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Izuku was thankful he was considered runty. That people wanted to look away from him and his unremarkable self. Sure it stung a little, but it helped him with what he needed to do. Travelling through the bustling city, he darted between merchants and customers, soldiers and civilians before slipping out of the city walls. Into the wilderness that was discouraged to enter by anyone without fighting experience. But Izuku wasn't afraid.
He never had a fear of the wilderness. It fascinated him, and it was where his friend lived. That already made it awesome. He also wasn't picked on out in the wilderness. He was thin and scrawny, hardly a good meal for any of the truly terrifying creatures, and too large for any of the more opportunistic beasts.
Besides, not all beasts were bad.
His steps grew lighter as his own excitement had him practically skipping towards his friend's home. His satchel lightly slapping his side, reminding him that the visit wasn't entirely for leisure. Did it slow him down? Hardly.
He continued without pause on the sandy brown dirt as he approached rocky cliffsides.
"Mister Yagi? Mister Yagi? Are you here?" Izuku called out. He heard a cough. Turning around the bend of the cliffsides was a spindly and sickly looking man with wild blond hair, reminiscent of a lion's mane. His bright blue eyes crinkled with warmth seeing Izuku approach.
"There you are my boy. How was your walk over?"
"It was good. I brought you some bread," Izuku responded eagerly, "My mom baked it this morning."
"Ah, that's very kind of you my boy. But you shouldn't be taking your mother's bread without asking."
"I did ask though."
Mister Yagi coughed, a small bit of blood creeping out of the corner of his mouth.
"My boy-"
"I didn't tell her about you. I just said that I wanted to share some with a friend."
And oh how it warmed Mister Yagi's heart to hear little Izuku's words. How long had it been since someone had been a friend with "Mister Yagi". Most preferred him- no, he wasn't going to think about that right now.
"Well then, we should share the bread shouldn't we?"
Izuku smiled and pulled out the bread. He could smell the herbs that had been baked inside and had he more of an appetite, could probably eat a mountain's worth of the loaves. But that could have been his insatiable hunger speaking. Izuku broke the bread, handing Mister Yagi the larger piece. He knew he wouldn't win an argument with Izuku, so he graciously accepted.
"I also have something else for you."
"Oh?" Mister Yagi commented as he took a bite of the bread. Oh it was good. It's center was soft and the crust had a pleasant crunch. He didn't know how Izuku would top this. He would have offered food with the bread had it been food. He watched as Izuku pulled out a scroll. Not a small one, but not an overly large and heavy one. He held it out to Mister Yagi. His eyes trailed over the outermost writing. Riddles Volume Number 1. He choked on his bread. Izuku panicked and hit his back in an effort to help dislodge the bread. The soggy bread shot out of his throat and onto the ground.
"Oh my gosh! Mister Yagi! I am so sorry! I didn't mean to-"
Mister Yagi, "Don't you worry my Prince of Nonsense. You meant no harm. It was just a bit of a surprise."
He gingerly took the scroll, more precious to him than gold. Then ruffled Izuku's hair.
"So, you like it?"
"My boy, I love it. I'll cherish it forever."
Izuku blushed in embarrassment.
"Y-You don't have to-"
"My boy, your mind is a gift. Always so good at riddles."
"Well, you never know when you might run into a sphinx."
Mister Yagi coughed, this time in embarrassment. "Ah yes. You never know."
Just like how Izuku would never know that he was a sphinx with absolutely no gift for riddles.