-3- A new student

The bell rings. The students of class 1-A stop chattering to stand up and bowing to their teacher, ready for the first period; math.

"Good morning, students. Today, we have a new transfer joining us," announces the teacher. "Please come in," he says to the boy waiting outside the classroom.

A blond kid walks in and stops beside the teacher's desk, facing the class.

He seems quite nervous. His hands are fidgeting and his eyes remain pointed to the floor.

"His name," Says the teacher, writing the kanjis on the blackboard, "Is Kaminari Denki-kun."

"Please, Kaminari-kun, introduce yourself to the class."

The boy gulps and takes a deep breath.

"Uh... hello, m-my nuh...nuh...name is Kuh... Kuh... aminari De...enki."

Stutters the boy squinting his eyes, struggling to get his words out.

"Nuh...nuh... nice to m-meet you."

As usual, he braces himself for the snickers and the mean comments that usually come because of his stutter but, strangely enough, nothing of that happens.

He would say that the class was surprised, but not hostile.

"Kaminari-kun," the teacher says.

"You can take a seat next to Kirishima-kun." he says, pointing to an empty desk in the classroom.

Kaminari scans the room for the designated desk and spots it, next to a boy with flaming spiky hairs who is cheerfully waving at him.

He makes his way towards it, his eyes still avoiding to meet the the other student's, and sits at the desk the teacher assigned him, hanging his backpack on the hook attached to the side of the it.

"Hi!" Whispers his new neighbor.

"I'm Kirishima, Kirishima Eijirou. Nice to meet you!"

"H... h... hi..." Says Kaminari struggling for not stuttering at least that single syllable.

Kirishima is widely grinning and Kaminari couldn't help staring at the strange teeth the boy next him got.

Kirishima notices the stare. "Oh, yeah... I've got weird teeth, Don't I?" He whispers playfully.

"Don't worry, I don't bite..." He adds, chuckling.

"Kirishima-kun!" Calls out the teacher. "You'll have plenty of time to get acquainted with your new classmate but now shut up!"

"I'm sorry Sensei...My bad..." Says Kirishima deliberately bumping his knee against Kaminari's under the desks, winking to him.

The matter of the lesson was quite hard and the students really welcome the bell that announces the end of the period.

The teacher tested some students and Kaminari did really well, although painfully stuttering the answers in front of the whole class was very frustrating for him.

Luckily enough, in the next period, talking is not required.

Flooding out the classroom, the students quickly head towards the gym, where they have only 15 minutes to change and prepare for P.E. class.

Midoriya, because of his disability, is dispensed and takes the opportunity to review his homework.

After a few minutes he hears some noises and voices echoing down the corridors. Something is wrong.

A fight?

Should he go check what's going on? Should he go find a teacher?

Midoriya hesitates, unsure of what to do.

He stands up from his desk and gets out of the classroom, following the sound of voices.

As he turns a corner, he sees three older students surrounding a younger boy.

Midoriya immediately recognizes him. Kaminari-kun, the new student.

The three have cornered Kaminari and taken his gym bag.

"So, newbie nerd," taunts a stocky boy who appears to be the leader. "What should we do with this bag?"

"Hmmm... I think throwing it out the window could be a good idea... What do you think, nerd?!" He sneers.

Kaminari looks scared and is breathing fast.

"What's wrong?... Has the cat got your tongue?!" Shouts another boy, tugging Kaminari against the wall. "Say something!"

"P- p- pl... ease, le...let... muh...muh... me go!" Stutters Kaminari, shaking with fear and frustration.

After a moment of silence, the bullies erupt into coarse laughter. "Cool! The nerd has a nerdy s-s-stutter!" mocks the leader loudly.

Kaminari looks helpless and tears well up in his eyes.

"Le... let muh... muh... ngh... " He gasps.

"Oooh... The nerd is crying! He w-wants his mo-mommy." The laughter grows even louder as the three keep tugging Kaminari back and forth.

A voice burst over the vulgar laughs. "Stop! Leave him alone!"

The bullies suddenly fall silent. Who dares give'em orders...

The three turns toward the voice to see a skinny boy with green eyes standing awkwardly in front of them.

Midoriya.

"And you? Who are you?" Snarls the leader, menacing.

"I am Kaminari-kun's classmate. Let him go!" Midoriya is trying to act cool but his legs have already begun to shake.

"I see..." Says the leader, deliberately staring at the boy's twisted legs. "You are from the gimpy rescue squad, right?"

The laughter of his minions bursts again.

"So, mighty hero, what are you going to do?" Says the boy, close to Midoriya's face. "Are you going to kick us to death with you lame feet? Mmm?!..."

Midoriya is scared but keeps on acting. "Leave him alone!" He said again.

"Mmm... Sure...As you wish..." Says the thug placing a hand on Midoriya's shoulder faking a friendly gesture.

"But first..." He says in a mellow tone before violently shoving him backward.

Midoriya stumbles. His hands flail out, attempting to break his fall, but it is no use and the boy crashes heavily on the ground.

A muffled yelp escapes form his clenched lips. He hit hard his shoulder and a acute twinge of pain is running down his arm, leaving him dazed and disoriented on the floor.

The thugs keep laughing coarsely, enjoying the sight of Midoriya struggling to get back on his feet. "Need a help, hero?" taunts one of the boys, sneering as he gazes at Midoriya's desperate attempts to get up.

As Midoriya keeps struggling on the floor, a pair of light blue canvas shoes comes into his view.

He knows those shoes.

Midoriya raises his head to see Todoroki standing in front of him.

He crouches down and gently helps Midoriya to get up, without saying a word.

Then he gets close to the thugs leader.

"I think this is over." Todoroki voice is plain and expressionless but his eyes, cold as ice, are raging.

"And you... Who are you? Another freak who wanna join the party?" The thug sneers. "Are you trying to scare us, Scarface?!"

The rest of the bullies stand still, their gazes locked on that weird menacing boy in front of them, giving Kaminari the chance to slip away from their grasp.

In an instant, Todoroki seizes hold of the bully's wrist and forcefully twists it behind his back, making his shoulder to dislocate with a sharp snap.

The thug howls in pain. "Let me go!" He yelps, "You broke my arm!"

He struggles to get free but Todoroki's grip won't ease.

"You all are supposed to be at the field for baseball practice," Todoroki states calmly.

"I'm sure you wouldn't want to be late." He adds, with a meaningful gesture towards the exit, clearly offering them a dignified way out.

"Yeah, we don't." Pants the thug as Todoroki loosens his grip.

"You're lucky we gotta go, Scarface!" Yells the bully, holding his dislocated shoulder as crossing the exit door followed by his sidekicks. "Next time we'll teach you a proper lesson!"

"Are you both ok?" Asks Todoroki quietely, turning to the boys beside him.

Kaminari is still frozen by fear but manages to stutter an answer. "Y- yes, th-th-th-thank you."

"Izuku... Are you ok?" Insists Todoroki gently placing a hand on Midoriya shoulder, meaningful gazing at his legs.

"I'm fine. Thanks Shouto-kun. Don't worry." Midoriya answers, smiling to his friend.

"Well then, see you later Izuku." Plainly says Todoroki as he turns to leave.

"Yeah, see you later, Shouto-kun. Thanks..."

"Kaminari-kun?..." Midoriya calls out.

Kaminari is still leaning against the wall where the bullies cornered him, looking shaken.

"Kaminari-kun?" Midoriya calls again.

The boy startled. "Oh, Um... Y-yes... suh... sorry. W-w-what is it?" he stammers out.

"Are you ok, Kaminari-kun?" Asks Midoriya.

"Um... Yes, I'm fuh... fine. Th-thanks." Kaminari replies nervously.

"Oh, Sorry!..." Says then Midoriya, realizing he didn't introduce himself.

"I'm Midoriya, Midoriya Izuku. We are in the same class."

Kaminari nods and attempts to speak, again getting badly stuck on his words.

"I kn-know, I s-aw you in cl-class this muh... muh... mor...ngh... mor...nngh..."

"...I s- aw you in c-class..." He cuts short.

His gaze lingers on the boy cheerfully smiling in front of him,  and starts to calm down, a little eased.

"Mi... Mi... idoriya-kuh... kun, th-thanks fuh...for w-what you did for m-me..."

Kaminari splutters out gratefully.

"I did nothing, it was Shouto-kun who saved the day." says Midoriya with a grin.

"Um... May I a-ask you suh...suh...something?..." Kaminari says a little uneasy.

"Sure! What it is?"

"Umm... Are you fuh... fuh... frie... frie.. nng... frie...uh..."

Kaminari gasps as he struggles to get the words out.

"...c-close to th-that gu-guy?"

"You mean Shouto-kun?" Asks Midoriya

Kaminari nods.

"Well, yes. I guess we're friends."

"H-he's sca-scary. His e-eyes... So c-cold and me-me-menacing..."

"... And that sca...sca... sca... ngh... th-that sca... sca... uh...ngh..."

"...th-that w-wound on his f- face..."

"...Well, I know." says Midoriya

"Shouto-kun may look a bit intimidating but he is actually really nice, kind and caring."

"Um... Y-yeah, I-I guh... guess so..." Kaminari mutters, still unconvinced.

The conversation is suddenly interrupted as a kid with spiky hairs who is speeding toward them, calling loudly.

"Oi! Kaminari! Where have you been! We have to hurry, wanna be late on your first day?!" Shouts the kid.

"Oh, Kuh... Kuh... uh... Kuh...ngh... uh... " Splutters Kaminari trying to say Kirishima's name.

"W-were you l-looking f-for me?" He asks, surprised.

"Of course I was looking for you! I thought you got lost!"

"Oh... thanks, Kuh... Kuh... uh... nngh... Kuh... uh..." Kaminari stutters out, still struggling with Kirishima's name.

"...I m-mean, Thanks..." he finally manages to say.

"You're welcome." Says kirishima swiftly. "Let's go!" beckoning to the long corridor.

"See you later guys." Greets Midoriya.

"A-aren't  you c-cuh... uh... coming, M... Midoriya-kuh...hun?" Kaminari asks, surprised.

"I think you might have missed something, Kaminari-kun..." Midoriya says with a gentle smile before heading back to their classroom. Kaminari freezes at the sight of Midoriya awkwardly walking away, dragging his twisted feet on the floor, and stumbling every few steps.

The pieces of the puzzle fall into place.

-...The bullies' mocking words... the way Midoriya fell so clumsily and needed the help of that scary guy to get up...it all made sense now. He was so scared he didn't noticed.

It takes a while before he dares to speak again."Wuh...what... W-Why is he wa-wa-walking like that?!"

"Didn't you notice before?" Says Kirishima, sounding surprised.

Kaminari shook his head.

"Midoriya has cerebral palsy, that's why he walks like that." kirishima explains.

"Oh... He s-suh... struggle a lot w-with wuh... uh... walking..." Kaminari says uneasily.

"Yeah, he does. But don't feel uncomfortable around him. He's a kind and cheerful guy, always positive and caring You'll like him, everyone in our class does."

"Y-yeah, I th-think I will..."

"We'd better to go now," then urges Kirishima, "we gonna be really late."

"Y-yeah, l-let's go..." Agrees the other boy.

"Um... Kaminari?" Asks Kirishima as they briskly walk  towards the gym.

"Mmm?"

"Um... I was wondering... Uh... Would you consider to join me for the group assignment? The one for math... You are quite good at it... "

Kaminari hesitates. He's never been asked to join a study group before.

Kirishima sighs, sensing his classmate's hesitation.

"Yeah, I don't blame you... I really suck at math. You deserve a better partner..."

"Never mind..." He says, resigned.

"N-no... It's- it's not th-th-that!" Urges Kaminari.

I- I ju-just didn't ex-ex-pect that so-someone wou-would aks m-me to juh... join a school puh...project."

"Why not?" Asks Kirishima quizzically.

"Buh... because I'm wuh... weird..."

"Weird?"

"Yeah, buh...buh...because I st-st- stuh...stuh... ng... st-stuh...stuh... St- uh...uh..."

"B-because I t- talk w-weird."

"Really?!" Asks Kirishima raising an eyebrow.

"Well, I don't care. Actually I find the way you talk really cute."

"Wuh-wuh-what?!" Almost shouts Kaminari in disbelief; he can think of so many words to describe the way he talks, but "cute" has never been one of them.

"B-but I- I can't e-even s-s-say your n-name puh... properly.

"Really? Is my name that hard to say for you?" Kirishima asks curiously.

"The wo-words wuh... with the kuh... kuh... ngh... kuh... uh..."

"... with that sound a-are the m-most dif-ficult for me to suh... say..."

"Would you try?" Ask Kirishima, intrigued.

"Y-you're go-gonna be dis... dis... ...appointed..."

"Give a shot!" Kirishima insists with a grin.

"Ok, th-then. I wuh... wuh... warned you..."

Kaminari stops walking and takes a deep breath.

"H-here it go-goes..."

"Um... Kuh... kuh... uh...kuh...ngh..." he struggles, squinting his eyes.

Kuh... uh... kuh... ngh... ri..ishi...m-ma..."

"Ok. You're right." Says Kirishima, scratching his head."That's not your best line."

"Try to say Eijirou." He says then.

Kaminari breathes.

"Eijirou-kuh... kuh... kuh...ngh... k-kun"

"See? Problem solved!" Kirishima exclaims, friendly slapping Kaminari's back.

"You can drop the 'kun'. I don't care honorifics." He adds.

"F-fine... Eijirou..." Says kaminari shyly.

"S-so, pl-please c-call muh... uh... me De... Denki."

"Sure! With pleasure, Denki."

"So, um... May I now assume I can join you for the math group assignment?" asks Kirishima, with a wide grin.

Kaminari chuckles.

The kids have already gotten to the gym entrance when Kaminari resolves to ask something that puzzles him. "Um... E-Eijirou..."

"Yes...?"

"Um... You- you real-really thi-think my stuh... uh...stuh... stuh... nngh... stuh...stuh...uh..."

"...th-the w-way I tuh... talk is c-cute?"

"Yeah, sure! It's so cute when you stumble on the words and got stuck repeating a sound over and over!"

Kaminari is a little taken aback by Kirishima's unexpected reaction to his stutter but he is such a friendly and cheerful person that he can't help but feel anything else but being happy to have met him.

As they finally entered the gym, ready to be scolded for arriving late, Kirishima suddenly turns to Kaminari with his crazy shark-like grin. "Do you think I'm weird?" he chuckles.

"Y-yeah, y- you... r-ruh...really a-are, Eijirou..." Chuckles back Kaminari, smiling to his new friend.