School was out.
There was always a surge of relief inside after the doors to the cage were opened. So many hours of the day were spent wasted away in school when he could be doing more important things.
It wasn't that he was renouncing education, but nothing in his grade could give him anything near his level. Everything was simple and fundamental that any average high-schooler could breeze by them. Even the rare lesson that slipped his mind would begin quietly stimulating old brain cells and get them moving once again. He never studied for a single time for anything and always passed with flying colors.
If he showcased how advanced his knowledge truly went, the opportunity to ascend into a higher grade would inevitably present itself. This would've been a Godsend to any other Quirkless person - putting them ahead in life where they started out naturally behind - but Izuku needed to stay exactly where he was. Too much hinged on him sticking around his age group to move on, so he was stuck staying at the top of the class rather than advancing further.
"Oof-!"
Turning towards the surprised grunt and the reminiscing sounds of school supplies being scattered across the ground, Izuku witnessed a girl splayed across the ground on her hands and knees in slight embarrassment. Idly remembering that she was in his class, he quickly moved to help gather her pencils before they all rolled away and force her to crawl after them.
"Are you okay?" Izuku asked tenderly, ignoring a mutant student and his friend snickering from behind her. Collecting the writing utensils as she gathered her books and some stray paper, he held them out to her with a brilliant smile. "Here you go."
...She silently took them with a small nod, hurriedly placing them into her bag and standing up. Without paying much more mind, she walked passed him and down the hall.
Rising back up, Izuku watched her turn the corner out of sight. A small sigh escaped him as he made sure to secure his own backpack around his shoulders.
This was another change from his previous life. It had been such a minute difference that it took him multiple years to notice. That might have been an exaggeration - he just had no idea when it officially began.
Simply put, most people ignored him. That wasn't all too different from before, but he used to get harassed and bullied much more often in his past. He recalled many times where his legs would shake heading to school, and he was too afraid to go in fear of getting beat up or have his things destroyed.
None of that seemed to happen. There wasn't a single conversation Izuku could remember exchanging with another classmate. He spoke to the teachers, and that was about it. When he went out of his way like with that girl, it just didn't go anywhere.
Had it been the Izuku from before, he would have been severely lonely. He wasn't getting pushed around like before, but being isolated wasn't great either. At least he wasn't being outcasted and walking home with extra bumps or shame.
This wasn't as bad, though that might've been because he already felt isolated; more isolated than anyone in school or elsewhere could ever make him feel.
He was alone in this world. That was something he was sure of. If All Might or anyone else from his past was in this new version of the world, he was sure they would have gotten in contact with him by now. He made it quite obvious over the years on the internet and on Hero fansites. His messages were obscure, but clear enough that someone he knew from the other timeline could easily identify and discern.
Numerous avenues were attempted still, despite the failures of when he first reappeared back in time. Being heedful not to alert any authority onto him and get him detained like before, he did all he could to contact someone who could help and take him serious.
It just wasn't meant to be. He was the only one who returned. Without probable cause or evidence, none of his calls were earnestly answered. That's why he had to be the one to fix it all with the information only he knew and could utilize.
Stepping down a flight of stairs, Izuku took a moment to observe his surroundings. He didn't pay much attention to his elementary school or the people in it. There wasn't much to see and nothing that demanded his focus.
Exiting the doors and down short stone steps, he could spot the familiar head of blonde hair already beyond the front gates walking with a small crowd around him.
That hadn't changed over the years, at the very least. Katsuki Bakugou always had several groupies surrounding him - something that would persist all the way up into high school. It wasn't that he was a charming or welcoming individual. Not at all. Quite the opposite, as his abrasive attitude would get anyone excluding him into major trouble. He was just so talented that most people liked hovering around. Maybe if they did, some of that talent would rub off on them. That was why he was also afforded so many chances and opportunities.
There was a vague suspicion in the recesses of Izuku's mind that it had been Bakugou's doing that had squandered his reputation like it was. He already knew he would always be an outcast for being Quirkless, but the fact others outwardly attempted to ignore him was beyond abnormal without direct correlation.
He'd only whooped him the one time, but Bakugou most definitely held a grudge. They would only cross paths a few times a year, but when they did, Izuku would openly get mean-mugged without the blonde making so much as an attempt to hide his disdain. His looks were even more scary than they had been in his first lifetime. The boy's red eyes burned as if they too could release explosions ready to murder him.
It was bad enough that Izuku knew intuitively from his past life experiences that he might have to square up with him again. His instincts told him to watch his six, lest he be blindsided with an explosive punch to the back of the head. It was the main reason he was hanging back a few minutes with each day that passed. Helping that girl had been a good reason not to rush out the front doors like usual. Helping teachers, using the restroom, or really anything he could come up with to avoid a confrontation with Bakugou.
A glare being sent over the spiky-haired boy's shoulders as he left the school told him one thing; he was starting to catch on. Bakugou was searching for confrontation, and sooner or later he would get it. He might have bought another day, but his time would come. That's what his instincts told him.
Izuku released another sigh. This was such a handful. He had started out wanting to be genuine friends with the boy, but their relationship was worse than ever. It would only get worse if they fought again. Maybe if he told a teacher...
No, that would only agitate the blonde more. It might delay the inevitable some time, but it would still arrive. He considered approaching Bakugou and apologizing directly to him, even in front of other students, but he knew the boy well. Apologies and pleas were not good enough. Suffering would be the only way to quell his rage.
That wasn't going to happen. He wasn't Bakugou's punching bag anymore. He wanted to avoid fighting, but he wouldn't cower away. If a fight was going to happen, he hoped to get it over with quickly and move past it so he could finally get another chance to bridge the gap between them.
He hoped somewhere this was all his anomalous mind playing nefarious tricks on him. He knew that hope was misplaced.