed his sweater right off. He had liked that sweater. And in all its glory, his shirt, reading ‘Trauma? You mean character development’. And nobody laughs. Like he thought for sure Dabi would laugh. Toga’s always laughing.
“Trauma? What trauma could you possibly have that…”
“Shut up Touya, we get it, you have daddy issues. At least you had a dad. And a quirk. And someone who cares about you. Shouto misses you.”
“What…the fuck???”
“Have you forgotten… you have a quirk.”
“Sure, now, but not for the first fourteen years of my life.”
“WHAT THE FUCK”
Well, at least they stopped paying attention, making it easy for him to slip away while they were distracted. While they were busy, Izuku took note of their address. He had some shirts to ship them. Or, he would, as soon as he made them.
+1
Izuku finally has all the shirts ready. All that’s left is to hand them out. Shouto, Hitoshi, and Monoma can all be given in person. Izuku can give Hitoshi Aizawa’s. He has to mail the league’s shirts though, which is fine since he took their address last time they kidnapped him, and he knows they haven’t moved. Packing four shirts into his bag, and another six into a box, Izuku sets out.
-
They manage to find Shouto first, and the interaction is blissfully short. (He still has to find a few other people, so the quicker, the better, especially when some of those people are villains)
“Shouto. I got you a shirt.” Izuku thrusts it into the boy’s grasp.
“‘Still confused’? I don’t get it.”
“Exactly.”
“Uraraka, Iida, and I are going out. Do you want to come?”
“Sorry Shouto, I have a few more shirts to hand out. I’ll text you later though?”
Shouto looks at him with a bemused expression. “Sure? Good luck.”
“Thanks, Shouto.”
-
Next stop is the post office. Izuku needs an excuse to mail it, and he’s terrible with being put on the spot. So he comes up with:
“Two of my friends are getting married. I’m sending wedding gifts to them and their sister.”
And then Izuku realises he’s made a mistake, just as the person asks “they share a sister?”
Whoops. “Adopted sister. Not related. They live together and she’s moved in with them.”
Huh, this is kind of funny, now that they really think about it. Toga would at least get a giggle out of it. That thought prompts Izuku to add a note with the story, and before he can really think about what he’s done, the package is out of his hands now.
He would like to reiterate: whoops.
-
At the league’s hideout a package is carefully opened. Upon further inspection, it’s revealed to have six shirts. Two for each member.
“My daddy issues are so bad, my therapist quit”
“I put the trauma in dramatic monologue”
“Hero society is cringe”
“Touch grass not people”
“Yes, I really do need this many knives”
“Certified yandere”
The hideout is filled with giggles from Toga, and screams from Dabi and Shigaraki, of which only intensify when Toga reads the note outloud.
“Since you seemed to like my shirt so much last time I was here, I took the liberty of sending you some of your own, custom made. Hope you like them <3 - Izuku
Ps. I needed an excuse at the post office. If anyone asks, the two of them are getting married, and you’re their adopted sister. I forgot to mention the adopted, and definitely grossed out the worker there.”
Toga wouldn’t shut up about it for weeks.
-
To Izuku’s slight surprise, and great pleasure, Hitoshi and Neito (As he was now allowed to call the blond) were together. (He did not feel a flash of jealousy at that) Which, that just made it significantly easier for him to deliver the last three shirts. Two needed to be handed off to Hitoshi, and one to Neito.
‘Running on coffee and pure spite,’ and ‘I don’t have a god complex, god has a me complex,’ respectively.
Both teens burst out laughing.
“I have a big ego? Have you forgotten that Bakugou is in your class.”
“Neito.”
“Thanks, I love it.” Hitoshi appears to be dying as he chokes out a thank you. Neito fails miserably at pretending he’s not amused by the scene.
“I’m glad you liked it.”
“You think you’re funny? I could design a shirt ten times funnier in my sleep.”
“Is that a competition.”
“Girls, girls, you’re both pretty.”
Hitoshi’s comments and attempts to calm the pair go unheard over the rabid squabbling. At least they’re friends now, Hitoshi thinks.
-
Hitoshi delivers to Aizawa the shirt as Izuku had asked. When he reads the ‘I’m too tired for this shit,’ he just stares deadpan.
Hitoshi bursts out laughing.
(When Aizawa thanks him later, Izuku nearly cries)
-
Izuku has so many new shirt ideas.