Todoroki helps Izuku pack his suitcase, stuffing his many All Might figures into the tightest crevasses. "Are tyou going to miss us?" he asks, his voice devoid of emotion.
"No, Shouto," Izuku smiles. "Because you'll be coming to visit me all the time!"
"I know, but it won't be the same as living together,"
"No, it won't. It'll be better," he giggles and folds his All Might onesie into a plastic bag. "Because now, we can be friends because we want to be. Not just because we're stuck living together,"
"Yeah, but-" Todoroki begins, but it interrupted when Eri bounds in.
"Hiya Eri," Izuku smiles.
"Hiya!" The white-haired girl begins sifting through the various bags containing Izuku's things. He finds Izuku's old All Might costume, the one he wore when he was her age.
"Can I have this?" she tries to put it on, modelling in front of the mirror.
"Yeah, no problem," he agrees with a giggle. "It suits you,"
*
Outside, a couple arrives in a freshly-waxed, expensive car. They're prospective foster parents. One of them is a very short man with sleek, blue hair wearing a suit. Nevertheless, there's a certain elegance to him, like a cunning businessman or White Collar criminal. The other, presumably his husband, is a very tall man with silver hair, styled in a fringe covering his eyes, dressed in loose black clothes.
Nezu arrives along with the couple and Aizawa leads the small creature into his office, leaving them outside to await their appointment.
*
Outside Aizawa's office door, Nezu and him discuss the meeting in hushed whispers.
"So, this is about Stain. We're throwing him out?" Nezu asks. Aizawa scowls above his steaming coffee cup.
"No, Nezu. It's a meeting to review Stain's position here. Don't make this into a problem,"
They open the door to Aizawa's office to find Stain sitting proudly in Aizawa's chair, gliding his nails across his full backpack like a Bond villain stroking a cat. "Ah, Aizawa," he acknowledges, his smugness sounding forced. "I've been expecting you,"
"Chizume," Aizawa's eyes darken, making the teen regret his stunt. "Get out of my seat,"
Once everyone is in their rightful seats, the meeting begins.
"Look, Stain," Aizawa sighs. "I'm fully prepared to admit that your maladjustment to this home is partly my fault. I thought we'd be able to make a difference and give you a home here. Maybe I was wrong,"
"Duh," Stain glares out the window, refusing to meet his eyes.
"I thought we'd be able to help you," he looks down, the shame washing over him. Feeling like a failure. He failed this child, something he hasn't done in a long time. "But maybe I was wrong,"
"You thought you could do your job - maybe you were wrong!" Stain crosses his arms indignantly, regarding the care worker without a shred of mercy. "I should have left when I had the chance,"
Nezu chimes in at the worst possible time, saying the worst possible thing. "It's just... we don't feel like you've been trying hard enough to fit in here,"
"That's not true," Aizawa contradicts, looking at the child once again. Because he knows Stain has been trying. "We just think that... maybe you'd be happier elsewhere,"
![D. A. B. I. [COUNT TO TEN FICVERSE] by PandoraButler](https://img.wattpad.com/cover/193933145-80-k41665.jpg)
With a look of barely contained rage, Stain snaps to his feet, grabbing his bag and slinging it over his shoulder. "I'll think about it,"
He storms out the office, slamming the door behind him.
*
Typical. They don't even have the guts to make a decision, Stain rests his head on his palm. Maybe somewhere else, I'll be treated like a grown-up.
"A grown-up criminal," Bakugou grins, but it falls quickly. He's worried. Despite everything, Stain is his friend.
Well, if they want a good reason to throw me out, I'll give them one. Stain's expression suddenly becomes determined, his eyes alight with rebellious intent.
"What do you mean?"
Did you see those guys who arrived with Nezu, the ones with the fancy car?
Bakugou nods with uncertainty. Stain grins and walks around to the front of the house, Bakugou following behind. Finding the car sitting idly in front of the house, Stain opens the door and climbs inside. "What are you doing, idiot?!" Bakugou demands.
Giving Aizawa the excuse he wants to get rid of me.
Stain finds the keys in the ignition and he turns them, the BMW roaring to life. From the house, Ms. Joke sees and quickly runs outside.
"Stain! Chizume! What are you doing?!"
He puts the car into first gear and pushes down on the pedal. It begins to slowly crawl forward.
"Stain! Get out of there!"
But the teen can't control the car, and he crashes straight into the fence.
Bakugou and Ms. Joke watch in horror as the car wheezes out of action, a tiny trickle of smoke creeping out of the exhaust. Stain looks at them all and giggles from the driver's seat.
*
In Izuku's bedroom, Todoroki watches Izuku give away some of his things to Eri and the others.
"You can't just leave everything behind," he whines, biting his lip nervously. "It's like... It's like you were never even here,"
"I won't forget Quirk House, Shouto," Izuku promises, continueing to give away his things.
*
The car's owner, the nameless man in the suit, inspects the front for damage following Stain's crash. His husband can't stop giggling.
"That was awesome!" Bakugou grins. "It just came to life!"
Yeah, it was great. Stain laughs.
"What's the verdict?" Ms. Joke asks the owner of the car, terrified he'll sue the childrens' home.
"Don't worry," the short man looks at Stain. "You dented it and scratched some of the paint, it's no big deal. I was intending to change the colour anyway,"
Ms. Joke sighs in relief. "Thank you so much,"
The nameless man looks at Stain again. "So, you're the boy who's getting kicked out, aren't you?"
"Not kicked out, just..." Ms. Joke sighs. She takes the man aside and explains to him quietly. "Stain is genuinely a brilliant kid. He's smart, he's determined, he has a strong sense of justice. He'll be a great lawyer or negotiator someday. But if we spend too much time trying to help one person... it isn't fair on everyone else,"
